Articles by Mark Hinchliffe

... that are a mix of modern, fictional, retro, fun and speed. The current crop of movies hitting the cinemas this year with cars as the stars started with the "NOS"-fed fictional Fast & Furious 5. The latest movie is TT3D: Closer to the Edge, a documentary on the lethal Isle of Mann motorcycle race. Fast and Furious 5 featured a range of hot cars from a 1963 Ford Galaxy through to a 2011 Dodge Charger pony car. Star car was "Mongo", the 450kW V8 Chevrolet Corvette driven off a cliff by actors Vin Diesel and Paul Walker. Others believe the iconic Fast & Furious car is Dominic Toretto's 1970 Dodge Charger used in the first, fourth and latest film. Apart from traditional Yankee iron, there was also a host of Japanese "rice burners": 1972 Nissan Skyline, 1996 Toyota Supra, 2010 Subaru STi, a Nissan GT-R, a honda NSX and a 2010 Lexus LFA supercar seen blazing down the autobahn. There were also some Euro exotica such as a Porsche GT3 RS, Koenigsegg CCX and a Ducati Streetfighter. The Pixar animated film Cars2 returned with a variety of race cars and transporters with the character Jeff Gorvette replaced in some markets by local talent. In Australia it's V8 Supercar driver Mark Winterbottom as Frosty, in Spain it's Ferrari-driving Fernando Alonso and in Germany it's F1 champion Sebastian Vettel as Sebastian Schnell. Transformers has also returned to the big screen for the third instalment with a range of glamorous cars. It featured the return of the fifth-generation Chevrolet Camaro as Bumblebee and a Chevrolet Corvette Stingray as Sideswipe. Bumblebee now features a new body kit and paint job while the Sideswipe Autobot have become a convertible. The film also introduced a range of supercars such as Mirage, a red Ferrari 458 Italia; a blue Mercedes-Benz W212 as an Autobot inventor; and Soundwave, a silver Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG. Another new crew of Transformer machines called Wreckers were Nascar Sprint Cup Series Chevrolet Impala stock cars equipped with machine guns. The Wreckers were Leadfoot (Juan Pablo Montoya's car), Roadbuster, (Dale Earnhardt Jr) and Topspin (Jimmie Johnson). Set in the 1940s, Captain America then hit our movie screens with a $26m chase scene involving war-time Yank tanks. But the revhead's star was villain Red Skull's fantasy coupe, an 8m-long six wheeler with a turning circle of 25m. The car was created by designer Daniel Simon with inspiration from Hitler's six-wheeled 1933 Mercedes G4, the supercharged 1920s Bentley Blower and the 6.4m long-nosed Bugatti Royale. He says the hardest part was finding the right wheels. Eventually they sourced rubber from an American World War II Deuce And A Half Truck found in Holland. In the original Captain America Marvel comic, the car is powered by an aircraft V18 engine, but the movie version has a 520kW V8 American drag car engine. The makers reckon that gives the Coupe the equivalent power of two Porsche 911s. The latest two motoring movies are racing documentaries - Senna and TT3D: Closer to the Edge. Senna spans the years from 1984 to 1992 when Ayrton Senna stunned the Formula One world with his amazing talents. TT3D: Closer to the Edge features motorcycle racer Guy Martin while Australian Cameron Donald also gets good coverage in the film which takes us some way to understanding man's addiction to speed and the need to dice with death and danger. Both documentaries are rollercoaster rides of adrenalin, raw emotion and delightful humour.

The GPS system would particularly benefit the parents of young drivers, who incur larger car insurance premiums. Similar systems are in place in the US, and the University of Sydney found 60 per cent of Australians in a GPS-tracking experiment reduced risky driving when even a small financial benefit was the reward. The 10-week study, by Stephen Greaves and Simon Fifer from the university’s Institute of Transport and Logistic Studies, looked at whether people would accept having GPS tracking systems in their cars to monitor risky driver behaviour such as driving at night or speeding, if they were offered financial incentives such as cheaper insurance. The researchers tracked the driving patterns of 148 motorists before and after the introduction of a charging regime. They were rewarded for any net reductions in overall kilometres, night driving, and speeding in the after period. The study found 65 per cent of participants earned a financial reward, averaging $116 but with some as high as $619. “Speeding (which was the easiest thing to change) was reduced substantially following imposition of the charging scheme although a ‘hard core’ of perennial speeders remain. It is not conclusive to what extent this was due to the money or the monitoring, but is likely a function of both,” the research report says. It notes that the VKT (Vehicle Kilometres Travelled) was reduced by a significant 11 per cent overall. “However, the sample was equally split on those decreasing/increasing VKT, highlighting for many the difficulties involved in reducing car-dependency,” the report says. “While undoubted challenges remain, GPS technology opens up the possibility for developing greater equity in charging systems that reflect not just the kilometres driven but when, where and how they are driven.” The research was partly funded by Suncorp, part of the giant AAMI insurance group. AAMI Corporate Affairs Manager Reuben Aitchison says the results show potential for reducing risky driving behaviour. “This research and similar initiatives overseas give every indication that this approach and technology has definite potential for the future,” he says.  “It’s an interesting area of study, in the sense that it incentivises risk management behaviour at a personal level. "Too many people are happy to carry on with risky driving behaviours, holding fast to this ‘it’ll never happen to me’ belief. As the country’s biggest car insurer, we have ample evidence that it most certainly does happen to people and with alarming regularity." However Aitchison says there are currently no plans to implement a GPS tracking scheme. "We have no plans to do anything at the moment, but it definitely has potential for the future," Aitchison says. "The study looked at using a GPS patched into a computer program which logged data and studied whether we could change risky driver behaviour with incentives such as financial rewards or a discount on insurance premiums." Most insurance companies already reward safe driving by offering discounts to drivers, the longer they go without an at-fault accident. A GPS monitoring system would take that further and offer financial incentives based on driver behaviour. There are several such systems in the US. The latest has been launched in California and Texas by the American Automobile Association, called ACE Teen Pilot Program. When parents sign up for the program, they are sent a GPS device that tracks driving habits, offering a pay-as-you-drive insurance program that measures mileage and charges higher insurance rates for customers who use their vehicle more often and a "teen safety" program that monitors acceleration, braking and times, and allows parents to log in and check on their children's driving habits. AAA says it may also supply data from monitoring devices to law enforcement agencies, if necessary. Two other American insurance companies offer insurance discounts in return for a high-tech invasion of their driving privacy. One uses a device that plugs into the car's on-board diagnostic port and the other uses a smartphone app to give drivers instant feedback on their driving habits. That feedback is not reported back to the insurance company. Motorist and mother Lorin Plumrdge says she would welcome a monitoring system for her learner-driver daughter Nikeisha, 16. "Yes, it would be encroaching on their privacy, but we pay for the car, rego, insurance and fuel, so I believe we are entitled to know that if she says she is going from A to B that is what she is doing," she says. "You want to track them for their own safety and so you know what's going on. The icing on the cake would be the cheaper insurance which also helps them in the long run as well, because they would be on a cheaper premium when they start paying for it themselves." Nikeisha likes the idea of lower insurance premiums, but is concerned about a lack of privacy. "I think it would be ok for the insurance thing, but tracking you down would be a concern after you get off your P plates," she says. "I suppose Facebook can be an invasion of privacy too, but I'm friends with my mum so she sees what I put on there and I suppose this (tracking device) wouldn't be as much of a concern because at least it's for good use."

... just a week before he is due to defend his Mt Panorama crown. Lowndes rolled his Holden Colorado on to its side in the Australasian Safari in Western Australia early yesterday. (WED)  "I'm ok and I'll be fine for Bathurst," he said last night. Lowndes said the car hit a rut in a corner, clipped a tree and bent a rear wheel, popping the tyre. "That caused us to have a fairly gentle roll and we ended up on the navigator's side," he said. "It was just a second gear corner, so we weren't even going very fast." He and navigator John Panozzo pushed their vehicle back on to its wheels but had to be towed to the finish of the stage by competitors Murray Young and Paul McBean. The crash came after Lowndes had won all four stages of the Safari and was leading by more than 20 minutes. "It was a bit disappointing because we were doing so well, conserving the car and we were only 12km from our refueling stop," he said. The incident has blunted Lowndes's chances of defending his Safari title after copping a maximum time penalty for not completing a stage. "It's not over yet.  We could still make a podium spot if we're lucky," he said. The crash has handed the lead to Steve Riley and John Doble in a Mitsubishi Pajero with only two days to go. Lowndes said he was keen to return to the Safari next year. "It's a fantastic event that gives me a lot of enjoyment," he said. "You do a lot more competitive driving here than in V8s and it's a lot of fun."

The sleek electric four-door liftback will take over from two-door Roadster which is the world's fastest production electric vehicle.In response to scepticism that the Model S will go into production after several months of delays, the car will be rolled out for prospective customers on October 1 at the company's California factory, says Tesla Motors' Australian boss Jay McCormack. However, customers will only be able to "see and touch" the car, he says. There will be no test drives as full production will not begin until the middle of next year.McCormack says the Model S will begin deliveries in Australia by early 2013. "There are already 6000 reservations worldwide and about 50 in Australia," he says."Prices will be a bit more competitive than the BMW 5 Series and Mercedes-Benz E Class if you consider the technology involved." It will come in three variants with different battery packs for varying range.The base model will have 260km of range. Another will have 370km and the Signature Series will have 480km of range. Tesla will begin production with the top-end model. "Most of our reservations are for the high-range model," McCormack says. "It will cost about $90,000 for the top model."The Model S will also have an optional quick-charging three-phase 480V unit available which will charge the battery in 45 minutes, but prices have not yet been set for the charger, McCormack says.Tesla Motors currently only has a corporate office in Sydney, but plans to open a shop front. "We will open a store like an Apple store in 18 months in Sydney in a high-traffic retail environment like a Westfield shopping centre," he says."People visit us over the internet and we do test drives around the country or customers fly to Sydney for a drive. McCormack says he is disappointed in the lack of incentives for electric vehicles in Australia except for the zero stamp duty."This is the only Tesla market in the world where there is no element of incentive," he says. "I'm not just talking about monetary incentives but also use of bus and transit lanes and extra parking benefits."Tesla Model SPrice: up to $90,000Motor: AC electricBattery: 5000 lithium-ion cellsTransmission: single-speedDimensions: 4978mm (L), 2959mm (WB)Kerb weight: 1735kg

... alternatives with heavyweight motorcycle manufacturers BMW and Husqvarna producing concept models. With BMW buying the Swedish motorcycle manufacturer in the past year, the technologies are likely to be shared, but their vision of future electric two-wheeled transport is substantially different. BMW Motorrad's Concept e scooter has a traditional maxi-scooter look with a robust and substantial body. However, Husqvarna, which is known for its off-road machines, has gone for a more nimble bike with off-road capability in its Concept E-go. BMW claims their scooter will be a "future serial production vehicle", but neither company is giving a timeframe for production. The Husky Concept E-go weighs only 80kg and has some interesting innovations such as a "single-sided double-leg fork" with 35mm of inner tube and an aluminium single-side swing arm. The battery support is also constructed from aluminium, the frame and oval piping is made from steel, while the single seat is self-supporting. The BMW Concept e electro-scooter has the company's so-called "split face" from the upper trim section to above the front wheel cover. It also has a twin-tipped spoiler in the floating panel of the front trim, a boomerang-shaped acrylic glass side panel and low-cut windshield. The design of the light alloy wheels is derived from the styling of BMW's electric "i" cars. It is powered by a 60-volt-plus motor with acceleration promised to match a combustion engine maxi scooter for "safe overtaking on urban motorways when carrying a passenger". Range will be about 100km and charging from flat will take less than three hours. The charging socket is in the front section of the central tunnel and features a transparent plastic cover. While the Concept e features video cameras, the road-going model is bound to feature conventional mirrors. Before the end of this year, BMW Motorrad will also return to conventional scooter production with two maxi scooters powered by two-cylinder combustion engines. BMW Group Australia spokesman Miles Davis says the arrival date of the maxis is not yet confirmed. "There should be some sort of release before the end of the year at one of the major European shows," he says.

... should have the same safety standards as any family car, according to a safety expert. RACQ technical officer Steve Spalding says the two-star performance of dual-cab utes by Mahindra and Great Wall are not good enough.  The Australia New Car Assessment Program this week released safety ratings for several cars, including the Mahindra Pik-Up dual-cab ute, which still rates only two stars despite fitting two front airbags since it was last assessed.  It joins the Great Wall SA220 dual-cab ute on a lowly two stars out of five.  "These cars are genuine dual-purpose vehicles, often used as lifestyle vehicles running the family around in them at the weekend," Spalding says.  "They are the new family car, so people should rightly expect better performance. They should have all the safety features of any late-model car."  Another car that performed badly in the ANCAP results was the Chinese-made Geely MK.  "People do buy on price and will choose a budget-priced car like this, but they don't have to forgo safety. Just look at the Barina and Micra," Spalding says.  The new Holden Barina hitting the showrooms this week scored five stars while the Nissan Micra scored four.  "These scores show you can still buy an affordable car with high levels of safety," he says.  "For Holden this is a great news story as they've turned around what was a low two-star score about four years ago."  Other vehicles to score five stars in the latest ANCAP results are the Audi A6 and BMW X3, while the Citreon Berlingo and Renault Kango rated four stars.  ANCAP is supported by all Australian and New Zealand motoring clubs, the Australian Government, the New Zealand Government, all Australian state governments, the Victorian Transport Accident Commission, NRMA Insurance and the FIA Foundation.

The charge of the light car brigade has picked up pace with Holden's new Barina hatch. It leads the charge with a five-star safety rating, a host of standard features and keen pricing.Holden spokesman John Elsworth says it will change people's perceptions of their light cars. When it arrives in November it will come in one trim level only to make it easier and simpler for Holden, dealers and customers, Elsworth says.The new TM Barina is built in South Korea, but is part of a global GM platform that included Australian design and testing input. The car will be sold under various names such as Chevrolet Aveo in more than 60 countries. A sedan version arrives here early next year.While the Barina Spark will continue to be sold as a bargain basement model, the new Barina hatch is targeting the over-$15,000 light car segment where buyers expect a little bit more. So Holden has thrown a lot of standard features at its one-trim hatch including Bluetooth with audio streaming, cruise control, rear spoiler, USB/iPod connector, follow-me-home lighting, and 15-inch alloy wheels. An obvious omission, though, is parking sensors.The five-speed manual transmission is listed at $15,990 and at launch will sell for $16,990 drive away. The six-speed auto adds $2000 to the price. Marketing manager Emma Pinwill says motorists would have to buy the second or third trim level in other models to match the Barina's feature package."There are more than 30 brands in this segment - it's one of the most competitive in the world - and consumers demand more advanced value-packed products," she says.Holden lead development engineer Adam Shaw says their engineers have injected Holden DNA into the Barina hatch. By that he means the car was tested on our roads and in our weather conditions to calibrate the transmission, ride and handling to suit Australian customer standards for noise and vibration, as well as local standards for fuel economy and emissions.It is powered by a 85kW 1.6-litre petrol engine. While a diesel engine is available in other markets, Holden is adopting a wait-and-see approach. The automatic transmission has Active Select adaptive shift controls, with a wide ratio spread featuring a long first gear for rapid acceleration and a tall top gear for highway cruising with low fuel consumption. Shaw says it has 11 per cent more power than the TK Barina and 7 per cent more torque.Yet fuel economy has improved from 7.2 litres per 100km for the manual TK Barina (7.6 auto) to 6.8 (man) and 7.3 (auto). Likewise, CO2 emissions have been reduced from 171g/km (182 auto) to 162/174. Despite the use of lightweight materials and suspension components, the car uses thicker and heavier glass to reduce noise.Holden designer Richard Ferlazzo says their designer, Ondrej Koromhaz, was sent to South Korea a few years ago to lead the exterior design project for the Barina. "It's a truly global car and we're proud to say that Ondrej is one of our designers," he says. "The objective we gave him was to design a serious small car with a fun spirit."While most of the cars in the light segment are cute, Feralzzo says the Barina is a bit more "masculine and robust", featuring motorcycle inspiration in the headlights and instruments. "Most small cars have a cheap and cheerful happy look," he says. "This has a little bit of a frown and assertiveness. For a small car it's tough and nuggety."The cabin features more than 12 storage spaces in the front passenger compartment, including cubby holes above and beside the centre stack, on top of the dashboard, in the doors and centre console, and a two-part glovebox. It comes in seven exterior colours with metallic paint costing an extra $500.Pinwill says accessories include "lots of bling" such as chrome light surrounds and alloy pedals. "This is a style-conscious market," she says. "It's no secret that this segment is skewed to females, but the sporting orientation gives us the chance to market at males as well."The Barina has scored a maximum five stars in the latest ANCAP safety ratings. Shaw says this is due to the structural integrity of the body and chassis which includes high-strength steel, crumple zones, tubular door beams, a protected fuel tank and reinforced A and B pillars. There are also five seatbelts with pretensioners in the front, six airbags, collapsible pedals and pedestrian protection in the bonnet and bumpers. It also has stability and traction control, plus a suite of braking safety technology.The photos show a wide-legged, muscular hatch, but the wide-angle lens shots accentuate the features. It's not that macho in the flesh/metal. However, it is a tidy design with an aggressive set of "teeth and eyes".Inside, the plastic trim looks a lot softer than it actually is, but it's still good quality with a lot of handy receptacles to store mobile phones, iPods, wallets, coins, etc. The iPod connector plugs are conveniently located in the upper glovebox. Fit and finish is every bit as good as its Japanese and Korean colleagues.However, the levels of wind and road noise are much better. This feels a refined and civilised car to drive in the city and no less harsh on the open road.  It hits potholes without fuss and feels solid and unshaken. The five-speed manual is a slick gearbox with a light clutch that is easy to use in heavy traffic.The auto tends to flare and hunt around a bit too much, especially under acceleration or up hills. Steering is light enough for carpark situations with an assured feeling on the highway. The brake pedal feels firm and the stoppers are responsive even though it has drums on the rear like many of its kinfolk.It may only be a small car, but it feels big inside. The outer limits of the body are difficult to see, so parking sensors would be handy. The front seats have plenty of adjustment and the steering wheel is adjustable for reach and height, so it is easy to get a suitable position for any driver. Rear leg and head room is ok for adults, but boot space is tight. The rear seats fold down and have a 60-40 split for cargo flexibility.

...and driving through red lights to get out of the way of emergency vehicles. Almost one in four (23 per cent) Melbourne motorists, one in five Sydney drivers and a third of Brisbane drivers admit to illegal road use to make room for emergency vehicles, according to research by car insurer Budget Direct. Ambulance officer Andrew Poli, 40, says he has seen motorists do "stupid things" to get out of the way of emergency vehicles in his 15 years with the service. "On one occasion a driver drove on to the median strip at speed and we had to back away in case he lost control," he said. "People freak out and do stupid, dangerous things when they see us coming. They usually slam on their brakes and swerve. Over the years we've seen people get into little bingles every now and then - mostly sideswipes and nose-to-tails." Poli says the biggest problem is motorists not seeing or hearing an emergency vehicle with its siren wailing. "Modern cars are designed to be sound proof so they can't hear our sirens. They don't even have to have the stereo cranked up to not hear us," he said. Generally it's people just not paying attention and not checking their mirrors." The correct procedure for a motorist when approached by an emergency vehicle is to slow down, give way by moving safely and legally to the left, and let the vehicle pass. "Keep an eye on your mirrors and don't react dramatically when you do see us," Poli advises. Take your time and plan your route to get out of the way." Budget Direct spokeswoman Richelle Ward said that despite more than 90 per cent of drivers claiming to be confident about giving way to an emergency vehicle, the survey results show the opposite. "The biggest stand out was the high number of people that believe it's okay to drive on to a footpath to allow an emergency vehicle to pass," she said. Drivers need to keep their wits about them and be practical as this could potentially endanger pedestrians." "We understand people just want to do the right thing and help emergency vehicles reach their destination but erratic driving behaviour could cause further accidents," Ms Ward said.

Deakin University engineering senior lecturer Frank Will, 47, says his invention has already received interest from one car manufacturer who he could not reveal for commercial reasons. The invention is named OVER7 because it is claimed to reduce fuel consumption by more than seven per cent, saving about $6 on a 60-litre fill-up. Will says his prototype simply uses waste heat to warm the engine oil and reduce engine friction. "The first car manufacturer has placed an order to test it and I'm in discussions with several others as well," he says. "Built into a new car it should pay for itself within a month or two." OVER7 consists of three components: a bypass pipe between the cylinder head, oil gallery and oil pump; a valve inside to control oil pressure; and a heat exchange to transfer heat from the exhaust into the oil. It was developed as part of Will's PhD project and comes after years of research into fuel economy. "When I was a kid in Germany in the middle of the oil crisis the government decided to ban car driving every second Sunday so I thought it was quite serious," he says. "I decided I'd better do something about it when I'm old enough so when I started uni I became a mechanical engineer focused on internal combustion engines." Will worked at Ford in Europe for several years and claims some of his fuel-saving ideas have gone into production. He says a typical car engine loses about 80 per cent of fuel energy through heat transfer, but the OVER7 reduces that heat loss. "One of its most important features is that it doesn't have to heat all the oil in the sump," he says. "Instead, it heats only the active oil in the engine lubrication system. This makes the overall heat transfer process much more efficient." The invention could also be released as an aftermarket modification for all vehicles. "The system has the potential to be retrofitted to existing engines and we don't think it will require big changes," he says. "It should be much cheaper to fit than an LPG conversion for example. I haven't got an aftermarket conversion available yet. That needs more funding. I'm trying to get support through a grants program." Will also believes the system is suitable for a range of vehicles, including diesels, hybrids and those using alternative fuels. Other claimed benefits include the potential to reduce engine wear and improve performance.

Ducati will show the result of their partnership with AMG - the Diavel AMG Special Edition - at the Frankfurt Motor Show next week. (SEPTEMBER 15-25) The flagship model is based on the Diavel Carbon and features AMG's signature five-spoke wheels, carbon-fibre lateral radiator grills with aluminium trim, AMG sports exhaust system with engraved end-caps and AMG horizontally ribbed seat upholstery. Every Desmodromic L-twin 120kW 1198cc engine has hand-set cam-timing authenticated with the name of the engine technician engraved on the left engine casing. Each bike will also have a numbered plaque on the fuel tank. It is dressed in matte black carbon fibre bodywork with an AMG "Diamond White Bright" stripe and frame. "AMG" is also laser-engraved into the air-duct panels either side of the fuel tank. Production begins next year and orders are now open. Ducati Australia marketing co-ordinator Marina Strbac cannot confirm how many will be produced, how many will be allocated for Australia or the price. However, it is expected to cost more than $30,000 and will include a special edition leather jacket and helmet. Strbac says the Diavel Standard ($23,490) and Carbon ($28,990) are selling "above target" and winning conquests from Harley-Davidson. "At the New Zealand Speed Show in July we had a lot of Harley riders jumping on it because it's so light and comfortable," she says. But that's not what we're after - trying to win over customers from other brands." "We're also looking for people who haven't had bikes for a long time. You are also correct to assume that some buyers are Ducati owners who want a second bike. Due to the Diavel filling a gap in the cruiser market there is a vast mix in our buyer demographic." Strbac says 60 per cent of Diavel buyers are opting for the more expensive Carbon.