Category: News

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NEW SUBARU FORESTER: BIGGER AND BETTER

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Subaru has been in the SUV market in Australia for more years – no, make that more decades – than its competitors care to reflect upon. All Subarus (with the exception of the BRZ sportscar) have been sold only in AWD format since 1994 and the safety and superior roadholding added by driving all four wheels attracted many buyers. The second largest model in the range, the Forester was first sold Downunder 21 years ago and is selling its wheels off in today’s heated AWD / SUV market. To the… Read more

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RAM 1500: BIG, BOLD AND VERY AMERICAN

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There’s one word you won’t read in this news piece – ‘subtle’. Ram Trucks invited us to the launch of its Ram 1500 models and the first thing that greeted us was a brochure titled “Ram 1500 Eats Utes For Breakfast”. So there… The ute market in Australia is growing at a crazy rate, with the top two selling vehicles being the Toyota HiLux and Ford Ranger. That’s top selling overall, not in the commercial segment. So Ram Trucks has joined the sales fray with its smallest – yes, smallest… Read more

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MAZDA’S LAP OF LUXURY FOR LE BUYERS

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Mazda says buyers of its popular CX-9 are so fond of life’s little luxuries that it has upped the ante on its aristo Azami model in the shape of the LE, thus bringing the range of the award-winning seven-seat sports utility vehicle to five. Customer demand was the reason for the addition of the Azami LE, says Mazda Australia managing director Vinesh Bhindi. “CX-9 sales have always been skewed to high-grade AWD variants, so we added Azami LE to give those looking for luxury even greater choice in the range.”… Read more

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MAZDA CX-3 UPGRADES

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Mazda continues its fast paced assault on the Australian car market, this time with its smallest SUV, the CX-3 receiving a facelift, major interior changes, added comfort and improved engines. The frontal styling of all current Mazdas is arguably the biggest reason for its success and the shape has been refined with a bolder grille built around strong horizontal lines. There are also changes to the shaping of the front foglight surrounds as well as to the rear lights. It’s not just the shape that’s selling Mazdas, the Soul Red… Read more

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BMW Z4 M40i FIRST EDITION

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BMW chose the famous Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance for the world premiere of the new BMW Z4 M40i First Edition. Powered by a powerful 250 kW/340 hp, straight-six engine driving the rear wheels via an electronically controlled M Sport differential. Its zero to 100 km/h time has been measured at 4.6 seconds. The large BMW kidney grille has a striking mesh design and sits in front of a beautifully long bonnet. The two occupants sit well back and the high-performance Bimmer has 50:50 weight distribution. The new BMW Z4 M40i… Read more

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PORSCHE CLASSIC BUILDS A CLASSIC 911 USING GENUINE PARTS

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Nostalgia is the flavour of the moment with carmakers. We recently did a piece on Aston Martin’s replica James Bond DB5. Now comes news from Porsche Classic has built a highly desirable collector’s item, the last 911 Turbo with an air-cooled engine – 20 years after the end of series production. The 993-generation 911 Turbo is based on an original bodyshell, and the vehicle’s appearance is just as special as its history, being painted in Golden Yellow Metallic as featured on the 2018 911 Turbo S Exclusive Series. The black… Read more

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MG LAUNCHES LATEST MG3 HATCHBACK

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The Chinese-owned MG company has taken another step forward in its bid to make an impact on the Australian market by launching the latest version of its MG3 five-door city hatch. The previous MG3 was on sale from October 2016 but with negligible sales due to a lack of marketing, uncertain build quality and the absence of an automotive transmission. Things have changed quickly and MG, a subsidiary of the giant Chinese automaker SAIC, now has a factory-based headquarters in Australia that is promoting the brand with print and television… Read more

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JAMES BOND ASTON MARTIN DB5

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The most famous Aston Martin of all time, the DB5 driven by Sean Connery as James Bond, is back. This new DB5 is a close collaboration between Aston Martin and EON Productions, EON is the company that produces the James Bond films. Just 25 Goldfinger DB5 ‘continuation editions’ will be built. These will be based on James Bond’s legendary car from 1964 and built by Aston Martin Works at Newport Pagnell, the original home of the DB5. These days AMW concentrates on restoring old Astons so is the ideal place… Read more

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MOTORCLASSICA 2018

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Motorclassica, now in its ninth year, will again be staged at Melbourne’s Royal Exhibition Building from 12 to 14 October. As well as the usual magnificent display of classic cars, there are special features that include Schools Program and the Future Lab. Both of which inform young people about the opportunities for careers and involvement in the automotive and restoration industries. Motorclassica’s Live Restoration Theatre will feature five separate workshops, each demonstrating live various stages of the vehicle restoration process under the watchful eye of Greg Maskell of Shepparton’s Maskell’s… Read more

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BUDGET PRICED HYUNDAI KONA

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Hyundai is in the midst of launching a series of ‘Go’ models, these being vehicles with less standard gear at appreciably lower prices. The latest Hyundai Go is the Kona. It’s no stripper, having 7.0-inch infotainment screen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility, USB charging, reversing camera, automatic headlights and roof racks. However it runs on 16-inch steel wheels. Kona Go is powered by the same 110 kW 2.0-litre engine driving through a six-speed automatic transmission to the front wheels. It is priced at $23,500 to which on-road charges… Read more