Articles by Kevin Hepworth

Hot on the heels of the LFA supercar the company once defined by its oh-so refined yet oh-so restrained philosophy has snuck a stunning rendition of its IS-F sportscar into the Tokyo Auto Salon to stand alongside some of the wildest after-market makeovers in the world.The Circuit Club Sports Concept — or CCS — is an in-house project from Lexus that concentrates on lifting the IS-F to a new level of visual graphics without changing the core mechanical package that already marked the V8 IS-F as a watershed in the Lexus philosophy."IS-F kicked off Lexus' entire sports and performance portfolio and we are looking forward to how the mindset behind it and LFA will shape our vehicles in the future," says Lexus Australia's new chief executive Tony Cramb.  "The IS-F CCS Concept is a great-looking vehicle and should Lexus ever consider such a vehicle for production, it would definitely be on our list."It is surely no accident that the bright orange and carbon fibre treatment of the CCS almost mirrors what BMW did with its track-only M3 GTS which was unveiled in Germany late last year.  While the CCS is designated as a ‘reference vehicle’ the show car is only a few simple steps away from at least a limited production run.It sits on exactly the same rear-wheel drive sports platform as the IS-F and boasts the same 311kW and 505Nm 5-litre V8 powerplant driving through an eight-speed transmission.  With a highlighted carbon fibre bonnet, roof, boot and rear wing along with much of the interior the CCS tips the scales around 25kg lighter than the donor car's 1715kg  not a lot in the world of racetrack trimming but importantly, the carbon fibre boot, bonnet and roof all work to lower the centre of gravity.There is also a stiffer track-tuned suspension package, huge carbon ceramic brakes, lightweight 19-inch forged magnesium wheels, a mechanical limited slip differential and a titanium sports exhaust system.  Lexus proudly points out that the CCS draws heavily on processes pioneered in the development of the LFA supercar, although the company doesn't specify just what has trickled down to the track baby.Cramb says the IS-F CCS is an exciting but logical extension of the marque's inclusion of sports philosophy in the more mainstream models.  "I've joined Lexus at a time when it is gearing up for some of the most exciting product in the brand's history — headlined by the LFA supercar," Cramb says."Lexus' commitment to performance inspired product is already evident in vehicles such as the IS250 F Sport and the LS460 Sports. Looking ahead, performance and hybrid vehicles offer a real opportunity for Lexus in Australia."  The first half of 2010 is expected to be a quiet time for Lexus with only minor product upgrading, including the refresh of the LX570 this month and a facelift for the luxury long-wheelbase LS 600hL hybrid in March.Lexus will have to wait until 2011 before the next round of halo cars arrive, the LFA and the Prius-based hatchback based on the LF-Ch Frankfurt concept.

Audi's one-niche-at-a-time drive to market leadership continued apace for the new year with the arrival of the A5 Sportback.  The five-door, coupe-styled four-seater joins the Cabriolet and Coupe models in the A5 line-up to tick of yet another niche in a market that threatens as many gap-fillers as it promises core models."When I first drove this car I was very, very excited by what it promised," Audi Australia's outgoing managing director Joerg Hofmann said at this week's national launch of the new car. "Then when we began to look at volume expectations it became obvious that the A5 Sportback had the potential to be very significant for us."Sales and marketSo significant that Audi is predicting the Sportback will account for around 1000 sales a year, or almost half of all the A5 volume when it goes on sale on February 1. That will be a significant boost towards the company's stated goal of a record 12,000 sales in 2010."There is no real competitor for this car in the Australian market," Audi's general manager for marketing, Immo Buschmann, says. "This car has real substance and will appeal to sedan buyers who want a car with coupe-like styling yet are not willing to give up the space offered by a sedan."Buyers will, however have to give up a fifth seat as the Sportback — like the coupe from which it has been stretched by some 86mm — is a dedicated four-seater, albeit with a generous amount of shoulder space for the rear seat passengers.Drivetrains and pricesThe A5 Sportback will launch as two models In Australia, 2.0 TFSI and 3.0 TDI — both with quattro all-wheel-drive and 7-speed S-tronic dual-clutch automatic gearbox. The petrol TFSI carries a sticker price of $78,400 while the 3-litre diesel will hit showroom floors at $89,100.Adaptive damping is available on the TFSI for an additional $3500 while the TDI offers an optional full driver select package (sport differential, adaptive damping and dynamic steering) for $7600.EquipmentWhile both models come well specified with the full complement of electronic safety aids and eight airbags, leather trim and quality entertainment systems the very necessary reversing camera remains an option at $1165 while satellite navigation is an additional $4550.DrivingOn the road the A5 Sportback is ... well, it's an A5.  If you were led blindfolded to the car and set behind the wheel you would be hard pressed to distinguish the dynamics of the Sportback from its syblings, particularly the Coupe.The cabin, while snug an encompassing, is not claustrophic with ample head, shoulder and leg room for all four passengers. Luggage space is generous with 480 litres available in standard trim, increasing to 980 litres with the rear seats folded.  The A5 is a car you want to drive. It feels well-engineered and it is.An almost exclusive use of aluminium for the suspension components, in turn mounted to an aluminium sub-frame, reduce the unsprung weight giving a lower centre of gravity and noticeable poise. Combined with the body rigidity provided by five grades of steel through to ultra high strength the Sportback has a comforting feel of solidity and balance.The direct injection petrol TFSI is good for 155kW of power and a very handy 350Nm of torque across a vast rev range from 1500rpm through to 4200rpm. That wide band of maximum urge allows the TFSI to stay within its optimum performance range without undue hunting for ratios and almost demands the car be driven enthusiastically.Throttle response is good and there is a real willingness of the front end to turn into corners, hunker down with prodigious grip and then launch out of the apex as the quattro drive balances up in readiness for the next change of direction.The 3-litre TDI offers pretty much the same capability — only moreso. The oil-burner's 176kW and 500Nm gives the Sportback a 0-100km/h sprint of 6.1 seconds — half a second quicker than the TFSI — while promising fuel efficiency of just 6.6L/100km. That makes the A5 Sportback TDI the 23rd Audi model to benefit from the government's lower luxury car tax incentives for vehicles using 7.0L or less per 100km.Part of the fuel efficiency — the TFSI claims 7.5L/100km — is due to the recuperative energy system fitted to the A5 Sportback whereby energy is recovered during braking and coasting to be stored temporarily in the battery. That stored energy is called on during acceleration to ease load on the engine resulting in a fuel saving of up to 3 per cent.The A5 line-up will be completed towards the middle of the year with the arrival of the S5 Sportback, unveiled at the Frankfurt Motor Show last year. The 3-litre TFSI powered S5 is expected to carry a sticker price of around $130,000.Audi A5 SportbackPrice: from $78,400 (2.0 TFSI) to $89,100 (3.0 TDI)Engine: 2L/4-cylinder 155kW/350Nm; 3L/V6 turbo diesel 175kW/500NmTransmission: 7-speed S-Tronic dual clutch automaticEconomy: 7.5L/100km (TFSI), 6.6L/100km (TDI)

From the threat of global annihilation for some of the world's biggest players to redemption and the promise of a brighter future. From the release of the world's cheapest car to the latest versions of some of the world's most expensive marques. And from Green to Blue, everybody was getting on the eco bandwagon. Even in the volatile world of automotive manufacturing, 2009 has been an adrenaline-fuelled roller coaster. As the year winds down, the Carsguide team takes a look at some of the more extraordinary, exciting and promising moments and happenings that made up the year just gone. The Global Financial Crisis There was no hiding from the effects of this one. While every company across the world felt the shift it was the Big Three Americans that took centre stage. Chrysler, Ford and General Motors were all facing obliteration in the face of skyrocketing debt, poor sales and — many claim — even worse company practice. Ultimately all three have survived to fight another year with GM taking the most amazing journey into Chapter 11 bankruptcy and out the other side within weeks as a re-financed, re-organised and far more tightly-controlled business unit. One of the global sidelights was Porsche playing the markets in a brazen bid to buy the giant Volkswagen Group, before being award an honours degree in hubris when VW, tired of the silliness and bought the iconic sportscar manufacturer instead. For Australia the year started out looking like an unmitigated sales disaster but will finish higher than any of the major players had dared dream about. There is no doubt that the auto-specific benefits in the Federal Government's incentive package of tax benefits and buyer bonuses driven by local manufacturers Holden, Ford and Toyota have played a major role in the buoyancy of the local new car market. The Chinese invasion The on-again, off-again launch of Chinese cars into the Australian market was finally resolved this year with the arrival of the first Great Wall products, a pair of bargain utes. As foreshadowed by critics the utes scored a poor two-star safety rating in crash test but still sold reasonably well on their basement pricing. The first of the passenger models, an SUV based on the same platform, is also in the market and there is much more to follow. Like the Korean cars of 20 years ago the Chinese models lag way behind their competitors on many fronts but they will improve quickly and they are here to stay. Safe and Sound Not before time and with the shadow of government mandates looming the car companies that have been dragging their feet on arguably the most significant safety advance since the seatbelt, electronic stability control, are seeing the light. No longer just for the benefit of buyers of luxury cars ESP or whatever the acronym is used will be a standard component of every new car sold in Australia within a couple of years. A worthy epitaph for 2009. Show time Finally, common sense prevailed between the warring motor show factions in Australia and the decision was made to have one gala Australian International Motor Show a year alternating between Sydney and Melbourne. There is still a little tidying up needed around the edges — a common date and Sydney getting away from Darling Harbour and out to the Homebush Bay precinct would be good but the future looks bright. Shiny and New There may have been an economic crisis but that didn't stop the roll-out of another bumper crop of new models. Holden can rightly claim the biggest surprise of the year with their Korean-made Cruze sedan. The mid-sized sedan has been a runaway success, stunning even the GM marketeers who had no idea of the level of acceptance the little car would enjoy. Suzuki set a benchmark with the tiny Alto, bravely opening up the batting in the sub-micro segment where several other manufacturers are planning to venture in the coming months. The Alto's hero act came during the Global Green Challenge drive from Darwin to Adelaide when the 3-cylinder petrol car dropped into 2L/100km economy on the final city stage. There was plenty of noise during the year as well on the electric car front with Mitsubishi ploughing ahead with plans to have the i-Miev available in limited numbers in 2011. Hybrids also gained further traction with pioneers Toyota unveiling the latest generation of its Prius and rolling out the first of its locally built hybrid Camry. Honda is aiming at having its hybrid Insight available next year while Hyundai is also exploring the mild electric pathway. Globally, Indian manufacturer Tata gave the world the modern answer to the VW Beetle, the tiny Nano people's car with a price tag of around $3000. Plans are already under way for the car to be sold in Europe and possibly Australia. In the world of mainstream motoring VW's Golf has dominated the awards season with win after win around the world, while at the top of the market a couple of the world's most focussed sports car manufacturers felt the need to add some extra seats with Porsche's Panamera and Aston Martin's Rapide following Maserati into the four-door luxury sports market. Rev Me Up Mark Webber's win in the German Grand Prix at the famous Nurburgring — the first for an Australian in 28 years — saw a monkey bigger than King Kong climb off the Queanbeyan racer's back. In a scenario not unusual for any Australian overseas, Webber has not only had to overcome average teams and even more average cars but a good percentage of his home fans nay-saying his ability after 131 F1 starts without a win. Just to prove it wasn't an accident, he backed it up by winning in Brazil towards the end of the year.  

Even better, it will plot the greenest route for any trip to minimise fuel consumption and harmful emissions.  Well, this car is coming. And coming fast.It is the focus of a major research project at Swinburne University of Technology in Melbourne that also involves many major Australian automotive companies, including GM Holden.  "The objective is that the car can help you to do your work," says Jun Han, professor of software engineering at Swinburne."The key objective is yes, to make the car connected . . . and to have all the information available and at the same time reduce driver distractions. The information is only available when you need it and when you asked for it."  He says cars will soon be bombarded by information from wireless networks over every road and route, as well as the same satellite connections used for navigation.They will also be linked to work and home computer networks for things such as calendars and contacts, allowing the driver and passenger access to an incredible range of information and "The car can talk to anything. Wirelessly or whatever. And there will also be vehicle-to-vehicle communication," Han says.The result is a new generation of interactive information systems that allow cars to do the thinking for you.  "Some cars already have certain fixed systems, like weather reports or traffic information. There will be a much broader range of services."Han says the systems could be operating in less than five years, once cars are equipped with the hardward to tap the information superhighway. Swinbourne already has pilot cars and is working towards a major on-road trial with up to 200 cars.  "It won't be too long. In Australia we are doing it, and in Europe particularly they are doing it," he says."I would imagine three to five years. The basic technology and connectivity is there. It's a matter of the software that's really to locate the services and do the intelligent matching.  "You can just add another board under the dashboard and it can happen. It doesn't have to be new cars. We are working to integrate sensibly with the current electronics in a car."The Swinburne project is part of of the work being done by Australia’s Co-operative Research Centre for Advanced Automotive Technology on  ‘context aware’ systems for cars, culminating in vehicles that are constantly working for and with their driver. "If your car knows when the fuel is low, it will link it up to the petrol stations. And link to your loyalty program," Han says."The current hot topic is emissions and CO2. So if you know where the traffic is, you might choose the best route in terms of carbon emissions. It might not be the best route for time, but best for the environment."  Hans says there is no plan to take control of the car, but to make travel easier and less distracting."You still drive the car around to get from A-to-B. We want to reduce the workload but also the distraction."  Han can also see beyond intelligent systems for cars to a transport network that involves cars, trains, trams, buses, trucks and even systems managing pedestrians.  “This would lead to greater transport efficiency and safety, while at the same time reduce vehicle emissions on a city-wide basis,” he says.

The car which will replace the current Sonata in Australia early next year was unveiled to the US public at the Los Angeles Auto Show badged as a Sonata but the Australian arm of the Korean manufacturer is doggedly referring to its next Aussie model as the ‘YF’ and ‘Sonata replacement’."This is the car that will become our new mid-sized model next year, and it is one we are very excited about," Hyundai Australia's Ben Hershman says. "There has been no decision made on how the YF will be badged for Australia.  "That is something our marketing people are still working through with Korea."While nobody at Hyundai is about to go on the record, behind the scenes the Australian operation is frantically working to convince head office to allow the car to be badged as the i40 for the Australian market to continue the alpha-numeric nomenclature that has worked so well with the i30 and will include the ix35 replacement for the Tucson soft-roader and the i20 small car next year.The issue is that a second string of Sonata replacements has been developed for the European market where the sportswagon-style model will be badged as an i40 when it launches late next year.  Sonata has not been the best-accepted Hyundai nameplate in Australia and the last thing the company wants is to launch what could be another runaway success with the baggage of a decade of buyer indifference.Using the Sonata name could also lead to further confusion should Australia elect to take the European-styled car as a model derivative further down the track a distinct possibility?  The coupe-like YF unveiled for the Korean market in September and then put on show in Los Angeles is an attractive four-door with high-end European looks that came out of Hyundai's California design studio.The car is styled around what Hyundai calls "fluidic sculpture", a design language that will increasingly find its way into the entire Hyundai range.  Speaking at the Los Angeles unveiling, Hyundai Motor Company President and CEO, S.S Yang, posed the questions that are central to Hyundai's marketing of the company's new-generation cars."The (new) Sonata represents a modern approach to the traditional midsize sedan segment by using only advanced four-cylinder engines, emotional design and luxury features offered with Hyundai's strong value proposition," Yang said. "The Sonata poses some intriguing questions: Why can't a smart, solid sedan also have modern, sleek, sophisticated style? Why pay so much to get a taste of luxury? Why can't an efficient four-cylinder engine give V6 power?"In contrast to most of its competitors the YF/Sonata will launch with an all four-cylinder engine range with the most likely choice for Australia the new 2.4-litre Theta II direct injection unit that boasts 150kW, 245Nm and fuel economy of around 7L/100km. Drive will be through a pair of new six-speed gearboxes although there is no word on the double-clutch automatic that Hyundai has been developing and highlighted at the Geneva Motor Show earlier this year.By the end of next year there is also expected to be available in the model line a 2-litre direct injection turbocharged diesel and a Hybrid Blue Drive  a conventional parallel hybrid system but using the latest in lithium-ion battery technology from the company's association with LG.Specification and pricing for Australia is still under discussion but the Sonata/YF will be available in the US market with an extensive range of luxury items and accessories including satellite radio, real-time traffic navigation updates, data connectivity, HD radio, Bluetooth, touch-screen navigation and iPod/USB inputs.  A major bonus for Australia is that local ride and handling engineers have been working alongside the project team to ensure that the latest Sonata's suspension and steering is to Australian tastes.Hyundai Sonata/YF/i40On Sale: May (est)Price: from $31,000 (est)Engine: 2.4L/4-cylinder direct injection, 150kW/245NmTransmission: 6-speed manual, 6-speed automaticEconomy: 7L/100km

Porsche engineers have carved away at the basic Boxster to slash 80kgs off the bottom line before re-inventing it as the new Boxster Spyder, the ‘purist's form of the Porsche sports car’.Weighing in at just 1275kg in its international trim the Spyder is the lightest car in the Porsche garage, an outcome which Porsche claims gives it the heart and soul of the legendary 550 Spyder — the car in which James Dean took his last ride on September 30, 1955.However, Porsche Australia will be putting back in at least 15kg in deference to the Aussie love of comfort and cool air.  "Our cars will have a considerably higher standard specification level than those in other markets," Porsche Australia's Paul Ellis explains. "Air-conditioning will be standard as will the entertainment system. Our customers expect a richer mix in their cars."Australian pricing hasn't been finalised yet with the 5 per cent tariff reduction still to be factored in to the mix before the car goes on sale next May, however it will carry an 8 per cent premium over the Boxster S and best estimates have the launch price for the 6-speed manual at around $145,000.For that car comes with a seriously focussed sports attitude, a manual soft-top roof that encourages owners to leave it stashed away in the boot and a road presence that turns heads wherever it goes. The 3.4-litre flat six engine is tuned to Cayman output with 235kW and 370Nm which, in its lightest incarnation, can get the Syder from standstill to 100km/h in 4.8 seconds utilising the 7-speed PDK gearbox and Sports Plus engine mapping.In the United States the same car — less the airconditioning, radio and a few other treats — will sell for $US61,200.  Porsche Australia expects to sell between 30 and 40 of the Spyders a year on what is conceded to be a short model run."The car is not a limited edition but, like the GT2, it is a special paying homage to the great Spyders of the past and there is no guarantee that there would be a Spyder version of the next generation of Boxster," Ellis says.

Not just any young man and not just any car. Twenty-seven year old Bill Buckle had been living the dream in Britain, dabbling in motorsport, following the F1 circuit and feeding his interest in cars in general. "I had always had an interest in motorsport and cars, my father had an automotive business and I grew up around cars," Buckle recalls. "I had been following the F1 and looking at various things and I saw some of the fibreglass specials they built there and I thought they were pretty crappy and I could do better. I came back and talked the directors of Buckle Motors into letting me do it ... and we did it." The Buckle GT Tourer was under way. Buckle built a full-size plaster model on which to mold the fibreglass shell which would sit on a box chassis designed by then relatively unknown Aussie mechanic and designer Ron Tauranac, the man who was to go on to be the genius behind the famous Brabham Formula One cars. "We settled on a 2.5-litre Ford Zephyr engine, initially because Ford would sell us new parts where Holden wouldn't. I am glad we settled on Ford because I believe they were the better engines." Buckle's dream saw 25 of the sleek 2+2 rear-wheel drive GT cars built before the uphill struggle of getting his unknown local product out into the market began to tell. "Every one knows it is hard to sell an unknown brand against names like Austin Healey, MG, Triumph ... even though I had every hill climb record and race circuit record on the East Coast for GT cars. And it was a nice coupe with a big boot and big fuel tank that went like hell." By 1958 Buckle had moved on to start importation of partial CKD Goggomobils for which he would build a local fibreglass body. Starting with a sedan version of the Goggo, followed by a coupe, Buckle then hit upon the model that was to become part of automotive legend. "The Dart was the third model we did here. I decided it was easier to build a body that you didn't have to have doors with a real simple little thing and it just clicked. We couldn't build them quick enough." Despite the popularity of the Dart, Goggomobil faded from the scene and Buckle was left facing a harsh reality. "When I finished doing the Buckles and then Goggomobil, Buckle Motors which was my father's business, but he had died when I was 19 sort of fell over because the guys running it when I was doing all this building cars and motorsport didn't really have their eye on the ball. "Then I had to get out and make a dollar so I didn't worry too much about the cars I had built. That is when I started Bill Buckle Autos at Brookvale which finished up to be a pretty big dealership." Buckle says he all but lost track of his clutch of cars, except for one which was offered to him by an acquaitance who worked for finance company AGC which had repossessed the car in the late 1960s. "My son, Bill junior, pulled it apart and then probably went surfing or something and a lot of it sat in boxes at one of our factories. When we had a move from there somebody had a look at the boxes, didn't know what it was and threw it all out." That almost sealed the fate of the car which sat unlamented in various warehouses and garages for almost 40 years until Buckle's interest in his cars was reignited by a chance meeting just weeks ago. "I had to give a talk at the Powerhouse Museum a couple of weeks ago about building cars in Australia 50 years ago," Buckle says. "They have had a Goggomobil Dart for years and I have a couple of nice ones so they thought it would be good if we could get a Buckle there as well. "I rang this bloke and he agreed to bring his Buckle down from Lithgow. When I saw it it was just so beautiful and I thought then that I should really own this as I am not getting any younger. So I made the bloke an offer he couldn't refuse and got the car." Buckle says that there was a lot of satisfaction in getting a prime example of one of his cars back, but there were some initial nerves involved in bringing it back to Sydney. "The funny part is that I drove it back from Lithgow with some apprehension but after a couple of kilometres I was absolutely at home. It doesn't rattle, it drives properly, it goes around corners, it stops and there is plenty of grunt." Since getting his "new" Buckle, interest has been revived in the almost forgotten ghost in the garage. "When I bought this (new) car I got a few extra parts and I've sourced quite a lot of other parts so I think I will now finish restoring the one we have been sitting on for the past 40 years." Buckle concedes that the original plan to build his car was "probably a bit more passion than commonsense" but there is still an enormous sense of satisfaction in what he achieved. "When I saw the car at the Powerhouse Museum I immediately thought `Did I build something as beautiful as that?' Even today they are a pretty good looking thing." Buckle GT Tourer Price new: 1875 pounds Price now: $40,000 (show condition) Years built: 1956-1959 Number built: 25  

The claimed 5.7L/100km efficiency from the high-tech manual-only 2.2-litre turbo diesel will make the Mazda 3 sedan and hatch the most fuel miserly models in Mazda's Australian range

Add a few key accessories and not only is it back, but it’s on the favourites list.  Using the tried-and-true fashion strategy VW has brushed off its local Jetta range, added a couple of key engines and a range of fresh and upgraded trims and put the ‘Golf with a boot’ back out into the market to go head-to-head with the Mazda Mazda6, Ford Mondeo and Subaru Liberty."The changes are a combination of some new engines and models that came available to us from Europe and our desire to adjust and reposition the model range for Australia," Volkswagen Group Australia spokesman Karl Gehling says.  "There are now five engine options, a range of new features and the entry price now starts at $28,990 for the new 1.6-litre diesel."DrivetrainsThe 77kW 1.6-litre turbo diesel, coupled to a 5-speed manual ($28,990) or 7-speed DSG automatic ($31,490), is one of two new powerplants in the Jetta range, the other being the high-end 125kW 2.0-litre turbo diesel available with the 6-speed DSG gearbox and Highline trim only for $38,990.Gone from the previous model range is the manual version of the 103kW 2.0-litre TDI, available now only with the 6-speed DSG ($35,990). The petrol offerings start with the 118kW and 240Nm 1.4-litre twin-charger turbo/supercharged unit from the Golf coupled to the 7-speed DSG ($33,490) or 6-speed manual gearbox ($30,990).The hero engine remains the 147kW (280Nm) 2.0-litre twin-charger coupled to the 6-speed DSG and available only in Highline trim at the same $38,990 as the top diesel offering.Equipment and fit-outApart from the new engines and price repositioning the changes to the model line-up are all to do with trim and cosmetics. There are no external metal changes to set the 2010 cars apart but trainspotters will be able to identify a unique range of alloys for the Jetta along with the addition of front and rear parking sensors.Inside the cabin the parking sensor improvements flow through to a graphic display in either the radio head-unit screen or the navigation screen. The steering wheel from the new Golf VI has been included as a standard fit along with a restyled instrument cluster and a selection of richer trim options.The cabin is as comfortable and spacious as it has always been with the seats a good compromise between sports support and comfort and space generous in the front and adequate for two good-sized adults in the rear.  One of the biggest surprises in the Jetta is the huge boot space available. For a mid-sized sedan the luggage capacity is cavernous — and can bed increased to even higher levels through the split-fold rear seats.Standard features across the range include front, side and curtain airbags, stability control, electronic differential lock, anti-lock brakes with EBD, automatic hazard lights on emergency braking, central locking, heat insulating tinted glass, 16- or 17-inch alloys, tyre pressure monitor, dual-zone air-conditioning (semi-automatic in the 77TDI), stereo with MP3 compatibility and trip computer.OptionsThere is no shortage of optional extra equipment to enrich the Jetta, including metallic paint ($700), electric sunroof ($1900), satellite navigation (from $2500), leather (from $3000), bi-Xenon headlights ($1900) and sport package — including 17-inch alloys, darker tinted rear windows, front fog lamps and sports suspension — from $2000.DrivingOn the road the Jetta rides on the fifth generation Golf platform — hence the Golf-with-a-boot tag the car has worn since it was launched more than three years ago — and suffers no diminishing of the hatch's performance characteristics by the addition of the larger body.  The surprise package of the new engines is the eco-friendly 77kW diesel. The little 1.6 is a wonderfully composed unit with a truly surprising strength through the mid-range allowing it to be driven for either super-sipping economy or a more enjoyable enthusiasm without ever offending the green lobby.VW says the engine is capable of a combined cycle of 4.9L/100km in manual and 5.0L/100km through the DSG with sprint times of 12 seconds from standstill to 100km/h. It certainly feels quicker than that and the real eye-opener is how strong the engine is in the hills, holding top gear in manual quite comfortable while hauling two adults through a moderate climb.There is the almost compulsory dash-mounted flasher to suggest maximum efficiency gear changes but if you are prepared to give up a tick in economy changing gears in sympathy with the engine makes the entire experience a touch more enjoyable for the driver.VW JettaPrice: from $28,990 to $38,990Engines: 1.6L/4-cylinder turbo diesel, 77kW/250Nm; 2L/4-cylinder turbo diesel, 103kW/320Nm; 2L/4-cylinder turbo diesel 125kW/350Nm; 1.4L/4-cylinder twin-charger, 118kW/240Nm; 2L/4-cylinder twin charger, 147kW/280NmTransmission: 5-speed manual, 6-speed manual, 6-speed DSG, 7-speed DSGEconomy: 4.9L/100km (77TDI), 6.0L/100km (103TDI), 5.9L/100km (125TDI), 6.6L/100km (118TSI), 7.8L/100Km (147TSI)RivalsMazda6 (from $29,100)Ford Mondeo (from $31,990)Subaru Liberty (from $33,990)

On the boulevard of hybrid car dreams Honda's new Insight is a bit Jimmy Stewart ... a little low-rent, a little folksy and — at first glance — not the sharpest tool in the box.Featured on the same billboard as Toyota's super-slick Cary Grant of petrol-electrics, the clever and polished Prius, it would seem to be a foregone conclusion as to who is taking home the awards. The urbane Prius seemingly holds all the cards.  Yet, there is something about the down-home, common-man appeal of the Insight that — like Stewart — could be a winner with the masses.Oh, yes. And it is going to be something in the order of $10,000 cheaper than the Prius when it finally hits our shores late next year. That sort of cash advantage does a lot to spruce up a chap's appeal.Honda Australia is pushing ahead with plans to land its all-new Insight — only a distant kissing cousin of the underwhelming, overpriced model that bore the same name back in 2000 — with a benchmark sub-$30,000 price tag.  "It is going to depend on the strength of the Australian dollar when we start importing the Insight," Honda Australia senior director Lindsay Smalley says. "That was our original price plan when we first looked at the car and it is still our intention now."However, plans to get the four-seater Insight to Australia by early 2010 have been shelved and the new schedule will not see an Insight in an Australian showroom until closer to the end of next year."It's a question of supply and the popularity the Insight is enjoying in markets around the world," Smalley says while weaving an Insight through LA traffic. "We are just going to have to be patient until we can get supply.  At the top of the list is Japan, followed by the United States and Europe — and then us."It is no co-incidence that the Insight's styling, said to be driven by aerodynamic efficiency, closely mirrors that of the Prius. When the original Insight went flat and left the hybrid field to Toyota it was the shape of the car as much as the shape of the future that set the Prius apart.  It looked different and it was different. A passing glance was enough to tell the world that your social conscience was well in hand.Honda's comeback attempt in the hybrid world with the Civic was hoppled by its sameness ... apart from a little green badge there was no obvious indication that you were helping save the planet.  With the Insight that has been addressed. The car looks like what society has come to accept as a green car."There is no doubt that the Civic Hybrid lacked an immediate recognition factor for those owners who wanted it known they were driving a hybrid," Smalley says. "That is not the case with the Insight and while acceptance of hybrid technology is definitely growing, I believe even greater numbers are willing to embrace it as long as the pricing is right."To get that price advantage an Insight buyer will make concessions. The Insight's hybrid system — the fifth generation of the company's integrated motor assist (IMA) technology — is less powerful and less complex than Toyota's series parallel hybrid which allows the Prius to drive short distances on electric motor alone, something the Insight can not do.In the Insight the 1.3-litre 4-cylinder engine produces 98kW and 123Nm which is supplemented by electric motor's 10kW of power and 78Nm of torque under heavy load and hard acceleration. The fuel efficiency upshot is that the Prius will return better figures in the order of around 1-1.5L/100km which equates to around $500 a year in fuel savings.While it sounds impressive it means a Prius owner will need to drive the car 30,000km a year for 20 years to recoup the difference in purchase price.On the road the Insight owner will quickly notice where some of the savings are coming from. The car feels lighter than a Prius. The doors shut with a less satisfying solidity, hard plastics dominate the touch surfaces and the CVT gearbox and lightweight engine combine to produce a screaming cacophony when maximum acceleration is demanded.The on-centre feel of the steering is vague to the point of being disconcerting yet it weights up nicely and gives quite acceptable feedback when the going gets enthusiastic and the twists and turns more challenging.It is not all one way traffic, however. The Insight has reach adjustable steering (to go with the rake adjustment) and adjustable seat height — neither of which are offered in the Prius.  The upshot is a more real world driving position behind a dash that is well sorted and easily read.Interior space is good, if a little cramped in the rear for a full-size passenger. The boot is adequate for average requirements, although the load opening is on the narrow side and the space a little shallow.Ride quality on the MacPherson strut front suspension and H-shaped torsion beam rear is at the lower end of average on anything but freeway-smooth surfaces. With a lowered ride height for efficiency, and 15-inch rims and low rolling resistance 175/65 rubber there is plenty of information about the road surface transmitted to the cabin.There will be no compromise on safety for the Australian models with front, side and curtain airbags and stability control standard on all cars.  Smalley says the marketing plan will include two trim levels, although he says it is too early to confirm what other inclusions each model will have."They will not necessarily be the same as the two levels of Insight available in the United States. We will have our own model specifications but I can't say exactly what they will be just yet."  It is the same "too early to say" comment about sales expectations.