Car Advice | News Blog » In car technology

Mazda’s receives award for i-Stop system

Matt Brogan — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 04:32:06 +0000

Mazda has won the 2009 Automotive Researchers’ and Journalists’ Conference of Japan (RJC) Technology of the Year award for its idling stop system, known as “i-stop”. The i-stop system is a fuel saving device fitted to direct injection engines that shuts down the engine when the car comes to rest. Combustion energy is used to restart the [...]

Original article from: Australian Car Advice - Australia's largest independent Auto site.

Mazda’s receives award for i-Stop system

Lexus introduces premium rear seat entertainment

Matt Brogan — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 20:50:57 +0000

Premium Rear Seat Entertainment (RSE) is now available in the Lexus RX range. The rear seat passengers can now be entertained with video, music and games. Each unit has side loading DVD slot, a USB port, MP3 compatible, and AUX input for games consoles. Both units can work separately or together with easy to use controls or [...]

Original article from: Australian Car Advice - Australia's largest independent Auto site.

Lexus introduces premium rear seat entertainment

Use your brain when using SatNav

Karl Peskett — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 22:43:46 +0000

It seems obvious – or at least it should seem obvious. When using your satellite navigation, keep your mind switched firmly to the “on” position. However a recent survey by UK website motoring.co.uk shows that people are taking what the SatNav voice is telling them as gospel. According to the research, 20 per cent of women [...]

Original article from: Australian Car Advice - Australia's largest independent Auto site.

Use your brain when using SatNav

2009 Mercedes-Benz S-Class

Alborz Fallah — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 11:48:54 +0000

The world’s most successful luxury car (W 221- series S-Class) which has sold 270,000 units in four years of production is now being replaced. Since the Model 220 came about in 1951 and started the lineage of the S-Class, German powerhouse Mercedes-Benz has sold around 3.3 million S-Class units. Focusing on design and comfort with leading [...]

Original article from: Australian Car Advice - Australia's largest independent Auto site.

2009 Mercedes-Benz S-Class

Holden VE Ute range achieves five-star safety

George Skentzos — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 03:18:51 +0000

The Holden VE Ute range has become the first utility in Australia to receive the maximum five-star safety rating from the Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP). This latest result means Holden’s entire locally manufactured range now boasts a full five-star safety rating from ANCAP. The VE Ute now also becomes the only light commercial vehicle in [...]

Original article from: Australian Car Advice - Australia's largest independent Auto site.

Holden VE Ute range achieves five-star safety

2009 Global Green Challenge

Alborz Fallah — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 01:03:30 +0000

For the first time ever, there is now a proper event whereby manufacturers can compete alongside each other equally to prove which one has the the most fuel efficient car. The Darwin to Adelaide challenge, better know as the Global Green Challenge is set to commence this Saturday (October 24). Previous years have seen the event [...]

Original article from: Australian Car Advice - Australia's largest independent Auto site.

2009 Global Green Challenge

Toyota release ‘FollowMe’ portable Satellite Navigation

Matt Brogan — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 02:37:50 +0000

Toyota has released a new ‘FollowMe’ navigation unit that is incorporated in the dash but has the added bonus of being able to be removed. As well as being a navigation unit it also controls the car’s communication and entertainment functions. TomTom assisted Toyota with the development of the unit which, when not in the car, can [...]

Original article from: Australian Car Advice - Australia's largest independent Auto site.

Toyota release ‘FollowMe’ portable Satellite Navigation

Costly options of little re-sale value

Matt Brogan — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 22:19:00 +0000

Residual value experts Glass’s have in a recent UK-based report claimed that some optional extras are of little value on the used car market. Glass’s say that expensive manufacturer fit options such as radar cruise control can drop 86 per cent of its value over a 12 month period while the car itself may only drop [...]

Original article from: Australian Car Advice - Australia's largest independent Auto site.

Costly options of little re-sale value

Toyota Yaris gains stability control as standard

George Skentzos — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 14:21:51 +0000

Toyota has extended the safety of vehicle stability control and traction control to its 1.5-litre Yaris models as standard equipment. The two linked systems have been specifically engineered for the 1.5-litre engine in the Australian market, providing an electronic safety net for the more affordable models in Toyota’s line-up. These features are included along with the recently [...]

Original article from: Australian Car Advice - Australia's largest independent Auto site.

Toyota Yaris gains stability control as standard

Subaru EyeSight +

Alborz Fallah — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 07:47:21 +0000

In addition to the new Subaru Hybrid car the Japanese company will also preview its new EyeSight + (plus) safety system at Tokyo Motor Show (the previous generation EyeSight system has already been in use in Japan). If you thought the Germans were the king of vehicle safety technology, you’d probably be right, but we are [...]

Original article from: Australian Car Advice - Australia's largest independent Auto site.

Subaru EyeSight +

Report: Nissan settles GT-R transmission class action suit

George Skentzos — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 04:59:43 +0000

The Nissan GT-R rocked the motoring world when it arrived on the scene, offering truly supercar performance at just a fraction of the price. Although when the GT-R finally found its way into showrooms it quickly became apparent that there was a consequence for all this performance with the transmission becoming a costly Achilles heel for [...]

Original article from: Australian Car Advice - Australia's largest independent Auto site.

Report: Nissan settles GT-R transmission class action suit

2010 Lexus LS 600h, LS 600hL unveiled at Frankfurt

Matt Brogan — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 22:52:20 +0000

Lexus has unveiled its full hybrid flagship, the LS 600h, at Frankfurt overnight with the car boasting a range of technological and styling improvements for the 2010 model year. Redesigned seating, updated equipment levels, a new ECO driving mode and revised brakes see the LS 600h, and long wheelbase LS 600hL, achieve advances in both comfort [...]

Original article from: Australian Car Advice - Australia's largest independent Auto site.

2010 Lexus LS 600h, LS 600hL unveiled at Frankfurt

Hyundai eco-technology displayed at Frankfurt

Matt Brogan — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 22:24:43 +0000

Hyundai unveiled two important eco-friendly models at Frankfurt over night further proving its commitment to improve energy efficiency and to lower the greenhouse gas emissions of its vehicles. Making its world debut was the ix-Metro, a hybrid-electric car initially slated from the European market. Emitting just 80 grams per kilometre of CO2, the ix-Metro is powered [...]

Original article from: Australian Car Advice - Australia's largest independent Auto site.

Hyundai eco-technology displayed at Frankfurt

Citroen Revolte stars at Frankfurt

David Twomey — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 03:04:11 +0000

Citroen has set out to prove to the automotive world at the Frankfurt Motor Show that it still has credentials as a bold, forward-looking brand with the concept car Revolte, an ultra-chic city car combining luxury with a touch of cheek. The French carmaker says that a compact city car, Revolte sidesteps the difficulties of dense [...]

Original article from: Australian Car Advice - Australia's largest independent Auto site.

Citroen Revolte stars at Frankfurt

Audi e-tron revealed at Frankfurt

David Twomey — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 02:03:47 +0000

German manufacturer Audi has revealed the highlight of its efforts at the Frankfurt Motor Show with the unveiling of the Audi e-tron, a high-performance sports car with a purely electric drive system. Four motors, two each at the front and rear axles, drive the wheels, making the concept car a true Audi quattro. Producing 230kW of power [...]

Original article from: Australian Car Advice - Australia's largest independent Auto site.

Audi e-tron revealed at Frankfurt

Ford Falcon EcoBoost on schedule: Burela

David Twomey — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 05:35:51 +0000

Ford has moved a step closer to the four-cylinder Falcon with the news that the first test prototypes using the EcoBoost engine have begun running. Ford’s President and CEO Marin Burela told a media briefing in Melbourne this morning that the first Falcon ‘mules’ running the 2.0-litre, direct-injection, turbocharged, four cylinder were in operation. Questioned by CarAdvice [...]

Original article from: Australian Car Advice - Australia's largest independent Auto site.

Ford Falcon EcoBoost on schedule: Burela

Lotus’ Range Extender petrol-hybrid unveiled

Matt Brogan — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 00:43:16 +0000

Lotus Engineering has developed a new engine especially for hybrid cars that will be on show at the Frankfurt Motor Show next week. Called the “Range Extender”, this 1.2-litre unit, which can operate on petrol, ethanol or methanol, depending on its intended market, functions in two modes – both as a generator only – to allow [...]

Original article from: Australian Car Advice - Australia's largest independent Auto site.

Lotus’ Range Extender petrol-hybrid unveiled

Holden Commodore Ute gets six airbags

David Twomey — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 07:00:12 +0000

Holden will achieve another Australian safety first this month by launching the first Light Commercial Vehicle (LCV) to offer six airbags as standard across the range. Holden’s MY10 Commodore Ute will introduce side impact and curtain airbags as standard equipment on all Ute models. The entire MY10 VE and WM range, including Ute, also receives a [...]

Original article from: Australian Car Advice - Australia's largest independent Auto site.

Holden Commodore Ute gets six airbags

Peugeot-Citroen to sell Mitsubishi i-MiEV

David Twomey — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 00:33:54 +0000

Japan’s Mitsubishi Motor Corporation has formally signed an agreement, confirming a previously announced tie-up, to build electric cars in co-operation with France’s Peugeot-Citroen. The car, which will be based on the Mitsubishi i-MiEV that was launched in Japan in June, will be sold by Peugeot-Citroen . Peugeot has revealed its version will be called iON and wil [...]

Original article from: Australian Car Advice - Australia's largest independent Auto site.

Peugeot-Citroen to sell Mitsubishi i-MiEV

Lexus LF-CH revealed ahead of Frankfurt

David Twomey — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 02:26:14 +0000

Lexus has given a first glimpse of just what its compact entry into the premium hybrid market will look like when it is released at the Frankfurt Motor Show later this month. The premium Toyota brand says the LF-CH, you can bet that won’t be its final name, will offer Lexus Hybrid Drive in a practical [...]

Original article from: Australian Car Advice - Australia's largest independent Auto site.

Lexus LF-CH revealed ahead of Frankfurt