Articles by Aiden Taylor

Although the new engine won't debut until the two-seaters are in their next generations, Porsche CEO, Matthias Müller, told Germany's Auto Motor und Sport magazine the models would follow the Porsche 919 Hybrid race car's footsteps and continue the downsizing trend.The racecar uses a four-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine, however it adopts a unique 'V' design whereas Muller insists the new road car engine will use Porsche's trademark flat 'boxer' layout.  "We will continue with the downsizing strategy and develop a new four-cylinder boxer engine which will see service in the next-generation Boxster and Cayman," said Müller.The engine is being conceived in an effort to reduce the average CO2 emissions of Porsche vehicles, according to Müller. "We will not separate ourselves from efforts to reduce CO2," he said. However, hybrid versions of the Cayenne SUV and Panamera are still expected to remain the German marque's most efficient vehicles.Normally a smaller engine would indicate a smaller price tag however this isn't likely to be the case with the new Porsches as Muller says the new power plant could produce "up to 395hp," or 295kW in our currency. That's significantly more than even the recently revealed GTS variants of both the Boxster and Cayman, which produce 243kW and 250kW respectively.The four-pot is expected to use direct and in-direct fuel injection, plus turbocharging technologies to cut emissions while improving power and efficiency over the outgoing 2.7 and 3.4-litre naturally flat six engines used by the current Boxster and Cayman.It is understood that the new four-cylinder boxer will be used uniquely by Porsche and not shared across the VW Group's vast brand portfolio. Because of the Porsche twins' unique mid-engine layout and specific packaging requirements the engine couldn't be used by other manufacturers, nor would it be used in the Audi Q5-based Macan SUV.However, if Audi commits to building a sub-R8 mid-engine sports car then the engine and chassis technology would likely be shared between the two brands. The new four-cylinder sports cars from Stuttgart aren't due to be released until the end of this decade. 

Expected to become the firm's most popular model, the SUV was previewed by the EXP 9 F concept car at the 2012 Geneva motor show. But the concept sparked controversy after its styling didn't 'click' with potential customers, so the Bentley designers revisited the model 's styling.The teaser image reveals a redesigned front bumper that integrates four headlights in signature Bentley fashion rather than the concept 's two. The overall profile also appears rounder than the concept 's with fewer sharp and visually challenging lines and more soft curves. Essentially, it looks more closely related to the Continental range than the Mulsanne.The SUV will ride on the Volkswagen Group 's new large car platform which will be shared with the next generation Audi Q7 and Porsche Cayenne, plus Lamborghini 's Urus SUV. Engine options will likely mirror those of the Continental initially, including the 4.0-litre twin turbo V8 and 6.0-litre twin-turbo W12, with hybrid and possibly diesel variants becoming available later in the model 's lifecycle.The new model will be built at Bentley 's Crewe facility in England. The factory is being upgraded to the tune of $1.45 billion over the next three years in preparation for the 3000 SUVs Bentley expect to build annually from 2016 onwards.

With the 308's new PureTech e-THP three-cylinder petrol engine on board, the 2014 European Car Of The Year winner averaged 2.37L/100km and travelled a total distance of 1810km on a single tank of fuel during an economy test – both are new records for a production car.The test was conducted at the Almeria circuit in Spain with the UTAC (Union Technique de l'Automobile, Motocycle et Cycle) authority present to witness the achievement. The car, equipped with a six-speed manual gearbox, was driven for over 32 hours by several drivers, such was the duration of this test.The vehicle used for the economy run was identical to the Peugeot 308 1.2 e-THP 130 that customers can now purchase in Europe. The model's combination of a high-pressure direct injection system and a high performance turbocharger used with a small displacement three-cylinder engine represents a significant technological breakthrough, according to Peugeot.The 308 is also the lightest vehicle in its class - which includes cars like the VW Golf and Ford Focus – further enhancing the engine's efficiency and performance capabilities. 

Most SUVs don't need all-wheel-drive. Many never venture off road, tackling nothing more challenging than a large speed bump or gutter. And all-wheel-drive systems add weight, while increasing cost and hurting fuel economy. BMW, well aware of the city-dwelling habitat of most of the SUVs it sells, is now offering both rear-wheel and all-wheel drive versions of the 25d that arrives this week as a new entry point to the X5 range.Priced from $82,900 the new X5 sDrive25d is also the first X5 to be offered with a four-cylinder engine. The 2.0-litre twin turbo diesel unit churns out 160kW and 450Nm of torque, while the gears are handled by the same eight-speed automatic used by the rest of the X5 range, though you'll have to plump for the more powerful and expensive xDrive35i and above to gain steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters. Fuel economy is quoted as an impressive 5.8L/100km for the sDrive25d and 6.0L/100km for its $87,900 all-wheel-drive equivalent.The introduction of the new four-cylinder variants has dropped the X5 entry price by around $10,000 over the previous generation. However, to accommodate the new models the price of the popular xDrive30d model has risen by over $6000 to $99,900. However, BMW says buyers are getting more standard equipment than before, including Parking Assistant and forward collision and pedestrian warning systems.BMW Australia expects customers to react positively to the new entry-level X5 models. "Both of these variants promise to be a cracking success, delivering typical BMW X5 performance and dynamics and the high levels of sophistication our customers have come to expect," spokesperson Toni Andreevski said.Also joining the X5 range this month are the xDrive35i and xDrive40d models. Priced from $106,900 the 35i is powered by BMW's award winning 3.0-litre turbocharged straight six engine which produces 225kW and 400Nm of torque. The sprint from zero to 100km/h takes 6.5 seconds (0.3 seconds quicker than before), while fuel consumption is rated at 8.5l/100km (down 1.6l/100km).The xDrive40d starts at $115,900 and employs a 3.0-litre twin turbo diesel straight six engine. With 230kW and a storming 630Nm of torque on tap, the 40d can sprint to three figures in just 5.9 seconds. And still, provided you're wearing your softest slippers, fuel consumption of just 6.2L/100km is achievable.  The 35i and 40d X5 models also feature a leather-covered dashboard, sports seats and a 16-speaker Harman/Kardon surround sound system over lesser models.  All of the new X5 models are on sale now, covered by BMW's Condition Based Service program.2014 BMW X5 pricing (including GST and LCT, but excluding on-roads)BMW X5 sDrive25d $82,900BMW X5 xDrive25d $87,900BMW X5 xDrive30d $99,900BMW X5 xDrive35i $106,900BMW X5 xDrive40d $115,900BMW X5 xDrive50i $133,900BMW X5 M50d $147,900 

Disguised to look just like the current model, the car in these latest images taken by Carsguide’s spy photographers suggests the 2015 Cayenne will appear sportier than before, but only if you’re really paying attention - the changes are subtle.The front bumper will incorporate a larger central grille, while the smaller intakes at each corner feature sporty strakes, similar to those found on the smaller Macan SUV. The headlights are also expected to receive minor tweaks but retain their overall shape.Porsche has also given the updated Cayenne a new chunkier rear bumper which houses redesigned exhaust tips. While disguised, the taillights are also tipped to change slightly, adopting a sleeker look.Interior changes will likely be minimal with the new car possibly employing the Macan’s 918 Spyder-inspired steering wheel. Adaptive cruise control with automatic braking, traffic sign detection and lane departure warning systems will also be added to the range.Because this is Porsche, the changes beneath the metal are far more substantial. The Cayenne S will trade its 4.8-litre naturally aspirated V8 for Porsche’s new 3.0-litre twin turbo V6. And as a result power and torque will swell from 294kW and 500Nm to 319kW and 520Nm respectively, representing a minor increase in outright performance. Fuel economy and emission figures are expected to improve significantly over the outgoing V8 model though.But if it’s efficiency you’re after Porsche is also replacing the Cayenne Hybrid with the ‘E-Hybrid’ model. Combining a 3.0-litre V6 petrol engine with an electric motor to give total power output of 306kW and 590Nm of torque, the E-Hybrid will probably be more environmentally friendly than most small hatchbacks. In the Panamera at least this clever drivetrain is able to use just 3.1l/100km while emitting 71g of CO2 per kilometre. We expect the new Cayenne E-Hybrid to be slightly thirstier than the petrol-electric Panamera due to its stout aerodynamic profile.The updated Cayenne range is expected to debut before the middle of this year as a 2015 model year car, possibly at next month’s New York Auto Show or the Beijing event held in the same month. 

Isuzu Ute has announced a limited edition version of its D-Max to be sold exclusively in Australia. Dubbed ‘X-Runner’, the new model is intended to bring more ‘street-cred’ to the existing range. Just 660 units of the new variant will be available, priced from $46,990 drive-away.Isuzu Ute Australia’s Dave Harding told Carsguide “the Isuzu D-Max X-Runner is exclusive to the Australian market. That said, it is loosely based on the Thai market’s special edition, the X-Series D-MAX.” The X-Runner can be had in either pearlescent white or black mica metallic paint, with contrasting decals. Further exterior accessories including gun-metal grey alloy wheels and sidesteps, black sports bar, body-coloured tonneau cover, plus a subtle body kit, come as standard.The interior has also been dressed up with seats trimmed in two-tone red and black fabric, a steering wheel with contrasting red stitching and high-gloss piano black dashboard inlays. “The 2014 X-Runner is geared more towards the urban market than hardcore off-roaders. Aesthetically the X-Runner will appeal to the younger end of the one-tonne ute market and those who want something a little bit different,” says Harding.The new special edition retains the standard D-Max’s 3.0-litre turbo diesel engine, which produces 130kW and 380Nm of torque. Fuel economy is listed as 8.3L/100km for the manual-equipped car, and 8.1L/100km for its automatic equivalent. Maximum towing capacity is rated at an impressive 3500kg, while the D-Max has also been awarded a five-star ANCAP safety rating.The X-Runner goes on sale on the 17th of March (next Monday) and is covered by Isuzu Ute’s five-year warranty and roadside assistance program. Harding expects all of the special edition vehicles to be sold before the middle of this year. “Last year’s X-Runner sold out in about three months – we expect this one to do the same”.Priced competitively at around $10,000 less than the similarly equipped Ford Ranger Wildtrak, the X-Runner could be seen as a value alternative. Harding says, “at less than $47k drive-away you could get an X-Runner D-MAX and that new dirt bike or jet ski you’ve always wanted for the price of a Wildtrak.”Given the success of the D-Max range, Isuzu Ute Australia could introduce more variants in the future. Harding said, “we are always looking at new model variants that will help us attract new members to the D-MAX family.” However, a more stylish limited edition version of Isuzu Ute’s other model, the MU-X SUV, isn’t currently on the cards. “At this stage there are no plans for a similar treatment to the MU-X,” says Harding. 

The wraps have come off the Honda Civic Type-R Concept that signals the styling for the new car that will be launched next year -- and hopefully reach our shores soon afterwards. The Japanese carmaker's design team says the the Type-R is more than just a high-performance road car, it's a 'racing car for the road'.The concept's lines suggest this will be the most extreme Civic Type-R in the model's history, with a strong focus on aerodynamics. As such a massive rear wing sits proudly atop the hatchback, while the body panels bristle with an arsenal of aggressive splitters and gills.They're all there to provide the downforce required to beat the front-drive Nurburgring lap record recently set by the Seat Leon Cupra. Honda has already promised that the Civic will become the first front-drive production car to lap the 'Ring in under eight minutes, and has used Nurburgring footage in much of its teaser campaign for the car.The concept's front is chiseled with deep air intakes incorporating LED daytime running lamps flanking the central grille. Louvres in the bonnet also help extract hot air from the engine bay to boost engine performance. Wheel arches are flared front and rear which, when combined with massive wheels and side skirts, gives the Type-R concept an overtly aggressive stance.But it's at the rear that the aggressive styling has been dialled up to eleven, making it clear that this is no mere Focus ST or Golf GTI rival. A dirty rear diffuser houses quad exhaust tips, while that vast rear wing – which incorporates the car's taillights – gives the Type R a level of presence that none of its predecessors could ever manage.Engine specifications for the production version are yet to be finalized, but powering the new Type R is a brand-new 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder. Gone are the days of V-TEC engines producing maximum torque at stratospherically high engine revolutions, rather the new car will likely feature a relatively flat power curve with maximum torque available from just 2000rpm. The peak power output will be more than 205kW.Carsguide drove a prototype version of the new Type R ahead of its expected 2015 showroom debut – we now just hope the latest hot Honda is destined for our shores.Watch the Honda Civic Type-R revealed video on our desktop site. 

Hyundai Australia has confirmed that the seventh generation of its mid-size sedan will return to our shores as the Sonata, after the name was dropped in 2010 in favour of i45.The most recent i45 model was removed from the local Hyundai model line-up early last year because of global supply issues."We've opted for 'Sonata because it's the global name for the car - the previous Sonata was called i45 in Australia, New Zealand, Singapore and Columbia only," Hyundai Australia spokesman Bill Thomas told Carsguide."The alphanumeric names apply to European-designed/built cars, so i20, i30, ix35, i40 are all Eurocentric, while cars with names - Elantra, Santa Fe, Sonata - are global cars.”Hyundai has revealed a teaser image of the new model ahead of its debut in Korea later this month, giving us our first glimpse at the car’s exterior styling. Hyundai’s Fluidic Sculpture 2.0 design language – first seen on the new Genesis luxury sedan - is expected to give the new Sonata a more premium and refined appearance.The Korean brand’s hexagonal grille features at the front, with flowing headlights bleeding into the chrome window frames. A muscular character line runs from behind the front wheel arch to the taillights, while the rear profile is sleek, incorporating what appears to be a hatchback tailgate.With the new Sonata, Hyundai says it has worked hard to improve safety and performance over the outgoing model. With testing undertaken at the infamous Nurburgring Nordschleife circuit in Germany, the company says it is confident its new car will meet and exceed customer expectations in terms of quality and refinement.“The all-new Sonata has evolved again, based on Hyundai Motor’s world-class technologies, and it will play an important role in further facilitating our shift from quantitative growth to qualitative growth,” Jeong Gil Park, head of the Hyundai engineering and design, says.”Increased use of advanced high-strength steel in the Sonata’s passenger cell has also resulted in an increase in torsional rigidity of 40 per cent over the current car. Hyundai is confident the new model will perform positively in crash testing.More information on Australian specifications and pricing will be released closer to the Sonata’s local launch later this year, but a 2.0-litre turbo version is on the plan. "We haven't got any details yet on specs for Sonata, or how that might change the model mix re i40. (But) drivetrain options will include a 2.0-litre turbo engine," Thomas says.He says it's too early to estimate whether global production will mean similar supply hurdles to those faced by the previous model. "Supply issues meant we couldn't justify the continued sale of the last car. We can't say how supply will differ with this new model, and I'm afraid we have no information about global production volume, except to say that it's one of our biggest-selling cars globally," he says.  

Lexus is swiftly shedding its beige cardigan image thanks to a range of recently launched stylish and sporty models. And the new wardrobe gains another addition with the Japanese carmaker’s newest variant, the RC 350 F Sport coupe set to be unveiled at Geneva motor show this week.A host of visual and mechanical changes over the standard RC – shown at the Tokyo motor show last November - aim to give the coupe a sporting edge to help it face off against key rivals like the BMW 4-Series.Powered by Lexus’ familiar 3.5-litre naturally-aspirated V6, the RC 350 F Sport sends 234kW of power and 380Nm of torque to the rear wheels via an eight-speed automatic gearbox with shift paddles as standard.The F Sport is fitted as standard with Adaptive Variable Suspension which uses magnetically controlled dampers to adjust suspension stiffness, allowing for a more compliant ride on broken tarmac or a more sporting feel in the corners.The system can be controlled by the car’s computerized brain automatically after it monitors the road surface and the RC’s body movement -- or the driver can select between Sport and Comfort modes independently.Sport mode also increases the weight of the steering while sharpening throttle and gearshift responses. And in this mode the LFA supercar-inspired digital instrument display changes shape and appearance, adding some visual drama to the driving experience.A rear-wheel-steering system is also adopted by the F Sport to aid turn in response, rear wheel traction, and agility. Computers monitor vehicle speed, steering angle, and lateral forces and can then cleverly turn the rear wheels by up to two degrees. Like Porsche’s new 911 GT3, the rear wheels turn in the opposite direction to the front ones at low speed, making the car feel more responsive, and at high speed the rears turn in the same direction as the fronts to aid stability.But all of its mechanical wizardry aside, the reason most buyers will be tempted by the F Sport over the standard coupe is likely to be the design and styling, with the F Sport visual upgrades sitting well on the  RC.The vast Lexus spindle grille now features F-specific mesh, front and rear bumpers are more aggressive, and 19-inch wheels with contrasting silver and black spokes are standard.Inside, the new model boasts an F-Sport steering wheel, metallic pedals and a premium gearshift lever.The new RC 350 F Sport will debut alongside its V8-powered, range-topping sibling, the RC F, at the show overnight tonight. 

There’s been considerable debate recently, with the arrival of the McLaren P1, Porsche 918, and the LaFerrari, over their designation as ‘hypercars’ rather than mere supercars. But Swedish supercar manufacturer, Koenigsegg, has gone a step further, saying we need a whole new word to categorise its new Agera One:1 model – ‘megacar’. Named the One:1 because of its power-to-weight ratio, the new model boasts one metric horsepower for every one kilogram of weight. That’s 1340hp (999kW in our language) and 1340kg, making the One:1 the world’s first car to match power and weight. Compared to the ‘standard’ Agera R, weight has been reduced and power is up. The carbon-fibre chassis is 20 per cent lighter than in the R, and the One:1 uses 3D printed components including a new lightweight titanium exhaust system and variable turbo housing. Power from the twin turbo 5.0-litre V8 has been boosted from 850kW to an eye-widening 999kW for the new model. The Koenigsegg also features a GPS-controlled predictive active chassis which works with variable ride height, adaptive dampers and spring rates to provide optimum stability and performance for the conditions. In the bends the One:1 can generate staggering 2G on road tyres, helped by active aerodynamics. 610kg of downforce is generated at 260km/h through a bevy of splitters, skirts and dive planes, plus that unique rear wing setup. The car also features 3G connectivity, allowing customers to record lap times and telemetry through an iPhone app. Vehicle software upgrades can also be installed wirelessly through the app. Performance figures are yet to be released, but Koenigsegg is saying, "top speed has not been a priority, as the One:1 is a track focused car - however, the One:1 is anticipated to be, the world's fastest homologated production car, with a simulated top speed of >440km/h , due to high power and high rpm capability in combination with strong tires and active aero." Provided the company can gain access to a long enough straight, the One:1 is going to do some damage.