MAZDA CX-90 G50E M HYBRID AWD AZAMI ROAD TEST

I must be seeing double. Apart from the difference in size, the Mazda CX-60 and CX-90 could be twins. They look the same. They share the same chassis, the same engines and transmissions and their performance is very much the same. Everything is the same, same, same – or is it? STYLING At 5120mm and 2220kg CX-90 is the largest Mazda to date and is available in six- and seven-seat configuration, with a choice of petrol or diesel engines – both of them hybrids. That’s 38mm longer than the CX-60… Read more

KONA N REFLECTS THE HYUNDAI FUTURE

There’s nothing new about ‘influencers’, that cohort of ‘pretty’ girls and boys who lead youngsters by their credit cards to so-called desirable dressing. For years automobile manufacturers have used ‘futurists’ to try to predict what the car buyer will want in four years’ time – the average development period for a new vehicle. With EVs and hybrids rapidly accelerating up the sales charts the new Hyundai Kona, including petrol powered-only models, has been designed to look like an electric vehicle – no radiator grille – the maker claiming this is… Read more

NEW KIA SORENTO

Kia Australia has announced details of the MY2024 Sorento large SUV with refreshed the exterior and interior design, upgraded comfort and convenience technology, and additional safety features. As before there is a large range of options including petrol and diesel engines, with hybrid, plug-in hybrid, front and all-wheel drive, and four equipment levels. The petrol and diesel variants will be launched later this month in this initial Sorento upgrade release. HEV and PHEV variants will be arriving later in the first half of 2024, with specification details and pricing announced… Read more

IT’S THE HOLY GRAIL OF NUMBER PLATES!

  Coming up for auction by Lloyds on January 27 is the ‘unicorn’ of NSW number plates. It’s NSW 1, described by Lloyds as the nation’s most sought-after heritage plate. It already has a bid for more than $10 million – and that’s not a typo. “After being tightly held for decades by the current custodians and never been offered for public auction before, this heritage “NSW 1” number plate is a unicorn, the holy grail must- have for any blue-chip passion investor or number one gift for that person… Read more

PEUGEOT e-2008 REVIEW

Launched here in September 2023, the e-2008 is Peugeot’s first fully electric passenger. A compact SUV, it joins the e-Partner compact electric van as well as the Plug-In Hybrid (PHEV) versions of the 3008 SUV and 508 sedan. Future electrified models will follow in 2024 with the launch of E-208 hatchback, E-3008 mid-sized SUV, e-Expert medium van and 408 PHEV. The petrol-powered Peugeot 2008 has been on sale here since 2020. It comes in two variants, Allure and GT each with a PureTech 130 engine that generates 96 kilowatts of… Read more

END OF THE ROAD FOR ICONIC AUDI TT

Audi Australia will mark the end of production of its iconic TT sportscar with a special limited edition model. The TT was launched in 1998 and arrived here the following year, initially in coupe form and shortly afterwards as a convertible. Almost all loved its bold shape that combines modern design with 1930’s roadster images. That design proved to be timeless making it instantly recognisable throughout its 25-year lifetime. The aptly named TT Final Edition is based on the Audi TT 45 TFSI quattro but with its own distinctive styling… Read more

NEW CAR SALES HIT A RECORD HIGH IN 2023

The Australian automotive market has achieved an unprecedented milestone, breaking all- time records for new vehicle sales in 2023. A total of 1,216,780 vehicles were delivered during the year, the previous highest sales result of 1,189,116 was achieved in 2017. Toyota was the top selling car brand with 17.7 per cent of the market while the top selling vehicle was the Ford Ranger (63,356). SUVs and light commercials accounted for 78.4 per cent of sales and comprise all the top 10 vehicles sold in 2023. Battery electric vehicles accounted for… Read more

LEXUS LX600 ULTRA LUXURY LIVES UP TO ITS NAME

Effectively an upmarket version of the Toyota LandCruiser, the Lexus LX large premium SUV has been around since the mid-1990s. The latest (fourth generation) LX arrived here at the end of 2021 shortly after the new LC300. It comes with petrol or diesel power, four equipment variants, three seating options and a host of new safety and tech features. The four variants are base LX, Sports Luxury, F Sport, and Ultra Luxury. The first three are available with either petrol or diesel engines, the Ultra Luxury is petrol only. Prices… Read more

TOYOTA COROLLA 1.8 ZR HYBRID HATCH

Finished in black over silver, Toyota’s ZR Corolla looks more eye-catching than ever. In the past few years the company has been able to transform the image of the car from staid and conservative into something much more sporty that has younger buyer appeal — at least that’s the plan. Flanking the hatch is the more traditional sedan for mums and dads and rally bred, three- door, all-wheel drive GR hot hatch at the other end of the scale for the boy racers (and boy racers at heart). Each grade… Read more

MAZDA3 SEDAN

Mazda3 has been on sale here for almost 20 years on the Australian market. Indeed, you can make that 45 years if you include the 323 that preceded. The ‘3’ has been a consistently high seller for most of its life often contesting the top spots in both its small-medium segment as well as overall sales against perennial rivals like Toyota Corolla, Kia Cerato, Nissan Pulsar and Hyundai i30. The latest, fourth generation, Mazda3 arrived here in February 2019 year in five-door hatchback form with the four-door sedan joining it… Read more