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NISSAN STILL A BIG MANUFACTURER IN AUSTRALIA

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Nissan started assembling cars in Sydney over 50 years ago, in 1966. Then began full-line local production in 1972, eventually not only making Nissans here, but also Holdens for a while (some Astras were based on Nissan Pulsars). Though Nissan pulled out of full-scale manufacturing here in 1992, it continues to make car components to this day, and plans to do so well into the next decade. The Nissan Casting Plant (NCAP) in Clayton, Victoria employs 192 skilled workers, runs three shifts a day, seven days a week making approximately… Read more

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AUSTIN HEALEY

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Donald Healey was born in Perranporth, in Cornwall, England in 1898. He became a successful competition driver, engineer and finally a car manufacturer with his own business. In 1931, driving a 4.5 litre Invicta he won the Monte Carlo Rally outright, and joined Triumph in Coventry in 1933 and shortly after became their Technical Director. At the end of World War II he started his own car manufacturing business in Warwick producing Healey cars using engines sourced from Riley. In 1952 BMC’s chief executive, Leonard Lord, sponsored an informal `design… Read more

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MERCEDES UTES – YES, UTES

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The eagerly awaited, though somewhat surprising, Mercedes-Benz X-Class ute is getting closer to Australia by the day. With the announcement of pricing – from $45,450 for a manual cab-chassis, to $64,500 for a luxurious dual-cab – the working Benz will compete with the top end of utes from more traditional sources. Or to be more precise, the top end of traditional utes with a stack of extras – because you will have to pay about $5000 to $15,000 extra for the Merc comparing like for like. Why is Merc selling… Read more

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ADVANCE INFO ON FORD ENDURA

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Many consider the Ford Territory was the best Ford ever designed and built in Australia, bar none. Sadly it disappeared when Ford Australia pulled up stumps. Ford Territory’s replacement has finally been announced and it’s called Ford Endura – which Ford tells us is short for endurance. Details are sketchy at this stage, as is the date it will arrive, other than that it will be sometime late in 2018. The fact that Holden is about to introduce its new Equinox SUV probably tells us why an Endura press release… Read more

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2018 HOLDEN EQUINOX: PRICING ANNOUNCED

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Holden has released pricing and further details of its new Equinox SUV, the model that’s replacing the ageing Holden Captiva in December. Equinox is an all-new vehicle developed by GM-Chevrolet with significant input from Australian GM-Holden engineers going back almost to the earliest stages of the design. This medium-large Holden will be powered by a 1.5-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol engine producing 127 kW and 275 Nm; or a 2.0-litre turbo-petrol 188 kW and 353 Nm. These will be available at the launch of the Equinox in December. The turbo-diesel won’t come… Read more

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AUDI LAUNCHES Q2 TFSI QUATTRO SPORT

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Audi has introduced the final variant to its successful new Q2 range. The TFSI quattro sport use a 2.0-litre turbo-petrol engine with 140kW of power, and 320 Nm of torque. Naturally power goes to all four wheels by way of the Audi quattro drive system. It has a higher level of specification to the others in the Q2 range and has a recommended retail price starting at $48,500. Zero to 100 km/h performance is 6.5 seconds. Quick, but not super quick – we will have to wait for the S2… Read more

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AUDI Q3 2012 – 2016

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The small-medium Audi Q3 crossover SUV arrived in Australia in March 2012 and competes in the sales race not only with its obvious German and British prestige rivals but also the top end of the Japanese and Korean marques. The Audi Q3 has an almost coupe-like profile that has become increasingly common in crossovers. If you’re looking for a voluminous station wagon you should probably shop elsewhere. Back seat space is okay, but this is a relatively small vehicle so it may be necessary for occupants to come to a… Read more

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2017 ALFA ROMEO GIULIA QV REVIEW

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This redhot Italian machine is taking on high-performance models from Audi, BMW, Jaguar, Lexus and Mercedes at their own game. Alfa Romeo’s Giulia Quadrifoglio Verde (QV) sports sedan is the real deal. Rear-wheel drive, Ferrari-inspired 500 horsepower (375 kW) twin-turbocharged engine that gets it to 100 km/h in 3.9 seconds. It reset the Nurburgring production sedan lap record at just 7 minutes and 32 seconds. After getting to the 100 km/h in the three-second bracket, it gets to a top speed on the far side of 300km/h. Keeping weight down… Read more

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AUSTIN LANCER

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Although Austin models were first assembled and partly manufactured in Australia before WWI, the 1958 Lancer was probably the first to have a significant local design input. The Lancer was one of ‘twins’ produced by BMC in Australia, the other being the Morris Major. Powered by a 1.5-litre, four-cylinder engine, the Lancer (like the Major) was based largely on the Wolseley 1500. By the standards of the day, the Lancer had an above average power-to-weight ratio. It was praised for its brisk acceleration and top speed of 125 km/h, which… Read more

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AUDI SUV IN QUICK CONNECTION WITH PAST GLORY

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Question: When is an SUV not an SUV? Answer: When it’s an Audi SQ5. The phrase ‘sports utility vehicle’ may seem an oxymoron when applied to most vehicles of the type but this is one that takes the title like no other. The second-generation SQ5 is the successor to one of the most popular Audi performance models to have made it Down Under and at 130 kg lighter and 20 kW (260 kW) more powerful is a worthy combination of performance and practicality. With the SQ5 sprinting to 100 km/h… Read more