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PLYMOUTH BARRACUDA

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The Plymouth Barracuda was first released in 1965 in response to the Ford Motor Company’s successful launch of the Mustang. This Ford completely rewrote the sales records of that time following its April 1964 launch. When the Mustang was released it became known as a ‘pony car’, a term which was used to describe new style sporty compact vehicles. Chrysler’s response was very quick but it was fortunate in having a suitable car, the Valiant, on which to base the new Barracuda. With some quick modifications to Valiant tooling Chrysler… Read more

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JAGUAR F-TYPE COUPE IS A STUNNER

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Almost three years ago Jaguar took the unusual step of introducing the F-Type convertible before the coupe version, it’s usually done the other way around. Now an F-Type coupe has spent a week in our possession and we have enjoyed every minute in it. As is normal the coupe is lighter than the convertible because the open body needs additional strengthening to make up for the loss of a fixed roof. Meaning there’s a bit more bang for your buck. Jaguar arranged for us to review an F-Type S coupe… Read more

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FORD FALCON SPRINT: SIMPLY BRILLIANT

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Ford Australia’s latest engineering and styling project, that of the Falcon XR6 and XR8 Sprint will go down in the minds of all concerned as one of their all time favourites. The car industry is full of enthusiasts, and their eyes light up in delight when asked to significantly improve performance and add new shapes.. Let’s start at the hearts of the latest hot Australian Fords: Falcon XR8 Sprint is powered by an uprated version of Ford’s 5.0-litre supercharged V8 that develops 400 kW and 650 Nm when on overboost;… Read more

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AUDI SUV WITH AN ENTRY-LEVEL CHALLENGE NOT TO BE TAKEN LIGHTLY

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Like eager children on a school excursion, members of the Australian motoring media milled around. Then instead of piling onto a motor coach, paired-up ‘pupils’ clambered aboard examples of the new Q7, Audi’s latest addition to the large sports utility vehicle market, and literally rode off into the sunset. The early evening destination was Spicer’s Canopy, a spiffy campsite near Cunningham’s Gap, inland from the Gold Coast. The following day’s drive consisted of an extended loop north and east, ending up on the Sunshine Coast. The vehicle in question was… Read more

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LEXUS CT200h 2011 – 2015

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2011 Lexus CT200h

Lexus and its parent company Toyota have more experience in petrol-electric cars than any other maker. Lexus CT200h is the lowest cost model in the Lexus range by quite a margin, with new cars being sold from just $39,990 when launched in Australia in March 2011. While far from being a hot hatch the CT200h has a touch of sporting flair thanks to the sharp throttle responses that we love in all electric, or part-electric vehicles. Would you believe the Lexus CT200h was used in a celebrity race that preceded… Read more

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ISUZU USES HIGH-TECH ELECTRONICS

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During considerable years as a motoring journalist I’ve had only a passing acquaintance with the trucking industry and harboured a major misconception that it was conservative in its ideas and slow to take on new transport trends. After all, a truck’s a truck. How wrong could I be. Recently I attended a reveal of the new Isuzu F Series trucks and had my misconceptions buried for good. Not only was the new range of trucks shown to be at the forefront of transport technology, it was presented to the media… Read more

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MINI CLUBMAN IS SPORTY, VERSATILE MINI WAGON

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While the latest Mini Cooper Clubman station wagon, released here in November 2015, is larger and more conventional in styling than before it remains unmistakably a Mini with its squat shape and distinctive grille. The most significant change is in its length, up by 292 mm to 4253 mm while it is now 117 mm wider (1800 mm) with the wheelbase extended by 123 mm. Height remains at 1441 mm. Gone, thankfully, is the small rear-mounted passenger door which was a talking point with the old Clubman and, because it… Read more

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C4 CACTUS TAKES CITROEN BACK TO ITS INNOVATIVE BEST

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Citroen is a carmaker that has traditionally stretched the envelope in terms of both design and technology. Sadly, in recent decades it’s taken a more mainstream approach so it’s great to be able to announce the arrival of the delightfully-different C4 Cactus SUV / hatchback crossover. Cactus has been on sale in Europe for nearly two years and with the compact SUV segment booming, Citroen Australia would have loved to have had it here earlier. Unfortunately delays in right-hand drive production and the lack of a top tether and child… Read more

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NEW PAJERO IS A REAL ‘SPORT’

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At last: after living with the lumpen lines of previous Pajeros, the latest iteration of the large wagon from Mitsubishi has taken up looks more in character with that of a true sports utility vehicle. While Mitsubishi says the Pajero Sport is the most technically advanced off-roader it has produced, it is the all-round look of the company’s new Dynamic Shield styling theme that is the most striking feature. The Pajero Sport comes in three highly-specified versions – GLX, GLS and Exceed – starting at a competitive entry-level price of… Read more

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HIGH EXPECTATIONS FROM MEDIUM-DUTY TRUCK

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Isuzu FSR

From garbage and cement to refrigerated transport, Australia’s medium-duty truck market serves up a menu of applications, making it one of the automotive industry’s most competitive markets. The medium-duty market – two axle vehicles with a gross vehicle mass greater than 8000 kg and a GCM up to 39,000 kg – made up 21.5 per cent of total commercial vehicle sales last year, with the light and heavy truck markets representing just less than 31 per cent each and vans making up the remaining 17 per cent. With almost three… Read more