Articles by Matthew Hatton

CarsGuide goes behind the scenes to find out what it takes to bring a car ad to life.

Christopher Lloyd and Michael J Fox reunite to see how hydrogen fuel for the Toyota Mirai is made.

October 21, 2015 was going to be just another spring day. That was until November 1989 when Back to the Future Part II hit cinemas.

Tesla has opened Supercharger stations for their electric cars in Goulburn and Wodonga to enable owners to travel between Sydney and Melbourne.

Child restraint improvements elevate Nissan's new Navara ute to a maximum safety rating.

The University of Michigan's 'Mcity' is a purpose-built proving ground for autonomous cars.

James Bond is set to lock horns with old foes the Special Executive for Counter-intelligence, Terrorism, Revenge and Extortion (SPECTRE) in his 24th film, and his new DB10 is going along for the ride."Magnificent, isn't she?" says Ben Whishaw's Q as the purpose-built Aston Martin is first revealed to the British spook.It's hard to disagree, given we have been staring lovingly at the Bond special since our first look at the end of last year.We still don't know exactly what is sitting under the bonnet, but according to the Quartermaster, the DB10 will do the zero to 60mph (96.5km/h) sprint in 3.2 seconds. That puts it in the same performance ballpark as a Lamborghini Huracan, McLaren F1 and Koenigsseg CCX.This isn't the typical car one drives straight off the showroom floorThe figures are made more impressive by the fact Bond does away with any fancy dual-clutch paddle-shifting automatic transmission, instead opting for a more traditional manual gearbox.And in true 007 spirit it is clear this isn't the typical car one drives straight off the showroom floor (Casino Royale's Ford Mondeo excluded).While we have seen the DB10 in previous teasers for the new film, this new trailer does show Bond's car is capable of shooting slightly more flame out of the exhaust than you'd typically expect as he deals with a Jaguar C-X75 foe.Rest assured though, Q does hint there's "a few little tricks up her sleeve".Hopefully those tricks will keep the DB10 in better shape than Bond's last two cars. His DBS met a world-record setting end on a Montenegrin back road in Casino Royale, and the iconic Goldfinger DB5 came to grief thanks to the business end of a helicopter gunship in Skyfall.The Aston Martin DB10, and Daniel Craig's Bond, will be seen in full flight when Spectre hits Australian screens on November 6.

So you're finally at the age where you can step into the driver's seat, and just can't wait to hit the local motor registry to get your license.Normally this would mean hitting the books and getting your head around the mountain of rules that govern what you are allowed to do behind the wheel.But given this is the 21st century and books are a little...lolnope, you're probably wanting to bust out your smartphone and find that killer app instead.No matter what flavour of phone you have, there are plenty of choices available in your app store (Apple iTunes, Google Play and the Windows Phone Store). Many of them are free, and the others will only cost you a few dollars.Most of these apps mimic the driver knowledge tests you must pass in order to take possession of your licence.They are a convenient way of making sure you are completely on top of road rules ahead of sitting the test and getting on the road yourself.A word of caution however -- most of these apps have not been developed by the motoring authorities of the various states and territories. That means they might not cover 100 per cent of road rules or be 100 per cent accurate.If you plan on using one of these apps, make sure you cross-check everything they say with the official learner driver handbook in your state. Excuses like "the app said I was right" will get you nowhere should you fail the test because of incorrect information.That said, prospective NSW drivers are in luck. NSW Roads and Maritime Service (formerly Roads and Traffic Authority) have an official app that mirrors the practice test available on their website.While the RMS app is available for Apple devices only, there is an unofficial RTA Car Driver Knowledge Test Simulator available for Windows Phone and Windows RT. The app claims to have a database of all the questions used in the RMS knowledge test, but you should keep in mind that it hasn't been developed by RMS.The RACQ in Queensland also has a smartphone app as part of its Learn2Go program. While it is happily available on both Apple and Android phones, it is aimed at those who have already completed their knowledge test.For most other states, the various motoring authorities have practice tests available on their websites. These may or may not work on your smartphone, but will all work on a laptop or desktop computer.Queensland - RACQ Free2Go learners testNew South Wales - online demonstration driver knowledge testVictoria - online practice testACT - online knowledge testTasmania - online practice testSouth Australia - practice learner's theory testNorthern Territory - practice driver knowledge testWestern Australia - theory test sample quizzes

The all-new Hyundai Tucson will arrive in showrooms on August 1, replacing the popular ix35 SUV.The change in name will also bring a shift in its official size classification, with the 30mm wider, 65mm taller and 30mm longer-wheelbase Tucson pushing the SUV firmly into the mid-size ring to compete more closely with the Mazda CX-5, Toyota RAV4 and Nissan X-Trail.An extra trim level will also be added, with the ActiveX to join the existing Active, Elite and Highlander lineup.The Tucson range will kick off with the $27,990 Active variant, although it won't be arriving locally until after the more expensive models’ August debut. This represents a $1000 increase over the ix35’s base price, but brings several additional standard features.Under the Active’s bonnet is a 2.0-litre multi-point injected petrol engine paired with a six-speed manual transmission driving the front wheels. Swapping the manual for a six-speed automatic adds $2500.The entry-level model will score a reversing camera, as well as Apple CarPlay and Android AutoEngine outputs, efficiency figures and exact specifications for the Active will be confirmed closer to its on-sale date in the fourth quarter.However, Hyundai has previously confirmed the entry-level model will score a reversing camera, as well as Apple CarPlay (after September) and Android Auto (in early 2016) smartphone connectivity systems.Stepping up to the $30,490 ActiveX puts the more-powerful 122kW/205Nm 2.0-litre direct-injected petrol engine from the outgoing ix35 in the engine bay, paired with a six-speed manual transmission in front-wheel drive. Again, swapping to the six-speed auto in adds $2500.The ActiveX will add rear parking sensors, seven-inch touchscreen multimedia system, auto headlights, front fog lights, LED DRLs, leather-appointed seats, six airbags, multi-function steering wheel and 18-inch alloys.Sitting second from the top in the lineup, the Elite variant provides the greatest choice in drivetrains amongst the Tucson range.Priced from $35,240, the Elite gets the same 2.0-litre petrol engine from the Active paired to the six-speed auto.Also available in the Elite is a version of the 1.6-litre four-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine found in the Veloster SR, paired with a seven-speed dual-clutch auto driving all four wheels for $38,240.The existing 135kW/392Nm 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbodiesel from the ix35 is also available with the Elite, paired with a six-speed auto and all-wheel drive from $40,240.The Elite adds keyless entry and start, hands-free powered tailgate, LED headlights, auto wipers, dual-zone climate control, trailer stability assist, electronic parking brake and it rides on 17-inch alloys.The Elite also features an eight-inch touchscreen multimedia system and satnav, but does not get the Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity available in the Active and ActiveX. It also features cloth seats as opposed to the ActiveX's leather-appointed ones.At the top of the Tucson tree is the Highlander variant. Priced from $43,490, the Highlander gets the 1.6-litre turbo and seven-speed dual-clutch auto, or the 2.0-litre turbodiesel with six-speed auto priced from $45,490.The Highlander also adds front parking sensors, AEB, rear cross traffic alert, blind spot monitoring, lane departure warning with lane keep assist, leather-appointed seats, heated/vented front seats, LED tail lights, panoramic glass sunroof, tyre pressure monitoring, 4.2-inch information display for the driver and 19-inch alloys.

Over the past five years, all Australian states and territories have phased out registration stickers for private cars and light commercial vehicles.The brightly coloured labels, previously a staple of everyone's windscreen, were not only a certification of road-worthiness but also served to remind motorists as to when their registration would be due for renewal.As the labels have been phased out, an increasing number of motorists have found themselves being caught out driving unregistered vehicles.RELATED: Top tips for keeping your car roadworthyHowever, there are a few ways to can make sure you don't find yourself on the receiving end of a hefty fine from the local constabulary.The transport authorities in every state and territory have tools on their websites where you can punch in your car's registration number and get the expiry date, along with other information in some cases.Australian Capital TerritoryNew South WalesNorthern TerritoryQueenslandSouth Australia (SA even has an app you can download for your smartphone)TasmaniaVictoriaWestern Australia A quick search on the internet will bring up a number of different retailers offering various stickers you can put on your car to remind you the date your registration is due for renewal. Designs and prices are as wide and varied as the types of cars on the road.Alternately, you can make your own with a blank sticker and a marking pen.When was the last time you didn't jump to action the moment your phone beeped at you?Simply adding a reminder in your smartphone or tablet calendar app is an easy way to be reminded your registration is coming up for renewal.If you think you might need a bit of prodding, you can schedule several reminders in the lead up to the due date to make sure you never find yourself accidentally driving an unregistered vehicle.