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Articles by Neil McDonald

Neil McDonald
Contributing Journalist

Neil McDonald is an automotive expert who formerly contributed to CarsGuide from News Limited. McDonald is now a senior automotive PR operative.

Audi S5 2010 Review
By Neil McDonald · 08 Jul 2010
Another piece of the Audi's performance puzzle has slotted into its ever-growing ranks. The German carmaker's S5 Sportback has arrived to join the S4 and S5 Cabriolet. The sports-tuned road rocket shares the same supercharged 3.0-litre V6 as the S4 and S5 cabrio and is mated to Audi's quattro all-wheel drive system.PRICING AND MARKETAt $129,300, it has the Mercedes-Benz CLS and BMW 5-Series GT firmly in its sights. Not surprisingly, Audi Australia managing director, Uwe Hagen, reckons the newest S5 is a great addition to the range."It is not only practical enough for daily use, it is also sporty and fun to drive," he says. Customers are always looking for a benchmark experience, he says. "And we intend to fulfil this with emotional, technologically-advanced products," he says.The S5 is the latest in a long line of new models - 42 in all - destined to hit the roads by 2015. With a projected 10 sales a month, Audi believes S5 Sportback sales will make up a third of S5 sales locally and around 10 per cent of all Sportbacks. It joins the S3, S4 and S5 cabrio as an exclusive niche performance car.FIT-OUT AND EQUIPMENTLike the rest of the Sportback range, the S5 gets a coupe-like silhouette and four frameless doors. Inside, there are electric S-design sport seats covered in Silk Nappa leather, the choice of black or silver roof lining and brushed aluminium inlays.The pointers in the instrument cluster are illuminated white and the ‘S5’ logo flashes up on the dashboard when the car is started.Xenon-plus headlights and LED daytime driving lights are standard, along with the usual S markings like the alloy exterior mirrors, sports steering wheel with paddle shifters, tyre-pressure warning system, 18-inch alloys, quad exhausts and discrete S5 badging. The front mudguards are also light-weight aluminium.Buyers get a a comprehensive safety kit, high-grade navigation system with voice control, keyless entry and start, parking sensors and a premium stereo along with Bluetooth and the multi-media plug ins.DRIVETRAINThe potent 3.0 TFSI engine packs 245kW/440Nm and is mated to a seven-speed DSG gearbox. It will hit 100km/h in 5.4 seconds and has a top speed of 250km/h. The V6 consumes 9.4 litres/100km and emits 219g/km of CO2.DRIVINGThe A5 Sportback has finally found its mojo. The car had the looks but now its performance matches those looks, courtesy of the sweet-revving supercharged V6. Although we miss the brutal sound of the 4.2-litre V8 of previous S models, the V6 is muscular enough to keep things interesting.In place of the burbling V8 is a linear, slightly mechanical whine of the V6. It is efficient and reasonably frugal but without the manic urgency of the V8. If you do select the S5 quattro we'd also tick the options box for either the $2800 active dampers or the top-end Drive Select system, which costs $6900.In the S5 Sportback it adds an active suspension, dynamic steering and sports differential, which may not sound much but it's how it works that impresses. Working in conjunction with the all-wheel drive, which splits drive 40/60 front to rear, Drive Select makes the S5 more precise and a more enthusiastic point-to-point drive.In slippery conditions or hard driving, the all-wheel drive system can push as much as 85 per cent of the drive to the rear wheels. Throw in the sports differential, which works on the rear axle to shift torque across the axle, it helps reduce understeer and oversteer. Think of it as a sophisticated limited slip differential.We drove an S5 Sportback without the system and would suggest that if you're planning to spend $129,300 on the car, an extra few thousand will deliver a far better driver's car. The supercharged V6 has plenty of punch low down and the seven-speed gearbox is lightning quick but Drive Select transforms the car.The S5 also deserves more communicative and slightly meatier steering, but that's a problem with most Audis. However, the S5 treatment of the Sportback is a perfect fit.AUDI S5 SPORTBACKEngine: 3.0-litre supercharged V6Price: $129,300Power: 245kW at 7000 revsTorque: 440 from 2900 to 5300 revsEconomy: 9.4 litres/100km0-100km/h: 5.4 seconds
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Top Gear takes to Kia
By Neil McDonald · 01 Jul 2010
The popular Top Gear television show has replaced its "reasonably priced car" with a new Kia. After years lampooning the brand, the show has swapped its Chevrolet Lacetti for a new C'eed 1.6 manual hatch, which has just made its first appearance in the latest series of the hit show. Although it is not sold in Australia, Kia Australia spokesman, Kevin Hepworth, says the Korean brand's involvement in the show is welcomed. "We're certainly happy to be associated with such a huge rating show," he says. "Obvously because of the show's reputation it raises our profile even if the C'eed is not sold here." Hepworth says the C'eed still remains unlikely for Australia, because it is built specifically for Europe and would be too expensive as an import. According to Top Gear, the C'eed was put through its paces by The Stig at the program's Surrey test track before Kia was asked to provide three identical red cars for the latest series. "The last time Top Gear paid us any attention I think they tried to build one of our cars out of washing machines, so this is quite a step forward in their understanding of just how Kia has changed over the last six years," Kia UK's communications director, Stephen Kitson says. The C'eed has become a strong player in the mid-sized family car market in the UK. "Just this year JD Power named it best small-medium car in their annual quality survey, so it should stand up well to anything the star guests can throw at it," Kitson says. Previous Top Gear cars were the Suzuki Liana and the Chevrolet, which was sold in Australia as a Holden Viva and Daewoo Lacetti. Proton also had some success in lifting its profile locally when its Satria hatch was used in the Australian Top Gear series. Former V8 Supercars champion Mark Skaife got behind the wheel of a Satria as a celebrity driver in last year's local show.
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VW wins second engine Oscar
By Neil McDonald · 01 Jul 2010
It has also been named the best engine between 1.0-litre and 1.4-litres by 72 international judges. The high-tech Volkswagen TSI Twincharger, which combines a supercharger and turbocharger for power and efficiency, is one of only two other engines in the 12-year history of the International Engine of the Year Awards that have won the prize award back-to-back. The first was BMW's 5.0-litre V10 in 2005 and 2006, and then the Bavarian car maker's 3.0-litre twin turbo unit, which won in 2007 and 2008. Four BMW engines filled out eight other categories in the awards. Volkswagen Australia spokesman, Karl Gehling, says the Twincharger engine makes up around half of Golf and Jetta sales locally. Despite a 'service campaign' in May on 6690 local Golfs and Jettas fitted with the 1.4-litre unit, it has earned high praise internationally. One judge, freelance journalist Peter Nunn, described it as the 'epitome of the modern, frugal, light, high-tech, small but powerful engine'. "There's good low-end torque and plenty of mid-range power," he says. The Twincharger joins an exclusive club, but had to work hard to gain membership, knocking over the 2007 and 2008 BMW champion by only 19 points. Like last year, the VW engine gathered points from markets outside Europe, with judges in North America, Asia and South America all awarding it top marks. "Last year's award is still the most accurate, efficient pointer to the future of petrol power, Australian journalist and judge Bill McKinnon says. "It was an easy choice." Judges were won over by the engine's combination of sports appeal and frugal economy. It is used in a range of VW models, including the Polo and Golf. The green engine of the year went to the hybrid 1.8-litre engine in the Toyota Prius. Judge John Carey from Wheels magazine says the Prius is 'more powerful, polished and parsimonious'. "The latest, thoroughly redesigned version of Toyota's iconic hybrid drivetrain is better in every way that counts," he says. ENGINE OF THE YEAR Volkswagen 1.4-litre TSI Twincharger (Engine of the year, Best 1.0-litre-1.4-litre) BMW 3.0-litre DI twin-turbo (Best 2.5-3.0-litre) Mercedes-AMG 6.2-litre V8 (Best Performance engine above 4.0-litre) BMW 2.0-litre twin-turbo (Best 1.8-2.0-litre) BMW M 4-litre V8 (Best 3.0-4.0-litre) Audi 2.5-litre five-cylinder turbo (Best 2.0-2.5-litre) BMW-PSA 1.6-litre turbo (Best 1.4-1.8-litre) Toyota 1.0-litre (Best 1.4-1.8-litre). GREEN ENGINES OF THE YEAR Toyota hybrid 1.8-litre Fiat 1.4-litre MultiAir Turbo Volkswagen 1.4-litre TSI Twincharger BMW diesel 2.0-litre twin turbo Honda hybrid 1.3-litre Mercedes-Benz diesel 2.1-litre.
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Peugeot RCZ cuts Audi TT by $6000
By Neil McDonald · 01 Jul 2010
The French brand's all-out assault on a turnaround is spearheaded by the 2+2 coupe, which will challenge the seasoned sportscar heavyweights from Germany and Japan.
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Porsche sketch points to new model
By Neil McDonald · 30 Jun 2010
The sketch on the home page of Porsche Consulting looks to have the nose of a 911, and the rear roof sweep suggests that it could be a Grand Touring (GT) coupe in the same vein as the long-gone 928.  If it turns out to be the former, it could be a hint of what is to come with the new 911 coming after the 997, but if it’s the latter, it could well be the next spin-off from the Panamera platform. But Porsche Australia spokesman Paul Ellis says we shouldn’t read too much into the image.  “It’s a sketch – and that’s all it is,” Ellis says. “A sketch doesn’t mean the car will be built. It’s designers doing what they do best: designing, creating, being playful. It’s an expression of an idea – that’s all. “It takes more than a sketch to provide the rationalisation that a car will be built.  “We’re always looking at new opportunities, but we’ve never said we were going to do another car off the Panamera platform.” But with the German might of Volkswagen behind Porsche now – the Wolfsburg carmakers owns 49.9 per cent of Porsche – all eyes will be on which direction Porsche goes.  There’s talk of a new mid-engine Boxster replacement and Porsche executives are watching the rollout and expected success of the Audi A1 with keen interest. Porsche does not have a small sports car and could raid the VW-Audi parts bin relatively easily to build one. Anyone for a VW-Audi-based Porsche 914 with all-wheel drive? They have the technology.  The 928 replacement is also something that’s gaining more air in Europe and a smaller version of the Cayenne could be on the cards. Ellis admits that the ties with the Volkswagen family have already borne fruit, in the shape of the co-developed Porsche Cayenne.  “It’s not a matter of raiding the parts bin … that’s oversimplistic,” Ellis says. “But we can share the opportunities to share in each other’s technology and engineering.  “We’ve already proved that with the Cayenne, which we wouldn’t have been able to bring in for that price without the economies of scale (afforded by the VW link).”  But if we put a badge on a Porsche, it has to be a Porsche. It has to drive like a Porsche, sound like a Porsche, and look and feel like a Porsche. Meanwhile, VW AG is already planning a reshuffle of its top management with the Audi chief, Matthias Muller, rumoured to be moving to Porsche as chief executive and the current chief executive, Michael Macht, moving over to take over VW’s head of production. An announcement is expected at the end of next month. Stay tuned.
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VW CrossPolo revealed
By Neil McDonald · 24 Jun 2010
The VW CrossPolo gets plenty of plastic cladding, a 15mm lift in ride height and chunkier bumpers. But underneath the faux off-roader looks the car remains front-wheel drive, with a range of 51kW to 77kW four cylinder engines. Buyers can choose from three petrol and three TDI engines. Like the Polo GTi, two of the six engines can be ordered with a seven-speed DSG.
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Falcon future debated
By Neil McDonald · 24 Jun 2010
As the company celebrates the Falcon's 50th year, Ford Australia president and CEO, Marin Burela, says the existing rear-drive sedan architecture could run until 2016 if necessary. "The update I can give you is that we're working full steam on the replacement program for the Falcon in terms of defining the vehicle's attributes, the powertrains we need to have, the fuel economy and the content," he says."There is a lot of work taking place right now about this.  I'm happy with the progress we're making but like all things, it takes time and it needs to take time to ensure we get the right solution for Australian motorists." If Ford chooses to push the big six out to 2016, the car's silky 4.0-litre engine would need work to meet Euro 5 emissions standards expected to come into force from 2014.  But Burela says the company is in a good position not to be forced into a premature decision about the car or its powertrains. "We can study that space," he says.  "Right now the jury is very much out but there is no question that there are alternatives out there that can satisfy the motoring enthusiast as well as the general car buyer." One of those alternatives is a locally produced version of the North American Ford Taurus, which has a sophisticated 3.5-litre V6 powering both front and all-wheel drive models. Like Holden, which spent $1 billion developing the VE Commodore and Statesman, Ford could also go it alone with its own locally designed and engineered car but Burela is coy about any preferences.  "We're in such a nice position," he says.  "We don't have to have a new Falcon, until we get to about 2016."Quite frankly we're ahead of the game in terms of all of the study work we're doing for a replacement. "We're much further down the track in terms of the study, focus group work and looking at how the Australian automotive landscape is evolving than we have ever been in our history and that's a good place to be." Burela is confident the next-generation Falcon will remain an intrinsically Australian car.  "The real exciting thing for us is that we have one of the few core engineering centres in the Ford word right here," he says. "We have one of the very few highly integrated and technically capable proving grounds and testing facilities in the world.  "Ford has come out publicly and said that Australia will be a major engineering, development and testing centre for new vehicle programs." Burela says Ford would not have invested invested $230 million on the EcoBoost turbocharged four, the diesel for Territory and the LPI gas engine for Falcon and the ute if it was not confident in the future. The cost efficiencies and fuel efficiency achieved by the in-line 4.0-litre six remain strong too, he says.  "I think we're going to be a formidable competitor as we move forward."
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Classic Ford parts from factory
By Neil McDonald · 24 Jun 2010
As the secretary of the Victorian chapter of the Mustang Owners Club of Australia he welcomes Ford's decision to expand its official restoration business in the US. "It's good to see that recognition," he says. "There is huge business in these cars here. Something like an officially sanctioned restoration service is good." Ford's move to build up its back catalogue of parts comes hard on the heels of Holden's recent decision to start its own restoration parts business for classic Holdens. Collins says that in Victoria there are 560 Mustang club members, 650 in NSW, 300 in Queensland and 200 in South Australia and Western Australia. He believes there are as many as 6000 classic Mustangs on Australian roads, many classic left-hand drive imports. "And some people own more than one car," he says. "We have people in our club with up to five cars." Collins says there are many more Mustang and classic Ford owners not affiliated with any clubs. Several local businesses already access approved Ford parts from America and US companies sell direct to Australia, he says. "You can spend $20,000 on a complete Mustang body shell," he says. "There is virtually nothing you can't buy." Collins says the Mustang is a relatively cheap car to maintain and own, with some of the earlier models sharing components with the first locally built Falcon GTs. Apart from complete Mustang bodies, Ford in the US will introduce its first truck-based body for restorers of the classic 1960s Bronco later this year. However, Ford spokesman in Detroit, Richard Truett, says the complete Mustang bodies are left-hand drive only. But he says if an enthusiast wanted a complete Mustang or Bronco body it could be shipped to Australia. "Since the bodies are made in California and could be shipped from there, it might not be as expensive as one could imagine," he says. Ford has a growing inventory of more than 9000 parts and 75 licensed manufacturers of vintage components, from engines to interiors. Parts can be bought for everything from the Model T to cars as recently as the early 2000s. Even hand-made Model T radiators are available. Each component is made to Ford standards using original factory tooling. The restoration licensing manager for Ford Component Sales in the US, Dennis Mondrach, says an enthusiast could build a 1967 Mustang from the ground up using officially licensed Ford parts "right from your computer, without ever visiting a wrecking yard". Original Mustangs are among the top 10 most popular classic cars in America.
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Stirling Moss to judge Concours
By Neil McDonald · 24 Jun 2010
Called Motorclassica, the nine-day event will see more than 100 rare classic cars on show in and around Melbourne from October 16.  Among the cars to be on show is a rare 1934 Alfa Romeo 6C 2300 Aerodinamica Spider, 1964 Cooper Climax T70 race car and a 1967 Maserati Mistral Spyder once owned by late actor Peter Sellers. Motorclassica organisers believes the Aerospider will be a hit with classic enthusiasts.  The six-cylinder racing Alfa had several ‘firsts’ for car design. It was the first supercar with a modern sportscar design, the first mid-engined three-seater - 60 years ahead of the McLaren F1 - and the first race car designed to employ aerodynamics for low-drag.  The Aerospider's chassis was considered the most advanced of its time and anticipated later designs by Mercedes and Auto Union. The winner of the concours best of show receives a one-off painting of their winning car against a backdrop of the Royal Exhibition Building, painted by automotive artist George Vrastaminos. Australian-born Vrastaminos' photo-realistic style has been widely acclaimed and he has exhibited extensively in Europe.  He now lives in Germany. Motorclassica starts with the Tour Australis rally from October 16 to 21 and ends with the concours and classic motor show in the Royal Exhibition Building from October 22 to 24.
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Morgan EvaGT first photo
By Neil McDonald · 24 Jun 2010
The company's newest sportscar, the EvaGT, will take its inspiration from British sports saloons of the early 1950s like the Bristol 400 and Frazer Nash BMW 328. But the four-seater coupe will be a modern sportscar, with a light-weight bonded aluminium chassis and BMW-sourced six cylinder engine. As the teaser photo shows the coupe draws some inspiration from the long, low and sleek design of the Aero SuperSport. The newest Morgan gets its first airing at the famous Pebble Beach concours in California next month. An initial production run of 100 cars is planned with the first cars hitting the road in 2012. Morgan Cars Australia managing director, Chris van Wyk has already fielded inquiries about the car. "I've already spoken to the Morgan club and we've got several serious buyers," he says. Van Wyk says the EvaGT is expected to cost "under $300,000" and broaden the appeal of the rare sportscars. He says it will provide a stepping stone from the Classic to the $375,000 Aero SuperSport. "We've sold eight Aeros and I think because of the Eva's added versatility as a four-seater, we could double that number locally," he says. "It will be a far more useable day-to-day car." Apart from the light aluminium structure the EvaGT uses a laminated internal safety cell and hand-finished aluminium body panels, which helps keep weight down to 1250kg. Combined with the BMW 3.0-litre twin turbo six-cylinder the car promises strong performance. The engine develops 288kW/400Nm and buyers will be able to choose a six-speed automatic or manual gearbox. The four-seater is expected to hit 100km/h in 4.5 seconds and have a top speed of 273km/h. Morgan says fuel economy will be 7.0 litres/100km. Van Wyk says the collaboration with BMW is providing a positive impact on the low-volume specialist carmaker. "The supply of the drivetrain has given us access to BMW's engineering and test facilities," he says. Van Wyk expects Australian deliveries to start at the end of 2012. The car is the first of several new Morgans planned, including an electric car and 'a fun weekend' vehicle.
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