Articles by Matthew Hatton

The all-new Hyundai Tucson SUV will make its public debut at the Geneva motor show next month.Replacing the popular ix35 small SUV, the new crossover marks the return of the Tucson nameplate to Australia. The first-generation Tucson was sold in Australia between 2004 and 2010, before being replaced by the current ix35.The Tucson is larger than the ix35 with overall length growing by 65mm to 4475mm, while the width grows by 30mm to 1850mm. The wheelbase is also 30mm longer at 2670mm.This growth will bump the Tucson firmly into the mid-size SUV segment, helping it compete directly with the likes of the Mazda CX-5, Toyota RAV4 and Nissan X-Trail.The new Tucson's design was hinted at with the Santa Cruz ute concept at the Detroit motor show in February, with frontal styling and C-pillar beltline kick being clear visual links.Links between the ute concept and the Tucson production car don't stop there - the Santa Cruz River runs through the city of Tucson in Arizona...Inside the Tucson's cabin, Hyundai plans to feature Apple's CarPlay and Android Auto multimedia systems, allowing improved integration with popular smartphones, along with satnav and voice commands.In the rear, seats-up cargo space has been boosted by 48 litres over the ix35 to now total 513.The Tucson will also feature parking assist and hands-free tailgate.Hyundai has confirmed that a reversing camera will come standard on all Australian models. Other safety features such as autonomous emergency braking, lane keep assist, rear cross traffic alert, blind spot monitoring and speed limit monitoring will feature internationally, although exact trim levels are yet to be confirmed.A 130kW 1.6-litre four-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine with a seven-speed dual clutch transmission will replace the ix35's existing 136kW/240Nm 2.4-litre four-cylinder engine.The ix35's existing 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol and 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbodiesel engines will be retained in the new Tucson lineup.The 2015 Hyundai Tucson will arrive in local showrooms early in the third quarter of 2015.

Mazda has confirmed new details for the brand's new CX-3 small SUV, with two new model grades, and impressive efficiency figures for the petrol and diesel lineup.The CX-3 Akari will sit atop the new baby SUV range, with the new sTouring model sitting beneath it.Mazda is yet to confirm exact specifications for the new trim levels, but we do know their MZD Connect multimedia system, i-Activesense safety technology and a heads-up display for the driver will feature, along with either 16 or 18-inch wheels.Pricing for the CX-3 is also still unknown, but it shouldn't stray far from immediate rivals like the $24,990 Honda HR-V (with standard auto) and the $22,990 Renault Captur.The front-wheel drive auto CX-3's 109kW/192Nm 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine is rated at 6.1L/100km on the combined cycle.This pips the exclusively 105kW/172Nm 1.8-litre four-cylinder Honda HR-V, which consumes between 6.6-6.9L/100km on the combined cycle with its CVT automatic.However the petrol CX-3 is still bettered by the 5.4L/100km of the 1.2-litre four-cylinder turbo Renault Captur and the 5.8L/100km of the 1.6-litre four-cylinder Suzuki S-Cross 2WD auto variants.Setting a new segment benchmark is the CX-3 turbodiesel, with the 77kW/270Nm 1.5-litre four-cylinder, six-speed auto drivetrain rated at 4.8L/100km combined.The Mazda CX-3 will arrive in local showrooms in late March.

Ford is continuing to improve customer service levels by offering free loan cars to customers having a scheduled service performed at a participating Ford dealer.This follows the introduction of lifetime capped price servicing in December 2014, which applies to all Ford cars built since 2007.The free loan cars will complement the existing shuttle bus pick-up and drop-off service already offered by many dealers.Customers will have the opportunity to book a loan car as they booking a scheduled service.Ford also plans to continue offering new services as the brand rolls out their redesigned "dealerships of the future".This transformation plan also involves the introduction of online booking systems and automated email/SMS reminders.Service staff will also use iPads to explain work to be carried out, log any additional details and take photos or record noises to assist mechanics in fixing any problems.At present, 20 dealers in Melbourne and Sydney have completed the transformation program with that number expected to rise to 80 by the end of the year.

The new Sonata was first revealed in March last year, and now Hyundai has confirmed local pricing and specifications for the all-new sedan.The new Sonata uses Hyundai's 'Fluidic Sculpture 2.0' design language, which we first saw used on the Genesis sedan that arrived last year.Three trim levels will be available - Active, Elite and Premium - following the formula used by several other Hyundai models.The base Sonata Active kicks off at $29,990, cheaper than its Toyota Camry and Mazda6 key rivals and matching the entry price of the new Subaru Liberty.The Active is powered by a 138kW/241Nm 2.4-litre four-cylinder petrol engine paired to a six-speed torque-converter automatic transmission.The entry-level Active comes with features including a 4.3-inch touchscreen multimedia system with all the expected connectivity options, six-speaker sound, cloth upholstery, LED daytime running lights, automatic headlights and 17-inch alloys.Standard safety features include reversing camera, reverse parking sensors, six airbags, traction and stability control systems, electronic brake-force distribution, hill-start assist, emergency stop signalling as well as a brake assist system.The $36,990 Sonata Elite steps up to a 180kW/350Nm 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine and is also paired with a six-speed torque-converter automatic.The Elite includes all the features of the Active, but adds an eight-inch touchscreen with satnav and live traffic updates, leather seats, dual-zone climate control and LED tail lights.Priced at $41,990, the top-spec Sonata Premium builds on the Elite's features and adds front parking sensors, panoramic glass sunroof, auto-levelling bi-xenon headlights with static cornering lights, automatic wipers, auto-dimming rear view mirror, heated and ventilated front seats with memory function as well as 18-inch alloys.Cargo capacity is a generous 462 litres for all Sonata models, with a full-size alloy spare beneath the boot floor.

Mazda 3 range updated with rear parking sensors and price reductions.

Ford's take on speed dating.The Blue Oval delivers surprise of a different type to their Halloween car wash, setting up a group of guys who think they're on a date with someone that checks a few boxes on a certain stereotype checklist.Expectations are shattered, however, when our driver "just needs to make a quick turn" in an empty carpark...The new Mustang will arrive locally in November and be available with either a 233kW/432Nm 2.3-litre four-cylinder turbocharged engine or the more traditional 5.0-litre V8, which will produce 325kW and 540Nm.

Jeep has announced new details for the Australian version of the new Jeep Renegade, with the small SUV to joining the new car market’s fastest growing segment that includes Honda's new HR-V, Renault Captur, Holden Trax, Ford EcoSport, Suzuki S-Cross, Nissan Juke and upcoming Mazda CX-3.Pricing and a local showroom arrival date are yet to be confirmed, however Jeep has detailed the Renegade's engine and trim levels, as well as the capabilities of the trail-rated Trailhawk version of the soft-roader.Three petrol-powered engine options will be available for the Renegade. At the lower-end will be a 81kW/152Nm 1.6-litre four-cylinder engine while the upper end features a 103kW/230Nm 1.4-litre turbocharged four-cylinder powerplant.The Trailhawk tops the lot with a 130kW/230Nm 2.4-litre four-cylinder petrol engine.Each will be paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission and deliver power to all four wheels. While all-wheel drive is available on both the S-Cross and Juke, and will be available in the CX-3 when it arrives locally, most other small-SUVs stick to the front-wheel drive of their hatchback origins.Externally, the Renegade features Jeep's "My Sky" open roof system. Available in either manual or powered form, the roof panels - made of fibreglass and polyurethane honeycomb - fold behind the rear seats and are stored in the cargo area.The cabin of the all-new Renegade will feature Jeep's new "Tek-Tonic" design language, which borrows design elements from the Wrangler and combines them with the aesthetics of sporting equipment.The Renegade also features Jeep's Uconnect multimedia system. It will come with either a five-inch or 6.5-inch touchscreen, the usual suite of connectivity options as well as digital radio.A seven-inch display screen replaces the traditional instrument cluster above the steering wheel, similar to Audi's 'Virtual Cockpit'.Flexibility in storage spaces is provided by a front passenger seat that folds forward and a cargo floor panel that can be removed, reversed and raised or lowered.Safety features on the Renegade range will include seven airbags, reversing camera, forward collision warning, lane departure warning, rear cross-path detection, blind spot monitoring and electronic stability control.Jeep will also produce a Trailhawk version of the Renegade, with the idea being it can actually be taken off road.The Renegade Trailhawk will feature a 130kW/230Nm 2.4-litre four-cylinder petrol engine, low-range 4x4 system, disconnecting rear axle, five drive modes (auto, snow, sand, mud and rock) and hill descent control.Ground clearance on the Renegade Trailhawk is 220mm, an increase of 20mm over the other Renegade models, and it is capable of handling 30.5 degree approach and 34.3 degree departure angles.Other features of the Renegade Trailhawk include the ability to cross water up to 480mm deep, 900kg towing capacity (with tow package), front and rear tow hooks, skid plates and unique 17-inch alloys.

This latest safety campaign aims increase the focus on car safety features when young drivers buy their first car by arming parents with better knowledge about vehicle safety.The Safer cars campaign encourages parents to be involved in helping young drivers choose a safer first car by increasing their involvement in the purchasing process and putting a focus on safety.The campaign's website provides information on where safety information can be found as well as a checklist of things to look for when inspecting a vehicle. It also includes information on ANCAP safety ratings and advice on how to check your current vehicle’s safety ratings.Young drivers aged 17 to 24 make up 13 per cent of Queensland's driving population, but represent around 25 per cent of the state's road toll.Studies have found their choice of vehicle - which are usually older and smaller with fewer safety features - contribute to them being at greater risk of being involved in a fatal road crash.In 2003, only 10 per cent of new cars tested by ANCAP achieved a five-star safety rating. By 2009 that number had increased to 60 per cent.More information can be found on the jointhedrive.qld.gov.au/safe-cars website.

After debuting the new Mazda6 at the LA motor show last year, and coming less than a year after it's last update, Mazda have confirmed local specifications and pricing for the 2015 model.The new Mazda6 receives price cuts across most models  - following the Free Trade Agreement signed between Australia and Japan recently - with the starting price lowered by $920 for the Mazda6 Sport sedan which now kicks off at $32,540.Mid-spec Touring (priced from $37,280), GT ($42,720) and top-level Atenza ($46,420) trim levels fill out the range, with all four available in either sedan or wagon bodystyles.The updates to the Mazda6 focus on improving safety and cabin comfort, mirroring the updates made to the CX-5 SUV last month.Also like the CX-5, the 2015 Mazda6 maintains its drivetrain options from the previous model in the form of 138kW/250Nm 2.5-litre four-cylinder petrol and 129kW/420Nm 2.2-litre four-cylinder turbodiesel engines, paired to a six-speed automatic transmission.Mazda's MZD Connect multimedia system (seen in the Mazda3, Mazda2 and now the CX-5) and its seven-inch touchscreen interface is added across the range. Sport models feature six-speaker sound, while Touring, GT and Atenza models have an 11-speaker Bose system.GT and Atenza models receive 'Active Driving Display', a heads-up display above the dashboard that shows speed, navigation directions and other vehicle information.The Mazda6's autonomous emergency braking (AEB) system has been improved to work when the car is reversing, as well as going forwards. It is available as part of a factory-fitted 'Safety Pack' on Touring and GT models, while included as standard on the Atenza.The Atenza also receives adaptive LED headlights, lane keep assist and driver fatigue monitoring as part of the 2015 updates.The 'Safety Pack' features introduced in last year's update (blind spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, forward AEB and auto-dimming rear view mirrors) continue for the 2015 model.Externally, Mazda continues to evolve their 'Kodo' design language by tweaking the styling of the Mazda6's front and rear. Wheel designs have also been updated for both the Sport and Touring's 17-inch steel wheels and the 19-inch alloys of the GT and Atenza models.

The world will get its first proper look at the new 2015 Focus RS on February 3, and Ford has released a teaser video for the new uber-hot hatch to announce the upcoming...announcement.However, the teaser video does not give much away that hadn't already been talked about.The video does support the expectation that the new Mk3 Focus RS will have five-doors, moving away from the three-door body seen in the previous two generations.The addition of the rear doors brings the RS into line with the rest of the third-generation Focus hatch lineup, which has only been produced with five doors since its introduction in 2011.The video also suggests the Mk3 RS will share sheet metal with the lesser Focus models - lacking the bespoke pumped wheel arches of the Mk2 Focus RS.Technical details and pricing remain unconfirmed, although it's been said the Mk3 Focus RS will share the 2.3-litre four-cylinder turbocharged engine of the new Mustang, meaning outputs of around 260kW and 450Nm - up from the 224kW/440Nm of the previous models 2.5-litre five-cylinder.It's also unclear whether the new RS will stick to its front-wheel drive layout, or switch to a heaver all-wheel drivetrain to harness the expected extra output. The abundance of oversteer evident in the above video does suggest the rear wheels could well be handling some of the drive.  The Mk2 Focus RS was priced at $60,000 in Australia, with the Mk3 expected to arrive for similar money.