Articles by Karla Pincott

Men are the target and Volkswagen is getting tough to win them to the second remake of the 60-year-old original.It has made the Beetle's body longer, lower and wider to make it more masculine, and also to answer criticisms of the girlie 1998 model - pinched back-seat space and an overly-small boot - which was always compromised by sitting over the top of a Golf.The latest Beetle has also got a much more mainstream cabin design - without a dash that tips a vase in tribute to the original - but looks better and holds onto the rounded shape while also including fake running boards down the side.It's already confirmed for Australia in 2012 and Volkswagen believes it will be more popular than the car that brought the charismatic Beetle back from the dead."2012, that’s decided, so in one year’s time probably," says the head of Volkswagen Group Australia, Anke Koeckler. She is a strong supporter of the new design and the changes made for men."Right now the designers tried to make it actually more masculine, and I think the job is done. We will have more men sitting in the car."The mechanical detail of the Beetle is being kept for later, but already it is confirmed with a range of petrol and diesel engines, both DSG and manual gearboxes, and - for the moment - front-wheel drive.In Australia, the runout of the existing Beetle has been going for some time and Koeckler says stock is very short."We don’t produce the Beetle’s for stock, we’re producing the Beetle for customers, and that means we don’t have a lot of Beetles left," she says.And she's looking forward to a car that, together with the sporty Scirocco coupe, has the potential to bring new customers to the German brand."This is a really good product to emotionalise our brand again. It’s such an iconic model for our brand right now to have the right solution. It took us a bit of time but right now I think the product is looking quite promising for us."

Volkswagen Australia head Anke Koeckler confirms they would like to get the production version of the little Up here as soon as possible."We are still working on this but we are keen enough to get it out within the next two years," Koeckler says. "Better earlier than later, because I think there is a demand."Motor shows over the past four years have seen a string of Up concepts: rear-drive boxer engine, hybrid and electric versions with hatchback, convertible and multi-purpose bodies. However the production version that will be unveiled at Frankfurt motor show in September is set to have a super-frugal three-cylinder engine, and will seat four - cosily, we imagine - in a tiny three-door hatch body.Koeckler says that while the segment is still in its infancy, the Up might attract attention overall to the city car option."We have not a lot of competition still in this segment, but I think a lot of customers might like this segment once we have the Up to offer," she says. "And in launching this car in the Australian market, the strong currency might help us to get the positive answer from our headquarters."In the meantime, while Koeckler looks forward to plugging gaps at the other end of the Volkswagen line-up by adding new versions of the Amarok ute, she says firm timing has still not been set."We are working on having the single-cab Amarok, as we promised already during our launch and we might have this car actually by next year," she says. "We are working also on automatic versions, because we know we have to have the full range for the Amarok. But I can't give you any feedback on dates to be honest."The near future will focus on the new Touareg arriving in July, which Koeckler says will boost flagging sales of the SUV, which has suffered supply problems."We didn't have the production," she says. The current model Volkswagen Australia has been selling was out of stock production some time ago, and dealers have been able to work with only the remaining stockpile. "But there's not a lot of stock left. And I can tell you we are getting a lot of requests asking when the new Touareg is coming."

Honda has confirmed it is working on a car it hopes will fill the high-performance shoes of the mid-engined, rear-wheel drive sports coupe that was dropped in 2005 after 15 years of glory - but, towards the end, dwindling sales. This will be the Japanese carmaker's second attempt, after plans for a second generation were dropped in 2008 when the global financial crisis forced a change in focus. However the front-mounted V10 engine touted for that project won't live on in the new car. Honda is more likely to give the new NSX a petrol-electric hybrid engine, hoping to position it as a true sports sibling to the hybrid CR-Z, which has struggled to convince critics and buyers it has real performance credentials.

Kia says some of the cables were installed upside down on cars built between January 2006 and May 2007, and may cause the car to roll forward when left in park, or hinder gear shifting. "None have been reported in Australia," Kia spokesman Kevin Hepworth says. "However we are checking them all, and it's a quick 45-minute fix if we find any that need it."

In Europe, the Volkswagen Passat is as mainstream as a Commodore or Falcon fleet vehicle is here. But in Australia, while it's considered more a premium car, it's never been styled or marketed strongly enough to grab a major share of the premium buyers. That means people have overlooked a car that’s well-built, packed with features and something of a bargain.VALUEIt was a great prospect in the previous model -- and the price has stood still at $38,990 for the entry level, $43,990 for the diesel and $55,990 for the V6, with more equipment being squeezed in.The stand-out features include a new fatigue detection system, emergency ‘city braking’ that under 30km/h automatically slows or speeds the car to match the one in front – think of it as urban cruise control – and a host of sensor and guide systems that keep a radar eye out for front collision, overtaking gaps and even spot and slot you into perpendicular parking spaces.These join the lane-drift prevention, chassis adjustment and other beauties under the skin.TECHNOLOGYThe hot R36 version is gone but its 220kW/350Nm 3.6-litre V6 stays in the line-up, albeit without the performance extras that made the R-line. But it’s still quick at 5.5 seconds to 100km/h.And it’s still the thirstiest Passat at 9.7L/100km – although trimmed by 0.3L with VW’s ongoing efficiency drive adding brake energy recapture systems to all three DSG-mated carryover engines. This brings the 118kW/250Nm 1.8-litre turbo petrol down by 0.5L to 7.2L/100km while the 125kW/350Nm 2.0-litre turbo diesel – which also gets a stop-start system – drops 0.8L to 5.7L/100km.DESIGNThere’s a little more street presence, but it’s not startling, with the main differences coming from a restyled nose with budding bodykit hints, chrome accents and LED daytime running lights. The cabin is functional and well-finished, with quality materials and switch feel. But it’s all restrained with no nothing to excite the eye inside or out.SAFETYThe previous model was five-star and this one lifts the bar, with increasingly clever tech features joining the barricade of airbags, crash-retracting pedals and a solid – although weighty – body.DRIVINGIt’s a great cabin, but some people will find it hard to get comfortable in the driver’s seat. You feel a bit skewed away from a direct line, and the brake pedal is a bit too high and to the left. It comes down to individual leg length, but if you set the seat close your knee will hit the steering wheel every time you brake.But the cabin is hushed and comfortable overall, and even over rough chip bitumen the tyres proved to quieter than most.The diesel was our pick of the three cars, both for its handy torque and for the lighter feel of the car. The 1.8-litre was more than capable, but -- even though it’s the lightest body by a considerable margin -- couldn’t sparkle when faced with having to haul up hills. The V6, while it had plenty of energy to tap into, was undermined a little by the all-wheel drive system’s extra traction and weight.Steering was accurate once you pointed it, but tinged with the touch of lead you often find among the VW stable, more noticeable in the heavier all-wheel drive. But across the range, the ride quality was remarkable. Even the base model without adaptive suspension pulls off a great balance between soaking up the patchwork surfaces and being stiff enough for capable cornering.VERDICTSmart, sensible and an equipment and technology package that makes it something of a bargain, but there’s no lust factor.

Building on the muscle-flavoured sedan launched this year in the US, the 2012 Dodge Avenger R/T has a stiffer suspension to improve driving dynamics, and is expected to show fuel economy improvements from the 211kW 3.6-litre Pentastar V6 engine.The car to be unveiled at the show will be given unique styling touches, a body-color grille, black headlight backgrounds and 18-in painted aluminium wheels.The interior gets touches of red accents and leather, with the R/T graphic scattered liberally around. 

The Porsche Panamera-based Mistrale and Cayenne-based Tornado sport extreme carbon-fibre bodywork, with the weight-trimming material forming fenders, bonnet, doors and front skirts. Engines have also come in for attention, with the 4.8-litre twin-turbo V8 putting out 368kW/700Nm in the 'Stage 1' version – or 522kW/1000Nm for the ‘Stage 2’ tweak. And the interiors also get the Gemballa treatment with quilted leather and Alcantara in a bold two-tone to match the bodywork.

The carmaker has turned its electric Leaf into a race concept, the Leaf Nismo RC, revealed this week in New York.Nissan says it hits 100km/h in6.85 seconds and has a top speed of 150km/h. It can recharge up to 80 per cent capacity in 30 minutes, and has an estimated race running time of 20 minutes - which looks to make for some very short races or very long pit stops.Wrapped in a in a lowered lightweight carbon-fibre body, the lithium-ion battery pack, 80kW electric motor and inverter are mid-located, with drive to the rear wheels rather than the front as in the Leaf.Created at the Nissan Global Design Center in Japan, the concept's three-piece bodywork includes removable front and rear sections, fixed windows, LED headlights and taillights and driver-adjustable rear wing.It sits on a shorter wheelbase than the Leaf, but is slightly longer and wider - and about 35cm lower, with a ground clearance of just 6cm (10cm less than the production car). It also weighs 40 per cent less at about 940kg.

The SXC Concept was entirely designed and developed at Peugeot's Shanghai tech centre and style studios.The crosssover weds the high driving position of an SUV with a take on the swoopy lines that are becoming a signature of the French brand, and what is described as a 'floating grille'.Sharply angled headlight clusters, boomerang LED rear lights and liberal brushed aluminium trim dress the car up for the show stand.Riding on 22-in wheels, the SXC carries a hybrid powertrain, combining a 1.6-litre petrol engine with an electric motor.

... got an unwelcome surprise when police found more than 600 snakes and other reptiles packed in the luggage compartment.Acting on a tip-off, police intercepted the bus in a northern province bound for Buenos Aires, asked to see passengers' documents, then began poking into their bags. A wildlife smuggler had packed 444 boa constrictors, vipers and other snakes; 186 endangered tortoises; 40 lizards, and an armadillo.No word on whether there was room left for socks and jocks.