Articles by Derek Ogden

With the loudest cooee coming from the bush, Subaru has answered the call by adding a diesel automatic to its model year 2015 Forester range, as well as chopping prices by up to $3500, the latter on top of the $1000 trim announced at the beginning of this year.At the launch of the realigned range, Subaru Australia managing director Nick Senior, said: "We know through our dealer network there is significant pent-up demand for Forester auto diesels, not least in regional and rural areas, where the benefits of fuel efficiency in long-range driving really come to the fore."Mr Senior said the addition of the continuously variable automatic transmission was a huge boost to the range and he predicted sales of around 200 Forester 2.0D automatics per month.For 2015, improvements have been made to the Forester's horizontally opposed turbocharged 2.0-litre diesel boosting power output to 108kW at 3600 rpm and 350Nm of torque between 1600 and 2400 revs.It complies with strict Euro 6 exhaust emission standards, fuel efficiency is improved and vibration reduced. The high torque is taken care of with the Subaru Lineartronic CVT featuring a step-shifting control method linked to engine speed.The system switches between continuously variable operation to step shifting. With the transmission in D mode, if the accelerator is depressed by more than 65 per cent, a seven-speed step shift activates. If the movement is less than 65 per cent, stepless CVT operates.Unlike many of its rivals such as the Mazda CX-5, Toyota RAV4 and Kia Sportage, that have gone in for a slick profile, the MY15 Forester errs on the side of tradition, leaning more to the original squared off wagon shape.The fuel efficiency display is now designed to make occupants more aware of economical drivingInside, it's a different matter. Across the range there has been a lift in attention to detail, with particular reference to the most used components such as centre panel and steering wheel controls, and air vent grilles.Silver and contrasting piano black surrounds make for a sumptuous yet striking appearance, while the instrument panel combines upgraded audio display and, in the upper-spec models, factory-fitted satellite navigation in the central dashboard.The multifunction display incorporates both digital and analogue clock, while the fuel efficiency display is now designed to make occupants more aware of economical driving.Depending on model, infotainment is boosted by more intuitive functions for media playback, including Pandora connectivity, and information access, with smartphone-style 7-inch touchscreen incorporating flick, pinch and double-tap functions, list selections using steering wheel switches, plus voice recognition.The entry-level Forester 2.0D-L packs all the features of its petrol-powered counterpart, adding 17-inch alloy wheels. The top-of-the-range 2.0D-S adds automatic cargo door, electric sunroof, leather upholstery with heated eight-way powered front seats, and door mirrors, Xenon low-beam dusk-sensing headlamps with pop-up washers, sat nav and 18-inch alloys, and full-size spare wheel.Safety is five-star with dual front and side airbags, full-length curtain airbags and similar knee protection for the driver. ABS anti-skid brakes are augmented by electronic brake force distribution and brake assist. Vehicle dynamic control includes traction control and reversing camera keeps an eye on closely positioned obstacles.According to the manufacturer, Subaru's innovative EyeSight driver assist system is in the process of being calibrated for use in Forester diesels in Australia.The Lineartronic CVT remained unhurried and quiet at all timesOn an extensive drive programme in country Tasmania, the entry-level 2.0D-L CVT and top-specced 2.0D-S CVT, the pair proved worthy examples of the advantages of combining automatic transmissions with diesel engines. This included frugal fuel consumption of 7.6L/100km and 7.9L/100km respectively.Whether in continuous mode or stepping through its seven ratios the Lineartronic CVT remained unhurried and quiet at all times, the Subaru Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive adding handling stability in even the sharpest of manoeuvres.The Forester's suspension was particularly impressive, ironing out the wrinkles on stretches of dirt road many other SUV's would have baulked at.

Many car owners like nothing better than to stand out in a crowd and automobile makers are only too happy to lend a hand...at a price. The European brands are very accommodating and offer customers a major shopping list of options. Take Renault, for example.I recently was in possession of one of the French manufacturer's new Clios as a test car, which with add-ons was like no other vehicle I had come across.The Oyster Grey mid-spec Clio TCe120 Dynamique, a six-speed automatic comes onto the market at the manufacturer's recommended price of $23,790. However, with, I presume, the typical Renault buyer in mind, the car had been loaded up with special features.The car did look a treatFor example, the paint was metallic, costing an extra $550; there was red exterior trim for $250; matching red dashboard and seat covering, $500; 17-inch Diamond Red alloy wheels, $750; and R-Link multimedia, $990, making the price as tested $26,830, plus on-roads.I had to admit, the car did look a treat and I suspect the fan of exotic kit such as that from Renault would not blink at forking out the extra three grand-plus to get heads turning.As mentioned, the small hatchback was a Clio Dynamique, one of four models in the range, the others being Authentique, Expression and GT.Not only has Renault come up with a smooth, desirable design – inspired, it says by the DeZir concept car – a vehicle that symbolised love (how French) – the company offers the affordable personalisation program, mentioned above, that it claims is unprecedented in this section of the light car market.The new Clio has a coupe-like profile, made even more so by hidden rear door handlesAlso first seen on the DeZir is the way the large Renault logo sits prominently on a gloss black background on the front and is made more distinctive by the headlight units, which include chrome details and LED daytime running lights.Available only in five-door form, the new Clio has a coupe-like profile, made even more so by hidden rear door handles. A lower ride-height, which aids aerodynamics, plus pronounced shoulder lines, add to the visually distinctive appearance.The latest Clio introduces two new in-car entertainment platforms – Renault's Media Nav and R-Link, both using an 18cm touchscreen display and enabling satellite navigation, radio, Bluetooth connectivity for hands-free operation or music audio streaming, as well as USB and 3.5mm connectors.Ideal acoustics inside the car are topped off without high volume distortion (duff-duff devotees note) through the use of speakers in the front doors which feature Bass Reflex technology. We are assured this is a world first, in which an additional cone provides the equivalent volume and listening enjoyment of a 30-litre speaker.The new Renault Clio TCe 120 engine mated to a six-speed EDC (Efficient Dual Clutch) automatic gearbox is a four-cylinder 1.2-litre petrol unit.Direct fuel injection and turbocharging result in maximum power of 88kW at 4900 rpm and peak torque of 190Nm at 2000rpm. Official fuel consumption of 5.2L/100km on the combined cycle and carbon dioxide emissions of 120g/km are claimed.The new Clio is the first light segment car to employ active vents in front of the radiator helping to reduce fuel consumption by adjusting the flow of air through the radiator as a function of the engine's cooling needs. Under normal running conditions in fast-flowing traffic, closure of the vents permits fuel savings. The bad news is it's of the order of just 0.1L/100km at a 130 km/h - the motorway speed limit in most European countries.Weight saving includes a smaller fuel tank, reduced from 55 to 45 litres, which has no impact on fuel range, thanks to the economy gains.Passive safety is taken care of with a reinforced body structure, high-efficiency frontal airbags, lateral head and thorax airbags, a pressure sensor to detect impending impacts, seat belts with (front seat) pre-tensioners and load limiters, anti-whiplash head rests, a luggage partition and anti-submarining front and rear seats.Standard active safety systems include Electronic Stability Control, ABS anti-skid braking, Emergency Brake Assist and Hill Start Assist.From the start, the Dynamique was lethargic, in Eco mode even more so. However, like a late afternoon gin and tonic, a top-up of 98RON petrol was received with pleasure, and had Clio stepping out with renewed vigour.Fuel efficiency was on the money with a figure of 4.5L/100km recorded on a motorway run, 7-plus litres a regular recording in and around town.Let's talk about R-Link. Unique to this function is R-sound, in which the driver can alter the sound of the engine to imitate a range of present-day Renault vehicles and the supposed sound of a people mover of the future.It all sounds a tasty dish for the discerning buyerFor some reason a MotoGP bike makes up the list. With the best will in the world, even with the windows fully wound down, allowing the wind and noise in, it was hard to imagine what it was really like to live like Marc Márquez through Maggotts and Becketts at Silverstone.Gimmicks aside, R-Link also is connected to the car's own electronic systems giving access to an advanced eco-driving function (Driving eco2) which analyses the driver's behaviour and provides advice to help reduce fuel consumption.

Derek Ogden road tests and reviews the Honda HR-V with specs, fuel consumption and verdict.

Derek Ogden road tests and reviews the 2015 Audi TT Coupe, with specs, fuel consumption and verdict.

Derek Ogden road tests and reviews the 2015 Hyundai Sonata, with specs, fuel consumption and verdict.

Dark clouds may be amassing on the Ford Australia horizon with the approaching demise of manufacturing but there is some sunshine still in the blue oval skies. Heading the Falcon flight is the FG X XR8 sedan, with which Ford has returned a V8 engine – the 5.0-litre supercharged Boss unit – to the Falcon XR Series

Derek Ogden road tests and reviews the 2015 Mazda 3 XD Astina with specs, fuel consumption and verdict.

Derek Ogden road tests and reviews the 2015 Audi TT Coupe with specs, fuel consumption and verdict.

That was 1999. The new version is a conventional compact SUV with coupe styling straight off the automotive catwalk, reproduced using quality material.The original HR-V was one of the first compact SUVs around and at once set the standard for what has since become the fastest growing segment of the automobile market.Designers have come up with a sleek coupe-style cabin over a bold body with wide stanceHonda says its aim is to make sure the new kid on the block can hold its own with the company’s other global core models, Civic, Accord and CR-V. Hence the HR-V’s Honda-esque focus on state-of-the-art technology, contemporary styling and dynamic performance.Designers have come up with a sleek coupe-style cabin over a bold body with wide stance, leading to a street presence hard to ignore. Although a four-door, the coupe character is emphasised by the hidden handle of the rear doors, giving the car a classic two-door coupe profile.Inside, the cabin is expansive with clearly defined focus points for the driver work with. A comfortable, almost cosy, ambience greets the driver and front passenger due to the elevated centre console made possible by an electric parking brake.A customised driver feedback system lights up the speedometer ring with different colours, depending on how economical the driving. There are seven colours from which to choose, with an additional setting for random colours.The front passenger faces a wide climate control vent divided into three zones: the airflow for the outboard zone, which attracts heat from outside the vehicle, is set high; the middle is set to low, while the inner vent is set to medium.Rear leg room is impressive, even with the front seats in their most rearward position. Honda’s innovative Magic Seat system enables up to 18 different configurations to provide many cargo-carrying options.The HR-V follows Honda nomenclature style and comes in four variants – VTi, VTi-S, VTi-L, VTi-L with ADAS (Advanced Driver Assist System) – with a highly competitive entry-level price of $24,990, plus on-road costs.The VTi-S adds $3000 to the VTi price, the VTi-L weighs in at $32,990, while the VTi-L with ADAS tops out the range at $33,990. Metallic paint is a cost option.Over time CVTs have improved out of sight and it is hard to find anything wrong with the HR-V systemThe front-wheel drive HR-V is powered by a 1.8-litre i-VTEC four-cylinder single overhead cam engine mated with Honda’s Earth Dreams Technology continuously variable automatic transmission.The engine puts out 105 kilowatts of power at 6500 rpm and 172 Newton metres of torque at 4300 revs, while using, the maker claims, between 6.6 and 6.9 litres of fuel per 100 kilometres, depending on the model, on the combined urban / highway cycle. Carbon dioxide emissions of between 155 and 160 grams per kilometre are stated.The CVT, shared by the Odyssey, City and Jazz, is designed to enhance driving performance and fuel economy. Over time CVTs have improved out of sight and it is hard to find anything wrong with the HR-V system, a smooth and unfussy operator in some of the most ragged driving served up on the launch drive.Although a relatively high-sided vehicle, a low centre of gravity gives the HR-V sedan-like stability on the roadThe VTi-L model has the benefit of steering wheel-mounted paddle shifts offering a manual shifting feel. D mode is fully automatic. For more involvement, the driver can engage S mode, which includes seven ratios. The system only shifts automatically to prevent over-revving or lugging the engine.Although a relatively high-sided vehicle, a low centre of gravity gives the HR-V sedan-like stability on the road, while speed sensitive power steering provides plenty of feedback to the driver. The VTi variant rides on 16-inch tyres, the higher-spec trio on 17-inch rubber. A space-saver spare is supplied.In response to the present-day demand for digital connectivity, Honda has ensured the new HR-V features state-of-the-art technology in the form of Display Audio, which includes seven-inch touch screen, Bluetooth for Apple and Android systems, including audio streaming, Siri Eyes Free Integration, compatible with iPhone, HDMI audio and video playback.As well as the normal suite of passive and active safety systems, the top-of-the-range VTi-L ADAS incorporates a new range of safety technology - Honda’s Advanced Driver Assist System - designed to complement the driver’s input.Forward Collision Warning, above 15 kilometres per hour, warns of a slowing vehicle ahead with a visible and audible signal in the multifunction display.Lane Departure Warning determines if the vehicle is unintentionally leaving the lane in which it is travelling, giving visible and audible warnings.High-Beam Support uses a camera to monitor the space ahead of the vehicle and automatically changes the low beam headlights to high beam headlights when appropriate.The press launch vehicles were a boring bunch of dark blue, black, white and silver. Where was the edgy orange, green, red, even yellow, found in rivals’ vehicles aimed at the younger market?According to Stephen Collins, director of Honda Australia, the HR-V is designed to appeal to tech-savvy people in their early thirties in a pre-family position with the need for transport practicality with style. Why the mundane colours, then?

Two-door coupes, or their four-door counterparts, are becoming increasingly sought after by the car buying public. Coupes of all classes are popping up in a bid to satisfy the appetite of those looking for a sleek and sporty vehicle.Mercedes-Benz has traditionally been a leader in this field at the luxury end, and with its new S-Class Coupe, continues to serve up attractive packages.Origins of the Mercedes-Benz big coupes lie in the early 1950s when the company came up with the 300 S Coupe spruiked as "a car for the world's elite". A horde of descendants culminated in the SEC coupes, based on the S-Class of 1981, of which around 74,000 were sold.The 1990s saw the arrival of the 12-cylinder S 600 Coupe which introduced Electronic Stability Programme to the automotive world. This coupe later was to become the CL-Class.The new S-Class Coupe – consisting of the S 500, S 63 AMG and S 65 AMG – continues this leading-edge technological development with a dazzling array of innovations.First to land in Australia is the S 63 AMG, recently wheeled out for media attention. The S 500 and S 65 AMG will follow midyear.The car races to 100km/h in a mere 4.2 seconds and on to a top speed of 250km/hMaking use of the most powerful member of the BlueDIRECT engine family, the AMG 5.5-litre V8 biturbo puts out 430kW – 30 kW up on the CL 63 AMG – and 900 Nm.Driving through a seven-speed multi-clutch automatic transmission, the car races to 100km/h in a mere 4.2 seconds and on to a top speed of 250km/h, while using a claimed 10.2L/100km on the combined urban/highway cycle.The sense of power and performance is passed on to the driver and passengers by means of flaps in the exhaust system that open and shut tailoring the note, from laidback to full-on feral, according to the manner in which the vehicle is being driven.Drivers can personalise the car's performance, selecting one of three modes – 'C' for Controlled Efficiency, 'S' for Sport and 'M', Manual.Smaller than the saloon in all dimensions but rear track, the S 63 AMG Coupe incorporates a world-first curve tilting function as part of Magic Body Control. This enables the car to lean into bends like a motorcyclist or skier. Lateral forces on occupants are reduced as in negotiating a steep curve and occupants sit more firmly. It works between 50 and 180km/h.On a launch drive over undulating, twisting terrain south of Sydney, the tilt function was hardly noticeable inside the car, but was quite discernible in an S 63 Coupe being followed through bends.Magic Body Control also incorporates Road Surface Scan and Active Body Control, which combine to act on the suspension to take in tilt and road conditions ahead of the vehicle and provide optimum ride and handling.The S 63 AMG Coupe, can be equipped with a ceramic high-performance composite brake system as an option. Stopping distances of the test vehicle were cut but the brakes tended to grab if the pedal was not treated with restraint. It would be a different matter on the racetrack.As in the S-Class saloon, no end of attention has been paid to passenger safety, with a number of new technological aids such as PRE-SAFE detection, Distronic Plus with Steer Assist and Stop&Go Pilot, Brake Assist, BAS Plus with Cross-Traffic Assist, Active Lane Keeping Assist, Adaptive High-beam Assist Plus and Night View Assist Plus.Also standard is Collision Prevention Assist Plus, which is brought into play when danger of collision persists and the driver doesn't respond. It uses autonomous braking at speeds of up to 100km/h, thereby reducing the severity of collisions with slower or stopping vehicles.At speeds of up to 50km/h the system also brakes in response to stationary vehicles, and is able to prevent rear-end collisions at up to around 40km/h.Unique headlamps with 47 Swarovski crystals are available for $5900The S-Class Coupe features a panoramic roof, 150 per cent larger than on the previous model, which seamlessly joins with the windscreen. Magic Sky Control, an option, can switch the transparency of the roof at the push of a button. When light, the roof is almost completely transparent and allows an open-air experience, even in the coldest weather; when dark, light transmission into the interior, falls to less than one per cent and can reduce heating in the vehicle by up to 10 degrees. The interior can be completely shaded by a roller blind.Also on the test vehicle was a launch-only Edition 1, in combination with the standard LED Intelligent Light System, unique headlamps with 47 Swarovski crystals are available for $5900. Seventeen angular crystals form the flared daytime running lamps, with 30 round-shaped crystals making up the turn indicators.Also included are Night View Assist, special design floor mats, Nappa leather trim, premium quality roof lining, black poplar timber highlights and a range of exclusive colours.Serious wind tunnel testing has resulted in the S-Coupe Class passenger cabin being given insulation that makes it among the quietest around, just the place to enjoy one of the three high-end audio systems on offer.All take advantage of an innovative Mercedes-Benz developed Frontbass system in which the woofers are mounted in the firewall and use the space within the cross-member and side member as a resonance chamber.With no woofers in the doors, annoying vibrations are eliminated. Mid-range speakers in the doors are relocated upwards, improving sound clarity and leaving additional stowage space. Jackie Wilson never sounded so good; Higher and Higher, indeed!The S 63 AMG should prove attractive to owners wishing to downsize from a luxury saloonS-Class Coupe prices start at $319,000 for the S 500, 3.4 per cent less than the previous model; $409,000 for the S 63 AMG, 2.6 per cent less than before; and $499,000, the S 65 AMG, which is 4.7 per cent down.