Performance / Sports Cars

The realm of ultra-high performance coupes has been a heavily defended territory of the Germans, fortified with such nameplates as BMW M4, Mercedes-AMG C 63 and Audi RS 5. Now, the German establishment is about to get a taste of ‘waku doki’ – Japanese for ‘heart pumping, adrenalin racing’. That’s …

This is it. The last ever Ford Falcon. The one that Ford Australia hopes will send the Aussie flagship out with a big bang, taking with it the longest continuously surviving car nameplate in Australia. The big Ford sedan used to be the best-selling locally made car in Australia, with …

Fed on a diet of high-octane V8s for generations, Australia is fertile ground for high-performance machines. Our un-quenching thirst for kilowatts and horsepower means we are consistently one of the highest consumers of RS’s, M’s and AMG’s per capita in the world. Not surprising, then, that there’s a hi-po variant …

Audi’s fast growing S brand has welcomed its smallest and cheapest S model – the new Audi S1. Available solely as a Sportback (5-door) in Australia, the S1 promises to deliver the level of performance and prestige generally associated with the S badge, but at a relatively wallet-friendly proposition. It …

The new Abarth 595 range has received two new trim levels. The 595 Turismo and 595 Competizione hatch and convertible now join the 595 ’50th Anniversary’, launched in May last year as the fastest and most powerful 595 so far. While the Turismo version offers slightly more luxury, the Competizione steps up to a more race …

When we drove the Alfa Romeo MiTo last year, we liked its chic styling and generous features, but its driving dynamics hasn’t really convinced us. So,the baton is now handed over to the MiTo Quadrifoglio Verde, the performance flagship of the range. Priced from $30,500 plus on roads, the MiTo QV …

STI – three letters that will make any enthusiast’s heart skip a beat. For over 20 years, the acronym, which stands for Subaru Technica International, has been synonymous with high performance, all-wheel-drive motoring. And the car that gave rise to the pedigree is none other than the Subaru WRX STI. …

The affordable performance all-wheel drive arena used to be a hotly contested battleground between two Japanese heavy weights – the Subaru WRX STI and the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution. Both boasts illustrious pedigree garnered through many World Rally Championship wins in their respective careers. The WRX STI with 46 under its …

It’s seven in the morning and it’s not a weekday. There could only be two reasons why I wasn’t slumbering under the warmth of the blanket at this hour on a Saturday morning – having just found my way home from a messy Friday night out, or something fun is parked …

Of the trio of retro brigade – the MINI Cooper, Fiat 500 and Volkswagen Beetle, the MINI is indisputably the most successful. Since its reintroduction as a modern take on the cult British classic in 2000, the MINI Cooper has carried on with the tradition of bringing fun and agility …

This is it! The last of its kind. The Doctor Who of Holden’s once ubiquitous Commodore-based Ute. It is highly unlikely that a car-based ute will ever grace our roads again after the demise of the locally made Holden. While the Commodore may reinvent itself in the form of a …

After what seems like an excruciatingly long and wet winter, the sun’s ray has finally made a triumphant return to chase away the cold mornings and the dark nights. With it, the milder temperature brings an outburst of colour and the welcoming scent of blooms in the garden. Like ladybirds …

The Abarth 595 ’50th Anniversary’ celebrates the introduction of the first Abarth tuned Fiat 500 in 1963. Relaunched in 2007, Fiat’s performance arm Abarth had been making performance parts for the bambino since the early 50s before rolling out the original 595 at the Turin Motor Show a decade later. …

The Power to Surprise. That’s Kia’s tag line and they really are all about the power to surprise, especially with their European-sourced and curiously named ‘pro_cee’d GT’. The surprise here is how well it drives! I don’t usually spoil my review by giving my verdict at the start, but I …