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TUCSON LEADS STRONG BID FOR SUV DOMINANCE

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As things go, it is likely SUVs could become the biggest selling segment in the passenger car market sometime during 2016. According to industry analyst VFacts research has shown that only five per cent of four-wheel-drive owners do any serious off-roading in their vehicles. However, they favoured the high-set seating position and the robust character of the bodywork made them feel protected inside an SUV. Automobile makers took note. They cut out the low mode of the 4×4 transfer case, leaving the vehicle, at first known as a soft-roader, able… Read more

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LOTUS SEVEN

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Lotus 7

Colin Chapman, the genius behind Lotus, had one very strong conviction: he refused to compromise. And there was certainly no compromise about the Seven. Whilst it could probably best be described as the nearest thing to a four-wheel motorcycle you’d ever see, this kit-built sportscar was not a tourer but an out-and-out sportscar. In its early years the car was mainly sold in kit form to take advantage of a British tax concession which applied at the time, and enabled the car to be sold at a price which appealed… Read more

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NEW CAR SALES HIT NEW PEAK IN 2015

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Toyota’s 2015 range

The Australian new car sales record has been broken again with 1,155,408 new passenger cars, SUVs and commercial vehicles being sold in 2015, just over 19,000 in excess of the previous mark set in 2013. For the 13th straight year Toyota was the market leader with a total of 206,236 vehicles including two of the top five, Corolla and HiLux. Mazda moved into second place, the company’s highest ever with 114,024 sales. The biggest losers were Holden and Ford who each dropped one position to third and sixth respectively. Indeed… Read more

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BMW X1 2.0D: ATTRACTIVE SEQUEL TO BMW BEST-SELLER

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The second-generation BMW X1 continues to tick the box as only the Bavarian Motor Works can, with a newly designed interior with significantly more space and versatility, combined with premium surroundings. Latest-generation four-cylinder petrol and diesel engines and transmissions ensure segment leading performance and efficiency. X1 sDrive 20i and sDrive 18d models have front-wheel drive, while xDrive 25i and xDrive 20d benefit from BMW’s intelligent all-wheel-drive system in a new and improved form. The new X1 trumps its predecessor in standard equipment which includes LED headlights; rear view camera; driving… Read more

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HOLDEN CASCADA HEADS FOR THE FUTURE

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The Cascada is one of the most important new models from Holden being aimed at seeing the company through the difficult period of shutting down Australian manufacture, then into the future of import-only cars. Holden has painted itself into a corner created by many people thinking that all cars with Holden badges have been made in this country. So the news that Holden is closing its factories has these folks thinking no Holdens will ever be sold again. Sales have slowed and the marketing guys are desperately trying to get… Read more

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MORGAN PLUS 8

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1970 Morgan Plus 8

The Morgan Plus 8 was first launched in 1968. It retained the basic classic sports car shape used on the first four-wheel Morgan introduced in 1936 and similar chassis and suspension. This Z-section ladder chassis with a suspension comprising coil springs at the front and a solid axle on semi-elliptic springs at the rear dated back to the original 1910 Morgan. However, it had a new Rover V8 overhead valve engine which gave it sparkling performance. When Rover adopted the 3.5-litre, small block, all-alloy Buick V8 engine for use in… Read more

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TOYOTA FRESHENS UP RAV4

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In hindsight it seems strange that Toyota’s decision to launch its first RAV4 model back in 1994 was considered something of a gamble. Until then most passenger vehicles with drive to all four wheels were seen either as a rural workhorse or an overweight and cumbersome suburban people mover. RAV4 was different. While still a 4WD and with a similar shape it was significantly smaller and lighter with the term ‘crossover’ being used prior to it being replaced by the now usually accepted ‘SUV’. Indeed the names SUV (for Sports… Read more

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SPORTY POLO PLAYS TO ITS STRENGTHS

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With new, more aggressive styling, a new finely-tuned performance 1.8-litre four-cylinder 141 kW TSI engine, mated with either a six-speed manual or seven-speed DSG automatic, the new VW Polo GTI returns to the compact hot hatch segment with new-found flair. It’s as if the Volkswagen Polo GTI has gained enough self-confidence to step out of the shadow of its bigger brother – the iconic Golf GTI – and into the glow of its own making. Polo GTI comes with a grab bag of driver assistance and convenience systems. High-end automobile… Read more

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2015 BMW M135i REVIEW

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The great thing about BMW is that despite a fairly sober reputation – albeit for building excellent driver’s cars – head office still signs off mildly ridiculous products. The M135i is one of those. It’s a small hatchback, considered a family car in countries with rather less room to move than we have, with a whopping great engine. The 1.5-litre triple is flung out, replaced by Munich’s tremendous 3.0-litre turbo-petrol straight six. It also gets some attention from BMW’s M subsidiary, purveyors fast car pedigree like the M3 and M5…. Read more

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RENAULT VAN A CARRY-FORWARD TO THE FUTURE

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When it comes to loading-dock bragging rights, Renault carries the weight of its Formula 1 success as a badge of honour in the shape of technology under the bonnet of the new Trafic. And there’s no Trafic jam when it comes to loading the latest version of the popular Renault van. The eponymous light commercial vehicle from France has grown in many ways. Front and rear overhangs have been extended by 100 mm and 110 mm respectively, while maximum load lengths of 3.75 and 4.15 metres for the L1 standard… Read more