TESTED PRICE ENGINE KW/RPM NM/RPM DRIVEKERB
KGKW/
TONNE0-100
KM/H 0-400MFUEL
CONSPROS & CONS
R8 Spyder 5.2 FSI
11112Jan 12$395,800 (7dc) V10/5.2 386/8000 530/6500 all 1745 221 4.3312.28 13.3 Supercar experience enhanced by no roof
Not really affordable; no more manual option
R8 5.2 FSI Plus
11112Mar 14 $408,200 (7dc) V10/5.2 404/8000 540/6500 all 1570 257 3.57* 11.48*12.9* Frightfully fast; that V10 wail; almost fool-proof at the limit
Slow steering; understeer balance; it’s Huracán money
RS Q3
11133Dec 14 $81,900 (7dc) I5/2.5T 228/6700 420/1500 all 1730 132 5.5213.81 8.8 Fast in a straight line; surprisingly fun in corners
The ultimate oxymoron: performance off-road mini SUV?
SQ5 3.0 TDI
11123Jul 13 $91,700 (7dc)
($1100)V6/3.0TD230/3900 650/1450 all 1995 115 5.1 – 6.8 Cracks its segment wide open; diesel sounds fantastic
Tyre roar; punishing ride; jury’s out on the steeringBentley http://www.bentleymotors.com
Continental GT V8
11123$381,000 (8a) V8/4.0TT 373/6000 660/1700 all 2220 168 4.8 – 10.6 Not much slower than the W12; awesome soundtrack
Still weighs too much; ‘S’ worth the extra
Continental GT V8 S
11113Oct 14$405,600 (8a) V8/4.0TT 389/6000 680/1700 all 2220 175 4.5 – 10.7 A superb luxury grand tourer; feels special
Too heavy; rivals are a lot faster
Continental GTC V8
11123$419,100 (8a) V8/4.0TT 373/6000 660/1700 all 2395 155 5.0 – 10.9 Superb quality; even better noise than hardtop
Smaller engine occasionally struggles with the weight
Continental GTC V8 S
11123Oct 14$446,000 (8a) V8/4.0TT 389/6000 680/1700 all 2395 162 4.7 – 11.1 Four-seat drop-top motoring par excellence
Suffers a bit dynamically; a bit blustery top-down
Continental GT W12
11123$449,500 (8a) W12/6.0TT423/6000 700/1700 all 2245 188 4.6 – 16.5 Swift, quiet, smooth and opulent
Looks exactly like the old one
Continental GT Speed
11113Sep 14 $461,300 (8a) W12/6.0TT467/6000 820/1700 all 2245 208 4.2 – 14.5 More class, more power, more exclusivity
Drinks like a bunch of Pommie soccer fans
Continental GTC Speed
11123
$507,400 (8a) W12/6.0TT467/6000 820/2000 all 2350 198 4.4 – 14.9 World’s fastest four-seat convertible
Surely the world’s most pointless accolade?
Flying Spur V8
11123$378,197 (8a) V8/4.0TT 373/6000 660/2000 all 2342 159 5.2 – 10.9 Pommie alternative to an S63 AMG
Not as fast or as dynamic as the Germans
Flying Spur W12
11123Dec 13$423,160 (8a) W12/6.0TT460/6000 800/2000 all 2400 192 4.6 – 14.7 Huge pace; unbelievably comfortable ride
Can’t hide from its heft; low-speed steering’s a little heavy
Mulsanne
11133$662,858 (8a) V8/6.75TT377/4200 1020/1750 rear 2510 150 5.3 – 16.9 Opulent old-school Bentley surprisingly dynamic
Looks cross-eyed; fearsomely expensive and thirsty125i hatch
11133Sep 12 $47,500 (6m/8a) I4/2.0T 160/5000 310/1350 rear 1345 119 6.80 14.70 8.2 Torquey, responsive engine and decent steering
Adaptive dampers a must have; performance a little soft
M135i
11113May 13 $65,400 (6m/8a) I6/3.0T 235/5800 450/1300 rear 1445 162 4.84* 13.04*9.8 Uber hatch offers E92 M3 pace for half the price
Needs an LSD badly; still no looker; struggles on a track
228i
11123$64,400 (6m/8a) I4/2.0T 180/6500 350/1250 rear 1385 130 5.8 – 6.6 Possibly the sweetest pick in BMW’s line-up under $75K
Could do with a little aesthetic venom
M235i
11113Dec 14 $79,930 (6m/8a) I6/3.0T 240/6000 450/1300 rear 1455 165 5.00* 13.10*8.1 Spec the optional LSD and it’s an absolute riot
Struggles a bit without it; looks a bit plain
328i
11123Sep 14 $69,400 (6m)
$69,400 (8a)I4/2.0T 180/6500 350/1250 rear 1430 126 5.9 – 8.5 Could be all the car you ever need; fast, frugal and fun
Spec adaptive dampers or lose a full star
328i Touring
1112 3$73,400 (6m)
$73,400 (8a)I4/2.0T 180/6500 350/1250 rear 1520 118 6.0 – 8.4 The above with added practicality; wagon looks better
Weight penalty; same basic dynamic issues as sedan
ActiveHybrid 3
1113 3$100,200 (8a) I6/3.0TE 250/5800 450/1200 rear 1655 151 5.3 – 5.9 Using batteries to boost performance – we like
Petrol/electric switching is jerky and annoying; expensive
335i
1112 3Jun 12 $93,430 (6m/8a) I6/3.0T 225/5800 400/1200 rear 1510 149 5.93* 14.11*7.9 Quick, comfortable, and a great prospect to own
Can struggle to put its power down; questionable value
M3
11113Nov 14 $156,430
(6m/7dc)I6/3.0TT 317/7300 550/1800 rear 1520 208 4.3 – 8.8 Looks sensational; brilliant chassis; massive performance
Engine’s lost some M magic; tricky to drive in the wet
428i
11123Dec 13 $81,000 (6m/8a) I4/2.0T 180/6500 350/1250 rear 1470 122 5.9 – 6.4 Supreme balance; impressive torque; svelte thirst
Dull cabin ambience; RIP the 3-Series coupe
428i Cabrio
11123$98,000 (6m/8a) I4/2.0T 180/6500 350/1250 rear 1680 107 6.4 – 6.8 Capable and enjoyable drop-top; engine now sounds rorty
Will be a top seller in Bondi and Toorak
435i
11123Dec 13 $108,530
(6m/8a)I6/3.0T 225/5800 400/1200 rear 1525 130 5.1 – 7.4 New name, same awesome all-round ability
Has lost some character; where’s the engine noise?HSV Clubsport R8
$73,290
Awesome Aussie hot rodAUDI S3 Sedan
$63,400
Practical performanceHolden SS-V
Redline
$52,490
Track star of the VF rangeSEDANS
UNDER$75K
1 ST
2 ND
3 RD
HOT
SOURCE
compiled byMOTOR STAFFFast guide to quick cars
1 ST
Holden SS-V2 ND
AUDIS3Sd3 RD
TOP 3
THE large rear-drive sedan segment
isn’t exactly overfl owing with new
entrants these days, but Hyundai
has decided to plunge its whole
foot in the water with the Genesis.
Under the bonnet is a 3.8-litre
atmo V6, which sounds reasonably
aggro and offers decent
performance, though it is fond of a
drink, and the eight-speed auto that
sits behind it is nice and smooth.It’s exceptionally quiet on the move
and the ride quality is impressive.
Hyundai’s local handling gurus have
done a good job with the setup, too;
it steers accurately, absorbs bumps
well and has good balance.
It’s not world-changing stuff, but
it is a pleasant car to cruise around
in. Some people will think $60K is
madness for a Korean car, but the
Genesis is well worth the coin. – SNHyundai Genesis
Fast
Blast
SPECS 3.8L V6, 232KW/397NM, 6.5SEC 0-100KM/H, 11.2L/100KM PRICE $60,000d motorofficial f motor_mag^135Worldmags.netWorldmags.net