Articles by Matthew Hatton

Toyota has confirmed full details for the new Camry mid-size sedan, with sharpened pricing across the range.The final Camry to be produced in Australia will once again be available with either petrol or petrol-electric hybrid drivetrains, the Camry range now starts at $26,490, a drop of $4000 from the starting list price of the outgoing model.The range has also been expanded to seven models, with the addition of a third hybrid variant.The starting price for the hybrid range is down by a substantial $5000For 2015, the Toyota Camry range will start with the $26,490 Altise before moving up to the $29,490 Atara S and $31,990 Atara SX, before topping out with the Atara SL at $37,440.The inclusion of a hybrid Altise variant has brought the starting price for the petrol-electric range down by a substantial $5000 to $30,490, with the $32,490 Atara S and $40,440 Atara SL rounding off the model range.Equipment in the Altise includes a reversing camera, 6.1-inch multimedia display and 6 speaker sound system, while it rides on 16-inch alloys.The Altise Hybrid adds keyless entry/ignition as well as dual-zone air-con.Both Atara S models add rear parking sensors, an upgraded multimedia system with voice commands and soon-to-be-added Pandora internet radio as well as 17-inch alloys.Sitting in the middle is the sports-flavoured and non-hybrid Atara SX. The SX features unique styling, rear lip spoiler, leather accented seats and 18-inch alloys.At the top of the range is the Atara SL trim level. This adds safety features not available in the rest of the range including pre-collision alert with automatic braking, lane departure warning, rear cross traffic alert and blind spot monitoring.The Atara SL also includes active cruise control, 7-inch touchscreen with satnav and 10-speaker sound, auto wipers and high beam and front parking sensors.The petrol-powered Camry carries-over the same 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine from the outgoing model, paired to a six-speed automatic transmission. In the Altise, the powerplant will produce 133kW/231Nm, while a slightly different tune in the Atara models produce 135kW/235Nm.In the hybrid, the petrol engine's outputs are only 118kW/213Nm, however the addition of a 105kW/270Nm electric motor lifts the combined output to 151kW. Power is put to the ground via a CVT automatic transmission.Fuel efficiency for both drivetrains remains unchanged from the outgoing model with the petrol engine achieving 7.8L/100km on the combined cycle, while the hybrid system achieves 5.2L/100km.

Subaru has announced a limited Sunshine Yellow special edition of their XV small SUV, priced from $30,740.Based on the entry-level XV 2.0i CVT variant, the Special Edition represents a $1750 premium over the regular model’s $28,990 list price.The Special Edition retains the 110kW/196Nm 2.0-litre four-cylinder boxer petrol engine, but will only be available with the CVT automatic transmission.Additional Special Edition features include heated front seats, leather appointed seats with Special Edition stitching, leather steering wheel and shifter as well as carbon fibre-look interior panels.Limited to just 200 units, the Sunshine Yellow XV Special Edition will, unsurprisingly, come with a bright yellow paint scheme unavailable elsewhere in the XV lineup.

Peugeot has adopted nation-wide drive-away pricing for its entry-level 308 Access hatch, with the previous $21,990 list price for the manual model now including on-road costs.The auto version scores a $24,690 drive-away price, adding $700 to the previous list price (which excludes on-road costs).The new pricing applies only to the 308 Access hatchback. The 308 Allure, Allure Premium, GT and all wagon variants retain their current list pricing.Peugeot's drive-away pricing comes in $1000 lower than the current deal Volkswagen is running on the 308's key rival Golf 90TSI manual.Powered by a 96kW/230Nm 1.2-litre three-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine, the 308 Access hatch features LED daytime running lights, cruise control with electronic speed-limiter, Bluetooth/USB compatible stereo and 15-inch steel wheels.

Subaru has dropped the prices of its XV small SUV by $1250 for 2015, after already reducing prices of the previous model by $750 in January.These reductions follow the recent arrival of stiff competition like the Mazda CX-3, Honda HR-V and Renault Captur in the booming small SUV segment.This brings a new XV starting price of $26,490 for the entry-level 2.0i. The mid-level 2.0i-L is now priced from $29,990, while the top-spec 2.0i-S starts at $32,490.The 2015 update also brings updated trim to the cabin, as well as new touchscreen multimedia system.The entry-level 2.0i model now features a 6.2-inch touchscreen, while the 2.0i-L and 2.0i-S receive a 7-inch unit and an updated information display for the driver.The 2015 Subaru XV retains its 110kW/196Nm 2.0-litre four-cylinder boxer petrol engine, as well the choice of six-speed manual or CVT automatic transmissions powering all four wheels.

Founder of the charity Save Our Sons, Elie Eid, will walk from Sydney to Parliament House, Canberra to raise awareness of Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) on starting May 1st.Elie will be pushing his son, Emilio, suffers from DMD and is in a wheelchair, the entire 320km distance from Dulwich Hill in Sydney to Parliament House in the nation's capital. They will be joined on the walk by Ultra-marathon runner Pat Farmer and the group are scheduled to arrive in Canberra on May 12th.Elie and Emilio will be supported in their walk by Hyundai, who provided four vehicles to accompany them as they make their way through Parramatta, Bowral and Goulburn on their way to Canberra.The father and son pair will be joined at the start of the trek on Friday by Save Our Sons ambassadors including former NRL players Mark Geyer and Terry Lamb, Rose Tattoo frontman Angry Anderson as well as Home and Away stars Ada Nicodemou and Lynne McGranger.Save Our Sons aims to raise $3.5 million over the next two years to help fund clinical trials and research into a cure for DMDEarlier this week, Save Our Sons supporter James Reid and a team of runners pushed a wheelchair from Newcastle to Sydney as part of a 48 hour marathon to help raise awareness of the fatal disease.Elie says the wheelchair is a symbol of "the harsh reality that families like mine face"."The wheelchair is where children with DMD end up and it is all we as parents are left with when our children suffering this fatal condition pass away at a young age," he said.The walk to Canberra is part of a push by Save Our Sons to raise $3.5 million over the next two years to help fund clinical trials and research into a cure for DMD. Since 2008, the group has already been able to fund research in Australia, as well as the UK and United States.Donations to Save Our Sons can be made here.

The new fifth-generation Mitsubishi Triton ute will go on sale locally on May 1st, with a starting price of $24,490 for the 2WD single cab, cab chassis variant.With 2015 shaping up to be the year of the ute, the new Triton will soon be joined by the Nissan Navara which is also due in May, with the updated Ford Ranger and Mazda BT-50 to follow in July. An all-new version of the top-selling Toyota HiLux will arrive after everyone else in October.The Triton will be available in Single Cab, Club Cab or Double Cab cabin designs in either cab chassis or pick up bodystyles. The range spans GLX, GLS and Exceed trim levels and all are available with four-wheel drive, while the entry-level GLX can also be had with two-wheel drive.The 2015 Triton will be powered by a 133kW/430Nm 2.4-litre four-cylinder turbodiesel engine, matched to either a six-speed manual or 5-speed automatic transmission depending on model grade.MORE: See how the 2015 Triton stacks up in our first drive reviewA price-leading 2.4-litre petrol engine manual transmission 2WD single cab model will be arriving later this year.Braked towing capacities range from 2500kg for 2WD single cab variants, up to 3100kg for 4WD dual cab Triton utes.GLX Tritons come equipped with seven airbags, USB/Bluetooth compatible stereo, air-conditioning and 16-inch steel wheels.Stepping up to the GLS adds reversing camera, 6.1-inch touchscreen with six-speakers, dual-zone climate control, LED daytime running lights, sportsbar, leather steering wheel/shifter and 17-inch alloys.The top-spec Triton Exceed adds leather trim, 7-inch touchscreen with satnav, auto headlights and wipers, push-button start and paddle-shifters.Mitsubishi's all-new Triton will also feature capped-price servicing, with the first 12 month service costing $350, with the following three scheduled services capped at $580.

Mazda has announced that a sedan bodystyle will once again be added to the popular Mazda2 range before the end of 2015.The Mazda2 sedan will compete in the light-sedan segment alongside the Honda City and booted versions of the Holden Barina, Hyundai Accent and Toyota Yaris, along with  the smaller Mitsubishi Mirage.The new Mazda2 sedan will feature the same Skyactiv-G four-cylinder petrol engine seen in the existing five-door hatch, with a choice between six-speed manual and auto transmissions.Like the hatch, both 79kW/139Nm 'standard' spec and 81kW/141Nm 'high' spec versions of the engine will be available.Also like the existing hatch, AEB will be available as an option.The previous generation of the Mazda2 was sold as a sedan briefly in 2010.A Scion-badged version of the current model was also unveiled for the US market at last month's LA motor show.For Australia, the new Mazda2 sedan will likely mirror the Neo, Maxx and Genki trim levels of the hatch, with pricing to be announced closer to its on-sale date.

The dual-cab pick-up version of Nissan's all-new NP300 Navara ute will go on sale in May, with prices starting at $26,490.Cab-chassis models, as well as all single-cab and king-cab variants are slated to arrive in the third-quarter of this year. Nissan says prices for the later arrivals will be confirmed closer to their on-sale date.The all-new Navara will go up against the five-star safety rated all-new Triton (due in May), refreshed Ford Ranger (August) and top-selling all-new Toyota HiLux (October).RELATED: 2015 Nissan Navara review | first driveDiesel NP300 Navaras will feature a 2.3-litre four-cylinder turbodiesel engine, in either 120kW/403Nm or twin-turbo 140kW/450Nm form paired to a six-speed manual or seven-speed torque converter automatic transmission.RX, ST and ST-X Navara trim levels will have the turbodiesel under the bonnet, and a choice of either two or four-wheel drive.The price-leading Navara DX variant will be fitted with a 2.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine.Features of the Navara DX include daytime running lights auto headlights, cloth trim, vinyl floor, six-speaker audio, full-size spare, and it rides on 15-inch steel wheels.Stepping up to the RX adds chrome door handles and mirrors, powered rear windows, carpet flooring and 16-inch steel wheels.The ST adds reversing camera, alloy sports bar, 5-inch multimedia screen, auto-levelling LED headlights, LED running lights, side steps and 16-inch alloys.The top-spec ST-X builds on all that came before, adding dual-zone climate control, rear parking sensors, 7-inch multimedia system, satnav, full-size alloy spare, heated front seats with leather accents, power sunroof, two-channel Utili-Track tray storage system and 18-inch alloys.

Improvements to vehicle safety technology have been the focus of the 2015 Canstar Blue Innovation Awards - Automotive Industry.The inaugural awards for innovation have been judged by a panel of experts. Previously, Canstar Blue has bestowed awards on manufacturers in areas such as value and customer satisfaction, based off surveys of car buyers.Eight joint winners were announced today, with five directly improve the safety of both vehicle occupants as well as pedestrians.Ford's MyKey technology uses multiple keys to allow parents to set speed restrictions and limit radio volume when their children borrow the car.EyeSight - available in a number of Subaru vehicles - integrates a number of safety features including autonomous emergency braking and adaptive cruise control by using multiple cameras to map out the road ahead of the vehicle and warn the driver of approaching obstructions.IntellisSafe Pedestrian Detection works in a similar manner, and has been devleoped by Swedish carmaker Volvo.Nuviz, based out of San Diego in the US, has developed what they claim to be first heads-up display for motorcycle riders. The Ride:HUD can be retrofitted to most existing motorcycle helmets and allows riders to use GPS and monitor bike telemetry without having to take their eyes off the road. Riders control the Ride:HUD using controls mounted on the bike's handlebars.Looking to help curtail the number of deaths and injuries that occur in driveways, electronics company Bosch developed Back Over Avoidance (BoA). BoA works in must the same way as AEB does, using sensors and radars to monitor the area directly behind the car, and automatically apply the brakes if it detects if it detects an obstruction.Hyundai's iCare capped price servicing program also picked up an award for providing transparency about servicing costs to consumers.Other award winners included Mercedes-Benz's Touchpad - which allows drivers to control the Comand multimedia system in the same way they would a typical smart phone - and the Tesla Model S electric car.Canstar Blue General Manager, Megan Doyle, said their research has found that 55 per cent of insurance claims involve an accident with two or more cars and that "anything that car manufacturers can do to improve the safety of our roads and driveways should be applauded"."The aim of these awards is to bring the latest and greatest innovations to the attention of consumers, and we have been hugely surprised and impressed by what we have found," she said.

Matthew Hatton off-road tests and reviews the Isuzu D-Max and MU-X on Moreton Island, with the new I-Venture Club experience.