Category: News

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RANGE ROVER SVR HAS ASTONISHING GRIP – EVERYWHERE

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The Range Rover Sport SVR is one of hottest, hardest accelerating 4WDs in the world. Its 405 kW 5.0-litre V8 can blast it from zero to 100 km/h in only 4.7 seconds. Far faster than a Brock Commodore or a Falcon GT of the 1980s could ever dream of. There’s no secret as to how the big Rangie can do this. Obviously driving all four wheels and all-but eliminating wheelspin off the line is a big factor. But the biggest reason for that rocketship time is advancements in technology, not… Read more

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MAZDA MX-5 RF: FIRST DRIVE

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The fascinating Mazda MX-5 RF (Retractable Fastback) has finally arrived in Australia. Even before it hit our shores it had already attracted a lot of interest and many have put down deposits to be first to get themselves into one. A few months ago Mazda MX-5 program manager Nobuhiro Yamamoto visited us in Australia and told us the retractable hardtop accounted for more than half of all NC (third generation) MX-5s sold because it offered all-season comfort. The fourth-generation retractable hardtop model embodies the core value of Lots of Fun…. Read more

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NEW IGNIS NOT HELD BACK BY TRADITION

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Suzuki is getting very serious on the new-car market in Australia. Hard on the heels of the Suzuki Baleno bounce-back, the Japanese company that specialises in small cars and SUVs has breathed new life into the Ignis and has launched the compact sports utility vehicle onto our market. Coming to market in two specification levels – GL and GLX – the Suzuki Ignis is unusual in being offered in four and five-seat versions. The entry level GL manual comes to market at $16,990 driveaway, the CVT $17,990, while the GLX,… Read more

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ALL-NEW KIA RIO

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Kia’s fourth-generation Rio has arrived and it’s significantly better than the already good gen-three model. It features improved ride and handling, safety and has full connectivity for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Kia is very much a global player and was styled in the company’s design centres in Germany and California, overseen by the design Namyang, Korea. Naturally the company’s famed design chief, Peter Schreyer, kept a close eye on the work. The design is neat and tidy and already looks to be timeless rather than ground breaking. It has… Read more

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PORSCHE 911 GTS MODELS ANNOUNCED

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Porsche Australia has added five new 911 GTS models to its range. Carrera GTS with rear-wheel drive, 911 Carrera 4 GTS with all-wheel drive, both in coupe and cabriolet bodies, and the 911 Targa 4 GTS with all-wheel drive. A newly developed turbocharger for the 3.0-litre six-cylinder engine increases power to 331 kW (450 hp), up by 22 kW (30 hp) from the 911 Carrera S. Maximum torque of 550 Nm is 50 Nm above that of the Carrera S. It comes in at 2150 rpm and runs all the… Read more

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KIA STINGER AIMED DOWNUNDER

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South Korean marque Kia is running red hot at the moment. It’s showing the rest of the world its quality credentials according to JD Power research, sales are soaring in Australia, and new models are coming out almost by the month. Now comes the biggest news of all, especially if you’re a keen driver who’s a bit light on in cash. The new Kia Stinger high-performance hatch has just been confirmed for Australia. Kia Stinger was unveiled at the Detroit Motor Show and is certainly a long way from being… Read more

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TRUMP TRUCKS COMING TO AUSTRALIA?

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Picture a single- or dual-cab at rear of the cabin on these Jeep Wranglers.

Car makers in the USA are running scared of Donald Trump, pulling a lot of production out of Mexico back into the United States. Oddly, this may be really good news for Australian buyers. The latest announcement is from Jeep’s parent company FCA (Fiat Chrysler Automobiles) which is going to expand its assembly plants in the USA and, move some work to them from its current Mexican factory. FCA says it will spend one billion USD in new investments that will create 2000 new jobs in the US of A…. Read more

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TOYOTA HILUX IS THE FIRST UTILITY TO TOP ANNUAL AUSTRALIAN SALES

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Toyota Australia’s sales and marketing chief, Tony Cramb, celebrates Toyota’s one-two finish

The Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI) has released the motor vehicle sales results for 2016 and, for the first time ever, the top seller wasn’t a passenger car but rather a utility. With a total of 42,104 units the Toyota HiLux outsold its Corolla stablemate (40,330), to complete a Toyota quinella – the first time one car company was taken out the top two places. Hyundai i30 was the third biggest selling model with sales up by 16.9% to 37,772 while a 6.6% decline saw Mazda3 (36,107) drop from… Read more

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GOOGLE AND FIAT ARE PARTNERS IN AUTONOMOUS CAR RESEARCH

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The best known of all Google Cars looks somewhat odd

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) has partnered with Waymo (previously known as the Google self-driving car project) to carry out detailed research into autonomous vehicles. Work on 100 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid minivans began in May 2016. It involves installation of a purpose-built computer and a suite of sensors, telematics and other systems. The Pacificas will will join Waymo’s test fleet in early 2017. Engineering modifications to the Pacifica Hybrid’s electrical, powertrain, chassis and structural systems are implemented to optimise the Pacifica Hybrid for Waymo’s fully self-driving technology. Waymo and FCA co-located… Read more

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FORD AUSTRALIA AIMS AT THE FUTURE

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The future of the automotive industry in Australia is rapidly taking shape. While manufacturing is slowly grinding to a halt – Ford has stopped, Holden and Toyota are preparing to do so, the future is looking increasingly bright. If you’re in design and engineering that is, sadly many people on the shop floor are losing jobs, thankfully with a great deal of assistance from the respective car companies. The Ford Motor Company currently employs about 203,000 people and has 67 plants worldwide. It plans to be a leader in connectivity,… Read more