A confession. I hated the old Land Rover Defender. Yes, I can appreciate its original aims and how it delivered on them, but if ever a vehicle outstayed its welcome, it was the Defender. By about thirty years.
On that basis, I ought to have little time for the Ineos Grenadier, a vehicle which looks like a shameless Defender rip-off that is being built by a chemicals company and named after the London pub where the billionaire owner of Ineos hatched this hare-brained scheme.
But I actually think it’s a great idea and here’s why.
The Defender was never a bad car. It was just a bad execution. Think of the roadster market in the late ‘80s. It was utterly moribund. Cars like the MGB had long died, old stagers like the Alfa Romeo Spider were still staggering on, and Ford was launching its largely hopeless front-drive SA30 Capri, ironically built on Mazda underpinnings.
Then the Mazda MX-5 appeared and demonstrated that it wasn’t that there was no demand in the sector. It was just that the existing products lacked any great appeal. The same’s true of ‘proper’ live-axled 4x4s at the moment. You get a choice of LandCruiser 70, Suzuki Jimny and Jeep Wrangler, none of which can really transcend its tiny niche.
The Grenadier could well be different. We’ve seen that there’s significant headroom in this market. People are prepared to pay if the product is right. While it’s very early in the development process for the vehicle, the initial signs look promising, even if I keep catching myself calling the thing a ‘Grenadender’.
Much of the development work has been contracted to Magna Steyr, which bolts together the Mercedes-Benz G-Class at its works in Graz, Austria. Indeed, Ineos is a key sponsor of the Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 team, which led to the slightly surreal sight of Mercedes championing the Grenadier on social media, despite the fact that the vehicle will come to market with a 3.0-litre BMW straight-six under its bonnet, in both petrol and diesel guises.
Some have scoffed that here is a vehicle that features a rufty-tufty ladder frame and live axles and then ruins the whole deal by fitting a BMW engine and ZF eight-speed automatic gearbox, forgetting that the most oversubscribed Defender edition ever (the 150-unit Works V8 70th Anniversary Edition which sold out in 72 hours) had… a ZF eight-speed auto. Or that the Defender was fitted with a BMW engine – the M52 2.8-litre petrol for South Africa which, when benchmarked against the V8 Defender it replaced, performed better in virtually every test.
Indeed, many of the same people carping about the Grenadier are the same people who were hand-wringing when Land Rover canned the Defender. It’s odd. I can readily accept that making the styling so similar could antagonise the traditional marque fans. But, as designer Toby Ecuyer wryly stated, “If you’re designing a hammer, it has to perform a certain function. And, pretty much, hammers all end up looking very alike.”
I’d contend that there’s a decent slug of potential customers who loved the idea of a Land Rover Defender, but then drove one and witnessed its catastrophic ergonomics, its terrible on-road manners, its woeful safety provision and its antiquated tech and perhaps came to the conclusion that they didn’t like the idea quite so much after all. Which is pretty much where you’d have been in 1989 if you’d fancied a rear-drive roadster and took an Alfa Spider out for a pedal.
“I think it’s fair to say that our ergonomics will be about as far from Defender as we can make them,” says Ineos Automotive’s commercial director Mark Tennant. “The 1950s 85th percentile male is not quite the same as the 21st-century one, so clearly that’s an area of significant focus. The cars have got to be much more comfortable than some of those originals.” Preach.
The Grenadier can co-exist with the new Defender, but the Venn diagram of its customer set diverges somewhat. These are people who might like the look of a G-Wagen but don’t have $260K to throw at one. Persuading ornery country Australians to ditch their old LandCruisers, Patrols or dual-cabs for a Grenadier might be a tough sell but there’s a viable market for a sensibly-priced (sub-$100k) vehicle that is up to the challenges of our terrain. Even among those who don’t know what a portal axle is or how to rank every aftermarket winch by its torque rating.
We tend to cling onto much-loved concepts long after they’ve outlived their usefulness. I remember Porsche fans saying the 911 was dead when it went water-cooled. They were wrong, just as Holden was wrong to stake its future on Commodore when it was abundantly clear that buyers were migrating out of sedans. Many loved the Defender because of what it represented, not because of what it was. And that’s okay. Nobody’s taking that away. The rest of the world has moved on though and, in my book, if they move on with Ineos, that’s okay too.
Volkswagen has expanded its T-Roc range to include an entry-level 110TSI variant, which conveniently fills a vacant spot in Volkswagen’s wider SUV line-up.
The new T-Roc 110TSI Style variant will cost $33,990 (before on-roads) and join the pre-existing 140TSI Sport, envisioned by VW to bridge the gap between the T-Cross Style and T-Roc Sport. This new T-Roc variant will replace the need for a four-cylinder version of the T-Cross which VW originally said was on the cards at the T-Cross launch.
Based on the Golf platform, the 4230mm long T-Roc is 120mm longer than the Polo-based T-Cross and features a nicer overall specification level.
Packed into the T-Roc 110TSI is a 110kW/250Nm turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine which drives the front wheels via an eight speed automatic transmission. As standard the new 110TSI Style also equips active cruise cruise control, dual-zone climate control, keyless entry with folding mirrors, 18-inch alloy wheels and a swathe of active safety measures.
The T-Roc 140TSI Sport retails for $40,490 plus on-road costs. The list of standard kit is higher, with highlights such as a digital dash, 8.0-inch multimedia system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, city AEB with pedestrian detection, adaptive cruise control with traffic jam assist, lane guidance, rear cross-traffic alert, park assist, LED headlights, automatic wipers and leather-wrapped steering wheel all standard.
It also scores the progressive steering rack from the Golf GTI, along with AWD, driver profile selection, 18-inch alloys and sports suspension.
For the 140TSI Sport, options include a $2000 Sound and Style package that adds adaptive suspension, 19-inch alloys and a Beats stereo, while a $3500 Luxury Package nets the T-Roc owner a sunroof, Vienna leather upholstery and a powered tailgate. Similar Sound and Vision as well as Luxury packages (albeit contents slightly changed) are available on the entry level 110TSI and cost $2000 and $3800, respectively.
A limited-edition run of 200 T-Roc X variants were available at launch, which celebrates Volkswagen’s 10-year partnership with the Sydney Swans AFL team.
Available in white with a red roof (top of page) or black with red highlights (below), the X is based on the 140TSI Sport and scores adaptive suspension, 19-inch rims, a powered tailgate and 300w audio system for an additional $2000.
Luggage capacity in the T-Roc is a generous 445 litres, but fold down the 60/40 split rear seats and this expands to 1290 litres.
The T-Roc has been an enormous hit in overseas markets, which made the business case to supply the relatively small Australian market more difficult to get over the line.
Now that it’s been confirmed, though, Australia will be one of the first markets in the world outside of Europe to receive it.
The T-Roc’s price point puts it in the upper price echelon of top-spec small SUVs from the mainstream brands like the Mazda CX-3 and Toyota C-HR.
However, its stronger powertrain specs and high levels of standard equipment (like its digital dashboard) put it firmly in the frame when it comes to brands like Audi, which asks $49,400 for a Q2 with a similar engine and driveline. A BMW X2, meanwhile, will set you back closer to $69,000 for a 2.0-litre all-wheel-drive variant.
Volkswagen T-Roc Australia pricing
- T-Roc 110TSI Style – $33,990
- T-Roc 140TSI Sport – $40,490
Footage has emerged of former WRC Hyundai works driver Hayden Paddon, wrestling an upgraded Hyundai i20 AP4 with almost 600kW to victory at the Ben Nevis 1200 Hillclimb earlier this year: and trust us, you’ll want your volume turned up for this!
The AP4 nomeclature denotes a technical regulation category originally conceived in conjunction between MotorSport New Zealand and the Confederation of Australian Motorsport (now Motorsports Australia). AP4 specifically encompasses a generation of 4WD turbocharged rally cars in similar specification to that of FIA R5/S2000 categories.
In normal rally competition specification (pictured below at Rally Australia, Coffs Harbour 2018), the restricted 1.8lt Turbo mill produces approximately 215kW, and is backed by a Sadev 4WD sequential gearbox and long-travel ETX suspension.
In this specification however, Paddon’s i20 is boasting almost 600kW thanks to a larger 2.1lt turbo motor, and a significantly more extensive aerodynamic package; with a larger and more complex rear wing, along with a rear diffuser and bespoke front splitter with larger dive planes. If you’ve ever wondered what Group B might look like in the modern era, this might be it!
Paddon ended up winning the event outright with his ballistic show of speed.
The 33-year old Kiwi hails from Geraldine of New Zeland’s South Island, and participated in his first rally at the age of 15 in 2002. His WRC debut came in 2010, after winning Pirelli’s Star Driver scholarship off the back of a rally New Zealand title, and Pacific Cup victory.
On the WRC stage, Paddon has posted 42 stage wins, eight podiums and one win.
There’s no shortage of things to consider when you start a new family. You’ve got to stock up on clothes and nappies, decorate the nursery, childproof the house, find a paediatrician, check out child care centres and join a parents’ group. Phew! But what about the car?
Here’s a simple guide to getting your car ready for when your tiny bundle of joy arrives.
Car seat selection
One of the most important decisions you can make when setting up your car is the car seat selection. Safety is your number one priority for your baby, and picking the right seat can be overwhelming with so many options available.
Websites like Child Car Seats can help in finding the safest for your baby and are backed by a consortium of Australian government agencies and motorist organisations.
Car seat fitting
As well as finding the right car seat for you and your car, you need to consider the fitting of the seat. There’s an abundance of information out there, which can be confusing. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, motor accidents are one of the most common causes of fatal injury to children in Australia, so it’s important to get it right.
In Australia, there are child restraint laws that act as a guide for when your child should be seated in a capsule, rear-facing seat or forward-facing seat.
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Roadside assistance and warranty
There’s nothing worse than being stuck on the side of a road on a hot day or in the rain with a crying baby in the car. Make sure you’ve renewed your membership at a roadside assistance provider. Some manufacturers offer this as a service when buying a new car, but there are providers available in each state from organisations such as the NRMA, RACV, RACQ or the RAA.
While you’re at it, if buying a used car lean towards a car that’s still under warranty to avoid any costly mishaps – a new baby is expensive enough!
Accessories
Sunshades, car-toys, or screens you can pop at the back of the front seats, all come in handy when your little angels turn, and steps straight into Tantrumville.
They can also serve a more practical purpose: sunshades keep the sun off your baby’s skin and a mirror at the back can help you check on your baby while he or she is in a rear-facing capsule or car seat.
Accessories, like hands-free phone systems, if not already available in your car, are also a practical measure for parents – not only is it illegal to touch your phone while the car is running, but it risks the lives of all car passengers.
Pack the essentials
There’s no doubt that you’ve got the baby bag ready and handy for all occasions, but what about those times you leave it by the front door in the mad dash to the car? Keep all the baby essentials – nappies, baby wipes, changing pad, rubbish bags, blankets, spare clothes, dummy, sunscreen, hat, tissues, and creams – already stocked in the car. Just in case.
Space
Don’t be fooled by your car’s label – just because you’re buying or have bought an SUV, doesn’t mean it comes with space. Before you splash your cash on a new family car, check the boot size to make sure it’s going to fit everything you need it to.
Prams take up a lot of space, so take it with you on the test drive and ensure you’ve got enough room to fit it, the baby bag and the average number of your grocery bags.
Even if you plan on using the rear seat for extra storage, if baby number two, or three comes along, you’ll probably need to prepare for another car upgrade.
This story was first published in 2016.
Polyphony Digital, creators of the iconic Gran Turismo series, has just struck a deal with Getty Images which will see real world-class motorsport photographers capturing all of the action within Gran Turismo’s online and live World Tour Events.
Getty Images will serve as the ongoing exclusive ‘Photographic Agency’ of the FIA-Certified Gran Turismo Championship, adding to a list which includes a number of other events you may have heard of – like the Olympics and the NBA.
Getty’s photographic distribution services were first enlisted during the 2019 season, which saw Getty photographers capture in-game imagery at Gran Turismo’s World Tour events around the world, including: New York, Salzburg, Tokyo, Sydney, the Nurburgring and the world finals in Monaco.
The new partnership further bridges the gap between both real world and virtual racing, which has accelerated its trajectory to legitimacy over the past few months as racing leagues around the world were ground to a halt.
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As eSports as well as its surrounding ecosystem continues to enjoy exponential growth, with brands and media increasingly jumping on board, Getty Images Global Head of Content Ken Mainardis stated “this partnership with Polyphony Digital signifies the next phase of sport photography and the true growth that is occurring across the eSports landscape.”
If you’ve never mucked around with the various in-game photo modes popular in many of today’s racing games, it can be a tremendously fun experience – with the ability to set up shots and flex your creative muscles without the logistics of navigating actual cars flying around.
Want to see how the pros do it? Check out the gallery above!
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How good would it feel to look down at a letter or fill out an online order and see your address as ‘Conrod Straight, Mt Panorama’?
Well a very rare opportunity has come up to do just that, with a dream home now offered for sale right in the backyard of Australia’s premier racing circuit.
For the first time in 88 years, the address of 489 Conrod Straight, Mount Panorama is up for grabs.
Odds are that you’ve seen this place in the corner of your TV set hundreds of times, as Supercars thunder down the fastest straight in Australasian motorsport.
The property is located towards the bottom of the straight, just before the 300km/h right hand entrance to The Chase.
While the location is truly drool worthy, having Conrod Straight and the hair raising ‘Mount Panorama’ writing on the top of the mountain to stare at during your morning coffee isn’t the only perk.
The 17-acre property also features six bedrooms and three bathrooms, spread across the main house and a detached extension. It also has a shed (which is very important) and an orchard.
We’ve reported about just two other properties going up for sale in the last five years at the 6.213km circuit, both fetching well north of $2,000,000.
This one will go to auction on July 30, and even with the current economic downturn, the odds of it selling for anything less than the estimated $2,225,000 are slim.
We just hope that someone with petrol in the veins picks it up and not an investor, because we’d give our right arm to have a permanent front row seat to the likes of the Bathurst 1000 and Bathurst 12 Hour.
With many of us having a little extra time on our hands, now is the perfect time to finish putting together that project car that has been sitting in the corner of the garage.
If you need a little motivation, and a little oomph, we’ve found you the perfect engine to slot into engine bay.
Enter US engine builder Katech, and its new LT5 Track Attack crate engine, which was released to the world earlier this month.
According to Katech, its latest creation makes a cool 864kW (that’s 1159 horsepower in old money), and 1441Nm. Even in the heaviest of vehicles, that’s going to get you moving at one hell of a rate.
For reference, that’s considerably more power and torque than Mopar’s 746kW/1288Nm 7.0-litre ‘Hellephant’ crate engine.
The LT5 is a favourite of GM enthusiasts, with the 6.2-litre supercharged V8 best known for powering the Chevrolet C7 Corvette ZR1.
When sold by GM as a crate motor, the LT5 produces 563kW and 969Nm, but that wasn’t enough for Katech, so they designed and built some choice upgrades.
For the Track Attack, you can choose between two different blowers to sit atop the V8 – a Magnuson TBVS 2560 supercharger, or a CNC-ported unit of Katech’s own design.
Displacement increases to 6.4-litres, while compression has also gone up from 10.1:1, to 10.3:1. Also helping turn fuel into sweet, sweet horsepower are Diamond Pistons and Competition Valves.
How much will this horsepower cost? Well, it won’t be cheap. The other ‘Track Attack’ engine that Katech offers is based on the LT1, and dubbed ‘The Beast’.
Producing a naturally-aspirated 601kW and 867Nm, The Beast costs US$32,817 (A$47,774).
It’d be fair to estimate the more powerful and complex LT5 Track Attack will cost more than that, so budget accordingly.
Katech has history with high-powered Corvette engines, being the supplier for the C5.R and C6.R race cars that competed at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, so it’s fair to say it’s learned a thing or two about mechanical durability.
The much-anticipated 2020 Audi RS6 Avant is about to be available to Aussie buyers, with Audi Australia having confirmed pricing for it and its stylish Audi RS7 Sportback sibling.
Both of the 441kW twin-turbo 4.0-litre V8-powered beasts will be available in Australia on July 24, with the RS6 super wagon’s pricing set to start at $216,000.
As covered in our first look at the Audi RS6, its performance figures are startling. 100km/h arrives in just in 3.6 seconds, and 200km/h in 12. A Dynamics package, optional, raises top speed from 280km/h to 305km/h and adds ceramic brakes.
This is also available on the RS7 Sportback, prices starting from $224,000, which also shares new colour options with the RS6, as well as a 48-volt mild-hybrid electrical system, a braking system consisting of 10-piston (!) calipers on 420mm front discs, with 370mm discs at the rear. Those front discs are upped to 440mm with the Dynamics pack.
Audi also says the RS7 matches the RS6 for its performance benchmarks, despite different weights and aerodynamics.
Audi Australia’s managing director Paul Sansom emphasises the RS6’s well-loved ‘all-round ability’ ahead of the model’s launch.
“The idea of a high-performance sports car that is also refined and versatile enough for everyday driving is one that Audi has excelled in over the last 25 years,” says Sansom.
“The new Audi RS6 Avant and RS7 Sportback are every driving enthusiast’s dream because they offer such all-round ability. But most impressive of all is the way these cars can generate excitement: in the way they look, the way they sound and of course, the way they drive.”
Audi Australia says it will be taking orders for the RS6 and RS7 via its new online ordering platform at audi.com.au.
“The automotive sector is currently going through a difficult phase, and exhibitors need time to recover from the effects of the pandemic,” it said.“Furthermore, it is far from certain that the current health situation would permit the organisation of an event attracting more than 600,000 visitors and 10,000 journalists next spring.”
Adding insult to injury, complications surrounding Geneva’s cancellation and the subsequent massive cash deficit, a bailout loan originally approved by the Canton of Geneva and Grand Council has since been abandoned.Without the ability to raise funds from a 2021 show, the organisers would be forced to default on a hefty one-million Swiss franc (A$1.5m) repayment due in 12 months and, as a result, the board has agreed to the sale of the show to convention centre owners Palexpo SA.According to its current keeper, the show’s best chances of survival and a return from hiatus in 2022 are in the hands of a new owner.
The announcement follows similar ominous statements from other international events with similarly devastating economical ramifications.Melbourne’s Grand Prix was axed not long after the 2020 Geneva show, followed by nine other F1 races, the Beijing auto show went the same way as did Paris and the Goodwood Festival of Speed among many others.
Commercials are one of the many effective ways car manufacturers push their brands into the public eye. Creating something memorable – whether it is clever, hilarious or crazy – is a sure-fire way to increase brand recognition and customer retention.Among the many channels, conduits and media to get the message across, TV advertising remains one of the most popular, effective and often among the most expensive.Some of our favourites you’ll find below aired during the US Superbowl – an ad slot renowned as having the highest price tag of them all. How does about US$5.6m (A$8.1m) per 30 seconds sound?You might be surprised to hear many car makers successfully build a business case for that kind of outlay and investment. TV advertising is truly a powerful thing.Here are some of our favourite car commercials that cover the gamut from awesome to wince-worthy, hilarious and downright WTF moments.
CITROEN
Citroen does strange like nobody else. Its cars are packed with quirks that are sometimes plain bizarre, and its promotions are little different.The 1970s Citroen DS is often voted as one of the most beautiful cars to date, but it’s equally renowned for its independent suspension and innovative use of hydraulics. Current Citroens continue that heritage of edgy styling, plus a little French ‘je ne sais quois’ on some of the packaging and internal detailing.So it makes sense that Citroen’s ads are as quirky as the cars. After all, Citroen isn’t seeking the average customer. Dancing robots with great moves but for no apparent reason? A Citroen driving out of the head of pop icon Grace Jones as she screams at nothing in particular? C’est la vie!These ads get to the heart of what sets Citroen apart from the herd.
FIAT
In Fiat’s Blue Pill ad, an ageing man howls in frustration as his ‘performance’ pill bounds from roof tile to downspout and into the fuel of a Fiat 500X, we feel his pain. Sort of.The pill works its magic to bulge up the little Fiat into an all-wheel version, and we totally get what Fiat is telling us. It’s that reach to the everyman that Fiat perfected in this, and many other TV commercials.
KIA
It was a risky move to use hamsters to sell a car – cute animals are scraping the bottom of the advertising bowl – but it worked for Kia. Maybe because, as creative directors, D&G commented after winning a string of awards for the campaign, “the hamsters always have their paws on the pulse of pop culture”.Kia needed to dramatically increase its international profile and emphasise the edgy cred of the Kia Soul, and the hamsters made it happen. It wasn’t enough to grab the attention of a youthful Australian audience as Kia would have liked, but the model is incredibly popular with America’s young drivers.
SUBARU
Oh, this is just gold. Close your ears to the American “Su-BAH-roo” twang and go straight to the crux: the car is “cheap and ugly”. Say what? You heard it. They went with it. (wait until you get to 1:30)
BMW
BMW prides itself on creating the pure driver’s car almost as much as it does creating the cleverest ads to promote them, so what better way to make the point than in a series of extreme driving shorts.
The Hire is a series of short movies using renowned directors and actors. High-profile stars including Clive Owen, James Brown, Madonna and Gary Oldman hammer the message home that BMW is cool.
But the German marque has previously produced another brilliant advert, this time for the launch of the 2000 E39 M5. At the time, the V8-powered four door was the world’s fastest sedan so what better way to demonstrate the achievement that with this wonderful act of misdirection?
FORD
Ford does a great job in the States exploiting their 1960s and 1970s muscle car heritage, with lots of dad-and-son drive stories. It also captured the Aussie experience in a more down-to-earth way with its controversial (and banned) cane toad ad.
Ford also nailed the hot hatch demographic when it partnered with Ken Block. Ford got Block to put a modified Fiesta through the cult-followed Gymkhana paces, which was a great way to showcase what a little hatch can do, albeit after a full rally preparation.
AUDI
Audi is all about bringing it to the traditional luxury car market and showing BMW and Mercedes-Benz up as old school. Its way of thumbing its nose at the opposition in this advertisement is direct and effective. The ad Release the Hounds is a classic example, while Doberhuahua is hilarious.Read next: Essential car accessories for dog people
MERCEDES-BENZ
Mercedes-Benz is about class, heritage and dependable luxury. Not In this Weather is a classic yet slightly naughty ad that emphasises the ability of a Benz.
And, with a completely different approach, the Uncrashable Cars campaign might be one of the most effective ads on the benefits of safety technology we’ve yet seen.
VOLKSWAGEN
Volkswagen loves to reference its dependable, Germanic character, but a warning comes with advert: YAYAYA will most likely be circulating in your head days later. Possibly months.
HONDA
The Cog is a fascinating Rube Goldberg sequence that epitomises the Honda byline: “Isn’t it nice when things just work”. It has even inspired a whole genre of copycat ads.Read next: Honda Accord pricing and features Beautifully, this incredibly clever ad was not a fake and used very little computer generated elements. The only post-production intervention was for minor adjustments including the removal of wires and other distracting visual elements.
Although it appears to be one continuous shot, the ad was, in fact, pieced together from just two 60-second pieces. Like a painstakingly prepared and perfectly executed domino rally, Honda really did set up and nail the entire ‘machine’ almost exactly as you see it. Incredible.
