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MERCEDES-BENZ A-CLASS 2013 – 2016

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By EWAN KENNEDY, Marque Motoring CAPTION: A. B. C. 2016 Mercedes-Benz A250 BODY COPY When Mercedes-Benz launched the A-Class in 1997 it was a stubby little car deliberately made to be shorter than any conventional four-door car. No big deal in Australia, but huge in Europe where a car with a length 100 mm less than anything else could make the difference between finding a parking spot in a big city or not. Which sounds weird to Aussies, but if you’ve ever looked at cars crammed bumper-to-bumper on Parisian streets… Read more

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2018 AUDI A5 CABRIOLET REVIEW

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A few months ago we drove a couple of Audi A5 Cabriolets with the their roofs open on a wet, windy wintery day in Adelaide – and were pleased to find the combination of heated seats, warm air being blown onto the back of our necks and an air blocker behind the front seats made life significantly more comfortable than expected. By way of sharp contrast we’ve just spent a most pleasant week at the wheel of an A5 Cabriolet in our home area on the Gold Coast, plenty of… Read more

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ASTON MARTIN DB4GT

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At the end of World War II Aston Martin was taken over by tractor magnate, David Brown. He learned that Lagonda was also having trouble raising sufficient capital to recommence operations after the war so promptly bought them also. With the purchase of Aston Martin he acquired one of their principal assets which was an excellent multi-tube space frame, coil-sprung chassis and a 2.0-litre engine intended for a planned sports car. This new design, now called the DB1 after the new owner, went on sale in 1948. However, few DB1s… Read more

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HOLDEN ANNOUNCES ZB COMMODORE PRICES

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The German-built next-generation ZB Holden Commodore won’t be here till February 2018, but GM-H has released its recommended prices as part of the build up to its new high-tech models. Though you get a fair bit more car for your money Holden has deliberated kept prices at similar levels to the outgoing VF II, even significantly lower in many cases. That’s to counteract the negativity about the German Commodore from some quarters. The negativity being that this isn’t really a Holden as it’s not “built tough for Australia”. That’s despite… Read more

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ALL-NEW JEEP WRANGLER: PREVIEW

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The all-new 2018 Jeep Wrangler looks like a Jeep, which might sound blindingly obvious. But some years back an idiot stylist decided Wrangler needed rectangular headlights – and all hell broke loose amongst lovers of what is arguably the most recognised vehicle in the world. “Don’t mess with our Jeep” was the clear message – and that near disaster has never happened since. New Jeep Wrangler has the legendary seven-slot grille with an updated look that has the outer grille slats intersecting with the headlights, thus paying homage to the… Read more

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MERCEDES CARS BEING TAUGHT TO DRIVE THE AUSSIE WAY

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Just about everyone I speak to wants to discuss self driving cars. Mercedes-Benz is one of the leaders in this field and its engineers and a special S-Class have just been flown Downunder from Stuttgart to look at some problems unique to our country. To start with there are the infamous Melbourne hook-turns that mystify interstate drivers. I know of some who simply refuse to drive in that city as the hooks scare them. Turning right from the left of the left-hand lane is something the autonomous Mercs will need… Read more

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VOLKSWAGEN GOLF 110TSI COMFORTLINE

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Turmeric is all the rage now, isn’t it? Chips and lattes, creams, salads and soaps. Even cars, it seems. That was the colour of the Golf Comfortline we picked up for the week. Or so the brochure said. Having a mother with Indian heritage, turmeric played a starring role in our household long before celebrities started adding it to their chai. We had it mixed in water to settle upset tummies, sprinkled on cuts to help healing and combined with a touch of coconut oil for a paste for skin… Read more

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MITSUBISHI SUV ADDS MIDDLE-OF-THE-ROAD SAFETY-FIRST

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Mitsubishi has promised a happier new year for ASX buyers with the addition of a new variant to its top-selling small SUV range. The LS ADAS (Advanced Drive Assist Systems) is also standard fitment to the top-line XLS. Drivers of the new mid-level 2018 LS ADAS gain the advantage of forward collision mitigation, lane departure warning and automatic high beam features as well as design upgrades and the latest is smartphone connectivity. The LS 2.0-litre petrol 2WD manual remains the entry level model, coming to the market at $25,000, plus… Read more

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2017 NISSAN 370Z NISMO REVIEW

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Nissan’s 370Z sportscar is getting on in years but still looks the part and is bargain priced. Indeed it recommended retail price has been coming down to compensate for the years going up. For a little over $50,000 on the road it gives you a blast into the past that’s most enjoyable. Now another, pretty special version of the 370Z is on sale, one from the Nissan Motorsports and tuning division Nismo. The 370Z Nismo features added power, sports suspension, wider tyres, bigger brakes, a hot body kit and a… Read more

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OPEL KADETT

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1938 Opel Kadett

Opel cars were first made in Germany by Adam Opel GmbH, a German automobile company founded by Adam Opel in 1863. It became a subsidiary of General Motors (USA) in 1929 with GM holding an 80 per cent interest. General Motors was very impressed by Opel’s modern production facilities and in 1931 GM increased its ownership to 100 per cent. In 1935, Opel became the first German manufacturer to produce over 100,000 vehicles in a year. This was based on the popular Opel P4 model. Opel also produced he first… Read more