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OPINION

Opinion

Opinion: Australia can avoid mistakes in EV charging infrastructure

A network of DC fast chargers will be absolutely crucial to making EVs practical for long-distance driving in Australia

Mazda MX-5 mega drive: NA v NB v NC v ND
Opinion

Opinion: How modern car design draws from the past

It’s no surprise that designers will look for inspiration from the past when designing for the future

Opinion

Opinion: The value of the ‘F1 in Schools’ program

Robbo reckons the ‘F1 in Schools’ should be more widely applauded

Opinion

Opinion: Self driving regulations won’t allow full autonomy soon

In over-regulated Australia, can any of us really see full autonomy becoming a reality in our lifetimes?

Mercedes -Maybach -S600-interior
Opinion

Opinion: The importance of car interior design

Former GM Holden Design Director Richard Ferlazzo explains why interiors are extremely complex environments

Audi R8
Opinion

Opinion: The best cars speak to our inner child

Inwood wagers that many of your fondest motoring memories stem from your formative years

Polestar 1 performance review feature
Opinion

Opinion: PHEVs get a bad rap

“PHEVs are the worst of both worlds, they insist. They’re wrong.”

Opinion

OPINION: Elon’s trillion-dollar Tesla just doesn’t add up

Tesla’s stock prices aren’t reflecting what’s happening in the real world, but why?

Opinion

What can Jaguar do as it drops SUV models?

Jaguar will go fully electric, but which kind of EVs befit the brand?

Opinion

Opinion: Hydrogen makes sense for heavy transport

Mercedes’ CEO is convinced that hydrogen’s role is as a fuel for high-mileage, electric-powered freighters of the road.

Opinion

Opinion: Why Honda needs General Motors for its BEV development

Honda wants 40% of its vehicles sold in America to be BEVs or fuel cell vehicles by 2030, but there’s a catch

Petrol pump
Opinion

Opinion: E-fuels are a fool’s gold for drivers

Creating synthetic fuels out of thin air is no longer a dream, but don’t expect it to save the ICE.

Opinion Volvo Tesla EV platform wrong direction feature
Opinion

Opinion: Older manufacturers will overtake Tesla in the EV space

Volvo believes that the favoured technique of sharing an EV “skateboard platform” is the wrong way to develop good EVs

Editorial Wheels Car of the Year 2021
Opinion

From the Editor: How Car of the Year 2021 forged ahead

COTY 2021 will forever go down as the One That Almost Didn’t Happen

Opinion: The car industry is turning away from beautiful designs
Opinion

Opinion: Where have all the beautiful cars gone?

It’s a question Inwood has found himself asking with worrying frequency

Opinion Mark Skaife Supercars Gen3
Opinion

Skaife’s Opinion: Gen3 will help Supercars thrive

Supercars is ready to face the future with a clearly defined purpose

Opinion

Opinion: The 2020s must be the time for sensible climate action

A year after Australia’s bushfires, cars cannot remain the only target for climate action

Ash Westerman on new cars
Opinion

Opinion: The new car I’d actually like to buy doesn’t exist

Westerman reckons there might not be a new car he would realitically buy

You may well have seen figures showing that electric vehicles are now more popular than cars with manual gearboxes, in the US at least. Here things are often a bit different but, in five months of 2019, the Tesla Model 3 sold more than 3500 units.  That’s more than the combined manual registrations for Ford Mustang, BMW 2 Series, Toyota 86, Mazda MX-5, Chevrolet Camaro and Porsche 911 for the same period– ie, the very cars you might well buy equipped with three pedals and a stick. To make matters worse for those who like to change gear themselves, in a reversal of common practice, BMW has announced that the base price for its sports coupes would be for the automatic model, with its low-volume manuals being cost-plus options on cars like the M2, M3 and M4. So things are certainly looking grim for the manual, and have for some time. Mercedes doesn’t offer a manual model. Now that the base Giulietta has been shuffled out to pasture, we get no manual Alfas. Roll that thought round in your head for a while. There
Opinion

Opinion: Don’t let the manual gearbox die out

Things are certainly looking grim for the manual, but the way to save it is simple.

Opinion

Farewell from Wheels editor Alex Inwood

There is change at the top for Wheels, with Alex Inwood stepping down from the editor role

Opinion

Why Maserati needs cars worthy of its iconic badge

Think Maserati and you’ll imagine Fangio sliding a red 250F. The brand is strong, but I can’t remember the last time Maserati made a class-leading car.

Opinion

Modern cars can be improved with old technology

“Resto-mods are hideously expensive. So here’s an idea. Instead of an old car with modern bits, imagine a modern car with old bits.”

Opinion

What made HSV so special

The end of the line for HSV is a sad day for all Australian car enthusiasts

Ineos Grenadier 4x4
Opinion

Here’s why we need the Ineos Grenadier in Australia

At last – an all-new live-axled ‘proper’ 4×4. So why all the whinging?