Hyundai Santa Fe Unveiled For 2018
Hyundai have released some details of its new for 2018 Santa Fe. Notable changes include a restyled front end, linking the big SUV to its slightly newer and smaller brethren, the Kona. There’s the upper level LED driving lights, mid level headlights that are in a separate cluster and set deep into their own scalloped section on the extremeties of the bumper. A restyled “Cascading Grille” is also featured. At 4770mm in length, a breadth of 1890mm, and an increased wheelbase, the Santa fe stamps itself firmly as the leader of Hyundai cars.
Inside it’s a complete makeover, with a sweeping line to the upper dash section, air vent designs not unlike those found in upper level European luxury cars. The dash and console are broader in look, with a more concise and intense look to the centre touchscreen and climate control section.
Peugeot and Citroën Australia Introduce Five-Year Warranty
Peugeot and Citroën Australia (PCA) will introduce a five-year, unlimited kilometre warranty with five-year roadside assist for all Peugeot and Citroën passenger vehicles. That warranty applies from the date of the first registration of the vehicle. Even better, it’s transferable should an owner decide to move their new car on to a new owner. The new warranty will commence immediately and be retrospectively applied to any MY18 vehicles already sold.
The Managing Director of Peugeot and Citroën Australia, Anouk Poelmann, said that the new warranty gives Australian’s confidence in purchasing a Peugeot or Citroën and reinforces the commitment both PCA and Groupe PSA in France have for the Australian market.
Ford Ranger Raptor Ready To Strike.
Long talked about…well, since the new look Ranger was released a couple of years ago, a performance version has been released. Taking an already assertive machine and making it look even more angry is not always easy yet somehow the Ford designers and engineers have done so. Here’s a brief look at the 2018 Ford Ranger Raptor.
Engine.
A 2.0L diesel has been massaged to produce an astonishing 500Nm of torque, with a peak power output of 157kW. The twin turbo beat was tested to its limits, with a non-stop run of 200 hours. A small HP (High Pressure) turbo kicks off before a larger LP (Low Pressure) turbo takes over. A new ten speed auto, designed and built by Ford in-house, along with revamped electronics, has quicker, crisper, shifts, and promises even better economy. There’s two on road modes, Normal and Sport, plus Grass/Gravel/Snow, Mud/Sand, Rock, and Baja. It’s that last one that has eyebrows and corners of mouths raised. Ford says: Vehicle responsiveness is tuned for high-speed off-road performance, just like drivers need in the famous Baja Desert Rally. In this mode, vehicle systems like Traction Control are pared back in terms of intervention to allow spirited off-road driving without fighting the vehicle’s on-board systems. Gear selection is optimized for maximum performance, and the mapping will hold gears longer and downshift more aggressively.
Looks.
A bespoke Ford logo grille now sits front and centre. It sits atop a frame mounted bumper, which houses new LED fog lamps and air-curtain ducts to help reduce aire resistance at speed. The front fenders are made of a composite material, and are oversized to deal with off road excursions and suspension travel. It’s an impressive size; it stands 1873mm high, spans 2180mm in width and is an impressive 5398mm in length. Ground clearance is 283 mm, with approach and departure angles of 32.5 and 24 degrees enabling superior off road accessibility.
There’s solid looking side steps, specially designed and engineered to help stop rocks being sprayed backwards from the front tyres and are cut to allow water drainage.Made from an aluminuim alloy, they’re durable and tough. These also were tested hard, with loads of 100 kilograms being applied 84,000 times to simulate a decade’s worth of exposure to usage. They’re powder-coated before a grit paint for extra durability is applied.
Peugeot 5008 Released In Australia For 2018.
Peugeot‘s continued revamp sees a new from the ground up 5008 released to the Australian market in January 2018. It’s built on the PSA Groups award winning EMP2 (Efficient Modular Platform 2) that underpins the 308 and 3008 vehicles. The Peugeot 5008 is available from a recommended retail price of $42,990 for the Allure, $46,990 for GT Line and $52,990 for the flagship GT. 
It’s a solid, bluff, no nonsense look to the 5008, and brings the bigger SUV into line with the family look of the 2008 and 3008. As has been the choice from the design team, there’s a distinct look of difference between the Allure models, GT Line and GT models which feature sporty design elements including: Peugeot equaliser grille, bespoke front bumper and lights, sporty amplified engine note, exclusive interior trim and steering wheel, red instrument illumination, and exclusive GT-Line or GT badging.
There’s a choice of two engines; the grunty 1.6L petrol engine for Allure and GT-Line, and the torquey 2.0L diesel for the GT. The turbo petrol offers an impressive 240 Nm at 1600 rpm, with the diesel an even more resounding 400 Nm at 2000 rpm. Both power down via a six speed auto and are good for a zero to one hundred time of just over ten seconds. It’s reasonable but not great for the 1473 kilo (dry) Allure/GT-Line and 1575 kilo (dry) GT. Economy figures look good too, with the petrol engine quoted as 7.0 to 7.3L per 100 km, and the diesel at 4.8L/100 km from a 56L tank. That petrol figure is Grip Control dependent, with that system being the drive modes available including Mud, Snow, Sand, Normal, and ESC Off.
There’s plenty of standard features starting with the Allure, including dual zone and rear seat climate control, Driver Attention Alert, Distance Alert, Autonomous Emergency Braking, LED interior lighting, DAB, wireless charging for smartphone, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, ISOFIX mounting points in the second and third row seats, tray tables on the seat backs, and Auto headlights. The GT-Line and GT naturally go up a notch with Automatic Engine Braking, Active Blind Spot Warning and Lane Departure Warning, High Beam Assist, foot operated tailgate, and more.
The interior is completely revamped and is built around the i-Cockpit theme seen in the 2008 and 3008. There’s also a new setup, the i-Cockpit Amplify. A button push brings in a change to light intensity and screen colour, releases scents, activates a seat massage program, and changes audio settings. There’s two settings, Relax, and Boost.
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