Articles by Neil Dowling

The SUV - about the size of Toyota’s RAV4 - fills in Ford’s gap below the March launch of the bigger Kuga. It will be joined later in 2012 by a bigger SUV, the Endeavour that is a wagon version of the new Ranger 4WD ute. Ford wants the small SUV, called the EcoSport, as soon as possible though insiders admit it could be late 2012 or even early 2013 before it gets to Australia. It is powered by a choice of a 1.5-litre turbo-petrol or 1.6-litre petrol engine. The SUV is the latest One Ford global product that is aimed at expanding new car markets, including India where it will be revealed at next month’s New Delhi motor show. But though it is made with developing nations in mind, Ford Australia sees its potential under our sun. Like the Ford Figo now made in India for its domestic market, the EcoSport has significant Australian engineering involvement. It is also the second of eight vehicles that Ford is bringing to India for manufacture. It is believed the EcoSport will be built in India for Australia but that the Endeavour may come from the Ranger plant in Thailand. Ford has had strong success with the Figo small car, selling 130,000 in 30 markets since its launch in March 2010. It is only a recent addition to its Indian lineup.

Four Falcons rolled during a tortuous and historic acid test aimed to prove up the  durability of Ford’s new sedan. The year was 1965 and not only did the 'Durability Run' devised as a sales push by Ford Australia managing director Bill Bourke manage to impress new-car buyers, it also showcased the rigours of the company’s proving grounds near Geelong. The five XP Falcons that were subjected to the test all finished - the four were righted after their accidents and continued - each racking up 112,000km at an average sped of 112km/h over almost nine days. For the Ford proving ground at You Yangs, a 7sq.km open site on plains aside the Flinders mountain range 22km from Geelong, it was the ultimate test. Even now, almost 50 years later, the incessant testing of Ford product - and product from other manufacturers - continues 24 hours a day, seven days a week. You Yangs is one of 11 Ford-owned proving grounds in the world. The reason for its importance is reflected in the durability run of the XP. Ford boss Bourke  copped an avalanche of bad press and poor owner reviews on the reliability of the first XK and subsequent XL Falcon models. His solution was to throw open You Yangs and show the public how the (then) new Ford model would survive. He chose five Falcon XPs off the production line and gave the keys to race drivers - Harry Firth was one - with the brief to drive them flat out  until each had covered 112,000km (the equivalent of 70,000 miles). It was not rehearsed and Bourke ensured the event was transparent. Ford in Detroit rated it so important that Henry Ford II attended. The run was regarded as a success and to ice the cake for the fleet buyers, Ford gave cars away for a six month trial to major corporates. It was the last public display of the proving grounds. Ford spokesperson Sinead Phipps says the facility is out of bounds. “We never allow the public into the proving ground and security is always strictly controlled,’‘ she says. Taking 10 cars from the Carsguide Car of the Year list onto You Yangs was a privilege. It was the perfect facility to put our selection under a variety of conditions that ranged from a high-speed ride and handling circuit to a gravel track and braking and acceleration pads. The centrepiece to You Yangs is a 5km parabolic high-speed circuit though there are equally as importlant low-speed tracks, special surface areas - including cobblestones, corrugations and Belgian blocks - and salt and mud baths. Aside from the 40km of roads, the facility includes a crash test area, a new high-speed wind tunnel, climatic and emissions testing laboratories, an environmental exposure area and an anechoic dyno chamber.

The actor and comedian best known for his role as Kenny, and who recently finished "Beaconsfield" - a series based on the Tasmanian mine disaster - says Top Gear Australia was canned because of a falling audience."We have three more episodes that we have done but won't be shown on TV until the end of this year," he said. "We've finished up. Look, to be honest, I think the audience stopped watching because there were too many repeats."It just became too much. We were doing even episodes and the UK had 13. That's not many so there were a lot of repeats. The audience in Australia was still impressive - on our worst night we had half-a-million viewers. That's 200,000 more viewers than the Morning Today show or, the equivalent of filling the (Melbourne) tennis centre 30 times."Jacobson says he isn't "sad" about not fronting the show (with fellow presenters Steve Pizatti and Ewen Page). "I'm sad for the viewers," he said.He hopes to rectify that next year with a motoring show that "isn't anything like Top Gear". "We're in the final stages of getting a few more sponsors on board.  It's more about people and their cars, looking at older cars and collectors of cars," he said."Clayton (his director/producer brother with whom he collaborated on "Kenny") is in this as well. That surprised me a bit bcause he's so busy. But he sees a lot of interest in it."Jacobson appears this week in Top Gear Live at Burswood Dome then returns to finish filming telemovie "Jack Irish" with Guy Pearce. He also has some films in the pipeline including a voice-over for an Australian children's movie.He says he's now ended his status as an ambassador for Jenny Craig. "I lost 20kg, so I'm down to 106kg," he said."I did that because my doctor said I had issues with my blood pressure and cholesterol and said to me, frankly, "do you still want to play with your kids and stay off medication?'," he said. "That was enough for me."Jacobson said he retains the eating habits learnt through Jenny Craig and now mentors people who have weight problems.

In its report into running costs of cars in 2011, the combined automobile clubs - including the NRMA, RACQ and RACV - says the new Ford Territory seven-seat diesel 4WD costs $265.83 a week to own and run - only $16.79 a week more than a Holden Commodore Omega. The report refutes much of the myths about 4WDs in city conditions, including being "gas guzzlers" when it comes to fuel economy. The Territory gets a more frugal 8.8 litres/100km compared with the Commodore's 9.1 L/100km. People who complain about the size of an SUV may not be aware that the Territory is 20mm shorter than the Commodore. It's one of the reasons why 4WD sales are still bucking the 2.8 per cent slide in the overall vehicle market and is the only sector of the industry to post a gain - albeit a small 0.8 per cent - in year-to-date October 2011 data published last week by the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries. In the calendar year to October, 22,913 4WDs have been bought by Australians compared with 45,314 passenger cars. The outlook for 4WD - including SUVs - sales remains strong, says accountancy group KPMG in its "Global Automotive Executive Survey" of 2011. "With rising oil costs and fears over future supplies, it's no real surprise that fuel efficiency is considered to be the single biggest factor for consumers when buying a vehicle, although its importance has declined significantly relative to the 2009 and 2010 surveys," the survey says. "Interestingly, despite a heightened focus on the `green agenda', less than a third of respondents cited `environmental friendliness' as `extremely important', suggesting that buyers are driven more by their bank balance than their conscience." To civil engineer and Mercedes-Benz owner Murray Dixon, his new Ford Territory diesel is "the best car I've ever driven". "For driving enjoyment, power, torque, comfort and just the general feel of the car, it's outstanding," he says.  "It's really my wife's (Valerie) car. We bought it because we have 10 grandchildren and, of course, we don't have them all in the car at the same time but the three rows of seats gives plenty of room and, when they're not being used, we can carry a lot of cargo." Mr Dixon says he and his wife looked at other SUVs - "My wife was keen on a BMW" - but he says the Ford was the right balance of price and features.

Australia's small-car market is up 2.9 per cent this year while the total market fell 2.8 per cent.Compact SUVs are also in demand - up 3.8 per cent - as families seek smaller, more spacious wagons.More are coming. Subaru Australia boss predicts that his company's new XV SUV wagon will become one of its biggest sellers when launched in January.Part of the reason, he says, is continuing interest in economical family wagons.Trends in SUV buying are seen as closely relating the price of petrol at the bowsers. When fuel prices rise, buyers back off. Conversely, low fuel prices seem to inspire people to buy.And that's the way it is likely to stay because unlike Europeans, we're not all ready for hybrids, diesels and electric cars.While hybrid car sales are on the rise, they account for a tiny 0.72 per cent of the passenger car market.Diesel cars are only 6.4 per cent of the total market but when it comes to SUVs - which demand greater fuel economy - they have a 9.8 per cent share of the SUV market.LPG car sales are down but that's only because Ford - the only carmaker currently producing a gas-only passenger car - is in between models.Its latest Falcon EcoLPi range, launched in August, is available in seven passenger car and ute versions.Motorists pay about 65c/litre for LPG - less than half the price of petrol - but gas cars consume about 25 to 50 per cent more fuel per kilometre than a petrol equivalent.

But we have been urged to buy fuel at the bottom of the weekly cycle to get cheaper prices.Motorists should expect erratic prices over the next few months as oil producers come to grips with factors including falling world oil demand.CommSec chief economist Craig James says there are a lot of things in play."In general, I'd expect prices to pretty much to remain the same," he said."It's difficult in this environment to come up with a longer-term prediction. But unless Europe can quickly solve its debt problems, oil prices will fall. At the same time, the Australian dollar is likely to fall against the US dollar, so they cancel each other out.""But Australia buys its oil from Singapore, so it's less affected by what's happening in Europe. What is positive for Australian motorists is that Singapore oil stocks are rising because refineries that were closed for maintenance are now back producing. That will push the oil price down. We haven't had that fully reflected at the bowsers yet."Mr James says he filled up his car "using an 8c/litre shopper docket" on Wednesday and paid $1.229 a litre in Sydney."I bought at the bottom, or close to the bottom, of the price cycle. That's the key - find the right time to buy fuel."FuelWatch coordinator Ray Gibson  said he is encouraging motorists to seek out the lower priced sites."Generally, the cheapest day of the week is Wednesday, with Thursday and Friday being the most expensive at the moment."An international report has stated that increasing use of electric and hybrid cars and improving sales of LPG vehicles, and Europe's expanding solar and wind-power farms, will make oil the slowest-growing fuel over the next 20 years.In a major research study by UK-based Ricardo Strategic Consulting, the report said: "Oil demand is now predicted to peak before 2020 but then fall away to lower levels than in recent years. In the next 20 years, the growth in oil use by OECD nations will almost halve."

A funky family wagon and a new coupe are shining lights to buoy Subaru Australia in 2012 after enduring a sales disaster this year. Its managing director, Nick Senior, says the effects of Japan's tsumani in March crippled production of its mainstay Impreza range, pushing back the launch of its important successor model by four months. "The sales figures are ugly," he says. "Impreza makes up 45-50 per cent of sales and that relates to about 1400 a month. We're now doing less than 1000." The effect will slash Subaru Australia's predicted 42,000 total sales this year to around 34,000, Senior says. It recorded about 40,000 in 2010. "The disaster has affected two months of production and probably another month of backlog," he says. "We expected the new Impreza on the market this week. It'll now be March. "But the good news - and there is some good news - is that Australia will be the first market in the world - even beating the home market of Japan for the first time ever - to get a new Subaru model. "I think the XV will become an important volume model and will go a longway to recoup the sales shortfall we're experiencing now." The XV - set to launch here on January 1 - is a cross-over wagon based on the Impreza.Senior says there may be some cannibalisation of Forester sales but sees them attracting different buyers.

FAMILIES wanting a big, comfortable and economical car - that's most of us - are ideal buyers of Ford's new LPG Falcon. So why isn't there a queue outside the Ford factory for a big car that costs $7.50 to drive 100km (compared with a petrol Falcon's $13.36) and will travel a similar 700km before running out of juice? Or gas. It should be a no-brainer for households but instead, Ford is reporting much greater interest from corporates and government authorities. The EcoLPi sales represent 18 per cent of total Falcon sales, so interest is relatively strong. Now, private motorists will have to get behind the wheel to witness the benefits.On paper it looks good. The dedicated LPG-engined Falcon is $2500 more than its petrol sister at $42,790. Government rebate applies to private buyers of a new car and is $2000. So, the LPG effectively costs $500 and - compared with an equivalent petrol-fuelled Falcon - the car's economy makes the gas car's price equivalent at seven months and produces a potential annual fuel saving of $880 after that. The XT EcoLPi tested had all the comfort, features, handling and even a bit more performance than the petrol model. Yes, the boot is slightly smaller but the difference is marginal.Looks exactly like a petrol Falcon. Only a boot badge indicates its fuel type. The Falcon looks better each year and the latest is a neat big car that, by virtue of clever body tapers, doesn't look big and bulky. In fact, it's only 171mm longer than the "mid-size" Ford Mondeo.Though the underpinnings and the body have lots in common with the AU model of 1998, the intervening years have smoothed out the roof to make easier entry via the rear doors, bulked up the AU's "organic" look, refined the drivetrain and greatly boosted build quality. If one thing stands out, it's the excellent occupant comfort.LPG as a vehicle fuel produces 35 per cent less CO2 emissions than petrol and has an octane rating of about 100. So it's green and powerful - like the Incredible Hulk, actually. But it's not as fuel efficient - the EcoLPi gets 12.5 L/100km and the equivalent petrol Falcon gets 9.9 L/100km.The saving is in the purchase price of the fuel, about 55c/L for LPG and $1.40/L for petrol. Ford's liquid-injection of the LPG replaces the temperamental vapour-gas delivery to make impressive improvements to starting performance, power and torque, reliability and economy. LPG now stays in liquid form from the tank to the combustion chamber.Other than the pause when switching on the engine, you wouldn't know this runs on LPG. Ford has included a priming system so much of the LPG is automatically sent to the engine as you open the driver's door. The boot remains pretty big - helped by the split, fold-down rear seats - and the only intrusion is the side-mounted high-pressure fuel pump box.LPG vehicles came in for some slamming after a bus fire earlier this year, but it's regarded as being no more a danger than a petrol-fuelled car. The Falcon  has a five-star crash rating, six airbags and all the electronic aids. It is a sure-footed car with excellent dynamics, quality steering and brakes. We can get overwhelmed by imported cars but really the Falcon equals or betters most.Previous LPG-only tests were okay, but other than the savings at the bowser, nothing to write home about. This new one is very different. There's a two-second pause between turning the ignition key and the starter motor engaging. You get used to it. But there's virtually no engine cranking - the engine fires up immediately.The EcoLPi feels every bit as smooth as the petrol - which is far better than the Falcon's main rival - and is both quiet and responsive. It is listed as having the same power and torque as the petrol, but is more responsive and is likely to be quicker in acceleration.Perhaps Ford has dumbed the LPG engine down to match the petrol. The six-speed auto dovetails perfectly with that engine delivery. Great handling, excellent comfort and low noise from the drivetrain and suspension make it such an easy car to operate. It works well in the city but show it an open road and it excels.

The new version offers more pep per cubic metre than before, picking up a new-generation petrol engine and an improved selection of transmissions. Kia Australia spokesman Kevin Hepworth admits the 1.6-litre petrol version - that remains in the range - was considered a bit underpowered. "The 2-litre gives the Soul better performance yet is still very efficient," he says. The performance has improved but Hepworth says sales could be better. "It's a bit of a hidden secret," he says of the 397 sales to October. "Sales are quiet but steady. Owners are older than our original research - a lot older than in the US for example where it's very much a Gen Y car. It is a car that makes a lot of sense. It has a high hip point so it's easy to get in and out, is a sensible size for parking in the city and has lots of space and versatility." Kia recently upgraded the Soul's sheet metal with a new face and improved interior features. Mechanically, a six-speed automatic replaces the old four-speed unit and a six-speed manual replaces the previous model's five-speed gearbox. The 2-litre - which comes only with the six-speed automatic - is from the "Nu" family of engines and has 122kW/200Nm. It joins the 95kW/157Nm 1.6-litre petrol and 94kW/260Nm 1.6-litre turbo-diesel. The Soul comes in two trim levels. The "base" model gets the 1.6-litre petrol engine, 15-inch steel wheels with 195/65R15 rubber, six airbags and Bluetooth. It costs $21,490 as a manual and $2000 extra for the auto. The Soul+ gains the 2.0-litre petrol engine or 1.6-litre turbo-diesel, 18-inch alloys with 225/45 R18 rubber, fog lamps, luggage cover, roof rails and driver's seat height adjustment. This model is priced from $26,990.

Trending towards the crossover design of the Volvo XC70, Subaru Outback and Skoda Octavia Scout, the Volkswagen Passat Alltrack arrives here mid-2012 as a versatile wagon that's also a competent soft-roader. Volkswagen Australia spokesman Karl Gehling says it's aimed at broadening the customer base of the popular Passat wagon. "It's built on the all-wheel drive platform which gives it flexibility in varying road conditions," he says. "There's no doubt there's a market for this type of vehicle. Volkswagen sees buyer interest there and just wants a bit of the action. "For us, offering it with a diesel engine and DSG auto transmission gives it an edge that some rivals can't match." The Alltrack debuts at this week's Tokyo motor show and will get to Australia around the middle of next year. It is based on the same AWD platform as the existing Passat 4Motion V6-engined wagon. That includes the latest Haldex AWD system now used in the Volkswagen Tiguan SUV. "The Passat 4Motion is designed for on-road applications," Mr Gehling says. "It's the best way of putting 220kW to the ground. In the Alltrack, the focus is on all-road applications." It is expected that the Alltrack will use the 2-litre 125kW turbo-diesel engine. Pricing will be unveiled closer to the launch date but it will be cheaper than the $57,990 of the Passat 4Motion wagon and more than the existing front-drive $45,990 2-litre diesel version.Volkswagen may be keen to match it up against the Subaru Outback diesel (from $40,990 as a manual only) and its own Skoda Octavia Scout diesel auto that costs from $39,990. The Volvo XC70 diesel auto is from $63,450. Mr Gehling says Volkswagen's cross-over pair - the CrossPolo and CrossGolf - were not being considered for Australia. Despite their high stance and off-road intentions, they are simply standard front-drive models with a raised suspension.