Articles by Dean Evans

IF it worries you, cover up the badge. That's our advice. If there are any lingering doubts about the badge, its build quality or credibility, fear not: Kia's Cerato Koup is very good. Drop the preconceptions and you'll be in for a nice surprise, because Kia has joined Hyundai, LG and Samsung in the global Korean offensive of top quality products, with its recent additions and updates of the Sorento, Sportage, Soul and Koup.VALUEPricing is sharp and starts at $24,990 drive-away. For that price you get remote locking, electric windows and cruise and stereo controls on the steering wheel, map lights, a very legible Mazda3-like instrument cluster, plus trip computer, and extra niceties like a 60/40 split-fold seat with boot releases, sun-visor extensions, speed-sensing door locks and a smart USB iPod input.Some cars twice its price don't have all this gear. Bluetooth (coming) and satnav (buy a $150 TomTom) are the only major emissions. The overload of standard equipment is Kia's way of saying we may not have the badge, but we can give you the gear.SAFETYStandard safety features include six airbags, Electronic Stability Program (ESP) and there are even reverse parking sensors.DESIGNThe Koup is stylish, well equipped and keenly priced and more impressively, has minimal flaws. The Koup's chiseled, chunky styling looks right out of Europe. With its blacked-out nose, faux diffuser and 17-inch alloys, it's a striking car, especially in this Sweet Orange, a new for 2011 colour that glows in the sun.And for that, we are impressed, considering there's also something lacking in some Euros: storage space. The Koup is full of handy pockets and holders and holes, in its surprisingly spacious cabin.TECHNOLOGYNo, it won't win a world rally championship, or hose down a HSV at the drags, but nor was it designed to: the Koup is a budget conscious, practical, stylish city car with an emphasis on comfort with just enough sports. The engine is a 2.0-litre four-cylinder with figures of 115kW/194Nm, and 0-100km/h in 8.9 seconds, about the same as a Suzuki Swift Sport.DRIVEThe five-speed manual is faster, but we actually prefer the somewhat antiquated four-speed auto though it's a little slower, it feels more responsive around town and at part throttle, where it spends most of its life. The power steering is on the heavy side, and the big heavy doors also mean it's a fairly long reach to the front seat belts.We're also keen to see if the fuel consumption improves, as we've recorded 10.7 litres/100km from our $2000 option auto version, versus the 7.8 litres/100km claim. If those aren't major issues, then the Kia Koup is an impressive budget sports coupe that's comfortable, well equipped and looks good and deserves consideration.Of course with all the ups, there are a couple of downs, and the biggest is ride quality: its overly harsh damping can loosen a few fillings, and it seems to struggle most with suburban speed-humps and corrugations with just 1500km on the clock, and possibly tight suspension, well see if that softens over time.VERDICTWith Kia's five year unlimited kilometre warranty, it adds up to a compelling case. If you value price and equipment over a badge, then Kia's Koup is quite the budget sports coupe.KIA CERATO KOUPPrice: from $24,990Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinderOutputs: 115kW/194 NmSafety: six airbags, Electronic Stability Program ESPTransmission: Five-speed manual, four-speed automaticWarranty: five year unlimited kilometres 

Not all the new cars at the show are designed strictly for the road. They may be based on the standard production cars, but there are a number of race cars on display that offer some colour and speed beyond what the showroom can offer. Some are the genuine racers, some are mock-ups, but all offer a little spice to the show.Ford’s new FG V8 Supercar is yet to debut on track, but the show car is on display at the Ford stand. Subaru’s new Impreza STi World Rally Car that debuted in August in the hands of Aussie Chris Atkinson is set up in tarmac guise, while Toyota’s Australian Rally Championship Corolla sits alongside the TRD V6 Hilux Heroes stunt truck, as well as a Toyota Formula 1 car.New maker Isuzu has teamed with Bruce Garland to attack some off-road safaris, while on a production scale, George Miedecke’s Hyundai Tiburon.PlayStation’s influence infiltrates a couple of cars too, with the Motor Storm Pacific Rift monster truck and a Mitsubishi Lancer that houses a Gran Turismo 5 Prologue simulator. 

Suzuki unveiled the third and final Kizashi 3 sports sedan concept at the show today, which previews plans Suzuki has for entering the medium passenger car segment.Built as the ultimate Suzuki, its 3.6-litre V6 engine features plated cylinders, a weight and space-saving technology that evolved from lessons learnt by Suzuki’s MotoGP and World Rally Championship teams.The 220kW VVT engine is teamed with a paddle-shift six-speed automatic gearbox and all-wheel drive on 21-inch wheels.Kizashi - a Japanese word meaning prelude or foretaste - is a sign of things to come from the brand.“This concept represents a new direction for Suzuki in that it takes our expertise with smaller sporty vehicles and translates that into the midsized segment,” said Suzuki Australia General Manager Tony Devers “We believe Kizashi will break the mould of typical midsized or family vehicles, when it goes into production next year.”While a firm timetable is still to be announced, Devers said production of the new mid-sized sedan would begin in late 2009.For now, Suzuki has added more style and value to the award-winning Swift and SX4 AWD with the release of limited edition versions at today’s show.Inspired by Suzuki’s domination of the Junior World Rally Championship, a run of 800 Swift RE3s come with more than $3000 of extras including a sports bodykit, unique seven spoke alloy wheels, and unique RE3 floor mats and badges, priced at $16,990.Suzuki has also waved its limited wand over 300 versions of the SX4 AWD Adventure. Based on Suzuki’s AWD hatch, the Adventure pack comes with roof racks, cargo tray, rear bumper protector, bonnet and headlamp protectors, Adventure decals and floor mats, and without a price increase.Suzuki Australia also today confirmed the all-new sub-light Alto would join the line-up in 2009.The fifth and smallest member of the line-up is also the most fuel efficient; the four seat Alto is aimed at urban drivers after eco-friendly motoring without sacrificing style, comfort, practicality, or performance.Powered by a three cylinder 1.0-litre petrol engine producing 50kW and 90Nm, the Euro IV-compliant engine delivers just 4.5l/100km through a standard five-speed manual or optional four-speed auto, thanks partly to a low drag coefficient of just 0.30.Standard safety equipment includes ESP, a crushable energy-dispersing structure and six airbags. Pricing and final specs will be announced closer to the launch in the second quarter of 2009.

Headlining Kia’s stand is a preview of the new and stylish Cerato sedan, due for release to the Australian market in early 2009. It will be the first Kia to feature the 'new face of Kia' design from the pen of Kia's global chief design officer, Peter Schreyer, who joined the company in 2006 from the Volkswagen Group.Schreyer's corporate H-grille echoes his car design philosophy. According to Schreyer, design is the number one purchase influence but it is essential that new designs match both the Kia brand value and the vision of the Kia brand.In striking electric blue at the show, straight lines are feature on the profile, following the base of the side glass from the A-pillar to the boot, while the headlights are integrated into the grille; blistered guards visually lower the car.The new model will bridge the gap between small and medium cars with space, performance, features and value. Longer and wider than the current Cerato sedan, the new model is actually roomier than the first generation Toyota Camry.New Cerato will feature a new, efficient 2.0-litre engine with Continuously Variable Valve Timing (CVVT) for class-leading power and torque, delivering the pulling power and responsiveness of a 2.2-litre engine without the fuel consumption of a bigger engine.Kia is also involved in other initiatives, including sponsorship of the Australian Open tennis and a Kia Young Drivers program. Kia is also involved with a new 14 part TV series on Channel 10 called ‘Pat Callinan’s 4x4 Adventures’, where Pat spent three months driving a Kia Sorento CRDi around Australia.

The eyes of the world turned to Sydney as the stylish and dynamic new-generation Mazda3 sedan was revealed at the show today to coincide with world embargoes of the images.Mazda presented first official images of the highly-anticipated new Mazda3, ahead of the actual car’s public debut at the LA Auto Show on November 19, before it goes on sale in Australia around March 2009.The new Mazda3 will inherit the mantles of Australia's third-best selling passenger car, and a leader in the small car segment.The Mazda3 represents one-third of all Mazda global sales across 100 countries, with 150,000 being sold in Australia since its launch in 2004.Since then, the Mazda3 has won more than 90 automotive awards and has set numerous records for Mazda in the small car class.With that in mind, Mazda designers in Europe, Japan and America, led by Mazda General Manager of Design Laurens van den Acker, endowed the new Mazda3 with a refreshingly expressive design that demands attention.High levels of safety equipment, clever use of emerging technology, aerodynamics improvements and greater drivetrain efficiency not only improve real-world performance; they contribute to a reduction in fuel consumption and guarantee the Mazda3's exemplary environmental credentials.

Not all the new cars at the show are designed strictly for the road.

The eyes of the world turned to Sydney as the stylish and dynamic new-generation Mazda3 sedan was revealed at the show today to coincide with world embargoes of the images.

Suzuki unveiled the third and final Kizashi 3 sports sedan concept at the show today, which previews plans Suzuki has for entering the medium passenger car segment.

Volkswagen has launched its most powerful Golf, the limited edition GTI Pirelli

With energy recovery ststems due to be introduced into Formula 1 in 2009, it’s fitting that the first and only hybrid car to win an officially sanctioned motor race