Articles by CarsGuide team

Having opened the motorsport season in style, Autosport International fell quiet on 15 January 2012 following a spectacular weekend for racing fans at the Birmingham NEC.  “Autosport International 2012 has been our most exhilarating event yet,” commented Show Director Ian France.  “Outstanding exhibits have been complemented by fantastic live action and insightful interviews from some of the biggest personalities in the sport. We now turn our attentions to making next year’s show even more impressive.” Motorsport fans should reserve 17-20 January 2013 in their diaries for Autosport International 2013.

But in the run-off stakes, few fields do it better than the rally drivers. Spins, flips and water dips are all a par for the rally course.

Bill Ford will deliver the keynote address to the 2012 Mobile World Congress on February 27 in Barcelona, Spain, outlining the company's future vision for smart transportation and personal mobility.Mr Ford will be the first automotive leader to deliver a keynote address to the Mobile World Congress which is among the world's most influential mobile technology events.He will discuss how technology and innovation can enhance personal freedom and mobility despite increasing vehicle populations and rapid urbanisation.The address follows announcement at Detroit motor show that Ford will invest a further $103 million in clean technology and additional upgrades across the locally-produced Falcon and Territory lines.The investment could enhance the competitiveness of Falcon and Territory by further reducing CO2 emissions and improving Falcon's safety profile. The upgraded models will be launched in 2014 and will take Falcon through to at least the end of 2016.

Wagon tale on the drag strip? That’s no way to start a family vacation.

Leading up to the adfest that is the Super Bowl, VW has hinted at what they will be showing the world – with a chorus of dogs barking the Star Wars theme.

And June's Silverstone Classic will be one of just three official showpiece events celebrating the 50th anniversary of the MGB, widely hailed as one of Britain's most cherished sportscars.  The world's biggest classic motor racing festival has teamed up with the MG Car Club and the MGB50 committee to establish a special trilogy of birthday parties to mark what's a very special golden anniversary for the enduring and endearing MGB.  The celebrations for the world famous `B' open with MGLive! in June and conclude with a static showcase gathering at Blenheim Palace in September. In between comes this year's all-action, three-day Silverstone Classic, staged at the home of the British Formula 1 Grand Prix from 20-22 July. All MGB owners attending these three special trilogy events will be presented with a unique commemorative rally plaque exclusive to the individual festivity.  As well as featuring the very best of historic racing plus live music from classic rock bands, the Silverstone Classic is renowned for its huge car club displays often highlighting significant milestones in the history of iconic marques. Last year's Classic marked the 50th anniversary of another truly great British sportscar when more than 1000 E-type Jaguars helped to establish a new Guinness World Record.  Now the focus will switch to the much-loved MGB, first launched to the public at the Earls Court Motor Show in 1962.

... another one before the weekend if recent trends hold.Average prices jumped from 136.7 cents a litre to 144.1 cents last Wednesday night. If the timing is the same this week, the rising price will skim more money out of our wallets again by Australia Day on Thursday. And for those planning a four-day weekend, the pain at the pump could get worse. According to the RACV website, petrol prices will likely jump again on Friday - and remain high on Saturday as well. But it's not set in stone, as earlier this month prices peaked on Monday, January 9, when many people returned to work, before a gradual decline until last Wednesday.

With impressive value-for-money, the DR650SE is now available in a distinctive new grey colour scheme as well as white. Giving riders plenty of low-to-mid range torque, the DR650SE is powered by a 644cc, four-stroke, air-cooled engine with electro-coated cylinder liner to minimise wear. The lightweight engine features electric starter and a five-speed transmission. The DR650SE is ideal for long haul trips as well as short bursts on the trail and provides a comfortable and enjoyable ride with its cushioned seat and aluminium footpegs. Its lightweight frame and long-travel suspension with 260mm of wheel travel tames tough terrain. The DR650SE is also learner approved, making it perfect for riders just starting out. Priced at $7,990, the Suzuki DR650SE is backed by a two-year, unlimited kilometre warranty.Although it's largely pitched as a street-legal trail machine, the DR650SE is also learner approved, making it an option for riders just starting out.

The open-top two-seater has a completely new lightweight body and revamped chassis. Weight has been reduced which combines with with a longer wheelbase, wider track, larger wheels and new electro-mechanical power steering to take the mid-engined roadster's dynamics to an eye watering level. The new Porsche Boxster also boasts improved performance and up to 15 per cent greater fuel efficiency with less than 8.0 litres/ 100km achievable. It has a new look too with the body sporting shorter overhangs, a more forward windscreen, distinctive silhouette and expressive edges. Occupants are enclosed by the redesigned, fully electric roof which now dispenses with a convertible top compartment lid. The interior offers more space and reflects the new Porsche design language with raked centre console originating from the Carrera GT. Both Boxster and Boxster S run flat-six engines with direct petrol injection, the efficiency of which is further enhanced by electrical system recuperation, thermal management and start/stop function. The base model's new engine delivers 195 kW from a 2.7 litre displacement - up seven kilowatts over its predecessor despite a reduction in capacity. The 3.4 litre Boxster S now delivers 232 kW - up four kilowatts. Both models feature a manual six-speed gearbox as standard with the seven-speed Porsche (PDK) available as an option. Both sports cars achieve their best fuel consumption and acceleration performance with the PDK. With gear changes without interruption to the power flow, the Boxster sprints from zero to 100 km/h in 5.7 seconds, the Boxster S in 5.0 seconds. To enhance driving dynamics even further, Porsche offers the Sport Chrono Package as an optional extra, featuring dynamic transmission mounts for the first time. Also new on the roadster is Porsche Torque Vectoring (PTV) with mechanical rear axle differential lock. The new Boxster generation goes on sale in Europe in mid April, with sales in Australia beginning a few months later. Local pricing will be announced close to then.

It now has the Lexus family "spindle" grille, new on-board technology, 20-inch alloy wheels and minor exterior styling tweaks front and rear. LED daytime running lights make an appearance and compliment a new headlamp design and larger fog lamp surrounds. Both front and rear bumpers are changed, and the rear bumper protector is enhanced by a stainless steel accent. Tail lamps and a more integrated tow hitch cover also received attention as part of the upgrades. The eight-passenger cabin scores an upgrade with an "Easy Access" driver's seat system. The steering wheel and driver's seat automatically retract when the ignition is turned off. Front seats also feature improved ventilation, and a 220-volt power outlet has been added to the cargo area. The instrument panel has been updated and a new colour multi-information display is applied. A metallic finish for the centre instrument cluster and front side air vents, along with a new metallic accent above the glove box  freshen the look of the instrument panel.  The cabin includes a mahogany woodgrain-look trim, while ivory and black leather-accented interior trim are also available. Some new exterior colours are available. The powertrain remains the same  - a 5.7-litre, petrol V8 with 270kW at 5,600rpm and 530Nm at 3,200rpm. Steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters can be used to control six-speed automatic transmission. The LX 570's transfer case provides full-time four-wheel drive that is equally adept at handling the rigors of slippery winter weather, mud or snow. The system uses a TORSEN limited-slip locking centre differential with front to rear variable torque distribution, directing more power to the wheels with the best grip should slippage occur.  Four-wheel Active Traction Control (A-TRAC) employs both brake and throttle intervention to help control wheel spin. Vehicle Stability Control (VSC) helps maintain directional control during cornering and can be disengaged via the "VSC off" switch. The updated Crawl Control or off road cruise control feature has been upgraded, increasing the number of preset speeds from three to five steps, for greater off-road control. A new Turn Assist feature tightens the turning circle by adding more brake force to the inside rear wheel. The new Multi-terrain Select function allows drivers to optimise vehicle performance by choosing from five types of terrain  including rock, rock and dirt, mogul, loose rock, and mud and sand  delivering the ideal combination of stability and traction control assistance over different surfaces. The hydro-pneumatic Adaptive Variable Suspension system provides three modes to control the spring rate and shock absorber damping force to provide optimal handling and comfort for on-road or trail driving. The LX 570 is equipped with 10 airbags, including driver and front-passenger knee airbags, front and second-row seat-mounted side airbags in the outboard seating positions, and roll-sensing side curtain airbags that cover all three rows. Exterior visibility is enhanced with a Multi-terrain monitor featuring a greater number of exterior cameras. A full array of standard luxury amenities is fitted including a 19-speaker Mark Levinson Reference Surround Sound audio with 450-watts maximum power and 16 channels.