Foreign Affairs

Foreign Affairs

Which Supermodel do you want to take home?

We polled the luxury car industry experts to see which exoticars were firing imaginations.

Mercedes-Benz CLK63 AMG: Deutsche Deluxe

James Dutton, Dutton Direct: “Mercedes-Benz have been marketing their new models very aggressively and they seem to be getting the attention they deserve. I think the new CLKs best represent the new look Mercedes-Benz. They’re a beautiful car, don’t you think?”

Nuts and Bolts: The whole CLK-Class was refreshed in 2005 with a front makeover and all new V6 engines and the evergreen coupes and cabriolets have contributed to recent record Mercedes-Benz sales results. The new range-topping CLK 63 AMG utilises the all new AMG 6.3-litre V8 engine and produces a startling 354 kW of power.

Pricing: $199,100 (CLK63 AMG)

Maserati Quattroporte Sport GT: Four Door Flagship

Bobby Zagame, Zagame Automotive Group: “The new Pininfarina-designed Maserati Quattroporte is what most people are asking to see when they walk through the door – or what they end up looking at regardless. Maserati and Pininfarina have recreated that essential Italian styling in a 4-door and people are certainly responding.”

Nuts and Bolts: Beneath the smooth, understated lines lurks an all alloy 4.2l Quad Cam V8 capable of 300kW. Maserati is one of the few Italian sporting marques to produce a four door saloon, a tradition that goes back to 1963. This, the fifth incarnation, and the first Pininfarina-designed Quattroporte completely refreshes this proud flagship.

Pricing: $258,000

Aston Martin DBS: Licence to Thrill

 

Keith McArdle, Trivett Classic: “The new James Bond movie had brought some very excited people into the showroom. Even though we may not be selling the 007 DBS until 2008, it hasn’t stopped us from accepting several deposits. In the meantime, the brand new V8 Vantage and current DB9 are satisfying those who want to own an Aston sooner.”

Nut and Bolts: Unless you saw the new V8 Vantage head-on, you’d do a double take. Unlike any other Aston Martin, the two-seater is pure sports coupe and unusually compact and lithe for this macho marque. The all alloy quad-cam 32-valve 4.3 litre V8 engine is no slouch and delivers 283 kW - good for 175 mph.  

Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano: Red Mist

 

Tony Graziani, Italia Motori: “Of course, everybody knows Ferrari. As a brand, it speaks for itself and they almost sell themselves too. In terms of numbers, we’re selling the F430 in both Coupé and Spider equally, but it’s the new V12 599 GTB Fiorano that is getting all the attention at the moment. Just look at!”

Nuts and Bolts: Even by Ferrari standards, the new V12 599 GTB Fiorano is being described as the ultimate supercar. Despite the incredible 456kW on tap the 599 is apparently “docile and easy to drive”. With a top speed of 330km/h “docile” is the last word that comes to mind.

Pricing: A$574,000 (manual) A$600,000 (F1 Superfast)

BMW M6 Coupe: Ten into Six Goes!

Erik Bellendir, Canterbury BMW: “Because the M6s are available by order only, we don’t have one in the showroom very often. But on the occasions we do, it’s quite an event. People are drawn to it like a magnet and always want to see the V10 under the aluminium bonnet. Unfortunately we have to decline the many requests for a test drive!”

Nuts and Bolts: The brawny Bavarian M6 BMWs are more than just a hot ticket. The F1 inspired 373kW V10 is selling faster than Lowenbrau at Oktoberfest, propelling the evocative two-doors into the BMW record books. Capable of a remarkable 8250rpm, the V10 has won international awards and will soon be seen in a convertible.

Pricing: $275,400

Lexus GS450h: Mean and Green

Jason Plato, Fifth Gear on Five; “Lexus's long-awaited hybrid GS is a PR officer's dream. "A"-list celebrities are queuing up to buy them, likely trading in a Prius to do so, in the hope that some of the Lexus's green respectability will rub off on them. Enough to offset the guilt of the private jet, anyway.”

Nuts and Bolts: This startling sports saloon is the first true performance car to use the new Lexus Hybrid Drive. Part high performance 3.5l V6, part high torque 650V electric motor, the power duties are intelligently shared to deliver an encouraging blood rush while sipping juice at the rate of a modest four cylinder sedan.

Pricing: $121,990

Honda Legend: Penny Rocket

John Simister, The Independent, UK; “With this new and technically remarkable Legend, Honda isn't even going to try to curry corporate-buyer favour. Instead, it gently ridicules the status-affirmation of the BMW 5-series-driving "corporate conformist" and seeks to engage the "respected individualist", who is more likely to own a business than merely execute in one.”

Nut and Bolts: An often underrated prestige car, the new Legend packs a 217kw SOHC V6 that is officially most powerful road-going Honda engine ever. Released last September, this new Legend comes in all-wheel-drive with every luxury feature standard. Bargain!

Pricing: A$74,500

Audi S8: GR8!

Angus MacKenzie, MotorTrend Magazine; “You see, the S8 is a selfish pleasure. Nail the gas and that direct-injection, 5.2-liter V-10 emits a deep, velvety growl and gives a satisfying shove between the shoulder blades.”

Nuts and Bolts: Fresh off the boat from Germany, the new S8 is the latest high end offering from this technologically obsessed Teutonic marque. Inside the aluminium body is a 5.2l 331kW Lamborghini-inspired Quad Cam V10 hooked up to the legendary quattro system. 

Pricing: $259,900

Jaguar XK: Yeah Baby!

Top Gear's US editor Jamie Kitman said: "This is not only the best Jaguar in 40 years, it is a real Jaguar - one knows it in seconds. Jaguar has thoroughly demonstrated with the XK that it is an utterly serious modern engineering entity with a priceless institutional memory of that which made Jaguars great."”

Nut and Bolts: Introduced in 2005, the XK has certainly put the pounce back in the pussy. In a show parochial solidarity, the top-rating BBC car program, Top Gear awarded the XK 'Car of the Year' and 'GT of the Year'. The naturally aspirated 4.2-litre V8 engine produces 224kW and develops maximum torque of 420Nm at 4100rpm. Be-have!

Pricing: A$199,900 (Coupé)

Porsche Cayman S: Dial 911

Walter Rohrl, Porsche test driver; “the mid-engined Cayman S is more nimble to change direction, delivers higher cornering speeds and is more forgiving at the limit of adhesion than the (rear-engined) 911. All the Cayman really needs is a limited-slip differential, then it would be perfect.”

Nuts and Bolts: The new Cayman is Porsche’s conundrum coupe. Is it a cheap 911 or an expensive Boxster? The critics are divided and Porsche maintain it is a whole new car, but one thing is certain, the Cayman S delivers 911 thrills at $50k less. The 3.4 litre boxer 6 might deliver a modest 217kW, but it’s all put to very good use.

Pricing: $148,500

Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione: Conceptual Reality

David Stone, General Manager for Alfa Romeo in Australia: “The Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione we unveiled at last year’s Sydney Motor Show is the production car, a real super car, available for a lucky few to buy. One thing hasn’t changed though, the Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione is the epitome of everything Alfa Romeo. It is born from a genuine sporting heritage, designed with a passion for style and engineered with an obsession for performance.”

Nuts and Bolts: First glimpsed in 2003 as a concept at Frankfurt , the 8C is now reality, complete with its 4.7 litre 336kW V8. But 8C is not some arbitrary nomenclature; it harks back to the halcyon days of the 1930s and ‘40s when the Milan marque swept all before it in Formula One and Sports Car racing.

Pricing: $270,000

Sippity Zoom Car

Test Vehicle: Mazda6 Diesel

2.0 SOHC 4-cyl Turbo Diesel
6 Speed Manual Transmission
3 Year/unlimited km Warranty
$38,090 as tested

Car reviewers get more cranked up over a new pop-up toaster than a die-cut 4-Cylinder Japanese sedan. So what’s so exciting about the latest 5-door Mazda?

Step back from the new Mazda6 and you’re looking at a perfectly neat, unobtrusive medium sized car with sweet, clean lines and a mildly sporty profile. So what? I hear you ask. Well, the cleverest things about the new Mazda6 Diesel are below the surface.

Firstly, you’re looking at a minor moment in history. Yes, this is the only Japanese manufacturer to currently offer a diesel passenger car in a market increasingly obsessed with fuel prices and consumption. You have to go back a quarter century to the Isuzu-powered Gemini, a practical but overwhelmingly uninspiring vehicle. This situation will change when other manufacturers inevitably follow suit, but full marks to Mazda for playing the first card in what will become a vigorous game when all Japanese manufacturers attempt to counter the European dominance in small diesel engines.

Already a proven hit with petrol car buyers, the svelte Mazda6 is not a styling gamble. Behind the wheel, it drives for all the world like a delightful little car should. Perky, performance from the MZR-CD 2.0-litre common-rail turbo diesel sees 100kmh in less than 10 secs and with a hefty 360Nm of torque at just 2000 rpm (a standard Falcon has 380Nm), you can choof along confidently without a lead foot.

The modest little diesel incorporates many state-of-the-art features for this “born gain” engine type including common rail injection, a variable-geometry turbocharger and ceramic fuel filters. With fuel economy in all conditions well under 6 litres/100kms, you can drive from Sydney to Brisbane on a single 64 litre tank. Emissions, well below EU standards, are almost negligible, so any fears trailing smokescreens can be quickly dismissed.

Other features include a very respectable 6-stacker CD system, six airbags and anti-lock four-wheel ventilated disc brakes. The 6-speed manual transmission will appeal to some and deter others and it may be twelve months before an automatic version is available.

Available in both hatchback and the slightly cheaper wagon, Mazda is not overstating their sales potential, setting a target of just fifty vehicles per month of which thirty, they say, will be the hatch.

We liked:

• Staggering economy
• Silent, smooth drive train
• Elegant styling
• Confident handling
• Build quality

Not so keen on:

• Manual only transmission option (for now)

joie de vivre

Lexus Magazine 2006

Lexus SC430 (Lexus Press Image)

When the weather’s fine, it’s time to drop the hood and enjoy the summer

The image of the convertible roadster has always held the romantic appeal of a car constructed purely for enjoyment and allure. In popular culture, the DHC (Drop Head Coupe) has featured large in movies with style and sensuality as their theme. Dustin Hoffman’s Alfa Spider in the Graduate, the Chevrolet Corvette in Route 66 or even the tortured Ferrari 250 in Ferris Bueller’s Day Off all invoke the free-spirited, fun-loving pleasure-seeker so often portrayed in Hollywood or Cannes. Meanwhile, the SC430’s list of movie credits grows too with The OC, Terminator 3, CSI, 24 and Legally Blonde 2.

High performance roadsters in the classic European or American incarnation conjure images of wind-in-the-hair, string-back gloves and savage exhaust noise, but the SC430 offers something different, says Lexus Australia Chief, John Conomos

"It could be said that some people buy top end sports cars for the wrong reasons," Mr Conomos said.

"They are buying for prestige and for roadster enjoyment but they sometimes find they have a car which demands more of them as a driver than they are prepared to give.

"And that is not only at high speed - it can be also demanding at low speed in the city."

“It can make their total experience less than constantly rewarding. The Lexus SC 430 offers a very attractive alternative."

And Lexus has delivered. The result is a superbly crafted vehicle that imbues all the unapologetic glamour of a prestige convertible, replete with creature comforts in keeping with an ultra high end saloon or coupé and signed off with the unambiguous expression of freewheeling lifestyle transport.

Even if your motivation is not to emulate some siren or stud of the silver screen, the SC430 is the embodiment of style and panache. Seeking inspiration for Lexus’ first and only convertible, chief engineer Yasushi Nakagawa exiled his design team on France’s Cote d'Azur with instructions to soak up the architectural and thematic atmosphere that so epitomises sun-drenched chic. Yachts, powerboats and even the hedonistic human inhabitants served as templates for this very individual, expressive personal transport. The result is a genuinely unique, timeless and distinctive shape that turns heads and unmistakably identifies the occupants.

Within the cocoon of comfort, pristine aromatic leather embraces you. Surrounded with wood panel and a hint of polished metal, controls, instruments and switches are logical, visible and accessible. The DVD-based satellite navigation system is concealed behind a cleverly retracting panel when not in use and the shift for the recently upgraded six-speed automatic transmission is exactly where you’d expect to find it. It’s all very deliberately designed to enhance your enjoyment and pure driving pleasure without complication or exasperation.

Step back from the SC430 and admire the uninterrupted lines that flow in an apparently seamless swoosh enveloping the car. Step closer and you’ll see flawless bodywork, sculpted curves and smooth edges all designed to slice through the air without obstruction or drag. Refit the solid, latch-less aluminium roof with the push of a single button in just 25 seconds and the Cd (Co-efficient of drag) plummets to a trifling 0.29

Driving the car delivers rewards commensurate with the marque and the essential philosophy of Lexus. To label the SC430 a ‘sports car’ is not entirely correct as my own driving experience revealed. I’ve driven and owned sports cars in the popular mold, and as satisfying and exhilarating as they may be, they are invariably the product of awkward compromise. Cramped noisy cockpits, twitchy steering, nervous handling and “buckboard” comfort are common trademarks of the archetypical high performance coupé or convertible. Not so the Lexus. The exemplary aerodynamics is another one of the standout features of the sublime SC430, painstakingly designed to deliver the sheer thrill of a top-down Spring or Summer drive without constantly attacking the coiffure.

When you’re cruising the café strip or idling past the beachfront boulevard, the SC430 is already turning heads. Not as a result of some vulgar, lumpy engine note, but thanks to the unmistakeable visual appeal of your summer-tuned Lexus. Beneath the broad sweeping lines of the bonnet and distinctive yet understated grille, lies the brilliant all-alloy Quad Cam 4.3 litre VVT-i V8. It may whisper in hushed tones and purr when stroked gently, but it will growl purposefully when encouraged and propel you in a satisfying but completely controlled manner thanks to advanced Vehicle Stability Control (VSC). When you’ve had enough, Electronic Brake Force Distribution (EBD) and traction control will bring the car to a comfortable standstill even when an unforseen emergency dictates heavy braking.

Gone too is the stigma of petrol guzzling excess. When driven normally, the SC430 will deliver remarkable fuel consumption figures. Imagine 8.5 litres /100kms on the highway, just 12.5 around town and all-the-while, a breath-taking 210kW is on call. Additionally, the ample 419Nm of torque delivered at 3500rpm means you can lope up steep grades without breaking sweat.

Since its debut in 2001, the SC430 has been subject to ongoing refinement, ensuring the absolute ultimate in automotive technology is available in the option-free SC430.

The then class-leading five speed automatic has now been upgraded to a six speed electronically controlled transmission. An exceptional Mark Levinson, 9-speaker sound system is now standard. Bluetooth personal communication technology is included along with subtle styling upgrades and svelte satin-finish five-spoke 18-inch alloy wheels. Handling and ride comfort have both been further uprated to optimum levels and the plethora of safety features now includes six SRS airbags.

Lexus aficionados will be aware of the close technical and developmental relationship with the flagship LS430. Discerning garages in the best parts of town now sport the pair side-by-side in an irresistible marriage of prestige, practicality and leisure – a perfect demonstration of mixing business with pleasure.

In spite of the rigours of running a demanding enterprise, there’s always room in your life for expression and celebration and the SC430 is the perfect statement of your arrival and passion for life.

Head Turner from the 'Hood

Chrysler 300C CRD

What the grotesque Chrysler 300C lacks in subtlety, it more than makes up for in automotive refinement.

Volvo Aware Driver

The stalwart Swedish marque goes in search of the new generation of bloody Volvo drivers.

Test Car: Volvo V50 T5 AWD Wagon
2.5l DOHC 5 cyl Turbo, 162kW
5-Speed Automatic Transmission with Geartronic
RRP $57,950
3 Year/Unlimited km Warranty

In the 1970s, when ABBA ruled the airwaves, Volvo was the top selling European car in Australia and was frumpy, totally style-free and the butt of countless jokes. Sure, the eminently sensible Swedish machine was high on safety and low on glamour but its Armoured Personnel Carrier credentials attracted nervous (bloody) drivers more in search of survivability than pizzazz.

Ironically, now that 21st Century Volvos perform like BMWs and look like Jaguars the going is tough. So what’s wrong with the latest Volvos? Well, nothing. In an on-going campaign that has consumed the brand for nearly two decades, Volvo is trying to reinvent itself and modify the venerable bullet-proof persona in favour of a more fashionable perception. Consequently the brand has been gradually nibbling back at lost ground since their self-effacing “Bloody Volvo Driver” ads were launched three years ago.

Ford bought the 80-year-old Swedish marque in 1999 as part of its global brand grab under the Premier Automotive Group banner. Ford believed it could benefit from economies of scale with this plan and indeed, our test car shares its platform with the Mazda3 and new Ford Focus.

Despite progressive styling overhauls that has turned your average Volvo into a sleek street-smart stylewagon, all models retain their much envied state-of-the-art safety benchmark coupled to competitive performance and handling.

"The all-new V50 is the result of a consistent design strategy, in which the Volvo character has been developed for each new model,” said Henrik Otto, Volvo Cars’ Design Director at the time of the model’s debut, ”Our new Sportswagon is indisputably a genuine Volvo but, at the same time, it has its own, totally individual and distinct profile – with characteristics from classics like the Volvo 1800 ES, Volvo 480 and its most recent predecessor, the V40.”

The V50 T5 AWD drives extremely confidently with a reassuring road-holding that will comfort Volvo traditionalists and impress newcomers. Thanks to the new AWD system, cornering and handling is superb and the turbo will set the pulse racing when it really kicks in over 4000 rpm. The 2006 upgrade includes heated front seats, self-dimming interior mirror, a brilliant six-stacker in-dash CD changer with 12-speaker Premium sound system, and larger disc brake package.

In the week I drove this car, I never experienced “Volvo-syndrome”; pottering, tunnel-vision, clumsy lane changing and slo-mo driveway exits. Drive one of these and you may never look at a Volvo the same way again.

We Liked:

• Delightful road manners
• Spirited performance
• Superb sound system
• Superior passenger safety

No so Keen on

• Rear passenger space tight for big kids
• Poor economy for heavy-footed drivers

Land Rover Discovery 3 S V6 Turbo Diesel

Land Rover Discovery 3 S V6 Turbo Diesel



Forget the mirror balls and flashing lights, Land Rover's new diesel Discovery 3 is not a twinkle-toes.

Subaru Forester XT AWD Station Wagon

Subaru Forester XT AWD Station Wagon Little did we know that when Jackie Chan piloted the incongruously high-performance Subaru Station Wagon in 1981’s madcap ‘Cannonball Run”, we were seeing a snapshot of the future disguised as satire.

Mercedes Benz ML320 CDI

Mercedes Benz ML320 CDI



It’s a pretty safe bet that when you go shopping for a new M-Class All-Wheel-Drive Mercedes, you’re not planning a Leyland Brothers expedition.

The Cat's Back: Jaguar S-Type 4.2 Luxury

The Cat's Back: Jaguar S-Type 4.2 Luxury

40 years later, the stylish S-Type reappears. But is it the Cat of old?

Snowman

Ian Talbot has been in the snow business for so long, even Santa Claus sends him a Christmas card!

Since pioneering ski tourism and launching Powderhound Magazine in the mid-1970s, Ian now runs a successful media consultancy and public relations business, Skipress, servicing the ski, snow and summer resort businesses in Victoria’s High Country. With regular trips by road and between the major resorts such as Falls Creek Alpine Resort and Mount Beauty, Ian cannot afford to be waylaid by inclement weather or unreliable transport and is delighted with his choice of vehicle; his second Honda CRV.

Both regular and occasional visitors to Falls Creek turn their head when Ian’s distinctively liveried Honda passes by. Looking something like a cross between a mobile blizzard and a giant polar mint, the CRV is decorated with an unmistakeable ski and snow theme.

“I wanted something that really said what I was all about,“ says Ian, the edges of his mouth curling slightly to suppress a huge grin,” the design took two full days to apply and is made up of a series of very big stickers.

“I took it back to Col Crawford’s (Honda dealer in Brookvale, Sydney) for the next service and they couldn’t believe it. It gets huge reaction everywhere I go!”

And Ian sure gets about!

Although most of the mileage is clocked up around town, Ian is quite comfortable extending the CRV’s normal operating environment – especially after his mighty winter adventure.

“It was in the middle of winter and I had to get from Falls Creek to Mt Hotham,” begins Ian, hinting that this isn’t something he would normally attempt in such conditions, “It was snowing hard, so I rang my friends at the local police station for a road report. Surprisingly, the normal route through Harrietville was closed, but I was told the backroad via Trappers Gap was still open – or at least wasn’t closed.”

Normally the twisty 100km trip would take about two hours, but the heavy snowfalls had left 30cm of snow over most of the road and in some places, Ian found drifts right up over the bonnet.

“I was ready to put the chains on at any time, but I really didn’t want to get out of the car, so I pressed on. It was getting very dark and cold and the fuel situation was critical,” continues Ian, reliving the anxiety with some conviction, “but the Honda just kept going, and so did I. What began as a routine drive, turned out to be quite an adventure!”

Even though he was more than happy with the CRV’s off-road ability and All-Wheel-Drive stability, Ian found this demonstration very convincing.

“I really like the look of the new CRV,” he says wistfully, “knowing full well another snowflake paint job is just around the corner!

(Just) Give Me Liberty

Test Vehicle:

Liberty 2.0R Sat-Nav special
2.0 litre DOHC (horizontally opposed four cylinder)
5-speed manual with Symmetrical All-Wheel-Drive
$32,490 as tested

Subaru has re-introduced the entry level Liberty with uprated features and equipment in the hope that it will attract buyers back to this value sedan.

After an absence from the model range for nearly twelve months, little Liberty is back with a vengeance. Previously powered by a basic SOHC 2.0 litre, the new model now uses the upgraded DOHC powerplant with variable valve-timing that’s more emission-friendly and kicks out nearly 30kW more. Styling is in keeping with its elite siblings, the 2.5, 3.0R and GT.

It’s no surprise that new car buyers are rethinking their next purchase. With the spiralling cost of fuel, dealers are reporting purchasers much more interested in frugal motoring without sacrificing comfort and performance. The new Liberty 2.0R satisfies the economy conscious with fuel consumption figures comfortably under 10 litres per 100kms for careful drivers, but those with a heavier foot may find they’re using closer to 12 if they succumb to the Liberty’s sporty urges. The requirement for premium ULP however is not necessarily on the list of selling points.

Our test vehicle employed the 5-speed manual transmission. Tight and definite, the gearbox was perfectly matched to the Liberty’s newly refined engine and power delivery. The 4-speed auto (not tested) provides pseudo-manual Sportshift but is unlikely to deliver better fuel consumption than a well-driven manual. At a cost impost of $2000, Subaru may find the manual a hotter than expected seller.

Inside the cockpit, driver and passenger comfort are well considered, even if the rear seat passenger space is a little restricted. Cloth-trimmed front seats are snug and embracing with a firm, comfortable feel that makes long hours in the saddle pleasant. My dicky back welcomed the confident side restraints and meant I wasn’t squirming in pain every few minutes. There is a lack of reach adjustment in the steering column, but is compensated somewhat by a highly adjustable driver’s seat.

The dash is clean and unintimidating with a clear, familiar and practical layout. Our test car was a limited edition model with the satellite navigation system that dominated the centrepiece. This piece of equipment is now finding it’s way into more and more regular vehicles and is no longer a high priced option at the lofty end of the range. At a premium of just $500, Subaru reckon this “door buster” might just reenergise the new Liberty. This feature is normally a $3000 add-on.

On the road, the 2.0R is every bit the sure-footed AWD sedan; the hallmark of Subaru across the entire model range. Excellent 4-wheel ventilated discs with ABS augment the performance handling and team superbly with a very high (ANCAP 5 stars) safety rating thanks to dual front, side and curtain airbags.

Standard fitments are anything but frugal. The balance of equipment includes five-spoke alloys with a full-size spare wheel; climate controlled air-conditioning; six-speaker CD sound system, leather steering wheel and gear shift; cruise control; dual exhausts; front fog lamps and DataDot technology as added theft deterrence.

In summary, the Liberty 2.0R is a highly creditable, good-looking car from an increasingly respected manufacturer that delivers safety, style and affordability.

Similar Vehicles: Honda Accord, Mazda6, Holden Vectra and Toyota Camry

We liked:

• Excellent occupant safety
• Potential for good economy
• Impeccable road manners
• Attractive styling
• Japanese build quality
• High security rating (93.5/120)

We weren’t so keen on:

• Tight rear seat for big adults
• Engine requires urging from low down
• Limited boot access from inside cabin
• Premium ULP requirement

Liberty at subaru.com.au