Articles by Stuart Martin

Hot-shot SUVs from Germany have been big, beefy beasts with M or AMG badges until now. Get ready for the RS Q3 - the first Q-series SUV to wear the Audi performance acronym and it's here next year.While Audi is not talking specifics on prices, expect it to follow the sliced-price policy of the new RS4 wagon and be the first RS model under $100,000 when it lobs in the first quarter of 2014. The four-ringed brand will rip the covers from the production RS Q3 at the Geneva motor show next month, boasting a 5.5 second sprint to 100km/h and a governed top speed of 250km/h.Powered by a slightly less frenetic version of the 2.5-litre direct-injection in-line five-cylinder intercooled turbo from the 250kW/450Nm TT RS, its got 228kW and 420Nm on offer in the RS Q3. Peak power is available across a broader rev range - 228kW is produced from 5200 through to 6700rpm (as opposed to 5400 to 6500 in the 255kg-lighter TT RS) and 420Nm is around from 1500 to 5200rpm, 100rpm earlier.The super-swift SUV also claims an average fuel consumption of 8.8 litres per 100km. The powerplant - teamed with a seven-speed S-tronic twin-clutch gearbox with paddleshifters and all-wheel drive - features launch control, an active exhaust system to produce an engine note reminiscent of the brand's rally heritage and it also has the stop-start fuel-saving system.Sitting about 25mm lower than the standard Q3, the RS version has a sports mode to its stability control for some leeway and comes to a halt by means of front cross-drilled and ventilated (front and rear) brakes, with eight-piston front calipers, which will have a kerb weight of 1730kg to retard. Body extras, cabin trim upgrades and addons including the de rigeur black honeycomb grille, larger front air intake, rear diffuser, sports leather seats, the RS flat-bottomed steering wheel, xenon headlights, LED tail lights and alloy mirror housings will set it apart from the standard Q3 line-up.Final specification is yet to be determined for Australia but its home market will get the RS Q3 with 19in alloy wheels, although there are going to be 20in options on offer as well. Audi Australia's Anna Burgdorf says the RS model line-up was set for an expansion over the next 18 months with RS 5 Cabriolet and RS6 wagon and then RS7 and RS Q3 in early 2014."SUVs in Australia are strong in our market, we'll have the SQ5 in the market at the end of April this year and then the RS Q3 adds another layer altogether, it's going to be our most affordable RS model," she says. "I think it will do very well in Australia, we love a performance carand we love an SUV, this is the perfect combination of both," she says. 

Volvo's V40 premium hatchback goes on sale next month for $34,990 - in 1.6-litre turbodiesel six-speed manual guise - although an automatic option doesn't appear in the pricelist until the D4 two-litre five-cylinder turbodiesel Kinetic at $41,990.The Swede's value equation - which puts it up against a number of European hatchbacks including the sharply-priced A-Class from Mercedes-Benz - also includes free scheduled servicing for three years or 60,000km.A world-first pedestrian airbag is among the standard safety features arsenal that resulted in the V40 a five-star NCAP crash test result, scoring the program's best-ever score.The advanced safety features pack includes adaptive cruise control with collision warning and automatic braking functions, blind spot and lane departure warning, a cross traffic warning, Driver Support Pack ($5000) active high beam and automatic parking functions.The option package - available on Luxury and R-Design models - also includes the road sign information system that can decipher roadside speed limit signs and display them in the vehicle's high-tech instrument panel.The five-door Volvo range will be available in three different trim types - Kinetic, Luxury and R-Design - and tops out at just under $50,000.Volvo Car Australia managing director Matt Braid says the brand was surprised by the sharp A-Class pricing but was still aiming for 800 to 1000 sales in the vehicle's first year on the market.Mr Braid says the value of the included maintenance was valued between $1500 and $2500, depending on the model."Combined with an incredibly sharp opening price point, the V40 is a car that offers extraordinary value for money, class-leading safety attributes, world-first innovations... all up, it is an extremely compelling offering to potential customers purchasing in this segment," he says.Volvo V40: 

Holden chairman and managing director Mike Devereux said the company was building a world-class car for local and export markets. "The VF represents a sea-change in terms of the type of vehicle we can create in this country, it's a class above anything that we've ever done or has ever been done in this country, we're very proud that you can export things from Australia - they have to be world-class and this fantastic manufacturing facility and the team that put the VF together have delivered on that," he said. The car is being unveiled well before it goes on sale in June as the export version - the Chevrolet SS - is being revealed in the US tomorrow. The export model, which supplies the body aesthetics for the Chevrolet NASCAR competitor, will debut at the upcoming Daytona 500, unveiled by former Holden boss, now GM North America president Mark Reuss. Mr Devereux has again defended the co-investment strategy with the state and federal governments, which was expected to reap $6 billion of local economic benefit - through component suppliers and down to workers wages - during the life-cycle of the next-generation products out to 2022. Mr Devereux said the company was conscious of providing value for the governments’ $275 million co-investment package. "It's two billion for VF and four billion for the next-gen models, between 2016 and 2022 in economic activity and injection in the Australian economy, he says. "The country understands what manufacturing means to the country, we need to fight for our right to be able to have high-tech manufacturing," he says. "We take our taxpayer assistance very seriously and we want to make sure we provided a great return on investment for everybody in the country and we believe we're doing just that," he said. SA Premier Jay Weatherill believes the $50 million co-investment in Holden's manufacturing future represented value-for-money for tax payers. "We've invested $50 million and it's going to leverage the future of 16,000 jobs in SA, I think on anybody's reckoning that is a great deal for this state - a billion worth of investment through until 2022, that's the agreement that has been reached."  

Ford Ranger Wildtrak and VW Amarok Highline go head-to-head in this comparative review.

Mitsubishi Outlander Aspire Diesel  and Honda CR-V VTi-L go head-to-head in this comparative review.

The pack comes hot on the heels of its revamp of the Sorento SUV, which wears a similar skin but sits on the new platform shared with Hyundai, with a 120kg ball download rating.The manual variants listed the braked towing capacity of 2500kg, while the automatic rated an even two tonnes (due to cooling and weight distribution requirements), but the ball download figure is critical.Kia has developed an upgraded tow bar package which increases the Sorento's ball download figure to 150kg by means of a new heavy-duty towing package. Chief among the changes for the towing set-up is a set of uprated rear springs to cope with the increased down ball weight - but the changes don't impact the maximum braked towing capacity. The heavy-duty package, which costs $977.34 plus fitting at Kia dealerships, can be fitted to both front and all-wheel drive models of the Sorento.Kia also says customers who have already bought a genuine Kia tow bar kit that is rated to a 120kg down ball weight can upgrade - for $239.78 plus fitting - to the 150kg set-up by way of  an new set of heavy duty springs and corresponding labels.The company says it was mindful of the suspension changes not effecting the locally-tuned ride and handling characteristics of the seven-seater SUV. The company also says a load-distributing hitch can be used without voiding the car's warranty, provided it is used correctly as per the vehicle's manual to avoid undue stress on the vehicle's body.Kia Australia's spokesman Kevin Hepworth says customer inquiries about heavier towing applications for the car had warranted the heavy-duty tow pack being made available."The heavier-rated towball was something that Sorento users had indicated a strong interest in, to meet that demand Kia has moved to ensure its availability," Kia Australia general manager of public relations Kevin Hepworth.The Sorento range has either a six-speed manual or automatic in front-wheel drive or (with a 60kg weight penalty) four-wheel drive, which is an "on-demand" drivetrain that can be locked into 50/50 front to rear up to speeds of 40km/h.Among the changes made to the Sorento for 2013 was a stronger bodyshell (18 per cent stiffer) as well as stronger sub-frames on which to mount the front and rear suspension, using larger bushes to reduce vibration.The big SUV has also benefited from locally-tuned suspension and steering for better ride and handling, something that Kia has been doing with some success in its recently-updated range.Kia sold 30,758 vehicles last year - 3276 of them were Sorentos - and maintained its momentum for the start of 2013. Kia Australia chief operating officer  Tony Barlow says the brand is gaining market traction and not just spiking sales with the arrival of one outstanding model."One of the most pleasing aspects of 2012 has been the across-the-range growth in demand for Kia cars," he says.

If absence makes the heart grow fonder then Australia will go crazy nuts in love with the new Patrol. Unveiled in February 2010, the launch has been delayed several times by US and Middle East demand for the behemoth from Shatai Kyushu plant in Japan.But that ardour might quickly cool if reaction to the absence of a diesel engine is any indication. For the first time Nissan's off-road flagship is offered with a V8 powerplant over inline-six-cylinder petrol propulsion. And it's a premium unleaded only proposition.Nissan Australia boss Bill Peffer says there are no plans to introduce a diesel. "There's nothing in the current plan, that's not to say that over the life cycle, depending on the product strategy and how we move forward, that we may not look at some kind of alternate powertrain,'' he says.Peffer dismisses suggestions the fuel economy of a V8 petrol engine puts it at a disadvantage over a turbodiesel powerplant. "Fuel economy is slightly less efficient than a diesel powertrain, but then again you're going to pay $5000 roughly or more for a diesel variant, the payback is a five year/100,000km for that to make sense," he says.In metal-for-money terms the new Patrol might be considered "value''. The entry-level eight-seater ST-L starts from $82,200, with a jump to $92,850 for the mid-spec Ti and $113,900 is the ask for the flagship Ti-L  which drops its seat count to seven.Standard fare range-wide includes Bluetooth phone link (but music streaming is absent), a hard-drive equipped sound system with iPod connectivity, a leather-wrapped steering wheel with audio and cruise controls, a foot-operated park brake, power-adjustable driver's seat, trip computer, three-zone climate control with rear controls, cloth/leather trim, side steps, power-adjustable, folding and heated exterior mirrors, 60/40 split fold second and third row of seats, LED tail lights, four 12-v power outlets (front, centre console, second row and luggage area).The Ti model adds speed-sensitive power steering and Nissan's Hydraulic Body Motion Control system. The mid-spec Patrol also gets leather trim, power adjustment for the front passenger's seat, automatic headlights, a sunroof and rain-sensing wipers.The flagship Ti-L gets a memory function for the driver's seats, xenon headlights, 3D satnav on an 8in touchscreen that also controls the Bose 13-speaker 9gig hard-drive equipped Bluetooth streaming, USB-equipped sound system. There's also a power-operated rear tailgate, two 7in headrest-mounted screens to play DVDs (with headphones and a remote control) to keep passengers entertained on long road trips.There's no shortage of clever bits, the 5.6-litre V8 has direct injection, four valves per cylinder, double overhead cams and variable valve timing and lift system. All that gives it peak power of 298kW/560Nm, the latter at a slightly peaky 4000, although 90 per cent of that comes on from 1600 rpm.Fuel use of 14.5 litres per 100km says Nissan is 15 per cent better than the 4.8-litre six-cylinder, but it will still need a big sip from the 140-litre fuel tank. A seven-speed auto puts the drive to the full-time (rear-biased) 4WD system, which has limited slip and lockable rear differential, as well as specific terrain modes, hill descent control and low range.The system has no mechanical centre differential feeding as much as 50 per cent of drive to the front wheels using an electronically-controlled multi-plate clutch set-up. Hydraulic suspension technology has replaced conventional dampers and anti-roll bars to control the double wishbone coil-sprung suspension on the mid and top-spec models.Hydraulic chambers control the suspension travel, cross-linked to resist body roll when cornering but able to allow considerably more suspension travel then that offered with antiroll bars in place.Big, squared-off (particularly when viewed from the stumpy rear) and wide, the new Patrol takes up a lot of space. The behemoth wagon doesn't shrink once within  space in most directions is more than ample for seven adults.Even the third row can accommodate grown-ups, if only for a short trip  with a useful amount of luggage space with all three rows in use. The velour trim in the ST-L looks a little outdated and appears likely to show wear and tear quickly. The transmission selector remains placed for a left-hand drive set-up and on the incorrect side of the transmission tunnel.As yet untested by the NCAP crew, the Patrol gets front, side and curtain airbags, active front headrests, and front and rear parking sensors with rear view camera, lap sash seatbelts for all three seating rows. Stability and traction control, hill start and descent control are all standard, with the mid-spec Ti getting guide-lines for the reversing camera set-up.Add adaptive cruise control, forward collision, lane departure and blind spot warning and prevention systems (which brake individual wheels to ``steer'' the vehicle back into line), intelligent braking assistance, tyre pressure monitoring system, the multi-camera "Around View Monitor'' system and the electronic auto-dimming centre rearvision mirror to the list for the Ti-L.Anyone in the market for a cavernous kid-carter that sounds great, your ride has arrived. The base-model rides well even without the clever hydraulics present on the mid and high-spec models, although body control in corners is a little less rigid. The hydraullic body control system tempers body roll but the ride quality degrades a little on rougher roads  jitteriness over smaller imperfections was noticeable.Cabin space is considerable, build quality feels first-rate (as do the materials) and feel is solid (aside from the odd trim in the ST-L), it's a quiet and comfortable interior. Twirling the tiller around at low speeds is easy, but the helm doesn't offer much to the driver as speeds rise to metropolitan or highway rates  even for a large SUV, the Patrol is a little ponderous.The V8 is a gem  there's simply no other way to describe it  producing peak power of 298kW at 5800rpm, with maximum torque of at 560Nm at a somewhat-high 4000rpm, although 90 per cent is on offer from 1600rpm.The soundtrack is more than pleasant, as is the push in the back, but given it's shifting almost three tonnes (in the Ti-L) there's punishment at the pump  Nissan says ADR of 14.5 litres per 100km on the combined cycle but expect plenty more than that if you're towing (up to 3500kg braked) or dwelling around town.The seven-speed auto is a slick-shifter that will hold a gear in manual shift mode and the all-wheel drive system feels capable of shifting drive quickly and effectively in off-road terrain. Teamed with 283mm of ground clearance, the luxury angle hasn't seen its off-road ability suffer  only the wide girth will present an issue on tight off-roading, not the school carpark.It's been a long time coming and in some ways worth the wait for big off-roader buyers to have an alternative to the LandCruiser. But the lack of a diesel won't do it any favours,  particularly in rural areas.

VW Passat Alltrack and Audi A4 Allroad go head-to-head in this comparative review.

Not a wheel has yet turned in anger on Nissan's Altima but it has already claimed a scalp. The arrival of the V8 Supercar's road-going second cousin twice-removed on showroom floors in Australia spells certain doom for the long-serving Maxima nameplate.The new sedan's arrival in the last quarter of the year - following its debut series in the revamped V8 Supercar championship - will mark the end of the Maxima's 23-year run in Australia, as sales of the large sedan dwindle to a trickle.The passenger car flagship finished last year with 1454 - down almost 25 per cent on the 2011 tally - although it's January sales tally were up on the back of a sharp retail finance campaign.The demise of Maxima comes as the Japanese brand prepares to enter the V8 Supercar championship and bring to market a dozen new or facelifted models over the next two years."We have 12 new products over the next two years - the V8 Supercars is a great platform to seed the Altima, we're bringing that nameplate here to replace Maxima, we see that as a great segway in.""Maxima will be phased out over the next 6 to 8 months to give Altima a clean run," he says. The brand has to wait until near year's end for the Altima to make an impact in the sales columns.The triumphant return of the Pulsar nameplate to a market that remembers it fondly bodes well for Nissan, who don't feel left behind in the small car market despite Tiida's lacklustre performance."I don't know if we are behind, the last Pulsar was on offer in 2006, during that time we have maintained a 71 per cent awareness, Tiida after six years had 56 per cent, we believe Pulsar is the right product in the right segment at the right time," he says.The Japanese brand last year finished with 79,787 sales - a 17 per cent jump on 2011 and its highest tally since 1990. It has started the year with continued momentum, setting a January record with 7202 vehicles sold - a 34 per cent increase on January 2012."Nissan’s popularity in Australia is on the rise and there’s no stronger evidence of this than our latest sales results," Mr Peffer says. 

Boring, bland, cardigan-car - once upon a time, these were commonplace phrases when talking about a Camry.Reliable but uninspiring is no longer the catchcry, thanks to a sharp new suit and some serious work on the chassis, the new Camry has made solid progress in the appeal stakes and the hybrid has the added greeny factor without being weird enough to only draw an early-adopter crowd.VALUEThe hybrid Camry range starts at $34,990 but we've been thrown the keys to the HL top-spec model, which pushes the price up to $41,990 - Toyota says there's $4500 of extra gear for a $1500 price rise.Both front occupants in the HL get power-adjustable seats (the driver's is equipped with a two-position memory), dual-zone climate control, keyless entry and ignition, a reversing camera and rear parking sensors, 17-in alloy wheels, fog lights, a rear bootlid spoiler, a leather-wrapped steering wheel with audio and phone controls, an electric rear-window shade and auto-dipping rearvision mirror.The HL hybrid also gets an exceptional 10-speaker JBL digital radio and iPod integrated sound system and the satnav (with SUNA real-time traffic info) are all controlled by the touchscreen, which also displays the rearvision camera.TECHNOLOGYThe most obvious technology is the petrol-electric drivetrain - a 2.5-litre petrol four-cylinder engine, a tricky set of gears and two electric motors. It all adds up to a smooth and efficient system that seamlessly goes from electric only to petrol-electric drive, as well as driving and generating charge for the battery, with little in the way of disturbance as the petrol motor starts and stops as required.The result is a 118kW/213Nm petrol four-cylinder engine combining the electric motor producing 105kW/270Nm 650v electric motor, which gives the driver plenty of pep when required.The HL's JBL 10-speaker surround sound system has iPod integration via Bluetooth or USB cable and uses lightweight speaker and amplifier components. It's one of the first mainstream cars to feature full digital radio compatibility - Toyota says digital radio produces significantly clearer sound from mainstream radio stations as well as exclusive digital-only stations.DESIGNThis is where the current car can leave its old image behind - the look is sharp and it almost has character. It's not grown a great deal over the outgoing car but the "bracket creep" of medium cars is obvious when you consider the first Camry of several decades ago.The new car is 375mm longer, 135mm wider, 75mm taller and its wheelbase is 175mm longer, plus  - in hybrid form at least - it weighs 565kg more. The hybrid model gets a different grille, a blue-tinged badge and headlight trim.The cabin has ample space and hits the quality mark when it comes to fit and finish - it will easily accommodate a family of four and has rear vents and a rear window shade, all of which are handy for keeping kids comfy and quiet.The test car had light coloured upholstery which shows wear quickly - again, the rugrat factor would warrant a darker colour - but there's good in-cabin storage.The bootspace has improved, with relocated electrical systems improving bootspace by 8 per cent to 421 litres.Where the engineering and design falls down is with a miniscule 300kg towing capacity, but more on that later.SAFETYThe new Camry range carries a five star ANCAP crash rating - the old one did too but the 2012 model went very close to full marks.The top-spec model's safety features list includes seven airbags (dual front, side, full-length curtain and a driver's knee), a seatbelt use warning system for all seats, stability and traction control and ABS brakes.The flagship hybrid also gets the blind spot monitor system (which detects vehicles dwelling in the next lane) and auto-dipping high beam system.DRIVINGThis is no longer bland and mundane transport. First impressions of cabin quality continue when the start button is pushed and silence often follows.Resist the temptation to hit the button again and look for the READY light - while noise is often absent the hybrid wafts away on battery power alone until the right foot heads further into the accelerator pedal.The ride is firmer than you might expect but it deals with road bumps nicely and manages to corner with reasonable aplomb as well. The local Toyota engineers have had a hand in tuning it for Australian driving tastes as well as taking into account the battery weight over the rear wheels.It's not going to frighten an SS-V V8 Commodore on a bendy back road, but it's not going to disgrace itself either, with steering and handling properties that border on enthusiastic.Where the hybrid is going to score is in the fuel economy stakes - the outgoing car was not thirsty but the new drivetrain has improved its appetite by more than 13 per cent to 5.2 litres per 100km, with our stint in the car in mainly suburban running returning numbers in the six range.The improvements in the boot have given near-normal levels of luggage space but the Camry hybrid has been engineered with a towing capacity of only 300kg (braked or unbraked) - the car goes electric-only when reversing, hence the low number.Toyota says is sufficient to tow a small trailer - given the average 6x4 can weigh 250kg that doesn't leave much for cargo. A normal Camry has a braked towing capacity of 1200kg, or 500kg for an unbraked trailer; even a base-model Yaris three door has a braked towing capacity of 900kg, or 550kg unbraked.VERDICTWorkhorse issues aside the petrol-electric Camry provides smooth, quiet and frugal family motoring that is good value-for-money, particularly when you consider the Camry's size and the Prius pricetag.Toyota Camry Hybrid HLPrice: from $41,490Warranty: 3 years/100,000km (hybrid battery 8 years/160,000km)Resale:  46 per cent (Source: Glass's Guide)Service interval: 15,000km/9 monthsSafety rating: five starsSpare: Full-size alloyEngine: 2.5-litre 118kW/213Nm petrol four-cylinder, 105kW/270Nm 650v electric motorTransmission: CVT; FWDBody: 4.8m (L); 1.8m (w); 1.5m (h)Weight: 1610kgThirst: 5.21/100km, on test 6.2; tank 65 litres, 91RON; 121g/km CO2