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 • LAMBORGHINI IS 60 BUT REFUSES TO GROW OLD GRACEFULLY. THAT’S CAUSE FOR CELEBRATION
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
Plug and play Ranger • ARRIVAL TIMING, POWERTRAIN DETAILS AND TOWING CAPACITY ALL REVEALED AS PLUG-IN TECHNOLOGY FINALLY REACHES THE DUAL-CAB SEGMENT
Where’s the beef?
Merc’s hot curveball • MERCEDES CONCEPT CLA PREVIEWS NEW 800-VOLT ELECTRIC CAR RANGE INCLUDING SWOOPY MODEL 3 RIVAL, SHOOTING BRAKE WAGON AND TWO INCOMING SUVS
Vale: Ash Westerman • WHEELS REMEMBERS ONE OF ITS ALL-TIME GREATS
Inbox • GO AHEAD, TELL US WHAT YOU REALLY THINK
The question • WOULD ELON MUSK’S PUBLIC PERSONA PREVENT YOU BUYING A TESLA?
Squeaky Wheel • IS THE OTHER CARBON ECONOMY A BUSTED FLUSH?
Flat Chat • WOULD YOU DRIVE AN ELECTRIC PERFORMANCE CAR WITH THE BEST-SOUNDING ‘V8’ YOU’D EVER HEARD? I WOULD
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Super Veloce • THE LAMBORGHINIEST?
FAST FACTS
“No more potato-shaped cars” • EVER WONDERED WHAT KEEPS POLESTAR DESIGNER NAHUM ESCOBEDO UP AT NIGHT? IT’S THE TYRANNY OF POTATOES
GREAT SPUDS OF OUR TIME
Drives • THE NEW METAL THAT MATTERS, TRIALLED AND TESTED
WHY AUSTRALIA’S LONG-AWAITED F-150 IS THE BEST IN THE WORLD
WE SNEAK AN UNOFFICIAL PEEK AT THE TUNDRA DOWN UNDER
MARANELLO’S EXERCISE IN SOFT POWER
THE 911’S GREATEST HITS ALBUM?
IS THE NEW HALO HILUX TOYOTA’S BEST DUAL-CAB EVER?
INDICATION OF INTEREST
SEAL OF APPROVAL?
THE BULL’S NEW CHARGE • LAMBORGHINI CELEBRATES ITS 60TH WITH A NEW HYBRID SUPERCAR FLAGSHIP, BUT IS THE REVUELTO ELECTRIFYING ENOUGH? WE FIND OUT AT NARDO
2023 BEST 4X4 UTES • ‘WHEELS BEST’ SERIES DOES THE HARD WORK CHOOSING 2023’S BEST 4X4 UTE SO YOU DON’T HAVE TO
Ute muster, zero bluster • ONE IN FIVE VEHICLES THAT AUSSIES BUY IS A UTE. HERE’S HOW TO AVOID BUYING A DUD IN 2023
THE CONTENDERS
NISSAN NAVARA SL • ENTRY-LEVEL NAVARA SL SNEAKS INTO THE SUB-$50K CATEGORY
MITSUBISHI TRITON GLX+ • THIS VERSATILE FAN-FAVOURITE IS EQUALLY ADEPT AT WORK AND ADVENTURE DUTIES
SSANGYONG MUSSO ULTIMATE XLV • PACKED WITH CREATURE COMFORTS THAT DEFY ITS PRICE POINT
WINNER MITSUBISHI TRITON GLX+
2023 BEST UTE UNDER $60K • HERE’S HOW TO GET A TRULY GREAT DUAL-CAB WITHOUT BUSTING THE BANK. BOTH FORD AND VW OFFER SOMETHING VERY SPECIAL ON A $60K BUDGET
WINNER
TOYOTA HILUX GR SPORT • IT MAY NOT BE NEW LIKE RANGER AND AMAROK, BUT THIS IS THE BEST HILUX EVER
VOLKSWAGEN AMAROK AVENTURA • ‘RANGER WITH VW CLASS’ MAKES THE AMAROK A STRONG CONTENDER
FORD RANGER SPORT V6 • NEW-GENERATION RANGER SETS A NEW LEVEL OF REFINEMENT IN THE DUAL-CAB SEGMENT
WINNER FORD RANGER SPORT V6
MITSUBISHI TRITON
VW AMAROK
GWM UTE CANNON
FORD RANGER
ISUZU D-MAX
MAZDA BT-50
WINNER TOYOTA HILUX
2023 BEST UTE FOR TOWING • PLANNING TO HITCH SOMETHING TO THE BACK? THERE’S A CLEAR TOP TWO IN THE MIDDLEWIGHT UTE CLASS BUT SEPARATING ’EM ISN’T EASY
WINNER FORD RANGER SPORT V6
2023 BEST...