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SUBARU FORESTER HYBRID REVIEW

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It’s taken some time but Subaru has finally ventured into the alternative propulsion field with petrol / electric hybrid versions of its Forester and XV SUVs. We’ve tested both vehicles and will look at the smaller XV in a future review but start off with the hybrid version of the Forester, a vehicle that we’ve been familiar with since it arrived here back in 1997. Although petrol / electric hybrids have been around for 20 years the Forester hybrid is just the second mid-sized SUV to come here, arriving not… Read more

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ALL-NEW NISSAN JUKE: BIGGER AND BETTER

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The all-new Nissan Juke is longer, wider and taller than its predecessor which has been on sale Downunder since 2010 Nissan Juke is all about funky styling and the new model takes that to even more extremes. Naturally it has the latest iteration of Nissan’s V-Motion grille. It features broad shoulder lines, raked windscreen and huge wheel arches. The sculpted flanks and tapered glasshouse give it a semi sporty look. Technology is by way of a 8.0-inch touchscreen that gives access to Apple CarPlay or Android Auto. If they choose… Read more

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SPORTAGE GT-LINE TAKES AN UPSWING

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Kia has built a creditable sports utility vehicle lineage on the foundations of the Sportage for almost thirty years and there’s no sign of it waning. The fourth generation of the mid-size SUV has been tweaked. These days one of the South Korean auto makers most popular lines, the MY20 Sportage comes to market in Australia as S, SX, SX+ and GT-Line variants powered by four-cylinder petrol and diesel engines mated with a six-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmissions (petrol), eight-speed auto (diesel) and front or all-wheel drive. Prices start… Read more

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OPEL / HOLDEN INSIGNIA 2012 – 2017

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2012 Opel Insignia

The German made Opel Insignia is sold as a medium-large sedan and a station wagon. Though it was launched in Europe in 2009 it didn’t reach Australia until September 2012. Insignia turned out to be a failed marketing experiment in this country. The idea was to promote it as an upmarket European import, rather than just another Holden. But Holden got greedy and added several thousand dollars to the prices of the Opel range. Buyers didn’t accept this and the Opel experiment lasted less than a year. Many who did… Read more

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NEW GENERATION PORSCHE TARGA

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Porsche’s new generation Targa 4 and 911 Targa 4S models have been introduced. Compared to its predecessors, Targa’s body features significantly more pronounced wheel housings at the front and, between its LED headlights. They feature a wide roll hoop, a movable roof section above the front seats and a wraparound rear window. Its rear is dominated by its wider, variably extending rear spoiler and a seamlessly integrated lightbar. With the exception of the front and rear sections, the entire outer skin is made from aluminium. The Porsche Targa 4 is… Read more

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ROVER P5

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1958 Rover 3.0-litre P5

The Rover P5 was first introduced in the late 1950s as post-war design No. 5 and when production was ceased in 1973 there was nothing to replace it as a car so ideally suited for ferrying around highly paid public servants. The Rover P5 was a Rolls-Royce for the middle classes and, had the air of a solid means of transport and a self-effacing dignity not replicated in any other car built in the 1970s. In fact they were still used by the British public service’s high-ranking officials well into… Read more

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LEYBURN SPRINTS 2020 CALLED OFF

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This year’s Historic Leyburn Sprints for historic and classic cars, which were scheduled to run on 22-23 August, have been cancelled and 25th anniversary celebrations of the event deferred to next year. The local community-run organising committee says it could not guarantee that the original date, or a possible postponed date later this year would be able to run viably within Covid-19 restrictions. The Historic Leyburn Sprints, which were launched in 1996 to commemorate the 1949 Australian Grand Prix on an ex-wartime airfield, usually attracts up to 210 competing cars… Read more

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LE ZEBRE

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1908 Le Zebre

Beautifully proportioned, the French Le Zebre was an inspired design which appeared long before baby cars were a recognised fact. With a wheelbase of 1829 mm (6 ft) and an overall length of 2718 mm (less than 9 ft), she was appreciably smaller than the original Mini Minor. When Le Zebre appeared in 1908, car designers were experimenting with every conceivable chassis layout, often placing the components where they would fit. By chance, or by foresight, Le Zebre chose a layout which today would be considered conventional. The 600 cc… Read more

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‘MINI’ MAZDA MAINTAINS BIG AMBITIONS

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The Mazda2 has always been a small car with big ambitions. So much so that it has notched up sales of 196,000 since it hit the streets in 2002. Nothing has changed in this respect. However, in order to maintain pressure on rivals in one of the most competitive market segments, the latest model has refreshed looks inside and out, and perked up the powertrain to improve ride and fuel efficiency. The MY20 Mazda2 comes in three variants, with titles updated in line with Mazda’s new-generation nomenclature. Designated G15 Pure,… Read more

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JEEP VIRTUAL DEMOS

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Jeep Australia has launched the Jeep Virtual Demo. Potential buyers can register their interest and be connected with their local dealership where a Jeep expert will give them a personalised tour of a vehicle of interest via video stream, live from the showroom floor. Test drives can also be arranged through the Jeep Virtual Demo program, with dealerships conveniently dropping Jeep vehicles at your doorstep, with the utmost in care and sanitisation processes in place. “Offering a convenient and comfortable end-to-end new vehicle service for consumers is Jeep Australia’s priority… Read more