Articles by Craig Duff

It's 7.35am and the smartphone buzzes. It's not the wake-up alarm but an alert that traffic is peaking on my route to work.Based on the car-to-car communication - and the number of vehicles in my area the system predicts will join the throng in the next 15 minutes - it's time to hit the road if I hope to make work on time.The car starts its warm-up routine as I finish the coffee: pre-heating the fluids for the internal combustion engine and, depending on the temperature, activating the air-conditioning system to my preferred temperature.Next door the daughter's electro-mobile is inert. She stays overnight every three or four days; ostensibly to visit the olds, in reality to tap into my power and keep her car fully “fuelled''. Gotta love kids.She's also still in the shower, knowing she can access the express lane reserved for automated cars. There are only a few trial routes at the moment but I - along with most non-Gen Y motorists who refuse to cede control of the steering wheel - already resent paying for her to motor on bitumen I bought but can't use. And I taught her to drive, tooIn the car I pocket the phone and slide the tablet into the dash. The newspaper display is replaced by my favourite apps and the article I was reading on the way out is now read out to me through the premium speaker package.“Music,'' I tell the car and it responds by resuming the soundtrack I was listening to when I pulled up yesterday. I've ignored the overnight email deluge until now and brush away - literally - the first few, where the sender and subject matter are shown on the heads-up display.The fourth, from the boss, can't be waved off; the system pauses to ensure I want it, then drops the music to background ambience and narrates the latest missive. On the highway the traffic is a steady 40km/h.The car-to-car network and infrastructure embedded in the road advises the left lane is closed 5km ahead as a result of an accident - an older car lacking the emergency braking software fitted to modern vehicles has rear-ended another. One kay out from the crash the system beeps ever more stridently until I move out of the affected lane.It's then I - briefly - see Ms Duff breezing past in the far right lane at 130km/h, oblivious of the drivers as she chats with her friend. It's a requirement of the express lane that all the seats be occupied (that's why I'm paying for a two-seat coupe) to minimise congestion. Welcome to the future. It's just five years from now. 

It’s not just the top end of town that’s paying more upfront for the long-term bonus of reduced running costs.

Toyota Camry Atara SX and Kia Optima Platinum go head-to-head in this comparative review.

Faulty welding on towbars has forced Ford Australia to recall more than 16,000 Ranger utes.Although no accidents have been reported, there is the potential for the vehicle to lose its trailer when towing. The recall applies to 16,287 Rangers built in Thailand from September 2006 to June last year.The recall notice stated: “Fracturing of the towbar tongue welding can affect safe operation and handling when an affected vehicle is towing, presenting a potential traffic hazard to the driver and/or other road users”. A Ford spokesman said the fault originated in the company’s Thailand production plant.The company has written to owners of PJ and PK Ranger XLT and Wildtrak models advising them not to tow with the vehicles and to contact their nearest dealer to have the unit replaced. All of the 4244 PJ vehicles affected are XLT models; while around 1200 of the 11,812 newer PK models are the top-range Wildtrak version, with the rest XLTs.The recall does not apply to the PX Ranger now on sale. Ford Australia spokesman Neil McDonald said that 3000 replacement towbars had already been shipped to dealers and more stock was arriving at a rate of 600 a week.At that rate it will take 22 weeks to replace all of the faulty towbars. “It’s only an issue if you are using the vehicle to tow, it is safe to continue driving normally,” he said. “A Queensland customer noticed a crack in the weld and our engineering department has verified it is an issue on those vehicles.“It’s a half-day fix to replace the towbar assembly - the rear step bumper isn’t affected.” Ranger owners who are unsure if the recall applies to them should call Ford on 1800 503 627. 

Save cash and chrome with the Hyosung GV650 cruiser. This is the cheapest cruiser by $2000 among the established two-wheeled players in Australia but it doesn't look or perform like it.Put bluntly, none of the comparable Japanese bikes can match this South Korean machine for grunt or ground clearance.It mightn't look as tough as the Suzuki Boulebard C50 or as old-school as the Honda VT750 Shadow ... but if riding the bike is more important than being looked at, this is the machine to go for.VALUEHa ha ha ... That's the sound of GV650 owners laughing all the way from the bank. And so they should. The build quality on the GV650 isn't far of Suzuki levels of sophistication and it is fuel injected, which is more than can be said for Yamaha's XVS650.TECHNOLOGYCruisers are meant to be conventional, not cutting-edge and that applies here. The inverted front forks are a modern touch but it still uses a five-speed gearbox, fairly basic brakes and not much in the way of switchgear. The digital instrument panel is easy to operate and read - though Melbourne didn't provide any sunshine for Carsguide to test over-the-shoulder glare.STYLINGThe 2012 Sport model now sports a bobber-style rear-end. The Classic model is still on sale - for another $200 - and has the fully extended rear fender for those who want the traditional look. In either case, a LED taillight is now standard. The pegs also have 100mm of travel - 50mm forward and back from the default setting - and the longer connecting rod for the gear lever is also part of the new bike deal. Swept back bars look good without being uncomfortable, though don't expect your pillion to enjoy hours on the flat pad that passes for a rear seat - and warn them to hang on off the lights.RIDINGWith 20mm more ground clearance than its rivals, the Hyosung can be tipped in harder than a regular cruiser. When it does touch down it is the footpegs that scrape first, rather than the big chrome exhaust that extends up the right side of the bike. The Bridgestone Battlax rubber handled the constant showers without a squirm and the brakes are better than average in the cruiser class. It pulls cleanly from low down right through to the point where acceleration tapers off to encourage the rider to change gears (there is no tacho). The only criticism is the revs - there's not enough damping to insulate the pegs - or handlebars - from the vibration of the V-twin, which would be annoying on extended highway runs.VERDICTThe best value-for-money middleweight cruiser going around. Vibes aside, it uses no juice, goes harder than its rivals and is a genuinely fun machine to ride. All I need is some sunshine...Hyosung GV650 Aquilla SportPrice: $8790Warranty: Two years/unlimited kmService Intervals: 6000kmEngine: 546cc V-twin, 60kW/67NmTransmission: Five-speed, belt-driveDry Weight: 220kgSeat Height: 705mmFuel Tank: 14 litresBody: 2.34m (L), 0.84m (W), 1.15m (H)Ground Clearance: 160mmSuspension: 41mm inverted front forks with rebound and compression adjustment; twin rear shocks with preload adjustmentBrakes: Dual front 300mm discs with twin-piston calipers; 270mm rear disc with single caliper 

The supercharged V8 in Ford Performance Vehicle's flagship GT will finally be matched with wheels and suspension capable of putting its awesome power to the road. The $76,900 GT RSpec - internally known as Panther - is also the first FPV with launch control, which chief engineer Bernie Quinn says is equally effective with the manual or automatic transmissions. The heart of the machine - the "Miami" 5.0-litre V8 is unchanged. The engine was hailed at its launch in late 2010 ago as the most powerful V8 developed for an Australian-made muscle car. As reviewers and owners explored the performance potential of the car it became apparent there was too much power - 335kW and 570Nm - for the rubber under the rear wheels to cope with. When the car was mobile, the handling lacked the precision that is a hallmark of high-end performance vehicles. The release of 350 GT RSpec models fitted with 275mm wide Dunlop MaxxSport rubber on 19-inch wheels, along with a strut-load of suspension upgrades and reinforced engine mounting points, is intended to address those issues and put Falcon-based beast at the top of the local performance market in terms of handling as well as power. FPV tested the US-built Ford Mustang, BMW M3s and the Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG to establish handling benchmarks for the car.  Quinn says the objectives for the RSpec were greater roll control, so the car sits flatter in corners; better body control, so the chassis stiffness and dampers were improved “so it followed the road more, instead of floating over the bumps and having issues like aftershake”; and improved steering response to eliminate the delay between turning the wheel and having the car respond. “We realised we had to get the power to the ground more effectively and we also wanted more traction mid-corner and powering out of the corner,” Quinn says. “And we've achieved that. This car is more agile, more responsive to steering inputs and puts its power down better in all situations." He refuses to give 0-100km/h times or a top speed (it is electronically limited to 250km/h). The GT RSpec is a $5700 premium over the regular GT. FPV boss Bryan Mears says the GT won’t be built while the RSpec versions are going down the production line - and won’t commit to whether the upgrades will become a standard fit on future GT models. Beyond the badging, the RSpec is identified by a C-stripe along the side panels and the unique rims. BREAKOUT The 350 RSpec sedans will be joined by 75 Pursuit utes in FPV showrooms from late August. The $57,990 utes will share the cars alloy wheels and C-stripe decals but will only be sold in the black “Silhouette” paint scheme with red “Vixen” accents. Half of the sedans will also come with this colour scheme while the other 175 cars will be split between red, white and blue, all with black highlights. FACTOID The NSW Police are the first to buy an FPV RSpec sedan. The force has a deal to buy the 150th car that rolls down the line to coincide with its 150th anniversary. FPV will hand it over with the white paint scheme.  

With the US brand muscling in on the fastest-growing global segment, Jeep’s global head Mike Manley says the nature of compact SUVs means the company has to have a two-wheel drive variant to compete on price and allow for the fact many people don’t take their cars off-road. Being a Jeep, there will also be all-wheel drive and “Trail-rated” four-wheel drive versions. “We’ve been very clear in saying that within each of the segment Jeep operates in, we need to have to have segment-leading (4WD) capability and that ties back to the DNA of the Wrangler,” Manley says. He says the aim is to build a vehicle that is essentially a mini Grand Cherokee; combining a modern, hi-tech interior with the robust body that is still capable of taking its occupants wherever they dare drive it.  “When you get into smaller segments, they will not have the capability, for example, of the Grand Cherokee. But within their segment one vehicle will be Trail-rated had have class-leading capability." He says the as-yet-unnamed vehicle is based on a Fiat-derived architecture, but “it will undergo significant development to turn it into a Jeep.” Manley notes the Compass and Patriot models have already proven two-wheel drive Jeeps have popular appeal. “On those vehicles, we’re 51 per cent two-wheel drive (in the US),” he says. “That figure will go up for this car because we know that two-wheel drive tends to dominate sales with smaller SUVs. “So I’m looking for a very versatile, mod, fun interior that’s (still) going to be robust enough for those people who take their vehicle off-road.”  “The Grand Cherokee has been an exceptional product for us and this vehicle will continue that approach.”  

Building the Alfa Romeo and Fiat brands are the priorities for the man charged with overseeing the Fiat Chrysler group in the Asia-Pacific reason. And that rules out a right-hand drive version of the Dodge Dart compact sedan, at least for this generation of the car, given it shares much of its undperinnings with the Alfa Giuletta already on sale here. Mike Manley wears many caps within the Fiat Chrysler group. As the boss of Jeep and Asia-Pacific head of Fiat and Alfa, he’s also the man responsible for the vehicles coming to Australia. And the Dodge brand doesn’t figure in that planning as he looks to rationalise the number of marques and models in the group’s line-up. “Dodge has basically become a North American brand,” Manley says. “Progressively I’ve removed Dodge from markets around the world. I’ve taken it out of Europe, I’ve taken it out of China. That said, Dodge is a loved brand in Australia, whether it’s the American heritage or the muscle cars … so the theory is yes, in practice you can never say never. “We’re looking at how we develop the portfolio with which brands to make sure we have a viable product plan for our dealers and us to grow our business. And I think in that area, Alfa Romeo has huge potential. “The jury is out in terms of right-hand drive Dart, because there are other options for us. You take Giuletta, Viaggio at the moment is only left-hand drive, but that’s a great car too…” The Fiat-badged Viaggio is a restyled version of the Dart, meaning it also owes its existence to the Giuletta platform. The Viaggio is the spearhead for Fiat’s push into China and goes on sale next month. A move into India - and another 1.2 billion aspirational auto owners - is the logical next step for the Viaggio. Indian cars are right-hand drive, which would give Fiat’s Australian operation access to a vehicle that would be much easier to base a business case on. Fiat Chrysler Group Australia spokeswoman Lenore Fletcher is more open in the company’s aims. “If it has a steering wheel on the right hand side, we’ll look at it,” she says. “We’re doing that now as part of the takeover (private importer Ateco sold the Fiat and Alfa brands until May 1 this year) process.”  

Slabs of square-edged sheet metal have earned the latest Ford Ranger a reputation as a tough-looking pickup. The launch of the range-topping Wildtrak has buffed that image with creature comforts more often found in high-end cars.The result is a good-looking, go-anywhere five-seater — just don't expect your significant other to be impressed if you take it bush and scratch it.The best things in life may be free; everything else costs. In the case of the Wildtrak, it costs more than most — but there's more to appreciate, from the leather-trimmed and heated seats to satnav, voice control of the sound system and airconditioning and a trick reversing camera that displays in the rear-view mirror. Prices start at $57,390 for the six-speed manual, so most buyers will be up for $59,390 plus on-road/dealer costs after ticking the box for the six-speed automatic. Its only competition is the $56,990 Nissan Navara ST-X and Volkswagen Amarok Ultimate at $58,490.The five-inch multi-function colour display isn't huge but the recessed position makes it glare-proof, the voice controls for the Bluetooth/sound system/airconditioning actually understood me and the guidelines superimposed over the reversing camera's view are dead accurate. Ford says there are 23 stowage spaces and it comfortably dealt with the debris a four-member family typically loads into a vehicle.It's hip to be square, based on the reaction to the Ranger line-up and the Wildtrak in particular. The design is Broadmeadows-based; Ford and Mazda shared the engineering duties but then went their own way in skinning the vehicle. Ford is winning that fight, based on sales figures against the BT-50.The interior is class-leading, too. Supportive seats front and rear means the side bolsters counter what little body roll the Wildtrak has and the controls are fairly intuitive — it took less than a minute to pair two phones, connect an iPod and map a destination on the satnav.The dual-cab Ranger/BT-50 are the best-crashing vehicles in this class, with an ANCAP assessment of 35.72 out of 37. Holden's Colorado is next at 35.09, followed by the VW Amarok at 32.99. The crash protection body notes the risk of serious chest injury was slight for the Wildtrak against marginal for the Amarok. The Navara only rates four stars. Standard safety kit on the Wildtrak runs from six airbags to ABS with stability control, emergency brake assist and rollover mitigation.Vehicles this large shouldn't handle as well as the Wildtrak does. The firm suspension cuts down the expected body roll. The trade-off is a slightly jittery ride over small road irregularities, like the metal strips that join overpass sections, but it was no worse than the mid-sized sedan sharing the Carsguide garage that week. And the physical size means it has a 12.7 metre turning circle, so it's not the easiest thing to park in a suburban shopping centre.The rear camera offsets this but the two guinea pigs Carsguide put behind the wheel (male and female) didn't enjoy trying to gauge the pivot point when reverse parking. That's the price you pay for a 5.35m vehicle that will carry five people, tow 3.35 tonnes (the towbar is standard) or haul a tonne of dirt in the rear tub. The flip-side is they liked the interior, were impressed with the acceleration and loved the attention the Wildtrak received on the r oad.

Autonomous braking systems could save 250 lives and around $5 billion a year, according to Australia’s vehicle crash-testing body.Australian New Car Assessment Program chief executive Nicholas Clarke said automated emergency braking systems are the “next big thing” for vehicle safety.“AEB can probably be considered the next seat belt or electronic stability control equivalent in terms of saving lives,” Clarke said. “Advanced safety assist technology can help remove the weakest link when it comes to car crashes; the driver. “If every car on the road was equipped with AEB, the toll would fall by around 25 per cent.”Many carmakers already offer models with automated braking systems. The cheapest is the Volvo V50 wagon, which is priced from $42,990. Ford’s $33,840 Focus Titanium and the $38,950 Mercedes-Benz B-Class can both be optioned with the technology, costing $2300 and $2500 respectively.AEB systems use video cameras, radars or lasers to scan the road and determine the distance to the vehicle ahead and its relative speed. When the AEB-equipped vehicle gets too close, the software sounds a warning and then actively engages the brakes if the driver fails to respond.Australia was the first country to legislate compulsory seat belt use in 1970-’72. Global motoring body, the FIA, says wearing seat belts has reduced fatalities by 20 per cent in Australia since that date. Federal Department of Infrastructure and Transport figures state the economic impact of the 1288 deaths last year was around $27 billion.ANCAP’s “road map” of technologies required in future cars lists AEB as an optional system for five-star certification by 2017. Clarke expects to have that date revised down _ and predicts it will be mandatory, rather than optional. “We’re already talking to carmakers and lobbying the federal government to introduce these systems as soon as possible,” he said.Pedestrian Council of Australia head Harold Scruby is an enthusiastic supporter of the safety technology but doesn’t expect to see any quick action from the government. “I’ve actually been to see Catherine King pleading with her to mandate rear-vision cameras, which would cost about $100 a vehicle,” he said.“Unfortunately, this seemed to fall on deaf ears. If we can’t get reversing cameras mandated, what hope have we got getting this technology into the Australian Design Rules?” Drivers who buy cars with the technology should also benefit from lower insurance premiums, with some companies offering up to 20 per cent off the regular premium for AEB-equipped models.AEB EXPLAINEDAutonomous emergency braking systems use video cameras, radar or lasers to scan the road ahead and assess the vehicle’s speed as well as the speed of the car in front. Most warn the driver in the approach speed is too high and then automatically apply the brakes if an impending nose-to-tail crash is detected.Depending on the situation, the systems can either prevent an accident outright or dramatically cut the severity of the impact - and therefore the damage to the vehicles and occupants. There is no industry standard for the software. As a result, three differing versions are now sold. The first works at typical city speeds of below 30km/h; others operate at highway speeds. Finally, some systems also detect and react to pedestrians walking out into the vehicle’s path.