Articles by Paul Gover

And they have created a surprising - and surprisingly patient - waiting list of buyers. The Jaguar C-X75 supercar is still just a dream machine, and the C-X16 might never be more than just a great idea to revive the E-Type, but that hasn't stopped cheque-in-hand buyers taking a place in the line for local deliveries. They all want to be first, or as close to first as possible, when the 21st century supercats break cover. "We've got a handful of firm orders for the C-X75. But that's enough," says David Blackhall, managing director at Jaguar Land Rover  Asia-Pacific. He tells Carsguide the C-X75 has now gone from a motor show tease to a production project, but the car is still probably five years from the road. "The current thinking is that it will be ready in 2015 or 2016. It's something where the attitude is that we'll do it right and it will take whatever it takes," he says. "My view is that this will be an exercise in showing a technical tour de force. I think it's a statement." Blackhall confirms that Jaguar has dumped plans for a jet-engined hybrid powertrain, and admits it will be mostly petrol-powered, but will not discuss rumours of a V8 engine in the middle of the C-X75. "It's going to have a hybrid element. What that is, excactly, we're not sure yet. We're working very closely with the Williams F1 people." The C-X16 project, which re-emerged at the Los Angeles Motor Show looking like a production car with fresh white paint, Blackhall says there is no decision on a production date. But he knows it can - or will - be a winner for Jaguar. "It's in the plan. This car will be more accessible. There are traditional Jagar guyers who are interested, and then the under-50s who now say there is a Jaguar sports car they can relate to. "There are two main bits of feedback from potential customers. Firstly there are the people who say ‘Jaguar is doing a successor to the E- Type’ and then there are people equate it to the Boxster."

Ford’s local arm in Melbourne will develop two all-new SUVs for sales around the world. This one is the vital SUV spinoff produced by Ford Australia under the T6 development program which has already created the Range and Mazda BT50 pickups. Endeavour is the name chosen for the mid-sized family wagon and it will go into production in Thailand alongside the existing pickups, which are the first anywhere in the world to win a five-star ANCAP rating. A Carsguide investigation reveals that engineers and designers at Ford Australia are currently finalising not one, but two, SUV development programs at Broadmeadows. The T6-based Endeavour is one and the other is a compact SUV, to be called EcoSport. The EcoSport will be revealed in January at the Delhi Auto Show in January and the Endeavour will come in April at the Bangkok Motor Show. Both should go on sale in the second half of 2012, with the EcoSport being built in India, and will eventually be expected in local Ford showrooms. The two projects have earned an estimated $150 million for Australia, as well as ensuring the jobs of the 1000 engineers and designers who are employed at Broadmeadows on a range of projects for global Ford affiliates. "I believe those are the names. The small SUV is definitely EcoSport  and the bigger one will be called Endeavour in India," Nikhil Bhatia, a journalist with Autocar India magazine, reveals to Carsguide. He says Ford Australia is taking a greater role in regional engineering work, including India, following an earlier update program on the baby Ford Figo sold in the country. The baby car is based on the previous-generation Fiesta from Europe and was comprehensively overhauled by the team at Broadmeadows before going into production in India. The EcoSport will be built with a 1.5-litre diesel engine producing around 68 kiloWatts. "It's the next big vehicle launch for Ford. It is under four metres because in India there is legislation that vehicles at a shorter length have lower tax," says Bhatia. "We expect it to come early next year. The Delhi show is held every two years. It is the biggest in India." Ford Australia has already invited a group of Australian journalists to the Delhi show for a significant vehicle unveiling, but refuses to discuss any of its export engineering because it is regarded as a supplier to other Ford affiliates and not a partner in the programs. The situation at Holden is similar, although designers and engineers at Fishermans Bend were responsible for the Chevrolet Camaro coupe and convertible now sold in Australia, as well as the bodywork of a number of Asian production cars and motor show concepts build for countries including China and the USA.

...and this com-gen by Carparazzi shows the way.The new CLS provides the clues to the cues, which work a treat on the CLS.

With the unloved 159 quietly ceasing production this month, Alfa Romeo has more holes in its line-up than actual line-up. Fiat boss Sergio Marchionne has sent its successor, the Giulia, back to the studio, leaving the horrid Mito and the fine Giulietta. An SUV will share the Giulia’s platform. Expect Q4 AWD, plus turbo diesel and petrol engines.

The latest model of the Japanese compact has been criticised for its lack of innovation and quality, and has even been struck from the list of recommended models at the influential Consumer Guide in the USA for the first time. The new Honda Civic sedan hits Australia towards the middle of next year, with the five-door hatch to follow, as the global head of Honda promises significant upgrades to counter the criticism. "We will continue to make improvements on a daily basis," the president of Honda Motor Company, Takanobu Ito, promises during a Carsguide interview. He is taking responsibility for the car's shortcomings and admits Honda underestimated its opposition, as well as the level of improvement needed over the previous model, when developing the Civic. "I believe that the ultimate responsibility for the Civic rests with me. Right now we are trying to work out the best actions possible in response," he says. "We might have underestimated the competition to a certain extent." In Honda's defence, Ito says he believes the previous-generation Civic was well ahead of its rivals and that might have led to decisions that did not push hard enough on the new car. "The previous Civic was something of a major surprise to the world, it was extremely advanced, and therefore the concept for this current Civic was trying to carry over the concept. We look at the history of the Civic model. We are constantly aiming towards more advanced features and carrying out development of the new Civic." He admits Honda has been stung by the poor reception for the car. "Thought we think this new Civic has competitiveness, we are aware of the fact that in the United States and some other places, there are people who are criticising and saying that it is not up to their expectations. We have to sincerely listen to those voices and accept those opinions as such. In this situation it is true that we lacked the capability to understand beforehand that such reactions might have come about. We should have studied these things more carefully." Still, he believes Honda's effort with the previous Civic also spurred its opposition in development of cars which are now making things tough for Honda. "I think the competitors felt threatened looking at the previous Civic and they have come up with very competitive products. And, again, I think we might not have fully assessed this happening among the competitors. So we might have underestimated the competition to a certain extent."

...a sure starter for Europe next year but not so certain here.Fewer doors do it no harm. Same cracking engines, same brilliant rear wheel dynamics, nicer lines.

The man who led the Toyota side of the program says his company had the original idea, then had to drive the project through a series of Subaru objections, even though the final result uses an engine, suspension and chassis package supplied by Subaru. Chief engineer Tetsuya Tada is clearly frustrated when he talks to Carsguide about the growing public spat. "This is a very boring story," Tada says. He is responding to claims to Carsguide by the head of Subaru Australia, Nick Senior, that the car "is a Subaru". "Subaru was not involved in the planning of the car itself. It was Toyota's side to decide on the concept and planning of the car," Tada says. According to him, Subaru was only involved because it had the most desirable raw ingredients - including the flat-four engine essential for a low centre-of-gravity - among companies associated with Toyota, after a share purchase when General Motors decided to dump its minority stake in the Japanese brand. Tada says he had to build a one-off prototype, using a Subaru boxer engine and hybrid Impreza-Liberty chassis with rear-wheel drive, to bring Subaru on board. "I was finally able to convince them. The project was not exactly easy to start. I wanted to make a pure, instinctive sports car that is easy to drive," he says. "Subaru had the right ingredients. We chose them as the right partner." Tada says there was also resistance when Toyota wanted to use its high- tech direct fuel injection, originally developed for the latest Lexus GS 350's V6 engine, on a new Subaru motor. That battle was won, he says, with another one-off prototype that hit the output objective of 100 horsepower per litre of capacity. "They were so unsuccessful they were almost traumatic about direct injection," he says. Tada's discussion of the Toyota 86-Subaru BRZ is peppered with discussion of the "Toyota side" and the "Subaru side", although he admits the project eventually gelled and achieved its objectives.

The Subaru Advanced Tourer Concept looks for all the world like a preview of the next Liberty, just as Mazda teased the world with a Takeri concept that (itals) will (itals) morph into the next Mazda6. But the head of Mazda Australia warns against too much enthusiasm for the ATC. "I wouldn't get too hung up that it's the new Liberty. I think everyone has been thrown off the track a bit," Nick Senior tells Carsguide.  It's not just the crazy gullwing doors that make the car unsuitable for life as a Liberty, as it's also considerably smaller than the current car. Its styling could point to a change in the Liberty but Senior, evasive as always, will not be drawn. "It does have hints of future styling. But you have to be a bit careful," he says. "It's not a case of going more formal, it's more about appealing to contemporary tastest. What's we're seeing is a more 'Euro' style appearing in Japanese cars." He also warns that it is far too early for Subaru to even be hinting about the next Liberty. "The Liberty is only two years old. It's not even halfway through it's product cycle yet." But one thing the ATC definitely shares with upcoming Subaru stars is its powertrain. It picks up a 1.6-litre turbocharged version of Subaru's newest flat-four engine - used as a 2.0-litre powerplant in the BRZ sports car shared as the Toyota 86 - linked to a hybrid system. Subaru says direct fuel injection, as well as a CVT transmission, is ideal for the output of the engine and equally well matched to a single-motor hybrid system that works for low-speed electric use as well as generating power during deceleration for the car's lithium-ion battery. Sitting alongside the ATC at the show is the Subaru BRZ, with a race-prepared version also displayed ahead of its competition debut in the 2012 Japanese touring car championship. Senior says - once again - there is no decision on bringing the BRZ to Australia but defends Subaru against claims by Toyota that the joint project that also produced the two-door 86 was its work. "It is, at the end of the day, a Subaru. Toyota input . . .  was design and product planning. "The car, the drivetrain and the driving experience is all Subaru. That's one of the things that's given us a real cause for discussion and debate about this car. "Japan wants us to take the BRZ but, at the end of the day, it's up to the team in Australia."

It's time to bring back The Hammer. The tag that was slapped on the back of a brutal Benz created by AMG in 1986 needs to be revived and re-applied to the 2012 successor to the original V8-powered pocket battleship. The hit from the New Hammer is a real belt, good for as much as 800 Newton-metres of torque and a 300km/h top speed, as Mercedes-AMG accelerates into a new era of turbocharged V8 muscle. BMW has already converted its new M5 from a charismatic V10 to efficient twin-turbo V8 motivation and now the E63 with a similar power pack has hit the road in Australia, complete with a changeover deal that includes the return of an E63 Estate wagon and a Performance Pack that adds an extra 24 kiloWatts of power and 100 Newton-metres to the 386kW/700Nm basics.There are visual and mechanical tweaks through the new E63, but there are two key numbers. The first is 21, which is the percentage improvement in the car's fuel economy, and the second is $240,985, which is the bottom line. Neither one is going to make much difference to the sort of people with the wealth to park a new E63 in the driveway, but they show what is happening as AMG-Mercedes reinvents itself for the challenges of the 21st century.If you say it fast, $240,985 doesn't seem too bad for a four-door sedan that can smash most of the world's serious supercars. No, you're  right, it does. But, at $244,500, the E63 Estate emerges as a relative bargain if you  want to haul in a car that can really haul. For that sort of money, you expect - and get - everything in the catalogue, from the AMG performance parts through to lovely soft leather, great aircon and alloy wheels, and all the rest. Still you can get something pretty close in a top-line HSV Holden or FPV Ford for around half the money, or get two with change.What makes the E63 a reasonable buy is the bottom line on its closest direct rival, the M5. The price of the new model is not official yet, but BMW Australia is talking right on $240,000. The Jaguar XFR also comes at $210,000 and a Maserati Quattroporte costs at least $250,000. Which brings us back to the Benz, and the extra $17,900 it costs for the optional Performance Pack. Is that bit worth it? Well, there is the extra go and a carbon fibre rear spoiler on the sedan, as well as a steering wheel with suede highlights.The big changes for the 2012 model year are all under the bonnet and they are all focussed on the latest twin-turbo V8 engine. The transmission is updated with the seven-speed Speedshift, an auto with a difference thanks to a wet start-up clutch and some very clever electronics. Despite the continuation of the E63 badge - which was wrong in the first place, since the previous V8 was actually a 6.2-litre - the engine in the new car is a 5.5-litre twin-turbo. In reality, it's a 1000 Newton-metre anvil that has been wound back for safety and to keep tyres and transmissions in the car.AMG first made its name with large-capacity engines and this one is one of its best, something reflected in the economy improvement that matches the output. Benz has also been busy and there is stop-start to cut CO2 and fuel use at the lights, for a 10.0 litres/100km fuel economy figure and the potential - with a very light foot - for a 1000-kilometre cruising range in Australia.Look around and the E includes AMGs latest smart transmission with driving modes and F1 start - first seen in the SLS gullwing - as well as a heap of safety and comfort gear. And you can always wind the extravagance around to 11, and really empty your pockets, with stuff like the ceramic brakes, locking rear differential and the Driver's package that lifts the top speed to 300km/h - 'only' 280 in the Estate - for ultimate bragging rights.The brutalist design work coming these days from Benz central in  Germany works well as an AMG creation. It's not as elegant with lesser  engines and wheels, but once the New Hammer is hunkered down with its extra body bits and rolling on its giant 19-inch rims it looks the part. Inside, the AMG gear makes the car more complete but - up against rivals and even the lesser C Class - it needs a bigger display screen for more cabin impact.Five stars, of course. All the usual Benz airbags and electronic safety nets are in place,  but the AMG deal means it's possible to wind back the assistance - or remove it completely on a racetrack - for driving enjoyment.How do I begin to describe The Hammer? It's been a big year for performance cars but the new E63 is a total standout. I get my first drive in the Estate, complete with rear-entertainment package, and it's the sort of family car that will work well for someone who craves a Porsche 911 but has kids and commitments. Then I take on the E63 sedan with Performance Pack, and it's just  plain mad. I have never driven a Benz with so much front-end bite and cornering grip, and the thump from the New Hammer is madness. Let's just calibrate the commentary by saying that, in the past few  weeks, I have driven the new BMW M5 and also the Lamborghini Gallardo. As well as the new Porsche 911. The 63PP trumps them all, not just for theatre but also accessible enjoyment on Australian roads. The car almost sounds like a Top Fuel dragster as it sits idling, and so much torque means instant go in any gear at any speed. Unlike the turbo M5 there is zero lag in the Benz, and turning the transmission mode to Sport+ brings the most intuitive automatic settings in any car.It's as good, and sometimes better, than driving a manual. Of course, you pay a giant penalty in fuel economy if you go hard, and  the styling is still too brutal for me, and I don't like the teeny-tiny display screen, but that's about it.It's a struggle to find the right words for this car, and I admit my bias as I've been an E-Class fan since the early days and always  admired the AMG engineering upgrades. Bottom line? The new E63 is wicked and the New Hammer is just  outrageous.

The baby B-Class is already public and the runout of a whole range of small cars continues early next year. Mercedes is starring an electric teaser for the next Smart ForTwo at the Tokyo Motor Show that has the colour and movement intended to win Japanese buyers to the brand.But there is much more to come in 2012 and the design director at Mercedes-Benz, Gordon Wagener, is blunt in his assessment of the company's earlier work."We will have the Coupe at the Geneva Motor Show," Wagener tells Carsguide at the Tokyo Motor Show."There will eventually be five cars. Or more ... "These will be youthful. Particularly the coupe. It's based on the new B-Class platform."But Wagener is no fan of the outgoing A and B-Class cars and their boxy styling. "These were old man's cars. They damaged the reputation of our brand."The new coupe is expected to be called the CLC and will be presented alongside a rounded five-door A-Class that is a world away from the outgoing model.Wagener says the arrival of the new B-Class family also opens the way for AMG hotrod versions of the cars, which were previously excluded from the work of the performance division. And he promises cleaner design on the go-fast models."We now have total control of all AMG design. It is now fully integrated," he says. "It's about the detailing. There is more we can do. Some of the stuff in the past has not been particularly elegant."