Overdrive

Victoria’s Transport Big Build, VW Edition, MG EV6

Fri, 31 Jul 2026 01:42:17 +0000

Short description Victoria’s transport infrastructure dominates this episode as David Brown and Brian Smith examine the politics, planning and economics behind major projects, including the Suburban Rail Loop and Infrastructure Australia. They also discuss Volkswagen’s evolving people mover lineup, XPeng’s new electric X9, Fiat’s uncertain Australian future, listener feedback and a road test of the MG S5 EV, highlighting practical design, technology and everyday usability. Episode Breakdown • Victoria’s Big Build and transport planning — 00:00:49 • Infrastructure Australia and better project selection — 00:10:39 • Volkswagen Multivan, Kombi legacy and ID. Buzz — 00:22:39 • XPeng X9 electric people mover — 00:33:05 • Fiat Australia update and listener feedback — 00:39:58 • MG S5 EV road test — 00:44:14 • Preview: Mazda MX-5 and next week — 00:51:23 Full summary Victoria’s Big Build and transport planning David Brown and Brian Smith discuss Victoria’s change of premier and the political pressure surrounding the state’s major transport projects. They examine the value of orbital rail, balancing infrastructure costs with long-term city planning, governance challenges and why integrated transport networks should support more than CBD commuting. The conversation also explores road space reallocation, traffic behaviour and the importance of designing cities around local access. Infrastructure Australia and better project selection The discussion turns to Infrastructure Australia’s role in assessing nationally significant projects. Brian explains why rigorous business cases and genuine comparison of alternatives are essential, while David questions politically driven project announcements and stresses the need for strategic planning that considers broader regional outcomes rather than isolated headline projects. Volkswagen Multivan, Kombi legacy and ID. Buzz Volkswagen’s updated Multivan prompts a look back at the Kombi’s enduring cultural impact. David and Brian debate whether Volkswagen should have retained the Kombi name, compare the Multivan with the electric ID. Buzz and discuss the changing Australian people mover market, practical cabin design and thoughtful features that improve everyday driving. XPeng X9 electric people mover Brian outlines the Australian launch pricing and specifications for the XPeng X9, including its long driving range, rapid charging capability and AI-powered onboard systems. The discussion also covers the brand’s local distribution changes, the usefulness of voice assistants and where AI genuinely improves the driving experience. Fiat Australia update and listener feedback The team reviews Stellantis’ statement on Fiat’s Australian future, concluding the brand’s immediate outlook remains uncertain. Listener contributions include a memorable fancy-dress crash story, reflections on classic Peugeot GTIs and conversations about large American cars and collector vehicles. MG S5 EV road test David road tests the MG S5 EV, praising its improved build quality, practical front storage, smooth driving dynamics, generous safety equipment and competitive pricing. He also notes frustrations with touchscreen-heavy controls and persistent driver assistance alerts, while Brian argues that value remains one of MG’s strongest selling points. Preview: Mazda MX-5 and next week The program concludes with a preview of next week’s Mazda MX-5 review and a discussion about intrusive driver assistance systems, before wrapping up the latest edition of Overdrive. Program Links and Credits Website: Cars Transport Culture Podcasts: Community Radio Network, Spotify and YouTube Follow: Facebook, Instagram and YouTube – Cars Transport Culture Credits Host: David Brown Transport Expert: Brian Smith Contributing Reviewer: Evan Jones Produced for Overdrive and broadcast across Australia on the Community Radio Network. First aired 1 August 2026.

VW’s ups and downs; luxury EVs; Hyundai Ioniq 6 N

Fri, 31 Jul 2026 01:14:50 +0000

Short description David Brown and Paul Murrell examine the pressures reshaping the automotive industry, from Volkswagen’s restructuring and the rise of Chinese manufacturers to BMW’s expanding EV line-up and Mercedes-Maybach’s new approach to luxury. The program also explores transport branding, public transport planning and the future of smaller car brands in Australia, mixing industry analysis with practical observations and motoring history. 1. Volkswagen under pressure — 03:46 2. BMW expands its EV range — 15:47 3. Mercedes-Maybach redefines luxury — 27:02 4. Branding and public transport identity — 33:22 5. Fiat and Alfa Romeo under pressure — 42:53 6. Hyundai Ioniq 6 N road test — 52:24 Full summary Tech frustrations & updates David and Paul open with a light-hearted discussion about software updates, usability and why dependable technology often beats constant change. They compare today’s digital frustrations with simpler, more reliable systems. Volkswagen under pressure The pair discuss Volkswagen’s reported restructuring, competition from Chinese brands, excess manufacturing capacity and changing consumer expectations. They question whether Australia’s market trends may foreshadow global shifts and debate the value of heritage versus product quality and value. BMW expands EV range BMW’s new iX3 is examined alongside the brand’s broader EV strategy, charging technology and pricing. The discussion highlights how premium manufacturers are increasingly building electric vehicles people want to drive first, rather than simply buying because they are electric. Mercedes-Maybach luxury rethink Mercedes-Maybach’s latest flagship illustrates how luxury is evolving beyond large screens to ride comfort, intelligent suspension and advanced driver assistance. The hosts consider how technology is redefining prestige. Great British Railways branding A discussion on UK rail branding argues that successful transport branding is about customer experience rather than logos. The conversation broadens into Australian examples where branding can confuse rather than assist passengers. Fast buses & transport choices The hosts compare long-distance buses, trains, flights and driving, arguing that total journey time, convenience and city access often matter more than headline travel speeds. Fiat, Alfa Romeo & market shake-up The program concludes with the uncertain future of Fiat in Australia, Alfa Romeo’s challenges and the broader rationalisation of automotive brands as competition intensifies. Hyundai Ioniq 6 N road test David Brown and Paul Murrell assess whether the Hyundai Ioniq 6 N is more than an electric straight-line performer. They conclude Hyundai's N division has created a genuine driver's car, combining exceptional performance with sophisticated chassis tuning, although its track-focused features—including drift mode, configurable power delivery and simulated gear changes—are largely impractical for public roads. The discussion explores the car's polarising aerodynamic design, balancing low drag with added downforce from its prominent rear wing, and the compromises between efficiency, grip and performance. Interior highlights include supportive sports seats, extensive steering-wheel controls and the "N Grin Boost" function, while the artificial engine sounds divide opinion, with David preferring authentic vehicle feedback over digital simulation. Despite winning international recognition as World Performance Car of the Year, the Ioniq 6 N occupies a niche position at around $125,000 drive-away. The hosts note its practicality alongside its track capability but observe that Australian sales remain extremely limited, prompting questions about whether Hyundai's next-generation model will adopt styling changes to broaden its appeal. The program concludes with thanks to Paul Murrell and a reminder that extended editions are available via podcast and the Cars, Transport, Culture website and social media channels.

BYD refunds, affordable EVs, future of mobility

Tue, 28 Jul 2026 08:34:06 +0000

David Brown and Paul Murrell unpack BYD’s full refund offer after a model-year mix-up, assess new budget EVs from Geely, and examine why plug-in hybrid utes could be the practical choice for Australian buyers. They also explore Chinese brands’ sales performance, adaptive traffic signal technology, award-winning future vehicle concepts, and the evolution of automotive design before wrapping up with a road test of Mazda’s CX-80 diesel SUV. Episode Breakdown • BYD model-year refund controversy — 00:01:04 • Geely EX2 and affordable EVs — 00:08:50 • JAC Hunter PHEV ute and market trends — 00:18:17 • SAIC, MG and Chinese brand performance — 00:26:05 • Traffic signals and Telstra outage impacts — 00:35:14 • Future vehicle concepts and design history — 00:43:54 • Mazda CX-80 road test — 00:52:10 BYD model-year refund controversy David and Paul discuss BYD’s decision to offer full refunds after some buyers received 2025 vehicles they believed were 2026 models. They examine the impact on resale value, consumer confidence and the importance of checking model-year details and equipment before purchase. Geely EX2 and affordable EVs The new Geely EX2 enters Australia with aggressive pricing, LFP battery technology and practical packaging aimed at city buyers. The pair also discuss vehicle safety, crumple zones, storage innovations and why thoughtful design matters as much as specifications. JAC Hunter PHEV ute and market trends Attention turns to JAC’s plug-in hybrid Hunter ute, with discussion around towing, electric tool charging, real-world practicality and why PHEVs may suit tradies better than full EV utes for now. They also assess JAC’s struggle for market share despite competitive offers. SAIC, MG and Chinese brand performance The hosts analyse SAIC’s global sales claims, MG’s Australian recovery and shifting consumer demand across petrol, hybrid and electric models. They question headline figures while noting the growing diversity of Chinese vehicle line-ups. Traffic signals and Telstra outage impacts A Telstra outage prompts a discussion about connected infrastructure, adaptive traffic management and Sydney’s SCATS system. David explains how coordinated, adaptive signals improve traffic flow and what happens when communications fail. Future vehicle concepts and design history From Hyundai’s Red Dot-winning concepts to classic dream cars such as the Citroën DS and Lamborghini Countach, the conversation explores how bold concepts sometimes reshape production vehicles while others remain fascinating experiments. Mazda CX-80 diesel road test The program concludes with a review of Mazda’s large CX-80 SUV, highlighting its refined six-cylinder diesel, comfort, practicality and touring ability, while noting some infotainment and phone connectivity frustrations. Program Links and Credits Website, podcasts and social media: Cars Transport Culture With David Brown, Paul Murrell (SeniorDriver.au) and Mark Wesley. Broadcast across Australia on the Community Radio Network.

EVs reshape market; Toyota pivots; a rally legend

Sun, 19 Jul 2026 11:40:44 +0000

Australia’s new vehicle market is changing rapidly, with Chinese brands and electrified models reshaping the sales charts while Toyota expands its electrified range. David Brown and Paul Murrell examine the latest market data, discuss the future of hybrids and EVs, explore the world of exclusive hypercars, debate working from home and transport, review the Maserati Grecale Trofeo, preview the Honda Prelude, and revisit rally history through a road test of the Toyota GR Yaris. Episode Breakdown • Market shifts and EV growth – 00:01:03 • Toyota’s electrification strategy – 00:08:22 • Hypercars and exclusivity – 00:15:55 • Working from home and transport – 00:26:07 • Maserati Grecale & Honda Prelude – 00:34:23 • Polestar, LandCruiser and industry news – 00:40:40 • Toyota GR Yaris road test – 00:44:49 • Market shifts and EV growth Record June vehicle sales reveal a rapidly changing Australian market, with BYD challenging Toyota’s long-held dominance and Chinese brands gaining ground. The discussion explores the rise of battery electric vehicles, the decline of large utes and SUVs, and how changing fuel costs and buyer preferences are influencing purchasing decisions. Toyota’s electrification strategy Toyota’s expanded range of hybrid, plug-in hybrid, battery electric and hydrogen models reflects a more flexible approach to decarbonisation. Brown and Murrell debate whether multiple powertrain options better suit Australian motorists than an all-electric strategy, particularly for towing, long-distance travel and regional use. Hypercars and exclusivity The Hennessey Venom F5M Roadster sparks a discussion about the economics and appeal of ultra-exclusive performance cars. Beyond headline power figures, the conversation considers craftsmanship, technology transfer, collectability and why brands such as Pagani, Rimac and Koenigsegg build halo vehicles in tiny numbers. Working from home and transport A study linking leadership style with return-to-office policies leads to a broader discussion about commuting, productivity and transport planning. The presenters examine hybrid work, travel demand, employee wellbeing and the wider social and environmental impacts of daily commuting. Maserati Grecale & Honda Prelude Paul Murrell reviews the Maserati Grecale Trofeo, praising its blend of luxury, performance and Italian character while reflecting on Maserati’s shift towards SUVs. The reborn Honda Prelude also receives an early assessment, with discussion covering styling, driving appeal and its place in today’s coupe market. Polestar, LandCruiser and industry news The program looks at Polestar’s uncertain future in the United States amid geopolitical tensions, the implications for owners and dealers, and Toyota’s decision to resume production of automatic LandCruiser 70 Series models. Toyota GR Yaris road test The Toyota GR Yaris GTS with Aero Package becomes the centrepiece of a broader conversation about rallying heritage. Brown and Murrell revisit the golden era of rally competition, compare classic and modern performance cars, and explain why compact, lightweight all-wheel-drive machines continue to capture enthusiasts’ imaginations. Program Links and Credits Overdrive – Cars, Transport, Culture Presenter: David Brown Contributor: Paul Murrell (SeniorDriver.au) Produced by Overdrive Media. Broadcast across the Community Radio Network.

Brand identity, Route 66 at 100, are EVs too fast?

Sat, 04 Jul 2026 02:22:20 +0000

Short description David Brown and Paul Murrell explore how carmakers balance shared engineering with distinctive brand identity, from Stellantis to Mercedes-Benz’s new retail approach. They discuss logistics, motoring journalism, iconic vehicle-inspired wine branding, the centenary of Route 66, and whether technology, design and culture still shape how we experience cars in an increasingly digital world. Episode Breakdown • Multi-brand car companies – 00:00:55 • Mercedes reinvents the showroom – 00:11:12 • Logistics behind online deliveries – 00:25:09 • Wine labels inspired by iconic vehicles – 00:31:12 • Route 66 turns 100 – 00:40:38 • (Further topics continue beyond the available transcript excerpt.) Multi-brand car companies David and Paul examine Stellantis’ strategy of sharing engineering while preserving distinct brand identities. They compare past automotive mergers, discuss why simple badge engineering often fails, and argue that character, handling, design and brand values remain essential even when platforms and technology are shared. Mercedes reinvents the showroom The discussion looks at Mercedes-Benz’s new experiential city studio, asking whether immersive retail, virtual reality and digital configuration can create stronger customer engagement. They also reflect on motoring journalism, product credibility, vehicle safety, tyre choices and the importance of independent reviews. Logistics behind online deliveries Using a coffee delivery as an example, the program explores how modern logistics extends far beyond transport. The conversation covers parcel tracking, supply chain efficiency, delivery scheduling, driver pressures and how infrastructure and consumer behaviour continue to evolve. Wine labels inspired by iconic vehicles A South Australian winery’s "Super Trooper" label sparks a discussion about automotive culture influencing other industries. The hosts compare vehicle branding with wine marketing, debate tasting language, and consider why iconic vehicles such as the Toyota Troop Carrier resonate far beyond transport. Route 66 turns 100 Marking the centenary of the famous highway’s numbering, David and Paul reflect on Route 66 as both transport infrastructure and cultural icon. They discuss its links to early American migration, tourism, motoring history and the enduring appeal of travelling simply for the journey itself. Program Links and Credits Website: Cars Transport Culture Podcast: Overdrive Radio Presenter: David Brown Contributor: Paul Murrell (Seniordriver.au)

Transport and schools, AI Traffic Data, Kia EV9

Sat, 20 Jun 2026 06:18:20 +0000

Short Description David Brown and Brian Smith examine the growing number of automotive brands entering Australia and the challenges of building identity in a crowded market. They discuss how school planning can unintentionally create transport problems, reflect on Sydney’s transformation through projects such as Martin Place and George Street, explore how AI could reshape traffic management, and review the Kia EV9 electric SUV. The program also looks at the historic Mille Miglia and the people who shape transport and city-building decisions. Episode Breakdown • New car brands and market identity — 00:00 • Schools, transport and long-term planning — 10:20 • Martin Place and Sydney’s public spaces — 19:57 • Mille Miglia history and heritage racing — 32:08 • AI, data and managing city movement — 37:33 • Kia EV9 road test and family practicality — 47:41 Full Summary New car brands and market identity (00:00) The program opens with discussion about Chery Group’s new Lepas electric vehicle brand and the broader trend of manufacturers creating multiple marques to target different buyers. David and Brian question whether consumers can easily distinguish between increasingly similar brands and consider the importance of heritage, dealership experience, service support and brand identity in a rapidly changing EV market. Schools, transport and long-term planning (10:20) A report highlighted by Brian argues that locating schools on cheaper fringe land can create long-term transport costs and car dependency. The conversation explores school travel behaviour, walking buses, teacher accessibility, school transport services and the need to integrate transport planning into education infrastructure decisions from the outset. Martin Place and Sydney’s public spaces (19:57) Using historic images of Martin Place, David reflects on the political and legal battles that shaped one of Sydney’s best-known civic spaces. The discussion expands to George Street pedestrianisation, Circular Quay improvements, the value of public space, awnings, pedestrian priorities and the leadership required to deliver lasting urban change. Mille Miglia history and heritage racing (32:08) Brian reports on the latest Mille Miglia, won by Argentine siblings Juan and Margarita Tonconogy in a 1931 Alfa Romeo. The segment celebrates the endurance event’s history, iconic machinery and famous competitors while also acknowledging the significant safety risks that accompanied road racing in earlier decades. AI, data and managing city movement (37:33) The feature story examines New York City’s expansion of AI-powered traffic and pedestrian monitoring. David and Brian discuss how continuous data collection, machine learning and adaptive traffic systems could improve transport management, while also considering privacy concerns, governance and the need to combine technology with human expertise. Kia EV9 road test and family practicality (47:41) David reviews the Kia EV9, describing it as a large electric SUV that ranges from practical family transport to high-performance flagship. The discussion covers pricing, cabin features, seating layouts, efficiency, EV driving characteristics and the challenges of balancing size, practicality and performance in modern family vehicles. Program wrap-up (55:23) David thanks Brian Smith and the Overdrive team, reminding listeners that extended content is available through the program’s podcast and social media channels. Program Links and Credits Overdrive Radio: David Brown Contributors: Brian Smith, Mark Wesley Producer: David Brown Overdrive is broadcast across Australia on the Community Radio Network.

Ban Kerb Parking? EV Price Cuts, X-Trail, Triton

Fri, 12 Jun 2026 03:37:42 +0000

David Brown and Brian Smith examine the future of Kerb-side parking, arguing for better management rather than simplistic anti-car policies. They discuss Hyundai’s EV price cuts, the growing pressure from Chinese brands, whether sedans can challenge SUVs again, and concerns about EV repair access. The episode also reviews the Nissan X-Trail and Mitsubishi Triton, explores changing buyer behaviour after fuel-price shocks, and enjoys a humorous translation of Rolls-Royce marketing language into plain English. Episode Breakdown • Kerb-side parking and “Robin Hood planning” — 00:01:15 • Hyundai EV discounts and market pressure — 00:11:06 • Could sedans make a comeback? — 00:19:22 • EV repair rights, software and parts access — 00:26:16 • Rolls-Royce marketing translated — 00:32:23 • Nissan X-Trail and SUV market trends — 00:47:41 • Mitsubishi Triton: workhorse or urban cowboy? — 00:54:00 Kerb-side parking and “Robin Hood planning” — 00:01:15 David and Brian debate the push to remove on-street parking in favour of pedestrians, cyclists and public space. They argue the real issue is not parking itself but how limited Kerb-side space is managed, balancing economic activity, resident needs, accessibility and urban amenity. Examples from Sydney highlight how pricing and turnover can improve outcomes. Hyundai EV discounts and market pressure — 00:11:06 Hyundai cuts prices on the Kona Electric and Ioniq 5, making them more competitive. The discussion questions whether the move is about accessibility or responding to stronger competition, particularly from Chinese brands. Vehicle-to-load technology and practical EV benefits also feature prominently. Could sedans make a comeback? — 00:19:22 With cost-of-living pressures rising, the hosts consider whether sedans could regain some ground from SUVs. While SUVs remain dominant, they note many are effectively taller hatchbacks and that efficiency, aerodynamics and value may make traditional passenger cars attractive again. EV repair rights, software and parts access — 00:26:16 Industry groups raise concerns about access to EV parts, repair procedures and software. The conversation explores the balance between protecting intellectual property, ensuring safety and preventing monopolistic repair practices as vehicles become increasingly software-driven. Rolls-Royce marketing translated — 00:32:23 In a light-hearted segment, David and Brian decode Rolls-Royce’s poetic product descriptions. From bamboo-inspired fabrics to moonlit-seat perforations and mist-inspired dashboards, they contrast luxury marketing language with practical explanations and plenty of humour. Nissan X-Trail and SUV market trends — 00:47:41 The Nissan X-Trail review becomes a broader look at the medium SUV segment. The hosts discuss shifting consumer preferences, the rapid growth of Chinese brands, hybrid technology and the challenges facing traditional manufacturers in a changing market. Mitsubishi Triton: workhorse or urban cowboy? — 00:54:00 The Triton review examines the divide between genuine work vehicles and lifestyle utes. Safety features, practicality and market trends are assessed, alongside the ongoing debate over whether many buyers truly need large dual-cab four-wheel drives. Program Links and Credits For more information, search for Cars, Transport Culture, the Overdrive website, podcast and social media channels. Host: David Brown Guest: Brian Smith Produced by Overdrive Radio.

Parking Policy, Warranty Risks, Reinventing Buses

Sun, 07 Jun 2026 09:25:30 +0000

A wide-ranging edition of Overdrive examines how transport policy, motoring costs and changing consumer behaviour are reshaping Australian mobility. David Brown and Paul Murrell debate apartment parking mandates, shifting new-car pricing, church-based car sharing and whether high-speed buses could outperform costly rail projects. They also unpack the risks and realities of extended warranties, political “U-turns”, Jaguar’s controversial EV naming strategy and road test the latest Suzuki Swift hybrid hatch. Parking Policy, Warranty Risks, Reimagining Buses Episode Breakdown • Apartment Parking Debate — 00:01 • Car Discounts and Market Shifts — 00:23 • Church Car Sharing Trial — 00:34 • High-Speed Bus Concept — 00:43 • Extended Warranty Concerns — 00:56 • Jaguar’s “Type Zero 1” Naming — 01:42 • Suzuki Swift Hybrid Review — 01:48 Apartment Parking Debate The program opens with discussion around a Grattan Institute report claiming mandatory parking minimums are adding major costs to apartment developments. David Brown and Paul Murrell argue the issue is more complex than headline figures suggest, particularly when balancing resident needs, on-street congestion and transport alternatives. They question whether governments should dictate parking requirements or let the market decide, while also warning against simplistic “one-size-fits-all” urban planning policies. The broader conversation explores density, public transport limitations and the social cost of inadequate parking infrastructure. Car Discounts and Market Shifts The hosts note a dramatic turnaround in the new-car market, with manufacturers now offering aggressive EOFY incentives after years of shortages and waiting lists. Electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids are seeing especially heavy discounting. They discuss negotiation tactics, depreciation concerns and how sudden price cuts affect both new and used vehicle values. The conversation also touches on how emissions rules may influence future vehicle pricing and fleet choices. Church Car Sharing Trial A University of Sydney project involving church-based car sharing sparks discussion about community transport behaviour. The idea encourages parishioners to travel together rather than individually, potentially reducing congestion, parking demand and emissions. Brown argues these initiatives work best when practical benefits are demonstrated rather than simply promoted as moral obligations. The segment also revisits broader themes of social connection, community responsibility and smarter transport use. High-Speed Bus Concept California’s proposal for high-speed buses using dedicated freeway lanes prompts debate about whether buses deserve renewed attention as efficient transport solutions. The hosts compare the concept with the escalating costs of high-speed rail projects in both the US and Australia. Murrell argues buses offer greater flexibility and potentially lower infrastructure costs, while Brown highlights the limitations of rail when destinations lie outside major corridors. Comfort, practicality and regional connectivity become key themes. Extended Warranty Concerns A listener’s question about a costly Mercedes-Benz extended warranty leads to an in-depth discussion about warranty value, exclusions and servicing obligations. The hosts explain how third-party warranties can create complications and why consumers must carefully read conditions. They also explore dealer incentives, manufacturer goodwill claims and the importance of documented servicing history. The segment stresses calm negotiation and escalation to manufacturers where legitimate faults arise outside formal warranty periods. Jaguar’s “Type Zero 1” Naming Jaguar’s naming strategy for its upcoming EV receives a sceptical response. Brown and Murrell question the logic behind “Type Zero 1”, arguing it disrupts Jaguar’s established naming heritage such as C-Type and E-Type. The discussion broadens into branding, language structure and how overcomplicated product names often require unnecessary explanation — a sign, they suggest, of weak marketing execution. Suzuki Swift Hybrid Review The latest Suzuki Swift hybrid is assessed as an affordable, efficient and practical hatchback that remains true to its roots. The hosts praise its value, compact dimensions and real-world usability, while acknowledging compromises in refinement and safety technology. They discuss hybrid efficiency, suspension design, pricing and the continued appeal of small hatchbacks in a market dominated by SUVs. Safety ratings and consumer attitudes toward crash protection also receive close attention. Program Links and Credits Overdrive Radio: Cars, Transport, Culture Hosted by David Brown With Paul Murrell from seniordriver.au Feedback: feedback@drivenmedia.com.au Broadcast across Australia on the Community Radio Network. First aired 23 May 2026.

Young Drivers training, EV trends, BMW i4, Jimny

Fri, 05 Jun 2026 06:06:36 +0000

Short Description David Brown and Paul Murrell discuss a different approach to driver education, arguing that financial incentives can encourage safer, smoother driving habits. They examine shifting EV sales trends, BMW’s electric success, the preservation of grand railway stations, and the changing language of luxury motoring at Rolls-Royce. The program also explores Audi’s abandoned Procon-Ten safety system before reviewing the BMW i4 electric coupe and the Suzuki Jimny three-door off-roader. Episode Breakdown • Young Driver Training & Motivation — 00:01:24 • BMW EV Growth & Market Trends — 00:08:09 • Saving Grand Railway Stations — 00:15:25 • Rolls-Royce in the Electric Era — 00:20:47 • Audi Procon-Ten Safety Innovation — 00:26:20 • BMW i4 Road Test — 00:33:06 • Suzuki Jimny Road Test — 00:40:46 Young Driver Training & Motivation The discussion focuses on teaching young drivers through financial awareness as well as safety. Smoother acceleration, better anticipation and gentler braking can reduce fuel use, lower running costs and minimise vehicle wear. The hosts also compare Australian driver training with Germany’s more structured approach and emphasise anticipation as a core driving skill. BMW EV Growth & Market Trends BMW celebrates production of its two-millionth EV while maintaining strong electric vehicle sales in Australia. The conversation explores why premium brands may be leading EV adoption and examines changing market dynamics, including growing competition from Chinese brands and evolving consumer expectations around electric cars. Saving Grand Railway Stations A tribute to preservation campaigner Margot Wellington leads into a broader discussion about the architectural and cultural value of major railway stations. Grand Central Terminal, Penn Station, King’s Cross and Australian stations are used as examples of how transport infrastructure can become civic landmarks and community hubs. Rolls-Royce in the Electric Era Rolls-Royce’s electric Spectre prompts a light-hearted examination of luxury marketing language. Beyond performance figures and regenerative braking, the hosts poke fun at extravagant descriptions of materials, craftsmanship and design features that accompany modern ultra-luxury vehicles. Audi Procon-Ten Safety Innovation Paul revisits Audi’s Procon-Ten system, a cable-and-pulley safety mechanism designed before airbags became dominant. The segment highlights how technological dead ends still contribute to progress by helping engineers learn what works and what doesn’t in vehicle safety development. BMW i4 Road Test The BMW i4 impresses with its styling, driving dynamics, interior design and overall refinement. While real-world range falls short of official expectations, the hosts agree it remains a genuine BMW driver’s car that happens to be electric rather than an EV designed around novelty. Suzuki Jimny Road Test The compact Suzuki Jimny continues to attract a loyal following thanks to its character, simplicity and off-road capability. Despite modest performance, limited cargo space and rising prices, its charm, practicality and distinctive personality keep it at the centre of Suzuki’s Australian success. Program Links and Credits Overdrive is hosted by David Brown with contributions from Paul Murrell. Produced for the Community Radio Network. Cars • Transport • Culture.

Driving Thrills, EV Mining Trucks, Vitara Hybrid

Fri, 05 Jun 2026 05:58:29 +0000

Driving Thrills, EV Mining Trucks, Vitara Hybrid Short Description David Brown and Paul Murrell explore whether driving enjoyment can be scientifically measured, examine the rapid electrification of heavy mining equipment, critique the design direction of new Ferrari and Mercedes-AMG EVs, and discuss AI-driven behaviour monitoring in cars and workplaces. The program concludes with a road test of the Suzuki Vitara Hybrid and its place in Australia’s increasingly competitive small SUV market. Episode Breakdown • Measuring Driving Enjoyment — 00:01:08 • Electric Mining Haul Trucks — 00:15:53 • Ferrari’s First EV — 00:23:20 • Mercedes-AMG GT EV Design — 00:28:51 • AI Judging Drivers and Workers — 00:34:11 • Suzuki Vitara Hybrid Review — 00:39:24 • Program Wrap — 00:49:09 Measuring Driving Enjoyment — 00:01:08 Polestar and the University of Oxford are studying whether driver enjoyment can be measured through biometrics, brain activity and behaviour. David and Paul discuss what actually creates driving satisfaction, from acceleration and engine sound to everyday experiences such as navigation systems, charging stations and driver-assistance technology. The conversation highlights the challenge of separating genuine enjoyment from frustration, habit and perception. Electric Mining Haul Trucks — 00:15:53 Fortescue’s $4 billion agreement with Liebherr will introduce hundreds of battery-electric haul trucks, excavators and dozers across Pilbara operations. The discussion covers charging demands, battery longevity, mine-site energy infrastructure and the broader role of electrification in reducing mining emissions. The hosts also reflect on how heavy machinery captures the imagination in much the same way as childhood construction toys. Ferrari’s First EV — 00:23:20 The Ferrari Elettrica (referred to as “Luce” in discussion) promises extreme performance, advanced aerodynamics and a spacious interior. While the engineering impresses, the hosts question the styling, weight and whether the car captures the emotional appeal traditionally associated with Ferrari. They also consider the broader trend toward softer, more aerodynamic EV design. Mercedes-AMG GT EV Design — 00:28:51 Mercedes-AMG’s new four-door electric performance car delivers astonishing power and acceleration figures. The discussion focuses less on outright speed and more on styling, brand identity and the challenges manufacturers face when translating historic design cues into the EV era. AI Judging Drivers and Workers — 00:34:11 David examines the growing use of AI to assess behaviour, mood and performance in vehicles and workplaces. The segment questions whether technology can accurately interpret sincerity, fatigue, attention and professionalism, and warns against relying on measurements without understanding context or human behaviour. Suzuki Vitara Hybrid Review — 00:39:24 After a second, longer test, David finds the Vitara Hybrid more capable than his first impression suggested. The review covers pricing, fuel economy, safety equipment, interior quality and competition from Chinese and Korean rivals. While practical and efficient, the Vitara faces a difficult market where newer competitors often offer more features and value. Program Wrap — 00:49:09 The program closes with reflections on the changing automotive landscape, from electrification and AI to evolving consumer expectations in the SUV market. Program Links and Credits David Brown – Host Paul Murrell (SeniorDriver.au) – Contributor Mark Wesley – Production Support Overdrive – Cars, Transport, Culture Broadcast across Australia on the Community Radio Network. First aired: 30 May 2026.

AI cars, classic shooting brakes likened to Kia K4

Mon, 01 Jun 2026 04:49:37 +0000

Overdrive: AI cars, revived names and the Kia K4 shooting brake twist AI cars, classic shooting brakes likened to Kia K4 Short Description This episode explores how Chinese manufacturers are reshaping the car industry through AI, digital architecture and global strategy. There’s debate over heritage as Jaguar Land Rover revives Freelander, while GWM backs V8 power for markets like Australia. The team also dives into shooting brake design and reviews the Kia K4 hatch, balancing style, practicality and safety. Motorsport gets a nod with a prodigy signed at just 11, highlighting the evolving pathways to Formula One. • Episode Breakdown • Geely AI and digital shift — 00:01:02 • Freelander name revived — 00:07:17 • GWM V8 strategy — 00:15:16 • Young karting prodigy — 00:21:35 • Naming and brand discussion — 00:24:45 • Shooting brake design — 00:27:53 • Kia K4 hatch review — 00:36:08 ________________________________________ • Full Summary • Geely AI and digital shift Chinese manufacturers are pivoting from traditional vehicle metrics to software-led systems. Geely’s latest platform prioritises computing power, cybersecurity and lifecycle diagnostics, reflecting a broader move toward intelligent mobility and integration with urban infrastructure. • Freelander name revived Jaguar Land Rover plans to relaunch the Freelander through a China-based joint venture. The move highlights tensions between heritage branding and global production realities, especially as Chinese market dynamics reshape premium SUV strategies. • GWM V8 strategy GWM is developing V8 engines specifically for export markets like Australia and New Zealand. Despite electrification trends, advances in efficiency mean large engines still have a role when matched to real-world driving conditions. • Young karting prodigy An 11-year-old joining McLaren’s driver development program shows how early talent is now identified and nurtured. While it offers a direct path to Formula One, it also raises concerns about pressure and early specialisation. • Naming and brand discussion The program explores how manufacturers use naming and branding to shape identity. From BYD naming quirks to Porsche’s Christophorus magazine, it’s a mix of heritage storytelling and modern marketing. • Shooting brake design The shooting brake blends sports car styling with wagon practicality. While rooted in utility, modern interpretations often struggle with proportions, though they remain an intriguing niche in automotive design. • Kia K4 hatch review The Kia K4 hatch adopts a bold, coupe-like rear design with shooting brake influences. It strengthens Kia’s position in the segment but compromises rear visibility and space, while the absence of hybrid options and uneven safety specs are notable drawbacks. ________________________________________ • Program Links and Credits Overdrive is broadcast across Australia on the Community Radio Network. For more information, visit Cars Transport Culture or your favourite podcast platform. Feedback: feedback@drivenmedia.com.au • Credits: David Brown (Host), Paul Murrell (SeniorDriver.au), Bruce Potter, Mark Wesley.

EV surge, transport rethink, return of the 2CV

Sun, 31 May 2026 17:20:38 +0000

Australia’s EV market is shifting rapidly, with Chinese brands now dominating sales and Korean makers strengthening their position through disciplined rollouts. David Brown and Paul Murrell examine how pricing, supply and consumer confidence are reshaping the industry, while also debating subsidies, public transport planning and the future of urban travel. The program also revisits the reborn Citroën 2CV EV concept, explores the Kia Tasman ute in detail, and looks at why motorists remain frustrated with intrusive driver-assistance technology. Episode Breakdown • Chinese EV dominance in Australia — 00:00:55 • Fuel uncertainty driving EV sales — 00:09:50 • Chinese government subsidies explained — 00:13:26 • Victoria’s bus and transport funding — 00:18:01 • Driver frustration with in-car tech — 00:27:14 • Reborn Citroën 2CV EV discussed — 00:35:01 • Kia Tasman ute road test — 00:41:51 Chinese EV dominance in Australia David Brown and Paul Murrell discuss how Chinese manufacturers now account for more than half of Australia’s EV sales, led by BYD. They examine Tesla’s fluctuating sales, Kia’s steady growth strategy and Hyundai’s more adventurous styling approach. The conversation explores why consumers are embracing EVs faster than expected, driven partly by global fuel uncertainty and broader model choice. They also debate how design, stock availability and pricing influence buyer confidence. Fuel uncertainty and changing buyer behaviour The pair analyse March and April EV sales surges, highlighting strong performances from BYD, Geely, Kia and Hyundai. They note that percentage growth from brands such as Toyota and Subaru suggests mainstream buyers are increasingly open to EV alternatives. They argue the market is no longer simply about low prices, but about supply, practicality and broad product ranges. Chinese subsidies and manufacturing strategy Paul outlines the scale of Chinese government support for EV makers including BYD, Geely and Great Wall Motors. The discussion broadens into manufacturing policy, industrial strategy and whether Australia lost long-term capability when local car production ended. Public transport and the “city of cities” Victoria’s planned bus investment sparks a broader conversation about transport planning. David argues buses are undervalued because they connect dispersed suburban trips rather than just CBD commuting. The discussion covers decentralisation, the “15-minute city”, Sydney’s village-like structure and whether future transport investment should prioritise local accessibility over mega-projects. Driver frustration with vehicle technology A UK survey on annoying in-car technology prompts debate about lane assist, seatbelt reminders and autonomous systems. Both hosts agree convenience technologies such as parking sensors and navigation are appreciated far more than intrusive safety interventions. They also discuss over-the-air software updates, long EV service intervals and concerns about road-sign recognition systems. Reborn Citroën 2CV EV The hosts examine reports of a modern electric reinterpretation of the Citroën 2CV. They discuss whether retro-inspired design can succeed commercially, comparing the potential newcomer with the Volkswagen Beetle reboot and the enduring success of the Mini. The original 2CV’s simplicity, practicality and clever engineering remain central to the discussion. Kia Tasman ute road test Review of Kia’s new Tasman ute, noting its bold styling, roomy cabin and broad pricing spread. They discuss its positioning against the Ford Ranger and other established rivals, along with off-road capability, tyre choices and diesel efficiency. The Tasman’s practicality, quiet cabin and interior design impress, though the lack of hybrid or electric options raises questions about long-term competitiveness.

F1, reduced attention span, Jeep Wrangler Rubicon

Mon, 30 Mar 2026 01:38:23 +0000

Overdrive: F1 tech, attention drift and the Jeep Wrangler Rubicon Mercedes starts the 2026 Formula One season with a one-two in Melbourne, prompting a broader discussion about race-car complexity, driver workload and visibility. David Brown and Paul Murrell also cover cars on screen, faster EV charging, a tiny classic car selling for big money, and whether shrinking attention spans are making everyday driving worse. The episode finishes with a practical road test of the Jeep Wrangler Rubicon. Episode Breakdown F1 season opens with Mercedes — 00:01:02 Driver overload and visibility — 00:03:07 Cars in film and culture — 00:09:42 EV charging moves faster — 00:16:37 Tiny classic, huge price — 00:26:00 Are drivers losing focus? — 00:28:57 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon tested — 00:40:11 F1 season opens with Mercedes George Russell leads Kimi Antonelli home for a Mercedes one-two at the Australian Grand Prix, ahead of Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton. The result opens a wider chat about how modern F1 cars load drivers with information, controls and constant feedback. Brown and Murrell reflect on Oscar Piastri’s formation-lap crash and the reality that even the world’s most advanced cars can catch drivers out. They also touch on downforce, mirrors, cameras and the old racing art of finding an edge within the rules. Driver overload and visibility From F1, the discussion moves to the limits of attention. Murrell notes how much information elite drivers process at speed, while Brown questions whether more screens and warnings always help. That leads neatly into road cars: camera mirrors, rearward vision and driver aids that can support safety but also add distraction. It is one of the episode’s strongest themes. Cars in film and culture A story about Hispano Suiza appearing in a Barcelona-set streaming drama sparks a lively detour into product placement. The pair compare movie cars that became icons with others that gained screen fame without commercial success. The DeLorean, Mad Max Falcon, Monaro, Mini and Kingswood Country all get a run. Their broader point is that cars once carried more cultural aspiration than they do for many younger people today. EV charging moves faster Polestar’s updated 3 electric SUV brings quicker charging, more computing power and stronger specs, but the hosts wonder whether the market is already moving beyond it. Public charging access remains as important as headline recharge times. That sets up BYD’s latest ultra-fast charging claims. Murrell sees the technology as a possible answer to range anxiety, while Brown notes how quickly EV development is making long product cycles look outdated. Tiny classic, huge price Murrell highlights the sale of a Peel P50 for an extraordinary figure, reviving the old question of what makes a classic valuable. Rarity, novelty and collector appeal clearly matter more than practicality. The pair enjoy the absurdity of a tiny car with no reverse gear and barely any mass. It is a light segment, but it says a lot about classic-car culture. Are drivers losing focus? This is the feature segment: a thoughtful look at whether digital life is reducing attention spans and weakening driving standards. Murrell links phone use, GPS dependence and constant information flow to poorer focus and spatial awareness. Brown broadens the issue to sleep, stress, work pressure and the design of in-car warnings. Their conclusion is clear: better driving now depends as much on managing distraction as on handling the vehicle. Jeep Wrangler Rubicon tested The Wrangler Rubicon is presented as a serious off-roader that has grown larger, dearer and more civilised, but still carries compromises. Brown finds it more usable in daily driving than expected, though wind and tyre noise remain part of the deal. Murrell agrees it is still a niche buy, but one with real off-road credibility and a loyal following willing to forgive its rough edges. It remains an adventure machine first and a commuter second.

AI in cars, CES Innovations & the Soul of Driving

Thu, 12 Mar 2026 23:46:25 +0000

Overdrive: From Smart Crossings to Smarter Cars — AI, CES Innovations and the Soul of Driving Short Summary In this episode of Overdrive, David Brown and Paul Murrell explore how artificial intelligence is changing pedestrian safety, urban mobility, and vehicle technologies. From AI-powered pedestrian crossings in Ohio to inclusive transport innovations at CES 2026, they reflect on the evolving relationship between humans and machines. They also share motoring stories, review the GWM Haval H7, and reminisce about the good (and bad) old days of car parks, rallies, and real driver training. Feature Stories Artificial Intelligence Improving Pedestrian Safety David Brown and Paul Murrell open the program with a discussion about how artificial intelligence is beginning to reshape everyday road infrastructure. A notable example is an AI-enabled pedestrian crossing system trialled in Dublin, Ohio. Known as the Securus soffit system, it uses sensors and adaptive lighting to detect pedestrians approaching a crossing and then illuminates the area to alert drivers. When no one is present, the lights dim to reduce light pollution and energy use. Beyond immediate safety benefits, the system gathers data on pedestrian movements that can help planners better understand how people use roads and crossings. David and Paul see this as an example of technology quietly improving safety without relying solely on driver behaviour. They also refer to similar monitoring technology used in coastal New South Wales to detect if fishermen are swept from rocks, illustrating how sensor systems can support safety in many environments. Mobility Innovation at CES 2026 The conversation moves to the CES 2026 technology expo, where mobility and transport solutions played a larger role than traditional consumer gadgets. David highlights how the event showcased innovations designed to improve accessibility and integrate different transport modes. Examples included AI-assisted wheelchairs, advanced e-bike systems and digital platforms designed to better link public transport with private mobility options. These developments emphasise “first-mile and last-mile” transport solutions, helping people reach public transport more easily. Paul and David welcome this focus on inclusivity but note that technology alone cannot fix poorly designed transport systems. Without coordination between planners, engineers and policymakers, even the best innovations risk becoming isolated solutions rather than part of a coherent mobility network. Engineering, Regulation and Cultural Perspectives The hosts also reflect on an idea raised in Dan Wang’s book Breakneck, which suggests that China’s rapid infrastructure development is partly driven by a culture dominated by engineers, while the United States is more influenced by legal and regulatory structures. While acknowledging that strong regulatory frameworks can slow projects, David and Paul argue that purely technocratic decision-making can ignore social consequences. They point to examples such as controversial policies in China that demonstrate the risks of pursuing efficiency without broader societal consideration. Their conclusion is that successful transport development requires a balance between engineering ambition and thoughtful governance. Recognising Contributions to Transport and Heritage The program pauses to recognise individuals who have made meaningful contributions to transport and community life. The late Brian Willoughby is remembered for helping preserve Rouse Hill House in Sydney’s west by influencing road planning decisions in the 1990s. His work demonstrated that determined individuals within government can shape infrastructure decisions in ways that protect cultural heritage. Another acknowledgement goes to Rob McInerney, appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia for his leadership in the International Road Assessment Programme (iRAP). Through data-driven road safety strategies, iRAP helps governments prioritise investments that reduce road trauma and improve infrastructure design worldwide. Driving Skills and the Changing Culture of Motoring David and Paul then reflect on the evolution of driving skills. Recalling older cars and rally driving experiences, they note how earlier vehicles demanded far more driver involvement, often with poor lighting, heavy steering and limited braking performance. These stories lead to a critique of modern driver training, which they believe often lacks practical scenario-based learning. Skills such as handling a skid, recovering from dropping a wheel off the road or performing emergency braking are rarely taught in depth. While modern driver-assistance systems improve safety, the hosts argue that awareness, judgement and real experience remain vital. Road Test: GWM Haval H7 Hybrid The episode concludes with a review of the GWM Haval H7 Hybrid, a mid-size SUV priced at around $47,000 drive-away. Positioned as a more premium alternative to the Haval H6, the H7 features a refined interior, improved styling and hybrid efficiency. Although its rugged design suggests off-road capability, the vehicle is front-wheel drive only. Despite this limitation, David and Paul find the car comfortable, well equipped and competitively priced. Thoughtful climate controls, a practical layout and a smooth hybrid drivetrain contribute to a strong overall impression. As Chinese manufacturers continue to expand their presence in Australia, vehicles like the Haval H7 demonstrate how competitive pricing and improved quality are reshaping the local automotive market.

Fuel security, fast rail; living with a Deepal E07

Mon, 09 Mar 2026 07:00:27 +0000

Overdrive: Fuel security, fast rail reality and living with the Deepal E07 Fuel security, fast rail; living with a Deepal E07 Short description David Brown and Paul Murrell cut through the headlines and hype, starting with fuel security risks as Middle East tensions unsettle oil markets and sharpen the case for electrification. They look at China’s rapid rise in Australia’s new-car market, revisit Grand Prix history through the Repco Brabham BT19, and question Cadillac’s EV push. The program also highlights overlooked engineering pioneer Frederick Lanchester, the inventor behind the dashboard fuel-door arrow, tests the Deepal E07 as a day-to-day vehicle, and brings a more practical lens to the federal government’s very fast train proposal. Episode Breakdown Fuel security and EV shift — 00:00:25 China’s car surge — 00:05:32 Grand Prix history and Cadillac EVs — 00:11:05 Frederick Lanchester remembered — 00:23:41 The fuel-door arrow idea — 00:27:51 Very fast train reality check — 00:30:16 Deepal E07 living-with review — 00:43:22 Fuel security and EV shift The program opens with concern over fuel prices and supply resilience as conflict near the Strait of Hormuz rattles oil markets. David and Paul argue Australia remains too exposed because it imports most refined fuel, and they suggest the issue is not only price but availability, queues and broader economic disruption. China’s car surge They discuss February 2026 sales data showing China overtaking Japan as Australia’s biggest source of imported vehicles. The conversation links that shift to growing sales of EVs and plug-in hybrids, with both presenters arguing buyers may increasingly value energy security and reduced dependence on petrol. Grand Prix history and Cadillac EVs Paul highlights the Repco Brabham BT19, which returns to prominence at the Australian Grand Prix as a rolling tribute to Sir Jack Brabham and Ron Tauranac. They contrast its light, mechanical simplicity with modern Formula One, then turn to Cadillac’s local EV launch, questioning whether brand cachet and Formula One exposure will translate into real sales in Australia. Frederick Lanchester remembered A standout history segment profiles British engineer Frederick Lanchester, credited with pioneering ideas including four-wheel drive, turbocharging, fuel injection, disc brakes and rack-and-pinion steering. Paul presents him as one of motoring’s great forgotten innovators whose ideas arrived decades before the market was ready. The fuel-door arrow idea David notes the death of Jim Moylan, the Ford engineer credited with popularising the small dashboard triangle showing which side the fuel filler is on. It is treated as a modest but brilliant piece of user-focused design that matters even more when drivers regularly swap vehicles. Very fast train reality check The federal government’s Sydney–Newcastle very fast train plan gets a sceptical but measured review. David questions whether the project is solving the right problem, arguing that cheaper improvements to existing rail and better local transport could deliver more practical public value than a prestige megaproject. Deepal E07 living-with review Rather than focusing on raw performance, the review examines usability, controls and communication. The presenters like the E07’s refinement, features and clever touches, but they also criticise awkward translations, screen-heavy interfaces and some confusing functionality, concluding it is impressive yet still imperfect as a daily driver. Program Links and Credits Overdrive is broadcast across Australia on the Community Radio Network. For longer versions of the program, past episodes and more content, search for Cars Transport Culture on the website, podcast platforms, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube. First aired 7 March 2026.

NVES results, Local Car Testing, Unexpected MG Ute

Sun, 01 Mar 2026 14:06:37 +0000

Description This week on Overdrive, David Brown and Paul Murrell unpack the first results from Australia’s New Vehicle Efficiency Standard and what they really mean for car makers and buyers. They examine winners, losers and the politics of emissions averaging. Subaru returns to frontline motorsport safety, JAC fine-tunes a plug-in hybrid ute at Lang Lang, and Leapmotor updates its EV over the air. Plus, listener feedback on traffic data, marketing jargon, Bathurst memories—and a road test of the MG U9 ute that surprises in more ways than one. Episode Breakdown • NVES first results analysed – including winners, losers 00:00:39 • Subaru’s new Supercars role – 00:16:23 • JAC Hunter PHEV tested locally – 00:26:05 • Leapmotor OTA update explained – 00:30:56 • Traffic data & governance debate – 00:39:51 • Road test: MG U9 ute – 00:50:37 ________________________________________ NVES first results analysed The New Vehicle Efficiency Standard’s first six-month snapshot shows about two-thirds of suppliers beating their CO₂ targets. Passenger cars averaged 21 per cent below target, but light commercials—especially utes—lagged. The scheme works on fleet averages, not individual bans, raising questions about offsets, real-world use and whether it drives genuine change or simply mirrors market trends already underway. Winners, losers & carbon credits BYD leads on credits, with Toyota and Tesla strong thanks largely to hybrids and EVs. Mazda sits deep in deficit, with Nissan and Subaru also behind. Performance brands such as Ferrari and Rolls-Royce top the per-vehicle emissions stakes, though low volumes soften impact. The ability to trade credits adds economic pressure—but also fuels debate about “buying the right to pollute”. Subaru’s new Supercars role Subaru becomes exclusive on-track support vehicle supplier for the Repco Supercars Championship from 2026. WRX tS Spec B models will act as safety and course cars, with Outback handling medical duties. The move reinforces brand credibility in performance and safety, even as motorsport’s marketing value remains hard to quantify. JAC Hunter PHEV tested locally JAC’s Hunter plug-in hybrid ute is undergoing 50,000km of Australian validation at Lang Lang and on public roads. With dual electric motors, turbo petrol engine and V2L capability, it’s being tuned for towing, durability and local conditions. It’s another sign Chinese brands are investing seriously in market-specific engineering. Leapmotor OTA update explained Leapmotor adds Apple CarPlay and Android Auto via over-the-air update, alongside refinements to driver assistance and one-pedal driving. OTA updates promise convenience, but also raise questions about feature creep, intrusive alerts and subscription-style activations. The challenge remains clear communication without distracting drivers. Traffic data & governance debate A response from Transport for NSW on traffic counting raised broader concerns: data collection quality, calibration and governance. Measuring traffic flow is complex, but accuracy and transparency matter. Without robust oversight, even well-intentioned policy can rest on shaky foundations. Road test: MG U9 ute In 35 years of testing, David never expected to review an MG ute. Yet the U9 is wide, comfortable and thoughtfully packaged, with a practical tray and clever folding tailgate. Its 2.5-litre turbo diesel feels old-school, and the gearbox can hesitate, but ride comfort on sealed and dirt roads impresses. At around $60,000, it’s competitive—less testosterone hero, more practical family-friendly dual cab.

Luxury Brands, Mini Anniversary, Kona Electric

Fri, 20 Feb 2026 04:28:58 +0000

Overdrive: Luxury badges, cheap fares, Bathurst Minis and Kona EV David Brown and Paul Murrell look at BMW turning Alpina into its own luxury badge, Tesla shifting Full Self-Driving to subscription, and what Queensland's 50 cent fares really buy in patronage and politics. They celebrate Mini's Bathurst heritage, trace the story behind unique Porsche Spider artwork, and run a real-world road test of Hyundai's Kona Electric, including range, price and pressure from Chinese EVs. A mix of motoring history, design, auctions and transport policy with an everyday Australian lens. Episode Breakdown Luxury badges and brand worlds - 00:00:54 Tesla FSD subscriptions and EV value - 00:13:16 Queensland's 50c fares and behaviour - 00:16:55 Bathurst 12 Hour, Minis and small-car legends - 00:23:21 Porsche art, auctions and personal motoring history - 00:31:11 Hyundai Kona Electric road test and rivals - 00:35:11 Luxury badges and brand worlds BMW makes Alpina a marque as they unpack Lexus, Genesis, Maybach and DS, showing how service, separation and clear design matter more than chrome and brochure spin. Tesla FSD subscriptions and EV value Tesla moves FSD to subscription and trims perks. They test the maths against shrinking warranties, BYD's surge and how shifting deals can erode long term EV buyer trust. Queensland's 50c fares and behaviour Queensland's 50 cent fares lift trips, but they ask who pays, what tap on data reveals about habit and equity, and how political spin can blur good transport planning. Bathurst 12 Hour, Minis and small-car legends Mini's 1966 Bathurst win is revisited via 12 Hour tributes, with memories of tiny 10 inch shod cars beating big Falcons and why the original Mini felt revolutionary and classless. Porsche art, auctions and personal motoring history Paul chases original watercolours of his one off Porsche Spider, explaining Alan Hamilton's no expense spared build, auction tactics, costs and what these pieces mean emotionally. Hyundai Kona Electric road test and rivals Kona Electric proves punchy, comfortable and roomy on a hilly Sydney Bathurst run, but big wheels cut range and price pits it hard against cheaper Chinese EVs and well specced petrol Konas. Program Links and Credits Overdrive is broadcast across Australia on the Community Radio Network. Search for Cars, Transport, Culture to find our website, podcast and social media. Host: David Brown. Contributors: Paul Murrell, Bruce Podder, Mark Wesley

In-Car Audio, OTA Updates and Bad Traffic Data

Fri, 20 Feb 2026 00:43:01 +0000

This week on Overdrive, David Brown and Paul Murrell (SeniorDriver.au) dig into what’s changing inside cars and on our roads — from the future of in-car radio and voice control to over-the-air updates that add features after purchase. They also unpack NZ’s roadside drug testing rollout, sidewalk delivery robots, the rise of Chinese brands in the UK, a Louis Chevrolet history detour, and a major expose on why dodgy traffic data can distort real-world decisions.

Big Touchscreens Are Dangerous – Bring Back Buttons

Tue, 17 Feb 2026 04:46:52 +0000

A recent article in The Conversation on-line newsletter articles written by professional researchers titled “Yes, those big touchscreens in cars are dangerous and buttons are coming back” highlights a growing recognition that technology often moves faster than our ability to use it safely. To add perspective, we’re replaying an interview recorded four years ago with Emeritus Professor Mike Regan, who had been working in this field well before it became a popular talking point. He discusses the importance of linking engineering with psychology through his work in human factors, and why transport systems must be designed around human limits. Most striking is his reflection on predictions made nearly 30 years ago about increasing driver distraction, and whether those warnings have now come true. It’s a reminder that some of today’s “new” debates have been quietly building for decades.

Why We Must Rethink How We Design Cities - what do people actually need?

Tue, 30 Dec 2025 06:31:21 +0000

In this episode of Overdrive, host David Brown speaks with Ken Dobinson — a 95-year-old former transport leader with a career spanning government, consultancy, and groundbreaking urban planning. With a sharp mind and an unwavering commitment to public value, Ken unpacks why our cities still miss the mark in serving communities, and how infrastructure decisions must go beyond spreadsheets and silos to truly reflect how people live, move and connect.

Why Headlight Tech, Interface Design and EV Range Still Matter

Mon, 13 Oct 2025 01:04:49 +0000

In this episode of Overdrive, David Brown and Paul Murrell discuss the latest in headlight testing technology at Mercedes-Benz, the real-world usability of driver aids and infotainment systems, and the challenges of understanding electric vehicle range. Plus, a look at GWM’s new Tank 500 plug-in hybrid SUV and how China's automakers are reshaping the value equation in Australia’s large SUV market. This Overdrive episode captures the tension between technological innovation and practical execution. Whether it’s headlights that bend around corners or plug-in SUVs that can tow 3 tonnes, the industry is evolving fast. But poor user interfaces, inconsistent standards, and unclear real-world data can still frustrate even the most experienced drivers.

Toyota Prado; Xpeng enduro; classic car culture

Tue, 02 Sep 2025 04:34:00 +0000

News XPeng P7 endurance run: A 3961km record sparks scepticism about real-world EV performance and battery stress. Costco–Leapmotor partnership: Bulk-store marketing and discounts reflect new retail strategies in car sales. Skoda colouring-in promotion: A quirky family campaign illustrates the odd directions of brand engagement. Cherry’s Fortune 500 leap: Rising Chinese carmakers highlight global industry shifts and competitive pressure on Europe. Sydney Metro one-year review: Metro’s frequency and reliability are praised, but suburban design flaws limit its reach. Vehicle-to-grid challenge: Experts warn that 300,000 bi-directional EVs could strain networks without urgent upgrades. Feature Classic car culture: Enthusiasm remains strong, but younger buyers favour ‘youngtimers’ tied to pop-culture icons. Road Tests Volvo EX90 review: A tech-laden SUV proves stressful with app-based access and charging woes. Genesis G80 EV review: Luxurious and quiet but arguably over-blinged, with features of mixed practicality. Toyota Prado update: The refreshed Prado boosts Toyota’s sales, balancing rugged looks with family-friendly refinement.

Road charges, EV hype & Camry tested

Wed, 27 Aug 2025 04:41:00 +0000

• Road user charges: NSW confirms plans to introduce a distance-based road user charge • EV range claims: Independent testing shows significant gaps between advertised and real-world EV ranges • Zeekr 7X launch: Chinese brand Zeekr announces its 7X SUV for Australia, promising fast charging and plush interiors • Ercole Spada tribute: Celebrated designer Ercole Spada is remembered for shaping iconic cars • Hitchhiking: Once common but now rare, hitchhiking is examined as both cultural curiosity and a possible model for future ride-sharing. • Renault Dauphine EV: A quirky Canadian conversion of a Renault Dauphine in 2002 • Toyota Camry road test: The latest Camry hybrid proves refined, efficient, and more executive-like than its “dad car” reputation

Chinese Cars Rise, Tesla Liability, Leapmotor C10

Sat, 23 Aug 2025 12:02:22 +0000

Car sales: July Australian new car sales rose 2.9%, with Chinese brands climbing Tesla case: A US jury held Tesla partly liable for a fatal crash Idle Off program: Student-led action cut engine idling outside schools by up to 40% Mercedes program: Manufaktur Exclusive lets buyers pay over $24,000 for paint Foton Tunland ute: Chinese brand Foton launches a hybrid dual-cab ute Ross Rowland: US rail enthusiast Ross Rowland remembered for steam preservation Honda EV stance: Honda Australia promises 90% electrified sales by 2026 Sydenham Station history: Stuart Sharp highlights uneven planning and heritage tensions Leapmotor C10 test: A plush Chinese EV SUV impresses with design but frustrates with software quirks and range on hills.

From jargon busting to giant utes: EV debuts, SUV culture & Toyota Tundra road test

Wed, 13 Aug 2025 07:26:14 +0000

In this episode of Overdrive, David Brown and Brian Smith dive into the quirks, jargon, and big personalities of the motoring and transport world. We start with a NSW Government report on Sydenham Station’s upgrades—dense with transport-speak but easily translated into plain English. From there, it’s off to Sydney’s first-ever Light Commercial Vehicle Show, where vans, utes, and even cargo bikes are vying for the last-mile delivery crown. ANCAP’s latest safety results are in: Volkswagen’s Terramar aces the tests with five stars, but Peugeot’s hybrid 3008/5008 twins don’t quite make the grade. Nissan’s long-awaited Ariya EV gets its Australian specs and pricing, while Suzuki launches its first new nameplate in more than a decade—the compact hybrid Fronx, aimed at first-time buyers and downsizers. A Facebook post sparks a chat about the SUV-ification of prestige sports car brands—think Aston Martin DBXs in the wild—and the team has a laugh over car jargon quirks, from “dampeners” to “VIN numbers.” We wrap up with a full road test of Toyota’s colossal Tundra pickup. Equal parts luxury cruiser and towing workhorse, it’s a vehicle that raises the question: how big is too big for Australian roads? Topics covered: Sydenham Station report: translating jargon into plain English Sydney Light Commercial Vehicle Show: vans, utes, and cargo bikes ANCAP safety ratings: Volkswagen’s Terramar shines, Peugeot’s hybrids fall short Nissan Ariya EV: Australian specs and pricing Suzuki Fronx launch: a bold, compact hybrid SUV for new buyers SUV-ification of sports car brands Car terminology quirks and humour Toyota Tundra road test: comfort, towing, and market fit Tags: #Cars #Transport #Culture #OverdriveRadio #EV #SUV #Utes #RoadTest #ToyotaTundra #SuzukiFronx #NissanAriya #ANCAP

Touchscreens, Utes & EV Slowdown: Transport Trends on Overdrive – 26 July 2025

Fri, 01 Aug 2025 08:06:06 +0000

Welcome to Overdrive, the show that dives into the quirks, questions, and cultural shifts shaping how we move. Host David Brown is joined by Brian Smith, transport planner and original Overdrive contributor, for a jam-packed episode that blends industry news, thoughtful critique, and cheeky observations. 🎙️ This Week on Overdrive: 📊 1. J.D. Power’s 2025 Vehicle Quality Study – More Tech, More Trouble While overall vehicle quality has ticked up slightly, touchscreen systems remain the most complained-about feature in new cars. David and Brian discuss why the removal of physical buttons frustrates drivers and how infotainment failures are now a core part of early car returns. 🔌 2. Plug-in Hybrids: The Worst of Both Worlds? Despite their eco-friendly label, plug-in hybrids are proving problematic. Many owners don't plug them in, defeating their purpose and contributing to mechanical complexity without the payoff. We ask: are PHEVs just a stopgap that never lived up to their promise? 🛴 3. World’s Fastest Scooter – Innovation or PR Stunt? A British startup wants to break the 160km/h mark with a high-speed e-scooter. But is this headline-grabbing move advancing micromobility—or undermining it? We explore why promoting e-scooters with speed risks repeating the mistakes of muscle car marketing. ⚡ 4. EV Ambitions Stalling? Inside the Industry’s Electric Pause Volvo, GM, and others are hitting the brakes on US EV rollouts. We unpack the influence of changing subsidies, global tariffs, and consumer hesitancy—especially at the luxury end—and ask whether retro-styled EVs like the VW ID. Buzz are moving the market forward or clinging to outdated dreams. 🚚 5. Commercial Fleets & Carbon: Australia’s Net Zero Blind Spot With commercial vehicles making up nearly half of new car sales and one-fifth of emissions, Australia’s electrification of its fleet is lagging badly. We examine five key reasons—from infrastructure gaps to outdated procurement mindsets—and highlight smart fixes like shared depot charging. 📬 6. Feedback from France: A Hot Hatch Lives! A French listener shares his love for the Hyundai i20N—proof that the spirit of manual, high-revving hatches still has global fans. We celebrate a rare survivor in an increasingly homogenised auto market. 🎨 7. Austin-Healey Car Show: Colour, Character & Noise David attends a vintage Healey event marking Donald Healey’s birthday. From two-tone colour schemes to the visceral sound of tuned exhausts, we reflect on an era when you really had to drive the car—and feel every bump and brake fade along the way. 🛻 8. Triton Road Test & The Ute Culture Problem We take the Mitsubishi Triton GSR off-road and discuss how it stacks up against flashier competitors like the Raptor. Beyond the specs, we confront how oversized, aggressive utes are shaping driving behaviour, image, and even pedestrian safety—especially when piloted by P-platers with something to prove. 💡 Themes woven throughout: Are EVs being sold with outdated emotional appeals? How nostalgia can cloud smart design Fleet electrification as climate policy in practice Why engineering videos still miss the human story The social impact of high-performance design choices 📡 More from Overdrive: Want longer versions or to watch our reviews? Find us via: 🌐 Podcast / Website 📺 YouTube / 📸 Instagram / 👍 Facebook Just search: Cars. Transport. Culture. Overdrive is syndicated nationally on the Community Radio Network and was first broadcast on 26 July 2025. Hosted by David Brown. Special thanks to Brian Smith, Mitsubishi Australia, Bruce Potter and Mark Wesley. Let me know if you'd like the 140-character caption version or a version formatted for YouTube, Instagram, or newsletter as well.

OverDrive: Triton Road Test, EV Fire Myths, AI Cars, E-Scooter Ban & The Legend of Bizzarrini

Fri, 01 Aug 2025 00:14:47 +0000

Overdrive – Cars, Transport & Culture Originally broadcast: 14 June 2025 Host: David Brown | Guest: Paul Murrell (SeniorDriverAus.com) In this episode of Overdrive, we explore the intersection of technology, culture, and controversy in the transport world. From electric vehicle supply chains to self-driving cars and tragic consequences of urban mobility experiments, we cover it all. The show blends analysis, interviews, and a dose of humour to make sense of the evolving car and transport landscape. Key Segments and Topics Covered: 1. News Headlines and Industry Trends We begin with a look at China’s suspension of key rare earth exports, which has forced companies like Ford to pause production in the U.S. The discussion examines Australia’s opportunity and challenges in filling the gap, particularly around local skills shortages in metallurgy and refining. 2. Commercial Driver Health Reforms Paul and David unpack a new discussion paper from the National Transport Commission, aimed at improving health screening for commercial drivers. The goal is to detect high-risk conditions—like sleep apnea—before they cause accidents, using evidence-based protocols and fleet-monitoring technology. 3. Artificial Intelligence in Road Safety Two firms are pushing AI into different lanes of vehicle safety. Nauto supports human drivers with real-time warnings based on driver behaviour, while Imagry is developing fully autonomous, map-free driving. We contrast the philosophical and practical implications of both approaches. 4. Vehicle Ruggedness and Robotic Testing Ford’s Ranger undergoes brutal durability testing at Victoria’s You Yangs proving ground using robotic test drivers—highlighting the importance of consistency and safety in off-road evaluation. The discussion also references how electric powertrains could enhance off-road capability. 5. E-scooter Fatality and Policy Response in Perth A tragic incident involving a pedestrian killed by a drunk e-scooter rider has led to an indefinite suspension of Perth’s e-scooter hire program. Paul and David discuss the broader implications of poor regulation, excessive speeds, and rising injury statistics across Australia. 6. The Rapid Rise of Waymo in San Francisco Self-driving car company Waymo now accounts for 27% of San Francisco’s rideshare market. We explore why consistency, comfort, and reduced crash rates are contributing to faster-than-expected adoption of autonomous vehicles, despite their higher cost compared to traditional rideshare options. 7. Car Myths Debunked From battery longevity and fuel economy to aerodynamics and fire risk in EVs, the team breaks down popular car myths. Key points include: Car batteries can last well beyond five years with proper maintenance. Smaller engines aren’t always more fuel-efficient in real-world driving. EVs are statistically less likely to catch fire than petrol vehicles, but fires are harder to extinguish. 8. Spotlight: Giotto Bizzarrini We dive into the remarkable story of Giotto Bizzarrini, a brilliant but overlooked automotive engineer who worked with Ferrari, Lamborghini, and others before creating his own exotic car marque. The discussion includes a recent revival of his 5300 GT Strada and the challenges of branding in the automotive world. 9. Road Test: 2025 Mitsubishi Triton GLS We test the latest Mitsubishi Triton dual cab ute and assess its appeal to both tradies and families. Topics include: Toughness and payload capability Security and lockable tray cover Interior simplicity vs. tech complexity Safety features and lane assist quirks Parking challenges due to size We also touch on the marketing impact of using Russell Coight in ads, and how humour wears thin over time. Credits and Further Info: This episode was produced with thanks to Paul Murrell, Mitsubishi Australia, Bruce Potter, Mark Wesley, and mechanical engineer Fred Brain. Get more from Overdrive: For videos, longer interviews, and road test visuals, search Cars Transport Culture on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, or your preferred podcast app. Overdrive is syndicated nationally via the Community Radio Network.

OverDrive – EV Growth, Hyundai IONIQ 9, Alfa Junior, Driver AI, Santa Fe

Fri, 18 Jul 2025 04:07:42 +0000

• Hyundai IONIQ 9 Launch: Hyundai debuts its new IONIQ 9 electric SUV, positioning it as a premium, spacious, tech-rich executive vehicle. • Alfa Romeo Junior: Alfa Romeo’s new compact SUV, the Junior, brings hybrid and electric options to Australia • HERE-SBD EV Infrastructure Report: A report shows uneven progress in EV charging across global regions • EV Market Trends in Australia: EV sales in Australia are growing, • Škoda EV Ad Campaign: Škoda UK’s campaign tackles EV stereotypes. • Driver Assistance and Distraction: • AI Monitoring in Fleets: AI-based in-vehicle monitoring aims to coach drivers • Transport Modelling & AI Transparency: Avoiding “black box” decision-making. • Mobility Scooter Accessibility: Listeners share real-world challenges with scooter portability • Hyundai Santa Fe Petrol Road Test: The petrol-only Santa Fe offers solid performance and practicality.

Overdrive: EV sales up, New radar tech, Haval GT PHEV road test, e-scooters/bikes for the disabled

Fri, 11 Jul 2025 06:34:29 +0000

• Australian auto sales rose in June, but year-to-date totals remain down, with plug-in and hybrid growth outpacing traditional segments. • Chinese carmakers surge in the UK, disrupting the market with value-packed electric offerings as legacy brands falter. • China’s EV sector faces major consolidation, with only 15 brands expected to survive intense competition by 2030. • Oxford RF’s radar tech may reduce AV blind spots and hardware needs while enhancing pedestrian safety and public trust. • Mitsubishi’s 3D Triton configurator lets buyers visualise and price their dream ute online and in augmented reality. • Salford e-mobility trial aims to improve disabled access to e-scooters and e-bikes through training and tech support. • “Apology” to Elon Musk delivers a wry cultural take on influence and innovation. • Big car, bigger memories segment reflects on a Dodge from childhood and contrasts with more modest family cars. • Road test: Haval H6 GT PHEV delivers thoughts on performance, presence, and its place in the evolving SUV market.

OverDrive: Mahindra’s little SUV; New emissions laws; tyre reuse; AM radio might be compulsory in US

Sun, 06 Jul 2025 12:54:38 +0000

1. NVES Launch: Australia’s New Vehicle Efficiency Standard begins 2. FCAI Response: The FCAI focuses too narrowly on EVs, ignoring affordable, efficient petrol and hybrid options. 3. Tyre Recycling Report: highlighting a gap between recovery and sustainability. 4. European SDV Initiative: Eleven major EU companies form an open-source alliance to speed up software-defined vehicle development. 5. AM Radio Legislation: A U.S. bill to mandate AM radio in all new vehicles 6. Ferrari Amalfi Launch: Ferrari unveils the Amalfi, coupe styled with “poetic precision and carbon-fibre flair”. 7. Hispano Suiza Experience: Hispano Suiza redefines ultra-luxury with a personalised hyper car journey. 8. Mahindra XUV 3XO Review: Mahindra enters the small SUV market with a well-equipped and sharply priced model.

Overdrive: Dodgy Road Safety Stats; Jaecoo J7; New Chinese Batteries; Plug-In Ute goes off-road

Tue, 10 Jun 2025 23:14:07 +0000

China’s Sodium-Ion Scooter Revolution Summary: China is rapidly adopting sodium-ion batteries in its electric scooter market, led by companies like Yadea. These cheaper and safer alternatives to lithium are ideal for short-range urban transport and could eventually disrupt global battery supply chains. ________________________________________ Toyota Bets Big on Logistics Tech Summary: Toyota is privatising Toyota Industries Corporation to focus on autonomous forklifts, logistics software, and low-emission powertrains. The move reflects a broader trend: rebranding transport as "mobility" and modernising freight handling from the warehouse floor up. ________________________________________ Can Telematics Tame Young Drivers? Summary: A small-scale Aussie study shows real-time driver feedback via telematics might help young drivers—but only briefly. Long-term behavioural change remains elusive, and the research highlights the need for better message delivery methods behind the wheel. ________________________________________ Great Wall Climbs 'Beer O'Clock Hill' Summary: Great Wall Motors proved its off-road mettle by conquering one of Australia’s toughest 4WD tracks. Notably, a plug-in hybrid Ute made the climb—demonstrating how EVs and hybrid tech are redefining off-road performance expectations. ________________________________________ Dodge’s Electric Muscle Car Stalls Summary: Dodge has paused production of its EV muscle car after poor U.S. sales. Traditional petrolhead buyers weren’t sold on battery-powered bravado, highlighting the emotional and cultural resistance still facing EVs—especially in the performance segment. ________________________________________ Driving While Female: Beyond Tokenism Summary: An international survey aims to understand women’s experience behind the wheel. While the intent is strong, David and Paul warn against shallow analysis. Real progress requires data that captures access issues, social pressures, and behavioural patterns—not just averages. ________________________________________ Road Toll Stats: Misused, Misunderstood, and Misleading Summary: David unpacks Australia’s latest road fatality stats, urging caution when interpreting small sample sizes or percentage shifts. A major jump in remote area deaths is likely due to improved reporting or infrastructure gaps, rather than sudden behavioural changes. ________________________________________ Northern Territory Tops Road Risk Charts Summary: The NT continues to record Australia’s highest road fatality rate per capita—over four times higher than most other states. Long distances, rough roads, and speed are likely factors. The data underscores the life-saving power of infrastructure investment. ________________________________________ Respecting the Lane: Lessons from the Autobahn Summary: Paul reflects on how German road courtesy—like letting buses overtake trucks—contrasts with Australia’s often combative driving culture. It’s a reminder that education, not just engineering, plays a key role in safer roads. ________________________________________ Review: Jaecoo J7 SUV – Chinese Sophistication on a Budget Summary: The Jaecoo J7, a more refined cousin of the Chery Tiggo 7 Pro, offers great value with a premium feel. It’s better built, offers AWD, and comes with a future buyback guarantee—appealing features in a rapidly evolving Chinese car landscape. ________________________________________ Program Links and Credits This Overdrive program originally aired on the 7th of June 2025. For extended interviews, video content, and podcasts, visit our website, or search “Cars Transport Culture” on Facebook, Instagram or YouTube. Credits: Hosted by David Brown. Contributor: Paul Murrell from seniordriveroz.com. Production: Bruce Potter. Technical support: Mark Wesley. Syndicated nationally via the Community Radio Network.

Overdrive: Tesla’s Turbulence, New RAV4 and Forester Revealed, and a Land Speed Legacy

Mon, 02 Jun 2025 05:08:26 +0000

Overdrive: Tesla Backlash, Smarter Road Safety, and a Fresh Crop of SUVs This week on Overdrive, the show where cars and transport meet culture, David Brown and Paul Murrell cover a wide sweep of industry news, innovation, and history. Real-Time Safety Data A new agreement between Euro NCAP and the Data for Road Safety (DFRS) platform aims to improve road safety by encouraging carmakers to share real-time hazard data. The system will help vehicles warn each other of dangers like crashes or icy roads. It’s a big step for Euro NCAP’s 2026 safety protocols and a glimpse into how connected tech is reshaping driving. Tesla's Adelaide Trouble Tesla’s plan to build a battery facility in Adelaide’s south has met heavy resistance. Locals and online respondents raised concerns about environmental damage, Elon Musk’s controversial image, and the loss of community land. Though battery tech is booming, this project shows how public trust matters more than just clean energy slogans. Insurance Deal Divides The ACCC has approved Insurance Australia Group’s takeover of RACQ’s insurance arm. RACQ sees it as a growth move, but the Motor Trades Association of Australia says it reduces competition and risks higher premiums. There’s also concern over whether profits will still support traditional motor club activities like road safety advocacy. SUV Refresh: RAV4 and Forester Toyota has launched its sixth-generation RAV4 globally. It’s a tech-heavy update with a new hybrid system offering up to 150km electric-only range, plus AI voice control and a rugged GR SPORT option. Subaru’s next-gen Forester brings a stronger hybrid system and better handling thanks to WRX-derived steering. It retains Subaru’s full-time AWD, though only petrol models include a full-size spare tyre. The SUV market is crowded, so these upgrades are key. Electric MICRA Reboots the Small Car The quirky Nissan MICRA is back, this time as a fully electric car. Built for city driving, it offers up to 408km range and a sharp new design. With other compact EVs like the Hyundai Inster on the rise, it’s clear the small car is making a comeback—just with zero emissions. Land Speed Legends Paul Murrell reflects on land speed history—from Sir Malcolm Campbell’s 1920s records to how ordinary cars today outperform them. Campbell’s “Blue Bird” once hit 301mph and is now on display in Daytona, USA. It’s a reminder of just how far—and fast—automotive progress can go. Road Test: Chery Tiggo 7 Pro We test the Chery Tiggo 7 Pro, a mid-size SUV priced under $40K. It impresses with dual 12.3” screens, a full-size spare, and a solid 7-year warranty. However, its real-world fuel economy lags, the steering feels vague, and its infotainment can be tricky to use. Strong on value, but not flawless. ________________________________________ Program Links and Credits Program Date: 31 May 2025 Contributors: David Brown, Paul Murrell, Bruce Potter, Mark Wesley, Chery Australia More Info: Search Cars Transport Culture or visit carstransportculture.com Overdrive is syndicated across Australia on the Community Radio Network.

Overdrive: RIP Kwik Fit founder, EVs, Hydrogen Trucks, and costly repairs for Tesla Cybertruck

Mon, 02 Jun 2025 04:40:49 +0000

Overdrive: From Kwik Fit to Cybertruck Fix – The Shifting World of Cars and Transport In this episode of Overdrive, we dive into the evolving world of vehicles, transport systems, and the culture that surrounds them. From industry pioneers to futuristic machines, David Brown and Paul Morrell cover it all with insight and wit. 🎧 Full Episode Includes: 🔧 Farewell to Tom Farmer We remember Sir Tom Farmer, founder of Kwik Fit, who revolutionised car servicing in the UK. His commitment to customer service and clean, efficient operations helped transform the motor repair industry. 🚛 Hydrogen Trucks Make a Comeback Hyundai’s XCIENT hydrogen truck features at the Brisbane Truck Show. We explore hydrogen's ongoing role in freight transport, its infrastructure challenges, and targeted adoption strategies like those seen in Tasmania. 🔌 EV Sales Rise, But Not Everywhere EV sales are booming globally—but Japan and parts of Europe are slowing down. We examine regional trends, affordability, and how some manufacturers like Honda are shifting back to hybrids. 🛠️ Tesla Cybertruck Repair Woes A Tesla Cybertruck is written off after $58,000 in damages. We talk repair costs, impractical design quirks, and why the Cybertruck may be more statement than substance. 🚘 Hands-On with the Tesla Model Y David test drives the updated Model Y. With a more mature design, better sound insulation, and improved comfort, this SUV moves closer to mainstream appeal—minus the novelty gimmicks. 🎨 Jaguar’s Neon Light Show in Tokyo Jaguar teams up with artist Yoshi Rotten to display their T-Type 00 in an immersive art installation. Bold branding or confusing concept? You decide. 🐉 Lotus Eletre: Rare as Unicorn Droppings We spot one of the only two Lotus Eletre EVs sold in Australia so far. High price, bold looks, and low visibility—does it stand out enough in today’s market? 📲 Responding to Social Media Feedback David reflects on MG hybrid reviews and a calm, reasoned reply to an aggressive commenter. A reminder that honest motoring journalism matters, especially when it highlights real-world quirks. 🧠 Behaviour Change in Transport We revisit an interview with Liz Ampt on voluntary behaviour change and practical approaches to getting people to shift their habits—without manipulation. 🚗 Final Thoughts on Car Culture From the evolution of car design to the emotional and practical reasons people choose vehicles, we touch on what really drives buyer decisions—and how that's changing with age, technology, and urban life. ________________________________________ 🔗 For more episodes, videos, and content, search Cars Transport Culture or visit www.drivenmedia.com.au 🎙️ Overdrive airs nationally via the Community Radio Network 📅 First broadcast: 24 May 2025 🎤 Host: David Brown | Guest: Paul Morrell (seniordriveraus.com)

Liz Ampt and Prof David Hensher on Behaviour change

Sat, 24 May 2025 06:21:11 +0000

Podcast: Behaviour Change in Transport – Conversations with Liz Ampt and Professor David Hensher Hosted by David Brown In this two-part episode, we explore the critical but often overlooked question in transport planning: not just what people do, but why they do it. Our guests, Dr Liz Ampt and Professor David Hensher, have each made major contributions to understanding behaviour change and its role in shaping more effective, sustainable, and humane transport systems. Part 1 – Liz Ampt: Voluntary Behaviour Change Liz Ampt challenges the top-down nature of many transport programs—like road safety and active travel—that assume experts know best. Instead, she promotes voluntary behaviour change through conversation, empathy, and individual empowerment. Her work shows that real and lasting change comes when people are invited to reflect on their routines, frustrations, and aspirations—and then supported to discover their own practical solutions. Rather than leading with guilt or grand messaging, Ampt’s team asks deceptively simple but revealing questions like: “When was the last time you were in a car and wished you weren’t?” These moments open up powerful insights—from a mother missing her morning newspaper to a designer tired of finding parking—that lead to small, personal shifts like carpooling, walking, or rethinking routines. The approach, while labour-intensive, is often more effective than traditional marketing. Ampt’s work began with transport surveys that moved beyond trip data to motivations and emotions. This foundation has guided successful behaviour-change initiatives in other areas too—like reducing water use and phosphorus pollution—using the same core method: respectful, open conversation. Part 2 – David Hensher: Behavioural Insight and the Future of Mobility Professor David Hensher, Director of the Institute of Transport and Logistics Studies at the University of Sydney, reflects on the foundational role Liz Ampt played in shaping Australian transport research—especially through the landmark 1981 Sydney Household Travel Survey. Her emphasis on understanding why people travel remains vital today, especially as planners navigate new technologies and uncertain futures. Hensher warns that while AI and big data have value, they often lack the depth and context found in unit record data—detailed, confidential insights collected directly from individuals and households over time. These offer a richer understanding of behaviour and its triggers, especially when tracked longitudinally. In his current work with ITS Australia, TMR Queensland, and the federal government, Hensher is developing a new survey that explores behavioural change through life events—like health issues, job changes, or family needs—rather than just distance or cost. He stresses that understanding motivations outside the transport silo (e.g. health, well-being, or working from home) is essential for planning meaningful, responsive mobility systems. Hensher also argues for a shift from static annual surveys to frameworks that embrace uncertainty, test future scenarios, and capture perceptions. He calls for Australia to invest in long-term panel data (like the US labour force survey) to help track how attitudes and behaviours evolve—not just for comparison, but to inform bold, adaptable decisions. Key Message: True behavioural insight requires more than counting trips or adjusting fares. It means listening, asking better questions, and helping people arrive at their own solutions—whether in transport, health, or broader community life.

Overdrive: Emissions, Safety, Electric Dreams – and the Disappearing Expertise

Fri, 16 May 2025 08:11:37 +0000

In this episode of Overdrive – Cars, Transport, Culture, David Brown is joined once again by motoring expert Paul Murrell from SeniorDriverAus.com to unpack the latest developments from the world of transport and automotive innovation. News Highlights: Autonomous Vehicle Emissions – An MIT study warns that the computing power required for self-driving cars could one day rival the energy consumption of today’s global data centres, unless hardware efficiency dramatically improves. Light Truck Safety – ANCAP’s first-ever safety assessment of popular light trucks such as the Isuzu N-Series and Hino 300 Series reveals shortcomings in occupant protection and advanced safety features, despite their increasing road presence. Cupra Tavascan – The Spanish-branded but Chinese-built EV earns four ANCAP stars, falling short in Safety Assist due to the absence of certain European-standard features in the Australian version. UK Tariff Relief – A new Trump-led tariff cut could revitalise UK car exports, especially for Jaguar Land Rover, just as it prepares for its EV relaunch. GM Celestiq – A bold move into the Rolls-Royce segment, GM reveals the Celestiq: an ultra-luxury, hand-built electric sedan with 42 speakers, adaptive glass roof, and virtual development tech. Ferrari’s Electric Future – The iconic Italian marque sets a date for its first EV (October 2026) and patents technology to simulate the sound and feel of petrol-powered cars, aiming to preserve its legacy in a new electric era. Toyota Tundra Platinum – Toyota adds a luxury twist to its full-size pickup lineup, combining rugged capability with premium features like massaging seats and a JBL sound system. Discussion Point: David explores the “Expertise Deficit” in public sector transport planning, highlighting a shift toward generalist management that undervalues deep, domain-specific knowledge—posing risks to effective infrastructure policy and procurement. Road Test: We get behind the wheel of the Mazda BT-50, examining its performance, features, and suitability for Australian conditions. As always, you can find extended versions of our program, visuals, and more content across our platforms—just search for Cars Transport Culture on your favourite podcast app or social media. First broadcast on 17 May 2025 on 99.3FM and syndicated nationally via the Community Radio Network.

Overdrive: Tesla’s Troubles, Touchscreen Turmoil, and the Curious Case of Royal Warrants

Fri, 09 May 2025 09:44:58 +0000

Overdrive: Tesla’s Troubles, Touchscreen Backlash & Royal Recognition In this episode of Overdrive, David Brown and Paul Murrell unpack a mix of major shifts and motoring curiosities. From plummeting Tesla sales and BYD’s meteoric rise, to Australia's evolving road rules and the debate over touchscreens in modern vehicles—this week covers the latest in transport, design, planning, and culture. ⚡ Tesla’s Decline & BYD’s Boom Tesla has taken a major hit in Australia with a 75% drop in April sales, influenced by expiring tax perks and consumer uncertainty. Plug-in hybrid sales also dipped to 2.9%. Meanwhile, Chinese EV giant BYD has overtaken Tesla globally. In the US, Tesla is sitting on 10,000 unsold Cybertrucks, raising concerns about demand for the futuristic model before its Australian debut. 📉 The Touchscreen Controversy Euro NCAP will soon penalise cars that hide basic functions like headlights or air-conditioning behind complex touchscreen menus. From 2026, anything requiring more than two taps will impact safety ratings. Brown and Murrell welcomed the change, arguing that physical dials are more intuitive and safer—citing examples from the Genesis G80 and Lexus models. Australian standards often follow Europe’s lead, so local updates are likely. 🛑 New Road Rules Stir Debate Recent changes to road laws are drawing mixed responses: In South Australia, speed limits when passing roadside assistance vehicles have dropped to 25 km/h, compared to 40 km/h in other states. P1 drivers now face a national curfew from 11 PM to 5 AM and a one-passenger limit unless supervised. Zero phone tolerance—including hands-free use—can result in $750 fines and 4 demerit points. Murrell noted the lack of clarity in the 25 km/h rule, particularly on high-speed roads where abrupt slowdowns could be dangerous. 👑 Jaguar Land Rover’s Royal Warrant JLR has retained Royal Warrants from King Charles III and Queen Camilla, continuing a tradition dating back to 1951. Though now owned by India’s Tata Motors, the brand’s British heritage still holds marketing weight. Murrell highlighted how such endorsements, while largely symbolic, remain powerful branding tools—comparable to historic racing sponsorships. 🏁 Fun with Lego and ‘Unexceptional’ Cars Lego showcased life-size, drivable Formula 1 cars at the Miami GP, made from over 1.3 tonnes of bricks and 22,000 hours of labour. In the UK, the Festival of the Unexceptional celebrates everyday classics like the Vauxhall Chevette—vehicles remembered not for their glamour but for their place in everyday motoring life. Both stories underline the emotional and cultural connection we have with cars. 🚙 Genesis G80 3.5T Sport Review David Brown tested the Genesis G80 3.5T Sport—an impressive luxury sedan priced at $142,000 driveaway. Featuring a twin-turbo V6, noise-cancelling tech, and thoughtful design, it competes well with European rivals. Genesis stands out for offering premium features without the inflated options list. Murrell pointed out that Australians are growing accustomed to six-figure car prices, and Genesis is positioning itself as a smart alternative. 🛠️ Classic Cars: Restore or Reimagine? At the St Ives Motor Show, a classic Land Rover fitted with LED lights sparked debate: does modernising classics improve safety or compromise authenticity? Murrell leaned toward safety, especially with today’s traffic conditions, though both agree there’s a balance between preserving history and embracing progress. From LEDs to EV conversions, the fate of vintage vehicles remains a hot topic. 🎧 Listen & Explore More Overdrive is broadcast nationally via the Community Radio Network. Catch the full episode, road test videos, and extra stories at our website or search "cars transport culture" on your favourite platform. Host: David Brown Guest: Paul Murrell (SeniorDriverAus.com) First Aired: 10 May 2025 Production Support: Genesis Australia, Bruce Potter, Mark Wesley

Time to Lead on Work-from-Home Policies, Not Follow

Tue, 22 Apr 2025 17:41:20 +0000

Is the recent strident opposition to working from home driven by real performance data — or by outdated management egos? As some organisations begin to reverse their confrontational stance on remote work, the question remains: should we sit back and see what happens, or step up and lead by prioritising staff well-being and evidence-based policy? In this second interview, Professor David Hensher calls for a broader, more balanced approach to evaluating staff performance — one that focuses on outcomes, not just outputs. 📽️ Catch up on the first interview, recorded a few months ago, which explores the foundational research behind work-from-home strategies: https://soundcloud.com/drivenmedia/the-impact-of-hybrid-work-on-transport-and-urban-planning-insights-from-professor-david-hensher

Overdrive: What lidar can’t see; Breakdown rates for ICEs and EVs;Measuring car sustainability

Sat, 19 Apr 2025 07:24:21 +0000

Summary: In this episode of Overdrive, we delve into the evolving world of motoring and mobility—from high-tech pedestrian detection fabrics to nostalgic reflections on motoring larrikins. David Brown and Paul Murrell critique inconsistencies in safety tech, vehicle naming confusion, and the charm of classic cars. We also road test the Mazda CX-30 and examine whether EVs are truly delivering on sustainability promises. Plus, we pay tribute to rally legend Ed Mulligan. Program Links and Credits Overdrive is produced by David Brown with assistance from Paul Murrell, Graham Patterson, Bruce Potter, and Mark Wesley. More info and extended segments available at Cars Transport Culture, or search “Overdrive Radio” on your favourite podcast platform. First broadcast: 19 April 2025 Syndicated across Australia via the Community Radio Network.

Overdrive: What Lidar can’t see; Breakdowns - ICEs vs EVs; Mazda CX-30; Larrikins in motorsport

Sat, 19 Apr 2025 06:32:35 +0000

MG Response A listener wondered if his car had been upgraded with the latest software when he found the very performance disappointing. The response from MG is as follows The background to car badges If ever we needed proof that all is not always as it seems, the Porsche badge is a perfect example. While it looks like it’s been around forever, that’s far from the case. Porsche is, of course, named after Ferry Porsche, the son of Ferdinand Porsche and designer of the Auto-union racers and the Kraft durche Freude people’s car (or Volkswagen). But the badge was designed in response to a request from American Porsche importer, Max Hoffmann who thought sporting cars needed a badge worthy of their stature. First appearing in 1953, the shield features the curving stag horns and colours of Baden-Württemburg while the centrepiece is the crest of the city of Stuttgart. The rampant horse (reminiscent of the Ferrari badge) comes from origins in the Middle Ages – Stuttgart was a stud farm on the banks of the River Neckar. Road Test - Tucson N-Line hybrid A medium SUV that is quite a complete package. Contacts Details Web Site: Driven Media: drivenmedia.com.au Podcasts iTunes: Cars Transport Culture Spotify: Cars Transport Culture Or our social pages Facebook Cars Transport Culture Instagram Cars Transport Culture Or YouTube site Cars Transport Culture Search for Cars transport culture Credits And this has been overdrive Thanks to Mark Wesley Bruce Potter for their help with this program. You can get more of our work including longer versions of the program on our website, through our podcasts, or more visual information on Facebook, Instagram or YouTube. In all cases search for cars transport culture. Overdrive is syndicated across Australia on the Community Radio Network This program was first broadcast on I’m David Brown Thanks for listening

Overdrive: Everything Electric in transport preview; Genesis GV80; don’t get caught short on a trip

Fri, 18 Apr 2025 10:58:31 +0000

G’Day and welcome to Overdrive, a program that practices what it preaches, most of the time, on the subject of cars and transport. I’m David Brown For more information go to our website, podcast, or social media – just search for Cars, Transport, Culture. Once again, I am joined by the tireless Paul Murrell from seniordriveraus.com Recalls in America covering some 35 million vehicles First-ever redesign of Genesis GV60 makes Korean debut Some of the thoughts that came out of a chat with Justin Douglas who is head of Genesis in Australia Genesis is Hyundai’s Lexus Sales volumes aren’t high, but orders are starting to look good They only have five dealers Servicing can be done by Hyundai Dealers No haggle pricing Everything Electric Show coming up Audi, BMW, BYD, Cadillac, Cupra, Deepal, GWM, Jeep, Kia, Leapmotor, Mini, MG, Peugeot, Polestar, Renault, Skoda, Tesla, Volkswagen, XPeng and Zeekr. No Hyundai nor Toyota Stuart Sharp Railway history and a critical item for facilitating travel (public toilets) I have always seen the provision of public toilets as a key issue of mobility. Particularly for women. The reason for charging money is usually for the maintenance of the equipment. In NSW it was to limit the riff raff Paying to use a toilet can be traced back almost 2000 years As this is the anniversary from 1973 of legislation being passed to remove the charges on toilets in Chicago, the first American city to enact a ban There is such a thing as The American Restroom Association In Australia we here about several centenary anniversaries of developments in public toilets at railway stations Road Test of the Genesis GV80 coupe Large SUV Coupe body is not to everyone’s taste Contacts Details Web Site: Driven Media: drivenmedia.com.au Podcasts iTunes: Cars Transport Culture Spotify: Cars Transport Culture Or our social pages Facebook Cars Transport Culture Instagram Cars Transport Culture Or YouTube site Cars Transport Culture Search for Cars transport culture Credits And this has been overdrive Thanks to Paul Murrell Mark Wesley Bruce Potter for their help with this program. You can get more of our work including longer versions of the program on our website, through our podcasts, or more visual information on Facebook, Instagram or YouTube. In all cases search for cars transport culture. Overdrive is syndicated across Australia on the Community Radio Network This program was first broadcast on 8 March 2024 I’m David Brown Thanks for listening

Overdrive: Elon Musk was wrong; Cybertruck under fire; Genesis GV70; Cupholders; Reverse Parking

Sun, 23 Feb 2025 00:00:00 +0000

G’Day and welcome to Overdrive, a program that ponders the philosophical and practical aspects of motoring and transport. I’m David Brown For more information go to our website, podcast, or social media – just search for Cars, Transport, Culture. Once again, I am joined by the effervescent Paul Murrell from seniordriveraus.com A few quick stories Toyota Discontinues Granvia People Mover in Australia • A vehicle where function was much more powerful than form: it looked ugly Reverse parking – Automatic parking • Some “research” about which areas in Australia searched the internet the most for how to reverse park • Parking spaces are getting smaller as cars get bigger • Do people use the automatic parking on cars Good Design – the best and worse cup holders • BMW once said they would never have cup holders – never say never • What are some good and bad aspects of cup holders • Research on what type of coffee (cappuccino, flat white etc) is least likely to spill. Nissan, Honda and Mitsubishi Motors terminate MOU • A very short-term affair Elon Musk Admits He Was Wrong • You current Tesla will not be able to do autonomous driving with just a software update The Cybertruck Appears to Be More Deadly Than the Infamous Ford Pinto, According to a New Analysis • The Pinto had a reputation for catching fire • It wasn’t just the Pinto that has become the whipping boy for a broader issue • The stats on the Cybertruck are early days: but then again there is not much independent testing of their safety Contacts Details Web Site: Driven Media: drivenmedia.com.au Podcasts iTunes: Cars Transport Culture Spotify: Cars Transport Culture Or our social pages Facebook Cars Transport Culture Instagram Cars Transport Culture Or YouTube site Cars Transport Culture Search for Cars transport culture Credits And this has been overdrive Thanks to • Paul Murrell • Genesis Australia • Bruce Potter • Mark Wesley for their help with this program. You can get more of our work including longer versions of the program on our website, through our podcasts, or more visual information on Facebook, Instagram or YouTube. In all cases search for cars transport culture. Overdrive is syndicated across Australia on the Community Radio Network This program was first broadcast on 22 December 2024 I’m DB Thanks for listening

Overdrive: Superbowl 2025 car ads; Genesis G70; Insuring EVs; Cars that don’t meet new design rules

Sat, 22 Feb 2025 00:00:00 +0000

In the Program • The real costs of car insurance – EV vs PHEV vs ICE • Beware of new cars about to be delisted due to ADR (Australian Design Rules) • Elon Musk Admits He Was Wrong • Problems with the MG Hybrid • We review the car ads that were played in the Superbowl • Road Test of the Genesis G70 – is it the modern equivalent of an old Jag? Contacts Details Web Site: Driven Media: drivenmedia.com.au Podcasts iTunes: Cars Transport Culture Spotify: Cars Transport Culture Or our social pages Facebook Cars Transport Culture Instagram Cars Transport Culture Or YouTube site Cars Transport Culture Search for Cars transport culture Credits And this has been overdrive Thanks to Paul Murrell Genesis Australia Mark Wesley Bruce Potter for their help with this program. You can get more of our work including longer versions of the program on our website, through our podcasts, or more visual information on Facebook, Instagram or YouTube. In all cases search for cars transport culture. Overdrive is syndicated across Australia on the Community Radio Network This program was first broadcast on 15 February 2025 I’m David Brown Thanks for listening

Overdrive: Motor and Masterpieces Show; Lagonda love affair; Hyundai Ioniq N; Jeep Rubicon

Fri, 24 Jan 2025 00:00:00 +0000

G’Day and Welcome to Overdrive, a program that ponders the particulars of motoring and transport. I’m David Brown If you want to dive deeper into our thoughts, ideas, and occasional ramblings, you can find us on our website, podcast, or social media – just search for Cars, Transport, Culture. Once again, I am joined by the ever-enthusiastic Paul Murrell from seniordriverauz.com Subjects This week we Interview Genevieve who is a senior teacher in English and literature and who accompanied her revhead husband to a veteran vintage and classic motor show With two cars to test this week we have something old; something new; something borrowed; something blue We took the Hyundai Ioniq 5 to Bathurst to watch the motor racing. Our mechanical engineer and road tester Fred Brain reflects on this long trip in a (performance) electric vehicle. But we'll start with our trip to Melbourne for the Motor and Masterpieces Show Contacts Details Web Site: Driven Media: drivenmedia.com.au Podcasts iTunes: Cars Transport Culture Spotify: Cars Transport Culture Or our social pages Facebook Cars Transport Culture Instagram Cars Transport Culture Or YouTube site Cars Transport Culture Search for Cars transport culture Credits Thanks to Paul Murrell Genevieve Fred Brain Hyundai Australia Jeep Australia Bruce Potter Mark Wesley for their help with this program. Overdrive is syndicated across Australia on the Community Radio Network This program was first broadcast on 30 November 2024 I’m David Brown Thanks for listening

Overdrive: The full cost of road tolls to you and me; GWM Tank 500 Hybrid; Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV

Fri, 06 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Welcome to Overdrive, a program that ponders on the issues of motoring and transport If you want to dive deeper into our thoughts, ideas, and occasional ramblings, you can find us on our website, podcast, or social media – just search for Cars, Transport, Culture. Once again, I am joined by Paul Murrell from seniordriverauz.com Subjects • When something goes wrong with your car don’t tell the mechanic what you think the problem is • Road tolls – ABC program and what we still need to cover • Feedback on the Deepal S07 • Road test GWM Tank 500 Hybrid • Road test Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV Contacts Details Web Site: Driven Media: drivenmedia.com.au Podcasts iTunes: Cars Transport Culture Spotify: Cars Transport Culture Or our social pages Facebook Cars Transport Culture Instagram Cars Transport Culture Or YouTube site Cars Transport Culture Search for Cars transport culture Credits And this has been overdrive Thanks to • Paul Murrell • +Mark Wesley • Bruce Potter for their help with this program. You can get more of our work including longer versions of the program on our website, through our podcasts, or more visual information on Facebook, Instagram or YouTube. In all cases search for cars transport culture. Here at 99.3 FM you can also listen to past programs that went to air through our web site at northsideradio.com Overdrive is syndicated across Australia on the Community Radio Network This program was first broadcast on 26 October 2024 I’m David Brown Thanks for listening

Overdrive: Deepal S07 launch; Good, bad and ugly signage on race cars; McLaren’s $560,000 watch

Sat, 02 Nov 2024 17:03:41 +0000

Welcome to Overdrive, a program that probes deeply into the issues of motoring and transport I am joined by Paul Murrell If you want to dive deeper into our thoughts, ideas, and occasional ramblings, you can find us on our website, podcast, or social media – just search for Cars, Transport, Culture. Subjects • McLaren Automotive’s newly announced $3.9 million W1 hypercar comes with an option of a watch at the snip of a price of $560,000 • Nissan is making vehicle to grid technology much more affordable which allows EVs to return power back to the grid or provide power for local needs such as your house in a blackout. • Bathurst and advertising on cars – the good the bad and the ugly • Launch of the Deepal S07 (at Bondi Beach) seeking out the influencers not just the traditional motoring press. Contacts Details Web Site: Driven Media: drivenmedia.com.au Podcasts iTunes: Cars Transport Culture Spotify: Cars Transport Culture Or our social pages Facebook Cars Transport Culture Instagram Cars Transport Culture Or YouTube site Cars Transport Culture Search for Cars transport culture Credits And this has been overdrive Thanks to • Paul Murrell • Brian Smith • Mark Wesley • Bruce Potter for their help with this program. You can get more of our work including longer versions of the program on our website, through our podcasts, or more visual information on Facebook, Instagram or YouTube. In all cases search for cars transport culture. Overdrive is syndicated across Australia on the Community Radio Network This program was first broadcast on 19 October 2024 I’m David Brown Thanks for listening

Overdrive: Will Tesla go the way of Tupperware?; Pirelli Calendar; Japan’s Kei Cars; Suzuki Swift

Sun, 20 Oct 2024 07:47:28 +0000

Hello and welcome to Overdrive, a program where we explore the world of motoring and transport. I’m David Brown If you want to dive deeper into our thoughts, ideas, and occasional ramblings, you can find us on our website, podcast, or social media – just search for Cars, Transport, Culture. Subjects · The Rise and Legacy of the Iconic Pirelli Calendar · Vintage Trains and Sydney's Hidden History · Japan’s Kei Cars: Small, Efficient, but not for everywhere · Is Tesla Facing the Same Fate as Tupperware? · Suzuki Swift: The Humble Car with Loyal Fans Contacts Details Web Site: Driven Media: drivenmedia.com.au Podcasts iTunes: Cars Transport Culture Spotify: Cars Transport Culture Or our social pages Facebook Cars Transport Culture Instagram Cars Transport Culture Or YouTube site Cars Transport Culture Search for Cars transport culture Credits And this has been overdrive Thanks to · Paul Murrell · Evan Jones · Suzuki Australia · Mark Wesley · Bruce Potter for their help with this program. You can get more of our work including longer versions of the program on our website, through our podcasts, or more visual information on Facebook, Instagram or YouTube. In all cases search for cars transport culture. Overdrive is syndicated across Australia on the Community Radio Network This program was first broadcast on 12 October 2024 I’m David Brown Thanks for listening

Overdrive: New Polestar 3; 5 Door Suzuki Jimny; Chinese EV invasion; Two rally stars road to the top

Thu, 10 Oct 2024 17:45:51 +0000

Hello and welcome to Overdrive, a program where we wander through the world of motoring and transport. I’m David Brown If you want to dive deeper into our thoughts, ideas, and occasional ramblings, you can find us on our website, podcast, or social media – just search for Cars, Transport, Culture. Subjects • The new Polestar 3 – an accomplished SUV but at a price (01:04) • Some of the Chinese brands headed for Australia – There’s manufacturing revolution going on here and around the world (07:51) • Road Test the Suzuki 5 door Jimny (12:25) • Two legends of the Australian Rally scene – Wayne Bell and David Body (24:50) Contacts Details Web Site: Driven Media: drivenmedia.com.au Podcasts iTunes: Cars Transport Culture Spotify: Cars Transport Culture Or our social pages Facebook Cars Transport Culture Instagram Cars Transport Culture Or YouTube site Cars Transport Culture Search for Cars transport culture Credits And this has been overdrive Thanks to · Alan Zurvas · Evan Jones · Wayne Bell · Dave Body · Suzuki Australia · Mark Wesley · Bruce Potter for their help with this program. You can get more of our work including longer versions of the program on our website, through our podcasts, or more visual information on Facebook, Instagram or YouTube. In all cases search for cars transport culture. Overdrive is syndicated across Australia on the Community Radio Network This program was first broadcast on 28 September 2024 I’m David Brown Thanks for listening

Overdrive: SatNav with directions and local insights; Mazda MX-5 Ragtop; Brisbane’s Light Trams

Wed, 02 Oct 2024 15:48:02 +0000

Welcome to Overdrive, where we cover everything to do with motoring and transport from the sublime to the ridiculous. I’m David Brown More of our thoughts, ideas and ramblings are covered on our website, podcast or social media – just search for Cars transport culture Paul Murrell is away traveling, so this program we have three quite different interviews. First up, we’ll be talking with Winston Reinboth, who’s working on a system that gives you satellite navigation but also fascinating information about local sites as you travel. Next, we'll hit the road to test the ever-popular Mazda MX-5 convertible – an iconic vehicle for driving enthusiasts. And finally, we’ll take a closer look at Brisbane City Council’s latest public transport innovation – a system that’s a cross between a bus and a tram. It’s an important step forward, but they might’ve missed the mark with the name. Subjects Three interviews • We all know that modern navigation systems help us get from point A to point B, but what if we could make that journey more informative and meaningful? Winston is developing a system that combines locational technology with local insights. • Road test the Mazda MX-5 convertible Evoking the joy of motoring with the top down But lack practicality • Brisbane City Council has embarked on a new trial aimed at evolving its road-based public transport network. Silly name but good if you can make it work Contacts Details Web Site: Driven Media: drivenmedia.com.au Podcasts iTunes: Cars Transport Culture Spotify: Cars Transport Culture Or our social pages Facebook Cars Transport Culture Instagram Cars Transport Culture Or YouTube site Cars Transport Culture Search for Cars transport culture Credits And this has been overdrive Thanks to • Winston Reinboth • Evan Jones • Brian Smith • Mazda Australia • Mark Wesley • Bruce Potter for their help with this program. You can get more of our work including longer versions of the program on our website, through our podcasts, or more visual information on Facebook, Instagram or YouTube. In all cases search for cars transport culture. Overdrive is syndicated across Australia on the Community Radio Network This program was first broadcast on 7 September 2024 I’m David Brown Thanks for listening

The Impact of Hybrid Work on Transport and Urban Planning: Insights from Professor David Hensher

Wed, 02 Oct 2024 11:02:41 +0000

The podcast episode explores the impact of remote work on transportation, featuring insights from Professor David Hensher of the University of Sydney. Hensher emphasises that the hybrid work model, typically involving two to three days in the office, has led to reduced peak traffic, shifting some congestion to off-peak times. This shift, in turn, optimises infrastructure usage and supports broader work-life flexibility. He criticises rigid back-to-office policies, advocating for productivity gains from hybrid models. Hensher also discusses issues like urban planning, radial vs. circumferential transit routes, and the effects of decentralising offices. Overall, the discussion highlights how evolving work and transport dynamics can shape more efficient and inclusive urban environments.

Overdrive: Ioniq5 N - Modern classic for a new age: Swallow Doretti; Ford Edsel; Nissan Pathfinder

Fri, 27 Sep 2024 16:58:04 +0000

Welcome to Overdrive, a program about the wonderful world of motoring and transport. I’m David Brown More of our thoughts, ideas and ramblings are covered on our website, podcast or social media – just search for Cars transport culture And once again I am joined by Paul Murrell from seniordriverauz.com Subjects Edsel • What was the context of Brooklyn poet Marianne Moore suggesting car names • The naming of the car • Edsel was a good guy (Henry was not) • Lots of features – could that not save it Swallow Doretti • History of Swallow cars • Why the name • I like the look of it • Only lasted 10 months • A Triumph TR2 looks pretty ordinary Nissan Pathfinder • I really like the car • Sales are a disaster • Large SUV less than $80,000 has changed a lot (Everest is no 1 – Toyotas no longer dominating) Contacts Details Web Site: Driven Media: drivenmedia.com.au Podcasts iTunes: Cars Transport Culture Spotify: Cars Transport Culture Or our social pages Facebook Cars Transport Culture Instagram Cars Transport Culture Or YouTube site Cars Transport Culture Search for Cars transport culture Credits And this has been overdrive Thanks to • Paul Murrell • Mazda Australia • Mark Wesley • Bruce Potter for their help with this program. You can get more of our work including longer versions of the program on our website, through our podcasts, or more visual information on Facebook, Instagram or YouTube. In all cases search for cars transport culture. Overdrive is syndicated across Australia on the Community Radio Network This program was first broadcast on 7 September 2024 I’m David Brown Thanks for listening

Overdrive: Smart Car tries again; Mazda MX-5 fourth generation – keeping the image alive

Mon, 16 Sep 2024 03:01:26 +0000

I’m David Brown And once again I am joined by the well-travelled Mr Paul Murrell from seniordriverauz.com More of our thoughts, ideas and ramblings are covered on our website, podcast or social media – just search for Cars transport culture Subjects • Smart Car makes a comeback in Australia, started as a very clear expression of your personality. (1:21) • Mazda MX5 – Old style image of driving with grit in your teeth and wind in your hair, but with more modern comfort (33:05) Contacts Details Web Site: Driven Media: drivenmedia.com.au Podcasts iTunes: Cars Transport Culture Spotify: Cars Transport Culture Or our social pages Facebook Cars Transport Culture Instagram Cars Transport Culture Or YouTube site Cars Transport Culture Search for Cars transport culture Credits And this has been overdrive Thanks to • Paul Murrell • Mazda Australia • Mark Wesley • Bruce Potter for their help with this program. You can get more of our work including longer versions of the program on our website, through our podcasts, or more visual information on Facebook, Instagram or YouTube. In all cases search for cars transport culture. Overdrive is syndicated across Australia on the Community Radio Network This program was first broadcast on 7 September 2024

Overdrive: Renault – history and the new Arkana SUV, Shannon Classic; Will EVs ever be classics?

Thu, 05 Sep 2024 12:04:02 +0000

G’Day and welcome to Overdrive, a program that relishes all sorts of information and experiences in the world of motoring and transport and its relationship to our culture I’m David Brown And once again I am joined by the intellectual Mr Paul Murrell More of our thoughts, ideas and ramblings are covered on our website, podcast or social media – just search for Cars transport culture Subjects • Renault History and in Australia • Driving the new Renault Arkana at Orange • Shannons classic – being driven around the race circuit in a 1928 Rolls • Feedback – What will make a classic car in the future Web Site: Driven Media: drivenmedia.com.au Podcasts iTunes: Cars Transport Culture Spotify: Cars Transport Culture Or our social pages Facebook Cars Transport Culture Instagram Cars Transport Culture Or YouTube site Cars Transport Culture Search for Cars transport culture And this has been overdrive Thanks to • Paul Murrell • Renault Australia • Glen Sealey • Mark Wesley • Bruce Potter for their help with this program. You can get more of our work including longer versions of the program on our website, through our podcasts, or more visual information on Facebook, Instagram or YouTube. In all cases search for cars transport culture. Overdrive is syndicated across Australia on the Community Radio Network Originally broadcast 31 August 2024 I’m David Brown Thanks for listening

Overdrive: Citroen quits Aus; Toyota MR2 & Celica back with big power; Do future generations count?

Thu, 29 Aug 2024 04:57:15 +0000

G’Day and welcome to Overdrive, where we embrace the glories of motoring and transport. I’m David Brown And we are joined by the studious Paul Murrell from Seniordriveraus.com More of our thoughts, ideas and ramblings are covered on our website, podcast or social media – just search for Cars Transport Culture In this program (timings in mm:ss) • The Demise of Citroen in Australia (00:45) • Toyota To Bring Back Legendary MR2 And Celica Sports Cars With 400 HP (19:17) • Listener’s feedback (26:55) • Roads test - Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross PHEV Exceed (35:47) • Planning for future generations (39:07) News story summaries Web Site: Driven Media: drivenmedia.com.au Podcasts iTunes: Cars Transport Culture Spotify: Cars Transport Culture Or our social pages Facebook Cars Transport Culture Instagram Cars Transport Culture Or YouTube site Cars Transport Culture Search for Cars transport culture And this has been overdrive Thanks to • Paul Murrell • Mitsubishi Australia • Mark Wesley • Bruce Potter for their help with this program. You can get more of our work including longer versions of the program on our website, through our podcasts, or more visual information on Facebook, Instagram or YouTube. In all cases search for cars transport culture. Overdrive is syndicated across Australia on the Community Radio Network Originally broadcast 24 August 2024

Overdrive: Banning e-scooters; Software designed vehicles (SDV). Peugeot 408 PHEV; Working From Home

Tue, 20 Aug 2024 12:24:00 +0000

G’Day and welcome to Overdrive, a program that roams through the world of motoring and transport More of our thoughts, ideas and ramblings are covered on our website, podcast or social media – just search for Cars Transport Culture I’m David Brown And I am joined by the erudite Paul Murrell from Seniordriveraus.com In this program (timings in mm:ss) News Stories • Melbourne City Council bans e-bikes (00:40) • Nissan and Honda agree to joint research in fundamental technologies for next-generation SDV platform (13:35) • A6 Sportback e-tron The most aerodynamic Audi of all time (19:52) • Nissan trialling cool paint technology (26:38) • Humans Are Going to the Moon-s South Pole This Is How They’ll Drive There (31:15) Road Test – Peugeot 408 Fast Back Plug in hybrid (33:42) Feature Interview (50:33) Fighting against working from home. Vested interests support current financial structures on the back of making workers toil with commuting. Web Site: Driven Media: drivenmedia.com.au Podcasts iTunes: Cars Transport Culture Spotify: Cars Transport Culture Or our social pages Facebook Cars Transport Culture Instagram Cars Transport Culture Or YouTube site Cars Transport Culture Search for Cars transport culture And this has been overdrive Thanks to • Paul Murrell • Prof David Hensher • Peugeot Australia • Mark Wesley • Bruce Potter for their help with this program. You can get more of our work including longer versions of the program on our website, through our podcasts, or more visual information on Facebook, Instagram or YouTube. In all cases search for cars transport culture. Overdrive is syndicated across Australia on the Community Radio Network Originally broadcast 17 August 2024 I’m David Brown Thanks for listening

Overdrive: Why AI will misunderstand car sales figures; Mazda BT-50; Goggomobils; Shannon Classic

Sat, 10 Aug 2024 02:08:42 +0000

In this program 1. Car Sales • Problems with poor data – the curse of Artificial Intelligence (1:06) 2. Second hand car prices (10:44) • What’s happening in an unstable environment 3. Interview with Terry Thompson – President of the Council of Car clubs (16:31) • the upcoming 25th August Shannons Classic • 1500 classic cars on display at Sydney Motorsport park • Includes a story of a car club member chucking a hissy fit • How the passion for cars through the car clubs results in a $9.9 billion turnover per year from NSW alone 4. Road Test Mazda BT 50 (33:25) • We took it to a Cars and Coffee car show – it seemed out of place amongst the little Fiat 850 and Lotuses etc 5. Feedback (47:59) • A listener sent in some pictures of Goggomobils they saw in Mataranka (421 south east of Darwin – township population 350 Web Site: Driven Media: drivenmedia.com.au Podcasts iTunes: Cars Transport Culture Spotify: Cars Transport Culture Or our social pages Facebook Cars Transport Culture Instagram Cars Transport Culture Or YouTube site Cars Transport Culture Search for Cars transport culture And this has been overdrive Thanks to • Paul Murrell • Terry Thompson • Mazda Australia • Listeners and their comments • Mark Wesley • Bruce Potter for their help with this program. You can get more of our work including longer versions of the program on our website, through our podcasts, or more visual information on Facebook, Instagram or YouTube. In all cases search for cars transport culture. And you can leave a comment, a suggestion or offer of help Overdrive is syndicated across Australia on the Community Radio Network Originally broadcast 10 August 2024

Overdrive: Teaching learners to be courteous; Sustainable transport priorities; A hot Fiat 500 EV

Fri, 02 Aug 2024 14:06:07 +0000

In this program • Should we teach young learner drivers to be courtesy • Priorities for Sustainable transport • Road test of the Abarth EV • Feedback • Car Names as Acronyms • Karmann Ghia • Songs for autonomous/electric/Classic vehicles • Autonomous cars – what happens if two crash – is there a programmed road rage function Web Site: Driven Media: drivenmedia.com.au Podcasts iTunes: Cars Transport Culture Spotify: Cars Transport Culture Or our social pages Facebook Cars Transport Culture Instagram Cars Transport Culture Or YouTube site Cars Transport Culture Search for Cars transport culture You can get more of our work including longer versions of the program on our website, through our podcasts, or Facebook, Instagram or YouTube by searching for cars transport culture. And this has been overdrive Thanks to • Paul Murrell • Abarth Australia • Listeners and their comments • Mark Wesley • Bruce Potter for their help with this program. On the internet, podcast or social media search for cars, transport, culture including the extended version of this program You can always make a suggest, comment or offer help by sending an email to feedback@drivenmedia.com.au Overdrive is syndicated across Australia on the Community Radio Network Originally broadcast 3 August 2024 I’m David Brown Thanks for listening

Overdrive: Getting really useful vehicle data; Songs that reflect car enthusiasts; Chev V8 Lotus

Tue, 30 Jul 2024 10:52:39 +0000

In this program • Joke of the week – country and western songs that could relate to classic car ownership • Social Media • Feedback on the Nash/Austin post • Feedback on the Lotus (with Chev V8) post • Reference to the video on the Vauxhall we posted • Road test on the Patrol (non the warrior) • Helpful Hint - Don’t leave your medication at home • Interview with the guy from Directed Technologies – how we interact with our cars and what information we can get and use. Web Site: Driven Media: drivenmedia.com.au Podcasts iTunes: Cars Transport Culture Spotify: Cars Transport Culture Or our social pages Facebook Cars Transport Culture Instagram Cars Transport Culture Or YouTube site Cars Transport Culture Search for Cars transport culture You can get more of our work including longer versions of the program on our website, through our podcasts, or Facebook, Instagram or YouTube by searching for cars transport culture. And this has been overdrive Thanks to • Paul Murrell • Nissan Australia • Brent Stafford and all the Directed Technology staff • Listeners and their comments • Mark Wesley • Bruce Potter for their help with this program. On the internet, podcast or social media search for cars, transport, culture including the extended version of this program You can always make a suggest, comment or offer help by sending an email to feedback@drivenmedia.com.au Overdrive is syndicated across Australia on the Community Radio Network Originally broadcast 27 July 2024

Overdrive: Weird and wonderful gear stick knobs (are they legal?); Subaru BRZ (manual); Peugeot 2008

Sun, 21 Jul 2024 10:30:40 +0000

Program Listeners joke An extended discussion on the feedback from our story on unusual gear stick knobs • A gear knob as an element of sculpture • Aussie gear stick knobs • Extreme examples including from a taxi in Fiji • Did you know it is illegal to not have the gear selection pattern on your gear knob • What should a car tell you other than the gear selection pattern Road tests • Subaru BRZ manual transmission sports car • What’s happening with sports car sales in Australia • Peugeot 2008 Small SUV • Is there value in being different with a hint of prestige Web Site: Driven Media: drivenmedia.com.au Podcasts iTunes: Cars Transport Culture Spotify: Cars Transport Culture Or our social pages Facebook Cars Transport Culture Instagram Cars Transport Culture Or YouTube site Cars Transport Culture Search for Cars transport culture You can get more of our work including longer versions of the program on our website, through our podcasts, or Facebook, Instagram or YouTube by searching for cars transport culture. Outro And this has been overdrive Thanks to • Paul Murrell • Alan Zurvas • Paula from Randwick • Subaru Australia • Peugeot Australia • Mark Wesley • Bruce Potter for their help with this program. Our web site is drivenmedia.com.au or search for cars, transport, culture for our longer version of the program as a podcast on iTunes and Spotify podcasts or for information including pictures on Facebook, Instagram or youtube. You can always make a suggest, comment or offer help by sending an email to feedback@drivenmedia.com.au Overdrive is syndicated across Australia on the Community Radio Network Originally broadcast 20 July 2024 I’m David Brown Thanks for listening

Overdrive: Old motoring fads; Subaru Solterra EV; Mitsubishi ASX old design but simple; BMW Isetta

Fri, 12 Jul 2024 11:26:56 +0000

In this program: News stories • Fisker bankruptcy: SUVs for $3700 each – report (0:45) • Holden’s Hero Torana to be resurrected at a price (3:15) • Private e-scooters to get legal green light (8:06) • Learners falsifying logbooks in significant numbers, survey reveals (11:27) Unintended consequences • High Occupancy Vehicle lanes – fudging the number of occupants (15:55) Feedback – comments from listeners on pictures in social media • BMW Isetta (17:12) Brian Smith takes a wonderful wonder through his memory on some of the motoring fads from the past including (20:52) • Rubber strip hanging down from the car • Steering locks Road tests – the new design and the old design • Subaru Solterra EV (40:09) • Mitsubishi ASX – still being built but was first launched in 2010 (47:20) Web Site: Driven Media: drivenmedia.com.au Podcasts iTunes: Cars Transport Culture Spotify: Cars Transport Culture Or our social pages Facebook Cars Transport Culture Instagram Cars Transport Culture Or YouTube site Cars Transport Culture Search for Cars transport culture You can get more of our work including longer versions of the program on our website, through our podcasts, or Facebook, Instagram or YouTube by searching for cars transport culture. And this has been overdrive Thanks to • Paul Murrell • Brian Smith • Subaru Australia • Mitsubishi Australia • Mark Wesley • Bruce Potter for their help with this program. Our web site is drivenmedia.com.au or search for cars, transport, culture for our longer version of the program as a podcast on iTunes and Spotify podcasts or for information including pictures on Facebook, Instagram or youtube. You can always make a suggest, comment or offer help by sending an email to feedback@drivenmedia.com.au Overdrive is syndicated across Australia on the Community Radio Network Originally broadcast 13 July 2024

Overdrive: Past quirky motoring trends; Nissan Qashqai e-Power; Bill Bryson on the road Downunder

Wed, 10 Jul 2024 12:17:25 +0000

In this program: Interviews • Car sales figures for the first half of the year especially electric vehicles • Road test the Nissan Qashqai – hybrid – it’s a bit different • Clear up some of the frustrations we had with the Great Wall Motors Tank 500 • Discuss some of the crazy trends we have seen in motoring • Comment on some of some great quotes about motoring and travel from the Bill Bryson book “Down Under” Web Site: Driven Media: drivenmedia.com.au Podcasts iTunes: Cars Transport Culture Spotify: Cars Transport Culture Or our social pages Facebook Cars Transport Culture Instagram Cars Transport Culture Or YouTube site Cars Transport Culture Search for Cars transport culture You can get more of our work including longer versions of the program on our website, through our podcasts, or Facebook, Instagram or YouTube by searching for cars transport culture. And this has been overdrive Thanks to • Paul Murrell • Brian Smith • Nissan Australia • Mark Wesley • Bruce Potter for their help with this program. Our web site is drivenmedia.com.au or search for cars, transport, culture for our longer version of the program as a podcast on iTunes and Spotify podcasts or for information including pictures on Facebook, Instagram or youtube. You can always make a suggest, comment or offer help by sending an email to feedback@drivenmedia.com.au Overdrive is syndicated across Australia on the Community Radio Network Originally broadcast 6 July 2024

Overdrive: Study says loud cars indicate psychopaths; Fiat 500 EV; Paris Olympics transport scheme

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 11:13:25 +0000

G’Day and welcome to Overdrive a program that bounces through the world of cars and transport In this program: Listener feedback on • Unexpected consequences of transport projects. Paris is implementing high occupancy lanes – good idea but some experience in Sydney would be helpful to consider • Oil leaks in Morris minors • A unique clock with the face like an old-style Jaguar dial Interviews • Guys Who Like Loud Cars Have Sadistic Psychopathic Tendencies: Study • Road test of the Fiat 500 electric vehicle Web Site: Driven Media: drivenmedia.com.au Podcasts iTunes: Cars Transport Culture Spotify: Cars Transport Culture Or our social pages Facebook Cars Transport Culture Instagram Cars Transport Culture Or YouTube site Cars Transport Culture Search for Cars transport culture You can get more of our work including longer versions of the program on our website, through our podcasts, or Facebook, Instagram or YouTube by searching for cars transport culture. Originally broadcast 29 June 2024 And this has been overdrive Thanks to • Paul Murrell • Fred and Pamela Brain • Fiat Australia • Mark Wesley • Bruce Potter for their help with this program. Our web site is drivenmedia.com.au or search for cars, transport, culture for our longer version of the program as a podcast on iTunes and Spotify podcasts or for information including pictures on Facebook, Instagram or youtube. You can always make a suggest, comment or offer help by sending an email to feedback@drivenmedia.com.au Overdrive is syndicated across Australia on the Community Radio Network I’m David Brown Thanks for listening

Overdrive: Nissan Patrol Warrior - Tough luxury Aussie SUV; Genesis GV70; Noisy Wipers; Mini vs SUV

Wed, 26 Jun 2024 13:01:20 +0000

In this program: • Taking a long time to overtake: The Cruise Control Creep • Noise from windscreen wipers • Original Mini versus modern SUVs – Listeners play homage to Monty Python • Road test – Patrol Warrior • Road test of Genesis GV70 – 3.5 T Web Site: Driven Media: drivenmedia.com.au Podcasts iTunes: Cars Transport Culture Spotify: Cars Transport Culture Or our social pages Facebook Cars Transport Culture Instagram Cars Transport Culture Or YouTube site Cars Transport Culture Search for Cars transport culture And this has been overdrive Thanks to • Paul Murrell • Nissan Australia • Genesis Australia • Mark Wesley • Bruce Potter for their help with this program. Our web site is drivenmedia.com.au or search for cars, transport, culture for our longer version of the program as a podcast on iTunes and Spotify podcasts or for information including pictures on Facebook, Instagram or youtube. You can always make a suggest, comment or offer help by sending an email to feedback@drivenmedia.com.au Overdrive is syndicated across Australia on the Community Radio Network Originally broadcast 15 June 2024 I’m David Brown Thanks for listening

Overdrive: Past car ads - the good, bad and ugly; Hyundai Kona EV; Misleading hybrid sale figures

Tue, 18 Jun 2024 03:19:19 +0000

Overdrive: Past car ads - the good, bad and ugly; Hyundai Kona EV; Misleading hybrid sale figures 1. Joke from a listener 2. An engineer turned comedian gives an example of the poor use of statistics 3. Why two-wheel-drive utes sell in small numbers 4. We review a historic film of road construction. How has the presentation of transport projects changed 5. A review of some specific aspects of the latest car sales figures 6. A road test the Hyundai Kona EV 7. An interview with Bruce Potter on past car advertising headlines that worked really well and those that did not. Web Site: Driven Media: drivenmedia.com.au Podcasts iTunes: Cars Transport Culture Spotify: Cars Transport Culture Or our social pages Facebook Cars Transport Culture Instagram Cars Transport Culture Or YouTube site Cars Transport Culture Search for Cars transport culture And this has been overdrive Thanks to • Paul Murrell • Bruce Potter • Listener Alfie • Hyundai Australia • Mark Wesley for their help with this program. Our web site is drivenmedia.com.au or search for cars, transport, culture for our longer version of the program as a podcast on iTunes and Spotify podcasts or for information including pictures on Facebook, Instagram or youtube. You can always make a suggest, comment or offer help by sending an email to feedback@drivenmedia.com.au Overdrive is syndicated across Australia on the Community Radio Network Originally broadcast 15 June 2024

Overdrive: Young person in a new car; Nissan Navara 4X Pro; Technologies & Innovations in Transport

Sat, 08 Jun 2024 01:59:20 +0000

G’Day and welcome to Overdrive a cars and transport program where you don’t have to be a rev head to enjoy it. In this program we look at • Some reflections on why switches are better than touch screens and great headlines on car ads • A young person tries a new car • Road Test of the Nissan Navara 4X Pro • Some things from the Australian Institute of Traffic Planning and Management’s panel session I moderated on the subject “Emerging Technologies and Innovations in Transport”. For the long versions of this program go to drivenmedia.com.au or search for cars, transport, culture for iTunes and Spotify podcasts or for information including pictures on social media. We are working towards a new web site to provide more visual material to back up our audio efforts. If you would like to help with Overdrive as a community activity in any capacity, send an email to feedback@drivenmedia.com.au Web Site: Driven Media: drivenmedia.com.au Podcasts iTunes: Cars Transport Culture Spotify: Cars Transport Culture Or our social pages Facebook Cars Transport Culture Instagram Cars Transport Culture Or YouTube site Cars Transport Culture Search for Cars transport culture Originally broadcast 8 June 2024 Thanks to • Paul Murrell • Mitchel Ferguson • Nissan Australia • Mark Wesley • Bruce Potter for their help with this program.

Overdrive: Autonomous cars by 2026; Alfa Tonale; US China EV tax; Will cheap Public Transport work?

Sun, 02 Jun 2024 10:59:56 +0000

G’Day and welcome to Overdrive a program that looks at cars and transport from a variety of angles. In this program we look at • Queensland has made Public Transport trips 50c but not zero. Is it a good idea • New road safety ad from South Aust Police – will it do any good • Self-driving vehicles expected on UK roads by 2026 following new legislation • America’s heavy tax on Chinese EVs and China’s possible retaliation and • Road test – Alfa Romeo Tonale For the long versions of this programme go to drivenmedia.com dot AU or iTunes and Spotify podcasts or for information including pictures use social media and look for cars, transport, culture. We are working towards a new web site to provide more visual material to back up our audio efforts. If you would like to help with Overdrive as a community activity in any capacity, send an email to feedback@drivenmedia.com.au I'm David Brown. Thanks for listening. Web Site: Driven Media: drivenmedia.com.au Podcasts iTunes: Cars Transport Culture Spotify: Cars Transport Culture Or our social pages Facebook Cars Transport Culture Instagram Cars Transport Culture Or YouTube site Cars Transport Culture Search for Cars transport culture Originally broadcast 1 June 2024

Overdrive: EV range problem; Clarkson UK’s sexiest man? Creating car names; Mitsubishi Pajero Sport

Sun, 26 May 2024 15:10:28 +0000

G’Day and welcome to Overdrive a program that looks at all forms of transport from the humble bike through to a rocket powered spaceship. In this program we look at • An adventure in an electric vehicle that did not deliver the range it promised • The government’s approach to the increasing road toll • There’s a motoring link to a survey of the sexiest man in Britain – prepare for a shock • Creating a car model name – can AI help • A brief history of Bristols – the motor car brand • Hyundai gives us the gossip on their i30N, and • We road test the Pajero Sport Extended version of the program can be heard on Web Site: Driven Media: drivenmedia.com.au Podcasts iTunes: Cars Transport Culture Spotify: Cars Transport Culture Or our social pages Facebook Cars Transport Culture Instagram Cars Transport Culture Or YouTube site Cars Transport Culture Search for Cars transport culture Originally broadcast 25 May 2024

Overdrive: GWM Tank 500; Are manual gearboxes doomed? Toyota’s MX-5 competitor; Porsche 911 history

Sun, 26 May 2024 14:38:44 +0000

G’Day and welcome to Overdrive a program that looks at the different ways we get around, from walking, riding, or in cars, buses, trains or planes and their impact on our culture In the program Paul Murrell and I discuss • Toyota considering an alternative to the Mazda MX-5 • Is the manual gearbox doomed? • Converting classic cars to electric power • 60 years of the Porsche 911 • Volvo launces a new EV • A road test of the GWM Tank 500 • Collecting Data for Government policy For extended version of the program go to Web Site: Driven Media: drivenmedia.com.au Podcasts iTunes: Cars Transport Culture Spotify: Cars Transport Culture Or our social pages Facebook Cars Transport Culture Instagram Cars Transport Culture Or YouTube site Cars Transport Culture Search for Cars transport culture Originally broadcast 18 May 2024

Overdrive: Tesla cuts back EV chargers; Hyundai i30N; Hispano Suiza history; Fleet management data

Sun, 19 May 2024 12:33:51 +0000

G’day and welcome to Overdrive, a program where we look at the wide and wonderful world of motoring and transport and its impact on culture I’m David Brown In the program Paul Murrell and I discuss 1. Tesla downsizing its effort on electric vehicle chargers 2. Euro car designers jumping ship to Chinese companies. 3. More Collective nouns • “a Protrusion of Bristols” 4. Road Test of the Hyundai i30N 5. Some history of the Hispano Suiza including their latest efforts 6. Collecting data from vehicles for fleet management just what can you find out. For extended version of the program go to Web Site: Driven Media: drivenmedia.com.au Podcasts iTunes: Cars Transport Culture Spotify: Cars Transport Culture Or our social pages Facebook Cars Transport Culture Instagram Cars Transport Culture Our YouTube site Cars Transport Culture Search for Cars transport culture Originally broadcast 11 May 2024

Overdrive: New road rules - who knows?; Great train to Broken Hill; Subaru BRZ; Car Collective nouns

Sun, 19 May 2024 03:24:54 +0000

G’Day and welcome to Overdrive, a program about all sorts of things to do with motoring and transport and its impact on our culture I’m David Brown In the program Paul Murrell and I hold forth on Ambassadors • Following on from last week, some comments from our young intern regarding the interview we did last week on car brand ambassadors Collective nouns • We know about collective nouns such as a murder of crows or a parliament of owls. What about some for cars – Paul has a great one for Standard motor cars. Changes to national road rules • Apparently, there has been some further efforts to standardise road rules Road test – Subaru BRZ • Just how many sports cars are there on sales in Australia and how does the Subaru BRZ stack up Train Trip • Our artist in residence Dean Oliver took the train to Broken Hill. He reports on the experience For extended version of the program go to Web Site: Driven Media: drivenmedia.com.au Podcasts iTunes: Cars Transport Culture Spotify: Cars Transport Culture Or our social pages Facebook Cars Transport Culture Instagram Cars Transport Culture Our YouTube site Cars Transport Culture Search for Cars transport culture Originally broadcast 4 May 2024

Overdrive: Do car brand ambassadors help sell cars?; MG’s Cyberster – EV convertible; Subaru Impreza

Sat, 18 May 2024 12:25:46 +0000

G’Day and welcome to Overdrive, a program that investigates matters to do with motoring and transport and their impact on our culture I’m David Brown In the program Paul Murrell from seniordriveraus.com and I pontificate on • Are brand ambassadors worth the effort • Bicycle Day • Road test the Subaru Impreza • MG’s Cyberster – EV convertible For extended version of the program go to Web Site: Driven Media: drivenmedia.com.au Podcasts iTunes: Cars Transport Culture Spotify: Cars Transport Culture Or our social pages Facebook Cars Transport Culture Instagram Cars Transport Culture Our YouTube site Cars Transport Culture Search for Cars transport culture Originally broadcast 27 April 2024

Overdrive: New JAC ute; Less successful sports cars; Is the Honda S600 collectable; Nissan X-Trail

Sat, 20 Apr 2024 09:11:04 +0000

G’Day and welcome to Overdrive, where we take a populous approach to issues about cars and transport. I’m David Brown In the program Paul Murrell from seniordriveraus.com and I deliberate on • Car sales so far this year - Is it a correction or huge on-going trend • There’s a new ute on the Australian market and we don’t mean the KIA • Geographic boundaries and naming your car • Our young intern discusses the Nissan X-trail • Are the first Honda motor cars s600/s800 becoming collectable • And we look at the history of eight sports cars that didn’t really make it Originally broadcast 20 April 2024 A more detail rundown of the program Car Sales for the first quarter of 2024 01:42 It is indeed now the FCAI, the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries, has heralded the results for March this year, saying they surpassed the previous record, which was achieved in March 2018 and in fact year to date. Could the reason be that Toyota is finally appearing to have some supply to be able to sell. 03:55 Toyota must be very happy with the fact that hybrids are doing well. That is part of their big marketing. 04:21 Full electrics are about 9% of new car sales. Again is this just catching up with the rest of the world which is now showing some caution with electric vehicles 06:24 Federal Chamber of Automotive industries use the occasion to cast doubt about the New Vehicle Efficiency Standards Another New Ute of the Australian Market 07:50 There's a newcomer to the Australian market and it's not the Kia at this age, although that is coming. Is it? 10:00 China has many brands there were that we have never heard of. 11: 30 Other brands with utes, such as Great Wall Motors. LDV and SsangYong had a pretty good run but they are not doing as well this year. 12:54 How are the Pickups – the bigger than big utes going. RAM is down. New playes such as the Ford F150 and some upgraded versions of Chevrolet Silverado are doing well Alfa Romeo has a geographic name problem 14:11 DB A rose by any other name would smell as sweet Shakespeare? Alpha launched a new model and it's sort of a successor to the MiTo. So it's a small SUV, basically. Nissan X-Trail 19:15 Over the last year, Nissan has upgraded four of its important models. The three SUV's and their sporty Z, and included in the SUV's is their most popular. One of our young interns has had a look inside it and had. Very much a prominent front end. So my initial thought was it's a big, big SUV. But as I kind of worked my way from the front to the back, it kind of became more normal. More familiar. 20:27 And the colour the sort of pastel they're they're bringing out rich coloured pastels. If that's not almost a contradiction, it's a very serious paint job, but it's not bright red. Could The Honda S600 from the late 1960s be worth something 28:44 Haggerty, which is the American Classic insurance have noted that a number of cars cars are showing specific signs of gaining in value. Some are the very early tiny little sports cars from Honda the S600 and S800. Paul Murrell owned one. Did he regret selling it? 30:11 It was a delightful little car, a jewel of a car. Sports cars that didn’t quite make it 33:27 MG VA (1937) 36: 19 Chevrolet Corvette (1953) 40:13 Mercedes-Benz 190SL (1955) 42:13 Porsche 912 (1965) 44:04 De Tomaso Mangusta (1967) 48:09 MGC (1967) 51:59 Ford Capri (1969) 56:25 De Lorean DMC-12 (1981)

Overdrive: Kia EV9 vs Audi e-tron; Classic car room feature; Mazda CX3; Do classic cars pollute much

Sat, 20 Apr 2024 06:26:43 +0000

G’Day and welcome to Overdrive, where we experiment with ideas and activities to do with cars and transport and their impact on our culture. I’m David Brown In the program we are joined by motoring journalist Paul Murrell to ruminate on 1. The gentleman who renovated his house so that he can keep his HQ Holden Monaro in the lounge room 2. The Mazda CX-3 and the image of Mazda that has made it successful but will it continue. 3. Look at executive vehicles and compare the Audi e-tron with the Kia EV9. 4. Discuss the carbon footprint of classic cars. A more detail rundown of the program Making an HQ Holden Monaro a lounge room feature 00:01:47 A Queensland man renovates his home and who's put this HQ Holden in his lounge room. We tend to sort of put cars on a pedestal, both literally and figuratively. If you're in that much in love with a car, you wanna be looking at it more often. And if it's all locked away in the garage, then you probably don't see it as often as you would like. Mazda CX-3 How does it fit the Mazda Image 00:09:48 Mazda sales o far this year are done a bit, but it has been #2 for a while. But they have been the quiet achiever in many ways. They tend to be well put together. Interiors in particular are nice, so people judge them almost on a on an out of date image if you like. They haven't really changed a great deal. They've had their odd issues here and there, but they present as cars slightly better than their price would suggest. They have the CX3, they have the CX 30 and then they have the MX30 and you and I of course deal with these things all the time and even we get confused about which is which. Mazda owns the elegant small SUV image if you like. Kia EV9 versus an Audi e-tron – Which is the best executive car 00:19:54 Driving the Kia EV9. It is a large, some say ugly SUV. All electric with good electric performance and a lot of features to it. Then I hopped into an Audi sedan, a big sedan, the E Tron GT, and it made me think if I was an executive of a large company and wanted to both be pampered and appear to be pampered, I wonder which one I'd take. You would never normally put those two cars in the same in the same ballpark, in the same sentence. I mean, the Audi E, Tron GT and the Kia EV9 are, on almost any level, very different vehicles. But the back seat of large sedans are only comfortable when you push the front passenger seat as far forward as possible. Whereas if you sit in the back of the EV9, there’s a lot of room and the top of the range EV9 has heated and cooled seats in the front AND second row of seats. The EV9 is well suited for the executive trip to the airport. In the upper large sedans and it's over $100,000 category, the Porsche Panamera is #1, but don't get too excited about it so far this year (the first quarter of 2024) they've sold 12. Paul, yes, indeed, David. You should know that by now. I am a great fan of classic cars and. How much do Classic cars contribute to pollution 00:36:33 You also know that I've objected fairly strenuously to the barrage of PR we're getting about electric vehicles are going to save the world. Well, not perhaps as much as we would have thought. A recent study by Footman James, who is a UK classic car insurer, has claimed that classic cars are in fact greener than E vehicles. Its all to do with the amount of energy to produce a new car. More Information For more information and the extended version of the program go to Web Site: Driven Media: drivenmedia.com.au Podcasts iTunes: Cars Transport Culture Spotify: Cars Transport Culture Facebook Cars Transport Culture Instagram Cars Transport Culture Our YouTube site Cars Transport Culture Originally broadcast 13 April 2024

Overdrive: Revolutionary car design – Marcello Gandini – Lamborghini Miura; Kia EV9 costly but great

Mon, 15 Apr 2024 02:44:52 +0000

G’Day and welcome to Overdrive a program that samples as much as it can of the experiences of cars and transport I’m David Brown Social Media Feedback • There has been a suggestion that we do away with the yellow phase in traffic lights altogether – is this a constructive revolution or destructive recklessness Road Test • We road test a large Kia electric vehicle – the EV9 Marcello Gandini – master car designer dies aged 86 • He came to prominence with the design of the Lamborghini Miura and went on to other groundbreaking designs. Some highlights from the program (including times they start in the program) 00:01:46 An “expert” in road safety suggested that perhaps we don't need a yellow phase in traffic lights at all – it should go straight to red. • There's evidence that the longer the amber time is, the lower the frequency of people running the red. • The speed limit might be an issue. 00:06:43 A colleague said he went to India and got a taxi from the airport to his hotel. When he got to his hotel, he asked the driver which side of the road do they drive on because he couldn't tell. 00:07:16 The Woonerf proposal. It is defined as a living street, as originally implemented in the Netherlands and in Flanders. Techniques include shared space, traffic calming, and low speed limits. It is a proposal where you have to decide how you should behalf rather than rigidly defining spaces for pedestrians. 00:10:16 Brian has an Ioniq 5 but would he think about going to a bigger electric vehicle such as the Kia EV9? • The EV9 it is an upper large SUV. It's over five metres long, but then again the big pickups now are about 6 metres • They have two sizes of battery. There is the large at 76 kilowatt hours and there's the very large at nearly 100 kilowatt hours • The base model weighs around 2.3 tonne to the top of the line that weighs over 2.6 tonnes. • It's got great performance at the top of the range. One can do nought to 100 in 5.3 seconds. • It's not a safe design to have the bonnet so high. It means that, you know anyone you hit with. 00:14:06 DB The actually bonnet is quite high and underneath it of course there's a storage space with the smaller engine of the electric motor. You could perhaps lower the bonnet at a little. There's surprisingly though, the CD rating, the coefficient of drag is only 0.28 • It does look big and aggressive, although that does depend on the colour. • Top range model has heated and cooled seats for the front AND middle row. • Very easy to drive 00:17:32 Tell them the price, son. • Base model, drive away price in NSW $107,200. The the top of the line GT line will cost you $142,200. • Toyota Land Cruise between 106,000 to $156,000, • Nissan Patrol from around $92,500 to about $106,000. 00:19:22 Charging: time and cost 00:23:38 DB The sad death of Marcello Gandini, who was a person who designed some very significant cars, most notably, to begin with, the Lamborghini Mura. Where does these low exotic European sports cars fit into our feelings? • Scissor doors • A Miura was destroyed at the beginning of the 1969 movie The Italian Job • A mid engined motor V12 enormously and in 1965. • He designed the Autobianchi for example, the what the MINI could have become if only the British had not sat on their hands. For more information Web Site: Driven Media: drivenmedia.com.au Podcasts iTunes: Cars Transport Culture Spotify: Cars Transport Culture Facebook Cars Transport Culture Instagram Cars Transport Culture Our YouTube site Cars Transport Culture Originally broadcast 6 April 2024

Overdrive: A young person reviews Nissan Juke; Aust Efficiency Standards; Embarrassing school trips

Sat, 30 Mar 2024 04:23:58 +0000

G’Day and welcome to Overdrive a program that samples as much as it can of the pleasures of cars and transport I’m David Brown Feedback from social media posts • The most verbose press release of the year so far – The Kia K4 Are young people still embarrassed by the car that they are driven to school in? • Is it the car or the parents? • For my son there were only a few cars that I could drive him to school in. I developed a key measure of the street cred of a vehicle “The Matthew Brown will you drive me to school in that car” factor. Road Test – Nissan Juke • It’s classified as an SUV! • We asked a young intern what he thought the market for the vehicle is and how would he advertise it. New vehicle efficiency standard • It is a step in the right direction but compromises by powerful manufacturers have made it a shuffle rather than a stride Segments of the Program 00:01:34 Understanding the psychology of pedestrians, not just drivers 00:05:48 Looking at transport issues with input from other than just engineers 00:07:04 Pictures of the Kia K4 concept car – the looks and the verbose press release that went with it. 00:12:51 Our young colleague Mitchell Ferguson discusses the K4 and what it may mean to Kia. Plus comments from our listeners 00:19:12 Thoughts from our mechanical engineer Frederick Brain who went racing in an historical event at Phillip Island in his 1969 Monaro last weekend. 00:22:06 Are young people still embarrassed by the car their parent use to drive them to school? 00:24:29 Road test of the Nissan Juke which is classified as a light that's the smallest category SUV 00:28:15 A young person’s view of the Nissan Juke 00:37:04 The federal government’s 00:18:47 00:41:54 Larissa Mirabelli - head of communications for Polestar Australia on an industry perspective of the NVES. For more information Web Site: Driven Media: drivenmedia.com.au Podcasts iTunes: Cars Transport Culture Spotify: Cars Transport Culture Facebook Cars Transport Culture Instagram Cars Transport Culture Our YouTube site Cars Transport Culture Originally broadcast 30 March 2024

Overdrive: Hyundai EV is Car of Year; GWH Ora resembles Mr Potato Head; Phillip Island History races

Sat, 23 Mar 2024 03:45:12 +0000

G’Day and welcome to Overdrive, where we mull over issues to do with cars and transport. I’m David Brown Feedback from social media posts • Car of the year • An art installation that has a rock crushing a Tesla Road Test - Great Wall Motors Ora • Electric car • Comment from one of our Interns - a young persons perspective • Comments from Dean Phillip Island Classic • Chat to Fred about the major historic car racing event last weekend at Phillip Island • At the event there was a 1946 Maybach – a racing car that was made up from a World War II scout car – a great example of building something from what was available Highlights from the program 00:02:39 The BBC, The British Top Gear have given their car of the year to the Ionic 5 in an electric vehicle. Times have changed a bit since Jeremy Clarkson was there. I don't see him as being one who would normally award an electric vehicle. • Are car of the year awards definitive or at best indicative • They are still making an Australian version of Top Gear - Why 00:05:46 - The motor vehicle in art. A sculpture of a large stone head crushing a Tesla Art can mean different things to different people. Is this a comment about: • electric vehicles, • a general problem with Tesla cars or an anti Musk statement? I • It might even be lament that ancient stone headed traditions can squash project or. It might also be a cry to reject modern civilisation and a longing for ancient culture, because the head was one in the style of the old mech civilization which developed in the lowlands of South. • Kim Bow wrote in and said it is a “New high visual impact, no parking signs” • Brett McGrath said “I'm surprised it being the Tesla didn't catch fire” 00:08:26 – Great Wall Motors Ora Electric vehicle • The Great Wall Motors Aura is a little-ish electric car. Now we have tested one in the past, but with this one we got was a long range. It had a bigger battery. 00:11:12 – Ora road test from a young person’s perspective • First drive of an electric car • Regenerative braking needs getting use to • New technology with the interface with controls is certainly different • Different look: How would your peer group react? • Electric vehicles might suit young people because they need less maintenance 00:18:51 – Car looks and being driven to school • Is it the car or the parents that are an embarrassment? 00:20:12 – Artist Deal Oliver talks about the Ora design • Electric cars mean we are in a post radiator aspect of design • The Ora looks a bit like a Mr Potato Head car 00:27:26 – The Phillip Island Classic Festival of motorsport. • The biggest historic racing meeting in the Southern hemisphere • 1946 Maybach – cobbled together from a German WW2 Scout vehicle • 50th anniversary of L34 Torana (a GM sedan muscle car in Australia). Were there more on display than were ever made? For more information Web Site: Driven Media: drivenmedia.com.au Podcasts iTunes: Cars Transport Culture Spotify: Cars Transport Culture Facebook Cars Transport Culture Instagram Cars Transport Culture Our YouTube site Cars Transport Culture Originally broadcast 23 March 2024

Overdrive: Driver behaviour at traffic lights; Chevy Impala; 1948 Wolseley TV star; Chevy Silverado

Sat, 16 Mar 2024 06:02:50 +0000

G’Day and welcome to Overdrive a program that samples as much as it can of the delight of cars and transport I’m David Brown Interview Recently there was an article in a major media outlet on whether the amount of yellow light time at traffic lights is enough. The article had some one-dimensional comments so we thought we would here from an export and in doing so raised issues of real behaviour change, a lack of corporate memory in government departments and can a technical expert survive if he has a testy attitude. We are then joined by Brian Smith and discuss Social Media Posts Some listener feedback on our social media posts: • The Chevrolet Impala from the early 1960s – An icon and large design • The 1948 Wolseley that has been in the one family since 1952. Driving a huge ute And the driving experience of a very big ute. Chevrolet Silverado. What’s it like to drive and is it a perfect car for towing or simply an environmental disaster. Some highlights from the program 03:40 The technical research behind changing the length of yellow time at traffic lights in NSW. In the late 1960s, the first section of the Sydney to Newcastle Freeway was constructed between Berowra and the Hawkesbury River, but the Hawkesbury River Bridge was still the old bridge, only two lanes wide. The merging of the traffic needed lights at the bottom of a steep hill. The three second yellow timing was not enough especially for trucks. 06:05 The technical person who led the research was a bit feisty, but was technically right and had a very strong sense of morality and duty in spending public money. Could such a person survive in the public service of today. 11:09 Was there an all-red period in the signal operations and what does that mean for driver behaviour 13:01 The suggestion of increasing the yellow time is like chasing your tail to solve one issues but creating many others. 20:45 There is a desperate need to do more than look at academic research. We need to have some corporate memory of what has been done in the past so we understand the present and so that we do re-work the same issues over and over again. 22:10 How do we detect traffic and make sense of what we think is happening? Some of the technology has been around for a long time but modern possibilities have yet to prove cost effective. 33:58 Feedback from listeners and social media. A 1948 Wolseley that has been in the one family since 1952. Was part of a television documentary about General Macarthur 36:02 Feedback about some pictures of the Chevy Impala. Brians favouite toy car when he was a child 39:18 The Chevrolet Silverado Pickup. David got to drive the new one while Brian hates the very thought of it. For more information Web Site: Driven Media: drivenmedia.com.au Podcasts iTunes: Cars Transport Culture Spotify: Cars Transport Culture Facebook Cars Transport Culture Instagram Cars Transport Culture Our YouTube site Cars Transport Culture Originally broadcast 16 March 2024

Overdrive: Kia Picanto and Chevrolet Silverado - Sublime to the ridiculous but which is which?

Tue, 12 Mar 2024 01:45:20 +0000

G’Day and welcome to Overdrive a program that samples as much as it can of the delights of cars and transport I’m David Brown This week we go from the very small to the very large – is it the sublime to the ridiculous –and if so which is which. It all depends on your approach Road test A road test of the smallest mainstream car in our market the Kia Picanto Interviews And in the middle of that we went to the launch of the Latest version of the Chevrolet Silverado 2500 Heavy duty pick up truck. I can’t talk about driving just year (there is an embargo on that till a couple of week’s time) but I spoke to the Lead Engineer on the Silverado line, out here from Detroit, and the General Manager of General Motors in Australia and New Zealand about the nature and role of these vehicles For more information Web Site: Driven Media: drivenmedia.com.au Podcasts iTunes: Cars Transport Culture Spotify: Cars Transport Culture Facebook Cars Transport Culture Instagram Cars Transport Culture Our YouTube site Cars Transport Culture Originally broadcast 9 March 2024

Overdrive: To Bathurst for V8 Supercars, Chat to Ford Electric Supervan race driver and Thrifty VP

Sat, 02 Mar 2024 06:21:05 +0000

G’day and welcome to overdrive a radio and podcast program that tests cars and the locations who can drive them to I’m David Brown This week we reflect on our road trip to Bathurst Road test A road test of the Mazda 3 Interview And when we get their we look at a bit of history then attend the first round of the V8 super car series. Taking the opportunity to interview with the Vice President of Thrifty rent-a-car Asian Pacific on the state of the industry and the state of marketing through motor racing by being the major sponsor of the first round of the Super car series. And finally, an interview with the international racing driver who was driving the 2000 Hp electric Ford Transit van on its fast laps around the Mt Panorama circuit. For more information Web Site: Driven Media: drivenmedia.com.au Podcasts iTunes: Cars Transport Culture Spotify: Cars Transport Culture Facebook Cars Transport Culture Instagram Cars Transport Culture Our YouTube site Cars Transport Culture Originally broadcast 2 March 2024

Overdrive: Mazda 2 – Long live urban focused, small sedans; Effective pedestrian & cycling education

Sun, 25 Feb 2024 16:36:00 +0000

G’Day and welcome to Overdrive, a program that seeks simplicity amongst the complexities when talking about cars and transport. I’m David Brown Road test Mazda 2 – a quite small sedan – look at some history of when nippy little sedans were trendy. There practicality should not be lost. Interview We talk to an expert in bicycle and pedestrian planning on being engage with the real problems. For more information Web Site: Driven Media: drivenmedia.com.au Podcasts iTunes: Cars Transport Culture Spotify: Cars Transport Culture Facebook Cars Transport Culture Instagram Cars Transport Culture Our YouTube site Cars Transport Culture Originally broadcast 24 February 2024

Overdrive: Hyundai Kona N-line: Edited version of comments on Superbowl car ads

Sat, 17 Feb 2024 02:10:39 +0000

G’Day and welcome to Overdrive a program that samples as much as it can of the pleasure of cars and transport I’m David Brown Road test Hyundai Kona N-Line – performance in a small SUV Interview To get a 30 second spot during the Superbowl telecast cost the equivalent of AUD $10 million. Brian Smith and I run a critical eye over those car ads that tried their hand in this outrageously expensive opportunity For more information Web Site: Driven Media: drivenmedia.com.au Podcasts iTunes: Cars Transport Culture Spotify: Cars Transport Culture Facebook Cars Transport Culture Instagram Cars Transport Culture Our YouTube site Cars Transport Culture Originally broadcast 17 February 2024

Overdrive: Mazda CX-90 a lounge on wheels; Why do birds crap on newly washed cars?

Sat, 17 Feb 2024 01:31:15 +0000

G’Day and welcome to Overdrive a program that samples as much as it can of the thrill of cars and transport I’m David Brown Road test Mazda CX-90 – replacing the CX9 – it is more of a lounge car than an express Interview At our home station here for Overdrive, the most popular programme is the breakfast show presented by Bruce Potter. He's very kindly gives a preview the day before each Overdrive program goes to air, to what we're going to be talking about. And his listeners are now asking questions. Bruce joins us to answer the one about why birds crap on cars that have just been washed. For more information Web Site: Driven Media: drivenmedia.com.au Podcasts iTunes: Cars Transport Culture Spotify: Cars Transport Culture Facebook Cars Transport Culture Instagram Cars Transport Culture Our YouTube site Cars Transport Culture Originally broadcast 20 February 2024

Overdrive: Jaguar F-Type at a picnic; “Educating” truck drivers, do companies really needs to listen

Sat, 17 Feb 2024 01:06:30 +0000

G’Day and welcome to Overdrive, a program about cars and transport and its impact of our culture I’m David Brown Road test We take a different look at the Jaguar F-Type. This time we take it to a park with some sculpture and get a true link between cars and culture Interview The National Heavy Vehicle Regulator put out a press release about a truck driver fatigue road safety program they have just finished. It sounded too much like spin – so Alan Finlay and I look at the real issues. For more information Web Site: Driven Media: drivenmedia.com.au Podcasts iTunes: Cars Transport Culture Spotify: Cars Transport Culture Facebook Cars Transport Culture Instagram Cars Transport Culture Our YouTube site Cars Transport Culture Originally broadcast 3 February 2024

A critical review of the Superbowl car ads 2024 –Forgiveness, sentimentality and bogans

Fri, 16 Feb 2024 23:52:34 +0000

The Super Bowl is big, like many things in American. But America is yet to fully learn that big is not necessarily beautiful. Ads in the Super Bowl this year, 2024, costs the equivalent of about AUD $10 million for just a 30 second spot and that does not include the cost of producing them in the first place. Car companies have ventured into this hallowed advertising territory, but this year only four plus one, that is a pure off road vehicle are taking that opportunity. It is a national christening of corporate iconography at different species in the advertising Kingdom. How does it then reflect on the car companies that have chosen to participate? Well, as we have done in the past, we're better to talk about the zeitgeist of the times and whether these ads fit in well, than our good friend Brian Smith. Summary 00:01:01: Not so much nationalism as there has been in the past 00:01:58: Brands that were not American icons 00:02:38 The BMW ad: more about a celebrity than the car 00:05:18: The Kia Ad. Did they bring grandpa a chance to see his grandchild skate or did they bring him back from a near death experience? 00:07:46 The Volkswagen ad: Reflecting on a time past – well and truly passed? 00:14:10: Toyota Tacoma ad: A driver trying his hardest to scare his passenger! 00:16:53: Toyota’s second ad for the ???? its not clear but it features a footballer apparently 00:18:40: Kawasaki Ridge: When a mullet hair cut typifies your market surely you are in trouble. 00:21:19: Do these ads work? 00:22:12: It might be worth it to stop your opposition having an impact 00:22:40: It helps if you have a surprise element – a big announcement 00:23:40: One ad in the past included music from a little known band. The song went on to top the charts 00:24:58: People who don’t follow the football will still watch and pay attention to the ads. Cross reference to the half time singer Usher in the BMW ad 00:26:40: Is Christopher Walken's such a big celebrity?

Overdrive: Hyundai Kona Electric is very different; CES shows electric prams –a promising good idea?

Sun, 11 Feb 2024 11:30:29 +0000

G’Day and welcome to Overdrive a program that samples as much as it can of the experiences of cars and transport I’m David Brown Road test The petrol versions of the Hyundai Kona are a good vehicle but With Alan Zurvas we discuss the reasons why Kona electric feels significantly superior. And we highlight the emotional excitement from drive a super charged V8 Jaguar sports car – the F-Type Interview The CES show has just concluded in Las Vegas. We list some of the cars companies vehicles on display but also the mobility options such as motorised prams and shoes that help you walk three times as fast. For more information Web Site: Driven Media: drivenmedia.com.au Podcasts iTunes: Cars Transport Culture Spotify: Cars Transport Culture Facebook Cars Transport Culture Instagram Cars Transport Culture Our YouTube site Cars Transport Culture Originally broadcast 27 January 2024

Interview: Mentoring university students in developing a world competitive solar racing car

Sun, 11 Feb 2024 04:42:31 +0000

This is the full interview from a segment from the OverDrive Radio and podcast programme. For more information, go to drivenmedia.com dot au. We reported a week or so ago about the young students from Western Sydney University’s solar racing team which competes in the World Solar Challenge If there's any doubt that when you've supported your children in their early projects making paper mâché versions o0f volcanoes, and you wondered if it was going to lead to something important, well, this is a great example of young people committing huge time and energy into a university lead exercise. This is a stunning project, involving very high technology. The students do wonderful stuff, but they're also they have mentors and supporters who have volunteered their time to help them along. One of them is Bernie Fehon who has an order of Australia and he's the CEO of Fehon Strategy. The story and the impact of Bernie standing behind these students so that they learn and apply the best ways to focus their efforts is part of the success of the whole project. Bernie joins us on the line.

Overdrive: GMW Ora – an electric car with “noddy” car good looks; UK’s HS2 train missing the point

Sat, 10 Feb 2024 10:50:14 +0000

G’Day and welcome to Overdrive, a program where we let our thoughts wonder over issues to do with cars and transport I’m David Brown Feedback I put three Facebook posts up on vehicles we had seen and I've had over 40,000 people reached • An MG with an unusual fastback and very rare wheels • • a Chrysler crossfire from the first decade of this century that Jeremy Clarkson said look like a dog pooing • • and work of art in the new building of the NSW art gallery. Homage to the Bugatti 35. It elicited a number of comments including one arty farty, full of art buzz words • Road test GWM Ora Might electrification make noddy cars appealing? Interview The UK HS2 fast train • From one disaster to another • An international transport planning export comments on the HS2 and reminisces about some other projects For more information Web Site: Driven Media: drivenmedia.com.au Podcasts iTunes: Cars Transport Culture Spotify: Cars Transport Culture Facebook Cars Transport Culture Instagram Cars Transport Culture Our YouTube site Cars Transport Culture Originally broadcast 20 January 2024

Overdrive: Kia Seltos – a very usable small SUV; Owning, driving and rallying the Queen’s Rolls

Wed, 24 Jan 2024 04:31:12 +0000

G’Day and welcome to Overdrive, a program where we take a diverse look at cars and transport. I’m David Brown Road test Kia Seltos A small SUV Very good car but it also raises the issue about how helpful some waring systems are. Interview It has been over a year since the death of Queen Elizabeth. Soon after her passing we road tested he rolls she used when in Australia. We spoke to Jeanne Eve who has been instrumental in preserving the vehicle. But her involvement has been more than just as a history buff. We play the full interview with her. For more information Web Site: Driven Media: drivenmedia.com.au Podcasts iTunes: Cars Transport Culture Spotify: Cars Transport Culture Facebook Cars Transport Culture Instagram Cars Transport Culture Our YouTube site Cars Transport Culture Originally broadcast 13 January 2024

Overdrive: A beautiful 1928 Rolls;

Sun, 14 Jan 2024 22:00:15 +0000

G’Day and welcome to Overdrive, a program that takes a broad look at the how cars and transport impact our communities. I’m David Brown We continue our holiday presentations with this first program of 2024. In this edition we cover more details from an interview we did during 2023. Motoring journalist David Berthon restored what came to be considered as the best 1913 Rolls Royce in the world. He sold it after 15 years of refurbishment and enjoyment in driving and has now bought a 1928 Rolls. The background to the vehicle and David’s feeling on selling his previous model is a wonderful reflection of the life and times of a historical motor car. For more information Web Site: Driven Media: drivenmedia.com.au Podcasts iTunes: Cars Transport Culture Spotify: Cars Transport Culture Facebook Cars Transport Culture Instagram Cars Transport Culture YouTube site Cars Transport Culture Originally broadcast 6 January 2024

Overdrive: Two interviews with rally star Molly Taylor

Fri, 12 Jan 2024 10:19:24 +0000

G’Day and welcome to Overdrive, a program that dabbles in the material and magical world of cars and transport. I’m David Brown Overdrive is on sabbatical leave over the Christmas new year. So we thought we would replay some interviews from the past. With the 2024 Decker rally starting on the 5th of January we’ve dug up some chats with the Australian rally ace Molly Taylor who competed in the Dakar in 2022 among other things. The first interview is about her early career, traveling to the UK on her own and the second is when we caught up with her at the launch of the Subaru BRZ sports car at Sydney Motorsport park but also talked about her Dakar experience.

Overdrive: Peugeot Electric Van – great for drivers; Microlino’s new Issetta; Road design and crime

Mon, 01 Jan 2024 23:19:32 +0000

G’Day and welcome to Overdrive, a program that dabbles in the material and mystical world of cars and transport. I’m David Brown Road test • Road testing a van has never been a joy but the new Peugeot e-Partner electric van has some quirks but some real benefits for any employee’ • A reflection Listener Rodney has asked us to promote a new start up, Microlino. They have designed a new electric vehicle that strongly resembles the shape of the mid 50’s Issetta BMW micro car. We have looked into it Interview Can you look at a road network and make conclusions about the crime rate in the area? Chris Stapleton did just that and we chat about how we should be designing local road networks. For more information Web Site: Driven Media: drivenmedia.com.au Podcasts iTunes: Cars Transport Culture Spotify: Cars Transport Culture Facebook Cars Transport Culture Instagram Cars Transport Culture Our YouTube site Cars Transport Culture Originally broadcast 23 December 2023

Overdrive: Kia Stonic – impressive but not an SUV; Behaviour Change expert getting signposting right

Mon, 01 Jan 2024 14:48:47 +0000

G’Day and welcome to Overdrive, a program that contemplates issues related to cars and transport. I’m David Brown Road test • Kia Stonic – smallest category of SUV – stretches the need to call it SUV yet it impressed our testers Fred and Evan A reflection • A report from the Audit Office of NSW highlights another government transport project that proceeded, apparently, without any effective administrative or technical oversite • No tender process • No understanding of value for money • To name a few of the criticisms Interview • We have talked about certain traffic problems in the last few weeks, including signposting. And of course, we know what the problem was – or do we? This week we talk to an expert in behaviour change who sets a pattern that could be applied in any aspect of transport planning – the need to test with real people not just theoretical pontifications. For more information Web Site: Driven Media: drivenmedia.com.au Podcasts iTunes: Cars Transport Culture Spotify: Cars Transport Culture Facebook Cars Transport Culture Instagram Cars Transport Culture Our YouTube site Cars Transport Culture Originally broadcast 16 December 2023

Overdrive: GWM Tank 300 – Credibility at a low price; Government stuff up shows systemic problems

Sat, 09 Dec 2023 06:41:47 +0000

G’Day and welcome to Overdrive, a program that luxuriates in the realm of cars and transport. I’m David Brown Road test • This week we are driving the GWM Tank 300 – a large SUV with off-road credentials. A long list of features and a great price Interview • We revisit the Rozelle interchange controversy and look at planning and how new projects can impact car ownership including how do you update your sat-nav that is built into your car. For more information Web Site: Driven Media: drivenmedia.com.au Podcasts iTunes: Cars Transport Culture Spotify: Cars Transport Culture Facebook Cars Transport Culture Instagram Cars Transport Culture Our YouTube site Cars Transport Culture Originally broadcast 9 December 2023

Overdrive: Mazda – 2002 Metro vs 2023 CX-30; Toyota’s defence; Targeted insurance with telematics

Wed, 06 Dec 2023 02:13:25 +0000

G’Day and welcome to Overdrive a weekly radio and podcast program that considers all aspects of cars and transport. I’m David Brown Road test • Mazda small SUV – the CX-30 but we compare it to the 2002 Mazda 121 Metro an radical change of style from the previous model and one that hinted at what was to come. Thought of the Week • Toyota replies to a segment we did a few weeks ago giving their positioning on the decarbonisation of motor vehicles. Interview • Do you think your insurance is a fair reflection of your risk? Are you really a better driver than the others and so should be rewarded? We chat to Simon Donovan from Fuse Fleet insurance on the use of telematics to measure what is really going on with specific car fleets, what the insurance rate should be and how this all ties into better community policies to tackle climate change and road safety. For more information Web Site: Driven Media: drivenmedia.com.au Podcasts iTunes: Cars Transport Culture Spotify: Cars Transport Culture Facebook Cars Transport Culture Instagram Cars Transport Culture Our YouTube site Cars Transport Culture Originally broadcast 25 November 2023

Overdrive: Matt grey car colour – Looks bold or like sludge?; Mazda CX-5; Signposting confusion

Mon, 27 Nov 2023 03:20:15 +0000

Road test • Quiet achiever – the Mazda CX-5 medium SUV which has a system to control the infotainment screen that I think is very good Interview • The road authority in Sydney had built one of the most complex spaghetti junction in Australia. Our traffic engineering expert Alan Finlay gives runs his expert eye over its purpose design and the signposting of the project. Thought of the Week Dean gives his view on the trend for flat grey car colours – he calls them “sludge grey”. For more information Web Site: Driven Media: drivenmedia.com.au Podcasts iTunes: Cars Transport Culture Spotify: Cars Transport Culture Facebook Cars Transport Culture Instagram Cars Transport Culture Our YouTube site Cars Transport Culture Originally broadcast 25 November 2023

Overdrive: Nissan X-Trail helping the company recover sales; Energy company offers EV subscriptions

Sun, 19 Nov 2023 15:53:54 +0000

Road test • Nissan X-trail – part of Nissan’s revival – including an interview with Paul Murrell who is the founder of Senior Driver Aus. Interview Origin energy now has a department of eMobility. The role is to help people effectively use electric vehicles. They now run a subscription service for some electric vehicles where you can use a vehicle for 30 days to try it out. Then keep it as long as you like or , give it back, swap to another vehicle or swap during the year when you need a different vehicle such as when you go on holidays. We chat to Origin’s General Manager of eMobility Chau Le. Quote of the Week Fake Carbon Fiber For more information Web Site: Driven Media Podcasts iTunes: Cars Transport Culture Spotify: Cars Transport Culture Facebook Cars Transport Culture Instagram Cars Transport Culture Our YouTube site Cars Transport Culture Originally broadcast 18 November 2023

Overdrive: Polestar 2 worth a closer look; Nissan Elgrand van for camping; transport in Europe

Mon, 13 Nov 2023 05:42:30 +0000

G’Day and welcome to Overdrive a program that ponders the purpose of cars and transport I’m David Brown Road test • Polestar 2 which had recently been upgraded Interviews One interview we catch up with our Melbourne correspondent Chris who has gone for a very cost effective van to do a bit of camping as has some recent experiences of overseas transport systems. For more information Web Site: Driven Media Podcasts iTunes: Cars Transport Culture Spotify: Cars Transport Culture Facebook Cars Transport Culture Instagram Cars Transport Culture Our YouTube site Cars Transport Culture Originally broadcast 11 November 2023

Overdrive: Mahindra XUV 700; Toyota tries to defend its slow approach to EVs

Wed, 08 Nov 2023 09:58:18 +0000

G’Day and welcome to Overdrive, a program that practices what it preaches, most of the time, on the subject of cars and transport. I’m David Brown Road test • Mahindra XUV 700 (Medium SUV – Mahindra is an Indian company) Interviews One interview but we range over a variety of aspects of electric cars from the defensive and outspoken comments from Toyota who appear to be behind in the development of full electric cars to some unexpected practical aspects of their uses For more information Web Site: Driven Media Podcasts iTunes: Cars Transport Culture Spotify: Cars Transport Culture Facebook Cars Transport Culture Instagram Cars Transport Culture Our YouTube site Cars Transport Culture Originally broadcast 4 November 2023

Overdrive: Sydney Opera House inspires traffic solution; Peugeot e-2008; Cambodia and Vietnam trip

Fri, 27 Oct 2023 06:49:22 +0000

G’Day Welcome to Overdrive, a program that proudly gives you the alternative facts to all aspects of motoring and transport. I’m David Brown Road test Peugeot e 2008 electric small SUV Interviews With the 50th anniversary of the Opera House we look at how a technical group took a different transport approach to cope with the crowds – it was a start of not treating the car as a god. And we talk to Alan Finally about his transport reflections from a trip through Vietnam and Cambodia For more information Web Site: Driven Media Podcasts iTunes: Cars Transport Culture Spotify: Cars Transport Culture Facebook Cars Transport Culture Instagram Cars Transport Culture Our YouTube site Cars Transport Culture Originally broadcast 28 October 2023

Overdrive: Chery Omoda5; A new Celica?; A Ford GT40 made from scratch

Sat, 21 Oct 2023 18:08:17 +0000

G’Day and welcome to Overdrive, a program that ponders the philosophical and practical aspects of motoring and transport. I’m David Brown Road test Chery Omoda5 – Chinese Small SUV Interviews There are hints coming from Japan that Toyota may make a new Celica – we discuss the history of the previous models We can to a gentleman who made, from the ground up, a replica of the 1960s exotic endurance race car the Ford GT40. For more information Web Site: Driven Media Podcasts iTunes: Cars Transport Culture Spotify: Cars Transport Culture Facebook Cars Transport Culture Instagram Cars Transport Culture Our YouTube site Cars Transport Culture Originally broadcast 21 October 2023

Overdrive: Toyota Camry hybrid; Hyundai Ioniq 6; Bathurst 1000

Sat, 21 Oct 2023 17:59:00 +0000

G’Day this is Overdrive a program about the facts, the fun and the fiction of motoring and transport I’m David Brown Road test of the Toyota Camry Feature interview With Evan Jones • Bathurst 1000 (he was an official at the event) – good event but may be some trouble brewing • Road test Hyundai Ioniq 6 • The role of volunteers in motor sport For more information Web Site: Driven Media Podcasts iTunes: Cars Transport Culture Spotify: Cars Transport Culture Facebook Cars Transport Culture Instagram Cars Transport Culture Our YouTube site Cars Transport Culture Originally broadcast 14 October 2023

Overdrive: Unnecessary warning noises in cars; Line marking it is not a simple as you think

Sat, 21 Oct 2023 17:48:19 +0000

G’Day this is Overdrive a program about trains, planes and automobiles, but mainly automobiles. I’m David Brown Some feedback from a listener supporting our call to stop cars making unnecessary beeping noises We chat to our resident mechanical engineer Fred Brain with his laconic reflections of driving on long trips. And we have a quintessential example of how politicians have replaced thoughtful, technically excellent public servants with content ignorant, politically focused managers. The times each story appears in the program are noted (mm:ss) For more information Web Site: Driven Media Podcasts iTunes: Cars Transport Culture Spotify: Cars Transport Culture Facebook Cars Transport Culture Instagram Cars Transport Culture Our YouTube site Cars Transport Culture Originally broadcast 7 October 2023

Overdrive: Using Artificial Intelligence for transport decisions; More long car trip stories

Sat, 21 Oct 2023 17:25:30 +0000

G’Day and welcome to Overdrive, a program that looks at the facts, fantasises and fallacies of anything to do with motoring and transport. I’m David Brown Some feedback making a long car trip • Lovely towns on the old highway but they were locations where you could get booked • Driving when you were tired • An unusual (and unsafe?) way to cope with the fog over the Blue Mountains. An interview about Sydney to Melbourne trips with Alan Finlay – traffic engineer – very articulate, personable but also very precise in his memories An interview with a young lady who is using artificial intelligence not to make conclusions but to give insights on which humans can make more informed conclusions For more information Web Site: Driven Media Podcasts iTunes: Cars Transport Culture Spotify: Cars Transport Culture Facebook Cars Transport Culture Instagram Cars Transport Culture Our YouTube site Cars Transport Culture Originally broadcast 30 September 2023

Overdrive: Subaru Crosstrek; Stories of long distance car trips

Sat, 21 Oct 2023 17:06:43 +0000

G’Day and welcome to Overdrive, a program that looks at the factors affecting our attitude and actions to motoring and transport. I’m David Brown We start the programme by talking about the reasons we chose to drive from Sydney to Melbourne as opposed to flying or catching the train and play some vox pops of people we meet along the way. We then talk to our road test expert Evan Jones about the Subaru Crosstrek a small SUV formerly know as the XV And then we ask Evan about his long trips in a variety of different cars from the elegant saloon to the Lotus sports car The times each story appears in the program are noted (mm:ss) For more information Web Site: Driven Media Podcasts iTunes: Cars Transport Culture Spotify: Cars Transport Culture Facebook Cars Transport Culture Instagram Cars Transport Culture Our YouTube site Cars Transport Culture Originally broadcast 23 September 2023

Overdrive: Politicians fudging transport numbers and computer transport modelling

Sat, 21 Oct 2023 16:47:58 +0000

G'day and welcome to OverDrive where we come to you this week from Melbourne, Australia at the National Conference of the Australian Institute of Traffic Planning and Management And in this program we will focus on an interview with Bill Allen, an international expert in computer modelling of transport networks and has over 40 years of experience in the business. His is not a technical presentation, but rather one of the difficulties and pitfalls of trying to deal with the broader political and community environment to make sure the models are reflecting real needs and overcome some inherent biases. For more information Web Site: Driven Media Podcasts iTunes: Cars Transport Culture Spotify: Cars Transport Culture Facebook Cars Transport Culture Instagram Cars Transport Culture Our YouTube site Cars Transport Culture Originally broadcast 16 September 2023

Overdrive: Grandfather’s Bentley; Making car noises; Is Tesla’s truck all wrong; cardboard drones

Tue, 03 Oct 2023 11:20:34 +0000

Hello this is Overdrive a program that tries to spread the word about trains, planes and automobiles. I’m David Brown In this program a conversation with our transport expert and observer of all things cultural, Brian Smith about three subjects • A historic Bentley and taking your children around in a vintage or veteran car • Car design and practicality has Tesla gone wrong in both these areas with their cyber truck, and finally • the Australian army is making cardboard drones: what can the car industry particularly from the past offer in terms of practical advice. For more information Web Site: Driven Media Podcasts iTunes: Cars Transport Culture Spotify: Cars Transport Culture Facebook Cars Transport Culture Instagram Cars Transport Culture Our YouTube site Cars Transport Culture Originally broadcast 9 September 2023

Overdrive: Uni course in flying cars; Fiat 2300 S Coupe; Holden Monaro; Shannons Classic car show

Tue, 03 Oct 2023 10:42:47 +0000

Hello and welcome to Overdrive, a program that pushes the parameters in discussing motoring and transport. I’m David Brown The times each story appears in the program are noted (mm:ss) Feedback • Some of the feedback on a few social posts where have put up, including: • Cars with spats. Do they help or hinder the design. We posted some pictures of classic European cars Jaguar from Morse TV series but the one that gained the most attention was the 1968 Holden Monaro. • Classic Jaguars • A beautiful car: the Fiat 2300 S Coupe Feature RMIT university in Melbourne is now offering a short course in Flying Car and Autonomous Flight Engineer. We talk to our resident transport expert Brian Smith on whether flying cars will become a significant transport option or a quirky fun ride for the few. Talking about the Shannons Classic that was on last Sunday, Fred Brain and I discuss what caught our eye from the 1500 vintage, veteran and classic cars that were on display.

Overdrive: Mentoring solar car students; Owning a 1928 Rolls; How Triumphs have changed; Car Dealers

Tue, 05 Sep 2023 08:05:59 +0000

Hello this is Overdrive a program with an infatuation about trains, planes and automobiles. I’m David Brown The times each story appears in the program are noted (mm:ss) Powerhouse opening of exhibition. I went to the opening night of the Powerhouse Museum’s “1001 remarkable objects” In amongst items of haute couture and jewellery, however, was a 1917 Detroit Electric car that came to Australia and was used for 30 years. The evolution of Triumphs The difference less than 20 years can make in car design as shown in this picture. The car at the back is a Triumph TR2 (Built, I believe, between 1953 and 1955. Was there ever a TR1?). The car at the front is a GT6 Mk III (GT6 built between 1966–1973). Book Review (Sort of) A colleague received this book ‘Car Dealers and Other “honourable” professions’ in the hope that he might promote it. My colleague felt that it was too raunchy for his audience. The best-looking Holden Monaro Holden produced the HQ Sedan in the early 70s. They continued the trend they started in 1967 of making a 2 door coupe based on their family sedan. I may be biased but I think it looks pretty good. Feature David Berthon talks about his 1928 Rolls Bernie Fehon – is a mentor to the students at Western Sydney University who are racing a solar car in about 7 weeks time. For more information Web Site: Driven Media Podcasts iTunes: Cars Transport Culture Spotify: Cars Transport Culture Facebook Cars Transport Culture Instagram Cars Transport Culture Our YouTube site Cars Transport Culture Originally broadcast 2 September 2023

Overdrive: Student’s solar racer – phenomenal work from young adults; Cars Shows; Corolla Cross

Tue, 15 Aug 2023 06:26:18 +0000

Hello this is Overdrive a program that looks at the purpose of and the passion for trains, planes and automobiles I’m David Brown The times each story appears in the program are noted (mm:ss) Feature I had the privilege of attending the Unlimited 5.0 Launch — The latest solar racer from Western Sydney University’s Solar Racing Team. The level of professionalism in this group of young adults was outstanding. We Road test a couple of Toyota’s – the Corolla Cross and the Kluger large SUV And Dean, Fred and I chat about some car shows we have been to in the last week. Motoring Minutes For more information Driven Media Social media – Face Book and Instagram search for “Cars transport culture” Podcasts iTunes: Cars Transport Culture Spotify: Cars Transport Culture Facebook Cars Transport Culture Instagram Cars Transport Culture Our YouTube site Cars Transport Culture Originally broadcast on 12 August 2023

Overdrive: Audi Q5 PHEV – power is key; A new system to rate EVs; Corolla GR looks and performance

Tue, 15 Aug 2023 05:17:24 +0000

Hello and welcome to Overdrive a program that puts a magnifying glass to the role of cars and transport in our society and ends up burning a hole in it. I’m David Brown The times each story appears in the program are noted (mm:ss) Road Test A quick road test of the just launched Audi Q5 medium sized SUV Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (the Good the bad and the Ugly) Vehicle Review We also have a longer discussion with Dean and Evan about the Toyota Corolla GR – not your traditional Corolla Feature We talk to Mark Byrnes who compiled the Total Environment Centre’s rating of electric vehicles. He is not backward in naming the companies that did not do as well as he would like. Motoring Minutes For more information Driven Media Social media – Face Book and Instagram search for “Cars transport culture” Podcasts iTunes: Cars Transport Culture Spotify: Cars Transport Culture Facebook Cars Transport Culture Instagram Cars Transport Culture Our YouTube site Cars Transport Culture Originally broadcast on 5 August 2023

Overdrive: Pollution in a vehicle’s cabin; What’s stopping us having electric cars in motor racing

Sat, 05 Aug 2023 12:12:36 +0000

G'day and welcome to Overdrive, a program that roams through the world of Motoring and transport. I'm David Brown. The times each story appears in the program are noted (mm:ss) Feedback Feedback on our social media posts, including • some glorious pictures from the World Rally Championship round in Estonia, Features And we have two feature stories. • Alan Zurvas joins us to talk about pollution in cars within the cabin, as you drive, there's been some research out by emissions analytics looking at the environment within vehicles in three locations: Los Angeles, Oxford in the UK and Stuttgart in Germany. • And we catch up with our good friend Evan Jones, who's just been officiating at a round of the NSW Hill Climb Championship, one of the most interesting points that I thought came out of that is the rules and regulations you need to have in New South Wales. If you are to run electric vehicles, basically they are so arduous that they exclude any event like this. Being able to have electric cars and I think that's a shame, because a great way to get interest in grassroots motor racing is for people to be able to enter some street cars and hill climb is a great opportunity for that. How do electric cars compare? That would be a very interesting point. For more information, you can go to drivenmedia.com dot AU. For more information drivenmedia.com.au Social media – Face Book and Instagram search for “Cars transport culture” Podcasts iTunes: Cars Transport Culture Spotify: Cars Transport Culture Facebook Cars Transport Culture Instagram Cars Transport Culture Our YouTube site Cars Transport Culture Originally broadcast on 29 July 2023

Overdrive: The great failure of the Wolgan Railway; Art, motoring and children; Hyundai Santa Fe

Fri, 21 Jul 2023 12:40:11 +0000

I’m David Brown The times each story appears in the program are noted (mm:ss) Hello and welcome to Overdrive, a program that looks at the latest trends in motoring and transport for serious and not so serious issues. Feedback On social media posts • 1956 Ford F100 • • Wolden Railway 2 minute road test • Mazda CX-60 Feature And it our feature section our artist in residence Dean, and our mechanical engineer, Fred discuss overcoming the resistance of young people to engage in art and the motor car, the Wolgen railway and driving the Hyundai Sante Fe hybrid. For more information Driven Media Social media – Face Book and Instagram search for “Cars transport culture” Podcasts iTunes: Cars Transport Culture Spotify: Cars Transport Culture Facebook Cars Transport Culture Instagram Cars Transport Culture Our YouTube site Cars Transport Culture Originally broadcast on 22 July 2023

Overdrive: When Chrysler tried to break in big into the Australian market; Hyundai Kona

Fri, 21 Jul 2023 12:02:54 +0000

Hello and welcome to Overdrive, a program about cars, transport and culture I’m David Brown The times each story appears in the program are noted (mm:ss) This week we have been driving a lot of new cars and I am currently in Mollymook driving the new Mazda CX-60 but I am not allowed to talk about it just yet. So I have ask our good friend Alan Zurvas to have a chat about a range of subjects including: • Our Social media post about the mid 60s Chrysler Valiants that tried to compete with Falcons and Holdens. The post has been seen by over 33,000 people and the comments are a wonderful array of memories – mostly good. • Alan also mentions a video of a car crash involving an electric vehicle and the unexpected results • And we review in detail the new Hyundai Kona small SUV For more information Driven Media Social media – Face Book and Instagram search for “Cars transport culture” Podcasts iTunes: Cars Transport Culture Spotify: Cars Transport Culture Facebook Cars Transport Culture Instagram Cars Transport Culture Our YouTube site Cars Transport Culture Originally broadcast on 15 July 2023

Overdrive: Owning and loving a 1925 Austin; A 1968 Holden including authentic cigarette packet

Fri, 21 Jul 2023 11:09:20 +0000

Welcome to Overdrive, a program where we put the world of motoring and transport under the microscope. I’m David Brown The times each story appears in the program are noted (mm:ss) Feedback • We get some feedback on the pictures we posted on Social Media • Fiat Bambino • KIA EV6 GT • Austin Healy Bug Eyed Sprite Two Feature • Darren tells the background story of his family 1925 Austin • Tony had a 1969 Holden Special – authentic to the times down to a packet of Winfield on the dash For more information Driven Media Social media – Face Book and Instagram search for Cars transport culture Podcasts iTunes: Cars Transport Culture Spotify: Cars Transport Culture Facebook Cars Transport Culture Instagram Cars Transport Culture Our YouTube site Cars Transport Culture Originally broadcast on 7 July 2023

What's a rare Subaru WRX STI 22B worth and why so much?

Fri, 09 Jun 2023 06:59:14 +0000

When I think of record prices at auctions for classic cars, I think of the exotic, the very rare, and perhaps those with provenance for the vehicle. Now typically this has been things, to me, like Ferraris and here in Australia our 1970s muscle cars. But as time passes, what is bubbling to the surface in terms of collectible cars? Well, Collecting Cars Australia, the online auction house, has an item that might get a huge figure that is based on a more perhaps familiar model. Rich Fowler, is the General Manager of Collecting Cars in Australia, and he joins us on the line now.

Overdrive: Weird car options in the 1964 EH Holden; Australia’s Eurovision entry and the Toyota MR2

Fri, 26 May 2023 05:45:35 +0000

Hello and welcome to Overdrive a program that looks at cars and transport from a variety of angles. I’m David Brown The times each story appears in the program are noted (mm:ss) Feedback We put a post up on social media about a great Australian car: the 1964 EH Holden and we received some great comments from the public It also raised the issue of unusual optional extras. The EH had options such as • Plastic seat covers • 4 piece luggage set that is made to fit neatly into the boot • Rear parcel shelf • Seat belts • Hand rail on the back of the front seat • An extra inside door pull-to handles Interview We then have an interview with motoring journalist Paul Murrel on tow subjects • The cars he had 40 years ago • The Toyota MR2 that was on the stage for Australia’s Eurovision competitor Motoring Minutes For more information Driven Media Podcasts iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/overdrive-cars-transport-and-culture/id1001084679 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0ah6JZN8LTYURIfNs1IIBs Facebook Cars Transport Culture https://www.facebook.com/carstransportculture/ Instagram Cars Transport Culture https://www.instagram.com/carstransportculture/ YouTube Cars Transport Culture https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKyx5sv6cgF4URRmNq2JiXg/videos Originally broadcast on 20 May 2023

Interview: Hydrogen fuel cell trucks in Tasmania – a good case of horses for courses

Mon, 15 May 2023 07:10:11 +0000

One of the initial problems with our attitude to electric vehicles that still exists to a considerable extent today is the attitude that if it doesn't suit me, then it's no use to anyone. But good management is understanding the actual needs and opportunities in developing technologies. And in this case, electric vehicles, whether they be powered by batteries or hydrogen fuel cells. Two companies have just made a joint cooperation agreement announcement of that to encourage hydrogen fuel cells in vehicles in a particular location. Geoff Drucker is the managing director of Countrywide Hydrogen, and he joins us from Tasmania. For more information Driven Media Social media – Face Book and Instagram search for Cars transport culture Podcasts iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/overdrive-cars-transport-and-culture/id1001084679 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0ah6JZN8LTYURIfNs1IIBs Facebook Cars Transport Culture Instagram Cars Transport Culture Our YouTube site https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKyx5sv6cgF4URRmNq2JiXg/videos Originally recorded on 15 May 2023

Overdrive: 1960s Mercedes; Buchanan – a car from the available bits; Coronation as a car launch

Fri, 12 May 2023 04:19:19 +0000

Hello and welcome to Overdrive a program that looks at all forms of transport from the humble bike through to a rocket powered spaceship. I’m David Brown The times each story appears in the program are noted (mm:ss) Three Feature Interviews This week we have three interviews recorded in non-studio conditions. Two of the interviews are from people we met at the Car and Coffee show at the St.Ives Showground The first is a gentleman with a 1950s Australia car and it is certainly not a Holden. It has a copy of prestige open top sports car and not many were made. The underpinnings were what every you could get. (1:26) The Second is a prestige Mercedes but the owner has a very diverse range of motoring experiences (7:25) And finally we chat to a pre-eminent breakfast radio announcer about his first car and how he would of added a motoring theme to the coronation. (13:06) Motoring Minutes • E-Mustang (11:55) • Subaru Cross Trek (28:02) For more information Driven Media Social media – Face Book and Instagram search for Cars transport culture Podcasts iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/overdrive-cars-transport-and-culture/id1001084679 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0ah6JZN8LTYURIfNs1IIBs Facebook Cars Transport Culture Instagram Cars Transport Culture Our YouTube site https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKyx5sv6cgF4URRmNq2JiXg/videos Originally broadcast on 13 May 2023

Overdrive: Hyundai Fuel Cell truck; Traffic signals -length of the yellow; Honourable names bridges

Sun, 07 May 2023 23:41:57 +0000

Hello and welcome to Overdrive a program that looks at the different ways we get around, from walking, riding, or in cars, buses, trains or planes. I’m David Brown The times each story appears in the program are noted (mm:ss) News 1. Hyundai fuel cell truck goes from trial to commercialisation (1:39) 2. Car Sales – Growth is with the rich and the poor (3:26) 3. Ray Wedgwood Bridge – honour where honour is due (4:27) Listeners Feedback • One persons first car was the awkwardly shaped Renault 12 (5:37) Motoring Minute • Haval H6 (10:05) Feature • The question of how long is the duration of a yellow light in traffic signals prompted a chat with our traffic engineering expert covering signal phases, why don’t we call it the amber light anymore, and what impact does the length of yellow lights and all red periods have on drivers (11:10) Motoring Minute • Pajero Sport (27:35) Podcasts iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/overdrive-cars-transport-and-culture/id1001084679 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0ah6JZN8LTYURIfNs1IIBs Facebook Cars Transport Culture Instagram Cars Transport Culture Our YouTube site https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKyx5sv6cgF4URRmNq2JiXg/videos Originally broadcast on 6 May 2023

Overdrive: EVs beats diesels; Tesla beats Audi; Toyota backs fuel cells; History of Central Railway

Sat, 29 Apr 2023 10:58:01 +0000

Hello and welcome to Overdrive a program that looks at a range of different ways we get around, from cars, buses, trains and planes. I’m David Brown The times each story appears in the program are noted (mm:ss) News 1. Tesla outsells Audi 2. Electric vehicles outsell diesels cars in Western Europe 3. Nissan Premcar 4. Toyota demonstrates broad potential of FCEV technology as part of hydrogen showcase 5. Mazda CX-30 G25 astina Listeners Feedback • Fellow presenter Sharon Thomson helps me read out interesting responses from some of our recent posts on social media Feature In our feature story, the NSW government is refurbishing the grand Central railway station which was opened in 1906. Overdrive went on a tour with railway historian Stuart Sharp to find some of the original politicking and happenstance that led to its design and character Podcasts iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/overdrive-cars-transport-and-culture/id1001084679 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0ah6JZN8LTYURIfNs1IIBs Facebook Cars Transport Culture Instagram Cars Transport Culture Our YouTube site https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKyx5sv6cgF4URRmNq2JiXg/videos Originally broadcast on 29 April 2023

Overdrive: Mahindra Scorpio SUV; Tesla cuts margins; Alfa’s classic concept; Coping with Sat-Nav

Sat, 29 Apr 2023 09:26:42 +0000

Hello and welcome to Overdrive, a program where we look at the wide and wonderful world of motoring and transport. I’m David Brown The times each story appears in the program are noted (mm:ss) News 1. New Mahindra on the Australia market 2. Tesla cuts profit margins to make more sales 3. GWM shows Electrification at Auto Shanghai 2023 4. Alfa Romeo features and old concept design at the Milan design show Vox Pops • Dean’s first car Listeners Question • Does Sat-Nav systems favour toll roads. How are people using these mapping systems? Feature • Interview with Joydeep Moitra Mahindra’s the international manager for right hand drive markets who was in Australia for the launch of their all-new Scorpio N large SUV. You can find more information at Driven Media with links to social media and podcasts And we have a recording answering service that you can leave a message on, or comment about the program 02 8003 4295 How do you use your sat nav – help or hindrance. Podcasts iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/overdrive-cars-transport-and-culture/id1001084679 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0ah6JZN8LTYURIfNs1IIBs Facebook Cars Transport Culture Instagram Cars Transport Culture Our YouTube site https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKyx5sv6cgF4URRmNq2JiXg/videos Originally broadcast on 22 April 2023

Overdrive: NASA pinpoints car pollution; Ford detects level crossings dangers; Coping with screens

Sat, 29 Apr 2023 08:02:09 +0000

Hello and welcome to Overdrive, a program where we look at the wide and wonderful world of motoring and transport. I’m David Brown The times each story appears in the program are noted (mm:ss) News 1. Ford patents information systems that detect danger at a level crossings 2. SUVs are taking over the world and adding to its problems 3. NASA aims for more detailed information on air-pollution 4. Toyota vacillates on EVs versus hybrids Vox Pops • Vox Pops from listener Feature Interview with Alan Zurvas about our recent experiences in coping with modern car screens and information management, including a digital interruption in the middle of our chat. You can find more information at Driven Media with links to social media and podcasts And we have a recording answering service that you can leave a message on, or comment about the program 02 8003 4295 Especially useful when we are considering our 40th anniversary - ring up and tell us what car you were driving 40 years ago, or you were lusting after, or was a critical part of the family. Podcasts iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/overdrive-cars-transport-and-culture/id1001084679 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0ah6JZN8LTYURIfNs1IIBs Facebook Cars Transport Culture Instagram Cars Transport Culture Our YouTube site https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKyx5sv6cgF4URRmNq2JiXg/videos Originally broadcast on 15 April 2023

Overdrive: Pole-to-pole EV trip; Kia Seltos; Mobility and the Future of City-Building

Fri, 28 Apr 2023 16:57:40 +0000

Welcome to Overdrive, a program about all sorts of things to do with motoring and transport. I’m David Brown The times each story appears in the program are noted (mm:ss) News 1. Car Sales – looking more closely at the numbers 2. Another review of the railways – we don’t need more of the same 3. Undertaking the first pole to pole car trip and doing it in an EV 4. Going to the drive-in in an EV Two minute road test • Kia Seltos Vox Pops • Listeners comments including some Vox Pops Feature In this week’s feature we speak to Andrew Miller a Canadian-based expert who had just given a keynote speech at the Urban Development Institute of Australia National conference in Perth. His speech was titled “Climate Change, Mobility, and the Future of City-Building”. You can find more information at Driven Media with links to social media and podcasts And we have a recording answering service that you can leave a message on, or comment about the program 02 8003 4295 Especially useful when we are considering our 40th anniversary - ring up and tell us what car you were driving 40 years ago, or you were lusting after, or was a critical part of the family.

Interview: How modern cars try to tell you what you need to know, is enough to drive you crazy

Wed, 12 Apr 2023 07:48:23 +0000

Most car companies now have a new measure of how good their vehicle is. It's not just the power of the engine or the speed it can reach or the acceleration. It's the number and size of screens in the vehicle, with an emphasis on the quantity of information that can be shown. There's the dials and information screen in front of the driver, the centre console with the infotainment system and, if you are lucky, the heads up display. But is it a matter of how much information, or perhaps how effective the necessary information in communicated. Our good friend from gay car boys, Alan is on the line

Overdrive: MG RV8 – One person’s passion; Hyundai’s EV9 and new Sonata; Pioneering Land Rovers

Thu, 06 Apr 2023 13:37:50 +0000

Hello and welcome to Overdrive, a program that investigates matters to do with motoring and transport. I’m David Brown The times each story appears in the program are noted (mm:ss) News 1. Kia shows the world their EV9 (2:02) 2. Mazda joins group to promote biofuels as an alternative to EVs (2:54) 3. A New Hyundai SONATA strives to keep the midsize sedan segment alive (4:12) 4. What do women really, really want (in a vehicle) (5:19) 5. New Triton on display at Bangkok motor show (6:23) Feature 1. Full interview with the organiser of the 75th anniversary of the first Land Rover to Work on the Snowy Mountains scheme (7:34) Vox Pops • Listeners comments (18:01) Feature 2. And we interview a long-term listener to the program – Greg – who has a very rare MG (20:30) You can find more information at Driven Media with links to social media and podcasts

Interview: 75th Anniversary of Land Rovers helping build the Snowy Mountains Hydroelectric Scheme

Tue, 04 Apr 2023 03:11:28 +0000

This is the full interview from a segment from the Overdrive Radio and podcast program. For more information, go to drivenmedia.com.au Last week we had a news story about the 75th anniversary of the first Land Rover to start work on the Snowy Mountains Hydro Electric scheme. Rogan Corbett is the president of the Cooma Car Club that runs anniversary events. To celebrate this momentous aspect and development, I think not only of a pro. Project but of a car here in Australia. He joins us on the line now. Good day, Rogan David. The preparation now to go to the snowy Mountains means carrying snow change, which you might have to suffer the imposition of turning off the entertainment system, getting out of the car to fit them in the special laybys provided on the side of a sealed Rd. The conditions would have been a bit tougher back then, wouldn't they?

Overdrive: Honda HR-V, bland & pricey; Traffic Noise & Hypertension: Demonic handling in the wet

Wed, 29 Mar 2023 02:49:07 +0000

Hello and welcome to Overdrive, where we take a populous approach to cars and transport. I’m David Brown The times each story appears in the program are noted (mm:ss) News 1. Traffic noise and the increase in hypertension (1:19) 2. Brits pay more than Aussies for everyday cars (2:45) 3. LEXUS’s next electric vehicle; the RZ mid-sized SUV (4:09) 4. Land Rover – 75th anniversary since starting work on the Snowy Hydroelectric Scheme (5:51) Features 1. In our feature stories Alan Zurvas reviews the latest Honda HR-V small SUV and he struggles to find something good to say (7:29) 2. And we discuss with Evan Jones an alarming feature that is prevalent in quite a number of new cars – their performance in the wet is dismal compared to the dry. (20:16). Motoring Minute • Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Pick up (27:58) You can find more information at Driven Media with links to social media and podcasts iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/overdrive-cars-transport-and-culture/id1001084679 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0ah6JZN8LTYURIfNs1IIBs We even list the times each item appears so you can go straight to it Our Facebook page OverdriveCity – Driven Media https://www.facebook.com/OverdriveCityDrivenMedia/?modal=admin_todo_tour or Our YouTube site https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKyx5sv6cgF4URRmNq2JiXg/videos Originally broadcast on 25 March 2023

Overdrive: Auctioning classic, iconic, and sporting vehicles; Supercars –don’t forget the volunteers

Tue, 21 Mar 2023 05:30:33 +0000

G’Day and welcome to Overdrive, where we experiment with ideas and activities to do with cars and transport. I’m David Brown The times each story appears in the program are noted (mm:ss) News 1. FCAI now gives a more detailed report on electrification sales 2. Day light Running lights really do help 3. When might more information be too much? 4. Toyota hydrogen race car catches fire 5. The new Kia EV9 as described with the use of a PR thesaurus Features • We talk to the Manager of Collecting cars in Australia about their on-line auction of some classic iconic, and sporting vehicles, and reminisce about the ones we love • And our colleague Evan Jones helps discuss last weekends Supercar round in Newcastle, the changing nature of the crowd and the role of volunteers. You can find more information at Driven Media with links to social media and podcasts iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/overdrive-cars-transport-and-culture/id1001084679 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0ah6JZN8LTYURIfNs1IIBs We even list the times each item appears so you can go straight to it Our Facebook page OverdriveCity – Driven Media https://www.facebook.com/OverdriveCityDrivenMedia/?modal=admin_todo_tour or Our YouTube site https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKyx5sv6cgF4URRmNq2JiXg/videos Originally broadcast on 18 March 2023

Overdrive: Australia’s second bite at Chery; Genesis G80 electric power adds to the luxury feel

Tue, 21 Mar 2023 05:14:36 +0000

G’day and welcome to Overdrive, where we mull over issues to do with cars and transport. I’m David Brown The times each story appears in the program are noted (mm:ss) News 1. Car Sales: Japan numbers stumble full EVs equal hybrid sales 2. Australian gets another bite at the Chery 3. Toyota’s small SUV to go all hybrid Features • We talk at more length about the new Chery Omoda 5 on the market – including Dean Oliver and his appraisal of its design appeal • And we review the Genesis large sedan the G80 with an electric power train. You can find more information at Driven Media with links to social media and podcasts iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/overdrive-cars-transport-and-culture/id1001084679 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0ah6JZN8LTYURIfNs1IIBs We even list the times each item appears so you can go straight to it Our Facebook page OverdriveCity – Driven Media https://www.facebook.com/OverdriveCityDrivenMedia/?modal=admin_todo_tour or Our YouTube site https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKyx5sv6cgF4URRmNq2JiXg/videos Originally broadcast on 11 March 2023

Past, present and future of used car prices? - Thoughts from Datium Insights

Fri, 03 Mar 2023 07:22:48 +0000

Second hand car prices have been on a roller coaster ride with the impact of COVID, semi conductor shortages and geo political instabilities. Tanim Ahmed is Head of Business Intelligence & Product at Datium Insights which provide industry information particularly on the price of second hand cars. He summariesed the fluctuations since 2019 So prices increased for about to about one and a half, two years, and it peaked around March, April last year where prices were about 50% higher than where they were pre-COVID. So an average $10,000 car, you're going to look at spending 15,000. This is a massive, massive increase. And that's something that's been, you know, consistent with overseas markets as well. So if you look at the US, if you look at Europe, the UK, they experienced very similar trends, very strong price growth even over very New Zealand. Price growth wasn't as strong, but it was just very similar trend. However, since March, April last year, that trend has reversed. Currently second hand prices are around 40% higher than the beginning of 2020 and are not predicted to get all the way back to the pre COVID levels

Overdrive: Is the Hyundai Ioniq 6 a work of art? Nissan X-Trail hybrid; More EV commercial vehicles

Fri, 24 Feb 2023 03:57:02 +0000

Hello and welcome to Overdrive, a program about cars and transport I’m David Brown The times each story appears in the program are noted (mm:ss) 1. Hyundai Mighty electric truck (00:30) 2. Peugeot electric van confirmed for Australia (~) 3. New Lexus RZ adds innovative heating (~) 4. Quirky Classics at Shannons’ Auction (5:38) Features: - Our artist residence Dean Oliver critiques the distinctively different look of the New Hyundai Ioniq 6. - The Overdrive Panel get together to review the new Nissan X-Trail Hybrid and the super bowl car ads. You can find more information at Driven Media with links to social media and podcasts iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/overdrive-cars-transport-and-culture/id1001084679 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0ah6JZN8LTYURIfNs1IIBs We even list the times each item appears so you can go straight to it Our Facebook page OverdriveCity – Driven Media https://www.facebook.com/OverdriveCityDrivenMedia/?modal=admin_todo_tour or Our YouTube site: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKyx5sv6cgF4URRmNq2JiXg/videos

Overdrive: Mitsubishi V2G bi-directional charging; Hyundai Streamliner; Mercedes at Bathurst races

Mon, 13 Feb 2023 23:31:21 +0000

Hello and welcome to Overdrive a program that samples as much as it can of the experiences of cars and transport I’m David Brown The times each story appears in the program are noted (mm:ss) News 1. Vehicle sales start the year on a positive note (1:19) 2. Mitsubishi installs Australia’s first V2G bi directional chargers (2:53) 3. Hyundai Streamliner (4:16) 4. Ford to go back to Formula 1 (5:27) Features • Using motor racing to market your product – Mercedes has big packages for customers to go to the 12 hour race at Bathurst (on last weekend). They get special opportunities (7:15) • The Overdrive Panel get together to road test the Subaru Forster (16:03) You can find more information at Driven Media with links to social media and podcasts iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/overdrive-cars-transport-and-culture/id1001084679 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0ah6JZN8LTYURIfNs1IIBs We even list the times each item appears so you can go straight to it Our Facebook page OverdriveCity – Driven Media https://www.facebook.com/OverdriveCityDrivenMedia/?modal=admin_todo_tour or Our YouTube site https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKyx5sv6cgF4URRmNq2JiXg/videos Originally broadcast on 11 February 2023

Overdrive: Is Toyota too slow to EVs; Uber & Lift forced to go EV in NY; Rob Roy Hillclimb revival

Mon, 13 Feb 2023 11:08:40 +0000

Hello and welcome to Overdrive a program that samples as much as it can of the experiences of cars and transport I’m David Brown The times each story appears in the program are noted (mm:ss) News (1:23) 1. Toyota gives their side to the electrification debate 2. To get delivery drivers to be considerate, charge them per minute they delay traffic 3. Making Uber and other ride services go electric 4. Mazda 2 Refresh – struggling to keep passenger car sales alive? Features • We get the gang together to discuss the Rob Roy Hillclimb revival and the new Suzuki S-Cross (8:33) • And we talk to a truck driver about the differences in driving a standard rig versus a motorsport team’s equipment and comfort delivering image leading trucks (19:15) You can find more information at Driven Media with links to social media and podcasts iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/overdrive-cars-transport-and-culture/id1001084679 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0ah6JZN8LTYURIfNs1IIBs We even list the times each item appears so you can go straight to it Our Facebook page OverdriveCity – Driven Media https://www.facebook.com/OverdriveCityDrivenMedia/?modal=admin_todo_tour or Our YouTube site https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKyx5sv6cgF4URRmNq2JiXg/videos Originally broadcast on 4 February 2023

Overdrive: Toyota 86; Peugeot 308 GT; Car sales in 2022; Heated seatbelts could increase EV range

Mon, 13 Feb 2023 06:45:20 +0000

Overdrive: Toyota 86; Peugeot 308 GT; Car sales in 2022; Heated seatbelts could increase EV range Hello and welcome to Overdrive, a program that looks at performance and community issues related to cars and transport. I’m David Brown The times each story appears in the program are noted (mm:ss) News (1:10) 1. Vehicle sales numbers for 2022 2. Polestar aims for vehicle performance 3. Can heated seat belts give your EV a greater range 4. Electric vehicle technology makes it onto boats Features 1. We Road test the Toyota 86 sports car (5:47) 2. We get an artists impression of the distinctive looking new Peugeot 308 GT (16:05) Motoring Minutes • EV Evolution (24:16) • Ford Escape PHEV (28:15) You can find more information at Driven Media with links to social media and podcasts iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/overdrive-cars-transport-and-culture/id1001084679 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0ah6JZN8LTYURIfNs1IIBs We even list the times each item appears so you can go straight to it Our Facebook page OverdriveCity – Driven Media https://www.facebook.com/OverdriveCityDrivenMedia/?modal=admin_todo_tour or Our YouTube site https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKyx5sv6cgF4URRmNq2JiXg/videos Originally broadcast on 28 January 2023

New Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid; Peugeot 303; Noise cameras in UK; Flood resistant roads

Sat, 03 Dec 2022 11:21:12 +0000

Hello and welcome to Overdrive, a program that dabbles in the mystical world of cars and transport. I’m David Brown The times each story appears in the program are noted (mm:ss) News 1. Nissan Launches a new X-Trail (1:36) 2. Peugeot 308 passenger car launched in Australia (3:24) 3. Road resiliency inquiry launched (4:23) 4. UK begins noise camera trials (5:33) Features • Our Evan Jones went to the launch of the Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid – stunningly quiet and good fuel efficiency (6:50) • We also pose the question of what the car manufacturers would offer for the next lunar rover vehicle now that NASA is going back to the moon. (17:09) Motoring Minute • Mazda CX-60 (19:02) Vehicle launch report • We give our driving impressions and more details about the new Nissan X-Trail (20:07) Motoring minute • Revamped Ford Ranger (27:41) You can find more information at Driven Media with links to social media and podcasts iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/overdrive-cars-transport-and-culture/id1001084679 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0ah6JZN8LTYURIfNs1IIBs We even list the times each item appears so you can go straight to it Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/OverdriveCityDrivenMedia/?modal=admin_todo_tour YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKyx5sv6cgF4URRmNq2JiXg/videos Instagram – 0verdrive_ Originally broadcast on 3 December 2022

Overdrive: Nissan Executives talk about new models and the future: New Fiat 500 and Hyundai Santa Fe

Mon, 28 Nov 2022 02:12:18 +0000

Hello and welcome to Overdrive, a program that takes an expansive look at the world of cars and transport. I’m David Brown The times each story appears in the program are noted (mm:ss) News 1. Hyundai launches Santa Fe Hybrid (1:21) 2. Hot Fiat 500 all electric model launched in Europe (2:55) 3. Ford sounds off about the new Raptor (4:28) 4. Sebastian Vettel Retires from Formula 1 (6:05) Feature (7:45) We have been to the launch of two new versions of the Nissan vehicles: the X-Trail and Pathfinder. Our driving impressions are embargoed at this stage and we will bring full reports in the coming weeks. But we did speak to two executives about electric vehicles, market trends and government policies especially the aggressive approaches being shown in New Zealand

Overdrive: Test riding of e-bikes & e-scooters: Toyota Hilux; News safety testing procedures

Mon, 28 Nov 2022 01:33:29 +0000

Hello and welcome to Overdrive, a program that canvases issues related to cars and transport. I’m David Brown The times each story appears in the program are noted (mm:ss) News 1. New Zealand proposed speed limit change (1:34) 2. Safety testing looks at a range of people and technologies (3:05) 3. Renault and Geely to work together (4:19) 4. Superblocks for Melbourne? (5:13) Features 1. In our features segment we talk to Phil Latz who is organising Australia’s first Micromobility conference and expo. Micromobility encompasses traditional bikes, electric bikes, cargo bikes, e-scooters, and share schemes among other things. The great thing about the expo which is held at a large racecourse in Sydney with plenty of space and paths, is that you can have a go of these devices in a safe environment. Its free to the public if you register on line. (6:34) 2. We have a short reflection on the presentation we made to the Roll-Royce Owners Club, (23:10) and 3. We also have a quick look at the Toyota Hi Lux ute which has more traditional features than some modern vehicles yet it makes it easy to get use to. (25:25) Motoring Minutes • EV Evolution (24:16) • Ford Escape PHEV (28:15) You can find more information at Driven Media with links to social media and podcasts iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/overdrive-cars-transport-and-culture/id1001084679 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0ah6JZN8LTYURIfNs1IIBs We even list the times each item appears so you can go straight to it Our Facebook page OverdriveCity – Driven Media https://www.facebook.com/OverdriveCityDrivenMedia/?modal=admin_todo_tour or Our YouTube site https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKyx5sv6cgF4URRmNq2JiXg/videos Originally broadcast on 19 November 2022

Overdrive: Toyota Granvia -does it suit the kids?; Mini Moke goes electric; Bike hubs

Sun, 20 Nov 2022 03:18:09 +0000

Hello and welcome to Overdrive, a program that contemplates issues related to cars and transport. I’m David Brown The times each story appears in the program are noted (mm:ss) News • Toyota Corolla gets an upgrade • Sydney seeks operators for city centre bike hubs • Saudi Arabia to produce electric cars • Mini Moke goes Electric Features • Two years ago we road tested the Toyota Granvia (the replacement for the Tarago) people mover- Ugly on the outside but with six captains chairs rather comfortable on the inside. We took five adults on a Sunday drive Now they have upgraded the model we thought we would test it from another potential market – the young family • I was one of the presenters at a recent webinar run by the Australian Institute of traffic planning and management. The session was titled 'Modelling Data Collection and Workflow Planning' Sounds a bit dry but it is something that affects us all. Rather than getting technical I asked how are the results being used and how could all the work be better used to help the community more than just validating a proposed project. You can find more information at Driven Media with links to social media and podcasts iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/overdrive-cars-transport-and-culture/id1001084679 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0ah6JZN8LTYURIfNs1IIBs We even list the times each item appears so you can go straight to it Our Facebook page OverdriveCity – Driven Media https://www.facebook.com/OverdriveCityDrivenMedia/?modal=admin_todo_tour or Our YouTube site https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKyx5sv6cgF4URRmNq2JiXg/videos Originally broadcast on 12 November 2022

Overdrive: Upgraded models from Kia, Mazda and Alfa; Geely uses new battery tech; Historic racing

Thu, 10 Nov 2022 00:40:00 +0000

Hello and welcome to Overdrive a program about motoring and transport where we try to explain the jargon and PR spin that manufacturers use to describe their vehicles I’m David Brown The times each story appears in the program are noted (mm:ss) News 1. Some upgraded models for Australia from Kia, Mazda CX-8, Alpha Romeo (1:19) 2. Geely to launch an SUV with new battery technology (3:18) 3. Toyota wins in rallying (4:44) 4. Historic Racing at Sandown (6:26) Features Feature story 1. In our feature story we go to Sandown with our own boy racer, Fred Brain, talk about historic racing and some significant anniversaries. (8:31) 2. And we road test the new Hyundai Palisade large SUV which has some luxury features you would be hard pressed to get in much more expensive vehicles (19:30) You can find more information at Driven Media with links to social media and podcasts iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/overdrive-cars-transport-and-culture/id1001084679 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0ah6JZN8LTYURIfNs1IIBs We even list the times each item appears so you can go straight to it Our Facebook page OverdriveCity – Driven Media https://www.facebook.com/OverdriveCityDrivenMedia/?modal=admin_todo_tour or Our YouTube site https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKyx5sv6cgF4URRmNq2JiXg/videos Originally broadcast on 5 November 2022

Overdrive: Restoring a 1991 Nissan Figaro: Hyundai Kona EV; Ampol & BYD make a deal; BMW iX1 pricing

Mon, 31 Oct 2022 00:20:53 +0000

Hello and welcome to Overdrive, a program that luxuriates in the realm of cars and transport. I’m David Brown The times each story appears in the program are noted (mm:ss) News • Ampol and BYD make a deal (1:24) • BMW Australia announces pricing for electric iX1 (2:33) • Nissan announces Juke modest makeover (3:50) • Ford Australia Expands its Everest Lineup (5:19) Feature We talk to the man who has done a beautiful restoration on a 1991 Nissan Figaro – a bit of a noddy car in looks but full of character (6:21) Motoring Minute • SsangYong Musso (15:19) Road Test Hyundai Kona Electric – a bit of the very new yet not too radical. (16:28) Motoring minute • Land Rover Defender 110 (27:50) • You can find more information at Driven Media with links to social media and podcasts iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/overdrive-cars-transport-and-culture/id1001084679 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0ah6JZN8LTYURIfNs1IIBs We even list the times each item appears so you can go straight to it Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/OverdriveCityDrivenMedia/?modal=admin_todo_tour YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKyx5sv6cgF4URRmNq2JiXg/videos Instagram – 0verdrive_ Originally broadcast on 29 September 2022

Overdrive: Bathurst winner turns 90. He was still racing at 87, successful, in a car he prepared

Sat, 22 Oct 2022 03:37:25 +0000

Hello and welcome to Overdrive a program that considers all aspects of cars and transport. I’m David Brown The times each story appears in the program are noted (mm:ss) News 1. Local distributor of new cars sets up used car network 2. Great Wall embraces electrification 3. New Nissan Qashqai gets five-star safety rating Features We test the Haval Jolion small SUV from Great Wall Motors I also caught up with Bob Holden (winner of the Bathurst race in a mini in 1966). He soon turns 90 We spoke about his last race- in 2019 when he was 88 years old you will be staggered by his performance. You can find more information at Driven Media with links to social media and podcasts iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/overdrive-cars-transport-and-culture/id1001084679 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0ah6JZN8LTYURIfNs1IIBs We even list the times each item appears so you can go straight to it Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/OverdriveCityDrivenMedia/?modal=admin_todo_tour YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKyx5sv6cgF4URRmNq2JiXg/videos Instagram Originally broadcast on 22 September 2022

Overdrive: Toy cars especially from the 60s; Mazda’s don’t have touch screens – is this safer?

Wed, 19 Oct 2022 14:38:44 +0000

Hello and welcome to Overdrive a program that plays with cars and transport. I’m David Brown News 1. Hyundai’s IONIQ 6 will have good range performance 2. An app to help the vision-impaired catch buses 3. Audi to enter formula one 4. Australia’s F1 driver Daniel Riccardo weighs his options Features • With the sale of the contents of a major toy museum going ahead which includes some car, boat and train memorabilia we look at how toy cars were a part of the 60s image of cars • Road test the Mazda CX-8 looking particularly closely at their alternative to a touch screen. You can find more information at Driven Media with links to social media and podcasts iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/overdrive-cars-transport-and-culture/id1001084679 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0ah6JZN8LTYURIfNs1IIBs We even list the times each item appears so you can go straight to it Our Facebook page OverdriveCity – Driven Media https://www.facebook.com/OverdriveCityDrivenMedia/?modal=admin_todo_tour or Our YouTube site https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKyx5sv6cgF4URRmNq2JiXg/videos Originally broadcast on 08 September 2022 Outro And this has been Overdrive • Fred Brain • Rob Fraser • Paul Just for their help with this program. Overdrive is syndicated across Australia on the Community Radio Network For more information go to Driven Media for links to the socials and podcasts

Overdrive: The Queen’s Australian car from the back seat; Software is critical for Suzuki and Volvo

Mon, 26 Sep 2022 12:58:08 +0000

Hello and welcome to Overdrive, a program that practices what it preaches, most of the time, on the subject of cars and transport. I’m David Brown The times each story appears in the program are noted (mm:ss) News (Timed from 1:13 1. Suzuki has invested in a Melbourne startup that makes software for self-driving vehicles 2. Ford pitches at the commercial vehicle sector with new e-Transit 3. Volvo says its upcoming EX90 will understand you better 4. The best colours to reveal a vehicle’s design Features (Timed from 6:12) We have a special feature about the life and times of some Rolls-Royces including a road test of the Phantom V that for some time the Queen used while she was in Australia. You can find more information at Driven Media with links to social media and podcasts iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/overdrive-cars-transport-and-culture/id1001084679 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0ah6JZN8LTYURIfNs1IIBs We even list the times each item appears so you can go straight to it Our Facebook page OverdriveCity – Driven Media https://www.facebook.com/OverdriveCityDrivenMedia/?modal=admin_todo_tour or Our YouTube site https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKyx5sv6cgF4URRmNq2JiXg/videos Originally broadcast on 24 September 2022

Overdrive: LR Defender’s 75th anniversary; Toyota adds GR to 86; BMW goes for vegan interiors

Mon, 26 Sep 2022 11:57:47 +0000

Welcome to Overdrive, a program that proudly gives you the alternative facts to all aspects of motoring and transport. I’m David Brown News 1. Toyota launches new GR86 eight months after the Subaru BRZ 2. Land Rover Defender’s special 75th Anniversary model 3. BMW and MINI go for vegan interiors 4. Hyundai gets its first 1-2-3- in WRC 5. The Queen’s Unusual cars Features • The Hyundai i30N more than a hot hatch it’s a performance saloon • Road test of the Hyundai Ioniq 5 EV by our young interns Motoring Minutes You can find more information at Driven Media with links to social media and podcasts iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/overdrive-cars-transport-and-culture/id1001084679 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0ah6JZN8LTYURIfNs1IIBs We even list the times each item appears so you can go straight to it Our Facebook page OverdriveCity – Driven Media https://www.facebook.com/OverdriveCityDrivenMedia/?modal=admin_todo_tour or Our YouTube site https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKyx5sv6cgF4URRmNq2JiXg/videos Originally broadcast on 24 September 2022

Overdrive: Survey - do you get car sick in an EV?: Road test Nissan Patrol & BMW BMW ix xdrive 40

Mon, 26 Sep 2022 11:05:52 +0000

Hello and welcome to Overdrive, a program that ponders the philosophical and practical aspects of motoring and transport. I’m David Brown The times each story appears in the program are noted (mm:ss) News 1. August shows positive signs in car sales 2. ANCAP five stars for three EVs 3. Skoda goes for seven-year warranty 4. Electric car survey Road tests • Nissan Patrol • BMW ix xdrive 40 You can find more information at Driven Media with links to social media and podcasts iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/overdrive-cars-transport-and-culture/id1001084679 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0ah6JZN8LTYURIfNs1IIBs We even list the times each item appears so you can go straight to it Our Facebook page OverdriveCity – Driven Media https://www.facebook.com/OverdriveCityDrivenMedia/?modal=admin_todo_tour or Our YouTube site https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKyx5sv6cgF4URRmNq2JiXg/videos Originally broadcast on 10 September 2022

Overdrive: Kia Stinger –can it be a sports car with four doors?: National Transport Research Centre

Tue, 06 Sep 2022 04:42:37 +0000

Overdrive: Kia Stinger –can it be a sports car with four doors?: National Transport Research Centre Hello this is Overdrive a program about the facts, the fun and the fiction of motoring and transport I’m David Brown The times each story appears in the program are noted (mm:ss) News (1:19) 1. BMW iX xDrive40 – telling it like it is 2. Subaru Outback gets a turbo boost 3. Big Toyota Tundra ute is being tested in right-hand-drive in Australia Road test (6:56) Motoring writer Paul Murrell and I have a chat about the Kia Stinger – its not called a sports car but it comes close with the advantage of four doors. Feature (16:49) In a feature story we catch with Michael Caltabiano who has establish a new National Transport Research Centre. Motoring Minutes • Kia Seltos (28:27) You can find more information at Driven Media with links to social media and podcasts iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/overdrive-cars-transport-and-culture/id1001084679 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0ah6JZN8LTYURIfNs1IIBs We even list the times each item appears so you can go straight to it Our Facebook page OverdriveCity – Driven Media https://www.facebook.com/OverdriveCityDrivenMedia/?modal=admin_todo_tour or Our YouTube site https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKyx5sv6cgF4URRmNq2JiXg/videos Originally broadcast on 03 September 2022

Overdrive: Michelin’s tyres for EVs; A new Haval; EVs not to forget road safety; Genesis GV80

Tue, 06 Sep 2022 03:56:03 +0000

Hello and welcome to Overdrive a program about trains, planes and automobiles, but mainly automobiles. I'm David Brown News (1:20) And in this program we have some news stories, including: 1. ANCAP says talks of environmental targets should not come at a cost of safety. 2. A new hybrid Haval 3. Genesis goes all electric with a G80 luxury sedan. 4. And Volkswagen hails progress on electric vehicles. Feature Stories (8:34 and 19:55) We have two feature stories 1. we hear from an expert from Michelin about tyre development, particularly in the light of specific needs of electric vehicles. (8:34) 2. And we have an interview Geoff Gwilym from the VACC about what election processes should promise in regard to the long term needs of the motor vehicle industry in this country. (19:55) Motoring Minute (18:44) • Genesis GV70 You can find more information at Driven Media with links to social media and podcasts iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/overdrive-cars-transport-and-culture/id1001084679 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0ah6JZN8LTYURIfNs1IIBs We even list the times each item appears so you can go straight to it Our Facebook page OverdriveCity – Driven Media https://www.facebook.com/OverdriveCityDrivenMedia/?modal=admin_todo_tour

Designing tyres for Electric Vehicles - A chat with David Laing from Michelin

Mon, 05 Sep 2022 06:04:44 +0000

David Lange is in segment management, the Michelin for East Asia and Oceana, particularly for their larger passenger car tires, which involves tires for performance vehicles, but also for electric vehicles. He is stationed in Thailand where I caught up with him on the line and asked him, what are the major factors that need to be considered when making tires for electric vehicles or EVs?

The life and times of a 1923 Peugeot 163 van and the restoration process

Wed, 24 Aug 2022 11:57:14 +0000

Brian Jubb has done a beautiful restoration of a 1923 Peugeot Van. In our conversation he revealed: The block and the head in the engine are one solid lump of iron, not separate castings. An engine that does not have an exhaust manifold, petrol pump, oil pump and the petrol is drip feed into the motor. Maximum Speed 60-65 km/hr First gear is very low but is needed to be especially if the engine is cold Pushing the gear lever up gets first gear – pushing it further gets reverse! Why little vans were a critical part of post-WWI development.

Overdrive: Shannons Classic: Classic cars from a young person’s perspective: restored 1923 Peugeot

Wed, 24 Aug 2022 05:12:23 +0000

Hello and welcome to Overdrive, a program that looks at the fantasises and fallacies of anything to do with motoring and transport. I’m David Brown The times each story appears in the program are noted (mm:ss) News (1:18) 1. Ford gives up on selling sedans 2. Mercedes introduces another EV 3. Polestar electric roadster set for production 4. A better way to create trails on disused rail lines. Features Two feature stories about the Shannons Classic – a display of vehicle from over 50 clubs including cars, motorbikes, scooters, military vehicles, police vehicles, ambulances & fire engines held at the Sydney Motor Sport Park. (8:50) We have a chat with one of our producers and researchers Florence Fuller who came along to the event and we interview Brian Jubb who restored a 1923 Peugeot 163 van and had it on display. (19:37) Motoring Minutes • Audi S8 (18:30) • Toyota RAV4 (28:02) You can find more information at Driven Media with links to social media and podcasts iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/overdrive-cars-transport-and-culture/id1001084679 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0ah6JZN8LTYURIfNs1IIBs We even list the times each item appears so you can go straight to it Our Facebook page OverdriveCity – Driven Media https://www.facebook.com/OverdriveCityDrivenMedia/?modal=admin_todo_tour or Our YouTube site https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKyx5sv6cgF4URRmNq2JiXg/videos Originally broadcast on 20 August 2022

Overdrive: Hertz gets Polestar EVs; Backlash about fuel standards; BMW keep charging to use features

Tue, 16 Aug 2022 03:20:57 +0000

Hello and welcome to Overdrive, a program that looks at the factors affecting our attitude and actions to motoring and transport. I’m David Brown The times each story appears in the program are noted (mm:ss) News (1:06) 1. Hertz offers Polestar electric vehicles 2. BMW expensive subscriptions for car features 3. Industry approach to climate change 4. Need for tax reform Features In our feature stories we interview Damien Shaw the managing director of Hertz about their embracing electric vehicles as we drive around in a Polestar 2. (6:32) And we have a feature that compiles a range of comments about how the automotive industry, academia and the Grattan Institute are embracing change (18:54) You can find more information at Driven Media with links to social media and podcasts iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/overdrive-cars-transport-and-culture/id1001084679 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0ah6JZN8LTYURIfNs1IIBs We even list the times each item appears so you can go straight to it Our Facebook page OverdriveCity – Driven Media https://www.facebook.com/OverdriveCityDrivenMedia/?modal=admin_todo_tour or Our YouTube site https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKyx5sv6cgF4URRmNq2JiXg/videos Originally broadcast on 13 August 2022

Overdrive: BMW M240i – xdrive; Peugeot Partner van; New jaguar MD’s background is with Tiffany &Co!

Mon, 15 Aug 2022 10:49:12 +0000

Hello this is Overdrive a program that tries to spread the word about trains, planes and automobiles. I’m David Brown The times each story appears in the program are noted (mm:ss) News (1:09) 1. Vehicle Sales for July 2022 2. Free e bike offer gets Green Square residents rolling 3. New Managing Director appointed to drive transformation at Jaguar Land Rover Australia 4. Advancing Transportation Equity Initiative Road Tests Two Road tests this week which are at different ends of the spectrum • The BMW M240i – xdrive (6:17) • Peugeot Partner van (19:27) Motoring Minutes • Citroen C5 X (18:12) • Subaru WRX (27:58) You can find more information at Driven Media with links to social media and podcasts iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/overdrive-cars-transport-and-culture/id1001084679 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0ah6JZN8LTYURIfNs1IIBs We even list the times each item appears so you can go straight to it Our Facebook page OverdriveCity – Driven Media https://www.facebook.com/OverdriveCityDrivenMedia/?modal=admin_todo_tour or Our YouTube site https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKyx5sv6cgF4URRmNq2JiXg/videos Originally broadcast on 6 August 2022

Overdrive: Toyota Landcruiser 70 – lovable old design; Innovative solutions to wicked problems

Sat, 06 Aug 2022 11:29:29 +0000

Hello and welcome to Overdrive a program with an infatuation about trains, planes and automobiles. I’m David Brown The times each story appears in the program are noted (mm:ss) News (1:26) 1. Automotive organisations reach agreement on transition to electric vehicles 2. New BMW 7 series including first-ever fully electric model 3. Historical Heroes show the benefits of good data Toyota Landcruiser 70th Anniversary 70 Series (7:32) Would you buy an expensive car with few modern features that will cost more than $80,000 to get it on the road? We have been driving the 70th anniversary edition of the Toyota Land Cruiser 70 series. Great off road, not great on-road, very basic but loved by the owners. Motoring Minute (17:07) • Hyundai Sonata Innovative solutions to wicked problems (18:18) And Brian Smith and I discuss some of the outcomes from the just finished Australian Institute of Traffic Planning and Management National conference. Motoring Minute (27:46) • Battery problems You can find more information at Driven Media with links to social media and podcasts iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/overdrive-cars-transport-and-culture/id1001084679 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0ah6JZN8LTYURIfNs1IIBs We even list the times each item appears so you can go straight to it Our Facebook page OverdriveCity – Driven Media https://www.facebook.com/OverdriveCityDrivenMedia/?modal=admin_todo_tour or Our YouTube site https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKyx5sv6cgF4URRmNq2JiXg/videos Originally broadcast on 30 July 2022

Overdrive: What do motor bike sales tell us about issues in the community; Road test Lexus LC500

Sun, 24 Jul 2022 16:56:30 +0000

Welcome to Overdrive, a program that ponders the particulars of motoring and transport. I’m David Brown The times each story appears in the program are noted (mm:ss) News 1. Hyundai’s next batch of Ioniq 5s have some upgrades 2. GWM Haval bring in a GT version of its H6 medium SUV 3. Kia mid-size SUV joins the five-star safety rating group 4. Should we de-spec cars to reduce dependence on semi-conductors Feature Story We talk a lot about vehicle sales but in these tough times has there been a shift to motorbikes. Doug Whilley from the Federal Chamber of Automotive industries gives us the latest Motoring Minute Road Test We have had a test of the Lexus LC 500. Quarter of a million dollars of luxury in a luxury convertible. But how does it compare to a 1988 Jaguar XJS convertible. Our jaguar fanatic Chris gives a surprising impartial review. You can find more information at Driven Media with links to social media and podcasts iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/overdrive-cars-transport-and-culture/id1001084679 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0ah6JZN8LTYURIfNs1IIBs We even list the times each item appears so you can go straight to it Our Facebook page OverdriveCity – Driven Media https://www.facebook.com/OverdriveCityDrivenMedia/?modal=admin_todo_tour or Our YouTube site https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKyx5sv6cgF4URRmNq2JiXg/videos Originally broadcast on 16 July 2022

Overdrive: Call for tax review on EVs: Polestar 2 – driving inpressions and why it links to Google

Wed, 13 Jul 2022 03:00:27 +0000

Hello, and welcome to Overdrive, a program that looks at the purpose of and the passion for trains, planes, and automobiles. I’m David Brown The times each story appears in the program are noted (mm:ss) News (1:24) 1. Major report calls for tax concession to businesses when buying electric vehicles 2. Hyundai Tucson makes it to second place in June 3. Nissan hangs out for their new Qashqai 4. Why Kia brought out the old Niro model for just one year Road Test (6:47) Motoring Minute (21:34) Feature Story (21:30) We have spent some time in the Polstar 2 a recent all-electric vehicle on the Australian market. We talk to Evan Jones about how it drives and then we talk to Alan Zurvas about why it asked you to log in with your Google account. It's all part of controlling your new car and likening it to familiar system you may use at home and elsewhere. Motoring Minute (21:34)

Overdrive: Kia Niro; Jeep Wrangler Rubicon; Nissan Leaf long term role; Hyundai’s distinctive Ioniq6

Sun, 03 Jul 2022 08:40:32 +0000

Hello and welcome to Overdrive a program that puts a magnifying glass to the role of cars and transport in our society and ends up burning a hole in it. I’m David Brown The times each story appears in the program are noted (mm:ss) News (1:24) Nissan’s Leaf has 10-year anniversary Kia Niro get Kia Connect as a first in Australia Hyundai takes another direction in the design of its Ioniq6 Road Test (6:47) We road test the Jeep Wrangler Rubicon – made for the toughest of situations but we also test what it is like on bitumen roads. Motoring Minute (21:34) Mazda CX 9 Feature Story (21:30) Kia has just launched the 2nd generation of their new Niro small SUV available only in a hybrid or an all-electric variant. We more details on what the car has to offer. Motoring Minute (21:34) Toyota Prado You can find more information at Driven Media with links to social media and podcasts iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/overdrive-cars-transport-and-culture/id1001084679 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0ah6JZN8LTYURIfNs1IIBs We even list the times each item appears to you can go straight to it Our Facebook page OverdriveCity – Driven Media https://www.facebook.com/OverdriveCityDrivenMedia/?modal=admin_todo_tour or Our YouTube site https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKyx5sv6cgF4URRmNq2JiXg/videos Originally broadcast on 2 July 2022

Overdrive: Diesel Particulate filters; Ugly car wraps; More semi-conductor troubles; Nissan Warrior

Sun, 26 Jun 2022 11:59:40 +0000

Welcome to Overdrive, a motoring and transport program where facts are important but so is passion and opinion. I’m David Brown The times each story appears in the program are noted (mm:ss) News 1. Toyota appeals the class action court decision 2. Hyundai Motor Group and Michelin combine to develop next-generation tyres 3. Semi-Conductor production could face another hurdle Feature Story In our feature story we take up the issue of members of the public being able to dob in illegally parked cars and receive up to 25% of subsequent fine. Brian Smith raises a number of possibilities about how we many our road space Feedback We have some feedback on diesel filters and ugly car wraps Road Test Road test the Nissan Warrior in a way that uses its capabilities without going to extreme lengths. Motoring Minute • Kluger Hybrid You can find more information at Driven Media with links to social media and podcasts iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/overdrive-cars-transport-and-culture/id1001084679 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0ah6JZN8LTYURIfNs1IIBs We even list the times each item appears to you can go straight to it Our Facebook page OverdriveCity – Driven Media https://www.facebook.com/OverdriveCityDrivenMedia/?modal=admin_todo_tour or Our YouTube site https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKyx5sv6cgF4URRmNq2JiXg/videos Originally broadcast on 25 June 2022

Overdrive: A great Goggomobile ambassador; Alfa Stelvio V6; Parking vigilantes making mone; EV news

Tue, 21 Jun 2022 01:32:30 +0000

Welcome to Overdrive, a program that pontificates on the issues of motoring and transport I’m David Brown The times each story appears in the program are noted (mm:ss) News (1:19) 1. Road test of Sportage 2. Cupra comes to Australia 3. Tesla Model Y is on the books 4. Report a parking offense and make some money 5. We have lost the voice of Goggomobil’s greatest ambassador Feature Story (7:49) We discuss the role Tommy Dysart and the Goggomobil ads bring the car to our attention and some stories about using it in promotional events. Feedback (16:20) We have some feedback Road Test (20:40) And we road test the high performance Alfa Stelvio twin turbo V6 Motoring Minutes • Mazda BT-50 (19:29) • Land Cruiser Sahara ZX (28:17) You can find more information at Driven Media with links to social media and podcasts iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/overdrive-cars-transport-and-culture/id1001084679 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0ah6JZN8LTYURIfNs1IIBs We even list the times each item appears to you can go straight to it Our Facebook page OverdriveCity – Driven Media https://www.facebook.com/OverdriveCityDrivenMedia/?modal=admin_todo_tour or Our YouTube site https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKyx5sv6cgF4URRmNq2JiXg/videos Originally broadcast on 28 May 2022

Tim Schenken: The life and times and the sliding door moments of getting to formula 1

Mon, 09 May 2022 02:14:23 +0000

In the foreword to John Smile's excellent book, “Formula One, The Australian and New Zealand Story”, Australia's former world champion Alan Jones said: “Formula One remains a game of chance. “It is true that you make your own luck, but in Formula One the house holds more of the cards than any casino. Getting to race in Formula One is not always like a Hollywood movie where the good guy suffers adversity but invariably conquers all. There are many sliding door moments where a decision helps you to progress or stalls your chance to fully shine. The life and times of a Formula One driver covers a wide range of people and situations. Twenty-four Australians have raced in Formula One championship events. Tim Schenken was an Aussie who raced in the category in the early seventies. He competed in 36 championship events. He has continued an association and officiating with motor racing and has been awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia. He joins us on the line now. Segments of the interview 1:22 – As a young lad, the first times he went and watched motor racing events 3:09 – Why he developed a liking for Sterling Moss 5:06 – “Borrowing” his mother’s car to “go to the beach” but ending up racing at Calder Park 7:38 – Natural driving skills and how he learned to drive fast 10:58 – Invited onto Lex Davison’s team then tragedy struck two other drivers. He drove the next week and the pressed asked “would he be next”. Some of the first dealings with the press 14:11 – of to the UK to seek success – four people sleeping in one bedroom. 17:27 – Early racing and scrounging parts bins to make car more competitive then getting into a professional team 24:32 – not just being fast but race craft 26:08 – The first chance at formula 1 – not in the best car 31:57 – Formula one cars had large tyres, more power and aerodynamics. How different did it feel 33:09 – Coping with increased G forces 35:01 – Joining team Brabham and working with team mate Graham Hill. 41:36 – Brabham is bought by Bernie Eccleston – a master of the deal and marketing 43:15 – Gong to Surtees – John Surtees was hard to work with 48:46 – Starting a race car building company – they built some 600 cars but not a way to make money. 56:41 – Had opportunities to drive some exotic road cars but the Aston Martin DB4 did not live up to its looks

Overdrive: In-car distractions; Tim Schenken Formula 1 Driver; BMW iX3; Nissan’s 4 new models

Fri, 06 May 2022 09:53:21 +0000

Welcome to Overdrive, a program about the wonderful world of motoring and transport. I’m David Brown The times each story appears in the program are noted (mm:ss) News (1:42) 1. Are modern vehicle’s information and control systems a help or a hinderance with driver distraction? 2. Nissan’s much needed four new models 3. BMW’s all-new electric iX3 4. NZ Clean Car Discount goes into stage two Feature Story (7:35) We were very fortunate to get an interview with Tim Schenken – the Australian racing car driver who raced in Formular 1 in the early seventies. His early start is a great reflection on motoring in the fifties and his struggles in Formula 1 were not through a lack of talent. Feedback (20:45) An incredible reaction to one of our videos. The detail that some people see is surprising to say the least and We have had some massive feedback from our story about 1958 FC Holden Motoring Minutes • Subaru BRZ (19:35) • Citroen C4 (27:59) You can find more information at Driven Media with links to social media and podcasts iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/overdrive-cars-transport-and-culture/id1001084679 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0ah6JZN8LTYURIfNs1IIBs We even list the times each item appears to you can go straight to it Our Facebook page OverdriveCity – Driven Media https://www.facebook.com/OverdriveCityDrivenMedia/?modal=admin_todo_tour or Our YouTube site https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKyx5sv6cgF4URRmNq2JiXg/videos Originally broadcast on 7 May 2022

A 1953 land Rover series 1 - Great service on the farm and for the family

Wed, 27 Apr 2022 11:33:14 +0000

In the early 60s John Farquhar’s father bought a secondhand 1953 Land Rover Series 1 to work on his farm in Parkes, 350 kilometres west of Sydney. It’s still there and still going. His father has passed away but the vehicle has been an important part of the family as John describes with his typical Aussie farmer’s intonation. The audio link to the interview is below and the key comments are: 0:30 - It was a 1953 model but they did not buy it new 1:32 – His father had experience of them in New Guinea bodies didn’t rust but the chassis did. 2:00 – Multiple uses; carry the milk cans; take kids to school; use on the farm 2:50 – It got a new engine (from an Australian family car). Wasn’t as good. They still have the old engine somewhere on the farm!! 4:31 – When they bought another farm in Kangaroo Valley, he had to regularly drive the hour trip between the two. Only travelled at 40-50 mph – to the great annoyance of cars behind. His father said that by travelling relatively slowly, he was saving their lives. 6:17 – They stopped registering it when the brakes stopped working but still used it on the farm 6:52 – It originally had a canvas roof but they replaced it with sheet metal. 8:38 – His father was impressed enough to buy a more modern Land Rover in 1977. It was a big disappointment!!

Overdrive: Dynamometers – a lot to gain from a Dyno; Polestar in Aust; Which Car Drivers have a DUI

Sun, 10 Apr 2022 10:42:00 +0000

Hello and welcome to Overdrive a program a cars and transport. I’m David Brown The times each story appears in the program are noted (mm:ss) News (1:55) 1. Vehicle sales – Supply constraints make for some interesting trends 2. Vehicle sale numbers - Tesla and Polestar and in there and counting 3. Rating with cars have more drink-driving incidents from the users 4. Trucking Industry Anger After Budget Slashes Tax Rebate To Zero Feature Story (8:29) Modern vehicles are full of clever technology to get more efficiency, but they are tuned for average driving situations. Dynamometers can help tune a car, a truck, a motorbike or even a lawn mover to get good efficiency and, especially in the case of cars a trucks, vehicles can be tuned for your particular needs. We speak to • Alan Evans the owner and MD of Dyno Dynamics the makers of quality dynamometers here in Australia. Great information from a local manufacturing company. Feedback (16:44) And a bit of feedback about a subject we raised last week. Motoring Minute (18:36) • Lexus ES (18:36) Information piece (19:43) In the light of major electric car companies now being represented in our reported sales figures we chat to Samantha Johnson the MD of Polestar in Australia. Motoring Minute (27:44) • Nissan Pro 4X warrior You can find more information at Driven Media with links to social media and podcasts iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/overdrive-cars-transport-and-culture/id1001084679 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0ah6JZN8LTYURIfNs1IIBs We even list the times each item appears to you can go straight to it Our Facebook page OverdriveCity – Driven Media https://www.facebook.com/OverdriveCityDrivenMedia/?modal=admin_todo_tour or Our YouTube site https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKyx5sv6cgF4URRmNq2JiXg/videos Originally broadcast on 19 March 2022

Overdrive: For F150 for Aust; The Hydrogen Highway: Why government budgets are bad for transport

Tue, 05 Apr 2022 10:56:40 +0000

Hello and welcome to Overdrive, a program that relishes all sorts of information and experiences in the world of motoring and transport. I’m David Brown The times each story appears in the program are noted (mm:ss) News (1:12) 1. Ford's F-150 ute is bound for Australia 2. Jeep Compass 3. Hydrogen highways – targeting specific needs 4. Reducing the fuel excise 5. Do we support local businesses enough?” Feature Story (8:15) No matter which party is in power, the Federal budget process and its presentation is one of the most counterproductive exercises squarely aimed at getting clickbait in the media and votes. It is bad for transport: Discuss Feedback (16:24) A very successful business man helps in organising motorsport events, and ends up covered in dirt. A project to assess how distracting the controls are in modern motor cars Hydrogen Highway (20:09) Three state governments are getting together to create some hydrogen highways. You can find more information at Driven Media with links to social media and podcasts iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/overdrive-cars-transport-and-culture/id1001084679 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0ah6JZN8LTYURIfNs1IIBs We even list the times each item appears to you can go straight to it Our Facebook page OverdriveCity – Driven Media https://www.facebook.com/OverdriveCityDrivenMedia/?modal=admin_todo_tour or Our YouTube site https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKyx5sv6cgF4URRmNq2JiXg/videos Originally broadcast on 2 April 2022

Overdrive: New Audi S3 on a driver’s road; Mazda CX5 touch-up; Fudging odometers; Morgan 3-wheeler

Wed, 30 Mar 2022 12:19:13 +0000

Hello and welcome to Overdrive, where we embrace the glories of motoring and transport. I’m David Brown The times each story appears in the program are noted (mm:ss) News (1:03) 1. Odometer readings 2. Renault suspends operations in plant in Moscow 3. Audi S3 4. Audi A3 Feature Story (7:44) We reflect on car launches the Audi S3 and the Mazda CX5 Feedback (16:24) • Why a viewer of one of our videos wished he had of married our Jaguar restorer’s daughter Motoring Minute (17:02) • Jeep Gladiator Quirky news Brian Smith and I discuss the new three-wheeled Morgan

Overdrive: Is pink a good colour for a car? Novated leases; Nissan’s remote-control car for adults.

Sun, 20 Mar 2022 23:54:51 +0000

Hello and welcome to Overdrive a program that plays with cars and transport. I’m David Brown The times each story appears in the program are noted (mm:ss) News (1:22) 1. Nissan radio-controlled car is more than just play 2. Electric cars - flexibility coming thick and fast 3. Jaguar Land Rover re-using batteries program 4. First mention of an arched bridge over Sydney Harbour Feature Story (6:08) In our feature story we ask the question - Can a pink car be good for anything other than advertising? There is a clear case of “look at my car” but do people look with respect or disappointment. And does that matter We speak to Advertising expert and motoring writer Paul Murrell Some of the Overdrive team And feedback from social media Information piece (19:41) Novated leases. They are a tax advantage system that doesn’t require you to keep log books. So which cars are doing well in the market. Motoring Minutes • Toyota connectivity (18:32) • Renault Koleos (28:07) You can find more information at Driven Media with links to social media and podcasts iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/overdrive-cars-transport-and-culture/id1001084679 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0ah6JZN8LTYURIfNs1IIBs We even list the times each item appears to you can go straight to it Our Facebook page OverdriveCity – Driven Media https://www.facebook.com/OverdriveCityDrivenMedia/?modal=admin_todo_tour or Our YouTube site https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKyx5sv6cgF4URRmNq2JiXg/videos Originally broadcast on 19 March 2022

Overdrive: Women’s car of the year award – is it more up-to-date?: Audi S3 and a trip to Tasmania

Sun, 13 Mar 2022 12:50:36 +0000

Hello and welcome to Overdrive a program that ponders the purpose of cars and transport I’m David Brown The times each story appears in the program are noted (mm:ss) News (1:30) 1. Women’s world car of the year 2. Fuel prices 3. Oil as a political weapon 4. Fuel security Feature Story (7:48) • We have just driven the new Audi S3 hot sedan and Sportback around Tasmania but there is an embargo to talking about the drive experience. We will cover that in a few weeks’ time. • But we did speak to some executives from Audi about sustainability, the issues that people are considering in a vehicle purchase and some of the features of the S3 (7:48) • We also talk about just how enjoyable Tasmania is to drive around and some of the people we met. (15:48) Motoring Minutes • Ford Everest (20:34) • Toyota Kluger (28:07) Quirky News (21:41) And Brian Smith and I discuss a quirky news story that is not humous and is really more than quirky, it is an astounding aspect of a car maker programming in to its trial of autonomous function the ability to break the law. You can find more information at Driven Media with links to social media and podcasts iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/overdrive-cars-transport-and-culture/id1001084679 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0ah6JZN8LTYURIfNs1IIBs We even list the times each item appears to you can go straight to it Our Facebook page OverdriveCity – Driven Media https://www.facebook.com/OverdriveCityDrivenMedia/?modal=admin_todo_tour or Our YouTube site https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKyx5sv6cgF4URRmNq2JiXg/videos Originally broadcast on 12 March 2022

Overdrive: New on Car sales; Polestar; Nissan Leaf; Renault Arkana; 3-wheel Morgan; Mustang Cabrio

Sat, 12 Mar 2022 02:55:42 +0000

Hello and welcome to Overdrive, a program that practices what it preaches, most of the time, on the subject of cars and transport. I’m David Brown The times each story appears in the program are noted (mm:ss) News (1:05) 1. Car Sales for February 2022 2. Kia’s multi-strand sustainability future 3. New skills needed to maintain and repair cars 4. Polestar envisions new age for electric roadsters 5. BYD widens its distribution network 6. Nissan freshens up its LEAF 7. Renault Arkana R.S. Line arrives 8. Rivian price hike upsets the customers 9. The all-new 3-wheel Morgan Feature Story (8:00) • Alan Zurvas and I test the Ford mustang they call the High Performance model which despite its name has the small, but perky, 4-cylinder turbo engine. Motoring Minutes • Nissan Navara (21:56) • Kia Stonic (28:09) Quirky News (22:03) And Brian Smith and I discuss a quirky news story about mosaics on the footpath You can find more information at Driven Media with links to social media and podcasts iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/overdrive-cars-transport-and-culture/id1001084679 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0ah6JZN8LTYURIfNs1IIBs We even list the times each item appears to you can go straight to it Our Facebook page OverdriveCity – Driven Media https://www.facebook.com/OverdriveCityDrivenMedia/?modal=admin_todo_tour or Our YouTube site https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKyx5sv6cgF4URRmNq2JiXg/videos Originally broadcast on 05 March 2022

Overdrive: Three new EVs: Kia EV6, BYD ATTO 3, Audi e-tron GT: Canberra’s charging woes

Mon, 28 Feb 2022 01:01:55 +0000

Welcome to Overdrive, a program that proudly gives you the alternative facts to all aspects of motoring and transport. I’m David Brown The times each story appears in the program are noted (mm:ss) News (1:21) 1. Kia becomes more prestigious with the EV6 2. A new player in the market - BYD 3. Audi e-tron GT – It’s about performance stupid 4. Canberra – full of policies but not charging stations Feature Story (6:33) We look at the three new EV that have been shown to the market in the last week and talk to: 1. Kia, and BYD executives 2. Report on Audi’s presentation of their electric GT 3. Here from a suspension expert on why electric cars are different 4. And an owner of a new EV as they adapt to a new world Motoring Minutes (27:13) • Alfa Giulio • Mazda CX5 You can find more information at Driven Media with links to social media and podcasts iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/overdrive-cars-transport-and-culture/id1001084679 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0ah6JZN8LTYURIfNs1IIBs We even list the times each item appears to you can go straight to it Our Facebook page OverdriveCity – Driven Media https://www.facebook.com/OverdriveCityDrivenMedia/?modal=admin_todo_tour or Our YouTube site https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKyx5sv6cgF4URRmNq2JiXg/videos Originally broadcast on 26 February 2022

Combining transport and land-use planning: Kirsty Kelly has been a CEO in both areas

Tue, 15 Feb 2022 11:21:13 +0000

Many years ago, there was an Institution of Engineers meeting addressed by some executives from the Department of Main Roads. The then head of the Planning Department sat at the back of the meeting occasionally muttering his contempt for what was being said. In those days the two departments operated like two opposing fiefdoms – a classic example of government departments working in their own silos. The Australian Institute of Traffic Planning and Management, among others, pushed hard to embrace a more collaborative approach under the banner of land-use/transport planning. Now we are embracing an even wider group of influencers Kirsty Kelly was the CEO of the Planning Institute of Australia but then moved to be the CEO of the AITPM. We spoke to her about a range of issues including: • Her experiences in working in government and consulting • The realisation of the need to understand comfort factors when looking at the desirability, or not, of a transport service • Transport modelling as it moves into a new age • No longer predicting the future but evaluating various scenarios • How being adaptable is the essential part of any planning approach • Tactical Urbanism • Communication is no longer just presenting your answers in the most convincing way: it is about engagement • Reflecting on the NSW Premier’s comment about moving away from just big projects • Climate change

Overdrive: Alfa Tonale, Nissan Patrol; Old & new style motoring records fall; Embracing local trips

Mon, 14 Feb 2022 03:04:24 +0000

Hello and welcome to Overdrive, a program about the facts, the fun, and the fiction of motoring and transport I’m David Brown The times each story appears in the program are noted (mm:ss) News (1:24) • Alfa Romeo Tonale: La Metamorfosi • Nissan Patrol celebrates record-breaking year with updated MY22 model • Two Records have been broken recently • BMW Super Bowl starring Arnold Schwarzenegger Feature Story (5:58) The NSW Premier has said that there should be less focus on building big transport projects and more focus on facilitating local communities We hear from: 1. Professor David Hensher 2. Urban Planner Mike Day 3. Manager of Cycling Strategy in the city of Sydney – Fiona Campbell and 4. Kirsty Kelly CEO of the Australian Institute of Traffic Planning and Management Motoring Minutes • Nissan and others helping fight depression • Comparing the two big SUVs You can find more information at Driven Media with links to social media and podcasts iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/overdrive-cars-transport-and-culture/id1001084679 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0ah6JZN8LTYURIfNs1IIBs We even list the times each item appears to you can go straight to it Our Facebook page OverdriveCity – Driven Media https://www.facebook.com/OverdriveCityDrivenMedia/?modal=admin_todo_tour or Our YouTube site https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKyx5sv6cgF4URRmNq2JiXg/videos Originally broadcast on 12 February 2022

Overdrive: News; and driving the old and new Land Rover Defender 90

Sun, 06 Feb 2022 06:23:44 +0000

Hello this is Overdrive a program about trains, planes and automobiles, but mainly automobiles. I’m David Brown The times each story appears in the program are noted (mm:ss) News • Vehicle sales figures continue to stumble as industry rethinks everything about supply • Electric car sales figures show promising signs • Now to electrify your old Mini • Honouring a great person from the Mini car club Feature Story (5:39) The history and experiences of old Land Rovers and their owners We hear from: • Motoring journalist Paul Murrell • Artist and explorer Dean Oliver • Off-road expert Rob Fraser • And previous owner Brian Smith Motoring Minutes • Toyota Hybrid RAV 4 (26:03) • Volkswagen Amarok (29:25) Quirky News (27:13) Brian Smith and I discuss patching up footpaths with ceramics in an artistic way. You can find more information at Driven Media with links to social media and podcasts Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0ah6JZN8LTYURIfNs1IIBs iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/overdrive-cars-transport-and-culture/id1001084679 We even list the times each item appears to you can go straight to it Our Facebook page OverdriveCity – Driven Media https://www.facebook.com/OverdriveCityDrivenMedia/?modal=admin_todo_tour or Our YouTube site https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKyx5sv6cgF4URRmNq2JiXg/videos Originally broadcast on 5 February

Overdrive: Kia’s new EV6 – is their link to tennis a good fit?: Product review, and a marketing guru

Sun, 30 Jan 2022 10:41:35 +0000

Hello and welcome to Overdrive, a program that looks at the fantasises and fallacies of anything to do with motoring and transport. I’m David Brown We’re back with new programs for 2022. The times each story appears in the program are noted (mm:ss) News • Kia goes up market with their latest EV (1:56) • Why sustainability is not always the first choice of EV buyers (3:00) • Sneak look at the new WRX (3:37) • The Defender 90 – The look of the past with the ride quality of the present (5:19) Feature Story Can you tell a lot about a vehicle manufacturer by their marketing approach. For the last 21 years Kia has been the major sponsor of the Australian Open tennis tournament. The first year of supporting this prestigious event was only some four 4 after the company had declared bankruptcy and they were selling cars very strongly based on price. Has Kia evolved with the sponsorship deal. Is it a fitting partner for this impressive event. This year they had their new EV6 electric vehicle to put on display so we spoke to a number of their executives and some other commentators to get a comprehensive picture of the state of play. (6:38) Motoring Minutes • Volkswagen Touareg (27:03) • Isuzu D-Max (28:09) You can find more information at Driven Media or previous programs are available as podcasts on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0ah6JZN8LTYURIfNs1IIBs iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/overdrive-cars-transport-and-culture/id1001084679 We even list the times each item appears to you can go straight to it Our Facebook page OverdriveCity – Driven Media https://www.facebook.com/OverdriveCityDrivenMedia/?modal=admin_todo_tour or Our YouTube site https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKyx5sv6cgF4URRmNq2JiXg/videos Originally broadcast on 29 January 2022

Overdrive: Car Supply depends when the boat comes in; Mitsubishi Eclipse PHEV; New side impact rules

Thu, 16 Dec 2021 10:58:35 +0000

Hello this is Overdrive a program that tries to spread the word about trains, planes and automobiles. I’m David Brown The times each story appears in the program are noted (mm:ss) News 1. Car Sales: Supply depends on when the boats come in (1:26) 2. Car supply depends on the very wide range of uses of microprocessors (2:48) 3. Australia goes hard on side impact protection (3:50) 4. Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross PlugIn Hybrid Electric Vehicle (5:00) Feature Story • Tony Webber from the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries defines what is needed to embrace the future including a better election process. (6:05) Interview • Alan Zurvas gives his run down on the Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross – especially the Plugin Hybrid Electric vehicle. (14:37) Motoring Minute • Land Rover Defender XP400 (20:14) Quirky News And in quirky news, Brian Smith and I raise concern over transport issues that indicate another Viking invasion of Scotland. (21:27) Motoring Minute • Subaru Outback (27:54) You can find more information at Driven Media or previous programs are available as podcasts on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0ah6JZN8LTYURIfNs1IIBs iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/overdrive-cars-transport-and-culture/id1001084679 We even list the times each item appears to you can go straight to it Our Facebook page OverdriveCity – Driven Media https://www.facebook.com/OverdriveCityDrivenMedia/?modal=admin_todo_tour or Our YouTube site https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKyx5sv6cgF4URRmNq2JiXg/videos So, let’s start with the news Originally broadcast 11 December 2021

Overdrive: Volkswagen Caddy – Van and people mover; Behind the scenes with Navara Pro-4X Warrior.

Tue, 07 Dec 2021 10:58:40 +0000

Hello this is Overdrive a program with an infatuation about trains, planes and automobiles. I’m David Brown The times each story appears in the program are noted (mm:ss) News 1. Volkswagen Caddy – carrying on the Kombi multi-purpose approach (1:22) 2. Nissan launches its toughest Navara Ute to meet customer needs (2:36) 3. Cleaner fuel means cleaner air (3:46) 4. Horses for courses even amongst the rev heads (4:38) 5. Nissan plays catch up with is Ambition 2030 strategy (5:42) Feature Story Nissan has launched what it calls its toughest Navara Ute yet – the Pro-4X Warrior. At the launch we spoke to some of the people who were part of its development – how they worked out what the market wanted and how they developed the product to match. (6:55) Motoring Minute • Mazda CX-8 Interview A new version of the Volkswagen Caddy is out. We talk to VW Australia on how they have a modular approach to the different needs of customers. (20:04) Motoring Minute • Ford Ranger FX Max Ute (28:47) You can find more information at Driven Media or previous programs are available as podcasts on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0ah6JZN8LTYURIfNs1IIBs iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/overdrive-cars-transport-and-culture/id1001084679 We even list the times each item appears to you can go straight to it Our Facebook page OverdriveCity – Driven Media https://www.facebook.com/OverdriveCityDrivenMedia/?modal=admin_todo_tour or Our YouTube site https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKyx5sv6cgF4URRmNq2JiXg/videos Originally broadcast 4 December 2021

Overdrive: Muscle Cars and Al Turner; VW Tiguan; Nissan GTR; Chrysler leaves Australia; Harley ebike

Thu, 02 Dec 2021 09:30:12 +0000

Hello and welcome to Overdrive, a program that pushes the parameters in discussing motoring and transport. I’m David Brown The times each story appears in the program are noted (mm:ss) News 1. The final fling for the Nissan GT-R (1:21) 2. Chrysler brand bids farewell to Australia (2:24) 3. UK to mandate EV chargers (3:23) 4. Harley Davison takes a shot at pushbike purists (4:27) Feature Story With the passing of a significant character from the Australian Muscle car era we reflect on the life and times of that period with motoring broadcaster and author John Smailes (5:35) Motoring Minute • Range Rover Velar (16:05) Interview We discuss two subjects with motoring journalist Paul Murrell • The Volkswagen Tiguan (21:21) • And the Nissan GT-R (23:25) Motoring Minute • Ford Everest Base Camp (32:06) You can find more information at Driven Media or previous programs are available as podcasts on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0ah6JZN8LTYURIfNs1IIBs iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/overdrive-cars-transport-and-culture/id1001084679 We even list the times each item appears to you can go straight to it Our Facebook page OverdriveCity – Driven Media https://www.facebook.com/OverdriveCityDrivenMedia/?modal=admin_todo_tour or Our YouTube site https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKyx5sv6cgF4URRmNq2JiXg/videos So, let’s start with the news Originally broadcast 27 November 2021

Al Turner - Father of the Ford GTHO passes away. John Smailes looks back on his time in Australia

Tue, 23 Nov 2021 01:45:29 +0000

I have mentioned in the past my theory that you can often tell the age of a person, particularly if they are male and particularly if they are a rev-head, by the cars they love. The period of reverence for mechanised transport coincides with a time between puberty and late teens early twenties. Not surprising then I have an almost mystical view of the late 60s early 70s and the sectarian divide of Holden versus Ford particularly with gladiatorial contests at Bathurst. It was a time where you did not buy your loyalty at a merchandising tent but proudly wore the stain on your shirt from a weekend on the Mountain. If it was signed by Brocky it is a holy relic. Sadly one of the very significant characters of that time, who is only known remembered by a tight fraternity of enthusiasts, has just passed away. Al Turner In a recorded chat, motoring journalist, commentator, and author John Smailes reminisces on this time.

Overdrive: Honda Accord grows up more; Mercedes “buy a race car”; Great use of old turbine blades

Sun, 21 Nov 2021 01:03:06 +0000

Welcome to Overdrive, a program that ponders the particulars of motoring and transport. I’m David Brown The times each story appears in the program are noted (mm:ss) News 1. Mandatory Autonomous Emergency Braking for Australia starting in 2023 (1:36) 2. Citroen C4 some hydraulics in the suspension without the complexity (2:48) 3. Hyundai i30 N – Hot hatch (3:52) 4. Kia and Hyundai show their green credentials (4:56) 5. Mercedes’ buy-a-race-car initiative (6:05) Feature Story • Road test of the Honda Accord Hybrid (7:09) Motoring Minute • RAM 1500 (15:58) Interview • We get more information on Mercedes buy-a-race-car initiative (17:07) Motoring Minute • Kia Sorento (22:16) Quirky News • And we have a great story on the most elegant use of second-hand wind turbine blades. You can find more information at Driven Media or previous programs are available as podcasts on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0ah6JZN8LTYURIfNs1IIBs iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/overdrive-cars-transport-and-culture/id1001084679 We even list the times each item appears to you can go straight to it Our Facebook page OverdriveCity – Driven Media https://www.facebook.com/OverdriveCityDrivenMedia/?modal=admin_todo_tour or Our YouTube site https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKyx5sv6cgF4URRmNq2JiXg/videos So, let’s start with the news Originally broadcast 20 November 2021

Overdrive: Launch of the Kia Sportage; Facts; little features that count; tuning to Australian roads

Mon, 15 Nov 2021 09:21:24 +0000

Hello this is Overdrive a program that looks at the purpose of and the passion for trains, planes and automobiles. I’m David Brown The times each story appears in the program are noted (mm:ss) News 1. Vehicle supply is not as certain as some would have you believe (1:16) 2. New Kia Sportage – stamping its style in a very competitive segment (2:20) 3. Customers can embrace clever autonomous parking (3:24) 4. Jaguar F-TYPE goes for an all V8 line-up (4:16) 5. Peugeot to launch Plug-In Hybrids for their 3008 and 508 models (5:11) Feature Story – the New Kia Sportage Comments arising at the launch of the new Kia Sportage not just about the vehicle but about the state of the industry, just how complex it is to tune the suspension to Australian conditions and features that may not be mentioned in every road test but can be very impressive to customers. (6:13) Motoring Minute • LDV T60 Ute (23:06) Quirky News And we have a quirky news story about extending your campervan into a permanent residence when parked on a residential street. (4:12) Motoring Minute • Kia Rio (28:11) You can find more information at Driven Media or previous programs are available as podcasts on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0ah6JZN8LTYURIfNs1IIBs iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/overdrive-cars-transport-and-culture/id1001084679 We even list the times each item appears to you can go straight to it Our Facebook page OverdriveCity – Driven Media https://www.facebook.com/OverdriveCityDrivenMedia/?modal=admin_todo_tour or Our YouTube site https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKyx5sv6cgF4URRmNq2JiXg/videos So, let’s start with the news Originally broadcast 13 November 2021

Overdrive: Driving Manuals; Alfa Stelvio SUV; Quirky “never look a gift horse in the mouth”, or boot

Mon, 15 Nov 2021 06:54:40 +0000

Hello and welcome to Overdrive a program that puts a magnifying glass to the role of cars and transport in our society and ends up burning a hole in it. I’m David Brown The times each story appears in the program are noted (mm:ss) News • Australia vehicle market suffers from lack of supply (1:28) • 11th generation Honda Civic soon to be on sale (2:32) • Hyundai I 30 hatch still comes in a manual (3:35) • Alpha Romeo’s SUV – enough style to make a difference (4:34) • Toyota GR Supra gets wireless Carplay – why that is important (5:44) Feature Interview We embrace the past present and future of manual transmissions (6:48) Motoring Minute • Nissan Pathfinder (14:14) Road Test • Hyundai i30 (15:22) Motoring Minute • Toyota C-HR GR Quirky News • And quirky news is, if you pardon the pun about never looking a gift horse in the mouth – it is the story about a free car that came with a surprise in the boot. (23:55) You can find more information at Driven Media or previous programs are available as podcasts on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0ah6JZN8LTYURIfNs1IIBs iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/overdrive-cars-transport-and-culture/id1001084679 We even list the times each item appears to you can go straight to it Our Facebook page OverdriveCity – Driven Media https://www.facebook.com/OverdriveCityDrivenMedia/?modal=admin_todo_tour or Our YouTube site https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKyx5sv6cgF4URRmNq2JiXg/videos So, let’s start with the news Originally broadcast 06 November 2021

Overdrive: New Range Rover: Ford’s Mustang Mach-e; Renault hydrogen Van; Gardens on taxi roofs

Fri, 29 Oct 2021 07:31:32 +0000

Welcome to Overdrive, a motoring and transport program where facts are important but so is passion and opinion. I’m David Brown The times each story appears in the program are noted (mm:ss) News 1. New Range Rover: some clever things to look forward to (1:20) 2. Ford sees track days flourish (2:17) 3. Haval H6 Hybrid to arrive in early 2022 (3:06) 4. Renault’s hydrogen-powered van delivers up to 500km range (4:11) 5. Pandemic leaves one-third of Aussies feeling 'more adventurous' (5:15) Feature Interview • We get the run down on the just announced Range Rover including a few nifty features (6:30) Motoring Minute • Jaguar F-Pace (14:33) Feature Interview • We get an update on Ford’s move to focus on hot hatches and the image setting Mustang Mach-e (15:44) Motoring Minute • Kia Carnival (22:58) Quirky News • Brian Smith ponders growing vegetables on the roofs of taxis. (24:05) You can find more information at Driven Media or previous programs are available as podcasts on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0ah6JZN8LTYURIfNs1IIBs iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/overdrive-cars-transport-and-culture/id1001084679 We even list the times each item appears to you can go straight to it Our Facebook page OverdriveCity – Driven Media https://www.facebook.com/OverdriveCityDrivenMedia/?modal=admin_todo_tour or Our YouTube site https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKyx5sv6cgF4URRmNq2JiXg/videos Originally broadcast 30 October 2021

Overdrive: Hyundai Nexo and the future of Hydrogen; Even less Ford sedans; Polstar looks to the arts

Tue, 26 Oct 2021 10:37:55 +0000

Welcome to Overdrive, a program that pontificates on the issues of motoring and transport I’m David Brown The times each story appears in the program are noted (mm:ss) News 211023 - News 1. Hyundai Nexo – a practical hydrogen powered car (1:25) 2. Volkswagen Golf Life (2:42) 3. Ford Focus ST – just one model, a hot hatch (4:02) 4. Nissan celebrates 20 years of X-TRAIL (5:04) 5. Polestar teams up with artist Thijs Bierstaker to bring climate crisis and the renewable energy transition to life (6:15) Feature Interview • I caught up with a colleague who, very early on, was pushing the need for alternate energy. He now has had personal experience in owning an electric car. (7:23) Motoring Minute • Land Rover Discover (17:41) Feature Interview • We have been testing Hyundai’s Hydrogen SUV the Nexo and we talk to the company about where hydrogen fits in with battery powered cars. It’s a case of horses for courses. (18:52) Motoring Minute • Jaguar XE sedan (27:59) You can find more information at Driven Media or previous programs are available as podcasts on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0ah6JZN8LTYURIfNs1IIBs iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/overdrive-cars-transport-and-culture/id1001084679 We even list the times each item appears to you can go straight to it Our Facebook page OverdriveCity – Driven Media https://www.facebook.com/OverdriveCityDrivenMedia/?modal=admin_todo_tour or Our YouTube site https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKyx5sv6cgF4URRmNq2JiXg/videos Originally broadcast 23 October 2021

Overdrive: Car Wars; Toyota Land Cruiser 300; Subaru WRX; Hydrogen; Mini’s multi-coloured roofs

Tue, 26 Oct 2021 06:00:16 +0000

Welcome to Overdrive, a program that ponders on the issues of motoring and transport I’m David Brown The times each story appears in the program are noted (mm:ss) News 1. IONIQ 5 – New aspects of interior design (1:44) 2. All-New Subaru WRX includes a sports wagon (2:44) 3. Hyundai goes hard for hydrogen (3:42) 4. Peugeot's new vans are an important part of their mix (4:42) 5. MINI now has multi coloured roofs (5:51) 6. Honda will slowly implement a new surround view system (6:58) Two Feature Interviews this week Murray Hubbard has written a book: Car Wars Down Under – The untold Story of Australia’s first Land Speed Record. It is not just for rev heads it is a rollicking yarn about the life and times around the period of the first world war (8:01) Just after the launch of their new Land Cruiser we spoke to Sean Hanley who is the Vice President of marketing and franchise operations for Toyota Australia. He reflected on the history of the vehicle in Australia as Toyota’s first export product from Japan. (19:20) You can find more information at Driven Media or previous programs are available as podcasts on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0ah6JZN8LTYURIfNs1IIBs iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/overdrive-cars-transport-and-culture/id1001084679 We even list the times each item appears to you can go straight to it Our Facebook page OverdriveCity – Driven Media https://www.facebook.com/OverdriveCityDrivenMedia/?modal=admin_todo_tour or Our YouTube site https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKyx5sv6cgF4URRmNq2JiXg/videos So, let’s start with the news Originally broadcast 23 October 2021

Overdrive: Why the IONIQ 5 blazes new ground; What to look for in a dashcam; Buses on train tracks

Sat, 16 Oct 2021 04:39:30 +0000

Welcome to Overdrive, a program that probes deeply into the issues of motoring and transport I’m David Brown The times each story appears in the program are noted (mm:ss) News 1. Cars sales September 2021 – Overall good – People movers booming (1:24) 2. New Toyota Land Cruiser 300 (2:24) 3. All-new Kia Sorento Plug-in Hybrid (3:29) 4. Kona electric – reducing costs with smaller batteries (4:32) 5. All-new RAM 3500: Ready for the biggest jobs (5:33) Road test The Hyundai IONIQ 5 is about to hit the market, we get their product manager to tell us why it is such an important car (6:39) Motoring Minute Audi Q7 (15:30) Feature Interview We get a run down on what to look out for if you are getting a dashcam (16:40) Motoring Minute Ineos 4x4 (22:31) Quirky News And in quirky news Brian Smith and I look at buses that traveled down train tracks in Australia that was not that long ago. (23:39) You can find more information at Driven Media or previous programs are available as podcasts on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0ah6JZN8LTYURIfNs1IIBs iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/overdrive-cars-transport-and-culture/id1001084679 We even list the times each item appears to you can go straight to it Our Facebook page OverdriveCity – Driven Media https://www.facebook.com/OverdriveCityDrivenMedia/?modal=admin_todo_tour or Our YouTube site https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKyx5sv6cgF4URRmNq2JiXg/videos So, let’s start with the news Originally broadcast 9 October 2021

Car Wars Down Under: Rollicking yarn on the life and times of the first Australian Land speed record

Fri, 15 Oct 2021 09:45:28 +0000

There’s a new book out: "Car Wars Down Under". The subtitle is “The untold story of Australia’s first land speed record”, written by Murray Hubbard. I wondered if it was a story for the mechanically minded, car enthusiast: A lone back yard mechanic with an inventive approach involving carburettors and camshafts. As it turns out it is a rollicking yarn involving hardcore business, invective marketing, ambition, a high-risk approach to communication, the occasional rouge character, and intense competition. Set around the time of the first world war which alone produced some unexpected situations. Like a good biography is not just a list of the fine details of one person’s life. It’s about the life and the times of people and an event. This should not surprise those who know Murray, who is a motoring journalist but, among other things, was a three-time finalist for investigative reporting in the Walkley Awards. And he wrote the manuscript for the multi-award-winning “The Day of the Roses”, a Channel 10 miniseries and telemovie. • Why a picture in front of a pyramid is significant (1:25) • Many characters had a start in the bicycle industry – how di this help? (3:17) • The limitations of the Ford Model T (5:49) • Doctors and others benefited from the development of cars (7:20) • Alec Fraser Jewel – a character and a rogue (9:11) • The first world war brought animosity to the Germans but also the Americans! (11:10) • Why one major player started a car magazine which could have become cheap advertising favouring his product but ended up being a great ambassador for improving conditions for vehicles (16:46) • Car events and the Hamilton Hill Climb • Fred Eager – Heir apparent to a big business but also becoming their top driver and why the opposition had to establish a race for the land speed record (32:47) • The vehicles – great speeds across the sand where aerodynamics may have made the difference (37:12) • A few other characters – Professor Starlight and Peter Jackson (45:37)

Overdrive: In-Vehicle warnings – help or distraction? Citroen hasn’t given up; COVID impacts testers

Sat, 09 Oct 2021 01:20:16 +0000

Hello and Welcome to Overdrive, a program where we wander through the world of motoring and transport. 30/09/2021 I’m David Brown The times each story appears in the program are noted (mm:ss) News 1. Hyundai Santa Fe with one particularly interesting feature (1:42) 2. Citroën refuses to give up hope – a New C4 (2:37) 3. Hyundai i30 Sedan – Another elegant Korean sedan (3:40) 4. CUPRA Born – silly name for a new electric vehicle (4:56) 5. In cabin warnings – are they really helpful for road safety (5:58) Feature Interview Christine Mulvihill has just presented a research paper to the Australasian Road Safety conference on the effectiveness or otherwise of in-vehicle warning systems. We chat to her about the results (7:24) Motoring Minute • Toyota Rugged X (15:33) Road test Paul Murrell is about to drive the new Aston Martin DBX. He goes through his preparation (16:42) Motoring Minute • Audi SQ2 (21:59) Quirky News Brian Smith and I looks at the impact of COVID on transport – including the insufferable impacts on road testers. (23:09) You can find more information at Driven Media or previous programs are available as podcasts on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0ah6JZN8LTYURIfNs1IIBs iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/overdrive-cars-transport-and-culture/id1001084679 We even list the times each item appears to you can go straight to it Our Facebook page OverdriveCity – Driven Media https://www.facebook.com/OverdriveCityDrivenMedia/?modal=admin_todo_tour

Overdrive: Aussie Hyundai IONIQ5; Two SUVs – one is twice the cost of the other; New Toyota Kluger

Sun, 03 Oct 2021 10:03:19 +0000

Hello and welcome to Overdrive a program that panders to the world of cars and transport I’m David Brown The times each story appears in the program are noted (mm:ss) News 1. Australian launch of the IONIQ 5 (1:27) 2. All-new Kluger – hybrid petrol is better thana diesel (2:38) 3. Picking between two cars where one costs twice as much (3:49) 4. Walmart autonomous vehicle delivery service in three US cities (4:57) 5. How people really behave with Tesla Autopilot (6:02) Feature Interview Rob Fraser ruminates on two large SUVs - one that is twice as expensive as the other (7:20) Road test Alan Zuvas fills in the details of the latest all-new Kluger (14:48) Motoring Minute Hyundai i30 Sedan N-Line (21:38) • Quirky News Brian looks at whether abandoned rail stations are the best places for seeking the supernatural. (22:47) Motoring Minute Kia Sorento Platinum (28:02) You can find more information at Driven Media or previous programs are available as podcasts on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0ah6JZN8LTYURIfNs1IIBs iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/overdrive-cars-transport-and-culture/id1001084679 We even list the times each item appears to you can go straight to it Our Facebook page OverdriveCity – Driven Media https://www.facebook.com/OverdriveCityDrivenMedia/?modal=admin_todo_tour or Our YouTube site https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKyx5sv6cgF4URRmNq2JiXg/videos So, let’s start with the news Originally broadcast 25 September 2021

In-Vehicle Warning Systems - Monash University Research - Christine Mulvihilll

Thu, 30 Sep 2021 11:47:27 +0000

Modern road safety systems are showcasing what is technically possible in warning drivers of dangerous situations and possibly intervening in the vehicle operation, if not to take complete control but at least to add an element of augmented reality. But, as we reported the other day on some research from MIT, there can be a big difference between what is technically possible, which we then use to dictate how we want people to respond versus how people respond in real life situations. We caught up with Christine Mulvihill who, with a background in psychology, is now a research fellow at Monash University’s Accident Research Centre, and who was about to deliver a paper to the Australian Road Safety Conference. The title of the paper is “First-Stage Evaluation of a Prototype Driver Distraction Human-Machine-Interface Warning System”. Subjects and the timing (in mm:ss) at which they appear in the interview are as follows: • The significance of heavy vehicles in road fatalities (1:17) • Trucks carry considerable weight that can aggravate a crash situation and it is not always the driver’s fault (1:53) • The development of in-vehicle warning devices (2:38) • Designing the help the drier not take over (3:33) • Engaging with truck drivers not just once (4:44) • Companies and drivers are interacting in many positive ways (7:31) • With a background in psychology – how this helps with engagement (8:07) • A multi-modal warning system (8:51) • There research process with a truck simulator (12:18) • The potential for individually tailored warnings – not just generic systems (14:01) • Continuing the research including car drivers (16:43) • The need to avoid false positives with the warning system (19:30) • The value of longitudinal research (20:32)

Overdrive: Subaru’s GM on their BRZ, Toyota Land Cruiser 300; Car Costs; Private kerb side charging

Sun, 26 Sep 2021 07:04:55 +0000

Welcome to Overdrive, a program about the wonderful world of motoring and transport. I’m David Brown The times each story appears in the program are noted (mm:ss) News 1. Car sales grow in a topsy turvy market (1:30) 2. It costs a lot just to have your car sitting in the driveway (2:28) 3. Australia’s Warrego hydrogen ute claims big pre-orders (3:31) 4. An Australian council approves trial of kerbside EV charging (4:33) 5. Electric Mustang claims Guinness records (5:30) Feature Interview • Subaru is teasing us about the facts and features of the newest BRZ sports car. We talk to their managing director. (6:39) Motoring Minute • Genesis QV80 (16:29) Road test • Toyota have launched a new big Landcruiser. Alan Zurvas gives us the latest (17:34) Motoring Minute • Kia Niro PHEV (22:47) Quirky News • Brian Smith and I discuss how a quest for more parking lead to the Florida apartment catastrophe (23:50) You can find more information at Driven Media or previous programs are available as podcasts on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0ah6JZN8LTYURIfNs1IIBs iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/overdrive-cars-transport-and-culture/id1001084679 We even list the times each item appears to you can go straight to it Our Facebook page OverdriveCity – Driven Media https://www.facebook.com/OverdriveCityDrivenMedia/?modal=admin_todo_tour or Our YouTube site https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKyx5sv6cgF4URRmNq2JiXg/videos So, let’s start with the news Originally broadcast 11 September 2021

Overdrive: How did Pro Football lead to transport data measurement?; Robotaxi; Holy Lindisfarne

Sat, 11 Sep 2021 04:49:13 +0000

Welcome to Overdrive, a program that digs up all sorts of information good and bad about the world of motoring and transport. I’m David Brown The times each story appears in the program are noted (mm:ss) News • The all-new Kia Sportage (1:41) • New powertrain for Mazda CX-30 and Mazda3 (2:44) • Motional and Hyundai Motor Group’s joint robotaxi (3:47) • Nissan e-POWER is coming to Australia (4:40) Feature Interviews • What sort of background would be helpful to become an executive at the major road and transport research organisation in Australia. Jeff Doyle was once a professional footballer but he takes on a role at ARRB because then went on to huge managerial success- We talk about how football and other experiences help develop a focused team work environment. (5:58) Motoring Minute • Kia Cerato (19:17) Quirky Interview • Brian Smith gives us the low-down on the current transport problems from the holy island at Lindisfarne (20:27) You can find more information at Driven Media or previous programs are available as podcasts on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0ah6JZN8LTYURIfNs1IIBs iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/overdrive-cars-transport-and-culture/id1001084679 We even list the times each item appears to you can go straight to it Our Facebook page OverdriveCity – Driven Media https://www.facebook.com/OverdriveCityDrivenMedia/?modal=admin_todo_tour or Our YouTube site https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKyx5sv6cgF4URRmNq2JiXg/videos So, let’s start with the news Originally broadcast 5 September 2021

Jeff Doyle: On taking the new role of Executive Manager of Infrastructure Measurement at ARRB

Tue, 07 Sep 2021 03:54:59 +0000

It was T.S. Eliot who said: Where is the Wisdom we have lost in Knowledge? Where is the Knowledge we have lost in Information? The collection of data is very much at the bottom of that list. It may be the first step but it may even be the wrong numbers or full of inaccuracies. Data is not guaranteed to produce the definitive measure of what we are trying to understand until it has been through a process backed by knowledge and wisdom. It's wonderful to see that ARRB has set up and employed an executive manager for measurement. Jeff Doyle has taken on the newly created role of Executive Director of Measurement. He joins us on the line Issues covered (timing in the interview is listed in mm:ss) • The word measurement is important. It's not data and it's not information. Is there more significance in the word measurement? (0:41) • Is this a position that would not have existed five years ago? Have we progressed in our appreciation need for understanding of good data measurement rather than just numbers? [01:54] • What's your background? [02:27] • Professional Footballer [02:29] • Pen Salesman [03:29] • Manager [04:16] • Executive management [04:39] • Being a footballer is often seen as whether you personally are good or bad. But did you see a start to see there how the role of teamwork became important? [06:49] • So football is often the replays are all about the goal that's finally scored. But the good management is looking at what built up to that. It's not just the one off. Is it the understanding and the measurement of the build-up that becomes critical? [08:48] • You've mentioned a couple of times working with the existing structure. Is you position in the style of matrix management; that you're not out there just doing the product, but you're helping other departments within the ARRB to do their product? [12:05] • Is there room in very tight budgets in the world for technical curiosity, not just funding what we know to exist at the moment? [14:28] • IN terms of local councils; is it the case of not just giving them numbers or even giving them solutions, but give them guidelines. Perhaps giving numbers where they can play with them and come up with their own ideas and you might give them a package to help them play? [18:01] • Your CEO Michael Caltabiano has talked about auditing. Not only do you give data so people make decisions, but do you then push hard to say we must measure afterward: not to condemn, but merely find out what worked and what didn't? [21:22] • There's been a lot of work including the Grattan Institute coming out about the concern that there has been a decline in skills and independence within government departments. Do you think that good measurement is a great way of being able to give thoughtful scientific advice that can empower the need for professionals within organisations, be it government or even private? [22:36]

Navman: From navigation to information for drivers, road safety & maintenance,& insurance companies

Sun, 05 Sep 2021 07:03:59 +0000

Navman, started back in 1986 based in Australia and NZ, with a focus, as the name suggests, in providing navigation systems for cars and trucks. But like most or all things high-tech, more and more things are being developed. Virtual reality is a purely an imagined experience but augmented reality is where you get some extra information to help you operate and make decisions in your current situation. Augmented reality is an enhanced version of the real physical world by adding visual elements, sound, or other sensory stimuli provided by technology. And the “new”, soon becomes part of the “norm”. There is now a more generic term, dash cam, as people wish to record an incident or things of interest. These developments help us reflect on how we can use technology to the individual and community benefit. Wendy Hammond is Navman’s general manager, Australia & NZ (timing in the interviews in mm:ss) Issues covered • The company started in Australia and New Zealand. Is there still some workforce here? (1:16) • Is navigation still an important reason that people buy the system? (1:40) • Phone directions that are linked to the car infotainment system interrupt directions if a phone call comes in. Can this happen at inappropriate times? (2:19) • Are customers now looking for and accepting new technological applications? (3:11) • Dashcam information might help reduce delays from crashes as enough information is collected (3:59) • More information is now being collected from crashes (3:59) • You can get cameras facing front and rear (4:33) • Parking mode: recording when your car has been hit or tampered with (6:07) • Information for four-wheel-drive and camping activities (7:05) • Cameras for motorbikes (9:19) • Carrying hazardous loads (11:04)

Overdrive: Safety Rating for distraction; Tesla’s uglier camper; Genesis GV60; Tech for Pedestrians

Sat, 04 Sep 2021 07:13:21 +0000

Hello and welcome to Overdrive, a program that relishes all sorts of information and experiences in the world of motoring and transport. I’m David Brown The times each story appears in the program are noted (mm:ss) News 1. Genesis GV60 may be the first EV to include wireless battery charging (1:22) 2. Bird launches integration with Google Maps (2:24) 3. Tesla’s robot – more hype than reality? (3:33) 4. New technology making Victoria's roads safer (4:45) Feature Interview • Driver distraction: What does an eminent professor say about how we should rate cars. (5:55) Motoring Minute • Audi Q5 Interview • What could be the marketing behind Tesla announcing another ugly vehicle (20:01) You can find more information at Driven Media or previous programs are available as podcasts on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0ah6JZN8LTYURIfNs1IIBs iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/overdrive-cars-transport-and-culture/id1001084679 We even list the times each item appears to you can go straight to it Our Facebook page OverdriveCityDriven Media

Prof Mike Regan: Driver distraction; Vehicle information and controls should be rated for safety

Sat, 28 Aug 2021 11:34:46 +0000

Fifty years ago, one of the factors that was said to have led to NSW developing a world-renowned adaptive and coordinated traffic control system was that the engineers and technicians who worked on it had an understanding of human behaviour on the roads and that these skills may well have been missing in later reviews which failed to try and update the system. Commentary on driver distraction is all the rage at the moment but do we understand the underlying behaviour or are we just blaming all those other people who we think cause the problem. Michael (Mike) Regan is an Emeritus Professor of Human Factors with the University of NSW Research Centre for Integrated Transport Innovation (rCITI) at the University of NSW, Sydney. Mike’s current research interests include driver distraction and inattention, driver interaction with automated vehicles and human factors in road and traffic engineering Subjects covered (with a start time in the audio in mm:ss) • Linking the “hard” and social sciences and his course called “Human Factors in Civil and Transport Engineering. (0:33) • Systems have to be designed from a human perspective (1:24) • Predictions of increased distraction nearly 30 years ago – have they come to fruition (2:42) • Camera analysis in cars – the situation that ultimately causes a crash can be seen building up (4:50) • Current problems with new car dials and infotainment controls (7:00) • Use of Voice recognition – it's not so straightforward (8:54) • People who call up a driver do not know what the situations are that the driver is facing (10:44) • Sign positing and line marking – is there a good understanding of human factors? (12:42) • The need for expertise and independence in the public service (17:38) • Issues with pedestrians crossing the road (19:59) • The need for consistency with operational controls (41:43) • Airline industry communication in the cockpit has helped develop a program to help young people know how to act when a passenger (23:27) • Being blinded by technology (27:35)

Overdrive: One Corolla now every 28 seconds; Navman augmented reality; Golf GTi Mk8; Hyundai Staria

Sat, 28 Aug 2021 01:54:47 +0000

Hello and welcome to Overdrive, where we embrace the glories of motoring and transport. I’m David Brown The times each story appears in the program are noted (mm:ss) News 1. Toyota Corolla sales top 50 million across the globe (1:09) 2. Hyundai STARIA: Space age people mover (2:08) 3. Iconic Kombi goes green thanks to an ambitious University conversion project (3:11) 4. 2023 Nissan Z: - The Zs keep coming (4:15) 5. Tesla Cybertruck delayed to 2022 (5:17) Feature Interview • Wendy Hammond – from Navman tells us some of the many features that now can be part of our motoring augmented reality (6:23) Motoring Minute • Hyundai Sante Fe (19:15) Interview • Alan Zurvas and I review the new golf GTi Mark 8 (20:22) Motoring Minute • Nissan Pro 4X (27:31) You can find more information at Driven Media or previous programs are available as podcasts on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0ah6JZN8LTYURIfNs1IIBs iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/overdrive-cars-transport-and-culture/id1001084679 Our Facebook page OverdriveCity – Driven Media https://www.facebook.com/OverdriveCityDrivenMedia/?modal=admin_todo_tour or Our YouTube site https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKyx5sv6cgF4URRmNq2JiXg/videos Originally broadcast 28 August 2021

Overdrive: VW Caddy California Camper; Isuzu Ute - more than a name; Peugeot 508; A mini in London

Fri, 20 Aug 2021 11:03:23 +0000

Hello and welcome to Overdrive, where we take a sober look at motoring and transport. I’m David Brown The times each story appears in the program are noted (mm:ss) News 1. Niro Hybrid (1:13) 2. The compact Caddy California camper (2:13) 3. News of electric utes – race to ugliness (3:19) 4. International traffic light day (4:23) Feature Interviews • Paul Murrell – On the Isuzu ute and the company approach that is paying good dividends (5:39) • Alan and the 508 (16:23) Motoring Minute • Audi RS 5 Sportback (23:42) Great Drives • Barry Green takes us on one of his Best Drives – London in a Mini (24:50) You can find more information at Driven Media or previous programs are available as podcasts on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0ah6JZN8LTYURIfNs1IIBs iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/overdrive-cars-transport-and-culture/id1001084679 Our Facebook page OverdriveCity – Driven Media https://www.facebook.com/OverdriveCityDrivenMedia/?modal=admin_todo_tour or Our YouTube site https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKyx5sv6cgF4URRmNq2JiXg/videos So, let’s start with the news Originally broadcast 14 August 2021

Overdrive: Audi RS 7; Corolla bounces back; Concept cars – why bother?; Driving the Klausen Pass

Fri, 13 Aug 2021 11:10:26 +0000

Hello and welcome to Overdrive, a program that roams through the world of motoring and transport I’m David Brown The times each story appears in the program are noted (mm:ss) News • We look at three significant features on the latest car sales figures • Cars Sales for July 2021 (1:39) • Toyota Corolla bounces back in July (2:33) • Isuzu Ute – Only two models but a big impact (3:33) • Peugeot 508 – A very stylish vehicle (4:34) Feature Interviews • Brian and concept cars –We mentioned last week, some of the interesting feedback we’d had on the unusual, perhaps weird, concept cars at the Chicago Motor show. There were some insightful comments and some monosyllabic such as “I hate it”. So this week we talk to Brian Smith on what is the purpose of concept cars – what do the manufacturers want to get out of making vehicles that are not part of the current style, and how do people react. (5:45) • Barry Green continues reporting on his odyssey of going on great drives in great motor cars in the best places around the world – this time it is the Klausen Pass in Glossglockner Austria (13:50) Motoring Minute • Kia Niro EV sport (20:30) Interview • And Alan Zurvas and I review the oh so powerful Audi RS 7 (21:41) Motoring Minute • Toyota Fortuner (27:58) You can find more information at Driven Media or previous programs are available as podcasts on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0ah6JZN8LTYURIfNs1IIBs iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/overdrive-cars-transport-and-culture/id1001084679 Our Facebook page OverdriveCity – Driven Media https://www.facebook.com/OverdriveCityDrivenMedia/?modal=admin_todo_tour or Our YouTube site https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKyx5sv6cgF4URRmNq2JiXg/videos So, let’s start with the news Originally broadcast 7 August 2021

Subaru have sold the WRX for many years. Is it a reason to join the company?: We asked David Rowley

Sat, 07 Aug 2021 05:55:20 +0000

COVID has meant that in some cases we have not been able to return the press car that we usually have for a week. Unfortunately, I have had to keep the Subaru WRX STI for several weeks. Unfortunately for those who were to get it next but great for me. David Rowley is the national Corporate affairs manager for Subaru Australia and joins us on the line Subjects covered include: How much was his decision to go to Subaru influenced by them having the WRX? How did his children react when he bought one home? What about his children's friends Why has the WRX been such a hero car? When is the next generation coming?

Grattan Institute report on policy blockages: Ken Dobinson gives a first-hand account

Fri, 06 Aug 2021 09:15:26 +0000

As we mentioned in our news service, the Grattan Institute has just released a report titled Gridlock: removing barriers to policy reform It was very critical of systemic problems in government including • The reducing of expertise and independence of the public service, • Too many ministerial advisers closely tied to political parties • Lack of control of political donations, campaign finance, lobbying, and post-politics careers. • And the absence of a federal anti-corruption commission with teeth. Is there a strong basis for their comments and what should be down about it? Ken Dobinson was a senior executive in what was then the Department of Main Roads in NSW and he joins us now.

Overdrive: TVR Tuscan on a great road; Grattan Institute - policy blockage; Subaru WRX as a work car

Tue, 03 Aug 2021 04:22:26 +0000

Hello and welcome to Overdrive, a program that looks at the latest trends in motoring and transport for serious and not so serious issues. I’m David Brown The times each story appears in the program are noted (mm:ss) News • Australia’s governance is going backwards (1:23) • Audi RS 7 (2:56) • Fortuner (4:06) • WRX (5:08) • Rogue (6:30) Feature Item • In the first of a series Barry Green takes us on one of his Best Drives: a great car in a great location (7:34) • Ken Dobinson tells us what it is like to work in a transport department with heavy political pressures (15:03) Motoring Minute • Jeep Wrangler Rubicon (20:51) Interview • David Rowley tells us why going to Subaru as the PR manager was a decision helped by knowing they had the WRX – and his children loved it. (22:01) Motoring Minute • Fiat 500 You can find more information at Driven Media or previous programs are available as podcasts on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0ah6JZN8LTYURIfNs1IIBs iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/overdrive-cars-transport-and-culture/id1001084679 Our Facebook page OverdriveCity – Driven Media https://www.facebook.com/OverdriveCityDrivenMedia/?modal=admin_todo_tour or Our YouTube site https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKyx5sv6cgF4URRmNq2JiXg/videos So, let’s start with the news Originally broadcast 31 July 2021

Overdrive: Wacky Toyota Rhombus; Traditional Nissan Proto; Subscription Cars; Pedestrian Controls

Sun, 01 Aug 2021 06:25:44 +0000

Hello and welcome to Overdrive, a program that looks at the latest trends in motoring and transport for serious and not so serious issues. I’m David Brown The times each story appears in the program are noted (mm:ss) News 1. Nissan Z Proto concept at the 2021 Chicago Auto Show (1:28) 2. Toyota Rhombus – a brave new world (2:16) 3. 2022 Toyota Corolla Cross (3:19) 4. BMW and RMIT University’s second edition of YourMelbourne competition (3:44) 5. Grattan’s zero-emissions push (4:28) Feature Item • We talk to an Australian company that has done research that shows a shift attitudes to finance and funding cars in the younger generations, that could favour car subscriptions rather than outright ownership (6:21) • We continue our look at pedestrian controls at traffic lights and hear some of the history of the many things that have been tried to get a better solution (15:13) Motoring Minute • Hyundai Palisade (23:59) Quirky • And Brian Smith again talks about what Elon Musk is saying and the nuances of motoring (25:11) Motoring Minute • LDV G10 (28:09) You can find more information at Driven Media or previous programs are available as podcasts on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0ah6JZN8LTYURIfNs1IIBs iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/overdrive-cars-transport-and-culture/id1001084679 Our Facebook page OverdriveCity – Driven Media https://www.facebook.com/OverdriveCityDrivenMedia/?modal=admin_todo_tour or Our YouTube site https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKyx5sv6cgF4URRmNq2JiXg/videos So, let’s start with the news Originally broadcast 24 July 2021

Overdrive: Adapting Signals for Pedestrians; VW’s big electric strategy; Bugatti moves to the side

Sun, 18 Jul 2021 15:51:16 +0000

Hello and welcome to Overdrive, a program about cars and culture I’m David Brown The times each story appears in the program are noted (mm:ss) News 1. VW strategy single platform, battery cell and software systems (1:39) 2. Spain to invest big in EVs and batteries (2:32) 3. Squad Mobility’s urban vehicle – an upmarket golf buggy with solar panels (3:35) 4. BMW electric Scooter for Australia (4:09) 5. Campaign to rid Britain’s pavements of clutter (4:58) 6. Wales seeks 20mph local street speed limit (5:43) Feature Item • Are you frustrated by the time you have to wait for pedestrian signals, either in a car or when walking, how little time you have to cross, or if the lights change an no one is there? We investigate the developments in traffic signals to measure and react to pedestrian movements. (6:56) Feedback • Some pictures on our social media sites have resonated strongly (20:24) Motoring Minute • Volkswagen Passat 206 Wagon (22:26) Quirky • Brian Smith discusses hyper performance cars like Bugattis – which the VW groups has pushed to the side. (23:33) Motoring Minute • Toyota Prado (27:29) You can find more information at Driven Media or previous programs are available as podcasts on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0ah6JZN8LTYURIfNs1IIBs iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/overdrive-cars-transport-and-culture/id1001084679 Our Facebook page OverdriveCity – Driven Media https://www.facebook.com/OverdriveCityDrivenMedia/?modal=admin_todo_tour or Our YouTube site https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKyx5sv6cgF4URRmNq2JiXg/videos So, let’s start with the news Originally broadcast 17 July 2021

Overdrive: Nissan Patrol – its luxurious, but offroad? Line marking glows at night; Voodoo for plane

Sun, 11 Jul 2021 11:26:03 +0000

Hello and welcome to Overdrive, a program where we put the world of motoring and transport under the microscope. I’m David Brown The times each story appears in the program are noted (mm:ss) News 1. Nissan Patrol (1:26) 2. Car Sales figures (2:45) 3. Tesla touchscreen wiper controls land driver with fine after crash (3:34) 4. Bugatti-Rimac combines the genes of strong brands (4:32) 5. Struck by lightning, voodoo priests exorcising Ethiopian airline Interview • We chat in more detail to Ged Bulmer about the latest Nissan Patrol and the market for very large four-wheel drives (5:46) Feedback • The posts that have got the most responses on our Facebook page (14:48) Interview • Dave Jones tells us about an Australian product that puts luminescent line marking material on the road to glow at night (15:53) Motoring Minute • Citroen C3 (23:11) Quirky • Brian Smith gives his assessment of evoking the supernatural to enhance transport safety. (24:16) Motoring Minute • Kona N-Line (28:12) You can find more information at Driven Media or previous programs are available as podcasts on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0ah6JZN8LTYURIfNs1IIBs iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/overdrive-cars-transport-and-culture/id1001084679 Our Facebook page OverdriveCity https://www.facebook.com/OverdriveCityDrivenMedia/?modal=admin_todo_tour or Our YouTube site https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKyx5sv6cgF4URRmNq2JiXg/videos So, let’s start with the news Originally broadcast 10 July 2021

Overdrive: VW’s new electric push and Cupra model; Subaru WRX STI; Managing Traffic light controls

Sat, 03 Jul 2021 10:34:30 +0000

Overdrive: VW’s new electric push and Cupra model; Subaru WRX STI; Managing Traffic light controls Welcome to Overdrive, a program where we put the world of motoring and transport under the microscope. I’m David Brown The times each story appears in the program are noted (mm:ss) News 1. Nissan JUKE Energy Orange model (1:20) 2. New way for Honda in Australia starts now (2:26) 3. MINI Vision Urbanaut: the virtual vision now becomes reality (3:29) 4. New SCATS (4:28) Interviews 1. We have some reflections from Kurt McGuiness who is the PR and Brand Electric Vehicle Manager for the Volkswagen group in Australia (6:03) 2. We have spin in the last of the current model Subaru WRX STI (14:27) Motoring Minute • Genesis GV80 (21:05) Interview 3. Brian Smith ruminates about the man found to be driving from the rear seat. (22:11) Motoring Minute • Mazda MX-30 (27:50) You can find more information at Driven Media or previous programs are available as podcasts on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0ah6JZN8LTYURIfNs1IIBs iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/overdrive-cars-transport-and-culture/id1001084679 Our Facebook page OverdriveCity https://www.facebook.com/OverdriveCityDrivenMedia/?modal=admin_todo_tour or Our YouTube site https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKyx5sv6cgF4URRmNq2JiXg/videos So, let’s start with the news Originally broadcast 3 July 2021

Bus lounges – a positive funding initiative that the public loves

Thu, 01 Jul 2021 01:01:39 +0000

Buses are often seen as the poor cousin of public transport with little given to providing a whole of journey positive experience. In New Zealand, an off-street Bus Exchange, opened in 2000, provided a dramatic demonstration of the benefits of providing airport-quality waiting areas for bus passengers. In 2006 transport planning expert, Brian Smith introduced the concept of shopfront bus passenger lounges to Christchurch. In 2020 cost pressures threatened this initiative. This concept is not only practical but engages the public in a broader understanding of what a good bus system needs. Following is an extract from a regular interview on ABC Central West radio which broadcasts to 20 areas such as Orange, Bathurst, Parkes, Lithgow, Mudgee, and Goulburn The Questions are being asked by the breakfast presenter Ewan Gilbert. Quote from Brian Smith The city council there was suffering some budget problems as a result of COVID and they were looking for ways to cut spending. The operating costs of the Riccarton bus lounges made them a candidate. But they consulted with the community, and they received overwhelming support for the retention of the bus lounges. So it's great to see the council both listening to its community, but also recognising the benefits to customers of operating these high-quality passenger waiting spaces. It really does treat bus passengers in Christchurch as very valued customers.

Overdrive: Tax Break for electric cars; Station wagon comeback?; Installing your own speed humps

Sun, 27 Jun 2021 12:20:58 +0000

Hello and welcome to Overdrive a program that broods over the world of cars and transport The times each story appears in the program are noted (mm:ss) I’m David Brown News 1. NSW State government pushes electric vehicle tax reform (1:12) 2. Rex breaks records in Australia (2:24) 3. Genesis is expanding in models and sales (3:21) 4. Can the station wagon make a comeback? - Peugeot Unveils the 308 SW (4:23) 5. Bus lounges help make public transport more effective (5:32) Interviews • Tim Robson from MG gives some frank opinions on their success and their approach to electric vehicles (7:01) • Guido Shenken from Genesis prestige vehicles discusses their fast-improving model range (15:57) Motoring Minute • Isuzu D-Max (21:04) Quirky News • And Brian Smith covers the unusual subject of residents installing their own speed humps on public roads. (22:14) Motoring Minute • Audi RSQ8 (28:08)

Overdrive: Audi e-tron; Why we travel, not just how; Wacky Railway history; An urban solution - NOT

Mon, 21 Jun 2021 12:43:18 +0000

Hello and welcome to Overdrive a program that samples and savours the world of cars and transport The times each story appears in the program are noted (mm:ss) I’m David Brown News • Audi e-tron (1:22) • MG HS (2:29) • Converting car washes to EV charging stations (3:27) • Ferrari Fashion(4:28) Interviews Three interviews from the sublime to the ridiculous well at least the quirky • Liz Ampt tells us the benefits of surveys to determine why people are travelling not just how they are making trips. (5:32) • Stuart Sharp – historian - has some wonderful reflections on transport and the animosity in our early history between politicians and the Queens representatives. (14:59) • And Brian Smith gives his take on just another wild scheme to transport people in cities (26:08) Motoring Minute • Toyota Kluger (13:56) Motoring Minute • Subaru XV (25:05) You can find more information at Driven Media or previous programs are available as podcasts on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0ah6JZN8LTYURIfNs1IIBs iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/overdrive-cars-transport-and-culture/id1001084679 Our Facebook page OverdriveCity https://www.facebook.com/OverdriveCityDrivenMedia/?modal=admin_todo_tour or Our YouTube site https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKyx5sv6cgF4URRmNq2JiXg/videos So, let’s start with the news Originally broadcast 19 June 2021

Kia Niro: What does it look like when it is working well? Depends on needs and the version you have

Wed, 09 Jun 2021 13:52:44 +0000

We have talked recently with Roland Rivero Kia’s product manager, about their Niro in particular, their car that has electric options to it. While there are many specific product features, introducing electrification vehicles into the Australian market requires understanding and finesse. In our chat Roland discusses • The split between the different versions from the car which in percentage terms will be: 20% for the fully electric model; 70% for the mild hybrid and 10% for the plug-in hybrid • Why is a plug-in hybrid percentage so low when it can do over 50km on batteries, which is good for many trips in the urban area and then have the flexibility of a petrol engine for long trips. • When does the petrol engine come in? When the battery runs out or when you need a surge of power (more than 70% of the throttle) or for holding a high speed (over 129 km/hr). • The value of a plug-in hybrid is an indication of an evolving nature of helping the customer understand how they might choose and use a vehicle to their advantage. • The key element is the customer's circumstances • The Niro they have now imported into the country was launched overseas some years ago and it is due for an update within a year. How does that affect the sales now? • Kia is not just putting its toe in the water but is implementing a long-term strategy with the electrification of vehicles.

Hyundai Ioniq 5: Designed from the ground up - The changing face of Electric Vehicles

Tue, 08 Jun 2021 11:39:36 +0000

The relatively recent developments in the electrification of vehicles, most particularly starting in 2000 or so with the Toyota Prius hybrid, did not sell itself on the elegance of its outward appearance. Although the need for environmental considerations is becoming even more critical, hybrids and electric vehicles can no longer look like a science experiment. Later this year, Hyundai will launch in Australia the next generation of their all-electric sedan, the Ioniq. It doesn't look like a catch-up vehicle, but one that is very futuristic in its design, not only its technology. • The new Ioniq 5 – built as an electric car from the ground up • A modern looking product • By being built as electric cars, vehicles will change shape in the years ahead as they are no longer bounded by the powertrains of old. • Ioniq 5 looks modern but pays homage to a futuristic design concept from the past • Same power train as the Hyundai Kona but there will be a modular platform • There are strong indications they are working on a performance version which will be part of the electric car vision • Range anxiety is real but there is a poor understanding of how many cars do not travel great distances. • Current electric vehicle buyers are well informed and focused on the broader issue. There is not a situation of people walking into a dealer to buy an internal combustion engine car and being talked into an electric one. • The quietness of an electric car can produce a much calmer driving environment. • If there is a consistent need for doing long trips then a plug-in hybrid is potential the best of both worlds at the moment. The Ioniq is purely an electric vehicle but plug-in hybrids will be part of the fleet. • The first question should be “How will you use the car?” and then “How much range do I need?” • Federal Government is not giving incentives at the moment but State governments are being more active. • Bill was most struck by how electric vehicles can produce a much more pleasant ride when he rode in a hydrogen bus. It makes it feel like a luxury ride.

Overdrive: Car sales could hit 1 mill; Hyundai Ioniq – purpose built electric vehicle; Isuzu D-Max

Sun, 06 Jun 2021 04:07:44 +0000

Hello and welcome to Overdrive a program that bounces through the world of cars and transport The times each story appears in the program are noted (mm:ss) I’m David Brown News 1. Car Sales May 2021 – We may reach 1 million for the year (1:17) 2. Ioniq 5 – Creating an electric vehicle from the ground up (2:13) 3. Mazda BT-50 single cab ute (3:21) 4. BMW i Brand – market testing new technologies (4:20) Interview • Hyundai will soon be launching their next generation Ioniq electric vehicle in Australia. Why it is a major step and how will dealers need to approach the issue is well worth a discussion with Bill Thomas Hyundai’s GM of Communications (5:37) Motoring Minute • Ford Ranger Raptor (17:03) Interview • Alan Zurvas chats about two different sorts of small SUVs you can buy for about $44,000 (18:08) Motoring Minute • Peugeot 2008 GT (23:25) Interview • And we catch up with Rob Fraser while driving an Isuzu ute. (24:33) You can find more information at Driven Media or previous programs are available as podcasts on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0ah6JZN8LTYURIfNs1IIBs iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/overdrive-cars-transport-and-culture/id1001084679 Our Facebook page OverdriveCity https://www.facebook.com/OverdriveCityDrivenMedia/?modal=admin_todo_tour or Our YouTube site https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKyx5sv6cgF4URRmNq2JiXg/videos Originally broadcast 5 June 2021

Overdrive: Positioning various electrification models; Subaru BRZ; Suspension setups for Australia

Wed, 02 Jun 2021 10:20:51 +0000

Hello and welcome to Overdrive a cars and transport program where you don’t have to be a rev head to enjoy it. The times each story appears in the program are noted (mm:ss) I’m David Brown News • Kia Niro – Mild Hybrid, Plug-In or Full Electric? (1:08) • Mazda CX-3 – Competent little SUV (2:08) • MG ZS Electric – A lower priced electric vehicle (3:10) • Mazda BT 50 single cab ute – a workhorse not a family car (4:12) Interview • Reflecting in more detail on the positioning of the Kia Niro electric options with Paul Murrell (5:17) Motoring Minute • Volkswagen Toureg (12:14) Interview • Driving the Subaru BRZ sports car with Alan Zurvas (13:25) Motoring Minute • Subaru Outback (20:03) Interview • Going through the process of setting up a new model for Australian Conditions (21:13) You can find more information at Driven Media or previous programs are available as podcasts on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0ah6JZN8LTYURIfNs1IIBs iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/overdrive-cars-transport-and-culture/id1001084679 Our Facebook page OverdriveCity https://www.facebook.com/OverdriveCityDrivenMedia/?modal=admin_todo_tour or Our YouTube site https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKyx5sv6cgF4URRmNq2JiXg/videos Originally broadcast 29 May 2021

Overdrive: Right processes/right decisions –CEO ARRB; Kia Niro; Poo collection from Railway tracks

Tue, 25 May 2021 12:58:28 +0000

Hello and welcome to Overdrive a program that looks at cars and transport from a variety of angles. The times each story appears in the program are noted (mm:ss) I’m David Brown News 1. Kia Australia enters the electrified market (1:27) 2. Audi Q5 - Comfort at a price (2:32) 3. National Safety week (3:34) 4. Combining data sets for a comprehensive road management program (4:28) 5. A very successful transport Institute turns 30. (5:29) Interviews • Last week we lamented that all the talk of the Federal Budget was about the size of the spending and not about how effective the spending will be. This week we again here from Michael Caltabiano the CEO of the major transport research organisation the ARRB about how he is working to ensure we make smart decisions. (6:41) Motoring Minute • Audi Q2 (21:44) Interview • And Brian Smith talks about a necessary although uncomfortable discussion point to do with transport in India (22:51) Motoring Minute • Audi SQ5 (28:02) You can find more information at Driven Media or previous programs are available as podcasts on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0ah6JZN8LTYURIfNs1IIBs iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/overdrive-cars-transport-and-culture/id1001084679 Our Facebook page OverdriveCity https://www.facebook.com/OverdriveCityDrivenMedia/?modal=admin_todo_tour or Our YouTube site https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKyx5sv6cgF4URRmNq2JiXg/videos So, let’s start with the news Originally broadcast 22 May 2021

Overdrive: Processes for the right decisions about transport – Michael Caltabiano CEO ARRB;

Thu, 20 May 2021 03:44:20 +0000

We are in a time of huge and rapid technological development which will offer great opportunities to adapt the way we do things Add to that, major uncertainties arising from situations such as COVID. So predicting the future, or more to the point making the most of the future, needs expansive thought and engagement and research. The ARRB, formerly the Australian Road Research Board, has a vision statement to To help make the world’s cities smarter, cleaner, greener, safer, more efficient and productive through intelligent transport solutions. How do we do this is times of difficult funding and a media driven emphasis on short term immediate. It is a pleasure to again speak to Michael Caltabiano CEO of ARRB. After a few technical difficulties I asked him about what the road authorities were seeking, when they set up ARRB in 1960.

Overdrive: Federal Budget – big projects but no process improvement; VW utes and vans

Tue, 18 May 2021 10:28:08 +0000

Overdrive: Federal Budget – big projects but no process improvement; VW utes and vans Hello and welcome to Overdrive a program that looks at all forms of transport from the humble bike through perhaps to a rocket powered space ship. The times each story appears in the program are noted (mm:ss) I’m David Brown News • Federal Budget (1:13) • VW Multivan (2:19) • VW – Ute (3:19) • Kia leads the way with Electric Vehicle mobile Ap (4:19) • Reinstating delivery curfews – short-term thinking? (5:20) Interviews • With cars sales rebounding particularly at the two ends of the market, small lower priced vehicles and more expensive larger cars, we again talk to Kate Gillis to see if Peugeot is riding that wave. (6:25) Feedback • Alloy wheel protectors (14:38) Motoring Minute • Mazda CX-9 (15:15) Interview • And we catch up with two of our favourite guests: • Motoring journalist Paul Murrell (16:22) and • Transport expert (with a great sense of humour) Brian Smith. (21:37) Motoring Minute • Ford Ranger Ute (28:14) You can find more information at Driven Media or previous programs are available as podcasts on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0ah6JZN8LTYURIfNs1IIBs iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/overdrive-cars-transport-and-culture/id1001084679 Our Facebook page OverdriveCity or Instagram 0verdrivecity https://www.facebook.com/OverdriveCityDrivenMedia/?modal=admin_todo_tour or Our YouTube site https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKyx5sv6cgF4URRmNq2JiXg/videos Originally broadcast 15 May 2021

Overdrive: Building electric buses in Australia; A practical experience in buying a car; BMW e-bike

Wed, 12 May 2021 02:47:41 +0000

Hello and welcome to Overdrive a program that looks at the different ways we get around, from walking, riding, or in cars, buses, trains or planes. The times each story appears in the program are noted (mm:ss) I’m David Brown News 1. Nissan adds a new variant of their small SUV – the Qashqai (1:20) 2. BMW offers an e-bike with their electric vehicles (2:25) 3. BusTech are racing ahead building electric buses in Australia (3:30) 4. Bob Holden raced the original Mini Cooper S –now he tests a new electric model (4:31) Interviews • If you are buying a car there are many check lists on what to do. But what are some of the practical examples. Motoring Journalist Paul Murrell has just been through the exercise. (5:34) Motoring Minute • Kia Carnival (15:41) Interview • BusTech is racing ahead in building electric buses in Australia. We talk to their chairman Christian Reynolds. (16:48) Motoring Minute • Audi A7 Sportback (28:10) You can find more information at Driven Media or previous programs are available as podcasts on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0ah6JZN8LTYURIfNs1IIBs iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/overdrive-cars-transport-and-culture/id1001084679 Our Facebook page OverdriveCity or Instagram 0verdrivecity https://www.facebook.com/OverdriveCityDrivenMedia/?modal=admin_todo_tour or Our YouTube site https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKyx5sv6cgF4URRmNq2JiXg/videos Originally broadcast 8 May 2021

Overdrive: Cash for Clunkers to buy a bike; Subaru XV; Nissan Leaf e+; Mazda MX 5; Hispano Suiza

Sun, 02 May 2021 14:14:12 +0000

Hello and welcome to Overdrive a program that looks at a range of different ways we get around, from cars, buses, trains and planes. The times each story appears in the program are noted (mm:ss) I’m David Brown News 1. Mazda MX 5 (1:28) 2. MG – HS (2:25) 3. Nissan LEAF e+ add more performance to a successful electric vehicle (3:27) 4. Hispano Suiza Unique Tailormade, 1,904 ways to design the car of your dreams (4:30) Interview Cash for clunkers, a French government program to pay you to scrape your old polluting car, but not to buy another car (5:36) Feedback • I continue to have trouble with tyres (11:40) Motoring Minute Kia Stinger (13:49) Feedback • Interview about electric vehicles (14:57) Road test • Subaru XV (17:22) Motoring Minute Hyundai Palisade (22:30) Quirky News Brian Smith discussed what the Japanese want you to do in a service station toilet to see if you are too tired to drive. (23:39) You can find more information at Driven Media or previous programs are available as podcasts on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0ah6JZN8LTYURIfNs1IIBs iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/overdrive-cars-transport-and-culture/id1001084679 Our Facebook page OverdriveCity or Instagram 0verdrivecity https://www.facebook.com/OverdriveCityDrivenMedia/?modal=admin_todo_tour or Our YouTube site https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKyx5sv6cgF4URRmNq2JiXg/videos Originally broadcast 1 may 2021

Overdrive: Volvo Ad Pulled after complaint; Cars with no spare tyres; Alfa Guilia;

Fri, 23 Apr 2021 13:37:45 +0000

Welcome to Overdrive, a program where we look at the wide and wonderful world of motoring and transport. The times each story appears in the program are noted (mm:ss) I’m David Brown News 1. Volvo Car ad material removed after complaint (1:28) 2. Tesla crash – what we need to consider with autonomous vehicles (2:32) 3. Maserati Ghibli hybrid (3:38) 4. Volkswagen wins world car of the year (4:41) A Trip to the Country (and a flat tyre) • I give a report on the adventurous trip into the country side in an all-electric Mini (5:46) Motoring Minute • Citroen C3 (9:32) Mini Electric • And while we were there, we asked the 1966 Bathurst 500 winner, Bob Holden to have a drive and give us his impression of the Mini (10:35) Alfa Guilia • Alan Zurvas road tests the Alfa Guilia (17:00) Motoring Minute • LDV Deliver 9 (22:33) Adventures of an old trouper • And when talking to 88 year old Bob Holden we asked about how he drove across the London – just to drive back in the London to Sydney Marathon. (23:33) You can find more information at Driven Media or previous programs are available as podcasts on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0ah6JZN8LTYURIfNs1IIBs iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/overdrive-cars-transport-and-culture/id1001084679 Our Facebook page OverdriveCity or Instagram 0verdrivecity https://www.facebook.com/OverdriveCityDrivenMedia/?modal=admin_todo_tour or Our YouTube site https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKyx5sv6cgF4URRmNq2JiXg/videos Originally broadcast 24 April 2021

Overdrive: Mini Electric; Plug-In Hybrid – The overlooked option; Vehicle supply is near crisis

Fri, 23 Apr 2021 11:53:52 +0000

Welcome to Overdrive, a program about all sorts of things to do with motoring and transport. The times each story appears in the program are noted (mm:ss) I’m David Brown News 1. Subaru upgrades the XV (1:40) 2. All New Haval H6 Now On Sale (2:48) 3. Hyundai Motor’s STARIA people-mover debuts (3:55) 4. Volkswagen Group Australia calls for emission targets (4:53) 5. Toyota launches all-new Mirai with an extended lease program (5:58) Interview • With an upcoming adventure in a Mini electric we get the low down on BMW electrification from Brendan Mok for Mini Australia (7:08) Feedback • We have some comments from technical experts on the accuracy of a recent cartoon in the newspaper about pressing pedestrian call buttons in times of COVID (14:01) Motoring Minute • Camry Hybrid (15:16) Plug-in Hybrids – the forgotten technology? • Several industry figures reflect on the benefit of plug-in hybrids. (16:27) Motoring Minutes • Subaru Outback (22:43) Interview • And finally, we talk to Paul Murrell not about choosing a car but how hard it is to buy one that will be delivered soon. (23:53) You can find more information at Driven Media or previous programs are available as podcasts on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0ah6JZN8LTYURIfNs1IIBs iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/overdrive-cars-transport-and-culture/id1001084679 Our Facebook page OverdriveCity or Instagram 0verdrivecity https://www.facebook.com/OverdriveCityDrivenMedia/?modal=admin_todo_tour or Our YouTube site https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKyx5sv6cgF4URRmNq2JiXg/videos So, let’s start with the news Originally broadcast 17 April 2021

Overdrive: Govt’s waffle words; Kia Stonic & Carnival; Space saver tyres; seats for wider drivers

Sat, 10 Apr 2021 12:59:35 +0000

Hello and welcome to Overdrive, a program that investigates matters to do with motoring and transport. I’m David Brown News 1. Vehicle cars sales for March 2021 (1:30) 2. New Subaru Outback Climbs To Best Seller in its class (2:30) 3. People Movers make a come back led by the Carnival (3:30) 4. Toyota unveils Victoria’s first hydrogen production and re-fuelling facility (4:27) Interview A chat with Kia about their new small SUV, the Stonic An interesting situation • In Victoria you cannot go for your driving test unless the car has the old style manual handbrake. (13:53) Motoring Minute • Space saver tyres – are they a good thing? (14:33) Interview • More from Kia – A reflection on the resurgence of the people mover market (15:36) Feedback • Some positive response to story we did about bureaucratic waffle words – and another example (18:56) Motoring Minute • Toyota RAV 4 (22:08) Interview • Paul Murrell talks of a modern trend – the increasing width of drivers. (23:20) You can find more information at Driven Media or previous programs are available as podcasts on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0ah6JZN8LTYURIfNs1IIBs iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/overdrive-cars-transport-and-culture/id1001084679 Our Facebook page OverdriveCity or Instagram 0verdrivecity https://www.facebook.com/OverdriveCityDrivenMedia/?modal=admin_todo_tour or Our YouTube site https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKyx5sv6cgF4URRmNq2JiXg/videos So, let’s start with the news Originally broadcast 10 April 2021

Overdrive: VW Cupra, Renault Captur & Hyundai Nexo for Aus; Tesla model 3; Sculpture near motorways

Sat, 03 Apr 2021 07:18:57 +0000

Hello and welcome to Overdrive, where we take a populous approach to cars and transport. I’m David Brown News 1. Cupra: A New Car Brand Coming to Australia (1:27) 2. NEXO: Hyundai’s hydrogen fuel-cell first (2:23) 3. The all-new Renault Captur - the Light SUV leader in Europe returns to Australia (3:23) 4. XPeng releases first data from long-distance highway AD expedition (4:30) Interview Paul Murrell gives us the background on Volkswagen’s new brand destined for the Australia market (5:46) Motoring Minute Toyota Yaris GR (11:56) Interview Alan Zurvas has a run down on the latest Tesla model 3 (13:04) Motoring Minute Kia Stonic (20:31) Interview And Doug Spencer Roy and I discuss the value and impact of sculpture on the side of motor ways (21:35) You can find more information at Driven Media or previous programs are available as podcasts on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0ah6JZN8LTYURIfNs1IIBs iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/overdrive-cars-transport-and-culture/id1001084679 Our Facebook page OverdriveCity or Instagram 0verdrivecity https://www.facebook.com/OverdriveCityDrivenMedia/?modal=admin_todo_tour or Our YouTube site https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKyx5sv6cgF4URRmNq2JiXg/videos Originally broadcast 3 April 2021

Overdrive: Driving in the rain; Electric trucks; Peugeot’s newish 3008 & 5008; Hyundai Staria;

Fri, 26 Mar 2021 10:28:03 +0000

Hello and welcome to Overdrive, where we experiment with ideas and activities to do with cars and transport. I’m David Brown News 1. FCAI’s first report on emission levels from vehicle brands in Australia (1:43) 2. Hyundai Motor reveals additional design details of STARIA (2:43) 3. Make Overs for Peugeot 3008 and 5008 SUVs (3:45) 4. Volume production of local electric trucks. (4:52) Interview Alan Zurvas has been for a spin in 5 different Audi’s around the Phillip Island Race track including the top of the range sports car the R8. (6:01) Alan and I also have a quick chat about some new Peugeots. (14:08) Governments become the centre of Buzz words We look at the wording of a NSW government ad for a critical traffic management position and ask “Have we lost all sense of technology in a sea of buzz words” (17:09) Interview Having had such a sustained period of rain on the east coast, Rob Fraser reports on his experience with a large pothole and a blown tyre. (19:42) What the rain tells us about low profile tyres The incongruity of a low profile tyre and a large pothole is discussed (28:05) You can find more information at Driven Media or previous programs are available as podcasts on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0ah6JZN8LTYURIfNs1IIBs iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/overdrive-cars-transport-and-culture/id1001084679 Our Facebook page OverdriveCity https://www.facebook.com/OverdriveCityDrivenMedia/?modal=admin_todo_tour or Our YouTube site https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKyx5sv6cgF4URRmNq2JiXg/videos Originally broadcast 27 March 2021

Will Hagon: An hour long “short” chat about Minis, and motor racing heroes and villains

Sat, 20 Mar 2021 01:48:36 +0000

Will Hagan has been broadcasting on motoring and motor racing for more than half a century. When I was arranging to talk to International race and rally champion Rauno Aaltonen Will was the ideal person to get some back ground information. Will is, of course more than happy to talk on a range of subjects and in this short interview that goes for over an hour he covered many subjects in his exuberant style. Subjects covered include: • The beginning of his broadcasting career (0:42) • His step father sold Minis (3:32) • Early history of minis racing in Australia (3:53) • Isigonis and the design of the early Minis (9:43) • In the 1960s Japanese car makers began competing in the Bathurst race to show their reliability (15:44) • Meeting Rauno Aaltonen and doing his anti-terrorist driving course (25:06) • Porsche’s in Australia – the Germans were used to being allowed to use public road for taking race cars to meetings. As did Jack Brabham (27:15) • Rauno and Bob Holden’s efforts at winning Bathurst (33:55)

Hyundai i30: Why the sedan makes a different statement to the hatchback

Sat, 20 Mar 2021 00:56:37 +0000

When car companies have a sedan and a hatchback, they're often very similar, certainly at the front and the sedan is often just a fairly pedestrian sort of vehicle at the back. Now, it's just been driving some of the Hyundai’s i30s a very successful little car in the small car category, along with things like Corollas. Now, the hatchback, it's been in here for a few years, looks fine and went well. But then, as I was about to swap to the sedan, and it looked just so different. Why? Bill Thomas is the general manager of Hyundai’s public relations. Subjects covered include: • The sedan and hatch are different models altogether (0:52) • The design style for the sedan “sensuous sportiness” • The evolution of sedan style (3:21) • What is the split between sedans and hatchbacks (5:03) • The dashboard in the sedan is digital – how are the customers responding (7:33) • Being upfront about what the automatic emergency braking will and will not do (8:23)

Murray Walker: Reminisces from down under

Sat, 20 Mar 2021 00:25:57 +0000

He had a good run he was 97 years old. He did his research but his stock in trade was his unbounded enthusiasm. He was a motor racing fan first and not a self-promoting expert. Australian motoring journalist David Berthon knew him well. David joins us with his reminisces. Subjects covered include: • David met Murray because of a boom scare at a historical event being opened by Prince Charles (0:44) • When Murray came to Australia for the Adelaide Grand Prix, David arranged for him to go to Sydney and make some other presentations. • Murray’s experience in advertising (4:03) • Murray’s self-deprecating humour (6:34) • Why Murray helped make formula 1 such a great sport at that time rather than now (8:53) • Murray’s father was a famous motorbike racing rider. (11:33) • Working with other commentators. A major function for the 1985 Adelaide Grand Prix. Murray behaved impeccably while a disheveled James Hunt chased women. (13:23)

Overdrive: Kia EV6; Hyundai i30-sedan or hatch?; Murray Walker remembered; Will Hagon & rally Minis

Fri, 19 Mar 2021 11:07:19 +0000

Hello and welcome to Overdrive, a program that seeks simplicity amongst the complexities when talking about cars and transport. I’m David Brown News 1. Kia reveals design philosophy behind first electric vehicle (1:37) 2. Genesis tackles the large SUV market with the QV80 (3:03) 3. Toyota focus on hybrid for facelifted Camry (4:08) 4. Death of Murray Walker (5:13) Interview Hyundai have a hatchback and sedan version of the i30 small/medium brand but they are very different vehicles. Bill Thomas from Hyundai tells us why and what it means for the market. (6:19) Motoring Minute • Audi S5 Coupe (13:40) Interview Respected Australia motoring journalist David Berthon, talks of his friendship with the late Murray Walker who has just passed away aged 97. (14:57) Motoring Minute • VE Touareg R Line (21:56) Interview And finally, we get some enthusiastic reminisces from Motorsport commentator Will Hagon about racing minis and the characters who drove them. (23:02) You can find more information at Driven Media or previous programs are available as podcasts on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0ah6JZN8LTYURIfNs1IIBs iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/overdrive-cars-transport-and-culture/id1001084679 Our Facebook and Instagram page "overdrivecity"https://www.facebook.com/OverdriveCityDrivenMedia/?modal=admin_todo_tour or Our YouTube site https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKyx5sv6cgF4URRmNq2JiXg/videos Originally broadcast 20 March 2021

Woman’s World Car of the Year: Judge Nadine Armstrong talks about what it takes

Sun, 14 Mar 2021 06:18:18 +0000

The Women's World Cup of the Year award has just been announced. The judging panel was 50 women motoring journalists from around the world tow were from Australia, Liz Swanton and Nadine Armstrong. We recorded this chat with Nadine. Issues covered include: • The things Nadine looks at as the Consumer Editor for carsales.com.au (Time location in the interview - 0:13) • Issues with owning a motor car are becoming more and more complex and varied (1:07) • Ways to help us remember doing basic maintenance such as checking the pressure in your tyres (1:53) • Her early experiences including owning motorbikes (one was a Harley!) (2:53) • How are road test evolving (4:14) • Women’s World Car of the Year – the choices were similar to what men would make this year but that may evolve (5:15) • Examples of cars that were “made for women” in the past and what might it be in the future (8:33) • How hard was it to break into motoring journalism (11:14) • The differences in how people are looking at cars and making decisions (14:59)

Overdrive: WWCOTY – a judge speaks; Porsche Taycan; Women in Car ads; Road design for garbage trucks

Sat, 13 Mar 2021 07:24:21 +0000

Hello and welcome to Overdrive, a program about cars and transport I’m David Brown News 1. Land Rover Women’s world car of the year (1:34) 2. Maserati on track with women - Maria Teresa de Filippis history of audacity (2:54) 3. Nissan is developing an engine for road cars that could reach 50% thermal efficiency (3:58) 4. Infrastructure Australia adds a record number of new investment opportunities to support COVID-19 recovery (4:56) Interview Nadine Armstrong who was one of two Australians on the judging panel of the WWCOTY. We have a chat about her thinking and approach to this award. (6:15) Car ads for cars aimed at women We reflect on how some car companies have advertised to women (3:15) Interviews Paul Murrell tells us about the new electric Porsche whose name is likely to be mispronounced (18:28) And in two final interviews we talk to Brian Smith on how we let vehicle access including garbage trucks dominate our urban street design (22:55) And finally we get some enthusiastic reminisces from Motorsport commentator Will Hagon about racing minis and the characters who drove them. You can find more information at Driven Media or previous programs are available as podcasts on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0ah6JZN8LTYURIfNs1IIBs iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/overdrive-cars-transport-and-culture/id1001084679 Our Facebook page OverdriveCity https://www.facebook.com/OverdriveCityDrivenMedia/?modal=admin_todo_tour or Our YouTube site https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKyx5sv6cgF4URRmNq2JiXg/videos Originally broadcast 13 March 2021

Roads of the future: Building and maintaining the critical asset: Michael Caltabiano ARRB

Wed, 10 Mar 2021 04:26:54 +0000

Michael Caltabiano is the Chief Executive Officer of ARRB, the preeminent road research organisation in Australia. He has been a politician but he also has a degree and experience in engineering. Whenever I have visited ARRB, Michael has always chatted while showing me around the laboratories. We never sit in an office or meeting room. I wanted to talk to someone in his organisation about what makes a good road and the technical reasons why there can be problems and how does that affect users. I think his eyes lit up. This was a subject that he himself had a passion for and an extensive understanding of the issues so, consequently he was more than happy to have the chat. Subjects he covers include: • Moving away from just technology to a bigger focus on consumer behaviour • Big data has to be about understanding behaviour change • Not just designing roads for 40 years but researching the “Perpetual Road” where the foundation stays for the foreseeable future but you may change the surface periodically. • Why urban roads are smooth (and expensive) but rural roads have coarser payments but are cheaper to build. • Concrete roads are now out of favour • The health industry has shown that it is usually better to identify if there is a problem before the external symptoms are very apparent. Measuring the condition of the road is important before potholes develop. Use of lasers and other technologies to measure the condition of the road. • The use of digital mapping is a great way of combining data from a range of sources to better understand the complexity and interaction between different factors to identify the best solutions. • We need to have good data especially with high powered analysis such as Artificial Intelligence. • From Sydney to the north there was, quite some years ago, what was once considered the longest crack in a road. Michael was there at the time. • ARRB has a great input to world best research and is contributing to international considerations of world’s best practice.

Overdrive: Feb 2021 Car Sales; Mitsubishi van zero crash test score; Nissan Navara; Toyota Yaris

Sun, 07 Mar 2021 11:34:57 +0000

Hello and welcome to Overdrive a program that samples as much as it can of the experiences of cars and transport I’m David Brown News 1. Car Sale Figures for February 2021 – MG a big winner (1:35) 2. Car Sales show the value of a new models (2:34) 3. Car sales: the growth of small SUVs (2:35) 4. Mitsubishi’s zero-star ANCAP crash test rating (4:33) Three interviews 1. The New Nissan Navara with Rob Fraser (5:38) 2. Report on a recent Auction Sale of classic cars – how much would you pay for a 1977 Honda Accord (12:25) 3. Should you buy a small Toyota car or their SUV (15:45) 4. The debate over the Mitsubishi van scoring a zero- safety rating (21:56) You can find more information at Driven Media or previous programs are available as podcasts on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0ah6JZN8LTYURIfNs1IIBs iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/overdrive-cars-transport-and-culture/id1001084679 Our Facebook page OverdriveCity https://www.facebook.com/OverdriveCityDrivenMedia/?modal=admin_todo_tour or Our YouTube site https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKyx5sv6cgF4URRmNq2JiXg/videos Originally broadcast 6 March 2021

Overdrive: Hyundai Ioniq 5; The real EV Km ranges; Classic Chrysler V8; ARRB health checks the roads

Fri, 26 Feb 2021 14:24:20 +0000

Hello and welcome to Overdrive, a program where we let our thoughts wonder over issues to do with cars and transport I’m David Brown News 1. Hyundai IONIQ 5 redefines electric mobility lifestyle (1:34) 2. Edmunds Tested: Electric Car Range and Consumption (2:26) 3. Suzuki Swift (3:28) 4. Shannon’s auction brings surprises (4:29) Motoring Minute Discussion subjects Three interviews Scott Nargar from Hyundai gives us an update on where hydrogen fuel cell vehicles (including trucks) are at. (5:52) Paul Murrell goes in search of an old great Valiant V8 classic car and he talks about the life and times of the vehicle (12:35) We again get a segment from Michael Caltabiano CEO of ARRB about the new technology in assessing the condition of the roads. (20:05) You can find more information at Driven Media or previous programs are available as podcasts on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0ah6JZN8LTYURIfNs1IIBs iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/overdrive-cars-transport-and-culture/id1001084679 Our Facebook page OverdriveCity https://www.facebook.com/OverdriveCityDrivenMedia/?modal=admin_todo_tour or Our YouTube site https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKyx5sv6cgF4URRmNq2JiXg/videos So, let’s start with the news Originally broadcast 27 February 2021

Overdrive: Roads that never die; Toyota EV mobility; Hyundai’s take on Hydrogen cars and trucks

Mon, 22 Feb 2021 12:49:32 +0000

Hello and welcome to Overdrive, a program where we take a diverse look at cars and transport. I’m David Brown News 1. Volkswagen’s latest Transporters, Multivan and Cab Chasis (1:21) 2. Subaru New Outback (2:21) 3. Jaguar Land Rover reimagines the future of modern luxury by design (3:26) 4. ARRB – roads that never die (4:23) 5. Toyota aims at early 2020s for autonomous EV mobility services (5:15) Motoring Minute • Toyota Hilux (6:27) Discussion subjects • Australia’s foremost road research organisation talks about roads that will never completely fall apart (7:30) • Subaru Outback (15:41) Motoring Minute • Honda CRV (21:37) Discussion subjects • Interesting development with hydrogen cars (22:43) You can find more information at Driven Media or previous programs are available as podcasts on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0ah6JZN8LTYURIfNs1IIBs iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/overdrive-cars-transport-and-culture/id1001084679 Go to Our Facebook page OverdriveCity https://www.facebook.com/OverdriveCityDrivenMedia/?modal=admin_todo_tour or Our YouTube site https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKyx5sv6cgF4URRmNq2JiXg/videos So, let’s start with the news Originally broadcast 20 February 2021

Overdrive: Wishy-washy govt fuel strategy; Car logos; Are car grilles too big?

Mon, 22 Feb 2021 10:23:44 +0000

Hello and welcome to Overdrive, a program that takes a broad look at how cars and transport impact our community. I’m David Brown News 1. Federal; Government Discussion paper Fuel Future Strategy (1:30) 2. Company’s leading the way for environmental actions (2:32) 3. Hyundai Recall of Tucson (4:02) 4. Hyundai Motor Group unveils TIGER un-crewed Ultimate Mobility Vehicle concept (5:04) Discussion subjects This week we have a chat with respected motoring write Paul Murrell, who with a love of cars, a career in marketing and a worldly perception looks at the following subject: • Selling the merger between Fiat Chrysler and Peugeot/Citroen (6:13) • A number of brands are redesigning their logo. Some work some definitely do not (11:04) • Have we reached the stage where car grilles have become too large? (15:40) • Genesis G80 – Can a vehicle from the Hyundai stable carve a luxury niche in the market? (18:44) You can find more information at Driven Media or previous programs are available as podcasts on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0ah6JZN8LTYURIfNs1IIBs iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/overdrive-cars-transport-and-culture/id1001084679 Go to Our Facebook page OverdriveCity https://www.facebook.com/OverdriveCityDrivenMedia/?modal=admin_todo_tour or Our YouTube site https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKyx5sv6cgF4URRmNq2JiXg/videos Originally broadcast 13 February 2021

Overdrive: Fuel Cells stall; Is Mapping the transport future; More on Latin making a better driver

Sat, 06 Feb 2021 02:23:58 +0000

Hello and welcome to Overdrive, a program that dabbles in the mystical world of cars and transport. I’m David Brown News 1. Cars sales for the first month of 2021 (2:02) 2. One big trend is vehicles for home deliveries (3:00) 3. Is mapping the new holy grail of motoring and transport developments (4:15) 4. General Motors net-zero carbon status by 2040/Nissan’s conservative target for carbon neutral (5:14) Discussion subjects Brian Smith joins the program to discuss the technical to the quirky including • Scania Ditches Fuel Cell Trucks To Focus On Full Electric (6:23) • Mapping – how it is affecting the plans for and your uses of the road system (11:25) • Can learning Latin make you a better race and rally driver (19:34) • Jaguar C-type is 70 years old but what colour should your replica be (25:11) You can find more information at Driven Media or previous programs are available as podcasts on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0ah6JZN8LTYURIfNs1IIBs iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/overdrive-cars-transport-and-culture/id1001084679 Go to Our Facebook page OverdriveCity https://www.facebook.com/OverdriveCityDrivenMedia/?modal=admin_todo_tour or Our YouTube site https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKyx5sv6cgF4URRmNq2JiXg/videos Originally broadcast 6 February 2021

Two new Kias; Is the Kona EV practical?: Rauno Aaltenon dodging rocks; Renault Mobilize; C-Type Jag

Sat, 30 Jan 2021 06:26:09 +0000

Hello and welcome to Overdrive; we’re back with new programs for 2021. I’m David Brown A lot has happened in the holiday break, so we have a packed show; Including News 1. Kia’s new Carnival keeps the legend alive (1:23) 2. Kia adds to SUV garage with compact Stonic (2:25) 3. PSA and Fiat Chrysler merge (3:24) 4. Renault launches new Mobilize car-sharing brand (4:29) 5. Celebrating 70 years since the Jaguar C-type (5:26) Motoring Minute • Toyota Land Cruiser Sahara (6:36) Interview The first in a series of highlights from an interview with International race and rally legend Rauno Aaltonen. Oh he is good! (7:51) Motoring Minute • Ram 1500 Warlock (17:49) Review – Hyundai Kona -electric – How practical is it? I have been road testing an electric vehicle over a long period and more than just the typical short trip. The results were revealing. (18:58) Motoring Minute • Toyota Fortuner (22:57) A few things we will deal with in more detail in the future • HERE Mapping Technologies and old cartoons Quirky News 1. Why do many children love garbage trucks? (25:11) You can find more information at Driven Media or previous programs are available as podcasts on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0ah6JZN8LTYURIfNs1IIBs iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/overdrive-cars-transport-and-culture/id1001084679 Go to Our Facebook page OverdriveCity https://www.facebook.com/OverdriveCityDrivenMedia/?modal=admin_todo_tour or Our YouTube site https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKyx5sv6cgF4URRmNq2JiXg/videos Originally broadcast 30 January 2021

Rauno Aaltonen - The full interview on life, rallying, racing, and driver training

Thu, 21 Jan 2021 10:53:54 +0000

Finland’s celebrated motor sport driver, Rauno Aaltonen, won many events and along with local Australia hero Bob Holden, in 1966 finished first in our famous touring car race at Bathurst’s Mt Panorama, in a tiny Mini Cooper S. I recorded a chat with him for the “Overdrive – Cars, Transport and Culture” radio and podcast program – we chatted for over an hour. I have put a serioes of shorter highlights on my website at http://drivenmedia.com.au/wp/rauno-aaltonen-the-full-interview-on-life-rallying-racing-and-driver-training/ The range of subjects include: • Using Bob Holden’s efforts and soft tyres to win Bathurst in 1966 • Learning a circuit and rally versus race driving • Early experience in Boats & motorcycles helped touch bumper bars on Conrod straight • He invented left foot braking – he tells the benefits and changing style on the track • To win Bathurst Bob Holden was an equal partner - they thought alike • Facing adversity and driver training – it’s all about the right attitude • Racing and rallying partnerships – got help from a professor of communications! • The driving skills he used to deal with young people throwing rocks at the vehicle • He led briefly near the end but why he didn’t win the London to Sydney Marathon This is the full interview but selected highlight segments can be found on the web site drivenmedia.com.au. Rauno is now 83 years old, still has an international racing licence and remains thoughtful and crystal clear about the right approach to racing and to life.

Rauno Aaltonen: He led briefly near the end but why he didn’t win the London to Sydney Marathon

Thu, 21 Jan 2021 10:30:20 +0000

Rauno Aaltonen: He led briefly near the end but why he didn’t win the London to Sydney Marathon Finland’s celebrated motor sport driver, Rauno Aaltonen, won many events and along with local Australia hero Bob Holden, in 1966 finished first in our famous touring car race at Bathurst’s Mt Panorama, in a tiny Mini Cooper S. Rauno is now 83 years old, still has an international racing licence and remains thoughtful and crystal clear about the right approach to racing and to life. I recorded a chat with him for the Overdrive – cars, transport and culture radio and podcast program. The full interview and selected segments can be found on the web site drivenmedia.com.au.

Rauno Aaltonen: The driving skills he used to deal with young people throwing rocks at the vehicle

Thu, 21 Jan 2021 10:27:05 +0000

Rauno Aaltonen: The driving skills he used to deal with young people throwing rocks at the vehicle. Finland’s celebrated motor sport driver, Rauno Aaltonen, won many events and along with local Australia hero Bob Holden, in 1966 finished first in our famous touring car race at Bathurst’s Mt Panorama, in a tiny Mini Cooper S. Rauno is now 83 years old, still has an international racing licence and remains thoughtful and crystal clear about the right approach to racing and to life. I recorded a chat with him for the Overdrive – cars, transport and culture radio and podcast program. The full interview and selected segments can be found on the web site drivenmedia.com.au.

Rauno Aaltonen: Racing and rallying partnerships – got help from a professor of communications!

Thu, 21 Jan 2021 10:22:38 +0000

Rauno Aaltonen: Racing and rallying partnerships – got help from a professor of communications!

Rauno Aaltonen: Facing adversity and driver training – it’s all about the right attitude

Thu, 21 Jan 2021 10:18:12 +0000

Rauno Aaltonen: Facing adversity and driver training – it’s all about the right attitude

Rauno Aaltonen: To win Bathurst Bob Holden was an equal partner - they thought alike

Thu, 21 Jan 2021 10:15:45 +0000

Rauno Aaltonen: To win Bathurst Bob Holden was an equal partner - they thought alike

Rauno Aaltonen: Invented left foot braking – What are the benefits and changing style on the track

Thu, 21 Jan 2021 10:08:57 +0000

Rauno Aaltonen: He invented left foot braking – he tells the benefits and changing style on the track. This is an extract of an interview with Race and rally legend Rauno Aaltonen. Finland’s celebrated motor sport driver, Rauno Aaltonen, won many events and along with local Australia hero Bob Holden, in 1966 finished first in our famous touring car race at Bathurst’s Mt Panorama, in a tiny Mini Cooper S. Rauno is now 83 years old, still has an international racing licence and remains thoughtful and crystal clear about the right approach to racing and to life. I recorded a chat with him for the Overdrive – cars, transport and culture radio and podcast program. The full interview and selected segments can be found on the web site drivenmedia.com.au.

Rauno Aaltonen: Early experience in Boats & motorcycles helped touch bumper bars on Conrod straight

Thu, 21 Jan 2021 10:03:04 +0000

Rauno Aaltonen: Early experience in Boats & motorcycles helped touch bumper bars on Conrod straight This is an extract of an interview with Race and rally legend Rauno Aaltonen. Finland’s celebrated motor sport driver, Rauno Aaltonen, won many events and along with local Australia hero Bob Holden, in 1966 finished first in our famous touring car race at Bathurst’s Mt Panorama, in a tiny Mini Cooper S. Rauno is now 83 years old, still has an international racing licence and remains thoughtful and crystal clear about the right approach to racing and to life. I recorded a chat with him for the Overdrive – cars, transport and culture radio and podcast program. The full interview and selected segments can be found on the web site drivenmedia.com.au.

Rauno Aaltonen: Learning a circuit and rally versus race driving

Thu, 21 Jan 2021 09:59:13 +0000

Rauno Aaltonen: Learning a circuit and rally versus race driving This is an extract of an interview with Race and rally legend Rauno Aaltonen. Finland’s celebrated motor sport driver, Rauno Aaltonen, won many events and along with local Australia hero Bob Holden, in 1966 finished first in our famous touring car race at Bathurst’s Mt Panorama, in a tiny Mini Cooper S. Rauno is now 83 years old, still has an international racing licence and remains thoughtful and crystal clear about the right approach to racing and to life. I recorded a chat with him for the Overdrive – cars, transport and culture radio and podcast program. The full interview and selected segments can be found on the web site drivenmedia.com.au.

Rauno Aaltonen: Using Bob Holden’s efforts and hard tyres to win Bathurst in a MIni

Thu, 21 Jan 2021 09:53:21 +0000

Bob Holden had secretly worked on their car: nothing illegal just blue printing to the precise specifications. The top nine places in the race were Mini cooper Ss but the Aaltonen/Holden vehicle won by over a lap. Rauno explains why, even with harder tyres, they were just as fast and didn’t have to change wheels as much.

Trends in Motoring: Launches, Teasers; Computer Games; Mobility; Supply chains: Plus farewell my MX5

Sun, 20 Dec 2020 04:54:14 +0000

Hello and welcome to Overdrive, a program that take an expansive look at the world of cars and transport. I’m David Brown News 1. Hispano-Suiza - goes racing (1:38) 2. Maserati awarded world’s best event in 2020 (2:47) 3. Mitsubishi Motors provides first teaser of the all-new Outlander (3:54) 4. Introducing the Jaguar Vision Gran Turismo SV: the ultimate all-electric gaming endurance racer (4:57) 5. Hyundai Motor Updates ‘Strategy 2025’ to Accelerate Transition into Smart Mobility Solution Provider (5:59) Interview We hear a personal car story from our traffic engineering expert Alan Finlay; after 21 years of a convertible sport car ownership he has now moved on. (7:12) Vale – John Jamieson A reflection on the passing of a road safety expert who’s values and commitment were an example to us all (15:28) Interview And we posted, on Facebook, a photo and brief story on a classic vehicle. We review some of the considerable comments that flooded in. (18:43) You can find more information at Driven Media or previous programs are available as podcasts on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0ah6JZN8LTYURIfNs1IIBs iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/overdrive-cars-transport-and-culture/id1001084679 Go to Our Facebook page OverdriveCity https://www.facebook.com/OverdriveCityDrivenMedia/?modal=admin_todo_tour or Our YouTube site https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKyx5sv6cgF4URRmNq2JiXg/videos So, let’s start with the news Originally broadcast 19 December 2020

Second-hand car sales focus on adventure vehicles - David Lowe - GumTree

Mon, 14 Dec 2020 11:28:48 +0000

For the least few months, we have watched the new car sales in Australia recover particularly with SUVs and utes. The top five selling cars cover two utes and three SUVs But what is happening with the second-hand market David Low, Marketing Manager at Gumtree Cars

Make Buses Sexy; Solar car for commuting; Second-hand car sales; Green number plates and Bentleys

Mon, 14 Dec 2020 04:02:26 +0000

Hello and welcome to Overdrive, a program that canvases issues related to cars and transport. I’m David Brown News 1. Gum tree and second-hand vehicles (1:39) 2. Triton (2:30) 3. This breakthrough electric vehicle never needs to be plugged in (3:29) 4. Green numberplates launched, research predicts a boost in EV sales (4:29) 5. Bentley’s first EV kicks off the brand’s bold reinvention (5:31) Interview • We talk a lot about new car sales but how is the market for second-hand cars going. We talk to David Lowe from Gumtree Cars (6:35) Motoring Minute • Audi S4 (12:31) Interview • One of Overdrive's desired transport Policies is to “Make Buses Sexy”. Brian Smith is doing a big project in Canberra to achieve just that. He tells us why it is a rewarding but tough task. (13:42) Motoring Minute • Audi SQ5 (21:52) Quirky News • And we continue with Brian Smith in a lighter chat on a report that tries to understand why children like to look at garbage trucks. (23:00) You can find more information at Driven Media or previous programs are available as podcasts on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0ah6JZN8LTYURIfNs1IIBs iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/overdrive-cars-transport-and-culture/id1001084679 Go to Our Facebook page OverdriveCity https://www.facebook.com/OverdriveCityDrivenMedia/?modal=admin_todo_tour or Our YouTube site https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKyx5sv6cgF4URRmNq2JiXg/videos So, let’s start with the news Originally broadcast 12 December 2020

Latest Dashcam; Mitsubishi PHEV; Kia Sorento; Hino Hybrid; Cornering at 400km/hr 2 feet on the pedal

Sun, 06 Dec 2020 14:15:29 +0000

Hello and welcome to Overdrive, a program that contemplates issues related to cars and transport. I’m David Brown News • Mitsubishi PHEV (1:34) • Kia Sorento (2:31) • Hino Hybrid (3:28) • Car Sales for November 2020 (4:28) • New roadwork vehicle cuts noise and dust (5:35) Motoring Minute • Audi A5 (6:44) • Interview • Alan Zurvas gives us the rundown on the latest dashcam (7:55) Motoring Minute • Audi Q7 (17:26) Interview • We continue our series with motoring journalist and author John Smailes on his latest book Speed Kings Austria and New Zealand’s quest to win the Indy 500. This week Geoff Brabham’s unusual style to make sure he takes the first corner flat out at over 400 km/hr. (18:36) You can find more information at Driven Media or previous programs are available as podcasts on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0ah6JZN8LTYURIfNs1IIBs iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/overdrive-cars-transport-and-culture/id1001084679 Go to Our Facebook page OverdriveCity https://www.facebook.com/OverdriveCityDrivenMedia/?modal=admin_todo_tour or Our YouTube site https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKyx5sv6cgF4URRmNq2JiXg/videos Originally broadcast 5 December 2020

Geoff Brabham's method on how to take the first corner at Indy flat out

Thu, 03 Dec 2020 03:42:23 +0000

How do you overcome the psychological difficulty of keeping your foot on the accelerator when you enter the first corner at the Indianapolis 500 doing 400 km/hr or more. Apparently, Geoff Brabham had the technique of putting his left foot on top of his right foot to make sure he didn’t lift off. This is another story from John Smailes new book “Speed Kings – Australia and New Zealand’s quest to win the Indy 500”. You can hear the extract about this story at The whole interview is at The book would make a great Christmas present PS I have no financial benefit from this book – I just think it is a great read.

Speed Kings - Australian and New Zealanders at Indy 500 - John Smailes author

Wed, 02 Dec 2020 06:31:38 +0000

America is proud of its big sporting events. In traditional sports like US Opens in golf and tennis Their unique approach to football in the Super bowl And in motor racing the Indianapolis 500 on a banked circuit a style of competition that is at the heart of their racing. But it is not just American good old boys who have been inspired by this event. John Smailes, journalist and author on motor racing in Australia, has written a book on the Indy 500 from the perspective of the Australian and New Zealanders who have ventured there. And Antipodeans have made an impact including at the very beginning. John’s book is titled “Speed kings: Australia and New Zealand's quest to win the world's greatest motor race”

Bosch Debuts First Motorcycle Split-Screen Display

Sat, 28 Nov 2020 04:06:30 +0000

If you can’t beat them, join them According to a survey by the Bosch company, nearly 90% of motorcycle riders use their smartphone to prepare for or follow-up on trips. A third of those polled admitted to using their smartphone while riding. Motor cycle riders have to look at their dials for safety reasons such as keeping within the speed limits but also they need other information such as navigational directions. Distraction and frustration can build up if you have to keep swapping between screens for different information. Bosch has developed a split screen display that, they say, will allow riders to keep relevant information in constant view. The device has a 10.25-inch screen that links to your phone systems and will debut on a 2021 BMW sport-tourer, the first production bike to display a full-color navigation map in the instrument cluster.

Volvo Cars Mixes Virtual With Real - World Testing

Sat, 28 Nov 2020 04:02:10 +0000

Testing car design or trying to train drivers with computer simulation, has not had the real feel of driving a car. Volvo test drivers are now getting behind the virtual wheel, wearing a full-body haptic suit and a mixed-reality headset Haptic means relates to a sense of feel and haptic feedback creates the illusion of feeling an object of a force within the virtual world. “Feeling” the steering wheel or a seat that simulates the sideways force when driving around a corner for example. Volvo has real images of roads, road signs and nature, that they can then add in virtual objects such as other cars, wild animals, or pedestrians, to test driver reactions. The full-body suit has 10 inertial sensors and bio-sensing which can measure user’s stress levels, heartbeat and eye movement, to give a good understanding of how the user is feeling in a certain traffic or safety situation.

Elon Musk Hints At A New Tesla

Sat, 28 Nov 2020 03:58:48 +0000

If a chief executive has to get out into the real world it can often bring about significant changes in their products Elon Musk, entrepreneur and CEO of Tesla, recently tried to find a parking spot for his Model X in Berlin. The model X is a large SUV with phenomenal acceleration but this was no help to him in finding a space he could fit into. He subsequentially hinted that Telsa may develop a smaller, compact car for European markets. Musk is also hoping to develop a better battery to overcome the more traditional concerns with electric vehicles – their range. Telsa claim that their current vehicles with the best performance range can travel 600 kms between charges but he said they are aiming for a 1,000 kilomtre range. Musk has previously lamented the high cost of raw battery materials which is another hurdle to be faced.

NZ Poilice Get Skodas

Sat, 28 Nov 2020 03:54:25 +0000

With Holden leaving the market, Australia police forces have chosen a range of different alternatives. Now NZ police have taken a direction similar to Europe more than Australia. They will be replacing their Holden fleet with Skodas built in the Czech Republic. The specific model is the Skoda Superb station wagon in either the 162KW 2WD or 206KW all wheel drive layout. NZ has some 2000 primary response vehicles currently and they saw Holden’s withdrawal as an opportunity to reduce carbon emissions and ensure value for money across their fleet. When frontline staff tested the Skodas they liked the large, wide-opening doors, easy-to-read instruments, front and rear visibility, and the space for rear passengers Electric and hybrid vehicles were tested, but limitations including power efficiency and the total cost of ownership meant they were not the preferred option.

New solutions for sanitising autonomous vehicles

Sat, 28 Nov 2020 03:49:59 +0000

When autonomous vehicles began to look more promising, many companies started to consider how this could revolutionise taxi and ride sharing industries. But COVID-19 has totally disrupted this concept because of a fear of getting into a vehicle that others might have contaminated. Gentex engineers are now tackling this public-health issue of vehicle-cabin cleanliness. Dr Lydia Bourouiba, an associate professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, specialising in fluid dynamics has reported that COVID-19, can be disbursed through laughing, yelling, sneezing and simply talking. A sneeze can unleash a turbulent cloud of micron-sized droplets at velocities of 100 ft/sec and travel up to 8m. Possible solutions including smoke-detection devices that use optical electronics to look for particulates; Gentex-designed-and-built cameras; light sensors; nanomaterials capable of sensing health threats to driver and/or passengers and, all of which can be analysed with the help of artificial intelligence.

Speed Kings at Indy 500; Rally driving precision; sanitizing vehicles; Bosch split motor bike screen

Sat, 28 Nov 2020 02:47:34 +0000

Hello and welcome to Overdrive, a program that luxuriates in the realm of cars and transport. I’m David Brown News 1. New solutions for sanitizing autonomous vehicles (1:39) 2. NZ police select Skoda to supply new cop cars as Holden rolls into sunset (2:41) 3. Elon Musk says Tesla is working on a battery at drives more than 600 miles — and hints at a new compact car for Europe (3:43) 4. Volvo Cars mixes virtual with real-world testing (4:40) 5. Bosch debuts first motorcycle split-screen display (5:41) Interview • We begin the first of a series of chats with motoring journalist and author John Smailes on his latest book Speed Kings Austria and New Zealand’s quest to win the Indy 500. This week about the Australian who was there at the beginning in 1911. (6:43) Feedback • Dean Oliver reminisces about seeing just how great an international rally driver was. (17:14) Quirky News Brian Smith and I talk about creating a brand image for a car (23:55) You can find more information at Driven Media or previous programs are available as podcasts on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0ah6JZN8LTYURIfNs1IIBs iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/overdrive-cars-transport-and-culture/id1001084679 Go to Our Facebook page OverdriveCity https://www.facebook.com/OverdriveCityDrivenMedia/?modal=admin_todo_tour or Our YouTube site https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKyx5sv6cgF4URRmNq2JiXg/videos So, let’s start with the news Originally broadcast 28th November 2020

Toyota Mirai in Aust (sort of); Is North Connex worth it? Fair contracts for truckies; Mini Urbanaut

Fri, 20 Nov 2020 03:37:32 +0000

Hello and welcome to Overdrive a program that considers all aspects of cars and transport. I’m David Brown News 1. Next-generation Toyota Mirai confirmed for Australia (1:40) 2. NSW looks to tax electric cars (2:45) 3. Mini creates the Urbanaut (3:41) 4. New contract rules to reduce stress on truck drivers (4:41) 5. Voi e-scooters to include pedestrian detection and satellite positioning (5:43) Interview • We talk to Howard Collins the Director of Operations for Transport for NSW after the opening of the latest major tunnel in Sydney. (6:53) Interview An interview with Richard Calver from the National Road Transport Association about governments strengthening protections for consumers and small business from unfair contract terms. He tells us why it is so necessary and why it doesn’t go far enough. (21:07) You can find more information at Driven Media or previous programs are available as podcasts on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0ah6JZN8LTYURIfNs1IIBs iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/overdrive-cars-transport-and-culture/id1001084679 Go to Our Facebook page OverdriveCity https://www.facebook.com/OverdriveCityDrivenMedia/?modal=admin_todo_tour or Our YouTube site https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKyx5sv6cgF4URRmNq2JiXg/videos So, let’s start with the news Originally broadcast 21th November 2020

Overdrive: Tax on Electric Vehicles; An oldie–Landcruiser 70; A newie–MG Electric; Sport sponsors

Tue, 17 Nov 2020 10:52:44 +0000

Hello and welcome to Overdrive a program that plays with cars and transport. I’m David Brown News • SA government to tax electric vehicles (1:25) • Hyundai’s ‘Connected Car’ Infotainment And Ai Platform (2:19) • TV campaign on the value of safety features (3:14) • A decade of evolution of electric vehicles (4:14) • Intelligent systems (5:19) Interview • Rob Fraser drives a new car of old design and he loves it (6:30) Feedback • Including a positive approach to us from government. • In the feedback section there are a few things that are actually looking forward • Chatting to the NSW government transport department (12:21) • Problems with operating a truck (12:54) Interview • Alan Zurvas gives us an overview of another MG but his times it is all electric (13:33) Quirky • Brian Smith and I takes an off-the wall look at car companies sponsoring sporting teams (19:01) You can find more information at Driven Media or previous programs are available as podcasts on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0ah6JZN8LTYURIfNs1IIBs iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/overdrive-cars-transport-and-culture/id1001084679 Go to Our Facebook page OverdriveCity https://www.facebook.com/OverdriveCityDrivenMedia/?modal=admin_todo_tour or Our YouTube site https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKyx5sv6cgF4URRmNq2JiXg/videos Originally broadcast 14th November 2020

Overdrive: New Nissan Navara; MG ZST; MMGA (Make Monaros Great Again); James Bond’s favourite car

Sun, 08 Nov 2020 13:44:37 +0000

Hello and welcome to Overdrive a program that ponders the purpose of cars and transport I’m David Brown News • October 2020 vehicles sales gives a glimmer of hope (1:39) • The new Nissan Navara overview (2:44) • Key stumbling blocks for electric vehicle adoption (3:43) • California gives automakers until end of year to come clean on emissions cheats (4:56) • 1967 Toyota 2000GT sells for $912,500, - A roofless version of this model of car was used in the James Bond Movie “You Only Live Twice” (6:02) Interview • Alan Zurvas gives us an overview of a new MG (7:09) Feedback • A pricey Monaro (12:53) • GM goes for the Electric pack for old vehicles (13:21) • Traffic lights and how we could do better. I have some feedback from my attempts to get some information out of government (14:05) Interview • Brian Smith has accepted the role of political adviser to the Make Monaros Great Again (MMGA) campaign – we hear his thoughts (18:51) You can find more information at Driven Media or previous programs are available as podcasts on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0ah6JZN8LTYURIfNs1IIBs iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/overdrive-cars-transport-and-culture/id1001084679 Go to Our Facebook page OverdriveCity https://www.facebook.com/OverdriveCityDrivenMedia/?modal=admin_todo_tour or Our YouTube site https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKyx5sv6cgF4URRmNq2JiXg/videos So, let’s start with the news Originally broadcast 7th November 2020

Peugeot/Citroen Australia Managing Director talks about brand image and the new “beautiful” 2008 SUV

Wed, 04 Nov 2020 02:24:43 +0000

I've just been on a lovely drive down to Akuna Bay in New South Wales in Sydney, where we were having a look at the new 2008 Peugeot small SUV. There I met Peugeot/Citroen Australia’s Managing Director Kate Gillis. Kate has an interesting background in working for companies that place great importance on brand value and produce quality products. Waterford Crystal was one of her former employees. After the event we had a good chat about what Peugeot as a brand represents and where it might go with its products. Subjects covered include: • Peugeot’s 210-year history • Should Peugeot have products that reflect its earlier activities such as coffee mills and salt and pepper shakers • The impact of COVID on our culture and travel habits • The use of the internet in marketing and selling cars • Electrification • Freight transport especially deliveries • The “beautiful” 2008. The GT model is more Sportwagon than SUV

Overdrive: Tactical Urbanism; Yaris Cross; Peugeot 2008; Monaros; Reused traffic lights; Nissan Duke

Tue, 03 Nov 2020 10:08:58 +0000

Hello and welcome to Overdrive, a program that practices what it preaches, most of the time, on the subject of cars and transport. I’m David Brown Overdrive • News • Announcement of the Yaris cross (1:32) • Peugeot launches a new 2008 light SUV (2:32) • All-new Ford escape achieves 5-star ANCAP rating (3:37) • Implications of Pavement Markings for Machine Vision (4:41) • Welcome to the world’s Smallest Dealership (5:48) • Interview • Brian Smith on Tactical Urbanism (6:56) • Feedback • Pamela has sent the video overseas to some friends and relatives some of whom are wondering what the hell a Monaro is - although some did see it when they were in Oz a few years ago. (15:55) • Maybe we should attach a slogan such as "Make the Monaro great again" - although it might bring out all the Ford loonies objecting to it. (16:21) • And a few other reflections on the Nissan Duke – including (16:30) • We were contacted by a bloke who restores broken traffic lights that Vic roads is throwing away and make them available to schools for instruction purposes (18:26) • Interview • Kate Gillis the Managing Director Peugeot Citroen Australia (21:07) You can find more information at Driven Media or previous programs are available as podcasts on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0ah6JZN8LTYURIfNs1IIBs iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/overdrive-cars-transport-and-culture/id1001084679 Go to Our Facebook page OverdriveCity https://www.facebook.com/OverdriveCityDrivenMedia/?modal=admin_todo_tour or Our YouTube site https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKyx5sv6cgF4URRmNq2JiXg/videos Originally broadcast 31 October 2020

Overdrive: Racing a 1969 Monaro; Connected vehicles; Nissan Duke - Cartoonish or revolutionary

Sun, 25 Oct 2020 13:02:50 +0000

Welcome to Overdrive, a program that proudly gives you the alternative facts to all aspects of motoring and transport. I’m David Brown News 1. Toyota motor corporation Australia to deliver connected vehicles with KDDI Australia AND Telstra 2. Brand-new Mazda bt-50 achieves five-star ancap rating 3. Jaguar XE: updated with new connected technologies 4. Fred Racing at Bathurst 5. Nissan Duke – Dean comment – 50 anniversary Road test • When the Nissan Duke was first launched ten years ago, I struggled to like its outward design. It was a bit cartoonish. the latest model is more may stream. But our resident artist Dean Oliver has a different take – Viva la Difference – in our interview he explains why.he really liked the first one. Feedback • A few quick comments on the three dual cab utes we took for a drive this week • Mazda BT-50 was solid, bland in gun metal grey and lacked a few ute type refinements – good for ongoing reliability • The Volkswagen Amarok was powerful and had Germanic efficiency but not quite the as much family comfort – good for towing • The Ford Ranger – had a bright burnt orange paint job, good features, easy to use infotainment – small but quiet engine – best for the family • For all the motoring talk about power and capability – we were taking some photos in the Hawksbury Show ground. A tough truck driver drove past, leant out the window and shouted - I will take the orange one • And talking about trucks, for the last few weeks we have ranted against car infotainment systems that are not easy to understand and use. A colleague who has driven trucks for over 20 years said that he spent all his time in Kenworths, if he were to hop into another brand he would struggle, because of the different way the instruments are set out. Interview We mentioned in the news how our Fred Brian was racing at Bathurst in a 1969 Holden Monaro. We debrief with Fred on all the nuances of man handling a big, old car around the famous circuit. You can find more information at Driven Media or previous programs are available as podcasts on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0ah6JZN8LTYURIfNs1IIBs iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/overdrive-cars-transport-and-culture/id1001084679 Go to Our Facebook page OverdriveCity https://www.facebook.com/OverdriveCityDrivenMedia/?modal=admin_todo_tour or Our YouTube site https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKyx5sv6cgF4URRmNq2JiXg/videos So, let’s start with the news Originally broadcast 24 October 2020

Overdrive: Racing a little Mini on a big track; Free Public Transport? Peter Brock’s driving advice

Fri, 16 Oct 2020 12:00:21 +0000

Hello and welcome to Overdrive, a program that ponders the philosophical and the practical aspects of motoring and transport. I’m David Brown News 1. Could your car keep you safe from COVID-19? (1:54) 2. 3 star safety carries through to Jeep Gladiator (2:57) 3. Someone Volkswagen sells $26 million in new vehicles YTD via online ordering (4:05) 4. paid nearly half a million for a Ford Falcon with no engine (5:08) 5. Free Transit for Riders Under 18? In Paris, It’s Here (6:13) Interview Our colleague Fred Brian is racing at Bathurst in the historic category in his 1969 Monaro but we caught up with one of his competitors, Chris Collett who is at the other end of the car sizes; he is racing a mini. (7:23) Feedback With Fred racing a Monaro we reprise a comment we recorded from Peter Brock on how you should drive this type of old classic (15:17) Interview Last week we raised the problem of complicated infotainment systems on new cars. This week Dean Oliver and as owner of older cars but a tester of new cars gives us his perspective of coping with the new. (17:38) You can find more information at Driven Media or previous programs are available as podcasts on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0ah6JZN8LTYURIfNs1IIBs iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/overdrive-cars-transport-and-culture/id1001084679 Go to Our Facebook page OverdriveCity https://www.facebook.com/OverdriveCityDrivenMedia/?modal=admin_todo_tour or Our YouTube site https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKyx5sv6cgF4URRmNq2JiXg/videos So, let’s start with the news Originally broadcast 17 October 2020

Overdrive: Designing the Toyota Hilux; Volvo XC40; Audi A7; Peugeot 308; Federal Budget & transport

Fri, 09 Oct 2020 13:08:15 +0000

Hello this is Overdrive a program about the facts, the fun and the fiction of motoring and transport I’m David Brown News • 2020-21 Federal Budget – Infrastructure does well (1:38) • Car Sales for September 2020 (2:47) • Designing the Hilux (3:47) • Volvo XC 40 (4:45) • The Hummer will be back (5:47) Interview Alan Zurvas and I take the small Volvo XC 40 SUV for a spin (8:10) Motoring Minutes • Audi A7 (6:50) • Peugeot 308 (14:54) Feedback • We reflect on infotainment systems – how hard can they be? (14:07) Interview • The latest Toyota Hi-Lux had input into its design from Australia. We talk to Toyota’s manager of product design Peter Elliot (The full interview is on www.drivenmedia.com.au ) (16:06) Quirky News In quirky news Brian Smith and I discuss the psychologically damaging situation of the lady who’s photo license was delivered in the mail and all it showed was an empty chair. (25:49) You can find more information at Driven Media or previous programs are available as podcasts on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0ah6JZN8LTYURIfNs1IIBs iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/overdrive-cars-transport-and-culture/id1001084679 Go to Our Facebook page OverdriveCity https://www.facebook.com/OverdriveCityDrivenMedia/?modal=admin_todo_tour or Our YouTube site https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKyx5sv6cgF4URRmNq2JiXg/videos Originally broadcast 10 October 2020

Overdrive: Computer games for transport planning; Dual cab Jeep and Isuzu –differences? Kia Picanto

Sun, 04 Oct 2020 08:23:07 +0000

Hello this is Overdrive a program about trains, planes and automobiles, but mainly automobiles. News 1. Kia Picanto (1:45) 2. Nissan Patrol (2:48) 3. Toyota Australia announces vehicles added to Takata airbag recall (3:55) 4. Nissan re-leaf: power when it’s needed, where it’s needed (5:01) 5. San Francisco investigates congestion pricing with new online game (6:05) 6. Computer games to help the community define new transport schemes (7:09) Interview Rob Fraser has been driving a couple of dual cab utes that couldn’t be more different. One’s a Jeep one’s an Isuzu (8:16) Feedback How some of our comments may have been misheard from last week’s program (14:05) Motoring minute Audi RSQ Sportback (15:30) Interview Recently we visited the township of Rydal, south west of Sydney and the lovely railway buildings. The railways have been important to the town and railway historian Stuart Sharp gives us the politicking that went into developing the station. (16:47) You can find more information at Driven Media or previous programs are available as podcasts on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0ah6JZN8LTYURIfNs1IIBs iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/overdrive-cars-transport-and-culture/id1001084679 Go to Our Facebook page OverdriveCity https://www.facebook.com/OverdriveCityDrivenMedia/?modal=admin_todo_tour or Our YouTube site https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKyx5sv6cgF4URRmNq2JiXg/videos So, let’s start with the news Originally broadcast 3 October 2020

Overdrive: Tri-Test: Kia Sportage; Toyota Yaris; Audi A5 cabriolet; plus Old Razorback Road

Sun, 27 Sep 2020 13:51:37 +0000

Hello and welcome to Overdrive, a program that looks at the fantasises and fallacies of anything to do with motoring and transport. News 1. Federal Government’s push for Future Technologies (1:49) 2. Crashtag - Innovative new app to boost motorsport safety (2:53) 3. Mini Australia introduces all-inclusive EV ownership experience with new dynamic mobility package for new electric hatch (2:56) 4. New Range Rover velar featuring pioneering new technology and mild hybrid electrification (4:52) 5. Covid-19: UK town of Slough to launch ‘safety-first’ e-scooter trial (5:53) Interview Our latest trip to a historic place in road test cars was to Picton with three very different models. Fred Brain gives us a run down (7:00) Feedback • Our favourite 82-year-old historian gives us her feelings about what she doesn’t like with modern cars (13:47) Interview COVID has given us the motive to consider major changes to transport – but while we have to move quickly, are we giving enough attention to how we should go. We hear why Ken Dobinson says we are not. (16:55) Quirky And in quirky news, Brian Smith and I hear of a car jacker who weapon of choice was the bible. (23:26) You can find more information at Driven Media or previous programs are available as podcasts on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0ah6JZN8LTYURIfNs1IIBs iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/overdrive-cars-transport-and-culture/id1001084679 Go to Our Facebook page OverdriveCity https://www.facebook.com/OverdriveCityDrivenMedia/?modal=admin_todo_tour or Our YouTube site https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKyx5sv6cgF4URRmNq2JiXg/videos So, let’s start with the news Originally broadcast 26 September 2020

Overdrive: Towns & car names; Nissan Patrol lounge music or rock and roll; Victorian COVID car sales

Fri, 18 Sep 2020 12:36:29 +0000

Hello and welcome to Overdrive, a program that looks at the factors affecting our attitude and actions to motoring and transport. News 1. Victoria’s poor car sales figures (1:46) 2. Toyota invests in new performance brand with GR Yaris (2:49) 3. Hyundai motor advances hydrogen strategy with export of fuel cell systems to Europe (3:54) 4. GMC highlights new trailer tech on 2021 Sierra (4:56) 5. Daimler AG to pay $1.5B to settle emissions cheating probes (5:57) Interview When we toured through villages such as Tarana last week we pondered town names that resembled to has the same spelling car names. But while Monaro is an example Dean Oliver tells us that locals pronounce it differently and you should always be aware of that. (7:05) Motoring Minute • Nissan Duke (15:41) Feedback • New video on Yaris (16:53) • Advice to a listener about what car they should buy (17:07) Interview After testing the Nissan Patrol Rob Fraser gives us his opinion on how this large SUV stacks up in the market. (18:29) Quirky And in our quirky new segment we have the unusual and deeply sad story of a man who was shot for crossing the road to slowly. Did I mention that it is in America? (25:33) You can find more information at Driven Media or previous programs are available as podcasts on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0ah6JZN8LTYURIfNs1IIBs iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/overdrive-cars-transport-and-culture/id1001084679 Go to Our Facebook page OverdriveCity https://www.facebook.com/OverdriveCityDrivenMedia/?modal=admin_todo_tour or Our YouTube site https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKyx5sv6cgF4URRmNq2JiXg/videos So, let’s start with the news Originally broadcast 19 September 2020

Molly Taylor: Giving up home comforts & moving around the world on her own to become a rally driver

Fri, 11 Sep 2020 08:30:46 +0000

Molly Taylor has been racing competitively for some time. I recorded a chat with her, not about her later successes, but about the hard grind of giving up other opportunities and leaving the comforts of home to pursue her dream. Items she covered include: • School project of designing a race track • Giving up University to pursue her dream • Traveling to England when she was 20 years old • Moving to some accommodation (a converted farm building) on her 21st birthday • Getting her first drive of a left-hand drive, front-wheel drive rally car when she entered an event then winning the first two rounds. • Losing her big sponsor • Managing a team of helpers • Happily accepting that famous rally co-driver Coral Taylor is now known as “Molly’s Mum”

Overdrive: Kia Sorento and a country adventure; Vietnamese Vinfast buy proving ground; EV Drag Car

Fri, 11 Sep 2020 06:16:26 +0000

Hello this is Overdrive a program that tries to spread the word about trains, planes and automobiles. News 1. Automotive R&D to Continue at Lang Lang Proving Ground with Vinfast Purchase (1:33) 2. Who is Vinfast (2:38) 3. Car sales for August (3:41) 4. Subaru To Farewell Liberty Line-Up (4:44) 5. V8 Mustang Cobra Jet dragster vs electric Cobra (5:45) Interview Alan Zurvas takes us through the new (6:53) Feedback • Recycle tyres – real job creation scheme? (14:11) • The wankiest press release (15:11) • Hard to read sign posts (16:46) Interview • Alan talked about the new Kia Sorento. We got the team together and took it for a drive in the country with another large SUV from a different heritage. It was the quaint country environment that generated much of the conversation including the trains. (20:05) You can find more information at Driven Media or previous programs are available as podcasts on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0ah6JZN8LTYURIfNs1IIBs iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/overdrive-cars-transport-and-culture/id1001084679 Go to Our Facebook page OverdriveCity https://www.facebook.com/OverdriveCityDrivenMedia/?modal=admin_todo_tour or Our YouTube site https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKyx5sv6cgF4URRmNq2JiXg/videos Originally broadcast 12 September 2020

Overdrive: Rolls Royce Owner reflects on electrified 1967 Phantom; Trucking future; Spike’s Mini Ad

Fri, 04 Sep 2020 13:59:00 +0000

Hello and welcome to Overdrive a program with an infatuation about trains, planes, and automobiles. News 1. Transport for NSW to trial new tech to keep women safe travelling at night (2:05) 2. Toyota Corolla hybrid (3:08) 3. Honda HRV RS (4:11) 4. Toyota Lunar Cruiser could take hydrogen fuel-cell tech to the moon (5:19) 5. The Rolls-Royce Ghost Is The Luxury Marque s Most Important New Car (6:19) Motoring Minute • Volkswagen T Cross (7:26) Feedback • Sean Connery turns 90 – what car would he drive if he was still James Bond (8:44) • New race track in NSW near Port Stevens is on hold (9:55) • Helping a young guy ride his bike even if it is on your driveway (10:09) • Mini Anniversary – Spike Milligan advert and BBC documentary (10:44) Interview Nearly every truck trailer operating in Australia is made here. Truck design is developing at a fast rate and now is well placed to adapt to the changing world where the freight industry is now seen as an essential service. We speak to the CEO of Heavy Vehicle Industry Australia, Todd Hacking (12:56) Interview Last week we noted that an American company is putting an electric engine in old Rolls Royce Phantoms. This week I talk to Brian Crump President of the Rolls-Royce Owners’ Club of Australia (NSW Branch) and trustee of The Sir Henry Royce Foundation Australia. He calmly expresses his admiration for new technology but also his desire to keep classic motoring for what it was. (20:30) Motoring Minute • Skoda Kodiaq RS (27:57) You can find more information at Driven Media or previous programs are available as podcasts on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0ah6JZN8LTYURIfNs1IIBs iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/overdrive-cars-transport-and-culture/id1001084679 Go to Our Facebook page OverdriveCity https://www.facebook.com/OverdriveCityDrivenMedia/?modal=admin_todo_tour or Our YouTube site https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKyx5sv6cgF4URRmNq2JiXg/videos So, let’s start with the news Originally broadcast 5 September 2020

Overdrive: Hybrid’s huge success; Mini’s birthday; A Modern Defender!; WHO Road Safety program fails

Sun, 30 Aug 2020 06:27:55 +0000

Hello and welcome to Overdrive, a program that pushes the parameters in discussing motoring and transport. News 1. Toyota success is clearly with hybrids (1:28) 2. Details of the new Hilux announced (2:25) 3. Mini Anniversary (3:24) 4. Lunaz – Electrifying Rolls Royce Phantom V (4:26) 5. Road Safety into the Next Decade: Greater commitment and actions in LMICs (5:30) Interview Rob Fraser talks about the new Land Rover Defender – no more the dinosaur from a previous era (6:36) Feedback Comments and issues from our listeners (14:46) Interview Alan Zurvas gives his feelings on Toyota’s new Yaris – quality at a price (17:24) Quirky News And in our quirky news section, Brian Smith and I talk about Tactical Urbanism (24:27)

Overdrive: Toyota Yaris: Safe, Comfortable, Expensive; Kia Carnival; Petrol Price Comparison

Fri, 21 Aug 2020 10:45:28 +0000

Welcome to Overdrive, a program that ponders the particulars of motoring and transport. News 1. New Yaris Overview (1:34) 2. New Yaris Safety (2:49) 3. New Yaris Engines (3:46) 4. Kia introduces all-new carnival, offering unrivaled style, space, and comfort (4:53) 5. How many litres of petrol can you buy with one Australian salary (5:56) Interview Terry Thompson gives us an update of the historic classic event and the 70th anniversary of a great Jaguar (7:02) Feedback Comments from our listeners on Facebook and the latest videos we have put on Youtube (14:03) Michael Pachota the General Manager for Suzuki in Australia gives us some great background to what they are doing to get ahead in this difficult market (16:36). And we have some reflections from the feedback we have had on our facebook page You can find more information at Driven Media or previous programs are available as podcasts on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0ah6JZN8LTYURIfNs1IIBs iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/overdrive-cars-transport-and-culture/id1001084679 Go to Our Facebook page OverdriveCity https://www.facebook.com/OverdriveCityDrivenMedia/?modal=admin_todo_tour or Our YouTube site https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKyx5sv6cgF4URRmNq2JiXg/videos Originally broadcast 22 October 2020

John Mann: Champion driver whose life has spanned the greatest period of Australian motor racing

Wed, 19 Aug 2020 13:40:12 +0000

In November 2019 I met John Mann at the Island Magic meeting at the Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit in southern Victoria. John has a long and illustrious career in motorsport so it was great to have a chat. John, who is now eighty and despite a battle with cancer, is still racing. In the chat John covered • His first car, an open wheeler, he made himself • The many cars he raced • He nursed about eight of the current supercar drivers when they were babies. Craig Lowndes’ father was his pit crew manager. • As a young mechanic and he made a mistake that costs a world champion bike rider the race. He had to escape and hide out for a while • His Friendship with Barry Sheene and his own fight with cancer An edited version of the interview appeared in the Overdrive radio program first broadcast on 7 December 2019. http://drivenmedia.com.au/wp/overdrive-machine-the-movie-artificial-intelligence-automated-cars-classic-cars-and-democracy/ We also produced a video of several other characters who were racing at the meeting “Reflections from Phillip Island” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jDAngSR5EMw

Overdrive: Audi S4 and A4; Toyota Fortuner and Hilux; Jaguar motion sickness; Driving to History

Sat, 15 Aug 2020 05:49:55 +0000

Welcome to Overdrive, a program that ponders the particulars of motoring and transport. News 1. Audi S4 and S5 (1:50) 2. New Toyota Fortuner (2:53) 3. New Toyota Hilux (2:53) 4. Jaguar teaches driverless cars how to reduce motion sickness (2:51) 5. Active Driving Assistance Systems Do Less to Assist Drivers and More to Interfere (2:59) Interviews We spent a couple of days driving some new Audis through the picturesque areas near and up in the highlands sound west of Sydney. 1. Our resident mechanical engineer Fred Brain gives his driving impressions of the Audi Allroad and A5s (7:06) 2. And Testing cars is not just about their features and performance. It is about how well you travel and what you see when you get to a destination. We talk to Betty Villy about her historical research in Picton (18:49) You can find more information at Driven Media or previous programs are available as podcasts on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0ah6JZN8LTYURIfNs1IIBs iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/overdrive-cars-transport-and-culture/id1001084679 Go to Our Facebook page OverdriveCity https://www.facebook.com/OverdriveCityDrivenMedia/?modal=admin_todo_tour or Our YouTube site https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKyx5sv6cgF4URRmNq2JiXg/videos So, let’s start with the news Originally broadcast 15 October 2020

Historic Picton: telling the stories of pioneers of the district - the good and the tragic

Fri, 14 Aug 2020 02:23:53 +0000

Testing cars is not just about their features and performance. It is about how well you travel in them and what you can do when you get to a destination. On a trip to the Highlands for the launch of some new Audis, we passed through Picton. We sat in a park just near St Marks Anglican Church and Pioneer Cemetery. One tombstone hints at the tragedy of Janet Robinson's life. Born in Scotland and died in Australia in 1903 aged just 31. It would be nice to know some more details. While more details of her life are not available, beside 12 graves there are little plaques with a QR reader symbol on each one individually. You point your phone at it and you can hear a short recording of some historical details of the person or persons buried there. The stories behind twelve of the graves have been researched, compiled and written by Elizabeth Villy know to all as Betty, whom we managed to catch up with and have a chat. Betty covered a range of subjects including: • The story behind the lives of Mary Horton and her son Claude Stafford • Claude's father died when he was 5, his mother died when he was 12. When he was about 18 he died in Mt Kembla Mine disaster of 1902 along with three cousins and along with 92 other men and boys. • The horrendous working conditions in the mines in 1902 • Why she is researching a range of people not just the rich and well connected • Modern research systems let to search through old records for keywords, but the old methods mean you look at not only the story but the whole newspaper page, including the ads, and thus get a sense of the times in which the person lived. • Betty also did some research on the old Razorback Road.

Overdrive: Can Suzuki Ignis do a Mini? Suzuki Swift; Audi A4 & A5; Steeling Moose size speed cameras

Fri, 07 Aug 2020 10:53:35 +0000

Hello and welcome to Overdrive a program that looks at the purpose of and the passion for trains, planes and automobiles. News 1. VFacts Cars sales figures show a slight relapse (1:34) 2. Audi have announced their new A4 and A5 (2:36) 3. Audi is researching bidirectional charging technology (3:41) 4. Nissan accepting electricity as payment for parking (4:40) 5. Ventilation in buses help reduce infection – London goes the whole way (5:50) Interviews 1. Motoring and Marketing expert Paul Murrell discusses whether the new Suzuki Ignis can learn something from the first Minis (6:53) 2. And a few of the Overdrive team reflect on the Suzuki Swift especially the looks (16:21) Quirky news 1. And in Quirky news – Brian Smith and I cover the Canadian story of speed cameras the size of a moose being stolen. (24:59) You can find more information at Driven Media or previous programs are available as podcasts on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0ah6JZN8LTYURIfNs1IIBs iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/overdrive-cars-transport-and-culture/id1001084679 Go to Our Facebook page OverdriveCity https://www.facebook.com/OverdriveCityDrivenMedia/?modal=admin_todo_tour or Our YouTube site https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKyx5sv6cgF4URRmNq2JiXg/videos Originally broadcast 8 October 2020

Overdrive: Bugatti’s Baby; Hyundai air-conditioning. Suzuki Baleno booms; Virtual car racing cheats

Fri, 31 Jul 2020 12:09:17 +0000

Hello and welcome to Overdrive a program that puts a magnifying glass to the role of cars and transport in our society and ends up burning a hole in it. News 1. Hyundai develops new air-conditioning technologies (1:45) 2. Jaguar Land Rover’s touchscreen you don’t have to touch to fight bacteria and viruses (2:44) 3. Suzuki Baleno – priced to succeed (3:48) 4. The new Audi R8 Coupé and Spyder arrive in Australia (4:45) 5. Bugatti’s Baby (5:50) Interviews Alan Zurvas gives a personal reflection on paying up to $95,000 for a scaled-down Bugatti which is ideal as a child’s Christmas present (7:07) Rob Fraser and I discuss Suzuki, particularly their Baleno which is going gangbusters in the sales (12:09) Quirky news 1. And in quirky news, Brian Smith and I discuss cheating in virtual reality car racing (20:32) You can find more information at Driven Media or previous programs are available as podcasts on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0ah6JZN8LTYURIfNs1IIBs iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/overdrive-cars-transport-and-culture/id1001084679 Go to Our Facebook page OverdriveCity https://www.facebook.com/OverdriveCityDrivenMedia/?modal=admin_todo_tour or Our YouTube site https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKyx5sv6cgF4URRmNq2JiXg/videos

Overdrive: RIP Ron Tauranac (Brabham’s designer); Electric classics; Nissan Pathfinder; Kia Purple M

Sat, 25 Jul 2020 05:35:05 +0000

Welcome to Overdrive, a motoring and transport program where facts are important but so is passion and opinion. News 1. VW – to make electric classics (1:32) 2. 3-D printing makes manufacturing complex or limited number of parts possible (2:43) 3. Nissan Pathfinder (3:45) 4. Electric charging standard – Nissan goes for the common approach (4:44) 5. Establishes ‘purple m’ start-up to accelerate EV mobility services (5:52) Interview 1. Rob Fraser chats about the Nissan Pathfinder (6:56) 2. Will Hagon gives a tribute to Tauranac who was Sir Jack Brabham’s partner in making world championship race cars. Rion has just passed away at the age of 95. (13:53) Quirky news 1. And in quirky news Brian Smith and I discuss the unusual case of the garage that got sawn in half. (24:46) You can find more information at Driven Media or previous programs are available as podcasts on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0ah6JZN8LTYURIfNs1IIBs iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/overdrive-cars-transport-and-culture/id1001084679 Go to Our Facebook page OverdriveCity https://www.facebook.com/OverdriveCityDrivenMedia/?modal=admin_todo_tour or Our YouTube site https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKyx5sv6cgF4URRmNq2JiXg/videos Originally broadcast 25 July 2020

Interview with Will Hagon on the occasion of Ron Tauranac's Death - Designer of Brabham racing cars

Fri, 24 Jul 2020 12:43:52 +0000

A few years before his death, I spoke to Sir Jack Brabham. The obvious start was to get him reminiscing about the old days. To my surprise he almost immediately said “you should speak to Ron Tauranac”. Ron had a long friendship with Brabham and Ron helped him no matter which team he was in and then held the official position of the design expert behind the cars that carried the Brabham name. Sir Jack’s reference wasn’t just a passing comment; a polite thank you, thrown into a speech about himself in the style you often see at the Oscars. It wasn’t even a formal recommendation to broaden the research. Sir Jack’s eyes lit up with enthusiasm, it seemed clear to me that Brabham felt that any discussion of his career needed to consider his mate and his mate deserved a large amount of credit. Ron Tauranac passed away recently at the age of 95. Someone who is close to motor racing and to the characters behind the events is celebrated motoring journalist Will Hagon. In this interview with Will he covers • How Ron was a partner, an integral part, of Brabham’s success • The beginning of Ron’s fascination with cars • How he and Jack went in the 1953 Redex trial • How Ron became the biggest builder of racing cars in the world • The role Ron played in the career of Larry Perkins • How Ron helped jack even before he was on his team • Talking with Ron in his later years, attending his 90th birthday and taking a picture of Ron beside a painting of a famous Brabham racing car. Ron Tauranac and Sir Jack Brabham had a friendship, a collaboration, a mateship that stood the test of time including the extremely difficult, complex and political environment of Formula 1 motor racing. Ron was one of the special Australia’s who pioneered creative and successful technology but sadly remains less well known that Jack Brabham and many others know that he deserves.

Overdrive: Nissan Ariya 100% electric; Hino 300 including hybrid; Musicians who have special cars

Fri, 17 Jul 2020 13:48:43 +0000

Welcome to Overdrive, a program that pontificates on the issues of motoring and transport News 1. Nissan introduces the Ariya, a 100% electric crossover (1:48) 2. Audi TT Coupe 45 TFSI quattro S tronic (2:41) 3. Expanded Hino 300 series provides solutions for a growing market (3:46) 4. Kia Stinger 3.3l GT (4:46) 5. Subaru XV 2.0Is AWD vs Kia Seltos GT Line (5:46) Interview 1. Alan Zurvas runs through his feelings about four cars on the market (6:52) Quirky news 1. Brian Smith is away but fortunately I pre-recorded an interview with him before I got this dreaded lurgi. Its about musicians that have made some special cars. (16:00) You can find more information at Driven Media or previous programs are available as podcasts on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0ah6JZN8LTYURIfNs1IIBs iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/overdrive-cars-transport-and-culture/id1001084679 Go to Our Facebook page OverdriveCity https://www.facebook.com/OverdriveCityDrivenMedia/?modal=admin_todo_tour or Our YouTube site https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKyx5sv6cgF4URRmNq2JiXg/videos So, let’s start with the news Originally broadcast 18 July 2020

Overdrive: Nissan Leaf helps power Canberra; Volkswagen Touareg; Hyundai Xcient; Jaguar Wedding car

Sat, 11 Jul 2020 10:02:13 +0000

Welcome to Overdrive, a program that ponders on the issues of motoring and transport News 1. Car Sales Figures for June 2020 bounce back a bit (1:30) 2. Nissan leaf industry-first vehicle-to-grid charging technology launched in Australia (2:26) 3. World’s first fuel cell heavy-duty truck, xcient fuel cell, heads to Europe for commercial use (3:25) 4. Go electric or go off road: customers choose with Jaguar land rover and pivotal subscription (4:31) 5. Volkswagen's Touareg V8 is the premium performance choice (5:26) Interviews 1. Alan Zurvas and I review Volkswagen’s Large SUV – the Touareg (6:43) 2. And Last week we heard from Chris about preparing is classic Jag for his daughter’s wedding. This week we hear from the daughter about what it was like growing up with a father who had a passion for old Jaguars. (12:59) Quirky news • And Brian Smith and I discuss the unusual transport impacts of COVID-19 (22:04) You can find more information at Driven Media or previous programs are available as podcasts on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0ah6JZN8LTYURIfNs1IIBs iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/overdrive-cars-transport-and-culture/id1001084679 Go to Our Facebook page OverdriveCity https://www.facebook.com/OverdriveCityDrivenMedia/?modal=admin_todo_tour or Our YouTube site https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKyx5sv6cgF4URRmNq2JiXg/videos So, let’s start with the news Originally broadcast 11 July 2020

Overdrive: e-Scooters; Jaguar I-Pace electric taxis; Alfa’s 110 birthday; Tesla’s sign confusion

Fri, 03 Jul 2020 10:02:57 +0000

Welcome to Overdrive, a program that probes deeply into the issues of motoring and transport News 1. National Walk Safely to School Day Rescheduled for Friday 11 September (1:43) 2. UK trialling e-scooters on public roads (2:41) 3. Ford will allow some new customers to return vehicles if they lose their job (3:39) 4. Jaguar i-pace electric taxis on world’s first wireless high-powered charging rank (4:36) 5. Ford debuts F-150 (5:43) 6. An historic celebration: 110 years of alfa Romeo (6:43) Interviews We talk to our Melbourne Correspondent Chris Leadbeatter about the love and affection (and the need to have a vehicle for his daughter’s wedding) in restoring a Mk 1 Jaguar (7:49) Adrian Feeney is the chairman and CEO of the Society of Automotive Engineers. He has some strong words about our potential for car manufacturing in the Australia. (14:20) Quirky news • And in sort of quirky news we again catch up with Brian Smith to talk about an assessment of how well Tesla autopilot vehicles interpret road signs that have been mischievously modified. (22:17) You can find more information at Driven Media or previous programs are available as podcasts on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0ah6JZN8LTYURIfNs1IIBs iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/overdrive-cars-transport-and-culture/id1001084679 Go to Our Facebook page OverdriveCity https://www.facebook.com/OverdriveCityDrivenMedia/?modal=admin_todo_tour or Our YouTube site https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKyx5sv6cgF4URRmNq2JiXg/videos Originally broadcast 4 July 2020

Overdrive: Segway goes; VW Golf R; BMW iPhone car key; 3-cylinder Yaris; Too much space for Parking

Fri, 26 Jun 2020 11:24:14 +0000

Welcome to Overdrive, a program where we wander through the world of motoring and transport. News • Segway ending production (1:30) • BMW making your iPhone your car key (2:27) • Jaguar i-pace now smarter, better connected and faster-charging (3:21) • Digital vision technology signals on-track success for Panasonic jaguar racing (4:20) • Toyota has a new three-cylinder Yaris (5:23) Interview • We discuss the demise of the Segway that two wheeled technological advance device that didn’t fit a market (6:29) • Alan Zurvas tells us about the Volkswagen Golf Type R (11:58) Quirky news • And in sort of quirky news we again catch up with Brian Smith to talk about just how much space we give to parking (18:22) You can find more information at Driven Media or previous programs are available as podcasts on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0ah6JZN8LTYURIfNs1IIBs iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/overdrive-cars-transport-and-culture/id1001084679 Go to Our Facebook page OverdriveCity https://www.facebook.com/OverdriveCityDrivenMedia/?modal=admin_todo_tour or Our YouTube site https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKyx5sv6cgF4URRmNq2JiXg/videos So, let’s start with the news Originally broadcast 27 June 2020

Overdrive: Toyota safety giveaway; Hyundai iMax; Nissan Juke; Terrorist Toyotas; Mazda BT-50

Mon, 22 Jun 2020 12:39:57 +0000

Hello and welcome to Overdrive a program that panders to the world of cars and transport News • Toyota offers free access to its safety software (1:33) • New Lexus is - evocative sports sedan design, focused driving dynamics and advanced technology (2:35) • Mazda reveals brand-new bt-50 (3:36) • Next-generation Kia carnival to debut this summer (4:31) • Passengers face £100 fines as face coverings become mandatory/ Virus busters clean trains – just don’t cross the streams (5:31) • Every gram counts – the philosophy driving (6:25) Interviews • We had a listener asked about buying a car for a family including three children. To start we look at the Hyundai iMax with Alan Zurvas and some of the features is does and does not have. (7:17) Motoring Minute • Nissan’s new Juke (17:18) Quirky news • And in quirky news Brian Smith and I ponder just why so many terrorist groups have utes with Toyota written across the back and how do we track where they were bought. (18:15)

Overdrive: New Hilux; Audi e-tron; Toy cars gathering dust; COVID-19 – no need for a driving test!

Fri, 12 Jun 2020 11:33:59 +0000

Welcome to Overdrive, where we cover everything to do with motoring and transport from the sublime to the ridiculous. News 1. New Hilux Upgrades Style, Performance and Features (2:00) 2. Audi e-tron and e-tron Sportback set to arrive in Australia (2:57) 3. Recycling more heat: Hyundai and Kia turn up EV efficiency with new heat pump technology (4:02) 4. Honda Australia creates Bathurst dreamscape made of LEGO® bricks (5:07) 5. Flop of BlueIndy car-share reflects broader ride-hailing challenges (6:00) Interviews 1. Has our clever traffic signal systems been able to cope with the big volume changes from COVID-19 or are we all getting frustrated. Ken Dobinson, a senior manager when the world class SCATS system was developed in Sydney has his doubts. (7:10) 2. Have you kept some toy cars from your youth? 30 years ago our very own Dean Oliver put aside a few toys on top of the cupboard; they were impossible to throw away because of the memories. Dean relates his dusty rediscovery. (15:22) Feedback 1. On a few issues that have come up (19:57) Quirky news 2. And in quirky news Brian Smith asks the question: “Should COVID-19 mean you don’t have to take a driver’s test?” (20:55) You can find more information at Driven Media or previous programs are available as podcasts on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0ah6JZN8LTYURIfNs1IIBs iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/overdrive-cars-transport-and-culture/id1001084679 Go to Our Facebook page OverdriveCity https://www.facebook.com/OverdriveCityDrivenMedia/?modal=admin_todo_tour or Our YouTube site https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKyx5sv6cgF4URRmNq2JiXg/videos So, let’s start with the news Originally broadcast 13 June 2020

Overdrive: May car sales; Hyundai Tucson - base or options; Very fast train; Batmobile in Russia

Sat, 06 Jun 2020 04:43:16 +0000

Welcome to Overdrive, a program about the wonderful world of motoring and transport. News 1. FCAI releases May 2020 new vehicle sales statistics (1:36) 2. Hyundai motor unveils design of new Santa Fe SUV, the ultimate family adventure vehicle (2:34) 3. Tesla shareholder wants Musk to drop his disdain for advertising (3:30) 4. Alpine could become electric-only performance brand (4:30) 5. Self-learning road infrastructure will provide intelligent object-specific early warnings (5:40) Interviews Rob Fraser and I chat about what you get and how much it costs if you go for the better model when you buy a small SUV (6:45) Alan Finlay discusses the latest report on the realities of a very fast train – the realities are not good (14:10) Quirky news And Brian smith is on hand with a quirky news story about a Batmobile replica that caused angst in a communist state. (21:49) You can find more information at Driven Media or previous programs are available as podcasts on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0ah6JZN8LTYURIfNs1IIBs iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/overdrive-cars-transport-and-culture/id1001084679 Go to Our Facebook page OverdriveCity https://www.facebook.com/OverdriveCityDrivenMedia/?modal=admin_todo_tour or Our YouTube site https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKyx5sv6cgF4URRmNq2JiXg/videos Originally broadcast 6 June 2020

Overdrive: Batmobile documentary, Kia Rio, Dealers don’t mention safety features; Lexus milestone

Sun, 31 May 2020 11:12:41 +0000

Welcome to Overdrive, a program that digs up all sorts of information about the world of motoring and transport. News 1. Dealers slow to mention some safety features (1:29) 2. Lexus marks Australian milestone (2:21) 3. A new Kia Rio model (3:20) 4. Police adopt Electric Vehicles (4:04) 5. Batmobile documentary (5:00) Interviews 1. Kevin Hepworth Kia’s General Manager of Corporate Communications reflects on some issues of car sales and safety concerns. (6:08) 2. Warner Bros has released a one-hour video documentary on the Batmobile. Brian Smith, a lifelong devotee, gives his review (17:25) You can find more information at Driven Media or previous programs are available as podcasts on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0ah6JZN8LTYURIfNs1IIBs iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/overdrive-cars-transport-and-culture/id1001084679 Go to Our Facebook page OverdriveCity https://www.facebook.com/OverdriveCityDrivenMedia/?modal=admin_todo_tour or Our YouTube site https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKyx5sv6cgF4URRmNq2JiXg/videos So, let’s start with the news Originally broadcast 30 May 2020

Transport experiences of COVID-19. Traffic Works is going well but also planning for the long term

Mon, 25 May 2020 10:06:31 +0000

Emmanuel Natalizio is the managing director of Traffic Works, a consultancy providing specialist traffic engineering advice to public and private clients. They are involved in many things, such as traffic design, traffic signal plans, public lighting signs and line marking, active transport and MANY more. Projects are still getting designed and other companies are taking those designs and building and doing maintenance work while traffic volumes are low. So traffic works has managed to maintain its 48 people workforce. The big issue is how do we take what we've learnt during this lockdown period and apply the best methods as we start to lessen the restrictions. I spoke to Emmanuel recently. Issues he covered included: 1. We have learnt a lot and the productivity is as high as it was, but now the big issue is how this stacks up over time (1:06) 2. Its working well now but we miss the day -to-day interaction with staff (2:48) 3. Working from home demonstrates the trust issue (3:57) 4. Not an all-or-nothing solution with one size fits all (6:02)

Overdrive: Electric cargo push bike; Renault Master Van; Works of art on the side of delivery vans

Fri, 22 May 2020 12:41:50 +0000

Hello and welcome to Overdrive, a program that relishes all sorts of information and experiences in the world of motoring and transport. News 1. Govt raised $7.1 Million with Mobile Phone Detection Cameras (1:43) 2. Australians concerned about hygiene on public transport (2:36) 3. Clean is the new safety paradigm for AV development (3:35) 4. Renault van – safety for essential workers (4:34) 5. Zero emission ambulance (5:34) Interviews 1. Brian Smith has bought a cargo electric push bike. He is not diversifying from a highly respect transport planner to Uber eats deliveries but his story is still important (6:37) 2. We hear how one company is adjusting to lockdowns and what it means for transport in general (13:35) Quirky News 3. The first in a series on what master artist pictures should you have on the side of your van. (20:41) You can find more information at Driven Media or previous programs are available as podcasts on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0ah6JZN8LTYURIfNs1IIBs iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/overdrive-cars-transport-and-culture/id1001084679 Go to Our Facebook page OverdriveCity https://www.facebook.com/OverdriveCityDrivenMedia/?modal=admin_todo_tour or Our YouTube site https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKyx5sv6cgF4URRmNq2JiXg/videos Originally broadcast 23 May 2020

Rachel Kohan: A young traffic & transport professional’s reflections from a NZ conference.

Fri, 22 May 2020 08:07:16 +0000

Rachel Kohan, is a transport engineer and transport planner in the past. Recently, just before the lock down, she went to a transport conference in New Zealand a great opportunity for her personal development but also for the profession in what they are looking at and how we are addressing an even defining the problem. Rachel spoke to us from her home office. Issues she covered with timings in the interview included: 1. The nature of the Transport Group Conference in New Zealand (0:55) 2. The Key Note Speech that made “Equality and Equity” a pivotal point in transport planning from the Hon Julie Anne Genter Associate Minister for Transport (1:14) 3. Designing a transport systems, not just for the long commute, or a single trip, but for the multi-purpose trip that happened throughout the day because generally they're done by different demographics and different types of people. (2:14) 4. Building infrastructure or creating a transport system to enable people to thrive, not just to build big projects. (2:40) 5. As a young person what her approach is to car ownership and usage. (3:30) 6. How people respond to an environment – David Sim from Gehl (4:38) 7. You do not necessarily need big expensive projects for people to engage. Examples include: pavement types; raised platforms for pedestrians to cross; gardens; separated cycle lanes; traffic signals that favour pedestrians. (6:33) 8. Tactical urbanism: low cost, temporary changes are made to the built environment, to improve safety and energise the environment space. It’s a way of trialling some ideas without investing large sums of money into it. (6:58) 9. A great aspect of the conference was that it had a session of walking through the streets. (9:03) 10. Transport impacts of the 2011 earthquake. The decline of the city centre (10:01) 11. Cycling around Christchurch (11:35)

Overdrive: COVID-19 vs Flying cars; Mitsubishi Pajero Sport; Battle for Random Breath Testing in NSW

Fri, 15 May 2020 12:17:01 +0000

Hello and welcome to Overdrive, where we embrace the glories of motoring and transport. News 1. Warning for hundreds of Australian vehicles (1:28) 2. Covid-19 Casts a Dark Cloud Over the Flying Car Future (2:30) 3. T-Cross VW’s compact SUV (3:30) 4. Audi Q8 50 TDI more muscle and mild hybrid (4:25) 5. Jaguar Designer copes with lockdown (5:27) Interviews 1. We have a chat to our good friend Rob about the Mitsubishi Pajero Sport (6:26) 2. And we chat to the man most responsible for getting RBT in NSW (13:28) Quirky News • And Brian Smith reprises a subject we have looked at - deodorising tyres (22:27) You can find more information at Driven Media or previous programs are available as podcasts on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0ah6JZN8LTYURIfNs1IIBs iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/overdrive-cars-transport-and-culture/id1001084679 Go to Our Facebook page OverdriveCity https://www.facebook.com/OverdriveCityDrivenMedia/?modal=admin_todo_tour or Our YouTube site https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKyx5sv6cgF4URRmNq2JiXg/videos Originally broadcast 16 May 2020

Overdrive: GM Holden accusations; Brian built 700 bridges; Wendy’s great US bridges; Lear jet car

Sun, 10 May 2020 13:10:13 +0000

Hello and welcome to Overdrive, where we take a sober look at motoring and transport. News 1. April’s catastrophic car sales figures 2. Holden leaving Australia – now the accusations are flying around 3. Car company incentives: what are they and will they stay? 4. Transportation Isn’t Going to Be the Same After Pandemic 5. “Infotainment Systems” Friend or foe Interviews 1. We have some feedback from listeners 2. Last week we referred to a great Bridge builder. This week we have new quotes from 93-year-old who build 700 bridges 3. We talk to Wendy Adam about a beautiful bridge in America And we discuss how the market for classic cars is going in this COVD-19 environment Quirky News 4. And Brian Smith has a quirky look at how uni students beat a new-fangled parking system You can find more information at Driven Media or previous programs are available as podcasts on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0ah6JZN8LTYURIfNs1IIBs iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/overdrive-cars-transport-and-culture/id1001084679 Go to Our Facebook page OverdriveCity https://www.facebook.com/OverdriveCityDrivenMedia/?modal=admin_todo_tour or Our YouTube site https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKyx5sv6cgF4URRmNq2JiXg/videos Originally broadcast 9 May 2020

Overdrive: Ford Smells; Mao & Hongqi; Elegant Bridges; Mini Corona: Tactical Urbanism; Brussels’ ban

Sat, 02 May 2020 14:58:41 +0000

Hello and welcome to Overdrive, a program that roams through the world of motoring and transport News 1. Ford Patents App That Checks for Bad-Smells in a car (1:32) 2. Mao's favourite ride Hongqi to build electric sports car with investor Silk (2:21) 3. Cars Not Welcome In Europe’s Cities When Lockdowns End (3:20) 4. New Zealand First Country To Fund Pop-Up Bike Lanes, Widen Sidewalks During Lockdown (4:13) 5. Coronavirus pushes Mini to rename its EV's funky wheels (5:12) Interviews 1. We reminisce about elegant road bridge designs (6:20) 2. And we discuss how the market for classic cars is going in this COVD-19 environment (13:59) Quirky News 3. And Brian Smith reflects on on-going changes to travel (20:56) You can find more information at Driven Media or previous programs are available as podcasts on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0ah6JZN8LTYURIfNs1IIBs iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/overdrive-cars-transport-and-culture/id1001084679 Go to Our Facebook page OverdriveCity https://www.facebook.com/OverdriveCityDrivenMedia/?modal=admin_todo_tour or Our YouTube site https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKyx5sv6cgF4URRmNq2JiXg/videos So, let’s start with the news Originally broadcast 2 May 2020

Designing bridges to look good: Reflections on Ray Wedgwood and the Anzac bridge

Fri, 01 May 2020 08:06:48 +0000

Description for Ray Wedgwood interview The post-war boom saw major road construction across the country which included many new bridges. There is much to learn from the life and times of this period. Recently, a well respected bridge engineer who had worked for the New South Wales Road Authority passed away. Ray Wedgwood was technically excellent, but he also had a passion for the aesthetics of a bridge. It helps if it looks good. During his career, Ray's manager at the time, Brian Pearson, wrote a book, "Aesthetics of Bridges". The Road Authority has subsequently put out a publication "Design guidelines to improve the appearance of bridges in New South Wales". But his long career also reflected a time when the professional engineer was valued within a more nurturing environment of the government authority. A man who was there at the time is our good friend, Ken Dobinson, who joins us on the line now.

Overdrive: Playing on streets; COVID-19 Insurance refund; Car artist; Toyota; Dangerous Fast Food

Fri, 24 Apr 2020 10:00:17 +0000

Hello and welcome to Overdrive, a program that looks at the latest trends in motoring and transport for serious and not so serious issues. News 1. Cooped-Up Children Need Car-Free Play Streets, Say Experts (1:26) 2. UK Car Insurer Admiral Announces Customer Refunds And Support For Key Workers (2:22) 3. Electric Car Sales In Europe Might Suffer Virus Damage After All (3:22) 4. Ventilator from old car parts? Afghan girls pursue prototype (4:22) 5. New drivers in old computer simulated cars (5:19) Interviews 6. We hear from an artists who does very detailed pictures of cars while holding the brush in his mouth (6:15) 7. Rob Fraser and I discuss Toyota’s anachronistic hero car (16:04) Quirky News 8. And Brian Smith is back with a quirky story about fast food as a weapon against bus drivers (21:55) You can find more information at Driven Media or previous programs are available as podcasts on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0ah6JZN8LTYURIfNs1IIBs iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/overdrive-cars-transport-and-culture/id1001084679 Go to Our Facebook page OverdriveCity https://www.facebook.com/OverdriveCityDrivenMedia/?modal=admin_todo_tour or Our YouTube site https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKyx5sv6cgF4URRmNq2JiXg/videos Originally broadcast 25 April 2020

The late, great Sir Stirling Moss: Interview with his good friend John Crawford

Sat, 18 Apr 2020 03:02:30 +0000

John Crawford's abiding friendships with one of Britain’s most gifted drivers and charismatic characters Sir Stirling Moss, who has just passed away, shows that motor racing is not just about the bright lights and fame but exceptional skills and personal respect. As a young lad, in 1961, John took a train to western Sydney to a new racing circuit; Warwick Farm. He saw Stirling Moss race winning the main event. Twenty years later John would meet Stirling personally when a difficult situation arose not of their own making. It was a friendship that would last a lifetime.

Overdrive: Stirling Moss RIP; Electrics Vehicles good for environment; Travelling through Canowindra

Fri, 17 Apr 2020 11:59:20 +0000

Hello and welcome to Overdrive, a program about cars and culture 1. Sterling Moss Dies (1:21) 2. Honda Civic (2:17) 3. Flashing LEDs may cut ‘distracted walking’ risk a little bit (3:15) 4. LA eases parking rules 'to aid social distancing' (4:21) 5. University study debunks EV emissions ‘myth’ (5:12) 6. UK invests in ‘future transport zones’ (6:08) 7. With the passing of the great motor racing driver Sterling Moss we have an extended interview on his life and times, with John Crawford who was a personal friend. (7:11) 8. And Rob Fraser and I discuss traveling to the western NSW town of Canowindra (21:57) You can find more information at Driven Media or previous programs are available as podcasts on iTunes or Spotify. or our Facebook site OverdriveCity YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKyx5sv6cgF4URRmNq2JiXg/videos So, let’s start with the news Originally broadcast 18 April 2020

Cars as art: Grant Sharman, despite a debilitating rugby injury became a painter of classic cars

Fri, 17 Apr 2020 09:03:44 +0000

As a young lad Grant Sharman wanted to be a pilot but through one life changing event, he ended up becoming an artist. He dabbled with pictures from the farm but his true love is cars so his canvas subjects are now automobiles. Grant is from Auckland in NZ and some of the things we cover in our chat include: • The rugby accident that made him a tetraplegic. • How he got involved in painting • His passion for cars and the stories behind some of the vehicles he had painted • His participation as a Paralympian in wheel chair rugby

Tyre (Tire)recycling: An Australian solution that is cheap and effective without creating pollution

Fri, 17 Apr 2020 06:13:40 +0000

Periodically, we are reminded of the problem of disposing of old vehicle tyres. There's been a number of suggestions as to what we should do, but there is concern that the cure may be worse than the disease with a lot of side effects: burning tyres, for example, just adds to air pollution. Now, an Australian start up Green Distillation Technologies says it has a solution that is both effective and profitable. Their chief operating officer is Trevor Bailey. In our discussion Trevor notes: • They have a demonstration plant up and running • It works on heating the tyres in a closed environment without air so that there is molecular changes without causing smoke and other pollutants. • He can run the power for his plant by using just 3% of the oil they produce in the recycling process. • It is producing quality by products such as oil and steel • There is a large amount of interest from overseas • They want to start a larger commercial size factory in Australia but we are slower to jump on board new technology as opposed to the US • Other recycling systems have disadvantages including taking all or more of the charge that is taxed on each new tyre to cover recycling.

Overdrive: COVID-19 & car sales; Nissan Warrior & Toyota Rugged X; Deodorising tyres; Peugeot 508 GT

Fri, 10 Apr 2020 15:30:49 +0000

Hello and welcome to Overdrive, a program that contemplates issues related to cars and transport. • Coronavirus impact on car sales (1:21) • Vehicle dealerships are open for Takata airbag repairs (2:11) • No road user charges in London (3:07) • Is it the time to get a bargain on a new car (4:04) • Car company incentives offer incentives (4:58) • We talk to the CEO of the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries about were car sales are going (6:06) • Motoring Minute Peugeot 508 GT Sports Wagon (12:55) • Rob Fraser and I discuss taking two utes to the country (12:54) • Motoring Minute Subaru Levorg (19:50) • Quirky news – with Alan Zurvas on deodorizing tyres (21:22) You can find more information at Driven Media or previous programs are available as podcasts on iTunes or Spotify. or our Facebook site OverdriveCity YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKyx5sv6cgF4URRmNq2JiXg/videos So, let’s start with the news Originally broadcast 11 April 2020

What practical transport things can we learn from the Coronavirus pandemic from queuing to trucks

Mon, 06 Apr 2020 14:02:11 +0000

How the transport industry must cope with the coronavirus is often seen in very one-dimensional steps: Travel less; keep your distance. But there are many factors that interplay in the services we provide and the way the public uses them. It might seem simple, until there is a catastrophe. But if we are forced into looking at traffic and transport issues for this event what can it teach us about how we manage in the “typical” situation? We spoke to Wendy Adam who has a long career in transport, planning, and management and has given much to the industry, including being AITPM branch president in New South Wales and Queensland.

Coronavirus: What is happen with public transport around the world for essential trips

Mon, 06 Apr 2020 13:27:44 +0000

In regard to the Coronavirus, we must be totally committed to limiting travel and washing hands and so on. But some people will still have to travel. Is there still a role for public transport? And if so, what are or should the service providers be doing? Yale Wong is from the Institute of Transport and Logistics Studies at Sydney University. He has been looking at this situation around the world.

Overdrive: Caravans and self-isolating; recycling tyres; Hyundai Exoskeleton; Nissan & Toyota utes

Fri, 03 Apr 2020 11:10:58 +0000

Hello and welcome to Overdrive, where we stay at home and luxuriate in our dreams of cars and transport. • Coronavirus keeping your car virus free (1:19) • Ways to use your caravan while self-isolating (2:18) • Car companies’ equipment for Coronavirus patients (3:15) • The need to collect data (4:24) • Hyundai’s Exoskeleton Wins Design Award (5:19) • We talk to an Australian start up about an exciting new way to recycle tyres (6:28) • Just before the shutdown we took two utes out onto the farm (14:30) • Quirky news – with Brian Smith (20:21) You can find more information at Driven Media or previous programs are available as podcasts on iTunes or Spotify. or our Facebook site OverdriveCity YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKyx5sv6cgF4URRmNq2JiXg/videos So, let’s start with the news Originally broadcast 4 April 2020

Overdrive: Coronavirus; What can transport services and planners do; what will be long-term changes?

Sun, 29 Mar 2020 10:53:17 +0000

Hello and welcome to Overdrive, a program where we put the world of motoring and transport under the microscope. • World-first study tests distraction and fatigue in drivers (1:29) • New Battery Technology (2:20) • Car industry helps fight Coronavirus (3:19) • Truck Changes because of Coronavirus (4:06) • How insurance we reflect modern technology (4:51) • Two interviews on transport lessons from Coronavirus • What measures we can take to reduce the risk on public transport (5:44) • Does this catastrophe show the limitations of private ownership (12:56) • Quirky news – what sort of cars do angry men drive? (20:50) You can find more information at Driven Media or previous programs are available as podcasts on iTunes or Spotify. OR our Facebook site OverdriveCity YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKyx5sv6cgF4URRmNq2JiXg/videos So, let’s start with the news Originally broadcast 28 March 2020 World-first study tests distraction and fatigue in drivers A vehicle crash is rarely due to just one factor. Australian research has highlighted the combined impact of distraction and fatigue in truck drivers and what the industry is doing about it. Using Australia’s first Truck Simulator, Monash University researchers conducted tests on 74 truck drivers under different conditions. The drivers were sleep deprived and then intentionally distracted during driver simulation for two-hours. Researchers recorded 29 crashes in the simulator, with 72% in fatigue condition and 28% of the crashes while drivers were alert. Drivers were twice as likely to crash when fatigued, but 11 times more likely to crash when fatigue and distraction were both present. Researchers were also able to accurately detect a driver’s level of fatigue while the driver’s eyes were still open, in real-time, and before a safety critical event such as a micro sleep occurs. Samsung All-Solid-State Battery Technology There was once a time when improvements to cars obviously had to come from the existing car industry and be first reported in motoring magazines. But now other manufactures and reporting avenues are getting into the act. Researchers from Samsung have presented the results of a study on high-performance, long-lasting all-solid-state batteries to Nature Energy, one of the world’s leading scientific journals. The batteries have a larger capacity, a longer cycle life, and enhanced overall safety. The prototype pouch cell would enable an electric vehicle to travel up to 800km on a single charge, with a cycle life of over 1,000 charges. That means your vehicle could travel 800,000 kilometres with little battery degradation. It has also meant that the prototype is approximately 50 percent smaller by volume than a conventional lithium-ion battery. A solid-state battery uses solid electrodes and electrolyte, instead of the liquid or polymer gel electrolytes found in lithium-ion or lithium polymer batteries. Car and race companies to build ventilators Fighting the Coronavirus is not just about medicines. Respirator are critical to help sick people breath and the car manufacturing and racing industries are stepping in to help the fight. When Apollo 13 had its mishap the engineers on the ground had to apply their skills to get a quick solution. The motor industry thinks it has skills that can help the Coronavirus situation. They can’t produce a vaccine but can help expedite the building of respirators for those who have caught the virus and are having trouble breathing. General Motors is offering its logistics, purchasing and manufacturing expertise to help Ventec Life Systems build more of its ventilators. Some formula 1 teams have offered to use their skills in rapid development in a similar way while Ferrari is to contribute help in providing machinery needed for intensive care such as fans and respirators.

Nissan's future: "There is a necessity for change": Interview Stephen Lester MD Nissan Australia:

Sat, 21 Mar 2020 15:51:50 +0000

Interview with Stephen Lester – MD Nissan Australia • Hero cars, like the N-Trek Warrior are important across the range • Nissan would still like to have some sedans but there are none available at the moment • Electric cars offer a much different canvas for car designers • They are well on the way to getting bi-directional charge approved for the Leaf (use you car battery for a period to run your house, outdoor machine, camping site etc) • Thirty percent of the range should be electric by 2022 • There is a necessity for change in how we've motored for the last 100 years and how we will plan to motor for the next 100 years.

Overdrive: Angry men cars; New Elantra; Self-loathing cyclist; Mitsubishi ASX; Peugeot 508; Mazda 3

Fri, 20 Mar 2020 13:56:13 +0000

Hello and welcome to Overdrive a program that plays around a bit with cars and transport. 1. $2m funding to an Australian Electric veh company (1:32) 2. 140 countries pledged to eliminate traffic deaths. (2:22) 3. Mitsubishi ASX (3:32) 4. Stubborn, angry men are more likely to own luxury cars (4:31) 5. Diesel Brothers hit with big fine (5:37) 6. Motoring Minute – Audi A5 (6:41) 7. Hyundai’s new Elantra has a big launch in NY (8:13) 8. Motoring Minute – Peugeot 508 (16:54) 9. Motoring Minute - Mazda 3 (17:65) 10. Quirky news - bicycle shop owner who opposes bicycle priority measures. (19:26) 11. Motoring Minute - (25:20) You can find more information at Driven Media or previous programs are available as podcasts on iTunes or Spotify. OR our Facebook site OverdriveCity YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKyx5sv6cgF4URRmNq2JiXg/videos So, let’s start with the news Originally broadcast 21 March 2020

Overdrive: Coronavirus and transport; Amarok family ute; Ford Puma; Audi SQ8; Semi-autonomous safety

Fri, 13 Mar 2020 11:50:52 +0000

Welcome to Overdrive, a program where we put the world of motoring and transport under the microscope. 1. Future mobility - who is calling the shots? (1:17) 2. Safeguards to keep drivers focused with semi-autonomous vehicles (2:12) 3. Ford Puma SUV (3:10) 4. Audi SQ8 TDI (4:09) 5. VW Amarok 580 (5:15) 6. How will the Coronavirus affect transport? We talk to transport planner Brian Smith (6:07) 7. Road testing the VW ute in a tough family situation (17:15) You can find more information at Driven Media or previous programs are available as podcasts on iTunes or Spotify. OR our Facebook site OverdriveCity So, let’s start with the news Originally broadcast 14 March 2020

Overdrive: Nissan’s future; Holden sales old and new; Plug-in Hybrid; Feedspot top transport podcast

Fri, 06 Mar 2020 05:39:59 +0000

Hello and welcome to Overdrive a program that broods over the world of cars and transport 1. A paradigm shift brough about by EVs (1:26) 2. Holden Sales Crash (2:15) 3. Are old Holdens worth more now that the brand is going? (3:02) 4. Plug-in Electric Vehicles (3:52) 5. Feedspot’s top 10 transport podcasts (4:44) 6. Extended interview with Stephen Lester from Nissan Australia about car image and future directions (5:42) 7. And we hear from Dean Oliver and his early motoring experiences including buying a performance car and getting a stern lecture from his bank manager (16:40) You can find more information at Driven Media or previous programs are available as podcasts on iTunes or Spotify. OR our Facebook site OverdriveCity So, let’s start with the news Originally broadcast 07 March 2020

Overdrive: Holden goes under: Formal history and stories from owners

Sun, 01 Mar 2020 11:45:50 +0000

Hello and welcome to Overdrive, a program that practices what it preaches, most of the time, on the subject of cars and transport. This week we concentrate on Holden, that famous Australia car brand that will soon cease to exist. In the news 1. From Craft to economies of scale (1:22) 2. General Motors did the holden name well (2:32) 3. Was the first Holden that good (3:37) 4. Button plan (4:32) 5. Did Holden build the wrong type of cars (5:39) 6. And we hear from a range of people whose families owned holdens from the first model. • Fred Brain and 1969 350 Monaro (6:52) • Terry Thompson owning old Holden (15:53) • Alan Finlay – racing and EH (21:02) You can find more information at Driven Media or previous programs are available as podcasts on iTunes or Spotify. OR our Facebook site OverdriveCity So, let’s start with the news Originally broadcast 22 February 2020

Were old Holdens the romantic dream?: Terry Thompson ever the realist but loves them all the same.

Sun, 01 Mar 2020 11:07:55 +0000

Some have romantic memories of old Holdens: Terry Thompson is ever the realist but loves them all the same. Terry Thompson is a director of the ARDC, and has a long history in many things to do with cars and motoring, including the New South Wales Road Safety Advisory Council and a whole pile of motoring clubs, including the 48 and FJ. Holden Owners Club. We chatted to him about the history. You can listen to the interview here Terry has been the owner of a number of old Holdens including a couple of sedans and a panel van. When he used to take them down the street, he said a common response was "Hey mate I had one of these It was the best bloody car I've ever had" to which he would screw up my nose and think “Oh, my God. What have you been driving since you got there?”. I asked him as delicately as possible what he use to use the panel van for, was it similar to the types of things we did in later, larger, versions of this sort of car. I was thinking of going camping or the like. He noted that there use to be a sticker on the back of panel vans and utes that said “Yes. This is my ute and no, I'm not helping you move”. While the first Holden came off the production line nearly seventy-two years ago there are still a considerable number of car clubs dedicated to the early models. Terry noted that some are for the keeping the purity of the original cars including things like vacuum run windscreen wipers while others were not adverse to some modern electrics and other features on the old cars. The encouraging point he made that these car clubs are not just a bunch of old men. He said: “A whole new tribe of younger people coming in to take over the cars and look after them”. One of the great features of the early Holdens was “three on the tree”. These were the manual models with a column change and three forward gears. Terry took one of his to the Bathurst races one year and let radio and television personality Clive Robinson drive it around the track. Actually Clive only drove it the very last section down Conrod Straight because he didn’t know how to drive a manual. Mike Raymond, the track commentator at the time said that he thought Terry was a very brave man.

Dean Oliver: Artist; Rally driver: Raconteur; Holden Owner

Sun, 01 Mar 2020 09:08:57 +0000

Dean Oliver and he and his family’s early holdens Overdrive's artist in residence, Dean Oliver also comes from a family that has had its passion for Holden cars. We chatted about those early years and Dean as a young man with a passion for cars but not the financial responsibility that some would have liked, DB Dean, your family did have some Holden's how far back to the go. DO Yeah. Thanks, David. Yes. Our family had a fairly small collection of Holden's, but nonetheless a good one. My parents originally came through from a 1950s Austin A40 tourer, but my father used to deliver newspapers in. And then the big move was a 1962 EK Holden's special. It was a station wagon and it had the two speed, hydromatic gearbox, which was brand new, and Dad used it to deliver newspapers around Shellharbour and that area of the south coast. DB Now, that's the reflection of the times, because when the first Holden came in, the biggest selling car was the A40 Austin Devon. DO Well, yes, he certainly fitted that theory really well. But the old English |Austin was just no match for the rough potholes of the roads of country, New South Wales. DB How did your father feel with that change? Because it was going to a bigger car, a more powerful car, and a more rugged car. Was he proud of that? DO It was the pride of the family, David. There were photographs of the family standing beside it, beaming, smiling, and it was a spectacular looking thing compared to the old Austin. The Holden was bright blue and a strip down the side and the EK had those wonderful tailfins on the taillights which looked very American. DB It was that era of the excess of the Cadillac reflecting the space race, really, wasn't it? It was trying to look like it was a rocket. DO Yes. But NASA rockets probably didn't overheat with quite the same problem as the Holden did, especially on our trips up to Sydney. DO Mom always packed a thermos and some sandwiches because the Holden would get pretty warm going up Mount Ousley from Wollongong and dad always had a race with himself to see if he could get over in third gear with changing back down to second. About 50 percent of the time. DB That's another whole story of the hills in every capital city under which people tested their car or even in your cases, you're saying some of the more rural roads, if you can get up the hill, then you know you're doing well. Did they continue with Holdens? DO Yes. And after almost ten years, the old EK gave way to a 1972 HQ Kingswood and it was a 253 V8. And I think my poor old dad might have got done over by the salesman at the Holden dealership. It was pretty well out of character for him to go for a smooth V8, and especially the HQ was the clour was Chateau Mauve, which was a metallic purple colour. It started rusting from the day we bought it. DB You then continued your first car, I think was a Torana, but it came with an unsolicited recommendation for financial prudence. DO Well, I've got my first job and I was pretty keen on Holdens and the Holden Dealer Team and the Bathurst race and all that sort of thing. I had a job. I was getting a regular income and so it had to be a Torana. There's no way I could have got an XU1 because insurance was just totally impossible for a young bloke in his early 20s. So my new car was a GTA Torana. A 1973 LJ model and it was wonderful and I bought it with a bank loan and I got a stern lecture from the bank manager about responsible financial management. And in hindsight, I think I borrowed about $2000. The car was about $3,400 new and I borrowed $2000 which dollars at the day was an enormous amount of money. So the bank manager was, I think, pretty horrified.

For the love of a Holden Monaro: How the first telecast he saw set a life time passion

Sun, 01 Mar 2020 06:37:04 +0000

There is an old adage about motor racing. “Race on Sunday; Sell on Monday”. This was one of those passionate mantras that seem to motivate Holden and Ford during the glory years of the long-distance production car racing at Bathurst in the late 60s and most of the 70s. Holden kept at it for years after that more than Ford. Fred Brain is a classic example of someone who had a close association with Holden arising out of their racing at Bathurst. Fred grew up on a farm near Wagga and they did not get a television till 1969. He watched his first Bathurst race that year, won by Colin Bond and Tony Roberts in a Holden Monaro GTS 350. Subsequently he bought a genuine GTS 350 Monaro which he still has. He baught a second Monaro that he now races in the historic category. You can hear Fred reminisce about the life and times of his cars at: Some of the things Fred mentions are as follows: He took his genuine GTS350 off the road and parked it in a shed at the farm in the late 80s to restore in the near future. The restoration is going strong (if very slowly!!). He entered his racing Monaro In the East Coast classic (an attempt to get a Targa Tasmania going in NSW). I was his navigator. When we went through Oberon we were approach by a Catholic priest who was a Holden fan so he blessed the car. Lucky he wasn’t a Ford fan or he would have done an exorcism. A young boy approaches the car at one stop and said how surprised he was to see the car as he ahad not seen one before. Fred noted that it was built before he was born. The young lad said “But I am 15 years old!”. The car at that stage was at least 30 years old. We also approached by a lady who was well into her middle age years, who was wearing a Monaro T-Shirt that she had had since she was a young girl. To her credit it still fitted although it was being stretched a little. She had loved Monaros from the beginning and still did to this day. A passion for the brand, especially when racing, does not however, guarantee continual sales. Fred’s first regular car was a Toyota Corona and then he rally and Raced a Datsun 1600. He has owned a series of cars including a Valiant Pacer and a Ford station wagon (used as a tow car). His emotional attachment to Holden Monaros will help keep the history alive but he has little feeling for the American owned company that has decided to leave our market.

Overdrive: Jaguar Land Rover Project Vector; Haval H9; Citroen C5; Electric Planes and Segway chair

Sat, 29 Feb 2020 11:34:50 +0000

Hello and welcome to Overdrive a program that ponders the purpose of cars and transport In the news 1. Jaguar Land Rover: new vehicle for a new approach (1:20) 2. Can the Haval H9 SUV make it here? (2:07) 3. The standout design feature in the Citroen C5 (3:08) 4. A hydrogen-electric ute (4:04) 5. A new meaning to “Heavy Metal Fan”: (5:00) 6. We put a call in to the UK to speak to their head of Future Mobility Dr Tim Leverton about where Jaguar is going in the future (6:04) 7. And Brian Smith has some quirky news • Electric Planes (13:56) • Segway mobile chair (17:53) You can find more information at Driven Media or previous programs are available as podcasts on iTunes or Spotify. OR our Facebook site OverdriveCity So, let’s start with the news Originally broadcast 29 February 2020

Owning Holdens and Racing an EH: Traffic Engineer Alan Finlay relives the glory days

Sun, 23 Feb 2020 11:38:36 +0000

DB: Alan Finlay is a great friend of the program and is a respected traffic engineer and transport planner. His family has had twelve Holdens over the years with a predominance in the early part, I believe. DB: Alan, I looked at your first six cars, the first five from an FJ to an EH were Specials and the next one at H.K. was a premier. Were you the rich family in the street we all envied? AF: No, not at all, though. We were very much a middle-class family, but something I don't know what it was in 1969, probably with a bit of goading from me, convinced my father that he should go up a level and get the premier for his next car. The other thing I remember about that car is that I talked him into the more powerful 186S six-cylinder motor rather than just the one eight six. DB: The S was it a performance car. AF: Absolutely not. I mean, the FC Holden, I remember well, which was my mother's car, which was bought secondhand. I think when I was about 4 years old, I remember some very cold trips in that car going up to the Blue Mountains in winter with no heater and of course, no radio. And we all had to take blankets and other stuff to keep us warm. DB: And that was the special. Now, you raced an E H. Holden was their great success with that. AF: I wouldn't say great success. It was a bog-standard, Holden EH1 7 9 manual, so it had a large 179 cubic inch motor and manual transmission. It was not the much-coveted S4, which was a special Bathurst edition that Holden put together to try and win us, which had slightly better brakes and a few other things. But I wouldn't say it was greatly successful. But in its class, which I think was in 2000 to 3000 cc category for standard production cars on a good day, I could be up in the sort of second or third place, get a situation. DB: Did it have a 179 badge on the back? They were special. AF: They were. Yes. And thankfully, mine stayed on the back of the car and didn't become a belt buckle, which happened to a lot of other 179 batches. DB: The EH that you raced went out with a bang? AF: Yes, it did. I was competing at a hill climb at Amaroo Park in the early 70s and trying to better my times. It was towards the end of the day. And I think I'd had about six runs and I was going for a really good time on what would have been my second last run. And as I revved the car to its limit in first gear, I heard an almighty bang and I thought the worst. I thought I'd blown the motor. But as it turned out, the bang was created by one of the fan blades coming off the fan and actually almost piercing right through the bonnet. The fan blade was actually sticking out through the bonnet, and thankfully the rest of the motor in the car was alright. So the solution was to actually remove the whole fan blade assembly and then another frame friendly and helpful competitor managed to have a hacksaw in his tool kit and so we sawed off the other half of the blade that was still attached to the assembly and put it back on the car. So I limped home with a two-bladed rather than a four-bladed fan. Thankfully, didn't get stuck in heavy traffic, so didn't overheat. DB: You did that for balance, didn't you? AF: Yes, absolutely. Because otherwise, it had three blades on the fan and of course, one of them was completely offset by not having its mate on the other side of the hub. So it would have been a very noisy and vibrating sort of operation of the engine if we hadn't taken the other blade off. DB: Alan lovely to talk to you. Thank you very much for your time. AF: Thanks, David. Always, always happy to talk. DB: That's Alan Finlay, a person who came from a family of devout Holden owners for a while until final reality settled in with times that were a-changing.

Overdrive: Holden goes under: Formal history and stories from owners

Sat, 22 Feb 2020 11:04:08 +0000

Hello and welcome to Overdrive, a program that practices what it preaches, most of the time, on the subject of cars and transport. This week we concentrate on Holden, that famous Australia car brand that will soon cease to exist. In the news 1. From Craft to economies of scale (1:22) 2. General Motors did the Holden name well (2:32) 3. Was the first Holden that good (3:37) 4. Button plan (4:32) 5. Did Holden build the wrong type of cars (5:39) 6. And we hear from a range of people whose families owned holdens from the first model. • Fred Brain and 1969 350 Monaro (6:52) • Terry Thompson owning old Holden (15:53) • Alan Finlay – racing and EH (21:02 You can find more information at Driven Media or previous programs are available as podcasts on iTunes or Spotify. OR our Facebook site OverdriveCity So, let’s start with the news Originally broadcast 22 February 2020

Overdrive: Three weird car ads from 2020 Superbowl; Coronavirus causes parts shortage; Mazda CX-30

Fri, 14 Feb 2020 16:29:50 +0000

Hello and welcome to Overdrive a program that samples and savours the world of cars and transport 1. Coronavirus leads to parts shortage (1:18) 2. Hyundai/Canoo to co-develop all-electric platform (2:05) 3. Mazda CX-30 (2:58) 4. Audi Sales – at last some good news (3:48) 5. Formula 1: 'carbon neutral' by 2030? (4:36) 6. And car ads at the Superbowl • Audi’s weird one (5:52) • Kia’s sentimental one (14:14) • Genesis’ attempt at humour (18:03) You can find more information at Driven Media or previous programs are available as podcasts on iTunes or Spotify. OR our Facebook site OverdriveCity So, let’s start with the news Originally broadcast 15 February 2020

Overdrive: Volkswagen Sales; Jaguar’s better seat; DeLorean’s back?; BMW update; Why Kia is booming

Fri, 07 Feb 2020 12:38:17 +0000

Hello and welcome to Overdrive where we climb the hills, tackle the bends and endure the potholes of issues to do with motoring and transport. 1. Volkswagen leads in global sales (1:25) 2. Jaguar Land Rover’s better seat (2:22) 3. DeLorean comeback (3:26) 4. Honk more, wait more (4:26) 5. Sustainable transport - Carrots and sticks (5:10) 6. We hear from BMW about their latest update you can get over the internet (6:52) 7. We have an interview with Damien Meredith from Kia on what is different in buyers minds now from the past and (11:52) 8. We have a chat with Brian smith on making people movers look less ugly (17:14) You can find more information at Driven Media or previous programs are available as podcasts on iTunes or Spotify. OR our Facebook site OverdriveCity So, let’s start with the news Originally broadcast 8 February 2020

Can Kia “Keep on keeping on” in 2020?: Damien Meredith COO KIA Australia, tells how they will do it

Sat, 01 Feb 2020 13:54:55 +0000

Damien Meredith is the Chief Operating Officer for Kia Australia. He is a down to earth bloke that knows that his first task is to sell cars now, which will then provide the foundation for future developments. In the full year of 2019 when the market declined by 7.8%, Kia did what no other top ten manufacturer did, it increased its sales over 2018 volumes. It is not all wonder and light. The increase was due to a 16.5% increase in Kia’s Cerato. All their other models decreased, although the reduction was mostly better than average. Part of the decline may have been some cannibalising of existing model sales by their new Seltos small SUV that they bought onto the market in mid-October and by the end of the year it had sold over 2,000 vehicles. Towards the end of 2020, they will bring in an even smaller SUV, the Stonic. We caught up with Damien, in a bit of a noisy area at the Australian Open Tennis tournament for which Kia is the major sponsoring partner.

Overdrive: More Airbag recalls; Rolls Royce booming; Coping in a bushfire; Banjo Paterson; Kia Sales

Fri, 31 Jan 2020 11:57:22 +0000

Hello and welcome to Overdrive, a program that ponders the philosophical and the practical aspects of motoring and transport. • Car sales for 2019 (1:33) • Another airbag recall (2:33) • Rolls Royce Car Sales are booming (3:35) • Making ‘Ice Missiles’ illegal (4:54) • Motoring Minute – Lotus Electric (6:13) • What to do in a car in a bush fire (7:38) • Motoring Minute – Maserati Levante SUV (2:17) • Kia’s quest for greater sales (13:24) • Car value if previously owned by a celebrity? (14:25) • Motoring Minute – Maserati Levante SUV (16:38) • Banjo Paterson and transport data (17:49) • Quirky news – Road testing a Kombi (20:33) You can find more information at Driven Media or previous programs are available as podcasts on iTunes or Spotify. OR our Facebook site OverdriveCity So, let’s start with the news Originally broadcast 1 February 2020

Overdrive: Smart phones for Pedestrians; Stink Bugs hit Hyundai and Kia; Disability and transport

Mon, 23 Dec 2019 06:53:57 +0000

Hello this is Overdrive a program about the facts, the fun and the fiction of motoring and transport 1. ACCC issues new Takata airbag warning for thousands of cars (1:35) 2. The $73b company with no name: Fiat Chrysler, Peugeot (2:45) 3. Holden announces exclusive SUV and Ute line-up (3:35) 4. NSW’s smartphone-detecting traffic cams go live this weekend (5:31) 5. Stink bugs delay Hyundai & Kia Shipments (6:22) 6. New Kia logo (7:53) 7. ‘Smart’ headphones to warn pedestrians of road dangers being developed (8:19) 8. Last week we spoke of the top of the range Nissan Navarra N trek Warrior dual cab ute. We covered the specifications now this week Rob Fraser takes it down the Blue Rag track in Victoria (9:45) 9. And I play part of an interview I did for a radio documentary on disability and transport (16:10) 10. And in Quirky news – Brian Smith and I discuss how car companies help the Apollo Space mission (31:20) You can find more information at Driven Media or previous programs are available as podcasts on iTunes or Spotify. OR our Facebook site OverdriveCity So, let’s start with the news

Prof Toby Walsh: Artificial Intelligence; it's up to us to cope with this development

Mon, 16 Dec 2019 05:25:16 +0000

At the premiere of the movie Machine, which is a documentary film about artificial intelligence, one of the featured experts was Professor Toby Walsh. Professor Walsh is a leading researcher in artificial intelligence who has held research positions all over Europe and also in Australia, including the University of New South Wales. He was named by a newspaper as a rock star of Australian Digital Revolution (but that was The Australian). The movie touches on autonomous driving and there is an item from an interview with Audi’s Head of Predevelopment specifically about autonomous driving later in this newsletter. But I also interviewed Prof Walsh. Too often we approach a subject from our special interest area and fail to look at the broader context that will be driven by politics, business and even crime. Transport implications could be outweighed but many other factors. The key approach that Prof Walsh says we need to take is how we give time and effort to what we feed into these artificial machines and time and effort to analyse the nature of the outcomes.

Dyan Currie - Chief Planner Brisbane Council: The importance of participating in an Institute

Mon, 16 Dec 2019 03:51:57 +0000

Dyan Currie is the Chief Planner for Brisbane City Council and she was also the president of the Planning Institute of Australia (PIA) at the time Kirsty Kelly was the CEO. It was a significant time and one that is worth reflecting on. We had a chat with Dyan soon after Kirsty Kelly (who Dyan worked with at the PIA) joined the AITPM. • Place Making • Applying a sense of place to work and institute Environments • The Value of Organisations supporting participation in Institutes • Working with Kirsty at PIA means understanding the nature of members and their interaction with the Institute • Transport very much involves an eclectic range of Professions • Social Media • Dealing with Change • Working with the political process

AITPM's inaugural CEO Kirsty Kelly chats about her career and new role

Mon, 16 Dec 2019 03:25:45 +0000

The Australian Institute of Traffic Planning and Management is taking another major step as it continues its growth and influence from humble beginnings to a major institute in the field of traffic and transport planning. It has created the position of Chief Executive Officer. The inaugural CEO of the AITPM is Kirsty Kelly. We chatted with Kirsty soon after the announcement. She spoke about • Awareness of the AITPM • Who did PIA represent? • Kirsty knows about volunteering • Social Media • Bringing together different divisions • Recognizing and helping AITPM branches around the country • Communication • Recognising that everyone comes from a unique position • Change is not about forgetting the past • The political process – If we play how do we play

Overdrive: Nissan N Trek Warrior; Artificial Intelligence; Bat Crossing; Range Rover Velar

Thu, 12 Dec 2019 10:07:39 +0000

Hello this is Overdrive a program about trains, planes and automobiles, but mainly automobiles. 1. FCAI releases November 2019 new vehicle sales figures (1:21) 2. Tesla boss Elon Musk wins defamation trial over 'pedo guy' tweet (2:53) 3. Five stars for BMW 1 Series. Four stars for Peugeot Partner (3:37) 4. New Ford Transit (4:15) 5. Top uni teams contest Formula SAE-A (5:08) 6. UK’s first ‘bat-friendly’ highway crossing deployed in Worcestershire (6:00) 7. Motoring minute – Range Rover Velar (6:40) 8. Rob Fraser tests the latest rugged four-wheel drive ute (7:50) 9. I interview an international expert on Artificial Intelligence that may become part of our cars (14:01) 10. Motoring minute – Volkswagen Amarok (19:33) 11. Quirky news – Brian Smith and I discuss cars that aim to make your phone redundant (20:37) You can find more information at Driven Media or previous programs are available as podcasts on iTunes or Spotify. OR our Facebook site OverdriveCity So, let’s start with the news Originally broadcast 14December 2019

Overdrive: "Machine" the movie; Artificial Intelligence/Automated cars; Classic cars and democracy

Sun, 08 Dec 2019 10:27:47 +0000

Hello and welcome to Overdrive, a program that looks at the fantasises and fallacies of anything to do with motoring and transport. 1. Australia’s first regional AV project scoops national ITS award (1:41) 2. Bertrand Piccard breaks world distance record for a hydrogen-powered vehicle in a Hyundai NEXO (2:44) 3. The Premiere of the movie Machine and its relationship to autonomous vehicles (3:34) 4. Paris to Amazon: No Free Delivery for You (2:47) 5. New Honda Accord (5:32) 6. Artificial Intelligence Improves Tyre Performance (6:25) 7. Motoring minute – Honda CRV (7:04) 8. We hear a story about what it is like to be a young mechanic that makes a mistake at a major motorbike racing event (8:23) 9. Motoring minute – Great Wall Steed (12:57) 10. After the premiere of a movie about artificial intelligence including autonomous vehicles, I have a chat with Miklos Kiss from Audi about the company’s activities in this field (14:11) 11. Motoring minute – Jaguar F-Pace (19:59) 12. Quirky news – Brian Smith and I discuss the link between classic cars, democracy and IS! (21:05) You can find more information at Driven Media or previous programs are available as podcasts on iTunes or Spotify. OR our Facebook site OverdriveCity So, let’s start with the news Originally broadcast 7 December 2019

Overdrive: Uber loses license; Telsa Pickup; 1954 Citroen racer; Lamborghini in space

Thu, 05 Dec 2019 12:32:20 +0000

Hello and welcome to Overdrive, a program that looks at the factors facing our attitude and actions to motoring and transport. 1. Uber Loses London Licence – again (1:31) 2. Tesla unveils its long-awaited electric Cyber pick-up truck (2:38) 3. Ford reveals Mach-E electric SUV with a Mustang logo (3:58) 4. Mercedes unveils bot one but 3 large SUV’s (5:18) 5. Aston Martin’s first SUV announced (6:25) 6. Hyundai Santa Cruz Ute confirmed (7:13) 7. Motoring minute – Nissan X Trail (8:03) 8. We catch up with a gentleman racer at the Phillip Island Island Magic meeting. You won’t believe the car he was racing in the historic class (9:14) 9. We chat to Rob Fraser about another more attainable electric vehicle the Hyundai Kona (14:40) 10. Motoring minute (Nissan Nivara N Track) 11. Quirky news – Brian Smith and I discuss why car companies are so keen to send things into space – Lamborghini is the latest one (21:24) You can find more information at Driven Media or previous programs are available as podcasts on iTunes or Spotify. OR our Facebook site OverdriveCity So, let’s start with the news Originally broadcast 30 November 2019

Racing a 1954 Citroen Traction Avant at Phillip Island - Mick Stupka's great adventurers

Thu, 05 Dec 2019 05:42:25 +0000

I have just come back from the Phillip Island circuit where I watched the Island Magic meeting. Not the biggest race meeting at the racetrack. It is made for those who love to race with the only spectators being family and friends. The events range from formula V open wheelers to Sport cars including Lamborghinis, Lotuses, BMWs and Audis. I was there because Overdrive’s Fred Brain had his 1969 Monaro GTS in the Historic Sport Car Category. We will talk to Fred next week. One of the other competitors in the class was Mick Stupka in the oldest car at the event. We sat in his support truck for a chat and I asked him to describe his racing vehicle. I had a chat with Mick about the Citroen and some of his other adventures.

Overdrive: Electric motor bikes; Cars as a school status; Sales of hybrids, diesels and electrics

Wed, 04 Dec 2019 07:18:54 +0000

Hello this is Overdrive a program with an infatuation about trains, planes and automobiles. 1. The latest vehicle sales figures especially for diesel, hybrid and electric vehicles (1:21) 2. Rally Australia World Championship event cancelled (2:17) 3. Hyundai Motor Group Develops World’s First Road Noise Active Noise Control Technology (3:30) 4. Hyundai Motor Demonstrates Autonomous Driving Tech Capabilities with First Successful Truck Platooning Trial (4:31) 5. One Way to Keep the Sidewalk Clear: Remote-Controlled Scooter-Bots (5:29) 6. Motoring minute – Interns fun project to sit beside molly Taylor in a works rally car (6:40) 7. We chat to Alan Zurvas about a motor bike event especially the trend to electric bikes (7:47) 8. Motoring minute – Hyundai Kona Electric (16:46) 9. Quirky news – Car status becomes an issue at a school (18:01) You can find more information at Driven Media or previous programs are available as podcasts on iTunes or Spotify. OR our Facebook site OverdriveCity So, let’s start with the news Originally broadcast 16 November 2019

Autonomous Driving and Artificial Intelligence – Audi’s role in the movie “Machine”

Wed, 04 Dec 2019 04:15:43 +0000

At the premiere of the documentary film Machine, a movie that explores artificial intelligence in general and includes reference to autonomous driving, Audi spoke about where they are at in terms of using this technology The film Produces, incorporated comments from Miklós Kiss, Audi’s Head of Predevelopment of Automated Driving, because their work is a good example of how technology will not just make the things we currently do, easier, but it could change our behavior and the very shape of our cities. I spoke with Miklós who made a number of interesting comments. • Car companies have moved into a more realistic view of autonomous systems. “It wasn't really secret before, but there has been truly a hype and there was a hype in presentations and demonstrations. And what many of us have ignored is that much harder work to put that on the street, put it into worldwide operation than putting it on a test track”. • As a premium brand, Audi has to tackle autonomous driving relative to their market. Autonomous systems for taxis in well defined areas and public transport in well defined corridors. But as a luxury brand Audi has to try and develop cars that can be would around the world. So, the issue of varying road conditions, signposting and road rules is the major problem they have to address. • Governments have to look at maintaining the road system so that autonomous vehicles can operate (good line marking for a start) but it is not that complex. • Distraction is a problem when the driver is in control, but if there is a period of autonomous driving, but the driver has to stay awake incase the car no longer can control its self in the conditions, then having had some distraction for the driver (such as letting them watch a movie) is very helpful rather than letting them fall asleep. • As we move from striving to inform the driver about road conditions and vehicle dynamics to a place where the people in the car can relax or work, means a whole different approach to the infotainment screens and what and how they can display things. • Level 5 autonomy, where a car can chauffeur you anywhere at any time is “from my perspective, a bit of science fiction. One day we'll get it. But I never would say yes. I think Level 3 and level 4 systems are quite near. And we see that in the next decade”. • Miklós has a strong sense of job security. There will be a need for further development for many years to come.

Driverless cars: not necessarily a force for good - Yale Wong ITLS

Mon, 25 Nov 2019 23:15:41 +0000

Driverless cars: not necessarily a force for good David Brown When driverless cars were first discussed they were portrayed as leading to a motoring utopia. With a robotic chauffeur we could more usefully employed reading a book, watching a video or doing some work. Increasingly we are seeing alternative views. A recent report from the researchers at the University of Sydney's business school’s Institute of Transport and Logistics Studies “Moving People in the Future: Land passenger transport and “new” mobility technology” adds to the belief that autonomous vehicles may not be a force for good. We interviewed Yale Wong who is a research analyst at the ITLS and co-author of the research. Capacity Cities are places where space is a very scarce commodity. There's only a limited capacity in terms of road space and what a lot of these autonomous vehicles could mean in the future is it can actually replace a lot of the travel that's currently taking place on more spatially efficient modes like public transport, bus and rail in particular, and especially if you think about that dense kind of CBD in a subway kind of environments. If people are moving from these high capacity modes into this kind of unlimited counterpoint transportation, an autonomous taxi service, then that's going to be a big recipe in terms of a disaster, causing gridlock on the road network and with negative impacts on all sorts of externalities such as emissions, urban form, social inclusion and the like. Dead Running This is one of the key issues and one where I think government and governance has a key role to play in actually putting some regulation or institutional overlay to circumvent some of those issues. Ownership model - Mobility as a service A lot of what we’re talking about is actually predicated on the ownership model of these autonomous cars. One of the things we've been pushing for, but we don't know if this reality will emerge, is where these vehicles are shared. So people access them as a treat. So this links back to mobility as a service kind of concepts. We think if we can move towards greater sharing both of these vehicle assets but also of space, so people sharing within vehicles then there will be a much better outcome. But this sort of future is by no means guaranteed on its current trajectory. Corridors I think autonomy may well come within very defined corridors. Autonomous technologies have the potential to be to really transforming in terms of how we provide public transport by actually cutting the link between quantity of service and its labour costs. We know most of the costs in providing bus services is in labour. That is one potential, but I think the more realistic kind of potential is: because they've become so cheap it actually destroys a lot of public transport because people won't be taking large vehicles. They'll be taking smaller autonomous shuttles or pods and the like and we already talked in the session about how this is linked to congestion and use of road space. The role of bus operators One of the current major roles of bus operators is in managing labour. But with autonomous vehicles this is significantly reduced. Furthermore because of the technical complexity, buses may have to go back to the manufacturer for all of their servicing. If you want to have a competitive system this could push us towards government ownership of the vehicles as is the case in Singapore. If this eventuates then there may not need to be bus operators anymore as we know them now. An entire layer might be removed from the business ecosystem. So I think these Bus Operators have to sit up and think about what is their value. What sort of risks they are willing to take up?

Monash University Student Race Car Program

Mon, 25 Nov 2019 23:01:30 +0000

At the driverless vehicle summit held in Sydney there was a demonstration from Students from Monash University that might be a cute exercise for those who are interested in motor racing. It turns out, however, that it is a comprehensive exercise that prepares students for working in teams, with other disciplines and with business. And it has students making a commitment in their effort that many other faculties could only dream about. The basic elements are • Monash has a wide range of teams participating in major projects • Teams can have 120 or more students involved from many different disciplines • The Racing teams participate in a longstanding worldwide competition between universities. • It is a full racing team that races on circuits around the world • Up to 40 students may go overseas with the team to compete • Initially it was petrol cars and then it became electric vehicles and now it is autonomous vehicles. • Monash was ranked number one with their petrol car against many older and larger universities. Marc Pizzi is the Industry portfolio manager at Monash University.

Overdrive: Streetlight redesign; AEB; Tesla Model 3; Audi SQ8; Monorail; Jaguar i-Pace

Fri, 22 Nov 2019 10:43:39 +0000

Hello this is Overdrive a program that tries to spread the word about trains, planes, and automobiles. 1. Public given opportunity to experience autonomous emergency braking. (1:21) 2. The Future of the Streetlight Might Be in the Past (2:27) 3. Europe’s first full-sized autonomous bus demonstrated at CAV Scotland event (3:14) 4. Car-Mounted Ads Take a New Direction: Data Collection (4:09) 5. Tesla Model Three (5:14) 6. Motoring minute – Audi SQ8 (6:07) 7. We chat to Rob Fraser about some electric cars especially the Jaguar iPace and how they are developing (7:17) 8. Motoring minute – Kia Sportage (15:57) 9. Motoring minute – Car Sales (17:04) 10. Quirky news – and a good session with Brian smith with some quirky news stories on one suggestion to install a monorail in Auckland. (18:12) 11. Motoring minute – Rally Australia Cancels Rally (24:15) 12. Motoring minute – Subaru Liberty (25:45) You can find more information at Driven Media or previous programs are available as podcasts on iTunes or Spotify. OR our Facebook site OverdriveCity

This is your project should you accept it: Ride beside Molly Taylor in a works Subaru Rally car

Fri, 08 Nov 2019 15:16:07 +0000

Emily Middleton is doing a communications degree at Macquarie University and is also doing some work here for the Overdrive radio program. So we sent her on a mission. She went down to Canberra to sit beside Molly Taylor in her Subaru works rally car just to see what it's like. This was a bit of an adventure as Emily usually drives her parent’s Camry and there has been no family association with motor sport or driving fast in any way. How did she feel? “I honestly felt quite safe. It because I was so strapped in so tightly, I felt like nothing could happen to me. Clearly, I wasn't driving, but I felt like Molly was in control. It felt like a roller coaster; but in a safe way. And how did she react to the speed. Had she ever done 200km/hr anywhere? “No, not at all. Nowhere close to it. I was trying to look at the dials while she was driving, but I was more focussed on where we were going. But I did see that she was clocking over 200. And I was very, very surprised that a car could go that fast. I didn't know people could ever get there, especially on a dirt road!” How was Molly? “She was lovely; really, really lovely. Very reassuring. Very fun to talk to which was nice. I got to be her co-driver (navigator) for a little bit. She explained to us her notes that the driver needs and it's almost like a different language. And just for a bit of fun she got us to read them out to her. And when we were reading them, clearly, we have no idea where each note was meant to be read, but we read them out and she laughed at us while she was driving the car saying things like ‘That was 200 metres ago’. Did Emily did you get the bug? Does she think that she might ever dabble a little in going faster in a controlled environment? “I do get a rise. It was a lot of fun, but I don't know if I can trust myself driving that fast. I would definitely go again with somebody else driving, but maybe not myself. I don't think my mother would like it”. Did she describe the experience to her parents and what was their reaction? “I did describe it to them, I said I was going fast but I felt in control. They just laughed at me. And they said ‘How is it possibly in control’ and I said “You don't understand because you haven't been in it. But it is very controlled and also very fast at the same time. And they just they couldn't comprehend that. The entire radio interview with Emily at Emily’s video of the experience Previous radio interviews with Molly Taylor – Subaru team driver Molly Taylor: Determination and focus on the hard path to rallying success http://drivenmedia.com.au/wp/molly-taylor-determination-and-focus-on-the-hard-path-to-rallying-success/

Paul Hamer MP: How an engineer can be an essential member of parliament

Fri, 08 Nov 2019 13:05:29 +0000

Last year, I attended a student leadership summit organised by students from Monash University and led by a postgraduate candidate, Laura Aston, under the auspices of the Institute of Transportation Engineers, it was held at Box Hill. I spoke to a local representative there who regretted, to some degree, that the seat of Boxall in the state government was considered a safe seat. But in the 2018 state election, the Andrews government increased its majority, including winning the seat of Box Hill for the first time in 26 years. Their candidate was Paul Hamer, and in his maiden speech to parliament, he noted that his background was as a professional engineer, which was somewhat unusual for a politician. Can an engineer add something different to the political and government functions? I interviewed Paul and he discussed the following topics: • Engineers are underrepresented in Parliament • His working experience • Engineers look at the long term – Governments generally not • Being in Government means that your words are analysed in detail • Being a local member means that you meet a wider range of people. • Public servants go some great work that is not always reflected in the public debate • The value and strength of his family and their values: His father was a child in the Holocaust • The value of professional Institutes and the input they can give. The interview began as follows: DB: Paul, thank you very much for your time. I know you have an extremely busy schedule. PH: No problem at all. Thanks, David. DB: Are engineers are underrepresented? PH: Absolutely. For my inaugural speech, I did a little bit of research. And in the Victorian parliament since the first year of responsible government, which was 1856, they'd only been 31 engineers who had any form of engineering qualifications. So that would that included a diploma or undergraduate or postgraduate level. So I am number 32. And there's been almost 2000 members of parliament in that time. PH: So that is a poor representation amongst the engineering community in parliament. And I daresay that our state parliament and the federal parliament over its time has similarly been underrepresented.

Overdrive: Recharge in 10 minutes; Mustang SUV; An engineer in Parliament; Hyundai Ioniq

Fri, 08 Nov 2019 12:10:30 +0000

Hello and welcome to Overdrive, a program that pushes the parameters of discussing motoring and transport. 1. Engineers have figured out how to charge electric car batteries in 10 minutes (1:24) 2. Hyundai Ioniq (3:02) 3. Warnings for mobile speed cameras (4:02) 4. World premiere for the new Golf digitalised connected and intelligent (5:05) 5. Ford makes a Mustang like SUV supposedly (5:59) 6. Urban and Suburban Lifestyles Are More Similar Than You’d Think (7:01) 7. Motoring minute – Honda Civic (8:31) 8. We chat to Paul Hamer MP, only the 32 person since 1856 to have engineering qualifications and be an MP in the Victorian Parliament (9:44) 9. Motoring minute – Solar Edge Inverters (16:47) 10. Rob Fraser and I talk about the joys of driving in Tasmania (17:53) 11. Quirky news – Ring emergency line to complain about an ice-cream truck parked outside their house (23:11) You can find more information at Driven Media or previous programs are available as podcasts on iTunes or Spotify. OR our Facebook site OverdriveCity So, let’s start with the news Originally broadcast 9 November 2019

Overdrive: Hyundai Kona EV crash (test); Fiat/Peugeot Merger; Brabham BT62; Cars "helping" badly

Fri, 01 Nov 2019 16:27:59 +0000

Welcome to Overdrive, a program that ponders the particulars of motoring and transport. 1. Hyundai Kona Electric earns ANCAP 5-star safety rating in first-ever EV crash tested in Australia and the results are good. (1:33) 2. Fiat Chrysler and Peugeot working out a merger (2:16) 3. Brabham automotive announces BT62 competition specification (3:06) 4. Lightyear One: the car built to perform on energy efficiency (4:05) 5. Estonian police offer ‘road breaks’ for first-time speeders (5:00) 6. Motoring minute – Road Safety Curtesy (5:50) 7. Rob Fraser and discuss the new Audi A1 (7:05) 8. Motoring minute – Autonomous vehicles – no nirvana yet, if ever (12:26) 9. Marc Pizzi from Monash University talks about the student racing team that is now into autonomous cars (13:40) 10. Motoring minute – Quality SUVs (19:49) 11. Quirky news – Cars doing things for you, you don’t want (20:55) You can find more information at Driven Media or previous programs are available as podcasts on iTunes or Spotify. OR our Facebook site OverdriveCity So, let’s start with the news Originally broadcast 2 November 2019

Overdrive: Volkswagen turns Turkey; Smart Cruise Control; Passenger in Subaru rally car

Thu, 24 Oct 2019 11:28:01 +0000

Hello this is Overdrive a program that looks at the purpose of and the passion for trains, planes and automobiles. 1. Congestion charge for Sydney & Melbourne (1:48) 2. “Worried” Volkswagen pulls back on new Turkish factory as sanctions bite (2:56) 3. Dyson Cancels electric car project (3:58) 4. EU states support Denmark’s diesel ban proposal (4:51) 5. Hyundai Smart Cruise Control Technology (5:32) 6. Bathurst-winning team cops massive fine (6:30) 7. Motoring minute – RAM 2500 (7:40) 8. We sent our work experience person, Emily Middleton to Canberra to sit in the passenger seat beside Molly Taylor in her works Subaru rally car. Emily, who drives a Camry, gives us her report. (9:10) 9. Motoring minute – Kia Seltos (14:14) 10. Alan Zuvas has been driving the new Toyota Supra. He tells us what it is like (15:12) 11. Motoring minute – Volkswagen Crafter (21:18) 12. Quirky news – Child drives his toy tractor to the fair (22:21) 13. Quirky news – tuning cars the modern way (24:30) You can find more information at Driven Media or previous programs are available as podcasts on iTunes or Spotify. OR our Facebook site OverdriveCity So, let’s start with the news Originally broadcast 26 October 2019

Overdrive: Dyson quits; Kia Seltos; Nissan Warrior; Veloster Grappler; China Motor Museum

Fri, 18 Oct 2019 13:20:11 +0000

Hello and welcome to Overdrive a program that puts a magnifying glass to the role of cars and transport in our society and tries to burn a hole in it. 1. Dyson cancels electric car project (1:27) 2. Active Transportation Transforms America (2:32) 3. Kia Seltos (3:50) 4. Tyre wear is out of sight and out of mind (4:58) 5. Veloster Grappler (5:53) 6. Motoring minute – Peugeot 308 GT (6:54) 7. We hear from Our motoring correspondent in Melbourne about the details from the launch of the Nissan N Trek Warrior (8:12) 8. Motoring minute – Pedestrian detection with AEB (13:09) 9. Rob Fraser and I talk about driving the new Kia Seltos in the great outdoors (14:20) 10. Motoring minute – Skoda Kodiaq (20:37) 11. A quirky news story with Brian Smith You can find more information at Driven Media or previous programs are available as podcasts on iTunes or Spotify. OR our Facebook site OverdriveCity So, let’s start with the news Originally broadcast 19 October 2019

Ford Driving Skills for Life: Liz Ampt Behavioral Scientist went along for a look

Fri, 11 Oct 2019 07:11:43 +0000

Without major marketing fanfare, Ford Australia, in conjunction with the Amy Gillet Foundation, is provided free driver training in techniques that are not the normal part of getting your L plates. Designed for new and young drivers, DSFL offers hands-on training delivered by professional instructors to help participants become safer drivers. The course focuses on techniques not taught during L-plate driver instruction and aims to increase the use of safe and calm driving techniques as well as teach new drivers how to share the road with other vehicles and cyclists. Liz Ampt a behavioural scientist and transport data expert went along to the launch. Some of the things she noted included: With the advent of airbags, the best way to hold the steering wheel is with your hands in the 9:15 position rather than the traditional “ten-to-two”. Young people are given the chance to experience heavy braking situations. One approach to help drivers avoid dooring cyclists is called the Dutch reach, in which a driver uses their far hand (left hand for right-hand drive vehicles) to open the car door which forces drivers to turn their heads and look behind then hopefully to check for cyclists. We have all heard lectures about the dangers of drunk driving but the reality is that when we have been drinking, we do not appreciate how much our reactions and skills have diminished. At the Ford day people can test their skills in a sobriety test then put on an impairment suit. This has been specially designed with weights attached to your arms, thighs, legs and ankles and you also where earmuffs and goggles that distort your vision. You then have to repeat the sobriety test. The results often bring hilarity to the on-lookers. The program is backed up with work from the respected researcher Dr Marilyn Johnson. One of the exercises Dr Johnson did was to get truck drivers to ride the bicycle on a certain course in the city. Initially the experience drivers would sit back and say “What do we have to do this exercise for?”. But after they have done it, they could soon point out other truck driver errors when dealing with bikes. Their research also showed that almost one third (32 per cent) of people surveyed said they are not aware of common techniques such as the “one metre rule”, where drivers are advised to leave one metre distance between their vehicle and cyclists (driving 60 km/h or less), and only half (53 percent) observe it. The research also found that 68 percent of cyclists are concerned every time a vehicle passes them while on the road. The Driving Skills for Life is a free course funded by Ford and carried out at six locations around Australia.

Overdrive: Tesla not up to hype; Nissan Warrior; Audi Q3; Jaguar drive day; Abandoned cars

Fri, 11 Oct 2019 06:06:33 +0000

Welcome to Overdrive, a program where we occasionally include facts in our good discussions about motoring and transport. 1. The latest Car Sales figures (1:24) 2. AAA Warns Pedestrian Detection Systems Don’t Work When Needed Most (2:31) 3. Tesla's Smart Summon Performance Doesn't Match Marketing Hype (3:44) 4. New Nissan Navara N-TREK Warrior (4:58) 5. Audi Q3 – 2nd Generation launched in Australia (5:54) 6. Motoring minute – Nissan Path Finder (7:08) 7. Our resident artist Dean Oliver discusses a one-day jaunt in a series of Jaguars (8:29) 8. Motoring minute – Volkswagen Touareg (15:05) 9. Motoring minute – Volkswagen BMW Z4 (16:05) 10. Rob Fraser gives some details on the launch on the new Audi Q3 (17:16) 11. A quirky news story with Brian Smith (22:58) You can find more information at Driven Media or previous programs are available as podcasts on iTunes or Spotify. OR our Facebook site OverdriveCity So, let’s start with the news Originally broadcast 12 October 2019

Overdrive: Longer warranties; Jaguar Land Rover & Brexit; Vegan Tesla; Chicken Road Safety

Thu, 03 Oct 2019 12:36:05 +0000

Welcome to Overdrive, a program that pontificates on issues of motoring and transport 1. Suzuki 5 Year Unlimited KM Warranty & New CPS Program Update/Holden offers seven years’ free scheduled servicing on Colorado 4x4 (1:21) 2. Uber Australia the first ride-share to implement 5 star ANCAP vehicle safety requirement (2:07) 3. The augmented reality app for the 2019 Range Rover is helpful for any new driver (2:52) 4. Jaguar Land Rover to close plants for a week as Brexit safeguard (4:09) 5. Tesla releases a fully vegan Model 3 to the delight of animal lovers (5:15) 6. Motoring minute - Subaru Outback (6:15) 7. Rob Fraser and I talk about some seven-seater SUV alternatives (7:26) 8. Motoring minute – Ford’s Drive For Life training program (12:06) 9. Motoring minute – Honda CRV 7 seater (13:11) 10. We hear from Sydney University about their recent report on how driverless cars are not necessarily a force for good” (14:27) 11. Motoring minute – Hyundai Side Centre Airbag (20:56) 12. And a welcome return of Brian smith with a quirky news story and a lead for safely getting your chicken across a road (22:00) You can find more information at Driven Media or previous programs are available as podcasts on iTunes or Spotify. OR our Facebook site OverdriveCity So, let’s start with the news Originally broadcast 28 September 2019

Overdrive: Hyundai's new airbag; Elon Musk's huge pay packet; Ford's Driving Skills for Life

Thu, 26 Sep 2019 12:32:13 +0000

Welcome to Overdrive, a program that ponders on issues of motoring and transport 1. Hyundai Motor Group develops centre side airbag (1:52) 2. Ford - Driving Skills for Life (2:47) 3. Judge refuses to toss lawsuit challenging Musk pay package (3:46) 4. World's rarest Ford Falcon going to auction (4:48) 5. Mazda to Reveal First Mass-Production Battery EV at Tokyo Motor Show (5:37) 6. It’s a bike. It’s a car. No it’s a FUV (6:00) 7. Motoring Minute - Takata air bags (7:42) 8. Rob Fraser has a chat about some of the cars we have tested this week (9:09) 9. Motoring Minute - Landcruiser sells big (15:31) 10. Motoring Minute - Volkswagen pays up in Australia for dieselgate (17:07) 11. Liz Ampt covers the launch of the fifth year of Fords Driving Skills for Life free training program (18:37) 12. Chicken leads to make crossing the road safer (25:25) You can find more information at Driven Media or previous programs are available as podcasts on iTunes or Spotify. OR our Facebook site OverdriveCity Originally broadcast 28 September 2019

Overdrive: Volkswagen Dieselgate; Tesla and Ford utes; Hyundai Venue; Touring in a Subaru Outback

Fri, 20 Sep 2019 15:31:04 +0000

Welcome to Overdrive, a program that probes the issues of motoring and transport In this program we have: 1. Volkswagen to pay up to $127m in Australia for scandal (1:27) 2. NSW: 40km/h slow down, move over laws expanded as trial ends (2:27) 3. Ford Australia Developing a local Ute (3:45) 4. Tesla Pick up to be revealed in November (4:47) 5. Toyota has expanded its Takata recall (5:42) 6. New Venue Announced (6:39) 7. Motoring Minutes on • the Honda Civic (7:48), • the Infiniti leaving Australia (14:50), • the Peugeot 508 (16:19), and • Mazda rotary (25:00) 8. Rob Fraser have a chat about his trip up the coast (9:32) 9. And then he and I discuss, in some detail, Hyundai’s latest SUV the Venue (17:57) You can find more information at Driven Media or previous programs are available as podcasts on iTunes or Spotify. OR our Facebook site OverdriveCity So, let’s start with the news Originally broadcast 21 September 2019

1913 Rolls Royce: David Berthon's classic restoration of a very rare Rolls;

Sat, 14 Sep 2019 20:42:44 +0000

At this year's 2019 Shannon's Classic they had over nineteen hundred cars from car clubs all over Australia. The winner of the concourse to elegance was David Burton with his beautifully restored 1913 Rolls-Royce. I was honoured to sit in the passenger seat while David drove the vehicle around the Sydney Motorsport Park Race track for some parade laps. We've had David on the program a number of times and then why and how much better it is to have him now with such a victory. David joins us on the line.

Overdrive: Infiniti exits; Takata Airbags; Towing; Beige Toyota Camry; Mclarens GT Supercar

Thu, 12 Sep 2019 12:48:20 +0000

Welcome to Overdrive, a program where we wander through the world of motoring and transport. In this program we have: 1. Infiniti Exits Australia (1:29) 2. Takata Airbag Recall (2:37) 3. Trump's brinkmanship may backfire on US car industry (3:46) 4. Mazda’s Rotary Engine Set for a Return (4:51) 5. Is the Mondeo going Electric? (6:03) 6. McLaren’s GT Supercar arrives in Australia (7:04) 7. Motoring Minute – Ford Ranger (8:15) 8. Motoring Minute – Car Sales (9:21) 9. Beige Toyota Camry (10:25) 10. Motoring Minute – Citroen AirCross (19:03) 11. Rob Fraser talks about towing (18:12) 12. Quirky news with Brian Smith –(24:24) You can find more information at Driven Media or previous programs are available as podcasts on iTunes or Spotify. OR our Facebook site OverdriveCity Originally broadcast 14 September 2019

Owning and loving a 1981 Daihatsu F20 JV

Wed, 11 Sep 2019 05:34:17 +0000

I went along to the monthly Machines and Macchiatos Car Show held in the Harbord bowling club car park and supporting Bear Cottage and Help Cure Brain Cancer charities. A wonderful event with classic and modern cars representing a very wide range of different vehicles. I took along the latest Suzuki Jimny, a little boxy four-wheel drive shaped like a Mini Me of a traditional Jeep. We parked it next to a similar vehicle from a different era. It was a 1981 Daihatsu F20 JV. Melissa Lea is a co-owner of the vehicle. I interviewed her about the car. It turns out that her interest has nothing to do with the mechanics of the vehicle. Melissa and her partner just loved the car. They became passionate about this sort of vehicle when they were in Indonesia last November and saw quite a few of them cruising around on the street. As soon as they got back to Australia they began looking and ultimately found this one, which was in Goulburn, and was in excellent condition, no rust and only just over 100,000 kilometers on the clock. While Melissa is not fascinated by the mechanics of the three cylinder, she had to get back to basics in re-learning to drive a manual car. She said it meant the she had to really get back to knowing what you were doing. A lack of luxury features and no power steering also needed some adjustment. But it is a car that other people enjoy seeing as well. Melissa was quite surprised in how well it is received by people who see it on the street. Melissa said “the colour is really well received. People tend to flock over to us and have a billion questions and are curious as to where we found it, it being in such perfect condition. So definitely I felt like it was a bit of a winner”. She did have a look at the new Jinmy which she liked particularly for its “Little Jeep” like appearance. She had thought of buying one but had heard that there was a long waiting list. Melissa and her boyfriend were hesitant to come to the car show because they thought that it would be dominated by big, flashy and powerful cars, but they were warningly received. They have no plans in selling the car in the future. Melissa summarized her feeling “I think it kind of makes me appreciate more how well the cars were made and they had so much more character. I just feel like things are so mass produced these days and I just feel like every single car there [at the car show] had its own story it had its own personality and yet it reflects I think the owners as well.

Overdrive: Melb bike share gone; VW/Jaguar Holographics; Singapore trasnport; Elon Musk's tunnels

Mon, 09 Sep 2019 12:17:48 +0000

Hello and welcome to Overdrive a program that panders to the world of cars and transport I’m David Brown In this program we have: 1. New cars sales for August 2019 (1:32) 2. Ending Melbourne Bike Share the right decision? (2:01) 3. VW invests in holographic technology (3:26) 4. Jaguar Land Rover wants to beam 3D movies right into your eyes (4:09) 5. Tesla adds games and aps to keep you entertained while charging (4:39) 6. Hyundai Motor Group reveals personal electric scooter capable of 20km range (5:11) 7. ‘Road-racing’ deterrent pilot average speed camera made permanent (6:09) 8. Motoring Minute – Suzuki Vitara (7:03) 9. Singapore transport – Part of a very functional city– David Campbell and David Brown compare notes (8:07) 10. Motoring Minute – RAM 1500 Ute (14:15) 11. Motoring Minute – Artificial intelligence to identify poor line marking (15:34) 12. Rob Fraser discusses how cars can become members of the family (16:42) 13. Motoring Minute – Dopes “User pay” really work in transport? (21:59) 14. Quirky news with Brian Smith - Elon Musk tunnels – Fact or fantasy (23:03) You can find more information at Driven Media or previous programs are available as podcasts on iTunes or Spotify. OR our Facebook site OverdriveCity So, let’s start with the news Originally broadcast 7 September 2019

Overdrive: Ban hands-free phones; E-scooters ridden illegally; Nissan GTR; Suzuki Jimny

Sun, 08 Sep 2019 11:05:18 +0000

Welcome to Overdrive, where we cover everything to do with motoring and transport from the sublime to the ridiculous. I’m David Brown In this program we have: 1. British drivers face ban on hands-free mobiles (1:38) 2. QTA Announces ‘Eyes On Fatigue’ In-Vehicle Technology Pilot (2:41) 3. Study Finds Nearly Half Of Shared E-Scooters Being Ridden Illegally (3:25) 4. Drivewyze introduces notification service for truck drivers (4:40) 5. Toyota to launch road maintenance study in Japan (5:28) 6. We hear the second report from Rob Fraser on the anniversary of Nissan sports cars. This time the GTR super car. (6:14) 7. We took a new Suzuki Jimny four-wheel drive to a car show but it had to compete for attention with an old Daihatsu. We interview the owner (12:03) 8. And Brian Smith joins us again for a quirky news story on a competition for cargo bicycles (17:45) You can find more information at Driven Media or previous programs are available as podcasts on iTunes or Spotify. OR our Facebook site OverdriveCity So, let’s start with the news Originally broadcast 31 August 2019

Overdrive: Bugatti Centodieci; Nissan Z Cars; 1913 Rolls Royce; Celebrating potholes

Sat, 07 Sep 2019 14:28:17 +0000

Welcome to Overdrive, a program about the wonderful world of motoring and transport. I’m David Brown In this program we have: News stories 1. Car companies withdraw ads from the Alan Jones program (1:31) 2. Heads of GM, Ford among CEOs rejecting shareholder-centric model (2:39) 3. The $8 Million Bugatti Centodieci's Radical Design Captures The Spirit Of The EB110 (3:40) 4. GetCharged unveils e-scooter charger in New York City (4:57) 5. The Problem with Amazon’s Cheap Gas Stunt (5:46) 6. Motoring Minute – Nissan GTR (7:35) 7. And we have the first instalment of an interview with David Berthon and his 1913 Rolls Royce.(9:15) 8. Motoring Minute – Jaguar e-Pace (16:07) 9. We hear from Rob Fraser who went to the 50th anniversary of the Nissan Z cars. (17:32) 10. And Brian smith joins us again for some quirky news including celebrating potholes (21:51) You can find more information at Driven Media or previous programs are available as podcasts on iTunes or Spotify. OR our Facebook site OverdriveCity So, let’s start with the news Originally broadcast 24 August 2019

Overdrive: Will we still own a car?; Honda goes for the young; Knee airbags; false ads

Sat, 07 Sep 2019 06:17:43 +0000

Welcome to Overdrive, a program that digs up all sorts of information about the world of motoring and transport. This week we are in Adelaide at the Australia Institute of Traffic Planning and Management National conference I’m David Brown In this program we have: News stories 1. Few Aussies will own cars in 2050, predicts new study (1:18) 2. Honda’s new tactic for attracting first-time car buyers: esports (2:39) 3. Hyundai Motorsport set to go electric (3:35) 4. IIHS study shows knee airbags may not reduce injury in crashes (4:14) 5. NHTSA told Tesla to stop claiming its Model 3 was the safest car ever tested (5:03) 6. And Now, a Bicycle Built for None (5:44) 7. Motoring Minute – Toyota HiAce Crew Van (6:19) 8. Rob Fraser gives us a reason to drive to Western Australia (7:25) 9. Motoring Minute – Haval H9 (12:48) 10. And then he gives us a road test of a vehicle to do it in – VW Crafter Van (13:45) 11. Motoring Minute – Subaru Impreza (20:15) 12. And Brian Smith joins us again for some quirky news – Who gets the priority cars or pedestrians (20:15) You can find more information at Driven Media or previous programs are available as podcasts on iTunes or Spotify. OR our Facebook site OverdriveCity So, let’s start with the news Originally broadcast 10 August 2019 1. Few Aussies will own cars in 2050, predicts new study 2. Honda’s new tactic for attracting first-time car buyers: esports 3. Hyundai Motorsport set to go electric 4. IIHS study shows knee airbags may not reduce injury in crashes 5. NHTSA told Tesla to stop claiming its Model 3 was the safest car ever tested 6. And Now, a Bicycle Built for None And this has been overdrive. The Overdrive team and supports including David Campbell, Brian Smith Rob Fraser, and Paul Just. for doing the hard yards in supporting this program. Overdrive can be heard across Australia on the Community Radio network. You can find more information at Driven Media and previous programs are available as podcasts on iTunes or Spotify and FaceBook page OverdriveCity

Overdrive: Toyota Hilux Class action; YouTube & Netflix in Teslas; Jet Charge; Shannons Classic

Sun, 11 Aug 2019 04:13:31 +0000

Hello and welcome to Overdrive, a program that relishes all sorts of information and experiences from the world of motoring and transport. This week we are in Adelaide at the Australia Institute of Traffic Planning and Management National conference I’m David Brown In this program we have: News stories 1. Hilux class action (1:33) 2. The UK auto industry is facing a slow death (2:27) 3. Tritium supplies EV chargers to Drive Energi (3:38) 4. Ford Mustang High Performance 2.3L (4:21) 5. In Madrid, a Car Ban Proves Stronger Than Partisan Politics (5:05) 6. YouTube and Netflix Will Soon Be Coming To Teslas Screens says Elon Musk (5:48) 7. We have an interview with the CEO of Jet Charge a company that produces products and systems to charge electric vehicles. What he says will blow you mind. (7:38) 8. We talk to the organiser of the Shannon’s Classic which has a huge number of great cars on display (15:35) 9. We have five motoring minutes • Ride-sharing is not working (6:25) • Volkswagen Crafter (14:35) • If I had all the money in the world I would get a Kia Carnival people mover (20:51) 10. And Brian Smith joins us again for some quirky news (21:50) You can find more information at Driven Media or previous programs are available as podcasts on iTunes or Spotify. OR our Facebook site OverdriveCity So, let’s start with the news Originally broadcast 10 August 2019

Overdrive: Australian market struggles; Lee Iacocca dead; A 1962 Holden ute; Mitsubishi Triton

Fri, 09 Aug 2019 08:30:21 +0000

Hello and welcome to Overdrive, a program about trains, planes and automobiles I’m David Brown In this program we have: 1. Vfacts: Australian vehicle sales figures - The total market is down 8.4% (1:28) 2. Iacocca, the last of the supreme auto bosses, defined his generation (2:23) 3. Hyundai Motor Group Unveils World First CVVD Engine Technology (3:43) 4. Bubbles, bleeps and Linkin Park: electric cars now have to make strange noises by law (4:54) 5. Ford tackles last-mile delivery challenge with pedestrian couriers, algorithms (6:02) 6. We discuss the passing of Norma Dewis who worked for Jaguar for many years and was said to be Britain’s greatest test driver (9:12) 7. We have a chat to a bloke who owns a 1962 Holden utility while we were sitting in a 2019 Mitsubishi Triton. We could use his car because he wouldn’t take it out in the rain. (19:33) 8. There are five motoring minutes • Ford Ranger (7:10) • Honda CRV (8:00) • Subaru Eyesight technology (18:32) • Local pollution (17:39) • Genesis (26:12) You can find more information at Driven Media or previous programs are available as podcasts on iTunes or Spotify. OR our Facebook site OverdriveCity So, let’s start with the news Originally broadcast 6 July 2019

Overdrive: ULEV emission zone; Genesis reborn; Snow trips; Lies, damned lies and autonomous vehicles

Fri, 09 Aug 2019 04:12:06 +0000

Hello and welcome to Overdrive, a program about cars and culture I’m David Brown In this program we have: News stories 1. London EV demand ‘rising’ since ULEZ intro, says Carwow (1:27) 2. Genesis Opens Doors On First Australian Flagship Studio in Sydney (2:39) 3. Names of automated-driving systems mislead motorists Prof Currie (3:37) 4. Competition will explore new ways to move people around Detroit (4:42) 5. Is there a better way to regulate peer-to-peer car sharing? (5:44) 6. Korean automakers rank highest in latest JD Power quality survey (6:48) 7. We have the third instalment in Rob Fraser’s preparing for traveling to the snow (10:09) 8. And a great interview with Professor Graham Currie about Lie, Damned lies and Autonomous vehicles (17:21) 9. There are five motoring minutes • Honda HRV (8:06) • The Toyota Fortuner Crusader (8:58) • The Infinti QX 80 (15:04) • Genesis and reliability (26:12) • People being mislead by car feature names (16:32) You can find more information at Driven Media or previous programs are available as podcasts on iTunes or Spotify. OR our Facebook site OverdriveCity So, let’s start with the news Originally broadcast 29 June 2019

Overdrive: Ssangyong comeback; Noise Cameras; Lexus; Electric car guy "hydrogen is the future"

Fri, 09 Aug 2019 03:12:11 +0000

Hello and welcome to Overdrive, a program where we put the world of motoring and transport under the microscope. I’m David Brown In this program we have news stories with David Campbell 1. UK to trial new ‘noise camera’ system to combat excessively loud vehicles 2. Hybrids are 14 times better than battery electric vehicles at reducing real-world carbon dioxide emissions 3. Google Maps ‘could soon let you know when taxi drivers take you on dodgy routes’ with automated app alerts. 4. China’s father of electric cars says hydrogen is future 5. Fiat Chrysler sued over alleged Jeep Wrangler 'death wobble' 6. Rob Fraser gives us the second installment on preparing your car to go to the snow 7. We talk to the Managing Director of Ssangyong Australia about how they are making a comeback in Australia. 8. Brian Smith and I talk about some quirky news 9. We have two motoring minutes • Lexus NX300H • Nissan Patrol You can find more information at Driven Media or previous programs are available as podcasts on iTunes or Spotify. OR our Facebook site OverdriveCity So, let’s start with the news Originally broadcast 22 June 2019

Jaguars old and new: Chatting to the owner of a 1972 E - Type while sitting in the latest F-Type

Mon, 29 Jul 2019 01:45:57 +0000

I went to my local monthly car show, Machines and Macchiatos at Harbord which supports the Care Bears and Cure Brain Cancer charities which usually has a couple of lovely old Jaguars on display. To show the old and the new together, I borrowed the latest F-Type Jaguar. We parked it next to a beautiful yellow E type owned by a bloke called Murray. Some of the conversation about his car included the following: DB: You're six foot five inches tall. Can you get into your car easily? MMcA: It is the convertible. The top down makes it really easy. I still am a bit large with it. If you look at the car it's actually missing the sun visors. That was just impeding my vision while I was driving it so I took those off but when the roof's up I basically had the seat further back. It's like any short and low car to get into for someone of my size but it's I can do that. It's quite enough room for me to drive it. The interesting thing with my car is that it's a 72 [model] that's when it was delivered to Australia … February 1972. It's a little bit longer I think it's something like eight or nine inches longer for someone of my size you need that in the cabin. The series one the series two, I can't give in that is too tight for me. DB: You can see that very much with the doors. Can't you. MMcA: Yeah. That's why you notice the difference in size. The doors on those earlier models are much shorter DB: You can see that very much with the doors. Can't you? MMcA: Yeah. That's where you notice the difference in size. The doors on those earlier models are much shorter. You can see that, if you parked my next door as well. There's also some other things you'll notice when you see the series three and that's the flared guards they're actually popped the guards a little bit more as well. [00:02:42][14.3] DB: The early the E-Type Jaguars, and I believe Sir William Lyons even regretted this, was that the tyres didn't fill the wheel wells and they tended to look a little bit gawky in that regard. I think in the later ones, it looks a more complete package. MMcA: I think that's right. Well of course the technology in the tyres has changed so much in time and even in 72 I think the tyres are very different to what you get in the 60s. So it does very much fill the guards. If you look at mine it also doesn't have the wires on it. I have the wires at home and I drive with the Prolites just because it's so much simpler if you're driving more often than I do. If you're driving around the streets you don't get the problems you get with wire wheels. DB: Bumping and things? MMcA: I found that if you hit a pothole or something they go out of balance and you'd have them worked on again. DB: Have you had other Jaguars? MMcA: No I haven't actually. I've had lots of different cars but never a Jaguar. I never thought I'd get one of these. I think I was very fortunate to find it. DB: What was the passion? Why? MMcA: I wanted a nice car. A classic car of some sort. I actually was looking for an American car, Corvette in particular, but I don't fit in the Corvette. And I never thought I'd be able to find or afford one of those. I think the stars aligned for me and it just came up. It was a good car. The lady that was selling, she had actually knocked back a couple of people that came to look at it because she didn't like the people and she wouldn't let them buy her husband's car because her husband had passed away. And we clicked. We got on very, very well and she allowed me to buy it. DB: Was this a car of your youth? Did you lust after this car when you were young? MMcA: Oh I don't think anyone of my age didn't last after an e-type. DB: Murray Lovely to talk to you. MMcA: Thank you fantastic time. We sat in the F Type and had a chat. You may hear some cars go past in the background. I began by asking Murray what model his car was.

Overdrive (1Hr): Uber AIr; External airbag; Driving to the snow; Manual Ferrari; Camping aid

Mon, 22 Jul 2019 08:17:27 +0000

Welcome to Overdrive, a program where we put the world of motoring and transport under the microscope. I’m David Brown In this program we have news stories with David Campbell 1. Uber Air Launches in Australia (1:46) 2. Fiat Chrysler Automobiles puts brakes on proposed merger with Renault, blames French government (3:15) 3. German firm tests external airbag for side-impact crashes (3:48) 4. Volvo says it will tow broken-down cars for life (4:49) 5. It May Soon Be Illegal to Text While Crossing the Street in New York City (5:40) 6. Haval Strengthens Sino-Russian Economic Cooperation with Completion of Tula Factory (6:27) 7. Motoring Minute • Kia Picanto (7:10) 8. Preparing for a trip to the snow – Part 1 (8:21) 9. Texas Firm will build a Ferrari for you with a manual transmission (13:34) 10. Lancia Stratos (15:31) 11. Fined for crossing the road using your phone (17:33) 12. New camping thing (20:45) 13. Ian Callum (23:34) 14. PHEV (24:49) 15. Dean Oliver and Brian Smith take up the issue of designing transport infrastructure – should it be just functional or have an element of visual appeal (30:40) 16. Motoring Minute • The BMW Z4 (42:58) You can find more information at Driven Media or previous programs are available as podcasts on iTunes or Spotify. OR our Facebook site OverdriveCity So, let’s start with the news Originally broadcast 15 June 2019

Overdrive (1hr) : Crash Tests, Meccano Set; BMW Z4; Range Rover PHEV

Sun, 21 Jul 2019 10:38:22 +0000

In this program we have news stories with David Campbell 1. Safety prioritised with 5 stars for Toyota HiAce and Nissan Leaf EV, yet the opposite for Jeep Wrangler at 1 star (1:37) 2. Jaguar and Chargefox agreement sparks Australia’s EV interest (2:15) 3. Tesla reveals Model 3 Australian prices (3:07) 4. Pricing for Swedish mid-sized S60 sedan and V60 wagon well below Germans (4:48) 5. UTSA engineers develop inexpensive smart stop sign to improve rural road safety (5:58) 6. TU Graz developing ‘predictive’ pedestrian crossing signals for Vienna (7:10) 7. And Alan Zurvas has just witnessed a crash test. We find out what it was like and what is happening in the future (8:35) 8. Rob, Alan and David discuss some news snippets (16:28) 9. In Sydney they have a land mark called the Meccano set it’s an ancient structure to hold signs at traffic lights at a major intersection. They had to replace it and they chose to replicate the old, brutalist design from 1952. We find out why (20:06) 10. Two motoring minutes • Jeep’s problems with brash tests (15:25) • VW Toureg (25:15) 11. Remembering Dorothy Rowe and a new program to use car clubs to help those with depression (26:38) 12. More discussion of motoring news (29:13) 13. Rob Roads tests the BMW Z4 (33:26) 14. Alan has been driving the Range Rover PHEV (38:55) 15. And some quirky news with Brian Smith (42:14)

Privatisation - No; Value Capture - maybe; and John Maynard Keynes - Prof Roger Vickerman

Tue, 25 Jun 2019 13:15:09 +0000

The Thredbo conference is an international forum on passenger transport competition and ownership issues. It is held every two years. Professor David Hensher co-founded the conference with the first held in 1989, in Thredbo. But since then it has been held in locations around the world. It has some very rigorous papers, reporting on recent research and experience but ultimately it pushes towards real, practical solutions. The next conference will be held in Singapore in August this year 2019. The chairperson of one of the workshops titled "Beyond the fare box: sustainable funding of public transport by better understanding service values" is Professor Roger Vickerman. He's the emeritus professor of European economics at the University of Kent. I interviewed him recently from his Home in the UK. DB: Privatising services, does that cover most of your desired outcomes?. RV: I think we've seen very clearly over the years in many different countries that simply handing over the provision of important public services, which is what local public transport is, simply to private provider with the profit motive doesn't actually work. And it doesn't work particularly for those who are more disadvantaged in society, who are the ones who typically need to rely on public services. DB: How have other policy decisions worked against the transport disadvantaged? RV: At the same time as we've seen a removal of that backbone of public services from outer areas: closure of rural post offices; closure of local banks; so that people actually need to get into a town and then find that they don't have access to public transport to enable them to get there and back easily. Even though we might have us as a system that subsidizes public transport, for example for elderly people, through free bus passes not much point having a free bus pass if there isn't a bus to use it. DB: One strategy for raising funds other than through the fare box is based on land value. If businesses benefit from an improved transport network, then should they contribute to its construction? In Australia we call that value capture. Can this work? RV: We've seen an example with the development of the Crossrail project within Greater London which is not going terribly well at the at the end game. But we saw there the fact that they were using an additional charge on business rates for those areas that would benefit from this in order to be able to fund the scheme and indeed identify certain locations where there was a demand for a station on the line, which the overall project did not think was viable, to enable the private sector to do the development. DB: That is a case of getting money to build it in the first place or to operate it. If you go back to the late eighteen hundreds in England and the development of railway lines, there was a boom in railway construction based on land speculation and then many railways went broke because of ongoing operating costs. Are we talking about here ongoing funding or just getting over the first construction hurdle? RV: Well I think the first bit is actually making that that initial provision. Moving on from there to an ongoing support is of course much more difficult stage to get through with that. And that's where you might or might feel that some form of land value taxation that enables the local public authority to be able to provide that ongoing funding might be a good idea. But you are indeed right that most of those early speculators in the railways went bankrupt, which is probably true of most private transport investments. Good idea to enthuse the private sector to build things which then can't be taken away. And if they go bankrupt as a result of that, that seems to be hard luck and you can certainly see examples of that in terms of the private building of highways across Europe where private sector developers have essentially gone bankrupt as a result of having developed it and the state has had to step in.

Lies, Damned Lies and Autonomous Vehicles: Professor Graham Currie - Monash University

Tue, 25 Jun 2019 12:52:08 +0000

Professor Graham Currie is the director of Monash infrastructure, Chair of public transport and Professor in Transport Engineering at Monash University. You can get a flavour of his passionate and realistic approach to transport in a paper he wrote recently titled "Lies, Damn Lies, Autonomous Vehicles, Shared Mobility and Urban Transport Futures". Introduction Academic or private research is sometimes seen only as the way to discover the next big thing; the next revolution; the next quantum leap in what we can do. And indeed, it can be. But to get public coverage and funding, be it from your own organisation government or private sources, it is often best achieved by proclaiming as early as possible, how great your breakthrough is and how profitable it will be. But a discovery is only the first step. To get good policy and implementation we need to have clarity of thought, a realistic perspective of what a new direction might lead to, and an understanding of the barriers and the concept of behaviour change. Professor Currie has been actively involved in original research and evaluation of transport systems in Australia and around the world. Selected Comments • “A lot of new developments are very speculative and although they get a lot of media coverage, I rather think that tinged with too much hype. Now hype is selling things that aren't real and you might think or does that really happen? Well there are many, many failures of new technology that is said to be the solution to all our wars. Like the monorail which haven't really revolutionized cities. • In regard to Autonomous cars: “The claim is that they're are going to solve traffic congestion, that they're going to be safer, that in fact a lot of US people have said that they're going to take over from public transport which is very old and decaying. Well you can take each one of these apart at the moment because there's no facts behind them”. • “Excellence in Engineering is integrating human science, human considerations, psychology into engineering and the discipline is improving. • “We are always seeking technical solutions that are the best but in practice the ones that get implemented are the ones that are politically acceptable and really that whole issue of local, state and federal politics is something that engineers don't really spend any time on. They really should. • On communication: “Unfortunately, in academia and engineering to an extent, there are plenty of technical disciplines like modelling, operations research, where there's far too many formulas that no one understands. In the end our job, I think, is to explain clearly, to an often-busy person like the CEO for example who often do want to get involved in the details the public and politicians. Those guys are very busy not technical experts. There's a real role for us all to tone down our work and come to the key points, to better communicate what we do, so that we can achieve change. • And services like Uber and Lyft? “I have a bigger concern over them and it comes again with these words we're using - these new words for new mobility. There's this word called “ride sharing” and Uber is very much part of the ride sharing philosophy and I don't like it because it's a lie. The average occupancy of an Uber in traffic is 0.6 passengers per vehicle. It's actually 1.6 but includes the driver. This implies that 34 percent of the time the vehicles are travelling around getting to places where they can pick people up or that they're looking for business. Now congested cities don't need empty cars of the road up trying to pick people up.

The Meccano Set: how the community insisted on keeping the old look with transport infrastructure

Tue, 25 Jun 2019 03:23:26 +0000

Way back in the early 60s in an outer suburb of Sydney they erected a large structure to put up signposts and traffic signals on a wide intersection. It was built for its function not its looks and was basic and solid in its design. It became known affectionately as the Maccano Set. When it came time for it to be replaced the road authority displayed a number of modern plans. But the community hated the idea. They had their affection for their Maccano Set and so it has been replaced with a similar looking structure. Graham Patterson is a traffic engineer who has been looking into the history and the impact of this structure. He joins David Brown for a chat.

Overdrive: Experiencing an ANCAP crash test; Jeeps poor performance; BMW Z4

Thu, 13 Jun 2019 07:49:10 +0000

Hello and welcome to Overdrive a program that broods over the world of cars and transport I’m David Brown In this program we have news stories with David Campbell 1. Safety prioritised with 5 stars for Toyota HiAce and Nissan Leaf EV, yet the opposite for Jeep Wrangler at 1 star (1:37) 2. Jaguar and Chargefox agreement sparks Australia’s EV interest (2:15) 3. Tesla reveals Model 3 Australian prices (3:07) 4. Pricing for Swedish mid-sized S60 sedan and V60 wagon well below Germans (4:48) 5. UTSA engineers develop inexpensive smart stop sign to improve rural road safety (5:58) 6. TU Graz developing ‘predictive’ pedestrian crossing signals for Vienna (7:10) 7. And Alan Zurvas has just witnessed a crash test. We find out what it was like and what is happening in the future (8:35) 8. Rob, Alan and David discuss some news snippets (16:28) 9. In Sydney they have a land mark called the Meccano set it’s an ancient structure to hold signs at traffic lights at a major intersection. They had to replace it and they chose to replicate the old, brutalist design from 1952. We find out why (20:06) 10. Two motoring minutes • Jeep’s problems with brash tests (15:25) • VW Toureg (25:15) 11. Remembering Dorothy Rowe and a new program to use car clubs to help those with depression (26:38) 12. More discussion of motoring news (29:13) 13. Rob Roads tests the BMW Z4 (33:26) 14. Alan has been driving the Range Rover PHEV (38:55) 15. And some quirky news with Brian Smith (42:14) You can find more information at Driven Media or previous programs are available as podcasts on iTunes or Spotify. OR our Facebook site OverdriveCity So, let’s start with the news Originally broadcast 8 June 2019

Overdrive: Jaguar and Charge Fox; Tesla Model 3 prices; The Meccano Set; Crash testing

Sat, 08 Jun 2019 11:47:35 +0000

Hello and welcome to Overdrive a program that broods over the world of cars and transport I’m David Brown In this program we have news stories with David Campbell 1. Safety prioritised with 5 stars for Toyota HiAce and Nissan Leaf EV, yet the opposite for Jeep Wrangler at 1 star (1:42) 2. Jaguar and Chargefox agreement sparks Australia’s EV interest (2:20) 3. Tesla reveals Model 3 Australian prices (3:12) 4. Pricing for Swedish mid-sized S60 sedan and V60 wagon well below Germans (4:53) 5. UTSA engineers develop inexpensive smart stop sign to improve rural road safety (6:03) 6. TU Graz developing ‘predictive’ pedestrian crossing signals for Vienna (7:15) 7. In Sydney they have a land mark called the Meccano set it’s an ancient structure to hold signs at traffic lights at a major intersection. They had to replace it and they chose to replicate the old, brutalist design from 1952. We find out why (8:41) 8. And Alan Zurvas has just witnessed a crash test. We find out what it was like and what is happening in the future (14:45) 9. Two motoring minutes • Jeep’s problems with brash tests (13:49) • VW Toureg (21:54) 10. And some quirky news with Brian Smith (22:46) You can find more information at Driven Media or previous programs are available as podcasts on iTunes or Spotify. OR our Facebook site OverdriveCity Originally broadcast 25 May 2019

Overdrive: Toyota vs Trump; Aust electric cars; VW Polo GTI; BMW humour!

Sat, 08 Jun 2019 10:56:39 +0000

Hello and welcome to Overdrive a program that samples and savors the world of cars and transport I’m David Brown In this program we have news stories with David Campbell 1. Fiat Chrysler proposes merger with Renault to create car making powerhouse (1:28) 2. Toyota hits back over Trump signaling Japanese investments 'not welcomed' (2:33) 3. ACE-EV inks landmark deal with Adelaide’s Aldom to build electric cars (3:31) 4. Voters demand safer roads and less congestion: AAA survey (4:05) 5. Airbus to partner with SAS on hybrid and electric aircraft research (4:56) 6. BMW posts a smart send-off for long-time Mercedes chief (6:04) 7. We have a road test of the Volkswagen Polo GTi (8:14) 8. There is two motoring minutes 9. Range Rover (15:32) 10. SsangYong brings back the Musso (7:02) 11. And some quirky news with Brian Smith (16:48) You can find more information at Driven Media or previous programs are available as podcasts on iTunes or Spotify. OR our Facebook site OverdriveCity So, let’s start with the news Originally broadcast 1st June 2019

Overdrive: Audi links to traffic signals; Unmarked police trucks; Hyundai Nexo; Ford Mustang

Sat, 08 Jun 2019 05:47:50 +0000

Hello and welcome to Overdrive where we climb the hills, tackle the bends and endure the potholes of issues to do with motoring and transport. I’m David Brown In this program we have news stories with David Campbell 1. Audi introducing its traffic signal information system in Europe 2. Highways England s three supercabs capture over 3500 traffic offences 3. End of the line for two on demand bus trials in Sydney amid cost concerns 4. Hyundai NEXO Fuel Cell named a ‘game changer’ 5. Nissan to equip new Skyline with world’s first next-gen driver assistance system 6. Wall Street's love affair with Tesla is over 7. A professor of economics from the UK on how we might pay for transport 8. A road test of the Ford Mustang 9. Two motoring minutes • Maserati Levante • Nissan Pathfinder 10. And some quirky news with Brian Smith You can find more information at Driven Media or previous programs are available as podcasts on iTunes or Spotify. OR our Facebook site OverdriveCity So, let’s start with the news Originally broadcast 25 May 2019

Overdrive: Uber float; Toyota goes Apple Car Play; History of video driving games; BMW X2 M35i

Mon, 20 May 2019 12:17:22 +0000

Hello and welcome to Overdrive a program that bounces through the world of cars and transport I’m David Brown In this program 1. Uber float takes on water (1:34) 2. Toyota takes the plunge on Apple CarPlay and Android Auto (2:20) 3. Tesla is the most loved car company by its owners (3:45) 4. But Tesla CEO has to face court (4:23) 5. Four-cylinder Honda beats Falcon GTHO (5:06) 6. LA the land of the freeway goes for green public transport (6:22) 7. Pink made the car more valuable (7:07) 8. We talk to the Museum Director from the National Motor Museum on the history of video driving games (8:00) 9. We have two motoring minutes • The BMW X5 (13:20) • Kia Carnival (21:27) 10. We put the cat amongst the pigeons with our expose last week on billboard advertising – we give you an update (14:21) 11. We road test the hottest version of the BMW X2 (15:11) 12. And we finish our series on odd car design. (22:30) You can find more information at Driven Media or previous programs are available as podcasts on iTunes or Spotify. OR our Facebook site OverdriveCity So, let’s start with the news Originally broadcast 18 May 2019

Are drivers distracted by outdoor signposting: Interview with Paul Murrell on recent ARRB research

Fri, 10 May 2019 14:27:50 +0000

Interview of Paul Murrell on “Is outdoor advertising a distraction to drivers?” with David Brown DB: The Australian Road Research Board has just done some research on whether outdoor advertising distracts drivers. Their press release has the heading "outdoor ads can improve driver performance". DB: The important point is that from a technical point of view it was a measurement of only two locations, both similar traffic lights I believe in inner city areas. They only measured two things which was whether people went across the stop line or didn't stop fully and went partially across the stop line or whether they wandered in the lane. They then measured it for a while and then they put up some advertising. My point is that that is a very limited number of situations and measurements. And so what might have worked in that situation might have nothing to do with, to my mind, 110 kilometres an hour on a country road. PM: said “I think you're exactly correct. I think it's very dangerous to base conclusions like these on limited data. I mean the ordinary possibilities of statistical error start to come into play here. There are only two locations, they're only testing really two reactions to a distraction. I just question the whole methodology to be honest. DB: They linked to the press release and a summary but they did not put the full report on the internet. DB: ARRB did say "can" improve drive distraction. But the summary, the technical background was, I believe, written by the client who are the Outdoor Media Association and while they do have the general heading to this information leaflet "can outdoor advertising make roads safer" they have a subheading in there that says "Research shows outdoor advertising helps". PM: Yeah. DB: They do have an interesting point that sometimes that advertising can be road safety and so that might flag a memory of a road safety issue and the other point they make is that a lot of distraction is within the car. People either texting or children interrupting them and something to get your eyes up and on the road may have a direction there but my big point still goes down too, we have not looked at that across the board. Now Paul you've been in marketing and advertising, not all outside ads are equal in terms of their distraction, are they? PM: Oh of course they're not. And not all outdoor advertising is distracting to all people. I mean you and I for example may be well distracted by a very attractive woman on a billboard whereas my wife wouldn't look twice at it. She'd probably be looking at the Fashion poster across the road. PM: I have to question what is the what's the motivation behind this research? Why are they doing this research. What's their long-term goal in doing research about outdoor advertising not being distracting? I can only assume it's justified the fact that outdoor advertising should be allowed along freeways or next to roads. I can't think of any other reason why they would do research to say that advertising isn't distracting. Therefore, there's a whole element of self-interest here or self-justification. I find the whole thing a little strange. DB: I think we have to be very careful given the media will read a headline and run with that. PM: As we know of course you and I depend on if people read headlines and never read the text reading. It’s amazing what you can get away with a clever headline. But it goes back to it goes back to my point. What is the fundamental purpose of doing this research unless it is to convince people that yes it's quite okay to have lots of signs up all around our roads? DB: Paul lovely to talk to as always thank you very much for your time. PM: Thank you David. Paul Murrell is a motoring journalist and writer who previously worked in the advertising industry. His web site is http://www.seniordriveraus.com/ The full interview is on the audio file.

Overdrive: Jaguar pothole funds; Isuzu DMAX & MUX; Citroen history; Ford AEB shopping cart

Fri, 10 May 2019 11:34:24 +0000

Hello and welcome to Overdrive a program that looks at cars and transport from a variety of angles. I’m David Brown And in this week’s program 1. Are commuter car parks worth it? (1:39) 2. Via brings micro-transit service in Seattle (2:31) 3. Warn fellow road users about potholes and earn cryptocurrency as you drive (3:03) 4. How the world's first flying car racing league was born (3:59) 5. Ford's self-braking shopping cart will stop your kids ramming strangers' shins (4:45) 6. Does the Ford Mustang has an unfair advantage (5:45) 7. There are two motoring minutes from Rob Fraser both about Isuzu products The DMAX X Runner (6:51) MUX Update (14:19) 8. We hear again from rally driver Molly Taylor and what she went through in travelling to England to prove her credentials as a driver. (7:48) 9. We hear Alan Zurvas’ report on a historical event for Citroen (15:17) 10. And we get our resident artist Dean Oliver and Brian Smith to talk about the changing outward appear of cars in the light of the Shanghai Motor Show (20:52) You can find more information at Driven Media or previous programs are available as podcasts on iTunes or Spotify. OR our Facebook site OverdriveCity Originally broadcast 5 May 2019

Overdrive:: Speed limiters; Proton returns; Annoying things about cars, Kia Picanto

Wed, 01 May 2019 17:29:58 +0000

Hello and welcome to Overdrive a program that looks at all forms of transport from the humble bike through to rocket powered space travel. I’m David Brown In this week’s program 1. Speed limiters mandatory in all European cars by 2022 (1:33) 2. Canadian government invests in zero-emission vehicles (3:03) 3. PROTON looks set to relaunch in Australia (3:51) 4. Scottish safety initiative combats speeding and tailgating (4:36) 5. Could Hawaii Be Paradise For Hydrogen-Powered Public Transit? (5:28) 6. Jimny World urban Car winner (6:09) 7. We talk to Rob Fraser about the things cars try to do for you that are meant to be helpful but are not. (6:44) 8. What new on our FaceBook site OverdriveCity (13:59) 9. Alan Zurvas Road test the base model Kia Picanto (14:22) 10. And Brian Smith and I talk about new ways to deliver your parcels and how much it costs to advertise on a formula 1 car. (20:18) You can find more information at Driven Media or previous programs are available as podcasts on iTunes or Spotify. OR our Facebook site OverdriveCity So, let’s start with the news Originally broadcast 27 April 2019

Overdrive: Mazda 3; Citroen Aircross; Autonomous Vehicles not so fast not so safe

Sun, 21 Apr 2019 11:06:19 +0000

Hello and welcome to Overdrive a program that looks at a range of different ways we get around, from cars, buses, trains, and planes. I’m David Brown In this week’s program, we have news stories with David Campbell 1. Labor wants 50% electric cars by 2030 (1:22) 2. Uber unveils IPO with a warning it may never make a profit (2:24) 3. Ford, Uber dial back expectations for self-driving cars (3:38) 4. Ford rolls out new key fob technology to stop hackers (4:19) 5. This City's New Bike Lane Law is ‘Bikelash’-Proof (5:38) 6. Genesis announces its launch day in Australia (6:20) We talk to Alan Zurvas about the new Mazda 3 which bucks the latest styling trends (7:05) What's on the OverdriveCity Facebook site (13:13) Rob Fraser talks about the new Citroen (13:55) And Brian Smith and I talk about whether autonomous vehicles will reduce crashes. (19:25) You can find more information at Driven Media or previous programs are available as podcasts on iTunes or Spotify. OR our Facebook site OverdriveCity Originally broadcast 20 April 2019

The Things That Annoy That Are Supposed To Be Helpful

Fri, 19 Apr 2019 02:29:26 +0000

Sometimes cars do things for you that are meant to be helpful but they're not what you want. I stopped on the side of the road the other day because I thought I saw something suspicious. It was at night and I thought I might just observe. The car was the new Mini Cooper. I pulled over and turned the engine off. As soon as I did that the interior lights came on. I was lit up like a Christmas tree. That's not what I wanted. I interviewed my motoring colleague Rob Fraser and we began to compile a list which includes: • Warning chimes that don’t tell you exactly what is wrong • The volume on the radio always coming on when you turn the car on even when you have turned it off the night before. • Navigation instructions that stop showing or telling you where to go when someone rings in on the phone. • Cars that lock all the doors when you start travelling to pick up some passengers and then hide the “unlock” from easy access. • Buttons on the key fob to unlock the rear hatch door that don’t work unless the car is turned off/doors locked etc. Send other examples of things that annoy you to feedback@drivenmedia.com.au

Overdrive: Subaru's rally driver - Molly Taylor, Hino 500; More April fools day pranks

Thu, 18 Apr 2019 01:11:12 +0000

Welcome to Overdrive, a program where we look at the wide and wonderful world of motoring and transport. I’m David Brown In this week’s program, we have news stories with David Campbell 1. 50% target for electric car sales by 2030 under a Labor Government (1:43) 2. Aston Martin boss says autonomous cars will result in mergers (2:48) 3. GM Ford and Toyota establish Automated Vehicle Safety Consortium (3:29) 4. EU believes BMW, Daimler and VW colluded over clean emissions tech (4:32) 5. Tesla shares sink on poor deliveries (5:16) 6. Genesis Finally confirms Genesis Launch Date (5:59) We talk to Subaru Rally team driver Molly Taylor who has just competed in the first round of the Australian Rally Championship held in Western Australia. (6:47) We catch up with Joel Helmes to discuss the latest truck from Hino which is showing the freight industry the way in standard road safety features and it has some wonderful technology for communication information to drivers with minimal distraction. (12:58) And we continue our talk with Brian Smith on the April Fool’s day pranks played by car companies. (19:14) You can find more information at Driven Media or previous programs are available as podcasts on iTunes or Spotify. OR our Facebook site OverdriveCity Originally broadcast 13 April 2019

Overdrive: Toyota Camry changes ideas on hybrids; Car company's April Fools jokes

Wed, 03 Apr 2019 11:44:23 +0000

Welcome to Overdrive, a program about all sorts of things to do with motoring and transport. I’m David Brown In this week’s program, we have news stories with David Campbell 1. Car sales outlook weakens as intenders stay away 2. Australia’s Largest Sport Sponsor 3. Europe will require carmakers to install speed limiters from 2022 4. Hyundai Australia to expand its Electric Vehicle Dealership 5. Toyota & Suzuki Partnership 6. Toyota to generate hydrogen from rooftop solar for vehicle fuel We a range of motoring minutes with Rob Fraser and myself on some new cars, political statements about banning petrol and diesel cars and pollution with trucks. I also have a longer conversation with Rob about the Hybrid Camry. He didn’t think much of hybrids when they first came out but now he is a changed man. And Brian Smith and I discuss April fools jokes from the car industry. You can find more information at Driven Media or previous programs are available as podcasts on iTunes or Spotify. OR our Facebook site OverdriveCity So, let’s start with the news Originally broadcast 6 April 2019

Joel Docker: World Wide Learning Opportunity awardee - Focus on Bicycles in CIties

Tue, 02 Apr 2019 05:01:58 +0000

Joel Docker has received two undergraduate degrees from Monash University one in civil engineering and one in science. Joel co-authored a paper "Safe roads for cyclists: an investigation of Australian and Dutch approaches". It was accepted for presentation at the Australasian Transport Research Forum in Auckland in November 2017. Through the ITE Worldwide Learning Opportunity Program, with funding from Austraffic he travelled to New Zealand to present the paper at that conference. A year and more after delivering the paper, Joel was interviewed about the experience and what it has meant to his career ads part of his on-going development with the help of organisations such as the ITE.

Overdrive: Car Sales; Utilities do well; Volkswagen electric plans; Building cars from Lego

Wed, 20 Mar 2019 07:35:43 +0000

Hello and welcome to Overdrive, where we experiment with ideas and experiences to do with cars and transport. I’m David Brown In this week’s program news stories with David Campbell 1. VFACTS: 2019 downturn continues with slow February 2. Aussie company works to turn plastics, old tyres and waste into diesel fuel for trucks 3. Mazda Unveils all new SUV 4. Volkswagen's electric plans: 5. BMW & Mercedes Benz Working together 6. Goodbye Optima We look closely at why the top three selling cars in February were utes with Rob Fraser Alan Zurvas goes for a ride to a mid-north coast holiday location in a $218,000 Lexus And Brian Smith and finish off a discussion we had last week on building car models from lego. You can find more information at Driven Media or previous programs are available as podcasts on iTunes or Spotify. OR our Facebook site OverdriveCity So, let’s start with the news Originally broadcast 16 March 2019

Overdrive: Tesla up and down costs; Election transport policies; Lego cars

Fri, 15 Mar 2019 08:15:30 +0000

Hello and welcome to Overdrive, where we mull over issues to do with cars and transport. I’m David Brown In this week’s program news stories with David Campbell 1. Tesla Cuts the price of Model 3 but increases Australian Charging Prices 2. Holden Hopes to rebound after several bad sales years 3. Volkswagen’s Jetta becomes a brand – but only in China 4. Maserati Cuts Prices 5. Melbourne Formula 1 6. Whitsundays Festival of Motoring With a NSW state and a federal election coming up we will be bombarded with transport projects that political parties will be promoting as their transport policy. Brian Smith and I discuss the six things that should be at the basis of all political transport policies. Brian and I look also look at the success or otherwise of building cars models from lego. Now they are going life size. You can find more information at Driven Media or previous programs are available as podcasts on iTunes or Spotify. OR our Facebook site OverdriveCity So, let’s start with the news Tesla Cuts the price of Model 3 but increases Australian Charging Prices When Tesla first launched the Model S Elon Musk said that, over time, he hoped to get the price down to US$35,000. Now he has finally delivered on his promise of an electric vehicle for the masses, confirming the reduced pricing. Specs for the Standard Range start at US$35,000 (or around A$49,000) before US Government incentives. The Standard Model 3 offers a range of 355km, a top speed of 210km/h and a 0-60mph (97km/h) time of 5.6 seconds, while, for an additional $2,000, the Standard Range Plus has a 386km range, will hit 60mph in 5.3 seconds and tops out at 225km/h. Holden Hopes to rebound after several bad sales years HOLDEN has forecast at least 9% growth in its combined SUV and ute sales this year, forecasting that 70% of its overall sales volume will come from these two major categories. Holden is attempting to turn around its fortunes after its sales slumped 33 per cent last year in the wake of its exit from local car manufacturing in October 2017. Volkswagen’s Jetta becomes a brand – but only in China The Jetta name has made the leap from a Volkswagen model - to the Volkswagen Group’s latest all-new brand. The long-running nameplate has been established as a brand in its One of the reasons for the Jetta brand’s birth is that it allows the Volkswagen brand itself to position itself as the more premium class that it holds in Europe. BMW fined for swapping ECUs Prosecutors in Germany have hit BMW with an €8.5 million fine for fitting almost 8000 cars with the wrong engine management software. The fine relates to an admission by BMW that it had inadvertently fitted a diesel-engine software upgrade for the X5 and X6 into 5 Series and 7 Series electronic control units or ECUs. Prosecutors accepted that BMW had done nothing intentional, but was guilty of “oversight lapses”. Maserati Cuts Prices A DEPRESSED new-vehicle market outlook, and dealer and customer feedback on pricing, is behind Maserati Australia cutting the prices of its models by up to $46,000, - following similar changing price points for some BMW and Mercedes-Benz models. Termed “realignment” by Maserati Australia, the new price scale is aimed at maintaining sales and market share in a very competitive high end market. BMW last year reduced 7 Series pricing by up to almost $50,000, which put the model under the $200,000 mark for its entry-level models. Similarly, in August last year Mercedes-Benz reduced its S Class pricing by up to $44,000.

Overdrive: More Super Bowl ad critiques; AVs predict ped movements; Eovques see through system

Wed, 27 Feb 2019 04:25:11 +0000

Hello and welcome to Overdrive a program that bounces across issues of cars and transport I’m David Brown In this week’s news stories 1. Teaching self-driving cars to predict pedestrian movement 2. INRIX 2018 Global Traffic Scorecard 3. Hero Holdens tops Shannons Melbourne Auction 4. New York gov: introduce Manhattan road pricing ‘or face 30% fare rise’ 5. Lyft Green Mode option allows riders to request electric and hybrid vehicles 6. California Now Prohibits Use of Gender in Determining Auto Insurance Rates We have a few motoring minutes 1. Nissan x Opus concept camper uses second-life EV batteries to power ‘off-grid’ adventures 2. New Range Rover Evoque recreates iconic road signs to showcase all terrain capability and smart tech And Brian Smith, Errol Smith give the second installment of a review of the Motoring ads that appeared during this year’s Super Bowl. We finally get to one we like. You can find more information at Driven Media or previous programs are available as podcasts on iTunes or Spotify. OR our Facebook site OverdriveCity So, let’s start with the news Originally broadcast 23 February 2019

Overdrive: Nissan and Renault move on; Scooters under pressure,Super Bowl ads

Thu, 14 Feb 2019 08:34:09 +0000

Overdrive: Nissan and Renault move on; Scooters under pressure,Super Bowl ads by David Brown

Overdrive: Nissan - No X-Trail with Brexit; Maserati Track Day; Suzuki Jimny; AVs showing the way

Tue, 12 Feb 2019 07:25:08 +0000

Hello and welcome to Overdrive a program that looks at cars and transport from a variety of angles . I’m David Brown And in this week’s news stories Nissan chooses Japan over UK to build new X-Trail car Nissan has confirmed that the new X-Trail originally planned for its Sunderland plant near Newcastle in the UK will instead be made in Japan. It said continued Brexit uncertainty is not helping firms to "plan for the future". Nissan has made cars at Sunderland since 1986 and employs almost 7,000 people. The government said Nissan's decision was "a blow to the sector" but that no jobs would go as a result, which suggests they will continue to build cars there but not expand with the new model. Tesla lost $976M in 2018 despite 4Q profit First the good news for Tesla They made a profit in the last quarter of 2018 of $139 million which was the on revenue of $7.2 billion, and this was the second consecutive quarter of profitability. But now the bad news – for the whole year they lost nearly $1 billion That’s better though than 2017 where they lost $1.9-billion Dongle lets you see how your car is performing Cars are now collecting a huge amount of information about how they are operating which can be of great help or just interest to the owner. But much of the information is hidden and would be distracting to view while you are driving and cumbersome to look at if you have to stay seated in the car. Almost every car made after 1996 has a connection port under the dashboard to connect diagnostic systems. This port is called the OBD-II port (on-board diagnostics). Scantool now makes a product the ODBLink MX+ ($140 Australian Dollars) which uses a wireless dongle to connect your car to your smartphone, tablet or Windows PC via Bluetooth. Super bowl car ads The super Bowl has been and gone for another year and some car companies showed they were prepared to produce specific ads and then pay $5.2 million for a 30 second slot during the game. In America it is a great offense for some, if you do not stand for the national anthem but it is quite acceptable to involve the national song in two critical activities, gambling and making profits. There were huge bets on how long Gladys Knight would take to sing the anthem and then Jeep used it as the background music to their ad that used iconic features as the famous 1945 picture of six marines raising the flag on atop Mount Suribachi, during the Battle of Iwo Jima, in World War II. Canadian union airs Super Bowl ad despite GM lawsuit threats Not all Super Bowl ads were aimed at patriotism, humour or sentimentality. Canada’s union for car workers aired its General Motors boycott campaign ad during the super bowl ignoring lawsuit threats if it went to air. The ad called for a boycott of Mexican-built General Motors Co. vehicles in an effort to save the Oshawa Assembly Plant, set to close at the end of this year. GM's Oshawa plant, which builds the Chevrolet and Impala and Cadillac XTS, is one of five North American plants GM is planning to indefinitely idle this year as the slow-selling products built at those plants are discontinued. Maserati Track Day We went to a Maserati track day and fanged around in cars with a total value of at least $2mill worth. Maserati COO tells us why that is a good thing. I like the guy. Suzuki Jimny We have a chat with Paul Murrell about the new Suzuki Jimny Quirky News And Brian Smith, Errol Smith and I discuss a range of topics including • AV displays the direction it is going to take (BS) • Oscar Mayer will pay you to drive the Wienermobile for a year (ES) • 2020 Toyota Land Cruiser Heritage Edition looks back, seats just five (BS) You can find more information at Driven Media or previous programs are available as podcasts on iTunes or Spotify. OR our Facebook site OverdriveCity

Overdrive: Brexit warning; Kia Picanto GT; Weinermobile; Land Cruiser Heritage; AV shows the way

Sun, 03 Feb 2019 23:55:34 +0000

Hello and welcome to Overdrive our first program of 2019 after the holiday period of highlights from 2018. I’m David Brown And in this week’s news stories 1. Drivers issued no-deal Brexit warnings 2. Road safety seminar: 44% of road crashes occur in Asia Pacific region 3. McLaren 2050 F1 race car: 300-mph EV that can shape-shift 4. F1 in 2019: Teams to pay at least $546K to enter 5. Left to the elements, Packard plant's bridge collapses We discuss why the worlds worse bus stop is a lesson to us all We road test the Kia Picanto GT And Brian Smith, Errol Smith and I discuss a range of topics including • AV displays the direction it is going to take (BS) • Oscar Mayer will pay you to drive the Wienermobile for a year (ES) • 2020 Toyota Land Cruiser Heritage Edition looks back, seats just five (BS) You can find more information at Driven Media or previous programs are available as podcasts on iTunes or Spotify. OR our Facebook site OverdriveCity So, let’s start with the news

Overdrive: Hyundai, Kia change EV km claims; Audi Q8; Fiat dud safety tests; Barina gone

Thu, 13 Dec 2018 13:43:27 +0000

Hello and welcome to Overdrive a program that looks at a range of different ways we get around, from cars, buses, trains and planes with David Brown And this week our news stories with David Campbell 1. Road accidents kill 1.35 million a year 2. VW to cut select models in Europe as it ramps up spending on e-mobility 3. Toyota Still leads the 2018 Sales Race 4. Hyundai, Kia cut EV Distance claims 5. New BMW Models for 2019 6. Fiat Chrysler crashes out in Europe with poor test results We have a motoring minute on the relaunch of SsangYong with a range of models And Errol Smith and I discuss a range of topics including • Audi Q8 • GM Bashing • Losing names of cars You can find more information at Driven Media or previous programs are available as podcasts on iTunes or Spotify. Originally broadcast 12 December 2018.

Overdrive: First look at Hyundai Ioniq; GM cuts models; Toy cars made from wood

Sun, 02 Dec 2018 16:49:32 +0000

Welcome to Overdrive, a program about all sorts of things to do with motoring and transport. I’m David Brown And in the program this week we look at news stories with David Campbell 1. General Motors to close plants and cut models 2. US Auto Tariffs on all imported cars? 3. New Evoque 4. EV Sales soaring in China 5. Aussie Drivers Move On 6. Parking inspectors get the power to hand out demerit points 7. Mazda Turbo Charges the CX-5 We look at Hyundai’s for Electric vehicle on the Australian market And Errol Smith, Brian Smith and I take a genial look at some weird and wonderful news stories about cars and transport. 1. CandyLab Toys is rethinking the diecast car with ... wood 2. Florida man tries to steal car in jail lot on way out of jail, cops say 3. Hennessey Jeep Trackhawk runs the 1/4 mile in 9.66 seconds You can find more information at drivenmedia.com.au or you can podcast previous programs on I-tunes or Spotify. So, here’s the news Originally broadcast 1 December 2018.

Young Professionals: Laura Aston is doing a PhD; She has some clear ideas on our transport needs

Tue, 27 Nov 2018 08:58:24 +0000

Laura Aston is a PhD candidate, undertaking research focused on measuring the transit ridership performance of the built environment. In this interview, David Brown has a chat to Laura about her career, motivations and thoughts on how we need to more actively embrace new thinking in our transport planning processes. Some reflections from the interview are below are documented below. She has a Bachelor of Environmental Engineering/Bachelor of Arts from Monash University. She said about Environmental Engineering “It’s about as multidisciplinary as engineering gets”. She admitted that those who take on Environmental Engineering were probably a little more radical than the typical engineering student. But the degree itself was anything but radical. She did, however, appreciate the background and rigour of some of the engineering subjects. Her leadership of the Student Leadership Summit was a huge commitment to a principle of giving undergraduate students the chance to be excited and invigorated with the wide world that they will participate in. When speaking about single vehicle occupant cars, she talked of the inequity to the whole community. “Inequity” is a concept that is starting to show up in a range of statistics most recently on the average life expectancy rates. Transport planners have a role to play in this key community measure. Her research confirms that diversity can mean that people react in different ways in different countries so that the context is immensely important in the culture of a city and it differs hugely. Her research group is as follows: Sustainable and Effective Public Transport Graduate Industry Research Program (SEPT-GRIP) Public Transport Research Group Monash Institute of Transport Studies http://publictransportresearchgroup.info Public transport patterns in a country like the Netherlands are quite different from say the United States. Does this mean that she is starting to understand the Australian psyche? She said: “What I am learning from my job which is a part time role in the User Focused Design Branch in the Victorian Government, is from the human centred design perspective, not only is the context of a country important but the context of a neighbourhood is important. So it's really hard to generalise and say the Australian psyche is one particular thing. To get the optimum outcome, you'd have to treat every instance, every new build (for example a train station or a level crossing removal), as a unique context and understand the local psyche to really design for the best outcome. “And that's an exciting overlay that this new service design thinking approach brings to transport planning. So what sort of things does Service Design encompass? “Well traditionally human centred design has applied to consumables consumer products but in the last few years we've adapted human centred designed to service planning. Now if you think of the Apple iPhone that is one of the most memorable and I'll probably be told off for using this example but it's the most noteworthy example of where someone incredibly visionary, namely Steve Jobs, saw that you couldn't have a bestselling product unless you not only have the functional product but you make it irresistible to use. And so Apple focused on the user experience of the smartphone. Now we're applying that notion to service design and to transport planning to make sure that our transport services meet the needs of users Was being the motivator and leader of the Student Leadership Summit a practical exercise in management? Absolutely practical in the sense that it was “applied” yes! Practical in the sense that I didn't bite off more than I could chew – No! (Laughs) In the interview Laura did reveal a little of her much greater dreams, (you’ll have to listen to find out) but she has a firm grip on her present reality, nonetheless we are sure the future holds many exciting developments.

Overdrive: BMW X5; Ghosn stumbles; Ford buys railway station; Capturing Route 66

Sun, 25 Nov 2018 13:38:07 +0000

Hello and welcome to Overdrive, a program that investigates matters to do with motoring and transport. I’m David Brown And in the program this week we look at news stories with David Campbell 1. Chairman of Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance Arrested 2. Ford plans construction on Michigan Central Depot by year's end 3. Waymo paid autonomous taxi service could launch in December 4. Government-subsidised plug-in cars may never have been charged 5. 1915 Ford Model T somehow survived the California fires 6. Skoda Aims to double sales in Australia We road test the just released BMW X5 large SUV And Errol Smith, Brian Smith and I take a lively look at some weird and wonderful news stories about cars and transport. 1. Capturing Route 66 on film before it's gone 2. Jaguar F-TYPE Rally Cars Celebrate 70 Years Of Sports Car Heritage 3. SpaceX's Starman Roadster has ventured past Mars orbit You can find more information at drivenmedia.com.au or you can podcast previous programs on I-tunes or Spotify. So, here’s the news Originally broadcast 24 November 2018.

Overdrive: Maserati Lavante; Morris Minor performance!; Ford's Scooters; Cyclist Road Rage

Fri, 16 Nov 2018 14:41:58 +0000

Hello and welcome to Overdrive, where we take a populous approach to cars and transport. I’m David Brown And in the program this week we look at news stories with David Campbell 1. Telstra exec quits to replace Musk as Tesla chairman 2. Vehicles from Mexico, Canada escape import tariff under trade pact 3. Melbourne Based SEA hopes for significant market share. 4. Infiniti Australia hopes for better days 5. Ford purchases scooter company Spin 6. Maserati cars and Bentley Limousines for APEC summit 7. One in five Australian drivers admits to cyclist road rage, survey finds We hear a motoring minute on the new pricing for the Maserati and I reflect on driving it from Albury to Melbourne on the secondary roads. We review an ad from the 1950s for the latest Morris Minor, Performance then isn’t what it is today. And Errol Smith and I take a sunny look at some weird and wonderful news stories about cars and transport. • Motorising transport that was once aimed at keeping you fit. • You can find more information at drivenmedia.com.au or you can podcast previous programs on I-tunes. So, here’s the news Originally broadcast 17 November 2018.

Overdrive: Subaru Forester; Combating car sickness; BMW M5; Volvo tennis shoes

Sun, 11 Nov 2018 10:29:55 +0000

Hello and welcome to Overdrive, where we experiment with ideas and activities to do with cars and transport. I’m David Brown And in the program this week we look at news stories with David Campbell 1. Rising SUV sales as the market softens in September 2. Automotive industry applauds Queensland government’s leadership on ‘alpha’ airbags 3. GM prepares to launch eBikes in 2019 4. Jaguar and Land Rover vehicles of the future will help combat motion sickness 5. Volvo Australia is having a great year 6. Queensland Police Kia Stinger takes Las Vegas spotlight 7. F1 Announces new street-race in Vietnam Overdrives resident artist Dean Oliver drives a 12-year-old Subaru. We put him in a new model and test his reaction. We hear a motoring minute on the new BMW M5 And Errol Smith and I take a sunny look at some weird and wonderful news stories about cars and transport. 1. Lincoln Aviator warning and alert sounds are played by an orchestra/ Pizza Hut and Toyota transform truck into mobile pizza kitchen (DB) 2. Volvo customizes Stan Smith Adidas shoes, you know, for kids (BS) 3. From Noddy’s car to a Vauxhall Vivaro re-imagined as the nag’s head pub from ‘only fools and horses’ ES or DB if Errol not available) You can find more information at drivenmedia.com.au or you can podcast previous programs on I-tunes. So, here’s the news Originally broadcast 10 November 2018.

Overdrive: Hybrid Mustang; Bugatti Veyron 250 mph on public road - accountability?; Bronco 7-speed

Mon, 29 Oct 2018 12:46:50 +0000

Hello and welcome to Overdrive, a program that seeks simplicity among the complexities of cars and transport. I’m David Brown And in this program, we look at news stories including: 1. Mobile Speed Camera Warnings in NSW may be scrapped 2. Holden pauses production on Commodore & Equinox 3. Ford teases V-8-powered Mustang hybrid, could be called Mach 1 4. How safe is ADAS? Euro NCAP tests automated driving technology for first time 5. VW previews lighting elements that can communicate 6. Google Maps adds electric-car charging locations And Brian Smith, and I have an extended conversation about 1. Amazon’s Alexa gets a Whisper Mode– what can we learn from this about conveying information in cars 2. Bugatti Veyron owner hits 250 mph on the autobahn 3. Ford Bronco to reportedly get 7-speed manual transmission/ Electric cars may end the automatic era this Olds began You can find more information at drivenmedia.com.au or you can podcast previous programs on i-tunes. So, here’s the news Originally broadcast 27 October 2018.

Overdrive: Tesla outsells Mercedes; End of Traffic lights; Is Kia Warranty good?; Monkey drives bus

Sat, 20 Oct 2018 07:37:53 +0000

Hello and welcome to Overdrive, a program about cars and transport I’m David Brown And in this program, we look at news stories including: 1. Who Needs German Engineering? Tesla Outsells Mercedes-Benz For The First Time—And Has a Plan to Pass BMW Too 2. The end of traffic lights? Ford explores non-stop journeys with connected cars 3. Israel plans to end internal combustion car sales by 2030 4. Free travel expanded for homeless and disadvantaged Victorians 5. Audi fined for diesel violations 6. Chrysler ceases operating in New Zealand, promises to keep on with Australia We have a few reflections on Kia’s seven-year warranty – Its only be around for 4 years but what has been the impact. We continue extracts from an interview with Dr Max Lay about the history of transport. And Brian Smith, Errol Smith and I cast a gleeful eye over the unusual motoring stories including a monkey driving a bus and a couple get married at 70 mph. You can find more information at drivenmedia.com.au or you can podcast previous programs on I-tunes. Originally broadcast 20 October 2018.

Overdrive: Paris Motor Show quirky cars reviewed; Smart ForEase; Peugeot e-Legend and others

Tue, 16 Oct 2018 15:37:34 +0000

Hello and welcome to Overdrive a program that samples as much as it can of the experiences of cars and transport I’m David Brown And in this program, we look at news stories including: 1. Consumer Reports ranks Tesla Autopilot second among self-driving systems 2. U.S. will revise road safety rules for fully self-driving cars 3. Honda and General Motors join forces to build autonomous cars 4. Bathurst 1000 & Driver fatigue 5. Dual Bathurst Winning Commodore Sells for Record Breaking $2.1 Million at Auction/Trio of Burt Reynolds movie cars fetch $330,000 at auction 6. Hot Wheels stamps help celebrate 50 years of the toy car The program this week is dedicated to the jaunty look at the jalopies from the Paris motor show – well concept cars anyway. And Brian Smith, Errol Smith and I take a jaunty look at some jalopies from the Paris motor show – well concept cars anyway. You can find more information at drivenmedia.com.au or you can podcast previous programs on I-tunes. So, let’s start the program with the news Originally broadcast 12 October 2018.

Overdrive: Mercedes' safe parking; Smart ForEase; Nissan Leaf; Rolls Royce designer goes to China

Mon, 08 Oct 2018 01:23:50 +0000

Hello and welcome to Overdrive, a program where we let our thoughts wonder over issues to do with cars and transport I’m David Brown And in this program, we look at news stories including: 1. VW chooses Microsoft as tech partner for digital services, mobility 2. Mercedes-Benz cars will soon suggest safest areas to park 3. Uber to Pay $148 Million in Settlement Over 2016 Data Breach 4. Smart previews future look with ForEase speedster concept 5. Crossover practicality, zero-emissions, 485-kilometre range: the new all-electric Kia e-niro 6. VFacts 7. Ford Endura 8. HAVAL Introduces 7 Year Unlimited Km Warranty 9. Great Wall Breaks The $20k Barrier With New Dual Cab Offer 10. Five Year/Unlimited Kilometre Warranty on all new Volkswagens With the death of the racing driver Bob Jane, we spoke to our good friend Bob Holden who drove at the same time starting in the late 50s and still going strong. We went to the reveal of Nissan’s latest Leaf electric Car And Brian Smith and Errol Smith and I take a jolly look at some quirky news stories about motoring and transport. 1. China’s FAW lures ex-Rolls-Royce chief designer 2. Symbol of Fiat Chrysler-UAW scandal could soon hit auction block 3. Dua Lipa and Jaguar create music track every fan can remix and call their own You can find more information at drivenmedia.com.au or you can podcast previous programs on I-tunes. So, let’s start the program with the news Originally broadcast 5 October 2018.

Dr Max Lay: The Harnessing of Power: 19th Century Transport Transformed the way the world Operates

Thu, 04 Oct 2018 15:42:31 +0000

Arguably the most recognised, respected and awarded road and transport engineer in Australia, Dr. Max Lay, has written another book: “The Harnessing of Power: How the 19thCentury Transport Innovators Transformed the way the world Operates”. Why write the book? At the end of the 20th century Max was asked to write a presentation for an international roads conference in Paris on “Roads in the 20th century”. In the hotel before the talk, he thought about how he should introduce his presentation because the big break throughs for many things to do with transport, happened in the 19th century. The 20th century was more a time where these inventions flourished to their full extent. I asked Max if this was a “Road to Damascus” experience, an epiphany but he said he didn’t meet St Paul or anyone else! What does an engineer bring to history? Max believes that you don’t understand something unless you know the history. He said that he did not write this book as a historian with a background in economics, social sciences or politics,but wrote it as an engineer. For him, an engineer brings to the debatean understanding of the cause and effect of a situation with humans as part ofthe process. The engineer, however, particularly looks at the physical things that made something possible. Not even the inventors understood what impact their inventions would have. The incredible thing that Max discovered while writing the book was how little the inventors realised just what their inventions would lead to and how they would be used. Max noted that Karl Benz didn’t think that people should drive cars more than 20 mph and he didn’t think anyone would be killed by a car because they would never travel fast enough. Gottlieb Daimler thought that engines were better for boats and aeroplanes but he originally built the few cars to keep the business going. How the watch helped transport One of the examples of the technology that was behind the ultimate inventions of thecar andthe train was the watch. A couple of hundred years before these vehicles came into being,people had invented incredible mechanisms with cogs and things whizzing around faster than the eye can see. Much of this technology hadmade it possible to produce the valves on steam engines and many people who had worked with watches (such as Carl Benz) transplanted it 100 times bigger into vehicles. Transport and watches work together to establish the concept of a universal time. It the past time was recognised on the circumstances of every particular location. The stagecoach’s arrival was not timed to the minute. But with trains travelling at a much faster pace there was a need for a schedule across many regions. It was around this time that the concept of Greenwich Mean Time was established. It didn’t all happen instantaneously. Developments were not always instantaneous and were not always achieved uniformly across the world. Max’s book went way back in history to look at some of our earlier freight vehicles. Oxen were used before horses under a simple engineering principle of a better power-to-weight ratio but another great advantage was that they had broad shoulders on which it was easy to fita harness. Harnessing a horse was harder. The Celts had mastered the effective use of horses before Roman times but in some European communities did not manage to develop a way to easily ride and control horses until the 1700s. Effective use of iron also changed our use of horses significantly. With the ability to manufacture stirrups for horses they then became much more effective in battle because the rider then needed only one hand to control horse and so could hold a weapon in the other.

Bob Holden reminisces on racing starting in the 50s: Bruce McLaren, Jack Brabham

Wed, 03 Oct 2018 12:30:26 +0000

Bob Holden started racing in the late 50s. I asked him if he raced against Bob Jane who had just died. He hadn't race against him much but he did reminisce on an incredibly varied career as an Aussie Battler who over came great adversity. He raced against Bruce McLaren who took an interest in Bob's performance. I have spoken about his win in the Bathurst 500 in a MIni at length on another occasion and mention it briefly here. Bob is 85 years old and still racing.

Overdrive: Vulnerable road users; can engineers be personable; Peugeot e-Legend; stackable cars

Wed, 03 Oct 2018 05:48:42 +0000

Hello and welcome to Overdrive, a program where we take a diverse look at cars and transport. I’m David Brown And in this program, we look at news stories with David Campbell including: 1. Hyundai Motor and H2 Energy to bring the world’s first fleet of fuel cell electric trucks into commercial operation 2. Stackable 'cars of the future' unveiled in Scotland 3. PEUGEOT e-LEGEND CONCEPT - #Unboring the future 4. Renault-nissan-mitsubishi And Google Join Forces On Next-generation Infotainment 5. Hyundai Santa Fe, Kona and NEXO honoured with prestigious 2018 IDEA design awards We hear about the partnership between the Ford Driving Skills for Life Program and the Amy Gillet Foundation to fill in a huge gap in our driver training and licensing procedures. How to deal with vulnerable road users such as cyclists We have some personal reflections from Anita Curnow an executive with the Victorian road authority Vic Roads about here career as a transport engineer. A Minute of Motoring on the latest Nissan Navara ute And Brian Smith and Errol Smith take a joyful look at some quirky news stories about motoring and transport. 1. PEUGEOT e-LEGEND CONCEPT is presented at the 2018 Paris Motor Show. 2. Grupo Antolin CEO Pascual sees interiors as the front door to the future Originally broadcast 29 September 2018.

Amy Gillett Foundation - making awarness of vulnerable road users apart of driver training

Wed, 26 Sep 2018 07:36:20 +0000

The Amy Gillett Foundation was established in 2005 following the tragic death of competitive Australian cyclists Amy Gillett, who was struck and killed by a vehicle in Germany while training with the Australian women’s cycling team. The foundation has become the leading cycling Safety organisation in Australia They have just partners with the Ford Driving Skills for Life program. The foundation's CEO is Phoebe Dunn

Anita Curnow - Transport engineering is about people

Tue, 25 Sep 2018 01:26:12 +0000

In September 2018 students in post graduate and undergraduate courses at Monash University in Melbourne organised a Transportation Engineering Student Leadership Summit. It was done under the auspices of the Australian and New Zealand chapter of the Institute of Transport Engineers ITE. The summit is a scaled version of the model that Student Chapters of the ITE initiated in North America in 2012. It is a chance for students to learn about the profession; and network with their peers and older professionals. But they were also given a project, in this case to look at the Box Hill town centre which is struggling to make the most of its identity and has a large bus depot and train station that are uncomfortably separated by some distance. By developing their ideas, the groups of students got to work in one of a number of teams and to present their results to a large audience . The summit started with a keynote speech from Anita Curnow who is the Executive Director of Access and operations at VicRoads, the road authority for the state of Victoria. Students commented that Anita’s presentation was enlightening and encouraging. It was personable, not partronising. Anita graduated as a Civil Engineer in the early 90s and she tossed up between a career in hydraulics or traffic engineering. I caught up with Anita at morning tea and asked her why she went into transportation.

Overdrive: Mazda CX-9 and MX-5; VW Polo; All Subarus on line: Making Peds adapt to autonomous vehs

Sat, 15 Sep 2018 15:29:48 +0000

Hello and welcome to Overdrive, a program that dabbles in the world of cars and transport. I’m David Brown And in this program, we look at news stories with David Campbell including: 1. SUV sales power ahead despite minor market decline 2. Users now able to buy Subaru’s online with dealers still involved 3. Apple developing headlights that highlight road hazards 4. New cars on the market 5. Toyota Invests $500 million in Uber 6. Global trade war prompts Volvo to put brakes on its IPO We have a brief chat about three new models on the market Mazda CX-9 Large SUV, the Mazda MX-5 and the VW Polo We have some feedback and comments from listeners And Brian Smith and Errol Smith take a upbeat; look at some quirky news stories about motoring and transport. You can find more information at drivenmedia.com.au or you can podcast previous programs on itunes. So let’s start the program with the news Originally broadcast 15 September 2018.

Overdrive: Electric E-Type; RAM GM talks up 1500; Rain protection may make for more pedestrians

Fri, 07 Sep 2018 08:55:06 +0000

Hello and welcome to Overdrive, a program that takes an expansive look at the world of cars and transport. I’m David Brown And in this program, we look at news stories with David Campbell including: 1. Royal couple's electric Jaguar E-type Zero coupe will go into production 2. Fewer than 1 in 3 new car shoppers agree with proposed EPA rollback 3. Explainer: What is WLTP and why should you care? 4. VW spends big to make its vehicles digital devices on wheels 5. Uber riders with low ratings to be banned 6. Emergency vehicle slow down law questioned We have a chat with the General Manager of RAM Australia. We went to the launch of their latest big ute a few months back, now we have driven it in the country side. And Brian Smith and take a carefree look at some quirky news stories about motoring and transport. You can find more information at drivenmedia.com.au or you can podcast previous programs on itunes. So let’s start the program with the news First broadcast on 8 September 2018

Linking government and industry to develop autonomous cars: Interview with Daniel Ruiz

Mon, 03 Sep 2018 10:15:05 +0000

The acronym CAV, Connected and Autonomous vehicles, broadly covers the technology that will create enormous impacts in countries all over the world. It will change how and when we travel but will also generate jobs and enhance wealth creation opportunities. Private industry is pushing hard and governments can’t totally control it but it is critical that governments facilitate the process if a country is to gain the most benefits, not just corporate profits but also long-term community benefits. In the UK they set up a separate organisation Meridian Mobility UK Limited to enhance the interaction between governments and industry. Meridian’s Chief Executive officer is Daniel Ruiz. Daniel brings a calm, thoughtful confidence to a world that is frantically pushing technological developments. We caught up with him at an Intelligent Transport Systems Summit.

Overdrive: Brexit warning; Meridian Mobility & UK autonomous vehs; Rolls Royce Cullinan

Sun, 02 Sep 2018 13:36:51 +0000

Hello and welcome to Overdrive, a program that take an expansive look at the world of cars and transport. I’m David Brown And in this program, we look at news stories with David Campbell including: 1. Ford issues latest motor industry Brexit warning 2. Survey: Consumers Value Real-World AV Testing. Just Not Where They Live 3. China’s Largest Electric Bus Operator & Blockchain Firm Partner in $24 Billion Deal 4. James Bond’s Aston Martin DB5 Is Going Back Into Production 5. Elon Musk drops attempt to take Tesla private 6. Kroger supermarkets jump into self-driving car grocery delivery in Arizona We talk to the Chief Executive Office of Meridian Mobility UK, a private company with government backing what brings together government, academia, innovators and developers of autonomous vehicles and other intelligent mobility solutions. Does Australia need the same And Brian Smith and take a carefree look at some quirky news stories about motoring and transport. You can find more information at drivenmedia.com.au or you can podcast previous programs on itunes. So let’s start the program with the news Originally broadcast 1 September 2018.

MG reborn: Motoring journalist Paul Murrell talks about the comeback of a British icon's name

Sun, 02 Sep 2018 12:27:07 +0000

The Chinese, like the Japanese before them, have taken some things from the British car industry to help them build their own industry. Now SAIC has the brand name MG and is building cars that are more a reflection of the modern world than the tradition that started in 1923 in Britain. Motoring journalists Paul Murrell and David Brown discuss the implications of this move.

Overdrive: BMW goes mobility; Holden in Australia; Vietnam goes beyond motorbikes

Fri, 24 Aug 2018 16:12:08 +0000

Hello and welcome to Overdrive, a program that canvases issues related to cars and transport. I’m David Brown And in this program, we look at news stories with including: 1. Holden to invest $120m a year on local engineering and design 2. Kia motors showcases next-generation separated sound zone technology 3. Revealed: The biggest menace on the roads 4. Ford will shrink platform count to just 5 5. GM has filed patents for 3 more active aero technologies 6. 840 Dangerous Motorway Bridges in France 7. Audi drops manual transmissions from 2019 line-up We talk to the General Manager of Communications from BMW Australia about a mobility forum they recently held in Melbourne. And we here from Brian Smith on his upcoming trip to Vietnam to try and fix some transport problems there and then his reflections on some of the transport approaches we will have here in Australia in the future. You can find more information at drivenmedia.com.au or you can podcast previous programs. Let’s start with the news Originally broadcast 25 August 2018.

Overdrive: MG rebirth; Hillman Imp; NY limits Uber; 10 mil Mustangs; Fremantle's brave Mayor

Fri, 24 Aug 2018 15:36:13 +0000

Hello and welcome to Overdrive, a program that contemplates issues related to cars and transport. I’m David Brown And in this program, we look at news stories with including: 1. New York limits ride sharing Services 2. Tesla to Delist? 3. Chinese Electric car start-up to list? 4. South Korea to temporarily ban some BMW’s 5. Ford Territory in China 6. 10 Million Mustangs We talk to Brad Pettitt the Mayor of Fremantle in a local government area of Perth. He has some grand visions for making a local government area, including transport, more liveable. We talk to our expert in Historic and Classic Cars, Paul Murrell about the Hillman Imp and the new MG that is on the market. British name Chinese manufacturer. And Brian Smith , Errol Smith and I take a high-spirited look at some unusual stories of the day including 1. Man named Benedict egged cars 2. Silicon Valley bus drivers sleep in parking lots overnight Have a question or comment? Send it to overdrive@drivenmedia.com.au You can here past programs podcast on iTunes or your favourite podcast service. Now to begin the program let’s have the news. Originally broadcast 18 August 2018.

Overdrive: news of a SsangYong Ute; Corolla launch and Toyota hybrid history; Transport in Perth

Fri, 10 Aug 2018 01:35:41 +0000

Hello and welcome to Overdrive a program that considers all aspects of cars and transport. I’m David Brown And in this program, we look at news stories with including: 1. Daniel Ricciardo to leave Red Bull to join Renault 2. Audi is testing 5G production robots 3. Ferrari Shares Dive 4. GM Seeks Tariff Exemption to Keep China-Made SUV on U.S. Market 5. SsangYong’s All Electric Ute 6. Mazda announces five-year warranty We have been to the launch of the 12th generation Toyota Corolla which is nearly all new and is offering a hybrid option on all models. We talk to Toyota Vice President Sean Hanley about what he thought of hybrids when they were first released and how far have they come now. And Brian Smith, and I have a chat about transport situation in the City of Perth. Have a question or comment? Send it to overdrive@drivenmedia.com.au You can listen to longer segments by going to our web site at drivenmedia.com.au or podcast the whole program on iTunes or your favourite podcast service. Now to begin the program let’s have the news. Outro And this has been overdrive My thanks to Brian Smith, David Campbell, Paul Steely WHIte and Paul Just for their great help during the program. Overdrive can be heard across Australia on the Community Radio network. You can listen to longer segments by going to our web site at drivenmedia.com.au or podcast the whole program on iTunes or your favourite podcast service. I’m David Brown Thanks for listening Originally broadcast 11 August 2018.

Overdrive: Paul Steely White-transport alternatives in New York; Is My Airbag safe?

Sun, 05 Aug 2018 16:21:26 +0000

Hello and welcome to Overdrive a program that considers all aspects of cars and transport. I’m David Brown And in this program, we look at news stories with including: 1. Sergio Marchionne Dies 2. Is My Airbag safe? 3. BMW to raise prices of two US-made SUVs in China 4. Skoda targets female cyclists in latest car campaign 5. Ford Falcon GTHO muscle car has been brought back to life 6. BP Buys UK’s biggest electric car charging network We will give some initial feedback on the 2018 Aust Int of Traffic Planning and Management National conference including an interview with the charismatic Key Note speaker from New York, Paul Steely White. And Brian Smith, Errol Smith and I take a high-spirited look at some unusual stories of the day including 1. Man named Benedict egged cars 2. Silicon Valley bus drivers sleep in parking lots overnight 3. Police find house abandoned in middle of road 4. Domino's Pizza unveils U.S. infrastructure project filling potholes Have a question or comment? Send it to overdrive@drivenmedia.com.au Originally broadcast 4 August 2018

Ryan Falconer AITPM Perth 2018: Mobility as a Service: Not just profits for big companies

Mon, 30 Jul 2018 13:35:32 +0000

Often because of our habits and the most readily available form of transport, we become locked into or dedicated to one particular type of travel mode. We tend to either drive a car or catch public transport but rarely both and not often incorporating multiple modes such as buses, trains, bikes and taxis in the one trip. So if I have a new trip to plan and I own a car and I use the car all the time, the only decision I make is what route to take and where to park. And similarly if I'm used to travelling on railways I tend to think of trains as the way to go. I might not even look for a closer bus route because that is not what I know about or are comfortable to use. Now we're moving into an era where we have more readily available information so we can understand the various options that are available which might include one or many modes of transport. And if we use a bus, a taxi and a rent-a-bike it would be good to be able to pay for the whole trip in one transaction using the one card. The approach of using multiple modes of transport with one payment, for one trip is now called MaaS – Mobility as a Service. We define the service we want, where we what to go to or from, at what time of day and we learn the options in terms of availability, ease and cost. SO who benefits, the provider, the individual and/or the community. Dr. Ryan Falconer has a PhD in Sustainability and Technology policy. He is currently the Cities Leader in WA for the Arup consulting group. He has also had recent experience in Canada. He has just presented a paper at the Australian Institute of Traffic Planning and Management National Conference in Perth titled The Mobility as a Service Value proposition: Evidence from North America. David Brown caught up with him immediately after his presentation and began by asking if Mobility as a service was really just another name for Uber.

Paul Steely White at AITPM 2018 Perth: Alternative Transportation Lessons from New York

Mon, 30 Jul 2018 13:00:33 +0000

Paul Steely White is the executive director of Transport Alternatives, a non-profit organisation in New York City whose mission is to reclaim the streets of New York from cars by promoting safer, quieter, more healthy alternatives such as walking, cycling and using public transport. He came to Australia as a key note speaker for the 2018 AITPM National Conference in Perth. He is clearly not afraid to stand up and state his case which he does with passion but not with vindictiveness. He has had to push against some entrenched old fashioned thinking After the conference David Brown had a chat with him about using all your available armoury, understanding where your opponents are coming from and pursuing new ways of engaging the community.

Overdrive: Touring in Kia Sportage; new Mini's connectivity; Private tunnels - the new transport?

Mon, 16 Jul 2018 08:13:28 +0000

Hello and welcome to Overdrive a program that ponders the purpose of cars and transport I’m David Brown And in this program, we look at news stories with including: 1. 2018 car sales get the staggers 2. Tesla reveals plans for Chinese plant as new tariffs start to bite 3. Toyota supports hydrogen-powered autonomous boat 4. BMW group and Great Wall Motor sign joint venture agreement for mini electric vehicles in china 5. The future will be dockless: could a city really run on 'floating transport'? 6. Rolls-Royce motor cars announces strong half-year sales and investment boost We toured around the rural regions outside Canberra in a new Kia that, like all their cars, they have tuned for our local conditions. We review the experience And Alan Zurvas brings us up-to-date on the latest mini and its connectivity. And Brian Smith , and I take a jovial look at some unusual stories of the day including 1. A new Elon Musk? Man had network of tunnels beneath home 2. Blind Pedestrians Sue the City to Improve Crosswalk Safety 3. Man who died saving kids from careening car had dark hit & run secret Have a question or comment? Send it to overdrive@drivenmedia.com.au You can listen to longer segments by going to our web site at drivenmedia.com.au or podcast the whole program on iTunes or your favourite podcast service. Now to begin the program let’s have the news. Originally broadcast 14 July 2018.

Overdrive: Should public transport be free?; Tesla Ute; Electric boat record; Road rage to the grave

Fri, 06 Jul 2018 07:44:47 +0000

Hello and welcome to Overdrive, a program that practices what it preaches, most of the time, on the subject of cars and transport. I’m David Brown And in this program, we look at news stories with David Campbell including: 1. Tesla Ute 2. Porsche smashes all-time Nurburgring record - with onboard video 3. Where 3 Million Electric Vehicle Batteries Will Go When They Retire 4. Not exactly top fuel: electric cars come to top-level drag racing 5. 2018 Press Kit: Jaguar XE SV Project 8 6. Smart, connected Jaguar and Land Rover cars testing on ‘connected corridor’ We have a chat with Brian smith about whether it is a good idea to make public transport free as is being trailed in Europe – the answer is not straight forward. And we cover a few more quirky stories. And talking of quirky, Errol Smith, and I take a chucklesome stories of the day including taking up an issue we raised a few weeks ago about Hyundai s[ponsoring the soccer. Have a question or comment? Send it to overdrive@drivenmedia.com.au You can listen to longer segments by going to our web site at drivenmedia.com.au or podcast the whole program on iTunes or your favourite podcast service. Now to begin the program let’s have the news. Originally broadcast 7 July 2018

Overdrive: VW at Pikes Peak; Jaguar e-Pace; Japanese train psychology; Museum of Sex bus ads

Sat, 30 Jun 2018 10:52:00 +0000

Welcome to Overdrive, a program that proudly gives you the alternative facts to all aspects of motoring and transport. In this program, we look at news stories with including: 1. Toyota Gazoo racing wins at le mans 2. Toyota confirms super sports car development 3. Tesla Flags Over 500 Job Cuts at California Headquarters, Plant 4. AutoPacific Announces 2018 Vehicle Satisfaction Awards: 5. Ford and Volkswagen are in early talks about jointly developing a range of commercial vehicles. An air-cooled Volkswagen has just broken a motor sport record. It is not a hotted up old-style beetle and We road test the Jaguar e-pace and small sized SUV but with a lot of power. Is this an important car for Jaguar? You bet it is. And Errol Smith, and I take a jovial look at some unusual stories of the day including 1. Japan train stations use interesting psychology 2. Museum of Sex: MTA bus ads are protected by free speech Have a question or comment? Send it to overdrive@drivenmedia.com.au Originally broadcast 30 June 2018.

Pikes Peak: VW beats the record with an electric vehicle, what does it mean for us?

Thu, 28 Jun 2018 16:37:06 +0000

The event, now known as Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, is the second oldest motor racing event in America behind the Indianapolis 500. It is a hill climb in every sense of the word as long as you don't think a hill as a gentle gradient. Rather you think of it as some way towards being a mountain. The hill climb is 20 kilometres long from the bottom to the top. It raises just over one point four kilometres at the top it is 4000 300 metres above sea level. By comparison that's close to being half way up Mt. Everest. It's got 156 corners which is a challenge to any driver but the environment just adds to the task. The first record was set in 1969 and was just under 21 minutes. It's been broken many times but just recently a Volkswagen special has broken the record well and truly and to talk about that I have on the line Kurt McGuinness the public relations manager for Volkswagen Australia.

Overdrive: Bentley loves sewing machines: Hyundai loves Bob Marley: Paul likes Honda S600

Fri, 22 Jun 2018 00:56:45 +0000

Hello and welcome to Overdrive, a program that ponders the philosophical and the practical aspects of motoring and transport. I’m David Brown And in this program, we look at news stories with including: 1. Musk company to build Chicago-to-O'Hare express transport 2. Acciona 100% ecopowered becomes first electric car in finke desert race 3. Bus Driver Tells Passengers Only U.S. Citizens Can Ride As Border Patrol Agent Looks On 4. Production shake-up at Land Rover as it readies new Range Rover 5. Cardiff World Naked Bike Ride 2018 We have a lovely, reflective chat with Paul Murrell about a classic car that was recently sold at auction. It was not the million-dollar Falcon although it was at the same event. It was a 1964, chain driven Honda s600. I loved the look of them when I was young but Paul actually owned one and he reminisces about its idiosyncrasies. And Errol Smith, and I take a jovial look at some unusual stories of the day including 1. Bentley celebrates sewing machine day with combination of traditional skills and the latest technology 2. Hyundai motor becomes global automotive partner of Chelsea football club/Hyundai teams up with maroon 5 to pay tribute to Bob Marley ahead of 2018 fifa world cup Russi celebrations 3. Dr M shows off cheeky side in road safety video Have a question or comment? Send it to overdrive@drivenmedia.com.au Originally broadcast 23 June 2018 .

Prof David Hensher shows a better way to pick transport projects

Thu, 21 Jun 2018 06:09:05 +0000

If a government, a private company or the community wants to build more transport infrastructure or change a policy, or an operating system, how can we evaluate the real consequences, the true worth of going ahead. We have been computer modeling the transport network for a long time now. No model is perfect. Are well getting better in this changing world. And getting better is not just trying to perfect the way we have always done it. In order to have a manageable model we have often zeroed in on specific tasks such as the journey to work, in the morning peak. We have also assumed that people make logical choices based on just time, cost and distance and we have measured the impact by how well we get vehicles to flow on a road or public transport to run. Our models are also contained, in that they usually don’t allow for people to move out of the peak periods we are analysing. And while we may change the land-use, the activities that generate trips, according to our designed plan, we don’t often consider how the transport system may impact where jobs, schools, shops and other activities will spring up. The modeling usually takes a long time The Institute of Transport and Logistics Studies at Sydney University has developed and run their own model with a different approach. This broadcast is not a workshop on the intricacies of using the model but rather why did it come about, what it is broadly trying to do and what is it leading to in the future. Prof David Hensher is the founder and director of the Institute and has had a very hands-on role in this project.

Honda S600 1964: For early adopters: Advanced technology, with idiosyncratic characteristics

Tue, 19 Jun 2018 07:00:25 +0000

Recently a Lloyds auction for classic motorcars sold among other things a Ford Falcon GT HO for over a million dollars. Some may ask why but nonetheless that's the big news, but a critical element of that auction was a 1964 Honda S 600 convertible coupe roadster, it sold for $18,500. The description described it as "This slick convertible was the most fashionable car to be driving in with sizzling acceleration. Powered by a 606 S.C for carburettor engine". My colleague Paul Murrell actually owned one of these devices and he joins me on line now to give us some background and some understanding and some reality about just what the car was like.

Overdrive: Prof Hensher's computer model; Old car vs the Range Rover Velar; Political privileged

Fri, 15 Jun 2018 06:57:27 +0000

Hello this is Overdrive a program about the facts, the fun and the fiction of motoring and transport I’m David Brown And in this program, we look at news stories with including: 1. Australia’s first electric vehicle how-to guide to ease confusion 2. Ford Working on a Bike to Vehicle (B2V) AI Communication System 3. Commercial transport can be fossil-free by 2050 4. Charging even easier than refuelling: market launch for BMW wireless charging 5. Arizona self-driving test program scrapped by Uber following fatal crash 6. Ford Australia launches 2nd Car, enabling new car buyers to own one vehicle, but drive two We chat to Prof David Hensher for Sydney University about computer modelling of our cities so that we can truly understand what new transport projects will really do. We sit a man who owns and drives a 1964 EH Holden in the latest Range Rover Velar with all the bells and whistles and see his reaction. At the end when you realise the EH has only one rear vison mirror you get a clear understanding why motoring today is very different. And Brian Smith, Errol Smith, and I take a playful look at some unusual stories of the day including 1. Turkmen president effortlessly wins rally 2. Icelandic political candidate asked to step down after digger rampage 3. Japan moving to ease older drivers out of vehicles Have a question or comment? Send it to overdrive@drivenmedia.com.au Originally broadcast 2 June 2018 .

Overdrive: Bush Mechanics; Why buy a RAM 1500 Pickup or a Tesla X P100D; Car culture

Fri, 15 Jun 2018 03:20:09 +0000

Hello this is Overdrive a program about the facts, the fun and the fiction of motoring and transport I’m David Brown And in this program, we look at news stories with including: 1. Rise in SUV sales defies market dip 2. Motor Museum to receive $200,000 for the Chamberlain 8 from the Federal Government 3. National Motor Museum wins national award with Bush Mechanics exhibition 4. Nissan makes 100 per cent electric mobility a mass market reality 5. Honda Partners on General Motors’ Next-Generation Battery Development We have been to the announcement of an American Pick up – the RAM 1500 We road test the Tesla P100D, a 2.4 tonne SUV which will out perform most super cars in a straight line, just don’t look at the build quality. And Brian Smith, Errol Smith, and I take a playful look at some unusual stories of the day including 1. What Happened to Teen Car Culture? 2. Zero-emissions luxury brand Lagonda set to hit Australian showrooms soon 3. Dodge Viper returning in 2021 minus V-10 Have a question or comment? Send it to overdrive@drivenmedia.com.au Originally broadcast 16 June 2018 . For past programs and extended versions of segments like the road tests, feature interviews and quirky news, visit drivenmedia.com.au

Overdrive Program: Autonomous cars for rural roads; Will Hagon goes Alvis; Royal Wedding cars

Wed, 13 Jun 2018 14:38:20 +0000

Hello and welcome to Overdrive, a program that looks at the factors affecting our attitude and actions to motoring and transport. I’m David Brown And in this program, we look at news stories with including: 1. MIT's new self-driving car navigates without road markings 2. Sweden builds life-size slot-car track for long-distance electric-car charging 3. Despite government efforts, keyless ignitions linked to carbon monoxide deaths 4. Elon Musk envisions $1 rides to use Boring Company tunnels 5. Shell Airflow Starship semi truck leaves San Diego on record fuel-economy run 6. China reduces import duties on cars We have a lovely chat with motoring commentator Will Hagon about the early history the imaginative, ingenious car company Alvis that started in 1919. And Brian Smith and Errol Smith and I take a merry, look at some unusual stories of the day including 7. Royal wedding cars 8. Drunk mower driver arrested after cutting someone else’s grass

Overdrive: Toyota says "no more boring cars"; Suzuki Ingis test; Reviving Canals for transport

Wed, 13 Jun 2018 14:03:34 +0000

Hello this is Overdrive a program that tries to spread the word about trains, planes and automobiles. And in this program, we look at news stories with including: 1. NHTSA Confirms Newer Cars Much Safer Than Older Ones 2. Crashes caused by idiots, not speedsters, says road safety advocate 3. New law to tackle electric cars’ silent menace to pedestrians 4. Uber CEO says its self-driving car tests will start up again 'in a few months' 5. Elon Musk says LA-area test tunnel almost complete 6. Tesla Model X sets record by towing Boeing Dreamliner I attended a session with Toyota’s chief designers from California, heard about the corporate edict that Toyota had to stop making boring cars and got to have a play with a clay model. They are skilled in design, but the exercise clearly showed that I am not. We road test the cute Suzuki Ignis SUV. A four-wheel drive it is not. And Brian Smith and I take a cheerful look at some unusual stories of the day including 1. Seeking to revive an ancient transport network in the UK 2. Vandals behead 1,000 parking meters 3. Have a question or comment? Send it to overdrive@drivenmedia.com.au You can listen to longer segments by going to our web site at drivenmedia.com.au or podcast the whole program on iTunes or your favourite podcast service. Now to begin the program let’s have the news.

Alvis Motor Cars: Will Hagon goes for a verbal spin in the history of Alvis

Mon, 21 May 2018 07:24:33 +0000

A few colleagues have been telling me a lot about Alvis motor cars. Well regaling in all its positive sense might be a better word. The company that became Alvis Car and Engineering was a British manufacturing business in Coventry started in from 1919 and ceased in 1967. Why did the subject come up? Let me be very brief in my introduction. It started when my brother in law showed me the working of an SU carburetor. Stick with me here. The SU carburetor was built in volume for most to the 20th century. My first car had one. I mentioned this on face book. There was a wave of nostalgic comments. One was from a colleague, well known motoring commentator Will Hagon. He spoke of the famous Alvis Speed 20 which had triple SU carburetors. To be regaled as in entertained, amused and delighted is just not a strong enough word. There is much to talk about and who better than Will Hagon himself who is on the line now.

Melbourne P-Turns- How going thru, turning around and going back makes a quicker trip - they say

Mon, 30 Apr 2018 06:52:50 +0000

Victoria has the unusual hook-turn at some major intersections now they are introducing the P-Turn which requires you to go past the intersection then make a U-Turn. Our traffic engineering expert, Alan Finlay tries to make sense of it all.

Overdrive: Diesel- good news and bad news; car sales; classic design but electric engine

Sat, 14 Apr 2018 02:17:30 +0000

Hello and welcome to Overdrive a program that puts a magnifying glass to the role of cars and transport in our society and ends up burning a hole in it. I’m David Brown And in this program, we look at news stories with including: 1. Further woes for diesel drivers as fuel consumption found to be up to 75% more than stated by car manufacturers 2. 'Diesel-saving' technology could make it to market in two years 3. Slump in diesel demand continues to hit UK new car market but Australia is pushing forward 4. Netherlands launches first real-time Talking Traffic services for 1.2 million road users 5. Hyundai rolls out student traffic safety initiative in Saudi Arabia 6. New York City Makes (Some) Space for E-Bikes We give a summary of the vehicle sales figures for the first quarter of 2018 and despite financial constraints in many areas we are still buying new cars. I talk to Brian Smith about what the road system needs to provide to help autonomous vehicles And Brian also offers his expertise as we have a happy-go-lucky ramble through some unusual news stories 1. Czech firm reveals retro coupe with a modern twist 2. Thieves steal highway in China 3. Study finds cyclists don’t break road rules more than car drivers Have a question or comment? Send it to overdrive@drivenmedia.com.au You can listen to longer segments by going to our web site at drivenmedia.com.au or podcast the whole program on iTunes or your favourite podcast service. Now to begin the program let’s have the news.

Overdrive: Uber fatality update; Classic Mini; Hot Maserati; The future is the scooter

Sat, 07 Apr 2018 07:46:25 +0000

Welcome to Overdrive, a program where we never let facts get in the way of a good argument about motoring and transport. I’m David Brown And in this program, we look at news stories with including: 1. Toyota puts brakes on self-driving car development, for now 2. Police chief: Uber self-driving car may not be at fault in fatal Arizona crash 3. Mercedes-Benz launches Flexperience car subscription service in Germany 4. Bentley's upcoming electric car may be a four-door coupe We reflect on a few other issues about at the moment including: 1. Classic Mini Electric: first drive of one-off EV 2. New look Infiniti qx80 designed to entice 3. World premiere for 590 bhp Maserati Levante Trofeo at the 2018 new york international auto SHOW 4. Electrifying escapism: genesis reveals Essentia concept at new york international auto show 5. Reimagined 2019 Kia k900 makes global debut at New York auto show 6. Fresh-faced 2019 Sedona (carnival) makes appearance at the New York international auto show 7. 2019 Corvette ZR1 specs confirmed, including 0-60 mph time of 2.85 seconds And in our panel discussion with we take a look at some quirky news stories that can briefly divert us away from the negative stories in the main stream press. 1. I Have Seen the Future of Urbanism and It's a Scooter 2. Brabham teases BT62 with high-speed video 3. Woman who said she had ‘safe personality’ charged with road rage gun attack Have a question or comment? Send it to overdrive@drivenmedia.com.au You can listen to longer segments by going to our web site at drivenmedia.com.au or podcast the whole program on iTunes or your favourite podcast service.

Overdrive: predicting the future; Uber fatality; Other ways to get a Mercedes

Mon, 02 Apr 2018 12:28:10 +0000

Welcome to Overdrive, a program that pontificates on the issues of motoring and transport I’m David Brown And in this program, we look at news stories with including: 1. Toyota puts brakes on self-driving car development, for now 2. Police chief: Uber self-driving car may not be at fault in fatal Arizona crash 3. Mercedes-Benz launches Flexperience car subscription service in Germany 4. Bentley's upcoming electric car may be a four-door coupe Brian Smith and Errol smith join us for the whole program to discuss a couple of serious issues: • Predicting the future and what it means for managing transport options and fleet departments; • Uber’s autonomous car has been involved in a fatality – how will it change our progression to fully autonomous vehicles And in our panel discussion with we take a look in good spirits at some quirky news stories. • This Cool Trick From The Car Industry Could Make Bacon Less Carcinogenic • Car thief calls owner for help driving it • Fast farming: The Stig set a Guinness World Record for fastest tractor Have a question or comment? Send it to overdrive@drivenmedia.com.au

The Changing nature of trucks and truck driving - engagement not confrontation

Sun, 25 Mar 2018 10:31:12 +0000

In a previous item we noted how Hino trucks had released new vehicles with a strong focus on road safety. Scania has now launched a new generation of trucks across its whole range. At the launch we had a chat with a range of their international executives that covered their strong push into sustainability in all its forms and the design of trucks that have to serve the drivers and operators but also the community in which they work. We began with a conversation with Alexander Mastrovito, their Head of Sustainability for Asia and Oceania. DB: A trucking company having a sustainability manager. Is this a term that wouldn't have existed 10 years ago? AM: Absolutely and I see this as one of the first tell-tale signs that this is something that is becoming more and more integrated into our industry. It doesn't only exist as a headquarters’ position but also out in all the different markets where we operate. Sustainable means different things to different people. DB: There is both the environmental issue and there's also the business sustainability. Is that a balance you have to work to? AM: Absolutely. And it's not only those two where we talk about sustainability. We have to take into account the economic side of it; the environmental side of it; and also the societal side of it so that's the kind of three pronged theory that we usually work from. DB: And what you learn can be benefits that you can share with your customers, big companies, in terms of recycling and things. AM: Yes, for sure. When we look at our customers as well. If we seem to be doing something then we're doing it as a drive or a shift as a collective. So it's not just lip service. DB: Because you're getting such telematics data it's no longer that you sell a truck and then you might see the customer in month’s time for a service. This has changed the relationship with customers. AM: The traditional way of doing this business, you could go for months, even years without meeting your customer. Once they bought the truck you would not have contact with them for a long time. They might even disappear completely forever. But now with connected vehicles we have a constant interaction with them. If you add on top of that, driver training with coaching then you might see yourself talking to each and every customer on a monthly basis. So it's completely different. It's much easier. And of course that's beneficial to us but I think it's beneficial to the customers as well that they know that they will be taken care of throughout the life cycle of the vehicle. We then spoke to Martin Toomey, the Director of sales in Australia. He made a number of very pertinent points. The amount of information coming from the truck has changed the way that drivers and managers interact. It is no longer just opinion but there are specific numbers that say how well the truck is being driven. This has removed some of the adversarial interaction between managers and drivers. The nature of the driving task is changing. No longer are you sending a driver out and not hearing from him or her for 10 hours. In the past the driver had to handle situations as they arose but now the manufacturer and the operator are getting information about the truck in real time. Drivers are now being less of the lonely maverick and more of having to interact with changing schedules and other operational issues. There is also a concern that I raised at the IPWEA conference of swamping the truck driver with too much information so that they no longer listen closely to what is being communicated.

Directions in truck design - Kristofer Hansen - Scania Head Of Styling And Industrial Design

Sun, 25 Mar 2018 10:26:04 +0000

Recently Tesla showed the world its new electric truck. It looks different on the outside, and inside the driver sits in the middle. It was a classic Tesla launch that seem to say this is a whole new future. And in a number of ways it is. But traditional truck companies have been continually developing their designs in the multifaceted nature of serving customers, looking after drivers and interacting with the community. At the recent launch of Scania’s new range of vehicles, I spoke to Kristofer Hansén ,Scania’s Head of Styling and Industrial Design who came to Australia for the launch. Here is an edited transcript from the conversation. DB: You said in your launch that the first thing you looked at was the driver. Is that a major component of this generational change for Scania trucks? KH: Yes you can see the driver or the human. I mean there's a lot of parts involved in the truck business. You have the driver of course, but you have the customers that could be the owner of the fleet and then you have the people on the street who see this beast and they also make some sort of summation of it. But the most important for now it's absolutely the driver of course. DB: I'll come back to the word "beast" in a moment but I think you've increased the space for the driver both in driving and sleeping in, if it is that sort of truck. KH: Yes we did. We moved the driver seat forward as far as possible and we made the instrument panel much, much thinner. So the steering wheel goes forward and then of course we get more space in the back. DB: But also you're talking about visibility for the driver. KH: Yeah when we lowered the IP [instrument panel] we moved the "A" pillar backwards to where you sit in the front seat. One interesting thing here is that a lot of concept trucks put the driver in the middle and say that is the best because it's a cool sketch, but to sit in the middle you have long distance to the A pillars and to the corners. You don't really know exactly where they are. So what we saw about this research was really what is a big job to do that, a lot of that, the more closely you put the driver to, (in our case in Europe and Sweden the left corner, in Australia the right corner), the better control he or she can have of the vehicles. So it's the opposite in the middle, it is the worst. So if you sit close to one of the corners you know exactly what the other corner is. You can feel the road below. DB: You mentioned the word “beast”. There's now the environmentally sustainable issue. There’s an image there as well that you don't want to see the truck as a place for the cowboy driver. Do you want to see it as pleasant for potential customers but also for the public? KH: Yet but it's funny since I started at Scania I got this question: "The next truck you will do. Will you make it very soft and look nice?" But it's a little bit strange, if you're standing on the roadside and there's a vehicle coming and it looks like a friendly, then you want to pass [cross] the road because you think that's cool and then come 60 or in Australia 200 tonnes they can't stop. So it’s better, I think, that you understand when you look at it “okay, be a little bit careful this is big, it's heavy” but it shouldn't look aggressive. It shouldn't look mean. It's like a 'good' beast but you have to know it's a beast, extremely heavy. So it's just a little bit the same with the car design and electric cars that some years ago everyone who designed electric cars made them very soft and a little bit funny. DB: Evelyn Waugh wrote a book where he talked of a lady who dressed in fairly severe tones and said "she dressed to inform not to attract". KH: It could be yeah yeah. That was Kristofer Hansén Scania’s Head of Styling and Industrial Design and Martin Toomey Director of Sales in Australia.

Overdrive: GM Self Driving Cruise AV; Lamborghini Urus; Geneva Motor Show

Sat, 24 Mar 2018 00:00:00 +0000

News including the no-steering-wheel GM Cruise AV, talking traffic lights, Uber buttering up the Brits, Mapping apps and EU's free train travel trial. We talk Kristofer Hansén, Scania’s Head of Styling and Industrial Design. We reflect on the Lamborghini SUV - the Urus. And a quirky discussion of odd cars from the Geneva motor show. Originally broadcast 24th March 2018. For past programs and extended versions of segments like the road tests, feature interviews and quirky news, visit drivenmedia.com.au

Overdrive: Electric cars, Scania trucks, Weird cars from Geneva Motor Show

Sat, 17 Mar 2018 07:55:56 +0000

Welcome to Overdrive, a program that probes the issues of motoring and transport I’m David Brown And in this program, we look at news stories with including: 1. Greens push for electric only cars on Australian roads by 2030 2. Mercedes overtakes Toyota as most valuable car brand in influential study 3. Uber already using self-driving trucks 4. Australia hosts the first ever Maserati global gathering 5. Ford Mustang to get dragstrip mode 6. Brabham BT62 name and engine note revealed in new clip from Brabham automotive We have a range of fascinating comments about the trucking industry rom the revealing of the new range of Scania trucks. Road freight has come a long way from the cowboy image and is embracing many community issues And in our panel discussion with Alan Zurvas we take a witty look at some quirky cars that were shown at the Geneva motor show.

Overdrive: Jaguar I-Pace, BMW X3, Mercedes E400, Car Memorabilia

Sat, 17 Mar 2018 07:33:33 +0000

Welcome to Overdrive, a program where we wander through the world of motoring and transport. I’m David Brown And in this program, we look at news stories with including: 1. 2019 Jaguar I-Pace revealed: Brits put Tesla on alert 2. California's new rules turn self-driving cars into remotely operated, road-going drones 3. Tesla’s new ‘light-years ahead’ navigation and maps engine is ‘almost done’, says Elon Musk 4. Trump admin passes rule requiring sounds in 'quiet cars' by 2020 5. Nearly a third of Uber drivers are actually losing money, study shows I reflect on the size of some information screens in cars and what sort of information can we get. I have just got to drive the BMW X3 SUV and the information systems and its ability to inform is a good example of how this area of vehicles is improving. We road test the Mercedes E400 Cabriolet – Elegant motoring And in our panel discussion with Errol Smith and Brian Smith we take a chirpy look at some quirky news stories including: 1. You can now buy James Bond's personal Aston Martin/The mini bike from "Dumb and Dumber" is up for sale/ Car on which Jeremy Clarkson dropped a piano is for sale, mid-restoration (it's a Morris Marina) 2. Will Tesla Model S be a "collector car"? Tuckers are, but Kaisers aren't: why? 3. Kris Singh's Aston Martin Valkyrie will have actual moon dust in the paint

Overdrive: Airbag recall; Nissan GT-R Nismo Road Test; Mullet Motoring

Sat, 03 Mar 2018 00:00:00 +0000

News including the Takata 4 million+ airbag recall, China takes a bite of Daimler, speed humps on bicycle paths and facial recognition on public transport. We discuss the Takata airbag recall in detail and the expanding Volkswagen diesel-gate court cases. We road test iconic Nissan GT-R Nismo. And quirky stories including the mullet fest in Kurri Kurri. Originally broadcast 3rd March 2018. For past programs and extended versions of segments like the road tests, feature interviews and quirky news, visit drivenmedia.com.au

Overdrive: Buses don't fit stops; Nissan 370 Z; A glorious retro; Passion in cars

Fri, 23 Feb 2018 07:54:58 +0000

Welcome to Overdrive, where we cover everything to do with motoring and transport from the sublime to the ridiculous. I’m David Brown And in this program, we look at news stories with including: 1. New super-sized $15 million bus fleet won't fit in bus stops 2. Cycling groups outraged at WA Road Safety videos depicting riders as 'losers' 3. German cities to trial free public transport to cut pollution 4. Express delivery: use drones not trucks to cut carbon emissions, experts say 5. New supercabs to tackle dangerous driving on England’s motorways 6. Land rover celebrates year of the dog with canine friends We hear from a young lady who is a transport planner who travelled to Canada to research some aspects of her profession including how traffic engineering can move into modern world of technology and more professional women. Alan Zurvas road test the Nissan 370z with the Nissan Motor Sport Nismo make over. Is it worth the effort And in our panel discussion with Errol Smith and Brian Smith we take a happy-go-lucky look at some quirky news stories including: • David Brown Auto bringing high-performance GT to Geneva • Is the modern car a passion-killer? • Chinas last steam train Have a question or comment? Send it to overdrive@drivenmedia.com.au You can listen to longer segments by going to our web site at drivenmedia.com.au or podcast the whole program on iTunes or your favourite podcast service. Now to begin the program let’s have the news.

Overdrive: Car Super Bowl Ads; CBD designed for autonomous cars

Sat, 17 Feb 2018 06:38:57 +0000

In this program, we look at news stories with including: 1. New Queensland CBD designed for driverless cars 2. Holden sells on line 3. Tesla reveals 2017 financial results, records near $2B loss 4. Intelligent road studs to improve road safety 5. 2018 Fiat 500 goes all-turbo, all the time 6. Modular footpath for London trial We dedicate the remaining part of the program to a critique of the car ads that were specially developed to play during the broadcast of the 2018 American Super Bowl. Brian Smith and Errol Smith give their perceptive, witty and at times cynical comments. Ads to be reviewed include The good where Vikings are portrayed using a Ram Pickup to tow their boat The bad – Jeep proclaims the great impact their vehicles have had by showing excessive freeways and diving through environmentally sensitive areas And the ugly. Using Martin Luther King’s voice and words from one of his great great speeches to flog (as in sell) pickup trucks. Have a question or comment? Send it to overdrive@drivenmedia.com.au You can listen to longer segments by going to our web site at drivenmedia.com.au or podcast the whole program on iTunes or your favourite podcast service.

Overdrive: Commodore crash test; Golf Original; Kia Picanto; Quirky news

Mon, 12 Feb 2018 02:36:49 +0000

In this program, we look at news stories with including: 1. New Holden Commodore Crash tested 2. Mazda's future gas engines could be cleaner than electric motors 3. UK Government to punish emissions cheat devices with 'unlimited' fines 4. Dealers start to worry about ebbing repair income from electric cars 5. Tesla Model S racing is now a real thing, approved by FIA sanctioning body We have a first drive on the Volkswagen Original. It is a new model but it keeps a sense of engagement with the vehicle that harks back to earlier motoring times. We Road Test the Kia Picanto. And in our panel discussion with Errol Smith and Brian Smith we take an effervescent look at stories including: 1. Oregon residents freaking out about pumping their own petrol now that self service is being allowed. 2. Nissan working on mind-reading cars 3. Man painted his own road marking to get a quicker trip to work 4. GM’s self-driving car won’t have steering wheel or pedals Have a question or comment? Send it to overdrive@drivenmedia.com.au You can listen to longer segments by going to our web site at drivenmedia.com.au or podcast the whole program on iTunes or your favourite podcast service.

Sam Linke

Fri, 09 Feb 2018 00:06:03 +0000

Sam Linkey graduated in 2010 in civil engineering and the History and Philosophy of Science. She is now the technical leader of transport modelling at the consulting firm Jacobs. She is currently focusing on pedestrian modelling and is also the vice president of the Institute of Transportation Engineers in Australia and New Zealand. She recently traveled overseas on an eye to ITE Australia and New Zealand, Worldwide Learning Opportunities program supported by Austraffic the transport survey company. We had a chat about the experience.

Overdrive: Old vehicles costing us; Renault Megane GT Wagon Road Test; Quirky News

Sat, 03 Feb 2018 00:00:00 +0000

News including GM sued for autonomous vehicle collision, cars that detect emotions and how Australia's old vehicle fleet is costing both lives and money. We ask if trucks can show us how car safety should be done - or is it the other way round? We road test a fast family ferrier, the Renault Megane GT Wagon and the more sedate but still just as French 'Intens" Sedan version. And quirky stories including how Oregon's drivers just can't get used to pumping their own gas, Nissan's mind reading car and DIY road markings. Originally broadcast 3rd February 2018. For past programs and extended versions of segments like the road tests, feature interviews and quirky news, visit drivenmedia.com.au

Overdrive: V8 RWD Cop Cars; Hyundai Santa Fe Road Test; LA Motor Show Oddities

Sat, 16 Dec 2017 00:00:00 +0000

News including the NSW police to stick with V8 RWD cars - this time it's a US made one, VW recalls more vehicles for emissions breaches, SAAB lives on - sort of, Tesla's truck gets more pre-orders, and Volvo's XC60 gets Japan's car of the year gong - just. We discuss autonomous vehicles and dispel some of the myths and hype with Les Carter from MR Cagney. We road test the Hyundai Santa Fe Highlander, a large 7 seater SUV aimed more at the family car buyer than the serious off-roader. And quirky stories including Ford's robot bum and unusual cars from the LA motor show. Originally broadcast 16th December 2017. For past programs and extended versions of segments like the road tests, feature interviews and quirky news, visit drivenmedia.com.au

Will Autonomous vehicles be all their claimed to be?

Thu, 14 Dec 2017 14:47:07 +0000

Over the last few years we've seen a flood of talk about autonomous vehicles. Many people seem to think we are heading for motoring utopia where we will have door-to-door travel without any difficulties. It might be a little delayed, but of course you can work in the car. I don't think it's that easy. Nor does consulting firm MRCagney who have done some research on autonomous vehicles. They've just released a report and I'm fortunate to be talking with Lesley Carter their Managing Director.

Overdrive: November Car Sales; Toyota Land Cruiser Prado Road Test; Tokyo Motor Shows Weird Cars

Sat, 09 Dec 2017 00:00:00 +0000

News including car sales for November, Mazda's Australian rise, Toyota's Hydrogen plant, London's new black cabs, WA's cyclist laws. We road test Toyota's very capable large 4WD SUV, the Land Cruiser Prado. And we take we take a light-hearted look at the weird cars from the Tokyo motor show including the "Toyota auto body wonder capsule" - yes that's really what it's called. Originally broadcast 9th December 2017. For past programs and extended versions of segments like the road tests, feature interviews and quirky news, visit drivenmedia.com.au

Overdrive: Uber in trouble; The future of how we get around; Lexus NX300 Road Test; NASCAR declines

Sat, 02 Dec 2017 00:00:00 +0000

News including a data breach by Uber, a new biofuel production system, the decline of "Big Oil", Tesla's new competitor, and what the NBN has to do with transport infrastructure. We discuss a report on the future of how we get around "New mobility now, a practical guide". We road test one of Lexus' best selling vehicles, the mid-size Lexus NX300 F-Sport SUV. And some humorous motoring & transport stories including getting angry with an ambulance, the US Navy vandalises the sky, the decline of good old boys racing in the USA and what it means for our V8 racing. Originally broadcast 2nd December 2017. For past programs and extended versions of segments like the road tests, feature interviews and quirky news, visit drivenmedia.com.au

New Mobility Now – A practical Guide - talking to one of the authors

Fri, 01 Dec 2017 05:18:43 +0000

With the recent wave of euphoria about autonomous cars many people have imagined indeed verge on fantasying about the potential for motoring utopia - chauffeur style travel for all your needs. Of course it is not that simple. The international consulting company WSP (Formally WSP parsons Brinkerhoff) has just published a white paper New Mobility Now – A practical Guide). It was launched at the ITS World Congress 2017 in Montreal. Scott Benjamin is WSP’s Technical Director for Intelligent Transport in Australia and New Zealand had a big hand in the report and has been travelling the world talking about its implications. Scott joins David Brown for a chat about the report.

Overdrive: Toll road freebies; New Toyota Camry; Honda CRV Road Test; Beer Bikes Ban

Sat, 25 Nov 2017 00:00:00 +0000

News including Sydney toll road users get freebies, Uber buys some Volvos while Google works on competition, drag racing safety concerns, Tesla's new toys, Japan rail apologies, NZ cops get musical. We discuss the launch of Toyota's new Camry - check our website for a video review. We road test the Honda CRV – one of the first compact SUVs on the market and now into it’s fifth generation. And we take we take a light-hearted look at stories including: Virgin trains prizes for travel, drunk drive-thru, beer bikes ban. predicting the future of transport, and what your street name says about you. Originally broadcast 25th November 2017. For past programs and extended versions of segments like the road tests, feature interviews and quirky news, visit drivenmedia.com.au

Overdrive: New Ford Territory; Honda CRV Road Test; There's a Bear in there

Sat, 18 Nov 2017 00:00:00 +0000

News including Ford’s replacement for the Terrritory SUV, the lifespan of the new Holden Commodore, China’s takeover of a flying car company, Uber’s big investment and plans for flying cars in LA, and the new McLaren road-legal rocket. We road test the Honda CRV – one of the first compact SUVs on the market and now into it’s fifth generation. And we take we take a light-hearted look at stories including: Choosing the sound of your otherwise quiet electric car, what Whisky has to do with bicycle frames, and a bear goes for a drive in Colorado. Originally broadcast 18th November 2017. For past programs and extended versions of segments like the road tests, feature interviews and quirky news, visit drivenmedia.com.au

Overdrive: Speeding fines; SAIC LDV T60 Road Test; Chatting with your car; Quirky stories

Sat, 11 Nov 2017 00:00:00 +0000

News including which states gets the most speeding fines (it's more revenue than you might think), the new Commodore, solar challenge results, Google works with VW, Renault Alpine makes a comeback and well, Trump. We review the SAIC LDV T60 dual-cab ute after attending the launch in Bathurst - a lot of ute for not a lot of money. We chat about what it might be like to converse with your car, with Toyota's Yui AI in-car assistant. And we take a humorous look about what one airline fan built in his men's shed, buying a street and how an airline created a first-world-problem around what drink it serves. Originally broadcast 11th November 2017. For past programs and extended versions of segments like the road tests, feature interviews and quirky news, visit drivenmedia.com.au

Improving road noise reduction? - The Experts Speak

Fri, 10 Nov 2017 12:17:47 +0000

The AITPM newsletter recently covered a story about how much more attention is being given to landscaping and noise reduction on major road projects. An Australian association of acoustical consultants, recently expanded their territory by including New Zealand. We spoke to two consultants Alex Campbell – Infrastructure sector leader technical director SLR Consulting, and Mark Russel – Lead engineering on the West Connex project and also from SLR Consulting Mark notes there are differences in state requirements for sound barriers. There are some significant differences in criteria. For example in NSW criteria used as a different descriptor to what's Victoria and some parts of Queensland users. They also have different methods of optimizing barriers and optimizing heights of barriers. New South Wales has a very robust and technical approach to the assessment of road noise. Is a little bit simpler in other states. [30.4] Transparent barriers have been suggested in some locations The downside with transparent barriers they that are generally are a Perspex material, is the graffiti and actual maintenance of the barrier. So they tend to get scratched or the transparency reduces over time and that doesn't appear as nice as other barriers do. So sometimes in some projects they use in combination with a solid barrier below and the Perspex on top to allow the over shut it shadow or was to reduce any overshadowing issues.

Overdrive: NRMA's electric chargers; Subaru WRX Road Test; Reflections on Holden in Aus

Sat, 28 Oct 2017 00:00:00 +0000

News including NRMA's electric car charging stations, passenger safety, FIAT/Chrysler RHD future, GM follows Ford towards SUVs, Toyota hydrogen concepts and electric motorcycles go the distance. We road test the Subaru WRX - is it still the hero car of the youth? And we take a reflective look on the life & times of Holden in Australia. Originally broadcast 28th October 2017. For past programs and extended versions of segments like the road tests, feature interviews and quirky news, visit drivenmedia.com.au

Overdrive: Fords Business Plan; Hyundai Kona SUV; Bathurst 1000; Jamie Olivers Custom SUV

Sat, 14 Oct 2017 00:00:00 +0000

News including Ford's new business plan, Boeing's self-driving planes, Tesla's woes and the Mercedes X class. We attend the launch of the Hyundai Kona small SUV. We discuss how a dedicated revhead should watch the Bathurst 1000. And in our quirky news segment we discuss Jamie Oliver's custom Land Rover portable kitchen, and how it compares to the first kitchen on wheels - the VW Kombi. Originally broadcast 14th October 2017. For past programs and extended versions of segments like the road tests, feature interviews and quirky news, visit drivenmedia.com.au

Watching the Bathurst 1000 - Reflections from Brent Davison

Mon, 09 Oct 2017 14:12:42 +0000

This is a story of devotion and commitment. About our good friend and motoring journalist Brent Davidson. Brent recently did a post on Facebook which said “the first plate of spiced chicken wings has been served, the first tapas platter is out, the first beer has been cracked. Bathurst weekend has officially started. The race started on Sunday at 11:00am but the post was a dated Saturday 1:12 p.m.

Overdrive: Aussie cars end; Sydney Transport History; Ford Transit Custom test; Electric E-Type Jag

Sat, 07 Oct 2017 00:00:00 +0000

News including the end of the Aussie car with Toyota & Holden's factory closures, Saudi women now able to drive, JD Power vehicle survey results, Lotus joins Volvo and more trouble for VW. A history piece on how transport shaped Sydney from the very beginning. We road test the Ford Transit Custom Van "now with 6-speed auto". And we take a light hearted look at Jaguar's E-type electric conversion - success or sacrilege? Originally broadcast 7th October 2017. For past programs and extended versions of segments like the road tests, feature interviews and quirky news, visit drivenmedia.com.au

Planning in Sydney – leading up to and including the 1909 Royal Commission

Fri, 06 Oct 2017 03:44:08 +0000

Distinguished planner Bob Meyer reflects on the causes and effects of plans and the lack of them Royal CommissioWhen Governor Phillip started European settlement in Sydney, he thought about more than just a penal colony; he saw an opportunity to build a great city. Later Governor Macquarie also had a grand vision for a thriving city. But for all the ideals, few aspects of a grand plan were ever implemented. By the turn of the 20th century, Sydney had large slum areas and health was a big issue especially after we had an outbreak of the bubonic plague. But Town Planning was an emerging profession. The NSW Government held a Royal Commission for “The Improvement of the City of Sydney and its Suburbs” Bob Meyer is the head of planning for Cox Architecture and is an avid historian of planning and its effect on our lives. He has reviewed the report of the Royal Commission and all the other major planning documents from then to the present day. In this first interview with David Brown, they discuss the transport impacts on the early colony, the life and times of Sydney that lead to and carried out the Royal Commission of Inquiry.

Overdrive: Uber London ban; Dyson cars; Toyota 86 GT road test; Trolley Circles

Sat, 30 Sep 2017 00:00:00 +0000

News including Uber blocked in London and how self driving car technology is being stalled by Trump. We ponder what the cars made by Dyson (better known for vacuum cleaners) will be like. We road test the Toyota 86 GT. The back seats are mostly useless but it's so fun to drive who cares? And in our quirky news segment we find out the car park equivalent of a crop circle, London's "Day of Moaning" and what people leave behind at airports. Originally broadcast 30th September 2017. For past programs and extended versions of segments like the road tests, feature interviews and quirky news, visit drivenmedia.com.au

Ron Goodman - Aussie taking on all the might that the American racing fraternity can buy

Mon, 25 Sep 2017 09:10:51 +0000

If you own a classic car, so you keep it at home in cotton wool and just look at it or do you drive it around which can wear it out or even run the risk of having an accident. If it is a sports car might you even race it with added stain and increased danger. Ron Goodman owns a classic Porsches a 356, and he has just won his class in the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion. He was the only Aussie in the event and some of the cars he was racing against were worth tens of millions of dollars. Ron tells us all about it.

Kia Stinger - A chat with Damien Meredith, Kia's Chief Operating Officer

Sun, 24 Sep 2017 01:58:26 +0000

Kia are about to bring their brand new car, the Stinger into Australia. It is a biggish car with rear wheel drive and the top of the range has a twin turbo V6 engine. They say they designed the car with a desire to reflect the elegant 1970s Grand touring vehicles. But it is also coming onto the Australian market at the time the traditional rear wheel drive family cars, the Holden Commodore and the Ford Falcon are ceasing production. I caught up with Damien Meredith the Kia Chief Operating Officer to understand just what Kia expects from this vehicle.

Overdrive: Nissan sales record; Kia Stinger launch; Electrified E-Type Jag

Sat, 23 Sep 2017 00:00:00 +0000

News including Nissan hits the 150million vehicle mark, Ford hooks up with India on EVs, stopping people drive-texting, Toronto plays with red light cameras, and flying maybe not as safe as you think. We discuss the launch of the Kia Stinger - a large rear wheel drive sedan, tuning for Australian roads and other topics. And we take a sideways reflection on things from the past with a modern twist - electrifying an old E-type jag - science or sacrilege? Originally broadcast 23rd September 2017. For past programs and extended versions of segments like the road tests, feature interviews and quirky news, visit drivenmedia.com.au

Overdrive: August Car Sales, Ford Pizza; Liveable Cities; Car dobs in driver

Sat, 16 Sep 2017 00:00:00 +0000

News including August car sales figures, big brother watching your car, electric Jags coming, Ford's pizza delivery system, and how screen time messes with in-car bonding. Planning liveable cities with and without cars, but what kind of car? And quirky news with cars dobbing in their drivers, Mermaids giving driving directions and Burger King creates a road hazard. Originally broadcast 16th September 2017. For past programs and extended versions of segments like the road tests, feature interviews and quirky news, visit drivenmedia.com.au

Overdrive: News; An Aussie races the American rich - and wins; Lego F1 car

Sat, 09 Sep 2017 00:00:00 +0000

Hello and welcome to Overdrive a program that looks at a range of different ways we get around, from cars, buses, trains and planes. I’m David Brown And in this program, we take a look at the latest news stories with David Campbell including: 1. Chinese carmaker Great Wall looks at bidding for Fiat Chrysler 2. Tesla plans for 'long-haul' electric truck 3. Drones to be trialed in New York for traffic and parking monitoring 4. One-of-a-kind Ferrari found in a barn 5. Rolls-Royce is the most popular brand in music We have an interview with an Aussie who went to the famous Laguna Seca Race Circuit in California for the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion where he raced against the might of America’s historic racing fraternity and won his class. One of the cars racing there was worth $68 million. Not his. And in our discussion session with Errol Smith we take a breezy look at some quirky news stories including: 1. Chinese firm Alibaba to open a 'car vending machine' next year (follows on from similar one we covered in Singapore) 2. It took 350,000 Lego bricks to make this F1 Ferrari race car 3. Rolls-Royce is the most popular brand in music Originally aired on 9 September 2017. For past programs and individual segments visit www.drivenmedia.com.au

Overdrive: New VW Kombi; Subaru Outback in snow; Windscreen art, Fairies

Sat, 02 Sep 2017 00:00:00 +0000

News including VW reinventing the Kombi, thinner pillars, self driving car rules, Spotify helps driving teens stay safe, easy electric car charging, and wood makes a comeback in cars. We discuss driving in the snow, this time in a Subaru Outback. Some discussions from a recent motoring & transport conference. And we take a light hearted look at stories including a car windscreen artist dubbed the "da Vinci of Dirt" and how Fairies are messing with Irish roads. Originally broadcast 2nd September 2017. For past programs and extended versions of segments like the road tests, feature interviews and quirky news, visit drivenmedia.com.au

Overdrive: Fiat-Chrysler Self-Driving Cars; Subaru XV Road Test; Mustang GT Exhaust, Tesla Toys

Sat, 26 Aug 2017 00:00:00 +0000

News including FIAT/Chrysler joins BMW to create self-driving cars, Hyundai's Genesis models delayed - again but fuel cells still coming, GM's $5k tiny electric car, and Mercedes Maybach cabriolet concept. Vale Gary O'Callaghan. We road test the Subaru XV compact SUV which is selling well. And some light-hearted stories including fuel economy of the latest Bugatti Chyron, the Ford Mustang GT's fancy exhaust and what toys you'll find in the latest Tesla car. Originally broadcast 26th August 2017. For past programs and extended versions of segments like the road tests, feature interviews and quirky news, visit drivenmedia.com.au

Overdrive: New Holdens, Britain's EV-only plan, Car Vending Machine; AITPM conference feature

Sat, 19 Aug 2017 00:00:00 +0000

News including new models from Holden replacing the Captiva, Britain to ban petrol & electric vehicles from 2040, VW's cash for klunkers program, BMW's Mini Oxford Edition - only for students, China's Alibaba car vending machine. And we have several features from the annual AITPM (Australian Institute of Traffic Planning and Management) national conference in Melbourne. Originally broadcast 19th August 2017. For past programs and extended versions of segments like the road tests, feature interviews and quirky news, visit drivenmedia.com.au

Overdrive: BMW seeks foreign money; VACC report; Infiniti Q60 Road Test; Bugatti Fuel Economy

Sat, 12 Aug 2017 00:00:00 +0000

News including BMW wants foreign money for German transport fund, US CAFE requirements, tricking driver-less cars, neighbourhood says no to bike sharing, and Daimler invests in flying cars. We discuss a major report on the car industry released by the VACC. We road test the Infiniti Q60 2 door coupe And we take a lighthearted look at stories including hackable car washes, cheeky lost property on London's transport, and the fuel economy of the latest Bugatti - it's better, but does it matter? Originally broadcast 12th August 2017. For past programs and extended versions of segments like the road tests, feature interviews and quirky news, visit drivenmedia.com.au

Overdrive: News: July Car Sales Figures; Implanted Opal Card

Sat, 05 Aug 2017 06:07:08 +0000

In this program, we take a look at the latest news stories including: • Car sales figures for July • Ford's bus service that isn't We have chat with Lewis Williamson from England on how we are modelling traffic to try and shape our cities We have a couple of reflections on the planning of our cities from a recent forum. And we take a jolly look at stories including: • A Sydney man has his Opal card implanted in his hand to make catching public transport easier • "Lucky" coins thrown into plane engine Have a question or comment? Send it to overdrive@drivenmedia.com.au Originally aired on 5th August 2017. For past programs and individual segments visit www.drivenmedia.com.au

Car fuel from whiskey waste and bagpipes on planes

Sat, 05 Aug 2017 05:37:22 +0000

List all your Scottish jokes here! Electric cars may receive most of the attention within the realm of alternative propulsion methods, but liquid hydrocarbon fuels will be with us for many decades to come. The challenge then becomes how to reduce the carbon footprint of extracting, transporting, refining, and burning those fuels to reduce the damage they impose on the environment. That leads to biofuels, and an amusing development from Scotland called biobutanol, though the public may know its ingredients by a different name: whiskey. And a world champion piper was thrown off a Ryanair flight for refusing to put her bagpipes in the hold. Originally aired on5 October 2017. For past programs and individual segments visit www.drivenmedia.com.au

“Lucky” coins thrown into plane engine

Sat, 05 Aug 2017 05:33:20 +0000

Transport superstitions Do you have any superstitious actions before you travel? An elderly woman has delayed a plane for more than five hours, after she attempted to throw a handful of coins into its engine for good luck. The passenger was boarding China Southern Airlines flight, from Shanghai to Guangzhou, when she threw nine coins towards the plane's jet engine. Originally aired on5 August 2017. For past programs and individual segments visit www.drivenmedia.com.au

Man implants transit card in his hand to make life easier

Sat, 05 Aug 2017 05:27:16 +0000

Wearable technology goes the next step! In order to avoid misplacing his Opal transport card, a Sydney man has had the critical chip part of the card implanted in his hand. The man, who has had his name officially changed to Meow-Ludo Disco Gamma Meow-Meow says that his goal is to have frictionless interaction with technology, although he does not recommend that people try this without doing considerable research including identifying risks such as infection. The only problem we can see is that he has had the chip implanted in his left hand where all the gates on Sydney trains are designed to have people present their cards with their right hand. Originally aired on 5 August 2017. For past programs and individual segments visit www.drivenmedia.com.au

Overdrive: Rolls Royce image; Naming transport vehicles; Lego Gear box

Fri, 28 Jul 2017 09:48:45 +0000

Dieselgate collusion? What can a driver do in an autonomous bus? We take a look at the latest news stories including: • EU investigating diesel collusion among Audi, BMW, Mercedes, Porsche, VW: report • Chinese tech giant Baidu taps Microsoft to expand development of self-driving cars • Start-up electric car company Lucid Motors is looking for buyers: is it Faraday Future 2.0? • Automakers rally to kill proposed border tax • 'It's shocking': Victoria's worrying culture of aggressive driving We have a lovely chat about Rolls Royce’s image. Are they trying to cover more than just the elite? And we look at the Darwin experience of driverless buses with drivers still on board. If they are not driving what useful things can they do? We have a couple of reflections on the planning of our cities from a recent forum. And in our panel discussion we take a jolly look at stories including: • A working 6-speed gearbox made of LEGO • TrainyMcTrainface: New train in Sweden named as 'revenge for BoatyMcBoatface' Have a question or comment? Send it to overdrive@drivenmedia.com.au Originally aired on 29 July 2017. For past programs and individual segments visit www.drivenmedia.com.au

TrainyMcTrainFace – Naming a Swedish train

Fri, 28 Jul 2017 09:38:55 +0000

The naming of transport vehicles has gone too far An express train running between two major Swedish cities will be named TrainyMcTrainface, after the railway company opened up the name to a public vote. MTR Express, with Swedish newspaper Metro, opened up a poll to name four new trains running between the capital Stockholm and Gothenburg on the country's west coast. TrainyMcTrainface, which received 49 per cent of the vote, was the most popular name. Originally aired on29 July 2017. For past programs and individual segments visit www.drivenmedia.com.au

Young person builds a working 6 speed gear box in Lego

Fri, 28 Jul 2017 09:35:48 +0000

It’s a manual – the next challenge is an automatic then a CVT A working 6-speed gearbox made of Legos Originally aired on29 July 2017. For past programs and individual segments visit www.drivenmedia.com.au

Quirky: Darwin Autonomous bus still has a driver

Fri, 28 Jul 2017 09:33:09 +0000

What else could the “driver” do We look at the Darwin experience of driverless busses with drivers still on board. If they are not driving what useful things can they do? Originally aired on29 July 2017. For past programs and individual segments visit www.drivenmedia.com.au

Rolls Royce – Change image –

Fri, 28 Jul 2017 09:28:49 +0000

A silk purse to a sow’s ear? On June 3rd 1965 a brand new Rolls Royce was delivered in England. It was a phantom 5 model fitted with her limousine body and finished in a Valentines black. The car was delivered to John Lennon, from the Beatles. Some years later, In think around 1967, Ringo Starr said that he should paint it psychedelic colours. John did this and a point in history had been reached. Was it significant and where does it leave Rolls Royce’s image then and now. Well who better to talk about that then now good friend Paul Murrell who use to be in marketing but has now been around for a while in motoring journalism. Paul thanks very much for your time Originally aired on 29 July 2017. For past programs and individual segments visit www.drivenmedia.com.au

Audi All Wheel Drive – New Technology

Sat, 22 Jul 2017 03:37:33 +0000

When you want all-wheel drive but only when you need it drive system link to the power of a turbo charged engine. They developed a rally car that used this great grip and power. But a permanent four wheel drive system uses more energy and wears out more parts. Dieter Weidemann the head of Audi all wheel drive system talks of the energy efficiencies you could make. • 80% For a road car, it would be good to have four wheel drive only when you needed it. Some old four-wheel drive vehicles had hubs that you could get out of the vehicle and turn the dial and it would disengage the drive to the front wheels. Later this became a switch in the cabin. But this was an all or nothing situation. You had to make a decision and it was a time consuming effort. Dieter knows that when driving along a road the need for extra grip comes and goes. • Many situations Some manufacturer’s developed a “real time” system which automatically engaged all wheel drive when something adverse happened like losing traction on the front wheels. Audi wanted to be more proactive. • Make a system But for it to work the system has to think and react quickly • 500 milliseconds Audi have now launched this system in the Q5 and SQ5 models in Australia. How they predict your needs is not clairvoyance but a clever use of information and a very quick response. They have 15 algorithms evaluating different operational conditions in your car. Here’s how one of the algorithms work. • Press the throttle They will even take into account the weather, cold weather is more likely to mean wet or icy roads, the frictional resistance of the road, or what sort of driver I am. If I am a dynamic driver they engage the four wheel drive earlier. But Just how much then is the system operating. Dieter’s team has developed an ap to show what is happening and how often the system is used. We drove the car carefully over a dirt road. All wheel drive was engaged 34% of the time. Then drove down a typical two-lane country road in Australia. In 111km the car had all wheel drive engaged for 6% of the time. But it has been used on 18 specific occasions. This might be locations of poor grip, tight corners, overtaking Here is the plot of the road and the times we engaged all wheel drive. Here are the times when we were in dynamic driving mode. This does not correspond with every four wheel drive engagement because the car is giving intense consideration as to whether we need the extra grip. Travelling 94% of the time in two wheel drive we have been far more efficient without having to compromise the safety value of having all wheel drive when we needed it. Originally aired on 8 July 2017. For past programs and individual segments visit www.drivenmedia.com.au

Audi Q5 and SQ 5 – MY2018 – SUVs as a refined sedan

Sat, 22 Jul 2017 03:33:14 +0000

Better looks, more features and improved all-wheel drive technology Audi has just launched its second generation Q5 medium sized SUV along with the hot version SQ5. Four of the top 6 best selling Audis in Australia are SUVs. So clearly this is an important car for them. New looks, and they say more features and new technology to make the all-wheel drive work better. Sounds good so we drove the news models from Melbourne to Adelaide typically on secondary roads to see if they lived up to expectations. The range comes with three engines. 2 litre diesel. 140kW and 400 Nm. Strong off the line with low down torque. On the open road it is adequate without running like a stallion. 2 litre turbo petrol engine with more power 185 kW and nearly as much torque 370Nm. It runs more freely giving more confidence when overtaking for example. Both two litre engines come with 7 speed tiptronic dual clutch transmission. The diesel is rated at 5.3 l/100km The Petrol gets 7.3 l/100km in the laboratory tests. Hot SQ 5, unlike the previous model does not have a high-performance diesel engine. This one is a turbocharged petrol with 260 kW and 500 Nm. It still goes very well helped by an eight speed tiptronic automatic gear box with sports mode. It ran with wind in its hair. Audi gave a bit of a wink when asked if the hot diesel might come in the near future. Which is either good news or I can't read nonverbal signals. The high horse power is great if you can show it which is not often. Fuel consumption is rated at 8.7 l/100km combined cycle. All models are very sure footed on the open road at touring speeds. Vehicle noise is really quite minimal and there is a general ambiance of well-constructed luxury. In recent years engines have been getting more powerful but vehicles have also been putting on weight with extra features and more electronics. But with lighter metals and better packaging the Q5s are lighter with the diesel engine model losing 90kgs. It all helps with driving performance and fuel economy. They have a new development in the all-wheel drive system which means that you only get all wheel drive when you need it so most of your driving is in the more economical two-wheel drive. We will do a separate video on this impressive bit of technology. On the outside it looks better, more purposeful and masculine. The old model looked functional but by modern standards a bit bland. The new vehicle is 34mm longer, the same width, 6mm taller and a 12 mm longer wheel base. Inside has usable space except for the rear passengers when you have a big person in the front. That is a common feature with this style of vehicle. Some good driver safety assistance with adaptivecruisecontrol, distancewarning, hilldescent, parkassist,cross trafficassist at the rear and exitwarning so when you go to get out you don’t door another car or worse a cyclist. The interior has functional simplicity but not adventurous styling. There is a good eight point three -inch Multi-Media Interface screen and Audi’s fantastic digital dash board. The information is crystal clear and easy to read. The side storage areas in the doors are easy to get to but not well designed for holding bottles and the cup holders, back near the arm rest, are cumbersome to use. Theseatshavebeenredesignedfromthegroundup and felt good even on a long drive. There’s 550litres luggage capacity that’s up a smidgin, 10litres, for the previous model. Flatten the second row of seats and you get 1550 litres of space. Apartitionnetandluggagecompartmentcoverarestandard, with fourlashingpoints. Moving up the models or picking some options can add features to your vehicle. It is good that most of the safety features are included in all models. There is an adaptive air suspension with up to 220mm of ground clearance. The ride felt softer on the road.

Overdrive: Rolls Royce EVs; Evolution of the Motorcar through Photography; Flying Cars, Tesla Trucks

Sat, 22 Jul 2017 00:00:00 +0000

In this program, we take a look at the latest news stories including: • Rolls Royce skips hybrids to go straight to EVs • VW's pricing for it's electric hatch • Honda's mystery engine • Land Rover's new Ranger Rover • Mercedes Benz X-class • Crowd-sourcing maps for self driving cars We discuss the evolution of the motor car through a photography exhibition covering the history and glamour over the years. And we discuss some quirky stories including flying cars, a digital archive of London's transport, and Tesla's electric trucks. Have a question or comment? Send it to overdrive@drivenmedia.com.au Originally aired on 22 July 2017.

Overdrive: Why people tailgate; Audi Q5 and SQ5 tested; Centralized swarm control

Sat, 15 Jul 2017 00:00:00 +0000

In this program we take a look at the latest news stories including: • Protecting Infrastructure Corridors • Detecting distracted drivers • Why people tailgate • Sydney or Melbourne – who’s congestion is worse? • Formula E – Audi joins electric motor racing • Alleviating weekend traffic congestion We drive the second generation Audi Q5 and hot SQ5 cross-country, and discuss their very clever upgrade to their all-wheel drive system. And in our quirky news segment we take a look at: • What centralized swam control can do for autonomous cars. • How London is helping claustrophobics get around Have a question or comment? Send it to overdrive@drivenmedia.com.au You can listen to previous programs and longer segments of each of the features by going to our web site at drivenmedia.com.au or podcast the whole program on iTunes or your favourite podcast service. Originally aired on 15th July 2017.

Quirky Clairvoyance

Sat, 08 Jul 2017 05:40:24 +0000

Quirky Clairvoyance by David Brown

Overdrive: Road safety; Audi Q5 and AWD, Banning robot deliveries

Sat, 08 Jul 2017 05:01:15 +0000

We take a look at the latest news stories including: • European Road Safety Awards • Autonomous police vehicles – it’s the onboard technology that is the most interesting • Identifying behaviours not just counting numbers • Sustainable transport projects • Integrating data into a real-time picture • London Mayor’s Transport plan We have a couple of stories from Audi - the first is the launch of their second generation Q5 and SQ5 medium size SUV and the second is a very clever upgrade to their all-wheel drive system. And we take a happy look at stories including how San Francisco is looking to ban delivery robots on streets Have a question or comment? Send it to overdrive@drivenmedia.com.au You can listen to past programs and longer segments of each of the features by going to our web site at drivenmedia.com.au or podcast the whole program on iTunes or your favourite podcast service. Originally aired on 8th July 2017.

Quirky: Driving on wet cement

Sat, 08 Jul 2017 04:47:10 +0000

Taking a childhood fantasy into the adult world And in our panel discussion with Brian Smith we take a happy, look at how we might judge a car in the future. A man who drives on wet cement has to pay for repairs Originally aired on8 July 2017. For past programs and individual segments visit www.drivenmedia.com.au

Quirky: Robot freight deliveries

Sat, 08 Jul 2017 04:43:42 +0000

Robotic freight may take over the footpaths. And in our panel discussion with Brian Smith we take a happy, look at how we might judge a car in the future. One official wants to ban robot deliveries in San Francisco Originally aired on8 July 2017. For past programs and individual segments visit www.drivenmedia.com.au

Quirky: Robot freight deliveries

Sat, 08 Jul 2017 04:24:01 +0000

BMW and electric vehicles

Sat, 08 Jul 2017 04:19:27 +0000

Why Australia is so far behind with encouraging electric vehicles No matter what you think about global environmental issues, the very clear fact is that local pollution in our cities is harming and killing people. We need to act now. Electric cars will reduce local effects not only in terms of harmful gases but also in terms of noise pollution. Furthermore, alternative power sources for transport represent, in an increasing way jobs and growth in the future. So, should we actively encourage the adoption of these vehicles. And by encourage, I mean do more than just cheer from the side lines but rather provide incentives and/or infrastructure to help vehicle manufacturers promote vehicles to customers. Lenore Fletcher is the General Manager Corporate Communications for BMW Australia First broadcast on 1 July 2017. For past programs and individual segments visit www.drivenmedia.com.au

2017 Audi S4 – As good as a fictional space ship

Sat, 08 Jul 2017 04:11:52 +0000

Great performance, wonderful instruments and a modern interior At a glance The new Audi S4 and the new Audi S4 Avant Engine - Newly developed 3.0 TFSI with turbocharging and direct injection: peak power of 260kW, peak torque of 500Nm at a low 1370 rpm - 15kW more power and 60Nm more torque compared to the previous model - Sports car performance: from 0 to 100km/h in 4.7 seconds (Sedan), 4.9 seconds (Avant) - Top efficiency: Audi S4 Sedan consumes just 7.7 litres of fuel per 100 kilometre and emits 175 grams CO2 per km (Avant: 7.8 l/100km and 178 g/km) Drivetrain - Eight- speed tiptronic with fuel First broadcast on 8 July 2017. For past programs and individual segments visit www.drivenmedia.com.au

Overdrive: Connecting Brisbane, Audi S4 Road Test; A bus by any other name

Sat, 01 Jul 2017 00:00:00 +0000

In this program, we take a look at the latest news stories including: • A new plan for Connecting Brisbane • Managing shared bikes without docking stations • Serving the Super Bowl – public credibility and the autonomous bus • Searching the World for your stolen bike • Barriers against rogue vehicles • 200th anniversary of the bike – coping with technological change. • The 30-year plan for greater Adelaide – does it consider new technology? We talk to Lenore Fletcher the General Manager Corporate Communications from BMW who has some fighting words about how far behind Australia is in encouraging alternative fuels We road test the Audi S4 Avant. What a rocket! We also talk to Brian Smith about a fantastic new ride sharing scheme which turns out to be a bus. Have a question or comment? Send it to overdrive@drivenmedia.com.au You can listen to longer segments of the each of the features by going to our web site at drivenmedia.com.au or podcast the whole program on iTunes or your favourite podcast service. Originally aired on 01 July 2017.

Overdrive: Car road use pricing; Mercedes “Me” store; Subaru XV

Sat, 24 Jun 2017 00:00:00 +0000

In this program, we take a look at the latest news stories including: 1. New Zealand government launches Smarter Transport Pricing project 2. Should Doncaster BRT be a priority? 3. Ford to open new Smart Mobility Innovation Office in London 4. As Uber burns, Lyft promises to meet Paris climate commitments 5. Hybrid thermal camera for transport industry applications We talk to David McCarthy from Mercedes Benz about their upcoming “Me” store whatever that is. We talk to the Managing Director of Subaru about their new XV small SUV. And we take a cheerful, look at stories including: 1. You Won’t Believe What This Guy Does with a Thermal Camera – Thermal cameras – Can they pick up a fart 2. China's oversupply of shared bikes creating piles of broken, unused bicycles on city streets (amazing photos of unintended consequence) Originally aired on 24th June 2017.

Quirky: Mercedes Benz “Me” store for Melbourne

Fri, 23 Jun 2017 06:38:24 +0000

Mercedes Benz is getting a new “gorgeous” shop front By the end of the year Mercedes will open a “Me” store in Melbourne. It is more about good coffee and food than selling cars. But will it create a vibe or an “in-crowd” group or a secretive sect? Originally aired on17 June 2017. For past programs and individual segments visit www.drivenmedia.com.au

Quirky: Building a wall of bicycles

Fri, 23 Jun 2017 06:33:57 +0000

Over supply of bikes in China leads to a big problem And in our panel discussion with Errol Smith and Brian Smith: As reported by the ABC, aspiraling oversupply of shared bikes in China is leading to huge piles of broken and unused bicycles in cities across the country. But now there is growing concern about a bubble, as big investors rush to pour money into bike sharing. Originally aired on 24 June 2017. For past programs and individual segments visit www.drivenmedia.com.au

Quirky: Will traffic cameras capture more personal activities?

Fri, 23 Jun 2017 06:30:07 +0000

Sensing if you fart and putting rude symbols on bald heads And in our panel discussion with Errol Smith and Brian Smith The technology revolution has impacted the way we count traffic, cyclists and pedestrian numbers. Now Dahua Technology has released an entry-level hybrid thermal imaging camera that has multiple applications within the transportation industry. It claims to be much better than video cameras and can work in fog and the dark. But can it also measure personal flatulence and what rude symbols are people putting on bald heads that only the cameras can pick up? Originally aired on24 June 2017. For past programs and individual segments visit www.drivenmedia.com.au

Mercedes Benz: A new style shop front for Melbourne

Fri, 23 Jun 2017 06:24:16 +0000

Mercedes Benz is creating a lifestyle not just a car market Mercedes will open a “me” brandstore in Melbourne by the end of the year. Similar stores already exist in Hong Kong, Milan, Hamburg and Tokyo. They are not about a hard sell of Mercedes cars (or trucks) but rather a stylish place for coffee or food that creates a positive vibe for the company. Originally aired on 17 June2017. For past programs and individual segments visit www.drivenmedia.com.au

2017 Subaru XV – Distinctive small SUV

Fri, 23 Jun 2017 06:19:27 +0000

Managing Director of Subaru Australia comment on their latest launch and the small SUV market. In 2012Subaru launched the XV onto the Australian market, their smallest car in their current fleet. The latest XV is over 90% changed from the previous model with a few extra off road features but a host of comfort improvements. Subarus are car like in their on-road performance and competent in their off-road capability. Where does the new XV fit in that continuum. Colin Christie is the Managing director of Subaru Australia. I asked him if the new XV was a toughening up of the vehicle. And Overdrive has a new feature on our web site. A video of our first impressions from a car launch, in this case the Subaru XV. Originally aired on 17 June2017. For past programs and individual segments visit www.drivenmedia.com.au

Overdrive: Hammond's Car, Anniversary of the Bicycle; Honda Odyssey road test; Future cars

Sat, 17 Jun 2017 00:00:00 +0000

In this program, we take a look at the latest news stories including: 1. Richard Hammond’s Crash – tell me about the car! 2. Parking Space Goes for $664,000 in Hong Kong 3. Local pollution is a big issue for transport 4. 200th anniversary of the bicycle We chat to resident Overdrive artists Dean Oliver about the sad passing away of Nick Munting and the time we travelled to New Caledonia to watch a car rally. We road test the Honda Odyssey people mover - is it function and fashion in one vehicle? And in our panel discussion we ask just how we might judge a car in the future? Have a question or comment? Send it to overdrive@drivenmedia.com.au You can listen to longer segments of the each of the features (as well as past programs) by going to drivenmedia.com.au or podcast the whole program on iTunes or your favourite podcast service. Originally aired on 17th June 2017.

Quirky: A new way to road test a car?

Fri, 16 Jun 2017 09:15:31 +0000

Forget surveys after the event. Measuring your response as it happens. And in our panel discussion with Errol Smith we take a carefree, look at how we might judge a car in the future. Originally aired on17 June 2017. For past programs and individual segments visit www.drivenmedia.com.au

Vale a motoring and photo journalist

Fri, 16 Jun 2017 09:09:16 +0000

Sad news that one time motoring journalists and photographer, Nick Munting, has passed away at the age of 66. Dean Oliver, Overdrive’s resident artist, and I knew Nick from many years ago when we travelled to New Caledonia to go into the rugged rural areas, stand by dusty roads and watch rally cars. Seemed like a good idea at the time and it was. Nick was an enthusiastic, ebullient, lad who always looked for the positive. To reflect on those memories Dean joins us on the line. Originally aired on 17 June 2017. For past programs and individual segments visit www.drivenmedia.com.au

Honda Odyssey 2017 – Can a people mover be sexy?

Fri, 16 Jun 2017 08:56:33 +0000

Can you have function and fashion in the one vehicle Honda strived to give its Odyssey people mover a sexy image. You may remember the television advertisement of parents kissing in the front seat only to have the camera pan back and you see the children looking on in disgust. The message is that you might have children and need a practical car but you can still have comfort and image that fits a feeling of youthful desire. Errol Smith and I have just driven the latest model which has a mild make over. Can I use it to drop off the children at the baby sitter then cruise into the city for a night at the theatre? Errol joins me to evaluate this possibility. Originally aired on 17 June 2017. For past programs and individual segments visit www.drivenmedia.com.au

Overdrive: BMW, Car Data, Driverless cars; Mercedes’ Electric cars; Ford Focus; Toyota’s torch

Sat, 10 Jun 2017 00:00:00 +0000

In this program, we take a look at the latest news stories including: 1. BMW launches car data unit 2. Car Sales 3. New car purchases are more efficient on average but consumer preferences are changing according to a report released by the National Transport Commission. 4. UK's Venturer driverless car project publishes results of first 'handover/takeover' trials 5. Toyota expands safety research for self-drive Mercedes Benz is not a member of the Australian Electric Vehicle Council just yet but they are going hammer and tongs on electric car development. And they have some advice to the Federal Government for free. We talk to their David McCarthy. We road test the pocket rocket Ford Focus RS And in our panel discussion with Alan Zurvas we take merry look at stories including: 1. Toyota is hoping the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.Torch will be lit from its flying car 2. ‘Nines-with-light’: Behind the making of theDodge Demon Have a question or comment? Send it to overdrive@drivenmedia.com.au You can listen to longer segments of the each of the features by going to our web site at drivenmedia.com.au or podcast the whole program on iTunes or your favourite podcast service. Originally aired on 10 June 2017. For past programs and individual segments visit www.drivenmedia.com.au

Quirky: Dodge Demon - Street racer 2017

Fri, 09 Jun 2017 04:00:14 +0000

Fiat Chrysler produces a car that reflects the 1960's muscle car period. Made for going very fast in a straight line. Alan Zurvas and David Brown take a merry look atFiat/Chryslers latest super car – the Dodge Demon. Less of a modern complete package and more of the old muscle car street dragster, Have a question or comment? Send it to overdrive@drivenmedia.com.au You can listen to longer segments of the each of the features by going to our web site at drivenmedia.com.au or podcast the whole program on iTunes or your favourite podcast service. Originally aired on 10 June 2017. For past programs and individual segments visit www.drivenmedia.com.au

Quirky: Toyota Want to light the Olympic torch with a flying “car”

Fri, 09 Jun 2017 03:42:36 +0000

Alan Zurvas and David Brown take a merry look at Toyota who is putting money into a company, Cartivator,to develop a flying car which will, among other things, be used to light the cauldron at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Have a question or comment? Send it to overdrive@drivenmedia.com.au You can listen to longer segments of the each of the features by going to our web site at drivenmedia.com.au or podcast the whole program on iTunes or your favourite podcast service. Originally aired on10 June 2017. For past programs and individual segments visit www.drivenmedia.com.au

Mercedes Benz and electric vehicles

Fri, 09 Jun 2017 03:38:05 +0000

Mercedes Benz in Australia reflects on their current state of development of electric vehicles and what the government should really do to help Fully electric cars have not taken off in Australia yet. We recently reported on the Federal Government giving a small amount for further research on electric vehicles while Transport for London is giving millions to actually build some more charging stations. The Electric Vehicle Councilhas kicked off in Australia with a number of car companies and other stakeholders. As yet Mercedes is not a member but they are working in many areas on interaction to promote electric vehicles. David McCarthy is Mercedes Benz Senior Manager - Public Relations, Product and Corporate in Australia Originally aired on 10 March 2017. For past programs and individual segments visit www.drivenmedia.com.au

2017 Ford Focus RS review

Fri, 09 Jun 2017 03:33:33 +0000

A pocket rocket with more power than most competitors. So far this year 52% of Ford’s total sales in Australia are Ranger utes Their next best selling car is the Ford Mustang Those two cars account for over 63% of all their sales. We’ve said it often in the last few years but Ford just doesn’t sell little cars well. And the Ford Focus is a good little car And the Ford Focus RS is a mind-blowing halo car for the model with a turbo engine, all wheel drive and super sharp handling Alan Zurvas from gaycarboys and Simon Lai from Behind the Wheel and I have each driven this pocket rocket. Alan starts with his reflections. Originally aired on 10 June 2017. For past programs and individual segments visit www.drivenmedia.com.au

Quirky: Personalised number plates a sickness?; Car vending machine; Drunk crashes anti-DUI vehicle

Wed, 07 Jun 2017 05:04:53 +0000

In our panel discussion with Errol Smith we take jovial look at stories including: 1. Northern Territory drivers show personality by pimping their plates 2. Singapore ‘car vending machine’ shape of things to come? 3. Stranded Amtrack train passengers order pizza to stuck train/Cops pulled over man who had made in-car toilet 4. Drunk driver crashes into cops new anti-DUI vehicle Have a question or comment? Send it to overdrive@drivenmedia.com.au You can listen to longer segments of the each of the features by going to our web site at drivenmedia.com.au or podcast the whole program on iTunes or your favourite podcast service. Originally aired on3 June 2017. For past programs and individual segments visit www.drivenmedia.com.au

Honda Jazz: Practical, efficient. Space saver tyre creates no extra room; manual needs an extra gear

Sat, 03 Jun 2017 03:41:35 +0000

We have been testing a few powerful cars recently which is fine for the rev head but what about the practical runabout. The Honda Jazz is classified in the Light car class which is the second smallest in the sedan category. Only the Micros are smaller. In this class there are 14 competitors and in year-to-date terms the Hyundai Accent is the top seller followed by Mazda2, Toyota Yaris, Honda Jazz, Volkswagen Polo, Kia Rio. Errol Smith and I have just been trying out the Honda Jazz and he joins me on the line now. Originally aired on 3 June 2017. For past programs and individual segments visit www.drivenmedia.com.au

Jonathan Daly: Measuring your real responses to how you feel about where and how you travel

Sat, 03 Jun 2017 03:34:50 +0000

The concept of designing places is not only creating infrastructure for carrying out functions but fashioning locations which create positive emotions and a sense of wellbeing. This might be seen as an evolving art form, but maybe not just an art form. It is not just creative people producing things that they think are aesthetically pleasing. I can have an opinion but what is really impacting the way I react to a mall, recreation precinct or other community place. Now you can ask people what they think but that is a response after we have had the experience and that can be affected by the nature of the questions and how we feel we should rationalise our behaviour. Is there a better way? Jonathan Daly has just presented a paper at the Asian Pacific Conference for Place Leaders. He has a good story to tell. Jonathan Daly who is an urbanist, a professional who looks at how our towns and cities function and how we can create a better community through informed design. Originally aired on 3 March 2017. For past programs and individual segments visit www.drivenmedia.com.au

Overdrive: More horse power; Motorcyclist deaths; Good urban design; Honda Jazz; Personal Plates

Sat, 03 Jun 2017 00:00:00 +0000

News including luxury car makers vying for the most powerful cars, bad directions from satnavs, WA trials stop and text spots, and better bicycle bells. Our feature interview with Jonathan Daily on the best urban design for transport. We road test the Honda Jazz, a popular car in the light car class. And quirky news including why people spend so much money for the right license plate, a vending machine for cars and a number 1 system for your car. Originally aired on 3 June 2017. For past programs and individual segments visit www.drivenmedia.com.au

170527 - Quirky News

Fri, 26 May 2017 04:58:21 +0000

170527 - Quirky News by David Brown

Overdrive: Electric vehicles, Line Marking; ULEZ; Cycling history; V2V; Nissan on autonomous cars

Fri, 26 May 2017 04:50:06 +0000

Hello and welcome to Overdrive, a program that dabbles in the mystical world of cars and transport. I’m David Brown And in this program, we take a look at the latest news stories including: 1. Electric vehicle schemes 2. Autonomous vehicle’s impact on line marking 3. London mayor Sadiq Khan wants to introduce an Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) in April 2019. 4. Cycling - The Great Leveler 5. V2V capabilities to feature in over 50% of cars sold by 2022, as autonomous vehicles set to take off Dr Alexa Delbosc from Monash University talks about one of the most critical issues we have in transport planning. The biases we bring to our discussions about the best transport solutions. And we talk to Nissan Australia’s CEO Richard Amery about his view of what having autonomous cars will really mean. And in our panel discussion with Errol Smith we take jovial look at stories including: 1. Roger Moore Dead – Remembering his on-screen cars 2. Bear locks itself in car, sounds horn to wake up homeowners 3. Adelaide 'Wetern' suburbs spelling error spotted on new road sign 4. LAX rich persons lounge lets you watch misery of other customers Have a question or comment? Send it to overdrive@drivenmedia.com.au You can listen to longer segments of the each of the features by going to our web site at drivenmedia.com.au or podcast the whole program on iTunes or your favourite podcast service. Originally aired on 27 May 2017. For past programs and individual segments visit www.drivenmedia.com.au

170527 - Richard Amery - Autonomous Cars I The Future

Fri, 26 May 2017 04:41:25 +0000

I have just been to a conference on Shaping Canberra’s Transport Future, Autonomous vehicles were a major issue. Now planners have a series of theories and ideas about how AVs will impact the way we travel. But what do the car companies think? Automobile companies have a clear image of pleasing the customer with the new technology which is quite understandable but they also have some ideas about just how autonomous will operate Richard Emery is the CEO of Nissan Australia and he is very optimistic about what AV vehicles can do Originally aired on 27 May 2017. For past programs and individual segments visit www.drivenmedia.com.au

170527 - Alexa Delbosc - Ego

Fri, 26 May 2017 04:34:46 +0000

170527 - Alexa Delbosc - Ego by David Brown

Australia’s International work on bus rapid transit

Fri, 19 May 2017 05:06:50 +0000

An international consortium including the Institute of Transport and Logistics Studies at the University of Sydney is to continue its ground breaking efforts to improve bus rapid transit systems with renewed backing from the Volvo Research and Education Foundation. Prof Corinne Mulley from the Institute describes their approach. We been looking at all sorts of things as a consortium about how bus rapid transit could be better placed in cities and provide better mobility for citizens because that's what it's all about what we been doing in Sydney specifically is trying to identify why there appears to be a rail by is not only from politicians but from citizens. We're done a stated choice experiment in which we've given people to begin with pictures where the was a new tram and old tram, new LRT an old LRT, a new bus and an old bus and ask people which one they preferred and I was staggered that over 50% just on the looks chose the modern LRT. More recently we've been looking at another stated choice experiment to try and dig down and find out what sort of characteristics are putting people in favour of rail based technology rather than road based technology and there were some interesting features that come out of this. The two that stand out for me is that actually from buses what citizens appreciate is the greater network that you get for the same amount of dollars spent. So we gave people of fixed budget. You could have this amount of network from another without saying that it was LRT or BRT. SO people chose that feature as being important to them. And the second thing which stood out for me in terms of the research is the role of experience. So in cities like Brisbane where people are familiar with rapid transit it gets very much higher rating in terms of people being prepared to vote for a system that would include BRT. Institute of Transport and Logistics press release http://sydney.edu.au/business/itls/news_and_events/news/2017/vref_backs_vital_transport_research_with_multimillion_dollar_grant

Subaru BRZ 2017 – Beautifully balanced sports car with adequate power

Fri, 19 May 2017 04:18:27 +0000

The Subaru BRZ rear wheel drive sports car and its twin brother the Toyota 86 first came onto our market five years ago. Subaru has recently upgraded their model a bit and lowered the price by about $1,200 dollars on the manual and about $1700 on the automatic They don’t sell many but they are selling more. National Corporate Affairs Manager has I believe a smile on his face and he joins us on the line Originally aired on 20 May 2017. For past programs and individual segments visit www.drivenmedia.com.au