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FRIGHTENING CAR TRIP

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I had a truly frightening journey in a car this morning. It was on the eight-lane Brisbane to Gold Coast M1 motorway beside a driver I had never travelled with before. A pleasant lady in her forties who has been driving for many years so has had plenty of experience behind the wheel in a variety of cars. However, she wasn’t what we in the motoring game call a ‘driver’; meaning she had no real interest in what she was doing, simply regarding driving as a means of getting from… Read more

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MORRIS 10

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1933 Morris 10

In the early stages of the motor manufacturing industry all automobile manufacturers were basically chassis manufacturers with car bodies being added by several selected body works. However by the 1930s some manufacturers commenced building cars without a chassis. These were described as being built by unitary construction. One such car was the Morris Ten Series M which was first released in 1938. It was a completely new car in the Morris Ten Series range which started out in 1933 as the Morris Ten, a medium sized car. Variants of this… Read more

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MAZDA UPDATES MX-5

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An updated Mazda MX-5 will go on sale in Australia in early 2020. However changes are relatively minor, with an emphasis on the interior. There are revisions to interior materials with RF GT models getting Burgundy Nappa leather punctuated with a light grey stitch to create a more luxurious cabin atmosphere. Across other parts of the range, both Tan and Black leather options have also been revised, adding perforations that give a sporty texture and boost to comfort. The GT range also gets stainless steel scuff plates to minimise damage… Read more

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AUDI A1 ANSWERS THE RIGHT QUESTIONS IN CLASS

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Through careful cultivation, the Audi A1 hatch (Sportback in Audi-speak) sets out to be every buyer’s new best friend. And because the maker spent lots of time and pots of money on feedback from potential buyers, mainly male says Audi, it might just have hit the sales jackpot. The result is the MY19 (say MY20) Sportback, due to high demand around the world, only recently dropped in Down Under. The second-generation A1 comes with three petrol drivetrains, all with direct injection and turbocharging, linking optimum performance with fuel efficiency. We… Read more

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SAFETY TIPS FOR ATVs AND SSVs

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Christmas holidays are often an opportunity to visit friends and family on properties around the country – properties where ATVs and SSVs are used as versatile farm machinery. The temptation for younger riders to take these vehicles for a spin can sometimes be too much – and have fatal results. That’s why the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI) is urging parents to observe the known safety practices when operating ATVs and SSVs these holidays. It is especially important to supervise younger riders and ensure they only ride age appropriate… Read more

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MORE RECALLS OF TAKATA AIRBAGS

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The Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI) has received notification that an additional 78,000 vehicles on Australian roads may be fitted with faulty Takata airbags. The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has advised vehicle manufacturers that these faulty airbags may have been installed in early-model Audi, BMW, Ford, Honda, Eunos (Mazda), Mitsubishi, Suzuki and Toyota vehicles manufactured between 1996 and 2000. These airbags can cause serious injury or death to vehicle occupants. Owners of affected vehicles are advised to immediately contact their dealer or brand. Anyone who owns one… Read more

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2020 RENAULT KADJAR INTENS

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Renault has added a third model to its SUV range, the mid-sized Kadjar which neatly sits between the French marque’s compact Captur and large Koleos. According to Renault the name is a mix of ‘Kad’ meaning quad and ‘Jar’ meaning agility. Kadjar is offered in Life, Zen and Intens variants. Life and Zen have halogen headlights, Intens gets LEDs. Life and Zen roll on 17-inch alloys wheels, two-tone on the latter. Intens has 19-inch alloys. Renault Kadjar shares the same platform as the Nissan Qashqai as the French and Japanese… Read more

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PORSCHE MACAN GTS IS ON ITS WAY

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The new Porsche Macan GTS is available to order now. It is priced from $109,700 and will arrive in Australia in the first quarter of 2020. The 2.9-litre V6 bi-turbo engine delivers 280 kW (380 hp) – an increase of 15 kW (20 hp) compared with the predecessor model. The maximum torque of 520 Nm (plus 20 Nm) is available over a wide range from 1,750 to 5,000 rpm. Combined with the newly adapted PDK dual-clutch transmission and the optional Sport Chrono package, the Macan GTS can accelerate from zero… Read more

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DE LOREAN GULLWING COUPE

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1981 De Lorean Gullwing Coupe

Around the mid-1970s John DeLorean, a senior executive with General Motors, had a strong desire to build a rear-engined two-seater coupe using a Ford V6 as the power source. He envisaged it would have many high tech features. Its body would be of unpainted stainless steel mounted on a chassis built from a lightweight composite material. The stylist selected to design the body was Giugiaro who had designed the Tapiro for Porsche in 1970. Although the idealised specifications were based on strong safety conscious intentions the concept of gull-wing doors… Read more

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CALL FOR MOTORISTS TO USE NEW ‘MEGA ROADSIDE REST AREAS’

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NTI General Manager Janelle Greene and truck driver Kevin Treble

Motorists, particularly those towing caravans, are being urged to be smart about how they share roadside rest stops with trucks this Christmas holiday season. New statistics released today by Australia’s leading transport and logistics insurer, NTI, show 83 per cent of fatigue-related accidents involving trucks in the lead up to Christmas last year happened between 10pm and 6am despite only one-sixth of the country’s freight being moved during those hours. NTI’s General Manager Janelle Greene said over-crowding at rest areas was a major problem in managing fatigue at this time… Read more