Australian Car Sales Continue Downwards Trend.
Australia’s Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries has released the latest sales figures for 2020, and not unexpectedly, it shows that the nation’s new car buying habits are continuing to be affected by the pandemic.
August for this year saw 60,986 new vehicle sales. That’s 24,647 or 28.8% less than August of 2019, and includes one fewer selling day or approximately 831 vehicle sales. or -28.8% on August 2019 (85,633) vehicle sales. August 2020 had one less selling day (25.8) than August 2019 and this resulted in a decrease of 831.5 vehicle sales per day. In the Passenger Vehicle segment, August had a reduction of 11,035 for a 42.8% decrease, whilst the Sports Utility segment went backwards by 6,652 or 17.0% compared to August 2019. This month also marked the first time a Hybrid vehicle saw the number 1 spot, with the Toyota RAV4 topping the charts.
Last year’s August figures had 1,049 hybrid SUV sales, with this year notching 4,809 sales. In a Year To Date measurement, it’s 20,566 against just 5,205 for 2019. The PHEV or Plug-in Hybrid EV sector also grew, with 74 in August 2020 against 63 for the corresponding moth last year.
Hyundai Gets Edgy For 2021 With Tucson And Kona.
Hyundai has released teaser images of what looks like a radical new direction for the brand. Tucson has been a solid mover for the company and was given a refresh in 2019. To be formally unveiled on September 15, the images show what Hyundai calls “The mission of ‘Sensuous Sportiness'” and includes a startling front end look.
Parametric Hidden Lights is the term, and these LED powered illuminators are embedded in the grille structure, and are visible only when the Tucson powers up. Completely redesigned rear lights bring a sense of Euro style.
The car will also be, for the first time, available in a long and short wheelbase offering. The overall size of the vehicle has been increased too with a longer bonnet matched by shorter overhangs. Sharp crease lines bring definition to the profile. Inside is a pair of cockpit-like sections for driver and passenger, separated by a floating console with an embedded touch interface.
Kona has been given some freshening as well, both in looks and the range. Hyundai’s N-Line is now part of the range for the popular small SUV. This brings a bespoke look for the N-Line’s motorsport inspired range, with a chin spoiler featuring winglet endplates, Santa Fe style headlights underneath thin LED driving lights, and a sharper delineation to the leading edge of the bonnet line. The grille surrounds have also been redone.
The rear has been made-over with the brake lights slimmed down to match the front whilst the indicator clusters have been raised and restyled. The wheel arches are body coloured, rather than the black urethane normally seen.
The “normal” Kona retains the black cladding, and the nose has a more notable alloy-look chin. There’s a resemblance to the N-Line’s design, with each end of the alloy strip bending upwards as if mimicking the winglets. Again the rear mirrors the nose, with a similarly styled alloy look insert here. In addition, there are new wheels and the Kona has grown in length by 40mm.
Interior changes make for a fresher look too. LED illumination for the cup holders, and there are new seat cover options which include a black woven houndstooth design, cloth seats with black and grey embossing, and perforated leather seats in black, beige, or khaki.
A redesigned console sees it dropped and separated from the dash, emphasising the horizontal lines of the restyled dashboard. And the Kona will have an electric parking brake for that bit of extra convenience.
2020 Nissan Pathfinder ST-L N-Trek: Private Fleet Car Review.
This Car Review Is About: Nissan’s Pathfinder with the extra N-Trek equipment list. It adds some visual pizazz to the ST and ST-L specification which are two or all-wheel drive, with ours being the AWD ST-L version.
What Does It Cost?: In standard trim, and in V6 all wheel drive form, the Nissan website lists the standard ST-L V6 AWD spec at $64,111 drive-away. Nissan confirms the price as of September as $59,140 (recommended retail plus on road costs) and the N-Trek as $60,640 (recommended retail plus ORC) for the AWD. Opt for the 2WD version and it’s $55,640 (RRP plus ORC) for the standard and $57,140 (RRP plus ORC) for the N-Trek spec. Check with your dealer for your prices due to differing state charges.
Under The Bonnet Is: Nissan’s well proven 3.5L V6 that drinks petrol at a quoted figure of 10.1L/100km on the combined cycle. With 202kW (6,400rpm) and 340Nm of torque on tap at 4,800 driving a CVT and an on-demand AWD system, we saw 12.3L/100km on our 70/30 urban to highway drive cycle. The drive system is selectable too, with Auto, a lock for 4×4, or 2WD. Left in Auto it drives the front wheels and splits to the rear as required.
On The Outside It’s: Here that the N-Trek specification lies. Our vehicle was in Ivory Pearl, with Caspian Blue, Gun Metallic, Redstone, Brilliant Silver, and Diamond Black the colour options at no extra cost. N-Spec adds blackouts to the body, with a black V-grille, roof rails, door handles, mirror covers, and front and rear garnishes. The alloys are machined and black painted, and 18 inches in diameter. Continental supplies the 255/60 rubber from their CrossContact LX Sport range.
Are You Too Old To Drive?
I think it was Oscar Wilde who said that youth is wasted on the young. It might not be quite so widely talked about, but there are some benefits to not being as young as you used to be. All the same, there’s no denying that even if you have truckloads of experience as a driver and can remember the days when it wasn’t compulsory for passengers to wear seatbelts and when having automatic windows was posh, the time may come when the old body lets you down and won’t react the way it used to do. There is a reason why medical tests are compulsory for those over 75 every year and two-yearly practical driving tests are needed for those aged over 85 if you want to stay on a normal driver’s licence. It’s kind of like getting a roadie test but for the driver rather than a vehicle.
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