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Kia’s eagerly anticipated Toyota HiLux and Ford Ranger rival is still in the works, with COVID-19 seemingly not affecting the new ute, although some of its key details remain a mystery. Speaking to CarsGuide last week, Kia Australia general manager of product planning Roland Rivero declined to comment on the ute when asked if its development…
We’ve dedicated plenty of site space the biggest-selling brands in the country – from Toyota to Mazda, Hyundai to Kia – but this time we’re going to do things a little differently. This time, we’re going to take a look at the brands struggling to get off the mark in Australia. Australia’s new-car market is…
Kia Australia has moved on from its strict all-electric vehicle (EV) plans, shifting its focus to a broader ‘green car’ strategy that also includes hybrid models like the Sorento Hybrid and Plug-In Hybrid, both of which were confirmed for local sales just two days ago. As reported, Kia Australia was forced to delay its EV…
Once a common sight in Australian driveways, the family sedan is now an endangered species following the recent confirmation that the once-popular Subaru Liberty would join the Holden Commodore and Ford Falcon in the history books. It’s not hard to see why, even before the coronavirus impacted sales, the decline in mid-size and large mainstream…
It’s an understatement to say 2020 has been a challenging year for most, particularly the car industry, but the hard times won’t last forever. And when things get better, buying a new luxury car might be the perfect way for some of us to celebrate. There are some important and exciting new models headed our…
Mercedes-Benz Australia has launched the plug-in hybrid electric version of its A-Class hatchback and sedan, dubbed A250e, priced at $63,400 before on-road costs and $66,000 respectively. Positioned above the front-wheel-drive A250 models ($50,700 for the hatch and $53,000 for the sedan), the A250e teams a 118kW/250Nm 1.3-litre petrol engine with a 75kW/300Nm electric motor. In…
Dash cameras are changing the way we think about driving, with the rise of these popular devices not just offering entertaining viewing, but also changing car insurance rates and crash records, too. So, could it soon be compulsory to have a dash cam fitted in your car? Unsurprisingly, dash cam manufacturer Navman is keen for…
Audi has confirmed its future full-fat RS performance heroes will score plug-in hybrid engines, as well as expanding its current petrol-electric line-up to the Q3 small crossover and Q8 large SUV later this year. The brand believes that a petrol-electric hybrid powertrain would “make a good argument” as a performance solution due to instantaneous torque…
Episode 150 – MG’s Gloster is coming to punish the Prado In this episode, James Cleary, Richard Berry and Peter Anderson gather in cyberspace to talk about all things motoring, including: – China’s next big thing: The seven-seat, AWD, MG Gloster SUV. Toyota, are you paying attention?– The fresh metal we’ve been driving this week,…
Subaru’s answer to the Toyota GR Yaris could soon be on the way, with fresh reports out of Japan suggesting a new “Super AWD” is coming to sit below the WRX STI. Based on the GR Yaris, the Subaru version would be yet another partnership between the two Japanese car makers, having already paired on…
Lucid has finally uncovered full details on its hotly-anticipated all-electric Air sedan, topped by a limited-run Dream Edition that will set buyers back a staggering $US169,000 ($A232,526). Those with shallower pockets can step into a base Lucid Air for “below $80,000 ($A110,072)”, though this version of the electric car won’t launch until 2022. The mid-grade…
Nissan is reportedly preparing a swansong for the R35 GT-R, with a limited edition to see the supercar off ahead of its R36 successor. Best Car Web claims the R35’s last limited edition will be aptly named Final, with it to be revealed sometime in 2022, while the R36 is expected to debut the following…
The current Mitsubishi ASX is likely to remain in production as an inexpensive entry-level SUV indefinitely – or for as long as demand exists for it worldwide – leaving the closely-related but far-newer Eclipse Cross to take over in the longer term. This seems to be the latest development from a beleaguered Mitsubishi Motors Corporation…
Ford Australia has added a new body style to its popular Ranger line-up with the 4×4 XLT Double Cab Chassis now joining the range as a no-frills workhorse with space for five passengers. Priced at $56,240 before on-road costs for the 3.2-litre turbo-diesel-powered, six-speed manual version, an automatic will add $2200 to the asking price.…
Maserati’s fire-breathing new “super sports car” could be in Australia as early as June next year, with the brand targeting a H2 local launch for the twin-turbocharged weapon. Revealed to the world today, the MC20’s specs make for some eye-widening reading. Powered by a mid-mounted, twin-turbocharged V6 – the first in-house engine fro Maserati in…
Kia Australia has confirmed the first steps in its ‘green car’ strategy, with Hybrid and Plug-In Hybrid variants of the fourth-generation Sorento large SUV to enter its showrooms next year. Speaking to journalists earlier this week, Kia Australia general manager of product planning Roland Rivero revealed the company had received “the green light” from its…
Just a month after launching its Defender in Australia, Land Rover has announced tweaks to pricing and spec of the 2021 off-road SUV line-up headlined by the arrival of the three-door 90 early next year. Kicking off the range is the Defender 90 P300 priced at $71,500 before on-road costs, which scores a new-to-the-range 221kW…
Subaru is poised to pounce on the Toyota RAV4 Edge and Mazda CX-5 GT with a new Forester Sport grade, part of a range-wide makeover expected to be announced soon for the 2021 model year. While a Subaru spokesman refused to comment on the new edition or any other coming changes made to the popular…
Skoda’s flagship Kodiaq RS will forgo its 500Nm bi-turbo diesel powertrain next year, reportedly replacing it with a more traditional go-fast petrol unit. Skoda’s Australian arm has confirmed this new powertrain would make it to Australia, although the final outputs of a petrol version have not yet been confirmed. Skoda spokesperson Kurt McGuiness told CarsGuide: “We have every intention…
Holden’s iconic Lang Lang proving ground has been sold to Vietnamese car maker VinFast in a historic deal that GM says will see the site “continue to shape the global automotive industry”. Details of the sale are yet to be made public, though GM Holden Interim Chairman and Managing Director, Kristian Aquilina, describes it as…
Volkswagen has revealed the R-Line wagon and lifted Alltrack versions of its eighth-generation Golf range overseas, but has stopped short of confirming either for the Australian market. The wagon will reportedly share the same mild-hybrid powertrains as the incoming Mk8 Golf hatch range and will ride on an extended wheelbase, which is longer than ever…
The next Mazda CX-5 will adopt a six-cylinder SKYACTIV-X engine as it attempts to reclaim mid-size SUV share against the sales-powerhouse that is the Toyota RAV4, according to new reports out of Japan. The RAV4 has been a runaway sales success in Australia, landing as the country’s best-selling vehicle last month, and arguably cementing hybrid…
The all-new Toyota Yaris might be making headlines at the moment, but the Japanese giant won’t be without new competitors for long, with fresh reports out of Japan suggesting a new hybrid Mazda2 will arrive next year to fight it out for the city-car crown. The reports suggest an all-new Mazda2 will debut in September…
Ford is said to be preparing a seven-seat version of the new-gen Escape due sometime in the next few years with a stretched wheelbase, longer body and extra row of seats… but the big question is, will it come to Australia? Expected to be built at the same Valencia plant in Spain as the fourth-generation…
According to a fresh report, Subaru has backflipped on its decision to not turbocharge the fifth-generation Forester, with the mid-size SUV to get the recently revealed second-generation Levorg’s new 1.8-litre engine next month. Best Car Web claims the 130kW/300Nm 1.8-litre turbocharged boxer four-cylinder petrol engine in question will replace the Forester’s 136kW/239Nm 2.5-litre naturally aspirated…
MG Motor has revealed a new SUV in its SAIC parent company’s home market of China, wearing the brand’s new styling language which has also appeared on leaked and teaser images of its MG5 sedan. According to a teaser image released by SAIC MG last week, this SUV’s name in its home market will be…
Toyota’s Yaris GR might already be the proverbial Mr Hyde to the standard Yaris’ Dr Jekyll, but buyers can dial up the aggression to 11 thanks to a new range of Gazoo Racing addons. Revealed for the Japanese market, the exterior enhancements include a front splitter, side skirt extensions, and new rear bumper with a…
Ford Australia will roll-out its crucial Puma crossover later this month with promotional drive-away prices and a ‘Desk Drive’ virtual test walkaround feature to gain traction in the competitive light SUV segment. The three-variant Puma line-up opens with the base grade for $31,990 drive-away, while the mid-tier ST-Line and top-spec ST-Line V wear $33,990 and…
MG is readying a ladder-frame LandCruiser Prado and Fortuner rival called the Gloster, with the seven-seat SUV targeting an October launch in India. Based on the LDV D90, the Gloster – named for a British WWII jet fighter, the Gloster Meteor – promises “best-in class features, luxurious interiors and new benchmarks”, all riding on a…
Pricing for the Toyota Yaris Cross has been confirmed for New Zealand, giving Australian buyers their clearest idea yet of what they’ll pay for the Japanese giant’s Mazda CX-3 and Hyundai Venue rival when it lands locally towards the end of the year. Unsurprisingly, the Cross commands a premium over its Yaris sibling, with the…
Cars keep getting bigger and bigger, but if you have a family of five, the chances are something like a Toyota RAV4 or Mazda CX-5 just doesn’t have enough space for your needs. Enter the large SUV, which can blend practicality, space and design into one neat not-so-little package. And there’s plenty to choose from with…
Hydrogen fuel cell vehicles such as the Hyundai Nexo and Toyota Mirai could not only become more common, but Australia could create more jobs and reduce our dependence on forgien fuel supplies. That’s according to NSW Environment Minister Matt Kean, who is set to announce plans to create hydrogen production facilities in Newcastle and Port…
Mercedes-Benz has decided not to build its new-generation S-Class in coupe and convertible forms, but could more niche models be on the chopping block? Speaking to journalists before the reveal of the seventh-generation S-Class last week, Mercedes-Benz boss Ola Kaellenius said the brand’s portfolio is constantly in review to see which models are still crucial.…
MG is readying a ladder-frame LandCruiser Prado and Fortuner rival called the Gloster, with the seven-seat SUV targeting an October launch in India. The Gloster – named for a British WWII jet fighter, the Gloster Meteor – promises “best-in class features, luxurious interiors and new benchmarks”, all riding on a ladder-frame chassis that should deliver…
Holden is gone. Even with hundreds of unsold cars, trucks and SUVs still sat on de-branded dealer forecourts, the company once proudly proclaimed as ‘Australia’s Own’ checked out long ago. It no longer exists. Some may argue that Holden died when the last VF II Commodore rolled off the Elizabeth production line in October 2017,…
MG Motor Australia says it will shift its focus to hybrid models in the short term, suggesting plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) could have a place in its line-up in Australia. Speaking to CarsGuide at the launch of the new MG ZST small SUV, MG Motor Australia product director Danny Lenartic explained that while the brand was…
Hyundai announced this week it has teamed up with K-Pop superstars BTS to release a song called ‘Ioniq: I’m On It’. Why is that a big deal? Well, to put in context for those that don’t understand K-Pop, it’s the equivalent of Ford hiring The Beatles in the 1960s to write a song about the…
Mercedes-Benz has confirmed its next-generation C-Class will break cover next year, likely sporting design and tech influences from the just-revealed S-Class flagship. Though some new Mercedes technologies have debuted on other models in the past and trickled up to more expensive models, Mercedes-Benz boss Ola Kaellenius hinted that the new C-Class will likely be heavily…
According to a new report, Lexus will reveal three very exciting models in the next year or so, with an expansion of its F high-performance line-up to come, headlined by the returning IS F sports sedan with a naturally aspirated V8. The 5.0-litre petrol engine in question already does service in the RC F sports…
The popular Mazda CX-30 has joined its smaller CX-3 stablemate in switching sourcing from Thailand to Japan for Australian-bound vehicles, citing “production efficiencies” in the face of fluctuating currency exchanges. From July production, the CX-30′s two top grades – Touring and Astina – switched to being imported from Hiroshima, followed a month later by the…
Over-the-air updates and tweaks to software will allow Mercedes-Benz to improve its vehicles after customers make a purchase – similar to how smartphones operate – according to the carmaker’s boss. Mercedes-Benz boss Ola Kaellenius told journalists before the reveal of the seventh-generation S-Class sedan that the added computing power put into its new models, and…
Ford is likely to put the slow-selling Endura out of its misery soon, with sales of the large SUV already down 40 per cent year-on-year despite being only in its second full year in Australia. Failing emphatically to gain traction since launching in Australia in late 2018, its average monthly sales tally last year barely…
Episode 149 – Hot hatches making us sweat In this episode, James Cleary, Richard Berry and Justin Hilliard gather in cyberspace to talk about all things motoring, including: The wave of hot hatches heading for Australian roads. Some we like, and some left us polarised? The fresh metal we’ve been driving this week, including: The…
According to a fresh report, Toyota’s new GR Corolla hot hatch and GR C-HR performance SUV will be revealed sooner than first thought, with both flagship models to pack a 200kW power punch. Best Car Web claims the GR Corolla will debut a year from now, in September 2021, with it to also be available…
Is Toyota watching and waiting on the long-term reception of the Ford Bronco before publicly committing to an FJ Cruiser replacement? Don’t bet against it, as early signs point to a strong and sustained sales bonanza for the reborn Bronco, a vehicle that is conceptually very similar to the Toyota as well as the evergreen…
Dual-cab utes are big business in Australia, just look on any street or driveaway in the country and you will surely spot more than a few pick-ups. And it makes sense too, with those $60,000-plus utes combining unique looks, go-anywhere capability, and long list of equipment and technology. Oh, and don’t forget you can always…
Hot on the heels of the related 3008 facelift, Peugeot has revealed the current-generation 5008’s midlife upgrade, with the mid-size SUV set to go on sale in Australia in the first quarter of 2021. Given it’s the long-wheelbase version of the five-seat 3008, the 5008 seven-seater more or less shares its facelift with Peugeot’s other…
Volkswagen has revealed the next-generation Caddy camper van, with the new lifestyle model named California instead of Beach. Based on the fifth-generation Caddy light-commercial vehicle that was revealed in February, the California is available with a standard or long wheelbase, meaning it measures either 4501mm or 4853mm in length respectively. Either way, the California comes…
Mercedes-Benz has finally lifted the lid on its all-new seventh-generation S-Class flagship sedan, which will land in local showrooms in the second quarter of 2021 with cutting-edge in-cabin technologies and new safety features. Overseas, the new S-Class will be offered with one of four engines at launch – two petrol and two diesels – paired…
Hyundai has ripped the covers off its new Kona small SUV, revealing the top-spec-for-now N-Line variant and refreshed styling across the line-up that will land in Australian showrooms in the first quarter of 2021. At the front, the new Kona wears a new grille, bumper with prominent skid plate and foglights, which combine to emphasis…