BMW Z8: car of the week

A concept car built purely as a design exercise to celebrate the gorgeous, late-50s BMW 507...

...caused such a stir at the 1997 Tokyo motor show that the big Bavarian marque had no choice but to make a production version.

The concept was called Z07, and the car it spawned – in limited numbers – was the BMW Z8, which was produced between 2000 and 2003 and given the E52 model code. 5703 Z8s were made and about half of them made their way to the United States.

Penned by Henrik Fisker at BMW’s Designworks, very few changes were needed for the Z07 to go into production as the Z8.

The windscreen was extended upwards and bigger front air dams were fitted. To keep it as faithful to the concept as possible, the designers incorporated clever features such as multi-function instruments, integrated side indicators that were invisible until needed, and modern equipment that was hidden behind interior retractable panels to preserve the simple, vintage-inspired look.

The all-alloy chassis car cost $128,000 and was pulled by a 4.9 litre V8 engine that produced 294kW and 500Nm.The engine was shared by the M5 of the time.

The Z8’s 0-100km/h time was officially 4.7 seconds but quicker times (to 4.2 seconds) have been recorded by various testers. The top speed, as per BMW regulations, was locked off at 249km/h, although when unbridled the feisty little Bimmer could reach 300 clicks.

To make the Z8 more attractive to collectors, all elements of the car were constructed or finished by hand, and a number of custom options were available including non-standard paint and interior treatments.

In 2003, a softer, less sporty version of the Z8 was introduced. It was called the Alpina V8 Roadster and it came with a smaller 4.8 litre V8 engine. Only a five-speed automatic transmission was available in the Alpina, and the car featured softer suspension and softer leather trim than its rawer, race-ready brother. Slightly bigger wheels were fitted and special Alpina gauges and steering wheel were also added.

The Alpina outputs were 280kW and 519Nm but interestingly the top speed was 10km north of the original Z8, at 259km/h. Only 555 Alpinas were built.

Rolls-Royce Phantom II unveil at Geneva show

The Rolls-Royce Phantom II at Geneva shows some nip and tuck.

Facelifts got started with the ultra-rich and now their favourite family car, the Rolls-Royce Phantom, has also been for a bit of surgery.

The Phantom II is revealed at the Geneva show with the first visual tweaks since the $1.1 million loungeroom-on-wheels hit the road in 2003.

But it's the mechanical changes, and a 10 per cent improvement to the car's considerable thirst, which will give potential buyers the permission they need to buy again after the global financial crisis.

The car's CO2 emissions also drop from a nasty 388 grams/kilometre to a less unacceptable 347.

The Phantom II models - sedan, coupe and convertible - now come with an eight-speed automatic gearbox, full LED headlights (claimed as a world first), as well as new bumpers and re-styled lights.

Rolls-Royce is part of the BMW Group and that means the Phantom II now gets the all-round camera viewing system first fitted to the 7 Series, as well as updated satnav and adaptive headlamps.

"These cars are timeless in their appeal, but technology moves rapidly and we cannot afford to stand still," says Torsten Muller-Otvos, CEO of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars.

BMW all for diesel

BMW believes the Aussie market will be dominated by diesels.

Australia should have a diesel future within six years.

BMW Australia boss Guenther Seemann believes the local car industry will follow Europe and become 80 per cent diesel, but only if Holden and Ford produce oil-burning Commodores and Falcons.

“If I were CEO of these companies I would develop a diesel V8,” Seemann says.

His comments come after BMW's own sales of diesels hit 33.1 per cent in January as the brand expands its diesel line-up.

Seemann believes diesel will continue to grow because “there is no way down for petrol prices." The other factor in diesel growth, he says, is the advances in performance.

BMW has entered the high-performance, four-wheel-drive fray with its new X5 3.0sd, a twin-turbo version of its six-cylinder diesel.

It is aimed at taking on the sports-orientated diesel four-wheel-drives, including the Audi Q7 V8 TDI, Volkswagen Touareg V10 TDI and Range Rover V8 Turbo Diesel.

Though BMW reps concede the new model will take some sales from its current X5 3.0d, they are adamant the new car is crucial to the growth of the X5 and BMW's diesel future.

“X5 business is very important to us,” the product and market planning manager for BMW Australia, David Lederer, says.

“There's potential to grow that business by having a diesel that can get additional incremental sales.”

He says thanks to the fuel efficiency of the diesels now being matched by performance, customers no longer see them as a compromise.

“That's what our figures are showing. Diesel offerings are so good in terms of torque that I don't think people are buying them just because of efficiency. I think people are responding to the torque and dynamism.”

On the road, the new X5 3.0sd is as expected. The strong chassis still stands out and the new engine provides even more of a chance to exploit it.

BMW's solid reputation for building superb powerplants remains intact. The X5 is smooth and has plenty of torque to get the two-tonne four-wheel-drive up to speed.

With 565Nm on tap from 2000 revs, the X5 isn't sluggish to accelerate, but it does lack some of the punch of the Touareg with its 750Nm.

BMW's claimed consumption figure of 8.8 litres for 100km in combined city/country driving was optimistic during our test drive. Over the course of four hours of spirited driving on country roads, we averaged 11.7 litres for 100km.

Given that this is another addition to the X5 range, BMW has kept the model line-up simple with only two variants; a standard 3.0sd and the option of a sports package.

Prices for the entry-level 3.0sd start at $102,800 and the sports package begins at $107,300.

BMW all for diesel

BMW believes the Aussie market will be dominated by diesels.

Australia should have a diesel future within six years.

BMW Australia boss Guenther Seemann believes the local car industry will follow Europe and become 80 per cent diesel, but only if Holden and Ford produce oil-burning Commodores and Falcons.

“If I were CEO of these companies I would develop a diesel V8,” Seemann says.

His comments come after BMW's own sales of diesels hit 33.1 per cent in January as the brand expands its diesel line-up.

Seemann believes diesel will continue to grow because “there is no way down for petrol prices." The other factor in diesel growth, he says, is the advances in performance.

BMW has entered the high-performance, four-wheel-drive fray with its new X5 3.0sd, a twin-turbo version of its six-cylinder diesel.

It is aimed at taking on the sports-orientated diesel four-wheel-drives, including the Audi Q7 V8 TDI, Volkswagen Touareg V10 TDI and Range Rover V8 Turbo Diesel.

Though BMW reps concede the new model will take some sales from its current X5 3.0d, they are adamant the new car is crucial to the growth of the X5 and BMW's diesel future.

“X5 business is very important to us,” the product and market planning manager for BMW Australia, David Lederer, says.

“There's potential to grow that business by having a diesel that can get additional incremental sales.”

He says thanks to the fuel efficiency of the diesels now being matched by performance, customers no longer see them as a compromise.

“That's what our figures are showing. Diesel offerings are so good in terms of torque that I don't think people are buying them just because of efficiency. I think people are responding to the torque and dynamism.”

On the road, the new X5 3.0sd is as expected. The strong chassis still stands out and the new engine provides even more of a chance to exploit it.

BMW's solid reputation for building superb powerplants remains intact. The X5 is smooth and has plenty of torque to get the two-tonne four-wheel-drive up to speed.

With 565Nm on tap from 2000 revs, the X5 isn't sluggish to accelerate, but it does lack some of the punch of the Touareg with its 750Nm.

BMW's claimed consumption figure of 8.8 litres for 100km in combined city/country driving was optimistic during our test drive. Over the course of four hours of spirited driving on country roads, we averaged 11.7 litres for 100km.

Given that this is another addition to the X5 range, BMW has kept the model line-up simple with only two variants; a standard 3.0sd and the option of a sports package.

Prices for the entry-level 3.0sd start at $102,800 and the sports package begins at $107,300.

BMW sportscar to be built on Toyota 86 platform

BMW-Toyota joint venture car will see further development of 86/BRZ platform.

Last month it was confirmed Toyota and BMW would collaborate on a new platform that would form the basis of at least one sports car from each of the automakers.

For Toyota, the platform would be used for a new generation of its Supra, a car that has been hinted at by the automaker’s execs for the past several years. For BMW, the case isn’t so clear. A likely option would be the next Z4, although a new generation of the 8-Series could also be a possibility.

According to the latest information from Motor Trend, the new platform will be used for new versions of the Supra and Z4, but it won’t quite be a completely a new platform. Instead, the platform will be a further development of the brilliant rear-wheel-drive design underpinning the Scion FR-S, as well as the Toyota GT 86 sold here in Australia and Subaru BRZ. 

The new Supra and BMW Z4 it will eventually spawn will be bigger cars than the FR-S, with the platform set to be upgraded to handle more power and a greater variety of engines. In fact, the new Supra is tipped to receive a hybrid drivetrain with around 295 kilowatts on tap.

It appears previous reports of the Supra switching to a mid-engine, all-wheel-drive layout are false. The latest word is that it will use a variation of the hybrid system Toyota developed for its 2014 Lexus IS. The system will pair a turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with an electric motor and spin the rear wheels.

While the platform will be a Toyota design, BMW will work on the suspension and fine-tuning of the handling. It’s not clear when BMW plans to launch its next Z4, though the new Toyota Supra is expected in 2017, with a concept version to bow as early as the 2013 Tokyo Motor Show at the end of the year.

In 2007 Toyota rolled out the FT-HS concept, which at the time was said to hint at the design of the automaker's next Supra. It also featured a hybrid drivetrain.

The Nissan Pulsar is back

The new Pulsar goes on sale early next year with the same price it left with – and where it was 16 years ago.

The Nissan Pulsar is back after a six-year absence and a hum-drum hatchback that not even sex could sell.

The Pulsar was replaced by the awkward-looking and oddly-named Tiida in 2006 – and Nissan used Sex InThe City’s Kim Cattrall in TV ads to take attention away from the car’s drab styling.

But the public wasn’t buying it – or the car – and sales of Nissan’s sole contender in the most popular vehicle category in Australia plummeted. The new Pulsar goes on sale early next year with the same price it left with – and where it was 16 years ago – $19,990 plus on-road costs.

“At this price, the only inflation is in the tyres,” says William Peffer, the boss of Nissan Australia at a preview of the car ahead of the Sydney motor show, which opens this Friday.

Nissan dealers protested angrily when the company dropped the Pulsar name in favour of the global Tiida badge – and they’ve been vindicated. Nissan says 7 out 10 of car shoppers still recognise the Pulsar badge even though it hasn’t been on sale for six years.

“The Pulsar means a lot to this country,” says Peffer. “We made the right decision to return to the nameplate that for so long characterised and shaped Australia’s small car landscape.”

With the new Pulsar sedan arriving in showrooms next February – followed by the Pulsar hatch 100 days later – the company is gunning for the top-selling Mazda3 and the new generation Toyota Corolla, launched later this week. “We hope we will outsell Corolla,” says Peffer.

Buoyed by a recent bout of nostalgia, kicked off with the 50th anniversary of the Patrol 4WD, Nissan is also reviving the Pulsar SSS name for its hot hatch. The turbocharged 1.6-litre performance model (140kW/240Nm) will go on sale in the middle of next year priced about $35,000.

Meanwhile, at the other end of the scale, grey nomads holding out for a diesel version of the new Patrol continue to be disappointed.

The new Patrol, which goes on sale in February priced between $82,000 and $114,000, will be powered exclusively by a petrol-guzzling 5.6-litre V8 – the same type used as the basis for Nissan’s V8 Supercar next year.

The old Patrol, which has been on sale for close to 15 years, will continue to sell alongside the new model as a diesel-only model.
 

Honda Legend roars to prestige

Competition in the prestige car market has just been given new impetus, with Honda returning with its new Legend.

The company's flagship nameplate has been absent for two years but it has been returned with serious intent.

Honda has lopped more than $12,000 from the price of the old model and has put its $74,500 sedan in a competitive price and equipment position.

When it goes on sale next month, Honda will be targeting Honda Accord buyers looking for a step up and buyers of the likes of Audi, BMW, Lexus and Mercedes-Benz.

Honda has placed the Legend between the compact and medium-sized prestige sedans and is hoping to capture customers from both.

Honda senior director Lindsay Smalley says the Legend is a vastly-improved vehicle that will have broad appeal.

"We're confident that the Legend will appeal to consumers who are seeking a comprehensively-equipped luxury saloon with innovative technology, engineering excellence and performance," he says.

"These consumers are practical people who recognise value for money, who enjoy their wealth but don't need to flaunt it."

The fourth incarnation of the Legend has been cut by 40mm in length but has grown 20mm in height and 25mm in width, with Honda claiming the new car has a more efficient interior package than its predecessor.

Weighing in at a sizeable 1810kg – despite using cast and extruded aluminium for much of the body and suspension components – the new Legend uses a 3.5-litre V6 borrowed from Honda's MDX SUV.

It has been retuned to generate 217kW of power and 351Nm of torque – an increase of 22kW and 6Nm – and delivers it via a five-speed automatic gearbox (with manual tipshift and wheel-mounted paddles) to all four wheels.

The Legend's all-wheel drive system offers a variable torque-split system that can direct up to 70 per cent of the drive front or rear.

Where the Legend offers a clever addition is the electromagnetic couplings across the rear axle, which acts like an intelligent limited slip differential.

Depending on the prevailing driving conditions – speed, steering angles and lateral forces – the rear differential directs drive to the left and right wheels according to the car's requirements.

The conservatively-styled Legend sits on a double-wishbone front and multi-link rear suspension with aluminium suspension components front and rear to help reduce weight.

Beneath attractive 17in alloys are 320mm ventilated front discs gripped by four-piston aluminium calipers, with the rear 310mm ventilated discs combining with single-piston aluminium calipers.

The cabin contains plenty of leather blended with wood and aluminium. Standard equipment includes power-adjustable leather-trimmed seats, maple wood dash trim, LED illuminated instrumentation and electrically reach-and-rake adjustable, leather-wrapped steering wheel with paddle shifters.

Also on the list are cruise control, six-disc CD sound system with MP3 and WMA capability, Active Noise Cancellation (ANC), sunroof and a power rear window shade screen.

Honda says the Legend has a five-star NCAP crash rating and a three-star NCAP pedestrian safety rating, thanks to a pop-up bonnet system to reduce the severity of pedestrian head injuries.

Occupants are protected by dual front and side airbags, full-length side curtain airbags and three-point seat belts for all seating positions.

The Legend's climate control is linked to the GPS system, which uses sensors to calculate the sun's position and then direct air flow to cabin areas where it is most needed.

The ANC reduces low frequency in-cabin exhaust "boom" by using the car's audio system to counteract noise intrusion.

The first drive of the new Legend suggests it is anything but weighty, with the sedan quietly making its way through traffic.

The big body needs the V6 to have some revolutions on board before it makes rapid forward progress but the prospect of high revs is no problem for the Honda V6.

The cabin is spacious and comfortable, although the front seat base feels a little short for under-thigh support.

Once on the open road, the Legend settles into an easy gait, with only a little wind noise and tyre roar on coarse grade bitumen intruding.

The centrally-mounted display for most of the car's functions is not surrounded by cowling and suffers from sun glare.

The all-wheel-drive system is largely unnoticed in most situations, unless you're distracted by the electronic display showing its torque directing duties.

The grip and poise of the Legend is worthy of more expensive European machines.

Wet road tyre adhesion is good and the only drawback is the over-assisted power steering which doesn't allow much feedback through the wheel.

SMALL TORQUE

Honda Legend

Price: $74,500
Engine: 3.5-litre SOHC VTEC V6
Power: 217kW @ 6200rpm
Torque: 351Nm @ 5000rpm
Transmission: Five-speed automatic driving all four wheels
Brakes: 320mm ventilated discs with aluminium four-piston calipers (front); 310mm ventilated discs with one-piston aluminium calipers, with anti-lock, electronic brakeforce distribution and emergency brake assist systems (rear)
Dimensions: Length 4955mm, width 1845mm, height 1450mm, wheelbase 2800mm
Suspension: Independent, double-wishbone with coil springs, dampers and stabiliser bar (front); independent, multi-link with coil spring, dampers and stabiliser bar (rear)
Economy: Claimed 11.8 litres/100km, tank 73 litres

Showdown in the showroom

Audi A4: 188kW/330Nm 3.2-litre all-wheel drive six-speed auto, $86,700.

Audi A6: 130kW/230Nm 2.4-litre V6, front-wheel-drive CVT auto, $80,600.

BMW 320i: 110kW/200Nm two-litre, four-cylinder, six-speed manual or auto, $74,530 (with options to match).

BMW 525i: 160kW/250Nm 2.5-litre six-cylinder, six-speed auto, $94,300.

Mercedes-Benz C200K: 120kW/240Nm 1.8-litre supercharged four-cylinder, five-speed auto, $88,895 (with options to match).

Mercedes-Benz E200: 120kW/240Nm 1.8-litre supercharged four-cylinder, five-speed auto, $82,500.

Lexus IS250 Sport Luxury: 153kW/252Nm 2.5-litre V6, six-speed auto, $78,500.

Lexus GS300: 183kW/310Nm three-litre V6,six-speed auto, $95,200.

Ferrari GTB sells at auction

Chief auctioneer Steve Allen looks over some of the premium cars. 

Fancy a reasonably priced Ferrari? Well you?re just too late.

Last week’s Pickles auction in Sydney sold a late-model Ferrari GTB with just 2293km on the clock for $355,000, plus the 33 per cent Luxury Car Tax component.

The car was nabbed by Ateco Automotive Ltd, which distributes Ferrari in Australia and has since been onsold to an enthuasist.

Ateco spokesman, Edward Rowe, says the GTB was now back in the Ferrari fold.

“Ferrari guards its residual values jealously,” Rowe says.

Although Rowe would not comment on the price paid, Carsguide believes it was well over $500,000 and just shy of its new car price of about $600,000.

The Ferrari was one of several high-end cars that went through Pickles quarterly luxury and exotic auction.

More than $4.5 million worth of vehicles went under the hammer.

Other rich pickings included a 2006 Aston Martin Vantage sold for $162,000 and a 2008 Porsche 911 Turbo all-wheel-drive fetched $280,000. Even with the LCT component added into the price the cars were bargains.

Some home-grown performance cars also sold.

A 2007 Ford Performance Vehicles F6 Typhoon fetched $38,500, not bad when new it cost $63,310.

Apart from Pickles, GraysOnline and ManheimFowles auction houses are reporting a lift in distressed prestige sales by finance companies and cash-strapped owners and the economic crisis bites.

For the managing director of GraysOnline, Cameron Poolman, the downturn is proving a boon.

He says the traffic on Grays’ site has increased more than 25 per cent since the economy took a dive.

“We expect that it will continue to rise,” he says.

“People are still looking to buy but they’ll try to get it at a reduced price.”

Poolman says GraysOnline has helped take out the middle-man and dealers.

The upside of increased interest in cars going through auction houses is that it is helping push used values up.

Private owners and fleets are holding on to their cars for longer, leading to a shortage of used stock coming into the market.

This is lifting used prices of some popular late model cars by up to $1500.

This $3m palace is the ultimate motorhome

Marchi Mobile EleMMent Palazzo

Marchi Mobile EleMMent Palazzo is a rolling tribute to excess and wealth

Your average Class-A motorhome is an expensive machine fitted with a standard array of luxurious features. Be it granite counter tops, stainless appliances, flat-screen TVs, or quadruple pop-outs, upgrading a coach is an easy affair if you've got the bucks.

What if you want more though... much more. Marchi Mobile has the recreational vehicle that you've been dreaming about. Or maybe it's having nightmares about, depending on which part you're viewing.
The Marchi Mobile EleMMent Palazzo is a rolling tribute to excess and wealth. It's also packed with style, both good and bad. The Luigi Colani-designed exterior looks like a genetically mutated oversized Winnebago.


Inside, however, it's a completely different story if you're a fan of modern design and style. There's a great use of space, ultra luxurious furniture and appliance choices.


A jet-like gangway unfolds to provide access to the interior, which can be massively expanded by the oversized pop-out slider. There's even a pop-up rooftop bar for when you're parked and want to become emperor of the local RV parking section.


A large diesel engine provides power for this exotic rolling rig, and it spits out emissions through a pair of exhaust outlets mounted under a rear diffuser. We don't imagine that improves handling, but it looks pretty cool. So what would it take to add this machine to your luxury stable? About $3 million. It's certainly cheaper and more comfortable than a jet.

Porsche Le Mans LMP1 prototype revealed

• Porsche's racer echoes the quad LED headlight treatment found on many of its road cars.
  

 

 

 

Porsche gives a first look at its 2014 Le Mans racer prototype

It’s been three years since we first heard Porsche’s confirmation it would be returning to Le Mans’ premier LMP1 category in 2014, with a brand new works team and car. Porsche has been working overtime since then, in order to get its team ready for the start of the 2014 World Endurance Championship but more importantly for the 24 Hours of Le Mans race that is always the highlight of the season.

Today, we get our first look at the LMP1 prototype that will form the basis of Porsche’s Le Mans assault. The car has just completed its first rollout at the hands of works driver Timo Bernhard. The drive took place at Porsche’s test track in Weissach, Germany and was attended by the whole board of directors.


Developing a new LMP1 is no easy task, especially with rivals as strong as Audi and Toyota, which have already had a number of successes with their own prototypes. Porsche said it needed to expand its Weissach facilities considerably, including building a new workshop and office complex, just to house the 200-plus staff working on its LMP1 project.


Unfortunately, no details on the car have been revealed, though it’s expected to feature a petrol powerplant as its main power unit to help separate it from Volkswagen Group stablemate Audi, which will likely stick with its proven TDI diesel technology. At the same time, there will be at least one form of energy recovery technology in line with the 2014 regulations for the LMP1 category. Don’t be surprised if we see the car’s technology tied with that found in the upcoming 918 Spyder.


“From 2014, the regulations are primarily based on efficiency,” Porsche’s LMP1 project chief Fritz Enzinger said at the conclusion of the rollout test. “This makes the competition amongst engineers more interesting and presents us with completely new challenges.”


As for the driver lineup, so far only two drivers have been named: works drivers Timo Bernhard of Germany and Romain Dumas of France. Bernhard comes from the Porsche junior driver development program and in 2010 won at Le Mans with Audi. Dumas, meanwhile, is both a Porsche and Le Mans veteran, and has several wins under his belt.
Porsche, of course, is a veteran of Le Mans itself, having won overall at the legendary endurance race 16 times. If you’re wondering how Audi will react when a Porsche LMP1 lines up the grid next year, according to its works driver Alan McNish, a former Porsche driver himself, the competition will be as fierce as that between any other brands.


The coming year is certainly shaping up to be a great year for race fans, especially with the new regulations coming in for Formula One and the start of Formula E electric car championship. And with the added competition in Le Mans, road car fans also have reason to cheer as few other forms of motorsport have such a direct influence on the development of new road car technology.


“The engineers were able to start with a blank sheet of paper in the design of the new LMP1,” Porsche CEO Matthias Müller explained. “Hence, they were able to apply many new technologies within the framework of the regulations that will also benefit the customers of our road legal automobiles in the future.”

Tips to get an EOFY bargain

Bagging a bargain is not as easy as it seems, even in the run-up to the end of the financial year.

You must still do your homework. You must still check the fine print. You must still be prepared to haggle and compromise

But do it right, crunching the numbers and running right to the dealer's deadline, and you can drive away in something special at a special price.

The starting point is all the deals, from sticker specials to cheap finance and steak knife-style free extras, being offered by most of the 60-plus brands in showrooms today.

If something you want is on special, go for it. But check that the car was built in 2013, and is not a geriatric old-timer from 2012, and ensure your target is exactly what you want - not a stripped-out stocker, perhaps missing an automatic gearbox - that will cost thousands to get the way you want it.

Once you lock down a target, don't think the advertised special is the end of the deal. You also need to negotiate for a better price on delivery and on-road costs, and avoid the trap of buying over-priced extras such as paint and upholstery protection, window tinting and extra-long warranties.

No-one can expect to go into the ring with a showroom professional and expect to win, because buyers only get a new car occasionally and sales staff are dealing every day. But, by concentrating on the real bottom line - the changeover price - and being prepared to compromise, you can come out ahead.

The best tips are the simplest. Run as close as you can to June 30 to sign the deal and get the car, because dealers are all aiming for targets that can mean tens of thousands in bonus money from headquarters. Also be prepared to take a car they have in stock, even if it's not your favourite colour, because dealers are aiming to clear everything they have on the lot.

And have your finance in place before you arrive, especially if you're taking up a special deal, because that makes things quicker and you'll also be spared any hassle and potential extra costs.

Watch out for 2012 cars because the warranty clock has already been running, don't forget that a big discount today will also mean less at changeover time, and remember that a demonstrator car could have had a hard life already.

Holden Malibu-First drive: Holden Malibu review

Holden Malibu

 

Chris Riley road tests and reviews the new Holden Malibu with specs, fuel economy and verdict.

The tragics that stick Chevy badges on their Holdens are going to love the new Malibu. Originally designed as a Chevrolet, it probably has more right to wear the gold Chevy bowtie than any other Holden.


  Shame about the American name (yet again), but you can take comfort in the fact the Malibu was actually designed by an Aussie stylist. Launched this week in Melbourne, the new mid-sized sedan is a replacement for the unloved Epica that disappeared from showrooms a couple of years ago.

They say the day Holden announced it had pulled the plug on the ugly Korean duckling a cheer went up in the boardroom. But we remember the Epica as a great holiday car with an enormous boot  - especially the diesel one.
VALUE

Like Epica the Malibu is a car designed to fill a gap in Holden's line-up. Priced from $28,490, it sits between the smaller Cruze and larger Commodore and designed to go head to head with the likes of Camry and Mondeo. At this price it undercuts everything else in the segment, apart from Suzuki's Kizashi which is smaller.

There are two models, CD and better equipped CDX  - both available in petrol and diesel form. But the diesel engine adds a hefty $4000 to the asking price and costs more to service.

Standard equipment includes the MyLink entertainment system that includes a 7-inch touch screen and nine speakers, as well as Bluetooth, cruise control, auto lights, push button start, rear parking sensors, steering wheel audio controls, power height adjustment for the driver's seat, an electric parking brake and 17 inch alloys.

The CDX priced from $31,990 adds leather, dual zone climate air, auto wipers, and heated 8-way power adjust front seats plus 18 inch alloys. Any colour except white attracts a $550 extra charge.
TECHNOLOGY

Nothing new here. There's a choice of two engines, both of them paired with a six speed auto. The 2.4-litre four cylinder petrol engine is a lift from Captiva and fairly old tech, with 123kW of power and 225Nm of torque, and delivering fuel consumption of 8.0 litres/100km (we got 9.2).

The 2.0-litre turbo diesel is a lift from Cruze, with 117kW of power and 350Nm, and fuel consumption of 6.4 litres/100km (we got 7.0).
The MyLink entertainment system is being rolled out across the Holden range and includes apps for Pandora internet radio and the Stitcher podcast program, but you need a mobile phone with a sizeable data plan to really make full use of it. Satellite navigation is not available at this stage, but will be added later along with voice control (they're still ironing out the bugs).
DESIGN

It sits on the same platform as the Opel Insignia and recent Saab 9-5. They say Malibu's athletic stance was inspired by Chevrolets of the past including the Camaro that was also styled by the Holden design team.

Exterior designer Justin Thompson said the brief as to design a car that would stand out in the busy and often bland mid-sized segment. The rear end design with its twin Camaro-style tail lights was actually the first draft for the rear of the new Commodore.

The front facia has been totally restyled for Australia to give the car a Holden look and so that it will fit in with the rest of the range. Inside the look is sporty, with lots of brightly coloured blue instrumentation - perhaps a little too bright.
SAFETY

A reversing camera is standard across the range. Gets the maximum five stars for safety with six airbags and a full complement of safety systems including electronic traction and stability control along with anti-lock brakes.
DRIVING

The engineers have spent a lot of time and effort "Australianising'' the car, calibrating both the transmission and ride and handling settings at Holden's Lang Lang proving ground. An emphasis was placed on selecting the right tyre for the job.

The suspension and damper settings which are oriented towards comfort are unique to Australia and it shows in the way the car soaks up the bumps, undulations and pot holes that characterise our secondary roads.

The 2.4-litre petrol model is the pick of the pair and works well in tandem with the second generation six-speed automatic. The auto always seems to find the right gear and there is enough in the kitty for overtaking too.

But the sequential change takes some getting used to, with a switch on top of the gear selector that does not fall comfortably to hand. Push left with your thumb and it changes down, right and it changes up again  - but who's really going to bother using it anyway?

The hydraulic steering in the diesel is much too light and not nearly as good as the speed-sensitive electric system in the petrol model, which grows heavier with speed. By the way, the diesel at $4000 more, is much too expensive to be a realistic alternative, especially where  private buyers are concerned. It will however appeal to fleet operators where the cost can be built into the deal.

It sounds and feels too much like a truck anyway. And if you want more power, there's always the Commodore. The boot is large but shallow due to the full size but temporary spare, with a rear seat that folds down for longer loads. The spare is optional - a can of goo to reinflate the tyre is standard. The tow rating of the car is 1200kg.
VERDICT

It's not a terribly exciting car but it does not offend in any way either.  The ride is smooth and it is relatively quiet inside, but rear legroom is limited and it will only seat four adults comfortably, with a plunging rear roofline that will see a few bump their heads.

Holden Malibu
Price: from $28,490
Warranty: 3 years/100,000 km
Resale: New model
Service interval: 9 months/15,000km
Safety: 6 airbags, ABS, ESP,
Crash ratings: Not tested
Engine: 2.4-litre four cylinder petrol, 2.0-litre turbodiesel; 123kW/225Nm, 117kW/350Nm
Transmission: 6-speed auto; FWD
Thirst: 8.0L/100km, 192g/km CO2; 6.4L/100km, 170g/km CO2
Dimensions: 4.86m (L), 1.85m (W), 1.46m (H)
Weight:1583-1684kg
Spare: none (full-sized optional)

RIVALS
Kia Optima
Price: from $30,690
Engine: 2.4-litre 4-cylinder, 148kW/250Nm
Transmission: 6-speed auto, FWD
Thirst: 7.9L/100Km


Kia Optima - see other Kia Optima verdicts


Mazda6
Price: from $33,460
Engine: 2.5-litre 4-cylinder, 138kW/250Nm
Transmission: 6-speed auto, FWD
Thirst: 6.6L/100Km



Mazda6 - see other Mazda6 verdicts

 

New Apple 'iOS in the Car' aims for safer driving

pple's new operating system for its popular mobile devices goes well beyond iPhone and iPad. It will be showing up in new cars.

It's called iOS 7 and will be available to download this fall. The new operating system features a number of design changes to the devices' interface. It also adds a new application that will let an iPhone5 display a few essential functions through a car's multimedia system.

It's called "iOS in the Car."

It "seamlessly integrates your iOS device — and the iOS experience — with your in-dash system. If your vehicle is equipped with iOS in the Car, you can connect your iPhone 5 and interact with it using the car's built-in display and controls or Siri Eyes Free," Apple says in its description on its website. "Now you can easily and safely make phone calls, access your music, send and receive messages, get directions and more."

The goal is to make sure drivers aren't distracted.

Story: The iCar is coming -- interviews with Apple Senior VP Eddy Cue

Apple is looking to streamline smartphone use in the car and working with at least a dozen automakers, including Acura, Honda, Infiniti, Nissan, Chevrolet, Mercedes-Benz, Kia, Hyundai, Volvo, Ferrari and Jaguar.

When synced with a compatible vehicle, iOS 7 displays a car-specific group of screens for users. The familiar index pages of app tiles aren't shown. Instead a new screen highlighting four main functions — maps, phone, music and messaging — is the homepage.

It's unknown which vehicles will be ready for this system by fall, but Apple used the screen from Chevy's tiny Spark in its keynote presentation. We tested the Spark's ability to port a third-party iPhone navigation app when the car debuted, but it did not look or feel as polished as the native iPhone Map app or Google's Map app.

Honda's Acura plans to be ready as well. "We look forward to bringing iOS in-car integration to our lineup next year," Acura spokesman Chuck Schifsky told Cars.com. He also said both Honda and Acura vehicles supporting iOS 7 technology won't be available until 2014.