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MORE RECALLS OF TAKATA AIRBAGS

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The Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI) has received notification that an additional 78,000 vehicles on Australian roads may be fitted with faulty Takata airbags. The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has advised vehicle manufacturers that these faulty airbags may have been installed in early-model Audi, BMW, Ford, Honda, Eunos (Mazda), Mitsubishi, Suzuki and Toyota vehicles manufactured between 1996 and 2000. These airbags can cause serious injury or death to vehicle occupants. Owners of affected vehicles are advised to immediately contact their dealer or brand. Anyone who owns one… Read more

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2020 RENAULT KADJAR INTENS

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Renault has added a third model to its SUV range, the mid-sized Kadjar which neatly sits between the French marque’s compact Captur and large Koleos. According to Renault the name is a mix of ‘Kad’ meaning quad and ‘Jar’ meaning agility. Kadjar is offered in Life, Zen and Intens variants. Life and Zen have halogen headlights, Intens gets LEDs. Life and Zen roll on 17-inch alloys wheels, two-tone on the latter. Intens has 19-inch alloys. Renault Kadjar shares the same platform as the Nissan Qashqai as the French and Japanese… Read more

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PORSCHE MACAN GTS IS ON ITS WAY

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The new Porsche Macan GTS is available to order now. It is priced from $109,700 and will arrive in Australia in the first quarter of 2020. The 2.9-litre V6 bi-turbo engine delivers 280 kW (380 hp) – an increase of 15 kW (20 hp) compared with the predecessor model. The maximum torque of 520 Nm (plus 20 Nm) is available over a wide range from 1,750 to 5,000 rpm. Combined with the newly adapted PDK dual-clutch transmission and the optional Sport Chrono package, the Macan GTS can accelerate from zero… Read more

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DE LOREAN GULLWING COUPE

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1981 De Lorean Gullwing Coupe

Around the mid-1970s John DeLorean, a senior executive with General Motors, had a strong desire to build a rear-engined two-seater coupe using a Ford V6 as the power source. He envisaged it would have many high tech features. Its body would be of unpainted stainless steel mounted on a chassis built from a lightweight composite material. The stylist selected to design the body was Giugiaro who had designed the Tapiro for Porsche in 1970. Although the idealised specifications were based on strong safety conscious intentions the concept of gull-wing doors… Read more

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CALL FOR MOTORISTS TO USE NEW ‘MEGA ROADSIDE REST AREAS’

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NTI General Manager Janelle Greene and truck driver Kevin Treble

Motorists, particularly those towing caravans, are being urged to be smart about how they share roadside rest stops with trucks this Christmas holiday season. New statistics released today by Australia’s leading transport and logistics insurer, NTI, show 83 per cent of fatigue-related accidents involving trucks in the lead up to Christmas last year happened between 10pm and 6am despite only one-sixth of the country’s freight being moved during those hours. NTI’s General Manager Janelle Greene said over-crowding at rest areas was a major problem in managing fatigue at this time… Read more

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2020 NISSAN PATHFINDER REVIEW

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With more than three decades on the Australian market Nissan Pathfinder is a tried and proven performer both on and off the road. The current (fourth generation) model has been here since 2013 and so is due for a new model although recent upgrades have added to its safety credentials, and a hybrid option have kept it up to date with the ever-changing technology enhancements. Sensibly, given that few SUVs are likely to venture off the beaten bitumen, the latest Pathfinder has a softer style with smoother edges and sleeker… Read more

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MERCEDES E-CLASS 2009 – 2018

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2013 Mercedes-Benz E-Class cabriolet

After many generations of styling its midsize E-Class cars to suit somewhat elderly conservative buyers, Mercedes took an all-new tack with the W212 Series. Mercedes realised that young(ish), wealthy people wanted the prestige of upmarket German cars – but also wanted stylish machines This Merc is attractive car and gathered lots of sales virtually immediately – though some of the elderly fuddy-duddies turned up their aristocratic noses. There are plenty on the used car market these days, but some are getting on in years so be sure to have a… Read more

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MITSUBISHI OUTLANDER PHEV GETS MORE GRUNT

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Mitsubishi Australia has given its PHEV (plug in hybrid vehicle) a larger petrol engine, revised its suspension and improved infotainment features. A 2.4-litre petrol engine with 94kW of power at 4500rpm and 199Nm at 4500rpm, has replaced the 2.0-litre (was 2.0L 87kW/186Nm). Maximum power output from the two electric motors, front motor 60kW, rear motor 70kW, remains unchanged. Maximum torque front 137 Nm, rear 195 Nm. Increased maximum generator output 80 kW. Increased drive battery capacity 13.8kWh from 12 kWh. Potential electric driving range up to 54km (approx. 7 hours… Read more

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2020 KIA SELTOS GT LINE

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Kia Seltos is the Korean company’s new entrant in the rapidly expanding small SUV market. It joins big brother Sportage and aims to pull sales away from the big-selling, low-priced Mitsubishi ASX, as well as others in a crowded field. It’s well priced, with the Seltos S FWD at $25,990 and the Seltos GT Line AWD for $41,990 – driveway in both cases. Seltos is offered with two-wheel-drive (the front wheels) as well as AWD, with the latter it can be termed an SUV rather than simply a tall hatch…. Read more

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BMW 507 SPORTS

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1955 BMW 507 V8 Touring Sport

Whilst BMW is today considered to be one of the finest marques, this was not always the case. In the 1920s BMW made aero engines and motorcycles before beginning licensed production of the Austin Seven in 1929. The company’s original design arrived in 1934 and two years later it established its credentials with the 328, which was probably the best all-round sports car of the day. After World War II the firm’s major plant in East Germany was nationalised and eventually made the unloved Wartburgs. The Munich factory in West… Read more