Articles by Paul Gover

More than 1500 extra cars will flood Australia from December, cutting through waiting lists that had grown to more than four months for some 86 models. The extra cars will come after a high-level mission to Japan this week to free extra supplies of high-demand cars in Australia, headed by the 86 but also including the HiLux ute and FJ Cruiser. But the news is not as good for anyone waiting for a Subaru BRZ, the near-identical twin of the 86, as the waiting list in local dealerships now stretches to November 2013 and Subaru Australia has failed in its efforts to get any extra cars. "We're getting over a year's allocation for three months. The extra cars start to arrive in December and will continue through to March," a jubilant Matt Callachor, sales and marketing chief of Toyota Australia, reveals exclusively to Carsguide. "Our original allocation this year was 250 cars a month, or 1500 for the year. We're now looking at an extra 1800 in those three months." Fans of the 86 are likely to renew their pressure in Australia with news of the extra cars and Callachor is not promising any major reduction in waiting times. "I don't know that the waiting time will go down dramatically. But there have been people who didn't want to wait," he says. "It really depends on the model. The high-level GTS is currently out to more than four months but for the GT it could be as little as six weeks." Waiting lists have been common for Toyota buyers in Australia over the past year, particularly after the natural disaster in Japan and flooding in Thailand that cut supplies of the HiLux. The popular ute has just had a five-month run as Australia's best selling vehicle once supplies were restored to normal, although it lost number one in September to the Mazda3 that was the country's favourite car in 2011. "There was a long delay on HiLux but it's under control now. The FJ Cruiser was also in short supply but we're now delivering between 270 and 300 cars a month," says Callachor. The appeal to Japan came as Toyota Australia pushes for an all-time showroom record in a year when overall sales are now tipped to top 1,000,080, more than enough to trump the previous record result. "We said we want to top 200,000, well and truly. So we negotiated heavily for more cars," Callachor says. The plea for extra 86s was helped by certification delays in several Asian markets, which means some Australians will be driving cars originally allocated to other countries. And Callachor says the extra local deliveries should also help the ongoing supply of the 86, which has already become a cult car and is the early favourite for this year's Carsguide Car of the Year award. "It gives us an additional benefit because our monthly sales rate will be higher in the first quarter next year and we'll have a better negotiating position. So we should get more than 250 cars a month after this, through the remainder of 2013," he says.  

Everyone in Australia, whether they know it or now, has craved a Toyota Corolla at some time in their life. Since the Corolla first landed in the 1960s, it has been the first choice for first-car buyers, young married couples, retirees and parents looking to launch youngsters on their first motoring adventure. Even if you haven't targeted a Corolla, you have almost certainly targeted a car that does a Corolla job.Now we have another new Corolla, the 11th time the car has been renewed, which comes with everything from big promises to a great-value $19,990 starting price. After driving it this morning, I can confidently say ... But things will not be easy for small-car shoppers, even diehard Corolla fans.Nissan is about to bring the Pulsar back to Australia with an all-new model also priced from $19,990, Hyundai has done an impressive job on renewing its i30 this year for less money, and the Volkswagen Golf is now the best small car in the world after a huge seventh-generation overhaul.As you'd expect, this is the best Corolla yet. And it trumps anything else from Japan or Korea. But the aardvark in the room is the VW Golf. Even if we're still waiting to hear how the final pricing will affect its competitiveness in Australia.Still, nobody is going to be disappointed in the new Corolla, thanks to everything from truly comfortable seats to an indicator sound that could have come from a Jaguar and not any other Corolla.VALUEThe Corolla has never been better value. But, then again, the Australian dollar has rarely been stronger. Toyota has again cashed in its exchange-rate gains to boost the value in its favorite baby, just as it did earlier this year with the bottom line on the landmark 86 sports car.The basic Corolla Ascent now has a $19,990 showroom sticker, a cut of $1000, while the Ascent Sport is down by $5,000 to $20,990 and the Levin SX has copped a $1100 cut to $23,990. Only the flagship Levin ZR is the same price as the outgoing car, at $28,490, but Toyota says it has more equipment with 17-inch alloys.Toyota in Japan has also taken a cost-down approach to the car, but been careful to do the job without hurting quality or equipment. It also has to protect the resale values of all those other Corollas on the road in Australia, even the latest $18,990 driveway specials based on the outgoing model...The only bad news on the money front is the $2000 price of the optional CVT automatic gearbox, up from the industry standard of $1500 for a self shifter. But Nissan says the CVT on the Pulsar is going to be $2250, so it's not as bad as it could have been.TECHNOLOGYEveryone wants to know about things like Bluetooth and big sound and aircon and power steering -- electric this time -- which are all standard on the Corolla. Every new Corolla also gets seven airbags and a five-star ANCAP rating, which is more important than things like power.Still, Toyota says the updated 1.8-litre engine now makes 103 kiloWatts and the 173 Newton-metres of torque arrives in a more-accessible rev range. Importantly, and helped by the seven-speed CVT, fuel economy is as low as 6.6 litres/100kilometres running on 91 unleaded.The new auto is a big improvement and Toyota claims it provides self-shifting convenience with manual-style shift breaks, for more response and a car that sounds less like it has a slipping clutch. The chassis is standard stuff for the class, there is ABS and ESP, but the body is more rigid and a lot of work has gone into cutting noise. Toyota is looking closely at a high-performance model but don't expect a Corolla diesel any time soon, although there is a hybrid for Europe. Toyota's president, Akio Toyoda, promises the sporty DNA developed for the 86 will spread throughout the range and the Corolla's chief engineer says his new car is more rewarding to drive than any previous model.DESIGNThe Corolla has never pushed the boat out on style, but the new look is nowhere near as blandoid as before. It's wedge and a bit edgy, with more contouring of the body panels and a nose which is much more prominent. Inside, work has gone into improving finishes and giving the soft of touch-and-feel satisfaction that Golf buyers get and Mercedes-Benz is promising with its upcoming baby A-Class.The functionality is also better, with front seats that sit lower for better access and also have more adjustment so a wider range of owners can get comfortable. This is a very big change for a company which has always steered for the middle of the road. Trimming the seat backs also gives more knee room in the rear, while the boot has a longer floor and a wide opening to improve access and boost capacity slightly.SAFETYThe Corolla is a five-star ANCAP car and that's enough for most people.But Volkswagen recently included an auto-braking anti-collision system on its $13,990 Up, something that's missing from the Corolla.I can still remember Toyota dragging and lagging on ESP for Australia, so it's hardly a safety leader, despite including things like HID lamps on the Levin ZR.DRIVINGOn paper and in pictures, the new Corolla looks very good. But, after driving the all-new seventh-generation Volkswagen Golf in Europe a week ago, Carsguide knows the Corolla has to be nothing short of brilliant to trump the new Euro champ. Visually, the Corolla finally stands out -- at least a little -- in the small-car herd. And the cabin reflects a totally different design approach. It's still Toyota efficient, but it breaks away from the blandness with the potential for some personalisation.Visibility is great, despite a slightly pinched view through the rear window, but the real delight comes in the new driving position. Toyota has finally recognised that people don't like to sit with their hair brushing the roof or jammed up against the dash, which means you can sit back in comfort and also enjoy front seats that are nicely shaped and padding that's just right.The steering is light, the car is easy to park and even thought the boot is no bigger it is easier to load. It's also good to find. Full sized spare in the starting price car. So, how does it drive? It's very, very good for a Corolla, and good for a Japanese car. But I've just been spoiled by Golf 7. The Corolla gets along nicely enough, promises great fuel economy and is pretty quiet on all but the worst surfaces. But it doesn't have the limo-like cushiness or the library-quiet cabin of the Volkswagen.Now we come to the gearbox... And I have to say that CVTs are about as popular as brussel sprouts wi the Carsguide crew. But Toyota's engineers have added bearnaise sauce with a system that almost -- but not quite --eliminates the horrible flaring and slipping clutch sound while also giving a seven-speed drivers mode that's not as bad as a fake manual.The overall impression is a car that's more complete, and returns the Corolla to the top of the small car heap. For now, anyway. When ou also consider the $19,990 starting price, it's a brilliant package.VERDICTThe new Corolla ticks all the boxes, and has everything it needs to be Australia's best seller in 2013. If only there wasn't a new Golf just around the corner...

The all-new Toyota Corolla hits showrooms at $19,990, a figure that undercuts all of its serious rivals and especially the Volkswagen Golf — the class benchmark after a total overhaul before local sales early next year. The bottom line looks great but the new Corolla must deliver more personality and class in a small-car category that continues to grow rapidly.The Corolla is far from just a small-car cheapie. Toyota promises more efficiency, more quality and more driving enjoyment in a car that must polish some of the rust that has grown on the T badge in recent years after safety recalls and criticisms of the company's blandoid mainstream models.If Toyota has it right, the Corolla is almost certain to be Australia's best-selling car in 2013. So it's truly make-or-break. Renewal work on the 11th-generation Corolla starts with bodywork that is crisper and more European in style, then runs to everything from easier access to the front seats, a longer boot floor, extra knee room in the rear, upgraded cabin materials and added soundproofing to eliminate road noise.On the safety side, there are seven airbags across the range and a five-star ANCAP rating, while standard equipment runs to aircon, electric power steering, Bluetooth connectivity, cruise control and six-speaker sound. Toyota touts more value in every Corolla model — with price cuts on the Ascent, Ascent Sport and Levin SX and the top-line Levin ZR steady at $28,490.But the bad news is a heavy $2000 hit for the new seven-speed automatic continuously variable transmission, $500 more than the auto price of most rivals. The CVT delivers fuel consumption as low as 6.6L/100km with 152g/km of CO2, better even than the six-speed manual.Australia was involved from the start of the Corolla renewal, more than four years ago, which means local needs and wants were fed into the basics of the car. "This time we had input before the technical platform development commenced. Our engineers were involved in the preliminary drive, too, with plenty of time for fundamental changes,'' Toyota Technical Centre Australia executive director Max Gillard reveals to Carsguide."We've had a big push from the top these days to make sure the cars are fun to drive. A hell of a lot of effort has gone in to make sure that it's not just another car, but a bloody good car. "And that's good in the context of better. We believe it's what the customer really wants, not what they will expect.''Gillard is taking his lead directly from Akio Toyoda, the company chief who personally drove development of the landmark 86 sports car — an early favourite for this year's Carsguide Car of the Year. The Corolla is the first mainstream Toyota model since the 86."If you want it to be a driver's car, it can be. It won't disappoint a driver. But an average mum or dad might not ever take it anywhere to test that,'' Gillard says. "We have to be out there in front, in every sense of the word. The competitors are getting much better.'' Customers have a lot of makes and models to choose from and we have to make sure they choose ours.''The new Corolla is a five-door hatch that has a slightly lower roofline than the outgoing model, a wedgier profile with more personality in the body panels, and the same wheelbase but shorter overhangs. The front seats are mounted lower for easier access and there is more adjustment up-down and front-rear to suit a wider variety of drivers. Trimming the seat backs has added 20mm of rear legroom.In the tail, the boot shape has been squared off and access improved with 75mm of extra width, while cabin storage spots have been boosted and there is a new overhead sunglasses holder. The 1.8-litre four-cylinder has a smidgen more power at 103kW. Maximum torque of 173Nm arrives earlier thanks to something called an acoustic-controlled induction system.Without ignoring the six-speed manual gearbox or the ability to run on 91 unleaded, the CVT is promised to deliver the best of all worlds with efficiency and manual-style response.On paper and in pictures, the new Corolla looks very good. But, after driving the all-new seventh-generation Volkswagen Golf in Europe a week ago, Carsguide knows the Corolla has to be nothing short of brilliant to trump the new Euro champ.

Despite tasty hero cars led by the F-Type Jaguar and Aston Martin One-77, it's the real world cars that are of most interest.The return of the Nissan Pulsar, the unveiling of the Toyota Corolla and the first Sydney appearance of the Mazda6 and Mitsubishi Mirage are all proof that ordinary customers now rule the roost. As car sales track strongly towards an all-time record, it's real people spending their own money who are the real target for carmakers."If you get the product right, everything else follows," the top Aussie at Toyota Australia, Dave Buttner, tells Carsguide. "All the growth in sales this year is with private buyers, as government departments have been winding back and fleet sales are also down. Private buyers are confident and they are spending on the second-biggest purchase after their house."Nissan confirmed its commitment to the new-age PUlsar with a $19,990 starting price and a SSS under lights. "Pulsar is back and we have big plans," Bill Peffer, managing director of Nissan Australia, tells Carsguide.For Mazda, the new 6 is its first all-new arrival since the GFC and a pointer to the replacement for the top selling Mazda3. "You can see now where we're going," Doug Dickson, MD of Mazda Australia, says. And the baby Mirage? "It's something new for us, and it's going to bring a lot of people to the brand. I reckon we'll sell heaps," Mitsubishi marketing chief Paul Unerkov laughs. 

The first true Jaguar sports car for 40 years vies for centre stage at the show. The F-Type makes only its second public appearance anywhere in the world. A reinvention of the classic ’60s star, the E-Type, it’s a sure sellout when it gets here next year.  We’ve already seen, touched, explored and sat in the F-Type, which is the work of design guru Ian Callum. Everything points to a top-quality British roadster, priced between Porsche’s Boxster S and 911 Cabriolet, with a choice of three engines - and a supercharged V8 F-Type RS and coupe also in the car’s near future. The F-Type has classic sports car proportions, but is much more modern and muscular than the E-Type. Sure, there are nods to the ancestor car - look at the muscular haunches and the tail lamps - but Callum says the F-Type is something completely new. “It’s a car we’ve wanted for a long time. It makes you turn your head,” he says. “You’ll know from 200 yards away that this is a Jaguar sports car. I’ve never owned a car that I’ve designed before, but I’m going to pay my own money for one of these.” Callum is expected in Sydney for the show, accompanying his baby on the quick trip from its global unveiling at the Paris motor show. He is quick to put the F-Type into perspective alongside the E-Type that inspired it. “If you want an E-Type then you should buy an E-Type. This is something different and better. You will like driving it far more than driving an E-Type.” The F-Type is a true two-seater, not a 2+2 like Jaguar’s XK roadsters, with a tightly drawn body that uses a folding canvas top that can be opened or closed in 12 seconds at up to 50km/h. It will come with a basic V6 engine, a supercharged V6 and a V8, with Jaguar’s latest eight-speed automatic gearbox — tweaked for much sportier shifts than the XJ limousine - and classic rear-wheel-drive. The boot is a 200-litre space that’s good for a single set of golf clubs. The press preview of the F-Type starts dramatically when a car roars down a specially built driveway at a house on the side of the River Thames, about an hour from London. “You have to see a car in motion for the first time,” Callum says. The impact is immediate. The F-Type is a little like a Ferrari California, at least in the basic shape and proportions, but looks far more masculine than the Italian sports car. Though pumped-up, it’s also elegant and a little soft. Jaguar plans for the F-Type to lead a huge new-model push that includes an updated XJ and F-Type, which get a four-cylinder engine and new V6s for 2013, and is confident it has the goods. It is very impressive and a great looker, from the giant air intake in the nose through to the tightly drawn tail, which has central exhausts for the V6 and side exits for the V8. “We started out as a sports car company. Without a sports car, Jaguar is just not Jaguar,” says Adrian Hallmark, the global brand director for Jaguar. Jaguar F-Type Price: about $250,000 Date of release: 2013 Engine: choice of V6s or a V8 Thirst: untested  

A world-first Lexus is fighting for best-in show status at the Sydney show. But, even more than that, the LF-FC II is also fighting for approval and a production future as a new mid-sized Lexus super-coupe.   A hybrid LF-LC coupe was first shown in Detroit at the start of the year, but now the idea has been tweaked for a world first unveiling at the start of AIMS. The LCII is going big in blue for Sydney, after a racy red run in Motown, and the coupe emerges as the best looking Lexus since the LF-A supercar. It also has the performance credentials to take over from the LF-A, which was developed at a time when Toyota was heavily committed to Formula 1 racing. So the LF-A got a high-revving V10 engine while the LF-FC could become a green supercar to go head-to-head with upcoming hybrid models from Porsche and Ferrari. In Australia, the LC is a high priority for Lexus as the company builds its lineup. And a new compact is coming in 2013. “We’ve pulled out all stops this year to secure a world first. The Lexus concept is an absolutely stunning vehicle and is set to be one of the drawcards of the show,” says Tony Cramb, chief executive of Lexus in Australia. He says the car – officially the Lexus Future – Luxury Coupe II has been through some fundamental changes since Detroit, although it still has a hybrid drivetrain with more than 370 kW of combined petrol-electric power, and an all-wheel- drive chassis package. “What it shows is the future Lexus design direction, the future application of Lexus Hybrid Drive, future interior design concepts, application of advanced interior technologies and Lexus interpretation for a supercar of the future,” he says. The LCII comes hard up against the preview of another Lexus concept, the LF-CC, at the Paris show last month. That one is likely to morph into an open-topped version of the upcoming replacement for the IS. For Sydney, the LCII promises another development of the latest Lexus design direction– including the “spindle grille” nose already starring on the front of the latest GS sedan range. The concept is driven by design, right down to tail lamps inspired by a jet afterburner and a cabin with two giant LCD screens ready to tap the upcoming connected- car technology from Lexus. There are also lightweight, race-inspired seats positioned ahead of a dashboard with multi-level meters that combine analogue and LCD readouts to cover everything from the aircon through to the speedometer and tachometer.  

The car that re-writes the off-road rules is being air-freighted to the show. This new Range Rover is only the fourth of the breed and is making its first appearance outside Europe. But it’s not just the Range Rover itself that will be hogging the spotlight at Darling Harbour. The car’s designer Gerry McGovern and the global head of Land Rover are also making the long haul to meet the hundreds of deposit-paid future owners waiting for deliveries of their car. “The Range Rover is going to be big at the show,” says Land Rover spokesman, Tim Krieger. And he’s not just talking about a reinvention of the luxury SUV that has added extra length and cabin space – but actually trimmed weight – inside a bold new body formed from aluminium. “This car is critically important for us in Australia, so we’re air freighting a car from the UK,” Krieger says. “It will be only the second public revealing, after the Paris. “With the way of the world now, with the immediacy of the internet and social media, it’s critically important that once news breaks, we have the car to show our customers. ”The show car is a Range Rover Vogue with the TDV8 engine package, with a price tag that starts just on $200,000. But this one is special, with a long list of extra equipment to show what people can expect. It’s painted in the latest Land Rover “hero” colour, a sandy shade called Luxor. “We want to show people what all the fuss is about,” says Krieger. The 2013 model has more than 3500 new parts. It’s the result of more than five years of work on everything from the styling to the latest air suspension and Terrain Response system for off-road work. But there is also a stronger focus on luxury – including a specially tailored four-seat cabin – as Land Rover believes the new Rangie will be shopped against flagship limos such as the Mercedes-Benz S-Class and BMW 7 Series. The new Range Rover has a lower roofline and a bolder design that retains historical ties but makes the nose more aggressive and adds “gills” on the sides. It also has a giant sunroof, since 70 per cent of buyers choose one, and a power tailgate for the first time. There is more legroom in the rear. The cabin is just as luxurious but things have been simplified, with half as many switches and controls. On the technology front, there’s an eight-speed automatic gearbox, fifth-generation air suspension, giant brakes with six-piston front callipers, a stop-start system on the TDV6, an on-demand alternator, electronic power steering and tyres with a lower rolling resistance. The new 3.0-litre V6 turbo-diesel matches the performance of the previous 4.4-litre V8. The new V8 petrol model is a full second faster to 100km/h but only makes 229 grams/kilometre of CO2, and the 5.0-litre supercharged V8 can sprint to 100 in just 5.4 seconds. Australian deliveries of the new Range Rover begin in January and the improvements have led, inevitably, to price rises. The starting price is $168,900 for a 3-litre V6 diesel HSE, rising to $178,900 for the Vogue. The 4.4-litre V8 diesel starts at $195,100 and tops at $232,800 for the Autobiography model, while the flagship supercharged V8 is either $224,400 for the Vogue SE or $240,100 for the Autobiography. The Range Rover will dominate the Land Rover stand at the show, but the company also has its 2013-model Freelander on display, with a new 2.0-litre petrol engine and cabin upgrades. It gives the brand a new starter car, just under the city-centric Evoke. Once the motor show is done, the hard work begins for the 2013-model cars. “As soon as the show closes we’ll be taking it around Australia,” Krieger says. New Range Rover Price: about $200,000 Date of release: 2013 Engine: V8 turbo diesel Thirst: 8.7L/100km  

Mercedes-Benz is going all out for an impact at AIMS with everything from a giant stand to specially built hero cars. It’s also showing the biggest range in the history of the German including the latest arrival, the A-Class baby, and the gullwing SLS supercar. Three very, very special AMG hero cars have been built for the Sydney show. In the year where AMG celebrate 45 years as a performance brand, a small team within Mercedes-Benz Australia wanted to create three stunners to celebrate the naturally aspirated V8. Just like Jaffa (the bright orange C63 starred for the brand in 2010 at Darling Harbour), they will eventually be delivered to local owners . The Benz belters are a Special Edition SLS AMG Roadster, an SLK 55 AMG and a C63 AMG coupe which have mirror-image paint and trim – with the body colour on one reflected in the interior trim on the other. The SLS Coupe was a standout in matte black at the last Sydney show and spokesman David McCarthy says the 2012 edition is just as good, but a little more restrained. “It is subtle and a bit special. Is it the successor to Jaffa? No, each of our show cars is different,” he says. The SLS Roadster has a number of special options fitted but the paint is what you want to look at. Considering the paint work retails for over $20,000 alone and has more glitter than you’ve ever seen on a car, this roadster will sparkle on the Mercedes-AMG stand in Sydney. “Our team, in product development and public relations, spend many nights sweating the details to make the cars special. We hope visitors to the show appreciate what we’ve done,” he says. Even though Benz is a tiny player in Australia, based on its showroom numbers, it is only beaten by Holden and Toyota for the size of its stand. It is being loaded with 25 cars, including those that were created specially for the event. “We need the space to showcase our entire range from the Smart For Two to the S-Class and the AMG range, which is the largest performance vehicle range in Australia,” McCarthy says. “We have the biggest stand of any importer and the third largest overall. We think this shows our commitment to one national show each year,” McCarthy says. “We make a special effort to provide the show-goer with an experience and vehicles they would not normally have the opportunity to see up close and personal,” he says. “We are very keen on engaging our current audience and our new audience with the A-Class, as well as giving punters good value for their admission fee.” The value of the cars on the Benz stand tops $3 million, and the company says that it gets a lot of business from the motor show, although it’s reluctant to give any details. “We are very satisfied with the sales outcome we have had from the shows, but we don’t intend giving a free kick to our competitors by telling them exactly how many,” McCarthy says, laughing. A big stand needs big news and the arrival of the new A-Class (seen on this page) in March 2013 will change the premium compact segment from then on. In fact, its effect will be felt beyond the confines of its supposed class. Though the CLS 63 AMG Shooting Brake will be a bit of eye candy, A-Class’s sharp starting price is sure to be a big attraction. This marks the return of the A-Class to Australia and it will arrive jam-packed full of standard goodies such as automatic transmission, reversing camera and anti-collision warning. All this and more starting from just $35,600 right through to the top of the range A250 Sport for $49,900 which has had a little bit of tuning from AMG.  

Toyota becomes the Corolla car company at Darling Harbour. And it’s not just about the all-new model that’s almost certain to become Australia’s favourite car in 2013. The full history of the Toyota baby will be laid out to highlight the introduction of the 11th-generation Corolla hatch, which has just made its world preview in Paris and is being rushed Down Under for the start of local sales next month. Toyota Australia has found cars that track the Corolla back to the start of its local run, in 1967, when there was little indication that it would go on to become the global bestseller and the car that led the downsizing movement around the world. “We have a special Corolla presentation area at the show,” says Peter Hampson, corporate manager of marketing at Toyota Australia. “It includes one of each of the previous generations of the Corolla, back to the 1960s, and two of the very latest cars. This is the first time anyone in Australia will be able to see the new Corolla hatch. ” Toyota is mounting its usual giant display at Darling Harbour, with close to 1400m of stand area, but is taking a new approach for 2012. And it’s not just about the Corolla and the focus on the newcomer. “We’ve built a new stand this year. It’s all on one level, which makes it more accessible for anyone visiting us. And it’s greener, too, with 12 LED light towers,” says Hampson. “We think it will allow people to have a good time when they visit Toyota at the show.” It takes up to 40 people more than a week to assemble the stand and load it with everything from Brand T, from the Corolla crew to the hot new Toyota 86 sports car. “There will be a complete range of Toyota models, including the new Prius V, Prius C and the locally made Aurion and Camry, which have been released this year,” says Hampson. “The theme of the show stand is Waku Doki Plus, which we’ve picked up from the 86 program. It means we’re going to be edgy, fresh, modern and a little bit surprising.” That means a very special 86, which won its class in the Nurburgring 24-Hour race earlier this year, with Gazoo Racing from Japan, providing the motorsport flavour. “We’ve also got a very rare Toyota 2000 GT sports car from the ‘60s. These are worth more than $250,000.” Toyota also has a safe driving simulator, which it wants everyone – especially young drivers – to try. “It’s about testing their driving skills, but also allows visitors to see how VSC (stability control) and traction control work in virtual reality. It’s a totally safe environment to sample these life-saving technologies,” Hampson adds.  New Toyota Corolla Prices: from $20,000 Engine: 1.8-litre petrol Release date: This month Thirst:TBA  

The oddball British baby has survived three locally-focussed crash tests and is into the finishing straight for Australian Design Rule compliance. More than 250 people are waiting for the verdict after registering for a spot on the waiting list, although it will still be the middle of next year before local deliveries can begin. "I'm pretty confident now. I think we'll get it," the Australian agent for Morgan and Caterham sports cars, Chris van Wyk, tells Carsguide. "The hard part was the crash tests. Now we've cleared those we've done about 70 per cent of the work." "There are three different things we've had to do, for different parts of the vehicle, to meet the ADRs. Australia has to have its own set of rules and that's what we're wrestling with now. We're not worried about lights and seat belts or stuff like that. "In Europe and America it's classified as motorcycle so there are no crash tests required. But in Australia there is a special category for tricycles, so we need a crash test."  He is forecasting a likely price around $65,000 for the three-wheeler but says the biggest problem will be getting cars, as demand for the three wheeler is more than four times higher than expected. "When Morgan announced the car in March 2011 they were talking about 200 cars a year, but they ended up with 900 deposit-paid orders. They have been totally overwhelmed, and that was before they got the car into America," van Wyk says. "They're now building cars as fast as they can." The three-wheeler is a bare-boned revival of the original Morgan from the 1920s, powered by a 2-litre S&S vee-twin engine usually installed in custom Harley Davidson motorcycles. There is plenty of customisation potential, including paintwork that mimics a Spitfire fighter from World War II. Fans of the car include American talk show legend Jay Leno. The price will between $60,000 and $70,000, although van Wyk says that depends on the exchange rate and the final certification costs. He says getting the three-wheeler approved for Australia is a tough battle. "We've been working on this for more than a year. Really, we started as soon as we heard about it in March 2011. We had to find out the rules, for a start." But he says there is huge interest, from a huge range of people. "We're talking about CEOs of big companies at one end. A lot seem to be motorcyclists who've fallen off once too often and don't bounce too well," he laughs. From the first 20 enquiries, 17 were existing Morgan owners, but since then they are all new faces.  "It's totally unprecedented in my 12 years with Morgan." Morgan is tiny in Australia and will deliver less than 20 of its old-fashioned sports cars this year, although van Wyk is also planning for a handful of local Caterham sports car handovers. "It's a very specialised boutique market. Last year we did 20 Morgans and had a zero with Caterham. This year I'm expecting 18 Morgans and four Caterhams," he says.