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2017 AUDI A5 COUPE

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Normally when I drive a new car into the townhouse complex where I live neighbours have a casual glance to see what car I’ve just picked up, then go back to whatever they had been doing. Not so with the bright read Audi A5 coupe; it stopped a five-way conversation, pulled all eyes in its direction and got folks wandering over to have a closer look and a chat. Audi continues to push hard in the Australian market, with its sights on BMW and Mercedes in every possible area of… Read more

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OUTLANDER IN PUSH FOR HIGH GROUND

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They say a characteristic of a generation Y person is that he or she wants everything; and they want it now. Sounds like perfect candidates for the upgraded Mitsubishi Outlander sports utility vehicle. While already well specified, the MY17 medium-size SUV has shifted up a notch or two, adding a new mid-range LS Safety Pack model with forward collision mitigation, lane departure warning, adaptive cruise control and automatic high beam feature. Top model Exceed also adopts these features as standard, as well as advanced safety systems such as 360 degree… Read more

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FERRARI 275

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Ferrari’s two-seater Gran Turismo Berlinetta models were considered classics and the first model in the family was the 275. It was from this series of models that the marque’s later supercars developed. With a body by Pininfarina it introduced new features not previously seen in road-going Ferraris such as all-independent suspension and a five-speed gearbox mounted as a single unit together with the final drive so as to counterbalance the extreme forward positioning of the engine. First shown at the 1964 Paris Motor Show the Ferrari 275 featured a twin-OHV… Read more

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BMW 1 SERIES 2004 – 2015

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The smallest vehicle in the BMW car range, the 1 Series uses sporty engines driving the rear wheels. Like everything else produced by the German auto maker it’s aimed at those who enjoy driving, rather than people who treat it as a chore. However rear-drive inevitably steals cabin and boot space, something that’s more noticeable in the 1 Series than the larger models in the range. It’s probably better to regard a 1 Series as a two-plus-two rather than a full four seater. There’s good legroom in the front seats,… Read more

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SPACE SAVING SPARES

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I still continue to hear criticism of spacesaver spare wheels from many people. Much of it is unjustified and ill-considered in my opinion. Spacesaver wheel/tyre combinations are significantly narrower and slightly smaller in diameter than standard units. Their main reason for existing is to give more room in the boot. This is firstly, because of the increasingly large tyres being fitted to modern cars and secondly because, as people move down to smaller cars to save fuel and reduce emissions, they like to retain as much interior space as possible…. Read more

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SKODA WAGON ADDS UP TO A LOAD OF SENSE

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If today’s sports utility vehicles are the winkle-pickers (Google it) of the automotive world, all-wheel drive wagons are the lace-up brogues; what your mother might call ‘sensible shoes’. For those with little history, think Sean Connery, rather than Johnny Depp; ruggedly handsome, against off-beat and quirky. The Skoda Octavia Scout is a perfect example of the former; always has been. STYLING Octavia Scout maintains the robust character of its predecessor. There’s no missing the bold Scout-only bumpers and added body protection. The radiator grille now carries the Scout badge The… Read more

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2017 AUDI A3 CABRIOLET

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There is something about being able to lower the roof of a car and have the wind in your hair and sun on your face that speaks to the pure enjoyment of life. Sure, you probably won’t be enjoying life that much when you are trying to remove the knots from your hair but that’s a mood spoiler you can leave for later. Audi’s immensely popular A3 range, one that basically defined the luxury small car segment, also boasts a beautiful Cabriolet which we were happy to put to the… Read more

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ON THE FACE OF IT, NOT A CIVIC AS WE KNOW IT

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Whoa! What’s this? Anybody could be forgiven for that reaction on first sighting the new Honda Civic hatch, for what was once a compact, economical city runabout has morphed into a savage looking coupe-like car keen to devour the kilometres and anything in its way. First seeing the light of day in Australia in 1973, with its challenging face, swept-back profile and equally bold rear styling, the tenth generation hatchback is like nothing that has come before, or is in the highly competitive small-car segment now. The hatch slots in… Read more

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2017 SUBARU IMPREZA 2.0I-S REVIEW

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Subaru expects big things of the new Impreza. The Japanese manufacturer has spent more than a billion dollars in the development of the new platform and it is an investment it hopes to collect on – with this small car line-up and the other Subaru products that will use it as their foundations. This new Impreza, available in both sedan and hatch, is almost entirely new from the ground up with only the odd bolt and window lever borrowed from the outgoing edition. The range offers three choices starting with… Read more

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BRISTOL 401

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The Bristol Company is probably best known for its aircraft ranging from early biplanes to the Bristol bombers which featured prominently during World War II as a major part of the RAF attack force. After the war the Bristol Company ventured into car manufacture and their first model, the Bristol 400 introduced in 1946, looked very much like the pre-war BMW on which it was based. The Bristol 401, announced in 1949, was only the second model built by the fledgling car builder. As it was a car built by… Read more