Articles by Paul Gover

The head of GM Holden is not an actor, but his E85 push with the latest Commodore is a lot like Costner's work in the movie 'Field of Dreams'.  If you haven't seen the film, Costner builds a baseball diamond on his farm in rural America and the ghosts of many of the game's greats come to play. In Devereux's case, he is building a bio-ethanol field for Australia's oil companies to play on.  Caltex is already in the game, with just over 30 stations up and running for the new fuel and more than 100 planned for 2011. It says those stations will cover the bio-ethanol needs of more than 90 per cent of Australian drivers. That's a stretch - just as mobile phone companies originally made similar claims because so many Australians live in the major cities - but it is a start.  And that's the same for the Commodore. There have been bio-ethanol cars in Australia before, usually with a Saab badge, but the VEII is the first large-scale push into the E85 fuel which could - emphasis on could - become a very big deal for local drivers. The most important thing is that it is renewable and not drawn from petroleum. There is still 15 per cent unleaded in the brew, to help with things like cold starting, but it is basically a plant-based fuel made in Australia from sugar cane waste. Even better, a global consortium - headed by General Motors and using technology developed by a company called Coskata - eventually plans to make ethanol from household rubbish. So it will be tip-to-tank, a bit like the banana-skin fuel used by the time machine in 'Back to the Future'. Right now, Devereux admits that very few Commodore customers will get much benefit from the E85 work. Some will see the 34-cent advantage over a litre of premium unleaded - the Caltex promise - and there are fleet buyers who will see the green credentials of the fuel. But he says Australia has to start somewhere.  "We're laying it down, taking a leadership position," Devereux tells Carsguide.  "It's important for the country. There's an element of Australian independence right here. I believe it's very smart for this country to get more independence on energy resources." Holden is not discussing the cost of the E85 work, and admits the upcoming Cruze hatch will not be a bio-ethanol car - at first, anyway- but Devereux is pushing.  "We really do believe it in. It could take a couple of years for people to understand," he says. "It's going to have to make sense at the pump, in your wallet. That will change over time.  "There is a bit of a chicken and egg thing. It's a step we're taking together. Regardless of what Caltex does, we're taking this step."  So there you have it. Holden has built the VEII with E85 and now it's waiting for the people to come.

NINETY minutes. That's exactly how long it took me to confirm the real-world impact of the Mercedes-Benz SLS.  During those 90 minutes no fewer than four people ask to have their picture taken alongside the born-again Gullwing.There are also camera-phone shots in traffic, dozens of smiles and a couple of genuine double-takes.  "I knew it was the gullwing. I saw it from my office and I had to come and look. Do you think you could take my picture with it?", says one SLS fan.He already knows the car costs $464,000 - basic price, no options, no insurance - but he doesn't remotely care. And that's what dream machines are all about...Anyone can complain about the tight passenger space, the small boot, the wonky back-end design and a dash that looks like every other Benz, but real people are gob-smacked by the Gullwing. It's right up there in Ferrari land as a Lotto winner's dream machine.It's impossible to do a real-world value assessment of a supercar.  The people who buy cars like the SLS typically have millions in the bank and at least three other cars in the garage. So a Gullwing is really a toy.The best way to judge the price is to look at the order books, and Benz currently has 50 paid-up customers waiting for an SLS this year with a similar number queuing for 2011.That's nothing compared to a two-year minimum wait for a Ferrari 458 Italia, and the starting price for the Italian stallion is $526,950.  And what price do you put on those unique gullwing doors?The SLS is a first for Mercedes-Benz, as it is the first road-up car developed entirely by its AMG division.  That means everything from a special aluminium spaceframe chassis that tucks the engine behind the front wheels to a rear-mounted seven-speed double-clutch gearbox.There is fully-independent suspension, giant brakes and alloy wheels in 19-inch for the front end and 20-inch for the rear.  Everything important in the Gullwing is designed for the job, not just picked up from the Benz parts bin, right down to the pop-up rear spoiler - there is a switch but it's also a speeding snitch with a 120km/h trigger point - and the operating gear for the doors.One of the trickiest things is the switchable engine-management system, which runs from controlled efficiency up to full manual, with Sport+ as the brilliant intuitive program for keen drivers. The SLS also allows the driver to remove the ESP safety net for track work.The GLS is clearly channeling the original Gullwing of the 1950s, and not just in the lift-up doors. The front-end look is very similar and so is the overall proportion of the bodywork.But there are shortcomings, from a windscreen that looks like it comes from a Saab 900 to a droopy rear end which could carry an Buick badge.  The car is very, very wide and that gives it a squat-and-dangerous look, as well as a cabin with plenty of elbow room. It can make parking ... interesting.AMG has done the best it can to make the cabin look unique and there is plenty of carbon fibre trim and brilliant leather, but the switches and instruments all carry the same DNA as Benz's basic B-Class.No-one is likely to crash test an SLS to give it an NCAP score, but it's a certain five-star performer.  The basic chassis is incredibly rigid, it has all the usual Benz safety electronics - from ESP and ABS with tweaking to automatic lamps and wipers - through to a cabin with front, side-head and even knee airbags for both seats.AMG has even thought about the threat of a rollover, installing pyrotechnic bolts into the gullwing door mounts so it can be blasted off the body if the car finishes upside-down after a crash.Best of all, the car is so well designed that its primary safety - the ability to avoid a crash, instead of protecting during an impact - is right up with the best cars on the road today.So it all comes down to this, and this is what the Gullwing does best.  It has a thumping V8 engine with the most brilliant sound track, from its deep bass rumble at idle to a cracking, popping exhaust performance when you push it hard on a track.It belts away from traffic lights, has great brakes, and rides surprisingly well on familiar roads. I was worried by the thumping response over broken concrete roads in Sydney but the SLS is firm without turning nasty on roads I know.The performance is far beyond what you can sensibly - or legally - use every day but it's also a workable everyday commuter car. The boot is not particularly big, but the car is comfy and relatively quiet for stop-start work and it's also relaxing and enjoyable at freeway cruising pace.There is a lot to like in the GLS, because it is a usable everyday supercar. It's a thumping, cracking drive that can also be almost as relaxing as the cush-mobile models in the Benz family.But would I take it ahead of a Ferrari? That's a very different question to be answered another day.The Gullwing is one of those very special cars and nice to drive. I really enjoy giving the gears a bit of a workout and the noise is ... probably not good for the neighbours.  I've never driven a car like the SLS before so it takes a while for me to adjust, particularly to the width. The performance is great but I don't enjoy parking.Which brings me to the Gullwing doors. Lots of people turn to see them but you have to be careful not to park too close to trees or posts, and they are annoying and hard for me to pull down and shut. Apparently there is an optional strap for pulldown work, but they are not in the test car.It's a fun drive, although heavy on the brakes. It takes a lot to pull it up.  The SLS is completely useless for a family, but people with $500,000 to splash on a toy car will have something sensible as well in the garage so that is unlikely to be a problem.I think the Gullwing is a great plaything and a unqiue car.

The heavyweight off-roader is already a sell-out in the Middle East, with an Infiniti luxury model also on the way, but right-hand drive production does not even have a start-up date.Nissan Australia is bringing a Patrol to Australia later this month for a number of events, including the Australian International Motor Show, but cannot confirm when it will be followed by production models."We don't know yet when it's coming. The Arabs are soaking up everything that is being built," says Nissan Australia spokesman, Jeff Fisher.  "It's going to be more than 12 months. It's still between 12 and 24 months.  It will get here. It's in the slot, but it's a matter of waiting."Fisher says the problem is the low demand for right-hand drive Patrols.  "South Africa has said no, England is not interested, so it's just Australia."  The demonstration Patrol is coming fully loaded for the show and a range of driving demonstrations including a press preview in Queensland. "It's packed with technology. It's got a type of active suspension with hydraulics, tyre pressure monitoring and a lot more. It's a big story," Fisher says.  "We're bringing it here to showcase the technology and get some feedback."The special Patrol is also being used to celebrate the 50 anniversary of the model in Australia.  "The Patrol is 50 years old in Australia. And this is the first all- new model since the GU in the 1990s, so there is a lot to talk about," Fisher says.

The upcoming renewal of the ute, that will come to Australia from a revamped factory in Thailand, includes a swoopy new body.  The BT-50 is the Mazda version of the shared T6 development program at Ford Australia that created the global workhorse.Both brands will reveal their contenders at the Australian International Motor Show in Sydney next month but, while Ford is keeping its T6 secret, Mazda is going public with an artist's impression of how its BT-50 will look.The drawing shows a vehicle that is far more modern, with a wedgy nose and a side profit that's a little like the Mitsubishi Triton. Mazda in Japan describes the pickup as "an active lifestyle vehicle that overturns the conventional image of a compact pickup truck with modern and refined styling".It also says it's not just for workers, but also for families and "pleasure seekers" with an active lifestyle. The new BT-50, like the Ford F6, is a global vehicle which will be sold in most countries including Europe.In Sydney, it will be displayed alongside Mazda's new SKY Concept powertrains, including the SKY-G direct-injection petrol engine, the SKY-D diesel and the SKY-Drive automatic transmission.

LOTUS is rumoured to be returning to Renault power for next year's Formula One after an agreement to terminate its three-year arrangement with Cosworth for Ford engines. The British racing team is believed to be negotiating with Renault for an engine supply starting next year. Lotus is one of three new teams on the grid this season, none of which has scored any points.FORMULA 1 technology is coming to V8 Supercars with TeamVodafone appointing Williams Formula 1 engineer John Russell as director of engineering and production for next year. His role will be to improve car reliability and make the Commodores of Jamie Whincup and Craig Lowndes easier and quicker to service and set up between race events. Team principal Roland Dane said the appointment would also allow Russell and chief engineer Ludo Lacroix to pursue other revenue opportunities for Brisbane-based Triple Eight Race Engineering, the company behind TeamVodafone. "A V8 Supercar and a Formula 1 car are o bviously two very different beasts but the principles and ideas that drive their performance and efficiency are similar," he said.AUSTRALIAN Marcos Ambrose racked up his fifth top 10 NASCAR finish of the season with a fifth at Richmond International Raceway. The race was marred by a record three yellow flag caution periods. Ambrose started in 13th and it was the the first time he has finished two-consecutive NASCAR Sprint Cup races in the top 10 after his tenth the previous weekend in Atlanta. The series now moves into the "Chase" for the title among the top 12 who have their points reset. Ambrose finished the pre-Chase season in 24th position and can continue to race, but not for the title.JIM Richards has been voted Australia's best touring car driver ahead of the late Peter Brock in an online poll by Speedcafe.com.au. The 63-year-old secured about a third of the votes, Brock 26 per cent, Dick Johnson 17 per cent, Mark Skaife and Craig Lowndes 5 per cent, Allan Moffat 4.8 per cent and Ian Geoghegan 2.8 per cent. Richards has seven Bathurst 1000 wins including three with Brock, four Australian Touring Car Championships and eight Targa Tasmania victories. "It's very flattering, but it's very hard to compare drivers through all the eras," he said of the poll result.JAPANESE driver Kamui Kobayashi will stay with the Sauber F1 team next year. The 24-year-old who last year drove for Toyota is 12th in the championship with 21 points a best result of sixth at Silverstone and has been in the top 10 qualifying three times. "We enjoy having our rookie as part of the team both as a driver and a person," says team principal Peter Sauber. The team's second driver for 2011 is yet to be announced.AUSTRALIAN Daniel Erickson has taken another step towards achieving his Formula 1 ambition by winning the final round of the American F2000 Championship Series and the Rookie of the Year title. The young Sydney driver was never headed in the 20-lap, 77km race after he took the lead at the first corner from pole position holder and newly confirmed champion Victor Carbone. It was his third win in the series. The Australian Motor Sport Foundation International Rising Star also scored four second places, four pole positions, two qualifying lap records and two fastest race laps. His Rookie title is his third in four racing seasons in two categories at different levels.SEVEN times US world series sprintcar champion Brooke Tatnell has signed up for two more seasons with Krikke MotorSport to race the Australian summer series. The 37-year-old from the south coast of NSW has been racing since the age of 13 and won back-to-back Australian titles from 2005-07. Team boss Shane Krikke admits that the team's 30th year could be its last.CRAIG Lowndes backs up from a gruelling 500km V8 Supercars race at Phillip Island last weekend with his first off-road rally starting today. (FRIDAY SEPT 17) The four-time Bathurst winner will compete in the eight-day, 3600km Australasian Safari in Western Australia with co-driver Kees Weel of the Gold Coast.VETERAN Paul Stokell pulled off a miraculous last-to-first performance in the final race of the Mini Challenge at Phillip Island last weekend. However, it wasn't enough to stop Chris Alajajian from coming away with his fourth round of the year with a slim margin over Josh Hunt. Alajajian is now in the box seat to clinch the title with a 60-point lead over Stokell with two rounds remaining.HOLDEN driver Grant Johnson extended his championship lead in the V8 Ute series over Falcon driver Jack Eslegood with a solid round win at Phillip Island last weekend. He scored a lap record on his way to a race one victory on the Saturday then backed up on the Sunday with a 12th in race two and another victory in race 3. Holden rival Chris Pither won the second race and the holeshot award for the best start.SUPERBIKE action joined the card at the V8 Supercars round at Phillip Island last weekend with Honda riders Wayne Maxwell and series leader Bryan Staring sharing the spoils. Staring scored with his fifth victory on the Saturday, but Maxwell ended the winning streak on the Sunday. They came away with 45 points each. The Superbikes join the V8s again at the Symmons Plains round in Tasmania in November.THE Australian women's team placed a credible seventh place at the 2010 Trial des Nations in Poland last weekend. The team consists of Brooke Lonie of Ballarat, and NSW riders Ailsa Anderson of Kyogle and Kristie McKinnon of Oberon. Spain, Great Britain, and Germany took out the podium places. The Australian men's team of Tim Coleman of Glenmaggie, Victoria, Colin Zarczynski of Penrith, and Neil Price and Lewis Nolan of Perth, will compete this weekend.DEFENDING world speedway champion Jason Crump has come back from injury into title contention by leapfrogging Jaroslaw Hampel into second after his third place in a soggy Denmark GP last weekend. The Australian is now only 19 points behind Polish rider Tomsz Gollob with two rounds to go.ASTON Martin is returning to the top category in next year's Le Mans 24 Hour race. The British marque will enter a new race car in the custom-built Le Mans Prototypes (LMP1) category featuring an open cockpit monocoque chassis and a new petrol engine. The race has been won since 2006 by Audi and Peugeot with diesel-powered cars. Aston Martin chairman David Richards believes new regulations will make petrol-engined cars more competitive. Aston won the GT category in 2007 and 2008 and the Le Mans series last year. Aston's first and only outright Le Mans victory was in 1959 with the DBR1 of Roy Salvadori and Carroll Shelby.AUSTRALIA will continue to have two separate road motorcycle series next year with the release of the 2011 Australian Formula Xtreme Championship calendar. More than 150 riders competed at the last round in July at Eastern Creek Raceway in Sydney, up from 100 at the first round in March. It will again be a winter and summer series format with national free-to-air and pay TV support. The remaining event for this year is the final at Eastern Creek Raceway on October 29-31. Next year's calendar is Eastern Creek, December 3-4; Wakefield Park, NSW, Dec 3-4; Winton, Vic, Dec 17-18; Eastern Ck, March 11-13; Wakefield, April 29 - May 1; Eastern Ck, July 1-3; Winton, September 2-4; Wakefield, November 4-6.THE biggest cash prize in pro street drag racing has attracted a star field of drivers from various categories to compete in the 10.5 Outlaw Pro Street Shootout at Willowbank Raceway in Ipswich this weekend. (SEPTEMBER 18) Organisers have put up $10,500 for the outright winner. In a first for the sport, the shootout includes drag cars from any category with 10.5-inch W tyres.DRIVING a self-built car on old tyres, Brisbane's Alan McConnell blasted to outright victory in the ninth annual South Coast Automotive Speed on Tweed at Murwillumbah in northern New South Wales at the weekend. McConnell's time of 39.48 seconds on the one-kilometre temporary street course, set in his 1987 Van Diemen with a Suzuki motorcycle engine, was fastest by just 0.4 seconds. More than 180 cars ranging in vintage from pre-1930 to 2010 contested the time trials.KIRK Hutton has clinched a record-breaking 10th Queensland Enduro Championship. The 37-year-old completed a clean sweep of the 2010 series in the third and final round at Cherrabah Resort, Warwick, on his Yamaha, beating a field of 105. "To be able to win by nearly three-minutes at my age feels really good and proves to me I still have the speed to beat everyone in the state," he said. The most Queensland Enduro Championships won by another rider has been two. Hutton won his first state title in 1998 and has also won four Australian enduro championships and seven International Six Days Enduro individual gold medals.SCOTT Pruett has claimed the Grand-AM Sport Car Series Championship with a record-extending ninth victory in Utah at the weekend. The Californian is one of a line-up of international stars who will race at the Gold Coast V8 Supercars round in October. It is the third Daytona Protoype championship title for Pruett who will team up with Lucas Dumbrell Racing in the Gold Coast 600. JIM Richards has been invited to attend this weekend's Goodwood Revival. (17-19 sEPTEMBER) The seven-time Bathurst winner and eight-time Targa Tasmania victor will compete in a trophy event in a 1956 Morris Minor, sharing the driving with the car's owner. "I haven't been to Goodwood before and I'm very flattered to be invited," he said. "I got a letter in the mail from Lord March to invite me to drive and then I got another letter from him inviting me to play cricket."

It is a concept car called the Townpod and points to a city car being spun from development of the battery-powered Leaf.  Nissan has sent out a single teaser picture of the Townpod's headlamp, but otherwise is keeping quiet on the car.But the Japanese maker is still teasing with talk.  "The concept combines eye-catching design with a spacious and practical interior," Nissan says."It is designed to offer zero-emissions mobility to a future generation of home-based, innovative entrepreneurs who are creative and tech-savvy. It is more than just a car and it’s more than just a van - it heralds a new-era of flexible, stylish vehicles that will bring electric-vehicle mobility to the masses."

Redline is the new shorthand for a go-fast Commodore thanks to a performance upgrade that carries the same name, and slots in above the V-Series versions of the SS and Calais sedan, wagon and ute.There are no changes to the cars' 6-litre V8 engine but the Redline Editions get Brembo brakes, a track-tuned suspension package called FE3 and polished 19-inch alloy wheels. There is also a chromed surround for the windows on sedans.The cost of the Redline Editions is an extra $2500, the only significant price jump on the VEII Series Commodore, on sale this month.Hitting the Redline closes the gap between regular Holden hotrods and the full-on ClubSport from Holden Special Vehicles but the red lion brand believes there is space for both, and that the go-faster models will not hurt HSV sales.It's also confident that will hit the spot with the same buyers who have driven very strong support for both the V-Series upgrades and the V8 engine across the Commodore line."We know the performance enthusiasts who drive Holden sports vehicles enjoy the way the engine performs with the exhilarating V8 engine performance of our sport models," says Holden's executive director of sales and marketing, John Elsworth."We know that their interest goes beyond straight-line power and torque though. They're looking for a satisfying overall driving experience with superior chassis dynamics. With the Redline Edition, we set out to improve that experience for them, to provide the ultimate sports ride by introducing features we know they'll value the most - track-inspired handling for great road connection and control combined with awesome stopping power."The Redline Edition cars have the same E85-compatible engines as the rest of the VEII models tweaked for bio-ethanol, although the 3.6-litre V6 does not come online until next year.The price of the regular Commodore Omega is unchanged with the VEII update, from $39,990, and the cheapest of the Redline Edition cars is the SS Ute at $49,990, with the similar sedan at $57,790.

Toyota Australia has just confirmed a new engine factory at Altona in Melbourne that will built the special Atkinson-cycle petrol engine used in the Camry Hybrid, as well as the powerplant for the regular four-cylinder car. It's a massive move that positions Australia perfectly to export the hybrid engine, which is only currently built in Japan.  The engine plant is being backed by funding from both the Federal and Victorian governments. The basics of the new-generation four-cylinder petrol engines is identical, except that the regular Camry has a traditional 'Otto cycle' and the Hybrid uses the 'Atkinson cycle' system.  More than 100,000 engines will be built each year from the back half of 2012, enough to service local production with a handy extra capacity for export. Toyota is giving no details yet on the exact engine family, or the capacity of the engine, but says the new deal is a cornerstone for its Australian future. It has built engines in Australia for a variety of cars since 1978, including the current Camry four-cylinder petrol powerplant. "Securing the investment to produce the next-generation engine is a huge vote of confidence for our local manufacturing plant and our employees," says Max Yasuda, president of Toyota Australia. "Toyota operations around the world are constantly vying for new investment to ensure local manufacturing operations can participate in the global car making industry."

The punchy IS 350 finally joins the local line, Lexus is bringing the F-Sport sub-brand to Australian showrooms, and there are improvements to everything from safety to economy and emissions. There is unlikely to be any price hike despite the changes, although Lexus refuses to discuss showroom stickers ahead of the local IS unveiling at the Australian International Motor Show in Sydney. "It's a true facelift. It's not just a tickle," says Peter Evans, the new corporate manager for marketing and aftersales at Lexus Australia. It's suspension, it's daytime running lamps, it's the dashboard, its a whole bunch of stuff. And we'll have a range of IS 350 models, as well as the launch of F-Sport. We're planning to price it competitively against its competitors." But there is no diesel for the Lexus IS, as Toyota's luxury brand continues its commitment to hybrid cars in Australia. There is a diesel in Australia but Lexus will soon have the CT200h for Australia and Japanese sources point to a full hybrid in the next generation of the IS in around four years. The importance of the IS update is reflected in its position in Australia. "It's our key model for Australia. Ultimately there are three cars that should drive the brand, and this is number one," says Evans. "The car is doing well. We're happy with the IS but the one we're having more trouble convincing people to consider is the RX." European information on the IS upgrade points to cleaner engines which meet the latest Euro 5 emissions standards, with better efficiency and reduced emissions for the IS 250 automatic and IS 250 coupe-convertible. Exterior changes run to LED daytime running lamps in the nose, a new grille, new rear lamps and new alloy wheel designs. The F-Sport model picks up more of the impact of the V8-powered IS F, with a deep front spoiler, 18-inch alloys, and a big rear spoiler. Inside, there is a sports steering wheel with leather-and-alcantara trim.

It's a motor show, but not the way we've ever known them in the past.  This one is limited to just 17 cars.The reason why there are so few cars involved is that they must all be green cars.  And that's the reason it has such a big future.As time passes, and carmakers expand their green fleets with all sorts of lean-burn petrol engines, high-tech diesels, hybrids and electric cars, the Green Zone Drive promises to become a significant event for people who want to change their motoring priorities.The event is the idea of a couple of motor industry veterans led by John Kananghinis, formerly a public relations chief and marketing boss at BMW Australia.  It's not just a stand-and-look show, either.The idea behind the Green Zone Drive is to have people get behind the wheel and actually drive the cars, around a special circuit laid out in the centre of Melbourne.  It's claimed as a world first and a major innovation in green motoring.The event has picked up a lot of backing, from the Victorian government and Melbourne city council to EPA Victoria, Future Climate Australia, Shell and even the driver training experts at Murcotts.  Nine carmakers are involved, which is not very many with more than 50 brands on sale in Australia today.But the number is sure to grow and the current list - Audi, BMW, Citroen, Ford, Hyundai, Mini, Mitsubishi, Toyota and Volvo - shows a good spread across sizes, prices and classes.The obvious hero car is the first plug-in electric car on sale in Australia, the Mitsubishi iMiEV.  But the spread of cars runs from the locally-made Toyota Camry hybrid to the Volvo C30 DRIVe, the super-economy Ford Fiest ECOnetic and a range of diesels wearing Audi, BMW, Mini and even Hyundai badges.Of course, the Toyota Prius is also there.  The course for the drive takes green car fans around Melbourne's Docklands region and its no coincidence that it starts and finishes outside the Fox Classic Car Collection, home to one of Australia's best lineups of landmark cars.The event runs for just eight days but it's a start and has obvious potential to expand in coming years, not just in the car lineup but also its location. It could easily go on an Australia-wide tour and perhaps even head overseas.If you want to know more, take a look at www.greenzonedrive.com.au