Month: September 2019

Mitsubishi Motors Australia Limited (MMAL) has applied a light model-year update to its Eclipse Cross small SUV, with some minor changes to specification and the introduction of a new variant. The mid-spec LS grade, previously only offered with front-wheel drive, has now been expanded with the option of Mitsubishi’s Super All Wheel Control (S-AWC) system,…

Volvo has launched its own M brand, but unlike BMW’s go-fast division, the Swedish version will be a car-sharing service instead of a hardcore car tuner. Accessible through a smartphone application, the service is currently only available in Stockholm and Uppsala, Sweden – Volvo’s home country – at around 230 stations. The service will allow access…

Lexus Australia has added a new F Sport variant to its ES300h sedan range, as well as an equipment boosting Enhancement Pack for select models. Pricing has been raised by $600 for the Luxury and Sports Luxury variants, which now come in at $60,488 and $75,488 before on-road costs, respectively. Meanwhile, the mid-spec F Sport…

Toyota and Subaru will strengthen its ties with the former taking a 20 per cent stake, including voting rights, in its fellow Japanese car maker. Having first forged a partnership in 2005, the most well-known result of the relationship so far has been the rear-drive Toyota 86 and Subaru BRZ sports car twins that launched…

Mazda has long been sailing high at the number two spot on Australia’s car sales charts, but a confluence of events this year has threatened the long-running fan favourite that could be in danger of slipping from its position. After eight months of trading this year, Mazda Australia has sold 70,889 vehicles, a noticeable 10.3…

Hyundai is preparing to give its i30 N hot hatch some special upgrades. Australia missed out on the recently released European-only i30 N Project C, a lighter and faster version of the car, but there’s good news for local enthusiasts. We will be getting some Limited Edition models of our own in the coming years,…

The second-generation Subaru Levorg has been teased ahead of its global unveiling at the Tokyo Motor Show, with the WRX-inspired wagon already confirmed for Australia.  While Subaru were unable to confirm timing, a company spokesperson told CarsGuide that the new wagon would continue to play an important role in Australia.  “But we have no visibility…

Bollinger – the US electric vehicle manufacturer out to “reinvent trucks” – has revealed production versions of its B1 SUV and B2 ute. The off-road-focused duo are said to “take everything you love about a classic truck” and “make it an electric vehicle” and certainly share an aesthetic reminiscent of early Land Rovers and later…

Some of General Motor (GM)’s global vehicles will carry more of an Australian flavour thanks to the strong localisation and tuning talents of the Holden engineering team. Speaking to CarsGuide, Holden vehicle development manager Jeremy Tassone said the localisation process of all Holden vehicles, which includes suspension, safety systems and multimedia tuning, is crucial for…

Audi has revealed its new-generation Q3 RS small SUV, which will be available for the first time in coupe-style Sportback guise when the range hits local showrooms in Q2, 2020. The fresh design is headlined by a new grille, flared wheel arches, roof spoiler as well as an RS-specific rear bumper and diffuser. Also new…

Lexus Australia’s new-look RX will land in local showrooms from early October with price changes and increased specification across the large luxury SUV line-up. Kicking off at $71,920 before on-road costs for the RX 300 Luxury, the point of entry to Lexus has reduced by $1602, but the remainder of the range has increased in…

SsangYong’s crucial Korando mid-size SUV line-up will be heralded by two limited-edition, diesel-powered variants priced from $32,900 driveaway. Kicking off the range is the front-drive ELX LE variant, while the top-spec all-wheel-drive Ultimate LE will set buyers back $39,990. Both versions are powered by a Euro 6-compliant 1.6-litre turbo-diesel engine outputting 100kW of power and…

Nissan Australia has priced its new GT-R Nismo at $378,000 plus on-road costs – up $79,000 compared to the outgoing model. Launched this week, the flagship GT-R variant has undergone significant weight reduction, and has been treated to a number of aerodynamic, handling and braking enhancements. The vehicle also utilises turbochargers borrowed from Nissan Motorsport’s…

The Toyota Fortuner will soon be updated for 2020, with the brand’s workhorse-based SUV to score the same critical safety updates that were applied to the HiLux earlier this year. The changes will see Toyota’s safety suite applied as standard to the entire Fortuner family, seriously bumping up the SUV’s active safety offering. It will…

Nissan Australia has confirmed that its subtly updated Patrol SUV will hit local showrooms “before Christmas this year”. The new Patrol was revealed overnight in Abu Dhabi, distinguished by its “V-motion” grille and boomerang-shaped LED headlight signature. Crucially, the update brings autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian detection and forward collision warning as standard, and the…

Hyundai could roll out a seven-year warranty on select models as early as this year as the brand looks to attract more customers.  Speaking at the launch of its new Venue SUV, Hyundai boss JW Lee told CarsGuide it would look at introducing a Kia-rivalling seven-year coverage period as part of a retail campaign for certain…

An N-stamped ute is firmly on Hyundai Australia’s wish list, after global performance chief Albert Biermann confirmed he would like to build one, too. Speaking at the Frankfurt Auto Show, Hyundai’s R&D boss – and performance-car guru – Albert Biermann said he has his eye on the upcoming ute, telling CarsGuide that he’s “ready for…

Mazda will uncover its first mass-production battery electric vehicle at this year’s Tokyo motor show in late October. While very little is known about the new EV, Mazda promises “a completely new model” instead of an emissions-free variant of its existing line-up that includes the popular Mazda 3 small car and CX-5 mid-size SUV. Earlier…