Articles by Paul Gover

The German maker opens its doors on September 1 with just three cars but admits local buyers will eventually be spoiled for choice.

So anyone shopping for a Volkswagen Golf GTi has again got a reason to include a feisty Ford on their list of potential rivals. It's not a white-hot Focus RS, which was a sellout success last year despite a $59,990 pricetag, but a new ST turbo that takes the place of the retired-from-duty XR5 that did well during its run down under. Don't let the new name confuse you, for the ST is almost a straight update for the XR5 - with a $38,290 pricetag and a 184 kiloWatt EcoBoost 2.0-litre engine - and a new headline body colour called Tangerine Scream. There are sure to be other ST models, and Ford has already shown a Fiesta tease wearing the Sport Technologies tag as it migrates the name around the world of blue oval vehicles. It says the Focus ST is the first "global performance cars" and plans to sell the Focus ST in more than 40 countries. Ford is trumpeting everything from more power and a six-speed manual gearbox to equipment that runs to sports steering, multi-layer ESP stability control, bi-xenon headlamps and predictable body upgrades. There is also fuel economy of 7.4 litres/100km and CO2 emissions of 172 grams/kilometre, plus a capped-price service plan. Just like the Toyota 86, Ford has added a 'sound symposer' that pipes induction noise from the engine into the cabin. "The price is up a little bit, but there is a lot more equipment. The price puts the car right into Golf GTi territory, and also the Mazda3 MPS," says Neil McDonald of Ford Australia. "This is the replacement for the XR5. The name change is a global one and we're aligning with those vehicles." Ford has cleverly timed the local announcement of the Focus ST for the same day when Opel is revealing its launch program for Australia, including its own warmed-over hatch. It's the Astra GTC, available with both 1.4 and 1.6-litre turbocharged engines from $28,990. But Opel, which is setting up for the first time as an independent brand and not just supplying cars to Holden, believes there will be no comparison with the new Ford. "It's a different buyer and a different car," the product marketing manager at Opel Australia, Min-Sean Chew, tells Carsguide. "Our car is a stylish coupe with brilliant dynamics. Theirs is just a hatch." The Focus ST continues down a road pioneered by the XR5 in April, 2006 when the fast rod arrived with a $35,990 bottom line. It went away towards the end of last year as Ford switched its focus on Focus to the value models and supply from Thailand. McDonald is hinting, but not confirming, more hot hatch action for both the Focus and Fiesta. "I would imagine there will be more on ST," he says. "There has been speculation about the Focus RS but we haven't announced anything." The first Focus ST deliveries will be in October. And, while there is no Fiesta ST yet, Ford Australia is just about to begin sales of a limited-edition Fiesta Metal, with a tuned 1.6-litre Duratec engine that delivers 98 kiloWatts. It also has 17-inch alloys, sports suspension and special black paint with a price of $22,990 for the 250 cars in the run.  

No-one at Toyota is denying a droptop extension of the sellout new coupe, which has created waiting lists up to 18 months in Australia since sales began little more than six weeks ago.Then, again, there is still no official confirmation from Japan. "Please, ask me another question," the head of the 86 program, Tetsuya Tada, laughs when Carsguide quizzes him on a convertible.Carparazzi has done the job for Tada with its impression of how the red-hot coupe will look without a roof, and the choice of a German number plate is a reflection of the car's success in Europe and Toyota's recent decision to set up an AMG-style hotrod division for Lexus at its one-time Formula One headquarters in Cologne.The droptop was definitely not part of the original 86 development brief - a joint program between Toyota and Subaru - but it has firmed with incredible early success of the 86. Coupes traditionally hit their sales peak inside the first two years and Toyota knows it needs the convertible to stretch the appeal of the 86 and continue the showroom demand that will keep its factory running at full capacity.Production was originally pegged at 60,000 cars a year but waiting lists around the world - including Australia - could force Toyota to spend on an upgrade to take the total beyond 75,000 in 2013. Toyota Australia is currently quoting a minimum wait of three months and a worst-case delay closer to 18 month."For the GT automatic it is three or four months. For the GTS manual, which is the most popular model, it's out to about 14 months," admits Toyota spokesman, Mike Breen. He says Australia is pushing hard for extra cars but is waiting for news from Japan."We're trying to get more production but, because of the global demand, we're still waiting for answers," he says. While the world waits for new on the 86 convertible, its toughest rival - the Mazda MX-5 - is set for renewal sometime in 2014.Not only that, but an Alfa Romeo version of the all-new MX-5 - the world's favourite droptop - is part of the plan, although the Italian company intends supplying its own engine and bodywork."It's great news. It helps us share development costs and increase production," says Doug Dickson, managing director of Mazda Australia. He is not talking about the on-sale date for the new MX-5 but admits it will be very different to the current car, with more punch and refinement. 

Two long-time Australian favourites, Astra and Corsa - think Barina - are back for business as Opel sets up shop down under. There are actually three models in the Opel start-up crew for September 1, but it's the Astra that is doing the heavy lifting with the baby Corsa as the price leader and the larger Insignia aimed at families.All three feel Germanically strong and solid, based on a 'speed dating' introduction drive today in rural NSW, but it's the price and value that will be crucial as Opel positions itself against Volkswagen in Australia. "The countdown is over. Our arrival in Australia will be something special," says Bill Mott, managing director for Opel Australia.He admits that Opel is getting a head start with the Astra, which was a long-term winner as a Holden, but says the car's following could also cause problems."This Astra is both a real help to us but, as a new brand, an issue that we've got to address. We have to tell the truth and tell the truth well. The truth is that Astra was here and it was always an Opel," he says.We cannot reveal the pricing details yet, but the early impression is pretty good. Especially since Opel picked some truly awful roads that are never going to flatter any car.The Corsa is chunky and solid - although the cabin quality is more like a superseded Korean baby - with the driving feel that will impress people who might shop it against a VW Polo. The seats are a bit bench-like and the dash is dated, but it's still a car that is nice enough to drive.The Insignia is roomy, comfortable and nice to drive. It's also well equipped, but goes up against a huge range of mid-sized rivals from the VW Passat to the Ford Mondeo and the Skoda Superb, a long-term Carsguide favourite.Which brings us to the Astra, which comes as a five-door hatch, five-door wagon and great looking GTC coupe. They will turn heads and also drive well, although we can quibble about details like the overly-firm suspension in a wagon running 18-inch wheels.The headliner is the GTC 1.6 turbo, complete with magnetically-adjustable suspension similar to the system used by HSV, and it will be a solid rival to the Golf GTi. it's not nearly as brisk, but it has a good chassis and nice touches including an adult-sized rear seat.So the first signs are promising, although there is a long way to go and a lot that is still to be discovered. 

The Astra is back. But don't go looking at your Holden dealer for the long-time small-car favourite. This time around, everything but the name has changed as the Astra spearheads a downunder drive by Opel of Germany.Opel always did the Astra, but now it's reclaimed its prize child and is using an impressive new GTC coupe - and a reasonable $23,990 starting price for a five-door hatch - to headline for a three-model lineup that is intended to grow rapidly in a planned challenge to Volkswagen for European bragging rights in Australia.The Astra is joined by the baby Corsa - once the Holden Barina - and the family-sized Insignia, previewed already by Carsguide and available as both a sedan and a wagon called the Sports Tourer.So this is not a just a showroom launch for the Astra, even though it's the key, but a brand launch for Opel. To put the new Opels into focus, they are not pitched back against Holden but up against Volkswagen and Peugeot and some of the upscale Japanese brands. At least, that's the thinking by the Opel planners who have set up 17 dealers around Australia for the start of sales on September 1.The key message from Opel is that the brand is German, led by design, and has similar strengths to Volkswagen. How buyers will react, especially as there are more than 50 different brands in Australia in 2012, is a very big question, but Opel Australia's boss, Bill Mott, is - as you'd expect - confident."The countdown is over. "Customer choices are changing. We believe we have a product and a brand suited to this changing market," says Mott. He promises a growing range and an expanding dealer network, but says Astra is the key. "We're entering in segments which are ... headed for further growth. I think it would be considerably tougher without Astra," he says."This Astra is both a real help to us but, as a new brand, an issue that we've got to address. We have to tell the truth and tell the truth well. The truth is that Astra was here and it was always an Opel."Holden dumped the Astra because it could get cheaper baby cars from Daewoo in Korea, but Opel is doing all it can to build good value into its cars. "I'm confident we have done our homework," says Mott. It's been helped massively by the strength of the Australia dollar, which means the bottom line for an Astra is reasonable but not outstanding.So it runs from $23,990 for the five-door 1.4-litre petrol turbo. That's not great when you can get a similarly-sized Toyota Corolla for less than $20,000, but it's right in the heartland for European small cars and looks good enough against the cheapest Golf at $21,990 with less power and - Opel says - less standard equipment. The mainstream bodies are the five-door hatch and Sports Tourer wagon, while the run up the range goes to the 2-litre turbo diesel from $27,990 and the 1.6-litre turbo petrol from $28,990.An automatic gearbox is a predictable $2000 extra and there are a variety of trim levels and option packs. But the headliner is the GTC coupe, priced from $28,990 with a 1.4 turbo or $34,90 with the punchier GTC. "We really believe the Astra GTC is a unique animal. It's an attainable dream car."Opel has always done great engineering work, getting the basics right on the chassis and moving up from there. There is nothing revolutionary about the Astra package, but the various engines make solid power and torque, there are six-speed manual and automatic gearboxes - auto only in the Sports Tourer - Watts-link rear suspension and things like bi-Xenon lamps, alloys wheels and even an electric boot release and a system that flips the back seat flat in the wagon.Extra equipment includes a premium centre console and even special ergonomic sports seats, as well as an adaptive lighting system with cornering lights and auto dipping. And the GTC?The chassis is tweaked with the usual sports settings, but there is also a HiPerStrut front suspension for better grip and feedback, optional magnetically-controlled Flexride dampers - similar to those used on some HSV Commodores - and 18-inch alloys, electric power steering and more. All Astras come with Bluetooth connectivity.This is a key for Opel, which wants its cars to stand out in traffic. Australian-born Nils Loeb, who heads exterior design at Opel, is special guest at the press preview of the cars and talks passionately about the company's philosophy. "We are the emotional German brand," he says. The cars definitely look good, and the GTC really stands out even against good lookers like the Renault Megane, but it's the attention to detail that is most impressive.The dashboards are more than just flat plastic panels, the switches look and feel good, and Loeb admits Opel chooses bigger wheels for its cars "Because they look good".Six airbags in all models. All cars have five-star EuroNCAP scores. Enough said.Good, but not great. That's the bottom line. Starting at the bottom, the basic Astra hatch feels rock-solid and responsive. The 1.4-litre engine is nothing special but the 1.6 has more than enough go for the job and promises fuel economy better than 8 litres/100km.Looking around, both the hatch and Sports Tourer have impressive design and finishing - way better than the Corsa, which is like an old-generation Korean in the cabin - from the dash layout to the seat comfort. Thankfully, Opel is staying old-school with push-button switches, not a fancy iDrive-style controller, and everything you need is included from solid aircon to the Bluetooth connectivity.The wagon is slightly more impressive than the hatch, thanks to good space in both the back seat and luggage area, and gives nothing away for driving enjoyment. But ... there is wind noise, the tyres rumble a lot on nasty surfaces in regional NSW, and the general feel of the car is not as plush or refined as a Golf. It's nice, for sure, but not any sort of a breakthrough.Which brings us to the GTC. The headliner coupe is seriously cool, and a real looker, yet somehow there seems to have more space in the back seat than in the hatch. The basic car gets along reasonably, not that it will matter to fashion-conscious buyers, but it's the 1.6 with FlexRide suspension that's the one to love.The switchable FlexRide also adjusts the steering and throttle response, taking the car from OK to keen and sharp in milliseconds. It has great grip and can easily cope with more power - as we'll eventually confirm once Opel Australia gets a go-ahead for the hotrod OPC model. The first impression of the Astra is much as expected, particularly after so many years on the books at Holden.The major change is more flair in the design, and a promise that fixed-price servicing will give buyers the confidence they need to commit to the cars.So good, and good enough, but we'll know more once we line the Astra up against the Golf and our current small-car favourite, the Toyota Corolla.

...which means AMG will have its go-faster car ready for the road in 2013. Everything points to a subtle body but a muscular engine package sharing the 5.5-litre V8 turbo already installed in the SL63 AMG.

The difference is that it's the upcoming Sport model. Compared with the all-new Range Rover caught recently by Carparazzi, the Sport has a lower side profile, smaller windows and a flatter tailgate. The big change is a switch away from the chassis of the mid-level Discovery.

Set to face off against the Mini, the Urban Crossover Concept -- which likely will be re-named and badged as the 2008 for showrooms -- is a spinoff from the upcoming Peugeot 208 and headed for big things in Australia. It comes as sales of small SUVs and  boom in Europe, with everything from the Nissan Juke to the Ford C-Max and Opel Mokka doing growing numbers. It's more like the Mini Countryman than anything else, although direct comparisons will have to wait until the Paris Motor Show in September and then the production run that starts in 2013. But the 2008 has been given early clearance for Australia as the company plans to push hard with a solid spinoff from the 208 and its headliner model, the GTi hot hatch. "Yes, the UCC is coming. We will have it in the final quarter of next year," confirms Bill Gillespie, general manager of Peugeot Automobiles Australia. He is less specific on prices and rivals, although it is likely to be compared with the Mini Countryman for space and priced in a similar ballpark. "It's smaller than the 4008, which is going really well for us. It's bringing new people to the brand," he says. The UCC was revealed at the Shanghai motor show in April and picks up the latest styling directions from both the 208 and 4008. But it will definitely be a spin-off from the mechanical platform of the 208, which means small-capacity engines for maximum fuel efficiency. Peugeot is planning big for Australia with the ultimate goal of hitting 10,000 sales a year, although it has not set a timetable. It's also waiting for clearance and positive tests before committing to any of the company's upcoming hybrid cars. The 2008 is known internally as the A94 and has been fast-tracked for production following an earlier concept car, the HR1, at the Paris motor show in 2010.  

....just as the German brand tweaks its family-focussed Insignia models. The changes caught by Carparazzi are tiny, just work on the nose and tail, to give it the latest family look.

It's fallen behind the times in the hotbed of the Australian compact SUV conflict but help is on the way. This all-new RAV is caught during testing and, despite the camouflage, everything points to a slightly bigger body, more aggressive looks and an overall style that is more 'crossover' than off-road. The essential SUV hero will be here late 2013 for around $30,000.