No comments

NOW KIA CERATO TAPS INTO ‘GT’ TAG

  By ,

In days gone by, GT, as in Grand Touring, was generally reserved for aristocratic automobiles, usually from Europe, or American muscle cars. Then hot hatches got in on the act. These days, GT seems to be bandied about, being given to any ‘below stairs’ vehicle showing spirit. Take the new Cerato GT from Kia, for example. Does it stack up to the top-shelf suffix? The South Korean car maker thinks so, with its best-selling model, the Cerato sedan and hatch, adding a 1.6-litre turbo model and a ride and handling… Read more

No comments

FIAT FREEMONT 2013 – 2017

  By ,
2015 Fiat Freemont Crossroad

An interesting alternative to Asian SUVs, the Italian Fiat Freemont shares many components with the American Dodge Journey. It was introduced here midway through 2013. The fact that the shape was somewhere between that of an SUV and a people mover didn’t do it any favours and it sold only in moderate numbers. Competition from Dodge probably didn’t help. (Chrysler Dodge got into big financial trouble during the GFC and was taken over by Fiat.) The Fiat Freemont comes with five or seven seats. The second row of seats can… Read more

No comments

BMW Z4: PRICING AND SPECIFICATIONS

  By ,

BMW has released details of the all new BMW Z4 Roadster that will go on sale Downunder on a date yet to be announced in April. Prices range from $84,900 for the Z4 sDrive20i to $124,900 for the BMW Z4 M40i. On-road charges have to be added. (See the full price list in our separate table.) Fascinatingly the Z4 has been styled by Australian Calvin Luk. We chatted to this personable young guy when he made a recent visit Downunder and he’s a real genius with the pen, not to… Read more

No comments

KIA PUTS THE ‘GT’ QUESTION TO PICANTO TEST

  By ,

With automatic transmissions leading the way in car sales to the detriment of manual gearboxes, the thought of a manual-only option for a hatchback would appear questionable. Not to Kia, whose latest micro-model, the Picanto, has just added a hero GT version to its list. “We were warned that trying to launch a micro car into Australia was a fruitless exercise and doomed to failure,” Kia Motors Australia chief operating officer Damien Meredith says. “The segment was shrinking fast with only a handful of cars being sold. “Three years on… Read more

No comments

JAGUAR F-TYPE COUPE

  By ,

The Jaguar F-Type, which reached us Downunder in 2013, has been argued by many as being the true replacement for the legendary E-Type Jag. Sure, the F- smaller than the E-Type but it doesn’t look that much down in size. Best of all it’s a genuine sports machine. While the XK Jaguar is similar in size to the gorgeous old E-Type both are more grand-touring high-speed cruisers than full-on sports machines. There’s no doubt the F-Type is a real sportscar. We have just spent a wonderful three weeks over the… Read more

No comments

FORD MODEL Y

  By ,

Whilst the Ford Model T established Ford as a dominant marque in America the Ford Model Y was the single model which launched Ford-UK on its way to market leadership. This was Ford’s first really small car that, due to its cheap price, allowed it to open up Ford motoring to the masses. Before the 1930s, Ford-UK business was devoted to the assembly of American models such as the Model T and Model A. With the onset of the Depression in Europe Ford needed something smaller, cheaper and produced locally… Read more

No comments

ALL-NEW BMW 3 SERIES: PRICING AND SPECIFICATIONS

  By ,

BMW Australia has announced pricing and specifications for the much anticipated all-new 3 Series that goes on-sale Downunder in March. It is longer and wider than ever before to provide a more spacious cabin particularly in the rear seats. Luggage capacity is pretty good at 480 litres and a 40:20:40 split-fold back seat lets you juggle people and cargo. A 12.3-inch high-resolution instrument cluster provides customisable key information. It is designed to seamlessly integrate with the 10.25-inch central touchscreen that operates the key vehicle functions. BMW’s new Intelligent Personal Assistant… Read more

No comments

PORSCHE 911 TYPE 993 PINNACLE OF THE AIR-COOLED ERA

  By ,
1994, 911 Carrera Coupé, Type 993

By PORSCHE MEDIA On 27 November (28 November, Australian time), the eighth generation of the Porsche 911 will celebrate its world premiere in Los Angeles – 55 years after the debut of the original 911 model. This is reason enough to take a look back at the previous seven generations. One thing is certain, and not just for fans of sports cars from Zuffenhausen: the fourth generation of the 911 – the 993 – is one of the most desirable editions in the history of this classic vehicle. Although practically… Read more

No comments

POPULAR SUV JOINS THE NISSAN SPECIAL SQUAD

  By ,

There is nothing unique about the Nissan X-Trail N-Sport. Egged on by the sales success of the N-Sport Navara limited edition, the Japanese automobile manufacturer has done likewise for three more models. The seven-seat Pathfinder SUV, sporty 370Z, plus the popular mid-size SUV X-Trail have come in for ‘special’ attention. Sitting well up the ladder in the highly competitive medium sports utility vehicle segment under $60,000, it was thought the X-Trail could handle a mid-cycle shove with 600 units of the N-Sport. Based on the Nissan X-Trail ST-L, the N-Sport… Read more

No comments

STUNNING NEW TOYOTA GR SUPRA

  By ,

Toyota has finally launched the eagerly awaited new GR Supra in an impressive ceremony at the Detroit motor show. This is the fifth generation of its large Japanese sportscar. Interestingly, the GR Supra is produced by Toyota GAZOO Racing, hence the tag of ‘GR’ for the all-new model. The 3.0-litre straight-six engine has a twin-scroll turbocharger and produces 250kW of power and 500Nm of torque. It features a continuously-variable valve control to help it produce torque from very low revs. The straight-six drives the rear wheels through an eight-speed automatic… Read more