Mitsubishi's long-running and much-loved Pajero is due to die soon, and the range has just been trimmed to GLX and GLS, no more Exceed, and both are diesel five-speed automatics. There's now a Rockford Fosgate speaker system, with the GLS getting a subwoofer. Auto high beam is standard, and GLX gets HID headlamps and therefore by law also has auto-levelling and washers. Maximum braked tow capacity is 3000kg, with towball masses of 250 and 180kg - oddly, the 3000kg limit has a 180kg TBM and the 2500kg limit can have 250kg.
No more Pajero Exceed
BMW X5 and X7 towing option
The current model X5 and X7 now have factory-fit towbars for $700 including a 12-pin adaptor, and the tow rating is pretty good. Here's a list of maximum braked weights and towball masses:
Additional towing data for X5 xDrive30d & X7 xDrive30d:
The towball mass isn't always 10 percent of the maximum braked tow, as is often the case with European cars which aren't designed for our, frankly too high, trailer towball masses. Nevertheless, the BMW figures aren't too bad for their class.
NEWS New Vehicles
WORDS ROBERT PEPPER
Mitsubishi Pajero Sport refresh
A revised Pajero Sport has been released. It's more of a refresh than all-new as the engine, transmission and basic body design are the same. Changes are a new eight-inch screen, the tailgate is now power operated, there's a remote-control app for things like operating the tailgate and remote locking, but appears to be via Bluetooth so works only within 10m of the vehicle.
The Pajero Sport has always been quite strong on safety, and now there's Lane Change Assist and Rear Cross Traffic Alert for backing out. Various interior and exterior cosmetic enhancements, notably the taillights which aren't as, well, polarising as they were before. Expect to see the revised model here in early 2020. Maximum braked tow capacity is 3010kg, with a maximum towball mass of 310kg.
Ford's Everest has also been upgraded with AEB with Pedestrian Detection across the range. The range-topping Titanium is available only as the 2.0 diesel with a 10-speed automatic, with a 7.0L/100km combined fuel efficiency target which means it qualifies for the Fuel Efficient Luxury Car Tax (LCT) threshold. The normal LCT threshold is $66,331 but if the vehicle uses 7L/100km or less on the combined cycle the threshold is $75,526. The LCT is imposed at 33 per cent of the amount above the threshold. Here’s the current Everest range:
Ford Everest safety upgrade
2020 Ford Ranger upgrade
Base-model Ranger XLs can now be ordered with heavy-duty suspension. Payload, GVM and GCM appear to be the same, but the springs are stronger and there are consequent changes to the shocks and vehicle dynamic aids such as stability control. The change is to improve handling when carrying heavier loads.
The XL and XLS models now get the eight-inch infotainment screen running Ford's excellent Sync 3 system, plus a USB outlet near the rear vision mirror. The XLT, Wildtrak and Ranger Raptor get LED headlights which Ford says have 17 percent better light penetration, and as always with LEDs, have a less bright-white light than the previous HIDs. The Wildtrak gets a powered roller tonneau cover.
The HiLux has had a mid-life safety upgrade with AEB (Autonomous Emergency Braking) which helps detect obstacles and brakes the vehicle before it hits them, but absolutely does not guarantee that success. There's also Active Lane Keep Assist and Advanced Speed Assistance systems, which help detect speed limits and assist the driver to keep to them. All three features are standard across the range but make no difference to the HiLux's five-star safety rating. This just goes to prove that not all five-star cars are created equal.
HiLux stars
- Sumitomo has found a way to develop electricity from the rotation of a tyre which generates static electricity, possibly useable for things like tyre-pressure monitoring systems.
- 2019 Jeep Cherokee recalled over airbags.
- The Range Rover Velar range will be cut back for 2020.
- Volkswagen will bring a manual V6 Amarok with low-range to Australia.
- Land Rover is offering Defender upgrades; engine power improvement for the 2.2 Puma engine, suspension, and 18in wheels. Quite why any Defender owner would want 18in wheels is a mystery to this writer, but there you go.
- Bannister Law has launched a class-action lawsuit against Toyota Australia over DPF (Diesel Particulate Filter) issues. Click here for more info.
Quick News
Mitsubishi's long-running and much-loved Pajero is due to die soon, and the range has just been trimmed to GLX and GLS, no more Exceed, and both are diesel five-speed automatics. There's now a Rockford Fosgate speaker system, with the GLS getting a subwoofer. Auto high beam is standard, and GLX gets HID headlamps and therefore by law also has auto-levelling and washers. Maximum braked tow capacity is 3000kg, with towball masses of 250 and 180kg - oddly, the 3000kg limit has a 180kg TBM and the 2500kg limit can have 250kg.
No more Pajero Exceed
BMW X5 and X7 towing option
The current model X5 and X7 now have factory-fit towbars for $700 including a 12-pin adaptor, and the tow rating is pretty good. Here's a list of maximum braked weights and towball masses:
Additional towing data for X5 xDrive30d & X7 xDrive30d:
The towball mass isn't always 10 percent of the maximum braked tow, as is often the case with European cars which aren't designed for our, frankly too high, trailer towball masses. Nevertheless, the BMW figures aren't too bad for their class.
NEWS New Vehicles
WORDS ROBERT PEPPER
Mitsubishi Pajero Sport refresh
A revised Pajero Sport has been released. It's more of a refresh than all-new as the engine, transmission and basic body design are the same. Changes are a new eight-inch screen, the tailgate is now power operated, there's a remote-control app for things like operating the tailgate and remote locking, but appears to be via Bluetooth so works only within 10m of the vehicle.
The Pajero Sport has always been quite strong on safety, and now there's Lane Change Assist and Rear Cross Traffic Alert for backing out. Various interior and exterior cosmetic enhancements, notably the taillights which aren't as, well, polarising as they were before. Expect to see the revised model here in early 2020. Maximum braked tow capacity is 3010kg, with a maximum towball mass of 310kg.
Ford's Everest has also been upgraded with AEB with Pedestrian Detection across the range. The range-topping Titanium is available only as the 2.0 diesel with a 10-speed automatic, with a 7.0L/100km combined fuel efficiency target which means it qualifies for the Fuel Efficient Luxury Car Tax (LCT) threshold. The normal LCT threshold is $66,331 but if the vehicle uses 7L/100km or less on the combined cycle the threshold is $75,526. The LCT is imposed at 33 per cent of the amount above the threshold. Here’s the current Everest range:
Ford Everest safety upgrade
2020 Ford Ranger upgrade
Base-model Ranger XLs can now be ordered with heavy-duty suspension. Payload, GVM and GCM appear to be the same, but the springs are stronger and there are consequent changes to the shocks and vehicle dynamic aids such as stability control. The change is to improve handling when carrying heavier loads.
The XL and XLS models now get the eight-inch infotainment screen running Ford's excellent Sync 3 system, plus a USB outlet near the rear vision mirror. The XLT, Wildtrak and Ranger Raptor get LED headlights which Ford says have 17 percent better light penetration, and as always with LEDs, have a less bright-white light than the previous HIDs. The Wildtrak gets a powered roller tonneau cover.
The HiLux has had a mid-life safety upgrade with AEB (Autonomous Emergency Braking) which helps detect obstacles and brakes the vehicle before it hits them, but absolutely does not guarantee that success. There's also Active Lane Keep Assist and Advanced Speed Assistance systems, which help detect speed limits and assist the driver to keep to them. All three features are standard across the range but make no difference to the HiLux's five-star safety rating. This just goes to prove that not all five-star cars are created equal.
HiLux stars
Quick News
- Sumitomo has found a way to develop electricity from the rotation of a tyre which generates static electricity, possibly useable for things like tyre-pressure monitoring systems.
- 2019 Jeep Cherokee recalled over airbags.
- The Range Rover Velar range will be cut back for 2020.
- Volkswagen will bring a manual V6 Amarok with low-range to Australia.
- Land Rover is offering Defender upgrades; engine power improvement for the 2.2 Puma engine, suspension, and 18in wheels. Quite why any Defender owner would want 18in wheels is a mystery to this writer, but there you go.
- Bannister Law has launched a class-action lawsuit against Toyota Australia over DPF (Diesel Particulate Filter) issues. Click here for more info.