Articles by Neil McDonald

Mitsubishi Motors Corp executives in Japan have cast doubts over the rollout of the car to Australian buyers as early as next year.  Mitsubishi Australia has been pushing hard to bring the high-tech i-MIEV hatch early next year after a positive local response to the car several months ago.But the president of Mitsubishi Motors Corp, Osamu Masuko, said an export deal has not been signed.  His views were backed up yesterday by the company2s managing director in charge of overseas operations, Kazuyuki Kikuchi."We do have to look at the support from the governments involved, also because the technology is new and requires a totally different type of infrastructure," Kikuchi said.  "We also need to see the development of those infrastructures in the markets the vehicle will be sold in.  Our electric car business department is looking at the introduction but unfortunately to date we have not seen any strong move from the government about infrastructure or support mechanisms."Unlike France and Norway and other European countries, Australia is not providing incentives to help the rollout of electric infrastructure or even tax incentives for electric cars.  The i-MIEV hatch will not be cheap, with a price expected to be close to $70,000.Mitsubishi Australia boss, Rob McEniry, said the company has had strong support from State governments and various local councils, as well as private companies who want the car.  He said the company was still on track to launch the car, despite Japan2s concerns."We have heard nothing to the contrary that we won2t be able to get it," he said.  The i-MIEV hatch will not be cheap, with its price expected to be close to $70,000.  It has a range of 160km and can be recharged to full power overnight or via a fast-charging station that can provide 80 per cent capacity in just 45 minutes.

Worried about how to keep the champers perfectly chilled in the Caulfield and Flemington carpark during Spring Carnival?  Rolls-Royce has come up with the perfect solution. Buyers can now specify an $18,000 custom-made fridge in the boot of the $1.4 million Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead coupe.  The fridge, along with enough room for three bottles of Krug and eight custom-made cut crystal wine glasses, fits snugly into the Drophead's boot, which can be lined in your choice of leather, carpet or teak.  The fridge sits out-of-sight under the luggage floor. If you need picnic tables to go with the Krug, they will set you back a modest $2000.  The fridge is one of hundreds of special options available through Rolls-Royce Bespoke, which as the name suggests personalises cars to the whims of the owners. The 25-strong Rolls Royce Bespoke team can do just about anything and obviously, money is no object.  Bespoke's product and sales manager, Thomas Jefferson, and manager of interior design, Gavin Hartley, have just finished a whirlwind tour of Australia to meet clients and spread the message about Bespoke.  Jefferson says personalisation is big business, with more than 80 per cent of Rolls-Royce customers choosing something from the Bespoke range. "When it was launched in 2003 Bespoke accounted for about a third of Rolls-Royce business," he says.  "Today it is running between 80 per cent and 90 per cent so it's gone from being quite a minor player to being a major part of the company." It is not surprising that Rolls-Royce customers are not averse to spending up big.  As a rule they generally have millions in their bank accounts, own two or more houses and usually have a garage with more than five cars.  Some are known to have his and hers Roll-Royces, while others have a Rolls-Royce at their disposal in each of the homes around the globe.  One client, which we assume were from the Middle East, bought 10 Phantoms at a $1 million apiece for Christmas presents and then commissioned Rolls-Royce Bespoke to individualise them. Not surprisingly, Middle East royalty and oil money are big clients, followed by customers in Japan and North America.  The nouveau riche in Russia and China are also hopping on the bespoke bandwagon.  Hartley expects demand for the service to grow over the next few years in the emerging powerhouse countries, particularly once the global financial crisis is behind us.  He says that despite their wealth, Bespoke clients still expect value-for-money and the exquisite attention to detail that comes from the hand-crafted cars. Australia remains a small market but Trivett Classic, which sells Rolls-Royce here, says there is growing interest from Rolls-Royce owners.  Trivett Classic general manager, Bevin Clayton, says as word spreads buyers are becoming more interested in personalising their cars.  "We're interested in the Bespoke program because it's a great way of getting someone out of their four or five year old Phantom and personalising their new car," he says. Hartley says Bespoke services are restricted to trim and paint.  There is nothing so crude as chipping the engine for better performance, he says.  "Generally speaking our clients find the power more than adequate," Hartley says.  Hartley says Bespoke can match an exterior colour to just about anything and has even had one request to match a colour to a particular hand cream.  "People can also reserve an exterior colour for themselves and have it named after them," Hartley says. Apart from specific colours, which can cost more than $11,000, Bespoke also has 44,000 colour combinations available for customers so no two Rolls-Royces are the same.  "We have customers bringing us a handbag, lipstick or a tie and we'll colour match it," Hartley says.  The same goes for the interior, where options are only limited by the clients' imagination with the extensive range of leathers and hand-crafted woods. The cheapest item ranges from a few hundred dollars for personalised lambswool mats to one-off features that are done upon customer request that can run into telephone book numbers.  One customer wanted - and got - his wood veneer from a particular tree on his estate.  Another female Phantom owner wanted her car in lilac and Rolls-Royce Bespoked obliged. She also got a full leather lilac interior. Rolls-Royce can also measure customers, as you would for a suit, to determine the exact position and angle of the rear footrests in a Phantom.  No task is too small, minor or considered insignificant.  On one occasion, the Bespoke team asked an owner what drinks they preferred and engineered the cupholders to a particular-sized drink can so it would fit snugly without rattling. Among the more popular ‘options’ in the Phantom are the Starlight headlining with minute fibre optic lights inset into the roof lining for a cool $18,000 and a jewelled illuminated Spirit of Ecstasy radiator mascot for $7400.  If the illuminated variety is not to your liking, you can order the Spirit of Ecstasy in solid silver or gold plate for $10,000 and $11,396. Need privacy? The partition wall between the driver and rear passengers in the long-wheelbase Phantom will set you back a cool $100,000.  To date the most expensive Bespoked Rolls-Royce was a $780,000 Drophead coupe but a special one was recently auctioned for charity and fetched $2 million at a US wine festival. Bespoke guides its customers with a polite but firm hand. Yet if you really want a hot pink paint scheme and lurid interior, the Rolls-Royce folk will reluctantly oblige.  Ultimately though Jefferson says Bespoke is the arbitor of quality and craftsmanship.  "Style is very uniquely personal and it's important to allow the customer to have the final say in their personal style," he says. What you can buyStarlight headlining in oatmeal leather $18,480 Tilt sunroof $10,230 Vanity mirrors for rear passengers $3795 Picnic tables with veneer backs $5005 Individual rear seats $17,435 Drinks cabinet for individual seats $22,605 Drinks cabinet in rear doors $40,040 Solid silver Spirit of Ecstasy $9988 Gold-plated Spirit of Ecstasy $11,396 Humidor in the glovebox $7766 Pen set in the glovebox $10,560 Secure safe with electronic lock $15,950 Silver bezel clock face $7128 Silver bezel white clock face $7128 Partition wall/glass $100,056 Drophead Coupe Lambswool floor mats $2706 Leather trimmed boot $14,410 Starlight headlining in bamboo or dark grey $26,620 Teak decking $19,305

We’ve blended all the highlights in a one-minute tasting plate. All the glamour, all the glitz and definitely all the green gadgetry.The LF-A is being touted as the new Lexus sportscar and expected to go up against Ferrari, Lamborghini, Porsche and other high performance supercars.Apart from these almost-production ready coupes, the show is shaping up to be a restrained affair as carmakers continue to battle the fallout from the global financial crisis. Just three smaller foreign brands, Caterham, BMW Alpina and Lotus are attending this year.In 2007 26 foreign brands lined up with the Japanese carmakers at the show. Despite the low attendance by carmakers, Tokyo is traditionally a show full of quirky city cars and concepts. Electric cars, from plug-in hybrids to full-blow electric vehicles remain popular, following on from the green theme at this year's Frankfurt Motor Show.What's Hot:TOYOTAFT-EV II: This is the second generation of Toyota's electric car concept with a futuristic edge. Drive-by-wire technology and a solar panel on the roof give this urban commuter a distinct edge. Looks a little like the iQ sold in Europe. FT-86 Concept: Look beyond the lines are you'll see Toyota's new Celica. The rear-drive compact sportscar will borrow Subaru's 2.0-litre boxer four.CATERHAMThe world debut of the CSR 175 EU4, a more powerful version of its CSR.LEXUSThe much talked about LF-A is rumoured to get a 370kW V10, making it the most powerful production Lexus made. The front "mid-engine" layout is said to deliver outstanding handling.SUBARUThe Hybrid Tourer Concept is being touted as a new incarnation of the SVX. We hope for Subaru's sake it will not carry the SVX tag if it every makes it into production. The Tourer is far more attractive and practical. The gullwing coupe combines the boxer four-cylinder with hybrid power. A pair of motors provide regenerative braking, pure electric drive or a combination of both. Apart from showcasing the hybrid drivetrain, the concept also has a new direct injected version of its 2.0-litre four cylinder engine, which is likely to appear in a few years.HONDALike many carmakers, Honda has spilled the beans on some of its cars. The CR-Z concept is the close to production ready version of its hybrid coupe, powered by a petrol 1.5-litre four cylinder and the same electric powerpack we see in the Civic hybrid. The Skydeck is a futuristic six-seater hybrid using ultra-light weight materials. The big wagon may provide a pointer to what the next-generation Odyssey might look like. Inside, the Skydeck has "floating" slim-line seats with entry provided by huge opening gullwing doors.NISSANCarmakers love motorcycle-inspired cars. Nissan has lifted the wraps off its Land Glider, a compact four-wheel city commuter car. The two-seater uses electric motors and the driver and passenger sit in tandem, like a motorcycle. The car also leans into corners.SUZUKIWith green a continuing theme, Suzuki's Swift hybrid is a pointer to a new plug-in hybrid for short-distances.MAZDAThe Hiroshima-based carmaker has concentrated on its new Sky Concept to showcase a new Sky-G petrol and Sky-D diesel engine, as well as a new six-speed automatic gearbox.MITSUBISHIDo not think of the Concept PX-MiEV as a new off-roader. Mitsubishi says the PX crossover just houses a new plug-in hybrid system that gets around 3.0 litres/100km. Apart from its drivetrain, the interior uses seat upholstery that kills bacteria and gets rid of offensive odours. The i-MIEV Cargo is also a new commercial van concept taken from the i-MIEV electric car.SUZUSHOYou may not have heard about it but this Japanese kit car specialist has combined a tuned 200kW 2.3-litre turbo engine from the Mazda3 MPS and a lightweight body to deliver a hot-shot sportscar, the Supasse V. The V gets an aluminum twin-tube monocoque spaceframe chassis with a fiberglass body. Suzusho is a specialist builder of lightweight sportscars with a great deal of experience with Lotus 7 replicas. The Supasse is expected to sell in Japan for around $80,000. 

It is the first five-star rating for any ute on the Australian market, according to the latest Australian New Car Assessment Program. The top score comes just a month after two imports, the Proton Jumbuck and Great Wall Motors utes, scored one and two stars. The five-star results has been hailed by motoring organizations and the Transport Accident Commission.TAC road safety manager Samantha Cockfield said after those disappointing results, the five-star rating was welcomed by the ANCAP partners. "This is great news for utility drivers, especially tradespeople, farmers and others who rely on utes for their work and lifestyle," she said. The ute result now means Holden has a five-star Commodore fleet.The RACV's chief engineer, vehicles, and ANCAP program manager Michael Case said the rating meant more choices for drivers who need a workhorse vehicle. "ANCAP has just awarded Australia's first five-star light commercial van rating for the Mercedes-Benz Vito and now the first five-star ute, so those motorists who need a work vehicle can now opt for five-star safety," Case said. "Having a five-star vehicle in this category means Australians can buy more home-grown vehicles that are the safest on the road."ANCAP council chair Ross McArthur said Australians would continue to see five-star ratings across a wider range of vehicles. "We know other local manufacturers are working hard to produce similar five-star utes for the Australian market and we look forward to testing those as they become available," McArthur said.The five-star ANCAP rating applies to all Commodore ute models. In testing, the ute's passenger compartment held its shape well and provided good airbag protection for the driver and passenger and no knee hazards for the driver.

Whenever a new Subaru hits the roads, Carsguide gets bombarded with questions about them. Of all the Japanese brands, the range produced by Fuji Heavy Industries, has an incredibly loyal following.So when the new mid-sizers arrived several weeks ago, we started receiving plenty of comment and inquiry from both existing owners and prospective buyers, particularly for the Outback.Critics may dismiss the Outback as just a jacked-up Liberty wagon with a higher price-tag. But Subaru has managed to position it as a separate entity and the new one further pushes the boundaries.There's no denying they share much, from engines to suspensions and interiors. But over the years, Subaru has successfully pitched the Outback as a distinct brand and this is reflected in the buyer profile, which is full of more active buyers both rural and city, who tend to hit the bush more.AppearanceThe latest Outback looks a whole lot chunkier, bigger and even more robust than the previous model. Visually it looks more grown up, with less plastic cladding while retaining the darker protection panels around the bumpers and sills.The newcomer's quirky styling and bulging wheel-arches also seem to work better on the Outback than the Liberty. Like the Liberty, it has grown in size and is now 65mm longer, 50mm wider, 70mm higher and the wheelbase is up 75mm. What this translates into is significantly more interior room, particularly out back.Drivetrains Like before there is a choice of ‘boxer’ four cylinder and six-cylinder power, with the bulk of sales expected to be the 2.5i. The 2.5-litre four develops 123kW at 5600 revs and 229Nm at 4000 revs while the 3.6R - which replaces the superseded 3.0-litre unit - develops 191kW at 5600 revs and 350Nm at 4400 revs.Fuel economy has improved with the 2.5i now getting a combined economy figure of 8.9 litres/100km for the six-speed manual and 10.3 for the 3.6R auto.Equipment and fit-out The Outback shares its five-star crash rating with the Liberty and full complement of safety features. There is a suite of airbags, including a driver's knee airbag, as well as traction and electronic stability control. Subaru's trademark symmetrical all-wheel drive is another safety bonus.Inside there is the usual attention to detail. A new dual centre console has side-by-side cupholders and more storage space. There's the expected AUX input and 12-volt power outlet as well as information display on the top of the dashboard.Steering wheel paddle shifters are standard on all automatic models with either the 2.5-litre or 3.6-litre engines - CVT on the 2.5 and a conventional five-speed auto on the 3.6R.The Outback 3.6R joins the Mitsubishi Outlander, Hyundai Tucson, Kia Sportage, Toyota RAV4 and Suzuki Grand Vitara as being the only ‘compact’ SUVs with the choice of a six-cylinder engine. But it also commands a higher entry price than the other sixes.PricingWith a starter for the boxer six cylinder of $48,490, buyers will not only be cross shopping against the compact segment but also some formidable six-cylinder rivals like the Ford Territory, Holden Captiva, Hyundai Santa Fe, Toyota Kluger and Nissan Murano in the medium off-roader segment.What helps the Subaru is its pedigree. Subaru buyers tend to be a loyal lot and the company has one of the most envious retention rates among buyers. The Outback should be no different.And those longing for a turbo-diesel will not have to wait long. A six-speed manual only 2.0-litre turbo-diesel joins the Outback range next month.Driving Where the Outback - and its Liberty wagon sibling - have made big gains is in ride comfort and interior space. The previous model was popular with skiers and rural folk. The new one will certainly impress these hard-core fans mainly because of the extra legroom in the back, better cargo space and wider opening doors.Comfort levels too are a notch up over the old model. The electric front seats are better shaped and more supportive and rear seat passengers will reveal in the room.On the road the 3.6R is particularly quiet at highway speeds. We suspect the new "cradle" housing the engine, which improves rigidity and isolates engine noise, is playing a big part here. There is also little wind or road noise from the tyres and the car's all-wheel drive means gravel roads are dispatched with ease.Grip levels are high when encountering slippery conditions. The Xenon low-beam headlights deliver a strong spread of light.The 213mm ground clearance also means there is plenty of space between you and potential hazards but sometimes there is a wallowy sensation through sharp corners brought on by the car's raised ride height. Its soft-road credentials are aided by higher-profile tyres that provide a comfortable ride over most surfaces.The Outback's double wishbone rear suspension is clearly an improvement over the old car in isolating both noise and improving ride comfort.The 3.6-litre "boxer" engine is a sweet unit. It is very smooth, reasonably powerful and the five-speed automatic works in well. The paddle shifters are are welcome addition. The 3.6R gets the gimmicky SI-Drive system, which we left in the default Sport setting most of the time.The three-mode SI-Drive system allows for Intelligent economy driving, Sport and Sport-plus. As the name suggests, Intelligent ensures gentle and smooth power delivery.Around town in stop-start traffic it worked a treat and helped bring economy down to 11.6 litres/100km. However, if you need more mumbo, Sports is the best setting and is also the default mode.There are some areas where Fuji Heavy Industries engineering thoroughness comes at the expense of some of the car's tactile senses .Take a closer look at some parts of the car and there is evidence of a thrifty approach to minor details. The temporary spare is a step backwards, particularly when there appears to be room enough for a full-size one.Subaru once crowed about having full-size spares - when so many other rivals get by with a spacesaver - so it's a backward step to see them fall into line with such shortcuts.Apart from the spare, the blank switch covers next to the gearshift in the 3.6R - where we assume the heated front seat switches are in American versions - are a constant reminder you're missing out on something.Subaru has also moved to save costs by replacing the light-weight aluminium bonnet with a steel unit. We also would have preferred a temperature gauge in place of the ‘eco’ meter, as well as reversing sensors and/or a camera on the base 3.6R. To get a reversing camera you have to spend extra for the satnav system.Subaru plugs its vehicles as ideal towing machines but as experienced caravaners or off-roaders know, a temperature gauge is not just cosmetic. The electric handbrake and its positioning low and to the right of the steering wheel also looks like an afterthought. We accidently hit the traction control switch one time searching in the dark for the handbrake switch. It may be a lack of familiarity but it is not intuitive.There is no doubt the Outback is a clear technical and engineering improvement over the old car. It is refined, reasonably classy and thoroughly well sorted. But for the price, the 3.6 R is facing increased competition from other commendable soft-roaders.However, there is no ignoring the bullet-proof build quality and the badge. And for many buyers that's enough to guarantee a sales hit.Overall, the design will polarise buyers, but the Outback is a strong effort from a company that builds bullet-proof cars.Score 79/100

Not only does the new Ford Fiesta Econetic turbo-diesel beat the Toyota Prius on price, but it is also more fuel-efficient. The Econetic goes on sale from December 1 with a drive-away price of $24,990 - $15,000 cheaper than the cheapest Prius hybrid. It also wins the fuel economy battle with a combined fuel economy figure of just 3.7 litres/100km, .02 of a litre better than the Prius. By Ford's own estimates, the Econetic will travel more than 1000km between refills. The newest Ford is also only the second car in Australia to achieve a greenhouse gas emission rating under 100g/km and the only non-hybrid car to get a low C02 figure of 98g/km. The hybrid Prius is the other with C02 emissions of 89g/km. Ford Australia president and chief executive officer, Marin Burela, has big hopes for the 1.6-litre TDCi, which could pave the way for other Econetics. He says the company is committed to achieving "fuel economy leadership in every segment in which we compete". The Econetic has already attracted a lot of interest from both private and fleet buyers. However, Burela is not prepared to put a sales forecast on the frugal hatch. "Right now we're taking it a step at the time," he says. "We're not wanting to be too bullish." However, it is clear Burela thinks the hatch will be a winner and attract city buyers. "I think it is a game changer for us," he says. He says the car is Ford's most visible commitments to going green. The success of the Fiesta, which is a sellout, is also expected to help Econetic sales, he says. "Most cars with this level of fuel efficiencies tend to compromise," he says. "This is no compromise." The Econetic, like the petrol Fiestas, is being sourced out of Cologne in Germany. However from mid-2010 Fiestas will be imported from Thailand and benefit from the Free Trade Agreement, wich should help lower prices. There are no plans to build the Econetic in Thailand, Burela says. At the heart of the five-door is Ford's Duratorq TDCI 1.6-litre four cylinder and five-speed manual transmission. It develops 66kW at 4000 revs and 200Nm from 1750 revs. To help reduce emissions it gets a diesel particulate filter. Economy has improved through the use of low-rolling resistance Michelin tyres, a recalibrated transmission and final drive ratio and improved aerodynamics. The spare tyre has been dumped in an effort to save weight, replaced by a tyre ‘mobility kit’. Visually the car looks little different to a CL version, with steel wheels and a slightly lower ride high. The cabin remains the same, except for a green shift light indicator in the dials. And if the Fiesta Econetic takes off, Ford has more ultra-frugal diesels waiting in the wings. In Europe Econetic versions of the Focus and Mondeo are available. Burela says they could be easily added to the lineup. "We'll wait and see how the Fiesta goes first," he says. Ford executives will be watching Toyota's rollout of the hybrid Camry next year with strong interest before formulating a response. However, Burela says any fuel efficient strategy "must go down that path of affordable economy". Make One Degree of difference today by calculating your carbon footprint and finding out what you can do to reduce it.

It has been a great month for Holden and its performance offshoot Holden Special Vehicles. Last weekend's Bathurst 1, 2, 3 result and the favourable response to its new E2 Series is setting the company up for a good year.HSV sales are tipped to hit around 3000 for the year, just a few hundred shy of last year's result, which HSV chief Phil Harding reckons is pretty damn good in the current economic climate. Since Sunday too, having Bathurst winners Garth Tander and Will Davison on side as HSV ambassadors cannot hurt the brand's status. Both Tander and Davison were involved in developing the new E2 GTS, tweaking the car's ride and handling along with HSV engineers.The company can rightly claim the GTS has proven race-bred performance, which is important to HSV's heartland.E2 DrivetrainsBut let's get to the grunt. For the E2 cars, HSV has taken the opportunity to lift GTS power by 8kW to 325kW/550Nm for the 6.2-litre V8, while the ClubSport, Maloo, Senator and Grange carry over with 317kW/550Nm.Fuel economy -- despite HSV research showing it is not being a high priority for owners -- has been improved slightly too. Chief engineer Joel Stoddart says improved economy was one of the goals of the E2 program. "We have achieved up to 4.5 per cent improvement in fuel economy, with an auto ClubSport R8 now returning 13.9 litres per 100km," he said.AppearanceApart from the Bathurst brush with fame, the E2 introduces bolder ‘look-at-me’ styling as well as some new driver-oriented gear. All E2 cars get Audi-style daytime LED running lights set into the bumper and a competition setting for motorsport track days that lifts the threshold for the stability control system. Manual models also get a launch-control feature.The range certainly looks more distinctive as well as more aggressive than the previous E1 models. What buyers did tell HSV is that they wanted greater visual differentiation for the GTS, as befits its status. And if you really want to be noticed though the GTS is the pick of the pack.The massive wheel and tyre package and ‘shockwave’ hourglass styling graphics of the front bumper and deep rear bumpers lends an air of purpose to the already brash sedan.Like the rest of the range, the GTS's retina-sizzling daytime running lights let everyone know you're driving HSV's latest and greatest. Borrowing the twin bonnet scoops from Holden's Pontiac G8 export cars for the Clubsport, GTS and Maloo adds an air of menace to the newcomers. The twin scoops and more assertive grille on the sportier models are designed to separate them from the luxury cars in the range.The Senator and Grange miss out on the scoops and HSV says even if buyers wanted to, the bonnets cannot be interchanged. Apart from being more distinctive, customers also wanted to be able to trick out their cars with more personal touches.OptionsHSV has responded by introducing an upgraded option package called SV Enhanced across the range, which it expects to be very popular. The SV pack includes a freer-flowing ‘bi-modal’ exhaust that produces a meatier sound at higher revs, leather seats and 20-inch wheels on the Clubsport and Maloo.On the GTS the pack adds six-piston front brake calipers finished in yellow and four-piston rear brakes. The GTS also gets a recalibrated magnetic ride-control suspension that is 20mm lower and 30 per cent stiffer with wider wheels that really fill out the mudguards. All that will set you back $3790 on the GTS while the trick exhaust is $2290 on other models.Clubsport buyers can add performance suspension for $1850 or opt for the SV Enhanced kit with 20-inch wheels, bi-modal exhaust, performance suspension and leather for $7450. To make sure the neighbours know you're driving something different, buyers ordering the options get special badges to differentiate them from standard E2 models.PricingPrices remain the same, with the Clubsport opener from $65,990 while the GTS and Senator Signature rise $700 to $80,990 and $82,990.Driving - Paul GoverIt is absolutely impossible to ignore the new GTS. It is one of those cars that just screams for attention. Then I fire the V8 and get an instant reminder, from the loud and proud new active exhaust, of the engineering work that has gone into the Series II update of the HSV VE.The body bits are in-your-face aggressive, but the real work is in everything from the engine to the suspension and even an F1-style launch control on the six-speed manual gearbox. "We've spent 75 per cent of the money on things you cannot see. I am an engineer and I always want the money to be spent on engineering," says HSV chief, Phil Harding."I promise you will not find a car that rides as well on 20-inch rims as this one." The body bits are a love-it-or-hate-it job, and the cabin is not much better than a regular SS Commodore, but it's hard to ignore the work done by Harding and his team.The car really has a superb ride, the front-end grip and response is exceptional, and the engine has more grunt you can feel from 4000 revs. It is nowhere near the refinement of a Mercedes E63, but it torches the V8s from Ford Performance Vehicles and is way cheaper than the booming new Benz. When you're driving the GTS you need one of two things: a big ego or thick skin. If you like the stares you will love the cars, but otherwise you need to ignore the endless looks and cracks. Oh, some driving talent also helps in a car that now cracks with 325kW.It's easy to drive the car briskly, just slotting into a high gear and letting the torque do the work, but there are vast reserves of power and brilliant corner grip available on the right road at the right time. Drilling all the way down to GTS bedrock, however, would mean booking a racetrack. Once you hit 4000 revs the engine comes alive and you need to be paying attention, but the GTS has HSV's best brakes and that makes for a well-balanced package. The six-speed shift and clutch are still heavy, but the launch control is brilliant.It means anyone can do a thunking good job of a 0-100km/h sprint, although I was not able to match the sub-five second run of the HSV engineers. A few ticks more is still pretty good for a car this big and heavy. The fuel economy will run 9.1L/100km on the highway, and averages 13.9 during my test, but will easily slip beyond 16 if you call up all the horses.I also like the car's supportive seats, and the punchy sound system, and the Bluetooth phone connection, but a car with this price should come with satnav as standard. And with something, anything, to make the cabin more rewarding for the person who has paid big to get HSV's hero.Lined up against its rivals the GTS is an easy winner over anything from Ford Performance Vehicles, even the turbo I personally prefer over the V8 GT, and is a bargain against the class benchmark from Mercedes-Benz. It is also a car that looks like becoming an instant benchmark for Aussie muscle.You can love it or hate it, but it is impossible to ignore it. Overall, it’s a knockout car that scare European performance sedans and thrill died-in-wool HSV enthusiasts.Score 80/100HSV GTSPrice: $80,990Engine: 6.2-litre Gen III V8Power:  325kW at 6000 revsTorque: 550Nm at 4600 revsTransmission: Six speed manaul (six-speed sequential automatic)Economy: 14.8 litres/100km (13.9 litres/100km auto)CO2 Emissions: 352g/km (329g/km auto)RivalsMercedes-Benz E63: 86/100 (from $234,900)Ford Falcon FPV GT: 76/100 (from $67,890)Ford Falcon F6E FPV turbo: 78/100 (from $79,740)BMW M5: 80/100 (from $291,200)

Announced only last month, Mercedes-Benz dealers now hold 15 orders for the newest Benz supercar, the SLS.The car arrives next June with priced from around $500,000. Mercedes-Benz spokesman, David McCarthy, says the company is confident of selling about 70 in the first 12 months. "We are expected to get about 50 cars minimum," he says. "The inquiry has been strong and the demand has been unbelievable."Mercedes-Benz plans to build about 12,000 SLSs over five years. Like the 1950s Mercedes SL coupe, the SLS has upward opening gullwing doors that, like the front-end styling, take their inspiration from the classic coupe. However, the 21st-century gullwing has an aluminium space-frame body, 420kW V8 set just ahead of the two seater

Mercedes-Benz dealers across the country already hold 30 orders for the hot-shot $234,900 E63 AMG sports sedan and order books are running hot. Deliveries start later this month and Mercedes-Benz Australia spokesman, David McCarthy, says many of the orders came in even before pricing was announced."A lot of our clients were expecting prices around $250,000," he says. McCarthy says the E63 is $4056 cheaper than the outgoing model. "That's partly to do with exchange rates and partly because of the hard bargaining with Mercedes-Benz Germany," he says. McCarthy says the lower price, combined with additional equipment and features totalling $28,100, delivers "a net customer advantage of $32,156".The E63 has been tailored to the Australian market. It is the only market to get 19-inch wheels as standard, along with a rear spoiler and sun protection package. Based on the new E-Class sedan, the E63 gets a powerful AMG-inspired 6.3-litre V8, AMG Ride Control sports suspension with electronically controlled damping and a new front axle. The high-revving naturally aspirated engine develops 386kW/630Nm and slingshots the car to 100km/h in 4.5 seconds and has an electronically limited top speed of 250km/h.Mercedes-Benz Australia sold about 950 AMG cars last year and is expecting a similar number this year. "Give the economy and the global financial crisis, that's an excellent result," McCarthy says. "AMG in Australia, in terms of market penetration, is continually in the top five markets globally. "I think our customers love the V8s and the AMG brand really resonates with our buyers."

Mazda Australia is investigating the possibility of sourcing future Mazda2s out of Thailand, where it now gets the BT-50 utility.The move could slash prices for the entry model, which starts at $16,390 for the three-door. Despite Mazda Motor Corp managing executive officer, Yuji Nakamine, confirming Australian-bound 2s will come from Thailand within a year, Mazda Australia remains non-committal.Mazda Australia spokesman, Steve Maciver, says Japan will remain the source for Australian-bound 2s at present. "Thailand is certainly on the table but there have been no decisions," he says. "At this stage Mazda2 production in Thailand is confirmed only for South-East Asian countries."With cheap Chinese passenger car imports starting soon and Proton's aggressively priced 1.6-litre S16 sedan due in showrooms next month, Mazda needs a fightback strategy to keep its popular entry model on the boil. Production of the Mazda2 hatch - with a revised Mazda3-style grille and tail-lights - has just started at the $500 million AutoAlliance Thailand factory at Rayong.The AAT plant also builds the Ford Fiesta, which shares Mazda2 underpinnings. Ford Australia has already confirmed it will start importing the Fiesta from Thailand next year to take advantage of the Free Trade Agreement between Australia and Thailand. Meanwhile, Mazda Australia has brought forward the 2010 import duty drop, saving new car buyers up to $2000.From January 1, the Federal Government will reduce duty on imported passenger cars from 10 to 5 per cent. The duty drop means new car buyers will save about 3 per cent on new cars. The average price of a Mazda3 will drop $930 while RX-8 buyers will save more than $2000. Four-wheel drive and light commercial vehicles already get a 5 per cent duty.Imports from Thailand remain unaffected by the duty change. Apart from Mazda, Honda imports the Jazz, Civic sedan, Accord VTi and V6 and CR-V from Thailand.