Articles by Mark Hinchliffe

As fuel prices soar, spare a thought for the motoring enthusiast with a thirsty vintage or veteran car.

It has taken a long time for Renault to join the four-wheel-drive club. There is no real reason for the delay, when you remember that it was Frenchman Thierry Sabine who created the famous Paris-Dakar off-road rally 30 years ago to spark a new European boom in 4WDs.Sabine is gone now, but Renault revived plenty of memories when it chose Morocco — always on the classic Paris-Dakar route — to preview its Koleos.The Koleos, named after a European butterfly, is far from a typically aggressive Dakar rally vehicle, even though it trumps the earlier Renault Scenic RX4 with genuine off-road capability.It comes thanks to Nissan. The Koleos gets the all-mode 4x4-i running gear from the latest X-Trail, even if it is tailored more for young urbanites with a sense of weekend adventure than intrepid transcontinental explorers.Renault admits it has been slow to join the 4WD movement, but plans to catch up fast.“We were a bit slow. It's a cultural thing: the French don't have much of a need for an SUV,” Renault's Christophe Deville says.“But now we want to be in this SUV segment because it is progressing,” he says.Based on the Nissan X-Trail and the first product of the alliance between the French and Japanese carmakers, Koleos is being built in South Korea by Renault Samsung Motors.Renault Australia senior communications manager Craig Smith says South Korean manufacture means pricing will be keen — starting at $30,000 and ranging up to the low $40,000 — when the Koleos arrives in Australia in September.There will be three trim levels, with 4x4 and 4x2 petrol models and a diesel 4x4, with a 4x2 diesel to come within six months of launch.Transmission options range from a six-speed automatic to a six-speed manual and continually-variable transmission.ON THE ROADQuite opposite to the boxy X-Trail, the 4.5m Koleos is elegant with a swooping roofline and rising waistline. The only hint of aggression is in the front and rear skid plates.The cabin is stylish and modern, with an attractive wave-design dashboard.Luxury features include a seven-speaker Bose system with subwoofer, cruise control with speed limiter, electronic handbrake, optional panoramic sunroof (about $2500), trip computer and a start/stop button.“It certainly won't be a spartan model,” Renault Australia senior communications manager Craig Smith says, even if Bluetooth and satellite navigation will not be available and iPod connectivity is only an option.Some interesting features are a chilled glovebox, a horizontally split rear tailgate with a 200kg limit on the lowered door, and automatically folding rear seats at the push of a latch by the tailgate.Other features are B pillar air vents with airconditioning fan controls in the rear and aircraft-style trays on the backs of the front seats.The 2.0-litre diesel engine will come in 110kW/320Nm and 127kW/360Nm. Renault claims fuel economy of 7.2 litres for 100km for the lower output model with CO2 emissions of 191g/km in the 4x2 six-speed manual.The diesel engine features in other Renaults and will be available in the X-Trail in Australia from July.The 2.5-litre petrol engine has 126kW at 6000 revs and 226Nm at 4400 revs, with thirsty fuel consumption ranging from 9.3 to 9.9 litres for 100km depending on transmission and drive, with emissions from 223-230g/km.Koleos is the first Renault with 4WD from launch. The all-mode 4x4-i drive system developed by Nissan for the new X-Trail can be operated in 2WD, auto and 4WD modes with a switch.In auto mode, it runs in front-wheel-drive until sensors detect slip. The electronic coupler then diverts a maximum of 50 per cent of torque to the rear.It takes into account wheel speed, yaw, forward and sideways acceleration, steering wheel angle and accelerator pedal position.Renault claims torque is split fast enough in most conditions to avoid intervention by stability control.From standstill, torque is evenly split for the first 50m for better launch grip and the Koleos also has an automatic hill-start assist.Safety gear runs from electronic stability control to anti-skid brakes and six airbags with curtain airbags that extend to the second row.The Koleos will be the second Renault in Australia with a three-year 150,000km warranty after the launch in July of the Laguna diesel hatch.Smith says Renault Australia plans to sell 100 to 150 a month, making it the biggest-selling model, topping the Megane sedan at 70-80.“We have 25 per cent of the market segments covered, but with Koleos that will lift to about 40 per cent,” Smith says.

Despite rocketing fuel prices, there always seems to be a market for muscle cars. Holden and HSV last year sold a record number of V8s and 1970s muscle cars continue to sell for record prices. And GM Holden — which this year is reintroducing another of its American brands, the Cadillac — is doing nothing to hose down rampant industry rumours that it is going to import the fastest Corvette yet. They keep sending details of the ZR1, yet claim we should “not read anything into it”. Yeah, right. The latest details on the new 'Vette American muscle car show just how fast the car goes. It accelerates from rest to 100km/h in 3.4 seconds, which is 0.3 seconds faster than the previous Z06 model and the Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano which was released here recently at $595,600. The ZR1 also has recorded a quarter-mile elapsed time of 11.3 seconds at 210km/h and has a top speed of 330km/h, making it the fastest Corvette produced. It's not only faster than some half-million-dollar supercars but also more economical. According to fueleconomy.gov, the ZR1's official economy ratings of 16.8 litres per 100km on the city cycle and 11.7 litres per 100km on the highway beat 2008 competitors such as the Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano (21.3 city/15.6 highway); the Lamborghini Murcielago (29.4 city/18 highway) and the Aston Martin V8 Vantage (19.6 city/12.3 highway). They're competitive with the Dodge Viper (18 city/10.6 highway) and the Porsche 911 GT3 (15.6 city/10.6 highway). Under the carbon-fibre bonnet is the new LS9 6.2-litre supercharged small-block engine. It belts out 476kW of power and 819Nm of torque, making it the most powerful automotive production engine manufactured by General Motors. The ZR1 also features a six-speed manual transmission with race-hardened gears and dual-disc clutch technology that delivers exceptional clamping power and lower inertia, as well as strengthened axle components. Fuel economy testing has not been completed, but engineers are confident the ZR1 will be the most fuel-efficient 600-plus-horsepower car on the market. The LS9 engine is hand-built by technicians at GM's Performance Build Centre in Wixom, Michigan, a small-volume engine production facility that also builds the Corvette Z06's LS7 engine and other high-performance GM production engines. The LS9 also features the industry's first production application of a new, positive-displacement Roots-type supercharger with a four-lobe rotor design, promoting quieter and more efficient performance. The large 2.3-litre displacement provides adequate air volume at high rpm. Maximum boost pressure is .72 bar (10.2psi). It is teamed with an integrated charge cooling system that reduces inlet air temperature for maximum performance. A raised bonnet provides adequate clearance for the LS9, while a polycarbonate window in the bonnet provides a view of the engine beneath it. If Holden doesn't import the ZR1, Queensland company Performax International could bring in left-hand-drive models and convert them to right-hand-drive. The Gympie company, formerly Corvette Queensland, already converts Corvettes to right-hand-drive, along with the Hummer H2 and several American pick-ups. General manager Nick Vandenberg says they would be keen to import the Corvette.  

The world's only metallic white Phantom Pearl Rolls-Royce, one of 11 Rollers delivered to Australia last year, is being auctioned online.It is from the exclusive bespoke collection, with mother-of-pearl inlays adorning the dash and centre console.CEO of graysonline, Cameron Poolman, said it was the company's first world-exclusive sale.The car, which was part of a liquidation, cost about $1.1 million new and is expected to fetch more than $600,000, he said.“This is a business asset and so due to downturn in the financial markets the business is in liquidation,” he said. “It is currently registered in Victoria but will be sold unregistered.”Features include 21-inch chrome-vaned alloy wheels and the Phantom aluminium 6.75L, V12 engine.The vehicle has travelled fewer than 6000km and log books are included.“We are expecting mainly local interest, however, overseas parties are welcome to bid,” Poolman said.The auction closes on Friday.Visit: www.graysonline.com.au 

The hot diesel arrives in Australia in October and will cost about $40,000. It blows most of the small-car oil-burners out of the water in power and torque and marginally tops the current benchmark, the Golf GT TDI ($39,990).ENGINE AND ECONOMYThe engine is the same as in the Laguna, new Koleos SUV and Trafic van, but with improved engine mapping, earlier turbo boost and mated to a more aggressive six-speed manual. The five-door Megane pumps out 127kW of power and 360Nm of torque, compared with the Golf's 125kW/350Nm.Meanwhile, RenaultSport claims it sips fuel at just 6.5 litres per 100km, against Golf's 6.6, proving you can have your gateaux and eat it too.While its power may be down on the turbo model's 165kW, it more than makes up for it with a huge dollop of peak torque from just 2000rpm. ON THE ROADThat makes it fun to drive; not just off the mark but heading towards the 5000rpm limit. Its acceleration and feeling of power is more akin to a petrol car than a diesel. And the 2.0-litre turbo diesel engine is very quiet, only giving away the hint of clatter at idle. There's also a tasty exhaust note that resembles a bigger petrol car.Brakes are big and Brembo, so there is plenty of stopping power on board. On a short blast through the Parisienne countryside, the little diesel displayed predictable driving manners and despite all that low-down torque and heavy diesel engine there was minimal misbehaviour such as wicked torque steer or massive understeer. Indeed, turn-in is very good, although the electronic steering is somewhat numb.CHASSIS RenaultSport has fitted the engine to the chassis originally developed for Megane Renault Sport 2.0 Turbo. It features independent steering-axis front suspension and a 20mm-diameter anti-roll bar, but RenaultSport has stiffened the front springs and damper settings to cope with the extra 80kg weight of the diesel engine and gearbox.The rear suspension is based on a programmed-deflection flexible beam with torsional stiffness of 80Nm which is equivalent to the Cup chassis version of Megane Renault Sport 2.0T.TRIM LEVELRenault Australia senior communications manager Craig Smith says trim level will be similar to the current three-door model with leather upholstery as an option.Inside and out there are several RenaultSport plates, badges and seat stitching, but it doesn't look like a tacky “boy racer”. However, missing from the badges is the word “diesel”.“We did not want to put a diesel badge on the back,” Smith says. “The 2.0-litre diesel is the main stay of our range. This diesel shows what it is capable of.”It certainly is a more attractive car than the standard Megane, the dual pipes and big rear diffuser shaving some vital kilos off the notoriously fat bottom.And with safety features the same as those on all Meganes which scored five stars in EuroNCAP crash tests, it makes good sense. Smith says they're expecting to sell about 70-100 a year. 

It seems the American manufacturer of heavy motorcycles is intent on running customisers such as Teutul's Orange Country Choppers out of business. For a long time, Harley has watched as mechanics have made big money chopping up Harleys. But Harley has ventured into the chopper market with its FXCW and FXCWC Rockers last year and now the FLSTSB Softail Cross Bones. Inspired by the early knucklehead and panhead models, the Cross Bones looks like an authentic postwar custom bobber. It has a retro Springer front end (but with the addition of a modern shock), sprung solo "tractor" seat, half-round rider footboards, gloss-black round air-cleaner cover, chopped front mudguard and even gloss black bars and headlight like a custom chop shop would do. Black bikes are booming in the Harley range with the Nightster, Night Train, Night Rod Special, Fat Bob and Street Bob in the dark series. The Cross Bones has a black and polished twin-cam 96B engine, six-speed Cruise Drive transmission and Softail suspension. At $29,250 it costs the same as the Night Train. The Cross Bones looks low and mean, but when you hop on the solo tractor seat, you sit a little higher than expected. That also means the "ape-hanger" bars are not as high as expected, so the blood doesn't drain from your fingers every 15 minutes. It looks retro, but it has a modern remote key fob which can stay in your pocket once you unlock the ignition switch. And Peter Fonda would shake his head in disapproval, but the LCD on the round speedo includes a digital clock. Fire up the rigid-mounted 1584cc balanced engine and it shakes and vibrates, but little of that vibration rumbles through to your hands, feet and bottom. The straight-shot exhaust system with chrome slash-cut mufflers has a low thundering rumble, rather than a sharp crackling sound. It's menacing, without being annoying. From the rider's seat, it looks very retro with that black headlight and bars, the matt finish tank and hand-laced leather tank panel. Those modern V-Rod mirrors are good, but they look a little out of place. The seat is very comfortable, but as you take off, you not only bounce on the sprung seat, but also swivel slightly. It's kind of like riding a bar stool down the road. It also takes away some of the bounce from the springer front end, which is a lot less choppy than it was before a shock was added to the complex cantilevered fork set-up. Steering feels heavy with that chunky front wheel, but it doesn't tram-track when confronted by grooves and it holds its line well in sweeping corners. Left-handers have more clearance than the right, yet both footboards scrape substantially. Thankfully, they are made of tough metal, so they grind down nicely without fracturing and falling apart. At low speed in the first three gears there is an annoying surge, although there is enough torque to snick it into fourth and tool around city streets without stressing the engine. Fifth and sixth gear are overdriven and lack power for highway overtaking. Over a week of commuting and a couple of weekend jaunts through the country it returned fuel economy of 6.6 litres per 100km, which is not bad for a 1.5-litre bike. The single front brake disc feels very weak, but the back brake is strong and does most of the stopping on cruisers, anyway. It might spoil the clean lines of the bobbed rear mudguard, but because it is made of metal you can conveniently place a magnetic tank bag there. A pillion seat ($217.33) and footpeg mounting kit ($71.36) are available as options. If you are after something a little different, this Harley has the cred to convince people you have had your Springer customised.   Harley-Davidson FLSTSB Cross Bones ENGINE: rigid-mount, 1584cc fuel-injected twin-cam 96B PRICE: $29,250 BORE x STROKE: 95.3mm x 111.1mm COMPRESSION: 9.2:1 TORQUE: 120Nm @ 3300rpm TRANSMISSION: 6-speed, belt drive FUEL: 18.9-litre tank TYRES: 200mm rear DIMENSIONS (mm): 2330 (length), 67.6cm (seat height), 124.5 (clearance) 1630 (wheelbase) WET WEIGHT: 333kg ECONOMY: 6.6L/100km (tested) TYRES: 90B16 72H; 200/55R17 78V BRAKES: Single-piston front and 2-piston rear COLOURS: Vivid Black; Black Denim; Pewter Denim; Dark Blue Denim; Olive Pearl; Dark Blue Pearl  

The new X7 250 has large diameter wheels (14-inch front and 13-inch rear), and is powered by a Quasar 250cc liquid-cooled, four-valve EFI engine with 16.2kW of power and 20.2Nm of torque. Accessories include a colour-matched 44-litre topbox and all-weather hotcover (lap rug). The X7 costs $6990 and comes in metallic grey, blue and black. As the X7 joins the line-up, the classic Vespa PX, launched in 1977, is being phased out. It is the last scooter on the market with a handlebar-mounted four-speed transmission. The air-cooled two-stroke PX is a cult machine, with the 150cc version still the biggest selling Vespa in history. In 1980, two PX200s reached the finish line of the Paris-Dakar Rally, the world's toughest off-road event. The last container of electric and kick-start PX200s has arrived in Australia; they cost $5990. A Piaggio spokesman said the PX range (125, 150 and 200cc) was being phased out worldwide. Meanwhile, Piaggio has appointed ScootaCo in Cairns as a new dealer, lopped $1000 off the price of its three-wheel MP3 250 to $9990, and is offering free registration and compulsory third party on most of their range until the end of June. Visit: www.piaggio.com.au

...and this year is expected to leap over Formula One driver Mark Webber to become Australia's richest motor sportsman. Chad Reed, 26, of Kurri Kurri, near Newcastle, last month won the world and American Supercross championships and has just launched an updated Australian supercross series in which he will star. His Australian manager Matt Cousins says Reed's earnings this year should eclipse his wealth in 2004, which landed him in fourth in BRW's sporting rich list and surpass Webber. “The BRW list comes out in December and we expect him to be at least third or fourth,” Cousins says. Reed will not comment on his wealth but is between contracts with bike companies “which is killing me for merchandise sales at the moment.” However he says that the “Super X” series, which he is bankrolling with partner Mike Porra, had secured lucrative worldwide live TV deals. It includes live coverage on Foxsport and delayed broadcasts on Channel Ten and Fuel TV. “This is the first time a whole supercross series has been telecast absolutely live anywhere in the world,” Reed said. Super X prizemoney will exceed $200,000, three times the amount up for grabs in previous national supercross competitions, and the seven-round series will be held on full-size US-type man-made tracks. The seven-round series starts in Perth on October 4, moves to Adelaide October 18, Geelong October 25, Sydney November 8, Wollongong November 15, Townsville November 22 and the grand final in Brisbane at QEII on November 29. A one-off event will also be staged in New Zealand on December 15. Porra, who is responsible for the successful Uncle Toby's Ironman Series and also brought the sell-out Crusty Demons freestyle motocross shows to Australia, said New Zealand would be included in the series next year. He said the series would increase to 10 rounds between 2010 and 2017 with rounds in Beijing, Shanghai and Dubai with prizemoney swelling to $350,000. Cousins could not be precise about Reed's investment in the Australian series, but he is tipped to pour in $5 million with Porra in the first year. “It is hard to put a figure on it (how much he will spend) but as well as the amount of money he's spending it's the missed opportunities in the US that will cost him between $17-20 million over the next three years.” Reed rode the final four rounds of the US championship _ where he won nine of the 17 rounds _ nursing a broken shoulder from a crash during practise. He won nine of the 17 rounds, finished on the podium 13 times and led 153 laps over the season, three times more than any other rider. “It has been a dream of mine for a very long time to turn supercross into a mainstream sport in Australia,” he said. The Super X series will include tracks made designed by Mark Barnett who designs tracks for the US competition. Porra said the international riders in the series, who would be named in the next few weeks, would not have been released to compete here if the tracks were not up to US safety standards. Super X will also include four new race formats sanctioned by Motorcycling Australia. They include a man-on-man one-lap sprint and a “survival” race with the slowest being eliminated.

Caption:McGregor, known as much for his roles in movies such as Train spotting and Star Wars as for his round-the-world travels on BMW motorcycles, has designed the 50th anniversary Bonneville with copper-plated tanks and Belstaff black-waxed cotton on the seat and side panel, pictured.It is inspired by a bike in his collection of vintage machines, as well as his love of the legendary motorcycle enthusiast, Triumph rider and fellow Hollywood actor Steve McQueen.“I wanted to use a traditional waxed cotton material as it has such a resonance with the history of style in motorcycling, and mix it with the tradition of coppering tanks,” he said. “I am a huge fan of Steve McQueen and his films from the 1960s, and the font that I have chosen for the Triumph logo harks back to that golden era of biking. This is such an exciting project for me. The Bonneville has to be the ultimate in British motorcycles, so the chance to create my own design and see it through to production is amazing.”McGregor's specially designed bike will be auctioned for his chosen charity, UNICEF, for whom he is an ambassador.Details of the auction are yet to be released.Motorcycle clothing manufacturer Belstaff is also producing a bespoke design of the Bonneville incorporating a sophisticated black-and-gold colour scheme synonymous with the fashion brand's identity, of a gold seat cowl and a black-and-gold pannier bag. There will also be a limited-edition biker-style jacket to mark the anniversary.The Bonneville was named in recognition of Johnny Allen's 1950s record-breaking feats on a Triumph at the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah.The first Bonneville, the T120, was showcased at the Earls Court Bike Show in 1958. 

The new Peugeot 308 has become even prettier, more feminine, than before — if that is possible.Just as well, because the majority of buyers of the previous model 307 were women.My wife and two daughters love the new curvaceous body, the almond-eyed headlights, perfume-dispensing airconditioning with a selection of six fragrances, petite pedals, quiet and soft-touch cabin, 12 exterior colour choices and small latte holders, rather than macho jumbo-sized drink holders.And my girls love the pretty little wing mirrors which fold away when the car is locked. It's not a gimmick; it's vital in the small streets of Paris where the wing mirrors on parked cars often get knocked off as cars rush past.The eighth-generation 308 five-door hatch comes in a choice of two 1.6-litre petrol engines, one a turbo, and two turbo-diesel engines, 1.6 and 2-litre. The two-litre petrol engine has been scrapped for the turbo 1.6.Previously there were three trim levels in the petrol and two in the diesel. Now there are three trim levels in each: XS, XSE and XTE.Prices are up $500 for the XS petrol at $25,990 and $1400 for the XSE, even though it drops from two-litre to 1.6.Diesel XS models remain the same at $29,990, while the XSE HDi is up $1000.Choice of transmissions is five-speed manual (XS, XS HDi, XSE Turbo), four-speed auto (XS, XSE, XSE Turbo, XTE), six-speed manual (XSE HDi) and six-speed auto (XSE HDi, XTE HDi).The Porsche-derived four-speed auto costs an extra $2000 and $2200 for the six-speed.I recently drove the XSE Turbo with five-speed manual ($30,590) and the XSE HDi ($35,790).The top-spec models come with a healthy list of features.However, the Turbo I drove also had the full-length glass sunroof ($1000) and dashboard-mounted, pop-up sat nav system ($3600) that includes a 30Gb hard disk to store 180 hours of music, Bluetooth and an SOS button that will dial 000.Another neat audio feature is iPod or computer game connectivity via RCA plugs in the glovebox.However, there are no steering wheel-mounted controls for cruise or audio. They are all on stalks behind the wheel which is very awkward.Accommodation inside is generous, but legroom in the back will be at a premium if there is a tall person in the front.As in most French cars, the seats are sumptuous, like big lounge chairs. But you wouldn't expect your lounge suite to hold you in place if you were going around a corner at 60km/h, and neither do these.I found the speedo difficult to read in daylight as the numbers are a bit spindly, especially when wearing prescription sunglasses to see into the distance.On the road, the car is exciting to drive, although eerily quiet. The diesel is as quiet as the hush-hush BMW 530d.Engineers paid a lot of attention to reducing rattles, squeaks, engine noise, wind buffeting and tyre noise.Even the door speakers are mounted to the door, rather than the trim, to avoid vibration.This is now one of the quietest cars in its class. Even the diesel engines have little audible clatter or roar from within the cabin.Unfortunately, it takes some of the excitement out of the turbo which could do with a little bit of exhaust rort.Both the turbo petrol and diesel engines have strong low and mid-range torque which makes daily driving chores responsive.The diesel loses breath up top where the 1.6-litre turbo from the Mini Cooper S and the Peugeot 207 continues to shine. Steering is a bit on the heavy side and there is a twitch from torque steer in both models.The brakes are strong with a firm and responsive brake pedal and women will approve of the light clutch and foolproof manual box with well-spaced gears. On the national launch in February, the second-to-third change was notchy, but not on this test car.The automatic was overly responsive to aggressive input, holding on to gears much longer than needed after you have given it a heavy foot.The turbo returned fuel economy of 9.2L/10km while the diesel claimed 6.6.On the safety side, there are six airbags, a five-star European crash rating and stability control.A Touring (wagon version) is coming in August and a CC (cabrio-convertible) in February.