Articles by Karla Pincott

The British carmaker launched at Frankfurt motor show with their first product, an upmarket SUV.Touted as the world’s first ‘Super-SUV’ – a claim that Porsche’s Cayenne, Audi’s Q7, Maserati’s upcoming Kubang and even Ferrari’s all-wheel drive FF four-seater might challenge – the debut vehicle is due to appear next year in a string of showrooms Eterniti says will sprout around the world.Despite the major players already in the luxury SUV market, and the others that are sure to join it if the buyers keep flocking in that direction, Eterniti is saying that when the Hemera goes on sale it will ‘provide new levels of luxury, exclusivity and performance in an SUV to create a new niche’.Based on the same VW group platform program as the Cayenne, the Eterniti will have a lightweight carbon-composite body and the promise of more power from the 4.8-litre twin-turbo V8 engine, with claims of a future 465kW of power – about 100kW more than the Cayenne and Q7 -- and a top speed of more than 290km/h.Pricing has not been confirmed, but has been suggested at around the equivalent of more than $1.5 million Aussie dollars – before import and onroads costs.Despite the raiding of VW’s parts bin, London-based Eterniti is an independent company, backed by ‘a group of international investors’. The fledgling carmaker says more vehicles will follow the Hemera.

A few years ago you might have picked a Kia just for its bargain price. But while the latest Cerato SLi is still not expensive, even if it cost a bit more you might choose it because of the great style, equipment and value proposition.  And there's little that will disappoint about it.Forget about the stodgy attitude of past models. While the Cerato might not yet have the deft dynamics and performance of the class benchmark VW Golf, it's light years away from its predecessors and has streaked through the field to overtake rivals like the Hyundai i30 and Toyota Corolla -- and whittle down the gap to the Ford Focus and Mazda3.We tested the $26,240  top-spec Cerato SLi and there's everything you expect to find at this level - and then quite a bit more, including paddle-shifters on the leather-wrapped steering wheel, alloy sports pedals, 17-in alloys, rear parking sensors, climate-control aircon, good fabric upholstery and a six-speaker audio/Bluetooth/iPod control set-up.The small hatchback sales leader is Mazda3 but the class leader is still 2009 Carsguide Car of the Year, the VW Golf.You can get the Golf 90TSI from $1200 more with a fantastic engine and twin-clutch transmission, five-star safety and better economy, but less style, 15-in wheels - which admittedly don't undermine its great handling - standard manual aircon, space-saver spare and having to pay extra for Bluetooth.The Mazda3 Maxx Sport auto hatch is $2120 above the Kia, with slightly less power and torque, one less gear, 16-in wheels, space-saver spare and bigger thirst on more expensive 95RON petrol, but also with five-star safety and a six-CD audio system.The newcomer in the field is the latest Ford Focus, with the Trend spec auto hatch competitive on price at just $550 more than the Cerato, for which you get more power and torque, better economy, five-star safety, about the same level of goodies but 16-in wheels and space-saver spare.You might be tempted to compare the Cerato to its $350-cheaper Korean cousin, the Hyundai i30 SLX, but while the i30 is also a former Carsguide COTY, it's now been outstripped by the Cerato.And for $750 more, there's the dependable, durable - some might say interminable -- Toyota Corolla in Levin spec. But put them side-by-side, and the quality and style of the Cerato will still win out.Under the direction of Kia's head designer Peter Schreyer, the Cerato has turned out to be a case of just right - there's enough freshness without it being outlandish.The family 'tiger face' fits in well with the angles of the large air dam, while the triangular C-pillar glass, wraparound taillights and finned splitter in the rear bumper add lashings of style at the back.The alloy pedals, oversized speedo and chunky steering wheel lend a sporty air to the SLi's cabin. The dash at first seems an overwhelming array of buttons, knobs and red-lit screens and dials, but it's all fairly intuitive and logical.Bluetooth was a snap to connect - although a little hollow-sounding in conversation - and the optional iPod cable adds the ability to acess your playlists through the steering wheel controls.There's plenty of cargo space, and the split-fold rear seats open the deep boot up into cavernous dimensions.The new Cerato is well-bolstered against mishaps, with six airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners and active headrests, stability and traction controls systems, anti-lock brakes with brake-force distribution to compensate for uneven load weight, brake assist for panic stops. Previous models moved up from three to four ANCAP stars over the years, but the new one hasn't been tested here yet.The Cerato has a 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine that develops 115kW/194Nm, delivering that to the front wheels via a new sequential six-speed auto transmission.That particular engine is quite adequate for the job, but it's been around for while and seems - and sounds - less polished than the rest of the car.The underpinnings are similarly old-school, with a the torsion beam rear suspension, but in this case it's less of a problem as the aging set-up and the steering have been given a deft nip-and-tuck especially for Australia.And that extra effort - coupled with the little car having a bigger wheelbase and wider tracks than the Nissan X-Trail SUV that it replaced in the test slot - gives it surprisingly refined manners.It's fun. There's no doubt about it. A first run through our local set of hilly bends was so satisfying we turned around at the front door and went back for another crack at it.The Cerato feels solid and planted and responds obediently to steering. The firm-ish suspension serves it well - and wouldn't be out of place on a hot hatch -- but it does add a touch of harshness and some drivers might tire of that after a while.But it's not a hot hatch. And that becomes more obvious when you push it. It's willing, but far from being able to deliver effortless spirited performance in the engine department. And the noise if you force it reminds you it's just a well-sorted little runabout.Add in that it's generously equipped, easy to park, economical and good-looking - and there's not a lot to dislike. And engine and a couple of pieces of poorer plastic aside, there's little that doesn't suggest honest quality in the build and finishes.Cover the badge on the steering wheel, and not only would you have no way to connect the Cerato with the Korean cars of previous years, but it might even look at home in a Japanese or (dare we say it) European showroom.It deserves something better under the bonnet. But forget about trying to push the engine up to the sporty promise offered by the handling and steering. Just enjoy the looks, fit-out and fun, coupled with good quality at what - in the balance - still turns out to be a bargain price for the sum of what you get.

The little Mini will have a starring role at this week’s Frankfurt motor show and will arrive here very early next year, with pricing announced in a few months. The Australian line-up will start with the 135kW MINI Cooper S Coupé and the sports performance of the 155 kW/211 hp MINI John Cooper Works Coupé – both of which will be available with a six-speed manual transmission as standard but a six-speed automatic as an option. A 90kw MINI Cooper Coupé and a 105kW diesel MINI Cooper SD Coupé will be available overseas, but not in the initial range here.“We can’t comment on price at this stage,” Mini spokesperson Lucy McLellan says. We’ll have some idea closer to the Australian launch. It will be arriving at the very beginning of next year so we’ll know more about price towards the end of this year."Acting Australian head of Mini, Matt Schmidt, acknowledges there will be a small premium over similar models in the current range.“As far as pricing goes, locally we will see a small uplift over the current Hatch, Clubman and Cabrio,” he says.That suggests the Cooper S Coupe is likely to be no higher than $45,000, and the John Cooper Works about $10,000 more.  While you don’t often think of two-seater coupes as being ‘practical’ cars, McLellan says the Mini Coupe will fill a practical need for buyers.“Lots of Mini owners never put anybody in the rear seat of the car, so this will appeal to those who want more load space but still want the qualities of a smaller Mini,” she says. The Mini Coupe’s boot space is fantastic and it’s probably the most practical mini yet.”McLellan also says the addition of the Mini Coupe is helping to extend the brand. “We’ve moved from just having an iconic car to having an entire brand,” she says.

Set to be unveiled at Frankfurt motor show next week, the Skoda MissionL is a small sedan that will spearhead a model onslaught from the brand. The MissionL is a further step on from the VisionD concept revealed at Geneva motor show, with similar lines around the rear. However the new concept is closer to production, and points to a car that will join the line-up in between the VW Golf-based Octavia and Fabia. It carries the Skoda family grille, and has a liftback boot that should offer versatile space in line with the brand's bid to position itself as 'simply clever'. Further details will be revealed at the Frankfurt show, but Skoda has already signaled a future model push. "Revealing the look of our new compact model, the MissionL shows exactly the direction our brand is going to take," Skoda board chairman Dr Winfried Vahland says. "The world premiere in Frankfurt gives a clear signal that Skoda is going full steam ahead now. We are going to present a new vehicle every six months over the next two or three years."

For a start, it’s a little package that promises to get more into less. The A2 concept car – given a sneak preview in these sketches – is touted as having ‘plenty of room for four people’, despite being just 3.80 metres long, 1.69 metres wide and 1.49 metres high.The Audi A2 in concept form at Frankfurt will be electric-driven – and light on power -- however it’s also likely to have a conventional petrol engine when it goes into production.However, the real show features are all about light technology. The show car features a dark glass roof that can be changed to transparent with a button and latest-tech matrix beam LED lighting that uses micro-reflectors to intensify the light with glare.The tail lights can project a red triangle onto the road in case of breakdown. And a ‘dynamic’ light band running along the window line acknowledges the proximity of the owner – who can unlock the doors with a wave of the hand -- functions as a continuous side light, and can also be set to transmit pulses of light down the band. Disco on.

Modrn cars r getN so coNectd, they’re Bcuming virtual cmputAs on wheels.See plain English version here.High-end euro. br&s OFr www as part of d Coms systems on upmarket modls. n d US, Chevrolet’s Cruze ltz drvrs ^d8 their Facebook n lisN 2 their nws feed, yl Ford’s Sync sys trns d car N2 a mob wi-fi hotspot.D nu teknoloG S set 2 surge thru aussie car showrooms, 2. bt now u don’t hav2 lash ot on a nu car jst 2 gt coNectd. /:-) tech co. Parrot hs unveiled d 1st after-market audio sys pwrd by Google's Android oper8in sys, Asteroid.Frm l8 oct you’ll B abL 2 rip yr factry sys outa d dash n av it replacd W d Parrot Asteroid ($399 + installation), n you’ll B coNectd 2 d wrld – +2 a range of apps tailored 4t sys, includN 1s that’ll let u 2 read n compose Emsgs or txt msgs by voiC.D Asteroid sys uses d 3G broadband netwrk, acessn it itha thru a USB modem or Ny compatible smartphone. Displaying on a 3.2-in colour screen, d Asteroid includs GPS, a maps svC W ‘points of interest’, speed camRA warnings, wx 4casts, mor thN 50,000 www radio stations, n muzc playa conXN.No CD playa, it sEmz, bt doze silver discs r a bit outdated 2. don8 yr colecton 2 yr granny. 

Modern cars are getting so connected, they’re becoming virtual computers on wheels.Cnt undRst& plain en? Read d txt verzN hre.High-end European brands offer internet as part of the communication systems on upmarket models. In the US, Chevrolet’s Cruze lets drivers update their Facebook and listen to their news feed, while Ford’s Sync system turns the car into a mobile wi-fi hotspot.The new technology is set to surge through Australian car showrooms, too.But now you don’t have to lash out on a new car just to get connected.French tech company Parrot has unveiled the first after-market audio system powered by Google's Android operating system, Asteroid.From late October you’ll be able to rip your factory system out of the dash and have it replaced with the Parrot Asteroid ($399 plus installation), and you’ll be connected to the world – and to a range of apps tailored for the system, including ones that will let you to read and compose emails or text messages by voice.The Asteroid system uses the 3G broadband network, accessing it either through a USB modem or any compatible smartphone.Displaying on a 3.2-in colour screen, the Asteroid includes GPS, a maps service with ‘points of interest’, speed camera warnings, weather forecasts, more than 50,000 internet radio stations, and music player connection.No CD player, it seems, but those silver discs are a bit outdated too. Donate your collection to your granny.

THERE are other X-Trails for offroading, but Nissan has designed their two-wheel drive version strictly as an onroader. That means it's really a large station wagon with the height and style of an SUV. Why do that? Because it's a growing chunk of the SUV sector, with buyers chasing a vehicle that will give them the illusion of strength and safety without the extra weight and fuel slug of an all-wheel or four-wheel drive system they'll never need.Nissan has positioned the X-Trail 2WD in the mid-spec ST-L level, where it will attract buyers looking for more goodies than in a bare base model - but who don't want to fork out for top-shelf spec. And the combination of a good equipment package and a starting price of $34,990 should attract some attention.But the front-driver is a latecomer to the field, and has to battle against some entrenched occupants with similar engine and transmission combinations.Among those with is its $2800-cheaper stablemate, the Nissan Dualis Ti, with the same drivetrain but slightly higher spec and better fuel economy, road manners and - let's be honest - better looks too, at $32,190. Unless you want the extra room of the X-Trail, the Dualis is well worth considering.Also cheaper is the $33,990 Mazda CX-7 Classic, with a larger engine offering more power and torque, and car-like ride and handling. But again, if space is your priority the Mazda also loses to the X-Trail.The real price fighters are the Koreans: the platform-sharing $28,220 Kia Sportage Si and $28,990 Hyundai ix35 Active. Their 2.0-litre engine offers more power than the X-Trail's, and they both have a stacked equipment list for this price. However the Kia is not only ahead of its clone-twin on both fit-out and handling, but even with a laid-back engine it's a good contender against the Nissan.Toyota offers the RAV4 as a 2WD in base $30,990 CV spec with a 125kW/224Nm 2.4-litre engine but only a four-speed auto, stale design and not a lot of goodies. There's more on offer in the Cruiser spec level with the same engine, but it puts the price up to $35,990.As part of a model range that has always touted a rugged attitude, the X-Trail 2WD has inherited the blunt, boxy and big approach to styling. That can be a blessing if you want to cart people and cargo around, with the vehicle's packaging designed to offer plenty of leg, head and shoulder room. Even the addition of a child seat doesn't seem to chomp out much of the rear seat space.The luggage area surface is a hardy, practical and very washable plastic, so there's no fear about throwing anything wet, muddy or four-legged in there, and divided underfloor trays stash valuables out of sight.Slip the headrests out of the rear seats, and they fold easily to a flat floor perfect for the weekend garage sale cruise, and take the capacity from 479 litres to a whopping 1773.The cabin is comfortable and punches above the usual base levels with leather seats (powered and heated in the front, with six-way adjustment for driver and four for sidekick). It also has plenty of storage spaces, including a large lidded bin on the dash and what looks like the world's tiniest cupholder on the centre console where the all-paw selector has been removed for the front-drive version.The X-Trail has six airbags -- front, side, and roof curtain  -- stability control, anti-skid anchors with brake-force distribution to compensate for uneven loads, brake assist for panic stops, and seatbelt pretensioners and active front seat head restraints in case all that doesn't pull you up in time.However it gets only four crash stars, as do the popular Toyota RAV4 and the rising Kia Sportage. But that means it's lagging behind the Nissan Dualis, Hyundai ix35 and Mazda CX-7 with five. We've said it in these pages before: five should be the standard, especially for vehicles aimed at the family.As mentioned, the X-Trail 2WD has nicked the 102kW/198Nm 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine and continuously-variable transmission from the Dualis.There's also a manual version if you want to save $2000, but it won't save you anything at the bowser, coming in at 0.1L more than the CVT's 8.4L/100km official figure. We didn't achieve that, and instead hovered between 9.5-9.8 in city driving but dropped to 8.8 after a couple of highway runs.The two-wheel drive misses out on the hill descent control and hill start assist system in the rest of the variant range, but retains active brake limited slip that applies braking force to a wheel that's losing traction, allowing the power to go to the wheels with a better grip.Behind the wheel, the X-Trail feels like exactly what it is - a big station wagon. Around town the engine feels as if it's not quite up to the task at hand. This is Nissan's shot at an economical version of the X-Trail, and it only felt comfortable in traffic if you drove it aggressively - which is hard on the engine, and hard on fuel.Handling is something of a moot point with a vehicle like this, and on a gently winding road it is well-behaved and comfortable, but its weighty nose refuses to poke neatly into sharp corners, and the other end thunks over badly-seamed bitumen.With the smaller engine, we weren't surprised to find the X-Trail is a fairly laid-back performer. If you relaxed and just let it get around town in an unhurried way it was fine, but it makes a bit of a racket if you try to wind it up too swiftly.A spin on the freeway gives a different story to city driving.  Like every SUV the extra height makes it easy to see the traffic ahead, and at freeway speeds the engine is more than capable of keeping you comfortably alongside free-flowing traffic.The X-Trail is a big square thing, and will always have wind noise, but the cabin is surprisingly quiet - possibly helped by good choice of tyres.The standout feature is its brakes. They're progressive and firm, and give you confidence that if you need to stop in a hurry there'll be no fuss. Adding extra bodies and a bit of cargo didn't bother it any further, but while it has a workable tow capacity of  1300kg braked, it's likely you'll fare better with more grunt from a bigger engine - and less gritted teeth.But the city-light steering lacks feel and any sort of connection with events. And while it helps in parking what is a sizable vehicle, it's almost impossible to judge the distance to objects around the rear pillars and back. Visibility is out front is fine, and the side mirrors give good coverage, but on inner city streets you find yourself wishing it wasn't quite so large.The X-Trail is competent but unexciting around town, and definitely not intended to go offiroad. Its best points are its cabin fit-out, cargo capacity and passenger space. If these are priorities, this is one to look at, although you should test the Kia up against it. If you are looking for strength and handling, measure it against the Mazda or the Dualis.

We’re used to motor shows being the forum for stunning cars that never go into production – no matter how much we beg. And here’s one we sincerely hope follows that path. We’ll be begging for it to never see light of day. Looking like the misbegotten spawn of an affair between a piggy bank and a bread bin, the Tubik is described by Citroen as a “high-tech, high comfort, highly functional executive shuttle that is shared, intelligent, connected and eco friendly”. “More than a taxi, more flexible than a limousine and as much fun as a trip to beach. Its flexible interiors means it can carry a group of people or a single person and their luggage; the seats can fold down as a bed or swing around for a meeting; entertainment units fold from the roof and privacy is guaranteed.” Well, you wouldn’t want to be spotted in it, would you? So at least the lack of passenger windows is understandable. But that’s the only part of the appearance that makes sense. We read the press release carefully to check for OHS alerts about eyesight damage, or PG viewer rating on the level of design violence, but the French carmaker has been almost criminally negligent in assuming the Tubik is safe to unleash on an unsuspecting public. Carsguide to the rescue. You have now been warned.

It will have an Aussie reveal today in Melbourne – from which we’ll have a full report and first drive after 10am. But the for now, the US photos show a mildly revised mid-sizer, except around the nose which has been given more aggressive styling with a lower bumper and more aggressive air dam. The shoulder line seems to rise a little more than on the current model, but that may be a visual effect of the character line angling along the side. One new feature on the US car is a small fin on the wing mirrors, designed to create an aerodynamic slip field at higher speeds. It’s technology Toyota says has been developed from its Formula One research and racing – and so far probably the only F1 link we’ve seen on a Camry. CAMRY WHAT DOES IT MEAN? Camry: From the Japanese Kan-Muri, meaning "crown". WHERE IS IT BUILT? Camry and its four-cylinder engine are built at Toyota's Altona manufacturing plant in Melbourne, Victoria. Toyota directly employs 3,200 people in Victoria and more than 4,400 nationally. HOW MANY? Approximately 100,000 four-cylinder Camry sedans are produced at Altona each year. Approximately 70 per cent are exported, mainly to the Middle East. Camry has been produced in Australia since 1987. HOW SUCCESSFUL? Camry is now in its 18th year as Australia's best-selling mid-size car. It is also Australia's biggest automotive export earner, being shipped to more than 20 destinations. BACKGROUND Launched in the wake of the oil shocks of the late ’70s, Camry has established itself as a true world car. Planning for the Camry began in 1977, at a time when manufacturers globally were turning to smaller front-wheel-drive vehicles to overcome soaring fuel costs and stricter fuel efficiency regulations. The emphasis of the program was on aerodynamics and lightweight materials. Engine development focused on fuel efficiency, with engines built specially to drive the front wheels. Around the world, Camry production has now passed 15 million units. 1983 – first generation (imported) The Camry was introduced to Australia as an import in liftback guise in 1983. It won several "best car" awards, including Modern Motor magazine’s Car of the Year. The car featured a new five-speed manual and ECT-equipped four-speed automatic transmissions with wide gear ratios. The front-wheel-drive layout, without a transmission tunnel, allowed for a spacious interior. Innovations in the first Camry included equal-length driveshaft arms, two-stage air conditioning and multi-adjustable seats. That tradition of innovation continued throughout the life of the Camry and the brand is now synonymous with world-leading sophistication and quality. 1987 – second generation, but first locally produced Camry It wasn’t until the second-generation Camry that the car was built locally. AMI-Toyota was the first Toyota subsidiary in the world to build the Camry and the local version incorporated extensive design changes – including three locally designed wagon variants. The Australian-made Camry made its showroom debut in April 1987, replacing the locally built Corona. With this generation, Toyota introduced a locally built twin-cam 2.0-litre 16-valve four-cylinder engine, followed in May 1988 by a new 2.5-litre quad-cam 24-valve V6. The engine was the world’s first quad-cam V6 engine to feature in a mass production sedan. This generation also saw the release of a station wagon to replace the hatchback. Camry allowed Toyota to compete on equal footing with the other leading medium cars of the day – Mitsubishi’s Magna, Holden’s Camira and Nissan’s Pintara. The Australian-built car featured independent front and rear Macpherson-strut suspension, engine-speed-sensitive power steering and disc brakes front and rear. It brought a new level of sophistication and technology to the local market. A revised Camry appeared in August 1989, incorporating local steering modifications that were to gain international acceptance within Toyota. An Australian team revised the steering valve and geometry to improve driver feel and response. The changes were later adopted for worldwide Camry production. Toyota continued to push for quality improvements. It was determined that investment in a new plant was necessary to achieve further gains. The proposal to build a new Camry plant at Altona was presented to Toyota Motor Corporation, which approved the plan to build a $420 million assembly plant at Altona. 1993 – third generation In February 1993, the new wide-bodied Camry was launched publicly by Prime Minister Paul Keating, who described the car as “another quantum leap in the history of the Australian automotive industry”. Wheels magazine agreed and Camry came out on top in a comparison with Magna, Mazda 626 and Liberty. Camry was also the top-ranked local car in Wheels’ annual quality survey and won the NRMA’s gong for best medium car. Camry grew up for this generation. It was larger in every dimension than the previous model, and became classified as "mid-size". The car was wider and longer than Cressida, with better performance, improved fuel economy, ABS and reduced NVH. It also had more local input into design and development. Built at a cost of $140 million, the range also featured a new brand name – the Vienta – for its V6 models. Engines were now 2.2-litre four-cylinder units (producing almost as much power as the previous V6, but with four-cylinder economy), and 3.0-litre V6s. That same year, Toyota began exporting the Camry to Thailand. By 1994, Altona exports were worth $160 million and the company announced that, by the year 2000, it aimed to export 30 per cent of its Altona Camry production. The year also saw Camry take over the mantle of Australia’s best-selling medium car. The last Camry to be built at Port Melbourne rolled off the production line in December 1994. Two weeks later, the Camry was being built at Altona. There was little difference between the Port Melbourne and Altona vehicles, except for a new water-borne, environmentally friendly paint process at Altona. In 1996, Victorian Premier Jeff Kennett was on hand to send off the first shipment of Camrys to the Middle East. 1997 – fourth generation A new range was launched in August 1997. It was quieter, lighter and more powerful with better ride quality and improved handling. With an additional 5cm in wheelbase, a lowered beltline and swept-back windscreen, the 1997 Camry’s cabin was more spacious and inviting. By this time, 40 per cent of Camry production was being shipped overseas to 24 destinations. The line-up of four-cylinder Camry models consisted of the CSI, Conquest and CSX models, available as sedans or wagons. Camry V6 models consisted of CSI and Conquest. Both of Camry’s engines received power and torque increases. In October 2000, a revised Camry range was launched with improved handling, higher feature levels, improved headlamps and reduced noise, vibration and harshness. Two models were added to the Camry line-up - Touring Series wagon and top-of-the-range sports-luxury Azura sedan. The Vienta V6 range was discontinued due to the launch of the Avalon sedan.