Articles by Spencer Leech

Queensland Police Service has adopted its first fleet of Kia Stinger V6 vehicles to replace the outgoing Ford and Holden pursuit vehicles.Decked out in police trim, complete with a blue-and-white livery, sirens and flashing lights, the rear-wheel drive performance saloon is already patrolling Queensland streets with the Road Policing Command.According to Kia, a total of 50 police-issue Stingers will be rolled out between now and December this year.The decision to take on the Stinger for the Road Policing Command was not a difficult one, according to police minister Mark Ryan."It was not a big step at all once we had begun the investigation process," said Mr Ryan."Reading what the experts had to say, and seeing how efficiently the Stinger was changing minds and perceptions once people had been exposed to it... it was not a difficult decision."You often hear police ministers talking about providing the best equipment for those at the coal face. In this case I truly believe we have been able to do that."In testing the Stinger for potential police use, the South Korean sedan underwent a desktop evaluation, followed by a track performance assessment and then an operational evaluation conducted under "real-world" conditions.Kia Motors Australia (KMAu) chief operating officer Damien Meredith said he was pleased QLD police will use its vehicle, saying it is a watershed moment for the brand's image."This level of public exposure and endorsement from a high-profile government utility is something which wouldn’t have been on the radar just a few years ago," said Mr Meredith."It is just a beginning, but a very important one for us".More: Holden Commodore joins South Australian Police fleetMore: Chrysler 300 SRT and BMW 530d confirmed for NSW Police

Australian vehicle sales fell last month, despite the annual June end-of-financial-year splurge that saw Toyota claim a record sales month for its HiLux ute.

Renault Australia has confirmed pricing for its forthcoming Megane RS, with the performance hatch set to hit local showrooms in November with a starting price of $44,990 plus on-road costs.Opting for a six-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission instead of the standard six-speed manual bumps pricing up to $47,490, which still leaves the French hot hatch among the least expensive in its segment. For comparison, the Megane RS sits below key rivals including the Peugeot 308 GTi, which starts at $45,990, the identically priced $50,990 Honda Civic Type R and all-paw Ford Focus RS, as well as the Volkswagen Golf R Grid at $47,490.However, the Renault still loses out to the recently-released Hyundai i30 N with its sub-$40k price-tag of $39,990, as well as entry-level offerings such as the Volkswagen Golf GTI Original ($37,490) and the Ford Focus ST ($38,990).Only one variant will be available, the Sport, though a $1490 Cup pack can be optioned in manual versions, adding go-fast extras including Brembo 'bi-material' brakes, 19-inch black alloy wheels, a Torsen limited-slip diff and a 'Cup' chassis which is 10 per cent stiffer with revised springs, dampers and bump stops.Renault will also offer options including metallic paint, Alcantara upholstery, a Bose sound system and a panoramic sunroof.Motivating the car is a 1.8-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine developing 205kW at 6000rpm and 390Nm between 2400-4800rpm, which is sent exclusively to the front wheels.Renault's '4Control' four-wheel steering system is equipped to improve both high-speed handling and low-speed maneuverability, and 355mm front and 290mm rear rotors handle braking.Standard safety equipment includes auto emergency braking (AEB), adaptive cruise control, blind-spot warning, distance warning, ESC, ABS, hands-free parking, surround parking sensors, rearview camera and hill-start assist.Inside, the hot hatch features an 8.7-inch multimedia system capable of displaying performance analytics including acceleration, braking, and wheel angle.Furthermore, the car gains RS badging, sports seats, a perforated leather steering wheel and shifter, satellite navigation, dual-zone climate control, and heated folding wing mirrors.2018 Renault Megane RS list pricingRenault Megane RS – manual – $44,990Renault Megane RS – automatic – $47,490

Holden has announced that it will offer a permanent five-year warranty across its new-car range, matching key rival Ford's assurance program which was updated in May this year.

Mazda Australia will offer an Apple CarPlay and Android Auto upgrade kit for all Mazda vehicles fitted with an MZD multimedia system, which was first made available with the Mazda3 in 2014.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has published its latest round of safety recalls, with models from Ford, Mazda, BMW, Kia, Audi, Jeep, Alfa Romeo and Lamborghini affected.

Holden has revealed the first official images of its production-ready Acadia large SUV, as it tests the vehicle on Australian soil before it makes its way to local showrooms in the fourth quarter.

Nissan Australia has added a new full-time member to the Qashqai small SUV family - the Ti.

Kia Motors Australia (KMAu) has lowered pricing for its facelifted Optima by as much as $1200, though at the expense of a number of standard features.

Chief executive of Volkswagen Group's Audi division, Rupert Stadler, was this week arrested by German authorities in relation to the manipulation of emissions testing.