Articles by Craig Duff

Convincing buyers that passion and pragmatism can coincide is the key for Maserati to increase sales eight-fold to 50,000 vehicles by 2020. The new Quattroporte V6 and V8 are the first steps in that process.The Quattroporte will be the headline act in a play that Maserati expects to earn mainstream appeal on the basis of the smaller - and cheaper - Ghibli sports car and the Levante SUV.The logic follows the Porsche approach of maintaining top-end cache while developing volume models that spin the sports car heritage in a new direction. First impressions of the Quattroporte show the Italian carmaker is on the right road.VALUEThe Quattroporte V8 arrives in Australia in September with the V6 following two months later. Prices haven't been finalised for either model but Maserati Australia head Glen Sealey says they will reflect the lift in standard features.Carsguide expects the V8 to cost somewhere around $320,000; the six should be around $40,000 cheaper. Sealey won't be drawn on pricing but says the V8 will come loaded with all the features buyers of a premium grand tourer expect. He is still deciding whether to include the premium leather and alcantara roof lining on the starter car. Rivals range from the Mercedes-Benz S Class and BMW 7 Series to Jaguars and Aston Martins.TECHNOLOGYThe V6 uses a direct injection twin-turbo engine that is good for 301kW and 550Nm. To put that in perspective, BMW's brilliant turbo three-litre engine generates 225kW and 400Nm. The Maserati engine is mated to an eight-speed auto to achieve a 0-100km/h time of just 5.1 seconds.The Quattroporte six is so good the V8 will only tempt buyers who demand the ultimate in power or prestige. A sport button sharpens throttle response and extends transmission shift points and the suspension can be tightened using a computer-controlled valves in the dampers that uses anti-dive, anti-squat, and anti-roll algorithms.DESIGNIt's fashionable for cars to grow in size and at 5.26 metres, the Quattroporte is an expansive car. The exterior styling disguises a lot of that size - the proportions are right - and it is only in carparks and on hairpin turns that drivers appreciate just how big this car is.That size translates into saloon-style space front and rear; needed to keep the Chinese market happy and make room for the Ghibli sedan to slot underneath in as an E-Class and 5 Series rival. Build quality is expectedly high with tight panel gap tolerances and a luxury-finished interior that doesn't shudder even when navigating rough roads at speed.SAFETYThe Maserati hasn't been crash-tested an isn't likely to be, given the expected price of the car. Monstrous Brembo brakes bleed speed faster than a haemophiliac and the inherent steel structure is reassuringly solid. If things do go wrong, six airbags protect all occupants.DRIVINGEngaging driving generally doesn't come in a car this commodious but that's part of Maserati's point of difference. It aims to be a more involving drive than its Euro rivals and to that effect the software nannies can be switched off to purify the drive experience.Either way, the V6 Quattroporte is a seriously quick car and a quantum leap over the outgoing model in the way it drives and cossets its occupants. It officially hits 100km/h in 5.1 seconds, just 0.4 off the V8's sprint time.The Quattroporte's natural environment is the autostradas and autobahns where it cruises at 130km/h with virtually no wind or road noise. So good is the insulation that owners will need to wind the windows down to appreciate the snarl and pop from the bi-modal exhaust on downshifts.B-grade roads are a revelation as the car hunkers down and handles tight corners and patched pavement without complaint. The 8.4-inch touchscreen controls most of the car's functions and is easy to operate. The reversing camera is a must-have - touch parking a car this big isn't a good look. The only real quibble is the paddle-shifters are fixed to the steering column and don't move with the wheel. That makes mid-corner shifts a problem when the transmission is in manual mode.VERDICTThe first instalment of Maserati's move into the mainstream is a good as anyone could desire. If you have the coin, the Quattroporte is now a legitimate contender in the upper luxury market rather than a niche player. Passion now has a practical side.Maserati Quattroporte V6Price: $280,000 (est)Warranty: 3 years/unlimited kmService interval: 2 years/20,000kmSafety: Not rated; six airbagsEngine: 3.0L twin-turbo V6, 301kW/550NmTranmsision: Eight-speed auto, RWDThirst: 10.5L/100km, 244g/km CO2Dimensions: 5.26m (L), 1.95m (W), 1.48m (H)Weight: 1860kgSpare: Tyre repair kit 

The problem with getting to the top of the heap is everyone wants to knock you off.And when it comes to car makers, the battle is more mixed martial arts than Marquis of Queensberry. Volkswagen has engineered its seventh-generation Golf to take the fight to the Mazda 3 and anything else in the small-car class. At stake is the title of the best private-buyers' car in the country.

Small SUVs are the auto equivalent of smartphones: you have to be seen with one. Those who haven’t already caught on are rushing to buy (or build) light and compact crossovers. In Australia, couples and families hold the view that SUVs represent the “best of both worlds”.With fuel economy and comfort to rival a small car; the space to carry furniture or friends and a high ride height for the “command” seating; SUVs are a multi-purpose lifestyle accessory. It’s just a case of which design suits that lifestyle.THE CARSExcluding the all-paw Forester, the rest of the fleet are front-wheel drive models. All are entry level automatic or continuously variable transmission versions. And all sold more than 1000 cars last month, making them as mainstream as a Toyota Camry.THIRSTSkyActiv technology gives the Mazda CX-5 the lead in the weekly fuel costs at around $26.33. That’s more than $8.50 cheaper than the dearest vehicle here, Hyundai’s iX35. It is small change over a week but adds up to more than $425 a year being siphoned out of the wallet/purse, so it’s worth considering.SERVICINGCaps off to the capped-price carmakers. Online disclosure means it is easy to see how much servicing of a Toyota or Hyundai will be. As yet, Honda doesn’t have the option of capped price servicing, while Subaru and Mazda want vehicle identification before they’ll quote the costs. Hyundai heads this pack with one yearly visit to the dealer that will cost $259.DEPRECIATIONBuying a new car is an investment in emotion, not practicality. The best-performing of this group - the Mazda, Subaru and Honda - will be worth just 54 per cent of its new price value in three years, according to Glass’s Guide. The Hyundai and Toyota will have halved in value over that period.MISCGovernment charges vary by state; check with your local authority for registration on a specific vehicle. The capped price servicing won’t cover items subject to wear in the normal course of their life, such as tyres, windscreen wipers and brake pads.*Fuel costs based on April national average of 142.6c for 91 ULP and 15,000km travelled annually.Mazda CX-5 FWD Fuel use @ 6.4L/100km = $1368.96 p/a = $4106.88 over 3 yrsCost $29,880. Residual value after 3 yrs 54 per centServicing: $394 first yr; $1745 over 3 yrs/60,000kmToyota RAV4 CVTFuel use @ 7.4L/100km = $1582.86 p/a = $4748.50 over 3 yrsCost $30,990. Residual value after 3 yrs 50 per centServicing: $340/yr; $1020 over 3 yrs/60,000kmHyundai ix35 ActiveFuel use @ 8.5L/100km = $1818.15 p/a = $5454.45 over 3 yrsCost $28,990. Residual value after 3 yrs 50 per centServicing: $259/yr; $777 over 3 yrs/45,000kmSubaru Forester 2.5iFuel use @ 8.1L/100km = $1732.59 p/a = $5197.77 over 3 yrsCost $32,990. Residual value after 3 yrs 54 per centServicing: $542.72 first yr; $1983.70 over 3 yrs/75,000kmHonda CR-V VTiFuel use @ 7.7L/100km = $1647.03 p/a = $4941.09 over 3 yrsCost $31,790. Residual value after 3 yrs 54 per centServicing: $483.64 first yr; $1450.92 over 3 yrs/60,000km 

Take a prestige SUV, fettle it with Audi’s race-winning diesel expertise and add volume in the form of an exhaust soundtrack. The result is the SQ5, a blisteringly quick vehicle with better handling and acceleration than just about any SUV can deliver.That it does it with a twin-turbo diesel and official fuel consumption of 6.8L/100km shows how hard the Europeans are working on oil-burners. That it does it for less than $90,000 shows how hard the four-ringed brand is trying in Australia.The first 60 cars into Australia have been fitted with a Launch Edition pack that adds top-spec bling to an already impressive package, including 21-inch alloys in place of the regular 20s, dynamic steering adaptive headlights, a Bang and Olufsen sound system and heated seats for $104,130.SQ5s from this point on will cost $89,400. That buys xenon headlamps, tri-zone climate-control, electric tailgate and a voice-controlled infotainment system. Dynamic steering is $2400 - wince and wear it.The regular Q5 3.0 TDI isn’t short of parlour tricks but the SQ5 moves that along more than a bit. A 3.0-litre twin-turbodiesel it shares with the A6 and A7 gives the SUV a 0-100km/h time of 5.1 seconds - better than most hi-powered petrol SUVs and making this the quickest diesel soft-roader in mass production.It rides 30mm lower than the Q5 to cut the centre of gravity, has a wider front and rear track for added purchase and boasts bigger front brakes and stiffer suspension. Power is delivered to all four wheels via an eight-speed auto - Audi doesn’t yet have a dual-clutch to handle 650Nm.Horizontal grille slats in the deep Audi grille are the obvious pointer to the SQ5 front-on, compared to the vertical slats in the Q5 models. Alloy-look side mirror finishes and the quad-pipe exhausts at the back are the other cues, while inside the flat-bottomed steering wheel gives away this isn’t an ordinary SUV.This is a better-stopping variant of the Q5 that ANCAP has already bestowed five stars upon.  A pair of side curtain balloons for the back seats brings the airbag count to eight and an advanced stability control program is matched to the anchors.There’s no doubt the SQ5 fulfils its brief as a fast and focused diesel SUV. Push it and the official fuel consumption evaporates into double-figure digits, but the speedo hits triple figures even quicker. It will carry two tonnes of payload and 540 litres of cargo along with a family and do it effortlessly.Taut suspension rocks the occupants over road undulations … that’s the price buyers pay for this much stability around corners. It isn’t a sports car and will push wide if too much power is applied too early. Hold speed then accelerate out and the passenger will find the leather seat isn’t quite grippy enough.Audi has found another niche and filled it before the competition has thought to act. A mid-sized performance diesel SUV is - for now - unique and the $89,400 price is compelling for those who want SUV size and performance pace.The SQ5, like many performance rivals, uses speakers in the rear mufflers to “enhance” the sound of the engine. It replaces diesel clatter with a gruff and occasionally sonorous tune but is the auto equivalent of house music.

The fastest Mini allowed on the road will be remembered for corners rather than flat-out speed. The Mini John Cooper Works GP Edition hammers to 100km/h in 6.3 seconds.It’s impressive, but not nearly as appetising as this car’s capacity on the twisty stuff. A reinforced chassis, race-spec suspension, massive brakes and close-ratio six-speed gearbox helping keep the engine on boost make this a back-roads or track-day weapon. Australia secured 55 of the 2000-vehicle global production run and there’s still a handful in dealers.The price is $56,900 with no options boxes to tick. That buys a track-day car fitted with xenon headlamps, foglamps, airconditioning, stability control with a ‘GP mode’ for bigger slip angles, and a Sport button to sharpen up the already acute response.Competition comes from the Renault Megane RS265 Trophy Plus at $51,640, the $56,990 Mitsubishi Evolution and Subaru’s $59,990 WRX, though they all at least pretend to take passengers in the back. A massive strut brace just in front of the rear wheel arches restricts the Mini to two-seater duties only.This hot hatch is track ready, courtesy of adjustable coilover suspension to adjust the ride height by 20mm and a set of six-pot vented front brakes with more bite than a cornered politician. The stability control’s GP mode takes advantage of the upgraded hardware by only braking the inside wheel instead of also cutting engine power.The 1.6-litre turbo engine is common to the JCW family and uses an alloy cylinder block and bearing mounts, stronger cylinder head, reinforced pistons, low-weight crankshafts and sodium-filled exhaust valves. Torque is rated at 260Nm with a 20Nm overboost feature. In this well-sorted chassis, that’s enough to propel the lightweight Mini around the Nurburgring in 8 minutes and 23 seconds.The bewinged Mini JCW GP edition started out life as a regular hatch so there’s nothing wrong with its basic proportions. The designers didn’t have much say on the inside, with the rear seat ditched to make way for the brace.A chunky steering wheel fits well with the “go-kart with a roof” ethos. The exterior enhancements are all in the name of aerodynamics (red stripes excepted). A front apron spoiler and engine undertray shield have cut front axle lift and contributed to a six per cent drop in drag.The rarity of the GP Edition means it is unlikely to be officially crash tested, but the Mini Cooper base car is a five-star vehicle. There are head, side and curtain airbags along with ABS brakes linked to traction and stability control. An electronic front diff lock is also part of the safety repertoire.This is the purist’s Mini, in the sense it tracks and handles with more authority than any Mini before it and is a point-and-go rocket without being a handful. The biggest gripe with the GP Edition is the way it copes with back-road bumps, when the combination of rutted bitumen, taut suspension and rapid acceleration can briefly leave it without purchase on the road.Even then it’s predictable: the suspension refuses to squirm to the point of unsettling the car on landing and the steering resumes tracking to the degree of steering lock. Settle the nose down into the corner and the GP Edition follows the white line like Road Runner. The windier the route, the better the GP does. Passengers tend to hang on and loose items need to be secured. At least the Mini gives a moment’s warning as the turbo alters the exhaust note, or the driver downshifts entering an approaching corner …

Build it and they will come. That’s the rationale behind Volvo Australia’s decision to fund the development of a 50-car run of a Polestar-enhanced S60 sedan that Carsguide believes will cost around $115,000 when it arrives in late June.It’s a calculated toss of the dice for both the local arm of the Swedish carmaker and the Polestar performance division. If they get it right, Volvo won’t just be seen as a maker of safe cars and Polestar will have graduated from motorsport specialists to a factory performance outfit along the lines of RenaultSport.The rest of the Volvo empire is closely watching the Australian pilot programme to see if they too want a piece of the Polestar pacesetter.VALUEThe cost of the car has yet to be finalised but Braid says the price will be well north of $100,000. That buys Volvo’s top-spec S60 T6 R-Design with added drivetrain and suspension upgrades that have to be driven to be appreciated. Interior updates are limited to the steering wheel and seats.Polestar acknowledges the inside needs a more upmarket look to differentiate the product but says the first step is to concentrate on how the car drives, rather than how it looks. Audi’s S4 sedan is the closest competition at $120,000 … and with less Nm than the Volvo it lacks the mid-range surge of the Swedish car.TECHNOLOGYThis is the first Volvo to carry a Polestar badge on the front grille. Polestar has previously fitted its discrete blue-square logo on the rear of vehicles that have undergone ECU and transmission software upgrades but they can’t compare to this S60.The (manually) adjustable Ohlins suspension and chassis updates - a stiffer strut brace and upgraded anti-roll bars - have transformed the car into a seriously quick steerer without affecting compliance around town. The ECU upgrades and a bigger turbo endows the S60’s 3.0-litre six-cylinder engine with 257kW and 500+Nm and the transmission tweaks have accelerated the shift times of the six-speed auto in sports mode.The Haldex all-wheel-drive system has also been tuned to send more torque to the rear wheels and helps give the Volvo a 0-100km/h time of 4.9 seconds using the launch control program.DESIGNThe custom wheels, black side -mirror covers, front splitters, a boot spoiler and rear diffuser are the visual cues this isn’t a regular S60. It is all fairly discrete to the point the “doof-doof” crew that pulls up alongside in a locally built V8 won’t have much of an idea they’re about to be hosed by a Volvo.  The seats have more bolstering in the sides and a grippy alcantara covering to stop backsides from shifting on the seat.SAFETYThe S60 is one of the safest mid-sized sedans on sale and Polestar’s upgrades have only enhanced that reputation. Improved suspension and brakes should ensure features like the six airbags and ultra-strong passenger cell aren’t needed. A “City Safe” collision prevention assistance program visually and audibly warns the driver of imminent crashes with vehicles in front.DRIVINGThis is one attractive Swede, visually and viscerally. Hit the starter button and a muted snarl announces this Volvo has an attitude, an impression that is only reinforced by the off-the-line acceleration.  The surprise is that’s the least of this show pony’s tricks. Polestar doesn’t want to challenge Benz’s AMG or BMW’s M divisions in terms of outright power, or what Braid calls “brochure bragging rights”.They do want a car that is more refined for day-to-day driving but can stick with the above duo when the roads start to wander off the straight and narrow. It will take a comparo to show if that’s the case but a seat-of-the-pants assessment indicates Volvo might just manage it on the right stretch of tarmac.Track days will be a different story though. The transmission is the weak link in an otherwise race-ready package. Having already limited the amount of torque the Polestar crew is prepared to pump out of the engine, the auto isn’t quick enough to kick down on hard corner exits.Manual mode isn’t much more responsive and the shifter is counter-intuitive, with a push towards the dash to grab a higher gear and a pull back to drop down the cogs. Polestar is already looking at paddle shifters and a dual-clutch transmission but that will take time, given the company’s insistence on testing to OEM standards. And at this stage, Australia is the only country to request the car, which limits the development budget.VERDICTPolestar’s take on building a driver’s car has produced what is probably the most family friendly four-door sedan doing the rounds. It lacks the feral ferocity of its European rivals but the AWD system gives it an edge in marginal conditions and in the right hands it will embarrass some of its better-known competitors.FACTOIDA Northern Territory man is the first to stake a claim on the S60 Polestar, having rang his local dealership to put down a deposit within hours of the first story appearing on the internet.Volvo S60 PolestarPrice: $115,000 (estimate)Warranty: 3 years/unlimited kmService interval: 12 months/15,000kmCapped price servicing: NoCrash rating: 5 starsEngine: turbo 3.0-litre six-cylinder, 257kW/500+NmTransmission: 6-speed auto, AWDThirst: 10.2L/100km, 243g/km CO2Dimension: 4.63m (L), 1.82m (W), 1.48m (H)Weight: 1648kgSpare: Repair kit/space-saver

The souped-up Volvo S60 is the result of a 12-month intensive development program between Volvo Australia and the company’s global motorsport and performance partner, Polestar.  Just 50 cars will be built, with the first batch arriving in late June. The all-wheel drive cars will be capable of a 4.9-second blast to 100km/h … and will be priced to match. Volvo Australia hasn’t confirmed prices - managing director Matt Braid was still finalising details this week on everything from the braking package to the seat bolstering and upholstery - but Carsguide believes the car will cost around $115,000.That will buy a Volvo S60 R Design car with major suspension and drivetrain upgrades from Polestar to transform the already capable sedan into a seriously quick car. It’s not going to challenge the Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG or BMW M3 for outright grunt but Polestar director Hans Baath says that wasn’t the intent.“It’s not our aim to be AMG,” he says. “This is more of a driver’s car than a performance car because that (performance) is based so heavily on engine output. So it’s not just a track car … it is something you should be able to drive every day in all conditions.”It is also the first car Polestar has developed for Volvo and Baath says the Aussie experience will determine whether the S60 Polestar is sold in other markets and whether Polestar will then turn its attention to other vehicles in the Swedish carmaker’s range. Polestar project manager Henrik Fries says the S60 is more than the sum of its parts.“Everything that moves, we changed,” he notes. “This is a car with much more handling and agility … we have built a car that people will enjoy driving.”Changes include Ohlins suspension with adjustable rebound and compression damping, upgrades to the six-speed automatic transmission software, a bigger turbo on the six-cylinder engine, ECU tweaks to cope with the 257kW/500Nm outputs and upgrades to the Haldex all-wheel drive system biased for rear-wheel drive. 

The M135i and I are snarling in frustration as we’re forced to hold speed through the 250-degree right hander. For once it’s not entirely driver error. New Zealand’s newest racetrack, Highlands Motorsport Park near Cromwell, is a 4.8km concoction of corners designed to give man and machine no relief.The only thing that runs off this track unscathed is rainwater … and there hasn’t been any of that since the circuit opened at Easter, so a talcum-powdering of dust lies in wait to punish any deviation off the racing line. The prospect of arguing with the Armco and concrete barriers tends to give even me a degree of patience.BMW’s baby performance car is on the dregs of its massive mechanical grip but is still letting me know my steering and throttle finesse is about as subtle as Bob Katter. The M suspension can only do so much with so little talent, as the fast-vanishing M6 ahead shows.A few laps later and the base 116i hatch is even more impressive through the same sweeping turn - and all the turns that followed. Despite its skinnier rubber affording a little less grip having less grip skinnier rubber, the entry level 1 Series has 160kg less weight to worry about.As a result it clings to the corner at a similar pace, albeit with a bit more suspension-bobbing. It’s only as the lock comes off and the power goes down that you remember the engine, as willing as it is across the rev range, is channelllng about half the 135’s output. Which helps explain why the auto-equipped 116 costs $41,300 and the M135 is $75,100.The other surprise performer is the tri-turbo X5 M50d. The big SUV carries its weight like a rugby forward. It’s not the quickest of this quartet to change direction but there’s no sign of wallowing once pointed in, thanks largely to the anti-dive suspension and all-wheel-drive system that transfers torque depending on which wheel is about to let go.The monster diesel has a momentary lag as the go-pedal is mashed but then winds up like a turbine on the tiniest straight. The next corner is consequently approached at pace but  no sense this is a 2.1-tonne truck as the brakes refuse to fade despite incessant flogging.Finally, there’s the M6. Point it at a fast bit of road and the premium coupe is in its element.  A flat design and well-engineered layout help disguise the 1.8-tonne mass as the 4.4-litre V8 propels the grand tourer from corner to corner at a pace that has passengers paying to slow down.But this is a track and the M6 will hold neck-straining corner pace without complaint. When it does break loose, the traction control hands control back before the pace has even slowed.The verdict? If you have the coin, the Highlands Motorsport Park is a rewarding place to play. The same applies to the BMWs that plied its surface last week.The Bavarian company holds the global lead in the prestige stakes and that’s down to the dynamic capabilities of its cars. In Australia, it needs to fine-tune the feature/cost return to regain that lead from its arch-rival with the three-pointed star. 

Australia’s best-selling imported car brand is recalling a new model due to a potential fire hazard under the passenger seat.

The Jeep Grand Cherokee Trailhawk costs $68,000, representing an $18,000 premium over the base-spec Laredo turbodiesel model or a $2000 discount on the range-topping Overland fitted with similar interior spec and the same 177kW/550Nm V6. But with just 160 vehicles the big Grand Cherokee Trailhawk SUV isn’t likely to last long. The Trailhawk is kitted out with the Quadra Drive II four-wheel drive system matched to air suspension, full underbody protection, Mopar rock rails, 18-inch all-terrain rubber and a massive Trailhawk decal on the bonnet showing the world this is a serious off-roader. Jeep spokeswoman Karla Leach says the special edition reflects customer interest in genuine add-ons. “We know that many of our customers like to accessorise their vehicles, to both enhance their off-road experience and to personalise their car,” she says. “The Grand Cherokee Trailhawk delivers an impressive list of popular 4WD enhancements – as well as some distinctive exterior additions, so it will be popular with not only those who like to get off the bitumen, but also drivers that like to really stand out from the crowd.” The Trailhawk will be sold in any colour you like, as long as it is “Striking Bright White”. Black headlamp surrounds, grey grille and side mirror caps and, red tow hooks and Trailhawk badging identify the car as the most serious off-roader in the already capable Grand Cherokee line-up. Insider, there are leather and suede heated seats emblazoned with the Trailhawk insignia, a satellite navigation system and reversing camera  on the seven-inch screen, power tailgate, a heated steering wheel, and Mopar slush mats. The vehicle was first shown this time last year in Michigan as a concept at the Moab Jeep Safari and the response earned it a production run.