The best cars of 2017
HUNDREDS of new car models were released this year, but not all of them raised the bar. Here’s our pick of the crop.
Motoring News
Crash ratings don’t make sense
Australia’s criteria for judging the safety of new cars has become misleading, as safer cars are marked down for technical reasons.
Toyota saves Le Mans 24-hour race
Toyota has announced plans to run a hybrid sports car at France’s classic endurance race.
Ford Ranger recall for fire risk
IF you own a Ford Ranger or Mazda BT-50 ute built since July 2016, avoid driving in long grass or risk your car catching fire.
Holden Commodore sells for $269,000
JUST 300 examples of the HSV GTS-R W1 will be built, but some people are making a quick profit from their $170,000 purchase.
Kia Stinger crash test shock
THE Kia Stinger performs well in a crash, but loses marks for the lack of tech that can avoid a collision in the first place.
The $300,000 Holden Commodore
JUST 300 examples of the HSV GTS-R W1 will be built, but some people lucky enough to buy one are trying to profit from their $170,000 purchase.
Biggest car rule changes in 30 years
SWEEPING changes to car regulations will give Australian motorists more choice and protection – and put exotic vehicles on our roads.
Compass misses key safety tech
Jeep has released pricing for its new mid-sized SUV and it’s a mixed bag.
High price for mid-size Commodore
Holden backs its new hi-tech imported Commodore to compete with the best in the mid-size passenger car category.
McLaren’s Senna-sational supercar
British carmaker pays tribute to Ayrton Senna with its most track-focused hypercar yet.
Man charged $18,000 for Uber ride
IF YOU are the type of person who weighs up the cost of catching public transport versus an Uber, spare a thought for this poor guy, who copped a whopping fare.
Five things you should know about the Hyundai Accent Sport
The Accent, the light car segment leader, has been around for about six years. Instead of a replacement, Hyundai makes a value pitch with the Sport grade, at $16K the manual.
HSV Chevrolets look right at home
Chevrolet’s major push into Australia begins with the heavyweight Silverado pick-up, then the muscular Camaro V8 — and HSV will do the conversions to right-hand drive.
Our surprising car of the year
THIS car brand used to be the butt of many cruel jokes about its reliability, but suddenly its rivals aren’t laughing anymore.
Lambo unveils world’s fastest SUV
The supercar maker has branched out into family transport, although the performance will make your eyes water.
Mitsubishi enters new SUV terrain with Eclipse Cross
Mitsubishi has escaped the SUV time-warp, as evidenced by the turbo engine, sharp wedge design and upmarket interior of the new Eclipse Cross, on sale in Australia this month.
LA motor show: highlights
CAR brands made a splash at this year’s motor show. BMW unveiled a drop-top version of its hybrid supercar and Benz showed the new generation CLS.
Mazda unveils turbo sedan
A power struggle is brewing in the mid-size sedan market, as the main players turn up the heat.
That’s not a 4WD, this is a 4WD
While buyers are going crazy for SUVs that look rugged but could barely climb a kerb, Jeep is headed the other way.
How to get a $40,000 car for free
Yep, a $40,000 car without paying a cent. According to the author of a book called The Zero Dollar Car, it is more than a fantasy.
What’s the best seven-seater SUV for us?
You’re spoiled for choice in a large field of seven-seater SUV contenders.
Car of the Year finalists revealed
THEY were once dismissed as bargain cars, but these South Korean twin brands are giving the big guns a run for their money.
The surprise field for Car of the Year
The balance of power is shifting in the car industry as the traditional pacesetters are challenged.
Nissan casting plant powers on
Rising electricity and gas costs threaten Nissan Australia’s bid to set up its Melbourne plant as a hub for electric vehicle component manufacture.
Most powerful Corvette ever
Chevrolet has unveiled the most powerful Corvette yet in a tantalising taste of the future for Aussie muscle-car fans.
Busted: counterfeit car parts racket
BOGUS car parts have flooded the Australian market and picking the genuine article from the fake is almost impossible.
What’s hot and what’s not in car showrooms
Australia’s taste in cars has changed dramatically in the past decade. The winners and losers will surprise you.
New-age Holden set to land
With the local factory closed, stand by for the next wave of new-age Holdens.
Hilarious ad to sell 1996 Honda Accord
A COUPLE has gone viral after creating a fantastic commercial to sell their largely underwhelming 1996 Honda Accord online.
Nissan eyes Australia for Titan pick-up truck
The Titan, the big brother of the Navara ute, has been built to date only in left-hand drive. Nissan boss says Australia is a potential market for the huge pick-up.
Shane Jacobson: ‘I’m a Holden tragic’
Actor and comedian Shane Jacobson has plenty of acting credits but his one true love is collecting classic Holdens. Top of the list is his 1964 EH
Big bang hypothesis
WRX means hard-edged — but is Subaru’s hot-shot STi a match for newer, cheaper rivals? This update will maintain interest until the more refined gen-five arrives
The tech that could save young lives
Driveway tragedies could be avoided by clever new technology but there’s just one catch.
Electric car prices will fall — Nissan
Electric cars are predicted to reach price parity with conventional petrol power by about 2025
Drastic plan to fix airbag problem
MORE than three million Australian motorists may have their cars deregistered if they fail to get their potentially faulty airbags checked.
Which small car should I buy?
A Honda fan needs a hatch or SUV. The top candidate wears a familiar badge
’I’ve been bitten by the VW bug’
Television sports presenter Tara Rushton can’t see herself living without a car — “It’s my mobile office” — and she will only drive one make
Wanted: a driver’s seat you can slide into
Wanted: a driver’s seat that’s not too high, not too low, in a sedan with some grunt. Our expert gives some good advice
Holden’s copycat ‘70s TV ad
IT’S one of Australian advertising’s most catchy jingles but it turns out it wasn’t an original idea.
Meet the happy premium-medium SUV
Second-row passengers savour the space — and ambience — in BMW’s just-right mid-size SUV, due in Australia in November
The secret plans to save Holden
HOLDEN’S car assembly line falls silent forever this Friday. But there were plans to keep it running until at least 2025.
BMW’s “discount” performance car
The latest incarnation of the BMW 1 and 2 Series delivers on the prestige and performance fronts.
Two views: Honda Jazz midlife update
The base car is nippy and practical with flexible seating — but the top-spec Honda Jazz with satellite navigation and leather trim is a big ask at $26K.
Hyundai’s Kona compact SUV arrives next week
A starting price of $24,500 will power the Hyundai Kona when it hits showrooms next week as a rival to the Mazda CX-3 and Honda HR-V in the compact SUV class
Does Australia need this law change?
AS WE enter a new era of driving, the National Transport Commission is pushing for one law change that would have huge repercussions for drivers.
Why Bathurst will never be the same again
Decades of V8 Commodore dominance finish at Mount Panorama this weekend.
The 1970s Aussie classic worth $500K
IT WAS left untouched, hidden under blankets in a Perth garage for 30 years. Now the lucky owner is cashing in on his rare Ford Falcon muscle car.
Global Toyota boss secret factory visit
TOYOTA workers saved their best quality until the very last cars, survey reveals.
Alfa Romeo’s identity crisis
THE FAMED Italian brand’s latest creation needs to carry out family duties while retaining its traditional sex appeal. It’s a tough ask.
Korea’s answer to the Commodore V8
WITH Ford Falcon and Holden Commodore V8s at the end of the road, will this hi-tech sedan appeal to Aussie performance-car buyers?
Another Chinese ute lands in Australia
THIS Chinese ute promises five-star safety — but not all crash testing has been completed.
How we killed the Aussie hybrid car
THE locally-built Toyota Camry hybrid was Australia’s most advanced car — and had more exports than Holden and Ford. So why did it die?
Toyota workers farewell Camry factory
IT’S the end of the of the line for 2500 Toyota Australia factory workers today, but they won’t leave empty-handed.
Original URL: https://www.news.com.au/technology/motoring/motoring-news/page/81