Articles by Karla Pincott

Despite an increasing focus on safety, children are still needlessly dying or being seriously injured in car crashes because they are not properly restrained. Crashes last year claimed the lives of 72 children under age 16 across Australia and about 850 children are seriously injured every year on our roads.Past studies have found around half the children aged between four and 11 are not in the correct kind of restraint, and children from the older age group were often being put into adult seatbelts prematurely, rather than into the safety of booster seats and harnesses suited to their size.As children grow, the kind of restraint used should change to properly protect them. Age is just a rough indication, you should also consider the child's height and weight. But there are several kinds of restraints, including ones that convert to cross categories, and it is easy to get confused by the choices.In crash testing, organisations such as the RACV found that dedicated restraints perform better than convertible ones. But for some parents it's hard to budget the extra expense of buying the series of proper units as your child grows, so many retailers rent them with the assurance that they have been properly checked and meet all the safety standards.Tips for choosing and using child seatsThe Car• If you're buying a car, check that it has enough space for the number of restraints you will need over the years you have it. While people movers may seem to be a solution for a large family, some of them have limited anchorage points.• Make sure hatchback parcel shelves won't obstruct a tether strap and that station wagons have a cargo barrier, or obtain an extension strap or adaptor kit to suit.• Check that the contours of the car seat won't unbalance the restraint and that seatbelts are long enough to thread through child and booster seats.• Rules that apply no matter what type of vehicle and restraint you use are that the back seat is safer than the front, and the middle position is safest if it has a lap-sash belt.• It is legal to have an infant restraint in the front seat if you drive a van or ute and have proper anchorage points.The Safety Firsts• Don't imagine you can protect a child by holding on to them. The force of even an urban-speed crash will increase their weight 20-fold. That means in a split-second a 10kg infant becomes 200kg, so even Arnold Schwarzenegger couldn't save them.• Don't skip using a restraint if you're "just popping down to the shop" -- most crashes happen within 10km of home.• Always destroy old restraints or ones that has been in a crash. Don't buy a secondhand restraint unless you know it has not been in a crash and is in good condition.• Taxis must all provide an anchor point, but the legal onus is on you to provide the restraint.This reporter is on Twitter: @KarlaPincott 

Lexus is giving the RC F its most powerful V8 yet -- a 5.0-litre engine with "more than" 335kW of power and 520Nm of torque. And the Toyota luxury brand has just showcased the car in an equally high-powered campaign linked to the 2014 Sports Illustrated swimsuit edition.It's not the first time Lexus has decided a bikini is the way to promote a car, with three previous years of tie-in with the best-known Sports Illustrated edition. The LFA kicked it off in 2011, with drift champion Rhys Millen sliding the car around an aircraft hangar with Dutch supermodel Rianne Ten Haken as a human traffic cone.For the latest edition it's equally well-known face Natasha Bernard, but she's not asked to perform any drift marker duties. Instead we're told how the massive torque styles her hair, and the exhaust note styles her goose bumps.The print component of the campaign uses mobile device scanning technology to channel the reader to digital platforms containing interactive information about the RC F.Launching next week with the SI edition, it's expected the digital execution will highlight the technology behind the RC F, particularly the engine's ability to switch between Atkinson and Otto cycles and the what the brand claims as the world's first front-engine, rear wheel drive torque-vectoring differential - which is said to work differently to the brake-based system on the latest HSV GTS and other vehicles.The RC F has undergone a great deal of its development process on the Nurburgring, but we're still waiting for Lexus to reveal the official lap time. Hopefully one that's also guaranteed to style a few goose bumps for prospective buyers.

You don't often see cars on display at boat shows. But in this case there's a solid reason for a Lamborghini Aventador LP 720-4 50th Anniversario Roadster -- one of just 100 built -- to be showcased at the 2014 Miami International Boat Show.Gino Gargiulo's Aventador comes with a 48-foot MTI offshore racing boat, customised to match its wealthy owner's car. The customisation includes matching the Aventador's signature headlight and tail-light designs, plus replicating features from the interior, including the steering wheel.And while the boat's twin 993kW Mercury engines might outgun the car's 529kW 6.5-litre V12, it seems that's not enough watergoing power for the owner, who has ordered a couple of 1213kW engines to replace the Mercury pair.MTI (Marine Technology Inc) is one of the world's leading race boat manufacturers, and their product starts at eye-watering prices in standard spec. Neither the boatmaker nor the owner have revealed any information about what the Aventaboat customisation cost, but you can expect it wasn't cheap.This reporter is on Twitter: @KarlaPincott 

Jaguar will be keeping an eye on the sales response to Porsche's new 911 Targa, with a suggestion a similar approach could be added to the F-Type line-up. Jaguar head of design, Ian Callum, told British site Auto Express an F-Type Targa is under consideration as a third model and that sketches had already been made.“We're considering it, but it’s not definite,” Callum is cited as saying, adding that sales volume for the British brand could be a barrier to a successful business case. “The issue with the Targa is volume. If you think of Porsche, 10 per cent of its cars are Targa, 10 per cent of ours is less than theirs. You have to work out the business case but we have considered it, it’s not decided yet.”Callum has previously revealed that a shooting brake was another iteration under consideration when the F-Type was being developed, however the chances of seeing another version of any kind may be pushed back until Jaguar clears some other projects off the to-do list. The design chief confirmed to Auto Express that work was currently under way on "three or four" vehicles, with a small sedan likely to be next, followed by the production version of the C-X17 SUV.This reporter is on Twitter: @KarlaPincott

BMW is no stranger to front-wheel drive platforms for its Mini brand, but has always promoted the driving dynamics of rear-wheel drive for its own badge. However the times have changed, and the German prestige carmaker has just revealed its first front-wheeler, the  2 Series Active Tourer.The new multi-purpose vehicle will get a global debut at Geneva motor show next month, before rolling out into showrooms to face off against the Mercedes B-Class later this year. But BMW is already releasing official images and details of the vehicle -- and promising that its front-wheel driving experience still retains the dynamic quality the brand has made its byword, and "oozes sportiness from every angle".This is BMW's first foray into the MPV segment, and the brand is pointing to the functionality made possible by the front-wheel drive platform, which -- coupled with versatile seat configuration -- is claimed to make the most of the interior spaceThe rear seat slides and the backrest split-folds 40:20:40 to optimise the layout for either passengers or luggage, with the latter's 468-litre capacity able to rise to 1510L. A large rear tailgate -- with optional push-button or electronic foot-operation -- gives access to the boot, with a foldable  floor covering an additional hidden storage compartment with a divided tray. Under the bonnets are choices of compact turbo engines, with the range kicking off with the 218i Active Tourer's economical new 1.5-litre three-cylinder developing 100kW of power and claiming a fuel figure of 4.9L/100km mated to a six-speed manual transmission.The fuel hero 218d Active Tourer is powered by a 110kW/330Nm four-cylinder turbodiesel claiming combined fuel economy of 4.1L/100km, 0-100km/h time of 8.9 seconds and top speed of 205km/h. The range-topper for the launch is the 225i Active Tourer with a four-cylinder petrol engine developing 170kW and claiming combined fuel economy of 6.0L/100km, a 0-100km/h time of 6.8 seconds and a top speed of 235km/h.Fuel-saving features include engine stop-start, brake energy recuperation and optimum gearchange indicator, while dynamic ability is improved by the channelling of air from front bumper inlets along the front wheels. The interior gets the expected premium treatment, with a notable inclusion of the full-colour heads-up display system featured on the latest Mini, projecting information onto a screen behind the steering wheel rather than onto the windscreen like the rest of the BMW range.BMW Australia is keen to get the 2 Series Active Tourer here and into our market, spokesperson Lenore Fletcher says, although adding it is too early to get an indication of loal pricing and specification."Obviously we are very interested -- it's an new kind of vehicle for BMW -- and it's on our schedule for Australia. Timing would be around late this year, or possibly early 2015."This reporter is on Twitter: @KarlaPincott

Reports from overseas markets suggest Porsche has halted sales of the 911 GT3 in Europe as the carmaker moves swiftly to investigate a potential fire hazard with the high performance car. The 911 GT3 last sold here in 2011 as part of the previous 997 generation, priced from $276,200, but overseas markets get a GT3 variant of the current 991 generation.Photos have surfaced of a GT3 in flames on a Swiss police website, with emergency services personnel extinguishing the fire. The St Gallen police website reported:  "A Porsche has caught on fire on the Wilerstrasse. Firefighters were able to extinguish the fire. The car suffered a total loss in the amount of 200,000 Swiss francs ($248,000)."The report went on to say the GT3 had been travelling on the A1 highway towards St Gallen when the driver heard "strange noises" from the engine bay and pulled off the highway onto the Wilerstrasse. After stopping the car he noticed leaking oil and smoke coming from the rear-mounted engine, and shortly afterwards the GT3 caught fire, with the blaze being extinguished by the fire department. "The cause of the fire will be investigated by the Forensic Science Service of the Canton of St Gallen police," the police report says.An unconfirmed post on enthusiast forum Rennteam cited another GT3 catching fire in Italy, saying it was the fifth car in Europe reported to do so. The post detailed the the low oil pressure warning light activated before the car reportedly caught fire. Porsche is said to have issued a Stop Sale alert through its European dealer network. The carmaker prides itself on its meticulous engineering and has always been swift to respond with a safety recall on the rare occasions when there have been problems.This reporter is on Twitter: @KarlaPincott

Despite the normally locked-down security at McLaren -- where it's forbidden to pass information internally on USBs for fear of leaks -- the new 650S has escaped online ahead of its debut at Geneva sh

The New York motor show in April will see the announcement of which vehicle has won the 2014 World COTY, and there looks to be a tough -- and very varied -- field of finalists.Last year's winner was the Volkswagen Golf, which also took awards in pretty well every country on the globe. But this year it could be anything from the little electric BMW i3 to the offroading Jeep Cherokee and even the Citroen C4 peoplemover, judging by the shortlist.A panel of 69 motoring experts from around the world -- including Carsguide's Paul Gover and National Motoring Editor Joshua Dowling -- will choose the winner from: Audi A3, BMW 4 Series, BMW i3, Cadillac CTS, Citroen C4 Picasso, Ford Fusion/Mondeo, Infiniti Q50, Jeep Cherokee, Lexus IS, Mazda3, Peugeot 308 and Skoda Octavia.The 10 finalists for the 2014 World Luxury Car are the Bentley Flying Spur, BMW X5, Cadillac ELR, Cadillac Escalade, Maserati Ghibli, Maserati Quattroporte, Mercedes-Benz S-Class, Porsche Macan, Range Rover Sport and Rolls-Royce Wraith.Due to a tie, there are 11 finalists for the 2014 World Performance Car: Alfa Romeo 4C, Audi RS 6 Avant, BMW M6 Gran Coupe, Chevrolet Corvette Stingray, Ferrari 458 Speciale, Ford Fiesta ST, Lamborghini Aventador LP700-4 Roadster, Mercedes-Benz A/CLA45 AMG, Porsche 911 GT3, Porsche 911 Turbo and Volkswagen Golf GTI.A separate panel of five 'green' experts will choose the 2014 World Green Car from Audi A3 Sportback e-tron (+ Audi e-gas), BMW i3, Honda Accord Hybrid, Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV and Volkswagen XL1.Similarly, a panel of five design experts will decide on the 2014 World Car Design of the Year, from among: BMW i3, Cadillac CTS, Citroen C4 Picasso, Mazda3, Lexus IS, Mercedes-Benz C-Class and Volkswagen XL1.This reporter is on Twitter: @KarlaPincott 

Dubai is well known for its supercars, with even the police having their own fleet, and the university student carpark being crammed with the likes of Bugatti Veyrons and Rolls-Royces.And while those cars are the province of the wealthy in the booming economy, there's also increasing car ownership by the average less-monied residents -- and that means increasing traffic congestion.But Dubai's civic leader has a novel suggestion for clearing the roads: limit car ownership to the wealthy. "Everybody has their luxury life, but the capacity of our roads cannot take all of these cars without ownership laws," Director general Hussain Lootah said in a conference address in Germany that was reported in Arab Emirates news site The National.Lootah said one option to clear the roads would limit car ownership to those who had a monthly income above a certain level, yet to be decided. He added that car pooling would not work for the less wealthy, as the country had such a diverse population -- with more than 200 nationalities represented (many as indentured workers) -- so a public awareness program would be difficult.He believes restricting the ownership of cars would encourage the less-wealthy to use public transport such as buses, taxis and a new tram system in the process of being rolled out.This reporter is on Twitter: @KarlaPincott 

The inventive 10-year-old lad from the Norwegian town of Dokka, 110km north of the capital Oslo, had taken his 18-month-old sister in the car in an attempt to visit their grandparents 60km away. The 6am journey, started while his parents were still asleep, was halted after 10km when he veered off the road and into a ditch, where a snowplow operator found him and alerted authorities. When questioned, the boy said he was a dwarf but had left his driver's licence at home. By this time the parents had woken and raised the alarm after discovering their children and car were missing. Happily, neither of the children were injured and the car also escaped damage. No charges will be filed, but police told European media that after speaking to the parents they believed closer attention would be paid to where the car keys were kept in future. This reporter is on Twitter: @KarlaPincott