Panamera Steps Into Four Ground

PORSCHE has exposed its worst-kept secret by releasing pictures and scant details of its upcoming four-door sports car, the Panamera, in what is shaping up to be the start of a drip-feed media campaign for the crucial new model.

Baby Renault Hot 'n' Thirsty

RENAULT re-released the Renault Sport-tweaked version of its tiny Clio three-door in August with more power than its predecessor, a longer and wider wheelbase, revised suspension and aerodynamics, and a repackaged interior. At $36,490, it is the most expensive light car in Australia, or one of the most sharply priced hot hatches, depending on the way you look at it.

Defying The Times

Porsche's new four-door sports car, the Panamera, promises supercar performance as well as a hybrid engine, writes Toby Hagon.

Going To Greater Lengths

With the exception of its Cayenne SUV, Porsche has never built a four-door car. But that is all about to change, writes Brent Davison.

Evolution Blurs Z Line

Almost 40 years after the debut of the Nissan Z, the sixth-generation car looms large, Brent Davison reports.

Porsche Opts For Suv Oiler

NOT all that long ago high-end German car maker Porsche declared there would be no diesel engine option for its Cayenne sports utility vehicle, because that was not what Porsche buyers wanted.

Evolution - Ford Fiesta: 2003 Onwards

AFTER several years relying on the three-door, four-seat, manual-only Ka to contest the mini-car segment, Ford became a serious contender when it launched the Fiesta in February 2004.

Peugeot Slick If Not Quick

HE Peugeot has released a new version of its popular small hatch. The 308 replaces the 307. It went on sale earlier this year but we got reacquainted with it during our Drive Car of the Year testing. What did you think?

Toyota Yaris 4/5

The Yaris has excellent safety and security credentials and a reputation for being a top city car, writes David Morley.

Ford's Welcome U-turn Won't Turn Around Industry

Car makers have a long way to go before they can proclaim a new dawn.

Ford U-turn Saves Factory

FORD has performed a U-turn on its decision to close its Geelong engine plant, securing the future of 400 workers who faced the axe.

Jobs Saved As Ford Keeps Plant Open

THE salvation of the Ford engine plant in Geelong and the 1300 jobs that relied on it was the first of several similar measures to keep the Australian car industry viable, the Industry Minister, Kim Carr, said.

2010 Suzuki Kizashi

ONCE upon a time, intrepid car-spotting spy photographers would sneak into test facilities, stake out factories or wait patiently by known test roads. They carried an encyclopedic knowledge of every car on the road and could spot and snap any variation with massive telephoto lenses.

Born-again Bolwell Has Fans In A Flutter

A FEW decades past, the true believers among Australian car enthusiasts wanted something supremely special - a homegrown supercar.

Honda Jazz Gli 4/5

The latest Jazz is a premium small car that is surprisingly spacious, writes Bruce Newton.

The Wind In Your Hair At 315 Km/h

FERRARI owners generally aren't a difficult bunch to please - all they want is a car that's clearly both faster and better looking than the one sitting next to them at the lights. And unless the set of wheels next door happens to be a Bugatti Veyron - the benchmark supercar that's not legal to drive on Australian roads - then Ferrari's new and exclusive Scuderia Spider 16M is probably everything the well-heeled Ferrari buyer could possibly ask for.

French Flair Lifts Koleos

HE The Renault Koleos is one of the finalists in our Drive Car of the Year Awards, so we've been driving it back-to-back with its main rivals this week. Funny thing is that one of its main rivals is actually the same vehicle underneath. They look completely different, but the Koleos and the Nissan X-Trail share the same underpinnings and engines. What did you think of the French version?

India To Make Inroads

THEY might be a bit thin on the ground now but expect to see a lot more Mahindra vehicles on our roads following the signing of a joint venture between Indian car maker Mahindra & Mahindra and its Australian partner TMI Pacific.

Turbo Gives Extra Volume To S80

TIMES may be tough but that hasn't stopped Volvo adding more luxury to its most luxurious model, the S80. A tweak to Volvo's largest sedan heralds the arrival of a 3.0-litre turbocharged engine accompanied by a new T6 badge. Priced from $78,650, the S80 T6 sits in the middle of the three-model range, bookended by the diesel-powered D5 ($72,950) and flagship V8 ($98,950).

Hyundai Engine A Breath Of Fresh Air

WHEN car makers set out to do something big their research and development departments usually swing into serious overtime. And that is for the whole car.

The Stuff Of Legend

The car Honda Legend.

Commodore Powers Down To Lure Buyers Back

HOLDEN has taken the unusual step of reducing the power and performance of its Commodore V6 in an effort to improve its environmental credentials and fuel consumption. For only the second time in the car's 30-year history, a new model will arrive in dealerships with less power than the model it replaces.

Reborn And Raring To Take Off

Mercedes-Benz's Gullwing is set to fly with the performance car powerhouses, reports Jez Spinks.

Flash Run For Your Money

Could you drive Skoda's Octavia RS TDI to the race track, add some numbers and do hot laps in true "enthusiasts' car" style? Brent Davison tried.