Articles by Mark Hinchliffe

However, all new diesels will feature the frugal Blue Motion technology, says VW Group Australia managing director Anke Koeckler. VW unveiled the new Jetta, Touareg, Scirocco R and Caddy which comes for the first time with 4Motion all-wheel drive. “We now have a vehicle for every customer,” Koeckler says. The second-generation Touareg will arrive in September with a starting price of $62,990 for the three-litre V6 diesel, but there will be no hybrid model. “We thought long and hard about launching the Touareg hybrid, but it’s not a very important segment in Australia yet. When it gets bigger, we might. It’s also too expensive at the moment and too technical.” Kockler says pricing for the new Jetta being launched in August has not yet been decided. “We wll maintain the price because the dollar is very strong and that’s one of the reasons we can achieve the right pricing in the Australian market for all our vehicles.” The Scirocco R hot hatch will arrive in Australia early next year and will sit between the Golf GTI and the Golf R with the three-door R being discontinued.

The Japanese manufacturer unveiled its concept PX-MiEV SUV today at the Melbourne Motor Show. EV product manager Ashley Sanders says there is no final date yet for the production version. “But in the next five years we will have eight new EV or plug-in hybrid-EV models across the range,” he says. “We’ve generally seen in the last few years that we release new models quickly after the global release.” He is not concerned with the lack of EV charging infrastructure in Australia. “The infrastructure is coming, but in the meantime plug-in models can be plugged in at home. Not having the infrastructure in place is not a concern in the medium term.” The PX-MiEV SUV is based on the Outlander and is expected to go into production in 2013, while the new Outlander will be released later this year. The PX-MiEV features a 85kW/125Nm 1.6 litre petrol Mivec engine, plus a 60kW/200Nm electric motor. Mitsubishi is also taking orders at its stand for the new i-MiEV electric light car.

…after the devastating effects of the earthquake in Japan in March. However, Honda Australia boss Lindsay Smalley says there is no waiting list on any models, but stock supply is short after two months of strong sales. Smalley attributed the increase in sales, including the tripling of Accord VTi figures, to the recent strategy to improve specification and “adjust” pricing. The Jazz now features a five-star crash rating, Bluetooth and USB connectivity from $14,990, Accord has Bluetooth, USB connectivity and a fold-away key starting at $32,490 and Accord Euro has cornering lights and a styling change starting from $30,340. “We’ve tried a lot of things with product value but at the end of the day sticker price is a real driver for our customers,” Smalley says. Honda also unveiled at the Melbourne Motor Show Australia’s first hybrid model with a six-speed manual gearbox. The CR-Z will hit our showroom floors in November. Pricing is yet to be announced. “Insight is the cheapest hybrid in Australia. This won’t be at that level, but it will be highly competitive,” Smalley says. The CR-Z will come with a choice of continuously variable transmission (4.7L/100km and 111g/km) and six-speed manual (5L/100km, 118g/km) and a five-star Euro NCAP crash rating. “It will change the way people think of hybrids,” Smalley says.

Mercedes-Benz Australia boss Hans Tempel says the 336kW/600Nm V8 C63 AMG coupe was specially air freighted into Australia for the Melbourne Motor Show. He applauded the move to one annual motor show in Australia. “It helps us to focus on our activity and makes it more efficient,” he says. It has also allowed Mercedes to showcase three new models: the CLS 350CDi, C Class Coupe and SLK 200 with a “sky roof” which changes from opaque to clear at the touch of a button. The SLK 200 will arrive at $10,000 less than the previous model, which makes it about $82,540. The C Class coupe will start from less than $70,000 for the C250 CDI with 5.1L/100km economy and CO2 emissions of 134g/km. However, the Benz show-stopper is the bright red CLS Le Mans concept which is an Australian project using “off-the-shelf” parts from Mercedes and AMG. Mercedes is not saying how much it will cost, although Tempel says “it would be extra expensive”. The paint alone costs an extra $30,000 and is applied at the company’s G wagon factory in Austria. The project is part of the brand’s “Designo” individualisation program. Benz spokesman David McCarthy says Designo is “becoming more popular”. If you like the Le Mans model on the floor of the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre you had better be quick. McCarthy says there are already several people interested in the car.

….were handed to the Victorian Government at the Melbourne Motor Show today. The Leaf EVs will be trialled over five years with the cars in 180 households for three months at a time. Nissan boss Dan Thompson says he hopes it will be the beginning of similar co-operation with other governments around Australia ahead of the launch of the Leaf early next year. "It's important to get feedback on what it's like to live with a 100 per cent electric vehicle," he says. The Leaf will be available early next year with a price tag a bit over $40,000. Nissan also showcased the fresh face of its 2012 Murano SUV, arriving in September. It features newly designed grille, bumper, headlights, 18-inch alloys, roof rails and the addition of rear privacy glass. They come with rain-sensing wipers, while the ST model adds fog lamps, Bose sound system, reversing camera and heated front seats as standard. The ST will cost $47,990 and the Ti $58,930.

The good news is that the cars of the future are not boring electric "golf carts" but sleek and sexy machines.Take for example the BMW Vision EfficientDynamics Concept, or even the updated Toyota Prius C. Just as smart, but also featuring powertrain technology that is much further down the line, is the Hyundai Blue2 Concept, powered by a hydrogen fuel cell, or the Mitsubishi Concept PX-MiEV with a plug-in hybrid system that extends the use of the vehicle in electric mode.Here is a sample of the green vehicles on the stands at this year’s show:BMW Vision EfficientDynamics Concept: Making its Australian debut, this is the concept for the coming BMW i8. A conventional 1.5-litre three-cylinder turbo-diesel mated to a pair of electric motors powers this four-wheel-drive 2+2 sports car. The hybrid combination pumps out 265kW of power and 800Nm of torque, and can run on electric power alone for up to 50km, diesel only for 645km or a combination of both. The lithium-ion battery packs charge in just 2.5 hours from AC mains or 44 minutes on quick charge.Ford: The new Liquefied Phase Injection LPG technology in the Ford Falcon EcoLPi has improved power and torque and decreased fuel consumption (12.5L/100km) and CO2 emissions (203g/km). Ford will also show its long-awaited diesel Territory with a 2.7-litre V6 boasting fuel economy of 8.2L/100km.Holden: The Ecoline Series II Cruze range with a new generation 2.0-litre turbo diesel (5.6L/100km) is Australia’s most fuel-efficient locally-built car. The stand will also feature the Cruze 1.4-litre intelligent turbo induction (1.4 iTi) petrol engine (6.4L/100km manual) and other Ecoline models, including the Commodore E85 flex-fuel and Spark Ignition Direct Injection V6 powered Commodores and Captivas.Honda hybrids: Honda will show the stylish Honda CR-Z coupe petrol-electric hybrid that arrives here later this year, as well as its second-generation Insight hybrid.Hyundai Blue2 Concept: This is the Korean company’s first sedan-style Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle (FCEV) powered by hydrogen. It delivers power of 90kW and fuel economy of 2.8L/100km. Being a concept car, it comes with a host of future electronic aids, such as an automatic opening door system, roof and side cameras to replace mirrors, and a motion sensor-operated infotainment system.Lexus LF-Gh Concept: This concept features the hybrid system already in the Lexus fleet, but is the first time the spindle-shaped grille that will become a feature of future designs will be seen here, and hints at a future grand touring sedan. Lexus Australia chief executive Tony Cramb says the LF-Gh reaffirms that hybrids can be sleek and stylish.Mazda Minagi: This is a crossover concept specifically engineered to be the first with frugal SKYACTIV technology diesel and petrol engines and transmission. The car is an insight into the coming CX-5.Mercedes-Benz C-Class: The range now includes the updated 7G-Tronic Plus seven-speed automatic transmission for improved economy. Diesel models come with the ECO start/stop function as standard, and the C250 diesel coupe boasts economy of 5.1L/100km. At the top end of the Benz range, the S350 diesel BlueTec luxury saloon has economy figures of 7L/100km.Mitsubishi ?i-Miev-based electric vehicle concepts: The i-MiEV is about to hit the showrooms and Mitsubishi already has an SUV variant, which will be on its stand. The Concept PX-MiEV has a plug-in hybrid system with fuel economy better than 2L/100km. It is powered by two permanent magnet synchronous motors and a 1.6-litre MIVEC engine. The PX-MiEV also features Smart Grid technology that allows the battery to power home appliances during a blackout or at peak times when electricity tariffs are high.Nissan Leaf: The all-electric Leaf hits showrooms next year. The World Car of the Year features a satnav system linked to the "Global Data Centre’’ in Japan so you just press a button to find the closest recharging stations.Toyota Prius C concept & Prius V: The latest in the Prius family are a funky coupe concept (C) and a people mover (V). The Prius C concept shows how stylish the Prius can be and the V shows how spacious it can be. The V also features a lightweight-resin panoramic moon roof, weighing about 40 per cent less than a regular glass roof of the same size. It will be the first to feature Toyota’s new Entune multimedia system with mobile internet and Microsoft’s Bing search engine. The system will offer live weather and traffic updates, along with monitoring the best fuel prices in town.Volkswagen Golf BlueMotion: The BlueMotion has the same 1.6-litre engine with the same output at 77kW and 250Nm as the 77TDI, but its fuel use is just 3.8L/100km compared with 5.12L/100km (77TDI) and CO2 of 99g/km (133g/km 77TDI). The gains are made from a lower idle speed, stop/start technology, aerodynamics and low rolling resistance tyres.Volvo V60 diesel plug-in hybrid: The world’s first diesel hybrid plug-in goes into production next year. The driver can choose from three modes: Pure, which is all-electric with a range of up to 50km, Hybrid with an average fuel consumption of 1.9L/100km and CO2 of 49g/km, and Power, which boosts total diesel and electric power to 200kW and 640Nm of torque with acceleration to 100km/h in 6.9 seconds. The turbodiesel drives the front wheels and an electric motor drives the rear axle. It can be recharged via a regular power socket in 4.5 hours on 10A charge.PLUS: There will also be displays by infrastructure companies including Better Place EV, which has announced plans to begin rolling out infrastructure in Canberra this year.

…of the last half decade at the Motor Show.Kia Motors Australia spokesman Kevin Hepworth says they flew out two of the upcoming new Rio models at the 11th hour for the show."We're lucky to have a car here because production has been delayed and has only just started, so we air-freighted them out."Lucky they did as the light cars are show-stoppers with their muscular and aggressive stance, motorcycle-style instruments and impressive list of features you would expect in more luxurious and expensive cars such as cornering headlights and LED daytime running lights.The new Rio goes on sale in September with the five-door hatch. For the first time it will also be available in three and four-door variants, arriving early in 2012.On show in Melbourne is a top-spec model with low-profile tyres and all the kit, plus a base car with blacked-out windows because it is a "mule car" fitted inside with "development plastics" instead of the final production trim."We weren't prepared to not have it on show, so we grabbed what we could and flew it out," Hepworth says.Kia Motors Australia CEO MK Kim says customers "will want to buy for its looks, as well as its environmental credentials".The Rio is powered with a choice of 7.9kW/135Nm 1.4-litre four-cylinder petrol engine or 103kW/167Nm 1.6-litre direct-injection petrol engine.Kia claims a 13 per cent power boost in the 1.6L engine while lowering emissions.The new Rio model is 55mm longer, 25mm wider and 15mm lower with a 70mm longer wheelbase to improve passenger space and cargo capacity, as well as give it a purposeful and sleek stance on the road.It will arrive with a choice of 10 body colours. Inside are centrally-located toggle switches reminiscent of the Mini.Features available include MP3 compatibility, aux, iPod and USB connections, Bluetooth hands-free, cruise-control and climate-control air-conditioning.Like the Sorento, Cerato, Sportage and Optima, the new Rio's suspension and running gear have been tested in Australia and tuned to our conditions.On the safety side, it comes with stability control, ABS, electronic brake force distribution, emergency brake assistance, hill-start assistance, up to six airbags and the option of cornering headlights.

….but some 2012 models could be delayed while current stocks clear. Harley-Davidson Australia has announced discounts on a range of 2011 model year motorcycles and on all branded parts, accessories, riding gear, apparel and other merchandise from July 1. Managing director Peter Nochar says stock is at "planned levels". "But as always, within that, we have highs and lows across different models and families," he says. "Some 2012 models for Australia will be delayed, but we are currently projecting a lower year-end stock in 2011 compared to 2010 providing we continue to hit our sales budgets." Harley will announce model updates and new model introductions at the World Summer Dealer Meeting in July. It is expected that more model lines will be fitted with ABS as standard. While Harley sales are down 12.8 per cent from 1728 to 1506 at the end of the first quarter of this year, Nochar says there has been a 1.09 per cent increase in market share from 28.76 per to end of May. "Although the Australian and New Zealand motorcycle market as a whole was affected by recent natural disasters in the region, we did see an increase in sales from March to May this year compared to last year," he says. "The value of the dollar is not the only reason behind the price realignment, we also wanted to realign the whole price list." Prices on ten models of motorcycles are being reduced, including the Harley-Davidson Fat Boy which was $32,250 and is now $29,250 ride-away; and the Harley-Davidson Dyna Wide Glide which was $28,895 and is now $25,750 rideaway. In addition, prices on Harley-Davidson branded products, including MotorClothes, apparel, and merchandise will be reduced by more than 17 per cent. Nochar says the industry "is a highly aggressive market". Most H-D dealers will also hold special "Independence Day" sales on July 9. "This event ... is designed for dealers to make special and extreme price reductions on any slower moving or surplus items they may hold," Nochar says.

Not the sewing machine company, but the Swedish off-road motorcycle manufacturer now owned by BMW. That link with the German road bike manufacturer has prompted the development of the company's first street bike. Husqvarna has issued an artist's sketch of the bike and images of it on test outside BMW's headquarters in Munich. The bike will be fully revealed next Friday (JULY 1), but is not expected to reach our shores until late next year. It has been designed by Italian Raffaele Zaccagnini as the first in a range of Husky road bikes with sharp angles, big air ducts and a narrow rear end. The 900 naked bike is yet to be named and prices 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). From the images we can see it has one massive exhaust on the left, upside down forks, twin front discs with Brembo brakes like the rest of the range, and is powered by BMW's F 800 parallel twin bored out to about 900cc. Although BMW now owns Husqvarna, Australian importer The Paul Feeney Group continues to import the Swedish bikes. Group marketing manager Jorg Hoffmann says it is difficult to define the customer for the new 900. "It's hard to tell at the moment," he says. "We hope to get some customers from the F 800 who want better performance and maybe riders coming from sportsbikes going to supermotard because it is easier to ride and you have more fun. "It's is a completely new bike for us." Hoffmann won't comment on whether BMW will take over Husqvarna imports, but says their worth is based on a good sales performance. From 2007-08 sales were up 27 per cent, 16 per cent in 2009-09 and 21 per cent to 1614 last year. "We're on target for 2000 this year," Hoffmann says. "Sales are going up as Husqvarna gets more recognised, plus the dealer group is doing a good job providing good customer service." Meanwhile, details of the 2012 Husky range have been released with the bikes arriving in November. Hoffmann says pricing will be announced closer to the release date. All new models feature a black chassis instead of white, anodised silver Excel hubs and redesigned graphics. The enduro four-stroke machines have new engine mapping and a 4mm lower shock absorber to lower the seat height and make them easier to ride and appeal to more riders. The TE 250 and 310 have also moved from a Sachs to a Kayaba shock absorber for better handling. Apart from the new graphics, there are no changes to the two-stroke range.

The Golf GTI Edition 35 is the celebration of 35 years of one of the best-known and loved acronyms in motoring. But it may never have happened if Volkswagen hadn't paid attention to the internet forums of fans.Eike Wessel, the man in charge of the GTI 35 project says new models are sometimes decided by the bosses, sometimes by the workers, but this was endorsed by the fans."We decided in December 2009 to have an anniversary model, so we checked internet fan forums and it was clear the fans expected a 35 model," he says.More than giving birth to the notion of an anniversary model, the internet forums also "decided" some of the finer details such as the "tartan" patterned cloth seats of the original Mk 1 Golf GTI and an apt power output of 235 horsepower (173kW), says Wessel.VALUEThe 35 will arrive in the fourth quarter of this year, says Volkswagen Group Australia spokesman Karl Gehling.But he's coy about price, indicating it will be positioned between the five-door GTI ($40,490) and R 4Motion ($49,990). He says no decision has yet been made.He says it will come with limited options apart from leather trim, transmission (6-speed manual or DSG) and some extras such as satnav. It will compete in the market against the Mazda3 MPS ($38,435-$41,915), Renault Megane RS250 Trophee ($46,990), Focus XR5 ($36,490) and Honda Civic Type R ($39,990).Gehling says it will not be a limited edition model, but numbers will be restricted by production and high demand, making the model an "instant collectable".TECHNOLOGYSurprisingly, the 35 is powered by a detuned R motor (two-litre turbocharged EA113), rather than a re-mapped GTI engine. While the GTI has output of 155kW and the R 188kW, the 35 sits slap bang in the middle with 173kW.VW's engineers apparently spent some time getting the sucking and blowing noises just right, with a deep burble and booming burp on downshifts somewhere between the sounds of the GTI and the R, says Wessel. Like the GTI, it is front-wheel drive, not AWD like the R.The XDS electronic diff lock on the front brakes inside wheelspin for sharp handling and control and may also be a factor in almost eliminating torque steer. It runs 15mm lower to the ground like the GTI with suspension and other mechanical details also the same. The differences are largely cosmetic.DESIGNFortunately, the designers sat on their hands, rather than going berserk with sporty trims and badging like the Renault Megane RS with its garish yellow seat belts. In fact, the seat belts get a fine red border. Taste and discretion is the order of the day, here.Most importantly, the designers have gone back to the original, almost austere GTI interior, and borrowed several design elements. These include the golf-ball-style dimpled gearshift and the tartan cloth seats.Outside, there are small "35" badges on the front fenders, gloss black wing mirrors, smoked taillights, new wheel designs and slightly remodelled bumper with bigger air ducts. Only GTI "anoraks" will recognise it as a special model.SAFETYThe ESP system can be totally disabled, but will reignite when you touch the brakes. This is now standard across all new models. Yet the multi-link suspension and well-sorted chassis mean the ESP system is rarely invoked, anyway. It comes with the same suite of safety gear as the GTI including the seventh airbag to protect the driver's knees.DRIVINGI may be one of the few Australians who will ever be able to swear on a stack of Bibles that the top speed of the GTI Edition 35 is 247km/h as claimed.On the unrestricted speed zones of the autobahn between Frankfurt and Nurburg, the 35 willingly opened up to 247km/h, pulling mightily from 150km/h in sixth gear. In Australia, there may never be any need to use that final ratio.At those go-straight-to-jail-speeds, the Edition 35 is rock-solid stable and feels safe and quiet. We didn't even need to raise our voices to be heard over the wind and road noise. However, on Australia's coarse-chip tarmac, that may not be the case.The engine feels tractable in all gears with a hefty 300Nm of torque and a lazy, unfussed feeling of getting things done. No fizzing, popping and high-revving required. Similarly, the suspension gets things done with a minimum of fuss and bother.It keeps its wheels on the ground and the car balanced and poised in all conditions without having to pummel your kidneys into submission, even when the "sport" suspension mode is selected. Again, this may feel different on the far-less-smooth Australian roads.VERDICTSpecial editions seem to hold their value better than standard models, so this tasteful GTI Edition 35 should be good buying. The extra oomph from the detuned R engine, the tasteful cosmetic touches and its intrinsic value should justify the extra coin.