Motor Australia — January 2018

138 january 2018 motormag.com.au

Hot Source

Fastguidetoquickcars

Jeep http://www.jeep.com.au

Grand Cherokee SRT8

11133

$ 9 1 , 0 0 0 ( 8 a ) V8/6.4 3 4 4 / 6 2 5 0 6 2 4 / 4 1 0 0a l l 2 2 8 91 5 0 4. 9 - 14.0 Stonking engine; finally gets the eight-speed auto

Can’t defy physics; unholy thirst for unleaded

Kia http://www.kia.com.au

Stinger 200 S

11133

$ 4 5 , 9 9 0 ( 8 a ) I4/2.0T 1 8 2 / 6 2 0 0 353/1400rear 1693108 6.0 - 8.8 Alluring entry price for Korean Falcon EcoBoost

Only $3000 less than twin-turbo V6 doesn’t make sense

Stinger 200 Si

11133

$ 5 2 , 9 9 0 ( 8 a ) I4/2.0T 1 8 2 / 6 2 0 0 353/1400rear 1693108 6.0 - 8.8 Four-cylinder still a brisk performer; great front-end agility

Least-convincing Stinger from a value perspective; jittery ride

Stinger GT-Line

11123

$ 5 5 , 9 9 0 ( 8 a ) I4/2.0T 1 8 2 / 6 2 0 0 353/1400rear 1693108 6.0 - 8.8 Four-pot pick thanks to adaptive suspension, premo cabin

Grainy soundtrack still a downer; still no LSD or Brembos

Stinger 330 S

11113

Dec 17 $48,990 (8a) V6/3 3TT272/6000510/1300 rear 1780153 4.9 - 10.2 EveryV6scoresBrembosandLSD;veryquickon-paper

Steering needs work; not polished as Commodore

Stinger 330 Si

11123

Nov 17 $55,990 (8a) V6/3 3TT272/6000510/1300 rear 1780153 4.9 - 10.3 Addssafetyequipmentand19-inchtyregrip

Step to Stinger GT not big, and worth it for adaptive suspension

Stinger GT

11113

Nov 17 $59,990 (8a) V6/3 3TT272/6000510/1300 rear 1780153 4.9 - 10.4 BestvalueofallStingers:rideswell,goeshard,luxecabin

Aussie-developed sports exhaust still optional

KTM http://www.simplysportscars.com

X-Bow R

11112

May 16 $169,900 (7a) I4/2.0T 2 2 0 / 6400 420/3200rear 790 279 3.9 - 6.8 Literally, face-peeling performance

Good luck commuting to work in it

Lamborghini http://www.lamborghini.com

Huracán LP580-2

11112

Jan 17 $390,000 (7dc)V10/5.2 4 27/8000540/6500 rear 1389

(dry)

307 3.55 11.25 14.3 More involving and playful than the LP610-4

Feelslikeitneedstobeletofftheleashalittle

Huracán LP580-2 Spyder

11112

$ 4 2 9 , 0 0 0 ( 7 d c )V10/5.2 4 27/8000540/6500 rear 1509

(dry)

283 3.6 – 14.5 Cheapest way to let soaring V10 decibels into the cabin

Same price as an all-paw hard-top

Huracán LP610-4

11112

Oct 15 $428,000 (7dc)V10/5.2 449/8250560/6500 all 1422

(dry)

316 3.2 – 14.5 Mind-blowingly fast; sharp handling; brilliant gearbox

Rivals are all faster; could be more playful

Huracán LP610-4 Spyder

11112

Sep 16 $471,000 (7dc) V10/5.2 449/8250560/6500 all 1542

(dry)

291 3.4 – 14.6 Ultimate extrovert’s car; fabulous V10 noise

Bigweightpenalty;notthepurist’schoice

Huracán Performante

11112

$ 4 8 3 , 8 6 6 ( 7 d c ) V10/5.2 4 7 0 / 8000 600/6500 all 1382

(dry)

340 2.9 – 13.7 Hardcore Huracan matches Aventador performance

Butatthispricewouldwehaveitovera488GTB?Decisions...

Aventador S

11113

May 17 $788,914 (7s) V12/6.5 5 4 4 / 8400 690/5500 all 1575

(dry)

346 2.9 – 16.9 More performance from an already blisteringly quick car

Sameoldthingswedislikeabouttheold‘base’one

Aventador S Roadster

11113

$825,530 (7s) V12/6.5 5 4 4 / 8400 690/5500 all 1625

(dry)

335 3.0 – 16.9 Epic V12 doesn’t exactly struggle with Roadster’s weight...

AlmostaGolfGTI’sworthofpricepremiumoverhard-top

Lexus http://www.lexus.com.au

IS350 F Sport

11123

Dec 14 $73,251 (8a) V6/3.5 233/6400378/4800rear 1685138 6.1014.10 9.7 Great value; enjoyable dynamics; responsive V6

Nannying ESP; engine tech needs an update

GS350 F Sport

11133

$95,311 (6a) V6/3.5 232/6400380/4800 rear 1745 133 6.0 – 9.3 Surprisingly capable chassis takes the Euros on

Hyper-responsive steering takes some getting used to

($100)GS F

11113

Feb 17 $153,351 (8a) V8/5.0 351/7100 530/4800 rear 1825192 4.9913.09 11.3 Refined muscle sedan from Japan; good value

Nomatchforitssegmentrivals

RC200t

11133

Feb 16 $74,180 (8a) I4/2.0T 1 8 0 / 5 8 0 0 3 5 0 / 1 6 5 0 rear 1620111 7.0 – 7.5 Turbo four-pot frugal and more flexible than V6

It's slow and uninspiring; lacks V6's chassis upgrades

RC350 F Sport

11123

Jan 18 $76,951 (8a) V6/3.5 233/6000378/4800rear 1680139 6.4214.41 12.15 Aggro looking coupe ups Lexus’ mojo; sweet dynamics

Quitethirsty;notsuperquick;weighsalot

RC F

11123

Mar 16 $137,951 (8a) V8/5.0 351/7100 530/4800 rear 1860189 5.11 13.25 10.9 Cheaper than German rivals; naturally-aspirated V8

It makes a Nissan GT-R look svelte

LC500

11113

Aug 17 $190,000 (10a) V8/5.0 351/7100 540/4800 rear 1935182 4.7 – 11.6 Concept-car looks; brilliant V8; lovely steering and chassis

DesperatelyneedsaSportESC;firmrideon21s;weight!

LC500h

11133

Oct 17 $190,000 (10a) V6/3.5E 2 6 4 / 6600 348/4900 rear 1985134 5.0 – 6.7 Near-half the V8’s fuel usage; still-engaging throttle response

Feels slower than it is; grainy soundtrack; V8 far more appealing

Lotus http://www.simplysportscars.com

Elise

11133

$ 7 4 , 9 9 0 ( 6 m ) I4/1.6 1 0 0 / 6800 160/4400rear 876 114 6.5 – 6.1 Purest, cheapest Elise still stands out in a crowd

One of those cars that would be amazing... if it cost $45K

Elise S

11123

$84,990 (6m) I4/1.8S 1 6 2 / 6800 250/4600 rear 880 185 4.6 – 7.5 A terrific drive made even better by supercharging

Not easy to get in or out of so try before you buy

MODELTESTED PRICE ENGINEKW/RPMNM/RPMDRIVEKERB KGKW/TONNE0-100 KM/H0-400MFUEL CONSPROS & CONS

TOP 3

$93,300

New-age BMW hero

$132,990

Raucous, but rewarding

1 ST

COUPES

$75K–

$150K

Porsche 718 Cayman
$110,000
Sublime in every way

BMW

2

Lotus Exige

3