Articles by Stuart Martin

A 600ml carton of Farmers Union Iced Coffee's worth of diesel was about all that was left ... although the driver had consumed a fair bit more milk-coffee product than that.The Cruze filler pipe had been returned to full with 59.29 litres at the end of 1000km, meaning we had gone close to the CDX turbodiesel automatic coughing and expiring on the roadside.  But it didn't - we had done 1000km of real-world driving on a tank of fuel.Former rally champion Ed Ordynski also completed the feat in a Mitsubishi ASX SUV, a manual turbodiesel model.  The little SUV was expected by the SA rally driver to be more fuel efficient and it was - at 4.6 litres per 100 (according to its trip computer) it was one litre better for every 100km.THE CARS The Cruze and ASX were two vehicles picked because of diesel availability and the high-volume nature of the breeds.  The Cruze will soon be rolling down the line at Elizabeth in petrol and diesel form - the CDX model we were given had been bumped up to ECO tyre pressures of 39psi/270kpa, up on the 32 psi/220kpa suggestion.Ed O was hoping to get a diesel five-speed manual but that was not happening - we were given the six-speed auto, which he had doubts about - "I reckon you could get a manual Cruze down to the same level as the ASX.  Autos are definitely less efficient, they absorb power for a start."In reality, the difference can be 20 per cent - on paper a Cruze should be as good if not better than the ASX, same weight but larger engine in the Cruze - the but the ASX was better I think largely because of the manual," he says.The long-time Lancer Evo driver opted for wheel-time in the ASX, a base-model diesel six-speed manual, not quite up to the pace of his former mounts but much more likely to go the distance on a tank of fuel.THE JOURNEYCars and drivers arrived at an Adelaide CBD service station just before dawn and proceeded to have fuel tanks filled to the brim and last-minute caffeine supplies stowed for the drivers.The retired rally ace was espousing the virtues of manuals versus automatics - weight, gear selection, anticipation of terrain - over the two-way as we headed north towards the Copper Coast towns of Kadina and Wallaroo, about 160km into the journey.Careful throttle use and reading the road and early morning traffic mean both vehicles trip computers were below six litres per 100km before Grand Junction road in the city's north.While the ASX happily trundled along near the highway speed limit in sixth gear, the manual shift mode of the Cruze's six-speed automatic would not allow top gear to be selected until mid-90km/h, even on a downward run.Sticking with fifth gear proved to be a better option, the 1:1 ratio keeping the two-litre turbodiesel humming along at a decent speed, without sending the trip computer beyond six litres per 100km.  If we were to hit the 1000km tank target, we had to stay below that number.The ASX with Ed O at the wheel was below five and didn't come back above that number for the entire trip, despite being less aerodynamic and a few kilos heavier - although the Ordynski frame is shorter and leaner than that behind the wheel of the Cruze, so the Holden product (which was also carrying 10 litres of emergency diesel rations as well) might have tipped the scales a little more than the Mitsi during this trip.Getting off the main highway and onto single-lane country roads, bo th cars were happily trundling along despite wind and unseasonal rain. The outskirts of Port Pirie was the first stop - around 250km travelled - and the Cruze had been using fuel at a rate of 5.3 litres, while the ASX was cruising at 4.2.Turning east towards Jamestown and the fringes of the Southern Flinders Ranges and the wind and rain continued to provide conditions that would really test the cars touring range.The ASX was becoming unruly in the face of headwinds gusting in some cases to 30k m/h, which when teamed with long gradual climbs put pressure on the drivers trying to keep frugal figures on the dash displays.There was no stopping for Cornish pasties at Burra as we carried on past the 400km mark towards the Riverland, crossing the swelling River Murray waterway using the Cadell ferry and shortly thereafter passing the halfway mark.A stop for sustencance in Waikerie - about 530km into the journey - and then a turn south to follow the rising River Murray gave us no respite fr om the wind or rain as we headed for Blanchetown on the Sturt Highway, 570km away from our starting point in the Adelaide CBD.Ploughing through rainstorms and headwinds, both cars maintained sub-6 readings - the ASX in the region of 4.5 and the Cruze 5.5 litres per 100km as we passed the 700km mark near Murray Bridge.The weather worsened as we continued to follow the river south through the 730km point at Wellington and on to Milang, marking 780km travelled as we pulled up for more coffee and food on the edge of Lake Alexandrina."The ASX was more adversely effteced by that, it was 0.3 litres/100km worse off - we did what you need to do into a headwind and that was reduce the speed a little." Ordynski says there's a big fuel use penalty once you exceed 90km/h."Over 90 starts to take an exponentially larger amount of fuel, if you allow a little bit more time for the journey, there's a big saving to be had, as long as you're not a nuisance to other road users," he says.Short hops followed through to Goolwa, Victor Harbor and on to the southern tip of the Fleurieu Peninsula at Cape Jervis, taking us through some of the steepest terrain yet.The Range Road journey from Victor Harbor also took the retired rally driver past some roads that featured prominently in his early career as a rally driver.  Several nostalgic UHF broadcasts on the 1970s rally scene on the south coast - with many victories for a young Ed Ordynski - accompanied the journey through to Cape Jervis. Distance travelled to this point is 890km and only stops for drinks and chips - no fuel.  The hilly country - as well as southerly winds of up to 20km/h for the afternoon - did little to help our quest in the final stages of the drive, but with concentration we were able to keep 5.6 litres per 100km on the Cruze trip computer and 4.6 on the ASX.The distance to empty figure was becoming of more interest as we headed north again, via Myponga, Meadows and Clarendon - the last number (with about 40km to go) was 80km to empty.  The low fuel light (which had been burning for some time) was soon joined by the trip computer giving up on the numbers and prompting me to FILL FUEL.Running down through the southern foothills to complete our 1000km journey at - funnily enough - a service station, we returned the tanks to full.  The 60-litre tank in the Mitsubishi had nearly 15 litres left to go, while the Cruze was almost on fumes.  But after thirteen hours of "real-world" driving, the target had been reached."I would drive like that with people on board and not be embarrassed - you could argue there's a road-safety component as well.  You win on fuel use and emissions as well, 2kg of CO2 for every litre of fuel, you win on maintenance and longevity of the vehicle by driving it kindly as well, it's hard to see a downside,'' he says.Ed Ordynski's fuel-efficient driving tipsLevel 1: Overall factors1. Plan when you need to use your car to avoid unnecessary journeys.2. Plan your journey to avoid peak hour and congested roads.3. Take a little time to learn about the way your car operates for best fuel efficiency.4. Measure your fuel consumption and take pride in reducing it.5. Choose an energy efficient vehicle.Level 2: Anyone can try.1. Concentrate on driving smoothly and anticipate traffic flow to conserve momentum.2. Keep tyre pressures at maximum recommended on the placard.3. Have your car serviced at correct intervals and keep wheel alignment at manufacturer specifi cation.4. Avoid any excess weight in the vehicle and remove accessories which affect the aerodynamics (e.g. roof racks).5. Choose a manual transmission and learn to drive it properly for optimum fuel efficiency.Level 3: Conserving every drop - the hard-core methods.1. Avoid use of airconditioning and keep windows closed.2. Do not use cruise control but do focus on keeping a constant speed and conserving momentum.3. Drive at low speed - most cars are at their most efficient at around 75km/ h in top gear.4. Switch off engine if going to be stopped for more than 10 seconds.5. On highways, keep your wheels on the ridges, not in the bumpy troughs made by trucks i.e. keep left, it's safer too!6. Drive off as soon as the engine is started, especially from a cold start.7. With diesel engines, minimise throttle percentage at all times, using the tallest gear with the least throttle opening.8. With petrol engines, minimise engine revs, regardless of throttle position, using the talles t gear the engine will allow without harshness.9. If you must drive an automatic, learn how to encourage it to stay in tall gears with the torque converter locked as much as possible.10. If you drive an automated manual, drive it in manual mode in the most efficient manner for the engine characteristics.11. Wear shoes that allow you to control the most subtle movements of the accelerator.12. Steer smoothly on the correct line through corners to avoid using energy from unnecessary angle on th e front wheels.13. Allow the car to gradually reduce speed up long hills.14. Avoid bumps and potholes.15. If stuck in a long line of traffic on highways, take a break.16. Take a break if extreme weather is encountered.17. Drive without distractions.18. Study the technical aspects which influence how your car best

The company added 165 workers to its 2400-strong workforce at the Elizabeth factory late last year as it began the final pilot builds of its Cruze small car. Holden also has a handful of marked and unmarked Caprice police vehicles undergoing testing in the US and has been getting strong feedback from local law enforcement testers. Holden manufacturing executive director Martyn Cray says the company would not have made the investment without being confident. "The police car is being tested by drivers in the US, they are the ones buying it and when we get an idea on how happy they are we'll be able to make more announcements - the police market is new for us so we're feeling our through the market. "We've invested a lot of engineering resources and a lot of money in the (US) police program - we wouldn't have invested all that if we didn't think we had a fighting chance of getting that business," he said. Acting SA Minister for Industry and Trade John Rau said the extra jobs was a positive development.  "We're very pleased to have been able to partner with Holden and get this great outcome for the people of SA and in particular the people living in the northern suburbs, it's a great opportunity for them," he said.  

The new Focus and Mondeo are among a growing list of Ford product that could support the updated MyKey safety system, which in the US can be used to restrict young drivers' access to satellite radio stations and limit vehicle speed. Much of Ford's US product has the MyKey feature (launched in the US in 2009), which started with a speed limited function but has been further developed to restrict accessible radio stations when their children are driving their new Ford. The revamped MyKey system is claiming the world-first radio restriction technology is joined by an upgrade to the speed limiter that has four different settings - 105km/h, 113km/h, 121km/h or 129km/h - as well as muting the radio and maintaining the seatbelt warning. Ford's engineering director of electrical and electronic systems Graydon Reitz says the company wants to give parents peace of mind that their kids are following rules in the car. "Parents obviously like this type of feature, and many teens are OK with it when they hear parents may give them the keys more often if the car comes with a technology such as Ford's MyKey," he says. The company quotes research involving parents of teenage drivers showing almost 60 percent who say the feature to block adult radio programming is important and 85 percent who believe the speed-limiting feature is important - the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration research says teens are more likely to take risks such as speeding, which it says is a contributing factor in 30 percent of all fatal crashes. In the poll, more than half of parents also said they would allow their teens to use the family vehicle more often if it were equipped with MyKey. Even the teenage drivers say they like the system - 45 percent of those surveyed would approve of the MyKey system if it meant better access to the family car. The upgraded version of MyKey will debut as a standard feature late this year on the US Ford Taurus and Explorer models and is expected on the features list of a range of Ford and Lincoln US models. Ford Australia Neil McDonald was unwilling to nominate a debut model for the system in Australia but says the company always looking at these new technologies and its application locally. "Absolutely we'd like it, limiting speed for young drivers and things like that, if its feasible and fits into any of our future products and we can offer it at an affordable cost - standard or optional. There's a lot of questions to be answered before these things can get the tick, not the least of which is how the systems can be applied locally for our product line-up," he says. The MyKey technology could appear in the facelifted Mondeo and upcoming new Focus, both due this year. "These new technologies are obviously things we'll look at when they're appropriate for our market, ultimately it comes down to cost and affordability. But (looking at) the safety features of MyKey, there's a good case to have some of these devices to limit the speed of young drivers and not being able to turn off the active safety devices as well," Mr McDonald says. Parents can program the MyKey function through the ignition key, putting the car's system into the appropriate "tune" for teen drivers. The car's seatbelt reminder ups its alert from a six-second reminder chime every minute for five minutes - with the MyKey system , the chime continues and the sound system is muted until the seat belt is secured. The teen driver also gets an earlier low-fuel warning, up from 80km to 120km to empty and safety features such as parking sensors, blind spot warning system and traction control cannot be turned off. Ford US is also spruiking the MyKey benefits for fuel economy - the company's research says driving at 89km/h instead of 105km/h consumes 15 percent less fuel.

Audi and several other brands all use varying incarnations of the RS logo - and generally none of them deserve the rudest definition involving "Rat."It was the RS4 sedan that for me marked a prominent turning point for the four-ringed brand, in terms of a more involving drive experience than some of its forebears.With that in mind, we were expecting even greater things from the RS5, but it seems to have taken a more subtle path.VALUEFor not much change out of $200,000 by the time you tick a couple of options boxes, the RS5 is no bargain-basement machine, but it looks and feels like a quality machine.The four-seater coupe's equipment list is comprehensive but it needs to be for the asking price - full keyless entry and start, an alarm, front and rear parking sensors (the upgraded sensor system and rear camera are an $1165 option), heated and power-adjustable exterior mirrors, an auto-dimming centre mirror, Bluetooth phone link, satnav, tri-zone climate control, cruise control (with an adaptive cruise control system on the options list for $2945).The standard sound system is a sub-woofer equipped 10-speaker 180 watt system, which can be upgraded for $1700 to a Bang & Olufsen surround-sound 14-speaker 505 watt system.TECHNOLOGYThe RS 5 has all-wheel drive but takes it to a new level, thanks to a new centre differential - regally entitled the crown-gear centre differential - which can vary the drive between the front and rear axles up to 70 per cent forward or 85 per cent aft, depending on the conditions.The distribution system, which defaults to 40 front/60 rear, works with a torque-vectoring system and the sport rear differential (already seen on several sporty Audis) to best apportion power to the rear wheels that can use it.The RS5 has three driving modes for the suspension, throttle, steering and exhaust - comfort, auto and dynamic - which gives the coupe road manners to suit a broad range of driving environments.The engine, a 4.2-litre naturally-aspirated V8, revs to just over 8000rpm and is teamed with a seven-speed DSG that - thankfully - has a genuine manual paddleshift mode that will hold gears in dynamic mode.DESIGNLonger, lower and a little wider than the standard - and already elegant - A5, the RS variant has definite road presence thanks to the re-sculpted tarmac-tickling snout that has larger air intakes.The muscular stance of the RS4 hasn't transferred to the 5, with more demure flaring of the guards front and rear - the rump's exhaust pipes have been hidden within the rear bodywork but the S5's exposed pipes look better.The RS5 also hasn't inherited the racy flat-bottomed steering wheel of the RS4, which is a shame, but it does have Xenon and LED lighting to ensure it stands out at night.There's a rear spoiler - which extends automatically at 120km/h, but of course it needed the manual over-ride button pressed before it rose during our time in the car.SAFETYBeyond the considerable active safety provided by the clever all-wheel drive system, the RS5 has dual front and side airbags (although the latter depart if the optional RS bucket seats are selected), as well as curtain airbags.Stability and traction control, anti-lock brakes with brakeforce distribution, an electronic diff lock and emergency brake assist are also standard.The coupe also has a tyre pressure monitoring system, adaptive headlights and the automatic high beam system as standard and the option of front ceramic brakes - for an extra $15,000 - but the standard stoppers seem up to the task.DRIVINGAlthough the RS5 hasn't inherited some of the overt nature of its RS4 ancestor, there's no arguing about the pace and quality.The 4.2 V8 has quiet rumble, which gets a whole baritone sub-plot when dynamic mode is selected.Firing it into life and sweeping through the suburbs is best done in comfort mode, although the ride difference between the three modes could have been made a little more distinct, as comfort mode is that in name only.Straightline mumbo was never going to be questioned, with 331kW and 430Nm coming from the V8 - slot the transmission into D (for Departure, I think, more than just Drive) and the coupe bolts away.The take-off can be completed swiftly and quietly, or more raucously if desired.Getting away from the suburbs and onto a sweeping open road (of good quality) and the RS5 dispenses with distance in short order - press-on motoring at legal road speeds doesn't go near the limit of this car's considerable abilities.Throw it at a few corners (using a nice but no-longer flat-bottomed sports steering wheel) and the clever drivetrain works nonchalantly to provide unfussed - but somewhat uninvolved - cornering.It's better for the driver than its predecessors but still short of its opposition - the M3 gives more back to the driver, but the catch is the M3 does it even when the driver doesn't want to hear it.The seven-speed DSG is typical of the breed in terms of quick slick gearchanges, although sometimes prone to a rough downchange, but the saving grace is its full manual mode.With the gearshifter pushed across for manual changes and the dynamic mode selected, the driver can pick their own gears and the gearbox complies - as should be the case in other models that wrongly boast of a manual shift mode.Seat comfort is good from the soft leather sports seats - which offer ample lateral support as well - and there's room for two adults and two kids - or four small adults.The back seat dwellers felt a little hemmed in and have no open-window option, suggesting it's a better DINK car.The optional panoramic tilt-only glass sunroof is expensive (for a tilt-only) at $2860 and not great for Australian climate with a see-through shade.VERDICTPowerful and sleek, the RS5 delivers astounding performance with panache, but doesn't beat the M3 coupe (although it gets very close) or knock the RS4 from its perch as our favourite four-ringed machine.AUDI RS5Price: from $175,300.Engine: 4.2-litre variable 32-valve DOHC direct-injection V8.Transmission: seven-speed double-clutch automated manual, all-wheel drive with self-locking centre differential and torque vectoring.Power: 331kW @ 8250rpm.Torque: 430Nm @ 4000-6000rpm.Performance: 0-100km/h 4.6 seconds. Top speed 250km/h (governed).Fuel consumption: 10.8 litres/100km, on test 16.2; tank 64 litres.CO2 Emission: 252g/km.Suspension: Five-link suspension with upper and lower wishbones, tubular anti-roll bar (front); trapezoidal-link rear suspension, resiliently mounted sub-frame, anti-roll bar (rear).Brakes: four-wheel ventilated discs, eight piston front/single-piston rearDimensions: length 4649mm, width 1860mm, height 1366mm, wheelbase 2751mm, track fr/rr 1586/1582mmCargo volume: 455 litresWeight: 1725kg.Wheels: 19in alloys.

The i-stop system is Mazda's term for the stop-start system - part of its new Sky engines - that automatically shuts down the engine when the car is stationary. Mazda Australia national marketing manager Alastair Doak has a Mazda3 with a two-litre direct-injection vehicle idle-stop equipped engine here for testing using local fuel under local weather conditions. "It's not so much hot weather testing, there's some engineering testing but also giving the local Mazda people a chance to have a look at it and get comfortable with the system," he says. The system will keep running if things like the air conditioning requires but the system's real-world fuel savings are significant. "It does make a difference in terms of the engine's performance in the ADR fuel test, but in the real-world the savings are significant.  "i-stop is just one of the many improvements that the new SKYACTIV technologies will offer customers as Mazda strives to improve global average fuel economy by 30 percent by 2015," he says.The system, already in use by Audi, BMW and Mini models in Australia, aims to reduce fuel use and emission during metropolitan driving where there's considerable time spent sitting at traffic lights. Even high-performance brand Porsche has with similar technology in place on some cars sold in Australia, having put it on the Panamera.Mazda's system is on both petrol and diesel engines and the Japanese car maker is claiming its version is quicker to restart. Mazda says its engine stop-start system doesn't stop until the pistons are positioned for a quick and smooth re-start.  The system resumes when the driver lifts off the brake pedal to get underway again - fuel is injected into the cylinder and the start motor applies a small amount of torque to the crankshaft, all of which makes for a more refined and quicker star, says Mazda - the claim is 0.35 of a second restart, which the company says is half the time of the other stop-start systems. The i-stop is part of the company's next-generation Sky Activ technologies Mazda is preparing to introduce on its cars here during 2011 (the new Mazda6 is due in late 2011), but Mazda is being coy about which models will be equipped with it.

Parrot MKi9200 Bluetooth systemRRP $439, from www.strathfield.com.au Anyone looking to integrate their car's sound system with their phone need look no further. The Parrot MKi9200 is a Bluetooth hands-free system with a 2.4in high-resolution colour screen that operates via a wireless remote control positioned on the steering wheel or dashboard and allows the driver to control all the functions of the MKi9200. For improved phone-call sound quality, the Parrot MKi9200 uses the car's speakers and combines double microphone technology with new signal processing software to eliminate background and surrounding noise, including noise from inside the car. Aerpro FM Transmitter (ADM150TC)RRP $35.64, from www.supercheapauto.com.au For those without integration for their MP3, using an FM Transmitter is the cheaper option. This model gives with a full frequency range to avoid any overlap, automatically searches for an available station and has a 3-Channel memory function. There are both 2.5mm and 3.5mm jacks for various music players and an additional USB port to charge mobile phones or other USB-compatible equipment. Cigarette Lighter Battery MonitorRRP $19.95, from www.jaycar.com.au  It's a simple device but vital, particularly if you're way off  the beaten track. Check the voltage output of your car's battery quickly and easily. Simply plug this handy voltmeter into the cigarette lighter socket and get an instant readout of the electrical system's voltage, for a system with an operating voltage between 8 and 28v DC.   Cargo bay protectorRRP $39.95, from www.innovations.com.au Lug the messiest loads without ruining the back of your car with a waterproof cargo bay protector. Keeping muck off every surface inside the loadspace of your wagon, hatch or SUV from messy or dirty loads - from a quick trip to the dump to a wet dog covered in sand. Made from polyethylene, this covers the entire cargo area including seatbacks, floor and side walls a loading flap to protect the rear bumper. Smart Solar Battery ChargerRRP $29.95, from www.jaycar.com.au  This 15-volt solar battery charger supplies at around 100-120mA of current, which the company says is enough to keep a 12-volt battery that is infrequently used topped up. Designed to keep the battery of a second car, ride-on lawnmower, tractor or boat ready to fire up. Encased in plastic, it has an output lead to cigarette lighter plug, but some cars will require this to be directly wired to the battery, as the cigarette lighter socket is disconnected when the ignition is switched off.

Vicious. Not feral, but furious, potent and unrelenting.It might have been called a Coyote when it first arrived, but the supercharged V8 now rumbling beneath the bulging hood of the FPV GT-P is more panther or lion - sorry, Holden and Peugeot.It is, says Ford, the most powerful GT in the history of the company's most famous Australian-made model and it sounds like it.VALUEThe GT-P is second to the GT-E for price by $1000, starting from $81,540 - some say it's a lot of money for a Falcon, others look at the performance and think its a decent features list.It includes dual zone climate control, full iPod integration for the 6CD subwoofer-equipped sound system, Bluetooth phone link, parking sensors, rear camera, power-adjustable driver's seat, carpet floor mats, alloy-covered pedals, power windows, power mirrors and anti-dazzle mirrors - but satellite navigation is on the options list - a bit rich on an $80,000 car.TECHNOLOGYThe already-potent V8 makes the trip from the US but once here gets plenty of extra treatment - it's worth every cent of the $40-million spend on the development program.The Coyote Ford V8 - first seen in the new Mustang - is an all-aluminium double overhead cams 32-valve unit, which meets Euro IV emissions regulations and is 47kg lighter than the outgoing 5.4 litre V8.The Eaton supercharger bumps the outputs up to 335kW and 570Nm - increases of 20kW and 19Nm over the outgoing GT-P powerplant - braying through an active quad-pipe exhaust.The test car had the muscular but clean-shifting six-speed manual, but there's a six-speed automatic on offer as a no-cost option.DESIGNNew stickers boasting the upgraded power output are the main styling change (although I think it would have looked better if they joined up with the bonnet stripes) for the updated FPV - reminiscent of Ford Boss Mustang musclecars of yesteryear.The power bulge - perhaps more required now than ever with the supercharger - and the overt sports bodykit remain unchanged, leaving other road users in no doubt about the GT-P's intentions and potential.The interior is dark and brooding, with sports leather seats with GT-P embroidery and suede-covered bolsters, a sports leather-wrapped steering wheel and gearshift.SAFETYThe Falcon donor is a five-star ANCAP car and the GT-P gets the full compliment of safety bits - airbags (dual front, side and full-length curtain), stability and traction control and anti-lock brakes - as well as rear parking sensors and a rear camera.DRIVINGFollowing our first spin in the supercharged FPV, a drive on local roads was much anticipated and the GT-P has not disappointed.The big muscly sedan is planted on the road as if the low-profile Dunlops are woven into the road, but the ride is pretty good given the 35-profile of the tyres and the bias towards handling.Burble through an underground carpark and the bass from the V8 is quiet; wind it up towards 6000rpm and the V8 bellow and supercharger whine becomes more obvious but never intrusive.The six-speed manual needs to be shifted with purpose - on more than a couple of occasions the first-second shifts were crunched as the action wasn't completed with conviction.Day to day dawdling is a short-shifting affair - first gear is largely redundant unless you're pointed up hill, fourth and fifth can be selected quite early and just above idle is all that's required to maintain forward momentum.A blast along a favoured piece of tarmac soon shows a glimpse of what the GT-P is capable of doing - dispatching with straights at a rapid rate, wiping off speed in short order using the solid Brembo stoppers and turning confidently into corners.Sometimes the GT-P chooses to remind you it's a two-tonne machine, pushing the nose a little wide if you've really overdone it, but it's coming out of a bend where some judicious use of the right foot is required.The feel from behind the wheel suggests the claimed 0-100km/h time under five seconds is achievable.The launch would need to be perfect, as the considerable outputs will turn the rear tyres into scrap without delay, but the GT-P leaps forward with menace.Leaving the stability control on is the better option for public roads, as a break in traction that would be considered "hoon" behaviour is very easy to achieve; however, a track day could easily chew out a set of rear tyres.VERDICTThe dollars laid out of supercharging the engine is money well-spent and FPV has the firepower to take HSV on head-to-head, even if the (more-expensive) GTS has more gizmos and gadgets. The appeal of the supercharged V8 offsets some of the cabin quirks and if you're looking for an extroverted V8 muscle car then this absolutely should be on your shopping list ... near the top.SCORE: 84/100WE LIKE Supercharged V8 outputs and soundtrack, ride/handling balance, Brembo brakes.WE DON'T LIKE Low-set wheel & high-set seat, no satnav, fiddly trip computer switches, small fuel tank, supercharger boost gauge.FPV GT-P sedanPrice: from $81,540.Engine: five-litre 32-valve supercharged all-alloy V8.Transmission: six-speed manual, limited slip diff, rear-wheel drive.Power: 335kW @ 5750rpm.Torque: 570Nm between 2200 & 5500rpm.Performance: 0-100km/h 4.9 seconds.Fuel consumption: 13.6litres/100km, on test XX.X, tank 68litres.Emissions: 324g/km.Suspension: double wishbones (front); Control blade (rear).Brakes: four-wheel ventilated and cross-drilled discs, six-piston front and four-piston rear calipers.Dimensions: length 4970mm, width 1868mm, height 1453mm, wheelbase 2838mm, track fr/rr 1583/1598mmCargo Volume: 535litresWeight: 1855kg.Wheels: 19in alloys, 245/35 Dunlop tyresIn its class:HSV GTS, from $84,900.

After interest from a number of parties and a drawn-out processes of trying to get the vehicle here, the KTM X-Bow has been confirmed for low-volume import by the DIY Group, who have done a deal with KTM-Sportscar AG.The Audi-powered two-seater will initially be on sale only as a track and motorsport car, but DIY managing director Paul Burfitt says the company is going through the approval processes to get the carbon-fibre pocket rocket approved for road registration in Australia."The first car should be here in January - we're awaiting the authority for that road test development vehicle to get into the process for road-use approval.  Currently we can supply for motorsport use only, they're approved for road use in the European Union, we have to go through the process here which could take up to 12 months," he says.The asking price for the range won't be bargain-basement but the KTM X-Bow Clubsport, likely to be the most popular model, should slot in well under $150,000."There's a new range of power parts coming, suspension, brakes, exhaust, body additions that are now available as well for 2011, that will be part of the pricing so we're still working on final pricing," Mr Burfitt says.The car will factory-built right-hand drive in three of the four models - the Street, Clubsport, Superlight and the left-hand drive GT4.  Performance per dollar will be exceptional, as the X-Bow tips the scales at a featherweight 790kg.Given it is propelled by a 177kW/310Nm two-litre intercooled turbocharged four-cylinder engine with a six-speed manual gearbox, expect Ferrari-esque pace in the region of 3.9 seconds for the sprint to 100km/h.  The ability to wipe off speed is similarly good - KTM claims the X-Bow's Brembo brakes need only 32.9 metres to go from 100 km/h to a standstill.Mr Burfitt says the desire to see the car on Australian roads has been the driving force behind the two-year project.  "I'm not expecting to sell heaps of them, if we can move 5 to 10 a year we'd be wrapped, I love my cars and I want to see it in the country."We're planning plenty of things with the car - it will be in the Murray Walker Extreme Machines at the Clipsal 500 and we're planning to run it in Targa Tasmania next year as well, with a V8 Supercar driver lined up to get behind the wheel," he says.

The Korean car maker will unveil its KV7 concept car at the North American International Auto Show on January 10, a vehicle it says is the latest in its "design-led transformation has been delivering production vehicles." The production cars - the Soul, Cerato, Koup and Sportage among them - all take more than a passing resemblance to the original concept cars that preceded them, but the company is revealing few details beyond the announcement of the KV7's arrival. Kia Australia spokesman Kevin Hepworth said there was little more to tell until the unveiling in Detroit.  "The KV7 is a show car that details of which are not going to be released until the car is unveiled at Detroit, it looks to be a styling exercise and bit of fun for a motor show," he says. The picture shows a squared-off design that has Soul-like profile, with a flat wooden floor and no floor-mounted console (suggesting a new-age drivetrain involving batteries and or hydrogen fuel cell). The front occupants get conventional front doors and the rear space is accessed via gullwing rear doors, with no B-Pillar between them - which suggests rear passengers would need to be "released" by those in charge of the front doors. While it probably won't retain the gullwing doors or the rotating rear bucket seats, the KV7 could point to a seven-seater SUV-style replacement for the long-serving Carnival peoplemover - Kid Vehicle 7 perhaps? Alternatively, the KV7 could point to a new Soul - both the veteran Carnival and the rookie Soul are due for replacement within the next two years.  The new Soul is set for a mid-life makeover during 2011, with an all-new Soul likely two years after that. The long-serving Carnival recently had a mid-life upgrade but is also likely to be replaced with an all-new model in 2013, including a diesel engine change from the current 136kW/343Nm 2.9-litre four-cylinder turbodiesel to one of the more efficient and powerful R-Series diesels already powering the Sorento and Sportage SUVs. All the company's head office says of the KV7 is that it will be "a convention-challenging concept vehicle."

The Adelaide-based carmaker is fixing some 1443 (260 of which are already delivered to customers) of its VE Series II Sportwagon rear seat mechanisms after discovering a problem with the rear seat. "In the event of emergency braking or vehicle collision, the rear seat assembly may not remain in the locked position and may move forward with the motion of the vehicle," the recall notice said.Holden spokesperson Emily Perry said the recall was due to a potential safety condition whereby the rear seat back in our Sportwagon models may not be locked securely in place. "We absolutely recognise that the timing of this issue is unfortunate, but safety is our number one priority, and although this is very much a precautionary measure," she said. Ms Perry said dealers had already fixed some customer cars and were attempting arrange for cars to be inspected and fixed, a free-of-charge process that would take up to 30 minutes.  Customers are being asked to contact their Holden Dealer or the Holden Recall and Rework Assistance Centre on 1800 632 826.