Overdrive

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

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

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.

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.

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.