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F1for the road
After a five-year gestation the production version of the Mercedes-AMG ONE has debuted in Europe. Mercedes-AMG says its new two-seater super sports car brings Formula 1 hybrid drive technology from the racetrack to the road. Producing an epic 782kW from a modified 1.6-litre turbocharged V6 derived from the Mercedes-AMG F1 W07 car, teamed with four electric motors, the street-legal hypercar is capable of a scintillating electronically-limited top speed of 352km/h. Developed in combination with Formula 1 experts at MercedesAMG High Performance Powertrains in the UK, the gull-wing machine brims with motorsport technology, from its carbon-fibre monocoque and body, to the loadbearing engine/transmission unit. Just 275 examples of the €2.8 million (AU$4.1 million) machine will be made, despite Mercedes-AMG reportedly receiving four times that number of orders. P For more, visit mercedes-benz.com.au
auto news. The latest developments in the car world
NUMBER CRUNCH Subaru WRX
Subaru’s WRX has been thrilling drivers for nearly 30 years, and has just launched it’s fifth-generation model. We take a trip down memory lane.
1994
The Year the first-generation WRX launched in Australia, badged as the Subaru Impreza WRX (for World Rally Experimental).
169
The power in kilowatts produced by the 2.5-litre flat four introduced with a 2006 midlife update of the secondgeneration WRX, which launched in 2000.
5.2
The time in seconds the third-generation WRX took to accelerate 0–100km/h.
Stretching the point
Land Rover has expanded its Defender 4x4 range in a bid to target growing families and long-legged adventurers. The new Land Rover Defender 130 joins the established shortwheelbase Defender 90 and mid-wheelbase Defender 110, with the new model adding an additional 340mm in overall length compared to the 110, providing expanded interior accommodation for up to eight occupants. The current 110 offers five- or seven-seat capacity but Land Rover says the 130 can seat up to eight in its expanded cabin. Designers have adopted a distinctive boat tail-style rear end uplift to maximise the 130’s all-terrain capability, but its 28.5-degrees departure angle is still no match for the impressive 40 degrees of the 90 and 110. Prospective owners will likely look past that in favour of the increased cargo and/or rear seating space, depending on whether the five- or eight-seat option is chosen. Available powertrains are the established P400 3.0-litre six-cylinder petrol (294kW/550Nm) and the D300 3.0-litre six-cylinder diesel (221kW/650Nm), driving all-four wheels through an eight-speed ZF automatic. Retail pricing starts at $124,150 for the Defender 130 SE D300, rising to $131,650 for the Defender 130 SE P400. For more, visit landrover.com.au
Road Safety – Mobile Speed Camery Livery Kia Sorento Road Safety – Mobile Speed Camery Livery Kia Sorento
Option 1 Option 1
MORE CAMERAS. LESS TOLERANCE MOBILE SPEED CAMERA MORE CAMERAS. LESS TOLERANCE MOBILE SPEED CAMERA
The Cupras runneth over
Already regarded as one of the most competitive new car markets in the world, Australia is set to add another brand to the mix with the arrival in July of Volkswagen-owned Cupra.
Volkswagen Australia clearly has higher hopes for the sporty Cupra brand, confirming an initial three-model assault comprising the Leon hot hatch, the Formentor crossover and the Ateca SUV. Specially equipped ‘Launch Editions’ of the three new Cupra models went on pre-sale in April, with the full line-up arriving in July, including plug-in hybrid electric versions of the Leon and Formentor. While both the Leon and Formentor come in four model grades, with different powertrains and price points, the Ateca sports SUV is a single variant only. Pricing starts at $43,990 for the entry-level Leon V, rising to $64,990 driveaway for the Leon VZx, with its Golf R-rivalling 221kW/400Nm 2.0-litre turbo four-cylinder petrol engine. Formentor pricing kicks off at $58,490 driveaway for the VZ, rising to $66,490 driveaway for the 228kW/400Nm VZx. Meanwhile, the single Ateca variant, which features all-wheel drive and the same high-performance turbo fourcylinder as the Leon VZx, is priced at $65,990 driveaway. The Cupra brand will be sold online and via a line-up of 10 mainland showrooms, but there’s no Tasmanian showroom in the initial launch phase. For more, visit cupraofficial.com.au
With more resources, including new mobile speed cameras, if you’re driving even a few kilometres over the speed limit the time for excuses is over.
