Articles by Peter Barnwell

The Mercedes-Benz CLS Shooting Brake is a kick-arse looking wagon that is coming our way at the end of the year. It joins C-Class and E-Class carry-alls in the Benz wagon train but offers a cross between the swoopy style of CLS four door coupe and a wagon. Funny enough, our own home-grown Holden Sportwagon runs along a similar theme -- though not quite as radical in the roof as the Shooting Brake. That name, by the way, harks from days of old in Blighty (England) when the lord of the manor used specially built carriages as shooting platforms for pheasant and anything else that moved. Noice. Don’t think any Benz Shooting Brake customers will be doing the same unless they take an oxy torch to the roof and cut a turret hole in there. It’s a five door device with five seats at a pinch and despite the low arcing roof, plenty of headroom in the rear seats once you’re there. The Shooting Brake could very well create a new niche as did the CLS eight years ago despite having scorn heaped on it by plenty of smarty pants. There is no direct competitor at present but of course, that may change. Benz says it offers the best of both worlds  - coupe/wagon and will be favoured by punters who want something different from the traditional, boxy wagon. It is quite roomy in the load space which is available with a gorgeous timber floor at about $5000 premium. It should be standard across the range as a defining feature of the vehicle. Naturally the rear seats fold to create a larger load space . We don’t know which models will be sold here yet but they will likely reflect the current powertrain choices in say the E-class wagon meaning, a 2.1 litre turbo diesel 250d model, a 3.5-litre petrol V6 a V8 petrol and a CLS63AMG variant. Wot ho chaps. Anyone for a cucumber sandwich and a shot at those pheasant. Daimler chairman Dr. Dieter Zetsche has previously pointed to the CLS Shooting Brake as the next step into the model segment created by the CLS, which has sold more than 170,000 globally since its launch. "In 2004, Mercedes-Benz established a new vehicle segment with the four-door Coupe CLS and created a design icon," he says. "The CLS Shooting Brake underscores the leading role of Mercedes-Benz in regards of innovative passenger car concepts and design and that is exactly what the customers expect from us," he said.

It’s good to see Lexus refining its designs and implementing a corporate identiy across the range. Latest to receive this treatment is the RX, medium size SUV, a vehicle that started out in the first locally delivered iteration looking like an eggmobile but it now looks posh and purposeful.The spindle grille is a defining feature of Lexus’ look but that’s not all that comes with the revamped RX. They’ve taken a knife to pricing as well as putting in more kit and there’s a new entry level  four cylinder, petrol front-wheel drive variant called the RX270.The range is essentially the 270 in one grade and  the petrol V6 RX350 and the hybrid RX450h also with a petrol V6 (Atkinson Cycle engine) and electric engine assist in three grades apiece- Luxury, F-Sport and Sports Luxury.Apart from spec’ adjustments, the two V6 models are pretty much the same underneath as the previous model with some tweaks here and there particularly to the dynamics and the steering as well as some chassis re-inforcement.The RX270 comes in at $69,900, the lowest priced RX ever while the 350 starts at $77,900 – a reduction of $5000 on the equivalent Prestige previous model. The RX450h starts at $82,900 – a $6500 saving on the previous model All have have been subtly enhanced in key areas over the previous model.But the 270 is a complete departure homing in on burgeoning "fronty" SUV sales as savvy buyers realise they don’t need all the usual fourbie/bigger engine trappings of a more traditional  SUV. Particularly if it’s going to be used predominantly around town as a family hack – a 'fat wagon' for want of a better description.This is a completely new drivetrain for Lexus emanating from some US model we have never heard of in the Toyota family. The engine is designated 1AR-FE And no, this is  not the same donk as the earlier Prado four or the Hilux ute from aeons ago.It’s an all aluminium,  2.7-litre, dual VVTi, (variable valve timing) four pot with a maximum 138kW/252Nm output – on regular unleaded fuel. Twin contra-rotating balance shafts keep it smooth and silent most of the time and it’s allegedly capable of returning 9.7-litres/100km. Low friction technologies are used inside including a three stage oil pump and low tension piston rings and auxilliary drive belt.An acoustic control system brings noise levels down into Lexus-land. But it misses out on highly efficient direct fuel injection that is becoming increasingly common in the Lexus lineup. A six-speed automatic transmission puts drive to the front wheels only.The 270 is specified to Luxury level with generous standard equipment including DAB digital radio, SUNA traffic update satnav and a large format reverse camera with park assist – as standard.Other goodies designed to make life easier include a power tailgate, eight way power front seats, leather upholstery, smart entry and smart start, premium audio, the latest Bluetooth 2.0 phone and audio with voice control , daytime running lights and electric steering wheel adjust.More welds in key areas have stiffened the chassis helping steering feel and ride control. There’s more metal behind the dash while the RX retains a large footprint on the road and relatively low centre of gravity despite its height. Though not available on the RX270, F-Sport spec’ brings performance dampers into the equation . Lexus is looking at making elements of F-Sport available on the 270.They made numerous minor changes on this mid-model makeover including a new front "mask", bumpers at both ends, badging , tail lights and other minor body hardware changes. Something similar has been effected inside with some emphasis put on easier operation. The overall interior look is typical Lexus-classy but they still insist on making satnav inputs available only when the car is stopped. Inside, the latest RX is similar in most respects to the previous model.This was a surprise on a number of counts – available performance, the sound of a four banger in an RX, the quiet running in cruise mode, the silky auto and the overall feel of the vehicle simply driving along.It’s not as sharp as the RX350 F-Sport we drove earlier on but still has that RX appeal – big, safe, prestigious, quality. It will fill the bill as a mum or dad bus taking the fam’ all over town and then capably back up on trips away as long as you stay on the black top and don’t overload it or expect to tow a big trailer.The ride is a good compromise and there is no cringe in standard equipment which rates as generous – pretty much the same as the V6 cars. It might seem incongruous to bring in a four pot RX but buyers are becoming more pragmatic and why should they buy something they really don’t need.

Buying a new Holden Barina sedan is simple. You get hold of your $16,490, then you pick the colour and choose between manual or optional six-speed auto for two grand more.That's how to buy a car - no mucking around with endless options or "packages." Good one Holden. Barina sedan lobbed recently complementing the five-door hatch and we reckon it's a better thing.They're the same under the skin but the four door feels more substantial on the road and the engine feels better sorted too - with no annoying throttle flare between gear changes. Our drive car was a five-speed manual and to be frank, it could do with another cog for highway work but the shortish gearing translates into strong acceleration even if the engine is roaring away at 110kmh. And fuel economy is surprisingly good at around 6.8-litres/100km.It's out of a Daewoo factory in Korea but don't hold that against it. Look at Hyundai and Kia - they have some of the most desirable mainstream cars going around at the moment and the Barina is desirable too - in its own way, particularly value for money.Look at the fixed price servicing for example - $185 a pop for scheduled servicing for the first three years/60,000km which means no gouge from the service department thank you.And it has the largest capacity engine in the light class too, as well as being possibly the biggest "tiddler" in body size - more up into the small car class really. So you get plenty of metal for your money.Power comes from a relatively old-school, GM Family 1 engine - a 1.6-litre, petrol four banger with twin cams, variable valve timing and variable inlet. It's an old iron block unit traceable back decades but refined and revamped to the stage where it ticks most of the boxes. It's smooth and sometimes quiet running, reasonably fuel efficient and has easily accessible power and torque rated at 85kW/155Nm.Dynamics are surprisingly sporty - the word marshmallow doesn't even figure in the equation. It hooks around corners in a most un-econobox manner and then backs up around town and on the freeway as a competent all rounder.The manual change is good and the clutch is light to operate. It doesn't peg back on hills like the Holden Cruze 1.4 SRi-V manual we just drove while fuel requirement is only regular unleaded.Holden equips Barina sedan with plenty of cool kit including Bluetooth phone and audio, multi media connectivity, multiple steering wheel controls, a basic info read out, cruise, a/c and even 15-inch alloys. We like the motorbike inspired instrument pod but there's too much hard, acrid smelling plastic inside and no centre arm rest or bin. Storage provision elsewhere is ample and the boot is large. It gets a five star ANCAP rating with the accompanying six air bags, stability control and a raft of other safety gear. Do we like the look of it? Well, yeh...and no. The high boot is a bit jarring but the VW Golf look to the frontal area is pleasing. It's not ugly.

The Thai-built D-Max ute’s sheetmetal is pretty much the same with detail body hardware changes differentiating the two but where Holden went for a new 2.8-litre turbodiesel four pot donk, Isuzu stuck with the previous 3.0-litre turbo diesel.It has been modified for more power and torque and lower fuel consumption but is the same engine nevertheless. D-MAX arrives in dealers early July in five spec levels and three body configurations with a new 'Space' cab body featuring rear 'Wing' doors joining single and crew cab variants.Isuzu Ute says the new D-MAX builds on the previous models reliability and economy with new levels of performance, safety and comfort across the entire range. They did over 4,000,000km of testing in the development phase of the new D-MAX. The range starts with the 4x2 SX single cab rising to the range topping 4x4 LS-Terrain crew cabAll score more standard equipment including aircon with a fine-particle pollen filter and a new audio system with iPod and Bluetooth connectivity. An overall extension of the chassis has allowed for a larger cabin interior across the range for improved comfort. Wider door arches and A-pillar assist grips make access easier. A new seat design with `wrap-around' bolsters provide increased shoulder, back and base support.Safety enhancements include stability control and six airbags. Further enhancing safety is a new collapsible steering column and brake pedal, while pedestrian safety has been improved with an impact absorbing bonnet design, recessed fog lamps and shatter-resistant polycarbonate headlamp covers.Performance upgrades haven't been ignored Engine changes yield an increase in power to 130kW/380Nm but the engine is only Euro4 compliant. New D-MAX introduces a new "Terrain Command'' 4WD select dial, allowing the driver to adjust between two-and four-wheel drive modes while travelling at speeds of up to 100km/h.The optional auto is a five speeder with 'Hill Descent' and 'Hill-Ascent' modes. The manual is also a five-speed unit. The vehicle's ladder chassis is a development of the previous model and is a stiffer design with improved cross bracing at the rear.This new chassis design also provides additional vehicle stability because of an extended wheelbase, wider wheel tracks and optimal engine installation just behind the front wheels.Wheelbase goes up from 3050mm to 3095mm across the range.Ride and handling has also been improved with a newly developed "Flex-Ride'' suspension geometry. Independent double wish-bone with coil springs and gas shock absorbers up front and long span leaf-springs at the rear. The 4x4 models have a 3.0 tonne (braked) towing capacity and a load capacity of approximately 1,000kg across the range. 

We turn the spotlight on the car world's newest and brightest stars as we ask the questions to which you want the answers. But there's only one question that really needs answering  would you buy one?What is it?This is Audi's entry point for the classy A5 range comprising more than 20 variants in sportback four door hatch, coupe and cabrio variants. It also ushers in a new 1.8-litre, turbo petrol four cylinder that's economical enough to win Luxury Car Tax concessions - gotta like that.How much?The price is $66,690 but there are plenty of options and option packs to hike that.What are competitors?Very few actually. The Sportback could be termed a four door coupe by other manufacturers. The gorgeous Volkswagen CC would be the closest competitor.What's under the bonnet?There's a small capacity force fed petrol 1.8 under the bonnet of this particular model. It has direct injection and turbocharging as well as variable valve lift and timing to boost efficiency as does auto stop and start, recuperative energy from the brakes and a CVT eight step "auto" transmission with sport mode. It's good for 125kW and 320Nm from a low 1400rpm.How does it go?Really well with plenty of kick in the mid-range and a strong top-end. But the stop and start system causes rather lethargic acceleration from a standstill. Takes too long to fire up and start driving the car.Is it economical?Impressive at 5.8-litres/100km. We saw better at a steady 90kmh on the freeway but you can average in the 7.0s combined without trying - of 95 octane.Is it green?Yes, passes Eu 5 emissions and has a swag of economy technology that also cuts emissions.Is it safe?Five stars.Is it comfortable?Comfort levels are high with sporty, well shaped seats and leather upholstery. Electric front seat adjustment is handy and the driving position offers plenty of options. The cabin is roomy enough for four adults and the load space under the large hatch is big.Good audio, plenty of driver assist technology, Bluetooth phone and audio. Pretty much all you need.What's it like to drive?Sporty with a firm, well controlled ride, sharp steering response, powerful brakes and grippy rubber. Typical Euro sporty drive feel with a half decent exhaust note (when you can hear it).Is it value for money?Tempting especially with the discounted Luxury Car Tax thanks to low fuel consumption.Would we buy one?Probably not, we'd go for the 2.0-litre diesel A5 Sportback for a couple of grand more. Keep it for years, spend little on fuel, surprise other drivers with striking turn of speed.2012 Audi A5 TFSI SportbackPrice: from $66,690Warranty: 3 year roadside assistWeight: 1525kgEngine: 1.8 litre, 4 cylinder, 125kW/320NmTransmission: 8-speed, constantly variable transmission, front wheel driveThirst: 5.9l/100Km

It's handy having a light commercial vehicle at your disposal - there's always something to dispatch from here to there and all the better if it's a van - for security and safety.PRICEEven a small one like the Renault Kangoo has plenty of appeal and is extremely affordable at $24,490. Hugely popular in Europe. the diminutive cargo box with a cab is designed for work, has a cute disposition and quite a few competitors as well.TEMPTERSBut Renault offers a few tempters that are hard to ignore like a five year warranty, low interest finance (at 3.9 per cent spotted recently) and occasionally, free service for three years though that one hasn't been around for a while. Jag all three and you are looking at an extreme value van to buy and run that will take a surprisingly hefty 800kg payload.REPUTATIONAnd going on its reputation, you can't kill a Kangoo with a stick. They just keep on going. We snaffled a diesel Kangoo and immediately put it to work carting half a tonne of pavers and some tools from the landscape suppliers.ENGINEIt was like water off a ducks back to the Kangoo which runs a 1.5-litre, single cam, turbo diesel, four cylinder donk good for 63kW/200Nm. More importantly, fuel economy hovers around the 5.5-litres/100km mark with the combined cycle officially rated at 5.2. The diesel comes with a five- speed manual only. If you want an auto it has to be the 1.5-litre petrol. Why would you bother, the diesel is too good to pass-up.PERFORMANCEIt has decent performance, especially once you get into second cog. First is short and designed to get a heavily laden Kangoo cleanly off the mark.GOODIESKangoo weighs 1277kg and has plenty of work truck features. Central locking is a given, the rubber load area floor mat is handy as are tie down lugs in the floor and on the sides. The rear barn doors open 180 degrees and the left hand side slider further aids accessibility. You can option an additional right slider. It gets Bluetooth, cruise control and a/c, power windows, a trip computer and plenty of cabin storage. Not a bad working environment. 

There's a totally new model due next year but Ford had to break the ice locally with its Kuga compact SUV if only to keep the competition honest and to edge out the unloved Escape.Besides, the current German built Kuga is such a good thing - the equal of anything in the class particularly as it's based on the impressive previous Ford Focus platform - a solid starting point if ever there was one.Two variants are offered in Trend and Titanium grade - both generously equipped with the range topper tested going for $44,990.That puts it in against a swag of competition including the V6 RAV, to-end Nissan X-Trail, Mazda CX5, Forester and even the lower spec' Freelander.Kuga holds its own against all of these for general use even if some are better off- road.It runs a 2.5-litre, single turbo, five-cylinder petrol engine that sees duty in some Volvo products and also the previous Focus XR5. But Ford detunes the donk to 147kW presumably to try and cut fuel use though torque is still a healthy 320Nm delivered from a low 1600rpm.Power goes through an on-demand all wheel drive system via a five-speed automatic transmission with sport and manual modes. But it could do with another cog to fully capture engine output and also reduce fuel consumption which hovers around the 11.0-litres/100km mark for the combined cycle.That's way too much for a vehicle this size.Sounds good though and has plenty of punch available under the right foot. The new one will undoubtedly have a turbodiesel which should address the thirst issue.Handling is acceptable but not as sharp as some small SUVs and there's a bit of steering backlash when you corner moderately quickly on a rough surface. It sits well on the road and has a comfortable and relatively quiet ride. The steering is OK and the brakes are good.Ford has really sweetened the deal with Kuga Titanium delivering all manner of goodies as standard equipment (except satnav) that includes leather, full glass sunroof (fixed), Bluetooth, voice control, sports seats, flip up glass in the tailgate, keyless start climate control and automatic headlight levelling to name a few.We really like the capless fuel filler that has a spring loaded flap you push the nozzle into. It scores a five star ANCAP rating with the requisite six air bags, stability control and other safety related equipment.There's a family Ford Europe look to its face and flanks with elements of the Mondeo and Focus clearly evident - the same inside which is tidy, modern and functional. It fells bigger than it is even with five aboard and the load space is a good size but there's only a space saver spare under the floor.There's some wow factor in the foldable rear seat tray tables, the rear privacy glass and that large expanse of sunroof. The audio rates and the overall drive feel is positive - a  decent all rounder for family use.We'd probably pocket the six grand price difference between the Kuga Titanium and the Trend model and go the latter which isn't half bad itself - looks pretty much the same too.

But Nissan wants you to open your wallet this wide for the privilege of  appearing "green'' and driving the new electric-only Leaf.There are a few issues you need to keep in mind with such vehicles. First is the fact that unless you have solar generation on your house, you are just shifting the production of carbon dioxide from the exhaust pipe to the power station smoke stack.Second, there's this thing called range anxiety that will niggle in the back of your mind when you have such an arbitrary driving limit because if you forget and go too far, you will need to be towed home.When you get there, you can't simply pour in some petrol or diesel and get going straight away, you will need to put in a second battery pack if you have access to one or put the car on "fast charge'' to get any sort of useable range.You will end up driving with one eye on the battery charge meter - distracting your attention like a mobile phone.However, if you live inner-city and only travel a few kilometres a day (which realistically should be on public transport) the five door Leaf might have some appeal.Leaf is the first mass-produced, purpose built electric car on the Australian market and Nissan plans to introduce more _ dependent on Leaf success or otherwise. It is available now from 13 Leaf accredited Nissan dealerships across Australia.Drive is to the front wheels with batteries housed in the floor for optimum vehicle packaging and weight distribution. It scores a five star crash rating under the Euro NCAP system and has seating for five adults and a good-sized cargo area.Nissan Leaf's 24 kWh lithium-ion (Li-ion) battery is comprised of 48 compact modules of four cells each, which allows a high degree of packaging flexibility. The batteries are designed to maximise drive time and minimise charging time. Unlike conventional cylindrical batteries, the thin, compact laminated cells offer more flexibility in design applications.Responsive performance comes from the 80kW (108bhp) electric motor that instantly generates its maximum 280Nm torque equivalent to the torque of a conventional 3.0-litre V6 petrol engine -from a standing start. The Nissan Leaf is easy to drive.The electric power train does not idle and only rotates when the vehicle is moving. To start the engine, the driver need only press the start button, and electricity begins flowing to the motor. Using the electric shift, the driver then selects 'D' range, and the vehicle starts to move.Leaf's regenerative braking system helps replenish its range. By applying the brakes or reducing speed by letting off the accelerator, the electric motor acts as an electric generator, converting energy, that would otherwise be wasted, into battery energy.To increase regenerative braking, there is a driver-controlled Eco mode setting, which can also be used to reduce air conditioning and thus improve driving range when driving in urban areas. Leaf has an "Approaching Vehicle Sound'' for pedestrians. Driving range depends on several factors, including external temperature, air conditioning usage, battery age and driving behaviour. The Leaf onboard navigation system is smart enough to tell you based on destination input and state of charge whether you have the range to make it and if not, search for nearby charging station along the route.In the event that the battery becomes critically low, power limitation mode will automatically minimise energy consumption and reduce speed to help you get to a charging dock. 

We turn the spotlight on the car world's newest and brightest stars as we ask the questions to which you want the answers. But there's only one question that really needs answering -- would you buy one?What is it?This is Ford Performance Vehicle's real hotrod six-pot -- arguably a quicker device than the lauded FPV GT V8. Popular as a Highway Patrol pursuit vehicle, the F6 gets going quicker than most cars on the road, (auto or manual) looks pretty wild and has dynamics to match. Holden has nothing remotely similar in the HSV range.How much?The price is $64,890 but there are options available such as satnav (which should be standard).What are competitors?Anything from FPV and HSV are in the F6's sights. It will waste most if not all of them especially from relatively low to mid-range speeds.What's under the bonnet?Power comes from a turbo-charged, 4.0-litre six cylinder, basically the Falcon taxi engine with (considerable) enhancements. Maximum output is 310kW with 565Nm becoming available from 1950rpm.How does it go?Like a rocket. Off the line, mid-range and top end — doesn't matter, the F6 has what it takes to push you back hard into your sports seat. We reckon it would be into the low 5.0 second bracket for a 0-100kmh sprint, possibly quicker — the 4.0s seem achievable.Is it economical?Surprisingly yes if you drive steadily. On the freeway we saw under 10.0 litres/100km but the overall figure for the 600km mixed test drive was about 12.8 litres/100km — of 98 octane petrol.Is it green?Not really, generates a lot of carbon dioxide — understandable given the power output and performance.Is it safe?All Falcons and Falcon-based cars score five stars for crash safety. This one gets a reverse camera for 2012.Is it comfortable?Very. We expected it to be rock hard — an unyielding sports sedan but no, the F6 has a firm but comfy ride, makes little noise and offers quite a luxury drive experience with premium audio, leather, multi function controller and wheel among a host of goodies. Hate the button start — after you turn the key — dumb.What's it like to drive?Exciting is the best way to describe the F6 drive experience. The engine is incredible and the dynamics are pretty good even if the steering feels a little nervous. Multi drive modes like European performance cars would be an improvement. Needs wider tyres for more traction, corner grip. The four piston Brembo brakes struggle on a winding road. Optional six pot Brembos should be standard for the dosh.Is it value for money?Against expensive European cars yes. Compared to the FPV GT and HSV GTS — yes. In purely pragmatic terms, we don't understand why you'd buy the V8 except for the sound.Would we buy one?Maybe. But it's dead set cop bait. Trying to keep the F6 on the speed limit is a challenge that distracts you from the safe driving job at hand.FPV F6 FG MkIIPrice: $64,890Warranty: Three years/100,000kmCrash rating:  5-star ANCAPEngine: 4.0-litre 6-cyl, 310kW/565NmTransmission: 6-speed manual, RWDDimensions: 4956mm (L), 1868mm (W), 1466mm (H)Weight: 1771kgThirst: 12.3L/100km 290g/km CO2

Really, truly, you’d be a happy vegemite with the new base model Porsche Boxster – with no options and the manual six-speed tranny. The price is $107,500. It’s the purest form of this new generation