Articles by Paul Gover

Jumbo jets have shrunk the world and compressed the car business into a series of hops around the globe.

...for the biggest model splurge in its 50-plus years. One of the newcomers is the good looking Leon hatchback, which shows what the budget brand in the Volkswagen Group brings to the family, and how it can contribute to VW's plan to be global sales leader by 2018.  

Bucking the bigger-is-better trend that affects everything from the Hyundai i30 to the upcoming Lexus IS, Toyota has downsized the RAV slightly to make it more youthful. The fourth-generation RAV is also losing its unpopular V6 engine choice, putting the emphasis back on an efficient four.  The updated SUV is previewed at the Los Angeles Auto Show with dimensions that cut around 50 millimetres from its length and 25 millimetres from its height, although it retains the same wheelbase and is a little wider. Visually, the new RAV has much more character - design speak for creases and curves - and the obvious change is a switch from a side-hinged back door to one that lifts up. Toyota's approach to the RAV, which it claims as the original SUV despite the earlier arrival of the first Range Rover, is a sharp contrast to the latest update to the Honda CR-V and the various compact SUVs produced by Kia and Hyundai. Importantly, Toyota says it will provide a "more dynamic" driving experience, thanks to a sportier suspension tune and electric power steering. It's impossible to compare equipment between the US launch cars and the RAV that comes to Australia next year, but local buyers can expect eight airbags and a rear-view camera on all models. At the top end, available equipment runs to an 11-speaker sound system, satnav and a 'cross traffic alert' at the rear that operate when the RAV is reversing at up to 30km/h.  

The German maker admits for the first time that it is considering an all-new car that would be aimed directly at the Ferrari 458 Italia, sitting well above its classic 911. Design and engineering work has already begun on the car but, although company president Matthias Mueller is happy to talk about details, he will not be drawn on timing for a final go-ahead on the project. He says the basics for the supercar are already set, placing the mid-engined road rocket well above the 911. "Less volume, more expensive, more performance, faster," Mueller reveals exclusively today at the Los Angeles Auto Show. He also says the car must be mid-engined but is not convinced that it needs to be a new-age hybrid, despite the package of the petrol-electric punch of the 918 Spyder that goes on sale next year. Porsche has set a ceiling of 918 cars for 918 production, and it plans to build them all by the end of 2015. That's when the window opens for the Ferrari rival, after Porsche shelved plans for a sub-Boxster price fighter codenamed the 550. "We put these 550 ideas into the desk and decided on some other things," Mueller says. He says Porsche will not be rushed into any decisions on the Ferrari fighter, which could also be spun-off into mid-engined cars suitable for Lamborghini and Audi. The two other brands are, like Porsche, part of the giant Volkswagen Group and their mid-engined Gallardo and R8 will share any mid-engine development work by Porsche. "We don't want to decide it as soon as possible, we want to make the decisions when there are no risks in our mids," Mueller says.  

The good news is that the Cayman is closer than ever to the classic 911, in both design and performance, and the bad news is the price. At the car's official unveiling at the Los Angeles Motor Show the American pricetag is set at just $52,600, but by the time it gets to Australia next year the starting sticker will have blown out to $115,000. The strength of the Australian dollar should make things better but Porsche's down under pricing policy and around $35,000 in Federal and State Taxes - including the hated Luxury Car Tax - means the car is nowhere near as affordable as it is in Europe or America. Even so, the Cayman seems certain to steal even more sales from the 911 thanks to better performance, more equipment in a bigger cabin, and even 15 per cent better fuel economy. The design also makes it much more than just a Boxster with a coupe roof. "In short, the new version is lighter, more powerful and more fuel efficient. It is more distinctive than ever. It delivers an unmatched combination of driving dynamics," the boss of Porsche, Matthias Mueller, says at the car's unveiling. The preview of the Cayman in Porsche heartland in California comes at the end of a year when the company has also put an all-new 911 and Boxster on the road. Production of the second-generation Cayman coupe will not begin until the first quarter of next year, with local delivers in the third quarter. "This has been a milestone year for Porsche. Globally, this has been a record setting year," says Mueller. "We have sold 160,000 cars. This is the best possible proof of the customer desire for our outstanding sports cars." The Cayman does the job too, and Porsche has allowed it to creep closer to the 911 in size and style. That's no surprise, since the basic mechanical package is shared with the big brother. The styling is more mature and the body sits over a chassis that is longer and wider than before, just like the Boxster, with a basic 2.7-litre engine and a 3.4 in the Cayman S. The starter engine makes 202 kiloWatts with economy of 8.2 litres/100km and a 0-100km/h time of 5.6 seconds as a six-speed manual, while the Cayman S numbers are 239, 8.8 and 5.0. The car retains the mid-engine layout it shares with the Boxster and that, says Porsche's technical chief Wolfgang Hatz is the big difference from the 911. "For me, the 911 is a car that people use as their first car, where the Cayman is a second car. The 911 is a two-plus-two and that is the difference," Hatz says.  

Carparazzi caught the Sport Wagon during testing at Death Valley in the USA, with camouflage pointing to a new look to the nose and tail. There's also likely to be a mild interior work over.

So the 5-Series crossover is being given a big tweak and the same front and rear update - check the crazy camo - seen across almost the whole range.It should be seen at the Detroit Motor Show in January. 

It brings the car into line with everything that has picked up the frontal direction from the latest CLS coupe and should be on sale next year. 

There are still camo stickers but the shape is clear, including the extra side window added beneath the new curving roof. It's the latest BMW crossover coupe after the X6 and 5 GT but won't be the last. 

The Malaysian maker is trying to haul itself out of the bargain basement using a mid-sized Preve with a value price and a five-year care package that sets a new standard in Australia.The Preve is on sale from January at $18,990 driveaway and will be followed by the Evora people mover in June. Both cars have a new ‘Five Star’ support package that runs to a five-year warranty, five-year roadside assist and five years of free servicing and Proton is also aiming for a five-star ANCAP safety score.But Proton has a disastrous stop-start history in Australia and admits it needs to change radically to build some confidence and support for the brand. Its sales this year are down by more than 20 per cent, even from a miserable base of less than 1000 sales by October 2011, at just 760 cars. And the Preve, even with a push direct from Proton chief Datuk Jamil, will struggle with a 1.6-litre engine in a field that includes the impressive Mazda6, Ford Mondeo and more than a dozen others."You have to put the peg in the sand and say this is our new starting point," Proton Australia's general manager of sales and marketing, Billy Falconer, tells Carsguide. "I wouldn't say it's the last chance but we've had re-launches before. What we want to do is reassure people."The Preve is a major change of direction for Proton, which has always exported baby cars developed for its Malaysian base. It looks good but the engine is underwhelming and the rest of the package - even with Lotus suspension tuning - is not going to win people across from mainstream brands. But Falconer is talking positive about the car and the new approach."It's been a long time coming. We've excited about it. I think the Preve is a better offer than the S16 at $11,990," he says. "Yes, it's the lowest price in the class. But price is not what we'll sell on going forward. With a five-year package we're showing we're supporting the brand.The Exora is a good looking seven-seater that will be priced around $25,000 on the road and Falconer says there are more newcomers for Proton by 2015. "We're not happy at all with our sales, but at the end of the day we've had no new models for three years. Now there are three other new models with two years."The Preve and Evora were previewed at the Australian International Motor Show, where Proton chief Jamil was optimistic about the future. "We think that, in Australia, the demand for mid-size sedan cars like this is very popular," he says. "In terms of projection we are looking at about 200 to 240 cars a month."That means an ambitious sales target of 2500 in the first year, rising to 4000. But Jamil says Proton is not renewing its efforts in Australia just to save face, or to lose money. "It's no point of us doing good numbers but losing money at the end of it. At the end of the day, it's the top and bottom line that matters very much to the company. Its not just about selling cars, it's about maintaining your name and your brand.