Lada Niva Reviews

Not every body is in love with the Ford Ranger utes like Australia is and around the world different tastes means different No.1 selling cars - here's the list of the most popular cars for 11 countries

Here are the popular models no longer available in Australia that are living an extended or second life elsewhere.

Each year, automotive brands in markets all over the globe battle for the title of best-selling model and best-selling brand.In Australia last year, Toyota once again dominated the new-vehicle market, more than doubling the tally of second-place Mazda, as

It’s now a matter of history that Mazda’s persistence with the rotary engine turned it into a fun, reliable unit that would become a favourite of many an enthusiast owner.

Australia is regarded as one of the world’s most sophisticated and mature vehicle markets. We’re right up there with the richest.

The RX450h is touted as the world’s most efficient luxury hybrid SUV. Both have a lot to prove but going by the effort it seems Lexus have put into both vehicles, it seems they may deliver.EngineThe RX350 is powered by a water-cooled 3.5 litre quad cam, dual VVT-i V6 that puts out 204kW at 6200rpm and 346Nm at 4700rpm.   The RX450h moves with a 3.5 litre Atkinson-cycle V6 that makes full use of combustion energy by making the expansion stroke longer than the compression stroke. It is coupled with a rear mounted electric motor generator that lets the four wheels perform regenerative braking which in turn charges the hybrid battery.It puts out 183kW(220kW combined) at 6000rpm and 317Nm at 4800rpm.  Power to the wheels for both 4WD’s is achieved via a sequential-shift six-speed transmission.  Both cars will sprint from 0-100km/h in around eight seconds.Fuel consumption for the 350 has a combined rate of about 10.8l/100km - 4.4 litres higher than the hybrid at 6.4l/100km - and it outputs 254g/km of CO2, again substantially higher than the hybrid at 150g/km.ExteriorOutside, you could mistake the 350 and the 450h as the same car but if you look a little closer there are a few design tweaks that set them apart.  Both are imposing presences on the road at almost five meters long and two meters wide, sitting on big 18 or 19 inch alloys.But the hybrid has a modified grille design and gets blue accents on the headlights and tail lights and on the Lexus emblem and ‘hybrid’ badges.InteriorA completely new cabin design in the RX350 is carried across to the RX450h, again barring a few minor adjustments.  According to Lexus the cockpit has been divided into two zones; ‘display’ and ‘operation’, to provide information to the occupants effortlessly, and there is a mouse-like control stick on the centre console that navigates the multi-function display.The dash then is clutter free and gives the cabin an open airy feeling. The driving position is good, helped by the supportive and electronically adjustable leather bucket seats.  Enhanced climate control, Bluetooth compatibility, satellite navigation, a quality sound system and a head up display are standard but should be expected in vehicles at this level.The blue theme continues in the hybrid with blue accented meters. There is also a hybrid system indicator replacing the tachometer.   Both cars have adequate storage throughout including map pockets, cup and bottle holders and a large 21 litre centre console bin.The seats split 40/20/40 - the rear seats fold down flat - and have a quick release system. With all seats up and the parcel blind in place, the back holds 446 litres. There are also compartments under the cargo floor.SafetySafety is a certainly a feature in the 350 and 450h. On top of a comprehensive airbag package, both SUV’s have electronically controlled braking, anti-lock brakes, brake assist, electronic brakeforce distribution, traction control, vehicle stability control and vehicle dynamics integrated management.DrivingOne of our colleagues here at Carsguide referred to both cars as land yachts. We though that was a little unfair but did find them a little boofy at times, especially when trying to navigate round tight city streets come peak hour, and our ludicrously narrow car park here at work.But give them a bit more room and both ooze luxury and swallow potholes and ruts like the road is heavily under-laid plush pile. The 450h pips the 350 slightly for interior quality but so it should. Everything is at arms length and if you couldn’t be bothered looking for it, just fiddle around on the steering wheel controls and it’ll turn up.For such big units they’re quite toey too – eights seconds isn’t bad for a boat with wheels. Although the hybrid does take a little nanna nap – switches to electric power - when it meanders at low speed, and needs a nudge to kick it over to the petrol motor and get going properly.The big SUV’s do a great job ducking into and accelerating out of corners with grip like cars half their size and the new anchors keep you feeling nice and safe. The electric leather bucket seats have great side bolstering for added support and comfort too.Both cars live up to what they are supposed to be – quality, luxury SUV’s – no question. One thing that we couldn’t help wondering though was why can’t Lexus, and a lot of other car makers for that matter, work a bit harder to making these things look a bit cooler on the outside. Given the skill and man hours devoted to their hybrid technology, surely knocking a shape together that doesn’t necessarily match pearls, ain’t that hard.

1. Benz PatentwagenKarl Benz did a brilliant job for the 1880s but his three-wheeler re-created by Mercedes-Benz apprentices _ was missing even the basics of modern motoring. We had to push it up a slight rise and it was scarifying on a downhill run, with almost zero braking and steering vaguely controlled by a tiller feeding directions through a solid rubber tyre that would have been more use on a pram. Memorable, but . 2. 1911 Rolls-Royce.So many classic cars look fantastic but drive like old, slow . . . trucks. The Roller was one of those, with piddling acceleration, no cornering grip and a body which invited air in through all sorts of gaping holes. But the worst thing was the brake _ a single rear drum operated by a wild west wagon-style lever beside the driver's seat. It was incapable of stopping the car but did a great job of throwing it sideways at 80km/h.3. 1955 Ford Fairlane convertibleThis was supposed to have been a Route 66-style run to a 1950s-vintage petrol station in the suburbs of Los Angeles. I can remember the giant folding metal roof and the gorgeous body, but my real memory is a car with brakes the size of bootpolish cans. When the traffic pulled up for one unexpected red light I had to take to the sidewalk to avoid them.4. Lada SamaraPeter Brock did some strange things in his life, but putting his name to the evil little Russian hatchback is right up there. Quality was lousy, performance was missing and one journalist crashed at the first corner _ with Brock egging him on. If it's not the worst car I have driven, it's only because the other experience was so bad it's been erased from my memory.5. Bugatti VeyronNow I can tell the truth about the Veyron. Beyond its shattering performance, I can see zero reason to pay more than $1.5 million for a car which is ugly, devours petrol and does not even have electric seat adjustments. But does it go. It felt quicker around Sandown than a V8 Supercar.

Carmakers from emerging market countries have revealed their intentions at the Frankfurt Motor Show, even though their presence had been discreet compared with the European, Japanese and US giants.As car sales stagnate in those three regions, manufacturers have turned towards China, India and Russia, all of which had exhibitors present at the fair. China sent the biggest delegation, with 44 stands that included carmakers as well as parts companies.Two years ago the Chinese had a timid presence at the show but that changed this year. For most Chinese auto companies, however, coming to the shows was “a question of getting a foot into the European and US market,” says Hartwig Hirtz, who imports cars to Germany for Brilliance, a major Chinese brand. He sold his first models this year and awaits European certification to attack 17 other markets in 2008, with an annual sales target of 15,000 units.But getting started was not easy. In addition to charges of copyright violations, some Chinese cars have had catastrophic results in crash tests. “The Chinese might not have taken European security obligations seriously enough,” Hirtz says.For Elisabeth Young, president of Asie Auto which imports Brilliance in France, the short-term Chinese target is to show they can do as well as the Europeans. “It's important as well for the domestic market, which is very competitive, and where clients still favour European and American brands,” she says. “Within 10 years, they want to be among the world's biggest.”India, meanwhile was much more discreet, with no cars and just a few stands squeezed in next to Czech exhibitions, displaying the green, white and orange national flag.India has nonetheless been making noises. Tata Motors is mulling a bid for the British luxury brands Jaguar and Land Rover, which might be sold by Ford. Another Indian group, Mahindra, has also been suggested as a possible bidder for the British companies.As for the Russians, Lada remained their only brand on display, and included the Niva four-wheel-drive vehicle.Lada first appeared in Frankfurt in 1970 and is reasonably well implanted in Europe, where it sold 25,000 cars last year. “We have a traditional clientele,” a spokesman says. “It's a niche market.” It mainly attracts those who have less to spend, but is a market in which Renault has nonetheless achieved considerable success with its Romanian-built Logan. “On this point, we are unbeatable,” says Benoit Chambon, spokesman for AZ-Motors which will import Shuanghuan cars to France.