Articles by Neil McDonald

Hastily taken, grainy snaps of future models tend to pop up everywhere, as Nissan found out last week.A quick-thinking person at a dealer convention in the Middle East fired off a few shots of the next-generation Patrol off-roader, which is not due out until next year.As the photo shows, the big wagon borrows cues from the Terranaut concept show wagon with its upswept rear window and less boxy look.The Murano-like front is sleek and the Patrol pays a passing complement to the Land Rover Sport with its mudguard air vents.The Patrol is expected to carry over its body-on-frame construction with new more powerful engines and transmissions.There is likely to be arange-topping 5.6-litre V8 with a seven-speed gearbox, as well as a V6 petrol and a 3.0-litre V6 dCi turbo-diesel powerplant shared with Renault, Nissan's partner. 

Of all the brands, Land Rover's performance has defied the odds.As the year winds down with plenty of its rivals seeing red ink, Land Rover sales are up almost 20 per cent over last year, largely on the back of the return of the Defender crew cab and wagon.The volume-selling Discovery and Range Rover Sport have also done their bit.Land Rover Australia product manager, Brett Lewis-Driver, says the Defender's success comes from a loyal customer base."There are a lot of repeat buyers but also a little bit of conquest from other brands there," he says."Defender also does tend to do quite well in a launch year."The company expects to end the year with about 4500 sales, which will be up 1000 over 2007.Going into 2009 though, Lewis-Driver, is more cautious."Because of the downturn in the overall market we are not alone in thinking things will be a bit quieter," he says.He sees the next 12 months as a time of consolidation.But to help entice showroom traffic Land Rover has just launched a refreshed Discovery, Range Rover Sport and range-topping Range Rover, each with more equipment and mild facelifts.The Discovery gets a cleaner looking body-coloured front bumper as well as revised rear bumper, tungsten coloured side vents, new alloys and rear clear-lens indicators, Inside there are some trims changes.The TDV6 S gains air suspension and terrain response and leather seats have now been made an option.The SE gets Hi-ICE as standard, six-disc CD changer, 8 speaker Harmon Kardon speaks and steering wheel controls.The range topping HSE gets Premium ICE with 13 Harmon Kardon speakers and Logic 7 sound system.Prices remain largely unchanged, starting at $66,490 for the SE V6 and topping out at $92,990 for the HSV V8.The Range Rover Sport also gets some mild exterior tweaks, new alloys and three new colours.At the top-end of the Land Rover spectrum is the Range Rover Vogue Autobiography.The Autobiography adds another level of luxury with leather dashboard, doors, seats and centre console as well as leather-bound floor mats.The lavish attention to detail continues with acoustic and climate glass.The acoustic glass reduces cabin noise, while the sun-reflective climate glass reduces heat build-up.Outside the Autobiography has new 20-inch diamond-turned twin-seven-spoke alloys.Both the TDV8 and Supercharged petrol models have diamond mesh grille and side vents, black and silver badging and stainless steel detailing on the pedals.Range Rover Vogue prices start at $153,400 for the TDV8, with the Supercharged Autobiography costing $212,700. 

Based on the Koup concept shown at New York Motor Show in March, the two-door coupe will join the Cerato.As other carmakers take a backseat next year, Kia is planning to launch six new cars and variants, starting with the Cerato sedan next month with the coupe arriving in September."2009 will be the most model activity we have had for a while," Kia Australia spokesman, Jonathan Fletcher, says."We haven't had much new product over the past few years."The arrival of the 2.0-litre four-cylinder Cerato is considered the most important launch for the company next year as it will showcase Kia's new corporate design direction and "H" grille.The car will also play a big role at the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne.Unlike the current model, which is available as a hatch, the Cerato will be a sedan-only model."Its principal markets will be North America and China, which favour sedans in this segment," he says.The Koup is Kia's surprise package."We have never had a two-door model in that segment," Fletcher says."The two-door will attract those buyers who would have opted for a sportier hatch."Although specifications are yet to be confirmed, the Cerato two-door will definitely be a sub-$30,000 car, he says.The New York show car had a direct-injection turbo-charged 2.0-litre four cylinder engine with 216kW/391Nm on tap.The arrival of the much-hyped Soul hatch in March will also generate plenty of interest, Fletcher says."There has been a lot of talk about Kia being a younger-focused brand and I think the Soul really illustrates that," he says.The sharply styled Soul will be available in both petrol and turbo-diesel models, aiming at rivals like the Suzuki SX4.The 2.0-litre petrol engine develops 94kW at 6300 revs and 156Nm at 2000 revs while the CRDi develops 96kW at 4000 rev and 255Nm at 2000 revs.Although it will not have all-wheel drive, Fletcher says the Soul's chunky design would appeal to buyers who want a wagon that complements their active lifestyles.Like the Mini, the Soul will lend itself to personalisation through many accessories, he says.A new concept version of the Soul will be unveiled at the 2009 North American International Auto Show in Detroit next month.Kia says the concept is “more than just a package treatment, as it will demonstrate the flexibility of the original Soul design first shown at NAIAS in 2006.”In the third quarter the next-generation Sorento four-wheel drive arrives, as well as the 103kW/305Nm 2.0-litre Rondo CRDi diesel to join the 2.0-litre four cylinder petrol model.The Magentis sedan also gets a freshen in June.The big question is exchange rates, which have already seen some makers lift prices from January 1.Fletcher says he is hopeful exchange rates will hold between the Australia dollar and Korean Won."It's good at the moment and hopefully it will remain favourable," he says.The one car Kia Australia would love to get, but has been ruled out on price, is the C'eed.The C'eed is built in Slovakia for the European market and it is unlikely to be built in Korea, at least in the short term."The C'eed would be too expensive for us," Fletcher says."In pure freight terms alone, it would be $900 to $1000 more expensive than if it came from Korea." 

Fuji Heavy Industries has released a teaser shot of the Legacy concept car - Liberty in Australia - destined for next month's Detroit Motor Show. The good news comes as Subaru announced this week it's withdrawal from the World Rally Championship. The Japanese firm moved quickly to off-set the disappointing announcement by pointing out that it has ambitious plans for the new Liberty and Outback. Subaru expects to launch the new Liberty late next year. Both the Liberty and Outback will grown in size, particularly rear legroom. Like the Impreza and Forester, the Outback will be further distanced from its Liberty sibling. Detailed specifications are expected to be revealed at Detroit but the Liberty is tipped to get an upgraded chassis and a further development of its trademark symmetrical all-wheel drive system. Subaru is also believed to have upgraded its six-cylinder boxer engine, now 3.6-litres, and it is tipped to come with a new tiptronic six speed gearbox. Both 2.5-litre four cylinder and 3.0-litre six cylinder boxer engines are expected to carry over and diesel buyers will be pleased with the arrival of Subaru's first 2.0-litre turbo-diesel. The diesel engine has already gone on sale in the current model Outback in Europe with six-speed manual gearbox. It develops 108kW at 3600 revs and 350Nm from 1800 revs. Fuel economy is sub-7.0 litres/100km. The Liberty concept will debut almost 20 years to the day of the launch of the original Liberty.  

Eagle-eyed Carsguide reader David Fairley has snared the first shots of the new Holden Cruze undergoing local testing. The heavily camouflaged car was spotted parked at Buxton, east of Melbourne. Fairley says it looks like a cut-down version of the VE Commodore. "Except that the roof line is sharper and the boot is different," he says. Holden will not confirm it but this car is tipped to hit local showrooms next year as a replacement for the lacklustre Viva sedan. Codenamed GMX071, it is obvious by the photos that Holden engineers are in the final stages of tuning the car for Australian conditions judging by the boxes filled with electronic measuring equipment taken out of the boot. When the Cruze does hit showrooms, buyers can expect a substantial lift in quality, safety, performance and handling with the newcomer, as well as prices close to the current car's $18,490. The stylish Cruze is also destined to be a global car for GM and will wear Daewoo and Chevrolet badges in other markets. The front-driver goes on sale in Europe in March with the choice of either a 1.6-litre or 1.8-litre petrol four cylinder engines and a 2.0-litre turbo-diesel. A turbocharged 1.4-litre four cylinder is also expected in some European markets. Gearboxes are expected to be a choice of a five-speed manual or six-speed automatic. The Cruze first aired at the Paris Motor Show in October, badged as a Chevrolet. General Motors' vice president of global design, Ed Welburn, described the sedan as having a "sense of substance and style". "Tight panel fits and shut lines, a restrained use of exterior trim, a dual bezel design on the headlights, an integrated rear spoiler _ everywhere your eye settles there are fine details," he says. Just the sedan will initially be available with wagon and hatch variants expected to follow. Compared to the Viva, the Cruze is 85mm longer, 65mm wider and 30mm higher. The wheelbase, at 2600mm, is also 85mm longer, liberating more interior space. The newcomer will be the first of the second-generation of Korean sourced cars that promises to be substantially better than the cars they replace. Apart from the Cruze, Holden engineers are believed to be having more substantial input into the new-generation Barina, Epica and Captiva from styling and safety to quality and performance.  

Other colours have tried to stake a claim as the most popular hues but several shades of white dominate DuPont's latest international car colour survey. Buyers are also being influenced by new green technologies and more environmental awareness in their colour choices. Soft or water-like colours of nature are becoming popular. But for the second year in a row, white is the predominant colour across North America. It also dominates in India, Mexico, Brazil and Japan. The DuPont annual automotive colour popularity report says white is also becoming a strong colour preference across other markets, including Europe, where black remains top of the list. Dupont Australia's marketing manager, Steven Jakopovic, says the Australian experience mirrors North America. "Although Australia was not specifically included in this global study, through our connection with local vehicle manufacturers, we're seeing strong trends continue with silver and white, as per North American trends," he says. "Various greens and blues and gaining increased popularity as well as some of the softer browns." Jakopovic anecdotal evidence suggests we are trend followers. "We're also seeing a that in some of the pearl whites locally," he says. Jakopovic's US counterpart, Karen Surcina, says black, white and silver continue to be the main players in North America. "But consumers are looking for differentiation with tri-coat and other effects," she says. "These colours and effects provide a higher degree of customisation and luxury-effect which allow consumers a conservative differentiation from the traditional colour palette," she says. A tri-coat paint system consists of a basecoat, a mid-layer which contains the colour and specialised "effect" pigments followed by a clear coat. Surcina says there are clear colour trends developing. "The popularity of true chromatic colours such as blue and red are on the rise, with blue growing worldwide as consumers look to more environmental themes and lifestyles," she says. Growing awareness and adoption of "green" technology and environmentalism is influencing colour choices. DuPont says the soft or water-like colours of nature are growing in popularity. It says the demand for brilliant, chromatic colours is expected to grow across global markets.  

To keep the accountants happy and eco-warriors in their place, BMW will add a frugal turbo-diesel to its new 7 Series line-up next June.Announcing prices for its petrol 7 Series models this week, BMW Australia spokesman Toni Andreevski, says the turbo-diesel will have wide appeal with its blend of performance and economy.The 3.0-litre 730d has a combined fuel economy figure of 7.2 litres/100km yet will hit 100km/h in 7.2 seconds.It is the first time the company has added a turbo-diesel 7 Series to the lineup.The same engine will be available in the 330d sedan from mid-2009, but with 20Nm less torque.In Europe, diesel 7 Series' account for almost 50 per cent of total sales.Although Andreevski refused to put a figure on local sales numbers, he says the 180kW/540Nm six-cylinder diesel had a sense of "social responsibility" about it.Apart from the fact that both Audi and Mercedes-Benz have diesels in their big luxury A8 and S-Class sedans, Andreevski says adding a 7 Series diesel to the line-up made sense for the Munich-based carmaker."The fuel economy of the 730d is something you'd be happy with in a mid-size car," he says.This also made it easier for upper-luxury buyers to feel better about their purchase, he says."Even luxury buyers are becoming more conscious about fuel consumption," he says.Andreevski expects the luxury diesel segment to continue to grow."It's important to be represented in that segment and show people the type of technology BMW has," he says.Andreevski says specifications and pricing for the 730d are still to be set but it is expected to be about $200,000."It really could be the price leader for the 7 Series," he says.Prices for petrol lineup are the same as the outgoing model.Four petrol models will be available from early next year.The 740i and 740Li will be powered by 240kW/450Nm 3.0-litre twin-turbo straight-six cylinder engines while the 750i and 750Li gets a new twin-turbo 300kW/600Nm 4.4-litre V8 engine.The V8 is shared with the new X6 xDrive50i, which has just gone on sale.BMW says both engines are among the most frugal technologically advanced it has built for its big luxury sedan.Like other BMW sedans, the 7 Series makes extensive use of lightweight aluminium suspension members front and rear.External panels like the roof and doors are also aluminium, saving about 30kg over conventional steel panels.Standard equipment levels are high with swags of leather, brake energy regeneration, four-wheel steering, night vision with integrated human-shape recognition and warning, lane change warning system, lane departure warning, head-up display, runflat tyres, active cruise control and adaptive headlights.The 7 Series will also get dynamic damper control.This has a choice of five different damping settings as well as adjusting shift points for the transmission and the level of intervention from the dynamic stability control and traction control systems.Pricing for the 740i starts at $203,000 while the 750i is $274.000.Long wheelbase versions add $15,000 and $17,000.Visually, the car's styling has evolved into a contemporary less-polarising look than the previous model.  

Gibson is Ford's Asia-Pacific design chief and helped put the key design touches on the Max concept.The Max made its first appearance last week at the Thailand Motor Expo, a country that loves its one tonne pickups.Although just a concept at this stage, the spicy looking bright orange ute provides a strong hint of what the next-generation Ranger will look like in 2010."We have a great opportunity to test design themes that may make their way into production," Gibson says."Ranger Max says exciting things about the possibilities for truck fans in the Ranger's future."Gibson was helped out by Thai pickup specialists, along with Ford's Australia-based Asia-Pacific office and its office in Africa.Gibson was also involved in designing Ford's 4-Trac off-roader, which debut at the Thailand show in 2005.He was also behind the Focus concept sedan, which starred in Beijing in 2004.The second-generation Ranger has been a success story for Ford Australia and Mazda, which repackages it as the BT-50.Since its launch in 2007 Ford has sold more than 25,000 of the workhorse ute.Locally strong Ranger sales have underpinned Ford Australia's performance this year with sales of the 4x2 versions up more than 50 per cent and 4x4 versions by 21 per cent.The ute is available with a 105kW/330Nm 2.5-litre or 115kW/380Nm 3.0-litre turbo-diesel engine.Despite the success of Ranger and BT-50 here, the Ranger's fortunes in Asia have not been so kind.Despite being on the market in second-generation form for three years in Asia, it has received a lukewarm reception there because both the BT-50 and Ranger platforms are carried over from the first-generation models.An all-new replacement is due now in 2010 if the global car crisis shows signs of a recovery.Like Australia, a Thai version of the Toyota HiLux dominates the ute market there.Apart from Toyota and Mazda, Mitsubishi, Honda and Isuzu also build pickups in Thailand for the home and export markets.The Thai market for pickups is the second largest in the world after the United States. 

It hasn't even hit Australian showrooms but Nissan already has squeezed more power out of Godzilla. However one of the hottest features of the GT-R — the launch control function — will be missing when the car lands here in AprilThe GT-R, slated for an April release with a $148,800 starting price, has been coaxed up 4kW to 357kW thanks to some engine electronic management tweaks.Torque stays at 588Nm and there's also no change in the 0-100km/h sprint time of 3.6 seconds.The car's launch control feature is being removed after irate owners in North America complained after their cars' transmissions blew up after using launch control.Some have been left with a $US20,000 ($30,800) repair bill for wrecked transmissions.As a result Nissan North America has decided to remove it altogether.The device is designed to help the driver achieve the best acceleration out of the car from a standing, drag-race-style start.German manufacturers like BMW, Porsche 911, also use a launch control function.US enthusiasts have discovered that disabling the GT-R's vehicle dynamics control system too often to use launch control voids the warranty on the car's transmission.The warranty does not cover driveline damage resulting from "operating the vehicle with the VFC off, except when rocking the vehicle when stuck in snow or mud".The fuel tank now also gains an extra three litres to make 76 litres of premium unleaded and the rear suspension springs have been softened slightly.European GT-Rs get the same specification tyres as Australia — Dunlop SP Sport 600 run flats — as standard, fitted to 20-inch RAYS alloys.Nissan claims the Dunlops were original specification rubbers for the GT-R and intimates they were used during its contentious Nurburgring lap run of 7m29s. Australian-spec cars can be optioned in Premium guise with Bridgestone REO70R tyres.Nissan has kept its liquid metal hero paint colour but has picked a lighter shade pearl-white colour, now called Storm White. It replaces a darker shade pearl white.The global changes started in Europe and come along with a $2500 price rise. Nissan Australia has not confirmed that the extra cost applies here.Priced from $148,800, the GT-R is poised to become an instant classic.The car will be sold and serviced through 11 dedicated Nissan `high performance centres’ in each capital city. More than 130 orders have already been taken for the car. 

A global Subaru supermini could come from Toyota.Fuji Heavy Industries, which builds Subaru cars, is tipped to dig deep into its alliance with Toyota to build a new mini car, smaller and cheaper than the Impreza.The move comes as European customers demand more fuel-efficient, city-friendly cars.Toyota has some of the best superminis in the world, including the iQ and Yaris.In June it lifted its stake in Fuji to 17 per cent, injecting millions into the company.They are working on a joint-venture sports car due out in 2011.For Toyota the sports car will bring back some credibility lost when the Celica and MR2 disappeared from showrooms. For Subaru a sportscar would be the perfect “halo” car for less than $40,000 to replace the axed SVX.However, the sports car is not on Subaru Australia's radar, and managing director Nick Senior says a decision is “some time out”.“The discussions around the vehicle, the marketing, are still at a very high level in Japan and not at our level at the moment.”He believes there is a future for a car under the Impreza, but talks are in the early stages.“There's been no commitment on a B-segment car, but it's one of the items of discussion with Fuji Heavy Industries,” Senior says.The change of heart at Fuji is due to growing demand in Europe for smaller premium B-segment cars. The company builds the stylish R2 for Japan and shares a Daihatsu hatch in Europe.“I think most of the pressure is from environment, from Europe and from some of the legislation there in terms of average C02 and, in some places, it's fuel consumption,” Senior says.“The growth markets around the world have largely been in smaller segments than we've seen.“Even in Australia the small car market is up, light cars are up and largely the rest of the market has come down, so it's changing circumstances. You've got to have a look at what's going to sell.”Senior is wary of bold predictions of a wholesale change in direction at Subaru.“On a worldwide scale, Fuji Heavy Industries is the 19th or 20th largest manufacturer with 600,000 cars a year and we've just got be careful with our product portfolio. We produce cars that are for a global market and we're able to maximise the product portfolio and while there are opportunities in Kei segment (Japan's version of the mini car), B-segment and other segments, it is stretching investment and resources to look at every possible segment,” he says.Senior says Fuji has made a huge investment in research and development over the past few years.“Which you've seen firstly with Impreza, then Forester, Tribeca, Liberty, Outback and the Exiga, so it's very much about looking at what is the maximum potential, not just for one market but a global market,” he says.