Month: October 2019

Toyota has for so long been derided as ‘whitegoods on wheels’, but Toyota is now riding high atop the Australian car industry and there seems to be no end in sight to its dominance. For decades Holden and Ford duked it out at the top of the sales charts, but as they focused on each…

The Subaru WRX is a performance icon, and like other performance icons – think Clint Eastwood – it’s getting a little long in the tooth in its current generation. And the current model is set to stick around until 2021 at least, before an all-new version of the WRX arrives in Australia. And that’s if…

Nissan wants a hardcore Navara Nismo to rattle the Ford Ranger Raptor, with the brand’s senior executives confirming a new tough truck would focus on off-road performance rather than on-road dynamics.  While Nissan’s performance brand has so far focused exclusively on road performance, a Navara Nismo will forgo tarmac dynamics in favour of off-road pace…

The 2021 Subaru Outback high-riding wagon is still about 12 months from launching in Australia, with the brand’s local arm currently working with Japan to figure out the intricate details of the all-new model. You may have seen the Subaru Outback 2020 model that has launched in the US – but that’s not the car…

Ford’s 2.0-litre EcoBlue turbo-diesel engine is at the centre of a huge stop sale order due to complications with fuel-injection components that affects just over 2000 vehicles. Dealers have been ordered to stop selling and ordering the affected models, which include the popular Ranger ute, mechanically related Everest large SUV, Transit and Transit Custom vans,…

The future of the Mercedes-Benz X-Class still appears uncertain with the brand in Australia confirming the model is under “review”. While Mercedes says the premium ute plays a key role in Australia, it also concedes it has become a niche product globally, saying “we continuously review and analyse which further role the X-Class will play”.…

Subaru has remained fairly secretive on the new-generation WRX, but a preview of the next Levorg wagon this week gives us the best indication yet of what to expect from the brand’s next all-wheel-drive sports car. With the current Levorg and WRX sharing the same platform and 2.0-litre engine, it stands to reason much of…

Mitsubishi has shocked the crowds at this year’s Tokyo motor show with the unveiling of the Mi-Tech Concept, a dune buggy-inspired small SUV motivated by a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) powertrain with a twist. The Japanese carmaker says the Mi-Tech Concept “delivers unparalleled driving pleasure and confidence over all terrain in light and wind”, mainly thanks…

Mazda’s announcement at the Tokyo Motor Show that it will apply some version of its e–Skyactiv electric-drive technology to every model it makes by 2030 was a carefully worded one, because it left the company wriggle room around the all-important BT-50 ute. Mazda’s senior managing executive offer Ichiro Hirose pointed out that there’s a careful…

Nissan is studying the global success of the Ford Ranger Raptor as the brand’s heavyweights weigh up producing a hardcore Nismo-badged rival.  Speaking at the Tokyo Motor Show, Nissan’s new light commercial vehicle chief, Francois Bailly, wouldn’t rule out a Nismo-badged Navara, instead telling media his team was following the success of the Ranger Raptor in…

The future of the Mercedes-Benz X-Class continues to darken, with Nissan today suggesting it’s not currently working with the German company on a new generation of the premium ute. A new-gen Navara – co-developed with the Mitsubishi Triton – is currently under development, with a 2021 launch date for the Triton widely expected. But Nissan’s…

Isuzu has shed some light on its cancelled collaboration with GM, with a representative telling CarsGuide the joint-venture ute project was scrapped after the American giant tried to soften the D-Max’s workhorse capabilities. The 2020 D-Max was originally planned as a co-developed vehicle with GM, where it would be badged a Colorado, but the plan…

Nissan is investigating electrification options for its next ‘Z’ car, though the brand concedes it’s some way off deciding exactly what direction its performance arm will take in the future.  The brand would also considering partnering with another manufacturer in an effort to bring a replacement for its now-ageing 370Z to market. Speaking at the…

Mazda has officially unveiled its first mass-produced electric vehicle (EV), a surprisingly rugged-looking small SUV called the MX-30, at the Tokyo Motor Show. Both the name and the styling come as something of a surprise, but clearly Mazda is demonstrating how important this car is to its future by applying the more emotional MX designation…

Lexus has confirmed its first fully electric model will be revealed in November 2019, with the brand refusing to state whether it will be a derivative or an all-new model. However, a presentation by Lexus Electrified chief executive Takashi Watanabe also stated the brand would launch its first “dedicated battery electric vehicle”, leading to speculation…

The Lexus LF-30 concept has been revealed at the 2019 Tokyo Motor Show as the brand’s first glimpse of its future dedicated electric car due in 2020. The LF-30 concept takes what we’re familiar with from previous Lexus concept models – extreme styling, a bold “wing-shaped” headlight signature and an even bolder grille – but…