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BRISTOL 401

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The Bristol Company is probably best known for its aircraft ranging from early biplanes to the Bristol bombers which featured prominently during World War II as a major part of the RAF attack force. After the war the Bristol Company ventured into car manufacture and their first model, the Bristol 400 introduced in 1946, looked very much like the pre-war BMW on which it was based. The Bristol 401, announced in 1949, was only the second model built by the fledgling car builder. As it was a car built by… Read more

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2017 RANGE ROVER SPORT SVR REVIEW

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Range Rover Sport SVR is one of hardest accelerating 4WDs on the planet. Its 405 kW 5.0-litre supercharged V8 has it screaming from zero to 100 km/h in just 4.7 seconds. Note the term ‘4WD’ in this opening par, because this isn’t an SUV, it is a genuine off-road vehicle that can handle harsh conditions that would have many so-called competitors stuck within the first few metres. For example, wheel travel remains identical to the standard Sport, with 260 mm at the front and 272 mm at the rear. Wading… Read more

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BT-50 MAINTAINS STRONG MAZDA CHARACTER

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We might have seen the last of the Mazda BT-50 as we know it because Mazda is about to get together with Isuzu to produce their next generation pickup trucks. Isuzu already makes Mazda trucks for the Japanese market, now it is going worldwide. The current BT-50 shares many components with the Ford Ranger and much of the design was carried out by Australians. When the BT-50 was launched in 2011, Mazda went down a new track, creating a utility with the personality of a passenger car – well, sort… Read more

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RENAULT KOLEOS 2008 – 2015

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2011 Renault Koleos

Renault Koleos is a crossover, both in the where it can be driven – as well as where it is built. It is a French design using a drivetrain sourced from Nissan in Japan and is built in South Korea at the Renault-Samsung manufacturing plant. Launched in Australia in September 2008 it followed the increasingly common feature of being offered in 2WD (front wheels) or 4WD. Koleos’ rear tailgate has a clever ‘clamshell’ design allowing many options for access and load-carrying. You can fold the front passenger seat back to… Read more

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HUMBLE HYUNDAI ACTIVE HATCH SETS NEW ‘I-MARK’

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Hyundai says it refuses to treat i30 owners as second-class automotive citizens and says it gives potential buyers of its third-generation goodies usually within the domain of more expensive models. The entry-level Active variant, starting at $20,950 plus on-road costs, is $500 less than the model it replaces, despite having $2000 of extra standard features. These include a fully integrated satellite navigation system with 8.0-inch touch screen display, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility and DAB+ digital radio. It also has16-inch alloy wheels, LED daytime running lights, automatic headlamps, hill-start… Read more

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NEW KIA PICANTO FOR 2017

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After a successful toe-in-the-water test on the last of the previous generation Picantos, Kia Australia has just launched the new third generation of its smallest model downunder. The biggest feature of new Picanto is its bold styling. There is nothing harder in the automotive business than making a boxy car with good interior space attractive. Kia’s designers in the company’s styling studios in South Korea and Europe, the two biggest markets for the model, have done an excellent job. Though it carries a family resemblance to the just superseded Picanto… Read more

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NISSAN X-TRAIL MAKEOVER

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Nissan has given its midsize X-Trail SUV a big performance boost, a solid makeover in appearance both inside and out, added significant technology and improved its overall refinement. Now in its 17th year, over four generations, with total sales downunder approaching 200,000, the X-Trail is an important vehicle in the sales armament of the Australian arm of the Japanese giant that has operated in Australia since the mid 1960s (beginning as Datsun). Though the appearance changes to the body are restricted to the ‘soft’ areas, that is plastic and glass… Read more

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2017 AUDI Q2 REVIEW

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Sales of small and midsize SUVs are booming worldwide, not just in Australia. Many are being bought by people with no desire to go off-road, but who want something that’s easy to get in and out. Station wagons are considered boring whereas SUVs like the Audi Q2 are highly favoured . Enter the all-new Audi Q2, a stylish machine that is spacious for its class, easy to drive and park and a good midsize load hauler. STYLING At the front the Audi Q2 follows its own distinct direction when compared… Read more

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2017 MAZDA6 REVIEW

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Who can pass on value for money? The idea that we are getting a bargain is what makes us drive ten extra kilometres for cheaper fuel, or add yet another two-for-one item to the shopping trolley. It is also how I justify that new shoe purchase to my husband. And the dress and the bag… That’s what Mazda is hoping will boost sales of its mid-sized sedan – presenting buyers with a premium proposition for an affordable outlay. To that end, the new Mazda6 has been packed with more technology,… Read more

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2017 RANGE ROVER EVOQUE CONVERTIBLE REVIEW

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Based on the three-door hardtop version of the Evoque, the convertible has had its entire upper body deleted and replaced by a fabric top. It’s gained a lot of weight – about 275 kilograms depending on the model to add the strength that used to be provided by the sold roof. For comments on the performance see Driving later in this road test. STYLING The Evoque is visually attractive in open-top fashion, though the sides are very tall, reminding us it’s an SUV, not a sportscar. Roof up, it can… Read more