Innholdsfortegnelse for March 2016 i Wheels

Holden won’t discuss its involvement, but Melbourne skyline in official images is evidence it was built Down Under Red tyres, mounted on roller skate-like rims, are a reference to the Opel Motoclub 500 motorcycle from the 1920s Vauxhall link means RHD – and, therefore, a Holden badge – almost certain if GT makes it to production Rear-drive unlikely to flow through to production; more likely is a Corsabased front-drive platform MEET the top-secret show-stopper that started life in Holden’s Port Melbourne design studios in the middle of 2015. The eye-catching Opel GT Concept, which is shaping up to be one of the stars of the Geneva motor show (March 3-13), was designed in Europe but is a product of Holden’s secret fabrication group, one of only two in the General…

Hyundai is sparing no expense as it goes after the posh end of town HYUNDAI’S ambitions for its Genesis luxury spin-off brand stepped up two gears with the revelation it will launch six new models in the next four years, including two crossovers and a premium sports coupe. Genesis will also benefit from Hyundai’s ‘N’ department, similar to BMW’s M Division, which will be tasked with turning out highly-focused sporting versions of many Hyundai and Genesis models, including a twin-turbocharged Coupe to rival the BMW M4. Hyundai is empire-building, and sparing no expense as it goes after the posh end of town. The Korean company that made its name in the 1990s producing cut-price cars is now focusing on the lucrative prestige market. Not only has Hyundai grabbed Luc Donckerwolke,…

MERCEDES-Benz, Audi, BMW, Volvo, Subaru and Volkswagen are on Australian police force wish lists as the search begins for a highway patrol car to replace the current fleet of locally produced Holdens and Fords. SUVs are shaping as the likely participants in future high-speed chases as local police look to follow the high-riding road travelled by American cops. The Subaru Forester tS, Mercedes-AMG GLA45, BMW X3 and Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT are all being considered following the release of a detailed set of draft “national vehicle specifications” for pursuit cars as replacements for the Commodore SS and Falcon XR6 Turbo/XR8. Each achieves the police target of accelerating to 100km/h in less than 7.5sec while providing space for gear and people. SUVs also provide better ground clearance for hopping median strips…

MARCH-APRIL Audi A4 Avant, RS6, RS7 and R8; BMW 750i and 750iL, M2; Kia Cerato and Picanto; Lamborghini Huracan LP580-2; Mercedes-AMG C63 S Coupe; Mercedes-Benz GLS; MG 3; Mini Cooper Cabriolet; Porsche 911 Carrera and Macan GTS; Range Rover SV Autobiography; Skoda Superb; Suzuki Vitara turbo; Toyota Prius Kia Picanto Kia plans to crack the tough micro class in March with the Picanto. Far from seeming cheap, the cheerful five-door hatch should exceed expectations with a quality, solid feel inside and out, backed up by relatively strong performance, eager steering, and a decent ride. If the refined 1.25-litre auto’s driveaway pricing falls in at less than $15,000, the South Korean car might be a hit in Australia. MAY-JUNE Audi SQ5 TDI Plus; BMW 330e and xDrive40e, M4 GTS; Ferrari 488…

Model Ford Mustang GT Fastback Engine 4951cc V8 (90°), dohc, 32v Max Power 306kW @ 6500rpm Max Torque 530Nm @ 4250rpm Transmission 6-speed automatic Weight 1747kg 0-100km/h 4.8sec (claimed) Fuel economy 12.6L/100km Price $59,990 On sale Now THE only potential problem with a growing wave of anticipation and expectation is the chance it can crash against the rocks of reality, leaving a trail of disappointment and a forlorn chorus of, “Is that it?” Few cars have risked this as much as the new Mustang, one of the most hyped and anticipated cars in recent years. We’ve cheerfully been a part of that, deeming it cover-worthy on three occasions since January 2014, and devoting some 27 pages to it over the same period. So now it’s here, and we’ve driven it…

Model Haval H8 Lux AWD Engine 1967cc 4cyl, dohc, 16v, turbo Max power 160kW @ 5500rpm Max torque 324Nm @ 2000-4000rpm Transmission 6-speed automatic Weight 2175kg 0-100km/h 11.0sec (estimated) Economy 12.2L/100km Price $48,990 On sale Now STEREOTYPES are common in this business. German cars have the best perceived quality; French cars are the most chic; Japanese are reliable; Australian cars are sturdy. Chinese cars are not seen as quality, chic, reliable or luxurious, yet that’s exactly the pitch Haval is making with its range of SUVs, headlined by the H8. The H8 is the Chinese carmaker’s challenger to the Toyota Kluger and Mazda CX-5, two of Australia’s most popular SUVs. We’re the first export market for Haval, which is owned by Great Wall, and the H8 is first cab off…

Model Lexus GS200t F-Sport Engine 1998cc 4cyl, dohc, 16v, turbo Max power 180kW @ 5800rpm Max torque 350Nm @ 1650-4400rpm Transmission 8-speed automatic Kerb weight 1725kg 0-100km/h 7.3sec (claimed) Economy 8.0L/100km Price $83,000 On sale Now EVERYBODY’S doing it – Ferrari, BMW, even Porsche. Downsizing, that is. So when Lexus decides to put a turbocharged four-banger in its BMW 5 Series-size GS sedan, it shouldn’t come as much of a shock. The GS200t’s 2.0-litre turbo-petrol is an absolute peach. While it makes the same power as the RC200t, its refinement and buttery-smooth character suit the GS’s premium mantra perfectly. Lolling about town, the refinement of the engine isn’t immediately obvious because it’s so quiet. In fact, you needn’t bother with the hybrid GS; the near-silent operation of the 200t is…

Model Mitsubishi Pajero Sport Exceed Engine 2442cc 4cyl, dohc, 16v, TD Max power 133kW @ 3500rpm Max torque 430Nm @ 2500rpm Transmission 8-speed automatic Kerb weight 2070kg 0-100km/h 11.5sec (estimated) Economy 8.0L/100km Price $52,750 On sale Now WITH the Outlander taking on soft-roaders such as X-Trail, RAV4 and the like, Mitsubishi was able to retain a proper body-on-frame design for its Challenger replacement, the Pajero Sport, which it claims is the most technically advanced off road-capable SUV it has produced. Those words might be robustly discussed by some – a three-link live axle is hardly the last word in tech, especially when big brother Pajero had all-independent suspension 15 years ago – but adding refinement and polish, and a suite of chassis and safety electronics, to a tried-and-true chassis package…

Model Hyundai Genesis 5.0 Ultimate Engine 5038cc V8 (90°), dohc, 32v Max power 313kW @ 6000rpm Max torque 519Nm @ 5000rpm Transmission 8-speed automatic Weight 2060kg 0-100km/h 5.8sec (estimated) Economy 13.1/100km (US) Price $US53,850 On sale Not for Australia WHY didn’t Hyundai bring the Genesis V8 to Australia? It’s a 5.0-litre V8, in a rear-drive prestige sedan. We Aussies have an affinity with such beasts, so surely it was a no-brainer. And yet Hyundai Australia plumped for just the 3.8-litre V6. Having spent the last five months in an Oz-spec Genesis V6, I can tell you it’s not short on herbs. So that clearly wasn’t a strong motivating factor. And Hyundai says the V8, which sells mostly in North America, had not been engineered for right-hand drive. To do so,…

HOLDEN ASTRA GTC SPORT V KIA CERATO KOUP TURBO TOURING PRICE & EQUIPMENT 20 POINTS Holden’s next-gen five-door Astra is due late this year, and we’re yet to spy a three-door, so for at least a while, if you want a Lion-badged small sporty car, the Astra GTC is it. But there are plenty of alternatives to the $29,990 GTC Sport manual tested here, such as the $30,690 Kia Cerato Koup Turbo Touring manual alongside. 15/20 These cars share standard hill-start assist, front and rear parking sensors, auto headlights, front and rear fogs, heated electric side mirrors and decent infotainment systems with sat-nav and Bluetooth. As top-spec versions they also get smart keys with push-button start, and a chilled glovebox in the Kia. 15/20 INTERIOR & VERSATILITY 20 POINTS Stepping…

The idea of piloting “the most technologically advanced car on the road” made my inner nerd twinge JCAN see what you’re thinking: “What’s wrong with our lead picture? Road testing and alcohol don’t mix! And why is that brooding male model doing an advertisement for whisky in the proud pages of Wheels?” Fear not, gentle reader, for there is little danger of me transgressing the drink-driving laws while on a mission to find out how the fuzzy little island of Tasmania has tipped the globe on its axis to become the home of the world’s finest scotch (which is exactly the kind of refined drink that buyers of the new 7 Series love to imbibe, possibly while relaxing in the back seat, using their car’s new integrated Samsung tablet to…

THE second month of any relationship is often more difficult than the first. Mostly this is because, having already acknowledged obvious strengths and weaknesses, month two is devoted to a deeper kind of critique. Instead of noticing your partner’s sense of style, for example, which you once thought effortless and beautiful, you begin to fixate on some not-so-smooth details. Or a slightly dumpy behind that gives the impression of having soiled one’s underpants. It’s these little foibles that can make or break a relationship. And so it is with my Astra. Now familiar with the broad strokes of its ability, I’ve begun to delve deeper into the nitty gritty of its personality. Most of what I’ve uncovered is positive, like using the cruise control, which is not only a breeze…

IT’S a fair bet that when Neil Trickey began his apprenticeship as a fitter and turner in the small Victorian town of Maryborough, he wouldn’t have guessed he’d one day be designing slinky, body-hugging outerwear for Ford models. That’s “Ford models” as in Falcon sedans and Ranger utes, not the New York fashion agency. Trickey, 57, joined Ford Australia in 1977 and moved into the prototype shop in 2000. “It really is an interesting job,” he says. “The engineer comes to me and says, ‘I want to make this widget’. So I go off and make a prototype part that he wants as best I can, or as best we can get it made. It could be any part of the car. And we’re playing with these things three years…

MORE than 200 of the Australian car industry’s elite watched as the Mazda MX-5 roadster was crowned the 2016 Wheels Car of the Year on January 20. The gala Crown Casino event, which attracted chief executives, marketing managers and even senior engineers from more than 30 leading car brands, also incorporated presentations for Motor Performance Car of the Year (Porsche 911 GT3), 4X4 Australia 4x4 of the Year (Ford Everest Trend), and the WhichCar Style Award (Alfa Romeo 4C). It capped off months of planning, testing and analysis that made up the inaugural Australian Motoring Awards. The event was hosted by TV personality and sports presenter Mark Beretta, and included a guest appearance by Porsche factory driver and…

Holden put on a brave face after scraping into third place THE books have finally closed on 2015, marking the year as a big one for luxury cars, small SUVs and anything from Thailand. It will also go down as the year the ute onslaught took a breather, with sales of pick-ups slowing as overall vehicle sales surged 3.8 percent to a record 1,155,408. Mazda was – again – the biggest winner of 2015, adding 13,320 vehicles to its 2014 tally for 114,024 sales, cementing second place in the race behind Toyota’s 206,236. Holden and Ford had years to forget, posting record low market shares of 8.9 and 6.1 percent respectively. Holden scraped into third place and put on a brave face – “There are many positive trends and several…

It feels well balanced to the point it pushes gently into understeer Model Renault Megane GT Engine 1618cc 4cyl, dohc, 16v, turbo Max power 151kW @ 6000rpm Max torque 280Nm @ 2400rpm Transmission 7-speed dual-clutch Weight 1392kg 0-100km/h 7.1sec (claimed) Economy 6.0L/100km (EU) Price $37,500 (estimated) On sale October THERE’S a lot of space (and plenty of Espace) in the new Megane GT. The fourth generation of Renault’s C-segment hatchback has grown in almost every direction, creating a car with a wider cabin, more rear-seat knee room and one of the biggest cargo compartments in its class. Nothing unusual so far, but the source of the hardware that sets the sporty GT apart from more mundane Meganes is surprising. Its drivetrain, steering rack and steering rear axle all come from…

Model Ford Focus RS Engine 2261cc 4cyl, dohc, 16v, turbo Max power 257kW @ 6000rpm Max torque 440Nm @ 2000-4500rpm Transmission 6-speed manual Weight 1599kg 0-100km/h 4.7sec (claimed) Economy 8.1L/100km Price $50,990 On sale Mid-2016 CAN they read the smoke signals rising from Spain as far away as Germany? Source of the smelly haze is the Focus RS noisily scribing sideways circles in a car park behind the pit area of the Circuit de Valencia. Drift Mode is the Ford’s spectacular party trick – a world-first – with purpose-developed drivetrain, ESC and chassis calibration intended to unleash the Ken Block that lurks inside all of us. Drift Mode’s effectiveness is attention-grabbing, but it’s not what Mercedes-AMG and Audi’s quattro division should be worried about. What must instead concern them is…

Model Honda CR-V DTi-L Engine 1597cc 4cyl, dohc, 16v, TD Max power 118kW @ 4000rpm Max torque 350Nm @ 2000rpm Transmission 9-speed automatic Kerb weight 1754kg 0-100km/h 10.2sec (claimed) Economy 5.9L/100km Price $44,290 On sale Now HONDA’S fourth-gen CR-V has never been a favourite of ours. Developed during a GFC-rocked economy and lacking the dynamic and mechanical sparkle that once signified every Honda, this 2013 debutant demonstrated the depressingly low priority the Japanese brand placed on engineering prowess during that period. But things are changing, slowly. Last year’s Series II update brought some much-needed, though minor, suspension and steering improvements to the current CR-V, but it’s the ‘limited edition’ turbo-diesel version that provides an encouraging glimpse of a brighter Honda future. The new CR-V diesel centres around the debut of…

Model Volkswagen Multivan Gen 6 TDI450 Engine 1968cc 4cyl, dohc, 16v, TTD Max power 150kW @ 4000rpm Max torque 450Nm @ 1400-2400rpm Transmission 7-speed dual-clutch Kerb weight 2274kg 0-100km/h 9.9sec (claimed) Economy 6.5L/100km Price $74,990 On sale Now VW LAUNCHED the ‘new’ T6 Transporter range just before Star Wars: The Force Awakens at Christmas and, by George, the similarities are striking. Like the film, the T6 comes from an at-times innovative, genre-creating, era-defining and also occasionally dull but always high-quality franchise with a fierce fan base. Striking back against the resurgent Transit, Trafic and Vito rebel forces, the reskinned T6 arrives with fresh nose and taillights, lower pricing, improved dash and optional driver-assist tech. There are some 26 variants. But behind the shiny baubles you’ll find a trio of 2010-era…

JUST five weeks before the 2015 Tokyo Motor Show, Ikuo Maeda was staring down the deadline on what could be the defining design of his career, the Mazda RX-Vision. Although on this day Maeda, who has been Mazda’s chief of design since 2009, was literally staring down something even more invigorating. Through the rain-pelted windscreen of a rasping, fat-tyred Mazda R100 classic racer, Maeda was rocketing downhill towards a streaming-wet Eau Rouge corner at Spa-Francorchamps. ‘Speedy’, as he’s been known to his colleagues for many years, was co-driving one of a pair of R100 coupes owned by his friend, Jin Kato. “Spa! Eau Rouge! It’s so fantastic, but so scary,” Maeda recounts to Wheels in the Mazda Design studio in Hiroshima a few days after the Tokyo show. The notorious…

REMEMBER the time before the modern Mini burst onto the scene 15 years ago, when the notion of a premium baby hatch seemed as absurd as a $30K Yaris would today? In pre-Millennium Australia, petite always meant cheap. But BMW’s resurrected British brand has subsequently converted urbanites and confounded Doubting Thomases, building an almost evangelical following globally. Like people willing to pay $50 for a Gold Class movie ticket, it’s all about the experience. Some have tried to emulate the Mini’s winning formula with hits (Fiat 500), what-evs (Citroen DS3) and misses (Alfa Mito), but only archenemy Audi’s VW Polo-based A1 has truly menaced the Mini. Together, they control some 80 percent of the booming $25K-plus Light class in Australia, which – driven by lots of fresh metal – was…

THE bloke who coined the phrase “lightning never strikes twice” obviously hadn’t met my Dearly Beloved. The ink was still drying on the February issue of Wheels, including my inauspicious introduction to our new Volvo long-termer and its tale of a Good-Wife-left-strandedon-the-side-of-a-road-due-to-amisunderstanding-with-the-fuel-gauge, when… it happened again. In a veritable master class of economy driving, the Better Half managed to calculate her trajectory so perfectly as to get Black Betty home and neatly aligned in front of our garage, with but a thimble full of fuel left in its 71-litre tank. So, when the Darling Thing called to suggest that perhaps I ought to consider grabbing a small pot of diesel on the way home, I thought, ‘Surely she jests’. But the joke, as the Bee Gees once harmonised, was on…

1 LAND ROVER DEFENDER 1948 OK, the latest Defender gets a modern engine, but the basics of the soon-to-be-discontinued model kicked off after WWII with the original Land Rover. Immense off-road ability remains its USP. 2 MORGAN PLUS 4 1950 Others in the low-volume Morgan range could fill this list, but the Plus 4 is the oldest, stretching back 66 years. The original Vanguard engine has made way for a modern Ford four-pot. 3 MERCEDESBENZ G-WAGEN 1979 It’s the only Merc without a scheduled end date. And no wonder – each year sales of the boxy off-roader keep getting better, and Benz wants to build it as long as it can. 4 TOYOTA L’CRUISER 70-SERIES 1984 Toyota’s answer to the Defender is a hit in the Aussie bush – mainly…

VOLKSWAGEN has unleashed its latest T6 Caravelle and Multivan people-movers. Pricing remains vaguely similar to the models they replace, as does the line-up. For the Caravelle that means a single nine-seat model, while the Multivan arrives with a choice of short and long wheelbases, two- and four-wheel drive, single- and twin-turbo engines, the latter now pumping out 150kW/450Nm. There’s also a limited-run Generation Six Multivan with two-tone paint and extra features intended to evoke the iconic Kombi.…

CECIL Kimber and his MG marque – the initials stand for Morris Garages, where Kimber worked – gave the world not just fast, affordable and reliable sports cars, but a new formula for making them. Lotus, Porsche and the AC Cobra are just a few examples of performance legends built on the back of proven, mass-produced models. Early MGs were giant-killers in circuit racing and speed records, but by the early 1950s their upright, “square-rigger” styling was a major sales handicap. Jaguar’s XK120 (1948) and the later Austin Healey 100/4 and Triumph TR2 (both 1953) had reset the template. As ever, MG turned to its racing experience. In 1951, motorsport photographer and successful MG TC racer George Phillips commissioned Syd Enever, who worked in MG’s experimental department, to design a…

Concept has a 298kW twin-turbo V6. Production car could also get a 2.0-litre four, and a diesel Coupe body a long-shot, our source says. Production version likely to have four doors Avista rides on Camaro’s Alpha platform, which can be adapted for right-hand drive THE future of Buick’s gorgeous Avista concept – and a Holden-badged version – lies in two extra doors, according to General Motors insiders Wheels spoke to following the car’s Detroit motor show debut. Sources confirmed that a model of a four-door version exists in the GM styling studio and is under serious consideration following its overwhelmingly positive reaction as the star of the show. GM has started work on making a business case for building the car, and a Holden-badged version – including a higher-output HSV…

CARS look good from a high perspective, and the advances in consumer drones mean they’re now more affordable than a step ladder. The Alpha Drone contains an in-built low-res video and still camera in a relatively easy-to-control package – once you have your head around moving it in a 3D environment – that’s ideal for snapping static or slow-moving images. Its light weight limits it to fairly still days, though. Kaiser Baas Alpha Drone $200 Kaiserbaas.com/alphadrone THE apocalypse has never been more fun than it is in Mad Max. The vast wasteland hides a massive amount of gameplay; from building up your ride to improving Max’s abilities, there are countless hours to sink in. With stunning visuals and enthralling sound effects, get ready to be sucked into the grim world…

Model Porsche 911 Carrera 4 Engine 2981cc flat 6, dohc, 24v, twin-turbo Max power 272kW @ 6500rpm Max torque 450Nm @ 1700-5000rpm Transmission 7-speed manual Kerb weight 1480kg 0-100km/h 4.1sec (claimed) Economy 7.9L/100km Price $233,900 On sale Now TO THE Porsche obsessed, it can feel like the things that made the 911 legendary are being stripped away, one at a time; perfect hydraulic steering, the manual gearbox, naturally aspirated engines, the flat-six’s unique metallic atmo howl. Yet demand for the iconic sports car is so high that Porsche is talking about putting on a Saturday shift at the factory, so it appears buyers are willing to accept less tradition in exchange for more power, higher speeds and lower fuel numbers and emissions. The new Carrera 4 is the first of…

Model Lexus RC200t F-Sport Engine 1998cc 4cyl, dohc, 16v, turbo Max power 180kW @ 5800rpm Max torque 350Nm @ 1650-4400rpm Transmission 8-speed automatic Weight 1725kg 0-100km/h 7.5sec (claimed) Economy 7.3L/100km Price $64,000 On sale Now A BARRAGE of new Lexus models have hit local showrooms in the past year, with the RC200t the latest salvo. Lexus reckons it can lure BMW 4 Series and Mercedes C-Class coupe buyers with this cheaper and more efficient entry-level two-door. The rear-drive RC200t starts at $64,000 – less than the BMW 428i and Mercedes C250 Coupe – yet it’s only $3K less than the RC350, and that comes with a 233kW/378Nm 3.5-litre V6 compared to the 200t’s new 2.0-litre turbo-petrol four, which delivers 180kW/350Nm. The price difference between the four-pot and V6 is consistent…

Model Tesla Model S P90D Motors 193kW front motor, 375 kW rear motor Battery 90kWh lithium-ion Max power 568kW Max torque 967Nm Transmission 1-speed fixed gear Weight 2127kg 0-100km/h 3.0sec (claimed) Range 480km Price $215,937 On sale Now THE first time you double-tap the cruise control to switch on the Autopilot system of Tesla’s Model S is an act of blind trust. You’re putting yourself in the hands of the coding skills of Elon Musk’s best and brightest. The steering wheel begins making tiny adjustments of its own accord, the instrument panel draws a lock on the vehicle ahead, and you can take your hands off the wheel and relax. You can, but Tesla doesn’t recommend this, covering itself by claiming you should keep your paws resting on the tiller…

Model Kia Sportage Platinum GT Line Engine 2359cc 4cyl, dohc, 16v Max power 135kW @ 6000rpm Max torque 237Nm @ 4000rpm Transmission 6-speed automatic Weight 1716kg 0-100km/h 10.5sec (estimated) Economy 8.5L/100km Price $43,490 On sale Now CAST your mind back to the flimsy, uninspiring SUVs that once wore the Sportage badge and the increasingly uttered “Geez, Kia has come a long way” has never been more applicable. The outgoing third-generation Sportage (from 2010) had already covered solid ground, boasting core qualities of generous equipment and keen pricing alongside newer ones such as Euro-sharp Peter Schreyer styling, locally tuned dynamic smarts, and a seven-year warranty. The all-new, fourth-generation Sportage builds on the body solidity, adds to the superseded model’s interior appeal, polishes its steering and handling, and comes wrapped in convincing…

Model Haval H2 Lux Engine 1497cc 4cyl, dohc, 16v, turbo Max power 110kW @ 5600rpm Max torque 210Nm @ 2200-4500rpm Transmission 6-speed automatic Kerb weight 1520kg 0-100km/h 10.0sec (estimated) Economy 9.0L/100km Price $30,490 On sale Now ON PAPER, the Haval H2 shows the most promise for the newly arrived Chinese brand. The smallest, cheapest SUV in its range, the H2 sits between the Mazda CX-3 and CX-5 in terms of size. It looks smart, with good attention to detail – apart from the overzealous Haval badging – and that carries over inside, where smart design and pleasant materials flourish. Even the artificial-leather seats smell like hide. The biggest let-down is the centre screen’s tacky, dated fonts and washy reversing camera. There’s an odd approach when it comes to features: there’s…

HINDSIGHT is a wonderful thing. When we drove the Mazda MX-5 away from Wheels Car of the Year, we had no idea it was going to carry off the big gong. The votes were yet to be tallied and a stack of formidable rivals made the little Mazda look as if it had brought a knife to a thermonuclear stand-off. Not envying the COTY judging panel’s task of figuring out how the MX-5 squared up against a Volvo XC90, we decided on a more instant barometer of its worth. The Mazda would need to do a number on our 2012 COTY champion, the Toyota 86. The intervening years have done little to dull the Toyota’s appeal and, despite the obvious differences in form, the two cars have much in common.…

MY NEW long-term ride has arrived with a bang – literally, according to neighbour Amber, who thinks the C63 S’s sports exhaust sounds like a bomb going off when I crank it over in the backyard. In Lamborghini fashion, a cold start in the twin-turbo V8 AMG means a fairly high initial idle and, if the centre-console button with dual-exhaust icon is depressed, enough bass to rattle a neighbourhood that appears to have more interest in efficient public transport than the machismo of AMG’s breathed-upon C-Class. Exhaust rumble aside, this Iridium Silver C63 S has blended into the local landscape a little more politely than the black BMW M4 manual coupe I piloted for four months a year ago. The litany of high-vis-wearing workmen renovating and constructing like crazy in…

TALK about hiding your light under a bushel. In the year since Suzuki ‘launched’ the all-new Celerio (if doing nothing more than issuing a press release on a news media website qualifies as such), we’ve found ourselves constantly justifying our approval for this $12,990-driveaway runabout. Replacing the Alto, which was built by Maruti of India, the LF-series four-seat five-door baby that comes to us from Thailand may seem like a retrograde step styling-wise, trading its predecessor’s chic design for something that looks somewhat like Chicken Little on wheels. But along the way Australia’s cheapest new car gains a whole lot more beauty elsewhere, thanks to far better packaging, functionality, quality, refinement, safety and – not least – driveability. Even a brief spin reveals just how far Suzuki’s base hatch has…

THOSE of us who take pride in our driving are, quite frankly, mildly offended by the idea of autonomous-parking systems (and even more so by Google cars), because we’re pretty bloody fantastic at reverse parking already, thanks very much. As such, I had no intention of testing the Park Assist system on the Picasso until a colleague, who is equally befuddled by my wife’s hatred of this cool Citroen as I am, suggested it might be the final, and best, roll of the dice to win her over. Just to make sure that it wasn’t going to let me down, and send her on another mouth-frothing rant (she’s even started to hate the actual Picasso’s art works, just on principle), I decided to test it out privately, and it was…

THE basic shape appeared in 2007, but that hasn’t stopped Mitsubishi tweaking and tizzying its ageing Lancer small car over the years. Visual changes for this latest update to the naturally aspirated range are centred around the nose, with a new bumper and grille(s) modernising it slightly. Equipment upgrades include fitment of a rear camera, digital radio and daytime running lights on all models. Pricing is still the main appeal for non-Evo Lancers, while the 2.4-litre GSR adds some sporty touches, but not the Evo’s dynamic talent.…