Category: News

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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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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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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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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

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ALL-NEW SUBARU IMPREZA

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The all-new Subaru Impreza has landed in Australia and is of vital importance to the Japanese company as it’s built on a modular platform that, with variations, has been used in every new model Subaru builds for many years. On a trip to Japan a few months ago I was in a small group of Australians comprising the first foreign journalists to see the all-new Subaru Impreza. Subaru’s Australian operation is very highly regarded by Subaru’s head office as it has played a big part in the company’s global success… Read more

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STUNNING NEW ALFA ROMEO GIULIA

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Alfa Romeo has announced its Giulia sports sedan will arrive in Australia in February 2017. It’s a true sports model, with rear-wheel-drive giving it 50/50 weight distribution. It will be sold in four trim levels: Giulia, Giulia Super, Giulia Veloce and Giulia Quadrifoglio. The hot Quadrifoglio is the star of the range, jumping from zero to 100 km/h in just 3.9 seconds. It also holds the current Nurburgring production sedan lap record at just 7 minutes and 32 seconds. Quadrifoglio is Italian for four-leaf clover and has been the symbol… Read more

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NO-CHARGE CHARGING AT WESTFIELD SHOPPING CENTRES

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In a strong sign of the future of the automobile, BMW and Westfield have teamed up to install 40 new electric vehicle (EV) charging stations in 10 Westfield shopping centres across NSW, Queensland and Victoria. The charging stations can be used by any electric vehicle not just BMWs and there’s no charge for the charging. By March 2017, electric vehicle owners will be able to access four charging stations per centre at Westfield Bondi Junction, Chatswood, Miranda, Sydney, Warringah Mall, Carindale, Chermside, Doncaster and Southland. Speaking for Westfield, Tim Roberts,… Read more

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NEW HOLDEN COMMODORE: FIRST PHOTOS

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Holden has released the first official pictures of the fully imported Commodore ahead of its Australian launch in early 2018. This of course, follows the cessation of local manufacturing by Holden at a date yet to be revealed late in 2017. It’s a big, bold design and is visually way ahead of the previous generation Opel Insignia which was on sale briefly in Australia a couple of years back. The new model is virtually identical in size inside and out to the outgoing Aussie designed Commodore. The NG is slightly… Read more