The newest road rocket to carry the Italian supercar brand's famous prancing horse badge, the 458 is unveiled today in production-ready form as the successor to the F430.

Its performance promises to be very special, matching or bettering the lightweight Scuderia version of the 430 with a top speed beyond 330km/ h and a 0-100km/h sprint time below four seconds.

But it will come at a price - more than $450,000 in Australia when deliveries begin in the second half of 2010.

The mechanical package of the F458 - its name comes from the 4.5- litre, eight-cylinder engine - is familiar to anyone who has tracked Ferrari history since the 308. It is a mid-engined car with a V8 motor and rear-wheel drive.

It sits alongside the California droptop and below the V12 models in the Ferrari family.

The car will not be seen in public until the Frankfurt Motor Show in September but more than two dozen super-keen Australian enthusiasts have already put money down to reserve an early delivery.

Full details are also being kept secret until Frankfurt but some things are obvious from the pictures.

The height of the F458 is considerably lower than the 430 and it has lost the signature side vents for the cooling system. It is also stripped of any sort of wings or spoilers. This shows Formula One thinking, as there is a secondary wing in the frontal air inlet and the body has been shaped to divert air to essential openings under high pressure. Downforce is all down to the underbody shaping.

Space has also been created in the tail for a large diffuser by siting the exhaust high in the back end. But the pictures show three pipes, pointing to an active exhaust which switches mode depending on speed and load.

The F458 will take electronics to the next level, with more driver adjustment of the chassis and engine parameters, including stability control.

The Australian importer, European Automotive Imports, says it has been flooded by potential buyers since news of the F458 - originally expected to be called the F450 - began leaking from Ferrari headquarters in Maranello. "We are into double figures on orders. As soon as there was even a hint there was a new car coming we were contacted by enthusiastic owner keens to move up to the latest model," says spokesman, Edward Rowe.

He dismisses any suggestion that a new Ferrari is irrelevant in 2010 except as a dream machine. "For the car market as a whole they are very much testbeds for technology that spreads very quickly. The most obvious example is electronic stability control. This grew out of Formula One and Mercedes-Benz was the first to put it into production cars," Rowe says. "This car will take that to the next level. It will be extremely easy to drive, and safe."

"And then there are robotised manual gearboxes. The Ferrari F355 was the first. Now they are the type of gearboxes that give the best fuel economy and emissions. "It's not stretching a point to say everyone benefits eventually from these cars. They advance the cutting edge of technology."

Have you ever thought that you were being taken for a ride on petrol prices? Well, you have!

So how are you being ripped off? It’s simple really – once, of course, you know the games that can be played by the big oil companies and Coles and Woolworths.

Let’s begin at the retail level.

Here the rip off can occur in two basic ways. First, there is the practice of geographic price discrimination. This is where, for example, the same oil company charges one price for unleaded petrol at location A and a higher price for the same petrol at location B.

Why the higher price at some locations and lower prices at other locations?

Quite simply because the oil company can get away with the higher prices at those locations where there is little or no competition. At these higher priced locations there is simply no incentive for the oil company to lower its prices. Motorists simply pay a higher price than they would have if there had been independents in the local market.

Clearly, geographic price discrimination serves two purposes. To begin with, it allows the oil companies and Coles and Woolworths to gouge motorists in those locations where there is no competition from independents.

This gouging is nothing more than profiteering as the failure of competition in the local market means that consumers are being forced to pay much more than they would have if the local market had been vigorously competitive.

The profiteering gets larger as local competition fails in more and more areas.

Conveniently for the oil companies and Coles and Woolworths the geographic price discrimination can facilitate the destruction of local competition as the practice allows independents to be ambushed.

This can occur as the lower prices charged by the oil companies and Coles and Woolworths where there are independents can be subsidised by the higher prices in those areas where the big players don’t face any competition from independents.

In this way geographic price discrimination can be used in a predatory manner to target independents through at times below cost pricing with the clear aim of driving those independents out of business. The big players can sustain this below cost pricing against the independents through their higher prices in those areas where independents have been driven out of the local market.

Sadly for motorists the below cost pricing only lasts as long as the independents do, because once the independents are forced out of the local market prices will go up.

Read the full article on The Punch

Find the cheapest petrol near you

Judging on all fronts now advances to the semi-finals, three cars in each case, which will be named at the Geneva Motor Show at the start of March. Then it is over to the judges to drive, assess and vote.

The Chevrolet Camaro might be built and sold in the USA, but it was designed, developed, tested and approved down under as a spin-off from the VE Commodore. It is named this week among the 31 finalists for the World COTY (see gallery above for full shortlist), and will be judged by a global panel of 60 motoring journalists before the winner is named at the New York Auto Show in April next year.

The finalists carry badges from Audi to Toyota and are as diverse as the latest green-power Honda Insight and Toyota Prius to the super luxury Porsche Panamera.

"The list came from the manufacturers, who sent us their eligible cars for the year. There may be one or two more yet, because a couple of companies might have some extra models before the end of the year," says WCOTY co-chairman, Peter Lyon. "For example, there is the Mercedes SLS Gullwing. We don't know yet when it will go on sale."

Apart from the World COTY contest, the same judging panel also decides the World Performance Car of the Year (see gallery), World Green Car of the Year and World Car Design of the year.

So far there are 18 potential winners in the performance category, from the Aston Martin V12 Vantage to the Renault Clio 3 Renault Sport. Judging on all fronts now advances to the semi-finals, three cars in each case, which will be named at the Geneva Motor Show at the start of March. Then it is over to the judges to drive, assess and vote.

"This year we have 60 judges altogether. We've capped at that number, after adding a couple of new judges this year," says Lyon. "Originally we had about 44 judges. But 60 is the basic number of the North American, European and Japanese COTY awards and that seemed like the right number."

"We've got judges now for Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. We've basically covered 25 or 26 countries, from Australia to Russia and everywhere between."

Lyon says the basics of the award have not changed for the sixth judging and he makes no apologies for the list of contenders. "The German and Japanese cars are romping it in again. It's basically a reflection of the quality of car manufacturing today. The Japanese and Germans are making the best cars in the world, full stop," he says.

"But we think, of all the Car of the Year awards, this is the most natural. There is no pressure on any of the judges. They just vote for the best cars as they see them in their countries."

The Pontiac G8 program finishes at the end of the year but there was hope of a new direction with trans-Pacific shipments from GM Holden under the luxury Caprice nameplate for use in the Chevrolet family.

GM's product guru Bob Lutz, flagged a fresh opening for the Commodore last week when he said it was being considered for a born-again export deal.

But Lutz has now back-flipped.

"The G8 will not be a Caprice after all," Lutz says.

He has just been lured from the brink of retirement, at 77, to become the marketing and public relations chief for the company now known as 'New GM'. It is emerging from Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in the USA much faster than anyone predicted, although there are still doubts over some sales — including Opel of Germany — and questions about the future product line-up.

Lutz was expected to finish with GM in December and there has already been a serious shake-up among the heads of his former engineering division. But he still has big clout and is a major fan of the Commodore and its G8 clone.

"I'd mentioned it, and said we were studying it, giving it a serious look, because a car like the G8 was just too good to waste. That's all still true," Lutz says.

"But I have to say that, with my new 'marketing' hat on, upon further review and careful study, we simply cannot make a business case for such a program. Not in today's market, in this economy, and with fuel regulations what they are and will be.

"With budgets being what they are for the time being, the resources must be allocated elsewhere."

Even so, Lutz has not ruled out some future role for Commodore-based cars in the USA.

We have a tremendous rear-wheel drive team in Australia that gave us the beloved G8, a team that we will tap into at some point again in the future for its expertise and sheet metal."

The Pontiac G8 program finishes at the end of the year but there was hope of a new direction with trans-Pacific shipments from GM Holden under the luxury Caprice nameplate for use in the Chevrolet family.

GM's product guru Bob Lutz, flagged a fresh opening for the Commodore last week when he said it was being considered for a born-again export deal.

But Lutz has now back-flipped.

"The G8 will not be a Caprice after all," Lutz says.

He has just been lured from the brink of retirement, at 77, to become the marketing and public relations chief for the company now known as 'New GM'. It is emerging from Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in the USA much faster than anyone predicted, although there are still doubts over some sales — including Opel of Germany — and questions about the future product line-up.

Lutz was expected to finish with GM in December and there has already been a serious shake-up among the heads of his former engineering division. But he still has big clout and is a major fan of the Commodore and its G8 clone.

"I'd mentioned it, and said we were studying it, giving it a serious look, because a car like the G8 was just too good to waste. That's all still true," Lutz says.

"But I have to say that, with my new 'marketing' hat on, upon further review and careful study, we simply cannot make a business case for such a program. Not in today's market, in this economy, and with fuel regulations what they are and will be.

"With budgets being what they are for the time being, the resources must be allocated elsewhere."

Even so, Lutz has not ruled out some future role for Commodore-based cars in the USA.

We have a tremendous rear-wheel drive team in Australia that gave us the beloved G8, a team that we will tap into at some point again in the future for its expertise and sheet metal."

Suzuki Australia has confirmed its mid-size Kizashi sedan will arrive in the second quarter of next year, pitched right into the stagnant mid-size segment.

However, Suzuki Australia general manager, Tony Devers, has high hopes for the mid-sizer, which will be pitched directly at the Mazda6 and Honda Euro. "It's a driver's car and we've benchmarked the Mazda6 and Honda Accord Euro," he says.

A Kizashi pre-production car is due to arrive within weeks to start the local homologation process. Devers says when production models become available he also plans to clinic the car among focus groups to see how it goes in front of potential Australian buyers. "This is the biggest passenger car that we've made," he says. "There's a lot riding on it."

The Kizashi will be launched with an entry 2.4-litre front wheel drive version should be around $30,000 with a larger capacity V6 of more than 3.0-litre arriving later. The V6 may also get all-wheel drive.

Ahead of the Kizashi is the new facelifted SX4, which will arrive early next year. "We've dropped the ball on the SX4," Devers says. So far this year Suzuki has sold just 1337 SX4s, down almost 50 per cent over the same period last year.

Devers says the changeover to the new car is to blame. "We lost about three months of production," he says. "We definitely dropped the ball with that car." The facelifted SX4 gets a more powerful 2.0-litre engine but also a 20 per cent fuel economy lift and more equipment.

Devers wants to relaunch the car with more enthusiasm in the marketplace but admits that it goes up against some tough small car competition, like the Toyota Corolla and Mazda3. Suzuki plans to push the car's individual styling as well as its all-wheel drive capacity. "AWD represents about 70 per cent of SX4 sales," Devers says. "Well definitely push that more among potential buyers."

The Grand Vitara and Swift remain Suzuki's big cash-cows. Grand Vitara sales are up 12 per cent this year thanks to the addition of the 2.4-litre three-door and the Swift is weathering the overall downturn well, with sales down 14 per cent year to date.

Further out a new-generation Swift and Swift Sport are due in 2011 and Suzuki wants to launch a bigger off-roader above the Grand Vitara around 2012.

Devers says Suzuki's retention rate is lifting as the brand reputation grows thanks to the success of the newer entrants like the Swift. Four years ago Suzuki had a buyer retention rate of just 22 per cent. This has grown to around 60 per cent today.

Suzuki Australia has confirmed its mid-size Kizashi sedan will arrive in the second quarter of next year, pitched right into the stagnant mid-size segment.

However, Suzuki Australia general manager, Tony Devers, has high hopes for the mid-sizer, which will be pitched directly at the Mazda6 and Honda Euro. "It's a driver's car and we've benchmarked the Mazda6 and Honda Accord Euro," he says.

A Kizashi pre-production car is due to arrive within weeks to start the local homologation process. Devers says when production models become available he also plans to clinic the car among focus groups to see how it goes in front of potential Australian buyers. "This is the biggest passenger car that we've made," he says. "There's a lot riding on it."

The Kizashi will be launched with an entry 2.4-litre front wheel drive version should be around $30,000 with a larger capacity V6 of more than 3.0-litre arriving later. The V6 may also get all-wheel drive.

Ahead of the Kizashi is the new facelifted SX4, which will arrive early next year. "We've dropped the ball on the SX4," Devers says. So far this year Suzuki has sold just 1337 SX4s, down almost 50 per cent over the same period last year.

Devers says the changeover to the new car is to blame. "We lost about three months of production," he says. "We definitely dropped the ball with that car." The facelifted SX4 gets a more powerful 2.0-litre engine but also a 20 per cent fuel economy lift and more equipment.

Devers wants to relaunch the car with more enthusiasm in the marketplace but admits that it goes up against some tough small car competition, like the Toyota Corolla and Mazda3. Suzuki plans to push the car's individual styling as well as its all-wheel drive capacity. "AWD represents about 70 per cent of SX4 sales," Devers says. "Well definitely push that more among potential buyers."

The Grand Vitara and Swift remain Suzuki's big cash-cows. Grand Vitara sales are up 12 per cent this year thanks to the addition of the 2.4-litre three-door and the Swift is weathering the overall downturn well, with sales down 14 per cent year to date.

Further out a new-generation Swift and Swift Sport are due in 2011 and Suzuki wants to launch a bigger off-roader above the Grand Vitara around 2012.

Devers says Suzuki's retention rate is lifting as the brand reputation grows thanks to the success of the newer entrants like the Swift. Four years ago Suzuki had a buyer retention rate of just 22 per cent. This has grown to around 60 per cent today.

But two Australian buyers have already joined the queue for the Mercedes-Benz SLS gullwing, sight unseen, putting deposits on the $500,000-plus supercar. The SLS, which pays homage to the 1950s Gullwing 300SL, is expected to be unveiled at this year's Frankfurt Motor Show.

Mercedes-Benz Australia expects global demand for the SLS to be greater than the planned production output. "We want to maintain exclusivity," Mercedes-Benz Australia managing director passenger cars, Horst von Sanden, says.

The SLS will not be as expensive as the million-dollar McLaren Mercedes, but its $500,000 plus price-tag will ensure it remains a rare sight on Australian roads.

Von Sanden expects the SLS, with its distinctive gullwing doors, to be a magnet for collectors. "It's that type of car," he says. "For many customers it is a collectors car and the build volume will be limited globally to reflect that." The SLS is the first supercar developed in-house by the AMG performance division.

More details about the Ferrari-beater are surfacing daily. It makes extensive use of alloy for its body and chassis to keep its weight down to around 1600kg.

The car's United States dealership guide shows it will feature a mid-front mounted 6.3-litre hand-built V8 AMG engine developing 420kW/650Nm. The engine's mid-front mounting position helps deliver a 48/52 front to rear weight balance.

The AMG tuned engine gives the car a top speed of 315km/h and it will rocket to 100km/h in 3.8 seconds. The V8 will be mated to a standard AMG seven-speed dual clutch transmission and limited slip differential.

Among the features expected are keyless-start, auto-dimming mirrors and dual zone climate control, rear view camera's, daytime running lights, six-disc CD changer with MP3 connectivity and a 40GB satellite navigation system. US buyers can also individualise their cars.

Several different standard leather trims will be available and carbon fibre trim is on the list for $5500. Throw carbon fibre side mirrors into the list and these will set you back $6200. A carbon fibre engine cover is $6600. If that is not enough, buyers can also spend another $11,000 to fit out the cabin with more carbon fibre for the sills and seat surrounds.

A comprehensive Bang & Olufsen 10 speaker, 1000 watt speaker system is also offered for $7800. Other options include an AMG suspension upgrade for $1900. Carbon ceramic brakes will cost $16,000.

But two Australian buyers have already joined the queue for the Mercedes-Benz SLS gullwing, sight unseen, putting deposits on the $500,000-plus supercar. The SLS, which pays homage to the 1950s Gullwing 300SL, is expected to be unveiled at this year's Frankfurt Motor Show.

Mercedes-Benz Australia expects global demand for the SLS to be greater than the planned production output. "We want to maintain exclusivity," Mercedes-Benz Australia managing director passenger cars, Horst von Sanden, says.

The SLS will not be as expensive as the million-dollar McLaren Mercedes, but its $500,000 plus price-tag will ensure it remains a rare sight on Australian roads.

Von Sanden expects the SLS, with its distinctive gullwing doors, to be a magnet for collectors. "It's that type of car," he says. "For many customers it is a collectors car and the build volume will be limited globally to reflect that." The SLS is the first supercar developed in-house by the AMG performance division.

More details about the Ferrari-beater are surfacing daily. It makes extensive use of alloy for its body and chassis to keep its weight down to around 1600kg.

The car's United States dealership guide shows it will feature a mid-front mounted 6.3-litre hand-built V8 AMG engine developing 420kW/650Nm. The engine's mid-front mounting position helps deliver a 48/52 front to rear weight balance.

The AMG tuned engine gives the car a top speed of 315km/h and it will rocket to 100km/h in 3.8 seconds. The V8 will be mated to a standard AMG seven-speed dual clutch transmission and limited slip differential.

Among the features expected are keyless-start, auto-dimming mirrors and dual zone climate control, rear view camera's, daytime running lights, six-disc CD changer with MP3 connectivity and a 40GB satellite navigation system. US buyers can also individualise their cars.

Several different standard leather trims will be available and carbon fibre trim is on the list for $5500. Throw carbon fibre side mirrors into the list and these will set you back $6200. A carbon fibre engine cover is $6600. If that is not enough, buyers can also spend another $11,000 to fit out the cabin with more carbon fibre for the sills and seat surrounds.

A comprehensive Bang & Olufsen 10 speaker, 1000 watt speaker system is also offered for $7800. Other options include an AMG suspension upgrade for $1900. Carbon ceramic brakes will cost $16,000.