Articles by Karla Pincott

The new Hazumi concept to be unveiled at Geneva motor show on March 6 will sport design cues that will feed into the next Mazda 2 -- itself set to start rolling out later this year after a production version debut at a future show.The Japanese carmaker says the name Hazumi translates as 'bound or spring up' and expresses imagery of wild animals in leaping action, which the brand says is "particularly fitting for a small car designed to look as if it is literally bursting with energy".Joining the city car concept on the Geneva show stand -- and possibly in the Hazumi itself -- will be a new diesel engine:  a 1.5-litre featuring the latest development of Mazda's fuel-efficient Skyactiv technology.Mazda will also unveil a special commemorative exhibit saluting the 25-year history of the landmark MX-5 -- the car that revived the convertible and is still a benchmark for the segment today.This reporter is on Twitter: @KarlaPincott

Porsche has told all owners of the current model 911 GT3 around the world to stop driving their vehicles and have them inspected by an authorised centre.The safety notice comes after reports last week that Porsche had stopped sales of the GT3 in Europe, in response to a  potential fire hazard with the high performance car.Photos taken by the Swiss police showed a GT3 engulfed by flames, and the police report said the driver pulled over after hearing noises coming from the engine bay, then noticed leaking oil and smoke before the car blazed.Porsche says just five cars in Australia are affected, and all the owners have been contacted with the offer for the carmaker to pick up the vehicles for inspection immediately."Safety is the number one priority at Porsche, and the company takes its responsibility seriously," a statement from Porsche Australia said, adding that engine damage had occurred in two European GT3s which then caught fire, but without any accidents or injury."Porsche has decided to inspect all 785 delivered vehicles worldwide. Porsche is currently investigating the cause and will provide further information as soon as possible," the statement said.This reporter is on Twitter: @KarlaPincott 

We've got only a couple of weeks to wait until Audi pulls the silk of its third-generation TT coupe at the Geneva motor show on March 4, but the German luxury brand has released some drawings that give us a reasonable idea of what to expect.As the Carsguide spy photographers have already revealed with shots of the car in testing, the TT has retained the signature lines penned by Peter Schreyer (before he left Audi to head up Kia and Hyundai design) but also takes some cues from the Allroad Shooting Brake concept unveiled at Detroit motor show last month.A broad, flattened single-frame grille accentuates the low-slung horizontal styling of the face, set off with wide-set headlight clusters -- which will feature the options of LED lamps and Audi's new beam-splitting Matrix technology in some markets.The cabin treatment has already been revealed last month at the Las Vegas Consumer Electronics show, with the highlight being the new iPad-sized 12.3-inch display screen behind the steering wheel in place of the main instrument cluster.The new TT rolls on parent Volkswagen Group's flexible MQB platform, which will eventually underpin a whole fleet of different models across VW, Audi and Skoda, and with extensive use of aluminium in the body should help the car trim some weight that will help both economy and handling.The engine line-up is expected to kick off with a 132kW 1.8-litre TFSI engine driving only the front wheels in the entry level model, while all-wheel drive models will carry turbocharged 2.0-litre TFSI engines delivering 162kW and then  221kW in TT S spec. We're also likely later in the year to see a TT RS for the third generation, tipped to be in line for a 300kW iteration of the 2.5-litre five-cylinder.Transmissions choices are said to be a standard six-speed manual or optional seven-speed dual-clutch. After its show debut, the new TT will go on sale in overseas markets towards the end of the year, and arrive here some time in 2015.This reporter is on Twitter: @KarlaPincott

There have been plenty of suggestions about extra versions of the Toyota 86, including the carmaker itself talking about extending the range with a sedan, convertible and high-powered variant.But it now sounds like no additional models will roll out, with a senior executive revealing that the car has failed to live up to Toyota's sales expectations in major markets around the world.The 86 was intended to add some halo to the brand, and spearhead the fulfilment of global boss Akio Toyoda's promise to banish boring from the stable.But Toyota's head of European research and development, Gerald Killmann has revealed the company now doubts there is a business case for more variants of the 86, including the high-performance version."A faster version of that car would be at the top of most people's wish lists, but like the cabriolet, it is hard to justify a business case to push either model into production based on the current sales," Killmann told Auto Express in the UK.He said Toyota was not sure why the sales were lagging, as the car had been well-received by media with positive reviews, including from Carsguide.  "Personally, I think that engine could use a little bit more," he said.See our video review of the Toyota 86 prototype.There have been plenty of rumours pertaining to additional variants for the GT 86 and its FR-S twin. They include the aforementioned convertible, a new hybrid model and even a sedan. Sadly, it sounds like none of these will be coming.In Australia, the 86 (which starts at $29,990) sold 6,700 for 2013 -- its first full year on the market -- nearly double the closest contender in the affordable sports car category.And the fan base has become something of a cult. The visit last year of the 86's 'father' Tetsuya Tada saw him nearly mobbed at an event at Toyota's Sydney HQ by owners wanting him to sign their cars -- most of which were taken straight to a signwriter to have the signature made permanent.This reporter is on Twitter: @KarlaPincott

There's always a great deal of interest any time one of the cars used in a 007 movie is offered for sale. And you can probably multiply that by 59 times for the collection of Bond vehicles owned by US real estate mogul Michael Dezer.Dezer is known for  development on a grand scale: nearly the entire suburb of Chelsea in NewYork, and several massive projects in Florida including partnerships with Donald Trump for the 900 million Trump Towers, $600 million Trump Grande Ocean Resort and Residences and the $166 million Trump International Hotel and Tower.And Florida is also where he garages his collection of 1800 vehicles, including the 59 genuine Bond ones he's selling, each of which has appeared in one of the movies.The catch is that Dezer insists they be bought as one lot, for US$33 million ($37 million). But the buyer will have a fairly comprehensive sample across the Bond series.Among the 59 are a Fairey Huntress boat used in 1963's From Russia With Love and an Audi A5 and Land Rover Defender used in the most recent film, Skyfall, for the kickstarter car chase scenes.From films in between, there are a brace of Aston Martin DB5 coupes, one of which helmed by Pierce Brosnan for Goldeneye -- and the Russian T55 tank from the film. The famed Lotus Esprit S1 that morphed into a submarine in The Spy Who Loved Me is also one of star vehicles, as are the armoured and armed BMW 750iL from Tomorrow Never Dies, and the Jaguar XKR from Die Another Day.There are also more everyday wheels, including the Citroen 2CV from For Your Eyes Only, and a replica of the AMC Hornet from The Man With The Golden Gun. The collection has been on display at the Dezer Musuem in Miami, and it's likely the buyer will do something similar once the deal is done.And while it will make a little space in the Dezer garage, there are still plenty of interesting cars staying there, including the 1948 Ford from Grease,  the 1981 DeLorean from Back to the Future, the Ghostbusters 1959 Cadillac, an original Batmobile, the Lamborghini Social Experiment Project AU 79, and many, many more.This reporter is on Twitter: @KarlaPincott

N stands for Nurburgring heritage at Aston Martin, which has over the years released several special editions celebrating the brand's success racing at the famed German circuit.We've seen the V8 Vantage N400 in 2007 and the N420 in 2010, and at Geneva motor show on March 4 we'll get to see the wraps come off the latest in the N line -- the V8 Vantage N430.Named for the 4.7-litre V8 engine's peak 430 horsepower (320kW in our metrics) delivered at 7300rpm, the N430 offers the choice of a six-speed manual or a seven-speed automated manual with race-style paddle-shifters. Aston Martin is claiming a 0-100km/h time of 4.6 seconds and a top speed of 305km/h.Like its forbears, it adapts track experience and technology -- largely from the Vantage GT4 race car and the GTE endurance racer -- with tweaked suspension and steering, plus some aerodynamic fiddling on the lighter body, which has trimmed about 20kg from the standard V8 Vantage.It also gets a slew of extra features, including machined carbon-fibre doorsill plates and gearshift bezel, black magnesium paddle-shifters, a Bang & Olufsen BeoSound audio system -- and an unmistakeable green and yellow livery that salutes  the icon DBR1 race car.The N430 will be rolled out in both coupe and droptop form, and go on sale in overseas markets in the final quarter of 2014, but there's no confirmation yet that Australia will get a quota.This reporter is on Twitter: @KarlaPincottWatch the Aston Martin V8 Vantage N430 video on our desktop site. 

Kimi Raikkonen knows what he's about -- and is known to make the team and the world aware of that, famously radioing back to the team's directions during a race "leave me alone... I know what I'm doing".And in this case he knows what he's spinning: the Ferrari LaFerrari. Raikkonen takes it for an outing on the Italian supercar maker's home track, and pushes it to the edge of traction -- and beyond.The skilful driver is back in the saddle for Ferrari rosso corsa for the 2014 Formula One season, and this run in the LaFerrari was likely for promotional purposes.Turn your speakers up and enjoy the soundtrack as well as the action. And then feel a little bit better about yourself next time you push things just a tiny bit beyond your car's (and your) capabilities on the track.After all, if it can happen to Kimi...This reporter is on Twitter: @KarlaPincott 

So gangs of bikies will apparently halt to wave the X5 through, and trains will do the same at level crossings.Of course, when it comes to a river, we expect to see the water part in a biblical salute to the BMW top-selling SUV, but it seems there's no need with the big Bimmer's fording ability.Watch the desktop version of the BMW X5 stops bikies and trains video here. This reporter is on Twitter: @KarlaPincott  

Audi has released images and details of its first S3 convertible, which will join the A3 range after its global unveiling at Geneva motor show on March 4.In keeping with the rest of its S (sport) line cars, the S3 gets visual cues to its performance focus, with more imposing bumpers, a gunmetal grille insert, metal-look side mirror housings and a chrome windscreen bezel. The cabin features aluminium accents and a mix of fabric and nappa leather on the sports seats. Happily, the 285-litre boot loses only 40 litres when the roof is folded.Under the bonnet is the same engine as the current S3 hatch and the S3 sedan arriving mid-year: a turbo 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine delivering 221kW of power from 5500-6200rpm and 380Nm of torque from 1800-5500rpm. However in keeping with the strategy for the other local S3 variants, to cope with our hotter climate the engine will be detuned to 206kW.While the current S3 hatch has the choice of a six-speed manual, Audi is so far only talking about a six-speed dual-clutch auto to feed to the convertible's quattro all-wheel drive system.The chassis has been revised, with a 2.5cm lower ride height, stiffer springs and dampers and bigger anti-roll bars, and the standard 18-inch wheels with larger 340mm front disc brakes can be optioned up another inch.Being heavier than the five-door hatch (1620kg to the hatch's 1445) it's also slower to get to 100km/h, with its time of 5.4 seconds being 0.4 behind the hatch. Audi claims a combined fuel figure of 7.1L/100km.This reporter is on Twitter: @KarlaPincott 

MASERATI has joined in the fun of the Sports Illustrated 50th anniversary swimsuit issue to feature a special edition of its own -- the Quattoporte Ermenegildo Zegna Limited Edition concept.The fashion-inspired Zegna concept, along with the Ghibli, GranTurismo, Quattroporte and MC Stradale Trofeo race car are all featured with supermodel Heidi Klum in an eight-page spread titled 'Beyond the Swimsuit'.And while there may be no bikinis, there are plenty of angles of the sleek cars and the willowy Klum in a variety of settings that purport to show the average day of the average 'Maserati woman'.The Quattoporte Ermenegildo Zegna Limited Edition concept is said to echo the famed men's fashion brand, and features a special paint containing super-fine aluminium and an interior dressed with Itaian style and quality.The Ghibli sedan -- which we've already test driven -- is getting its second big promotional outing this year, following on from an epic ad that was screened during the Super Bowl earlier in February.Italian photographer Francesco Carrozzini was behind the lens for the spread, which follows Klum from the racetrack to the red carpet in her 'average day', which Maserati says celebrates all impressive women."When a supermodel makes it into these pages, it is her introduction to the world," the spread says. "The truly impressive thing is what these women have done since their debuts. They have gone on to become successful businesswomen, entrepreneurs, actors, athletes and activists. The next few pages feature Heidi Klum in a salute to all the women who have achieved incredible things, beyond the swimsuit."This reporter is on Twitter: @KarlaPincott