Motorist Archives • Page 10 of 11 • Peter Lloyd

New Toyota Kluger

Posted on February 10, 2017 by admin

Some noteworthy improvements for 2017 TELL ME ABOUT THIS CAR Since its launch in Australia three years ago, the third-generation Toyota Kluger has been a big seller in Australia because of its size, packaging, pricing, ease of operation, and brand reputation for reliability and resale. With the MY17 facelift, the company builds on that with small but important updates to the V6 powertrain to improve both performance and economy, including an all-new eight-speed automatic transmission, ...
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New Mazda MX-5 RF Hardtop

Posted on February 2, 2017February 2, 2017 by admin

Mazda MX5 Retractable Fastback A classier, more universally appealing version of Mazda’s revered and accessible sports car manages to keep the faith. WHAT IS IT? Mazda’s brilliant ragtop roadster range has diversified and grown to include the Mazda MX-5 Retractable Fastback (RF), Mazda’s second attempt at a folding hard-top for its iconic sports car, but with a greater focus on coupe aesthetics and maturity. WHY WE’RE TESTING IT Mazda worked off the flab and went back to basics with it...
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New Commodore Sneak Peek

Posted on December 31, 2016 by admin

German built GM Opel for Australia The next-generation Commodore will be built in Germany on GM’s E2XX platform, and based around a European engineered and designed Opel Insignia mid-size car. The idea of a European model replacing the Aussie built version isn’t a new one: the first signs that the next Commodore would not have ground-up local design and development emerged in early 2014 as Holden started planning its replacement for the current car’s Zeta-based, Aussie engineered and deve...
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New Maserati 4 Door

Posted on November 17, 2016 by admin

A Starting Price of $210k.....WOW! Revved up: The top-spec Maserati Quattroporte GTS is now split into two variants, the GranSport and GranLusso. MASERATI has revealed Australian pricing and specification for its large luxury Quattroporte sedan, with the range kicking off from $210,000 before on-roads for the base level Turbo Diesel model and topping out at $349,990 BOCs for the twin-turbo V8 GTS GranLusso. The mid-life refresh for the model released in 2014 also introduces two new trim lev...
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SHOULD I USE A CAR BROKER?

Posted on November 10, 2016March 14, 2019 by admin

Should I Use A Car Broker? The most common motivator for people or companies seeking a broker is the desire to get a better price. When you bought your last car, it would have been natural for doubts to linger after you took delivery as to whether you really did get a good price. You are probably very good at your career, and that career typically does not include negotiating with highly trained sales staff. Even if negotiation is an aspect of your career you are unlikely to know t...
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A Mercedes-Benz Ute?

Posted on November 6, 2016November 6, 2016 by admin

2018 Mercedes-Benz X Class Concept Utes Revealed The Worksite Will Never be the Same MERCEDES-Benz has pulled the covers off a pair of exciting concept vehicles in Stockholm, Sweden, that give the first clues to what its forthcoming entry into the popular one-tonne ute class will look like. To be known as the X Class, the new ute, or pick-up depending on your preference, will go into production late in 2017 for an Australian launch in the first quarter of 2018. Australia has b...
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Fiat Abarth 124

Posted on November 1, 2016 by admin

MX-5 Brother Has The Goods STYLING is such an impossibly subjective element of a car that it is often not worth dwelling on for a review, but in the case of the new Abarth 124 Spider its looks are the first key point of differentiation from the Mazda MX-5 with which it shares much of its construction. Beauty is, without doubt, in the eye of the beholder, but there are a number of observations one can make here without fear of conflict, including the Abarth’s traditional approach, whi...
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Fiat Abarth 124 Spider Price Surprise

Posted on October 12, 2016 by admin

We Thought this car was going to be Expensive! Not so! Fiat today confirmed the Abarth will start at $41,990, with sharp introductory pricing meaning you could buy the turbocharged two-seater for $43,500 driveaway, in six-speed manual spec. That’s thousands less than early speculation had suggested for the Mazda-built Abarth – but also thousands more than the most affordable MX-5s, including the 1.5-litre base model ($31,990) and the entry-level 2.0-litre ($34,490). The most expensiv...
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All-New Volkswagen Tiguan

Posted on October 7, 2016October 15, 2016 by admin

Is This Bigger Tiguan a Medium SUV Class Topper? WHAT IS IT? Arguably the most important car Volkswagen will launch in Australia this year. It's the second-generation Volkswagen Tiguan, which is all-new and lands in SUV-mad Australia spoiling for a fight with the Mazda CX-5 and Hyundai Tucson sales juggernauts. WHY WE'RE DRIVING IT Because when we say all-new, we really mean it. Tiguan is the first SUV built on VW's excellent MQB platform, shared by cars including the Golf VII, s...
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Ranger or Amarok?

Posted on October 7, 2016 by admin

Ranger or Amarok - The Battle of Dual-Cab 4x4 Darlings. When it comes to the top end of the ute market, the Volkswagen Amarok and Ford Ranger sport plenty of showroom appeal. The Ford Ranger vastly outsells the Amarok, but let’s ignore the popularity contest and delve into which is the better car out of the flagship Amarok Ultimate and Ranger Wildtrack – two of the ute segment’s most civilised 4x4 dual-cabs. Price and equipment | Winner: Ranger At $61,790 for the Ranger Wi...
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Skoda Kodiaq SUV 7 Seater

Posted on September 30, 2016 by admin

Kodiaq SUV 7 Seater Spaciousness is paramount for Skoda SUVs as 2017 looms large. At a media breakfast in Sydney yesterday, Skoda Australia’s Managing Director, Michael Irmer, confirmed the brand’s SUV focus in the coming years, beginning with the Kodiaq’s Aussie launch in July 2017, followed by an all-new, much-larger Skoda Yeti SUV scheduled for a 2018 arrival locally. Irmer also confirmed that the completion date for “rebuilding our network in its entirety” would be the end of 2017 ...
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87 Year Old Bentley Discovered

Posted on September 24, 2016 by admin

From Barn to Auction - Could Fetch Half a Million Oz Dollars The family were shocked that the vintage Bentley gathering dust in their barn for 30 years could be worth 300,000 pounds. The Bentley 4.5-litre was built in 1929 and, six years later, bought by the grandfather of the current owner. The Bentley was in a sorry state when it was found in garage He would take the luxury saloon on family holidays around ...
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Holden – What Now?

Posted on September 20, 2016 by admin

Holden moving exclusively to imports! The car that has deservedly been an icon in Australia embarks on a massive marketing campaign designed to re position the brand that currently has its lowest market share in 68 years. The quintessentially Australian brand is set to go through the biggest change in its history as it transitions from Australia’s first and most influential car maker to one that from 2018 simply falls into line with the 60-odd import-only brands fighting for a slice of 1....
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75th Anniversary Jeep

Posted on September 19, 2016 by admin

Limited Edition of 200 Grand Cherokee hints at Update JEEP is celebrating its diamond anniversary with a 75th Anniversary limited edition of its Grand Cherokee large SUV, but the special version also gives customers an early glimpse of the full range update that will arrive in Australia in the last quarter of the year. The Grand Cherokee 75th Anniversary is one of four models to which Jeep has applied a light aesthetic tweak and is based on a choice of either petrol- or diesel-powered Limi...
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New Civic Hatch for 2017

Posted on September 5, 2016 by admin

The Wraps Come Off Official pictures of the new Civic Hatch reveal a handsome alternative in it's class. The lift-back will form the basis of the cut-throat Civic Type-R, which is also due to arrive on our shores next year. “Like the Civic sedan, the Honda Civic Hatch will be a very important car in the Honda line-up in Australia,” Honda Australia Director, Mr. Stephen Collins said. “In the small car segment in Australia, hatches reign so we expect the Honda Civic Hatch...
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Four Cylinder Diesel Range Rover Sport

Posted on August 30, 2016 by admin

Next Year a new twin-turbo four-cylinder diesel entry model will be introduced. The Range Rover Sport will be the JLR platform to introduce the new 2.0-litre Ingenium four cylinder turbo diesel when the 2017 model year update lands here early next year. Never before has the Range Rover Sport been offered with less than six cylinders. The addition of the Ingenium diesel four-pot, which produces 177kW/500Nm and drinks 6.2L/100km, is the biggest mechanical change we’ll see in the ...
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More Volkswagen SUVs

Posted on August 28, 2016 by admin

Volkswagen SUVs to Number 5 over the next Two Years Seven Seats for the Tiguan, and a new Touareg are the Trail Blazers for Australia. VOLKSWAGEN will introduce five all-new SUVs to Australia before the end of 2018 – starting with the crucial all-new Volkswagen Tiguan in September. VW’s admitted that its proportion of SUV sales is much lower than most competitors, carried by two ageing models (the about-to-die original Tiguan and the second-gen Touareg launched five years ago), but th...
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New 2017 Nissan GT-R Nismo

Posted on August 21, 2016 by admin

Nismo fine tunes Nissan GT-R NISSAN’s in-house tuning division has tweaked the facelifted 2017 GT-R, wringing more power from the engine, shedding weight and enhancing driving dynamics to deliver what is likely the first Nismo model to land on Australian shores. Although timing for a local debut is yet to be confirmed, last year Nissan announced its intention to bring the high-performance Nismo brand Down Under in 2016 and, while other models are currently offered in overseas markets in...
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Toyota Updates Veteran Tarago

Posted on August 18, 2016 by admin

Minor Update and price reductions for Tarago TOYOTA has treated its stalwart Tarago people carrier to an update that enhances equipment levels and reduces prices by as much as $1716. However, a facelift that has already gone on sale in the model’s native Japan does not accompany the refreshed version in Australia. The Japanese car-maker’s little bus is the epitome of ‘if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it’, and while the Tarago will never be a volume seller for the company, it has managed con...
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2016 Commodore SS-V Redline

Posted on August 12, 2016 by admin

A backroads blast in the last and best Holden It’s a bittersweet day as we belt Holden’s greatest-ever V8 sports sedan from Fishermans Bend back to its birthplace at Lang Lang. Spoiler alert – this may end in tears… THERE’S a problem with this car; a huge one. Only days before we collect this VF Series II – the final Commodore engineered and built in Australia – General Motors’ VP Stefan Jacoby dropped a bombshell. Not only will this be the final Australian-built car – something we alrea...
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Lexus IS200t

Posted on August 10, 2016August 10, 2016 by admin

Lexus mid-sized luxury offering presents a 2.0-litre turbo engine for its top-selling IS range. WHAT IS IT? The latest update for the IS, Lexus's most affordable rear-drive model and a car that is still the brand's top seller. The Lexus IS200t is the biggest news in this refresh, adopting the new 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo engine that's weaving its way through the Japanese luxury brand's line-up. WHY WE’RE TESTING IT While the luxury world continues to go SUV mad, the mid-sized sedan ca...
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BMW M2 CSL

Posted on August 1, 2016 by admin

There’s “more to come” with the much-rumoured BMW M2 CSL, according to BMW Australia chief Marc Werner. Speaking at the launch of the BMW M3 and M4 Competition models – each with a 14kW power boost to 331kW – the local managing director gave the strongest hint yet that the M2 CSL is coming soon. The CSL – or “coupe sport lightweight” – version is expected to mimic the limited edition BMW M3 CSL released in 2004 in having motorsport-inspired lightweight panels and material...
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Jaguar F-Pace – Luxury SUV

Posted on July 25, 2016July 25, 2016 by admin

F-Pace predicted to be Jaguar's top seller ONE of the most important models in Jaguar’s 94-year history – the F-Pace SUV – has officially gone on sale and is expected to make up 50 per cent of the leaping cat brand’s overall volume in Australia in the coming years. It is the latest model in the Tata-owned British car-maker’s new-product rollout that started with the F-Type sportscar three years ago and picked up pace last year with the BMW 3 Series-rivalling XE mid-sizer, followed by...
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Honda NSX Supercar

Posted on July 23, 2016July 23, 2016 by admin

Honda NSX Supercar Coming CUSTOMERS will be able to officially purchase a Honda NSX from December 1, but the cars will arrive the month prior. A left-hook pre-production NSX has been on display with a Honda dealer in Melbourne, but an NSX won’t take to Australian roads until the end of the year when they arrive in late November. Honda confirmed to Wheels the NSXs that customers will be able to purchase are set to arrive in Australia in late November, early December, but stressed t...
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Alfa Romeo Bitumen Burner

Posted on July 19, 2016July 20, 2016 by admin

Alfa Romeo Bitumen Burner Quadrifoglio is a badge reserved for Alfa Romeo’s fastest, rarest models;Wheels went to drive the latest super-Giulia on home turf. WHAT IS IT? The Quadrifoglio is the high-performance flagship of Alfa Romeo’s Giulia sedan range, designed and developed to battle BMW M, Mercedes AMG and Audi RS for enthusiasts’ hearts and wallets. The Quadrifoglio employs a Ferrari-inspired twin-turbocharged V6 engine, and takes the rear-drive Giulia platform’s already compe...
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Porsche 4 Door Panamera Ramped Up

Posted on July 16, 2016 by admin

3 New Powerplants for Porsche Panamera PORSCHE’S new second-generation Panamera has been wheeled out to the world in Berlin, revealing a sleeker, more sophisticated luxury grand tourer with a trio of all-new powertrains, including the world’s fastest production diesel. Due in Australia in early 2017, the flagship sedan will kick off with three all-wheel-drive variants, starting with the V6 Panamera 4S at $304,200 plus on-road costs, continuing with the new-to-the-range V8 diesel 4S at $31...
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Pajero Sport – Now With 3rd Row Seat

Posted on July 13, 2016 by admin

Seven seats as a free option on mid - and top-spec Mitsubishi Pajero Sport SUVs MITSUBISHI has introduced a no-cost third-row option to higher-spec variants of its popular Pajero Sport SUV to further boost sales in the ultra-competitive pick-up-based SUV market. While only available to mid-tier GLS and range-topping Exceed versions, pricing remains identical to their five-seat counterparts at $48,500 before on-road costs and $52,750 respectively. Entry-level GLX versions ($45,000) c...
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New Mazda CX-9 gains 5 Star Safety

Posted on July 11, 2016 by admin

The CX-9 easily passes the ANCAP safety test MAZDA’S new flagship family bus, the second-generation CX-9, has been given a big thumbs up for safety from Australia’s independent watchdog, the Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP), ahead of its showroom launch later this month. The seven-seat SUV earned five stars and praise from ANCAP chief executive officer James Goodwin who said the vehicle performed “extremely well”. Tested at Sydney’s CrashLab this month, the CX-9 scored 1...
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HSV Has Next-Gen Commodore In It’s Sights

Posted on July 8, 2016 by admin

Holden Special Vehicles working on case to continue with imported Commodore HOLDEN Special Vehicles (HSV) says it is confident it can build a business case to continue its local vehicle enhancement operation based on Holden's next-generation Commodore due in 2018. Until now, the future of the iconic Australian muscle car specialist has appeared to have been hanging in the balance with speculation that the factory approved Holden tuner might end its relationship with General Motors when its c...
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Kia Releases The New Cerato

Posted on July 2, 2016 by admin

New tech, Styling & Under The Skin Improvements The Cerato is a key component of the South Korean brand’s overall 39,000-unit sales target this year, and the company is working to ensure the small sedan and hatch range becomes a major consideration for buyers. In 2013, Cerato was number 12 in the small segment; this year Kia expects to be number five. The nameplate is one of Kia’s most successful global models, with more than three million sales globally, while in Australia the Cera...
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