Articles by Stuart Martin

Drivers might have "Friday on my mind" or "everybody's working for the weekend" playing on the car sound system when they drive home at the end of the working week, but they still need to concentrate on driving. Research from insurance company NRMA - based on claims data from the 2011 calendar year - has found Friday is the worst day of the week for crashes in several states and the ACT.  The insurer's statistics showed West Australian collisions on a Friday were 21 per cent above the weekly average, New South Wales and the ACT were 17 per cent above, and Queensland 16 per cent above. In those parts of the country, the 3-5pm bracket was the worst timeframe - and Sunday is the least likely day for a collision to occur. The figures have prompted the insurer to warn drivers to stay alert at the wheel especially as they head into the weekend. NRMA spokesperson Damien Butler said it is a timely reminder to drivers that they need to focus on driving, particularly on a Friday. "People may be starting to unwind for the weekend and be distracted on a Friday, which contributes to them being at higher risk of a collision. "In the afternoon, drivers may be rushing home from work, hurrying to collect their kids from school or heading away for the weekend and not taking extra care while driving. "We want to urge drivers to focus on the road, be aware of traffic conditions and to stay calm while driving to help prevent the worst happening," he said. WHAT TO DO IF YOU HAVE A CRASH Stop immediately and give assistance to anyone who is injured; Call an ambulance if required; Call the police if a person has been injured, the other party fails to stop and/or supply details, a vehicle has to be towed, a driver appears under the influence of drugs or alcohol or there is damage to property; Exchange details, including date, time and location, name and residential address of the person involved and the owner of the vehicle, licence and registration details, make and model of the cars involved and insurance details; Collect the details of any witnesses and police in attendance; and Contact your insurer.  

In the absence of exciting new product, leaner and meaner sub-$30,000 pricing on the Honda Accord and price cuts to the City light car are the latest salvos fired by the Japanese car maker to turn around its sales figures. Honda's "aggressive" new Accord pricing aims to further improve the model's value for money, according to director and general manager Stephen Collins. "This new pricing on the Accord range is further evidence of Honda Australia's commitment to provide our customers with outstanding product at value for money pricing. "We are sure our customers will agree the Accord now offers one of the best-value buys in the large segment," he says.  Given the Japanese brand finished 2011 just over 25 per cent down on its 2010 tally (after being thumped by earthquakes, tsunami and nuclear reactor issues in Japan and floods in Thailand), the beancounters will be looking to get volumes back to pre-disaster levels. April's performance showed growth over April 2011 but the numbers year-to-date remain behind 2011. The 133kW/226Nm 2.4-litre four-cylinder entry-level Accord VTi has dropped $4300 to a list price of $28,190 - or $29,990 drive-away. The VTi-L with satellite navigation has been dropped $2800 from $39,990 to $37,190 and the 202kW/342Nm V6 Luxury model has been reduced by $2700 to $47,290. The Accord V6 is equipped with Variable Cylinder Management (VCM) that allows the engine to operate on either six, four or three cylinders for maximum fuel and emission efficiency. The City light car has also had its price cut - by $500 - as part of a facelift and features upgrade. Mr Collins says the $19,990 drive-away pricetag makes the City "sensational value for money." "Australians will love the look of the new-look City," he says. The City, offered in VTi and VTi-L variants, has a new grille and redesigned brake lights and bumpers, aluminium-look interior trim bits and a new rear micro antenna. The VTi-L gets a new design for the new-look 16in alloy wheels. The dash has also been refreshed - the speedometer now has blue illumination - and the City also has thicker window glass and floor carpet to reduce cabin noise, claims Honda. On the floor significantly improve cabin quietness.  The City VTi manual is priced from $18,490  (or $19,990 drive-away), add $2000 for the auto or step up to the VTi-L automatic for $22,990.  

The Adelaide-built Holden flagship was beaten by Toyota's HiLux , the Corolla and the Mazda3 as the Australian carmaker's overall tally saw it slip to third for April, although it retained second spot for the year so far.The Commodore was also beaten for the second time by its Cruze stablemate last month (Cruze outsold the Commodore in January 2012) and the big six-cylinder sedan is just 76 units ahead of Cruze for the year so far.Holden sales, marketing and aftersales executive director John Elsworth said its locally-built cars accounted for 70.3 per cent of its April sales."Cruze continues to be a great car for Holden, it was Australia's fourth highest-selling car in for the month with 2315 cars sold,"he said.Mr Elsworth said while Commodore continued to capture more than 50 per cent of the shrinking large car segment in April, the sales tally for "a tough month" had been effected by stock shortages of imported models.Ford, which launched its turbocharged four-cylinder Falcon in a bid to arrest sliding sales, had its Melbourne-built sedan and the Territory SUV outsold by both the Focus and Ranger LCV ranges.Toyota has been market leader for 83 of the past 85 months - a run broken only by the 2011 natural disasters. Executive director sales and marketing Matthew Callachor said HiLux had the highest awareness among people looking to buy a 4x2 or 4x4 ute."Almost one in two HiLux buyers already own a Toyota while more than half say they are likely to choose another Toyota for their next vehicle," he said. Mazda's strong performance last month was also attributable to the brand's new CX-5 strong start - with 1413 sales it was second only to the Toyota Prado for SUV sales. The passenger car market fell slightly behind its monthly and year-to-date (YTD) tally - down 2.5 per cent for April and 0.2 per cent YTD, while Sport Utility Vehicle sales continued to climb, increasing by nearly 28 per cent for April and 24 percent YTD.FCAI chief executive Ian Chalmers said SUVs continue to dominate the Australian vehicle market."This month however we can also see an interesting emergence of customer preference for diesel powered SUVs," he said. The Australian new vehicle market fell just short of 80,000 cars in April - 79,097 - a 6.6 per cent improvement (or 4883 vehicles) on April last year.                           

And its latest incarnation has the sort of numbers local musclecar drivers would be keen to sample.  The Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 - which will wear a US$58,000 pricetag when it goes on sale in North America - is boasting a top speed near 300km/h and a sprint to 100km/h in under four seconds.  The heart of the ZL1 is a Roots-supercharged and intercooled version of the 6.2-litre V8, which kicks out 432kW and 754Nm - the most powerful production Camaro ever. It also has an active exhaust and the choice of a six-speed manual or automatic transmission.  Chevrolet have also endowed the ZL1 with the third-incarnation of the Magnetic Ride suspension system, which uses dampers with magneto-rheological (MR) fluid that can be quickly altered by means of an electric current to change the suspension firmness according to road conditions and driving behaviour. Driver behaviour will also be tempered by the system Chev calls "Performance Traction Management" - the system is taken from the ZR1 Corvette and oversees the magnetic ride control, stability and traction control, the electric power steering and launch control systems. The latter - only on offer with the manual transmission - automatically monitors (1000 times a second) and if required restrains the engine's torque to offer the best balance between acceleration and wheel spin. Of course, that's a track-only pursuit. Also on the ZL1's features list are a rear-differential cooler, integrated engine and transmission oil coolers, and brake-cooling ducts as standard, with the cabin getting leather-trimmed seats, a nine-speaker Boston Acoustics sound system, USB and Bluetooth connectivity, rear parking sensors and a rear camera. Options are limited to the six-speed auto, 20in polished alloy wheels, a sunroof, striping package, a suede interior upgrade or - for the subtle and low-key owner - an unpainted carbon fibre bonnet insert. Don't hold your breath for the ZL1 to pop up in Holden dealerships any time soon - Holden says there's no business case for RHD production of the current Camaro model - but the well-funded Camaro fans might yet be saved by the private importers, but the asking price is likely to be well north of the US$58,000 tag it wears in North America. The Camaro ZL1 Coupe will go on sale in the northern hemisphere spring next year, with a convertible to follow in the summer months of that year, but the droptop's price is yet to be revealed.  Queensland importer Performax International currently bring in a number of US musclecars, including Camaro and Mustang models.  Performax International general manager Glenn Soper says they have a customer-ordered Camaro ZL1 destined for the workshop shortly after its February release in the US.  "The ZL1 differs from the ordinary Camaro in having electric-assisted power steering, which will be a complex job to convert to RHD while ensuring no loss of function for all the interconnected electronic chassis systems," he says. Mr Soper says the company's previous experience with the Ford Mustang electric power steering and Australian Design Rule approval will help, but it won't be cheap.  "As we are a small-volume importer, our prices are always subject to prevailing exchange rates. Including conversion cost and Luxury Car Tax, a registration-ready Australian version of the Camaro ZL1 may cost in the region of $140,000-$150,000, however, a privately-imported vehicle brought to us for conversion and compliance would cost less.  "We don't expect to sell many, but no doubt there will be a few enthusiasts who will just have to have one of the most exciting Chevys ever produced," Mr Soper says.  

Negative attitudes about job cuts have failed to completely dampen the Australian car buying public's enthusiasm for Toyota, who again topped the new vehicle sales charts. The total market in April was softer than the March figures (down 9 per cent) but up just over 3000 units on the April 2011 tally and remaining on track for a million sales for the calendar year.  Official figures expected to be released today should show the Melbourne-based Japanese brand sold around 16,000 new vehicles last month, putting it well clear of the pack but almost 2000 down on March 2012.  Japanese full-line importer Mazda has pushed Holden down into third spot ahead of Hyundai and then Ford for April. Embattled car-maker Ford was still a little hamstrung by restricted Fiesta light-car and Ranger LCV supply volumes, and by parts supplier issues late in the month. The Melbourne-based car maker launched its turbocharged four-cylinder Falcon last week but won't see any impact on its sales tallies until May or June. The Blue Oval's expecation was that Ranger would bounce back and Territory was near the top of the SUV tables.  Ford said there were "continuing challenges in the large car segment but we're not alone there" - the company is also pleased with the response to its EcoBoost Falcon four-cylinder and was starting a new internet campaign for the car today. Holden was not prepared to speculate on its position in the market but its expected that Japanese brand Mazda will have beaten the local brand by just under 100 units.  The strong Mazda performance - reportedly it's best April on record - was attributed to another strong month of Mazda3 and BT-50 light-commercial sales. Korean brand Kia looks set to keep its spot in the top 10, with 20-plus per cent increases for April and year-to-date sales, despite the reduced number of selling days caused by Easter and ANZAC Day public holidays.                                                                                             

I've been driving so many Volvos lately I might start wearing a hat and speaking Swedish with a Chinese accent. Aside from those afflictions it's not been too bad.This "Swedish Valiant" is the V60 D3 wagon, a bull-nosed sharp-looking family hauler that looks nothing like the old Volvo wagons that were around when I was growing up .... I mean, when I was younger.VALUEThe V60 D3 Teknik model is by no means a bargain-basement load-lugger, given that it's priced from $62,490, a $4500 hike above the base D3. The Teknik extras include the satellite navigation system, Active Bending Lights with Headlight wash system, the BLIS blind spot warning system, a power-adjustable passenger seat and an upgrade to the instrumentation to a "watch-dial" - I thought watches were Swiss?The Teknik model has leather trim, power-adjustable front seats, a flat-folding front seat and a rear splitfold seat, filtered dual-zone climate control with rear B-pillar vents, power windows and rear privacy window tint. The V60 gets a cruise control that pops up a digital speed when set, but there's no digital speed readout for normal driving - why?There's also rain-sensing wipers but no dusk-sensing headlights (despite appearing on cheaper, lower-spec Volvos?), rear parking sensors, an electric park brake, an auto-dipping rearview mirror and a trip computer. There's a Bluetooth link for the phone and sound system (which argues with iPhone 4's iPod when USB cable is also in use) and folding external mirrors.TECHNOLOGYThere's no shortage of new technology in this car's arsenal, but most of it is safety-related - but the new D3 does get a two-litre five-cylinder turbodiesel engine that produces 120kW and 400Nm, the latter between 1500 and 2750rpm, to shunt the wagon along at a solid rate.Like it's low-pressure turbo petrol cousins, the engine has something of a hair-trigger accelerator but the mid-range is considerable and solid pace is maintained without massive throttle openings.Teamed with a six-speed automatic, the V60 front-wheel drive claims 6l/100km (rising to 8.3 around town and down to a remarkable 4.7 on the highway) - our time had it sipping at 8l/100km from a 67.5 litre tank, giving it an easy range of well over 800km. The Swedish wagon also has a brake energy regeneration technology and a maintenance-free exhaust particle filter.DESIGNAs is fast becoming the case around the globe, the humble wagon, for all its practicality, needs to look like something else. The V60 takes plenty from swoopier sports coupes in terms of its external lines, while attempting to retain the mundane abilities of shopping, commuting and doing the school run.It largely succeeds, as this is not an unattractive car, but it's also not a pretty machine either.Inside, the Swedish design makes for a functional interior, without the austere flavour that invades some German cockpits. The menu functions are largely straightforward and it has clever touches - the two-stage booster seats for the two outboard children in the back, pushing the kids up to the appropriate height, although a little more lateral support wouldn't go astray.The rear doors and windows can also be locked by the driver with the push of one button - no early exits and no window races. The 692-litre boot is a useful size, with a clever floor for separating and securing loads - there's also underfloor storage, but sadly that has come at the expense of a spare wheel - there's only a mobility kit.SAFETYThe brand is one of the automotive world's safety leaders and the V60 has plenty of gear as a result - there's a five-star NCAP rating to show for that, thanks to a safety-conscious body structure, dual front, front side and full-length curtain airbags, as well as pre-tensioner-equipped seatbelt for all five occupants, while the front two have load-limiters as well.The sub-30km/h accident-avoidance City Safety system is standard fare, with adaptive brake lights, stability and traction control and anti-lock brakes also among its features. Clever little touches include the park brake that won't automatically kick off with a prod of the throttle without the driver's seatbelt being in place.DRIVINGThere's no need for hats in these things - unless it's a baseball cap that may or may not be on backwards. The V60 is quiet from within - although the odd engine note on the outside is certainly a diesel - but getting underway is far from a laborious chore, as once pressure in the turbo has built, the wagon is well underway.It's not going to frighten the big petrol turbos in the Volvo range but it's far from tardy, with solid in-gear progress as well. The automatic is not as slick between ratios as the twin-clutch transmission available elsewhere, but it works well make the most of the torque, just don't bother trying to manual-change - it cruises at 100-110km/h just below 2000rpm and is quiet when doing so.The back-road blast factor is better than you'd think, with plenty of pep on offer for the right foot, good body control and a nose that doesn't feel weighed down by the diesel, just don't ask for too much information through the steering. The seating is comfortable but when pressing ahead it could do with more lateral support, front and rear - the rear occupants have enough headroom but legroom is at a premium, unless the front pews are well forward.Only a few complaints with the V60 - ride is on the firm side and there are no automatic headlights; the Bluetooth audio link kept trying to over-rule the USB cable and the blindspot information system flashed a few times during heavy rain.VERDICTAnyone tired of the choice of German, German or German in the compact prestige wagon market has a worthy contender from the Swedish brand. The V60 D3 gets plenty of points for its useful and frugal drivetrain and for being that little bit different, but doesn't score well given the lack of a spare and having a rear seat that's a little tight for legroom. Parents with young kids will love it but those looking to use the rear seat for adults will want to be below-average height.WE LOVEFrugal and punchy powerplant, clever floor, integrated booster seats, sound system, safety gear, competent handling WE  LOATHE  rear 3/4 vision, rear leg room, no spare tyre, no auto headlights, front wheel drive with all that torque.Volvo V60 D3 TeknikPrice: from $62,490Warranty: 3 years, unlimited kilometreResale: 44% Source: Glass's GuideService Interval: 15,000km or 12-monthsEconomy: 6 l/100km, on test 8, tank 67.5 l; 160g/km CO2Equipment: six airbags, ABS, EBD, stability control.Crash rating: 5 starEngine: 120kW/400Nm two-litre five-cylinder DOHC 20-valve turbodiesel engineTransmission: six-speed auto, front wheel driveBody: 5-door, 5 seats Dimensions: 4628mm (L); 1865mm (W); 1484mm (H); 2776mm (WB)Weight: 1601kgTyre Size: 235/40 R18Spare: Space saver

The A8 and A6 models would fall into the category of "exec-express" vehicles and Audi calls the A7 Sportback an exec sports coupe.Coupe used to imply two doors and a liftback rump but that no longer seems to apply - Volkswagen does the Passat CC (soon to be just a CC).The E-Class-based Mercedes-Benz CLS shoved this style of car into the spotlight, but Audi took the liftback road perhaps as a point of difference to the Merc.BMW did the X6 - a mixed-marriage of an SUV and a coupe - but there's a reason why BMW sells at least six times as many X5s, as Forest Gump says, that's all I have to say about that.Regardless, we're in the A7 Sportback 3.0 TFSI - the supercharged V6 petrol model with plenty of bling.ValueThe sticker price for the A7 Sportback 3.0 TFSI is $147,800, so we're in deep-pocket territory.The standard car gets 19in alloy wheels with 255/40 rubber, power-adjustable folding mirrors, powered tailgate, automatic rear spoiler, power-adjustable driver's seat, leather trim, automatic bi-xenon leadlights, LED running lights, quad-zone climate control, keyless entry and ignition, a multi-function sports steering wheel with paddleshifters.The standard infotainment system is has Bluetooth phone and audio link, with the Audi-specific connection for iPods, USB storage media and MP3 players, satnav, hard drive for map and music storage and a top-notch Bose 14-speaker surround sound system.The test car also has adaptive cruise control, stop-start fuel saver system and the blind spot warning system ($4850), $1000 worth electric steering adjustment, LED headlights with automatic high beam (a $2700 extra), the head-up display (for $3400), metallic (pearl effect) paint for $2300, digital TV (for $3180) and soft-closing doors for $1450.The big, black A7 also had the $7900 S line Sports package, which adds 20in Audi alloy wheels with 265/35 tyres to fill the wheelarches nicely, sport suspension and sports-styled front seats, an S line multifunction sports steering wheel, upgraded Valcona leather trim and aluminium trim bits, all up the as-tested price is $182,040.TechnologyThe drive comes from the brand's smooth, quiet and impressive supercharged direct-injection three-litre DOHC variable intake valve V6 that we've seen in the S4, albeit with 245kW. The A7 has 220kW on tap between 5250 and 6500 rpm, with 440Nm of torque between 2900 and 4500 rpm, headed for the wheels via a seven-speed twin-clutch auto.The V6 has a stop-start fuel saver system and a driving mode set-up to change the car's driving characteristics, although if you really want to do that there's the optional adaptive air suspension. The A7 also has active cruise control with stop and go function, which holds a set speed when on a clear road (regardless of terrain) and follows traffic at a set distance down to standstill.The all-wheel drive system on the A7 was optioned up to include the sports differential (for $2570) which actively plays with the drive between the rear wheels to best effect, firing the beefy four-door out of bends with gusto.The quattro all-wheel drive system already endows the big coupe the ability to vary the drive between front and rear, with as much as 70 percent able to go forward and up to 85 percent to the rear.DesignThere's no doubting the designers in Ingolstadt are earning their keep - cranking out some vehicles with presence and attitude. The A7 has a broad, bold stance, made even more aggressive by the optional wheels filling out the guards. With the optional LED headlights and LED daytime running lights, there's no missing it at night either.The hatchback rear doesn't stand up to scrutiny - it's broad in the hips and a bit droopy in the tail, although it still manages 535 litres of shallow and long cargo space, rising to 1390 litres with the seats folded. For such a large machine the cabin space is not cavernous - the front occupants won't feel hemmed in but rear passengers won't want to be tall, as head and legroom isn't copious.SafetyThe safety features list is extensive, although there's no NCAP rating as yet but five stars would be a good bet you'd think, given it has the Presense accident prep safety system, dual front, seat-mounted side, full-length side-curtain for front and rear passengers.There's also anti-lock brakes with electronic brake force distribution and emergency brake assist, stability and traction control, tyre pressure monitoring display, active headlights (standard bi-xenon or optional LEDs) and the optional night vision with pedestrian detection for $4890.DrivingDressed in a black hue, the A7 Sportback, at least from the front, has authority and arrogance about its broad road stance. With LEDs galore and the broad-shouldered presence, there's no mistaking it for anything other than an Audi.Getting to grips with it from behind the wheel, you're a little conscious of the girth early on - helped by cameras and radar front and rear in a carpark situation.Despite its size there's pace a-plenty - 100km/h comes up in 5.6 seconds and it has a governed 250km/h top speed - and the clever all-wheel drivetrain comes into its own on the bendy bits, despite the near-tow-tonne kerb weight.Sling the Sportback through a series of bends and the average ride quality from low-profile rubber and sports suspension becomes less of an issue.On a sweeping country road the A7 has grip a-plenty and turns in surprisingly well, sitting flat in the corner and then firing out far quicker than you expect for something that is not far off two tonnes - the clever diff under the bum does wonders for corner exits.The two seated in the back might not have oodles of room but the seats are comfortable and there's dual-zone climate control in the rear. There's plenty to like about the Sportback but while some like the coupe lines, I'd be more inclined to stump up for an A6 sedan and spend the considerable difference on some options.Audi A7 SportbackPrice: from $147,800Warranty: 3 years/unlimited kmResale:  47 per cent (Source: Glass's Guide)Service interval: 15,000km/12 monthsSafety rating: n/a starSpare: space-saverEngine: 3-litre supercharged direct-injection V6, 220kW/440NmTransmission: 7-speed twin-clutch automated manual; AWDBody: 5m (L); 1.9m (w); 1.4m (h)Weight: 1770kgThirst: 8.21/100km, on test 13, tank 75 litres; 190g/km CO2 

But just because you're sitting on the Elizabeth production line strapping wiring looms to Cruze or Commodore bodyshell doesn't mean you can't run the place one day. New executive director of manufacturing for Holden Richard Phillips has done just that - starting his career in the northern suburbs as an apprentice fitter and machinist in the maintenance team at the Holden plant in 1987. Fast-forward to 1991 and there's an Apprentice of The Year Award on his mantlepiece and a career path through the ranks of Holden's sole car-building facility. "It's 25 years this July, from my perspective it's one of the great things about Holden offering a broad range of career options within the plant. "My role has changed every two to three years, I've had a pretty interesting career and never had an opportunity to get bored," he says. In 2001, Mr Phillips moved to the role of VE Program Manager within the manufacturing engineering team that wrought major changes in the factory in preparation for the all-new Holden Commodore platforms. Two years later he took on the manufacturing engineering and facilities director role to oversee and the execution of manufacturing requirements and plant readiness for Holden's billion-dollar VE Commodore. Mr Phillips says the plant's manufacturing future will benefit from the changes made for VE but says the future is global architectures. "It's smoother sailing looking forward, we have a portfolio laid out over the next few years, nothing of the magnitude of VE/WM, which was fully locally-developed and produced, so working in conjunction with the global teams lowers the workload, we're sharing lessons learned from around the world," he says. The company spent around $500 million upgrading the Elizabeth plant for the VE Commodore, as well as being able to accept global platforms as it has for the Cruze small car. "For Elizabeth, one of our goals has been to be set up to accept global architectures going forward. That gives us the capability to look at the porfolio as we move forward and make the right portfolio choices to bring into the plant, that's the advantage of setting up the plant to bring in the whichever architecture or model that makes sense for the Australian market," he says. One of the key advantages of the Elizabeth plant is its workforce, which Mr Phillips believes is underestimated by the general public and in reality is "highly skilled and motivated." "My predecessors have come from a broad range of backgrounds and they all commented on how engaged and innovative the staff were here, willing to get in and solve problems - that's not say our sister plants are basket cases, not by any means," he says. "We run one of the most complex model mixes of any GM facility, we have people here that are called on from around the world in terms of managing complexity and managing through-put, some of our people are considered best-practice and subject matter experts within GM," he says.

AMG may as well stand for Ah Mein Gott, such is the the impact the acronym can have on those in the passenger seat, or trying to keep up.While there are svelte and subtle machines in the AMG arsenal, like the CL63, and snaky-tailed hooligans like the C63, the SLK 55 AMG sits somewhere in between. It's hardly a hairdresser's car, but anything with "scarf" (even an Airscarf) on its features list, you have to wonder....VALUEWhen there's six digits in the pricetag then value isn't the first adjective that springs to mind. The SLK 55 AMG has been cut by nearly $25,000 to start from $155,000, which buys you the most powerful SLK of all time and near the cheapest - the C63 slides in at $152,000.Performance aside, the features list has satnav, full iPod integration via cable (thankfully now in the centre console, not the glovebox), Bluetooth phone and audio link, adaptive bixenon headlights, cruise control, power windows, a subtle AMG bodykit, dual-zone climate control, seat heaters and the Airscarf neck-heaters, voice control for the iPod/USB/hard-drive equipped infotainment 10-speaker surround-sound system, power-adjustable sports seats, a suede/leather sports steering wheel with paddleshifts.The only option fitted to the test car was the AMG 18in alloy wheels for $1275.TECHNOLOGYAMG has whipped the turbos off the 5.5-litre direct-injection V8 and given it (by necessity) a new intake and cylinder heads. Compared to the out-going SLK AMG there's a hike of 45kW and 30Nm to put power at 310kW and deliver 540Nm, making it the most powerful SLK yet.Benz also says its the most fuel-efficient petrol V8 around, thanks to a cylinder drop out system and stop-start that drops by 30 per cent the claimed combined fuel consumption figure over its predecessor - 8.5l/100km. The SLK can run on four cylinders while cruising, shutting of cylinders 2, 3 and 5 when they are not needed.Also on the highlight reel for technology is variable power steering - "Direct Steer" in Merc-speak, which helps broaden the steering's ability, to make it useful when parking and pelting through a series of bends, but still doesn't endow the hefty droptop with the sharpest cornering manners.Torque Vectoring is a fancy way of explaining a braked inside rear wheel to help the car turn - it's effective when press-ahead driving is underway but seems to be a little bit of technology to counteract the pushy nose.It's not going to be an issue for most driving, but if you are interested in turning with purpose and poise at pace .... something else starting with P is a better bet.DESIGNThe new SLS-themed sportscar styling has been applied to the SLK and the AMG variant has plenty of aggression. The bull-nose is long and the rear end and cabin look somewhat abbreviated, with the rear end highlighted by a under-bumper diffuser and quad oval exhausts.The test car was coloured red within, a stark contrast to the grey exterior, but the two-seater's cabin is a picture German efficiency and ergonomic accuracy. The round, rolling retro vents, were a favourite, as was the grippy sports steering wheel with paddleshifts, which are worth using when the genuine manual change mode is engaged.Cabin storage is useful enough for phone and wallets, and if you don't want to drop the top there's 335 litres of bootspace, which shrinks to 225 litres if you want to up your Vitamin D.SAFETYThe watchword for the three-pointed star and its has plenty to back that claim - roll-bars, dual front, head and thorax airbags, seat belt tensioners with belt force limiters, active head restraints, three-stage stability control, tyre pressure warning system and the Presafe safety system which also has a drowsy driver detection system among its features.DRIVINGPrevious experience in the cooking SLK cars was not unpleasant but there was no suggestion of delivering scalpel-like sharpness in the bends. The AMG model gets closer to that point but it's still going to be other open-topped cars first on the shopping list for those inclined to cornering.But the gap is far closer than it used to be and while the flat-six has aural appeal, the Benz bent-eight has plenty of character too. Thankfully the SLK AMG has a nice V8 burble that's not squashed by a couple turbos - it's demure (fitting for the style-counsel model) at part-throttle, smooth and economical when in C and Eco Mode, slipping gently between gears for unfussed progress.The ride is less frenetic than some of its AMG siblings, although it still does a bit of crash and thump over some of our nastier roads. With the top dropped there were a few squeaks from behind the rollbars on nastier bumps, something not present when the lid was locked up.But dropping the roof, selecting Sport mode on the transmission and stability control and introducing the throttle pedal to the firewall and the serenade transformed into something more akin to a hair-metal title track.This is the personality that best befits the AMG SLK V8 - the cruisy economy mode is fine for getting good fuel economy figures, but if you want that there's an E-Class cabrio diesel that's $40,000 cheaper. The active exhaust system leaves little left unsaid at full throttle, when the flaps within the exhaust opening right up.There's a nice crackle on over-run as well, with a neat "whaffle" of a noise between cogs on the upshift, but the AMG 6.2-litre natmo engine still has it beat for a soundtrack. The numbers are impressive - 4.6 seconds to 0-100km/h, which means in a straight line it'll pip (just) the Boxster S (by 0.6) and the TT-S Roadster by 0.8, and it's one second quicker to 100km/h than $36,000 SLK 350.Where the other German coupes might make up ground on the AMG is in the bends - the SLK 55 does the job in fine style but the front end just doesn't quite bite like the Porsche Boxster (hence the torque vectoring thing to give it a hand) and the TT S has grip in bucketloads.All of which would make a point-to-point time trial between them very interesting - all I have to do now is find the time, the cars and two volunteer drivers. Any takers?Mercedes-Benz SLK 55 AMGPrice from $155,000Warranty 3 years/unlimited kmResale 53 per cent (Source: Glass's Guide)Service interval 25,000km/24 monthsSafety rating five NCAP starsSpare mobility kitEngine 5.5-litre 32-valve V8, 310kW/540NmTransmission 7-speed automatic; RWDBody 4.1m (L); 1.8m (w); 1.3m (h)Weight 1610kgThirst 8.51/100km, on test 16l/100km,  tank 70 litres; 197g/km CO2 

Company founder Sir Henry Royce aimed to "strive for perfection in everything you do" but problems happen even to the best of them - Rolls Royce has issued two recalls on its Ghost and million-dollar Phantom.The BMW-owned British marque is investigating a fault with the Ghost's turbocharger cooling system on its 6.6-litre twin-turbo V12 engine, as well as the Phantom's hydraulic fault within the braking system.The company issued a recall on the Ghost Sedan over fire risks if "the turbo cooling pump cracks, the pump electronics may smoulder, possibly causing an engine compartment fire or a vehicle fire," the notice said. The recall covers Ghosts available for sale between September 1, 2009 and June 30, 2011.Rolls-Royce Asia-Pacific aftersales general manager Carl Whipp said in a letter to customers said vehicles may be affected by an auxiliary water pump failure within the turbocharger cooling system. "In extreme cases this could lead to overheating, posing a potential fire risk," the letter to customers said.The bastion of British motoring has also recalled the Phantom - in sedan, coupe and convertible forms - sold between January 1, 2009 and November 30, 2009, over concerns oil can get into the brake booster. In a letter to owners, Rolls-Royce aftersales general manager Michael Dedekind told Phantom owners a potential oil leak in the braking system and reduce of braking assistance."Mechanical braking is still available to slow and stop the vehicle and there have been no reported incidents among Rolls-Royce owners. "Furthermore, as this issue relates to older vehicles with a high mileage, we believe it is highly unlikely that Rolls-Royce customers will be affected," the letter says.The recall numbers are only a handful as the company's Australian volumes are not considered high - the brand's total sales for 2012 so far is 4 and just 20 Rolls-Royce cars were sold last year.In fact, over the last 10 years only 124 Rolls-Royce cars were sold in Australia - but that's no surprise, given the Ghost starts at $645,000 and the Phantom's asking price starts at just over $1-million.