Articles by CarsGuide team

...at Shannons Sydney Spring Classic Auction on October 10. It is one of 900 limited-edition P76s built in 1974 to commemorate the stage win of a nearly standard P76 in the 1974 World Cup Rally.Driven by Aussie Evan Green, the Australian-built, Rover V8-engined P76 surprised many with its speed in the event's `Targa Florio' stage held in Sicily, Italy. History records that the P76 was the right car at the wrong time.Built by Leyland Australia to compete head-on with the large Ford Falcon, Holden Kingswood and Chrysler Valiant family cars of the era, it won the coveted `Wheels Car of the Year' award in 1973 before the global fuel crisis put large cars of its type out of favour with buyers.Today however, the P76 is as much a symbol of 1970's style as big collars, flared trousers and platform soled shoes and is gaining appreciation as an automotive icon of the Muscle Car era.Each Targa Florio model came with a 4.4-litre all-alloy V8 engine, automatic transmission, power steering and a limited-slip differential. But only 100 were finished in Aspen Green like the very original example that Shannons is auctioning.The car's original owner worked with BMC-Leyland for over 30 years and purchased his Leyland P76 Targa Florio in October 1974. Still in excellent original condition, the vehicle has been garaged all its life and is believed to have travelled just 71,450km since new.It is being sold with a many of it original documents including its comprehensive workshop and owners manual. The P76 Targa Florio is expected to sell for $8000-$12,000. 

Hyundai has had a sporty car for years and now it's sister company Kia's turn in the fast seat. It's come up with a four-door sports sedan with a rear-wheel drive layout - a Kia first that marries sleek and muscular proportions with a sophisticated and elegant four-seater cockpit. Work on the Kia GT concept first started in November 2010, the idea of a powerful rear-wheel drive Kia saloon had been percolating in the minds of Kia's European designers for some time. "This concept allows us to explore exciting new design directions, as using a rear-drive layout creates very different proportions compared to a front-wheel drive car," says Peter Schreyer, Kia's Chief Design Officer. "The classic front-engine, rear-wheel drive layout of a performance saloon has distinct appeal not just for the domestic Korean audience, but also for the European and American markets." A focus on dynamism and pace is sharpened by the car's aeronautical theme, headlined by the multi-piece propeller-style alloy and carbon-fibre wheels, the jet-themed rear-view cameras, the low-slung front air intake, the aerodynamically efficient rear diffuser and the winglets that curve in from the front flanks and flow into the headlamps. The front doors and rear-hinged rear doors open outward at a slight upward angle, imbuing the car with what Schreyer describes as an air of grace and confidence. Despite its low stance, fast roofline and shallow glasshouse, the Kia GT's clean and uncluttered cabin architecture has created a spacious and airy interior with generous accommodation for the driver and three passengers. Powertrain possiblities include a V8 petrol and a range of others from the Kia lineup.

Nearly 60 per cent of motorists are driving cars in colours they don't like according to a recent survey by Manheim Auctions. Black was clearly the preferred colour with 31 per cent of men and 30 per cent of women respondents claiming it to be their favourite colour but interestingly only 14 per cent of men and 12 per cent of women actually drove a black car. The second favourite colour, silver was driven by 25 per cent of men and 24 per cent of women while in third place men preferred blue with women opting for red. The UK survey also revealed that even though black was the favourite colour, silver cars dominated on the roads except in East Anglia, the South West and Yorkshire and Humberside where there were more blue cars on the road than any other colour. Although there is an ever increasing number of white cars on the road today, only 6 per cent of respondents favoured the colour with just 4 per cent actually driving one. Favourite car colours: Male drivers /Female drivers Black 31% Black 30% Silver 17% Silver 17% Blue 16% Red 15% Actual colours of cars driven: Male drivers/ Female drivers Silver 25% Silver 24% Blue 21% Blue  24% Black 14% Black 12%

If the answer is yes then we have no idea how this guy got his ... We bet the boss was really happy to see THIS on the security camera.

Manheim is to conduct a series of auctions around the country on behalf of the Australian Department of Defence from October 4 to 26.The undertaking will see 45 Land Rovers, 200 cargo trailers, 90 motorbikes and 65 all-terrain bikes up for grabs online and in the lanes at eight locations in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, Hobart, Perth, Darwin and Townsville.pFor the two-wheel enthusiast there will be some 90 motorcycles for sale, including Yamaha XT600, Honda XR250 and Suzuki DR-Z400 models. ATVs include the Honda Foreman TRX450 4x4, and TRX400, Suzuki Quad Master, Honda 450 Traxlok, and Polaris Sportsman in 6x6, 500 4x4, and 700 4x4.pIn addition to a number of single axle, two-cycle capacity motorbike trailers and ATV-towed units on offer, there will also be more than 220 cargo trailers in a range of load bearing capacities.Some units come fitted with 5000kg water tanks, while tipping trailers and flat-bed 4x dual-wheelers complete the offering.To find out more about this and other Defence sales activities, register online at www.manheim.com.au or call your closest Manheim office.Sydney:  October 4 and 19Adelaide: October 11Brisbane: October 11 and 12Hobart: October 13Perth: October 18 and 25Townsville: October 20Melbourne: October 27Darwin: October 26

The i30 was the company's first car launched with the 'i' prefix, introducing a new nomenclature for Hyundai's European designed vehicles and heralding a new era for Hyundai. The i30 was also the first model to be designed and engineered in Europe, the first to be produced at the company's state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in the Czech Republic, and the first Hyundai car to receive a five star safety rating from ANCAP. After its launch in 2007, the i30 went on to increase its sales every year, attracting 29,772 Australian buyers in 2010 and achieving total sales of more than 82,900 units up to mid-2011. Designed and engineered at the Hyundai Motor Europe Technical Centre in Russelsheim, Germany, the next-generation i30 represents a further evolution of the unique Hyundai form language, 'fluidic sculpture', displaying the company's distinctive design DNA. Thomas Burkle, Chief Designer at Hyundai Motor Europe Technical Centre, commented: "The next-generation i30 is recognisable thanks to the Hyundai family face with its signature hexagonal-shaped front grille and the jewel-like design of the headlamps, together with distinctive daytime running lights." "These lights present an angular shape within a more softly-edged recess, adding a strong personality to the vehicle, as well as a sense of refinement and luxury." "Through the profile of the next-generation i30, a strong character line runs over the front and rear wheel arches all the way to the tail lamps. A softer, lower character line rises up the car's flank creating a play of light and shadow a fundamental feature of fluidic sculpture," Thomas Burkle concluded. "The next-generation i30 will to appeal to young, progressive buyers who are looking for performance coupled with stylish design," said Oliver Mann, Director of Marketing Hyundai Motor Company Australia. "Following our 2011 launches of the new Elantra, Accent, and forthcoming i40 Tourer and Veloster, the next-generation i30 will contribute to future sales success, growing brand awareness and improving perceptions of Hyundai among Australian consumers." The next-generation i30 is expected to go on sale in Australia in mid 2012. Pricing and specification details will be released closer to the launch.

Set to launch in the US in 2014, the Lit Motors electric C-1 promises to combine the efficiency and parking ease of a scooter with the stability and comfort of a car. The fledgling electric vehicle company based in California says the C-1 uses underfloor electronic gyroscopes that spin out more than 1700 newton-metres of torque – close to the grunt of a Caterpillar D9 dozer but in centrifugal form like a spinning top – to stay upright whether it’s moving or stopped. Lit Motors claims even a collision won’t tip it over, although their computer modelling shows it will spin out of control just as a four-wheeled vehicle could. The C-1 is powered by two 40kW in-wheel electric motors, which are claimed to give a top speed of 200km/h and a range of more than 330km on a single charge. Like a motorcycle, it can carry two occupants in tandem – but looking at the interior, we wouldn’t want to be the one in the back for too long. Lit Motors says the C-1 will be like “a rolling smart phone” with connectivity to internet, traffic and weather reports. The prototype also has glowing lights in each wheel, which should appeal to the target urban groover market. There are few other details being released at this stage, although the price has been suggested at around the equivalent of $15,000 when it goes on sale in the US in 2014. It’s also possible there will be a name change, as BMW already has a motorcycle called the C-1, which also departs from the norm by having a strip of roof curving over the riders.

The news was tweeted by host Steve Pizzati – the only one who has survived the shifting line-up as the show struggled to find traction over the past three years.“As of next week, TGA will be on at the special time of not at all. Sorry to the open-minded people that gave it a go and enjoyed!" Pizzati tweeted."It's true - "We're told the last three episodes will make an appearance in the summer. Or try Blockbuster Video in the BetaMax section."The show – which aimed to echo the success of the smash Brit version – has delivered rusting ratings for Channel Nine, with the new series hitting less than 30 per cent of the 1.5 million viewers it attracted last year.The Aussie show launched on SBS late in 2008 with Pizzati, Charlie Cox and News Limited star cartoonist Warren Brown.The second season saw Cox replaced by jazz musician James Morrison before the show moved to Nine. Brown and Morrison then exited and were placed by Shane Jacobson and Top Gear Australia magazine executive editor Ewen Page.Three episodes of the current season have been aired, and a final one may appear later this year.

The Subaru Forester XV concept we saw at the Australian motor show in July was still sporting show prop doors, interior and other features.But the one at Frankfurt motor show is the real thing, carrying a 2.0-litre four-cylinder boxer engine.It’s the latest in Subaru’s efficiency drive, and the carmakers says it will develop 110kW of power and 196Nm of torque while cutting fuel economy from the current 8.9L/100km to 6.8L/100km with the six-speed manual transmission, and from 8.8L/100km to 6.6L/100km with a continuously-variable transmission.

The little car, unveiled at Frankfurt motor show on the heels of the Ford Focus ST, is strongly tipped to go on sale.“The Fiesta has a rich history of high-performance models so a new ST performance model is a logical next step in our performance vehicle strategy for our global small cars,” said Derrick Kuzak, Ford group vice president, Global Product Development. “The Fiesta ST Concept continues that tradition by showing how a global performance version of our best-selling B-car can be both technically advanced and dramatically styled.“With a racing silhouette inspired by the global Fiesta race and rally cars currently competing on the world stage, and influenced by the unique appearance of the all-new Focus ST, the new Fiesta ST Concept is an exciting demonstration of the road-going Fiesta’s future potential.”The Fiesta ST on the show stand carries a turbocharged 1.6-litre EcoBoost four-cylinder engine mated to a six-speed manual transmission.Like the rest of the Fiesta range, the ST will be front-wheel drive. And while there are no firm details yet on the outputs that will be going to the front axle when it goes on sale, the car at Frankfurt  develops 132kW of power and 240Nm of torque, getting it from 0-100km/h in under  seven seconds, and to a top speed of 219km/h.Ford claims CO2 emissions under 140g/km, and while there's no official confirmation of fuel economy, it could be expected to get about 6.1-6.3L/100km -- unless you drive it like a hot hatch.The car will be part of the Blue Oval’s ‘One Ford’ plan, which means we can pester them to bring it to Australia.The queue starts here.