Motor Australia — January 2018

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X5 M

11113

Jan 16 $189,010 (8a) V8/4.4TT 4 23/6500750/2200all 2275186 4.2 – 11.1

Hysterical performance; cheaper than all its rivals

Still a big lump to throw around; arcade-game steering

X6 xDrive50i

11133

May 15 $155,810 (8a) V8/4.4TT3 3 0 / 6000 650(700)/

2000

all 2170152 4.8 – 9.7

Almost as quick as the full-house X6M for $30K less

Why would you pay $10K more than an X5?

X6 M50d

11133

$162,200 (8a) I6/3.0

TTTD

280/4400740/2000all 2185128 5.2 – 6.6

Diesel stonk and efficiency wrapped in a unique shell

Acceleration feels more pragmatic than sporty

X6 M

11113

Aug 15 $197,910 (8a) V8/4.4TT 4 23/6500750/2200all 2265186 4.2 – 11.1

Frighteningly fast; defies the laws of physics in corners

$9K more than X5M, then there’s rear passenger chiro bills

Caterham http://www.caterhamcars.com.au

Seven 275

11133

Sep 17 $64,000 (5m) I4/1.6 1 0 0 / 6 1 0 0 1 6 0 / 4 1 0 0 rear 590 170 6.53 14.8 6.2

Entry-levelCaterhamgreatfuntosteer

An emotional purchase – for the cash, there’s quicker

Seven 275 S

11133

$69,900 (5m) I4/1.6 1 0 0 / 6 1 0 0 1 6 0 / 4 1 0 0 rear 590 170 - – -

Just like the 275, but with leather, painted body, more grip

Still no standard limited-slip diff; getting expensive

Seven 355

11133

$ 7 6 , 6 0 0 ( 5 m ) I4/2.0 127/7300 177/6000 rear 560 227 5.0 – -

TheCaterhamforthosewhowantmoregrunt

Might feel a little Spartan for equipment

Seven 355 R

11133

$94,800 (5m) I4/2.0 127/7300 177/6000 rear 560 227 5.0 – -

This on a track – driving doesn’t come much better

You’ll seriously consider towing it there; don’t crash it

Seven 485 S

11123

$103,700 (6m) I4/2.0 177/8500 206/6300 rear 675 262 3.9 – -

The proper, full-fruit, no-electronics Caterham experience

Expensive; sooks will find it very wearing over longer distances

Seven 485 R

11113

$114,900 (6m) I4/2.0 177/8500 206/6300 rear 675 262 3.9 – -

Very special driving experience; unbeatable fun; giant-slayer

718 Boxster money for a car without a proper roof

Chrysler http://www.chrysler.com.au

300 SRT Core

11113

Sep 16 $65,000 (8a) V8/6.4 3 5 0 / 6 1 5 0 6 37/4250rear 1946180 4.6812.76 13.0

Incredible pace for the money; street cred

Interior feels a litle cheap in places; no adaptive dampers

300 SRT

11113

Jan 16 $75,000 (8a) V8/6.4 3 5 0 / 6 1 5 0 6 37/4250rear 1965178 – –

Great value; loaded with kit; rides well; sounds brilliant

No ballerina in the bends; frightening thirst

Australia’s Ultimate New Car Comparison Site whichcar.com.au BMW

SEDANS

$75K–

$150K

HSV GTSR –

$109,490

Last and the best

BMW M3 – $139,6

A worthy M-car

2 ND

1 ST

TOP 3

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

Alpina B3 Touring

IT’S NOT often we’ll review an outdated model, but in Alpina’s case

we’ll make an exception. Confused? Don’t be. Alpina dipped its toe into

Australian waters in mid-2016 as a dealer-led initiative with its B3 sedan

and wagon and B4 coupe and convertible models, but BMW Australia

has now put one arm around the operation and updated ‘S’ models will

soon launch with up-to-date interiors, more power and big price cuts.

Rather than wait until then, however, we’ve taken the opportunity to

slide behind the wheel of the B3 Touring for a taste of Alpina motoring.

The power, performance and pricetag all say “M3 Wagon”, but the driving

experience says something quite different. Solely focused on road use

rather than racetrack ability, the B3 feels like a heavily revised 340i, which

is essentially what it is. The engine is a high-performance version of the

335i’s N55, albeit converted to twin-turbo. It’s sublime, with enormous

torque reserves ensuring ballistic roll-on acceleration and a super-smooth

inline-six note. The standard-fit eight-speed auto is a much nicer day-to-

day accomplice than M Division’s DCT and ride quality is excellent – as

an everyday performance car the Alpina B3 is superb. It looks great,

too; you could make a case for Alpina’s 20-inch multi-spoke being the

sexiest wheel of all time. It needs a limited-slip diff (optionally available),

especially with the 324kW/660Nm of the revised S models, and the price

is high, though again the S Touring has received an $11,000 haircut. All in

all, we can’t wait to sample the revised Alpina line-up when it lands in

early-2018. The connoisseur’s performance car? – SN

SPECS 3.0-LITRE TWIN-TURBO INLINE-6CYL, 301KW, 600NM, 0-100KM/H 4.4SEC PRICE $160,900

FastBlast

Alfa Giulia -$ 143

Properly sweet steer

BMW M3 $139 6

RD