Articles by Karla Pincott

Someone should tell the NSW Government there's a limit to how much motorists can be gouged. We are not a bottomless pit of money.Motorists are being touched-up left right and centre these days especially by the government which has its hands in our pockets for indirect taxes such as rego and licences, extortionate traffic fines, stamp duty on purchased vehicles and other fees and charges.They also cop a slice of the GST cake derived from motoring related purchases and presumably get a spin off from the carbon tax in some way shape or form.But that's not enough. We are going to get knifed again on new tollway charges to the point where it's likely some drivers from outer suburbs will be coughing up $200 a week to get around Sydney. That equals a $10 grand snip every year.We'll be getting a motorbike soon... riding on rat runs just like half of Sydney in their cars. And the appeal of bikes and scooters is becoming a little less easy to ignore when you consider how much it actually costs per week to run a car - most of which have only one person inside much of the time.Including depreciation, fuel, insurance, rego, interest and everything else, a car like the Lexus LS600h runs to $1431 a week. A little Suzuki Alto costs about $120 for a short commute with no tolls or more than twice that from somewhere further out like Windsor with tolls included. Ain't cheap.So with the bike, all you have to put up with is the weather, aggressive and downright stupid drivers, inordinate attention from the highway patrol, no crash protection and the cost of rear tyres. We might have to break out the deadly treadley or shank's pony... 

Hot Wheels stunt drivers have set a new world record after completing a 360-degree huge double-loop.The stunt track was modelled as a giant version of the toy Hot Wheels Double Dare Snare track, and mounted as part of the X Games in Los Angeles on the weekend.The drivers of each car, rally racer Tanner Foust and Hollywood stuntman Greg Tracy completed the double-loop in tandem, reaching 85km/h and 7Gs: seven times the force of gravity, and around the same that jet fighter pilots experience.The pair -- racing as Team Green and Team Yellow -- trained for a year to complete the loop, which always held the risk of the drivers passing out from the gravity forces.The massive 18.2-metre high spiral track broke the previous record set last year by Chinese racer Li Yatao, who circled a Youngman Lotus L5 Sportback around a 12.8m loop in Shanghai, which was performed partly as a promo for for the Chinese-owned Zhejiang Youngman Lotus Automobile Co. 

The car has been photographed while testing last month, but a report out of Germany suggests Mercedes-Benz has dropped the development plan because of costs, and perhaps the difficulty of matching the Porsche 911 on price. The SLC looked to be shaping up as a baby version of the SLS AMG, with a front-engine, rear-wheel drive configuration against the Porsche rear-engined layout. But the story by Auto Motor und Sport says the Board of Mercedes-Benz has moved the plan off a schedule and put the car back into the 'under consideration' basket. The report cites sources as being 'business circles' inside Mercedes-Benz, but admits there is still some time to go before the SLC's previously predicted 2014 debut, which -- like the car itself -- has not been confirmed by the German carmaker.  

So what's in a name? In some cases, the heritage of a name is like a national treasure... and that's certainly true for Alpine. Its DNA blends Renault's sporting passion and technical expertise. The Renault Alpine A110-50 concept car translates the most characteristic design features of the original A110 in a modern and spectacular way. The carbon-fibre bodywork features a new shade of blue which refreshes and reinterprets the famous original 'Alpine Blue'. Produced with the renowned expertise of Renault Sport Technologies, the Renault Alpine A110-50 concept car is imbued with the world of motorsport. It benefits from the experience gained from the racing Megane Trophy by using the same technical platform.  

The fastest motorcycle wheelie on ice is 152.89 kmh, set as a Guinness World Record by Ryan Suchanek at Lake Koshkonong in Wisconsin, US on 5 February 2011. The US rider Ryan used a modified Kawasaki ZX6R which was fitted with studded tires in order to improve traction on the ice. He was timed over 100m to ensure accuracy.

That's rumoured to be on the cards for the Lamborghini stand at the show in February next year. Automobile magazine overnight reported that Lamborghini's line-up for Geneva will include a Gran Turismo four-seat version of the Aventador. The report suggests the Aventador GT would be built on an extended wheelbase that would allow  two small seats in the rear, with the possibility of a changed door design to make way for suicide panels for easier access. The concept -- and it may only appear as a concept, after all -- would also mean a considerable redesign of the flanks and rear of the Aventador to accommodate the changes on a mid-engined platform. Even with Lamborghini on a campaign to rebuild their profit base with more practical models like the Urus SUV that will attract more buyers in emerging economic giants like China and Russia, the idea of a four-seater Lamborghini seems wildly unlikely. But we remember thinking the same thing at the first rumour of a four-seat Ferrari, too.    

Audi’s baby A1 is spreading its wings – or more accurately its doors, having added a couple to arrive in Sportback versions.Bigger than a hatch, but sexier than a wagon, the Sportback hopes to extend the A1’s appeal to young families who like the upmarket style of the original coupe, but need those extra doors to load the kiddies through.It’s also something of a bait to draw new buyers to the brand, so while it’s at the entry end of the Audi model floor, it hasn’t missed out on premium finishes and features.DESIGNApart from the extra doors, it’s not so easy to spot the differences. Audi has managed to pretty well maintain the shape with a just slightly bigger body that gives more room for heads and legs, plus easier access.The rear row is now a triple-seater, although snug to a near-intimate degree, but all spots have headrests and three-point seatbelts.Drop the rear seats and the 270-litre boot space balloons out to 920 litres, happily without having to first go through wrestling the headrests out of their slots.The nsoe gets the new sharpened single-frame grille and curved LED daytime running lights.  Following in the path of the Mini – and possibly luring some of its fans – there’s almost endless scope for customisation, starting with a contrasting colour roof and going from there to … whatever you want.The Audi options catalogue is a virtual vehicle Lego kit. Build in your personal preferences and you’re unlikely to ever meet an identical car on the road. The dash is a perfect marriage of funky and classy, avoiding the gimmickry of Mini’s layout (which largely suffers from having a tacho the size of a bistro table).RANGE AND PRICESTurbo technology and fuel injection for efficiency, coupled to downsizing for lighter weight and better economy are the main cards for both petrol and diesel choices, and the opening hand from $26,500 is the new 63kW/160Nm 1.2-litre TFSI petrol engine mated to a five-speed manual transmission that was the main focus of our test drive. For $29,990 you have the choice of the mid-range petrol 90kW/200Nm 1.4-litre TFSI or the 66kW/230Nm 1.6-litre TDI diesel – both with manual transmissions or an S-tronic automatic transmission for an extra $2350. The higher-powered 136kW/250Nm 1.4 TFSI S-tronic Sport 136kW will set you back $42,500.Standard Attraction spec includes alloy wheels, all the creature comforts you’d expect, plus a six-speaker single CD Concert audio system linked to a 6.5-in display that retracts into the top of the dash. Moving up to Ambition gets you sports seats and suspension to keep them stable, fog lights and extra touches of leather and metal trim.SAFETYFront, side and curtain airbags, anti-skid brakes with all the electronic helpers you could want, stability control and hill-hold assist are soldiers in the campaign for a five-star safety rating.DRIVINGWith the light little 1.2-litre engine, the base model A1 Sportback is a nimble drive. You’re not going to get balls-out performance from it – for that, look to the top-notch Sport version – but despite an official 0-100km/h time of 11.9 seconds, it doesn’t feel sluggish.On the road it feels balanced and composed, with the steering direct and responsive. But it’s not meant to be a track day hero. Its trump card is touted the fuel economy (posted as a frugal 5.1L/100km, but bubbling up well beyond that if you try to push it for even short periods. But premium car buyers are probably not swayed by fuel costs. Yet.And truly, its key appeal is in offering an affordable step into the Audi range that is also practical. The looks and fit-out say young, hip, urban. The rear doors say you can be all that and a family too.VERDICTLike any other brand, Audi is looking to get the almost legendary ‘younger buyer’ into their showrooms and cars. As an overall package, the Audi A1 Sportback 1.2 TFSI is one of the best bids around.Audi A1 Sportback 1.2 TFSIPrice: From $26,500Warranty: Three years/unlimited kmService intervals: 12 months/15,000kmEngine: 1.2-litre TFSI turbo petrol, 63kW/130NmTransmission: Five-speed manual (1.2 TFSI) FWDThirst:  5.1L/100km, 118g/km CO2 

Known as the IS-F CCS-R, which debuted at the Tokyo Auto Salon in 2010, it features a number of modifications from the standard IS-F road car to enhance performance and satisfy racing safety regulations. These include lightweight carbon fibre bodywork and interior details as well as polycarbonate windows that help reduce the standard vehicle's weight by 314kg. It also has a reinforced monocoque with roll cage, racing brake package, modified race suspension and racing exhaust system. The IS F CCS-R is powered by the 2UR-GSE 5.0-litre V8 of the IS F that develops 311kW and 505Nm of torque, mated to an eight-speed Sport Direct Shift automatic transmission with paddle shift. This year marks the 90th running of the famous 'Race to the Clouds' hill climb in Colorado Springs, US. The race is run on a 19.9 kilometre course with 156 turns that begins at 2,862 metres and finishes at the 4,300-metre Pikes Peak summit. This year's race will have 16 classes and a field of 200 competitors.  Nobuhiro Tajima currently holds the race record of 09:51.278, set in 2011.  

Volkswagen collaborated with make-up blogger Nickie de Jager to show what happen when applying make-up while driving. The how to tip is: don't.

Following a similar recall in the US, 9547 loally-built Cruzes have been recalled to fix a defect that could see oil dripping from the engine and catching fire if it contacts hot engine parts.The recall applies to all Cruze sedans and hatches with the 1.4-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engineThe recall statement cited a condition that “in some instances” could see the oil drip appear “if an oil change is not done properly. If oil makes contact with hot engine parts such as the exhaust manifold or catalytic converter, a fire could occur.”The recall overseas affected close to half a million vehicles built in the US, with 413,418 of those sold there, 61,299 in Canada and a 700 in Israel. The Holden recall also affects about 600 Cruzes in New Zealand. The Holden statement says there have been no reported cases of fires in Australia or New Zealand traced to the defect.“However we will always err on the side of caution when it comes to initiating safety recalls and campaigns.  Even if there have been no reported cases in our market we will take action to assure our customers and their vehicles are safe,” Holden director of warranty, customer satisfaction and quality Craig Porritt said in the statement.Holden is contacting potentially impacted customers directly, and will modify the defect at no charge.  Concerned customers should call their local Holden dealer or the Holden Recall centre on 1800 632 826.