Articles by Karla Pincott

Porsche CEO Matthias Mueller hinted in a newspaper article in Germany yesterday that the 550 Spyder could return -- and slip in under the Boxster in the line-up. "I can imagine that such a modern version of the famous 'James Dean' Porsche would be well-received by our customers," the daily newspaper Handelsblatt quoted Mueller as saying. "A small open top two-seater would be good for us," he said, adding however that any new version of the classic two-seater race car would not be a retro model. Porsche has already confirmed it is scoping the possibility of adding a small mid-engined sports car to the stable.

There are no clear clues when you look at the all-time top sellers, which include everything from a hulking Yank pick-up to sedate German sedan - and the century-old Ford Model-T.

The Eternità concept designed by Kim Cheong Ju, Ahn Dre and Lee Sahngseok of Seoul’s Hongik University took first place in the competition, which saw entries from 50 universities around the world aiming to design imagined Ferraris of the future. In second place was the Xezri designed by Azerbaigian student Samir Sadikhov at IED in Italy’s Turin. Third place was taken by Cavallo Bianco, designed by the team from the Royal College of Arts in London, comprising UK student Henry Cloke and Chinese student Qi Haitao. The Eternita was judged as having best met the design brief for “a thoroughbred hypercar brimming with new generation technologies and materials, an extreme (“hyper”) car not only in its architecture but also in every other aspect”. After drawing an initial design, the entrants then developed computer-generated 3D illustrations, and followed that with the production of a 1:4 scale model concentrating on detailing and interior features. Common themes across the entries included alternative propulsion systems – largely hybrid – for improving fuel economy, and weight reduction to improve dynamics. “Nurturing the creativity of young people is a fundamental strategy in every walk of life,” Ferrari chairman Luca di Montezemolo said after the prize-giving ceremony. “The Ferrari World Design Contest represents a window that we want to keep open on the world and the creative energy of the next generation. I saw at first hand the many genuinely innovative ideas that these talented youngsters sent us and could feel the enormous passion and commitment that had gone into them.

The mainstay of the BMW range has been given some extra weapons to take into what has become a close-fought battle.For 35 years, the 3 Series has been the benchmark for the prestige medium-sized field - and last year notched up 37 per cent of BMW's sales here. But in recent times it's had to fight harder against the Audi A4 and sales leader Mercedes-Benz C-Class - which launched a new assault last month. That doesn't worry BMW, spokesman Toni Andreevski says."We're very happy with how the 3 Series has performed in the segment over the past 36 years," he says. "We don't pay attention to a few months' worth of sales figures."However the 3 Series has recently been well-positioned to claw back some territory with package and price adjustments.The main attention in the range has been given to the 325i sedan tested here, which has wiped $5000 off the price tag and added nearly the same amount in extra kit by making the Innovations package standard - giving you premium nav, voice control, high-beam assist bi-xenon headlights with washers, and power folding exterior mirrors with anti-dazzle function.That gives the 325i a price of $71,900 for the manual, and a 'more for less' benefit of 11 per cent. But it's worth shopping it against the $59,700 BMW 320d and looking at adding in the extra spec options - thus saving 2.5L/100km with the diesel's better economy while getting the extra torque benefit.The $67,900 C-Class C 250 and $69,300 A4 2.0T quattro both have less power but more torque than the 325i. They also have slightly more boot space, and the Audi wins in usable rear seat room - something to consider if the kids are growing.It's a handsome body and face, but not outlandish. And that means while there's a new look coming next year, the current one will still look good in traffic for a while to come. The interior is a different matter, where even the contrast of real metal accents against the dark dash of our test car wasn't enough to prevent it feeling outdated.We liked the roomy boot, but would have welcomed better design for storage around the cabin. The door pockets are miserly, the multi-level centre console bin is annoying and the pop-out dash cupholders - which position your coffee for the optimum trajectory toward your lap - are just plain scary.The 325i gets a 2.5-litre inline six-cylinder with 160kW of power and 250Nm of torque put to the rear wheels via either a six-speed manual, or the six-speed auto on the test car.Worth comment - since it used to be commented on so adversely - is the nav, entertainment and information 'command central' iDrive system, which has over time been simplified and become much more user-friendly.It's got five crash-rating stars, six airbags and any number of safe-tech acronyms. But no spare - which is not a problem with the run-flat tyres as long as you stay within city limits. Pot(hole) luck in the country.The 325i is far from the most powerful in the line-up - that gong of course goes to the M3 end of the range -- and it's not the most economical. But it's also far from being the runt of the litter, and for those who want to stick to a middle-position petrol engine it offers a good prospect.There's enough torque on offer to tickle it along respectably, and the majority of buyers will never be dissatisfied with the reserves. The ride is a good balance between cushioned compliance and a dose of firmness that avoids wallowing, and the cabin's level of hush probably has official librarian approval.But the real pleasures of the car are in the driving. While the M3 will out-track it, the 325i offers great everyday handling, responsive steering and a smooth-shifting automatic transmission.Whether you're crawling in the city, or cruising in the country, this car will keep you comfortable and contented.

And now it’s returned there, after a five-year fling with wine brand Rosemount. Australian Fashion Week and its offshoot event – the Sydney Fashion Festival – will be branded once again with the German prestige carmaker, which previously sponsored it for 16 years in Australia and also has similar gala events in the edgy fashion capitals of Berlin and New York.  The new sponsorship will start in August with the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Festival Sydney. "As the founding naming rights partner of Australian Fashion Week in 1996, we are excited to once again align our brand with this premier industry event and continue to strengthen our brand’s global commitment to fashion. We look forward to a successful Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Australia and Mercedes-Benz Fashion Festival Sydney partnership, celebrating the continued pursuit of Australia's design excellence,” the carmaker’s general manager of marketing, Gavin Allen says.

A UK Top Gear host famously reviewed the Nissan Micra while wearing a paper bag over his head. The car in question was an eye-gouging pink, which alone was enough reason to go incognito. And it was also a few years ago, when a Micra in any colour was a bad idea.But there’s no shame in being seen in the current Micra. It’s true the little car has its faults. However, you have to weigh them up against its good points: economy, space and -- in the base model -- price.We tested the $12,990 manual base model and then skipped over the $14,990 mid-range ST-L to the $16,990 Ti ($18,990 as tested with the $2000 auto option).That’s not cheap, compared to the rivals – mainly the $11,990 Chery J1 and Suzuki Alto, and even the Barina Spark comes in at $500 less.It had a strong competitor in the Hyundai Getz, but the little Korean is leaving the battlefield. However the Micra could face an even stronger on in the new Kia Rio, which arrives in September armed with fresh new looks and attitude.But the Micra currently argues well on equipment, with the base model getting a respectable amount of safety kit, height-adjustable driver’s seat, Bluetooth, remote central locking and MP3/CD audio system with controls on the steering wheel.The instrument panel curiously offers ‘personalised anniversary, birthday and New Year reminders’ which raises the question of whether people too vague to register the end of a year should be behind a wheel at all. But it does explain why all sorts of warning chimes, bleeps and blips are standard.Upper spec ditches the steel wheels for alloys – and a full-sized spare – and adds power-folding mirrors, climate-control for the airconditioning, reverse parking sensors and a driver’s armrest that was so annoying we punched it in frustration.However the top-spec’s price has to be shopped against contenders like the $16,690 Volkswagen Polo, $16,990 Ford Fiesta and $16,990 Mazda2, all three of which leave it eating dust in terms of both value and verve.The Micra’s looks have calmed down over the years, but it’s still a tallish pod with front and rear lines that slope steeply away. But it no longer has the little ‘buds’ on the headlights for you to tell where the front corners are, and you really have to crane over the dash to see where the bonnet disappears – before you bury it into something.Dash design is good, with the oversized – and probably iPod-inspired airconditioning controls adding a bit of funkiness.Storage spaces are at a premium, with a tiny glove box and miserly door pockets, while the little nooks in the centre console don’t take much, and the storage space in the front passenger seat only works if you’re flying solo. Luckily, the cargo area is generous, and with the rear seats down almost cavernous for a car this size.However the main let-down is the poor impression left by touchpoints like the steering wheel and seats – all of which are hard and feel cheap. The driver’s seat gets a flip-down armrest that was so annoyingly positioned we punched it in frustration.The base model ST gets a 56kW/100Nm 1.2-litre three-cylinder, which claims 5.9L/100km with the standard five-speed manual and 6.5L/100km with the optional four-speed automatic.The ST-L and Ti get a 75kW/136Nm 1.5-litre four-cylinder with fuel figures posted at 6.5L for the manual and 6.6L for the auto.Suspension is McPherson strut and stabiliser bar at the front and torsion beam with springs at the rear. And some corners have been cut with the brakes, which are front discs but rear drums at all spec levels.It does well at this price level with six airbags, dynamic control and anti-skid brakes with brake assist for panic stops and brakeforce distribution to send more anchor to the corners that need it.The Micra hasn’t been crash-tested in Australia, but in Europe get four stars.The first thing you notice is how much headroom the Micra offers, even in the rear pew. However passengers back there don’t get much legroom unless the front seats are set forward.We suspected we’d prefer the Ti’s 1.5-litre engine – so no shock there. But we were surprised to find the base model’s 1.2-litre wasn’t an outright woofer.Granted, it was better on the flat and struggled on hills, especially with more than two people, but if you were unhurried about the slopes it got there eventually.Its downside was that when you needed to rev it – which was often – the lack of sound damping meant you got an earful of noise. And not the good kind.The larger engine was our clear favourite, even with the four-speed auto. Again, steep slopes gave it a bit of pause – you had to throw it back into second gear on some hills -- but these were the kind that joggers set as a training challenge.Otherwise it punted the Micra’s light weight around with ease. Coupled with a manual transmission to stoke it along, this engine could offer up even more enthusiasm.The steering is light but with acceptable feel for a city bug, and with a satisfying return to centre. The wheels at far corners help with dynamics, letting you flick the little body around easily – and parking is naturally a cinch.But both our test cars fared poorly in the noise assessment. The manual had some unpleasant sounds coming from around the rear underfloor (possibly wheel bearings) while the rear roof spoiler on the Ti added a chorus to the wind noise from the front on both.The Micra range is pitched at the budget-conscious city dweller, and – graded on the curve – it’s a good little jigger for the job.But if Nissan spent a few more dollars on softening both the noise intrusion and the touchpoints, it would be twice the car it is now.As it stands, the base model is a good price, but not a good car, while the auto Ti is underdone when shopped against the competition.

Late last year they wowed the 2010 Australian International Motor Show crowd with the Jaffa – a bright orange C63 AMG. This year they’ve rolled out the attention-getting livery again. On a Smart Fortwo. Christened the Jaffette – of course -- the juicy limited edition is being offered with a ‘night orange’ pack that includes sports steering wheel and gear shift know in black nappa leather, matt-finish and black accents and orange stitching and trim strips. The package has a total value of $4800 but adds only $2800 to the normal price $19,990 of the Fortwo mhd (micro-hybrid drive), making a RRP of $22,790. The little city car’s stop-start mhd system makes it one of the lowest emission petrol vehicles for sale in Australia with a C02 rating of 100g/km and a combined fuel consumption of 4.4L/100km). Mercedes-Benz sees the car as a close relation to Jaffa, and has ordered in a crate of 15. “ We got a fantastic response to our bright orange C63 AMG known as “Jaffa” last year at AIMS,” managing director Horst von Sanden says. “Whilst the ‘night orange’ smart fortwo has significantly less power than the “Jaffa” it has 100% of its street presence. It was a no-brainer for us to order 15 for Australia. It is truly a sibling of Jaffa.”

Lexus has rolled out a special Nurburgring-inspired version of the CT 200h hybrid for the Australian International Motor Show. But it will be gone in a couple of days. Inspired by the 2.4L hybrid CT that competed in the Nurburgring 24-Hour endurance race, the show car features polished quad exhausts, extra body kit in the form of front lip spoilers and rear air diffuser, 18-in alloy wheels, and rides on a modified suspension that slings it 20mm lower than the standard car. Lexus Australia chief executive Tony Cramb says the CT 200h Concept be a litmus test of public reaction. "The Australian International Motor Show gives us the perfect opportunity to engage with potential customers and assess their reaction," said Mr Cramb. "There are elements of the CT 200h Concept that are currently under evaluation by Lexus for introduction into the local market."

The company’s general manager of overseas sales and marketing, Mitsuro Takada, apologises for the delay. “We would like to express our gratitude at offers of assistance from Australia,” he said.“It is a key market for Subaru and the delay in the 2012 Impreza is disappointing.”When it does arrive the Impreza promises more space from the same footprint.The 2012 models now rides on a bigger wheelbase but the overall dimensions are virtually unchanged from the previous cars.The growth in wheelbase has added 50mm to rear seat legroom, along with more space for hips and shoulders, and let the engineers fit bigger doors front and rear to improve getting in and out of the cars.The bigger interiors are wrapped in new soft-touch plastics and a central infotainment systems handles the in-car controls. The 2-litre boxer engine produces 110kW/196Nm and is matched to a continuously variable transmission or six-speed manual. The side mirrors have been moved from the A-pillars to the doors and are nearly 25 per cent bigger.The sedan’s boot arms are now repositioned within the boot interior trim to stop them hitting items when the boot is fully loaded.The final Australian specs have yet to be set, but the US entry level model has power windows, door locks and side mirrors, a 60/40-split/fold rear seat, outside temperature gauge, a multi-function display with fuel economy information, remote keyless entry, security system with engine immobilizer, tilt/telescopic steering wheel, variable intermittent windscreen wipers and a low windscreen washer fluid warning light.Stepping up the range adds alloy wheels, steering wheel-mounted audio and Bluetooth controls and connections for iPods, USB sticks and a 3.5mm audio jack.Subaru expects the 2012 models to be more fuel efficient than the current car but it is yet to undergo ADR fuel consumption testing.

The Korean carmaker will bring the rear-wheel drive Hyundai Genesis coupe, but not the sedan version, global CEO and president Steve S Yang says. "The right-hand-drive coupe will be available for Australia and other RHD countries," he says. "But at the moment we don't have any plans for the RHD Genesis sedan." Yang says the decision was based on the business case of numbers for the sedan. "We are trying our best to meet the customers' needs all over the world but we have to think about profitability," he says. "We know there is a market for the right-hand sedan in Australia, and maybe Singapore, Hong Kong and  South Africa. But in total, how many of the right-hand drive (Genesis sedan) do you think we can sell? Maybe we can sell 1000 to 2000 in Australia." The right-hand drive Genesis coupe program would fit well with Hyundai's move to attract a younger and more upmarket profile. Hyundai Australia spokesman Ben Herschmann says it is far too early to indicate what spec the Genesis Coupe might have in Australia. Overseas the 2+2 coupe is offered with either a 157kW/302Nm turbo- charged four-cylinder or a 228kW/361Nm 3.3-litre V6 engine. Current transmission choices are a six-speed manual or a six-speed ZF auto.