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HOLDEN / OPEL ASTRA 2004 – 2017

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2004 Holden Astra CD

From 1996 the Astra was imported from the Opel in Europe but rebadged as a Holden. Holden Astra was sold as the AH Series from November 2004 until 2009. However, Holden chose to sell low-cost models of the otherwise-superseded TS series when the AH series was introduced. These had the title of Astra Classic. A major makeover of the AH in March 2007 saw a facelift and improved engine performance. Then came the start of some marketing mistakes. The Astra AH models discontinued in 2010 to be replaced by cheaper… Read more

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VOLVO XC40 T5 R-DESIGN

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Volvo has executed a complete turnaround in the last couple of decades. Once regarded as having boring but very practical shapes and concentrating heavily on safety the Volvo XC40 is now very much a style leader. Yet, despite its bold lines, the XC40 retains a solid degree of practicality. While it doesn’t have the van-like capacity of the much-loved square-tailed old Swedish wagons it still has decent carrying capacity. If the XC40 isn’t big enough for you there are its big brothers, the XC60 and XC90. There are also high-riding… Read more

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JAMES BOND ASTON MARTIN DB5

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The most famous Aston Martin of all time, the DB5 driven by Sean Connery as James Bond, is back. This new DB5 is a close collaboration between Aston Martin and EON Productions, EON is the company that produces the James Bond films. Just 25 Goldfinger DB5 ‘continuation editions’ will be built. These will be based on James Bond’s legendary car from 1964 and built by Aston Martin Works at Newport Pagnell, the original home of the DB5. These days AMW concentrates on restoring old Astons so is the ideal place… Read more

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MOTORCLASSICA 2018

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Motorclassica, now in its ninth year, will again be staged at Melbourne’s Royal Exhibition Building from 12 to 14 October. As well as the usual magnificent display of classic cars, there are special features that include Schools Program and the Future Lab. Both of which inform young people about the opportunities for careers and involvement in the automotive and restoration industries. Motorclassica’s Live Restoration Theatre will feature five separate workshops, each demonstrating live various stages of the vehicle restoration process under the watchful eye of Greg Maskell of Shepparton’s Maskell’s… Read more

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BUDGET PRICED HYUNDAI KONA

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Hyundai is in the midst of launching a series of ‘Go’ models, these being vehicles with less standard gear at appreciably lower prices. The latest Hyundai Go is the Kona. It’s no stripper, having 7.0-inch infotainment screen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility, USB charging, reversing camera, automatic headlights and roof racks. However it runs on 16-inch steel wheels. Kona Go is powered by the same 110 kW 2.0-litre engine driving through a six-speed automatic transmission to the front wheels. It is priced at $23,500 to which on-road charges… Read more

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OLDSMOBILE TORONADO

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1969 Oldsmobile Toronado

The Oldsmobile Toronado of 1965 created quite a sensation when it was first released as it brought front-wheel-drive (FWD) technology to the mass American market for the first time. And not in a compact runabout but a huge, stylish supercoupe. In Europe, the likes of Issigonis said big engines and front drive would never mix, but the people at Oldsmobile weren’t listening: the Toronado was always going to be a big one. The clean-cut styling of the massive Toronado gave no hint of the new technology underneath – front-wheel drive…. Read more

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SAY ‘HI’ TO THE LAST WORD IN CAR CONNECTIVITY

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Hi, Mercedes, what’s the go? The ’go’ is that the German maker of prestige cars wants buyers of its latest A-Class to treat the compact as their new best friend. A new level of human / machine interaction through MBUX (Mercedes-Benz User Experience), can be activated by saying ‘Hi Mercedes’ to gain access to important functions, destination details, phone calls, music choices, as well as the ability to write and hear messages. I asked MBUX a question in one of the two phrases I remember from O-level German. Disappointingly, no… Read more

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ALL-NEW TOYOTA COROLLA FOR 2019

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After fifty two years and 45 million cars the Toyota Corolla powers along as the biggest selling car of all time. Almost 1.5 million of those global sales have been Downunder and the just superseded model has been the top selling passenger car here for years. Toyota Australia has every intention of keeping Corolla at the head of the pack in this country and the 12th generation car has just been launched here. The Japanese giant is pushing harder than ever on hybrids, hardly a surprise when you consider it… Read more

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MAZDA CX-7 2006 – 2012

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2006 Mazda CX-7

Mazda CX-7 entered new territory when it was launched downunder in November 2006. It was a cross between a hot-hatch and an SUV rather than a toned-down 4WD as was the norm back then. Powered by a turbocharged 2.3-litre four-cylinder engine with 175 kW and a hefty 350Nm it really gets up and boogies when you hit that pedal on the right. Not surprisingly it likes a drink. Despite its sort-of SUV shape Mazda CX-7 in AWD format really isn’t intended to do any more than mild off-road running. You… Read more

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MERCEDES-BENZ X-CLASS 250d

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The Mercedes-Benz X-Class is the talk of the town amongst admirers of pickup trucks and utes in Australia. The thought of having the prestige of a three-pointed star for only a few thousand dollars more than a somewhat mundane ute has led to instant takeup of sales of the working Mercedes. It’s no secret that the X-Class is based on a Nissan Navara ute, but it has received quite a bit of work by the guys and gals at the German company, including a different body and interior and revised… Read more