Car Advice | News Blog

Ford introduces seatbelt-airbag hybrid

Matt Brogan — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 03:46:45 +0000

These days airbags are expected in all new cars, from dual airbags in the front, front seat side airbags and curtain airbags to cover the side windows. Now Ford has designed an airbag incorporated into the seat belt for passengers in the back seat. The belt is the same width as a regular belt, but is [...]

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

Ford introduces seatbelt-airbag hybrid

Renault considers withdrawing from F1

Matt Brogan — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 03:09:41 +0000

Hot on the heels of Wednesday’s announcement that Toyota was withdrawing from Formula One comes new rumours that Renault is also seriously considering leaving the championship before next season. It is believed Toyota’s exit sparked an emergency meeting at Renault to decide the French company’s future in the sport. Chief Executive Carlos Ghosn refused to speculate on [...]

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

Renault considers withdrawing from F1

Renault to produce zero-emissions EV in France

Matt Brogan — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 03:06:08 +0000

Renault has today confirmed it will be manufacturing its new zero-emission electric car at the Flins plant in the Paris region. The Zoé Z.E. Concept, first seen at the Frankfurt Motor Show is a preview of what the new car will look like. The Flins plant was chosen to manufacture the electric vehicle (EV) because of its [...]

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

Renault to produce zero-emissions EV in France

Hyundai opens new R&D centre in India

Matt Brogan — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 02:02:53 +0000

Hyundai has opened a new research and development centre in India to facilitate the company’s expansion and to meet increasing global demand for sub-compact cars. The AUD$27 million, 18,580m² plant in Hyderabad took over two years to build and will complement its existing manufacturing plant in Chennai. The centre will support all back-end operations like computer-aided engineering [...]

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

Hyundai opens new R&D centre in India

Toyota Automobile Museum – picture tour

Matt Brogan — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 01:37:52 +0000

by Matt Brogan. Nagakute, Japan. The Toyota Automobile Museum is just one of the two museums we’ll be presenting over the coming weeks as we wrap up our coverage from Japan. TAM is located in Nagakute – just outside of Nagoya, Japan – and features a wide variety of cars not just from Toyota, but from a [...]

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

Toyota Automobile Museum – picture tour

Hyundai scores highest-ever October sales result

Matt Brogan — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 00:57:01 +0000

As the Australian new car market shows signs of recovery, Hyundai have secured another record for the brand selling 6,281 vehicles and achieving a market share of 7.8 per cent. Sales for October 2009 were up 106 per cent over the same time last year – giving Hyundai its best ever October result. In a total market [...]

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

Hyundai scores highest-ever October sales result

Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG wins Golden Steering Wheel Award

Karl Peskett — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 23:28:14 +0000

The iconic 300SL Gullwing’s spiritual successor, the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG, won the title of Best Super Sports Car in the 2009 Golden Steering Wheel awards yesterday. Out of a field of eleven, the SLS AMG triumphed, receiving more than a third of votes from the quarter of a million readers of Bild am Sonntag, Auto Bild [...]

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

Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG wins Golden Steering Wheel Award

Suzuki Kizashi US pricing announced, local launch due mid-2010

Matt Brogan — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 23:22:58 +0000

Suzuki has released US pricing for its new Kizashi sedan. To be made available in both front- and all-wheel drive, the Kiazashi sedan will include such standard features as a six-speed manual gearbox, eight airbags, push-button start, dual-zone climate control, a nine-speaker audio system, ESC, ABS, projector beam headlamps, power windows and mirrors, as well as [...]

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

Suzuki Kizashi US pricing announced, local launch due mid-2010

BMW tops the chart in global CO2 cuts

Matt Brogan — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 22:49:01 +0000

For the second year running BMW has cut its average CO2 emissions per car by more than any other automotive manufacturer. According to an independent report published by the European Federation for Transport and Environment, the average reduction across the industry was 3.3 per cent, while BMW more than trebled that amount with 10.2 per cent. BMW’s [...]

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

BMW tops the chart in global CO2 cuts

Mazda sees strong sales in October

Matt Brogan — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 22:40:24 +0000

Mazda has had another month of strong sales results and is on the way to making the 74,000 sales target that was set for the 2009 year. Mazda sold a total of 5,637 new vehicles in the month of October which is up two per cent from this time last year. Mazda is Australia’s number one selling [...]

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

Mazda sees strong sales in October

Porsche Boxster Spyder

Anthony Crawford — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 15:26:22 +0000

Pure, light, and fast, made up the DNA code for the original Porsche 550 when it was first revealed to the public at the 1953 Paris Motor Show. The 550 as it was initially known before the Spyder nameplate was added, was built with a single purpose in mind, to win races, and win it [...]

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

Porsche Boxster Spyder

Shannons Melbourne summer auction

Matt Brogan — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 06:07:16 +0000

Shannons Melbourne Summer Auction on November 23rd will see a great range of pre 1950s Classic cars going under the hammer. A pre-war 1934 Nash 120 Sedan, once owned by a minister in Chadstone, Melbourne, has been restored by its present owner over a nine year period. The car was striped down to its chassis and each [...]

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

Shannons Melbourne summer auction

Chevrolet Camaro Concepts at SEMA 2009

George Skentzos — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 05:47:20 +0000

Chevrolet has yet again showcased a series of unique Camaro concepts at the SEMA show in Las Vegas. In total there were five specialised Camaros on the show floor, each representing a different vision of style, personalization and performance. The first and perhaps most exciting Camaro concept was purpose-built for Jay Leno and is powered by a [...]

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

Chevrolet Camaro Concepts at SEMA 2009

Video: Ken Block teases the TRAX STI

George Skentzos — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 05:04:55 +0000

Gymkhana hero Ken Block is at it again with his highly tuned Subaru Impreza WRX STI, this time turning it into the world’s fastest snow car. Dubbed the TRAX STI, this is a new teaser video from the test session shows the car churning through deep snow and up ski slopes with ease – now we [...]

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

Video: Ken Block teases the TRAX STI

Toyota Camry Review & Road Test

Paul Maric — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 05:04:03 +0000

The latest iteration of one of Toyota’s best selling appliances. Model Tested: 2009 Toyota Camry Ateva; 2.4-litre, four-cylinder, petrol; five-speed automatic; sedan – $32,490 Interior space; suspension (ride); standard features Fuel consumption; handling CarAdvice Rating: Whitegoods on wheels, uninspiring, old man’s car and boring. These are all terms that have become synonymous with the Toyota Camry. For years Toyota [...]

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

Toyota Camry Review & Road Test

FCAI report car sales rise for first time in 16 months

George Skentzos — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 04:51:46 +0000

The latest VFACTS figures released today for October reveal that the Australian new car market is showing signs of economic recovery with sales up on a year ago for the first time in 16 months. Official data from the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI) shows that 80,813 passenger cars, SUVs and commercial vehicles were sold [...]

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

FCAI report car sales rise for first time in 16 months

Audi sales buck the trend in October

Matt Brogan — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 04:45:12 +0000

Audi Australia has continued to buck the trend of the financial crisis, recording its 58th consecutive month of growth and already eclipsing last year’s sales figures. Audi sold 1,022 cars last month – up 45 per cent on October 2008 – taking its year-to-date total to 9,612. Total sales for 2008 reached 9410, and managing director Joerg [...]

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

Audi sales buck the trend in October

Volkswagen Beetle Germany’s most popular classic car

Matt Brogan — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 04:37:30 +0000

The Volkswagen Beetle reminds me of my childhood watching Herbi the Love Bug on TV. Most people would have fond memories of the Beetle be it their first car or someone in the family owned one. In Germany the Volkswagen Beetle is the most registered car produced before 1979, with 44,540 still driving the streets. The [...]

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

Volkswagen Beetle Germany’s most popular classic car

BMW M3 GTS on the way, teaser video released

Matt Brogan — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 04:21:54 +0000

BMW has today unveiled its latest M Motorsport concept, the lightweight, 335kw Inca Orange M3 GTS. Stripped bare, the M3 Coupe-based racer features a raft of weight-saving measures including plastic rear- and side-windows, lightweight body-contoured front seats and removed rear seats. The concept, which will spawn a limited production run of street-ready vehicles, weighs in at about [...]

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

BMW M3 GTS on the way, teaser video released

Chrysler, Fiat move ahead with product planning

Matt Brogan — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 02:48:30 +0000

The latest product planning from Chrysler-Fiat will see some American favourites dumped and replaced by new lightweight Italians, beginning with the Dodge Viper in mid-2010. Chrysler says it will build just 500 more Vipers, with a replacement “under consideration” for mid-2012 – but unlikely to be anything like the original halo car. The PT Cruiser will join [...]

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

Chrysler, Fiat move ahead with product planning