Motoring

EVS BURN BRIGHT WITH HIGHEST EVER SALES

By CHRIS RILEY

Car sales have bounced back strongly with the best fgures in fve years.

Better still electric vehicles or EVs fnished the month of August with the greatest market share ever recorded.

In August sales of EVs represented 4.4 per cent of the market as a whole, with sales of Tesla vehicles accounting for 3397 units alone.

In fact, the Tesla Model 3 SUV is now the fourth largest selling vehicle in Australia, with 2380 sales last month, putting it ahead of the Toyota Land Cruiser.

Figures show a total of 95,256 new vehicles were sold in August bringing the total for the year-to-date to 717,575 -- 2.1 per cent less than for the same period in 2021.

Sales of EVs are up 368 per cent so far this year, while sales of traditional petrolpowered vehicles are down 9.7 per cent.

Breaking down the fgures, sales of electric cars have jumped a massive 761 per cent, SUVs 156 per cent and light commercials (utes and vans) 3 per cent.

At the same time petrol cars dropped 9.2 percent and petrol SUVs are down 6.4 per cent, utes and vans are actually up 19.6 per cent.

Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI) Chief Exec Tony Weber said the result was encouraging amid the global economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The August VFacts sales are the best August result since 2017,” he said.

“This gives hope that the supply of vehicles to the Australian market is beginning to show signs of improvement.”

Mr Weber noted the increase in electric vehicle sales throughout August. “We have seen strong sales of battery electric vehicles in August,” he said.

“Year-to-date EV sales are 2 per cent of the total market, hybrids are 7.6 per cent and plug in hybrid vehicles are 0.6 per cent.

“Combined electrifed vehicles are now just over 10 per cent of total sales in 2022.” Toyota led the market with a total of 20,616 vehicles sold. Mazda was next with 8824 followed by Kia (6780), Hyundai (6643) and Mitsubishi (6380).

The Toyota HiLux was the highest selling model with 6214 sales reported. The Ford Ranger followed with 4497. Toyota’s RAV4 was next with 2482 followed by Tesla’s Model 3 (2380) and Toyota’s Land Cruiser (2379).

Look out for the end of the Federal Government’s fuel excise relief on September 29 when excise returns from 22 to 44 cents a litre.

It’s likely to have an adverse effect on car sales.

The Genesis GV70 is the brand’s third EV to launch this year ELECTRIFIED GENESIS GV70

By EWAN KENNEDY

The all-electric Genesis GV70 is about to go on sale in Australia. It has a twin-motor AWD system that delivers a peak output of 360kW (with Boost Mode) and an instantaneous 700Nm of torque, giving it the zero to 100km/h acceleration in just 4.2 seconds.

A 77.4kWh power battery offers 445km (WLTP) of touring range and can charge from 10 to 80 percent in as little as 18 minutes when plugged into a 350kW DC fast charger.

The Electrifed GV70 builds on its conventionally powered counterpart’s progressive style and spacious interior to bring new appeal, with its all-electric performance and an array of EV-exclusive technologies.

Genesis GV70 will be offered in one highly equipped ‘Luxury Package’ trim grade, in alignment with the Genesis brand’s promise to provide vehicles that want for nothing.

The Genesis Motor’s vision for electrifcation will give rise to three new EVs this year, with GV60, Electrifed G80 and Electrifed GV70 all set to launch locally in September.

Connal Yan, Head of Genesis Motors Australia, said that alternative powertrains are at the core of the Genesis product development strategy, with the goal of offering eco-friendly mobility solutions in every segment of the portfolio.

“We are immensely excited to introduce three new all-electric models this year, as the frst realisation of our vision of creating a sustainable mobility future with electrifcation front and centre,” Mr. Yan said.

“The arrival of the progressive Electrifed GV70, along with the dedicated electric GV60 and Electrifed G80, will represent an audacious stride into that future,” he said.

SMALLER MASERATI SUV TO TAKE ON PORSCHE

Maserati’s answer to the Porsche Macan, called Grecale, will arrive early next year in Australia. Grecale shares a platform with the Alfa Romeo Stelvio and ffth generation Jeep Grand Cherokee. The compact luxury SUV takes its name from the cool Mediterranean wind, Gregale.

Joining the larger Levante, launched here in 2016, it will be offered with options of hybrid, full electric and petrol drivetrains. Of the 351 Maseratis sold so far this year in Australia, 259 of them have been Levantes.

The second most popular model in the lineup is the Ghibli sedan with 70 sales. Quattroporte and the Coupe convertible make up the remainder.

Opening the Grecale range is the GT, with a turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine and 48 Volt mild hybrid system that produces 221kW of power and 450Nm of torque.

This is followed by the Modena which features an identical powertrain but delivers 242kW and 450Nm. Top of the range Trofeo features the Maserati-built Nettuno V6 with an impressive 390kW and 620Nm.

A fully electric version Folgore is also promised, but is unlikely to make it to Australia.

Even the entry level Grecale GT is able to get from zero to 100km/h in a rapid 5.6 seconds. The Trofeo does it in just 3.8 seconds.

Pricing and specifcation are close to being fnalised and due to be released in the coming weeks. “The all-new Maserati Grecale will represent the start of a signifcant roll-out of new product,” Maserati’s Grant Barling said. “The ‘Unique by Design’ ethos is found in every Grecale and guarantees a timeless aesthetic unique to the Trident marque.

“Whether it be Grecale GT, Modena or Trofeo, each will be highly specifed as standard, with signifcant opportunities for Maserati customers to personalise and bespoke their vehicles to their own individual style.”

Barling predicts Grecale will quickly becoming a best seller for Maserati here in Australia and New Zealand.

Maserati Grecale GT Maserati Grecale Trofeo

New Macan harks back to the instantly-recognisable Porsche 911 in its shape 2022 PORSCHE MACAN

By EWAN KENNEDY

Porsche Macan received a pretty thorough update late in 2021 for the 2022 season. A considerable number of changes were made, this isn’t simply a mild revamp of the car initially released in 2015. It’s virtually all-new in some areas both inside and out.

More details about this in the various sections of this road test that follows this intro.

STYLING

Porsche stylists have worked hard to give their Macan a generic look that harks back to the instantly recognisable Porsche 911. Its nose slopes down nicely, though the radiator grille is a giveaway. The headlights are obviously ultra-modern LED units and make no bones about that as the elements are clear to see.

The tail is obviously not given any reference to the shape of the 911. It’s got a nicely squaredoff look that gives it a sporty style while at the same time providing good luggage space.

The side windows carry all the way through at the same level in the lower area as the designers have been smart enough to not go for any upward swooping lines which spoil the view out for shorter rear seat occupants - that is the kids.

INTERIOR

The cabin is fne for most people, but those in the rear may fnd themselves a bit cramped as there’s not enough legroom if the person in front of them is tall. Obviously the two people in left seats can decide to how to share the seat.

But the person behind the driver may not have enough legroom. This is the sort of thing that has to be discussed by all likely occupants of the of the rear compartment before deciding which car to buy.

Boot space is 488 litres and a pretty impressive 1503 litres when the second-row seats are folded down. The rear seats are set up 40/20/40 so there’s a variety of ways they can be confgured.

The boot is very usable with an almost fat foor.

INFOTAINMENT

The Macan has a 10.9-inch infotainment system with wireless and wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, as well as digital radio broadcasting.

Our test car had the optional Bose 14-speaker surround-sound system. Quality of sound is excellent and we enjoyed it for the way it reproduced our favourite songs.

ENGINES / TRANSMISSIONS

There’s excellent news here. The 2022 Macan is powered by a new-design 2.0-litre turbocharged fourcylinder petrol engine with 195 kW of power and up to 400 Nm of torque, the latter spread across a wide range of the rev band that makes it feel strong virtually all the time.

Power is sent through a seven-speed dual-clutch PDK automatic to all four wheels. There is a bias toward the rear wheels for everyday driving. More about that in the Driving section of this road test review.

ENGINES / TRANSMISSIONS

The 2022 Macan we tested is powered by a new-design 2.0-litre turbocharged fourcylinder petrol engine with 195kW of power and up to 400Nm of torque. The latter spread across a wide range of the rev band that makes it feel strong virtually all the time.

Power is sent through a seven-speed dual-clutch PDK automatic to all

four wheels. There is a bias toward the rear wheels for everyday driving. More about that in the Driving section of this road test review.

As well as the fourcylinder engine we tested there are also the Porsche Macan S and GTS. With a twin-turbo petrol V6 engine with the S having 280kW and 520Nm and the GTS 324kW and 550Nm.

SAFETY

Primary safety – that is, the ability to not have a crash – is excellent. Thanks to the fact this machine has been designed for ‘ordinary’ road users, not just those who love to have a sports machine.

DRIVING

I was comfortable in the driver’s seat, with just the right amount of shaping of the base and rear of the seat to support me when peddling hard around bends. There are multiple adjustments to set it up to your personal preference and you would have to be very fastidious to not fnd something to suit your personal desires.

The view of the instruments is excellent as this is obviously a machine meant to be driven in a sporting manner. There’s a large central tachometer with a small digital speed readout in its centre. There’s a conventional speedometer on the left, and a digital panel on the right.

On the road it’s a delight to drive with plenty of feel through the steering wheel and the ability to corner hard when take it out onto your favourite driving roads. You know the ones I mean, those roads which invite you to get out of bed just on sunrise, ideally on a Sunday when everyone else is having a lie-in and there’s no one about.

RATINGS

Looks: 9/10 Performance: 8/10 Safety: 9/10 Thirst: 8/10 Practicality: 8/10 Comfort: 7/10 Tech: 8/10 Value: 9/10

AT A GLANCE

MODEL RANGE

Macan 2.0: $89,300 Macan 2.0 T: $92,700 Macan 2.9 S: $112,400 Macan 2.9 GTS: $137,300 Note: These prices do not include government or dealer delivery charges. Contact your local Porsche dealer for drive-away prices.

SPECIFICATIONS

(Porsche Macan 2.0-litre turbo-petrol fve-door wagon)

ENGINE:

Capacity: 1.984 litres Confguration: Four cylinders in line Maximum Power: 195 kW @ 5000 rpm Maximum Torque: 400 Nm @ 1800 rpm Fuel Type: Premium unleaded petrol Combined Fuel Cycle (ADR 81/02): 9.5 L/100km CO2 Emissions: 217 g/km

DRIVELINE: Seven-speed dual clutch automatic

DIMENSIONS, WEIGHT AND CAPACITIES:

Length: 4726 mm Wheelbase: 2807 mm Width: 1927 mm Height: 1606 mm Turning Circle: 12.0 metres Kerb Mass: 1798 kg Fuel Tank Capacity: 75 litres

BRAKES:

Front: Ventilated disc Rear: Ventilated disc

STANDARD WARRANTY:

Three years / unlimited kilometres

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Based on the high-performance Hyundai rally car, the i20 N is not short on comfort and convenience ‘N LAYS THE TRACK FROM SPORT TO STREET

In motoring terms, the letter ‘N’ mostly stands for ‘neutral’ (aka going nowhere). But in the case of the Hyundai i20 N, nothing could be farther from the truth. The maker has been spruiking the compact as bringing the DNA of its World Rally champion to the street as a daily driver.

And there is little evidence to seriously doubt this. Powered by a 1.6-litre turbocharged direct injection petrol engine, mated with six-speed manual transmission, maximum power of 150 kW is enough to fre the hot hatch from zero to 100km / h in 6.7 seconds.

Based on the thirdgeneration Turkish-built i20 hatch in Europe, the N version is no stripped out model on steroids. There’s much to admire in comfort and convenience for this class of car.

Pitted against the Ford Fiesta ST, Volkswagen Polo GTI and Suzuki Swift Sport, it serves up an encyclopedic list of performance goodies. And the price of $34,990, plus on-road costs, which recently went up by $2000, is nothing to be sniffed at.

It can be had in fve different colours: Polar White and Performance Blue, at no cost; or Metallic Sleek Silver, Mica Phantom Black and Mica Dragon Red, all $495. A black roof adds $1000.

STYLING

The rally inspired look is designed to match high performance by minimising drag and boosting power. Up front, air duct and splitter look the part, while out back a rather ragged design is topped off by a pared back rally-inspired roof mounted twin-layer spoiler that here looks more of an afterthought. Hopefully, it makes up in aerodynamic effciency.

A black radiator grille, based on a chequered fag, is dominated by the Hyundai badge and (you’ve guessed it) the letter N. LED headlamps on both sides incorporate tick-shaped daytime running lights.

Fog lamps fank a second grille strip low down. Whiz-bang wheel design, featuring red brake callipers peeking out from behind fve Y-spoke 18-inchers, put the fnishing touches to the hot hatch.

INTERIOR

Inside it’s Ns all round, with letter-specifc touches such as N sport leathertrim seats with integrated headrests, leather wrapped N steering wheel and gear knob, plus sporty N alloy

pedals. The iconic red steering wheel-mounted Rev Button chips in with a tempting fnishing touch.

Wheels pushed out to all four corners of the car offer up a spacious cabin, capable of carrying fve grown-ups in relative comfort. Front bucket seats offer ample support in recommended enthusiastic driving, while shoulder and leg room in the back can take all but the bulkiest footy front row at a push.

Storage is king, with spades in versatility. For example, there’s a multilevel boot with a movable foor, incorporating a ftted cargo net, in the upper position. Drop the 60/40 rear backrests and there’s a fat load area.

Taking the foor out unveils a deep cubby in spite of there being a space-saver spare underneath.

INFOTAINMENT Where do I start? The i20 N encompasses a

plethora of computerage automotive menus presented in twin 10.25-inch dashboard digital displays, offering instrument and entertainment info.

In fact, there’s almost too much to take in. Included are worldwide track maps with lap times; personalised throttle response settings, exhaust note and stability control all accessed at the touch of two steering wheelmounted switches.

Also on hand is a red button that calls up rev matching tech for optimised downshifts. The instrument cluster has a range of display functions. On a more relaxing note, the car is ftted with a Bose eight-speaker premium sound system.

ENGINES / TRANSMISSIONS

A 1.6-litre turbo-petrol four-cylinder pumps out 150 kW and 275 Nm, matched with a six-speed manual gearbox and a

mechanical limited-slip differential that drive the front wheels.

SAFETY

Hyundai’s Smart Sense Advanced Drivers’ Assistance System tops up an already comprehensive safety package with such things as Forward Collision Assist City / inter-urban / pedestrian, Intelligent Speed Limit Assist, which warns when the speed limit has been exceeded; Lane Following Assist, which keeps the car centred between lane markings; and Blind Spot Collision Warning, an alert when a vehicle approaches the driver’s blind spot.

Passive safety is in the hands of six airbags.

DRIVING

Fuel (regular unleaded) consumption of 6.9 litres per 100 kilometres is claimed by the maker on the combined urban / highway cycle. On test the lively hatch recorded 10

litres per 100 kilometres and 4.7 litres per 100 kilometres respectively.

An N Power Sense Axle up front and Dual Coupled Torsion Beam Axle at the rear provide stiff ride and handling, which did not miss a bump on the ubiquitous uneven Aussie road surfaces. Trackwork is more to the hot hatch’s liking.

Steering is precise and direct thanks to reduced steering gear ratio over the standard model, while the limited-slip diff, plus 215/40R18 Pirelli P-Zero tyres, developed specifcally for the i20 N, has the car effciently carving through corners.

High performance brakes with bigger front discs resist fading, produce consistent pedal feel and maximise heat endurance.

SUMMARY

Hyundai has put the brake on sending the i20 N Down Under, with the order book full and wait times approaching two years, so the above chance for fun and games would appear academic. Know what I mean? Say no more.

RATINGS

Looks: 7/10 Performance: 8/10 Safety: 7/10 Thirst: 7/10 Practicality: 6/10 Comfort: 7/10 Tech: 8/10 Value: 7/10

AT A GLANCE MODEL LINE-UP

Hyundai i20 N Hatch $32,490 Note: These prices do not include government or dealer delivery charges. Contact your local Hyundai dealer for driveaway prices.

SPECIFICATIONS

(Hyundai i20 N 1.6L T-GDi Turbo 4-cylinder petrol, 6sp manual, FWD)

ENGINE:

Capacity: 1.598 litres Confguration: Four cylinders inline Maximum Power: 150 kW @ 5500-6000 rpm Maximum Torque: 275 Nm @ 1750-4500 rpm (overboost 304 Nm, 20004000 rpm) Fuel Type: Regular unleaded petrol Combined Fuel Cycle (ADR 81/02): 6.9 L/100km

DRIVELINE: Six-speed manual, mechanical limited-slip differential, front-wheel drive

DIMENSIONS, WEIGHT AND CAPACITIES:

Length: 4075 mm Wheelbase: 2580 mm Width: 1750 mm Height: 1440 mm Turning Circle: N/A Kerb Mass: 1190 kg Fuel Tank Capacity: 40 litres BRAKES: Front: Ventilated disc Rear: Disc

STANDARD WARRANTY:

Five years / unlimited kilometres (including non-competition track driving, with ftment of performance-oriented tyres.