You are here: Home / Car News / Mitsubishi Lancer gains extra airbagsMitsubishi Lancer gains extra airbags

January 5, 2010 by Adam Marshall

36 Comments

| |

Mitsubishi Motors Australia Limited (MMAL) has added more safety equipment to its popular Lancer for 2010. All Lancer sedans and hatches now come with standard side curtain airbags.

Lancer now offers more occupant safety than any of its direct competitors totalling seven airbags, driver and passenger SRS airbags, side and curtain airbags and driver knee airbag standard on every model.
To compliment the cabin safety is Mitsubishi’s acclaimed RISE (reinforced impact safety evolution) body, stability control, traction control, ABS with brake assist and electronic brakeforce distribution and seatbelt load limiters.

Robert McEniry, president and chief executive officer of MMAL, said the news on Lancer “just keeps getting better and better.”
“2009 was a standout year for Lancer, and it recorded the best-ever result with more than 21,000 vehicles sold,” McEniry said.
“And, now, with side and curtain airbags fitted as standard to each and every vehicle in the range, Lancer is guaranteed a great start in 2010.”

You are here: Home / Car News / Mercedes-Benz S-Class to launch with plug-in hybrid optionMercedes-Benz S-Class to launch with plug-in hybrid option

January 5, 2010 by Matt Brogan

2 Comments

| |

The UK’s Autocar magazine has revealed that Mercedes-Benz will launch its next-generation S-Class model with an optional plug-in hybrid variant.

Mercedes-Benz R&D boss, Mr Thomas Weber, told Autocar that the decision to launch the system in the S-Class will allow Mercedes to hide the added cost of the technology.

“It makes a lot of sense to bundle the high-price tech option to the sort of customers willing to pay for this sort of thing,” said Mr Weber.

Mercedes-Benz’s plug-in technology will eventually spread throughout its entire range.

Although Mercedes-Benz has yet to release specifications on its plug-in technology, early estimates suggest the S-Class plug-in could be capable of fuel consumption lower than 3.3L/100km with CO2 outputs below 100g/km.

The new S-Class will also benefit from weight savings and improved engine technology across the entire range with a 10 to 25 per cent increase in power and 25 per cent reduction in fuel economy expected from some models.

You are here: Home / Car News / Onuk Sazan supercar nears completion in TurkeyOnuk Sazan supercar nears completion in Turkey

January 4, 2010 by Matt Brogan

8 Comments

| |

Turkey’s newest supercar, the Onuk Sazan, is receiving its finishing touches this week in a secluded factory just outside of Istanbul.

The Onuk Sazan is the creation of Dr. Ekber Onuk, who designed the vehicle in memory of his son Kaan “Sazan” Onuk, an engineering student who passed away in a car accident back in 1996.

With performance figures expected to at least match those of Europe’s finest, Dr. Onuk says he is considering two powerplants for the 997kg supercar.

The first is Corvette-sourced LS7 V8 engine developing 382kW. The engine will be mid-mounted and mated to a five-speed manual gearbox driving the rear wheels only. The second choice, a twin-turbocharged Nissan 3.5-litre V6 (from the previous 350Z), which will develop around 361kW.

Still in its prototype stage, Dr. Ounk hopes to produce at least five examples of the Sazan by year’s end. His engineers are hoping for a top speed in excess of 300km/h.

#gallery-1 {margin: auto;}#gallery-1 .gallery-item {float: left;margin-top: 10px;text-align: center;width: 33%;}#gallery-1 img {border: 2px solid #cfcfcf;}#gallery-1 .gallery-caption {margin-left: 0;}

You are here: Home / Alfa Romeo / Retro Road Test: Alfa Romeo Montreal – Reader ReviewRetro Road Test: Alfa Romeo Montreal – Reader Review

December 30, 2009 by Anthony Crawford

4 Comments

| |

CarAdvice reader Adam Davis was the recent winner of the limited edition book from Capricorn Link Australia, entitled Alfa Romeo Montreal – The dream car that came true. Here is his review on the car.

Without resorting to rose-tinted glasses, one can safely reflect upon the sixties as a wonderful decade for the automobile.  In North America, excess was everything as the muscle car concept was developed to its zenith – all 7 litre V8’s and tortured tyres as the baby boomers reached driving age.  Australian manufacturers, as ever taking the lead from their US parent companies, followed with their own locally developed V8 rockets.

Over in Europe, the introduction of soon-to-be icons such as the E-Type Jaguar showed that, as ever, style remained as important as substance.  Porsche was also busy, releasing the car by which they are still defined today in the 911.

But as if by right, it was the Italians that stole the show.  Ferrari were on top of their game as their legendary 250 series V12’s gave way to ever larger units, but ironically it was a disgruntled former Ferrari client that provided the inspiration for the world’s first supercar.  Ferruccio Lamborghini, a successful Italian industrialist then most famous for producing tractors, had become fed up with Ferrari unreliability and the diabolical service he received.  Whether his debut 350GT of 1963 was made purely out of spite towards Ferrari as opposed to making sound business sense remains a controversial issue even today.

Regardless, the timeless Bertone designed Lamborghini Miura that debuted in 1966 is considered the original supercar with its mid-mounted, hyperactive V12 and swooping, stealthy bodywork.

This high-end battle for European supremacy rubbed off on other Italian manufacturers.  Fiat did a deal that gave them access to the musical ‘Dino’ Ferrari V6 which was seen in their Dino coupe and Spider series- worldwide image boosters for the Fiat reputation.  Alfa Romeo, that other giant of the Italian automotive industry, was also seeking a flagship to bring the company in line with their vision for the next generation of sports cars.

The result was the emphatic Montreal.  The first two prototypes debuted at the centenary of the confederation of Canada, held in Montreal in 1967.  Designed at Bertone’s studio under the pen of Marcello Gandini (whose hand most famously directed the Miura’s curves) these concepts were mechanically based on the contemporary Alfa 105 series coupe and appeared on the stands sans identifying badge work.  Reaction from the public was impressive, and people began referring to the cars as ‘Montreals’.

Buoyed by the response, Alfa Romeo pressed ahead for a production run.  Unlike many concepts that become watered down when productionised, the Montreal instead grew into a true exotic, housing a street tuned derivation of Carlo Chiti’s Alfa 33 V8 sports car engine- though with few interchangeable parts.  Front-mounted, this all aluminium 2593cc masterpiece was dry-sumped and utilised 4 camshafts and mechanical fuel injection to produce 147kw @ 6500rpm with a torque peak of 235nm at 4750rpm.   These outputs were sent to the rear wheels via a 5-speed ZF gearbox with dog-leg first gear and a limited slip differential.  Its chassis and suspension were still based on the 105 series but suitably modified to handle the increased power- to keep costs down but also to make good use of the 105 chassis’ inherently sporting nature.

The production Montreal was shown to the world at the Geneva show in 1970, some 3 years after the initial prototype display.  Little was changed externally and some cynics argued that it was too far delayed to still be relevant and saleable in a seventies market.  3925 were eventually produced to 1977, but were never released into the North American market from where it got its name- a legacy of more stringent North American emissions standards.

The Montreal today

Our feature Montreal has for the last 2 years been owned by Gary Pearce.  It is an original Australian delivered car with a genuine 55,000 miles recorded over a 35 year lifespan.  Its freshly polished green paintwork gleams Emerald in the sun as Gary gently warms the car through. The jewel like V8 smoothly whirs at idle, legacy of many hours carefully tuning the original Spica fuel injection system.

Initially, it is the looks that captivate.  Gandini’s flamboyant interpretation of a futuristic design includes flourishes such as the non-functional bonnet scoop (a nod to the US market?), eyelash headlight covers and cut-out strakes behind the doors.  Inside, it feels like you are dropping into a cockpit with the low yet comfortable seat that overlooks a curvaceous instrument binnacle.  It still impresses today with its uniqueness.

Gary himself is no stranger to Alfas, having first owned a 1600 GT Veloce as a teenager.  Now, his shrine (well, it can’t be called a garage) to Alfa Romeo is filled with another GT Veloce, a very rare Giulia GTC convertible (both concours winning vehicles) and his ‘toy’, a Group S-specification 2000GTV in addition to the flagship Montreal.

How does the Montreal feel in comparison to a sorted GTV?  “I think the Giulia’s are more dynamic, they always feel more eager to be driven hard.  Their focal points are handling and interactivity through gearbox and steering.  In the Montreal, the engine is the primary entertainer- it’s so smooth, so it can cruise around at low revs comfortable and loves highway touring, but it also really comes alive at higher revs,” says Gary as we ease onto the coastal roads surrounding his home.

A squeeze of the throttle alters the engine’s smooth whir into a gradually developing, prickly, hollow bark that transports you straight to a scene from the Targa Florio and racing 33’s.  In previous Montreal experiences I know that this is normally accompanied with a slight squat in the tail and a nose lift, but Gary has developed his car’s handling to make more assured progress.

“The recipe for handling is similar to the Giulia’s.  Lower it slightly, stiffen the front, fit adjustable shocks, but keep the rear soft for traction,” he explains.

It’s a definite improvement, the car turning in with minimal roll and a surfeit of confidence-inspiring grip, especially when driven to the car’s strengths by braking in a straight line, and floating towards the apex under gradually increasing power to maximise traction at the exit.

Throughout our drive, people stop and stare, many no doubt wondering just what this sparkling green machine with alien looks and a barking exhaust is. Driving it is a source of real pleasure for Gary, as is educating the curious as to the Montreal’s history.  “This car was bought to be driven, not to be a museum piece,” he says with clear pride.  “The previous owner said it hasn’t been rained on since 1988, but with the drives I plan on doing in the coming years that might change…”- and that is the way it really should be.

You are here: Home / Audi / Audi to pass on tariff reduction savingsAudi to pass on tariff reduction savings

December 31, 2009 by Matt Brogan

Leave a Comment

| |

Audi will pass on tariff reduction savings to customers, following a five per cent duty drop by the Federal Government from 1 January 2010.

Following its fifth record year of sales, Australia’s fastest growing premium brand will pass on savings on every model in its range, as a direct result of a five per cent import duty reduction.

Aside from the Audi Q5 (pictured) and Q7 SUV models, which already attract a lower import duty, every other model line in the range will benefit.

Manufacturer’s List Prices (MLP) of models within the Audi range will be available on the Audi website homepage from January 2010.

You are here: Home / Car News / Terrafugia flying car ready for sale by 2011 – videoTerrafugia flying car ready for sale by 2011 – video

December 31, 2009 by Matt Brogan

7 Comments

| |

Earlier this year we brought you images of the first flight of a road-registered flying car when Terrafugia’s TRA (Transition Roadable Aircraft) made its maiden flight. Now the manufacturer claims its flying car will be available for purchase by 2011.

Terrafugia says the TRA is capable of flying at speeds of up to 185km/h with a range of 725 kilometres in the air, while on road it is capable of just 105km/h. Best of all the TRA can be road registered (in the US), and fits inside a normal parking spot or garage just like any other car. The transformation from winged aircraft to road-going car takes less than 30 seconds.

The manufacturer is currently accepting deposits on the TRA from as little as US$10,000 (AUD$11,150 approx.), though an additional US$185,000 (AUD$206,500 approx.) will need to be paid upon delivery.

You are here: Home / Behind the Wheel / Hyundai iLoad Crew Van Review & Road TestHyundai iLoad Crew Van Review & Road Test

January 1, 2010 by Matt Brogan

Leave a Comment

DOWNLOAD BROCHURE

| LOCATE A DEALER

| BOOK TEST DRIVE

Trade tough, practical and comfortable, iLoad Crew Van covers all bases

Model Tested:

2009 Hyundai iLoad H1 Crew Van; 2.5-litre, four-cylinder, turbo-diesel; five-speed manual; van – $36,490*

Options Available:

Metallic Paint $375; Rear Barn Doors $550; ESC with Traction Control $700

Gutsy turbo-diesel engine; fuel economy; safety; car-like driveability

Centre lap-type seatbelts; fixed centre bulkhead; tailgate clearance

CarAdvice Rating:

Words by Matt Brogan Pics by Paul Maric

Hyundai’s i-Series vans have forced a serious re-think on the way we view the humble white van. No longer do we need to endure dull driving dynamics, weak performance and sub-par safety levels because, as I rediscovered this week, this Turkish-built Korean commercial ticks all the boxes expected of a modern work vehicle – and then some.

The inoffensive looks of the iLoad Crew Van house a pleasant and comfortable interior with enough space for five adults – or six at a pinch. An easy to drive, easy to manage vehicle Crew Van excels in providing not only a spacious interior, but one offering a satisfying level of standard equipment that includes an MP3 compatible single CD tuner with auxiliary connection, adjustable steering column, air-conditioning, plus a plethora of commodious storage compartments for all those odd-and-ends.

With the engine upfront cabin heat transfer is minimal, an issue often found in older cab-over-engine designs, and despite the large passenger area on offer, heating and cooling remain effective, thanks primarily to the sealed bulkhead between the passenger and cargo compartments.

The passenger compartment boasts twin sliding doors, a real bonus in tight parking situations, and offer pop-out style windows for ventilation and added visibility. The doors also click conveniently in place when open to prevent accidental closing and jammed fingers when parked on an incline. The mechanism is simply released by pulling on the handle as you slide the door shut. Child locks and child seat mounts are also featured.

A heavy duty bulkhead separates the crew from the cargo behind while still enabling rearward vision and enough capacity for a full-size pallet. Unfortunately the bulk head is not readily removable being both riveted and bolted in place, compromising the Crew Van’s otherwise excellent versatility.

Up back a large cargo area, measuring 1,585mm (L) x 1,620 (W) x 1,350mm (H) – and 1,260mm between the wheel arches – also features six heavy-duty tie-down hooks and a thick urethane matted floor. A generous 1,130kg payload is also on offer which, coupled to a 2,000kg (braked) towing capacity, makes the Crew Van’s trade-tough carrying capacity extremely competitive against similarly spec’ed rivals. A back-saving loading floor height of 605mm makes life easy when jumping in-and-out while also allowing 190mm of ground clearance for no-nonsense access to rough building sites.

In fact the only real issue I found with Crew Van’s cargo area this week was not in its size or practicality, but in the large top-hinged tailgate that doesn’t open quite high enough to stop you hitting your head. Fortunately more practical barn-type doors are available as a cost option.

Under the snub-nose bonnet Crew Van features Hyundai’s gutsy 2.5-litre, four-cylinder turbo-diesel engine. Developing a healthy 125kW of power from 3,800rpm, and ballsy 392Nm of torque from a low 2,000rpm, Crew Van manages surprising performance – even when loaded – while still achieving a car-like flexibility around town.

The five-speed manual gearbox, mated to a light clutch, offers an excellent ratio spread with a shorter first gear for getting heavy loads on the move. Fuel economy is outstanding with this week’s return of just 8.6/100km – just 100ml more than the ADR average – surprising even myself given the amount of weight carried while moving heavy farm machinery this week.

Confident disc braking and pliant strut front / multi-link rear suspension make for a settled and comfortable ride, atypical to that of most commercial vans. That said the otherwise tactile steering does become a little light, and road feel slightly nervous, at highway speeds when cornering a heavily loaded rear.

In yet another affront to the average white van, Hyundai’s iLoad (and iMax) models offer a very respectable level of safety equipment that have led to ANCAP announcing a four-star rating across the range. Standard safety equipment includes dual-front airbags, anti-whiplash head restraints (in five seating positions) and three-point inertia reel seatbelts in all outboard seating positions. ESC and Traction Control are also available as a cost option (not fitted to our road test vehicle).

Disappointingly the Crew Van’s centre seatbelts are of the lap variety while the front centre passenger also misses out on a headrest.

If I could add to the Crew Van’s standard equipment list I’d opt for the inclusion of standard cruise control, Hyundai’s Bluetooth enabled head-unit and a redesigned key, as the current one has an annoyingly positioned side lock/unlock button that is too easily activate when turning the ignition or accidentally in your pocket. Steering wheel mounted audio controls might also have been a nice idea.

Otherwise the Crew Van is pretty hard to top. It’s safe, comfortable, affordable, frugal and boasts an impressive five-year/160,000 kilometre warranty, and when it comes to a commercial vehicle, who could ask for anything more?

For more on Hyundai’s i-Series commercial vans, click on this link.

Ratings:

CarAdvice Overall Rating:

How does it Drive:

How does it Look:

How does it Go:

Road Test the Rivals:

Ford Transit (from $43,990*)Mercedes-Benz Vito (from $53,990*)Peugeot Expert (from $41,590*)Volkswagen Transporter (from $44,990*)

*Pricing is a guide as recommended to us by the manufacturer.

Specifications:

Engine: 2,497cc DOHC four-cylinder (16 valve)Power: 125kW @ 3,800rpmTorque: 392Nm @ 2,000rpmInduction: Common Rail & TurbochargedTransmission: Five-speed manualDriven Wheels: RearBrakes: Discs with ABS & EBDTop Speed: 180km/h (Claimed)0-100km/h: 12.0 seconds (Approx.)CO2 Emissions: 225g/kmFuel Consumption: 8.5L/100km (ADR)Fuel Consumption: 8.6L/100km (As Tested)Fuel Tank Capacity: 75LFuel Type: DieselANCAP Rating: Four-starAirbags: Dual FrontSafety: (Optional ESC with Traction Control)Spare Wheel: MatchingSuspension: Strut (F) / Torsion Beam (R)Cargo Capacity: 1,130kg (Max. legal)Cargo Area: 1,585mm (L) x 1,620mm (W) x 1,350mm (H)Tow Capacity: 2,000kg (Braked)Turning Circle: 11.2mWarranty: Five Year / 160,000 kilometreWeight: 2,156kg (Tare)Wheels: Steel 16 x 6.5-inch

You are here: Home / Car News / Recall: Volvo XC60 fuel line mounting issueRecall: Volvo XC60 fuel line mounting issue

December 31, 2009 by Matt Brogan

1 Comment

| |

Volvo will recall some of its XC60 models over a possible concern relating to the car’s fuel lines.

The fuel line rail cover, protecting the fuel lines underneath the car, may not be properly attached. If the condition occurs the fuel line rail cover may come loose exposing the fuel lines underneath the vehicle to damage.

Volvo will write to owners of all affected vehicles to schedule necessary work.

Should you have any concerns that your vehicle is affected by the recall, contact your Volvo service department.

You are here: Home / Car News / Recall: Jeep Grand Cherokee seat heater elementsRecall: Jeep Grand Cherokee seat heater elements

December 31, 2009 by Matt Brogan

1 Comment

| |

Jeep will recall its Grand Cherokees built between 2001 and 2004 for a fault that exists within the front seat heater elements.

The front seat electric heating elements may overheat and cause interior damage or, in extreme cases, result in injury, under certain operating conditions.

Chrysler Australia will write to owners of all affected vehicles to schedule necessary work.

Should you have any concerns that your vehicle is affected by the recall, contact your Chrysler service department.

You are here: Home / Car News / 2010 Saab 9-5 to be reborn in the US as a Buick2010 Saab 9-5 to be reborn in the US as a Buick

December 29, 2009 by Matt Brogan

7 Comments

| |

As Saab struggles to cling to existence, a Swedish newspaper, Dagens Industri, has reported that GM is ’seriously considering’ using the near-ready 9-5 model as its next Buick.

The 9-5 shares much of its development with the Opel Insignia, itself already used to underpin at least one Buick model, but in order to avoid overlap, the report suggests the 9-5 may present a more radical option for Buick buyers, and could possibly feature as the next LaCrosse, Regal or Excelle sedan.

With GM already treating Buick as a kind of testing ground for new designs, one of the most modern Saabs yet created could easily feel at home in the US if sold under the more familiar Buick nameplate. The move would also see the 9-5 finally achieve volume sales.

CarAdvice will keep you posted on any developments as they come to hand.