Articles by Dean Evans

The Lancer Sportback has joined the Lancer range, expanding what is the most successful model in the now fully imported range

The Mazda Taiki takes centre stage at this year’s show, and though it may be a wild concept, underneath is an engine that points to the future of Mazda production vehicles.

Elfin Sports Cars has officially unveiled the next phase in its already impressive range of sports cars at the Sydney motor show, with the debut of a new four-cylinder show car. To be known as the Elfin Type 5 Clubman, the all new model promises to deliver exciting levels of performance at an unprecedented price for enthusiasts and track specialists alike. Under the guidance of the Tom Walkinshaw Group, Elfin Sports Cars has undergone a significant transformation since the business was acquired over 18 months ago. The new four cylinder model is a follow-on from the original four-cylinder Type III Clubman which was sold in either an owner-assembled kit or turn-key ready to drive. The modern Type 5 is sketched by designers Julian Quincey and Adam Dean Smithand takes inspiration from the heritage of Elfin Sports Cars of the past, as well as looking to the future with a product capable of success in Australia and international markets. “The new addition to the Elfin range is a proud moment for the company and the Australian car industry this year” said Elfin Sports Cars General Manager John Clark. “Our experience in this market has shown that enthusiasts want more involvement and accessibility to spirited track and road motoring - desires we have delivered on with the Type 5” Clark added. “We have bought this show car to Sydney on the basis that the final product will be designed 50 percent for road driving and 50 percent for track work.” The car has been in development for 18 months and is powered by a two-litre Ecotec Turbocharged four-cylinder engine, which it shares with the Pontiac GXP Solstice. Power output is expected to be 194kW with 351Nm, with the significantly lighter engine offering substantially improved balance and handling over the V8 powered Elfin Type 4 Clubman. The new Type 5 also adds advanced features such as traction control, power steering, six-speed manual and anti-lock brakes, with a total weight around 700kg.  Pricing too is also expected to be a strong point, starting from $60,000.

Elfin Sports Cars has officially unveiled the next phase in its already impressive range of sports cars at the Sydney motor show, with the debut of a new four-cylinder show car.

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 legendary Nissan GT-R will officially return to Australia in April, says Nissan Australia. Sold through a select group of 11 nationwide Nissan High Performance Centre dealers, the GT-R will take centre stage of Nissan’s Sydney motor show stand with a pre-sell program taking orders.The GT-R will be available here in two grades: GT-R priced at $148,800 and GT-R Premium at $152,800, in a choice of six colours.Premium grade adds smoke/grey forged 20-inch aluminium wheels, Nitrogen-filled Bridgestone Potenza run-flat tyres (over the standard model’s Dunlop SP Sport), a Bose audio with 11 speakers and a 30GB hard drive, and front black leather sports seats with red Alcantara inserts.Safety equipment includes ABS with EBD, dual front, side and curtain airbags, while the sports-oriented dynamic stability system, VDC-R, adjustable through Circuit, Normal and Off settings and selectable by the driver to suit prevailing conditions.Nissan Australia expects local sales of the GT-R to reach around 200 units in its first year.Nissan’s Mixim Electric Vehicle concept will also be on display, with a unique all-wheel drive system.On show for the first time outside Europe, Mixim is powered by advanced, compact Lithium-Ion batteries driving two of Nissan’s ‘Super Motor’ electric motor/generator packs - one each for the front and rear axles - making the Mixim an all-wheel drive city car that delivers spirited performance with no tailpipe emissions.Mixim is capable of a top speed of 180 km/h, with a potential maximum range of 250km from the two 50kW electric motors. The Lithium-Ion batteries are quick to recharge; from discharged to fully charged takes between 20-40 minutes.A more conventional all-wheel drive takes form in the next-gen Nissan Murano. More luxurious features and equipment are on offer and high quality leather trim is now standard. It features a revised and refined V6 engine and CVT transmission and new exterior and interior styling.As a premium cross-over SUV, Murano’s accent is on luxury, with Xenon headlamps, LED taillights and 18-inch alloy wheels, ‘intelligent keyless’ entry and push button engine start/stop.All the new Nissans will be on display at the show from October 9.

Ford’s Territory adds another limited edition model to its stable following on from its successful SR versions over the past three years.Carrying a retail price of $37,990 for the rear-drive variant, adding even more emphasis on the word ‘limited’, Ford says the SR2 will be available with a ‘launch price’, for a limited time, of $36,990. The recommended retail price for the all-wheel drive Territory SR2 variant is $42,990.Based on the Territory TX and available in both rear-wheel drive and all-wheel drive configurations, Territory SR2 adds value-for-money and exclusivity with $5645 worth of extra value at no additional cost. This includes a rear DVD system and a list of bonus features including an Alpine DVD system for rear seat passengers with a 10.2-inch screen, remote control and two sets of wireless headphones.A unique sports leather trim pack is also part of the SR2 package, featuring partial leather seat trim, leather wrapped steering wheel, leather wrapped gearshift and handbrake cover, and colour-matched centre console lid and door trims, all in a Warm Charcoal finish.Cruise control is also fitted as standard equipment, incorporating easy-to-use steering wheel-mounted buttons, to complete the SR2 package.The exterior of the Territory SR2 is enhanced with seven-spoke 17-inch alloy wheels, a unique 'SR2' badge and a full body colour pack, including bumpers and door cladding.It will also be available in two new exterior paint colours – Seduce and Sensation – which were previously reserved for the premium Territory Ghia, Turbo and Ghia Turbo models.The Territory SR2 will be on display at the Ford stand from October 9. 

Almost 20 years to the day since he won his first Bathurst 1000, Australia touring car great Tony Longhurst has won his first tarmac rally in a Castrol sponsored 2006 Subaru Impreza STi.Following his recent retirement from touring cars, the Queenslander has been keeping his racing eye sharp in a number of tarmac rallies, including last weekend’s Tasmanian Tarmac Challenge, aka Rally Burnie, in Tasmania’s north-west.Over the two day event, Longhurst and navigator Jahmeil Taylor finished second in heat one and first in heat two in the trying wet conditions, resulting in a tie for first place with local Tasmanian driver Jamie Vandenberg.Longhurst has seen a number of podiums at different tarmac events over the previous years but this is the first time he’s stood atop the podium, and the gap between significant victories made it even more special.Longhurst tells: “I was standing on the podium and thinking it was a little odd that I’d win my first tarmac rally today, because it’s been 20 years since I was on the podium when I won my first Bathurst.”Though the 2008 Bathurst 1000 is on this weekend, in 1988 it was held one week earlier.He added: “To win my first tarmac rally is a really special feeling – it’s been a long time coming. We probably should have been on the podium at Targa Tasmania this year, except I put the car off the road, but to finally get the win is great.“I tried a lot harder today and was really committed to the pacenotes. It’s been an incredible tussle with Jamie (Vandenberg).“Yesterday was my first time on Dunlop tyres, and with more confidence in them today, I was a lot more comfortable to push harder.”Longhurst won the 1988 Bathurst 1000 with Tomas Mezera in his Benson & Hedges sponsored Ford Sierra Cosworth RS500. Longhurst also won the 2001 Bathurst 1000 with Mark Skaife in a Holden Commodore.The Tasmanian Tarmac Challenge was held in conjunction with round five of the Australian Rally Championship. It was a rare crossover event that occurred when the ARC (normally held of gravel surfaces) introduced its first all-tarmac round.While Longhurst and Vandenberg shared the victory spoils, Toyota Corolla driver Neal Bates and Coral Taylor used their tarmac rally and race driving experience to win both heats of the ARC section, extending his lead in the 2008 championship with one round to go in Coffs Harbour on Nov 15-16. 

Following the recent introduction of Impreza R, RX and RS sedans, the WRX will go on sale around December.Making its Australian motor show debut, the sedan Impreza WRX variant is expected to draw huge interest among Subaru turbocharged fans.Nick Senior, Managing Director, Subaru Australia, said: “Impreza WRX sedan will feature a wide variety of mechanical changes.It will, of course, maintain our standard of five-star crashworthiness ratings for occupant safety and standard electronic stability control.”Mr Senior said Model Year 2009 Impreza WRX sedan and hatch would offer the same specification levels, making the choice easier for customers.“New generation Impreza has proved a sales winner since its introduction last year, with sales up 12.5 per cent.“This final addition to the range will expand its appeal still further.”Pricing and specification details will be released at the Show on Thursday 9 October. 

Toyota will produce Australia's first home-grown hybrid car, which will headline the company's stand at the Show.An evaluation left-hand drive USA-spec Toyota Camry Hybrid will be on display, a little over 12 months before the start of local production at Toyota’s Altona plant in Melbourne’s West.The petrol-electric hybrid will offer more performance while using less fuel than conventional petrol Camry and emit less carbon dioxide.Showcasing Toyota’s Hybrid Synergy Drive technology, the Camry uses similar technology to the Prius, the world’s best selling hybrid. Camry uses a 110kW four-cylinder petrol engine and a high voltage electric motor that operates at low speeds (under 50km/h) and low loads, and can run short distances solely on electric power only. Toyota suggests there could be savings of 35 percent over the current four-cylinder Camry which is rated at 9.9l/100km.Camry Hybrid, like Prius, also uses regenerative braking to provide a charge to the boot-mounted nickel-metal hydride batteries.At launch, Toyota will be the first and only carmaker in Australia selling a locally built hybrid car, and plans to sell 10,000 hybrid Camry sedans a year when production starts in late 2009, for on sale in 2010. What will help boost sales is the Federal Government.The Government is pumping $35 million into a locally-built hybrid scheme, labelled the Green Car Innovation Fund. Producing cars locally is a lengthy and expensive process and without the government’s assistance, Toyota would not have the business case to build the Camry Hybrid here.Couple that with the government’s need for a solution to rising petrol prices and the cost of running its own fleet and it’s a symbiotic relationship. Don’t be surprised to see a few governmental Camry Hybrids appearing in 2010.