Home | News | Road Tests NEWS INDEX:   January 2009 Home > News Peugeot Expert Van Released Locally 4th January, 2008 The new Peugeot Expert’s aim of becoming the new benchmark in the compact van market segment, was acknowledged by being awarded the title of “International Van of the Year 2008” ..... more The Volvo S60 Concept: An insight into the future of Volvo 6th January, 2009 The Volvo S60 Concept Car that will be unveiled at this month's Detroit Motor Show (NAIAS) will provide a unique insight into the all-new Volvo S60 due in 2010 ..... more Mahindra Pik-Up to ‘Power’ Staunch National Finals Rodeo 6th January, 2009 Tough, rugged and value-for-money brand of utility vehicles, the Mahindra Pik-Up range, will be a major sponsor of the upcoming National Finals Rodeo to be held in the Gold Coast from 8th January, 2009 ..... more Land Rover Australia records annual sales boost in 2008 6th January, 2009 With the introduction of Range Rover Vogue Autobiography the world's most complete Luxury SUV is now even better. Autobiography offers even higher levels of luxury and refinement, combined with the ability to personalise a Range Rover Vogue to suit one's own sense of taste and style ..... more More Punch For Ford Shelby GT500 6th January, 2009 America's new 2010 Ford Shelby GT500 delivers the most power and refinement ever for a Ford's SVT-tuned performance Mustang – and a few surprises, too ..... more Porsche Panamera To Debut In China 7th January, 2009 Porsche will be presenting the new Panamera to the public for the first time at the Shanghai Motor Show (Auto Shanghai 2009) in China from 20th to 28th April ..... more Volvo's New XC60 Due In March 7th January, 2009 Volvo Car Australia has announced pricing for its new XC60 which is due to be launched locally in March ..... more Suzuki's Sixth Straight Sales Success 7th January, 2009 Suzuki continues to be a shining star in the Australian automotive market after recording its sixth successive increase in annual sales ..... more New Ford Fiesta Just Around The Corner 7th January, 2009 Ford's new feature laden Fiesta, complete with good looks and dynamic driveability, will shake up the light car segment when it arrives in Ford dealerships late this month ..... more Holden Commodore: 13 Years At The Top 7th January, 2009 The Holden Commodore is Australia’s favourite passenger car for the 13th consecutive year after finishing 2008 as the nation’s best-seller ..... more 1949 to 1965: Eligible Years for the 2009 Le Mans Legend 8th January, 2009 The eligible years for the 2009 Le Mans Legend, the historic support race organised by Motor Racing Legends on the Saturday morning of the Le Mans 24 Hours, have been announced. This great historic event, on 13th June 2009, will be for cars built between 1949 and 1965 ..... more Celebrating 60 Years of Bentley Racing at Silverstone 8th January, 2009 The UK's Bentley Drivers Club is celebrating its 60th year of racing at Silverstone with its first ever two-day meeting, on 8th to 9th August 2009. Everything from Vintage Bentleys to modern-day machines will take to the track in this, the 60th anniversary of the Club’s first Silverstone race meeting – honouring a continuous run of annual BDC events at the circuit, from 1949 to the present day ..... more Audi Sales Jump 30% Down Under 8th January, 2009 To close a tough 2008, Audi Australia sold 598 cars in December, bringing the full year cumulative result to 9,410 units, compared with 7,225 for the previous year (2007) ..... more Suzuki Celebrates 25 Years Of Car Manufacturing In India 8th January, 2009 Suzuki Motor Corporation recently celebrated 25 years of car production at its Maruti Suzuki plant in India. Maruti Suzuki (formerly known as Maruti Udyog Limited) was established as a Government Company back in 1981, and in December 1983, India’s first affordable world-class car, the Maruti 800, rolled off the production line at Gurgaon near Delhi ..... more Ford F-Series Remains American Best-Seller In 2008 8th January, 2009 For the 32nd year in a row, Ford’s award-winning F-Series is America’s best-selling truck with 2008 sales of 515,513. F-series outsold its nearest truck rival by more than 50,000 units ..... more Record sales for Volkswagen Group Australia in 2008 9th January, 2009 Volkswagen Group Australia has achieved a new record with 29,875 vehicle sales in a calendar year, its fourth straight year of growth. As a result, Volkswagen is now the 10th most popular brand on volume in Australia ..... more Mini Heads Back to Its Roots 11th January, 2009 Silverstone, in the UK, with its legendary race track will be next year’s setting for the largest Mini enthusiasts event ever ..... more New Jaguar XF Diesel S 11th January, 2009 Distinguished by discreet 'S' badging, the car that defines Jaguar sporting luxury is even better for the 2010 model year ..... more Nissan GT-R Spec V For Japan 11th January, 2009 The GT-R Spec V is targeted at enthusiast drivers who desire race car-level performance in a street-legal vehicle ..... more Speed For Bentley Continental GTC 11th January, 2009 It is Bentley’s most powerful convertible ever and inspired by Bentley’s legendary ‘Speed Models’ from the 1920s ..... more New Nissan Murano Released 15th January, 2009 With new looks, enhanced performance and refinement, a host of features and a new interior, the new Nissan Murano is an evolution of the original ..... more Lamborghini at the Detroit Motor Show 15th January, 2009 Alongside the new Gallardo LP 560-4 Spyder, Lamborghini will present two exclusive, highly individualised super sports cars at the 2009 Detroit Motor Show ..... more Kia Showcases Soul'ster In Detroit 15th January, 2009 Soul'ster is an efficient front-drive car based on the Kia Soul production model, which made its world debut at the 2008 Mondial de l'Automobile in Paris in October 2008 ..... more Cadillac Crossover Coming? 15th January, 2009 The Cadillac SRX is a mid-size luxury SUV heading to the Detroit Motor Show. And this Mexican built model may come to Australia ..... more UK New Car Market Fell 11% In 2008 15th January, 2009 The UK's full year total vehicle sales was down 11.3% from 2,404,007 in 2007 to 2,131,795 units in 2008. The Ford Focus was the top seller with over 100,000 registrations in 2009 ..... more Mercedes-Benz CLS Grand Edition 16th January, 2009 Mercedes-Benz have announced the introduction of a special edition of the CLS to be called the CLS Grand Edition. The model will be in Mercedes-Benz showrooms in Australia from May this year ..... more Volkswagen reveals new mid-engined Roadster Concept in Detroit 16th January, 2009 Volkswagen has debuted it's all new mid-engined, rear-wheel drive roadster concept at the 2009 Detroit Motor Show ..... more America's Big 3 Drop Tokyo Motor Show 18th January, 2009 Several Japanese car makers pulled out of the Detroit Motor Show – and now the Detroit Three have returned the favour, with an announcement that none will attend this year's Tokyo Motor Show in October ..... more Chrysler Denies Speculation Of Break-Up 18th January, 2009 There would be no piecemeal sale of brands or factories, said vice-chairman Tom LaSorda, and the report about Jeep was “absolutely false” ..... more FPV Open Day Back in 2009 18th January, 2009 On Sunday 1st March at their Campbellfield headquarters, the performance powerhouse will once again open the doors to the public for a day of fun for all the family ..... more VW Commercial Vehicles Sells More Than 500,000 Units In 2008 19th January, 2009 For the first time ever, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles has sold more than half a million commercial vehicles in a single year ..... more Alfa Romeo 159 Updated For 2009 19th January, 2009 The 2.4 litre 147 kW JTD Turbo Diesel version of the Alfa Romeo 159 has been consistently the most popular version of the Alfa Romeo 159, with its blend of effortless performance and outstanding fuel economy ..... more Audi A4: Germany's Most Popular Prestige Car In 2008 19th January, 2009 The latest vehicle registration numbers verify that the Audi A4 is Germany’s most successful premium automobile ..... more Honda Insight Hybrid Debuts In Detroit 19th January, 2009 "At Honda, we look forward to introducing Australia to the new Insight within the next twelve months" ..... more Mercedes-Benz Presents a Modular Drive Concept for Electric Vehicles 19th January, 2009 The three BlueZERO variants are based on the unique sandwich-floor architecture which Mercedes-Benz introduced some ten years ago, initially for the A-Class and then for the B-Class ..... more Chrysler ENVI – Plugged into the World 19th January, 2009 Chrysler's first electric vehicle will be produced in 2010 and a further three models will make it to production by 2013 ..... more Drive Away Prices For Fiat Commercial Vehicles 20th January, 2009 “There is no doubt that businesses across Australia are doing it tough and they need to look at every dollar they spend to save money,” says Andrei Zaitzev, General Manager for Fiat in Australia ..... more Maserati At Detroit Motor Show 20th January, 2009 The new Maserati Quattroporte Sport GT S has made its worldwide première at the 2009 Detroit Motor Show in USA ..... more Volkswagen Wins Dakar 20th January, 2009 After 14 legs and a total of about 9,500 kilometres they finished with a lead of 8m59s ahead of their team mates ..... more PSA Maintains Market Share In 2008 20th January, 2008 During 2008, worldwide market share for the PSA Group (Peugeot and Citroen) was maintained at 5%. Therefore, PSA Peugeot Citroën sales hold up against the sharp drop in automotive markets in the closing months of the year ..... more The New Mercedes-Benz E-Class 20th January, 2009 With the new E-Class, Mercedes-Benz is presenting the pacemaker when it comes to safety, comfort and environmental compatibility in this market segment. With more than 20 new or further technical developments, this all new saloon further consolidates the leading position of Mercedes-Benz in the luxury class ..... more New Cadillac Presidential Limousine 20th January, 2009 Today, as Americans prepare for the inauguration of a new president of the United States, another new Cadillac will grace Pennsylvania Avenue to lead the proceedings ..... more Jaguar XF For 2010 21st January, 2009 The 2010 model year XF features all new 5.0 litre direct-injection V8 petrol engines and a new 3.0 litre V6 twin-turbo diesel ... more Mini Cooper D Confirmed for Australia 21st January, 2009 As with all Mini models, the Mini Cooper D customer will be able to specify a car to their exact requirements with a big choice of interior and exterior trim and colour options ... more NAC MG UK Ltd Changes Its Name To MG Motor UK Ltd 21st January, 2009 The change was made to reinforce the presence and image of the MG brand within the parent company’s name ..... more Plug And Play: The Smart Fortwo Electric Drive 21st January, 2009 The Smart Fortwo electric drive (ed) further demonstrates the pioneering role of this young car brand with an emission-free, highly efficient and quiet two-seater ..... more Europe's Kia cee'd Adds ISG (Idle Stop & Go) Option 21st January, 2009 Made in Europe, the C-segment cee'd ISG cars are the first Kia production models to benefit from the Korean Corporation's continuing and massive investment in eco-friendly technologies for the future ..... more Mercedes-Benz delivers 1.5 million current generation E-Series 21st January, 2009 Mercedes-Benz has delivered 1.5 million units of the current E-Class series to customers since the model’s market launch six years ago ..... more Aero 8 upgrade to celebrate a century of Morgan sports cars 21st January, 2009 Celebrating its centenary in 2009, the Morgan Motor Company Limited is planning an eventful year with new models and celebratory events to mark this special year in the history of the iconic English marque ..... more Nissan Releases New Fairlady Z In Japan 25th January, 2009 The latest Fairlady Z, while embodying the first generation's signature "Z-ness" in terms of high performance, design and high value, incorporates dramatic advances in dynamic performance and perceived quality ..... more Skoda Auto's Sales Grew By 7.1% In 2008 25th January, 2009 The Company's sales grew primarily thanks to the markets in China and Eastern Europe ..... more Audi's Sportback Concept 25th January, 2009 With systematic refinements to the brand’s characteristic design elements, the five-door model offers a glimpse at the Audi's future design 'vocabulary' ..... more Automobili Lamborghini increases worldwide sales again 25th January, 2009 In spite of recent worldwide financial and economic turmoil, Automobili Lamborghini S.p.A. has delivered another historically very strong year of sales during 2008 ..... more Potential Chrysler and Fiat Alliance Anticipated 25th January, 2009 The alliance, to be a key element of Chrysler’s viability plan, would provide Chrysler with access to competitive, fuel-efficient vehicle platforms, powertrain, and components to be produced at Chrysler manufacturing sites ..... more Europe's Ford Focus RS Production Starts 25th January, 2009 The first production example of the exciting new Ford Focus RS for Europe rolled off the production line this week at Ford of Europe's Saarlouis plant in Germany ..... more New Mazda 3 Unveiled In Detroit 26th January, 2009 This redefined, reengineered, and restyled compact car climbs atop its predecessor to deliver improved appearance and performance, fresh features, and a higher level of refinement ..... more Cadillac: Australian Release Delayed Indefinitely 26th January, 2009 GM Holden has announced that next month's introduction of the Cadillac brand into Australia had been delayed indefinitely ... more Kia's All-New Cerato Arrives 26th January, 2009 Modern and dynamic styling, class leading power, class leading 4.5 stars Green Vehicle rating, six airbags standard in every model, iPod® compatible audio system, European-standard ride and handling, 5 year/unlimited kilometre warranty for private buyers, great value and a low entry price - the all new Kia Cerato has it all ..... more Honda Celebrates 40 Years in Australia 27th January, 2009 The limited edition Honda Accord is packed with extra features including fog lights, rear parking sensors, Bluetooth, floor mats, illuminated door sill garnishes and 40th Anniversary badging ..... more Land Rover Australia records annual sales boost in 2008 27th January, 2009 With a total of 4,320 retail sales in 2008, Land Rover achieved its third consecutive year of growth in Australia ..... more Mitsubishi to display i MiEV SPORT AIR Concept at Geneva Motor Show 27th January, 2009 The i MiEV SPORT AIR explores the future possibilities for zero-emission vehicles, placing a greater bias on exhilarating driving pleasure ..... more After 77 Years At #1, General Motors Slips To #2 27th January, 2009 General Motors sold 8.35 million vehicles in 2008, thus becoming the world's second largest vehicle manufacturer, following 77 consecutive years as the world's largest maker of motor vehicles ..... more Peugeot 3008: A New Cross-Over 27th January, 2009 First seen as a concept at last year’s Paris Motor Show – Prologue Hybrid 4 – Peugeot’s new 3008 cross-over vehicle can now be revealed in all its glory. This new, compact and spacious cross-over represents a totally new offering in the world's car market ..... more Porsche's Updated 911 GT3 RSR 29th January, 2009 The most powerful race car based on the Porsche 911, which last season secured wins in the American Le Mans Series and at the Nürburgring 24 Hours, competes in the GT2 class ..... more Ford Transit Starts New Year With Motor Home Award 29th January, 2009 Ford Transit has won its first award for 2009. For the second year running, Transit was judged the best base vehicle by the UK's Motorcaravan Motorhome Monthly (MMM) magazine ..... more Renault Extends Its Bio-Fuel Vehicle Line-Up 29th January, 2009 Within the framework of its environmental strategy, which is illustrated by the Renault eco2signature, Renault is actively working on a range of environmentally respectful solutions and has extended its European line-up of vehicles that run on alternative energies ..... more GM’s Two-Mode Hybrid Powertrain voted “2009 Best New Green Technology” 29th January, 2009 The Automobile Journalists Association of Canada (AJAC) recognised GM’s Two-Mode Hybrid technology as the 2009 "Best New Green Technology" ..... more Bentley's Extremism 29th January, 2009 Delivering super car performance, this new model is very much the extreme Bentley. Importantly, it will run on biofuel ... more Ford's Dual-Clutch Transmission 29th January, 2009 PowerShift provides the full comfort of an automatic with a more sophisticated driving dynamic, thanks to uninterrupted torque from the dual-clutch technology, which consists essentially of two manual transmissions working in parallel, each with its own independent clutch unit ..... more About | Car Clubs | Home | News | Road Ramblings | Road Tests | Subscribe | Top Drive ©   2009   All rights reserved.   Next Car Pty. Ltd.