Australia's Easy Reading New Car News Home | News | Road Tests NEWS INDEX:   January 2011 Home > News Jeep Patriot for 2011 2nd January, 2011 The Jeep Patriot, the affordable compact sport-utility vehicle, offers capability along with updated exterior styling, new interior features and improved ride-and-handling characteristics ..... more GMC Sierra All Terrain HD concept 3rd January, 2011 The GMC Sierra All Terrain HD concept is an exploration of heavy-duty American 'pick-up' truck capability combined with greater off-road versatility. It is highlighted by a bold exterior design and enhanced all-terrain suspension ..... more Kia Picanto: more details 4th January, 2011 Completely redesigned and re-engineered, the new car has grown in overall length and wheelbase and is set to redefine its position as one of the most competitive vehicles in its segment ..... more Hyundai Veloster 6th January, 2011 The Hyundai Veloster will debut next week at America's Detroit Motor Show ..... more 2010: a bumper year of sales 6th January, 2011 “This is an exceptional outcome and is the second highest result on record and only the third time ever that the market exceeded more than one million sales,” FCAI Chief Executive Andrew McKellar said ..... more Hyundai HCD-12 Curb Concept 7th January, 2011 Another design concept to be shown at the 2011 Detroit Motor show is the Hyundai HCD-12 Curb ..... more Ferrari 599 GTO arrives locally 10th January, 2011 Although slower than a Nissan GT-R for a 0-100 km/h run, the Ferrari 500 GTO can demolish the task in 3.3 seconds ..... more Chevrolet Sonic revealed 10th January, 2011 The Sonic is offered in two body styles: a four-door sedan and a five-door hatchback. Each delivers class-leading rear-seat roominess and cargo space. A variety of connectivity features enhance the driving experience ..... more Ford Focus Electric revealed 10th January, 2011 The Focus Electric will be launched in late 2011 in North America and is designed to offer enough range to cover the majority of daily driving habits of Americans. A full recharge is expected to take three to four hours at home with the 240-volt charge station ..... more Opel confirmed for Australia 11th January, 2011 "Whilst it is unreasonable to expect GM to reveal their business plan, it is easy to see that the introduction of another GM brand into the mainstream market is clearly going to dilute the value of the Holden brand. By setting up a new dealer network, GM is denying the loyal band of Holden dealers the opportunity to update Holden Astra owners into a new model Astra ....." more Crashed Volvo C30 Electric for Detroit Motor Show 11th January, 2011 At this year's Detroit Motor Show, Volvo Cars is drawing attention to the issue of electric car safety by displaying a Volvo C30 Electric that has undergone a frontal collision test at the low speed of 64 km/h ..... more Hyundai Curb Concept vehicle 11th January, 2011 The inspiration for Curb came from the need to evolve Hyundai’s “Fluidic Sculpture” design language for younger buyers. Hyundai designers wanted to make a vehicle loaded with technology that was at home in an urban environment with potholes and densely packed entertainment venues on the streets (such as cinema, cafe and restaurant strips) ..... more Honda Civic Concepts 11th January, 2011 The Honda Civic Si Concept coupe and Civic Concept sedan are making world debuts at America's Detroit Motor Show, providing the first official glimpse at the styling direction of the all-new, ninth-generation 2012 model set to go on sale mid-year, American Honda announced ..... more Kia KV7 Concept 11th January, 2011 Conceived as a modern-day “activity van,” the Kia KV7 concept challenges the notion that vans are strictly for family transportation and reveals a vision for a vehicle with the functionality to transport a large number of people and their belongings while also serving as a 'connected' social hub for groups of friends and adventure-seekers ..... more Ford Vertrek concept 12th January, 2011 Ford’s continually evolving global kinetic design philosophy is well-suited to the next generation of compact sport utility vehicles as envisioned by the Ford Vertrek concept unveiled at the 2011 Detroit Motor Show this week ..... more Hyundai Veloster here in a year 12th January, 2011 The 2012 Veloster delivers innovation to the compact coupe segment with a unique third door for easy rear-seat access, new 1.6-litre direct-injected four-cylinder engine matched to Hyundai’s first dual-clutch transmission ..... more Kia Rio: the next generation 12th January, 2011 Longer, lower and wider than the existing Rio, the new model is designed to inject emotional appeal into the B-segment, targeting progressive, energetic consumers in the 25-to-49 age range ..... more Porsche 918 RSR hybrid 16th January, 2011 Porsche has fused together its 918 concept car of 2010 with an even higher-performance hybrid drive from last year’s 911 GT3 R Hybrid to make the new Porsche 918 RSR ..... more Improved value for Caterham 16th January, 2011 The Caterham driving experience can now be enjoyed from $59,990 ‘drive-away’ from the Melbourne showroom of Caterham Cars Australia. Interstate orders are price quoted individually ..... more Subaru & Toyota develop RWD sports car 16th January, 2011 A Subaru rear-wheel drive sports car is currently under joint development as part of the business alliance with Toyota Motor Corporation ..... more Chrysler 200 convertible 16th January, 2011 America's new 2011 Chrysler 200 Convertible offers consumers an open-air driving experience featuring elegant craftsmanship inside and out, a fun, yet refined driving experience, innovative technology, an abundance of standard safety features and an extraordinary level of standard content ..... more Lexus CT 200h released in Japan 16th January, 2011 Lexus launched the hybrid-only "CT 200h"1, its first entry in the premium-compact segment in Japan last week. And it will be coming to Australia this year ..... more Audi A1 quattro under development 17th January, 2011 An Audi A1 quattro prototype that brings all-wheel drive to the premium sub-compact hatchback segment for the first time is currently undergoing testing in freezing conditions on Canada’s densely snow-packed roads ..... more Alfa Romeo Giulietta arrives this week 17th January, 2011 Alfa Romeo has revived one of their most famous nameplates with the arrival of the new Giulietta in Australia. With an element of performance, styling and technology to ensure that it is worthy of both its name and the task of taking over the small car mantle that started with the Alfasud and continued with the 147 ..... more Mini Countryman due in February 17th January, 2011 Mini Australia has announced pricing for the long-awaited Mini Countryman, set to arrive in Australia in late February. Mini Australia also confirmed the inclusion of a 1.6 litre turbo-diesel engine variant in the Countryman line-up, the Mini Cooper D Countryman, to be available from March production. Mini Countryman pricing (MLP*) will start at $37,700* ..... more New Mercedes-Benz SLK Roadster here in Q3 17th January, 2011 With the newly developed SLK, one of the most exciting and successful sports cars ever built is entering its third generation. The new roadster uncompromisingly takes driving pleasure and open-air enjoyment to a new level. It blends light-footed sportiness with stylish comfort, a striking sports-car design with total suitability for everyday use, top performance with exemplary ecology. What’s more, the SLK presents the world premiere of the panoramic vario-roof with MAGIC SKY CONTROL, which switches to light or dark at the touch of a button ..... more Mitsubishi "Global Small": more details 18th January, 2011 Mitsubishi will give the global premiere of the Mitsubishi Concept Global Small, a concept car based on the features of "compact", "affordability", and "high fuel efficiency" at the 81st Geneva Motor Show ..... more Audi A6 Hybrid 19th January, 2011 Audi used the 2011 Detroit Motor Show to reveal the all-new A6 hybrid, which will be released in Europe this year ..... more Mazda Minagi Concept 19th January, 2011 Mazda's new Minagi compact cross-over SUV concept car will debut at the 2011 Geneva Motor Show. A production version, based on the concept, is likely to arrive here next year ..... more New Saab 9-5 SportCombi 20th January, 2011 It shares the sedan’s bold, Aero X-inspired looks and features an extended, falling roof-line which culminates in a steeply raked rear screen flanked by signature Saab ‘wraparound’ window glazing ..... more Chevrolet Camaro Indy 500 Pace Car 21st January, 2011 The new Camaro Convertible is the 22nd Chevrolet chosen to pace the world famous motor racing event and the seventh Camaro model to have been selected. Adding to the rich heritage is the fact that 2011 will mark the 100th anniversary of the first Indianapolis 500 ..... more Kia Optima ready for local release 21st January, 2011 The new generation Kia Optima (formerly known as the Magentis in Australia) made its world premiere at the New York Motor Show in April 2010 and now it's about to arrive in local Kia dealerships. It is a completely new design of Kia's mid-size sedan ..... more Ferrari FF to appear soon 23rd January, 2011 Powerful, fast, exclusive, four-wheel drive, four-seater, expensive and an Italian designed body are suitable expressions to describe the Jensen FF which first appeared in 1966. The same terms are also suitable for the upcoming Ferrari FF, which unwittingly revives a famous old British nameplate. The new Ferrari FF is the company’s most powerful, versatile four-seater ever, as well as its first ever four-wheel drive car ..... more Ford succeed where legislators fail 23th January, 2011 With it being obvious that legislators and the entertainment industry failing to recognise any level of decency, Ford Motor Company is preparing to debut a new version of its breakthrough MyKey® technology that – for the first time – will allow parents to block explicit satellite radio content in the vehicle ..... more Jeep Compass for 2011 23rd January, 2011 Delivering the packaging and interior flexibility of an SUV with the performance, handling, fuel economy and price of a compact car, the new 2011 Jeep Compass also boasts more than 30 safety and security features, including standard side-curtain air bags, electronic stability programme (ESC), electronic roll mitigation, Hill-start Assist (with manual transmission), side curtain air bags for all rows and available front-seat-mounted side air bags ..... more Toyota Prius range expansion 23rd January, 2011 With the proposed expansion of the Prius line-up to four variants, the evolution of Prius may improve the acceptance of hybrids ..... more Daewoo badge goes in favour of Chevrolet 23rd January, 2011 Although the Chevrolet brand has no meaningful presence in Korea, GM Daewoo have announced that it is replacing the current "Daewoo" nameplate with "Chevrolet" ..... more Mahindra now available in SA 24th January, 2011 The Mahindra Pik-Up utility vehicle will make its debut in South Australia this month as Mahindra announces an addition to its national dealer network. Morphett Vale Mahindra will be the first stand alone Mahindra dealership to join the 25 strong network across NSW, Vic, Qld and WA. An additional stand alone metro dealership in Parramatta will also be announced shortly ..... more Aston Martin Cygnet Launch Editions; White and Black 24th January, 2011 To celebrate the commencement of production, the new Aston Martin Cygnet will be available in two special launch edition models, each exemplifying the highly bespoke nature of this unique car. The two Cygnet Launch Edition models; White and Black ..... more Renault Offers Free 3 Year Scheduled Servicing For Koleos 24th January, 2011 Renault Australia is offering new customers of the affordable and attractive Koleos Compact SUV free scheduled servicing for up to 3 years ..... more Fiat Freemont is a new journey 24th January, 2011 The Freemont built on the base of the Dodge Journey, is the first Fiat vehicle to come out of the partnership with the Chrysler Group. It will be produced in the Mexican plant of Toluca ..... more Kia Picanto: more details 24th January, 2011 Making its global premiere at the Geneva Motor Show in March, new Picanto has been redesigned and re-engineered with stand-out styling that conveys a sense of solidity and maturity. Longer than the previous model, and with an extended wheelbase, new Picanto promises more passenger comfort and 27 per cent increased cargo space ..... more Who owns Chrysler Group? 25th January, 2011 Chrysler Group announced earlier this month that Fiat's ownership interest in the Company has increased from 20 per cent to 25 per cent upon the Company’s achievement of the first of three performance-related 'milestones' ..... more Subaru Trezia for Europe 25th January, 2011 The Subaru Trezia, being a product of badge engineering, in conjunction with Toyota, won't be coming to Australia ..... more Updated Mazda 2 about to arrive 25th January, 2011 An updated version of the Mazda 2 with refreshed trim and all-new colours will arrive in Australian showrooms next week ..... more The Niva continues in Russia 25th January, 2011 The 350,000th Chevrolet Niva vehicle rolled off GM-AVTOVAZ assembly line in Russia earlier this month ..... more BMW 5-Series Touring released 25th January, 2011 Combining the comfort, versatility and practicality of a station wagon with the driving dynamics, performance and efficiency of BMW's 5 Series Sedan, the new BMW 5 Series Touring offers an intelligent alternative for versatile, luxurious transportation ..... more Fifty years of Jaguar E-Type 25th January, 2011 The now iconic Jaguar E-Type set new standards in automotive design and performance when it was launched in 1961. Its influence is still apparent in Jaguar’s modern range: cars that offer a peerless blend of performance, comfort, cutting-edge technology and award-winning design ..... more New Lamborghini for Geneva Motor Show 26th January, 2011 The new Lamborghini V12 super sports car which will debut at the upcoming Geneva Motor Show (opens 3rd March to general public) will feature an innovative and highly sophisticated suspension concept ..... more Porsche 911 Black Edition 26th January, 2011 The Porsche 911 Black Edition is limited to 1,911 units and costs just as much as the Carrera basic models. The European market launch gets underway in April 2011 ..... more Volkswagen's hybrid concept for 0.9 litres/100 km 26th January, 2011 The new Volkswagen XL1 concept attains a CO2 emissions value of just 24 g/km, thanks to a combination of lightweight construction (monocoque and add-on parts made of carbon fibre), very low aerodynamic drag (Cd 0.186) and a plug-in hybrid system ..... more Alfa Romeo Spider coming to the end of the line 26th January, 2011 While the new Alfa Romeo Spider 1750 TBi is offering a new drivetrain with sting, Alfa Romeo is ensuring that the final Spider in this guise does not deliver a sting in the wallet. At a MLP*, of $69,990* the new Spider 1750 TBi, despite its performance, fuel economy and emissions benefits, costs the same as the car it replaces ..... more Aston Martin V8 Vantage S 26th January, 2011 The Aston Martin Vantage range comes of age with the new V8 Vantage S characterised by a host of new driver-focussed features all designed to push the honed dynamics of the standard Vantage to a new benchmark level ..... more Good news for tax payers 28th January, 2011 The Prime Minister, Julia Gillard, has announced several aspects of the Commonwealth government's budget have been scrapped or amended to enable the reallocation of expenditure to assist storm damaged Australia. Some of the changes relate to expenditure that unnecessarily benefited the car industry ..... more Volvo V60 Plug-in Hybrid 28th January, 2011 Volvo Cars will unveil its V60 Plug-in Hybrid at Switzerland's 2011 Geneva Motor Show - a virtually production-ready car with carbon dioxide emissions below 50 g/km ..... more Lamborghini Gallardo LP 560-4 Bicolore 30th January, 2011 Automobili Lamborghini is presenting at the 2011 Qatar Motor Show (this week-end) an appealing vehicle making its world premiere: the Gallardo LP 560-4 Bicolore, a Special Edition super sports car which will be produced for the European and Asian-Pacific markets ..... more Volkswagen Touareg Special Editions 30th January, 2011 Show car number 1 is a slightly tamer version of the Touareg 3 that started in the Dakar Rally; this VW could very well be the world’s most talented street-legal SUV. Show car number 2 is the Touareg Gold Edition - many of its parts have been upgraded with 24-carat gold ..... more 125 years of Mercedes-Benz 30th January, 2011 Yesterday marked 125 years of automotive history, as it was on 29th January 1886 that Carl Benz received the patent for the first motor car, heralding the arrival of the automobile ..... more Lexus shows two modified IS Fs 30th January, 2011 One of Japan's largest custom car show recently revealed the sporting side of Lexus with two tuned and modified IS Fs* on display at the Tokyo Auto Salon ..... more Alfa Romeo Brera coming to the end of the road 31st January, 2011 For its final months in the market place, the Alfa Romeo Brera will be available in limited numbers with the all new Alfa Romeo 1750 TBi engine, and despite the better performance, economy and emissions offered by the engine, the Alfa Romeo Brera 1750 TBi costs the same as the car it replaces at $64,990* ..... more Top of page Hear Chris Goodsell Talk Motoring On Radio & Internet ..... more February 2011 News ..... here December 2010 News ..... here November 2010 News ..... here About | Car Clubs | Home | News | Road Ramblings | Road Tests | Subscribe | Top Drive ©   2011   All rights reserved.   Next Car Pty. 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