Articles by Neil McDonald

As the officially `leaked' partial photo of the car shows, the Sportback four-seater has a coupe-like silhouette with hatch-like practicality. The design is clearly aimed at cars like the BMW 5 Series Gran Turismo, Volkswagen CC and Mercedes-Benz CLS, essentially taking the four-door coupe concept a step further.The carmaker says the idea was to combine the style and sophistication of a coupe with the comfort of a sedan, yet have the versatility of a wagon.Audi Australia spokesperson, Anna Burgdorf, says the Sportback will be a welcome addition. Audi currently sells about 80 A5s a month and Burgdorf believes the Sportback has the potential to become a popular model like the A3 Sportback."There definitely is a market for that type of car," she says.Audi no longer has an A6 Avant in its lineup, so the A5 Sportback has the potential to slide into this niche as an alternative."Of course we still have the A6 Allroad for those buyers looking for something more," she says.Although prices and specifications have not been announced the hatch is tipped to cost slightly more than the equivalent A5 coupe models, which opens with the $79,900 2.0-litre TFSI.Audi executives have made no secret of the fact that they wants to lift the brand's passenger car model count from 27 to 40 by 2015 and elevate its status beyond key rivals BMW and Mercedes-Benz in many markets.Both TDI and FSI engines will be available but the final engine lineup and pricing for Australia is yet to be finalised.The five-door has a long and tapering roofline with short front and rear overhangs. It sits on a 33mm shorter wheelbase than the A6 sedan and has four frameless doors.The Sportback's luggage capacity of 480 litres almost equals that in a A4 Avant, with the rear seats in place. With the rear seats folded the Sportback space increases to 980 litres.All engines meet stringent Euro 5 exhaust emission standards, and diesel versions are equipped with particulate filters. In Europe, two FSI petrol engines and three common rail TDI engines are available, all from the Audi family.The petrol engines are equipped with the Audi valvelift system producing more power and higher torque but delivering lower fuel consumption. The 2.0 TFSI quattro has a power output of 155kW and 350Nm and the 3.2 V6 quattro generates 195kW. The diesel engines range from a 2.0 TDI up to a 3.0-litre V6. The 2.0 TDI is paired to a six-speed manual gearbox and produces 125kW/350Nm.It also has a start/stop system to help lower fuel consumption.The 140kW/400Nm 2.7 TDI and the 176kW/500Nm 3.0-litre V6 TDI and quattro all-wheel drive round out the range.

And the car industry is not immune from being saddled with these potentially damaging problems.Apart from Ford's recent problems with brake hoses and brake booster valves on E-Gas Falcons the other ‘big two’ carmakers have had their fair share of recalls.Holden has had five recalls for its VE Commodore and Statesman range since its introduction in 2006, involving things like fuel vapor lines, fuel lines and defective valves on LPG cars.ToyotaToyota had a range of recalls for its Camry, HiLux, RAV4, Yaris and LandCruiser over the past three years. Most, like a headlight dimmer switch on a Camry, have been minor. Others, like the potential fire hazard stemming from a poorly installed insulator pad on a Yaris, raised alarm bells among some customers.NissanLast week Nissan was forced to recall 11,743 Maximas and 4972 Muranos because of a vibrating air intake in the engine bay.AudiEven the luxury German brands are not immune. Last year Audi had to recall its TT for a piece of rear side trim in its cars that unless fixed, could potentially injure passengers.Mercedes-Benz This year Mercedes-Benz has recalled its M-Class off-roader for a possible glitch in its electric rear hatch. It was also forced to recall S-Class sedans fitted with active body control because of problems with the front lower ball joints on its suspension. On some high-mileage vehicles, the front suspension could fracture on rough roads. Faulty left and right windows in the Viano van also required the replacement.BMWOf the German carmakers, BMW has fared better. It has not had a official government recall since 2006.Volvo Volvo has had three recalls this year of its S80, XC70, V70 and new XC60 for engine cooling fan problems and windscreen wiper problems with the S80 and XC70.JaguarJaguar, once widely ridiculed for its poor quality cars, has come a long way over the past few years. Jaguars these days have no less, or no more, problems with recalls than some of the other luxury brands. Last year it experienced some minor problems with the XF range involving wiring and rear seatbelts.In all cases, recalls by carmakers are handled quickly and responsibly. If you want to check out whether your vehicle has had a recall, go to www.recalls.gov.au

With abundant local supplies of LPG and LNG transport analyst and managing director of energy group Rare Consulting, Mark McKenzie, told a gaseous fuels conference last week that Australia must secure its energy independence."We have a looming fuel deficit by 2030," he says."Australia's oil self-sufficiency will decline from 54 per cent in 2007 to less than 20 per cent by 2030 and possibly as low as 10 per cent if forecast new oil supply discoveries are not realised."McKenzie believes gas is a fuel of the future, particular given that transport consumes three-quarters of conventional oil supplies in Australia."There is a good strategic fit for gas," he says."The other thing about LPG is that we've got all the infrastructure in place."Currently there are 3200 LPG filling stations throughout Australia."That's one in every two service stations," McKenzie says.McKenzie sees LPG as a passenger car mainstay with LNG and CNG being more widely used in the heavy duty transport sector.The benefits of LPG are well documented. It delivers lower emissions, can be used in diesel engines, has lower engine wear and is half the cost of petrol.Australia too is believed to have about 65 years of gas reserves, according to Geoscience Australia.McKenzie also believes that newer-generation and more reliable LPG injection systems from carmakers and the after-market LPG fitters will help accelerate demand.However, another conference delegate, GM-Holden's energy and environment director, Richard Marshall, warned that Australian motorists are unlikely to switch to LPG in any great numbers while petrol prices remaining relatively cheap in global terms.Government incentives have helped induce buyers into LPG-powered vehicles and its tax-free status means it is cheaper at the pump compared to petrol.On the LPG excise question, McKenzie accepts there will be some impact on growth once it comes in from 2011 but he says the fuel must start paying its way.LPG receives no excise until 2011 at which time an excise of 2.5c a litre will apply, increasing by 2.5c each year until July 1, 2015, when it will be capped at 12.5c a litre.McKenzie says that the Federal Government could use an excise-free inducement for the development of other new fuel technologies like bio-fuel."One of the challenges in terms of some of the new fuels, particularly bio-fuels is that they will not be competitive without that excise exemption, ever," he says."We should be looking for fuel sources that really just need a window of exemption to allow them to gain a foothold in the market on the understanding that they will be able to pay their way in the future."Last year about 120,000 ex-factory and retro-fitted LPG cars were sold.Another conference delegate, Tony Fitzgerald of Orbital Autogas Systems in Perth, expects that by 2015 150,000 LPG-fueled vehicles will be sold each year.Of those about 80,000 will be ex-factory systems, with liquid injection and sequential vapour systems will take over from older LPG fuel systems.Less than 5 per cent of Australia's LPG fleet currently use newer sequential injection systems but Fitzgerald believes the rate of growth will accelerate."One of the challenges the LPG industry faces at the moment is the range and degree of some of the technology," he says."And some of this needs improvement." 

It might not look it from the outside, but Jaguar has been quietly honing its XF sedan into a formidable fighting machine to go into battle against the German trio of Audi, Mercedes-Benz, BMW and Lexus.Buyers now have a choice of two all-new direct-injection Gen III 5.0-litre V8s, but the big news is the new twin-turbo V6 turbo-diesel and the arrival of a high performance supercharged XFR.The revised models are expected to continue the modest resurgence for the brand locally since the XF arrived here late last year. The average age of the XF buyer, 44, is also helping drag down the traditional Jaguar buyer profile, which has fallen from 55 to 49 across the brand since the XF was launched.More than 500 have been sold and the car has single-handedly underpinned Jaguars local sales.With the exception of the 3.0-litre petrol V6, the three other XF models have received significant makeovers in the engine and performance departments.The new 5.0-litre supercharged V8 XFR replaces the previous range-topper, the supercharged 4.2-litre V8.The 3.0-litre petrol V6 remains the entry car, but the big news is the new performance 3.0-litre twin-turbodiesel V6, which will go up against the turbo-diesels from Audi, BMW and Mercedes-Benz.This engine replaces the previous 2.7-litre engine but has significantly more power and torque, delivering 202kW at 4000 revs and 600Nm from 2000 revs.It is 33 per cent more powerful than the smaller 2.7-litre engine but also 10 per cent more economical with a combined fuel economy figure of 6.8L/100km.Importantly too, the engine emits 179g/km CO2 emissions, which is 10 per cent more than the 2.7-litre engine.Jaguar has managed to extract the power and torque gains out of the diesel through the parallel sequential twin-turbos, which keep performance at both low and high revs. The aim is to eliminate any turbo-lag at any speed.ExteriorThe biggest improvements are reserved for the XFR, which gets a tricked-up exterior package to suit the extra power.Visually, there are revised bumpers, lower front air intakes, discrete body kit, bonnet louvres and grilles, quad exhausts and a small bootlid spoiler.The other XFs get a choice of new alloys and some cosmetic interior updates.All models also get a stiffer rear sub-frame, stronger differentials, upgraded brakes, improved navigation system, acoustic laminated windscreen and an upgraded ZF six-speed automatic.PricingThe entry V6 petrol is now $109,450, a modest price jump over the previous model but diesel pricing has risen to $116,250, up almost $8000. The naturally-aspirated V8 is $147,900 and $208,450 for the XFR.Platform and equipmentThe XF basics really needed little massaging. The platform of this car is proven and typically Jaguar. There's an all-encompassing ride quality that befits the brand, while the quality and equipment of the XF has helped lift Jaguars reputation to levels unseen in recent past years.There is the expected safety suite of six airbags, anti-skid brakes, traction control, dynamic stability control and immensely strong body. This is supplemented by cruise control, LED rear tail-lights, leather trim, rain-sensing wipers, rear parking sensors, automatic climate control and 7-inch colour touch-screen.The Portfolio pack is really the only option. Its about $22,000 on the diesel and about $11,000 on the naturally-aspirated V8.Spend the extra and you get a sort of poor-man's XFR. There are 20-inch wheels, up-spec leather interior with electric heated and cooled seats, suede-like cloth headlining, television, voice control, tyre pressure monitoring and premium sound system.DrivetrainMuch of the XF makeover has been reserved for the powertrains.All are mated to six-speed sequential automatics with the V6 petrol remaining the entry car, developing 175kW at 6800 revs and 293Nm at 4100 revs.Both the 3.0-litre turbo-diesel V6 and the 5.0-litre V8s are new. The 3.0-litre diesel is a development of the trusty PSA-developed 2.7-litre turbo-diesel but light-years ahead in refinement and performance. The engine will also appear in various Land Rover models, including the new Range Rover.The 3.0-litre diesel S develops 202kW at 4000 revs and 600Nm from 2000 revs, just 25Nm shy of the supercharged 5.0-litre V8.The V8s are almost all new, just two carryover parts remain from the 4.2-litre: a cylinder head bolt and supercharger tappet. The XF's chief program engineer, Kevin Stride, says the engines were solely Jaguar-designed and developed and have nothing in common with the latest V8s coming out of Ford in the United States.Both V8s employ direct injection, with the naturally aspirated version delivering 283kW at 6500 revs and 515Nm at 3500 revs while the supercharged engine ups the ante with 375kW at 6000 revs and 625Nm from 2500 revs.The naturally-aspirated V8 delivers 11.1 litres/100km with a CO2 figure of 264g/km, while the supercharged engine delivers 12.5 litres/100km and 292g/km.Zero to 100km/h in the naturally aspirated V8 is dispatched in 5.7 seconds, while the XKR does the same sprint in 4.9 seconds. The big surprise is the turbo-diesel, which is no slow coach. It hits 100km/h in a respectable 6.4 seconds.In keeping with the XFR's extra grunt, Jaguar has specified a new active differential control system and adaptive dynamics (another phrase for a computer control suspension) as well as a faster steering ratio and larger brakes.The active differential is essentially a sophisticated electronic limited slip differential. When not needed, the system is switched off. So unlike a mechanical system, there is no risk of undesirable understeer at low speeds. Another refinement of the Jag active diff is that creates no noise, vibration or harshness problems at low speeds.The adaptive suspension system monitors and adjusts damping to suit the road conditions in a similar manner to the CATS systems seen on previous Jaguars.The new system is configured to rapidly assess body motion and steering wheel input to modulate the damping forces and reduce roll and pitch.DrivingIN today's modern turbo-diesel cars, we're seeing the type of torque numbers that were once the preserve of high-performance V8 petrol engines.The XF's new twin-turbo 3.0-litre V6 is one of them. With 600Nm it is just 25Nm shy of the supercharged petrol V8, yet delivers its peak torque lower in the rev range. According to Jaguar the primary turbo has 61 per cent more torque at 1500 revs than the 2.7 while the secondary turbo has 32 per cent more power at 4000 revs.What does this mean for drivers? Well, don't dismiss the S badge on the XFs boot.It will launch itself from standstill with not so much as a hefty shove like the XKR, but more of a very firm seat-of-the-pants push that delivers loads of torque way beyond the point where most diesels are gasping for breath.The diesel shows the right stuff at overtaking speeds. How does 3.2 seconds to accelerate from 80km/h to 112km/h sound?Its a refreshingly petrol-like V6 too. Crank the ignition and we had to open the door to establish whether it was, in fact, a diesel. There is little rattle at idle and most people would not even know it was a diesel, except if they looked at the fuel economy (8.3 litres/100km in spirited driving) or the rev counter.And if the diesel is not your cup of tea, then there's the supercharged 5.0-litre V8 in the XFR.What can we say, except that this engine is truly a delight. Pedal reasonably quickly and it returned 12.9 litres/100km, within a whisker of Jaguar's own figures.What is amazing is the effortless delivery of power, the crisp, linear steering and surprisingly compliant, yet firm ride. Even with the 20-inch wheels and alloys, the XFR rides incredibly well. It's a sort of luxury sports ride if you like.Look out AMG and M, there's a new kid from Jaguar to tickle your performance figures.Engines: 3.0-litre petrol V6, 3.0-litre twin-turbo diesel S, 5.0-litre Gen III V8 and 5.0-litre Gen III supercharged V8.Power: 175kW at 6800 revs (V6 petrol), 202kW at 4000 revs (V6 S diesel), 283kW at 6500 revs (5.0-litre V8), 375kW at 6000 revs (5.0-litre supercharged V8)Torque: 293Nm at 4100 revs (V6 petrol), 600Nm from 2000 revs (V6 S diesel), 515Nm at 3500 revs (5.0-litre V8), 625Nm from 2500 revs (5.0-litre supercharged V8)

In the blue corner, Ford is getting to within a whisker of Holden in the red corner in the passenger car sales race. Last month Ford came to within 1 per cent of Holden's share of vehicle sales. Ford had 11.2 per cent of the May market versus 12.2 per cent for Holden.Holden is still ahead in year-to-date terms with a total vehicle share of 12.5 per cent against Ford's 10.3 per cent but the individual model count shows the gap is closing.Sales of the tradies' favourite, the Falcon and Holden utes, are with 0.1 per cent of each other this year. The Falcon ute has a 17.2 per cent market share and the Commodore ute a 17.1 share.In overall terms Ford has experienced a modest gain in passenger car market share, up from 9.5 per cent last year to 10.5 per cent this year. By comparison, Holden's passenger share has remained relatively stagnant since last year but the Red Lion brand is still ahead by 3.9 per cent.Ford is soon to ramp up its marketing message by launching a Fiesta and Focus assault on its toughest market, Sydney, to go head to head against Toyota."Sydney remains our toughest market," Burela says.At the other end of the Ford scale Burela says the FG Falcon, after a slow sales start at launch last year, is gradually winning over large car buyers.In overall terms both sedan and ute sales are still down 2 per cent and 14 per cent, but importantly Falcon, along with the VE Commodore, is improving its large car market share. The Falcon's share of the large car sales pie has increased this year to 31 per cent against 25 per cent for the same period last year. The Commodore's share has increased from 42 per cent to 47 per cent.Burela says the FG is also bringing younger buyers to the brand. The average age of a Falcon owner has also come down from 55 to between 35 and 45. Although it is still too early to forecast full-blown large car recovery, Burela believes the signs are good.A key indicator for Falcon's climb back into buyers' minds is that Ford is selling a richer, more profitable, mix of high-end FG Falcons than the previous model.The XR sports models are the most popular, accounting for more than 50 per cent of FG sales, followed by the luxury G-Series cars, with 43 per cent and the XT accounting for 4.5 per cent. In the previous Falcon the XT was by far the most popular car, accounting for 60 per cent of sales.With Holden's new VF Commodore around the corner, Ford plans to respond with a range of initiatives to maintain its FG sales momentum by promoting the car's economy and technology.

Ford is expected to decide by the end of next month on its future fuel-saving technologies for its six cylinder Falcon and Territory to go head-to-head against the Holden Commodore and Toyota Aurion.With GM-Holden tipped to show off new fuel economy tricks in the Commodore update due later this year, the pressure is on Ford to reply with its own strategies.Ford president and CEO, Marin Burela, says the company will make a decision on its technology within two months."We will get to a powertrain decision by the end of July," he says."If we go beyond that we will not be able to get the powertrain strategy deployed in time to meet the requirements that we need to meet internally as well as those we need to meet to satisfy the Australian market.“Burela says there is some fine tuning to be done but the importance of the decision cannot be under-estimated."Derrick Kuzak, the global product development head for Ford, is personally involved in working with us to help us get to the best solution," Burela says."That shows you the level of focus that Ford Motor Co is applying to make sure we get this right."With fleets and governments identifying fuel economy among the key drivers in purchasing decisions Burela is keen to make sure the Falcon keeps pace with consumer demands.More than 70 per cent of all Falcons and Commodores are bought by fleets.Burela says there is still room for fuel economy improvements in the Falcon's in-line six cylinder engine, which cracks 9.9 litres/100km combined for the optional six-speed automatic XT sedan and 10.5 litres/100km for the five-speed automatic model."We're continuing to work on that," he says.The I6 engine remains a part of the Falcon and Territory's future even though Ford is looking at turbo-diesel engines and a range of eco-saving technologies like stop-start and dual-clutch transmissions as well."The I6 it's part of our plans," Burela says.Burela says it will remain a part of the local landscape until the next-generation of fuel emission standards are identified "and we don't expect that to be clear for some time".Ford has not yet approached the Federal Government for access to its Green Car Fund to help fast-track these new technologies."We've been very quiet and the reason we've been quiet is that we take the view that we don't want to go to government every five minutes and asking for their support or engagement on things that we're not ready to make a statement on," Burela says."I want to make sure that once we're ready to move forward with our powertrain strategy that it's a very cohesive, very comprehensive and very thought-out plan."And how we then engage government in terms of the green car fund will be an important part of that overall strategic direction and discussion."

The brilliant blue metallic coupe was made famous in a recent episode of the series.It goes under the hammer at Shannons classic car auction at the Sydney Showgrounds on July 12.The Holden HK Monaro GTS 327 is considered a classic and has only 89,000 miles (143,000km) on the clock.In its heyday the Monaro was a powerful Bathurst race car, winning its first Bathurst enduro just after its launch in 1968.Delivered new by Stacks Holden in Rose Bay, the two-owner metallic Monaro was build number 312 of what is now one of the country's most collectable muscle cars.Shannons describes the coupe as showroom perfect.It comes with all the wanted Bathurst Monaro features, including its original 5.3-litre Chevrolet-sourced V8 engine, four-speed manual gearbox, limited slip differential, stiffer sports suspension, power front disc brakes and a long-range fuel tank.The vendor, like the fictional Underbelly characters, prefers to fly under the radar, is only the car's second owner. He bought the car in 2002 and has maintained it in top mechanical condition.As and added sweetener, the car is being sold with its glovebox lid signed by actress Kate Ritchie, who played Judy Kane in Underbelly. It also comes with personalised ‘Ubelly’ NSW numberplates.Check back Friday to see our Carsguide Car of the Week tribute to the Holden HK Monaro.

After being nabbed near Melbourne several weeks ago, an eagle-eyed reader in Europe has nabbed a UK-registered ute, sans disguise, somewhere in the sunny northern hemisphere.The ute, codenamed the T6, has been designed and engineered by Ford Australia, which took a lead role in the car's development.The next-generation Ranger has grown in size over the current Ranger, which shares much with the Mazda BT50.Insiders say the ute, which will be available in both four-door cab and two-door cab designs, is closer in size to the Ford F150.The Ranger, which will be available with both diesel and petrol engines and two and four-wheel drive, will be sold into Ford's global markets and go head-to-head against the domineering Toyota HiLux.It is expected to be sold in more than 70 countries and a version could even head to the US.As the photo shows, the utility has grown in width, with a wider track, bigger payload and a more pedestrian friendly front-end.The existing Ford Ranger and Mazda BT50 are based on a 10-year-old design. The ute is the second locally developed Ford for the world.Ford Australia played a lead role in the development of the Indian-developed Ford Fiesta sedan.

And there is likely to be more of it so with all the top resorts reporting big falls of crisp fresh white stuff, enthusiasts are dusting of their ski gear and talking snow talk.Carsguide this week takes a look at some of the newer off-roaders and others we think are some of the more desirable partners in snow.NISSAN DUALIS Price: From $28,990IT is a big seller overseas, but the compact Dualis has been slow to take off with buyers here.But it is a competent snow companion. It's not too big, nor too small, has composed on road manners and reasonable soft-road ability.In keeping with the current crop of smaller off-roaders, the Dualis has a wagon-style design, upright driving position and cabin that will swallow a decent amount of gear.The rear seats split fold 60/40 and the four-wheel drive system has a lock function that splits drive 50/50 front and rear when the going gets tough at lower speeds.The Dualis is powered by a 102kW/198Nm 2.0-litre four that delivers acceptable, but not outstanding performance.The Ti gets standard stability control, six airbags and heated leather front seats.Tick: Compact styling.Cross: Still relatively unknown. VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN Price: From $33,990THE Tiguan is essentially a grown up Golf and takes on all the attributes of its smaller brother, adding all-wheel drive into the mix with a choice of 2.0-litre petrol or turbo-diesel engines.It's slightly longer than the Golf and comes with the 4Motion Haldex all-wheel drive system.There is no low range but the Tig will get you out of most trouble in the snow.One of the impressive things about this off-roader is its handling. Anyone familiar with the Golf will be perfectly at home.Like all VW's the Tiguan is well equipped and gets standard stability control, six airbags and optional hill-descent system.Roof rails are standard and you will need them for a luggage pod because boot space is limited. However, the rear seats do fold almost flat. If you specify leather, the front seats are heated.Tick: Badge and handling.Cross: Luggage space and firm ride. SUBARU FORESTER Price: From $30,990LIKE the previous model, the Forester is a top seller and popular among skiers.The new-generation wagon answers the criticism of limited luggage and rear seat legroom by being bigger and even more practical.However, by growing 90mm in wheelbase and up in overall size the Forester has lost some of that on-road precision that marked the previous model as a standout. Some aspects of the cabin, like the dashboard execution, are not of the quality we expect from Subaru either.Pluses are its size and 2.5-litre boxer four cylinder engines. Subaru build quality is generally good too, as is the constant all-wheel drive system.The Forester has a five-star crash rating and raft of safety features that includes anti-skid brakes, stability control and brace of airbags. Manual Foresters get hill-start assist, which stops the car rolling backwards while first gear is engaged.Tick: It's a Subbie.Cross: Soggy SUV feel. RENAULT KOLEOS Price: From $29,990TO dismiss the Koleos as just a French car over the top of Nissan mechanicals is missing the point.The Koleos is well executed, solid and safe. It has six airbags, stability control and hazard lights that come on after an emergency stop.The "All-Mode 4x4i" all-wheel drive versions also get hill-start assist and hill-descent control.In auto mode, the torque split between the front and rear is automatically determined by the amount of available grip.Entry models are two-wheel drive while all-wheel drive buyers get a choice of the smooth Renault-sourced 2.0-litre dCi turbo diesel or 2.5-litre Nissan-sourced petrol four cylinder.There's plenty of room. The rear centre armrest is removable to allow skis to be pushed through and there are storage bins under the front seats and rear floor.Like the Tiguan, the range topping models with leather get heated front seats.Tick: Better looking than an X-Trail.Cross: Renault badge. AUDI Q5 Price: From: $59,900IT seems that just about any vehicle Audi launches at the moment is a sellout.The Q5 is one of them.Smaller than a Q7, the Q5 has the same off-road attributes in a smaller sharply styled package with good luggage space via the 40/20/40 split rear seats and optional cargo barrier that separates luggage.Two petrol and two turbo diesels are available and the S-tronic seven-speed gearbox contributes to good fuel figures.Audi's permanent quattro all-wheel drive system splits torque 40/60 front and rear, which gives the car relatively neutral handling.For those looking for something bigger, there's the A6 Allroad and the Q7.Unfortunately Audi is becoming just like its German rivals BMW and Mercedes-Benz when it comes to equipment.Tick: Space and diesel.Cross: Expensive options. FORD TERRITORY Price: From $39,490THE Territory has just undergone a recent update to bring it into line with the rest of the Ford range.However, the cabin remains largely the same, and that's not a bad thing. It's good for a family and has seven-seater capacity.The Territory's cabin is well thought out and there is lots of storage space.Buyers have a choice of four AWD models or three rear-drive models.Stability control is standard, as are four airbags and anti-skid brakes.The TS and Ghia four-wheel drive models get seven seats as standard. Mum and Dad will also appreciate the standard DVD player in the Ghia.The reversible rear-load floor and compartment for storing wet items is handy.Tick: Practical and good looking.Cross: Getting on despite update. VOLVO XC60 Price: From $57,950THE XC60 is one of the best handling Volvo wagons around and one of the most attractive.The new City Safety feature is more than just a gimmick. The system applies the brakes if you are about to rear-end another car in low-speed situations up to 30km/h.Other Volvo strengths are the lane change warning system and blind-spot warning system. Volvo seats are renown for their comfort. 40/20/40 split rear seat is practical.There is a choice of either the 2.4-litre D5 turbo-diesel, which is about to be upgraded to a twin-turbo for better economy and efficiency, or the 3.0-litre turbo petrol six.Tick: Styling and equipment.Cross: Rattly diesel. LEXUS RX350 Price: From $81,900.THE RX350 has grown slightly, which translates into more interior room.This wagon, like all Lexus models, is packed with equipment that is optional on its rivals like satellite navigation, power rear hatch and rear reversing camera.The Sports Luxury gets active headlights that follow the curve of the road, plus a heads-up display.The safety package consists of stability control with cooperative steering function (VSC+), traction control, anti-skid brakes, electronic brake-force distribution and brake assist.There is also, hill-start assist, 10 airbags and a first-aid kit.The rear seats split 40/20/40 and there is a wet-storage area in the luggage load floor. Thule luggage pods are also available.Tick: Standard equipment.Cross: Looks bloated. MAZDA CX9 Price: From $51,990It looks big and feels big but once under way, the CX9 shrink-wraps around you.It's well sorted on the road, has a host of safety gear and with seven seats, has plenty of room for the family.The cabin quality is better than the CX9 too.The 204kW/366Nm 3.7-litre V6 has plenty of poke but slurps petrol like a celebrity lining up for a free drink during Melbourne Cup week.The 60/40 split fold rear seats can be released from the luggage area.Tick: Rear seating, quality.Cross: Fuel economy. TOYOTA PRADOPrice: From $48,600THE Prado is the ideal family load-lugger if you need serious space and room for the family.It comes with eight seats and long-range fuel tank of 180 litres.The full-time 4WD system has a low-range setting for heavy off-roading.However only the higher spec Prados get standard stability control, anti-skid brakes, hill-descent control and six airbags as standard so it pays to check the fineprint.GXL, VX and Grande buyers get foglights and roof rails with satellite navigation and height-adjustable air suspension standard only on the top-of-the-range Grande.Tick: Standard and GX lack standard safety gear.Cross: Clunky styling. NISSAN MURANO Price: From $45,990THE previous-generation Murano was a sleeper.In a lineup dominated by the Navara and Patrol, it never really stood out other than a competent family wagon and its soft curves alienated many potential buyers.But Nissan hopes to change that with the new-generation Murano.The styling is sharper, the 191kW/336Nm 3.5-litre V6 a sweet engine that delivers good fuel economy. The packaging is good. The automatic All Mode 4x4-i all-wheel drive system can distribute torque on demand to where its needed.The luxury Ti gets all the fruit, from navigation system to heated front seats, reversing camera, automatic rear hatch and Bose sound system. The 60/40 split rear seats on both the ST and Ti can be flipped forward from the back of the car.Tick: Engine, equipment.Cross: Cheese-cutter grille. RANGE ROVER SPORT Price: From $90,900THE Range Rover brand has a strong following and is the preferred luxury chariot for seriously well-heeled snowgoers.Like the bigger Range Rover the Sport gets the nifty "Terrain Response" off-road system which means you just have to twist the switch to get the required off-road mode.The Range Rover Sport has real off-road capability but we don't think too many owners would ever go bush bashing in the leather-line luxury off-roader, particularly with the stylish 20-inch wheels available some models.The 65/35 split rear seats also have folding cushions and the full-size spare is easily accessible under the car. However, some of the bigger wheel/tyre options make do with a spacesaver.Tick: Luxury.Cross: Reliability.

The new car is hiding more under the skin than on top. A new, high-tech direct-injection V6 could be destined for the big sedan late this year when the car gets a refresh. The VF Commodore is likely to get a range of improvements designed to lift fuel economy and further develop the company's ‘Ecoline’ strategy. Visually the car may also borrow some design elements from Holden's Coupe 60 concept car, like the repeaters in the rear view mirrors, deeper grille and restyled lower bumper air intake to give a smoother look to the front end. The interior is also likely to get a styling make-over to better compete against the FG Falcon's stylish interior. GM-Holden is not revealing details yet but the company has a choice of two DI engines of either 3.0-litre or 3.6-litre capacity that substantially reduce emissions and improve fuel economy. The 3.0-litre delivers 190kW/298Nm, which is 15kW more than the current 3.6-litre Commodore engine but 27Nm less torque. The bigger 3.6-litre DI engine delivers 225kW/369Nm and is available in GM's Cadillac models. However in an effort to respond to changing consumer tastes, GM-Holden may also choose to downsize the Commodore V6 by introducing a smaller capacity 2.8-litre version of the Alloytec engine that could be badged ‘Ecoline’, part of Holden's solution to tackling fuel efficiency. The entry engine could be available as a ‘fleet’ model on the base Omega to help bolster Commodore sales. A 2.8-litre V6 with variable valve timing is available in some General Motors vehicles and generates 151kW at 6800 revs and 246Nm at 6300 revs. More economical V6s are just some of the initiatives GM-Holden chief, Mark Reuss, is instituting to lure buyers back to the Commodore and ensure the car rebuilds its credentials from the current car slump. These include E85 ethanol engines, dedicated LPG cars and frugal turbo-diesels. The DI engines could be mated to six-speed automatic gearboxes to deliver sub-10.0 litre/100km fuel economy. GM's direct injection technology not only improves fuel economy but quietness. Rubber isolators are used with the fuel rail to eliminate metal-to-metal contact that would otherwise transmit noise and vibration from the high-pressure fuel system. Along with direct injection, the 3.0-litre gets variable valve timing to improve power and economy. GM-Holden is confident the new engine technologies for the V6 can deliver fuel economy comparable to some of the larger capacity Japanese four-cylinder engines. The facelifted Commodore may also have gone on a diet to help improve economy.   GM-Holden's high-feature Alloytec V6 is truly a world-class engine... Apart from powering a family of Commodores, versions of the company's Fishermens Bend engine finds their way into various Cadillac, Saab and Alfa Romeo models. The Saab engine is a single turbo 2.8-litre variant developing 188kW/350Nm. A 294kW twin-turbo version was developed for the Saab Aero-X concept car. Alfa Romeo's 190kW/322Nm 3.2-litre version of the Holden V6 is heavily modified and uses direct injection and lean-burn technology.