Freezing Out Smartkey Hijackers
Smart keys are included as standard features in the majority of new models these days. Keyless entry all seems so simple. You walk up to the car with the smart key fob in your pocket or your handbag and hey presto! The car door unlocks itself just like that. With the newer models, you don’t even have to press the button. All you have to do is to walk within a metre of the car and a wee sensor inside the car will detect the presence of the fob and its unique electronic signal.
It’s convenient, especially if you’re struggling with lots of bags or a wriggly toddler. However, there’s a downside: they can be hacked with a fairly inexpensive device (if you think I’m going to give you the full details of exactly how to get hold of the device, you’ve got to be joking!).
A shifting landscape marks the beginning of 2016
It’s little surprise the start to 2016 has been busy for the automotive industry. While the fallout from the ‘Dieselgate’ scandal lingers, the industry has also shifted its attention towards an abundance of motoring issues. Here’s a roundup on the most pressing motoring issues from the first quarter of 2016.
Manufacturing
The year started with the US Department of Justice filing a $46bn civil lawsuit against Volkswagen for breaching environmental laws with its ‘cheat’ system that bypassed diesel emissions tests. Volkswagen’s CEO apologised to customers, and sales took a hit – six months after first making news, half a million US cars are still waiting for a solution. Renault was embroiled in a similar controversy, recalling a popular model after its emissions filtering system was found to be faulty.
Private Fleet Car Review: 2016 Toyota HiLux WorkMate 4×4
Toyota‘s HiLux has, like stablemate HiAce, been a staple of their light commercial range since Noah needed a ute to transport some wood. In a somewhat bewildering range, a driver can choose from a two door, a two door with extra room behind the seats, fours doors, petrol diesel, manual auto, two wheel drive, four wheel drive, ute, tray, a bare chassis, and one that will make breakfast and coffee for you (just jokes, it’s allergic to coffee).
A Wheel Thing had the pleasure of the company of the 4×4 dual cab ute WorkMate, with a tautly sprung chassis carrying a 2.4L diesel with self shifting transmission. Given its utalitarian focus, you’d be forgiven for thinking it would be a “meh” kind of car. Apart from the basic interior (understandable), the hard ride (for carrying stuff) and a slightly noisy donk, it was actually a bit of fun.
Car Review: 2015 Holden Commodore SV6 Sportwagon
With the Holden Commodore effectively the only local car Holden has built for some time (Cruze is a world car, not locally designed), the major changes the car has experienced have come at seemingly ever increasing gaps. Much like the HJ to HZ Kingswoods, changes were cosmetic or unseen, being located under the skin.
It’s much the same with the VY and VZ to VE, with noticeable but not massive external changes but the move to VF models was more radical and almost a nod back to the original VB Commodore. The VB featured long horizontal tail lights, a design that stayed through to the VL. The VF moved away from an almost triangular look, a look that started with the VY, going back to a set of elongated horizontal lights. The front end underwent a slightly less radical change, with the headlight surround changed to a more “eagle eye” look and the lower front bumper given deeper and more inset vents housing the LED driving lights.
But all the way through, there was a wagon. The ute didn’t arrive until the VN model, however there was always the option of a wagon. With the recently released VF series 2, there’s been the same incremental changes from the VF, with subtle, almost unnoticeable changes unless you look hard. 
The Sportwagon’s tail lights are perhaps the biggest external change, with a more strongly defined design to the housing whilst when lit look more like the neon light style favoured strongly by some other brands including Kia. The front bar has also been given a subtle restyle, with the lower air intake widened and the corners indented. Stand away and you’ll miss the changes.
Under the lightweight aluminuim bonnet (which noticeably flapped around) beats Holden’s heart. There’s a muscly 3.6L twin cam alloy engine, which has a nice touch of rort when punched hard. It’s a willing revver, spinning easily around to the redline, throwing out 350 Nm of torque at 2800 rpm on the way to 210 kilowatts at a stratospheric 6700 revs. 
To put that torque figure into perspective, however, most modern two litre engines with a turbo will twist out the same. Consumption is quoted as 9.0L of 91 RON per 100 kilometres from the 71 litre tank although Holden does say better distance per litre may be achieved from 95 and 98. Send it along a straight freeway and the six speed auto will settle in at just over 2000 revs, dropping that fuel consumption (from the average) to around the 8.3L mark if pedalled gently. Sitting just under the peak torque figure, it allows the Sportwagon to get some serious mid range acceleration when asked. It’s a superb highway cruiser, with minimal road noise intruding into the cabin and that ride has the passengers feeling as if they’re isolated from the outside.
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