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N O R T H E AST V I C TO R I A
APRIL 5 - 11 | 2019
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Mazda CX-3 Akari puts in a premium bid
EVEN BETTER: The Mazda CX-3 Akari AWD has a lot to offer, for buyers who are prepared to pay. By Derek Ogden with either a six-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmission. As well as squeezing more high-tech equipment into a confined space the compact SUV has come in for some cosmetic work with a new front grille and rear combination lamp designs to enhance Mazda CX-3’s trademark elegance. The cabin features a redesigned centre console, including a padded armrest. All this, however, comes at price, the Akari all-wheel drive petrol automatic coming into a highly competitive small SUV market at the dizzy heights of $37,490, plus onroad costs.
STYLING A new front grille adopts bold horizontal lines in a bid to make the CX-3 assertive, while rear lamps on sTouring and Akari have been reworked to present a premium look. On Maxx Sport and above gloss black decorates fog lamp bezels and side pillars, boosting detail of the areas around the window and highlighting the floating roofline. Akari rolls on newly designed, bigger, 18inch wheels with a bright metallic finish. INTERIOR Urethane foam with a high-damping quality has been adopted for the front seat cushions to give greater ride comfort, and seat upholstery has been changed to full
leather on higher grades. The switch from a manual park brake to an electric one has meant the Mazda Command Controller has been moved forward for easier reach. A folding padded lid has been fitted to the console box, doubling as a comfortable armrest for the front seat passenger. Taking comfort and convenience further for Akari, the folding rear armrest features two generous cup holders that can hold containers of various sizes. Akari also gets a new anti-glare interior rear-vision mirror that automatically cuts glare, dimming the reflections of strong, bright lights.
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YOU can’t take anything away from Mazda. It might have the best-selling small sports utility vehicle on the market in the CX-3, but it is not standing still with the market leader, which recently went through a mid-life makeover. Reversing camera and electronic park brake are now standard across the range, as is upgraded Skyactiv-dynamics. The range-topping Akari gets Mazda’s new all-round view monitor and factory radar cruise control with Stop & Go. The new CX-3 is available in four models, with Neo and Maxx variants upgraded to Neo Sport and Maxx Sport to sit alongside sTouring and the top-spec Akari models. It comes in front-wheel or all-wheel drive
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April 5 - 11 | 2019
PLUG IT IN: Though based on the standard Hyundai Kona, the Electric has substantial styling changes.
Hyundai Kona Electric: ² UVW GHWDLOV DQG SULFLQJ
HYUNDAI has launched the Kona Electric in Australia. This is a pure electric vehicle, not a hybrid. It’s powered by 64kWh lithium-ion polymer battery and has a real world electric driving range of 449 kilometres when measured on the Worldwide Harmonised Light Vehicle Test Procedure (WLTP). The electric motor delivers 150 kW peak power and can accelerate the Kona from rest to 100 km/h in 7.6 seconds. That’s despite weighing about 300 kilograms more than the petrol Kona because of heavy batteries. The adjustable regenerative braking system lets the driver adjust the intensity of the regenerative braking using the shift paddles to permit maximum energy recuperation. Plugged into a 100 kW DC fast-charger,
By Ewan Kennedy Kona Electric can reach 80 per cent battery charge in 54 minutes. A 50 kW DC charger takes 75 minutes to 80 per cent. An optional $1950 7.2 kW on-board charger allows charging when plugged into a household socket - that takes 9 hours 35 minutes. It can even be charged by simply plugging into a 240-volt/10-amp household socket - that is if you’ve about 21 hours to spare… Public charging stations can be used, Kona Electric uses Type two. If the public station is Type one an adaptor can be used. Infotainment is controlled through an 8.0-inch screen. There’s satellite navigation with SUNA live traffic updates
Mazda CX-3 Akari
From page 1
INFOTAINMENT Bluetooth is on tap, while a 7-inch fullcolour MZD Connect touchscreen controls infotainment and sound system with DAB and six speakers (but no CD player) and a multi-function Command Control. ENGINES / TRANSMISSIONS Updated Mazda CX-3 is available with the 2.0-litre petrol engine, which has seen a range of technologies applied to improve fuel economy and promote quicker engine response. Available in both front-wheel-drive and all-wheel-drive, power is put to ground via either the Mazda six-speed manual or sixspeed automatic. SAFETY A reversing camera is now fitted to all CX-3s, joining a comprehensive suite of
standard i-Activsense safety systems, including smart city brake support (forward and reverse) and emergency brake assist. The range topping Akari also adds Mazda’s new 330-degree view monitor and Mazda radar cruise control with Stop & Go. An Active Driving display, which, among other things, reads traffic speed-limit signs and displays them on the Active Driving Display on the windscreen and alerts the driver. DRIVING Nudging power from 110 to 111 kW at 6000 rpm and torque from 192 to 195 Nm at 2800 rpm, it’s fuel economy rather than a more spritely performance that’s the result. Expect mid-to-upper 6 litres
and a 10-year Sat Nav Update Plan. Hyundai Kona has Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone interfaces and Bluetooth. It has an eight-speaker Infinity premium audio system with a subwoofer and external amplifier. The Kona Electric has Australian chassis tune developed across a variety of Australian urban and country roads. Kona Electric has Hyundai’s SmartSense safety package as standard and has received a five star safety rating. “We’re excited to bring long-range, ecofriendly electrified driving within reach of everyone with the stylish Kona Electric small SUV,” Hyundai Motor Company Australia CEO JW Lee said. “It is Hyundai’s intention to establish leadership for eco cars in Australia. We have demonstrated that with IONIQ
and now Kona Electric, with the NEXO hydrogen-powered SUV to follow once suitable infrastructure is developed.” Kona Electric has a five year unlimited distance warranty. The Kona high-voltage battery warranty extends for eight years or 160,000 kilometres. We didn’t attend the Australian launch of the Hyundai Kona Electric but will borrow one asap and report back on our findings immediately afterwards. Hyundai Kona Electric is not exactly cheap, being priced from $59,990 plus on-road costs. Keep in mind that it’s not unusual for early adopters to be asked to pay significantly more for the latest technology. High prices help companies to pay back the research and development costs sooner. Thus bringing the price down to affordable levels sooner.
puts in a premium bid per 100 kilometres consumption in dayto-day use. Flick into Sport mode, via a switch on the centre console, and there is, apart from the motor hanging on to each gear ratio before upshift, not much difference in performance. Just a lot more noise. Dynamics have been further advanced with suspension and electric power steering updates. Carried over from the previous model, Mazda’s G-Vectoring Control is an electronic system delivering more neutral cornering by reducing torque output to neutralise understeer or oversteer. It also reduces vehicle body roll, cutting driver fatigue and counteracting the G-forces on occupants. G-Vectoring Control, together with all-wheel drive,
also adds to vehicle stability on slippery roads. The addition of 18-inch wheels is said to better absorb high frequency road noise and vibration. However, The CX-3 still bounces over road-surface blemishes. On the downside, family friendliness has its limitations. The 264-litre boot has no room for the latest in super strollers, those modern baby ‘barrows’ every selfrespecting parent, it seems, cannot do without. Time to look elsewhere, folks. SUMMARY As with many things in life, the choice of a compact sports utility vehicle comes heavily down to price. Is it worth shelling out more than 37 grand for an SUV like the Akari, albeit one with all the brains and good looks?
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April 5 - 11 | 2019
RAM 1500
upgrades for 2019 „ ALWAYS ROOM FOR MORE: RAM 1500 has even more attitude for 2019.
FOR the 2019 season the large RAM 1500 Laramie has been given even more attitude. Not something that would have been expected on a vehicle that was already over the top, but obviously the designers thought otherwise. The Laramie has a new design chromed grille in place of the ‘crosshair’ grille installed when Ram 1500 had its Australian launch last year. Chrome is also a feature on the tailgate, with huge 300 mm badging. And RAM 1500 Express has received a new reversing camera and trailer brake control. RAM power comes from a Chrysler Hemi 5.7-litre V8 petrol engine. In RAM tune it produces 395 horsepower (291 kilowatts in Australian numbers) and 556 Nm of torque. Transmission is by an eight speed Torqueflite automatic with a straight through sixth gear and overdrives on seventh and eighth for easygoing touring.
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By Ewan Kennedy Both models have 4WD and low range, but the Laramie now has a more complex system for drivers who want to get serious off-road. RAMs are imported to Australia ready to drive – except that the steering wheel and pedals are on the wrong (left) side. They are trucked to a purpose-built facility in Melbourne, where the body is pulled off the chassis and a total RHD conversion is carried out. “Since its launch last year the 1500 has proven to be the outstanding success for RAM in Australia that we expected, a point proven in February by the Australian production line achieving more than 200 vehicles re-manufactured in a month for the first time,� says Alex Stewart, general manager of RAM Trucks Australia. There are now 37 factory-supported and backed RAM dealers across Australia.
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