Articles by Stuart Innes

And he's certainly caught more than his share.  The Valiant Pacer was the performance version of the Valiant, in the days when the Australian car industry had the Big Three GM with its Holdens and Monaro, Ford with its Falcons and GT and Chrysler with its Valiants.Mr Moularas is pictured with just one of his collection, a 1970 VG Valiant Pacer, an ex-race car.  Chrysler and Valiant fans this year are celebrating the 40th anniversary of the VG model that not only introduced the famous Hemi six-cylinder engine but also stamped the Pacer as a performance and race car.  The Pacer was the first Valiant to be competitive in the Bathurst long distance race and it spawned the Valiant Charger."I've had this Pacer for three years," Mr Moularas says. "It's a late 1970 model and at the moment it's got a higher-spec 265 (cubic inch) engine in it and a four-speed gearbox. They came out with three-speed boxes and many of them have been replaced with four-speeds over the years."It's race history is a bit sketchy; I'm still researching that. But there are indications that Leo Geoghegan drove it, if you look at the shadow lines of the stickers. "I've kept it as original as possible and you can see where it's had a rollcage."Mr Moularas, a member of the Chrysler Car Club, arguably has the biggest collection of top-condition Pacers in Australia.  "It becomes a disease," he says. He says VG Pacers are "fantastic" to drive. They're thirsty on fuel but a good highway car and people are always stopping to talk about them."VG models had rectangular headlights distinguishing them from the previous VF model. But the major change of the VG was the engine: it introduced the Hemi 6, a 245 cubic inch (four-litre) inline six-cylinder engine to replace the earlier Slant Six. The "hemispherical" combustion chambers were claimed to be more efficient and so give better power.Stirling Moss became the brand's ambassador in 1970. Legend in Adelaide has it that when he was flown to do a TV commercial, he bogged a Valiant on a south coast beach, only for a film crew member to slip into the seat and drive it out.  A previous-model Pacer had come 17th at Bathurst in 1969 with former News Ltd motoring writer the late Mike Kable at the wheel but that had a fairly undeveloped engine.The VG model, however, had the Pacer with a 138kW engine as standard but also could be had in E31, E34 and E35 engine options, the top unit having a four-barrel carburettor, performance camshaft, close-ratio gearbox and well over 175kW power.Allan Moffat won the 1970 Bathurst race in a thumping Falcon GT HO but only one lap behind was Doug Chivas in a Valiant Pacer in fourth place. The tortoise-and-the-hare scenario is indicated by the qualifying times, Moffat 11 seconds as lap faster than the lighter Chivas Pacer which nevertheless finished the race on 129 laps to Moffat's 130.Leo Geoghegan was fifth in a Pacer with yet another Pacer in seventh, despite its three-speed gearbox. Chrysler had a local components policy and did not want to use an imported four-speed.  The Hemi engine was developed to the amazing 265 (4340cc) E49 unit of the Charger which really took on the V8s from 1971.Of the more than half a million Valiants built at the now-closed Tonsley Park plant of Chrysler (latterly Mitsubishi) in Adelaide, 46,374 were VG models. Only a small proportion were Pacers. Most were sedans with wagons, utes, two-door hardtops and the quad-round headlight VIP luxury version also in the mix.

If there was a turning point when Korean cars were not just thought of as cheap but started to earn respect as worthy in engineering and quality, I'd nominate the introduction of the Kia Sorento in February 2003.Now, the latest edition Sorento advances that, to add style, comfort and space into the mix, to create an attractive proposition in the medium-large SUV wagon sector.In these past seven years, other Korean cars have stood up, too. Kia's own Cerato sedan and Koup being a good look in any driveway, sister brand Hyundai becoming a valid big seller and its i30 a big force in the small-car segment, and brands such as Holden sourcing cars from Korea, such as Captiva and the popular Cruze.The point being: don't dismiss something because it's Korean. The Kia Sorento is an excellent example of a good thing to own and drive if you can overcome any lingering badge snobbery.Sorento is available from $39,990 in petrol, diesel, manual or automatic (each six-speeds) and two-wheel-drive and all-wheel-drive.  We've been driving the top of the tree, the Sorento Platinum. It comes only with automatic transmission, AWD and the diesel engine which outguns the petrol unit in power and certainly in torque while using less fuel. And at $48,990 (between the prices of a Holden Commodore Sportwagon V8 and SV6) it's pretty well equipped.For starters (literally), you keep the key in pocket or purse, walk to the car and touch the doorhandle for it to unlock. Still without getting out the key, just push the dashboard start-stop button and you're ready to go.Sorento Platinum has power front seats, a full seven seats, leather trim (though having a durable look and feel rather than soft luxury), a premium audio system of eight speakers, dual-zone airconditioning for driver and front passenger and headlight washers.There's an electric sunroof (too much wind noise when open at highway speed). The second row passengers have a non-opening glass sunroof as part of the "panorama" roof. The wagon sits on big alloy wheels and tarmac road-biased hefty tyres, Happily, the spare is full size and kept under the rear of the vehicle. It has a foot-pedal park brake.Centre-dashboard controls are easy to read and understand. Cruise control switches are on the steering wheel right-hand spoke.   The D-pillars are wide but those blind spots are helped overcome by large exterior mirrors, rear parking sensors and a reversing camera that has its almost-9cm colour screen appear in the left of the interior rear view mirror, a perfect spot for it.Front occupants get good elbow room. Scond row passengers have improved leg room and a reclining back rest, the middle person getting a flat floor for their feet, and the pair of third row seats are just OK for average-sized adults if they keep their heads forward. The third row also gets variable-fan vents.Luggage space is minimal with the third row seats up (no surprise) but those seats easily fold to a flat floor, as do the 40/60 second trow.  Even better for families, Kia Sorento has ESP, spread of airbags and a five-star Euro NCAP safety rating.This latest Sorento is a complete re-design of the earlier model. First the good news: it is more car-like thanks to a monocoque body, it has lower entry and floor level, is sleeker, more modern looking and the new suspension MacPherson strut at front and independent multi-link at the rear gives a far better ride comfort. The lower centre of gravity helps handling.Now the bad news, at least for 4WD adventurers: it no longer has low-range transmission, its lost 19mm in ground clearance and the front overhang is 105mm longer. It will still take to a bumpy dirt track in quite some comfort but is no longer an off-roader.A dash button gives all-wheel-drive lock but otherwise it's front-drive and AWD on demand. Technology is some help with a feet-off downhill creep control and traction control, but a limiting factor will be the tyres designed for tarmac, not clay. For 4WD pundits who want to check, it has a 25 degree approach angle, 23 departure and 17 degree rampover with 184mm ground clearance.The sump "guard" is merely plastic.  Exterior mirrors fold in electrically -- just as useful in parking by a bike lane as negotiating bushes and trees.So consider this an all-wheel-drive SUV luxury wagon and not a bush-basher and it will do the job nicely.  The diesel engine is a beauty. A typical rattle on cold start but once warm, barely noticeable, unless 2500-plus rpm is used for sharp overtaking or hillclimbing, when there is a buzz. We did mostly urban driving yet still achieved 8.3 litres/100km economy, this in a 1960kg SUV. It's even better country cruising a whisker under 2000rpm at 110km/h in sixth gear.

The latest round of official crash tests has given five-star occupant protection ratings to some of the most fuel-frugal small cars sold in Australia, the Mini Cooper diesel, the Ford Fiesta ECOnetic diesel, the Volvo C30 diesel and the Toyota Prius hybrid.On the Global Green Challenge, a 3150km drive from Darwin to Adelaide and with driving in Adelaide last month, the Ford Fiesta ECOnetic averaged just 3.13 litres/100km fuel consumption and the Mini diesel was not far behind.  Transport Department director of road safety, Martin Small, said yesterday (Tuesday 17) the crash test results showed that new-car buyers could save fuel and still get five-star safety."These ratings show that manufacturers can make a range of fuel efficient vehicles which do not compromise safety," Mr Small said.  Other vehicles to score five stars in these tests are the new Subaru Liberty Exiga and the latest Hyundai Sante Fe with four-cylinder engine.  The only car in this round of tests not to get the full five stars is the Honda City sedan which managed four stars.RAA (SA) technical services manager Mark Borlace said this was because that model Honda did not have electronic stability control, a requirement since 2008 before five stars could be awarded.  "It makes the lack of ESC for the Honda City disappointing," Mr Borlace said."All of these five-star models include head-protecting side airbags or curtains, anti-lock brakes with electronic brake distribution and electronic stability control as standard," he said. "And it is pleasing to see the results apply to all models in the various ranges, not just luxury-specified vehicles."In separate testing for pedestrian protection, the Honda City, Subaru Exiga and Fiesta achieved three out of a maximum four stars. The upgraded Sante Fe, previously scoring zero, this time got one star.

More new-generation ‘real world’ cars will line up for the contest to show off low-emission credentials for alternative fuels in mainstream machines.A growing list of mainstream manufacturers are expected to put cars into the revamped race, including Suzuki, Mercedes-Benz, Ford, Toyota, BMW, Hyundai, Audi, Mercedes, Holden and Volvo, but none are detailing which models will be entered in the Eco Challenge section.Apart from the car manufacturers taking part, the separate solar car (powered entirely from the sun's rays) category so far has 43 entrants from 17 nations.The new event has evolved from the biennial Solar Car Challenge and this year will have a wide cross-section of prototype and new-release cars from auto manufacturers that include hybrid, diesel, all-electric, alternative fuel and low-fuel consumption, low-emission petrol models.The Global Green Challenge will start in Darwin and run 3000km to Adelaide, accompanied by the solar cars, but the challenge cars will then do an urban circuit in Adelaide.The Global Green Challenge will be run by the South Australian Motor Sport Board and chief executive Jason Allen is expecting massive interest from the auto industry."The solar challenge always has provided a test for the latest in solar-power technology," he says. "But now the Global Green Challenge — by having a wide spread of auto makers and their alternative-fuel low-emission cars — will be of direct interest to Australian car buyers."The Global Green Challenge is very relevant because motorists will want to know about cars that use less oil-based fuel and those that run on alternative fuels."This event will be a practical, real-world contest for those types of cars."These vehicles will become a major part of the car fleet as people demand environmentally friendly vehicles and governments around the world legislate to reduce emissions."Internet company Internode will sponsor this year's Global Green Challenge, which is also back by the NT and SA government - Internode's managing director Simon Hackett imported the first all-electric Tesla sports car into Australia and will drive it in the Challenge."We want to demonstrate it is possible to be green and high performance," he says.GM Holden spokeswoman, Andrea Matthews, says Holden is keen to be an entrant - but was not yet revealing which model it would run.Holden is developing a Commodore to run on 85 per cent ethanol fuel, as well as looking at diesel engines and the GM Volt electric car.Make One Degree of difference today by calculating your carbon footprint and finding out what you can do to reduce it.

It has a two-litre engine giving more power than a Falcon XR8 or a Commodore SS. And with a sophisticated all-wheel-drive system for extreme cornering grip.It's the FQ-400, billed as "the most powerful, accelerative Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X".It's hitting the roads in Britain this month. There, the home of many motorsport constructors, they have a respected network of car tuners who take fast production cars and make them even quicker.The Mitsubishi Evo and its rival, the Subaru WRX, each get various versions of hot-up kits from a number of hot shops in Britain.This Lancer Evo FQ-400 is the product of WRC Developments, with a nod from Mitsubishi's British importer. The model gets its name from the 403hp (300kW of power) produced - an incredible output from the two-litre, four-cylinder, turbocharged engine. And in a road car.The engine gets motorsport-spec high-flow fuel injectors and a new turbocharger with low-friction bearings and reduced turbo lag. It's fed by an upgraded intercooler. Exhaust gases are sent via a 75mm diameter stainless steel pipe.Five-hundred hours of development went into remapping its ECU.The regular Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X on sale in Australia is no slouch: 217kW power at 6500rpm and 366Nm torque at 3500rpm.The FQ-400 offers 300kW at 6500rpm and a big 525Nm torque at 3500rpm. (A six-litre Commodore SS V8 gives 270kW and the Falcon XR8, 290kW). Mitsubishi and WRC Development say the FQ-400 is good for a zero to 100km/h sprint in 3.8 seconds. It's governed to 250km/h.It has a wider track than standard and is lowered 30mm, wearing Eibach springs and Bilstein shock absorbers, as well as an upgraded brake system using aerospace-grade aluminium.The FQ-400 is picked over the normal Evo X by a heavily vented bonnet for engine heat to escape, carbon-fibre elements in the grille edging, composite side skirts, restyled rear bumper with carbon-fibre diffuser, rear wing with Gurney strip and a "vortex generator" on the roof trailing edge.Inside are Recaro seats, seven airbags (it gets a five-star Euro NCAP rating for occupant protection in a crash), sat-nav and 30GB hard-drive on the sound system.The FQ-400 sells for a tad over $A100,000 in Britain where the regular Evo X costs from around $60,000 (similar to its Australian price).

It's claimed that lower emissions, a stimulus to new-car sales and better road safety would come from the program.In Germany, its federal government has launched a scheme giving 2500 Euro $A5000 to an owner of a car that is more than nine years old and has been registered for at least the past six months for that car to be scrapped and if the money is used towards a new car (with modern emission controls).The idea is to help keep car factories running in a time of large sales decline and to cut cars' CO2 emissions.In Australia, the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries sees even more benefits than that."New cars generally all have ABS brakes and airbags, and many have stability control programs all of which is better safety technology than older cars," FCAI chief executive Andrew McKellar says.He said the subsequent lowering of road crashes and therefore injuries and deaths would have a benefit in financial costs of health and business sectors."The (German) scheme would encourage private buyers and would be a benefit to the automotive industry and to the broader economy," he said.McKellar says modern cars also were more fuel efficient and so would deplete oil less than older cars.Such a cash incentive scheme would have perhaps a more marked effect in Australia than in Germany: "Australia's average age of vehicles remains quite high, still well above nine years and quite high compared with other major countries."He said the FCAI was closely looking at the German scheme and its effect."The Australian Federal Government should look at it," he said.New-vehicle sales in Australia fell 22 per cent last month compared with February last year, according to FCAI's Vfacts figures, and GM Holden at Elizabeth in Adelaide has announced another 10-day production shutdown, for next month.With new cars available from $13,000 drive-away a $5000 handout would be a significant help, compared with getting $1000 or less for an old "heap" from a trade-in or sale.

It, and fellow Korean sister Kia, have improved their build quality in recent years. Now the engineering product is standing up among the more recognised car manufacturers.The i30 small car won our 2007 Carsguide car of the year and Hyundai has not stopped there.Its new premium Genesis saloon is winning best-car awards in North America and we can look forward to other new models soon to be launched in Australia.They include the Genesis Coupe, the i20 small car and the i30cw which is a roomier wagon version of the hatch on which it is based.The Genesis Coupe and the i30cw will be unveiled at the Melbourne Motor Show from the end of this month.The coupe will be offered with a two-litre, turbocharged four-cylinder engine and a 3.8-litre V6 tuned to a big 231kW, and this in a rear-wheel-drive sporty with stability control, traction control and keyless entry.The i30cw wagon is 320mm longer and 40mm taller than the i30 hatchback and on a slightly longer wheelbase. It aims to offer more room for rear seat passengers and luggage and so is a better proposition for small families.The i20 will be a small hatchback, on sale here in the third quarter of this year, boasting technology usually found in larger, more costly cars. It will be fuel efficient and, for its size, have a relatively long wheelbase.Hyundai has grown to be one of the world's biggest car makers and sits in the top 10 most popular makes in Australia.Vfacts figures from the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries show last year it sold more than 45,000 new cars in Australia, putting it as eighth biggest-selling brand and ahead of Subaru and Volkswagen. 

The famous German maker of sports cars and race machines makes a big SUV wagon, then it confirms it is making a four-door sporty Porsche and now there's a diesel engine.It just underlines how far diesel has come in penetrating the market, especially in Europe, that even a prestige brand like Porsche now must embrace diesel, albeit at this stage only as one of the engine choices in its Cayenne four-wheel-drive wagons.The entry-level Cayenne is the V6 3.5-litre petrol unit. The diesel version is based on that trim level and, at $101,900 also sells for less than what you can buy any Porsche sports car. The V8 petrol Cayennes are $134,500 to $215,200 so this new Cayenne diesel looms as good value, considering its 550Nm of torque transferring to good performance.As we are learning, a diesel doesn't have to be a slug, especially if it's a German engine. Moving 2.3 tonnes of big 4WD from rest to 100km/h in 8.3 seconds is respectable by any measure. Porsche says it will even run out to 214km/h.The winner is the fuel economy, rated at 9.3 litres/100km, or better than 30 miles a gallon in the old money. The Cayenne's 100-litre tank promises a good touring range at these figures.The diesel engine is a three-litre V6 with variable-geometry turbocharger, giving 176kW at 4000 to 4400rpm while that 500Nm of torque comes on nice and early from 2000 to 2250rpm. If those figures sound familiar, look at the Audi engine range...The only transmission available with the diesel on Cayenne is the Tiptronic S, a six-speed that can be changed manually via rocker switches on the steering wheel. When the wagon is stopped in gear and the foot brake pressed, a clutch automatically disconnects the engine from the driveline, saving a few more drops of oily fuel.This thing is no poseur, either. It has a low-range transfer (2.7:1), decent ground clearance which can be adjusted if the optional air suspension is ordered (tp to 271mm) and the diesel model comes with sensibly sized tyres, not the low-profile jobs just about useless off bitumen as on some prestige SUVs. The transmission also has a hill-holder for smooth uphill starts.Standard is the Porsche traction management in the permanent all-wheel-drive system, distributing the torque to best advantage. It's normally set at 62 rear and 38 front until anything starts to slip.And it wouldn't be a top-brand Euro without a good stability control system, in this case one that also recognises any swaying or pendulum motion of a trailer and dabs appropriate brakes as required. A 3.5-tonne tow rate puts it among the big, tough boys, too. PORSCHE CAYENNE DIESELPrice: $101,900Engine: V6, 2967cc turbo-dieselPower: 176kW @ 4000-44000rpmTorque: 550Nm @ 2000-2250rpmEmissions: 244g/kmTransmission: Tiptronic S six-speed; all-wheel-drive; with low-range transferBrakes: All disc, six-piston calipers on front, four-piston on rearWheels/tyres: 7.5x17in; 235/65Fuel: 9.3 litres/100km; 100-litre tankDimensions: 4788mm long, 1928mm wide, 1699mm tall, 2855mm wheelbase, 218mm ground clearance, 2240kg, tows 3500kgPerformance: (claimed) 0-100km/h 8.3sec. 8-120km/h in fifth gear, 10.1sec. Top speed 214km/h On sale: In Australia, April 

Starting with a revamped logo from this week to update its identity, the French auto firm promises and extra range of new models using its famous DS prefix, new customer service standards and eventually a new showroom look at its dealers.The major revamp includes its advertising theme that now will carry the baseline Creative Technologie.Also, starting with the Cyprus Rally four weeks from now, Citroen Sport will change its name to Citroen Racing. The outfit is the dominant team in the World Rally Championship, thanks to reigning champions Sebastien Loeb and co-driver Daniel Elena, who already have won the first two rounds of the 2009 WRC in their Citroen C4.The team's new name of Citroen Racing is to promote the "speed, vitality and impetus" of car rallies, the carmaker says.For its road car line-up Citroen says at present it has the largest and most diverse range in its 90-year history. But over the coming three years it will launch six new models in Europe, and time will tell how many of those come to Australia.In Australia, Citroen offers a six-model range now. Not many car brands span a market from $16,490 to $108,750. The Citroen Berlingo light van is from $16,490 and the Dispatch van from $34,990. The C3 car is from $19,990, the C4 from $25,990, the C5 saloon from $51,990 and the luxury C6 tops the range at $108,750 in Australia.But just as the mainstream car models have the C prefix, and extra tier of new models will use the DS prefix from decades ago. The first idea of the new DS is the DS Inside concept car and its expected new models will be called DS3, DS4 and DS5. 

It's low, a purposeful two-door coupe sitting on big wheels with a sleek body and it promises super performance. But what is the car in our picture - an Aston Martin, Jaguar XK, maybe a Ferrari?Nope. It's from Japan and from a company known for building luxury cars, Lexus.This Lexus LF-A is arguably the first supercar from a Japanese brand since the Ferrari-challenging Honda NSX of 1991-2005, but with a lot more power than the NSX.Lexus has aimed “to build a supercar with world-class performance that is uniquely Lexus”.It features a five-litre, V10 engine developed for high revs. Power output is 370kW and early track testing shows a 320km/h top speed is within reach.The engine is mounted in front of the two-seat passenger compartment but behind the front axle line. LF-A engineers call it a `front-mid” configuration.The transaxle is rear mounted, providing the rear-wheel drive that enthusiasts prefer -and helping the weight distribution. As an aid to even weight distribution over each end of the car, two cooling radiators are mounted in the rear.It means the nose of the car can be kept low and designed for optimum aerodynamics - a science which often is compromised by having airflow into radiators.In this case, large intake ducts are just ahead of the rear wheel on each side of the car and feed air to cool the radiators.Aerodynamics, including the car sticking to the road at high seed, is helped by venturi-effect underbody shape as used on race cars.The rear bodywork has a pair of large grilles as exit vents for hot air from the radiators.The Lexus LF-A bodywork is built of aluminium and carbon-fibre. The rear section has a speed-activated spoiler.Gearshifting will be via paddleshifts.Lexus started with a fixed-top coupe in developing its LF-A, which is now well beyond concept stage but also has created a Roadster convertible as a show car. Both versions are just 122cm tall.Wheels? Try 20in diameter turbine-styled alloys - special 265/35 tyres on the front and 305/30 on the rear.