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2018 NISSAN NAVARA DUAL-CAB 4X4 ST

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We love having a big, sprawling four-wheel-drive at our house, swayed of course by its rugged nature, no-nonsense appearance and its innate ability to approach all challenges as adventures. What better way test it than the week you are moving house? The Nissan Navara ST made numerous trips to the dump and the Salvation Army, making hasty work of, “but it’s precious to me” mountain my girls have gathered over the last few years, and the “you can’t throw away a good shirt” pile my husband has accumulated over the… Read more

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JAGUAR F-PACE SVR IS COMING

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Jaguar is running hot right now, not only with victories in major awards, but also new models seemingly by the week. The Jaguar F-Pace SUV has taken out the World Car of the Year and World Car Design of the Year, now an ultra-hot SVR has just been announced. Engineered by Jaguar LandRover’s Special Vehicle Operations (SVO), the Jaguar F-Pace SVR has a 5.0-litre V8 supercharged engine producing 540 horsepower (404kW) and 680Nm of torque. The big SUV can now leap from zero to 100km/h in 4.3 seconds, and proceed… Read more

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GIULIA SET TO RESURRECT THE ALFA ROMEO BRAND

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Alfa Romeo Giulia arrived here in January 2017 with the arduous task of helping to resurrect the iconic Italian brand to the level that made it one of the world’s most respected carmakers. The Alfa Romeo 4C that went on sale in 2015 was certainly a positive sign but it was a small two-door coupe or convertible sportscar with limited impact on the general market. By contrast Giulia is a mid-sized family sedan albeit one with serious performance attributes. With SUVs dominating sales it’s getting harder and harder to find… Read more

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PEUGEOT 3008 2010 – 2016

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2015 Peugeot 3008

By EWAN KENNEDY, Marque Motoring CAPTION: A. B. C. 2017 Peugeot 3008 BODY COPY Since mid 2017 French maker Peugeot has been under new management in Australia. The result is a big marketing push on the all-new 3008 that was introduced at about the same time. Previous 3008 models appear to being traded in on the new ones so there is an upsurge of used ones at the moment. So it might be a good idea get in and do a deal on one if dealers are running out of… Read more

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MAZDA FINE TUNES ITS ICONIC MX-5

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Ever restless in their search for perfection, the engineers at Mazda have given their ND series MX-5 roadster’s rear suspension some minor tweaks. Using information from the development of the Retractable Fastback (RF) version of the MX-5, the soft-top’s rear suspension’s upper link bushings have been lowered and the rear bump stops lengthened. The aim of the latter was to bring the stops into play a little earlier. It’s also there to give a slightly more comfortable ride, but obviously without in any way interfering with the MX-5’s exceptional road… Read more

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A ‘SPEC ‘N’ TECH’ SPRUCE-UP SPURS LUXE NX LEXUS

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“Not to be messed with”: that, we are told, is what the powers that be at Lexus wanted to get across with its upgrade to the NX line of luxury sports utility vehicles. Said one exec: “Improvements to the NX styling and dynamics will enhance its appeal by projecting a sportier character from what is already one of the sharpest luxury SUVs on the road.” And, like the genie in the bottle, the team tasked with the job, the boss’s wish was its command. Did it work? The ‘spec ‘n’… Read more

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TOYOTA MR2 1987-2006

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2000 Toyota MR2 Spyder

Toyota 86 and its close cousin the Subaru BRZ, not to forget the evergreen Mazda MX-5, show there’s still a place for affordable sportscars in Australia. To be honest we would rather spend time in any of them than join the craze for pickup trucks that are clogging our roads at the moment. Which brings up thoughts of owning an older Toyota sports machine that can be bought for as little as $2000 on the used car market. The pure Toyota MR2 – a rear-engined two-seat machine that’s a delight… Read more

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LEXUS LX GETS TURBO-DIESEL OPTION

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Until now the large Lexus LX series SUVs have only been sold here with a 5.7-litre twin-cab petrol V8, if you wanted a turbo-diesel you had to opt for the LX’s close cousin, the Toyota LandCruiser 200. The reasoning being that diesels didn’t necessarily give the sort of near silence and refinement the upmarket Japanese marque has been renowned for. These days diesels are almost as refined as petrol units so Lexus has added a diesel LX, the 450d. With a capacity of 4.5 litres this twin-cam, twin-turbo V8 diesel… Read more

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2018 NISSAN PATROL Ti REVIEW

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Nissan has given its two-model Patrol range a little pep both inside and out. Little things, mind, but considered approaches to keep its largest SUV positioned as a value proposition. And let’s not forget fun. STYLING With this Nissan Patrol, big is definitely better. The Patrol is a hard vehicle to miss, as much for its presence as its size. Nissan has updated this loveable beast with a new bumper and grille pairing as well as revised triangular foglight housings and distinguishing 18-inch alloys. The look is bold and brassy… Read more

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CHEVROLET IMPALA

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1966 Chevrolet Impala Super Sport

The Chevrolet Impala was the perfect example of exuberance in the 1960s American car styling. In spite of its fins, chrome and mock elements, or perhaps because of them, the Impala achieved sales of almost half a million cars in 1960. Like other American car manufacturers the Chevrolet division of General Motors offered buyers a large choice of engines, transmissions and body styles. Engine options ranged from a standard 3.8-litre straight six right up to a 5.7-litre Turbothrust V8. Power outputs of these options ranged from 172 kW at 4800… Read more