I love electric cars. But I hate electric cars like the Subaru Stella. I hate electric cars that give the false pretence of being glimpses of the future - the Subaru Stella is not the future. Not only is production unlikely, but everyday use is downright impractical. Yes, it is a plug-in electric car, and yes, that is wonderful, but this is a poor example of a car company talking up its green and technological credentials.
For example, the Stella can only do 80km on one charge. And also, it can only go up to a top speed of 100kmh. That sounds fine, because it makes you unable to speed, but at the same token, electric cars only have one gear, as opposed to the four, five, or six you get in normal cars these days. At the car's top speed, the Stella absolutely revs its guts off, which is useless for engine life, and power usage.

And here's the clincher. If the Subaru Stella went into production, it would cost $100,000. What a waste of good money! Get it away from me - it's pathetic.

MELBOURNE 2009: Subaru Makes A Stella Electric Failure

The latest generation Ford Focus hasn't really been the success Ford thought it would be. Sharing similar components to the Mazda3, it has been outshined by its competitor, purely because of its lack of style, and the Mazda's abundance of it. But Ford hopes that it's fortunes will be lifted with the facelifted Focus, with a more Mondeo-like front end. It's still recognisable as a Focus, but unbelievably, it seems that the entire "look" of the car has been transformed. If the Focus had've looked as good as this on launch in 2004, it could have sold as well as the Mazda3.

This facelifted Focus not only brings changes to the exterior, but the interior as well. Allegedly, more upmarket materials are being used, with a black soft-touch dash pad, soft-touch upper door trims, and a contrasting tan coloured inner roof lining to visually lighten the cabin.

The changes to the Ford Territory are less satisfactory. The Territory was a runaway sales success when it debuted, also in 2004, but of late, the appeal of the Territory has waned. Blame the spike in petrol prices in early 2008, and the financial crisis that has plagued us ever since the prices came down again. So after seeing the facelift magic Ford created with the new Focus, I was actually excited when I heard Ford spruking a facelifted Territory. After all, we didn't think they would, what with the money woes of the car industry. So I was excited. Until I saw it.The facelift is in the form of this MkII model, on which it appears that only the front bumper and side mirrors have been modified. Pictured here is the Turbo Ghia model, so this really is as good as it gets. It's not enough. The Territory was a plain-looking car back in 2005, but now it looks old and tired. I really feel sorry for it. They didn't even update the engines to FG Falcon specification, so the new Territory gets a thumbs down from me.

MELBOURNE 2009: Ford Facelifts Focus and Territory

Holden really wants to sell some cars. They've proven their intent. The Holden Cruze, a rebadged version of GM's Chevrolet Cruze, will go on sale within six months. At that time, it won't be locally made, and Australian production will begin at Holden's Adelaide production plant. So desperate are Holden to sell some cars and turn a profit that they have accelerated the arrival of the Cruze, which originally wasn't meant to be sold until locally-made vehicles were ready. The small-car market is currently the fastest growing in Australia, and the Cruze will be sold alongside the Viva and Astra, neither of which Holden believes will be affected in sales by the new Cruze. This is primarily because the Viva will be significantly cheaper (not to mention crapper) and the Astra is only available as a hatch. The Cruze will be sedan only, and will be up against established competitors like the Toyota Corolla, Honda Civic, Mitsubishi Lancer, and Mazda3.

But Holden seems to be finally forgetting the foolish idea that because it is a Holden, it will sell. They've packed it with features that would make the aforementioned competitors weep - the full complement of 6 airbags and Electronic Stability Control will be standard on all models. Cruise control, steering wheel audio controls, and front/rear power windows will also be standard on all models.

And it's not just the features that sound impressive - the mechanicals sound just about right for this day and age. The Holden Cruze will be available with two engines: A brilliantly economical 1.8 Litre Petrol, (103kW, 6.8L/100km) and a 2.0 Litre Diesel (110kW, 5.8L/100km). Even the gearboxes are thoroughly modern and cutting edge - all Cruze models will be available with either a 5 speed manual or a 6 speed automatic. The interior design, also, appears to be functional and stylish (providing the quality of the plastics are up to scratch). The Cruze sounds just about unstoppable.

So although we have a thoroughly boring looking car (with a bum copied straight from the Honda City), we may also have a class-leader. And a car that will save the Australian automotive industry. And possibly save GM Holden from financial doom. Never has so much pressure rested on such a car - but the Cruze is readying itself for the challenge.

MELBOURNE 2009: Holden Cruze To Go On Sale in Six Months

The Audi Q5 has already been unveiled around the world, but Audi took the opportunity at the Melbourne Motor Show to launch it in Australia. Wherever it went, the Q5 didn't really get the warm reception Audi was looking for. Most people can see that the new Q5, although meaning to be compact, seems gregariously large, bulky, and lacks elegance. But Audi had a secret weapon in Melbourne - it was a weapon that gave Audi the warm reception it wanted. But it wasn't directed at the car.

To unveil the Audi Q5, Audi enlisted the help of 2004 Miss Universe winner Jennifer Hawkins, apparently to "show off" the "good looks" of the Q5 - but in reality, she was a welcome distraction.

To be honest, Hawkins was the real news of the launch, which mostly involved Audi prattling on about it's four engine choices (I actually almost tuned in when they talked about the 2.0 Litre Turbo-Diesel one that uses only 7.0 Litres per 100km). It will go on sale immediately, and will be a competitor to the BMW X3, Volvo XC60, and when it arrives, the Mercedes-Benz GLK-Class.

MELBOURNE 2009: Audi Q5 Stages Jennifer Hawkins

When the Motor Show comes to my home town, you just know I'm going to go all out. This is the first of a series of articles about the Melbourne Motor Show - not a large Motor Show by world standards, but this year, there are more new unveilings and locally relevant cars and concepts on show than ever before. For those of you who are international (not Australian) readers, don't worry - most of these articles will be highly relevant to you too.

So I've started with the Ford Fiesta ECOnetic - which is already sold in the UK, but will soon arrive here in down under. This is one of the most important cars of the Motor Show this year, because, crucially, the Fiesta ECOnetic aims to be the most economical car available in Australia when it launches later this year. How economical is it? Try just 3.7 Litres of diesel per 100 km, and on the environmental front, less than 100 grams of CO2 emissions per kilometre. Which, in Australia - where the hyper-economical cars of Europe are currently not available - is a revelation. Definitely beats the Toyota Prius for green-credentials, anyway, which is fine with me, because I don't like it very much.

The crucial difference between the Ford Fiesta ECOnetic and the aforesaid Prius is clearly price. The ECOnetic is set to be priced at around $20,000 - which makes helping the environment within the reach of so many people. This is the way we have to save the environment until the electric cars arrive - not wacky hybrids that are ugly, environmentally unfriendly to make, and aren't particularly efficient. This car even has a decent amount of power - 66kW and 200Nm, if you please. There seems to be no downside to the ECOnetic, because not only is it economical, it is a real car, and has real performance, and a price-tag that is well and truly in the real world. And if the Fiesta ECOnetic sells well, Ford might also bring the Focus ECOnetic and Mondeo ECOnetic to Australia, which sounds like it's exactly what the doctor ordered.

Greenies, start your engines. Turbo-diesel engines, I mean.

MELBOURNE 2009: Ford Fiesta ECOnetic Slaps Hybrids in the Face

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No, this is not a new Phantom, this is an entirely new Rolls-Royce car. Designed to sit below the Phantom in the product line-up, the 200EX is what you can call a "baby" Rolls-Royce, however oxymoronic that may sound. The 200EX is still 5.4 metres long, which only sounds baby when you consider that the Phantom is 5.8 metres. Essentially, this car will compete with Bentley's ageing Arnage, and offers a more youthful interpretation of the Rolls-Royce brand.

For example, the Rolls-Royce designers decided that they wanted to make the 200EX more streamlined than the Phantom. And it is almost noticeable - the 200EX looks softer, more sporting, and more subtle (slightly) than the Phantom, which tends to look a bit like a Kenworth truck. "Approachable" was a term bandied around quite a lot in Rolls-Royce's press release for the 200EX ahead of the Geneva unveiling, so that tells you quite a bit about how much they wanted to differentiate this car from the Phantom.

This is still unmistakeably a Roller - this new one boasts a rear door maximum opening angle of 83 degrees, which is an industry record, apparently. So you can be under no illusion as to what kind of social class considers to buy ths car. But inside, there are a few subtleties that indicate a different purpose for this car: the black-on-white-background instrumentation, chrome air vents, and convenience buttons on the steering wheel. It is, of course, as sumptuous as ever.

It is an awesome new car for a very bad time period - let's hope Rolls-Royce still get lots of buyers for their new 200EX, and don't plunge into debt.

GENEVA 2009: "Baby" Rolls-Royce 200EX Concept, Say What?

Ahead of it's official launch at the Geneva Motor Show, Hyundai has released preliminary pictures of the ix-onic Concept, which will become the Hyundai ix35 at the Frankfurt Motor Show later this year, which will effectively replace today's Hyundai Tucson. Hope that all wasn't too confusing. At only 4.4 metres long, this new ix-onic concept proves that 4x4 cars don't need to be big and bulky to look cool - it will enter a market segment populated already by the Nissan Dualis, but will also head off the upcoming Peugeot 3008. If this concept is anything to go by, the Koreans will make a car that is sexier than both of them put together.

Obviously, the ix35 isn't quite going to look as good as this concept. But, as we've seen from the new i20, Hyundai are increasingly making cars that look as good as the best in the business. And if there's one thing I know, it's that style is the number one factor in getting people into showrooms. I swear it's 100% true.

This concept has a very attractive 1.6 Litre turbocharged petrol engine, which is likely to go to production on the ix35. This is wonderful news indeed, since this engine will pump out 125 kilowatts of power while emitting less CO2 than any of it's 4x4 competitors (149 g/km). That's something I like to hear.

GENEVA 2009: Hyundai ix-onic Will Become ix35 Tucson Replacement

Swiss firm Rinspeeed are a kind of odd-ball company that like to push the envelope. A lot. For instance, last year, they created a car that you could drive through water. Not just on the sea bed, but actually through the water, just like a fish. Just Google "Rinspeed sQuba Concept" to see for yourself. So when one of the biggest Motor Shows in the world came to a home-country city, they went all out. This bizarre looking car actually changes body shape, depending on how many passengers the car has to take.

Now I've been studying these pictures for a good half-hour now, and have been reading the Rinspeed press release, but I still don't really understand how it works. Here's my theory. Basically, the rear of the car, including the rear wheels, slides out, increasing the wheelbase of the car, even though the glass area (the roof) doesn't change. So I'm slightly doubtful about the amount of extra room this system provides. If there is no extra cabin space for extra passengers, what is the point of the extra length, and how does this car swallow more passengers, anyway?

Probably more relevant to today's automobile industry is the fact that this car is an electric sports car, which weighs only 1050kg, goes from 0-100kmh in just four seconds, and has batteries that recharge using solar power collected from panels in the roof. Yes, it's wierd, but it's interesting all the same.

GENEVA 2009: Rinspeed iChange Shapeshifter

Just days after the Saab 9-3X has been revealed, Audi has decided that this is a market it wants in on. For some reason. Well, anyway, it has jacked up the ride height of the A4 Avant, and given it a funky two-tone paint job. If you get a lighter shade in the main colour, the complementary colour will be a dark grey, but if you get a darker shade for the main colour, you get a lighter, silvery-grey for the complementary colour. This, of course, looks rather questionable if you choose the poo-brown colour - check it out in the picture gallery below.

NEWS: Audi A4 Allroad

As regular readers of IYF! will know, I'm a huge fan of the Fiat 500. It is one of a rare breed of cars that makes the driver feel absurdly special, is cute but not puke-worthy, and is a good representation of retro cool. What I love most, however is the attention to detail. Read my post How to do Retro Tastefully for more information on this stunning car. It even won my Really Cool Fashion Accessory Award for 2008.

But this attention to detail is completely missing in the new 500C. It's just a convertible version of the 500, but I'm missing the point of it. Why did they leave the sides intact when the fabric roof lifts off? It means that the fresh air isn't all around you, but just above you, where you won't feel it or see it, and the roof just ends up sitting on the back of the car, all crumpled up and disgusting. This is not stylish, this is just dumb. I would rather get a regular 500 with the panoramic sunroof - at least that way I'd have a normal looking car that didn't have a spastic coloured roof.

NEWS: Fiat 500C Has Questionable Appeal

We all know that car merchandising has gone too far - what with overpriced Ferrari watches, Aston Martin caps, and so forth - but I can guarantee that you've never seen anything quite like this. I know that Valentines Day was last weekend, but don't you think these Lamborghini designed "Limited Edition Superleggera Carbon Fibre Heels". Under the slogan Seriously Hot Heels, these shoes are unfortunately not for sale... yet. I'm sure they will be, however.Even if you think they're utterly grotesque, you have to admire the way these shoes really do look like the Lamborghini Gallardo Superleggera (gallery below) - right down to the "superleggera" stripe down the side of the shoes. As you've probably guessed, I think they're brilliant, but I still have the feeling that even I would get freaked out if my girlfriend was wearing these shoes...

WTF?! #9: Lamborghini Stilettos For the Fashion Conscious (read deprived)

The latest battlefront that the German juggernaut of Audi, BMW and Mercedes-Benz will fight for are cars like this 5-Series Gran Turismo Concept. They're based on sedans, but mostly, they are, but they think they're coupes. They're a bit confused, mostly, but they're essentially jazzy versions of otherwise conservative sedans, aimed at a more youthful market which looks toward a more sporting character. It's all about making a brand name more versatile by offering different cars that on the surface, appear to compete, but are really aimed at very different buyers. This is how the battle will play out:

Mercedes-Benz E-Class --> Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class (since 2005)
Audi A6 --> Audi A7 (due 2010, but in meantime, see Audi Sportback Concept article)
BMW 5-Series --> BMW 5-Series GT (due November 2009, based on BMW CS Concept of 2007)

Yes, from all accounts, it does seem that BMW will be calling this car the BMW 5-Series GT. BMW has revealed that this car is not just a sedan that thinks it's a coupe, but much much more. In fact, as I see it, it's a long hatchback that's almost a sedan, but with a wagon-like stance, and an element of "squashed X6" thrown in. So yes, it does have a huge rear hatchback (double hinged, thank you, sir!), it is not a sedan, and even though it doesn't look that large in these pictures (at least, not compared to the Audi Sportback) it will, in fact be exactly 5 metres long, making it almost as long as the short-wheelbase 7-Series.

With the November launch so imminent for the 5-Series GT, this "concept" is really more of a preview of the real thing. Not much will change, I would imagine - the 21 inch alloy wheels are, of course, pure fantasy, though beautiful, the wing mirrors are likely to be replaced with something less controversial, and perhaps those cool side indicators will be relocated to the mirrors. But that's it, really.

So what do I think? Well, I'm not a big fan of the X6 roofline which has been translated to this car, because it makes the car too tall, and not sleek enough - the rear is an absolute mess, and makes the infamous Bangle-butt 7-Series look graceful. Though having said that, the surfacing of the car (namely, the hard crease spanning the length of the car) is pure genius, I've fallen in love with the door handles (I know that's sad...!) and I really really like the nose of this car. It's tasteful, original and athletic - a new BMW trait that was recently seen on the next-gen Z4. But what is also rather interesting is the rumour going around that this face is exactly the same as the next-gen 5-Series sedan, and that all that differs between the GT and the sedan is the roofline and rear hatchback.

Which, of course I think bodes well for the new 5-Series, but might make the GT the less attractive relative. Which, I think, means that BMW have missed the point with this car.

GENEVA 2009: BMW Says "It's On, Biatch!" With 5-Series Gran Turismo

This is the star of the new transformers movie, coming to cinemas later this year, called Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen. It's being called the Stingray Concept at the Chicago Motor Show, but in the movie, this "character" will be called Sideswipe. It's obviously a dream car from General Motors and Chevrolet, but this Stingray Concept takes inspiration from both the original Stingray Racer concept of 1959 (from which it thankfully doesn't borrow the exhaust pipes that look like noodles), and the current Corvette C6.

I think it also might be an exercise of design at GM, which is probably keen to see public reaction to this car. Want to know why? Because I think this concept might hint at what's going to turn into the Corvette C7. Although the Corvette C7 was meant to be released in 2012, it has now been "delayed indefinitely" according to the official line at GM, because of the financial crisis, of course. But providing General Motors stays afloat, I can't see them ever dropping the Chevrolet Corvette. I would guess that the new C7 Corvette will turn up by about 2014, possibly later. So because the new Corvette is going to be delayed so much, expect more drastic changes that would originally have been planned, at least from a design perspective. So while this concept might look outlandish now, it will look just about perfect for Chevrolet's hero model in 2014.

Because although the face of this car is obviously futuristic and grotesque, the rest of the car is quite neatly proportioned, and if you visualise more conventionally Corvette-like headlights on this car, I think you'll realise that what I'm talking about makes sense.

CHICAGO 2009: Chevrolet Stingray Concept to Star in Transformers

The long and short of this is that Saab have converted their 9-3 SportCombi (read wagon) into a Subaru Outback-like AWD wagon. In other words, it gets a raised ride height (an extra 35 millimetres), some tough looking cladding, and as chief designer Simon Padian says, "we are offering a vehicle that will do what's required in more comfort and style than a heavier SUV." Which of course, sounds great, and is an idea that may well work. The idea isn't new, however. There is the aforementioned Outback, the Audi A6 Allroad and the Volvo XC70. The Audi and the Volvo aren't exactly sales sensations, but that does not mean the Saab 9-3X is unlikely to find buyers.

Compared to the Volvo and the Audi, the Saab will be far more competitively priced, and represents a very practical and upmarket alternative at a cut price. And of course, it is far more handsome than the Audi and Subaru, probably on par with the Volvo. This car will share its engines with the 9-3, and in some markets will also have a front-wheel-drive version, which I doubt will come to Australia. In any case, it's set to hit showrooms late this year, a few months before the 9-4X (Saab's take on the Cadillac SRX) arrives in 2010.

NEWS: Saab 9-3X Turns Swedes Butch

The last couple of WTF?! articles have been about stuff that really has been, well... kinda cool. Now it's no more Mr. Nice Guy. It's time to bring you more of the wierdest cars in the universe. And they don't come wierder than this. Quite a lot of electric powered concept cars are poor excuses for a car. But this concept, from the greatest minds of Kyoto university, no less, takes the cake. Because this electric car, which weighs only 60 kilograms and has a grand total of one seat, is made from panda food. I'm not joking.The BamGoo, as it's unfortunately called, is made almost entirely from bamboo, and would make a perfect culinary snack for a hungry panda. The significance of it is that bamboo is one of the fastest growing materials on earth, making it, uh... thoroughly renewable. Forget the crash test safety, the fact is looks like a tumbleweed, and the car's odd tendency to blow over in a mild wind - this thing can go a total of 50 kilometres on one charge!!! That's incredible... NOT.Even the woman in the picture below looks pretty embarassed. And so she should be - this is probably the dumbest and most impractical green car that's been created for quite a while, which is saying quite a lot. I've said it looks like poo, I've said it looks like a tumbleweed, but I've finally realised what it really looks like - this is a peanut on wheels.

WTF?! #8: The BamGoo That Looks Like a Poo

The Fiat Ritmo (seen here with European "Bravo" nameplates) has a bit of a soft spot in my heart. It looks as sexy as an Alfa Romeo, for a start - probably because the upcoming Alfa Romeo 149 will look very similar to this car - it is unmistakeably European, and unbelievably cool. But that's really where the love affair ends.

To be frank, a $24,990 price tag for a family-sized hatch with a 66kW engine is an outrage. In no other European family car do we find an engine that is so hopelessly underpowered. Nothing even comes close. And the entire model range lacks any form of an automatic. Seriously. Oddly enough, the best value in the Ritmo range is actually at the top end. The Sport models come in at the mid thirties, and if you happened to have Mazda6 money to spend on an elegant hatch that would make your neighbour gawp, it begins to sound attractive. The semi-sporty 110kW turbo petrol and diesel engines are extremely miserly with petrol, and being the top model, this car is absolutely loaded with features. The interior is sexy and high-tech, even if the seating position is uncomfortable, and on the whole, it's a car that others would be very jealous of. If you can drive a manual, put up with the surely pathetic reliability, pay the sky-high insurance premiums and swallow the astronomical parts prices. Lately, Ritmo prices have dropped for a "sale", so although the prices below don't mention it, Ritmos now start from only $19,990 - so perhaps we can chop five grand off the top model too. Suddenly, it's terrific value, and probably worth all the extra money that you wouldn't have to spend on say, a Golf. And it has looks that can be compared with premium brands like Mercedes-Benz, Audi, and BMW. To your friends who aren't car nuts, you can pretend that Fiat is an exotic italian brand, and they will never know it's actually pretty average. It certainly looks exotic, and they'll never know the difference. After all, if it's love, then absolutely nothing can ever get in the way. It sure is a pretty thing to be sitting in your driveway.

As a used car? Really, don't bother. Reliability is likely to be average at best, and in the current economic climate, who knows how long Fiat will last in Australia?

Overall Rating: 7/10
Style: 9/10
Build Quality: 7/10
On-Road Performance: 7.5/10
Value For Money: 7/10
Practicality: 8/10
Safety Rating: 5-star EuroNCAP
Average Real Owner Reliability: not enough data as yet (www.carsurvey.org February 2009)

Engines:
Please see the image in the "HOW MUCH MOOLAH?" section for details.

Features:
Alloy Wheels: Only on "Emotion" and "Sport"
Leather: $2,500 option
Cruise Control: YES
Air Conditioning: YES - "Sport" has Climate Control
Steering Wheel Audio Controls: YES
Power Windows and Mirrors: YES - "Dynamic" has only power front windows
Stability Control: standard on "Sport", otherwise $650 option
Airbags: SIX
Foglamps: YES - front only
CD Changer: Single Disc
Speakers: SIX
Bluetooth: Only on "Sport"
MP3 Compatibility: "Sport" has USB connection
Sunroof: $1,950 option
Metallic Paint: $850 option

YOUR CAR IN BRIEF: Fiat Ritmo

To sum up cruise control in one sentence, you would say this - it maintains a speed you've set for your car, without you having to keep your foot on the accelerator.

It may come as a surprise then, that a blind man called Ralph Teetor invented the first cruise control for cars in 1945. As my old, senile, arrogant History teacher used to tell me: "necessity is the mother of invention". For a change, he was right. Mr. Teetor was really frustrated with the way every time he rode in a car with his lawyer, the car would never seem to keep a constant speed.

So anyway, the system itself. Cruise control is most common in American cars, where long straight interstate highways are typical drives, but in European cars it is also quite readily seen, since they have lots of Autobahn-like roadways spanning the continent. In Japanese cars it used to be quite rare, since Japan lacks roads like the ones mentioned above, but Japan are increasingly producing cars for world tastes, and nowadays cruise control can be found just about anywhere. It's great if you do a fair amount of freeway driving, where you don't want to accidentally go over the speed limit and get a ticket, or tire yourself out to much on a long drive. Studies have shown that using cruise control can also lower the fuel consumption of most drivers.

So the example I've used to show you how it works is a Chrysler from the late nineties - primarily because it's designed for Americans, so it isn't too confusing for their questionably sized minds. But really, it was the easiest to explain. Cruise control systems don't look the same on every car. Some cars have buttons attached to the steering wheel, like this one, or buttons actually on the steering wheel , or a stalk protruding from the steering column, like the stalk to operate your windscreen wipers. Different brands do it different ways. But they all have similar functions, and the same basic ideas.This example has on/off buttons, which not all cruise control systems have, since they are rather superfluous. Hitting the "on" button doesn't actually do anything, other than tell the car that you might be pressing another button soon, so those buttons are then activated. The "off" button disables the cruise control, meaning you have to once again control the speed of the car with the throttle (which is a fancy name for the accelerator, if you're wondering). But the thing is, not all cruise control cars will have this button, because touching the brakes (or the clutch too if you're in a manual) will automatically disable the cruise control. Nifty, huh? So if you're on the freeway cruising at 95, and suddenly need to slam on the brakes, you can do so without the car accelerating against you. So you can see why some cars don't have these on/off buttons, because their not really needed.

The "set/accel" button is the one that actually sets the cruise control to work. Whatever speed you're doing at the time you press this button, the cruise control will then maintain, so you can take your foot off the accelerator. So say for example you've just set your speed to 95. But now you want to accelerate to 100 - all you have to do is tap this same button five times, and it will increase your speed by five kilometres per hour. Some poorly coverted cars may still operate in miles per hour, so if you press this button five times, it will increase your speed by five miles per hour instead, which is like eight kilometres per hour, so be careful!

Holding down the "coast" button is exactly the same as what would happen to the car if you took your foot off the accelerator normally - it allows the car to roll, or "coasts". But say for example, we've had enough of cruising at 100 kmh, and wanted to get back to 95 - all we'd have to do is tap this button five times. So it works exactly the same as the "set/accel" button. Simple, right?

Except, like I said earlier, not all cars will be set up like this one - for example, there might just be a set buton, and a coast button, and then two other buttons, one with a "+" , the other with a "-". But it surely doesn't take a genius to work out what they do - it may look different, but it will have the same functions.

Oh, I almost forgot - the button that says "resume" is a handy little feature, too. If you've recently braked, and thus disengaged the cruise control, pressing this button will take you back to your last set speed. Easy.

Right, but I do have to say - you can't use cruise control at just any old speed. The minimum speed for a cruise control to activate is different, depending on the car, but usually it is somewhere between 40-60 kmh. It's so that you don't use it while you're driving in suburban streets, where the traffic is more variable than for instance, a freeway.

I don't think anyone really wants to know how it works - it's complicated... - but if one of your friends asks you about it, and you want to look smart, mumble something nerdy and throw in the term "vacuum actuator", 'cause that should do the trick nicely.

These days, as technology grows, premium brands like Mercedes-Benz have developed even better forms of cruise control - called "adaptive cruise control". It's so called because it uses a radar to adapt the speed of your car to maintain a safe distance between you and the car in front. So if the car in front of you slows down, the cruise control will automatically slow down to match them, leaving you enough space if you ever need to brake suddenly. No button tapping required. It's pretty fancy, isn't normally a feature on everyday cars, and can get rather wierd when your car comes up with a display that can measure the distance between you and the car in front while you're driving (like this Mercedes-Benz S-Class, which debuted some of this technology back in 1999). Yes, I know it's nuts.So that's cruise control. I know that was a long explanation, but it seems that no-one is willing to thoroughly explain it - probably because they assume it's common knowledge. But I think the truth is that quite a lot of drivers who have cars with cruise control don't know how to use it effectively, or are confused by all the buttons, or simply dismiss it as a lazy way of driving. This, of course, is silly, because you've probably realised by now that cruise control has a lot of merit. At least you know all about it, now.

LINGO: Cruise Control

I'm convinced of something: people don't actually watch the superbowl for the stupid sport American jocks play... they watch it for the commercials! A 30-second spot in the Superbowl telecast is worth about 3 Million US dollars, so ad agencies make sure they get it right. So I've got for you the three best car-related commercials to air during the Superbowl telecast. They're crackers, but which is the best?

FEATURE STORY: Car Commericials From the Superbowl

Only 3 days after I reported that Citroen were going to revive the DS nameplate, Citroen have released these first pictures of a DS model. In fact, it is only a concept, called "DS Inside" which will be on show at Geneva Motor Show next month, but it seems suspiciously close to production, and the official line is that the production version of this model will be released only next year. So I can't imagine that they will make drastic changes at this late stage.I had said that the three DS models would be equivalents of the C3, C4 and C5, however this vehicle we have here appears to be C2 sized, which is a little confusing. Or perhaps the pictures are just decieving, and this really is a C3 sized car.

But can I say something I've been dying to say since the start of this article? WOW!!!! I love it already. Finally, I'm looking at a design for a 21st century car that has the attention to detail I want to expect from today's carmakers. I would happily pay quite a price premium over a C3 just to have a car that looks as good as this. The attention to detail is what I believe makes this car look more expensive than its competitors. Does the Mini Cooper look this good? Does a Volvo C30 look this good? Even the Alfa Romeo MiTo doesn't look quite this good. That's quite an achievement.

Although having said that, Citroen won't tell us what the interior looks like yet - it's been blacked out in these pictures, and ironically, even thought it is called the "DS Inside" Concept, it is still unknown whether the car's interior will be shown at the Geneva Motor Show. Time will tell whether it truly deserves to be a DS car - the interior of this car is crucially important, and Citroen will have to set a new benchmark in innovative design for their plan to work. While it's unrealistic to expect new and unseen technologies to debut in this car (it's not a Merc, after all), I think we should expect something rather special nonetheless. What we do now know from these pictures is that the DS models will retain Citroen's regular design language - it's just been pumped up to a new level.

In my opinion, the exterior of what will end up being the DS3 has definitely delivered. Of the many standout delicacies of this car, those bold alloy wheels hit the spot with me the most. It's reflective of the design talent at Citroen that they can create a design theme in their cars that can make their cars sexier than Alfa Romeos. That deserves applause.

NEWS: Citroen DS Inside Concept For Geneva 2009

The long and short of this article is that Aston Martin have dropped the DBS' 6.0 Litre 380kW V12 into their smallest car, the otherwise 298kW V8 Vantage. But because the Vantage is a smaller car than the DBS, and is therefore lighter, it also ends up being the faster of the two - both from 0-100kmh (4.2 seconds) and in top speed (305kmh). So, I give Aston Martin's fastest car... until the One-77.

The V12 Vantage is meant to be a little more than Aston's new headline act, however. Aston Martin's CEO Dr. Ulrich Bez is telling us all that the new V12 Vantage caters for a different type of driving taste, something we're not used to from Aston Martin. He's billing the V12 Vantage as the "ultimate driving package" from Aston Martin, rather than the fast grand touring available in the DB9. It has a near perfect weight distribution of 51:49, and the interior certainly looks like it means business - if it had any more alcantara (that suede-like stuff), it would be a race car.

Although having said all that, I still don't see the point of a V12 Vantage - why not just get a DBS? They seem to be aimed at the same kind of buyer - a buyer who wants ultimate outright performance in a performance machine as elegant as an Aston Martin, but without all the luxurious woodgrain of a grand tourer. I just re-read that last sentence, and I nearly didn't understand it, so I hope you get it. Anyway, there can't be any point to buying a V12 Vantage over a DBS - they look similar, except the DBS looks better. It's only a fraction faster than the DBS anway, so no-one will ever know the difference. And it's not going to be any cheaper than a DBS, so why spend all that money on an Aston Martin to get the wrong one?

Ah, but of course, exclusivity. Only 1,000 cars will be made - which means you're less likely to see someone with the same car as you (god forbid!). Which seems to be the only thing going for the V12 Vantage, sadly - because it's probably a fine car, but I won't really care.

NEWS: New V12 Vantage Will Become the Fastest Aston... Momentarily

When a car doesn't drive exactly where you've told it to on the steering wheel, that's called either understeer or oversteer depending on what the car is doing. And I don't mean you can blame your shoddy driving on your car. Usually, when understeer or oversteer occurs, it is the driver's fault, becuase you've reached the limits of what the car's handling ability can achieve. Allow me to explain:

UNDERSTEER

We call it understeer when the car doesn't turn sharply enough into the corner. In other words, it doesn't steer as much as you want it to. This phenomenon is usually associated with front wheel drive cars (power from the engine going to only the front two wheels), but it can happen with all types of cars. The reason for understeer is the loss of traction or grip on the front two wheels, and this is more common in front wheel drive cars because the front end of the car is usually heavier. Basically, if you're understeering, it's because the car isn't capable of sustaining the current speed through a corner. So if you don't want to understeer, don't take corners too fast, basically. But sometimes understeer can occur when the road surface is very slippery, like during rain, in an oil slick, or something like that.
OVERSTEER

Oversteer then, is the complete opposite of understeer - when a car turns in too sharply into a corner. It steers more than you wanted it to. Oversteer is a trait grouped with rear wheel drive cars, because oversteer occurs when there is loss of traction or grip in the rear wheels. Starting to get it now? To some, oversteer is highly desirable, because providing it is controled (ie "countersteering" by turning the wheel in the opposite direction to balance the car), it can look cool, and result in a drift. But to average people like you or me, oversteer means that we could end up facing the wrong direction. So again, slippery surfaces can cause it, and excessive speed into a corner can cause it.
Either way, if you oversteer or understeer on the road, you're probably a bit of a danger to other road users and need to reassess the way you drive. Remember to be smooth around corners, because you shouldn't need to put your foot on either the accelerator or the brakes midway through a corner.

LINGO: Understeer and Oversteer

I've given quite a few updates on the new Mazda3, which is due for release in April - and rightly so, because in my opinion, it will be the most important new model of 2009. But now we finally have pictures of the best Mazda3 of them all - the turbocharged Mazda3 MPS. And something random called the Mazda3 i-stop. But M, P and S are three letters we like very much. READ MORE...

LATEST NEWS HEADLINES

Welcome to the new and improved IN YOUR FACE! - everyone's favourite and most entertaining Australian automotive blog. It's a pleasure to be back. Whether you're reading this on-site, or in a reader, there are plenty of changes that will soon be made to IN YOUR FACE! that I'm sure you will appreciate.

If you have visited the new site, you'll notice the huge makeover that has been undertaken. Yes, it looks pretty cool, if I say so myself, but it's also more functional. There is now a space for recent articles, so if you're just a casual visitor, you can keep up with the latest articles. There are also quick links to your favourite IN YOUR FACE! segments at the top of every page for easy access.

We also now have an easy search bar for the site, which unlike some other blogs, does not redirect you to Google or anything else similarly annoying. It just shows the articles you want. There are now tidier and more effective subscription links. Of course, there are other features too in the new two-column sidebar, including recent comments, so you can find out what other car nuts like you have been saying, and even a cool live traffic feed, so you can see where your fellow IN YOUR FACE! fans have been visiting the site from, anywhere in the world. Don't worry, if you don't want to be on this live traffic feed, you can always ask it to ignore you - just click on the "options" link. Another cool feature is a slideshow of the pictures of IN YOUR FACE!, which are displayed on a slideshow at the bottom of the site. If you wish to download any of the pictures, simply click on the slideshow, which will redirect you to my Picasa Album, where you can download all the hi-res pictures you like.

There are, also, some problems. For instance, because the new web design features a thinner posting section, the wrapping of some images from older posts is less than ideal. This will be rectified in time, but all new posts will look fine. Of course, all of this doesn't affect our feed readers.

What you will notice is that for the next few days, there may be a few odd posts that don't seem to show anything, or seem superflous. This is because they are links in the new quick links of my site's header. Don't panic. For those of you who read the blog in a feed, don't unsubscribe just yet - I haven't lost the plot. These will just be extra segments for the site, which will grow more informative, as well as opinionated.

Because variety is what we're going to offer. In addition to the news, feature stories, rants and WTF?! segments you're used to, I will also be offering Your Car In Brief (reviews), Captions (funny car pictures), Jealousy (the amazing cars of famous people), Watch This Space (upcoming cars), Lingo (a glossary of car-terms), and an About page, which will describe all this to IN YOUR FACE! newbies.

There isn't one site on the web that can offer as much car fun as this website. Enjoy.

IN YOUR FACE!!! - - - We're Back!

This is due to the fact that we've outgrown the current look of the site, and I am switching to a new, multimedia rich style that will enhance the user-friendliness and quality of IN YOUR FACE. So articles will be on hold for a little while, while bugs are being ironed out and the website rebuilt. This new website design will be for the upcoming Geneva Motor Show, as automotive websites and blogs attract more readers in this time, and a classier web design will attract more readers.

Just be sure to know that IN YOUR FACE will be better than ever, very soon. I thank you all for your patience.

The Insufferable Git

IN YOUR FACE is on a Brief Hiatus... for now

I've given quite a few updates on the new Mazda3, which is due for release in April - and rightly so, because in my opinion, it will be the most important new model of 2009. But now we finally have pictures of the best Mazda3 of them all - the turbocharged Mazda3 MPS. And something random called the Mazda3 i-stop. But M, P and S are three letters we like very much.Although Mazda has revealed that it will not be making a turbocharged MPS variant of the current Mazda6, it has gone ahead with the Mazda3, citing the recent successes of such cars as the Volkswagen Golf GTi as a reason why the MPS is a good business strategy. But seemingly, Mazda have set their sights far higher than the Golf GTi - Mazda are very obviously pitting this MPS as an Subaru Impreza WRX killer.

And when you look at it in comparison to the dowdy new WRX hatch, it certainly does. If I were to describe how well the WRX is killed, I would describe a process involving meat cleavers, dismemberment and eating wobbly bits for breakfast. We only have three pictures of the MPS before it's shown at the Geneva Motor Show in March, but what I see I like very much. A wicked rear spoiler, aggressive yet complementary bodykit, and a huge bonnet scoop (though probably fake) are some of the many highlights. It even features a cool little "MPS" badge on the front grille. Speaking of the front grille, it has been well documented in this blog that I'm not a big fan of the new "big mouth" grille, although here in the MPS, it somehow manages to look just right. The proportions indicate a wide stance and a decidedly unholy attitude.And that really is what the Mazda3 MPS is about - attitude. It's something that the new WRX lacks. In terms of performance, the MPS has everything covered, despite carrying over the 2.3 litre turbocharged MZR engine from the previous model (albeit with a few tweaks). Still, there's a lot to be said for the previous model's figure of 190kW, and you can also expect a 0-100kmh time of about 6 seconds flat. I say this because the new MPS would be bucking the trend of current Mazdas if it was heavier than the previous model, which I doubt.
But because "being seen to be green" is the order of the day at the moment, Mazda have announced news of a new fuel saving technique, called i-stop. Why "i-stop"? I dunno, maybe because it stops the use of the letter "i"... look, it's an odd name, and I don't get it either, but what you need to know is that it is a new engine technology that will eventually be used on all the proletarian 2.0 Litre Mazda3s, and will increase efficiency and economy by 12 percent, which on a Mazda3, will be about one Litre every 100km. If I put it that way, it doesn't sound like much, but with i-stop, the Mazda3 will become pretty much the most economical car in its class, which is far more impressive.
And of course, Mazda are boasting about the fact both the 2.0 Litre i-stop engines and the turbocharged MPS meet tough Euro V emissions standards, which mean that they don't release more than 0.5g of Carbon Monoxide and 0.08g of Nitrous Oxides (stuff that makes acid rain) into the air per kilometre. These Euro V emissions will be in force by September this year, so it's nice that Mazda have been proactive about it.It remains to be seen when i-stop will make its way onto cars here in Australia, but nevertheless, it's more evidence that the car industry is trying to turn itself as green as possible... and make a cunning marketing strategy out of it at the same time.

NEWS: 2010 Mazda3 MPS and i-stop