Articles by Mark Hinchliffe

Where manufacturers have previously pursued one environmental solution, most are now embracing multiple strategies to the high-profile problem.GM chairman and CEO Rick Wagoner best summed up the industry's new multi-pronged environmental strategy as energy diversity.He referred to alternate energy sources such as electricity, ethanol, biofuels, compressed natural gas, hydrogen and combinations of these working happily together in the same vehicle.Wagoner says GM will also continue to seek improved efficiency from internal combustion petrol and diesel engines and expand its commitment to electric power.GM will introduce a test fleet of 100 hydrogen-powered Chevrolet Equinox fuel cell vehicles in the US this year and 10 in Europe, he says.Other car companies working on alternate powertrain solutions, such as Kia, also pledged to introduce test fleets, particularly for government evaluation.The first of GM's new energy strategies to be introduced in Australia could be the extension of the Saab Biopower range from the 9-5 to the 9-3 model range, including vehicles running on 100 per cent biofuel.GM has also developed a new cleaner turbo diesel V6 engine which could power the new Holden VE Commodore.Wagoner confirmed that the 184kW 2.9-litre Italian-made engine would be compatible with the VE chassis, but he could not confirm its application in the Australian market. A GM Holden spokesman says the company will consider the engine.Mercedes-Benz has started its push to clean up diesel emissions with a detox system called BlueTec. It is claimed to reduce nitrous-oxides (NOX) from the exhaust by up to 90 per cent compared with previous diesels.The German firm has introduced BlueTec in its upper-luxury E320 sedan in the US market and will follow that up with three more models next year. The E320 and the follow-up R320 people mover, ML320 SUV and GL320 4WD will be released in Europe in 2008 and are expected here later in 2008 or early 2009.Volkswagen showed a Passat and a Polo with the technology, the latter capable of a low 102g of CO2 and greatly reduced NOX.Japanese makers are aggressively pushing hybrids. They are led in this by Lexus, which announced it is making more hybrids combining electric motors with petrol engine models than conventional petrol-fuelled vehicles.Geneva launched the Lexus LS600h luxury saloon that it claims has the power of a V12 with the economy of a V6. It has a V8 petrol engine combined with an electric motor to deliver 327kW. Yet Lexus claims the lavishly-equipped saloon will get an average fuel consumption of only 9.5-l/100km while having a CO2 emission level of less than 220g.Toyota showed a hybrid concept sedan, the Hybrid X, that is more a styling exercise than a mechanical marvel. Then there is the Toyota FT-HS hybrid sports car that combines a 3.5-litre petrol V6 with an electric motor; a car that doesn't ignore performance or style.But while Europe is going diesel and Japan is leaning towards hybrids, there is some blurring of technologies.Honda announced a NOX-depleting system similar to BlueTec and says it will be fitted to its diesel-powered cars. It plans to launch its new diesels within three years, first in the US and later in Europe and Australia.At the same time, Honda says it will make its fuel-cell electric car available to selected buyers by next year, making it likely to be the world's first car maker to make a production fuel cell passenger car.The new Honda, which uses hydrogen gas and air to produce electricity to power electric motors, is based on its long-standing FCX concept vehicle.To keep its feet in all camps, Honda plans to introduce a small-car hybrid that is currently in concept form.The Small Hybrid Sport shows that even hybrids can be fun and sexy.Subaru unveiled its 2-litre turbo-diesel engine that will go into European models later this year but won't come to Australia until at least late 2008. It is Subaru's first diesel and has been devised to improve sales in diesel-crazy Europe.Meanwhile, BMW and DaimlerChrysler have announced they will join forces to create a new hybrid system for the premium car segment.Both companies plan on introducing the new technology into rear-wheel-drive models within the next three years.A BMW spokesman says the technologies will be tailored to fit the specific character of the different vehicles.And, two battery city cars were among the show oddities, including the Zebra which was painted like animal fur.

The national launch for the Q7 last year involved a trip across Australia, including the Simpson Desert.And there is a switch inside the behemoth SUV which simply says "car" and takes you to the pneumatic suspension settings which you can vary according to your circumstances.While most owners may ride around on "comfort" settings, there is also the option for "offroad" and "lift" which takes you to dizzying heights.Now this may be intended so you can cross swollen creeks and maybe even dig out underneath if you get bogged on a big sand dune, but I know what it's really going to be used for.Speed bumps.Let's face it, the $85,700 kid carrier is rarely going to see dirt, sand, creeks or such.Its main duties will be ferrying the kids to school and in the seven-seater option it can also take a basketball team to the Saturday morning game.That means negotiating the gnarly urban terrain with its many potholes, speed bumps and sloping gutters.There is a little rat-run I sometimes take on the way to dropping off my daughters at school. It involves no fewer than seven sharp speed bumps in less than 500m.Ridiculous, isn't it?In one low-slung sporty street racer, I was forced to attack the bumps on an angle so as not to return the vehicle to the car company minus several kilos of plastic front spoiler.But with this beast, all you do is hit "car", rotate the knob to "lift" and punch the button.Up she goes and over you go, no stopping.And I think the local residents are thankful that I don't hit the brakes, then roar away as most other drivers do. I know the noise of sudden braking and acceleration would annoy me if I lived near one of these suspension busters.Anyway, back on track.The Q7 I drove was the lusty three-litre diesel.Except for a flat spot just off idle, the car is a torquey monster with more go than Paris Hilton on a weekend in Sydney.From the outside, it looks a lot like a beached three-tonne whale, but I imagine it is difficult to design something this big and make it look like anything else.However, the interior is up to Audi's magnificent stylish standards.Sumptuous leather, brushed aluminium, gadgets galore, wood trim. It's all here.Passengers are also well catered for with separate airconditioning controls.The third row is handy, but only for temporary tenants, amputees and small children. At least there is some room behind it for luggage.When the third row is folded away, the cargo area is cavernous.I didn't just drive this one to school and back. I took the family on a trip to the Gold Coast hinterland, up to O'Reilly's and down the four-wheel-drive-only Duck Creek Rd to Beaudesert where I lashed out on a Sunday roast special at the "Beauy" hotel.It was yet another great off-road adventure straight out of the pages of Brad McCarthy's Dirty Weekends book.There were no swollen creeks to cross, but the big SUV straddled the rocky path and descended the steep drive with aplomb.You barely knew you were on a dirt road.However, the air suspension did make one passenger in the second row car sick.Air suspension tends to do that. It has a floaty feel.On the return trip, I screwed the air suspension down and there were no complaints from the crew that hunkered down and went to sleep in the luxurious and quiet cabin.With a combination of school runs, highway and even some four-wheel driving, the big diesel drank only 10.5L/100km, which is exactly the factory claimed economy figure.The only problem was that when I went to fill up at an Ipswich servo, it had only one diesel pump and the nozzle was too big.

Arriving in May, the Audi A6 allroad quattro will be powered by the 3-litre TDI engine at launch and be priced around $106,000.The S3 is expected to arrive in June at around $66,000 with a 2-litre, 188kW TFSI engine and a six-speed manual transmission.The TT Roadster will be launched in June with a 2-litre TFSI engine and a 3.2-litre V6 quattro, featuring S-tronic transmission. Prices are not yet available.To reduce weight, the Roadster retains a cloth hood rather than following the trend for folding hard tops.However, it is now electro-hydraulically powered for hands-free operation, with no need to attach or detach the hood to or from the windscreen rail.Opening or closing takes 12sec and can be carried out at speeds of up to 30km/h.Incorporating a heated glass rear window, the new soft top is lighter than before through the use of a new steel and aluminium support framework.It also claimed to be quieter with an additional layer of soundproofing.A powered mesh wind deflector is fitted to streamline airflow through the cabin.The soft top stows smaller than before thanks to a new Z-fold system which stacks the rigid front section of the roof on top of the cloth to form a cover that sits flush with the body and eliminates the need for a tonneau cover.

However, all complaints except one about a Hyundai TV ad about two children in nappies driving a Santa Fe sports utility vehicle have been dismissed by the Advertising Standards Bureau.The ASB last week upheld the complaint that it was illegal for toddlers to drive and that they were wearing seatbelts instead of legal child restraints.Hyundai agreed to retract the ad which was filmed in New Zealand and featured a toddler in nappies who picks up hitchhiking Springwood toddler Siena Dutson.Hyundai Motor Company Australia PR general manager Richard Power said he had received calls of support from the public, but had no other campaign ready to replace the ad."There is no doubt that the controversy about this decision will attract attention but in a while it fades away and people forget and we will have to raise the awareness some other way," he said.Car ads represent about 15 per cent of complaints to the ASB, second only behind food (about 20 per cent).Over the past year, nine Ford ads attracted complaints, while Toyota and Nissan had five each and Honda and Holden four.Two of the Nissan ads featuring Sex and the City actress Kim Cattrall attracted complaints about sexual content.Complaints about sexual content were also levelled at the Fiesta ad in which two scientists mould clay, and two Falcon ute ads in which women and dogs follow the car.Honda's Odyssey ads in which a married couple are "making out" in the car received complaints for "a simulated sex scene".A Holden Rodeo ad featuring a man fantasising about a Rodeo and a female passenger apparently promoted infidelity.Unsafe driving represented the most complaints, despite the ASB beefing up its crackdown in this section of its code of conduct in 2004.Ford and Toyota attracted the most complaints for promoting unsafe driving practices.Toyota copped its complaints for ads involving its Corolla Sportivo, Yaris, Prado and a Kluger which leaves behind a torn road surface.The Ford ads were the Turbo Territory eating sports cars, another Territory ad in which women drive past a school and the ad in which a young boy is disappointed because he can't get a Falcon slot car to fly off the track.A Holden Captiva jumping across the tops of buildings was also considered dangerous driving, but was dismissed as fantasy.Mazda attracted complaints for offensive language in a Mazda BT50 ute ad for use of the word "bloody".Ford's Ranger ad in which a one-eyed monster throws boulders at the ute was considered too scary for young children, but the complaint was dismissed.Ford also copped complaints of racism and incitement to violence for its Tonk-a-Pom cricket campaign.Cruelty to animals was the complaint in the Focus ad in which Jackie O pours a goldfish down a drain and in a Toyota LandCruiser ad in which the driver wears crocodile-skinned boots.Animals were also blamed for offensive behaviour when a dog in the back seat of a Dodge Caliber moons dogs in other cars.The drought prompted complaints that an ad in which a man hoses down his mud-caked Nissan Murano was inappropriate during water restrictions.Environmental issues also surfaced when complaints were received about a Jeep ad which allegedly featured "polluting diesal (sic) motor vehicles hiding behind the pristinity of a lovely natural environment".A Kia Carnival ad in which a sleeping woman is woken by a Kia salesman blowing a horn attracted complaints that it was "dangerous to blast an air-horn close to a person's ear".

The Japanese manufacturer will display a range of its alternative powered cars at the Geneva Motor Show in March.While hybrid power has been associated with economy and driving enjoyment, Honda will unveil its Small Hybrid Sports Concept which is a sports car using the latest hybrid technology.Honda will also display a fully functional Honda FCX Concept featuring a new compact, Honda fuel-cell in a long-floor, low-riding, short-nose body.The FCX Concept has a range of 569km and a top speed limited to 160km/h.Limited marketing of a new fuel cell vehicle based on the FCX Concept model will begin in Japan and the US in 2008.Honda will also show its next-generation diesel engine with a revolutionary catalytic converter that reduces NOx emissions to the level of a petrol engine.The catalytic converter features an innovative system that uses the reductive reaction of ammonia to detoxify oxides of nitrogen (NOx) by converting them into harmless nitrogen (N2). However, unlike Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) systems which use urea injection, Honda technology uses ammonia generated in the catalytic converter.Honda plans to introduce its next-generation diesel engine within three years. Honda Australia is expected to wait until the next generation of its diesel engines before introducing them here, according to senior director Lindsay Smalley.

SsangYong also revealed the prices for the new Actyon coupe compact sport utility five-door wagon and the Actyon Sports dual-cab ute. The Actyon will come in two- and four-wheel-drive with a 2.3-litre petrol and a two-litre turbo diesel. The 4 x 2 petrol, will start at $26,990 rising to $33,990 for the diesel 4 x 4. More details will be provided at the launch next month. The Actyon Sport ute comes with a two-litre turbo diesel engine in 4 x 2 for $29,990 $31,990 for the 4 x 4 and $33,990 for the "limited" top-of-the range 4 x 4 model. SsangYong Australia general manager of sales and marketing, Brad Larkham, said they called the Actyon a "Coupe Sport Utility" because of its sweeping styling and coupe-like appearance. However, the trade-off for the coupe styling of the compact SUV is that there is little room in the back for luggage. It is SsangYong's first compact all-wheel-drive featuring a two-litre turbo diesel engine. The European technology common-rail VGT turbo diesel produces 104kW of power and 310Nm of torque offering 7.8 litres per 100km economy for the manual and 8.5 for the auto. The 2.3 litre petrol engine produces 110kW and 214Nm and 11.3L/100km for the manual and 11.9 for the auto. Handling is enhanced by double wishbone front suspension and a five-link rear end. An Electronic Stability Program is standard on some models. The ESP system is the latest fifth-generation multi-function unit which is integrated with all of the Actyon's systems including the electronically controlled four-wheel-drive. Hill descent control is fitted as standard on some models. The new Actyon Sports dual cab utility replaces the Musso Sports which will remain as an entry level crew cab for some time. The Actyon Sports also will be available with the two-litre diesel engine and either two- or four-wheel-drive. The new dual cab ute has a wider track and cabin as well as a 20 per cent larger poly lined load tray than the Musso. It also has coil springs all round, double wishbone suspension at the front with a five-link rear end, unlike many utes, which use leaf springs at the rear. Actyon Sports has a load capacity of just over 800kg while it can tow up to 750kg unbraked and up to 2.3 tonnes braked.

Like so many softroaders these days, it gets a 5 per cent import duty advantage because it's a four-wheel drive.Yet the third-generation of the 10-year-old model makes no pretence at being anything other than a street-wise "mum's taxi", far removed from the commercial vehicle for which the duty allowance is intended.The national launch in Launceston this week included more than 300km of Apple Isle roads and not one bit of gravel, Honda Australia PR manager Mark Higgins promised.Apart from a short piece of roadworks and the gravel driveway to the isolated Barnbougle Dunes golf links (the world's 48th best links, according to Golf Magazine), he was right.The new CR-V arrives just marginally wider, but shorter because the spare wheel has been taken off the back door. The gimmicky picnic table has now been replaced by the spare under the cargo floor.Now made in Thailand, Honda has been able to significantly upgrade specifications including electronic stability control across the three-trim range, without increasing prices above the previous model, prior to the run-out specials.The base model starts at $31,990 for the six-speed manual, the Sport is $37,490 and the Luxury is $39,990. Add $2000 for the five-speed auto where the conventional handbrake is replaced by a foot-operated brake.The Sport gets alloy wheels, a six-stacker sound system and dual-zone air-conditioning, while the Luxury adds leather upholstery, heated front seats, electric driver's seat and reverse parking sensors. There is no badging on the outside to distinguish the different trim levels.With modifications to the suspension and steering, a stiffer body and chassis, 20mm less clearance and 35mm lower centre of gravity thanks to the relocation of the spare, the vehicle now has perhaps the most sedan-like handling characteristics of all compact sports utility vehicles.Despite the softer, more rounded coupe-like look, the absence of the rugged spare on the back and the lower, wider stance, CR-V project leader Mitsuru Horikoshi said the new model had a "tough image".The picnic table may be gone, but who is he kidding?Outside, the CR-V has undergone a gentrification from the very square, almost Defender style of the 1997 original.The second generation from 2001 had a few more curves, bigger headlights, more torque and all-wheel-drive upgrade.The third generation gets a very curvaceous and aerodynamic exterior, plush interior, wider tyres, a flatter torque curve and another AWD upgrade.Celebrating its 10th birthday this year, the CR-V has sold more than 2.5 million in 160 countries and has 90,920 Australian owners.It is not difficult to understand why. It is an economical, practical package that is well styled, easy to drive and attractive.On the road, the new CR-V immediately feels nippier in town thanks to the extra 7kW of power and flatter torque curve.However, when we hit the highway and the hills, the typically high-revving Honda engine becomes a bit noisy, without any real oomph. Passing becomes a matter of planning rather than spontaneity.Wind and road noise are now reduced thanks to better engine mounts, sound insulation and better door seals. I also found the Bridgestone-shod CR-V was much quieter than those wearing Michelin shoes.Ride is so much better, almost plush, yet retaining superb cornering dynamics and none of the body roll or tyre scrub of the previous model.All models now get Vehicle Stability Assist, which can quickly be switched off.The upgraded AWD system drives the front wheels until it detects slip and then engages the rear wheels.Safety has always been a hallmark of Honda with ABS, Brake Assist, Electronic Brakeforce Distribution, active headrests, better crash protection and six airbags on the Sport and Luxury models.Inside, the CR-V has had a substantial update so that it now resembles the tasty Odyssey cabin.Changes include a telescopic steering wheel adjustable for reach now as well as height, gear shift on the centre console, upgraded sound system with auxiliary jack for MP3 players and more front leg room.The CR-V has always been a magnificent interior package with plenty of space, split folding rear foldable seats and an open, airy feeling.It is now even better with more space, cup holders, clever gadgets (such as a convex mirror so parents can check on the children in the back), plus storage options such as dual-deck cargo shelf in Sport and Luxury models.This allows you to access luggage on the bottom, without having to remove luggage stored on top.Some may miss the rear door which is now replaced by a top-hinged tailgate, but at least it opens from down low, so access is easy.The new CR-V goes on sale on February 15 and is on show at the Brisbane International Motor Show. (Vehicle details in the show guide are incorrect.)

The state's allocation of three $659,000 Lamborghini Murcielago LP640 supercars have all been spoken for.Audi Centre Brisbane dealer principal Greg Willims, who deals with brands such as Audi, Lamborghini, Ferrari, Alfa Romeo and Maserati, said premium car sales were continuing to rocket this year after a successful 2006.Standing in front of a $399,500 pale blue convertible Bentley Continental GTC at the show yesterday, he said Queenslanders last year bought 28 of the stately English marque."This year it will be 36," he said.Mr Willims also expected to sell three Bentley Azures at $650,000 each."Two people have already put in an order from the Gold Coast," he said."In premium cars, interest is evenly divided between Brisbane and the Gold Coast, but in the convertibles there is more interest from the Gold Coast."Audi also yesterday unveiled its first mid-engined supercar, the R8, which will arrive in September, costing between $250,000 and $300,000.Mr Willims said there were already eight orders in Brisbane for the 309kW V8 supercar capable of going from standstill to 100km/h in 4.6 seconds.Audi confirmed there were 34 orders across the nation and 13 from Queensland.The show continues until February 11 in the Brisbane Convention Centre, featuring 311 new cars from 40 manufacturers.

Two of the fastest on show are the $659,000 Lamborghini Murcielago LP640 and the $574,000 Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano, each capable of more than 330km/h. But you won 't be able to buy them even if you have the money.Honda and Toyota are showing mock-ups of their 2006 Formula One cars, while Subaru is showing a mock-up of its World Rally Championship car driven by Gold Coaster Chris Atkinson to fourth place in the Monte Carlo Rally.Other show stoppers include Jaguar's supercharged 4.2-litre V8 XKR, Audi's $300,000 R8 which is not due for production until later this year, and the 500-horsepower seven-litre V8 Corvette Z06 American muscle car converted from left to right-hand-drive in Gympie by Performax International.At the other end of the power scale are a collection of 50cc commuter scooters with less than 10 horsepower, as well as environmentally friendly petrol-electric hybrids and Saab's BioPower 9-5 which runs on 85 per cent ethanol fuel made from sugarcane.Motor show manager Michelle Ramsay said the 311 vehicles on display were brought in this week by 450 trucks and 150 commercial vehicles. The show runs until February 11.

Consequently, we are likely to see more of the low-riding SUVs like the Nissan Murano that combine attributes of off-roaders, people movers and station wagons.Ford believes Crossovers will account for more than 3 million sales a year in America by the end of the decade as more and more manufacturers jump on the bandwagon.They view the potential Crossover customer as aged in their 50s and 60s and are prodded by the rapid expansion of this population.However, in Australia, Crossovers such as the new Nissan Murano and Mazda CX-7 have received a soft consumer response, compared with harder-edged medium-size SUVs such as the soldiering-on Pajero.Sales of compact SUVs last year were up 4.1 per cent and bucked the national downward trend of 2.6 per cent for all new vehicles. But sales of medium SUVs were down a whopping 15.2 per cent last year.But that hasn't stopped manufacturers looking ahead to the next generation of Crossovers with several on show at this month's Detroit Motor Show.Ford unveiled a concept called the Airstream, designed to satisfy the growing wanderlust of these consumers, often retirees with time for travel. Airstream has been developed jointly with the Airstream trailer company, maker of the iconic American aluminium streamlined caravans of the 1950s. The Airstream has a hybrid powertrain, giving it a fuel consumption of 7.7l/100km and can run for 40km as a pure electric car.It features illuminated orange window surrounds and asymmetric doors.Nissan's Bevel is also aimed at ageing baby-boomers and features an asymmetric door layout, with a single offside driver's door and wide-opening double suicide doors on the nearside, plus a rear tailgate that flips over to become a loading shelf.Another feature is its overt '70s styling, elements of which could become part of Nissan's design house style in the future, especially the oblong grille incorporating the front lighting.There are no plans yet to build production models of the vehicles.