Articles by Mark Hinchliffe

The next generation, due here next year, has a bolder nose, more angular lines and a muscular shoulder line, replacing the soft rounded curves of the current model.In July, Australia gets a diesel Focus and a cabriolet Focus shortly after, but they are in the style of the current model.The next Focus was designed by Martin Smith who also designed the Mondeo, which will arrive here later this year.It is expected to be unveiled at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September.Meanwhile, Ford has unveiled a special sporty WRC-S version of the current model at the Barcelona Motor Show.Numbers have been limited to 666 by some savvy marketing devil and each model is signed by Ford rally star Marcus Gronholm.It is believed the 100kW Focus will be sold in Spain only. 

Audi was 123% more likely to be stolen than the average vehicle, followed by BMW (117%).However, the other German luxury brand, Mercedes-Benz was up only 19% on the average.The 2006 Suncorp statistics do not provide actual numbers, type or age of vehicle, only proportions stolen.Vehicles below the average were Volkswagen, Ford, Mitsubishi, Mazda, Kia, Peugeot, Daewoo, Nissan and the least likely to be stolen was Daihatsu.The research showed that the more expensive the vehicle, the more likely it was to be stolen.The most stolen vehicles were those in the $60,000 to $100,000 bracket, despite the fact that these have better theft protection.Suncorp also released claims information on crash frequency which shatters the theory that the better the car, the better the driver.Claims where the driver was at fault for the accident were 10 per cent more likely for cars that were worth $60,000- $100,000. Alfa drivers were 58% more likely to make an at-fault claim than the average driver.Suncorp motor insurance general manager Daniel Fogarty said the results could suggest that drivers of prestige motor vehicles may feel safer in their cars, which could lead to over-confident attitudes, resulting in more accidents occurring.“On the other hand, drivers of new prestige vehicles may feel slightly more nervous on the roads than if they were driving a mid-range car, which might potentially cause more accidents, as the financial implications of accidents are higher,” he said.One of the most common types of claims that Queensland drivers made was for a single-vehicle accident.Holden Special Vehicles drivers were 50% more likely to make a single-car accident claim, followed by Audi (49%) and Chrysler (44%).Least likely to make such a claim were Daihatsu drivers at 30% less than the average.The statistics also show that if you lend your new car to a friend or relative there is a 12% chance that they will scratch or damage it, but a 93% chance they will also own up to it. Frequency of thefts1. Audi 123%2. BMW 117%3. Jaguar 100%4. Alfa Romeo 89%5. Saab 74%Frequency of at-fault accidents1. Alfa Romeo 58%2. Proton 19%3. Mazda 13%Frequency of not at-fault accidents1. Audi 102%2. Alfa Romeo 94%3. Proton 75%Frequency of single-vehicle accidents1. HSV 50%2. Audi 49%3. Chrysler 44% Source: Suncorp claims statistics for 2006 

For the next week; the Kia Rio is the cheapest car on the market.Kia is offering several discounts and incentives in a marketing campaign that expires at the end of this month.The five-door manual 1.4-litre model is reduced $2000 to $12,990, while the 2006 1.6 EX hatch without ABS and the 2007 model with ABS are discounted $1500 to $14,490.The Sports hatch, EX sedan and EX-L sedan are not discounted, but Kia Motors Australia is giving away $1000 worth of petrol on all Rios sold before the end of the financial year.These are fine incentives, but so is driving the car.I recently tested the base model LX hatch with five-speed manual transmission and a 1.4-litre engine, as well as the top-of-the-range EX Luxury sedan with four-speed automatic transmission and a 1.6-litre engine.It is surprising how well budget cars run these days.Both these models are well built, with a good array of creature features, well-mannered road behaviour, a comfortable cabin, frugal fuel economy and satisfactory safety features.Kia Rio scores a four-star adult occupant crash rating in the Euro Ncap tests; as well as two stars for pedestrian safety and a three-star child protection rating.So the discounts and petrol incentive are simply icing on quite a palatable little cake.The 1.4 gets along quite well for such a small engine.Mated to the manual gearbox, it needs a bit of stirring off the line, but then picks up nicely.The gearbox is on the rubbery side, but easy to use with a light clutch feel and well-placed ratios. At full belt, there isn't much noise at all. The cabin is very quiet and the little engine doesn't sound like it's screaming its double overhead cam head off.The 1.6 has more oomph, but I had the auto, so it wasn't easy to compare. The four-speeder is smooth, without flaring or hunting, although it revs out a bit much in first.Brakes are on the spongy side and need a good push to get maximum stopping power. The EX-L and Sports come with ABS, while it is an $850 option on all other models.Steering is too heavily weighted to the centre and too light away from the centre. It points into corners a bit slow and gets light in the middle of the corner when pushed hard.A tight 10.1m turning circle makes it very manoeuvrable in shopping centre car parks.Surprisingly, there is not a lot of body roll from the McPherson strut front and torsion beam rear suspension; and the ride is very good for a light car.Inside there is plenty of hard plastic as you would expect from the budget model, but the build quality is high and nothing rattled or squeaked. It has powered front windows, but doesn't have powered door mirrors, which can be a nuisance.Controls all fall to hand in a natural manner. You can immediately operate the sound, air conditioning and other controls without having to check the owner's manual.The 1.6 interior has slightly classier trim, power rear windows and mirrors and that's about it. Cruise control would have been a nice addition.Seats in both models lacked support and can get uncomfortable on a long drive.Cabin room is good for five adults with plenty of legroom and wide door access.The front floor mats need fasteners because they slide dangerously under the pedals. This is almost inexcusable, despite the price.The boot in the hatch is small, but has a flat floor with no suspension intrusion and is fully carpeted, unlike some competitors. And surprise, surprise, it has a full-size spare wheel under the floor, again unlike some of its opposition.While the rear seats fold down to provide a large cargo area, they don't fold down totally flat. The cargo privacy cover is also on the flimsy side.Boot space in the sedan is big enough for a couple of large suitcases and a few other bags and the floor is again flat with carpeting throughout. However, there is no boot release.The Rio lives up to the high quality standards of its brother Korean company, Hyundai. Panel gaps are close and consistent and paint quality is lustrous with some vibrant colour options available.The LX hatch and EX hatch and sedan come with 14-inch steel wheels, while the Sports has 16-inch alloys, and the EX-L has attractive 15-inch alloys.Making the free petrol offer even more attractive is how far that $1000 will go.At today's prices that will get you a little more than 800 litres.According to Kia, the LX manual uses 6.7 litres every 100km, so that is almost 12,000km of “free” motoring.By my calculations, it was thirstier than that, but that was mainly due to my over-eager driving.Because the 1.6 auto didn't need to be revved quite as hard to get moving, it returned closer to the manufacturer's claims of 7L/100km.As fuel prices remain volatile, light cars will continue to enjoy strong sales.The Rio fits the bill with a tick in every box — economy, safety, comfort and handling.   Kia Rio LX Hatch and EX-L Sedan$12,990 (LX), $18,990 (EX-L)Engine: 3 stars1.4 and 1.6 are lively, smooth and quiet.Handling: 3 starsSmooth ride and little body roll, but vague steering.Safety: 3 starsBut two stars for the LX without ABS standardValue: 4 starsEconomical driving without having to cut too many corners on featuresTech specsBody: 5-door hatch, 4-door sedanEngines: 1.4 Litre DOHC (LX); 1.6 litre DOHC CVVT (EX-L)Power: 70kW @ 6000rpm (LX); 82kW @ 6000rpm (EX-L)Torque: 125Nm @ 4700rpm (LX); 145Nm @ 4500rpm (EX-L)Bore x Stroke: 75.5x78.1mm (LX); 76.5x87mm (EX-L)Compression: 10:1Economy: (COMBINED L/100KM): 6.7 (manual) 6.8 (auto) LX; 6.8 (manual) 7.0 (auto) EX-LEmissions: Euro IIIFuel: 45-litre tank, ULPTransmission: 5 speed manual, 4 speed automatic ($2000 option)Brakes: ventilated front disc, rear drumSuspension: McPherson strut (front), torsion beam (rear)Wheels: 14" (LX), 15" (EX-L.6), full-size spareTyres: 175/70 R14 (LX); 195/55 R15(EX-L)Dimensions (MM): 3990 (hatch length), 4240 (sedan length), 1695 (w), 1470 (h), 2500 (wheelbase)Weight: 1193kg (LX), 1181 (EX-L), (auto adds 22kg)Turning Circle: 10.1mWarranty: 3 year/100,000kmVerdict: for economy, safety, comfort and handlingAgainst: boot space, steeringOverall rating: 3 starsA practical package 

Like Mazda, Honda is keeping its model options limited, having quietly dropped its under-performing MDX luxury SUV model last year.That just leaves the strong sales performers, which have Honda in seventh place, narrowly behind Mitsubishi, despite now having only one SUV on the market.Honda Australia managing director and CEO Yasuhide Mizuno said Civic sales are up 58 per cent, Jazz 42 per cent, Accord 75 per cent and CR-V 26 per cent.Mizuno, who began on the assembly line in 1986 and has worked for Honda in bikes and cars in Japan, Thailand, Taiwan and Malaysia, says worldwide revenue last year from 3.65 million cars was $111 billion, up 12 per cent.But while there are more Honda models available overseas, Australia gets a limited seven-car line-up with the Legend luxury saloon re-introduced last year.Honda Australia senior director Lindsay Smalley says between now and 2010 they will have an update on all models, but only release three new models.The first of these is the British-built Civic Type-R hot hatch which hits the showrooms this month. The standard three-door and five-door hatches are also expected in about 18 months and the other model is possibly the seven-seater Pilot, a replacement for the MDX.“It's the same size as the MDX but more of a family large wagon rather than a luxury SUV,” Smalley said. “We haven't really studied it yet.”Smalley said diesel versions of its Accord and VR-V were a possibility when Honda introduced its cleaner generation-two diesel engines in the next two years.The Acura luxury division, like Toyota's Lexus, is also a possibility, but Smalley says it is unlikely before 2015.“We would have to be selling about 100,000 a year,” he said.Last year Honda Australia sold 56,000 unit and this year Smalley expects to sell 64,000.He said sales growth depended on getting more Honda dealers. At present they have 96 nationally, but will increase that to 125by 2010.

In May, sales were 9,571 compared with 11,145 in May 2006 and in the first five months sales were 43,997 compared with 48,496 in 2006.The ageing Falcon is the main culprit, down to 9571 in May compared with 11,145 in 2006 and 43,997 so far this year, compared with 48,496.A new Falcon is still not due for about 10 more months.But Ford Motor Company president Tom Gorman is upbeat about the future, despite declaring there is nothing that can be done to speed up the launch date for the next Falcon.At the launch last week of the Fiesta XR4 hot hatch, Gorman pointed out that light commercial vehicles were doing very well for Ford and that they had several new model launches this year that would help lift sales.“We have an exciting portfolio of product to come,” he said.That includes the diesel Focus next month, followed by a cabriolet Focus and the mid-sized European built and acclaimed Mondeo later this year.Gorman said it was important there was a comprehensive line-up for customer choice.Ford has many import options, including more diesel engines, Fiesta and Focus SUVs and more.However, import product marketing manager Jogi Shetti said it was important not to have too many model choices. He said that could confuse customers, make it more difficult to communicate a simple marketing message and could leave too many unsold models on showroom floors, leading to dealer discounting and devaluing of the product range.Shetti is planning 10 years into the future, but said he could not pinpoint exact models that far away.He said the biggest challenges would be in powertrains to comply with current and coming greenhouse legislation.Ford is considering small-capacity petrol and diesel engines as well as mild hybrids which use regenerative braking to store wasted heat energy and shut the engine down when the car is in traffic.Shetti also mentioned alternative energy sources such as biofuels and lightweight body materials.Meanwhile, Ford in England has produced a Focus hydrogen-powered Fuel Cell Vehicle, driven recently by Prince Charles.

American company Autonet Mobile claims to be the first internet service provider for cars, with Avis now offering the service in its rental cars from San Francisco airport and expanding to other areas

Where else could you be eaten, bitten and stung to death?Where else is the beauty so rugged and the road conditions so erratic that just getting there is a challenge?For most people, the journey to the tip of Cape York – call it Cape Fear, if you like – starts in Cairns.Here there is a multitude of tour companies that operate 4WD, bus and motorcycle tours with hire vehicles or escorting people with their own vehicles.Winter is the time to go. It's the dry season. Temperatures are around 30, the humidity is low and there is little chance of storms eroding the roads and cutting you off.Tours can range from a couple of days into the Daintree, Lakefield and Cape Melville national parks to a couple of weeks all the way to the tip and back again. Or you can organise your own route and hire a vehicle or drive your own.There are plenty of things to do and see in the cape; hiking, fishing, 4WD driving, sightseeing, swimming, eating, bird watching, hunting and more. It's like one big frontier fun park.Like Cairns, the whole of Cape York seems to be geared to the tourist trade with plenty of accommodation, information and points of interest well signposted.But that doesn't mean it's a whole lot hospitable. Be warned that your very life is under threat from animals, insects, plants, reptiles, the weather, even people.Yet I recently travelled about 1000km over three days from Cairns halfway to Cape York and back on a motorcycle launch and it was enough to addict me to the region and make me yearn for the full Cape York adventure.Our tour group was escorted by Stay Upright Motorcycle Adventure Tours, one of the many tourist operations based in Cairns.Managing director Warwick Schuberg said the company, which also runs adventures across the Simpson Desert, was having a break from tours this year to concentrate on their motorcycle training school.As most tours out of Cairns do, this one starts with the breathtaking Captain Cook Highway that hugs the coast north to Port Douglas. It's better than the famed Great Ocean Rd but with the same amount of traffic.It is difficult to concentrate on the winding road ahead when there are such spectacular coastline views to be offered around every bend and the rugged beach is just metres to your right.However, concentration is a must.Our tour leader, Jason Poznic, warns time and time again that you must pay attention as the many international tourists in hire cars are used to driving on the right-hand side of the road and often cross over.Consequently, there are directional arrows painted on the road every few hundred metres.Head-ons are a constant concern, not just on the coast road, but throughout the Cape region, Jason warns.And it's not just tourists driving on the wrong side of the road. Locals tend to become blase about the lack of traffic and wander across.It is also evident the drink driving regulations tend to be flouted quite liberally in the north. This is pioneering country and some of the locals treat it like the wild west.Beyond Mossman, we take the ferry across the Daintree River into the Daintree National Park where Jason adds another warning."Don't reach out and touch the vines that hang down. The Aborigines call them 'wait a minute' vines because they will hook into you and it will take a minute to get them off you," he says.He also warns that the narrow, windy tarmac road almost always has patches of slippery moss, leaves and moisture.Along the way there are also ice-cream shops, forest walks, hiking areas and beautiful beaches to visit.Our first stop is PK's Jungle Village, a backpacker haven at Cape Tribulation set by an idyllic tropical beach and the last outpost before the road turns to dirt.From here on, you will need a four-wheel drive, although some foolhardy people do attempt to go further in less capable vehicles, only to need winching out of the many creek crossings, bog holes and steep ascents on the road ahead.Avoid summer when torrential rains can turn the whole area into a nightmare even for those vehicles with ridgey didge off-road capabilities.Some of the hills are so steep that in World War II concrete paths were built in some areas resembling driveways with left and right wheel tracks. These have crumbled over the years and can also be a trap for the unwary.Here Jason adds another warning about washouts from recent rain, despite the fact that the track is so dry we are riding in a constant dust cloud.I pay too little attention to his cautionary tale of washouts and ride into a dust cloud and a washed-out section of road.Luckily I bounce through the other side on the big Buell adventure bike. One other member of our party isn't so lucky on the same washout. He injures his ribs, his elbow and breaks off the gear shift lever.We repair the shift lever at the Lions Den Hotel at Lorna Doone where the interior is a cool and inviting collection of lost number plates, international currency, scary-looking snakes and spiders in bottles, and other collected items.As the others arrive, one of them hands me my bike's number plate which had shaken free some kilometres back. Others have had their rego labels shaken off. This really is rugged country.We stop for photos at the bridge across the "crocodile-infested" Bloomfield River to the Wujal Wujal Aboriginal community and Jason warns us to "never leave our bikes".He doesn't explain why. Crocodiles, wayward residents? We simply take his advice and press on.The last 30km into Cooktown is tarmac and in very good condition, but Jason warns us of kangaroos and enormous brahmin cattle on the unfenced road.Cooktown is a scenic small town by the mouth of the Endeavour River, nestled in behind Grassy Hill that provides a 360-degree view of the rugged coastline, town and hinterland.It may be small, but there are a few hotels, motels and the upmarket Sovereign Resort catering for the many tourists who use this as a stepping-off point for marine and land tours.The highway southwest out of Cooktown is awash with the blood of roadkill; roos, wallabies, cows mainly, their carcasses bloated and pungent at the side of the road, some fresh ones still in the middle of the highway.There seem to be valid reasons for names such as Dead Horse Creek and Dead Dog Creek up this way.At Lakeland, we get our last premium fuel and head northwest along Peninsula Developmental Rd where the name says it all. The tar quickly gives way to sand, gravel, sand, more gravel, dust, dust and more dust.An airconditioned 4WD would be a joy. On the bike, we are choking on the talcum powder consistency of the dust. For days afterwards we are still oozing tears with dust particles, our eyes sore and red.Except for a couple of creek crossings passable only in the dry months, the road is gun-barrel straight.But it's never boring.The scenery flashing by is constantly changing, the colours of the road swapping from white sand to rich ochre gravel and rusted red soil.And with the consistency of the road ever-changing you have to concentrate so much that you never get a chance to be bored, especially on a bike.Adventure bike riders will have to pay strict attention to the road conditions which can quickly change to loose and deep gravel or the rider's biggest dread, sand. Also, watch out for rock-hard termite nests if you are pulling off the road.Drivers can also get into trouble in the slippery conditions. Then there are always the creek crossings which can change so quickly with even the slightest shower of rain.But it's the dust that gets everyone.As a roadtrain passes by, you suddenly become engulfed in a total white-out.It is advisable to slow down as you see them approach, but don't stop or someone could run into your rear.The Buell's bright LED taillight is a saviour in these conditions.Every few kilometres there is a stretch of tarmac so drivers can pass the roadtrains as that is impossible when they are on the dirt sections.At Musgrave Roadhouse, site of the first telegraph line, we divert from the road heading north to the cape.Our destination is Lotusbird Lodge, just outside the beautiful Lakefeld National Park.The lodge ("an oasis of comfort in the outback") is a series of upmarket wood cabins assembled around a hyacinth-flowered swamp."You mean the lagoon," lodge operator Sue Brown corrects me.We settle in for a cuppa with scones overlooking the picturesque lagoon and its plentiful birdlife as Sue and partner Gary Connors regale us with horror tales of monstrous estuarine crocodiles (affectionately known as salties), deadly taipans, king browns and yellow-bellied black snakes and all manner of nasty spiders.We didn't need Jason's warnings about reptiles big and small. In a short ride from the lodge we saw track evidence of crocs and plenty of snakes on the road.Sue and Gary have refurbished the lodge after Cyclone Larry put it two metres under water last year, so everything is fresh and new.And the grub is up to hearty outback standards. Roast and 11 veg, in fact. And no sooner is it served than Gary comes around with seconds.As the dinner is going down and the aching muscles from the day's long ride are becoming numb in the liquid hospitality, Gary adds his own brand of humourous bush poetry.We are halfway to the tip of Cape York. Still another 500km to go, yet still tantalisingly close.Next day we return to Cairns along some spectacular roads, both tar and dirt, with gob-smacking views as you drop off the tableland to the coast.And on return to Cairns there is a nagging feeling that the great adventure was only just beginning.Unfinished business for another year.

The new Triumph 675cc Street Triple will be launched in Austria on June 30 and arrive in Australian showrooms in November, but there is no local release date yet for the touring version of the 2.3 litre Rocket III. Street Triple is architecturally and stylistically based on the 1050cc Speed Triple naked streetfighter with a detuned version of the Daytona 675 Supersport engine. It will cost $11,990, a substantial reduction in price from the Daytona ($14,890) and Speed Triple ($15,990). The touring version of its 2.3 litre Rocket III will feature new bodywork, suspension and chassis. It has fixed panniers, a front screen, reshaped fuel tank and a single headlight rather than the Rocket's twin lights. Suspension revisions include right-way-up forks, new rear shock springs to cope with the extra weight of the panniers and pillion passenger, and new wheels. The frame is lengthened at the front and features extra bracing to stiffen it to cope with the extra weight. The current Rocket III costs $24,990 and $25,990 for the Classic.

Chris Gubbey, pictured, executive vice-president of Shanghai General Motors, will take up the position in August.Outgoing GM Holden boss Denny Mooney said Gubbey had been involved in the export of WL long wheelbase Holdens to China.“Chris spent a fair amount of time down here . . . so he also has some good familiarity with our operation. I think he is going to be a big benefit to the operation here as we continue to rely more on exports and . . . integrated business worldwide,” he said.“I don't know that it's a renewed focus (on China), because I think the focus has always been there.”GM Holden has been exporting engines to China for some years and recently announced a V6 export program.“China is now the second-largest car market in the world and it's great to have a partnership and a business relationship, and I see where Chris can strengthen that and help us find opportunities.”Gubbey began his career with Ford in 1979, has worked for Toyota and Vauxhall, and has been in Shanghai since 2000.Mooney has been appointed GM vice-president of global vehicle systems and integration based at GM's headquarters in Detroit.The American executive has a background in engineering and will have global responsibility in body, chassis and electrical engineering for GM. Mooney said Australia would now “have a friend” in Detroit.He was appointed to GM Holden in 2004 and during his time here has overseen the launch of the new VE Commodore and WM long-wheelbase Caprice and Statesman and development of the new-generation ute.The billion-dollar program for the large rear-wheel-drive cars was the biggest in Australia's history.During his time, Holden dropped from first to second in sales behind Toyota. He also presided over the termination of the Monaro model and the withdrawal of Daewoo from Australia in 2004. Six months later he brought back Daewoo small cars rebadged as Holdens to capitalise on record fuel prices.

Convertibles with folding hard tops are supposed to remedy all of the problems associated with rag tops. They are more rigid so they handle better, they are more secure and they are quieter. Or so the theory goes.In reality, not all rag-top problems are remedied by a hard roof and there are some new problems that are added to some models, such as extra weight, complexity of design and operation, reliability of the electro-mechanical opening operation and a reduced amount of cargo space.Holden's Astra now comes with a two-piece folding top, called the Astra Twin Top. Having just two folding pieces must make it more compact, faster and a simpler mechanism, right? Wrong.The folding roof mechanism has all sorts of other bits folding out from it and the whole complex shebang takes about 33 seconds to fully open or close.  That compares with about 20-odd seconds for most rag tops.One useful function is that you can open it up with the remote control. However, as with the button above the interior light, you have to hold it on throughout the long process. The operating thumb was pulsing red by the time it was finished. And if you don't keep the pressure up on the button, it stalls.When the roof is all folded away in the boot, there is only cargo space for a briefcase, although you won't be able to access it unless you put the roof up again.There were no problems encountered with the mechanism's reliability during the test, but other folding hard tops, as well as rag tops, have been noted as behaving erratically. Also, when the roof was closed, the car sometimes had a lot of creaks, groans and wind noise, while at other times it was fairly quiet and rattle-free. This could be because the various hard bits haven't quite matched up when it has closed. The same problem has been noted with other folding hard tops as well.At least the added weight in the rear hasn't badly affected handling. Like all Astras, it steers and points very well, without having an uncompromisingly hard ride.The Twin Top comes with the new German-built 2.2-litre direct injection petrol engine which is a lusty unit with linear power delivery and less of a grainy feel like the previous engine. But it is hampered by the dull and lifeless four-speed auto transmission that GM Holden is stuck with. The six-speed manual is a far better option.The Twin Top looks like a sleek coupe with the top up, but appears ungainly with the top down.Inside, it is standard Astra fare, which I have grown to dislike. The decor is fine, but there is a lack of storage space and the controls are fiddly. The only storage bin is a uselessly small square hole behind the handbrake. There are no bottle holders and the door map pocket isn't even big enough for a UBD. I hate cruise controls on the end of a stalk like the previous Commodore. They are difficult to use and if you fumble with it you could accidentally turn on the indicators.Up front, there is still plenty of space with the sun visors not too close to your head as in most convertibles. However, there is virtually no room in the back for an adult or a teenager. If you did fit in, you would quickly become uncomfortable with the bolt-upright seat back.Just as well you can use the rear seat as a parcel shelf which augments the lack of cargo space. When the roof is up, the boot is quite deep, but it is also very narrow.The on-board computer and sound system controls are more difficult to use than the notorious BMW i-Drive system. They are certainly not intuitive. Despite having had several Astras to test over the past couple of years, I always have to consult the handbook and I still haven't conquered it. Some of the buttons have strange symbols on them that mean absolutely nothing to me.One button on the steering wheel has a symbol that looks like a home phone handset on a set of wheels. I pressed it but it doesn't seem to do anything. Another shows a box with one side missing, a dot in the middle and three arcs radiating out. It changed channels on the radio.Go figure.