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LAND ROVER DEFENDER HARDTOPS

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Land Rover has confirmed the new commercial Defender 90 and 110 models will restore the Hard Top. That name dates back to 1950, when the introduction of demountable Hard Tops gave early Series Land Rovers added security and protection from the elements. Sharing its strong body structure and next-generation Electrical Vehicle Architecture with the Land Rover passenger models, the Defender Hard Top is being developed by Land Rover Special Vehicle Operations. The 90 and 110 Hard Tops will both feature independent coil-sprung suspension, with advanced electronic air suspension also available… Read more

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HAVAL H9 PRESENTS BIG IDEAS FROM THE CHINESE

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It had to happen. The Chinese challenge to the heavy hitters of the sports utility segment goes on, with the MY20 Haval H9 continuing to take on the likes of the Mitsubishi Pajero Sport and Toyota Prado. While not there yet (Where’s the diesel version?) the H9 has lucked out of its prime target, the American market, thanks to President Trump putting up the shutters on Chinese imports, Australia is still in the game. We have two versions of the big seven-seat SUV – Lux and Ultra – both powered… Read more

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LIMITED EDITION: MG ZS ESSENCE ANFIELD

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MG Motor Australia has unveiled the MG ZS Essence Anfield, a limited-edition run of just 200 models. It has been inspired by the famed home ground of the iconic Liverpool Football Club and to released to celebrate the Reds win in the 2020 English Premier League competition. MG Motor is proudly the Official Global Partner of the Liverpool Football Club. The ZS Essence Anfield is available from Australian dealers from early-July. Based on the marque’s ZS Essence SUV it features a unique colour combination with either a white or black… Read more

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SUZUKI SWIFT SPORT TURBO REVIEW

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  Suzuki has been producing small sporty cars for many years. Though the Suzuki car division is separate from the motorbike one there’s obviously trading of design and engineering ideas between the two, resulting in cars and bikes that are more than mere transport. In fact we’ve spent many fun times fanging Suzuki cars around the company’s race circuit in Japan over the years. While it’s set up for testing and tuning racing bikes it gave us a solid insight into Suzuki’s way of thinking in all its products. Unfortunately… Read more

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NEW VEHICLE SALES: JUNE 2000

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The Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI) has revealed an uptick in new vehicle sales during June 2020, with a total of 110,234 vehicles sold during the month. While this represents a decrease of 6.4 per cent over June 2019, it is the strongest result since the beginning of the COVID-19 crisis which saw March sales down 17.9 per cent, April sales down 48.5 per cent and May sales down 35.3 per cent. FCAI chief executive, Tony Weber, attributed the slight recovery to the easing of COVID-19 restrictions, seasonality, the… Read more

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INEOS AUTOMOTIVE REVEALS THE GRENADIER

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INEOS Automotive has revealed the exterior design of the Grenadier, its forthcoming 4×4 vehicle that is describes as, “another step on the road towards start of production.” INEOS Automotive was founded by Jim Ratcliffe chairman of the multinational chemicals company, Ineos, with the aim of designing and building a replacement for his Land Rover Defender. “The brief was simple. We set out to design a modern, functional and highly capable 4×4 vehicle with utility at its core”, said Toby Ecuyer, Head of Design. “A design that is ‘easy-to-read’, with no… Read more

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NEW BMW 220i GRAN COUPE LAUNCHED

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BMW has added to its premium compact sedan segment with the introduction of a 220i Gran Coupé. It joins the 218i and M235i xDrive that arrived in Australia in February. It uses a 2.0-litre four-cylinder BMW TwinPower turbo-petrol engine with 141kW and 280Nm powering through a seven-speed double-clutch Steptronic Sport transmission. Further control is offered by way of steering wheel mounted shift paddles. BMW’s M Sport Package is standard. BMW Oz feels many buyers will opt for the added driving dynamics Adaptive Suspension system. The BMW 220i Gran Coupé will… Read more

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HOLDEN HT MONARO ‘57D’ RACE CAR SELLS FOR $750,000

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Monaro ‘57D’ was raced by Kevin Bartlett and Spencer Martin

An Australian record was set when a 1969 HT Monaro 57D race car fetched three quarters of a million dollars at auction selling under the hammer to an Australian enthusiast. “There were seven bidders on the Holden Monaro which came down to two Australian enthusiasts who fought it out, both with the intention to keep the car within Australia,” commented Mr. Hames, Chief Operations Officer for Lloyds Auctions. The winning bidder of the famous Monaro wishes to remain anonymous. “The auction had a 95 per cent sell-through rate of cars… Read more

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LEXUS LS 500 HYBRID IS A SLEEK FOUR-DOOR SEDAN

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With buyers moving en masse away from conventional passenger cars into taller and boxier SUVs many designers of the sedans and wagons, keen to provide a point of difference, are moving to lower and sleeker lines. The latest (fifth generation) version of the Lexus flagship LS series is a perfect example of this. The LS 500 sedan was built on the same platform as the LC 500 coupe and mirrors that car’s sporty profile in a major change to its predecessor’s conservative limousine lines. For the first time since the… Read more

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HILUX IS UP TO TAKING ON TOUGH TIMES

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As COVID-19 continues to cast its ugly spell over hapless humankind, it seems we will not be rubbing shoulders with the new Toyota HiLux anytime soon, plant closures around the world disrupting manufacture. Toyota’s popular ute, or pick-up to be precise, is at the back end of its five-year cycle and badly needs to reinforce its spot at the top of the pile. In the meantime, the Japanese automotive giant is keen to keep potential buyers informed on what’s still on offer. Launched Down Under at the end of 2015,… Read more