Articles by Paul Gover

But that could change when the all-new 2013 model is ready, following a preview at the Paris motor show next month. It's a real tiddler with engines including a 1.0-litre LPG unit.

One hundred Territorys leave Melbourne tonight to open a new sales pipeline in Thailand. The SUVs have been snapped up less than six months since Ford Australia mounted a display at the Bangkok motor show in search of upscale owners in countries where the Territory is regarded a luxury product.  It's the first significant export deal for Ford in more than six years and welcome news for a company that's been hit by sliding sales, job cuts and a government bailout since the start of the year.  The export deal has only come now the Territory is fitted with the overdue diesel engine that is also re-energising sales in Australia. The export cars are all fully-equipped with the Titanium luxury pack.  “We expect the Territory Titanium model to do well in Thailand,'' Ford Australia president Bob Graziano said. But there is no word yet on any follow-up orders to make shipments to Bangkok a regular event.  Ford's export shipment comes as Holden finalises a new deal that will see the Commodore SS become a high-performance Chevrolet in the USA, as well as a NASCAR racing flagship, in 2013. It is also exporting a police version of the long-wheelbase Caprice to the USA, although sales have been relatively slow.

...to ensure it's more than just a city runabout. The Adam is intended to create a 'sub-brand' for Australia's newest import badge, going up against the Mini and Fiat 500.

...- the reigning Carsguide Car of the Year - it also opened the door for a new Soul. According to Carparazzi, the new Soul is now testing in the USA with a bigger and bolder body, and even a new shape for the side mirrors. The cabin is also predicted to be much rooimer with better quality. Here in the second half of 2013 for just over $20,000.

Despite an official recall, the asbestos gaskets fitted to the Great Wall and Chery vehicles will stay in place until they need repairs or routine survicing, or if the owner demands their removal. The decision comes as the importer of Great Wall and Chery, Ateco Automotive, admits the use of asbestos - which was outlawed in cars in 2004 - could have damaged the budget brands. "I wouldn't think it would be helpful," Ateco spokesman, Daniel Cotterill, says. Ateco forced a production shutdown in China when it discovered the use of the asbestos gaskets during an Australian audit, despite earlier written guarantees from the Chinese brands. They have since found an alternative, asbestos-free, supplier of the gaskets and production has resumed to keep pace with Australian deliveries. "Everything we import now from China is free of asbestos. We have checked the cars and they comply," Cotterill says. "The Chinese are well aware of the gravity of the situation. They had to establish their own internal audit of their suppliers to find out how this happened." But the cars already with owners will not be touched, despite a recall campaign that will include fitting a warning sticker. Instead, owners will be advised by letter of the problem and sent a copy of a risk assessment commission by Ateco from consultants in occupational health and safety, Hibbs and Associates. It concludes there are "negligible" asbestos risks to either owners or mechanics working on the car. "Even if carried out in an uncontrolled way, handling and removing these gaskets constitutes a very low asbestos related health risk," the report says. Ateco says it has approval from the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission for its recall program, even though it does not include a compulsory change of parts. "The intention is to replace the gaskets only if, and when, necessary. The key thing is to make sure that anyone who replaces one is aware of the situation," Cotterill says.  

Those cars will be used as bait for the brand in Australia and around the world. The muscle car company is celebrating its 45th birthday and has big plans to deliver 30,000 cars a year to new owners by 2015, thanks to everything from a baby hatch to a hulking off-roader, and the 911 contender. AMG has already scored a hit with its top-end SLS coupe and roadster - which are priced from an eye popping $468,820 in Australia - which are the first cars developed entirely by Benz's hero sub-brand. Now it is well advanced with another totally in-house car, probably to be called SLC, for sale as a V8 coupe from 2015 and a convertible a year later. Nothing is confirmed on the SLC front, despite an anniversary teaser picture that shows the current AMG family with eight extra models under wraps. "There will be another car at some point. We don't know when, or what, yet," the managing director of Mercedes-Benz Australia, Horst von Sanden, tells Carsguide. But he is more open on the other additions to the AMG family, and the potential of the cars for Australian owners, giving the nod to everything from the new SLS Black Series headliner to a twin-turbo four-cylinder A45 all-wheel drive starter car, through G and GL 63 SUVs and an upcoming S63  limousine. "We're always interested in whatever product AMG has for our market," says von Sanden. The appetite for AMG in Australia now runs even deeper than the cars, although there will be around 1000 deliveries this year against a record of 1017. "When people order their cars in advance there is always a 30-35 per cent fitting rate with AMG equipment. That could be wheels, or a body kit or a full package. We know that's what customers want. "What we see is the halo effect. We've done nearly 800 AMGs so far this year and, if we can get supplies, we could be on for a new record. There's going to be a huge rush towards the end of the year. "One of the things that differentiates AMG is the depth. We go from a compact car through to uber sedans. People might think about the C63 AMG but we have estate cars and SUVs." He says AMG is now moving into wholesale turbocharged technology, because it gives the performance punch that owners expect but deliveries it with impressive emissions and fuel economy. "They seem to have the balance right with this work," von Sanden says. But the AMG blueprint for global domination does not include V8 Supercar racing in Australia. A very wealthy AMG owner hatched a plan to field a pair of AMG-powered E-Class lookalikes against Ford, Holden and Nissan from next year under the Car of the Future regulations for the category.  It included a supply line from AMG in Germany and a link to Stone Brothers Racing, which has won titles with Ford Falcons. But the plan floundered when Mercedes-Benz Australia refused its essential support for use of the three-pointed star in a category which is vastly removed from its core customers. "It's really simple. We looked extensively at the program, and we don't believe that our participation in V8 Supercars is the correct fit with our brand in Australia and New Zealand," says von Sanden.  

Components made of asbestos have thrown a shadow over the import of budget-priced Chinese cars.Despite assurances from the companies Great Wall and Chery, a local check has revealed that close to 25,000 cars, utes and SUVs are potentially affected by asbestos gaskets.The presence of asbestos has raised a major safety concern for bargain-basement brands that sell primarily on price.In China, production has been stopped while the companies source alternate components. The Australian importer, Ateco Automotive, is waiting for a ruling by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission over a potential recall.Ateco says its own investigation points to a relatively minor safety risk, mostly at the time of repairs or servicing at a dealership, but it refuses to comment on the chance of a safety recall. "We cannot speculate on a recall. Until we can get the ACCC's ruling, we really don't know," says Daniel Cotterill, the spokesman for Chery and Great Wall.The majority of the vehicles involved in the asbestos scare were produced by Great Wall, which was the first Chinese brand in Australia with sales from 2009. Chery followed in 2010. "It's both Great Wall and Chery. It's mostly Great Wall, with 21,500 vehicles affected, and Chery with 2250," says Cotterill.There has been a global crackdown on asbestos in the motor industry since the days when it was commonly used in a range of parts, but most obviously in brakes. More than 6,000 Chinese-made vehicles sold here last month. Previously, Chinese vehicles have been heavily criticised for sub-standard quality and safety. 

Spin, spin, spin. It feels like I'm in a tumble drier as the scenery swirls past in a wall of whiteness.I'm frantically spinning the wheel and desperately trying to regain control in a losing battle against the elements. The $153,000 Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG seems to have a mind of its own, bellowing and belching, skittering and sliding, as I work the throttle on its high-powered V8 engine in a pointless search for grip.Then I remember it's all happening in the controlled safety of a New Zealand ski field and I relax a little. Then I smile and start to laugh out loud. After all, I'm only doing 25km/h. "The whole idea is to lose control. That's what we want," says Peter Hackett, chief instructor at the AMG Snow Challenge."Most people never know they are out of control until it's too late. This program allows us to teach people in a safe environment and let them experience things you would never normally want to encounter on the road." Most driving schools concentrate on the basics. They show you the correct seat position, how to set the mirrors, holding the wheel the right way and coping with panic stops.But this is AMG and that means a minimum of nanny-state lecturing and maximum enjoyment - with $3 million worth of German pocket rockets on specially-groomed surfaces at the Ski Farm in the mountains outside Queenstown in the South Island.It's the latest development that allows AMG owners to sample some of the world's fastest cars on track days at Phillip Island and Albert Park, home of the Australian Grand Prix. It's not cheap - $4500 for the snowfield excoursion - but AMG provides everything from the cars and instructors to lunch and a special beanie. It's a Top Gun course where the jet fighters are swapped for Benz's best belters.The C63s - sedans, coupes and wagons - are showroom stock apart from special Continental 'winter' tyres designed to provide the best possible grip on the snow and ice that's all around. "When it gets as cold as it does here a normal tyre is almost like plastic. Zero grip," says Gordon Jones, technical chief at Mercedes-Benz Australia."We are taking the cars into some extreme conditions. So what we're trying to find with these tyres is grip. They have a special compound for cold weather and a special design to help the snow bind and give grip." With 30 kilometres of snow roads around us, and a very special ice pad where it's almost impossible to stand, any help is going to be welcome. The seat heaters, for a start, are switched for a toasty bottom.The day starts with a bang, as we attempt a full-on, straight-line V8 blast. It should be straight forward and simple, but there is a twist. Hackett and his instructors disable the electronic traction and stability controls which make the C63 so user-friendly on the road, leaving the driver - and their right foot - to handle the balancing act between giant power and tiny grip.Some people spin, most wiggle-waggle, and I reach the finish line on the verge of a spin after discovering ABS brakes are near-best-thing to useless on ice. "You are going to have a truly remarkable experience. You will be completely frustrated. Just be patient," Hackett says.Next up, we hit the 200-metre ice pad and discover that first gear and a tiny tickle on the throttle will leave you almost powerless against spinning. One car has to be pushed out of the snow bank lining the edge of the ice. "We're the only people game to come here without all-wheel drive," laughs Hackett.As the day goes on, and we get more familiar with the cars and the snow, there is more fun and almost-endless V8-powered slides and skids. It's not hooning, but it gets close as the instructors encourage everyone to explore their personal limits. "If you're not here to slide around, then you might as well sit with a coffee and watch," says Hackett.Drift king Ken Block would love this place, and so does everyone in the snow today. But there is a serious side to the course. The instructors are always passing on advice about looking ahead, planning your actions, gentle use of the controls, and driving within your limits. It's impossible to ignore them, as they always seem to have a better solution to any challenge - from starting on the ice to recovering from yet another spin.They're also giving a lesson that will make anyone better in their day-to-driving. The cars, too, make a contribution, since the AMG answer to go-faster motoring also brings a greater margin of built-in feedback, control and safety. There is lots of power in the engine room, but the brakes balance the deal, the steering has great feel and instant response, and the seat heaters are marvellous.To provide some perspective, I try one run through a set of slalom conces with all the electronic safety nets back in place. Now the C63 is brilliantly controlled and, although nowhere near as much fun, it shows how 21st century driver aids make us all better - and help us avoid potential disasters.Compared against some other ice drives - and I've tried Saabs in far northern Sweden and Lamborghinis on a frozen lake in Italy - the AMG experience is intensive and rewarding. It's not as much flat-out fun as a Gallardo supercar on a simulated rally road, but it comes close. And there are a couple of twists in the tale.First, Hackett takes me on a taxi ride over a snow-wrapped road where an all-wheel drive Subaru would skitter and struggle. The C63 is incredibly quick and totally controlled, as Hackett uses his skill and the strengths of the AMG engineering to demonstrate what is really possible at the Snow Farm.Then, while he is still twirling the wheel and his feet are dancing across the pedals, he issues a combined invitation and challenge. "What you've done today is only Level One. Next year, we'll have Level Two, including roads like this one. So, are you up for it?," he asks, already knowing the answer. 

It should make it to Australia in the second half of next year, but will be unveiled at Paris motor show in September. Suzuki currently has the lead in early teases over Mazda, Mini and Jaguar, with a range of other runners - including Porsche - expected to add their efforts over the next month before the show opens to the public on September 29. Show organisers are trumpeting 263 brands from 21 countries for the biggest show this year, pointing also to an attendance of 1.26 million people when it was last held in 2012. But Suzuki is not waiting and has produced a sketch and part-car picture of a concept car called the S-Cross. Its size puts it between the Swift and Kizashi and right into the booming compact SUV segment. It is said to combine emotion, quality and aerodynamics with a much swoopier look than today's SX4, which could continue alongside the S-Cross once it goes into production. "The S-Cross is a completely different concept to the existing SX4. The current car is more of a hatchback, where this is a dedicated SUV," the general manager of Suzuki Australia, tells Carsguide. "It is more like a Nissan Dualis-type of car, but with a lot more style." Devers says the S-Cross points to a new generation of cars from Suzuki, which has been starved of stuff since it burst out with the mid-sized Kizashi. "We're now through the Global Financial Crisis and we're still the only company to be profitable for the past 50 years. Now it's time for the research-and-development work to ramp up," says Devers. "In the next two or three years you will see quite a lot of new stuff." Devers has seen the S-Cross but is reluctant to give any detail ahead of the Paris show, although he sees a place for it in Australia. "If it becomes available to us as a production car, it will probably run parallel to the existing SX4 for a time. It's a very different concept." While Suzuki is teasing, Jaguar has confirmed it will show the production version of the F-Type sports car at the Paris show and Mini has plans to reveal the showroom-ready Paceman. For Porsche, Paris could mean the public showing of the first spin-off from its Panamera four-door luxury car. Despite lots of speculation about a convertible, the next development of the Panamera is now likely to be a station wagon.  

...is going to be something very, very special. Originally conceived as a piece of racetrack silliness, the Juke-R is now approved for production and leaked sketches show the super crossover will be just as insane as hoped - or feared. Everything from the track-focussed Juke-R prototype built last year has been carried through for the road, right down to the wings and wild 20-inch wheels added to the compact crossover when it was injected with the heart and soul of the GT-R. Developed by Nissan, but built by motorsports outfit RML in Britain with input from Nissan's European Technology Centre, the Juke-R gets the GT-R's 3.8-litre twin-turbo V6 engine, six-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission and a modified version of its 4WD system. The cabin of the production car is likely to follow the concept, which means the Juke's motorcycle tank-inspired centre console sitting among the arsenal of gauges, dials and 7-in customisable LCD information display from the GT-R. The bad news for Australia is that every Juke-R has been pre-sold to an owner order - despite a price tipping $580,000 - but the good news is that the go-faster project has helped to re-ignite the chance of the trendy Juke coming to Australia. The rounded compact crossover has been a huge hit in Europe and that has convinced the management at Nissan Australia, under go-getter new boss Bill Peffer, to take another look at the Juke. "We're having another look at Juke. But there is no point in bringing the Juke-R if it's not relevant to what we're doing," the spokesman for Nissan Australia, Jeff Fisher, tells Carsguide. "In any case, they are all being made to order. So unless you already have an order you won't be getting one. And we haven't had any orders here, that I'm aware of." But Fisher says the regular Juke box is back on the radar after an earlier rejection based on the cost of the program and an uncertain sales reception in Australia. "Rejected is not really the right word. it was considered to be outside our product line, but things have changed," admits Fisher. "Now, as a niche car and brand leader, it now has its potential. One of the reasons is that it's been so successful everywhere it's sold." Nissan believes the Micra-based Juke, which would sell against a wide basket of trendy rivals including the Kia Soul and Toyota Rukus, might be right as people look for something different in a baby car. "It has a very wide appeal. People buy these things for distinctiveness, more than any motivation towards its use. That's everyone from young singles to mums and even retirees," Fisher says. "So, fingers crossed. But it's still a work in progress."