Articles by Aiden Taylor

Peugeot has added new range-topping GT models to the local 308 hatch line up.Available with either a petrol or diesel engine, the new 308 GTs promise more performance than the existing models, but will sit below the upcoming 308 GTI hot hatch. Priced from $41,990 in petrol guise, the GT employs a 151kW/285Nm 1.6-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine mated to a six-speed manual gearbox.With a 0-100km/h time of 7.5 seconds, the GT is a full second slower than the much-loved and equally priced Volkswagen Golf GTI.   The diesel variant is $1000 more expensive at $42,990 but uses a 133kW/400Nm 2.0-litre four-pot and, unlike the manual-only petrol version, comes standard with a six-speed torque converter automatic gearbox with shift paddles. It's also 0.9 seconds slower from 0-100km/h. Combined fuel consumption for the petrol 308 GT is 5.6L/100km, while the diesel version sips an impressive 4.0L/100km combined. The 308 GT diesel is relatively unique in the warm hatch segment, with its nearest rival being the Skoda Octavia RS 135TDI. The Czech model manages the 0-100km/h sprint 0.1 seconds quicker, while costing $2900 less, but consuming 1.3L/100km more.Another similar alternative would be the top-spec Mazda3 XD Astina, which produces a near-dentical 129kW/420Nm, undercuts the Peugeot by $760 in automatic guise, but consumes 1.2L/100km more.Both 308 GT models get sportier suspension than standard, with spring and damper rates stiffened and a ride height lowered by 7mm at the front and 10mm at the rear.The GTs also score specific styling features including unique 18-inch alloys, dual exhaust outlets and chrome details around the front grille and window surrounds.Standard features across the GT range include, 9.7-inch touchscreen infotainment system with satnav, reverse camera with front parking sensors, keyless entry and start, LED headlights with daytime running lamps, active cruise control, emergency collision alert and auto brake, park assist and blind spot monitoring.The only optional extras are metallic paint ($990) and leather upholstered seats with heating in the front ($2500).Peugeot is also launching a new 110kW/240Nm 1.6-litre turbo four-cylinder engine mated to a six-speed auto across the 308 range this week.The new motor will be available in both hatch and Touring wagon body styles in Allure and Allure Premium trim levels for $2300 more than the existing petrol models.

If you find the standard Mercedes G-Class off-road warrior too small and tame, then we have good news for you.Mercedes-Benz has taken all the best heavy-duty components from the 3.5-tonne limited-build G63 AMG 6x6 and jammed them under a standard G-Class body to create the G500 4x4² concept for next month's Geneva motor show.  Likely headed for production, the concept rides on massive 325/55 all-terrain tyres wrapped around 22-inch alloys. It also sits 240mm higher than a standard G-Class  with lifted suspension and portal axles borrowed from its bigger 6x6 brother. Like all G-Class models, the show car also features permanent four-wheel drive with a low-range transfer case and three differential locks, which Mercedes claims gives the G500 4x4² extreme ability on sand, rock and water.The concept also hints at an updated regular G500 - adopting a 310kW non-AMG version of the brand's new 4.0-litre twin-turbo petrol V8 used by the AMG GT and C63. The existing G500 makes do with just 285kW from its 5.5-litre twin-turbo V8...  We expect this bright green beast to enter production soon, along with an updated regular G500.

BMW's X5 M and X6 M super SUVs return with boosted performance and efficiency.

Land Rover has the first images of the new facelifted Evoque SUV ahead of the model's public debut at next month's Geneva motor show.Boasting an all-new turbodiesel four-cylinder engine, revised styling and updated interior, the 2016 model aims to continue the current car's 'fastest-selling Land Rover ever' title.The new all-alloy 'Ingenium' diesel engine is shared with the incoming Jaguar XE sedan and will be offered in two states of tune - 110kW/380Nm in eD4 guise and the 132kW/430Nm TD4 - and both are expected for Australia.The less potent version can achieve 4.4L/100km combined on the European cycle when paired with a six-speed manual transmission and two-wheel drive, while the 132kW version still manages an impressive 4.8L/100km combined with four-wheel drive and a manual.Like the current model, the facelifed Evoque will also be available with a nine-speed torque converter automatic gearbox - an option box the vast majority of Australian customers will tick. Land Rover is yet to confirm fuel economy figures for the automatic models, however.  Land Rover has also tweaked the styling of the small SUV, adding a new range of alloy wheels, revised headlights with fully adaptive LED main beams and restyled daytime running lights, reworked taillights, new front bumper and two new grille designs to bring it in line with the newer Range Rovers.The interior has also received an update with new seats and door trims along with a redesigned instrument display and new eight-inch touchscreen infotainment system, with Jaguar Land Rover's InControl apps functionality. A new hands-free automatic opening tailgate has also been added to certain models. Like the Discovery Sport's system, it allows owners to open the tailgate by waving their foot under the rear bumper of the car.The facelifted Evoque also adopts the All Terrain Progress Control system seen in the bigger Range Rovers and is a traction-optimizing form of cruise control which works at speeds up to 30km/h to make off-road driving easier.New active safety features have also been added, including AEB, lane-keep assist and attention assist which detects when a driver is at risk of falling asleep .The updated Range Rover Evoque is expected to arrive in Australia in the first quarter of 2016. 

VW has updated its Touareg SUV range for 2015, to help the near four-year-old model compete with fresher rivals.  The Touareg's styling has also been tweaked, with a more aggressive front bumper, revised a headlight design, new rear bumper and redesigned alloys for all models.The base Touareg 150TDI jumps $4000 to a new list price of $67,990 - though satnav with voice recognition and xenon headlights have now been added as standard.Powered by a 3.0-litre turbodiesel V6 engine, the base 150TDI now produces an extra 50Nm of torque, bringing its outputs to 150kW/450Nm while retaining its 7.2L/100km combined fuel consumption figure. All models use the same eight-speed torque converter automatic gearbox with all-wheel drive as before.Other standard features on the entry-level model include, leather upholstery, 14-way adjustable and heated front seats, satnav, reverse camera with front and rear parking sensors and 18-inch alloy wheels.Stepping up to the mid-spec $81,990 Touareg V6TDI (up $1200) brings a more powerful version of the 150TDI's diesel V6, which pumps out the same 180kW/550Nm as before but features restyled 20-inch alloys.There are two option packages available on the both V6 models, including the $3500 Technology Pack which includes 360-degree camera system, electrically adjustable door mirrors, front seats and steering wheel, keyless entry and push button engine start.Also available is the $5400 Driver Assistance package, which brings adaptive cruise control, city emergency brake, blind-spot monitor and heated leather steering wheel.The price of the range-topping V8 TDI R-line model is unchanged at $114,990 and comes the VW Group's mighty 250kW/800Nm turbodiesel 4.2-litre V8 engine which can send the 2264kg luxury SUV to 100km/h in 5.8 seconds and achieve a combined fuel consumption of 9.2L/100km.On top of the V6 TDI's standard equipment, the V8 features the kit included in both the Technology and Driver Assistance packages plus two-tone leather upholstery, steering wheel-mounted gearshift paddles, 21-inch alloys and 620W 12 speaker Dynaudio premium sound system.The previous V6TDI 4XMotion off-road focused model with low-range transfer case has been dropped from the range.

Drive-away pricing, sharpened styling and revised features for Volkswagen's mid-size Jetta sedan.

The new off-road orientated Skoda Octavia Scout will hit local showrooms next month, with the second generation of the Octavia wagon-based model promising a blend of practicality and ability away from the blacktop. The Scout will rival cars like the Volkswagen Passat Alltrack and new Subaru Outback in the jacked-up wagon segment, and will likely be significantly cheaper than the $48,290 VW and similarly priced to the Japanese car which starts at $35,490. Three different engines will be offered in Australia, with the choice of a six-speed manual or dual-clutch automatic gearbox.The entry-level model is powered by a 110kW turbodiesel engine with a six-speed manual, while a 132kW petrol and 135kW diesel are also available exclusively with a dual-clutch auto. The 135TDI uses a similar 2.0-litre four-cylinder powertrain to its Passat Alltrack VW Group sibling, but the Skoda pushes out an extra 5kW.Like the Previos Scout, the new model uses a Haldex all-wheel drive system, and sits 31mm higher than standard Octavia models for off-road ground clearance.The new Scout also wears unique front and rear bumpers with black plastic moldings around the wheelarches that hint at the its off-road pretentions. There’s also extra underbody protection compared to the standard Octavia wagon for added ruggedness.Inside, the Scout is mostly standard Octavia wagon apart from the slightly higher-set driving position. Standard features include nine airbags, reversing camera with rear parking sensors and fatigue detection system, while up-spec 135TDI and 132TSI add eight-inch touchscreen infotainment with satnav, dual-zone air-con and automatic tailgate – these features can also be added to the base model through the optional Premium Pack. Optional on all models is the Tech Pack, which includes adaptive cruise control, xenon headlights, auto park assist, premium sound system, keyless entry and start, drive mode selector and city emergency brake system – though oddly not available on the 135TDI diesel. For the first time on a Skoda, a new camera-based lane-keep assist system is also available as part of the optional Tech Pack. The new Skoda Octavia Scout 4x4 goes on sale across Australia on March 26. 

Land Rover’s fastest model ever will soon arrive in Australia, aiming to tempt customers away from existing German performance SUVs like the BMW X5 M and Porsche Cayenne Turbo.Priced from $218,500, the new Range Rover Sport SVR is the first Jaguar Land Rover product to come from the recently established Special Vehicle Operations team, which is similar to Mercedes’ in-house tuning experts AMG or BMW's M GmbH. Powered by the same 404kW/680Nm 5.0-litre supercharged V8 as the stunning Jaguar F-Type R sports car, the SVR’s motor packs an additional 30kW and 55Nm over the regular supercharged V8 Range Rover Sport. With an active sports exhaust system with electronically controlled valves which open under heavy throttle or at around 3000rpm, the SVR should also sound just as naughty as its Jaguar sports car cousin.The newcomer can complete the 0-100km/h run in 4.7 seconds and go onto a limited top speed of 260km/h, while combined fuel consumption is 12.8L/100km – the same as the standard petrol V8 model. The eight-speed ZF torque converter automatic transmission with paddles is carried over from the standard car, but software tweaks have decreased shift times by up to 50 per cent. The Special Vehicle Operations team have also reworked the chassis and four-wheel drive system to give better on-road dynamics without compromising the car’s capability on rough terrain. Up to 100 per cent of the V8’s torque can be sent to either axle, and the rear locking differential has been enhanced by a brake-based torque vectoring system. The SVR also gets 20 per cent stiffer rear subframe bushes, hydraulic anti-roll bars and a modified air-suspension system with continuously variable adaptive dampers.Despite the new model’s sporting intentions, the ride height hasn’t been changed so the Sport’s best in-class 850mm wading depth with up to 272mm suspension travel remains.The standard wheel and tyre package includes 21-inch alloys wrapped in 275/45 all-season tyres, while a more road-focused setup with 22-inch hoops wearing 295/40 Continental performance tyres is available – you won’t be able to match the SVR’s impressive 8 minute 14 second Nurburgring lap time without them. The hi-po Range Rover also features a number of bespoke body panels and interior pieces that differentiate it from the less performance focused variants, including more aggressive front and rear bumpers, quad exhaust tips and sports bucket seats inside. The SVR’s most direct rival is the 383kW $230,800 Porsche Cayenne Turbo, which it undercuts on price but the Range Rover uses more fuel and isn’t as accelerative as the Porsche which can hit 100km/h in 4.5 seconds. The new Range Rover Sport SVR goes on sale locally in around three months time in May. 

Renault's enrty into the booming baby SUV segment has arrived in Australia, promising an impressive list of standard equipment along with customisable styling.Standard features across the Captur range include a reverse camera with rear parking sensors, satnav, auto wipers and headlights, keyless entry and two-tone alloy wheels, while a unique two-tone body colour can be optioned on all models. Priced from $22,990, the entry-level Captur Expression is powered by a 0.9-litre three-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine which serves up 66kW/135Nm, connected to a five-speed manual transmission. Buyers wanting an automatic will need to step up to the $25,990 88kW/190Nm 1.2-litre turbocharged four-cylinder version which is equipped with a six-speed dual-clutch auto.Combined fuel consumption for the Clio-based SUV in manual guise is 4.9L/100km, while the auto-equipped four-cylinder models use 5.4L/100km combined. The $27,990 range-topping Captur Dynamique gets the same hardware as the mid-spec four-cylinder auto Expression, but adds chrome interior highlights, removable and washable seat covers, bigger 17-inch machine-finished alloys and comes standard with contrasting roof and door mirrors. The versatile interior of the Captur SUV also has a sliding rear bench seat which allows for an impressive seats-up cargo volume of up to 455 litres.

The third addition to the BMW 2 Series range will hit local showrooms next month, with the Convertible joining the coupe and front-drive Active Tourer bodystyles.Priced from $54,900, the 1 Series Convertible replacement is slightly less expensive than its predecessor which started at $56,000 and came with less standard equipment.While the 2 Series drop-top is around $7,000 more expensive than its most obvious Audi A3 Cabriolet rival, the entry BMW is more powerful and fitted with more standard equipment like satnav and a reverse camera.The 2 Series Convertible range will only be available with petrol power from launch, with the 135kW/270Nm 220i as the entry point to the range.As standard, you get the eight-speed automatic transmission with rear-wheel drive, auto start-stop fuel saving system, satnav, 17-inch alloy wheels and reversing camera with rear parking sensors.Stepping up to the $68,900 228i Convertible brings the more powerful 180kW/350Nm 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine and a 0-100km/h time of 6.0 seconds.The mid-spec convertible also gains variable sport steering, 18-inch alloys, front parking sensors, Bi-Xenon headlights and leather upholstery on top of the standard items fitted to the 220i.The range-topping $85,800 M235i Convertible is powered by a 240kW/450Nm 3.0-litre turbocharged straight six that can fling the sporty drop-top to 100km/h in 5.0 seconds.On top of the standard equipment in the 228i, the M Performance model gets adaptive suspension, beefier brakes, redesigned 18-inch alloys, more aggressive front and rear bumpers, sports steering wheel and BMW’s Professional navigation system which has a larger 8.8-inch infotainment screen – up from the 6.5-inch screen in lesser variants.The 2 Series Convertible is fitted with an electronically removable fabric roof which can be raised or lowered in 20 seconds at speeds of up to 50km/h, while additional sound insulation over the old 1 Series drop-top has reduced interior noise by up to 7dB.Thanks to its slightly larger dimensions compared to its predecessor, boot space has swollen by 30-litres to 355-lites, which drops to 280-litres with the roof down.Structural rigidity has also been improved, with the open-top 2 Series boasting a 20 per cent increase in torsional stiffness and 10 per cent better bending resistance compared to the old 1 Series.The new BMW 2 Series Convertible will arrive in Australia towards the end of February.