Coupes under $50k
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- Best coupes under $50k
Whether you’re just starting to drive or heading into a mid-life crisis, coupes appeal to all of us. Luckily, these days you don’t need to spend big money to enjoy the thrills of the swept-back driving experience.
While you are able to buy a Subaru BRZ or Toyota 86 for less than $40,000, choices start to expand once you’re shopping under the $50,000 so let’s start there.
Toyota 86
It is getting a little long in the tooth, but the Toyota 86/Subaru BRZ combo still offers sports car thrills for an affordable price. Available in manual or automatic with a choice of specification levels, the Toyota 86 has stood the test of time despite external pressure to fill it with extra power.
Mazda MX-5
With the nameplate just celebrating its 30th birthday, there’s small wonder why so many flock to the Mazda MX-5 for an engaging top-down drive. Even if you’re more of a hard-top fan, Mazda now offers the RF version which includes a folding metal roof.
Hyundai i30 Fastback N
A relatively new player to the coupe game, Hyundai’s i30 N was transformed into a four-door coupe following the success of the hatchback. Sleeker styling marries with everything that made Hyundai’s first true hot hatch great
HDT will polarize opinion
HDT has made a sensational, fourth addition to its Heritage line-up with the release of the VL inspired Group A.
Commodore engineering threatened?
Holden is in talks with the union body representing its Australian engineers about the future of its local design and engineering operations, which may be moved offshore in as little as three years.
All-new Peugeot 208 debuts
Peugeot has bucked the (literally) growing small car trend by introducing a new model that is both smaller and lighter than its predecessor.
Achtung, Japan: BMW, VW reliability soars
EVERYBODY expects Toyota to top a reliability survey… but the Germans?
New Mini Roadster
Mini has revealed the first two-seat open-top Mini ever – taking the number of new Mini variants up to six.
Holden to launch Jackaroo successor
Holden will reintroduce a heavy-duty off-roader to its lineup from early 2013. It will be badged the Colorado 7, and is a full-size seven-seater.
Justin Bieber’s custom Batmobile revealed
Dubbed the Bat-illac, take a first look at Bieber’s Batmobile – Justin Bieber’s lastest ride.
Lexus GS to attack 5 Series and E-Class
The executive sedan class has gone through a massive shake-up over the past six months, with the new Audi A6 and Jaguar XF 2.2d launching locally.
“I crush you like a Bug…”
Not an ’80s movie quote, but a faulty switch on Volkswagen’s latest Beetle that could literally have heads rolling in America.
New Nissan PIVO 3 concept car of the future
Nissan has unveiled the brand new PIVO 3 concept car ahead of the 2011 Tokyo Motor Show in December – a compact all-electric urban commuter vehicle that majors in smarts.
Porsche launches hardcore limousine
Porsche pulled the only surprise rabbit out of the hat at the Los Angelese Auto Show with the announcement of its hardcore Panamera GTS.
Porsche 911 991 Carrera S blog from Los Angeles
Despite this confidence, and a very positive review from our own Ash Westerman in the current issue of Wheels (on sale now), I am nervous about driving the new 991 911 (isn’t that a recipe for dyslexic meltdown).
Porsche 911 Cabriolet
The international launch of the new Porsche 991 Carrera coupe finished on Sunday and Porsche has already released first images and information on the new Cabriolet models.
Webber wins Brazilian GP
It took him all year, but Mark Webber has finally notched his first win of the Formula One season, sealing third spot in the championship race with victory in Brazil.
183kW Jazz ready to race
The world’s fastest Honda Jazz is being readied to rally in Australia next year. Dubbed ‘G2’, the tuned-up small hatchback will be raced in the 2012 Bosch Australian Rally Championship (ARC) by a second Honda team.
Webber looks for Brazil boost in 2012
Mark Webber believes his win in the season-ending Brazilian Grand Prix will be a “good tonic” for him to return stronger in the 2012 Formula One world championship.
Car prices going down
Smart shoppers know that the best deals on new cars emerge before and after January 1. In less than a month’s time, anything built in 2011 will be immediately deemed, like, so last year. Literally.
Frosty excited about V8 conclusion
For a boy from the western suburbs of Sydney, Mark Winterbottom’s victory in the season-ending V8 Supercar race on the Olympic Park street circuit was a great way to bow out in 2011.
Whincup back on top of V8 pile
All year Jamie Whincup has been desperately trying to regain the No.1 sticker he had to relinquish at the end of last year’s V8 Supercar championship.
Expensive pile-up: Eight Ferraris in Japanese car crash
A Ferrari driver lost control on a wet road in Japan, causing a chain reaction that wrecked 14 vehicles, including seven other Ferraris, two Mercedes-Benz and a Lamborghini.
We drive the four-cylinder Falcon
In next month’s Wheels we answer the year’s worst-kept secret and deliver the verdict on the first-ever four-cylinder Falcon.
Webber confident of building on Brazil win
Mark Webber is confident he can take the momentum of his Brazilian Grand Prix victory into 2012 when he tries again to knock team-mate Sebastian Vettel from his perch.
Territory outsells Falcon for the first time
For the first time ever, the Ford Territory SUV outsold its Falcon sedan sibling. The difference between the pair was almost 300 units – 1776 sales versus 1483.
Mercedes unveils ultra-luxe roadster
Mercedes-Benz has unveiled the fifth generation of its oldest continuously-running model, the SL-Class.
