Articles by Neil McDonald

A Holden is being recruited to police the mean streets of Los Angeles in a deal that could eventually make the car the top choice with cops across the US. The multi-million dollar bid is for 20,000 cars and will be announced in the US today by GM-Holden chairman Alan Batey and Industry Minister Kim Carr. The law-enforcement lifeline renews the export potential of Holden's large car lineup to the US.The VE Commodore had been a major success as a Pontiac G8 until the American brand sank under the weight of General Motors' bankruptcy earlier this year.The latest deal comes after a successful pitch more than six months ago by a Holden team led by former president, Mark Reuss, who has since returned to the US to become the product development boss at General Motors.The sleek V6 and V8 Statesmans - badged as Chevrolet Caprices - are likely to replace the LAPD's ageing fleet of Ford Crown Victoria sedans. If successful, GM-Holden also stands a good chance of becoming a global supplier of GM cop cars for other countries. Batey, along with other Holden executives, are in Denver attending an international law enforcement conference.Carr said if successful, the bid would be a big money spinner. "They're talking about 20,000 cars immediately with the prospect of a much higher number in the future," he said. "I'm optimistic about the quality of the car and if accepted by the Los Angeles police it could enhance Holden's ability to sell more cars to other US police departments."Carr said the Holden police car was an opportunity for Australian initiative to be displayed ‘to show its true worth’. "I don't want to pre-empt the process though," he said. "It is quite rigorous. "However, we are very optimistic about the bid. "I'm quite sure they can persuade people how good the car is."Carr is already in the US to spruik the local car and component industry to Detroit's leading car executives. The LA police car idea was the brains of Melbourne-based company, National Safety Agency. Earlier this year it built a prototype based on the left-hand drive Pontiac G8 to show off to the LAPD. The car showcased new law enforcement technologies. It integrated many separate technologies used by police forces into a single platform to create a police station on wheels.The car has fingerprint recognition technology, video surveillance and CCTV access, traffic information and web access. It also boasted a police computer screen molded directly into the dashboard. The NSA specialises in innovative technology for emergency service vehicles. 

When the first Subaru Liberty was launched 20 years ago it was the company's most ambitious model. It was a gamble on the mid-size segment that has paid off handsomely for Fuji Heavy Industries, which makes Subaru cars.With the arrival of fifth-generation Liberty, Fuji has also taken reasonably big gamble. The sedan and wagon have grown in size - most significantly in the cabin - gained a more conventional look, improved safety levels and some technical advances that have lifted economy.The wheelbase has grown 80mm in the sedan and 75mm in the Outback to provide more rear-seat leg and luggage space. The larger cabin also has more headroom and is significantly quieter with rear passengers benefiting most from the gains in space. Owners will appreciate the wider opening rear doors.In the sedan there is 476 litres of boot space, while the wagon gets 490 litres with the 60/40 rear seats upright and 1690 litres with the seats folded. The wagon's rear hatch has also been redesigned to be wider and lower to allow easier access to the boot.Depending on the model, weight has crept up between 17kg and 94kg, but new engines are more economical and kinder to the planet. Fuel consumption is improved in every Liberty, including 11.0 per cent in automatic Liberty GT and 9.7 per cent in automatic 2.5i models, in the combined cycle while emissions have also been cut.The Liberty also gets a five star crash rating, raising the safety bar by adding a driver's side knee airbag and engine cradle that is designed not only to isolate engine noise but absorb crash energy in a heavy front-on accident.Manual 2.5-litre Libertys now get an extra cog with six-speeds while automatic buyers, expected to be the bulk of Liberty sedan and wagon sales, gain a continuously variable transmission Subaru calls Lineartronic. The range-topper gets a 3.6-litre horizontally opposed six-cylinder "boxer" engine shared with the Tribeca, as well as a new five-speed automatic.A 2.0-litre turbodiesel arrives in the Outback in November. The 2.5i four-cylinder "boxer" engine and CVT, which is expected to account for about 75 per cent of sales, has a combined fuel economy figure of 8.4 litres for 100km, compared with 9.5 litres for the old car.The 2.5i develops less power but better torque across the rev range with 123kW at 5600 revs and 229Nm at 4000 revs on tap.Importantly Subaru has managed to hold price points, despite exchange rate pressures earlier this year. The entry-level Liberty 2.5i starts from $33,990 while the range-topping Liberty GT Premium is $52,990, $4500 less than the superseded GT spec.B. The Liberty 3.6R Premium is the same price as the superseded Liberty 3.0R Premium.New Liberty models gain electric parking brakes and the Premium versions add automatic headlights, rain sensing wipers, keyless access and push button start.New to the range is the 2.5i Sports, which gets the CVT transmission, sports front bumper and grille, Bilstein suspension, alloy pedals, 18-inch alloy wheels and Xenon headlights with washers. Models with satellite navigation also get a reversing camera and integrated Bluetooth microphone.Visually the Liberty sedan and wagon - as well as the Outback - get a more upright look that critics have suggested loses some of the sportiness of the old model.The oversized eyebrow headlights sweep up the mudguards and the anonymous styling of the rear on the sedan has been compared to the Toyota Camry.Some of the quirks have gone too. Subaru's signature frameless windows have been replaced by frames that Subaru says help cabin quietness and the rigidity of the doors. The Liberty and Outback now join the Impreza and Forester in reverting to conventional window frames.Inside the cabin is light and airy with quality switchgear. Subaru's quirky SI-Drive system with intelligent, sports and sports-plus modes, appears on the GT and 3.6R.In growing up the Liberty has become more mainstream but what has not changed is Subaru's reputation for reliabilty and quality.For many prospective buyers, as well as existing owners, the brand's solid reputation will be enough to keep them coming back.Driving The new Liberty is a giant leap forward in a lot of areas, including the cabin space, transmission and suspension.After the mild makeovers on its main rivals, the Honda Accord Euro and Mazda6, the major changes come as a very pleasant surprise and one which is even more surprising after the Japanese cutbacks through the global economic downturn.So the Liberty - and the high-rider Outback - is obviously a Very Big Deal for Subaru, particularly for the US. In the past it has struggled to make a breakthrough there, even with Paul Hogan trumpeting the Outback, which is why it went for the bigger body and the . . . polarising . . . design work.Some people like the way the new Liberty look cuts through traffic, but others say it is too brutal and not remotely subtle. I say it's up to you. But you cannot argue with the extra space inside, the cushy front buckets, the excellent size and shape of the rear bench, and the extra space in the tail end of the Liberty wagon.It feels a full size bigger than the previous Liberty and is much more likely to get on the shopping list against a Commodore Sportwagon.The interior design also reflects new thinking at Subaru, something I like, and steps it away from the Euro and 6.Equipment levels are good, including a trip computer and cruise control on the basic car, but there is no Bluetooth link for the mobile and the operation of the electronic parking brake is an annoying fiddle.Dynamically, I think Subaru has taken a big leap forward with the new Liberty. It shares a lot of its components with the smaller Impreza, but the suspension is extremely smooth and compliant, there is great steering feel, and the car has more than enough grip and poise for family work.The suspension is clearly ahead of 6 and Euro, and a rival to the better Europeans, with its ability to soak nasty undulations and acne such as expansion joints and stutter bumps. And it is quiet, too. Speed bumps kick the back end around a bit, but that is my only complaint.The 2.5 boxer four is not overly perky, but the new six-speed transmission flatters it and must be great with the turbocharged GT engine. It's a sorta-CVT design but has six `gears' and paddle shifters if you want to make your own decisions.The car is a bit dozy from a standing start unless you floor the throttle, but once you get rolling it moves nicely and the manual shift allows surprisingly fun driving on twisty roads.I have no reason to question the safety in the new Liberty, or the long-term quality, and Subaru seems to have responded to criticism of the uninspiring latest Impreza by making this car more luxurious and significantly better than the outgoing model. It's a huge change and one that deserves recognition and kudos.The mid-size class is a real mix in Australia, with the latest Ford Mondeo making a strong claim and Toyota bouncing back with an update on the Camry. And perhaps it's a mistake to try the latest Subaru as a wagon first, but it has usually been the best from the brand.For me, the Liberty is now the benchmark in its class. Forget the way it looks, take a drive, and you will be won.Rating: 82/100

It's a piece of automotive art created by the luxury carmaker, BMW, for a television commercial that was outlawed because it promoted irresponsible driving.The colourful canvas will be auctioned next month at a gala Melbourne event for the Make Breast Cancer History organisation. The carmaker's painting is one of more than 20 unusual items to be auctioned to raise funds for breast cancer research. Both event organisers and BMW believe the piece - which measures 2.5m by 1.2m - will attract strong bids.Make Breast Cancer History spokesperson, Rachel West, said it was priceless. "Considering its history, it is unique so we hope it will fetch a good price," she said. Apart from the BMW painting the charity will flog off a Kokoda Track walk in PNG, a private cocktail party for 30 and a year's supply of meat, fruit and vegetables. "It is a charity auction with a twist," West said.The BMW ad featured a Z4 coupe creating the giant artwork in a warehouse by driving with painted tyres. The work is now a part of BMW's Art Car Collection. Company spokesman, Toni Andreevski, said the German carmaker did not normally donate pieces from its collection. "It's certainly unusual but it's for a good cause," he said. "Rather than leave it in storage, we thought we would donate it." Andreevski welcomed the opportunity to turn the negative publicity surrounding the ad, into a positive.The ad was outlawed by the Advertising Standards Bureau in June because the stunts shown in the clip broke Australian road rules. The bureau found that the ‘artistic’ ad encouraged hoon driving because it showed the car spinning its wheels and skidding.The clip was used around the world but Australia was the only country to ban it. BMW commissioned South African artist Robin Rhode and famous film director Ridley Scott's son, Jake, to make the huge football-field size canvas.The company also has works by Andy Warhol, Roy Lichtenstein, Frank Stella and Ken Done.The charity auction aims to raise $100,000 and will be held on Saturday, October 10.

Mitsubishi has unveiled two new concepts — the all-electric i-MIEV Cargo and a new Outlander-size plug-in hybrid off-roader called the PX-MIEV. Both cars are expected to make it into production in Japan next year and on sale in other markets by 2011.The PX is powered by a plug-in hybrid system, which significantly extends the frequency a hybrid vehicle is driven in EV mode, returning fuel economy of around 3.0 litres/100km.The car uses a new all-wheel drive system call S-AWC (Super All Wheel Control) that has an electrically powered yaw control that transfers torque to the rear left and right wheels. Petrol power is provided by an 85kW/125Nm 1.6-litre MIVEC four cylinder which can power the front wheels as well as work as a generator.Electric power is provided by two permanent magnet synchronous motors for both the front and rear wheels.At low speeds though, the car uses electric power only to the front wheels. The PX also uses dedicated drive control system that selects the best drive mode — front or all-wheel drive — depending on the driving conditions, through integrated control of the EV components and the petrol engine.As with the production i-MiEV, the PX has a three-way battery charging system using either a 100-volt or a 200-volt domestic supply or a high-power quick-charging station. The car is also fitted with an electronically controlled air suspension that gives the driver choice of three height modes — auto, high or low.The styling of the PX gives a hint at what the next-generation Outlander could look like with a body that uses a newly-developed metal colour that gives the car a metal shell-like appearance. The spoke-style wheels are designed to assist cooling and aerodynamics.Inside the cabin has deliberately been designed like an aircraft cockpit to improve the driver's concentration and has an instrument panel that curves around the driver. LED lighting is used for the dashboard and door trim while the front and rear lights are LED.The i-MIEV Cargo is derived from the production i-MIEV but gains a hug van-size cargo area instead of conventional rear doors. The Cargo's luggage space is 1350mm wide, 1180 mm deep and 1100 mm high with a flat floor. The height of the compartment floor has been designed to facilitate loading and unloading of luggage and make it more user-friendly. 

...that is leaving some Holden Commodore owners stranded. Even GM-Holden is stumped by what's causing batteries in late-model VE Commodores to run flat. The company's product communications manager, Kate Lonsdale, says the battery bugbear is now being treated as a priority.However, GM-Holden is unsure how many cars are affected, or which models. "We need to see if there is a pattern or a common link," she says. Lonsdale says the electrical problem was proving difficult to pinpoint. "There are so many reasons why a battery can go flat," she says. "What we're hearing is that it is not the battery so much as something draining the battery."Nationally several dealers have experienced intermittent battery problems with customer cars but they say these have largely been fixed. South Gippsland oil rig worker, Rob Flannigan, says his $55,000 Calais wagon has left his family stranded five times since he bought the car new last year. "I'm fed up," he says.Flannigan says he is so worried the 2008 luxury wagon will not start he now carries a recharge pack in the car. "When you spend that amount of money on a car you don't expect 1950s levels of reliability," he says.Despite his local dealer admitting there was a problem, Flannigan says has had little luck with Holden's customer assistance centre. "I really would like it fixed," he says.The battery problem became critical when Flannigan's 17-year-old son needed urgent medical help earlier this year because of a broken hand. "My wife Julie tried to start the car and the battery was flat," he says.They phoned Holden roadside assist to jump start the car but then had to borrow a car to rush his son to hospital. Various state-based motoring organisations say the problem is an old one. The NRMA, which handles Holden's premium roadside assist, says there has been a small increase in flat batteries in the VE ‘but nothing that would be categorised as a major issue’.One popular theory on the cause is a software problem with the alternator, which is not providing enough charge to the battery on short journeys, causing the battery to run down.Lonsdale urges worried owners to contact their dealers or Holden's customer assistance centre. 

Three budget utes — two from China and one from Malaysia — have scored poorly in the latest crash tests done by the Australasian New Car Assessment Program. The Great Wall Motors SA220 and V240 utes from China scored just two stars out of five. The third ute, the Malaysian-built Proton Jumbuck, did worse, scoring just one star.All three models received severely deformed cabins when crashed into a wall at 64km/h to replicate ANCAP's off-set head-on collision. The utes also had poor impact protection for both the driver and passenger crash test dummies, which recorded critical head and leg injuries.ANCAP council chair and VicRoads manager vehicle safety, Ross McArthur, said the results for the China utes were particularly disappointing because they were new models.The SA220 and the Jumbuck lack airbags and other safety features that are expected as standard equipment by new car buyers, McArthur said. “The V240 has dual airbags but these failed to protect the driver and passenger from injury in our crash tests,” he said.Proton axed its $16,990 Jumbuck several weeks ago in anticipation of the arrival of a new model. However, Proton Australia managing director, John Startari, said the ute was not withdrawn because of the impending crash test result.The ute, which has been in the market for about seven years, had reached the end of its production life, he said.“But a new Jumbuck is a fair way off,” Startari said.GWM is one of the first Chinese carmakers to begin a big push on to the Australian market with low-cost vehicles. Both the SA220 and V240 were launched in June, with prices starting at $19,990.Chinese-built vehicles have a history of poor crash test performances. A four-wheel drive Jiangling Motors LandWind model famously scored zero in similar German crash tests in 2005.To check out the latest results, go to www.ancap.com.au  

But Kia has valiantly soldiered on against the odds as sales of fellow Korean Hyundai - which owns 38 per cent of Kia - has shot ahead on the back of the i30, iMax and iLoad and its market share has grown to 7 per cent. However, Kia is pinning its future on a product-led recovery that it expects to increase sales and its market share.Kia is one of only a handful of brands this year that have increased market share, despite its sales slipping 6.7 per cent. Kia Australia's national sales manager, Alan Crouch, acknowledges there will be comparisions with Kia's performance against Hyundai. "But they have reached a critical mass and we're still some way off," he says.Crouch says Kia is on track to sell around 20,000 vehicles this year, the same as last year, despite the economic slowdown. "We'll be very happy with that," he says. "We think the market will be around 850,000 and our market share will be about 2.5 per cent compared to 1.8 per cent last year."Crouch says Kia Australia has done a lot of development work this year "sowing the ground" for future product and more investment. Dealer numbers have grown from 108 to 117 and for the first time there is now a dealer in Alice Springs and Broome. "As we said when we launched Soul, Kia is a different company now," he says.Crouch says the company has also had a more consistent approach to advertising and marketing, moving away from the budget brand tag. Fresh European-inspired product is also driving new buyers into showrooms. "What we're noticing is that the people who are buying our cars are changing," he says. They are younger, design-driven people, he says. "We're seeing people we have never seen before in a Kia dealership."Crouch attributes this change to the new Cerato sedan and Soul and their competitive pricepoints. He expects more people will cross shop against Kia with the arrival of the Koup and the new Sorento off-roader in a few months.However, those looking to compare in the van segment will have less luck. The cheap and cheerful Kia Pregio diesel van won a legion of fans because of its practicality, and also helped underpin Kia sales locally. But since it was withdrawn in 2006 Kia has moved on and a replacement is unlikely, according to Alan Crouch. "The facts are that there is not a product applicable to the Australian market going forward, especially on safety," Crouch says.Given the high-level of specification and safety now required for the local light commercial van market, Crouch says filling the space left by the Pregio would be difficult.The Cerato, Soul and Koup also show that Kia is moving on from being a rudimentary carmaker, he says. 

But Ford is hoping its new G6 Limited Edition sedan will add some spice into the established G Series line-up. With XR models making up 43 per cent of Falcon sales and the rest high-end G-Series cars, the entry $42,490 G6 has largely been something of an orphan in the Falcon line-up. Ford Australia president, Marin Burela, wants to change that. "The G6 has not been known as well as we would like in that mid-$30,000 segment," he says. For that reason the G6 Limited Edition will kick off at $36,490 drive-away, pitching right into the mid-size and large car segments, but more importantly aimed at Holden's refreshed Commodore line-up. A G6 LE dedicated LPG version will cost $2000 extra. "We are comfortable that it will drive incremental sales in the Falcon range," Burela says. The G6 LE gains $4000 of extra gear, including 18-inch alloys, leather trim, side curtain airbags, as well as other cosmetic upgrades and iPod integration and Bluetooth. The LPG model gets 17-inch alloys. With the arrival of the Limited Edition, Burela has flagged some changes in the G series line-up. "We are looking at the opportunity for less complexity in the model line-up in the G Series," he says. However, he will not be drawn on whether the G6 and the G6E will become one model. "We're not sure, it's too early to say," he says. And the Limited Edition numbers? Burela's not saying. "It spoils it for customers if they know," he says. However, Carguide understands 1500 LEs will be built.

The company has rolled out the next instalment of its EcoBoost engine story, which will eventually be sold in future Fiestas and Focuses. The 1.6-litre four cylinder engine is the smallest so far in Ford's new engine lineup that now includes a 2.0-litre four and 3.5-litre V6. "The new family of Ford EcoBoost four-cylinder petrol engines coming in 2010 is a key element of Ford Motor Company's global blueprint for sustainability," according to Ford of Europe chairman, John Fleming. "We believe these engines will provide customers with a genuinely attractive alternative to diesel or hybrid power units." The smaller 1.6-litre engine unveiled this week will span power outputs in the 112kW to 135kW range. It is likely to arrive first in the C-Max people mover just unveiled at the Frankfurt Motor Show. The EcoBoost strategy will also filter down to small-capacity four-cylinder engines under 110kW. The larger 2.0-litre Ford EcoBoost engine makes its first rear-wheel drive appearance in the local Ford Falcon from 2011. Fleming also gave the first indication of the Falcon four's likely power output, saying the 2.0-litre engine will cater for applications of 150kW and above. This means the Falcon four could have more than 150kW on tap but still be under the six's 195kW/391Nm. However, direct injection, twin variable valve timing and turbo-charging is expected to deliver a broader spread of torque from around 1500 revs. Ford also expects the EcoBoost four to deliver fuel economy gains of up to 20 per cent and 15 per cent fewer greenhouse gases than an equivalent six-cylinder. Ford Australia engineers have already started development work on the four and will soon start testing it in local Falcons. The four-cylinder EcoBoost engines in Ford's European range arrives early next year and will be called SCTi, for sequential charge turbo injection. Apart from the fuel-efficient 1.6, Ford used the Frankfurt Motor Show to show off its latest Econetic car, the Focus, which boasts economy of 3.2 litres/100km and greenhouse emissions of just 99g/km. The new Focus Econetic is powered by an 80kW 1.6-litre turbodiesel with a particulate filter to lower greenhouse emissions. It joins Econetic versions of the Fiesta and Mondeo in Europe. Ford Australia is on track to launch the Fiesta Econetic in November, which promises real-world fuel economy of 3.7 litres/100km. The company is closely watching the success of its Econetic range in Europe, which includes a Mondeo, but it will test the water with the Fiesta first. Ford Australia spokesperson, Sinead McAlary, says there is a strong push to make Econetic a strong brand within the local Ford structure. "If it gets the response we think it will, then we will extend it across other models," she says. McAlary expects the Econetic Fiesta to have wide appeal, not just for fleet buyers. It will also be priced more competitively than some hybrids. Ford Australia has not released pricing yet but based on the European car, an Econetic Fiesta should be about $3000 more than the top-end Zetec model.

Ford Australia is taking a lead role in the development of a multi-million dollar mini car for India, called the Figo. The car was unveiled late yesterday in Delhi and goes on sale next year. A range of diesel and petrol Figos will be built at Ford's Chennai plant, which is undergoing a $500 million refit in preparation for production. The Figo is the fourth big international design job done at Ford Australia, which is a lead design and engineering centre for the Asia-Pacific and Africa regions. It has already developed a Focus sedan for Asia, an Asian Ford ute called the T6 and a sedan based on the Fiesta, called the Ikon. The Figo is based on the previous-generation Fiesta hatch but has undergone significant engineering changes to meet the Indian market. Ford Australia spokesperson, Sinead McAlary, said it would not be sold in Australia. "However, it will be exported from India to other Asian markets," she said. McAlary said the Figo project was helping build local expertise at Broadmeadows. "It is yet another example of Ford Australia exporting local design and engineering expertise for the benefit of Ford globally," she said. Ford Australia's 100-strong engineering and design team, led by chief Scott Strong was responsible for the car. Ford India president and managing director, Michael Boneham, expects the hatch to be a big player in the Indian market, where 70 per cent of the market is dominated by small cars. "We believe Ford Figo is a big game-changer for Ford that will help transform our brand into a volume player in India," he said.