Category: News

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SUZUKI BALENO LAUNCHED ON SPACE MISSION

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Suzuki Baleno is bursting out of the light car passenger segment into the small car space while getting a spurt on in performance with its latest model. The Baleno comes in two specification levels – GL with a 1.4-litre engine, with either a five-speed manual or four-speed automatic transmission. A new engine, the 1.0-litre Booster Jet turbocharged variant, with six-speed automatic transmission has claimed fuel use of 5.2 litres per 100 kilometres on the combined urban / highway cycle. Low consumption is partly attributed to having a standard six-speed automatic… Read more

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NEW MERCEDES-BENZ E-CLASS

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In a move that’s likely to take its competitors by surprise Mercedes-Benz has given its new E-Class range a real sporty look. Obviously the success of Mercedes in the redhot competition that is Grand Prix racing in recent years has inspired the German marque to move right away from its lingering reputation of only making conservative cars for middle aged buyers. The shape of the E-Class’s dominant two-bar grille with the three-pointed star in the centre works nicely with the large foglight openings and is backed up by guards with… Read more

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HYUNDAI UPGRADES ITS i30 SR

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Hyundai is enjoying a boom period in Australia. Midway through 2016 the Korean importer is sitting in third place in the total vehicle sales race, having overtaken Holden, with only Toyota and Mazda ahead of it. Equally impressive has been a dramatic increase in sales of Hyundai’s top-selling i30 which has overtaken both Toyota Corolla and Mazda3 as Australia’s biggest selling motor vehicle. There’s little doubt that aggressive pricing ($19,990 driveaway) has been the main driver of the i30’s sales surge, but it has also established its credentials as a… Read more

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JAGUAR PICKS UP THE PACE WITH POLISHED PERFORMER

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Once upon a time Jaguar lagged behind other luxury automobile manufacturers by not offering a sports utility vehicle. The likes of BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, Audi and Lexus all boasted a prestige SUV. Even fellow Brit, Bentley recently got into the SUV scene, albeit at a hefty price. Now the advent of the Jaguar F-Pace has put the British marque into the thick of one of the most crowded markets in the industry. Jaguar thinks enough about Australia to have allowed its design chief Ian Callum to travel Down Under to… Read more

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NEW AUDI Q2 ON THE ROAD

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By EWAN KENNEDY in Zurich, Switzerland Audi Q2 is a small-medium SUV set to arrive in Q1 in Australia. Its body is stylish, but retains a fair amount of practicality. Customisation is very much part of the Q2’s package, something that we describe in a separate story. Suffice to say it’s theoretically possible for five million different vehicles to leave the factory. Sales of small and midsize SUVs are booming worldwide, not just in Australia. Many are being bought by people with no desire to go off-road, but who want… Read more

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CUE TO A NEW SUV DIRECTION WITH AUDI Q2

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By EWAN KENNEDY in Zurich, Switzerland Audi Q2 takes a fascinating new direction in upmarket SUVs. Taking cues from the Audi A1 hatchback the upcoming new Q2 offers buyers a staggering choice of customisation options. Indeed, it’s mathematically possible for five million people to buy a Q2 without having one that’s identical to any other. It all begins with a palette of 12 body colours. The door mirrors can either match of complement the rest of the body. The grilles also offers colour choices and can have a contrasting shade… Read more

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NEW MERCEDES E-CLASS IS A TECHNOLOGICAL TOUR-DE-FORCE

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The latest, tenth generation, version of the Mercedes-Benz E-Class model is due to be released here within a few weeks. We’ll be attending the Australian launch and will provide a full review of this luxurious, prestigious and stylish medium-large car at the time. To avoid the information overload that would otherwise occur, Benz has given us a pre-launch overview of the remarkable range of technologically advanced safety and other features within the car. While many of these have been seen previously there are a number of new features that combine… Read more

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PRE-PRODUCTION HONDA NSX SUPERCAR GIVES A GLIMPSE OF THE FUTURE IN AUSTRALIA

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Honda’s NSX supercar has been a long time coming, and it’s not quite here yet. On July 8 a pre-production NSX went on display at Melbourne dealership, Yarra Honda and is about to head off on a tour downunder. Honda Australia last sold the NSX in Australia between 1991 and 2002. That ultra-long production run resulted in an odd result. At the 2001 Tokyo Motor Show I saw the NSX in two different halls; the first was of display of the NSX’s umpteenth update in the new-car display hall. The… Read more

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SUZUKI EXPANDS ITS VITARA RANGE WITH NEW TURBO-DIESEL

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Suzuki has added a turbo-charged diesel engine to its stable of Vitara SUVs – an engine that delivers more than twice the torque of the entry-level Vitara – and sips distillate at a miserly 4.9 litres per 100 km. It’s an impressive addition as we found out on the Queensland launch of the vehicle between Cairns and Cooktown via the Daintree Forest in Far North Queensland. Suzuki pioneered what we now know as compact SUVs – well before the segment was defined – way back in 1988 with the first… Read more

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ALL-NEW MAZDA CX-9 SHINES

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The first Mazda CX-9 was launched here just before Christmas 2007 and despite its age has been selling pretty well, being a long time favourite on the family SUV market. In recent years, though, buyers have been asking Mazda Australia to update it. That somewhat overdue new CX-9 is finally here and has the latest technology in infotainment, powertrain and suspension technology and offered in a number of models and drivetrains. Australia continues to be Mazda’s biggest selling market on a population basis so several important guests, including Mazda CX-9… Read more