Articles by Matthew Hatton

New details confirmed for Honda HR-V SUV ahead of February 2015 arrival.Honda has confirmed most specs, but not pricing or fuel consumption figures for the new HR-V small-SUV, which arrives in local showrooms in February next year.The HR-V will join the ultra-competitive small SUV segment taking on the likes of Mazda's upcoming CX-3 and Renault Captur, as well as the existing Holden Trax, Nissan Juke and Ford EcoSport.The Jazz-based SUV will be available in three trim levels - VTi, VTi-S and VTi-L - with each powered by a 105kW/172Nm 1.8-litre four-cylinder petrol engine and driven by a CVT automatic transmission.Like the Jazz, the entry-level VTi will include a standard reversing camera, Honda's 'Magic Seats' system, Display Audio multimedia system with seven-inch screen plus all the usual connectivity options and LED tail lights. Daytime running lights and 16-inch alloys also feature.The VTi-S adds blind spot monitoring, autonomous emergency braking (AEB), auto wipers, LED headlights, LED daytime running lights, push-button start, leather steering wheel and 17-inch alloys.The top-spec VTi-L builds on the VTi-S with front and rear parking sensors, panoramic sunroof, paddle shifters, leather seats, chrome handles, dual-zone climate control and unique 17-inch alloys.The VTi-L can also be optioned with the 'Advanced Driver Assist System', which adds forward collision and lane departure warnings as well as automatic high-beam.A turbodiesel drivetrain is likely to follow the initial petrol models, however Australia will probably miss out on the hybrid version available in Japan.Watch the new Honda HR-V in action here.

Refreshed Giulietta hatch brings cabin refinements, improved safety features amid price rise.Alfa Romeo has refreshed the Giulietta just in time for Christmas, bringing cabin updates and improved safety features to the hatchback.Following 18 months after the most recent revisions, the Giulietta's styling has also been subtly tweaked, with a revised version of Alfa's trademark shield grille.The base-level Giulietta has been discontinued, leaving the Giulietta Progression as the new price leader, starting from $29,000. This represents a $4,450 price increase from the outgoing Giulietta and a $1,550 increase from the previous Progression.The Progression now features rear parking sensors, tyre pressure monitoring, a five-inch touchscreen multimedia system, along with new seat fabric, dashboard trim, redesigned multifunction steering wheel and 16-inch alloys.The new Giulietta Progression also sports a 10Nm stronger 88kW/215Nm version of the 1.4-litre four-cylinder turobcharged petrol engine from the previous model, paired with a six-speed manual transmission.The updated Giulietta Progression continues to be equipped with Alfa's DNA driving selector as well as the stability control, electronic differential, LED running and tail lights, auto headlights and wipers.The top-spec Giulietta Distinctive jumps by $3,650 to $33,000, and gains the same five-inch touchscreen multimedia system from the Progression and also adds parking sensors on the front to accompany the ones on rear. The Distinctive's touchscreen can be optioned up to a 6.2-inch version which also adds satnav.New equipment also includes electric-folding side mirrors, automatic wipers and headlights, heated leather seats, auto-dimming rear view mirror and a redesigned multifunction steering wheel.Like the Progression, the Distinctive carries the DNA driving selector, stability control, dual-zone climate control, LED running and tail lights from the previous version.The new Distinctive's updated 125kW/250Nm 1.4-litre turbocharged petrol engine can be paired with either a six-speed manual or six-speed dual clutch TCT transmission. The manual slightly reduces fuel consumption over its outgoing version, with a combined figure of 5.7L/100km down from 5.9L/100km.

Jimmy Barnes announced as Volkswagen Ambassador with special Amarok.It will no longer matter if legendary Aussie rocker Jimmy Barnes misses the last plane out of Sydney, he's just taken delivery of a specially-appointed Volkswagen Amarok ute.Barnsey's Amarok Highline is kitted out with 19-inch black alloys, black sports bar, decal package, hard tonneau cover (a tin lid, perhaps?) and Alcantara interior trim.And while Barnsey may be a hard rocker, the former Cold Chisel front man has opted to have his Amarok fitted with a comfort suspension setup, in lieu of the alternative heavy-duty setup.Under the bonnet is the working class man's 132kW/420Nm 2.0-litre four-cylinder twin-turbodiesel and an eight-speed automatic transmission.Jimmy said once before that he drove a foreign car, and his new tie-up with Volkswagen has reaffirmed this fact."I've always driven Volkswagens. I’ve had many over the years and I’m pleased the new Amarok is the latest addition," he said.We guess he found something he wanted.On a serious note, Volkswagen will be hoping to leverage Barnsey's legend status to help build the cool factor of the Amarok ute range, which currently sits 8th in the fiercely competitive light-commercial segment.

New Subaru Liberty brings significant price cuts, improved efficiency and safety.Subaru's new Liberty has touched down in Australia this week, bringing significant improvements in value, plus fuel efficency and safety gains for the sixth-generation of the mid-size model.Now available as a sedan only for the first time in the Liberty's 25-year history in Australia, Subaru has also trimmed the number of model variants down from five to three.The price-leading Liberty 2.5i is now $3,000 cheaper, priced from $29,990. The mid-spec 2.5i Premium is now $35,490, a reduction of $4,000. The top 3.6R has seen its cost reduce by a full $14,000 to $41,990.These reduced prices does not mean Subaru has skimped on features however, with Subaru adding their EyeSight driver assistance technology and efficiency-boosting engine start/stop technology.The new body design has also increased the Liberty's boot capacity by 17 litres to 493 litres.Like it's Outback SUV stablemate, the new Liberty achieved the highest ANCAP crash test scores by a Subaru to date on its way to a maximum five-star safety rating.The 2015 Liberty gains an updated multimedia system, with a 6.2-inch touchscreen controlling the 2.5i and 2.5i Premium's six-speaker audio system, along with iPod/USB/aux/Bluetooth connectivity.The basic 2.5i comes with dual-zone climate control, leather gear shifter and multifunction steering wheel with paddle shifters, auto headlights and wipers, plus 18-inch alloysThe 2.5i Premium adds satnav and Pandora audio streaming, leather trim with heated front seats, electric sunroof, push-button start and LED headlights.The 3.6R gets all the features of the 2.5i Premium, plus a 12-speaker Harman Kardon audio system.The 2.5i and 2.5i Premium come with an upgraded 129kW/235Nm 2.5-litre four-cylinder boxer petrol engine and CVT automatic transmission from the previous model. The upgrades have boosted the power by 2kW and reduced the combined fuel rating to 7.3L/100km, down from 7.9L/100km.The new 3.6R moves from the five-speed automatic transmission of its previous incarnation in favour of the same CVT auto of the 2.5i.Power outputs for the top 3.6R are unchanged at 191kW/350Nm for the 3.6-litre six-cylinder boxer petrol engine, but the CVT auto and stop/start has helped improve combined fuel efficiency to 9.9L/100km, down from 10.3L/100km.

New Subaru Outback SUV brings improved fuel efficiency and safety with reduced pricing.Subaru's fifth-generation Outback SUV has arrived in Australia this week, with new technology, safety features and significantly sharpened pricing across all variants.The new Outback range kicks-off $1,500 cheaper than before with the $35,490 manual 2.0D turbodiesel, while the auto-only 2.5i petrol is priced from $35,990.Both the 2.5i and 2.0D are available in the better-equipped Premium trim-level for an extra $6,000, while a CVT automatic for the 2.0D is available for a further $2,000.The top-spec Outback remains the six-cylinder petrol 3.6R at $47,990, which is a full $10,000 cheaper than before.SAFETYAll Outback variants bar the 2.0D receive Subaru's EyeSight technology, which incorporates autonomous emergency braking, pedestrian and brake light detection as well as adaptive cruise control.Subaru claims the new Outback is the safest yet, adding to the previous model’s five-star safety rating from ANCAP with the highest individual  test scores recorded by a Subaru to date.FEATURESThe 2015 Outback also features increased luggage space, with 512 litres available in the back with the seats up - a 22 litre increase over the outgoing Outback. Premium model Outbacks also score a powered tailgate.The multimedia system in the Outback has also been updated, with 6.2-inch touchscreen now controlling the audio, car information and Bluetooth connectivity.Premium variants and the 3.6R also get satnav integrated within the touchscreen. The top 3.6R scores all of the above plus a 12-speaker Harman Kardon audio system.ENGINES / TRANSMISSIONSThe Outback range keeps its all-wheel drivetrain options from the existing range, however the boxer engines and transmissions have been refined to improve fuel efficiency and reduce CO2 output.The 129kW/235Nm 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine with a CVT automatic transmission achieves 7.3L/100km, down from 8.0L/100km previously.The 191kW/350Nm 3.6-litre six-cylinder engine loses its previous five-speed auto for the same CVT as the 2.5, and achieves 9.9L/100km on the combined cycle, down from 10.3L/100km.The 110kW/350Nm 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbodiesel engine achieves a combined fuel efficiency figure of 5.7L/100km when paired to a six-speed manual transmission (down from 6.0) and 6.3/100km (down from 6.5) when paired to the CVT automatic.The improved fuel efficiency figures have not affected the towing capacity of the Outback, with each drivetrain maintaining the braked towing capacities of 1500kg for the 2.5i, 1700kg for the 2.0D and 1800kg for the 3.6R.CVT variants will also come with X-Mode first seen on the Forester SUV, which is designed to improve off-road performance through specific traction/stability control and ABS settings, working in conjunction with hill descent control.

BMW to demonstrate fully-automated self-parking i3 electric car at January's Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.BMW is set to demonstrate a prototype system that will automatically park a car in a multi-story car park without the use of GPS or the presence of a driver.Called the Remote Valet Parking Assistant, the technology combines onboard laser scanners with a map of car park's layout to enable the driver to exit the vehicle before it navigates itself through the structure autonomously.The car will then find an empty spot, park, lock itself and then wait to be summoned by the driver when they are ready to depart.The Remote Valet Parking Assistant is controlled via the driver's smartwatch, which also monitors the driver's location so the car can meet them at the car park exit.BMW says the same sensor technology can be used to bring crash-free driving closer to reality. Similar to the autonomous emergency braking (AEB) systems seen in existing vehicles, the system developed by the Bavarian car brand monitors 360-degrees around the car, and acts to stop the car when it detects an obstacle.BMW will showcase the new technology aboard an i3 - their all-new fully-electric car - bringing together its green drivetrains and driver safety systems.This isn't the first time BMW have dabbled in autonomous driving, however.In 2009 a development version of a modified 330i called the Track Trainer navigated the 22.8km, 154-corner Nordschleife circuit using the ideal racing line and at racing speeds.The BMW Track Trainer has also driven racing-speed laps at Laguna Seca in the US, Zandvoort in the Netherlands, Valencia in Spain as well as the Hockenheimring and Lausitzring in Germany.BMW's autonomous vehicle development continued in 2011, with a development vehicle taking to the motorway between Munich and Nuremberg without driver intervention (although one was present in the car).BMW's self-parking i3 will be on display at the Consumer Electronics Show, which runs from January 6 to 9 in Las Vegas.

Women in Auto Trades program seeks to address gender imbalance in industry.Nine women have graduated from the Women in Auto Trades program at Sydney TAFE, Ultimo on Friday, taking the first step along the path to a career as an automotive mechanic.The program, spearheaded by Auto Skills Australia and sponsored by Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) Australia, sets out to address the gender imbalance in the automotive industry.In the mechanical trades currently, men outnumber women 113 to 1.FCA Australia's involvement in the program is part of the legacy of former CEO Veronica Johns. Ms Johns was the first Australian woman to head a car company, and took a hands-on approach toward the treatment of women in the auto industry and was known for tearing down posters of naked women during showroom visits."We couldn’t be prouder to be involved in this important initiative. My predecessor, Veronica Johns, was the first female CEO of an automotive company in Australia, so encouraging more women to join the industry is a cause we feel incredibly strongly about," FCA Australia President and CEO Pat Dougherty said.The Women in Auto Trades program is a five-week full-time mechanics induction which upon completion allows graduates the opportunity to apply for trade apprenticeships with participating industry partners.Erebus Motorsport V8 Supercar team owner Betty Klimenko acts as an ambassador for the program and says it is a great way to address both a skills shortage and gender imbalance."The auto industry is not just for males. I am proud of what I have achieved so far with my racing teams and would one day like to see more of a female presence across all facets of the industry, from team ownership and drivers to the all-important mechanical, engineering and race support areas," she said.The initiative is the first of its type in NSW and received seed-funding from the NSW Government's Investing in Women program in 2013 and will also help fill a 22,000-person mechanical skills shortage across the country.

Local pricing and engine specifications confirmed for Lexus RC F performance coupe.Lexus have confirmed the the RC F will arrive in Australia in February 2015, priced from $133,500.The RC F will also be available in a $147,500 'Carbon' variant, which adds a carbon-fibre body kit, roof and cabin trim alongside Alcantara covered seats.Powered by a 351kW/530Nm naturally aspirated 5.0-litre V8, the RC F is the Lexus equivalent of BMW's M4 and Audi's RS5, and comes in about $30,000 cheaper than both Germans.Also in the ballpark - and also from Germany - is the outgoing Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG. Its starting price is $157,545, a mere $10,000 more than the Lexus.Lexus says the new RC F builds on the lessons learned with the LFA supercar, and will take the mantle as the company's 'halo' model from the IS F.

2015 Subaru Liberty and Outback receive five-star safety rating from ANCAP.Subaru's new Liberty sedan and Outback SUV have both achieved a maximum five-star safety rating from ANCAP, passing the crash tests with scores of 35.99 out of a possible 37.ANCAP said both vehicles' safety features, combined with their crash test scores met the requirements to be awarded the maximum safety rating, despite the absence of some safety features from local versions of both cars.Daytime running lights and tyre pressure monitoring are available on overseas models, but not locally according to ANCAP. They also noted Subaru's 'EyeSight' collision avoidance system is optional on the Outback while coming as standard on the Liberty.ANCAP Chairman, Lauchlan McIntosh said improved safety features should be available as standard."It is good to see safety assist technologies becoming increasingly available, but ANCAP encourages Subaru, and all other manufacturers, to include these technologies as standard in all models and all markets," he said.The crash test reports also included data from Euro NCAP testing, which demonstrated both the Outback and the Liberty provided acceptable levels of pedestrian protection in the event of a front-on collision.

2015 update brings updated tech, plus revised engines and styling to Ford Focus.Ford has announced new details for local versions of the 2015 Focus update, which is due for arrival in the second half of next year.Headlining the mid-generation update is a slimming down of the engine options to the binary choice of a 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol EcoBoost engine, or an updated version of the existing 2.0-litre turbodiesel.The new Focus also receives a retuned chassis with increased structural stiffness and revised suspension geometry.Styling changes also form part of the 2015 update for the Focus with a new bonnet, front bumper, thinner head and tail lights plus some chrome details.Feature-wise, the new Focus is being brought into line with Ford's other recently refreshed models. An eight-inch touchscreen with the 'SYNC2' multimedia system will be added across the range as will their 'MyKey' technology, while an updated automatic parking system will be available in upper trim levels.Local pricing and exact trim levels have not been confirmed, however the latter are likely to follow the Ambiente, Trend, Titanium scale of the existing Focus.The revised version of the German-built Focus ST hot hatch will be the first of the new models to arrive in February, ahead of the rest of the range which will continue to be sourced from Thailand.