BMW X1: first look

X finally marks the spot ... for the BMW X1.

The wraps are finally off the German carmaker’s latest on-road and off-road weapon.

The X1 is due to arrive here around February with prices starting at $55,000.

It will be the fourth wagon in the X lineup, joining the bigger X3, X5 and X6.

The newcomer will share much with its larger siblings, including BMW's intelligent xDrive all-wheel drive technology and borrows its platform architecture from the 3-Series.

However, BMW is expected to offer both all-wheel drive and rear-wheel drive versions to help expand the brand's crossover appeal.

BMW's ‘efficient dynamics' technology will also feature in the vehicle, including brake energy regeneration, auto start-stop and a gearshift point indicator.

The X1 will be offered in Europe with a choice of one six-cylinder petrol engine and three four-cylinder diesels.

The European range will kick off with the 105kW/320Nm 2.0-litre sDrive18d turbo-diesel with rear-wheel drive.

Three all-wheel drive models will be available: the 130kW/350Nm 2.0-litre turbo-diesel xDrive20d; the 150kW/400Nm 2.0-litre turbo-diesel xDrive23d; and the range topping xDrive28i with a 3.0-litre petrol six cylinder developing 190kW/310Nm.

The sDrive18d has an average fuel economy figure of 5.2 litres/100km and a CO2 rating of just 136gkm.

The xDrive28i hits 100km/h in 6.8 seconds and has a top speed of 205km/h.

Visually, the X1 retains typical BMW X features, with a three-eye-look and elevated foglights.

The kidney grille is upright, the short bonnet is deeply sculpted and the tail lights are a reinterpretation of the typical BMW L-shape.

The wheel arches are squared and the rear window is steeply raked.

BMW's trademark Hofmeister kick is also evident at the base of the C-pillar.

Inside the cabin is generously appointed.

The rear seatbacks can be folded in a 40/20/40 splits and the rear seat backrest can be reclined. Luggage capacity can be increased from 420 litres to 1350 litres.

The X1 measures 4450mm in length and sits on a wheelbase of 2760mm. It is just 19mm shorter than an X3 and has a 45mm shorter wheelbase.

The wagon will be built at BMW’s Leipzig plant in Germany.

Best electric cars

Electrification of the automobile is underway?.

….and Carsguide has driven the current heroes and hopefuls.

The Nissan Leaf tops the lot, and comes to Australia next year, but the hydrogen-powered Honda Clarity is a game changer and the range- extended GM Volt is also impressive.

What makes the Leaf so good is that it drives like a real car, not a science experiment. It has a workable Corolla-sized cabin, rides and handles well, and is quite spritely in traffic. Now we have to wait for the showroom price and the essential detail on charging a battery car.

The Clarity is still only in limited trials, but it's a workable fuel cell car intended to show that hydrogen can be a genuine energy source for transport.

Fuel cells were originally developed by NASA during the moon shot program to generate electricity and, although still costly, they are coming.

The Volt will become a Holden and takes a fresh approach to motoring, using an onboard petrol engine to help charge its batteries. It's genuinely electric and good to drive, although likely to be expensive and with a cramped cabin.

After sampling a range of future cars, this is the current Carsguide pecking order:

1. Nissan Leaf - electric production car

Gran Turismo 6 free demo download announced

Sony set to release a free demo version of GT 6 for Playstation3.

Sony has confirmed that a demo version of its upcoming Gran Turismo 6 racing simulator will be available for download from the PlayStation Store from July 2 onwards. The demo is completely free and will be downloadable up until August 31 for PS3 users.

It will include a range of Nissan cars, including the Leaf, 370Z and GT-R, and will allow players to drive at the Silverstone circuit. The full version will be available for purchase in the fourth quarter of the year and include 33 tracks and 1,200 cars to choose from.

There is additional significance surrounding the availability of the new demo. As previously reported, contestants in 2013’s Nissan GT Academy will be competing against one another via the demo for their chance to win a seat in a real-life Nissan race car.

The 2013 Nissan GT Academy, which is open to contestants from a record 19 countries, will also commence on July 2 and end on July 28 at 3:59 p.m. PST. The demo will allow contestants to set and submit qualifying times in the first round of the competition.

Like previous years, contestants will start with slower cars like the Leaf and Juke, and then make their way up to the 370Z and GT-R. The U.S., Russia and Germany will each have their own standalone qualifying competitions while the remaining countries will be grouped in a single competition.

New CR-V spearheads Honda model roll-out

The nearing launch of the fourth generation CR-V will be followed by a hybrid Jazz and new Accord.

This mid-sized SUV has been one of the mainstays of the Honda range ever since its release here in 1997. Along with the Toyota RAV4, CR-V was one of the trailblazers in what was then a new class of vehicles – one that has since grown dramatically as more and more buyers appreciate their practical benefits.

Where CR-V has lagged behind many of its competitors is in offering the option of a two-wheel drive variant. Ever since the tariff anomaly which, illogically, favoured the importation of 4WD vehicles over 2WDs was dropped in January 2010 Honda’s rivals have progressively added 2WDs to their SUV range. A very sensible move given that most buyers in this segment are urban-based and appreciate the lower price and running costs by deleting a feature that most didn’t need or want in the first place.

The lack of a 2WD variant, together with an ageing model and, more recently, production delays because of the Thailand floods, have seen CR-V’s sales numbers drop significantly in the past couple of years from its heyday when it was consistently among the top three or four sellers in the market segment. The upcoming fourth-generation CR-V will help correct this situation and will become the first to be offered with the choice of two or four-wheel drive. We’ll be attending the CR-V launch in mid-November and will give full details, including our drive impressions, of the new model then.

Next cab off the Honda rank, in the first quarter of 2013, will be a hybrid version of the company’s popular Jazz hatch. Honda was the first company to bring a mass-produced petrol/electric hybrid car on to the Australian market in March 2001, about six months ahead of the Toyota Prius. The Jazz Hybrid will be Honda’s fourth hybrid vehicle, joining the Insight, Civic Hybrid and CR-Z.

The first half of 2013 will also see the upgrade of another Honda staple, with the arrival of the ninth-generation Accord. The new model went on sale recently in the United States in both sedan and coupe form with a number of powertrains including a conventional hybrid. A plug-in hybrid version will be released in the US in early 2013.

Both the Accord Hybrid and Accord Plug-In Hybrid are under consideration for Australia however Mr Satoshi Matsuzawa advised there is currently no time frame.

The customer is king at the show

Real people rule at the motor show.

Despite tasty hero cars led by the F-Type Jaguar and Aston Martin One-77, it's the real world cars that are of most interest.

The return of the Nissan Pulsar, the unveiling of the Toyota Corolla and the first Sydney appearance of the Mazda6 and Mitsubishi Mirage are all proof that ordinary customers now rule the roost. As car sales track strongly towards an all-time record, it's real people spending their own money who are the real target for carmakers.

"If you get the product right, everything else follows," the top Aussie at Toyota Australia, Dave Buttner, tells Carsguide. "All the growth in sales this year is with private buyers, as government departments have been winding back and fleet sales are also down. Private buyers are confident and they are spending on the second-biggest purchase after their house."

Nissan confirmed its commitment to the new-age PUlsar with a $19,990 starting price and a SSS under lights. "Pulsar is back and we have big plans," Bill Peffer, managing director of Nissan Australia, tells Carsguide.

For Mazda, the new 6 is its first all-new arrival since the GFC and a pointer to the replacement for the top selling Mazda3. "You can see now where we're going," Doug Dickson, MD of Mazda Australia, says. And the baby Mirage? "It's something new for us, and it's going to bring a lot of people to the brand. I reckon we'll sell heaps," Mitsubishi marketing chief Paul Unerkov laughs.

W Motors Lykan Hypersport will cost $3.7m

A new supercar is brewing in the Middle East, one that will set some hard to beat benchmarks, not only in terms of performance and technology but also in price and exclusivity. We are, of course, talking about the upcoming Lykan Hypersport from supercar startup W Motors.

Today, the company announced that the Lykan Hypersport, which will retail for a staggering $3.69 million and be built in an exclusive run of just seven units, will feature rear-opening ‘suicide’ doors.

These latest renderings show how the doors will look when fully extended and reveal a design not seen on any other supercar currently in production. Rolls-Royce’s Phantom Coupe features a similar door design but these don’t angle upwards like on the Lykan Hypersport.

W Motors has also confirmed that the production version of the Lykan Hypersport will be shown for the first time at the 2013 Dubai Motor Show in November. A concept version was shown earlier this year at the 2013 Qatar Motor Show.

Two versions of the car are being developed: the range-topping Lykan Hypersport you see here and a slightly tamer Lykan Supersport. Both will be built on a bespoke platform and feature a turbocharged flat-six engine developed by famous Porsche tuner RUF. The Lykan Hypersport will develop as much as 560 kilowatts and is said to be capable of accelerating to 100km/h in approximately 2.8 seconds and reaching a top speed of 394km/h.

To justify its lofty pricetag, the Lykan Hypersport has been designed to incorporate jewels and precious metals in its construction and advanced technologies, including an interactive holographic display system, in its cabin.

If you were just itching to drop $3.69 million on one of the seven examples W Motors will be building, we hear all the cars have already been accounted for. Fortunately, given that success, we’re sure the company will launch a followup.

All in Accord

The imminent departure of Mitsubishi's 380 could prove a blessing in disguise for competitor Honda.

That’s because Honda’s new, larger Accord, released this week (not the Euro), is a stronger, more convincing offering than the previous model – one that could well fill the void left by 380 in the large car segment.

In V6 form, at least, it offers something the others don’t – fuel-saving, cylinder shutdown technology that allows the car to run on as little as three cylinders when full power is not required.

There’s also a gutsy four-cylinder model that promises even more fuel savings.

It’s no secret the large car segment has shrunk significantly in the last couple of years as buyers drift towards smaller more economical vehicles.

According to sales figures for 2007, Holden’s Commodore dominated the segment with 57,000 sales, followed by the Ford Falcon (34,000) and Toyota Aurion (22,000).

Despite a string of awards, the poor old 380 trailed a poor fourth with just under 11,000 sales for the year followed by the Accord (7200).

As sales of the 380 trickle to a stop and eventually dry up, those sales have to go somewhere and Honda is quietly confident of picking up a fair chunk of them, as much as 10 per cent of the segment total over time.

And, after driving the new Accord in Victoria last week, we reckon Honda is in with a big chance.

Four Accords are offered – a 3.5-litre V6 and a 2.4-litre in-line four, with standard and luxury versions of each.

All of them get a revised, five-speed auto with wheel mounted change paddles.

With 202kW of power, the V6 trumps the lot (but not by much) – producing more power than all of its competitors _ even the yet to be released new Falcon.

The 2.4-litre also eclipses its competitors with 133kW, way ahead of the Ford Mondeo with 118kW.

In the “mine’s bigger than yours” stakes, that counts for a lot!

The four cylinder model’s entry level price of $29,990 should also turn a few heads, particularly as it includes an auto, climate air, electronic stability control and four airbags _ not to mention six stacker CD sound and full-size alloy spare wheel.

We were able to drive the base model 2.4-litre Accord and top of the line V6 Luxury at the launch of the car outside Melbourne.

With a larger more prominent front grille, the car has a much a stronger road presence than its predecessor and feels bigger inside, bigger in fact than Honda’s flagship Legend.

The four with 222Nm of torque available from 4300rpm pulls strongly and the car feels lighter and more agile than the V6, nothing like the floaty model that it replaces.

We pushed it hard through some demanding mountain roads with pleasing results.

The stability control system, called Vehicle Stability assist in Honda-speak, intrudes only when absolutely necessary and that wasn’t very often.

The engine is a little harsh under hard acceleration and the Michelin tyres generate some noticeable road noise, but apart from that it’s all good.

Fuel economy for the four using standard unleaded is rated at 8.8 litres/100km.

The V6 with 339Nm of torque available from 5000rpm feels softer and cruisier than the four.

The VSA works noticeably harder to keep the car on the road, but still lets the driver have plenty of fun.

V6 and Luxury models add curtain airbags and the top of the line V6 Luxury also gets a reversing camera.

Unfortunately, the camera is not available even as an option on other models _ something that we believe is an oversight.

Fuel economy for the V6 using standard unleaded 10.0 litres/100km on the knocker, but it is able to achieve four cylinder-like economy on longer runs.

The change from six, to four or three cylinders is imperceptible.

The car measures 4945mm and rear legroom is generous even for taller passengers, with a back seat that folds down to accommodate longer loads.

The luggage area itself is good without being remarkable, compromised by the addition of the full-size spare that required the boot floor to be raised several centimetres.

You can’t have everything.

The tow rating of the car is 1200kg.

All in all, the Accord looks every inch the winner, particularly the four-cylinder model at $29,990 with its generous equipment list.

The lineup could do with the addition of a sports model, but there’s plenty of add-ons to get you there.

 

New car sales price: Honda Civic hatch

Honda slashes price on Civic hatchback.

Fierce rivalry in the bubbling small-car sector has led one player - Honda - to take the knife to its Civic hatchback prices. One version has had $4500 wiped off its sticker price compared with the same car sold in December.

Entry-level VTi-S has $2000 chopped off its price, now $20,650 yet it adds more features including a reverse camera and Bluetooth audio streaming. Honda Australia director Stephen Collins admits that the VTi-S's equipment level wasn't up to that offered by market rivals.

Honda sold almost 11,500 Civics in 2012 and while up significantly on 2011, was trounced by players including the Volkswagen Golf and Ford Focus while recording one-quarter of the volume of the category leader, the Mazda3.

Changes for 2013 also include more equipment for the mid-spec automatic-only VTi-L - which is now $25,490, down $4500 on last year's model - and the addition of a premium VTi-LN that debuts at $29,590.

The VTi-L now comes standard with extras over its 2012 model that include a push-button starter, auto dimming mirror, electric seat adjustment and privacy glass. But it replaces the outgoing model's leather upholstery with cloth.

The new VTi-LN fills out the cabin with satellite navigation with live traffic updates, DVD player and leather seats with front heaters. All Civic hatch models have Bluetooth audio streaming, cruise control with speed limiting facility, a reversing camera, six-speaker audio and Emergency Stop Signal system.

BMW says import laws hurt buyers

Australia's overly-strict import regulations are hurting car buyers, according to BMW.

It points to the all-new 6 Series Convertible, which has been stripped of its on-the-go email system, as the proof.

"Why does Australia think this is necessary?," asks  BMW Australia's outgoing product planner Alex Brockoff, who has been promoted to BMW headquarters in Munich.

Brockoff tells Carsguide that Australians are missing important features and exciting models because of the strict Australian Design Rules which every locally manufactured and imported new car must meet   to be eligible for sale.

In Europe, the 6 Series' in-car infotainment system can sync through bluetooth with the driver's mobile phone calendar and email, allowing the driver have emails read to them by the car while driving. In   Australia the system is only allowed to begin operating while the vehicle is stationary. 

 "Why not adopt the rules they have in Europe? In Europe they are thinking about driver safety too. Why have separate rules? In some instances maybe the [ADRs] are a little too strict," says Brockoff.

He also believes ADRs killed the slim chance BMW had of bringing the ultra high-performance M3 GTS coupe to Australia.

 "The ride height was deemed too low. The ride height is okay for  Europe, but not for Australia." He says.

BMW Australia was also unable to fit a lower-riding suspension available on the previous 6 Series range in other countries.

Audi is another importer to have fallen foul of Australia's import regulations. The new A6 sedan headed for Australia later this year can act as a WiFi hotspot, so in-car phones and laptops can communicate through it  with the internet. It also means the A6 can access the latest satnav maps from Google, or check emails, for example.

But Australian ADRs currently do not allow this cutting-edge technology. The worldwide ISOFIX child seat anchoring system is another bone of contention between carmakers and local regulators. The system reduces the chance of incorrect child seat anchoring, and is used extensively around the world, yet Australia does not acknowledge ISOFIX and requires a unique local seat mounting system.

Brockoff says subtle differences like these can mean Australia misses out. "Sometimes the [predicted sales] volume is so small that even a little  change can make it financially unfeasible to bring the car here. If the Australian rules were the same [as Europe] then it would be possible."

BMW starts a go-go gadget revolution

Amazing new technologies have finally found their way into luxury cars.

The pace at which new technologies are finding their way into cars you can buy off the showroom floor never ceases to amaze.

It wasn't that long ago that hi-tech safety devices like a lane-change warning system or night vision, which can pick up objects normally hidden by darkness, were only seen on futuristic cars at international motor shows before they eventually found their way into the most expensive, top-of-the-range luxury models.

But computer-savvy consumers, especially those in the prestige market, are hungry for gadgets.

As part of a revamp across its sedan range, BMW has fitted both these devices to its mid-range Five Series models for the first time; the lane-change warning system as a $1200 option, while the night vision adds $4000 to the price.

The clever lane-change warning system uses a camera fitted near the interior mirror on the windscreen, which looks at the road 50m ahead to keep an eye on painted lane markings.

It then works out the position of the car relative to the markings. Should the car start to wander between lanes, say if the driver is starting to fall asleep or through inattention, it sends a wake-up warning by vibrating the steering wheel.

If the driver is merely changing lanes and has the indicator on, the warning system is deactivated.

BMW says the device begins to work at speeds over 70km/h.

The night vision device is probably more important for Australians because 45 per cent of road fatalities happen at night, even though more than two-thirds of all driving is done during the day.

BMW's system uses infra-red thermal imaging to pick out the body heat of pedestrians, bike riders and animals on a dark road before they become visible to the human eye in the car's headlights.

The system can spot an object up to 300m in front of the car and is not affected by the headlights of an approaching car. An object detected is shown as a black-and-white image on a screen in the middle of the instrument panel.

BMW looked at displaying the image on the windscreen as a heads-up display, but tests showed the combination of real-life and virtual images irritated drivers.

It gives me great pleasure to be able to welcome back a major international motor show to Melbourne.

Due to a new rotation system between Sydney and Melbourne, the Australian International Motor Show returns to the Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre for the first time in more than two years – and it is back with a serious bang. The huge positive of that is one motor show per year has seen renewed commitment from manufacturers.

Plus, the single yearly event sees the show take a more prominent place in the international motor show landscape – especially in the Asia-Pacific region. The July date means it avoids clashes with other international shows, and allows manufacturers to bring their best show cars.

The result is that the 2011 Australian International Motor Show will be the biggest for a long time, with concept cars, future technology and new models aplenty. With 29 manufacturers attending, the show will reflect a broad range of the Australian marketplace; from Land Rovers to Lamborghinis, Peugeots to Porsches, supercars to super-minis.

As the premier event of the Australian automotive industry each year, it is the responsibility of the Australian International Motor Show to inform, educate and excite the public about everything motoring.

You want a star of the show? Take your pick out of: the BMW Concept Vision EfficientDynamics, the Mazda Shinari concept, the Hyundai Blue2 concept, the Lexus LF-Gh concept, the Toyota FT-86 II concept, the Toyota Prius C concept, the Subaru XV Concept, the Mazda Miyagi concept, the new Lamborghini Aventador, the new Bentley Continental GT, the Lexus LF-A, the new Maserati MC Stradale...

Family day returns too, and this time there will be two of them. On both Saturdays there will be activities for the kids – including the opportunity to see Po, from the new movie Kung Fu Panda 2. The 2011 show gives me cause for great excitement – I hope it does for you too.

Enjoy!

Russ Tyrie
Event Director, Australian International Motor Show

In the clutch of technology

You can't argue with the figures.

They may not offer the same degree of driver satisfaction, but the new “double-clutch” autos are certainly lightning fast.

The next challenge for car makers will be to engineer the same kind of drive experience as a manual into these transmissions - a view shared by the head of BMW's M GmbH division Ludwig Willisch.

The development of the dual or double clutch transmission dates back to World War II.

The concept was invented by a bloke called Andolphe Kegresse just before the outbreak of hostilities.

The first working model however was developed by Porsche in the 1980s.

The PDK (Porsche Doppelkupplung) transmission made its debut in the Porsche 956 and 962 Le Mans race cars as well as the Sport Quattro S1.

A dual clutch transmission (DCT) is a semi-automatic transmission with separate clutches for odd and even gears.

The outer clutch drives the odd numbered gears, while the inner clutch drives the even numbered gears.

Shifts can be accomplished without interrupting the delivery of engine power, by applying the engine's torque to one clutch just as the engine's torque is being disconnected from the other clutch.

A twin-clutch gearbox eliminates the torque converter used in traditional autos.

Dual clutch transmissions use wet multi-plate clutches, similar to the clutches used in traditional automatics.

But a seven-speed version that uses dry clutches, like those usually associated with manual transmissions, will be been introduced by Volkswagen with its new Golf and Jetta.

Getrag which makes the seven-speed transmission in the new M3 is also said to be developing a dry DCT.

Although dual clutch transmissions offer superior performance, they simply don't deliver the same degree of driver satisfaction that comes from operating a manual transmission in a sports car.

That's because they just don't offer the same degree of driver involvement, because there's nothing quite like the feeling of punching the clutch and ramming home the shift at precisely the right moment.

The next challenge for manufacturers will be be the engineering of some physical effort/involvement into shifting gears.

BMW's figures show that the DCT transmission offered in the latest M3 is faster than any previous offering including the SMG box in the E46 M3.

The SMG or Sequential Manual Gearbox reduced shift times to 80 milliseconds and this figure was further reduced to 65 milliseconds in the later M5 sedan.

With the latest seven-speed M Double-Clutch Transmission with Drivelogic however there is no longer any interruption of power when changing gears.

Looking at the acceleration times for the M3, the E46 SMG posted 5.2 seconds for 0-100km/h.

But the latest E92 model does the dash in just 4.6 seconds.

The same car in six-speed manual form is good for 4.8 seconds.

Ludwig believes the manual will disappear altogether eventually, but for the time being he said that manual alternatives will continue to be offered.

At the moment BMW M has several projects on the go including the development of a new production model based on the Concept CS four-door coupe.

It's the second standalone model to come out of the M division, by that we mean one that is not based on an existing BMW model.

Prior to this it put together the M1 Homage sports concept, shown for the first time earlier this year year at Italy's Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este.

We were invited to take part in a long and wide-ranging discussion with the BMW M boss this week in Germany.

In all likelihood we will see M versions of the 1 Series, X6 and perhaps a mid-engined competitor for Audi's R8 super car based on the M1 Homage.

It also paves the way for the production of other standalone models in the not too distant future.

As quick as the new double-clutch transmissions are, Ludwig agrees they lack the feel of a manual.

In this respect he agrees there is still room for improvement, but believes a manual transmissions will continue to be offered for the foreseeable future.

“We build cars for customers and there are still a number of customers that like a manual transmission” he said.

“I think with time the double clutch transmission will be the solution for the M3. It's faster and it is technology that is in racing.

“I think the stick shift will go away in the future. DCT is something that can't be beat. It's faster in acceleration, its smoother than an automatic gearbox and it's more efficient than any other gearbox.

“You could say that a few years ago that it was always a decision between sportiness or comfort, or sportiness or more efficiency -but this transmission does so many things at the one time.

“On the other hand especially in the United States we have so many customers that like to being involved with the car and to show that they are able to shift manually and so on. Therefore it makes sense for a car like the M3 at the moment.”

A car made entirely of 3D-printed parts is in the works.

Dutch-born Canadian Jim Kor dreams of creating commercially viable sustainable vehicles to one day revolutionise the way that we commute.

He has gone from designing farm machinery to developing an urban electric vehicle called the URBEE.

His dream vehicle is economical and lightweight, almost entirely made of 3D-printed plastic parts except for the base and chassis, which are made of metal. He hopes the teardrop-shape will make the car more aerodynamic and therefore cheaper to run.

Once produced, the car will be driven from San Francisco to New York on ten gallons of fuel (less than 40 litres). Able to hold two passengers, the URBEE could well be the next big thing in urban transportation.
 

Cops want < guzzlers

Hybrids not fancy enough for top brass.

Senior cops are taking Victoria Police to Fair Work Australia claiming they're entitled to fancier cars than more junior members.

The high-ranking police, with the backing of the Police Association, also object to being given LPG and hybrid cars, which are for their private use, as a cost-cutting measure. Instead, they are demanding they be given less fuel-efficient petrol driven Commodores or Falcons.

Last month the Police Association wrote to Chief Commissioner Ken Lay saying that during negotiation of a 2011 enterprise bargaining agreement "verbal undertakings" had been given "that there would be a distinction between the range of cars available to commanders to those available to superintendents and that commanders would be entitled to the use of a higher-quality vehicle".

The Police Association had since been informed that all new replacement vehicles for private use must be either a Toyota Hybrid sedan or a Holden 6 cylinder LPG vehicle, the letter stated. The move to LPG and hybrid vehicles would save Victoria Police tens of thousands of dollars a year through lower fuel bills.

But the Herald Sun understands the top cops are not happy with the amount of space in the boot of the LPG models after the installation of the gas tank and special communications equipment which police need fitted.

Last week the PA lodged a dispute in Fair Work Australia complaining that "Victoria Police have advised Commanders and Superintendents that . . . the range of vehicles will be severely restricted and that the range of vehicles that can be accessed by Commander and Superintendent will be the same".

Police Association secretary Greg Davies said the dispute was about Victoria Police keeping its word. "The force entered into an agreement to provide specific types of cars and not even half-way through that agreement, they're changing the make of vehicle," he said.

"If they want to make savings that's all well and good but don't go changing horses in mid-stream." Victoria Police spokeswoman Leonie Johnson said: "Victoria Police has received a dispute notification lodged with Fair Work Australia. "We will not be providing comment at this time."

Ford Focus is sharper

More good news rolls out of Ford with the arrival of a new Focus small car ...

... to take on the most competitive segment in this country. It's up against a classy field including Mazda3, Corolla, Lancer and locally-built Holden Cruze as well as VW Golf.

But new Focus has plenty to recommend it ushering in a dynamic new look with real cut-through on the street and a classy new interior featuring Ford's acclaimed kinetic design language.


Two distinctive bodystyles are available, sedan and hatch, each with its own appeal. Drivers will no doubt appreciate the cockpit-style driving environment yet the cabin has lost none of the comfort and practicality that has become a characteristic of Focus. Within the two bodystyles there are  three powertrains and four specification levels.


The car has an impressive array of smart technologies, outstanding occupant safety and further advances in levels of driving quality.

The strength of new Focus's body is down to extensive use of high-strength steels. Fifty-five per cent of the body shell is made of high-strength steels, of which 31 per cent is ultra-tough boron steel, more than any other Ford built to date.

Meanwhile, high-strength steel is used in the integrated door opening reinforcement rings and door load paths to provide excellent protection from side impacts.

New Focus also features a patented front chassis subframe, which de-couples during severe frontal impacts, avoiding deformation in the passenger cell footwell area. Pedestrian protection has been boosted by the addition of a "soft" cowl design in the front body structure and Ford has also relocated the windscreen wiper system to help further reduce injury risks.

Option packages such as the Convenience Pack bring new technology to Focus. The well-specified mid-level Trend model is $24,490 for the 2.0-litre GDi petrol engine with five-speed manual transmission.

Focus Sport has a greater emphasis on driving enjoyment. Key features include sports suspension, 17-inch alloy wheels, sports front seats, dual zone climate control and a Sony audio system with 4.2-inch colour screen and multi-function display. Sport also scores the Convenience Pack as standard equipment. It is more comprehensively equipped than the outgoing Zetec model.

Focus Titanium has even more goodies and sells from a starting price of $32,590 for 2.0-litre GDi engine and six-speed PowerShift transmission variants.

Needless to say, Focus is a key element of the Ford product portfolio in Australia. Expect a "European" feel to the car's dynamics and impressive fuel economy from the diesel model. The double clutch Powershift manumatic would be difficult to overlook for everyday and sporty driving as it offers the best of both worlds and an extra gear over the manual which is five speed only. What happened to the six-speed manual?
 
NEED TO KNOW

• Four variants; Ambiente, Trend, Sport and Titanium.
• Engines: 1.6-litre four cylinder or new 2.0-litre GDi (Gasoline Direct Injection) and a 2.0-litre Duratorq TDCi turbodiesel.
• Dual clutch six-speed Powershift manumatic is available, manual `box is a five- speed.
• First appearance in Focus of rain sensing wipers, auto headlights and auto dim rear view mirror, follow me home lights.
• Available in five door hatch and four door sedan.
• Five star crash rating.
• Prices start at $21,990.
•  

Tomic car fails to sell as bids stall

Bernard Tomic's police-magnet BMW is still up for grabs.

The family yesterday turned down a bid of $146,000 for the orange high-powered sports car.

The 2010 BMW M3 has only 6926km on the clock but yesterday failed to meet a secret reserve set by Tomic's father John during a Brisbane auction.

Pickles Auctions manager Robert Webster said the Tomic family had negotiated with the highest bidder, a mysterious interstate buyer, but had failed to reach an agreement.

"It will be up to the Tomic family whether or not they re-list the car for auction. They may sell privately or through a dealer,'' he said. "They spent around $200,000 for the car in 2010 and they were expecting a higher return.''

The failed sale comes just two weeks after the 19-year-old was pulled over three times and fined twice by police in less than two hours on Australia Day. Police also charged Tomic with three traffic offences, including evading police.

Talking at a media conference this week Tomic said he might never drive in Australia again. Pickles Auctions national manager Steve Allen said Tomic had said he now wanted to focus on his tennis career without distractions.

"He's had his fun and he's ready to focus on tennis now,'' Mr Allen said. "We thought it would fetch a high price given the publicity surrounding the car and its performance enhancements.

"There are only five of these BMWs in this colour in Australia.'' John Tomic attended the auction and appeared disappointed with the final bid. Punters said they were shocked the top bid was turned down.

Bidder John Marshall joked he wanted to buy the BMW for his granddaughter. "I was thinking about it but she's only on her P-plates,'' he said. "It's an outrageous price for a car but I guess with all that comes with it . . .

"I am here looking for a more sensible car but it was great to witness the auction. I thought for sure it would sell today.'' The Tomic family has until tomorrow morning to reconsider the $146,000 bid.

New car sales price: BMW adds M kit

BMW is also selling a new X5 M Sport Limited Edition based on the three-litre turbodiesel.

BMW has added $7900 worth of kit to the 1 Series, 3 Series, 5 Series and Z4.

Free M suspension and dress-up bits will help maintain BMW’s average of one in every two cars being sold with an M Sport pack.

Anyone who picks up a 5 Series or Z4 between now and March 31 will get a free M Sport deal, which runs from stiffer suspension, lightweight wheels and an aero package to sports seats, alloy interior highlights and a leather-wrapped sports steering wheel. That’s a saving of up to $7900 on the entry level BMW 520i.

Buyers of a 1 or 3 Series coupe and convertible will gain the same tweaks, along with differing alloys and gloss-black kidney-bar grilles rear light surrounds and for 1 Series buyers. Step up to a 3 Series and the deal includes chrome kidney-bar grilles, metallic paint as a no-cost option, sports seats, alloy pedals and black-backed exterior mirrors.

BMW has dubbed the promotion the “Festival of M” and says the savings range from $2500 to $7900. BMW spokesman Scott Croaker says it isn’t so much of a run-out as it is a value adjustment as the model dates.

“The 1 and 3 Series coupe and convertible won’t be run out until the end of the year and the upgrades reflect the corporate policy of adding value as the vehicles near the end of their production run, Croaker notes. “The specific M Sport offer recognises that 50 per cent of our customers already take the option and reacting to that.”

BMW is also selling a new X5 M Sport Limited Edition based on the three-litre turbodiesel. The pack costs $99,000 driveaway against a regular $72,600 price for the 30d and adds a body kit, 20-inch alloys, chrome tailpipe, auto tailgate and bi-xenon headlamps with high-beam assist. BMW says it adds more than $15,000 to the donor car.

Record new-car sales in November

Toyota Corolla tops charts but Mazda3 extends its lead over Toyota HiLux.

We might not be buying big-screen TVs but we are splashing out on shiny new cars. As retail spending slows and analysts predict the Reserve Bank will cut interest rates to stimulate consumer confidence, new-car sales roared to an all-time record in November.

According to preliminary figures, Australians treated themselves to 98,700 new cars last month, up 11 per cent on the same month last year and up 7 per cent on the previous November record set in 2007, the first time 1 million annual sales were eclipsed.

Australia is now on track to post close to -- or in excess of -- 1.1 million new vehicle sales this year, a new record. The market continues to be driven by sharp prices buoyed by the strong Australian dollar, and an oversupply of imported vehicles as Australia becomes a dumping ground for the rest of the world.

Low-interest rate finance deals are also fuelling the frenzy, even though in most cases buyers are forced to pay full price for the car, on shorter repayment terms. “Unlike the GFC, this is not stressful discounting, it’s just perfect conditions,” Doug Dickson, the boss of Mazda Australia, said last month.

“Personal savings are high, employment is high, wages are high, there is heaps of money in the economy. It’s just a matter of prising the lid open on that.”

The Toyota Corolla made a late charge to the top of the sales charts as the biggest selling vehicle last month thanks to the arrival of an all-new model.

But the Mazda3 small car extended its year-to-date lead and looks set to be Number One for the second year in a row. Meanwhile the Toyota Camry outsold the Holden Commodore for the second month in a row for the first time ever.

A notable absentee from the top 10 selling cars is South Korean juggernaut Hyundai, which posted strong sales the month before.

Utility vehicles continue to figure prominently – representing four of the top 10 sellers – thanks to the mining boom, the arrival of new models and more car-like safety and equipment.

Official VFACTS sales figures for November are due to be released midday Wednesday.

Top 10 sellers: November 2012 (provisional)

Toyota Corolla	4190
Mazda3	3703
Toyota Camry	3144
Toyota HiLux	3059
Holden Commodore	2659
Ford Ranger	2187
Holden Cruze	2115
Nissan Navara	2059
Holden Colorado	1956
Ford Focus	1920