Wheels is Australia’s original motoring magazine. Launched in 1953, we’ve been trusted by generations of Australians to provide entertaining and forthright opinions on the good, the bad and the ugly of new and used cars. A world-class car mag with a formidable international reputation, Wheels covers the full gamut of cars – from sports cars to four-wheel-drives, economy to family cars – but it also covers the people, personalities and the power plays behind one of the world’s most dynamic industries.
Upfront • BEFORE YOU SCOFF AT THE CRASHES AT THE GOODWOOD FESTIVAL OF SPEED, PUMP THE BRAKES FOR A SECOND…
30 days • 30 DAYS IS A LONG TIME IN THE MOTORING WORLD. WE’VE COMPILED THE IMPORTANT BITS YOU NEED TO KNOW
The wrap • THIS MONTH IN BRIEF
What kept you? • IT’S BEEN 14 YEARS IN THE MAKING, SO EXPECTATIONS ARE PREDICTABLY HIGH FOR RUGGED NEW PRADO
Running of the Bull • WILD SC63 MARKS THE FIRST TIME THAT LAMBORGHINI WILL EVER RACE AT LE MANS’ ELITE LEVEL
Block party • NEW SANTA FE TAKES A HARD LINE AGAINST CURVES
Diamond advantage? • SIXTH-GEN MITSUBISHI TRITON IS VASTLY IMPROVED, BUT WILL IT BE ENOUGH TO CHALLENGE THE SEGMENT KINGS?
Incoming • THE NEW METAL HEADING OUR WAY
The Market • Ranger dominates; closes in on Hilux year-to-date
High five! • Battle of the brands
Ready to fire • Honda is finally primed to turn a corner
Inbox • GO AHEAD, TELL US WHAT YOU REALLY THINK
Squeaky Wheel • PERSONAL MOBILITY AIRCRAFT SOUND BRILLIANT, BUT THE WHOLE THING REALLY IS A PIE-IN-THE-SKY CONCEPT, SCOFFS DAN
Flat Chat • AGE WEARIES US ALL WHEN IT COMES TO DRIVING. QUESTION IS, WHAT DO WE DO ABOUT IT?
WIN DAD this GW GEARWRENCH
TOYOTA Century • THE ONLY JDM SERIES PRODUCTION CAR TO FEATURE A V12 ENGINE, THE CENTURY OFFERS A TANTALISING PEEK BENEATH THE CURTAIN OF JAPANESE HIGH SOCIETY
The man behind BMW M • CONTROVERSY, CHALLENGES, EVs AND RETAINING ITS IDENTITY: THE FUTURE IS FRAUGHT FOR BMW M. WE SPEAK TO THE MAN TASKED WITH DRAGGING A PERFORMANCE ICON INTO A NEW ERA
BIGGER, QUIETER, MORE RICHLY EQUIPPED AND BETTER TO DRIVE
POISED TO BE THE WRX FOR THE EV GENERATION?
MAZDA’S PREMIUM PIVOT POINT
MUNICH’S ELECTRIC SUV FOR THOSE WHO DON’T NEED TO MAKE A SONG AND DANCE
ALL THE GEAR, BUT NO IDEA?
DARK HORSE • THE MOST HARDCORE VERSION OF FORD’S SEVENTH-GENERATION PONY CAR IS A SPORTS COUPE WITH DEPTH AND ATTITUDE THAT EXTENDS WELL BEYOND ITS V8 ENGINE
WORTH THE WEIGHT? • THE COMPANY BEST KNOWN FOR LIGHTWEIGHT SPORTS CARS DELIVERS A HUGELY FAST AND ACCOMPLISHED LARGE ELECTRIC SUV THAT’S SUDDENLY A TRUE HEAVYWEIGHT OF THE SEGMENT
3 things you should know • …ABOUT THE EV FUTURE ACCORDING TO LOTUS
718 SPYDER RS • THE VERY LAST MID-ENGINED PORSCHE WITH PISTONS GOES OUT ON A HIGH
MG FACTORY Inside the dragon • WE TAKE A TOUR INSIDE THE LARGEST CAR FACTORY IN ASIA, AND UNCOVER A COUPLE OF SECRETS MG IS NOT QUITE READY TO SHARE
Lock & load • BMW’S M3 TOURING IS UNQUESTIONABLY THE GUN WAGON OF THE MOMENT. BUT IS IT SHARP ENOUGH TO DRAW A BEAD ON THE MIGHTY AUDI RS6 AVANT FROM THE SEGMENT ABOVE?
Garage • WE DRIVE ’EM LIKE WE OWN ’EM
CIVILISED OUTBACK • QUIETLY ACCOMPLISHED WAGON; NO BULL DUST
A RAPT WRAP • CLOSING CHAPTER ON A BRILLIANTLY CAPABLE FAMILY ALL-ROUNDER
MOVER, NOT A SHAKER • SMOOTH, UNFUSSED – AND UNHURRIED – PROGRESS DEFINES THE X-TRAIL’S ON-ROAD DEMEANOURT
1800+ • OVER 1800 VEHICLES PRICES, SPECS & REVIEWED EVERY MONTH
Wheels
Rallying to the cause • COMPETITION SUCCESS REWARDED UNCONVENTIONAL ENGINEERING
KIA Picanto GT • KIA’S BABY ZINGER GETS THE CHOP