SUV
Alfa Romeo Junior 2025 review - International first drive
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By Tim Nicholson · 09 Jul 2024
Alfa Romeo has made a bold move launching its first electric vehicle as a tiny city-centric SUV as opposed to something like a sports sedan or coupe that it's known for. But it could prove to be a smart move. The Alfa Romeo Junior enters a hot segment and it brings with it a performance pedigree. We drove the flagship Junior Veloce 280 EV in Italy to see if Alfa has the ingredients for success.
Mid-size BMW SUV faces the chop
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By Chris Thompson · 09 Jul 2024
Get ready to pour one out for a car you probably don’t think about very often, but actually sells more than you might expect: the BMW X4.
The LandCruiser Prado Australia won't get
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By Andrew Chesterton · 09 Jul 2024
The Toyota LandCruiser Prado has been toughened up in every which way, with Japanese accessories company Modellista releasing a catalogue of upgrades ready to be fitted to what Japan calls the LandCruiser 250.
Meet BMW's promising hydrogen X5
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By Tom White · 09 Jul 2024
Meet BMW's Hydrogen-powered X5 as the brand promises an alternative zero emissions future.
Camouflaged Model Y appears
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By John Law · 09 Jul 2024
The first spy pictures of the 2025 Tesla Model Y update have appeared, known internally as ‘Juniper’.
Kia Seltos to go hybrid - report
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By Chris Thompson · 08 Jul 2024
New reports from South Korea suggest the next-generation Kia Seltos small SUV will be offered with a hybrid powertrain.
New Mitsubishi Pajero powers up!
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By Andrew Chesterton · 08 Jul 2024
The new Mitsubishi Pajero will be a potent plug-in powerhouse, with the reborn icon to pump out some 285kW, out-punching the Toyota LandCruiser 300 Series and Lexus LX, according to new reports.The new model is now all-but confirmed, with the brand global
Best 4x4, off-roaders and light-commercial vehicles arriving in 2024
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By Byron Mathioudakis · 05 Jul 2024
Whether they're for work or for play, we are officially a nation of outdoorsy adventurers.
Red hot deals on two top-tier cars
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By John Law · 04 Jul 2024
Volkswagen is offering discounts on its flagship T-Roc R sports SUV and petrol-powered Amarok Aventura TSI452 until September 30.Combining a $64,990 national drive-away price and $3000 factory bonus for the MY23 T-Roc R effectively brings its ask down by $7000, to $61,990 out the door.The Amarok Aventura TSI452, meanwhile, has a $3000 factory offer applied at time-of-sale. The Mazda BT-50 and Ford Ranger rival remains priced at $79,990 before on-road costs.The T-Roc R uses a version of the Golf R hatch's 2.0-litre turbo-petrol powertrain outputting 221kW and 400Nm to all four wheels via a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic.It has 19-inch alloy wheels, Matrix LED headlights, Nappa leather-upholstered heated front seats, digital cockpit and 9.2-inch multimedia touchscreenThe MY24 T-Roc R, which adds a Beats sound system and power tailgate, is reduced less to $66,990 drive-away with a further $1500 factory bonus on top.“The ability to deliver an even higher number of T-Roc Rs means that we are able to offer even greater value as supply increases," said Head of Product, Passenger Vehicles Michelle Rowney.Australia continues to be the biggest market globally for the T-Roc R, which could be considered an alternative to the similarly priced Golf GTI and Hyundai i30 N.As for the Amarok, the cashback applies to both MY23 and MY24 examples in Aventura TSI452 trim.The only petrol Amarok features a 222kW/452Nm 2.3-litre turbo-petrol four-cylinder and 10-speed automatic (yep, the same found in a Ford Mustang) and retains a 3.5-tonne towing capacity.Huge 21-inch alloy wheels are complemented by Matrix LED headlights, Aventura exterior parts and electronic roll cover, 10-way power-adjust heated 'Savona' leather-upholstered seats, leather-look dash, digital driver's display and vast 12-inch portrait touchscreen.“Although we are on target for our 10,000 annual sales allocation, Volkswagen understands that a higher numbers of customers desire the flagship Aventura", said Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles National Manager of Product and Marketing Nathan Johnson.To the end of June, Volkswagen has delivered 4924 Amaroks. The Amarok Style TDI600 diesel V6 ($73,740, before on-road costs) with 184kW and 600Nm continues to be the most popular accounting for more than half of Volkswagen's ute sales.
Watch out Toyota LandCruiser 300
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By Dom Tripolone · 04 Jul 2024
The Land Rover Defender has gone next level.The British carmaker has revealed the new Defender Octa, an unstoppable high-performance four-wheel drive.Land Rover claims it is the most powerful and extreme Defender ever built and it’s easy to see why.Based on the five-door Defender 110, the Octa beefs up performance with a twin-turbo 4.4-litre V8 with mild hybrid boost that is good for 467kW and 750Nm. This jumps to 800Nm when using the dynamic launch mode.Land Rover claims it can complete the benchmark 0-100km/h sprint in four seconds flat, which is impressive for a circa-2500kg machine.The British carmaker hasn’t provided fuel use figures, but if you are asking that question, this isn’t the car for you.The Defender Octa channels the Ford Ranger Raptor with a high-performance off-road mode dubbed Octa Mode.You don't accidentally select Octa Mode: it is only activated by a long press of the dedicated steering wheel or via the rotary dial or central touchscreen.After Octa Mode is engaged the ambient lighting turns red, the dials transform to provide power, torque and G-force readouts. The exhaust valves open and the gear shifts and steering is adjusted for a more dynamic character.Octa Mode is designed for scooting across loose gravel surfaces with ultimate control.The car’s active air suspension can read the road ahead and adjust on the fly. It can also detect if the vehicle is airborne and adjust the suspension to cushion the landing.It enables high degrees of wheel articulation and high levels of damping, while also maintaining taut body control and steering precision.Octa Mode also allows the Off-Road Launch feature for scintillating acceleration on loose surfaces.It’s not just about raw speed off-road, though. The Octa rides higher than the regular Defender for a total ground clearance of 323mm. Lifted suspension now allows for 550mm of wheel articulation and, combined with larger tyres, means approach and departure angles are improved to 40.2 and 42.8 degrees.Wading depth is increased by 100mm over all other Defenders.Land Rover has also boosted underbody protection to make the Octa even more off-road ready.The Defender Octa will be shown in the metal for the first time at the Goodwood Festival of Speed next week.In Australia the Defender Octa will be priced from $291,542 (before on-road costs) and the Defender Octa Edition One will start at $317,592.