Articles by Karla Pincott

Following nearly a full season of V8 Supercar effort, Nissan's Altima sedan -- the replacement for the long-toothed Maxima -- will move from the track to hit local showrooms in November

Playstation 4 will be launched on November 15, and the next step in the hyped lead-up to the new gaming console is this great commercial. Using Lou Reed's Perfect Day as the soundtrack, it shows role players happily singing their through car crashes, medieval armoured beheadings and general apocalyptic mayhem. Watch the PS4 Perfect Day trailer here.

Walkinshaw has just raised the Australian performance bar with the launch of two supercharged W Series packages for the  6.0-litre Holden VF Commodores and 6.2-litre Gen-F HSVs. Both costing $18,990 fitted, the packages are named for their power outputs.The W457 package for the 6.0-litre VF Commodore V8s will deliver 457kW at 5600rpm and 780Nm at 3700rpm -- a massive 187-197kW and 250-253Nm rise,  with the torque peak also arriving 700rpm earlier.The W497 package for LS3 6.2-litre Gen-F HSVs gives you 497kW at 5560rpm and 955Nm at 3690rpm. Again, that's a considerable 157-180kW and 385-405Nm benefit over the standard models: the 317kW/550Nm Clubsport, 325kW/550Nm Maloo and 340kW/570Nm Grange and Senator Signature.Goodies in the packages include a WP230 supercharger package, large high flow injectors, Eaton Twin Vortices 2300 Series (TVS) Gen VI rotors, water to air intercooler package, custom moulded heater hoses, cast aluminium coil covers, unique Walkinshaw Performance injection moulded cold air intake package, heavy duty serpentine belt drive system, 12” long intake runners, custom moulded intercooler hoses, self-contained oil system, full stainless steel exhaust system -- including ceramic coated headers and high flow catalytic converters.You'll also get a full dyno tune from an authorised Walkinshaw Performance Centre, W Series Certificate of Authenticity and Vehicle Identification, and full drive line warranty for the balance of the manufacturer’s new vehicle warranty for eligible vehicles.Walkinshaw Performance general manager Tony Harris described the force-fed kits as the peak of local engineering and design."The W Series has already seen the naturally aspirated W310 and W375 packages which offer terrific performance and value for money that we have developed thanks to the outstanding base vehicles -- the VF SS Commodore and the Gen-F HSV," he said. "Today we take another step with the W457 and W497 packages. These packages represent the pinnacle of Australian automotive design and engineering capabilities."On power figures alone it's impressive, but as we always say; drivability is the number one goal and we believe that these W Series twins are exceedingly well mannered in this key area. That said, it's hard to hide the performance results and these cars are guaranteed to bring a smile to the face of every motoring enthusiast.""Back in 2004, the 297kw VZ ClubSport was rightly heralded as a significant development for HSV. At the time a journalist said it was "ferocious off the line" and that it brought "high-end performance within easier reach of more people". We see these packages offering similar- and yet so much more.”This reporter is on Twitter: @KarlaPincottWatch Walkinshaw's W457 and W497 video here. 

The Northern Territory Government will honour an election promise to return open speed limits as part of a 12-month trial kicking off in 2014. The pilot will see open speed allowed on a 200km stretch of the Stuart Highway between Barrow Creek and Alice Springs from February 1. It's been five years since the Territory's previously unrestricted highways -- loved by car enthusiasts from other states -- were limited by the then-Labor government to 130km/h in 2007. A change of government, with the Country Liberal Party now in power, has seen a change of attitude, with NT Transport Minister Peter Styles acknowledging that higher speeds may be safe under the right conditions. Styles said the trial 200km of highway road selected for the trial had been identified as low-risk for crashes. "The Territory has a unique road network with a low traffic volume and this section of road has been identified as an appropriate trial section,” Styles said. “In the 10 years between 2001-2011 there wasn’t any speed related fatalities on this stretch of road." However he cautioned that the open speed trial was not an invitation for dangerous driving, and that motorists should drive to the road conditions, their skills and the abilities of their vehicles, with learner and provisional license holders adhering to their normal restrictions. However, while car fans may applaud the trial, it has been criticised by some of the Territory's safety and driver organisations, including the NT Police Association and the Automobile Association of the Northern Territory, who have previously said the road infrastructure is not up to the standard required for open speeds. Road safety groups, the police union and Royal Australasian College of Surgeons will call on the commonwealth to block the Northern Territory's return to open speed limits, which experts say will increase road deaths and encourage hooning. President of the Police Federation of Australia and NT Police Association, Vince Kelly, said it was a case of poltics being favoured over sensible policies, and called on the commonwealth to withhold road funding and force the Territory government to alter its plans. ``What they are doing is putting a legal framework in place that encourages people to act foolishly,'' Kelly said. ``It just seems to me that politics in the NT is once again being put ahead of sensible public policy.'' However, Motor Vehicle Enthusiasts Club NT president Peet Menzies welcomed news of the trial. ``These days you can buy a vehicle for a reasonable price that would probably do 300km/h. I dare say some people would like to come here and try that,'' he said. ``It's not as if you're driving on a southern road: it's the north and the number of cars is significantly less.'' The results of the 12-month trial -- including any increase in crashes -- will be audited before any steps are taken to expand it. Should the Territory then look at reinstating the open limit on all its highways? Additional reporting by Amos Aikman. This reporter is on Twitter: @KarlaPincott  

The BMW 4 Series Coupe hits Australian showrooms this month, and we're already getting a good look at the droptop version. BMW has released video and details of the new 4 Series Convertible, which replaces the previous 3 Series equivalent and carries over features like the folding hardtop rather than the soft-top of the 1 Series and larger 6 Series.For the footage, BMW head of exterior design Domagoj Dukec gives an overview of the subtle changes to the body, and we get our first view of the roof's choreography as it folds into the long-decked boot.The roof can be lowered at the touch of a button in 20 seconds, at speeds up to 18km/h. A redesigned sound-absorbing headliner drops cabin noise by a claimed 2dB, while a redesigned windblock can now be stored behind the rear seat, and neck warmers are available for front seat occupants for the first time.What's under the bonnet for Australian variants hasn't been confirmed yet, but will be likely to match the 4 Series coupe line-up. That means a base model 420d powered by a 135kW/380Nm 2.0-litre turbodiesel four; a 428i carrying a 180kW/350Nm 2.0-litre petrol turbo four; and a 435i carrying a 225kW/400Nm 3.0L turbo petrol six.We've yet to see the price tags, but there will be a premium over the coupe's pricing, which are expected to come in at about $70,000 for the 420d, $85,000 for the 428i and $110,000 for the 435i.Watch the BMW 4 Series convertible in action here.This reporter is on Twitter: @KarlaPincott 

Honda has sharpened the appeal of the Civic sedan by cutting prices across all variants and loading on more standard features.The entry-level civic VTi drops by $1000 for a starting price of $19,490, but picks up the range's new standard kit, including fresh black cloth trim, halogen daytime running lights and an illuminated vanity mirror.There has also been a $700 price reduction on the other three Civic sedan variants – VTi-L, VTi-LN and Sport. The Civic VTi-L now adds in automatic rain sensing wipers and a reversing camera, while the VTi-L and VTi-LN (with satnav) both get a leather-wrapped steering wheel and six-speaker audio system with two front tweeters.A new paint colour, Twilight Blue, completes the upgrades, which Honda Australia Director Stephen Collins says are designed to attract added sales."The Civic is one of Honda's most well-known nameplates around the world. This upgrade in specification and features for a lower price adds even more value to the popular and loved vehicle."Civic sales overall are up 61 per cent year-to-date with 11,564 sales -- largely riding on a refresh for the hatch early this year, which followed a revision of the sedan mid-2012.But while it's gained ground, it sits a fair way behind the leaders Toyota Corolla at 32,039, Mazda3 with 30,781 and Hyundai i30 on 22,499.Variant                RRP           RRP cut   Drive-awayVTi manual          $19,490               $1000    $21,990VTi auto               $21,790               $1000    $24,290VTi-L                     $23,290               $700      n/aVTi-LN (navi)         $26,290               $700      n/aSport                    $30,290               $700      n/aThis reporter is on Twitter: @KarlaPincott 

Some say he's the Stig, but he's not. He's the Stig's digital cousin. The Forza Motorsport 5 race game set for release on November 22 will feature a tame racing driver, based on the mystery Top Gear track linchpin.The trailer video shows him putting his driving prowess to work with a Holden Commodore V8 Supercar at Morgan Park race track in Queensland. However while the game Stig's ability draws on the real Stig, some also say the Forza Motorsport 5 one differs in one crucial way -- he's apparently beatable, if you're good enough.“Trying to beat The Stig on track has long been the petrol-fuelled dream of Top Gear fans everywhere and whilst Jeremy and the team did not want to frustrate or embarrass gamers by putting forward the real Stig, they did help us track down a potentially more fallible relative of their tame racing driver,” BBC Top Gear commercial director Duncan Gray said in a statement.Watch the Stig Holden Commodore Forza 5 video here.Forza 5 also features for the first time Australia's best-known circuit, Mount Panorama -- with the game maker saying the Bathurst track was the most-requested additions by fans for years. The Mountain also features in the coming Gran Turismo 6, which will hit the shops on December 6. Watch the Gran Turismo 6 Mount Panorama video here. This reporter is on Twitter: @KarlaPincott 

We've seen some movie cars go for top dollar recently -- among them the Lotus submarine car from James Bond and the 'Ferrari' replica from Ferris Bueller's Day Off. But a car that helped the Ghostbusters keep New York free of paranormal baddies is apparently being left to rot into a worthless husk on a Sony Pictures backlot. Ghostbusters fans are keen to rescue the car – the Ghostbuster 2 ‘ECTO-1A’, which was based on a 1959 Cadillac Miller-Meteor Futura ambulance -- and are mounting a petition to have the entertainment giant hand it over so it can be restored. The fan group says ECTO-1A is in "dire need of a restoration job... having sustained a magnitude of damage from its years as a public display piece at Universal Studios in Orlando, FL the original vehicle sits neglected." The project will be undertaken by the movie franchise's fan community -- some 21,000 strong and with more than 50,000 active followers on social media -- with crowdfunding likely to be raised on Kickstarter or a similar site. Ghostbusters Fans are calling for support from the public, who are encouraged to sign the petition to Sony, where they'll also find a history of the Ecto-1A and previous restoration bids. If they're successful, they could have a potentially valuable vehicle as a result. The original ECTO-1 from the first movie has been restored and does the rounds as a celebrity car for Ghostbusters events. But even a  replica of ECTO-1 -- used at the Universal Studios theme park -- sold for US$80,000 at Barrett Jackson auctions in 2010. This reporter is on Twitter: @KarlaPincott  

Porsche's Macan crossover will debut at the Los Angeles motor show in November, but a new video is giving a first look at the baby in action. They haven't released any details of what's under the bonnet, but from leaked presentation slides we already know it will be launched with either 3.0 or 3.6-litre turbocharged petrol V6 engines, with the twin-turbo 3.6-litre likely to be the Macan S performance hero.A petrol four-cylinder -- likely to be a price-fighting base model -- and turbodiesel V6 options are expected to be offered later. We'll get more details and our first live look at the Macan when the LA motor show kicks off on November 20-21.Watch video of the Porsche Macan here. 

Hyundai has rolled out the ultimate Zombie Survival Machine, complete with all the specialised armour and arsenal you'll need to see you through any zombie apocalypse. Razor-wired windows? Check. Bristling array of protruding knife blades? Check. Three machine guns, automatic crossbow and samurai sword? Yep, it's all here, dressed in aluminium armour and grungy urban camo.The winning result of a fan-based competition -- from US owner of a Hyundai Santa Fe, Anson Kuo -- the Zombie Survival Machine was chosen from more than 82,500 entries submitted on the brand's Walking Dead Chop Shop configurator app. Kuo based the design on his own SUV, with the result built by Galpin Auto Sports and unveiled at the New York Comic-Con."My main design goal was to make the vehicle as stealthy and spacious as possible," said Kuo. "I knew knives and blades would be the best bet for weaponry - they could slice and dice the zombies without releasing any ammunition."Basing the design on the Santa Fe allows space for extra passengers as well as weapons, supplies and all the other necessary items needed during a real zombie apocalypse."This is the second zombie survival vehicle to bear a Hyundai badge -- playing off their product placement in the hit TV series The Walking Dead and their partnership with creator of the original graphic novels, Robert Kirkman. Last year saw Kirkman himself design a vehicle based on the Hyundai Elantra, which went on show at the 2012 Comic-Con.See video of the Robert Kirkman Zombie Survival Vehicle here.It looked sensational, but if it came down to a choice between the two, we're with Kuo. When the apocalypse comes, the better fuel economy of the Elantra might be atrractive, but you're going to need a vehicle with the extra space and ride height of the Santa Fe to truly do meaningful battle.This reporter is on Twitter: @KarlaPincott