2017 Subaru BRZ revealed
30 Jan 2017

Sometimes car companies do go the extra mile…

9 years ago 0 4

Late last year, Toyota and Subaru announced a recall on the Toyota 86 and Subaru BRZ over power steering issues.

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Crit'Air colour-coded stickers for diesel cars
29 Jan 2017

Paris introduces colour-coded stickers for diesel vehicles…

9 years ago 2 2

Paris has announced its ‘Crit-Air’ program will see colour-coded stickers applied to diesel vehicles and ban some from entering the city.

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Skoda Kodiaq Sportline revealed
28 Jan 2017

Skoda Kodiaq Sportline revealed… not the full RS variant

9 years ago 2 0

The Skoda Kodiaq Sportline has been revealed, hot on the heels of the Kodiaq Scout… but its isn’t the high-performance RS version we’re waiting for.

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Ford Bronco- artist impression
27 Jan 2017

2020 Ford Bronco to mimic new Jeep Wrangler

9 years ago 2 4

The 2020 Ford Bronco, it’s been confirmed, will run the same Dana solid axles front and rear as the all-new Jeep Wrangler…

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Skoda Kodiaq Scout
27 Jan 2017

Skoda Kodiaq Scout to debut at Geneva Motor Show

9 years ago 3 0

The Skoda Kodiaq Scout variant will debut at the Geneva Motor Show in March showing off the vehicle’s “off-road capabilities both visually and in terms of technology”.

Isaac Bober 3
Following the announcement by ANCAP yesterday that the Ford Mustang had scored just two stars in crash testing, EuroNCAP has spoken out. THE FORD MUSTANG might be the only sports car to have been tested under stricter 2017 NCAP guidelines, placing emphasis on pedestrian safety and rear-seat occupant protection, but both ANCAP and Euro NCAP highlighted key issues. The main being the difference between "less wide ranging US consumer safety tests" and Ford's decision not to feature "life-saving technology like Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB) that is available even on the Ford Fiesta," said Matthew Avery, Director of Research at Thatcham Research (EuroNCAP voice in the UK). “We have not given a Two Star Euro NCAP rating to any of the top 10 car brands since 2008”, comments Matthew Avery, Director of Research at Thatcham Research. “This really bucks the trend. Car buyers are increasingly benefitting from improved safety functionality and features, and this applies equally to cars in the sports roadster category as to family cars. We have concerns about the Ford Mustang’s crash protection of adults and children which also makes it unsuitable for having rear passengers," Avery said. “What really concerns me,” continues Avery, “is that Ford has made a deliberate choice. The car has been designed to score well in less wide-ranging US consumer safety tests and only minor updates have been made to meet required European (pedestrian) safety regulations. This has resulted in poor adult and child protection scores and the high-tech radar collision warning system that is available to US consumers, not being available here in the UK. The Two Star Euro NCAP rating is the consequence.” Speaking with Ford yesterday, Practical Motoring was told it believed it had performed well in key areas like adult occupant protection. But this is at odds with the findings of Euro NCAP and ANCAP. For instance, in the frontal offset test, the airbags of both the driver and passenger inflated insufficiently to properly restrain the occupants. In the full-width frontal test, a lack of rear seatbelt pre-tensioners and load-limiters meant that the rear passenger slid under the seatbelt, implying higher risk at abdominal injuries in real life accidents. In the side impact crash, the head of the 10-year dummy contacted the interior trim bottoming out the curtain airbag. "Ford has said that a face-lifted Mustang will be available later this year with Pre-Collision Assist and Lane Keep Assist as standard. Euro NCAP expects to test the safety of this updated model when it is available on the European market," Euro NCAP said. There is a suggestion that even if the refreshed Ford Mustang was re-tested that internal rules allow it to move only one star higher, Practical Motoring has contacted ANCAP for an answer on this. It says this on the ANCAP website: "In general, ANCAP does not re-test vehicle models within the same model series unless changes that would affect the rating are introduced. In these cases, vehicles may either undergo new physical crash test(s) or ANCAP may use technical evidence to determine a revised rating". However, retesting of cars is something that Euro NCAP has regularly done, allowing car makers to modify their vehicles to ensure safer cars are being sold. The most famous example was the BMW 5-Series which, in 2004, was tested by Euro NCAP before its release and the results were "disappointing". BMW then modified the vehicle and the subsequent re-test resulted in a five star score. Question: "a lack of rear seatbelt pre-tensioners and load-limiters meant that the rear passenger slid under the seatbelt, implying higher risk at abdominal injuries in real life accidents," said Euro NCAP... so, should the Ford Mustang be recalled to have its rear seatbelt fixed?
26 Jan 2017

Euro NCAP speaks out on 2-Star Ford Mustang rating

9 years ago 0 6

Following the announcement by ANCAP yesterday that the Ford Mustang had scored just two stars in crash testing, Euro NCAP has spoken out.

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The all-new Ford Mustang is one of the best-selling cars on the market, yet in shock news released today has scored a shocking 2-star ANCAP rating.
25 Jan 2017

Shock! Ford Mustang scores 2-star ANCAP rating

9 years ago 6 1

The all-new Ford Mustang is one of the best-selling cars on the market yet in shock news released today has scored a shocking 2-star ANCAP rating.

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2017 Mazda MX-5 RF Review - Practicalmotoring.com.au
25 Jan 2017

2017 Mazda MX-5 RF Review

9 years ago 9 20

Isaac Bober’s launch-based 2017 Mazda MX-5 RF Review with pricing, specs, ride and handling, safety, verdict and score.

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Renault traffic crew revealed
24 Jan 2017

2017 Renault Trafic Crew variant added to local line-up

9 years ago 1 0

The Renault Trafic Crew variant has been added to the local line-up offering improved functionality and comfort.

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Jaguar Land Rover offers virtual reality car buying
24 Jan 2017

Jaguar Land Rover to launch virtual reality new model glimpse in Australia

9 years ago 0 0

Jaguar Land Rover dealers in Australia will offer car buyers the chance to take a virtual reality look at the latest product before it arrives in showrooms.

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2017 Kia Rio SLi review
23 Jan 2017

2017 Kia Rio SLi review

9 years ago 3 20

Isaac Bober’s launch-based 2017 Kia Rio SLi review with pricing, specs, ride and handling, safety, verdict and score.

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2017 Subaru XV
23 Jan 2017

All-new 2017 Subaru XV teased…

9 years ago 0 11

The all-new 2017 Subaru XV has been teased ahead of its global debut at the Geneva motor show in March.

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2017 Peugeot 2008
23 Jan 2017

2017 Peugeot 2008 arrives in February

9 years ago 0 1

The refreshed 2017 Peugeot 2008 tiny-tot SUV will arrive Down Under in late February.

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2014 Subaru XV 2.0i-S driving in the rain
23 Jan 2017

Driving in the rain… should there be laws around headlights?

9 years ago 24 1

It seems that whenever it rains the road becomes something like a version of Mario Brothers… with many drivers refusing to use their headlights.

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Limited-edition Holden Commodore12
20 Jan 2017

Limited Edition 2017 Holden Commodores revealed

9 years ago 1 0

Three limited-edition 2017 Holden Commodores have been revealed offering improved styling and performance… paying homage to Commodore greats of the past.

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