Articles by Matthew Hatton

The 1 Series hatch has received a mid-cycle facelift for 2015, with BMW adding more standard features across the range, while maintaining the $36,900 entry point.While the 1 Series will still be spread across five variants, BMW has dropped the 116i entry-level model, replacing it with the 118i. The outgoing 118i has also been replaced by the 120i, while the 125i, M135i and diesel-powered 118d names carry over.Most variants maintain the same list pricing as their outgoing equivalents. Only the 125i has seen a minor price bump, with its list price rising $900 to $48,900. The M135i has received a $2030 drop to now be priced from $62,900.RELATED: Watch our 2015 BMW 1 Series first drive review video here.The 2015 118i features a 100kW/220Nm 1.6-litre four-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine (from the previous 116i), paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. Combined fuel consumption also matches the outgoing 116i at 5.6L/100km. The four-cylinder 118i will be short lived however, as the entry model will adopt a version of the 2 Series Active Tourer's 1.5-litre three cylinder engine in the fourth quarter of the year.New standard features for the refreshed 118i include a reversing camera, rear parking sensors, satnav with live traffic information, auto wipers and 16-inch alloys.The $40,300 118d turbodiesel receives a bump in outputs with the 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine now producing 110kW (up 5kW) and 320Nm. It is also paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission.Despite the power boost, the efficiency-leading 118d now consumes in 0.4L/100km less on the combined cycle at 4.5L/100km.The Sport Line trim pack is standard on both the 118i, 118d and 120i which brings some black embellishments, unique cloth trim, leather steering wheel and bespoke alloys.The $41,900 120i has a 130kW/250Nm version of the 1.6-litre four-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine paired to an eight-speed auto. It brings a 5kW increase in power and a 5.6L/100km combined fuel consumption, which represents a 0.2L/100km improvement over the outgoing 118i it replaces.Also in the updated 120i package is Sensatec synthetic leather trim, auto-dimming rearview mirror, climate control, improved smartphone connectivity and 17-inch alloys.Priced from $48,900, the hotter 125i features the same 160kW/310Nm 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine and eight-speed automatic transmission of the outgoing model. It also matches the outgoing model's combined fuel consumption, coming in at 6.3L/100km.The 125i also features an M Sport package bringing design tweaks inside and out, as well as M Sport brakes, LED headlights, front and rear parking sensors, Alcantara/cloth trim and 18-inch alloys.Topping out the 2015 1 Series hatch range is the $62,900 M135i performance flagship.Under the bonnet of the M135i is a 240kW/450Nm 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbochared petrol engine, matched with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The powerplant delivers a 5kW increase in power over the outgoing model, and now matches the power produced by the M235i.Continuing the theme, the M135i matches the combined fuel consumption of the outgoing version, achieving 7.5L/100km.The M135i features include premium satnav, improved sound system with digital radio, leather trim, adaptive LED headlights, as well as the M Performance trim pack, adaptive M suspension and 18-inch alloy wheels.

Following its preview at the Geneva motor show in February, the 2015 update for the hatch version of Australia's top-selling car brings all the revisions promised at the Swiss event.The Corolla hatch now matches its sedan stablemate, with the addition of a standard reversing camera across the range. The standard camera also brings the Corolla hatch into line with the update to its Mazda3 key rival earlier this year.This is coupled with the same 6.1-inch touchscreen multimedia system already fitted to the Corolla sedan.The Ascent Sport gains ToyotaLink apps, while the SX and ZR models receive a 7-inch touchscreen with satnav and traffic updates.These equipment upgrades also bring $300 price rises for the Ascent and Ascent Sport, now priced from $19,790 and $20,790 respectively, while the SX remains at $23,490.All models come with a six-speed manual transmission, although a seven-speed automatic transmission is available for a $2000 premium.The top-spec automatic-only ZR receives a $1000 price drop to now come in at $28,990.Although it retains the 103kW/173Nm 1.8-litre four-cylinder petrol engine from the outgoing model, refinements to the package have reduced combined fuel consumption to 6.7L/100km for the manual transmission (down 0.4L/100km) and 6.1L/100km for the auto (down 0.5L/100km).On the outside, the new Corolla hatch is 55mm longer than the outgoing model, thanks to increases in the overhang by 35mm at the front and 20mm at the rear.Ascent and Ascent Sport has slightly tweaked front and rear styling, with the entry model riding on unchanged 16-inch steel wheels and the Ascent Sport on fresh 16-inch alloys.Sports-focused SX and ZR models receive a new bodykit and 17-inch alloys. The top-spec ZR also gets bi-LED headlights and LED daytime running lights.The ZR also has option of a panoramic glass roof for $1500.Safety features such as blind spot monitoring, AEB and rear cross-traffic alert - which are available on other small cars like the Mazda3 - are still missing from the Corolla's spec sheet.

The duo, again driving a race-prepped Mitsubishi Pajero, finished the two stages with a time of 6 hours, 29 minutes. That put them 50 minutes ahead of Western Australia's Jason Galea and Markus Christie, who finished second in their Toyota FJ Cruiser.Finishing on top of the production class timesheet in 2015 continues Pickering's run of class victories in each of his 12 attempts."The secret is aiming to finish," Pickering said."I don't go out to win, like many who charge down the track only to be left stranded on the sidelines with a broken car."The Finke Desert Race involves a 230km run from the outskirts of Alice Springs down to the remote community of Finke, on the northern edge of the Simpson Desert, before returning the next day along the same route. The 2015 race featured 134 cars and purpose-built off-road buggies, along with nearly 600 motorcycle and quad bikes.The secret is aiming to finishDespite taking a cautious approach to the car-breaking outback challenge, Pickering and Watson's run didn't have its own mishaps."We heard a banging in the rear about a quarter of the way back," Pickering said."I thought maybe the jack had come loose and it was bouncing around."Instead, it was discovered that a rear shock absorber had broken, however the Pajero's dual-shock suspension setup allowed them to make it to the finish line in Alice Springs.

The new third-generation Kia Sorento SUV will arrive in local showrooms on June 7, with the seven-seat SUV now priced from $40,990 for the entry-level Si model, up $2000 from the outgoing model's starting price. The mid-spec SLi is priced from $45,990, while the top-spec Platinum is priced from $55,990 - both $4500 increases from their outgoing equivalents.The new Sorento brings fresh looks inside and out, plus extra technology to help it battle key rivals like the Toyota Kluger, Ford Territory, Hyundai Santa Fe and Nissan Pathfinder.The Sorento's all-new body has been lengthened by 95mm to 4780mm, widened by 5mm to 1890mm and overall height has lowered by 45mm to be 1690mm. The wheelbase has also increased by 80mm to 2780mm.The extra length and width pays dividends when it comes to luggage space. The new Sorento fits 320 litres (142 VDA) of cargo in the back will all the seats up, 1077L (605 VDA) with the third row seats down, and 2066L (1662 VDA) with the middle seats folded.This represents gains of 62 litres, 30 litres and 14 litres respectively over the outgoing model.For the passengers, there is an extra 12V power adaptor in the front bringing the total to three. There's also USB charging in both the front and second row, and an extra cup holder in the third row.Earlier this week ANCAP awarded the 2015 Sorento the maximum five star crash safety rating.Helping it achieve this are six airbags - two at the front, two at the side and two full length curtain bags protecting all three rows.There is also a a suite of technologies working to stop an accident occurring in the first place - anti-lock braking with electronic brake-force distribution and brake assist, electronic stability control with traction control, vehicle stability management, hill-start assist and emergency stop signalling.AEB and forward collision warning however, is notably missing from the feature list.For baby capsules, there are two ISOFIX mounting points and three top tethers in the second row.The new Sorento is available in the same Si, SLi and Platinum trim of the outgoing model. Also carrying over is the split in engine options with Si and SLi variants available with either the petrol or turbodiesel engines, while the Platinum remains exclusively an oiler.Across the lineup the Sorento features a 7-inch touchscreen multimedia system, satnav with traffic info, reversing camera, front/rear parking sensors, auto headlights and 17-inch alloys plus a full size alloy spare.The mid-spec SLi adds keyless ignition, hands free tailgate, perforated leather trimmed seats, 10-speaker sound system and ups the wheel size to 18 inches.The Platinum then adds lane departure warning, rear cross traffic alert, blind spot monitoring, adaptive cruise control, panoramic sunroof, heated steering wheel, heated/ventilated front seats, heated second row seats (not the middle one, however), sunshade for second row, auto-levelling HID headlights, LED daytime running lights and 19-inch alloys.The new Sorento's petrol engine has been downsized from the old model's 3.5-litre V6 to a 3.3-litre unit, dropping outputs by 5kW/17Nm to 199kW/318Nm, and paired exclusively with a six-speed automatic transmission driving the front wheels.Tuning to suit new emissions regulations has caused the smaller engine to bring a small increase in fuel consumption, with the petrol model achieving 9.9L/100km on the combined cycle compared to the 9.8L/100km of the outgoing Sorento.The 147kW/441Nm 2.2-litre 4-cylinder turbodiesel gains 2kW/5Nm, and is also paired with six-speed auto, but driving all four wheels. The manual transmission available on the outgoing model has been discontinued.Like its petrol counterpart, the diesel engine also comes with an increase in fuel consumption, up 0.5L/100km over the outgoing model to achieve a combined 7.8L/100km.Torque distribution can be "locked" to split evenly between the front and rear wheels for off-road or low traction situations, however like its key rivals, the Sorento does not have a low-range transfer case.

The Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI) has launched Genuine is Best, a new website that helps motorists ensure their cars are repaired using genuine car parts.Unless obliged to use genuine parts, there is a great temptation for repairers to use cheaper knock-offs or refurbished parts that may look the same, but not but not necessarily be the same quality as a genuine part.Generally, a genuine part is a new part and comes recommended by the manufacturer of your vehicle.Chief Executive of the FCAI, Tony Weber, says the Genuine is Best website will help consumers make sure their car functions and protects them in the way the manufacturer intended."A genuine part is made or selected by the vehicle maker and is tested as an integral component of the vehicle to ensure quality and safety," he said."Non-genuine parts can't necessarily promise this quality and safety."The website provides a step-by-step guide for motorists, designed to ensure that any repairs done to their car has been completed using genuine parts.It also advises motorists to check their insurance policy to ensure that any repair work done under that policy must be done using genuine parts, and not refurbished or third-party parts.The Genuine is Best website is available here.

Australian crash safety authority, ANCAP, has awarded the maximum five-star crash safety rating to the third-generation Kia Sorento SUV, which launches in Australia this week.The large-SUV's performance in the physical crash tests (conducted by EuroNCAP) as well as its inclusion of required safety technology combined to deliver the Sorento the full five stars for safety.Achieving a five-star rating from ANCAP means the new Sorento matches its key rivals - including the Ford Territory, Toyota Kluger, Hyundai Santa Fe and Nissan Pathfinder - in having the maximum safety level. The Sorento's result is also a boost for the Korean car maker after the third-generation Carnival people mover, with which the Sorento shares some of its underpinnings, only managed a four-star rating earlier this year.

Toyota has given the second-generation Aurion its final facelift ahead of the brand’s local manufacturing operations coming to a close in 2017.The changes come just two weeks after the locally-made Camry was updated, but the also-Altona-built V6 model’s changes are far less significant than those applied to the four-cylinder Camry, which has so far outsold the Aurion by more than 6:1 this year.The Aurion model lineup has also been consolidated, with the previous mid-spec Prodigy trim level dropped and the sports-flavoured Sportivo has been scaled back to a single variant.Where the Camry scored a comprehensive styling upgrade, the Aurion makes do with the sheetmetal and basic styling at both ends the model has worn since the second generation arrived in 2012.However, the new AT-X now comes with the chrome-free grille from the Sportivo, while the Presara scores a new grille design and the same 17-inch alloys as the new Camry Atara SL.The Sportivo’s look is now more discrete, with a more subtle body kit and the black 18-inch alloys from the new Camry Atara SX.At the top of the range, the Presara adds a unique grille design and lip spoiler, LED headlights and fog lights and new design 17-inch alloys. Larger 18-inch alloys can be optioned, however.All models in the Aurion range now come with a 4.2-inch information display for the driver, improved mobile phone connectivity and keyless ignition, along with front parking sensors added to the existing rear ones.These additions join the dual-zone air-con and reversing camera present on the outgoing model.The AT-X also retains its 6.1-inch touchscreen multimedia screen, as does the Sportivo, with the Presara still sporting 7-inch screen that brings satnav with real-time traffic updates.The Presara also continues to feature safety tech not available in lower model grades, including rear cross-traffic alert, lane departure warning and blind spot monitoring.All Aurion variants continue with the same 200kW/336Nm 3.5-litre V6 petrol engine and six-speed automatic transmission the model has used since 2006. The Sportivo is still the only model to get paddle-shifters.Pricing for the entry-level AT-X and mid-spec Sportivo is unchanged at $36,490 and $40,990 respectively. The top-spec Presara model has jumped slightly to $50,440, which Toyota says is a result of metallic or pearlescent paint being made standard.

Over 80 per cent of car owners are wary of paying for unnecessary work when getting their car serviced, a survey conducted by research firm Canstar Blue has found.Among the 1000 motorists surveyed, 60 per cent said they had paid for repairs or maintenance items they were not expecting.While some people were convinced they were bring ripped off, most simply part with their money begrudginglyThe survey also found that having a regular mechanic is still common, with nearly 70 per cent of respondents reporting they have their car serviced at the same place every time. Only 40 per cent of respondents say they shop around to find the cheapest price.Head of Canstar Blue, Megan Doyle, said that while some people were convinced they were bring ripped off, most simply part with their money begrudgingly."We found 52 per cent of motorists delay servicing for as long as they can and 38 per cent often skip services if their vehicle appears in good health," she said."That fear of unexpected costs will no doubt be one of the reasons why."However, the survey only looked at people who reported having their car serviced at an independent mechanic and not those who had their car serviced at a dealership.The role of capped price servicing schemes, which are becoming increasingly common and have also come into the focus of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC), was also not considered.As ever, the advice to car owners is to get a second opinion if they're unsure."If you’re confronted by a bill you were not expecting and have doubts about it, get a second opinion. Find a mechanic that someone you trust, trusts," Doyle said.

Mazda has released local pricing for the all-new MX-5 convertible sports car, with the hotly-anticipated new fourth-generation model priced from $31,990, sharpening the pricing by over $15,000 compared to the outgoing NC model.This puts the MX-5 squarely up against the Toyota 86, with the other budget rear-wheel drive hero still kicking off at $29,990. The MX-5 brings the added bonus of an open roof, however.Two variants of the MX-5, designated as the ND, will be available when the model arrives on our shores in mid-August.From launch, both entry-level Roadster and Roadster GT trim levels will be powered by an up-rated version of the Mazda2’s 1.5-litre petrol engine, bringing an extra 15kW and 9Nm to now total 96kW/150Nm.Driving the rear wheels as per MX-5 tradition, the new model can be had with a choice of six-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmission. A more powerful 2.0-litre petrol engine will join the lineup later in the year.Impressively the ND is only 59kg heavier than the original 1989 NA modelIncreased use of aluminium and high-strength steel helps make the all-new MX-5 is significantly lighter than before, with a starting point of 1009kg a full 91kg lighter than the equivalent NC model.Also aiding weight loss is the fact the model is shorter than ever before, with an overall length of 3915mm and a wheelbase of 2315mm. The ND is 1730mm wide and 1235mm tall.The new model also reverts to a lighter soft-top roof, doing away with the folding hardtop fitted exclusively to the final NC models. Impressively the ND is only 59kg heavier than the original 1989 NA model, which lacked most modern safety features that are standard in the new car.Mazda’s attention to weight reduction even extends to reverting to a four-stud wheel and brake package, compared to the five-stud package of the NC.The new 1.5-litre MX-5 may trail the 118kW/188Nm output figures of the NC, but the new model's lighter weight has kept the power-to-weight ratio within the same ballpark, and easily better than the 1.6-litre NA.The upcoming 2.0-litre version should easily eclipse the performance of the NC, however, making it the fastest non-turbo MX-5 yet.Australian-spec ND MX-5's started rolling down the Ujina production line near Hiroshima last week.

A study commissioned by ANCAP, the Commonwealth Department of Infrastructure and Regional Development and Euro NCAP has found that autonomous emergency braking (AEB) can reduce the likelihood of hitting the back of another car by up to 38 per cent.An increasingly common safety feature in new cars, AEB works by monitoring 6m to 8m ahead of a car and automatically applies the brakes if it detects an obstacle in the way – at speeds of up to 50km/h with current technology.The number of times they were striking cars in front was reduced significantlyCar crash data from six countries was combined by the researchers to compare crashes between cars fitted with AEB with those without, across accidents where the car was either striking a car in front or was being struck from behind.In non-AEB cars, the split between striking and being struck was close to 50-50. In cars with AEB, the number of times they were striking cars in front was reduced significantly.The researchers also noted that AEB-fitted cars may be more likely to be struck from behind, as an unintended consequence of AEB’s better reaction time, compared to a human driver. They do note, however, that more study into this particular area is required.Also requiring more research is the application of high-speed AEB systems designed for highway use, as the study only focussed on systems that work below 50km/h.