Articles by Mark Hinchliffe

So says Kombi Club founding president Roy Hodkinson, who owned a VW Beetle in 1974 and a Kombi in 1977 and a few years ago bought a 1959 Kombi Microbus Splitscreen shell for $1000. The 47-year-old Gold Coast carpenter owns four Kombis in various states of repair, but only the Microbus is roadworthy. "People no longer are using them to drive them into the ground," he said. "They are spending a lot of money on them. Their other car might be a Merc, Ferrari or Jag, but they prefer to drive the Kombi. I think everybody has that bit of eccentricity in them and wants to relive their youth a bit, whether they were a hippie or not. "It's a release from everyday life and it's certainly something a bit different." Three years ago, Hodkinson opened the Bus Stop, in Burleigh Heads, to import VW parts and, about 18 months ago, he established the Kombi Club. "Kombis are getting so popular you can actually build a brand new one out of new panels and parts," he said. He spent $35,000 on his Microbus which is now like new. "I just find them the most reliable cars on the road. "They are also very versatile. You can go camping, or carry nine people or take rubbish to the dump in them." The Kombi Club, which is free to join, now has about 1050 on-line members from New Zealand, the United States, the United Kingdom, Switzerland and Germany with about 900 from Australia, plus 200 members who do not have computer access. The club organises camping events and cruises around Australia, with the first National Kombi Club Bus Stop Run in Canberra at Easter. "We have a technical section where someone in Adelaide can help someone with a technical problem in Cairns," Hodkinson said. Fellow club founder Bert Wright, 54, of Bracken Ridge, bought his fully restored 1973 Microbus Deluxe in 2004. He has loved them since he learnt to drive in a crew cab Kombi in 1969. "It's a funny thing with VWs like Beetles and Kombis; they get in your blood and never get out," Wright said. "I've thought about getting another but I've been told I can only have one." He bought the fully restored Kombi from world drag champion Peter Keegan of New South Wales for $15,000. The value to rebuild it would be about $35,000 to $40,000. "It has been lowered with wider wheels and the two-litre air-cooled engine has Watson 275 racing cams and twin 40mm Dellorto carbs to help it breathe and ride a little better. "Keegan wanted it to keep it largely in original condition and not go too overboard, although some people put Subaru engines in them and do a lot of modifications," Wright said. Visit: www.kombiclub.com Return of a hippy icon The iconic German bus is cool all over again KOMBI, the iconic hippie bus, is making a comeback. The Volkswagen bus is featuring in TV advertisements, movies and there is even a museum in Nimbin to the hallowed transporter. VW Magazine Australia editor Craig Hughes says the Kombi has never been as popular, particularly in the advertising industry. "There is big-time retro happening in advertising and the Kombi is at the pointy end," he said. Hughes drives a rare Kombi dual cab as his "daily driver". "Well, it used to be rare . . . seems like everyone wants one now." Kombis have been a pop-culture vehicle for many years, becoming synonymous in the US in the 1960 and '70s with counter-culture and a popular form of transport for Aussie surfies. In 1981, Australian band Men at Work mentioned "travelling in a fried-out Kombi" in their hit record Down Under and The Who's Magic Bus is said to be about a Kombi. Kombi history dates back to 1950 when the classic Type 1 van first broke cover in Wolfsburg, Germany, powered by the 19kW 1.3-litre air-cooled engine from the Beetle and later increased to 25kW in the Type 2 in 1959. The name is the shortened version of the German Kombinationskraftwagen, which means combined-use vehicle. In some markets it is spelt Combi. In 1968 the split window gave way to a single window and a 1.6-litre 35kW engine. By 1976, the Kombi came with a two-litre engine with a "massive" 52kW. From 1979, it became the Type 3 (T3) and the Kombi name was dropped in Australia. The modern Kombi Beach, introduced here earlier this year, is a far cry from the spartan old Kombis. It features 180-degree swivelling seats, height and reach adjustable leather steering wheel, airconditioning, heating, central locking, power windows and power mirrors. It also has a table with legs for indoor or outdoor use, outdoor chairs and a roll-away cloth bed for two. There are even curtains for privacy and shade. It is powered by a 2.5-litre turbo-diesel engine developing 96kW of power at 3500rpm and 340Nm of torque at 2000-2300rpm. It comes in six-speed manual or automatic with Porsche-style Tiptronic selectors and there is even a four-wheel-drive version. Top speed is in excess of the old 100mph (160km/h) mark. The Kombi Beach is priced from $54,990 for the TDI manual, $57,990 for the TDI automatic. Media mania * The split-window Kombi used in the Telstra Bigpond "I've Been Everywhere" ad has also been used by Yokohama; * A bay window Kombi is featured in a Hungry Jacks ad; * The Tasmanian Government has just finished a tourism campaign using an early split-window Kombi as its main focus; * TV show Blue Water High uses a red bay window Microbus; * A 1960s Kombi features heavily in the Toni Collette movie Little Miss Sunshine and there is a Kombi called Fillmore in the animated film Cars; * Oporto has completed a $100,000 Bay Window restoration for their giveaway promotion; and * Even new V8 Supercar champion Rick Kelly and his racing driver brother Todd are restoring a Kombi for their personal use.

A preview of the hot sedan was shown at the Detroit Motor Show in the guise of the Prototype X.While the Lancer is an important car for Mitsubishi as the vehicle is the only one of its fleet increasing sales, we will have to wait for 2008 despite the new Lancer sedan being released here in March.The new Lancer sedan, for the first time with continuously variable transmission, is based on the company's Project Global platform, a new flexible architecture that also forms the foundation of the second-generation Outlander, released here late last year.However, based on the Prototype X, the Evo X will have a fresh engine and a two-pedal, six-speed paddleshift semi-auto, rally-style gearbox, although a five-speed manual will also be offered.The Evo X is 1.5cm shorter than its predecessor, but also 5.8cm wider and 2.5cm taller, with a 3.5cm longer wheelbase and 32kg more bulk.Up front there are two huge scoops in the nose.Under the bonnet, the two-litre turbocharged motor has been replaced by a new MIVEC two-litre turbo with an aluminium block.Power is expected to rise from 206kW to about 236kW and torque up from 400Nm to 441Nm.Mitsubishi claims a 0-100km/h sprint in under 4.5 seconds.It will feature "Super All Wheel Control", active suspension and steering, and active brake con-trol technology on top of the current car's cornering system combining electronically controlled four-wheel drive with active stability and yaw control and an active centre differential.A dash-mounted satellite navigation screen will display real-time information on the status of the S-AWC system.

Surely this is more suitable out the back of the shopping centre than out the back of the Aussie bush.Even the reasonably rugged "armadillo" exterior of the old 1990s wagon is now more genteel, while the interior is urban chic with its soft beige leather upholstery and carpets — at least in the Outback 3.0 Premium I drove recently.The Outback's city credentials are assured and you see them being used around the suburbs for picking up the kids from school and the shopping.After a short drive to the shops, my wife confirmed that it was perfect for the job, with lightweight steering, a tight turning circle and plenty of vision. It's a breeze to park in the tightest underground car park.Her only complaint was that she "feels a bit dorky" in a station wagon.I must admit it does look dorky and I don't feel particularly macho driving around in the suburban-oriented wagon. But at least it has all the luxury appointments — and then some.The 3.0R Premium even included optional satellite navigation with a handy touch-screen facility. Very easy to use as you simply point at what you want and away it goes.There is also a facility for quickly finding the nearest point of interest, such as a church or restaurant, accommodation or other city utilities and services. However, how would it go in the real Outback? Would the maps simply disappear into a blank screen? Would I be able to find a place of interest in the bush?And now the Outback 3.0R comes with Subaru's tricky new Intelligent Drive or "SI-Drive" on all turbocharged and three-litre models.Back to the wife: she reckons it feels docile and gutless. This coming from a woman who has never had a speeding ticket in 25 years of driving and thinks that green lights mean you should prepare to crawl."You're in intelligent drive," I explain, and she says, "Why, thank you!""That's not a compliment. You have the car in Intelligent Drive mode, which gives about 10 per cent better fuel economy but makes it feel very lethargic," I explain further."If you really want to give it the berries and shunt a Ford driver off the track, flick the dial in the centre console left or right for sport modes."The two-phase sport modes (Sport and Sport #) boost engine revolutions, regulate the engine and transmission control units and sharpen up electronic throttle response.There is also a flap on the steering wheel to toggle through the three Sport modes. Great for racetracks, but what do these sport modes do for the wagon's outback credentials?With all these unanswered questions the only thing to do was to put it to the test on a dirty weekend. No, that has nothing to do with my wife; it is the title of a book by 4WD expert Brad McCarthy that guides you along 4WD tracks.Dirty Weekends — get it?I chose to do Queensland's Mount Mee Forest track, except stretches of which I was warned I would need low range.So, how did it go?Well, the first thing I noticed was that even before I left town, the roads disappeared off the sat nav.However, with a couple of quick finger points to the touch screen, I opened the longitude and latitude co-ordinates which I could check against the guide in Dirty Weekends In South East Queensland, now in its fourth edition.These were spot on. By marking junctions and turns, I could return and follow the same route without the book.Into the forest, the road quickly disintegrates with corrugations, ruts and slippery gravel on some very steep ascents and descents.In Intelligent mode, the Geolander tyres struggle to gain grip and momentum on the slippery surface.I was a little worried about the Sport and Sport Sharp modes providing too much power in such conditions but they work just fine.The steep slopes are quickly dispatched with smooth power on tap.It understeers a little into corners, then quickly flicks into controllable oversteer if you lift off the throttle.While there is no hill descent, on the downhill gravel sections the ABS provides some help.Best of all, the ride and handling, which is a little roly-poly on the tar, feels quite comfortable and sure-footed in the dirt.Perhaps the grip levels of tar expose the body roll, whereas the slip and uneven surface of a gravel road allows the suspension to do its job and keep the wheels on the ground while providing decent handling and ride comfort.Even quick corrugations are dispatched without anything more than rattling door trims.Despite some reasonable ruts, the 200mm clearance is not an issue on these tracks.It is almost as high as softroaders such as Hyundai Santa Fe or BMW X5 but nowhere near as high as a Jeep Cherokee (239mm). Clearance would only be an issue in rutted deep, soft sand or mud.Most hard gravel tracks should be navigable. Just be careful of loose rocks which could rupture some of the precious organs underneath.The Outback's towing capacity has increased from 1200kg in 1990 up to 1800kg in the current model.However, towing will lower that clearance further.You can buy towing packs that maintain the 200mm clearance but they can cost more than $1000.Over the standard 2.5i, the 3.0R adds mudflaps, headlight washers, headlight adjusters, climate control, door-mounted courtesy lights, steering wheel-mounted audio controls, 300kg more towing capacity and sequential transmission.The Premium adds optional sat nav and McIntosh premium six-CD sound system ($4490), driver's seat with memory, leather, sunroof and paddle shifters for the sequential transmission.Primary and secondary safety is a strong suit for all Subarus and this is no exception with top crash ratings.All Outbacks have four front airbags and the Premium adds front and rear curtain airbags.It may not be a true outback machine, but out back of the city, the Outback works just fine.

DaimlerChrysler has just completed testing its "Willwarn" wireless local danger warning system which detects hazards such as black ice or obstacles and radios the information to following vehicles.Five vehicles in the test were equipped with Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) radio technology called "Car-2-X Communication".The early warnings enabled drivers of the cars behind to prepare for the danger and adapt their speed in plenty of time.Other inter-vehicle systems are also in the pipeline.Audi and Honda introduced their vehicle-to-vehicle safety systems earlier this year.The systems work by using GPS, radar, laser and radio to communicate with other road users such as motorcycles, trucks and even pedestrians to avoid collisions.Manufacturers are working with each other and other information and electronics companies to establish compatible systems.Already vehicle manufacturers in Europe, the US and Japan have agreed to develop a common standard for the relevant hardware and software, and are pursuing standard radio frequencies to assure the system works around the world.The drawbacks for these systems are that they require all road users to have them fitted, or need roadside beacons to relay information, or a central service to consolidate and process the information.Honda's third-generation advanced safety vehicle (ASV-3) system identifies pedestrians and intersections, reads road markings and street signs and prevents rear-end accidents by recognising a rapidly slowing vehicle in front.Audi's futuristic Roadjet Concept vehicle uses the technology for avoiding crashes and making driving smoother.The system can assess traffic light phases so drivers can drive at an average speed and avoid heavy stops and starts.It also features a hazard signal when a vehicle has crashed, blocking the road, and will find empty spaces in car parks.

Based on the X-Trail four-wheel-drive package, the Qashqai, (pronounced "cash-kai") is another compact crossover.Nissan Motor Company Australia spokesman Karl Gehling said they were still evaluating the vehicle."Obviously we would like to bring it in," he said."If it's a success, it will arrive about 12 months after its launch in February in the UK."As for the name, they were "looking at the options".The British-built vehicle will be called Qashqai in Europe, but Dualis in Japan. It also will be sold in the Middle East and South Africa.

The XK was not only crowned Car of the Year but also GT of the Year and follows awards as Auto Express Car of the Year, UK TV Peoples Car of the Year and Scottish Car of the Year.The awards presented by BBC Top Gear host Jeremy Clarkson were:Dream Car: Brash, ostentatious and incredibly loud, the Lamborghini Gallardo Spyder is a proper supercar.SUV: The Land Rover Freelander 2 is more sophisticated and comfortable than ever, and it still rules the off-road roost.Small Car: It's not easy to tell apart from its predecessor, but the new Mini Cooper S is the most fun car we've driven this year.Supercar: Blisteringly fast but beautifully behaved on the road, the Ferrari 599 GTB is a near-perfect supercar.Roadster: We knew Mazda would do a good job with the MX-5 RC. But we didn't expect it to be even better than the soft-top.GT: Stunning to behold and great to drive, the Jaguar XK stirs the soul like no other GT out there.Coupe: The Audi TT has always been a looker, but now it has the performance to match.Big Car: A sport-flavoured MPV? It sounds improbable, but the Ford S-Max somehow adds up.Family Car: Citroen's brilliantly original C4 Picasso is clever enough to keep the whole family entertained.

The important Mitsubishi project will make its debut at the Detroit Motor Show next month.The joint European-Japan four-door sedan has grown in every dimension with a 2635mm wheelbase, up from 2600mm, width now 1760mm up from 1695mm and length 4570m where the longest sedan model previously was the VR-X at 4535mm.Surprisingly, it is also higher at 1490mm, which is even taller than the ES wagon at 1465mm and VR-X wagon at 1450mm.CARSguide last month published a sketch of the car and the final production model remains faithful to the designers' intentions with a muscular appearance.While the company's three-diamond logo is the focal point of all Mitsubishi concept and production vehicles, the new Lancer features a larger, two-part, upside-down grille inspired by the air intake on a military jet fighter.The top section is ringed in chrome with Mitsubishi's logo in the centre. To the sides of the grille, the headlights are slightly inset.The Lancer sedan is based on the company's Project Global platform, a new flex-ible architecture that also forms the foundation of the second-generation Outlander, released here last month.While Australian pricing, trim levels and powertrain specifications are yet to be decided the car will be produced with four powertrain levels (entry, mid-range, upper-range and supercar) and five different engines, including the 104kW two-litre diesel.Ralliart and Evo high-performance Lancers with two-litre turbo engines will be released here in 2008.In Australia, Lancer is the only Mitsubishi vehicle increasing sales, up 7.3 per cent to the end of November from 12,651 in 2005 to 13,580.While Mitsubishi is losing share nationally, in Queensland the company has a 6.6 per cent market share behind Toyota (22.8%), Holden (14.2%), Ford (10.9%) and Mazda (7.2%), and represents up to 30 per cent of their national volume.In 2007, Mitsubishi will also release its first upgrade to the 380 large car in the middle of the year and a 4 x 2 Triton is slotted in for March.

The Maserati MC12 Versione Corse, right, debuted last week at the Bologna Motor Show, is designed to be one of the most extreme supercars available on the market.And with a worldwide price of $1.7 million and only 12 produced, the potential market will be exclusive.It is based on the MC12 GT1 which won the FIA GT1 Manufacturers Championship in 2005, the Team Championship in 2005 and 2006, the Driver's title in 2006, and two consecutive editions of the Spa 24 Hours, in 2005 and 2006.However, the production car actually has more power than the race car with 563kW compared with 447kW. It is powered by a six-litre V12 engine producing maximum torque of 710Nm at 6000rpm.Maserati claims a 0-200km/h acceleration figure of 6.4sec and a top speed of 326km/h.

But now here comes the smallest Swede, the C30 which is 22cm shorter than the S40 mid-size sedan. While it still boasts many Volvo virtues such as high levels of safety equipment, it is clearly aimed at a different buyer. "The C30 doesn’t try in anyway to be a family car," says Volvo C30 program chief designer Simon Lamarre at the world launch on the Spanish holiday Island of Mallorca. "It’s not designed for people with kids. "We’re known for family cars, but we didn’t even consider putting in a fixed child’s seat or a pram in the rear cargo area." The premium coupe/hatchback C30 will arrive here in April with an entry level price of about $35,000 for the 2.4litre five-cylinder petrol five-speed manual up to about $44,000 for the T5 2.5litre turbocharged petrol and D5 2.4litre five-speed turbo diesel five-speed auto models. The D5 and T5 will also be available with a six-speed manual transmission. Volvo Car Australia PR manager Todd Hallenbeck said they were "still pushing hard for an attractive price". It will come with three trim levels and a host of exterior and interior colour combinations. "It’s all about customer customisation," says Lamarre. "Like mobile phones; you can change the colour of the phone, its cover, its wallpaper and its ring tone." In the C30, you can choose a white exterior with a brown body kit and even red carpet. There is a wide range of colour combinations available in the exterior, the body kit, upholstery, carpet shades and even three centre console finishes including an iPod white. Hallenbeck aid he hoped to have most of the combinations available, but trim details were not yet confirmed. The C30 clearly targets younger buyers rather than the traditional Volvo customer with its bold nose, rakish sloping roof, high sills, big wheels, funky glass tailgate, wide rear Porsche-like hips and sporty body kit. Its competition will include the 1 Series BMW, but mainly the Audi A3, even though it comes in a lot cheaper and better equipped than the German competitors. On price, alone, it would be more of a competitor with sporty variants of the Ford Focus, Mazda3, VW Golf and Holden Astra. "The A3 brought in more younger buyers, more women and it rejuvenated the brand," says Lamarre. "We expect the C30 to do the same." But there could be a big market in downsizing empty nestes who want a smaller car, but not necessarily fewer creature comforts. Top of the list of C30 attractions is the equipment levels: dual zone climate air conditioning with pollen filter; cruise control; proximity key that never needs leave your pocket; and two levels of audio including one with 10 Dynaudio speakers. The audio systems also include a jack to connect an MP3 player and from early in 2007, there will be a USB connector for an iPod. "People want style, performance and gadgets," says Lamarre. The C30 is a four-seater with the rear seats slightly offset to the middle to provide a good view of the road ahead for rear passengers, but still wide enough apart for a clear view between them for the driver. The cloth upholstery in the 2.4i is called "Dala" which is like a wet suit. It’s comfortable and appears to be very durable. Leather is an option on the 2.4i and standard on the D5 and T5. There is plenty of room in the front and back with seats supplying generous squab extension and contoured for comfort. The D5 and T5 will come standard with dynamic stability and traction control, with stability control on the 2.4i. Options include the award-winning BLIS system which alerts drivers of a car in their blind spot; a sport chassis which lowers the car 20mm and has firmer suspension; leater upholstery; and sunroof. Volvo expects to sell 600,000 cars worldwide in 2007, with 65,000 of them being C30s. In Australia, Volvo was the top-selling imported car from the early 1970s to the early ’90s and the company is hopeful the C30 will help return them to their glory days. Volvo Car Australia PR manager Todd Hallenbeck said they expected to sell 600 a year. Together with sales for other new products not available this year, this could lead to an extra 1500 sales in 2007. That includes 500 S80 saloons, 400 C70 convertibles plus an unknown number of diesel S40s. ON THE ROAD The Spanish holiday island of Mallorca is a strange mix of old and new architecture, partying young holidaymers and rich yachting tpes. Somehow this mirrors the appeal of the Volvo C30. It’s a bold and fresh new image for Volvo, especially that radical rear end, with enough of the Swedish DNA to make it unmistakeably Volvo. I get the feeling it will appeal to both the young who like the radical new look and the empty nesters who admire the proud nose and inconic badge. Heading out of Palma de Mallorca in peak-hour traffic, the C30 attracts plenty of stares and even some camera clicks form young and old alike. The T5 with the six-speed box feels easy to use in commuter traffic conditions, the gears shifting smoothly and swiftly without any notchy feeling. Out of Palma, the 120km/h freeways give the C30 a chance to stretch its legs. The T5 and D5 proved capable cruisers with enough grunt to overtake rapidly without urgent need for downshifting. But most of Mallorca has narrow and twisty roads with few bumps and rare opportunities for well-timed and brave passing. The C30 is perfectly suited to these conditions. First in the T5, the engine is so torquey you can drive most of the way in third. Wind it up on the short straights, then back off and the high compression engine tucks it into the corner. The brakes felt rather spongey and requiring plenty of pressure. Mid corner you let the revs drop as low as 1500 and it will still punch out from the apex without having to shift down. Only the hairpins required second and in some cases first gear. The manual T5s on test were fitted with the lowered sport suspension which had almost no understeer, unless you suddenly reefed on the steering wheel. Firing it out of the corner, there was a slight nose lift and mild torque steer. Steering is electro-hydraulic with a bit of play around the centre, but a distinct and controlled feel. Despite the sporty suspension, the few bumps where tree roots had tunneled under the super-smooth hot-mix asphalt are taken in its stride. By comparison, the standard suspension fitted to the five-speed auto D5s on test, is even more forgiving, but the nose wants to run wide and will not pull back near as easily. It runs down the road with a whisper of wind and tyre noise, but a howling diesel note when pushed. The petrol model didn’t even have an intake or exhaust growl to speak of. "The C30 is not designed as a sports car, but as a sporty car," says Volvo C30 program chief designer Simon Lamarre. No doubt, if it becomes a success, a more sporty version will be forthcoming. FAST FACTS ENGINES: 2435cc 5-cylinder petrol (2.4i); 2521cc 5-cylinder turbo petrol (T5); 2400cc 5-cylinder turbo diesel (D5) POWER: 125kW @ 6000rpm (2.4i); 162kW @ 5000rpm (T5); 132kW @ 4000rpm (D5) TORQUE: 230Nm @ 4400rpm (2.4i); 320Nm @ 1500–4800rpm (T5); 350Nm @ 1750–3000rpm (D5) TRANSMISSIONS: 5-speed manual (2.4i), 6-speed manual (D5, T5), 5-speed auto with sequential (all) DRIVE: front wheels SUSPENSION: spring-strut, lower link, anti-roll bar (front); individual, multilink, coil springs, anti-roll bar (rear) TURNING CIRCLE: 10.6 m BRAKES: ABS with electronic brakeforce distribution, 278–300/280mm ventilated discs DIMENSIONS (MM): 4252 (l), 1782 (w), 1447 (h), 2640 (wheelbase), 135 (ground clearance) KERB WEIGHT: 1204–1404kg FUEL: 91–98 RON and diesel (D5), 52litre tank (D5), 62litre tank (2.4i, T5) PRICES (estimated): $35,000 (2.4i), $44,000 (D5, T5) OPTIONS: BLIS blind spot alert ($1200), body kit, sports chassis, sunroof, leather trim.

Normally noise is a negative factor for convertibles. Drive along at highway speeds with the top down and you will be doing damage to your eardrums in a convertible. Even with the top up, it can be noisy.There are many other problems associated with rag-top driving.For a start, convertibles don't handle as well as their sedan brothers because the chassis is not as taut.That's because there is a gaping hole where the roof is supposed to be keeping out the rain and UV rays while holding the car together. And the bigger the convertible, the worse the handling.Manufacturers add extra chassis stiffeners to convertibles to stop the body twisting, but this makes the vehicle heavier than the sedan. In the Audi, it's up to 170kg heavier, the weight of two adult male passengers.Then there is the lack of security of a rag top. Thieves can simply slash and grab.To overcome the problems of security, noise and handling, some manufacturers have chosen to go with a folding hard-top roof. But that also presents a problem. It takes up more boot space than the folding rag top (but not in the Mazda MX-5 and new BMW 3 Series).And despite the shift by their leading competitor BMW to a folding hard top, Audi has stayed with the rag top.And I applaud them for it.Because with the top up or down, you can hear that glorious Formula One-style growl from the twin exhaust. It's enough to drive a full-grown man to tears of joy.And if you are in the market for a convertible then you think with your heart, you are passionate about motoring and you value feelings more than practicalities.The Audi certainly fits the bill.Released in July, it comes with a choice of two engines: a 1.8 turbo with 120kW of power and 225Nm of torque or the 3.2 FSI petrol direct injection V6 with 188kW and 330Nm.The 1.8T is priced at $83,400 and the V6 is available for $107,800.I drove the V6 and, although there are shortcomings with handling, that exhaust note is an outstanding selling point. So is the power that comes on lightning fast at high revs which is where the exhaust really sings.The sedan comes in quattro or front-wheel drive; the cabrio is available in front-wheel drive, so dynamic handling is not as good.There is a mountain of torque steer (that's when the steering wheel pulls left or right under heavy acceleration).The effect is exacerbated by the instantaneous launch feeling of the V6. Torque steer is fairly typical of high-powered front-wheel drivers, but it can be engineered out as in the Mazda MPS.While the handling is not as good as the sedan, Audi has worked hard to make this car handle well — for a convertible.They have modified the dynamic suspension system, with A6 shock absorbers, four-link front suspension and the sporty S4's self-tracking rear trapezoidal-link and front track rods. But don't expect a rough ride.Audi has ensured that it sits flat in corners, but without sacrificing comfort. They have allowed some compliance in the springs and shocks and consequently there is some pitch on acceleration and braking, and scuttle shake over sharp bumps.Audi has also kept its eye on style, comfort and safety. It now comes with clear front and rear lights, rear diffuser and an abundance of aluminium trim.On the safety front it has Xenon Plus headlights with automatic beam angle adjustment and daytime driving lights (optional for the 1.8T). Adaptive headlights that swivel to follow the corner are available as options.There are two-stage driver's airbag and side airbags, improved side impact protection and active roll-over protection system with two roll-over bars that project behind the rear seats for extra peace of mind.On the comfort front, the supportive front seats are heated. And doesn't that give you a warm feeling?Fast factsAudi A4 Cabrio 3.2Price: $107,800Engine: 3.1-litre, FSI petrol direct injection V6, 188kW@6500rpm, 330Nm@3250rpmTransmission: 7-speed continuously variable multitronic auto, front-wheel driveWheels/tyres: 17-inch alloys; 235/45 R 17, 5-parallel spokeFuel: 9.7L/100km combined claimed