MOTOR

Hot Source explained

• All performance figures are manufacturer claims, those in italics are as-tested by MOTOR.
  Figures for an automatic variant have an asterisk.


• Prices listed are manufacturer RRP, exclusive of on-roads.


• Italicised fuel consumption figures are those collected on test.


• Engines are listed by configuration, capacity and means of induction. For example, I4/1.6T= turbocharged 1.6-litreinline four. Power figures made by an engine’s over-boost function are contained in brackets.


• Light yellow denotes new addition, light green denotes a model update

hotsosoururccee

YOUR COMPLETE, NO-GARBAGE GUIDE TO EVERY PERFORMANCE CAR IN AUSTRALIA

Fast guide to quick cars

Cracking 11111

Excellent 11113

Pretty good 11133

Bit average 11333

Crap 13333

Abarth http://www.fiat.com.au/abarth

TESTED PRICE ENGINE KW/RPM NM/RPM DRIVE

KERB

KG

KW/

TONNE

0-100

KM/H 0-400M

FUEL

CONSPROS & CONS

595 Turismo

11333

Nov 14 $33,500 (5m)

$35,500 (5s)

I4/1.4T 118/5500 230/3000 front 1035 114 8.9916.55 5.4 Great drivetrain; looks good; cheaper than before

Still way too expensive; major handling and ride issues

595 Competizione

11333

Oct 14$36,500 (5m)

$38,500 (5s)

I4/1.4T 118/5500 230/3000 front 1076 110 7.4 – 5.4 Monza exhaust is fantastic; reasonably fun to drive

Avoid the MTA gearbox like the plague

595C Competizione

11333

Dec 14 $39,000 (5m)

$41,000 (5s)

I4/1.4T 118/5500 230/3000 front 1076 110 8.6 16.2 5.4 Can finally have the drop-top with a manual

Your mates won’t ride with you anymore

Alfa Romeo http://www.alfaromeo.com.au

Mito QV

11233

$30,500 (6m) I4/1.4T 125/5500 250/2500 front 1145 109 7.5 – 6.0 Zesty engine; looks funky; Italianate cool

Falls well short of the class benchmarks dynamically

Giulietta QV

11133

$39,000 (6m)

$42,000 (6dc)

I4/1.7T 173/5500 340/1900 front 1299 133 6.0 – 7.0 Handsome looks; entertaining handling; it’s not a Golf

Will let you know next month once we properly drive it

Aston Martin http://www.astonmartin.com

V8 Vantage

11133

Jun 06 $231,000 (6m)

$246,900 (7s)

V8/4.7 313/7300 470/5000 rear 1630 192 5.86 14.00 13.9 Stunning looks; highly capable handling; oh the noise

Not really that fast; increasingly feeling its age

V8 Vantage S

11123

$251,700 (6m)

$276,600 (7s)

V8/4.7 321/7300 490/5000 rear 1610 199 – – 12.9 Lighter and sharper than the base car with more grunt

Needs an even stricter diet to match rivals

V8 Vantage Roadster

11133

Apr 12 $260,800 (6m)

$273,800 (7s)

V8/4.7 313/7300 470/5000 rear 1710 183 – – – Even better access to that wailing V8

Extra weight hurts performance and dynamics

V8 Vantage S Roadster

11133

$280,600 (6m)

$294,400 (7s)

V8/4.7 321/7300 490/5000 rear 1690 190 – – 12.9 Great compromise between show and go

Robotised manual is a pain; getting expensive

V12 Vantage S

11113

$389,000 (7s) V12/5.9 421/6750 620/5750 rear 1665 253 3.9 – 16.3 Psychotic performance, with dynamics and looks to match

Lacks the V8’s styling purity; frighteningly thirsty

V12 Vantage S Roadster

11113

$418,525 (7s) V12/5.9 421/6750 620/5750 rear 1745 241 3.9 – 16.3 Psychotic performance, with dynamics and looks to match

Lot of power for an open-top body; gearbox frustrates

DB9

11123

$349,500 (6a) V12/5.9 380/6500 620/5500 rear 1785 212 4.6 – 14.3 Classy GT perfect for living out James Bond fantasies

Not as spacious as its size suggests; rivals are much faster

DB9 Volante

11133

$380,500 (6a) V12/5.9 380/6500 620/5750 rear 1890 202 4.5 – 16.5 Just as fast as the coupe in a straight line...

...but a bit wobbly in the bends; likes a drink

Vanquish S

11113

Sep 14 $472,840 (8a) V12/5.9 424/6650 630/5500 rear 1739 244 3.8 – – More power and eight-speed auto for MY15

Ride is now not very GT-like; thirsty

Vanquish Volante

11123

$510,040 (8a) V12/5.9 424/6650 630/5500 rear 1844 230 4.0 – – Carbonfibre construction should mean no loss of rigidity

Scary pricetag; No Aston press cars in Oz

Rapide S

11133

$370,800 (8a) V12/5.9 411/6650 630/5500 rear 1990 207 4.4 – – Now has the power to match its jaw-dropping looks

Rear seats really just for kids; small boot

Audi http://www.audi.com.au

A1 1.4 TFSI Sport

11123

Jan 12$39,900 (7dc) I4/1.4T 136/6200 250/2000 front 1183 115 7.0315.20 5.9 Baby hot hatch with trendy looks and quality interior

Hard to justify extra $12K over excellent GTI

A1 Sportback 1.4 TFSI

11123

Sep 12 $39,900 (7dc) I4/1.4T 136/6200 250/2000 front 1215 112 6.8315.02 5.9 Five-door practicality with little performance penalty

Suffers the same value conundrum as three-door

S1 Sportback

11123

Nov 14 $49,900 (7dc) I4/2.0T 170/6000 370/1600 all 1340 127 5.9 – 7.1 Cracking pace; involving dynamics; looks quite cool

With options costs the same as S3, which makes no sense

BABY

HATCHES

Ford Fiesta ST

$25,990

Massive fun, tiny price

Renault Clio RS

$29,290

Driving and sex appeal

1 ST

2 ND

3 RD

lli

2 ND

i

1 ST

Audi S1

$49,900

Big-money pocket rocket

TOP 3

Driving and sex appeal

3 RD

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