Articles by Mark Hinchliffe

Going by ability, Stoner is the most likely motorcycle racer to eventually move to V8 Supercars.Roland Dane, boss of the V8 Supercars championship-winning TeamVodafone, rates Stoner the "standout" of test drivers who have had a drive in one of the team's race cars over the past couple of years.The others are three-time World Superbike champion Troy Bayliss and multiple world and American supercross and motocross champ Chad Reed."I think the standout because of age and what he's done is Casey Stoner," he says. "We had a very good test with Troy and he's had an opportunity to do something (races in the 2010 endurance rounds) but he's the wrong side of 40, although he's probably fitter than most V8 drivers."It's difficult for him to start a new career now and he's still earning more money testing for Ducati than driving a V8, anyway. Chad we will still keep a eye on, but the standout is Casey."You can see when he drives the car that he's definitely got real talent. He also has a real passion for V8s."Stoner attended several V8 Supercar events last year and stays in touch with the series via computer while travelling around the world on the MotoGP circuit.He has also developed close relationships with several TeamVodafone members, including Craig Lowndes's race engineer, Jeromy Moore. However, Dane does not see a move to V8s soon."The MotoGP has to be his focus until he no longer wants to do it," Dane says. "He's publicly said he's not sure how long he will carry on with GP, but I suspect he has a few more championships to get under his belt."

More than 13.5 million new vehicles were sold in Europe, which compares favourably against a 2.6 per cent drop in Australia to 1.008m.Worst-hit countries were the debt-crippled economies of Portugal (-31 per cent), Greece (-30 per cent), Spain (-18 per cent) and Italy (-11).The UK was down 4.4 per cent, while Germany was up 8.8 per cent, according to analysis from JATO Dynamics.Research boss at JATO, Gareth Hession, says Germany is leading Europe in both sales of new cars "as well as manufacturing models which appeal to consumers across the region"."This is even more impressive considering the challenges we saw in the overall European market during 2011," he says.The only other brands in the top 10 to increase sales were all German.Volkswagen increased its market share to be Europe's best-selling brand, up 9.1 per cent to 1.67m, ahead of Ford (-2.8 per cent) and Renault (-8.8 per cent).BMW was up 5.2 per cent and Audi 9 per cent. Mercedes sales were static.Japan's only representative in the top 10 was Toyota with sales down 9.4 per cent because of supply issues caused by natural disasters in Japan and Thailand.VW Golf remained the top-selling car for the third year in a row, despite a 1.6 per cent drop in sales to 484,547.It was followed by the VW Polo with sales up 0.5 per cent to 356,490 and Ford Fiesta, down 13.3 per cent to 348,465.Other models that recorded significant sales increases in 2011 include the new Ford CMax/ Grand C-Max, Citroen C4, BMW X3 and Kia Sportage.EUROPE'S TOP 10 MAKESEUROPE'S TOP 10 MODELS

At the end of this year the company ceases production of what is often called the world's worst car. The Lada "Classic" (or 2105 and 2107 Riva) was a joint venture between the Russians and the Italians.  It was based on the Fiat 124 and made from inferior Russian steel that was prone to immediate rust.  They

IT was two degrees in the Blue Mountains when Kate and Gerren Hawkins broke down in their "old Holden" a few years ago. That's when they decided they wanted a new and more reliable car. "We always liked Subaru and didn't consider any other car," says Kate, 29, a sales manager. So they bought a 2008 Liberty 2.5i Luxury Wagon to fit Gerren's musical equipment. "It was important to fit all his music gear and the seats fold down flat," she says. "It doesn't matter what you put in there, it always fits, so we hardly ever pay for delivery of things; we just pick it up ourselves. I also like Subaru's style. They have quite a sporty look without being a sports car and are quite rugged." Safety was also very important. Kate says they were aware that Subaru has a five-star safety rating and all-wheel drive for all its vehicles. "I used to snowboard a lot when I as younger and I know a car handles icy conditions better with all-wheel drive," she says. Now they have moved north to Queensland and traded snow for sand with planned trips to Stradbroke Island. They've also traded the Liberty for a new tangerine-coloured Subaru XV 2.0i-S with CVT which is due to arrive in the next few weeks. "Our trade-in price was just under what my payout figure was for the hire purchase which is pretty good given the state of the economy at the moment and how low second-hand car prices are," she says. "I thought we would get a second-hand car this time but there wasn't much difference in price so we went for the new one. We may as well get brand new and have all the warranties. Subarus don't seem to drop thousands of dollars in value the moment you drive out of the dealership." Kate says she was attracted to the new XV by a host of features such as "extra airbags and the look of the dashboard". "We bought the S model because it has the touch-screen satnav, digital radio, USB with iPod connectivity, Bluetooth stereo adjustments on the steering wheel and dual aircon which is really important for us as I'm always whinging it's too cold and my husband is always whinging that it's too hot so it will be handy when we do car trips together." Kate will mainly drive the car to work Monday to Friday with occasional weekend trips away to the beach, so fuel economy was important. "We are downsizing from a 2.5-litre engine to a two-litre engine with stop-start which we hope will make a difference," she says. "Even if it's saving just a little bit of petrol, it's also handy to get the extra mileage from the tank. "I hate filling up the tank. It's always a hassle. I'd rather drive around for two weeks than have to fill up every four days, even if it ends up costing much the same. You pull over when you have to, not when you want to."

A study by the Max Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics shows we find our way best if we face north, but that requires people to learn their environment and translate it to a north-facing map in our head which we have learnt from looking at a real map.  Institute researcher Tobias Meilinger believes GPS devices will eventually erase these abilities. "If somebody doesn't care to learn the environment, that's fine, but they shouldn't complain if their mobile is not working and they are completely lost," he says.  Australian cartographer Peter Davis agrees that paper maps still serve a purpose. "Using a satnav only, is like following a set of tail lights, take them away and you have no idea where you are," he says.  "I have been conducting my own over the last five years or so and the instance of people getting lost is increasing exponentially with the increased use of satnav. "However my research shows an unexpected trend of lots of people reverting to street directories and maps and throwing their satnav in the glovebox in disgust after being misdirected too many times. I actually believe this is also not constructive."  The owner of World Mapman Solutions suggests that using maps or street directories in unison with satnav is "perfect navigation and maintains spatial awareness".  Davis pointed out that navigation professionals such as pilots, sea captains and mining explorers use maps with GPS.  The Max Planck Institute, which studies signal and information processing in the brain, tested 26 residents of Tubingen, a small German town. They were asked to point to a place they could not see and draw a map of the town.  The results showed everyone performed most accurately when facing north, leading researchers to conclude that all participants had seen and remembered a map of the town at some point. Dr Meilinger says the answer to finding your way is to look at maps before you start your trip.  "Keep them at hand, but navigate yourself, and try to rely on your memory," he says. "It will work better than you expect." Davis says his research shows that using maps and GPS together can enhance "map memory".  "Without the context that is given with maps, memory of where you are or where things are, is lost but it is not permanent and in fact when maps and GPSs are used in unison my research shows that spatial and locational memory is actually enhanced because your spatial location is coming from multiple sources," he says.

The 100 per cent commitment to all-wheel drive started in a tent at Daring Harbour in 1997. A then nervous marketing manager, Nick Senior, had sweaty palms as he waited to tell the assembled Australian Subaru dealers the "bad news" that they were about to become an all-boxer-engine and all-wheel-drive company. At that time, 50 per cent of sales and two of the top three models were front-wheel-drive vehicles. "We were ready to duck for cover," Senior says. "Just as I got up to tell them the news a big southerly wind came through the tent and I thought the noise was someone shooting me." Senior had the idea to go all-AWD after the US made the decision 12 months earlier, but it was still going to be a radical hard-sell proposition for Australia. "The dealers had always struggled with sales people who tread the path of least resistance; that is, selling the cheaper front-wheel drive," he says. "Now we were taking that away from them." Senior didn't expect what happened next. "The dealers all applauded us," he says. "It was a unique selling proposition for them. No one at the time was selling all-wheel drive cars. "But we expected most of the market to be AWD by 2002 and we would just be a 'me too' brand. When Magna AWD came out we thought that was the start of the avalanche, but they still had front-wheel-drive models, so that's what they sold." Senior now looks back and feels vindicated by the decision. In 1996, Subaru sold 8500 vehicles. In 1997, that increased to 14,000 and 20,000 the following year. "We halved the number of top-selling models, but we more than doubled the sales in a couple of years," he says. Understandably Senior sticks by his decision and emphatically rejects any suggestion they will add front-wheel drives to their fleet. "Now there are more and more luxury and performance brands with AWD," he says. "All-wheel drive is not just about safety, it's also about fun."

The electric bike is currently only available in Europe, but Mercedes-Benz  Australia spokesman David McCarthy says it could be a handy tool for Aussie commuters. "We are investigating the E Bike for Oz, we don't have any indicative pricing as yet," he says. "There is interest from customers as it would make a great urban commute bike (but) don't know if you would be allowed to ride it on bike paths. "We are scoping out the business case at the moment. There's no compliance reasons we are aware of to stop it coming here." The bike has a battery seamlessly moulded into the frame and has range of up to 100km on a single charge; more if the rider helps by peddling. It is a handsome piece of machinery with a maintenance-free, carbon-toothed belt as found in many cars. It requires no lubrication, so it won't chew trousers or spatter them with grease. The lightweight belt also won't mark the carpet in the boot or the back seat where it can be easily stored after quickly detaching the front wheel. McCarthy says it would be ideal for people who live close to work or who drive from the suburbs, then park their car and ride the last part of the journey, avoiding traffic congestion and parking problems. There is also an optional mobile phone cradle with USB connection on the handlebars so the rider can use it as a stanav device, app device, phone or music player. Smart claims the bike is safer than conventional bicycles because the electric motor provides extra braking assistance to the hydraulic brakes, recuperating energy to charge the battery in the process. McCarthy suggests Smart is not a major focus. "People buy Smart; we don't sell it," he says. "We continue to support Smart because people love it." He says they sell Smart cars to keep it "out of the hands of the grey importers". "We're also investigating bringing in the second generation of the electric Smart (car), but only in small numbers; half a dozen or so just to trial."

The Volt - which will be Australia's first electric car with a back-up petrol engine to charge the battery - has been cleared of fire danger in the US. The American National Highway Traffic Safety Administration launched an investigation into the Chevrolet Volt, to be sold here later this year as a Holden, after three caught fire several days following crash tests. It has now closed its investigations after GM made engineering modifications to better protect the battery. GM Holden spokesperson Kate Lonsdale says the closing of the investigation clears the way for the Volt in Australia. "Based on the available data, NHTSA does not believe that the Volt or other electric vehicles pose a greater risk of fire than gasoline-powered vehicles," she says. She says it is too early to announce pricing for the vehicle.

Looking into our crystal ball we can already declare this the year of the compact SUV. In fact, it is the year of the sub-compact SUV as car companies realise customers are downsizing. Just after VW has launched the Yeti, now comes the new Subaru XV delayed from last year because of the tsunami effects, with Mazda's much-lauded CX-5 arriving soon after.Subaru has owned this class with its classy and versatile Forester for years now and this smaller version, based on the Impreza RX wagon, is bound to help it retain that class dominance. But the XV is up against stiff opposition and competitive pricing.VALUEThis is the first hurdle and it's complicated by the fact that all Subarus only come with four-wheel drive, so the XV instantly cedes the price advantage to competitor models with front-wheel drive options. Prices start at $28,490 for the six-speed manual which is several thousand more than the entry price of two-wheel drives from Nissan, Mitsubishi and Hyundai.The Lineartronic continuously variable transmission (CVT) adds $2500, which is also a bit steep compared with other brands. While emphasizing that Subaru will never deviate from all-wheel drive, Subaru Australia boss Nick Senior points out that the XV with CVT has lower fuel consumption and emissions than its front-wheel drive competitors. "All-wheel drive sets it apart from many faux SUVs," the former rally driver says. "It's an SUV in a traditional sense with clearance more than 200mm (220mm) and all-wheel drive. It's not confined to the suburbs. The horizon is your limit."It's also better equipped than its cheaper rivals. Even the base 2.0i model comes with Bluetooth, cruise control, seven airbags, reversing camera and is the first in its class with stop-start engine technology across the range. Marketing general manager Andrew Caie says it will make customers "question the value of getting a front-wheel drive".The L model adds satnav, dual-zone airconditioning, sunroof, privacy glass, leather gear shift and steering wheel, and sliding centre armrest, while the S gets leather trim seats, electric driver's seat, HID headlights with washers, alloy pedals, heated front seats, wing mirror indicators, chrome door handles and silver roof rails.Senior admits the XV is not bargain-priced, but points out the whole-of-life costs are low because of high retained values. "Whole-of-life costs are becoming increasingly important in today's cost-sensitive society," he says. Subaru is also one of the few car companies that does not charge extra for metallic or pearlescent paint.TECHNOLOGYXV product manager Akihide Takeuchi claims the stop-start function can save as much as 5 per cent on fuel. Together with a lighter body, longer-stoked boxer engine tuned for economy and high-geared manual and CVT transmissions, fuel savings are up as much as 20 per cent on 90RON unleaded petrol. The CVT is actually better than the manual sipping only 7 litres of fuel per 100km. "It will debunk the theory that all-wheel-drive cars aren't fuel-efficient,'' says Takeuchi.Stop-start automatically switches off the engine in 0.5 seconds when the car is stopped and restarts in 0.35 seconds when the brake pedal is released in the CVT or clutch is engaged in the manual. The new 2.0-litre 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. The manual now has six speeds, with a taller top gear that reduces engine revs from 3000rpm at 100km/h to less than 2500rpm, which is not only more economical but also quieter. The inadequate and outdated four-speed auto has been replaced by CVT with paddle shifters and six presets. There are screens in the centre of the instruments, 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 can even send you a happy birthday message. The upgraded audio has USB, MP3 and iPhone connectivity and there is a new satnav system with voice control and predictive text when entering an address. It will even read out your text messages.DESIGNThe XV is based on the new Impreza due next month with a 25mm longer wheelbase, better aerodynamics, a slightly fastback look, sharper headlights and a reserved attitude to style. No pompous macho posing here. The guards aren't flared and there are few chunky bits. Perhaps that is due to the high proportion of female buyers Subaru is hoping to attract.The XV has the same high ground clearance as the Forester but a lower body height than most compact SUVs for a rakish, sporty crossover look. The longer wheelbase translates to greater interior legroom with scalloped backs to the front seats providing more rear knee room.Rear passengers will also welcome the move from anchoring the centre lap-sash in the ceiling to the C pillar. Child seat tether anchor points are now integrated into the back of the seats, not the cargo floor. Head room remains limited, especially in models with a sunroof. The doors are light and a little flimsy, but they open out very wide for easy access. Forward visibility is aided by the A pillar being narrower and further forward providing the cabin with an open, airy feel.Storage bins and cup holders are seemingly everywhere while the door pockets will take a water bottle and an A4 folder or laptop. The centre console has a handy clip-holder for a notebook and a pen. The boot is flat with a low-loading lip and flat-folding rear seats. However, cargo space is limited because the floor is raised to accommodate a space-saver spare tyre wide enough to still permit towing for a short distance. SAFETYSubaru regains its perfect record for five-star ANCAP safety ratings with the XV which has seven airbags, including full-length curtain airbags and a kneebag for the driver. They also come with a reversing camera as standard, AWD and a brake override system that is biased to the brakes if the driver hits the brake pedal and accelerator at the same time.Driver vision is improved not only by a slimmer A pillar, but also higher front seats and 20 per cent bigger sing mirrors. The body and chassis are 20kg lighter but also 10 per cent stiffer.DRIVINGThere are more Subarus sold in Tasmania per head of population than any other state, so the company chose north-west Tassie to launch the XV this week. The route included city streets, highway, lumpy back roads, gravel forest tracks and the scarily but spectacular ascent to Ben Lomond. It's called Jacob's Ladder and it is highlighted by sheer drops and dangerous hairpins with names such as Hanging Corner.XV came through the acid test with full marks for its road handling, grip and predictable manners. At the same time, ride and cabin noise have not been compromised. However, the wheel arches could do with more sound dampening if you are traveling over gravel frequently.The steering doesn't have a lot of feedback, but there is no kickback either and on the lumpy country roads of this route, that was a blessing. Technical manager Derek Ashby claims the XV performs the standard obstacle avoidance test or "elk test" at 72km/h which is the same speed as the BMW X1. Brakes have a fair bit of initial bite which makes the car twitchy on gravel, but confidence-inspiring on Tassie tar.Inside, there are simply too many screens. You don't know where to look. There is just too much information available including a graphic representation of all four wheels and what they are doing. It's distracting for the driver when they are flashing orange while the driver's hands are crossed up and the vehicle is heading for the shrubbery on a tight forest fire trail. Thankfully, the stability control keeps it all on track and you can't even turn it off; only the traction control. The manual transmission is disappointing with a wide spread of gears designed for fuel economy, but not performance. Second is too high and there is a huge gap from fifth to the too-tall sixth which won't accelerate and dies on hills. Senior confirmed that the gearing was high to maximize fuel economy "in line with customer expectations".The shifter also feels notchy and you can easily grab third instead of fifth on the way down and fifth instead of third on the way up. The CVT doesn't scream like most, but it does whine a bit and to keep momentum in a slippery corner you need to use left-foot braking which is somewhat overruled by the brake override system.Cabin comfort is good with supportive seats although the leather trim in the S model is slippery when taking hairpins. There are plenty of soft-touch rubbery surfaces inside providing a feeling of quality while the controls and door handles feel firm and assured. The overall feeling of quality is broadsided by the flimsy doors, usually your first point of contact with any car. However, some people may like the equally lightweight tailgate.VERDICTSubaru is boxing with one hand tied behind its back thanks to its dogged commitment to all-wheel drive only. It is also hampered by the lack of a diesel option and too-tall manual transmission. Advantages are the quiet and well-mannered ride, high safety standards, features galore and impressive fuel economy. Caie expects to sell 500 a month to younger buyers and empty nesters alike, and claims it will not cannabilise Forester which he says is a bigger car.

YOU buy a wagon for practical reasons. It's a bonus if that wagon has sporty spirit. It's a negative if its daily duties are compromised by its sporty nature. That's the dilemma with the 535i Touring. The 535i sedan is a delightful sporty saloon on the civilised side of an M3. In the 70kg heavier wagon, the turbocharged three-litre straight six is still a potent mill. However, the twin-scroll turbocharger has short, but annoying lag that makes city driving difficult - and isn't that where wagons will spend most of their time? Wagons are for dropping off and picking up the kids and doing the shopping. In the cut and thrust of city traffic, the "nothing, nothing, everything" acceleration of the 535i is useless. In traffic, you need to make split-second decisions about merging or entering a roundabout. You can't do that with turbo lag.VALUE The 5 Series Touring range starts at less than $100,000 for the first time since 1997. The diesel-powered 520d Touring arrives at $92,800, saving about $5000 on the luxury tax because its fuel economy of 5.3L/100km is well under the 7L/100km threshold. It comes standard with head-up display, adaptive headlights and most of the features available in the 7 Series. The petrol-powered 535i Touring (from $143,800) adds 18-inch wheels, gearshift paddles, auto tailgate, keyless access, rear sun blinds, fully adjustable electric seats, ambient lighting, Bi-Xenon headlights, a better hi-fi and high beam assist. Our test vehicle had a sport pack and several other options fitted, bringing the price up to $169,700. You can also get an optional digital radio for $900. TECHNOLOGY The twinscroll turbo engine in the 535i Touring has the same power (225kW) and torque (400Nm) as in the sedan and is faster than the 540i wagon it replaces. Economy is claimed to be 8.5L/100km with 197g/km of CO2. On our test, which included mainly city driving duties, it was just over 10L/100km. Fuel savings are achieved through a variety of means including use of lightweight aluminium in panels and chassis; electric power steering that uses energy from the engine only when cornering rather than hydraulic which uses energy from the engine all the time; eight-speed transmission; air flaps behind the kidney grille that close to quickly heat the engine on start-up and open for better aerodynamics on the highway; low rolling resistance tyres; and battery charging only when decelerating. Technology abounds in the wagons including the standard addition of parking assistance for automatic parallel parking, iPhone and iPod Integration and an "Office" infotainment package that integrates email, calendar, notes and text message functions from a mobile phone. SAFETY It's not only wagons and SUVs that need rearview cameras as a safety measure. All cars have blind spots and should be fitted with rearview cameras as standard. However, this car is fitted with optional "surround view" ($1300) with cameras all round providing a bird's-eye view of the area around the car. This means you can see how far you are from the kerb or any other obstruction on any side of the car. It's great for parking. There is also an auto-parking function for foolproof parallel parking that isn't even available on the 7 Series. That's all very good for slow-speed parking maneuvres, but the birdseye-view doesn't provide vision far enough at the rear when you are reversing out of a driveway and this is where most children are run over. Apart from that, the 535i comes with a hefty suite of primary and secondary safety gear. Optional safety features include adaptive cruise control with a semi-automatic emergency braking function to avoid rear-end collisions, lane departure warning and night vision. Euro NCAP has awarded a maximum 5-star safety rating, thanks to a pedestrian-friendly bonnet and a raft of safety features. The wagons have not yet been safety tested in Australia. DESIGN Not all wagons are ugly. This is a case in point thanks to an elegantly swooping roof line. For the first time a BMW also has a split tailgate where the top glass half opens remotely with the keyfob and the cargo cover folds back electronically or the whole tailgate can open as one unit. In the 535i, the tailgate also opens remotely. Cargo space is 560 litres, increasing to 590L with the rear seats tilted forward or 1670L with the rear seats folded down almost flat. The rear seats can also be folded down in three variations thanks to the 20/40/20 split, allowing four occupants with a set of skis to be stored down the middle. In the front, it is similar to the sedan with a driver-oriented dashboard. Outside, the diesel and petrol models can be distinguished by the larger front air dam on the 535i and by the twin tailpipes on either side of the 535i and together on the left on the 520d. DRIVING The greatest accolade I can give the 5 Series Touring is that it doesn't feel like a wagon. It handles like the sedan which is a driver's delight. I also liked the auto split tailgate, the 20/40/20 split rear seats and the very handy (optional) adaptive cruise control which works right down to full stop. Apart from grumbles about the turbo lag, my only other concerns are the lack of centre console space, serviceable cup holders and cubby holes. The centre console is largely taken up by a phone dock, but with most people these days having Bluetooth phones, it just wastes space. VERDICT Great for a sprint through your favourite canyon pass, but not really suitable for day-to-day traffic.BMW 535I TouringPrice: $143,800Warranty: 3-6 years, 50,000-100,000km (optional)Resale: 73%Service interval: Varies with warranty optionEconomy: 8.5L/100km; 197g/km CO2Safety: 6 airbags, ABS, DSC, dynamic braking. Crash rating: 5 star (Euro NCAP)Engine: 225kW/400Nm 3-litre twinscroll turbo six petrolTransmission: 8-speed autoBody: 5-door, 5-seat wagonDimensions: 4907mm (L); 1860mm (w); 1462mm (H); 2968mm (WB)Weight: 1770kgTyre size: 245/45 R18 (run flat tyres, no spare)