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2020 HYUNDAI IONIQ PLUG-IN HYBRID PREMIUM

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Hyundai is very serious about the transition to electric vehicles and the Ioniq is the Korean marque’s first dedicated eco vehicle. There is no petrol-only variant – it’s sold with a choice of three electrified powertrains – Pure Electric, Hybrid and Plug-in Hybrid Though it was introduced less than a year ago the Ioniq recently received a major update. The most important change is that it benefits from a refreshed Australian chassis tune. More about this in the Driving section of this review. STYLING Thankfully the Koreans have chosen not… Read more

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BMW’s DIGITAL KEY

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BMW will become the first carmaker to enable owners to use their Apple iPhone as a fully digital car key. It will let them tap to unlock and then place the iPhone in the smartphone tray and pushing the start button. Setup of the Digital Key can be done through the BMW Smartphone app. The car owner can share access with up to five friends including a configurable car access option for young drivers which restricts top speed, engine power, maximum radio volume and more. Management of access can be… Read more

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JAGUAR I-PACE: MAJOR IMPROVEMENTS

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The Jaguar I-PACE all-electric SUV now delivers even more technology. It is the first Jaguar to feature the new Pivi Pro infotainment system which is fast and responsive, with enhanced EV navigation that can show you if nearby charging stations are available. This navigation function will be available in Australia and, in some cases, it will also show whether it is available or not. However this is dependent on the charging station itself supporting sharing of such information. I-PACE now comes with an 11kW on-board charger as standard, enabling owners… Read more

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NEW GENERATION KIA CARNIVAL

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Kia Motors Corporation has released photographs of the company’s fourth-generation Carnival people mover. More than two million Carnivals have been sold worldwide since the first generation launched 21 years ago. And the Carnival completely dominates its market segment in Australia. Kia designers have dubbed their new model a ‘Grand Utility Vehicle’. It is almost an SUV in the shape rather than a ‘mere’ people mover. At the front, the Carnival’s integrates high-tech headlamps into a huge version of Kia’s iconic ‘tiger-nose’ grille. Carnival has an ‘island roof’ design, with blacked-out… Read more

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MERCEDES-BENZ SLK 2011 – 2016

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2011 Mercedes-Benz SLK

Mercedes-Benz SLK is a small to medium sized convertible sportscar that’s long been a big success on the Australian market since launched two decades back. It has prestige, style and is just lovely in open top driving. The gen-three SLK reached Australia in September 2011, only two months after its European launch. This time its shape made it look like a smaller version of the outrageous looking Mercedes-AMG SLS. While the SLK doesn’t have an huge bonnet like the SLS’s it still looks pretty good. Mercedes SLK was one of… Read more

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HOLDEN BARINA 2011 – 2018

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2011 Holden Barina

Holden Barina is a small car that has been around in Australia in one form or another since 1985. Interestingly its name is a local one, being aboriginal for Summit. It’s sold in other countries with a variety of marques and names, but we reckon our name’s the best. After several iterations a virtually all-new Barina was introduced in October 2011. We are covering it in this week’s used car review. Considerably more sophisticated than its predecessors it has electronically stability program, as well as infotainment technology that included GM’s… Read more

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RANGE ROVER TURNS 50

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Range Rover celebrates 50 years of innovation, refinement and unparalleled all-terrain capability with the introduction of the new Range Rover Fifty. Over its 50 year lifespan, the Range Rover has achieved many world firsts. It was the first SUV to feature a permanent 4WD system. In 1989 it was the world’s first 4×4 to be fitted with ABS anti-lock brakes. In 1992 it became the world’s first 4×4 to be fitted with electronic traction control (ETC) and automatic electronic air suspension. In 2012, the latest generation Range Rover became the… Read more

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JEEP WRANGLER FIT FOR PURPOSE

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Suggesting that the most Jeep of Jeeps, the Wrangler, has morphed from a rugged yet raw off-roader to a sleek and sophisticated on-road cruiser might be taking things a bit too far off the beaten track. But the JL version doing the rounds of Australian town and country has taken on an aura of quality, comfort and the latest automotive infotainment guaranteed to raise eyebrows among the campfire cohort of outback trekkers. But that’s all. The Wrangler has not gone soft in a bid to match it with city-centric mid-size… Read more

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ROLLS-ROYCE SILVER SHADOW

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1977 Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow Mark II

Introduced at the 1965 Motor Show, the Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow represented an entirely new concept from Crewe. Lower lines combined with the traditional `Greek Temple’ radiator and unitary body construction to disguise the vintage of the engine (the V-8, 6230 cc unit introduced for the 1960 season). Although the larger separate-chassis Phantoms were continued, the bulk of production activity was concentrated on the Silver Shadow and its Bentley equivalent, and there can be no doubt that the popularity of the model was largely responsible for the survival of the motor… Read more

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2021 LEXUS IS: FIRST DETAILS

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Lexus has moved from its early days of copying upmarket European styling and now gives us stunning shapes that really grab attention from car enthusiasts. Indeed from any who appreciate bold shapes in any format. The upmarket Japanese marque has given us advanced information for the 2021 Lexus IS that will launch Downunder late in 2020. The shape isn’t just there to look good, underneath these slick line Lexus tells us, “There’s strong body rigidity to aid in the elimination of unwanted noise and vibration while improving ride comfort, as… Read more