Articles by Paul Gover

The hotrod WRX and STi will continue into the next generation of Subaru small cars, despite a body split from the Impreza, but it's BRZ that is going to become the brand's new hero. The initials stand for Boxer Rear Zenith and reflect the mechanical package in the Subaru sports car being jointly developed with Toyota. Boxer is the car's four-cylinder horizontally-opposed engine, Rear is rear-wheel drive, and Zenith is for the car's top-end positioning. The drip-feed introduction of the BRZ continues next week at the Frankfurt Motor Show in Germany, where the car's technology will be reflected in a display that reveals the car's direct-injection engine, 4.2-metre overall length, 1770mm width and 2635mm, 1270mm height and 2570mm wheelbase. There is still no decision on a BRZ plan for Australia, although a go-ahead is expected within three months. But Subaru Australia is fast-tracking the introduction of its newest safety technology, the EyeSight system that uses stereo cameras and high-tech computers for everything from cruise control to automatic braking, lane-departure warning and even safer parking. In all, it has seven different safety sub-systems. It will be fitted to the top-end Liberty 3.6R Premium and Outback 3.6R Premium as the prelude to a rollout across the Subaru family. There is no word yet on pricing, or its availability as an option on other cars, but Subaru is keen to see it boosting its safety following. "There are some EyeSight features that have previously only been available on premium priced cars, in some cases, costing up to four times what our vehicles will," says Nick Senior, managing director of Subaru Australia. "We have plans to roll it out on other models over the next couple of years and before the end of the decade it is likely to be standard across the range."

A hero colour chosen by the late and great race ace during his time as a carmaker is being brought back from the dead - with a twist - for the 2012 Holden Commodore. Brock chose a bright mid-blue colour for his HDT Commodore SS in 1984 during the days of the VK Commodore and it is returning with some extra metallic punch as Perfect Blue as part of the latest twist on the VE.The timing could not be better, on the fifth anniversary of the death of 'Peter Perfect' in Western Australia on September 8, 2006. The newest Commodore also gets improved economy and emissions in both V6-powered models, with some very, very minor cosmetic tweaking. By Commodore standards it's not a big deal, although the LPG model coming before the end of 2011 promises to have more impact.The new hero colours - Chlorophyl joins Perfect Blue - are the latest in a long run of bright body shots for the Commodore which reflect the changing times and impact of Australia's favourite car. It's currently facing one of its toughest showroom challenges - ironically, with the baby Mazda3 and not the Ford Falcon that's been its traditional rival - and Holden believes the changes for the 2012 model will help rebuild its support.It starts with the paintwork, which Holden designer Sharon Gauci says was an easy choice for 2012. "We designed Perfect Blue around Peter Brock's colour. We went back to the archives and this was perfect," she says. We've been doing hero colours, particularly on sports models, for a number of years. They're obviously attractive to customers that want something different, something a bit more extroverted. They are head-turning and attract attention."She says Perfect Blue - which also pick's up Brock's nickname - is a solid colour with a fine metallic content, while Chlorophyl is "more organic and nature inspired" with a colour that changes depending on how it's viewed. "On the interior we've included some accent stitching on sport and Berlina. There are minimal changes for the interior," says Gauci.Visually, there is also a new design of 16-inch alloy on the Omega a lip spoiler on the Calais V, while the Redline models get red Brembo brake calipers, a new design of polished 19-inch alloy wheel, and FE3 suspension on the Ute and Sportwagon.The real advantage in the latest change is improved economy and emissions for the two six-cylinder engines, thanks to a new gearbox and torque convertor on the 3.0-litre motor. They reduce weight and, with updated calibration, also improve efficiency. Changing the torque convertor saves 3.35 kilograms and a new gearbox in the 3.0-litre car trims another 4.2 kilograms."We reduced transmission mass. We also downsized the torque convertor," says Holden engineer Roger Athey. We've put them through a battery of testing and it came up well. It has contributed to some of the fuel economy savings. (But) all the gear ratios are the same."Holden claims 1-3 per cent fuel economy gains for the 2012 Commodore, with 1-3.5 per cent improvements on CO2 emissions. The headline number is 8.9 litres/100km for the 3.0-litre Omega sedan, as Holden also touts an 18 per cent economy improvement since the start of the VE-generation Commodore.The update also means all Commodores are now E85 compatible, meaning they are classified as flex-fuel cars that can run on bio-ethanol fuel. "It's a minor update. A minor enhancement," admits Holden spokesperson, Shayna Welsh. We're very pleased with how Commodore is going. We'll be talking about LPG Commodore later in the year. That's the only mechanical change still to come this year." 

A great looking Ford coupe that sits at the top of the Focus family will challenge Ferrari and Porsche for bragging rights at the Frankfurt Motor Show. The great looking gullwing is currently called Evos and runs a hybrid drivetrain, but is expected to take over from the turbocharged Focus RS pocket rocket in a future showroom battle with Euro coupes including the Volkswagen Scirocco that goes on sale in Australia at the back of this year.A production version of the Evos - without the four gullwing doors that guarantee attention - could be confirmed as early as January, at the Detroit motor show. But Evos is deliberately being unveiled at the biggest European car show of 2011 as major makers run everything from supercars to green machines into the spotlight in Germany.Porsche has its all-new 911 and Ferrari is unveiling the 458 Spider, both proving there is plenty of life in supercars despite the green them that will run through Frankfurt. Among the city-first concept cars for the show is NILS, a single- seater electric car that is absolutely tiny at just 3.04 metres long and 39 centimetres wide. Volkswagen promises NILS has a range of 65 kilometres and a top speed of 130km/h, but makes no production promises for the concept.It's actually backed by the German government, which is supporting research into micro-mobility systems for future motoring. Among the other hero cars promised for Frankfurt are a the Lotus Evora GT-E, claimed as the fastest car in the brand's history, the Citroen DS5 production model and Tubik concept, and the Peugeot 508 RXH hybrid production car and the HX1 concept.See the highlights from the 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show here.

The XE will be revealed as a concept car next week at the Frankfurt Motor Show but Carparazzi has caught a test car in action.The car is expected in production late next year using a new compact aluminium platform that will also support a range of future models, perhaps including a Jaguar SUV.

...which will also be out in the open at the Frankfurt show, and the A-Class baby is also getting close.Carparazzi caught a five-door test car that shows the upright look of the current A is dead and buried as Mercedes goes upmarket with its BMW 1 Series rival.

...with the first official press preview of the compact sedan in Germany.Carsguide will be there but we’ve also got an unofficial look at the 3 Series wagon - called the Touring - in action in the German countryside.

This is a new Land Rover Defender, but not like anything that has won the badge in the past. Land Rover is reinventing and refining its down-and-dirty workhorse for the 21st century and the result goes public next week at the Frankfurt Motor Show - wearing a DC100 tag. It's officially just a concept car, but the real reason for the creation of DC100is to test the reaction from Land Rover tragics who would prefer the Defender stays as it is - forever. It's a similar approach to the Range Rover Evoque, which pioneered a new path into a city-first Land Rover for Mini-type buyers and was also previewed on the motor show stage to ensure buyers were happy to come along for the ride. The new look in DC100is much softer and organic than the slab-sided Defender original, which still looks as if it drove - alongside the first Jeep - away from the celebrations at the end of World War II. The DC100 promises to be just as tough and just as capable in off-road conditions, which is why Land Rover took it onto a muddy track at Eastnor Castle - its traditional off-road proving ground in Britain - for some pictures. The shots reveal a short-wheelbase, three-door body with a very boxy outline that is softened by a smooth nose and big flared guards covering the oversized alloy wheels. The nose and tail are both tucked in tight to minimise overhangs and there are style-driven mirrors mounted on stalks and tow hooks in the front end to give a tougher look. There is no news yet on powerplants for DC100, but it is likely to be a hybrid drive for motor show displays despite the overwhelming preference for basic diesels and manual gearboxes in the Defender. Land Rover admits it intends to break the mould on Defender in 2015 and, based on the look of the DC100, it is going for revolution over evolution.

The David-and-Goliath battle for the top spot in Australian motoring swung back towards the little guy in August with another win by the Mazda 3.

The rotary-powered sports car has just been dumped in the USA but, just as happened in 1995 when America killed the RX-7 early because of slow sales, it will roll on here. The RX-8 continues in Mazda's Australian catalogue until at least 2012 despite falling sales here, with only 52 sold in the seven months of 2011 against 156 at the same time last year. Just four cars were delivered in July, according to official VFacts figures, compared with 18 in July 2010. "RX-8 is alive and kicking. Production has not stopped," says Doug Dickson, managing director of Mazda Australia. Dickson believes this year's local results are being judged unfairly because of the supply problems from Japan. "Production and sales of RX-8 within Australia are ongoing. 2011 production of RX-8 was affected by the Tsunami. Sales in Australia, year-to-date July, are 52 making 6361 units in total since sales commenced in July 2003." The situation is different in other countries, as the RX-8 was pulled from Europe last year when its unique rotary engine could not meet toughening emissions standards in some countries. In the USA, the car has been hit by the weakness of the American dollar against the Japanese yen that has contributed to first-half losses at Mazda USA of close to $100 million. Despite falling support for the RX-8, Mazda is continuing development of the rotary engine. "The rotary engine is part of Mazda's heritage and its development continues," says Dickson. Apart from hydrogen power for the rotary, Mazda has also been working on direct fuel injection and other changes for a next-generation powerplant known as the 16X. It was previewed at the Tokyo Motor Show in 2007 with the promise of lower emissions, better economy and more power, but has been overtaken by the latest SkyActiv technologies developed by Mazda for all its models led by the next Mazda3.

But the Kia Picanto, on the shopping list for Australian showrooms, will have to pick up the pace after falling to win four NCAP stars because it is not fitted with the full-range ESP stability control that is essential for it to be sold here next year. The other five-star cars in the August testing in Europe cover the full showroom spread, from the luxury Audi A6 to the baby Chevrolet Aveo and BMW X3 SUV. A pair of Volkswagens, the Jetta and Golf Cabriolet, also make the grade. Several of the Chevrolet-badged cars in the list will come to Australia as Holdens, led by the Volt - which is sold as the Ampera in Europe - and the Aveo which becomes a Barina. The test results show a number of strong scores in individual areas of the NCAP testing, from the side-impact pole test to child safety. The Volt, called the Opel-Vauxhall Ampera, did best in the pole test. "The new range-extending EV reaches the maximum points in the side pole test as a result of a well-optimised balance of structure, interior and restraint system," says the head of Euro NCAP, Michiel van Ratingen. He also praises the work at GM following the scores for the Aveo and Orlando people mover. "Euro NCAP recognises the major efforts made by the manufacturer since 2006, when the previous Aveo made headlines with a poor struck-through two star adult occupant result." On the child-front, the Hyundai i40 and both Volkswagens scored 86 per cent. "Euro NCAP evaluates child safety for each model tested and encourages car manufacturers to provide equally good protection for adults and children. We consider child protection as a very important part of the overall star rating and have plans to step up our requirements even more in the coming years," says van Ratingen. He also praises the emergency-assist systems being fitted to a growing number of cars, including the Citroen DS5 and BMW X3 just tested. EURO NCAP RATINGS - AUGUST 2011 FIVE STARS Audi A6 BMW X3 Chevrolet Aveo (Holden Barina) Chevrolet Orlando Citroen DS5 Hyundai i40 Opel Ampera (GM Volt) Volkswagen Golf Cabriolet Volkswagen Jetta. FOUR STARS Kia Picanto.