UNDERSTANDING CARS
Most of us would like to spend as little as possible on fuel and if possible, reduce our carbon footprint as well. Discover the technologies which make cars cleaner and more fuel-efficient.
Most manufacturers have engine management systems designed to make them more efficient. Toyota Dual Variable Valve Timing with Intelligence (Dual VVT-i) adjusts engine timing while the car is on the move, making the engine more fuel-efficient and reducing CO2 emissions.
The best way to judge the efficiency of the engine is to check the fuel consumption and emission figures. If it's a new car, these will be displayed on the windscreen, and can also be found on the manufacturer's website.
This combines an electric motor and a petrol engine, or other fuel type engine, reducing fuel consumption and CO2 emissions
Toyota's Hybrid Synergy Drive
So while Hybrids may cost a little more to buy, they can end up saving you a lot of money over time.
Car manufacturers and dealers often talk about car performance in glowing but confusingly obscure terms.
For instance, they'll tell you how many litres the engine is, how many kilowatts it generates, how much torque you can expect from it and the number of gears there are in the transmission.
It all sounds impressive, but unless you are a technician, or have a great understanding of the technical makeup of automotive vehicles, it's hard to know what's actually important to understand.
The first thing is to be clear about what the term 'performance' actually covers when it comes to cars.
Generally, it refers to how powerful the car is, how well it handles and how responsive it is to drive.
Engine power is measured in kilowatts. But a really important factor that many people overlook is the importance of torque. Torque measures the amount of turning force the engine generates - the more torque, the better the acceleration and the better towing capacity you'll have.
The size of a car's engine is usually measured in litres. As a loose rule of thumb, the bigger the engine, the more power it can generate. However, with advanced engine technologies such as Toyota's Dual Variable Valve Timing with Intelligence (Dual VVT-i), clever design and the addition of turbo chargers or super chargers, many smaller, high revving engines can produce a lot of power very efficiently.
Hybrids such as the Camry Hybrid, which combines an electric motor and a petrol engine, can also offer high performance with extremely low CO2 emissions
Small diesel engines produce relatively low power in terms of kilowatts, but can generate large amounts of Torque, which makes them economical on fuel and highly efficient workhorses.
There's no need to understand the science of torque unless you're interested, but if you are comparing cars and you want to see which one is likely to deliver the most powerful performance, it's worth comparing the torque they generate. You should find the maximum torque (measured in Nm Newton-metres) on the car manufacturer's website.
In some states, if you are a P-Plate driver your licence won't qualify you to drive high performance cars or cars with modified engines. So it's best to check what restrictions apply before you think about buying. You can find out all you need to know by visiting the website of the relevant roads and traffic authority in your state or territory, such as the RMS, VicRoads or Transport SA.
If you're tempted to go for high performance, remember that while bigger engines may generate more kilowatts and torque, this can man they use more fuel and produce more CO2 emissions
In some states, if you passed your test in an automatic, you'll only be qualified to drive cars with automatic transmission. Again, it's worth checking this on the website of the roads and traffic authority in your state or territory, before you start thinking about buying.
Some people prefer to drive a manual for the hands-on driving experience this kind of transmission offers, while others prefer the convenience of an automatic. Some automatics are fitted with paddle shift technology, which offers the driver the option of manual-like gear changes via paddle switches on the steering wheel when they feel like a sportier driving experience.
In performance terms, whether you drive an automatic or a manual, the number of gears is important. A 6 or 7-speed gearbox will give you a smoother, more responsive ride than a 4-speed gearbox as the available gear ratios match a wider range of driving situations. Also, having a high ratio top gear is excellent for fuel economy.
How well a car handles and responds, depends on several factors - suspension, steering, aerodynamics, weight and balance to name but a few. Technologies such as Traction Control (TRC) and Vehicle Stability Control (VSC) help ensure a smooth take off and reliable cornering in wet and slippery conditions. While advanced braking systems such as ABS (Anti Skid Braking System) with Brake Assist (BA) for emergencies and Electronic Brake Force Distribution (EBD) help you stop without skidding or wheel lock ups in the shortest distance possible. Car review sites will give you a pretty good idea of which cars handle best. But the surest way to find out how well a car handles is to test drive it, making sure you give it a thorough workout in a variety of situations - testing braking response, acceleration (from a standing start and through the gears) and seeing how it corners on a twisty road.
Cars today are more than a means of getting from A to B. They are mobile personal environments.
These days they are laid out with cleverly positioned storage spaces for everything from maps and iPods
In some models, ingenious use of space and flexible seat folding configurations mean you can carry surprisingly large amounts of gear (including large, awkward shaped cargo) and still have room for passengers - even in really compact cars.
Comfort features vary from car to car so it's worth comparing these carefully.
Features to look out for include:
