Articles by Mark Hinchliffe

The Australian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP) has awarded the five-star rating to the Holden Volt, which has been officially launched this week and goes on sale in November at $59,990.

Motorists buying new cars or "showroom demonstrators" could be unwittingly missing out on some of their warranty.Dealers are prematurely advising manufacturers and importers that cars are sold to pocket sales incentives such as cash and overseas trips, according to an industry source. Once the manufacturer is notified a vehicle is "sold", the warranty starts ticking over. However, it could still sit on the dealer's yard for several months before it is actually sold to a customer who is then shortchanged on their warranty. The industry source predicts that as many as one in five new cars could have reduced warranties.AMIF senior policy director Colin Duckworth said some car makers deem the warranty period to have started when they are notified of a vehicle’s sale, even though it can sitting in the caryard. “This practice has been around for who knows how long,” Mr Duckworth said.In Germany this year some 500,000 this year n the first half of this year have been “sold” by dealers to themselves in this way, but Mr Duckworth said the practice was not as prevalent here.“We're aware of it and it's on the agenda of next board meeting for about the fourth time,” he said. “It's a very sensitive area. Some dealers are incentivised to have vehicles put on as demos or whatever. This is the thing that our board of directors have to grapple with it ‑ what can be done about it? It's probably not illegal.”He said the law was not “exactly clear” on when the warranty period starts. Fair Trading offices in three states said they each had a “handful of complaints” each year about warranties running out before the owners expected, but had differing opinions on warranty periods.NSW Fair Trading spokesman Peter Palazzi advised buyers to ask the dealer when the manufacturer's warranty will commence. “In the conduct of dispute resolution, NSW Fair Trading views the commencement of warranty as the date that the consumer entered into the contract with the motor dealer, not the date of delivery, date of registration or when the dealer advises the manufacturer/importer that the vehicle has been cleared," he said.Queensland Office of Fair Trading spokeswoman Liz Costello said warranties against defects, or manufacturer's warranties, “generally commence around the time a product or service is supplied”.“While new car warranties are issued by the manufacturer, consumers may ask their motor dealer any questions they have about the warranty start date at the time of purchase, and cross check the warranty document to ensure it is accurate.”Auto clubs have reported that some motorists have been told the warranty starts as early as the date the buyer orders a vehicle. Consumers who have concerns about the application of a manufacturer's warranty have been advised to contact the office of Fair Trading in the state where the vehicle was bought.WARRANTY TIPS FOR NEW CAR BUYERS/OWNERSAsk the dealer when the warranty period beginsFind out how much time is left on the new car warranty and check the documentIf you own a car that has been bought in the past couple of years, check your warranty status now and get any problems fixed immediately while you are still covered by warrantyIf you have any quibbles with the dealer or manufacturer about honouring your warranty, go to the Ofiice of Fair Trading in the state where you bought the vehicle

The new-yet-old Sportster Seventy-Two features a large 21-inch spoked front wheel, giving it that hippie chopper look from Fonda's 1969 cult movie, Easy Rider. It gets its name from Route 72, the Los Angeles thoroughfare where riders, inspired by the movie, cruised on their customised choppers with candy-coloured metal flake paint jobs, highly polished chrome, white-walled tyres, chopped fenders, ape-hanger bars and laid-back riding style with forward-mounted foot controls. The anniversary models will feature exclusive paintwork and commemorative solid bronze fuel tank badges plated in black nickel and distressed to highlight the bronze, plus a gold-tone Bar and Shield logo, in the main body of the "single wing" badge and serial numbers. Add $500 for the anniversary Sportser, Softail and Dyna models and an extra $600 for Touring and CVO models when they arrive about November. If the previous 100th and 105th anniversary models are any guide, they should retain higher values at resale. The anniversary line-up includes the Tri Glide Ultra Classic trike, Sportster 1200 Customer, Super Glide Custom, Fat Boy Lo, Heritage Softail Classic, Road King and the CVO Ultra Classic Electra Glide, Road King and Road Glide Custom. The Harley-Davidson 110th Anniversary celebration will climax in Milwaukee, from August 29 to September 1 next year with concerts and a massive rally and thunder run. Next month Harley adds the new Easy Rider-style Sportster Seventy-Two at $17,995 rideaway and a restyled Dyna Street Bob with ABS at $21,495. Harley has cosmetically updated its Street Bob with blacked-out triple clamps and engine and a chopped rear fender with rear-mounted license plate and stop/turn/tail lights. It has a solo seat and mini-ape handlebars mounted on new risers to make it easier to customise. Late this year Harley adds two new Custom Vehicle Operations (CVO) models to its range.  They are the high-performance Softail Breakout at $42,995 and Road King at $47,095 with a vented windshield and high-output audio system. The Breakout has the highest power-to-weight ratio of any CVO model with a stripped-down, lean look. With all the power and torque of the 110 engine and the lightweight chassis, they've added a slipper clutch to prevent rear wheel lock-up under downshifts. The touring CVO Ultra Classic Electra Glide ($49,995) and shark-nose CVO Road Glide Custom bagger (47,495) also return with new features for 2013. The Electra Glide gets heated hand grips, rider and passenger footboard inserts, brake lever pad, shifter and highway pegs and windshield trim. Among the extras on the Road Glide is a bright "Daymaker" LED headlamp and a more powerful audio system with extra speakers and 8GB Apple iPod nano. Harley has also added a cosmetic styling option called Hard Candy Custom which has a 1960s Easy Rider theme of dazzling metal flake paint and chrome in accessories, gear and apparel. The three Hard Candy Custom big flake paint finishes will be available on five models.  

Sales of LPG-powered cars and conversions of standard cars to LPG have started to climb out of a slump over the past few years. LPG Australia boss Michael Carmody says the recent low prices of LPG plus the new dedicated models from Holden and Ford had driven demand for new car sales and conversions. Sales of new cars with LPG rose in 2006 when the then Howard Government introduced subsidies of $1500 for conversions and $2000 for new LPG cars for private buyers. Sales slumped to a low last year of just 81 new private passenger cars with LPG, but more than 300 have been sold so far this year and fleet sales have already surpassed last year's total of 1529. "From 2006 to 2009 the only real dedicated LPG cars was the Ford and in 2009 and '10 they experienced issues with supply," Carmody said. "Last year there was a period of eight to nine months with no new LPG vehicle in the Ford range. "What has taken over from that was the new dedicated Ford LPI vehicle which is now seeing a boom in sales along with the release this year of Holden's Commodore range. "These are state-of-the-art technology with performance ratings the same or better than petrol models." Ford brand communications manager Neil McDonald says sales of their EcoLPi Falcon are 19.5 per cent of total Falcon sedan and ute sales. "We're very happy with the sales," he says. "I think (the fluctuation of LPG car sales) is a lot to do with the cycles of the fleet turnover; every three or four years for some private business fleets. "I suppose because there are new offerings in the market that helps." Ford's EcoLPi (liquid phase injection) is a new technology developed by Ford engineers in Australia. Holden also sells Commodore sedans, wagons, utes and Caprice with a $2500 Liquid Propane Injection (LPI) option on their 3.6-litre V6 models. Senior product communications manager Kate Lonsdale says that since the LPG models were launched in February they have sold about 200 a month, mostly to fleet buyers. HSV has engineered the LPI system for use in all their cars as a $5990 option in the sedan, and $6390 on a ute. However, spokesman Tim Jackson says they introduced the system when petrol was "extraordinarily high". "From a cost perspective it's not been attractive especially with LCT (Luxury car tax) on top of that," he says. "The engineering of the system has been extremely well received, and from a sales perspective we are doing around 20 units a year. "The barriers to this volume increasing we believe are partly economic, and partly the preferences of our customer base. The LPi system was conceived as a safeguard against the economic factors prevalent pre-GFC factors which have not been at play in the same way post-GFC." Carmody said LPG conversions had slumped in the past few years as motorists moved away from six-cylinder family cars to more efficient small cars, diesels and hybrids. "The Australian motorist is also travelling less mileage these days and seeking more fuel-efficient vehicles. The market is changing shape with electric vehicles also on the horizon," he said. "The growing market for LPG conversions these days is large SUVs." Conversions cost between $3000 and $4000, depending on the vehicle and technology used and the government subsidy has dropped to $1000. But Carmody doesn't believe the industry needs subsidy support. "The industry needs to be less reliant on support from the government," he said. "The fuel has to be capable of standing on its own two feet." He said the industry had to educate the public about the virtues of LPG. "The good news is that the price of LPG is stable and less than half the price of petrol; it has great green credentials with 15 per cent less emissions; it's available anywhere throughout Australia; and there are decades of the stuff sitting under our ground," he said. LPG Passenger Sales  

Australian Standards has proposed to allow the use of international-standard Isofix-style click-in anchor points in cars.Road safety experts yesterday said Isofix would not make Australian children any safer, but may clear up a lot of confusion for parents. Kidsafe spokeswoman Susan Teerds said the system may be easier for some people."It won't be safer than our current system, but our biggest problem is parents don't understand how to strap children in, or use the wrong restraint for the age of the child or none at all. "We know there is a problem installing (the current restraints), but the biggest problem is in using them."She said there was little evidence of reduced misuse with Isofix anchor points, which are used in imported cars from Europe. However, she welcomed the system as an option for parents. NRMA spokesman Jack Haley said they welcomed the inculsion of Isofix in the Australian Standard as a "useful additional option for Australian parents and carers".He said most vehicles supplied to the Australian market in the past decade already have Isofix brackets. "However, experience in Europe is that only about 15 per cent of the child seat market is Isofix, as the restraints are heavier, due to the steel frame and clips required to fit the brackets, and more expensive," he said."A maximum of two Isofix positions are normally installed in vehicles, whereas increasingly it is possible to fit three restraints across a back seat in Australia using the existing Australian Standard restraints. "We may see a reduction in incorrect installation with Isofix, but recent research from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety showed a significant incorrect installation rate for Latch restraints (American equivalent) due to the difficulties for parents in properly engaging the clips into the brackets."There have also been instances in Europe of parents trying to install a restraint between the two inner brackets of the two Isofix positions. We will therefore have to monitor the correct installation rate in Australia as Isofix seats become more widely available." Australian Standards has invited public comment on allowing Isofix-style restraints which have click-in lower anchor points supplied with the vehicle.The Australian proposal is to use Isofix anchors along in conjunction with the current top tether strap. It also proposes a new category of child restraints allowing children up to three years of age to be restrained in a rear-facing seat and a new category of child restraint with an inbuilt harness for children from about six months to 10 years. Ms Teerds said Kidsafe supported the rear-facing seats.  

V8 Supercar chairman Tonty Cochrane gave the tip about the fourth brand yesterday.Speaking at the launch of the Gold Coast 600, Cochrane said two other manufacturers were interested in joining Holden, Ford and 2013 newcomer Nissan. His comments follow the recent announcement by Mercedes-Benz that it had considered the category, but pulled out."Two more companies have expressed interest; whether they will be ready for the opening round I can't say," he said. "I can't say who they are. That's the car companies' roll, not ours."Cochrane said he believed one manufacturer would be ready in the middle of the season. "I would doubt they would be there for the start of the season in Adelaide, but we should have one for a mid-year start," he said. "They are keen to be operational by Bathurst next year. "To be up and running for Bathurst they would at least have to do four events beforehand."Cochrane refused to rule out Mercedes-Benz as a possible competitor. "They had 16 engineers at AMG in Stuttgart working on it so I can't see they would just walk away," he said. Cochrane was also positive about future government support for the Townsville and Gold Coast rounds, despite the new LNP Government wielding the axe on spending. "Returns on investment rank these two in the top three in the state," he said."The new government is about building tourism; when commonsense prevails at the end of the day I don't think they would get rid of the top two returns on investment. "No one is saying anything about getting rid of these two events." Cochrane said Premier Campbell Newman attended the Townsville event "with an open mind and went away very positive". "He's a fan of TeamVodafone and he loves the technology side of the sport." 

Atkinson drove for the Subaru factory team in the WRC from 2004-08 and is currently leading the Asia Pacfic Rally in a Skoda.He will now contest the remaining five rounds of the WRC as the number one driver for Mini, starting in Germany next weekend."I love the tarmac so it's great to know that three of the remaining five events are on the sealed surface and I hope to take full advantage of my past experiences of the remaining rallies this year," said Atkinson whose best WRC finishes were second places in Mexico and Argentina in 2008.Atkinson, 32, has six podium finishes and 41 stage wins from 69 WRC starts. He won the Queensland Rally round of the Asia-Pacific series in May and came second in Malaysia last month to extend his lead to a massive 45 points.He only needs a top-three finish in the next round in Japan next month to claim his first international rallying title without even having to contest the final round in China in October.

The Queensland-built Skelta G-Force -- piloted by driver Jeff denmeade and co-driver/partner Catherine Hammond  -- came third in their class last weekend in a time that was faster than second place in the unlimited class.Denmeade said their run was hampered by snow 5km from the finish that turned the course into a skating rink. It was only their second attempt at the 90th running of the annual event. The two-seater, two-litre supercharged Skelta G-Force was the first Australian-designed and built car to compete in the hillclimb.Car builder Ray Vandersee, 63, of Toowoomba, said he was "totally thrilled" with the car's success. "The sad part is that I was over there for the original date but it was postponed by wildfires in early July," he says.Vandersee began building the cars back in 2004 with investment from his family, but has put the project on ice because of a lack of sales. He has only built eight of the Honda-powered cars and has leased his road-registered race car to Denmeade for the event."I wouldn't give it to anyone. I didn't want it to come back in a ball or anything," he said. "I had faith he would take care of it and show the car's potential. It's something I would love to have done myself."Vandersee, 63, has raced the Skelta to wins in several events and the car has been outright runner-up in the Targa Tasmania and Targa West rallies. The hillcimb was won by Kiwi Rhys Millen in his Hyundai Genesis Coupe racecar.

A combination of high demand and low supply has already made the Toyota 86 or Subaru BRZ rare with a 18-month waiting list for customers.

But that's not stopping Brisbane plumber and earthmover Andrew Wilson, 49. His 1926 French Amilcar AC will be the oldest car in the field at the 17th annual Leyburn Sprints on the southern Darling Downs this weekend, but it is still expected to give the more modern cars a run for their money. “It holds the lap record for vintage cars at Phillip Island, Lakeside and Winton circuits and is considered the fastest vintage car in Australia,” says Wilson. Despite costing more than Wilson is brave enough to admit in front of his partner, Millie Davenport, he's prepared to spin the wheels and burn some rubber at the iconic sprint event around the streets of Leyburn. “They're getting a bit expensive to go racing,” he says. “It could cost a lot of money if you crash them.” So Wilson is planning to stay on the tarmac and off the barriers this weekend. Last year his Amilcar, which is powered by a supercharged AC Bristol two-litre straight-six engine, not only won the vintage category but finished half way through the field. “It's detuned now, but it still scares the hell out of you,” he said. Wilson's Amilcar will be among about 190 high-performance historic cars lining up for the time trials in the sleepy former gold town 220km southwest of Brisbane.  The entry list spans eight decades and includes other European and British thoroughbreds such as MG, Auto Union, Sunbeam, Jowett and Alfa Romeo and rare Australian-built racing marques Elfin, ASP, Bolwell, Centaur, Skelta and Bowin. The event celebrates the 1949 Australian Grand Prix on a nearby ex-wartime airstrip and is run around the streets past houses, the post office, a general store, RSL club and historic hotel. Competition starts at 8am on Saturday and Sunday. Adult entry is $15 a day or $25 for the weekend. Children under 14 are admitted free.  www.leyburnmotorsprints.com.au/