Articles by Joshua Dowling

The Toyota 4Runner is set to return to Australian showrooms next year - and CarsGuide has exclusive photos of it during top-secret testing.Photographer Phil Williams of the Centralian Advocate newspaper caught a convoy of disguised Toyotas in the outback this week.We've published spy photos of HiLux prototypes before but this is the first time its twin-under-the-skin, the new generation 4Runner, has been caught on camera in Australia.It is pictured towing a loaded trailer in durability testing south of Alice Springs. Locals say the Toyota team has been there for several weeks.The 4Runner was last sold in Australia between 1984 and 1996 priced between $40,000 and $48,000. It was dropped from the line-up locally because Toyota chose to import the family-sized Prado seven-seater SUV instead.That proved to be a wise move as the Prado became one of Australia's top-selling recreational vehicles, as a cheaper entry point into Toyota's heavy duty four-wheel-drive range than the LandCruiser. However, its price has risen over the years.As Australia's appetite for 4WDs continues to grow, Toyota, the biggest seller of SUVs, has found the need to introduce a more affordable model.The new generation vehicle is a little different to the 4Runner as we knew it. Back in the 1980s it was initially marketed as a cosy two-door, five-seater ute with a fixed canopy, designed to appeal to surfers and young couples keen on camping. The second model was available with four doors and five seats.But it has grown up since then and is now available as a seven-seater, putting it among the most affordable family-sized, heavy-duty 4WDs.In Australia its most likely rivals will be the Holden Colorado7, Isuzu MU-X, Mitsubishi Challenger and the coming Ford Everest. It is tipped to carry the Fortuner badge, as in overseas markets.All of these vehicles are made in Thailand and based on their ute siblings. The Toyota is built on the next-generation HiLux platform. Toyota Australia has not confirmed the Fortuner is coming to Australia but CarsGuide understands it will be in local showrooms by the end of 2015, soon after the all-new HiLux goes on sale in October, priced about $45,000.

Australia’s car manufacturing industry may be closed by the end of 2017 but there is a bold new export hope: design and engineering talent. The Ford Everest SUV was created in Broadmeadows but will be made in China. The first ever Australian-designed car to be made in China was unveiled in Beijing overnight.The new Ford Everest family-sized four-wheel-drive was designed and engineered from the ground up in Broadmeadows, on the northern outskirts of Melbourne, in a small building behind the Falcon factory that will fall silent in October 2016.The top secret project is a sign of things to come as car manufacturing comes to an end and Australia becomes an exporter of talent -- helping create cars that will be made overseas.“The Everest is proof of the incredible design and engineering talent we have in Australia and within the global Ford team,” said Ford Australia spokesman Martin Gunsberg.Ford Australia already employs more designers and engineers than it does blue-collar factory workers -- about 1100 versus 850 -- and will become the biggest automotive employer of people with such skills once Holden and Toyota also close their factories in 2017.The Everest is due on sale in Australia next year priced from about $45,000.It will put a seven-seat, heavy-duty four-wheel-drive within reach of families now that the Toyota LandCruiser and Nissan Patrol are priced beyond the $61,884 Luxury Car Tax.As Ford joins the growing trend to global vehicles, the Everest models sold in Australia will be sourced from a factory in Thailand because Ford believes the Chinese production line will barely be able to keep up with demand there.The Australian-designed and engineered Ford Everest will also be sold in more than 40 countries across the Asia-Pacific, India and Africa.“The Ford Everest will help to expand our product footprint in the region,” said Trevor Worthington, vice president, product development, Ford Asia Pacific."I've always had the view that Australian designers, Australian engineers, Australian scientists are a very talented pool of people who make the best use of (limited resources)," said Worthington.As well as being capable off-road, the Ford Everest is equipped with such hi-tech features as radar cruise control, a blind spot warning system, automatic lane-keeping, and cross-traffic alert (which warns the driver of approaching cars when reversing out of perpendicular parking spaces).The Everest will also automatically dial 000 after a crash -- if a mobile is paired -- in which an airbag has been deployed.Meanwhile, anyone who doesn’t want to leave civilization too far behind can charge a lap top through the Everest’s 240-volt power outlet in the second row, while 12-volt outlets in the front console and in the second row let drivers and passengers charge multiple gadgets at the same time.Likened to being the Swiss Army Knife of cars, another 12-volt outlet in the cargo hold can be used to run devices like air compressors when camping.

Akio Toyoda, the boss of the world's biggest car company, Toyota, has secretly flown into Australia — but insiders insist it is not to announce an early shutdown of the Toyota Camry factory in Altona.The 55-year-old grandson of company founder Kiichiro Toyoda flew by private jet to Coffs Harbour on the mid-north coast of New South Wales on Monday, according to locals.News Corp Australia understands he has met up with a convoy of 12 Toyota cars being driven by Japanese engineers on a 20,000km, 72-day research trip around Australia, to better develop future cars to suit Australia's harsh conditions.RELATED: Why Toyota had to goMORE: Toyota workers get $200 million payoutToyota initially would not confirm that Mr Toyoda is in Australia but Coffs Harbour locals say he has been in town for at least a day.A statement from Toyota Australia spokeswoman Beck Angel on Tuesday afternoon said: "I can confirm that the global president (of Toyota) is in Australia for an internal activity."The company has declined News Corp Australia requests for an interview.Toyota's around-Australia test drive is expected to finish in Melbourne on Thursday, when Mr Toyoda will address the evaluation team on arrival, as well as the 2500 factory workers.It is Mr Toyoda's first visit to Australia since he announced to factory workers in person on February 10 that the Camry assembly line in Altona would close by the end of 2017.Toyota Australia insists it plans to continue manufacturing until its 2017 deadline even though sales of locally-made cars have declined dramatically in recent months.The Ford Falcon posted its lowest ever monthly sales in October (with 396 deliveries) while Holden Commodore sales are down by 33 per cent compared with the same month the previous year.The Camry, which is normally a steady seller, was also down by 15 per cent in October.Toyota will introduce an updated Camry early next year, which will carry the factory through until its closure in three years before switching to an imported model.The next Camry will likely be imported from Thailand, the next Holden Commodore is expected to come from Germany, while the European-built Ford Mondeo is likely to replace the Falcon in the long term.

Rolls-Royce has slashed the price of its most basic model to, er, a little more than half a million dollars. Want to drive a bargain? Rolls-Royce has slashed $100,000 off the price of its most affordable model, the Ghost sedan. There is just one catch: it will still cost $545,000 (drive-away, no more to pay) or roughly the average price of a house in Australia. The British brand unveiled the new model in Sydney on Tuesday, announcing that it deleted several luxury items to trim $100,000 off the price. RELATED: Will privately imported cars really be cheaper?MORE: Luxury buyers the big winners if import rules change The updated Rolls-Royce Ghost Series II no longer comes standard with lambs wool floor mats, a sunroof, remote central locking, electrically-adjusted rear seats or aircraft-style tables that fold down behind the front seats. Instead, these items are now individual options. “We want to make Rolls-Royce more accessible to younger buyers,” said Paul Harris, the Asia-Pacific regional director for Rolls-Royce cars. The price cut comes as figures show Rolls-Royce sales are on a roll in Australia -- up by a staggering 183 per cent -- from, er, 12 deliveries in the first 10 months of last year, to 34 deliveries nationally so far in 2014. Rolls-Royce insists the price cut is not a knee-jerk reaction to the Federal Government’s plan to allow buyers to import new cars privately. When asked if Rolls-Royce was concerned about the Federal Government’s proposal to allow buyers to privately import new cars to save thousands of dollars, Mr Harris said: “It wouldn’t make a difference, our prices are the same across the region, before taxes are included.” When asked if someone imported a new Rolls-Royce from the UK, where they are significantly cheaper, Mr Harris said: “Then the customer wouldn’t have a warranty. The warranty comes with the car delivered by a dealer in Australia.” It may be prudent to have a factory-backed warranty as almost every Rolls-Royce sold in Australia over the 10 years from 2002 to 2012 was recalled two years ago because the brakes could fail, or the car could catch fire. The car industry is fighting the Federal Government’s plan to allow private buyers to import their own cars. Initially, the government thought it would lead to cheaper prices for mass market models. But numerous studies have shown that prices for cars less than the $61,884 Luxury Car Tax threshold are similar to or cheaper than overseas models. However, a large gap emerges above $100,000, where almost all cars are cheaper in Europe and the USA than in Australia.

New-car sales have slowed for nine out of the past 10 months as Australian-made cars fall out of favour and we embrace luxury cars.Australians are falling out of love with locally-made cars faster than expected, putting increased pressure on the industry to make it all the way to the end of 2017 before Ford, Holden and Toyota factories shut down.Official sales figures for October show that sales of Australian-made cars have tanked and we are buying imported and luxury cars in greater numbers than ever before.The Ford Falcon, once our top seller, hit a new record low of just 396 deliveries in October as the new-car market slowed for the ninth time in 10 months, figures released at midday Thursday are expected to show.The new Commodore has also hit the skids, with sales down by a staggering 33 per cent, which dragged Holden’s tally across the range down by 28 per cent in the same month that company boss Gerry Dorizas left Holden suddenly after a little more than six months in the job.VIDEO: Holden says it's here to stay RELATED: Holden boss makes sudden exit MORE: Govt must boost funds to stop early shut downs Even the bulletproof Toyota Camry is off the boil, with sales down by 15 per cent compared with the same month last year.The Ford Falcon and Toyota Camry are due to receive updates in the next few months and a dip in sales is usually offset by heavy discounting. But both cars have failed to attract buyers as they once did.Despite record low interest rates and car affordability at a 38-year high, official sales figures for October show the market is down by 1.5 per cent compared with the same month last year, with 91,236 deliveries, although we are still on track to buy more than 1 million vehicles in 2014.Private buyers kept their hands in their pockets (sales down 3.9 per cent), as did business fleets (down 2.0 per cent). Only government (up 2.2 per cent) and rental fleets (up 18 per cent) showed growth in October, the latter injecting new cars into the system ahead of the summer holidays.The Toyota Corolla has stretched its lead over the new Mazda3 as Australia’s favourite car for 2014, although the pair is separated by fewer than 1000 sales year-to-date.This means if you’re in the market for a new Corolla or Mazda3 in the next two months you will likely get an even sharper deal as each tries to secure the top-seller title.In other upsets, South Korean car maker Hyundai was the second best-selling brand for the first time ever, ahead of Holden and behind Toyota. Hyundai Australia has been led by CEO John Elsworth, a former Holden executive for 22 years, since 2012.Meanwhile German luxury brand Mercedes-Benz made it into the Top 10 for only the second time ever (the first time was in May this year), ahead of mainstream brands Jeep and Kia.Luxury vehicles now account for approximately 10 per cent of Australia’s new-car sales; the global average is 7 per cent.Top 10 cars in OctoberToyota Corolla 3819 down 1.1 per centToyota HiLux 3228 up 1.7 per centMazda3 2928 down 19 per centHyundai i30 2475 up 4.0 per centFord Ranger 2405 up 18 per centHolden Commodore 2210 down 33 per centToyota Camry 1908 down 15.2 per centMitsubishi Triton 1787 down 2.6 per centVolkswagen Golf 1755 down 10.8 per centMazda CX-5 1594 up 3.5 per centTop 10 brands in OctoberToyota 17,382 down 4.1 per centHyundai 8401 up 3.3 per centHolden 7542 down 28.4 per centMazda 6880 down 13.6 per centFord 6337 down 15.3 per centNissan 5759 up 8.9 per centMitsubishi 5115 up 0.9 per centVolkswagen 4764 down 3.0 per centSubaru 4003 up 40.0 per centMercedes-Benz 3150 up 39.3 per centSource: Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries, VFACTS. Percentage change compared to the same month last year.

Former Holden finance boss Mark Bernhard is tipped to become the new head of Holden. Holden could soon have its first Australian-born boss in almost a quarter of a century -- and its sixth boss in six years. An Australian car company executive who has been based in China for the past two years is the front-runner to become the new boss of Holden and oversee the factory shutdown in 2017 and transition the company to an importer of cars. News Corp Australia has been told by well placed sources that General Motors has selected four final candidates to replace Gerry Dorizas, who left Holden suddenly at the end of October after a little more than six months in the job. The most likely candidate is Mark Bernhard, who was formerly the chief financial officer at Holden before he was promoted to vice president and chief financial officer for General Motors in China, the world's biggest car market. "He's a finance guy with a incredible knowledge of the Holden business but who also has a strong focus on sales," a senior General Motors executive told News Corp Australia. Mr Bernhard began his career at Holden in 1986, when he worked in various finance roles under the last Australian to run Holden, John Bagshaw, who ran the company from 1987 to 1990. Since then, Holden has been run by General Motors executives from North America, Britain, Canada, and Germany. The Greek-born Mr Dorizas, a former Volkswagen executive, was the first Holden boss in the company's history hired from outside General Motors. General Motors initially favoured candidates outside the company to inject "fresh talent" into the business, but insiders say this strategy has not worked and it now intends to hire from within. Holden would not comment on the speculation about Mr Bernhard and said an official announcement about the new Holden boss is not due until later in the year. The two most senior Australian-born executives at Holden have moved on over the past two years. John Elsworth, who was the head of sales and marketing, left Holden after 22 years to head Hyundai in Australia in October 2012. His successor at Holden, Phil Brook, was promoted to a sales and marketing role with General Motors based in North America last month. Mr Bernhard has risen through the ranks at General Motors after a number of overseas postings. After working for Holden from 1986 to 1996 he joined General Motors Europe, based in Zurich Switzerland. In 1998 Mr Bernhard became a finance executive with General Motors' international operations, based in Detroit, before the role moved to Singapore in 1999. In July 2002, Mr Bernhard became vice president and CFO of Shanghai-GM. In May 2007, Mr Bernhard returned to Australia as CFO and executive director of finance for Holden. Mr Bernhard received his Bachelor's Degree in Business Accounting from Monash University in 1985 and his Master's Degree in Business Administration from Deakin University in 2002, according to his company biography. Mr Bernhard was not available for comment as this story was published.

Meet the two guys selling Holden V8 utes to Americans, something Holden tried but failed to do six years ago.Two workshop mechanics have managed to do what Holden could not achieve: export the Holden ute to North America.Holden came so close to selling the homegrown ute in the land of "pick-up trucks" that it had rapper 50 Cent unveil a Pontiac version of the Commodore ute at the New York motor show in 2008.But the export plans were scrapped once the Global Financial Crisis hit later that year, and General Motors chose not to revive the program and sell the ute as a Chevrolet.Enter two entrepreneurial mechanics from Denver, Colorado, John Ehrlich and Randall Reese, who started importing Holden utes from Australia 18 months ago, and are now up to their 16th delivery."General Motors is crazy," says Ehrlich. "They missed a massive opportunity here. The work was done to make these into left-hand-drive, we can't understand why they didn't bring them in as Chevrolets."The pair specialise in the V8 Holden utes and have just begun importing -- and converting to left-hand-drive -- the top-of-the-line Holden Special Vehicles Maloo, which has the same V8 engine as the Corvette."Holden has a real cult following over here, absolutely people know what it is when they see it," says Reese. "It reminds them of the Chevrolet ElCamino pick-ups we had in the 1970s."The Denver boys, who trade under Lefthandutes.com, sell their secondhand and converted utes for between $40,000 for a Holden SS to $95,000 for a top-line HSV Maloo, about 20 per cent more than what Australians pay for similar secondhand models.In the US, two Australians living in Florida have bought one each, but the remaining customers are American living in New York, Washington, and Virginia.What will the Denver boys do once Holden stops manufacturing in Australia by the end of 2017?"We'll keep buying them secondhand," says Reese. "There is nothing like this on the road in America. I can't believe Holden and General Motors are letting go of the ute. It's such a great concept: a pick-up with performance." 

With more than 2000 cars -- including an electric Monster Truck and a Toyota Camry drag racing machine -- SEMA 2014 is the biggest and wildest motorshow you've never heard about.World leaders should give car enthusiasts a try at world peace. The biggest motorshow on the planet proves it's possible to have different cultures get along, even if it is car culture.The SEMA event in Las Vegas started as an annual gathering of the weird on wheels and a technology and parts exhibition.But it has now become so important that 15 of the world's biggest car companies have set up mini motorshows inside and out, parked right alongside hot rods, classic cars, electric-powered Monster Trucks and a Toyota Camry V8 drag racer -- complete with a bodyshell that is hinged behind the rear wheels -- and everything else in between.Car enthusiasts are viewed by the industry as "early adopters" of technology, so it's a great way for them to plug-in (pun intended) to the latest trends.Translated: enthusiasts will pay more for a new car if they love it, which is why the car companies want to get to know them better. They're after their wallets.There are cars with tyres as thin as an elastic band, to wheel rims so huge you can stand inside themAnd there is plenty of cash to go around. In the US, the enthusiast car market is a $33 billion-a-year business. For perspective, General Motors, one of the world's biggest car makers, turned over $150 billion last year. Globally.Indeed, both General Motors and Ford had top level corporate brass walking the halls with the masses.Ford's design director, Chris Svensson, awarded nine trophies to the best modified Fords on display, where enthusiasts take a standard car and then let loose on it.At SEMA, the owners get the final say on how a car looks, not the designers."It's an absolute compliment to see so many talented people use our cars as a blank canvass," said Svensson."As manufacturers we are constrained by mass production processes. We're proud of the level of detail we can get into a car, but these guys take it to a whole new level."Do car designers walk away with some ideas from the show?"Not really, well nothing we haven't thought of already but dismissed because of cost," said Svensson. "One guy here spent $600,000 modifying a car. But we do get some ideas on colours and trims and what the public finds desirable."The SEMA show has become so big that it has spilled outside the 92,000 square-metre Las Vegas Convention Centre and taken up the car parks out the front and two across the road, and another "live event" stunt area two blocks away.It's so big you need to catch a cab or take the monorail to the show because there is no room for parking, which is kind of ironic given that a love of cars is what got you here in the first place.Among the close to 2000 cars on display are entire halls dedicated to wheels, and another for "doof doof" sound systems. Other show halls look like a spare parts counter or a hardware store stacked with tools.There are cars with tyres as thin as an elastic band, to wheel rims so huge you can stand inside them.It's the most punishing show to cover because it is, quite literally, impossible to see everything.The most cruel aspect of SEMA, though, is that it is closed to the public, reserved for industry and trade people to kick tyres and exchange business cards.But it has reached such popularity that SEMA organisers have set aside more space outside each year. And that's the best part of all, because at least that part is free. Well, minus the cost of a cab fare or a monorail ride.

World's fastest motorcycle unveiled: supercharged Kawasaki Ninja H2 uses technology from aerospace and Formula One. On sale next year from about $30,000.There may soon be no more need for speed. Kawasaki has just unveiled a motorcycle that is so fast even daredevils are wondering if it is too powerful.With a design inspired by Formula One race cars and a supercharged engine that uses aerospace technology, the Kawasaki Ninja H2 is expected to blast from 0 to 100km/h in less than 2.5 seconds.It can accelerate as quick as an F1 racing machine -- if riders can hang on to it -- because the supercharged engine has almost as much power as a Volkswagen Golf GTI hot hatch, but the Kawasaki Ninja H2 weighs barely one-fifth as much as a car.RELATED: University doctor wants automatic braking on motorcyclesMORE: Undercover police motorcycles bust driversThe supercharger technology is so sophisticated it has been banned from international motorcycle racing since 1946, but has returned to a modern, road-going motorcycle in the search for more power from smaller engines.The Kawasaki Ninja H2 is expected to go on sale in Australia early next year priced about $30,000 and will be available to anyone who has completed their learner and provisional periods on their motorcycle licence.The Ninja H2 is expected to comfortably overtake the previous title holders of the world's fastest bike including the Kawasaki Ninja ZX14-R from 2012, the Ducati Diavel from 2011, the Yamaha VMAX from 2010, and the Suzuki GSXR-1000 from 2006.The brakes are bigger than those fitted to a Holden Commodore V8 sedanThe official slogan "built beyond belief" may also go down in history as the most honest in advertising; even Kawasaki admits the Ninja H2 is "not for everyone, nor is it designed to be".When it comes to performance the Ninja H2 is "a whole new world", said Kenichi Hashiba, the managing director of Kawasaki Motors Australia.It is so powerful Kawasaki has fitted a range of electronics that limit power to enable it to be ridden safely in wet weather or in slippery conditions, as well as a "launch control" mode to get the perfect start.The brakes are bigger than those fitted to a Holden Commodore V8 sedan."The potential buyer will probably not spend too much time debating in their head whether or not to buy it," said Mr Hashiba. "They will feel the desire inside and act on those feelings."Contrary to expectations, the motorcycle insurance industry is not up in arms over the supercharged superbike."There are already motorcycles on the road that can accelerate at racing car levels and many that can do more than 300km/h," said Swann Insurance research manager Robert McDonald."Generally most motorcycle owners only use these speed capabilities on organised track days. There are also many cars on the road currently that can do more than 300km/h."The insurer said it was important to note the Kawasaki Ninja H2 had the latest available safety equipment, including intelligent anti-lock brakes, as standard."We don't anticipate higher than normal claims rates with this motorcycle compared to other high-powered sports bikes on the road," said Mr McDonald.Very fast facts: Kawasaki Ninja H2Engine: Supercharged 998cc in-line four-cylinderPower: 154.5kW at 11,000rpm (210 horsepower)Torque: 140Nm at 10,000rpmTransmission: Six-speedWeight: 238kg (ready to ride)Brakes: 330mm discs (front), 250mm (rear)0 to 100km/h: Less than 2.5 seconds (estimated)Top speed: 299km/h (electronically limited, race track version can reach 340km/h).

Federal Government is meeting with all sides of the car industry on Monday to consider radical changes to the Motor Vehicle Standards Act, in the belief that reform will lead to cheaper cars for the masses.Changes are needed in many key areas but let's hope the bureaucrats get the balance right, because the ramifications will be far reaching – perhaps beyond the government's expectations.If the government is not careful, the changes could reverse Australia's 90-year low in the road toll – and clog our courts with cases trying to discover the true identity of a stolen car, or with people suing someone for selling them a lemon.That said, there is room to make changes that would benefit enthusiasts and the wider community, and hopefully address the government's concern about vehicle prices, particularly at the top end of the scale.The prices of mass-market vehicles are already at 20-year lows and affordability is at a 38-year high.You only need to look at the price of a Toyota Corolla to see it's true: the starting price of $19,990 is the same today as it was 20 years ago. And yet today's car is loaded with features that were exclusive to limousines back then.With all this in mind, and having trolled through many of the 200 submissions made online, here is my unofficial submission to the review into the Motor Vehicle Standards Act.– Contrary to popular belief, removing the import restrictions on new and used cars will not lead to cheaper vehicles for the mass market.– Most cars priced below the current Luxury Car Tax threshold ($61,884) are slightly cheaper than their equivalent vehicles in the UK and the USA once the correct taxes and other charges (not clearly identified on foreign websites) are calculated on the foreign vehicles, and the same equipment is added.– See here for examplesCar prices may go up if the Australian dollar weakens significantly– Trying to trace the owners of privately imported cars that require a recall will create a new layer of bureaucracy. Otherwise, the cars could become a road safety risk if they can't be quickly and easily identified and fixed.– Car prices may go up if the Australian dollar weakens significantly, but private buyers would be at a disadvantage because they don't buy hedge funds in advance at bulk rates, as car makers do.– There is scope to apply significant pressure on luxury car prices. Once prices start to climb above, say, $100,000 a gap starts to develop between local and overseas prices.– Even when equipment differences and Australia's Luxury Car Tax are taken into account, Australians do in most cases pay more for cars priced above the $100,000 mark.– Allowing private buyers to import brand new vehicles has the potential to contaminate the local market with vehicles that appear to be the same as those sold locally but which are cheaper because they lack certain equipment. This has the potential to wipe thousands off the value of luxury cars bought in Australia, leaving people "upside down" on their finance payout figure, or out of pocket when it comes time to sell.– If the government does allow people to privately import cars priced above $100,000 then it needs to ensure, at the very least, all safety equipment matches that fitted as standard to vehicles imported by manufacturers in Australia. For example, a Mercedes sedan in the UK comes with seven airbags while nine are standard in Australia. Anyone who eventually buys a privately imported new car as a secondhand vehicle should not have to guess what safety equipment it comes with.– There is a way to put price pressure on luxury cars without allowing private buyers to import their own new vehicles, or cut Luxury Car Tax.– In North America and Brazil and other countries, dealers and the industry provide – and the media publishes – the average transaction price for every model (as listed by VFACTS), on a monthly basis.– This means buyers can check online or in specialist publications what average price is paid for a particular car. In North America it is also compulsory for car makers to reveal the rebate (or "incentive") on every vehicle each month (the money paid from the car manufacturer to the dealer to help sell a particular model). This also gives consumers a large clue as to which companies are desperate to move particular models and where the best deals are.– See examples here.– Australian authorities should also consider making it compulsory to advertise the price of cars with metallic paint. At present, most prices appear next to photos of white cars, with metallic paint in the fineprint (adding up to $550 on a $13,990 car). Often there is only one or two non-metallic colours from which to choose. If metallic paint accounts for the biggest choice, then it should be the most visible price.– More than 80 per cent of passenger cars sold in Australia come with automatic transmission. And yet, particularly in the small-car class, the advertised prices are for manual models. Automatic transmission models can add up to $2500 on budget-priced cars. Given automatic is the more popular choice, it is this price that should be the most prominent, with a note in the fineprint that buyers of manual models get a discount of up to $2500.– Consumers and car enthusiasts in Australia should continue to be able to get access to certain specialist imported used cars.– But the current arrangements are overdue for review and, following widespread complaints to state-based Fair Trading departments, there needs to be stricter checks on the original kilometres the imported vehicle has travelled before it arrives in Australia, and on its bonafides to ensure it is not a stolen car with a new, false identity, or has been made from parts sourced from written-off-and-then-repaired vehicles. (Australian authorities have recently closed this loophole, it shouldn't be re-opened).– Used car imports should continue to be restricted to specialist vehicles that were not sold in Australia by the manufacturer as new (examples include the Nissan Cube small car and Nissan ElGrand people mover and others).– For example, an unwary buyer should not be caught out buying a diesel Toyota Corolla that was never sold in Australia, but has ended up on the used market after it was privately imported.– There needs to be clearer point-of-sale warnings on imported used cars, and more prominent vehicle identifiers (both on the vehicle and on roads and traffic authority computer systems) to ensure ordinary car buyers are not caught out buying a car that will be more costly to service, more difficult to source parts for, and more expensive to insure (largely driven by parts restrictions, according to the submissions from the insurance industry).– Removing restrictions from the imported used vehicle market could have a significant impact on consumers. As it stands, it is extremely difficult for police and insurers to uncover the true identity of stolen, rebirthed or illegitimately repaired cars that were originally sold as new in Australia.– Trying to trace the true identity of an imported used car that may be stolen and given a new false identity, or rebuilt from two or more written-off cars (a process now outlawed in Australia) would be next to impossible and exposes the ordinary consumer to too great a risk of buying an unsafe vehicle, or one that could be repossessed if found to be stolen, leaving the buyer out of pocket and, potentially, with a loan for a car that's been confiscated.– Any imported used car found to have a tampered speedometer, or is proved to be stolen, or been built from parts from a previously written-off car, should be scrapped or returned to its country of origin at the expense of the importer. Just as is the case in New Zealand.– With the exception of classic vehicles (1960s and older), the age of specialist used car imports should be restricted to cars three-to-five years old from their date of manufacture. At present, much older and less safe cars are eligible.Significantly improved car safety is one of the silent contributors to Australia recording its lowest road toll in 90 years (in 2013)– There is a strong argument to lower the age of imported specialist used cars. Removal of restrictions on imported used cars in New Zealand initially brought the average age of vehicles there down. But it has since gone the other way, and the average age of cars on New Zealand roads is increasing.– Significantly improved car safety is one of the silent contributors to Australia recording its lowest road toll in 90 years (in 2013).– Reducing the age of specialist used vehicle imports will assist in reducing the age of Australia's overall car fleet, which is still higher than other developed countries, despite our recent new-car sales records.