Articles by Neil Dowling

Ford is being sketchy about its plans. The Territory has no launch date, though is expected before mid year as Ford enters one of its busiest years on record.The Territory takes on the face of the Falcon with a large under-bumper intake and bears the lines of Ford's kinetic body styling in its flanks.Ford Australia's new president and CEO, Bob Graziano, says the Territory was a benchmark when first launched and "it is set to achieve this again - and more"."It wears an exciting new look and will boast an extensive list of technical highlights.  "The Ford Australia team is taking the Territory to an all-new level of performance, refinement and quality, and customers will definitely experience these advancements when they drive it."Ford added that the SUV's new look will include "a major interior update and boast a number of technology highlights, including the introduction of turbo-diesel power, details of which will be communicated in 2011"."For Ford Australia, the next 18-month period is set to be one of the company's busiest in its 85-year history," it says.  "Approximately 85 percent of the entire Ford Australia new-model catalogue will either be replaced or updated during this time."This includes the updated MC Mondeo range and new WT Fiesta hatch and sedan - both recently launched - and next year, the Territory, Focus, Falcon (with 2-litre four-cylinder engine and optional liquid-inject LPG) and the new Ranger ute.

The production version will be shown at the Geneva motor show in March. Designed under the direction of Kia's head stylist Peter Schreyer, the Picanto, the baby shares underpinnings with the Hyundai i10 - also being looked at by Hyundai Australia.

Ford in the US this week says it will reveal a near production concept to replace its Escape and - in other markets - the Kuga small SUV wagons.  Ford Australia is saying little about a replacement for the Ford Escape, only acknowledging that it's an important segment.The new Escape/Kuga will be shown at the Detroit motor show next month.  It is based on the Ford Focus platform and despite its showing at Detroit, is still along way off. Production is expected to start in the second half of 2012.Australia is on the cards for the new SUV.  The baby wagon falls under the "One Ford" strategy that creates single vehicles for all world markets. An example of the philosophy is the Ranger ute that will be built in three global factories from mid-2011 and serve 180 markets.The next-generation Escape/Kuga (the global name is yet to be decided) is one of 10 models Ford will build on its new global C-platform.  The first was the European C-Max people mover.Ford is on record as saying it plans to make two million units a year off the platform.  The cost-saving - from design right down to production and spare-parts inventories - is evident by Ford's acknowledgement that the various C-platform models will share 80 per cent of parts, regardless of where the vehicle is built.The platform will serve vehicles including the Focus sedan, wagon and hatch; C-Max people movers with five and seven seats; Escape/Kuga SUV; Transit Connect light commercial vehicle; and a proposed coupe dubbed the Capri.  Outside of Australia, Ford makes two important SUVs - the Escape/Kuga and the Explorer.The latest 2011 Explorer - which has the option of a 2-litre turbo-petrol engine that will be available on next year's Ford Falcon sedan - looks good on paper but a Ford Australia insider says it couldn't compete with the locally-built Territory.

A street version of its Fiesta RS World Rally Championship weapon for 2011 is "under consideration'' - the first sign that the Blue Oval is prepared to rekindle memories of the XR4 edition of the early 2000s. "We would love a high-performance Fiesta,'' says Ford Australia's general marketing manager David Katic.  "We're looking at al opportunities (the WRC car can bring)." He describes the XR4 as a "great car''.  But no-one at Ford Australia is talking about timing, pricing or even the name. It is possible it could wear the ST moniker to share with the hot Focus hatch that is also a possible for Australia. The talk in Europe about a hot Fiesta is stronger. Spy shots show a three-door hatch with twin exhausts and an intercooler peeking through the front bumper inlets. It is believed that adding the turbocharger and intercooler to the 1.6-litre engine will produce up to 130kW. That should be sufficient for a 0-100km/h time of about six seconds. The hot Fiesta would be built in Europe, alongside the ECOnetic diesel. Other Fiesta models for Australia are now made in Thailand.

Getting into a small car has never been so difficult or as rewarding.  The good news is that the light and small car segment are now red hot with value - the bad news is that you have to choose which one suits you best.The task today just became harder as Ford unveils its nine-car Fiesta range that is jam-packed with models that are great drives, great value and pretty good to look at.There’s choices of diesel and petrol and sedans and hatchbacks. There’s a five-speed manual and a new six-speed dual-clutch automatic. The new auto replaces the previous four-speed unit that was only available with a 1.4-litre engine.  And just quietly, there’s room for an XR4 model in the future.Prices start from as low as $16,990 (CL petrol manual hatch) and climb through the list to the specialised - and very popular - ECOnetic diesel hatch that costs $24,990 and remains Australia’s most economical car.In between there is the mid-range LX in either automatic or manual and diesel or petrol from $18,990 to $21,490, and the sports-oriented Zetec that officially gets here in January and is very appealing at $20,990-$23,490.Ford says pricing is on par with the outgoing models yet extra kit is valued at $600-$1000, indicating just how competitive the baby-car market has become and how serious Ford is to climb back up the sales ladder.Standard equipment includes electronic stability control that’s linked with traction control and electronic brake assist.The base model CL has two airbags but the other models have seven. Ford says the optional safety pack that restores seven bags in the CL costs $600 and lifts its ANCAP crash rating to five stars from four.However, Ford has taken away the spare wheel. All Fiestas - now built in Thailand after the change from Germany - have an aerosol “mobility kit” in the boot’s vacant wheel well. A spare wheel is an option.“It’s one of the trade offs,’‘ says Ford Australia’s general marketing manager, David Katic.  “We’ve chosen deleting that ahead of adding features - such as ESC and Bluetooth, for example - which buyers want ahead of a spare wheel.’’In the move from Germany to Thailand, the small car has had a big increase in noise reduction - a factor of concern in the previous model.  It gets substantial underbody sound dampening that, combined with improvements to the suspension, give the Fiesta a level of ride and comfort above its class.The engine line up is an 88kW/151Nm 1.6-litre petrol and 66kW/200Nm 1.6-litre turbo-diesel rated at 6.1 litres/100km and 4.4 l/100km respectively.The six-speed dual-clutch automatic is only available in the petrol models. Ford says “we’re working on’’ an auto-diesel combo but there’s a lot of resistance from the drivetrain suppliers in Europe.  Ford won’t talk sales numbers with the new Fiesta. But is expects a healthy rise in interest.The sales split is expected to be 20 per cent sedan and 80 per cent hatch, with an overall 15 per cent swing to diesel.  “This is a car that will change people’s perceptions of Ford,’‘ says Katic.  “We are seen as a big-car company. This Fiesta will bring a lot of people into Ford showrooms.’’Ford won't talk sales numbers with the new Fiesta. But is expects a healthy rise in interest.  The sales split is expected to be 20 per cent sedan and 80 per cent hatch, with an overall 15 per cent swing to diesel."This is a car that will change people's perceptions of Ford," says Katic.  "We are seen as a big-car company. This Fiesta will bring a lot of people into Ford showrooms."Refinement is a word used to describe gentlemen’s etiquette, not usually light-car handling and ride comfort.  Yet the Ford Fiesta manages to add the word to its vocabulary.And it did it on a day that would possibly be the worst in Adelaide’s 2010 calendar. Tuesday.  Storms pummeled the hills of the city, the rain blinded the driver’s view and made the little Fiesta fight for traction. But what a little hero.  Over debris and flooding that coursed over the twisting hills roads, the latest Fiesta handled itself brilliantly and rose above the ranks of many of its rivals.But it isn’t all highlights for the Fiesta.  It makes a lot of difference which Fiesta model is chosen for the drive.There isn’t much between the sedan and the hatchback, perhaps the small extra weight making the sedan’s tail sit better and the superior rigidity of the three-box design helping handling.But there is a big gap in the diesel and petrol. Though smooth and quiet, the 1.6-litre petrol is gasping on the hills. It is very rewarding in the mid-range of the tachometer but feels weak below 2000rpm and breathless above 5000rpm.That is fine in the five-speed manual version, but even the lauded six-speed dual-clutch automatic has problems getting hold of the powerband and then placing it on the road.For general driving, the Fiesta petrol auto is fine. But push it a bit and it feels lacklustre.  The diesel, by comparison, is sparkling. Also 1.6 litres in capacity, it is down on power (66kW to 89kW) but stronger on torque with 200Nm against the petrol’s 151Nm. And it is delivered much lower in the rev range.That translated into a car with manual transmission being such a fun ride. The flexibility of the diesel engine means it can be left in second or third for the really tight stuff, then pulled up to fourth and fifth as the road straightens.The basic Feista that was first introduced in January 2009 remains. But in the move this month to the Thailand plant, changes were made to key areas of sound deadening.That, combined with the new diesel-dual clutch auto drivetrain option, creates a light car with small to mid-size ambitions and refinement.  It rides with surprising compliance. Noise levels from the suspension and tyres are low.  Even the electric-assist power steering is responsive and not overly vague.The CL and LX models get standard suspension and seats while the Zetec model - on test here but not in showrooms until early 2011 - has sports suspension (tighter springs, retuned steering rack and 195/50R16 tyres) and front seats with more side bolsters to enhance the ability of the Fiesta’s chassis.The Zetec does this without compromising the ride qualities and, as such, deserves attention by buyers who enjoy driving. In fact, the best model of the range is the diesel-manual Zetec ($23,490) or the LX sedan diesel-manual ($21,490). Such a shame the diesel can’t be mated to the dual-clutch auto.

As independent groups aim for a series of recharging stations around Australian city precincts, a director of Mitsubishi Motors Australia - which is the first manufacturer to offer Australians an volume electric car - is cooling the plans."The recharge issue is not a big problem in Australia," says MMAL's vice president of corporate strategy, Paul Stevenson.  "As battery performance increases, the need for recharge stations decreases."Despite most car makers having access to advanced electric car technology, production is being restrained by the performance of current batteries.  The Mitsubishi i-MiEV, Australian's first volume marketable electric car, has access to a single fast-charge station in Adelaide.The station, at MMAL's headquarters, is the first commercial fast-charger (there already are standard chargers) in Australia and is designed for the i-MiEV.  Provider Club Assist claims it will deliver 50 per cent of full charge in 12 minutes, sufficient for a range of about 60km.It is the first of a roll out of stations being planned by suppliers including Club Assist and Chargepoint.  While Mr Stevenson applauds the infrastructure that will embrace electric vehicle use, he indicates that a large number of recharging stations may be unnecessary."I get frustrated that recharging is seen as a barrier to electric vehicle ownership," he says.  "Maybe overseas, but not in Australia."In France, for example, all new apartments and offices must have plug-in rechargers.  "Most Australians live in detached houses. Owners will charge their electric car overnight and, with even the current range of as little as 100km, can cover most commuting distances on that single charge."There is no real need for street chargers in Australia.  In other countries, with high density housing and no off-street parking, street charging is more valid."But even that 100km is achievable only in urban use where constant braking regenerates the battery. When Carsguide had its exclusive first drive of the i-Miev in Sydney last month, our proposal to take the vehicle to Eastern Creek in the citys outer west was kyboshed by Mitsubishi, which said freeway running would quickly diminish the charge, making the less than 80km round trip problematic.Mr Stevenson says there was a simple comparison between electric cars and petrol cars.  "How many petrol stations would we need if we each had one at our house?"Mitsubishi has leased 115 of its i-MiEV hatchback all-electric cars to government fleets and will start leasing to private motorists from mid next year.  The 2011 i-MiEV will be a second generation model with some changes to the current version, however will not be a wide-bodied car as sold in the US.Mitsubishi will debut its PX plug-in hybrid SUV at next June's Melbourne motor show, before starting to market the car in Australia in late 2012.

... so carmakers are turning to new-wave plug-in hybrid vehicles as a stop-gap measure. Mitsubishi - which is marketing Australia's first volume electric car, the i-MiEV - says it will release a production version of its PX-MiEV SUV concept as a plug-in hybrid by 2013. The Outlander-based wagon is a range-extender - it can use its petrol engine or an overnight plug-in system to recharge its batteries for the electric motors - similar in concept to the Holden Volt. Though the PX may be beaten to the showrooms by the Volt (expected in 2012), it will be first large vehicle that can source power from an internal combustion engine, an onboard generator, or batteries. It will also better suit the lifestyle of Australians, says Mitsubishi Motors Australia Ltd vice president of corporate strategy, Paul Stevenson."(With small-range all-electric cars) we're asking Australians to make lifestyle changes," he says. "We like bigger cars, like SUVs. But with plug-in hybrid and electric technology, it doesn't matter what size car you drive.  The PX is a vehicle that can use electric power for commuting and the petrol and all-wheel drive system for the highways and country driving." But Stevenson still terms plug-in technology as the "interim stage" in the march towards full electric power.  "We want to get to the stage where we have drivetrain options on models," he says. "That is, plug-in, hybrid, electric, petrol and diesel."  Ultimately, Mitsubishi sees all-electric vehicles as likely future personal transport.  It's vital that to get there, the aspects of battery cost, driving range and charging time are addressed," he says. "It is very difficult at the moment to achieve all three. Which is more important? We see range and charge time as being most important.  To get the cost down, we are using alliances with PSA (Peugeot and Citroen's parent) to make more electric cars. "The more we make gives us greater volumes which lowers the cost of the batteries - that should take three years."  Stevenson says MMAL's first fast-charge station for electric cars - primarily its own i-MiEV hatchback - can deliver 50 per cent of battery charge within 15 minutes. Mitsubishi has leased 115 i-MiEVs to Australian governments and authorities and will offer cars to private users from June next year.  The i-MiEVs will be leased, not sold, to private motorists, says MMAL president and CEO Masahiko Takahashi. Australia will get an upgraded i-MiEV next year but it won't be the wide-bodied version that is to be leased into the US next year.  Takahashi says the left-hand drive body is too difficult to be adapted for right-hand drive markets such as Japan and Australia.

Adding value and slipping in more cost sensitive models is a 2010 Christmas present that is destined to become a way of the future for Mitsubishi. It is expected to do very nicely for the car company that everyone gave up for dead after it pulled the pin on Australian manufacturing a few years ago.Mitsubishi Motors Australia Ltd (MMAL) president and CEO Masahiko Takahashi today launched five price-trimmed selections in time for Christmas lunch ...1) a Triton Club Cab that is a two door ute or cab-chassis with short-stay seating for an extra two bodies in the back;2) an RX Pajero that is basically a GLX with a few extra trimmings;3) a base model Challenger for fleet buyers (and even rugged privateers) without the "flashy" stuffing;4) a two-wheel drive Outlander that is expected to take 50 per cent of the all-wheel drive model's sales; and5) an SX Lancer which is a gift-wrapped edition sitting above the $21,490 ES model and below the $25,890 VR version.Mr Takahashi says the new models are part of an overall plan for sustainable growth."We're pretty happy with ourselves," he says."We have 57,451 sales to date this year. For the the total year 2009 we had 50,168. So we expect a very strong year and we see total Australian vehicle sales at one million for 2010." TRITONNew for the 2011 model year is the two-door Triton Club Cab. Mitsubishi had Club Cabs up to 2006 when the model was dropped on dwindling sales. Unexpectedly, sales of such models - sometimes called space cabs, super cabs or extended cabs - started to strengthen in late 2006 and now are a 10,000 unit per year segment of the commercial vehicle sales.Mitsubishi sees the 2WD version - which carries over the Triton dual-cab's 131kW/400Nm 2.5-litre turbo-diesel and five-speed manual transmission - as appealing predominantly to workhorse tasks.The ute gets flip-up occasional rear seating for two with lap-sash seatbelts, two airbags, iPod/USB connectivity and a four-star crash rating. ESC and traction control are an $800 option.PAJEROAhead of a major makeover next year - and before the entire 4WD gets replaced in late 2012 - this wagon gets a new model called the RX. Based on the GLX, it adds 18-inch alloy wheels, up-specced dashboard, privacy glass, fog lights, side steps, reverse park sensors, rear airconditioning, a six-disc CD player and Bluetooth. It costs from $55,190 as a diesel manual with options including a V6 petrol and a diesel auto.Mitsubishi says there's $5000 worth of extra value in the RX and the appealing price "will keep the sales ,momentum rolling''.CHALLENGERThere's a new model that sits under the current entry-level LS which takes away some of the gloss of the LS but offers value for fleet buyers and some people who like an austere sort of life. It retains the 131kW 2.5-litre turbo-diesel and offers the choice of five-speed manual or five-speed automatic with two-speed transfer case.But it plain-wraps the 4WD wagon by removing some airbags (it now has two), fitting 16-inch alloys and removing some baubles such as the chrome trim to body parts including the mirror housings. It costs $41,490 compared with the $44,990 price of the LS.Mitsubishi says the removal of the side and curtain airbags would allow it to more easily adapt to the ROPS (roll-over protection standards) requirements of mining companies and other users who need to modify the roof.The price and specs mean the Challenger now rivals the Nissan Pathfinder "but we'd sell one and a half times as many'' of ours, says MMAL's SUV and LCV product manager, James Tol.OUTLANDER"This is the way the market is moving," says MMAL product manager for Pajero and Compact SUV, Chris Maxted. "Customers expectations are changing." The two-wheel drive Outlander reflects the market trend to all-wheel drive wagons without the mechanical requirements to go off the bitumen.Maxted says 20 per cent of the current Compact SUV market is now 2WD. That may be minor but 18 months ago the share was only 10 per cent.Toyota sells 50:50 RAV 4WD:2WD; Nissan Dualis sells 80 per cent of its model as a 2WD; the Mitsubishi ASX is a 50:50 split and the just finished one month-old sales of the Outlander 2WD, it took 30 per cent of the total Outlander sales.Mitsubishi expects the new Outlander, which is only sold as a base model, will claim 50 per cent of the total model's market in a short time.It sells for $28,990 compared to its next model, the all-wheel drive LS, at $33,240.The 2WD gets a full-size spare wheel (in fact, this has been added to all Outlanders except the seven-seat versions) and a bigger 63 litre fuel tank (compared with 60 litres) because there was more room under the chassis as the rear drive components were ditched.LANCERThe small car market in Australia sells about 200,000 units a year and the Lancer has 10 per cent. But the company wants more. It today launched the SX version that is based on the ES and designed for the private buyer who wants a bit more for a bit less."People are looking for value in a car," says MMAL's Paul Unerkov. "So we have n enhanced ES with alloy wheels, rear spoiler, Bluetooth, leather steering wheel cover, and so on."Mitsubishi has also listened to criticism and reduced the noise level within the car, The Lancer range gets extra underfloor and wheel arch sound deadening, bigger weatherstrips on the windows and a baffle cover over the engine's exhaust manifold.The SX bridges the $4400 price gap - seen as being excessive - between the $21,490 ES and $25,890 VR with its $22,790 tag.

AJ says his sleek Ferrari-esque sportscar will start production "after Christmas" with pricing around $250,000.  He trucked the AJ-F1 Fusion prototype to Perth for the inaugural Festival of Speed to show it off to Mark Webber and 20,000-odd visitors. In the flesh it's a Lamborarri with a bit of Koenigsegg and stands a gnat's knee above 1m.  But AJ says the production car will have some changes. "It will have different headlights and a higher roof,' he says, figuratively running his hand across the red car's roofline. The prototype has four projector headlights arranged in tandem pairs.  There will be a perspex cover for the engine. Oh, and the engine will change." The crowd-grabber at the event's Wanneroo Raceway has a Lexus V8 which AJ says "is just to move it".  The real car will get a substantial heart replacement with AJ looking at the Chev LS9 supercharged engine for 480kW (644hp) and 820Nm. The mid-mount engine drives a seven-speed, three-mode dual-clutch transmission. "It will do 0-100km/h in three seconds," he says.  The Fusion will also be offered with two other versions of the 6.2-litre V8 - one rated at 320kW/575Nm and the other at 358kW/644Nm - and both mated to six-speed manual gearboxes. The shell is made of carbon kevlar in a sandwich construction that has been vacuum formed and coated with a high temperature resistant resin gel.  The body covers a handmade multi-tubular steel space frame assembled and fully welded within a super structure. AJ states that the chassis has been jigged "to a massive torsional strength of 7244Nm/degree and a beaming flex of 0.67m."  Dimensions of the prototype are 4170mm (length); 2150mm (width); 1018mm (height) and with a wet weight of 1220kg. "There's been a lot of work put into this," he says.  "It started with a design and I became involved. My input is mainly suspension and handling." AJ says it meets some ADRs but his planned limited production means it slides under the more stringent regulations of high volume vehicles. "It allows us to make 25 a year for sale in Australia and 75 for export," he says.  "The car has been designed to satisfy the criteria of price, finish, style and performance." He says he has keen interest and is sufficient to start production on the Gold Coast under his Alan Jones Signature Vehicles label, part of Alan Jones F1 Ltd.  In case you have been under a rock for the past three decades, Alan Jones was the last Australian to win the Formula One World Championships (in 1980) and only one of two Australians to ever win the championship (the other was Jack Brabham).

It becomes Fiat SpA through a demerger effective January 1. That leaves all the Fiat truck, tractor, industrial and marine businesses to create Fiat Industrial SpA, also to be listed as a public company. Both companies will adopt new logos. Fiat SpA will include Alfa Romeo, Abarth, Fiat, Ferrari, Lancia and Maserati, as well as Fiat light commercial vehicles, along with the division of Fiat Powertrain Technology (FPT) responsible for cars and commercial vehicles, and the component companies Magneti Marelli, Teksid and Comau. Fiat Industrial will contain CNH (which includes the Case, New Holland, Steyr and Kobelco), Iveco commercial vehicles (which include Iveco, Iveco Magirus, Iveco Astra and Iveco Irisbus brands) and the Industrial and Marine division of FPT. It may appear a book entry but the split cleans up the Chrysler deal, putting all the cars into one basket and - hopefully - forming a unit that will swim on its own merits. Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne will be CEO of the new Fiat SpA and will also become chairman of Fiat Industrial. Fiat SpA forecasts revenue of about $90 billion in 2014, up from $45 billion expected this year. Fiat Industrial predicts revenue of $40 billion in 2014, compared with about $27 billion expected this year. The demerger immediately prompted the new Fiat SpA to announce it will join Chrysler in building Alfa Romeo and Jeep models at Fiat's Mirafiori plant in Turin. The plant will be retooled at a cost of about $1.5 billion to make models for global markets.