Articles by Neil Dowling

Scaglietti, who gave his name to the Ferrari 612 Scaglietti, also gave his life to the company and gave the company its life. He styled some of Ferrari's best cars - the 250 Testa Rossa and 250 Monza - and even went outside Italy to create the Chevrolet Corvette Scaglietti Coupe of 1958. In an official statement, Ferrari chairman Luca di Montezemolo said: ``Today is a sad day for Ferrari'' ``We lost a friend, a travel companion, a man who had his name forever connected to the Prancing Horse.  ``Sergio Scaglietti leaves behind the legacy of an artist who, with his talent, created some of the most beautiful cars of our history. ``(Those who) had the luck to know him like I did will also remember him as a straightforward and honest man, completely dedicated to his work. We will miss him.''  Scaglietti, who worked mainly in aluminium and preferred to sculpt a car body rather than draw it, started work in a garage in Modena at the age of 13. By age 17 he and his brother had opened a workshop opposite Ferrari's Scuderia factory.  He worked on repairing race cars for Ferrari's clientele as well as for Enzo Ferrari. During the 1950s Enzo was so impressed with Scaglietti's work that he hired him to build a new chassis. Scaglietti soon after handled most of Ferrari's work.

Both cars are based on the Prius drivetrain and will appear in the first half of 2012 as a small, Yaris-based hatch and then later in the year as a stretched Prius platform that allows seating for seven people.So important are the new hybrid models to its future that Toyota has deliberately pushed its hot FT-86 coupe to one side.The two hybrids will escort a new Camry Hybrid - with its engine now made in Australia - and the ongoing Prius five-door hatchback through 2012.News of the two new Australia-bound hybrids preface the Tokyo motor show where Toyota will show five new hybrid, fuel-cell or electric vehicles.One car - the fuel-cell FCV-R sedan - is confirmation that Toyota is advancing on the development of an alternative automotive power source.Its appearance at the show - and expected 2015 launch - is the first time the fuel-cell technology has been seen in a passenger car. Previously, the drivetrain was hidden in a Kluger-Highlander SUV mule.It is unlikely Australia will see the FCV-R until its hydrogen fuel is more readily available. The first market for this car will be California which has hydrogen refuelling stations.Japan this month starts selling a plug-in version of the Prius that drives 24km on its batteries alone - but the car, like the FCV-R, isn't planned for launch in Australia.PRIUS C- Australian launch: First quarter, 2012- Price: About $25,000- Fuel economy: about 3.9 L/100kmThe Tokyo motor show represents the world premiere of the compact, Yaris-based hatchback. Toyota says the sub-4m body length is perfect for the city, its platform is designed for nimble handling and its shape seats four adults and enhances aerodynamic performance. It is powered by a lightweight hybrid system of a 1.5-litre petrol engine with a high-output electric motor. Toyota claims 2.5 L/100km on the Japanese test cycle, equating to about 3.9 L/100km on the more demanding Australian test. It will be launched in Japan next month as the Aqua.FCV-R- Australian launch: perhaps 2020- Price: n/a- Fuel economy: n/aThis is the world premiere of the fuel-cell drivetrain that has been tested for the past five years in a Kluger-Highlander SUV. It is planned for launch in 2015 in markets that have hydrogen fuel supplies. The hydrogen is regarded as a promising source of CO2 emission-free energy that can be produced from a variety of sources. The fuel-cell unit is beneath the passenger compartment. Toyota claims a 700km range with its 70MPa high-pressure hydrogen fuel tank.FT-EV III- Australian launch: concept only- Price: n/a- Fuel economy: n/aThis is the latest in a series of Toyota's electric concept cars and is based on the iQ city car now on sale in Europe. It is also marketed as an Aston Martin Cygnet. The FT-EV III is designed for short-distance trips and has a lithium-ion battery with an estimated cruising range of 105km. Though this is a concept, Toyota is known to be working on an electric version of the iQ that could be on the market in Europe as early as mid-2012.TOYOTA FUN-Vii- Australian launch: concept only- Price: n/a- Fuel economy: n/aToyota says this world premiere of its "quirky'' concept vehicle heralds a future where people, cars and society are linked. Radical. It is a key exhibit for the 42nd Tokyo motor show, which is being staged under the theme "Mobility can change the world''.PRIUS PLUG-IN HYBRID- Australian launch: perhaps 2020- Price: est. $35,000- Fuel economy: 3 L/100kmThis Prius Plug-in Hybrid goes on sale in Japan this month. It is heavily based on the existing Prius but has a new, high-capacity lithium-ion battery that can be charged from a household power outlet. This allows it to operate as an electric vehicle on short trips (up to 23km) and as a petrol-electric hybrid vehicle on medium to long trips. It can operate regardless of battery charge status or the availability of charging infrastructure.

The 2.2-litre turbo-diesel sedan was driven the 4615km from New York to Los Angeles - the equivalent of travelling from London to the Sahara - taking in 11 states, three time zones and eight days. The British team only stopped to fill up the car four times. Jaguar, which now claims the car as the company's most fuel efficient ever, says the test was "a graphic demonstration of the strength, engineering integrity and efficiency of the car". Paul Alcock, XF Project Manager, Jaguar Cars - who was in a following vehicle for the trip - says the project was designed primarily to test the potential economy of the XF 2.2. "The incredible figures achieved by the car were accomplished through making every element of the new XF as efficient as possible - from its aerodynamics to its four-cylinder 2.2-litre diesel engine linked to an eight-speed gearbox," he says. Driven by independent testers, David and Alexander Madgwick, the XF 2.2 was a stock-standard, UK-registered, right-hand drive vehicle. In the coast to coast journey the car maintained an average speed of 85km/h and incorporated a range of real-life scenarios - including the busy roads exiting New York and, towards the end of the trip, entering Los Angeles, road works, high winds and a climb to 2240m above sea level.

Trust me - it doesn't matter how bad you look in the morning, you'd look sensational in this.

Bits of my heart are starting to give up and the cardio specialist, who likely charges by the minute so the numbers fit on an A4 page, says it's soon time for new bits.

AFFORDABLE, practical, value for money and even fun aren't terms you'd aim at the baby end of the car market. Yet those definitions - and more - fit the Hyundai Accent better than a shoebox fits new shoes. Who will buy it? Anyone, it's that useable.The size fits any city carbay, the fuel economy is outstanding and the feature list - particularly handy stuff like Bluetooth and iPod connections - make it easier for us to cope with our fast lifestyles. But it's not just about the city. The inclusion of a full-size spare wheel - a commodity not even standard on Australia's "big six" cars - ensures it will cope with out-of-town adventures.Hyundai offer the Accent in three trim levels: Active ($16,990), Elite ($18,490) and Premium ($20,990) with an extra $2000 for the automatic. That puts it hard up against some equally serious players so Hyundai opens Santa's bag and drops in standard Bluetooth, full-size spare wheel, six airbags, iPod/USB connection, a five-star crash rating and a comprehensive vehicle stability management package.Pricing overlaps Hyundai's own i20 and i30 hatchbacks but the former isn't on par with the Accent's dynamics and the latter is ready for a replacement.Gee guys, how hard was this to design? It looks like a Canon photocopier took on an i30 hatch and set it to a 3 per cent reduction. Don't believe me? Get the calculator and make the comparison yourself. Actually, that's not a bad thing because the i30 has been the darling of the middle-class commuter set since it won Carsguide's Car of the Year in 2007.Accent comes as a hatch or sedan and looks good as either, streets ahead of its pregnant predecessor but not quite up to Elantra status. The shape boasts good cabin room, a very neat and workable dashboard and sensible fittings.The engine is the new-ish Gamma long-stroke 1.6-litre unit with a modest 91kW/156Nm output. Modest because the 91kW is available at 6500rpm - and you're never going to get to 6500rpm and survive with your licence intact - which equates to enduring a prolonged taser attack. But it has a linear torque spread - and needs it because the automatic transmission has only four cogs.Yes, there is a sequential shift mode so you can pick your own gear, but this box competes with the Ford Fiesta's slick six-speed unit. Otherwise, the Accent is beautifully simple to suit its role.The drivetrain may be unstartling but there is a lot to get excited about with the safety gear. The Accent gets a top-notch five-star rating, comes with electronic stability control (which is law from January 1), traction control, electronic brakeforce distribution and the latest anti-lock braking system.The umbrella system for all this is Hyundai's Vehicle Stability Management designed to automatically select the best electronic aids to suit any disaster. Or near disaster. Failing everything, there are als o six airbags.On paper it all looks so good. But the fly in the soup is the electric steering. Yes, it's wonderfully light at parking speeds so the muscle-challenged motorist can ease themselves into any carpark. But send this down a straight road at highway speeds and neighbouring motorists will think you've spent a hard afternoon at the bar. It is prone to wandering because, when the wheel is straight ahead, it has no assistance.A minor adjustment of the hand becomes a knee-jerk reaction from the awaken steering box, and then you have to correct by turning the other way and then back again and so on. That aside, it is comfortable - though there is some low-speed thump - and even enjoyable through winding roads. It is also very economical, surprisingly roomy and a doddle to park.This car makes so much sense it would make a perfect partner to that 4WD you have in the garage. And I know what I'd prefer to drive.

US President Barack Obama - in Australia on November 16 and 17 to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the ANZUS alliance following the APEC leaders' meeting in Hawaii - will be cocooned in "Limo One" as his personal transport. But "Limo One" - or "Cadillac One" or "The Beast" as it has been referred - isn't one car and it isn't even a Cadillac model. In fact it's the only Cadillac that doesn't have a model name though Cadillac refer to it in-house as "Stage Coach".Built in 2009, it is one of 25 limousines in the Obama Administration. There is believed to be three cars identical in appearance to Limo One and foreign visits by the President may include the transport of up to three of these "clones". The much-publicised grounding of the limousine in May at a bump in the US Embassy driveway in Dublin drew concern about the safety of an immobile  president.But the car was for secret service personnel while President Obama was in a second, identical car further down the line. Cadillac spokesman David Caldwell says "one of the specifications of the car is that I can't talk about the specifications". He did confirm that there is more than one presidential car and indicated there was a substantial fleet of vehicles within the White House Military Office."The Presidential cars serve for a long period of time, in a somewhat overlapping fashion," he says. "Older cars remain in other types of service, for instance. What is learnt about these cars is applied to future cars. "Completely new designs appear periodically ... normally coinciding with inaugural timing." In fact the 2009 Cadillac of President Obama is one of these new designs.It replaces the 2005 Cadillac DTS-based limousine first used in January 20, 2005 at the second inauguration parade of George W Bush. This car, a stretched DTS sedan built on a GM 4WD chassis, is still regularly in use as an alternate limousine. The latest limousine is believed to also be based on a GM 4WD chassis. The 6m long car is designed to look similar to production Cadillac cars but in detail is a montage of body panels, headlights and tail lights. These components, borrowed from other Cadillac cars, provide the skin over a 6-tonne, grenade-proof armored personnel carrier.Under the skin is armour plating - of alternating veneers of composite steel, titanium, kevlar and ceramic - up to 150mm thick, with 100mm thick glass windows that - except for the driver's side - are fixed. It is believed to have an arsenal of shot-guns, tear-gas cannons and smoke grenades and has onboard aids such as night-vision cameras, fire-fighting equipment and an oxygen cylinder for the cabin in the event of a chemical attack.The engine is a supercharged 6.5-litre V8 turbo-diesel which averages 29 litres/100km. Its fuel tank is leakproof and resistant to an explosion, and there are kevlar-lined, run-flat tyres to ensure they won't shred or puncture. The car can seat seven people, including the president. In the US, Limo One - and its entourage of up to 45 vehicles - flies the American and Presidential Standard flags on the bonnet. When in a foreign country, the left-hand side Presidential Standard is replaced by the foreign country's flag. The limousine and its clones are airlifted for domestic and international use primarily by a US Air Force C-17 Globemaster III.PRESIDENTIAL CADILLACS:President Wilson rode in a Cadillac during a parade marking the end of World War I.President Coolidge had a 1928 Cadillac Town Car. It featured a 5.6-litre engine with 67kW.In 1938, the US government received two Cadillac convertibles - Queen Elizabeth and Queen Mary (after the ocean liners) - each 6.5m long and weighing nearly 4-tonnes. They served presidents Roosevelt, Truman and Eisenhower and were replaced by the Queen Elizabeth II and Queen Mary II, which remained in service until 1968.Cadillac returned to the White House in 1983, when President Reagan had a Fleetwood - famous for being the last equipped with the Turbo Hydra-Matic 400 three-speed automatic transmission.President Clinton had a Fleetwood Brougham powered by a 7.4-litre V8.

He says price reductions of up to 18 per cent will make buyers look twice. "We've sharpened up our prices ... to clear excess 2011 stocks," he says. He denies it's anything to do with the new national Australian Design Rules for mandatory electronic stability control that apply from January, saying current Ssangyong models - with the exception of the Actyon Ute which isn't required to have ESC - already have the safety system. Price plunges include $6588 - or 18 per cent - off the Stavic people mover which is now $29,990 drive away; and $34,990 driveaway for the seven-seat Rexton SUV, a saving of $5688 or 14 per cent. The Kyron SUV is down $2201 at $28,990; the Actyon Tradie Ute is now $24,990 driveaway and now comes with a factory bonus; and the Korando SUV is $27,990 including a five-year warranty. The discounts come as Ssangyong is making marginal progress up the Australian market ladder. In year-to-date sales figures to October, its new Koranda has sold 504 units (it wasn't available in the same period in 2010) which has supported a 100-unit drop in sales of Rexton and minor falls for Actyon, Kyron and Stavic. Ssangyong, majority owned by Indian firm Mahindra, has a 0.2 per cent share of the Australian market. In perspective, its sales YTD October put it 153 units below new Chinese player Chery and is now on par with Malaysian-owned Proton. Barber is optimistic: "We dare you to find this much value in any other new car. It is our aim to offer the best value for money with our cars comparable to, and often exceeding, those of our competitors."

 VERDICTThe Sportage cleverly suits a wider range of buyers than the Skoda, primarily because of its value-for-money price and its desirable looks. But their culture is as wide apart as their language. Translate this and they suit different buyers.

... as the - predominantly - male staff this month forgo the shaver in favour of raising money for men's health issues. So the male staff - but let's not be sexist, the girls are invited - will grow moustaches for Movember and the stores become Mo-repaires and nationally there will be increased public awareness and funds for mens health, specifically combating prostate cancer and depression. Mo-repaires will, for this month, also change its logo, now featuring a strong man lifting a mo as opposed to a tyre. As part of the promotional efforts during Movember, Beaurepaires will use the domain name www.morepaires.com.au and also feature ``Beaus Mo Bros'' a photo gallery on the website featuring the unique mo styles of staff and associates. "As a business within an industry whose workforce is predominantly male, we are committed to supporting and raising awareness for mens health,'' says Mo-repairs vice president Steve Morley.  "Growing a mo for most of us  is such a simple way to generate awareness and to hopefully start the conversation amongst our friends and colleagues on the health issues facing Australian men.'' For the record, the Australian Bureau of Statistics' Labour Force data of August 2011 for Motor Vehicle and Motor Vehicle Parts Retailing states that 86.5 per cent of the sector has male employees. Beaurepaires (or Mo-repaires) has about 300 stores nationwide and employs about 1700 people.