Category: News

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AUDI SQ7 TDI IS ONE HOT SUV

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Australians appetite for hot versions of cars shows no sign of abating, particularly in upmarket German vehicles. Even SUVs are getting the treatment these days, with the just released Audi SQ7 TDI a striking example. Only a few weeks after the launch of the standard Q7 SUV the warmed over S version has arrived. Note the ‘TDI’ in the title indicating this Q7 has turbo-diesel power. This will come as no surprise to motorsport followers given that Audi diesel-electric hybrids dominated the prestigious Le Mans 24-hour race for many years…. Read more

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CHEAPEST EVER PORSCHE: THE FOUR-CYLINDER MACAN

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The cheapest ever Porsche has just gone on sale in Australia. The midsize Macan SUV can now be ordered with a 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine. At $76,610 it sits around $16,000 under the V6 petrol. A huge saving when you consider you’re only missing out on a couple of cylinders and you still get 185 kW of power and 370 Nm of torque. (The V6 in S trim has 250 kW.) It seems that every second European car we road test these days has an engine that displaces 2.0… Read more

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AUDI Q5 V6 TDI

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By EWAN KENNEDY in Los Cabos, Mexico   Last week we reported from Mexico the new second generation Audi Q5 in four-cylinder format. That’s because only the four-cylinder models, in turbo-petrol and turbo-diesel format, will initially be on sale in Australia when the first shipments arrived in the second half of 2017. However, we did manage to get ourselves into the driver’s seat of a V6 as it’s expected to arrive here within a couple of months of the four-cylinder. It’s an impressive powerplant, the big turbo-diesel produces up to… Read more

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HOLDEN BARINA UPGRADED

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The solid push towards the future of Holden continues. Long after the company shuts down its Australian factories Holden will continue as a major part of the GM global empire. As a strong example, Holden Barina for 2017 has just received a facelift and tail-tuck, interior enhancements, an upgraded infotainment system and added safety features. A great deal of the design of the Holden Barina was carried out by Australians, working both locally and overseas to the extent that the car is being promoted as the, “GM Australia-designed 2017 Holden… Read more

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COUPE THE OVERTURE TO KEY CHANGE IN LEXUS THEME

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It is generally recognised that Dame Nellie Melba made more comebacks to the operatic stage than a well-used boomerang. What is not so well known is that the prima donna was one of the first female car owners in Australia. The redoubtable Dame took to motoring (with a chauffeur) so enthusiastically she kept motor cars on three continents – an electric Brougham in Europe, a couple of Pierce-Arrows in the US, a Type AX Renault and later a Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost in Australia. How appropriate that Lexus should choose Coombe… Read more

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SPORTS COUPE KEEPS UP THE COMEBACK PACE

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The reinvention of the upmarket Infiniti brand in Australia continues apace with the recent roll-out of the new Q60 sports coupe, bringing to the range ‘Powerful Elegance’ in design, world-first technology and the latest production processes at its facility in Japan. Infiniti has form in the sports coupe class with the G35 and G37, launched in 2002 and 2008, respectively – the latter, renamed the Q60, coming Down Under in 2012. Now the third generation has landed. The two-pronged assault kicks off with the Infiniti Q60 GT and the GT… Read more

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PONTIAC FIREBIRD

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In 1967 General Motors, caught napping, finally produced its answer to the Ford Mustang. It was the F-body Camaro/Firebird. Although the Pontiac division wanted a car which aped the Chevrolet Corvette they were forced to accept a Comaro clone with a few cosmetic changes designed to give the car a somewhat distinctive appearance. It must have upset a number of Pontiac executives who felt that they, as creators of the Tempest and GTO, ought not to be following but leading in the performance car stakes. To further rub salt into… Read more

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2017 AUDI Q5: ADVANCE TESTING

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By EWAN KENNEDY in Los Cabos, Mexico             Audi Q5 is currently the best selling vehicle from the German prestige maker in Australia. Which comes as no surprise considering the style, technology and practicality of the original model introduced in 2008. Eight years down the track we have just enjoyed our first drives and technical presentations on the all-new Q5 which is coming to Australia in the third quarter of 2017. It’s not due to be launched in Europe until January and we were invited… Read more

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MIRAI IS TOYOTA’S FIRST FUEL CELL VEHICLE

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For the past decade or so the world’s car companies have been searching for powertrains that provide the best of both worlds – elimination of the use of fossil fuel and exhaust emissions while still providing good on-road performance and driving range. Two of the early adopters were Honda and Toyota who took the petrol/electric high ground with their Insight and Prius models. These reduced both fuel consumption and CO2 emissions but used a combination of petrol and batteries. Performance was reasonable and driving range excellent but both the engines… Read more

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SEVEN-YEAR WARRANTY HAS KIA SALES BOOMING

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Kia Australia is enjoying a boom period and looks likely to break into the Australian top 10 for the first time in 2016. Ten months into the year Kia sales are up by 26.9 per cent following on from a 20.5 per cent increase in 2015. Kia is also closing the big gap that exists between its sales and those of its Korean sibling Hyundai. In 2014 Kia sales were around 28 per cent of Hyundai’s. That now currently sits at nearly 42 per cent. Earlier this year Kia Australia… Read more