Citroen DS Reviews

It's the first full electric car to get the maximum safety score, although a range of petrol-electric hybrids, including the Toyota Camry, which has just moved up in local testing, have managed a five

And each week it seems the fuel price sign goes up faster than a politician's pay packet. Australians use a vast amount of fuel in going about their daily business, be it getting the kids to school, travelling to and from work, or conducting the nation's business. Each year we import an ocean of petrol, diesel and LPG that's equivalent to 63,000 Olympic swimming pools. And we're not alone, as the vast populations of newly mobile countries such as India and China take to the roads in their Tatas, Great Walls and Cherys, the world's thirst for oil seems ever more insatiable. Overlay this with war and unrest in the Middle East, the source of 56 per cent of the world's oil, and the inevitable push-pull dynamics of supply and demand can lean to only one thing: higher fuel prices. Here in Australia motorists have been feeling the pinch of higher fuel prices since January when the latest spike in oil prices first began appearing on service station leader boards. The spiralling petrol prices mean fuelling a family car like a Commodore or Falcon now accounts for 2.6 per cent of average weekly earnings. But you don't have to sit back and take it in the hip pocket. There are ways to drive down your weekly fuel bills. Here are a few of them. DOWNSIZING According to VFACTS industry statistics, this seems the most popular choice. Large cars have gone from the top-selling passenger segment in 2000 with 198,766 to the smallest passenger segment last year with 98,583 and falling at 3.1 per cent. Meanwhile, sales of smaller cars are skyrocketing. In the past 10 years small car sales have almost doubled to 239,191 while light cars have increased about 44 per cent to 137,916. You can buy a small car from as little as $11,990 (plus on-road costs) for the Chinese-made Chery, right up $35,990 for a Citroen DS3. And you won't go without. Some of the cheapest little cars these days come with a swag of safety and creature features from multiple airbags to Bluetooth connectivity. PROS: Save on fuel; do the environment a favour; easier to park; nippier in traffic; little hatches can be cavernous if you fold down the rear seats. CONS: You get cramped on long journeys; they are noisier on the highway; they're bumpier over potholes; you could feel a little silly driving a Smurf car. Our Pick: Hyundai i20 (from $15,490) is set to take over from Getz as the segment leader with Euro styling and a high level of features and safety. Others to Consider: Suzuki Swift (from $15,990), Mazda2 (from $15,790) and Toyota Yaris (from $14,990). DIESEL Like smaller car categories, the growth in diesel-powered vehicles is exponential. Since the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries began collating separate figures for various fuel types in 2005, diesel cars and SUVs have more than doubled to 125,555 last year, which is almost one in every five new passenger cars or SUVs bought today. The reason is that modern diesel engines are not only up to twice as frugal as a petrol vehicle, but they often have lower emissions because they burn less fuel per kilometre and usually have an exhaust system that traps small carbon materials. Modern diesels are also quieter and smoother running. However, diesel engines have higher internal pressures and a complex fuel system so they are more expensive to build than a petrol engine. Some car companies charge up to $10,000 more for a diesel variant, although most charge around an extra $2000. Expensive diesels are often the result of low production volumes and highly technological designs and machining costs. To reap the economic benefits you have to drive big kilometres each year and hold on to the vehicle longer. An extreme example is the Holden CD Cruze auto diesel that costs $4000 more than the petrol model. Based on RACQ's fuel running costs of 9.36c/km for the petrol and 8.41c/km for the diesel, you would have to drive 25,000km for 16 years to recoup the extra cost. PROS: Fuel economy is anywhere between 10-50 per cent better than a petrol equivalent; more torque means quicker acceleration and easier driving around town; better towing capacity; marginally better resale value; lower CO2 emissions per kilometre; diesel engines often last longer because of the more robust engineering. CONS: Fewer diesel pumps on servo forecourts means queuing at the servo; oily bowser pumps leave your hands smelly and dirty; the engines still clatter at idle and sound raucous at full revs; it takes a long time to reap the economic benefits; servicing charges can also be more expensive because of the more expensive oils required and the complicated fuel systems. Our Pick: Fiesta ECOnetic (from $24,990) is a hybrid beater even in stop-start commuting, yet it's a delight to drive. Others to Consider: Hyundai i30 (from $23,090), VW Golf (from $29,990), Subaru Forester (from $35,990). LPG It's almost worth it to convert your petrol or diesel vehicle to LPG just to get the $1500 Federal government subsidy. But you better be quick because the conversion rebate drops to $1250 from July 1 and decreases $250 annually. All rebates and subsidies are only for private vehicles. Conversions cost an average of $2800 for pre-2006 vehicles, but about $4000 for newer vehicles because of emissions regulations. If you buy a vehicle factory fitted for LPG before its first registration, you get a $2000 rebate from the Feds. However, choices of new vehicles with factory fitted LPG systems are limited. Ford has a new LPG Falcon coming in July and has factory-fitted systems for some of its utes. Holden has an Autogas dual-fuel injection system for its Commodore and will have a mono-fuel LPG Commodore later this year. Toyota has a direct injection LPG system for its 2.7-litre HiAce vans and Mitsubishi has an aftermarket sequential multi-port direct-injection system for its Challenger, Express Van, Pajero, Triton and the now defunct 380. PROS: Much cheaper fuel (about 60c compared with $140+ for ULP); government subsidies make conversion attractive; LPG prices are fairly static so you don't have to fill up on a Tuesday morning when servo prices are cheapest; lower emissions. CONS: Limited choice of new dual-fuel vehicles; only suitable for large vehicles; you lose boot space; even though they are safe they can develop minor smelly leaks; they add about 75kg (about the weight of two large suitcases) to the rear of the car effecting handling; it can be difficult finding servos with LPG in rural areas. HYBRID These are vehicles with petrol or diesel internal combustion engines paired with an electric motor or motors. The drivetrain and associated battery pack for the electric motor is more complex so therefore more costly. Like diesels, you need to do big kays before the savings at the bowser recoup the extra purchase price. For example, a Toyota Prius costs about $2500 more than a Corolla Ultima. Using RACQ's running costs, the fuel savings will take 4 years at 15,000km a year (or 2.5 years at 25,000km/year) to recoup the extra purchase price. Most hybrids switch off totally every time you stop and run on electric power only when you are driving slowly, so they are most economical in heavy traffic. The benefits are marginal on country roads and highways, although when both drive units are operating under heavy acceleration such as when overtaking, they do offer a tangible boost to acceleration. Despite the fact the technology has been around for 10 years, Hybrids are still relatively new. Today, there are 10 hybrid models on the market, but only the Toyota Prius, Camry, Honda Insight and Civic are affordable. Hybrids tend to be bought mainly by governments and big business to emphasise their green credentials. Taxi companies also like hybrids because of their fuel efficiency in urban environments. If you're open to the idea of a used vehicle, then a second-hand Prius or similar is a reasonable option. PROS: Cheaper to run in traffic; feel and be seen to be environmentally conscious; extra power under heavy acceleration; almost silent running when on electric only power. CONS: Higher purchase price; the number of models is limited but you can choose from a small Prius to a large Porsche Cayenne SUV; some look odd like the Prius and Insight. Our Pick: Toyota Prius (from $39,900) and the Honda Insight (from $29,990) at least look like futuristic hybrids, so your neighbours will know you are trying to be green. Others to consider: Honda Civic (from $34,490), Toyota Camry (from $36,990) ELECTRIC CARS The only production electric cars in Australia are the Tesla Roadster at $241,938 and the Mitsubishi i-MiEV which is available only on a lease of $1740 a month for three years for a total of $62,640. Then the car goes back to Mitsubishi. When it arrives it is expected to cost $70,000. However, prices will come crashing down in the next few years as more and more EVs become available in Australia. The first of these will be the Nissan Leaf and Holden Volt next year. The Volt is expected to cost less than $40,000 and Nissan is saying the Leaf will cost about the same to run as a Tiida, even though initial outlay will probably be close to the Volt. While tailpipe emissions are zero, most electricity in Australia comes from burning dirty coal, so the environmental advantage is reduced. Some critics say there is no advantage. Current limitations of battery technology mean range is also limited to about 160km according to the car companies, but in real life it's less, especially if you have a lead foot. PROS: Very cheap to run; no tailpipe emissions; almost silent running; aerodynamic body shapes. CONS: Expensive to buy - that's if you can find one to buy; silent running can be dangerous for pedestrians; battery disposal is an environmental issue; range is limited; long re-charging time (up to eight hours); most EVs are designed to look futuristic but just end up looking like golf carts. DRIVE ECONOMICALLY Of all the things you can do to drive down your fuel bill, this is the most pragmatic as it's the simplest and most affordable. It can be expensive to swap your trusted and much-loved family car or SUV for something smaller or with an alternative powertrain. Trade-in prices on family cars are down according to the Motor Trades Association and if you buy a new car, you are up for dealer delivery charges, stamp duty and registration. It may be cheaper to hang on to your vehicle, but modify your driving behaviour for more economical running. There are many simple things you can do: Plan trips better and make fewer trips; jettison excess weight from the car; correctly inflate your tyres and get your car serviced more frequently. Most importantly you can vary your driving behaviour by slowing down, changing up the gears sooner, avoiding heavy breaking and staying away from peak-hour traffic. You may have heard these all before, but here are five radical ideas to reducing your fuel expense burden that you may not have heard. 1. Cool idea: Turning off the airconditioning will provide a slight increase in fuel economy. However, when travelling on the highway, it is more fuel efficient to have the windows up and aircon switched on than having the windows down creating aerodynamic drag. Don't leave the aircon off for long periods as bacteria will build up in the system. 2. Light is right: So throw out not only the unnecessary baggage such as your golf clubs, but maybe also the spare tyre. It can weigh 15-20kg in the average car. The US Department of Energy quotes fuel use as 1-2 per cent for every 45.5kg, so that's at least 0.5 per cent saved. Conversely, NRMA tests show that loading a vehicle to its rated maximum increases fuel consumption 24 per cent. While you might be able to get away without a spare tyre around town, we recommend you always carry it on long trips, especially in the country. 3. Turned off: Switch off the engine at long traffic light stops. Modern fuel-injected cars start quickly without the need for any throttle. Car makers with stop-start technology that automatically switches off the engine every time the car is stopped quote fuel savings in traffic of 4-5 per cent. 4. Just cruising: Use cruise control more frequently. Most cruise control systems actually put the car's engine into an economy mode and will run more efficiently than most drivers can drive as it accelerates more evenly. It is best used on the open road and not hilly terrain or stop-start conditions. While we could not find any official figures, some sources claim fuel savings up to 14 per cent. 5. Re-tyre: the next time you buy tyres, choose from the new range of "eco" tyres with low rolling resistance. A California Energy Commission study estimated low-rolling resistance tyres could save 1.5-4.5 per cent on fuel consumption.

IT's the car that showed Jaguar had got its groove back ... The C-X75 concept car was a hit at the 2010 Paris motor show, with the stunning design showing that Jaguar had relocated its supply of mojo, which had been put into storage under Ford ownership. Developed in association with the Williams F1 racing team, the hybrid supercar will be built from 2013 in a limited run of 250, but there is no set quota allocated specifically for Australia. “It is an order-based system, so it will be first come first served around the world,” Jaguar Australia spokesperson Narine Salmasi says. Expressions of interest aren’t coming through local HQ but through a phone number that goes directly to the UK office, she says. “We’ve had a few inquiries but can’t confirm exactly how solid their level of interest is yet.” The car will be priced from 700,000 pounds ($1.2 million) in the UK, with taxes likely to add a large slug on top of that. The production model will not use the show concept’s micro-turbines -- although Jaguar has said it will still look at developing the technology further – but instead rely on a small, boosted petrol engine and an electric motor at each axle. The C-X75 will have a top speed of 322km/h and log the 0-100km/h sprint in under 3 seconds, with an electric-only range of 50km, and emissions predicted to be under 100g/km.

It is one of the best days of your life. Or should be because through the euphoria comes Mr Logic. He's been napping in your head for the past year or so and is now very much awake and wants to know where you're going to put the new arrival.  That's another bedroom and a bigger car. You won't be able to cart junior in the car with the other three, he says. Society is comfortable with designing one-size-fits-all boxes.  The sedan car holds five people and homes have four bedrooms so the maximum accommodation that society builds for us is five - two adults, three children. Children, lots of them, produce uncomfortable squirms in house and car designers.  In my case, Child No.4 led to a Nissan Nomad, a commercial van that replaced the bare-metal expanse in the rear with two extra rows of seats to accommodate up to six children. A frightening thought. But the Nomad struggled through its tenure at our house, safely carted our kids and their friends to various sport and social functions and doubled as a furniture pick-up truck. It broke down a few times - radiator hoses, mainly - but generally was a content family bus. It was loved, hated, crunched, thrown up in, became an occasional bed and nappy changeroom, and finally sent to another home to repeat the experiment that is child rearing.   This is not an excuse to go forth and breed. But it is a list of quality new - and used - vehicles with six seats or more that will fit more than the predetermined maximum of three kids. NEW Citroen C4 Picasso (from $39,990): Very clever car with lots of great ideas, flexibility and driving enjoyment. Expensive and a bit off the wall but worth a look. Honda Odyssey (from $41,990): Safest bet - excellent all-round vehicle let down only by its asthmatic performance when fully laden or - gasp when asked to tow a trailer. Safe, economical, flexible and with excellent resale value. Dodge Journey (from $36,990): Newer entrant with pleasant ambience and good pricing and doesnt look like a tradies van. Hyundai iMax (from $36,990): Basically a commercial van made for people, but one of the better attempts. Has a four-star crash rating and is economical, affordable and roomy. Diesel engine is a no-brainer.  Kia Grand Carnival (from $39,990): Market leader in terms of volume and more recently has overcome earlier mechanical woes. Good compromise for space and economy, especially the diesel. Kia Rondo 7 (from $25,990): Better for a small brood as third row rom is precious and luggage area is tight. The price is a winner but youll be upgrading when the kids start growing - apparently they all do that. Mercedes Viano (from $78,826): Expensive but maximum five-star safety van. Ssangyong Stavic (from $32,990): Best seen while blindfolded, theres no doubting the keen price, high feature list, economy of the diesel and paltry resale value. Toyota Tarago (from $52,490): Expensive but top notch quality. The Honda Odyssey can match it in all but performance.   VW Caddy Maxi Life (from $39,990): Makes sense but a bit too van-like to make a statement in the pre-school carpark. VW Caravelle (from $49,990) - Seats nine so go for your life. Diesel only and may require special driving licence in some states. VW Multivan (from $49,990): More restrained seven-seat version of Caravelle. Also diesel only. Peugeot 4007 (from $45,190): This is a seven-seat version of the 4007 and its clone, the Mitsubishi Outlander. Ford Territory (from $44,890): Seats seven from TS model up. Comes as cheaper 2WD version. New model with frugal diesel engine here soon so best to wait. Holden Captiva 7 (from $35,490): Just upgraded and worth a look. Diesel is good and car has plenty of flexibility and family-friendly features. Hyundai Santa Fe (from $37,990): Hot seller for ages and seats seven with god room. But do you need an SUV? Kia Sorento (from $36,490): Same issue as Santa Fe, just looks a bit better. Mazda CX-9 (from $50,015): Not cheap but follows Mazdas line of great quality. A bit thirsty on petrol, though, and no diesel option.   Other SUVs include: Mitsubishi Challenger (from $49,390): Mitsubishi Pajero (from $50,490): Nissan Pathfinder (from $48,490): Ssangyong Rexton (from $36,990): Subaru Tribeca (from $56,990): Toyota Kluger (from $39,990): Toyota Prado (from $60,904): Nissan Patrol (from $53,190): Toyota Landcruiser (from $77,414): Audi Q7 (from $88,614): Mercedes R-Class (from $92,200): Volvo XC90 (from $69,950):    USED Ford Territory 2005 - $23,000 Subaru Tribeca 2007 (old face) - $35,000 Volvo XC90 2006 - $39,000 Chrysler Grand Voyager 2002 - $10,000 Ssangyong Stavic 2005 - $23,000 Ford Fairlane 8-str limousine 1989 - $18,000 Toyota Tarago 2006 - $27,000 Toyota Tarago 1998 - $7000 Toyota Prado 2005 - $40,000 Mitsubishi Delica 2005 - $11,000 Hyundai Santa Fe V6 2006 - $17,000 Land Rover Discovery 2007 - $48,000 Jeep Commander 2009 - $39,000

It scored the five-star safety ranking in a fresh round of NCAP testing in Europe that includes the first results for an electric car - a four-star score for the Mitsubishi iMiEV. The Citroen C-Zero and Peugeot's iOn, which share the basic design of the iMiEV, also got a four-star score. In other results, the Hyundai ix20 - a baby MPV under consideration for local sales - also got five stars and the bargain Dacia Duster was a three-star disappointment. The Mitsubishi result with the iMiEV wins praise from the head of Euro NCAP, Dr Michiel van Ratingen, "We recognize the efforts done by Mitsubishi to demonstrate that plug-  in battery powered cars can be as safe as others. It shows that a future 5 star accolade for EVs is not unthinkable," he says. "Whether produced by established car manufacturers or by new players on the market, consumers should expect to get electric vehicles that meet the same safety standards as conventional vehicles." Euro NCAP confirms its real-world emphasis by testing the iMiEV with 'live' batteries, also emphasising the post-crash battery integrity and operation of the battery cut-off switch. At the same time as the latest European results, the Kia Optima - already one of the surprising delights in Australia in 2010 - became the first Korean car to achieve the highest safety rating from the National Highway Transport Safety Administration in the USA. It gets a five-star ranking under a system that includes tougher new crash tests.  

So just for you, a Citroen-sponsored "visionary'' has created a three-wheeled vehicle for the future that places the driver at the centre of the main wheel. The "E-3POD Antistatic'' is an electric single seater that won its designer, Heikki Juvonen, a six-month employment contract at the PSA Design Centre in Paris. One of a series of submissions by Royal College of Arts second year students in London, the ultra-light, micro segment, single-seater is designed as an urban commuter. It is not meant to replace cars, but to be an addition to the family transport fleet positioned between bicycles and cars.  The E-3POD has a simplified, lightweight construction to make it affordable and has an emphasis on aerodynamics to minimise the electric motor's required battery size. The rear wheel is a structural element, there is shared suspension for both front wheels and it has scratch-resistant plastic for the canopy.  Judges say the E-3POD provides the user with easy, cost efficient transport with access to easier parking due to the small footprint. Second prize went to the designer who created a cage in which to park the Antistatic.

CRAIG Lowndes started the 2011 V8 Supercar season with an emphatic lap record at the Eastern Creek test day at the weekend. The five-time Bathurst winner and three-time series champion set a lap of 1m30.1877s on fresh, soft tyres, beating Mark Skaife's 1999 pole position lap by half a second. Commodores took the top seven positions, while current champion James Courtney was 16th in his HRT Holden. The series begins next weekend in Abu Dhabi. THE Daytona 24-Hour came down to a one-lap sprint to the flag after a late restart at the weekend. Defending Grand-Am Series champion Scott Pruett held off his teammate, Kiwi Scott Dixon, by 2.42 seconds in the one-lap dash to take out the title at Daytona International Speedway in Florida. It was team owner Chip Ganassi's fourth win. GT vehicles will join with production cars for the first time in the Bathurst 12-Hour this weekend. There are entries from Audi, BMW, Corvette, Ferrari, Ford, Holden, Lotus, Mitsubishi, Mosler, Nissan, Porsche and Subaru. However, outright honours are expected to be fought out between Porsche teams and the 11-time Le Mans winners, Audi Sport Team Joest, with Craig Lowndes as the lead driver in an R8. FORMER F1 champion Kimi Raikkonen and World Rally Champion Petter Solberg have been confirmed to contest Rally Australia at Coffs Coast, New South Wales, in September. They will drive works-built Citroen DS3 WRC rally cars. Raikkonen's ICE1 Racing team will contest 10 of the 13 WRC rounds this year, while Solberg finished third last year and will compete in the full season. TASMANIAN Jason White has moved to the top of the Australian Targa Championship points table with a dominant performance at the second round of the series, Targa Wrest Point, out of Hobart. The reigning Wrest Point champion drove his Lamborghini Gallardo Superleggera to a 29-second lead from South Australian Steve Glenney in a Mazda RX8 SP and Queenslander Tony Quinn third in his Nissan GT-R. The final round is the Targa Tasmania from April 5 to 10. EASTERN Creek International Raceway in Sydney will get a $9 million circuit upgrade. Work will include increasing the circuit's capacity and track configurations to four layouts with two circuits able to operate independently. The upgrade follows the recent closure of Oran Park. CHAD Reed has claimed his first podium with his own team, TwoTwo Motorsports, at in the fourth round of the AMA Supercross, an FIM World Championship, at the weekend in Oakland, California. The Australian finished second n the slick surface behind James Stewart and remains in fifth position in the titles while Stewart moves to the top. The next event is in LA this weekend. FLOOD damage has forced the third and fourth rounds of the Australian Off Road Championship to be moved from Queensland to Victoria. The March round at Goomburra will now be held on May 28-29 at Hedley in Victoria. Motorcycling Queensland has cancelled the Queensland 2 Day Enduro to the floods, but the national CIK Stars of Karting Series will go ahead as scheduled on February 26/27 in Ipswich. The International Karting Committee decision has come after consultation with the local council. The five-round series is conducted in four states up to September. TWO-time World Superbike champion Troy Corser has admitted he doesn't have many years left at the top level. The 39-year-old BMW rider from Wollongong missed the first test day in Portugal to test on his own at Eastern Creek and start his physical training earlier than usual. "I know I haven't got too many seasons left at the highest level, so I am really motivated to make the most of the next few years," he said. The season starts at Philip island on February 27.

After it's global unveiling at the 2010 Paris Motor Show followed by some rigorous testing, the DS3 WRC is ready for action.  The car will make its racing debut in February at the Swedish Rally, part of the 2011 World Rally Championship (WRC), covering a variety of conditions, climates and terrains.  Australia will finally get a glimpse of the car in September when it will visit to compete at Rally Australia in Coffs Harbour. The DS3 WRC is the third rally car entered by Citroen in the 2011 World Rally Championship (WRC) after the Xsara and C4. Five DS3's in total will be seen over the course of the championship, with two crews entered by Citroen and three from privateers.  Citroen Racing is taking no chances when it comes to retaining their driver and manufacturer titles, recruiting a top-tier team including eight-time WRC champion drivers Sebastian Loeb and Daniel Elena. Two-time WRC champions Sébastien Ogier and Julien Ingrassia will drive the No.2 car. See the Citroen DS3 WRC at Rally Australia at Coffs Harbour, NSW from 8 to 11 September 2011.

CRAIG Lowndes leads a surprising Audi attack on the Bathurst 12-Hour race over easter with a pair of race-prepared R8 coupes. Rule changes for the endurance event at Mount Panorama have opened the event to sports cars and Audi has a pair of R8s coming from Europe - V8 Supercar racer Warren Luff will share with Lowndes - to take on the Porsche 911s that are expected to fight for victory. THE struggling Australian Rally Championship is headed for a revamp and improvement to its relevance under new chairman Scott Pedder. The retired driver intends to make the series more appealing to carmakers from 2011 and move it away from the reliance on the Subaru WRX and Mitsubishi Evo contenders that dominate entry lists. THE full-scale renewal of the V8 Supercars field will take place in 2013 when the category's Car of the Future will become compulsory. There was talked of an optional phase-in for the change in 2012 but V8 Supercars bosses now say the transitional year has been dumped in favour of a single switch at the start of 2013. CITROEN stalwart Dani Sordo, who was superstar Sebastian Loeb's sidekick for five years at Citroen, is moving to Mini for this year's World Rally Championship. Mini is only planning a limited program against Ford and Citroen before a full-scale season in 2011, but has signed Sordo the Spaniard as lead driver alongside Chris Meeke of the UK. FORMER champion Chad Reed made a tentative return to AMA Supercross racing in the USA last weekend riding a Honda for his own team for the first time. The Aussie was fifth at Anaheim Stadium in Los Angeles as Ryan Villopoto won on the Monster Kawasaki he used to ride.

The 2.7-litre, twin-turbo V6 Ford/PSA engine - previously deployed in models as diverse as the Jaguar XF and Citroen's C5 - brings to this hitherto thirsty, petrol-only range the low-end torque and economy that makes diesel the power source of choice for buyers of bigger SUVs. Emissions will be cut by as much as 25 per cent compared with the Territory's venerable naturally aspirated in-line petrol six, while output should be in the vicinity of 150kW and 440Nm: just what the two-tonne Strayan SUV needs. New SUVs are thick on the ground in 2011, but the fairest of them all is the Range Rover Evoque, which brings designer desirability and - at little more than $50K - relative affordability to the segment.  Range Rover's first foray into the domain of the Q5s and X3s of this world will bring Land Rover's luxury badge within reach of people who don't necessarily use them to form convoys outside private schools. It's the smallest, lightest Rangie ever, and the leanest version emits about 130g of CO2 per kilometre.  Most of all, Gerry McGovern's sublime, compact design - especially in coupe format - will change the way you look at SUVs. Roll on September. On a softer note, compact SUVs - prestige ones, in particular - have been the growth segment of the past few years.  This year brings an especially intriguing contrast: two Volkswagen Group models, both with Tiguan underpinnings and most likely highly similar drivetrains, one built in Spain, the other in the Czech Republic. The former is Audi's Q3, the latter Skoda's Yeti. The Audi will carry a premium price tag; the Skoda won't. Compare and contrast.  In tougher terrain, the redesigned Jeep Grand Cherokee lobs later this month with its newly acquired monocoque chassis, reportedly tarted-up interior and a trio of V engines; a new 209kW 3.6-litre petrol V6; a 5.7-litre Hemi petrol V8; and a three-litre CRDi turbo-diesel six. The Cherokee's Patriot and Wrangler stablemates have also been updated. Just as ballsy (more so, even) is Nissan's Pathfinder Ti 550, the most powerful version to date, with its stump-pullin' three-litre turbo-diesel V6. If the sun is temporarily eclipsed in June, it's probably due to the vastness of the latest Volkswagen Touareg with its new range of six-cylinder petrol and diesel engines and a platform shared with the exxier likes of Audi's Q7 and the Porsche Cayenne. There can be few left in this global village who haven't been exposed to pre-launch publicity for the Toyota FJ Cruiser.  This four-year-old, retro-designed device finally gets here in March, lugged along by the four-litre V6 petrol engine from the 150 Series Prado. Claimed outputs are 200kW and 380Nm.  If you must have one, that blue seems the least ostentatious colour.