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Life & Luxury

Cars, Bikes & Boats

February

From the Gold Coast, a luxury motor yacht at technology’s fore

A new $3.8 million personal cruiser from top boat builder Riviera is proof of an innovative and thriving industry; the biggest surprise is what lies beneath.

  • Tony Davis
Max Verstappen of the Netherlands and Oracle Red Bull Racing prepares to sit in the car prior to F1 Testing at Bahrain International Circuit on February 20, 2024 in Bahrain.

Who’s who on the grid for this year’s F1 season

The 2024 Formula 1 season will be the busiest ever. Here’s our guide to the teams and drivers – and their chances of success.

  • Tony Davis

The concept cars top that auto designers dream about

From a hyper Mercedes to a humble Ford Focus, these concepts are inspiring tomorrow’s cars.

  • Tony Davis
Oscar Piastri

Meet Oscar Piastri, the calmest driver in Formula 1

On the eve of his second F1 season driving for McLaren, the 22-year-old Melburnian talks about luck, fear and “being good at chilling out”.

  • Tony Davis

From Mercedes-Benz to Lamborghini, six of the best new concept cars

Whether a fully driveable machine or a flight of fantasy, the concept’s main job is to grab attention. These recent efforts that have done just that.

  • Tony Davis
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The Porsche 911 Dakar is designed to do this… but it seems a pity to damage a new, pristine sports car, especially at the price.

Would you really rough up your $560k Porsche 911 Dakar?

It’s likely most buyers will use theirs on the black stuff: this spritely model is just too good to be thrashed in the dirt.

  • Tony Davis
On charge: the electric version of the smallest Lexus SUV still features an oversized grille.

Why the Lexus UX300e Sports Luxury will woo fans of the brand

This fully electric, lavish SUV comes with a great owner benefit program, but there are other makes out there with better range and performance.

  • Tony Davis

Minimalists, Tesla’s updated Model 3 ‘Highland’ is for you

Tweaks and tucks have produced a more refined, more comfortable and more spartan EV.

  • Tony Davis
Australia’s SailGP Team helmed by Tom Slingsby during a practice race on Sydney Harbour in December 2021. Teams Spain and France are in the background.

World’s top sailors out to smash SailGP record on Sydney Harbour

The pinnacle so far is 99.9 km/h (in heavy winds in France). Australian team driver Tom Slingsby thinks home just might be the place to break through 100 km/h.

  • Tony Davis
The Maserati GranTurismo Folgore looks the part of a 1950s racing car, but it’s an EV: tackling The Green Hell is not straightforward.

It’s the ultimate speed test for a performance EV

Maserati figured its GranTurismo Folgore could claim the record for the fastest production car on Germany’s notorious “Green Hell” racetrack. Here’s what happened.

  • Tony Davis
The Audi Q5 5S TFSI e quattro S-line Sportback: It’s certainly one of the best plug-in hybrids on the market.

Is this $110k+ version of Australia’s favourite Audi worth it?

The smoothness, the beautiful interior, the abundance of tech... The first hybrid variant of the mid-sized Q5 delivers, but here’s why you might want to wait.

  • Tony Davis

January

Peugeot’s e-2008 harks back to the petrol version of that year in design terms. But should it?

Peugeot’s first Australian EV costs $60k – but is it worth it?

It remains to be seen whether brand loyalty among Pug fans will win out over this EV’s modest range and 16-year-old styling.

  • Tony Davis
The Royal Enfield Interceptor 650: the choice is simply with or without the optional orange decal?

Dial up the fun with the updated Royal Enfield Interceptor 650

This one’s for those who love transport stripped back to its purest form, and the sheer pleasure of riding a bike. Yours for $10,990 ride-away.

  • Tony Davis
Daniel Ricciardo’s Scuderia AlphaTauri hurtles around the track in Mexico City last year. This year, his car will be rebranded.

Formula 1 new team name mocked as the worst in series history

Red Bull’s junior team, known as AlphaTauri for the past four years, is being renamed Visa Cash App RB F1 – to the derision of fans and commentators.

  • Jenna Fryer
The MGA Twincam restomod from Modern Classic Cars: the look is authentic, even if many components and the mod cons are not.

And now for a classic MG with mod cons, the $200k MGA restomod

Authenticity with modern conveniences and bespoke touches comes at a price. But MG aficionados will doubtless think it’s one worth paying.

  • Tony Davis
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Hertz’s decision to buy 100,000 Tesla Model 3s looks foolhardy now.

Electric cars are cheaper than ever – and that’s bad for their owners

But over the next 12 months, the advantage will move back to the buyers. For rental companies, and individuals, that’s going to be the ideal time to buy.

  • David Fickling
Yes, it’s a Ferrari despite its heft and two extra doors.

The family-friendly Ferrari Purosangue, for $1m drive away

If there are four of you, you’ll enjoy the four firm bucket seats. There is space for luggage, too, and plenty of power – as befits a thoroughbred.

  • Tony Davis
For the latest AMG C63 sedan, the group has replaced its V8 with a “four” linked to a plug-in hybrid system.

Mercedes-AMG rolls out the crystal ball: the future’s all-electric

Last year, at just 40 years of age, Michael Schiebe was put in charge of Benz’s high-performance (and highly profitable) division. He tells us the aim is to satisfy every client’s wish.

  • Tony Davis

EVs or petrol? Best of 2023 and the road ahead

The motoring world has been on a helluva ride lately. In case you missed any of it, read on.

  • Tony Davis

The Australian Financial Review Magazine

Mary Fowler, Sam Kerr, Caitlin Foord and Steph Catley celebrate their win.

BOSS Financial Review

Investment banking wasn’t in Sarah Rennie’s frame of reference when she was at school.

Life & Leisure

Rich List

Residential prime real estate prices are forecast by Knight Frank to rise by 5 per cent in Sydney this year.