Category: News

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HONDA MOTOCOMPACTO

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  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

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NO, ‘NOTTE’ DAVID BECKHAM?

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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

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MUSTANG BREAKS THE $100K BARRIER

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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

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NEW SLEEK AND SPORTY SONATA NOW ON SALE

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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

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

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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

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NEW NAMES, EXTRA FEATURES FOR 2024 HYUNDAI PALISADE

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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

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NEW ABARTH 695 COMPETIZIONE HERE NEXT MONTH

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Italian carmaker Abarth has given a preview of the latest version of its 695 Competizione three-door hot hatch due here next month. Abarth is the performance arm of the giant Fiat company and the 695 is based on the iconic and long-established Fiat 500. Competizione is the only 695 variant on offer and is available with both manual and automatic transmissions. It comes with 132 kW of power with a characteristic Abarth roar through a new vertically-stacked Record Monza exhaust tip. The upcoming model comes with an all-new Racing Orange… Read more

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CALTY LIFTS LID ON TOYOTA’S BABY LUNAR CRUISER

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CALTY Design Research is celebrating five decades of groundbreaking design and innovation. The first major automotive design studio on the US west coast, CALTY created everything from the 1978 Toyota Celica to the 2024 Toyota Tacoma, and countless concepts and production vehicles in between. To mark the occasion, it has provided a glimpse into the future with the surprise reveal of its latest concept the Toyota Baby Lunar Cruiser (BLC). Built to conquer rugged terrain on Earth and beyond, BLC embodies a unique mix of adaptive technology and heritage design… Read more

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HAVAL ‘S’ PUTS ON JOLION GOOD SHOW

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The Chinese automobile maker GWM Haval has spiced up its popular small petrol sports utility vehicle segment with the addition of a Jolion S, as well as doubling up on the hybrid models to two. With the Jolion Premium acting as the entry-level, at $28,490 drive-away, the ‘S’ variant ($36,990), slots in the six-model range between the Ultra and the two hybrids, the lesser with Lux trim and priced the same as the S. The Jolion Ultra Hybrid ($40,990) tops off the line-up. The new Jolion S, on test here,… Read more

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UPGRADES CREATE MORE TRACK-FOCUSED MX-5

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Mazda has upgraded the MX-5 with new track-focused technology that makes it more exhilarating to drive. A new Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) mode, DSC-TRACK, has been optimised for race circuit driving. There’s also a newly developed Asymmetric Limited Slip Differential (Asymmetric LSD). Both are fitted exclusively to models with a manual transmission. DSC-TRACK is reserved for the flagship GT RS grade and gives maximum control to the driver. It intervenes only when the car is liable to spin out of control. Asymmetric Limited Slip Differential (Asymmetric LSD) stabilises vehicle turn-in… Read more