Lasting Legacy

The new Subaru Legacy is to be officially unveiled in Japan in two weeks. Spy pictures reveal that the all-wheel-drive newcomer has retained the basic shape, but Subaru has sharpened the headlights, grille and bonnet to give the car a more dynamic appearance. The interior is said to be more upmarket, thanks in part to the use of higher-grade plastics. Attracting most interest is news that Subaru will phase out the 206kW twin-turbocharged 2-litre unit in the lickety-split B4 in favour of a single turbo with the same output but far smoother delivery. The twin-turbo has been criticised for its inconsistent power delivery. The B4 will also get a revised all-wheel-drive system, expected to split power 45/55 between front and rear wheels.

Peugeot 406 wins

Aucklander Logan Clark writes: "I read with interest in the (May 24) Good Oil column about a gentleman's thrifty trip to Queenstown and back in his diesel Peugeot 406. I recently completed the same trip in my new Range Rover Vogue. Leaving Auckland with a full tank, I refuelled at Taihape, Wellington, Greymouth and Wanaka before arriving in Queenstown with about two-thirds of a tank. I returned to Auckland by air, leaving the Range Rover to be driven back to Auckland by a family member. The total distance travelled was about 3000km. With an average fill of $90, this equates to a total fuel bill of around $800. No comparison to the $90 trip in the thrifty diesel."

Show and tell

Honda is expected to take the wraps off a facelifted Civic at the Frankfurt motor show in September. The current model is now two years old - it was the Herald's Car of the Year in 2001 - and the restyle will keep it fresh until the all-new replacement goes on sale here in 2006. Also making its official debut at Frankfurt is Maserati's upcoming Quattroporte replacement, likely to be carrying a new name. It is expected to look much different from the boxy shape of the former luxury Italian sedan and be slightly longer than the short-wheelbase Mercedes-Benz S-Class.

Ford milestones

Ford celebrates its 100th birthday on June 16 and has recently produced its 100-millionth V8 engine. The high point prompted American columnist Howard Walker to ask: What's the most powerful Ford V8 ever built? Answer: The 7000bhp (5200kW) engine that powers the Castrol GTX Ford Mustang funny car driven by 11-time American drag-racing champion John Force. The car sprints from zero to 162km/h (100mph) in eight-tenths of a second and on to 526km/h (325mph) in 4.8s, pulling 4G in the process. The least powerful V8 was the flathead unit Ford built in 1936 that produced 60bhp (44kW).

Tax relief ruckus

President Bush has given buyers of four-wheel-drives a tax break in a new package he has just signed into law. But it has come under fire from American conservationists. The bill allows small businesses and professionals to deduct up to $US100,000 ($175,000) when buying any vehicle weighing more than 2700kg. But the weight limit excludes several popular pick-up trucks and sports utility vehicles. The bill also allows small businesses to write off the full cost of their vehicles in the first year of ownership. "By supporting a new $100,000 tax deduction for small business owners who buy gas-guzzling SUVs and Hummers, Congress is sending the harmful message that it's okay to waste oil and to rip off US taxpayers," said David M. Nemtzow, president of Washington-based watchdog body the Alliance to Save Energy.

We are the world

The H2 Hummer, the civilian version of the gargantuan all-purpose American military four-wheel-drive, counts among its celebrity owners actor Bruce Willis, tennis star Andre Agassi, moviemaker James Cameron, CNN network founder Ted Turner and, of course, Arnold Schwarzenegger, who persuaded the vehicle's maker, AM General, to build the first civvy-street model in 1992.