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NEW MCLAREN 600LT UNVEILED

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McLaren Automotive has given Australian motoring enthusiasts the first local viewing of its latest supercar the 600LT. Described as track-ready and road-legal the 600LT is based on the previous 570S but with the enticing combination of more power, reduced weight and extra downforce. The ‘LT’ in the name stands for Longtail and it follows on from the three previous LT models, the legendary Le Mans winning F1 GTR, the 675LT and 675LT Spider. The big physical difference between the 600LT and the 570S and one of the biggest talking points… Read more

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ASTON MARTIN LE MANS

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1932 Aston Martin Le Mans

When Sir Arthur Sutherland took control of Aston Martin in 1932 he introduced a new range of cars using proprietary components. These were built around a new chassis frame, a modified version of the 1.5-litre single overhead camshaft engine used in earlier models and a bought-in Moss transmission. The chassis frame came in different lengths so a choice of wheelbase lengths – 2591 mm or 3048 mm – and a choice of two-seater and four-seater body styles were offered. This engine was extremely efficient for its time developing 62 kW…. Read more

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RENAULT KADJAR PHASE 2

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Renault Australia has confirmed that its mid-size SUV, the Kadjar, will be launched in Australia in the second half of 2019. Speaking at the launch of the all-new Megane R.S. last week, Andrew Moore, the managing director of Renault Australia, told us, “Our ambition for Renault Australia is to become a strong player in the SUV segment. We’ve already seen success in the popular SUV space with our top-selling Koleos and Captur and our intention is that in the future we will have an SUV that perfectly matches the various… Read more

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OPTIMA GT KEEPS UP THE KIA PACE

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A fresh face and a new set of ‘shoes’ are Kia’s attempt to keep its Optima mid-size sedan appealing in an ever-changing Australian car market. Pricing has come in for a haircut too. The MY2019 entry-level Si and premium GT pair gain a new grille and front fascia, upper and lower rear panels and re-styled wheels. Inside, the Optima gains the new OEM infotainment head unit (7-inch for the Si and 8-inch for the GT) with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto tie-up. Kia’s Australian engineering team once again has rolled… Read more

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LEXUS LS500h SPORTS LUXURY

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I love being married to motoring journalist Ewan Kennedy for many reasons, not just the fact I get to drive lots of different cars. My passion for cars was instilled in me by my big brother Brett and his best mate Barry. Between them they’ve owned a Fiat, MG, Saab, E Type Jaguar, Maserati and probably some I have forgotten. Until they both got married and had other obligations. It hasn’t really made them boring, though – now that the short-of-cash period has passed Brett has an Audi S4 Avant… Read more

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SUZUKI VITARA CELEBRATES ITS 30TH ANNIVERSARY

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The Suzuki Vitara has this year celebrated its 30th anniversary since the model’s global introduction in 1988. The small-medium Suzuki SUV crossover has been a huge success, with more than 3.65 million sales in 191 countries and territories around the world. In light of this, a 30th anniversary Vitara 30th Year Anniversary Edition is due to arrive in Australia from October 2018. Only 350 units available. Based on the Vitara RT-S model, the anniversary edition has stylish chrome daytime running light (DRL) surrounds, chrome door guards front and rear, and… Read more

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NEW LEXUS UX IS A STUNNING LOOKER

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Due in Australia late this year, the latest model from the upmarket Japanese Lexus marque is the UX (the ‘U’ for Urban and ‘X’ for Crossover). It joins the LX, GX, RX and NX in the Lexus lineup, but as the title suggests is more suburban cruiser than bush-basher in its intentions. In what Lexus tells us is a world first, the specially-shaped wheelarch mouldings use the airflow over their edges to reduce turbulence and lift, contributing to the vehicle’s stability. Similarly, aero-stabilising blade taillights begin at the top of… Read more

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2019 FORD FOCUS: FIRST DETAILS

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Ford Australia has announced that the all-new Ford Focus will land in Australia in December. Ford says its fourth generation of this midsize car has been developed from the ground up to provide the most confidence-inspiring, intuitive, and rewarding driving. Ford Focus will be built in Germany. It’s interesting that the two one-time local manufacturers both get their major models from that highly-regarded automotive country – the all-new Holden Commodore is also German made. Engines are becoming increasingly smaller in the search for lower emissions and minimum fuel use, so… Read more

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JEEP COMPASS 2007 – 2017

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2007 Jeep Compass

The first Jeep Compass has had a mixed career – starting off as what we would now probably call a competent crossover, moving on to being a pretty good SUV, and these days is offered as a full-on rugged 4WD that is Trail rated to extra tough Jeep standards. Compass was launched in Australia in September 2007 after Jeep finally realised that 4WD lookalikes were becoming increasing popular and often being bought in place of conventional passenger cars. It was rather odd in its appearance, though it did have the… Read more

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2018 NISSAN 370Z REVIEW

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The popular Nissan 370Z has received a slight update, a price cut and minor styling changes as the Japanese manufacturer looks to reposition the distinguished coupe as an affordable and timeless offering. We have always had a soft-spot for the 370Z and there was great excitement when it replaced the 350Z in 2009, and a somewhat more tempered pleasure with subsequent refreshes over the last decade. Taking it home for the week was a nice way to get reacquainted with a favoured friend. STYLING Amazingly, the Nissan 370Z continues to… Read more