Articles by Mark Hinchliffe

The European body that crash tests vehicles, Euro NCAP, has announced it is about to begin crash testing electric cars. This comes as Euro NCAP released its latest results which include the Honda CR-Z hybrid sports coupe coming to Australia next year.Euro NCAP claims the CR-Z demonstrates that "good all-round safety needs not be compromised by a fuel efficient petrol-electric hybrid powertrain". The car's pedestrian protection result of 71 per cent continues the high scores achieved by other recently tested Hondas.Euro NCAP also released the crash test results for Suzuki Swift, Citroen C4 and Hyundai ix35. All four scored a maximum five stars overall with more than 90 per cent for adult occupant safety and more than 80 per cent for child occupant safety.From October, Euro NCAP will begin assessing new driver assistance technologies not included in current crash tests. Euro NCAP secretary general Michiel van Ratingen says the new assessments will broaden their scope."It is reassuring that, as well as developing these new advanced technologies, manufacturers are not neglecting fundamental crash protection and today's results show that car-makers are still striving for the very best levels of protection," he says.Visit www.euroncap.com.

Peugeot's 3008 HYbrid4 will arrive in Australia about this time next year boasting fuel economy of 3.8 litres per 100km and pumping out only 99g of CO2 per kilometre which is better than some scooters.  Peugeot Automobiles Australia spokesperson Kirin Tipping says it will appeal to people who want an SUV "with a clear conscience". It's not the first Peugeot with a diesel-electric hybrid engine.  The company has made small numbers of 308CC diesel hybrids for testing in Madrid, one of which came to the Sydney Motor Show as a display vehicle. However, this will be the first full production model diesel hybrid. It will be followed by an RCZ sports car in early 2012, says Tipping.  "We are also definitely considering entering a diesel-hybrid in the Le Mans," she says. "We've done extremely well in the past, winning it last year. And we're actually going to have that car at the Sydney Motor Show in October."  The 3008 HYbrid4 is powered by a 2.0 litre 122kW HDi diesel engine driving the front wheels and a 27.5kW electric motor driving the back wheels with the ability to operate in all-electric mode and produce zero emissions. There is no mechanical transfer box or prop shaft connecting the two powertrains. Drive is controlled electronically. Tipping says the vehicle will have "better sales than a niche market product".  "We've been doing well with diesel sales in past five to 10 years," she says. "The 3008 has had good success for us so far so the introduction of diesel-hybrid will only strengthen the interest. Just look at the popularity of the Camry and Prius hybrids and this is promising much better economy and emissions results." She says the HYbrid4 will probably come in one spec close to or matching the top-spec 3008 XTE.  "There would be a premium price over the XTE ($39,990), but it will be minimal," Tipping says. "One of our big things is keeping prices in line with the CPI and with the reduction in exchange rates we've been able to drop our prices recently, so we don't want to make it a huge step up."  The HYbrid4 will feature new-generation high-voltage stop-start technology. Tipping says the new technology will avoid the problem of shuddering which occurs when diesel engines start and stop.  "There has been work to get rid of that," she says. "The electric motor has dissipated that shudder in combination with the Aisin AT6 (manual six-speed electronic sequential) gearbox which is on some 308 and 3008 models."  The HYbrid4 will feature a control selector on the centre console so drivers can choose between four operating modes. Auto mode allows the system to switch between the HDi diesel engine and electric motor.  ZEV mode (Zero Emission Vehicle) uses the electric motor for short periods when the battery is fully charged with the diesel cutting in only under hard and sustained acceleration. Four-wheel drive mode (4WD) operates both powertrains and Sport mode uses both powertrains and combines quicker gear changes and higher engine speeds.  The nickel-metal hydride batteries are under the boot floor, near the electric motor. To cope with the added weight in the rear, the multi-arm suspension houses the electric motor and reduction gearbox.  Despite the battery and motor in the rear, Peugeot claims load capacity under the parcel shelf of 420 litres and 66 litres under a flat boot floor. The HYbrid4 is expected to come with a range of high-tech gear such as jet-fighter-style head-up display on the windscreen, a distance alert system that helps the driver keep a safe distance from the vehicle in front, a parallel park system that evaluates the size of a parking space, an electric handbrake with hill assistance and a satellite navigation system that includes a juke-box, hard disc drive, USB connector, DVD player and Bluetooth. The 3008 HYbrid4 will be produced in Sochaux and Mulhouse, France.

An RACQ study conducted in Brisbane has found no discernible difference in audible detection of approaching vehicles between petrol-electric hybrids cars and conventional cars from the same manufacturer. The study by RACQ researchers Russell Manning and John Ewing follows complaints in the US by organisations representing pedestrian and blind people that hybrids are dangerous to them because they are so quiet.  Manning said the study, conducted with the help of Vision Australia, tested four vehicles with 11 volunteers, five of which were blind. "There was no significant difference in the detection distances between hybrid and similar-sized conventional vehicles in a typical urban environment with typical urban ambient noise levels," his report reads. "This is not to say that hybrids are not a risk, only that they are no more of a risk than equivalent conventional vehicles under these conditions."  Manning said noise regulations are not a concern. "To suggest that modern cars, be they hybrid or conventional, are too quiet could lead to the conclusion that noise regulations are too stringent," he says.  "We believe lower noise levels are, on balance, good from an environmental and social aspect." Volunteers in about 40 per cent of cases were unable to detect vehicles approaching at 60km/h from a safe distance.  "Had they been in the path of the vehicle  then contact would have resulted and in several cases potentially serious injury or fatality may have occurred," the report found. Manning said tyre and wind noise were the main audible signals of approaching vehicles, either hybrid or conventional.  "The lack of, or reduction in, mechanical noise from hybrid vehicles did not appear to significantly increase the risk factor," the report said. Several manufacturers of hybrid and electric vehicles have been working to create artificial noise to overcome concerns expressed by pedestrian and blind representative groups.  Nissan engineers worked with blind people to create special frequencies for their quiet Leaf electric vehicle, expected to arrive in Australia in the next year. Toyota and its luxury branch, Lexus, which account for the bulk of hybrid cars available in Australia, are also developing a solution to the noise concerns.  Lotus Engineering, a division of sports car maker Lotus, has developed a realistic engine sound for electric motors that varies with speed and the world's first all-electric supercar, the Tesla Roadster, is getting a "space sound generator" on its Brabus-tuned models. Owners will be able to set their Tesla to make noises similar to a V8 engine, a racecar engine or two "futuristic soundscapes" named "Beam" and "Warp".  However, it is expected that more sound effects will be added to electric cars until governments step in and legislate for the new technology. The Pedestrian Council of Australia has previously called for changes to the Australian Design Rules to set a minimum noise for vehicles powered by an electric motor.  Similar standards are being considered in the US. PCA chairman and CEO Harold Scruby said the group supported a hybrid noise requirement being legislated by the Federal Government before the vehicles became too popular.  "With an ageing population and the expectation of millions of these vehicles on our roads in the next five to 10 years, there will be a dramatic increase in pedestrian and cyclist road trauma unless this is done and without delay," he said. Vision Australia has called for hybrid vehicles to be fitted with beepers to operate when the vehicles are running on electric power only.  Spokesman Michael Simpson said Vision Australia advocated a beeper for all reversing vehicles, but believed hybrids should have a beeper when operating in electric-only mode.

It's the hub of the newest car making empire in the world and one that supplies a growing number of cars to Australia with a variety of badges including Honda.  This year alone the number of Thai-built vehicles sold in Australia is 96,603 by the end of July, up from 82,656 in 2009. Honda Australia was the first company to import passenger cars from Thailand, back in 1998, but it has taken another 12 years for the Japanese brand to feel secure enough about Thai-built quality to boast about the products. So this week Carsguide is part of a visit to Bangkok and Honda's factory at Ayutthaya, 80 kilometres north of the capital, to investigate the cars and quality.  Honda Australia boss Satoshi Matsuzawa says there has “never been any resistance" to the company's cars being built in Thailand because "it’s built by Honda”. But about 80 per cent of Honda vehicles sold in Australia are now made in Thailand.  They are the City, Jazz, Civic sedan, CR-V and Accord. The Civic hatch is made in the UK and the Accord Euro, Legend and Odyssey are still made in Japan. Honda is not alone and company spokesman Mark Higgins says “more and more manufacturers are coming here to build cars”.  They include most pick-up trucks sold in Australia, the Mazda2 and - very soon - more small cars Ford led by the next Fiesta, as well as Suzuki. The Thai-Honda story begins in 1998 with 778 vehicles.  In 2005, the Free Trade Agreement between Australia and Thailand and the shift of Jazz production from Japan to Bangkok dramatically increased the exports to 14,071. In 2007, Thai’s Honda exports to Australia tally 51,424, before dropping substantially during the global financial crisis. This year they are expected to reach 40,197.  But that number is still only a tiny proportion of the total 240,000 annual capacity of the Thai Honda factory. The plant occupies 851,800 square metres and employs about 5000 Thai staff and 80 Japanese managers. They work two to three shifts a day with two weeks’ holiday a year and free meals provided by Honda. But working conditions are not idyllic with Thailand’s oppressively hot and humid climate mitigated in the body and frame plant by opening up a whole wall to prevailing winds instead of using airconditioning in an effort to save electricity. Honda Automotive Thailand Corporation's vice-president, Makoto Morii, says the plant is 50 per cent automated, compared with Japanese factories at 90 per cent automation.  “We use more hand welding because the salary is lower here. Instead of investing in expensive machinery, we can hire more people here," he says. He also defends the level of human involvement and rates his Thai workers highly.  “In terms of mechanical skill, the Thais and Japanese are of the same skill level. Humans can be more flexible than a robot,” he says. However, he admits that for the plant to take on production of more complex hybrid vehicles, it will require full automation.  “The factory would have to grow, but we don’t have that plan,” he admits.

Lynard Skynard’s Sweet Home Alabama pipped Britain’s Katrina and the Waves summer hit Walking on Sunshine for pole position in an online survey by vehicle information company HPI.The top 10 is dominated by songs from the ‘60s, ‘70s and ‘80s.  The only song recorded in the past 10 years is the-less-than-summery Mr Brightside, by The Killers, at number four.TOP TEN SUMMER DRIVING SONGS1 Sweet Home Alabama - Lynard Skynard: 52%2 Walking on Sunshine - Katrina and the Waves: 48%3 Summer of 69 - Bryan Adams: 43%4 Mr Brightside - The Killers: 40%5 Club Tropicana - Wham!: 36%6 Good Vibrations - The Beach Boys: 33%7 Love Shack - The B52s: 33%8 Rio - Duran Duran: 30%9 Lovely Day - Bill Whithers: 27%10 Sun is Shining - Bob Marley: 19%

There could even eventually be a petrol-electric hybrid in every Honda model series, according to the company's Australian chief.  The existing Civic hybrid will be joined this year by the Insight hatch, with the CR-Z coupe to follow, says Satoshi Matsuzawa.He also promises the new Insight will be "affordable", unlike the expensive and unsuccessful first-generation hybrid with the same name.  The new Insight is expected to cost around $30,000, but Matsuzawa will not confirm a price.“Honda Australia will take the hybrid direction in the Australian market. Insight will be the initiation of that movement and CR-V next year," he says.Honda Motor president Takanobu Ito last week announced that a plug-in hybrid will be added to its range in Japan and the US in 2012 and Matsuzawa says it will also be “the right direction for Australia”.Honda’s plug-in hybrid will be charged from the engine as well as mains supply and will be able to drive up to 60km purely on its electrc motor.  Ito says Honda will develop “multiple hybrid systems that are appropriate for vehicles of different sizes and use”.And Matsuzawa dismisses diesel, at least in the foreseeable future.  “Diesel could be an option but so far the path is to proceed with hybrid strategy," he says.

INDONESIA could be the next country of origin for Honda vehicles in Australia.  Honda currently imports vehicles from Japan, UK and Thailand, but is considering a beefed-up Jazz-based five- or seven-seater called the Freed.It sells in the top 10 in Japan where people-movers are king, but the model we would get may come from Indonesia.  Honda Australia boss Satoshi Matsuzawa says they are “always considering” other models for their eight-model Australian line-up.“It seems to be different to others in Australia,” he says.  “Customers may have some need for this. We will study it.”  The Freed model is about three years old in Japan and has been made in Indonesia for the past year.Honda Australia sales and marketing executive co-ordinator Takuya Tsumura says there are several factors that could determine its origin.“The exchange rate and other factors will determine whether it comes from Japan or Indonesia,” he says.“But both would be the same quality standard. It’s another indication of Honda’s global standards.  “Potentially we could get other cars from Indonesia in the future.”He says that if it does come here, it may not be called the Freed.  “Perhaps City Plus or City Max, since it’s based on the City platform,” he says.VALUEMr Tsumura says the pricing would have to be “a little bit higher than the City VTi” which would mean starting prices in the mid-$20,0000 bracket.  That would make it comparable to the Kia Rondo and a much cheaper option than the sexy people-moving Odyssey.It would be difficult for Honda to charge a premium for its badge, given it will be made in Indonesia, which is an untried car manufacturer in Australia.  However, it should be noted that Thai-made Hondas already use automatic transmissions supplied by Indonesia and manual gearboxes from the Philippines.  Honda also points out it has stringent global quality controls and standards.TECHNOLOGYFreed is powered by the 1.5-litre, four-cylinder engine from the Jazz VTi.  Its mild maximum output is 87kW of power at 6600 revs and 146Nm of torque at 4800rpm.The 1497cc engine is married to a five-speed automatic transmission mounted on the dashboard as in the Odyssey and CR-V.  It is available overseas in four models – S, E, E Sport and E Navi Sport _ with all models featuring electric sliding side doors.The top-spec models come with satnav and a roof-mounted DVD player for the second and third row that doesn’t obstruct the driver’s rear view.DESIGNIt is a relatively sleek machine for a people mover, looking a little like the Mercedes B-Class.  It has bug eyes, a wide mouth and a funky rear tailgate spoiler.That massive tailgate extends from the roof almost to the bottom of the car, providing an enormous practical loading area with a low knee-high cargo floor.  Although it is a big tailgate, it doesn’t feel heavy and doesn’t lift higher than most people can reach to pull back down.Like many Honda models, the cabin has an open and airy feeling with a sense of space.  However, while the cargo area and headroom give it a barn feeling, the legroom is deceptively shy.Also, the dashboard juts out at the front passenger, encroaching on knee space and the side doors feature awkwardly intrusive knee-height ledges for the electric window switches.  Upholstery is hire car standard and the seats have little support.The dashboard and doors sills have hard plastics, but the fit is very good. Unfortunately, the carpet joins had exposed staples.  The seat packaging and nifty hidey holes are very clever as expected from Honda.  However, there is no outside armrest in the second row because of the sliding doors.SAFETYIf it came to Australia, it would have to include stability control as standard and have six airbags, as all Honda models will from next year.  However, it is not known whether the side curtain bags would extend to the third row as the seats fold out sideways like in the Prado, potentially obstructing the deployment of the airbags.The rear row only features a lap seatbelt for the centre occupant, but a lap-sash arrangement with the sash mounted on the roof could be arranged.  Freed has the now-trendy integrated blinkers and side mirrors, but with the flasher curving around the mirror cowl so motorists in the car’s blind spot can see them.The electric sliding doors feature pinch sensors so they don’t trap a limb.  Visibility out the rear three-quarters is limited.  It cries out for a rearview camera as standard.DRIVINGHonda executives and a group of Australian motoring journalists took two Freed seven-seater models for short 4km evaluation loops on a flat course around the Royal Golf Course near Bangkok this week.The lack of hills, a couple of passengers and no cargo made it difficult to fully test the pulling capacity of the engine.  However, even with a light load on the flat it seems to be an underachiever.It isn’t helped by a transmission that is reluctant to kick down. When it does the engine screams for little acceleration.  The upright driving position has a commanding effect, but it is difficult to get comfortable as the steering wheel is not adjustable for reach.The steering felt heavy and lifeless on the model with the 15-uinch wheels and a little sharper on the 16s.  It has a lot of lock turn, probably to mitigate nervous steering brought on by the twitchy top-heavy body.Brakes feel spongy and unresponsive and it comes with a foot-operated parking brake.  Ride is quite plush, but the downside is that it feels tippy in corners.  There is low road noise except when hitting puddles, probably due to the hard plastic compound of the wheel arch liners.VERDICTThere are other more urgent gaps in Honda’s Australian line-up than a cheap people mover.  For example, another performance model, a sub-compact SUV and a seven-seater mid-sixed SUV. If they do decide to import the vehicle, it will need a bigger engine like the 103kW 1.8-litre from the Civic.  Suspension and steering rack will also have to be adjusted for Australian conditions.Honda FreedBody: 5 or 7-seater people moverPrice: about $25,000-$28,000Engine: 4-cylinder, 1497cc i-VTEC petrolPower: 87kW @ 6600rpmTorque: 146Nm @ 4800rpmTyres: 185 65 R15 ands R16, full-size spareDimensions (mm); 2740 (wheelbase), 4215 (l), 1695 (w), 1715 (h)2740 (wheelbase), clearance 150Kerb weight: 1270kgFuel tank: 42 litresLikes: sleek design, nifty tailgate, headroomDislikes: lack of engine oomph, handling, knee space

A survey by insurer AAMI has found almost half of all vehicle thefts occurred from the owner's garage, driveway or nearby street and of the 13 per cent of break-ins, more than half occurred at home or nearby. AAMI spokesman Mike Sopinski says engine immobilisers, dead locks and other security devices could be the reason for the home thefts. "I believe increased security features in modern vehicles and how difficult it has become to enter, start and steal vehicles is forcing thieves to undertake ‘sneak’ raids on homes to locate car keys and make off with vehicles," he says. "We have definitely seen a considerable increase in the number of car keys being stolen from houses then the vehicle being stolen. I saw a red Porsche 911 turbo was recently stolen in this way from a house in Aspley and then the Porsche had that many sightings and disappearances it became almost the Mary Celeste (abandoned ship) of south Queensland roads." The study also shows the proportion of stolen cars left unlocked outside or near the owner’s home has risen significantly from 70 per cent in 2006 to 81 per cent today. And nearly a third of drivers nationally (30 per cent) admit they sometimes leave personal possessions and valuables easily visible in their car when parked. The most commonly stolen items from cars are cash (31 per cent), CDs (18 per cent), sunglasses and clothing (17 per cent) and car stereos or portable music players (15 per cent).  Sopinski says the research showed the importance of remaining vigilant about car security even at home. "Australian motorists seem to have the perception that they can afford to be relaxed about car security once they are in familiar territory at home," Sopinski says. However, car theft rates remain low with just 4 per cent of survey respondents reporting having had a car stolen, while 13 per cent had personal items stolen from their car. The biggest percentage of car break-ins were in the Northern Territory (18 per cent), followed by Western Australia (17 per cent), Victoria (14 per cent), South Australia and NSW (13 per cent), ACT (12 per cent) and Queensland and Tasmania (11 per cent). Of those, most occurred at home in South Australia (76 per cent), NT (70 per cent), ACT (63 per cent), Tasmania (62 per cent), NSW and WA (58 per cent), Victoria (46 per cent) and Queensland (30 per cent). Sopinski says drivers should park in well-lit areas, not leave valuables in their car or keep them out of sight, and always lock doors and windows.

Honda Australia has rushed to assure customers that the Civic Type R will continue here despite an announcement it will be discontinued in some European markets at the end of this year because of incoming strict emissions regulations. Company spokesman Mark Higgins says they pre-empted the statement to "get on the front foot" before customers became concerned. Type R is the last of Honda’s performance vehicles and follows the axing of the Prelude in 2001, Integra in 2006 and the S2000 in 2008 and canning a return of the NSX supercar. It also follows Honda pulling out F1 two seasons ago. However, Honda Australia CEO Satoshi Matsuzawa rejects claims the company has lost its mojo. "It’s important to address the position of Honda. We are still fun to drive," he says. "That car (Type R) represents our product." He says supply of Type R and Si hatch will continue "for now". Civic faces a model update next year, but there has been no confirmation of a Type R variant. "It's under consideration, but we’re not sure," Mr Matsuzawa says. "The CR-Z (sports hybrid) is coming next year and that is a good opportunity to demonstrate our enthusiasm for sport and the environment." The UK-made Type R was launched in Australia in 2007 and together with the Si hatchback represents about 10 per cent of Civic sales. Civic sales so far this year are 6695, up 12.6 per cent on the same period in 2009. Higgins says about 1840 Type R hatches have been sold in Australia. He says the more powerful Japanese-made Type R sedan (180kW, compared with 148kW) will not be imported to Australia. All our Civic sedans are made in Thailand. While in the mood to confirm model lines, Mr Matsuzawa says the Legend and Odyssey will continue to be produced in Japan, despite moves toward smaller car production. But he ruled out bringing the North American luxury arm of Accura to Australia "at this stage". He says a more important vehicle for Australia would be a mid-sized seven-seater SUV, like the North American Pilot but it is only produced in left-hand drive. Products Mr Matsuzawa has penciled in for Australia include the Jazz hybrid and a sub-compact “eco” car being made in India and Thailand.

A national insurance company survey has found that 48 per cent of young drivers are in slightly older cars with only a few modern safety features such as ABS and one airbag, despite accounting for 25 per cent of drivers killed on Australia's roads. The Buzz car insurance company claims only 40 per cent of drivers aged 21 or less have newer cars with modern safety features such as dual airbags and anit-lock brakes, and reasonably low-powered engines.  The Buzz boss Jacki Johnson says parents should help their children choose the right car. "As a first step, it's important our young drivers are in appropriate cars for their age, driving experience and road conditions" she says.The company suggests parents buy cars for their children with high star ratings in the Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP). Suitable cars for young drivers with a maximum five ANCAP stars include Ford Fiesta three-door hatch (from 2009), Toyota Corolla sedan (from 2007), Holden Astra CDX, SRi and CDTI hatches (from 2008), Toyota Aurion AT-X (from 2009), Mazda 3 five-door hatch (from 2009), Toyota Corolla five-door hatch (from 2007) and Mitsubishi Lancer ES Sedan (from 2007). Ms Johnson says these cars are also equipped with modern safety features and have moderately-powered engines.  The Buzz has launched a Facebook page to give parents a platform to discuss all facets of teaching and supervising their children's driving skills and behaviour.