Articles by Paul Gover

The Japanese contender is unveiled this week with a bullet and a near-certain spot at the top of the showroom charts next year.

It means a new shape to the grille opening, as well as a large space above the slot for the number plate, but not much else.

The move comes as Mazda moves to block an all-out attack by Toyota.

The SLS will get a new look to the grille and lamps, but Carparazzi predicts nothing major on the mechanical front.

The unloved and unlovely Mercedes-Benz R-Class has left the showroom. The slowest seller on the local Benz books has been dumped, removing one of the few genuine seven-seater wagons from price lists in Australia.Benz says it intends to take up the slack with a seven-seater version of its just-updated E-Class, even though the back bench in the mid-sizer faces back into the traffic and sits in an area most vulnerable to a rear-end shunt.“We knew the R-Class would not be available for much longer, so we moved to the E-Class,” says David McCarthy, spokesman for Mercedes-Benz.He says R-Class production is now devoted entirely to China and the car worked well enough, even though its best sales year - 2011 - still only produced 325 down under deliveries. So far in 2013 there have been just 42 sales, compared with 90 last year. “I'm not just defending it for the sake of it. The vehicle didn't really fit a category in Australia,” McCarthy says.“It's still being produced for China, but we cannot make a business case for it in Australia. Look, it filled a niche and the update model went a lot better. The people who bought them really liked them, and there are a few in use as limousines.”He says two customers even bought the hottest R of all, the R63 AMG with thumping V8 power and all-wheel drive. McCarthy also defends the E-Class seating layout, and says the back bench is really only for occasional use by youngsters and not full-time occupation.“There is an E200, an E250 and an E400 available as seven-seaters. E-Class Estate has been a seven seater for a couple of years,” he says. “Yes, the sixth and seventh seats are obviously facing in a different direction but they have lap-sash seat belts.“And for people who need seven seats we also have the Viano and Valente vans. They are both five-star-safety vehicles. “So we actually have quite a few seven-seaters. People have the luxury of choice, and the choice of luxury.”This reporter is on Twitter: @paulwardgover 

The first carmaker to throw its weight behind independent safety testing in Australia is now questioning the value of ANCAP star ratings. Renault, which has been a long-term five-star maker, now says the Australasian New-Car Assessment Program is going down a blind alley by pursuing a unique local agenda at a time when Australian cars are less and less popular with consumers.Its attack turns on ANCAP's decision to downgrade its upcoming Captur SUV to a four-star ranking, after a five-star result in Europe, because it will not be fitted with rear airbags. “They are pushing themselves off to obscurity,” the managing director of Renault Australia, Justin Hocevar, tells Carsguide.“I think ANCAP is at risk of misleading Australians. It is encouraging Australians to buy a car that could be of a lower safety standard, yet have a higher airbag count. That's the shame.” Hocevar says he has asked ANCAP for answers to a range of questions but is yet to get a satisfactory reply.“We're asking them to please come and justify, with data from Australia, why they have a right to second-guess EuroNCAP. With fewer and fewer locally-made cars, what are they testing? And why would they differ?“EuroNCAP crash tests far more vehicles every year than ANCAP. And it's one that is moving forward. Not one putting out papers and then deviating from the rest of the world.“They have essentially refused to answer any of our enquiries. They seem to prefer a public debate through the press, instead of responding with data-driven answers.”Renault has already achieved matching five-star ratings from EuroNCAP and ANCAP for its baby Clio, which does not have rear airbags, but that car was introduced before the 2014 start date for a new ANCAP requirement for five-star cars.It's part of a safety roadmap that tightens the requirements and demands extra safety equipment for a five-star score in coming years. “It does call into question what vehicles will be rated in the future. They have already given five stars to a number of vehicles that do not have rear airbags.”Hocevar says he intends to promote the Captur as a five-star vehicle, regardless of the ANCAP score. “As far as we're concerned, we're going to communicate that the car is a five-star car and that it's a EuroNCAP rating.“From our point of view, the message is clear. We don't want to mislead anyone. They (ANCAP) may take a view that the vehicle is downgraded, but we will communicate that it's with the most relevant testing authority.”Hocevar also intends to confirm to shoppers that the Captur, like the Clio, was designed without rear airbags because they are not needed to achieve five-stars. “We have not de-contented the Captur. It was designed and built with a number of airbags and it achieved the highest possible safety rating.“A car with less-robust design and construction could have a bunch of airbags and not get five stars. That's where customers are potentially being misled.” Hocevar admits that he could avoid an ANCAP confrontation by advancing the Captur's Australian on-sale date into the back end of 2013, but he does not intend to be that mischievous.“Yes, I could just stick one on a plane, bring it out and then tell them it's been launched,” Hoceva laughs. “But I'm not going to put the launch of the vehicle ahead of schedule just to get a better ANCAP score, when I think it's so misguided.”This reporter is on Twitter: @paulwardgover 

It's F-Type droptop is already up and running and now we can see how the car will look with a fixed roof in 2014. The arrival of the F-Type coupe, most likely priced below the convertible, also opens the way for hard-edged go-faster models including an RS. Here late in 2014 for around $130,000.

June 30 is D-Day. The end of the financial year is the best time to buy a new car because there are always special deals in showrooms. As carmakers and dealers aim to clear their outdated stock, Toyota uses a June push to cement its showroom leadership. Some of the special deals are on cars that have done demonstrator duty, or were built in 2012, or are just not selling as well as expected. So they're not the tastiest fruit in the bowl.But there is great buying across the board as demand for new cars fuels one of the longest growth periods in motoring. The bottom line is that you can save money -- and lots of it. So here's a look at the June sales, with Carsguide's assessment of the best deals on wheels.CITROENThe new importer is pushing hard so the Aircross SUV starts at $31,990 drive-away front-wheel drive or $33,990 with AWD, a saving of $3800. There's $5000 off the C4 Seduction turbo diesel auto hatch at $25,990. Carsguide says: The Aircross isn't great, but the C4 discount is tasty.FORDThe death notice for the Falcon and Territory has not helped buyer confidence but a 2.9 per cent finance push on Fiesta and Focus still looks good. The superseded Kuga SUV from $31,990 drive-away is a $10,000 saving. You can save about $3000 on a 2012 Escape SUV from $27,990 drive-away.The Territory gets a $6500 tickle, the TX seven-seater at $38,490 drive-away (third-row seat usually costs $2500). The impressive Mondeo liftback starts at $29,990. Good buying on Falcons, thanks to the arrival of the VF Commodore, from $33,990 and better if you haggle.HOLDENAs the VF Commodore creates queues, the outgoing Z-Series starts at $34,990 with five years' warranty and roadside assist. That also applies to the SV6 at $35,990 and the Cruze SRi and SRi-V at $23,490 and $26,990. Last year's Barina CD hatches are $15,990 drive-away with a sunroof. The Colorado is $39,990. Hard to see past the excellent Cruze SRi.HONDAClipped prices and free on-roads. The City VTi sedan is $17,990 and the (slightly) more lavish VTi-L automatic version starts at $21,990. The bigger Civic sedan is being cleared from $21,990. Free auto on the Jazz VTi at $19,990. The Civic is worth a look at $2500 off.KIAFree on-roads, discounts and $1000 gift vouchers on many models. A five-door Rio S is about $3K off at $15,990 drive-away with a $500 gift card; the three-door Rio is $14,990 and the five-door Si is $18,990. Runout Cerato TD sedans start at $17,990 for the S, saving about $5000, the Si sedan is $23,990 and hatch at $17,990. All get a $1000 gift card. Cerato SLi and SLS have drive-away pricing but miss the gift card. All Optimas have free on-roads. A 2012-build Optima Platinum is $37,990, saving about $4000 with a $1000 gift card. Most Sportage SUVs include on-roads and a $1000 gift card. Carnival and superseded Rondo pricing is drive-away. The Sportage diesel and Optima are top-notch.MITSUBISHIThe manual Lancer gets an old-school value pack on the Special Action Model for $19,990 drive-away. The Mirage is $12,990 drive-away for the ES manual, with a $500 cash-back that also applies to the auto.Driveaway prices also for the compact ASX at $24,990 for the 2WD manual, the Outlander LS 2WD auto at $29,990, Pajero GLX-R auto at $54,990 or $59,990 for VRX. Both come plus $3000 cash-back, saving about $6000.The Triton ute is now tackling Great Wall from China at $19,990 drive-away for a GL single-cab 2WD with alloy tray, or add luxury for a GLX dual-cab 4WD diesel at $31,990 drive-away with $2000 cash-back, saving about $14,000. The utes look good at those prices.NISSANA 2.9 per cent finance package, with agreed value after three years, makes the Pulsar ST sedan look good at $49 a week or $19,990 drive-away. The X-Trail ST 2WD petrol manual cops a $4000 reduction to $25,990 drive-away, while the Navara RX 4WD dual-cab manual is cheaper than ever with a $9500 cut to $30,990 drive-away. The Pulsar sedan deal is attractive.OPELThere are drive-away deals across the range. The basic Corsa is down by about $2500 to $16,990 drive-away, the Astra is from $22,990 drive-away for the 1.4-litre turbo petrol hatch with three years of free servicing, saving about $5500. The top-line Insignia sedan is from $39,990 drive-away with heated leather seats. The Astra is easily best of this breed.PEUGEOTFree on-roads at Peugeot on most models but not the cool new 208. The 4008 SUV cops a $1500 saving from $29,990 drive-away and there are deals on the outgoing 4007. Nothing to see here.RENAULTA Koleos from $26,990 drive-away looks even better with interest-free finance. The Megane hatch is from $22,990 drive-away with finance pegged at 1.9 per cent. The slow-selling Fluence and Latitude sedans are available with 2.9 per cent finance. The Megane CC convertible goes from $43,990 including on-roads. The sporty Clio RS is from $34,990 drive-away and the hotrod Megane RS has 2.9 per cent finance.Commercial deals start with the short-wheelbase Kangoo petrol manual with dual sliding doors from $20,990 drive-away, moving up to the Trafic short-wheelbase manual for $29,990 and the long-wheelbase manual for $32,990, while the Master large van starts from $46,990 drive-away. There's a five-year/200,000km warranty on all light commercials ordered in June. Hard to argue against a $3000 bonus on the Koleos but stocks are tight.SUBARUDrive-away pricing -- for savings of $3000 to $4000 -- is the bait, with Impreza pricing from $23,990 (excluding the WRX, of course). The Tribeca from $54,990 now includes on-roads but you need to visit a dealer to get the full story. Nothing outstanding.SUZUKIThe front-drive SX4 gets a Navigator pack with voice-controlled 6.6-inch satnav with Bluetooth for $19,990 drive-away for the manual and $21,990 auto. That also applies to the 2WD auto Grand Vitara at $29,990 drive-away, including reversing camera and satnav with Bluetooth. The Alto GL manual also gets satnav for $11,990 drive-away for the manual, with the Swift GL manual at $17,490 drive-away including cruise control and Bluetooth. The Grand Vitara is a polished piece.TOYOTAThere's 2.9 per cent finance on Aurion and Camry with the Camry Altise looking best at $29,990 drive-away. Other drive-away deals include $15,990 for the Yaris YR five-door, $21,490 for the Corolla Ascent automatic, $39,990 for the Kluger KX-R 2WD five-seater, $60,990 for the Prado GXL turbo diesel auto and $39,990 for the HiLux SR 4WD dual-cab ute. The right time for the cabbies' new favourite, the frugal hybrid Camry.VOLKSWAGENDrive-away pricing on passenger cars and zero finance on commercials. The Polo is $16,990 on-road, the Jetta is down to $25,990 and the Passat $36,690. The Polo is Carsguide's 2010 COTY.VOLVOFuel and servicing for three years or 60,000km plus roadside assistance. There are conditions -- with a pre-paid BP card based on 15,000km a year and $1.50 a-litre pricing -- and the latest V40 hatch is excluded. Clever twist on bargaining but a pity it doesn't apply to the V40.Paul Gover's 10 COMMANDMENTSYou must still do your homework. You must still check the fine print. You must still be prepared to haggle and compromise.But do it right, crunching the numbers and running right to the dealer's deadline, and you can drive away in something special at a special price.The starting point is all the deals, from sticker specials to cheap finance and steak knife-style free extras, being offered by most of the 60-plus brands in showrooms today.If something you want is on special, go for it. But check that the car was built in 2013, and is not a geriatric old-timer from 2012, and ensure your target is exactly what you want - not a stripped-out stocker, perhaps missing an automatic gearbox - that will cost thousands to get the way you want it.Once you lock down a target, don't think the advertised special is the end of the deal. You also need to negotiate for a better price on delivery and on-road costs, and avoid the trap of buying over-priced extras such as paint and upholstery protection, window tinting and extra-long warranties.No-one can expect to go into the ring with a showroom professional and expect to win, because buyers only get a new car occasionally and sales staff are dealing every day. But, by concentrating on the real bottom line - the changeover price - and being prepared to compromise, you can come out ahead.The best tips are the simplest. Run as close as you can to June 30 to sign the deal and get the car, because dealers are all aiming for targets that can mean tens of thousands in bonus money from headquarters. Also be prepared to take a car they have in stock, even if it's not your favourite colour, because dealers are aiming to clear everything they have on the lot.And have your finance in place before you arrive, especially if you're taking up a special deal, because that makes things quicker and you'll also be spared any hassle and potential extra costs.Watch out for 2012 cars because the warranty clock has already been running, don't forget that a big discount today will also mean less at changeover time, and remember that a demonstrator car could have had a hard life already. 

The body is finished and only the swirly camouflage is protecting the final details on a car that is longer and wider with a longer bonnet and slimmer A pillars.

Do not go looking in a showroom for anything you see on the track in V8 Supercars racing. There is no such thing as an Erebus. The Nissan Altima does not have a V8 engine. Even the Falcon and Commodore that race today are barely related to the road going cars with the same name.And the Volvo S60 that hits the grid in 2014? Well, it's just a high-speed parody of a Swedish family car. Volvo is going to roll out a car with a retired V8 engine that was once used in the XC90 people mover, switching drive from the front wheels to the back, not bothering about airbags or ABS brakes, and definitely not fitting its brilliant City Safety system. So it's a Volvo, Sven, but not as we know it.V8 Supercars racing might be great entertainment, but more people are now following drivers than car brands - as Craig Lowndes proved by swapping from Holden to Ford, then back-flipping to the red lion, while continuing as the biggest drawcard in Australian motorsport.As for the old saying “Win on Sunday, sell on Monday”, it's so old that it's past its sell-by date. Literally. If you want proof you only have to look at Falcon sales results. The family Ford - or something badged that way - still wins on the track, but it's a long-term loser in showrooms and heading for the knackery in 2016. Or, quite likely, earlier.So why are car companies still joining V8 Supercars?  The simple answer is what the Gruen crew call marketing and brand building. Volvo wants to look a bit speedy, not just safe and sensible, so it's going racing.Nissan wants to create some anticipation for the upcoming mid-sized Altima, so it's going racing. Ford and Holden need to continue their appeal in the rust belt - as Toyota unkindly calls it - where the Commodore and Falcon are the top choices for secondhand shopping, so they continue racing. Track action also helps Holden shift some SS and HSV hero cars.As for Erebus, it's a life-sized racing game for mega-rich Betty Klimenko, who happens to be a huge Mercedes-Benz fan. So Benz is not backing the program, and was actively against it for a while but she is spending more than enough millions to compensate with cars that are dead ringers for Mercedes E63s.The Carsguide crew are long-time fans of touring car racing, enjoy a bit of on-track biff, and know that nothing in Australian sport is more special than Bathurst in October. But the days when Bathurst was a high-speed showroom are so far in the past that we might as well be talking about the Jurassic age.This reporter is on Twitter: @paulwardgover