Articles by Stephen Ottley

Holden's performance arm is upgrading its engines this month, weeks before rival Ford Performance Vehicles releases its new range. HSV is updating the current 307kW LS2 to the LS3 V8, which pumps out 317kW.The upgrade should see HSV maintain its power advantage because FPV is reportedly set to offer a 315kW V8. HSV says the timing simply coincides with its supply of the LS2 running out.“Our customers want the latest and greatest technology in their cars,” HSV managing director Scott Grant says. “The General Motors LS3 engine continues the HSV tradition of scouring the world for technological advancements to enhance the driving experience.”At the unveiling of the new FPV range in February, company boss Rod Barrett said the Blue Oval performance brand would not engage in a power war with its Holden rival.FPV will rely on an upgraded version of the 5.4-litre Boss V8 for the short term, but promises more upgrades, including a reborn GT-HO.The new HSV engine comes at a price. The ClubSport R8 now starts at $64,550, up $1660, the Maloo R8 goes from $59,990 to $61,550, the GTS is up $1000 to $76,990 and the Senator Signature cops a $1200 increase to take it to $79,190.The Grange has been bumped up $1700 to start at $84,690. The LS3 unit is 6.2-litres and produces 550Nm of torque at 4600rpm, the same as the LS2. It is built in North America by General Motors Powertrains.Despite the size increase, HSV is reporting a slight drop in fuel economy for the new models.As well as the local line-up, the engine will feature in HSV's export models, the Vauxhall VXR8 sold in Britain and the Middle East-bound CSV R8. The same engine is fitted to the Chevrolet Corvette in the US.HSV says that automatic gearboxes will also get an oil cooler as standard. As an option for ClubSport, Senator and Grange buyers, new 20-inch alloy wheels will be available at $2500. 

If anyone knows how to build a people mover it should be Chrysler. After all, the company claims to have invented the mini-van segment back in 1983. The latest descendent of that model is the new Grand Voyager, which is about to go on sale locally. It is the biggest overhaul of the model since the American people mover arrived here in 1997.“This is the ultimate vehicle for families and people on the go,” says Chrysler Australia managing director Gerry Jenkins. “It offers the flexibility of seven seats and room for heaps of gear without sacrificing fuel economy. The all-new Grand Voyager is the new standard.”That is a bold statement for the under-pressure brand. Chrysler has failed to live up to expectations with its new models.Only the 300C remains strong and accounts for more than half of the brand's sales to February.The good news is the Grand Voyager is a very solid performer. It offers vastly improved exterior style, excellent interior space and some clever seating.The most notable change for the new model is the styling. The people mover has been given a complete makeover in a bid to make it look more like the 300C. The design team was led by Trevor Creed, the man responsible for the popular sedan. The new model is longer and wider and has a squarer look with sharper lines. The improved design carries over to the interior. Although the quality still lags behind European and local standards it is better than previous American models. Hard plastics and unsupportive seats remain the biggest complaints.But what it lacks in quality it makes up for in quantity. The Grand Voyager will seat seven people comfortably unlike some of its people mover rivals. Unlike its competitors which adopt a two-three-two seating layout, the Grand Voyager uses a two-two-three system.Because the second row only accommodates two seats it lets the company fit larger units. Chrysler has two clever seating options available for the second row. The first is Stow 'n Go that sees the seats fold down into underfloor storage bins to give more cargo space. The other option is Swivel 'n Go that sees the two chairs rotate through 180 degrees to let passengers travel backwards.The third-row rear seats are also packed with clever features. They can be stowed away to turn the car into a two-seater or can be folded backwards to provide “stadium seating” so you can really sit in comfort.The seats are just part of a comprehensive in-car entertainment system that can include three video screens and satellite navigation.Chrysler has also incorporated “trends in home lighting” by giving the car halo lights to give it a moody feel at night.Another plus is the rear-parking camera that is standard across the range.The three-model line-up is priced from $56,990 for the 3.8-litre V6 petrol LX. The mid-level Touring starts at $62,990 and the range-topping Limited is priced from $72,990. The 2.8-litre diesel adds $3000 across the range.Chrysler Australia expects 60 per cent of customers to go for the Limited model.While it's good news that the Grand Voyager has a diesel for the first time, it is not as sophisticated or smooth as its European rivals.Its saving grace is the strong fuel economy figures it returns which makes it the engine of choice. On our drive we used 8.8 litres per 100km on a long stretch of country driving and Chrysler claims it will use 12.3 litres per 100km in the city.But while it may not be an impressive engine, with 120kW of power and 360Nm of torque, the CRD is up to the task of moving the van that weighs over two tonnes.The V6 petrol engine produces 142kW and 305Nm and has a more responsive powerplant than the oil burner. But with a combined city fuel economy figure of 18.8 litres per 100km it can't match the CRD.In addition to adding the diesel, Chrysler has also upgraded the gearbox from a four-speed automatic to a six-speed.Australia receives the European suspension tune that is firmer and more responsive than the US settings. Despite this it's still a soft ride but it's very comfortable, especially on long trips. Even though you won't mistake the mini-van for a car it does hide its size well.Comfort is the key with the new car. The designers have tried to maximise interior space by “shrink-wrapping” it. That means the interior contours to the mechanical structure underneath which results in a more cluttered look but more importantly opens up a lot more usable space for the passengers.Competitors such as the Honda Odyssey and Citroen C4 Picasso are cheaper and are worth considering. Although they lack the interior space of the Grand Voyager they offer a far superior driving experience.But in the end you won't buy the Grand Voyager for its performance credentials, you buy it to comfortably carry a large family. And on those grounds it's a winner. SnapshotChrysler Grand VoyagerPrice: $56,990-$75,990Engine: 3.8L/V6 petrol 142kW/305Nm, 2.8L/4-cylinder turbodiesel 120kW/360NmTransmission: 6-speed autoEconomy: 12.3L/100km petrol, 9.3L/100km diesel claimed 

Australia's answer to Evel Knievel smashed his own word record for the longest motorcycle jump last weekend at Calder Park.

The financial company went into voluntary administration last week as the Australian Securities and Investments Commission launched an investigation into its actions.Company director Anthony Blumberg is a passionate motor-racing supporter and has invested millions of dollars into the sport both locally and internationally.Kelly's HSV Dealer Team Holden Commodore was one of 12 cars to carry Opes Prime sponsorship.In addition to the Championship Series V8 Supercar, the company also backed Marcus Zukanovic's Development Series entry, a Porsche in the Carrera Cup, a Formula Ford and an entry in the Renault V6 Asia series.Blumberg also bought five Formula Three cars and sponsored the local championship. He also invested in the Conquest Racing Indycar team in America.HSVDT said it was unaffected by the company's problems, but was likely to ditch its Opes Prime branding before the next round of the series.“Opes Prime is up to date with its contractual sponsorship obligations to the HSV Dealer Team at this time,” the HSVDT statement said.“The HSV Dealer Team will compete at the next round of the V8 Supercar Championship in Hamilton, New Zealand, and subsequent rounds for the remainder of 2008. The team is examining its contractual obligations to continue to display Opes Prime branding.”It is believed HSVDT's deal was the only sponsorship arranged officially through the company. The rest of the deals were done personally by Blumberg.The Australian Formula Three Series also issued a statement, saying everything would continue as normal despite Opes Prime's significant involvement in the championship. Blumberg reportedly spent $120,000 on the series' annual prize fund.

Former World Rally Championship ace Alister McRae will join the team for next month's race.Finishing 10th outright last year fired up Mazda for a two-car assault on this year's event.McRae will join Rick Bates and the pair will drive matching Mazda3 MPS hot hatches.Targa Tasmania is Australia's premier tarmac rally and has always had a strong draw for manufacturers looking to show off new performance products.McRae, younger brother of the late Colin McRae, is now based in Perth and has been looking for rally drives locally.“Having competed all over the world in rallying at all levels, it's great to have a new challenge, and doing it with Mazda will be great fun,” McRae says.“Competing in an endurance event is completely new for me. But having driven in more than 30 tarmac events it will be a case of driving as usual and keeping in mind that it's not a flat-out sprint.“My strategy will be to ensure a finish, but I am competitive by nature, so I want to finish as high up the leader board as possible.”After his strong performance last year, Bates is confident the bigger team can go better this time around.“We got a great result last year, but to go one better is the aim,” Bates says.“Having Alister on the team will make for some good, healthy competition and I am sure we'll egg each other on.”Mazda's racing program will continue to be masterminded by Allan Horsley. He was responsible for the company's domination of the Bathurst 12-hour production-car race in the early 1990s. 

The bandages have come off Mercedes' face-lifted ML range and the redesign has delivered a more muscular look with more power and modest fuel-economy gains.However, Australian buyers will have to wait for the new range. A Mercedes Australia spokesman says it is unlikely to reach here until October or November.The current five-model lineup of two turbo-diesels and three petrol engines are likely to carry over, along with the car's 4MATIC all-wheel-drive system and seven-speed automatic gearbox.That means buyers can expect the ML350 V6, ML500 V8 and ML63 AMG petrol models and ML280 and ML320 CDI variants.Power ranges from 140kW to 285kW for the ML500. The AMG's 6.2-litre V8 will pump out 375kW. Fractional gains have been made in fuel economy, which has improved by 0.4-litres/100km.Australia is expected to continue with all five models when the car eventually goes on sale.The front and rear of the big Merc has been tweaked to freshen the car's looks. The front gains a redesigned bumper, recontoured headlights and a more dominant grille.The rear also gets a new bumper with integrated reflector strips and smoked-glass tail-lights.Inside there is a new, four-spoke, multifunction steering wheel with paddle shifters and increased specification.It now includes the pre-safe and neck-pro head restraints and an all-new, high-performance telematics system.Apart from the bread-and-butter models, the ML63 AMG gets a muscular makeover with more distinctive front and rear ends, a chrome underguard and larger AMG grille.The range-topping model also gets 20-inch alloy wheels.The M-Class has been a big success for Mercedes-Benz locally since the second generation was launched here in September 2005.Last year it sold 2459 of the four-wheel-drives, the company's second-best seller behind the new C-Class.Prices and final specifications are yet to be determined but the current range starts at $79,100 for the 280 CDI and tops out at $161,100 for the AMG. 

The German company has launched an education course called First Gear. It is designed to teach new drivers about the safety systems available on its cars and demonstrate their use.First Gear is open to the family of customers and their friends under 24 years of age.Mercedes chief driving instructor Peter Hackett leads the program. The former Australian Formula Three champion has assembled eight instructors for the half-day schedule.First Gear is the latest addition to Mercedes' Active Safety Experience.This year Hackett and his team will hold 110 driver training days throughout Australia and Asia.The idea for the course came after the company's older customers took part in the Active Safety Experience and wanted their children do it.The demand was such that Mercedes added the new course. It comes at the perfect time as the Victorian Government changes the way new drivers have to earn a licence as well as the news that electronic stability control will become standard on all cars by 2011.Mercedes believes so strongly that the technology is crucial to cutting the road toll; it is offering its patented technology free to any rival carmaker who wants it.The First Gear course highlights just how effective it can be. The local program has a C Class on a hydraulic rig that can raise and lower front and rear wheels to simulate a loss of traction.When the ESP system is not turned on, the wheels spin with ease and the car is hard to control as the instructor guides you through the marked layout. When the system is switched on you can put your foot down and the system does the rest. It modulates the brakes and throttle to keep the car under control.It is an eye-opener for the young drivers doing the course.The rest of the day involves experiencing the Anti-Lock Braking System and working on steering control. 

The McLaren superstar has revealed the vital role his Brisbane-born trainer Adam Costanzo plays in his preparation.Hamilton, 23, said Costanzo was like family and helped keep his mind focused.“Adam plays a huge role, not just in my preparation but in my life,” Hamilton told the Herald Sun yesterday.“He's made a big sacrifice in moving from the UK to Switzerland with me."“He's almost like a brother because I spend nearly every day with him. He really is working very hard to make sure I'm in the best possible shape for the first race."“He tries to take a lot of the stress and strain off my shoulders and make my life easier."“With the training as well, he's got such drive. I've already got that so I can do that on my own, but having someone else, two is better than one and it makes us even stronger.”The pair spent last week in Queensland, spending time with Costanzo's family in what was a low-key build-up to the first Formula One race of the season.“We usually go up there because he (Costanzo) has an opportunity to see his family,” Hamilton said.“So we stayed with his family for a day and then we went to the Gold Coast and did our training there. It's good for running on the beach, great weather — it's just a nice atmosphere up there."“We get on so well that it's such a great laugh, it makes the training more fun."“He spices it up, he changes it around a lot. It's just good to be able to do these things."“Sometimes we go on bike rides for four hours and if you did that on your own you'd be pretty bored. It hypes us up so it's good to have him around.”After coming within two points of winning the F1 championship last year, Hamilton believes he is driving better this time around.“Yep, definitely,” he said.“I'm just taking my time to work on developing certain parts of my driving style. The balance of the car and understanding my car more."“I feel in the last test I thought I was driving quite well. I'm happy the way I'm driving.”Despite his success in his rookie F1 season, Hamilton isn't expecting wins to come as easy this time around.He said adapting to the rule changes that ban traction control, launch control and engine braking would be a challenge.“With the (driving) aids taken away, the new regulations this year are definitely going to make it harder,” he said.Ferrari is the hot pre-season pick, but Hamilton isn't playing favourites.He said he is unconcerned by his rivals ahead of the Australian Grand Prix despite the strong testing form of BMW-Sauber, Renault, Williams and Red Bull.“To be honest, I haven't focused on any other team,” he said. “Mainly because last year we came here (to Melbourne) and we knew the Ferrari's were a little bit quicker than us."“This year, forget all that — it's not so important. And also I know we've got a better package than we did last year. I'm confident in our abilities.”Although he won't predict a win at Albert Park on Sunday, Hamilton is determined to make sure he gets off to a strong start to the season.“Just to start with getting points is a key,” he said.“We want to get as many points as we need. For sure having a win in the first race could be a major boost for the team and, obviously, my confidence.“That is definitely the goal and that is what we have all been working towards.” 

Lowndes said the clash between himself and Ford young guns Mark Winterbottom and James Courtney at the Clipsal 500 in Adelaide last month was in the past and they would all work towards beating Holden at the grand prix showcase event.“I spoke to them the week after, they're fine,” Lowndes said. “I think for us it will go all right, I think we're stronger than the Holden teams. We've got a number of teams that are competitive and fast.”But even though they have settled their differences after the Adelaide shunt, Lowndes said he expects the drivers to race hard for the win.“We all want to finish races and score points and that's what we did at Eastern Creek. Although there was more contact in that last race than one and two, it was good hard racing and that's what people want to see.”His teammate Jamie Whincup is out to a commanding lead in the championship, with Lowndes back in sixth place.Lowndes is still using last year's car while his current machine is rebuilt after the Clipsal crash. 

Just because the point system isn't happening doesn't mean there won't be fireworks.V8 Supercar drivers only know one speed - flat out - and they'll look to show off in front of the huge Albert Park crowd to claim bragging rights and any mental edge possible before the points battle resumes.Many V8 Supercar drivers also once had ambitions to reach Formula One and would love to win in front of the sport's big names."The Grand Prix always brings out the worst in the drivers anyway," HSV Dealer Team star Rick Kelly said."Through no fault of our own, we've torn up quite a few panels (at Albert Park) because of the aggressive driving of others.""I think they get a rush from the F1 pitlane. We pit in there mid-session and some of them get excited about that."Not only are the tin-tops returned to the Grand Prix bill after missing the race last year, they have returned with a radical new format.This year's races will be a fight between red and blue like never before.After 30 minutes of practice and another half-hour of qualifying, the top five Fords and five fastest Holdens will line up for the Top 10 Shootout.Whichever manufacturer gets pole will decide how the grid is split, so it will be a case of Holdens down one side and Fords down the other.That will apply to the start of each race and, at the end of the weekend, points will be tallied to declare individual, team and manufacturer champions.The first race will be over 15 laps tomorrow before another 15 on Saturday and a 19-lap finale on Sunday morning."I think that's really good," Kelly said. "I'm glad they've done something different - it's fun."Not having to worry about points also gives the drivers and teams a chance to experiment with their cars to try and find an advantage when the points go back on offer in New Zealand."I reckon it will be every man for himself," Kelly said."Our category is so competitive now that everyone is going to use it to get better prepared for the rest of the year."