2025
52 articles
December 2025
Welcome to the Speedo Cafe and Australia's seven biggest used-car scams
The cafe of lost kilometres waits with heated pool and bar. (Apologies to Neil Young. Cars don't "lose" 130,000km on the Hume unless they stop for coffee at the Speedo Cafe on the way.
Why carmakers are slamming the brakes on EVs as buyers choose hybrids
Production of Ford's battery powered F-150 Lightning trucks at the Dearborn factory in Michigan has ceased. Picture: AFP
Norris took the title but when it comes to obscene income Hamilton will always be king
Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton has won the income race against McLaren driver Lando Norris. Picture: AP
Norris, Verstappen and Piastri face off in three-way F1 title decider but the Aussie's a long shot
Oscar Piastri talks with McLaren team owner Andrea Stella and chief executive Zak Brown. Picture: Getty Images
November 2025
McLaren disaster reboots F1 title race into three-way battle
Red Bull's Max Verstappen, middle, flanked McLaren drivers Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris.
The quickest road-legal EVs and why Targa Tasmania's return is bigger than electric hypercars
The only thing quicker than the Aspark Owl is the speed at which it will drain your bank account.
When demonstration models aren't all they're cracked up to be
Dealer "demonstrators" are everywhere right now. Low kilometres, shiny paint, big red "$7000 Off!" stickers.
Gavel meets GOATs: three of the greatest cars ever go to auction
Moths out of the wallet. Sell the kiddies and mortgage the marina: in Abu Dhabi on 5 December RM Sotheby's is selling three of the greatest cars ever built.
Major changes ahead as Uber plans autonomous vehicle rollout in Australia
Uber says it intends to expand its global autonomous fleets in the coming years. Picture: Josh Edelson / AFP
October 2025
F1 Mexico GP preview: Verstappen aims for sixth win at high altitude
Max Verstappen celebrates in Austin, Texas. Picture: Getty Images. Only in Formula One could a strip of sticky tape turn into an international incident...
Celebrity cars fetch millions as McQueen's motorcycle heads to auction
Julien's Auctions and Turner Classic Movies are flogging the ultimate celebrity garage — Steve McQueen's 1926 Excelsior Super X flat-tracker the King of Cool rode on local Santa Paula country roads ($250k).
Car manufacturing's revolution exposes the true cost of computer chips
Remember when car companies made cars? Now they make computers with cupholders.
How a Bavarian motoring marque has chargrilled its brand reputation with a recall of 200,000 so far
The damage left to a BMW X5 four-wheel-drive in Sydney's Parramatta after flames started coming from below the bonnet.
September 2025
Treasurer Jim says 'Thanks for going green, here's your bill'
A US-built Rivian R1S doesn't just look big but as an EV weighs more than its off-road fuelled counterparts. Picture: AP
Monza madness: Verstappen breaks records while Piastri dream alive despite team orders
Max Verstappen and his Oracle Red Bull Racing team celebrate the F1 Grand Prix win at Monza. Picture: Getty Images.
F1's $40bn empire: Melbourne pays $70m for Grand Prix privilege
As the FI circus rolls on to Monza this weekend, I'm tipping Oscar Piastri to seal it. Picture: Mark Sutton via Getty Images
August 2025
China dominates global EV market with battery supply chain control
About 140 years ago Carl Benz invented and trademarked the Benz Patent-Motorwagen.
Five reasons to hold off on buying an EV in Australia
Tesla's Model Y has shed more than $25,000 in value in two years. Here are five reasons you should reconsider buying an EV in Australia anytime soon.
Sovereign comfort: the 2025 Mercedes-Benz S-Class for the Limousine Left
A recent study showed that more world leaders choose a Merc than any other brand.
Jaguar Land Rover in the spotlight over reliability issues
What do our Washington correspondent Donny Trump and Melbourne reader Dr AS have in common? Strong feelings about the Tata Motors-owned Jaguar Land Rover.
World's deadliest roads: Five wild drives that will need a head for heights
You think you've done it all. Topless in a Citroen DS 21 Chapron full tilt down the Boulevard Saint-Germain.
July 2025
Recall and response: The million car warning you probably missed
You may not have noticed, but while you were watching the Tour de France or yelling at the telly about Qantas, about two million cars were quietly recalled in the United States.
The five greatest drives, the worst places for a flat tyre and SVG
Aussie Shane van Gisbergen celebrates his latest NASCAR victory with the traditional burnout. Picture: San Francisco Chronicle
Them's the brakes for Piastri as Red Bull reels
Let's start where it ended: Oscar Piastri got robbed – or penalised, depending on how charitable you're feeling towards the FIA this week.
On the Road to Roma and ruin with stops at Lightning Ridge
Our first two epic Aussie road trips – not suitable for influencers or electric vehicles – had a huge response.
June 2025
Best outback Aussie road trips in ordinary cars for non-nomads
Here's our pick of the best Australian road trips: at least 1000km, zero EV charging hope, no tourist traps.
Dash cam video shows spectacular Finke Desert Race crash
Dramatic video footage has shown an in-car view of a crash that happened 10 kilometres north of Aputula during this year's Finke Desert Race.
Hollywood's take on F1: a polished leap further than Drive to Survive
Yes, Brad Pitt is driving in F1, Danny Ricciardo is back and Melbourne chanteuse, Rosé, is warbling not driving.
EV prices set to crash as Tesla turns toxic
It's the impossible dream: Melbourne to Sydney in an EV on one charge.
The four best used cars for under $40,000 and the one you should avoid
Now that Jim Chalmers has put lipstick on an economic pig it's the right time to look at buying a used rather than new car.
May 2025
It's official: F1 is a Mickey Mouse organisation
Just when you thought Formula 1 and FIA couldn't become more of a parody of itself, Mickey Mouse shows up to help.
Less fill more thrill: The most efficient real cars on Aussie roads
These five hybrids are a better bet than Oscar this weekend.
Federal government offer to axe luxury car tax will devalue new and used cars from BMW to Kia
King Albo's plan to axe the $5.2bn luxury car tax will reshape Australia's metal market.
Jack Doohan dumped by Alpine F1 team but Oscar Piastri is flying
F1's Soap Opera: Jack Gets the (Temporary) Sack, Oscar Packs the Silverware.
How to blow $2000 and still smell like a toilet and other terrible Mother's Day ideas
Thinking Mother's Day? Here are the six worst car accessories you can buy now.
April 2025
Coolant-gate: Zoom-zoom goes boom-boom as Mazda faces a class action in the US
Mazda is facing a class action in the US over a serious engine defect in some of its most popular models.
Tesla sued over dodgy odometers as rare Honda CRX, Jeeps, Lincoln Convertibles in hot demand
The car market's in the toilet, which normally means it's time to panic.
Lamborghini Super Trofeo series: a grand day out for ordinary billionaires
Just when you thought the party was over, the orange clown walked back in and turned the music back on.
Are car dealers, banks and finance companies colluding to rip you off? Of course they are
A landmark case in the UK Supreme Court could force banks and lenders to cough up $90 bill in compensation over shady car loan practices.
March 2025
Who killed the petrol engine? And no, the answer's not Elon
Friend, 20 readers, and the Sultan of Kensington's second cousin's bean counter – strap in.
Playing chicken with the wrath of Mother Nature
It was bigger than a footy player's night out in Bali. A Melbourne Monsoon.
How the FIA's broken promises and gag orders threaten the sport's future
Behind the scenes of tomorrow's F1 season opener in the Albert Park Arena there's more drama playing out than in any episode of the Real Housewives of Azerbaijan.
Electric vehicles: If you really must buy one, here is what to do
New figures show that sales of electric vehicles are going down faster than my enthusiasm for Dry July by July 2.
February 2025
Ferrari's profit machine: selling less creates $90bn powerhouse
The world's most profitable car company wants to be a handbag company.
Porn, cigs and gambling: who said F1's gone woke?
It's green light on and the bunny's away at 1pm next month on the bumpy streets of Aughtie and Lakeside Drives, Albert Park, the Logan City of Victoria.
Buy a hybrid if you want efficiency and convenience without relying on charging infrastructure
So about 70 per cent of you say you are not even thinking about an EV!
Mercedes-Benz and Ferrari dominate list of most expensive cars ever sold at auction
How much would you pay for a used car you really wanted?
Year of the lemon: Five worst cars to buy in 2025
Ho Ho Ho. I have saved the best present for you until today. It's the auction of the ex-Steve McQueen, Jerry Seinfeld Porsche 917K – the "Hero Car" from the 1971 film "Le Mans" and one of the most recognisable race cars in history.
January 2025
Trump's EV ban: Bidders boo as auctioneer stops $40m sale of Porsche 917K
Yes readers, it's the bumper Chrismukkah edition. The Sultan of Brunei has banned Xmas but you can visit his $9bn metal collection on Xmas day. Bernie Ecclestone is selling his $600m F1 car stockpile to pay his tax bill.
Some electric cars lost more than two-thirds of their value after being driven out of showrooms
Many of our 20 readers say they don't understand this column sometimes. I don't understand it either and I write it. A Pagani Zonda LM Roadster sold for $17m in Dubai. When you have more money than sense, try a Pagani Zonda.
There's nothing like a Dane, eh Mr Trump
There's a lot of Emperor's New Clothes stuff going on in our motoring world today. Jaguar recalled 6400 I-Paces five times for battery fires. Their new ad has no cars. And the FIA is in more trouble than a porcupine in a balloon factory.
Haunting tales from the unencrypted VW data
You can tell a lot about a person by what they do in the back of a Rolls Royce Phantom in Las Vegas. Mad Max Verstappen spent his time playing with the Roller's gadgets after winning his fourth world championship.