Articles by Mark Hinchliffe

Steam is blowing out my ears. I'm stomping around in my house, swearing and cursing. My children are cowering in the corner. My wife is trying in vain to placate me.I hate being a cranky old man. And the older I get the crankier I get.Of course, there is good reason for this fit of pique.We live in a very quiet neighbourhood, it's Sunday afternoon and it's time for my nana nap, but a toy dog two blocks away is having conniptions and keeping me awake.See, I told you it was important.Actually, I lied a little. My children are not cowering, they are telling me to settle down and stop being a cranky old man and my wife has long given up trying to placate me.However, there is steam blowing out my ears.Little things upset me greatly, sparking self-righteous anger.These, of course, are good character traits for car testing.Recently I spent some time in a $131,900 Audi S5.I should have been happy in this expensive, high-powered, luxury sports coupe, but instead I was annoyed by a creak in the door. Annoyed to distraction. Steam blew out my ears.This often happens. One niggling little problem with a car spoils the whole vehicle. And I'm sure I'm not alone.There must be other grumpy old men out there whose whole day is spoilt by a yapping toy dog two blocks away and a niggling squeak in their expensive new car.But after a week driving around in the VW Golf GT Sport TDI, there is no steam coming out my ears.If I was asked what car I would buy — and I often am — the answer would be simple. It would be this beautiful German hatch.There is simply nothing that caused me annoyance.I even got over the slight turbo lag.There is a trick to getting around it. Just don't bury your foot into the firewall; coax the throttle and change up quickly with the world's greatest production car transmission, the Direct Shift Gearbox, also found in expensive Audis.Expense also didn't cause any annoyance. It costs $39,790, which isn't too bad for the world's best small car.And I wasn't even annoyed that with all the extras this car was fitted with (read the options list in the tech specs) that price jumped over $50,000.After all, that's a lot cheaper than an S5 and there is no steam blowing out my ears.The new TDI is an absolute joy to behold, to drive, to sit in, to steer, to thrash and then to fill up.Just look at the figures.The standard TDI has 103kW of power, 320Nm of torque and drinks diesel at a rate of 6.1L/100km with the DSG and 5.7 in the manual.However, the GT Sport TDI has new injectors and a few engine tweaks that make it VW's most powerful four-cylinder TDI engine; with an output of 125kW at 4200rpm and even more excitingly 30Nm more torque at just a few hundred revs over idle.The offset for this performance boost is only slightly worse economy figures of 6.3L/100km (DSG), 6.6 (manual).But notice it is actually more economical with the world's greatest production car gearbox?And right in front of the driver on the instrument panel is a readout for the average mileage (why do we still call it mileage when it should be kilometreage?).This is like a red rag to a bull, or in this case, a red instrument readout to a grumpy old man.It beckons you to play the game of "See how low you can get this figure.”And what a fun game it is. By using some old Hans Tholstrup techniques, such as envisioning an egg under the accelerator, I have been trying all week to drive down the kilometreage. My record was 5.2 in moderate 6.30-7am commuter traffic.Normally the commute would have me blowing steam out my ears because of other drivers' behaviour or because I'd swapped lanes and picked the one held up by a smoke-belching BCC bus.Instead, I was having a hoot driving down the kilometreage.So I parked the car at work, folded in the key on the fob, locked it, stood back and admired the GT once again, before heading inside for the daily grind.It looks very much like its sporty brother the Golf GTI, which costs $1000 more.They share the same sports suspension, tasty 17-inch alloy BBS ClassiXs wheels, wide 225mm tyres, strong 16-inch brakes, the same bumper and radiator grille design, twin tailpipes, sports seats and sports steering wheel.Yep, this is certainly a sporty car that rewards driver input, yet still has great fuel economy if driven judiciously.Then I got to thinking how the State Government was now raking in almost $400 more in stamp duty on each one of these sold this year after it increased the rate from 2 to 3 per cent.Yet it leaves the rate at 2 per cent for cars like the $233,000 V8 Lexus LS 600hL simply because it's a trendy hybrid.The Lexus drinks fuel at 9.8 litres a kilometre, which is pretty good for a V8 and better than a V6 Commodore.However, it's a long way behind the Golf which gets slugged with extra stamp duty from a government that allegedly made the tax changes to encourage people into more economical cars.Better start cowering, children, cause these ears are about to blow.   SnapshotVW Golf GT Sport TDIPrice: $39,790Body: 5-doorEngine: 2-litre, 4-cylinder turbo-dieselPower: 125kW @ 4200rpmTorque: 350Nm @ 1750-2500rpmTransmission: 6-speed direct shift gearboxAcceleration: 0-100km/h 8.2secEconomy: 6.3l/100km combinedFuel: diesel, 55-litre tankEmissions: 168g/km, Euro 4Weight: 1410kgOptions: satellite navigation and CD changer $3780, electric sunroof $1890, bi-xenon headlights $1890, leather upholstery $2990, rear parking sensors $790, anti-theft alarm $590 

Miles Williams, general manager for Citroen in Australia, said the arrival of this new C4 variant was an illustration of how the diesel car market in Australia was maturing.“Until now, diesel sales have been primarily driven by their economy and environmental benefits and, therefore, the top sellers have been versions that optimise the price equation,” he said.“However, starting with the launch of the Citroen C6, our range-topping super-luxury model, in which the majority of sales are diesel powered, we are now seeing increasing demand for the top trim and equipment variants to be diesel powered, with owners wishing to combine comfort with economy.”With most C4 Picasso sales being the 2.0 litre turbo diesel with six-speed auto, Citroen decided to add the drive train to the C4 hatch with the top trim and equipment level.The 100kW two-litre turbo diesel engine is claimed to dash to 100kmh in 10.4 seconds, with a highway fuel consumption of 5.1 litres per 100km.It has 320Nm of torque which is lifted to 340Nm under acceleration with the over boost feature.Pricing and specifications will be announced at the show.Joining it on the Citroen stand will be the latest version of the C3, a diesel with average fuel consumption of 4.4 litres per 100km and 118g/km of CO2 emissions.It is also approved to run on commercially produced BioDiesel up to a 30 per cent blend.Citroen claims a 0-100km/h time of 10.8 seconds.It comes with four airbags, ABS, a four star Euro-NCAP crash test rating, electric windows, remote central locking and a quality audio system.Citroen will also launch later this year the C5 sedan and wagon, a new Berlingo and two new vans which fit either side of the Berlingo in size; the bigger Dispatch and the smaller Nemo.Last year Citroen recorded its 12th successive year of sales increases. 

The new model sits above the Fiat Punto providing the Italian car maker with a second model in the important and lucrative small car category.Fiat will also launch the turbocharged version of the Punto Sport at the show.David Stone, general manager for Fiat Cars in Australia, said the Brisbane International Motor Show marked the “coming of age” for Fiat's return to the Australia market.“The Ritmo is our move into a market sector that is becoming increasingly important in the Australian market premium and prestige small cars,” he said.Ritmo comes with ABS, stability control, remote central locking, four airbags, electric front windows, CD player, power steering and Follow Me Home headlamps in the Emotion trim level.The Sport version adds dual zone climate air, cruise control, Bluetooth, sports seats, alloy wheels and a body kit.Pricing will be announced at the show.It is powered by a choice of petrol and diesel engines. The 110kW 1.4 litre T-Jet turbocharged petrol engine is the first example of a new family of turbocharged petrol units developed by Fiat Powertrain Technologies.The T-Jet engine offers an over boost button on the centre console in Sport versions and deliver 230Nm at 3000rpm, giving it a 0-100kmh acceleration time of 8.2 seconds.At the same time, Fiat claims fuel economy figures of 7.1L/100 km in the combined cycle and restrict CO2 emissions to 167g/km. Ritmo also comes with a 110kW 1.9 litre JTD turbo diesel with 305Nm of torque at 2000rpm.Fiat claims a 0-100kmh time of 9.0 seconds and fuel consumption of less than 5.6 litres in the combined cycle. These engines are mated to six-speed manual gearboxes with a Dualogic self-shifting gearbox later in the year for the 1.4L T-Jet.The new Fiat Ritmo was created in just 18 months from design freeze to production, using Computer Aided Design Computer Aided Engineering systems.This meant its development was almost entirely achieved through virtual analysis and engineering.Fiat claims this led to consistent build quality, driving dynamics and low noise, vibration and harshness levels.Ritmo has recorded a maximum 5-star rating for adult occupant protection in the Euro NCAP crash test programme, three stars for child protection and two for pedestrian protection. 

The five-door Suzuki Grand Vitara Diesel four-wheel-drive comes with a five-speed manual and is being launched at $34,990.The new model arrives with a common rail, 1.9 litre four cylinder diesel engine featuring a water cooled, variable vane turbo-charger that develops the most amount of torque of any four-wheel-drive model in the Suzuki range.The 1.9 litre Direct Diesel injection System (DDiS) engine develops 300Nm at 2000rpm and 95kW of power, compared with the 2.7 litre petrol 135kW/250Nm V6.The diesel also is the most economical Grand Vitara with fuel consumption of 7.6 litres per 100km, with a diesel particulate filter in the exhaust it emits 195 grams of carbon dioxide per kilometre.Standard safety features include stability control, anti-lock braking, electronic brake force distribution,traction control and six airbags.The Grand Vitara Diesel has standard creature comforts which features a leather steering wheel, CD with MP3 capability, steering wheel mounted audio controls, remote mirrors, climate air with pollen filter, cruise control, power windows and remote keyless entry with immobilizer.Like all Grand Vitaras, it is a true constant four-wheel rive with a centre limited slip differential.Apart from the full fleet of Suzuki vehicles (Jimny, SX4, Swift and APV), the stand will also feature a wide array of other motoring gems including a replica of the World Rally Championship SX4, the world's fastest production motorcycle and a 300hp outboard motor.

Hummer caused a sensation when it was debuted at the Brisbane International Motor Show last year and it's back for 2008.After some delays in launch owing to minor compliance issues such as mudflaps, the “baby” Hummer H3 hit the showrooms and in the first three months sold 272 with about 600 orders still outstanding.GM Premium Brands communications manager Emily Perry said more than one in three Hummers have been sold to Queenslanders."It's a suitable vehicle for the outdoors lifestyle of the Sunshine State” she said.The GM Premium Brands stand will feature the H3 Luxury and Adventure models and the new hero "Torch" orange colour for the first time.Sharing the stand is the Swedish Saab range, which will continue its environmental theme with economical diesel and renewable ethanol vehicles.The Saab stand also highlights the tri-fuel offering with the 9-3 range of vehicles available in petrol, diesel and ethanol models.Saab BioPower is Australia's first ethanol production car and it will be on show in a white Convertible and a black Sport Sedan.

Ford will show petrol and diesel variants of the Mondeo, the Focus CC and diesel, Fiesta, and the current Falcon and Falcon Ute.The next-generation Falcon, codenamed Orion, will not be released until the following month.Meanwhile, Ford Performance Vehicles will get the blood pumping with the Territory F6X and the Cobra show car.The FPV F6 X is equipped with the F6 270 Turbo 4.0-litre DOHC in-line six-cylinder engine, producing 270kW of power and 550Nm of torque, matched to the ZF six-speed automatic transmission and a full-time All-Wheel-Drive system.It comes with several advanced active and passive safety features, including Dynamic Stability Control (DSC), Traction Control and four-channel Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) with Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD).

Hyundai is entering the booming light commercial vehicle market and will debut its new iLoad vans at the Brisbane International Motor Show.

Proton Australia spokesman Jon Thomson confirmed there was a likelihood that the Saga could be sold here.“Once demand has been met in the Asean (region) and China, we are looking no earlier than 2009,” he said.The new Saga will have a starting price in Malaysia of about $10,000 ranging up to around $13,000 for the premium model.The current cheapest cars in the Australian market are the 1.2-litre Proton Savvy five-door hatch and 1.4-litre three-door Hyundai Getz, both costing $13,990.Thomson said he could not comment on whether the Saga would be the cheapest car on the market here.“I can't answer that because it is still too far away, and it is yet to be absolutely confirmed, despite being likely at this stage.”The new Saga is powered by an improved 1.3 litre version of Proton's own Campro; double overhead camshaft multipoint injection engine fitted with a new air-fuel intake designed for better torque and driveability.It produces 71kW of power and 120Nm of torque, sipping fuel at the rate of 6l/100km for the manual and around 6.3 for the auto.The car sits on front MacPherson struts and a torsion beam axle rear while braking is handled by front discs and rear drums.In Malaysia, it will come with two SRS airbags and seatbelt pre-tensioners.Proton Holdings managing director Syed Zainal said the company was targeting the Asean region with initial production of between 5500 and 6000 units a month.“This car, we believe, has high export potential for growing market segments such as the Asean countries, China, India and the Middle East. In terms of packaging, it has a potential global reach,” Syed Zainal said.“The initial foray will be in right-hand drive markets during the first half of the year in Asean countries, such as Indonesia and Thailand, while the left-hand drive version will follow in the second half targeting export to China,” he said.Codenamed BLM, the Saga was developed in 17 months, and is the second new Proton to be launched in the past six months following the Persona.Australia will get its first look at the four-door Persona sedan when it debuts at the Melbourne Motor Show in late February.It goes on sale in March with a single specification model. Prices are yet to be announced but will be in the mid-teens.The new Persona is based on the Gen2 Hatch platform, it's powered by Proton's Campro 1.6 litre engine with 82kW of power and 120 Nm of torque; with either a five-speed manual or four-speed automatic transmission.It will initially be available in seven colours.Persona will join Proton's existing Australian light and small car line-up including Savvy, Satria and Gen2, and the small Jumbuck. 

Gleaming chrome, shining paintwork and powerful engines will share the limelight this year at the 2008 Brisbane International Motor Show with two wheels and "grease monkeys".

. . . as we chug steadily up a steep, slippery hill in the new Suzuki Grand Vitara Turbo Diesel it is evident that this is what oil-burners do best.Sure, the new 1.9-litre, direct-injection, intercooled turbo diesel engine miserly sips the Earth's fossil fuel resources and emits greenhouse gases at the same rate as a small car.But it is the generous 300Nm of crank-twisting torque that I am thankful for as the latest in the long and trusted line of Grand Vitaras plods steadfastly up the greasy Mt Cotton hill at just a tickle over idle.Grand Vitara Turbo Diesel is only the third diesel in the competitive compact SUV class, after the launch last year of diesel versions of the Kia Sportage and Jeep Patriot and Compass.The five-door diesel Grand Vitara is listed at $34,990 which places it just behind the top-of-the-range V6 Prestige and completes the five-model range.It comes with the same specification as the Prestige, but without the leather upholstery. So that means it gets a leather-wrap steering wheel, stability control, climate air, MP3 compatible CD player, cruise control and remote keyless entry with immobiliser.Powered by a Renault 1.9-litre common-rail turbo engine, the Bosch magnetic coil piezo injectors can squirt precise amounts of fuel from the high-pressure (1600 bar, 23,000psi) common rail up to five times during one cylinder's combustion cycle.This not only reduces fuel consumption and gas emissions, but also compression knock and therefore engine noise.The water-cooled Garret turbocharger features energy efficient variable fins which at low revs are almost flat so turbine speed is high and boost is up.At high revs the fins turn to a steeper angle, so turbine speed does not go off the scale.Turbo cooling is provided by an electric cooling pump, which keeps engine coolant circulating through the turbo charger after the engine has stopped.The diesel is married to a new five-speed manual gearbox which is notchy but robust. There will be no automatic.Paul Dillon, general manager of Queensland importers Suzuki Auto Co, said their technicians last year evaluated a test vehicle here over 3000km and had not encountered any issues.On a test drive with Dillon around Brisbane last year and on the very short road test at last week's state launch, the vehicle sounded quiet and strong, pulling from as low as 1700rpm.From 2200rpm, it rolls on with more urge than the V6 Prestige for reasonable passing duties. However, with only 95kW on tap, the top end isn't as vibrant as the V6.As it approaches red line, the engine begins to groan and there is minor coarseness through the gear shift and pedal.At 100km/h in fifth gear the diesel ticks over at just 2200rpm, which should yield good fuel economy. Suzuki claims 9.4l/100km in city duties and 6.7 on the highway.The Japanese brand proudly boasts that its compact SUV range is more likely to be used for off-road ventures than most of its ilk.Consequently, the major portion of the launch was conducted on the four-wheel-drive circuit of the State Government's Mt Cotton driver training facility.Here the little diesel "Zuke” is in its element, splashing through the bog holes, stepping over tree roots and chugging up gnarly hillclimbs.Going down some steep hills, the low-revving diesel engine helps to negate the need for a hill descent feature despite its under 2:1 transfer case ratio. Only perpendicular slopes are going to prove a problem.This is a genuine off-roader suited to beach runs, forestry trails and some tight bush work. Only rock crawling is beyond its capabilities.However, greenies shouldn't be perturbed by this off-roader. It is fitted with a particulate filter incorporated in the exhaust that burns off carbon deposits.Inside, the Suzuki looks crisp and modern with comfortable seats, generous leg and head room, and clear vision all round for an open, airy feeling.Safety is aided by stability control that includes traction control and anti-lock brakes with electronic brakeforce distribution and brake assist.There are also six airbags in the cabin and the bonnet and bumper area are designed to be pedestrian friendly.Suzuki Auto Co sales and marketing manager Stephen Craig said they expected to sell more than 500 diesel Grand Vitaras in a year, accounting for about 28 per cent of all their 4WD sales, which also includes the practical little Jimny.Suzuki will follow up the diesel Grand Vitara with a minor update and increase in engine capacities for its petrol models in the middle of 2008.The 2-litre four-cylinder will become a 2.4, while the 2.7-litre V6 grows to 3.2. Grand Vitara diesel$34,990ENGINE: 1870cc 4-valve, 4-cylinder direct injection common-rail turbo dieselPOWER: 95kW @ 3750rpmTORQUE: 300Nm @ 2000rpmBORE X STROKE: 80 x 93MMCOMPRESSION: 17:1DRIVE: 4-mode 4 x 4TRANSMISSION: 5-speed manual; transfer high 1.000, low 1.970KERBWEIGHT: 1605kg (1660kg with full options)PERFORMANCE: 170km/h (max), 0-100km/h in 13.2secECONOMY (L/100KM): 9.4 (city), 6.7 (highway), 7.6 (combined)EMISSIONS: 195g/km of CO2; Euro 4 compliant