Articles by Byron Mathioudakis

Byron Mathioudakis
Contributing Journalist

Byron started his motoring journalism career when he joined John Mellor in 1997 before becoming a freelance motoring writer two years later.

He wrote for several motoring publications and was ABC Youth radio Triple J's "all things automotive" correspondent from 2001 to 2003.

He rejoined John Mellor in early 2003 and has been with GoAutoMedia as a senior product and industry journalist ever since.

With an eye for detail and a vast knowledge base of both new and used cars Byron lives and breathes motoring.

His encyclopedic knowledge of cars was acquired from childhood by reading just about every issue of every car magazine ever to hit a newsstand in Australia.

The child Byron was the consummate car spotter, devoured and collected anything written about cars that he could lay his hands on and by nine had driven more imaginary miles at the wheel of the family Ford Falcon in the driveway at home than many people drive in a lifetime.

The teenage Byron filled in the agonising years leading up to getting his driver's license by reading the words of the leading motoring editors of the country and learning what they look for in a car and how to write it.

In short, Byron loves cars and knows pretty much all there is to know about every vehicle released during his lifetime as well as most of the ones that were around before then.

Nissan Qashqai e-Power to be ordered online
By Byron Mathioudakis · 11 Oct 2023
Want a Qashqai hybrid sooner? Have your credit card and a reliable internet connection ready because it will be a case of first in, best dressed! Nissan has announced that its initial allotment of Qashqai e-Power models for Australia will go on sale on-line sometime in the next few weeks, with the first batch of deliveries scheduled to be in buyers’ hands from January.
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Nissan Patrol 2024 review: Warrior - off-road test
By Byron Mathioudakis · 05 Oct 2023
In contrast to the regular Nissan Y62 Patrol, the Warrior version harks back to earlier models in being much more off-road focused, thanks to vehicle engineering firm, Premcar of Melbourne. Like the popular Navara Warrior, the 4WD wagon gains upgraded suspension, wheels, body protection and clearances, along with some subtle visual and interior changes. Result? This is the best Y62 Patrol ever.
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Mini Cooper hatchback is here to stay
By Byron Mathioudakis · 02 Oct 2023
Mini has promised that it will stay true to the classic city-friendly two-box runabout formula, as epitomised by today’s Cooper three-door hatch, no matter how many SUVs and crossovers the brand introduces in the future.
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BMW to 'tour' iX5 Hydrogen FCEVs in Australia
By Byron Mathioudakis · 01 Oct 2023
BMW has announced that a small fleet of hydrogen fuel-cell electric vehicles (FCEVs) will be brought to Australia next year. Due in the first half of 2024, three iX5 Hydrogen prototypes will land in Melbourne for a six-month tour of the country, as part of BMW’s global test program that will also see them complete visits to regions running the entire spectrum of climate and geographic experiences.
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Mini looks to a Moke version of Countryman
By Byron Mathioudakis · 30 Sep 2023
Is Mini planning to revive the spirit of the classic old Moke as a Subaru Outback or Crosstrek Wilderness-style off-road-focused offshoot of future SUVs and crossovers? This might be one of the very intriguing directions the German-owned British brand could be headed in, starting with the third-generation, U25-series Countryman launching in Australia next year.
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2025 Mini Cooper Electric: design secrets
By Byron Mathioudakis · 29 Sep 2023
This is the 2024 Mini Cooper Electric. It possesses all the fundamental styling cues beloved by fans of the brand – from the round headlights, upright turret with a floating roof, a long wheelbase with wheels tucked in each corner for tiny overhangs front and rear, and a low, stout stance.
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2024 Nissan Y62 Patrol Warrior price revealed
By Byron Mathioudakis · 21 Sep 2023
Nissan’s long-awaited Patrol Warrior’s pricing has finally dropped, ahead of its Australian launch next week.
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2024 Suzuki Jimny 5DR: New info dump
By Byron Mathioudakis · 21 Sep 2023
If you’re after a new Suzuki Jimny auto this year – then you’re plum out of luck. All 500 of the current GJ-series three-door models were snapped up within five hours of going back on sale after an eight-month hiatus at midday on Monday, September 18, and there’s no word as-yet when the next batch will return – meaning the stop-sale resumes.
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Opel says Australia is 'on its list' at last
By Byron Mathioudakis · 17 Sep 2023
Opel has confirmed that it is considering selling vehicles in Australia again, but – as per the New Zealand model – not in the traditional sense, and likely with electric vehicles (EVs) only.
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2025 BMW iX3 to be an EV SUV breakthrough
By Byron Mathioudakis · 15 Sep 2023
BMW has teased a few blurry images of what may be its most important electric vehicle (EV) launch this decade. Codenamed NA5 and set to drop sometime in 2025 as the second-generation iX3, the electric midsized SUV is set to be the brand's volume-selling EV, leading it into the second half of this decade against key rivals like the Tesla Model Y, Mercedes-Benz EQC II, Polestar 3, Audi Q6 e-tron an
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