Tony O'Kane

Contributor

The first book Tony ever read cover-to-cover was the maintenance manual for a Volkswagen Beetle, and he’s been reading and writing about cars ever since.

A journalist by training but a car freak by nature, Tony is fascinated by the technology behind automobiles – whether it’s archaic side valve engines or hydrogen fuel cells. His product knowledge and road-testing expertise have been helping Australian new-car consumers buy smarter for more than a decade.

Hyundai Ioniq vs BMW i3s
Reviews

Hyundai IONIQ Electric Premium and BMW i3s comparison review

Whether you're shopping for something mainstream or premium, these two EVs have you covered

Crash test dummy
News

Comfort killer: senior drivers at risk from seat cushion accessories

Does your nan or granddad jam an extra cushion on their car seat? It’s a habit that significantly increases their likelihood of injury – or death – in a car crash

Advice

Is the airless tyre finally going to bring about a puncture-free future?

Could Hankook and Michelin finally succeed in bringing this puncture-proof mid-2000s invention to passenger car owners?

News

New hybrid motor promises 20 percent fuel saving

Continental says its new electric motor reduces fuel consumption by one-fifth, without the disadvatages of of a regular hybrid powertrain

News

2020 BMW X1 facelift price and features announced

BMW drops price on its entry-level SUV, the X1 – though the range-topper jumps up in price

News

Apple CarPlay gets new design and features

It’s the first major facelift for Apple’s smartphone mirroring software, and one that makes it better than many built-in infotainment systems

News

Smart lamppost tech could put a speed camera on every street

Designed to boost safety, convenience, and act as an extra set of eyes for autonomous cars, smart streetlamps could also be used for ultra-pervasive speed enforcement

Advice

This is what the tyre of the future will look like

Tyre of tomorrow will self-inflate, be kinder on the environment and tell you when your tread is low

News

Fully-autonomous cars are much, much further away than you think

The head of one of the world’s biggest suppliers of sensors for autonomous cars says the myth of the self driving car is unlikely to become reality for a long time

News

Combustion engines will be extinct by 2055: Continental

Continental says regulation will render combustion engines as quaintly antique as a saddled horse by the middle of this century

News

Stability control of the future will be able to predict wet roads

Continental reveals its next-generation stability control tech will use data to make slippery roads feel like dry ones

continental osram headlights
News

8000 LEDs cast new light on the headlight of the future

Continental and Osram team up to create the next generation of headlamp tech, and it's better than anything else we've seen so far

Comparisons

Skoda Karoq vs Renault Captur comparison

This month's newcomer Skoda Karoq takes on the class defining Renault Captur

News

Driver training needs to improve to bring down road toll: Greg Murphy

Racing champ Greg Murphy slams NZ road safety plan, says driver training is the real key to reducing road toll

Advice

5G internet will have big ramifications for the world of cars

High-speed mobile internet is about to get a major boost via incoming 5G tech and cars are likely to benefit most

News

2019 Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class Australian price and features confirmed

Mercedes-Benz announces local pricing for its volume-selling SUV – which is now more spacious than before and gains a three-row seat option for the first time.

Advice

Will millennials save sedans?

A survey conducted by Nissan indicates millennials aren’t as soft on the humble four-door as their Gen-X predecessors. Will that save the sedan from extinction?

Reviews

2019 BMW X7 xDrive30d review

Say what you want about the styling, but BMW’s monolithic X7 seven-seater isn’t just huge – it’s hugely impressive

2020 renault zoe
News

2020 Renault Zoe EV officially revealed with 390km range, more tech

Renault’s aging battery-powered city hatch gets a late-life update courtesy of a range boost and more in-car gadgetry

News

2019 BMW 3 Series full range price and features announced

BMW Australia expands its 3 Series range with the 320i, 330e and M340i

News

2020 Mercedes-Benz GLB revealed

Mercedes takes the covers off its ruggedly-styled and tardis-like medium SUV, the GLB-Class – but it won’t be in Australia for a while.

2020 Toyota Prius
Reviews

2019 Toyota Prius quick review

Toyota’s hybrid hatch gets a subtle makeover for 2019, though the core offering remains intact

Advice

Compact SUVs get set to take over Australia

Small and compact SUVs are rapidly taking over conventional small cars as the go-to vehicle for Aussie new car buyers, and there’s plenty of new product coming

Advice

What is selective high beam, and how does it work?

How does a new breed of headlight allow you to keep your main beam on without dazzling other road users?