Articles by Staff Writers

FORGET the Porsche — a new survey shows that women are far more attracted to guys who drive something more practical, like a Prius.A Harris poll commissioned by dating site AnastasiaDate found that a majority of women associate fancy cars with negative character traits: 56 per cent view men who drive exotic or fast cars as being show-offs or arrogant, and 17 per cent perceive them as being insecure.Almost half of women say that a guy’s car reflects his economic status, the New York Post reports. Forty-six per cent say that it reflects a guy’s image of himself. Eleven per cent believe that the car reflects the guy’s feelings about having a family.Only about one-fifth of women say that they have found a man more attractive after seeing the type of car that he drives. And 37 per cent of women think men who buy expensive cars are compensating for a lack of “something.”Men have their own opinions about what a woman’s ride says about her. Nearly 40 per cent of men think a woman in a fast or exotic car is a show off. Six per cent see those women as emotional.

The Easter safari in the US, now in its 48th year, attracts thousands of off-road enthusiasts looking to enjoy a week of serious off-roading on some of the country’s most renowned trails.One of the better looking concepts is the Jeep Cherokee Dakar, described as the most extreme Cherokee ever. The satin silver finish contrasts with prototype flame red graphics that encircle the window and wrap around the black hood graphic.The Trailhawk 17-inch polished satin clear coat wheels feature two large flamered pockets, with the Cherokee nameplate also changed to a flame red hue. Front-end features are enhanced by two prototype Flame Red inserts on the traditional Jeep seven-slot grille, as well as through a prototype lower fascia trim.Cherokee Dakar is fortified for off-road action, equipped with Jeep Performance Parts rock rails, an oil pan skid plate, front suspension skid plate, two-piece fuel tank and underbody skid plates.A lift kit boosts the rough-and-ready looks and additional suspension modifications help make it the most extreme Cherokee yet. Prototype wider fender flares with riveted bolts give a tougher appearance and also accommodate the wider track and larger 33-inch BFGoodrich Mud Terrain tyres.A prototype rear fascia allows for an even more aggressive departure angle and enhances the higher ride height. Cherokee Dakar’s crawl ratio is 48:1, with estimated approach and departureangles of 32 and 39 degrees respectively.Prototype Katzkin leather black seats with Machined Gunmetal inserts are heightened with Header Red stitching, which is also found on the steering wheel, armrest and gear shift boot. A flame red insert accents the entertainment centre.Parts sourced from the Mopar catalogue include all-weather floor mats, bright door-sill guards with the Cherokee logo, a cargo tray for storage, and the JCMS (Jeep Cargo Management System) with the Trailhawk bag. It also features the prototype Moab off-road bag.

Holden's performance-car division will continue to build the Clubsport sedan and wagon, Maloo ute, Grange limousine and GTS super-sedan until the October 2017 end of Commodore production.Carsguide understands it may even stockpile enough cars to run into 2018 because once these homegrown heroes go, there will be no more.In the meantime, HSV is looking to broaden its range. Don't be surprised to see the high-performance Opel Astra OPC hot hatch and Opel Insignia OPC sedan and wagon in Holden showrooms wearing HSV badges.HSV has sold Opel's high- performance Astra before and the Astra hatch and Insignia were sold here last year as Opels before the brand was withdrawn from sale. That means they have Australian Design Rules approval and the parts are available. Only the HSV badges are missing.

The i8 2+2 seater is a striking design with groundbreaking technology and points the way towards forthcoming BMW sporty cars in style and powertrains. A genuine performance vehicle, the i8 delivers impressive fuel economy and low emissions -- worthy of a small car.It pairs light weight with optimised aerodynamics and cutting-edge BMW eDrive technology using a compact, turbocharged 1.5-litre BMW TwinPower turbo petrol engine and "intelligent" energy management.It marks the next stage in the evolution of the Efficient Dynamics strategy. The body features a carbon-fibre-reinforced plastic (CFRP) passenger cell and is in fact a low weight plug-in hybrid vehicle.The i8 can operate solely on electric power, which means no tailpipe emissions, and offers the dynamic performance of a sports car, with an expected 0-100 km/h sprint time of 4.4 seconds. The BMW i8's plug-in hybrid system is specific to this model. The 170kW three-cylinder engine drives the rear wheels and a 96kW electric motor drives the front wheels for a combined maximum output of 266 kW and 570 Nm of torque.This configuration also offers all-electric driving capability with a range of up to 35 kilometres and a top speed of 120 km/h. Calculated using the EU test cycle for plug-in hybrid vehicles, the average fuel consumption of the BMW i8 will be less than 2.1 litres/100km. Full pricing and specification for the BMW i8 will be available soon. 

The site of a former Bunnings store in Hoppers Crossing is being redeveloped into a multi-franchise car dealership. The facility, at 163-179 Old Geelong Rd, will become the new home of Werribee Hyundai and Werribee Chrysler Jeep Dodge Alfa Fiat.Bunnings relocated to a bigger site last year. Wilmac Properties is developing the 26,000sq m site which is expected to be completed between June and September. Hopper Motor Group chief executive Paul Hopper said the existing building would be converted into an automotive service, car storage and car washing facilities over two levels.Two new showrooms will be built in front of it with 250 new and used cars on display, he said. Once completed it will generate about 200 ongoing jobs. 'The project represents one of the most substantial private investments in the area in recent years," he said. 

The Abarth 695 Biposto follows 50 years after the launch of the first 695. The 1964 edition 695 featured a 699.5 cc displacement to provide maximum power of 22kW helping it reach a top speed of 130 km/h.The original 695 was appreciated for its agility and versatility in town and on mixed routes. The 2014 695 Biposto features a 141kW turbocharged engine and weighs just 997kg, propelling it from 0-100km/h in 5.9 seconds.Abarth engineers shed the compromises typical of road-going vehicles such as the rear seats to give the 695 its focused, racing edge. Many features are derived straight from the race track including a gearbox with dog rings, a first for a road-going car in this category plus fixed front windows with polycarbonate sliding panels.The 695 Biposto also features a front intercooler, Akrapovic exhaust system, Extreme Shox adjustable shock absorbers, MXL digital data logger, Abarth Corsa by Sabelt seats with four-point seat belts, Brembo braking system, lightened 18-inch OZ rims and rear titanium roll bar by Poggipolini. An aluminium bonnet and carbon fibre wing mirrors also help to reduce the overall weight. 

To fend off ever-sharper competition in the small car class, Mitsubishi has sharpened its entrant with a re-specced Lancer GSR Sportback. Lancer has been around for years and the GSR Sportback adds a dash of sportiness to the lineup.It's the only Sportback in the Lancer range  and is fitted with a 2.4-litre, 125kW MIVEC powertrain, sport tuned suspension, the choice of five-speed manual or CVT automatic with sport mode and paddle shifters.The GSR gains 18-inch 10-spoke alloy wheels, Ralliart style front grille, side air dams, rear sports spoiler and cloth sports-style front seats. Standard safety kit includes reversing camera, voice activated Bluetooth with audio streaming, climate control air-conditioning, privacy glass, smart key access, rain sensing wipers, dusk sensing headlamps and 6.1-inch full colour touch screen with iPod compatibility and rear view camera interface.The price is $22,990 for the manual, $25,240 for the CVT.  Entry level Lancer is now the ES four door sedan starting at $20,390. 

Daniel Ricciardo has never had a broader grin than since becoming a race driver for the Red Bull Formula One team. But a recent series of stunt with French brand Renault has him looking beyond his developing Grand Prox career and into the future.So far  we've seen him delivering pizza, playing AFL and now he's trying his hand as a Taxi driver.But what's the best fit?Watch the desktop version of Ricciardo tries taxi driving video here.Also watch: Daniel Ricciardo deliver pizza.And watch: Ricciardo on the ball with AFL.

We don't currently have a Renegade here but that could change if the local Jeep importer can justify a place for it in the local line-up. The Renegade is a small SUV that according to the Jeep blurb, "stays true to the adventurous lifestyle Jeep is known for".Renegade delivers a combination of off-road capability, open-air freedom and convenience and in a segment first, a nine-speed automatic transmission that is said to contribute to outstanding driving dynamics and fuel efficiency from a range of new engines. It sounds like overkill to us.Renegade has a selection of innovative safety and advanced technology features. Sounds good yes? They are targeting a youthful and adventurous buyer (whatever that means). Renegade expands the brand's product portfolio and targets the rapidly expanding small SUV segment around the globe.Though it's on a Fiat/Alfa platform with engines from those vehicles, Jeep says Renegade symbolises the brand's renowned American design, ingenuity and innovation, marking the Jeep brand's first entry into the small SUV segment in more than 100 markets around the globe.It leverages 4x4 technology from the new Jeep Cherokee which can provide up to 100 per cent of the engine's available torque to the ground, through any wheel, for optimal grip. Jeep Active Drive features a "crawl" function. Renegade has a disconnecting rear axle and power take-off unit (PTU) to provide the 4x4 models with enhanced fuel economy.Five mode Jeep Selec-Terrain is provided on 4x4 models offering Auto, Snow, Sand and Mud modes, plus Rock mode on the Trailhawk model. The latter is for customers who demand the most off-road capability from their Jeep. Engine availability is wide including four MultiAir gasoline units and two MultiJet II diesels. The petrols are flex fuel capable and some models get engine stop/start. All engines and powertrains are out of the Fiat/Alfa inventory.Transmissions include the already mentioned nine speed auto, two manuals and one dual dry clutch manumatic. Possibly here 2015. 

Through systems that can recognise and distinguish whether a driver is tired or inattentive, the car of the future can become even safer. Examples of this include technology that can detect closed eyes or what the driver is looking at."This will enable the driver to be able to rely a bit more on their car, and know that it will help them when needed," explains Per Landfors, engineer at Volvo Cars and project leader for driver support functions.By placing a sensor on the dashboard to monitor aspects such as which direction the driver is looking, how open their eyes are, as well as their head position and angle, it is possible to develop precise safety systems that detect the driver's state and adjust the car accordingly.This also means that the car will ensure that it does not stray out of the lane or get too close to the car in front when the driver is not paying attention, as well as being able to wake a driver who is falling asleep."Since the car is able to detect if a driver is not paying attention, safety systems can be adapted more effectively. For example, the car's support systems can be activated later on if the driver is focused, and earlier if the driver's attention is directed elsewhere," Per Landfors explains.Some of the current systems that can be included are Lane Keeping Aid, Collision warning with full auto brake and Adaptive Cruise Control with Queue Assist. The technology is based on a sensor mounted on the dashboard in front of the driver. Small LEDs illuminate the driver with infrared light, which is then monitored by the sensor. Infrared light is just outside the wavelengths that the human eye can see, which means that the person behind the wheel doesn't notice it at all.Driver sensors are also opening up other possibilities. By monitoring eye movements, the car would be able to adjust both interior and exterior lighting to follow the direction in which the driver is looking. The car would also be able to adjust seat settings, for instance, simply by recognising the person sitting behind the wheel."This could be done by the sensor measuring between different points on the face to identify the driver, for example. At the same time, however, it is essential to remember that the car doesn't save any pictures and nor does it have a driver surveillance function," Per Landfors clarifies. The technology is already installed in test vehicles. Volvo Cars is also conducting research together with partners including Chalmers University of Technology and Volvo AB to identify effective methods for detecting tiredness and inattention.The analysis of the driver's state known as Driver State Estimation, in which driver sensors play an important role is a field that may be key to self-driving cars in the future. The car will need to be able to determine for itself whether the driver is capable of taking control when the conditions for driving autonomously are no longer present. A driver sensor could be of assistance in this.This technology is one of the many initiatives bringing Volvo Cars closer to its goal for 2020 that no one shall be killed or seriously injured in a new Volvo.