Articles by Craig Duff

However the Toyota FT-Bh styling disguises the most aerodynamic car at the Geneva Motor Swhow.The four-seat Toyota's FT-Bh cuts through the air with the same ease it cuts through conventional car styling to achieve a drag co-efficient of just 0.235, well under the company's next-best model, the Prius hatch, which rates at 0.25.Teamed with a 1.0-litre, two-cylinder hybrid powerplant  the FT-Bh uses just 2.1 litres/100km. Inside glazed glass and matte paint are applied to stop the interior from heating up and avoid the need to increase fuel use by activating the airconditioning.But it is the styling that creates the biggest impact. Toyota says the asymmetic panels represent the tensional stress on stretched fabric.It is confronting, but effective and Toyota says the use of existing materials means a production version could be built at a competitive cost. the light car is around the same size as a Toyota Yaris but hits the scales at a svelte 786kg."One year ago we challenged our engineers and designs to come up with a small super-efficient car at an affordable price, reinforcing our environmental leadership in the coming years," Toyota Europe boss Didier Leroy says.The FT-Bh was shown alongside a concept version of the Yaris hybrid, a car which Toyota Australia has already confirmed it won't take, preferring to go for the Prius C. The Yaris hybrid uses a 1.5-litre engine matched to an electric motor to generate 74kW. Power is delivered to the front wheels via a continuously variable transmission and fuel consumption is a claimed 3.5 litres/100km with CO2 emissions of just 79g/km Standard features include seven airbags, LED running lights and dual-zone climate control.

Ford is about to make the white van stylish, if the Tourneo concept is any indication. The eight-seat people-mover debuted at the Geneva Motor Show and, while it won't be seen in Australia, the platform and styling will form the basis for the Ford Transit van that is popular with city-based cargo carriers.The new Transit is due late this year and Ford has worked hard to give the van a more carlike look inside and out. The Tourneo concept follows Ford's Kinetic design approach and the sculpted front end has elements of the Focus and Escape passenger cars.That extend to the interior, with the instrument panel and dash following the Focus small car look.A rear-view camer should keep Transit buyers - and the owners of nearby vehicles - happy, while the concept also featured a lane departure warning and driver fatigue alert systems, along with Ford's Sync infotainment system that connects with smart phones.The Tourneo concept is powered by a 114kW 2.2-litre diesel engine with stop-start technology. Lower spec variants of the engine will also be available in 74kW and 92kW configurations. The Tourneo Custom Concept has seats and is being presented as a people mover, but Ford says a true commercial range will follow.  The new Transit will be based on what Ford is calling a 'global' platform, under the same One Ford strategy that could spell the end for an unique Australian Falcon, but oddly it won't be sold in the US.Europe can expect the new Transit range, which will be offered in short and long wheelbase forms, to arrive next year and Working Wheels understands the range will be made available in Australia at some stage during 2013. This model Transit is front-drive and Working Wheels expects larger rear-drive models, which better carry big loads, will also be made available. The Tourneo Custom Concept runs the same 2.2-litre DuraTorq TDCi turbo diesel that has just been introduced in the current Transit. In Europe this engine runs a stop-start feature, which kills the engine when it comes to a halt to save fuel. Future production Transits will run the same system in a bid to save as much fuel as possible. Ford says the engines, which will run a range of other improvements, will be available with outputs of 75kW, 93kW and 116kW. They will be hooked up to a six-speed manual gearbox.The Tourneo Custom Concept has an all-new interior, which Ford describes as 'driver-focussed' using materials of the same quality as a modern sedan.The show vehicle is fitted with a voice control system for the phone and audio controls as well as an advanced control system kicks in to keep it from straying out of its lane.

The B-Max unveiled at Geneva won't get an invitation to Australia as Ford has said they have plans for the Ecosport instead. The urban-focused B-Max comes with several innovative features, highlighted by the lack of a B-pillar to ease access in and out of the vehicle for rear-seat passengers. To compensate for the lack of the middle pillar, the front doors lock on to the floor pan and roof of the vehicle, while the rear sliding doors latch to the floor and the slider than extends along the rear panel. With both doors open, there's an impressive 152cm hole amidships to help load and unload passengers. Those sliding rear doors also mean the vehicle can be parked close to other cars without the driver having to worry about space to open the doors. Other innovations include the first European use of the Sync infotainment system and a 1.0-litre turbocharged three-cylinder engine that pumps out around 90kW. Despite the smart features, only the engine will make an appearance in Australia. Ford spokesman Neil McDonald confirms the Indian-built EcoSport will be the entry level SUV Down Under, though it will be powered by the same 1.0-litre Ecoboost engine. "The B-Max is an interesting car but it's not something we're looking at for Australia," he says. "EcoSport is the car we've confirmed we're taking." Ford Australia's Broadmeadows design studio helped on the EcoSport's styling, notably the Territory-esque three-bar grille. The EcoSport will sit below the compact Kuga due to launch later this month, the locally built Territory and a yet-to-launch SUV based on the Ford Ranger ute platform.

The F-Sport kit will include a more aggressive exterior headed by a deeper front bumper and 19-inch rims. The suspension has also been revised to reduce vibrations entering the cabin and improve steering feel. Lexus says the system replaces conventional fixed bracing with a performance damper that links the front suspension towers and reduces body deformation that occurs when the left and right suspension towers move relative to each other when dealing with road irregularities. The RX350 F Sport also picks up steering wheel-mounted paddle-shifters to operate the six-speed automatic when in manual mode. Lexus expects the F Sports models to account for a third of sales. All variants of the hybrid-powered 450h now have a Sports mode to complement the Eco and Normal drive modes. The Sports mode heightens accelerator and steering response and adjusts the instrument panel illumination from the regular blue lighting to a go-faster red hue. A separate switch governs the electric-only drive, which enables the SUV to run up to 50km/h on electric power alone, though only for distances of 2km at a burst.

Nissan is shy about confirming right now, but..... The slab-sided Nissan X-Trail will morph into a more curvaceous model based on the looks of the mid-sized Hi Cross SUV concept shown at the Geneva Motor Show. Nissan product head Andy Palmer says the Hi Cross is more than just a styling exercise and cites the hybrid drivetrain as an example of what will power upcoming Nissan SUVs. The seven-seater concept pairs an electric motor and batter sourced from the Leaf with a 2.0-litre direct injection four-cylinder engine to reduce fuel use and CO2 emissions. Palmer says that equates to similar performance as that found in a 2.5-litre engine. The trade-off will be in the four-wheel drive system. The Hi Cross's hybrid powertrain was developed for front-wheel drive vehicles and then customised to give an on-demand all-wheel drive system. The system also uses Nissan's Xtronic continuously variable transmission, which the company says can cut fuel use by up to 10 per cent. The Hi-Cross is bigger in every dimension except height than the existing X-Trail, reflecting the trend among all carmakers to "grow" each generation of a given product. "The Hi in Hi-Cross doesn't just mean high riding, it means high technology that's eco-friendly. It means high value and it means high excitement," Palmer says. "Nissan created the crossover segment with Murano and has expanded the genre with top selling cars like Qashqai (sold as the Dualis in Australia) and Juke. Hi-Cross Con cept shows we are not sitting still, but exploring ways of cementing our crossover leadership by exploring new ideas."

When the fourth-generation mid-sized SUV arrives here late this year it will also herald the launch of a two-wheel drive variant alongside the all-paw variant, adding to the appeal of the already competent crossover car. That should snare buyers who liked the size and space of the CR-V but didn't want to be saddled with the weight or extra cost of an on-demand four-wheel drive system. Ignore the prototype label of the Geneva Motor Show car - the CR-V on the stand is basically production ready and looks more assertive than the current car. It's not a radical departure but has modernised the look of the vehicle - and that was one of the very few areas that let the ageing CR-V down. The crease lines are more chiselled and the deeper front bumper has a raked-back underhang that gives the vehicle the impression of being able to drive to most recreational places that owners will demand. The vertical rear taillights wrap around the flanks of the CR-V to give what Honda calls a more three-dimensional style. The current CR-V outsold both the five-seat Holden Captiva and Kia Sportage last year with 5748 units and is a core model for Honda. The launch of the new vehicle will give the Japanese company a major boost at it looks to rebuild sales after last year's floods shut down its Thai factory. The engine has also been massaged to improve fuel use from the existing car's official 10.0 litres/100km - and there's a diesel model due Down Under in 2014. There's no official confirmation on capacity - but Honda has said it is developing a 1.6-litre oilburner with 88kW/300Nm that will first be seen in the Civic. The figures stack up well against the 125kW/225NM for the 2.4-litre petrol engine in the CR-V and make it the logical choice to slot under the SUV's hood. Honda Australia spokesman Lindsay Smalley says the Australian-spec car will have elements of the prototype's styling, but Carsguide believes the styling will virtually mirror the show car.  "The CR-V is an extremely important model for Honda and we recognise the need for both drivetrain options for our customers," Smalley says.

It's a sign of things to come from Nissan's prestige carmaking division. The 300kW mid-engined hybrid sports car is likely to appear on the road in some shape - and sooner rather than later.Design chief Shiro Nakamura says a pair of prototypes will be built for evaluation but stopped short of saying the Emerg-E will go into production.Infiniti Australia general manager Kevin Snell was also coy. "There's no doubt Infiniti is looking at a halo sports car - it's a logical extension of the brand," he says."Whether that's the Emerg-E or a car that is based on its design and drivetrain we don't know just yet."The concept is powered by a 150kW electric motor on each rear wheel with a mid-mounted three-cylinder petrol engine operating as a range-extender. Infiniti says the car accelerates from 0-100km/h in less than four seconds and can run 50km on battery power alone with a total range of around 500km with assistance from the 35kW engine.The car was developed with help from the British Government's Technology Strategy Board, whose aim is to speed the arrival of low carbon vehicles and Infiniti partnered with companies such as Lotus on aspects of the design and powertrain.Infiniti says the styling is an evolution of the Essence concept which debuted at Geneva in 2009.

The Nissan luxury arm is aiming at earlier life clients than Audi and BMW - and fellow Japanese competitor in Lexus - and is looking at an average buyer age of 35-45. Infiniti Australia general manager Kevin Snell says part of that approach will be to put the customer experience at the fore during both the purchase and ownership experience. He also promises competitive pricing and higher standard specifications but isn't prepared to nominate figures for any of the three model ranges the Infiniti brand will launch with in August. "Our research shows customers in this market want stylish design, performance and a transparent relationship with the dealer," he says. "They also aren't looking at the brands their parents might have driven - the label isn't important, the features it (the vehicle) delivers are." A high-performance SUV will spearhead the range - Infiniti is starting with just three platforms and three dealerships - one each in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane. The FX50S is a V8-powered rival to BMW's X5 and comes with the performance and looks to set it apart from most prestige SUVs. The long bonnet and swoopy roofline typify the dramatic styling of the Infiniti range. Snell says the looks will be polarising but will appeal to enough people to grab 10 per cent of the prestige market when Infiniti hits full swing by 2020. Last year, around 80,000 prestige cars were sold in Australia. The FX model will also be sold with a V6 petrol and V6 turbodiesel engines. The diesel option helps set it apart from Lexus and Snell promises Infiniti's hybrid and electric models will also better its Japanese rival's products. The M range sedans are based on the same monocoque platform as the Nissan 370Z and will come in diesel, petrol and hybrid variants. They will be followed late this year by the petrol-powered G coupe and convertibles, giving Infiniti an initial range of eight cars. "We launch with the M35h sedan and Guinness World Records has already certified that car as the fastest production hybrid in the world (with a 0-100km/h time of 5.5 seconds)," he says. "It is a performance car and a hybrid. That means it has all the features prestige customers expect without compromising the driving experience." The next-generation G sedan will follow in 2013 and will be joined by a luxury hatch and full electric vehicle as Infiniti aims to expand its range by 2015. Nissan-Renault product head Andy Palmer says the EV model will be based on the Nissan Leaf with extended range, features and performance. It will follow the Nissan example of not having a swappable battery, but Palmer won't comment on whether the car will be sold outright or whether customers will buy the vehicle and then lease the battery.

Pricing will be the key to Infiniti's success in Australia - despite the company refusing to announce prices until closer to the official launch in August.Audi, BMW and Lexus all have very capable vehicles and Infiniti will have to play on price as well as looks and performance The brand will launch with three platforms and a total of eight cars, all based on Nissan's 370Z architecture. But that range will progressively expand to seven models by 2015 when Infiniti expects to give German rivals Audi and BMW a serious hangover.Ironically, that will be partly due to the arrival of Daimler-sourced four-cylinder powerplants.FX crossoversThe BMW X5 leads the luxury SUV market - and the squared-off Beemer is right in the FX's headlights.Infiniti will launch the all-wheel drive model with all the flavours needed to satisfy demand, from a punchy 3.7-litre V6 petrol model to a 3.0-litre turbodiesel and a hi-po 5.0-litre V8 that (just) out-accelerates the Porsche Cayenne V8 S's 0-100km/h time of 5.9 seconds, though it can't match it on fuel efficiency.Infiniti says the FX50S will be more than $100,000 but adds that standard equipment levels will better those of its rivals, from the seven-speed automatic transmission to the 11-speaker Bose sound system.The V6s represent a more realistic real-world drive but Infiniti Australia general manager Kevin Snell predicts the FX50S will be the most popular of the trio at launch as early adopters chase the kudos of owning the top-end model.I'd buy the diesel. Its 0-100km/h time of 8.3 seconds doesn't reflect the effortless mid-range surge that is on tap once the vehicle is underway. The long bonnet and solid rear roof pillars means up-close visibility isn't a strong suit in the cars, which is why they're fitted with an array of cameras to help when parking, while the 50 also has four-wheel steering to help with cornering at carpark and freeway speeds.The driving position is closer to a luxury sedan than an SUV and the interior is as luxurious as a penthouse suite. That premium feel continues with the dynamics, with the steering precision not far off a Beemer and with more feedback than Audi's SUVs.Rear legroom is limited if the front-seat occupants are 180cm or more and there's not a huge amount of boot space - two suitcases will fill up the back.M sedansThe M37 petrol engine and M30d diesel donk are the same as those found in the FX range.The headline act for the mid-sized rival to the 5 Series, Audi A6 and Lexus GS350 is the hybrid M35h. It uses a 3.5-litre V6 with 225kW and 350Nm combined with a 50kW/270Nm electric motor. The combination has led to Guinness World Records certifying the car as the fastest-accelerating production hybrid car with a 0-100km/h time of 5.5 seconds.Fuel use is said to be 7.0-litres/100km and there's the now-expected three driving modes. The most efficient Eco mode increases the resistance of the accelerator pedal to discourage putting too much boot in. I'm not a fan but it is effective. The Infiniti sedan isn't far off the pace in terms of interior fit and finish either. The approach is busier than Audi's benchmark interiors but the execution is hard to fault.The switchgear has a solid feel and the satnav system is easy to drive and read while the voice instructions are timely and not confusing. G coupe and convertible The two-door G models are the oldest cars Infiniti Australia will bring in at launch and that's one of the reasons the company is holding off on the sedan variant of the small prestige car until the model model arrives late next year.Carsguide drove the M37 convertible that will be a direct competitor with BMW's 335i hardtop and reckons it will have the biggest task of any of the Infiniti range. The seamless six-cylinder engine in the 3 Series Beemer has more mid-range urge than the Japanese-built Infiniti and rear visibility is also marginally better.On the flip side, the default kit in the Infiniti is more extensive than that in the BMW and Infiniti says that will resonate with buyers who resent having to select - and pay a premium for - options boxes for what they consider should be standard creature comforts in a prestige vehicle. If we had a price the comparison would be much easier, but Infiniti won't talk hard numbers given it is still five months from putting cars in showrooms.The look is more lithe than the BMW though and that should earn it a following among those who want to stand out from the crowd.VERDICTIf the price is right Infiniti will wedge its way into the prestige market. It has the looks and performance to appeal and the company's research shows there is a market for cars that don't have the sharp crease lines that typify the major players in this space.And it's not looking to conquer the world -- just 10 per cent of it. Based on the execution so far, that's not an unrealistic expectation.MODELS:FX30d/M30d - 175kW/550Nm 3.0-litre V6 turbodieselFX37/M37/G37 - 235kW/360Nm 3.7-litre V6 petrolFX50S - 287kW/500Nm 5.0-litre V8M35h - 275kW/620Nm V6 petrol-electric hybrid

A plug-in hybrid version of the Mitsubishi Outlander will hit the roads in Europe later this year ahead of a global roll-out of the emission-reducing powerplant.The third-generation Outlander will initially be sold in two-wheel and four-wheel drive variants and some markets will have the choice of a 2.0-litre petrol and 2.2-litre diesel engine.Australia misses out on the diesel, though Mitsubishi president Osamu Masuko says an oilburner will be offered if the company identifies enough demand."If there is a need of course we have to consider diesel," he says of the growing Australian demand for diesel-powered SUVs.Masuko says the plug-in hybrid will account for around 20 per cent of Outlander sales globally, with that figure to increase during the model life of the SUV.He says and pure electric drive for the small A and B segment vehicles represent a major component of Mitsubishi's future strategy, highlighting the electric-powered i-MiEV's ability to power homes during blackouts as an example of the advantages EVs have.Mitsubishi plans to start sales external feeder in Japan next month and says the system can provide up to 1500 watts of power to run a household during electric grid power failures.The system is a reversal of the energy management system used to recharge the car during periods of low power demand. On a smaller scale, the hybrid Outlander will also have a socket to accept domestic appliances -- meaning families will be able to power hairdryers and recharge phones during camping trips.An electric-only Mitsubishi will also tackle the famous Pikes Peak hillclimb in the US in July this year and Masuko says it will showcase EVs ability to match internal combustion cars for acceleration.Masuko discounts - for now - the idea of pure electric high-performance cars but says the next Mitsubishi Evo, which is due in around two years, could well have a hybrid variant.