Category: Road Test

Road Test Review

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SUBARU LIFTS HATCH ON THE FUTURE

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You don’t need a crystal ball to see what’s going on at Subaru over the next ten years. The fifth generation all-wheel drive Impreza is based on the new global platform that will underpin all new models for the coming decade. The platform is 95 per cent new, so it’s a major step up for a company famed for engineering excellence. The Global Platform, Subaru says, offers new levels of agility, crash protection, efficiency and enjoyable driving in a vehicle that sees the biggest step-change in Impreza since the original… Read more

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MINI COUNTRYMAN HITS THIS COUNTRY

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The BMW Mini has been one of the most successful cars globally since its introduction in 2000. It began as a two-door that, while significantly larger than the original British design, copied its shape brilliantly. Customisation was a major feature in the new Mini’s success, offering buyers a staggering number of options. The first models were followed by various new types of bodies. Arguably the most interesting of these is the Mini Countryman. The latest version of which has finally arrived in this country. Australian buyers have been keeping a… Read more

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PERFORMANCE UP, PRICES DOWN FOR SUBARU BRZ

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We seem to spend much of our road testing time behind the wheels of SUVs nowadays. As much as we appreciate the functionality and convenience of these vehicles they do fall down in one respect … they’re not a lot of fun to drive. So we’ve given ourselves a treat with this week’s road test, the Subaru BRZ, a delightful little 2.0-litre two-door coupe with six-speed manual transmission. Subaru BRZ has been on sale in Australia since 2012 although it didn’t hit the dealers’ showroom floors until 2014 with supply… Read more

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BMW i3 WITH ADDED GRUNT

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BMW has introduced a second-generation drive system to its all-electric i3, giving it about 50 per cent greater range, as well as increased performance. The batteries now have 94Ah (Amp hours), the original 2014 model i3 had 60Ah. The BMW i division and technology partner Samsung SDI have managed to gain the substantial battery capacity improvement without any increase in the exterior dimensions. We’ve just experienced a most enjoyable week in this ‘car of the future’, covering mainly suburban use with occasional runs on motorways to test the little electric… Read more

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HYUNDAI’S SPORTY ADDITION TO SMALL-CAR CLASS

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Few cars can be found basking in the glow of the halo tag but the Elantra SR earns its place in the sun at the head of the sixth generation of the Hyundai line. The company’s ‘little big car’, the Elantra, has been given a leg up in the performance stakes with the addition of a 1.6 turbocharged direct-injection petrol engine. With links to the next-generation Hyundai i30 that’s due out soon, Elantra SR Turbo engine provides sporty capability to match its good looks, plus high levels of comfort and… Read more

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HAVAL H6 IS COMPETENT FIRST ATTEMPT

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The Haval marque is still all-but unknown in Australia. Which comes as no surprise as the Haval H6, the subject of this week’s road test, only arrived downunder in September 2016. Haval is the SUV division of Great Wall Motors and given the ever increasingly popularity of SUVs worldwide the H6 is a number one seller in the midsize segment in its home country of China. So huge is that market that the H6 was the fifth biggest seller in its class globally during 2016. The first Great Wall Haval… Read more

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‘WIZARDS OF OZ’ CAST SPELL ON COLORADO

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The upgraded Colorado is the shape of things to come for Holden. The ‘Wizards of Oz’ joined their Brazilian counterparts and Thai manufacturing technicians to come up with a vehicle that the maker says is ideal for Australia’s driving conditions. “The variety of roads in Australia and the ways Australians use trucks means the 2017 Colorado has to be versatile enough to handle everything thrown at it,” says Holden’s Lead Development Engineer, Amelinda Watt. “We know customers like to drive their Colorado off-road or on unsealed roads, but we also… Read more

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CROSSOVER ADDS TO INFINITI HAUTE COUTURE CATALOG

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Infiniti is in the process of rolling up its sleeves to present a fashion-plate face to the global automotive market across all segments and Australia is high on the list to benefit. The Japanese luxury car company stumped up no fewer than seven models Down Under last year, including the Q30, the company’s first foray into the premium compact crossover market. This is the company’s first vehicle to be built in Europe, using new production facilities in Sunderland, UK, designed to satisfy the high demands of premium vehicle manufacturing. The… Read more

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RENAULT PLANS TO REMAIN IN LCV VANGUARD

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Renault Kangoo

When it comes to light commercial vehicles, in this case the Renault Kangoo and Trafic vans, less is more in the new range. Which is no surprise from the company that has been the maker of Europe’s number one van range for the last 18 years in a row. Thanks to a new 1.2-litre turbocharged petrol engine the Kangoo small family van comes up with better performance and fuel economy than many larger naturally aspirated engine. While to call the new Trafic Crew six-seater a mere van is to sell… Read more

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2017 AUDI A3 CABRIOLET

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Audi revamped its A3 range late in 2016 and we recently published a road test review on the Sportback version (Sportback being Audi speak for five-door hatch), now we’ve just been able to spend a pleasant week in an A3 cabriolet. Life can be tough for we motoring journos at times on these cool summer evenings on the Gold Coast … The good life was further improved by the S line sports package in our car. At $4200 it adds Alcantara / leather trim, leather bound flat-bottomed steering wheel with… Read more