Mitsubishi Triton Review

In some ways the Mitsubishi Triton is an instrumental part of the ute brigade. It is one of the least refined of the modern, established group of purpose-designed utes �?" as opposed to utes based off passenger car platforms �?" yet it is also one of the cheapest, so this Mitsubishi will most pertinently force the pricing hand of Chinese manufacturers wanting to sell their very �??green�?? utes locally. Although the Mitsubishi Triton range extends...

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GM developing 300km-plus EV to rival Tesla Model S

General Motors is developing an electric vehicle to challenge the Tesla Model S, with a 300km-plus range and a more affordable price. US media reports GM�??s EV will have a single-charge range of over 320km and be priced �??around�?� US$30,000 ($32,000). Tesla�??s luxury Model S starts at US$71,070 ($75,900) before federal tax credits in North America and offers its owners a335km� range from its base 60kWh battery that generates 225kW and 430Nm....

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Porsche Australia celebrates 50 years of 911

A convoy of more than 100 Porsche 911� models has crossed the Sydney Harbour Bridge in celebration of the iconic rear-engined sports car�??s 50th anniversary. Beginning in Millers Point and finishing at Taronga Zoo, the celebratory Porsche� 911� trek� organised by Porsche� Cars Australia and the� Porsche Club New South Wales, was intended as a� gift to the Stuttgart-based manufacturer and formed part of the German marque�??s� global...

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Car magazine drives at 130km/h in campaign to raise speed limits

Wheels magazine has driven from Melbourne to Sydney at speeds up to 130km/h in the latest episode of its campaign to have Australia�??s highway speed limits raised. The magazine recruited British motoring journalist Ben Oliver for the drive, aiming to demonstrate that travelling at higher speeds on good quality roads can be completed safely and has the potential to lower the road toll. Wheels claims raising the limit to 130km/h on Australia�??s...

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Chevrolet Corvette Stingray: Euro-spec muscle car tackles Nurburgring

The European version of the Chevrolet Corvette Stingray is undergoing testing at Germany�??s Nurburgring just ahead of its expected on-sale. The US manufacturer says a team of its technical experts led by Chevrolet Europe technical manager Patrick Herrman are currently assessing two Corvette Stingray coupes in Europe, with both cars being driven on track and on road. General Motors vehicle dynamics engineer Jim Mero said the demanding Nurburgring...

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Citroen, Loeb to race together again

Citroen and Sebastien Loeb will team up once again to tackle the World Touring Car Championship (WTCC) in 2014, in a first for� both team and driver. The decision to enter the WTCC presents new challenges for� Citroen Racing and Loeb, with their long-standing relationship set in the sport of rally. Citroen Racing team principal Yves Matton said the team was still committed to rallying and would continue to work hard to try and get the...

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Chrysler 300 SRT Core: stripped-out muscle car delivers 347kW for $56K

The stripped-out Chrysler 300 SRT8 Core has been unleashed, offering all the performance of the flagship SRT8 at a significantly lower price. Developed specifically for the Australian market, the $56,000 Chrysler 300 SRT8 Core is $10K cheaper than the SRT8 on which it�??s based. Despite the lower pricing, the 300 SRT8 Core delivers the full 347kW of power and 631Nm of torque from its 6.4-litre Hemi V8 engine, giving it a serious bang...

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Webber all but confirms Ricciardo to claim Red Bull F1 seat

Mark Webber has all but confirmed fellow Australian Daniel Ricciardo will take his seat next season following his exit from the Infiniti Red Bull Racing team after seven years with the Formula One team. Speaking with Australia�??s Channel 10 prior to the Belgian Grand Prix�??s main event at Spa-Francorchamps on Sunday, 36-year-old Webber announced, �??The decision�??s made.�?� �??We all know who it is. I�??m happy with that decision....

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Formula E signs wireless charging deal for 2014 season

The all-electric FIA Formula E championship, set to debut in 2014, has signed a sponsorship deal that aims to see wireless charging used extensively in the electric racing series. The deal with wireless technology developer Qualcomm, hopes provide wireless charging for the series�?? electric vehicles through a system dubbed �??Halo�??. Using the �??Halo�?? technology, a coil built into the race cars picks up and converts an electromagnetic field...

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Lexus looking smaller than NX SUV

The man behind the dramatic Lexus LF-NX concept says the company could make an even smaller SUV to challenge the likes of the Mercedes-Benz GLA. Asked about the potential for a compact SUV during a media round-table at the Frankfurt motor show, Lexus design division project general manager Takeshi Tanabe responded: �??Why not?�?� �??Things are getting smaller and smaller,�?� Tanabe-san said. �??If you look at Mercedes GLA, it is even...

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Land Rover Defender successor on track despite brand�??s silence

No news on the next-generation Land Rover Defender is not necessarily bad news according to the company�??s key directors, who insist the program to replace the iconic off-roader is still on track. The British SUV maker has been largely silent about its Defender successor since unveiling the polarising DC100 concept at the last Frankfurt motor show in 2011. The current Defender �?" a vehicle that can trace its roots back to 1948 �?" will cease...

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Mercedes-Benz unhappy, concerned with V8 Supercars team

Mercedes-Benz AMG has questioned the viability of its third-party V8 Supercars team following a dour and controversial season. Erebus Motorsport, run by Westfield-founder heiress Betty Klimenko, a major customer of AMG, was approved the right to use a Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG body shell as the basis of her private V8 Supercars team in September 2012 by the German operations, despite vocal opposition from the local Mercedes-Benz management team. The...

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Mercedes-Benz defends electric vehicle strategy versus BMW �??i�?? brand

Mercedes-Benz product R&D manager Dr Thomas Weber has shrugged off suggestions that the production Mercedes-Benz B-Class Electric Drive shown at the Frankfurt motor show represents an inferior electric vehicle solution to BMW�??s dedicated �??i�?? brand of bespoke electric vehicles. �??The B-Class is we believe the perfect cars for families,�?� begins Weber. �??Compare the [BMW] i3 with the B-Class �?" four-seater [versus] five-seater; 140-160km...

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Nissan tackles Volkswagen electric claims, commits to increasing Leaf range

Nissan has hit back at plans by Volkswagen to become the electric vehicle market leader by 2018, while reaffirming its own aim to increase range to 200km on Leaf and introduce four new electric vehicles to market within two years. Speaking at the Frankfurt motor show, Nissan executive vice president Andy Palmer started by recalling history. �??What did our friends at VW call it [growth of electric cars]? �??Ludicrous�?? I think the word was used...

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Mercedes-Benz AMG boss confirms GLA45 AMG, plans SLC-Class

The newly-appointed head of Mercedes-Benz AMG,� Ola Kallenius,� has confirmed the performance division will add the Mercedes-Benz GLA45 AMG to its line-up next year, along with an SLS AMG replacement and other bespoke sports cars down the track. Speaking at a round-table interview at the Frankfurt motor show, Kallenius reaffirmed AMG�??s position to reach 30 models and beyond 30,000 units by 2017, which coincides with the Affalterbach company�??s...

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Nissan Juke Review

Tablet computers weren�??t cool until the Apple iPad came along, and now the Nissan Juke is aiming to do the same thing for compact crossovers. Despite it�??s unquestionably contentious looks, since its launch in 2010 the Nissan Juke has proved immensely successful, attracting buyers around the world to a car with a fair bit of attitude. The Juke is a miniature SUV that doesn�??t conform to the norms of car design, one that found more than 230,000...

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