Articles by Spencer Leech

Hyundai's luxury brand Genesis has revealed its new-look G70 sedan, with the four-door performer set to bring a number of styling and tech enhancements when it hits local showrooms in the first half of 2021.The refreshed Genesis G70 will stick with its cu

The Porsche 911 GT3 is among the most hardcore of the 911 sports car range, doing away with comfort and luxury in favour of on-track performance. 

In 2020, the Toyota Tacoma celebrates 25 years as one of the United States’ most popular pick ups.

The Shelby Cobra of the 1960s spectacularly blends a small British roadster with a gutsy American heart, but there’s another reason why this open-top muscle car is remembered so fondly, and is so very desired by collectors.

The Viperidae, or Viper for short, is among the most aggressive and lethal family of snakes in the world, making it a fairly apt description for what is often described as the “most dangerous” sports car ever made: the Dodge Viper.

There’s no better way to pass the time on the road than settling into a great podcast.

The Holden Colorado may have departed from showrooms, but you can still breath new life into the Lion brand’s venerable ute thanks to a wide range of aftermarket parts and accessories. 

Stickers are without much doubt the easiest and least expensive way of personalising your car, but sometimes they’ve got to come off, and there’s a few things you ought to know to ensure you do no damage in the process - this is how to remove stickers from a car.

The Mazda CX-5 is one of Australia’s most popular medium SUVs, and for good reason. Even the base Maxx variant comes fairly well-equipped, and options for personalisation are plentiful with five equipment grades, three engine possibilities and the choice of front- or all-wheel drive.Buyers can further customise their CX-5 with genuine Mazda Accessories, as well as a number of offerings from aftermarket suppliers.For those looking to trick their SUV, CarsGuide has rounded up some of the best Mazda CX-5 accessories that are currently on the market. Overview: Fitting a new set of wheels is one of the best ways to enhance your car’s presence, and can even improve performance. Opting for larger wheels can result in a greater contact patch on the road, and in turn, greater handling and grip levels. Pair with good tyres for the ultimate upgrade.Mazda does not offer wheel size upgrades, however, buyers can improve the look of their CX-5 with unique 17-inch alloys for Maxx, Maxx Sport and Touring variants, while Akera and GT owners have the option of 19-inch alloys in Gloss Black.Where to buy: Mazda Australia offers wheel options with the purchase of the vehicle, or they can be swapped out down the track. A number of wheel and tyre shops also offer a range of Mazda CX-5 aftermarket wheels.Cost: Wheels are generally priced per wheel, with genuine Mazda options priced from $404-$413 for the 17-inch options, and $526.88 for the Akera/GT-exclusive 19-inch alloys. Meanwhile, aftermarket products can range from anywhere upwards of around $200.Overview: If you need a little more luggage space, a set of roof racks are a great way to carry extra gear, with most options able to carry up to around 75 kilograms.Mazda sells a roof rack kit, however, there are less expensive options from a number of aftermarket companies. For particular uses, roof racks can be combined with things like bike racks, kayak holders and more universal systems for things like skis and snowboards.Where to buy: There are many aftermarket roof racks available from companies like Prorack and Whispbar, and Mazda Australia offers a number of products.Cost: Aftermarket roof racks are generally priced from upwards of $400, while the genuine Mazda Roof Rack Kit is available from $600.58. Mazda Australia also sells a Universal Carrier ($341.84), Bike Rack ($326.08) and Kayak Holder ($476.79).Overview: The Mazda CX-5 boasts 442-litres of storage, or up to 1342 litres with with the rear seats down. You can make the most of this rear cargo space with a number of accessories.Mazda Australia sells a cargo net, organiser box and cargo tray specifically for the CX-5, while a Cargo Illumination option lights up the boot space with LED lights for added convenience. Another bang-for-buck accessory is the boot lip protector, which protects from bodywork dings and scratches as you load and unload the CX-5’s boot.Where to buy: Get in touch with your local Mazda dealer to install the aforementioned CX-5 extras. Cost: The Mazda Boot Lip Protector is priced from $83.95, while other rear cargo accessories include the Cargo Net ($110.59), Organiser Box ($168.79), Cargo Tray ($197.90) and Cargo Illumination ($224.13).Overview: A towbar is a fairly simple modification that allows you to do a lot more with your SUV, like pulling a caravan or boat, or even just attaching a trailer for a tip run.Mazda’s Tow Bar Kit is designed to integrate with the CX-5’s chassis, and can happily carry loads of up to 1800 kilograms with 150kg download capacity.The kit includes a new quick release mechanism, allowing owners to hide the bar from sight when not in use.This pack includes the towbar, trailer wiring harness, a chrome tow ball and tow ball cover.There are also many aftermarket tow bar packages for the Mazda CX-5, from companies such as BTA Towing Equipment and Trailboss Towbars.Where to buy: Aftermarket Mazda CX-5 towbars can be purchased directly from their manufacturers, or from automotive stores like Supercheap Auto. As with all genuine Mazda Accessories, they can be purchased through Mazda Australia or your local Mazda dealer.Cost: A good aftermarket Mazda CX-5 towbar can be purchased from around $535, while the all-inclusive genuine Mazda Tow Bar Kit is priced from $1379.39.Overview: To give your CX-5 an edgier look, Mazda’s Kuroi Sports Pack is an easy way to go.The pack includes side under spoilers, front-and-rear under spoilers, as well as black door mirror caps.Where to buy: Get in touch with your local Mazda dealer to install the Mazda CX-5 Kuroi Sports Pack.Cost: The Mazda CX-5 Kuroi Sports Pack has a recommended retail value of $2487.Overview: There are a number of low-price extras that can be added to keep your car in good condition, for longer. Some of these include plastic bonnet and headlight protectors, front-and-rear mud flaps, as well as weathershields, which allow you to leave your windows open slightly even when it’s raining.If you don’t have access to undercover parking, a good car cover is also a great way of keeping your Mazda CX-5 in top nick.Where to buy: Accessories can be purchased through Mazda Australia, while there are a plethora of companies which sell car covers for the Mazda CX-5. A quick Google search should lead you in the right direction.Cost: Mazda’s plastic bonnet protector is priced from $195.42, while other exterior protection accessories include headlight protectors ($170.59), mud flaps ($227-$229), slimline weathershields ($231.53). A high-quality car cover can be purchased from around $200.Overview: Equipping a nudge bar is a great way to protect the most vulnerable parts of your Mazda CX-5 in the event of a minor collision like an animal strike.For those looking to explore in their CX-5, a nudge bar also has the added benefit of allowing you to fit multiple lighting options.Where to buy: Mazda CX-5 nudge bars can be purchased from a handful of Australian distributors, like Opposite Lock and Tuff Bullbars Australia. Cost: Standard 76mm alloy Mazda CX-5 nudge bars are priced from around $820, and are often sold with a warranty. 

The Japanese sports car is making a comeback, in a big way, with upcoming models like the Nissan 400Z and Subaru WRX waving the JDM flag into the new decade, but there's a number of classic performance nameplates that we'd still like to see join them.Many