Table of contents for Year Book 2020 in Wheels

CHINESE CAR MAKERS have laid the foundations to tackle the big brands of the Australian new-car market, defying the turmoil of the COVID-19 pandemic to post substantial sales growth. In a market that plunged 18.8 percent across the first 10 months of 2020, the four Chinese car makers currently on sale – Great Wall, Haval, LDV and MG – collectively grew 49 percent. The growth in sales of Chinese-made cars comes despite early concerns of a backlash against Chinese goods as some pointed the finger at China for the coronavirus pandemic. That backlash never materialised, either in cars or with other Chinese goods. The Chinese car sales surge was led by British brand MG, these days part of the giant SAIC Motor that also manufacturers LDV. Whereas Chinese manufacturers such…

one 2017 919 STREET Porsche’s three-time 24 Hours of Le Mans winner, the Porsche 919 Hybrid, inspired this 1:1 clay model intended to spawn a car for purchase by “private racing drivers”. Its name suggests Porsche’s intentions were that a production version of this car would be able to be road-registered, though Porsche chief designer Michael Mauer would have had his work cut out for him turning the current outright Nurburgring lap record holder (5:19.55, thank you very much) into something streetable. At least this one has proper headlights. two 2012 VISION SAFARI This modernised version of Porsche’s often-visited 911 Safari concept is actually a ‘mobile prototype’. Built in the 991 generation, the Vision Safari is inspired by the classic 911s that competed in the East African Safari Rally through the 1970s.…

THOMAS EDISON wouldn’t believe his dazzled eyes if he saw the night-piercing beams of modern car headlights, but ironically, his filament light bulb is being rapidly phased out of cars. In the place of incandescent globes, far more efficient and effective alternatives are taking on the role of keeping our cars and roads illuminated, but what’s ahead for the headlight? 3 TECHNOLOGIES COMING ‘ON STREAM’ 1. LED Light emitting diodes are fast becoming the favourite form of headlight technology, upstaging HID (or xenon) thanks to incredible efficiency, compact packaging, long life, and quality of light. The 2006 Lexus LS600h was the first model to offer LED headlights but since then, the innovation has been gradually cascading down to more mainstream models. Early versions that simply replaced a single source of…

THE IX3 REPRESENTS a significant reset for BMW’s electric car plans – and not only because it holds the distinction of being the first BMW model to be produced in China for export to key markets. It also dispenses with the earlier strategy that called for BMW’s electric models to be based on a dedicated aluminium structure called LifeDrive, as with 2013’s similarly named but largely unrelated i3. Instead, the new but familiarly styled electric SUV is based on the same CLAR platform as other versions of the recently facelifted third-generation X3. Subtle exterior styling changes distinguish it from the X3 – including a new-look front bumper, blanked-off grille, optional blue highlights and, as standard, unique 19-inch wheels – while inside it’s all pretty familiar apart from the instrument graphics…

THE AUDI RS e-Tron GT might be derived from the same building blocks as the Porsche Taycan, but there’s no doubting this car’s significance: it’s the first Audi RS model to go fully electric, skipping the plug-in hybrid stage altogether and beating rivals BMW M and Mercedes-AMG to market with emissions-free motoring. Is that a good thing? To find out, we’re driving a pre-production prototype – hence the body camouflage – but this car is said to be 98 percent representative of the incoming production car that’s due in Australia by the end of 2021. There are two electrics motors – a 175kW unit powers the front axle and is shared with the regular e-Tron GT, but the rear is larger and more powerful (335kW) and drives through an electronically…

At high speed, the Corvette feels supremely solid and planted LAST CORNER. Hairpin, zero camber. Be patient with the throttle, or it will just push. Start to unwind the wheel, roll hard into the throttle. Let all that weight in the back dig in and put the power down hard. Front straight, lap Vmax will be the instant before you brake. Keep your foot in it, keep your nerve. A little farther, a little farther, now maximum brake. Too far, too late. Not slowing fast enough, briefly fixate on the weeds you’re destined to meet. This can’t end well. No, knock that off. Look where you want to go, turn but don’t lift, hope ABS does its job and lets you brake and steer at the same time – or…

THERE ARE PLENTY of things in this life on which you can’t put a price, but space is not one of them. Virgin Galactic reckons it can help you join the 62-mile-high club for $250K, while back here on earth, we’re calling it 20 grand, give or take, for the regular kind of space. That’s the rough difference between what Mazda charges for its top-spec all-wheel-drive five-seater CX-5 and its bigger brother you see here, the seven-seater CX-9 Azumi flagship. Okay, they’re not directly comparable because of equipment and tech differences, but engines and transmissions are shared, so it’s not an absurd observation: those two small seats in the third row amount to around $10,000 each. But to plenty of Aussie families, they’re so invaluable they actually are hard to…

IS IT POSSIBLE the Koreans didn’t get the memo about the death of diesel? The least-refined member of the petroleum family continues to fall out of favour around the world, yet Hyundai has just launched its all-new 3.0-litre turbo-diesel in-line six in the Genesis GV80 SUV, while here we have a new alloy-blocked version of Kia’s 2.2-litre turbo-diesel four. According to the company, it’s expected to be the volume seller in this, the all-new fourth-generation Kia Sorento. Just for the record, I didn’t choose the diesel over the alternative, which is the venerable 3.5-litre atmo V6. That decision was made for me, due to timing and availability. In fact, I’ve not yet driven the V6 version, so I’m left to speculate as to what I’m missing out on. I do…

AS A BLOKE whose formative automotive years were littered with numerous subscriptions to increasingly obscure English car mags (Cars and Car Conversions, anyone?), the Ford Puma does not, to me, signify small urban crossover. The evocative name speaks to a small, slightly ungainly but half-decent little coupe of the late 1990s that – for one ill-fated limited edition known as the Racing Puma, at least – even came with Alcon brakes and a slightly spicy 1.7-litre four-potter, destined to be flung at hedges in the English countryside by people willing to pay a $5000 or so premium over the Subaru WRX of the same era. So, not many. This, then, is not the Puma of old – yet the two share some similarities. For one, both can name the Fiesta…

IF REINVENTION is the name of the game, BMW’s new electrification strategy is having the desired effect on the Bavarian brand. Or at least that’s what the iX, the first of BMW’s purely i-branded electric SUVs, is supposed to do, says company CEO Oliver Zipse. “The BMW Group is constantly striving to reinvent itself. That is a central element of our corporate strategy. The BMW iX expresses this approach in an extremely concentrated form.” That concentrated form is several years removed from the i3, with a new platform that BMW says is modular, scalable and “focused on a fresh interpretation of design, sustainability, driving pleasure, versatility and luxury”. A continuation of the iNext concept, the iX will make production in about a year, though BMW has already provided an insight…

DUE 2021 BMW X3 HYBRID After COVID-19 pushed the Australian launch of the X3 xDrive 30e out past 2020, BMW Australia no longer has a confirmed arrival date. We expect to see the X3 plug-in arriving around the middle of the year. Like the BMW 330e and 530e, it features a hybrid-assisted 215kW turbo four. It’s also possible the pure electric BMW iX3 SUV will arrive around the same time. DUE H1 ’21 GENESIS GV70 Alongside an updated G70 sedan, Genesis’ second, smaller SUV will fill out the range with all models now following the new ‘Athletic Elegance’ design language. GV70 will be based on the same rear-drive platform with AWD as an option, likely sharing twin-turbo V6 and turbo-four engines from the G70. DUE DEC LEXUS IS Those wanting…

Model 1979 Ford Escort RS2000 Engine 1993cc 4cyl, ohc, 8v Max power 70kW @ 5200rpm Max torque 148Nm @ 3800rpm torque 148Nm @ 3800rp Transmission 4-speed manual Weight 978kg 0-400m 17.5sec (tested) Price $25,000-$50,000 IT’S ODD HOW history can be re-written. In automotive circles, for every car whose flaws have been forgiven (or forgotten) over time, there’s always another that cannot escape its tarnished reputation, no matter how good the design or how great the driving experience. The Ford Escort MkII (1975-81) falls into the former category. There wasn’t much wrong with the fundamental design of ‘Project Brenda’, as the MkII was codenamed. Co-developed by Ford of Germany and Ford UK, it was so continental in flavour that Ford Australia marketed it as “The European Formula” in what it hoped…

THE GSR BADGE means a lot to Mitsubishi fans. It has graced many a cracking performance car over the years – some more deserving of its sporting glow than others – though last year’s ASX GSR (and now the Triton GSR!) proves that prostitution remains rife in Mitsubishi’s marketing department. Black-out visuals aside, they’re about as GSR as an Opal card. What all that does is set the new Outlander PHEV GSR up for failure – perhaps not in terms of sales, but definitely in terms of credibility. Yet, for once in a modern Mitsubishi, this GSR is more than meets the eye. There’s plenty of trademark lippy and tinsel at work here, with gloss-black coating the front and rear bumper ‘skid’ plates, the door mirrors, roof and roof rails,…

AS I HALF-LISTEN TO the Genesis press conference, racking up bingo-worthy phrases like ‘visual strength’, ‘reductive design’ and ‘the beauty of white space’, I’ll admit my mind began to wander a bit. And it wandered directly to one question: Has Genesis really got what it takes to achieve its lofty goals? There’s no doubt that the cars – including the brand spanking new G80 sedan that we’re in Canberra to drive – are very good; fabulous interiors, loads of clever tech to both protect and entertain, and genuinely considered exterior styling. As well, parent company Hyundai is certain to back its bet on its fledgling luxury upstart for as long as it takes – especially given that new global president Euisun Chung formed the brand under his watch as vice-president…

00:00:01 AM 02:14:55 AM THIS IS GOING to be the biggest test of the Ferrari’s front-lift system yet. At the end of the heavily graffitied Hosier Lane in Melbourne’s CBD is the most diabolical alleyway entrance you have ever seen. Its devilish dip is scarred at its lowest depression with the last wincing moments of many a front bumper. I push the button to raise the nose. Brrrrrr. There’s an audible chime and a small graphic in the cluster advises the front is raised. We’re going in. The clock has just passed midnight, Monday, November 9, 2020. The date and time matters for Victorians, for these are our first minutes of ‘freedom’. A virus all-but defeated, the ‘ring of steel’ that surrounded Australia’s second-largest metropolis has now lifted, and we…

WHEN THE Venue’s keys were tossed my way a few months ago I wasn’t too sure what to expect, but I have to admit, Hyundai’s light SUV has proven to be a nice surprise. The two-tone paint in Acid Green looks great, day or night, working brilliantly to highlight the car’s shape and contours – for a small SUV its stance is tough and masculine, like that of a British bulldog. Its colour and design definitely turns heads. The interior is good without being brilliant. The design is functional, most surfaces use hard and scratchy plastics but depending on your taste, the body-coloured accents are a nice touch. The 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment is a standout: crisp, clear and easy to use, although the graphics are a little basic. The six-speaker…

YOU HAVE TO feel sorry for the Holden Astra. Just as the final BK generation hits its stride ability-wise, GM pulls the rug out from under the Holden brand (and global right-hand-drive production), ending an almost 72-year run for what was once Australia’s Own. That’s the sentimental version. The reality is that GM-Holden’s frustrating lack of a consistent approach to its small-car model lines – spanning almost 40 years – meant that the final Astra was always going to battle for any level of success. Yet Holden really did try to make a go of it. Developed on an all-new platform featuring new-generation, all-aluminium, direct-injected turbo engines, it was GM’s response to the all-conquering Mk7 Golf. Arriving here just over a year after its September 2015 European launch, the BK…

EVERY SO OFTEN you drive a car that in the first hundred metres or so reveals itself to be greater than the sum of the numbers on the spec sheet. The 2012 Subaru BRZ was one of those cars. It wasn’t the fastest, most powerful, or even the best-looking sports car on the market. But it was a real driver’s car. Like the original Mazda MX-5 or Porsche Boxster, it had a sweet chassis the engine simply could not overpower. The BRZ taught you not to waste momentum; to be economical with the brakes, and precise with your lines; to make the most of the chassis and the power and the grip at your disposal. It’s a tough act to follow, but the redesigned 2021 BRZ, which is expected to…

VOLKSWAGEN’S NEXT top Golf is primed, with the next-gen Mk8 ready to have a new-look R badge slapped firmly onto its posterior. The new Golf R takes the Mk8 and stuffs in a retuned EA888 2.0-litre turbo four now with a tasty 235kW and 420Nm. A six-speed manual and seven-speed DSG will be on offer and VW says it will be able to run the 0-100km/h sprint in 4.7sec – a tenth faster than the Mk7.5 – on the way to a limited 250km/h top speed. Unfortunately, Australian specs haven’t been confirmed just yet, so we could see a very slight power drop due to our lower quality fuel. We might even miss out on the manual gearbox. We’ll find this out closer to its arrival, likely in early 2022.…

Keep it tight (no more than 200 words) and do include your suburb if via email: wheels@wheelsmag.com.au You can also have your say on Facebook (search for Wheels Australia), Instagram or Twitter LETTER OF THE MONTH ‘I have to admit 20 years on, after many trips in this car, I am now a convert’ AGEING GRACEFULLY WITH MY REGULAR ride out of action due to an error of judgement, I’ve been driving around in a 2001 Ford AU Falcon XR6. Being of an age to remember the flak we gave the AU Falcon when it was new, I have to admit 20 years on, and after many recent trips in this car, I am now a convert. The car I’ve been using is a Series II with VCT (variable cam…

UNLESS YOU’RE declining an invitation to Hannibal Lecter’s place for dinner, cannibalisation is a bit of a taboo subject. Even auto executives don’t like to talk about it, but the question remains: is this the Toyota that could, sales-wise, chew a chunk out of Corolla? The small-car segment is in decline; light SUVs continue to surge. It’s possible that anyone who thought they were in the market for Toyota’s mainstay small car may find themselves being tempted to, er, ‘cross over’ to the edgey, urban-funk of the Yaris Cross. There’s a heap of overlap on price and, with nine variants available, no shortage of choice. In fact, the price span for Yaris Cross is so broad – $26,990 right through to $37,990 – it treads all over the toes of…

THE HEADLINES scream that this is the most affordable battery electric car on the market – and it is, for now – but it also costs a lot more than the regular petrol MG ZS, which sells for up to $26,990 driveaway. The EV is closer in equipment levels to the more expensive versions, picking up leather-look trim, a panoramic sunroof, keyless entry, 8.0-inch touchscreen, sat-nav, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Plus it comes with additional safety gear, such as autonomous emergency braking (standard on the ZST), blind-spot monitoring and active cruise. Still, there’s a $12,000-plus premium for going electric, which buys plenty of petrol. It’s the first electric car sold by MG in Australia. As part of the enormous SAIC group, MG makes plenty of electric cars for its…

CUT INTO THE Porsche 917 at any point and it will bleed the essence of Ferdinand Piech. While that talismanic leader of men went on to become known for many amazing cars, not least the Audi Quattro and Bugatti Veyron, arguably his more-is-more mantra is best illustrated by this awe-inspiring sports-racing car. A car that dominated Le Mans for several seasons and even starred in a film about the race. A racing car that has become a cultural icon. A car so fearsome that in its early days some factory drivers refused to drive it, while those who did faced down the tears of their wives. No doubt about it, this car would make an incredible epitaph come Piech’s day of reckoning. But the 917 is also known for being…

MOMENTS OF TRUE joy have been hard to come by in 2020, but the Supra has done its fair share of community service in the last three months, spreading smiles and good energy anywhere it goes. From the trolley boy who gave me the world’s biggest thumbs-up, to the P-plater who probably had to book a chiropractor’s appointment, given how rapidly he twisted his neck at a set of traffic lights. Wherever I’ve driven this last month I’ve been followed by a glut of stares and second glances. It’s hard to tell if everyone is as big a fan of the Supra’s flowing organic looks as I am, but you can’t deny Toyota’s sports car cuts a striking figure prowling the streets. Using BMW systems, Toyota offers one of the…

IT DOES SOUND like a tough gig: line up against the topless younger sister of the most desirable car on earth, with another German roadster that’s 30 percent less powerful, slower, drum-braked … and more expensive. As it turned out, BMW’s achingly gorgeous but quickly outclassed 507 roadster of 1955-59 came close to driving the small Munich company out of business. The 507 had a good 12 months’ head start on crosstown rival Mercedes-Benz’s 300 SL Roadster (launched in 1957, three years after its Gullwing sibling), but the Bimmer would be quietly led behind the barn after just 254 cars had been painstakingly built – a fraction of the Benz roadster’s eventual 1858 examples. These two timelessly beautiful cars shared not only their motherland, but their father, New York luxury…