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NEW SUV HAS SUBARU RACING INTO THE LEAD

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It appears Subaru has backed a winner with the new XV, with sales of the small sports utility vehicle up 139.0 per cent for August, pushing the maker to becoming the fastest growing top 10 brand in the automotive industry, according to official VFACTS figures. Subaru took a gamble with the XV, stepping out of the square with its sharper looks over the soft-skinned majority of the segment and augmenting this with technology designed to take on conditions other soft-roaders could only dream about tackling. The second-generation XV comes in… Read more

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FIRST CHANCE TO SEE NEW HOLDEN COMMODORE

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Holden’s all-new Commodore will go on public display for the first time at Motorclassica, Australia’s premier classic and collector car exhibition. The eagerly awaited German-built Holden is crammed with the latest in technology and is driven by either a V6 to all four wheels, or a high-tech turbo-petrol four-cylinder connected to the front wheels. It will be greeted at Motorclassica by all eight generations of Australian-made Commodores. Motorclassica 2017 will also be marking 100 years since the first Holden-bodied car was made in Australia, almost three decades before General Motors… Read more

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LANCIA STRATOS

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1974 Lancia Stratos

The Lancia Stratos, an Italian sports car, was built especially to win motor rallies. It certainly wasn’t a practical car for everyday use – but it certainly could win rallies. It took the International Championship three times before changing parent-company policies sidelined it. Stratos was a very Italian car with many characteristics common to a number of other Italians: its electrics were unreliable, it was difficult to see out of, and its production figures were grossly exaggerated for homologation purposes. At the 1970 Turin Motor Show Bertone displayed a small… Read more

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FORD ECOSPORT 2013 – 2017

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Ford EcoSport is a small SUV built on the underpinnings of the Fiesta, but with a taller body, significantly more ground clearance and fascinating styling. Unlike some in this ever-expanding class no EcoSports are offered with all-wheel drive. EcoSport features bold wheelarches, 4WD-type sill protection and a high window line. Interestingly, there are traces of the Australian-designed Ford Territory in the shape of the wraparound rear window styling. Bold styling continues inside the cabin, with clever shapes for the centre console area and the binnacle of the instrument panel. Cost… Read more

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SUZUKI SWIFT’S SMOOTH TRANSITION TO MODERN MOTORING

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The latest Suzuki Swift displays the Japanese company’s history of engineering excellence with a particularly well-sorted drivetrain. Its 1.2-litre four-cylinder engine, mated with an excellent CVT, is a real delight to sit behind. Our test car, the Suzuki Swift GL Navigator with Safety Pack, provided seamless and seemingly effortless operation in almost all circumstances. STYLING The new Swift has taken on a more assertive look, especially up front, with a wide open radiator and lower bumper grille making a positive statement. Fenders add more muscle to a lower and wider… Read more

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FERRARI PORTOFINO: FIRST DETAILS

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Ferrari Portofino is the replacement for the long-running Ferrari California T convertible. More powerful, lighter and stiffer than its predecessor the Portofino features a turbocharged 3.8-litre V8 producing 600 horsepower (445 kW). Though it can sprint from 0 to 100 km/h in just 3.6 seconds the sleek Portofino is aimed at the grand tourer market rather than being an out-and-out sports machine. With seating for four, though the two in the back will ideally be on the small and tolerant side, the big Ferrari convertible has a folding hardtop that… Read more

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MAZDA BT-50 STAYS THE CUP COURSE LIKE TRUE THOROUGHBRED

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Twelve months ago, for me the south-western Queensland town of Birdsville was an island of disappointment in a sea of despair, my being in a group of late scratchings for a proposed run to the annual Birdsville Races. The iconic town was completely cut off by road after a deluge of unprecedented proportions just as a group of motoring media, me included, was about to drive the track there in Mazda BT-50 utes. Under starter’s orders: To their credit, the folk at Mazda this month came up trumps and we… Read more

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UNVEILED: LAMBORGHINI AVENTADOR ROADSTER

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Lamborghini Aventador S Roadster is to be displayed at the Frankfurt motor show, but the Italian maker has released early photos and tech details in advance. The Roadster has a mid-rear 6.5-litre V12 engine that produces 740 hp (545 kW) of power, and 690 Nm of torque at 5500 rpm. T A zero to 100 km/h time of just 3.0 seconds is claimed. Dione 20-inch front and 21-inch rear wheels sit inside Pirelli P Zero tyres specifically developed for the Aventador S. Removable hardtop roof panels weigh less than six… Read more

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VOLKSWAGEN GOLF 2009 – 2017

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2010 Volkswagen Golf GTD

In Europe, the Golf is often seen as a full-sized car and it’s not unusual to see them with four adults inside. Aussies tend to regard them more as transport for a family with pre-teen children, but if you live in an inner city area in Melbourne of Sydney a Golf may fill all your motoring needs. Still regarded as a benchmark car in its class if you’re a keen driver, the Volkswagen Golf has had its ups and downs in recent years. Once famed for German build quality and… Read more

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2018 AUDI A5 AND S5 CABRIOLET

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Audi S5 Cabriolet

“What on Earth is Audi thinking of?” was my reaction to the invitation to attend the launch of the A5 and S5 Cabriolets – in Adelaide at the end of winter. Feeling smug when stepping off the plane in SA I muttered, “I told you so,” under my breath as I battled against a wind that felt like it was directly from the Antarctic. The outside temperature was nine degrees, and dropping… I was wrong. After taking a brave pill we powered down the soft top of a sleek new… Read more