Category: News

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HAVAL H2 CHASING MORE SALES

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Chinese car maker Haval hasn’t had a lot of success in the Australian sales race with its smallest SUV, the Haval H2. So has begun a marketing campaign that sees price drops, added equipment and name changes to the model lineup. The H2 entry model’s title has been changed from MT to City. Pricing is extremely sharp, with the six-speed manual offered at just $19,990 driveaway. The six-speed automatic has a recommended retail just $1000 more, that is $20,990 driveaway. Standard features include 18-inch alloys, keyless entry and start, privacy… Read more

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EXPLORE THE BUSH WITH NEW NARVAS

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When launched in 2017 Narva’s ‘Explora’ LED Driving Light Bar revolutionised the compact light bar market thanks to its ‘Advanced Optic Drive Technology’. This helped the light provide up to 30 per cent brighter light output (2400 Lumens and 1 Lux of light at 269 metres), compared to a conventional LED light bar. (This comparison is based on 12-inch single row conventional LED light bar.) Building on its initial 14-inch single-row Explora bar, Narva is now selling two models for those requiring even more light, but who want to keep… Read more

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MAJOR SAFETY FEATURES ADDED TO HAVEL H9 SUV

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Haval has added many safety features to its H9 SUV range: autonomous emergency braking, forward collision warning, adaptive cruise control, blind spot monitoring, rear cross traffic alert and lane departure warning are now standard across its H9 4WD range. Not only is there significantly more safety but there’s even better news, no price increases. Existing standard features on the Haval H9 Lux include tri-zone air conditioning; a rain sensing sunroof; automatic Xenon headlamps; auto wipers; electrochromatic rear view mirror; a rear camera; park guidance; and all terrain control. The H9… Read more

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MINI CLUBMAN UPDATED FOR 2020

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Perhaps I’m easily pleased – but it intrigues me that the MINI can be bought with two, three, four, five or six doors. Six doors? I hear you ask… Yes the MINI Clubman has a split rear door of the type usually only seen on large, serious 4WDs. For the 2020 season MINI Clubman has had a solid makeover outside and in. The body has a newly designed radiator grille, LED headlights with Matrix function for the high beam. LED foglamps with driving light ring. At the rear LED lights… Read more

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BMW M850i COUPE – A RARE BEAST

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BMW has allocated just eight for the M850i First Edition Coupes for Australia. That’s eight out of 400 being sold globally. All will be painted in BMW Individual Frozen Barcelona Blue metallic paint and rides on Jet Black 20-inch BMW M light alloy wheels in a Y-spoke design. Exterior accents include the extended BMW Individual High Gloss Shadow Line package with high-gloss black treatment to the BMW kidney grille and side air breathers. The M Carbon Exterior Package, usually a cost option on the regular M850i, is fitted as standard… Read more

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NEW BMW 7 SERIES ON ITS WAY

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BMW has announced specifications and pricing for the latest version of the 7 Series due for release here in June. In days gone by it would have been called an ‘upgrade’ or a ‘facelift’ but BMW uses the acronym LCI, for ‘Life Cycle Impulse’. The current, sixth generation, 7 Series has been in production since 2015 and the most noticeable change for the MY2019 model is at the front with a 40 per cent larger version of the traditional BMW kidney grille with an aggressive kink at the top; slimmer… Read more

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NEW VENUE WILL BE HYUNDAI’S MOST AFFORDABLE SUV

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Hyundai has added a new entry-level model to its SUV range. Launched at the New York International Auto Show the Hyundai Venue sits below the Kona, Tucson and Santa Fe in size and price. Pricing is yet to be announced but, given that it’s described as “Hyundai’s most affordable SUV”, it will come in below the $23,500 tag on the Kona Go. There’s even speculation that it could start sub-$20,000 for a stripped down basic model. We’ve yet to see Venue in the metal but photos show a squarish, functional… Read more

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NEW FORD ESCAPE WILL BE OFFERED AS A HYBRID

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In an interesting move, Ford Australia has announced that its all-new Ford Escape SUV will be offered as a plug-in hybrid when it arrives Downunder in 2020. It will be the first Ford PHEV (Plug-in Hybrid Electric) model offered in this country and indicates Ford is serious about meeting future owners’ needs. Escape hybrid will be powered by 2.5-litre, four-cylinder Atkinson-cycle petrol engine, electric motor and generator, and 14.4kWh lithium-ion battery to produce up to 165kW of power. Ford says it will have a fully-electric driving range in excess of… Read more

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VOLKSWAGEN MULTIVAN BLACK EDITION

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Volkswagen Australia realises that many people are buying seven-seat SUVs because they are tough and trendy but often then come to realise that the back seats can be difficult to get into and squeezy once you’re there. So VW also sells a Multivan seven-seater that offers spacious accommodation for seven. It hasn’t sold as well as anticipated and so it has introduced a stylish Multivan Black Edition. Some 230 examples of the Multivan Black Edition are coming Downunder. The launch of the Black Edition took place at the Manly (Sydney)… Read more

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FCAI’s REPLY TO LABOR’S ENVIRONMENTAL PLANS

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The Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI), Australia’s peak automotive industry body, has welcomed the release of Labor’s environmental policy which includes a new focus on low emissions and electric vehicle targets. “It’s fantastic to see this important topic receive the attention it deserves,” said Tony Weber, chief executive of the FCAI. “The automotive industry has invested heavily in the development of new technology for battery electric, hybrid electric and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, many of which are already available on the Australian market. It’s critical that Australian consumers have… Read more