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Video: Ferrari 599 GTO launch drive As the Ferrari 599 GTO finds its way into the hands of motoring journalists around the globe the first of the video reviews have found their way onto the web, including this notable entry from the UK’s Autocar. It seems despite being Ferrari’s fastest ever road car, the marquee failed to highlight the Ferrari 599 GTO’s true claim to fame – that would be the epic wail emanating from the exhaust pipes attached to the 6.0-litre V12 engine. . Volkswagen Polo Review 2010 Volkswagen Polo Review With industry leading performance, practicality, fuel economy and standard safety features, the all-new 2010 Volkswagen Polo is by far the best European light-car on the market. It was 1975 when Volkswagen introduced the original Polo which only came to Australia in its in 1996. 11 million buyers have taken a Polo home worldwide with more than 18,000 Australians among them. Thirty five years on and the fifth-generation Volkswagen Polo is now on sale in Australia and what a beauty it really is. Starting from just $16,690 for the 1.4-litre petrol manual, the new Polo is slowly but surely closing the gap between itself and the Volkswagen Golf. Not so much in terms of size but more so in terms of safety, technology and equipement level. To celebrate the local launch of the 2010 Volkswagen Polo, the German company brought a group of journalists to Brisbane to experience the model which was recently awarded the 2010 World Car of the Year award. The most obvious change to the new Polo is the exterior as it no longer looks like a ‘girly’ car. It shares a rather similar design to the Golf and Scirocco and presents a far cleaner front end with Volkswagen calling the front design the “eagle-look”. With a series of lines running through the bonnet and side profile, the new Polo gains a far more muscular stance (although it’s in no way aggressively styled, just sporty). As for the rear, it’s a very clean look (arguably bland compared to the front) presenting a gorgeous L-shaped light design that is sure to stand out at night. Before the sporty and range-topping GTI arrives towards the end of this year, the new Polo is currently available in two separate equipement grades: the entry level Polo Trendline and the more equipped Polo Comfortline. The Trendline models come from Spain while the Comfortline grades are sourced from a Volkswagen factory in South Africa. From the outside they are easily distinguishable by the number of doors with all Trendline variants available with only 3 doors whilst Comfortlines are 5 doors only. Additionally Comfortline variants gain a chrome grille, 15-inch alloy wheels and dual headlights over the Trendline. Sit inside the new Polo and you’ll quickly realise that instant resemblance to the rest of the Volkswagen lineup, a fact that Volkswagen is proud of. For Volkswagen’s cheapest car (and it’s third best selling model in Australia), any interior resemblance to the Golf and Passat is a very good thing. There is a certain ambience to the Polo’s cabin which is simply not there with Japanese or Korean cars of the same size (and relatively similar price). Be it the lack of hard plastics, the excellent finish to the centre console and stereo surrounds or the comfortable seats, sporty three-spoke steering wheel, white instrument backlighting or even the practicality of the car’s storage areas (including a book and sunglasses holder inside the glove box). Whatever it is, it feels much more classy inside than its closest European competition (Ford Fiesta) or Japanese rivals (Mazda2, Honda Jazz, Toyota Yaris). So now we have a European badged light car that looks elegant and classy both inside and out. Surely there is a catch? Perhaps its underpowered? Nope. Perhaps it’s badly equipped? Nope. Perhaps it’s not safe? Nope. Perhaps its low price is a disguise for all the options you’ll need to tick? Surprisingly no, even the base model Polo Trendline 3 Door 5 speed manual is relatively well equipped given it starts for under $17k. The first Polo tested today was powered by the new 1.2-litre TSI engine with 77kW and 175Nm of torque. If you’re thinking that sounds relatively lackluster on paper, you’ll be amazed by how fast it actually feels, especially when combined with the optional 7-speed dual clutch transmission (DSG). 0-100km/h is 9.7 seconds for both manual and DSG (although for most people, the DSG will be quicker). It’s mostly due to the way in which the Polo delivers its power that it feels deceptively quick. With a very smooth and linear power and torque delivery throughout the rev range there is more than enough grunt for a quick overtake and no need to flatten the throttle to get up hills, even with numerous adults onboard. Swapping to a base model 1.4-litre petrol powered Polo with 14-inch steel wheels was a good way to test out the chasis. Surely if it can ride well on such tiny wheels it goes to show the car’s overall handling capabilities.The test car was driven around Mt Cotton’s twisty backroads through hard corners and up massive hills. Despite the engine being sourced from the previous generation Polo, albeit with an extra 4kW of power (63kW at 5,000rpm) and 132Nm of torque (at 3,800 rpm), even with steel wheels it still managed to impress with its smooth ride and confident handling characteristics. Unfortunately time restrictions didn’t allow for a quick drive of the 1.6-litre diesel variant (66kW, 230Nm of torque) but despite its very impressive fuel economy figures of just 4.6L of diesel per 100km (4.7L for 5 speed manual), the 1.2-litre TSI is actually a very viable option as it uses just 5.5L of petrol per 100km and is faster to 100km/h (by 0.7 seconds), not to mention it costs $2,500 less. The new Polo is bigger than its predecessor in all regards, it measures 4,064mm in length (148 mm longer), 1,682 mm wide (32 mm wider), and sits exactly 1.5 m tall (33 mm taller). That means more headroom, rear legroom and overall sense of spaciousness. Open the boot and you get 280L of luggage area (261L for 3 door variants) which extends to 952L when the rear seats are folded completely flat (a process which takes all of 10 seconds). Spending the last leg of the journey from Mt Cotton to Brisbane airport in the backseat of a Comfortline 5 door variant highlighted the new Polo’s roomy rear seats (for its size). Although it technically has five seats, it can realistically only carry four adults for medium to long journeys. Nonetheless it can carry four average size adults for long journeys without any issues. Sitting in the rear for the near one hour journey was no different than being in the back of a Golf. The new Volkswagen Polo is about the same size as the third generation Volkswagen Golf, so despite being classified as a light car it’s by no means a tiny car on the inside. It’s a perfect classy first car for young couples or the ideal second car for a growing family. In fact, so good is the new Polo that it may likely steal some sales away from the Golf. Safety is top notch in the new Polo . Having received a 5-star safety rating from the Australian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP) as well its European equivalent means you don’t ever have to worry about the safety of yourself or your occupants. A big pat on the back to Volkswagen here for including all the safety features standard across the entire range. That includes six airbags (two front, two side and two curtain), Electronic stabilization program (ESP) incl. anti-lock brakingsystem (ABS) with braking assistant, anti-slip regulation (ASR), electronic limited-slip differential (EDS), engine braking control (MSR) and a more. The new Polo is available in seven different colours of which four are unicolour paints (white, red, blue and yellow) available as a no cost option. Silver, grey and black metallic paints are a $500 option. CarAdvice will soon road test the new Volkswagen Polo and bring you a comprehensive review of the different variants. 2010 Volkswagen Polo Trendline Standard Specifications: -Exterior and wheels 3-door body style Turn signal lights laterally integrated in outside mirrors • Roof post trim, high-gloss • Galvanized body • Radiator grille and air intake screen in black • Steel wheels, 5 J x 14, with full wheel covers, tyres 175/70 R 14 • Bumpers in car colour -Interior Storage bins in all doors (space for 1.5 litre bottles in front) Foamed instrument panel • Cup holder in rear • Driver's seat, height adjustable 4 roof-mounted grab handles, damped • Cargo area cover • Split folding rear bench seat • Fabric seat covers 12-V accessory socket in centre console • Load restraining hooks in cargo area -Safety Airbag for driver and front passenger Side airbag for driver and front passenger • Curtain airbags in front and rear • Three-point automatic safety belts in front with height adjustment and belt tensioners • 3 three-point automatic safety belts in rear • Electronic stabilization program (ESP) incl. anti-lock braking system (ABS) with braking assistant, anti-slip regulation (ASR), electronic limited-slip differential (EDS) and engine braking control (MSR) Safety-optimized head restraints, front • 3 head restraints, rear Electronic engine immobilizer - Convenience • Outside mirrors, power adjustable and heated • Hill Start Assist • Power windows, front • Cargo area lighting Glove box with cooling feature • Rear window wiper with intermittent adjustment at switch • Semi-automatic air-conditioning system including dust and pollen filter • Interior lighting in front with shutoff delay and contact switches at all doors • Instrument backlighting in white, dimmable; red night design for switches Instrument cluster with electronic speedometer, odometer and trip odometer, tachometer Convenience turn signal (1 press = 3 flashes) • Steering column, height and length adjustable • Vanity mirrors in sun visors • Power steering, electro-hydraulically controlled • Full size steel spare wheel • Warning tone if lights are left on • Warning tone and indicator lamp if seatbelt in front is unfastened • Remote Central locking • Driver's seat height adjustable Optional Comfort package for Polo Trendline: Automatic climate control air conditioning, automatically dimming interior rear-view mirror, cruise control, front centre armrest, low tyre pressure indicator, Multi-Function Display (MFD) with Multi-Function steering wheel and rain sensing wipers. – $900 2010 Volkswagen Polo Comfortline Standard Specifications (over Trendline standard specifications): - Exterior and wheels 5-door body style • Radiator grille black with chrome trim strip • Alloy wheels, 6 J x 15, tyres 195/55 R 15 - Interior Storage pockets on front seatbacks • Air vents and gear shift: bezels in brushed chrome • Parking brake lever knob in brushed chrome • Instruments with decorative bezels in brushed chrome • Rotary light switch with brushed chrome bezel • Centre armrest in front with storage box and fold-out cup holders in rear • Comfort fabric seat upholstery • Front passenger seat height adjustable • Gearshift knob in leather - Convenience Power windows in all doors • 2 reading lamps in front, 1 in rear • Vanity mirror, illuminated, in sun visors • Child safety locks on rear doors • Cruise control • Multi-function leather steering wheel • Multi-Function Display (MFD) Optional packages for Polo Comfortline: The Comfort Package includes an automatic climate control air conditioning, automatically dimming interior rear-view mirror, Low tyre pressure indicator and rain sensing wipers. – $500 Audio Package includes Media Device Interface (MDI) and RCD 510 (with 4 x 20 Watt output, six loudspeakers, touchscreen, dual tuner). – $770 Sport Package includes 17" alloy wheels, dark tinted 65% light absorbing rear side window and rear window glass, lowered sports suspension, front fog lights with static cornering function mounted in the lower bumper and low tyre pressure indicator. – $1,500 2010 Volkswagen Polo Pricing: Volkswagen Polo Trendline 3 Door 5 Speed Manual - $16,690 Volkswagen Polo Trendline 3 Door 7 Speed DSG – 19,190 Volkswagen Polo 77TSI Comfortline 5 Door 6 Speed Manual – $19,850 Volkswagen Polo 77TSI Comfortline 5 Door 7 Speed DSG – $22,350 Volkswagen Polo 66TDI Comfortline 5 Door 5 Speed Manual – $22,350 Volkswagen Polo 66TDI Comfortline 5 Door 7 Speed DSG – $24,850 2010 Volkswagen Polo Option Pricing: Metallic / Pearl Effect Paint – $500 Anti-theft Alarm System – $600 Comfort Package – Trendline – $900 Comfort Package – Comfortline – $500 Sport Package – Comfortline – $1,500 Audio Package – Comfortline – $770 Alcantara/Leatherette upholstery – Comfortline only – $2,300 . Ford Australia posts $13 million profit for 2009 Ford Australia returned a net after-tax profit of $13 million in 2009, the company's first profit since 2005 and a $287 million improvement on 2008. Ford Australia President and CEO, Marin Burela, said the combination of a $3.14 billion sales revenue, an improved company cost structure and the non-repeat of one-time actions associated with the restructure helped return the business to profitability one year ahead of plan. "Like our parent company in the US, Ford Australia took decisive and immediate action at the onset of the global financial crisis in late 2008 in order to weather the breaking economic storm. "We significantly changed our sales and production focus to build cars based on demand and introduced more fuel efficient vehicles like the Fiesta ECOnetic, while improving the environmental performance of our locally manufactured models," Mr Burela said. Although its sales figure of 99,279 was below that of 2008, Ford said the improved profit was a reflection of a rise in Falcon sedan share from 25 percent to 34 percent and an increased demand for higher-spec models. Mr Burela also acknowledged the company's enormous effort to streamline its build processes and its emphasis on an efficient, build-to-order production schedule with strong inventory management. "These actions were not easy, and could not have been undertaken without the hard work and dedication of our employees and our dealers. "But they have delivered on the goal of improving our cash reserves and returning Ford Australia to profit despite an industry-wide downturn in sales, providing a strong base for continued growth and profitability." Ford increased its local production volume in October last year by adding overtime to its Victorian plants, and has not ruled out the possibility of continuing on throughout 2010 if demand remains strong. It is set to begin production of the special edition Falcon 50th anniversary models in June, celebrating its record as the longest-running vehicle nameplate in Ford Motor Company history. The Falcon is still on track become the first four-cylinder EcoBoost-powered rear-wheel drive vehicle in the world when it goes on sale in 2011, and will also benefit from a new liquid phase injection LPG system. A turbodiesel engine will be added to the Territory range, also from next year. Ford recently announced a $20 million upgrade program for its Geelong casting plant which will allow it to produce around one million brake parts per year for Bosch Chassis Systems Australia. "Our casting plant investment is just one example of Ford Australia taking a different approach to our business to ensure our long-term success in Australia," Mr Burela said. "In addition to being a major vehicle manufacturer we are now also a supplier to the broader automotive industry through our innovative partnership with Bosch, repositioning us for an even stronger future." According to VFACTS figures, over the first four months of 2010 Ford's local sales have increased by 8.4 percent over 2009 (30,162 vs 27,822), despite its total market share falling from 10 percent to 9.1 percent. The Fiesta has been the biggest improver, up 35.7 percent year-to-date to 3861 units, while the Territory (3588 vs 2801) and Mondeo (1654 vs 1297) have also enjoyed increases of over 25 percent. The Falcon is 22.6 percent ahead of the same time last year with 10,091 sales, although the Falcon Ute is down 6.3 percent and trailing the Holden Ute by more than 700 units. Holden has sold 14,529 Commodore sedans and Sportwagons so far in 2010. The Focus has perhaps been Ford's most disappointing model so far this year with sales down 25 percent from 4213 to 3150. . 2010 Mitsubishi ASX coming to Australia in August Mitsubishi Australia has confirmed its all-wheel drive compact-crossover vehicle, the Mitsubishi ASX, will go on sale in Australia in August. Short for "Active Smart Crossover", Mitsubishi Motors Australia Limited president and CEO, Masahiko Takahashi, said the ASX would be a unique addition to the local range. "The ASX is primarily a city car – very stylish and manoeuvrable around town – and the adoption of the European brand name reflects this. "But ASX is more than just a pretty face. It also has the added benefit of being very smart, especially in terms of the technology that drives its engineering, design and all-wheel drive ability," Mr Takahashi said. Based on the Concept-cX show car first unveiled at the Frankfurt Motor Show in 2007, the ASX is already available in Japan and Europe with a range of drivetrains and the choice of two- and all-wheel drive. Mistubishi Australia is yet to reveal full specifications for the local ASX range, but has confirmed that it will offer both petrol and diesel engines. In the UK, the ASX is powered by a 1.8-litre direct-injection turbodiesel and a 1.6-litre petrol engine and. Both are brand new and Euro-5 compliant. Mitsubishi UK claims it is the first time a variable valve system has been incorporated into a diesel passenger car, while the petrol engine emits just 135g/km CO2. The 1.8 is mated to a six-speed manual and a choice of two- and all-wheel drive, while the 1.6 comes standard with a five-speed manual. Other features on the UK-spec ASX include Automatic Stop & Go, regenerative braking, Hill Start Assist and seven airbags. The Japanese version of the ASX, the RVR, comes with a 1.8-litre petrol engine mated to a CVT transmission. If Mitsubishi Australia decides to place the ASX in direct competition with the similarly sized Nissan Dualis, expect a starting price around $25,000 from August. . BMW three-cylinder engine set to feature in next-gen MINI Following reports late last year that BMW are constructing a new ultra-efficient three-cylidner engine, comes news today that the German manufacturer could feature the frugal powerplant in its next-generation MINI models. As fuel consumption standards become more stringent, BMW CEO Norbert Reithofer confirmed his brand is indeed readying its first ever three-cylinder engine, and although specification or fuel economy figures have yet to be confirmed, BMW has hinted that despite the engine’s reduced capacity, we’re not likely to see any drop off in performance, the new MINI Cooper model to deliver at least 89kW. That means the MINI Cooper S model should pack around the same 134kW power rating. It is rumoured the new three-cylinder engine will be of approximately 1.3-litres in capacity and will score direct injection and a small variable geometry turbocharger. In a car such as the MINI Cooper, rough estimates put the engine’s combined cycle fuel economy figure at 4.7L/100km. .