Category: News

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FORD AUSTRALIA AIMS AT THE FUTURE

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The future of the automotive industry in Australia is rapidly taking shape. While manufacturing is slowly grinding to a halt – Ford has stopped, Holden and Toyota are preparing to do so, the future is looking increasingly bright. If you’re in design and engineering that is, sadly many people on the shop floor are losing jobs, thankfully with a great deal of assistance from the respective car companies. The Ford Motor Company currently employs about 203,000 people and has 67 plants worldwide. It plans to be a leader in connectivity,… Read more

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ALL-NEW SUBARU IMPREZA

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The all-new Subaru Impreza has landed in Australia and is of vital importance to the Japanese company as it’s built on a modular platform that, with variations, has been used in every new model Subaru builds for many years. On a trip to Japan a few months ago I was in a small group of Australians comprising the first foreign journalists to see the all-new Subaru Impreza. Subaru’s Australian operation is very highly regarded by Subaru’s head office as it has played a big part in the company’s global success… Read more

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STUNNING NEW ALFA ROMEO GIULIA

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Alfa Romeo has announced its Giulia sports sedan will arrive in Australia in February 2017. It’s a true sports model, with rear-wheel-drive giving it 50/50 weight distribution. It will be sold in four trim levels: Giulia, Giulia Super, Giulia Veloce and Giulia Quadrifoglio. The hot Quadrifoglio is the star of the range, jumping from zero to 100 km/h in just 3.9 seconds. It also holds the current Nurburgring production sedan lap record at just 7 minutes and 32 seconds. Quadrifoglio is Italian for four-leaf clover and has been the symbol… Read more

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NO-CHARGE CHARGING AT WESTFIELD SHOPPING CENTRES

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In a strong sign of the future of the automobile, BMW and Westfield have teamed up to install 40 new electric vehicle (EV) charging stations in 10 Westfield shopping centres across NSW, Queensland and Victoria. The charging stations can be used by any electric vehicle not just BMWs and there’s no charge for the charging. By March 2017, electric vehicle owners will be able to access four charging stations per centre at Westfield Bondi Junction, Chatswood, Miranda, Sydney, Warringah Mall, Carindale, Chermside, Doncaster and Southland. Speaking for Westfield, Tim Roberts,… Read more

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NEW HOLDEN COMMODORE: FIRST PHOTOS

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Holden has released the first official pictures of the fully imported Commodore ahead of its Australian launch in early 2018. This of course, follows the cessation of local manufacturing by Holden at a date yet to be revealed late in 2017. It’s a big, bold design and is visually way ahead of the previous generation Opel Insignia which was on sale briefly in Australia a couple of years back. The new model is virtually identical in size inside and out to the outgoing Aussie designed Commodore. The NG is slightly… Read more

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AUDI SQ7 TDI IS ONE HOT SUV

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Australians appetite for hot versions of cars shows no sign of abating, particularly in upmarket German vehicles. Even SUVs are getting the treatment these days, with the just released Audi SQ7 TDI a striking example. Only a few weeks after the launch of the standard Q7 SUV the warmed over S version has arrived. Note the ‘TDI’ in the title indicating this Q7 has turbo-diesel power. This will come as no surprise to motorsport followers given that Audi diesel-electric hybrids dominated the prestigious Le Mans 24-hour race for many years…. Read more

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CHEAPEST EVER PORSCHE: THE FOUR-CYLINDER MACAN

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The cheapest ever Porsche has just gone on sale in Australia. The midsize Macan SUV can now be ordered with a 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine. At $76,610 it sits around $16,000 under the V6 petrol. A huge saving when you consider you’re only missing out on a couple of cylinders and you still get 185 kW of power and 370 Nm of torque. (The V6 in S trim has 250 kW.) It seems that every second European car we road test these days has an engine that displaces 2.0… Read more

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AUDI Q5 V6 TDI

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By EWAN KENNEDY in Los Cabos, Mexico   Last week we reported from Mexico the new second generation Audi Q5 in four-cylinder format. That’s because only the four-cylinder models, in turbo-petrol and turbo-diesel format, will initially be on sale in Australia when the first shipments arrived in the second half of 2017. However, we did manage to get ourselves into the driver’s seat of a V6 as it’s expected to arrive here within a couple of months of the four-cylinder. It’s an impressive powerplant, the big turbo-diesel produces up to… Read more

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HOLDEN BARINA UPGRADED

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The solid push towards the future of Holden continues. Long after the company shuts down its Australian factories Holden will continue as a major part of the GM global empire. As a strong example, Holden Barina for 2017 has just received a facelift and tail-tuck, interior enhancements, an upgraded infotainment system and added safety features. A great deal of the design of the Holden Barina was carried out by Australians, working both locally and overseas to the extent that the car is being promoted as the, “GM Australia-designed 2017 Holden… Read more

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COUPE THE OVERTURE TO KEY CHANGE IN LEXUS THEME

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It is generally recognised that Dame Nellie Melba made more comebacks to the operatic stage than a well-used boomerang. What is not so well known is that the prima donna was one of the first female car owners in Australia. The redoubtable Dame took to motoring (with a chauffeur) so enthusiastically she kept motor cars on three continents – an electric Brougham in Europe, a couple of Pierce-Arrows in the US, a Type AX Renault and later a Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost in Australia. How appropriate that Lexus should choose Coombe… Read more