Articles by Ewan Kennedy

Ewan Kennedy road tests and reviews the 2014 Renault Kangoo.

Ewan Kennedy road tests and reviews the used 2000-2013 Kia Rio.

Fiat Abarth 595 gets 'Ferrari' engineAbarth, the high-performance division of Fiat, has produced a limited edition version of its hot Abarth 595 and the really big news is the installation of a Ferrari engine! Well, it's not a Ferrari engines as in the megabuck supercar, but the one from the Abarth 695 Tributo Ferrari.The Abarth 595 '50th Anniversary' celebrates the introduction of the original Fiat 500 Abarth 595 in 1963. Following on Fiat Australia's sellout success with the limited edition Fiat 500 by Gucci, the company's Australia chief, Veronica Johns, says she is proud to have scored 50 of the Abarth 595 '50th Anniversary' for Australia. Ultra-trendy Gucci and ultra-sporting Ferrari are obviously very different brands, but both are iconic Italians. You have to give Abarth's marketing guys and gals top marks for coming up with special editions based on too dissimilar, but highly desirable, products. ENGINE / TRANSMISSIONPower for the 50th Anniversary comes from a turbocharged 1.4-litre engine. In the standard Abarth it develops 118kW, in the Abarth 595 Anniversary this has been increased to 132kW. There's up to 250Nm of torque thanks to an overboost function activated by pressing the Sport button. This puts the ECU into a full-on sports map and increases turbo boost. Sadly the Abarth 595 is only offered with an automated manual gearbox. Though it has been given the grand title of 'Abarth Competizione' it's still a fairly primitive unit. While it does have steering wheel paddles for pseudo-manual control, we would much rather have a proper manual gearbox.Should you be in the Northern Territory, you will find this little Italian hotshot has a top speed of 225 km/h. In the rest of Australia you will have to settle for sprinting from zero to 100km/h in under seven seconds, or take it for a trip to a racetrack.Driving dynamics can be adjusted by Fiat's DualDrive electric power steering with 'Sport' function. Even better, the TTC (Torque Transfer Control) system juggles the amount of grunt sent to each of the front wheels to maximise driver control and enjoyment.Best of all, the engineers at Abarth have designed what they call 'Record Monza'. This system is named after the famous Italian racing circuit and uses a variable-back-pressure, dual-mode exhaust that delivers an inspiring sound from the hot Abarth when you get the engine where it belongs - over 3000rpm. FEATURESThe hottest Abarth ever has 17-inch alloy wheels in 695 Magnesio Grey embellished by a red liner. Three-layer white paintwork, is an excellent contemporary reinterpretation of the 1963 Abarth. It is embellished with graphics that look spot on.Abarth 595 '50th Anniversary' has foglights, Xenon headlights and a fold-back sunroof, the latter just like the original. Inside are red leather sports seats with white inserts and red stitching. A historical logo adorns the steering wheel that's finished in black leather with red inserts. This logo is also used on the door kick plates.Standard gear includes climate-control air conditioning with pollen filter; CD/MP3 radio with controls on the steering wheel; an Interscope Hi-Fi system; and the Blue&Me voice control system developed in conjunction with Microsoft.On the accessory list there's some good stuff: a '595' vintage car cover, special edition sunglasses and even '595 Anniversario' dedicated Tramontaro luggage.PRICEThe Abarth 595 50th Anniversary special edition has a suggested retail price of $45,000. Not cheap, but you get a lot of sporting Italian automotive heritage for your money and, who knows, it may even become a collectors' car on day. 

Skoda has reduced the prices of its Yeti SUV by as much as $4400 and at the same time has added important extra features, particularly on the safety front.

The latest version of the big Audi A8 saloon, and its sporting brother the Audi S8, have finally arrived in Australia.

Like its big brother Range Rover, the all-new Range Rover Sport has been on a serious diet. Compared with the previous generation Sport the new one is as much as 420 kg lighter

Czech car maker Skoda has added another station wagon to its list.

Styling of the latest couple of generations of Ford Fiestas is bold and their stunning, almost futuristic, looks appeal to many, particularly those moving down from larger cars.The Ford Fiesta is sold as a three-door or five-door hatchback. The three-door has a sporty appearance, but the five-door certainly isn’t on the staid side. Getting into the back seat of the three-door Fiesta isn’t too difficult for the kids, but large adults will find it a hassle.Once in the back seat, occupants will find it reasonably spacious. The front seats are larger than average for a car in this class and are reasonably comfortable, though some may find them on the firm side in the German manner.Ford Australia is keen to please drivers looking for more than mere transport so imports its small cars from Europe. This makes them slightly more expensive than products from Holden, which are often made in South Korean factories, but Ford Oz has managed to keep prices down.The Fiesta comes in plenty of different variants. Most use a 1.4- or 1.6-litre petrol engine and offer a couple of drivetrain options. The WZ series Fiesta, introduced in August 2013, has an interesting pair of turbocharged power units, in particular a willing little three-cylinder 1.0-litre with plenty of spark in its response. Even better is the 1.6 turbo-petrol in the Fiesta ST, it has strong torque over a wide spread of revs and can be regarded as a low cost alternative to full-on hot hatches.The Ford Fiesta XR4, introduced in June 2007, is a genuine hot hatch, not just a dressed up standard model.  Inside, there are sporting seats with leather bolsters. Fiesta XR4 has lowered suspension and rides on Pirelli P-Zero tyres. Ride comfort is surprisingly good for the hot-hatch class.The XR4's big Duratec 2.0-litre engine gives plenty of performance in a light car such as this. Some will be disappointed that only a five-speed gearbox is used. However, it has nicely chosen ratios and the change action is slick and positive.A fascinating new model was launched in November 2009. The Ford Fiesta Econetic is a super-economy model that's powered by a 1.6-litre turbo-diesel engine tuned specifically for low consumption. It has good torque, uses higher than normal gearing and runs on special low-rolling resistance tyres. The result is fuel consumption below four litres per hundred kilometres during easy motorway running and only five to seven litres per hundred kilometres in day-to-day suburban driving.A good home mechanic can do a fair bit of their own work on a Fiesta, but the underbonnet area is cramped. Leave the safety items to the experts. There are plenty of Ford dealers Australia wide. While uncommon parts for Fiestas may not be held in all country dealerships it usually only takes a couple of business days to have parts freighted out there. We seldom hear any real complaints about prices of parts or servicing. Plenty of mechanics running their own independent businesses will have had formal training while employed by Ford dealers in the past.Insurance premiums for the standard Ford Fiesta models are about average for its class. Some companies may charge more for the XR4 hot-hatch and the hot-ish Fiesta ST, though not outrageously so.WHAT TO LOOK FOREuropean cars aren't built to the high standards of Japanese ones, so be sure to arrange for a full professional inspection. Carefully check the interior for signs of damage due to poor assembly, also for damage done by rough or bored kids.Listen for squeaks or rattles when driving on rough roads, not necessarily outback tracks, just suburban surfaces that have seen better days. The Fiesta engine should start easily and idle smoothly virtually from the moment it kicks over. Listen and feel for a manual gearbox that hesitates or crunches during fast changes.Try the steering on full lock at low speeds both all the way to the right and the left. Listen for the clicking sounds that indicate worn universal joints. A Fiesta XR4 that has been driven hard can often be identified by uneven tyre wear. Also look for lowered suspension, big-diameter wheels and additional instruments.Rust isn't going to be a problem unless a car has been poorly repaired after a crash. Look for paint finish that doesn’t match from panel to panel and for overspray on non-painted areas.CAR BUYING TIPA simple way to check for rust repairs is to hold a magnet against a suspect area. It will stick to metal under the paint, but not to plastic fillers.

Those who need a sensible car, yet who also enjoy spirited driving will find the Volkswagen Golf does a good job of meeting these apparently conflicting needs.Even by Australian standards the Golf has grown in size with each new model, going from small to small-medium and finally to medium in overall dimensions. This is partly to provide the extra space needed for occupant crash protection though there is some more interior room as well.Aussies tend to regard them more as transport for a family with preteen children, but if you live in an inner city area in Melbourne of Sydney you may need nothing more than a Volkswagen Golf to fill all your motoring needs. In Europe, the VW Golf is often seen as a full-sized car and it's not unusual to see them carting four large adults about.Golf is chiefly sold as a three- or five-door door hatchback. A 'Golf' four-door sedan was called the Bora from 1999 until the launch of the fifth generation model in 2005, when it was renamed Jetta. Boot space in the sedans is substantially better than in the hatches and the four-door models are certainly worth consideration.VW Golf Cabriolet was sold until 2003. It has good roll-over protection for an open-top car and still offers a reasonable amount of space in the back seat. Access to the boot is difficult with the smallish boot lid sitting very low at the rear. The Cabriolet was replaced by the New Beetle Cabriolet, but in a surprise move, VW reintroduced the Golf Cabriolet in 2012.Engines come in various guises: petrol and diesel; with four-, five- and six-cylinder units. Four-cylinder petrol engines are the most common, coming in capacities of 1.4, 1.6, 1.8 and 2.0 litres. The 1.6 will suit most drivers, but those who like to drive hard may find it a bit dull. The 1.4-litre is a brilliant, relatively recent, design and the little turbo unit provides performance with economy.Volkswagen in Australia started a big push in the diesel field several years ago and these engines are now far more common than in the past. With capacities of 1.6, 1.9 and 2.0 litres they provide plenty of grunt and turbo lag isn't too bad. Those who enjoy a really good drive should consider the VW Golf GTi. A fun machine for the keen driver, it's rapidly becoming regarded as a classic in the Australian hot-hatch market.Then there's the Golf R range of extreme hotshots. These traditionally had a large V6 engine – 3.2 litres in a smallish car gives plenty of performance. These are tagged as Golf R32. The mk6 Golf R, launched in 2011, takes a different tack, going for 2.0 litres and a high-pressure turbo. Disguising the smaller size of the engine is the change of name to simply Golf R - somehow it wouldn't have been right to replace the R32 with an R20.Six-speed manuals arrived with the fifth-generation Golfs in 2004 and are popular on the used scene. The DSG gearbox, also launched in 2004, is a self-shifting manual gearbox. It provides far better performance than the old-style four-speed automatics used until 2004. However, in those early days the dual-clutch DSG was often slow and awkward at very slow speeds, making it a pain in tight parking situations. Later DSGs have been improved, but still aren't as good as conventional automatic transmissions.This VW is a relatively easy car to work on and spare parts are not overly expensive. The dealer network has expanded from a low point during the mid-1990s and nowadays we hear very few complaints about parts availability or servicing.Insurance charges are about average for an imported European vehicle on most Golf and Jetta models. The high-performance Golf GTi may attract higher premiums, the Golf R32 and Golf R almost certainly will cost you a lot more.WHAT TO LOOK FORRust isn't common in Golfs and is more likely to be the result of bad crash repairs than vehicle design. Have the car inspected professionally, or find another one. Older Golfs that have been kept in the open continuously may suffer from sun-dried dashboard tops and rear parcel shelves.Feel and look for uneven tyre wear, particularly on the front wheels. Engines should start quickly. Listen for untoward engine noises, especially when it's cold. Look for smoke from the exhaust when the engine is driven hard, particularly on long uphill runs. Make sure a manual gearbox doesn't crunch on fast downchanges.Check that dual-clutch transmissions are positive in their shifts and don't hesitate too much at very low speeds. Be sure the brakes pull the car up evenly. If ABS is fitted you should feel a pulsing through the pedal during hard stops.CAR BUYING TIPAn area to check early in the piece is the top of the rear bumper. Careless owners may have rested luggage on it while loading the car. And careless luggage packers may also be careless drivers, even careless about having servicing carried out according to schedule. 

the Jaguar F-Type convertible, which reached us downunder in August 2013, is argued by many as being the true replacement for the E-Type.