Car Chic

News: Naomi Watts New Hybrid Car

What does one of Hollywood's most famous film stars drive? Well, it's got to be a hybrid, but this limousine is not your average Toyota Prius runabout. As Juliet Potter explains, Naomi's hubby Liev Schreiber gave her a very fancy birthday present!

News: Car of the Year Awards

Yes, the girls of Australia have spoken, voting and recommending their favorite vehicles in each of five categories including the Best First Car, the Most Wanted Car, the Sexiest Girl's Car, the Best Car for a Girl on a Budget, and the Best Car for Mums (aka the best yummy-mummy mobile).

News: Ferrari Phone

Can't afford a Ferrari but still feel the need for speed (dial)? Never fear. Motorola and Optus have the solution for you with the MOTORAZA2 V9 Ferrari Special Edition mobile phone. But is it all it's cracked up to be?

News: Home Is Where The Crash Is

"Motorists should not get complacent when driving close to home. It is important they don't get lazy when driving on familiar streets, as this is when accidents are most likely happen," says NRMA Insurance Operations Manager Steve Beatty.

News: Environmentally Friendly Tyres

Tyres may just be the next hot thing to add to your eco shopping list! That’s right, Korean tyre company Hankook has developed environmentally friendly tyres set to sell in Australia from December this year.

News: Car Parks For Hybrid Cars

A council in Sydney has taken the bold step of reserving several carparks solely for environmentally friendly cars. Hybrid cars like the Honda Civic and Toyota Prius are some of the select few makes that can use these new car park spots.

Review: Nissan Dualis

Nissan's new Dualis is said to be two cars in one - a compact city runabout and a compact 4WD. Does the reality live up to the hype? Kathy Hamill took the cute little 4WD for a road test to find out. And if you don't like Ikea, turn away now...

News: It's Not Just Cars That Emit CO2

As Olivia Richardson explains, it's not just cars that emit a lot of CO2 (carbon dioxide) into the atmosphere. The manufacturing of almost every type of food also contributes to CO2 emissions, and some countries are starting to label food to reflect this.

Review: Peugeot 308

It's one of the sexiest cars to come out France, and Olivia has just been driving one. But it is as good as some of the other funky European hatchbacks? In a word: yes. It's cool, calm, and collected, with good fuel economy.

Winner: Car of the Year: Most Wanted

Most of the 2008 Car of the Year awards are judged on something practical, such as size or fuel efficiency. But the winner of the 'Most Wanted' category in the Car of the Year awards is crowned the winner based on emotion and desire.

Fun: Jeremy Clarkson: Top 10 Quotes

The host of the world's most popular automotive television series, Top Gear, is known for his controversial commentary, and herein we've listed his top 10 quotes including one that includes "librarian" and "G-string" in the same sentence. You've been warned!

News: Algae Biofuel

The future of fuel is coming. An American company is developing a new ultra-green biofuel that is the by-product of algae. Nicknamed 'green crude' it has almost the same chemical properties as petrol and is simply grown in large vats.

Advice: Car Tyres: Pump It Up

Did you know that having under inflated tyres can lead to increased fuel use? If you're tyres aren't correctly inflated, the steering can be affected, the brakes won't work as well. Olivia details how to pump up your tyres.

News: George Clooney's Eco Car

One of the world's most recognisable faces, that of George Clooney, can be seen behind a tiny electric vehicle in L.A. traffic. He has ditched the Ferrari and opted for the all-electric Tango car, saying "We are going to have to find a way to get away from oil".

Advice: Car Buying Tips for Women from an Insider

Ever wanted to know how to get the best deal on a car and not be taken for a ride? Former car salesman Mark Bruhwiller blows the whistle on the tips, tricks and dodgy stunts that car salespeople may spin at you.

Advice: The Safest Car Colours

What colour is your car? If it's grey, silver, or black you could be the owner of the least visible colour on the road. New evidence from the Monash University Accident Research Centre shines the spotlight on the car colours.

Winner: Car of the Year: Budget Car

The votes are in, and the decision has been made by Australian women for what is the best car for a girl on a budget. The winner is a small runabout made in Japan, and has some of the lowest running costs of any car in the country.

News: Chinese Car Trends

China is one of the fastest growing new car markets in the world. As the countries wealth grows, so does that of its population, and new statistics show that Chinese women are flocking to exotic cars.

Advice: Hungry Driver Warning

A new study released by a car insurer "is sure to make even Kate Moss grab a burger" writes Juliet Potter. The latest study shows that 80% of women drive when hungry, even though many of the women surveyed admitted their hunger affects their concentration levels.

News: Global Fuel Protests

"As fuel prices reach an all-time high, so is the patience of thousands of angry protesters around the globe," writes Olivia Richardson. Fuel prices, especially in Europe, have reached such high levels that truckies are blocking freeways.

Winner: Car of the Year: Sexiest Car

The votes have been tallied for the second category in the annual 'Car of the Year' awards, and the sexiest car is -- a convertible! Would you believe it's also made in England? You'll find all the results of what Australian women voted as the sexiest car, as well as the runners up.

Advice: Auto Abbreviations & Acronyms

As a recent survey of 100 people revealed, not one person knew the exact meaning of ESP (which is Electronic Stability Program).Juliet Potter looks at the increasingly confusing amount of abbreviations, acronyms and jargon that populate the world of cars.

Advice: What To Do If You Have An Accident

Dented metal, broken glass, profound shock: motor vehicle accidents are not nice but they do and always will happen. As Olivia Richardson writes, most people will be in shock, but there are number of things you should try and do when you have a prang - conveniently listed in this article.

News: Blow-Up Safety Man

While an inflatable passenger may elicit a few laughs, there is a serious side to this story. A new insurance group is offering women drivers the blow-up safety man after surverys revealed that a vast majority of women spend less time driving after dark because of safety concerns.

News: The Top 10 Dirtiest Celebrities

There's a lot of celebrities out there who champion the green movement, who talk about reducing CO2, planting more trees and trying to preserve our planet's eco-systems. And then there's the celebrities who have fleets of gas guzzling vehicles...

Winner: Car Of The Year: Best First Car

The votes have been tallied and there can be only one winner in the inaugural Car of the Year Awards. Can you guess what it is? It costs around $20,990, is made in Japan and has been one of the best-selling vehicles on the planet.

News: Chic Auto Inventions

Whether you're looking for a customised pink BMW with a female chauffeur, or perhaps a new way to pay for your petrol over the Internet, we've got it covered. And one of best inventions is this new Painted-Line GPS system, which draws a laser line on your windscreen pointing the way!

Story Archive

The story archive is where you can find all of our previous stories, both advice columns, car reviews and news. As well as information about buying new and used cars, you'll also find stories providing information on how to save petrol, safe driving tips, and more.