Articles by Ewan Kennedy

Now there are three. The premium small-car segment began as a one-horse race in 1996 when Audi took the bold step of introducing a small model called the A3. BMW was extra wary of the possibility of diluting its brand with a small car, but watched Audi sales closely and finally decided it was safe to enter the prestige small-car race in 2004, with its 1 Series.Mercedes-Benz was a very late starter, not joining the fray until it introduced the all-new A-Class in 2012 (the original A-Class was a stubby city car operating in a totally different market area). Having led the way, Audi is very keen to build on its 17 years of expertise in small cars and has added additional models to both ends of the A3 Sportback lineup.The most exciting is the quattro version. With over four decades of harnessing all-wheel-drive to powerful engines this model was a given. At the other end of the scale is a super-economy model tagged the Audi A3 COD. Which doesn’t mean you have to pay cash for it on delivery, but that it has a 'cylinder on demand' powerplant.ENGINES | TRANSMISSIONSThe A3 Sportback quattro has a hot(ish) four-cylinder 1.8-litre turbo-petrol engine that produces up to 132kW of power and a high 280Nm of torque. The use of quattro all-wheel-drive is the big feature of this model, as it provides huge amounts of road grip, even on slippery roads. Automatic transmission in the quattro is a six-speed dual-clutch unit.The cylinder on demand Audi A3 Sportback engine runs on four cylinders in normal driving conditions, but drops to just two cylinders when minimum power and torque are required, such as in gentle country or motorway running on level loads. It’s aimed at economy and has an officially measured figure of just 4.7 litres per hundred kilometres.Again, it’s a turbo-petrol unit, this time with a capacity of 1.4 litres and 103kW and 250Nm. Transmission is to the front wheels only and the automatic is a conventional six-speed unit. Both of these Audi engines coast downhill when you throttle right off, using zero litres of fuel when doing so.STYLINGThough it’s termed the Sportback, with the suggestion it has a hatchback body, this A3 is more station wagon in its shape. Thus it has a good sized load area that’s reasonably squared off and simple to load. A handy 380 litres of boot volume, including a large underfloor stowage area is a feature of the latest A3. Cargo capacity of 1120 litres is offered if the rear seats are folded down. There are various other ways of arranging the rear seats / boot to juggle luggage and people carrying.The sporty A3 quattro has a rear roof spoiler, 17-inch alloy wheels, front foglights, sports seats in leather trim, leather finished steering wheel, and an aluminium-look cabin design.INFOTAINMENTThese models have a full-colour 5.8-inch display for Audi’s MMI eight-speaker audio system. It has Bluetooth integration and satellite navigation. The screen can be retracted into the dash for those who choose to minimise driver inattention.SAFETYLighter weight and a stronger body meant the Audi gained five stars with ease in crash testing. The added traction of quattro all-wheel-drive gives it an edge in crash avoidance on low-traction surfaces.DRIVINGRemembering that torque is more important than power, it didn’t surprise us there’s plenty of grunt from the 280Nm quattro Audi A3. It has fast throttle response and combined with the quattro system provides plenty of driving excitement at a modest price of $37,990 plus on-road costs.Oddly, the cylinder on demand engine doesn’t have a light on the dash to let the driver know the car is running on just two cylinders. Volkswagen does on its virtually identical engine and we feel that the challenge of getting fuel consumption and emissions down as low as possible would be enhanced by just such an indicator light.Ride comfort and handling are nicely balanced in both models with even the sporting A3 Sportback quattro providing a supple ride and low noise levels. Coarse-chip sealed roads, often an achilles heel on European cars when driven in Australia, didn’t create undue noise in this pair of Audis.If the high-performance Audi A3 Sportback doesn’t stir your blood sufficiently, you will only have to wait another 10 weeks or so for the hot Audi S3 models. A challenger for the redhot Mercedes A 45 AMG is surely in the wings and will presumably be tagged the Audi RS3. Can’t wait for that one…The complete Audi A3 Sportback range is:A3 Attraction 1.4 TFSI S tronic: $35,600A3 Attraction 1.6 TDI S tronic: $36,500A3 Attraction 1.4 TFSI COD S tronic: $37,900A3 Ambition 1.8 TFSI S tronic: $42,500A3 Ambition 2.0 TDI S tronic: $42,500A3 Ambition 1.8 TFSI quattro S tronic: $45,500Audi A3 Sportback quattroPrice: from $45,500Warranty: 3 years/unlimited kmCapped servicing: NoResale: 52 per cent (previous model)Service interval: 12 months/15,000kmSafety: 5 starsEngine: 1.8-litre 4-cyl turbo, 132kW/280NmTransmission: 6-speed dual-clutch auto; AWDThirst: 6.6L/100km, 95 RON PULPDimensions: 4.3m (L), 1.8m (W), 1.4m (H)Weight: 1380kgSpare: Space-saver 

Well aware of the white heat of competition in medium SUV sales in Australia, Mitsubishi, one of the original players in the SUV field in Australia, has added features to its Outlander 4WD. Appearance changes are minimal – the fitment of18-inch alloy wheels and a black-coloured roof rail in all models – but equipment changes are generous.The entry level Mitsubishi Outlander has what Mitsubishi tells us is $1500 worth of extras. These include reversing sensors, as well as a camera. Parking reference lines are shown on the central touch-screen.Mitsubishi’s Link audio system provides AM/FM radio, CD and MP3 player, Aux and USB inputs with full iPod control. There’s voice control by way of Bluetooth connectivity for media streaming and free phone use.The mid-level Outlander LS now has the top spec Mitsubishi Multi Communication System (MMCS). It uses a larger 7-inch colour touch-screen than that in the base-level. Outlander LS also gets satellite navigation with 3D mapping functionality. There’s SD card input.Also fitted as standard on the LS are automatic headlights and wipers. Mitsubishi tells us these additions to the Outlander LS represent $2500 added value. Outlander Aspire, the topline model, has approximately $5750 worth of extra gear. The biggest addition is a sunroof. Other items include HID headlamps and a powered tailgate. Major safety technology in the Outlander Aspire are Forward Collision Mitigation and Adaptive Cruise Control.Mitsubishi Outlander received a major overhaul in its appearance just 12 months ago. This did away with what some said was too radical a shape of the previous Outlander, instead for a more elegant look. We must admit to having a preference for the older, bolder shape, but Mitsubishi is well aware it’s targeting conservative buyers so probably made the correct decision in going for a neater appearance.It wasn’t just done for the sake of appearance – the co-efficient of drag was reduced from 0.36 to 0.33 to cut fuel consumption and emissions. Our review at the time commented on there being less interior noise because of the smoother flow of air over the body.Inside, the new generation Mitsubishi Outlander has a neat design and uses materials of high quality. The front seats offer good space, the centre row has good legroom and the third row of seats, not fitted to all models, is better suited to children, though adults can use it without being overly cramped.The centre-row seat folds flat in a single motion to add to luggage space. Previously, the seat was tumble-folded in two stages, the new arrangement adds significantly to the length of the cargo that can be carried.Japanese Mitsubishi engineers teamed with Australians to fine tune the Outlander’s suspension and steering in this country – it’s always good to be taken seriously by overseas car makers. Engines are 2.0-litre and 2.4-litre petrol and 2.3-litre turbo-diesel. We find the smaller engine to have marginal performance, particularly if you have a load on board. The others are fine.The Outlander has achieved an ANCAP safety rating of five stars. Active Stability Control is standard across the range and can recognise understeer and oversteer, then applies braking force to the diagonal wheel to assist in keeping the Outlander on-line through corners. Mitsubishi Outlander has proven popular in Australia for many years and this upgraded new model for 2014 seems certain to keep up that tradition due to the increase in value it offers.The complete 2014 Mitsubishi Outlander range is:ES 2.0-litre petrol 2WD: from $27,640 (manual), $29,890 (CVT)ES 2.4-litre petrol AWD: from $32,890 (CVT)ES 2.0-litre petrol 2WD: from $33,490 (CVT)LS 2.4-litre petrol AWD: from $36,490 (CVT)LS 2.2-litre diesel AWD: from $39,490 (automatic)Aspire 2.4-litre petrol AWD: from $43,790 (CVT)Aspire 2.2-litre diesel AWD: from $46,790 (automatic) 

Here's a radical thought: if Holden was to build the Malibu in Australia, put Commodore badges on it and add a bit more pep to the engines it might sell up a storm.

Volkswagen Touareg is now offered in V8 TDI R-Line variant. It’s a high-performance turbo-diesel version that gives plenty of driving fun without making a huge donation to the oil companies.

Renault's history in Australia has been one of seemingly endless comebacks, followed by the French company's slow fading away.

Only a company like Bentley could get away with calling a car 'Speed' without arousing the wrath of the world's wowsers.

The demise of the local manufacture of the Mitsubishi 380 was the result of a common ailment within the car industry – belief in your own hype.

This is the one we’ve all been waiting for. When we tested the all-new Mercedes-Benz A-Class in Europe at its global launch 12 months ago

The introduction of the Hyundai i30 in October 2007 signalled Hyundai’s move into the big time.

BMW Z4 is a true roadster, with a very long bonnet, a stubby tail and seats all the way back, within a few centimetres of the rear wheels. We love the shape of this sporting little BeeEm, which has just been given a mild update with extra equipment packages.The model range for the new BMW Z4 is: Z4 sDrive 20i: $79,900 (automatic), Z4 sDrive 28i: $89,900 (automatic), Z4 sDrive 35i: $119,545 (automatic). Prices are virtually unchanged from the previous series and represent considerable savings when the added equipment is factored in.These prices aren’t likely to hold for long. Phil Horton, the MD of BMW Australia, admits they were set when the Oz dollar was close to its peak and that his company’s profits will be trimmed because of the recent drop in the dollar’s value.Upgrades for the 2014 model year include the installation of the BMW Professional satellite navigation system. There are several optional packages as BMW Australia is continuing its strategy of bundling items that had proven popular as individual features. The Design Pure Balance package includes sport seats, wood trim and leather upholstery to the seats.The M Sport Package is offered for the four-cylinder models and includes 18-inch alloys, sports seats, aluminium and carbon fibre interior trim, a leather steering wheel, M sport suspension, and an aerodynamics package.Finally, the new Design Pure Traction package, available across the range, features sports seats, Alcantara/leather upholstery, interior trim finishers in ‘metal weave’ design and an individual roof-liner in Anthracite trim.Styling changes to the body of the latest Z4 are minimal, with the headlights now having DRLs (Daytime Running Lights) running rings around the quad headlights; there are metal arches over the lights and more chrome around the front blinkers. Reshaping of the side ‘gills’ gives a tapered effect. New paint colours complete the picture.Inside the cosy cockpit a bolder effect has been achieved by using piano-black in several key locations, as well as mild revisions in style.Engines are all turbo-petrol units; choices are 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol in two stages of tune, 135kW and 180kW, and a 3.0-litre six-cylinder with a rip snorting 250kW. A big change from the previous BMW Z4 is the use of an eight-speed automatic transmission with the four-cylinder engines. The six has a dual-clutch seven-speed unit.During our road testing we fell in love with the 180 kW four-cylinder unit as mated to the new eight speed automatic transmission. It provides almost as much performance as the six-cylinder and its lighter weight adds to the already good agility of the Z4 in the twisty bits.Then again, the lower powered four-cylinder costs significantly less and still gives good push in the back. And when we floored the pedal in the six-cylinder model the smoothness and ease of acceleration was exhilarating. As you may have gathered, I couldn't quite make up my mind...On the road, the Z4 continues to be an excitement machine, with excellent chassis balance, huge levels of grip in corners and the ability to answer to steering and throttle inputs in a pure sports manner. Anyone who doesn’t come off a drive in the Z4 on mountainous roads with a big smile on their face hasn’t been trying hard enough.On the downside, there’s a lot of tyre noise on coarse-chip bitumen, to the extent that conversation can be difficult even when the roof is closed. Noise that, frankly, became rather wearing after an hour of cruising on sub-standard roads.As seems to be the norm at a media launch of any open top car, it rained on our parade; fortunately not to the extent of curtailing our driving pleasure for too long. In any case it gave us the opportunity to test the sealing of the folding hardtop. Which was, no surprises here, excellent.