Articles by Paul Gover

Mark Webber lost his number one ranking in a year when he failed to repeat his winning run in Formula One, and the $13.4 million it produced, according to BRW magazine. Instead, it's MotoGP world champion who tops the motorsport rich list for 2011 with earnings of $9.5 million for his efforts in the factory Honda team, a total only beaten by NBA basketballer Andrew Bogut with $13 million. Mark Webber still managed to rake in $9 million this year, good enough for third on the BRW sports table, with transplanted motocross star Chad Reed earning $8.5 million on the motocross circuit in theUSA. The BRW results show once again that the best way to get rich in sport is to leave home. Bogut is based in the USA, Stoner and Webber both operate out of Europe, Reed lives in America and fifth-ranked Cadel Evans - the Tour de France winner in cycling - also used a European base in 2011 to earn his $5 million.

Yawn, it's a new Toyota Camry. It's a common reaction when Brand T revamps or revises its locally-made foundation model, even though it's been Australia favourite mid-sized car for the past 17 years - two more than the Commodore at overall number one.Yet the latest Camry is surprisingly good in plenty of ways. Cabin quality is up and the sea of grey is gone, advanced safety equipment is available, it drives impressively and it has the potential to re-boot Toyota Australia's exports to the Middle East.This Camry is the seventh generation to carry the name, the fifth generation to be built in Australia since 1987, and finally picks up the sort of stuff that makes the car worth buying and not something you get as a backhanded compliment in the company car fleet."We want to bring peace of mind to our customers. A car you could completely trust," says Keiichi Yoneda, deputy chief engineer on the car.His team - together with a talented crew from Australia - have done well and the car now deserves to be compared with the Ford Mondeo, Mazda6 and Subaru Liberty on its considerable strengths, including an unchanged showroom sticker.VALUEThe latest Camry pricing is sharp, with the basic Altise still going from $30,490 despite a major upgrade and more standard equipment. Even the fully-loaded Atara SL - which replaces the Grande - is only $39,990, although there are Camry hybrid and V6 Aurion models to follow in the first half of next year and they will definitely cost more.Toyota has again tweaked the model lineup, splitting the range - as it has done in the past - with the newly-named Atara models to provide a slightly sporting look that is aimed at private customers and not the fleet buyers who sign the line for the majority of Camry purchases.Toyota says the inevitable mid-range price increases on the Atara S and SX, which replace the Atevo and Sportivo, are more than offset by extra equipment.On that front, the Altise has a six-speaker sound system with Bluetooth and auxiliary inputs - although there is only one power plug in the centre console - alloy wheels and the usual power steering and windows, while the loaded Atara SL gets leather trim, JBL sound, satnav on the seven-inch touch screen, digital radio, a reversing camera, blind-spot monitoring and automatic high beams, automatic mirrors and more in a package that as good as recent Lexus models.Perhaps best of all, especially for people paying their own way, Toyota's capped-price service plan now runs for four years and 75,000 kilometres, with up to five services at $130 a time.TECHNOLOGYThe new Camry is truly new, from the body to the suspension and powertrain. There is a bunch of good new stuff in the Camry, from the six-speed automatic gearbox and 2.5-litre engine to the safety equipment including seven airbags with new knee protection for the driver.Toyota says the engine makes 135 kiloWatts and cuts fuel use to 7.8 litres/100km, although that's also helped by the six-speed auto, with paddle shifts on the three Atara models and a sports driving mode that even blips the engine on downshifts.There is new electric power steering - to cut fuel use - a trip computer on all models, and the walk-up through the range includes keyless entry on the S and SX and the advanced stuff on the Atara SL.DESIGNThis Camry is never going to win a style award, but it cuts a smoother line than previous models and shows Toyota is at least trying to do something about its reputation as a fridge-on-wheels. There is some veiled aggression in the Atara models but buyers are likely to be more interested in the giant boot - with a terrific opening - and the improvements to cabin space that come with the new model.The driver's seat is down by 15 millimetres and there are also gains in rear-seat knee room and more space for a third adult on the back bench. The new interior is more plush, with colour contrasts instead of dull grey, and the latest dashboard display units look good and work well. It's the same story for the seats, which have slightly better shape and nicer trim.SAFETYThe Camry is almost certain to get five stars from ANCAP, thanks to the improved strength of the basic body structure, and those seven airbags. There is also ESP stability control and traction control, while the rear camera and blind-spot systems are a worthwhile addition for an Australian-made car.DRIVINGThe new Camry is a car you can actually enjoy driving. And that's a big deal. It's quieter than before, more comfortable than its predecessors, but also has a sharpness that means you can have fun as well as trouble-free Camry-style motoring.For the first time, I feel like I'm sitting in the car and not on it - thanks to the lower-set driver's seat - and there is good response from the engine with a slick six-speed shift. The new powertrain makes the Camry a touch more lively in city traffic and - once you flick across to the manual mode - the transmission responds well to driver commands for twisty roads.The ride quality is a little compromised on the cars that ride on 55-series tyres on 17-inch alloys, with the most compliant feel in the basic Altise, but the cabin is very quiet in all conditions. Like the majority of good cars, the Camry experience gets better over time. It's not a rip-snorter out of the gate, but you could happily turn its nose across the continent and feel confident of making the trip with no fuss or bother.It's going to take a Carsguide comparison to put the Camry into sharp perspective against cars such as the Ford Mondeo and Mazda6 - as well as all the other hopefuls crowding the mid-sized class - but it's a major advance with real potential to win new friends.VERDICTThis is the car Toyota has needed to finally bury the Camry Chicken, which starred for so long in Australian advertising because a stuffed puppet was more exciting than the car.

This Camry is the most impressive new model in a very long time.The bedrock car for Toyota in Australia - thanks to local production and extensive exports - has always been bland but effective, a result that's reflected in 17 years of sales leadership in the medium-car class but no real enthusiasm among people who like to drive.This one is more adventurous in design, more luxurious in the cabin, and considerably more enjoyable to drive.Highlights range from the six-speed automatic gearbox and whisper- quiet cabin to a boot that's both giant and easy to use. The new 2.5- litre engine, which goes into local production late in 2012 and will be added to the export roster, also brings better performance with a claimed economy improvement to 7.8 litres/100km.But don't go looking for a manual gearbox. It's gone, as only two percent of Camry buyers wanted one.PRICINGThe range starts with the Altise which has an unchanged starting price of $30,490. Toyota has tweaked the model lineup and dropped the Grande - which could easily re-appear when the Aurion arrived in the middle of 2012 - in favour of an Atara SL at $39,990.Among the buyer benefits are a seven-airbag interior, safety equipment that includes automatic high-beam and blind-spot monitoring at the top end of Camry, and capped-price servicing extended to four years and 75,000 kilometres at $130 a time for the whole range.First impressions always count and the new Camry does well.The looks is more modern and, once you get inside, the driver's seat finally sit low enough that you don't feel you're sitting on the car. It's only a 15 millimetre change but it alters the whole perspective. It's something driven by the Australian engineering team under Max Gillard that also got rear-seat air vents into the Camry, even though it meant convincing Japan that it was alright to cut CD storage space from 17 discs to 14.DRIVINGUnder way, the new powertrain makes the Camry a touch more lively in city traffic and - once you flick across to the manual mode - the transmission responds well to driver commands for twisty roads.The cabin is more plush than before, and not just a sea a grey plastic, with a big new dash display that works well. It's a pity, though, that satnav is not standard and the punchy JBL sound system is not available on the sporty models.The ride quality is a little compromised, too, on the cars that ride on 55-series tyres on 17-inch alloys. Actually, the ride is best in the basic Altise.The boot is truly huge and a lid that swings right up - even on old- fashioned hinges - means it's easy to load and unload. The back seat has plenty of space.It's going to take a Carsguide comparison to put the Camry into sharp perspective against cars such as the Ford Mondeo and Mazda6, but it's the seventh-generation car is a major advance and has real potential to win buyers.This is the car Toyota has needed to finally bury the Camry Chicken, which starred for so long in Australian advertising because a stuffed puppet was more exciting than the car.

The battery-powered compact, which is set for Australia in 2012, has just claimed the Japanese Car of the Year contest to complete a triple treat in 2011. It is also the winner of the World Car of the Year and European Car of the Year awards. The Nissan Leaf's victory makes a three-year run for green cars in the Japan COTY judging, as the Honda CR-Z won the top prize in 2010 after the latest Toyota Prius was champion in 2009 - repeating the car's success in 1997. This year's Import COTY winner in Japan is the Mercedes-Benz C Class, which claimed the crown from Volkswagen after victories - identical to the Carsguide COTY results - for the Polo in 2010 and Golf in 2009. A special prize went to the Mazda Demio - Mazda2 - for its use of the company's latest Skyactiv engine technology. This year's Leaf victory was one of the most overwhelming results in the history of the Japan COTY, as the car polled 522 votes from a possible 600. Each of the 60 jurors can award a maximum of 10 votes to any car and 46 jurors did that with the Leaf. It is the first success for an all-electric plug-in car, and a major breakthrough for the Leaf and - ironically - the award came on the first anniversary of the start of sales in Japan. It is designed from the ground up as a battery car - not a conversion like the Mitsubishi iMiEV or Mini E - and is well into trials in Australia ahead of full-scale sales in 2012. It will eventually be joined by the Renault Fluence Z.E. in 2012 although Australians are showing little interest in electric cars with less than 150 iMiEVs in the official sales results for the past two years and only five delivered in October.

And it has its eyes on the Middle East sales as well as middle Australia. Toyota Australia has renewed its long-term commitment to local manufacturing with the car and is already talking about the successors that will take the company beyond 2016 with its engine and assembly factories in Melbourne. Its short-term objective is to get production at its Altona factory back to its 126,000 record as output this year slumps to just over 100,00 cars, as well as lifting exports from 82,670 in 2010 to the 101,668 in 2008. Exports are key, although the Camry is also priced from an unchanged $30,490 for local buyers with the promise of major improvements to fuel economy, quality and driving enjoyment. "With this new product ... we have every confidence our exports will pick up," the executive vice-president of Toyota Australia, Dave Buttner, said. "It's the best car we've ever developed in Australia. "We've invested heavily in tooling, equipment and manufacturing facilities." Australia is one of only five countries that builds the Camry and, for the first time, production of the seventh-generation model is on the same timetable as the rest of the world. Buttner said it's a sign of Toyota's commitment to its local manufacturing operation, which employs 3200 people and is the subject of a $300 million investment in a new engine factory that opens next year. "We are totally committed for the long haul. That's an absolute statement of fact. We want to stay as a local manufacturer and believe it is important to our volume and share," he said. Toyota is on course for its eighth year as Australia's number one and the Camry is heading for its 18th year as the top selling medium car.

Without a strong manufacturing bases, Australia could becmoe just a hole in the ground, says Holden boss Mike Devereux. Speaking at the National Press Club in Canberra today, Devereux rejected any claim that the country's automotive industry is a over-subsidised dinosaur and headed for extinction. Instead, he sees a positive future, provided there is appropriate support from Federal and State governments, for an industry that currently provides jobs for 29,000 people and attracts billions of dollars in local investment. "Australia’s auto industry is anything but pre-historic.  We are developing new technologies, state-of-the-art manufacturing skills and growing energy industries to help solve other problems – like climate change," Devereux said. "If we give up manufacturing capability, we mortgage our future for the things we can’t even imagine today." Devereux is both the president of the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries and the chairman of GM Holden. He is the first car company chief to address the Press Club since 1979, when his Holden predecessor Chuck Chapman spoke, and used the occasion to debunk claims about government subsidies and the opposition faced by local manufacturers. "What the OECD had estimated was about $200 per-person in support for the Australian industry is probably less than $20 a person. This is not a small error," he said. "And, actually, what it highlights is that the Australian auto industry is competing in a global market with a fraction of the direct financial support, on a per-person basis, compared to other major automotive nations like the US, Sweden, France, Canada , Germany and the UK. "Every auto manufacturing nation in the world has taken direct action to make their country more attractive to potential investors. Some have offered tax holidays, some have offered investment incentives, some have increased trade barriers." Devereux highlighted the billions of dollars in investment by three local carmakers - Ford, GM Holden and Toyota - as well as the recent export success of various companies including Nissan Australia from its aluminium casting plant in Melbourne.  He also took a swipe at other industries which take government money. "The auto industry is not alone in this regard. In Australia, tourism, education, banking, mining and agriculture all require some form of government intervention and direct or indirect support," he said. He warned about the need for a continued commitment to manufacturing in Australia. "There should be no misunderstanding or doubting the strategic nature of automotive manufacturing to Australia. Global vehicle development gives Australia the opportunity to design and engineer vehicles for markets around the world. "So if Australia does want to be a knowledge economy and a diverse economy, and it wants to be more than a farm, a mine or a hotel, then we need to invest in our capability to design, engineer and build. If we don't the real opportunity cost is something we can't even imagine today." Read Mike Devereux’s full address to the National Presss club

Hundreds of new and updated cars arrive in Australia each year but only one is good enough to make the honour role for Carsguide COTY.This time around the prize fight is tougher than ever, with new arrivals for 2011 covering every size and price class, from the ordinary Chery J1 from China to the exotic Ferrari 458 Italia from Italy. Neither of them makes the COTY cut, but that's another story ...The reach for COTY 2011 contenders actually stretches back to the final months of last year, to include a couple of cars that just missed the 2011 cutoff, and this time around the newcomers must have hit showrooms by December 1.So, unfortunately, the all-new Toyota Camry is a non-starter. It's the same for the make-or-break four-cylinder Falcon.But the class of 2011 covers all the bases, from affordable mini cars through family and prestige cars to a hot new coupe. The hopefuls come from Europe, Asia and Japan, as well as right home in Australia.Setting the field for 2011 was not easy, particularly with the outgoing champion - the Volkswagen Polo - still casting a considerable shadow.But each of the COTY judges, who cover the Carsguide contenders and drive them in all conditions from coast to coast, has called up their personal favourites from Alfa Romeo through to Volkswagen to help guide the selection process.Then it is the final cull by the COTY veterans to produce the top 10 for a gruelling two-day shootout to consider everything from design and safety through to value and their driving ability on a wide range of roads from Ford's You Yangs proving ground to freeways, suburban streets and gravel roads on the outskirts of Melbourne.The field is set, the race is about to be run, but we cannot get ahead of ourselves.So here are the 10 COTY contenders ... now it's over to the judges: 

BMW 1 Series, from $39,593Several impressive new BMWs hit the road in Australia in 2011 and the pocket rocket 1 M is a Carsguide driving favourite. But it's the overall 1 Series range that is the best ambassador for the brand, even ahead of a new X3 that has most of the strengths of the original X5.The new One is a major improvement and refinement of the original One and introduces the idea of streamlining the options at BMW, taking the fight right up to Audi and Benz with sharp pricing for the 116i starter car.Gover says: The original 1 Series was a big breakthrough at the bottom end for BMW and its replacement is impressive, but I'm not a fan of the puffed-up nose or seemingly-endless options.

As expected, the German brand takes the covers off an SUV stretch of the Passat wagon that will soon be heading into battle as the Alltrack against a range of crossover wagons led by the Subaru Outback. But there is something even more special in the Japanese capital, as Volkswagen hints strongly at the upcoming Tiguan replacement with its Cross Coupe concept. It might be called a concept, and some of the styling is a bit extreme, but the CC shows exactly where Volkswagen is heading with its second-generation Tiguan. And it seems to have stolen some inspiration from the Range Rover Evoque, the trendy city SUV that's already an early sellout. The original Tiguan soft-roader is now more than three years old, having reached Australia in May, 2008 after a 2007 debut in Europe. Its fourth birthday is the signal for a total overhaul and that is where the Cross Coupe comes into the picture. European sources say it reflects new thinking on SUV design at Volkswagen and is close to the design of the next Tiguan coming in 2014. Among the other changes expected are a choice of cabin sizes and either front or all-wheel drive. But it's the styling which hits the right note in Tokyo and Volkswagen design boss Walter de'Silva confirms its importance. "We won't rule out the possibility of adding a sportier SUV to the Volkswagen lineup at some time. But the main message with the Cross Coupe is its styling, which stands for the future of SUV design at Volkswagen," de'Silva tells Australian journalist Greg Kable. The Cross Coupe is shorter, wider and lower than today's Tiguan but also rolls on a slightly longer wheelbase. The powertrain for the concept car is a petrol-electric hybrid pack that uses a seven-speed DSG gearbox and can send drive to the front or all four wheels. It has a plug-in system to recharge the lithium-ion battery in the centre tunnel but also collects kinetic energy for on-the-go top-ups, and Volkswagen claims an electric-only range of 40 kilometres. Volkswagen claims a 0-100km/h sprint time of 7.0 seconds, slightly faster than the best of today's Tiguans, with a top speed of 200km/h or 110 as an electric car, and fuel economy of 2.7 litres/100km.

Honda is working on a push-pull lever system that takes the place of a traditional steering wheel and installed it on its concept cars for the Tokyo Motor Show, led by the EV-STER electric-powered sports car. The open-topped headliner is the ideal showcase for technology although Honda also has it in a tiny 1+2 city runabout and the AC-X long-distance tourer. Not just that, but it says the system makes an open-wheel racing car a full 0.36 seconds a lap faster at its Suzuka grand prix track. The Twin Lever Control (TLC) system looks like it could have been morphed from a computer gaming controller but the man in charge of development at Honda says it's actually the result of research into the most ergonomically effective way of operating a car's steering. "Even though they are the gaming generation, our notion for TLC did not come from the Playstation. It is intended to be more user friendly. It accurately facilitates the ability of the driver. The lever type is in line with the motion of people," the creative director at Honda Design in Tokyo, Yoshinori Asahi, tells Carsguide.  The system also frees space in the dashboard for better use of the minor controls and the display of information on a see-through panel which acts as a projector screen. Asahi says Honda is developing its TLC system for eventual production, although he refuses to give a solid timeline. "We pursue what is a good feeling among people. It is food for thought. We are working for production." Asahi says one of the biggest hurdles to changing from a steering wheel could be legislation, since all drivers currently pass their license test using a car with a wheel. "There are some legal issues we have to overcome," he admits. Apart from the TLC steering system, the big breakthrough in the EV-STER is a weight loss program that means, thanks to extensive use of carbon fibre, it has sports car performance with a range of around 160 kilometres."