Articles by Paul Gover

Paul Gover road tests and reviews the 2015 Porsche Cayman GT4 with specs, fuel consumption and verdict at its Australian launch.

There is motorsport and then there is Monster Jam. It could not be any more different, if you tried, from this weekend's Bathurst 1000.

Driving a monster truck is easy. There is power steering, an automatic gearbox, plush suspension and a view that means you can see clear over any SUV traffic snarl.Tickle the gas and you’ve got 1200kW of supercharged power to get you going.But driving one properly? Not me.There is no way I’m going to launch one of these monsters into the air, or headbutt a 5m dirt wall, or crush a couple of runaway cars from a local wrecking yard. I kick the gas a couple of times, and I’m rewarded with a dinosaur-grade bellow and a massive thump from the power, but mostly it’s about ticking an item off my bucket list.My time with a truck called Hot Wheels and its driver Scott Buetow comes as Monster Jam lands in Australia for its annual summer tour. All the toughest trucks, from Grave Digger and Monster Mutt to Metal Mulisha and Zombie have been freighted from America for the events.It’s hard to get things into perspective with these outrageous beasts, but the numbers run from 300 truckloads of dirt for the monster truck course to 150,000 prepaid ticks to four local shows, as well as the 12 trucks themselves and 65 American crew members to build and run the courses and keep the trucks going.“I call myself an entertainer. That’s what I do,” Buetow told me.“Monster Jam is chaos in a ring. It’s controlled carnage. It’s like modern-day gladiators.”That’s not what I want to hear as he gives me a pre-drive check over his truck, the iconic Hot Wheels that he drives for more than 80 nights a year.We start with the oversized tyres that cost $10,000 each, move through oversized suspension with four shock absorbers at each corner, then on to the drag racing-style supercharged V8 that makes 1200kW on methanol fuel, and the fibreglass body that costs more than $10,000 and is regularly trashed.I climb up into the cabin, a trip more like mounting a helicopter than jumping into a car, to be confronted by a single wraparound competition bucket seat, a bank of switches, two pedals and the shift lever.“Don’t worry too much. Once you get going it’s all about the gas,” he said.“Besides, the officials have a radio kill switch. If you get into trouble, or get ahead of yourself, they’ll shut you down.”Hot Wheels is idled out to the track and, after a couple of super-slow laps by radio hosts, it’s my turn for a drive. I know that Aussie stunt star Matt Mingay, a Gold Coaster who makes his living by doing outrageous things with motorcycles and off-road trucks, is having the final run and set to destroy a battered old Ford Falcon.So I strap in tight. I cannot see much, even through the perspex panels that give a view down to the front wheels, but I get through the start-up procedure without a hitch and soon have control.As I get going, the truck feels big and soft and wobbly. The steering feel is vague, the pedals take a hefty stomp, and I cannot see much. In some ways it’s like driving a sprintcar at the speedway.But then I give it full gas, shift to second gear, and feel the kick from the fearsome V8. And then I do it again, just because I can.The officials decide I’ve earned a bonus lap so I go harder, even though the acceleration effect is like sitting in the back of a high-powered speedboat. The nose lifts and I cannot see much, but it’s fun and I know I don’t have to worry about jumps or bumps or trying for a backflip.Once Mingay has done his jump — nailing it in a way that impresses even Buetow and the other hard-marking drivers — I return for a show that’s two hours of mayhem and madness.Three trucks tear wheels off, two complete successful backflips, one destroys an engine in a fireball, and the crowd of nearly 40,000 cheers and whoops and loves it all.

The Fiat 500 that isn't - because it's a crossover for families - is being readied to go head-to-head with the Mini Countryman in 2016.

Paul Gover road tests and reviews the 2015 Mazda MX-5 with specs, fuel consumption and verdict.

The sneaky device that got Volkswagen into so much trouble has been an open secret in the car business for decades.

Modern car design and our taste for SUVs and utes are making reversing cameras and sensors an essential safety feature.

The popularity of Audi S and RS models will see performance models highlighted with new showroom-within-a-showroom approach.

Rubber has been almost eliminated from the rubber that keeps your car on the road.These days it's all about special polymers and petrochemicals, according to one of the top men at Pirelli."Rubber is like wine. There are different regions, different vintages," says Paul Hembery, who also heads Pirelli's grand prix program."There is good wine and not-so-good wine. It's the same with rubber. So it's too unstable and variable."Apart from F1 and GT racing, Pirelli provides tyres for most of the world's supercars, including the LaFerrari and McLaren P1, where Hembery says racing experience helps to speed development and cope with the extraordinary demands of modern motoring.Developing a new tyre takes two to three years"Those cars are out of this world. They have 1000 horsepower, which is more than a Formula One car. But even relatively modest cars now require a lot more development on things like wet-weather grip and noise control," he says."Developing a new tyre takes two to three years. So that's a type of race in itself."Volkswagen Group is the biggest road-tyre customer for Pirelli, which did about 500 different new-tyre certifications last year for new models. Audi is the biggest individual buyer.Looking ahead, Hembery says Pirelli is working hard to develop a computer simulation that will allow shoppers to do a "virtual test" of potential tyre choices for their car."It's simple to test drive different cars you're thinking about buying. Tyres are much tougher. But we're working hard on a system that will give realistic feedback," he says."Right now, it's like buying a washing machine. You don't get the chance for a back-to-back test and so you have to rely on someone else's advice. You never know if you're getting what you want."We want to remove that uncertainty and help people make the right choice."

The global financial crisis is now in the pages of history but car makers like Suzuki are still feeling its impact.In Japan, the GFC hit hard and most makers wound back on development spending and also on the quality of their cars. The lifespan of some cars was stretched and others were renewed with a lot of carryover parts and thinking.The likes of Honda, Mitsubishi and Subaru reasoned they had to step back to go forward but Hyundai and Kia of Korea accelerated briskly at the same time and that's why they now build a lot of Japanese-style cars — think i30 and Sportage for a start — that are better than Japanese cars.At Suzuki, the GFC hit particularly hard. The Kizashi has not been renewed, the latest Swift is only a minor improvement and we're still waiting to see what will happen to the Grand Vitara. But there is a new S-Cross in the SUV space and the Alto tiddler, a car that only sells on price, has just been rated by motor clubs as the cheapest car to run in Australia in 2014.The man who guided Suzuki through the GFC, Tony Devers, has just moved to a strategic post at Suzuki Australia and acknowledges the difficulties it caused. But he is typically upbeat."It is evident that Suzuki Motor Company took a very conservative approach throughout the GFC. However the research-and-development investment is now fully deployed and exciting new product is guaranteed for the short and mid-term," he says."Indeed, we will have at least one new Suzuki model every year for the next five years. You will see an aggressive marketing campaign from us in the short term as we build toward the arrival of exciting new product in the Celerio and iV4 in early 2015."Despite the setback, Suzuki cars are still among the best on warranty claims in Australia, they have a bulletproof reputation on the used-car front and, Devers says, pricing will stay sharp as the company gets on top of supply problems last year that have affected its sales total this year."I enjoy a challenge and am confident of our ability to turn around a slow start with a strong finish," he says. "The pipeline is now back at full production and May signals the return to normal stock levels for the first time this year."He takes issue with the view that Suzuki dropped the S-Cross price twice. "We launched the car at $23,990 drive-away for the GL to cover the initial shipment, which was not as big as we would have liked," Devers says."Last month we moved that price to $22,990, which was always our intended price point when we had sufficient stock."  CHOICESSuzuki Swift - From $15,990 - see reviewsRating: 3.5/5Engine: 1.4-litre 4-cyl, 70kW/130NmTransmission: 5-speed man, 4-speed auto; FWDThirst: From 5.5L/100kmLowdown: A long-term Carsguide favourite, though it's not as much fun as it once was and price pressure has made some rivals — including the VW Polo — more attractive. Four-speed auto is a fail but still honest and solid value, reflected in its class leading sales.Susuki Kizashi - From $28,990 - see reviewsRating: 3/5Engine: 2.4-litre 4-cyl, 131kW/230NmTransmission: 6-speed man/CVT; FWD/AWDThirst: From 7.9L/100kmLowdown: A sharper price would help its cause, as there is rabid battling in the medium-car class. It is a great drive and quality is good but it comes up against Camry and the crew and suffers because the cabin is more pinched than its rivals Suzuki Grand Vitara - From $24,990 - see reviewsRating: 3.5/5Engine: 2.4-litre 4-cyl, 122kW/225Nm; 1.9-litre 4-cyl turbodiesel, 95kW/300NmTransmission: 5-speed man, 4-speed auto; AWDThirst: From 6.8L/100kmLowdown: Hidden gem that's easy to recommend to friends and people who need a realistic 4WD. Not just a show pony and can handle proper off-road challenges and towing without breaking the bank. Not as flashy as some rivals.SECOND-HANDThe Swift has become a Carsguide best-buy for parents with first-time drivers. It has a reputation for reliability to match any Toyota, is cheap to run and is pretty good on the safety front.It's also light to handle, easy to park and gentle on the bowsers. For youngsters, it also has a trendy look that is enhanced with a Sport Package that doesn't go crazy on the performance side of the deal.It's good to drive but not a monster. The Swift is always worth a look if you're shopping for a Yaris or Mazda2 for city-and-suburban work, and can make a value choice from a Japanese brand that is as bankable as the best.