Articles by Stuart Martin

The French carmaker, in partnership with BMW, has developed a turbocharged four-cylinder with direct injection to allow it to reduce engine size (as well as emissions and thirst) without sacrificing outputs and driveability.The 1.6-litre turbo headlines a new range of light cars for Peugeot, which has sold more than 160,000 units since being introduced to its home market in April this year. In Australia, around February or March 2007, the new 207 will be offered in both petrol and diesel, but automatic variants are a way off.Peugeot sales in Europe are 95 per cent manual, meaning automatic RHD cars will not be seen soon - especially given that Peugeot Australia took three years to convince the parent company it needed 307automatics to compete with the Golf.The final Australian model line-up and pricing has not yet been finalised, but Peugeot is aiming to replicate the existing 206model breakdown: the 1.4-litre entry-level model arrives below $20,000, with the range stretching up to just above $31,000 for the turbocharged 1.6-litre 207 (which will probably wear a GT badge) driven in France.A reduced and repositioned 206 range will remain part of the Peugeot pricelist into 2007, selling side-by-side with its replacement, but access to the superceded model will depend on its popularity in other markets, including China.The full sports model, called the RC in France but likely to wear the GTi badge in Australia (say the French model designation aloud and you'll see why) and it will be powered by the 128kW 1.6-litre turbocharged engine that is shared with BMW Mini.The GT's turbo will, however, be a Peugeot-only motor, but the rest of the range will be powered by either a 1.4 or 1.6-litre naturally aspirated engine shared with BMW's Mini.The Australian range will also launch with an 80kW turbodiesel 1.6-litre engine (with particle filter). The 1.4-litre models will be available with either five-speed manual gearbox, with 2-Tronic automatic to follow, while the 1.6-litre engine will be matched to either a five-speed manual or four-speed auto.Crash tests in Europe (NCAP) have returned results that give the 207 a five-star occupant protection rating, a four-star child protection score and a three-star pedestrian impact rating.The GT will only be available in a three-door and with a five-speed manual, and the RC/GTi model expected to offer a six-speed manual.The GT will be fitted with ESP, tyre-pressure monitoring, full-length glass roof, cloth/leather trim and 17-inch alloy wheels. A full leather trim is likely to be an option but the satnav is not available - yet.The GTi sports model seems certain to get a six-speed manual gearbox and an electronic stability control system that tolerates sportier driving and can be switched off.The car was once renowned for a great ride-handling compromise but for some it had lost its way a little. But the 207 has renewed faith that the Peugeot brand has not lost its touch.While the Peugeot reps were keen to point out that the 207 turbo was not an outright sporty (there's a full-sport GTi 180/RC to come yet), there is plenty to like about the engine and the underpinnings.Sitting on 17-inch wheels with Pirelli P-Zero Nero rubber, the low-speed ride on small bumps could be a little noisy but once into stride, the rubber's coarseness mattered less as the level of grip overtook any noise complaint. The little 1.6-litre turbo motor is flexible and punchy through the mid-range, thanks to an abundance of torque from just above idle right through to near its peak power at 5800rpm.Mated to a nice-shifting, five-speed manual, its ability to dawdle through little French villages in a high gear and then pull cleanly away was well above the norm for a small engine, turbo or otherwise.Slinging the attractive but aggressive-looking little hatchback through a series of fast bends failed to find fault, the body well-controlled and brakes providing decent bite.The electric power steering doesn't provide heaps of feel but the overall sensation from the driver's seat is one of capability in the curves. With the broad torque curve of the engine on offer, cornering can be achieved at pace without massive engine revs on board - dwell between 3000 and 5000rpm and there is plenty of urge on offer. The three-door has the glass roof and the cabin has an open, airy feel, thanks also to the distant dashboard.The driving position - something of a bugbear in the current model - has been improved, with the pedal layout in particular a much better effort. The seats (cloth centre trim with leather bolsters) are comfortable as well as being supportive.With fuel economy a major selling point at the small end of the market, the new 207 does look to have plenty on offer, with the small turbocharged direct-injection powerplant returning 10.2L/100km on the launch drive in southwestern France, despite hunting along motorways at 130km/h-plus, and pushing it hard along some windy, hilly stretches as well.Peugeot Australia plans to freight in a 207 for the Sydney motor show before its 2007 launch.

The company's flagship nameplate has been absent for two years but it has been returned with serious intent.

The two-plus-two coupe was drawn by Giugiaro but built by Pininfarina and shares much with its four-door 159 sibling (including the V6-AWD powertrain that also debuts on the sedan at the same time) but with a shorter wheelbase. The platform has proved versatile for the Italian marque, with the new 169 and the Kamal SUV also built on the same underpinnings. Measuring 4410 mm in overall length, the Brera sits on a 2528mm wheelbase – 175mm shorter than the 159 – and measures a stout 1830mm wide and just 1341mm tall.Starting price for the svelte and attractive coupe is $69,950 for the 2.2-litre front-wheel drive model, rising to a steep $94,950 for the V6 all-wheel drive range-topper.The base-model uses a familiar 2.2-litre JTS direct-injection variable-valve four-cylinder, which produces 135kW of power and 230Nm of torque at 4500rpm – although Alfa says 90 per cent of that is around at 2000rpm.The all-wheel-drive model uses a 3.2-litre JTS V6 (with its origins at Holden's Melbourne engine plant) also with direct injection and variable valve systems. All four wheels are driven using a Torsen centre differential system by 191kW of power and 322Nm of torque at a lofty 4500rpm, although the V6 is also laying claim to 90 per cent available at 2000rpm.The local Alfa staff acknowledge the new coupe has a battle of the bulge on its hands, with the four-cylinder weighing 1470kg and the all-wheel drive V6 a portly 1630kg.Alfa Romeo says platform changes are under way now that the underpinnings are no longer shared with GM and don't have to accommodate V8 drivetrains – expect the GTA versions to have much leaner figures.The features list has plenty to offer, with a full-length glass roof (with sliding screen), seven airbags as standard (including a driver's knee airbag), the anti-lock and stability control systems, leather trim, dual-zone climate control, cruise control, trip computer, 18in alloy wheels and a six-speaker sound system with single CD slot sound and 10-disc stacker. The V6 shares the wheel diameter but gets a different wheel style, as well as adding premium leather trim, heated front seats, xenon headlights, a Bose sound system and Bluetooth for mobile phones.The range-topping V6 offers a muted but growly low-speed engine note that promises plenty but is stunted by the high kerb weight.A slick and solid gear change means keeping the V6 on the boil is anything but a chore – the flexible powerplant allows decent progress but its feels better in the mid-range. The cabin is plush, with comfortable seats that could do with a touch more later support and to be lower set, as head room is at a premium for anyone who is above 180cm.With the glass roof's sliding screen retracted, the head room improves slightly, but in mid-summer heat the screen will have to be in place.The rear part of the cabin might be fine for children but only four short-ish adults are going to be able to fit comfortably in the Brera.Pushing up the pace sees the AWD V6 providing a decent – if firm – ride for the most part, but the weighty nose and drivetrain conspire to push the nose wide when cornering briskly.The V6 returned figures in the high teens after some enthusiastic Hills driving (it can be swift if the heavy nose is compensated for), with Alfa claiming an official combined figure of 11.5.The 2.2-litre drops that claim to 9.4 and feels lighter in the nose and despite the reduced horsepower is a more pleasant car to steer, but the four-cylinder's performance suffers for the weight as well.The Brera has a shelf load of trophies for its styling and plenty of buyers will go for the coupe's sparkling looks, but time will tell if its lighter German competition suffers from conquest sales of the gorgeous little Alfa.SMALL TORQUEJoining the wagon trainALFA Romeo also has added a V6 AWD model and Sportwagon, below, to the local 159 line-up.The 159 uses the same drivetrain as the Brera – a Torsen all-wheel-drive system with 191kW of power and 322Nm of torque available.The 159 also gets 18in alloys, with heated front seats, bi-xenon headlights, a Bose sound system and Bluetooth for mobile phones.The 159 AWD V6 with a six-speed manual will be priced at $74,990.The Sportwagon also has been revived in 159 guise and will be available with a wide variety of engine derivatives, but only with a six-speed manual gearbox until next year.The Sportwagon 2.2 JTS will start at $52,990, while the 2.4 JTD starts at $58,990 and the range-topping Sportwagon AWD 3.2-litre V6 is priced from $77,990.

SUPERCARS and people-movers are off the menu at BMW. It says it is more focused on Formula One than creating a road-going supercar. And family vans are not part of its core business.Even so, expect changes as the German carmaker works hard to take the attack to its main rival, Mercedes-Benz.BMW board member and product chief Burkhard Goschel says the company will be doing some product tweaking for showrooms."We have talked about a so-called room-functional concept, which is not a people-mover but a car with a lot of viability and space," Goschel says."The new X5, which is going on to the market soon, will have an optional seven seats, but a people-mover is not our business."Though the X5 is getting additions to its arsenal for a battle with the Mercedes-Benz ML, GL and R-Class wagons, BMW is opting out of the supercar war, focusing instead on its F1 campaign to promote the brand.BMW will maintain its M-car efforts, but it will not produce high-end supercars such as the Mercedes McLaren SLR and Bugatti Veyron.The company is not ruling out a replacement for the limited-edition Z8 roadster, which starred as a James Bond car, but Goschel says the supercar market had been over-estimated and (tongue in cheek) says the company already has a supercar."We have a very good sports car. It is becoming successful and it has only one seat. We are spending a lot of money for three drivers," he says."There are a lot of high-end sports cars and in our opinion there are too many."They are losing money. It's not a profitable business."We feel very comfortable with going F1 racing and with the other sports cars we are building."He admits BMW might have a different attitude if it were not in Formula One."You don't see a supercar every day but you see the F1 cars every two weeks," he says.The company's engineers are also being put to the test in the environmental area, and they are aiming to introduce brake energy recovery technology next year.Goschel believes hydrogen-fuel cell cars, including the hydrogen-petrol internal combustion engine, are the right way to go, but he says the issue of hydrogen storage remains critical."It's difficult. It takes time to change the system. We are working strongly on hydrogen-fuel cells. It will grow up, but how fast I don't know."The issue is storing hydrogen. You need about 10kg for a good range. It should be in liquid form but some issues over storage in cars has to be solved," he says.

After a little delay, the DSG punches the front wheels into action and the Jetta squeals away, stability control fighting the turbo FSI motor and the super-slick double-clutch auto.Torque steer is minimal, thanks to VW's driveshaft setup that is aimed at counteracting the differences between the left and right wheels' driveshafts.There's still a little tug at the steering wheel – to be expected – but it doesn't detract from the experience, and the electronics don't completely kill the speed off in a straight line. Turning corners under full power can prompt some wheel spin but the electronics temper it. The six-speeder is a great automatic, with the shift-direction being the wrong way the only issue – one day uniformity will be found, or car makers will allow drivers to choose which way they want to shift.It's a dual-clutch automatic, although VW likes to call it a "manual gearbox in which the gearshifts are controlled electronically".Either way, the DSG is quick and smooth, with two separate gear sets operated by two wet multi-plate clutches, one gear and clutch driving the vehicle with the second lot waiting to kick in on the gear change, which is completed in four one-hundredths of a second, according to the manufacturer. Hill starts can catch the driver out as it will roll back a little on takeoff, but it's only a small complaint about an otherwise effective and enjoyable substitute for a manual.Combined with the smooth, well-spread and considerable torque of the two-litre Golf GTI engine, it's an attractive package – particularly given its relatively low thirst.Volkswagen says its combined average Australian Standard figure is 8 litres/100km which, according to VW's figures, makes the sports model more frugal than the naturally aspirated petrol base model.The trip computer showed 10.9 litres/100km at the end of our time in the car, with most of that time spent on metropolitan roads – and the rural road trips often included some more enthusiastic stints.The two-litre turbocharged 16-valve four-cylinder produces 147kW and the peak torque of 280Nm is available between 1800rpm and 5000rpm. It is an entertaining engine, with some of the sporty throatiness carried over from the GTI donor car, but it's that near-flat torque curve that provides the Jetta with quick, yet efficient cross-country abilities.The Jetta flagship has plenty of in-gear acceleration on the back of that torque, which allows sixth-gear cruising on the open road, when trying to drive frugally, as well as the ability to maintain speed in top gear on the hills as well.Jetta has grown significantly when compared with the Bora it replaces, with better rear leg room the most noticeable in-cabin improvement. The cabin space is good, allowing four adults to travel in comfort, although three in the rear seat might struggle in terms of width. There's also no shortage of in-cabin safety gear, with dual front and side airbags as well as front and rear side-curtain airbags.The occupants are well looked after, with a decent 10-speaker sound system and dual-zone climate control, as well as a sports suspension system that doesn't tighten up ride quality beyond the realms of comfort.Some of Adelaide's nastier bits of bitumen aren't ideally suited to the Jetta's sports-tuned MacPherson strut front and multi-link rear end, set 15mm lower than the rest of the Jetta range, but it's a small price to pay for the cornering capabilities that see the sedan easily hustled through a set of corners with nice balance and decent cornering behaviour.The front buckets are comfortable but supportive enough to keep the driver well located behind the reach-and-rake, adjustable leather-wrapped, three-spoke sports wheel, which has audio and trip computer controls. The boot has a claimed capacity of 527 litres and is cavernous. Falcon and Commodore offer 504 and 465 litres respectively. The Jetta receives plenty of kudos for clever packaging given it's 300mm shorter in overall length with a wheelbase that's 200mm shorter than the full-size family offerings from Broadmeadows and Elizabeth. The tallish rear end makes the standard rear parking radar worthwhile to prevent parking mishaps.As VW makes a concerted effort to price sharply and grow its volumes, those in the market for a medium-sized sedan should have the Jetta near the top of their shopping list.SMALL TORQUEVW Jetta 2.0 Turbo FSIPrice: $39,990Engine: Two-litre DOHC 16-valve in-line turbocharged four-cylinderPower: 147kWTorque: 280Nm between 1800rpm and 5000rpmTransmission: Six-speed DSG only, front-wheel driveFuel consumption: 8 litres/100km combined. Test 10.9 litres/100kmSuspension: Independent, MacPherson struts with lower A-arms, anti-roll bar, sports-tuned (front); independent, four-link with coil springs, anti-roll bar, sports-tuned (rear)Dimensions (in mm): Length 4554, width 1781, height 1459Brakes: Four-wheel disc brakes, front ventilated, with anti-lock braking system with electronic brake-pressure distribution and brake assist

Designed as an on-road family wagon, it has proportions that are beyond that of what others market as a people mover.In standard wheelbase, it's 4922mm long, 1922mm wide and 1656mm tall. With a 3215mm wheelbase, its length grows to 5157mm, with much of the 235 extra millimetres aiding the middle-row occupants.Its maker – who is also laying claim to starting the luxury SUV segment with the M-Class almost a decade ago – is spruiking it as part SUV, part family wagon and part luxury sedan.It's being marketed as a four plus two – a four-seater machine with serious luggage capacity, or a six-seater that still has adequate space.Mercedes-Benz Australia managing director Horst von Sanden says the R-Class caters for people who need extra space without compromising on-road dynamics. It is luxurious, powerful and stylish."Thanks to powerful engines, a seven-speed automatic transmission and permanent all-wheel-drive, the R-Class is as dynamic on the road as it looks," he says.The model range will start at $82,900 for the standard wheelbase, rising through to $122,900 for a long-wheelbase R500.The base-model R350 runs the now-familiar 3.5-litre V6, which produces 200kW and 350Nm between 2400 and 5000rpm.The entire range uses the seven-speed automatic transmission, controlled via a column-mounted stalk and buttons on the wheel – even the hot-rod AMG R63, due late 2006, will also use the new gearbox with its 6.2-litre 375kW/630Nm V8-engine.The other petrol power plant is the five-litre V8, producing 225kW and 460Nm, with the torquey 165kW/510Nm R320 turbo-diesel expected to arrive by the end of the month.Among the standard fare on the R-Class are 17in wheels, multi-zone climate control, traction and stability control, all-wheel-drive, dual front airbags, side and window airbags front and rear, anti-lock brakes, eight-speaker 6CD sound system, load limiters and pre-tensioners for all seat belts, tyre pressure monitoring system and rain-sensing wipers. The R 500 V8 top-of-the-range model, adds among other things 18in wheels, leather trim, electrically adjustable front seats and steering wheel, DVD satellite navigation, electrically folding and automatically dimming exterior and rear-view mirrors, air suspension with adaptive damping and a Harman Kardon Logic 7 surround sound system.Also available on the R-Class is the sports package which ups the wheel size to 19in and adds some sports trim and a new instrument cluster.The only model sampled during the launch drive was the R500 long-wheelbase model, which has styling cues from a number of different Benz models, but the main achievement of the design has been to initially hide its size.The R-Class is a big wagon and that becomes apparent as you get to know it inside and out. Much of the interior has been donated by the M-Class – hence Benz's assertion the R is more like a passenger-car version of the Benz four-wheel-drive.Getting comfortable behind the wheel is never difficult, getting under way is also easy apart from grabbing for a conventional auto transmission selector, but even with a V8 under the snout there needs to be a solid prod for serious forward momentum. It will saunter along easily once up and running, but the R-Class weighs over 2200kg so there's plenty of bulk to be overcome.Dynamically, the R-Class provides a comfortable ride, with the adjustable suspension keeping body roll in check but getting a little jiggly on rippled bitumen – comfort mode takes some of that away.It can cover ground easily but never feels light on its feet.However, transporting four to six people in comfort will be completed without issue, thanks to a flexible and roomy interior, with DVD screens, climate control and adjustable seats making passengers feel at home.The R-Class will move six people in comfort, with plenty of safety equipment and luxury features on offer.

While most cannot afford the mortgage-sized pricetags, dreamers can get a close look at the high-performance and luxury machines on display from tonight at the Adelaide Motor Show.Some Adelaide drivers enjoyed a peek at the stars yesterday and found some of the cars of their dreams at Wayville.Beate Goercke, 26, from Stirling, normally drives a Ford Escort but can see herself in a $250,000 911 Porsche Cabriolet."Originally, I'm from Germany but that didn't affect my choice of the Porsche 911 Cabrio. It's a pretty nice car," she says.Ms Goercke thinks the German drop-top may improve her image and hopes her university studies one day may allow her to own one."I like the sound it makes as well. I drive an old Ford while I'm studying but maybe one day I will be able to afford one," she says.If she had a slightly less-impressive $30,000 to spend, she would choose another German offering, the Volkswagen Golf.Sonya Mincham, 31, from Camden Park, is a true-blue Holden fan but says the $600,000 Lamborghini Murcielago is her fantasy machine."I'm a real rev-head at heart. It's been a long time favourite. I like my Holdens but the Lamborghini is my all-time favourite car," she says.Groundskeeper Bill Prideaux, 64, from Yorketown, drives a Magna but says the Aston Martin DB9 convertible - about $370,000 - is his all-time favourite car.Road safety is a show theme.Highlights will include the Robert Bosch Electronic Stability Program simulator, run by the RAA.SA Police also are running a road safety display.

Where once the big front-engined, rear-drive sedans and wagons ruled the roost, other styles have made inroads with a view to heading off-road.Industry pundits muse over the rise of light and small cars – blamed on petrol prices and the age of the present crop of large cars – but the latter stages of 2006 will see a refreshing change.The present crop of medium and large family cars is considerable, with words such as boring, bland and banal not often applicable to the bulk of these segments any more.While it might not be the segment leader, Mitsubishi's make-or-break 380 sedan has been the focus of intense attention, as the future of the company's Tonsley Park manufacturing facility hangs in the balance. With some awards to back it, the 380 is undergoing a major revamp and is slowly gathering momentum, thanks to decent looks, a strong on-road package and local patriotism among the positives going its way.Holden's VZ Commodore has been updated with a new six-litre V8 in the sports and luxury models, fi ghting on in the face of renewed competition from its other locally built opposition.The potential for a segment resurgence at the end of the year will rest largely with the VE, an all-new model that replaces the VZ.Ford’s Falcon received a minor facelift and plenty of underbody work with the introduction of the BF, but the main claim to fame for the new big sedan from Broadmeadows was the addition of a six-speed automatic.The new transmission pips Holden's latest auto by one ratio, or two if you include V8 availability, and the Ford six-speeder has a background that includes applications in big names such as BMW, Jaguar and Land Rover.The BF Falcon also introduced some changes to safety equipment – traction and stability control on much of its range – as well as improvements in body sealing and sound insulation.The brand everyone wants to beat is Toyota, but the Japanese-owned Melbourne-based car maker is not relieving any pressure on the market. In fact, the foot on the throat of its opposition, if anything, will have more force behind it. The manufacturer has long been held as a yardstick for build quality, reliability and longevity, but was equally well known for building "white goods on wheels".Toyota Australia boss John Conomos has promised no more appliances on wheels and the new Camry speaks volumes for the modern design credo. Unveiled earlier this year at the Detroit Motor Show, the new Camry has lost its V6 power plant but gained styling to match the quality.Bold predictions of Avalon sales to rival Holden and Ford in the then-booming large-car segment soon came back to haunt Toyota, which has learnt much (by its own admission) from the Avalon experience and has put the knowledge to use with Aurion. The new Camry-based big car from Toyota has been styled to please the eye, and has also had much design and engineering input from Australia.The medium segment is growing and it's in no small part due to the rise of Honda's Accord Euro, the Mazda6 and Subaru's continued success with the Liberty. Mazda revived the medium segment with a sparkling fi ve-door four-cylinder range that offered decent dynamics, attractive styling and a bit of vigour beneath the bonnet.Honda has followed suit and the Accord Euro – albeit only in a sedan model – also has an enthusiastic demeanour on the road, plenty of features and a sharp price tag.Subaru has been the quiet achiever but the Liberty's fans are plentiful – the new look has introduced more room, more features and a wide choice of four and six-cylinder power plants.Subaru also offers a wagon – another point of difference to the other top-selling mediums. Only the Accord (a step up in size from the Euro) offers a V6 and Mazda offers a wagon. Never before have Australians been so spoilt for choice.

Car makers are following in the footsteps of Mercedes-Benz and Lexus by putting folding metal hard-tops within the reach of more car buyers than ever before.It's a case of Viva la France in this instance, as Renault and Peugeot have folding metal hardtops starting well under the $50,000 mark, with the Pug 307CC Sport the only transgressor at $55,000.The rest of the Peugeot drop-top range – the two 206CC models and the 307CC Dynamic – will feature on the Peugeot display at Wayville, giving wind in the hair motoring with French fl air for a $32,990 starting price.The base 206CC is powered by a 1.6-litre engine – there's a two-litre model as well – and it's only got decent room for two people, although it offi cially seats four. The 206 is nearing the end of its model life so stay tuned for a drop-top 207.The 307CC offers a little more room for the rearseat occupants, although it uses similar drivetrains. Holden might be sourcing its light and small car entrants from Korea, but its fashionable two-seater drop-top is still from Europe. The two-seater is keenly priced and, while only available in manual, will get plenty of attention from new car buyers. Holden's present Astra has a soft-top but expect the next one to follow in the Tigra's tyre tracks, although it's no sure thing for Australia.Mitsubishi will be showing something close to its drop-top contender, the Colt coupe-cabriolet, which has started production in Italy.The folding metal hardtop is built from the Colt fi ve-door platform and rather than the three-door, the 2+2 convertible will join a revamped Mitsubishi light car range.But don't think the rag-top has gone the way of the dodo – anything but.The reigning Wheels Car of the Year is Mazda's new MX-5, which retained its manual folding soft-top for the sake of saving weight.BMW's 6-Series drop-top might cost more than $200,000 but that pricetag buys a soft-top, albeit one that is well-insulated. The company's Z4 has retained a rag-top, as has the BMWowned Mini range.Chrysler's Crossfire – a feature of the brand's stand at this year's show – also has a rag-top.Volvo's new open-topped star, the C70, has ditched the cloth roof for a solid top, while the Lexus SC430 has offered buyers of the brand the security of a metal roof with wind-in-hair enjoyment since its inception.Bentley and Lamborghini will be wellrepresented in the megabuck drop-top realm with cloth lids, as will the all-new Jaguar XK convertible.

The American breed, renowned for its off-road prowess, has introduced the Commander above the Grand Cherokee in the range, offering seven seats for the first time. It is the first time the car has been seen in the metal in Australia in the lead-up to its late-May on-sale date. Chrysler Group Australia managing director Gerry Jenkins said the brand's customers had been asking for a seven-seater Jeep for a long time and he believed the Commander was the solution. "We are excited to be able to give the Australian public a sneak peak of this exciting new four-wheel drive ahead of its launch late May," he said. "The Commander broadens the Jeep brand's appeal. "It has been deliberately designed with the similar rugged looks of the original Cherokee that so many people love." The seven-seater Commander has three rows of seats with extra space for occupant room provided by an additional 50mm in length than the Grand Cherokee. The Commander shares the same four-wheel drive system and drivetrain as the Grand Cherokee, with two V8s and a turbodiesel V6 on offer. The range-topper will be the petrol 5.7-litre Hemi V8, with cylinder deactivation for fuel efficiency, joined by the 4.7-litre V8 petrol. The three-litre V6 common-rail turbodiesel, shared with the Grand Cherokee and the Mercedes-Benz M-Class, should arrive after the petrol models. There are no specific prices yet but expect to pay around $2000 above the equivalent Grand Cherokee models, which puts starting price of the Commander at just under $60,000 and topping out at around $74,000. The range will be boosted by the quick 313kW Grand Cherokee SRT-8 later this year.