PEUGEOT 2008 GT ROAD TEST

In the absence of the 208 hatch, the 2008 has become by default the baby of the Peugeot range. But it’s a baby that the French company can justifiably be proud of, at once stylish, fun to drive and technologically advanced. Even better, it uses very little fuel. What’s not to like? Read on. STYLING The 2008 is a genuine work of automotive art. The detail that has gone into the design is amazing with a black roof, concave radiator grille, sculpted front fascia and sharp plunging LED lights. Look… Read more

SUBARU’S SOLTERRA EV AVAILABLE TO ORDER

Orders are being taken for Subaru’s first all-electric vehicle the Solterra. But it ain’t cheap, priced from $77,990 plus on-roads, with two grades to pick from. With two electric motors, one for each axle, Solterra delivers 160kW of power and 337Nm of torque, and has a range of 414km (WLTP). The 71.4kW battery can be charged from 20 to 80 per cent in as little as 30 minutes with a 150kW DC charger, while a single phase 7kW home charger takes seven or eight hours. Solterra is another vehicle that… Read more

A CASE OF CARRY ON, COROLLA

  When the first Corolla made landfall in Australia in 1966, few people would have predicted half a century later the tiny vehicle, through sedan, hatch and wagon, becoming the world’s most popular car. Former Toyota Australia executive Rex Gilham, one of the men responsible for bringing Corollas Down Under says just 15 cars were in the first shipment in November 1966, the first vehicles to be exported from Japan. These went on sale in 1967. A year later, first locally produced models left Australian Motor Industries’ plant in Port… Read more

MASERATI BORA

Both Maserati and Ferrari began the manufacture of road cars for the same reason. Their founders had a primary interest in motor racing – then, as now, a very expensive pastime – and motor car manufacture seemed a logical way of paying for their primary interest. Actually Enzo Ferrari had a long career in racing both as a driver and team manager for Alfa Romeo before he started car manufacture in his own right prior to the commencement of World War II. After the war he continued building roadgoing cars… Read more

IONIQ 6 UPGRADE ADDS VALUE AND EFFICIENCY

Hyundai Australia is now accepting orders for the upgraded version of its Ioniq 6 fully- electric sports sedan, with delivery planned for the first quarter of next year. The current Ioniq 6 arrived here earlier this year to join its sibling, the Ioniq 5 crossover SUV, in Hyundai’s electric vehicle sub-brand range. As before the 2024 Ioniq 6 comes with a choice of three variants but with a new entry-level model, just called Ioniq 6, replacing the previous mid-spec Techniq and joining the continuing Dynamiq and Epiq models. The addition… Read more

DODGE JOURNEY 2008 – 2017

Despite looking like a macho SUV, perhaps even a full-on 4WD, the Dodge Journey is actually a sensible people. The Journey’s interior is very versatile; the second-row seats three and can slide back and forward to let you juggle legroom with those in the rearmost seats. Entry and egress to the third-row seats isn’t too bad, but as is usually the case those seats are better suited to the kids as suppleness is required. Also check the foot-room in rear if larger littlies are going to be back there. The… Read more

MAZDA CX-60 G40E AZAMI HYBRID

The Mazda lineup is becoming increasingly difficult to understand. Once upon a time there was the Mazda2, Mazda3, and Mazda6 and it was easy to follow the progression (not forgetting the MX-5 and RX-8 sports cars). Then along came the SUVs, denoted by a CX in front of the number — CX-3, CX-5, CX-8 and CX-9. All good so far, except perhaps for CX-3 which actually sits on the same platform as Mazda2, making it smaller than its name might suggest. More recently the CX-30 and MX-30 were added, including… Read more

NEW KIA EV9 IS BIG, BOLD AND BATTERY-POWERED

  Kia’s commitment to electric vehicles has taken a major step forward with the arrival of its new fully-electric flagship EV9, a large and luxurious three-row SUV. The biggest and most expensive Kia model to date, the EV9 range will comprise three variants: Air, Earth and GT-Line with the Air and GT-Line on sale now and the Earth trim to follow early in the new year. Will the EV9 cost you the earth? Maybe not, but when it gets here the mid-range Earth will cost you $106,500, sitting between the… Read more

HONDA MOTOCOMPACTO

  Put this Honda in the boot and you’re good to go. The all-new Honda Motocompacto is foldable e-scooter that redefines affordable all- electric personal transportation with sleek and simple styling and innovative, ultra-compact foldable design. With a 6.8Ah battery and charge time of 3.5 hours, it has a maximum speed of 25km/h and zero-emissions range of up to 20km. It’s inspired by the 50cc two-stroke Honda Motocompo of the early 1980s. It was the smallest scooter ever produced by Honda and folded into a rectangle for easy storage. It… Read more

NO, ‘NOTTE’ DAVID BECKHAM?

Maserati is celebrating the launch of its new supercar the MC20 Notte with the launch of a short film starring global brand ambassador and MC20 enthusiast David Beckham. Drawing inspiration from the racing world, Maserati Fuoriserie team collaborated with Andrea Bertolini, Maserati reference driver and former GT1 world champion with the Trident — to develop the MC20 Notte bodywork. Its exterior turns from a glossy black shade to a magnetic matte ‘nero essenza’ hue ready to glow in the dark thanks to ‘the Midas touch’ of track predator Bertolini turning… Read more