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Month: December 2022

Hyundai reminds us how to pronounce its name

Hyundai reminds us how to pronounce its name

What’s in a name? Quite a bit, if you’re Hyundai.

The company’s UK division has put a video on YouTube outlining the correct way to say its name.

While Australians and Brits often call it ‘ Hee-un-day’ or ‘Hi-un-day’, and our North American friends often say ‘Hun-day’, it’s actually ‘Hyoon-day’.

“Welcome to the dawn of a new Hyundai,” says the blurb accompanying the video.

“2023 marks the dawn of a new Hyundai in the UK. We’ve taken this opportunity to break the mould and embrace a new chapter for our cars and the company, including changing the pronunciation of the brand in the UK to bring it in line with the global organisation and our Korean heritage.”

UK car title Car Magazine asked Hyundai’s management there about the new brand campaign, which kicked off on Boxing Day with the tagline: “‘If you thought you knew our cars and how to

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German tuner turns Tesla Model Y into off-roader

German tuner turns Tesla Model Y into off-roader

German off-road tuning firm Delta4x4 has revealed a range of modifications that can turn a Tesla Model Y into a capable off-road dual-motor SUV.

The converted Model Y sits 80mm higher than stock due to a 35mm suspension lift, and 265/45 R20 Continental Cross Contact ATR tyres on black slotted rims. Wheel arch extensions widen the car by 60mm.

There’s a solid-looking roof rack with mounted recovery boards, and a payload sufficient for a roof tent. There are also PIAA LED headlights and four additional 18,000 lumen driving lights – all apparently shock tested up to 4G vibration levels.

The company quotes the following costs, which total a hefty 15,760 euros ($A24,818) for European buyers, according to the company’s blog.

  • Lift kit: 900 euros
  • Wheels and tyres: 4500 euros
  • Arch extensions: 4760 euros
  • Roof rack 2900 euros
  • Lights (PIAA V-RF40): 900 euros
  • Driving lights (PIAA 550): 1800 euros mounted

Based

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Subaru prepares STI-tuned Impreza, more rugged Crosstrek SUV

Subaru prepares STI-tuned Impreza, more rugged Crosstrek SUV

Subaru is gearing up for January’s Tokyo Auto Salon with a raft of show cars, including a few that hint at production versions.

The company’s Japanese site is a bit light on details, but the company promises to show the new Impreza – which debuted last November in LA – to its Japanese audience for first first time.

But going beyond this, it promises the show car will be equipped with STI parts “under development and customized to sportier specifications”, suggesting a Subaru hot hatch is on the cards.

The new Impreza retains the signature all-wheel drive and will be available with a 2.5-litre boxer-four generating around 136kW and 241Nm, mated to a CVT with paddles.

It’s unclear if the show car’s STI tuning will elicit more power, but expect the upgrades to improve handling.

Another interesting concept is a more rugged take on

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The top 10 news stories of 2022

The top 10 news stories of 2022

Just like that another year is finished!

We’ve published an absolute bucket-load of news stories, reviews and comparisons during 2022.

Here are the top 10 most-read news stories that were published during 2022 by our local audience.

Tesla removes home charge cable from cars in Australia

In July this year Tesla was in the headlines as it removed the mobile connector – also referred to as a UMC – from its new vehicles in Australia.

The company, however, reduced the cost of a UMC on its online shop from $860 to $550.

Tesla has already removed it from US-market models in April this year, with CEO Elon Musk confirming the move on Twitter.

Check out the story here.

Australian Government to introduce electric vehicle incentives

In July this year the Australian Government announced its intention to introduce new incentives for electric vehicles, including plug-in hybrids, fulfilling a promise made before

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The best cars our team has driven this year

The best cars our team has driven this year

It’s been a busy year at CarExpert. Between regular reviews, launches, comparisons, and mega tests, we’ve filtered through hundreds of cars across our three offices.

A few special cars stood out from the pack, though. Here are our highlights from 2022.

Scott Collie

Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS

It’s impossible to go past the hottest-ever Porsche Cayman for my highlight of this year.

The GT4 RS project “started with a car, and not with a PowerPoint presentation”, according to Andreas Preuninger, head of the Porsche GT division. Rather than convincing the finance department with numbers, his team had the RS approved by putting a big smile on the board’s face.

If that first mule was anything like the finished product, it’s easy to see how the project was given the green light.

It’s not the handling (approachable yet challenging, delectably balanced) or the straight-line performance (suitably impressive), or even the

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Biggest disappointments: The cars we wish would come here

Biggest disappointments: The cars we wish would come here

Australia may be more cluttered with car brands than ever before, with even more due in 2023, and yet that doesn’t mean the floodgates are opened for every new car launch.

Our fairly stringent safety regulations help keep out a lot of vehicles, while the fact we’re part of a minority of right-hand drive markets means various vehicles are non-starters for us.

And so it goes, we cover myriad new vehicle launches every year and all too often we have to bear the bad news: said vehicle isn’t coming to Australia.

Here are the cars revealed in 2022, thus far ruled out for Australia, that we’re most disappointed to not see on our shores.

Scott Collie

The Acura Integra might be a Honda Civic in a sharper (or should that be sportier) suit, but I’m sad it’s not coming Down Under.

The regular model is

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2023 Lotus Emira deliveries starting in January, orders grow

2023 Lotus Emira deliveries starting in January, orders grow

The first shipment of Lotus Emira sports cars has touched down in Australia ahead of customer deliveries commencing in January next year.

Richard Gibbs, CEO of local Lotus distributor Simply Sports Cars, told CarExpert this first shipment consists of 20 Emira V6 First Edition manual models.

He added these first models will be heading to every state in Australia and all six exterior paint colours are represented.

The first examples of the Lotus Emira V6 First Edition were originally supposed to arrive locally in the middle of this year, but due to global parts supply shortages they were delayed by six months.

Following these first manual-equipped Emira V6 First Edition models, Mr Gibbs said Australian-bound V6 First Edition automatic models will go into production in the first quarter of 2023 ahead of second quarter deliveries.

Australian-spec four-cylinder First Edition models will then go into production in the second quarter of

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Hyundai RN22e (Ioniq 6 N) review: Track test

Hyundai RN22e (Ioniq 6 N) review: Track test

What strikes you immediately about Hyundai’s RN22e ‘rolling lab’ concept is its sheer size more than anything else.

Stretching almost 5.0 metres long and nearly 2.0 metres wide, this ground-hugging, full-tilt EV is a high-performance, monster-size version of the brand’s upcoming Ioniq 6 all-electric sedan.

It’s not the first time we’ve seen this prototype in action, either. Earlier this year at Hyundai’s Namyang proving facility in South Korea we saw it testing, while only a couple months ago CarExpert’s Paul Maric also drove it in Germany (video below) after a relatively deep dive into the technology.

Nevertheless, this is the first Aussie drive, and what better circuit than The Bend in South Australia (West Circuit) to put the RN22e through its paces, but over just four laps.

The bonus was that N-guru and chief architect of N sub-brand, Albert Biermann, along with Till Wartenberg; Vice President N Brand and Motorsport,

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2023 Cupra Born review | CarExpert

2023 Cupra Born review | CarExpert

The Volkswagen Group finally has a rival for the Tesla Model 3 in Australia, and it won’t be coming from Volkswagen, Skoda, or even Audi.

Cupra, the newest member of the Volkswagen Group family Down Under, will be leading the charge with the arrival of the new Born EV hatchback.

We won’t see the Volkswagen ID range or the Skoda Enyaq SUV for at least 12 months, giving Cupra a significant head start on its corporate cousins in Australia’s electric space.

When it lands in earnest during March 2023, the Born will take on a growing pool of rivals including the Nissan Leaf, Hyundai Kona Electric, Kia Niro EV, and top-selling Tesla Model 3.

With a price just shy of $60,000 before on-road costs and a range of more than 500km, it certainly has the tools to make a splash… on paper.

We’ll have to wait a bit longer

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Oakville Used Car Superstore

Oakville Used Car Superstore

Used Car DealershipsAll to typically it’s easy to overlook our good individual headgear once we’re confronted with what appears to be a fantastic deal on a new used car. It may very well be a fantstic deal on a new commuter, an old basic or a super sporty specialty. No matter what gets your motor purring, it is important that you don’t develop into so enchanted by your new used automobile, that you overlook to guard your self from a probably crappy automotive.

If you might be interested by a trade-in, then come to Low Book Sales. We will give you $250 over any competitor’s worth, and if we will not, then we are going to merely offer you $250 (particular situations apply). We additionally simply purchase vehicles. No must get a car from us. We can offer you real cash for the automotive you already personal. We have our own finance … Read more