Articles by Staff Writers

The Mini Cooper hatch being unveiled this week will be followed in short course by a cabriolet and other versions, so design guru Theophilus Chin has put his styling brain to work on what the droptop Mini will look like.Singapore-based Chin has had experience in designing a couple of cars himself, and his informed renderings are usually a good pointer to the direction a car might take. In the case of the Mini, there's a blueprint to be adhered to, and he's respected that.The new Mini arrives here early in 2014 with new efficient engines, a bigger body and some styling tweaks -- on the outside it's largely confined to a slightly squarer nose and new headlights and LED taillights. But on the inside, the speedo and tacho have been kicked out of the plate-sized gauge in the middle of the dash and are now in a more normal position in the instrument binnacle. The massive circular qauge remains in place, but houses audio, aircon and an optional reversing camera and satnav.The Mini debuts the new UKL platform, and will be powered in the base model by a turbo 1.5-litre three-cylinder engine with outputs of 100kW of power between 4500-600rpm and 220Nm of torque at a low 1250rpm, with Mini claiming a 0-100kmh time of 7.56 seconds (auto) and 7.66 (manual) and fuel economy of 4.5L/100km.The Cooper S gets a turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder, developing 141kW of power between 4700-6000rpm and 300Nm of torque at 1250rpm, with 0-100kmh times of 6.62 (auto) and 6.73 (manual)  and fuel economy of 5.7L/100km. The diesel Cooper D's 1.6-litre is gone in favour of a new 1.5-litre three-cylinder turbodiesel delivering 84kW and 270Nm, with claimed fuel economy of a frugal 3.5L/100km -- a saving of 0.3L. Transmissions for all variants are a standard six-speed manual transmission or optional six-speed auto.To see more renderings of the cabriolet, visit http://www.theophiluschin.com/?p=5694 

The most anticipated of Benz's new SUV babies is the all-new GLA45 AMG.

Volkswagen is issuing recalls and advisories for about 2.6 million vehicles world-wide, including about 43,700 in Australia, for a range of three defects. The Australian vehicles include more than 16,700 Tiguan SUVs recalled for a fault that means a fuse can blow, causing one of the two vehicle light circuits to fail. About 16,000 Volkswagen Amarok utes are being recalled because of fuel pipe leaks affecting the 2.0-litre turbodiesel engine.The remaining 11,000 cars range across various models that have VW's twin-clutch automatic DSG gearbox, in which an electrical defect could occur if synthetic gearbox oil is used," Volkswagen says..A large proportion of the 2.6 million global recall is in China -- VW's largest market -- after a problem was found there in the same gearbox that triggered a recall earlier this year. The Chinese recall affects 750,000 Volkswagen and Audi vehicles that use the Chinesee-built DSG gearbox there.  Vehicles on the China recall list include the Volkswagen Golf, Beetle and Passat and several Audi models.It's the second recall this year on the DSG. In June more than 25,000 Australian cars were recalled for gearbox problems after pressure from disgruntled customers. Those vehicles included the Golf hatchback, Jetta sedan, Polo hatchback, Passat sedan and wagon and the Caddy van.Volkswagen said it is recalling 800,000 (2008-11) Tiguan SUVs and 239,000 Amaroks around the world, bringing the total number of cars affected in the three safety actions to 2.6 million.While the number of vehicles is large, analysts estimated the cost of the repairs could be relatively small. Still, the fresh problems that have surfaced with the gearbox might further dent Volkswagen's reputation in China and strain its relations with its local venture partner, SAIC.The gearbox only has problems in hot and humid climates, said Volkswagen spokesman Peter Heinz Thul. In warm climates, additives in the synthetic oil can damage the electronics. VW is proposing to replace the oil with a mineral oil that has been used previously without problems, Mr. Thul said.Volkswagen issued a recall in March in China for nearly 400,000 vehicles to fix an electronic malfunction on the same DQ200 gearbox. It said the problem was resolved with a software fix.VW officials told Chinese regulatory officials about the most recent problem earlier this week, Mr. Thul said. The automaker then agreed that a recall should be issued.Volkswagen Australia is yet to determine the impact on local models for this latest recall, but will "ensure these recalls are conducted promptly and efficiently", according to Managing Director John White, and relevant owners will be notified by mail.This latest recall follows the 25,928 Volkswagen vehicles recalled in June over similar issues with DSG transmissions manufacured between 2008-11, of which 40 per cent have been rectified to date and is expected to be completed next year.Volkswagen Australia says that this progress is in line with the timeframe anticipated, and that vehicles already attended to will not be affected by this new recall as their transmission fluid will have already been replaced.The company says concerned owners should contact their local Volkswagen dealer or can call a dedicated customer service number: 1800 504 076.

Action man Jean-Claude Van Damme’s best-known stunt is his controlled splits, performed in countless Hollywood movies – and in equally countless situations. However this is the first time he’s completed the move between two moving trucks – travelling backwards. The feat was set up as the latest in Volvo Trucks’ series of demonstrations for the dynamic abilities of their trucks, and follows similar videos in which a hamster steered, bulls chased, the CEO hung from a hook, and a rope walker inched between two semis hurtling towards a divided tunnel. Watch Van Damme perform the splits between moving tucks video on our desktop site.

With a 600 metre drop on one side of the narrow road, and overhangs occasionally snagging the roof rack, this SUV safari inches along -- with the passengers laughter most likely to mask paralysing fear. There's no mention in the video of where it was shot, but it looks to be on the road from Raikot to Fairy Meadows in the Himlayas. The rocky 10km route -- known as the Road of Death -- starts already high up in the mountains, close to the Indus river and climbs another 1200 metres above sea level on some terrifying surfaces to the village of Tattu, from where mountaineers start their treks on the Nanga Parbat peak -- the world's ninth highest. Watch the scariest mountain treks video on our desktop site here.  

We hadn’t got into a lather about the impending Playstation PS4 launch, but after watching the Sony Australia trailer we just might be doing a midnight camp-out later this month to get our hands on one. Of course, Sony is going to show its best kit in the trailer, but the quick glimpses of what’s on offer – and how good the result looks – is enough to make you realise your game shelf needs an update. Watch the Sony PS4 trailer on our desktop site here.  

Whiz-Kid inventor Elon Musk is showing his snippy side. The Tesla Motors founder snapped back at Hollywood hunk George Clooney yesterday after the actor trash-talked Musk’s electric car company the previous day."In other news, George Clooney reports that his iPhone 1 had a bug back in '07," Musk tweeted.Clooney, in an interview in Esquire magazine, said he’s no fan of Musk’s vehicles."I had a Tesla. I was one of the first cats with a Tesla," Clooney bragged to Esquire. "But I’m telling you, I’ve been on the side of the road a while in that thing. And I said to them, 'Look, guys, why am I always stuck on the side of the f**king road? Make it work, one way or another'."The Clooney review came at a tough time for Musk, who has been battling concerns about the safety of Tesla’s popular Model S electric sedans following reports that some sedans caught fire after getting into accidents.This article originally appeared in the New York Post.

John Rolfe talks to Switzer about odometer tampering in the secondhand car market, and the measures being taken to prevent it. Australian authorities are planning to wind up against dealers who wind down odometers. It's a growing problem according to motor trades and fair trade authorities. There are plans to force dealers to carry papers with the cars that they're selling that would provide consumers with confidence that they've really gone as far as they say and only that far.

A crazed man who headbutted and jumped on several moving cars on the Kwinana Freeway on Monday night has been charged with a string of offences. It will be alleged the 34-year-old man crashed his Mazda ute into an unattended Volkswagen in the emergency lane of the Kwinana Freeway near Canning Bridge just after 7pm. The man then ran into oncoming traffic, jumped on the bonnets of some cars and threw himself head first into the windows of others. Windscreens and windows of several cars were damaged, forcing traffic to stop which caused a major backlog on one of the city's main highways. Eye witnesss later took to social media to report the incident. One person posted "dashcam" footage of the man on the internet. Last night police charged the Gwelup man with 11 counts of damage. He is due to appear in court later this month. After the man was arrested he was taken to Fremantle Hospital for mental health assessment. news.com.au