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CITROEN DS4 2012 – 2016

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2012 Citroen DS4

It’s a lovely trait of the very French Citroen marque that it loves to be a long way ahead of the pack when it comes to styling. The DS4 is an excellent example. At a time when SUVs were generally squared off a the back, the DS4 was sloped and smooth. Then again is this an SUV? Because Citroen prefers it to call a five-door coupe, and to clever design makes it look like a three-door. Anyhow, many other makers have taken the style route at the rear of their… Read more

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2018 NISSAN X-TRAIL REVIEW

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Nissan has given its midsize X-Trail SUV a solid makeover in appearance both inside and out, as well as a major performance boost, added technology and improved overall refinement. The Nissan X-Trail is offered with five or seven-seat versions, though the seven-seater is only available if you chose the 2WD model with the 2.5-litre petrol engine. Our test Nissan for the past week was a five-seat diesel X-Trail Ti. STYLING Three new paint colours: Marine Blue, Copper Blaze and Ruby Red lift it away from the various shades of silver… Read more

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2017 MITSUBISHI PAJERO SPORT GLS REVIEW

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The Mitsubishi Pajero Sport is now offering more at the same price. Seven seats in the GLS and Exceed for the cost of five seats. Combined with the rugged SUV’s inclusions list, fuel economy and all-round capability, this is one challenge that is difficult to ignore. We were in the Pajero Sport GLS for a week during which the rain gods were especially generous to Queensland. The GLS’s quite confidence and assuredness under foot was a comfort in dangerous driving conditions. STYLING The Pajero Sport hides its ute roots rather… Read more

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ALL-NEW BMW X3

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Fourteen years ago BMW was ahead of its time when it launched the X3 SUV into the prestige car market. Seven years later it introduced the second generation. Now a further seven years on the gen-three X3 from BMW has arrived in Australia. Four years ago Australian Calvin Luk, already one of BMW’s best regarded stylists took his seat at computer screen to do come up his thoughts on the all-new X3. Yesterday he sat at his screen again and fascinated we Australian motoring journos with quickly drawn strokes to… Read more

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NEW RENAULT SEDAN FORSAKES BLOWTORCH FOR FIRESIDE COMFORT

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Renault has created a modern dynasty of hot hatches on the back of a formidable Formula One motor racing record: think Megane and Clio. Now the French automotive giant has added to the Megane family Down Under with a wagon and sedan. In comparison to the performance-based Megane hatch, with which it was born and bred, the new sedan is a stylish, premium packaged, practical vehicle, which is, once the steepish initial outlay is overcome, economical to live with. It comes to Australia in two models – Zen and Intens… Read more

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2017 AUDI S5 COUPE REVIEW

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New generation A5 and S5 two-door coupes were launched in March this year and have been a hit right from the start, for two reasons: Number one is undoubtedly styling; Audi is running hot in this vital sales area these days and the S5 is right up with the best. Number two is a more mundane; A5 and S5 coupe prices have been cut by as much as $15,000 when compared feature-to-feature with the superseded models. Our test coupe for the past week was the Audi S5 coupe. STYLING The… Read more

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SUDDEN DEATH CLOSE TO HOME

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You would think that drivers would take extra care as they entered their home area. Sadly, my experience shows exactly the opposite takes. The closer they are to home the more likely they are to drive dangerously. That disturbing fact dawned on me the other day when I was waiting outside my home for someone to arrive. My place is near the entrance to a suburban area that probably houses a couple of hundred homes. So there’s a reasonable number of cars travelling past most of the time. A large… Read more

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2017 LEXUS LC500 REVIEW

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Bold. Brash. Beautiful. The Lexus LC 500 is a head-turner alright. It is emotionally engaging with the all-round performance to match. A real Grand Tourer from an unlikely part of the world. It may also be the biggest statement Lexus has made since the LFA. And we got to live with one for the week. You have some idea of the LC 500’s drawing power when the school principal asks you to park the car rather than using the drop-off point because you are stopping the morning carpark flow. And… Read more

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SUZUKI MOVES TO MAKE THE SWIFT RISE CONTINUE

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Swift by name; swift by nature. In automotive terms, it has taken just 12 years and five million sales worldwide for the Suzuki Swift to become something of an icon in the light-car segment. From the road up, the development team went to work, introducing a new-generation platform and engineering a completely new chassis, body structure and powertrain. The new Swift comes to Australia in four variants, with the entry-level Swift GL 1.2 manual selling for $16,990 driveaway, adding a CVT for $1000, a Safety Pack for a further $1200,… Read more

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PORSCHE 911 CARRERA T

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  The 911 Carrera T is based on the standard 911 Carrera, but with major changes. While the T stands for Touring in Porsche speak this is not a GT (grand touring) vehicle in the conventional manner rather the T is aimed at harder performance through lower weight. The legendary Colin Chapman famously said when he designed his racing and sportscars, “First add lightness.” To trim mass the Porsche Carrera T rear window and rear-side windows are made from lighter glass and the door trims feature opening pull loops instead… Read more