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Herald Sun
4 days ago
- Automotive
- Herald Sun
Behind the scenes in Kia's Tasman Town
Don't miss out on the headlines from Motoring News. Followed categories will be added to My News. How many sports stars does it take to convince Australians that Kia can make a good, off-road, dual cab ute? The South Korean car manufacturer – better known for their sensible SUVs – clearly thinks the answer is a lot. Last week, for the launch of its first-ever ute, the Tasman, Kia shipped Alex Volkanovski, Lance Franklin, David Boonie, Damien Oliver, Alfie Langer, Steve Waugh, Dane Swan, Nathan Hindmarsh and Darren Lockyer to a small country town in the Central West of New South Wales. MORE: Kia's Tasman tested in pre-production form Retired Broncos star Darren Lockyer with a horse in Tasman Town. Picture: Supplied A truly impressive bevy of athletes. Some of the biggest names in Australian sport. And they were all brought together to participate in what might best be described as a night of improvisational theatre. No, really. For the launch, Kia took over Sofala, a historic gold rush town with a population of around 100 people, and transformed it into 'Tasman Town', the imaginary destination featured in their ads. I was one of a few dozen motoring writers and media types who were invited along for the event. MORE: Drivers fed up by dangerous driving Kia transformed Sofala, NSW, into Tasman Town. Picture: Supplied On arrival, we were greeted as though we were newcomers to the area, interested in buying a local property. To help us get acquainted with the town, an actor, playing the local mayor, gave us a tour of the main street. Along the way, we were introduced to a few of the 'residents'. These were, of course, the athletes who were in character as … well … themselves. But versions of themselves who drove Kias, worked trades, and lived in a fake town. Frankly, I call this non-consensual improvisation. MORE: Driving Subaru's Forester hybrid Kia transformed a pub into the Tasman Hotel. Picture: Supplied Usually, I would gnaw off my own hand to avoid it. Kia, perhaps being one step ahead of dissidents like myself, were mercifully quick to distribute beer and wine to prevent any such drastic actions. Certainly, some athletes were more comfortable in their acting roles than others. UFC Featherweight Champion Alex Volkanovski – pretending to a butcher – was a standout performer. I suppose if your actual job is beating men into a pulp with your knuckles, all other gigs are comparatively easy. MORE: Australia's favourite cars Kia transformed Sofala, NSW, into Tasman Town. Picture: Supplied A few actual Sofala residents were also involved in the show. They had the important job of walking ponies and goats up and down the street. You know, just like any ordinary country town. The rest of the locals had gathered at the pub, schooners in hand, to watch the palaver unfold. Their faces were inscrutable as the media pack shuffled past. Once the mandatory theatre component of the evening had concluded, guests and the sporting icons were free to mingle. MORE: Jet pilot tech changing Aussie cars Former cricketer Steve Waugh in Kia's Tasman Town. Picture: Supplied This, I realise, would be a dream event for many Australians. Unfortunately, as someone with terrible facial memory and a dearth of knowledge on any non car-related sport, I was in a personally-tailored horror story. Every conversation was socially fraught. Did this person look familiar because I've met them at a car launch? Or are they an Australian sporting legend whom I should absolutely know? There were a million ways for a person like me to socially embarrass themselves. Inevitably, it wasn't long before I found one. MORE: Huge ask for Australia's most valuable car Retired NRL star Nathan Hindmarsh in Kia's Tasman Town. Picture: Supplied During the evening's formal dinner, the person assigned to the place next to me sat down, shook my hand and asked, 'Who are you?'. This was an aggressive start to a conversation, I thought. I fired back, 'I'm Stephanie, who are you?' To which he replied, very politely, that he was Nathan Hindmarsh, one of the footy players. Also, he clarified, he'd asked me how are you, not who are you. Hindmarsh then proceeded to further shame me by being thoroughly funny and charming for the rest of the evening. The Tasman launch was an extravaganza, but I was obviously not the target audience. Stephanie Coombes with the Kia Tasman. Picture: Supplied The fact that no female sporting stars were present – even though they featured in some of the ads – is further evidence of this fact. If Kia has a vision board for the Tasman, dead centre is a caricature of an Aussie tradesman. Their method for appealing to these men – getting high-profile sporting heroes to pretend to be tradies – is borderline patronising. But Kia is not in a position to take any serious creative risks. They need the Tasman to work in Australia. This is no small task. Kia is entering a very established, highly-competitive dual cab ute market late in the day, and with a car that is being thoroughly panned online for its boxy, brutalist design. Kia has decided to align itself with winners. Only time will tell whether that sporting glory will rub off on the Tasman, a ute that's joining the race well behind the starting line. Originally published as Behind the scenes in Kia's Tasman Town
Daily Telegraph
7 days ago
- Automotive
- Daily Telegraph
Audi launches most powerful car ever with F1-matching acceleration
Don't miss out on the headlines from Motoring News. Followed categories will be added to My News. Do you want to experience what it's like to launch off the Formula 1 grid, feel the sensation of speed and power as the landscape turns into a blur? Well, you have two choices – the first is to become one of the 20 best racing drivers in the world, which takes decades of hard work and millions of dollars. The second option is to buy the new Audi RS e-tron GT Performance. MORE: Huge price for Australia's most valuable car 2026 Audi e-tron GT RS Performance. Picture: Supplied This is the new flagship performance vehicle of the German brand's line-up, arriving, quite fittingly, as Audi prepares to enter F1 in 2026 for the first time. But while the new Audi F1 car will be powered by a hybrid powertrain that will combine petrol and electric power, the new RS e-tron Performance is all-electric. But don't let that fool you, this is the most powerful production car ever Audi has ever offered in its long history of powerful performance cars. The new hero model of the three-pronged e-tron GT range makes a staggering 680kW of power and 1027Nm of torque in launch mode. MORE: US giant's bold move for Australia 2026 Audi e-tron GT RS Performance. Picture: Supplied What does that actually mean, for those who don't speak the language of car nerds? Well, that's enough power and torque for the RS e-tron GT Performance to launch 0-100km/h in just 2.5 seconds, which is about the same time it takes an F1 car to do so. Which does help to put its $309,900 (plus on-road costs) price tag into perspective. MORE: Huge change coming to Aussie roads 2026 Audi e-tron GT RS Performance. Picture: Supplied There is a more affordable RS e-tron GT for $264,900 with a slightly more modest 630kW/865Nm, or the $209,900 'entry-level' S e-tron GT with its 500kW/717Nm. But for those who want the best, then the new 'Performance' version is the only choice. Audi has pulled out all the stops for this latest model, even raiding the Lamborghini catalogue for parts. Specifically a new trim Audi calls 'matt carbon camouflage' but was developed for the Italian supercar brand as 'forged carbon'. It's available as part of a $10,000 optional styling package that gives the RS e-tron GT Performance a raft of parts made from the unique material, to really make the hero model stand out. 2026 Audi e-tron GT RS Performance. Picture: Supplied But it's not what you see that makes this car so special, it's the parts below the surface. As impressive as its acceleration is, it's what's underneath the surface that makes it so great to drive. Audi has loaded the e-tron GT with the full array of chassis, suspension, steering and braking technology it has in its arsenal. That means active suspension, all-wheel steering, carbide-coated brakes (with optional ceramic brakes). 2026 Audi e-tron GT RS Performance. Picture: Supplied Active suspension is a technology with its roots in F1, back in the late 1980s and early '90s F1 teams worked out how to program their cars to adjust its suspension specifically to each corner, allowing them to corner flatter and faster. Obviously that's easier on a racetrack where you know which corners are coming up, but it's a lot more complex for the road. That's why the Audi system uses an array of cameras, radars and sensors to 'read' the road ahead of it and adjust the suspension in a fraction of a second to make for a more comfortable ride. But the truth is, you don't need to understand how it works, just that it does. The RS e-tron GT is one of the most comfortable performance electric cars this reviewer has ever experienced, and crucially it doesn't come at the expense of sharp, responsive handling. Thanks to the all-wheel steering (that allows the rear wheels to turn the same direction as the front wheels above 80km/h) the e-tron GT changes direction with the precision you'd expect from an F1 car too. 2026 Audi e-tron GT RS Performance. Picture: Supplied Where the Audi is very much different from an F1 car is inside, where the e-tron GT can take not only the driver but also four passengers as well. And does so in comfort and style, with Audi once again producing a class-leading cabin with a blend of technology and tradition. Which sums up the RS e-tron GT Performance quite well overall – a combination of Audi's traditional values and its latest and greatest electric technology. Originally published as 2025 Audi e-tron RS GT review
Courier-Mail
21-07-2025
- Automotive
- Courier-Mail
EV sales plunge forces Porsche, Fiat to slash prices across Australia
Don't miss out on the headlines from Motoring News. Followed categories will be added to My News. Car companies have slashed thousands of dollars from the prices of electric vehicles, with widespread discounts as buyers hit the brakes on electric vehicle sales. Electric vehicle sales in Australia are down 6 per cent compared to 2024 in the first six months of this year – and that's despite more EV options being available to customers than ever before. And we aren't just talking about the cutthroat Chinese brands reducing costs to compete – there are some surprising discounts to be had. MORE: AI system outrages drivers Porsche's Macan phases out petrol power in a bold EV move. Picture: Supplied The Porsche Macan is the most surprising offer on the table. Industry veteran Paul Gover posted on LinkedIn: 'Through all my many years in motoring I had never seen a discount on anything new from Porsche Cars Australia. Until today. 'Do Macan owners and shoppers want a Macan EV? The sales results say 'not yet' and dealers have been sounding the alarm bells for more than 18 months. Some even ordered a full year's supply of the combustion Macan before the final cut-off for production in Germany.' The German sports car specialist rarely offers deals. MORE: The best cars of the 21st century X SUBSCRIBER ONLY But Macan EV shoppers get a '$5000 Trade-In Bonus' on all cars, plus a 'Deposit Contribution' for the new plug-in Porker ($3000 on the Macan, Macan 4; $4000 on Macan S; $5000 on Macan Turbo). And the brand is further sweetening the deal with a five-year factory warranty and five years roadside assistance at no cost. Another European brand doing discounts is Fiat. Fiat's 500e Abarth Scorpionissima. Photo: Supplied The pint-sized Fiat 500e is now being offered at a more fitting price of $38,990 drive-away – some $16,000 off the existing price ($52,500 plus on-roads). And the hotter pop-and-crackle Abarth 500e is now $43,990 drive-away, about $18,000 less than the original price with on-roads included. What is the best car of the 21st century? Toyota LandCruiser Ford Mustang Holden Commodore VW Golf Porsche 911 Toyota HiLux MG3 Tesla Model Y Toyota RAV4 Bugatti Veyron Cast your vote Fiat – part of the Stellantis Group – isn't the only marque in the stable to be chopping it up. Jeep is still doing $40,000 drive-away deals on the Avenger electric small SUV, which is the country's cheapest vehicle of its type. And there are even better prices on in-stock models with low kilometres, as low as $34,990 drive-away for a car with 2000km on the clock. MORE: Why tradies are wrong about utes 2024 Chery Omoda E5. Photo: Supplied There are also budget bargains to be had from China, too, with the outgoing Chery Omoda E5 being offered with up to $6000 off retail. The 430km-EV-range small SUV starts at $40,300 drive-away, and includes a free home charger – and it's one of the only EVs on the market with a full-size spare wheel. X SUBSCRIBER ONLY Cox Automotive analyst Mike Costello says the raging retail offers point to potentially bigger concerns in the industry. 'Discounts or incentives tell us there are still challenges to overcome in terms of increasing consumer demand, although there are plenty of signs that consumers will consider an EV if the price and performance is right for them. 'Over the next few years carmakers are expected to increase the number of EVs they offer to meet government efficiency targets, so there's every change that great deals will become a common sight,' he said. And while it isn't a full EV, Mercedes-Benz has even repositioned the mild-hybrid C43 AMG sedan to be almost $20,000 cheaper than before, too. Originally published as EV sales plunge forces Porsche, Fiat to slash prices across Australia
Courier-Mail
15-07-2025
- Automotive
- Courier-Mail
Polestar exec calls for change to ute tax
Don't miss out on the headlines from Motoring News. Followed categories will be added to My News. The boss of one of Australia's greenest car companies has called for an end to tax breaks for utes that have become the nation's best-selling cars. Scott Maynard, managing director of Polestar in Australia, says lucrative tax concessions for high-riding utes have gone too far, resulting in taxpayers subsidising cars that are harmful to the environment. MORE: Luxury van delivers – at a cost Toyota HiLux, Mitsubishi Triton and Ford Ranger utes. Photo: Mark Bean Large four-wheel-drive utes can be exempt from luxury car tax and fringe benefits tax that apply to other vehicles. Maynard says the fringe benefits tax concession 'continues to disproportionately serve the sale of dual cab utes and not what I would consider to be a far more progressive style of transportation, which is electric vehicles'. 'Consider that three of the top five selling cars in Australia for the entire first half [of the year] were dual cab utes and their variants,' he said. 'We've now got more than one and a half times the dual cab ute to tradie ratio, which doesn't make sense. Scott Maynard, Managing director of Polestar Australia. 'If you consider some of the positioning of some of those particular vehicles, which are clearly no longer tools of trade, I don't think it's a difficult jump to make to put that on the fact that they've enjoyed tax let off since 2000. 'Wouldn't it great to see benefits like that afforded to vehicles that are now cheaper to own um easier to live with and better for the environment?' Rod Campbell, research director at The Australia Institute, made headlines in 2024 when pointing out the 'considerable costs on society' of subsidising large utes such as the RAM 1500 and Ford F-150. MORE: Jet pilot tech to change Aussie cars 2025 Ram 1500. Picture: Supplied The Australian public is subsidising big, dumb utes by hundreds of millions of dollars each year,' he said. 'These vehicles are damaging roads, reducing safety and increasing emissions, yet they are given a massive tax break. 'Removing the luxury car tax exemption will not affect most ute drivers, particularly tradies. 'Instead it targets those buying large luxury vehicles, worth sometimes hundreds of thousands of dollars, for personal use. X Learn More SUBSCRIBER ONLY 'Economics 101 says that governments should tax things they want less of, and subsidise things they want more of, and it is stunning that the Australian Government seems to want more big, dumb utes.' Maynard's views differ from peers at the top of the car industry. Polestar has effectively split from the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries, a collective that lobbies on behalf of member companies such as Toyota, Ford and Mitsubishi – brands that rely heavily on the sales of utes such as the HiLux, Ranger and Triton. But Polestar doesn't have a ute. MORE: Polestar 4 a window into the future 2025 Polestar 3 Long Range Single Motor electric car. Picture: Supplied It doesn't have any cars that require petrol or diesel fuel – every Polestar sold in Australia is a pure electric vehicle. Maynard said the brand's all-in stance on electric vehicles 'does open a window for us' as rival brands water down their commitment to EVs. The brand has recorded an uptick in interest from customers who were considering plug-in electric vehicles before a tax break expired on April 1, pushing them toward EVs. 'Anecdotally, I feel like I'm talking to more and more customers that say now that's done,' he said. 'At a function last night, I spoke to three people at a table that said, 'you know, we were squaring up for a PHEV [but] we will probably just go full electric now'. 'And I know that there was a lot of people that were trying to get their PHEV deals secured before that FBT incentive [expired].' Originally published as Polestar exec calls for change to ute tax
Courier-Mail
13-07-2025
- Automotive
- Courier-Mail
What is the best car of the 21st century?
Don't miss out on the headlines from Motoring News. Followed categories will be added to My News. Aussies are passionate about cars. Drawing up a list of the most significant models from the past 25 years isn't an easy task – though limiting it to cars made after 2000 helps streamline things, as you can forget about classics such as the original Mini, VW Beetle, or Ford Model T. My list of the top 10 cars from the last 25 years represents an odd bunch. To celebrate the launch of the new app, we're celebrating the people, places and events we'll never forget from the first quarter of the 21st century by asking for Australia's view. Our 25@25 series will finally put to bed the debates you've been having at the pub and around dinner tables for years – and some that are just too much fun not to include. There are pioneers of electrification and the growth of Chinese cars, best-sellers, Aussie icons and cars that led the way for technology. What is the best car of the 21st century? Toyota LandCruiser Ford Mustang Holden Commodore VW Golf Porsche 911 Toyota HiLux MG3 Tesla Model Y Toyota RAV4 Bugatti Veyron Cast your vote Tesla Model Y You can't talk about the most significant cars of the last quarter century without talking about Tesla. It's easy to make a case for most of its models, but I'm going with the Tesla Model Y. The Tesla Model Y set sales benchmarks for electric cars. Photo: Mark Bean. This wasn't just the world's best-selling EV for the last couple of years, it was the world's number one selling car. Period. The Model Y made electric vehicles an everyday reality for thousands of Aussies. It's an important machine. Toyota HiLux The Toyota HiLux was the first ute to top our sales charts. Photo by Thomas Wielecki. Utes are part of Australia's motoring identity. The Toyota HiLux is an important one – it was the first ute to top the national sales charts, overtaking sedans and hatchbacks to sit atop the list – until it was overtaken by another ute, the Ford Ranger. Ford Mustang Ford's Mustang GT is the nation's favourite sports car. Photo: Thomas Wielecki Aussies love fast cars, and we love a V8. It's no wonder the Ford Mustang is the country's favourite sports car. While it's sad that you can't buy a V8 powered Commodore or Falcon any more, the Mustang is here to fly the flag for red blooded performance cars. And Ford promises that it will keep doing that, at Bathurst and beyond, for years to come. Bugatti Veyron The Bugatti Veyron redefined what cars are capable of. If you love fast cars, they don't get much faster than this. The Bugatti Veyron shattered speed records by streaking past 400kmh way back in 2005. It set a new benchmark for what cars are capable of – and helped introduce tech such as dual clutch transmissions found in many cars today. VW Golf VW's Golf GTI is a favourite for many Aussie drivers. There's a little bit of Bugatti in modern VW Golfs, with turbocharged engines and DSG gearboxes that can be found in every suburb. The Volkswagen Golf GTI and R have really resonated with Aussie car enthusiasts. They're damn good vehicles. Porsche 911 Porsche's 911 is the definitive performance car. If you want the best sports car in the world, your search can start and stop with Porsche. The Porsche 911 has an amazing record on road and track. It caters to traditional car lovers with free breathing engines and manual transmissions – or fans of hybrid power, turbocharging and technical toys. X Learn More SUBSCRIBER ONLY Holden Commodore Late-model Holden Commodores were the best cars Australia produced. Back in the real world, if we look at the earliest part of the millennium, the Holden Commodore was king. From Bathurst to the Boulevard, the Commodore ruled the streets and sales charts. The last of them, such as the SSV Redline and HSV's GTSR W1, were truly special. Toyota LandCruiser Toyota's LandCruiser is an icon in the bush and beyond. The Toyota LandCruiser might be the only car that can claim to be more iconic – to Australians – than the Commodore. From the basic 70 Series Ute to fully loaded wagons, such as the modern classic 200 series, the LandCruiser is a firm favourite on Australian roads. MG3 The MG3 hatchback kept cars affordable. OK this one might be a touch controversial, but hear me out. Chinese cars are redefining Australian roads. Many are more affordable than more famous rivals. And in the case of the MG3, this is a car playing in a space abandoned by key rivals. The old MG3 cost $16k when a Toyota Yaris was double that. When Ford, Honda, Renault and Hyundai gave up on cheap cars, MG was there for buyers on a budget. That's why they sold thousands. Toyota RAV4 Toyota's RAV4 Hybrid is the world's best-selling car. Photo: Thomas Wielecki. If we're talking about popularity, you have to talk about the Toyota RAV4. It's Australia's most popular car today. It's the world's most popular car today. It has pushed the case of hybrid cars well into the future, and been a staple for Aussie business and families for years. Not just a petrol head? Take the rest of our 25@25 polls Originally published as What is the best car of the 21st century?
