Articles by Mark Hinchliffe

With the Nissan Leaf electric hatchback about to be launched here, sales of second-hand electric cars are showing early indications of low retained values. Brisbane City Council recently sold one of two electric cars at less than a third of its cost price after just two years and about 4000km. The other one failed to sell at auction, but is available at about $16,000 through Manheim auctions.  The Australian-made Blade Electron Mark V cost about $48,000 and is based on the petrol-powered equivalent Getz that last sold in 2011 for $13,990-$16,990. Glass's Guide research analyst Rushad Parkar says retained values for a two-year-old petrol-powered Getz are 84 per cent retail and 52 per cent trade for much higher kilometres travelled. "We at Glass's as of now do not have a policy outlined to determine used values for electric cars,'' he says. "However ... we believe the residual value will follow a path similar to that of the hybrid cars. The market is generally not showing acceptance towards them and the high price across the segment is also a major factor that hampers sales. "Also the lack of available samples ... is a major reason why we have no pricing on these vehicles.'' Brisbane City Council usually keeps vehicles for three years or 60,000km, but disposed of their Victorian-made electric vehicles after only two years and 4000km. Council refused to comment on the use of the electric vehicles but it is believed they will buy two of the new Leaf electric vehicles, costing $51,500. Nissan corporate affairs manager Jeff Fisher says 13 dealers have been selected to sell the Leaf EV, out of their 190 dealers. "Obviously we are looking firstly at city/urban-based dealers rather than country dealers,'' he says. "Since we launched it globally, we have had 3000 showing an initial interest and we are pursuing them to see if they are maintaining an interest as the car gets closer to sale. "Most of those are private buyers. "As with a lot of hi-tech vehicles, our customers will come from early adaptors, socially aware individuals, usually inner city dwellers and most likely as a second car. "Our fleet sales team has also been going around the country exposing decision-makers to the car, so we'll expect some feedback on their level of interest.'' Nissan Australia has joined with Origin Energy to assess a home recharging system. "We are underwriting an assessment of people's homes for recharging points,'' he says. "We've got a little bit more than 100 of those in the pipeline who might be Leaf owners in the future. The car which arrives in June will be available in one trim level. "We see it as a premium model which has everything that is available,'' Fisher says.  

The high-speed pursuit resulted in a YouTube sensation and a huge PR boost for the German manufacturer, according to the owner of the stolen vehicles. Kirsty Calabro of Westlake, Brisbane, yesterday thanked her dealership for their support in the aftermath of the brazen theft. "The TV footage of the police chase has now had more than 50,000 hits on YouTube," she said. "It was a pretty good ad for BMW because it showed the capability of the car. "I've since had six people say to me they will get an X5 because they saw the TV footage. "The police cars didn't stand a chance. They couldn't even stop it with stingers because it has run-flat tyres. That car is indestructible. It's a tank. We will be BMW owners forever." The ordeal began for the Calabros on the morning of Easter Monday when the police knocked on their door and told them their X5 had been stolen. The house had been burgled and the keys to the Mrs Calabro's 2011 X5 3.0d and husband Tony's 2005 Z4 2.5i were among items taken. The police chased the cars on several occasions throughout the day, with a two-hour high-speed pursuit late in the day followed by TV helicopters. Seven people were arrested by police after the chase. Mrs Calabro said she emailed Westside BMW aftersales manager Anthony Alafaci the next morning and was immediately offered their service car. "Little did I know that they already knew it was our car because they checked the rego from the photo in The Courier-Mail," she said. "They said we could have their loan car for as long as we wanted, but you just don't know how long insurance companies take." The Calabros used the dealership's loan car for three weeks while the business manager, Donna McCenor, assisted them with their insurance claim. Mrs Calabro was so impressed with the service, she presented several of the staff with flowers and plaques to thank them. BMW Australia managing director Phil Horton flew from Melbourne especially for the presentation. "This is the first time we've ever seen a customer give an award to a dealership," Mr Horton said. "Westside BMW is already number two in Australia for customer satisfaction and have been consistently high in our awards." Mrs Calabro says the ordeal has been difficult for the family which only moved back into their house seven weeks ago after damage from the 2011 floods had been repaired. "We're not rich bitches or anything. We're still paying off those cars that have been written off by the insurance companies," she said. "I'm now driving a friend's old car until the insurance is sorted out. "But I'll definitely be buying another X5. It's such a safe car for a young family."  

Broadcasts of in CD-quality digital signals began in most capital cities in 2009 and Commercial Radio Australia now estimates 1.2 million people or around 9.4 per cent listen to the 107 digital stations. However, with car manufacturers slow to introduce the DAB+ technology and few in-car aftermarket products available, only 60,000 or 5 per cent of those listeners tune in to digital radio in their cars. This compares with 34 per cent of all radio broadcasts being heard in cars.  However, Commercial Radio Australia chief executive officer Joan Warner expects the in-car audience for digital stations to swell as more car manufacturers include the technology and more aftermarket products become available. "Cars are the key to another big spike in DAB+ listening," she says.  "It takes a couple to add digital as standard and the customers will start asking for it. "We are going to be doing a car-focused event later this year with a local car manufacturer, so we are looking to draw the attention of listeners.  "Hopefully by drawing attention that it is standard in some cars, it will flow through to others. "Car manufacturers are very aware of the competitive nature of this. That's consumer pressure."  Vehicles available in Australia with DAB+ radio fitted as standard are Audi A8 V8s, BMW 550i, Lexus GS, Toyota Camry Atara SL, Camry Hybrid and Aurion, and Hino 300, 500 and 700 trucks. It is also available as an option in the six-cylinder A8s (in combination with Bose stereo and digital TV for $7500) and A6 (with digital TV for $3130) and most BMWs except Z4 and X1 with prices ranging from $385 to $950. It is believed a cheap small car - probably the Corolla - will add DAB+ as standard later this year. "I'm hoping in the next 12-18 months that at least another two brands will come out with standard fitting of DAB+," Warner says. One of the reasons manufacturers have given for the slow take-up of the technology is that Australia has the latest DAB+ signal which is not used in many other parts of the world.  However, Warner says countries in Europe and Asia are slowly moving from DAB to DAB+. "It's starting to roll out all over," she says. "We're currently talking to Indonesia about a trial in that country where they have 200 million people, Hong Kong has switched on and Germany has switched over to DAB+."  She says the UK is staying with DAB because of the number of vehicles with the technology already fitted, while America has a different digital system. Internationally, DAB+ is available in vehicles made by Audi, BMW, Fiat, Ford, Jaguar, Land Rover, Lexus, Lotus, Mercedes, Mini, Renault, Seat, Toyota, TVR, Vauxhall and Volvo. Warner says aftermarket products suitable for cars will also drive the digital radio revolution. "There are 10 million cars on the road in Australia and a large proportion won't be changed over for about eight or nine years so aftermarket will be our next focus," she says.  There are eight professionally installed aftermarket products available in Australia with more coming all the time, she says. The latest is the $499 Pure Highway 300Di that doesn't replace your existing car stereo or require holes to be drilled in the dashboard. It consists of an interface box, controller unit, active glass-mount aerial and USB charging and connector cable for iPod, iPhone or iPad with full control. There are also cheaper do-it-yourself in-car adaptors that mount on the dashboard and portable DAB+ players from as little as $80 that can be plugged into an existing audio system via an aux-in plug. Lingo has also released an adapter for the ubiquitous iPhone to transmit DAB+.  Warner says the latest innovation is "push radio" that pushes podcasts to a special player without the need of the internet. CRA is setting up a test with the Chinese inventor later this year. Australia has 107 digital stations in Adelaide, Brisbane, Canberra, Darwin, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney, of which 47 are existing stations duplicating their FM or AM signal on DAB+.  Sydney has the most with 11 existing stations and 13 new digital stations, followed by Melbourne with 10 existing and 12 new and Brisbane with eight and 11 new.  

Several car companies such as Audi, BMW, Ford, Honda and Volvo have prototype "robotic" models and Google has created an autonomous car that uses their navigation software.Now an American survey has found that many drivers can't wait to take their hands off the wheel and their feet off the pedals. The US Automotive Emerging Technologies Study shows more than one in three (37 per cent) of drivers would buy a robotic car. According to research by J.D. Power that figure drops to one in five when they realise the cars will cost at least an extra $3000. The American survey of 17,400 vehicle owners also found interest strongest among men aged 18 to 37 and owners of premium vehicles who may already have experienced autonomous technology such as adaptive cruise control, lane assistance and self-parking, a feature that is now available in Australia even in small cars such as the Ford Fiesta.Those in favour of robotic cars want them to perform the tedious driving tasks such as commuting and long trips, but also expressed interest in being able to drive themselves for pleasure and in dangerous situations. Those against robotic cars complain that it takes the fun out of driving and is unsafe. Industry sources say robot cars are still a decade away with the major hurdle being legislation. For example, law makers are uncertain of the legal ramifications for the "driver" if a robot car is involved in an accident. However, Nevada has already legislated for autonomous cars. As for the safety aspect, former research vice-president at General Motors Larry Burns believes they will be safer. He worked on the GM electric networked vehicle project and has co-written a book called Reinventing the Automobile: Personal Urban Mobility for the 21st Century.He claims that with proper infrastructure, networked robot cars would never crash into anything. "The intent is to have the self-driven vehicle be the safest driver in America," he said. To satisfy legal requirements there needs to be an alert driver in the driver's seat, to intervene in an emergency, he says. However, he told last month's National Automobile Dealers Association meeting that networked electric cars would be lighter, have smaller batteries, require less parking space and have "zero percent crashes or deaths." Public acceptance of such safe cars would likely be much higher than one in three.       J. Christian Gerdes and Sunil Paul talk to The Wall Street Journal about the future of personal transportation and its carbon footprint.   

Cars will improve their fuel economy by 18 per cent in the next five to 10 years, according to a joint Finnish/American study.Savings will be made by using slick new surfaces on the inside of your engine, lubricant additives, low-viscosity lubricants and low-friction tyres inflated to pressures higher than normal. A joint study by VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland and Argonne National Laboratory (ANL) in USA has found these technologies can reduce friction by anything from 10 to 80 per cent in various components of a car.The study predicts that reducing friction will lead to fuel savings and reduced emissions up to 18 per cent within the next five to 10 years and up to 61 per cent within 15 to 25 years. Researchers have found that friction accounts for a third of all energy loss in a car. Together with other losses through cooling, air resistance and exhaust emssions, only 21.5 per cent of the energy output of the fuel is used to move the car.Their study found that friction can be reduced by 10 to 50 per cent by using new surfaces inside engines such as diamond-like carbon materials and tiny materials called nanocomposites.A further 25 to 50 per cent of friction can be reduced by laser texturing to etch a microtopography on the surface of engine internals to channel lubricant and reduce internal pressures, reducing fuel consumption by 4 per cent. Ionic liquids made of electrically charged molecules that repel one another will prodice a further 25 to 50 per cent reduction in friction. 

The Diversion motorhome range starts at $119,900 with features such as soft front seats that swivel around and an oversized slide sliding door.Diversion can sleep four adults as it is equipped with an electric roll down bed which drops from the ceiling at the touch of a button and can be stopped in any position, used as a low double bed or is adjustable to create a bunk effect to sleep additional people.Now available in the Diversion range is the choice of a twin lounge area in the rear of the vehicle, the leather lounge cushions doubling as single beds to provide extra full size bedding. While the lounges can be kept in a single bed format, they can also be converted to a large double bed by sliding the lounge seats towards the centre.In both layouts, the Diversion is equipped with seatbelts for four people. Diversion has two living areas with a large kitchen area, light-coloured furniture and bathroom with a hot shower, flushing toilet, vanity and 125-litre fresh water supply.The Diversion is manufactured on the Mercedes Benz 316 powered by a 2.2 litre turbo diesel engine married to a five-speed automatic or manual transmission. It features electric windows and mirrors, cruise control and trip computer and all the safety related features expected from a Mercedes Benz vehicle.Standard features are an external wind out awning, a flat screen television with a built in DVD player, power-boosted TV aerial, roof-mounted reverse-cycle air-conditioning and refrigerator operating on 240 volt, gas or battery power.Winnebago RVs come with a two-year, one million kilometres warranty and a five-year structural warranty as well as two years free emergency roadside assist.Winnebago DiversionPrice: from $119,990Chassis: Mercedes Benz 316 EXL VanEngine: 4 cyl turbo diesel 2143cc, 120kWBody: 7.5m (L), 2m (W), 2.8m (H)GVM: 3880kgGCM: 5880kgWater: 125L (fresh), 74L (grey), 14L (hot)Fuel: 75L diesel tank; 2 x 4kg LP gas tanks 

Separating the Impreza from the WRX might turn out to be the smartest move yet by Subaru. Rather than being a stripper version of the high-performance WRX, the Impreza deserves to stand on its own merits.In its fourth incarnation, the Impreza finally has the style, refinement and value to attract the middle ground away from the Mazda3 and Toyota Corolla.VALUEWe tested the new Impreza 2.0iL hatch with CVT ($29,490) which sits toward the upper end of the Impreza model range. The outgoing Impreza range was priced from $21,490 to $28,490, while the new range goes from $23,990 to $31,490 with a new drivetrain, improved features and better fuel economy to justify the price rise.Standard features in this model include 16-inch steel wheels, dual-zone climate control aircon, Bluetooth phone and audio link to the USB-compatible six-speaker sound system, trip computer, front fog lights, leather trim steering wheel and gear knob, and rearview camera. You can add a satnav and sunroof in a pack for $3000, which seems a bit excessive. But Subaru gets ticks for value by not charging for pearl or metallic paint and for its good resale.TECHNOLOGYA new 2.0-litre version of Subaru's trademark boxer engine, new transmissions, improved aerodynamics and electric power steering drop fuel economy to below 7.0L/100km, a claimed 20 per cent improvement. The engine has the same power and torque as before but now has a longer stroke for more torque at lower revs, which translates to better acceleration.All Imprezas now get stop-start fuel-saving system, which the company claims will reduce fuel consumption by up to 5 per cent. Most of the savings are in stop-start city traffic where this car can expect to do most of its driving, anyway.The improved CVT also increases economy by 22 per cent over the outdated four-speed auto. The cabin seems to exude technology with a screen in the centre of the instruments, one in the centre stack and a third on the dashboard. The larger multi-function display has up to eight displays, which can be personalised to show a range of useful information and even send you a happy birthday message.The upgraded audio also has USB, MP3 and iPhone connectivity while the optional satnav system has voice control and predictive text when entering an address. It will even offer you a more economical route to save on fuel and CO2 emissions. All-wheel-drive is, of course, standard.DESIGNThe designers have listened to the critics and smartened up the styling both inside and out and used better quality plastics in the cabin for an overall smarter look. Outside, the windscreen is steeper, the bodywork more sculpted, the headlights sharper and more defined and the hatch just looks spunkier than before.Inside, legroom has increased with higher front seats that have scalloped-out seat backs. Access to the rear is also improved by wider-opening doors with more foot room. Storage bins abound with door pockets that fit a water bottle and an A4 folder or laptop.The centre console has a handy clip-holder for a notebook and a pen.The cargo areas is flat with a low-loading lip and flat-folding rear seats.SAFETYAll Subarus get five stars for safety with seven airbags, stability control and ABS and this model adds a rearview camera which overcomes the compromising rear hatch visibility problem. Visibility up front is good with thinner front pillars, higher front seats and door mirrors that are 20 per cent bigger.DRIVINGIt looks solid and feels solid when you open and shut the doors, but it drives like a much lighter car. That's probably because the body and chassis are 20kg lighter. It also has to do with the typically light steering feel, snappy throttle response, a 10 per cent stiffer chassis and its low centre of gravity, which is 504mm from the ground, comparing favourably with the Porsche Cayman S at 485mm. Around town it flicks neatly through corners, parks without fuss and sprints smartly off the line in the traffic light derby. Out on the open road, we appreciate its stability and its quiet cabin which is approaching Camry levels of hush, although those bigger door mirrors do add some wind noise. The soft interior plastic surfaces and firmer controls, such as the new door handles, give the hatch a feeling of quality. This is one of the best CVTs around, being smooth, responsive and seamless.VERDICTThe Impreza is a step forward in quality, economy and safety that will appeal to a wider market than just Subaru loyalists.

The 46-year-old Gold Coast earthmoving contractor has wisely used Australia's high dollar to negotiate good prices on a couple of classic surfing vehicles from America - a 1940 Ford Woody wagon and a 1962 split-windscreen VW Kombi."They take you back to a time when life was simple," he said. He and wife Fiona bought the Woody six months ago for about $30,000 and already they have knocked back an offer of $120,000 while the Kombi cost $35,000 and has attracted offers up to $80,000."The guy who sold me the Woody sent it with two Malibu surfboards and I drove around for five days before I realised he had also left a Beach Boys greatest hits CD in the stereo for me," he said. "That was the heart-melting moment of that car. He was just so in touch with what we wanted."Every time we take these vehicles out someone offers money or wants a photo taken with them. They bring out the child in people." Shannons Insurance national auction manager Chris Boribon confirmed the trend toward collecting surf-culture cars, especially "Woodies" which are wagons with a wood panel down the side. "A good Woody left in its original state and not modified is definitely a very collectible car," he said. "They have some style about them and they give us fond memories of the surf culture back in the '50s and '60s."However, Boribon warned that restorers of Woodies would not only need mechanical knowledge, but also woodworking skills. Some US internet sites are advertising Woodies at up to $200,000, but Boribon suggested more-affordable Australian Woodies worth collecting include the Ford XL and XM Falcon Squire wagon. "They are a very collectible thing, but they are quite hard to find," he said. Watson will add his surf-culture cars to his growing collection of classic vehicles which he plans to hire through his new business, Woody's Surf Car Hire, catering for private functions such as weddings, as well as movie props. Watson says he has bought and sold more than 100 vehicles since his parents gave him a HT Holden station wagon at the age of 15. "I grew up in a family where my father and brothers worked for GMH at Acacia Ridge and were Holden men through and through," he said. "I'm not a diehard Holden fan. I appreciate all the cars." Yet his collection says otherwise with a 1968 HK Monaro GTS, 1971 HQ drag car and 1969 HG panel van also in his garage. 

Cue the mod music and grab your parka - the Vespa PX is back. Last seen here in 2008, the four-speed manual, two-stroke, single-cylinder has returned. This is what real Quadraphenia-style scootering is all about. Not your mamby pamby auto four-strokes, but a buzzing, lively stroker.ValueAt $5990, it's exactly the same price as a Honda SH150i four-stroke scooter. But a 150 two-stroker is lighter and has more power than an equivalent sized four-stroker, so it really should be compared with a 200cc or even bigger four-stroke machine.So, in that regard, the PX represents excellent value. To those who place a lot of importance in the intrinsic value of a traditional scooter, it is even better value.TechnologyTwo-stroke machines have come a long way from the coughing, smoking machines of the past.This comes with an electric start, plus a back-up kick starter. You won't need the latter, but it does add to the look and authenticity of the machine, just like some modern Royal Enfields which also retain the kicker just for effect.The PX 150 comes with a four-speed manual gearbox with the shifter and clutch on the left handlebar. It sounds tricky, but it only takes a couple of minutes to get used to it.DesignClassics should never be altered and this timeless Tuscan beauty hasn't changed much since the first PX in 1977.Ok, that means it isn't a 1960s mod scooter, but its squared-off look is still retro with classic clear instruments, black rubber grips with Vespa logo, chrome taillight and classic Vespa logo on the central rubberised tunnel cover which has an elegant edge in glazed material.While a lot of scooters are mostly plastic, the Vespa has a traditionally sturdy steel bodyshell, yet at 97kg dry, it weighs the same as the 50cc Vespa four-stroker.It even comes with a spare wheel tucked up under the left rear fender. Together with the engine, that means there is no storage space under the seat, but there is a big lockable glovebox in the front cowl. It comes in Azzuro Mediterraneo (blue), Monte Bianco (white), Nero Lucido (black) and Rosso Dragon (red).RidingTo ride a stroker scooter is to take a step back in time; the noise, the smell, the feel of a spinning two-stroke engine, the lack of engine braking.It's literally a buzz and not just because it will take you straight to an espresso bar. The whole stroker experience leaves your nerves tingling.At idle the buzzing stroker makes the high mirrors vibrate substantially, but they smooth out with revs - and you need plenty of them to get going.Despite the liberal use of revs, it drinks fuel like an Italian sipping tiny espressos. The oil reservoir pre-mixes with the fuel, so you only have to top it up every few (and rare) refills and it doesn't spew clouds of blue smoke, either.Like all Vespas it has a strong unibody construction which provides rigidity and good handling, but the tiny 10-inch (25cm) wheels do tend to kick it about over road imperfections. It also suffers from truck wind-blasts on the highway.In traffic, it will get along quite well and zip away from the lights so long as you are aggressive with the revs and gear changes. Progress is hampered by ascents, but a cog downshift or two will sort that out.I wound it out to 100km/h on the highway without too much effort and never felt I was holding up traffic, although you do have to be aggressive with the throttle.The brakes are a combination of right lever for the front and a floor pedal for the rear. The floor pedal feels a little soft, but has plenty of fee so you avoid locking the rear and fish-taling up to the red lights. They work best when used together.Riding position is cramped for my 17cm frame and the bars are too low, but the fat seat is very comfortable.The kick starter is light and easy and it starts first time. However, you'll need some choke first thing in the morning. It doesn't need the kicker as the electric button is faultless, but you find yourself using it because this scooter takes you back to simpler times.VerdictThis is a stylish and frugal commuter that will also beg you to take it out for weekend errands and cafe rendezvous.Vespa PX 150Price: $5990Warranty: 2 years/unlimited kmService: 6000kmEngine: 2-stroke 150cc single-cylinderStarter: electric/kickTransmission: 4-speed manualBrakes: 200mm disc (front), 150mm drum (rear)Tyres: 10-inchDimensions: 1810mm (L), 740mm (W), 1260mm (WB), 810mm (Seat)Fuel: 95 RON, 8-litre tankDry weight: 97kg

One racer who has noted the annual improvements in the Suzuki GSX-R 1000 is Craig Lowndes.The five-time Bathurst winner is also a motorcycle enthusiast and Suzuki ambassador who has been taking delivery of a new GSX-R1000 as well as Suzuki RM-Z dirt bikes each year for the past three years.Lowndes uses the bikes as part of his training regime. "It amazes me that any manufacturer can keep producing a better vehicle than the previous year," he says."I've only done about 400km at the moment so it's still brand new but already I can tell it's nicer to ride with smoother power delivery and a much sweet bike on the road.For 2012, the GSX-R1000 is so light its Showa suspension was softened to match. Rarely does a sports bike receive softer suspension but Suzuki has shaved 2kg off its already lightweight superbike.That makes it 3kg lighter than the Yamaha R1, which adds 1kg and remains the heaviest of the litre-capacity sports bikes. Suzuki engineers have shaved most of the weight from the engine with 11 per cent lighter and stronger pistons, revised crankcases with newly designed ventilation holes, a modified exhaust camshaft profile and increased engine compression ratio."The suspension is a little more compliant," says Lowndes. "It's still on the standard road setting and I haven't played around with it yet but it seems plush enough and forgiving for normal road use.At 136kW, the Suzuki is 2.1kW more powerful than the Yamaha R1. Other changes to the 2012 Gixxer include a new exhaust with lightweight titanium muffler, new graphics and colours including pinstripes on the wheels, a high-grip seat and dual Brembo monoblock calipers up front on new discs."One thing they warned me about is the brakes," says Lowndes. "The new Brembos have a lot more bite." While Yamaha and Kawasaki have followed the lead of European models with electronic traction control, Suzuki and Honda have steered away from the heavy electronics.Suzuki, along with Yamaha, has also rejected anti-lock braking, while the new Kawasaki ZX10-R joins Honda, BMW and Ducati with ABS. The GSX-R1000 is the current Australian Endurance champion while Team Suzuki rider Josh Waters has won the first two rounds of the 2012 Australian Superbike Championships.Lowndes and Waters are good friends and are often seen talking bikes in the pits at Supercar or Superbike rounds, while Waters gives the V8 legend riding tips at track days where he rides a 2008 Team Suzuki training bike.* In the first three months of the year, the Honda Fireblade remains the top-selling sportsbike in Australia, followed by the Suzuki GSX-R1000, Yamaha R1 and Kawasaki ZX10-R.SUZUKI GSX-R1000L2Price: $17,990Warranty: 2 years/unlimited kmResale:  54 per centService interval: 6000kmEngine: 999cc, 4-cylinder, 136kWTransmission: 6-speed, chain-driveSuspension: adjustable Showa forks and rear shockBrakes: Brembo calipers, 310mm discs (front), Nissin caliper, 220mm disc (rear) Fuel tank: 17.5LBody: 2045mm (L), 705mm (W), 1130mm (H), 1405mm (WB), 810mm (seat)Weight: 203kg wetTyres: 120/70 ZR17; 190/50 ZR17