20 minute read
MOTORING
and the analogue clock redesigned with increased contrast between the hands and background for ease of viewing. The clock is now linked to GPS, so the time is set automatically. And there’s a CD player.
Seats outback include plenty of room for knees and shoulders, less generous for headroom due to the high-set positioning – the latter good for visibility.
Boot space of 500 litres has the ability to expand to 1545 litres with the rear seat backs folded. An elevated floor, thanks to a space-saver spare underneath, makes it easy loading or unloading heavy objects.
INFOTAINMENT A 4.2-inch TFT fullcolour Multi-Information Display top section shows environmental information, such as temperature and time, while the lower section displays frequently checked information such as gear-shift position.
The centre console remote touch pad has an integrated palm rest, making the pad flatter for comfort. A frameless pad has results in an increased operating area, making it easier to pinch-in and pinch-out maps.
A sub-switch calls up a screen with related functions, such as air-conditioning and navigation. The Drive Mode Select switch has been enhanced by adding an L-shaped serration to the rim. ENGINES / TRANSMISSIONS The NX 300 makes use of a turbo-petrol 2.0-litre in-line four-cylinder engine. Maximum power of 175 kW is on tap between 4800 and 5600 rpm; maximum torque is 350 Nm from 1650 to 4000 revs.
It’s mated with a six-speed automatic transmission and drives the front wheels to reduce fuel consumption compared with the all-wheel drive variant.
Forsaking the added cost of AWD technology ($4500) and fuel usage, Lexus claims the 2WD fuel consumption to be 7.7 litres per 100 kilometres on the combined urban / highway cycle as opposed to 7.9 litres per 100 kilometres with the part-time all-wheel drive model.
SAFETY The combination of the active cruise control and LTA technologies are aimed at enhancing safety while the driver remains in control of the vehicle.
Another new safety technology for NX is road sign assist, which displays speed-limit sign information in the multi-information display, reducing the chance of the driver missing signs.
Also newly adopted is parking support brake, which has been added to parking technology applying brakes and limiting power to improve control when parking.
Lexus NX is already equipped with other safety equipment including automatic high beam (Luxury) grade, adaptive high beam (F Sport, Sports Luxury), trailer sway control, reversing camera, blind-spot monitor, rear cross-traffic alert and a tyre pressure warning system.
DRIVING The test 2WD recorded up to 10.2 litres per 100 kilometres in city stop-and-crawl driving and 6.0 litres under free rein on motorway runs.
The quietness of the NX 300 is matched by the operation of the stop / start engine system, which is one of the least intrusive on the market.
Steering wheel-mounted paddle shifts and Sport mode are intended to increase the driving experience.
I’m not a fan of the Lexus touchpad: too twitchy. Switches, buttons and knobs fall much easier to hand.
Relax, in these days of intrusive earbuds, pretentious podcasts and constant connectivity, I defy anybody to climb into the NX 300, sit down, switch on the engine, set off, shut up and not enjoy the sound of silence.
On the earlier odyssey, a detour on a dirt road to a dinosaur museum, near Winton, caused only slight disturbance to occupants’ ride comfort.
SUMMING UP There is still work to do with vehicle system accessibility, especially via the troublesome touchpad. However, the updated NX 300 will keep the Lexus customer in the highborn manner to which, over the years, he or she has become accustomed.
AT A GLANCE
MODEL RANGE Lexus NX 300 Luxury 2WD $55,400 Lexus NX 300h Luxury
Hybrid 2WD $57,900 Lexus NX 300 Luxury
AWD $59,900 Lexus NX 300h Luxury
Hybrid AWD $62,400 Lexus NX 300 F Sport 2WD $61,400 Lexus NX 300h F Sport
Hybrid 2WD $63,900 Lexus NX 300 F Sport
AWD $65,852 Lexus NX 300h F Sport
Hybrid AWD $68,400 Lexus NX 300 Sports
Luxury AWD $74,029 Lexus NX 300h Sports
Luxury Hybrid AWD $76,900 Premium paint (all grades): $1000 Enhancement packs (Luxury, F Sport): Moonroof $2500 Moonroof, 14-speaker
Mark Levinson audio system, head-up display, smart key card $6000. Note: These prices do not include government or dealer delivery charges.
Contact your local Lexus dealer for drive-away prices.
SPECIFICATIONS (Lexus NX 300
Luxury 2.0-litre 4cyl turbocharged petrol, 6sp automatic, 4dr
SUV)
ENGINE: Capacity: 1.998 litres Configuration: Four cylinders inline Maximum Power: 175 kW @ 4800-5600 rpm Maximum Torque: 350
Nm @ 1650-4000 rpm Fuel Type: Petrol 95 RON Combined Fuel Cycle (ADR 81/02): 7.7
L/100km
DRIVELINE: Six-speed automatic
DIMENSIONS, WEIGHT
AND CAPACITIES: Length: 4640 mm Wheelbase: 2660 mm Width: 1845 mm Height: 1645 mm Turning Circle: 11.4 metres Kerb Mass: 1860 kg Fuel Tank Capacity: 60 litres
BRAKES: Front: Ventilated disc Rear: Disc
2021 GENESIS G70 PREVIEW
HALF A MILLION NISSAN LEAFS BUILT
By Ewan Kennedy
NISSAN marked the production of the 500,000th LEAF, the world’s first mass-market 100 per cent electric car. With half a million LEAF built globally, customers around the world continue to embrace the pioneering zero-emission vehicle.
The milestone was achieved at Nissan’s plant in Sunderland, England, almost a decade after the model first went on sale. The plant has built more than 175,000 LEAF cars since it began producing the model in 2013.
Nissan’s manufacturing facilities By Ewan Kennedy AUTOMOTIVE manufacturer VinFast and GM Holden have signed an agreement for VinFast to purchase the iconic GM Holden Proving Ground at Lang Lang in Victoria.
GM Holden Interim Chairman and Managing Director Kristian Aquilina said the sale meant that global automotive research and development would continue at the Lang Lang Proving Ground.
“The Lang Lang Proving Ground will continue to shape the global automotive industry,” said Mr Aquilina. “Over the past five years, GM has invested in the laboratories and tracks at the site, which will now be well utilised by its new owners.
“This deal hits a sweet spot of a fair sale value, a ready-made facility for VinFast’s needs, ongoing employment for departing Holden employees and in Sunderland continue to craft the LEAF to the highest standards to ensure that every LEAF embodies innovation and excitement, while striving to make advances in sustainable mobility.
The Nissan LEAF has won accolades around the world including Car of the Year 2011 in Europe, World Car of the Year 2011, and Car of the Year Japan in 2011 and 2012. More importantly, the car has earned the trust of hundreds of thousands of customers.
The 500,000th LEAF found its happy owner, Maria Jansen, in Norway. the preservation of amenity for the community.
“In some ways, it’s the end of an era. We pay tribute to rich automotive history created at the Proving Ground, and the brilliant Holden people who worked there. At the same time, its genuinely pleasing to know there’s a bright future there as well,” Mr Aquilina concluded.
VinFast said it was committed to the ongoing protection of the local bushland and environment and it intends to continue to allow access for community Landcare activities. The company also intends to honour Holden’s heritage at the iconic site by allowing access for Holden car clubs and former employee open days.
Mr Aquilina said that under the agreement, GM Specialty Vehicles will continue to access the Lang Lang site for testing and engineering validation new products in local conditions. New Genesis sports sedan has many aerodynamic features.
by Ewan Kennedy
GENESIS has given the media images of the new Genesis G70 sports sedan that will go on sale in Korea in November and in Australia at a date yet to be set in the first half of 2021. The Australian model line-up and specification will be announced closer to launch.
The new Genesis G70 features an even sportier shape evolution, a drivercentred interior and state-of-the-art technology.
The signature crest grill set even lower than the headlights. In profile, side air extractors are optimised for efficiency. The taillights are inspired logo.
The interior is said to resemble that of a fighter jet cockpit and adds the latest connectivity specifications.
A new 10.25-inch infotainment system features an exclusive Genesis UI design supporting the latest overthe-air (OTA, Wi-Fi update feature) wireless updates and CarPay.
“The new Genesis G70 will engage customers with its dynamic design and the latest innovations in safety and luxury,” a Genesis spokesperson said. “We are thrilled to reveal more detailed specifications next month.”
GOOD NEWS ABOUT GM HOLDEN LANG LANG PROVING GROUND
by the soaring wings of the Genesis Holden’s Lang Lang proving ground to the south of Melbourne.
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NEW GENERATION KIA SORENTO IS VERY IMPRESSIVE
ROAD TEST By Ewan Kennedy
NEW Kia Sorento has just been launched in Australia. It’s aimed at those looking for the comfort of a sedan / people mover type vehicle, not simply an SUV.
The fourth generation of Kia’s popular Sorento SUV is the first vehicle to be based on Kia’s new-generation ‘N3’ SUV platform. It is wider and than its predecessor and sits on a longer wheelbase so can accommodate seven people in comfort, and a significant amount of luggage.
Even with all seven seats in place, boot space is 32 percent larger than the superseded Sorento.
STYLING The new shape is a collaborative design between all three studios in Kia’s worldwide design network - in Korea, Europe and North America.
It is more sculpted than before with the front having the latest interpretation of Kia’s hallmark ‘tiger nose’ grille. There are rectangular lower air intakes, wing-shaped air curtains channel air around the car. The sharp bumper lip is capped with a skid plate.
The trailing edge of the bonnet wraps around the front wings and turns into a single, strong character line which extends along the side of the Sorento and into the rear lights.
The wide D-pillars that have defined all three Sorento previous generations have been retained but this time with a fair bit more style than previously.
New Sorento has a choice of seven paint finishes; one standard colour in Clear White, and six Premium Paints ($695 option); Mineral Blue (New Colour), Snow White Pearl, Steel Grey, Silky Silver, Aurora Black and Gravity Blue.
INTERIOR The dashboard area is reminiscent of the current Mercedes-Benz design, with two wide rectangular screens occupying an area stretching about two thirds of the way across the dashboard.
Sorento is fitted with premium-quality materials and cutting-edge infotainment.more about the latter later in this report.
Depending on grade there is embossed black cloth, leather appointed black cloth and black quilted Nappa leather appointed seats. INFOTAINMENT A powerful 12-speaker BOSE surround-sound audio system is standard in the GT-Line. The S, Sport and Sport+ come with what Kia simply calls, “a quality six-speaker sound system”.
The new Sorento incorporates Kia’s latest 10.25- inch touchscreen infotainment system (Sport, Sport+ and GT-Line), offering audiovisual navigation. Entry-level S features an eight-inch colour LCD touch screen, and along with Sport and Sport+, a 4.2- inch colour TFT supervision instrument cluster.
The infotainment system also allows Bluetooth smartphone pairing for two phones concurrently, enabling separate phones to be used for, for instance, phone calls and music, while front passengers can also plug in their mobile devices via three USB chargers.
For second-row passengers, two USB charging sockets are integrated into the backs of the front seats (Sport+ & GT-Line only), with a third at the back of the front-row centre console.
Both third-row passengers also have their own 12V Power Outlet charging points (whilst Sport+ and GT-Line offers two additional USB chargers), meaning all seven passengers can keep their mobile device charged – the perfect measure to maintain harmony in a full car during longer journeys.
The 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment and navigation system has many functions can also be controlled with new capacitive buttons on either side of the screen.
ENGINES / TRANSMISSIONS Kia’s new four-cylinder 2.2-litre ‘Smartstream’ diesel New Kia Sorento has a stance that gives it an upmarket look.
engine debuts in Australia in the Sorento. Producing 148kW and 440Nm torque it is paired with Kia’s new eight-speed wet double-clutch transmission and drives all four wheels.
An updated Lambda III 3.5 litre V6 petrol engine producing 200kW and 332Nm will drive the front wheels through Kia’s eight-speed torque converter automatic. It won’t be here till late November, perhaps early December.
A plugin hybrid Sorento is due to be launched in 2001, it’s likely to come to Australia but Kia won’t comment at this stage.
SAFETY The Sorento is fitted with seven airbags (dual front airbags, dual front seatmounted side airbags, side curtain airbags with rollover sensor, and front centre airbag).
The front centre airbag is segment first for Australia and provides head protection for front-seat occupants by preventing their heads coming into contact during a crash.
Kia’s Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) includes Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB) technology with pedestrian, cyclist and vehicle detection. This also detects oncoming traffic when making a turn at a junction.
The Sorento is available with Blind-spot View Monitor (GT-Line only), Surround View Monitor (GT-Line) and Blind-spot Collision-avoid Assist, Advanced Smart Cruise Control, Lane Following Assist and Driver Attention Warning.
Kia’s ‘level two’ autonomous driving technology, Lane Following Assist (LFA), controls acceleration, braking and steering depending on the vehicles in front. It operates between speeds of 0 and 180 km/h, using camera and radar sensors to maintain a safe distance from the car in front, while monitoring road markings to keep the Sorento in the centre of its lane.
DRIVING Like all Kia models, the Sorento’s on-road capability and comfort has been optimised to best suit the tastes of Australian drivers through the local tuning program.
On road the designers have come close to providing the sedan like comfort they were aiming for. Noise levels are low in general driving, bump-thump on joining strips on bridges is minimal, sound does increase on concretes motorways but is lower than average for a vehicle of this type.
Cornering is positive, with good feedback through the steering wheel an positive changes in direction when the driver wants it. Obviously it’s no sports car, nor a sports sedan, but those who enjoy diving won’t feel as frustrated as they would in others in this vehicle class.
The engine is quiet even when accelerated hard. The automatic transmission changes imperceptibly and responds quickly to the conditions. Manual control through steering wheel paddles is there but unless you’re pedalling hard on your favourite driving road - which seems unlikely in an SUV - you’re probably not going to need the transmission overrides.
Off road the Sorento has enhanced all-terrain ability
AT A GLANCE
SPECIFICATIONS (Kia
Sorento S 3.5-litre petrol five-door wagon)
ENGINE: Capacity: 3.470 litres Configuration: V6 Maximum Power: 200 kW @ 6300 rpm Maximum Torque: 332 Nm @ 5000 rpm Fuel Type: Standard unleaded petrol Combined Fuel Cycle (ADR 81/02): 9.7
L/100km CO2 Emissions: 222 g/km
DRIVELINE: Eight-speed automatic
DIMENSIONS, WEIGHT
AND CAPACITIES: Length: 4810 mm Wheelbase: 2815 mm Width: 1900 mm Height: 1700 mm Turning Circle: 11.6 metres Kerb Mass: 1898 kg Fuel Tank Capacity: 67 litres
BRAKES: Front: Ventilated disc Rear: Ventilated disc
STANDARD
WARRANTY: Seven years / unlimited kilometres
thanks to having Terrain Mode (only in the diesels, keep in mind the petrols only have 2WD). TM assists the driver in mud, snow and sand. It controls the car’s standard electronic stability control, as well as the distribution of torque to all four wheels.
The TM adapts transmission shift times to help maintain traction in hard off road driving.
However we didn’t do any off-road testing as many tracks are closed at the moment as locals are keen to keep strangers out.
As with all Kia models Sorento is covered by the seven-year unlimited kilometre warranty, seven-year capped price service and seven-year roadside assist.
SUMMING UP Kia has made a large leap forward in the affordable SUV’s with its new Sorento. It’s pleasant to drive provides very good interior space and comfort and it seems likely it will carve out a large slice of the large SUV market in Australia.
MINI-MERC LIFTS LID ON SUPER-HATCH STARRING ROLE
ROAD TEST By Derek Ogden
A COMPACT hatchback at a six-figure price – anybody could be forgiven for thinking this was an oxymoron. However, the Mercedes-AMG A 45 S 4Matic+ hatch goes a long way – very quickly – to dispel any doubts about its stratospheric sticker.
For a start, this little beauty features the world’s most powerful turbocharged fourcylinder engine in a production model in Australia. Add to this a new AMG eight-speed dualclutch automatic transmission and A 45 S 4Matic+ all-wheel drive system. And the result is a zero-to-100 km/h sprint of 3.9 seconds.
The car also boasts a level of comfort, convenience and safety found in luxury models of equally elevated price - $93,600, plus on-road costs. Added investments can include a Driver’s Package with top speed upped to 270 km/h, Track Pace data logging, Night Pack with design bits in black and 19-inch by 8.5-inch wide AMG cross-spoke alloy wheels in matt black with shiny flange.
STYLING Building on the latest AMG A-Class hatchback, performance credentials are presented up front with a specific wider, lower radiator grille and a dozen vertical louvres. Wider front wings and flared wheel arches make room for a wider axle.
In company with the car’s performance pedestal, wider side skirts give the impression of the vehicle’s hugging the road, while from the rear, this is emphasised once more by double twin 90 mm diameter tailpipes with internal fluting and AMG lettering.
Aerodynamics are boosted by a diffuser with two vertical fins. Red brake calipers boast the AMG stamp in black, which is repeated unashamedly throughout the vehicle, inside and out.
INTERIOR Black is the main colour theme throughout, the leather sports seats cashing in with red inserts. Coloured strips of lighting announce a laidback ambience, especially at night, while the sports steering wheel is swathed in a soft chubby grip that comes, and stays, easily to hand.
The swoopy roof limits rearseat head room – a panoramic sunroof squeezed test car space even further - and occupants can miss out on leg room if front seat occupants are above average height. The good news is a drop-down arm rest incorporates twin cup holders and there’s a reading light above each window for those bored with the company.
A useful 370-litre boot can be expanded to 1210 litres with the 40:20:40 seat backs folded.
INFOTAINMENT Twin 10.25-inch highresolution displays sweep across the dashboard putting important information for the driver, and general info for driver and front seat passenger within easy viewing.
All occupants are in a position to take full advantage of an advanced audio system with Burmester surroundsound, while the test car driver was able to take advantage of an optional ($790) colour head-up windscreen display.
This system can ‘learn’ the driver’s habits and routines, and offer helpful suggestions and shortcuts. For example, if he or she phones home at a certain time every day, MBUX will point it out as the time approaches.
Members of my family cheekily named the female ‘voice’ Flo (for Florence and the Machine, get it?) as she eagerly did their bidding.
ENGINES / TRANSMISSIONS In an AMG tradition, a single person is given the job of hand-assembling each 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine, which pumps out an incredible 310 kW of power, which at 155 kW per litre, puts it ahead of many super-sports car motors. It’s 30 kW and 25 Nm better than the unit it replaces.
That extra power, and peak torque of 500 Nm are put to the road in combination with a new AMG Speedshift DCT-8G dual-clutch eightspeed transmission and AMG Performance 4Matic all-wheel drive. The car is capable of reaching 100 km/h from rest in an eye-watering 3.9 seconds.
SAFETY Safety is packaged as only Mercedes-Benz premium models can be, with its driving assist package plus, active distance assist, including cross-traffic alert, active lane change assist and a parking package featuring 360-degree camera multibeam LED headlights with adaptive high beam assist plus and routebased speed adaptation.
DRIVING Engineers were involved from early on in the initial design to plan for the superpower engine status. With a threat of torsional twisting, a strengthened chassis with a lower ‘shearing plate’ beneath the engine was worked into the car’s construction.
AMG Dynamic Select controller gets to work in choosing one of five drive modes - Comfort, Sport, Sport +, Individual and Race. Then there’s AMG Performance 4Matic+ all-wheel drive, that shares power between the two rear wheels with torque control, resulting in an added ‘Drift’ mode for racetrack playtime.
Scrolling through the Dynamic Select system, with Comfort well suited to stop / start going. Sport and Sport + had things bubbling with a pleasing combination of peppy performance and firm and responsive ride and steering, while Race with its bone-jarring stiffness, was better left for a later day and track with an ultra-smooth surface.
The 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine is a paragon of versatility, with usable power and torque on tap throughout the rev range. Maximum The Mercedes-AMG A 45 S 4Matic+ speeds its way to the head of the hatchback pack.
AT A GLANCE
MODEL RANGE
Mercedes-AMG A 45 S 4MATIC+ hatch $93,600
Note: This price does not include government or dealer delivery charges. Contact your local Mercedes-Benz dealer for drive-away prices.
torque is on tap between 5000 and 5250 revs, matching similar naturally aspirated motors, while maximum engine speed of 7200 rpm is in line with the car’s sporty character.
Fuel consumption presents a pleasantly frugal set of figures. On a 30-minute jaunt on the motorway in ‘Comfort’ mode, the AMG recorded fuel consumption of 7.1 litres per 100 kilometres. In the city, this ran out to more than 10 litres per 100 kilometres. When flogged along the motor made a meal of the figures, with 16 to 20 litres per 100 kilometres.
Controls are far from intuitive with an ultra-busy array of switches, buttons, knobs, touch screen and pad to access many levels of the car’s Turning Circle: N/A
computer. This is where the MBUX comes to the rescue with voice activation at the command of ‘Hey, Mercedes’, enabling occupants to control dozens of common functions.
SUMMING UP As well as enjoying an unparalleled hatchback experience, the enthusiastic driver can delve into a deep well of the latest automotive technology of the MercedesAMG A 45 S 4Matic+. However, best the car can come up with should be left strictly to the track and there is a high purchase price to pay
SPECIFICATIONS (Mercedes-AMG A 45 S 2-litre 4cyl turbocharged petrol, 8sp automatic,
AWD, 5dr hatchback)
ENGINE: Capacity: 1.991 litres Configuration: Four cylinders inline Maximum Power: 310 kW Maximum Torque: 500 Nm @ 5000-5250 rpm Fuel Type: Premium unleaded petrol Combined Fuel Cycle (ADR 81/02): N/A
DRIVELINE: Eightspeed Speedshift DCT automatic, 4MATIC+ all-wheel drive
DIMENSIONS, WEIGHT
AND CAPACITIES: Length: 4439 mm Wheelbase: 2729 mm Width: 1790 mm Height: 1400 mm for the privilege.
Kerb Mass: 1570 kg Fuel Tank Capacity: 51 litres
BRAKES: Front: Ventilated disc Rear: Disc
STANDARD
WARRANTY: Five years / unlimited kilometres
