Articles by Craig Duff

New names always attract attention at car shows and when you’ve got a stand full of them, they’re bound to stand out. That’s the enviable situation Australia’s newest prestige carmaker, Infiniti, find

The SSS Pulsar storms back on to the local hot hatch stage with its Australian debut at AIMS, ahead of going on sale early next year.

The changing story of Ford is being told at AIMS. Once synonymous with a big, plain Australian family car, the local branch of the Blue Oval brand is embracing Ford’s sophisticated international product and technology. Called the “One Ford” strategy, it looks pretty good. Heading that act is the best engine of 2012 – the EcoBoost 1.0- litre – which will first be seen here in the Ford Fiesta, followed by the EcoSport sub-compact SUV. The turbocharged threecylinder engine will be sold in two specifications – 74kW/170Nm and a high-output 91kW/170Nm. Fuel consumption should range from a diesel-like 4.8-5.0 litres/100km. Ford spokesman Neil McDonald says the “replacement for displacement’’ engine won’t disappoint in terms of performance or economy. In that respect, it’s much like the 2.0-litre EcoBoost engine already powering the Mondeo and Falcon. If sheet metal is more to your liking than what’s under the hood, there’s the first look at the EcoSport, new Ford Kuga, Focus ST hot hatch and the Ford Fusion. The Fusion is the US-designed version of the next Ford Mondeo, which gets here late next year. The new car rides on the existing chassis to its rear suspension to one like that used by BMW and Audi. The result is expected to be an improved ride over the already good balance between comfort and performance in the existing Mondeo. The sloping “fastback’’ roofline was penned by British designer Chris Hamilton and Ford is using a scalloped roof lining to ensure the striking styling doesn’t restrict rear headroom. A bigger boot and updated styling mark the arrival of the second-generation Ford Kuga (above). A foot-activated automatic tailgate is among the neat touches this compact SUV brings to the market segment that’s attracting record numbers of buyers. Active park assist and a blind spot warning system are also expected to be part of the package, based on the European and US models. The Kuga is expected to go on sale with 2.0-litre turbo diesel and petrol powerplants. If the Kuga’s not compact enough, try the EcoSport, which is based on the Fiesta small car and is expected to be priced under $25,000.  

There's nothing wrong with "old school", especially when it is priced and performs as competitively as Hyosung's GT650 S sports tourer. The fit and finish isn’t close to Japanese bikes and the chassis has been around for almost as long as Kawasaki persisted with its 250cc Ninja. Fire it at a decent bit of road, though, and you suddenly appreciate just how competent it is.VALUEThe $3500 bulge in your bank account will go a long way to compensating for the lack of looks. At $6590 nothing comes close to the Hyosung GT650S in terms of bang for the buck - the nearest Japanese rivals cost $10K or more.  And there are three GT650 models to choose from - the fully faired R adds $400, while the naked GT650 is just $6390.TECHNOLOGYThe fuel-injected V-twin does a great job of damping vibrations until you're well over the speed limit and is a smooth, sweet-sounding unit. A major positive is the fact this machine can be sold to learners, though power falls from 59kW to 40kW to earn LAMS approval.The suspension is surprisingly good for this price and the front has rebound and compression adjustment.  The updated 2013 range is about to be launched with revised suspension but will also come with a higher price STYLING Methuselah designed this bike with a parallel oval frame and Hyosung hasn't seen fit to change it. In an era where the South Korean bikemaker's car counterparts update their ranges every 18 months, it is a glaring omission, if only in terms of looks.Look beyond that and the compact bike - it doesn't feel much bigger than a full-sized 250 - has a great seat and sensible ride position that will let owners cruise for hours at a relaxed lope or tuck down under the screen for a red-hot go.RIDINGThe basics are all there for Hyosung - a willing V-twin engine with a decent exhaust note, solid six-speed gearbox and a frame that doesn't flex until you’re on the absolute limit. It is also capable of upsetting trendier Japanese riders by sticking with them in the downhill twisty stuff. The Bridgestone Battlax rubber helps here by giving good grip and reasonable feedback for a factory fitted tyre.The GT650 can't match the in-line fours and lighter weight of modern bikes uphill, though, and doesn't reward revving right out to the 10,500rpm redline. The rear brake is so-so but the front stoppers work well.VERDICTCheap thrills are the Hyosung's forte. It is an easy-riding commuter, decent back-roads runner and comfortable tourer in the one package. Hyosung just needs to house that V-twin engine in a newer and lighter body to tempt more riders into a test ride.Hyosung GT650SPrice: $6590Warrenty: Two years/unlimited kmService intervals: 6000kmEngine: 647cc V-twin, 59kW, 67NmTransmission: Six-speed, chain-driveDimensions: 2.09m (L), 0.78m (W), 1.09m (H)Seat height: 0.79mFuel tank: 17 litresSuspension: 41mm inverted forks with adjustable rebound and compression, rear monoshock with adjustable preloadBrakes: Twin 300mm front discs with four-piston calipers, 230mm rear disc with single-piston caliperDry weight: 203kg 

The Euro-built hatch - previewing at the Australian International Motor Show - will compete with Volkswagen's Scirocco R and the RenaultSport Megane RS265 for the premium performance hatch role and Opel is promising a high level of specification in the car to justify an expected mid-$40,000 price.The car has been widely expected as the hero model in the Opel range and with a class-leading 206kW/400Nm from a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine, it shouldn't disappoint. Opel is stating a 0-100km/h time of six seconds flat for the two-door coupe, which is based on the sportily styled Opel Astra GTC.Beyond the engine, exterior changes include side skirts and deeper front and rear bumpers, a pair of trapezoidal exhausts, 19-inch alloy wheels and a limited-slip diff that helps the "HiPerStrut" front suspension improve roadholding for the front-wheel drive car A bespoke Brembo braking system, headlined by ventilated 355mm front discs help slow the hatch down. The system was tested in a 10,000km high-speed endurance run on the Nurburgring track in Germany, so it should survive the worst Australian drivers can throw at it.Opel says the Astra OPC will lap the ‘Ring in a staggering 8 minutes and 35 seconds. That time is within 30 seconds for the record 8min08sec time set by the recently launched Megane RS265, but the Renault doesn't have the same level of creature comforts as European-spec OPCs, giving the Opel an edge in the luxury stakes.The OPC also uses a variable three-mode "FlexRide" damper system, running Standard, Sport and OPC settings. Sport stiffens the dampers to improve control, but it is the OPC mode that gets interesting. Here, the system improves throttle response, sets the dampers to their maximum level and reduces improves roll. The instrument lighting changes from white to red in OPC mode to remind the driver they've truly entered hot hatch territory.Opel will release pricing and specification closer to next year's launch, but those at the motor show should take a long, hard look at the display car. 

The carmakers were praised by survey compiler Interbrand for "becoming more attuned to the emotional connection consumers have with their cars" and tailoring social media and internet services to individuals.Audi's virtual showroom in London was cited as the future of automotive retailing and the "next big thing" in terms of engaging customers throughout the purchase cycle."Audi City, is revolutionizing the future of retailing by combining digital product presentations and personal contact with dealers," Interbrand notes. Other carmakers, including BMW and Infiniti, are working on similar projects.The Audi concept does away with the massive - and expensive - car showroom in favour of a store the size of a regular retail outlet that uses an array of nine 72-inch screens to show virtual full-size vehicles.Motion sensors and wireless interactivity let customers add interior and exterior options to customise the car. The finished product is then saved onto a USB stick for future reference.South Korean duo Hyundai and Kia were two of the biggest movers in the 2012 survey. Kia's value increased by 50 per cent over last year to place it 87th overall and put it alongside parent company Hyundai as a global powerhouse.Toyota maintains its place as the dominant carmaker with a worth of more than $31 billion, just ahead of prestige brands Mercedes-Benz and BMW. Volkswagen is the fifth-ranked carmaker but the parent company also has Audi and Porsche in the listings.Honda's production problems in the past 12 months were reflected in an 11 per cent drop in the company's worth, though it still sits in 21st place.TOP AUTO BRANDS(values converted from US$ at a 1.03 exchange rate) 

Appealing to our national identity to support local product is the Toyota’s latest lure to entice buyers into showrooms. Toyota is pushing the “buy Australian” line with a 0 per cent finance deal on its locally assembled Camry, Camry Hybrid and Aurion sedans. Camry sales are still more than solid, with the sedan accounting for almost one in three cars sold in the mid-sized market. The Aurion, though, is being hammered by the move away from large sedans and sales are down 23 per cent so far this year. Toyota's executive director sales and marketing Matthew Callachor says the finance offer is an extension of the company's Local Pride advertising campaign, which features staff from the Altona production line in Melbourne’s west extolling the virtues of the vehicles. "Zero per cent (finance) is a way to encourage Australians to rediscover the value and other attributes of cars we build here," Callachor says. "Over many years, we have exported several times more Australian-built Toyota cars than we sell locally. Our long-term aim is to shift this balance closer to 50:50. We are supporting that objective by reminding local motorists that Camry and Aurion are built by Australians for Australians." Toyota built 96,618 cars at the plant last year, most of which were exported and will open a new $330 million engine facility in Victoria later this year to build the 2.5-litre four-cylinder engines that power the Camry range. The financial promotion is a means of offsetting the continued strength of the Aussie dollar, which effectively gives importers a default discount on their vehicles. Toyota isn’t the only carmaker with a 0 per cent finance deal. Renault and Nissan are pushing the interest-free loan on a three-year term for selected models. Kia and Mitsubishi are both touting 0.9 per cent finance and Honda has a 1.5 per cent rate on the Civic hatch. LOCAL VEHICLE PRODUCTION  

The car is a concept in name only as the German carmaker gears up to grab a slice of the ever-growing compact vehicle market. Expect to see it in production sooner rather than later, likely wearing a 1 Series xDrive Gran Turismo badge.  The man who oversaw the development of the “UKL” platform the car sits on, Thomas Wuertele, admits the vehicle is a “near production” concept and, despite being based on a front-drive platform, he insists it still conforms to the BMW brand by being a dynamic drive. “Acceleration is below 8 seconds for 0-100km/h and with around 140kW and 200Nm it is really fun to drive,” Wuertele says. “We can build these sporty cars in this segment and still meet the customer demands of a lot of interior space and compact external dimensions. There is future growth in this class and that’s why we built this architecture.” Wuertele says the UKL platform can adjust from 3.8m to 4.5m in length.  “So it’s a very flexible thing. We were thinking about a platform for front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive and this is the result,” he says. Power for the all-wheel drive hybrid crossover comes from a 1.5-litre three-cylinder turbo engine up front, while a synchronous electric motor drives the rear wheels. Electric power is stored in a lithium-ion battery that gives the concept a purely electric range of around 30km.  The average fuel consumption is a claimed 2.5L/100km with CO2 emissions of less than 60g/km. The rear-seat space is impressive and the back pews fold in a 40:20:40 layout for extra cargo space. The concept also uses a panoramic composite glass roof with “Suspended Particle Device” technology for push-button adjustment from clear glass to nearly opaque.  

Design head Laurens van den Acker says his job involves giving the company a cohesive visual style across the 26 models it sells around the globe. “Clio is more than the launch of a car, it’s the launch of a brand,” he notes. “The reality is the last couple of years the Renault image has degraded, so I think creating a stronger face will help us to fight back. “I want everything that comes out of our studio to be recognised as a Renault. “The Clio is definitely younger and the headlights are a little bit bigger - like a younger member of the family - but the more higher up (the range) we go, the more serious they will get.” He says the hot-hatch Clio RS model is visually more muted than the model it replaces. “I have a feeling we might attract more customers because of that,” he says. “I would be more interested in a Clio RS with four doors and more performance than a car that makes me look like I have a mid-life crisis.” The same logic applies to moving away from the traditional RenaultSport approach of fitting its cars with naturally aspirated engines and manual gearboxes. The new Clio will have a turbo 1.6-litre engine mated to a dual-clutch automatic and van den Acker points out an auto will give the car broader appeal. “The RenaultSport guys have assured me the performance of the Clio 4 will be much better than Clio 3 and that in the end is the most important thing.” Van den Acker adds that Renault is also planning a range of crossovers and is looking at pickups, based on platforms from its partner, Nissan. “We are in the midst of creating a full line-up of crossovers. Unfortunately we are many years too late, so the only hope I have is we come in late but we learn from all the others’ mistakes and come up with a very strong line-up,” he says. “The B-sgement SUV will be based on the Modus platform (a compact people-mover Renault sells in Europe), but on the other versions of the line-up we will work closely with Nissan. We’re forced to look for more synergies, it’s economy of scale that demands us to find ways to produce more derivatives.”  

Class-leading handling and ride will jumpstart the Renault Clio’s launch in the light-car market next year. A lack of airbags may deflate some of that edge, at least among potential buyers who want the maximium protection for rear-seat passengers. It’s still a five-star car, though, and one of the best driving vehicles in the light car segment.VALUEPrices haven’t been set for the Clio - it doesn’t go on sale until midway through next year - but Carsguide predicts it will be around $16,500. That’s based on Renault Australia managing director Justin Hocevar’s assertion the car will be priced between the top-selling Japanese model (the $15,790 Mazda2) and the best-selling Euro vehicle (the $16,990 Volkswagen Polo).Specification likewise hasn’t been set for the local cars, but expect the base model - a 900cc turbocharged three-cylinder - to come with cruise control, keyless entry, daytime running lights and possibly even satnav as standard gear.TECHNOLOGYThe optional R-Link seven-inch touchscreen is an Android-powered system developed by Renault and TomTom. It is a multimedia interface with satnav and an embedded SIM that lets it connect to the internet and download apps that (in Europe) range from alerting drivers to the nearest and/or cheapest fuel, provide speed camera warnings and prioritise internet radio stations based on users’ previous preferences.A dual-clutch automated manual transmission will be available on the mid-range petrol engine - likely the 1.2-litre turbo - and the top-end turbo diesel. All models should have engine idle stop/start.Outputs for the turbocharged 1.5-litre diesel aren't huge -- 66kW/220Nm -- but it has impressive economy at 3.4L/100km, making the diesel Clio the most fuel-efficient engine in its class. In Australia it will only be sold with the EDC dual-clutch transmission, so expect around a $4000 premium over the base price.STYLINGA compact, classy package with plenty of interior space should put the Clio on a lot of short lists. The 300-litre boot takes two big suitcases with ease and there’s room for two adults in the back without the front occupants having to keep their seats forward. The materials look and feel good and the only complaint is the seat is made for a bigger butt than mine.Even then, the fabric has good grip but I’d prefer the side bolsters to have thicker padding to offset cornering forces. The front end is dominated by the big Renault badge set on a piano-black horizontal stripe across the bonnet that gives the car road presence. The scalloped door panels don’t hurt either, while the rear of the five-door hatch is solid, if not sensational.SAFETYIt will be interesting to see if ANCAP adopts the five-star rating EuroNCAP has given the Clio. The light car comes with four airbags, meaning the rear passengers aren’t cushioned in a side-crash, much like the VW Up!.Renault admits the decision was price-driven but argues the structural strength and dual-stage seatbelt pretensioners provide more than enough protection for back-seat passengers. Software includes the expected ABS with stability control and hill-start assist.DRIVINGThe Clio has the capacity to surprise, at least not when it comes to the 900cc engine that is expected to be the entry point for the range in Australia. The lightweight engine isn’t the quickest cab in the field off the lights but once underway it is hard to fault, pulling cleanly from low revs right up to redline.The Ford Fiesta was Renault’s benchmark for ride and handling and they’ve come very close to bettering it, though a definitive test will have to wait until the Clio lands here. The car’s poise through corners shames much more expensive models and changes of direction are taken in its stride. Understeer eventually appears but a tiny lift off the throttle will have the car tracking true again.The electric steering is light around town and adds effort as the pace picks up. The good news is it’s pinpoint precise at any speed. The suspension coped with rural Italy’s patched-up roads with barely a shake and while larger bumps at speed could momentarily unsettle the torsion-beam rear, it is something most owners won’t feel.A brief stint in the diesel shows it is on a par with the best oilburners coming out of Europe, with on-the-go performance that impresses. Like the 900cc petrol, the engine is functional ahead of frisky, with low-down torque that happily copes with third gear roll-on acceleration from 30km/h.VERDICTThis is the best regular Renault on the market. It drives as well as it looks and, airbags aside, will rate as one of the smarter choices in the light car pack.