Articles by James Cleary

Mercedes-AMG makes no bones about the fact that it wants to conquer the performance car world, and the C 43 is the car that kicked off a new model arms race at the three-pointed star's in-house hot rod shop.

It might look the same but this Mercedes-AMG G 63 is a beast with new found beauty within. Not to mention an all-new suspension and drivetrain. But the gloriously gutteral exhaust roar is 100 per cent intact.

The Ioniq, Hyundai's milestone, five-seat hatch splits its personality three ways between the Ioniq Hybrid, Ioniq Plug-in and Ioniq Electric.

ready to roll out on to the flowing Phillip Island Grand Prix circuit. It's going to be a good day.

Australia has seen petrol-electric hybrids, plug-in hybrids and full electric cars, but Hyundai's Ioniq is the first new car range to offer all three options.

Hyundai Australia has confirmed pricing and specifications for its new Ioniq range of mid-size hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and battery electric hatchbacks.Hyundai is the first brand to offer three alternative drivetrain options within one model line-up in this market, with the Ioniq available in Elite and top-spec Premium levels across each variant.Pricing (before on-road costs) ranges across a $15k band from $33,990 for the Hybrid Elite to $48,990 for the Electric Premium. At $44,990, the Ionic Electric Elite is now the cheapest full ZEV (zero emissions vehicle) on sale in Australia, undercutting the $47,490 Renault Zoe Life by $2500.The range kicks off with the Ioniq Hybrid, powered by a 77kW/147Nm 1.6-litre ‘Kappa’ direct-injection, Atkinson Cycle, four-cylinder petrol engine, supported by a 32kW/170Nm permanent magnet electric motor.A combined output of 88kW/295Nm goes to the front wheels via a new six-speed dual-clutch auto transmission. Claimed combined cycle fuel economy is 3.4L/100km.Next, the Ioniq Plug-in uses the same 1.6-litre petrol engine, but here the car’s default mode is electric drive with the internal combustion engine kicking in as required.A larger Lithium-ion battery supports a claimed EV-only range of 63km, and combined cycle fuel economy of just 1.1L/100km (largely because the first 63km are EV-only).Finally, the flagship Ioniq Electric features a high-output (88kW/295Nm) electric motor only, with a single-speed reduction transmission sending drive to the front wheels.A larger 28kWh Lithium-ion battery necessitates a swap from a multi-link rear suspension on the Hybrid and Plug-in to a torsion beam set-up.Claimed real-world range is 230km, with a full charge from a 240-volt domestic outlet taking 12 hours.Hyundai Australia has partnered with JET Charge for provision of a home (AC) ‘Delta Charger’ unit, which for $1995 (installed) drops that time to around 4.5 hours (2.45 hours for Plug-in).All Ioniqs come standard with Hyundai’s comprehensive ‘SmartSense’ safety suite, including AEB and Forward Collision Warning, Blind Spot Detection, Lane Change Assist, Driver Attention Alert, Lane Keeping Assist, Active Cruise Control, Rear Cross Traffic Alert, ESC, Vehicle Stability Management, and more. Dual front, front side and curtain airbags, plus a driver’s knee bag are also standard.The Ioniq is available from 18 selected Hyundai dealers across urban and rural areas around the country.Hyundai Ioniq 2019 list pricing (plus on-road costs):

Skoda Auto board member for sales and marketing, Alain Favey has confirmed he has tasked the brand’s Australian subsidiary with doubling its sales volume in the next five years.

If someone in your life would rather be driving than tucking into Christmas dinner, this list could be a life-saver. We're here to help with gifts any car tragic will love and cherish.

Renault's Zoe is a compact electric city car with a big personality, and a price tag to match. Are you ready for a future that's this expensive?

Chevrolet's Camaro is the yin to the Ford Mustang's yang, and now both are available in Australia in right-hand drive form.