Articles by Mark Hinchliffe

You can now have your hatch with radical iPod-white wheels, mirrors and trim. At the same time, BMW has been conservative by reducing the endless clutter of options and introducing trim levels like most other manufacturers.When the German-made hatch arrives in October it will come in base trim (to which can be added an M Sport trim and aero package), Urban Line or Sport Line.Fittingly the hatch was launched in Berlin this week (July 28) as the city approaches the 50th anniversary of the Berlin Wall (August 13) because, as dramatically as the wall tumbled in 1990, BMW has suddenly changed its attitude to endless variants.The 1 Series hatch is the first to benefit from streamlined trim levels with the 3 Series launched in November possibly next cab off the rank.VALUEThe streamlined trim levels should have economic advantages for BMW that should be passed down as savings to the customer.BMW Group Australia corporate communications chief Piers Scott says pricing will be “very sharp”.At launch there will be a 118i petrol and 118d diesel model, quickly followed by a “price-leading” 116i.We won’t get the 116d or 120d but there could be a six-cylinder model “a long way down the track”. However it’s unlikely to be an M model, says Scott.We also won’t be getting the three-door hatch which would conflict with the coupe. Scott says the 116i will compete on price with the Audi A3 and VW Golf.DESIGNThe 1 Series hatch was launched in 2004 and the coupe/convertible in 2007 and the two body shapes will remain out of kilter for some time.This second-generation hatch has little to do with the first-generation coupe, its underpinnings more closely aligned to the forthcoming 3 Series.It is 85mm longer and 17mm wider with 21mm more rear legroom and 30-litres expanded cargo capacity.With its wider track the hatch’s stance is more hunkered down and purposeful, its lines dramatically altered with a bulbous bonnet leading to a pointed shark nose like the recent 6 Series coupe.At the rear the wider taillights and lateral design lines give it a broader look and the hatch door is lower and wider for better access. This will be appreciated by women who will buy more of this model than any other BMW says Scott.The Urban is distinguished by its white and silver kidney grille and accents, while the Sport retains conventional alloy wheels and dark grille.TECHNOLOGYIronically it will arrive with more powerful twin-scroll turbo-charged petrol engines than the naturally aspirated and supposedly sporty coupe and convertible 1 Series. The 116i has the same amount of power as the current 118i hatch, but 40Nm more torque, much better fuel economy (5.5L/100km compared with 7.5L) and much lower emissions (129g/km versus 174g/km).The 118i is 25kW more powerful, with 70Nm more torque, better economy (5.9L/100km) and lower emissions (137g/km).This is despite the petrol models being slightly heavier because of the bigger body dimensions and stiffer and safer chassis.Power and efficiency gains are much lower with the new diesel 118d (same power, 20Nm more torque, 0.1L/100km better economy and 4g/km lower emissions). The manual transmission retains six speeds, but the six-speed auto has been replaced by the new eight-cog job.The cabin gets standard height-adjustable front seats, a BMW Business CD radio with six speakers and aux connection, and a “driving experience” switch on the central console that adjusts the car’s set-up to the driver’s preferences by modifying the engine programming, stability settings and shift characteristics of the auto.Even though the trim levels have been trimmed down, there is still a range of options available including two-zone airconditioning, electrically adjustable and heated seats, a multifunction steering wheel, rear-view and exterior mirrors with automatic anti-dazzle function, fog lights, an electric glass sunroof.BMW ConnectedDrive options include adaptive headlights, rain sensor, auto driving lights, high-beam assistance, parking sensors, rear-view camera, parking assistance, cruise control with braking, and lane departure and collision warning. There are also iPhone connectivity and internet capability options.SAFETYThe new chassis has high-strength load-bearing elements and large crumple zones. The hatch comes standard with six airbags, a tyre defect indicator and dynamic brake lights that flash to warn following drivers if you hit the brakes hard or the ABS system intervenes.DRIVINGThe old East Berlin and East Germany served as the backdrop to the road test for the new 118i and 120d hatch. There was no 116i or 118d available for test. The old Soviet territory provided a mix of high-speed modern autobahn driving, heavily trafficked city roads and bumpy old rural lanes.The engineers have tweaked the suspension to suit the new stiffer chassis and defied physics to produce a plush ride from the runflat tyres.On a particularly nasty stretch of road, the car rode better in “sport plus” setting on the models with optional adaptive M suspension than in “comfort” setting with the dampers screwing it down and preventing bounce.More importantly they have tuned out the sharp hits of the first generation 1 Series. Steering has also sharpened up and can be further tuned to a razor-like finish with adaptive drive that also attenuates the throttle and quickens the transmission response.On a few laps of the Linthe proving ground, the adaptive M suspension was put through its paces with stunning results.It changes direction with a minimum of fuss and keeps the rear-wheel power down while providing plenty of feedback through the seat of the driver’s trousers or skirt. It’s a car you can drive with gusto and reap the rewards with safety.The cabin feels airy and fresh with a less domineering dashboard and a large, high-mounted, freestanding info/satnav screen.VERDICTBMW have been adventurous with the 1 Series hatch design and those dazzling but hard-to-keep-clean white wheels, while being conservative with the rational trim levels.The former will attract younger drivers and the latter will simplify the buying process, get cars to owners quicker and alleviate dealer overstocking. It’s a win for all concerned.BMW 1 Series hatchOn sale: OctoberPrices: about $40,000-$45,000Engines: 100kW/220Nm (116i), 125kW/250Nm (118i) 1.6-litre twin-turbo 4-cylinder petrol; 105kW/320Nm 2.0-litre twin-turbo dieselTransmissions: 6-speed manual and autoEconomy: 5.5/5.6L/100km (118i man/auto), 5.9/5.8L/100km (118i), 4.4L/100km (118d) CO2: 129g/km (116i), 137g/km (118i), 115g/km (118d)Dimensions: 4324mm (L), 1765 (W), 1421mm (H), 2690 (WB)Weight: 1290/1365kg (116i manual/auto), 129/1370kg (118i), 1320/1395kg (118d)

Properly called the Nuda 900 R, it features a bored-out version of the BMW F 800's parallel twin. The project is one of the first benefits of the Swedish off-road bike company's take-over by BMW last year.The Italian-designed Nuda was first seen as the Mille3 concept at last year's EICMA motorcycle show in Milan. Now the Nuda has been revealed in all its muscular glory with sharp angles, big air ducts and narrow rear end.However, it looks like Husky has retained its basic and uncomfortable supermotard seating. This certainly won't be much fun for touring. Its 900cc engine will have more than 75kW of power and 100Nm of torque with dry weight less than 175kg for a healthy power-to-weight ratio. Many internal components were also modified to improve the performance of the power and torque curve.Handling should be good with full-adjustable Swedish Ohlins suspension at the rear and full-adjustable Sachs forks. It should also stop well with monoblock radially-mounted four-piston Brembo brakes at the front.Australian importers The Paul Feeney Group on the Gold Coast expect it to reach our shores late next year.Prices are yet to be announced but it will compete with the BMW F 800 ($13,900-$15,800), KTM 990 Super Duke ($19,995) and Ducati Hypermotard ($15,990-$20,990).Group marketing manager Jorg Hoffmann says they hope to grab customers from the F 800, but if it is too competitive in price, we could expect BMW Group Australia might complain.The Nuda isn't the first street bike Husqvarna has produced, but in recent years the company has devoted its range to off-road machines and small-bore, single-cylinder supermotards.

The new Harley range features bigger engines, more ABS models, a 10th anniversary V-Rod, two new models and higher price tags. So far Harley-Davidson Australia has released the prices only for their 2012 Sportster models which are up between 6 and 10.5 per cent. Marketing manager Adam Wright says they are "realigning' their prices with the US. "We have had the Sportster at a very good price point for a number of years and sales have been very strong, but now we have realigned pricing with the US," he says. While prices for other models have not yet been released, they are not expected to increase as much because they were not offered at such heavily discounted levels. "It's hard to comment on other prices because we haven't released the prices to dealers yet," he says. "We will release our pricing strategy closer to model release dates." Usually Harley releases its new models in August, but this year they are being spread out over several months. "We're delaying some of the product release, some due to production scheduling and some is due to inventories at dealers," he says. With Harley sales down 3.1 per cent to 2955 in the first half of the year there is plenty of floor stock left over, despite Harley announcing substantial discounts from July 1. "We're hitting budget numbers, but we want to make sure that dealers aren't swamped in stock," Wright says. "We also want a decent amount of stock in our warehouse before releasing new models." Managing director Peter Nochar says stock is at "planned levels". "We are currently projecting a lower year-end stock in 2011 compared to 2010 providing we continue to hit our sales budgets." First bikes out of the racks are the 2012 Sportsters available now with some minor styling updates to the SuperLow, Iron 883 and Forty-Eight. The most updated Sportster is the XL1200 Custom which gets a chunky 16-inch front tyre, pull-back bar and new LED taillight. It also debuts Harley's factory customisation, allowing customers to choose from seven option categories (wheels, handlebars, seats, paint, foot control position, security system, and engine finish). The Sportsters will be followed in November by the new Dyna range with the Twin Cam 103 (1690cc) engine rather than the 96 (1584cc) in all but the Street Bob and Super Glide Custom. The Dyna range also expands with the new Switchback model which has ABS, colour-matched hard saddlebags and detachable windshield as standard. At the same time, Harley will release its new Touring range including the Road Glide Custom with Twin Cam 103 engine, ABS and cruise control and its Custom Vehicle Operations models (Ultra Classic Electra Glide, Street Glide and Softail Convertible), all powered by the Twin Cam 110 (1800cc). However, Wright says Tourers and CVOs may be delayed because of problems with the supply of radios from tsunami-ravaged Japan. In December, Harley will release its Softails which now come with the bigger and more powerful Twin Cam 103 engine. The new V-Rods are also released in December featuring a 10th anniversary model with new straight-shot exhaust, new wheels, pullback bars in silver and polished finishes, "chrome speed" screen visor, chrome powertrain with platinum crankcase and heads, and 10th anniversary emblem. In July, Harley reduced the prices on 10 current models, including the Fat Boy (was $32,250, now $29,250 ride-away) and Dyna Wide Glide ($28,895 to $25,750). Prices on Harley branded apparel and merchandise was reduced by more than 17 per cent. Harley Sportsters (rideaway prices) XL1200X Forty Eight $18,250 (was $16,625 + 9.8%)XL1200C 1200 Custom $17,995 (new model)XL883N Iron 883 $14,250 ($13,400 + 6.3%)XL883L Super Low $14,250 ($12,895 + 10.5%).

CARS that drive themselves to work will be on our roads in the next three years.The self-driving cars from BMW are the electric-powered i3 small city car and the electric-petrol i8 hybrid sportscar which will go into production in 2013 and be on sale In Australia in 2014.BMW's new "i" range of cars will use cameras, radar and sensors to follow the traffic up to 40km/h, accelerating, braking and steering itself. All the driver has to do on the commute to work is have one hand on the steering wheel.If the traffic becomes too heavy, the car may even suggest pulling over and catching a bus or train to work.But BMW's new range of smart cars is not just all work and no play. In conjunction with your smart phone, they will also book you a table at a restaurant or tickets to a concert, then direct you to the closest free parking space.BMW is also developing partnerships in programs such as a DriveNow car-sharing service; MyCityWay, a mobile app that provides information on public transport, parking availability and even entertainment; and ParkatmyHouse, an internet platform allowing owners to rent their driveway or parking space.But these cars won't be hitting the roads in large volumes.BMW sales and marketing boss Ian Robertson says the i8 could cost about $300,000. He wouldn't reveal the cost of the small, urban i3 car. However,you can bet it wont be cheap as both cars are largely made of strong and lightweight carbon fibre reinforced plastic (CFRP) which is stratospherically expensive.BMW i3 CONCEPTThis car was previously known as the Megacity Vehicle, the BMW Group’s first series-produced all-electric car. It features an electric motor over the rear axle with 125kW of power and 250Nm of torque pushing it to 60km/h in under four seconds and to 100km/h in less than eight seconds.The battery is under the floor with a liquid cooling system to keep it at optimum operating temperature. It can be charged in six hours from the mains. Because of the braking effect of the engine when you release the accelerator, BMW claims you can drive the car in traffic without using the brake on most occasions. They call it “single-pedal control”. At faster speeds, the car goes into a free-wheeling cruise mode when the accelerator is released.In a “Back to the Future” moment, the i3 brings back the “smooch” bench seat, which BMW explains will be handy if you park up close to a wall on the driver’s side; you simply slide across and exit through the passenger door.Price: no estimate availableMotor: 125kW/250Nm electricDimensions: 3845mm (L), 2011mm (W), 1537mm (H) 2570 (WB)Body: 3-door, 4-seaterKerb weight: 1250kgTop speed: 150km/h electronically limitedAcceleration: 0-60km/h in 3.9s; 0-100km/h in 7.9sRange: 130-160kmCharging: 6 hours, or 80% in 1hLuggage: 200 litres.BMW i8 CONCEPTThis plug-in hybrid 2+2 sports car features the i3 electric drive system at the front axle with a combustion engine over the rear wheels. The 1.5-litre three-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine produces 164kW/300Nm while the electric motor can power the car on its own up to 35km, if required.Acceleration to 100km/h is under five seconds with fuel consumption in the European cycle of less than three litres per 100km, or 7L/100km when driven hard. The lithium-ion battery can be charged from a domestic power supply while a high-voltage alternator hooked up to the combustion engine also charges the battery. A feature of the sports car is its upward-swivelling doors fixed to the A pillars which provide direct access to the front and back seats.Price: about $300,000Motor: 96kW/250Nm electricEngine: 164kW/300Nm 1.5L 3-cylinder turbo petrolDimensions: 4632mm (L), 1955 (W), 1280mm (H), 2800mm (WB)Body: 2-door, 2-seaterKerb weight: 1480kgTop speed: 250km/h electronically limitedAcceleration: 0-100km/h in 4.6sEconomy: 2.7L/100kmCO2: 66g/kmElectric range: 35kmCharging: 105 minutesLuggage: 150 litres.

The FG is one of 19 vehicles recommended in the RACQ's annual Used Car Safety Ratings. But the list is dominated by small imported cars. Five made the Safe Pick list: Honda Civic, Peugeot 307, Volvo S40/V40, Volkswagen's Golf/Bora and the Golf/Jetta stablemates. "This shatters the myth that big cars are safe," RACQ executive manager vehicle technologies Steve Spalding says. "Some (large cars) don't have a particularly high rating, while some of the smaller stuff can outperform them. What it means is you can pick a safe car that is still small and economical to run." No light cars made the Safe Pick list. "That is a consequence of their light weight. In a two-vehicle crash they come off worst because of the disparity in weight," he said. The Monash University Accident Research Centre analysed records from more than four million vehicles in police-reported road crashes and more than a million injured road users in Australia and New Zealand between 1987 and 2009. It found a wide variation in the level of crash protection in the 10 categories of vehicles studied. The risk of injury or death is 8.2 times higher in the worst rated vehicle, the 1996 Daihatsu Mira, than in the best vehicle, the 2008-09 Falcon FG. The average risk of death or serious injury to the driver of a 2009 car in a crash is about 30 per cent less than for the driver of a 1996 car. "When you're choosing a vehicle, don't just think about your own safety," Spalding says. "Think about the safety of other drivers and road users such as cyclists and pedestrians." SAFE PICKS Small cars: Honda Civic (06-09), Peugeot 307 (01-09), Volvo S40/V40 (97-04), VW Golf/Bora (99-04), VW Golf/Jetta (04-09) Medium cars: BMW 5 Series E39 (96-03), Mazda6 (02-07), Honda Accord (03-07), Saab 900/9-3 (94-02), Saab 9000 (86-97) Large cars: Falcon FG (08-09), Toyota Camry (06-09) Compact SUVs: Honda CR-V (02-06), Subaru Forester (02-08) Medium SUVs: Mitsubishi Pajero NM/NP/NS (00-06) Large 4WDs: Jeep Grand Cherokee WJ/WG (99-05) Utes: Mitsubishi Triton ML/MN (06-09), Ford/Mazda Ranger/BT-50 (06-09) Vans: Ford Transit (01-07)

Chris Williams, 59, has built a replica of the VK Commodore that Brock drove to Bathurst glory in 1984 with co-driver Larry Perkins, even though Williams wasn't in the country at the time.Williams, was still living in England in the 1980s. He migrated to Australia about 20 years ago, but spent his early days as a fabricator for the F1 Arrows team with Frank Wiliams and then the Le Mans-winning JW Automotive, working on Ford GT40s and Porsche 917s.On arriving in Australia, he was taken by the legend of Brock in his '80s hey day and the unrestricted Group C V8 muscle cars."I never saw Peter Brock race, but I've seen the videos and photos," he says."It (VK Commodore) was the best-looking car and the most memorable because it was the start of modern colour schemes and the end of the big banger (Group C) era," Williams says.Williams bought the car for $6000 in 2007 when it was a black show car. He has since spent about $50,000 turning it into a replica that he races, shows and hires for promotional events.Williams says he's had three offers of more than $100,000 for the car, plus a buyer who wants him to make one. However, it's only insured for $50,000 because of the high risk of racing."Everything has a price, but it's not for sale really. I want to use it for a few years first," he says."I've also put in 1600 hours getting it to this level."Williams has been racing for five years and won a few trophies. He converted the VK from black to HDT livery in the past 18 months by popular demand."People want to see the car racing on the track," he says. "Racing is the best way to spend my money.”"It's like you seem quite sensible until you get your helmet on and get on the starting line, then you just see red."Incidentally, his gold helmet is festooned with the signatures of racing greats such as Dick and Steven Johnson, Harry Firth, Mark Skaife, Kevin Bartlett, Greg Murphy and Jim Richards, but not Peter Brock.His fluro orange replica has all the original sponsor signage, including cigarette advertising which Williams believes will not be a problem, even on Victorian tracks, because it's a replica historic car. Modifications to the 308 V8 engine are few: hot cams, K&N air filter, high-tension leads and handmade stainless steel manifold and side exhaust that rumbles with Group C memories.Williams hasn't had the engine dynoed, but says he's reached a top speed of 240km/h. In the back is a proper stainless steel racing tank, while in the cabin are two Sparco seats and Sabelt five-point harnesses."I must have rocks in my head; being a perfectionist and wanting to do it right the project turned into a monster," he says. Williams literally had to re-invent the wheel to get the car right. The original 17 x 10 Momo wheels are no longer available, so he had to hand-make the billet aluminium wheels from a 1/18 scale model using a vernier gauge.The car is not quite CAMS spec, but compliant for AAA racing in the Shannons muscle car series. Williams says he goes through a set of 625/265 R17 Dunlop slicks in a race weekend at a cost of $2300. He estimates a racing series would cost up to $50,000.However, he hopes to do a full season in the VK including Phillip Island, Eastern Creek, Queensland Raceway and Bathurst where it will no doubt stir some deep emotions.AT A GLANCEYear: 1984Price New: $11,000Price Now: >$100,000Engine: 308 5-litre V8Body: 4-door sedan race carTrans: T21 5-speed manualDid you know: Peter Brock has won nine Bathurst titles, 10 if you include the 24-hour race.RACING RECORDThe King of the Mountain was on a roll in 1984.Peter Brock's win in the Bathurst 1000 that year was his third in a row and his sixth in just seven years.The Holden Dealer Team claimed a 1-2 finish with John Harvey and David Parsons behind Brock and Larry Perkins.The race was known as The Last of the Big Bangers because the Group C touring car category was ending because the cars had become too expensive and powerful.It was replaced by the international Group A formula.However, the Group A-spec VK Commodore won again in 1986 with Allan Grice and Graeme Bailey at the wheel.

Meet Scrambles who will accompany owner John Skinner on a “figure-eight'' transcontinental journey around Australia from next month (AUGUST) riding a Triumph Scrambler. Scrambles recently replaced Scarlet, Skinner's best mate for 10 years who died of old age. “It tore me to pieces,'' Skinner says. The 60-year-old self-confessed gypsy says Scrambles took to his matte-black Triumph straight away. “She rides in a shoulder bag and as soon as I put the bag down, she jumps in,'' he says. Scarlet used to ride on the tank, but the practice is now banned in all states. “I'd like to see the statistics on crashes caused by dogs on the tank. It's almost anti-Australian to ban it,'' he says. Red Dog is set in the Outback in the '70s when it was still legal for a dog to ride on a bike's fuel tank. In the film, Victorian kelpie Koko plays the lead role as a hitch-hiking, bike-riding outback wanderer. Producer Nelson Woss says Koko didn't once fall off in the making of the film. “Luke Hura trained Koko to ride on motorbikes just like dogs do on farms all over Australia,'' Woss says. “He never fell off once. We took very good care of him with safety.” “But the one thing that was dangerous is he has been trained that when a car or ute stops and opens the door, he will just jump in so we had to be very careful he didn't suddenly disappear.'' The film is based on the true story of a dog known for standing in the middle of the road and stopping cars to hitch a ride. “He could even identify the noise of the cars,'' he says. “When he heard one that he knew was a mate that would pick him up he would stand in the middle of the road. Woss says the movie is “all about driving and movement''. “There is something very iconic about driving in Australia with your dog,'' he says. The four hero vehicles of the film are a 1968 VE Valiant, a 1969 XW Ford Falcon ute, a 1974 Honda CB750 motorbike and a '70s bus. “It was so important to get the vehicles right and authentic,'' he says. “The movie is set in the '70s but we've also got this Valiant which was from the late '60s but it's pretty beaten up. “We knew people would point it out if we got it wrong.''

MV Agusta Imports manager Kevin Beale says orders are now being taken for the F3 Series Oro at $33,800 ride-away, but buyers should be quick as only 200 are being produced. The new 675cc three-cylinder F3 sportsbike will arrive in March 2012. Pricing is yet to be announced, but it is expected to be under $20,000 ride away. Oro means gold in Italian, so the F3 Series Oro features an abundance of gold finish in the frame plates, single-sided swingarm, forged aluminium wheels, air intakes and cooling vents plus a DID Gold chain. There is even a gold individually numbered plate mounted on the upper triple clamp. The Series Oro also has an abundance of lightweight carbonfibre in the mudguards, dashboard cover, airbox and intake covers, fairing inserts, chain guards, swingarm protector, sprocket cover, fairing lower, and exhaust outlets. It comes in silver and red paint in the traditional livery of the Italian motorcycle manufacturer. Attention to detail includes machine-polished clutch cover and frame plates, and solid-billet alternator cover and footpeg mounting brackets allowing full adjustability, while the seat covers are hand-made from leather and suede-effect alcantara. The Oro comes with Brembo brakes, adjustable Ohlins upside-down forks, and TTX shock and steering damper. Since the new Australian importers took over early this year, the prices of most MV Agustas have come down. "One thing we have been able to do is negotiate a better price than the previous importer," says Beale. "MV Agusta is very keen to get back into Australia having lost the previous distributor. "We told them what would need to be done to get a worthwhile market share and they made the decision to go ahead with our proposal. "The bikes will be cheaper, but we have promised them more volume as a trade-off." Beale says they will honour warranties on existing models after the previous importer the Paul Feeney Group relinquished MV Agusta and Cagiva last July.

... and hydrogen-powered cars are still a long way off, a Brisbane conference has been told. The Future Fuels for Australia Workshop in Brisbane this week attended by government, industry and research organisations heard that Australia's already heavy reliance on imported oil would grow, with no clear alternative fuels yet. It was told that domestic oil production peaked in 2001/02 and has been dropping 5 per cent each year since. Oil industry consultant Dr David Lamb says more than 50 per cent of our oil is imported and that we need to decrease demand, improve fuel economy targets for cars, use biofuels and buy electric vehicles. Heather Brodie, CEO of Biofuels Association of Australia, says our oil trade deficit is currently $13b and will almost double to $25b by 2015. She says that with the Mid East in crisis, Australia has a "desperate need for energy security". However, she says a swing to alternative fuels such as LPG, CNG, biofuel or biodiesel should be government regulated. She called for quality certification of fuels "like a Heart Foundation tick so people know when they go to the bowser that the fuel is the right quality". Dr Lamb agrees with regulating fuel standards, but also calls for mandatory fuel economy efficiency standards for vehicles "not just voluntary targets". "We've got to stop pussy footing around," he says. "Australians deserve the best fuel in the world in the best engines in the world." He says 22 per cent of the world's population use 67 per cent of the world's oil, but that this situation will change as China and India become more mobile. He says China currently uses about one litre of oil per day per person. If China increases its oil use to Australia's level of 7L a day, it will more than double the current world oil use which is 76m barrels a day. While car manufacturers are beginning to release electric vehicles and more and more hybrids, plans for hydrogen vehicles have been put on the backburner. Dr Andrew Dicks, president of the Australian Association of Hydrogen Energy (AAHE) formed in 2008, says hydrogen fuel-cell cars are a long way off, at least in Australia. "We'll have EVs and plug-in hybrids for the next few years, but realistically it's 2020 for hydrogen," he says. "Manufacturers like Toyota say they will mass produce affordable hydrogen cars from about 2015. Be we'll not be able to run them here because of our lack of infrastructure." Honda began leasing its hydrogen fuel-cell FCX Clarity in 2008, but the global financial crisis forced funding cuts for the car which costs more than $1m each to build. Now Honda cites infrastructure as a major stumbling block, even though Tokyo has 20 hydrogen filling stations. Dr Dick says Australia has none. "We need an alternative fuel strategy before hydrogen," he says. "The government needs to be aware of that." He called for government incentives, not just for car buyers, but for infrastructure providers. Despite his gloom about hydrogen power, he says the industry remains convinced it is the long-term solution. Conference delegate Brian Davey confirms that Kawasaki Heavy Industries is "very interested" in producing hydrogen with brown coal from the La Trobe Valley in Victoria, but not for at least 20 years. He says the brown coal resource is a rich commodity for Australia which has the second-largest reserves in the world after Russia. Dr Dicks says Australia has a record with hydrogen tests, pointing to the Perth 2004-07 hydrogen buses trial and the development of a hydrogen-powered building at Griffith University in Brisbane. It will use solar panels to help power the building as well as produce and store hydrogen which will provide power at night. The excess hydrogen produced will be used to power fuel-cell vehicles around the campus. "However, the Griffith experiment is just a token effort at the moment," he says. Dr Dicks says the first commercial hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles will probably be hybrids, even though the current high cost of hybrid cars is not recovered by fuel savings. He says the first wave of mass use and acceptance of hydrogen-powered vehicles is already happening with hundreds of companies around the world using hydrogen fuel-cell forklift trucks. They are ideal in warehouses and refrigerated areas as their only emission is water, he says. They are expensive, but he says they are paying back their cost in less than three years. He says in the short term, EVs face huge hurdles such as high cost, lack of infrastructure, slow charging times and range limitations. "But the biggest worry with EVs is that Joe Public will just buy it and think it will do everything. It won't. Not in Australia," he says. "The next 15 to 20 years will be a very fragmented outlook for transport. There will be lots of different options in different countries." The AAHE will host the 2015 World Hydrogen Technology Conference in Sydney. WORLD OIL USE * 0.5b of the world's population use 6+ litres a day* 1b use 3-6L/day* 2.1b use 1-3L/day* 3.3b use less than 1L a day* 22% of the population use 67% of the world's oil* Australia uses about 7L/day* China uses about 1L and India 0.4L.

The Brisbane business owner has restored a Volvo P1800 sports car like the one driven by one of the coolest guys on the planet - Roger Moore as Simon Templar in the 1960s TV show, The Saint. His car is the later and more powerful 1970 P1800E series which has the same shape and style as the original 1961 P1800 driven by Moore."I spotted it on a hoist in a garage near work and instantly fell in love with it," he says."I'd never seen one in the flesh before.”“I remember seeing the TV show as a kid. It's the coolest Volvo ever made”"The new ones are nice, but in between this and now they weren't good looking."So Scholz tracked down the owner and asked her if she wanted to sell.She did and Scholz bought the car in 2000 for $5500, but he says it was in pretty bad shape."The paintwork was shot and the interior was completely gone," he says.The restoration took four-and-a-half years to complete and Scholz says he did most of the work himself, except for the paint."I used to be a sheet metal worker by trade so I'm pretty good with my hands," he says. "I completely stripped it and put it on a rotisserie to straighten it out.”"I pulled out every bit of wiring and tagged it, put it in a bag and three years later I came to get it out and all the tags had come off. I had to get a bit of help from an auto electrician to fix it."The car is now a show-winning restoration in "Volvo Gold", not white like The Saint's white car.It has won 12 trophies including second place in this year's annual Volvo Rally at Armidale."It runs great and never misses a beat, although I only drive it to shows and club events," he says."It was never any powerhouse and I wouldn't say they are the greatest handling cars on the road as they tend to have a bit of body roll."Still, it is claimed to be capable of a top speed of 190km/h and will reach 100km/h in less than 10 seconds.Scholz points out that the P1800 was hi-tech for its time with fuel injection, four-speed manual with electronic overdrive, four-wheel disc brakes, a rear window demister and lap/sash seatbelts which were made compulsory in 1967 in the UK where the vehicle came from. Three-point seatbelts were made compulsory in Victoria in 1970 and later in other states.It also has some quirks such as the electronic overdrive switch where you would expect the indicators to be."If you are not careful you can whack it into overdrive thinking you are indicating a turn," Scholz says.The dashboard looks impressive with seven gauges (clock, oil pressure, speedo, tacho, water temperature, oil temperature and fuel gauge).The odo shows 96,471 miles (155,255km), but Scholz has only added about 10,000km since the engine was rebuilt.But Scholz need not be concerned about longevity as a Californian-owned P1800 is in the Guinness Book of Records with almost 3 million miles (4.8 million kilometres) on the original engine. The Volvo is not Scholz's only restoration.He also restored a 1976 Kawasaki Z900 - a later model of the bike featured in the Australian movie, Stone - which he sold to a Japanese collector and has a 1960s Honda S800 sportscar sitting in his shed awaiting restoration.COOL HISTORYSIMON Templar could have driven an E-Type Jaguar in the 1960s show, The Saint, but the British car manufacturer turned down an offer from the show's producers.However, Volvo jumped at the opportunity and sales of the P1800 went through the roof on the back of the show's success with Roger Moore playing the suave Templar.The Volvo sportscar project had started as early as 1957.It was long thought to be designed by an Italian having been drawn up at the Pietro Frua design studio.However, in 2009 Volvo admitted it was the work of Swedish sailor and yacht designer Pelle Petterson who was a student at the studio at the time.Coincidentally he was the son of Volvo engineering consultant Helmer Petterson who battled for several years to have the vehicle produced.The vehicle debuted at the Brussels Motor Show in 1960 and because of a lack of Volvo assembly line availability the Swedes turned to the British sportscar company, Jensen Motors, to build the sportscar which celebrates its 50th anniversary this year.However, quality control was not a strong suit of British industry at the time, so production was moved in 1963 to Gothenburg in Sweden and the model name was changed to P1800S with the added S standing for Sweden.In 1970, the P1800E added fuel injection and a more powerful motor, and in 1972 a rather ugly P1800ES station wagon was added.Production ended in 1973 and it wasn't until the 2006 C30 that Volvo produced another "cool" car.Year: 1970Price New: $7300Price Now: about $30,000-$35,000Engine: 92kW 1986cc fuel-injected 4-cylinderBody: 2-door, 2-seater sportscarTrans: 4-speed manual all-synchro with Laycock electronic overdriveDid you know: Roger Moore liked his Volvo P1800 TV car so much he bought one.