Articles by Karla Pincott

The concept headed for the January debut points to the new larger Mini Cooper JCW arriving in the middle of 2014, and it will likely shed little of the show car's wardrobe on the way to the production line -- except perhaps the hand-finished surface of the grey and red livery.Features likely to survive are the larger air intakes in the front fascia to punt breeze into the engine bay, the JCW black-bevel grille and full LED headlights.Mini says the longer wheelbase and wider track of the new car have boosted the car's handling abilities, further helped by an aerodynamic bodykit with side skirts and rear apron with flaps and diffuser, sports exhaust and twin chromed tailpipes. The show car also gets a roof spoiler and a dimple behind the front wheelarch to channel air around the C-pillar.With the aerodynamics working in concert with weight savings and a tweaked suspension, Mini says the JCW offers 'hardcore driving fun'.While the new standard Mini will offer turbo three-cylinder engines, the JCW will continue with a four-cylinder, and although details are yet to be released it will logically have higher outputs than the Cooper S turbocharged 2.0-litre four's 141kW of power between 4700-6000rpm and 300Nm of torque at 1250rpm.  

Mercedes has given the coming C-Class a boost to a more upmarket level, drawing on styling and features from its flagship S-Class. The new C gets technology and cabin treatment that raise the bar against key rivals like the Audi A4 and the BMW 3 Series and 4 Series.Arriving in the second half of next year, the C-Class is aimed at trying to draw younger buyers than its traditional fan base, so has been given fresher styling and more up-to-date infotainment, including hand-stitched leather upholstery, 7-in touchscreen that can be optioned up to 8.3-in with scrawlable touchpad control, high-end Burmester audio, heads-up display option, and internet connectivity and apps.The initial engine line-up kicks off with the entry level C180's turbo 115kW/250Nm 1.6-litre four-cylinder petrol, promising 0-100km/h in 8.2 seconds fuel economy of 5.0L/100km. The C200 carries a 135kW/300Nm turbo 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol with official 0-100km/h of 7.5 seconds and 5.3L/100km economy.The C220 Bluetec is powered by a 125kW/400Nm 2.1-litre four-cylinder turbodiesel with an urea injection system to reduce emissions to the tighter coming EU6 standards, and claims a 0-100km time of 8.1 seconds  and 4.0L/100km economy.Transmission choices for the launch models are a six-speed manual and seven-speed auto, with all models getting stop-start and brake energy recovery systems to improve economy. The first roll-out will be rear-wheel drive, but an optional all-wheel drive is on the plan for later in 2014, along with more engines -- including a petrol-electric hybrid and a new handbuilt twin-turbo 4.0-litre V8 for the AMG version.This reporter is on Twitter: @KarlaPincott 

This is far from the usual daily trek for most Range Rovers -- which is generally a round of school runs, shopping and maybe a polo picnic. The Empty Quarter in Saudi Arabia is the world's biggest sand desert and one that even the locals are wary about venturing into.So Range Rover decided to try a world first and get across the vast expanse of sand dunes in a day with the new Sport. And it seems well-equipped for the job, building on parent company Land Rover's offroad expertise with a true dual range four-wheel drive system -- a single range AWD is also available, but was not what you'd choose for the sand challenge.The Sport has a choice of four engines: a 190kW 3.0-litre TDV6 diesel, a 215kW SDV6 diesel, a new 250kW 3.0-litre V6 and 375kW 5.0-litre V8 -- with a 250Kw 4.4-litre diesel version also due to arrive in Australia early next year -- all mated to an 8-speed ZF auto transmission.Watch the Range Rover Sport takle the sand dunes of the Empty Quarter on our desktop site.This reporter is on Twitter: @KarlaPincott 

Mercedes-Benz is expected to officially reveal a full set of images for the new C-Class later today, but have been beaten to the punch by the photos leaking online, courtesy of Czech site Autoforum.Following on from the official interior images we've seen previously and a subsequent set of shots that showed the car in its entirety and in an AMG Sport version, the leaked photos show the influence and styling cues adapted from the Mercedes flagship S-Class. This will move the C further upmarket and better arm it against the Audi A4 and BMW 3 Series and 4 Series when it arrives in Australia in the second half of 2014.It will also get an uprated features list, including a heads-up display, a 7-inch infotainment screen that can be optioned up to 21.3cm, with a new 6.5x4.5cm touchpad control, GPS-linked airconditioning, optional four-mode air suspension, vehicle surround monitoring systems and more advanced active braking systems.Mercedes says the new C-Class will be up to 100kg lighter than the current model -- largely through extensive use of aluminium body panels. While engine details haven't been confirmed, expect to see choices include an entry-level turbocharged 1.8-litre four-cylinder, petrol V6 and turbodiesels -- with a petrol-electric hybrid on the cards for some markets -- and a new handbuilt twin-turbo 4.0-lire V8 for the AMG variant.This repoter is on Twitter: @KarlaPincott 

Porsche will unveil the 991-generation 911 at January's Detroit motor show with a targa roof, and while we've already seen a leaked rendering of the car in September, we're now getting a better look from all angles with these images.Reportedly patent registration images, they show the 911 Targa echoes the 1960s ancestor with a traditional full-width removable section that opens the roof between the windscreen and a strengthened B-pillar -- rather than the sliding glass sunroof of the three previous 911 generations.While launch dates and full specification are yet to be confirmed, we've previously reported the Targa will likely be powered by a 3.4-litre 'boxer' six-cylinder developing 257kW of power, while the Targa S version will have a 3.6-litre with 300kW. Both engines will be mated to a manual transmission as standard, with the Porsche PDK automatic an option.

Video game Gran Turismo may have seeded a new Toyota Supra concept. And hopefully it will be presented in full scale metal like the Mercedes-Benz Vision Gran Turismo -- which was presented at LA motor show last month as the first of several concepts sparked by a challenge from the game creators.The Toyota version of the Vision Gran Turismo -- teased only in a single image so far -- shows profile proportions that would fit a Supra successor, and is bound to feed the fires of speculation around such a car, which is already rumoured to be scheduled for Detroit motor show in Janaury.Toyota and BMW are collaborating on a new platform intended for sports cars, and a new Supra would seem a logical fit.If so, it would pick up the enthusiasm for the Supra successor that was previewed in FT-HS concept form in 2007, but then dropped when the global financial crisis bit into economies around the world.This reporter is on Twitter: @KarlaPincott  

Rinspeed has rarely gone for mainstream design, delighting in showcasing left-field ideas and styling, such the underwater sQuba roadster, Splash hydrofoil and iChange shape-shifter. For the coming Geneva motor show in March, they've turned their eye to autonomous cars, previewing a driverless show concept called the XchangeE with a cabin design featuring swiveling seats and a steering wheel that can slide out of the way to the centre of the dash -- and a pop-up tray table for your morning commuter coffee. Rinspeed says the XchangE will be an electric sedan, but so far offers no engineering details, saying they are focusing on the occupants' experience in the coming reality of autonomous cars. "While the major automakers are putting the finishing touches on (autonomous) vehicle technology ... Rinspeed puts the occupants at the center of the driverless car," the accompanying statement says. Rinspeed boss Frank M. Rinderknecht adds: "So far hardly anyone has taken this to its logical conclusion from the perspective of the driver. After all, traveling in a driverless car will no longer require me to stare at the road, but will let me spend my time in a more meaningful way". That meaningful way appears to include the front row having the ability to swivel their seats and travel facing backwards. Rinspeed says it is aiming for a similar experience to business class air travel, with innovative technology and communication functions that can turn the car into your on-road entertainment space or -- of course -- mobile office. This reporter is on Twitter: @KarlaPincott  

Volvo has revealed styling for the next mid-size XC90 and the rest of its crossover range in image, sketches and video of the Concept XC Coupe that will be unveiled in the lead-up to January's Detroit motor show. This is the second stage of Volvo's design rebirth, following on from the Concept Coupe that starred for them at Frankfurt motor show in September.Like the Frankfurt car, the XC concept has been created by Volvo chief designer Thomas Ingenlath, and looks to follow a similar path -- albeit with a higher ride and more rugged crossover styling than the streamlined Concept Coupe.However the XC gets the earlier car's new face with a vertical grille, split horizontal headlight clusters and clamshell bonnet, but also shows the crossover wagon body, and carries a roof box that's unlikely to be standard fitment -- or good for already hefty SUV fuel usage.It looks clean and uncluttered, and largely close to a production form, although there's an exaggerated development of the signature Volvo shouldered taillights, and the vertical-cut exhaust tips and orange-striped tyres may not make it off the motor show floor.There's no indication yet of what is under the bonnet, but it could follow the Concept Coupe's hybrid set-up with a turbocharged and supercharged (for high and low rev response) 1.4-litre engine mated with an electric motor, together producing a total of 300kW of power and 600Nm of torque.However while a hybrid variant is on the cards, the production version will also carry something closer to the current engine choices of a 179kW/320Nm 3.2-litre petrol unit -- although possibly downsized -- and a 147kW/420Nm 2.4-litre diesel.Watch the desktop version of the Volvo XC90 previewed video.This reporter is on Twitter: @KarlaPincott   

German sports car maker Porsche have published 3D printing plans for their Cayman coupe, and a video showing how it's done. Naturally, the first thought is that this is a great way to get a new tiny scale model car -- or a fleet of them, if you wish.Watch the desktop version of the 3D print a Porsche Cayman video here. But there are suggestions the plans could be scalable, with the only restriction being how large your 3D printer is. And that opens up a whole world of possibilities... even before you start thinking about the paint options.Also watch: Porsche Cayman S trailer here.The video shows you'll still want to do a little final finishing to get the best result. And with a bit of coding knowledge or craft knife handiwork you could probably even turn the Cayman into a convertible Boxster -- or a completely new variant limited only by your imagination.The Porsche Cayman 3D printing plans can be downloaded from the official website and any creation can shared on social media with a #3DCayman hashtag.  

Images of the new BMW M3 and M4 have been revealed via an online BMW blog ahead of their official debut tomorrow. As you'd expect, the photos show a more aggressive treatment for the bodies, with muscular wheelarches housing big alloys, quad exhaust tips, and M badged heat extraction vents behind the front wheels.Watch the desktop version of the official BMW M3 and M4 video here.With the new BMW 4-Series already in Australian showrooms  attention will now be focusing on what we can expect in the coming BMW M3 and M4 that are set to arrive next May, BMW has alreqady comfirmed the outputs for the cars, announcing them at a technology workshop. The new M3 and M4 will deliver about 320 kilowatts of power and 'far beyond' 500 Newton-metres of torque from the latest 3.0-litre turbo in-line six-cylinder engine.The M3 gets a considerable hike over the same engine in the 4-Series 435i Carsguide tested in July, which delivers 225kW and 400Nm. But it's less of a jump over the outgoing M3's 4.0-litre V8 with 309kW and 400Nm. The M4's output is said to be 310kW, but we've also heard talk of a bigger 3.3-litre turbocharged six-cylinder that could offer 336kW. The German carmaker says that the engines are also much more efficient, achieving a reduction in fuel consumption and emissions of 'around 25 per cent'.BMW has reportedly decided on a more modest power hike in favour of a wider torque spread than the V8, also helped by a new cylinder head. In addition, the coming M3 and M4 will be lighter, with weight-saving strategies joining a carryover carbon-fibre roof to keep it tipping the scales in the target range of about 1500kg -- a drop of 100kg on the outgoing M3. More details will be revealed tomorrow, in preparation for the official unveiling at January's Detroit motor show.Watch the BMW M3 and M4 testing at the Nurburgring.This reporter is on Twitter: @KarlaPincott