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2020 UPGRADES FOR NISSAN PATROL

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Major upgrades to the Nissan Patrol have been announced in a media event in the Middle East. It’s extremely popular in that area thanks to its rough and rugged build and excellent off-road ability. Australian imports will be here shortly before Christmas, local specs may be slightly different to this quoted here, will provide them as soon as we get them. Nissan’s V-motion grille is used in its latest iteration in arguably its boldest way yet. Fascinateily, it was described at its launch in the Middle East as having, “Boomerang-shaped… Read more

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LEAVE THAT PHONE ALONE!

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If you use your phone while you’re driving, you’re as dangerous as a drink driver. So if you’ve got into the potentially lethal and illegal habit of checking your phone when you’re behind the wheel, it’s time to take away the temptation. A government campaign is currently running to – hopefully – get the message across. You can set up ‘Do Not Disturb While Driving’ to automatically activate every time you drive. You won’t receive any messages until you arrive at your destination and if someone has sent you a… Read more

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NISSAN LEAF MAKES LIGHT OF SWITCH TO ELECTRIC POWER

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One in ten new vehicles on the road in Australia by 2025 – that’s about 100,000 – will use some sort of electric power. That’s the prediction of Nick Thomas, the Nissan global director of electric vehicles. “As the cost of the traditional internal combustion engine goes up, that of the battery comes down, making EVs an attractive proposition. There is a price crossover point coming,” he said. The Leaf first saw the light of day in 2010, arriving in Australia two years later. Since then more than 410,000 have… Read more

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MAZDA CX-5 2012 – 2018

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2012 Mazda CX-5

A combination of style and the brilliant red paint finish has had the Mazda CX-5 sitting at the head of the sales race in its class virtually all the time since it arrived here in February 2012. Mazda’s Kodo styling theme with its big grille, long bonnet and deeply sculpted sides works even better in the CX-5 than in the rest of the range. This is a comfortable five-seater if those in the back aren’t overly large, as is usual in this class two adults and a child makes more… Read more

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PORSCHE 911 CARRERA 4 COUPE AND CABRIOLET

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Following the introduction of the standard 911 Carrera and 911 Carrera Cabriolet, Porsche is expanding the line-up with the all-wheel drive 911 Carrera 4 and 911 Carrera 4 Cabriolet. Like the 2020 911 Carrera models, the new 911 Carrera 4 and 911 Carrera 4 Cabriolet are powered by a twin-turbo 3.0-litre flat-six engine fitted with model-specific turbochargers, developing 283 kW (385 hp) at 6,500 rpm (15 hp more than the previous 911 Carrera 4 models) and 440 Nm of torque, all the way from 1,950 to 5,000 rpm. A fully-variable,… Read more

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SUZUKI SWIFT 2011 – 2018

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Suzuki Swift is a stylish Japanese small car that’s been popular in Australia since its re-introduction in February 2005. A major model change in June 2011 retained the same cheeky look as the 2005 model, but is a little larger, with a bit more space in the back seat. Obviously the Swift doesn’t have room space for four large adults in the cabin, being aimed a singles, couples and young families. In this review we are looking at the post 2011 Swifts as the older ones are getting on in… Read more

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HYUNDAI VENUE – GOOD THINGS COME IN SMALL PACKAGES

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Hyundai has launched the fourth, and smallest, member of its SUV range. Indeed, at just 4040 mm long, Hyundai Venue is one of the shortest of all models in the compact SUV market. Only the Suzuki Jimny is shorter, at 3645 mm. Venue’s stubby body is offset by an overall height measurement of 1592 mm which effectively dictates the boxy shape that used to characterise early SUVs before the stylists stepped in and began trying to outdo each other. Having said that we love the neat and functional styling that’s… Read more

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2020 VOLVO XC40 T4 INSCRIPTION

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The very Swedish Volvo XC40 midsize SUV has an excellent blend of style, performance and practicality. And it goes without saying it’s one of the safety vehicles on our roads. A new model, the XC40 Inscription was recently added to the range. A midrange variant, it features a powered front passenger seat, leather-trim, ambient interior lighting and a powered tailgate. A fascinating insight; by far the most commented-on feature of the XC40 Inscription we have been driving is the Orrefors Crystal gear selector. A great collaboration between the two upmarket… Read more

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CARS WITH FAULTY AIRBAGS MAY BE DE-REGISTERED

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Faulty Takata airbags can go off without warning and kill or serious injure you. Despite a long campaign by car companies and the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI) there are still a total of 537,000 vehicles in Australia with faulty Takata airbags. The 537,000 vehicles tend to be from outer suburban areas of large cities, country areas, lower socio-economic groups and when English isn’t the first language of the vehicle owners. Tony Weber, chief executive of the FCAI, said that while local automotive brands had worked hard to complete… Read more

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RENAULT KADJAR IS ON ITS WAY

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Renault Kadjar will join the already crowded mid-sized crossovers in Australia when it arrives in November. Renault Australia Managing Director Anouk Poelmann says, “Starting from $29,990 RRP the Renault Kadjar is designed to be at home in any environment, features a strong visual identity, contemporary design with a focus on quality and will sit in the middle of Renault’s three-strong SUV range”. At the front Kadjar carries over the C-shape light signature from the Renault range. It strengthens it by integrating LED indicators into daytime running lights. Front and rear… Read more