Articles by Craig Duff

The VW badge has joined the ranks of the affordable small sedans. The sixth generation of the Volkswagen Jetta is a new design that no longer owes any heritage to its Golf parent, other than sharing drivetrains and basic suspension set-up.With a $26,490 starting price for the 118kW "twincharge" 1.4-litre petrol engine, this is a genuine rival to the Mazda3, Holden Cruze and Toyota Corolla that dominate the small-sized market and VW Australia head Anke Koeckler said it will form one of the four volume pillars (along with Golf, Tiguan and Polo) for the company.To do that it will have to return sales to far better than the 2007 heyday when the Jetta sold 4000 units. This time around it's a better product and at a sharper price, inviting buyers to join the Euro club for a few grand more than a local or Asian-built vehicle.VALUEThe base model comes with a six-speed manual but even Koeckler admitted at the launch that the car is expected to account for only five per cent of sales. Opt for the seven-speed dual-clutch automated manual transmission and it's a $2500 premium. That still delivers a 118kW/240Nm engine with standard Bluetooth, USB>iPod connectivity, cruise control and a full-sized spare wheel.The Comfortline range is where the action is expected to be. It replaces the base model's 16-inch steel wheels for alloys and adds rear parking sensors, low tyre pressure monitors, automatic lights and rain-sensing wipers at $32,490 for the twincharge engine or $34,990 for the 103kW/320Nm 2.0-litre turbodiesel. Both models run the DSG transmission, as does the top-spec 147kW/280Nm 2.0-litre petrol model.TECHNOLOGYThe Jetta is new from the ground up, with a 190mm longer body compared to the Golf hatch. The wheelbase is now 55mm longer and the track 3mm wider, but the Jetta is also 15-69kg lighter than the outgoing model.VW puts up the fuel economy as one of the reasons to buy a Jetta and the numbers back that claim: 6.5 litres/100km for the manual 118TSI petrol and 6.2 for the auto, 5.5 litres/100km for the diesel and 7.9 litres/100km for the 2.0-litre petrol.  In comparison the 103kW/200Nm Cruze delivers 6.7 litres/100km and the Mazda3 SP25 with 122kw and 227Nm is good for 8.6 litres/100km.DESIGNThe Jetta is a new project from the ground up and lead designer Jose Pavone said being liberated from the Golf platform was a dream come true."We have to reshuffle the proportions (of the Golf-based model). We shift back the cabin, so the bonnet is much longer, the wheelbase is much longer and the trunk (boot) has a quite compact look even though you have 510 litres."SAFETYA crash impact sound sensor is the latest hi-tech technique out of the VW stable to save lives. It was launched on the Golf and is based on the principle that the crumple zones will absorb the shockwaves of a crash to the sensors, but the sound of a crash is consistent. The resultant millisecond difference in the deployment of the six airbags could be the difference between life and death. The latest Jetta hasn't copped the ANCAP treatment but it should earn five stars based on VW's recent reputation.DRIVINGI want a Jetta. It's a very good car in 1.4 twincharge petrol or turbodiesel guise but . A couple of disconcerting thumps while driving on typical B-grade Aussie roads were a worry. Carsguide needs to get hold of it on our test loop to put it in context, but it is otherwise a worthy contender in a tough market. The ride is fairly responsive, to the point where the suspension can probably be detuned for family duties.As set up it is very responsive and while it soaks up the hits, it still transmits too much data back into the cabin for a family cruiser. The 16-inch wheels look a better choice than the 17s.VERDICTIf I was shopping in this segment, I'd test drive the VW Jetta. Yeah, it costs a bit more but it is well built, well thought out in term of interior space and holds its own on the road. Will Cruze owners pay the extra? Time will tell.

…using the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG at an as-yet undisclosed track on September 5.The square-jawed winner of 13 grands prix is racing a Mercedes C-Class car in the DTM championship and has agreed to take on his virtual opponents in the ultimate road-going Benz.The contest will see 24 UK entrants randomly chosen to compete in a run-off driving the SLS AMG on the PlayStation3 game Gran Turismo 5.The top six will then take on Coulthard, who will drive the Mercedes on the real track at the same time the prize winners are racing the same car at the same track on the console.The gamer who sets the fastest lap will win a trip to the 2011 Brazilian GP on November 27.The six million global Gran Turismo players who can't enter the contest will still be able to test themselves against the former F1 star when details of the track and car set-up are revealed the next day.To watch the race online go to www.mercedesliverace.co.uk from 11.55pm, AEST time.

The Tiger 1050 SE has evolved into a far different creature from the dual-purpose workhorse it started out as.There's a couple of very good reasons for that — the road/trial 800cc Tiger which is a joy in either guise and the soon-to-be-launched 1200cc competitor to BMW's ground-breaking GS models.That left the 1050cc model in the middle of a segment sandwich. The solution was to stiffen the suspension, add a few trick bits and transform the bike into a quick and comfortable sports tourer.VALUEThe SE will sell for $16,490 and differs from the outgoing model with its hand guards (given the lack of bush focus, they're mainly for looks but do insulate the fingers on long rides), a gel seat, ABS brakes and a centrestand as standard kit. It also comes with color-coded hard panniers with a 43kg luggage capacity.Competition includes the 1250cc Suzuki Bandit, Honda's 800cc CrossTourer and the Yamaha TDM900, none of which come standard with panniers.TECHNOLOGYThe big-bore triple cylinder is in its fifth generation in Tiger guise and is a deceptively quick unit. Acceleration doesn't feel as quick as the speedo shows it to be, which is down to the refined nature of the engine. The suspension has come in for some attention, with revised internals making it a much more competent bike when pushed on the tarmac.STYLINGThe Tiger runs a half fairing with a windscreen that looks good and works. It is a more aggressive looking bike than its obvious rivals, unless you count Ducati's MultiStrada, but the ride position is comfortable enough to cruise for hours. The lowered handlebar position that limits its off-road usefulness makes it ideal for long rides.The panniers look integrated with the rest of the bike and are easy to attach and remove and — once you're used to it — easy to swing a leg over when climbing on and off the bike.SAFETYThe Tiger is the latest bike to pick up ABS sensor rings inside the brake discs. It is a logical move on a machine like this, which is capable of very quick speeds over rutted and potholed roads. The fact they didn't activate despite a reasonably rapid ride along a rain-soaked Great Ocean Road shows that the threshold is high enough most riders will only feel it when they need it.RIDINGThis is a Tiger that's at home on the back roads. Highways and freeways are fine, they're just not as much fun when you're riding a bike that soaks up bigger hits than the local drunk but without affecting its balance.Any corner signposted from 30-70km/h is the natural hunting ground of this machine and the more broken the surface, the better it will cope against the opposition.The engine starts to sing after 4000 rpm and the Tiger lopes along at legal highway speed. Pillion riding can make it feel a little top heavy, especially for small riders who will struggle to plant both feet from the 835mm seat.VERDICTThe Tiger makes much more sense as a sports tourer than as a dual purpose machine and the suspension tuning gives it a civility on the road few bikes will better. Toss in ABS brakes and great build quality and it's a lot of bike for the price.AT A GLANCETriumph Tiger 1050 SEEngine: 1050cc in-line three-cylinder 85kW/98NmTransmission: Six-speed, chain-driveSeat height: 835mmFuel tank: 20 litresBrakes: Dual 320mm front discs with Nissin four-piston calipers, 255mm rear disc with Nissin twin-piston caliperSuspension: Showa 43mm inverted forks with preload, rebound and compression damping, rear Showa monoshock with preload and rebound adjustmentWeight: 245kgWarranty: Two years, unlimited km

The British-built sports cars are famous for their giant-killing reputation, supercar performance for a fraction of the price, and new importer Ateco is working both fronts. The company's first step has been to leverage the Aussie dollar's strength against the pound to make effective price cuts of up to 20 per cent. The base model Lotus is now $2000 cheaper at $67,990 while the supercharged SC is now just $77,990, a saving of $17,000. The performance has also been tweaked with all Elise vehicles now loaded with the previously optional sports pack valued at $6000. It consists of twin oil coolers, Bilstein dampers; Y spoke forged alloy wheels and ProBax sports seats. It's all good news for new owners but not much consolation to the 10 Elise buyers this year who paid up to $94,990 for the privilege of putting a Lotus in their garage. Lotus Australia general manager Glen Sealey sympathised but noted pricing had been set by the previous importer. "We officially became the Lotus importer this month and we've overhauled the entire structure," he said. "The first-year plan is to double sales to 100 vehicles . getting volume on to the streets helps establish a presence. We're looking at the Lotus brand equity to see just where it fits into the market. The Lotus name has global appeal, it is a case of working out where to position the models." Sealey wouldn't comment on the previous pricing of the Lotus models in Australia but said Ateco's business case was based on increasing volume and realigning prices to Lotus's natural competitors. "We'll re-launch and re-price the Evora," he said. "The other two name plates (Elise and Exige) are established and in some ways look after themselves but the Evora is where we see the potential for big volume growth. First we had to determine where it sits against the likes of Porsche and we've now adjusted the model mix to have the Evora S and (automatic transmission) IPS.

... at the Green Zone Drive in Melboune later this month. Volvo Australia spokeswoman Jaedene Hudson confirmed the company will launch a new diesel variant but wouldn't comment on the engine capacity other than to deny it would be a 1.6-litre DRIVe powerplant that is expected to join the range at some stage. That makes the likely culprit the 2.0-litre D3 turbodiesel, which in Europe is good for 6.1 litres/100km with an automatic transmission. The V60 will headline a green car technology showcase that is designed to let the public poke, prod and drive 12 new low or zero tailpipe-emission vehicles around Melbourne's CBD. The RACV-backed program aims to hold 800 drives over the five-day event, which starts on August 29. Aspiring test drivers need to book a vehicle and time by logging on to www.greendrivezone.com.au. The program isn't promoting any one technology over another - vehicles in the fleet are a representative cross-section covering pure electric motoring, petrol-electric hybrids and fuel-efficient petrol and diesel-powered vehicles.  Carmakers taking part include Audi, Honda, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Renault and Volvo. "Our members are increasingly interested in the environment and want to do their bit while they're driving," RACV public policy manager Brian Negus said at the launch. "These vehicles are the best-of-breed at keeping emissions down while not giving up anything, driving enjoyment, build quality, that motorists expect." Future Climate Australia executive director Henry O'Clery noted that average European CO2 emissions were around 140g/km compared with 205g/km in Australia. "That is purely about the Europeans being more aware of efficient vehicles and carmakers giving them access to that technology. It is only recently that these efficient engines have made their way into vehicles sold in Australia," he said. "And it doesn't matter whether you are worried about climate change or the fact fossil fuels are a finite resource; either way there is still a demand to reduce our fuel use," he said. The 11 vehicles on show during the Green Drive Zone are: ELECTRIC Mitsubishi i-MiEV (two): 0g/km CO2 Nissan Leaf (two): 0g/km CO2 HYBRID Honda Insight VTI-L: 4.6 litres/100km, 109g/km CO2 Honda CR-Z (display only): 4.7 litres/100km, 109g/km CO2 PETROL Audi A1 1.4 Sport: 5.9 litres/100km, 139g/km CO2 Honda Jazz GLi: 6.1 litres/100km, 138g/km CO2 DIESEL Audi A6 3.0 quattro: 6.0 litres/100km, 158g/km CO2 Renault Latitude (two): 6.5 litres/100km, 170g/km CO2 Volvo C30 DRIVe (display only): 3.9 litres/100km, 104g/kkm CO2 Volvo V60 wagon: less than 7 litres/100km, less than 160g/km CO2 Volvo XC60 D5 Teknik: 6.9 litres/100km, 183g/km CO2.

Toyota not only lost top spot for the first six months of this year but the disruption to its production from the earthquake and tsunami saw sales slip by 23 per cent and it trailed the Volkswagen Group into third place globally. GM sales grew by 8.9 per cent to 4.536 million vehicles, ahead of 4.13 million VW products and 3.71 million vehicles wearing a Toyota bade, Lexus, Daihatsu or Hino badge. The strength of the yen is also affecting profits for the Japanese-based carmakers. Nissan this week announced it was aiming to reduce exports to try and limit the impact of the currency. The Wall Street Journal noted Nissan plans to maintain a target of one million cars for the year but is aiming to sell 600,000 of them domestically. That contrasts with local sales of 460,000 for the year ended March 31 (the Japanese financial year). Nissan has the highest export exposure of any of the Japanese carmakers, the WSJ reports, with 60 per cent of its Japanese-built products exported in the first six months of the year. Toyota shipped 56 per cent of its locally built vehicles overseas at the same time, while Honda and Suzuki export 37 per cent and 28 per cent of production respectively. The news is better for the Germans where Audi, BMW and Mercedes-Benz had record first half results. BMW led the pack with 18 per cent growth to 833,366 vehicles from Audi on 652,970 and Benz on 610,931. Beemers growth has been led by demand for the new 5 Series and X3 models, largely in Asia, a market where long wheelbase vehicles such as Audis A6L and A8L are popular prestige models. The growing global acceptance of Hyundai and Kia products pushed the automotive group into fifth place in the sales charts. The South Korean duo sold 3.19 million vehicles in the first six months of 2011 to post a record growth rate of 15.9 per cent. The popularity of models such as the Sonata, good price and quality competitiveness and sharp improvements in brand image contributed to better sales," a Hyundai Motor Group spokesperson said in a press release.

That's the view of Monash University Accident Research Centre senior researcher Dr Stuart Newstead, and it's backed by the 2011 update to data from police-attended crashes around the country frm 1987 to 2009. That data shows there is no such thing as a safe light car when it is in a collision with larger vehicles, with the top five light vehicles only rating three stars. That contrasts with five cars in the small car class, the Honda Civic, 2006-2009, Peugeot 307, 2001-2009, Volvo S40/V40, 1997-2004, 1999-2004 Volkswagen Golf/Bora and the Volkswagen Golf/Jetta from 2004-2009 all being judged "safe picks". "ANCAP is a valid tool for comparing vehicles in the same class but it can't be used to assess the overall safety of a vehicle across the driving pool," Dr Newstead said yesterday. The ANCAP new car safety ratings are based on a series of crashes into immovable objects to assess the car's crashworthiness in terms of protecting the occupants. The latest USCR results combines the real-world evaluation of that data with the overall safety for all those involved in the collision, be that a pedestrian, cyclist, or the occupants of another vehicle. Cars that rate as "best picks" in the USCR charts scored five-stars in both categories. "The benchmark is to make cars that are safe for all road users," Dr Newstead said. "Big heavy cars traditionally protect the occupants but not other road users and that is a model we need to move away from." See your local Carsguide this weekend for a full list of the latest Used Car Safety Ratings.

But his decision to enter the Carsguide Car of the Motor Show competition certainly paid off.The Victorian man is now driving a new Lexus CT200h hybrid valued at more than $47,000 and admits he is quickly settling in to the leather-trimmed luxury.“We were at the show on the last day and we were leaving as they were closing up when my wife noticed a poster for the competition,” he saidI’m not the type of person to enter competitions but she convinced me to and I filled out the form and promptly forgot about it until I got the call saying we’d won.“I thought it was a practical joke at first … it wasn’t until I saw it published on CarsGuide.com.au that I knew it was for real.He picked up his CT200h from Lexus of Blackburn in Melbourne last week and expects to spend plenty of time in the car.“I drive about two hours a day for work so I’m sure I’ll come to appreciate just how good the Lexus is,” he said.

The Bendigo-built Hawkei "light protected mobility vehicle" cost $30 million to develop and is intended to replace the Australian Defence Force's fleet of LandRovers. The Hawkei has been designed around the success of the battle-proven Bushmaster troop carrier. The Bushy is the transport of choice in Afghanistan (31 have been written off without one fatality) and the federal government last week announced a $133 million deal for an extra 101 of the armoured vehicles. Thales business development director Grant Sanderson said the deal will "put food on the table" for the company's 500 Bendigo staff but it is the Hawkei contract that will give long-term security. The seven-tonne vehicle is based on the monocoque V-hull that has let the Bushmaster endure countless IED blasts but it also uses the latest engineering and electronics systems. Boeing helped with the inbuilt sensors that monitor the health of the Hawkei and advise which parts need replacing or maintenance and the vehicle is C4I ready, meaning it can be used as a mobile command and communications centre. The seats, from two to six depending on how the vehicle is configured, are suspended from the roof on webbing to reduce the blast force transmitted into occupants' spines during an underbelly explosion. The floor similarly "floats" where the soldiers feet are to avoid ankle and lower leg injuries during blast impacts. Extra "B kit" ceramic armour is fitted using a 90-degree turn and lock system that is the military equivalent of an Ikea component.  It was designed by Israeli company Plasan who were also responsible for the blast tests to confirm it worked. The Hawkei uses a modular design and can be configured for range of roles by uncoupling the rear cargo module and replacing it with another.  Ute and command vehicle prototypes have al ready been produced and Sanderson said other variants, including a special forces version, will quickly follow if Thales secures the Australian contract. GeneralDynamics and Force Protection Europe have also bid for the deal, using their Eagle and the Ocelot vehicles respectively. A decision is expected within weeks. HAWKEI LIGHT PROTECTED MOBILITY VEHICLE Price: $500,000 (estimate)Engine: Steyr 3.2-litre turbodieselTransmission: ZF six-speed auto, 4WDGround clearance: 460mm, 1200mm water fordingClimb gradient: Up to 60 degreesTop speed: 130km/hRange: 600km from a 200-litre tankWeight: Seven tonnes.

New-age diesels in every size and price class promise more kilometres from every litre and more kilometres between refills, thanks to massive advances in efficiency and refinement.The days when diesels were black-smoke rattlers, and only favoured by farmers with a diesel tank to top-up their Benz or Peugeot, are long gone. The diesel-engined Ford Territory easily outsold the petrol-powered model during its first month in showrooms, reflecting the backlog of buyers who now put diesel first.But is diesel the right choice for everyone?Petrol power is also more efficient than ever in 2011, LPG is making a solid surge, especially with a new gas-powered Falcon on the road and a Commodore coming soon, and it still costs more to choose a diesel.At the most basic level, new-car buyers need to work out how quickly the extra cost of a diesel car will be recovered. If it takes three years and you plan to keep the car for five, that's all good. But if it takes seven years to make up the difference and you only plan to keep the vehicle for five, then ... So it's a horses-for-courses situation. The more you drive the more a diesel makes sense.Diesels generally have the advantage of lower fuel consumption, and many modern diesels can also get 1000 kilometres from a single tank, as well as a tougher engine to cope with the higher compression and better values at resale.Diesel is already the first-choice pick with some luxury brands, as BMW's diesel-powered fleet has outsold the petrol models through the first half of 2011 and Mercedes is also reporting record diesel sales on its C and E-Class cars.Most European-built cars have always had diesel variants and the 4WD and SUV classes have also been long-term diesel strongholds, but the move to maximise fuel efficiency means they're also appearing in baby and small cars in Australia.It's in these price-sensitive segments where choosing a hi-tech oil-burner can represent up to 15 per cent of the cost of the car. Buying a diesel Holden Cruze adds up to $4000 to the price and if you pick a Ford Focus with diesel the extra cost is around $4300.The good news is that diesel cars will maintain their price advantage at resale time, says Glass's Guide managing director Santo Amoddio."The only area where the diesels aren't strong is the manual four (cylinders)," he says. "In Europe it's the sensible way to drive but Australians have yet to embrace the idea of manual-powered small diesels, so the used values reflect that."Amoddio says diesels are a quick way to cut fuel use and CO2 emissions."There's a lot of talk about electric cars and hybrids but I think diesel is the way to go for private buyers at the moment in terms of costs of running and resale," he says. "That's especially the case in the medium in large SUVs. For example, we expect the turbodiesel Ford Territory to outsell the petrol model. It's probably two years too late to market but it's a good engine and will suit that application."The diesel engine in the Territory is up to a $5000 option but in this class people often believe they need the extra towing capacity of the diesel, yet then don't order the heavy-duty towing pack, which pulls it back to the 1600kg the six-cylinder petrol engine can haul.At Ford's claimed fuel use rates of 8.2 litres for the diesel against 10.6 litres for the petrol it will take about six years travelling 15,000 kilometres a year (assuming the same pump price for both petrol and diesel) to recover that five grand.The relative difference between diesel and petrol models isn't usually as big on SUVs as it is with the smaller cars.Choose diesel on a Toyota Prado and it's a $1000 premium, while Subaru's Outback is $2000 more with a diesel donk - but only comes as a manual - and the Mitsubishi Pajero is around $3000 dearer with an oil burner.Step up to the larger off-roaders and Nissan's turbodiesel Patrol is $3000 cheaper than the comparably-equipped petrol model, Range Rover offers $500 off its diesel Evoques and diesel is the entry option for Audi and BMW's SUV ranges.Diesel is even the preferred option for the Toyota LandCruiser despite its $10,000 dearer purchase price.The traditional argument that servicing costs are higher is also starting to lose momentum. Ford has capped servicing costs for the new Territory and the diesel is only $20 dearer at $290 for each visit to the dealer.It's a similar story with the Polo - over the first five services and/or five years the diesel is about $100 cheaper to maintain at $1910."If you know what you plan to do with the car it isn't hard to work out whether you should buy diesel or petrol," Amoddio said. "About five years ago diesels accounted for 1 per cent of passenger vehicles in Australia - now it's nudging 10 (per cent). It's the improvements in refinement that have driven that and we see that trend continuing."VW Polo ComfortlinePetrol (diesel)Price: $19,850, ($22,350)Engine: 1.2-litre turbo petrol (1.6-litre turbodiesel)Outputs: 77kW/175Nm (66kW/230Nm)Transmission: Six-speed manual (five speed manual), front-wheel driveFuel use: 5.5 litres/100km, 128g/km CO2 (4.7 litres/100km, 124g/km CO2)Weight: 1048kg (1115kg)Price after three years: $10,900 ($12,500)Percentage of new cost: 55 per cent (56 per cent)Annual fuel cost* $1152.30 ($979.21)Diesel saving of $173.09 a year means it would take 14.4 years to recover the $2500 difference in purchase price.Holden Cruze CDPetrol (diesel)Price: $22,240 ($24,990)Engine: 1.4-litre turbo petrol (2.0-litre turbodiesel)Outputs: 103kW/200Nm (110kW/320Nm)Transmission: six-speed manual (both), front-wheel driveFuel use: 6.4 litres/100km, 146g/km CO2 (5.6 litres/100km, 147g/km CO2)Weight: 1329 (1489)Price after three years: $11,100 ($15,100)Percentage of new cost: 50 per cent (51 per cent)Annual fuel cost: $1340.86 ($1166.72)Diesel saving of $174.15 a year means it would take 15.8 years to recover the $2750 difference in purchase price.Mercedes-Benz C-Class 250 AvantgardePetrol (diesel)Price: $67,900 (both)Engine: 1.8-litre turbo four-cylinder (2.2-litre twin-turbodiesel)Outputs:150kW/310Nm (150kW/500Nm)Transmission: seven-speed automatic, rear-wheel drive (both)Fuel use: 7.2 litres/100km, 167g/km CO2 (5.1 litres/100km, 134g/km CO2)Weight: 1480kg (1587kg)Price after three years: $36,700 (both)Percentage of new cost: 54 per cent (both)Annual fuel cost: $1508.42 ($1062.54)The same price for both cars means a diesel Merc owner will pocket more than $445 a year in lower fuel bills.Ford Territory 2WD TXPetrol (diesel)Price: $39,990 ($43,240)Engine:4.0-litre six-cylinder (2.7-litre V6 turbodiesel)Outputs:195kW/391Nm (140kW/440Nm)Transmission: Six-speed automatic, rear-wheel drive (both)Fuel use: 10.6 litres/100km, 240g/km CO2 (8.2 litres/100km, 217g/km CO2)Weight:Price after three years: $22,000 ($25,100)Percentage of new cost: 55 per cent (58 per cent)Annual fuel cost: $2220.81 ($1708.40)Diesel saving of $512.41 a year means it would take 6.3 years to recover the $3250 difference in purchase price.Toyota LandCruiser 200 VXPetrol (diesel)Price: $88,414 ($98,664)Engine: 4.7-litre V8 (4.5-litre V8 diesel)Outputs: 202kW/410Nm (195kW/650Nm)Transmission: Five-speed automatic (six-speed automatic), four-wheel driveFuel use: 14.5 litres/100km, 341g/km CO2 (10.3 litres/100km, 273g/km CO2)Weight: 2610kg (2675kg)Price after three years: $53,900 ($60,200)Percentage of new cost: 61 per cent (both)Annual fuel cost: $3037.89 ($2145.92)Diesel saving of $891.96 means it would take 11.5 years to recover the $10,250 difference in purchase price.*Fuel costs calculated based on national petrol average last Friday of $143.5 a litre for petrol and $142.7 a litre for diesel. Annual travel of 14,600 based on Australian Bureau of Statistics' average for the national vehicle fleet.