September 18th, 2011
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Derived from the Latin word festa - to feast - Ford's new German-built Fiesta is very tasty.
The all-new Ford Fiesta is a completely new vehicle that draws on the Blue Oval's 'kinetic' design philosophy and from the moment you sit in the vehicle it's clear that the bar has been set remarkably high.
With a sharp new style designed to appeal to younger generations, the Fiesta range starts at $15,750 for the 3-door CL model.
We're testing the mid-range Fiesta LX model, in 5-door configuration, which is priced at $18,490 and comes standard with driver and front passenger airbags, alloy wheels and cruise control.
According to Ford's CEO Alan Mulally, the new Fiesta is the first vehicle to embody the "One Ford" plan - the Blue Oval's bold first attempt at a truly global car.
Designed from the outset to be sold in all major markets, including China, Australia, America and Europe, there's a lot riding on the new model.
It is the "most significant global vehicle project since the Model T," according to Marin Burela, Ford Australia's President and CEO who was previously in charge of Ford's global small car division.
As we discovered during our first test of this crucial vehicle, Ford appears to have broken very few eggs making this particularly flavoursome omelette.
September 15th, 2011
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When we first tested the Skoda Octavia in 2007, John Howard was the Prime minister of Australia and rising petrol prices were regularly making headlines.
How times change.
The road test in question began with a joke about Skoda cars being slow, unreliable vehicles but only a foolhardy individual would make those same jokes today.
For those who were unaware, Skoda is a Czech car company. It was acquired by the world's third largest automaker in the year 2000, the Volkswagen Group, and has grown rapidly as a result.
The European car maker has well and truly left its blemished past behind and rebuilt its reputation, evidenced in cars like the Octavia.
It's true that the Skoda brand is still finding its feet in Australia and awareness of the Czech car maker is not as widespread as parent company Volkswagen would like.
But with a fresh new look, a high tech 7-speed twin clutch gearbox, turbocharged engines and a new pricing structure that starts at $26,990, the new Octavia does its own marketing.
September 12th, 2011
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When Toyota launched the first generation Kluger in Australia a few years ago, the Ford Territory was the highest selling mid-sized SUV on the market.
It seemed that nothing could dent the Territory's domination of its class.
But when Toyota launched the second generation Kluger in late 2007, it clawed back a lot of ground on the Territory.
Today we're testing the entry-level Kluger KX-R and it's not hard to see why it's still such a popular model.
I don't think the name is this vehicles strongest point, but beyond that there's a lot to appreciate and after driving the vehicle all week, it doesn't feel like an entry-level model.
This family SUV is well equipped, coming with 17-inch alloy wheels as standard which give it a good grounding, and the body design holds up well.
Other features that would normally be optional are standard across the Kluger range, such as a reversing camera, seven airbags and stability control.
With this sort of standard features list it's not surprising Toyota is winning over so many SUV buyers, and we thought it was about time to put the top selling Toyota to the test.
September 9th, 2011
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Driving the MINI Cooper S Countryman ALL4 you instantly notice the high levels of refinement and build quality that has gone into making this car.
Measuring in at 4.1-metres long and featuring a long-wheelbase the Countryman is the largest in the MINI brand, but it's still quite small for an SUV.
Even with the added dimensions the MINI Cooper S Countryman ALL4 still handles much like a go-kart. The steering feels solid and precise, while the Electric Power Steering (EPS) featured as standard makes a significant contribution to the agility of the car.
The MINI Cooper S Countryman ALL4 handles tight corners quite well, remaining fairly flat through most sections of the road.
Compared with the other models in the range, the MINI Cooper S Countryman ALL4 comes with sports suspension that lowers the car by 10 millimetres.
Even with the sports suspension fitted the overall ride quality was comfortable enough for everyday use while still firm enough not to sacrifice cornering performance.
Another feature that is standard is DSC Dynamic Stability Control comprising ABS anti-lock brakes, EBD Electronic Brake Force Distribution, CBC Cornering Brake Control, a Brake Assistant, and a Hill Start-Off Assistant.
The DTC mode allows for controlled slip on the drive wheels for setting off, on loose sand or in deep snow and comes as standard with the MINI Cooper S Countryman and in conjunction with the ALL4 all-wheel-drive system.
September 6th, 2011
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The most notable feature on the Kizashi Sport AWD is the inclusion of an all-new version of Suzuki's intelligent AWD system (i-AWD).
Drawing on more than 40 years of engineering expertise, Suzuki has developed an active all-wheel drive system designed to maximise grip, cornering performance and safety.
As an everyday driver the Kizashi Sport AWD is a solid car to drive and is also reasonably priced. It still features the some what underpowered 2.4-litre four-cylinder that is only available with Suzuki's CVT auto box, but it does the job.
The intelligent AWD system works well with the chassis set-up, providing the Kizashi Sport AWD with a well balanced and predicable drive. The intelligent AWD system anticipates oversteer or understeer and can split drive to either the front or rear wheels for peace of mind driving.
August 31st, 2011
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The 2012 Toyota Prius v will seem familiar to current Prius owners, trading some of the standard model's hybrid fuel economy for the space and flexibility of a family oriented wagon.
The V in the Prius v name stands for versatility. Prius v will reach showrooms by August 2011, geared toward Prius loyalists who have added children and pets to the family, or who simply want more space in their vehicle.
Prius v will be the second member of what Toyota is calling the Prius family. Presumably, all will have hybrid gasoline-electric powertrains. Toyota has sold nearly a million Prius models since the car was launched in 2000. The company will introduced at least two more Prius models after the new Prius v, including a plug-in hybrid version of the current Prius and a smaller, even higher-mileage car called the Prius c.
The new Prius v will share its basic underpinnings and hybrid gasoline/electric powertrain with the standard Prius. Yet the new model is a few inches longer and taller, with a higher, squarer rear end, similar to that of a station wagon. The Prius v will deliver 50-percent more interior volume than the standard Prius, and 60-percent more cargo space.
August 27th, 2011
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The 2012 Fiat 500 is like the Mini or Volkswagen New Beetle, a modern recreation of a classic. It was introduced in Italy four years ago, on the 50th anniversary of the 1957 0.5-liter original. Half a million Fiat 500s have been sold in Europe already, spurred by 60 international awards, including European Car of the Year in 2008. Now, as a Chrysler product, the Fiat 500 is being made in Mexico for the North American market.
The 500 is affectionately known by insiders who can pronounce it as the Cinquecento, or "chin-kway-chento." Out of the box, it's a contender for fun-to-drive champ, as a four-seat A-class commuter car. We found it to be more fun than its competition, including Mini, Fit, Fiesta, Yaris, and Mazda2.
The Fiat 500 is about 6 inches shorter than a Mini, costs about $4000 less while including Bluetooth, and offers safety with a 5-star crash rating, sporty performance, fuel economy, technology, cool style and good looks. It features seven airbags, a new 1.4-liter engine with something called MultiAir cylinder head technology, state-of-the-art BLUE&ME hands-free technology and a Bose sound system standard in two of the three models, and a great 5-speed gearbox or optional 6-speed manual automatic transmission that's also fun.
There are three models, although versions would be a better word than models, because they're so different, in a slight but meaningful way.
The Sport really means it. If you want a totally cool sports car that gets 34 mpg and can move four young people around, the Fiat 500 Sport is for you. The ride is firm, brakes are amazing, steering is quick and gearbox terrific, so use it all or live with it. The seats are terrific and the special Sport interior is attractive.
August 25th, 2011
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The Porsche 918 Spyder goes into production September 2013 and on sale in the U.S. near the end of the year. Porsche hasn't said but we're guessing that means it will be a 2014 model. MSRP will be $845,000, Porsche said.
The world caught its first glimpse of the Porsche 918 Sypder plug-in hybrid concept in March 2010 at the Geneva Motor Show. Five months later, Stuttgart announced the two-seater would go into production, after being quietly shown (or not-so-quietly, depending on whom you ask) to a hand-picked group of prospective customers, including the swanky Pebble Beach crowd during the week of the famed golf community's Concours d'Elegance.
With its futuristic, multi-faceted (some say overdone) styling, the 918 may someday take its place as the first Porsche supercar since the long-planned and short-lived Carrera GT, a $440,000 mid-engine which ended production in 2006.
August 22nd, 2011
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Audi has never offered a crossover SUV in the US market that's quite as small as the coming Audi Q3, which debuted at the recent Shanghai Auto Show and will take its place in the showrooms next to the larger Q5 and Q7 models.
The small Audi Q3 is based on the same platform as the Volkswagen Tiguan. The Q3 measures 173 inches long and 72 inches wide, while the larger Q5 is based on the Audi A4 sedan platform. The Audi Q3 will be in the small crossover SUV segment, competing against the new BMW X1, Land Rover Evoque, a coming Lexus, and a new Mercedes-Benz small crossover which may be called BLX.
Audi's little Q3 shares all of its design with other Audi products, from the grille to the new swooped beltline to the forward-leaning coupe roofline and very prominent high taillamps. The headlamps and taillamps are similar to other new Audis, and there are LED lamp elements on Q3s with the optional lighting package that make the little trucklet unmistakable on the road at night.
August 4th, 2011
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The all-new ultra-high-tech LW Ford Focus is a great addition to the small car segment.
To date, Ford Australia has had a hard time convincing buyers to focus on the growing small car segment (pun intended).
So far this year the Ford Focus has captured just 5.5 per cent market share in its segment. To put that into perspective, the Mazda3, which the Focus has a lot in common with, is the best seller with 18.4 per cent market share. In fact, the outgoing Ford Focus is merely the 8th best selling car in its class. Given the success Ford has had with the Focus in overseas markets, local results are surprising.
But times are changing at Ford. The Blue Oval is reinventing itself with a line-up of stylish, sophisticated and technologically advanced models. From the recently launched Fiesta, to the popular Ford Mondeo (which outsells the Mazda6) and the Territory, Ford Australia has high expectations for the new Focus.
Derived from the Latin word festa - to feast - Ford's new German-built Fiesta is very tasty.
