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

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

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

MUSTANG BREAKS THE $100K BARRIER

Ford’s Mustang tops the $100,000 barrier with the arrival of the new, seventh generation Pony car. The latest Mustang will be available in three models when it gets here next year: EcoBoost, GT — and all-new Dark Horse. Prices start from $64,990 for the EcoBoost fastback, with an auto and turbo four-pot. The 2.3-litre turbocharged four-cylinder model offers 232kW of power at 5500 rpm and 475Nm of torque from 3000 rpm and is paired with a 10-speed automatic. Next up is the V8-powered GT manual and auto, priced from $77,002… Read more

NEW SLEEK AND SPORTY SONATA NOW ON SALE

When the first Hyundai Sonata sedan arrived here in 1989 it was a conservatively-styled and affordable family-sized alternative to vehicles such as Toyota Camry, Holden Commodore, Ford Falcon and Mitsubishi Magna. All but the Camry soon to become casualties of the looming local factory closures. Now in its eighth generation the Sonata has progressively morphed from those relatively bland beginnings into a sleek and sporty four-door coupe. The latest upgrade to the Genn 8 Sonata has now arrived here and it takes the styling to the next level with looks… Read more

TAILGATING – DON’T BE TEMPTED TO HIT THE BRAKES!

Tailgating is more than just annoying, it’s downright dangerous. And, in Victoria, the RACV has called out motorists to be aware of how close they’re driving to the vehicle in front of them, after a jump in the number of infringements in the last five years. Tailgating, or ‘failing to drive a sufficient distance behind a vehicle,’ can see offenders fined and receive demerit points for doing the wrong thing. In Victoria, that fine is $248 and one demerit point. A total of 2108 infringements for this dangerous practice were… Read more

NEW NAMES, EXTRA FEATURES FOR 2024 HYUNDAI PALISADE

Hyundai Australia has released details of its MY2024 flagship Palisade seven-seat SUV including a name change for its high-spec variant as well as additional standard features. Launched here in 2020, and upgraded in 2022, Palisade is the largest model in Hyundai’s SUV range. At a smidgeon under five metres, it’s around the same size and price as competitors such as Toyota Kluger, Mazda CX-90 and Kia Sorento. The previous Highlander name for the top-grade Palisade has now been replaced with the Calligraphy and a higher-spec Black Ink variant – no… Read more