Articles by Paul Gover

My three-year-old son loves the new Porsche 911. He likes the way it looks, he likes the sound, he really likes the way it goes and turns, but he is in love with riding along in his booster seat. This is the first 911 with a remotely usable back seat and that's one of the Camry-style strengths that makes the car more than just a selfish go-faster sports car.It's still fast and sharp, but you can drive the latest 911 on a long motorway haul without hating the road noise and developing a migraine, the electric power steering means you don't feel like every corner could become a contest with the car, and the cabin finally has enough space, style and technology for people who really shop the opposition instead of just signing up for the next 911 in advance. As for kids, you don't always have to leave them behind.VALUEThe new 911 is not remotely cheap, with a starting sticker of $263,100 for a Carrera S without any optional extras, but it's more than just a one-trick pony and the tricks it does are still some of the best in the business. It's hard to value that, particularly when a Porsche buyer could also be looking at a Ferrari, a top-end Jaguar, an Aston Martin or even a lovely new McLaren MP4-12C.You get a lot more for a little more on and in the new 911, a typical approach from most carmakers in 2012. The base price is up from $259,600 for the previous model, but there is more performance and equipment, and even the pricetag for the optional PDK double-clutch gearbox is down from $6800 in the superseded car to $5950, despite the upgrade from six to seven speeds.So the price of the 911 is pretty good, unless you're considering a Nissan GT-R road rocket at $180,000, which is quicker than the German speedster but nowhere near as sophisticated or enjoyable.TECHNOLOGYThe new 911 has everything from an all-new body - with an extra 10 centimetres in the wheelbase that helps open up that toddler space - to upgraded engines, better safety equipment, and a that seven-speed PDK gearbox. It's a highlight and its popularity means Porsche has no plans to continue with a manual shift - also with seven speeds - in either the 911 Turbo or GT3 road rocket.The Carsguide test car arrives as a Carrera 2, which means rear-wheel drive and a 3.8-litre flat-six engine with 294 kiloWatts and 440 Newton-metres of torque. The top speed is claimed at 304km/h, not that it's remotely tested, but the 4.3-second time for a sprint to 100km/h feels right and we get reasonably close to the 8.2 litres/100km economy target - managing 9.4 with a bunch of freeway running - helped by Porsche's stop-start system and other economy boosters including the electric steering.The brakes are the usual brilliant four-wheel discs, although not the hugely expensive carbon ones, the suspension is independent at each corner and the new body has a lower drag co-efficient.Since the test car is eventually heading to a customer it arrives with a bunch of extra options, from dynamic lighting at $1690 and front/rear parking radar at $890 to tyre pressure monitoring at $1590.DESIGNThe 911 is a 911 and you can pick it from hundreds of metres away. But the closer you get the more you seen the detail changes, from the longer side profile to the daytime running lamps, and rear-view mirrors that have migrated to the doors to cut drag and noise.The cabin has more obvious changes, from a centre console inspired by the Panamera - with a high-quality look and classy switchgear - to the larger front and rear seats.The dials stay much the same as before, with the tachometerstill holding price of place, but the overall feel is more substantial and the 12-centimetre colour display screen is a welcome addition.SAFETYWe have to assume a five-star ANCAP rating because the 911 has not been independently crashed, but the proof comes in front-side-head airbags, ABS and stability control. There is also a new torque-vectoring differential to make cornering safer and more secure. The new 911 also has Isofix child seat anchorages in the rear, which are ideal for a three-year old although taller kids might be cramped for headroom.DRIVINGWhen I first drove the new Porsche in the USA last year I was very impressed. The car felt as fast and secure as I expected, with more space, quality and comfort, so well worthy of wearing a 911 badge. On home ground, the new 911 is even better. It easily conquers my favourite driving road, running quickly and secure at a pace which would have left earlier cars - and a range of rivals including an Aston Martin or Maserati - trailing well behind.Some people have criticised the new steering because it's not as 'involving' as earlier 911s, but for me it's 90 per cent as tactile without all the nasty wobbling and kickback. The car also sits flatter on the road, not porpoising along over bumps, and is more secure under heavy braking.But it's the comfort and security of the Carrera that really resonates. Yes, I'm getting older - not old - but the traffic and road rules in 2012 mean there is less and less chance to cut loose in a 911 without heading to a racetrack.I know this car is fast, and I can feel it every time I tickle the accelerator, but it's also a joy when I want to go slowly or have a chat with the smiling toddler who straps into the back for every drive.There are some things I don't like, including the multi-function steering wheel - even though 80 per cent of owners prefer it - that means the test car is missing flappy paddles. The dash can be a bit confusing, and the car gets thirsty when you want to get going.But the new Carrera is a wonderful thing, and I cannot tell you how much more enjoyable it becomes when you can have your best mate along in the back to share the enjoyment. The new 911 gets nine out of 10 from me. So I'm not sure what I'm going to do when the Turbo and GT3 arrive.VERDICT A landmark sports car that changes the game, as well as adding some overdue practicality.Porsche 911 Carrera 2Price: $279,050 (as tested)Warranty: 3 years/unlimited kmResale: 57 per cent (Glass's)Service Interval: 15,000km/12 monthsSafety: 5-star ANCAP (forecast)Engine: 3.8 litre in-line six, 294kW/440kNmBody: Two-door coupeDimensions: (l) 4491mm, (w) 1808mm, (h) 1303mm, (wb) 2450mmWeight: from 1415kgTransmission: 7-speed PDK, rear-wheel driveThirst: from 8.7L/100km, PULP, 205g/km CO

A minor tizzy and tweak is all the BMW X1 gets for another three years in Australia.There is an eight-speed automatic to improve efficiency, as well as engine developments that bring more punch for less fuel across the board, but most of the work for the 2012 model of the smallest Xer is cosmetic. And minor.Even so, there is one change _ and it's a big one _ since Carsguide first drove the X1 and complained about the driving enjoyment of the 3-Series based soft-roader. The rear suspension is softer and more compliant, something that happened unnoticed - at least in Australia - a year into the X1's life in response to customer complaints.So the X1 feels a little better and drives a little better, but is it enough to unseat the Audi Q3 that's become our favourite in the class? We won't know for a while, but it won't be easy.VALUEWe're not expecting any sort of price hike when the updated X1 arrives in October. The changes to the final finishing should not have added any cost and BMW is pushing hard to maintain the price line against tough opposition from Audi with the sweet new Q3, although Mercedes-Benz still does not have the GLK which would be the logical rival to the X1 - if only the company had bothered to build it with right-hand drive.TECHNOLOGYThe upgrade from six to eight speeds in the automatic is the big change for the 2012 upgrade and it makes a significant difference, helped by a stop-start system and on-demand engine ancillaries, with BMW claiming improved power and torque from all the X1 engine choices but still with better economy and lower CO2 emissions.On the engine front, we're expecting 20i and 20d four cylinder power plants at the expense of the current 18i. The powerful 23d goes - even though it was the engine for the preview drive in Munich - and it's likely there will be a 28i petrol motor with 180 kiloWatts, and perhaps an 18d.The bottom line? The 20i petrol engine makes 135kW/270Nm, up from 110/200 in the outgoing 18i, and can be coupled to either a rear or all-wheel drive package. BMW says a rear-drive manual will sprint to 100km/h in 7.4 seconds and return 7.1 litres/100km.The 20d is the economy headliner at 5.0L/100km for an auto all-wheel drive, with output up to 135kW/380Nm from 130/350. BMW says owners will be able to access Google, Twitter and Facebook in the car, although those connections are not confirmed for Australia.DESIGNYou would need a keen eye - or a BMX expert with a laser pointer and a giant screen - to pick the changes for twenty-twelve. The X1's headlamps are new and get the signature 'corona' daylight rings, the nose and tail look a little more upmarket, and inside there is more chrome and high-gloss black paintwork to try and give a more upmarket look.BMW says the new console is more driver focussed and there is more soft-feel plastic, while also touting new X and Sport Line packages of optional equipment. It's the same approach as the rest of the family, mostly just chrome-and-black accents, kick panels on the door sills and nicer steering wheels - but it's hard to know where the standard car finishes and the extra-cost stuff starts.SAFETYThe X1 has a solid five-star safety rating and that should not change when the new model lands in Australia.DRIVINGThe tweaked X1 is better than expected, but not because of any of the latest changes. It's down to the smoother ride that came last year, when BMW engineers tweaked the rear suspension. It was a major job, much more than you would expect, because it meant thicker sheet metal in the rear wheel housings that had been lifted complete from the 3-Series Touring wagon.Carsguide should have known, but even BMW Australia was not aware of the running change that smoothes the X1 from a rough rider into a compliant cruiser, at least on smooth German bitumen. We could be wrong for Australian roads, but probably not.The 2012 update is highlighted in Munich with a long line of X1s, but all of them run the 25d engine that's not expected in Australia. So the drive is enjoyable, but mostly focussed on the eight-speed auto and testing that suspension change.The gearbox is good, either left on its own or encouraged with manual shifts, and definitely helps keep things quiet and comfortable. The X1 definitely has good grip and brakes, it gets along well, and you cannot argue with the 300,000 people who have bought one since it was spun into the X-car range using bits and pieces mostly from the 3 Series bin.But some of our earlier criticisms of the X1, including the inadequate boot space and tight rear seats, remain. And, after a recent run in the impressive and roomier Q3 we cannot see - at least for now - the X1 trumping its Audi rival. And don't forget there is also the ripper new Range Rover Evoque for people who want maximum SUV style and are prepared to compromise on cabin space.VERDICTNot much to see, but enough to feel to justify a second look at the X1.

As the regular Gran Coupe is readied for Australian buyers, the go-faster crew at BMW M are finalising its development into a new hero car for 2013. It is confirmed today at the global press preview of the M6 coupe and convertible in Spain, although there are no details on the exact timing, price or mechanical specification. However, it is clear that M will use the twin-turbo V8 engine developed for the M5 and now migrated into the M6 pair, as well as a predictable set of mechanical and visual upgrades. "It will be a part of this family. Next year," confirms Siegfried Friedmann, project leader for the M5 and M6. "It is a real M model. It is a car that fits into this existing family." But Friedmann will not reveal the name of the car, or any specific details.  "You must ask our product managers. They are in charge of finding the perfect name for it," he laughs. The M division is flat-out on a range of future products, with more than 300 staff tweaking and tuning to give the brand its bragging rights and to battle the strengthening opposition from the AMG hot-up shot at Mercedes-Benz. There are strengthening rumours in Europe of an M7 limousine and perhaps also M-tweaked versions of the X3 and X1 SUVs. But Friedmann is giving nothing away. "The press is further ahead than we are. Perhaps there will be a decision that we go into an M7 model, but up to now we always discuss this and found that a 7 Series car is not an appropriate approach for an M car. Bigger cars, and heavier cars, but … it's better to have 1000 kilograms than 1000 horsepowers," he says. And an X1M, if he was a betting man? "It's too early to discuss this. Germans hardly bet." There is also strong talk about four-wheel drive versions of the larger M cars, something confirmed to Carsguide at the global press preview of the M5 last year. BMW's global marketing chief, Ian Robertson, also hints this week that all-wheel drive is almost essential for the snow-bound states of the USA, a strong pointer to all-paw development work. "Of course, four-wheel drive has its special benefits. But on the other hand you lose characteristics of cars we have had in the past and which were highly anticipated with M cars," Friedmann says. "There is no final decision, as much as I know, to go towards four-wheel drive for an M car at the moment." Friedmann is on safer ground with the M6 twins and says the biggest challenge during development was to get the right cooling package, considering the basic turbocharged V8 was originally designed for the hulking X5 and X6M with far bigger engine bays. He also confirms a late decision to fit a small rear spoiler to the M6 coupe to improve it high-speed stability. For the future, he only confirms a full workload for the M division and full backing from BMW for its work. "M has 350 engineers and people working directly on the car. But don't forget we have the whole BMW group behind us. We always had the benefit of our big mother, and we get there more than enough assistance," he says.  

The chic new delivery van was inspired by the Morris Mini van from the 1960s and joins a new-age Mini range that continues to expand on all fronts. There are 17 individual Mini models on sale in Australia, from the Ray hatch to the Cooper All4 Countryman, but the Clubvan is not looking good for local deliveries. "With the limited sales potential and some homologation issues we won't be launching in Australia," the global head of sales and marketing for BMW Group, Ian Robertson, reveals to Carsguide during an exclusive interview in Munich. Robertson is still upbeat about the Clubvan and says it is likely to be a sellout in Europe following the successful preview in March. "The reception after Geneva was very positive, particularly in the traditional home in UK where many small business owners saw it as the first premium offer in this type of vehicle as well as looking great," he says. The Clubvan is set for production in 2013 and is firm for the UK, Europe and the USA. It will take on a unique role as a trendy workhorse to fulfil a similar role to the Nissan S-Cargo that starred briefly as an inner-city delivery device through a solid run of 'grey market' imports from Japan that started in the late 1990s. It uses the same body design as the Clubman, which means twin read doors and an extra side-opener behind the driver - fine for Europe but not Australia -with the rear windows blacked out. There are only two seats with a cargo barrier behind them. Surprisingly, at least for a Mini, there are only four body colours available - white, blue, black and... British Racing Green. There are a variety of potential engines for the Clubvan, including one turbo diesel, with three trim levels. The full production version of the Clubvan will be shown at the Paris Motor Show in September, but even another positive reaction is not likely to reverse the no-go decision from BMW Group.  "As we will not be getting the car homologated for the Australian market customers would not be able to order the car," says company spokesman, Piers Scott. "As the only premium offering within a very niche category we didn’t see a strong business case for this car. "Will it be assessed once it's available? We don’t expect to be changing this position."  

...actually wind back its adventurous looks.The new Picasso is coming at the Paris Motor Show in September but this Carparazzi picture points to a more conventional big-box design, although it has trendy turbine-design alloys and retains the small window behind the A-pillar that's a signature of the current C4.

The epic trip is intended to set a world driving record and raise money for children in Laos.The Melbourne-to-St Petersburg journey is the latest challenge for Rainer Zeitlow, who already holds a series of Guiness World Records.He intends to make the trip in 18 days during August on a roller-coaster ride that will take him from the outback through Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, China, Khazakstan and Russia.Zietlow will be driving a near-stock Volkswagen Tourag TDI, only modified with a larger fuel tank to take the SUVs range to 2500 kilometres, special tyres and Monroe shock absorbers.The 'hook' for the trip is to drive from the southernmost city with more than 1 million inhabitants - Melbourne - to the northernmost city with more than 1 million people - St Petersburg.Zietlow and his team will leave Melbourne on July 27 and they will donate 10 Euro cents for each kilometre travelled, to be donated to a Pan International children's project in Laos. You can follow the trip and Zietlow's adventures at www.touareg-russtralia.com from July 27 until the middle of August. 

...all the way with an R-type tweak of its open air compact.A concept for the Golf R Cabriolet was shown at the Worthersee gathering of the VW faithful last year and now testing is underway ahead of production - with visual changes including sports suspension, 19-inch alloys, a central exhaust outlet, Napal leather trim and the promise of a 0-100km/h sprint in less than six seconds thanks to a tweaked 2-litre turbo engine. 

...the cat car company from continuing development of its heavyweight XK.The R became the R-S and now there is a track-focussed XK-Rs rival to the Porsche 911 GT3 and Audi R8 GT, spotted during testing at the Nurburgring. The big rear wing and 'flick's on the nose point to racing potential and the test car caught by Carparazzi also has a full rollcage and an engine tweaked for around 450 kiloWatts.

Toyota says it will the first carmaker to sell a hydrogen-powered car in Australia, using an onboard fuel cell to generate electricity, perhaps as soon as 2016.It claims the newcomer will be a bigger breakthrough than the first Prius, although its plans are dependent on developing a workable network of refuelling stations that can supply the hydrogen for the vehicle.Toyota is well advanced with its fuel cell development work and I have driven an impressive Kluger in California that is refuelled from the world's first dedicated high-pressure hydrogen refuelling station. It sounds and responds like an electric car, and Toyota says its giant hydrogen tanks and prototype fuel cell 'stack' will be shrunken considerably by the time it is ready with its first production car."We're aiming for a production fuel cell car in the USA in 2015. It's a car, not an SUV," says Greg Gardner, of Toyota Australia. "It will be an all-new model. Something like the Prius, at least initially. "As the environmental leader in Australia, hat's definitely a target for us. Yes, definitely, we want to be first."Toyota has shown several hydrogen concept cars including a four-door sedan that will have the space to package the new-era powerplant, which is similar to the one in the landmark Honda Clarity. The Clarity began as a concept car and is now being leased in small numbers in Japan and the USA, but is not regarded as a genuine production model.Toyota says its car will be sold, not leased, and will be a genuine production car and not a science experiment. Even so, Gardner says it will take time to get established. "It will be produced in the tens of thousands by 2020.It won't be like the Prius, which will hit one million sales next year," he says. But he promises a car that satisfies the needs of regular consumers, not just eco warriors, with the practicality of a Camry. "The good thing about hydrogen is that you only have to find space for the cell and tanks. It's about packaging," Gardner says."It can be applied to any vehicle. So in the future you could have a gasoline car, an electric hybrid and and hydrogen drive in the same vehicle. "The more that you do, and the longer you do it, the better the price will become. It's about the economies of scale." But he admits there is an elephant in the room, with no sign of a workable hydrogen fuel network any time soon in Australia."Refueling is the biggest challenge. But this is he future we're talking about," he says. "If we build it, they will come. When we introduce it, we'll have to work collaboratively with the liquid energy distribution companies and governments to make it work. It's a massive task." 

The American brand is claiming a record result for the 12 months to the end of May, thanks to the best Jeep performance since the 1990s.Chrysler is also about to light a showroom afterburner with the long-overdue return of its flagship 300C - which has been missing from the lineup for more than a year - and the addition of new SRT8 performance versions of the C-car and Grand Cherokee.The bottom-line number from June 2011 to May 2012 is 15,528 vehicles, a 30 per cent increase over the same period a year earlier. “We are delighted with the group’s sales to date, which show a very strong, consistent rate of growth,” says Clyde Campbell, managing director of the Fiat Chrysler Group.He is one of the keys to the change, taking over the reigns just as Chrysler Jeep Australia was rolled into the global Fiat Chrysler Group and driving everything from a wider model lineup to the shift to a new inner-city corporate headquarters in Melbourne.There is sill a lot of change to come, with doubts over the local future of the Dodge nameplate and a massive expansion of the Fiat family with backing from Europe, but Campbell is optimistic. "The rest of the year looks to be an absolute stand out for the Chrysler and Jeep brands," he says.Reviewing the results for the past year, Campbell says Chrysler Jeep deliveries of 11,931 vehicles in the 2011 calendar year was the best bottom line since 1994 - when the brand was still in the hands of a private importer, Astre Automotive.The arrival of the all-new Grand Cherokee, which is finally a Carsguide recommended vehicle thanks to a new approach to quality and comfort, powered it to the top of the Jeep chart with 5590 deliveries. But Campbell says the introduction of two-wheel drive versions of the Jeep Compass and Cherokee also made a significant contribution to the local growth.