Wheels -julkaisun September 2015 -irtonumeron sisällysluettelo

Drivers are forced to thread the needle down parked-car tunnels, sometimes a hundred metres or more, diving into rare gaps to let oncoming traffic through. How would an autonomous car negotiate this? Two of the houses near mine are being turned into townhouses. So my street is a warzone of utes, vans and trucks, sometimes blocking traffic as they deliver building supplies. How long would an autonomous car sit, waiting, before continuing its journey? Will it be able to read the situation to see the delivery is almost done, or that it’s just beginning, and make an informed decision to reroute? Perhaps this is where autonomous car programmers will expect the occupant to take back control. My street is also a bus route, with three stops in the first 700m.…

WITH the 430kW supercharged 6.2-litre LSA going into more affordable models, albeit with less power and torque, we reckon HSV should take the opportunity to upgrade its remaining atmo heroes to 340kW. If so, here’s how HSV’s range will look next year. Supercharged scorchers LSA 6.2-litre supercharged V8 GTS* 430kW/740Nm 0-100km/h 4.5sec *no change expected Clubsport R8, Maloo R8 & Senator 395kW/700Nm 0-100km/h 4.7sec Atmo heroes LS3 6.2-litre V8 Clubsport, Maloo & Grange 340kW/570Nm 0-100km/h 5.0-5.2sec…

BMW’s international design team has a secret weapon – an Australian. Calvin Luk, one of 30 BMW exterior designers worldwide, joined BMW seven years ago. His portfolio includes the 2015 1 Series facelift. More significantly, he penned the completely new second-generation X1 SUV. No small achievement at the age of 29. Luk’s story started when he accosted a BMW rep at the 2001 Sydney motor show, when he was 16. And from there, Luk has gone on to forge a name for himself as one of the Bavarian company’s hottest young designers. “I was a huge BMW fan at the time because my parents had a 3 Series,” Luk told Wheels at the X1’s international launch in Austria. “There was a new Mini at the Sydney…

DUMB LOGIC JOHN Carey’s column about the technology in the Audi Q7 (Wheels August) complains that Predictive Efficiency Assistant does not work in Australia because our road signs create visual confusion for the system. Surely it means the technology is half-baked if it cannot operate in a variety of conditions. I worry that the mooted driverless cars will only be able to operate in a particular environment, and will be useless out of it. A robot vacuum cleaner I bought thought a rug in the middle of the room was a wall and studiously avoided it. Think also of all the times your computer, iPad or other tablet has frozen, or crashed. Now, would you trust your life to these devices in an environment that is never going to perfectly…

Model Ford Everest Titanium Engine 3198cc in-line 5cyl; dohc, 20v, TD Max power 143kW @ 3000rpm Max torque 470Nm @ 1750-2500rpm Transmission 6-speed automatic Weight 2495kg 0-100km/h n/a Economy 8.5L/100km Price $76,990 On sale October EVEREST is the culmination of a long gestation period developing a wagon off the Ford Ranger’s T6 platform. It also resolves Ford Australia’s short-term need for a seven-seat SUV once the Territory ceases to exist at the end of next year. Priced from $55k, it is not expected to be the only vehicle to fill this role as it’s light truck-based as opposed to the car-derived Territory. Ford’s US-made Edge SUV is expected to complete a two-pronged Territory replacement strategy. Everest should therefore not be considered a direct replacement for the Australian-made Territory. It can’t…

Model Skoda Fabia 66TSI Ambition wagon Engine 1197cc 4cyl, dohc, 16v, turbo Max power 66kW @ 4400-5400rpm Max torque 160Nm @ 1400-3500rpm Transmission 5-speed manual Kerb weight 1066kg 0-100km/h 11.0sec (claimed) Economy 4.8L/100km Price $17,140 On sale Now SLOWLY but surely, Skoda is working its way into the Australian consciousness. With a slightly oddball line-up that prides itself in offering something clearly differentiated from the DNA that spawned it, Skoda has become a brand for thinking people who value function over form. That was certainly the case with the narrow-gutted old Fabia, but the new-gen is the face of the new Skoda. Smart and spacious like before, but also stylish and sexy, priced from just $16K driveaway. The 2015 Fabia is as mainstream as a Skoda gets, and maintains one…

Model Mazda MX-5 Engine 1496cc 4cyl, dohc, 16v Max power 96kW @ 7000rpm Max torque 150Nm @ 4800rpm Transmission 6-speed manual L/W/H 3915/1735/1225mm Wheelbase 2310mm Kerb weight 1009kg 0-100km/h 8.5sec (claimed) Fuel economy 6.1L/100km Price $31,990 On sale Now A SLITHERING stretch of road clings and coils on a hillside, a slideshow of second- and third-gear corners that transports us to a fast, open ridge. From there, the straights are long enough to open views to the geometric shards of the Glasshouse Mountains and a strip of ocean defining the horizon. Then the road rolls downhill, the surface smoother, the corners more consistent. So we turn around and do it again. This part of Brisbane’s hinterland is called Mount Mee. Funnily enough, that paraphrases what I keep saying to myself…

Model Mercedes-AMG GT S Engine 3982cc V8 (90°), dohc, 32v, twin-turbo Max power 375kW @ 6000-6500rpm Max torque 650Nm @ 1750-5000rpm Transmission 7-speed dual-clutch Kerb weight 1570kg 0-100km/h 3.8sec (claimed) Economy 13.0L/100km (test average) Price $295,000 On sale Now WE’VE heard the statistics before, yet they still make us proud. Per capita, Australia is the world’s most voracious consumer of AMG vehicles. We’re also the world’s biggest internet pirates, which says something about our lust for instant gratification and our rebellious colonial past, not to mention our disdain for distance. Remember that? The tyranny of being stuck on the other side of the globe? Sports car buyers with coin don’t like waiting, which is why this long day’s journey into night is a secret-squirrel adventure, starting at dawn on a…

LIKE every other Francophile, I’m loving that French cars are enjoying a renaissance right now. The revival of ride quality and some fine new engines have done wonders for the model line-ups of Renault and Peugeot, but what about Citroen, for such a long time the weirdest and most wonderful of them all? While this decade’s DS-badged models were a start – particularly the great-handling DS3 DSport – it has taken until last year’s new-gen Grand C4 Picasso to show what today’s Citroen is truly capable of. So I thought I’d volunteer to run the five-seat version long-term, even though I hadn’t actually driven one. Talk about a leap of faith. I’ve gone from a bad-arse-black BMW M4 manual to a “mumsy” aqua-blue C4 Picasso Exclusive with a column-shift auto.…

RENAULT knows a thing or two about small turbocharged engines, though you would be forgiven for thinking otherwise if you’ve been following Daniel Ricciardo’s exploits in this year’s F1 world championship. The poor guy must go to bed some nights wondering if the Regie has ever built a decent engine in its life. But Renault has not only produced some stunning Formula One engines – powering seven drivers to 11 world titles – it actually pioneered the turbocharged F1 engine. In the late 1970s the French turned racing on its head by producing a winning 1.5-litre turbo V6, overcoming considerable teething problems; rival team chief Ken Tyrrell dubbed the cars the ‘yellow teapots’ because they were always on the boil… Turbos were all the rage in the 80s, but it…

“ARE we there yet?” It’s a phrase parents never like to hear but inevitably do. Often. With the BMW i3, you are just that little bit closer to the piercing shriek of a three-year-old. In fact everything in the cabin of the diminutive electric car is pretty close. BMW describes it as a “complete new sense of space”. Such confined quarters have their benefits, though; not far to reach to ban an argued-over iPad or pick up a wayward Lightning McQueen, for example. Plus there’s the feeling of closeness to the family, which is great for the first hour or so but wears thin approaching the outskirts of town having listened to the toddler car-cry most of the way. So began our attempt at turning the COTY-winning “future of urban…

IT’S ALL change with Nissan’s Y62 Patrol range (the largely unloved V8 petrol models, not the still popular boxy old-gen diesels). The base model is now the Ti, with the ST-L dropped from the line-up. Despite the extra kit (the Ti gets partial leather and sat-nav), entry to the range has dropped by more than $10K, to $69,990. The flagship Ti-L has lost almost $30K, leaving room at the top for the Patrol-based Infiniti QX80 that arrives at $110,900, bringing with it 22-inch wheels and various active safety features. The 5.6-litre V8 that forms the basis for Nissan’s Altima V8 Supercar is unchanged, with a handy 298kW and 560Nm. Its thirst remains, too, sucking 14.5L/100km (and loads more around town).…

FORMULA One is all cutting-edge business and squillion-dollar deals. In the early 1980s, it was all very… 1980s. One man who should know is Adelaide business and marketing man Bill O’Gorman, the father of the Australian F1 Grand Prix. Conception occurred at an Adelaide corporate Christmas party. “We were all half-pissed, to be honest with you,” says O’Gorman. “It was 1982 and we were talking about South Australia’s Jubilee 150 in 1986. I said, ‘I suppose we’ll celebrate with sewing and knitting?’” Asked what he’d do, O’Gorman responded: “An F1 grand prix.” He had motorsport form. In 1970 he began racing a Ford Escort Twin Cam (“my first race was at Calder, and it snowed”) and in 1972 he bought the unique Matich SR5 2.0-litre sports racer, which he raced…

Handling GIVEN VF II’s last-of-the-line significance, expect little more than fine-tuning of already polished dynamics. Recalibrated steering, springs, dampers and anti-roll bars combined with ESC tweaks offer more fun within switchable modes. Styling IF YOU’RE looking at an Evoke or SV6, don’t expect serious sheetmetal changes. As well as new bumper treatment and daytime running lights, at least three new colours join restyled wheels as the Commodore avoids major surgery and instead simply changes its frock. Engine IT’S all about the new V8, a 6.2-litre LS3. Brake upgrades, as well as emissions and intake changes, point to the big Chev heart making its way into the VF as it wheelspins its way into Australian motoring history. ANYONE who thought Australian car manufacturing would go out with a whimper rather than…

SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2015 Audi Q7; BMW X1, 3 Series facelift; Ford Focus, Everest; Holden Commodore update; Infiniti QX80; Lamborghini Aventador LP 750-4 Superveloce; Mercedes-Benz GLE wagon/coupe; Volkswagen Golf Alltrack, Golf R wagon Audi Q7 THE long-awaited second-generation Audi Q7 is a contender for this year’s Biggest Loser award. The big seven-seater has shed 240kg and introduces a sharper look and impressive gains in cabin refinement, technology and quality. The sole engine, a V6, is a surprisingly quick (0-100km/h in 6.5sec) and silky-smooth 200kW/600Nm 3.0-litre TDI, while that big drop in mass means the Q7 can corner like no two-tonne SUV ever should. NOVEMBER 2015 ONWARDS Alfa Romeo 4C Spider; Audi RS3 Sportback; BMW X1, 3 Series facelift; Citroen C4 update, C4 Cactus, DS5 facelift; Ferrari 488 GTB; Ford Falcon update, Mustang;…

SPECS Model Ferrari 488 GTB Engine 3902cc V8 (90°), dohc, 32v, twin-turbo Max power 493kW @ 8000rpm Max torque 760Nm @ 3000rpm Transmission 7-speed dual-clutch Weight 1475kg 0-100km/h 3.0sec (claimed) Economy 11.4L/100km (EU) Price $469,888 On sale December WITHOUT the aid of computers and clever Ferrari engineers, the 488 GTB would be almost undriveable, it’s that powerful. Point it up a stunning Italian mountain pass of short straights and hairpins linked by beautiful, flowing esses, accelerate in any gear and you can’t help but notice the frantic flashing of the stability control icon. The light in a sumo’s fridge would be less busy. We’re talking about a new turbocharged 3.9-litre V8 that shrinks 597cc compared to the much-loved 458’s awesome 4.5-litre, yet makes 68kW more for a truly humbling output…

Model Mini John Cooper Works Engine 1998cc 4cyl, dohc, 16v, turbo Max power 170kW @ 5200rpm Max torque 320Nm @ 1250-4800rpm Transmission 6-speed automatic Kerb weight 1220kg 0-100km/h 6.1sec (claimed) Economy 5.7L/100km Price $49,950 On sale Now IF SUBTLETY is your thing, this isn’t the car for you. No Mini is known for flying under the radar, but in a family of loudmouths, this new JCW is the shoutiest of the lot. You’ve only got to look at that pumped-up, grille-punched front bar, behind which hides the most powerful engine ever fitted to a Mini, to know it means business. The 170kW/320Nm 2.0-litre turbocharged four is from BMW’s new family of modular engines, but fitted with unique pistons and a new turbo to make the JCW the quickest Mini on…

Model Alfa Romeo 4C Spider Engine 1742cc 4cyl, dohc, 16v, turbo Max power 177kW @ 6000rpm Max torque 350Nm @ 2200-4250rpm Transmission 6-speed dual-clutch Kerb weight 1035kg 0-100km/h 4.5sec (claimed) Economy 6.9L/100km (EU) Price $100,000 (estimated) On sale November THERE will be no such thing as heading out for a quiet drive in your 4C Spider. Many modern convertibles do a great job of guiding airflow up and over the cabin, while some claim you can talk without shouting at speeds of 160km/h, but the new drop-top Alfa is not one of them. The only good thing about the rush of wind noise you get at anything over 80km/h is that it almost drowns out the constant suck-blow-whoosh noises from the hardworking turbos and the slightly tractor-like grumble from the…

Model BMW X1 25i Engine 1998cc 4cyl, dohc, 16v, turbo Max power 170kW @ 5000-6000rpm Max torque 350Nm @ 1250-4500rpm Transmission 8-speed automatic Weight 1540kg 0-100km/h 6.5sec (claimed) Economy 6.4L/100km (EU) Price $60,000 (estimated) On sale October YOU can’t see it in the pictures, but this is a car that wears an Akubra and stinks of Vegemite. It’s the second-generation BMW X1, and it was penned by a bloke who, as well as being one of BMW’s hottest up-and-coming exterior designers, is an Aussie. Calvin Luk hails from Sydney and this is the 29-year-old’s first clean-sheet design to make production since he joined BMW seven years ago. He’s done a good job, too, ditching the original X1’s snouty, oversize bonnet and ungainly stance for a well proportioned and handsome look.…

NOTHING focuses the mind like knowing you are going to be hung in the morning,” John Conomos deadpans. The now semi-retired auto industry veteran, who played a key role in Toyota’s rise to the top in Australia, is making the point that if you want to be involved in the car industry and base yourself in Australia post-2017, you’d better have your plans in place now. The good thing is there are smart, hungry, determined people who are doing just that, and some of them have been for years. They know that when the lines grind to a halt at Ford in 2016 and then at Holden and Toyota in 2017, it will be the end of an era. But they want to be part of an auto industry that…

THIS is the comparison Mercedes-Benz dared us to do. ‘Don’t bother with a standard 911,’ they said, as if suggesting it would be no contest. ‘Go for the raciest road version, the GT3. No, seriously: we want to know how our new AMG GT supercar measures up.’ We had our doubts, to be honest, since the Porsche 911 GT3 is effectively a race car for the road, and the AMG GT S while it may well be hugely capable on a race track, is still more luxury sports car than road-going race car. But Benz was insistent and Porsche, of course, didn’t hesitate. Name the date and the track, and we’ll be there, they both said. That track is Sandown Raceway and, even though it is the middle of winter,…

WHO knew being rammed up the backside could be such a revelation? Incredibly, despite having been licensed to drive since before Bieber was born, I’ve never been Liberaced, which is surely good luck rather than good management. Even F1 drivers don’t have eyes in the backs of their heads. But on a busy holiday-weekend Friday, attempting to escape Sydney with my family on board the trusty Forester, I was suddenly and shuntingly bunted from behind. The initial reaction was, of course, utter shock, because I hadn’t braked suddenly or done anything to deserve a good rear-ending, and also because I just couldn’t believe the force of the impact put through the car, and my back in particular. If I was American I would have rolled out onto the pavement clutching…

THE Peugeot is ruining other cars for me. It has nothing to do with the steering’s unfettered connection with my palms, and everything to do with what I feel from the seat of my pants. Three months in and the mid-range five-door hatch from France continues to surprise and delight with an incredibly silken ride quality. It’s as if a fresh hot coat of bitumen precedes my every move because the supple and silent suspension absorption has bettered every other 2015 model I’ve driven this year, with the exception of the Ford Mondeo. We’re talking here about patchy inner-urban streets with pimply surfaces, potholes, crumbling edges, pyramid speed bumps and tyre-shredding tram tracks. And the 308 glides over them, in most cases with utter insouciance. The same applies out on…

A FAMILIAR name has been revived for Hyundai’s new mid-sized SUV that steps in for the six-year-old ix35, and borrows its styling theme from the Santa Fe. Base front-drivers come with the choice of 2.0-litre four-cylinder engines, one with direct injection for more go. Tucson also gets a detuned version of Veloster’s 1.6-litre GDi turbo, matching its 265Nm but with less power (130kW v 150kW). It’s available only in AWD models, as is the 2.0-litre turbo-diesel. Trim levels range from Active (not due until September) to Elite and flagship Highlander, the latter picking up 19-inch wheels and various active safety features (auto braking, lane departure warning and blind spot warning).…

SOME of the thirstiest, most expensive cars are slightly cheaper from July 1 following an increase in the threshold at which the luxury car tax is applied. The point at which the controversial 33 percent tax is applied was raised from $61,884 to $63,184, but the ruling only affects what the government considers thirsty cars – those using more than 7.0L/100km – so most aren’t affected. A range of SUVs and luxury cars benefit from the new ruling, with Audi, BMW, Land Rover, Jaguar, Lexus, Toyota and others reducing the price of many models by the full LCT adjustment amount – $390. Porsche went a step further by rounding the amount to $400.…

THERE’S a great old joke about two used-car dealers on a Sydney Harbour cruise, when both get drunk and fall overboard. Suddenly, one of them notices a pair of tall, menacing fins in the water, heading straight for them. “Wh-wh-what the hell is that?” he asks his mate. “Well,” says the other, “unless it’s a Cadillac Eldorado Biarritz, you and I are screwed.” Cadillac launched the Eldorado nameplate for its flagship convertible model in 1953. Loaded with Cadillac’s most powerful V8s and almost every option in the luxury brand’s catalogue, the Eldorado typically cost about 25 percent more than its standard Cadillac siblings. The introduction of a two-door coupe (dubbed Seville) in 1956 further elevated the Eldorado, the convertible now being distinguished as the Biarritz. The allusions to promised and…

Cost per kW WHEN the first HSV Clubsport was introduced in July 1990, the VNbased sedan cost $33,620 and was powered by a locally made 5.0-litre V8 that cranked out a then handy 180kW. That’s $187 per kilowatt. Twenty-five years later, the 325kW Gen F Clubsport gives you more capacity, more gears and almost twice the power for $61,990, which is $191 per kilowatt. If the 395kW version costs the same as the current R8’s $73,290, it would be only $186 per kilowatt. Bargain. And that’s before inflation! Spreading the boosted V8 engine to more models in the HSV range makes them among the most powerful and best value cars on the planet OWNING a supercharged HSV will be more affordable than ever as Holden’s performance brand races to keep…

MOVE over S-Class, the next Mercedes-Benz E-Class is set to become the brand’s tech flagship, with a number of world-first features. Although the W213 E-Class is still at least six months from production and won’t hit Australian showrooms until late 2016, Mercedes-Benz has revealed some of its innermost secrets. The E-Class will introduce at least four world firsts, in safety, convenience and driver assistance. Engineers promise it will include semi-autonomous driving aids a level above those that wowed the world when the current S-Class was revealed only two years ago. Further, the E-Class will gain a couple of technologies that lift Mercedes to parity in related areas with what is offered by BMW and Audi. Mercedes-Benz hasn’t revealed the exterior or interior of the new E-Class yet, but…

CTRL-ALT-DEL ENJOYED the article on premium mid-size SUVs (Disco Inferno, August). Even though my next purchase is not likely to be an SUV, it is interesting to see what the well-heeled masses are buying/driving these days. However, at the end of the article I was left scratching my sparse grey hairs. The joint winners were the Q5 and the new Land Rover Discovery Sport HSE Luxury. I struggle to reconcile how a vehicle that fails Wheels’ own COTY criterion, performance of intended function, could possibly win. In your own words, the Landy “suffered from a few technical glitches... a spell in limp-home mode, a dodgy idle-stop system that completely shut down the entire vehicle on two occasions” and a faulty touchscreen. Puhleeze, fellas, can we leaven our “surprise and delight”…

Model Mercedes-Benz GLC 250 4matic Engine 1991cc 4cyl, dohc, 16v, turbo Max power 155kW @ 5500rpm Max torque 350Nm @ 1200-4000rpm Transmission 9-speed automatic Weight 1735kg 0-100km/h 7.3sec (claimed) Economy 6.5L/100 (EU) Price $67,900 On sale December WHEN you pay a premium price for something, you expect a premium product. Cut-above engineering combined with a high-grade interior, cloaked in a stylistic form able to withstand any ‘driveway’ test. And if you can add a degree of X-factor to the mix, then you might just have yourself a Mercedes-Benz GLC. That warmth of appreciation begins the moment you see it. With an almost coupe-like glasshouse and wheels pushed out to each corner, the GLC is an exceedingly handsome SUV. AMG GT aside, the GLC is Mercedes-Benz’s best-looking car, and it’s all…

Model Holden Insignia VXR Engine 2792cc V6 (60°), dohc, 24v, turbo Max power 239kW @ 5250rpm Max torque 435Nm @ 1900-4000rpm Transmission 6-speed automatic Kerb weight 1836kg 0-100km/h 6.3sec (claimed) Economy 11.3L/100km Price $51,990 On sale Now THE last mid-size Holden that was this overtly sporty-looking was the 1989 Camira SLi2000. After enduring generations of mediocre successors – can anyone even remember the Apollo, Epica and Malibu? – the handsome and muscular Insignia VXR, Holden’s first turbo AWD performance model since the Calibra in 1997, should be celebrated as the anti-Camry. It’s like Michael Fassbender in a world full of Mort Goldmans from Family Guy. However, we need to make two things clear. First, being the Series II facelift, this Insignia differs from the Opel Insignia OPC sold here in…

Model Mercedes-AMG C63 S Engine 3982cc V8 (90°), dohc, 32v, twin turbos Max power 375kW @ 5500-6250rpm Max torque 700Nm @ 1750-4500rpm Transmission 7-speed dual-clutch Kerb weight 1655kg 0-100km/h 4.0s (claimed) Economy 8.6L/100km Price $154,900 On sale Now PULLING 220km/h cresting the hill on Mountain Straight at Australia’s most famous circuit gets the heart started on a chilly Bathurst day. Anything pulling that sort of pace has to be seriously quick. In this case it’s the mighty Mercedes-AMG C63 S and, using the same 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 as AMG’s hero GT S, though with a wet sump instead of dry, it’s a weapon befitting this iconic track. With 700Nm, the feisty C63 triggers the traction control as it gets light over the blind crest that on a 60km/h lap of…

Model BMW 340i Engine 2998cc 6cyl, dohc, 24v, turbo Max power 240kW @ 5500-6500rpm Max torque 450Nm @ 1380-5000rpm Transmission 8-speed automatic Weight 1530kg 0-100km/h 5.1sec (claimed) Economy 6.8L/100km (EU) Price $90,000 (estimated) On sale October THIS is one of the most important cars BMW will launch this year, and not just because the 3 Series is the brand’s most popular model worldwide. The F30 range, originally released in 2012, now faces stiff competition from newer rivals like the Mercedes C-Class, all-new Audi A4 and incoming Jaguar XE and Alfa Giulia. So this mid-life update needs to be good. Visually, though, changes are minor. Up front are new LED running lights and optional full-LED headlights (a 3 Series first), while a tweaked bumper sports larger air intakes for a wider…

MEET the Bentley Bentayga. It’s powered by a 6.0-litre W12 that develops more than 405kW and 720Nm, enough grunt to take it comfortably beyond 275km/h, say the Bentley boys. The interior is a sensual delight, redolent with the rich tang of high-quality leather, and suffused with the warm glow of wood and sparkling highlights of white-bright chrome. And the price? Don’t expect much change from half a million bucks. The Bentayga makes its public debut at the Frankfurt motor show this month, but in the course of the past few months we’ve spent time with Bentley’s development engineers and designers, and driven lightly disguised, near-production prototypes. And, yes, we’ve driven them off-road. Bentley’s new SUV is built on a variant of VW Group’s MLB architecture (longitudinal front engine, all-wheel drive)…

BRAKE! Brake! Brake!” We’re sliding backwards in a bright green HSV GTS towards a snow bank after trying to do a 360-degree spin in the 6.2-litre V8-powered sedan – on ice. The roar of the engine as it bounces off the rev limiter drenches our ears because we’ve flattened the accelerator pedal, and the spin has carved up the ice as the green monster leaves us whirling in a cloud of white powder. Only our instructor, on this occasion V8 Supercar pilot David Russell, seems to have a clue where we’re going. But I reckon he doesn’t really. We’re at the inaugural HSV Ice Drive Experience in the snow-covered mountains at Cardrona, about an hour from Queenstown, New Zealand. Why? Because what’s better than 430kW, rear-wheel drive and snow. HSV…

THE realisation hits at the exact moment I lose the feeling in my fingers; we’re admiring a Kia. At first I dismiss our migration towards the Korean SUV as a need for communal warmth, given that it’s dawn and we’re ankle deep in snow, but the furtive glances at the Kia’s chiselled grille and Batman-esque tail-lights betray the real reason. We’re here because the Sorento looks fantastic. Writing those words a decade ago, especially about a slab-sided seven-seat SUV, would have been laughable, but today the rapidly improving Koreans are on a roll. Suddenly, parking a Sorento on your driveway, especially in the glitzy, range-topping Platinum spec we have here, has become a statement. Like wearing a Rolex, or buying your daughter a pony. The fact the equally desirable Hyundai…

HOP in. Yes, this is the Wheels long-term Clubsport R8. Why are we at this Winton track day? HSV says the Clubbie – complete with its chequered flag badges – is at home on the track just as much as on the road. So why not? Wipers on because it’s cold and wet; I wish this thing had heated seats. All we’ve done to prep it for today is change the oil and check the tyre pressures. Look at the patchwork of motoring’s finest ahead of us. See that hot-rod? What about the bloke in the Hyundai Excel, complete with a roll-cage, race suit and HANS device? Catch the green Datsun Stanza. Let’s line up behind this S13 Nissan 180SX. We’re up now. Out of the pits, onto the straight;…

IF WE overlook Mazda’s 45-year detour with the rotary, it would seem the world’s automotive manufacturers are pretty much unanimous on the preferred fundamentals of combustion engine technology. Whether it’s petrol or diesel, Atkinson cycle or Otto cycle, the core design remains common across the board: reciprocating pistons and rods driving a crankshaft. Interestingly, no such unanimity has been arrived at with automatic transmissions. Torque converters, dual-clutches, automated single-clutches and continuously variable ’boxes all currently litter the automotive transmission landscape. Nissan has opted for a CVT in the Qashqai, pushing the line that it’s lighter than a torque converter, and more efficient. Fair enough; the CVT has undergone a bit of a resurgence over the last decade or so, and Subaru, Mitsubishi and Audi, among others, would seem to agree…

1 TOYOTA LANDCRUISER WAGON/UTE 16,376 Toyota may claim the green high ground with its Prius family, but it also sells more V8s thanks to its formidable Landcruiser. More than 95 percent are diesel. 2 HOLDEN COMMODORE/UTE/CAPRICE 12,875 Holden flogs more than 1000 V8s a month – about two in five Commodores (and variants) – testament to the fantastic sound and value we’ll miss once they're imported. 3 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE 1576 Little wonder the top-selling large SUV (just) also fares among the best-selling V8s. Almost 10 percent of Grand Cherokees are the fiery SRT, with its 344kW 6.4-litre Hemi unit. 4 FORD FALCON/ UTE 882 In the last couple of years there has been a rare happy moment for Falcon sales, with healthy V8 models (runout GT, then reborn XR8…

VOLKSWAGEN is the latest manufacturer to roll out standard reversing cameras across its passenger-car range. A rear camera is now fitted to all Polo, Golf, Jetta, Beetle, Scirocco and Tiguan models. Golfs also pick up a range of new features (depending on the model), including smart key entry on Highline, GTI and R variants. The German brand has also rolled out Apple CarPlay and Android Auto across those ranges, allowing smartphones to be connected and controlled through the car’s interface. It means audio, mapping and other compatible apps will appear in the car’s centre screen. Prices have also been adjusted, with some increasing by as much as $700 and others reducing by up to $1000. PRIVACY NOTICE This issue of Wheels is published by Bauer Media Pty Ltd (Bauer). Bauer…