North East Motor Guide

ON FRONT PAG E N O R T H E AST V I C TO R I A , A L P S A N D H I G H CO U N T RY

DECEMBER 2 - 8, 2016

> available online - www.nemedia.com.au

2017 Infiniti INFINITI, the upmarket Japanese car maker operated by Nissan, is pushing hard at the moment with new models in several segments, particularly in the small hatchback and SUV arenas.

Now, the Infiniti Q70 is joining the sales push, with major changes for the 2017 season.

It has refreshed styling front and rear, as well as in the cabin, and has improved NVH (Noise, Vibration and Harshness) features that add to the upmarket feel.

The Infiniti Q70 S Premium grade we have just tested also has suspension changes which not only make it smoother and quieter but also add to the sporty feeling.

By EWAN KENNEDY From the start the large Infiniti sedans have had sporty styling of the type favoured by British Jaguar saloons.

This latest model continues to be low slung and attractive, with large guards, particularly at the rear that give it the sort of look that it’s ready to leap at the road.

For 2017 the double-arch grille has a more three-dimensional look with what the designers call a ‘waved-mesh finish’, made to stand out even more by having chrome surround.

The front bumper has been redone, with integrated foglights.

The bootlid has been flattened and the

NEW LOOK: Bold, sports styling is a major feature of the revised 2017 Infiniti Q7.

Q70 S Premium

rear bumper slimmed down to make the rear of the Q70 look wider and lower.

Our S Premium model had its rear bumper finished in high-gloss black paint.

Large 20-inch alloy wheels in a doublespoke design certainly add to the sporty look.

Inside, the big Infiniti continues to have a high-quality look with wood accents and leather trim.

The front seats are heated and have 10way power adjustment, including two-way lumbar support.

Infiniti Q70 is powered by a 3.7-litre V6 petrol engine producing 235 kW at 7000 rpm, and 360 Nm of torque, the latter not peaking until a very high 5200 rpm.

However, there’s solid torque from relatively low revs.

Power goes to the rear wheels through a seven-speed automatic transmission with manual overrides.

Solid magnesium paddle shifters are a feature of the Q70 S Premium.

The Infiniti Drive Mode Selector provides four modes – Standard, Eco, Sport or Snow.

In Sport the Infiniti has measured the 0-100km/h time at 6.2 seconds so this big sports sedan is no slouch.

There’s also a Q70 hybrid model that’s even quicker than the pure petrol version we tested, running a 5.3 second time to 100 km/h.

Continued page 2 n21d11337-v75/4916

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2

Dec 2 - 8 | 2016

Mirai is Toyota’s ²UVW IXHO FHOO YHKLFOH

By ALISTAIR KENNEDY FOR the past decade or so the world’s car companies have been searching for powertrains that provide the best of both worlds – elimination of the use of fossil fuel and exhaust emissions while still providing good on-road performance and driving range.

Two of the early adopters were Honda and Toyota who took the petrol/electric high ground with their Insight and Prius models.

These reduced both fuel consumption and CO2 emissions but used a combination of petrol and batteries.

Performance was reasonable and driving range excellent but both the engines relied on fossil fuel.

Toyota has now taken the next step with the production of its first hydrogen-based fuel cell vehicle (FCV).

Called Mirai – appropriately it’s the Japanese word for ‘future’ – it is essentially an electric car, but with the electricity supplied by a fuel cell stack.

Hydrogen stored in twin fuel tanks at 70 MPa (700 bar) at the rear of the vehicle is pumped into the mid-mounted fuel cell where it combines with air to generate electricity.

The electricity is then supplied to an electric motor which powers the car.

The only emission is water in the form of vapour via a rear exhaust pipe.

The range limitation which is a downside of most electric vehicles is less relevant to FCVs with Toyota quoting a range of up to 550 kilometres from Mirai.

Refuelling of the hydrogen tanks takes

CLEAN AND MEAN: Toyota Mirai combines zero emissions with useful performance. between three and five minutes at a cost, according to Toyota, of about $60.

The motor generates maximum power of 113 kilowatts and 335 Newton metres.

Mirai is already on sale in Japan, the USA and a number of European countries but is still a long way off from arriving here.

As with most environmentally friendly automotive innovations progress is being hampered by an almost total lack of support from successive Australian governments.

Mirai sells in the USA for around $US60,000.

The major stumbling block to the adoption of FCV technology is the availability of refuelling infrastructure.

In an innovative move to spread the word about the new technology Toyota has built a portable refuelling station that will enable the three Mirai models currently in Australia to travel around the country.

The refueller incorporates a generator and compressor mounted in a purpose-built trailer with space to also transport one of the cars and is attached to a Hino 700 prime mover.

Mirai is a front-wheel drive, four-door and four-seat sedan with body dimensions similar to those of Camry but is built on its own distinct platform.

Boot capacity is 360 litres.

We were able to take Mirai for a short test drive out of Toyota’s southern Sydney

2017 Infiniti

headquarters.

It’s essentially the same as the other EVs that we’ve driven in that it’s all-but silent.

However, there are some sounds from the air compressor and hydrogen recirculation pump.

It does get the bonus of instant maximum torque.

There are two drive settings, Eco and Sport, with a claimed range of 550 kilometres in Eco mode.

Let’s hope that current and future governments of all persuasions will finally see the light and use some of the savings from the end of local-production subsidies to channel them into projects such as fuel cell technology.

Q70 S Premium

From page 1

An 8.0-inch high-resolution touchscreen and Infiniti Controller give access to multiple functions, including satellite navigation.

Our Q70 S Premium had a Bose Premium Sound System with Bose Studio Surround sound system with digital 5.1-channel decoding and 16 speakers.

Two of the speakers are mounted in the shoulders of each front seat.

An Enhanced Intelligent Key system remembers last used audio, navigation and climate control settings for each key The latest Infiniti Safety Shield system as fitted to the Q70 S Premium has Forward Emergency Braking, Lane Departure Warning (LDW) and Lane Departure Prevention (LDP).

Predictive Forward Collision Warning (PFCW) system and Back-up Collision Intervention (BCI) are fitted as part of the self-parking system.

The front seats are large and comfortable and the aforementioned multiple adjustments make for secure travel.

The rear seat is good for legroom and can carry three adults without too much trouble.

Two, with a child is a better way of doing it, though.

OUT OF THE ORDINARY: The new Infiniti is a combination of quietness, quality and sportiness.

The Q70 S Premium has the Active Noise Control feature, which monitors cabin noise levels and generates ‘cancelling waves’ to make travel almost eerily quiet on smooth roads.

Despite the large tyres comfort was generally very good, though some rough surfaces did challenge the suspension due to the low profile tyres.

Road grip is high and the steering responds nicely to driver input, as well as giving good feedback.

Engine performance is fast and responsive thanks to the use of a large capacity V6 without a turbocharger.

The transmission is generally in the right gear at the right time and we seldom found any need to override it using the manual modes.

We preferred the added urge of Sport mode and kept the auto there most of the time.

Fuel usage was relatively high by today’s standards, running at about seven to nine

litres per hundred kilometres on country drives and motorways.

Around town this went up to the low teens if pushed hard, but spent most of the time in the 11 to 12 litre range.

Looking for something out of the ordinary in the luxury car field? Then the Infiniti Q70 certainly deserves a place on your shopping list.

Its combination of quality build, quiet running and a sporty sedan looks and feel works nicely.

3

Dec 2 - 8 | 2016

BEST JUST GOT BETTER: Lexus has added a more aggressive look and attitude to its IS Line.

One-in-a-million

Lexus delivers with interest

By DEREK OGDEN

LEXUS leaders were left scratching their heads on how to celebrate selling a million IS sports sedans around the world.

It did not take long for them to come up with an answer: Let’s make a better one.

The result is the new Lexus IS line, which has borrowed from the recently released RC sports coupe, thus creating a four-door version of the well-credentialled two-door.

Closer to home, the resulting major IS upgrades are expected to help Lexus achieve a sales record in Australia of more than 9000 vehicles.

Available in three models, each in three grades, with enhancement packages designed to appeal to the individual buyer, all follow the Lexus Kaizen philosophy of continuous improvement.

Included are eight exterior styling changes and 15 inside the cabin, as well as upgrades to the display screen and the unequalled Mark Levinson Lexus sound system.

The full suite of Lexus Safety System+ technology, designed to provide maximum driver control, especially in critical situations, is taken up for the first time.

The LSS+ is made up of a pre-collision safety system, active cruise control, lane departure warning+ with sway warning and automatic high beam.

All models have 10 airbags, eight-head clearance and reversing sonar, and rearview camera with guidelines.

All have heated and power-folding exterior mirrors, daytime running lamps, rain-sensing windscreen wipers, emergency brake lamps, hill-start assist, paddle shifters on the steering wheel, Lexus Inform, digital radio+, LCD multiinformation display, Lexus remote touch controller, satellite navigation with Suna traffic alerts, heated and ventilated front seats, voice-control multi-media system, pop-up bonnet and tyre-pressure monitoring.

The Lexus IS Line is available as the IS 200t with the recently launched 2.0-litre turbocharged engine, IS 350 using a 3.5-litre quad cam V6 and as the 300h

petrol-electric hybrid.

All three come in Luxury, F Sport and Sports Luxury levels.

The flagship engine is the 3.5-litre quad cam dual-injection V6 delivering 233 kW of power at 6400 rpm and 378 Nm of torque at 4800 rpm.

The innovative turbocharged 2.0-litre engine debuted in the IS Line last year, the first time Lexus has offered a turbocharged petrol sedan.

It is Euro 5 compliant and puts out 180 kW of power at 5800 rpm and 350 Nm of torque from 1650 to 4400 revs.

It has official combined urban / highway cycle fuel economy of 7.5 litres per 100 kilometres and carbon dioxide emissions of 175 grams per kilometre.

Both engines are matched to the Lexus eight-speed sequential-shift Sports Direct Shift transmission.

The IS 300h hybrid drivetrain combines a 2.5-litre dual-injection twin cam petrol engine and a powerful electric motor mated with a continuously variable transmission with sequential shift-matic six-step control via paddle shifts on the steering wheel.

With a combined power output of 164 kW, it uses just 4.9 litres of fuel per 100 kilometres on the combined cycle and puts out 113 grams of carbon dioxide per kilometre.

Redesigned as an ‘Aggressive Sports’ sedan, eight exterior items have been changed, from front bumper and grille, headlamps on all grades, daytime running lamps, rear combination lamps, rear bumper lowered on petrol and hybrid models, muffler tips on IS 350, and wheels on Luxury grade and IS 350 Sports Luxury.

A new front bumper gives the vehicle an extra 15 mm in length, while in keeping with its SUV cousins, the radical Lexus spindle radiator grille has been accentuated even more, which with trapezoidal bumper corners, creates a 3-D contrast that projects a powerful image.

IS petrol, IS 300h and F Sport each feature a distinct new lower rear bumper design, while petrol models have new,

more angular exhaust tips to highlight the promotion to the premium sports league.

The bumper, lower on hybrids, now has an exclusive bezel with metallic paint to provide a distinctive premium presence while reinforcing the sporty image.

Two new colours - Deep Blue MC, an additional colour, and Graphite Black, which replaces Starlight Black.

There are two F Sport-unique colours, Cobalt Mica and White Nova.

Luxury models have new 17-inch alloy wheels with a sculpted five twin-spoke design and bright machine finish to enhance their appearance. Flagship IS 350 Sports Luxury has new bright machine finish 18-inch five-spoke wheels with a contrast between sharp edges and broad surfaces.

New LED headlamps turn inward to bring out their characteristics and enhance continuity with the daytime running lights while sharpening the look.

Luxury grades have a single LED low/ high beam headlamp and bulb-type turnsignal lamp.

F Sport and Sports Luxury grades have a three-lamp low-beam system and separate LED high-beam lamp as well as LED signal lamps. Automatic high beam is on all models as part of the Lexus Safety System+.

Lexus has put out a warmer welcome to the IS cabin. Fifteen features have been changed, including upping the multimedia display screen from seven to 10.3-inches, meter hood, clock, centre register, driver and front passenger’s side registers, knee pads, heater control panel, audio panel, Lexus Remote Touch enter switch on two sides, meters, steering-wheel switches, door-trim base switch, shift-lever knob, inside door handles and ornamentation.

The layout of the Multi-Information Display has been improved, and the display area for the odometer/trip meter at the bottom of the MID now has a speed warning.

The tab display area at the top of the MID now shows ambient temperature as the default display, with the other displays

accessible using the switch on the steering wheel.

The front cup-holder shape has been changed for greater ease of use.

Connecting the two cup holders provides space for a mug with a handle, and a mobile phone or smartphone (140 x 70 x 10 mm) can also be stowed there.

Of the three engines, on a launch drive in Victoria, I had use of the 200t, first used last year when IS 200t replaced IS 250. Power has been increased by 27 kW compared with the 2.5-litre V6 and torque to 350 Nm, while improving fuel economy and emission levels.

IS 200t, combining an eight-speed Sports Direct Shift automatic transmission with the 2.0-litre turbo engine for the first time, provided driveability expected of a Lexus compact sports sedan.

Introducing Lexus Stop & Start technology to IS, for fuel savings in heavy traffic, the system turned out to be one of the better, less intrusive, operators in a field of widely varying standards.

Without being a sensation off the mark, the 200t used its 350 Nm of torque put down through the rear wheels to good advantage from a low 1650 rpm, and cruising effortlessly – and quietly - at just under 2000 revs.

The highly tuned suspension had the sedan skipping through fast bends, while ventilated disc brakes all round made sure the sporty sedan was reined in with a confident assuredness.

Highly tuned, the suspension had the IS 200t ironing out road surface ‘craters’ – there were a few with roadworks cropping up on a regular basis.

The IS 200t won’t let down Lexus lovers in any way.

However, those looking for a spicier treat should look at the 3.5-litre V6 to satisfy their desires.

Prices start at $59,340, plus on-road costs, for the entry-level IS 200t Luxury and tops out at $84,160 for the IS 350 F Sports Luxury.

The petrol / electric hybrid comes in at $61,890 for the 300h Luxury.

4

Dec 2 - 8 | 2016

CLASSIFIEDS

SOLD

Selling your car has never been easier or cheaper!

AS NEW

2015 Nissan Qashqai Ti, Ink blue, 6 speed manual, 38,000km, registered to February 2017 (ADP683), Sat Nav, Keyless start, Blind spot sensor, lane departure warning, surround cameras, park distance sensors front and rear, dual zone climate control, tinted windows, electric driver’s seat, heated seats, cruise control, excellent condition, will come with RWC, $28,500 negotiable. Ph 0448 980 886.

J AY C O H e r i t a g e caravan, (Q05032), toilet, shower, washing machine, Hayman Reece with anti-sway bar, reversing camera, dual axle, new tyres, electric brakes, large fridge, full stove, hot water, single beds, 2 water tanks, TV, microwave, radio, electric awning with curtain, $27,000. Ph 5722 1991.

HONDA Jazz 2005, manual, 135,000km, RWC, rego until November 2017 (1FB8KL), $5999. Contact Jess 0488 394 364.

JAYCOWestport poptop, ec, always garaged, double island bed, aircon, TV, full annexe never used, new awning, oven, electric brakes, tare 1114, $14,500. Ph 0417 593 313.

JAYCO SWAN campervan, approx 1990, $4500, rego (A35547) till October 2017, refurbished interior, including cupboards, bench tops, cushions and blinds, canvas top, in average condition.

Ph 0427 215 600.

2013 Holden Barina Spark, as new, 5D, 5spd manual, 28,500 low kms, under new car warranty, registered to November 2017 (1AH8YF), $9495 neg. Ph 0417 963 976.

MGB Roadster, 1979 Limited edition, 4 speed manual with factory overdrive, bare metal respray, low kms and in outstanding condition.Vin no. GWDJ2A6504520. $18,000. Ph 0417 509 633.

PEUGEOT 207 HDI hatch 2010, diesel, registered November 2017 (XQS420), 123,000km, manual, super economy, 4.5lts per 100, excellent condition, $10,500 ono.

Ph 0429 809 288.

MAZDA MX5 2000 NB, full 12 months reg until November 2017 (SHALBI), low kms 123,000km, black, soft top, 6 speed manual, serviced regularly, 4 new tyres, sold with RWC, personalized plates not included, $12,500 ono.

Ph 0408 573 446 after 5pm.

HOLDEN Berlina, 1990 VN V6 3.8, immaculate condition inside and out, 2 owners since new, reg until April 2017 (EEO923), 218,000km, serviced every 5000km, $3200 w i t h RW C , $ 2 4 0 0 without RWC. Ph 0408 573 446 after 5pm.

NISSAN Navara 4x4 single cab 3.2lt diesel tray, air cond. snorkel, winch, bull bar, steel tray, alloy wheels. Very sound condition, RWC, reg (TXF009), $10,990.

Ph 0417 509 633.

2016 Frontline Campervan, VW diesel, automatic, 9500km, warranty, (1HK1XS), swivel, solar, tow-bar, bulbar, fridge, sink, hot water, ext-shower, wardrobe, stove, $65,000.

Ph (03) 4405 6030.

10ft Plastic Punt, this punt is supposedly unsinkable but haven’t tested it yet, new 5.8hp outboard motor, on ex. tilt trailer (registered), 12 month reg, anchor, oars, new fish finder, new jockey wheel, new swivel seats, 3 mini cooper mag wheels, rod holders, separate fuel tank, new fire extinguisher, all in very good condition. $2250 Ph 0418 150 749.

1991 ROADSTAR CARAVAN, reg (Q96610) till June 2017, $9000, van body 16ft, plus 3ft front storage boot, instant gas hot water with 12V pump, Simplicity tandem axle, electric brakes, annexe (hardly used), island double bed. Ph 0427 215 600.

TOYOTA Landcruiser wagon 2003 GXL, V8 petrol, manual, very good condition, (1BY9DG), $16,500.

Ph 5755 1060 or 0488 223 317.

MUST SELL

1992 Landcruiser with RWC, Series 80 1HZ diesel, one owner, in perfect order, over $12,000 extras, Warn 9000 winch, dual batteries, bull bar, drawers, rack, side bars, side steps, water tank, driving lights, aircraft seat, radios, snorkel etc, 242,000km, (WG1935), manual $9000. Ph 5722 9862.

2007 Regent, 18ft, meticulously kept, 3-way fridge, air conditioning, T.V., near new tyres, view extras on Gumtree, (895QJV), $18,900 “Offers”. Ph 0427 275 714.

SAVAGE “Kestral”, 3.75m, 15hp Yamaha motor, Brooker tilt trailer, spare wheel, c a n o p y a n d c ove r, $1550. Ph 0407 530 828.

2013 Kokoda Aussie Pride, 22ft, excellent condition, low miles travelled, reg June 2017, full unsuite, washing machine, cafe seating with foot rests, gas heater, dual batteries, two spare tyres, 2 jerry can holders, stone guard, front and rear boot, $52,500. Ph 0427 269 327.

2012 Supreme 19'6" Executive, off road, solar, single beds, combo shower, large fridge/ freezer, $39,900. Info/ images phone 0428 271 294.

Phoneyouradvert 03 5723 0101

2008 VW Caddy, Reg (AAB050), good clean van, $5000 ono. Ph 0438 213 494.

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