Home | News | Road Tests NEWS INDEX:   June 2009 Home > News A Failed GM Looks To New GM To Replace Old GM 2nd June, 2009 Following recognition that it is a failed company, General Motors Corporation announced last night that it has reached agreements with the U.S. Treasury and the governments of Canada and Ontario to accelerate its reinvention and to forge a leaner 'New GM' ..... more Holden: Business As Usual 2nd June, 2009 Holden will continue normal operations in Australia and New Zealand and does not expect changes to its business after General Motors announced last night it has taken court action in the US to launch a "New GM" following the failure of General Motors Corporation to recover from the financial stress it had been enduring for some years ..... more GM Europe: SOLD 2nd June, 2009 GM Europe last night announced it continues normal operations and it is not included in the US court-supervised process of General Motors Corp (NYSE: GM), its U.S. parent, with the commitment for bridge financing from the German government and an MOU to partner with Magna International Inc ..... more Chinese Take-Over of Hummer 3rd June, 2009 Sichuan Tengzhong Heavy Industrial Machinery Co., Ltd (Tengzhong) and General Motors Corporation (GM), have confirmed details of their proposed transaction ..... more US Court Approves Sale of Chrysler LLC to New Company Formed with Fiat 3rd June, 2009 Chrysler LLC announced on Monday that the U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Southern District of New York (USA), has approved its request to sell substantially all of its operations to Chrysler Group LLC, the new company formed in alliance with Fiat SpA ..... more BMW M3 Edition Model – Exclusivity at its Most Exclusive 3rd June, 2009 Powerful, aesthetic design, supreme performance and exclusive style – BMW Group Australia has announced a strictly limited number of highly exclusive M3 Edition Models, will make their way to Australia towards the end of the year ..... more Self-Catering Holiday Accommodation in Denmark, WA ..... more All New Audi S4 Released Locally 3rd June, 2009 With it’s brand new three-litre V6 with direct fuel injection and mechanical turbo charging, the Audi S4 delivers a powerful 245 kW and crosses the finish line from 0 to 100 km/h in just 5.3 seconds ..... more Volvo Cars To Try Plug-in Hybrid Technology 3rd June, 2009 A joint project with Swedish energy supplier Vattenfall will see the production of battery-powered Volvos featuring plug-in hybrid technology as early as 2012 ..... more Maserati Quattroporte Gains New Performance Flagship 3rd June, 2009 The new Maserati Quattroporte Sport GT S is the third variant in the new Maserati Quattroporte range, which starts with the Quattroporte 4.2 litre, followed by the Quattroporte S with the 4.7 litre engine ..... more Peugeot 5008 - A new and innovative people carrier 3rd June, 2009 With the 5008, Peugeot reintroduces one of its most famous series of vehicles – the “5” series. Previous models carrying the “5” series label have included the legendary Peugeot 504 and the great family favourite the Peugeot 505 Family estate ..... more Kia grows market share despite tighter Australian market 4th June, 2009 Kia has outperformed the Australian vehicle market and recorded positive growth for the first five months of 2009 in an industry that is down 19.2 per cent against the same time in 2008 ..... more Amarok is VW's new ute 7th June, 2009 The name Amarok comes from the language of the Inuit, who live in northern Canada and Greenland, and means wolf. The Inuit, one of the Eskimo peoples, regard the wolf as the king of the wilderness ..... more Ferrari California Arives In Australia 7th June, 2009 Ferrari has not had four production models in its range since the Mondiale ceased production in 1993 ..... more Mitsubishi Motors to release new-generation EV 7th June, 2009 Mitsubishi Motors expects to distribute, on a maintenance lease basis, some 1,400 i-MiEV models in fiscal 2009 principally to corporations and to local authorities ..... more Plug-in Subaru Stella to Start Japan Sales 7th June, 2009 Around 170 Plug-in Stellas are expected to be sold during the 'current' Japanese fiscal year, ending 31st March, 2010 ..... more Stopping Safely in a Medical Emergency 7th June, 2009 BMW engineers are developing a system that will safely bring a car to a controlled stop on the side of the road in a health-related emergency ..... more Lotus Evora: Specification and Pricing 7th June, 2009 The new car is a more holistic offering than the Elise, Exige and Europa models that have carried the brand in recent years ..... more Penske To Give Saturn A Spin 8th June, 2009 General Motors Corp. and Penske Automotive Group confirmed on Friday some details of a proposed transaction under which Penske would acquire the Saturn brand from GM ..... more Maserati Releases Granturismo S Automatic Locally 8th June, 2009 Maserati has blended the luxury and refinement of the GranTurismo with the hard-edged performance and aggression of the 4.7 litre GranTurismo S to produce the GranTurismo S Automatic ..... more Audi S3 Sportback: Now With S tronic Gearbox 9th June, 2009 A genuine marvel of engineering, the revolutionary S tronic dual-clutch transmission has been a sensation ever since it debuted in the Audi TT 3.2 quattro in 2003 ..... more GM To Cease Medium-Duty Truck Production 9th June, 2009 Production of the Chevrolet Kodiak and GMC Topkick medium duty trucks will cease by 31st July, 2009 ..... more Lexus IS 250C Proved In Harsh Australian Sun 9th June, 2009 The all-new Lexus IS 250C has undergone an intensive development testing programme that took in some of the harshest conditions - including the Australian outback ..... more New VW Golf Estate 10th June, 2009 The estate is one of the most successful models on the European market, particularly in the company car market ..... more All-new Mercedes-Benz E-Class Awarded Environmental Certificate by TÜV Süd 10th June, 2009 The environmental compatibility of the all-new Mercedes-Benz E-Class has now been confirmed by the independent examiners at the German organisation TÜV Süd ..... more Chrysler Group LLC and Fiat Finalise Global Strategic Alliance 11th June, 2009 As part of the alliance, Fiat will contribute to Chrysler its technology, platforms and powertrains for small- and medium-sized cars ..... more Audi at Donau Classic 2009 11th June, 2009 Audi Tradition is marking the centenary of the Audi brand by participating in the Donau Classic (Germany) with a dozen classic cars ..... more BMW’s New Voice Control 11th June, 2009 For the first time, one single voice command is sufficient to completely transmit the driver’s destination into the navigation system ..... more 1.5 Million Corvettes 11th June, 2009 The 1.5 millionth Corvette, built on 28th May, 2009, is a white convertible 3LT with red interior and black top (similar to the first, 500,000th and 1 millionth Corvettes ..... more Ten Million Brazilian Fiats 14th June, 2009 In May, Fiat sold 60,628 vehicles to take 25.5 per cent of the Brazilian market, ahead of Volkswagen and General Motors ..... more Old Kombi: It's A Drag 14th June, 2009 As a demonstration of Volkswagen’s durability, a 56-year old Transporter van (T1) has just achieved a top speed of 102.84 mph ..... more Seventy-Five Years of the BMW Roadster 14th June, 2009 With the public appreciating this car, BMW decided to build the 315/1 in a small series, catering also to motor sport enthusiasts ..... more Honda Commemorates 50 years of Innovation in America 14th June, 2009 Honda has marked its first 50 years in America, commemorating the establishment of American Honda Motor Co ..... more Rolls-Royce Ghost will deliver impeccable poise 14th June, 2009 The Ghost will be as refined and as cosseting as anything that this marque has ever produced. But it will have a dynamic vitality afforded to it due to the latest technology ..... more New Kia is a UK Soul sensation – 1,000 sold in 100 days 14th June, 2009 Kia's new Soul has reached a major milestone in the UK as the 1,000th was delivered just 100 days after the Soul went on sale across the UK ..... more Grand Bentley Is A Secret 14th June, 2009 Designed, engineered and built in Crewe, England, it will be the purest expression of the continuing Bentley 'spirit' ..... more Audi Q5 Gets Top Marks in USA Test 15th June, 2009 The new Audi Q5 compact SUV has earned a ‘Top Safety Pick’ award for 2009 from the US Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) ..... more Honda Jazz ANCAP Result 15th June, 2009 ANCAP recently undertook testing of the entry model Honda Jazz GLi which recorded a 4-star safety rating ..... more Suzuki Alto Achieves Four-Star ANCAP Rating 15th June, 2009 Australia’s next sub-light car will also be one of the safest with the Suzuki Alto achieving a high four-star rating in the latest round of ANCAP testing ..... more Hyundai Achieves Record Sales in May 15th June, 2009 In a market that was down 19.2% (May YTD 2009 v. May YTD 2008), Hyundai was the only top ten brand that posted a sales increase both for the month of May and the first five months of 2009 ..... more Model Behaviour 16th June, 2009 For most of us, there is only one option to alleviate the desire to purchase a dream car, and that is to settle for a scale model reproduction ..... more General Motors and Koenigsegg Reach Tentative Agreement on Saab 16th June, 2009 General Motors and Koenigsegg today confirmed the details of a memorandum of understanding for the purchase of Saab Automobile AB that secures Saab’s future ..... more Lexus RX 450h Released Locally 16th June, 2009 The petrol-electric hybrid will consume 6.4 litres of fuel per 100 km and emit 150 grammes of CO2 - an emissions figure not achieved by any other luxury SUV in Australia ..... more Mazda's Aqua-tech Paint System is Reducing Environmental Impact 17th June, 2009 The innovative new technology achieves the world’s highest standards for limiting emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOC) contained in paint ..... more Kia Motors posts 11.5% increase in May global sales 17th June, 2009 Kia announced today that its global sales figures for May 2009 recorded a total of 141,949 units. This marks a year-on-year increase of 11.5% ..... more X6 proves a niche hit for BMW 17th June, 2009 In ten months, 545 examples of the crossover BMW have been delivered in Australia, highlighting its unique customer appeal ..... more Space-Age Controls In Toyota Prius Keep Your Eyes On The Road 17th June, 2009 The third-generation Prius features an ergonomically advanced interior that contributes to improved safety by reducing driver eye movement for better concentration on the road ..... more Mercedes-Benz Pioneers New Safety Technologies: The 2009 ESF 17th June, 2009 In this anniversary year, Mercedes-Benz is using the ESF 2009 research vehicle to reveal what its safety specialists are currently working on ..... more New Audi A5 Sportback: As Stylish as a Coupe, as Versatile as an Avant 17th June, 2009 The five-door coupe excels with its stylish and sporty profile. The spoiler lip and diffuser insert provide contrast and emphasise the sporty characteristics of the body contour ..... more Chrysler Resumes Production 18th June, 2009 One week after finalising its global strategic alliance with Fiat Group, Chrysler Group LLC has announced that it will resume volume production of vehicles with the start-up of seven of its North American assembly plants ..... more Hyundai To Launch Elantra LPI Hybrid 18th June, 2009 The Hyundai Elantra LPI Hybrid will be launched as the Hyundai Avante in South Korea next month. This model is not intended for an Australian release ..... more North America's 2010 Ford Mustang Released 18th June, 2009 The 2010 Ford Mustang builds on the safety success of the 2008 Mustang, which became the first sports car and the first convertible to earn five-stars from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for frontal crash, side impact and roll-over tests ..... more More Details: GM's New Astra 19th June, 2009 And those gloves? According to the survey, most owners don’t keep them in the glove box at all ..... more BMW’s new 730d challenges traditional fuel consumption wisdom 19th June, 2009 The new 730d consumes no more fuel, on the official combined cycle, than much smaller four-cylinder cars such as the manual 1.8-litre Holden Astra CD ..... more Ford's European Sales Increase 21st June, 2009 Driven by enthusiastic customer demand for its strongest-ever range of vehicles, Ford – Europe's second-best selling brand, behind Volkswagen – saw its market share increase for the fifth successive month during May in its main 19 markets ..... more Chevrolet Camaro For Australia 21st June, 2009 America's exciting new muscle car, the Chevrolet Camaro, could go on sale in Australia late this year after the arrival shortly of the first example for conversion and compliance engineering ..... more Fiat 500C For Australia Mid-2010 22nd June, 2009 The soft top of the Fiat 500C stands out for its elegant electrically controlled movement and its impressively finished and carefully selected technical features ..... more Toyota Australia 2008-09 Financial Results 22nd June, 2009 Toyota Australia has reported a net profit after tax of $123.4 million for the period 1st April 2008, to 31st March 2009. Sales revenue for the period was $8.8 billion ..... more Concept BlueSport: Is A VW Sports Car Just Around The Corner? 22nd June, 2009 Volkswagen set just two objectives in the car’s development: maximum driving fun and minimal fuel consumption. And so a mid-engine sports car was implemented that makes no compromises ..... more Vauxhall at Goodwood Festival of Speed 24th June, 2009 The high-performance version of this year’s European Car of the Year winner will be displayed in the popular Super Car Paddock throughout the event, which runs from 3rd - 5th July ..... more BMW's New 5-Series Gran Turismo 24th June, 2009 As a new entrant in a expanding segment, the BMW 5 Series Gran Turismo combines essential features of a prestige saloon, a modern Sports Activity Vehicle, and a classic Gran Turismo ..... more Toyota Prius: Not All Hybrids Are Equal 24th June, 2009 In the third-generation Prius, Toyota engineers have made comprehensive improvements to this award-winning Hybrid Synergy Drive technology ..... more European launch for new Mercedes-Benz S-Class AMG next week 24th June, 2009 In addition, both of the top-of-the-line AMG models set new standards when it comes to active and passive safety through an unrivalled combination of innovative camera and radar-based driver assistance systems ..... more Kia Soul’ster awarded 2009 Concept Truck of the Year 24th June, 2009 A two-piece top enables passengers to expose the front and back seating areas independently, using 'elbow-grease' technology ..... more Cheap Chinese Ute Arrives 25th June, 2009 The "Made in China" tag is expected to detract from any value that the brand may offer ..... more Melbourne's Federation Square Car Shows 25th June, 2009 Melbourne motoring enthusiasts and city visitors will have an opportunity to see a free classic car show in Federation Square on the last Sunday of each month from June through November ..... more Peugeot to Celebrate 75th Anniversary of Coupe Cabriolets 25th June, 2009 While the Eclipse’s distinctly art deco appearance marks it as a classic design of its time, the sculpted lines of the 308 CC mark it as a masterpiece of today ..... more Skoda Superb Released 26th June, 2009 It is not only the most luxurious car Skoda has ever built, it is one that sets new standards for quality, practicality, design and value ..... more Diesel BMW 7 Series Released 28th June, 2009 The new BMW 730d – the first diesel powered 7 Series sold in Australia – will, right from the start, establish itself at the top of the performance pecking order ..... more Top Ratings for Safety For Audi A4 and Q5 29th June, 2009 The Audi A4 sedan and Q5 models have achieved a top five-star rating in the new and more stringent Euro New Car Assessment Programme (NCAP) safety tests ..... more Toyota Extends Prius Battery Warranty To Eight Years 29th June, 2009 Fewer than one-quarter of one per cent of Prius hybrid batteries have been replaced in almost eight years of sales ..... more Lexus Increases Hybrid Battery Warranty 29th June, 2009 Lexus Australia has announced it will increase all Lexus HV (hybrid) battery warranties to eight years or 160,000 kilometres, whichever occurs sooner ..... more BMW X3: 6,000 out the door 29th June, 2009 A family of three have taken delivery of the 6,000th BMW X3 Sports Activity Vehicle sold in Australia ..... more Citroen Reveals New C3 29th June, 2009 Under the bonnet, the new C3 will become available with a new range of three cylinder diesel engines that will offer market leading fuel economy and carbon dioxide emissions as low as 90 g/km ..... more Aston Martin Cygnet: Innovative Commuter Concept Car 29th June, 2009 Aston Martin has developed a new luxury commuter concept; the ‘Cygnet’ which will offer customers a distinctive, intelligent and exclusive solution for urban travel in style and luxury ..... more Hear Chris Goodsell Talk Motoring On Radio & Internet ..... more May 2009 News ..... here April 2009 News ..... here March 2009 News ..... here About | Car Clubs | Home | News | Road Ramblings | Road Tests | Subscribe | Top Drive ©   2009   All rights reserved.   Next Car Pty. 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