JULY 12 - 18 | 2019
Prius still leading light in Toyota power play
By DEREK OGDEN Toyota Australia vice-president sales and marketing Sean Hanley says the Prius hatch has long been the standard-bearer for Toyota's advanced petrol / electric hybrid technology and this latest styling and technology update would add to its appeal. "Its [Prius] strength in the marketplace is testament to the proven benefits of the Toyota hybrid system we have rolled out across more models, including Camry and Corolla hatch, and will later this year be offered in RAV4 and Corolla sedan as well," he said. Prius retains its two-model line-up, with the standard version selling for $36,590, plus
on-road costs, and the premium i-Tech Prius costing $44,050. The standard model was on test. STYLING If imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, Honda should accept it with alacrity as the MY19 Prius is a dead ringer for the Civic hatch, especially around the rear end. A split window and full-width spoiler, plus new LED lights taking their cue from the shape of the new slimline headlamps, present a more horizontal look emphasising the car's width and low centre of gravity. Up front, a revised lower air intake accentuates the sharper, sleeker lines of the car,
while a dynamic flowing appearance is further enhanced by a 35 mm increase in overall length. Unusually, the base Prius rolls on 15-inch alloy wheels with a 10-spoke aerodynamic silver cover, while the Prius i-Tech is more traditional with 17-inch five-spoke alloys in a new titanium-like paint and black finish. INTERIOR Inside the cabin is a similar story, with the upgraded Prius featuring new black cloth upholstery, while the i-Tech variant retains its premium leather-accented seats.
Ŷ Continued page 2 x/21d12837-v55/28-19
THINK what you will about Toyota, when it comes to electric vehicles, the Japanese automotive giant has stuck to its guns. It’s been petrol / electric hybrid all the way. Its Prius hatchback, in 2001, was the first hybrid to make a real impression on the automobile market in Australia and, indeed, around the world. The ubiquitous Prius taxis speak to this. And, it seems, there’s no letting up, with the fourth generation of the pioneering Toyota hybrid, casting off the somewhat frumpy styling of the original model, taking on a sleeker, coupe-like shape, featuring new front and rear treatments, and sharper headlamps and rear lights.
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Mercedes-AMG zooms in on GT bloodline By DEREK OGDEN FROM the ‘Green Hell’ of Germany to the lush valleys of Victoria: that was the recent journey made by the new Mercedes-AMG GT 4-Door Coupe; the former reinforcing the credibility of a car boasting a zero-to-100 kilometre per hour time of 3.2 seconds, the latter the luxury of a large European saloon. Coming Down Under in two grades, the new model is the latest member of the Mercedes-AMG GT family of super-sports coupes and convertibles, which includes the two-seat, two-door GT, GT S, GT C and track-focused GT R models. In turn, the GT models are descended from the SLS AMG ‘Gullwing’, the first car developed in-house by AMG, which itself is a homage to the iconic Mercedes-Benz SL roadsters of the 1950s and ‘60s. The top-flight model can reach 100 km/h from rest quicker than you can say MercedesAMG GT 63 S 4MATIC+ 4-Door Coupé and is the world's fastest series production fourseater on the legendary North Loop (the Green Hell) of the Nürburgring, with a time of 7:25.41. Little brother Mercedes-AMG GT 53 4MATIC+ 4-Door Coupe is no slouch, with a time of 4.5 seconds to reach the same speed from standstill. Powered by an inline six-cylinder engine featuring EQ Boost technology, producing 320 kW of power and 520 Nm of torque in combination with an AMG ninespeed automatic transmission and 4MATIC+ all-wheel-drive, plus an AMG Performance Exhaust System. The full-on Mercedes-AMG GT 63 S 4MATIC+ 4-Door Coupé jumps to a 4.0-litre bi-turbo V8 punching out 470 kW and 900 Nm, mated with the AMG nine-speed auto and fully variable 4MATIC+. The Mercedes-AMG GT 53 4MATIC+ 4-Door Coupé sells in Australia for $249,900, plus on-road costs. Add a further 100 grand – but who’s counting - for the Mercedes-AMG GT 63 S 4MATIC+ 4-Door Coupe at $349,900, plus charges. The GT 53 can be optioned up with the AMG Exterior Chrome Package ($2500),
AMG Exterior Carbon-fibre Package ($9500), AMG Night Package ($2500), Luxury Rear Package ($5300), and Warmth Comfort Package ($1300), while GT 63 packages include the AMG Exterior Carbon-fibre Package ($9500), AMG Night Package ($1500), Luxury Rear Package ($4600), Warmth Comfort Package ($1300), AMG Aerodynamics Package ($7300), and AMG Carbon Package II ($11,600). A further option for the latter is the Edition 1 Package, which includes the AMG Aerodynamics Package, special 21-inch AMG crossspoke forged wheels in matt black with a high-sheen finish and AMG sports stripes. Also included are so-called ‘climatised’ front seats, exclusive grey/black Nappa leather with seatbelts in yellow, two individual rear seats, and AMG matt carbon-fibre trim. The whole lot adds $5900. Standard features on the ‘53’ include AMG Dynamic Plus driving mode, AMG Ride Control+ suspension, exclusive Nappa leather upholstery, and 20-inch AMG multi-spoke alloy wheels. The list goes on with 14-speaker Burmester surround sound, AMG Performance front seats (heated and cooled) and AMG Performance steering wheel trimmed in Nappa leather and Dinamica microfibre, AMG Track Pace software, wireless phone charging, Multibeam LED headlights, and yellowpainted AMG brake calipers. Safety is paramount, with active distance assist, active blind spot assist, brake assist with cross-traffic function, lane change and steering assist. Nine airbags, a 360-degree camera, and Pre-Safe accident anticipation system top out the roll call. The ‘63 S’ gets rear-axle steering, an active dynamic engine mount, 21-inch AMG cross-spoke forged wheels, AMG carbonfibre trim, power-closing doors and an AMG Performance steering wheel trimmed in black Dinamica microfibre as standard. In calendar terms, the coupe has a fourdoor fastback set-up – low roof, wide stance and a bonnet as generous as an Aussie long weekend. It’s a design to match the car’s unparalleled performance and convenience for day-to-day use.
Ŷ COMPLETE PACKAGE: The Mercedes-AMG GT 4-Door Coupe . . . long on size, luxury and performance.
The rigid chassis – put to the test in a ‘63 S’ on a launch drive through all the Yarra Valley in Victoria could come up with - is the result of road and track development and aerodynamics lifted from the GT R. The Ride Control suspension offers Comfort, Sport and Sport+. Comfort was quite able to handle any situation that came up on fast bitumen bends with mid-turn damp patches, rear diff lock and active rear wheel steering doing their bit here. Heavy braking into sharp turns, plus the odd steering shuffle in close calls with centreline hugging oncoming traffic were far from white-knuckle events.
Sport, naturally stiffened things up under foot and sharpened the mind for the person behind the wheel, while Sport+ marked every road blemish with unpleasant jarring to the body. Note: leave this strictly for racetrackquality surfaces. The AMG Performance Exhaust chimed in with the appropriate note in unison with the background theme of the bi-turbo V8. And who’s up for the new Mercedes-AMG GT 4-Door Coupe? According to MercedesBenz Australia, E 63 or S 63 owners, who are looking for a change, could be in the mix, with the majority favouring the V8 version.
Prius still leading light in Toyota power play Ŷ From page 1 The centre console has come in for attention by now incorporating two cupholders, seat heating switches and a wireless phone charger to further improve interior style and ergonomics. INFOTAINMENT An advanced seven-inch touchscreen that enables pinch, swipe and flick gestures is part of the latest generation Toyota multimedia system with 10-speaker JBL audio. The new system features AM/FM/DAB+ radio, USB and Aux inputs, Bluetooth connectivity, satellite navigation with SUNA live traffic alerts, voice recognition and Toyota Link apps including weather, fuel finder and travel times. Voice recognition now offers a wider range of commands including the ability to set an address while driving and option to search through local points of interest by business name or category. Other new applications include Siri eyesfree mode for iPhones and Miracast, which can allow compatible smartphone screens to be duplicated onto the touchscreen. ENGINES / TRANSMISSIONS The latest generation petrol-electric hybrid drivetrain combines a 1.8-litre 72 kW Atkinson cycle petrol engine with two motor generators to best match performance and fuel efficiency with driving style and road conditions. A total of 90 kW can be put to ground through a continuously variable transmission. SAFETY Every present generation Prius is fitted with seven airbags, reversing camera, ve-
hicle stability and traction control, anti-skid brakes, emergency brake signal, hill-start assist and smart entry and start. The MY19 Prius also showcases a plethora of advanced safety technology thanks to the latest Toyota Safety Sense suite of features that includes active cruise control, pre-collision safety system, lane departure alert to warn of wandering, with steering assist, the latter to nudge the vehicle in the right direction, and auto high beam headlamps. DRIVING An all-but silent start-up is announced by the word ‘ready’ on the dash-mounted touchscreen. Move off and the Prius automatically fires up the 1.8-litre petrol engine, putting 90 kW on call, when the electric motor load demands. The heart of the Prius, however, is the compact high voltage battery which produces better performance while allowing for more luggage space than previously. Battery life is still an unknown, although, according to a Toyota spokesperson, fewer than one quarter of one per cent have been replaced Down Under. This has encouraged Toyota to increase the battery warranty to eight years / 160,000km from five-year / 100,000km cover on the rest of the vehicle. Toyota claims combined urban / highway fuel consumption of 3.4 litres per 100 kilometres. With judicious use of the ‘loud’ pedal, I got it down to 2.0 L/100 km at one stage. The car even congratulated me on my driving economy with a polite message on the touchscreen encouraging me to continue in a like manner. How considerate. In addition, three driving modes can be di-
alled up - ECO in which the throttle is reined in for fuel economy; power provides optimum acceleration response, especially useful when overtaking; and EV mode in which the car stays in electric-only for longer at lower speeds – up to 50 km/h for one to two kilometres, depending on the state of charge. The Prius is comfortable, quiet – there’s just a slight vibration when the petrol engine kicks in – and environmentally clean. The current generation of Prius was launched in early 2016 as the first model in the Toyota range to feature the company’s new generation architecture platform delivering more agile and responsive driving dynamics and excellent ride comfort. These features have been carried over to the new model. SUMMING UP Toyota continues to upgrade its Prius
petrol / electric hybrid car but is it enough to keep the model ahead of the rest in the increasingly competitive market of electric vehicles?
AT A GLANCE PRICE: $36,590 - $44,050 plus onroad costs ENGINE: 1.8L four-cylinder petrol/ electric hybrid MAX POWER: 72 kW @ 5200 rpm MAX TORQUE: 142 Nm @ 3600 rpm DRIVELINE: CVT automatic FUEL TANK CAPACITY: 54 litres FUEL CONSUMPTION: 3.4L/100km (combined)
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July 12 - 18 | 2019
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STILL regarded as a benchmark car in its class if you're a keen driver, the Volkswagen Golf has had its ups and downs in recent years. Once famed for German build quality and longterm reliability it has experienced more than its fair share of problems in recent years. However, things now appear to be on the straight and narrow again and Golf’s reputation has gone pretty well back to normal. Golf 6 was a heavily revised version of the Golf 5, with better aerodynamics, a quieter ride and lower fuel consumption and emissions than its predecessor. Definitely the one to aim for if it's within your budget. Golf Mk7 was virtually all new. Built on the company’s then new MQB platform it's about 100kg lighter (depending on model) than the Mk6. It's a little larger and has improved interior room. It got a significant facelift at the end of 2016 that gave it an ‘aero’ look that was a little further upmarket. The great majority of Golfs in Australia are five-door hatchbacks, there are also three-door hatches, five-door station wagons and cabriolets. Boot space in the sedans is substantially better than in the hatches and Jetta because of its longer tail. Golf Cabriolet was initially replaced by the New Beetle Cabriolet, but in a surprise move, VW Australia reintroduced the open top Golf in 2012. Four-cylinder turbo-petrol engines are the most common, though there are plenty of turbo-diesel units in Australia these days as VW has been prompting these here for quite a few years. Most transmissions in this country are dualclutch automatics, with six speeds beside the diesels and seven when mated to petrols. The VW group was in the vanguard of this automated-manual type (calling them DSGs). The early units were on the painful side at very slow speeds, later ones are better, but could still do with improvement. Six-speed manuals are less popular Down Under than in Europe. But may we suggest you at least give one a try if you're a keen driver. Those who enjoy a really good drive should consider the VW Golf GTi. A fun machine for the keen driver, it’s showing signs of becoming a minor classic in the Australian hot-hatch market. The VW is a relatively easy car to work on, spare parts are not overly expensive and we haven't heard of many complaints about bits being out of stock in major dealerships. Those that are can usually be shipped out within a couple of business days. The dealer network is extensive, though as usual, they tend to be concentrated in metro areas. Quite a few non-factory mechanics in Australia began their careers working in offical outlets and are often praised by Volkswagen
owners who have used them. Insurance charges are about average for an imported European car in this class. The high-performance Golf models may attract significantly higher premiums especially if you're young and/or inexperienced and have a poor insurance record. WHAT TO LOOK FOR Some Golf diesel engines from 2008 to 2015 were the subject of a voluntary recall to modify them following the so-called ‘Dieselgate’ emissions scandal. If the work has been done a label will be attached inside the left front door frame. You can contact Volkswagen on 1800 504 076 between 8:30am and 7:00pm Monday to Friday (AEST) to check. Some DSG automatics in the Golf 6 had serious problems resulting in a voluntary recall by VW Australia. In some cases the complete unit had to be replaced, in others they were repaired. Golf 7 units appear to be much better. Have a qualified mechanic drive the car if there's the slightest doubt. Make sure a manual gearbox doesn’t crunch on fast downchanges. This is more likely to have been caused by hard and/or bad driving technique than a defect in the box. Check the engine oil for darkening, and make sure the sump is full to the correct mark. Low engine oil, and they do seem to use more than their fair share at times, can cause a catastrophic failure. Engines should start quickly. Listen for untoward noises when it’s cold. Look for smoke from the exhaust when the engine is driven hard, particularly on long uphill runs. Check all electric components are working correctly and that no warning lights appear during your test drive. Feel and look for uneven tyre wear, particularly on the front wheels. This may mean the wheel has been crashed into a kerb, or that the car has been thrashed. HOW MUCH? Budget on spending from $4000 to $7000 for a 2009 1.9 TDI; $7000 to $11,000 for 2011 TDI Comfortline or a 2009 GTi; $8000 to $12,000 for a 2012 118TSI Comfortline; $11,000 to $16,000 for a 2012 GTi; $12,000 to $17,000 for a 2013 118TSI or a 2015 92 TSI Trendline; $15,000 to $21,000 for a 2012 R; $17,000 to $24,000 for a 2014 GTi; $21,000 to $29,000 for a 2015 GTi; and $23,000 to $31,000 for a 2017 GTi. CAR BUYING TIP The more popular the car the more there are on the used scene. Use this to your advantage by shopping around for the best of them. RECALLS: To browse recalls on all vehicles go to the ACCC at: www.productsafety.gov.au/ products/transport/cars/ .