No comments

SUZUKI CELERIO: A LOT FOR LESS

  By ,

Suzuki has been one of the kings of the small car field globally for many years and its machines just keeps on getting better. The Japanese giant does pretty well in motorbikes as well, something that can’t be said for many other car makers. Suzuki’s all-new Celerio replaced the Alto early in 2015 and has been doing pretty well for itself in the sales race. Celerio is bigger, smoother and quieter than the Alto and does an excellent job of providing transport for four adults at a most modest price,… Read more

No comments

BIG BENZ COUPE CARVES OUT ITS OWN NICHE

  By ,

Anybody who thinks the new Mercedes-Benz GLE Coupe is a GLE just with a slicked-up body stuck on can think again. This is a different beast altogether, molding the best of two segments, coupe with a sports utility vehicle. Having driven both models within 24 hours of each other I can attest to this. Three variants have been pencilled in for Australia. They are the GLE 350d 4Matic Coupe, selling for $121,900, plus on-road costs; the GLE 450 AMG 4Matic at $141,900 and the AMG GLE 63 S 4Matic for… Read more

No comments

2016 AUDI A1 SPORTBACK 1.4 TFSI REVIEW

  By ,

The A1 Sportback is one of those solid performers that is probably mistaken for its bigger brother, in this case the A3. With the recent of addition of the rear doors and a base model 1.0-litre, the 1.4 is now the middle child in the A1 line-up. It is, however, probably the best of the lot with its efficient turbo, Mini-baiting pricing and finely judged specs to lift it above the rest of the shopping-trolley hatchback pack. VALUE The 1.4 TFSI Sportback starts at $29,900 for the six-speed manual, with… Read more

No comments

SUBARU IMPREZA 2000 – 2015

  By ,

Subaru Impreza is a tough Japanese car that has gained a well-deserved reputation for long life and high resale values in Australia. It is a no-nonsense machine that appeals to Australians with a sensible nature who are more interested I function that fashion. However, the latest Impreza, the gen-four, launched here in February 2012 is less conservative in its styling than its honourable ancestors and is proving a winner in the used-car market. Having said that, there’s still plenty of interest in older models. Subaru’s biggest claim to fame is… Read more

No comments

TOYOTA FORTUNER IS THE REAL DEAL IN 4WDS

  By ,

Based on the recently launched Toyota HiLux pickup truck, the all-new Toyota Fortuner shares many of its body-on-chassis underpinnings and mechanical components, but has a seven-seat station wagon body. For improved comfort it has a multi-link rear coil suspension unlike the HiLux which is setup as a working vehicle. Though not generally known to Australians the Fortuner name isn’t new for Toyota, the first Fortuner, also based on a HiLux pickup of the day, was introduced in 2005 as an Asia-only workhorse. It was a roaring success, many overseas tourists… Read more

No comments

AUDI TTS IS RED HOT

  By ,

Audi TT coupe was launched in Australia only six months ago with the roadster version arriving in July. The first of the high-performance variants, the TTS is now here, with both body types being released simultaneously. Following on from a long history of true sporting machines dating back to the legendary Audi quattro S1 rally car, the all-new TTS has major revisions to its mechanical components, as well as visual changes. So great are the changes to the 2.0-litre TFSI turbo-petrol in the standard TT models that it can almost… Read more

No comments

AUSSIE DESIGNER MAKES HIS MARK WITH NEW BMW X1

  By ,

It’s not unusual for a vehicle’s designer to attend new models launches when their cars arrive in Australia. So it was when the latest BMW X1 was revealed in Coffs Harbour accompanied by its Munich-based designer. Often the designer’s presentation is delivered in broken English, sometimes even with a translator. Not so this time around because the fresh-faced designer not only spoke perfect English but did so with an Australian accent. At the age of just 29 Calvin Luk is one of the rising stars of the car design field…. Read more

No comments

PEUGEOT 308 GT IS A CLASSY ALL-ROUNDER

  By ,

The Peugeot 308 is the mid-sized model in the French marque’s Australian range. The latest, all-new, model arrived in Australia in September 2014 with the semi-performance GT variant following in February 2015. Peugeot Australia is at pains to avoid tagging the 308 GT as a hot hatch, no doubt because its high-performance big brother 308 GTi is due here early next year and looks set to shirtfront the market-leading Golf GTI. Instead the 308 GT sits around the middle of the performance band, an all-rounder aimed at those looking for… Read more

No comments

2016 MASERATI QUATTROPORTE 330BHP

  By ,

The Quattroporte four-door sedan has been the mainstay of the Maserati range for getting on two decades, underpinning the company’s success while it sorted itself out under Fiat and Ferrari ownership. The big cruiser struggles to cut through, though – the new, smaller Ghibli arrived with a splash and next year the long-awaited Levante SUV will grab headlines and likely double Maserati’s sales in Australia. Before the onslaught, the Italian company has quietly added a new petrol-powered variant to the range and tempt a few more buyers from German brands… Read more

No comments

MASERATI MISTRAL

  By ,

Maserati’s Mistral was a stunning car to look at and although not introduced until 1963 it had its conception in the 1950s when Maserati’s reputation was at its height after the success of its outstandingly attractive grand prix car, the 250F. At that time Jaguar were selling ever-increasing numbers of production cars as a result of the exploits of their equally beautiful sports racers, so Maserati could see no reason why they should not benefit in the same way but at a higher price level. To start with chief engineer… Read more