Articles by James Cleary

British to its bootstraps, Aston Martin makes cars that are as cool as they are capable. And the brutally fast DB11 AMR drops the temperature to sub-zero.

There's a new AMG nameplate in the market - the Mercedes-AMG E 53. And it comes in more than one bodystyle, too. So what is it? What is it supposed to achieve? And is it any good? Let's find out.

Kia Australia’s chief operating officer, Damien Meredith has confirmed the brand’s plan to introduce a full light commercial range, including a dual cab ute, now scheduled for 2022.

While the world's largest traditional motor shows (Frankfurt, Detroit, Paris) are in the throes of death by a thousand cuts, major classic car events remain in rude good health. And the increased scale of Motorclassica 2018 is a perfect case in point.

Internationally recognised brand consultancy, Interbrand, has released its ‘Best Global Brands 2018’ report, with Toyota heading the automotive field in the top 100 group.

Brian Tanti is nothing less than a car restoration and coach-building legend. For close to 30 years he's been responsible for the welfare of transport billionaire Lindsay Fox's amazing classic car collection.

BMW's M4 has been on the Australian market for more than four years, with special and limited editions regularly issued to maintain interest in the M brand's mainstream coupe.

Jaguar has marked three decades since the closure of one Grand Prix racing’s most charismatic circuits – Circuit de Charade, Clermont-Ferrand - by setting a new lap record around its tortuously twisting layout.Established race ace and Jaguar SV Project 8 driver, Vencent Radermecker took the wheel of the special edition Jaguar XE 300 Sport to complete the first flying lap of the circuit in 30 years, setting a new production car record in the process.The 8.0km, 48-turn circuit, located near the Chaîne des Puys mountains in southern France, hosted the French Grand Prix in 1965, 1969, 1970, and 1972, but was finally closed in 1988 due to its modest run-off areas and regular rock falls from the nearby volcanic peaks.In the Belgian’s expert hands the 221kW/400Nm 2.0-litre ‘Ingenium’ (petrol) powered XE recorded a time of 4:09 at an average speed of 116km/h. For reference, Kiwi Chris Amon’s fastest lap in the 1972 French Grand Prix at Clermont Ferrand was 2:53 at an average of 168km/h.In an interesting side note, former Le Mans winner and current Red Bull F1 team advisor, Helmut Marko was at the wheel of a BRM in the 1972 French Grand Prix at Clermont-Ferrand when he was hit in the eye by a rock thrown up from Emerson Fittipaldi's Lotus, and never raced again.After completing his lap Radermecker said, “I set the production saloon record at the Nürburgring in the XE SV Project 8 last year and this lap was every bit as demanding. The longest straight is barely 600 metres, so I can see why drivers used to call this the French Nürburgring.”Australian pricing for the Jaguar XE 300 Sport is confirmed at $79,400, before on-road costs, with all 300 Sport models featuring unique ‘Dark Satin Grey’ details including the door mirror caps, rear spoiler and grille surround, along with 300 Sport badging on the front grille and boot lid. ‘Satin Technical Grey’ finish 19- or 20-inch alloy wheels are exclusive to the XE 300 Sport along with branded brake calipers. Colours offered are ‘Yulong White’, ‘Indus Silver’, ‘Santorini Black’ and ‘Caldera Red’.

Volkswagen Australia has confirmed local launch of the new, third-generation Touareg SUV for the second quarter of 2019.

Australians can't get enough SUVs. So it makes sense for BMW to wave its M Performance wand over the compact X3, to produce a quick, capable and entertaining package.