Articles by Paul Gover

As many as eight SUVs will crowd into Mercedes-Benz showrooms in Australia within five years as the German brand expands its family-friendly lineup. The most important of Benz's new babies is the all-new GLA, but it is expected to be followed by a tiddler, a crossover coupe based on the ML and a youthful newcomer built from last year's Ener-G-Force concept. The mid-sized GLK, which has been a glaring Australian omission in recent years in a class dominated by the Audi Q3 and BMW X3, is already confirmed below the existing ML, GL and G-Class. It is coming in 2015 as the second-generation GLK is finally built with right-hand drive. But it's the GLA which will make the biggest impact next year, as Benz's five-model compact drive nears its conclusion. The GLA is one of four models now confirmed - after the A-Class and B-Class that are on sale, as well as the CLA coupe - with one still secret.It's most-obvious rival is the Range Rover Evoque, a design-driven success that's been a sellout around the world. The GLA is coming in the second quarter of 2014 and company spokesman, David McCarthy, says it will do a similar re-set job in the SUV class to the A-Class that has drawn buyers from a range of cheaper rivals including the Volkswagen Golf. "The obvious competitors are amongst our German colleagues. But where it will be positioned on price, there will be a lot of people who lift their expectation from something like a Subaru," he says, without actually revealing the price. McCarthy says the GLA is the most important of the compact newcomers, even though the A and B-Class have been selling strongly. "We're excited about it. The compact SUV category is very strong. And we want to play there. "It's also an important stepping stone to the GLK, the ML, and further up the SUV range." And he cannot resist a swipe at the GLA's likely rivals. "Dare I say, it's the stylish utility vehicle," he says tongue-in-cheek. "It looks great and it's something very new for us. But we're going to have problems with supply." As details of the GLA become public, McCarthy confirms a commitment to AMG performance models - the A45 is already up and running in Australia - for everything short of the B. "There will be AMG versions of all of them, except for the B Class. This year we will potentially do 1500 AMGs in total," he says. Mercedes is forecasting more than 1000 baby-car sales this year, as the brand looks to beat BMW in the showroom stakes. "People joke about this, but our goal is to sell every single car that we put our name against for a profit. We don't believe it moving forwards by looking backwards," says McCarthy. This report is on Twitter: @paulwardgover  

More and more people are downsizing vehicles and that means even SUVs are getting smaller and more urban focused. The original tiddler, the Suzuki Jimny, is now ridiculously outdated and silly costly at $20,490, but the newly arrived Holden Trax and a run of others are providing good driving at prices close to the small cars that are providing their basics. They're all about the city and suburbs, which means front-wheel drive mostly instead of the all-wheel drive needed for Outback work.The current sales leader is the Hyundai ix35, based on deliveries of 11,021 cars in Australia through July, but things are changing on both size and refinement. We're also looking at a class where the Trax slides in below Holden's family-focused Captiva couple, the 5 and 7, and is more likely to be shopped against a Subaru XV or a Mitsubishi ASX or a Nissan Dualis. Even the ix35 is bigger and more adult than most compact shoppers want, and fits more easily into the bigger family class with its Kia Sportage clone, the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4.But back to the Trax, which looks good and has a funky name that will resonate with 20-something shoppers, as well as the Holden badge that works for security and that ‘Aussie’ tick. It's priced from $23,490 and makes the grade with everything from five-star safety to a reversing camera across the line, a 1.8-litre engine and an infotainment system with a seven-inch touch screen and imbedded Pandora, Tune-In Radio and the potential at extra cost for a navigation app called BringGo.If you're wondering about the basics of the Trax, they are shared with the Barina hatch, but the SUV twist means its similar in size to a Nissan Dualis and there has been plenty of local testing and development work to ensure it drives like a Holden.It's the Dualis that usually gets the Carsguide tick for people who want a small SUV that's really just a high-riding hatchback, although the Subaru XV looks best and would do much better if it had a worthwhile boot and a CVT transmission that did a better job with its 2-litre engine. As for the ASX, it's not as refined as its rivals and let's leave it at that.We also like the new Ford Kuga, particularly as a drive, although it's also rated in the bigger class where the Mazda CX-5 sets the pace on class and sales, with 11,731 deliveries to the end of July. There is plenty of upside in the Trax and Holden is predicting big things as it finally gets the baby SUV it has needed in recent years. Now we, and they, are just waiting for the full-sized family hauler that will eventually roll in above the Captiva.Holden Trax Price: from $23,490Output: 1.8-litre four, 103kW/175Nm; 5-spd manual/6-speed auto, front-wheel driveThirst: 7.0-7.6/100kmA funky new SUV contender that's going to do well in Australia, especially as it's a fun drive and reflects the improving quality of Holden's cars from Korea.Nissan Dualis Price: from $24,990Output: 2-litre four, 102kW/198Nm; 6-speed manual, CVT auto, front/all-wheel driveThirst: 8.1-8.4L/100kmA smart family choice and practical, with a Dualis+ for people who need more cabin space. Not as trendy as some, but solid, sensible and a nice ride.Subaru XVPrice: from $28,490Output: 2-litre four, 110kW/196Nm; 6-spd manual, CVT auto, front-wheel driveThirst: 7.3L/100kmA good looker with an impressive badge, but getting well up in price. Hurt worst by a tiny boot and a fiddly CVT auto that dulls the performanceMitsubishi ASXPrice: from $24,990Output: 2-litre four, 110kW/197Nm; 5/6 speed manual, CVT auto, front/all-wheel driveThirst: 5.8-7.9L/100kmTime has left the ASX well behind, despite chunky looks that appeal to some and an available diesel engine. It's just too rough and ready, especially as a city runabout.

It's likely to have a smoother nose with a boost to the cabin, perhaps picking up some directions from the recent revisions to the 2014 Panamera.

There are Audi wheels and a bit of striping and trim work, but this is how the Macan will look at its official preview next month at the Frankfurt Motor Show. But no-one outside Porsche knows if it will have a four-cylinder engine.

 The big change for 2014 is the five-door body, since the car is being developed and built in the UK, but the rest is predictable stuff including big spoilers and wheels, grippy seats and a blaring exhaust. The big question is if the Type-R goes turbocharged for the first time. It arrives in 2014 for less than $40,000.

A warm hatch with a nice price - that's the bottom line on the Hyundai i30 SR. But there is more to the SR than just a little bit of tizzying and tweaking to the car that was a close second in the Carsguide Car of the Year judging for 2013. The SR shows that Hyundai is serious about sharpening the edge for Australia and, far more importantly, doing serious tuning of its cars for local drivers and conditions.PRICE AND EQUIPMENTThe SR is a genuine world leader, at least for Hyundai, because it stuffs the company's 2.0-litre engine into the i30 for the first time and delivers it with a starting price of $27,990 including nice kit such as Xenon lamps, leather seats, push-button start and satnav with Bluetooth.Hyundai believes it will account for about 10 per cent of its i30 sales downunder, up to 250 cars a month, and is already following-up with an Accent SR. Other SRs will follow, but none is likely to benefit from the 1.6-litre turbo engine in the model that introduced the badge to Australia, the Veloster SR, despite the potential for a truly hot hatch.ORIGINJust in case you're wondering, SR has no special meaning. It's not short for Sport Racing or Serious Rocketship, just "I think it sounds good", Hyundai's chief operating office, John Elsworth, tells Carsguide.But Elsworth, a high-profile Hyundai recruit last year from the second-top job at Holden, is committed to SR and what it means. "To me, it's about making the brand more multi-functional than being famous for great value. I think we already own that," he says."Having the local tuning program gives buyers a lot more confidence that the cars aren't just imported direct from the factory in Korea. The SR models are key to us in developing character."The SR story on i30 began just 10 months ago with a tease at the Australian International Motor Show in Sydney, which gave the support to drive the project forward. The show car was only cosmetic, but Hyundai knew it needed to do more and targeted the SP25 version of the Mazda3 and the Ford Focus Sport as the result it wanted.The go-ahead for production sparked intensive local development using technology that would not be out of place on a V8 Supercars racer, including live telemetry and dozens of individual sensors, in a program spanning everything from alpine and gravel roads to closed-course hot laps.The program was directed by Hyundai's local product planning chief, Andrew Tuitahi, but the keys to success were provided by British suspension guru David Potter. He's a motorsport veteran who has 15 years experience of local conditions and is described as a 'doctor of suspension' by Hyundai.WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCEWork on the SR concentrated on compensating for the extra 33 kilograms in the nose, because of the heavier engine, and giving a sportier feel. The car gets 17-inch alloys with Hankook rubber but the other changes, as far as Hyundai will share, run to heavier front springs and much different damper settings.ENGINE AND TECHNOLOGYThe SR is only mildly sporty, although the 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine picks up 17  per cent more power at 129kW and a similar torque increase to 209Nm. The best measure of the improvement is the 0-100km/h time, which drops from 9.1 to 7.7 seconds in the manual. There is a six-speed automatic, but I chose the six-speed manual SR for my first drive in the latest i30.DRIVINGAfter the impressive performance at COTY 2013 I know the basics, but this is a car with a tougher job and much tougher opposition. The result of all the work transforms the basic i30 into a car which has a very mature feel, coping easily with the worst road conditions I could find while still delivering great grip and balance in corners.Within 10 kilometres I know the SR’s chassis is a winner. In fact, it feels like it could easily handle more grunt - and a bit more aural excitement above the standard exhaust. The body changes are only mild, and the leather seats are nice without being amazing, but the suspension tuning has made a huge difference.It's the control that's most impressive. Nothing upsets the SR, from full-power acceleration to hard braking or the worst potholes I can find. It's even better than the Kia Cerato hatch I've just driven, and that's saying a lot. The i30 SR is not cheap, but it is good value and it's the sort of car that makes living easy. In the history of Hyundai in Australia, it's a landmark car because it shows what can be done by applying tasty Australian icing - even though Potter is British - to a Korean cake.VERDICTThe Hyundai i30 gets a tasty tweak thanks to local SR development.Hyundai i30 SRPrice: $27,990 (auto $2200)Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrolPower: 129kW and 209 NmThirst: 6.5-7.2 litres/100kmTransmission: six-speed manual and auto, front-wheel drive 

A tidier Elantra is the next newcomer from Hyundai as it accelerates its new-model plans for the next five years. The mid-sized Korean contender only gets a mild update for 2013 but there is much more to come.The upscale Genesis coupe is already confirmed and now comes news from Korea of an update to the Accent later this year, as well as the Accent SR developed in Australia to sit alongside the SR versions of the Veloster A warm hatch with a nice price - that's the bottom line on the Hyundai i30 SR and i30.Hyundai has a long-term goal to move up from its current fourth place in the Australian car business and chief operating officer, John Elsworth, is talking up the prospects. "Our results this year have been incredibly strong. Overall we are placed fourth in the market. We're number two in passenger cars and fourth in SUVs," Elsworth says.Hyundai is still short of models, including a ute to pitch into the red-hot pickup contest, but it's no worse than third in any of the showroom classes where it has a serious contender. "Our approach and goal is for consistent growth, versus peaks and troughs in sales, and having a good mix of sales across models and all buyer types," Elsworth says."Currently our sales mix continues to improve, with 66 per cent of sales going to private and small businesses, and add to that nine per cent dealer demonstrators, which are predominantly sold privately after their holding period. So that's 75 per cent of sales as private and small business."Against that background, Hyundai is bullish about its sales forecast for 2013 against an overall market it expects to hit 1.14 million. With the i30 SR ready now for showrooms, the next arrival is the updated Elantra."It will be here this year. In the third quarter," company spokesman Bill Thomas tells Carsguide. "It's a mid-life Elantra update. There are no sheetmetal changes, but there are new lights front and rear. One of the big improvements is inside., where we've put the central air vents higher, based on customer feedback, and that's give us the opportunity to give the cabin a more premium feel."It's got our new suspension as well. It's very nice." But there is still no chance of a diesel engine choice. "There is a diesel for other countries, but we're staying with petrol power for Australia," Thomas says.Apart from the Genesis, the star for 2014 is a new Sonata. It has a new body, a different interior approach and will - inevitably - get Australian suspension tuning. Hyundai is also expected to add a rear-wheel drive sporty sedan, in the style of the Lexus IS, by 2016. Its codename is RK and it could have styling based on the HCD-14 concept car from this year's Detroit motor show. But no-one is saying anything about RK, or anything beyond the end of this year. "No comment. That's it," Thomas says bluntly.This reporter is on Twitter: @PaulWardGover

At a time when the maximum five-star ANCAP rating is almost a given for major brands, and the latest Kia Cerato hatch has taken the top rating, the four-star score for the Accord is a shock.It failed to reach the grade in an offset-frontal impact, one of the foundations tests for the Australasian New-Car Assessment Program's testing, providing insufficient protection for the driver's legs.The Accord result follows several other four-star results, including the Ranger Rover Evoque and Jeep Grand Cherokee, which also fell short in the frontal-offset scoring as ANCAP has sticked to its original criteria despite the sister European NCAP program winding back its requirements in that area.It also comes despite a wide range of available high-tech safety assistance equipment - radar cruise control, blind-spot assistance, adaptive lights and automatic emergency braking - on the 2013 Accord.Honda Australia is playing defense on the ANCAP result, referring all Carsguide questions to a two-line prepared statement. "Honda Australia is surprised and disappointed with the ANCAP result for the all-new Accord," it says. "The Accord has an impeccable 37-year history and this ninth-generation is no exception."It points to the five-star ANCAP rating for its most-recent new arrival, the latest CR-V SUV that went on sale last November. ANCAP chief, Lauchlan McIntosh, admits the Honda result is a surprise but there is no mistake. "I don't think they'd deliberatley gone out of their way to do this," McIntosh tells Carsguide. "That's the test. That's the result. We checked it very carefully to make sure the result is what it is."But he says it confirms the need for independent safety testing.  "You do these tests and people ask why we bother. That (the Honda result) shows the advantage of ANCAP.  Every now and then we get a result that's not what you expect. It's not a bad result, but others do better."He also reinforces the five-star message for all carmakers and says that, despite the growing number of brands with safety assistance technologies, the star ratings still come back to the basics. "It really shows the need to continue testing and show people these results. We are now getting to the stage where we're expecting five stars from the well-known brands. The base hurdle is something you've got to get over. That's why we do the testing. It shows you the complexity, still, of making cars. You've got to be careful and watching."This reporter is on Twitter: @paulwardgover 

Toyota is aiming for another number one in Australia. But it's not the one you might think. Not content with its long-term top ranking for showroom sales, and the number one spot occupied by the Corolla in sales through to July 2013, it's now aiming for a number one song.Brand T is putting its marketing muscle behind the Huey Lewis song 'Hip to be Square', which is the backing track for its new Camry and Aurion commercial. The television spot is flooding the airwaves and Lewis is moving back up the ARIA charts, more than 25 years after it hit for the first time.There's a good chance the aging rocker could join his song in Australia if 'Hip to be Square' continues to chart, although Toyota is making no promises on backing a tour.But it is happy to have re-discovered its mojo and the same approach that made commercials with the Camry Chicken so successful in the 1980s."There is a wry humour, but also a connection with the customer. As you could imagine, it was a risky concept. We could have stuffed it up without trying too hard, but we didn't," the new sales and marketing boss at Toyota Australia, Tony Cramb, tells Carsguide.The idea behind the new television spot is to promote Toyota's locally-made cars by appealing to the people who need them most - families - but with a twist towards dads. There is even a shot that takes its direction from the 'Parenthood' movie."The thing I love is that there's a confidence in the ad. The creative came from Saatchi & Saatchi and it's inherently Australian.""There is a new spirit within Toyota. And I think it's driven by the product. There is an infectious spirit, and it's global. It's the direciton of the company, and the way we want to be."Cramb says the new direction comes right from the top, company chief Akio Toyoda, and is best reflected in the top selling 86 sports car. The cute coupe has just celebrated its first birthday with more than 6000 deliveries in Australia and a waiting list that's still up to six month.But Huey is focussed on the Camry and the news is all about boosting sales of the local hero at a time when the Ford Falcon is in critical decline and Toyota and Holden are fighting for survival beyond 2016. "The ad celebrates local manufacturing. The song itself was chosen because it's so catchy and exciting and vibrant," says Cramb."But, at the same time, it appeals to people in that age group and in that stage of their life. If you think about the words, it resonates as well." He promises more fun from Australia's number one brand, but nothing arrogant."We're definitley not taking ourselves too seriously. You'll definitely see more of this sort of stuff," Cramb says.This reporter is on Twitter: @paulwardgover 

This is the future for Ford in Australia. It's not called a Falcon, and it doesn't look like a Falcon, but the Everest is the Ford family car for the future.The seven-seater SUV was designed, engineered and developed in Australia and the only thing missing from the Everest plan is production at Broadmeadows. Instead, it will come from Thailand in 2015. It gets its world debut in Sydney this week as proof that Ford is still committed to Australia and the 1000-strong development team at its Melbourne headquarters."The customers here clearly want SUVs. It's just a continuation of building that portfolio," the president of Ford Australia, Bob Graziano, tells Carsguide on Tuesday at his company's giant Go Further showcase.Graziano stops short of calling Everest the new Falcon, but only because the majority of that job is likely to be handed to the mid-sized Mondeo with four new SUVs - including one still on the top-secret list - to do the other jobs that have been traditionally handled by the Falcon.Billed as a 'Vision for the Future', the key to the $4 million event is the unveiling of a range of future products that are promised to add 11 new models to the local lineup in Ford showrooms over the next five years. The Everest breaks cover at Go Further, on the same movie set used to film blockbusters including Wolverine and Moulin Rouge.Ford also makes the official confirmation of a right-hand drive Mustang for Australia and previews other debutants including the mid-sized Mondeo, punchy Fiesta ST and new Transit workhorses. For a bit of fun, there is a barely street-legal Formula Ford that's fresh from hot laps at the Nurburgring.But Ford refuses to talk about its plans for Ford Performance Vehicles or V8 engines, although it says Falcon sales will continue through the update next year to the end of local production in 2016 despite another disastrous slump since the announcement of the Broadmeadows shutdown. "That's the plan," Ford's global boss, Alan Mulally, tells Carsguide.The showroom preview at Go Further is a clear attempt by Ford to head off any buyer strike, as well as keeping its dealers and fans focussed on a future beyond Falcon and Territory. "Why are we doing this? Firstly to demonstrate Ford's commitment to Australia. Secondly, to share our vision for growth," says Graziano. "For us, the future starts today."The product preview begins with the Fiesta, including confirmation of the turbocharged ST and an EcoBoost engine - just 1.0-litres and three cylinders - that matches the performance of a convention 1.6. By 2017 there will be EcoBoost engines in 70 per cent of Ford models, including the F-Series truck that's already a sales winner with a downsized V6.The Mondeo hatch and sports wagon are next into the spotlight, although they won't arrive in Australia before 2015 as the company switches production to a factory in Valencia, Spain. Apart from their swish styling, the big product promise is airbag-style inflatable rear seatbelts and a 1.5-litre EcoBoost engine.Then comes confirmation of the Mustang, although there is no car because the all-new model with right-hand drive is not being revealed until 2014. "The Mustang is coming. With right-hand drive. We'll share many more details with you in the months ahead," is the only comment.Then comes a preview of the Transit van, in two body sizes, before global COO Mark Fields shifts into the SUV scene, starting with the existing Territory and Kuga before adding the baby EcoBoost and the giant Everest, as well as hinting about anothe secret newcomer."Nothing sums up the Australian way of life and spirit like an SUV," says Fields. He says the compact EcoBoost, which is coming from India, is the right size for urban use and then turns to Concept Everest.It's part of the T6 development program that has already produced the Ford Ranger and Mazda BT50 twins, rated by Carsguide as best in their class. There are substantial changes to the running gear, which is hidden after the brief spotlight appearance, and it's said to be much more refined than the pickup.The only changes likely for the production Everest are minor tweaks to things like the wheels. "40,000 Australians prefer large off-road SUVs and we think they might enjoy this. It's designed right here in Australia by Australians for Australians, and the world," says Mark Fields.FORD'S FUTUREFiesta ST - hot hatch - December 2013Mondeo hatch and wagon - mid-sized - early 2015Mustang - muscle car - mid 2015EcoBoost - baby SUV - December 2013Everest - large SUV - late 2015Secret SUV - mid-sized - late 2015This reporter is on Twitter: @paulwardgover