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NEW CAR SALES: MAY 2020

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The Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI) has released new vehicle sales statistics for May 2020, which show a continuation of the steep decline in sales witnessed in April this year. Across the nation, 59,894 vehicles were sold during May 2020. This represents a 35.3 per cent reduction in sales when compared to the May 2019 figure of 92,561 vehicles. The May total sales figures also represent the largest drop in May sales since VFACTS statistics began recording in 1991. Tony Weber, chief executive of the FCAI, said the automotive… Read more

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BMW 4 SERIES COUPE

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BMW Australia will introduce the all-new BMW 4 Series Coupé to our market in October. Style-wise it reprises a design feature from the company’s past with models such as the BMW 328 and BMW 3.0 CSi. A huge kidney grille angles forwards and extends down almost to the lower edge of the front apron. A horizontal mesh structure, similar to what has appeared on other recent BMW M series models, features within the kidney grille. It’s a large coupe; length has increased by 128 millimetres to 4768mm, width by 27mm… Read more

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MINIATURE MOUNT PANORAMA

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Honda Australia has again partnered with Ryan ‘The Brickman’ McNaught to create a new Honda-inspired model made of LEGO bricks – the challenging Mount Panorama circuit. The tough Aussie track often referred to as simply, “The Mountain” became a special part of Honda Australia’s history with the Civic Type R when Formula One World Champion Jenson Button set a benchmark lap time for a front-wheel drive production car around the Bathurst circuit. Robert Thorp, from Honda Australia said, “The show inspired so many people last year, as did our life-size… Read more

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REVISED BMW 5 SERIES COMING

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An updated BMW 5 Series will be here in October and feature enhanced powertrains and integrated technology elements including the BMW Operating System 7.0 and a high definition 12.3-inch centre control display. The BMW kidney grille adds extra width and height, drops down further into the front apron and is framed by a single-piece, octagonal surround. New full-LED headlights include adaptive cornering function, BMW Selective Beam non-dazzling high beam with matrix technology and the High-beam Assistant. The rear lights and brake lights are integrated into a shared light fixture that… Read more

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UPGRADED KIA RIO

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Significant upgrades have been announced for the ever popular Kia Rio that will go on sale in July. There’s a strong emphasis on infotainment, with a larger 8-inch Audio-Visual Multimedia Unit with wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connection, eliminating the previous need for cable connection. Kia Rio Sport and GT-Line models have a new 4.2-inch colour cluster displaying all the important driver information in one central location. The GT-Line models have a full Climate Control and Automatic Window Defogger which will operate whenever the climate control system is on…. Read more

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MERCEDES BENZ 540K

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The Mercedes 540K was introduced in 1936 as a derivative of the 500K which was one of the first 160km/h cars capable of taking full advantage of the new autobahns which were being introduced to Germany. This car with its supercharger had an engine rated at 135kW. When its design was first being considered a de Dion rear suspension was contemplated but due to lack of time the swing-axle layout used on previous Mercedes was retained. The most attractive form of the 540K was the Roadster. It had a well-appointed… Read more

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ROAD TEST 2020 MAZDA CX-9 REVIEW

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Mazda CX-9 is a large, handsome SUV that’s been popular in Australia since it was released in Australia in 2016. To keep it fresh in this highly competitive market segment it was updated in 2018 and recently had a solid makeover for 2020. We spent four weeks in one to see how it feels now. Unfortunately our test period coincided with the early days of serious restrictions on movement due to Covid-19. We didn’t do any off-road work, but to be somewhat cynical, very few owners do. Mazda Australia is… Read more

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FCAI VERY PLEASED DEALERSHIPS ARE RE-OPENING

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The Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI), the peak body for the automotive industry in Australia, has advised that car and motorcycle dealerships are open across the country to help keep Australia moving. As State and Territory governments begin to lift COVID-19 restrictions, businesses and organisations are starting the process of re-opening their operations. In turn, workers all over the country could soon re-commence their daily journey to work. While a large percentage of commuters have traditionally chosen public transport for their daily trip, some experts are warning that crowding… Read more

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SMART-MOVING TRAFIC LOADED WITH PREMIUM APPEAL

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Overtaking, braking and cornering are just as important for vans in a congested urban environment as they are for Formula 1 cars, in the ‘Green Hell’ of the Nurburgring, or the richly paved streets of Monte Carlo. So, it’s no surprise that Renault excels in either world, a fact shown off by the French auto giant’s bringing together the dual-clutch automatic transmission lifted from the high-performance Megane Renault Sport hot hatch as well as a new, more powerful engine in its best-selling mid-size Trafic van. Versatility extends to the model… Read more

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MERCEDES-BENZ GLB SEVEN-SEATER

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Mercedes-Benz GLB has a wheelbase 100 mm longer than the standard B-Class, so is the first compact vehicle from the upmarket Germany marque to offer a third row of seats. Ideally occupants of the two additional individual rearmost seats should ideally be under 1.68 metres tall. The third row seats do have IsoFix and Top-Tether anchorages for suitable child seats, the total of four IsoFix points makes it an excellent vehicle for carrying youngsters. The third row has two drinks holders between the seats, as well as two outboard stowage… Read more