Australia

Porsche was founded back in 1931, and 20 years later, on November 1st, 1951 it started to sell cars on the Australian market. The first car introduced to the Australians was the Porsche 356. Now, 70 years later, Porsche marks the event with the launch of the special 911 GT3 70 Years Porsche Australia Edition - a car inspired, of course, by the 356.

The model is based on the 911 GT3 with Touring Package and it is the first special edition ever created by Porsche for the Australian market.

Muscle cars have often been related to the American market owing to the hot rod culture that sprung up during the 1920s. Australia followed suit after automakers like Ford released the GT in the late 60s for the local market. The popularity of the touring car series also encouraged manufacturers to develop muscle cars that specifically targeted the Australian market. The fact the population is geographically isolated and relatively smaller has lent to the uniqueness of muscle car models over the next few decades.

On September 12, Daniel Ricciardo claimed a sensational victory during the 2021 Italian Grand Prix. Even if this was his eighth victory in Formula One, it was his first victory as a McLaren driver. Actually, he brought McLaren’s first victory since the Brazil GP in 2012.

To celebrate, McLaren will launch a limited edition 720S. It will only be offered in Australia, will be of course named Daniel Ricciardo Edition 720S, and was designed in cooperation with McLaren Special Operations (MSO).

Things have a habit of being more expensive in the land down under, but I have to admit that I about fell out of my chair when I learned what Australians have to pay to set foot in a BMW M8 Competition. In local currency, we’re talking about $350,000 for the Grand Coupe and $352,900. I know, I know – the exchange rate, right? Well, it’s still downright expensive. Those figures translate to $235,130 and $237,078, respectively.

Our mates over at Hyundai Australia must have a lot of time on their hands. A year after building a one-off convertible Santa Fe that was pretty much a standard Santa Fe with its roof chopped off, Hyundai Australia outdid itself this time by rolling out a full N-spec iMax passenger van. Known as the Starex in other global markets — it’s not sold in the U.S. — the iMax N isn’t your typical passenger van. It comes with a completely different engine, a limited-slip differential, and a dual-mode active exhaust system that you normally find in models like the i30 N and the U.S.-spec Veloster N. Obviously, Hyundai Australia wouldn’t go through these lengths to create an N-spec iMax passenger van if it didn’t have plans to have fun with it. Well, it did have fun with it. A lot of fun.

Good news, Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 fans in Australia. The fastest Mustang ever built will be coming to the Land Down Under! Bad news, Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 fans in Australia. The fastest Mustang ever built will carry a price tag that’s going to beat your bank accounts senseless!

That’s the predicament our mates now face. On the one hand, the possibility of owning a Shelby GT500 has never been this close to reality, at least if a new law passes allowing variants of the Mustang not sold in Australia to be imported and sold locally. On the other hand, these converted-for-Australia GT500 models could set would-be owners back as much as AUD300,000 to AUD400,000. That converts to around $202,000 to $270,000 based on current exchange rates.

Depending on what the price ends up being, our friends in Australia would have to pay at least three times as much as U.S. customers for a chance to own and drive the fastest Mustang ever built. Is the thrill of owning a Shelby GT500 worth the price — literally — of a Lamborghini Huracan? That’s a question only those who are really interested in a converted Mustang Shelby GT500 can answer.

Once you see it, you can’t quite unsee it and for all the good reasons. This is the Ford Mustang R-Spec, a GT-based limited-edition variant built in RHD only for the Australian market that features a plethora of Ford Performance parts, a Roush supercharger, and an active exhaust. That makes it the first supercharged Mustang to be sold through Ford dealers. With all the goodies that have been crammed in the R-Spec, power goes all the way up to 700 horsepower and 610 pound-feet of torque or about 170 horsepower and 180 torques over the Mustang Shelby GT350. At $67,500 in Oz, this could just be a great bang for the buck if you can get your hands on one of the 500 examples that will be made.

It’s been five years since Australian Blue Oval fans have been mourning the loss of Ford Performance Vehicles (FPV), Ford Australia’s division that used to turn around the really quick Fords at the antipodes. While nothing can replace a Falcon with all of FPV’s go-fast features added to it, the R-Spec Mustang is a nice addition to the sports car’s lineup in Australia where, until now, all you had to choose from when it came to ’special’ Mustangs was the Bullitt - and only 700 of those have been made for the 2019 MY (the R-Spec is part of the 2020 MY Mustang lineup).

Holden shutdown its last manufacturing plant in May 2017 and has been a mere importer ever since. The former automaker has been importing General Motors cars and marketing them under its brand name. However, this has allowed Holden to deliver upgraded products to the market, and this time, it’s the Colorado Z71 Xtreme.

Available only in Australia for the time being, the RX Crafted is based on the Luxury trim and features extra standard equipment. It slots right between the Luxury and F Sport trims, giving customers who want more features but don’t want to pay the F Sport premium a new alternative. The RX Crafted is available with all three powertrains offered in Australia, while production is limited to only 300 examples.

Continue reading to learn more about the Lexus RX Crafted.

Living in Australia and feeling depressed over Holden being shut down? Can’t get your V-8 fix now that Holden Special Vehicles (HSV) is no longer building cool, beefed-up versions of the Commodore? Well, here’s some good news for ya: HSV just announced that it will convert the Camaro SS to right-hand drive for the Australian market starting 2018. The announcement is part of a new agreement struck between HSV and Holden, which will work together to bring new GM vehicles Down Under. The brands also unveiled a joint logo that now contains the lion and helmet used by Holden and HSV in the past.

The Camaro will be brought to Australia in SS trim, powered by the naturally aspirated, 6.2-liter V-8. No four-cylinder or V-6 options, but also no ZL1. It will also be the higher-level 2SS version with various performance and convenience upgrades. No info on pricing yet, but expect it to be more expensive than the competing Ford Mustang GT after the right-hand-drive conversion. Production will begin in July 2018.

Alongside the Camaro SS, HSV will also modify the the Colorado and heavy-duty Silverado 2500HD for right-hand-drive use. The Colorado will also wear a "SportsCat" badge and will continue to use a Holden logo as it did until now. The Silverado 2500HD, on the other hand, will sold as a Chevrolet, just like the Camaro SS. The Colorado will be available in two versions, but none will get more power. However, a hotter version of the truck is likely to be followed as a direct rival for the upcoming Ford Ranger Raptor. The Colorado SportsCat will go into production in late January as HSV first Chevrolet conversion. Silverado conversions will commence in April 2018.

As the auto industry continues to embrace electric cars, governments around the world are continuing their own march of ramping up efforts to accommodate the rise of electric vehicles. The local governments of Paris, Madrid, Athens, and Mexico City have all said that they’ll ban diesel cars from city centers by 2025. More recently, the British government said that the sale of gas and diesel cars will be banned from 2040, a move that France also plans to make. Now Australia’s getting in on the action with plans to build a massive superhighway along the coast of Queensland near the Great Barrier Reef. This superhighway, according to Reuters, will be built for electric cars.

The project itself is as grandiose as it is ambitious. If it comes to fruition, the superhighway will cover a distance of 1,118 miles, running from Coolangatta in the south of Cairns and stretching all the way to Cairns in the northern area of Queensland. To put that in perspective, that 1,118-mile distance is roughly the same as going from New York, New York to Miami, Florida. While there is still no timetable as to when this superhighway will be built, there are also plans to equip this long stretch of road with charging stations, spread out along its entire length. According to reports, these stations will be provided by Tritium and Schneider Electric, a local based manufacturer that plans to offer free charging to all plug-in vehicles who will use the road. Should the superhighway become a reality, its sheer size and location – in reach of the majestic Great Barrier Reef – could turn it into one of the best highways in the world, and quite certainly, the quietest of them all too.

Continue after the jump to read the full story.

Launched in 2013, the current ClubSport is the entry-level sedan in the HSV range, which in turn is the high-performance division of Holden. A beefed-up version of the Commodore VF, the Gen-F HSV ClubSport features enhanced aerodynamics, a sportier interior, and a high-revving, naturally aspirated V-8 engine. The unit in question is a revised version of the 6.2-liter LS3 used in the previous generation Chevrolet Corvette and Camaro. A slightly more powerful variant is offered under the ClubSport R8 badge. The performance-oriented sedan will be discontinued in 2017, when Holden will cease all operations in Australia.

The last couple of years have seen Holden and HSV launch several special-edition models of the Commodore. With the sedan so close to exiting the market, HSV has prepared three final versions of the ClubSport R8, one of which is the Track Edition. Limited to only 156 units, the R8 Track Edition is essentially a standard R8 under the hood, but borrows most of its exterior features from the supercharged ClubSport GTS and sports a few performance improvements underneath.

“Given the unique track-inspired content, the sharp pricing and the fact that these will be the last LS3 ClubSport R8’s ever built, we’re anticipating strong demand”, said Tim Jackson, HSV’s managing director. The Track Edition was launched alongside the Black SV and Grange SV versions and joins the Clubsport R8 25th Anniversary Edition as one of the last HSVs to leave the factory.

Continue reading to learn more about the HSV ClubSport R8 Track Edition.

With a revised version of the Toyota GT 86 underway, the Japanese coupe might finally get the more powerful drivetrain enthusiasts have been clamoring about since its launch in 2012. Meanwhile, Toyota is trying to keep customers happy with all sorts of special-edition models. Following the introduction of the Scion FR-S Release Series 2.0 at the 2015 SEMA Show, Toyota has crafted yet another limited-edition coupe. This time around, it’s being offered in Australia and goes by the name GT 86 Blackline.

Based on the range-topping 86 GTS, the Blackline package adds a subtle body kit, a new paint scheme, new wheels, and a sportier interior, most of which is sourced from TRD — Toyota’s motorsport division.

Limited to only 450 units, offered with both manual and automatic transmissions, the GT 86 Blackline marks the start of a six-month countdown to the first round of the Toyota 86 Racing Series. For the uninitiated, it’s a one-make racing series that’s set to commence in Australia in May 2016. The new series, which was created for pro-am drivers, will run as a support category to the highly popular V8 Supercars Championship.

Each entrant will drive a production-based T86RS model, with details about the car to be released soon. In the meantime, let’s have a closer look at the GT 86 Blackline limited-edition below.

Continue reading to learn more about the Toyota GT 86 Blackline.

The recent debuts two all-new SUVs – the 2016 Toyota Fortuner and 2015 Ford Everest – have reignited interest in the seven-passenger, body-on-frame SUV segment, particularly in Australia where such vehicles enjoy healthy sales. However, one stalwart in the segment is the Isuzu mu-X, an SUV that shares all the same important criteria as the others.

Isuzu’s seven-passenger people hauler rides on a ladder frame design with an independent front suspension and a solid rear axle sprung with a multi-link and coil design. The mu-X also sports a turbodiesel powertrain, available manual transmission, and optional 4WD. On paper, the mu-X certainly has the right stuff.

Ironically, much of that can be credited to General Motors – the parent company to one of the mu-X’s closest rivals, the 2012 Holden Colorado 7. Reminiscent of GM and Isuzu’s past partnership in the U.S., the mu-X is a rebadged version of the Holden Colorado 7. Here in the States, GM rebadged the first-generation Chevrolet Colorado midsize pickup truck as the 2004 Isuzu i-Series and the Chevrolet Trailblazer SUV as the Isuzu Ascender.

Unlike that past partnership, Isuzu is providing its own powertrain for the mu-X, including a 3.0-liter inline four-cylinder turbodiesel and five-speed transmissions in place of the Holden’s 2.8-liter four-cylinder turbodiesel and six-speed manual and automatic gearboxes. Beyond that, the Colorado 7 and mu-X are strikingly similar. Still, both compete against each other in the Australian market and will have to fend off the new Fortuner and Everest from Toyota and Ford.

So let’s take a deeper dive into the Isuzu mu-X.

Continue reading to learn more about the Isuzu MU-X.

With Holden set to cease all manufacturing by the end of 2017, the current VF-generation and all its derivatives will become the final evolution of the iconic Commodore nameplate. Its disappearance will also mark the end of the HSV (Holden Special Vehicles) brand, Australia’s leading performance-car manufacturer, as we know it. But until that happens, HSV is rolling out a limited-edition ClubSport R8 to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the ClubSport moniker. Much like any other Holden product, this performance sedan won’t be sold outside Australia and New Zealand.

As its name suggests, the ClubSport R8 25th Anniversary Edition is based on the ClubSport model, which is the entry-level sedan in the HSV range. It sits below the ultra-powerful GTS and the luxurious Signature Series, and it is offered in two trims. This special-edition features the R8 package, which adds more horsepower and extra features to the standard model.

Similar to the 20th Anniversary Edition that was launched in 2000, the 25th Anniversary Edition will be built in very limited quantities and employ a range of bespoke features inside and out.

"Along with GTS, ClubSport has been one of the mainstays of the HSV lineup through its proud history", said HSV Managing Director, Tim Jackson. "We’re sure the added value offered with the 25th Anniversary ClubSport R8 will be well received by our fans."

Continue reading to learn more about the HSV ClubSport R8 25th Anniversary Edition.

Toyota has just announced an all-new SUV for the Australian market – the Fortuner. Based on the newest version of the venerable Hilux pickup truck, the Fortuner is a rugged, body-on-frame SUV with seating for seven that’s powered by the same turbodiesel engine found in the Hilux and comes standard with a part-time, two-speed 4WD system and electronic locking rear differential.

Tony Cramb, Toyota Australia’s executive director of sales and marketing, says the Fortuner is the brand’s diesel alternative to the Kluger, Australia’s version of the Highlander. The Fortuner is also far more rugged and trail-ready than the unibody Kluger while slotting under the surprisingly similar Land Cruiser Prado in terms of luxury and price. Though both the Prado and Fortuner are traditional SUVs with three rows of seats for seven people, the two vehicles will appeal to different audiences.

Toyota’s move to introduce the Fortuner makes more sense when considering both 2015 Ford Everest and Isuzu MU-X – both of which are based on their respective pickup truck platforms.

The Fortuner will arrive in Australian dealerships in October 2015 as a 2016 model and sale for a price that is still undisclosed. Early estimations suggest a starting price of around $45,000.

Continue reading for the full story.

Australian start-up Quantum Performance Vehicles has unveiled its very first car, and it has a one-to-one power-to-weight ratio, enough wing to drive upside down, and promises to “give the world’s top hyper cars a run for their money.” It’s called the GP700, and it’s the product of a 7-year-long development process between the father/son team of Jeff and Andrew David.

Based out of Gisborne, northwest of Melbourne, Quantum wasn’t shy in blessing its new flagship with some truly astounding stats. Here’s just a few: the power-to-weight ratio is 60 percent better than a Bugatti Veyron, there’s more longitudinal force during peak acceleration than a free-fall skydive (1.2 G’s vs. 1.0 G’s), there’s enough lateral grip when cornering at 180 km/h (112 mph) to approach the same forces experienced during the launch of the space shuttle (2.5 G’s vs. 3.0 G’s), and there’s enough braking force to rival landing on an aircraft carrier (2.0 G’s).

“The GP700 was designed with pure drivability and functionality in mind, from the aerodynamic bodywork to the pure driver-centric interior,” says Andrew David on Quantum’s website.

So then, it’s probably safe to assume the car will rip apexes like a monster truck pulling dandelions. However, the GP700 is also, amazingly, road legal.

Sounds like a winning combination, doesn’t it? Read on to find out if it actually works.

Continue reading to learn more about the Quantum GP700.