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VERSATILE Q30 IS INFINITI’S MARKET-LEADER

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Our test car is the latest, and most affordable, model in the upmarket Japanese the Infiniti Q30 five-door hatchback crossover SUV. It’s also the company’s most important model, sitting as it does in Australia’s most popular, and most competitive, segment. Interestingly, because Infiniti’s parent company Renault-Nissan has a technical partnership with Daimler, the Infiniti Q30 shares a number of components, including its engines and transmission, with the Mercedes-Benz GLA. Infiniti Q30 comes in three variants (GT, Sport and Sport Premium) with the choice of three turbocharged engines, two petrol and… Read more

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LAMBORGHINI MIURA COUPE

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1971 Lamborghini Miura

Lamborghini presented a credible threat to Ferrari’s supremacy in Italy with cars like the 1966 Miura, with a quad-cam V12 which gave the car a top speed of 275 km/h. This car had a mid-engine layout, but the real advance was that the long V12 engine had been mounted transversely across the frame, the engine block being combined with five-speed all-synchromesh transmission. With an outstandingly beautiful body style by Bertone, and a name taken up from that of a particularly fearsome breed of Spanish fighting bull, the first complete Miura… Read more

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MIGHTY MUSTANG SOUNDS GREAT, GOES HARD

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Until now Aussies have had to bring in secondhand Mustangs from the US of A, or perhaps some other intermediate country. While there were some imports by Ford Australia back in the mid 60s then again in 2001, these were overpriced and the local conversion to right-hand driver should have been visually better, though mechanically they were fine. The Ford Mustang finally reached Australia in full factory format in 2015 and has been a huge sales success. Order one now and your chances of getting it this year are slim…. Read more

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KIA SPORTAGE 1996 – 2016

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2002 Kia Sportage

Kia Sportage was a real 4WD when launched here in 1996. Its ladder frame chassis and dual-range 4WD system meant it could carry out genuine off-road operations. Indeed its relatively light weight and smallish size meant it could sometimes squeeze into tight spots where big truck-based 4WDs couldn’t fit. Sportage owners just loved that. From May 2000, the Kia Sportage had basically the same front as the 1996 model, but gained a significantly longer tail to provide a lot more boot space, though the back seats had much the same… Read more

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2017 AUDI RS Q3 PERFORMANCE

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Audi is pushing hard on the high-performance versions of just about every car in its increasingly comprehensive range. The latest version of the RS Q3, with ‘Performance’ added to its title joins the RS6 and RS7 Performance models introduced to Australia in the latter half of 2016. Note that the Audi RS Q3 Performance SUV replaces the RS Q3, rather than being an added model above it. Aussies like their quick cars and anything other than the quickest of them all is simply not on their shopping list. Audi tells… Read more

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TOYOTA HILUX IS THE FIRST UTILITY TO TOP ANNUAL AUSTRALIAN SALES

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Toyota Australia’s sales and marketing chief, Tony Cramb, celebrates Toyota’s one-two finish

The Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI) has released the motor vehicle sales results for 2016 and, for the first time ever, the top seller wasn’t a passenger car but rather a utility. With a total of 42,104 units the Toyota HiLux outsold its Corolla stablemate (40,330), to complete a Toyota quinella – the first time one car company was taken out the top two places. Hyundai i30 was the third biggest selling model with sales up by 16.9% to 37,772 while a 6.6% decline saw Mazda3 (36,107) drop from… Read more

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FRESH ‘TRAIL’ OPENS UP HOLDEN TERRITORY

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The Chevrolet Trailblazer, formerly the Holden Colorado 7, comes to Australia from a different direction, on its way up market, with little or no added cost to the customer. Developed by Holden in collaboration with GM Brazil alongside the 2017 Holden Colorado, the new Holden Trailblazer looks and has a big emphasis on high-tech features. Despite a long list of new technology and a design makeover, the 2017 Trailblazer pricing remains largely unchanged from its predecessor. The entry-level LT (our test vehicle) stays at the $47,990 of the corresponding Colorado… Read more

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GOOGLE AND FIAT ARE PARTNERS IN AUTONOMOUS CAR RESEARCH

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The best known of all Google Cars looks somewhat odd

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) has partnered with Waymo (previously known as the Google self-driving car project) to carry out detailed research into autonomous vehicles. Work on 100 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid minivans began in May 2016. It involves installation of a purpose-built computer and a suite of sensors, telematics and other systems. The Pacificas will will join Waymo’s test fleet in early 2017. Engineering modifications to the Pacifica Hybrid’s electrical, powertrain, chassis and structural systems are implemented to optimise the Pacifica Hybrid for Waymo’s fully self-driving technology. Waymo and FCA co-located… Read more

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ABARTH 124 SPIDER IS AN AFFORDABLE ITALIAN SPORTSCAR

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The Abarth 124 Spider is an affordable Italian sportscar with lots of racing, rallying and sporting heritage behind it. Its shape is cleverly based on that of the early 1970s Abarth 124 Rally. Best of all, it’s cheap as chips. The cost of the little hotshot has been kept down by teaming with Mazda which builds the world’s biggest selling open-top car, the MX-5. An odd situation? Yes, but one that’s increasingly common these days, with many unlikely bedfellows – BMW and Toyota, Nissan and Mercedes, and many more. The… Read more

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SUZUKI SWIFT 2005 – 2016

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2006 Suzuki Swift

Suzuki Swift is a stylish Japanese small car that’s been popular in Australia since its re-introduction in February 2005. It’s a tough little critter that’s well regarded for reliability and long life. It’s popular on the Australian used-car scene and holds its value well. Indeed, dealers sometimes complain to us that they can’t get their hands on enough used Swifts. Swift has a better sorted suspension and steering than most cars in its class and is appreciated by keen drivers. Good throttle response from the engines is another fun factor…. Read more