In this episode of Overdrive David Brown and Paul Murrell cover a wide mix of motoring topics with an everyday Australian lens: BMW elevating Alpina into a standalone luxury marque, Tesla shifting Full Self-Driving to a subscription model, cheap public transport experiments in Queensland, Mini’s Bathurst heritage, a personal story about Porsche Spider artwork, and a real-world road test of the Hyundai Kona Electric.
Episode breakdown
00:00:54 Luxury badges and brand worlds. 00:13:16 Tesla FSD subscriptions and EV value. 00:16:55 Queensland’s 50c fares and behaviour. 00:23:21 Bathurst 12 Hour, Minis and small-car legends. 00:31:11 Porsche art, auctions and personal motoring history. 00:35:11 Hyundai Kona Electric road test and rivals.
Luxury badges and brand worlds
BMW has announced Alpina as a separate marque, prompting a look at what makes a convincing luxury sub-brand. The conversation compares approaches from Lexus, Genesis, Maybach and DS, arguing that service quality, clear separation from the parent brand and consistent design language matter far more than chrome or marketing spin.
Tesla FSD subscriptions and EV value
Tesla has moved Full Self-Driving toward a subscription model and trimmed some previous perks. The hosts run the numbers against shrinking warranties, the rapid rise of BYD and other Chinese players, and warn how shifting ownership economics can erode long-term buyer trust in EVs.
Queensland’s 50c fares and behaviour
Queensland’s 50 cent fares experiment increased trip numbers, but the discussion digs into who ultimately pays for the subsidy, what TAP-on data reveals about travel habits and equity, and how political framing can complicate sensible transport planning.
Bathurst 12 Hour, Minis and small-car legends
The episode revisits Mini’s famous 1966 Bathurst upset in the context of the Bathurst 12 Hour tributes, celebrating tiny, 10-inch-wheeled cars beating much larger Falcons. There are memories of why the original Mini felt revolutionary, democratic and classless on and off the track.
Porsche art, auctions and personal motoring history
Paul recounts tracking down original watercolours of his one-off Porsche Spider and the story of Alan Hamilton’s no-expense-spared build. The segment covers auction tactics, costs involved and why these pieces carry strong emotional weight beyond pure monetary value.
Hyundai Kona Electric road test and rivals
The Kona Electric is tested on a hilly Sydney–Bathurst run and comes across as punchy, comfortable and roomy, but big wheels reduce real-world range. Pricing places it in a tough spot against cheaper Chinese EVs and highly specified petrol Konas, raising questions about value and positioning.
Program links and credits
Overdrive is broadcast across Australia on the Community Radio Network. Search for “Cars, Transport, Culture” to find the website, podcast and social channels. Host: David Brown. Contributors: Paul Murrell, Bruce Podder, Mark Wesley.