Author: benzina

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…

Having shown the big-booted B3 Touring at this year’s Frankfurt motor show, Alpina has now rolled out the four-door version at the Tokyo motor show. Mirroring the Touring, the B3 sedan is also powered by the S58 3.0-litre twin-turbocharged in-line six-cylinder petrol engine that will be shoehorned into the yet-to-be-revealed BMW M3 and M4 twins.…

Infiniti’s Brighton dealership in Victoria has cut the prices of models by as much as 44 per cent in a bid to move existing stock ahead of the luxury Japanese brand’s local market exit by the end of next year. The self-described ‘fire sale’ is available only to Victorian buyers at this stage, with the…

Hyundai’s next step in hydrogen fuel cell mobility will be in the form of a large commercial vehicle as the brand teases a concept for a large truck dubbed HDC-6 Neptune for a reveal later this month. Though very little information is currently known about the new model, it will be powered by a hydrogen…

Despite an increase in seven-year warranty offers from rivals, Kia won’t jump to 10 years just yet. The South Korean brand has prided itself on its industry-leading coverage and acknowledges it has played a key role in its sales growth since 2014. While most mainstream brands have adopted five-year warranty periods, instead of the traditional…

Mazda’s first production battery electric vehicle (BEV) has leaked ahead of its official unveiling this week, revealing it will be called the MX-30 concept. Images have surfaced on Japanese publications, confirming a small SUV body style to take on the Hyundai Kona Electric. Powertrain details were also exposed, with the CX-30 supposedly being powered by…

Leaked images of the Chinese-market Buick Regal could preview the next iteration of the related Opel Insignia, and in turn, Australia’s Holden Commodore. The Buick Regal is closely aligned with the ZB Commodore, so these leaked images should give a reliable indication of what to expect from the next Holden sedan, however, the brand has…

Hyundai Motor Group says its new driver-assistance feature will allow its cars to autonomously drive in an “identical pattern as that of the driver”. The updated Smart Cruise Control (SCC-ML) system uses artificial intelligence (AI) to incorporate the driver’s patterns into its self-driving behaviour. SCC-ML will be implemented in future Hyundai models as part of…

Kia gave the Stinger a tweak in August, but a major makeover is coming soon. A Kia Australia source has told CarsGuide that a significant update for the rear-wheel drive sports sedan is due within the next 18 months. It’s expected to get upgrades engines, interior and a fresh local suspension tune. But with doubts from Europe and North America…