Articles by Paul Gover

The herd of high-speed dream machines will descent on the harbourside city for the first Australian running of Ferrari Racing Days from April 11-13. The event is a celebration for Ferrari owners but also the chance for fans of the brands to get up close and personal at Sydney Motorsport Park.There will be everything from full-scale Formula One runs by test driver Marc Gene, including timed hot laps and a pitstop demonstration, to a kiddie zone with miniature electric Ferraris. The Racing Days are the first in Australia and follow successful similar events in Japan and, earlier this year, Malaysia.The event marks the change to a full-scale factory import operation in Australia and is the brainchild of Herbert Appleroth, the chief executive for Ferrari Australasia. “I’ve seen the enjoyment similar events have given in Japan and was keen to get it happening in Australia,” Appleroth tells Carsguide.“It’s great for our Ferrari owners and builds passion for the brand. But it’s also a wonderful activation for enthusiasts who don’t normally have a direct interaction with Ferrari.” The event will open with a motorcade across the Harbour Bridge to Sydney Motorsport Park, where there will be a weekend of track-based activities including the F1 demonstrations and two races in the Asia-Pacific Challenge Series for identical 458 racers.Appleroth estimates there will be more than $175 million worth of Ferraris in action and on display, including a full set of the brand’s supercars - 288 GTO, F40, F50, Enzo and LaFerrari - and eight former grand prix racecars. But the most expensive cars are some of the oldest, including a 166 MM from the 1950s.Appleroth believes the lure of Ferrari, and the open access for spectators, will lure thousands of tifosi - the Italian nickname for Ferrari fans - to the Racing Days. “It’s the biggest Ferrari event in Australia, ever. So I think if we got 10,000 people to attend it would be great. We had 20,000 for a similar event in Japan,” he says. For information on the Ferrari Racing Days head to www.frdsydney.com.au 

The basic C-Class is already being rolled out and the C63 will follow later this year with a smaller 5.5-litre twin-turbo V8 in the engine bay.There’s not much to see in this winter testing picture beyond wider bumpers and wheels, but we’re expecting much larger air intakes in the nose by the time its ready for showrooms.

The new XC90 will be at least 150kg lighter and much more efficient than the original, most likely with a twin-charge 2.0-litre petrol engine as Volvo moves to a line-up that - despite its involvement in V8 Supercars racing - is totally powered by four-cylinder powerplants.It’s also likely to set a new safety standard including pedestrian detection after dark.

The Freelander replacement is significantly bigger and uses the basic package from the city-focused Evoque, but with the emphasis on family use and off-road ability.This Carparazzi picture shows a prominent grille, sloping roof and a spoiler on the tailgate. 

It arrived as an affordable Audi version of the Lamborghini Gallardo in 2006 and is about to be totally overhauled for 2015.There are rumours of a mid-munted twin-turbo V8 for the two-seater supercar, which gets an all-new body.The best pointer to development of the R8 is the new Lamborghini Huracan, the Gallardo successor that’s also providing the basic mechanical package for the new Audi hero car. Here early next year - and much cheaper than a Huracan.

The second ground-up sports car from AMG, following the SLS gull-wing, the compact GT is gradually losing its camouflage to reveal a car with visual ties to the Benz SL of the 1950s.This reporter is on Twitter: @PaulWardGover 

There are strong rumours that it will become front-wheel drive with a switch to the UKL platform also used for the latest Mini and upcoming BMW 2 Series.Expect more rear legroom with the body change, as well as more efficient new engines.This reporter is on Twitter: @PaulWardGover 

The ix35 gets a complete overhaul for the first time since its introduction in 2010, but the basic layout looks much the same on the 2015 version.It will also become the new Sportage when Kia drops its own body on the package.This reporter is on Twitter: @PaulWardGover 

ForTwo is coming up soon and Daimler is testing the two-seater city tiddler while it also develops a stretched four-seat model for the first time.The second-generation ForTwo is more cute and curvy than the first, with engine choices that will include a fully-electric model. The new Smart is also being cloned into the new Renault Twingo, which means a switch to rear-wheel drive for the French bebe. 

After besting the Holden Commodore, Toyota Corolla and Toyota HiLux to become No.1 in showrooms, the Mazda3 faces the Albert Park race test. It's a certain winner as the field for the Celebrity Race at the AGP is entirely comprised of all-new Mazda3s.They've had only minimal safety tweaking, and each is competing with a driver-friendly automatic gearbox, which means the race will come down to skill and daring.And the ability to keep the car alive in an environment where it's too easy to go crazy or kill the brakes and tyres by overdriving in the wide open spaces of Albert Park. "If I cannot win I'm going to take out as many people as possible. But don't tell anyone," Charlie Boorman, a long-distance motorcyclist and great mate of actor Ewan McGregor, jokes to Carsguide."I always tell people to get onto a racetrack to learn what it's like to be able to do something properly. I truly believe that what you learn in one day on a track will stay with you for your whole life." Last year's Celebrity Race was loaded with car-crashing craziness, so chief trainer and five-time Australian touring car champion Mark Skaife is working to ensure all 20 cars come through without damage."We have to make sure they apply themselves safely and enjoy the experience," says Skaife. "On the face of it, the Celebrity Challenge is fun. The people are normally full of character and ability and application, whether they are in the arts or sport or whatever."But, just as that is a good aspect, it can actually be one of the traps. Some of those great character traits can also cause a few problems. Some people, in the end, feel so comfortable that they think they're a bit bulletproof."This reporter is on Twitter: @paulwardgover