Articles by Paul Gover

The Commodore SS is so good it's headed to the USA to become a hotrod Chevrolet and will spearhead the heartland brand's NASCAR racing drive in 2013 and beyond.The Ford Falcon with EcoBoost motivation sets a new standard for big cars with baby engines and the Territory is selling strongly since it got an overdue diesel engine for motivation.The Toyota Camry and Aurion prove that Australian factories can still build world-class quality, with tasty local tweaking for our roads and drivers. So, what's gone wrong for the Australian carmakers, who are winding back and cutting jobs almost across the board?The simple answer is that we're spoiled. And spoiled rotten. More than 50 brands are plugging their stuff in Australia today and that means the choice and value has never been better. When you add the impact of the healthy Australian dollar, which makes cheap cars from Thailand and Korean even more affordable, the imports get an unbeatable head start over the locals.The only exception is the Holden Cruze, but we'll get to that later. So, why would you buy a Falcon or Commodore for family use when you can get a flexible SUV with more equipment for the same money, or even less?And it's a sad fact that the big, traditional Aussie cars are unfashionable on the school runs that are now dominated by the SUVs like the Nissan Dualis, Kia Sportage, Toyota LandCruiser and - at schools for toffs - BMW X5s and Benz MLs. The only possible exception is the muscular Holden Sportwagon, and we'll also get to that later.The real problem is with the meat-and-veggies cars that have been Australian staples for around 50 years, but don't provide the same taste or satisfaction today. Imagine trying to compete with Asian fusion cooking or the latest tasty Tapas using fifties-style burnt roast beef and baked spuds.In many ways, the three surviving local makers - Nissan folded in the eighties and Mitsubishi shut down in 2008 - are victims of their own long-term success and poor planning. They didn't need to change for the longest time, especially when Holden was exporting the Commodore to America as a Pontiac and Toyota was banking big bucks from its Middle East sales, and now they have been overtaken by rapid changes in showrooms.Every month there are more people moving to SUVs and small cars, which the locals - apart from the Cruze - don't make. And there is zero chance of Toyota switching to the Corolla or Ford Australia making a case to bring the Focus to Broadmeadows - even though it was once part of the forward program at the same time as Holden was committing to the Cruze - because small cars mean small profits, but the start-up costs would be more than $500 million.Ford and Holden say they are committed to the Falcon and Commodore until the end of 2016, and Holden has a much longer timeline thanks to the profits and flexibility it gets from the four-cylinder Cruze. But the VF coming next year and the updated Falcon in 2014 will be the last truly Australian cars.After that, if they still need a big car in a downsizing world, Ford and Holden will be looking to the USA and imports. That means big problems for the companies that Toyota chief John Conomos once said were locked into the 'rust belt' with Ford or Holden traditionalists from the fifties and sixties.These days, the younger generations who grew up with Toyota Corollas and then Hyundai Excels don't even consider a Falcon or Commodore, despite the incredible value of such big and comfortable cars with sub-$40,000 starting prices. By world standards, those prices are outstanding and the cars are way better than the everyday Chevrolets and Fords in the USA, but they rumble under the radar.Sales of big cars have been sliding for more than a decade and the Falcon is the most obvious victim. The company is winding production back to just 148 cars a day - and half of those are Territory. Holden is also being hit much harder now and, after losing its title as Australia's favourite car to the Mazda3 in December the Commodore could only manage eighth in June, its worst place since it hit the road in 1978.The Camry and Aurion are doing a little better, helped by a model change this year, the strength of Toyota's sales network, and the proven drawing power of a four-cylinder engine and the latest hybrid. All three local carmakers now rely on massive government subsidies and handouts - Ford much prefers to call it 'co-investment' - to keep them in business.The $100 million-plus update for the Falcon in 2014 would not have been possible without cash from Canberra, while Holden's recent profit of $90 million is - in a bizarre coincidence - almost exactly the same as its latest government support package.Both brands are now banking the expertise of their designers and engineers, who undertake a range of global projects from their bases in Fishermans Bend and Broadmeadows, but it's not nearly enough to give them a long-term future as local manufacturers.Holden has made a just-in-time jump from the Commodore to the Cruze, and Toyota in Japan is committed to an Australian car making outpost, but it's only a question of time before Ford is faced with the hard-line decision to close. At the time Mitsubishi decided to shut its factory in Adelaide its family-focussed 380 sedan was easily the best car it had developed or built in Australia. It was dowdy but did the job, as resale values now prove.It's looking like the same story for the Falcon, which is better today than ever before - and surprisingly frugal as an EcoBoost four - but not new or trendy or flashy enough for car buyers who have been won by the newer, tastier treats arriving almost every day from somewhere else in the world.FORD TERRITORY DIESELThe Territory with the diesel isn't just a good car, it's great. It has real performance, flexibility, towing power and the price is nice. But - and it's a giant elephant in the room - the updated engine arrived at least four years too late. A diesel Territory was approved way back when the late Geoff Polites was running Ford Australia - after bulldozing the Territory past the bean counters in Detroit - but the decision was reversed and then reversed again for the final go.Broadmeadows also failed dismally to respond to quality glitches and suspension dramas, tainting a hero it should have been boosting. Right now, half of the cars coming off the production line at Ford Australia are Territorys and that percentage is likely to rise as more people hook up with the bolder new look and quality boost, as well as banking the advantage of the diesel under the  bonnet.Ford Territory - compare this carPrice: from $48,240Engine: 6 Cylinder, 2.7-litre turbodiesel, 140kW/440NmTransmission: Sports Automatic, Four Wheel DriveThirst: 8.8 / 100Km  HOLDEN COMMODORE SS SPORTWAGONWhy would you buy a European car when you can get this much punch and panache for less than $50,000? When Holden changed gears on the Commodore wagon, taking it from a basic long-wheelbase hauler into a flexible family escape machine, it knew the Sportwagon was a gamble.But it's worked well and the proof is the number of buyers who go for a V8 in the nose and SS or Calais trimming. They are happy to pay for the bells-and-whistles because the car looks good and kicks. It's almost impossible to pick the Sportwagon from the Commodore sedan in any sort of driving, even with a full fun factor, and the tail end gives BMW-style flexibility for young families or singles with weekend hobbies. Sportwagon-style smart thinking is what is going to keep Holden going as a local maker, provided it can zero-in on a workable package for the Commodore beyond 2016.Holden Commodore SS Sportwagon  Price: from $49,790Engine: 6.0 Litre 8 CylinderTransmission: 6-speed, manual rear wheel driveThirst: 12.2l/100Km  TOYOTA CAMRY HYBRIDThe new greenie from Brand T is actually a closet performance car. It can run electric in stop-start city traffic for a maximum eco boost, but gets a battery belt when you want to go. It's one of the coming generation of hybrid cars - think BMW, think Mercedes, think Subaru - which will use extra boost from batteries to provide honest performance with only a small-capacity combustion engine.The new Hybrid is also part of a Camry family that's been totally changed for 2012, with new looks, more comfort and better value. Best of all, the Aussie Camry is tweaked and tizzied a home for local owners and roads - even though it's still a solid earner with exports to the Middle East.Toyota Camry Hybrid - compare this carPrice: from $34,990Engine: 2.5-litre, 4-cyl petrol, 118kW/213NmTransmission: CVT, front-wheel driveThirst: 5.2L/100km, 121g/km CO2  

The upscale Japanese brand is making big promises to match its meaty pricetags, aiming straight at the pacesetters in the luxury class. People who like BMW-style performance and Lexus-style pampering are the targets in Australia. The hero car for the aggressive upstart is the FX crossover, but there is also the M sedan from August and the promise of as many as 10 new models - starting with a compact hatch shared with Mercedes-Benz and priced from $50,000 - inside five years. Infiniti refuses to set sales targets, or get specific about much beyond its first three dealerships - Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane - and four start-up cars, but is still talking up its chances. "These are bold cars. We're a performance luxury car, we're not a traditional conservative car," the head of Infiniti Australia, Kevin Snell, tells Carsguide. "We don't do base models that are under-powered. We're not going after low-spec or low-power prestige brands that are bought for the badge, these are cars for people who want to drive." The FX SUV is the headliner for Infiniti, with prices that run from $83,900 for an FX 37 GT with 3.7-litre V6 through - for now - to $85,900 for the FX30d with 3-litre V6 turbo-diesel. But there will eventually be a FX50 at $114,900, complete with a 287 kiloWatt V8. The mid-sized Infiniti M sedan starts with a 3.7-litre V6 at $85,900 and runs to the M35 with 3.5-litre V6 hybrid power train at $99,900. Late in the year there will also be G coupe and convertible models, with prices still to be revealed, although Australia will not get a G sedan until the arrival of an all-new model in around 18 months. But Snell confirms a Lexus-style approach to equipment levels, with full-loaded specification sheets - big wheels, punchy audio, leather, bi-xenon headlamps and much more, across the Infiniti family. There are a couple of extra equipment packs, but Infiniti is avoiding a never-ending BMW style list of options. "We think the FX looks best with 20-inch wheels, so that's what it has. Standard," Snell says. He also trumpets a four-year warranty package with premium roadside assistance that even includes family breakdowns in non-Infiniti cars. But there is nothing from him on the tough stuff - numbers. "We're not trying to sell thousands of cars in our first year. It's three dealers and four cars," he says. "It's a controlled launch. We're going for a trickle-down approach. I'm not going to give a specific sales number." But, in reality - and BMW style - Infiniti is going first for the early adopters who are prepared to splash their cash for something new and different and - perhaps - a bit special. "We're a 'challenger' brand. Modern and progressive. We believe we've got the product and the brand," Snell says. So it's BMW on the driving front and Lexus for customer service, with the Japanese brand in the cross-hairs. "We want to be the number one alternative to the established European makes. I can't control what Lexus does, but I can control what we do." Snell prefers to forget the first failed attempt to bring Infiniti to Australia, back in the late 1980s when it went up against - and lost to - Lexus, which had its first LS400 against the Infiniti Q45. "We were in Australia once before, but only with one car. It's a very different brand, company and market." Snell is aggressive and ambitious and he knows he is going to have a lot of Infiniti cars in coming years. So he's talking big but prepared for a long battle. "We'll build the network over 5-6 years, build the range over 5-6 years, build the awareness. It's a long-term strategy," he says. "This is just the start, just the tip of the iceberg, of what Infiniti is going to offer over the next 4-5 years."  

The Japanese coupe beat the Toyota 86 to a coveted five-star ANCAP score, thanks to an early test in Japan as part of Subaru's long-term commitment to Australia's crash-test rating program. Subaru was the first to trumpet a five-star ANCAP result, at a time when other makers shunned the system, and it is happy to have beaten the Toyota 86 as the two coupes shape up around the world. "Five stars are central to our safety story and commitment. The testing was done in Japan, but it is a five star ANCAP rating," says Nick Senior, managing director of Subaru Australia. Toyota admits it has been trumped this time but expects a similar five-star tick for the 86. "The car will be tested in the fullness of time and we're confident it will be five stars," says Mike Breen, spokesman for Toyota Australia. The BRZ's success comes as the Holden Colorado ute and the new Hyundai i30 hatchback also pick up a five-star rating. The Colorado joins the Ford Ranger-Mazda BT50 twins, which were the first utes in the world to rate five stars, while the i30 continues Hyundai's recent crash-test successes and repeats the five-star score of the previous i30. "It's satisfying to see manufacturers lifting the safety of light-commercial vehicles. Manufacturers have been incorporating greater levels of safety into passenger vehicles for some time now, yet the safety of LCVs has trailed," says ANCAP chairman, Lauchlan McIntosh. “Pressure not only from ANCAP, but now big business, is encouraging manufacturers to elevate safety as a priority in the design and construction of new LCVs, and consumers are the winners." For Subaru, the ANCAP result is part of a push that has created a six-month waiting list for the BRZ. The company is also taking a new approach to selling with the BRZ, trialing an online selling system for the hot coupe. "We don't see this is as fundamentally changing the nature of automative retailing overnight but it is a learning experience for us and we'll trial it for six months while we have this very,very low stock," says Senior. “Our online initiative offers a fantastic level of transparency for BRZ customers. They will know exactly what the price is going to be and vehicle availability. They can choose their delivering dealership and can even arrange a trade-in valuation. “We knew that we wouldn’t have sufficient BRZs to supply our entire network immediately following the launch.The online approach allows us to place demonstrator BRZs with selected dealerships, from which customers can arrange test drives via subaru.com.au and also select their preferred delivering dealer." But Senior still cannot predict the Australian arrival of Subaru's next performance headliner, the all-new WRX. "That's still about a couple of years away before we see an all-new WRX and STi," he admits. "There's the halo effect of BRZ but WRX is still selling about 150 a month. We have about two months back-orders on WRX since the wide-body shape came in just on two years ago." But one thing is certain, the WRX and STi will not follow the BRZ down the rear-wheel drive path. "BRZ is a unique departure. There is nothing in the product planning charts for another rear-wheel drive, or a front-wheel drive car. This is a one-off for us and I don't expect to see another," Senior says.  

The death notice was posted today with news of the 440 job losses at Ford Australia and the continued decline in production at the company's Broadmeadows factory. The family-sized Ford has been on a slippery slope for nearly a decade, and the Holden Commodore has also been going badly backwards this year as customers have switched in ever-increasing numbers to imported SUVs. Things would probably have been even worse for Ford and its workforce  if the Territory SUV was not contributing 50 per cent of sales for the troubled carmaker, which is being hit worst by a another 25 per cent downturn in large-car sales this year. No-one at Ford is making any promises beyond the end of 2016, following a planned update to the current Falcon in 2014 that's partly funded by more than $30 million from the Federal government. That says everything about the Falcon and, most likely, Ford's extremely shaky future as a local manufacturer. But the trouble runs deeper, as the closure of Ford's carmaking business would almost certainly have knock-on effects at Holden and Toyota. The other two local brands rely on a web of Australian companies that supply components for their Commodore, Cruze, Camry and Aurion. Those suppliers need a critical mass for local production and, more importantly, the ongoing investment in new technology and components. Without Ford Australia as a local producer, their future would also be shaky and - in a major knock-on - that could easily  undermine the plans of Holden and Toyota. And it's important to remember that the Commodore is only locked in place until the end of 2016, although Holden - thanks to the Cruze, and the showrooms success of the locally-made compact car - is committed to a much longer future as a manufacturer. So today's announcement could easily be the beginning of the end for Ford Australia - and perhaps even worse for the Australian motor industry.  

Demand for traditional Aussie cars is down by another 25 per cent this year, hitting the Holden Commodore even harder than the Falcon last month, and that means the Broadmeadows brand is about to wind back its production.It intends to cut the build rate at Broadmeadows from 209 to just 148 cars a day, with half of those expected to be the Territory SUV. The bad news from Ford comes in a dismal year for the three local carmakers, as Toyota and Holden have also reduced their workforces."It's a sad day for us," the president of Ford Australia, Bob Graziano, tells Carsguide. "But we also have to manage our business to be as efficient as possible going forward." The redundancies are the first at Ford since April of 2011, when daily production was cut from 260 cars. The losses will be shared across Ford's sites at Broadmeadows and Geelong, with almost all coming from the manufacturing areas of the company. They will be voluntary at first, although Graziano says there may be some forced redundancies to hit the target.The downsizing will cut the company's workforce by 14.5 per cent, leaving it at 2574 people. Graziano refuses to discuss the latest move on the long-term future of the Falcon, which is only currently locked to the end of 2016 following a $133 million commitment earlier this year to a facelift in 2014.We are committed to the Falcon to the end of 2016 and I stand by that," Graziano says. "This takes us to the end of 2016. And between now and then we'll continue to look at where the market is moving. I don't want to speculate on what vehicles we'll have in 2016 and beyond." 

Life gets a little nicer when you have a prestige car in the driveway. Some people just crave a prestige badge, but it's true that the better European brands deliver a better car.That means more comfort and quietness, more equipment, and - if you have the cash to splash, or a company that's paying the freight - genuine luxury in a mid-sized package.The obvious choices for prestige buyers are the three big-name brands: Audi, BMW and Mercedes-Benz. Lexus is also a contender, which is why it's included in this four-car shootout, but you can also find prestige strengths everywhere from the Citroen C5 to the Skoda Superb and even - at a pinch - something like the Volkswagen Golf.Even the better Japanese brands, Mazda and Subaru, have models that make a prestige pitch and Holden and Toyota want you to believe their Caprice and Aurion are also rivals for the German heavyweights.VALUEThe price of a German prestige car is like a length of string - it depends on what you want but, more importantly, how much you have to spend. There are a vast range of Audi A4, BMW 3 Series and Mercedes-Benz C-Class models in showrooms and an almost infinite choices of colours and optional equipment.BMW has the widest choice with 57 different 3 Series cars, 40 of them carrying a boot in the back end. Prices range from the 318d at $56,400 to more than $150,000 for an M3 hotrod. Mercedes has 28 different C-Class models, without thinking about the super-fast C63 AMG Black Series, with prices from $58,600 for the C200.Audi trails the other Germans with 'only' 14 versions of the A4, including nine sedans, and a starting price of $53,000 for the 2.0 TDI running to $95,300 for the 3.2 FSI quattro. There are seven Lexus IS sedans and three convertibles with prices ranging from $55,800 for the 250 Prestige up to $81,300 for the 350 Sports Luxury.Digging deeper, Lexus serves up the best standard package and even metallic paint which is $1270 in the A4, $1415 in the 3 Series and $1600 in the C-Class - is standard. It also has the longest warranty at four years including roadside assistance, but is limited to 100,000km while the others are unlimited.Mercedes has the longest service intervals of 25,000 kilometres, which counts with potential service costs. At the other end resale values are fairly similar. BMW is the leader, retaining 53 per cent of its value after three years according to Glass's Guide, followed by Benz and Lexus at 52 per cent and Audi at 50 per cent.TECHNOLOGYThe prestige smorgasbord continues on the mechanical front, with various petrol and diesel engine choices, apart from Lexus which is unleaded-only. Our test group includes three four-cylinder petrol turbos and the long Lexus six, which makes the best power and torque but trails on fuel economy at 9.4 litres/100km.The Audi A4 benefits from the newest engine, with 155 kiloWatts and a whopping 350 Newton-metres, while the Benz trails on paper but feels strong with solid torque. Germans cars have stop-start systems to boost economy - although it's only a realistic one per cent saving - to the eight-speed auto in the BMW helps it to diesel-like figure of 6L/100km. The Audi and Benz also come in under the 7L/100km fuel-efficient Luxury Car Tax threshold.There is technology everywhere, as the Germans have wheel-style controllers for their on-board computer, infotainment system and air-conditioning; all have Bluetooth, although the Lexus refuses audio streaming and the Benz has hiccups in playback; and Lexus has the brightest touch screen although the BMW has the best design and the biggest display.SAFETYFive-star safety is a given in the prestige class, but all four should have even quality when Australian New Car Assessment Program guidelines get tougher thanks to high-tech driving aids, although many are optional. Only the Lexus comes with a standard rear-view camera, and that's something you can now get in a humble Hyundai i30.DESIGNThe Lexus is the oldest design and it shows, especially against the good looking new 3 Series. Inside, the BMW is focussed more on the driver but the cockpit can feel a little snug, although not as bare as the overly-black Lexus.About a year ago, Mercedes gave its C-Class models a makeover inside and out. The exterior still looks a bit "grey cardigan" but the interior has more jewellery and a modern styling. Audi's interior design is standing the test of time but its exterior is a little boxy and boring. Infotainment controller is the best, the cabin finishes are great and the interior lighting is first-class.DRIVINGThe BMW should be an easy winner on the road, but it's not. The Lexus has a sportier feel, helped by the big six in the nose, and the Benz feels more solid and planted over bumps and other annoying acne. The BMW engine also lacks the shove of the Benz, although its transmission is silky smooth with a gear for everything, with the Audi also getting along nicely enough.For handling, the BMW is just ahead on a smooth surface but I'm shocked to feel steering kickback over slight corrugations, something that's usually associated with the front-drive Audi. The Benz feels rock-solid and balanced in all conditions, the Lexus is fun, and the Audi is better for cruising.During highway work, the A4 hits its sweet spot with a quiet and comfortable cabin that edges out the BMW - despite optional sports seats - and the Benz. The Lexus has way too much tyre roar. Assessing the cabins, BMW has done a great job in creating an Audi ambience with good design and classy materials.It's probably a tick ahead of the A4, with the Benz - despite a mid-life update last year and a larger display screen - still boring and the Lexus trailing with an outdated interior. It's hard to pick winners in other areas, because of the varying levels of equipment and options, but I like the big wheels on the Lexus, the great seats in the BMW, the headlamps in the Audi, and a bunch of other stuff. If I had to pick a back seat for a longish trip I'd probably go for the BMW.VERDICTThe Lexus goes out first. It looks nice enough, it has good grunt and plenty of cornering grip, but it shows its age in too many ways. The cabin is dark and uninspiring against its rivals, and the back seat is too tight. It's also way too noisy with road roar on anything but a perfect surface.The Audi is next to fall, not because it's not good but because it's not good enough against the other two Germans. The A4 is a nice design and the car is beautifully built, the new engine is smooth and very efficient, but it falls short of the rock-solid feel and driving enjoyment you deserve - and expect - in the prestige class.So it's down to the BMW and the Benz, and I admit that I chose the new 3 Series to drive away at the end of the test. That's usually the sign of a sure-fire winner, and the Three is very good. But it is flawed. The cabin now manages to out-Audi the A4, with classy design and a big display screen, but some of the plastics feel cheap and the things I really like - especially the cushy seats - are extra-cost options.Worst of all, since BMW has always billed itself as the Ultimate Driving Machine, there is front-end chatter over bumps and the silky-smooth eight-speed auto cannot totally compensate for an engine that's too noisy at idle and missing the mid-range shove you need for overtaking in Australia.So the winner, in the end, is the Benz. It's rock solid, it has the best badge in the business, and Mercedes has done a great job on updating the car to make it a nice drive, a value package, and the top choice in this class.Audi A4 2.0 TFSI quattroPrice: $64,500Warranty: 3 years/unlimited kmResale: 50 per centService interval: 15,000km/12 monthsSafety rating: 5 starSpare: spacesaverEngine: 2.0-litre 4-cyl turbo, 155kW/350NmTransmission: 7-speed S tronic, quattroBody: 4.7m (L); 1.8m (w); 1.4m (h)Weight: 1570kgThirst: 7/100km; 159g/km CO2Options fitted: metallic paint ($1270), sports front seats ($577), hill hold assist ($154)Total: $66,501BMW 3 Series - 320i SportPrice: $57,600Warranty: 3 years/unlimited kmResale: 53 per centService interval: optionalSafety rating: 5 starSpare: Nil, run-flat tyresEngine: 2-litre, 4-cyl, 135kW/270NmTransmission: 8-speed auto, RWDBody: 4.6m (L); 1.8m (w); 1.4m (h)Weight: 1425kgThirst: 6/100km; 141g/km CO2Options: metallic paint ($1415), glass sunroof ($2245), Navigation System Business ($1538), Sport Line package ($3152) includes 17 light-alloy wheels Double-spoke 392, Ambience light, switchable between Orange and White, BMW Sport Seats, Chrome Pearl Grey surrounds for centre console, Dakota leather upholstery, Exclusive high-gloss Black exterior trims, Red contrast stitching for sport leather steering wheel, Red detailing on key, Speedometer and rev counter with Red chronoscales, Welcome light, switchable between White or Cold White, Sport designation, exterior, BMW Sport door sill finishers in AluminiumTotal: $65,956Lexus IS 350 PrestigePrice: $64,800Warranty: 4 years/100,000kmResale: 52 per centService interval: 15,000km/12 monthsSafety rating: 5 starSpare: spacesaverEngine: 3.5-litre 6-cyl, 233kW/378NmTransmission: 6-speed auto, FWDBody: 4.6m (L); 1.8m (w); 1.4m (h)Weight: 1645kgThirst: 9.4/100km; 223g/km CO2Options: Enhancement Pack (includes moonroof, satnav and semi-aniline leather) at $3500.Total: $68,300Mercedes-Benz C250 Avantgarde StandardPrice: $67,400Warranty: 3 years/unlimited kmResale:  52 per centService interval: 25,000km/12 monthsSafety rating: 5 starSpare: spacesaverEngine: 1.8-litre 4-cyl, 150kW/310NmTransmission: 7-speed auto, RWDBody: 4.5m (l); 1.7m (w); 1.4m (h)Weight: 1505kgThirst: 6.8/100km; 158g/km CO2Options: metallic paint $1600, Option Vision Package $3785 - Harman Kardon Logic 7 surround sound system- Glass electric sunroof- Bi-Xenon headlights with Intelligent Light SystemTotal: $72,785 

The car will not be replaced, Subaru Australia says, until 2014. And to prove the point there is another in the long line of limited-edition Club Spec versions. This time around there are only 300 cars, priced at $41,490, which pick up leather trim, black 17-inch alloys, an STi spoiler, black mirrors and special badging. There are only two colour choices: tangerine with orange interior stitching and black with red interior stitching. The cars land in August and Subaru says STi fans can also add a front lip 'under spoiler', a short-shift gear change and a strut tower bar.  

...but Carparazzi previews the real view of a car which is both chunkier and roomier for 2014.If the Euro snoops are right, as they usually are, the car will also become the Quattroporticina.

With both a coupe and a cabrio to stretch the 3-Series sedan into a pair of new 2+2s.The good looking BMWs get a new name and a new place in the range and the plan is to have them ready for action next year, probably just before the arrival of the new M3.

The compact coupe has a big job in the latest Porsche lineup... ...winning first-time buyers to the brand before they can afford to graduate to a 911 with a $200,000-plus pricetag. It will be previewed at the LA Motor Show in November.