Motor Torque with David Berthon
David Berthon is our new automobilist enthusiast who will be road testing a different car each month keeping us up-to-date with the newest models , plus covering other motoring and car industry items of interest . David has been around radio for 41 years , starting with 2CH in 1981 and then moving to 2GB in 1994 where he started his Motor Torque segments which run every Saturday at 8:55am and 9.50am , and Sunday at 9:10am and 10:40am . You can catch his podcasts on omny . fm / shows / motor-torque .
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SKODA ’ S UPDATED KODIAQ SUV HARD TO FAULT ESPECIALLY IN THE PERFORMANCE SKEWED RS MODEL
Skoda recently announced an upgrade of its large seven seat Kodiaq SUV range , now petrol-powered replacing diesel power in the outgoing models . Three grades Kodiaq Style , mid-spec Sportline and the flagship RS , all four-wheel drive and refreshed with new design grille , LED headlights , taillights with animated indicators and redesigned alloy wheels .
Prices now starting from $ 52,990 driveaway . The Kodiaq has long been a firm personal favourite , a perfect package size for a seven-seater . Skoda makes the point the Kodiaq is shorter to Hyundai ’ s Sante Fe , Kia ’ s Sorento and Mazda ’ s CX-8 and CX-9 yet has better front and middle seat legroom and headroom yet still with well sized boot space .
The Kodiaq is the perfect family carrier with nine airbags , importantly the head airbags extending across the three rows of seats . I tested the top-spec 2.0-litre 180kW turbo seven-speed automatic RS on an extensive drive over Easter and managed 8.3L / 100km over 2100 kilometres with a fair amount of highway cruising .
The RS at $ 74,990 drive-away best
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described as a very polished performance skewed luxury SUV with the lot . What I really like about this model is the way its character changes in each of its six drive modes – able to adapt to your driving mood on the day - one minute a very relaxed driver the next minute in sports mode , a skyrocket with adaptive chassis control , progressive steering and changed exhaust tune .
Fitted with 20-inch alloy wheels and quality 45 series Continental tyres the Kodiaq RS is stacked with innovative features – covered with a five-year unlimited kilometre warranty and with sharply priced three and five-year service packs .
SHOULD WE ADOPT E-SCOOTERS IN NSW ?
NSW Transport Minister Rob Stokes has announced a threemonth trial of E-scooters in NSW . As he put it , “ E-scooters are an affordable , convenient and sustainable method of moving and it ’ s important we harness that and recognise their increasing popularity in a safe way .”
This really is a big call given the safety record and the experience from overseas
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and in other states . Thankfully , only shared commercial hire E-scooters will figure in the trial as in Victoria where they are speed regulated to 20 km / hour , must not ride on footpaths , must wear a helmet , and must ride only on bicycle lanes , shared paths , and lower speed roads up to 50km / hour .
Personally , I believe it ’ s a recipe for disaster – we ’ ve already seen them being used here at high speed on footpaths with the riders observed to have taken a big dose of brave pills and in some cases not wearing a helmet . A similar trial in Brisbane in 2018 saw a big spike in scooter-related injuries with the biggest
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concerns being two people on scooters , not wearing helmets , riding with alcohol on board and speeding .
A 2020 report by an ‘ electric scooter advisory ’ working group from the NSW Department of Transport said E-scooters , “ may have the potential to transform personal mobility , freeing up capacity from our congested roads but their use would also necessitate significant legislative change and would possibly need to involve a complex and costly enforcement regime ”.
I hope common sense prevails before we see a pedestrian death or a spate of injuries which has been the case in the UK and the USA .
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SPORT
Future Matildas score with council ’ s $ 250k investment
The next Kyra Cooney-Cross or Mary Fowler could be in training right now at Blacktown International Sportspark as the women ’ s football Future Matildas program successfully gets underway . Thanks to Council ’ s $ 250,000 investment and venue upgrades , 30 Future Matildas scholarship holders are currently undertaking four-to-five sessions a week at the Rooty Hill complex until October .
The Sportspark upgrades including storage facilities , additional dressing rooms and a permanent meeting space / classroom are for the exclusive use of the Future Matildas - a Football Australia program .
The Future Matildas program was launched in 2018 to help develop the next generation of Australia ’ s elite female footballers , and since its inception , several program participants have gone on to represent the country ’ s senior team , the Commonwealth Bank Matildas , including Kyra Cooney-Cross , Mary Fowler , Charlotte Grant , Bryleeh Henry , Courtney Nevin , Jamilla Rankin , Karly Roestbakken and Remy Siemsen .
Blacktown City Mayor Tony Bleasdale said council was proud to support up and coming female footballers through the Future Matildas program .
“ Blacktown City is a proud sporting city and we have a long history of sporting excellence and the Blacktown
International Sportspark is one of the best multi-sport venues in western Sydney ,” he said .
“ The Future Matildas program is a wonderful initiative to support young women and girls develop the skills they need to rise to the top of the game .”
The mayor commented women ’ s football , particularly in western Sydney , is in a fantastic position with an extremely bright looking future .
“ Council ’ s investment in the program just serves to highlight the commitment we have in Blacktown City to nurturing the growth of this next generation of women ’ s football talent .”
With the support of the NSW Institute of Sport and Football NSW , the NSW program of the Emerging Matildas is run by Commonwealth Bank Young Matildas ( U20 ) Head Coach Leah Blayney , who said the support of Blacktown City Council has enhanced the program offering .
“ Blacktown City Council and the team at Blacktown International Sportspark have been strong advocates of the Future Matildas program in NSW since its inception and share our vision of providing the best environment possible to drive the development of the country ’ s
Fostering more female football superstars : Blacktown City Mayor Tony Bleasdale and Councillor Julie Griffiths during a recent visit to the Future Matildas with coach Leah Blayney and CEO of Blacktown Venue Management , Kevin Jones .
best female football talent ,” Leah Blayney said .
“ The recent upgrades and exclusive use facilities have made a significant difference to the Future Matildas program , as they have enabled us to store equipment and conduct all our meetings onsite , which has aided the program coaches and participants to spend more time on the training park and putting into
practice what we ’ ve just discussed in our classroom sessions .
“ Since 2018 , we ’ ve already seen this program bear fruit with several graduates selected in the Commonwealth Bank Young Matildas extended squad for the upcoming FIFA U20 Women ’ s World Cup in Costa Rica and even the senior national women ’ s team , so I ’ m excited to see what can be achieved in the next five years .”
BLACKTOWN CITY INDEPENDENT theindependentmagazine . com . au ISSUE 15 // JUNE 2022 27