Articles by CarsGuide team

The red $70,000 pocket rocket has a top speed of 225km/h and does the dash from 0-100km/h in less than seven seconds. It's been built as a tribute to the historic performance links between Ferrari and Abarth. The Abarth 695 Tributo Ferrari is fitted with a 1.4 Turbo T-Jet 16v, tuned to develop more than 132kW of power. This is combined with an MTA (Manual Transmission Automated) electromechanical gearbox with race-inspired steering wheel controls that enhances engine's performance by reducing gearshift times. It rides on 17" alloy wheels featuring a design inspired by Ferrari wheels. Ride and braking systems have also been strengthened to cope with the extra power: modular Brembo 305mm disc brakes with fixed four-piston calliper disc and special shock absorbers that let you enjoy performance in total safety. And of course there is a "Record Monza" variable back pressure "dual mode" exhaust, designed to improve engine performance and deliver an inspiring sound over 3000 revs. Still, it's a lot of money for a tiny car. The Tributo Ferrari is finished not just in classic Modena Red, but also in the brand-new shade of Modena Yellow, with carbon fibre door mirrors and B pillar trims.  Details such as the wheels and front air intakes are in Racing Grey. "Abarth Corsa by Sabelt" carbon fibre racing seats are fitted and finished in black leather and Alcantara with a shell and seat base in carbon fibre. The list goes on ... but it's a lot of money for a tiny car. The interior is embellished with other details too, like the special kick plate passenger footwell, door sill trim and a plate bearing the vehicle series number. The Tributo Ferrari comes with a special pack to keep it safe and clean. The safety pack includes a dedicated travel bag with an emergency triangle, work gloves, emergency lights, and an Abarth yellow safety vest.  The cleaning kit includes Abarth Leather Cleaning Fluid, Abarth Body Wax and Abarth Interior Cleaning fluid. It even comes with its own personalised car cover. The standard Abarth Travel Pack comprises of a set of "stone washed" black leather luggage designed specifically for the luggage compartment of the Abarth 695 "Tributo Ferrari". The Abarth 695 "Tributo Ferrari" has a recommended retail price of $69,990 excluding statutory charges, delivery and dealer costs. The bad news is that all 45 of the cars destined for Australia and New Zealand have been sold.

Bespoke British manufacturer Bentley has announced that it will be present at the 2011 Australian International Motor Show in Melbourne. The company will use the occasion to publicly display, for the first time in Australasia, the exquisite new Continental GT. In addition, Bentley will show the flagship Mulsanne – a car that truly represents the Bentley brand. Each Mulsanne takes nine weeks to build in a new manufacturing facility in Crewe, England, where traditional coachbuilding skills developed over six decades are fused with the latest in technology. Making its Australasian debut, the GT is somewhat of a coup for the Australian International Motor Show. The new vehicle features the latest evolution of Bentley’s acclaimed six-litre 12-cylinder engine. With its ‘W’ configuration it is the most compact 12-cylinder engine in the world. Continuing the technological theme of the show, the latest version of the power unit is an impressive piece of engineering. Maximum power has increased to 423kW and torque up to 700Nm – seeing the GT effortlessly reach 100km/h in just 4.6 seconds and topping out at 318km/h. However, that is just part of the story. Bentley’s advanced new FlexFuel technology allows the all-wheel drive coupé to run seamlessly on petrol, bioethanol (E85) or a combination of the two. The drivetrain has been enhanced further by the introduction of the new six-speed Quickshift transmission which has reduced gear change times by 50 per cent. The stunning Mulsanne sedan will ensure that the GT doesn’t get all the attention on the Bentley stand. The Mulsanne is Bentley’s flagship and the numbers are almost as impressive as its inherent presence: an all-new 6.75-litre V8, 377kW of power, a mammoth 1020Nm of torque, eight-speed automatic transmission, 2.5 tonnes of luxury (yet a 0–100km/h time of just 5.1s), top speed of 296km/h, and a $662,000 (excl on road costs) retail price. Russ Tyrie, Australian International Motor Show event director, is understandably excited to welcome Bentley back to the show. “Bentley vehicles definitely have a ‘wow’ factor to them,” said Mr Tyrie. “The undeniable class, the design and style, the heritage – people just know that there is something special about a Bentley. “To have the Australasian public debut of a car like the new GT is very special for us – and I’m sure the Mulsanne will also be a crowd-pleaser.” The Australian International Motor Show opens at 6pm on Friday 1 July and runs through until Sunday 10 July at the Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre.

To mark the 35th anniversary of the Golf GTI, Volkswagen has unveiled a special GTI Edition 35 with more power and more collectability. A limited number of the special edition GTIs have been earmarked for Australia and will be arriving later this year. The Edition 35 follows in the tradition of the fifth generation Pirelli special edition released here in January 2009. But this one produces even more power and torque at 173kW and 300Nm, employing a slightly detuned version of the turbocharged 2.0-litre engine from the all-wheel drive Golf R. The dash from 0-100km/h takes 6.6 seconds and the car has a top speed of 247km/h. The Pirelli was good for 6.6 seconds and 245km/h. It's been 35 years since the original GTI was unveiled back in the summer of 1976. Overseas the car is available in six-speed manual or in six-speed DSG form, but no word yet on our cars (Pirelli was DSG only). Visually, the GTI Edition 35 can be recognised by its new front bumper design,. The car's aerodynamics have been improved by winglets (air flow surfaces) positioned at lower outboard areas in front, and the mid-section of the front spoiler was kept in black. On the car's sides, it is the glossy black mirror housings, side sill extensions in body colour and the "35" edition badge on the front wings that identify the anniversary model. All Golf GTI Edition 35 cars are also equipped with smoked LED rear lights, an LED-illuminated licence plate at the rear and smoked rear windows. Inside there's a gear shift grip in the classic golf ball look of the first generation GTI, new decorative strips in the cockpit area and the door trim panels, special door sill plates with the "35" logo, safety belts with red stripes and a "35" integrated in the front head restraints of the top sport seats ("Jacky" style). In addition, the interior design team conceptualised an entirely new type of upholstery for the Golf GTI Edition 35 in "Favo" / "San Remo" pattern (optional), which, like "Jacky" (standard), matches the GTI's character perfectly. The centre seat panels have active-breathing microfibres (likewise black), and their styling matches the legendary honeycomb pattern of the GTI radiator grille. The "35" logo appears on the backs of the seats, and all decorative seams of this seat design are in "Flash Red". Also always in red: decorative seams around the 3-spoke sport steering wheel, the hand brake and gear shift trim as well as the borders of the floor mats.

….adding to its scooter lineup for 2011. The Vity combines city practicality with economy, taking the strain out of the daily commute. Like the new BeeWee, Vity benefits from Yamaha's expertise in four-stroke, single-cylinder engine design, and combines performance, refinement and resilience with a front disc brake that provides assured stopping. Vity is ideally suited to life on congested urban streets and offers the freedom to enjoy leisure time too. Weighing only 110 kg with fuel and oil, and with a wheelbase of 1250 mm, it's one of the smallest and lightest 125cc scooters in its class. In combination with a powerful fuel-injected 125cc engine, Vity riders can navigate traffic and overtake with confidence. A range of features make longer rides more comfortable, too. A large seat provides ample room for a passenger. An easily accessible storage compartment in the steering column and underseat storage are great for stowing a helmet and essentials. Vity is equipped with a powerful 153mm diameter front disc brake. Working together with the rear drum brake, it's designed to deliver the smooth and predictable stopping power necessary for a nippy scooter. The 10-inch diameter wheels are shod with 100/90-10 tyres at the front and rear. Combined with a short wheelbase, they give quick steering, demand low rider inputs and offer easy low speed manoeuvreability. The Vity's clearly laid-out instrument panel features an analogue speedometer, a convenient fuel gauge, and a wide array of indicator lights. All vital information is ready to read and in an easy-to-understand layout. At just 730 mm high the seat provides a low and extremely comfortable riding position. It also helps to keep the scooter's centre of gravity low and lets riders easily put their feet on the ground.

This possible addition to the Prius "family" shows its face soon at Melbourne's Australian International Motor Show in July. The versatile and spacious Prius v will feature on Toyota's stand alongside the Prius c Concept and the third-generation Prius. Prius v and Prius c Concept are aimed at broadening the appeal of Prius. Opinions of motor show patrons would feed into consideration of Prius v for the local market. Prius v is a family-oriented five-seater designed to meet the needs of growing families with active lifestyles. The v stands for versatility, which is reflected in the car's compact exterior and more spacious interior. Prius v was designed from the ground up as a new, dedicated hybrid vehicle with a shape that evolved from Prius it is not just an elongated version. It shares the current Prius platform while providing substantially more cargo space. Seven-seat Prius+ was also under study for the local market. Prius v shares the Hybrid Synergy Drive technology of the current-generation Prius, including its nickel-metal hydride battery pack. Inside, it delivers extra flexibility with its sliding second-row seats, the backs of which can recline up to 45 degrees. A fold-flat front passenger seat allows extremely long cargo to be carried.

... that will go on sale in Australia late next year. Engineers from Holden's Powertrain Engineering team are currently calibrating the Malibu for GM's global markets, where it will play an important role in the Chevrolet portfolio.The Malibu is being calibrated at Holden's Lang Lang Proving Ground in Victoria and is also being evaluated on public roads. It has been pictured at the coastal resort town of Phillip Island.Holden's work forms part of GM's global workshare strategy, which uses the available resources and skills of the company's engineers from around the world to perform development work on future model cars. It will see the team continue to work on Malibu until the end of 2012.This new model will bring the Malibu nameplate to Australia for the first time with a line-up of fuel efficient and responsive four-cylinder engines. Outside Australia, it will be sold under the Chevrolet name in nearly 100 countries around the world.

Block says shooting is locked and he's already planning the fifth and sixth instalments of his viral driving phenomenon. "We'll film it late July. It will probably come out around early August. It takes a couple of days to film, and then a week or two to put up," Block says. He refuses to comment on a location or any planned stunts following Gymkhana 3 in France. "I'm keeping the location of the next one totally secret. I've done so much with the car that's unique that it's hard to come up with more ideas. It's not like a skateborad. Finding new locations is very difficult." But Block promises plenty of action to the 100 million-plus fans who have seen him on YouTube. "I actually have Gymkhana 4, 5 and 6 already planned out. It's really fun for me to do that. As long as people keep watching them, DC will keep putting up the money for me to keep making them."  

The vehicles are ranked out of five stars, with five being the highest rating. None score five stars.The vehicles with a FOUR star rating are:1. Volkswagen Golf (Hatch and Wagon) Oct 2010.2. Citroen C4 Picasso (4 door wagon) May 2007.The vehicles with a ONE star rating are:1. Citroen C3 (5 door hatch) Nov 20102. Honda City (Sedan) Feb 20093. Hyundai i20 (Hatch) Oct 2010peMitsubishi Colt (5 door hatch) Jun 20104. Proton S16 (Sedan) Apr 2010 Proton Savvy (5 door hatch) Apr 20065. Suzuki Alto (5 door hatch) Jul 2009 Citroen DS3 (3 door hatch) Sep 20106. Lexus CT 200h (5 door hatch) Feb 20117. Suzuki SX4 (Sedan and Hatch) Sep 20078. Toyota Prius (5 door hatch) Jul 20099. Peugeot 407 (Sedan and Wagon) Mar 200610. Suzuki Kizashi (Sedan) Aug 201011. Chrysler 300C (Sedan) Mar 200812. Holden Commodore (Sedan and Sportwagon) Sep 201013. Honda Accord (Sedan) Feb 200814. Honda Odyssey (4 door wagon) Apr 200915. Kia Grand Carnival (4 door wagon) Jun 201016. Mercedes-Benz Viano (4 door wagon) Feb 201017. Audi Q7 (4 door wagon) Jul 200718. Great Wall Motors X240 (4 door wagon)Oct 200919. Mazda CX-7 (4 door wagon) Jul 200720. Mitsubishi Pajero (4 door wagon) Jul 200521. Nissan Pathfinder (4 door wagon) Jul 200522. Peugeot 4007 (4 door wagon) Oct 200923. Ssangyong Kyron (4 door wagon) Apr 200924. Ssangyong Rexton II (4 door wagon) Jul 201025. Suzuki SX4 (5 door hatch) Sep 2007 HSV (All models, Sedan and Sportwagon) Feb 201026. Peugeot 308 CC (2 door cabriolet) Feb 201127. Peugeot 407 (2 door coupe) Mar 200628. Alfa Romeo 159 (Sedan and Wagon) Jan 200929. Audi A8 (Sedan) Sep 201030. Holden Caprice (Sedan) Sep 201031. Honda Legend (Sedan) Aug 200832. Holden Commodore Utility Sep 2010 HSV33. Maloo (Utility) Feb 201034. Fiat Scudo (Van) Apr 200835. Mercedes Benz Vito (Van) Feb 201136. Toyota HiAce (Van) Oct 2007

The hamsters cruise around in a red Soul while everything else on the streets is in a hamster wheel.