Articles by Matthew Hatton

Australian specifications for new Ford Mustang confirmed ahead of 2015 arrival.Ford has confirmed all but price for Australian versions of the new Mustang ahead of their showroom arrival in the latter half of next year.As confirmed at the Mustang’s simultaneous global reveals last December, both four-cylinder and V8 versions will come here, but Ford has now detailed their specific outputs.The price-leading 2.3-litre turbocharged four-cylinder EcoBoost engine will produce an impressive 233kW and 432Nm, while the top-spec V8 GT will churn out 303kW and 525Nm.These figures are the metric DIN equivalent of the 310hp/320lb-ft and 435hp/400lb-ft produced by the respective US Mustangs, driven by CarsGuide earlier this year.For both engines, a six-speed manual transmission will come as standard, while a six-speed torque-converter automatic available can be optioned.Unlike previous Mustangs, the sixth-generation model does away with simple solid-axle rear suspension in favour of integral-link independent rear suspension.Both engines will come with 330mm disk brakes on the back with the EcoBoost having 352mm disks on the front and the V8 upping the ante to 380mm.The EcoBoost package rides on 19-inch wheels shod in 255/40R19 rubber, with the the V8's 19-inch alloys get slightly wider 275/40R19 tyres.Externally, V8 models can be identified by unique grille inserts with vertical elements, dual bonnet vents, 5.0 front-guard badging and a GT badge between the tail lights.Drivetrains and roof designs aside, the coupe and convertible Mustang models will share trim levels.On the outside there is a rear diffuser, LED daytime running lights, HID headlights, a pony-shaped puddle lamps and heated mirrors.In the dashboard there is an 8-inch multimedia touchscreen with Ford's ‘SYNC2’ system to run the 9-speaker sound system, satnav, reversing camera and Bluetooth phone connectivity.Inside there is push-button start, heated and cooled front seats, dual zone climate control, automatic headlights and wipers, leather multifunction steering wheel, leather parking brake and auto-dimming rearview mirror.Safety features include Ford's MyKey system, electronic stability control and tyre pressure monitoring.Local pricing for the Mustang has not been confirmed, although it is believed it will cost between $50,000 and $70,000.Ford Australia President and CEO Bob Graziano said the new Mustang has received a lot of local interest since it was first announced with "an unprecedented 15,000 customers asking for details about the car".Motorsport fans will also be watching the new Mustang with interest as the coupe variant with either EcoBoost or V8 power will be eligible to compete in the V8 Supercars championship in 2017 under new regulations announced recently.Ford has confirmed its withdrawal of factory support, however the door is still open for private teams to use the Mustang shape in a similar arrangement to the existing Erebus Motorsport V8 AMG team.

James Bond scores bespoke Aston Martin DB10 for Spectre.Ever since the classic Aston Martin DB5 graced the screen in Goldfinger, the cars driven by James Bond have been something of a cultural touchstone. The suave spy in the very expensive sports car cliché had to start somewhere.However, for Bond's 24th outing, Spectre, the British spook is kicking it up a notch.Aston Martin and the Bond film producers have taken the wraps off the Aston Martin DB10 - a purpose-built James Bond car.Aston Martin is only building 10 DB10s and they are all headed to the film setThe DB10 was designed in-house by Aston Martin, with the film's directer Sam Mendes having a hand in ensuring the DB10 would be a car fit for Bond.The DB10's styling is a mix of classic Aston details and cues from the marque's recent production offerings, but a new headlight shape could be a hint at what's to come from the Gaydon factory.While there is no word on the engine or other features of the car, but it can be safely assumed an array of aftermarket accessories will be fitted by Q-Branch.Unfortunately, those wishing to live the James Bond lifestyle themselves will have to settle for something else, Aston Martin is only building 10 DB10s and they are all headed to the film set.Given Bond's less than gleaming track record of returning field equipment undamaged, it's unlikely we'll see one drive away unscathed when production wraps ahead of the film's November 2015 release.

Ford confirms features and drivetrains for the upcoming Mondeo hatch and wagon.After boasting in November that the new Mondeo would challenge the class-leading Toyota Camry in both engine performance and features, Ford has confirmed further details ahead of its arrival early next year.The entry-level Ambiente variant will be available with either a 149kW/345Nm 'low-output' version of the 2.0-litre four-cylinder EcoBoost petrol engine, or a 132kW/400Nm 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbodiesel engine.Mid-spec Trend and top tier Titanium models will feature either a tweaked 'high-output' version of the petrol engine - which boosts power to 177kW - or the turbodiesel.Both petrol and turbodiesel engines across all three feature levels come mated to a six-speed automatic transmission, with sports paddle shifters.The Mondeo's turbodiesel engine is more fuel efficient than the Toyota Camry Hybrid, however that only applies to hatchback variants of the new Ford.The 2.0-litre turbodieisel of the new Mondeo has a fuel efficiency figure of 5.1L/100km, which betters the Camry Hybrid by 0.1L/100km. However, when the turbodiesel is placed in the Mondeo wagon the efficiency figure becomes 5.3L/100km.The 'low-output' petrol engine is rated at 8.2L/100km, while the 'high-output' version gets 8.5L/100km.Safety features across the Mondeo range will include traction control, stability control, emergency brake assist, electronic brakeforce distribution, inflatable rear seatbelts and Ford's MyKey technology.Feature-wise, the Ambiente kicks off the Mondeo range including 16-inch alloys, Sync2 voice-activated multimedia system with 8-inch touchscreen, satnav, daytime running lights, dual-zone climate control, leather steering wheel, powered and heated mirrors, cruise control and 60/40 split rear seats.The mid-level Trend adds in 17-inch alloys, autonomous emergency braking, reversing camera, adaptive cruise control, automatic headlights and high beam, heated and powered front seats, automatic wipers, puddle lamps, automatically folding mirrors and keyless entry.Like much of Ford’s current passenger vehicle lineup, the 2015 Mondeo range tops out with the Titanium trim level. Building on the Ambiente and Trend, the Titanium  adds 18-inch alloys, blind spot detection, lane monitoring and departure warning, driver fatigue monitoring, unique lower-body extensions, adaptive suspension, adaptive LED headlights, leather sports seats and heated rear seats.Titanium Mondeos in the five-door hatchback body style will also receive a panoramic glass roof, while the wagon gets a powered sunroof and tailgate.Pricing for the all-new Mondeo range is yet to be confirmed, with Ford saying an announcement will be made closer to the showroom arrival.

Honda updates CR-V SUV with styling, spec and tech upgrades with new Series II model.The popular Honda CR-V has been treated to a subtle facelift ahead of 2015. The new CR-V Series II gains additional two-wheel drive variants, while pricing for existing models remains unchanged.Previously only available in four-wheel drive, the mid-spec VTi-S and top-spec VTi-L trim levels are now available in two-wheel drive.External styling has been tweaked, with the entire range now featuring LED daytime running lights and a new grille along with new front and rear bumpers.In the cabin, the multimedia system has been updated to Honda’s Display Audio mulitmedia system, introduced in the Odyssey, City and Jazz earlier this year - with HDMI connectivity along with the existing USB and Bluetooth.The new CR-V 2WD models keep the same 114kW/190Nm 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine from the existing VTi 2WD model, and will only be available with the five-speed automatic transmission.  The 2WD VTi remains the only variant available with a six-speed manual transmission.Fuel efficiency is also unchanged, with the two-wheel drive variants rated at 7.8L/100km with the manual and 7.7L/100km the automatic. Four-wheel drive models are rated at 8.7L/100km.The new 2WD VTi-S and VTi-L models share features with their respective 4WD models, including the upgrades made as part of Series II.Safety features on the VTi-S range have been improved with left-hand blind spot monitoring, rear parking sensors and three view-modes on the reversing camera added in. The VTi-S also receives the keyless start/stop feature previously available on the VTi-L.

Toyota Racing claim manufacturers' WEC titles at the final round in Brazil.A second-place finish behind Porsche at the Six Hours of Interlagos was enough to secure Toyota Racing the manufacturers' title in the FIA World Endurance Championship.Anthony Davidson and Sebastien Buemi brought their #8 Toyota Hybrid home to finish on the second step of the podium behind the #14 Porsche 919 Hybrid of Neel Jani, Romain Dumas and Marc Lieb. The #1 Audi R18 of Lucas di Grassi, Loic Duval and Tom Kristensen finished the race in third.A nasty accident involving the #20 Porsche of Australia's Mark Webber and the #90 Ferrari of Matteo Cressoni brought out the safety car with 20 minutes of the race remaining, and the event was concluded without being restarted. Thankfully, both drivers reportedly avoided serious injury.The title win for Toyota is the first for the Japanese manufacturer since returning to prototype endurance racing in 2012. The Davidson/Buemi combination picked up four wins during the season, and claimed the WEC Drivers' Championship at the previous race in Bahrain. Team mates Alex Wurz, Stephane Sarrazin and Mike Conway claimed a single race win.The World Endurance Championship win for Toyota unseats German outfit Audi, who had held the crown since its inception in 2012.

All-new Lexus RC 350 coupe arrives in local showrooms, priced from $66,000.Three months after we first drove the RC 350 in the US, Lexus's new answer to the BMW's 4-series, the Audi A5 and Mercedes-Benz C-class coupe has arrived in local showrooms.The entry-level RC 350 Luxury trim level is priced at $66,000, moving up to the F Sport at $74,000 with the top-spec Sports Luxury priced at $86,000.Effectively a coupe version of the IS sedan, the suspension is actually based around the larger GS. However, the RC 350's front spring rates have been stiffened and the rear suspension has been tweaked with the aim of reducing body roll while maintaining ride comfort.The RC 350 comes with the 233kW/378Nm 3.5-litre V6 petrol engine from the GS350, paired with an eight-speed sports automatic transmission with manual gear selection available via paddle shifters on the steering wheel. The combined fuel efficiency figure for this combination is 9.4L/100km.The engine and transmission can be set into three different drive modes - Eco, Normal and Sport. Eco optimises the engine, accelerator and air-conditioning with a focus on fuel efficiency, Sport delivers more dynamic and responsive performance from the engine and steering and Normal strikes a balance between the two.F Sport and Sports Luxury models come with adaptive dampers and an extra Sport S+ drive mode. Sport S+ drive mode tightens the dampers during heavy braking, acceleration or cornering.Standard Safety features across the RC 350 lineup include front and rear parking sensors, reversing camera and auto-dimming mirrors.The $66,000 entry-level Luxury model features 18-inch alloys and 7-inch multimedia display for the satnav, reversing camera and Bluetooth/USB compatible audio system. There is also leather interior accents, powered front seats with heating and ventilation, LED headlights as well as climate control. A moonroof can be optioned for $2,500.The RC 350 F Sport, priced at $74,000, gains a more aggressive body-styling package, 19-inch alloys, lane change assist, blind spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, F Sport steering wheel and a 17-speaker Mark Levinson audio system.The F Sport can also be optioned with a moonroof as well as lane departure warning, collision warning, active cruise control and automatic high-beam for $7,300The $86,000 Sports Luxury model includes all of the above features and adds premium leather and timber veneer trim to the cabin.

Adelaide Auto Expo to showcase American muscle and European majesty November 28 and 29.Previously known as the Extreme Auto Expo, the Adelaide Auto Expo will be held at the Adelaide Showgrounds this weekend showcasing a variety of street machines, hot rods, muscle cars and more across two days.The expo will boast a 600-car lineup across the seven different mini-shows the event comprises.The Sprint Auto Parts Extreme Auto Expo features street machines and custom motorbikes from across South Australia and interstate. The lineup will include the Kam Chevrolet Nova, an American muscle car completely rebuilt in order to accommodate a 9.4-litre/1118kW Chev big-block engine.There are also dyno and swimwear competitions as well as a trade exhibition full of automotive gadgets.For fans of 1960s custom cars and hot rods, the Adelaide Hot Rod Show will be of interest. There will even be a demonstration on how to build your own hot rod to cruise the streets.There will be a taste of exotica in the Dream Car Garage with examples from Lamborghini, McLaren, Porsche, Audi and Nissan on display.Chamois and polish will be the order of the day at the Show 'n Shine competition, where aficionados of immaculate car care can take in some pristine cars.If getting from one set of traffic lights to the next as fast and as loud as possible is your thing then the Aussic Classic and Muscle Car will be of interest. On Friday night the cars will cruise the streets around the show, giving you the chance to see some of the machinery in action.American muscle cars and hot rods will get their chance to cruise on Saturday night with the Zippel Cruise letting the foreigners showcase how they go on the road.Alternately, you can just oggle at Phil Rilotta’s 16.5-litre/1491kW Camaro drag racer, if extreme numbers are your thing.The Adelaide Auto Expo runs Friday November 28 (5pm to 9pm) and Saturday November 29 (10am to 9pm) at the Adelaide Showgrounds. Tickets are $25 with children 13 and under admitted free.

Watch the Lotus F1 team's semi-trailer jump over one of their F1 cars to set a new world record.An oft-quoted factoid in motorsport circles is that a Formula One racer can drive upside down in a tunnel.A never-quoted factoid is that you can jump a Formula One transporter over a Formula One racer.Enter stuntmen Mike Ryan and Martin Ivanov who went out and did just that, and set a world record in the process.Martin - whose credentials as a stuntman include work on the James Bond movies - slides the Lotus F1 racer underneath the team's semi-trailer.The truck - with The Fast and the Furious alumni Mike behind the wheel - sails majestically through the air before landing a world record-setting 83 feet 7 inches away from where it took off.Whether or not you can drive a Formula One transporter on the roof of a tunnel remains to be seen.

BMW confirms Australian specifications and pricing for its first front-drive model.The all-new BMW 2 Series Active Tourer five-door hatch is now in local showrooms, priced from $44,400.The 2 Series Active Tourer range features two firsts for BMW, with it being the first front-wheel drive model to come from the Bavarian car maker, and the first to be available with a three-cylinder engine.There will be four variants of the 2 Series Active Tourer available in Australia, with the price-leading 218i, turbodiesel 220d and top-spec 225i in showrooms now. A mid-spec 220i will arrive locally in January 2015.Inside the cabin, the new Active Tourer gets a 6.5-inch screen controlled via BMW's iDrive switch for the multimedia, satnav and phone connectivity features. There are also 17-inch alloy wheels, leather multi-function steering wheel, climate control and synthetic leather upholstery.The 225i increases the alloy wheels to 18 inches and adds paddle shifters, leather seats, LED headlights and cornering lights.The $44,400 218i will have a 100kW/220Nm 1.5-litre three-cylinder petrol engine mated to a six-speed automatic transmission with a combined fuel figure of 5.2L/100km.The efficiency-leading 220d - 4.2L/100km combined - has a 110kW/330Nm 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbodiesel engine paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and is priced at $47,800.The top-spec $54,900 225i has a 170kW/350Nm 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine with an eight-speed sports automatic transmission, a combined fuel consumption of 6.1L/100km and the ability to cover the 0-100km/h sprint in 6.6 seconds.When it arrives in January 2015, the 220i will have a 141kW/280Nm version of the 225i's turbocharged engine, an eight-speed automatic transmission and a combined fuel efficiency rating of 5.9L/100km.The 2 Series Active Tourer has as adjustable driving modes; with 'Eco Pro' focusing on fuel efficiency, 'Comfort' for every day driving and 'Sport' tweaking the throttle, transmission and steering response for a more dynamic ride.Assisting with reducing fuel consumption are engine start/stop and brake energy regeneration systems.The 40/20/40 split rear-seats on the Active Tourer provide flexibility in available storage space, allowing the 468-litre boot to be expanded out to 1510 litres when the seats are folded flat. The base of the rear seats can also be adjusted forward to provide 130mm of additional rear leg room or rearward for additional boot space when the seats are upright.Safety features of the new 2 Series Active Tourer include front and rear parking sensors, automated parking assistance, reversing camera, lane departure warning, forward collision warning with autonomous emergency braking system and active cruise control.

Lexus hints at RC convertible with LF-C2 concept in LA.Lexus has unveiled the LF-C2 concept this week, with the roofless concept taking centre-stage on the Lexus stand at the Los Angeles motor show.The LF-C2 is a clear hint that an upcoming drop-top version of the RC coupe may be just around the corner.The styling of the front and back borrows heavily from the 2015 RC coupe, with some subtle tweaks.The trademark Lexus gaping-maw front grille has a new pattern to it, and the 20-inch alloys have a unqiue multi-spoke design.The LF-C2 concept's front LED running lights wrap around toward the wheel arches more than the RC, while the overall shape of the front bumper is also unique.The rear of the concept maintains the same overall styling as the RC coupe, although the rear bumper is also reshaped.Behind the rear passengers is a section of bodywork that would be perfect for hiding a roof in, however the roadster concept lacks one. That makes picking whether a future RC drop-top would have a hard or soft roof difficult.That said, the IS250C, which an RC coupe drop-top would replace, did come with a folding metal roof.Roof aside, there is room for two people in the back of the LF-C2 concept, however looking at the car from top-down suggests it would be ideal if the rear passengers were missing their legs.