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    Tony Davis

    Motoring writer

    Tony Davis writes on lifestyle specialising in cars. Email Tony at tony.davis@afr.com.au

    Tony Davis

    This Month

    It’s sleek, stylish and pure waterborne fun: the Frauscher x Porsche 850 Fantom Air.

    What it’s like to drive this new $900k electric Porsche-on-water

    The Frauscher x Porsche 850 Fantom Air is a chic and thrilling powerboat that shares its tech DNA with the car company’s Macan EV.

    Ever wondered what crosses a race driver’s mind at 350 km/h?

    The 24 Hour of Le Mans is the Olympics of motor racing, says 1998’s winner, who admits “you don’t really care” about risk when there are so many other things to think about.

    The range of EVs on offer continues to grow and now includes the Rolls-Royce Spectre.

    How to choose the right electric vehicle for you

    With more and more people making the switch to an EV, and more brands on offer, what are the key considerations for drivers?

    More than 20 hybrid-powered Hypercars are set to battle it out at Le Mans

    The stakes couldn’t be higher for this ultra-competitive class at next weekend’s race: “If you win Le Mans, all the people around the world know it,” says Ferrari’s endurance boss, Antonello Coletta.

    May

    The Volvo EX30 Ultra has arrived in Australia: it’s yours for $66,290 plus orc, though there are two other models to choose from too.

    Volvo’s new EX30 Ultra takes just 3.6 seconds to reach 100 km/h

    The fully electric city slicker is the brand’s fastest accelerating car ever, plus it’s roomy, quiet and friendly looking. What’s not to like?

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    The Pagani Huayra Codalunga, or “longtail”. It’s yours for $20 million-plus, if you’re lucky enough to get one.

    What it’s like to drive an $11.5m hypercar in the hills of Emilia-Romagna

    It pays not to think of the cost of Pagani’s Huayra Codalunga when dodging mad Italian motorists on winding roads: it performs like a full-on race car.

    A new look for a new model: the Lexus LBX Sports Luxury AWD.

    Why the new Lexus LBX Sports Luxury AWD is an ideal city car

    It’s not exciting, but the brand’s smallest car has its pluses, as well as the usual Lexus ownership perks.

    The McLaren 750S: Zero to 100 km/h is quoted as 2.8 seconds, and 200 comes up in 7.2 seconds.

    An eventful test drive of the new McLaren 750S, priced from $586k

    In a nutshell, it’s a pure and precise driving experience, even on city roads (notwithstanding an ill-timed software glitch).

    The best European summer motor events in 2024

    From the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance to the Goodwood Festival of Speed, top-shelf events are luring car enthusiasts to northern climes.

    An unknown buyer paid close to $A3 million for this wreck.

    Why this wrecked Ferrari is good value at $3m

    Apparently, the burnt-out remains of a 1954 Ferrari race car was a bargain.

    The zippy Abarth 500e Turismo in Venom Black.

    This tiny EV is cute and cool – but is it worth $59k?

    The battery-powered Fiat Abarth 500e is a fun way to zip around town. And you can park it pretty much anywhere.

    April

    The all-new Porsche Macan 4 (EV) performs beautifully.

    The new Porsche Macan 4 EV is coming to Australia this year

    Priced from $133,700-plus for the entry-level model, this highly popular SUV has been upgraded – and performs brilliantly in every respect.

    Jörg Kerner, left, vice-president of the Macan product line, with Oliver Blume, chairman of the executive board.

    The man behind the new Porsche Macan 4 EV

    It’s the most capable model yet, reckons Jörg Kerner. “My mission was to bring the best car you can develop with this new technology to market.”

    “We call the new Vantage ‘the hunter’,” says director of design Miles Nurnberg, “because when you drive it, you’re constantly looking for the next car to pass.”

    ‘Love’ makes the difference to the new $410k Aston Martin Vantage

    A string of smallish but important changes have transformed the coupe’s character, says design director Miles Nurnberger. Oh, and it’s faster, of course.

    Pagani’s latest model, the Utopia Coupe, on the factory floor in Italy. The hypercar costs from $6.5 million – but you’d better be quick.

    Behind the scenes at Pagani, where hypercars cost up to $23m

    The Italian maker’s next car, the Utopia coupe, is priced in Australia “from about $6.5 million”. But nobody ever orders a standard version.

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    You could own one of just 18 Bentley Batur coupes to roll off the production line.

    Why this $4m Bentley is the last of its kind

    For $4 million-plus, you can own a piece of history: the limited-edition Bature W12 coupe. As to what might come next, read on.

    Enter the Ford Mustang Mach-E Select: yours from $72,990 plus on-road costs.

    Does Ford’s new Mustang Mach-E SUV live up to its name?

    The all-electric newcomer faces stiff competition from Tesla’s Model Y. But maybe you want to stand out from the crowd.

    The plug-in hybrid Range Rover Velar 400e.

    EV-curious? Check out this Range Rover

    The Velar P400e is a mid-sized, plug-in hybrid, the first in the Velar range – and also the dearest.

    Is Ferrari’s new supercar better as a convertible?

    This droptop twin with a plug-in hybrid system follows hot on the tail of the “fun-to-drive” 296 GTB coupe.

    March

    Tiny RoboBees have a multitude of uses but could easily end up inside a cane toad or anything else that eats insects.

    Smaller, faster, deadlier - how drones are changing our world

    Unmanned flying machines from insect-sized swarms to car-sized transports are about to become a ubiquitous part of our daily lives.

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    Mark Cubit at The School of St Jude in Tanzania.

    Life & Leisure

    Rich List

    The first boat in production by Sam Beck’s KARVE Marine.