Articles by Paul Gover

Upcoming RC F coupe is the most potent Lexus V8 yet.Prestige makers such as Lexus are taking over from Ford and Holden as custodians of Australia's V8 heritage.An all-new Japanese road runner, the Lexus RC F coupe, is just around the corner and it's all about the performance package centred on its V8. The engine is the most powerful yet from Lexus, which has had a smoothly efficient V8 at its heart since the original LS400 in 1989.The new 5.0-litre V8 is packing more than 330kW and 520Nm of torque, figures set to run it head-on into the latest BMW M4 coupe and next year's all-new Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG. We will have full details later this week after the global press preview drive of the landmark two-door in New York."There is definitely a 5.0-litre V8 coming in the RC," says Lexus Australia spokesman Tyson Bowen. "It will produce more than 300kW and more than 500 Nm, yet deliver fuel efficiency better than 11.4L/100km The V8's output is not a threat to the supercharged 6.3-litre V8 in the HSV GTS, which makes 430kW.However, the difference is the Lexus engine has a future well beyond the end of local production of the Ford Falcon and Commodore. The V8-powered headliners from the red and blue teams are selling as well as ever, and better than ever if they have an HSV or FPV badge, but their time is running out.That means a V8 future in Australia is likely to wear an upscale badge from a brand such as Lexus, or Benz or BMW, or perhaps even Infiniti. Add to that performance brands such as Porsche and Aston Martin. And there will be V8s, including diesels, in top-end four-wheel-drive tow machines including the Range Rover, Toyota LandCruiser and the latest - pricey and unpopular - Nissan Patrol.Lexus says there is an obvious appeal in V8 engines, which is why it already has three V8-powered models - the LS, IS and LX SUV - in its Australian line-up. "We have V8s for a number of reasons. In the IS F it's all about performance and the visceral sound performance and acceleration that comes with a V8," Bowen says. "In the LS it's a slightly different proposition, because V8s are smooth and efficient. They are not stressed because they are not driven as hard."In the LX, it's about the flexibility and torque for low-end pulling power for towing, and the efficiency at cruising speeds."Bowen is not going into detail on the RC F, even though it's less than a week away from the public spotlight, but he is happy to discuss the Lexus obsession with V8s. "The original proposition was about the quietness, efficiency and refinement when you go back to the original LS 400 in 1989.Remember they famously balanced a coin on the engine to highlight its smoothness, they stacked a pile of wine glasses for a television commercial. They also use that 4.0-litre V8 in ultralight aircraft, because it can run so lean and for so long without troubles."

The born-again Vitara is set to plug the gap between the new suburban S-Cross and the off-road Grand Vitara in Australia, starting below $30,000.It's just been previewed in advance of the Paris auto show, where it will be pitched as the Suzuki's new family-focused escape machine.Suzuki has released no mechanical information and just one image. The Vitara is expected to be front-wheel drive with petrol and diesel engines and, on higher-spec examples, optional on-demand all-wheel drive."This is (completely) a new car. The current Grand Vitara stays on, and this is a different car altogether," says Suzuki Australia spokesman Andrew Ellis."Suzuki is showing the European car at the Paris show but we're not expecting any major differences for Australia. We're expecting it in quarter two, next year."Ellis says the Vitara fits between the Jimny and Grand Vitara, although he concedes it's more likely to be pitched at a similar group to the buyers for the S-Cross."There is a gap there, and that's where the market is growing in compact SUVs. It sits below Grand Vitara," he says. "They have stayed pretty close to the iV-4 concept car from the Frankfurt show in 2013."The coming Vitara may yet share its platform and all grip drivetrain with the S-Cross. "We're looking at on-demand all-wheel drive, with (primarily) front-drive. So no low-range off-road gears," Ellis says.The Vitara comes as Suzuki accelerates its new-model program following the lean years immediately after the global financial crisis.It's already committed to the replacement for the Alto, the Celerio, in 2015. Now with the Vitara, Ellis says, "It's going to be a big year for Suzuki. There's a lot happening."

It looks as if Honda has finally selected a forward gear again after the global financial crisis. The great Japanese car maker selected reverse as the money crunch hit then seemed to be in neutral with cars like the CR-V it developed during the tough times. Now we have the latest Odyssey, which is great value despite

New film details the Polarizer scandal that brought Peter Brock undone in the 1980s.Peter Brock is about to star in a new movie. And Eric Bana could play a pivotal role.The Bradman of Bathurst is the subject of a new documentary on the most turbulent period of his life, the Polarizer scandal in the 1980s.Brock was fired by Holden and lost his Holden Dealer Team business and more than $15 million in a dispute over the controversial device. Eventually he bounced back for his ninth win at Mt Panorama and string of other racetrack successes, as well as resuming his role as a Holden frontman.Now the '80s events have been recorded in a television documentary - Brock: King of the Mountain - with archival footage and up-to-date interviews with the major players, from Bev Brock to Allan Moffat, John Harvey, Neil Crompton and Brock's PR chief, Tim 'Plastic' Pemberton.The man in charge of the project, Melbourne filmmaker Liam Firmager, has done a classy job and is now hoping he can persuade Bana - a lifelong Ford fan, a passion reflected in his own 2009 film Love the Beast - to provide the voice-over for the documentary."I think Eric Bana would be perfect. And he clearly has a passion for cars," Firmager says.With the eighth anniversary of Brock's death just over a fortnight away, Firmager says the documentary is also the teaser for a major motion picture. He has a script and believes television and video sales can propel it into pre-production. Not surprisingly, Bana is also on his short list to play Brock on the big screen.

Paul Gover road tests and reviews the 2014 VW Polo, with specs, fuel consumption and verdict.

C-Class is here. Finally. On first acquaintance in Europe, we praised everything from its quality to a starting price of $60,900 and rating it an early contender for Car of the Year. After our first local drive, it's a shortening favourite. After 250km of very mixed motoring, from inner-city Melbourne tram tracks to a

Europe’s Hyundai i20 is in sight and aims to top the class.

Paul Gover road tests and reviews the Renault Megane TCe 130, with specs, fuel consumption and verdict.

The Renault Clio RS is one of the Carsguide favourites of 2014, packed with driving enjoyment and French character.But what about the regulation Clio, the one that's not for hot-hatch fans? It's right on the money in the tiddler class at $16,790, although that only gets you a three-cylinder engine that's better for economy than romping.So I slide into a Clio the way most people will buy it, the Expression TCe 120 with a 1.2-litre turbo petrol engine and EDC auto gearbox for a price tag of $20,990 before the inevitable on-roads. And I like it.DESIGNIt's always easy to pick a French car out of a pack of Japanese and Korean commuters and the Clio maintains its place with a distinctive body and a prominent family face. Inside, there is good room for the class, quality seats and the rest of the comfort package you expect when you're paying similar money to the starter cars - think Corolla and Pulsar - in the next size category.SAFETYSome of the Carsguide crew are still not happy without rear airbags in the car, even though the Clio gets a five-star ANCAP rating, but that's a story for another day. And a visit to the Renault safety centre outside Paris.DRIVINGThis Clio also has the EDC six-speed dual-clutch auto that's enjoyable to use as a manual, thanks to a shift pattern that means you push forward - race style - for downshifts, and the engine is strong enough for the job.My partner, Ali, does not agree and says the Clio needs more go. She says she spends too much time with her foot on the floor, admittedly in full auto mode, to get the car going the way she wants. She also votes against the seats, although I like them a lot because they are well shaped and cushioned for me. And definitely way better than the flat-bench feel of the Honda Jazz I've also driven this week.Before we move on, it's time to claim a little Carsguide credit on the Clio. When I first saw the new Clio, nearly two years ago at the Paris motor show, I complained that there was no way I could get a good grip to pull the hatch down. It's something I've always checked since a good mate, Peter Tighe, struggled with the back door on a Toyota LandCruiser. He was short and afterwards I always believed cars should have a 'Tighe-down" handle.Now Renault has reshaped the grips in the back of the Clio and it's far easier to pull the hatch down. "We call it the Gover Grip," says Renault Australia boss Justin Hocevar.

Paul Gover road tests and reviews the Lexus ES350, with specs, fuel consumption and verdict.