Sommaire pour September 2016 de Wheels

FORD is set to go into battle with Toyota over the rights to the Edge nameplate that graces the global SUV that has finally been confirmed for Australia. Ford said Edge will form an important pillar in a broader SUV strategy planned to plug the hole left by Territory, which ends production in October (stocks will last until mid-2017). However, there’s one giant hurdle for Edge – Ford doesn’t own the rights to the name in Australia. That’s owned by Toyota, which has used the name on various limited-edition SUVs and hatches sold locally. Ford Australia president Graeme Whickman said the company is still working on the naming issue. “We’re weighing up the pros and cons. It’s at an early stage... there’s no rush,” he said. As Wheels went to…

THERE’S a golden rule in vehicle development: don’t do everything at once. New platform, new body, new powertrain and a new factory – all at the same time – should raise a red flag larger than Uluru due to the potential for production catastrophe, yet that’s exactly what Porsche has done with its second-generation Panamera. Thing is, the new Panamera is hardly a Hillman Imp or Alfa Romeo Alfasud – golden rule-breakers that recruited labour forces unfamiliar with factory work to ‘build’ cars in their greenfield production plants. Porsche’s new-generation luxury flagship will begin life in a brand new production facility in Leipzig, purpose-designed to construct new high-tech mixed-material bodies before sending them next door for completion in the existing Panamera plant. (Previously, bodies were built in Hanover and transported…

HIGHLIGHTS Boom! New-car sales were in record territory in June as SUVs once again led the charge. VFACTS has stopped guessing at full-year projections, but we’re not shy; let’s say a storming 1.2 million all up if we gallop along at the current rate of 3.4% growth each month. But before we crack the bubbly, let’s take a reality check; aside from SUVs, it’s commercial vehicles such as trade utes driving the numbers. Passenger-car sales for the last six months are down 5.2%. Ouch. LOWLIGHTS In a market where everyone seems to be winning, going backwards stands out. Volvo was the only passenger-car brand to go backwards in the month, falling to 460 sales, down 5.0% on May. Cars that lost ground sharply in a booming market include the Holden…

OUT OF FOCUS The launch of the highly anticipated Ford Focus RS has been marred by experts slamming it for drift ‘hoon’ mode (Ford Focus RS drift mode hype is drifting us towards the nanny state, WheelsMag.com.au). Newsflash: Any moderately powerful rear-wheel-drive car with traction control disabled is a potential drifting machine. A decade ago my six-cylinder XF Falcon was more than able to hang out its tail. While we’re banning drift mode on the RS, let’s also ban all launch control if fitted, because obviously people will drag race. Let’s also ban active dampers and exhausts because they will entice people to race. Don’t get me started on Ludicrous mode on a Tesla, or the skinny standard wheels on Toyota’s 86 that let it slide. Who are these experts?…

SPECS Model Jaguar F-Pace S AWD First Edition Engine 2995cc V6 (90°), dohc, 24v, S/C Max power 280kW @ 6500rpm Max torque 450Nm @ 4500rpm Transmission 8-speed automatic Weight 1861kg 0-100km/h 5.5sec (claimed) Economy 8.9L/100km Price $120,415 On sale Now JAGUAR has billed its first SUV as the practical car for people who love driving. Our first drive at the international launch (Wheels, June) proved this to be a fair assertion, no Kool-Aid required. Now, though, it’s our chance to see how its pricing, spec and chassis tune translates to Australian roads. F-Pace is built on the same architecture as the accomplished Jaguar XE, an all-aluminium framework that places it among the best-handling mid-size SUVs. This debutante certainly has the credentials to back up the claim. Hidden behind a bluff…

Model Mercedes-Benz GLC250 Coupe Engine 1991cc 4cyl, dohc, 16v, turbo Max power 155kW @ 5500rpm Max torque 350Nm @ 1200-4000rpm Transmission 9-speed automatic Weight 1710kg 0-100km/h 7.3sec (claimed) Economy 7.3L/100km (EU) Price $80,100 On sale December OH, how we laughed when, not so many years ago, BMW launched the X6, a Frankenwagon “crossover” of sports sedan, fastback coupe and off-road SUV. “Who the hell would buy such a thing?” we wondered aloud, as it went on to sell in droves. Today, the only crossover that makes the news is Caitlyn Jenner. Mercedes-Benz, which came late to the SUV-coupe bandwagon with the GLE (previously ML) Coupe, is adding a similarly slopey-styled coupe to the smaller, sister GLC SUV. First up, regardless of engine, all Oz-bound GLC Coupes will feature all-wheel drive,…

Model Mercedes-AMG C63 S Coupe Engine 3982cc V8 (90°), dohc, 32v, twin-turbo Max power 375kW @ 5500-6250rpm Max torque 700Nm @ 1750-4500rpm Transmission 7-speed automatic Kerb weight 1725kg 0-100km/h 3.9sec (claimed) Economy 8.7L/100km Price $162,400 On sale Now HAVING spent the last six months living with a Cup-tyred, ceramic-braked C63 S sedan, exposure to the Coupe version of AMG’s ballistic twin-turbo V8 performance star is illuminating. Mainly because the Mercedes-AMG C63 S Coupe is more than just a prettier face. Beneath its sleeker, sexier bodywork (not all parties agree here) hides a significantly altered and noticeably improved C63 S. Not that there was anything wrong in the first place; it’s just that this broader and burlier two-door version is simply better. Countering an unexpected weight gain of 70kg, the Coupe…

Model Skoda Octavia Ambition Engine 1395cc 4cyl, dohc, 16v, turbo Max power 110kW @ 6000rpm Max torque 250Nm @ 1500-3500rpm Transmission 7-speed dual-clutch Weight 1234kg 0-100km/h 8.2sec (claimed) Economy 5.3L/100km Price $25,290 On sale Now FOR A brand seemingly built around a value-for-money proposition, the entry-level Octavia has been a conundrum, given it reeked of cheapness, rather than value. The Ambition lacked cruise control, wore plastic covers over steel wheels and didn’t even have a centre armrest between the front seats. But Skoda has had something of a wake-up call, largely thanks to the Skoda Superb. People didn’t buy the cheap version of Skoda’s large hatchback and wagon, instead preferring to fully load a mid- or high-spec model with tech convenience and bling packs. Recognising this, Skoda has hit the…

MEET the Super Ute, a stalled top-secret plan by Holden to turn the Commodore Ute into an electric-powered, Bugatti Veyron-crushing supercar that was to wear badges as diverse as Cadillac, Opel, Chevrolet and Holden. The very concept of a Holden-developed Veyron-beater pushes the bounds of credulity. But it’s true. Wheels has learnt of Holden’s ambitious plot to transform the humble Holden VE Ute into the world’s quickest car, and in so doing cement Australia as a global design and engineering powerhouse. Wheels uncovered grainy images of this electric supercar in a short video published on an obscure GM Facebook page during research for another publishing project. Our crack digital team then extracted and enhanced the images. The car they reveal would have catapulted General Motors into the electric revolution lead,…

Specs $44,440* *includes moonroof ($1950) Engine 2494cc 4cyl, dohc, 16v + electric motor Power 151kW (max system output) Torque 270Nm (max system output) Transmission CVT automatic Dimensions (L/W/H/W-B)4850/1835/1470/2775mm Weight 1610kg Cargo capacity 421 litres Tyres Bridgestone Turanza ER33 215/55R17 94V Test fuel cons 9.1L/100km 0-100km/h 8.0sec 0-400m 15.8sec @ 147.4km/h 80-120km/h 4.9sec 3yr resale 45% Keen and refined drivetrain; competent chassis Budget interior; laggy CVT; comprehensively Score 5.0/10 AFTER a world-beating 53 years building cars in this country – longer than anywhere else outside Japan – the Camry tested here will be Toyota’s sayonara to Australia. Yet in much the same way it signals the conclusion of domestic production, the evergreen Camry bookends the back end of this megatest field. Perhaps unfairly, the Camry Atara SL Hybrid’s last-place position has…

Specs $42,690 Engine 2488cc 4cyl, dohc, 16v Power 138kW @ 5700rpm Torque 250Nm @ 3250rpm Transmission 6-speed automatic Dimensions (L/W/H/W-B)4865/1840/1450/2830mm Weight 1498kg Cargo capacity 474 litres Tyres Bridgestone Turanza T001 225/45R19 92W Test fuel cons 9.6L/100km 0-100km/h 7.7sec 0-400m 15.5sec @ 145.9km/h 80-120km/h 5.1sec 3yr resale 55% Smooth-road handling; slick interior quality; driver appeal Gearbox calibration; pattery ride; road rumble Score 6.0/10 In the three-and-a-half years since the third-generation model arrived, it’s become clear that how highly we rate the Mazda 6 depends very much on which 6 it is that we’re talking about. The wagon, with its 80mm-shorter wheelbase, greater agility and sportier look, trumps the sedan. The 2.5-litre atmo petrol four – terrific as it is – can’t match the turbo-diesel’s broad, cultured delivery, or its efficiency. And…

Specs $39,990 Engine 1984cc 4cyl, dohc, 16v, turbo Power 162kW @ 6200rpm Torque 350Nm @ 1500-4400rpm Transmission 6-speed dual-clutch Dimensions (L/W/H/W-B)4861/1864/1483/2841mm Weight 1463kg Cargo capacity 625 litres Tyres Pirelli Cinturato P7 235/45R18 94W Test fuel cons 8.0L/100km 0-100km/h 6.6sec 0-400m 14.7sec @ 157.8km/h 80-120km/h 4.1sec 3yr resale 39% Value; grunt with efficiency; styling; space Uncontrolled ride; lack of traction; stingy front seats Score 7.0/10 THE Skoda Superb might just be the ultimate hipster machine; the not-quite-cool car you don’t even know about yet. And this, from craft beer to bands, is the quality that makes it perfect for the modern man who wants to stay true to his trend-setting roots. Ironically, like Holden’s Commodore, it’s also slightly out of place in a Megatest of mid-size cars because, while the platform…

Specs $40,690* * Includes metallic paint ($700) Engine 1798cc 4cyl, dohc, 16v, turbo Power 132kW @ 5100-6200rpm Torque 250Nm @ 1250-5000rpm Transmission 7-speed dual-clutch Dimensions (L/W/H/W-B)4767/1832/1456/2791mm Weight 1450kg Cargo capacity 586 litres Tyres Continental ContiPremiumContact 5 215/55R17 94W Test fuel cons. 7.9L/100km 0-100km/h 7.7sec 0-400m 15.7sec @ 149.1km/h 80-120km/h 4.9sec 3yr resale 48% Smooth; quick; efficient; composed; comfortable Not quite as dynamically polished as it could be Score 8.5/10 SCHADENFREUDE, or deriving pleasure from somebody else’s misfortune, could have been invented for Volkswagen’s current situation. After two decades of growth, awards and adulation, the twin cracks of unreliability and scandal have undermined the former German golden child’s reputation. But competitors will be smiling on the other side of their corporate faces when they realise how consistently accomplished Volkswagen’s latest Passat…

How about something regal yet rugged? Enter the Sultan of Sand WHAT is it with royalty? They take their pants off to sit on the throne, same as the rest of us, and yet some people treat them as if their excrement doesn’t stink. Australia is not a republic, yet, but as a deeply egalitarian bunch, Aussies don’t buy into the high farce of being high-born, which explains why our locally bred royal family are such down-to-earth types, with firm, land-working handshakes. They’re not exactly publicity-seeking, toe-sucking, in-fighting, pseudo-celebrity royals, either – they’re not even on Facebook – which is why you may not have even heard of the Principality of Hutt River, population “23-ish”, which sits on a piece of land the size of Hong Kong in a…

THE problem these days with automotive engineers, of the electrical variety at any rate, is that they seem to think they’re so much smarter than the rest of us. And that they need to save us from ourselves. They seemingly won’t be happy until cars are completely autonomous, removing the one variable – the mug driver – from their otherwise perfectly organised world. And, as we all know, they are close to their automotive nirvana, though quite how that will actually work is another matter. Now call me old-fashioned – you wouldn’t be the first – but I quite like driving a car. I enjoy being in control of it, going as fast as I choose, as close to other cars and the scenery as I feel appropriate, choosing how…

THREE years ago I packed up my life in Adelaide for an opportunity to take on the big smoke in Melbourne as a journalist at 4X4 Australia. There was so much to love about that job: like Captain Jack Sparrow on the hunt for Davy Jones’ Locker, it brought the opportunity to breathe in the fresher air of Australia’s most far-flung locations and hunt for the ultimate hidden treasure of solitude. There was one thing I just couldn’t get used to, though. Coming from wide-laned, traffic-rare Adelaide to congested, poorly urban-planned Melbourne was a daunting experience. Throw in oversized 4x4 press cars and endless bottleneck traffic and I felt like a rat in a sewer pipe. You can therefore imagine my excitement when Fiat Chrysler Australia announced they’d be bringing…

Holden sets date for last local Cruze In what is shaping up to be a very dark day for Australia’s automotive industry, Holden has announced it will end Cruze production at its Elizabeth plant in Adelaide on October 7 – the same day Ford closes its Broadmeadows production line. Holden had previously announced it would end Cruze production some time in October, taking with it 320 jobs. Holden will continue manufacturing the Commodore and its derivatives until late 2017. The company is yet to announce the final date for local manufacturing, which started in 1948. “I cannot comment at all... but it looks fantastic”Marc Werner, BMW Australia managing director, on speculation about the rumoured M2 CSL Falcon to live on… virtually The Ford Falcon is set to live on in…

“The whole notion of a long bonnet is probably gone now” IAN Callum’s Palomino Blackwing pencil is in full flow, a mesmerising action as lines, curves and circles rapidly fill a page that was blank just moments ago. Sketchpad pages flip as more cars are constructed from graphite lead. Jaguar’s design director is giving Wheels a visual insight into the brand’s design philosophy, and the future of global automotive design. He’s sketching models from Jaguar’s past (SS, E-Type), present (F-Pace) and even future (a purely hypothetical modern-day XJS) to emphasise how exaggeration and proportion have remained key since the Sir William Lyons era. Callum has retained much of Lyons’ philosophies while being charged with the critical, brand-reviving mission of erasing the retro styling that held Jaguar back in the 1990s…

Model Suzuki Baleno GLX Turbo Engine 998cc 3cyl, dohc, 12v, turbo Max power 82kW @ 5500rpm Max torque 160Nm @ 1500-4000rpm Transmission 6-speed automatic Weight 950kg 0-100km/h 11.0sec (claimed) Economy 5.2L/100km Price $22,900 On sale Now SUZUKI’S refusal to build a conventional Toyota Corolla competitor borders on belligerence. But the company argues that the latest Baleno (from $17K driveaway for the GL 1.4 manual, just $1K more for the four-speed auto, and $23K driveaway for the GLX 1.0 turbo six-speed auto) will snare Hyundai i30 buyers anyway because the Indian-built hatch is big where it matters (inside) yet small enough to make a difference to your hip-pocket. While overall length and wheelbase are actually shorter than a Mazda 2’s, the numbers reveal C-segment-esque legroom and cargo capacity, thanks to extra…

Model BMW M4 Competition Engine 2979cc 6cyl, dohc, 24v, twin-turbo Max power 331kW @ 6000rpm Max torque 550Nm @ 1850-5500rpm Transmission 7-speed dual-clutch Kerb weight 1540kg 0-100km/h 4.0sec (claimed) Economy 8.8L/100km Price $154,615 On sale Now YOU COULD drive for hundreds of kilometres in BMW’s new M4 Competition and not unlock the extra surge from the upgraded engine. Blame it on the 550Nm of torque, all of which is available from 1850rpm and continues to 5500rpm, providing a delicious thrust that sees off pretty much all comers on all but a racetrack blast. The torque peak is maintained a fraction longer in the Competition, the latest $5000 plus-pack that sits atop the unchanged M3 and M4 range that incorporate sedan, coupe and convertible body styles. Even then it’s difficult to…

Model Audi A4 2.0 TFSI Allroad quattro Engine 1984cc 4cyl, dohc, 16v, turbo Max power 185kW @ 5000-6000rpm Max torque 370Nm @ 1400-4500rpm Transmission 7-speed dual-clutch Weight 1580kg 0-100km/h 6.1sec (claimed) Economy 6.7L/100km (EU) Price $75,000 (estimated) On sale September AUDI’S new A4 Allroad quattro makes the company’s own Q5 seem flabby, slow and inefficient. Comparing versions of the raised all-wheel-drive wagon and SUV both powered by a turbo 2.0-litre petrol four highlights the Q5’s shortcomings. It’s 180kg heavier, nearly a second slower to 100km/h, and burns around a litre more fuel every 100km. Yet none of these things deter Australians, apparently. In 2015 Audi’s hugely popular medium-size SUV outsold the outgoing version of its high-clearance all-wheel-drive wagon by better than 20 to one. The arrival of a new A4…

Model Maserati Quattroporte S GranSport Engine 2979cc V6 (60°), dohc, 24v, twin-turbo Max power 302kW @ 5500rpm Max torque 550Nm @ 1750-5000rpm Transmission 8-speed automatic Weight 1860kg 0-100km/h 5.1sec (claimed) Economy 9.6L/100km (EU) Price $250,000 (estimated) On sale December DOESN’T time fly when you’re revitalising a brand? It doesn’t seem so very long ago that Maserati was launching its sixth-generation Quattroporte. But that was back in 2013, and the big sedan is due for an update. In the intervening years the Italian brand has pumped out two all-new models in fairly quick succession – the Ghibli sedan and the Levante SUV. Maserati sales have soared as a result. So what has Maserati done to revamp the model that initiated its renaissance? What they haven’t done is make major changes to…

 Model Porsche 718 Cayman There’s an almost supernatural ability to deal with the greater demands of the extra torque Engine 1988cc flat 4, dohc, 16v, turbo Max power 220kW @ 6500rpm Max torque 380Nm @ 1950-4500rpm Transmission 7-speed dual-clutch L/W/H 4379/1801/1286mm Wheelbase 2475mm Weight 1365kg 0-100km/h 4.7sec (claimed) Economy 6.9L/100km (EU) Price $111,572 On sale November DESPITE being a generally incredible piece of kit since it emerged from Zuffenhausen’s womb back in 2005, there has always been something holding back the Porsche Cayman. Unable to out-power and out-rank its revered big brother, and physically incapable of matching the mystique of Porsche’s magnificent rear-engined legend, the mid-engined Cayman has always been a poor man’s 911. But not anymore. Its reinvention as Porsche’s entry-level sports car, controversially boasting all-new turbocharged flat-four engines,…

Specs $35,990 Engine 2498cc flat 4, dohc, 16v Power 129kW @ 5800rpm Torque 235Nm @ 4000rpm Transmission CVT automatic Dimensions (L/W/H/W-B)4795/1840/1500/2750mm Weight 1568kg Cargo capacity 493 litres Tyres Dunlop SP Sport Maxx 050 225/50R18 95W Test fuel cons 10.0L/100km 0-100km/h 9.2sec 0-400m 16.7sec @139.9km/h 80-120km/h 6.3sec 3yr resale 57% Price and equipment; grip and handling poise Lack of charisma; dull steering; irritating ride Score 5.5/10 CHOOSING a new Subaru used to mark the happy coincidence of logic and lust, and that was before you even reached WRX territory. Near to offering the complete package, Libertys of old delivered personality with reliability and safety, intertwined with sportiness and a penchant for slippery surfaces (thanks to full-time AWD). In a homogenised age in which characterful all-rounders are rare, these qualities might have…

Specs $37,790* * includes metallic paint ($800) Engine 1598cc 4cyl, dohc, 16v turbo Power 121kW @ 5000rpm Torque 240Nm @ 1400-4400rpm Transmission 6-speed automatic Dimensions (L/W/H/W-B)4830/1828/1456/2817mm Weight 1414kg Cargo capacity 497 litres Tyres Michelin Primacy HP 215/55R17 98W Test fuel cons 8.4L/100km 0-100km/h 8.4sec 0-400m 16.1sec @ 142.0km/h 80-120km/h 5.5sec 3yr resale 51% All-round ability; chassis balance; economy; value Firm urban ride; flair-free styling Score 6.5/10 SINCE its 2011 launch, we – as in Wheels, new-car buyers and basically the world at large – have been largely apathetic about the Peugeot 508. An oddly Germanic French mid-sizer, with an allure more Angela (Merkel) than Angelina (Jolie), the 508 lacks the timeless prettiness and dynamic proficiency of, say, the 406 of the ’90s. This is a largely forgotten car. But has…

Specs $40,490 Engine 3564cc V6 (60º), dohc, 24v Power 210kW @ 6700rpm Torque 350Nm @ 2800rpm Transmission 6-speed automatic Dimensions (L/W/H/W-B)4966/1898/1471/2915mm Weight 1685kg Cargo capacity 495 litres Tyres Bridgestone Potenza RE050A 245/45R18 100V Test fuel cons 11.4L/100km 0-100km/h 6.6sec 0-400m 14.7sec @ 156.7km/h 80-120km/h 4.2sec 3yr resale 42% Excellent seats; strong performance; handling Knobbly ride; thrashy V6; relative thirst Score 7.5/10 THERE’S plenty of myth surrounding Holden’s defiantly relevant and ever-popular Commodore. While it might look like a dinosaur on paper, championing rear-drive and a large-capacity, naturally aspirated six like its ancestors have done for decades, the reality remains rooted in the present. Make no mistake, as far as family sedans go, the VFII Commodore is at the pointy end for space and comfort. It’s the only car here than…

 If you had to guess what sort of music inspires the slightly shouty design language of Ferrari, what would you go for? Thrash metal? Speed garage? Hard, loud rock? “People think the consistency of a brand comes from repetition, but I don’t think so” You might also think classical or opera, which would be close, and very Italian. But according to Flavio Manzoni, Ferrari’s vice-president of design, you’d be wrong. It’s more like jazz. This is not his answer to a women’s magazine-style question (“What inspires you dahhling, what’s your muse?”) but a response to the fact that he cites music as an integral part of his design philosophy. As inspired as he is by sculpture, art and architecture in his work – which includes La Ferrari, the 488 GTB,…

FROM feeble to fierce. That’s no mean feat for a car whose immediate predecessor was based on – and ultimately limited by – Ford Mondeo underpinnings, but the Jaguar XE has certainly wowed us since launching last August. Initial experiences flagged something unexpectedly special lurking in England’s woefully overdue response to the 3 Series, despite the overly familiar if undeniably handsome design (thematically too similar to the original XF of 2007), patchy dashboard presentation and four-cylinder petrol engines borrowed from Ford. Our hunch was realised when the XE joined the Mazda MX-5 and Audi Q7 on the 2016 COTY podium, and further reinforced when a 25t beat a BMW 328i, Audi A4 2.0 TFSI quattro, Lexus IS200t and Mercedes C250 Sport in a comparison earlier this year. Much of what…

ONE of my favourite games to play, usually with friends at the pub, is ‘One Car For Life’. The premise is simple: players are asked to name the one car they’d be willing to drive, forever. In choosing, you’re excluding all others for eternity, so think of it as nominating your permanent one-car garage. Easy, right? Well, not really. Most make the rookie mistake of picking a sports car, often a Porsche 911, which is brilliant, until they realise they have kids. And a dog. And occasionally need to tow things. Powerful SUVs are popular, too, like a Porsche Cayenne GTS or Range Rover Sport SVR. But I don’t want to drive an SUV for the rest of my life. My choice, and I’m quite proud of this, has long…

MY FIRST thought as I shake off the fog of sleep is to slap the alarm and stay in bed. What kind of idiot rises voluntarily at 5.30 on a wintry Sunday morning? Instead, I swing quickly out of bed, knowing that to pause is to fail. Don some clothes, slam down an espresso, grab the Mazda key and go. Six minutes since the alarm; a new personal record. Out the door and into… It’s blacker than black. Darker than 5.36am on a winter morning should be. The MX-5 is the barest hint of a silhouette in my driveway. The night is still and there’s a fog so thick that the lone street lamp outside my house struggles to penetrate. Also, it’s wet. Am I mad? If it’s foggy and…

WE KNEW this moment was coming, just not so soon. By the time you read this, the Ford Falcon Ute will be history. The very last Falcon Ute – a white XR6 automatic – rolled off the production line on July 29, two months before Broadmeadows builds its last Falcon and 82 years after the company created the first car-based utility back in 1934. From humble pig-hauler to mighty performance hero, the Falcon Ute has reached its end. Ute number 467,690 is destined to become a museum piece, never to carry anything or to turn a wheel in anger. We’ve seen an incredible variety of Falcon utes over its eight decades, including four-wheel drives, high-riding rear-drive offroaders and high-performance V8 track stars. In recent years there has been a lack…

BMW officials have turned up the rhetoric to convince the boss to revisit the idea of a ute PRESSURE is mounting on BMW to reconsider findings outlined in a secret internal study, a move that could see it follow Mercedes-Benz into the growing and increasingly luxury-focused ute market. The study – included in a global market strategy paper produced under chairman Norbert Reithofer, who was replaced a year ago by 49-year-old Harald Kruger as part of a “generational change” – singled out the ute as one area of potential growth for the German carmaker. However, the strategy paper failed to develop into a concrete new-model plan, in part because of heavy investment in BMW’s alternative i brand and its carbonfibre i3 and i8. Now officials in various markets, including Australia…

THE updated Mazda 3 is the highest-profile example of a huge downturn in sales of diesel passenger cars in Australia. Despite the 3 being one of the top-selling cars on the market, Mazda has dropped the diesel-powered XD variant from the latest line-up due to poor sales, instead focusing on the petrol models that account for thousands of sales each month. Mazda Australia marketing director Alastair Doak said the price of the diesel 3 – it was the most expensive variant and some $4000 dearer than its petrol equivalent – was a factor, along with lower petrol prices. “The fuel price fell, so if someone was buying the diesel as a blend of performance and economy, diesel carries a premium, so that didn’t help its cause,” Doak said. He said…

I ordered an XR6 Turbo ute and I won’t regret it one bit CRASH COURSE It’s with an ever-increasing furrowing of brow that I witness our governments try various ideas to lower the road toll, all the while insisting that proper instruction on how to drive properly will – astonishingly – make no difference (Meet the TAC’s human designed to survive a car crash, WheelsMag.com.au). Think about this for a moment; they say 90 percent of crashes are caused by driver error, yet our governments believe that proper education and training is not the issue? Honestly, you could show these people a motor race where half the drivers are from an F1 grid and the other half from a Bunnings car park; as the former smoothly blitz it and the…

Model Audi Q2 1.4 TFSI Engine 1395cc 4cyl, dohc, 16v, turbo Max power 110kW @ 5000-6000rpm Max torque 250Nm @ 1500-4500rpm Transmission 7-speed dual-clutch Weight 1280kg 0-100km/h 8.5sec (claimed) Economy 5.5L/100km (EU) Price $39,500 (estimated) On sale Q1 2017 WHO’S going to want a Q3 after the Q2 reaches Australia in Q1 next year? The angles-with-attitude exterior of Audi’s new small SUV looks great. The interior, chassis and drivetrains aren’t bad, either. And Audi is aiming for a Q2 range entry point price thousands below the $42,900 tag worn by the least expensive Q3. While it sells well, the dumpy and frumpy Q3 is the least attractive model in Audi’s current line-up. The pert and poised Q2, on the other hand, is a charmer. The name implies a full size…

Model Audi R8 V10 Engine 5204cc V10 (90°), dohc, 40v Max power 397kW @ 7800rpm Max torque 540Nm @ 6500rpm Transmission 7-speed dual-clutch Weight 1640kg 0-100km/h 3.5sec (claimed) Economy 11.4L/100km Price $354,900 On sale Now THIS isn’t the first time we’ve driven the second generation of Audi’s flagship supercar. It’s not even the first time we’ve driven it on local soil – Audi shipped out a bunch of left-hook versions a few months ago, and we promptly belted them around Australia’s toughest racetrack, Mount Panorama (Wheels, April). But this is the first time we’ve enjoyed some serious seat time in the ‘entry-level’ R8, the V10, which has 397kW/540Nm instead of the 449kW/560Nm in the range-topping V10 Plus. It also has softer suspension with Audi’s magnetic dampers (the Plus uses a…

Model Volkswagen Golf GTI 40 Years Engine 1984cc 4cyl, dohc, 16v turbo Max power 195kW @ 5350-6600rpm Max torque 350Nm @ 1700-5600rpm Transmission 6-speed dual-clutch Kerb weight 1357kg 0-100km/h 6.3sec (claimed) Economy 7.1L/100km Price $48,990 On sale Now SINCE it hit its straps in 2004 with the arrival of the MkV, the Volkswagen Golf GTI hasn’t looked back, going on to become to the past decade what the Subaru WRX was to the ’90s. And if this leaves the value-packed, quick, fun, comfortable, practical GTI with the same problem the Subie once had – that it’s too common for the individualistic enthusiast – the GTI 40 Years edition might just provide the answer. The fact alone that 100 manual gearbox versions, due in September, will come as part of the…

Ford MondeoHolden CommodoreHyundai SonataKia Optima Mazda 6Peugeot 508Skoda SuperbSubaru LibertyToyota CamryVolkswagen Passat THE medium-to-large sedan market might be faltering in the wake of SUV mania, but it’s certainly not for want of trying. Roomier, faster, better to drive, better equipped and better value than ever, the family sedan could well be the solution to driving pleasure and breeding pressure that Australia forgot. The family sedan stalwarts have been working hard to keep the flame alive. Even the oldest (and least common) of our 10-strong field – Peugeot’s five-year-old 508 – received a makeover in 2015, while the Skoda Superb, Volkswagen Passat, Kia Optima, Hyundai Sonata and Ford Mondeo are as fresh as the morning snow, despite carrying over nameplates that date back generations. Mazda’s brand-defining 6 received a comprehensive slap-and-tickle…

Specs $42,850 Engine 1998cc 4cyl, dohc, 16v turbo Power 180kW @ 6000rpm Torque 350Nm @ 1400-4000rpm Transmission 6-speed automatic Dimensions (L/W/H/W-B)4855/1865/1475/2805mm Weight 1645kg Cargo capacity 510 litres Tyres Hankook Ventus S1 Noble 2 225/45ZR18 95W Test fuel cons 10.9L/100km 0-100km/h 7.0sec 0-400m 15.0sec @ 155.2km/h 80-120km/h 4.3sec 3yr resale 45% Solid; swift; spacious; sensible; generously equipped Unruly wet-road behaviour; busy ride Score 6.0/10 LET’S not mince words. The ‘LF’ in Hyundai’s LF-series Sonata could easily stand for ‘Leap Forward’ because, compared to the dynamically lousy i45 that preceded it, this seventh-generation Korean mid-sizer is leagues ahead. Reflecting its progress is the styling, transitioning from the i45’s interesting, if intense, ‘Fluidic Sculpture’ theme to a rather sober fastback silhouette, underlining a newfound maturity that permeates throughout this freshly focused four-door. There’s…

Specs $45,940* * Includes moonroof ($1950) Engine 1998cc 4cyl, dohc, 16v, turbo Power 180kW @ 6000rpm Torque 350Nm @ 1400-4000rpm Transmission 6-speed automatic Dimensions (L/W/H/W-B)4855/1860/1455/2805mm Weight 1650kg Cargo capacity 510 litres Tyres Michelin Pilot Sport 3 235/45ZR18 98Y Test fuel cons 11.0L/100km 0-100km/h 6.9sec 0-400m 14.9sec @ 155.2km/h 80-120km/h 4.3sec 3yr resale 46% Slick cabin; performance; equipment; excellent tyres Dynamics and ‘Drive Mode’ Score 7.0/10 IT WAS just over five years ago that Kia’s trendily styled but dynamically dire Optima finished dead last in an 11-car Wheels Medium Megatest. Yet here we have the latest Optima GT sitting proudly at number five, just one position behind Skoda’s lauded Superb and two ahead of Mazda’s well-liked 6. That’s the level of improvement Kia has wrought with this all-new car. Sharing…

Specs $44,740* * Includes metallic paint ($450) Engine 1997cc 4cyl, dohc, 16v, turbo Power 177kW @ 5300rpm Torque 345Nm @ 2300-4900rpm Transmission 6-speed automatic Dimensions (L/W/H/W-B)4871/1852/1482/2850mm Weight 1695kg Cargo capacity 557 litres Tyres Michelin Primacy 3 235/45R18 98Y Test fuel cons 11.2L/100km 0-100km/h 7.7sec 0-400m 15.5sec @ 148.4km/h 80-120km/h 4.9sec 3yr resale 49% Refinement; dynamic fluency; practicality; value Thirst; rattles; messy instruments; SYNC2 glitches Score 8.0/10 FORD’S spiritual Falcon replacement seems to be perpetually behind the eight-ball. Two years late getting here due to European factory issues, the fourth-generation Mondeo is now struggling to gain traction in a declining segment – an undeserved predicament for such a capable car. On many important fronts, the latest Mondeo is at the top of its game. Engineered to be profoundly enjoyable, it possesses…

 Model Volvo S90 T6 AWD Inscription SUCCEEDING IN THE LARGE LUXURY CLASS IS THE SWEDISH BRAND’S TICKET TO PREMIUM LEGITIMACY Engine 1969cc 4cyl, dohc, 16v, turbo Max power 235kW @ 5700rpm Max torque 400Nm @ 2200-5400rpm Transmission 8-speed automatic Weight 1915kg 0-100km/h 5.9sec (claimed) Economy 7.2L/100km Price $98,900 On sale October RECENTLY a car company boss confirmed what many have long suspected… that respectability only comes when “you get your 5 Series rival right”. That’s why Jaguar became relevant again only after the XF surfaced in 2007, Hyundai chose the G80 to go global with Genesis, and now social-climbing Volvo is targeting the BMW with its new S90 (and V90 wagon sibling due mid-2017). Like making it in New York, succeeding in the large luxury class is the Swedish brand’s…

CHANGES of environment proved revelatory this month. I jumped into an Optima Si for the first time, and spent a couple of weeks in it while my GT was thrown into a Wheels mid-size megatest. Stepping from GT to Si spec is officially a downgrade, but I was much happier in the ‘base’ Optima than I expected to be. The two-tiered line-up means the Si isn’t a base model in the sense of basic equipment level. At $34,490, it’s mid-spec Camry money, and this is a Korean after all so I shouldn’t have been surprised to discover how much gear it has. I appreciated still having a reversing camera, front and rear parking sensors, dusk-sensing headlights, rain-sensing wipers and sat-nav. And it’s nice to know that autonomous emergency braking, automatic…

AS A motoring writer you get asked, endlessly, “So, what’s the best car you’ve ever driven?” I’m okay with it, but I do wish someone would ask me about the worst. That would be easier. I could simply answer: “The one I just spent three weeks driving through Italy – a Mini Cooper One D.” I would then bore my new acquaintance rigid with details of the abhorrent, crashy ride, the inexplicable lack of front-to-rear handling cohesion, and the deafening tyre and suspension noise. I could finish by turning purple with rage and indignation, chest-poking, and shouting, “Who signed off on this little munter? WHO, goddammit?!” Okay, so it’s probably best you don’t ask me the worst-car question. And perhaps ‘worst’ is a bit harsh. But most deeply disappointing, definitely.…

LOOK, it’s not you, it’s me. I’m not even breaking up with you, or returning you early, it’s just that I want to see other cars, on the other side of the world. Besides, I’ve become a little bit obsessed with one tiny foible of yours, and I’m worried that if we don’t go our separate ways I might set fire to you. Yes, the time for me to bid farewell to the Infiniti Q50 has come because my family and I have decided to move to Italy, where this brand doesn’t even exist (although that’s not the reason I’m going, to be fair). As this month’s fuel figures suggest, this meant a final few weeks of frantic short trips, many of them conducted with the Q50 loaded to the…

THERE was always one glaring thing wrong with the Ford Thunderbird from Day One: the identity crisis. Launched at the end of 1954 as a “new kind of sports car”, the 4.8-litre V8 came a year after Chevrolet’s own confused Corvette, which paired a svelte two-seat body with a wheezy 3.9-litre six. Both cars were Detroit’s response to the booming market for imported sports cars, fuelled by returned WW2 soldiers familiar with sleek British and European machines. If the hot-rod was the home-built American two-seater, the Corvette and the Thunderbird were the official issue. The Thunderbird had the makings of greatness. It was born during a visit to the 1951 Paris show by Ford brass Louis Crusoe and design chief George Walker. Crusoe, spotting an unspecified Euro sporty, asked: “Why…

DON Loffler considers himself the “luckiest man alive”. Now 76, he has retired from a distinguished career as a teacher of Latin and German at the prestigious St Peter’s College in Adelaide and now writes books about historic Holdens. Loffler’s first book, She’s a Beauty: The Story of the First Holdens , was published in 1998 as a comprehensive 246-page history of the 48-215 (aka ‘FX’) and FJ. Laden with facts, pics and tidbits, the green-covered tome was an admirable accomplishment. “Put it in the bin,” Loffler sighs. “I did my best with that book, with the information available at the time, but quite a bit of it proved to be inaccurate. I got lots of feedback – so many wonderful responses, and lots of extra photos…