Category: CARS

Your interstate best friend: The Toyota Landcruiser 300 7-seat monster

Toyota outback Landcruiser

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Updated: 29/05/2022

Cars are all about context, right? You don’t get a convertible Volkswagen Eos to hit the outback. Much less do you get a Ford Wildtrak for simple trips to the shop. But on the odd occasion you find a car that’s equal parts massive and practical that makes you think, ‘oh yeah, that works’. Say hi to the Toyota Landcruiser 300. Quite literally the biggest car you’ve ever driven, with more power than the simple streets of Sydney knew how to handle and enough suspension to make you have moments of existential quandry where you think, ‘am I actually driving, or just rolling under my own momentum?’ MORE: Here’s what we thought of the Toyota CHR Koba SUV View this post on Instagram A post shared by T H E F (@the_f_online) More an icon and master of the outback, you’d be considered nuts if you didn’t put this car through its paces on all kinds of terrain from the city to the country. So, we spoke with travel expert Quentin Long about the best ways to explore Australia’s landscape and those unseen destinations. The Landcruiser 300 makes all kinds of trips for all durations and demands a breeze. With perks and features that include some of these bits, you’re in good hands: a brand new 3.3L twin-turbo V6 diesel engine delivering 227kW and 700Nm 10-speed automatic transmission designed to enhance driving performance, fuel efficiency, and quietness – which genuinely works – you hear nothing and let’s not forget, the Multi Terrain Select with a… Read More

Category: AUSTRALIA, CARS, FEATURES, LIFESTYLE, TRAVEL

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Join 45% of Australians this year – plan a road trip with a new Mitsubishi Outlander

Mitsubishi Outlander car red

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Updated: 21/06/2022

You know how sometimes you get into a car (say, an Uber or a friend’s car), the seats are like wood, the posture’s off and the roof’s so low you get a pinched nerve in your neck and you’re left thinking how can anyone sit in this all day long? Well, the new Mitsubishi Outlander is so, absolutely the polar opposite of every average car experience you’ve ever had it’s going to be hard to find the words. But let’s try. Basically, if you’re in need of a new car, either for a good time or a long time, the Mitsubishi Outlander is it. And even though it’s not summer anymore and the season for roadtrips is tapering off – after 3-in-4 of us took to the road in 2021/2022, you’re still in safe hands with the new ride. View this post on Instagram A post shared by T H E F (@the_f_online) Sitting up higher than your average and with enough torque and suspension to truly convince you you’re driving a cloud, it’s a genuinely stylish ride – that kind of looks like a Transformer, but nicer – that will inspire you this winter to take a road trip to literally anywhere. We partnered with Mitsubishi earlier in 2022 to get their take on an ideal road trip itinerary when you know your trip’s sorted with a quality car, 20-inch alloys a full size sun roof. See ya, traffic! Beat the rush and make an early start to avoid the highway traffic jam. Mitsubishi’s research… Read More

Category: CARS, FEATURES, LIFESTYLE

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Can new lithium extraction technology be a game-changer?

Lithium electric car charger

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Updated: 09/05/2022

The push for electric cars amid environmental concerns has made lithium a hot product. It is one of the base minerals for battery technology. There has been a growing demand for rechargeable lithium-ion batteries used in portable electronic devices (such as smartphones, tablets, and laptops.), electric cars and electric tools. Currently, the price of lithium is around NZ$15000 per tonne but due to extraordinary demand, its price even reached NZ$50,000 for some time. That lithium’s demand is skyrocketing can also be gauged from an estimate by consulting firm McKinsey. The demand will grow from an estimated 500,000 tonnes in 2021 to as much as 3.8 million tonnes by the end of the decade. Direct Lithium Extraction (DLE) According to the McKinsey report, alongside conventional lithium supply, direct lithium extraction is going to be the driving force so that the industry can respond more swiftly to the soaring demand and in a more sustainable way. Most conventional mining projects are not eco-friendly. The traditional way is damaging to the environment. It generates a lot of carbon dioxide. It is believed that for one tonne of lithium extracted, 15 tonnes of carbon dioxide are generated. Even some of the direct extraction methods of using brine leaves behind brine salts. New technology within the DLE method There is a new method for extracting lithium. It extracts fluid from underground, separates minerals from water, and then returns it back to the ground. Through this method, the carbon dioxide emitted is significantly lower. This method has already been tried with… Read More

Category: CARS, FEATURES, LIFESTYLE

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The Wild West of EV infrastructure

EV car charging Wild West cowboy

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Posted: 07/04/2022

AC or DC?, Level 1, 2 or 3?, Charging Speed? Slow, Fast, Superfast, 22Khw, 120kHw, 150kHw or even faster? 800volt charging systems, J1772, CHAdeMO, CCS or DC Combo, 16amps maybe? Confused? That isn’t surprising. There are hundreds of different Charge Point Operators (CPOs), and new ones pop up almost weekly. There are different connector types, various payment methods, and multiple different charging apps. Some don’t show all networks, and some show real-time charger status, and some car manufacturers have their own networks. There are different charging cards, some which require pre-registering. Is there a single charging card for all? Yes, but not really. Welcome to the world of charging today – where companies compete with very few rules and next to no standardisation; the result is a Wild West of free-market inefficiency, and the consumers and the EV market, and therefore the planet, will suffer. All the battery range and electric infrastructure in the world won’t matter if you can’t plan, pay, or access them. To encourage people to make the electric leap, charging should be as simple as, or even simpler than, filling your car with gas. Today this just isn’t the case. Fail to plan, plan to fail When you are sold a non-Tesla electric car, the guy selling it to you has probably only sold a handful of EVs versus hundreds of ICE cars. The ‘product handover’ is light, to say the least. You will normally be handed your car key and if you’re lucky a charging card, then sent on your… Read More

Category: CARS, LIFESTYLE

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Need a new ute? The new Next-Gen Ford Ranger is out next month

Ford Next Gen Ranger All Models car truck ute

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Posted: 26/03/2022

If you’re a Ford fan and thinking about whether now’s a good time to upgrade? Have a read of our last test drive of the Ford Wildtrak and go from there. Ford released some good news for all Ranger drivers alike recently, in that Australian specifications of the Next-Gen Ford Ranger have been confirmed. It’ll come with a new-to-Ranger optional 3.0L V6 turbo-diesel engine with 184 kW of power at 3,250 rpm and 600 Nm of torque, full-time 4WD, up to six selectable drive modes and 3,500kg towing. Basically, it’s a work horse in a stylish chassis, meaning it doubles as the work care for life. Developed locally in Australia for the Aussie lifestyle, road conditions and the way we drive, the Next-Gen Ranger has taken the immense success of Ranger and improved it with customer-led design and an impressive suite of technology, safety, comfort and drivetrain features. What does all this mean? Basically, whether you’re after fuel economy, refinement, towing or hauling, the powertrains chosen for Next-Gen Ranger has you covered complete with six shiny new features to the range that’s all about you. A huge new dash Next-Gen Ranger introduces an 8-inch fully digital instrument cluster that can be customised. The dash displays boast unique animations and includes a digital speedometer and tachometer. The animations also feature realistic body-style graphics. Raptor comes standard with a 12.4-inch fully digital instrument cluster. Depending on the variant, owners can toggle between layouts showing information including driver-assist technologies, tachometer on or off, and extra gauges. There’s also… Read More

Category: CARS, LIFESTYLE

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The ultimate road trip in Australia – as voted by everyone

Road trip

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Updated: 11/03/2022

The Great Ocean Road has been named the Nextbase Ultimate Aussie Road Trip 2022. So, if ever there was a time to hire a car, buy a car, borrow a car – it’s now. With over 1,600 votes, the Great Ocean Road finished ahead of Broome to Kununurra via the Kimberleys, WA and the Tasmanian Ring Road.  Deciding it was time to settle the debate once and for all, the world’s leading Dash Cam manufacturer Nextbase asked the public which Australian road trip is the crown in the road.  From the shortlist of 10, the Great Great Ocean Road finished top, ahead of Broome to Kununurra via the Kimberleys and the Tasmanian Ring Road. In total, 1,635 Australians voted across November through to January 31, 2022.  THE TOP-10 ULTIMATE AUSTRALIAN ROAD TRIPS: Great Ocean Road, VIC Broome to Kununurra via the Kimberleys, WA Tasmanian Ring Road, TAS  Cairns to Normanton (on your way to NT), QLD Darwin to Kakadu, NT South Coast including Eurobodalla Shire Region and Narooma , NSW   Alice Springs to Uluru, NT Longreach to Rockhampton loop including Emerald and Carnarvon, QLD Birdsville Track, QLD & SA Bright, Falls Creek, Omeo loop, VIC If this is your kind of thing, then hey, check out some of the best SUVs for the job!

Category: AUSTRALIA, CARS, LIFESTYLE, TRAVEL

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Trends that will change the future of the car industry by 2030

car hyundai nsw

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Posted: 10/03/2022

As technology advances, numerous industries are experiencing dramatic changes, and the automobile industry is one of them. Today, new brands, new propulsion methods, new safety measures, etc. are springing up in different places around the world. Given this, we are can only imagine what the future of the car industry will look like. So, let’s examine the trends that will shape the future of the auto industry by 2030. New business models could boost the revenues of automotive It has been projected that there will be a huge increase in the pool of automotive revenue. Similarly, we will experience diversification that allows data-driven and on-demand mobility services. As a result of this, there could be a 30% boost in the automotive revenue pool by 2030. Notably, this means an increase of $1.5 trillion in the revenue pool. Also, drivers and passengers will have more time to enjoy services and media during their transit time. All thanks to the advancement in autonomous technology and connectivity that we could experience by 2030. As much as 15% of new vehicles could be fully autonomous Let’s talk more about autonomous vehicles. Currently, there are lots of regulatory and technological challenges that autonomous vehicles are dealing with. These challenges include security/safety concerns, consumer understanding, and pricing. As a result of these issues, it is difficult for these automobiles to be commercialized. Nonetheless, it has been forecasted that these challenges would have been resolved by 2030. If this is so, fully autonomous vehicles could be responsible for as much as 15%… Read More

Category: CARS

Coming this July, MG’s latest electric vehicle will take to the roads

MG SUV car blue

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Updated: 08/03/2022

MG is rejoining the pack when it comes to making our world cleaner, lowering the amount we drop on fuel (thanks, Russia) and generally doing better for the planet, one car at a time. Recently, MG Australia announced that the latest ZS EV is set to consolidate MG Motor Australia and New Zealand’s position as a leader in the affordable new energy vehicle space when it launches in July this year. Read about our test drive of the MG ZS SUV In the global push to electrify the roads and cut carbon emissions, MG is doing its part with the ZS EV SUV for inner city jaunts. Complete with a comprehensive styling makeover, a completely new interior treatment and a new, more efficient and better-performing power train are just some of the exciting new enhancements for Australia’s best-selling electric SUV, which will go on sale from $46,990 drive-away right across Australia. But what else is there to look forward to, if you’re in the market for a new ride? Well… There are two different types of car available at launch Customers will be able to choose from two variants, with the new value-led Excite complementing the stylish, luxurious Essence.  Get it from anywhere With over 85 dealers offering the MG for purchase, you can get it from any major hub. The new ZS EV will be backed by a national network MG Motor dealers and will be covered by MG’s 7-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty, which also includes the high-voltage battery. Get it early, get it cheap And… Read More

Category: CARS, FEATURES, LIFESTYLE

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Thinking of a road trip? Try Mitsubishi’s top road trip tips

A Mitsubishi outlander drives away from the camera along a coastal road

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Updated: 01/02/2022

Christmas holidays means lots of a few things: sun, beach and getting the heck outta town! So pack the life up into a car – rent one if you have to! – and hit the road, exploring some of your State’s, or further afield, hidden wonders and coastal gems. We spoke to Mitsubishi who gave us their top 10 tips for a road trip this summer that suits the newest to the most advanced drivers and their desire for a quality ride with a winning destination. Mitsubishi’s top ten festive road trip tips All I want for Christmas is less traffic Beat the rush and make an early start to avoid the highway traffic jam. Mitsubishi research indicates the busiest time on the roads this Christmas is likely to be between the 18th and 24th December, with half (48%) of Aussies planning on setting off for the Christmas holiday season between these dates and only one in ten planning to set off earlier than December 18th. Wrapping up insurance It’s important to protect the family from unexpected encounters with kangaroos on outback roads, or torrential downpours in the middle of rain forests, not to mention accidents and break-ins. As with every vehicle, make sure you have the insurance you need before travelling and purchase roadside assistance for additional support. Life cover never goes astray, either, while you’re at it. Be efficient with boot packing Much to the distress of parents Australia-wide, packing a boot is traditionally known as one of the most complicated and frustrating aspects of… Read More

Category: CARS, LIFESTYLE, TRAVEL

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Tips on the second-hand car inspection process and buying the right car for you

Honda-Insight-vti-car

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Updated: 22/12/2023

Aussies’ love affair with second-hand cars has had a huge resurgence following the pandemic, but many still find the inspection process nerve-wracking and confusing. New research from mycar Tyre & Auto reveals nearly two-thirds (64%) of Australians are planning on buying a car in the next two years and, due to the financial constraints of the past year, over half (53%) are turning to second-hand options. When it comes to the purchasing process, Australians are feeling more overwhelmed than ever, with 83% of second-hand car buyers concerned the car will have a mechanical fault. To help prospective buyers along the way, mycar has developed the ‘Sense Check’ inspection guide, instructing Aussies on what to look for, feel for, listen out for and even what certain smells could indicate when buying second-hand. During the day, inspect the used cars in Georgetown SC panels to see that they are even and not painted, misaligned, damaged or rusty. Key tips include: For more tips on what to look out for when shopping for a second-hand car, visit the mycar ‘Sense Check’ inspection guide at www.mycar.com.au/sense-check or speak to a friendly technician at one of mycar’s 265+ stores.

Category: CARS, LIFESTYLE

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