Articles by Paul Gover

A hotrod Camaro is now being developed to go head-to-head with the Ford Mustang GT500, promising a return of the classic Z28 badge in 2012. Chevrolet is finalising testing of the born-again Z28, right down to running it against the GT500, and the car is caught by Carparazzi during the trails. There is predictable camouflage, but not enough to disguise the much- larger air intake in the nose and a pronounced lip spoiler. There are also giant 20-inch alloy wheels and brakes that could have come from the Cadillac CTS-V. The rear end reveals a set of dual pipes on either side of the car and Carparazzi photographers report a thunderous Nascar-style exhaust note. There are also potential mounting points for a rear spoiler. The car will be powered by a supercharged 6.2-litre V8 and the test car is running an automatic gearbox. The final result for the Z28 is likely to be similar to the Transformers Camaro displayed on the American motor show circuit last year, although GM's engineers are having some of their own fun with a Nascar-style number 2 on the side. The Z28 is likely to be revealed at the Detroit Motor Show in January for American sales, headlining a mildly facelifted 2011 Camaro range, in the first half of next year.

Two new Smart cars are on the boil as Daimler of Germany leverages a new tie-up with Nissan-Renault. There will be two cars for two continents but only one is likely to make it to Australia. "There is a tie-up with Nissan to build a car for the USA and another with Renault for Europe," says David McCarthy, spokesman for Mercedes-Benz Australia. He is short on detail because the future models are still on the secret list, but admits there are rumours that the American car will be a four-seater twinned with the new Nissan Micra and the European model will share with the next Renault Twingo. "We really have nothing to say yet," says McCarthy. But it's unlikely that Smart will ever grow to the multi-car lineup originally planned for the brand. At one time there were ForTwo, ForFour and Roadster models in showrooms with a compact SUV also in the planning. Prices were too high and sales were too low - although the Brabus ForFour which sold at $40,000 still brings $30,000 for secondhand sales - to sustain a stand-alone brand. Instead, Benz cut the Smart line right back to the ForTwo and decided it would be used as an entry to the Mercedes-Benz lineup. As well as a way of spreading development costs and bringing an emissions credit from the baby cars to benefit the whole Daimler lineup. While the ForTwo is certain for Australia there is also the possibility of electric scooters under the Smart brand, following a two-wheeled preview at the Paris Motor Show last month. "It gives a clue. We've got to find someone to build it," says McCarthy. While the future cars are some way away, the existing Smart ForTwo is heading for a major makeover including smoother bodywork and daytime running lamps. It will arrive in Australia early next year following a preview last month in Germany. "We will have the ForTwo in the first quarter. It should be February," says McCarthy. But, as Smart is being renewed, Mercedes-Benz has axed the baby A-Class in Australia. "It's no longer part of the catalogue. But there will be another A- Class and it will return," says McCarthy. "We decided to concentrate on the B-Class and our decision has been vindicated by the sales. Last month it actually led its class in the small segment, with 237 sales against the Audi A3 at 137, and we've outsold the Mini and 1 BMW Series year-to-date. B-class sales are significantly higher today than A and B were together."

Ford Performance Vehicle took the high ground with its 335kW Falcon GT last month but now WP, from the same stable as Holden Special Vehicles, is hitting back with a Commodore that jumps into the luxury class with a price tag somewhere between $99,990 and $117,760. Its supercharged 6-litre engine also makes 460kW with 780 Newton- metres of torque, and it comes equipped with everything from giant brakes to a body kit that echoes the original Walkinshaw Group A Commodore from 1987. Despite the hefty showroom sticker, Walkinshaw boss Craig Wilson says around half of the 23 cars in the limited-edition Series II Supercar run have been sold less than a week after it was previewed at the Australian International Motor Show, including five to show visitors. "It's really hit the mark. If you want bragging rights we've got the car," says Wilson. "There are no gimmicks. It is a go-fast car." Walkinshaw Performance has been growing rapidly since it was established two years ago as a step beyond HSV. It specialises in limited-edition packages for the Commodore, although the Series II is a new development. The cost of the Series II includes a brand-new Commodore SS, which is then comprehensively tweaked at WP's workshop in Clayton, Victoria. "It's a different beast when it comes back," says WP spokesman, Simon Frost. That's largely down to the WP 230 Edlebrock supercharger conversion, but the car also gets special Bilstein suspension with six-piston brake callipers at all four corners — with 378mm discs up front and 365mm on the rear. A specially-commissioned audio upgrade package from Rockford Fosgate is included and all 23 cars are sprayed in Panorama Silver, another tip to the original Walkinshaw Commodore that started the Holden Special Vehicles business. The package also features a three-inch bi-modal exhaust, carbon fibre lip spoiler and specially-embroidered WP headrests, sill plates and armrests The addition of the WP230 supercharger represents a new frontier for Walkinshaw Performance, and not just because of raw numbers the supercharged engine delivers. Chief Engineer Alan Hale says it's the power under the curve that is the key. "The big benefit of this package is the huge 12 inch long intake runner system which delivers massive amounts of torque under the curve, for instance 700 Nm as low as 3000 rpm," Hale says. "We're really proud of the end product and we know it is going to be popular with customers looking for something extra from their Holden or HSV.'' Wilson says the Series II is not intended to compete with HSV but to give Holden fans another choice. "We've discussed what we're doing with HSV. It's a close relationship," he says. And he promises the Series II will lead to more go-fast parts from WP. "After they're gone people will be able to buy a lot of the items separately. We're still working on that but there will be a lot of stuff." WALKINSHAW SERIES II SUPERCAR Price: $99,990 to $117,760Engine: 6.0-litres 90-degree supercharged OHV V8Power: 460kW at 6000 revsTorque: 780Nm at 3450 revsTransmission: Six-speed manualFuel type: 98 RON (PULP)Fuel tank: 71 litresBrakes: Four-wheel six-piston calipers on 378mm discs up front and 365mm rotors on the rearSuspension: Front Bilstein mono tube shocks on coil springs, direct acting stabiliser bar. Rear Bilstein mono tube shoscks, multi-link independent rearWheels: 20 x 8.5R2lw-10Tyres: Front — 245/35; rear — 275/30. 23 years ago... WALKINSHAW VL SS GROUP A SV Engine: 5.0-litre V8Power: 180kw at 5200 revsTorque: 380Nm at 4000 revsTransmission: Borg Warner BT5G five-speed manualBrakes: Four-wheel disc brakes, ventilated on the front with finned alloy caliperSuspension: Sports suspension, including Bilstein rear gas pressure shock absorbers and Bilstein front suspension strut insertsFuel tank: 83 litres Wheels 16x7R16 alloysTyres: 205x55 VR Bridgestone RE71.

BRITISH driver Ben Barker has won the Formula 3 Australian Drivers Championship by the smallest winning margin in the series history and with the closest top three in series history. The 19-year-old scored the fastest lap in the final at Sandown Raceway last weekend by five one hundredths of a second claiming a bonus point and clinching the title from Mitch Evans. Barker's title is the third in three years for the dominating Adelaide outfit, Team BRM, and the third consecutive title for British-born drivers. Barker scored 220 points to Evans's 219, with Tom Tweedie on 208. Barker wasn't informed of his win until well into the cool-down lap following the race. "I couldn't believe it. It was a huge relief. I didn't know I had won and didn't know who had fastest lap so it was an amazing feeling to know that I had done it," Barker said. Tim Macrow won the race ahead of the three title contenders with Barker in fourth.BRISBANE teenager Chaz Mostert dominated the Formula Ford races at the Gold Coast 600 with pole position and a clean sweep of the three races to extend his championship lead to 83 points and his race-winning streak to six. The 18-year-old also secured a full-time drive in a Miles Racing Falcon in the V8 development series next year. He had his first race in the development series at Bathurst this month finishing fourth for the round. "Doing the development series next year seems to be the best way to go to get into the V8 Supercars," he said.There are two rounds to go in the eight-round Formula Ford series and 122 points up for grabs.QUEENSLANDER John Martin has wrapped up the Superleague Formula season with victory in two out of three races at Navarra in Spain, claiming more than $140,000 in prizemoney. Martin, 26, also charged from 18th to sixth in the reverse grid second race in his Beijing Guoan FC machine while his Alan Docking Racing (ADR) crew scored the fastest pitstop. It was the sixth time the 2006 Australian Formula Ford Champion had stood on the top step of the podium this season. The championship was won by Davide Rigon for (RSC Anderlecht ahead of Craig Dolby (Tottenham Hotspur) and Max Wissel (FC Basel). Martin was ninth in the series but fourth in the prizemoney with $516,000. He will return in 2011 with ADR.STUART Kostera took a clean sweep of race wins in the Australian Manufacturers Championship at Sandown at the weekend to clinch the title in his Mitsubishi Lancer EVO X. The West Australian took the title lead from Garry Holt (BMW 335i) who crashed out in the first corner of the first race and finished fourth in the second race. Kostera's teammate Inky Tulloch was second in both races, ahead of Jake Camilleri in his Mazda 3 MPS. Darren Hossack and James Sera finished one-two in the three Kerrick Sports Sedan Series races, with Sera scoring enough points to secure the title despite missing the opening round. Roger Lago wrapped up the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge after series rival Matt Kingsley crashed out in qualifying.THERE were three different winners in each V8 Ute race at the Gold Coast 600 at the weekend. Chris Pither won the first race and the round, rookie Rhys McNally claimed race two and series leader Grant Johnson won race three to extend his lead over Jack Elsegod by 86 points with one round to go at Sydney in December.PAUL Stokell won his first overall round of the Mini Challenge at the weekend in the Gold Coast 600. He scored a third, second and first place with former V8 Supercar racer Glenn Seton second for the round and local Beric Lynton third. The championship will come down to the wire in Sydney in December with series leader Chris Alajajian winning race one, but fourth in the second race and retiring with suspension damage in the third race. He leads Stokell inTHE absence of Chad Reed from the second round of the Australian Super X at the weekend allowed three American imports to dominate. Kevin Windham, Josh Hansen and Justin Brayton took out the open supercross on a slippery Canberra Stadium track. Best Australian was Jay Marmont in fourth. Hansen now leads the championship race followed by Brayton and Marmont in third. Reed won the first round in Newscastle with a one-off ride on a Honda, but flew back to the US last Sunday to stitch up a deal for the next season with either Honda or Yamaha. He is expected to miss this weekend's round in Launceston. Defending lites champ ion Matt Moss grabbed the holeshot and won the race to retain top slot.SEBASTIEN Loeb had already secured his seventh World Rally Championship in the previous round, but underlined his domination with his seventh victory of the season and 61st in his career by leading the Rally of Spain from start to finish in his Citroen. He was 35.3 seconds ahead of Petter Solberg with a slim 5.8 second margin over Loeb's teammate Dani Sordo. You Tube drifting star Ken Block finished ninth to secure his first WRC points. The final WRC round will be held in the UK next month.WAYNE Gardner's motorcycle racing legacy will continue with his son, Remy, following in his wheel tracks. The 12-year-old had his debut road race at the weekend in the Honda Racing Corporation NSF100 Trophy Worldwide Mini Bike race at Albacete Circuit in Spain. He raced against 35 other riders, but grappled with the reverse gear pattern shift and missed out by three places on the final for the top 18 riders. However, he finished fourth in the consolation final. "I loved battling against everyone. It was so much fun, I couldn't believe it," said the former World 500cc Champion's son.

The new-age soft-roader is primarily aimed at cashed-up single twenty-somethings, and has already been given a series of lavish Gen-Y previews around the world.But now Carparazzi has confirmation that there will also be a five-door Evoque for people who need serious back-seat space.The basic shape of the Evoque is unchanged from the wedgy SUV seen last week at the Australian International Motor Show, but the roofline stays higher for longer and there has been a slight body stretch to make space for genuine rear doors.The Evoque, like almost every major European newcomer, is testing at the Nurburgring and side-on pictures clearly show the work that has gone into the five-door update of Gerry McGovern's original three-door design, despite the usual plastering of twirly camouflage.The three-door Evoque is already confirmed for production next year and sales in the back end of 2011, which points to a five-door preview at the Geneva Motor Show in March and the first deliveries towards the end of next year.

The arrival of the latest Subaru speed machines brings big changes to the WRX and STI. The go-faster sedan is finally back in the mix alongside the hatch and both models have pumped-out guards, the STI gets a giant rear wing and there is a bunch of other detail stuff. But the biggest change in many ways is the first WRX automatic.The five-speed self-shifter is old-school, not a double-clutch manu-match, but has been on the wish list for a lot of WRX buyers for a long time. They might like the idea of a rampaging all-wheel drive turbo car, but the reality of a day-to-day suburban slog turns them towards an auto instead of a heavy-clutch manual. The only problem? The auto only comes on the STI. But we'll get to all of that stuff soon enough right.Now Subaru has done the usual job and also kept prices sharp with a $39,990 starting sticker for the WRX and a price cut to $59,990 for all the STI cars, manual-sedan-auto-manual. There are ways to bump the prices, and the fully-loaded STI - Recaro seats, sunroof, satnav - hits $66,990, but it's still a good deal.VALUE:The WRX has always been great value and nothing has changed. A $39,990 sticker compares very well with a Golf GTi from $40,490, the Golf R at $49,990 and the Lancer Ralliart SST from $43,990. There are other hottish hatches around, for example a Mini or a BMW 1 Series. The STI is up a gear from there and, in Australia, the only series opponent is the Lancer Evo from $61,390.The update to the Subaru range brings extra value with the wide-body look on the WRX, as well as Bluetooth, an STI exhaust, lightweight 17-inch alloys and a rear-suspension upgrade. The STI kick includes a five millimetre cut to ride height with revised suspension, new 18-inch wheels, darker instrument panel and door trim and Bluetooth.TECHNOLOGY: We're looking primarily at the STI so the big changes are the revised suspension and the automatic transmission. It's a five-speed with a sequential change, but the shift is the 'wrong way' for sporty driving with downshifts requiring a pull backwards instead of a push forwards. But the big disappointment in the STI auto is the engine. It still makes 221 kiloWatts but loses a full 57 Newton-metres from the manual car to protect the gearbox from damage under maximum acceleration.DESIGN:The 2011 updates gives the STI a real visual kick. At last the sedan is back in the family and it looks tough with the big wing, droopy front spoiler and the big alloys, as well as the minor tweaks inside.SAFETY:Subaru has always been big on safety and the important change this year is - surprisingly - Bluetooth. It's not as important as airbags, ESP, ABS or all-wheel drive, but it allows the driver to go hands-free on the phone and that is a huge thing in 2010.DRIVING:The new STI looks rally-bred tough and that's great. It's also comfortable with chunky sports buckets, has quality in the trim and equipment, and comes with rock-solid resale and service backup. And yet ...The STI automatic is a major disappointment. It's the first turbocharged Impreza I've driven in more than 10 years that fails to deliver the goods.I can live without the huffing and puffing of the turbo, and without the wicked redline rush which has always been part of the STI experience, but this car is plain dowdy in the middle gears. The loss of all that torque hits so hard that the STI is a snoozer around town. You can give it a rev - provided it does not make an unwanted automatic upshift - to get some fun but it is not remotely what an STI driver wants.If Subaru was so keen to have a self-shifter, it should have done the job on the regular WRX and left the STI as the kick-hard car. The rest of the deal is good, with excellent cornering grip and balance, classy brakes, and pretty good fuel economy. Some things still feel a bit cheap and tinny, like the way the boot closes, but the STI compensates with the tough new look and the welcome return of a four-door sedan.SHE SAYS - Alison WardThere is a sticker on the back window that says 'All 4 the driver' and I believe it. Every WRX I have driven is definitely a fun experience, and not much comfort is given to the passengers.But this latest, easy-to-drive version of the legendary car is not as formidable as earlier models, or even - I suspect - the manual models today. I think the effort here from Subaru might be lost to the usual WRX customer. Where is the speed? Where is the slam-into-the-seat feeling? Well, it's still there, but a little quieter and a little more refined. And without any urgency unless you give the car a rev.It's probably brilliant for those people who enjoy a practical car for everyday use, or for the lazy driver who just wants to punch it out every now and then, not at every set of lights. With the toned-down grunt, the automatic gearbox is a breeze to use but can really fire up when you add on some power revs. It a sobering ride, and still reasonably comfortable and edgy enough to feel all the bumps. So perhaps it's the legendary car it always was, just now its showing off its softer side.VERDICT: The wrong car for a lazy automatic gearbox.

The pocket rocket Focus RS is almost a sell-out, the first deliveries of the supercharged Falcons from Ford Performance Vehicles have begun, and there are a string of new arrivals planned to take the brand through to the end of 2011. The most important is the four-cylinder Falcon - to be called the Falcon EcoBoost - in the second half of next year.  Ford Australia also intends to have a Falcon with liquid petroleum injection and the Territory will finally get a V6 turbodiesel engine. "In the next 12 months around 85 per cent of the Ford product catalogue will be new or updated," says Peter Fadeyev of Ford Australia.  "This is a blend of new-model introductions and regular-model updates. The winners will be Australian customers." The latest Thai-built WT Fiesta is the next model on the launching page, followed by an update and upgrade of the Mondeo. Both cars are in showrooms from November, although the flagship Mondeo Titanium does not arrive until December. "The Titanium has a lot of the latest European safety systems, such as lane-departure warning," says Fadeyev.  November also brings a limited-edition Territory with more equipment and a slight visual tweak, as part of the run-out for the big change - including the turbodiesel - in the first half of next year. The big action happens in the second half of 2011 with the Falcon - likely to get a new name beyond FG - as the headliner, but an all-new Focus and the Ranger pickup on the plan. Ford is not giving any solid detail yet on the Focus, which will be built like the Fiesta in Thailand, but says the Ranger line-up will be much more extensive than the single display vehicle at the Australian International Motor Show.  While Ford is pushing hard, GM Holden also has plans for its own new-model drive following the arrival of the Barina Spark. It says there will be 10 new models in less than two years, but is not going into any detail beyond the obvious switch to an all-new Barina to sit slightly above the spark, the localised Cruze hatch and an all-new Captiva SUV. “Over the next year and a half Australian customers will see a roll-out of new Holden product like they’ve never seen before. We will have new, world-class, market-leading Holden vehicles competing in almost every segment in this market,” says Mike Devereux, chairman of GM Holden. “Spark is just the beginning with more fresh and original vehicles in the pipeline from our global and local design teams."

It's the fourth time this year that the country's top selling brand has been forced into a recall for a safety problem, this time involving the Toyota Kluger and a range of Lexus models.The recall was triggered by a problem in the braking system that can lead to a fluid leak.  A total of 77 cases have been reported by owners in Australia and 17,582 Klugers and another 8201 Lexus vehicles will be recalled in a global total of more than 1.5 million vehicles.Toyota spokesman, Mike Breen, says the company is already working to advise customers and get the vehicles repaired.  The problem can occur because the Toyota braking system on the vehicles involved needs brake fluid containing lubricating polymers. If different fluid is used, a rubber seal at the end of the brake master cylinder can be damaged and allow a fluid leak to develop.  "We're only talking about a trickle of fluid. But the brake warning light can come on," Breen says.The affected Klugers were built between May 2003 and November 2005, while the Lexus vehicles involved are the RX330 SUV built between February 2003 and October 2005, the GS300 built from January 2005 to November 2005, and the IS250 built from September 2005 to November 2005.Breen says Toyota moved quickly to identify the problem, using the new global recall system put in place after the disastrous worldwide recall of 8.5 million cars last year for a faulty accelerator pedal."I'd suggested we picked it up more quickly with the new system. We had to wait for Toyota Motor Corporation in Japan to identify the situation," he says.The latest recall follows one for a steering problem in the LandCruiser, another in September for a faulty tailshaft support in some HiLux models, and one in February for re-calibration of the braking system in the Prius hybrid.The solution for the latest recall is to replace the questionable part in the braking system, then flush the braking system and replace the fluid.

A turbocharged Suzuki Kizashi concept is the first contender but a Swift Sport is also a potential hero for the brand - perhaps even tapping a supply of go-fast gear from the USA. The Swift is heading for a total changeover in Australia and a Sport model is part of the plan, although not until the back end of next year. Meantime, a local development team has created the Kizashi Turbo Concept and is testing its sales potential at the Australian International Motor Show in Sydney. "If we build it, they will come," the general manager of Suzuki Australia, Tony Devers, says of the force-fed Kizashi. "If we do it then it should be ready in the first half of next year. Right now we're seeing if people are interested, and also how much they will pay. It's only a matter of putting the head down and seeing what happens. There is no real problem on certification. That's something we're working on." The Kizashi Turbo has been upgraded with parts from Road Race Motorsports in California, but there is also Swift equipment from Monster Sports in Japan including a supercharger package. At present, Suzuki Australia is committed to the Swift Sport which - based on the current model lineup - should have around 20 kiloWatts more than the starter car. "The Swift Sport is coming towards the third quarter of next year. It will be a more performance-rated Swift," says Devers. "I don't know yet on the make-up. It will be more powerful, but we don't know if it will have a turbocharger." Devers believes a go-faster hero is essential for Suzuki to get cut- through with young buyers and says the experience in other countries, with everything from the Swift to the SX4 and Kizashi, shows the potential in the brand. That is why he gave the green light to the Kizashi conversion for the motor show. "This could be the catalyst convertor. If it works for Kizashi then it should work elsewhere," Devers says. The turbo upgrade produces 179 kiloWatts of power, 48 more than the standard Kizashi, with an extra 100 Newton-metres of torque at 330. It's a costly conversion at around $7000, without the extra work on the motor show display car. It gets lowered suspension, uprated brakes, a front-suspension brace, a rear spoiler and 19-inch alloy wheels.

The Korean couple are still not in the sports car class, but a preview drive wrapped around the opening of the Australian International Motor   Show highlights the changes made to Hyundai's new heroes. The i45 now has a smoother, cushier ride and much-improved straight-line stability and the ix35 feels more in-touch with the road, instead   of wobbling around over broken surfaces. The changes match the character of the cars and the people who will buy them, as Hyundai owners are most unlikely to be racecar drivers but enjoy a comfortable drive. It's taken less than six months to get the cars tweaked for Australia, which shows a remarkable commitment to Australian customers. Then   again, if it was so easy then we have to ask why the suspension work wasn't done in the first place? The answer is pretty simple: the top people at Hyundai didn't know what they didn't know. The decision makers thought the i45 and ix35 were just fine for Australians and Australian roads, and only realised they had made a mistake when the Carsguide crew - and some other experienced road testers including former Wheels editor Peter Robinson - began to complain. And complain, and complain. We knew from the get-go that the i45 was wonky and the ix35 could be better. And we said it and printed it. Hyundai reacted quickly to the complaints and the changes were also accelerated when Kia, which has an ix35 twin called the Sportage, turned out a much better SUV drive thanks to local suspension work by Carsguide hero Graeme Gambold. The work has all gone into simple things like springs, shock absorbers and anti-roll bars - although the costlier Amplitude Selective Dampers are also fitted across the i45 line - which proves Hyundai was close in the first place. It also says customer research showed no complaints about the way the i45 and ix35 drive. But Carsguide knows the difference, even between an i45 and a Toyota Camry - without worrying about a Mazda6 or Honda Accord Euro or Suzuki Kizashi - and that's why we joined the push to have things improved. Now the job is done and Hyundai has changed forever in Australia. It's an important switch and one which will make things even tougher for its opposition.