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SMART MOVES IN QASHQAI QUALITY

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Range change, facelift, tech top-up – it’s all happening for the Qashqai compact Nissan SUV . . . all, except the price which remains similar to the previous model, giving a nudge to rivals from Japan and China. Nissan has shuffled the pack, with new nomenclature in line with the company’s larger SUVs, and the range extended to six by the addition of an N-Design flagship, featuring the innovative e-Power powertrain. Upgrades, designed to make a more striking impression, stretch across the whole range from the entry-level ST, where prices… Read more

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LEAPMOTOR C10 – A LOT OF EV FOR THE MONEY

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Leapmotor is a Chinese startup based in Hangzhou that specialises in electric vehicles. It hasn’t been around long and only started selling cars here from the beginning of the year, starting with the C10 we’re testing. The company currently produces seven models from a small city car through to a six seat SUV called the C16 that is based on the same platform as the C10. In 2023, Stellantis acquired a 20 percent stake in the company for approximately 1.5 billion euros, with plans to roll out Leap product internationally. Stellantis… Read more

The Alfa Junior for grownups

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Alfa Romeo’s new crossover Junior is the brand’s first fully-electric vehicle. Due for release here this month, it also has the distinction of being renamed just five days after launch last year. Initially called Milano, the Italian Government did not like the use of the name Milano because it argued the car was not Italian. So, rather than face a legal challenge, Alfa’s parent company Stellantis opted to change the name. The nameplate was used previously for entry level 105- and 115-series Giulia coupes as well as Zagato-bodied Giulias in… Read more

V8 lives on in latest Ferrari Amalfi

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Who said the petrol engine is dead? The new Ferrari Amalfi 2+ coupe, which replaces the Roma in the Prancing Horse line-up, is powered by a front-mid-engine V8. The “evolved” twin-turbo 3.9-litre V8, derived from the award-winning F154 family, delivers 477kW of power at 7500 rpm thanks to new turbocharging calibrations. Maximum torque at 760Nm is available from 3000–5750 rpm. The highly acclaimed eight-speed dual-clutch transmission ensures fast and smooth gear changes, with the dash from 0-100km/h achieved in 3.3 seconds. Designed for those who want to enjoy sporty driving… Read more

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PEUGEOT 3008 GT – PRICE IS THE HURDLE

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Peugeot’s latest 3008 mid-sized SUV is not just stylish, it’s a veritable work of automotive art. Finished in gleaming Obsession Blue (looks green guys) the styling is just a preamble to what you will find inside. The long, curved free-standing infotainment screen reminds us of a computer monitor, but that’s okay because in reality that is of course what it is. A centre console, shaped like a hockey stick, angles away from the driver, topped by a string of quick access buttons that remain just within reach. The surface of… Read more

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TOYOTA bZ4X THROWS LIGHT ON BRIGHT FUTURE

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The 100 per cent pure electric car uses a battery only for power, forgoing other forms of traction such as petrol/electric, or plug-in electric systems and, according to Sean Hanley, Toyota Australia vice-president sales, marketing and franchise operations, represents an important step in the company’s new-found eclectic approach to electrification that includes a range of technology. The new BEV is the first vehicle to use the company’s e-TNGA platform designed for a new range of electric vehicles and integrates the battery and motor generator into the vehicle’s structure providing extra… Read more

Range Rover Sport SV Black edition

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Range Rover Sport SV Black takes the timeless all-black aesthetic to a new level with full exterior and interior treatment. Commanding looks are backed up by 4.4-litre Twin Turbo MHEV V8 petrol engine that delivers an impressive 467kW of power and 750Nm of torque. The dash from from 0-100m/h takes 3.7 seconds and the wagon has a top speed of 290km/h. No stone unturned in the quest for a stealthy treatment, with exceptional craftsmanship and sporting finishes that exude dramatic confidence. But this package does not come cheap, at a… Read more

Powerhouse Nismo Patrol breaks cover

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Nissan has taken the wraps off a NISMO high performance version of the Patrol 4×4 wagon. NISMO (short for Nissan Motorsports) represents the pinnacle of Nissan performance, engineering, and innovation. Every NISMO is designed to deliver an adrenaline-packed driving experience and the all-new Nissan Patrol NISMO blends the robustness of an SUV with the precision of track-inspired engineering. Australia already has the off-road focused Patrol Warrior by Premcar, with a 5.6-litre V8 that produces 298kW and 560Nm. However, the track-inspired Nismo eclipses this, with a specially tuned twin-turbo petrol V6… Read more

You can drive the Tasman ute away

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In case you missed it, Kia is offering driveaway deals on its new Tasman dual cab Ute. Prices start from $46,490 driveaway, for the 4×2 S with steel wheels — dare we say workhorse of the range.  Though steel, the wheels are finished in black by the way. The rest of the range is 4×4, topping out at $77,990 driveaway for X-Pro. The latter boasts 17 inch black alloys with all-terrain rubber, a locking, electronic locking diff, different drive modes for different terrains, heated and cooled seats, Harman Kardon sound… Read more

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AUDI Q7 45 TDI QUATTRO

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After a week in the futuristic Audi Q4 EV, the diesel-powered Q7 marked an almost welcome return to normality. We were headed out west for a few days, to visit friends and taste some wine and it meant not having to worry about when and where to charge the car.  Country folk know all about diesel and support the technology. Dating back to 2015, the updated Q7 is currently Audi’s third most successful model, behind its smaller and cheaper siblings the Q5 and Q3, and offers the same kind of… Read more