Articles by Mark Hinchliffe

Kedron Caravans, known for manufacturing vans to suit latrge 4WDs, have produced a van suitable to be towed by mid-range 4WDs. Company spokesman Glen Gall says the XC-3 Kedron caravan reflects "a growing request to complement our range". "We have been known to be tough on the testing side of things with vans behind the 70 or 200 series, and pitched manufacturing over the years towards these tow-vehicles with a 3500kg capacity," he says. "While we will still maintain production of the ATV and TopEnder for this market, there was a growing request for a van that would be suitable behind the likes of a Prado for around Australia travel with the ability to get off the road into the likes of National Parks and places of interest without the need to be going to the more extreme off-road. "It was this, coupled with the continuing popularity of the mid-4WD market that made us decide to move into building something suitable for them." The new XC-3 will be available with a shower and toilet in three varied body lengths: 5.4m  (Tare 2055kg ATM 2500kg); 6.4m (Tare 2250kg ATM 2800kg); and 7m (Tare 2450kg ATM 3000kg). The caravan has a new hot-dipped galvanised chassis, interlocked aluminium frame, insulated roof and walls and trailing arm coil suspension with dual shock. Furniture is made with a lighter timber but still v-nailed for strength with metal side ply-base draws and positive locking marine grade cupboard catches. Prices start at $69,450 for the 5.4m airconditioned caravan with 135w Kyocera Solar Panel, 120a/hr AGM house battery with charger and roll-out awning. The 6.4m ($78,800) and 7m ($89,830) models have a separate shower and toilet. "With the new model, we have redeveloped from the ground up with a focus on weight reduction whilst maintaining strength," he says. "Over the past few months Dad (Barry), and brothers David and Peter have been developing a new model that will encompass a van that to suit long-distance touring, lowered in weight while still maintaining the strength to allow dirt road travel into sought after remote destinations." The 5.4m van has a maximum loaded ATM of 2500kg but can be upgraded to 3000kg if the tow vehicle allows. It has been built specifically for the five-door Prado, and larger sizes in the XC3 range. At 2250kg it is compatible with most of the mid-range 4WDs available. Gall says customers for the new van want to travel "with little limitations" "But still maintaining comfort and features for remote stays and being more conscious of efficiency with regards to running costs," he says. "I've been driving a Prado for the past two years, and while the 200 and 70s are stalwarts of the towing industry, the Prado just feels to be such a brilliant blend of both size and ability.

Suzuki Australia spokesman Eoin Black says the last time they had a price rise was in October 2009. Since then, the bikes have become the first motocrossers to introduce electronic fuel injection which is now widespread across the segment. The new race-ready RM-Z450 and RM-Z250 are little changed for 2012 with new colours and graphics. However, Suzuki is introducing an improved spares kit with the addition of frequently used spares such as air filter, oil filter, piston ring set and o-ring oil filter cover. Black says the RM-Z models are also now included in their Suzuki Finance Holeshot 4.99 per cent campaign. Suzuki's Support Rider program will also have "generous contingency payments" for the upcoming Super X season to riders competing on Suzukis. Black says sales of their MX range are up 5 per cent so far this year while the off-road sector is down 7.5 per cent. He says racing success underpins the sales success of the RM-Z range. Both are strong competitors in Australian and American motocross and supercross. Errol Willis recently claimed the Under 19 2011 Australian National Motocross Championship on an RM-Z250. At the heart of their success is the battery-less EFI that uses a capacitor-assisted starting system for easy kick-starting.It is powered by a durable, lightweight magneto-generator after starting. The EFI system in the RM-Z450 ($11,590) has three fuel maps (lean, standard and rich) to allow riders to fine tune their preferences to suit track conditions. Following in the footsteps of its big brother, the RM-Z250 ($10,690) was the first, quarter-litre production motocross machine to feature EFI. The little MX has a sturdy connecting rod and mirror finishing allowing a stunning 13,500rpm maximum engine speed. Both models now sport a red gripper seat cover and black fork leg protectors with new graphics in Suzuki's traditional yellow and black livery.Suzuki motocrossersPrices: $10,690 (RM-Z250), $11590 (RM-Z45)Engines: 449cc, four-stroke, single-cylinder, liquid cooled, DOHC, 4-value; 249cc,four-stroke, single-cylinder, liquid cooled DOHCTransmission: 5-speed, constant meshWheelbase: 1475mm (250), 1480mm (450)Seat: 955mmLength: 2170mm; 2185mmWidth: 830mmHeight: 1270mm; 1260mmKerb weight: 104.5kg; 112kgFuel tank: 6.5/6.2 litres

Imagine Jon Bon Jovi in comfy trousers crooning with a cocktail bar ensemble. That's the Honda Civic Si Hatch. It's built in Britain alongside the Type R which wears tight leather pants and screams punk rock. The Si is a toned down and mellowed-out version with softer suspension and more sedate performance.VALUEWhile most of our Honda product hails from Thailand, this Civic hatch comes from Britain, so it has some nice styling touches that make it stand out from the Thai-built sedans. However, at $29,990, it's more than $5000 above the corresponding Civic sedan and several thousand more than comparative Japanese and Korean five-door hatches. It aligns more closely in price with Euro-made hatches such as the Ford Focus, Peugeot 308 and Renault Megane. Value is aided by features such as climate control airconditioning, Bluetooth, rain-sensing wipers, fog lights and rear parking sensors, plus Honda's traditionally good resale value, reliability and build quality.TECHNOLOGYHonda was the first to use variable valve technology in its engines which converts it from a mellow kitten at low revs to a screaming wildcat at high revs. While this 1.8-litre engine is hardly a wildcat, it does work much better at high revs. The i-VTEC 4-cylinder engine is mated to a five-speed auto or six-speed manual gearbox which earn their keep by maintaining optimum revs to get the most out of the 103kW peak power and 174Nm torque. The Si hatch now comes with Bluetooth which is quick and easy to connect and reliably pairs every time, even with my iPhone 4 which can be difficult to pair with many car Bluetooth systems. Unfortunately the Bluetooth connection doesn't include music streaming, but there are AUX/USB connectors and a convenient 12V outlet in the centre console.DESIGNI owned a 1979 Honda Accord hatch which seemed smaller than this Civic. Apart from growing in size, the Civic hatch has also leapt ahead with modern styling inside and out. The design also has a racing influence with a mesh grille replacing the clear plastic grille, a race-style petrol cap, integrated tailpipes like the Type R and Flash Gordon door handles including hidden door handles on the rear door. On the tailgate there is a stylish spoiler in the middle of the glass. Inside, there are drilled pedals, sporty steering wheel, a big red start button like S2000 and a futuristic dashboard with controls that are easy to understand. SAFETY There are six airbags, ABS, electronic brake-force distribution, electronic stability and a tyre-pressure warning system earning it five stars in Euro NCAP crash tests. However, it fails on the visibility stakes with the stylish rear spoiler splitting the rear window and creating a blind spot.The rear three-quarter view is also limited by a thick C pillar and the driver's door mirror doesn't fold out far enough to view the next lane, although there is a convex end to the mirror which I find confusing because it is distorted. Although it comes with rain-sensing wipers, there is no wiper on the rear and the top half definitely needs it as water pools there. A roof-mounted wiper would fix that. DRIVINGIt might look like a Type R, but this is a sheep in wolf's clothing. You have to vigorously stir the gearbox to get good motivation and the shifter feels notchy and frail. At least the clutch is also light so it's good for city driving with lots of cog-swapping. Handling is capable and consistent, never messy or fussy. Just point and go. There is a lot to like about this Civic. It feels classy inside, if a little noisy on the highway. Honda has also given quite a bit of thought to the package with some useful touches such as the 12V outlet in the cargo area, wide-opening rear doors and clever, flat-folding 60-40 split rear seats. There is plenty of room in the back for three adults and the centre rear seat has a lap-sash belt, but there is a bump in the seat which makes it uncomfortable. Niggles include the driver's door mirror, temporary spare and tailgate vision. But the biggest bugbear is the futuristic split instrument panel with the all-important speedo at the top obscured by the top of the steering wheel. Not everyone will experience this, but I like the steering wheel high and close and in that position I simply couldn't see how fast I was driving. VERDICT Like Jon Bon Jovi, the Honda Civic Si should appeal to those who like their adult-oriented rock in a more palatable form. It looks like a Type R, but it's actually a hatch for everyday use.Honda Civic Si HatchPrice: $29,990 ($32,290 auto)Warranty: 3 year/100,000km; 6 year rustService: 10,000kmResale: 53% after 3 yearsEngine: 1.8-litre i-VTEC, 4-cylinder, 103kW/174NmTransmission: 6-speed manual (5-speed auto), front-wheel driveEconomy: 6.9L/100km (7.2 auto)CO2: 163g/km (172 auto)Dimensions: 4270mm (L), 1765mm (W), 1460mm (H),Kerb weight: 1285kg, (1320kg auto)Tyres: 225/45 R17, temporary spare

As you fork over your 30 per cent luxury car tax, consider the Chinese buyer being offered massive discounts and incentives such as free iPhones and cheap designer handbags.  Luxury car makers are falling over each other to gain a foothold in the lucrative Chinese market, according to financial news and data service Bloomberg. It reports that discounts up to 25 per cent are being offered on the Audi A8L, BMW 7-Series, and Mercedes-Benz S300.  A Mercedes distributor in the southern Chinese city of Shenzhen is also offering female customers up to 20 per cent off Chanel, Louis Vuitton and Hermes handbags if they buy a car in March.  BMW dealers offered iPhones, free car insurance and maintenance in January and February, while Volvo gave buyers of their C30 small car a free trip to Hong Kong.  Shanghai Mercedes-Benz salesman Jack Ren says the days when customers paid extra to jump the queue for a new car have ended.  "A buyer of a S600 sedan ($390,000) last year would have to pay an additional 200,000 yuan ($30,000) to hasten delivery of his car," Ren told Bloomberg. "This year, the same car is selling for 200,000 yuan less." The discounts and incentives come as China's vehicle sales are likely to fall short of an 8 per cent growth forecast thanks to a slowing economy and rising fuel costs.  While China's car market may struggle to stay in the black, luxury car companies are still poised to make double-digit gains. Experts tip that luxury car sales will rise by about 24 per cent this year, which is down on the 34 per cent growth of last year.  Audi, BMW and Mercedes accounted for more than 70 per cent of luxury-car sales in China, with Audi having the largest share at more than 30 per cent, according to Morgan Stanley. Eyeing the sales luxury boom are brands such as Cadillac, Jaguar, Land Rover, Lexus and Infiniti which are expanding in China. But Credit Suisse has warned luxury car makers that offering discounts to increase their market share could dull the luster of their brand.  "You'd rather lose a customer because of pricing because that is part of your premium heritage: people can't afford it," a spokesman said. "Protecting your brand should be the most important thing."

Queensland-based RV company Australian Off-Road Campers has re-engineered and strengthened the chassis and wheel arches of the Quantum Series II. The company's consulting engineer recommended a larger drawbar with the removal of the truss system after the black tank was added to the front drawbar. The suspension upgrade now means the tare weight of the empty Quantum has increased to 1750kg. Quantum also gets a 35 litre front tank for flushing the toilet system. The extra water capacity required the ATM to be increased to 2400kg with the addition of an electric breakaway system. This has allowed a 650kg load capacity. The drawbar weight is now 170kg giving 10 per cent weight distribution for safer towing. Upgrades have increased the price by $4000 to $82,500 on the road, but they are not limited to the chassis. Electrical improvements include AGM 120 amp hour calcium batteries, plug-in C/Tek battery charger, plug-in solar panels, extra fuse box and two extra 12-volt sockets. Inside, there are now S/S locked-down catches on the EvaKool 80-litre fridge/freezer for quick removal, soft-closing kitchen drawer slides and better quality Dometic taps. Outside, the pop-top roof now has eight vibration supports to reduce tension and wear on scissor lifts which can be removed externally. Other improvements include a rear spare wheel rack, an optional rear camera mounting pole, plug-in taillights, new self-locking and greaseable jockey wheel, optional bike rack, aluminuium front toolbox stand and keyless opening hot water system cover.

BMW Australia managing director Phil Horton regards the 1 Series M Coupe (let's just call it the M1, shall we?) as an "instant classic." "This is a return to what BMW has always done best: building the perfectly balanced sports coupe". With the last of the current M3s bellowing into the sunset - there will be no more of the naturally aspirated breed - the M division looked at the 135i coupe and decided there was scope for extra muscle.VALUEAt $99,900, a $25,000 price hike, the M1 gets an extra 25kW and 100Nm from the twin-turbo six-cylinder powerplant. The torque is delivered via a 700rpm wider rev range. There's also a stack of drivetrain and suspension tweaks.The M1's kit includes a 10-speaker sound system (up from six), 19-inch alloy wheels from the M3 Competition pack (up from the 135i Sport's 18-inchers), iPod input (the 135i has a USB), insulated windows and active bi-xenon headlights .There's also (crucially) the locking rear diff, beefier brakes (drilled and grooved) with the energy recovery system. Only three hues are available - black metallic, white non-metallic and the signature Valencia orange. Options are few for a BMW. There are keyless entry and start, high-beam auto-dipping, front seat heating and a six-CD changer in the boot.TECHNOLOGYThe inline six's twin turbos are small units that spin up quickly to minimise lag. The M1 also recovers its braking energy to reduce load on the power generation side of the engine and keep the battery charged up.The six-speed transmission has been designed not only to keep weight down (it weighs 43kg) but also to cope with that tidal wave of torque. Another thing that gives the lie to BMW's refusal to officially call this the "M1" is that is the M cars' variable rear differential is standard.This is an item for which the 135i Sport always cried out. Proper M cars get it and it's great for putting down maximum drive as you shoot out of a corner. The little coupe also gets the one-button party piece - M Dynamic Mode - which puts the electronic nannies to sleep, giving you more scope for amusement while retaining some electronic back-up if exuberance writes cheques that ability can't cash.DESIGNBMW says the M1 is the shortest and the flattest M car yet; its wide, muscular stance is emphasised by flared guards, quad exhausts and enlarged air intakes. For the first time in series production, the M1 gets a clever design for the side air intakes called "air curtains," which improve air flow around the wheel arches.With its long snout, stumpy rump, squat stance and flared guards, the M1's not pretty in the conventional sense, but it certainly has presence. The four-seater cabin gets leather and alcantara trim and its power-adjustable sports seats have contrasting stitching.SAFETYHow about multi-mode stability control, anti-lock brakes with cornering assist, disc-dry, fade-control and emergency braking systems and that M diff lock? There are TC airbags and active bi-xenon headlights. Spare tyre? Sorry run flats have to suffice. DRIVINGThe appearance is anything but false advertising. Its flared wheel arches, impossibly wide wheel tracks front and rear and quad exhaust pipes scream pocket rocket. The $25,000 premium over the 135i is a solid hike but all the M extras give it a road stance and a planted nature that inspires confidence behind the wheel.Dark and demure, the snug cabin is straightforward by comparison to some M-cars. The switchgear is far less confusing than the outgoing M5, for example. The satnav screen is broad and clear, as are the speedometer and tachometer. The pedals are close-set and a little to the right of where they would ideally be.Even the M button onthe steering wheel is less complex, with BMW limiting the variable functions. The sports seats are comfortable, with excellent lateral support (particularly in the backrest) and the rim of the big M steering wheel has a rim thickness that is nearly too much, even for my large mitts thick. In some ways, it is a more relaxed beast through traffic, even with no automated gearbox, something  BMW doesn't see as a handicap to sales. As 200 will find homes here, there's no reason to doubt it. Gearchanges can be as numerous or rare as you desire. The tsunami of torque  from the twin-turbo six gives its drivetrain such a relaxed demeanour. Road speed is never in doubt, given the outputs and the lithe kerb weight - a millisecond of lag is followed by unearthly acceleration and a muted but attractive (for a turbo) soundtrack. The gearshift is a clean, short and direct selection process, but no matter which ratio, the surge is strong. The largely aluminium suspension, donated by the M3, takes some sharpness from road ruts and bumps, but seriously ruffled roads will cause some consternation. The M1 suffers a little on the wrong road and could cause all manner of trouble for the driver on the right road. A stint on a racetrack is just the thing to make sense of the car - this is where it all falls into place.Its chunky low-profile rubber is in its element, turning in deftly and fighting manfully to maintain the desired line. Up to a very swift point, there's composure, excellent body control and plenty of information through the steering to keep the driver informed. Channel the extremes of outputs through the rear end and the stability control (even in snooze mode) has some complaints about the engine's desire to destroy the rear tyres. BMW chief driving instructor Geoff Brabham demonstrated what happens when the electronics are sacked and the rear tyres (and the tricky rear diff) fend for themselves. The coupe will wiggle its bum wantonly but the never-flustered Brabham had no trouble reining in the rear.VERDICT This is the car that BMW wants to bring the young and young-at-heart into the M fold, sneaking in under $100,000 and promising purist, traditional thrills - front engine, rear drive, manual gearbox, attitude and the muscles to back it up - and you can still stick rugrats in the back and  gear in the boot.A firecracker you'd drive every day if you could.BMW 1 SERIES M COUPEPrice: $99,900 plus on-road costsEngine: 3.0-litre turbocharged six-cylinder petrolOutputs: 250kW at 5900rpm and 450Nm at 1500rpmTransmission: Six-speed manual, rear-wheel drive

Nothing has ever come close to matching the Honda Gold Wing luxury tourer for agility, power and features. Until now.BMW's new six-cylinder 1600 GTL has more power and torque, more features, less weight, better economy and a cheaper price tag. This is the heavy weight title fight of bikes and the two opponents each pack a wallop, but the new BMW's six-cylinder engine is the killer with fly-me-to-the-moon grunt.The K 1600 comes in GT form with a higher seat and more aggressive ergonomics and the GTL with a lower seat, fog lights and top box. BMW Motorrad Australia marketing manager Miles Davis says the company has a "strong reputation for touring models".  "But this is a clean slate with no existing platforms," he says. VALUEThe tourers arrive at $34,990 for the GT and $36,990 for the GTL with the lot. The GT is about $10,000 more than the Honda ST1300, Kawasaki GTR1400 and Yamaha FJR1300 A, but has a lot more kit. The GTL is $1000 less than the standard Gold Wing and $7000 less than the more comparative luxury model, although Honda is doing deals to move stock. It is also $2000 more than the Harley-Davidson Electra Glide but has a lot more kit.TECHNOLOGYThe heart of the BMW is the extremely compact in-line six-cylinder engine which is only 62mm wider than the K1300 engine. It is a powerhouse with 170Nm of torque and 70 per cent of that from just 1500rpm, plus 118kW of top-end, scalp-tingling power. There are three engine management modes for rain (flatter power and torque curve, heavy traction control), road (full power and torque) and dynamic (full power and torque, more sensitive throttle, later traction control). Technology abounds with anti-dive Duolever/Paralever suspension, fly-by-wire throttle, traction control, electric screen, iPod/iPhone connectivity, adaptive Xenon headlights, central locking, heated seat, satnav (optional) and Bluetooth. It even has a slipper clutch, something usually only found in sportsbikes. These are the first bikes with car technology such as central remote locking for the five luggage compartments, daytime running light "Corona" rings from BMW cars, adaptive headlights and an infotainment controller like BMW's iDrive system.The headlights not only swivel side to side but up and down with the bike's banking angle to cleverly illuminate the inside of a corner. DESIGN It is difficult to make a large tourer look good with all those panniers, top boxes and massive barn-door fairings. But the BMW is sleek from all angles, except the rear where the lack of bodywork on the panniers make it look unfinished. The aggressive panel angles mirror the S 1000 RR superbike making it look neat and racy even though there is 115 litres of storage capacity (46L top box and 33L each pannier).SAFETY The Gold Wing luxury model may have an airbag, but the K1600 is a tour de force of primary safety technology such as ABS, traction control, tyre pressure control monitor, electronic suspension adjustment, adaptive headlights and rider modes.RIDINGThe bikes were launched on the twisty Tweed and Gold Coast hinterland roads, broken in places by January floods; a punishing test that proved BMW's suspension up to the task with a smooth ride and unshakeable handling. The GTL has a relaxed riding position with closer bars, a lower seat height and a bigger pillion seat, although it's not as roomy as the Gold Wing's pillion perch. It comes with a top box standard and a massive electronically adjustable windscreen that almost blocks out the world. This alone should entice Wing riders who have to stop to adjust their windscreen. There are also some GTL chrome badges and wide comfort pegs. The GT has a higher seat and slightly further lean to the bars with a slightly lower but just as effective windscreen. A top box and low seat are options. While it doesn't have a reverse gear, it is up to 100kg lighter than the Wing so it is easy to manoeuvre with your feet in carparks. Ninety minutes of night riding convinced me to never ride again in the dark without adaptive lights. They are a must for safety. Audio systems on bikes are useless against wind noise. Despite the massive windscreen, the BMW's audio system doesn't have enough power or clarity to drown out the wind, road and engine noise. Brakes are strong and safe with the ABS kicking in frequently. The smooth and powerful engine is the real winner with instant power, smooth and linear delivery, and even a grainy character compared with the Gold Wing's velvety smooth but soulless flat six mill.VERDICTThis bike - in GT and GTL form - is the best tourer I have ridden. Compared with the Gold Wing, the GTL has better power, torque, speed, style, economy, range, agility, handling, weight, connectivity, primary safety features, satnav and "creature features". However, the Gold Wing has reverse gear and better pillion seat, audio system clarity and the best satnav antiglare screen I have seen. The luxury mode has an airbag.BMW K 1600 GT and GTLPrices: $34,990 (GT), $36,990 (GTL)Warranty: 2-year, unlimited kmService: 1000/10,000km/12mthsEngine: 118kW/175Nm, water-cooled, in-line, 1649cc sixTransmission: 6-speed, shaft driveFuel: 4.5L/100km at 90km/h (GT), 4.6 (GTL); 26.5-litre tank; 95 RONSuspension: Duolever front, Paralever rear, electronic suspension adjustmentDimensions: 2324-2489mm (L), 1000mm (W), 1440-1465mm (H) 815-835mm (GT seat), 800-780mm (GT seat option) 750-780mm (GTL seat), 1680mm (WB) Tyres: 120/70 ZR 17; 190/55 ZR 17Brakes: 320mm discs, ABSDry weight: 321kg (GT), 306kg (GTL)Colours: red and white/grey (GT), silver and blue (GTL)

Pure Profile Research polled 2500 drivers in January for NRMA Insurance and found one in three Australian drivers used their mobile phone illegally, with an increasing number using the phone to update their Facebook or Twitter status.NRMA Insurance spokesperson Adele Buhagiar says the results are concerning, as they show drivers are still putting themselves at increased risk of a collision, despite the safety warnings."The research shows that our appetite for technology extends to while we are driving, with one in four admitting that they are updating their status or tweeting while at the wheel," she says. "This is up from one in 10 last year.Of those who admitted to illegally using their mobile phone while driving, the study found the majority (85 per cent) are making phone calls.It also found 69 per cent send or read texts and emails; 35 per cent use applications for checking the weather forecast or news headlines; and 38 per cent take photos with their phones."We were surprised to see that people are even risking taking photos while driving. Losing focus while behind the wheel, even if it is only for a split second, may cause the worst to happen," says Ms Buhagiar.It is illegal to drive a vehicle while using a hand-held mobile phone for any purpose, with fines in each state of several hundred dollars and three demerit points.Ms Buhagiar urges drivers to be alert on the roads and to pull over if they needed to make a call or send a message.The study found that of people driving, there are:88 per cent making phone calls68 per cent texting and reading emails40 per cent using applications – e.g. checking the weather or news38 per cent taking photos25 per cent using social media

Willie G. Davidson, 78, who bought the company back for the family, returned it to record profits for several years and has styled some of the most iconic models will retire from full-time employment with the Milwaukee icon after nearly 50 years. However, "Willie G.'' will remain as a brand ambassador and be involved in "special design projects'' as Chief Styling Officer Emeritus after he retires on April 30.  The grandson of company founder William A. Davidson and son of second company president William H. Davidson joined the company as its first head of styling in 1963.  It seems fitting that with the creator of the 1971 Super Glide ($20,231) stepping out of the saddle, the popular Dyna model makes a return to the fleet in Australia.  Other models Willie G has been credited for establishing include the Low Rider, Heritage Softail Classic, Fat Boy, Street Glide and Harley's first water-cooled model, the controversial V-Rod 10 years ago.  "Everything we do in styling is based on the notion that form follows function, but both report to emotion,'' he says.  Willie G. is also noted as one of 13 Harley-Davidson executives who bought the company back from American Machine and Foundry in 1981.  There followed two decades of rebuilding with a run of record profits, the purchase of Italian sportsbike company MV Agusta and annual sales hitting 340,000.  However, with many of those sales made in the US on H-D loans, the subprime loan collapse plunged the company into a massive $1.9 billion of debt with a stock price of $10, the lowest in 20 years.  Executives responded with a fire sale of MV Agusta and the axing of its own sportsbike off-shoot, Buell.  The US government also handed H-D a $700 million loan as part of an automotive industry bailout.  Willie G. is now leaving the company as it starts to recover with a stock price of $50, a factory making knockdown models in India and an 11 per cent increase in sales worldwide and a better-than-expected 12 per cent increase in revenue.  Sales in Australia were up 5.8 per cent last year.

Car manufacturers also dream of a new model going straight to the top of the segment in the first month. That dream is a reality for Subaru with its new XV selling 1005 in the first full month of sales, representing 20.46 per cent of the category or one in five. But the figures are not quite reflective of performance, because it is part of a new category in the official VFacts figures. The previous compact SUV category had ballooned to 27 models with sizes varying from the little Chery J11 to the Holden Captiva with one each from the US, UK, Thailand, France and Germany, two from the Czech republic, three from China, six from South Korea and the rest from Japan. Compact SUVs last year accounted for almost half of all SUV sales and 12 per cent of all new vehicle sales, increasing 5.8 per cent to 121,387 in 2011 while the whole market dropped 2.6 per cent to 1,008,437. The growing sub-compact SUVs now have their own segment called "SUV small under $40,000'' with just 11 models listed and the Mazda CX-5 entering this month for a round dozen models. Subaru Australia spokesman David Rowley says XV sales were going "through the roof''. "We'll await this month's results, but it's been very very strong,'' he says. Rowley says customer feedback shows a strong reaction to the styling and frugal economy of 7L/100km for the six-speed manual and 7.3L/100km for continuously variable transmission. "It's urban friendly while having that bit of go-anywhere ability as well, plus the feedback we are getting is that its fuel economy is quite a buying factor. From our point of view the early indications are that just as Forester and Outback pioneered new niches for us, this is heading in the same direction.'' Subaru's advertising has heavily featured the new orange (Tangerine Orange Pearl) paintwork, which Rowley says has been popular. "I've run a check with sales on XV colours and orange is presently running third to white and silver at just over 15 per cent, which is a healthy number," he says. Subaru is one of the few companies that does not charge extra for metallic or pearlescent paint. Subaru Australia managing director Nick Senior says the XV appeals to people who enjoy "expansive lifestyles''. "People who are active and enjoy new experiences,'' he explains. "They don't want to drive a large SUV, instead they demand car like ride and handling, and convenient cutting edge technology, to enable a fast-paced, adventurous lifestyle with comfort. "XV is a clear indicator of what's to come from Subaru in terms of new technology and design, so it's fair to say we're very excited about our future.'' Rowley says that despite the strong level of buyer interest, the waiting list is short. "Sales tell me range-topping S variants in particular are in great demand and the network is working closely to meet demand, but we can meet for now, at least," he says.