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Where's the Calais we know and love?
Untitled #cars4start
What is it?
It’s a vehicle from a brand that was once regarded as being as solid as the Rock of Gibraltar.
Holden relied on its trusty Kingswood for a decade, but was forced to downsize the car in response to the oil crisis.
Its replacement came from Europe and was called Commodore for the local market.
Forty years later Holden has stopped building cars locally.
They’re sourced from around…
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Equinox better than trip to the dentist
Untitled #cars4start
What is it?
I had about as much interest in driving the new Holden Equinox as going to the dentist.
But then a funny thing happened — I liked it.
In fact, I liked it a lot.
The Chevy Equinox — I have a hard time substituting Holden for Chevy — is a mid-sized SUV that replaces the five-seat Captiva in the Holden lineup.
It’s sleek, sits relatively low, and is easy to get in and out of, as well as…
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VERY few Hispano-Suizas ever arrived in Australia, probably not more than five or six — but the historic Spanish car maker is making a kind of coals-to-Newcastle comeback.
Some of its electric supercars could well end up on the streets of Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, Brisbane or Woop Woop.
Hispano-Suiza started life building electric cars back in 1898, switched to petrol power in 1904, and currently it has electric in its sights once again.
The brand, accepted by many as better than Rolls-Royce, was founded by Emilio de la Cuadra and Swiss engineer Marc Birkigt.
It built its cars in Barcelona as well as in three other centres in Spain.
They were big-bore machines, with engines ranging from 3.6 to 7.4 litres and could go like the clappers.
Some went to specialist bodybuilders who produced some truly beautiful cars.
King Alfonso XIII was keen to help the fledgling manufacturer, and several of the luxurious ones ended up in the royal garage.
The move also inspired some red-blooded Spaniards to buy, and race them — many with considerable success.
In 1910 a Hispano-Suiza scored a win at the French Coupe de L’Auto race, so the company named a sports touring version after King Alfonso.
The ‘Alfonso’ Hispano-Suiza evolved over the next two years, usually fitted with a 3.6-litre side-valve ‘T-head’ engine with tremendous low-speed torque.
With a four-speed transmission, the Alfonso was good for about 130km/h.
In 1911 the company opened a factory at Levallois-Perret, close to the lucrative markets of Paris.
The Spanish factories concentrated on more basic models and commercial vehicles, while the French factory turned out the desirable Hispano Suizas.
The first of the entirely French-conceived types was the Marc Birkigt designed H6B of 1919.
By this time Birkigt had spent a lot of time in and around Paris, and he had gained an insight into what wealthy French expected of a luxury car.
So Birkigt developed an advanced 6597cc six-cylinder engine, which was effectively half of an intended military V12 aero-engine. The cylinder block was in aluminium, with steel liners and overhead cam.
The car’s substantial weight and performance was kept in check by the first successful use of four-wheel brakes with a mechanical servo.
The system was so good that Rolls-Royce bought a licence to use it on their own cars.
The H6B did well in motor sport and a short-wheelbase model was called the Monza after a victory at the Italian circuit in 1922.
In 1924 an 8.0-litre racer called the Boulogne, or H6C Sport was launched and Woolf Barnato used one to set a swag of international records with it, including 300 miles at Brooklands at an average 92.2mph – or 148km/h.
H6s were built up to 1931, alongside the some French-built V12 models — big, fast luxury cars for the wealthy.
Only 16 H6C Boulognes were ever built, nine of them specifically for racing, but many standard H6Bs were fitted with the same type of 8.0-litre engine, which made them as fast as the Boulognes, though the handling on the longer wheelbase versions was never as good.
Only about 3000 Hispano-Suizas were built in France, a few of the more exotic types were also made under license by Skoda of Czechoslovakia, and by an Argentinian company until 1942.
In 1946, Hispano-Suiza sold off its automotive assets to Pegaso, another Spanish brand.
One of the few that made it to Australia was sold at auction in 2015.
It was a 1924 H6B saloon that fetched $170,000.
Another, in cabrio form, made the pages of a Sydney newspaper in 2011 and a third was known to have once been owned by a farmer in Toodyay, in country Western Australia.
The reborn car for 2019, was shown only as a sketch bearing lines similar to that of the streamlined supercars of the 1930s.
Miguel Suqué Mateu, great-grandson of one of the company’s founders, said: “When Hispano Suiza started, it built an electric car.
“Now, 119 years later, in March 2019, Hispano Suiza has its first 100 per cent electric car.”
The project is backed by Grup Peralada, a Spanish conglomerate mainly known for its leisure and culture businesses.
Will the product be as iconic as the ones of King Alfonso’s time?
It will, for sure, be a lot quieter. And probably even more expensive.
And it will definitely not bear the impressive bonnet ornament of a graceful stork, whose beak probably pricked many an errant pedestrian in Paris, Barcelona and elsewhere.
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Hispano #cars4start #Hispano-Suiza VERY few Hispano-Suizas ever arrived in Australia, probably not more than five or six -- but the historic Spanish car maker is making a kind of coals-to-Newcastle comeback.
Mazda hits the 'suite' spot
Mazda hits the suite spot #AndroidAuto #CarPlay #cars4start #Mazda
A whopping 370,000 Mazda owners will be able to upgrade their cars to include Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
The bad news is that the update is going to cost you almost $500 to do so, for what is basically a software upgrade.
Mazda which until now has offered its own MZD connectivity suite across the range is the first car maker to offer a retrospective upgrade of this kind to what is fast…
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Latest Sportage better than sharp
Untitled #cars4start #Kia #Sportage
What is it?
Kia’s Sportage is into its fourth generation with a mild refresh in mid 2018.
Aside from a gentle facelift, there has been some changes in physical dimensions, but you would need to put the cars side by side to spot the difference.
In a four model range, that consists of Si, Si Premium, SLi, and GT-Line — we tested the top two models.
There are three engines, two transmissions and…
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No more sleeping on the ground, not with the release of Earthcruiser’s Express XPS slide-on, slide off camper.
The Express XPS delivers the proven, go-anywhere characteristics of Earthcruiser’s designs to those who want to use their own utility, whether it’s single, space or dual cab — tub or tray.
Spearheading the range, the Express XPS unit is designed to fit most utes and pick-ups, with plans to include designs that will fit some of the large American pickups now available here.
The one-piece, fully moulded, carbon fibre reinforced slide-on camper body weighs in from just 280kg and features fully-insulated, thermal foam wall construction for strength and protection from whatever weather conditions may be encountered.
The versatility and efficiency of the design enables the camper to be transported over just about any terrain, depending of course on the off road ability of the host vehicle.
And, here’s the good part, once you get there, it can be demounted to form the heart of the campsite, freeing up your ute for exploring the surrounds.
The specification can be tailored to suit the requirements of individual vehicle owners.
Interior height up to 1980mm with the popup roof compliment integrated awnings to extend the hospitality area.
Home comforts include an internal shower and toilet, plus a supplementary external shower unit for those moments of travel solitude.
A stainless-steel sink and diesel-fuelled cooker, 70-litre fridge with freezer, mains electricity inverter, diesel fuelled interior heater, fresh water tanks and solar panels all contribute to luxury and independence on a grand scale, even in the middle of nowhere.
Sleeping accommodation for up to four (dependent on model), with a 1350 x 2000mm double bed plus a dinette that also converts to a second double bed or two individual berths, means an end to sleeping rough on the ground.
Prices start from $79,800 for the Express XPS with a selection of specifications to suit all budgets and requirements.
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CHECKOUT: Meet the ultimate off road campervan
Slider redefines the camper segment #cars4start #Earthcruiser No more sleeping on the ground, not with the release of Earthcruiser's Express XPS slide-on, slide off camper.
In 1958 if you wanted a six cylinder car, had the additional cash to afford more luxury than could be found in a Holden Special, wanted something British and did not like the American inspired styling of the Vauxhall Velox/Cresta or Ford Zephyr/Zodiac, then it is likely the Austin A95 Westminster, or its Morris Marshal clone, would be on the top of your list.
In many ways the A95/Marshal was the equivalent of a Holden Premier or Falcon Futura, four years before that duo appeared.
And if you hankered after a sportier and more powerful version of the A95, then Austin’s A105 was the car for you.
From a 21st Century perspective the A105 would been the equivalent of a V8 Holden Calais, if they were still making them — the A95 is the V6 Calais.
The A105’s engine boasted a higher compression ratio, double valve springs, and twin SU carburettors.
Its 2.6-litre engine pumped out 102bhp (76.1kw), 20 per cent more than the A95.
It’s the motor that also powered the Austin Healey.
The suspension was lowered an inch for a more road hugging stance.
The Lucas driving lights mounted on the front bumper bars, stainless steel wheel covers and discrete A105 badges signified the difference from the A95.
The A95 and the A105 could be had with a BorgWarner 3-speed automatic transmission.
All of the A105s that came to Australia were automatics.
“It’s got a great kick down,” says David Davis of his A105.
To emphasise the point he pushes the accelerator pedal to the floor and we sprint from 80km/h to 100km/h in the time it took you to read this paragraph.
David and I are out on one of the semi-rural roads that criss-cross western Sydney in the area which will become the city’s second airport.
The drive allows me to appreciate the interior appointments.
Up front the white and maroon leather bucket seats have individual centre arm rests. There’s a centre arm rest for back seat passengers. All doors have arm rests too.
A parcel shelf sits below the all metal dashboard. As a nod to safety the top of the dash and the parcel shelf are covered in thinly padded vinyl.
David, has owned the car since 2001.
“I’m the fifth owner,” he tells me.
If you have not seen an A105 before, then you are not alone.
David says he’s seen only one other since 2001.
“There’s probably about five left in Australia,” he estimates.
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Austin, Texas (no, Austin Western Sydney) #Austin #cars4start #Retro In 1958 if you wanted a six cylinder car, had the additional cash to afford more luxury than could be found in a Holden Special, wanted something British and did not like the American inspired styling of the Vauxhall Velox/Cresta or Ford Zephyr/Zodiac, then it is likely the Austin A95 Westminster, or its Morris Marshal clone, would be on the top of your list.
Sunroofs to become solar panels
Sunroofs to become solar p #cars4start #Hyundai #Kia #solar
Kia and Hyundai have announced exciting plans to introduce ‘solar roof’ charging technology on selected vehicles.
Electricity-generating solar panels will be incorporated into the roof or the bonnet of vehicles, and will support internal combustion, hybrid and battery electric vehicles with additional electrical power, increasing fuel efficiency and range.
The solar charging technology is being…
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