Articles by Peter Barnwell

Following months of intensive negotiations and a long period of suspended production and tight liquidity situation at Saab Automobile AB, a voluntary decision has been taken to place Saab Great Britain Ltd ("Saab GB") into administration. With immediate effect, David Dunckley and Daniel Taylor of Grant Thornton UK LLP have been appointed joint administrators of Saab GB. Saab GB, a 100 per cent subsidiary of Swedish Automobile N.V. ("Swan"), has exclusive rights to distribute Saab cars and parts in the UK. It employs 55 people in Milton Keynes and distributes the cars and parts to a 58 strong dealer network across the UK of which 20 are "Saab only" sites. Saab City, a wholly owned subsidiary of Saab GB employing 65 people, operates two Saab motor dealerships, one in Wapping and a smaller site in Fulham. The board of Saab GB is of the opinion that administration gives the company and creditors the necessary legal protection until it has secured the required funding for the company. The appointment of the administrator is effected by the directors of Saab GB. Once appointed, the administrator will take on the management powers of the directors. Swan continues discussions with potential investors regarding the sale of Saab Automobile AB and Saab Great Britain Limited.

But the new Ford Escape compact SUV has the potential to shake up its class in this country. For too long Ford has persevered with the stodgy-looking current Escape, a refugee from a Taiwan factory. The new model is a totally different proposition - sexy and smart and due here next year (with luck) Technology abounds throughout the vehicle including a clever motion sensing tailgate opening system that's activated under the rear bumper simply by swiping your foot. Great if you have your arms full of shopping. New Escape also has the latest in connectivity systems including what Ford calls MyTouch which works in conjunction with voice control to operate numerous in-car functions.  Power comes from a pair of EcoBoost four-cylinder petrol engines at this stage but diesel is a possibility given Escape will be sold in Europe from next year as Ford Kuga. Both engines are familiar in Volvo cars and some locally available Fords with the 1.6 good for 132kW and around 250Nm and the 2.0-litre good for anything up to 177kW/340Nm. A similar version of this engine will eventually find its way into Falcon. Both engines feature direct fuel injection, variable valve timing on the inlet and exhaust sides and turbocharging. Transmission options are one a six-speed auto not a dual clutch like Fiesta and Focus but a fluid auto with a torque converter.  Safety is well addressed with multiple air bags, Blind Sport Warning which has been enhanced to monitor cross traffic at intersections too, and active park assist. It looks impressive in the metal and has a slick interior with similar dash treatment as Focus.

This is the "it" car of 2012 for sure. Jennifer Hawkins picks up her Range Rover Evoque this week and punters have been lining up at dealers to plonk down their money.This is the new Land Rover Range Rover in distilled form and in this case small doesn't make it a lesser vehicle. It will go almost anywhere in comfort and style, has great on and off-road manners and is crammed with luxury goodies. An extensive options list allows buyers to virtually "custom make" the Evoque of their choice with budget being the only limiting factor.THE LINE-UPTwo body types are available, three door coupe and five door wagon in Pure, Prestige and Dynamics grades. Currently, all have 4x4 transmission but a front wheel drive will be available early next year.STYLEEvoque springs from the LRX concept and is infact extremely close in overall design and appearance. Evoque embodies Range Rover family heritage styling with its clamshell bonnet and "floating" roof. The interior is text book Range Rover but smaller. It has the same ambience as the larger model.POWERTRAINSThree engines are available. In Evoque TD4 and SD4 it's a four pot 2.2-litre turbodiesel with 110kw/400Nm and  140kW/400Nm respectively. They are the same as in Freelander and come with a six-speed manual or optional six speed paddle shift auto from Japanese manufacturer Aisin.The petrol is a 2.0-litre turbo with direct injection shared with Ford Mondeo, Volvo and soon Falcon. It's good for 177kW/340Nm and features a clever sheet metal turbo housing and exhaust manifold that virtually eliminates lag.Best fuel economy comes from the TD4 coupe and wagon at 5.7-litres/100km. Both diesel enjoy a luxury car tax-break because they use less than 7.0-litres/100km.THE RIDEEvoque engineers have been able to do wonders with a relatively simple strut and coil spring suspension that provides an excellent compromise between comfort and sporty dynamics. The rigid chassis forms a solid platform for the vehicle's underpinnings. Large wheels and tyres give impressive grip and an optional Dynamic Package includes magnetic adaptive suspension for a step up in handling (and looks).TECHNOLOGYEvoque boasts the latest in media connectivity including Bluetooth phone and audio streaming. A eight inch centre touch screen controls many functions including dual view which allows the driver and passenger to look at completely different content at the same time.Terrain Response offers four modes of off road and on road driving at the turn of a dial. It has hill descent control and numerous other electronic traction and drive aids.THE DRIVEImpressive ... feels like a sports car in the coupe turbo petrol model. The diesels are similarly impressive but no quite as quick. They offer strident torque and excellent fuel economy and are virtually inaudible on the highway.We sampled a few versions but none with the magnetic adaptive ride. Can't see why you'd bother really. The petrol has an exhaust note generator for aural appreciation. All versions feel good to drive and there's even adequate room in the rear seat of the three door coupe (the best looker).Off road capability is surprisingly good for what is essentially a soft roader without low range. Doesn't really need it as we found out driving up a half metre deep creek then up the muddy bank.PRACTICALITIESRoomy inside for four, five at a pinch. Load space is adequate, expandable if you fold the rear seats. The temporary spare will let you limp home (maybe).PRICESThe TD4 manual five door Pure starts at $53,395. The two wheel drive will be from $49,995 when it arrives.VERDICTYes please. Difficult call between the diesel and petrol. Would go with an auto -in red with a contrast white roof please.

Retired rock band manager Chris Brown lives in Santa Barbara, California and calls himself an "early adopter'' so it was no surprise that his choice of wheels is a Chevy Volt plug in hybrid.Chris says he has owned plenty of vehicles in his 55 years but the Volt takes the cake."I thought it would be pretty good by the spec' sheet and when I moved to Santa Barbara, I decided to fully embrace my new, more relaxed life and go green with the Volt,'' he said. "But the ownership experience has been much better than I expected especially the fuel mileage and performance. I have put petrol in the tank only twice since buying the Volt in February this year and that was only when I was going down to LA for business.''Chris paid only US$34,500 for his car after the Federal Government slipped him a $7500 tax break with the purchase. Then on top of that, he says running costs are so negligible that it doesn't even register."I plug it into a domestic socket at home in the evening and it's ready to go the next morning. And besides, if I forget, the petrol engine will kick in if the charge gets low to recharge the lithium ion battery.''Chris said service costs are minimal basically because there isn't much to service.Volt is what is called a "range extender'' hybrid in which the car runs predominantly on electric power stored in its battery pack with a 1.4-litre petrol engine acting as a generator and acceleration booster if needed. The petrol engine hardly ever starts in general running around and then only for short bursts.Volt actually has two 55kW permanent magnet electric motors that give a range on electricity alone of up to 80km. Total range is well over 600km when the petrol engine generator kicks in. The available range on stored electricity is registered on a bar graph in the instrument console.Volt is no slouch and is capable of attaining a top speed of 160kmh and of accelerating from 0-100kmh in 9.0 seconds. It is the most practical electric vehicle currently available and the most fuel efficient with combined consumption of 2.5-litres/100km. And if you have solar panels on your house, running costs could be zero with minimal greenhouse effect. It looks good too, certainly not like a kooky cockroach as is the case with some other hybrid cars.Chris Brown invited us to take his car for a drive last week in Santa Barbara and it was a real surprise package.Firstly it has excellent acceleration off the mark right up to freeway speeds and there's only one gear which is eerie especially with no noise. There's plenty of kit inside including leather upholstery, Bluetooth, cruise, climate control, voice control to some functions, Bose audio and a 30 gig music register. It has a cyber space style dash with info panels in front of the driver and festooned down the centre console.The ride is comfortable and there's room inside for five at a pinch. It has a five star crash rating.Volt is manufactured in Detroit and has been on sale in the US since December 2010 but won't make it here until the end of 2012 at the earliest.Local pricing is unavailable but the European Volt (Ampera) goes for the equivalent of $58,000 so expect something similar here ... pity because Volt is a game changer given accessible pricing. Hopefully the federal government will start offering ``carbon'' incentives to Volt buyers as they do in all other countries where it's sold.

You wouldn't think Lexus was into its fourth generation of the GS model, mostly because it's been the sleeper in the local line-up. Those days could be over with the arrival soon of a bolder new model developed in the US but benchmarked against medium large European prestige sports sedans.Design cues from the new GS including its "spindle" grille will flow through to other models in the Lexus range as they are updated or replaced. It's a new "design language" for the premium Japanese brand.VALUELexus offers GS350 petrol V6 and GS450 Hybrid each available with the F-Sport package that includes four wheel steering among a raft of enhancements. Prices are tipped to start at $79,990 for the GS350 rising to the early $100K mark for the 450h with F-Sport.TECHNOLOGYDrive Mode Select is a control system with four modes Eco, Normal, Sport and Sport+ selectable by dial on the centre console. Eco prioritises fuel efficiency while Sport+ optimises performance of both chassis and power train. Four wheel steering is active via an actuator on the rear axle that moves the rear wheels by two degrees of steering to enhance cornering, drive feel and stability. The new 3.5-litre direct injection engine features Atkinson cycle technology that delays combustion for better fuel economy on the GS450h. The new six-speed automatic on 350 offers paddle shift and throttle blip on down change in manual mode. Hybrid's battery pack now vertically stacked to provide more boot space.DYNAMICSThe new, rigid platform offers solid base for all chassis functions steering, brakes, suspension ride and handling and even noise and vibration suppression. The power steering is electric, the brakes have electronic control and wheel sizes are 18-19-inch. The sporty GS350 with F-Sport package is unequivocal leader in the ride and handling department offering drive feel on par or better than anything from Europe. The four wheel steering system transform the car's feel into a sharp handling sports sedan.SAFETYGS is designed to meet five star safety standards with a pre-collision system, 10 air bags, stability control, anti whiplash head restraints, increased use of high strength steel in the body/chassis and driver alert monitor among a suite of primary and secondary safety features.TECHNOLOGYBoth models use a 3.5-litre direct injection petrol V6 with Atkinson cycle on the hybrid. The petrol 350 is good for 233kW/378Nm while the 450h is good for 252kW and an estimated 400Nm combined from the petrol and electric engines.The hybrid runs a nickel-metal hybrid battery pack mounted behind the rear seats. Transmissions are a six speed auto on the petrol and a six speed CVT on the hybrid which is capable of an incredible 6.2-litres/100km. The petrol does 9.7.LUXURYAs expected, the GS is well endowed in the luxury department with a feature rich interior and soft leather upholstery in a wide colour range. Buyers can also chose from a range of fascia materials. And there's an optional 850 watt Mark Levinson audio system though the one fitted standard is excellent. The car gets Bluetooth phone and audio, ample rear seat legroom, smart key button start, multi wheel controls and numerous electric adjustments to the driving position and steering wheel. The F-Sport package brings bigger wheels, different bumpers and grille, rear boot spoiler as well as the four wheel steering and other performance and handling enhancements.DRIVINGWe must admit that this is the most performance oriented hybrid we've ever driven it really honks if you chose to drive it hard. But the 350 with F-Sport package is the one we prefer because it fulfils the role of sports sedan extremely well offering strong engine performance, rapid acceleration and excellent handling (particularly steering) in a good size package.The brakes are strong and you can wick the GS350 right up and revel in its sporty prowess. Rear wheel drive is a big plus because of the drive feel. An engine sound generator under the bonnet enhances the whole driving experience (not on the hybrid).VERDICTGets a big tick from us, certainly a move in the right direction on a whole lot of fronts particularly styling and performance.NEED TO KNOWA GS250 is under consideration.Slightly bigger than outgoing model.Has a skin rehydration system built into the aircon.Chassis laser welded.Low aerodynamic drag at 0.26Cd.

First it came from Japan, then Spain and it's been out of Korea for a while now. The Holden Barina has been around a long time - 26 years in fact and has sold up a storm particularly among young female buyers. Cheap to buy and run, Barina competes in the crowded light car class though it's slightly bigger than its rivals.There's a new one out from this month in one hatchback spec' only but with a choice of five-speed manual (std) or optional six-speed auto with sequential change mode for a couple of grand more than the $15,990 manual.It's a good way to flog cars - no gouging,  just "what you see is what you get" and there's a drive away price deal on the manual right now at $16,990. Still, there are plenty of choices for similar (and less) money. Mazda3 starts at nearly a grand less, Hyundai i20, new Yaris, Swift and Polo spring instantly to mind. Barina offers plenty of kit with cruise, aircon', trip computer, full size spare, Bluetooth 15-inch alloys and other goodies thrown in.The instrument pod looks like it's been lifted from a motorbike and features a LCD speedo read-out. Frontal styling looks intimidating and the truncated rear is cute. Steering wheel controls are for the phone, cruise and audio. OK upholstery and dash.It's powered by a 1.6-litre petrol four pot with 85kW/155Nm output but it's too easy to find a torque hole (dull response) under acceleration if you are not in the right cog - accentuated with the aircon' activated.It is a relatively high-tech engine with dual variable cam timing but no direct injection. The five-speed manual needs another cog to fully capture available power and reduce fuel consumption. And the disc/drum brakes should be upgraded to discs all round. Drum brakes? We though they stopped making them last century.Barina hatch scores a five star crash rating boasting features like six air bags and stability control among an impressive safety inventory this far down the food chain.

Nestled amongst a rash of sporty Mercs is a sweet, soft-top stunner called the the Mercedes-Benz E500 cabriolet. While it's no match for an AMG63 Benz the E500 has enough get up and go to put you behind bars pronto. It's an in-betweenie splitting the SLK two seat roadster and the SL sports coupe.VALUEBuilt on a modified Merc' C-Class platform, the E500 cabrio's striking looks are accentuated by an arcing black soft top that gives it a mean, low-rider profile - totally in keeping with the sculpted lines of the sheetmetal. It costs a pretty penny at $186,950 but you get a whole lot of car for the ask and one that easily carries four adults in luxury - and some luggage as a bonus.TECHNOLOGYBetter still, you can retract the roof in the evening and enjoy the stars wafting along to the beat of the rumbling 5.5-litre, naturally aspirated, petrol V8 under the bonnet. Push the 'sport' button and everything changes as the E500 cabrio becomes something of a snarling beast with firm suspension, aggressive gear selection, quick steering and a more urgent voice from under the bonnet. That big V8 is good for a lazy 286kW/530Nm output - enough to push the weighty E500 cab' from 0-100kmh in under 6.0 seconds.EQUIPMENTThe test car was equipped with the AMG sports package that brings steering wheel gear change paddles, sports alloys with big tyres, multi-coloured nappa leather seats and other goodies like drilled front discs and an AMG aero body kit.Precious little is left off the luxe-list with standard fare including high-end satnav, a Harman Kardon audio system with music register, Bluetooth phone and multi-media connectivity. Also fitted is a range of practical stuff like hill start assist, voice ancillary control and 'Distronic' cruise control to keep you well spaced from other cars.The drive car featured two peripheral warning systems, one for cars coming up on each side and one for cars in front. It promotes good driving. Nothing is left off the safety inventory either; seven air bags, reverse camera, stability control and roll over protection featuring prominently.DRIVINGWe had a good crack at the E500 cab' enjoying the experience immensely especially in the early evening mid-summer with the roof down. You can (electrically) drop the top at speeds up to 40kmh. Even when it becomes cooler, the 'Airscarf' blows warm air onto your neck from under the headrests.As you'd expect, the cab' has strong performance but sips frugally considering the size of the engine and the performance potential. We achieved 11.5-litres/100km without paying much attention to economy.The seven-speed auto seamlessly selects gears and aids economy. With the advent of new V8s from Mercedes-Benz, one wonders how long this gorgeous thing will be available in this spec'. As a slick cruiser, it will be hard to better because the E500 cab' is a  right size, stunningly styled, impressive performing drop-top.Mercedes-Benz E-Class Cabriolet - E500Price: $186,950Engine: Petrol 8-cylinder, 285kW/530NmTransmission: 7-speed automatic, rear-wheel driveEconomy: 11l/100km, premium unleaded/95 RON.

They've sold 15 million of them and the new one is better than ever - safer, more fuel efficient, better looking, affordable. We got hold of the base model 1.8-litre TSi Passat wagon.It's a turbo petrol powered model and frankly, due to impressive fuel economy (7.5-litres/100km, low 6s on a trip) and strong roll on acceleration, we initially thought it might have been one of VW's new, smooth running, quiet turbodiesels.It throws a cat among the pigeons for us turbodiesel die-hards who relish the oil burner's punchy low end torque and infrequent visits to the servo'.This is the seventh generation Passat and features VW family styling being ushered in progressively across the entire range. Main emphasis is on the front end and hopefully, VW will not go too far down a generic styling path with its current cars.The 118TSi we drove is, realistically, all you would ever need in a passenger car especially with the seven-speed, double-clutch, DSG transmission that fully captures all available power and torque from the turbo engine and efficiently puts it to the road through the front wheels.This model has a 1.8-litre engine, which, as the name suggests, is good for 118kW and a handy 250Nm from as low as 1500rpm. It passes Euro 5 emissions regs' on 95 octane fuel.Despite being the entry level model, this car is impressively equipped for the $40,990 pricetag with goodies like leather upholstery, large touch screen multi function display, Bluetooth and audio streaming, driver fatigue detection, park distance control, decent audio, climate control and 17-inch alloys.It has a five star crash rating thanks in part to no less than eight air bags. The interior is stylish and functional highlighted by discrete touches of chrome and brushed metal.The exterior appearance is set off by chrome roof rails and chrome body hardware. It carries five adults easily and has a large, expandable load space. Nothing to complain about here, it's all good.

We are moving on from not being fans of the new Mazda BT-50s styling - it's subjective anyway. Looked at clinically, the new gen'  Mazda XTR 4x4, 3.2-litre ute (tested) is an impressive package in most areas, particularly load capacity and off road ability. It also offers generous room for five inside and plenty of kit in the dual cab model we drove.The Boss Sports Pack fitted to the test vehicle has possibly the most aggressive looking alloy bull bar we have ever seen, side rails, a rear sports bar, twin driving lights, wild looking alloys and a hard tonneau cover.VALUEThe Boss pack adds $8509 to the $50,810 test vehicle price which touches the Luxury Car Tax trigger. It (the tax) needs reassessment because this isn't a luxury car.Mazda is targeting cashed up "lifestylers" with its new ute. The XTR is mid-spec and comes with plenty of goodies including dual zone climate control, Bluetooth phone, hill descent control, hill start assist, five mode trip computer, satnav, a locking rear diff and alloy wheels - a well equipped package by anyone's measure.DESIGNWedgey profile is different but the rounded styling is a big step away from the boxy functional look that has come to be expected from a ute. Steep screen is aerodynamic, interior is as roomy as a medium size SUV. The ladder chassis feels strong and extensive measures to cut noise and vibration boost interior comfort.In practical terms, the load box is big and can take up to 1097kg in dual cab guise. The leaf spring rear suspension coped easily but can be over firm unladen. Load tray height is an issue especially on sloping ground.TECHThe new five-cylinder turbodiesel has variable turbo nozzle control for efficiency gains but it's still a "lazy" engine generating 147kW/470Nm from 3.2-litres. Benz has a 2.1-litre four pot producing 150kW/500Nm.Switch on the fly 4WD is handy and it offers low range as well as high. The front double wishbone/coil spring suspension is a big improvement on torsion bars. BT-50 gets rack and pinion steering but drum rear brakes. Six-speed auto with sequential mode is a cracker - forget the manual. Interior treatment is stylish but looks hide hard plastics.SAFETYThe five star rating sets new standard for one tonne utes. BT-50 even has safety gains for pedestrians. Ladder chassis strength is not compromised by crumple zones. Gets other goodies like roll stability control and trailer sway mitigation.DRIVINGIt's a surprisingly smooth and quiet engine especially on the highway. There's plenty of punch once underway and the auto teams up nicely with the new five pot. Ride quality is firm with an empty tray, good when loaded. Handling is OK but the thing is so long it's issue turning or parking. The seats are acceptable but could do with more back support (even with lumbar on full). Overall impression is a move to an SUV feel rather than a workhorse.VERDICTIt's big bikkies for Thai-made truck especially when you consider Thailand is used because it's a "low cost" country. Ha,  and it ain't just Mazda. But the BT is a decent thing, undoubtedly reliable, well made and safe.MAZDA BT-50 XTR DUAL-CAB 4WDPrice: from $40,950Warranty: 3-years/100,000kmService interval: 15,000km/12 monthsSafety: N/AEngine: 3.2-litre, 5-cylinder common-rail turbodiesel, 147kW/470NmBody: 4-door utilityDimensions: 5365mm (L), 1850mm (W),1821mm (H), 3220mm (WB)Ground clearance: 205mmTowing: 3350kgWeight: 1795-2159kgTransmission: 6-speed manual or 6-speed auto, four-wheel driveThirst: 8.9-9.2l/100km, CO2 N/A.

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?This is the new generation Mercedes-Benz SLK roadster, the 3.5-litre petrol model, one from the top when the AMG version arrives next year.A competitive $118,900 ... with a hefty tax component.Porsche's Boxster 3.4S (cost a lot more), BMW's long nose Z4 35is, Audi's TTS Roadster (a lot less).Runs a sweet sounding, naturally aspirated, smooth as silk, 3.5-litre, V6 petrol engine with direct injection driving the rear wheels through a slick seven speed automatic, with paddle shift and multi-modes.Like a rocket, good for a 5.6 second 0-100kmh sprint and offers stupendous performance across a wide engine speed range. Best in M  (manual) mode if you want the full sporty experience. Handles like you'd expect - sharp as a tack, fast responses.Pretty good at 8.3-litres/100km combined but you'll need premium, of course.Gets a 4.5 rating in the Green Car Guide.Engineered for a five star crash rating.Cabin could be tight for larger types but otherwise - the lap of luxury with plenty of flow down stuff from the SLS model and the multi drive mode system gives you choices in dynamics from comfort through to full-on sporty.Superb, trumpeting exhaust sings a sweet song, quick, composed, razor sharp steering, snappy gear changes in M for manual mode. A real sports car. Love the new Magic Sky Roof  with variable tint or fold it right down for open tp motoring.Right in the middle of the price range of its competitors. Bear in mind there's a hefty Luxury Car Tax imposition on this (and many other) cars.Yep, in red.