Articles by Neil McDonald

The deal comes just days after VW announced that it would take a 49.9 per cent stake in Porsche.  The Suzuki deal would give VW a leg up in emerging markets, particularly the growing Indian market, where Suzuki dominates with its small cars.Although unconfirmed, VW is preparing a $3.8 billion deal with the company and a tie-up is expected to be announced before the end of the year.There is also speculation VW may push for a controlling stake in the Japanese company.If the deal goes ahead, it would be Volkswagen's first big investment in a Japanese rival.  However, spokesmen for both companies are refusing to comment on the deal.

Although almost 500,000 Dualises — called Qashqai in the UK — have been sold in Europe the crossover has been overshadowed locally by the X-Trail, Navara and Murano. However, the refresh, which should arrive locally early next year, gives the baby off-roader some much-needed visual clout.  Among the changes are a new, more aggressive front-end, revised tail-lights and upgraded interior.Nissan has also focused attention on the suspension to improve the car's ride, as well as lowering cabin noise.  The biggest change is ahead of the A-pillar, where a new grille, headlights, bonnet and mudguards give the car a dramatic lift. At the back, the overall shape of the lights carries over but they now include an aerodynamic feature to reduce drag.  The brake and tail lights also use LED lights and there is a more transparent lens design.Visually, two new five-spoke alloy wheel designs have been introduced for Europe.  Inside, the Dualis gets new up-market dials and more storage space. A redesigned trip computer is now positioned between the speedo and tachometer.  Its white LCD screen shows instantaneous and average fuel consumption, mileage, time, cruise control and speed limiter settings.Low-level lighting has been added around the front footwells.  More insulation around the front bulkhead has reduced the transmission of engine noise to the cabin.The Dualis also gets an acoustic windscreen, which helps reduce wind noise. There is also better window sealing on the front doors.  In Europe a new model has been added called the 1.5-litre dCi Pure Drive, a model than emits just 129g/km of CO2. Pure Drive gets aerodynamic wheel covers, blank out foglights, low rolling resistance tyres and the higher final drive ratio for better economy.  The Dualis is built in the UK at Nissan's Sunderland plant.Nissan Australia spokesman, Jeff Fisher, says the new wagon will arrive around June. “We’re also looking at a seven-seater version,” he says.  However, Fisher says the company is still working through pricing and whether it will be available in ST or Ti form. 

There's a two-year waiting list of 60 buyers for the $580,00 Ferrari F458 Italia, and luxury brands BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Audi also had strong sales months.  But its just not the high end of the car market seeing good times return.   New car sales rose 20 per cent last month compared to last November.Bargain buys and the Federal Government's small business tax break for new vehicles are driving sales.  Among the star cars last month were the Holden Cruze, Toyota Corolla, Hyundai i30 and Mazda Mazda3 - all with starting prices around $20,000.Toyota's workhorse HiLux ute was the best-seller for the month, clocking up 4230 sales largely because of the small business incentive package.  More than 85,000 new vehicles hit the road, up 14,000 vehicles compared to November last year.Many businesses are in a last-minute rush to take advantage of government tax incentives for utes and vans, which ends on December 31. "This is an extraordinary result that provides further evidence that the market and the broader Australian economy are showing signs of recovery," Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries chief executive Andrew McKellar said."Business sales increased an incredible 35.4 per cent during the month; spurred on by the substantial incentives available until the end of the year," he said.  The off-roader segment was one of the most popular with sales surging 44 per cent.Top 10 cars - November1 Toyota HiLux 42302 Holden Commodore 39563 Toyota Corolla 33094 Ford Falcon 28635 Mazda3 25486 Holden Cruze 22747 Mitsubishi Lancer 20238 Toyota Camry 20039 Hyundai i30 199810 Toyota Yaris 1725

Plenty when you're a legendary brand like Alfa Romeo and naming a new car is as important as the car itself.  So the Italian carmaker has gone back to the future to finally give its 147 replacement a name.  And the Milano is out, Giulietta is back in.The Giulietta is expected to make its first public airing at the Geneva Motor Show in March.  Intially four engines are likely, two 1.4-litre turbos and a 1.6-litre and 2.0-litre turbo-diesel.Of course Alfa would never be Alfa without a high-performance GTA version, rumoured to get around 175kW.  In Europe, the Giulietta will be pitched into the hot small hatch segment against the VW Golf, Opel Astra and Peugeot 3008.As the photos show the interior gets a twin-glass roof, sports leather seats and plenty of equipment.  Among the standard kit will be Alfa's three-mode DNA system from the MiTo with dynamic, normal and all weather settings.Other highlight features include LED daytime running lights front and back and concealed rear door handles similar to the 156.  The Giulietta is clearly a stylish hatch with cues from the just-launched locally MiTo, including a striking take on the Alfa family grille.There are also hints of the 8C Competizione in the car's profile.  As the rear shot shows, the tail-lights extend into the hatch and the reversing lights are integrated into the reflectors.  Few other details are known, except the hatch is expected to be bigger in length and width, close to the previous-generation 156.The Milano will be available as a five-door hatch initially, but a three-door will follow.  The Giulietta nameplate was last sold in Australia back in the 1980s.

It also points the way for a new family of Volkswagen small cars from 2011. The ultra-frugal Up! Lite is VW's Los Angeles Motor Show star.  Drawing inspiration from the L1 Concept which debuted at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September, VW has packaged a more user friendly body with a drag coeffficent of just 0.237 - that's ultra-slippery.It is capable of seating four adults and is driving by a hybrid that sips fuel at just 2.5 litres/100km while emitting just 65 g/km of CO2.  How does it do it?  The car tips the scales at just 695kg, almost 30 per cent lighter than the VW Fox.The Up! Lite is powered by an 800cc two cylinder common rail diesel engine closely linked to that seen in the L1 Concept developing 38kW at 4000 revs and 120Nm between 1800 revs and 2250 revs.  The diesel engine is combined with a 10kW electric motor to give the Up! Lite a useful boost when overtaking. Alternatively it can be disengaged from the diesel engine entirely and used during low speed manoeuvres.Gear changes are carried out via a seven-speed twin clutch DSG automatic gearbox.  As with VW's BlueMotion models, the Up! Lite uses a start-stop system to maximise efficiency and regenerative braking.  The car is built from a light mix of materials including aluminium and carbon fibre to keep the vehicles kerb weight to a minimum.  Even the diesel engine is a featherweight, weighing just 55kg.  This allows the concept's modest hybrid drivetrain to push the car to 100km/h in 12.5 seconds before reaching a top speed of 160km/h.The styling joins the mechanical changes in breaking new ground for Volkswagen.  It debuts a new styling direction with obvious references to the current Polo and Golf but with entirely new elements such as the rear end styling and the window line.  At 3840mm long, it is slightly shorter than the Polo and is styled to maximise aerodynamic efficiency.  The radiator grille closes shuts off completely when its not required and tiny cameras which take the place of conventional wing mirrors to improve aerodynamics. 

The burly bush-basher, called Hawkei, will replace 1300 Land Rovers currently in use by the Australian military.  Like the Bushmaster, which is named after a deadly pit viper, the newest ADF vehicle borrows its name from another nasty snake, the Australian native death adder, Acanthophis hawkei. Called a ‘protected military vehicle light’ or PMV-L, the bomb-proof off-roader will be built in Bendigo, Victoria, by Thales Australia.  The sleek 7-tonne four-wheel drive can carry up to six soldiers, and incorporates high levels of survivability and blast and ballistic protection. Thales has already built a solid global reputation for its almost indestructible Bushmaster troop carrier, which is in use by the Australian, British and Dutch armed forces.  The Hawkei will be built alongside the 12-tonne 246kW diesel Bushmaster and share some robust design and construction cues.  It will be powered by a smaller six-cylinder diesel engine, developing more than 200kW. But Thales and US company Millenworks are engineering hybrid power, which will deliver almost silent running.  A hybrid prototype is expected to be on the road next year. Despite its military might, Hawkei will cruise at speeds of more than 100km/h and four wheel drive will allow it to cross the toughest terrain via a six-speed automatic gearbox.  Inside the seats will be suspended from the ceiling to avoid any blast shocks being transmitted through the floating floor if the vehicle drives over a mine. According to the makers, the Hawkei has several key advantages over the Land Rover.  It is stronger, safer and more capable of surviving roadside explosions. Like the Land Rover, the Hawkei can be slung under a Chinook helicopter and be air-freighted into war zones.  Like the Bushmaster, the smaller vehicle is expected to be popular with foreign armed forces. The Bushmaster is already in use by the British and Dutch forces and has seen service in East Timor, Iraq and Afghanistan.  Thale Australia managing director, Chris Jenkins, says Hawkei is also expected to generate export sales of between 7000 and 10,000 targeting the Dutch and US forces. "Hopefully we can do more than that," he says.  There are also plans for six other variants, including a ute.  And a civilian version of the Hawkei could be a firefighter’s best friend. The occupant protection provided by Hawkei could translate into a purpose-built rescue or fire-fighting version for the rural fire services.  Like the military version, a civilian model could be the answer to mobility, power and protection required by the mining companies and the CFA. However, Jenkins says the priority initially is the defence forces.  "Longer-term there are commercial opportunities," he says.

Forget voice activation, in another 20 years cars will use mind control to turn on things like the indicators, adjust the radio volume or move the seat.  If that's not crazy enough, some cars will imprint your genetic DNA to become a part of you.Others will use high-tech polymers that change a car's shape and colour to accommodate the driver's needs.  These far-out sci-fi ideas are being presented as part of the Design Challenge at this week's Los Angeles Motor Show.Called Youthmobile 2030, this year's challenge has attracted more than 30 young designers who have cut loose to create what they think we'll be driving in 2030.Youthmobile 2030 snared gifted young designers from Audi, Honda, General Motors, Mazda, Nissan and Toyota.  Technology is a key component of the Youthmobile 2030 cars so the concepts connect with a new car buying generation aged between 16 and 23 raised on mobile phones, web cams and on-line communities.Top StoriesNissan wins LA Show designHyundai Sonata YF unveiledVolkswagen Up grows for LA showHonda P-NUT a tasty solutionCadillac an Aussie designMind control at LA ShowGM Car Hero gameMazda Souga shows future styleAudi eSpira and eOraNissan V2G grids upToyota link targets studentsHonda Helix   

Former Holden and GM Daewoo designer, Max Wolff is person behind the styling of the sleek 2+2, which was unveiled today at the Los Angeles Motor Show.  Wolff is now exterior design chief for Cadillac, reporting to former Holden design chief, Mike Simcoe, who is now General Motor's executive director of North American exterior design. And Wolff is clearly – and understandably -- proud of his latest project. "Cadillac has always been an emotional brand,'' he says. "it's about delivering art regardless of body style.  With the CTS Coupe, it was about taking something very strong - the CTS sport sedan - and extending its potential." Cadillac general manager, Bryan Nesbitt, says the coupe is an expression of the company's technical and design capabilities.  "It is intended to appeal to a new generation of car enthusiasts,"  he says.  The car's design carries over virtually unchanged from the concept car that was introduced at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit in 2008. The coupe is a classic 2+2 layout bolstered with advanced technology, such as a rear-view camera system and a performance-oriented suspension system coupled to rear-wheel or all-wheel drive.  It has same wheelbase as the CTS, but the roofline is 51mm lower and the overall length is also 51mm shorter. Although it draws from its sport sedan sister, the coupe shares only the instrument panel, console, headlights, mudguards and grille.  Some of the key design features include: classic hardtop styling, with no conventional B-pillar;  touch-pad operation for the doors removes the need for conventional door handles; windscreen laid at a faster angle (62.3 degrees) and a long, nearly horizontal backglass area combine to create a dramatic profile. There are other Cadillac family cues like the signature vertical rear lights and spoiler integrated into the rear high-mounted stop light.  Initially, it will be powered by a 227kW/370Nm 3.6-litre direct-injection V6 with either a six-speed manual or six-speed automatic. However, a hotter ``V'' version using the same 415kW/747Nm 6.2-litre supercharged V8 from the CTS-V sedan, will be available next year.

Less than a week after the affordable compact hatch scooped the major prize in the Carsguide Car of the Year contest the Golf has also taken a first place with Australia's motoring organisations.The Golf 118 TSI was named best mid-size car over $30,000. It was one of a total of 12 vehicles to share Best Car honours this year out of a lineup of more than 280 vehicles.Best Cars chief judge, the RACV's Ernest Litera, said the Golf represented a shift in buyer attitudes to premium small cars. "The market is shifting from large cars to quality small cars," he said. "And the Golf has that exceptional balance of performance, safety and quality."The Subaru Outback picked up the popular best recreational four-wheel drive category. "Subarus have always had high levels of safety and security with their all-wheel drive," Litera said.Litera said the awards were designed to help buyers make informed buying decisions. "The judges had a tough job this year - there are a lot of good cars on Australian roads," he said.Judges also noted the improved quality and safety of small cars, with Ford's Fiesta LX winning the best small car category and Hyundai;s i30 SX again grabbing best mid-size car under $30,000.Australia Automobile Association chief executive, Mike Harris, said the winners were assessed on three key criteria - value for money, design and on-road performance."Each year we are seeing better produced, safer and more affordable vehicles on the market," he said.Best Small Car Ford Fiesta LXBest Mid-size Car under $30,000 Hyundai i30 SX dieselBest mid-size car over $30,000 Volkswagen Golf 118 TSi ComfortlineBest large car Toyota Aurion AT-XBest people mover Hyundai iMax dieselBest sportscar BMW 135i CoupeBest luxury sportscar Audi TT-S TFSI quattroBest prestige car Subaru Liberty 3.6R PremiumBest luxury car Audi A6 TFSiBest recreational 4WD Subaru Outback 2.5iBest luxury 4WD Audi Q5 3.0 TDIBest All Terrain 4WD Land Rover Discovery 4 SE TDV6 

Most people regard tyres as a grudge purchase, to be done as cheaply as possible, but a new national survey confirms the expert view that quality tyres are worth the extra.  Really cheap buys - such as no-name Chinese imports - have been exposed through the research.A Beaurepaires survey found that better tyres can also reduce stopping distances by up to 7m compared to cheaper ones.  Beaurepaires marketing manager Melinda Wood, says a tyre's quality, as well as its inflation, tread depth and condition, greatly influence its ability to stop a vehicle in an emergency.Good tyres can mean the difference between having and avoiding a collision, she says.  With the Christmas holiday season about to start, motoring organisations like the RACV are recommending that drivers check their tyres for the correct inflation pressure, any defects and the whether they are roadworthy. Brakes should also be checked.A Victorian Automobile Chamber of Commerce survey recently found that 25 per cent of Victorian vehicles would fail a five-point safety check involving tyres, steering, seatbelts, headlights and brakes.RACV research has found that more than 20 per cent of all vehicles on Melbourne's roads are driving on at least one unroadworthy tyre and that one in five vehicles have under-inflated tyres.  An unroadworthy tyre is one with a tread worn below 1.5mm or has been physically damaged.The RACV's chief engineer, Michael Case, says cheaper tyres are often a false economy.  "In general you get what you pay for," he says."Cheaper tyres are not necessarily a bargain because they don't last as long."Case says that the economic downturn has forced many motorists to neglect vehicle maintenance or resort to budget imported tyres.  "Anecdotally there is a connection between the economy and vehicle maintenance," he says.The RACV's own tests have shown that a car travelling at 60km/h on worn tyres will need an extra 3.9m to stop.  The Beaurepaires survey found that just one in eight drivers (12 per cent) understand that premium tyres are safer."More worryingly, many drivers think there is little difference in stopping distances between premium and cheap tyres - 33 per cent think this stopping advantage is less than 6m," Wood says.  Women are more likely than men to underestimate the stopping distance advantage of premium tyres.Almost two in five women (38 per cent) consider the difference in stopping distance advantages between premium and cheap tyres to be less than 6m, compared to 28 per cent of men.Beaurepaires tyre experts tested 16 different sets of tyres, from many leading brands, in both wet and dry conditions.  Dunlop and Goodyear - distributed by Beaurepaires - were the best performers, stopping up to 7m earlier in the wet than the other tyres.These same tyres also led the way in dry conditions, with almost 2m on their competitors.  Stopping distance depends on several factors like reaction times, speed, driving conditions, and the condition of the tyres and brakes.Under-inflated tyres will also significantly affect a vehicle's handling and ability to stop in an emergency.  Drivers unsure about the condition of their tyres should have them checked by an expert.  Most reputable dealers have free safety inspections.Recommended Stopping Distances:Speed/Stopping Distance40 km/h/37m60 km/h/55m80 km/h/82m100 km/h/116mTyre Tips1. Check tyre pressures regularly2. Replace any worn or defective tyres3. Have tyres balanced and steering alignment checked 4. Check your spare tyre is correctly inflated and roadworthy 5. Practice how to change a tyre