Chrysler Viper Reviews

As Australia's new car juggernaut rolls on towards the magic million sales mark, the number of available models continues to swell. Already recognised as one of the most diverse and competitive car markets in the world, Australian importers continue to add to the mix.With half the year nearly gone, buyers have taken almost 500,000 new vehicles into their garages with some of the traditional biggest selling months still to come.At least three new marques will arrive in Australian showrooms in the second half of  the year; Hummer, Mahindra and Skoda,  testament to the vibrancy of what is, in world terms, a minor market.However, it is the expanding model range within existing brands that will drive the Aussie market over the million mark for the first time.Over the next six months more than 50 new or revised models will arrive in Australian new car showrooms. Here's a look at what's coming soon:ASTON MARTINDip your lid in style in September with the V8 Roadster, a gorgeous extension of the Vantage. AUDI Audi starts its end-of-year program in September with the R8, the biggest, baddest Audi in the garage The Supercar looks with enough performance to keep most on their toes. Also on the cards for October is the A5, Audi's first coupe since the TT. An all-new platform which comes as a front-wheel-drive and quattro. In November the V8 4.2 TDi may answer some questions for the Q7, including on fuel economy. BMW You'll have to wait until October for the new M3, but the latest offering from the M garage has something special. It's the first V8 for an M3. CHRYSLER A Sebring convertible, topless cousin of the sedan launched in early 2007, arrives in December. DODGE The Nitro SUV joins the Caliber for Dodge next month and the US marque backs that up with its Avenger sedan in August. FIAT The baby Ritmo, sold as the Bravo in Europe, will be Fiat's second passenger offering in Australia when it lands in October. Expect petrol and diesel. FORD The rush to oil-burners continues with the Focus getting the honour of being Ford's first passenger diesel next month before the Focus CC, the drop-top concept that set hearts aflutter at Frankfurt two years ago lands in October. The other big news for Ford is the return in November of the Mondeo for a third tilt at Australia. HOLDEN The key second-half model from the General is the VE Ute, bringing all the developments in the VE sedan to the working man's Holden. HONDA The Civic Type-R is razor-sharp styling built around a high-revving fun package. Next month. HUMMER The iconic offroader from the land of the large truck opens its Aussie account in October, a couple of months later than anticipated as a result of production delays for the H3. Surprisingly agile with real offroad ability. HYUNDAI An important second-half for the Korean marque. It starts with the popular Santa Fe SUV finally getting the 3.3-litre V6 from the Sonata to give it some extra punch. In October, the new Elantra hatch joins the sedan in the Aussie line-up after a wait of almost 12 months. JAGUAR An October styling refresh for the marque's luxury sedan, the XJ, is all from the Big Cat this year before a big 2008. JEEP The second of Jeep's non-Rubicon Trail-rated soft-roaders arrives in August to join the Compass for duty around town. KIA The Carens compact people mover has never really taken off here. The new generation is a little bigger and more stylish. It will be powered by a four-cylinder petrol or diesel engine with five- or seven-seat capacity. On sale in October. LAND ROVERThe baby Freelander gets a complete makeover for this generational change. New engines and a new family look all go on show in July. MAHINDRAIndia's workhorse ute, the Pik-Up, starts to roll out to Australia in July. MAZDA A new generation and a new look for the little Mazda2. Sharper styling is the key to this one's October debut. At the same time Mazda will add a diesel option to its top-selling Mazda3 range. MERCEDES-BENZThe key model for Mercedes this year is the meat-and-potatoes C-Class. Bigger, brighter and ready to meet the masses it is available from July. Also on Mercedes' new-model list is an upgraded ML500 and R-Class in September, both getting the 285kW V8 engine. October is a big month for the three-pointed star with the crackingCL65 AMG (a bi-turbo V12 with 450kW and 1000Nm) and the more sociable S320 CDi, which marries diesel with uber-luxury. MITSUBISHI You have to love a fighter. Australia's “other” family car, the 380, wins a minor refresh with some interior updates from next month. In August the automatic turbo diesel, traditionally the model's top seller, completes the Triton range while in October the point guard for the red-hot Evo X (due late in the year), the new Lancer, promises look-at-me-styling and more punch than the current model. NISSANThe baby Micra finally gets the green light for Australia with an October date with sales. In November the X-Trail, a core model for Nissan and the compact SUV that set the benchmark for those who actually can go off-road, gets a full generational change. The Dualis arrives in December. A softer option to the X-Trail, it sits on a similar platform but is more plush. PEUGEOT It's all about size for the French manufacturer. In July the 207CC, the previous generation of which set the standard for accessorising small cars, is back and promising to reclaim the crown. Its far more focused and athletic sibling, the GTi arrives in August with its turbocharged 1.6-litre engine. The station wagon derivative of the base 207 goes on sale in October. PORSCHEThe 911 turbo cabriolet proves Porsche's belief that if you can go fast in a sedan you should be able to go just as fast in a cabriolet. In September you can prove it for yourself. RENAULT August sees the Megane diesel join the Renault fleet, while the Clio Sport returns in November in an all-new guise. SAAB The new 9-3 will highlight Saab's first all-wheel-drive system in a completely renewed model range. All models arrive in November. SKODA Launches into Australia with a two-pronged attack in October. The Octavia medium-sized hatch and the quaintly named Roomster compact MPV will carry the flag initially. SMARTIn September the next next-generation smart ForTwo arrives, a little bigger and a little smarter. SUBARU The new Impreza is one of the most polarising styling departures of the year. In basic and WRX fettle the hatch arrives in September. A cult car heads mainstream and the jury is out. SUZUKIIf it ain't broke ... A freshen-up for the car that put punch back in Suzuki's local range, the brilliant Swift is in showrooms in October with the sedan version of the SX4 “tall hatch” joining the stable in September. TOYOTA The first product from Toyota's new “hot shop”, the Aurion TRD, arrives in August with a 3.5-litre supercharged V6 with sports manners and a load of plastic kit. Also in August is the generational change for Kluger with the SUV getting a substantial facelift and the 3.5-litre V6 from the Aurion. November brings the Landcruiser 200 Series and a TRD version of the HiLux. VOLVO The highlight for the Swedes in the second half of the year is the all-new generation of the XC70 due in November. About the same time the C30 will get the in-line five-cylinder diesel. VW A hot version of the Passat, the R36, is heading Down Under in November. 

Tired of justifying your choice of car to every sniping sedan driver?Help is at hand. The Australian Four Wheel Drive Council has put out a list of facts about 4x4s which explodes some of the most common myths.Take the bloke in the pub who is always quoting accident statistics. Chances are he's quoting numbers from the US, where what they call SUVs are completely different and where only 11 states have enforceable seat-belt laws.In actual fact, the latest figures from the Australian Transport Safety Bureau tell us that, unlike the US, the accident rate for 4x4s and sedans is almost identical in Australia. And the most recent NSW RTA statistics tell us that in country driving, sedans are nearly twice as likely as four-wheel drivers are to be involved in single vehicle accidents.Then there are the people who tell you that 4x4s are more likely to roll than other cars because their center of gravity is too high. While the center of gravity is a little higher in a 4x4 than in a sedan, it is only the difference made by the larger tyres.Any engineer will tell you why: it's to do with how drive trains and how universal joints have to work (this does not take into account highly lifted competition vehicles).In order of rollover ease (highest to lowest) you could classify vehicles: B-Double, Semi Trailer, Heavy Truck, Bus, Light Truck/Delivery Van, Heavy 4WD, People Mover, Light 4WD, Sedan, Sports Car, Go Kart.You often hear people moaning that 4x4s take up too much parking space. In fact, if you compare a Nissan Patrol, for example, with-say-a Chrysler Voyager, which is often touted as a replacement model for the 4x4, the Chrysler is longer, wider and higher than the Patrol. And as for the people who tell you it is impossible to see out of the back of a 4x4, they obviously haven't read the report of the survey conducted by IAG and the NRMA, which found that “no car type is inherently better than any other. There are good 4WDs and bad sedans; in fact, the lowest rated car was a sedan, not a 4WD”.Traffic studies also show that 4x4s are under represented in accidents, relative to the number on the road. Clearly a heavier car is more likely to hurt somebody more than, say, a motorcycle, but even so, sedans were involved in 66 per cent of pedestrian fatalities compared with 15 per cent for utilities, trucks and 4x4s.As for the gas guzzling theory, studies have shown that, around the city, where average speeds are less than 30kmh and air resistance is negligible, a large 4WD will use exactly the same amount as fuel as any other vehicle of the same weigh: it's just a matter of physics.So, if someone calls your pride and joy a Toorak Tractor, you'll be able drive straight through their arguments!

Keith Bowman is one owner who has taken a liking to the now seven-year-old model. He has a 2006 convertible PT Cruiser, which he bought seven months ago. And he believes it's the only one in the Linen Gold colour in manual form in Australia.“I always had a love for the convertibles,” he says. “It's great driving around with the roof down. The sun and wind in your hair.”This isn't Bowman's first PT Cruiser.“I saw it on the road in November 2000,” he says. “At first I thought it was a hot rod. I had to do some investigations about what it was and in February 2001 I bought my first one.”Bowman says he enjoys driving a car that looks different to others on the road.“With new modern cars, when you've seen one, you've seen them all ... but the Cruiser, it's eye-catching,” he says.And it gets the thumbs up from his two grown-up children. “They love it,” he says. “Whether they'd own one's a different thing, but they love its individuality.”Bowman individualised his previous PT with an airbrushed surfing theme. But he doesn't plan on making any external alterations on his present model.“I don't know if this one will see a mural,” he says. “With the top down, you don't need anything on it to catch any eyes.”And it attracts some curious fans.“People ask us where we got it chopped. They don't realise they're out there as a production car as a convertible. There aren't that many out there right now,” he says.Bowman has carried out some exhaust and engine modifications on his convertible Chrysler but he doesn't really have any plans for more changes.The PT Cruisers were introduced in Australia in July 2000, with many people instantly taking a liking to the design and adopting Bowman's interest of airbrushing and modifying. By March last year, Chrysler had built a million PT Cruisers in its manufacturing plant in Mexico.“PT” stands for Personal Transportation, but the initials also indicate the car's platform. While the Neon was based on the Chrysler PL platform, or Platform Low, the Cruiser was based on the Chrysler PT platform, for Platform Tall. The cabrio version was launched overseas in 2005 and made its way to Australia last June. And Bowman says he had to have one.But that meant upgrading from the model he had at the time. Bowman bought his first PT in 2001 for $42,000. `I traded that one in, I think it's still on the road somewhere in the Northern Beaches,” he says.The cabrio models today retail for about $35,000, but with trade-in, Bowman says he paid $11,000 for his car.“Considering I bought it (his original Cruiser) when our dollar was at the rock bottom ... I had to pay for everything, I believe it held its value OK. It had 186,000km on the clock, and I had it for five years.”And the Bowman family seem to have an interest in the Chrysler brand.“When I was first married, I owned an old 1965 Valiant AP6 station wagon,” Bowman says. “We also have a Chrysler Neon, which the PT was formed from.”And as the “cruise controller” for the PT Cruiser Down Under club, which means Bowman plans all the club runs, he knows many people who have jumped aboard the Cruiser bandwagon.“You either like them or you don't, they're just different to the other cars,” he says. “With Holdens and Fords, you have to have a close look before you know which one's going past you. But you always know the difference with a Cruiser.”And while the 50-year-old clocked up a lot of kilometres on his old model, he says he's taking better care of his topless version.“I'm actually looking after this one and keeping the mileage down,” he says.“My wife drives it to and from work, five minutes down the road. I drive it mainly on the weekend.” 

Since the birth of Australia's own car industry post-World War II there has always been an American presence on Australian roads, but until less than five years ago it was one largely dominated by models considered niche or classic. That is about to end.By the end of this year there will be at least 15 models from Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge and Hummer on sale in Australia, with Cadillac waiting in the wings.“Not since the late 1940s will there have been the sort of US-manufactured presence in the Australian new car market that we are now seeing,” DaimlerChrysler's David McCarthy says.Chrysler — along with sibling marques Dodge and Jeep — have taken a point position in the new campaign.“The difference now is the breadth of choice in model styles,” McCarthy says.“There was always a presence in the '60s and '70s of certain types of large cars but this is very different.”Those very American models, such as the Chevrolet Impala, Pontiac Parisienne, Ford Galaxie and the early Chrysler Valiants, were imported to supplement locally produced models and they continued to trade on the aura the US had as the home of the automobile.Since then, the local new-car market has expanded to become one of the most vibrant and model-rich in the world.Apart from locally manufactured vehicles Australian showrooms are full of Japanese, Korean and European brands across the full price spectrum.DaimlerChrysler's decision to launch the Chrysler badge back into the Aussie market in 2000 was courageous. To add Dodge last year was purely adventurous.But certainly no more so than GM's plan to put the H3 Hummer in showrooms by July.GM spokeswoman Emily Perry says the fact that 150 firm orders were held for the H3 before the first vehicle landed in Australia is proof there is a place for the brand.“People understand the iconic nature of the badge but I believe they also understand that the H3 is not the same as the original military HumVee,” Perry says.Speaking of Cadillac, a brand GM Holden boss Denny Mooney has more than once suggested would have a future in Australia, Perry says it is a very exciting brand and, with the new CTS, that interest will continue to build. “But we don't have anything to announce yet,” she says.The latest to join the invasion is Chrysler's new Sebring sedan, which was launched in Australia this week.Chrysler will initially introduce the Sebring in only one engine and transmission variant.A 2.4-litre, four cylinder powers the model, but Chrysler managing director, Gerry Jenkins says other engines are available, including a diesel and a V6, and they will evaluate them further down the track.The smaller engine means Chrysler has been able to keep the cost down, while still offering impressive equipment. But it does seem a sacrifice. The standard model, the Touring, is priced at $33,990.The Limited is $37,490 and adds a sunroof, a six-stacker CD, Boston acoustic speakers, 18-inch alloy wheels and tortoiseshell accents on the steering wheel, dashboard and door trim. The first thing you notice about the Sebring is its striking looks.It possesses some familiar family traits, such as the Chrysler face and signature grille and the bloodline connection with the Crossfire is instantly recognisable.Chrysler will definitely bring some added class and stunning character to this segment.It does stand out and the bonnet strakes are especially unusual.The 2.4-litre engine feels like a small-car engine in a bigger car. It's the same engine that's used in the Jeep Compass and the high-end Dodge Caliber. You won't be setting any 0-100km/h record in this, but then again, you don't expect to in a $30,000 plus family car.However, the four-cylinder does feel disappointing and a little weak when working its way up to a constant speed.The Sebring is only available with a four-speed automatic gearbox. Put your foot down and the revs climb quite high before shifting up a gear. An extra gear would have come in handy for cruising.The gear changes are a little far apart when sitting in Drive mode. There is the manual functioning if you're after more control, but letting it climb the tacho just a little results in a whining sound.It doesn't seem to have the substance to classify it as a really enjoyable drive.But once getting to your desired speed, the drive is comfortable and smooth. A total of 125kW is extracted from the engine at 6000rpm, with 220Nm coming on from 4500rpm. Suspension-wise, the Australian version of the Sebring has taken the top-end performance character from the US versions.And while it handled OK on our drive, the roads tested were limited to fairly straight conditions. One benefit from the smaller engine is the saving at the pump.Chrysler has recorded a combined claimed fuel consumption of 8.9 litres per 100km, which makes it comparable to many small cars. We recorded around 9.5 litres per 100km.The interior doesn't quite mirror the more glamorous exterior. But space is generous, with a lot of leg room front and rear.And you're also getting a decent list of gear, including heated leather seating as standard.The seating position feels weird at first, but it's not uncomfortable. As well as leather, both models get high level safety, including side-curtain airbags, multi-stage front airbags, ABS with electronic brake-force distribution and ESP with traction control.Other features include a cupholder that can heat or chill your drink, an input jack for your iPod, analogue clock (following on with the 300C theme) and automatic climate control. Chrysler also brings new technology to the segment with MyGIG as an optional feature. This will cost you an extra $3500.This combines navigation, 20 gigabyte hard-disc drive, MP3 connectivity and downloading function, DVD and radio screen.Fast factsChrysler SebringPrice: Touring $33,990, Limited$37,490Engine: 2.4-litre, 4-cylinder, 125kW@6000rpm, 220Nm@4500rpmTransmission: 4-speed automaticFuel: 64-litre tank, 8.9L/100km (combined claimed), 9.5L/100km (astested)Verdict: Stylish looks but the Sebring lacks a little in performance.What they sellChrysler: PT Cruiser, Crossfire, Voyager, 300C, Sebring (next month)Dodge: Caliber, Nitro (July), Avenger (September)Jeep: Wrangler, Cherokee, Grand Cherokee, Compass, Patriot (August)Hummer: H3 (July)Cadillac: the CTS, which is currently under consideration

Toyota took the leadership with a total of 2.38 million cars and trucks sold worldwide, whereas GM sold 2.26 million vehicles for the same period. It is the first time GM has been overtaken in sales since 1931.Toyota's high sales can partly be attributed to petrol prices, particularly the sales in the US, with a continued demand for smaller, more fuel efficient cars. The Prius hybrid has also played a big role in this.It's also believed that later this month the Japanese carmaker will report a seventh consecutive year of record profits.Toyota's success comes as the Detroit-based manufacturers, including GM, Ford and Chrysler, lost money last year and are closing plants and cutting jobs.But Toyota's future is looking much brighter, with an $11.7 billion profit last year. Japanese analysts expect the company to exceed that figure this year.

DaimlerChrysler has just completed testing its "Willwarn" wireless local danger warning system which detects hazards such as black ice or obstacles and radios the information to following vehicles.Five vehicles in the test were equipped with Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) radio technology called "Car-2-X Communication".The early warnings enabled drivers of the cars behind to prepare for the danger and adapt their speed in plenty of time.Other inter-vehicle systems are also in the pipeline.Audi and Honda introduced their vehicle-to-vehicle safety systems earlier this year.The systems work by using GPS, radar, laser and radio to communicate with other road users such as motorcycles, trucks and even pedestrians to avoid collisions.Manufacturers are working with each other and other information and electronics companies to establish compatible systems.Already vehicle manufacturers in Europe, the US and Japan have agreed to develop a common standard for the relevant hardware and software, and are pursuing standard radio frequencies to assure the system works around the world.The drawbacks for these systems are that they require all road users to have them fitted, or need roadside beacons to relay information, or a central service to consolidate and process the information.Honda's third-generation advanced safety vehicle (ASV-3) system identifies pedestrians and intersections, reads road markings and street signs and prevents rear-end accidents by recognising a rapidly slowing vehicle in front.Audi's futuristic Roadjet Concept vehicle uses the technology for avoiding crashes and making driving smoother.The system can assess traffic light phases so drivers can drive at an average speed and avoid heavy stops and starts.It also features a hazard signal when a vehicle has crashed, blocking the road, and will find empty spaces in car parks.

A CarsGuide investigation of ACCC and manufacturer recall records revealed significant national recalls

Driving the auction fever were record prices achieved for a pair of classic Australian muscle cars of the 1960s and '70s.A genuine one-owner Bathurst race specification 1967 Holden Monaro GTS 327 was sold for an Australian record $220,000, accompanied by cheers from a crowd of more than a thousand people.The auctioneers, Shannons, had expected a price between $100,000 and $130,000."Australian muscle cars of the early Bathurst era have been the hottest segment of the classic car market over the last year or two, but the extent to which the result exceeded our expectations just shows the passion these cars arouse," said Shannons' national auction manager Christophe Boribon."The auction showed there is continuing strong demand for muscle cars, particularly amongst baby boomers, and the market shows no sign of weakening."Minutes later, a painstakingly restored one-owner 1971 Valiant Charger R/T E38 "Bathurst" coupe, which had been expected to attract a price between $70-100,000, sold for an Australian record $128,000.The car will go into a private Victorian collection, much to the relief of the man who had owned it since new, 69-year-old Charles Edwards of Hay in western New South Wales."It's sad to see it sold. I would have liked to have seen it passed in, but I know it's going to a good home," said Mr Edwards.The former owner says the credit for the record price should go to David Norris from West Wyalong who spent nine years returning the car to showroom condition.Another immaculately restored lot, a 1963 150cc Vespa scooter, sold for $8,300 - more than $2,000 above predictions.A 1940s children's pedal car sold for $5,500 - roughly double the expected price.Two antique petrol bowsers - from the 1940s and '50s - were both bought by the same bidder for prices as much as 50 per cent above predictions.The chief executive of the Australian International Motor Show, Peter Sturrock, said the auction results were paralleled by strong orders for new cars at the motor show."Automotive brands exhibiting at the show are extremely happy with the quality and quantity of sales interest the motor show has generated," said Mr Sturrock."The message from this year's Australian International Motor Show is that consumer confidence remains very high.""Regardless of rising interest rates the collectable motor vehicle market is still going very strong," said Mr Boribon.

The American carmaker plans to jazz up the medium car club with its edgy Sebring sedan next year. The deliberately different-looking American is pitched as an alternative to the dependable Toyota Camry and the Honda Accord.While it will count on flair and a fair helping of "surprise and delight" to attract customers, chief engineer Dennis Krozek says getting the basics right had to be the key to winning converts."We know how competitive that medium segment is because there are so many offerings with Camry, Accord, Passat and Mazda6," Krozek says."We did a lot of research with potential customers, we did our benchmarking against the best of the best and targeted our functional objectives after that — ride and handling, safety and the technology we put in it. From there we wanted to offer technologies no one in the segment had to offer."Two petrol engines will be available in Australia. The Sebring will be launched with a 2.4-litre four with 125kW and 220Nm developed in conjunction with Hyundai and already in Australia in the Hyundai Sonata. It will be followed at some stage by a 2.7-litre V6.Chrysler has bought the use of Volkswagen's 2.0-litre turbodiesel with 103kW and 310Nm, rather than developed its own diesel or borrowed one from Mercedes-Benz, an expensive decision but one that should please owners.Transmissions are a five-speed manual and four-speed automatic for the petrol models and a six-speed manual for the turbodiesel.The automatic option for the diesel hasn't been announced, but could be Volkswagen Group's excellent six-speed DSG semi-automatic. All Sebrings are front-wheel-drive. Chrysler has made dynamic stability control standard across the Sebring range.But the Sebring's special extras will be the key to its success, starting with its MyGIG entertainment system. Developed by Boston Acoustics, it combines all the functionality of a touchscreen sound system with a 20Gb hard disc memory, USB direct input, Bluetooth capability, satellite navigation and the ability to store several thousand songs (or several full-length DVD movies that can be played when the car isn't moving) and then used to create its own playlists. Owners will never have to carry their own CDs again.Chrysler is weighing up making the system a standard feature across the range.The Sebring also has other unusual features for a non-luxury car, including heated cloth seats and a cup-holder that can chill or heat what's in it.Pricing details have not been announced but should start at about $30,000, with the first cars arriving in the middle of next year.The Sebring's clever extras and Crossfire-inspired looks should help it attract plenty of attention from car shoppers.But it's the mundane basics that need to impress us. No matter how clever the Sebring's MyGig sound system is, and no matter how sharp it looks, midsize car buyers have shown they need a commonsense reason to buy a car.What gives the Sebring credibility is that, even stripped of the things that make it stand out from the Camry crowd, it is still a good, solid car. Not as slick to drive as the Mazda6 or Accord Euro, nor with the robust reliability record of the Camry, but still good enough to make the list and let the exciting extras get it over the line.From most angles the Sebring is a looker, the stylish bonnet and nose, and sharp lines generally carrying over well from the Crossfire onto the more practically shaped Sebring body. Only from side-on does it look like what it is, a sensible family sedan dressed up as a street machine.Inside, the Sebring carries all the usual cues from the current Chrysler family, with old fashioned-looking backlit dials and the hard plastic dash that has been rejected by most European and Japanese brands in favour of a softer feel.We tried the 2.0-litre turbodiesel and the 2.0-litre petrol versions of the Sebring, the former with a six-speed manual transmission and the latter with a five-speed manual.The turbo diesel is the same highly regarded engine that we know from the Volkswagen Golf, with plenty of torque and well above average refinement for a diesel. Chrysler has confirmed this Sebring model will come to Australia.The 2.0-litre petrol, on the other hand, won't be coming, Chrysler choosing the 2.4-litre four as its entry-level engine.This is just as well because, as pleasant and smooth as the 2.0-litre four is, it just lacks the oomph for a good-size car. The 2.4-litre should be better.Brakes, steering, ride and handling are in the mix compared with the obvious competitors, which is something of a nice surprise.The Sebring feels safe and corners reasonably — it's much better than Chryslers before the 300C — and the stability control means any deficiency compared with the class-leading midsizers is barely noticeable.If you buy the Sebring over one of its Japanese competitors, you are not sacrificing much at all.What lifts the otherwise ho-hum attitude is MyGIG. Sure, other cars have a touchscreen audio system but one that allows motorists to permanently download hundreds of songs, has a USB port and can even store movies and photos, well, that's special.We haven't seen that kind of cleverness in many of the most expensive cars sold here, let alone something smack bang in Middle Street.It takes a few minutes to download an album of music, for example, but once it's saved each song can be selected individually, or added to user-chooser playlists, or called up in alphabetical order. It's remarkably easy to use and saves CDs from being scratched.FAST FACTSPrice: from about $30,000Engine: 2.4-litre 4-cylinder petrol 125kW@6000rpm, 220Nm@4500rpm; 2.0-litre turbodiesel 103kW@4000rpm, 310Nm@1750rpmTransmission: 4-speed auto or 5-speed manual (petrol), 6-speed manual (diesel)Fuel: 8.9L/100km (petrol); 6.2L/100km (diesel

Holden has re-engineered and re-aligned its entire performance car range with the introduction of the VE Commodore, introducing a new model – the SS V – as the performance flagship.In response, Ford has upped the ante on the BF Falcon and its highperformance Ford Performance Vehicles (FPV) derivatives.And if that's not enough, 2006 saw Chrysler introduce the stove-hot 6.1-litre V8 powered 300C SRT8, which represents the biggest and most powerful V8 engine you can buy in a muscle car today.HOLDEN COMMODORE PERFORMANCE MODELSHolden's flagship muscle car gets a new designation with VE – it's called the SS V. Below that is the SS, which roughly equates to the outgoing VZ Commodore's SV8 model. And, at the entry level is the SV6, which gets the high-output version of the 3.6-litre V6.There's no mistaking the performance intent of SS V, with its huge wheel arches, in-your-face front air dam and purposeful rear wing. Inside is a new touch – a racestyle flat-bottomed steering wheel and jet fighter-style instrumentation.It's powered by the L98 6.0-litre V8 producing peak outputs of 270kW (5700rpm) and 530Nm (4400rpm).(VE's engine is very closely related to the VZ's L76 6.0-litre, which produced 260kW and 510Nm.) The L98 is standard on SS and SSV (it's a $4700 option elsewhere in the range). What's changed dramatically is chassis refinement. The VE performance models offer levels of turn-in, steering feedback, grip and driver involvement that's up there with some very capable Euro cars – most of which can't hold a candle to 270kW either.SS V rides on 19-inch five-spoke alloys shod with 245/40 Bridgestone Potenzas, while SS and SV6 share 18-inch slotted five-spoke alloys and 245/45 Potenzas.SS and SS V are available with six-speed transmissions – both the manual and auto are six-speeders – and the auto is a slick-shifting masterpiece. SV6 gets either a sixspeed manual or five-speed auto.You want performance? Both V8 models will shatter six seconds to 100km/h and go on to annihilate 14secs for the standing 400m.Comparable times for the SV6 are 7.5 and 15.5sec respectively. Quite simply, the new VE doesn't hang around.HSV has an over-riding desire: To stand alongside elite luxury brands like BMW and Audi with its head held high. And now, with its VE Commodorederived vehicles, it can. The brand wants – needs – customers to see it as a stand-alone marque, separate to Holden.The new E-Series GTS and Senator are exactly the right vehicles for those buyers. GTS is boldly a performance car, rolling on massive 20-inch alloys (the biggest ever fitted to an Australian production car) and equally huge tyres.Rears are massive 275/30 section Bridgestones, while fronts are 245/35. The slightly more subtle and rounded Senator has Europe even more directly in its sights – and cars like the BMW 5-Series need to be worried.Visually stunning without being gaudy, both are instantly differentiated visually from Holden's lineup. Power and torque are up, albeit modestly, to 307kW (from Holden's 270) and 550Nm (Holden: 530).But the biggest news with these cars is at each corner, beneath theskin. They share something with the Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano and new Audi TT – HSV's elite entrants boast Magnetic Ride Control (MRC) suspension.This allows them to change from ultra-taut supreme handling machines to super-smooth cruisers at the flick of a microchip.HSV's entry-level E-Series offering – Clubsport – lacks the miracle of MRC, but it packs exactly the same underbonnet punch as GTS and Senator.Priced in the early-$60,000s, it's around $12,000 easier to slip into – about midway between Holden's SS V and HSV's GTS.FPVNothing Holden can offer in the sixcylinder department can hold a candle to Ford's prowess with tweaking big kilowatts from its in-line 4.0-litre six.Producing an amazing 245kW in standard trim inside Falcon XR6 Turbo, thanks to a turbocharger with intercooler, Ford Performance Vehicles ups that to 270kW in its hi-tech F6 Tornado ute and Typhoon sedan.That's more power than the straight six-powered BMW M3, and although the Beamer lacks a hairdryer, there is the not-so small matter of the $80,000 extra, above the price of the Typhoon, you must spend to acquire one.FPV's Force 8 is powered by the quad cam 5.4-litre Boss 290 V8, which manages near-HSV outputs despite having 600cc less engine capacity.FPV's 'Force' models, like HSV's offerings, are aimed squarely at corporate executives who want an Australian-built alternative to European luxury marques, according to Ford boss Tom Gorman.Both FPV models are available exclusively with the world-renowned, slick-shifting ZF 6HP26 high-torque six-speed automatic transmission, which manages to snatch sophisticated shifts in the face of awesome grunt from both engines. Both models also boast supreme stopping power thanks to Brembo brakes – four-piston callipers at the front and single-piston callipers at the rear. An even more powerful Brembo brake system with six-piston front callipers and four-piston rears is optional.CHRYSLER 300C SRT8If you really, really want to stand out in a performance car, plant your rear end in one of these babies. The Chrysler Street and Racing Technology (SRT) version the 300C knows no equals, and boasts exclusivity-factor up to here.With a class-leading 317kW and a 0-100km/h time in the mid-five-second range, plus a competitive $71,990 pricetag, the Chrysler 300C SRT8 is the first SRT vehicle to be powered by a 6.1-litre Hemi V8, which offers not only Australia's biggest muscle car engine, but 25 per cent more power than the 5.7-litre standard engine.With 20-inch alloy wheels, performance-tuned suspension and Brembo brakes, the 300C SRT8 is engineered with stopping power to match its incredible capacity to accelerate.Since going on sale in its 5.7-litre V8 and 3.5-litre V6 guise the 300C has carved an unprecedented 30 per cent share in the sub-$100,000 large segment. The 300C SRT8 is the second SRT branded vehicle to be sold in Australia, joining the high performance Crossfire SRT6.The 2006 Chrysler 300C SRT8 connects with the road via a new wheel and tyre assembly consisting of 20-inch forged alloy wheels shod with high-performance Goodyear F1 245/45 (front) and 255/45 (rear) threeseason asymmetrical tyres.Power-adjustable sport seats with suede inserts are standard up front – they're heated, naturally, and come with memory functions.