Articles by Paul Gover in Detroit

The car of the (near) future is up and running in the USA, and heading for Australian showrooms early in 2012. The Chevrolet Volt is the world's first workable electric car, and one that ends the new-age fear of 'range anxiety' with a hybrid system that turns the Prius world upside-down.The Volt runs on battery power but has an onboard petrol engine that works as a generator, providing a potential range of more than 600 kilometres and ending the fear of a running 'dry' beyond a plug-in socket.Holden is an early adopter and plans to have the Volt in its range as soon as possible, although a pricetag estimated in the $60,000 range means it will not be for everyone.But 'range extender' technology could be a widespread hit, providing plug-in city driving and the chance for long-distance trips using gasoline top-ups along the way. "The Volt can be your one car, your only car," says Mark Reuss, former head of Holden and now leading Chevrolet in the USA.The Volt is only a Corolla-sized, four-seater small car but it is packed with technology and GM's engineers have even done an impressive job on driving dynamics. It's not a sports car but it's not as dull as a Prius. The Volt has gone from a great idea to a potential game-changer car in less than 18 months, with the first production cars about to be delivered in the USA.VALUEIt is impossible to rate the Volt without a showroom sticker. The price is likely to be around $60,000 in Australia and that will be costly by any measure. But more and more people are turning to green power and an electric car that can also take a Sydney-to-Melbourne run makes a solid case, with the Prius now priced from $39,990.The Volt comes with a bundle of value-added stuff in the 'states, including roadside assistance and satnav, as well as a 160,000- kilometre, eight-year warranty on its lithium-ion battery pack.TECHNOLOGYThere is a vast amount of technology in the Volt but its foundations are all Cruze. The GM compact car provides the foundation and the engineers and futurists do the rest.The heart of the Volt is its heated-and-cooled, 198kg battery pack. It's so big that it's shaped in a tee and steals space between and around the cramped back seat. There is also a 1.4-litre petrol engine in the nose that's responsible for charging duties any time the battery gets severely depleted, or when there is a need for sustained heavy pulling power.GM originally denied the car ran on anything but electric power but now concedes there is one situation - overtaking under full power beyond 110km/h - when petrol power can briefly turn one wheel. A lot of work has gone into tiny details in the Volt, from its lightweight entertainment system to a horn that gives a polite 'toot- toot' if you nudge the turn indicator stalk.It's intended for warning work in parking lots and should be fitted to every car. The outcome is simple: GM says the Volt can hit 160km/h and has a 0-100km/h sprint time of less than 9.0 seconds, while happily running with similar range to a petrol-powered car.DESIGNThe Volt is designed for minimum drag and that means a relatively sharp-edged body that's not unlike a Prius. Stylists have tried to dress the shape but it's still no beauty.The interior is semi-futurist with a range of digital dash displays, including one that shows how you're driving on an efficiency scale, but with a conventional T-bar shifter to select forwards and reverse. The cabin also has some bright colour trim pieces and leather trim is available, but it is very cramped in the back seat and the hatchback roof glass needs a lot of sun protection to shield people in the rear.GM has two frontal treatments for the Volt - the Chevrolet corporate look and a much more adventurous design for the Volts sold as an Ampera in Europe - but otherwise it is fairly bland and sensible.SAFETYThe Volt comes with the usual stuff, including eight airbags, ABS brakes and stability control. GM says the location of the battery pack provides the best possible protection in a collision, with systems to prevent anything nasty escaping or causing a problem in a crash.In America the car is also protected by OnStar, which uses a back-to- base alarm system in the event of a crash, although this is not currently available through Holden in Australia.DRIVINGMy first drive in the Volt was exactly a year ago, and it was effectively just a lap of the block at GM's technical centre in Detroit. This time there is more than 90 minutes of driving, on freeways and city streets, with a much better chance to know the car. The Volt fires up easily and, despite an icy winter chill in Detroit, the cabin is soon warm without stealing much battery power.Heated seats help. Pulling into traffic the response is seamless and acceleration is good. The car easily matches or betters other cars in city conditions, and pulls out swiftly to merge onto a freeway.Cruising at 110km/h is easy and the car is quiet and relaxed. But the lack of engine and driveline noise means you hear other things, like squeaking trim pieces and some thumping and crashing from the rear suspension. The Volt rides as you would expect for a car in the Mazda3-Corolla class, although it takes time to adjust to the artificial brake feel and the steering is a bit over-keen at times.Generally, the car matches expectations or does a bit better. There are a number of different driving modes and switching to 'sport' sharpens things, as well as providing more regenerative braking. So you only have to lift the accelerator to get a significant slowing.To check the cut-in for the petrol generator engine I deliberately drain the battery by flicking to the 'mountain' mode, which boosts battery reserves. The cut-in is noticeable but the small four is quiet and there is far less noise than a normal car.All-in-all, the Volt makes a strong second impression. It drives nicely, delivers on its electric promises, and is far more than just a science experiment. When Holden gets the Volt it is going to change the hybrid game and make life very, very difficult for Toyota with its Prius and Camry. It also promises the sort of range and peace of mind that electric car shoppers already crave.VERDICTA hybrid hero that's surprisingly good to drive. 9/10WE LIKE: Electric drive, sporty(ish) handling, engine response WE DON'T LIKE: Cramped back seat, likely price, delivery delayCHEVROLET VOLTPRICE: Estimated $60,000ENGINE: Electric motor with 1.4-litre petrol generator engineOUTPUT: 111kW RANGE: 40-80km (electric), 600km (range extended)EMISSIONS: Zero (electric drive)

Sonic is the new name chosen for the Holden Barina in the USA and the four-door sedan is unveiled at the Detroit motor show to highlight a production switch to an American factory. It's a sign that small cars will be big business in the USA inside five years, as well as proof that General Motors is going global at the bottom end of the business. Sonic will not be used as a name in Australia with the Barina badge to continue on both the new sedan and hatch, a pairing that will sit above the existing Barina Spark. The Barina hatch was first displayed at the Paris motor show last year and the sedan - as the Sonic - starred in Detroit with looks that point to a more upmarket approach to GM's small cars. "Sonic is a statement of what can be expected of this foundational brand in years to come," says Mark Reuss, the head of Chevrolet and former Holden boss who unveils the car as part of Chevy's 100th birthday celebrations. That approach will be reflected in the price, as the new Barina pair will have a $15,000-ish starting sticker, well up from the basic Barina Spark at $12,490. "This is Barina and the smaller version is Barina Spark," says Jonathan Rose, spokesman for GM Holden. "We're getting the sedan and hatch. The hatch will be later this year, around October, and the sedan about this time next year. The cars are coming from Korea. The US will build theirs locally." There is some impressive stuff in the Spark - yet to be confirmed for Barina - including 10 airbags and a sports suspension system tuned by the team behind Chevrolet's blaster car, the Corvette. Both cars will come with a 1.6-litre four-cylinder engine and a choice of manual and automatic gearboxes, unlike the Spark that is currently only sold as a manual. GM claims more rear-seat space than the Ford Fiesta and best-in-class boot space for the Barina sedan, as well as youth-essential features such as Bluetooth USB connectivity. The spirit of the SS Commodore could be tapped for a high-performance Barina. Chevrolet has a Sonic with a turbocharged 1.4-litre engine that makes 102 kiloWatts and a dress-up pack that is being considered for Australia. It is called the Z Spec is only billed as a concept car in Detroit but is clearly intended to put some punch into the Sonic is a country where small cars are still not particularly popular. GM Holden admits it can see potential in a Z Spec version of the Barina but is not making any commitment. "The Z Spec is a concept. No decision has been made on whether it will be introduced in Australia. We'll be sure to assess it," says Jonathan Rose.

Ford is posting huge profits and knows where it is going with everything from the Focus to the upcoming Escape and Explorer, and General Motors has trimmed for growth as well as previewing the Barina sedan and a couple of classy American hopefuls in motown on Monday morning.But when Chrysler chief Olivier Francois got up to introduce the all-new 300C he talked openly about a company, and an industry, that is pulling itself up off the ropes to answer the bell for future sales."It's time. Time for Chrysler to come back onto the automotive stage like this," says Francois. "It's time for a car that makes a bold statement without saying a word. It's time for the torch of the most awarded car ever to be passed. And we did this with only one objective - to make it even better."Chrysler says it spent more than $1 billion on the impressive looking new 300C and it's the standout American car at this year's Detroit show. But there is, as always, a lot more to see and understand at the first major show of the year. When Hyundai turns the spotlight on its all-new Veloster and the Curb concept it gets a predictable reaction, but then it also talks reinventing the brand in the USA.Then Kia, which is using a couple of months of extra lead time on all the joint models it shares with Hyundai to do a better job, rolls the adventurous KV7 concept onto its stand.The combined impact is great news for buyers but an awful effort for Japanese carmakers, since Korea is now doing a better job of Japanese-  style vehicles and including the emotion that's missing from contenders from the other country.Honda does its best in Detroit by previewing the all-new Civic concept - it's basically the production car and far more punchy than the underdone CR-Z hybrid - but it could be too little and too late for Japan, since Toyota has nothing new and Nissan is not even at the show.And BYD of China makes a splash as well, although its cars are still early-Korean standard when you get up close.Detroit has plenty of eye candy, from the race-bred Porsche 918 RSR to the plug-in electric SLS in safety vest yellow on the Mercedes-Benz stand and the huge selection of Boss 302 Mustangs on the Ford stand. It seems every carmaker also has some form of plug-in electric car, hybrid or alternative energy vehicle, from the hybrid RSR on down.But the company with the single most impressive exhibit, once you drill down a bit, is Ford. It is using the all-new Focus as the base to show what can be done in a One Ford world where spin-offs from a basic platform satisfy just about every showroom shopper. There is everything from an all-electric Focus battery car to a hybrid, a C-Max mini people mover, the upcoming replacement for the Escape and more."There are 10 different models, top hats, off the one platform. All on the one production line,"  says Ford's CEO, Alan Mulally. "Henry Ford, back in 1925, advertised opening the highways to all mankind. Making it affordable. We're accelerating Henry's original vision."The news in Detroit is more than just concept cars and new showroom contenders. Opel confirms a plan that will put its cars into Australian showrooms from 2012, not as part of the Holden lineup but as a separate brand under its own banner."This is not just an Australian play. It's important for Opel. It's an important brand statement," says Opel chief, Nick Reilly.Ford leaks news that the Falcon could go front or all-wheel drive, with the potential loss of local production. "Don't hold your breath," says global design boss, J Mays.Mercedes-Benz talks for the first time about a huge safety push on its C-Class starter car, Chrysler confirms a 12-month delay on Australian deliveries of its impressive new 300C, and there is endless hopeful banter at General Motors on the future prospects of the Commodore and a born-again export program to the USA.Gover's opinion ...The overall vibe at Detroit 2011 is more positive than recent years, but not nearly as upbeat as the years before the global financial crisis. There are far fewer concept cars and dream machines. The concepts that are presented are, mostly, based on real production cars with some extra bling for the spotlights.What comes through clearly is that the GFC has forced all carmakers to re-think their business.Most have dumped the old 'push' model, where factories ran at capacity and dealers were force-feeding buyers using huge incentives, for a 'pull' program where production is matched to the real demand in showrooms.There are still some exceptions, but GM Holden boss Mike Devereux talks openly about building "one fewer car than customers want" in Australia.It's a policy that worked brilliantly for Enzo Ferrari and one that is being adopted more and more in the post-GFC motoring world.

There is even renewed speculation about an end to local manufacturing if Ford rolls the Falcon into its global product portfolio.  Speaking at the opening of the North American International Auto Show, Ford's global design chief J Mays hints strongly that the days of a rear-drive homegrown Falcon are over."Don't hold your breath," Mays says.  But, reacting quickly to the news from Detroit, Ford Australia says no decisions have been made."Development of the future-model Falcon is under way as part of Ford's normal product development plans. Design and engineering proposals are currently being considered by the company's teams but a plan has not yet been approved," says company spokesman, Peter Fadeyev."No decisions about the design nor on the platform have been made or locked in. At this point, it is too early to provide any specific details about future Falcon models."While Ford is leaning heavily towards a front or all-wheel drive Falcon replacement after 2015 - in a product family with the Taurus sedan and Explorer SUV in the USA - Holden is closing fast on a renewed commitment to rear-drive in the next Commodore.  Holden, like Ford, must make it next-generation development commitments inside the next year.The red lion brand is leaning towards a revamp of the mechanical package under the current car, with everything from more high-quality steel to slimmer door pillars, to give it the package size and rear-drive it believes have powered it to a 15-year run as Australia's favourite car."We will know in the next six months what the future of the Commodore - the next generation - will look like," says Mike Devereux, the president of GM Holden."The rear-drive sedan may not be flavour of the month in other countries, but it is still very much alive in Australia. If we can deliver the right and the right economy, we can continue on the path we're on."

The German brand is on a drive for global expansion and is aiming for conquest sales from Volkswagen, Renault, Peugeot and Citroen with a starting lineup of three cars. The Astra will be Opel's born-again hero downunder and joined by the compact Corsa and award-winning mid-sized Insignia.  The plan is confirmed today by the heads of General Motors' two brands, Nick Reilly of Opel and Mike Devereux of GM Holden. Holden is helping with the move but Opel is genuinely going alone, with no commitment to Holden dealers and no intention of integrating its small-car lineup with the cheaper Korean-made cars that dominate the Holden range. It is aiming to become an upscale contender as Opel looks for incremental sales in a wide range of countries - from China to Israel- to boost its production and spread its influence. "This is not just an Australian play," says Reilly, a man who ironically brought Daewoo into the Holden family.  "It's important for Opel. It's an important brand statement." He believes there are buyers in Australia who will pay extra to have an Astra over a Cruze and a Corsa over a Barina, with more opportunities in the future with specialist cars including the Zafira wagon and Meriva minivan. "We're not trying to beat the mainstream brands. Our time is just at the right time," Reilly says.  Holden is already doing preliminary work for Opel on everything from the model lineup and pricing to the dealer set-up, but Devereux is unwilling to share any detail. "We insisted it should be considered as a separate business," he says.  "Holden is our play in Australia and will be forever." Opel is aiming for a short-term sales total below 10,000 cars, rising to around 15,000 within five years.

The Ford Escape will finally make it to the 21st century when an all-new model, lightly disguised under a Vertrek badge at the NAIAS, makes it to production. The Vertrek is part of the family of Focus-based vehicles that starred for Ford on the opening day of the 2011 Detroit motor show. It's no surprise that the Vertrek is longer, lower and wider than the outgoing Escape, with space for 1.6 and 2.0-litre EcoBoost four- cylinder engines, as well as a larger 2.5-litre motor. It is visually linked to both the Fiesta and Focus and shows how the blue oval brand intends to draw younger buyers to its compact SUV. It has an aggressive nose with faired-in headlamps, a low roofline and the sort of wedgy look that is already working well for Mazda with its CX family of SUVs. Vertrek means 'departure' in Dutch, a clear reference to where Ford is taking the vehicle. "It's a radical departure from the Escape. I don't think you'll be disappointed when you see the production car on the road," says Ford's design chief, J Mays. The concept only has four seats and a full leather cabin, both likely to be changed before production, but it has a stop-start system with regenerative braking that will make it to showrooms. The new Escape is likely to make it to Australia for 2012, although there is no comment yet from Ford Australia on the vehicle.

Toyota is expanding the Prius hybrid brand with a youthful family wagon and is also working on a smaller city car.  The Prius V - for versatile - looks exactly as expected, with pumped- up bodywork that closely follows the look of the existing five-door hatch. The end result is partly down to the need for aero efficiency, but also because it is the best way to package the existing hybrid synergy drive. The V has an interior that's 50 per cent larger than the existing Prius, complete with a multi-function tail end that's suitable for families and hauling work. The Prius C - for city-centric - is one of the few surprises at this year's Detroit show and proves that Toyota is serious about turning its hybrid family into a sub-brand, similar to the Scion family - including the Rukus in Australia - that works well as a youth destination in the USA. The C-car is all about price and will lead the Prius family when it goes on sale in 2012. Only very sketchy details on the concept car, focussing on its size and price potential, are revealed. The Prius V is certain for Australia but there is no news yet on the Prius C, even if Toyota Australia is taking a conservative line on the hybrid expansion. "The Prius V is under consideration for the Australian market, however no final decision has been made as to when or if this specific model will be introduced here," says Mike Breen of Toyota Australia. "The Prius C is still a concept, so we cannot make any comment on the future production of this vehicle."

Decisions are needed soon on the future replacements of both cars, which are set for a total overhaul within five years.  Australia's third maker, Toyota, is already committed to a new - generation Camry that will hit the road later this year. It is also investing more than $300 million in a local engine factory and will have a replacement for its current Camry hybrid in 2012. But there are more questions than answers on the Falcon and Commodore - which will each cost more than $500 million to renew for sales beyond 2015.  Ford's global boss Alan Mulally will face a grilling at the opening of the North American International Motor Show and his counterpart at General Motors, Mark Reuss, will get similar questions. Both men are well connected to Australia - Mulally has been guiding the blue oval brand for more than five years and has visited Broadmeadows, while Reuss is a former president of GM Holden - and know the critical importance of their local heroes. Holden is already hinting through its current chief, Mike Devereux, that it sees an ongoing future for a large, rear-wheel drive replacement for the Commodore. He tells Carsguide yesterday that Holden has a solid plan and is tracking towards another year of profitable sales in 2011. "My goal is to be the best car company in Australia. A very profitable, great car company. I think there are outcomes to being great," says Devereux. But Mulally rocked the Australian motor industry exactly a year ago - at the opening of last year's Detroit motor show - when he refused to confirm a future for a local Falcon.  Since then, two potential paths for the Falcon have emerged - some sort of joint-venture development with the next Mustang in the USA or a twinning with a global Taurus sedan under the worldwide One Ford program. In either case, Mulally has said repeatedly that there will not be an 'orphan' car in Australia without some sort of global synergy.  Ford Australia also faces a major crunch this year on local sales, with the Falcon continuing to lag below sustainable levels and needing a significant boost from the much-updated Territory SUV that hits the road in the first quarter.

... with everything from vital new cars to $12 billion profit promises, at the opening of the 2011 North American International Auto Show.Ford, Chrysler and General Motors are all running in the black after the disasters of the global economic crisis and also have new models to tap potential demand in the USA and around the world.Chrysler has its new 300C flagship, Ford has the C-Max minivan and GM has a Buick Verano luxury concept as the obvious contenders for the opening day in Detroit.There is much more to be revealed on the new-metal front but the real key to their success is the companies' financial turnaround.Ford is doing best because, under canny chief Alan Mullaly, it was never driven into the bankruptcy that nearly killed GM and forced Chrysler into a new global alliance with Fiat.The blue oval brand is battling in Australia but in the USA it is climbing the quality rankings and is on-track for a $10 billion profit on its operations in 2010.GM is also doing well after reporting a $4.2 black-ink result to the end of September and even Chrysler, which was lagging last year, is heading towards a share float and an operating profit in 2011.Demand for new vehicles in the USA is likely to rebound by around one million in 2012 - the total number of vehicles sold in Australia last year - after tanking in 2009 and showing only mild signs of improvement last year.Sales in China now lead the world and the Big Three have been overtaken by Toyota, which is now global leader in showrooms, with Volkswagen planning to trump the lot to become worldwide number one by 2018.

A romping sales total of 528,349 vehicles in 2010 - up by 27.7 per cent on a year earlier - drove the F-Series to top spot again ahead of the GM Silverado, with the Toyota Camry in third overall and first car. The F-Series - a range that runs from the basic short-wheelbase F-150 pick to heavyweight trucks of all types - has been number one in the USA for more than 20 years, a result that even trumps the Holden Commodore's 15-year stretch as Australia's favourite car. The Camry has also been a long-term ruler, taking the place of the Ford Taurus and holding off challenges in recent years from the Honda Accord.  Overall, General Motors was the top brand in the USA in 2010 with 224,147 sales, up by 8 per cent. Ford was second with 190,191, ahead of Toyota on 177,488 - the only drop among the majors from 2009 - and American Honda on 129,616.USA BEST SELLERS 2010 1. Ford F-Series - 528,3472. GM Silverado - 370,1353. Toyota Camry - 327,8044. Honda Accord - 282,5305. Toyota Corolla - 266,0826. Honda Civic - 260,2187. Nissan Altima - 229,2638. Ford Fusion - 219,2199. Honda CR-V - 203,71410. Dodge Ram - 199,652 Source: Ward's Automotive Group