Articles by Mark Hinchliffe

Queensland motorists are becoming more fuel miserly, buying more fuel-efficient cars, catching public transport, cycling or walking, and offsetting carbon emissions.Just as well, because the Australian Greenhouse Office estimates our cars will emit more than 40 million tonnes of carbon this year.Motorists are starting to get the message with two in five Queenslanders buying a more fuel-efficient car, according to Woolcott Research conducted for NRMA Insurance.Mature-aged women living on the Sunshine Coast are leading the charge for greener cars.Across the state, women are slightly more environmentally conscious with 42 per cent saying they had swapped to a fuel miser, compared with 38 per cent of men.The older the motorist, the greener they get, according to the statistics.The least environmentally conscious are motorists aged 25-34 years.Up to age 24, 37 per cent are switching to smaller cars and over 45 it is 45 per cent.The Sunshine Coast leads with 52 per cent choosing a greener car, compared with 32 per cent in Brisbane and 47 per cent on the Gold Coast.When it comes to public transport, young Brisbane males are more active.Across the state only one in five has deliberately chosen public transport over a car; 27 per cent males and 16 per cent females.Almost half of those aged up to 24 are likely to take a bus or train, declining to 14 per cent in the 45-55 years age group.In Brisbane it is 31 per cent, Gold Coast 23 per cent and Sunshine Coast only 10 in a hundred.More women than men are cycling or walking more instead of driving.Statewide the walking/cycling participation level is 40 per cent, made up of 42 per cent women.Top walkers and cyclers are those aged 25-40, with older age groups not far behind, while the under 24s have only 17 per cent activity.NRMA Insurance has also released figures which show that Queenslanders taking up its Carbonators offer had helped offset more than 19,700 tonnes of carbon emissions.That is the same amount of pollution as more 4500 cars emit in a year, according to NRMA Insurance.It uses a formula based on a conservative average of a car emitting 4.3 tonnes of carbon dioxide a year.Using NRMA Insurance's online carbon calculator (climatehelp.com.au) that relates to a family car travelling about 20,000km a year.Last year, Australians bought a record 1 million new cars which potentially means 3.4 million extra tonnes of carbon a year.Private car use makes up 34 per cent of all Australian household greenhouse gas emissions, making it the worst contributor of CO2 emissions. 

The Czech brand's flagship model is set to join the Octavia and Roomster in the return of the brand to Australia. Skoda Australia boss Matthew Wiesner said they had the “full intention of launching the successor here”. The new Superb successor will be launched at the 2008 Geneva Motor Show in March and available here next year. “If we wanted to we could get it here this year, but it is probably more sensible to wait to target next January,” Wiesner said. Like the new Mondeo, the Skoda sedan is actually a hatchback, or a liftback with a large rear door and cargo area. Liftbacks were fashionable in the 1970s and now seem to be making a comeback. The striking Skoda features an imposing grille and aggressive wraparound headlights. Inside, there will be plenty of kit, including a touch screen multi-media interface with a hard drive to store music and an iPod-compatible connection. It has a choice of six VW-sourced engines — three petrol and three diesel. Wiesner said they would probably go with a similar mix to what they have chosen for the Octavia which is a 1.9 and 2.0 turbo diesel, 2.0 petrol and 1.8 and 2.0 turbo petrol. “Diesel will be very important for us,” Wiesner said. “There are some new engines which we are looking at such as the big new V6 which would be under consideration so long as it fits in our price and product position. “But we may not consider some of the smaller engines.” Among the petrol engine options are the 1.4-litre TSI engine from the Golf GT, 2-litre turbo and the 3.6-litre V6, while there will also be 2-litre four-cylinder and 2.7-litre V6 diesels. The standard line-up of five and six-speed manuals will be joined by the quick-shifting DSG semi-auto. The cars appear to be quite large, with a tall ride height and significant overhangs and will come in front-wheel drive and VW's Haldex all-wheel drive. However, Skoda highlighted the Superb's bi-xenon headlights with adaptive front light system (AFS), retractable integrated headlight washer units with an automatic rain sensor and Maxi Dot display. AFS changes the geometry of the light beam to suit different driving conditions. There are four modes — Intercity, City, Highway and Rain — each with varying beam widths and penetration and actuated at varying speeds. They also feature rotating headlights that turn with the steering to light up corners. Skoda sold 115 Octavia medium-sized cars and 34 Roomster small people movers in the three months since launch. Wiesner said “the numbers are the numbers”. “The point is what we are hearing back from the dealers and the market,” he said. “We're on track and I'm happy.” Wiesner said at the launch in early October that he expected Roomster would represent about 20 per cent of sales, but it is running slightly higher. At launch, Wiesner said they had 10 dealers nationwide with one each in Brisbane, the Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast, plus two in Sydney, two in Melbourne and one each in Perth, Adelaide and Canberra. “We're now looking at five or six new dealers by April and on target for 20 to 23 by the end of the year,” he said. “That's important to raise the level of awareness of the brand.” Wisener said a Skoda dealer in Townsville would be in the target 20 and should be added by the middle of the year.  

It may not be a lot by most motor companies' standards, but Rolls-Royce last year sold 1010 cars worldwide which was a 25 per cent increase and the first time the bespoke builder had reached four figures for a year.It was also the fourth successive sales increase since the company was re-launched in 2003.Australia joined in on the record-making with 17 sales, representing 42 per cent growth from 12 in 2006 and more than double the 2004 figures.Australia is the third largest market for Rolls in the region behind China and Japan with Australian dealer Trivett Classic delivering two Phantoms pictured right, to Queensland and two Drophead Coupes to the Gold Coast.Trivett Classic general manager Bevin Clayton said they expected the growth to continue in 2008.“Already, we are beginning to see inquiry rates on the up, compared to last year,” he said.“We have six confirmed orders at the start of the year.“We have every reason to be optimistic, because Rolls-Royce is expanding its model range to add a two-door, four-seat coupe by the end of the year giving our customers more choice.”This model will complete the Phantom family line-up alongside the Phantom, Phantom Extended Wheelbase and Phantom Drophead Coupe.“We view the (economic) situation as positive but understandably with a little uncertainty due to the changeover in government,” he said.“Our clientele is also optimistic about the economy for the year ahead, the only concern being the continuing rise in interest rates.”A new Rolls-Royce model series will be launched in 2010, currently named RR4. 

As well, all 320i models get a 5kW power boost to 115kW and the 320d sedan gets a third-generation, common-rail, fuel-injection diesel engine with a 10kW hike to 125kW with a claimed 10 per cent fuel economy improvement. Prices remain the same as before. (See story Page 19)BMW Group Australia corporate communications manager Toni Andreevski said the addition of the 335i Touring, 320i Touring and 320i Executive Touring to the existing 323i Touring would double their sales of wagons from 166 last year.“Touring is considered by many as a second car,” Andreevski said.“We find buyers are more affluent and could probably afford to drive an X5 but don't want an SUV for various reasons. Perhaps the wife doesn't want a four-wheel-drive, or they are a bit more discerning and enjoy the handling and performance of a car, even though the X5 has good driving dynamics.“Four-wheel-drives are getting better all the time but a car is still a car.”And what a car the Touring is, with driving dynamics like the sedan and feeling more taut and nimble than the 335i convertible.The top-of-the-line 335i features the twin turbo high-precision injection unit which was the 2007 international engine of the year.The three-litre straight-six delivers 225kW of power and 400Nm of torque, propelling the vehicle to 100km/h in 5.9 seconds.Fuel economy is rated at 9.8 litres per 100km on the combined cycle.It comes in six-speed Steptronic auto only with shift paddles on the steering wheel at $108,600, which is $4100 more than the sedan.The Touring range starts with the six-speed manual 320i at $54,200, which is $3200 more than the sedan.The Executive trim costs an extra $4900.Both models cost $2600 more for the automatic.The two-litre four-cylinder engine delivers 115kW and 200Nm with a 9.3-second sprint to 100km/h and economy of 8L/100km.Standard features are the same as the sedan and include keyless entry/start, auto headlights and wipers, auto climate air, cruise control, Bluetooth interface preparation, six airbags and stability control.The Executive package adds Dakota leather, front fog lights, partial electric seat adjustment, wood or aluminium trim, double-spoke 16-inch alloys and tricky lights that illuminate corners as you turn.The 335i tops the 323i Touring with front parking sensors, 17-inch alloys, adaptive Bi-Xenon headlights with washers, TV tuner, sat nav, 10-speaker sound, full front electric seats and CD changer.There is also a host of quite expensive options. However, these become much more affordable if you buy them as part of the various packages, such as the M pack with bigger wheels, lower and tighter suspension and various badging and trims.The new Touring models look identical to the 323i Touring with a sleek roof line that doesn't appear dowdy as you would expect of what is, basically, a station wagon.However, the cargo area is not huge until you drop the split-fold rear seats, then the long, flat floor becomes quite serviceable.The tailgate is light and doesn't lift so high that short people can't reach it to pull it back down.It is also split so you can just open the top glass half, which is handy for packing or removing light items.There is also a privacy cover that keeps prying eyes off your goodies. This springs back when you open the top part of the tailgate.Rear vision is not too bad for a wagon, but there are rear parking sensors anyway.All Touring models now come with a luggage package that includes a removable watertight folding box, reversible liner with integrated protective cover, luggage compartment nets and dividable storage compartment under the floor.Like all 3 Series, the Touring sits on on runflat tyres, so there is no spare under the cargo floor.With its stiffer sidewalls, runflats may improve handling by preventing the tyre from distorting and rolling on the rims, but they have poor ride comfort.Of course, the higher the profile, the better the ride.The Touring range comes with 16, 17 and 18-inch wheels with the smaller wheels sporting 55 and 50 profile tyres which ride better.The 18s feature 35 profiles which are strictly for smooth roads.BMW 2008 releases* X5 twin turbo diesel 3.0sd in February. X drive will become part of the name. It is the first of the twin-turbo diesel engines for BMW in Australia. It will be quicker than any V8 or V10 competitor except the Audi Q7.* 1 Series 135i and 125i Coupes arrive in May.* 1 Series 135i and 125i Convertibles arrive in June with a 120i Convertible possibly arriving a couple of months after that.* X6 “sports activity coupe” will be here in the third quarter of 2008. The “niche product” will arrive with six-cylinder diesel and petrol twin turbo engines. A V8 twin turbo is a possibility late in the year or early in 2009.

The Toyota LandCruiser arrives in Lexus form with a heap of extra equipment including an impressive 10 airbags.Although Australian pricing and specifications have not yet been confirmed, expect luxury features such as four-zone climate control, power sliding second-row split seating, navigation system with Bluetooth, nine-speaker premium sound, and power third-row seating, rear-seat entertainment system and 19-speaker Mark Levinson audio system.At the core of the beast is the 5.7-litre V-8 engine pumps out 284kW of power, 84kW more than Toyota's older 4.7-litre V-8.Torque has also increased, from 444Nm to 602Nm.It is mated to a six-speed automatic transmission with sequential shifting and a Torsen limited slip differential for the full-time four-wheel drive.Towing capacity increases from 2948kg to 3855kg.Off-road features include adaptable suspension with quicker responses and finer adjustment, Crawl Control and active height control that lowers the chassis about 5cm for easier entry and exit, and raises it at lower speeds, lowering it again at higher speeds to help out in tarmac aerodynamics and fuel-efficiency.

Hybrids have won the PR war with everyone from Hollywood stars to politicians clamouring to be seen driving them. Meanwhile, diesels still suffer from poor PR as dirty, noisy oil-burners.

The boom in the Australian scooter market and rise in professionalism in the past few years has led to the formation of the Australian Scooter Federation.The ASF has launched a campaign to highlight the benefits available to customers who buy from an accredited seller.ASF chairperson Hollie Black said ASF members adhered to the federation's code of conduct, meaning scooterists could rest assured they would receive high-quality customer service when buying from these manufacturers."There are many companies entering the market and we are concerned that inexperienced importers may not be backing up the product they're bringing in," Black said."When a customer buys a product from one of our members, they will have access to that manufacturer's national dealer network and all the benefits that come with buying from a reputable company.""All ASF members are companies which adhere to a high level of quality, not just for their own company but with an aim to protect and improve the industry as a whole."The ASF is a member of the Motorcycle Industry Group of the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI) and is the peak body representing the scooter industry.The ASF members that have joined forces to promote safe and professional scooting which includes; Aprilia, Benelli, Bolwell, BUG, Daelim, Gilera, Honda, Hyosung, Kymco, Peugeot, Piaggio, Suzuki, SCP, TGB, Vespa and Yamaha.ASF has also developed a set of guidelines which protect users.ASF members have manufacturers based in France, Japan, Taiwan, South Korea, China and Italy. All companies supplying ASF members have International Quality Assurance and all vehicles comply with Australian Design Rules.In addition to being advocates for scooter riders and lobbying the government on riders behalf, the ASF also aims to educate the community about all things scooter related through the provision of advice, a comprehensive website and other communication materials.

Holden has just recorded record sales of V8s, while NRMA Insurance claims more than 40 per cent of southeast Queensland drivers are deliberately downsizing to a more fuel-efficient car.Meanwhile, the VFACTS industry figures show Queenslanders bought fewer light cars than the national average, but more medium and large cars and more large and luxury SUVs.Holden claims strong sales of its top-end VE Commodore models, such as SS, SS V and Calais V, pushed V8 Commodore numbers past the 2003 record of 10,982 by almost 500.Sales of V6 and V8 Commodores to private buyers were also up 35 per cent on 2006.However, NRMA Insurance Queensland manager Brett Robinson said drivers aged 45 and over were the most likely in southeast Queensland to have bought a greener model.The company released a study conducted by Woolcott Research in August-September of 400 southeast Queensland households, which showed only 28 per cent of people aged 25-34 would buy a more fuel-efficient car.That figures rose to 38 per cent in the 35-44 years category and 46 per cent over 44.The southeast Queensland region with the highest percentage of fuel-efficient car ownership was the Sunshine Coast with 52 per cent, followed by Gold Coast with 47 per cent, Brisbane on 31 per cent, compared with southeast Queensland's average of 40 per cent.Those figures include used cars, not just new cars.If you look at the VFACTS figures for 2007 new vehicle sales, it shows that Queenslanders love a big SUV and a commercial vehicle, reflecting the business growth of the state.While the national rise in light car sales was 10.2 per cent, they rose only 8.4 in Queensland.Small cars grew at the same 5.9 per cent rate as nationally, but medium cars grew 9.3 per cent in Queensland compared with 5.6 and large cars were slightly more enticing here with a 2.9 per cent increase compared with 2.3 nationally.While large SUV sales were down across the nation by 13.6 per cent, they dropped only 5 per cent in Queensland and luxury SUV sales grew at twice the rate of the 9 per cent national growth rate.Tradies' rides, such as two-wheel-drive utes and light commercial vehicles, grew 6.5 per cent in Queensland against a national rate of 15 per cent, while 4WD versions were only slightly up at 23.3 per cent compared with 22.3 nationally. 

Alpine (pronounced Alpeen) was the name of the French manufacturer of racing and sports cars who used rear-mounted Renault engines, reminding car buyers of Renault's rallying and GP heritage.Renault Australia communications manager Craig Smith said he was excited by the prospect."I haven't seen anything official on Alpine but I'd imagine it would be attracting quite a lot of interest in the UK,” he said."Too early to say what, if anything, we'd do with it here.”The two-seater hatch goes on sale in Europe about 2010, targeting competitors such as the Mazda RX-8, Honda Type R, VW GTI and Nissan 350Z, but will cost less. It is expected that the car will be the forerunner of a series of models with the Alpine badge.Testing of the running gear is being carried out in a Megane body at Germany's famed Nurburgring race circuit.The new Alpine is expected to be powered by a small turbocharged petrol engine with every chance it will be mid-mounted.

Euro NCAP tests found a delay in the deployment of curtain airbags in the side pole test.Volvo agreed to modify production cars, so it was re-tested but failed again.However, Australian models should not have the problem, according to Volvo Car Australia public affairs manager Laurissa Mirabelli."With regard to EuroNCAP, the V70 had a software upgrade,” she said."The V70 fulfils Volvo's own stringent internal safety requirements based on real world crash research, not a laboratory test."In the real world variables such as speed, angles of impact and the size of the occupants differ each and every time, so the challenge is to offer the highest possible safety standards covering a wide spectrum of crash scenarios."Volvo is committed to offering the highest levels of safety and we have every confidence in the protection offered to occupants of the V70 in the event of a collision.”Costing about $70,000, the new V70 will come with all-wheel drive, but will not qualify for the SUV import duty exemption.The van will be powered by a 210kW/400Nm three-litre twin-scroll turbo six-cylinder engine based on the 3.2-litre naturally aspirated engine in the XC70 and XC90.It will be packed with goodies such as 18-inch alloys, FOUR-C adaptive suspension, personal car communicator, premium 6-CD sound system, front and rear park assist and auto tailgate.The V70, along with Mazda2, Mercedes Benz C Class and Renault Laguna received five stars in adult occupant protection.Mazda2, pictured, also had an airbag delay problem in testing which was rectified, re-tested and passed.The Renault Laguna would have been Euro NCAP's highest scorer yet in adult occupant protection if it had not lost a point for the opening of a rear door in the side impact test.The V70, Laguna and Mazda2 scored five stars for adult occupant protection, four for child occupant protection and two for pedestrian protection.The C Class scored only three stars on child occupant protection.Honda Civic scored four stars for adult and child passengers and three stars for pedestrians.