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HOLDEN SPARK HOLDS ITS OWN – PLUS A LOT MORE

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Australia is one of the toughest countries of all in which to sell cars. A huge number of marques with a mind-numbing selection of models are being endlessly promoted by marketing gals and guys. All of whom are desperate to gain more than their fair share of the automotive sales action. Their efforts tax the strength of my inbox and letter box every day. We motoring journos have to consign much of the marketing hyperbole to our trash bins – electronic as well as the square type under the desk… Read more

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POWER A BIG PLUS FOR AUDI HIGH-END PAIR

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Audi SQ5

During a recent Audi RS high-performance automobile testing session at Phillip Island circuit Audi also wheeled out a pair of rip-roaring road-goers – the Audi S8 plus sports sedan and the SQ5 plus luxury sports utility vehicle – for the media to get their teeth into. Sharing the walloping 4.0-litre V8 of the track-tested tearaways, the S8 plus is the flagship of the Audi S range and with 445 kW and 700 Nm (750 Nm on overboost) is the most powerful (and fastest) S model in history. The considerable power… Read more

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FORD FOCUS 2002 – 2015

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2015 Ford Focus Titanium

Ford Focus is a small-medium European model that is huge in its home market, but has lagged in sales in Australia. Possibly because Ford saw itself as the ‘Falcon car company’ and has never put the marketing and sales work into the Focus that it thoroughly deserves. Hopefully that mindset is laid to rest when Falcon manufacturing stops. The Focus didn’t reach us downunder till September 2002, several years after its European launch. It appealed to keen drivers immediately as it’s very European in the way it rides and handles…. Read more

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SELF-DRIVING CARS

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Google self-driving car has gained a huge amount of interest

I’m amazed by the number of people who ask my opinion about self-driving cars. Even friends and neighbours who have little or no interest in cars or driving often bring up the subject of autonomous cars. With the question, “When are they coming?” being asked pretty early in the conversation. Self-driving cars seem to be the dream of those who regard cars purely as a way of getting from point A to point B. Not surprisingly, they are hated with a passion by keen drivers who love nothing more than… Read more

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NEW DS 4 CROSSBACK LAUNCHED

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DS Automobiles has launched a limited-run, just 25 vehicles, of the DS 4 Crossback range in Australia. Making it more of an SUV than the standard version, the DS 4 Crossback has a 30 millimetre higher ride height. It sits on 17-inch ‘Canberra’ alloy wheels (18-inch ‘Brisbane’ alloys are available as an option). It has revised suspension tune and is powered by a new Euro-6 compliant turbo-diesel engine through a new design of six-speed automatic developed in conjunction with Aisin. The DS 4 Crossback has black wheelarch trims, door mirror… Read more

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SIZZLING PEUGEOT 308 GTI

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Peugeot 308 GTi isn’t just a dress up kit added on the assembly line, its engineering was carried done by Peugeot Sport. That’s the division which builds Peugeots for ultra-tough competitions in events like the Dakar rally and the Pike’s Peak hillclimb. This hot French GTi is offered in two specifications: the Peugeot 308 GTi 250 has a recommended retail price of $44,990, the 308 GTi 270 is sold at $49,990. On-road costs have to be added. The 250 and 270 refer to the output of the engines in horsepower…. Read more

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BUICK ROADMASTER

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1949 Buick Roadmaster

Even though 1957 was the year that Buick celebrated the building of their nine-millionth car, sales were gradually slipping and the marque could only achieve fourth position in the industry sales chart. To rectify this situation the Buick division of General Motors expended considerable funds in improving Buick styling as it was considered ‘old fashioned’ when buyers compared their offerings with the opposition’s range. The Buick Roadmaster for 1957 was a large car – 5.46 metres long and 1.83 metres wide. It was powered by a 5.9-litre V8 engine with… Read more

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NISSAN TIIDA 2006 – 2013

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2010 Nissan Tiida

Nissan Tiida is a small-medium car with the sort of interior space that can accommodate a family, and provide a smooth quiet ride with reasonable engine performance. It replaced the very successful Nissan Pulsar in February due to a clash of cultures. Australians think a new car should hold onto the same name as the one it replaces. Whereas the Japanese feel a significantly improved new car deserves a new name. Tiida (which incidentally we were supposed to pronounce ‘tee-eeda’) was a flop in the sales race, which was shame… Read more

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AUDI SUPERCARS’ COMMAND PERFORMANCE

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Audi RS6 Avant

Audi, the German automobile manufacturer with a huge amount of experience in long distance motor racing – think Le Mans 24-hour – recently rolled out several of its high performance cars at Phillip Island for us to enjoy. On the track were the Audi RS 6 Avant and RS 7 Sportback models, both new to the Audi line-up Down Under. In the wings for a road loop were the Audi S8 plus and Audi SQ5 plus. First up was a chance to put the Avant and Sportback to some harsh… Read more

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MERCEDES-BENZ GLC IS GOOD-LOOKING AND PRACTICAL

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Mercedes-Benz Australia has been waiting for the GLC for years. Previous models in this class, with a tag of GLK, weren’t fitted with steering wheel on our side so couldn’t be imported. Now the local importer finally has a competitor in one of the most fiercely fought of all market segments in Australia, that of upmarket midsize SUVs. In case you’re wondering, the new Mercedes model numbering system indicates the body type in the first two letters and the Class in the final letter. Thus ‘GL’ means it’s an SUV,… Read more