Articles by Aiden Taylor

The Australian-built Holden Cruze sedan and hatch range has received a refresh for 2015 and promises better value than ever before. Along with additional equipment, the updated Cruze features a redesigned front bumper with LED daytime running lights on certain models and a more modern grille that’s reminiscent of recent Chevrolet concept cars and the VF Commodore. The Cruze Equipe gains new 17-inch alloy wheels and side mirrors with integrated turn signals on top of already standard features like MyLink infotainment system with seven-inch touchscreen, rear parking sensors and Bluetooth phone and audio. The 2015 updates add LED daytime running lights and fog lamps to the Cruze SRi in addition to the Equipe’s standard features, while the range-topping SRi-V packs 18-inch alloys, rain-sensing wipers and suede seat inserts. The remote start functionality first seen on the VF Commodore is also now being introduced on the Cruze SRi-V. Satnav with live traffic updates and voice activation is also now standard on the Cruze CDX wagon, in addition to the keyless entry, push button start and rear view camera already offered. Drivetrain options in the Cruze include two petrol and one diesel engine, depending on the trim level, while transmission options include a six-speed auto, six-speed manual and five-speed manual with availability being model dependent.  All SRi badged models are powered by a 132kW/230Nm 1.6-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine which is mated to either a six-speed auto or manual gearbox.  The Equipe uses a 104kW/175Nm 1.8-litre naturally aspirated four-pot as standard with either a five-speed manual or six-speed auto transmission. The more powerful 1.6-litre turbo engine or 120kW.360Nm 2.0-litre turbodiesel unit can also be optioned should you require the extra punch, but both are only available in auto guise. Z Series models can only be had with the less powerful 1.8-litre engine with either a five-speed manual or six-speed automatic gearbox.The CD and CDX Cruze Wagon variants are offered with either the 1.8-litre petrol or the turbodiesel four-cylinder with the six-speed auto being the only transmission choice. The new revised Holden Cruze is now on sale across Australia. 

BMW has taken the wraps off the facelifted 1 Series range, which will bring updated styling and engines to the small hatch lineup.Headlining the changes are completely redesigned head and taillights with revised front and rear bumpers that help correct the previous model's polarising styling.The new bonnet and front bumper also give the 1 Series a more aggressive appearance than before, while bringing the model’s design in line with newer BMWs like the 4 Series and X4 SUV.Daytime running LED lights positioned within the main headlights are also fitted as standard on the new model, while full LED lamps are available as an option.At the rear the new 1 gets refreshed taillights with distinctive L-shaped LEDs and a revised tailgate design that gives the hatchback a stylish 6 Series inspired design.The interior has also had a makeover, although the changes are less noticeable and limited to material upgrades around the centre console.Revisions have been made beneath the sheetmetal too, with BMW’s new three-cylinder engine family (first seen in the new Mini) introduced across the entry-level models.The petrol 116i will swap its current 100kW/220Nm 1.6-litre four-cylinder engine for the new 80kW/180Nm 1.5-litre three-cylinder motor, which can use as little as 5.0L/100km on the European cycle.However the power deficit compared to the four-pot means the new 116i is around two seconds slower from 0-100km/h than the outgoing model.An efficiency-focused 116d Efficient Dynamics Edition model is also being launched, powered by an 85kW/270Nm diesel three-cylinder and can return 3.4L/100km combined on the European cycle. It's unclear at this stage if this variant will be offered locally.The petrol 118i is also taking a power cut but keeps the same 1.6-litre turbo engine as before. It’s revised 100kW/220Nm  output is 20kW and 30Nm less than the outgoing version and it’s 0-100km/h time has increased by a smidge over a second to 8.5, though fuel consumption has dropped 0.1L/100km to 5.4L/100km combined on the European cycle. At the top of the range, the M135i performance model receives a 5kW power boost, bringing the outputs of its 3.0-litre turbocharged straight six to the same 240kW/450Nm as its more recent two-door M235i stablemate.Despite the extra power, with the no-cost option eight-speed automatic gearbox specified, the M135i still takes 4.9 seconds to reach 100km/h – the M235i is a tenth quicker.The new BMW 1 Series range is expected to arrive in Australia in the second half of this year. 

Audi has confirmed that the new TT sports coupe will be priced from $71,950 when it launches in Australia in the coming weeks.Pricing for the rest of the TT lineup will have to wait until the car’s local launch, but information regarding the entry coupe’s engine specs and standard features have been revealed.The new entry price is $2600 more than the model it replaces, but the new entry TT will step up from the 118kW/250Nm 1.8-litre turbo petrol engine to the 169kW/370Nm 2.0-litre turbo petrol four cylinder.Comparing the existing 2.0-litre model with the new third-generation reveals that the newcomer is actually around $3500 less expensive and 14kW more powerful.Unlike the outgoing model, the new Audi TT will be offered with a manual transmission, while an S-Tronic seven-speed dual-clutch automatic will also be offered – most likely as an optional extra.A front-wheel drive setup is standard while the all-paw Quattro system will be optionally available and helps the TT coupe hit 100km/h in 5.3 seconds with the S-Tronic transmission.The new model will be available in two different trim levels – Sport and S-Line -, and the ‘Audi virtual cockpit’ digitally configurable instrument display will be standard on both, along with satnav, electric seats with leather and Alcantara upholstery and convenience keys.Matrix LED headlights which can electronically shine the car’s high-beam lights away from oncoming drivers will be available as an optional extra, while alloy wheels measuring up to 20 inches will also be offered.Pricing and local specs for the convertible TT roadster variants and range-topping 228kW TTS performer are yet to be confirmed.

Lexus has unveiled the new GS F sports sedan at the 2015 Detroit motor show overnight.The GS F is Lexus’ third F-badged V8 performance car and the first to be based on the larger GS luxury sedan, which is otherwise only offered with V6 and hybrid powertrains.Featuring a much more aggressive stance than the standard GS models, the F sits lower and wider with flared wheel arches at both ends and completely redesigned front and rear bumpers.The front takes on Lexus’ big spindle grille with aggressive air intakes as well as redesigned slim headlights with signature tick-shaped daytime-running LEDs.At the rear the GS F features tweaked taillights, and a new rear diffuser housing quad stacked exhaust tips in typical F fashion.A large vent behind the front wheel has also been added along with a subtle carbon fibre rear lip spoiler and sportier side-skirts.On the inside, the GS F gains a sports steering wheel, digital configurable instrument cluster, sports seats and carbon fibre and Alcantara trimmings.Under the GS F's bonnet is the same 348kW/527Nm 5.0-litre V8 as the impending RC F coupe, with the same eight-speed torque converter automatic handling shifting duties.Three different transmission settings can be selected to give faster and more visceral gear shifts for spirited driving, or smooth changes for comfier cruising. Compared to its key rivals like the BMW M5 and Mercedes E63 AMG, the Lexus produces significantly less power than the 400kW plus Germans but at 1830kg is lighter thanks to its aluminium-intensive structure – though a 0-100km/h figure hasn't been revealed. Drive goes through the rear wheels via a torque vectoring differential – also borrowed from the RC F – that features three different modes including Standard, Slalom and Track. The latter two settings give the GS F improved stability and cornering agility over the default Standard setting. Compared to the standard GS sedan the F model features structural reinforcements, redesigned suspension and larger 19-inch wheels and tyres which cover bigger brakes with bright orange calipers.Tyres are 255/35 at the front with fat 275/35s in the rear provided by Michelin.The GS F is yet to be confirmed for Australia, but an early 2016 arrival is on the cards. 

The wraps have finally come off the production-ready reborn Honda NSX supercar in Detroit overnight, after a lengthy teaser campaign lasting over two years.Like the original NSX which was the world’s first all-aluminium supercar, the second-gen model is stuffed full of new technology including an advanced hybrid powertrain.Honda is keeping its cards close to its chest regarding power or performance figures, but has confirmed that the new-age NSX features a twin-turbo dry-sump V6 petrol engine which is mated to a brand-new Honda-developed nine-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox.Further, three electric motors are said to give the hybrid supercar instantaneous response, improved agility and greater traction while also improving fuel efficiency.Two motors drive the front axle, effectively giving the NSX all-wheel drive and torque-vectoring capability, while a third sits between the petrol engine and gearbox to act as a torque-filler (like the McLaren P1’s system) to give quicker acceleration and faster gearshifts.The new NSX also uses a hybrid body construction consisting of aluminium and carbon fibre to reduce weight and give supercar-levels of structural rigidity. The majority of the car’s architecture is aluminium, but carbon is used in the floor to give the car a rigid backbone.Suspension is fully independent front and rear, while Honda says the car’s heavier items like the battery pack, combustion engine and electric motors have all been placed as low as possible to give the NSX the lowest center of gravity in its class.Carbon ceramic brakes with six-piston front calipers and four-piston rear stoppers also aim to reduce unsprung mass and improve the handling.Staggered alloy wheels measuring 19x8.5 inches up front and 20x11 inches at the rear also give the new NSX an aggressive stance, while rubber is provided by high-performance Continentals.The reborn NSX features four different driving modes which include Quiet, Sport, Sport+ and Track which adjust the powertrain response, gearshift speed and damper stiffness. Quiet mode offers electric-only driving at low speeds for an unspecified range.A launch control system is also fitted which primes the transmission, electric motors and twin-turbo V6 for the ultimate acceleration off the line – though a 0-100km/h time still hasn’t been revealed, it’s expected to be in the three-second range.The reborn NSX’s styling hasn’t varied dramatically from the previous concept versions, though it has been tweaked in most areas for production. The nose has been made more upright presumably for pedestrian safety purposes, cooling ducts fitted to the bonnet, gills added behind the front wheels and a large central exhaust outlet added to the rear.Physically the car has grown slightly too compared to the original concept – 80mm in length to 4470mm, 25mm in width to 1940mm, 15mm in height to 1215mm and 20mm in wheelbase to 2630mm.These figures also represent a significant increase in size over the original NSX which debuted in 1990 and ended production in 2005.Inside, the new NSX features a digital TFT instrument display and an overall design which has been centered around the driver with an emphasis placed on ergonomics and visibility.The design isn’t going to wow a Lamborghini or Ferrari buyer, but the new NSX is expected to offer 458-rivalling performance for a fraction of the price when it goes on sale in Australia in 2016. 

Topless Alfa 4C sports car revealed at the Detroit motor show.Alfa Romeo has taken the wraps off the production version of the new 4C Spider, as previewed by the Spider concept at last year's 2014 Geneva motor show.Based around the same mid-engine carbon fibre monocoque structure as the 4C coupe, at 1128kg the Spider is only 10kg heavier than its hardtop sibling and around 180kg lighter than its nearest Porsche Boxster rival.That exotic carbon fibre structure also means the 4C should lose little chassis rigidity in the transformation from hardtop to Spider, though it is believed Alfa Romeo has tweaked the suspension slightly to compensate for the loss of the fixed roof.The roof is a manually removable lightweight carbon fibre item to match the distinctive composite windshield. The rear buttress can also be specified in carbon fibre but comes finished in black as standard.Power is supplied by the same 1.75-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine as the coupe, which sends 177kW/350Nm to the rear wheels via a six-speed twin-clutch transmission. While a 0-100km/h acceleration figure hasn’t been specified, the Spider should match the coupe’s 4.5 seconds – 0-96km/h (60mph) is claimed to take 4.1 seconds.Like the coupe, the new 4C Spider does without power assisted steering in its pursuit of lightweight performance and purist handling feedback.Visually, the new Spider can be differentiated from its coupe counterpart by its new cooling ducts placed ahead of the rear wheels, redesigned alloys, new engine cover and centre mounted exhaust tips if the optional Akrapovic titanium exhaust is fitted.Three different exhausts will be available on the 4C Spider – the standard system, a race setup that does without mufflers and features Y-shaped cats for reduced cabin drone and the dual-mode Akrapovic system.The cabin of the 4C Spider mimics the coupe’s and features the same sparse design with flat-bottom steering wheel, digital TFT instrument display and Alfa Romeo’s DNA drive mode selector.Moving up from All-weather to Race mode through Natural and Dynamic, introduces varying degrees of electronic stability control intervention, faster gearshifts and revised differential actuation. A launch control system is also calibrated into Race mode, designed to give the ultimate getaway.Strong overseas demand and limited build numbers for the 4C coupe has delayed its arrival on local shores, but is expected to become available in the coming months.The new 4C Spider variant isn’t expected to arrive in local showrooms for at least another twelve months.  

Jaguar has today confirmed that its upcoming BMW X5-rivalling premium SUV will wear 'F-Pace’ badging when it hits showrooms next year. Previewed by the CX-17 SUV concept in 2013, the new model will be Jaguar’s first production high-rider but the British brand claims the model will be clearly linked to the F-Type sports car.Jaguar design boss Ian Callum said the F-Pace offers a unique combination of Jaguar sports car inspired exterior design, fused with a practical and spacious luxury interior.“The F-Pace is our family sports car,” he said.The key design link between the two F-badged models will be sleek rear light design and bold exterior surfacing to give a distinctively sporty look. The ‘F’ part of the SUV’s name could also be a reference to the car’s physical size being similar to the mid-size XF range.The F-Pace will employ a lightweight all-alloy body structure derived from the all-wheel drive architecture which underpins the current Range Rover Sport – though the Jaguar is expected to be slightly smaller and will only have seating for five rather than the seven offered in the Range Rover. Engine options are expected to include the 250kW supercharged 3.0-litre V6 from the new XE S sedan and F-Type models, and 3.0-litre 202kW V6 diesel with the big 404kW 5.0-litre supercharged V8 possibly destined for an F-Pace R high performance variant.  Jaguar’s first SUV will go on sale in 2016, and could be revealed in production form as early as this year’s Geneva motor show in March.

New Infiniti Q60 coupe concept hints at replacement for ageing existing model.

Production-ready Honda NSX hybrid supercar teased ahead of its official unveiling in Detroit next month.The long-coming production version of the reborn Honda NSX supercar will make its debut in Detroit next month, Honda has confirmed.Teased in a new image with some strategcally placed shadows, the production NSX looks to have lost none of the futuristic design cues of the several concept versions that have preceded it.  Originally shown in concept form at 2012’s Detroit motor show, it’s taken exactly three years and three concept cars to arrive at the final production version, which will be built at Honda’s manufacturing facility in Ohio U.S where most of the development work has also taken place. But not to worry, the car won’t be left-hook only, with Honda already confirming the new NSX will also come to Australia. Visually, the new NSX isn’t expected to stray far from the 2013 concept car, which featured an aggressive ‘shield’-type front grille, sharp lines and decidedly mid-engine proportions. The interior design of the 2013 Detroit show car was also considered to be close to showroom-ready and suggested we'll see a large iPad-like centre touchscreen, plenty of carbon fibre and a digital instrument display similar to that of the new Audi TT or Lamborghini Huracan.Unlike the original NSX which featured a relatively basic naturally-aspirated V6 engine, its successor will take a more forward-thinking approach with a hybrid-electric drivetrain. Honda has confirmed a twin-turbo V6 petrol engine will sit between the passenger cell and rear wheels, while a further three electric motors will provide an extra boost of torque and power. Each of the front wheels will be driven by an electric motor effectively giving the NSX all-wheel drive. The third motor is believed to sit between the petrol engine and the car’s dual-clutch gearbox acting as a torque filler in a similar setup to the McLaren P1 and LaFerrari hybrid hypercars.  But where those hybrids were limited-run specials with sky-high price tags, the NSX will be a more attainable series production car to rival the BMW i8, Audi R8 and Porsche 911. Like the original NSX however, the new model is reportedly aiming to offer Ferrari-rivaling performance at a more affordable price. Honda is keeping tight lipped on official power and torque figures for now, but it is likely to make much more than the 230kW plus stated previously.  The new NSX will debut at the Detroit motor show on January 12 and is expected to arrive in Australia early 2016. 

Invisible pillar tech set to boost safety by banishing blind spots.Augmented reality systems could soon remove the blind spots caused by intrusive roof pillars in future Jaguar and Land Rover vehicles.Similar to the off-road-orientated transparent bonnet technology showcased by Land Rover at this year’s New York motor show, the augmented reality tech has now found a more mainstream application in see-through pillars.The invisible pillar tech works by taking a live video feed from various angles around the car and displaying the image in real time on a screen which is built into each of the pillars.The system virtually gives the driver a 360 degree view around the car – providing they can peer around the headrests and irritating rear seat passengers. Maybe they can make them invisible too? These screens are also connected to an advanced head-up display device which can highlight obstacles, pedestrians or other motorists via an on-screen alert.The transparent pillars may also be activated via the car’s indicator signals, so when the driver applies their right turn signal to merge, overtake or enter a side street, the pillars on the right side of the car become transparent.Jaguar also says the 360-degree virtual windscreen technology has the potential to be linked with the Cloud to connect the car with road infrastructure and local businesses.For example, the windscreen could display the fuel prices of the nearest petrol station or the number of parking spaces available at a nearby car park. It could probably show your Twitter and Facebook notifications too, but that may be somewhat unsafe.Jaguar Land Rover is also using its virtual windscreen electronics to make satellite navigation systems more user-friendly by projecting a ‘ghost car’ onto the windscreen for the driver to follow to their destination.The aim is to make driving safer by reducing the potential for accidents, said Dr Wolfgang Epple, R&D boss at Jaguar Land Rover.“The Jaguar Land Rover research team is developing this technology to improve visibility and to give the driver with the right information at the right time,” he said.  “If we can keep the driver’s eyes on the road ahead and present information in a non-distracting way, we can help drivers make better decisions in the most demanding and congested driving environments.”