Auto News & New car review

It’s six years since the current 7-Series kicked off BMW’s controversial ‘flame surfacing’ styling. With its avant-garde lines, typified by an abstract, jutting boot lid, the model divided opinion – especially in the traditionally conservative executive saloon class. Read the rest of this entry »

The strength of the Chevy Uplander lies in its value. Comparably equipped, the Uplander sells for thousands less than class standards such as the Honda Odyssey and Toyota Sienna.Uplander comfortably seats seven, with a choice of individual captain’s chairs or a two-place bench seat in the second row. Read the rest of this entry »

Here’s the deal. The neighbours are impossible to impress. Yeah, you’ve got a modest mansion in the Hamptons a few doors down from Spielberg, and a dozen or so swanky cars, but, well, mere exclusivity has lost its sparkle. Hell, you could reverse down your road in an acid yellow LP640 Roadster Read the rest of this entry »

It was once generally assumed that performance and fuel efficiency mixed about as well as oil and water. Now, the green revolution has changed all that. Introduced last year, the Lexus GS 450h midsize luxury sport sedan offers a unique variation of the Lexus Hybrid Drive system. The 450h’s 3.5-liter V6 engine and compact electric motor have been tuned with a performance bias. Combined, they produce a total of 340 horsepower, yet still deliver up to 30 percent better fuel efficiency than a similarly potent V8 engine, while allowing this Lexus to achieve Read the rest of this entry »

The Land Rover LR3 in an impressive achievement. While other mid-luxury SUVs are surrendering off-road competence, the LR3 combines responsive on-road performance with go-anywhere off-road capability in a vehicle that is comfortable, safe and secure.The LR3 offers the competence of the more expensive Range Rover and some of its luxurious feel. Underway, the LR3 feels stable and composed, with little noise and vibration transmitted into the cabin. The brakes are excellent, something that can’t be said of its predecessor, the Discovery. Read the rest of this entry »

Hope for the best, prepare for the worst. That seems to be the motto of the newest iteration of the latest generation of the Porsche 911. The new 911 Targa is available exclusively with all-wheel-drive, in either Targa 4 or Targa 4S guise, bearing the 911 Turbo-derived electronic four-wheel-drive system that replaces Read the rest of this entry »

SHARP pricing, an increased payload capacity, better performance, improved economy and a refreshed interior herald the main attractions of Mazda’s new BT-50.

The Japanese company has re-skinned its Thai-built light truck inside and out to make it seem as new as the Toyota HiLux, Nissan D40 Navara and Mitsubishi Triton Read the rest of this entry »

The facelifted Mercedes SL has caused a real stir with its curious L-shaped headlights and rough-looking bumpers. Yet it has still attracted plenty of buyers – many of whom are choosing the 311bhp 3.5-litre V6-engined entry-level SL350.

The £65,080 model is no slouch, despite its status as the least powerful car in the range. It revs freely and smoothly right up to its 7,200rpm red line. Read the rest of this entry »

Whether it was by gut instinct or careful study into pickup truck owners and their habits, the Ridgeline’s North American developers arrived at what is arguably the best execution of a pickup for an important type of buyer — those who have adopted the rural American workhorse as the latest alternative people-mover. If you’re one of the folks who has cried that most people don’t need SUVs, you’re sure to be offended by this latest trend. I might agree. But it’s my job to evaluate the vehicle on its own merits, and that’s what I’ll do. Read the rest of this entry »

A DRAMATIC new look for the Triton is expected to deliver a substantial sales kick to Mitsubishi Motors Australia and consolidate its position in the 4×2 and 4×4 segment, which accounted for more than 140,000 sales in 2005.
With a share of 7.1 per cent, Mitsubishi sits well behind market giants Toyota and Holden, who account for 22.1 and 17.3 per cent of sales respectively. Read the rest of this entry »