Articles by Paul Gover

The year is 1979 and I'm driving in a giant Falcon cavalcade through the streets of Melbourne, with a police escort and every junction blocked as if I was part of a Presidential motorcade. The XD Falcon is the biggest news in the country, even though the giant family fighter is being launched at a time when the world is downsizing its wheels in the wake of global energy crises and Holden has a bright new star with its first Commodore. Ford Australia is on the front foot and the Blue Oval's global boss and family patriach Henry Ford II has landed in Melbourne to put his personal stamp on the XD and talk about his company's aggressive plans for the future. Now it's Tuesday, this week, and I'm one of 850 invited guests at a $4 million Ford function in Sydney billed as 'Go Further - Vision for Australia'. It's a vision without the Falcon and this time the fly-in heroes are Ford's three amigos - global president Alan Mullaly,  chief operating officer Mark Fields and marketing boss Jim Farley. They're all talking big about a future for Ford in Australia with lots of new cars, lots of fresh thinking, and a new focus on customer relationships. Each takes the spotlight to introduce the new models, including the Transit vans and the mid-sized Mondeo that must do a much better job against the Toyota Camry in the mid-sized class. But there are no real answers to a range of questions, including the future of Ford Performance Vehicles and V8 Supercars racing, and no deviation from the prepared message that's been tailored to bring cheers and clapping from Ford employees and dealers. When Carsguide asks about the real future for the Falcon, from the planned facelift in 2014 through to the end of production in 2016, Alan Mullaly is short and not-so sweet. "That's the plan," he says. The Falcon and Territory die soon and Ford is switching to a fully imported lineup, from the baby Fiesta ST to the Mustang as the halo car. The Everest is the real hero, because the seven-seater SUV has been designed and developed in Australia, even though it will be built in Thailand. There is plenty of razzle-dazzle, including a mocked-up "showroom of the future", but no chance to drive any of the promises and no talk about the people in Melbourne who will lose their jobs. As I walk away from the 'Go Further' event I can see what Ford Australia is planning, and the commitment to its new future. But I'm also asking what would be happening in 2013 if the same cash and confidence and commitment that gave us the XD Falcon in 1979 had been applied by savvy management and smart salespeople in the days between then and now. Twitter @paulwardgover

The Japanese company is joining the lemming-like rush into baby SUVs. Just as everyone from Ford to Holden and Renault is pushing into the sub-compact class that's developing below models such as the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4, Suzuki is planning to reinvent its SX4 as a genuine SUV.Until now it's been a lightly-worked Swift wagon with all-wheel drive, but that will change when the iV-4 concept goes into production in 2014.A teaser shot of the iV-4 ahead of its public unveiling at the Frankfurt Motor Show next month points to a vehicle almost as large as the Grand Vitara, but with a much more car-like drive that will take it up against the Ford EcoBoost, Holden Trax, Renault Captur and others.It's part of a new-car push that includes a replacement for the baby Alto and also the S-Cross newcomer. But Suzuki is keeping tight wraps on the iV-4, even from its Australian crew. "We currently have no information," the Suzuki Australia spokesman, Paul Ellis, tells Carsguide.The preview picture reflects a new approach to styling at Suzuki, including what is likely to be a clamshell bonnet - similar to the Mini -  and a split grille with a new shape of LED running lamps. The side profile is typically SUV, with a practical back end and workable ground clearance.Suzuki fans cannot wait for the iV-4 and the rest of the brand's new models, after a product drought created by the Global Financial Crisis. "The last big launch we did was the all-new Swift in 2011 and 2012 with the Sport model. We're getting some product back in the veins again, which is nice," says Ellis.He confirms the new Alto as well as the SUV push. "Over the next couple of years we're looking at S-Cross, the new Alto and this compact SUV from the iV-4."The concept shown at Paris last year becomes the S-Cross and that will hopefully be here before year's end. Then we have the Alto and what comes from the iV-4. But we will have to wait another month even for the first look at that one."This reporter is on Twitter: @paulwardgover

The sunshine fun runner is ready to go, but the giant Japanese maker has no plans to fire it up until the spring thaw on the economic front. Instead, it is pushing ahead with plans for three sports models based on the landmark 86, as well as a second generation of the coupe.“There are several speculations about the model. Our stance on the situation has not changed,” the chief engineer of the 86, Tetsuya Tada, tells Carsguide as he visits Australia for his car's first birthday party. “From a technical point of view, there is no problem. Everything is ready. But from the business point of view… unfortunately, in most of the world it is not a good condition.“The European economic conditions are not good. And the sports car market is going down.” But 86 fans will be happy to know that Tada and his team are pressing ahead, already developing a new shock absorber-wheel-tyre combination that will soon be available for the car. A brief run in Canberra shows the set-up adds grip and stability, although there could be a trade-off in ride comfort and road noise.There is also likely to be a 2.5-litre engine, to provide the torque that's currently missing from the torque and also to balance the grippier new tyres. “We have already started many upgrades for the minor change. And, of course, next generation 86 also. Several parts for the upgrade are already finished. So now I'm thinking what is the best timing.“For Australia, so many people are waiting.  Now, at least, I must wait until we clear the order bank.” Tada has talked openly about plans for three sports cars for more than two years and says he has backing from the Toyota chief, Akio Toyoda. But he is only giving hints, not details.“86 is the mid-sized. So, one above and one below. Of course, we already study, above and below models.” But what is coming first? “Toyota is an affordable car maker. We should prepare a surprise. It should be exciting and attractive.”On the performance front, Tada still says it's up to tuning companies to put real punch into his car with turbocharger and supercharger installations. He knows that 86 buyers want more, but says they will be impossible to satisfy.“In my opinion, if we - Toyota - have a 250-horsepower engine then after a few months there would be complaints that there is not enough horsepower. The 86 concept is not about the pursuit of numbers, how much power or torque, or speed or acceleration time. That's really boring.”This reporter is on Twitter: @paulwardgover 

The new hauler is aimed into the American heartland and that means both the design and production will be focussed on the USA, even for Australia. The Kluger is expected to continue with a familiar package - five or seven seats, front or all-wheel drive, V6 or four-cylinder power - but is getting a major overhaul. In Australia, that means the newcomer will land around the middle of the year on boats from America, not Japan.“That's where it's going to be produced, for the whole world,” the new chief of sales and marketing for Toyota Australia, Tony Cramb, tells Carsguide. “It's essentially just for us in Australia and the United States, with a few for Russia. It's too big for Europe, they don't sell it in Japan, and for emerging markets its too high-specification.”Cramb says the Kluger is a solid seller in Australia but admits it was almost lost for a time. “It's perfect for Australia. But we had to fight hard for it. We nearly lost it in the last generation,” he reveals. “It's definitely a good volume vehicle for us. It's not core like Corolla or HiLux, but there is definitely a market for us.”Cramb refuses to be specific about changes to the 2014 Kluger, although he is not convinced on the need for a hybrid model being developed for America. “At this point in time we're saying the timing is in the first half of next year. It's a totally-different looking car. We haven't set the engines yet.“There is a hybrid for the US, but we probably won't get it. We can't put the business case for it, it doesn't quite work for us.” But he says switching the supply line to America works on the financial front, both for customers and Toyota Australia. “It's a good move for us, because we sell our locally-made cars to the Middle East in American dollars. And we buy the HiLux in American dollars out of Thailand. It balances the portfolio for us.”This reporter is on Twitter: @paulwardgover 

VW's Polo GTI pioneered the path and we'll soon feel the need for some RenaultSport speed in the new Clio, as well as the Peugeot 208 GTi and Citroen DS3.But the Ford Fiesta ST shows the most promise. And it should also set the value standard with a starting price of $25,990 when deliveries begin this month.It's one of the baby cars that is converting youngsters from the former go-faster hero cars, the Subaru Impreza WRX and Mitsubishi Lancer Evo, into something smaller, cheaper and more relevant. A slick-shifting front-drive baby makes more sense today than a fire-breathing AWD monster developed for forest racing.The arrival of the second-generation ST part of an update deal for the Blue Oval baby that will bring affordable performance to the smallest member of the Ford family, as well as mirroring the ST surge in the Focus line -- but for nearly $10,000 less.The Fiesta ST cannot come soon enough as Ford Australia searches for good-news stories for its showrooms in the wake of the death sentence for the locally made Falcon and Territory. The compact Kuga is already on the road and the SUV tiddler, the EcoSport, is coming soon.The fast-and-friendly Fiesta does the job. The 1.6-litre EcoBoost engine is a direct-injection four (134kW/240N) developed by Ford's RS division in Europe, which has been responsible for a string of hits including the wham-bam Focus RS that sold out in double-quick time in Australia. Even with the extra urge, there is a 20 per cent improvement in fuel economy to 6.2L/100km.There is capped-price servicing. It's got everything from grippy Recaro bucket seats to carbon-fibre trim, 4.2-inch infotainment screen, push-button start, aircon and rear parking radar. Ford's Sync emergency-aid system is standard, making an SOS call on the driver's mobile if the car's airbag is triggered.There are obvious changes to the springs and dampers for a car that sits 15 millimetres lower than a regular Fiesta, with beefier brakes including rear discs and a sports-tuned, twin-pipe exhaust that promises WRX-style audio entertainment.There are inevitable body bits but also three-position stability control and electronic vectoring of torque to the driven wheels. But don't go shopping for an ST if you want an easy-going Fiesta -- it's six-speed manual only. If the Fiesta ST proves as enjoyable to drive as the bigger Focus ST, it is a certain winner here. And good buying, too.Ford Fiesta ST -- deliveries start this monthPrice: from $25,990Engine:1.6-litre turbo, 134kW/240NmTransmission: 6-speed manual, FWDThirst: 6.2L/100kmRIVALS Price: from $30,000 (arrives early 2014)Engine: 147kW/275NmTransmission: 6-speed manual, FWDThirst: 6.3L/100Km, 144g/km CO2 (Euro) There is a touch of Godzilla about the turbo RS baby, which makes a powerful and rewarding case on road and track. A preview drive in France this year was great fun but the price will go against it. Price: from $27,990 (on sale now)Engine: 132kW/250NmTransmission: 7-speed twin-clutch auto, FWDThirst: 6.1L/100km, 142g/km CO2 It might not have the all-out eagerness of the bigger Golf GTI but the Polo is a sweet little package. It's a refined car with enough edge to bring a smile but will struggle against its punchier new rivals. Price: from $29,990 (later this month)Engine: 147W/275NmTransmission: 6-speed manual, FWDThirst: 5.9L/100km, 139g/km CO2 Pitched as the spiritual successor to the 205 GTi from the 1980s. We question whether it has the driving enjoyment or the value in a class that's ever getting more competitive. Price: from $28,990 (on sale now)Engine: 141kW/230NmTransmission: 6-speed manual, FWDThirst: 7.5L/100km, 175g/km CO2 Regardless of the performance package, the Corsa is an old car. The OPC work is good across the Opel family but the Corsa is not cheap and this German brand is still scrabbling for traction in local showrooms. Price: from $29,740 (on sale now)Engine: 115kW/240NmTransmission: 6-speed manual, FWDThirst: 6.7L/100km, 155g/km CO2 Almost unknown in Australia but about to benefit from a DS push by new Citroen management. The DS3 trades on great looks but doesn't have the punch or price to challenge the Fiesta. 

Doctor Frankenstein could not have done a better job on the new BMW 3 Series Gran Turismo. The family hatch with the 3 Series tag is more like a 5 Series in the body, more like a 7 Series in the cabin, and has - just quietly - more than a touch of Saab 9000 in the tail.It's also got frameless doors like a Subaru Impreza, a giant hatchback tail similar to a Ford Mondeo, and a pop-up rear spoiler that reminds me of a Porsche Cayman.And the styling? Well, even the Carsguide fans of the car admit it has a pregnant paunch, while others suggest it just looks butt ugly. If this sounds a bit confused or confusing, or a bit mix-and-match, it's not. It's monstrously good for anyone with a young family who craves the boot space of a wagon, the flexibility of a hatch, and the driving enjoyment of a 3 Series.I think the GT is an even better drive than a regular 3 Series and it's a car I would recommend to friends. It's definitely a leap forward from BMW's first GT, the over-hyped and under-done 5 Series model. As many as 500 Australian families are expected to choose a 3 GT for their next car, or around 10 per cent of total 3 Series deliveries.And it could easily mean the end of the Touring wagon down under. “We've had a bigger reaction to this car than we expected. It's got more interest than anything else recently,” says Tom Noble, head of marketing at BMW Australia. “It's one of those cars that people go, 'What's this then?' It's already working better for us than the 5 Series GT.”VALUEWould you pay more than $9000 over a 3 Series sedan to get a GT? That's what BMW is asking, even though it says the compensation comes with more equipment and a car that is majorly bigger than a four-door Three. The starting price for a 320i GT is $69,599, against $58,600 for a 320i four-door, rising to $71,800 for the 320d and $76,500 for the 328i Gran Turismo.The package includes an eight-speed automatic gearbox, a full suite of safety equipment, leather in the cabin, great aircon and a big infotainment display, as well as the electric assists you expect in a prestige car. As usual now at BMW, the specification choices are Modern, Luxury and Sport, but you can also spend big on things like M equipment and customised cabin pieces.“There is more specification in the car than the standard 3 Series sedan, and you've got more functionality and more space. And there is more metal in the car,” says Noble. “I think there is good value in it, because I don't think you get that combination in anything else. To put all those bits and pieces together, to get it to work, that's where the value is. I don't know if anyone else could build a car like that and get it to drive the way it does”.TECHNOLOGYThe Gran Turismo is predictably BMW in the raft of electronics inside the cabin and under the body, but the real technology is in building the body. The car is so different from a regular Three that it comes down the 5 Series assembly line in Germany, where they apply finishing touches that include a back end with everything from 520 to 1600 litres of storage, a big storage bin under the boot floor, an electric tailgate, rear-view camera and more.I'm not convinced by the 'active' rear spoiler, which only rises from the tail at 110km/h and can hardly make much difference at legal Australian speeds. The GT still comes with runflat tyres that have been despised by the Carsguide crew, although these latest Continentals are easily the best I've tried - even on 19-inch alloys. All three models come with stop-start.DESIGNThe GT wears a 3 Series badge but it shares very few panels with the sedan. In fact, it could be just the boot, as even the front guards pick up an extractor vent to cut drag, and the roof, frameless doors, and everything in the tail is new. The proportions of the car are somewhat, well, stretched. And not always in a good way, despite the curvy coupe-style roofline. There is a lot of bulk around the tail, although it's needed to package a car that is a full 200 millimetres longer than the 3 Series sedan and also 81 millimetres taller. The best thing is the 110mm stretch to the wheelbase that means rear legroom to trump a 7 Series and a more compliant feel to the ride.Inside, the rear seats are set slightly higher in the latest 'theatre' style for a better view, and they obviously split and fold - 40:20:40 in this case - to maximise the choices for carrying, as well as offering a slight recline.SAFETYWe have no reason to question the competence of a car that's almost an automatic 5-star NCAP car. There are six airbags, ESP and ABS, an active crash-preparation system, dynamic braking lights that vary their intensity in a panic stop and automatic wipers.DRIVINGThe early mail on the Gran Turismo is not promising, based on the bloated back end and driving responses that are more leisurely than we expect from a 3 Series. Then again, the latest Three is being smashed in showrooms and was easily trumped by the Benz C-Class in our last prestige comparison.So it's time for a fresh look and some family time, which quickly highlights the advantages of the GT. The boot really is huge, there is great space for a four-year-old in the back seat, and the car is comfy and quiet.On some nasty, bumpy roads in northern NSW - not recommended in the BMW drive route - the GT is surprisingly compliant and enjoyable. I'm spoiled a little by starting in the 328i, which makes 180 kiloWatts of turbo power with 350 Newton metres of torque from its force-fed four, but time in the 320i with 'only' 135/270 shows the same pattern.It's not a car to hustle or fuss, but the extra length between the wheels makes it more stable and the suspension settings are firm but not too sporty. It's also nicely quiet, although there is more tyre thrum in the 320, and well equipped with a punchy sound system. But I'm disappointed not to find a digital speedo readout and - horror of horrors - there is no wiper on the giant rear window, which means zero visibility until you're moving fast enough for airflow to clean the glass. After time with the 5 Series GT, which is a car I'm happy to forget, the new 3 is a pleasant surprise and definitely suitable for nuclear family work. The boot is a treat, there is lots of flexibility in the cabin and storage, and I'd take it every time ahead of the Touring wagon.It's nothing like an M3, but sales of SUVs prove there are lots of people who put families ahead of fun. And the GT is definitely better than an SUV to drive, with a boot that even beats an X3 or any of BMW's rivals. I had come to the 3 Series GT expecting to be disappointed, but find myself surprisingly happy with the car. It could have been created by Frankenstein, but it's not a monster.VERDICTThe best of both worlds, once you look beyond the bloated body.BMW 3 Series GTPrice: from $69,500Warranty: 3 years/unlimited kmResale: New modelService interval: determined by onboard computerSafety: 6 airbags, ABS, ESP etcCrash rating: 5 stars (estimate)Engines: 2-litre petrol turbo, 135kW/270Nm; 2-litre turbodiesel, 135kW/380Nm; 2-litre turbo petrol, 180kW/350Nm.Transmission: 8-speed auto, RWDThirst: 4.9-6.5L/100km, 129-151g/km CO2Dimensions: 4.82m (L), 1.82m (W), 1.50m (H)Weight: from 1560kgSpare: none

The X4 is spun from the mid-sized X3 and continues BMW's drive into new market sectors with a coupe-style five-door body.The X4 is expected to go public in the final quarter of the year and Carparazzi says the showroom model will be displayed at the Detroit motor show in January, 2014. It will arrive here late in 2014 and be priced slightly more than the X3.

The nose is getting a tweak with LED running lamps and a look that's closer to the all-new Range Rover and Sport, but it's the new engine - from Jaguar's F-Type sports car, and replacing the existing V8 - that's the big news for 2014. 

It's the XFR-S tweak of the Sportsbrake and it promises the best performance of any Jaguar wagon. It gets the 405 kiloWatt supercharged V8 already in the XFR-S sedan, as well as a bunch of body, brake and suspension upgrades to match the power boost.

The flagship is still some way in the future, perhaps in 2015, but Carparazzi has caught a prototype that reveals subtle tweaks to the lights, grille and bumpers, with improvements too in the cabin including new infotainment technologies.