Articles by Neil Dowling

Style is the new weapon in Kia's war to win back buyers from an avalanche of fresh small-car rivals. It starts with the Cerato hatch, a heavily rejigged small car with more performance options that arrives here mid-year with the aim of clawing back some average sales results. The neat Cerato sedan and hatch currently on the market have been no match for heavy hitters Corolla and Mazda3, let alone its sister Hyundai i30. Even the more expensive Subaru Impreza outsells Cerato. This time Kia reckons it's got it right. The Cerato, shown this week at the biggest US motor show in Chicago, arrives in Australia as a hatchback in July that follows the April launch of the sedan equivalent. It sits on a 50mm longer wheelbase and is lower and wider than the current hatch. Boot space is up to 422 litres, bigger than the i30 (378), Golf (350), Corolla (280) and Mazda3 (340) but less than Holden Cruze's 445 litres. Looking more like a mini-Optima at the front - indeed the Cerato sedan is almost a shrunken copy of Kia's biggest Australian-sold sedan - the hatch repeats the crisp styling and signature lines of the company's chief designer Peter Schreyer. It has all the performance looks to justify Kia's 150kW/264Nm 1.6-litre direct-injection turbo-petrol engine - only 5kW/16Nm off the bigger 2-litre engine of the Golf GTI - but we won't get it. Kia Australia has knocked back this sparkling engine in favour of retaining the current model's 103kW 1.8-litre multi-point injection engine and a perkier 129kW 2-litre direct-injection petrol four. This upgrades the current 2-litre engine's 115kW/194Nm output. The turbo-petrol engine - the same as fitted to the Hyundai Veloster Turbo - is hoped to be used here late this year as Kia Australia plans to import the Europe-sourced Procee'd GT hatch. Annoyingly, the US market has nabbed the turbo-petrol for the Cerato five-door hatch and displayed it at the Chicago motor show this week. VALUE Kia Australia is not talking money. But it's fair to say it will start around the same level - say, $19,990 - because that's where its rivals such as Corolla and Pulsar are starting. At that money, dependent on equipment levels for which Kia are renowned, it'll be a strong buy. The 2-litre engine is also bigger than the others so there's appeal from a performance base. The elephant in the room is the excellent i30 from parent company Hyundai that shares the Cerato's platform. But there's Kia's industry crunching five-year warranty and capped-price service program with roadside assistance. Strong arguments. But we have to see the car in Australia and with its sticker price to make the final call. DESIGN In the flesh it's crisp and distinctive. It's a pleasing car to look at and that'll appeal to buyers who appreciate a head turn. But it's not outrageous and not dated in its lines, so it should age well and that'll hold value. The cabin is pretty and appears workable. The car will keep its three model line-up of S, Si and SLi. Again, the proof is in what it looks like when it lands here. TECHNOLOGY The 2-litre engine's direct injection improves performance and lowers fuel consumption. Kia gets unique suspension tuning for Australia - incidentally, Hyundai do likewise but by a different mob - so the Cerato hatch should hang on through the bends. The rear suspension is by torsion beam and though not as sophisticated as the multi-link set up of Holden and Opel, is economical and allows for a bigger boot area. SAFETY No news but it's expected to be a five-star car with six airbags. It's the standard safety gear that gets fitted to the Australian cars which is unknown. A rear camera should be the minimum with lane-change monitor and even low-speed auto braking being desirable. In this sector though, it's all about price. VERDICT A very appealing package that offers good space in a relatively small car. Nice to see some power upgrades in the 2-litre which should make it a fun drive. The car isn't on the road - or even a carpark - yet. Kia Cerato hatch Price: est from $19,990 Warranty: 5 years/unlimited km, roadside assist Resale: 53% Service Interval: 12mths/15,000km, capped price Safety: 6 airbags, ABS, ESC, EBD, TC Crash rating: 5-star Engine: 1.8 and 2-litre 4-cyl turbo-diesel, 103kW and 129kW Transmission: 6 spd manual or auto; front drive Thirst: est. 7.3L/100km; 192g/km CO2 Dimensions: 4.3m (L), 1.8m (W), 1.5m (H) Weight: 1385kg Spare: Full size RIVALS Toyota Corolla Price: from $19,990 Engine: 1.8-litre, 4-cyl petrol, 103kW/173Nm Transmission: CVT; front drive Thirst: 6.6L/100km; CO2 152g/km  Toyota Corolla - see other Corolla verdicts Mazda 3 Price: from $20,330 Engine: 2-litre, 4-cyl petrol, 108kW/182Nm Transmission: 5-spd auto; front drive Thirst: 8.2L/100km; CO2 216g/km  Mazda 3 - see other Mazda 3 verdicts Holden Cruze Price: from $21,490 Engine: 1.8-litre, 4-cyl petrol, 104kW/176Nm Transmission: 6-speed auto; front drive Thirst: 7.5L/100km; CO2 179g/km Holden Cruze - see other Cruze verdicts  

The three-door hot hatch, based on the new Cerato platform, is set for release in other countries - including the right-hand drive UK market - in the middle of this year. But it is an important car for Kia Australia. It is the company's first sports car and though not expected to be a volume seller, would become Kia's new halo car. It also matches up against the $31,990 Veloster SR Turbo coupe from its parent company Hyundai. The Procee'd GT has a 150kW/265Nm 1.6-litre turbocharged petrol engine which it shares with the Veloster Turbo. It is sharply styled by the design head of Kia and Hyundai, Peter Schreyer, and notably picks up cues from the Golf GTI with red taping to the grille, red brake calipers and Recaro sports seats. Kia Australia spokesman Kevin Hepworth says discussions about its future have been underway for some time with Kia Australia hopeful of a final decision soon. But he says if it does get the green light for Australia, it would likely come here only with a six-speed manual transmission. Hepworth says there is not a “suitable” automatic at this stage, showing Kia isn't willing to bolt in the Hyundai dual-clutch six-cog box that is in the Veloster and may not think its six-speed conventional automatic is up to the task. Pricing for the hatch is critical. While Hepworth said it was far too early to discuss pricing, he did say that it would be "competitive" with others in the market. The Hyundai Veloster with the hot engine is currently in the market for $32,000. That pricing is also about $2000 more expensive than the Toyota 86 coupe, $2000 less than the Mini Cooper and Opel Astra GTC, $6000 less than the Ford Focus ST and $8000 cheaper than the Golf GTI and Subaru WRX. Two body versions - three door and five door - are offered in Europe but only one has room on the local market. The three-door makes more sense for Australia and may complement the 2103 model Cerato Koup that is due here later this year as a follow up to the sedan (April) and five-door hatch (July). Unlike the Procee'd, the Cerato sedan, hatch and Koup are styled by Kia's US design team. But critically, Hepworth says all Kias get Austalian tuned suspension that is globally unique to the brand. The Koup is this year not expected to be offered with the hot 1.6-litre turbo engine. Kia expects the Procee'd to be highly equipped. It is believed to hit the UK market with standard leather upholstery, cruise control, rear parking camera, sat-nav, 18-inch alloy wheels and the Recaro seats. It will also share in Kia's industry-crunching five-year unlimited warranty with five-year capped price service and roadside assist. Kia will first show the Procee'd GT and the five-door Ceed GT at the Geneva motor show next month. The three-door will be the first car in production, on sale in Europe as a right-hand drive around June but not as a five door until later in the year.    

Fierce rivalry in the bubbling small-car sector has led one player - Honda - to take the knife to its Civic hatchback prices. One version has had $4500 wiped off its sticker price compared with the sa

The table has turned. Now it's not your masculinity under question for owning a large car, but your sanity. Simply, small cars work. They are quick, comfortable, well equipped, economical on fuel and ownership costs plus fit into small parking bays or tuck neatly into peak-hour traffic queues.They are also relatively inexpensive - the cheapest is a Chery J1 at $9990 drive away - and there's about 30 different car models and 280 distinct versions to choose from. More importantly, budget motoring means there are thousands of near-new used small cars on the market.Pick your next pre-owned car carefully and it's likely you'd find one that retains a portion of the new-car warranty. I realise that many small-car buyers may look at features and paint colour before safety ratings and reliability.But even if the buyer has few aspirations to venture outside the city perimeter, it's important to keep safety, reliability, comfort and durability as part of the purchase criteria. Consider also factory-fit Bluetooth and audio streaming.Hands-free telephone calls and portable and interactive music are pivotal to young car owners and increasingly to the people who end up buying your car.Final tips: Ensure the car has been serviced to the manufacturer's requirements (it's stamped in the service book that should be in the glovebox - if it's not there, neither should you. - Bent or buckled number plates indicate a prang. - Tyre tread worn on the edge or in the centre indicates the car needs a wheel alignment (or may have been in an accident). - Always get the car checked out.THE CARS: We've selected three small cars that come up trumps as used cars after starting life as sensible new car choices. Note that these are examples and variations will occur given the car's location, service and driving condition, distance travelled and general body and mechanical condition.1. 2010 Toyota Corolla AscentPrice: $16,990Odometer: 35,266Engine: 1.8L 4-cylinder petrolTransmission: 4-speed automaticThirst: 7.7L/100Carsguide says, “second series of the Z-code Corolla that started in 2000 just improves year after year. It's solid, dependable (no camshaft belt to break), inexpensive to own and fuel, roomy and holds its value. Capped service can save money but Corolla still has a twice-yearly maintenance schedule. In a five and six-speed auto world, the Corolla's four-speed auto is ordinary. But it's strong and reliable. This car is in line with average annual driving distances.” 2.  2010 Mazda3 MaxxPrice: $16,990Odometer: 107,445Engine: 2L 4-cylinder petrolTransmission: 5-speed automaticThirst: 8.2L/100Carsguide says, “well equipped version of Australia's most popular car appears to have covered a big distance given its age. That may be due to use as a country car and hence has resulted in a small price concession over a similar model with a lower mileage. Mazda's 3 is a very good all-round car with excellent safety standards and generally a nice ride, though cabin noise is more intrusive than most rival cars. Twice yearly servicing needed and no capped service program means it may be a bit more expensive to maintain that, say, a Corolla.” 3.  2010 Hyundai i30 SLXPrice: $14,990Odometer: 87,412|Engine: 2L 4-cylinder petrolTransmission: 4-speed automaticThirst: 7.6L/100Carsguide says, “the one that won Carsguide's Car of the Year for 2010 is a smart buy, even two years down the track. It retains about three years of its five-year warranty. As a driving machine, the i30 is simple, secure and fuss-free. It's relatively economical but not as sprightly as the Mazda3 that has a similar engine. Mileage is a bit high and car may be due for a new camshaft belt. But it looks good with 16-inch alloy wheels, has a high five-star safety rating and a comfortable cabin.” 

It’s a pity that in sharing its underpinnings with the newer Evoque, the Freelander gave up its place in the compact luxury SUV sector. Now, this week in Canada, Freelander takes bits back from Evoque and again proves a strong contender to other European SUVs.The changes aren’t big - the replacement of a petrol engine with a new motor and some trim changes, with new paint and better finishes. But they should be sufficient to at least hold its own. Meanwhile, Land Rover is in an enviable place. Sales are booming - up 41 per cent globally on the same period in 2011 - and are so far ahead of predictions that it finds itself unable to quickly introduce new models.Pricing changes with the deletion of the 3.2-litre in-line petrol six-cylinder version and the replacement with this one, the Si4 with the Ford two-litre EcoBoost engine. But they don’t get cheaper. The old 3.2 SE was $52,510 and the incoming Si4, which is in showrooms now, is $55,600. Yes, the feature list is improved and the SUV gets some small exterior trim features to lift it a bit.More interesting is the upgrade inside. It looks better by borrowing a lot of switchgear from Evoque. It gets a far superior audio - standard is a 380 watt 11-speaker Meridian but a 825W 17-speaker is $1815 more - while sat-nav returns in-house with a $2500 tag.A rear camera and leather is standard as is 18-inch alloys. Build quality is up and in warranty terms, Freelander remains the most trouble-free Land Rover. Spec can be similar to rivals but remember this is a wagon that actually can go off the road.The good news and the bad news are the same - no change to the look. Yes, there are small changes to the headlights and tail lights and the grille has edges. The alloys have a new pattern. Not much else outside and that’s excellent because this is one neat hauler. Inside the Evoque switches lift the Freelander from Discovery to Vogue grade.The wagon still feels small inside compared with the Volvo XC60 but many buyers don’t need the extra space. For me, it is very well proportioned and just the right size.The main change is the introduction of the new Ford 177kW/340Nm two-litre engine. This engine is in practically everything - Ford Falcon and Focus, Volvo XC60 and S60, Jaguar XF and Caterham - for good reason. It replaces the thirsty 179kW/320Nm inline six-cylinder petrol which continues in one of the Volvo XC60 models.The gearbox remains a six-speed auto and drives all wheels continuously. The clever Haldex clutch that spreads the power to the wheels with traction also remains. New is a smart electrical system that only allows the alternator to charge the battery when the battery needs it. It saves fuel this way. There’s also an electric park brake that adjusts itself to ensure the car remains stationary.This is a five-star rated wagon - note that the sister car, the Evoque, is a four-star - with seven airbags, all the necessary electronic braking aids and extras like roll mitigation. The rear camera is standard and includes a guide path and also a new “hitch assist” that takes the towball directly under the trailer’s coupling. The spare is full size. There’s also heated side mirrors.Land Rover has honed the Freelander range and while the diesel was driven, I concentrated on the new petrol mill. From experience in other cars, we know this is an excellent engine with heaps of grunt and reasonable economy. The weight of the Freelander (1775kg plus occupants and fuel) slows down the engine’s verve a bit.The brick shape of the wagon also makes the engine noise apparent and though it’s minor, it’s more audible than say the Falcon model. An excellent seating position, great visibility (thanks to slim pillars) and comfortable seating makes any driver feel at home. Same with the location of controls.The touch screen gives quick access to data and sat-nav (optional) graphics are a decent quality. The engine’s response is aided greatly by the six-speed auto. Though the box’s mapping tries to maintain a higher gear - to improve fuel economy - it has a manual mode. Despite its smallish cabin dimensions, the Freelander feels “right”. It’s easy to park, manoeuvre in tight spots and solid on the open road.It can’t shine in the spotlights like Evoque, glide expensive city streets like the Range Rover or mercilessly pound the deserts like the Discovery. But despite a wave of luxury SUV rivals, the Land Rover Freelander does an exceptional job of being good at everything from toughing it out in the dirt to scrubbing up for a night out. 

Too heavy, but good to drive. "For all the greenery, it's still got an internal combustion engine in it. And it should be forty grand," Chris Riley said at the COTY judging.

If we judged content before appraising appearance, the little black dress and Zegna suits immediately would be obsolete.Expressions such as “love at first sight’’ would be redundant and we would choose products and partners by delving into their intimate specifications. Which sounds more like a life not worth living. For without being captured by the looks, the style and the individuality of a person or something less innate, we would all live in grey concrete boxes and drive grey Trabants.The Range Rover Evoque is one of the most desired moving metal objects on the market. It has the hallmarks of a product you just want to own - style, individuality and function within its pretty form. It’s just damn expensive - in fact, it’s more expensive than can be justified by the sum of its parts. Which is why no-one spotted this test car as the cheapest Evoque and one that doesn’t even come with the Range Rover hallmark of all-wheel drive.Poor. This is the Evoque eD4 Pure manual that costs from $49,995. It has front-wheel drive, good - but hardly excessive - equipment levels and five doors. Amazingly, the three-door Evoque is $1500 dearer. Because people pay for style and it’s presumed that the less number of doors makes it more desirable.The money buys an interior with partial leather upholstery, eight-speaker audio with Bluetoth, 125mm information touch screen, cruise control, rear park sensors and 17-inch wheels. The tester added the Pure Tech pack ($4500) then added 19-inch alloys (another $1000), metallic paint ($1300), contrasting roof colour ($955), premium sat-nav $3400) and rear vents ($190) which helped bring the total price to $61,340 plus on-road costs. But it looks good.Amazingly, this car looks almost identical to the LRX concept car shown at Detroit in 2008. That’s a good thing and the reason why it’s still in such huge demand and, cynically, why Range Rover can charge so much for it. It’s a basic Freelander body from the waist down with a wedge-shaped turret above, highlighted by narrow side glass.It’s a big car - much more than the photos indicate – and impressively wide. But it’s not efficient in its cabin area mainly because it is designed to be a luxury car rather than - in the case of the AWD versions - an off-road machine. Cabin design is similar to the bigger Range Rovers, with striking good looks, simple switchgear design and good use of high-quality materials.The dash material in the eD4 is soft-touch plastic with contrasting colours - in this case, a tasty coffee and cream. The rear seats split and fold almost flat, there’s a space-saver spare under the floor and there’s plenty of room for four adults.Range Rover follows the leads of others by lopping off the drive shaft to the rear wheels. The engine is a 110kW/380Nm 2.2-litre turbo-diesel - as fitted to the Jaguar XF and Freelander, though maybe in different power outputs - which drives through a sweet six-speed manual gearbox. Pity is that almost no buyer is going to get the manual. There’s a six-speed auto as a $2480 option. All the running gear is from the Freelander and this includes electric park brake, independent suspension, four-wheel disc brakes and electric-assist steering.The Evoque carries over the Freelander’s so-so four-star crash rating. It also gets seven airbags and a host of electronic aids including roll and trailer stability on top of the electronic stability and traction control. The spare is a space-saver. There are rear park sensors but no rear camera as standard.If you think the Evoque is all about style, wait until you drive it. Clearly it is made for the driver who places comfort above other factors. Yet that doesn’t mean the Evoque is slow or a wallower through the bends. In fact, you have to push the 2WD Pure quite hard before you know it’s not an all-wheel drive. The handling is very good and the body roll is minimal.The electric steering could have a bit more feel but it’s more than adequate for the car’s role. Ride comfort is very good and road noise is minimal, and this despite it being a diesel. The gearbox is smooth with crisp, short throws and the clutch action is light. But the market still wants this as an automatic. But it’s not perfect. The visibility is poor to all sides, worsened by the huge side mirrors. Yes, they’re great for lane changing but they mask a huge area alongside the car.

The original SUV polishes its credentials in the face of mounting opposition. Cheaper running costs and a superior automatic open the door to Subaru's fightback in Australia's toughest new-vehicle segment.Prices are kept low - thanks to a new entry-level model with a smaller engine - while the feature list expands. Even Subaru's safety-sharp and affordable EyeSight driver assistance package is standard on the top model. But Subaru is aware that rivals have been busy. Honda punched out a new CR-V last month, Toyota will show its new RAV4 in February, there's a new Mitsubishi Outlander and a bigger-engine for Mazda's CX-5.But Subaru has an ace up its sleeve. Subaru Australia boss Nick Senior says it’s no pretender and is "the perfect city car for dirty weekends." While rivals trend away from getting dirty, Subaru ups the Forester's off-road ability.True, it has dropped the low-range feature from the manual gearbox models but there's a new electronic program - called X-Mode - that prepares the wagon for more adventurous dirt duty.VALUE Forester hits showrooms in February starting at about $31,000 - around the same as the outgoing model. But the spec is different. The new base model has the two-litre petrol engine from the smaller XV (and Impreza) models and comes only as a six-speed manual. Subaru Australia boss Nick Senior says a 2-litre CVT auto is on the cards, just not yet.The 2.5-litre version will come in at about $35,000 (prices aren’t known until January) and that’s the same engine as the current car. But though there’s been a bit of a price rise, the feature list is far bigger and the wagon is a much better ride.DESIGNThe platform is basically the same as the outgoing wagon, crimped here and there to flatten the central tunnel bump and stretched to add 25mm to the wheelbase and 35mm to the length. It's also 35mm higher, sits on a track that's up to 20mm wider and while body width remains the same, the doors are less bowed and the door trim is less obtrusive.Add in the windscreen pillars that are punched 200mm forward - the "cab forward'' design sprouted in the 1990s - and Subaru claims a much bigger, more airy interior and more room for rear seat passengers. The cabin gets soft-touch plastics and improved material quality and the look of the interior is now much more upmarket and better reflects the Subaru quality standard. There is an electric tail gate option on some models.TECHNOLOGYTwo problems, one solution. Forester previously has a reputation for a high fuel thirst without delivering much in the way of performance. The old four-speed auto is now out and replaced with the continuously-variable transmission used also on the Impreza sedan on which the Forester is based. Fuel savings are quite dramatic.The 2.5-litre manual version has a 8.1 L/100km thirst, a big improvement on the current wagon's 9.3 L/100km average. There's no power change to the 126kW/235Nm 2.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine or 108kW/350Nm two-litre turbo-diesel, but there is a new entry-level two-litre petrol four - borrowed from the XV and Impreza - promising 110kW/198Nm.But, like the turbo-diesel model, it comes only with a manual gearbox. At least, for now. The X-Mode is an off-road package available on the CVT models. It cleverly juggles power individually to any of the four wheels with traction, incorporates downhill assist and adjusts ESC and traction control. Stop-start is standard on all petrol Foresters and is one of the reasons for the improved fuel economy.SAFETYSubaru is trumpeting a five-star rating and brings in the big gun with its brilliant EyeSight camera-based forward vision aid. First seen last year on upmarket Liberty models and similar to the Volvo City Safety, the Subaru program is standard on the ultimate Forester 2.5i-S model and optional on the penultimate 2.5i-L.It uses stereo cameras with 3D imaging to scan, identify and communicate with the vehicle's brake system to avoid frontal collisions, lane drifting and low-speed crashes. Used with the adaptive cruise control, it will lock onto the vehicle ahead and autonomously slow, stop and accelerate to maintain a safe distance.It also incorporates pre-collision braking, brake assist (enhances brake pressure), throttle management (stops accidental acceleration when an obstacle is ahead), lane departure warning, fatigue warning and start alert (warns when the car ahead has moved away). All new Foresters get seven airbags, more high-tensile steel in the passenger cell construction, aluminium bonnet, paddle shifters for the automatic versions and six-speaker audio with iPod/USB connectivity and Bluetooth.DRIVINGFirst up, the diesel. Train spotters will note that when it comes to the 2013 engine line-up, not much has changed. So the diesel remains punchy - but only in a relatively narrow opening between 2000rpm and 4000rpm. It can stumble below 2000rpm and is weak under 1500rpm.That brings to the surface the second problem - there’s still only a manual gearbox. Senior says a CVT auto diesel “is coming" but there’s no arrival date. The diesel is also still noisy, but mainly for people on the outside of the car. Inside it’s audible at idle but diminishes to silence at cruising. Compared to the outgoing model, the gearbox feels crisper. Compared with others in its class, it needs an auto but still drives with commendable ride comfort and on-road surety.The 2.5-litre petrol has been tweaked but only slightly. It’s the best choice. Previously, it was a thirsty beast that - in  automatic - was also a tired drive. Now it’s perky thanks to the smooth CVT box. It’s also quietened down the ride and brought it well within parameters set by decent mid-size passenger cars - an admirable boost to ride appeal and one that will further swing sedan buyers into the SUV sector.The 2.5 isn’t particularly revvy but has linear acceleration. It cruises particularly well and is quite adept at dismissing the effects of rough bitumen roads. On the gravel it is even more surprising, with excellent stability that defies the wagon’s height.VERDICTVery smooth and very surefooted manners mean this SUV is now almost in the upper-market mid-size sedan bracket for ride and handling.Subaru Forester Price: from about $31,000Onsale: February 2013Warranty: 3 years/unlimited kmResale: 58%Service interval: 6 months/10,000kmSafety: 7 airbags, ABS, EBD, EBA, TCCrash rating: 5-starEngines: 2.0-litre 4-cyl petrol, 110kW/198Nm, 2.5-litre 4-cyl petrol, 126kW/235Nm, 2.0-litre 4-cyl turbo-diesel, 108kW/350NmTransmission: 6-speed manual or CVT auto; AWDThirst: 7.2L/100km; 168g/km CO2 (2.0 petrol); 8.1L/100km; 187g/km CO2 (2.5); 5.9L/100km; 156g/km CO2 (diesel)Dimensions: 4.6m (L), 1.8m (W), 1.7m (H)Weight: 1498-1600kgSpare: Full size

Seen in public first by Carsguide in AMG's German hometown of Affalterbach, the SLS Black Series - prior to being flown to the Los Angeles motor show for its public debut - has filled its 2013 quota of five and Mercedes Australia is scrambling for more.  The fifth rendition in the Black Series family is here in the second half of 2013 and Mercedes-Benz Australia already has five orders. “As it stands, our 2013 allocation is already allocated to customers,” says spokesman Jerry Stamoulis. “We are now talking to AMG and attempting to secure more to fulfil a current wait list. “Realistically the total number will not exceed 10 cars for Australia. “The final price has not been set but it's likely to be similar to the SL65 Black Series which was around $700,000.”  The new SLS Black Series, inspired by the track-only SLS GT3, showed itself at Affalterbach finished in Solar Beam metallic paint and layered with exposed carbon-fibre components, black wheels and gold brake calipers. Compared with the standard SLS, the Black Series is lower, hunkered down on its fat wheels and aggressive with its highlights of shining carbon fibre, its dominant rear spoiler and the brightness of its moor show colour. It looked like a glowing ember in the centre of an enormous, otherwise vacant warehouse amongst AMG's factories. AMG engineer Alexander Weber says its specifications are closer to a GT3 car than a road car. “But the Black Series has a more powerful engine,” he says. It has a 6.2-litre M159 V8 engine with 464kW (631hp) - up 44kW on the SLS - but torque has been clipped back to 635Nm, down 15Nm on the SLS.  Part of the reason for the torque drop is simply that the coupe doesn't need it because it has a lower final drive ratio and weighs 100kg less than the standard SLS. Weber says the transaxle's drive ratio is 4.44, lower than the standard SLS at 3.67. “The steering ratio is also shorter.” The engine is redlined at 8000rpm, up from 7200rpm in the normal SLS, allowing it to hit 100km/h from rest in 3.6 seconds and onwards to 315km/h. It has launch control - with software specifically tailored for this car - that allows for a 10 per cent slip for better acceleration.  “We changed a lot in the engine,” says Weber. “It has a new intake manifold - made shorter - and new valve gear that is a lot lighter. The oil circuit is new and so are the engine bearings. “We have reduced back pressure and fitted a 100 per cent titanium exhaust system. “There is an improved cooling system that was developed for the race track.” Much of the performance increase has come from the weight-loss program. Weber says the weight has been dropped by 100kg to 1550kg. “The torque tube for the engine drive from the front mid-mounted engine to the rear transaxle is now made of carbon fibre,” he says. “Previously it was aluminium and now the weight has come down to 13kg from 26kg.” Carbon-fibre and carbon compounds feature prominently, including trim in the cabin. It has compound carbon brake rotors and the rear spoiler is made of carbon fibre and tested in a wind tunnel to achieve downforce up by 40 per cent on the normal SLS. Each wheel is forged and 1kg lighter than the normal wheels. In total there is a 16kg weight loss over the normal car because of the wheels and the compound carbon brake rotors. Tyres are Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 measuring 275/35ZR19 at the front and 325/30ZR20 at the rear.  Weber says the car has hydraulic engine dampers that are specific only to the Black Series. “These solve problems with preventing weight distribution as the engine moves during driving,” he says. “It means no two parts are moving against each other and therefore don't change the weight distribution and therefore don't affect the handling. “This makes the Black Series a quicker car on the race track.” When asked, Weber says that other AMG cars may get this system to improve handling. The SLS Black Series is 26mm wider at the rear and 13mm wider at the front compared with the standard SLS. “You can see this in the additional bulges over the wheels and the rear indicators which are sunk into the fender, not flush like the standard car,” Weber says. “The tracks are also wider - in fact, wider than a GT3 car.” Mercedes-Benz Australia says the car will arrive in Australia from the second half of next year and that most of the buyers who have placed orders are previous AMG owners. The SLS Black Series is the fifth of this model line-up to be produced by AMG. The company started the Black Series with the SLK55 in 2006, following it with the CLK63 in 2007, SL65 in 2008 and C63 Coupe in 2011. Mercedes-AMG chairman Ola Kallenius says the latest Black Series “is a perfect study in the 100 per cent transfer of technology and engineering from motorsport to the road”. He says the new gull-wing is “the ultimate choice for fast laps and highly emotional driving experiences” and is the “most dynamic gull-wing model of all time”.  

AMG says its next step is a hybrid, hinting that it will produce a smaller, less expensive sports coupe than the SLS.