Articles by CarsGuide team

An impressive $8675 was given to Gosford Hospital towards buying a treatment chair for its transit lounge and four foetal doppler units for the obstetrics team. The money came from donations through Central Coast Holden at Gosford and Tuggerah and Central Coast Honda -- the result of a year's fundraising in which $1 from every service or sale went to the hospital. The transit lounge is a facility for patients waiting to be discharged or transferred. “The chairs provide maximum comfort for our patients while they are waiting to either go home or to be transferred to one of our wards or to another facility,'' nurse manager Susanne Brown-Paul said. A foetal doppler is used by medical and midwifery staff during mothers-to-be antenatal visits and also during labour for monitoring the baby's heart rate. Central Coast Holden general manager Kevin Muller said during his recent visit to the transit lounge that it was gratifying to be able to see how their donation benefited the community. “It's amazing how quickly the dollars add up,'' he said. “We are very thrilled to be able to support services right here on the central coast.'' The $1 donation initiative began in 2006 and so far more than $34,000 has been donated to the community.  

   

     

The MX-5 Super25 goes beyond the short-track prowess of the Super20, the previous MX-5 concept vehicle built for SEMA (America's annual accessory expo in Las Vegas). Unlike its predecessor which was loud, proud and boisterous with its bursts of turbocharged energy the Super25 was crafted with endurance racing in mind. Known for its commanding number of grassroots motorsports racers, the MX-5 is the epitome of a light and limber sports car that won't burn a hole through an enthusiast's pocket. With such a dependable starting point from which to build, the MX-5 was an optimal choice for creating a concept with the ability to handle such long-distance, weary-heavy racing. It's outfitted with a multitude of racing-inspired exterior features coupled with Mazda Design-created interior touches. The Super25 features MazdaSpeed Motorsports Development livery and is poised on 17-inch Volk Racing T37 six-spoke matte black wheels suited in BFGoodrich g-Force R1 225-45ZR17 tyres. A Sparco Evo competition racing seat provides the lone sitting area. The driver's cockpit is further customised with Mazda Design-developed Charcoal ultra-suede material featuring Tomato Red perforated inserts. The six-point racing harness by Sparco ensures the driver is snug as well as comfortable during competitions while an AiM MXL data acquisition logger custom-fitted into the dash offers real-time ECU figures. No mechanical details were forthcoming.      

A 19-year-old US woman has been arrested after posting a video in which she boasted of stealing a car and robbing a bank.Hannah Sabata, 19, of Stromsburg, Nebraska, is seen in the video claiming she’s having the “best day of her life,” because she stole a Pontiac Grand Am and robbed a bank of more than $6,000.In the footage she brandishes car keys, bragging “my new car is shiny. Of course I took the plates off already.” She holds up a sign that boasts “then I robbed a bank with a gun, a pillow case and a note,” and then waves and fans herself with a large handful of money.Sabata also claims in the video that she is a “victim of the government” because the state took custody of her baby. She says she plans to pay off student loans and “go on a shopping spree.”According to a report on leading Nebraska news site, the York News Times, court documents state that “Sabata has a history of mental health problems and refused to take prescribed medication during pregnacy to protect her baby's health”.Sabata has been taken into custody on charges that she robbed a Waco bank after stealing a car in York.A photo taken as she is escorted by Sheriff’s Officers from her home shows her wearing a similar outfit to the one seen in the video and allegedly worn by the female bank robber captured on the bank’s surveillance cameras.   

... to the prestige brand’s presence.The luxury arm of Nissan is the latest entrant in Australia, launching in September with the FX range of SUVs and the M sedans.A G37 coupe and convertible will join the fleet later this month with prices starting at $75,900 for the V6-powered coupe and $87,900 for the hardtop. Infiniti Cars Australia general manager, Kevin Snell, says the duo deliver on the company’s “inspired performance” motto.“The Infiniti G Coupe and Convertible are exciting alternatives to the current crop of luxury sports cars. Their exterior designs set them apart and they deliver a true sports car-style driving experience,” he notes. Both cars are propelled by a 3.7-litre V6 with 235kW/360Nm matched to a seven-speed automatic.Standard equipment includes 18-inch alloy wheels, bi-xenon headlamps, dual-zone climate-control, leather upholstery, powered and heated front seats, a seven-inch touchscreen for the infotainment system, satnav, Bluetooth streaming, a Bose sound systems and a sunroofThe range-topping S premium versions add more interior bling along with upgraded brakes fitted inside 19-inch rims with a tyre pressure monitoring system. The coupe’s sports credentials are boosted by four-wheel steering, a sports suspension tune and a limited-slip differential.The G37 will take on products from Japanese rival Lexus along with the usual German suspects in Audi, BMW and Mercedes-Benz, all of which have less powerful engines for the same price. Infiniti says its design gives buyers a chance to stand out from the angular pack without sacrificing comfort or performance. It also has the best warranty of any prestige brand at four years/100,000km.“These two cars open Infiniti to another vital segment within the Australian luxury car market and expand the scope of our ability to offer luxury car buyers a long-awaited new choice,” Snell says.PRICE COMPARISONModel; Coupe; ConvertibleInfiniti G37; $75,900; $87,900Lexus IS250; N/A; $76,300Audi A5; $66,900; $78,500BMW 325i; $80,850; $94,600Mercedes-Benz C250; $69,900; N/A