2018 Mahindra XUV500 pricing and specs

Pricing and specifications for the updated 2018 Mahindra XUV500 range have been revealed this week, with the seven-seat SUV kicking off at $25,990 drive-away – $4000 cheaper than before. Available in two grades, the revised XUV500 now gets a 2.2-litre turbocharged petrol engine, making 103kW of power and 320Nm of torque, mated to a six-speed Aisin-sourced automatic transmission […]

McLaren Senna Carbon Theme by MSO revealed

McLaren Special Operations has worked its magic on the Senna, creating the ‘Carbon Theme’ ahead of next week’s Geneva motor show. According to MSO, the carbon finish you see here took almost 1000 hours to produce. It’s made up of 67 parts, offset by Sonar Yellow detailing that, according to the company, took 250 hours […]

Alfa Romeo specials heading to Geneva

Alfa Romeo has revealed a slew of special-edition models for the Geneva motor show, based on the 4C, Giulia and Stelvio. There’s quite a bit to cover – here’s a look at each model. Giulia and Stelvio Quadrifoglio NRING Headlining the Alfa Romeo stand at the Geneva motor show are the matte-grey Giulia and Stelvio Quadrifoglio […]

2018 Mercedes-Benz X350d revealed

Mercedes-Benz has officially unveiled its range-topping X350d 4MATIC pickup, powered by a 3.0-litre inline V6 making 190kW and 550Nm. Those outputs slightly outdo those of the V6 Volkswagen Amarok, which makes 165kW of power and 550Nm of torque in regular driving, or 180kW and 580Nm for a ten-second overboost. Peak torque is available between 1400 and […]

Volkswagen Golf, Passat, Polo, CC, Eos and Up! join Takata recall

Volkswagen has announced a multi-stage recall for 106,804 vehicles, after the Australian Federal Government yesterday announced a mandatory recall of vehicles fitted with Takata airbags. The company is at pains to mention none of these vehicles are fitted with the more dangerous ‘alpha’ inflators, and points out no current-generation cars are impacted. The list of […]

Alpine A110 Legende and Pure headed for Geneva

Alpine will use the Geneva motor show to unveil two new A110 variants: a high-end Legende, and a stripped-back Pure. Both models are powered by the same mid-mounted 1.8-litre four-cylinder engine as the regular car, making 185kW and 320Nm. Power is put to the road through a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission, for a 4.5-second sprint to 100km/h. […]

Seat launches integrated Shazam service

httpv://http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GNgrAY6mBCo Spanish brand Seat has revealed a new function for its in-car DriveApp – an integrated Shazam music recognition service. Announced on the first day of Mobile World Congress, the new feature allows users to identify songs on the move “in a completely safe manner”. The function will become operative from April in compatible models via […]

Australia’s Takata recall: Strict rules and penalties, but little compensation

The compulsory Takata airbag recall announced for all vehicles in Australia affected by faulty inflators will bring penalties of $1.1 million for breaches of the action’s strict rules – but owners shouldn’t expect much in the way of compensation. Announced today by Michael Sukkar, Assistant Minister to the Treasurer, the recall will be overseen by […]

Renault Australia wants Kadjar crossover

The relatively-new Renault Australia management has put the Kadjar small-SUV back on its radar, preferably in updated guise during 2019. The Kadjar, which shares its platform with the big-selling Nissan Qashqai, would allow Renault Australia to fill the smaller Captur and larger Koleos in its range. Given the SUV market’s continued growth — it accounts for more […]

BMW “cannot neglect” ute segment

BMW Australia says it’s pushing head office to enter the ute segment, which shows no signs of slowing down – and will soon see the entry of its arch-rival, Mercedes-Benz. Speaking to media at the X2 launch in Canberra, BMW Australia boss, Marc Werner, admitted the brand would be foolish to ignore market trends. “We […]

Skoda Vision X concept teased again

The Skoda Vision X concept has been teased again, this time with details about the new SUV’s hybrid powertrain. In a first for the brand, the Vision X will combine petrol, compressed natural gas (CNG) and electric power, making for CO2 emissions of just 89g/km. Skoda says the hybrid drivetrain combines a bi-fuel 1.5-litre four-cylinder turbocharged […]

2018 Audi A6 officially unveiled

Audi has officially unveiled the 2018 A6 in full, just hours after images were leaked online. As you’d expect of a new model, the 2018 A6 is larger than its predecessor in every direction, measuring 4939mm long (+7mm), 1886mm wide (+12mm) and 1457mm tall (+2mm). The company has worked to make the car look sportier […]

Volkswagen ID Vizzion interior teased

httpv://http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w_n4ulfA9is Volkswagen has teased the autonomous, luxurious ID Vizzion concept again, ahead of its debut in Geneva next week. Posted on social media overnight, the video teases a new type of user interface which, based on what we can see, appears to be gesture control. Although it’s a short clip, the video also makes clear the […]

2018 Audi A6 leaked

The new-generation Audi A6 has been leaked on an online forum, ahead of its anticipated debut at the Geneva motor show next week. Posted on Worldscoop, the trio of images show the new A6 sedan sporting a look very similar to that of the larger A8 limousine. Compared to the current model, the A6 appears lower and wider […]

2018 Hyundai Kona EV revealed

Hyundai has unveiled its pure-electric Kona EV overnight, with up to 150kW of power and a 470km range. The battery-powered compact SUV will be offered in two trim levels: short- and long-range. In short-range guise, the car is powered by a 99kW/395Nm electric motor, good for a 9.3 second sprint to 100km/h and 167km/h flat […]

Takata: Compulsory airbag recall announced

The global Takata airbag recall crisis has taken a new turn in Australia, with the federal government today announcing a compulsory recall. Talk of stricter government action on the matter has been ongoing since the first Australian recalls were initiated in 2009. Australia’s first Takata-related death in July last year – one of 23 globally […]

2018 Kia Optima Sportswagon revealed

The revised 2018 Kia Optima has been revealed for Europe, with the company showing off the facelifted Sportswagon variant and detailing new powertrains for the first time. While the exterior revisions largely mirror that of the Korean-market ‘K5’ sedan, the European version is set to get a pair of new turbocharged engines – one petrol and […]

2018 Jaguar F-Type 2.0 auto v Porsche 718 Cayman PDK

We’ve been here before with Jaguar and Porsche’s compact sports cars. Germany won the first couple of CarAdvice battles, when the Boxster S pipped the F-Type V6 S convertible in 2013 and the Cayman GTS defeated the F-Type S coupe two years later. Honours were then even in October 2016 when we couldn’t split the […]

2018 Nissan Navara Series III Dual Cab review

Despite being simply coined the 2018 Nissan Navara by its Australian importer, the colloquial nametag ‘Series III’ is beginning to stick like Mr Sheen to the mud flaps of the ute range constantly undergoing change. As perhaps it should, whether Nissan Australia likes it or not, if only to alleviate some confusion surrounding the current era […]

Model Spotlight: BMW M3 Convertible

Last week, BMW celebrated three decades of the M3 Convertible with the M4 Edition 30 Years. Essentially an M4 Convertible Competition Package with some special interior touches and a glut of unique exterior finishes, it represents the zenith of a long line of M-fettled drop-tops. Here, we’ve taken a look at where that car’s lineage […]

Renault EZ-GO concept teased – VIDEO

httpv://http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y3pgpIj1U6o The Renault EZ-GO concept has been previewed in a short video clip, ahead of a scheduled reveal at the Geneva motor show next week. Barely anything is given away about the new vehicle, other than that it will be “driverless, electric and connected”. From that quote we can expect a vehicle with no traditional steering […]

Lindsay Fox: the CarAdvice interview with Australia’s car-obsessed trucking icon

Meet Lindsay Fox. One of the most down-to-earth businessmen you’ll ever meet. Although his trucking empire, Linfox, has made him a very wealthy man, he doesn’t like to boast about it too much. Even his business card simply reads Lindsay E. Fox – truck driver. Fox started from the bottom over 60 years ago when […]

2018 Lexus UX: Sharp face, interior revealed

Lexus has given the world a first look at the new compact UX SUV, set to take on the BMW X1, Audi Q2 and Volvo XC40. We’ve only been given a peek at the front three-quarter view of the compact crossover at this point, revealing a predictably polarising face and sharply-creased flanks. Although it’s toned down […]

2018 MG 3 facelift here in Q3 2018

The updated 2018 MG 3 range has been scheduled for a third-quarter arrival in Australia, the company has told CarAdvice this week. A firm date is yet to be confirmed, but the new MG 3 will get a significant update inside and out, likely mirroring the changes seen in its home market of China (pictured). Compared to […]

David Brown Automotive Speedback interior teased

David Brown Automotive has released a final teaser for its Speedback Silverstone Edition, ahead of its full reveal in Geneva. The embroidery in the headrest combines the modern Silverstone circuit layout with an aerial view of the airfield that previously occupied the space. Along with embroidery, the ‘Antique Tan’ leather seats have been finished using […]

Toyota announces new engines, hybrid and AWD systems

Toyota has unveiled a range of new TNGA-based powertrains, including a 2.0-litre Dynamic Force four-cylinder petrol, a revised hybrid system and a new torque-vectoring all-wheel drive setup. 2.0-litre Dynamic Force Engine The new, excitingly-named Dynamic Force Engine has been designed to deliver an impressive 40 per cent thermal efficiency, all the while offering more torque […]

Mitsubishi implores Takata-affected owners to have cars fixed

Mitsubishi Australia has called for owners of its cars fitted with faulty Takata airbag inflators to have their vehicles fixed. According t0 the company, just 136,000 of the 235,151 cars fitted with the potentially fatal inflators have been fixed. Degradation of the inflator propellant means metal fragments could shoot out in an accident, putting occupants […]

2018 Alpina XD3 revealed

httpv://http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uhZ8oNmRDXs Alpina has unveiled the XD3, complete with a quad-turbo inline six engine… that won’t be coming to Australia. European XD3 models will be powered by a heavily reworked take on BMW’s 3.0-litre diesel inline six, making 286kW and 770Nm for a 4.6-second sprint to 100km/h. Meanwhile, right-hand drive markets are offered with a twin-turbo […]

2018 Mazda 3 pricing and specs

Australian pricing and specifications for the upgraded 2018 Mazda 3 range have been announced this week, with extra equipment and sharp drive-away deals on offer for lower-grade versions of the popular hatch and sedan. Headlining the changes is a host of extra equipment for the lower Neo, Maxx and Touring grades, with the former two now […]

Pagani Huayra, Zonda specials heading to Geneva

Pagani increased its turnover by 29 per cent last year, and it’s bringing a special Huayra and Zonda to the Geneva motor show next week to showcase its endless personalisation options. First cab off the rank is a US-spec Huayra Roadster, finished in a beautiful grey/red/black colour combination. All exterior panels are finished in exposed carbon-fibre, […]

Ford launches Women in STEAM scholarship

Ford Australia and Deakin University have partnered to launch the Women in STEAM Scholarship, which aims to support women in pursuing their educational and career goals in fields such as digital technologies and computer science. The STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics) scholarship is the largest of its type offered within the Faculty of Science, Engineering […]

2019 BMW 3 Series spied

The next-gen BMW 3 Series has been spied again, wearing less camouflage than before – giving us a better look at the upcoming C-Class rival. While its production debut is likely to be months away, this latest prototype appears to be wearing production-spec bumpers front and rear, along with the final iterations of the tail-lights. The swirly […]

Cars We Own: 2018 Kia Stinger 330Si introduction

As something of an unofficial, spiritual successor to the rear-drive Commodore, the Kia Stinger melts our website every time we talk about it. It’s an important car for the South Korean brand, because it signals an entry into a segment it hasn’t really competed in: large, rear-drive performance sedans. So we thought we’d buy one […]

Around the Tracks: Ford logos, Honda performance and off-road Suzukis

When we’re not creating it ourselves, the CarAdvice team spends a lot of time finding and consuming motoring content from all over the world. Here’s a handful of the articles, videos and social media posts that most caught our eye last week. Some of them are brand-new, others have been online for a while. Enjoy them – […]

2018 Toyota Aygo facelift revealed

Toyota has unveiled a facelifted Aygo in Europe, with a revised nose and more sound deadening inside. The A-segment hatchback, which sits below the Yaris in the Toyota Europe line-up, shares its underpinnings with the Citroen C1 and Peugeot 1008. Toyota has sold more than 85,000 examples since 2014, and the car holds a 6.6 […]

2018 Nissan Terra revealed

httpv://http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ZUtGm-cObM The Nissan Terra has gone official this week, ahead of a debut in the Chinese market later this year. Based on the same body-on-frame platform as the Navara ute, the Terra is something of a spiritual successor to the previous-generation Pathfinder – which was essentially a wagon-bodied version of the popular ute. Compared to the company’s current […]

2019 Porsche 911 ‘992’ unveiled… sort of

Porsche has released the first official image of the next-generation (992) 911, albeit covered in camouflage. As you can probably tell, the design team has stuck with its ‘evolutionary’ theme. After more than five decades of rear-engined sports cars that all look similar, that shouldn’t come as a surprise. The release accompanying the image includes […]

2018 MG 3 spied in Alice Springs

The facelifted MG3 hatchback has been spied in Alice Springs this week, giving us an early preview of the reworked light car. Spotted by an eagle-eyed CarAdvice reader, the camouflaged hatchback shows its heavily revised face – which is clearly inspired by the ZS crossover – new bumpers, and revised tail-light internals. We can see the outline […]

Mercedes-Benz X-Class headlines latest five-star ANCAP ratings

Independent crash-testing ANCAP has released its latest set of safety ratings this week, with the BMW X2, Jaguar E-Pace, Mercedes-Benz X-Class and Volkswagen Polo all receiving five-star safety ratings. Headlining ANCAP’s release is the X-Class’s standard inclusion of autonomous emergency braking – a first for the ute segment in Australia. Meanwhile, the littlest Volkswagen offered in Australia scored an impressive […]

Volkswagen T-Roc convertible coming in 2020

A drop-top take on the Volkswagen T-Roc is set for production, but we’ll have to wait until 2020 for a full unveil. There have been a few notable high-riding convertibles in recent years, including Range Rover Evoque and, in the USA, the Nissan Murano CrossCabriolet. Neither has been a runaway success, but that hasn’t stopped […]

2018 Audi A6 teased – Video

httpv://http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1UHgcQOuBmM&feature=youtu.be The new-generation Audi A6 has been teased on an online video this week, ahead of a likely debut at the Geneva motor show next month. A firm reveal date is yet to be detailed, but it appears Audi is preparing its new large car for the public very shortly – perhaps as soon as the […]

Poll: Toyota is onto a winner with 2019 Supra styling

Toyota has nailed the looks of its upcoming Supra sports car, if the results of our latest poll are to be believed. It hasn’t been officially unveiled yet, but the rear-drive tie-up with BMW was leaked by a Japanese magazine last week. Granted, they could just be commissioned renders, but the styling and technical details provided are […]

Geely chairman becomes majority Daimler stakeholder

Daimler, parent company of Mercedes-Benz and Smart, has confirmed Li Shufu, founder and chairman of Geely, has aquired a 9.69 per cent stake in the German van, truck and luxury car maker. According to The Detroit News and other outlets, Li’s stake in the German company cost around €7.3 billion ($11.5 billion). Li’s 103 million […]

2018 Mini Cooper JCW review

Let’s rewind to 1966 for a moment to Mount Panorama for the Bathurst 500 endurance race. The field is made up of production cars, virtually straight out of the showroom, unlike today’s purpose-built V8 race cars that are little more than silhouettes of production cars. Instead, the grid is filled with cars from Toyota, Studebaker, […]

2019 Porsche 911 Cabrio interior spied with manual transmission

The interior of the next-generation Porsche 911 has been spied again, but this time around the dashboard has been left fully uncovered. Perhaps most importantly for enthusiasts, though, the interior of this 911 cabrio sports a seven-speed manual transmission, putting to bed fears held by some that Porsche might go for an all-PDK range. The […]

The week’s top new stories: February 25

The automotive news wheel is always turning. If you’re not constantly checking CarAdvice – which you should be doing, by the way – it can be easy for some headlines to slip through the cracks. To make sure you haven’t missed anything important, we’ve gathered what we reckon are the hottest news stories from this week, right […]

2019 BMW 1 Series spied again

The next-generation BMW 1 Series has been spied in the snow, giving us a sneak peak at its production head- and tail-lights. While the daytime-running light signature is hard to see through the bright LED main beam, the tail-lights have a visible LED signature echoing that of the X2 and X3. Compared to the prototype spied […]

Cupra Ibiza prototype revealed

The Cupra Ibiza prototype has been revealed at the launch of Seat’s sporty sub-brand, previewing a potential production model. Despite being just a show car, the Cupra Ibiza looks very close to production ready, using the more pedestrian Seat Ibiza as a base – which itself shares its underpinnings with the Volkswagen Polo. Reports out of […]

Mercedes-Benz GLB spied

The upcoming Mercedes-Benz GLB has been spied during cold-weather testing, giving us a closer look at its production light signature. Unlike the hatchback-style GLA, the GLB will take on a more practical, boxy shape that’s reminiscent of the old GLK – the predecessor to the GLC. The new crossover is believed to be underpinned by the same […]

2019 Audi TT S spied

The 2019 Audi TT S has been snapped in Roadster and Coupe guise, previewing a minor facelift for the little sports car. Up front, you’ll notice a revised grille and front bumper, complete with more aggressive detailing around the outboard and bottom air intakes. There’s camouflage one the bottom edge of the headlights, which suggests […]

Your beginner’s guide to the Nürburgring: Everything you need to know about Green Hell

As an absolute car nut, the Nürburgring is a place I’ve always wanted to visit, but I’ve never had the opportunity. By absolute chance, I had four days free just before the 2017 Frankfurt motor show and received an email from Audi asking me if I’d like to attend a DTM race at the Nürburgring […]

Porsche shows off all-wheel drive with 911 Turbo S hillclimb – VIDEO

httpv://http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ds7afbWn6nI Porsche has been squeezing all-wheel drive into its cars for three decades. Rather than celebrating like most people people – a cake with thirty candles, or a party with all its friends – the company drove a 911 Turbo S up a snowy hill. The video is short, but shows a Miami Blue Turbo […]

2019 Toyota Supra spied

The upcoming Toyota Supra has been spied wearing less camouflage this week, ahead of an anticipated reveal later this year. Compared to previous spy images, we get a clearer look at the LED headlights – which feature indicators spanning the entire bottom edge of the lenses – different alloy wheels, and a prominent lip on the […]

2018 Hyundai Nexo review

In the headlong race to create profitable, scalable, zero-emissions cars to cut down worldwide CO2 emissions, battery electric vehicles (BEVs) have dominated the limelight thanks to media darlings like the charismatic Elon Musk. But there’s an alternative idea that’s danced on the periphery for years, the hydrogen fuel cell vehicle (FCEV) – an electric car powered […]

Mitsubishi Outlander, Lancer and ASX recalled

Mitsubishi issued four separate recall campaigns including more than 230,000 vehicles, addressing issues with the ASX, Outlander and Lancer. The first campaign includes 70,795 vehicles across the MY13-15.5 ASX and MY13-16 Outlander lines, both of which suffer two issues. All vehicles in the recall have an improperly sealed parking brake caliper which may allow water entry, […]

SA Government pledges no stamp duty, registration fees on EVs

The South Australian Government has pledged to cut stamp duty and offer five years free registration for electric vehicle buyers, should it be re-elected in next month’s election. EV buyers would still be forced to pay some on-road costs – the Compulsory Third Party insurance premium, for example – but the scheme promises to save […]

Audi to launch integrated toll devices in the US

Audi has revealed it will roll out integrated toll collection devices in its US-market models later this year, allowing drivers to pass toll points without the need for an additional device. The technology is built into the rear-view mirror, and can be controlled via the infotainment system. In a statement released earlier this week, the German […]

Cupra: Seat sub-brand launches hot Ateca, Leon TCR

Seat has officially launched the Cupra sub-brand, announcing its arrival with hotted-up take on the Ateca. As you’d expect of a fast, semi-compact Volkswagen Group product, power comes from a 221kW 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine. Cupra says special tuning has made it sound better than in some other iterations, while a new Otto Particulate Filter System helps […]

2019 Seat Tarraco leaked

The Seat Tarraco has been leaked on social media this week, giving us an early look at the Spanish brand’s upcoming seven-seat crossover. Posted on MQB-Coding & Retrofit’s Facebook page, the leaked images show the Seat’s take on the Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace, sporting a more angular face than its German relative – though not much else is […]

2019 Mercedes-AMG A35 spied

The upcoming Mercedes-AMG A35 hatchback has been spied in the snow this week, ahead of a likely Paris motor show reveal. Following the images of a camouflaged AMG A35 sedan, this latest prototype has dropped some of its disguise, showing a little more of what to expect from the mid-range hot hatch. The A35 name was confirmed […]

2018 Lexus RX L review

There’s a familiar feeling to the 2018 Lexus RX L as you approach it front on. Lexus’s distinctive design language, anchored by that love-it-or-hate-it spindle grille, is in full effect. As you move around to the side, though, you’ll start to notice some changes towards the rear of the Japanese manufacturer’s popular mid-sized SUV. There’s […]

2014-17 Lexus GS F, LC500, RC F recalled for fuel pump fix

The V8 Lexus GS F, LC500 and RC F have been recalled this week, over concerns a faulty fuel pump could cause a fuel leak. Lexus says affected vehicles are fitted with two high-pressure fuel pumps, one of which could be susceptible to damage from fuel pressure resonance that occurs “under specific operating conditions”. If the […]

2018 Subaru Liberty 3.6R review

Strong hopes will be pinned on this updated 2018 Subaru Liberty. The well-established sedan, now in its sixth generation, was the only major loser in a record sales year for the brand in 2017. The Liberty dropped 42 per cent year on year in a sub-$60K medium-car category that dipped 20 per cent. The brand’s famously […]

Rolls-Royce Cullinan to get fold-out boot seats

The Rolls-Royce Cullinan teaser series continues, with images of the ‘Viewing Suite‘ that will be available in the upcoming “high-sided vehicle”. Designed and engineered in-house, the Cullinan’s Viewing Suite is electrically operated and mounted in the boot. At the touch of a button, a pair of rear-facing leather-trimmed chairs and a cocktail table deploy, giving owners […]

2018 Volkswagen Polo drive-away deals announced

Volkswagen Australia has today confirmed drive-away pricing for the 2018 Polo, set to start at $17,990.  The base 70TSI Trendline is priced from $17,990 drive-away with a manual, identical to the previous list price. It’s the same story for the dual-clutch model, priced from $20,490 drive-away. Power comes from a 1.0-litre turbo three-cylinder petrol engine, […]

2018 Hyundai Santa Fe unveiled, here in July

This is the new-generation Hyundai Santa Fe. It’s the fourth iteration of the badge since 2001, and launches in the hyper-competitive large SUV segment in July. It’s based on a tweaked version of the platform underpinning the Kia Sorento and Carnival, and has a completely new design. Hyundai talks about a “powerful wide stance” and “athletic, […]

2018 Peugeot 508 unveiled

The covers have come off the new-generation 2018 Peugeot 508, just a day after leaked photos revealed to the world its stylish exterior and high-end cabin. With a lower roofline, slim headlamps and concept-inspired detailing, the 508 is certainly a sharper looking beast than its dowdy predecessor. At 4.75 metres long and 1.4m tall, the […]

Tweaked legislation to move Victoria closer to driverless tests

Proposed changes to the Victorian Road Safety Act and Crimes Act will open the door for more advanced autonomous tests on public roads. Should the new amendments pass, self-driving test permit holders would be subject to the same legal obligations as human drivers under the current Road Safety Act and Crimes Act. Permits will be […]

Hyundai i30 Safety Pack delayed until late-Q1

Hyundai Australia will address the lack of safety technologies like autonomous-emergency braking (AEB) on entry-level versions of its i30 before the end of the first quarter, the company has confirmed. Speaking with CarAdvice, public relations manager for Hyundai Australia, Guido Schenken, said “i30 Go and Active Safety Pack production has commended and cars will be available locally later […]

2018 Volvo V60 revealed

The all-new Volvo V60 has been revealed, sporting an overhauled design, fresh technologies and a range of updated powertrains. Looking like a mini-me version of the larger V90, the new V60 shares its Scalable Product Architecture (SPA) with the XC60 SUV and the entire range of 90 Series models – which includes the S90, V90 and […]

2018 Ferrari Portofino launched locally, priced from $398,888

The 2018 Ferrari Portofino has launched in Australia today, with a starting price of $398,888 and an expected delivery date of September. The company is keen to say the Portofino is essentially an all-new car, with a new chassis and thoroughly revised interior and drivetrain over the California T. It’s powered by a heavily revised version […]

Ferrari dealers coming to Gold Coast, Sydney and Melbourne

Ferrari Australia will increase its dealer network by 50 per cent this year, with the announcement of dealers in Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria. Perhaps most notable is the Southport, Gold Coast dealer, which will seeks to service the fastest-growing, most popular area for the brand. Sanctuary Cove is the hottest Australian postcode for […]

VIDEO: Honda pits virtual Civic Type R against the real deal

httpv://http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v2DPAnkOPkA Honda has teamed with Turn 10 Studios to see if a real driver, on a real track, is faster than a professional gamer playing Forza Motorsport 7.  IndyCar driver, Graham Rahal, piloted the real Honda Civic Type R around Road Atlanta, while Peter Jeakins handled the virtual laps. Jeakins is a popular gamer, known for […]

Mercedes-Benz GLC, S-Class, C-Class and E-Class Coupe recalled

Mercedes-Benz has recalled 944 cars over concerns the propellant mix in the front seatbelt tensioner may not meet specifications. According to the company, the issue could mean the front seatbelt tensioners don’t deploy in an accident, putting occupants at greater risk of injury in an accident. A total of 944 cars across the GLC, S-Class, […]

I drove a Chinese-made MG and… I liked it

For those of you that made it to our recent Sydney open day, you would’ve seen that our garage is an L-shaped mess, with a stack formation of cars that means first in, last out. As a result, when a car needs to get out, it requires half a dozen people to move those behind […]

Morgan Plus 8 50th Anniversary Edition teased

httpv://http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lEpFEjHJe4I The Morgan Plus 8 50th Anniversary Edition has been teased again, ahead of its official reveal at the Geneva motor show in March. Scheduled for a March 6 reveal, the special edition celebrates the final 50 Plus 8s powered by a 4.8-litre BMW V8 engine. Visible in the video are the blue lacquered exterior finish and hand-finished […]

Porsche Macan S and Panamera 4S diesel production ends, future unclear

Porsche has ended production of the Macan S Diesel and Panamera 4S Diesel, but reports of diesel’s demise could be premature. An overnight report from Autocar said the company would stop building its last two diesel models, as part of a “cultural shift” toward plug-in hybrid vehicles. It would seem part of this “cultural shift” is also linked […]

2018 Subaru Liberty pricing and specs

Australian pricing and specifications have been announced for the 2018 Subaru Liberty, which maintains its $30,240 starting price despite sharper looks and more technology. From the outside, you’ll be able to distinguish the MY18 Liberty from current models by looking for the revised grille and bumper, new wing mirrors and fresh alloy wheel designs. Liberty 2.5i Premium and […]

Ferrari 488 ‘Pista’ leaked

The Ferrari 488 Pista has been leaked online this week, ahead of an official debut at the Geneva motor show. According to Motor Authority, the name ‘Pista’ has been confirmed for the more hardcore version of Ferrari’s V8-engined supersports car, which in Italian translates to ‘track’ – ending talk of a ‘Speciale‘ or ‘GTO‘ badge. The report […]

2018 Lotus 3-Eleven 430 revealed

The Lotus 3-Eleven 430 has been revealed this week, sporting a decent power bump, enhanced mechanical package, and (super) limited production run. Just 20 examples will be available globally, powered by a supercharged 3.5-litre V6 developing 430hp (321kW) of power and 400Nm of torque. Mated to an open-gated six-speed manual transmission, the beefed-up powertrain slingshots the 920-kilogram racer from 0-100km/h […]

2018 Porsche 911 GT3 RS unveiled, priced from $416,500

Porsche has unveiled the new 911 GT3 RS, set to arrive Down Under in the fourth quarter of this year. Power in the new RS will come from a 4.0-litre naturally-aspirated flat six, making 383kW (up 15kW) and 470Nm (up 10Nm) of torque. That makes it the most powerful naturally-aspirated production 911 ever built, although […]

Hyundai Kona Electric will join Ioniq EV in Australia, within a year

Hyundai is poised to offer not one, but two battery electric vehicles (EVs) in Australia before the end of 2018: the (already confirmed) Ioniq hatchback and the recently announced Kona Electric. While the company won’t yet go on record regarding the Kona crossover EV’s Australian future bar the vague line “under review”, sources inside HMCA tell […]

2018 Hyundai i30 SR long-term review, report one: introduction

Just before the Christmas break we added a new long-termer to the CarAdvice Melbourne garage: the Hyundai i30 SR. It’s been a well-regarded offering since its launch early in 2017, so we decided we’d get a feel for what it’s like living with the current sporting flagship of the Hyundai range – at least for now, until […]

2019 Seat Tarraco name chosen, car teased

Seat has teased the upcoming Tarraco, its seven-seat competitor to the Nissan X-Trail and Skoda Kodiaq. The name was chosen by public vote, and references the oldest Roman settlement on the Iberian Peninsula. It won more than 35 per cent of the vote, beating Avila, Aranda and Alboran for the crown. Current cars in the […]

2013 Jeep Wrangler and Chrysler 300, 300c join Takata recall

Fiat Chrysler has recalled 7464 cars for replacement passenger airbags, as part of the ongoing Takata Airbag scandal. The latest campaign includes Jeep Wranglers and Chrysler 300/300C models sold in 2013, fitted with ‘beta’ inflators on the passenger side. All the inflators in this recall are classed as ‘beta’ – less dangerous than ‘alpha’ inflators, but […]

2018 Toyota C-HR review

The last Toyota I drove with a manual transmission was the 86 sports car, which makes the C-HR compact SUV base model a considerably different proposition. Beyond the fact this is a 100 per cent Toyota product borrowing neither platform nor engine (from Subaru), this is the company’s all-important play in the pint-sized SUV segment […]

2018 Holden Equinox LS+ v Mazda CX-5 Maxx Sport comparison

Holden thinks it finally has a convincing mid-sized SUV, addressing a major gap in its range. The model is called the Equinox, and the company calls it “Australia’s most user-friendly SUV”. But if the now full-importer brand wants to make a splash in one of the market’s key segments, it’ll need to stack up against […]

2018 Kia K900 previewed

Kia has previewed its second-generation K900 range-topper, ahead of a likely New York motor show reveal. A shadowy teaser is the first official confirmation of a fresh flagship, although spy photos have given us a peek at its interior. The headlamps appear to carry a new LED signature, while there are hints of Mercedes in […]

2018 Geneva motor show preview: What to expect

January’s Detroit motor show is a distant memory, and the European calendar’s first big new-car event of the year, the 2018 Geneva motor show, is nearly upon us. Last year gave us the final production design of the new Alpine A110, the Ferrari 812 Superfast, the new Ford Fiesta ST (still not confirmed for Australia), […]

BMW M4 Convertible Edition 30 Years revealed

BMW has whipped the covers off the limited-run M4 Convertible Edition 30 Years, designed to celebrate – you guessed it – three decades since the first M3 Convertible’s launch. Just 300 examples will be built worldwide, all fitted with the Competition Package. That means you get 331kW of power and 550Nm of torque, along with […]

Brabham Automotive reborn, could be tackling F1

David Brabham has launched Brabham Automotive, signalling the return of a famous Australian name to the world of motorsport. At what level, and in what capacity, remains to be seen. David, son of three-time F1 world champion Sir Jack Brabham, has previously said he’s keen to see the legendary name on race cars after more […]

VW ID Vizzion previewed ahead of Geneva

Volkswagen has handed down a first look at its new ID Vizzion concept, ahead of a Geneva motor show debut next month. The big sedan, complete with fashionable sloping roofline, previews the looks and technology you’d expect to see in a “fully automated premium-class saloon” from the brand. A ‘digital chauffeur’ controls the car, which means […]

2018 Renault Zoe R110 revealed

Renault has slotted a more powerful electric motor into its little electric hatch, creating the new Zoe R110. The new motor is the same size as the outgoing R90 unit, but produces 12kW more power, bumping its output to a lofty 80kW. Peak torque is still 225Nm, but the car now runs from 80 to […]

2018 Honda HR-V revealed

httpv://http://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=7&v=xkmnPJ0jQYw The updated 2018 Honda HR-V has been revealed for the Japanese market, sporting a revised look and active safety features as standard. Key cosmetic changes include a revised front fascia that adopts a prominent chrome bar extending the width of the front to echo the look of recent releases like the Civic and CR-V, revised LED […]

2018 Bentley Continental GTC spied

The upcoming Bentley Continental GTC and Flying Spur have been spied this week on the snowy roads of Sweden this week, ahead of an anticipated reveal at the Geneva motor show. Covered in a blueish-grey wrap, the drop-top GTC looks to be the more production-ready of the two prototypes, looking very much like the Continental GT coupe […]

East Coast Defender unveils Heritage Collection

East Coast Defender is an American tuning house best known for shoehorning V8 engines into Land Rovers, but it appears the tuning house is looking to diversify. Along with its high-powered projects, it will produce a new Heritage Collection of cars. It’s no surprise to see East Coast pushing into the resto-modding world. Jaguar Land Rover […]

Cars We Own: 2017 Abarth 595 diary

It’s bright red, sounds great and, crucially, comes from Italy. It isn’t a Ferrari, though. Meet the CarAdvice Abarth 595, a pocket rocket with character to burn.  This is a Cars We Own diary for our own Abarth 595. Think of it as a rolling logbook, a little window into life with the cars in […]

Poll: 2018 Ford Ranger Raptor has its work cut out to win over the power-hungry

Ford’s tough new Ranger Raptor has some hard yards ahead of it, if our latest poll is anything to go by. Revealed earlier this month, the Raptor debuts as the new hero model in Ford’s popular Ranger line-up, more than two years after we first spied an early prototype in local testing. The Raptor benefits […]

Around the Tracks: Videos, columns and articles from all over the internet

When we’re not creating it ourselves, the CarAdvice team spends a lot of time finding and consuming motoring content from all over the world. Here’s a handful of the articles, videos and social media posts that most caught our eye last week. Some of them are brand-new, others have been online for a while. Enjoy them – […]

2018 LDV T60 cab-chassis pricing and specs

Pricing for the LDV T60 cab-chassis has been announced, with the Chinese ute to retail from $25,253 drive-away – less, if you’re an ABN holder. There are two options for T60 cab-chassis buyers: two-wheel drive or four-wheel drive. The 2WD T60 will cost $25,253 drive-away, or $23,990 for ABN holders. The 4WD model retails for $28,411 […]

Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi “the only carmaker” profiting from EVs: Ghosn

Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi CEO, Carlos Ghosn, says the Alliance is likely alone in making money from electric vehicles. “We are probably the most advanced carmaker in terms of costs of electric cars and we have announced already in 2017 that we are probably the only carmaker who’s starting to make money selling electric cars,” Ghosn told CNBC. […]

Tesla Model 3 crash prompts rapid software update

Tesla’s mass-market Model 3 hasn’t been on the road for long, but people are already starting to crash them. An owner, running under the Reddit username Model 3 Crash Test Dummy, smashed their car into a parked vehicle at 97km/h. Although both driver and passenger walked away with only minor injuries – a sore right foot in […]

2018 Maserati GranCabrio pricing and specs

Australian pricing and specs for the revised 2018 Maserati GranCabrio have been announced, with the V8 Italian drop-top to kick off from $335,000 before on-road costs. The car will be offered in two trim levels: Sport (below in blue) and MC, or Maserati Corse (above). Both are powered by the same naturally-aspirated 4.7-litre V8 engine, making […]

2018 Holden Astra R+ review

Even in its final year on sale, the Australia-made Holden Commodore, plus its Ute and Caprice derivatives, accounted for almost one-third of Holden’s sales here in 2017. With the new made-in-Germany Commodore almost certain to fall well short of these numbers, Holden has to find a heap of additional volume from other core cars to […]

2018 Ford EcoSport Titanium review

The Ford EcoSport has barely made a ripple – let alone waves – in the Australian market, despite being one of the earlier entrants in one of the fastest-growing segments in the industry. Nearly five years since it first went on sale locally, the Blue Oval’s smallest crossover has been given a significant refresh in an […]

Lexus tops JD Power dependability study

Lexus has once again topped the JD Power dependability study, narrowly edging Porsche in the well-respected annual survey. The study ranks manufacturers based on problems per 100 cars. Owners of MY2015 cars were surveyed about their vehicles, with any issues grouped into one of eight categories This year, the industry average for problems per 100 […]

2019 Toyota Supra revealed in Japanese press

The oh-so-hotly anticipated 2019 Toyota Supra has surfaced, if images and details published in Japan’s Best Car magazine are to be believed. Of course, while the vehicle shown in the hugely popular Japanese-language mag could be nothing more than a set of commissioned renderings, they’re markedly close in design to camouflaged prototypes that have been […]

The week’s top news stories, February 18

The automotive news wheel is always turning. If you’re not constantly checking CarAdvice – which you should be doing, by the way – it can be easy for some headlines to slip through the cracks. To make sure you haven’t missed anything important, we’ve gathered what we reckon are the hottest news stories from this week, right […]

VIDEO: Farewelling the Dodge Viper at the Nurburgring

httpv://http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nu_LYke16DE Dodge farewelled the Viper last year, after almost 26 years of tail-out, terrifying fun. Rather than letting the V10 snake go quietly into the night, 378 dedicated fans paid to send a Viper GTS-R Commemorative Edition ACR to the Nurburgring for a final fang. FoxPro Films was on hand to film the whole thing […]

Opel Corsa EV confirmed for 2020

Opel has confirmed the next-generation Corsa will be offered with an all-electric powertrain. In a statement released to European press, the company confirmed a pure-electric hatch will follow the regular Corsa, expected to launch in 2019. All versions will be built in Zaragoza, Spain – the first PSA Group facility to produce a pure-electric Opel […]

Owner Reviews: Best of January, 2018

We love Owner Reviews at CarAdvice. After all, the people who slapped down their hard-earned money on a car are, arguably, best qualified to tell the world what they’re like! Here are our five favourites from January, along with the story that inspired the most comments. Want to see your review featured here? Submit a […]

VIDEO: 2019 Volvo V60 teased, full reveal on Feb 21

httpv://http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cK-Zm2iQ5C8 Volvo has teased its latest load-lugging wagon, the V60, in a video highlighting its long history of creating practical family cars. The brand says it’s “continuing a legacy of estates for a new generation” with the V60, tugging on the heart strings with snippets of children learning to drive, couples falling in love and […]

Porsche now 3D prints classic parts

Porsche Classic wants to keep its older models running longer, with to the introduction of new 3D-printing technology. The company says too many owners and collectors are hamstrung by hard-to-find spare parts, which can lead to vehicle problems, or even forcing them out of action. With some 52,000 parts in its range, Porsche Classic – […]

Skoda Kodiaq L&K: Geneva-bound range-topper not for Oz

Skoda has turned to its founders for inspiration on a new luxury-focused ‘L&K’ package for the Kodiaq. Set for a Geneva motor show debut, the L&K derives its name from brand founders Laurin and Klement. Power will come from a range of engines, starting with a 1.5-litre petrol making 110kW. The 2.0-litre petrol currently offered in the […]

2018 Mercedes-AMG E63 review

In most cases, luxury carmakers tend to launch with a regular model, followed by a more powerful version for those that simply want ‘more’ and are willing to pay the premium. But not AMG – it likes to do things differently. The reverse of what might seem logical to you or I. The rationale is […]

2018 Kia Ceed revealed for Geneva

The new-generation 2018 Kia Ceed has been revealed today, and no we haven’t forgotten an apostrophe: Kia’s dropped it, to the delight of grammar prescriptivists around the world. As expected, the new Ceed wears front-end styling largely identical to the 2018 Kia Cerato sedan revealed in January. Shared elements include the headlights, bonnet and front […]

2018 Fiat 500X pricing and specs

Fiat has announced local pricing and specification information for the refreshed 500X SUV, which kicks off at $24,990 before on-road costs. On the outside, changes between the outgoing 500X and its face-lifted replacement are hard to spot: there are two new colours (Donatello Bronze and Alpi Matte Green) for buyers and, er, that’s it. The […]

CarAdvice podcast 90: Riding with Holden’s Rob Trubiani in the Commodore VXR!

With Mandy Turner this week is Paul Maric and Mike Costello. In car news, Ford Mustang pricing and specs have been released, a Toyota Supra racer is headed for the Geneva motor show, Ford says focusing on the Ranger Raptor’s cylinder count is “missing the point”, and Holden launches an online sales pilot. Meanwhile, the Mercedes-AMG G63 and […]

2019 Volvo V60 leaked ahead of Feb 21 debut

The Volvo V60 wagon has been leaked a week before its official unveiling. Two images published on AutoMotoSvijet – an automotive site in Bosnia and Herzegovina – show the new mid-size wagon from its rear three-quarter and profile views. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the car borrows most of its styling cues from the XC60 SUV with which it shares […]

The dance of the machines: Inside Mercedes-Benz’s Düsseldorf factory

Ever wondered what goes on inside an automotive assembly plant? We did too, so when Mercedes-Benz offered CarAdvice the chance to tour its Düsseldorf factory where it builds its popular Sprinter vans, we jumped at the chance. There’s an eerie beauty in the dance of the machines. Huge orange arms loom large, a menacing presence […]

2019 Suzuki Vitara spied

The face-lifted Suzuki Vitara has been spied on the snowy roads of Sweden this week, ahead of an anticipated reveal later this year. It’s still hard to tell just how different the  crossover will look from the current model, though the front and rear treatments should get minor revisions based on the black-and-white camouflage. We also […]

VIDEO: Porsche explains why brakes squeal

httpv://http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fUNHb9O52WQ Porsche is tired of hearing people complain about squeaky brakes. How do we know? The company has gone to the trouble of making a four-minute video explaining what causes it, and why it’s nothing to worry about. According to the company, brake squeal has been misunderstood for far too long. “We try to avoid […]

2017 Mazda 2 Neo hatch long-term review, report seven: farewell

The Mazda 2 Neo hatch has been part of the CarAdvice Melbourne fleet for a number of months, and now, sadly, it’s time for it to go home. Affectionately nicknamed the ‘Red Rocket’, our Mazda 2 long-termer has racked up nearly 4000km in our hands, including everything from the daily commute to and from the office, to […]

Mercedes-Benz recalls A, B, C, E, GLA and GLC

Mercedes-Benz has recalled almost 22,000 cars across the A-Class, B-Class, C-Class, E-Class, GLA and GLC model lines, over concerns the driver airbag could inflate without warning. According to the company, electrostatic discharge could trigger the airbag if the steering column isn’t sufficiently, or if the column switch module isn’t grounded. Unexpected airbag deployment, obviously, poses a risk […]

Cars We Own: A weekend fling in the Abarth 595

When CarAdvice offered me one of their cars for a week, I gladly took on the Abarth 595. Although I’m a fan of compact cars, the Fiat (and Abarth) range is something I’ve overlooked. I think it’s because I had a Fiat Freemont hire car once, and really struggled to find anything I liked about […]

2018 BMW M140i v Honda Civic Type R v Ford Focus RS LE comparison

Front-wheel drive has been part of the classic hot-hatch formula since the genre was ignited in the 1970s. The layout would dominate any all-time-greats list for the category, featuring the likes of the Peugeot 205 GTI, Renault Megane RS, and of course Volkswagen Golf GTI (Marks III and IV excepted!). Yet, there have long been exceptions, […]

BMW, Nissan lead criticism over lack of government support for EVs

Two pioneering manufacturers in the electric vehicle (EV) market, BMW and Nissan, have called on the Australian Federal Government to incentivise buyers of low-emission cars, citing evidence from Europe, Asia and North America. BMW Australia boss Marc Werner teed off again this week, saying he was sick of carmakers and independent bodies “doing the heavy […]

2019 Ford Focus spied undisguised

The next-generation Ford Focus has been spied during a promotional shoot in Portugal, ahead of a likely debut at the Geneva motor show next month. Posted on Hungarian website Vezess, the single image of the completely undisguised hatchback shows that Ford has overhauled the look of its popular name plate, appearing to draw heavy inspiration from competing […]

Subaru Viziv Tourer teased

Subaru has teased the Viziv Tourer concept, ahead of a Geneva motor show reveal. It’s only a shadowy teaser for now, but there’s a good chance the Viziv Tourer will preview a production car. Subaru has used its ‘Vision for Innovation’ line of concepts to hint at the production Ascent, while elements of previous iterations […]

2018 Holden ZB Commodore review

The name Commodore means a lot to Australians. It’s synonymous with rear-wheel drive, power and Australian manufacturing. The all-new 2018 ZB Commodore is none of those, relatively speaking. Before you begin a tirade of negative comments about the name and whether this new car is any good, let’s consider the facts. Holden and GM executives […]

Young drivers still wildly over-represented in road fatalities

Young drivers are almost twice as likely to be killed in a traffic accident than their parents, according to new data from Australian Roads. The research says traffic injuries are the second-biggest killer of people aged between 15 and 24 in Australia. It also said the ability to perform basic safety checks is “becoming extinct” […]

Mercedes-AMG ‘GT Coupe’ teased again

The Mercedes-AMG GT ‘Coupe’ – the current alias for an upcoming four-door model – has been teased again, ahead of its reveal at the Geneva motor show. Despite being the newest member of the AMG GT family, the new four-door coupe is believed to share its underpinnings with Mercedes-Benz models like the CLS and E-Class, rather […]

Goodwood Festival of Speed to feature Porsche

The 2018 Goodwood Festival of Speed will be dedicated to Porsche, celebrating 70 years since the 356 was launched. Gerry Judah will design the central sculpture for the event, which runs from July 12 to July 15 at Goodwood House, West Sussex. This marks the third time Porsche has been featured at the Festival of […]

Ford: Raptor to boost 4×4 Ranger sales further beyond HiLux

While the Ranger still trails the Toyota Hilux in overall sales, Ford will be hoping the all-new Raptor will help it pull further ahead of its Toyota rival in 4×4 sales. Last month, Ford sold 2892 4×4 Rangers – 12 more than Toyota sold 4×4 HiLuxes – for a 23.7 per cent share of the […]

2018 Lotus Exige Sport 380 review

Buying a Lotus Exige, or any Lotus for that matter, takes a certain level of commitment – and not just the financial kind. The Exige is earth-shatteringly quick for its price, but also undeniably practical as a daily drive. Then again, who buys a Lotus for practicality? For about $155,000, this top-spec 2018 Lotus Exige Sport 380 […]

Ferrari 488 ‘GTO’ previewed

Ferrari has teased a new special version of the 488 supercar, tipped to be named the 488 GTO. In a 40-second clip on Facebook, the Prancing Horse shows the mystery model wearing the company’s signature red paint contrasted with white and black striping. We can see briefly that the rear end will get unique styling inspired by […]

2019 Hyundai i30 N Fastback spied

The upcoming Hyundai i30 N Fastback has been spied on the roads of Europe, ahead of an anticipated reveal later this year. It’s no secret the Korean manufacturer wants to expand its performance N line-up, and the four-door coupe version of the i30 looks like the next candidate. While this development vehicle remains heavily camouflaged, we […]

2013 BMW X5 and X6 added to Takata recall

BMW Australia has recalled X5 and X6 models sold in 2013 to replace the driver (and passenger, in some cases) airbag inflator. The company says metal fragments could shoot out of the Takata airbag inflators currently installed in affected cars, causing “serious injury or fatality” in the process. All the inflators in this recall are […]

Panel Beaters — Episode 3: Watch it live from 8PM AEDT right here

Panel Beaters, the CarAdvice panel show is live on the first Wednesday of each month and we’re back again for episode two. We’ll be calling on you to provide comments, ask questions and even join us in the studio for future episodes! Episode 3 will feature a stack of content to keep you busy: Check […]

World’s greatest driving roads: Julian Alps, Slovenia

To say Slovenia has gone through a few rough patches throughout history is beyond an understatement. But with the relative calm and stability of post 1990s independence, the northern region of the former Yugoslavia, much like its southern neighbour Croatia, has become an increasingly popular destination for the smart and discerning traveller. Beautiful, affordable, refreshingly […]

2018 Mazda MX-5 RF Limited Edition review

There’s a good reason the Mazda MX-5 is regarded as the world’s best-selling two-seater sports car: it’s a hoot. CarAdvice owns a 2016 example, in 2.0-litre GT roadster form, and there’s not a soul here that doesn’t enjoy it. Certainly some yearn for more power, and it’s not hard to make an argument for that, […]

2018 Mercedes-Benz C-Class revealed, here in Q3

Mercedes–Benz has unveiled the 2018 C-Class refresh, with more technology and a slightly tweaked exterior. The changes start outside, where the (now five year-old) exterior has been reworked with new headlamps and tail lights. AMG Line cars now come with a diamond grille, and the front bumper is more aggressive than before. Depending on which […]

2019 Nissan Altima confirmed for New York

httpv://http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3SVNB-0FWJk The next-generation Nissan Altima sedan will be revealed at the New York motor show next month. Nissan released the above image as a teaser – which doesn’t show the car at all – because the US Northeast region is the most popular market for the Altima. Further details are yet to be released, though we’d expect […]

Rolls-Royce: Cullinan name confirmed for upcoming SUV

Rolls-Royce has confirmed it will name its new “high-sided car” the Cullinan – though we pretty much knew that already. Basically, the British marque has taken the ‘Project’ out of ‘Project Cullinan‘, naming its new SUV after a sought-after African diamond extracted in the early 1900s. “The name Cullinan has been hiding in plain sight since […]

Ranger Raptor: Focusing on cylinder count is “missing the point”

What would the Ranger Raptor be like with a V6? To ask that question is to miss the point – at least according to Ford. The Ranger Raptor will arrive with a 2.0-litre twin-turbo diesel under the bonnet, mated with a 10-speed automatic. With the boost from sequential turbos, the Raptor makes 157kW and 500Nm […]

Citroen: Next C4 and C4 Cactus to become one – report

The next-generation Citroen C4 and C4 Cactus look set to become one and the same, with the company’s boss confirming the move for 2021. Speaking with Autocar, Xavier Peugeot, head of PSA Group, said the two models will “converge” in the next-generation, making the crossover-styled hatchback the sole small-segment offering – set to duke it out with the likes […]

Mercedes-AMG GT four-door interior snapped

Mercedes-AMG has gone to the trouble of releasing its own pre-production pictures, but there’s more to see when it comes to the AMG GT four-door coupe. Our spy photographers have snagged pictures of the car’s interior during development testing, revealing a dashboard design borrowed from the CLS. That means a wide-screen infotainment system, four circular […]

2015 Lexus NX, RX recalled

Lexus has recalled more than 2,009 NX and RX SUVs produced between May and December 2015, over concerns faulty airbag sensors could cause the inflators to deactivate. The luxury marque says two manufacturing issues could cause an insulation layers of the system IC chips to peel over time, creating an open circuit. If the condition occurs, the […]

2019 Mercedes-AMG G63 unveiled, here in Q3

Mercedes-AMG has unveiled the 2019 G63, set to arrive in Australia during the third quarter of this year. Like the ‘regular’ G-Class unveiled last year, the new G63 is longer (101mm), wider (121 mm) and taller (40mm) than its predecessor, with a design best described as evolutionary. Mercedes hasn’t tried to reinvent the wheel, but there […]

2018 Nissan Navara pricing and specs

Nissan has announced pricing and specs for its tweaked Navara, which will benefit from handling changes and more technology behind the wheel. The updated ute goes on sale later this month, with pricing to start at $25,990 in single-cab guise, $28,490 in ‘King Cab’ trim or $33,490 as a dual-cab. On the technology front, all models except the bargain-basement DX now […]

2018 HSV Colorado SportsCat pricing and specs

Pricing and specifications for the new HSV Colorado SportsCat range have been released this week, with the modified ute priced from $60,790 before on-road costs. Based on the Holden Colorado ute, the HSV SportsCat features a range of cosmetic and chassis upgrades, though there aren’t any boosts to the power and torque figures of the 147kW/500Nm 2.8-litre four-cylinder […]

Nissan design: Rugged outside, warm tech inside

Nissan will return to a boxier, more rugged design ethos for its next wave of SUVs, as previewed by the Xmotion concept in Detroit. At the same time, the company’s head designer wants to find “warmth” in technology, and is wary of modern in-car tech’s potential to de-humanise the interior. Alfonso Albaisa, the Cuban-American design head for Nissan […]

Mini Connected services updated

Mini will add a 4G SIM to the options list across its range, opening the door for a wider range of connected services. The new hardware, working in tandem with a refreshed Mini Connected app, opens the door for ‘time-to-leave warnings’, remote door (un)locking, and information about fuel levels – or charge times for electrified […]

Toyota Supra race car confirmed for Geneva

The Toyota Supra will be previewed at the Geneva motor show next month, in the form of a “modern racing concept”. Partially shown in a single shadowy image, the company says the car will “signal Toyota’s commitment to bring back to the market its most iconic sports car”. While the accompanying release doesn’t explicitly say ‘Supra‘, […]

2018 Audi R8 V10 RWS pricing

The rear-wheel drive Audi R8 V10 RWS is coming to Australia in April, with pricing starting at $299,500. Meanwhile, the drop-top will kick off at $321,000 – undercutting its all-wheel drive counterpart by $67,500. The RWS Coupe is also $67,500 less expensive than its all-wheel drive equivalent. According to Audi, the RWS shares 50 per […]

Renault Zoe to get power bump in Geneva – report

An updated Renault Zoe is expected to debut at the Geneva motor show next month, complete with a slight power bump. In a new report by Autocar, an unnamed source says the new Zoe ‘R110’ will get an 80kW electric motor – up from the current 68kW – though it’s unclear whether the current 250-mile (402km) range claim will […]

VIDEO: Range Rover Sport PHEV tackles 999 stairs in China

httpv://http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xBJ2h967VxA Land Rover loves bragging about the off-road prowess of its range. Now, it’s showing off the capabilities of the Range Rover Sport P400e plug-in hybrid. In the above video, the British marque sends the face-lifted Sport PHEV up China’s Tianmen Mountain Road – known as the Dragon Road, one of the world’s most challenging sections of tarmac […]

McLaren MSO reveals new options for Sports Series

McLaren Special Operations (MSO) has detailed a new range of options for the Sports Series range – including the 540C, 570S and 570GT – giving customers even more customisation choices when they purchase their new supercar. Headlining additions include a new Black Pack option, a lighter and louder Titanium SuperSports exhaust system, and extended carbon-fibre trim elements. Buyers […]

2018 BMW 530i Touring review

Manufacturers surely have dreams about their closest competitors pulling out of a vehicle segment, leaving them to take all the riches. Yet that’s exactly what happened for the BMW 5 Series Touring in Australia. Audi abandoned the A6 Avant in 2015, and Mercedes-Benz chose to ignore its latest-generation E-Class Estate released globally in 2017. Everyone wants […]

Mazda 2 recalled for parking brake fix

Mazda has recalled the 2 sedan and hatch, over concerns about the teeth on the parking brake sector gear. According to the company, the shape of the teeth on some parking brake sector gears mightn’t be to specification. If the issue occurs, the sector gear and ratchet might suddenly disengage while the parking brake is […]

Cars We Own: 2016 Mazda MX-5 diary

The Mazda MX-5 has become a default choice for people who want a light, simple sports car. But what is the two-seat convertible like to live with? Here’s a diary of our time with the CarAdvice MX-5. Think of this as a rolling logbook, a little window into life with the cars in the CarAdvice stable. You’ll find the […]

A brutal message from Victoria Police: We will crush your car

httpv://http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3T2YamA2h28 Video supplied by Victoria Police show the moments where seven sports vehicles were crushed under Victoria’s tough anti-hoon laws, and an eighth car is due to be crushed after its LPG tank is removed. Above: A Nissan 180sx is stacked atop another two sports cars as they are all crushed. Two people accused of […]

Is this the first spy video showing the upcoming hardcore Aventador GT?

httpv://http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iwStBmd85aw We recently came across a few photos of what appears to be the final edition of the Aventador. Now there is a video to go along with it, showing the camouflaged supercar alongside a Porsche 911. We are unsure what it will be called yet but it has been rumoured to be badged as […]

SWAT cops mistake Honda Integra launch control for AK47 automatic machine gun fire and raid workshop

httpv://http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q_m4-ed0tmU We were sent this video by the witness of an altercation between a dozen heavily-armed police officers with automatic assault rifles and the owner of a (rather loud) supercharged Honda (Acura) Integra DC2. Owner, Enrique Mendoza states that he was messing around with ‘launch control’ outside his workshop minutes prior to the encounter: “I […]

Speeding drivers’ ridiculous excuse for doing 20kph over the limit

A motorist gave police a very creative excuse for speeding in Western Australia last month. When police clocked the driver travelling at 82km/h in a 60 zone in Mandurah, the driver said he was late for his dog’s pedicure. “I am taking my dog to get her nails clipped and am running late,” the infringement […]

Holden online retail: Haggling, test drives will become part of the process

Research suggests car buyers will be increasingly willing to forego the money-saving ‘dealership haggle’ in return for the heightened convenience of buying online, says Holden. The brand today announced a click-and-collect online retail model to be piloted in Melbourne, in partnership with its dealers, walking buyers from research to delivery of their wheels, with finance […]

2018 Ford Mustang pricing and specs

Updated versions of Australia’s top-selling sports car, the Ford Mustang, will be available in dealers from the middle of 2018. There are a number of substantial improvements for the MY18 Mustang. Its looks are being billed as more “athletic”, it comes in more bold colours, gets more in-car technology and active safety systems, and comes […]

2019 Volkswagen Touareg previewed

  The third-generation 2019 Volkswagen Touareg will make its debut in Beijing on March 23, the company has confirmed. A single side-on sketch of the flagship SUV was posted online, previewing sleeker looks inspired by the Arteon and T-Prime GTE concept, the latter revealed in Beijing two years ago. Under the skin, the all-new Touareg will […]

2018 Ford Mondeo Titanium TDCi review

The Ford Mondeo is a car that continues to surprise us. Partly because it’s so forgettable – I can’t remember the last time I saw it being advertised on television. It surprises us because every time we drive it, we’re reminded of how much space there is inside and how practical the features are. Kicking off […]

Mercedes-AMG to reveal four-door coupe in Geneva – report

Mercedes-AMG looks likely to reveal the final take on its standalone four-door ‘GT’ at the Geneva motor show next month – according to new reports. We can’t find confirmation through the company’s press or social channels, but Motor Authority says Mercedes-AMG has confirmed the ‘GT Coupe’ for the Geneva event. Additionally, Tobias Moers, Mercedes-AMG CEO, tweeted photos of […]

Holden launches online sales pilot

A Holden pilot will allow Melbourne metro buyers to research, spec and buy cars online, removing the need to visit a showroom. The company’s research indicates 30 per cent of consumers would consider buying a car online. “Ten years ago, we were tentatively buying clothes online and it was inconceivable to buy big ticket items like TVs […]

Mercedes-Benz: Same-same sedan design a non-issue

The similarity between the Mercedes-Benz C-Class, E-Class and S-Class is a deliberate strategy – and it’s working well, according to Gorden Wagener, Daimler head of design. In a wide-ranging chat with Australian journalists after the launch of the new A-Class, Wagener addressed the similarities between the brand’s traditional three-box sedans. Wagener admitted its C-, E- and […]

2020 Mercedes-Benz S-Class spied

The 2020 Mercedes-Benz S-Class has been snapped for the first time, offering a (heavily camouflaged) glimpse at the next flagship to wear the three-pointed star. According to our spy photographer, the prototype you see here was travelling in convoy with a group of current-generation S-Classes, along with an Audi A8 and BMW 7 Series. This […]

2018 Wrangler in the Australian outback: Q&A with off-road boss Bernie Trautmann

The long-awaited and comprehensively leaked 2018 Jeep Wrangler was finally revealed in November, but it’ll be later this year before we see the latest generation of the iconic off-roader in Australian showrooms. When it lands, the 2018 JL Wrangler will have benefited from extensive testing in rugged central Australia, with international engineering heads John Adams […]

Lancia Stratos returning in Geneva

Manifattura Automobili Torino (MAT) has announced plans to build 25 examples of the modern Lancia Stratos previewed in 2010. The car will be built in three different trim levels: road-going supercar, GT racing entrant and – forgive us for getting excited – a safari-spec rally racer. Back in 2010, there were plans to build 50 […]

EV onslaught: 10 electric cars coming by 2021

Electric cars are coming, there’s no stopping it. Here’s a quick look at 10 noteworthy electric vehicles (EVs) heading for market in the next three years. Hyundai Ioniq Electric The Ioniq is Hyundai’s answer to the Toyota Prius, available in three flavours – hybrid, plug-in hybrid and electric. It’s unclear whether we’ll get both hybrid […]

Researcher: Unrealistic autonomous targets prevalent

A leading researcher of autonomous cars says stretch targets announced by various carmakers, predicting when they’ll offer self-driving cars commercially, are unrealistic and unhelpful to the advancing field. It comes as the Renault–Nissan–Mitsubishi Alliance head of vehicle autonomy clarified mass-market driverless vehicles were a long way off, and encouraged us to ask specific questions on […]

Tata 45X, H5X concepts revealed

httpv://http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IlK0RKoJF-4 Tata has revealed the 45X and H5X concepts at 2018 Auto Expo in New Delhi, previewing potential “premium products” from the parent company to Jaguar Land Rover (JLR). First off is the striking H5X – which you can see in orange. The five-seat “luxury SUV” looks a little like the Range Rover Evoque – not surprising, given it’s […]

Audi SQ8 spied

A prototype believed to be the Audi SQ8 has been spied on snowy European roads this week, previewing the German marque’s upcoming flagship SUV coupe. Distinguishing this heavily-camouflaged vehicle to other Q8s we’ve seen are more aggressive bumper treatments and quad-exhaust outlets – a signature design cue of the Audi Sport ‘S’ models. Compared to previous […]

The Cars of Düsseldorf

How do you capture the essence of a city? What makes a particular place hum and sing and buzz? Is it the people? The culture? The architecture? Food? It is, of course, all of these things. And more. For us at CarAdvice, it is, unsurprisingly, also the cars. We are privileged to travel around the […]

2017 Subaru Impreza 2.0i Premium long-term review, report five: country and highway driving

Around town, we found a noticeable chink in the Subaru Impreza’s armour. A significant lack of low-end pull that makes getting up to speed quickly, overtaking or accelerating up a hill make it seem like you’re asking so much for the Impreza’s modest 2.0-litre petrol engine. However, what we did notice was that once you’re […]

2018 Volkswagen Golf GTI Original: Quick drive

httpv://http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ZX5jpi47_s The ‘purist’ GTI is back. Three doors, limited options, and a good whack cheaper than the regular model. That’s the 2018 Volkswagen Golf GTI Original. Volkswagen’s Australian arm confirmed the new $37,490 offering in August last year, after having first offered the GTI Performance Edition 1 three-door at just over $10,000 more than the […]

Five reasons to watch the Bathurst 12 Hour

Mount Panorama, Bathurst represents the pinnacle of motorsport in Australia. Petrol heads from around the country flock to the track every year, keen to see their heroes tackle the tight, twisty circuit in hulking Supercars, but local touring cars aren’t the only vehicles subjected to the Bathurst torture test. First run between 1991 and 1995, […]

BMW M5: Public reaction overwhelmingly positive

BMW says the public has responded positively to the first all-wheel drive M5, which lands in Q2 this year. Speaking to CarAdvice at the Bathurst 12 Hour, Lenore Fletcher, communications boss for BMW Australia, said initial signs were good for the twin-turbo super-sedan. “It’s probably the most positive response to a vehicle that I’ve ever seen,” Fletcher […]

2019 Mercedes-AMG A35 sedan snapped

The upcoming Mercedes-AMG A35 sedan has been spied in Europe, providing a peek at what the warm (but not quite hot) A-Class will look like when it lands later this year. Compared to the standard sedan, this test mule rides lower, and has a more prominent spoiler package. Down back there are fat exhaust pipes […]

David Brown Automotive GT teased

David Brown Automotive has previewed its next model, dubbed A “high-performance grand tourer“, ahead of its reveal on March 6 at the Geneva motor show. Celebrating the first anniversary at its new headquarters in Silverstone, UK, David Brown Automotive says the new GT will be handmade alongside the DB5-inspired Speedback GT (below) and Mini Remastered. […]

2019 Kia Sportage spied

The facelifted Kia Sportage has been spied this week, giving us an early look at what’s to come for the Korean SUV’s mid-life refresh. While thick black sheets conceal most of the front and rear, we can see some new details on the Sportage that distinguish it from the version currently on sale. Peeping through the […]

2018 Skoda Kodiaq 140TDI review

Quirky Czech automaker Skoda is one of those brands that often tends to slip off the radar for more than a few new car buyers, but hop into a Skoda Kodiaq for the first time, and we guarantee you’ll have a newfound appreciation for the brand. There isn’t really any one aspect that stands atop […]

Mercedes-Benz ‘EQC’ spied

The upcoming Mercedes-Benz EQC SUV has been spied during cold weather testing in Europe. Compared to the prototype we saw last year, this vehicle is starting to wear its own unique panels and lights, rather than borrowing all its sheetmetal from the GLC – though the family ties are still obvious. More angular headlights poke through […]

CarAdvice podcast 89: Joe Achilles, BMW fanatic and our guest Down Under

Joining Mandy Turner is Paul Maric and Mike Stevens. In car news this week, the BMW X3 M40i pricing and specs have been released, the Hyundai Santa Fe gets revealed, and the business case for the Chevrolet Bolt hinges on legislation. Plus, Renault Megane RS pricing is to start around $45,000, what does the future […]

2018 Renault Megane RS280 review

There are a number of reasons for Aussie petrolheads to get excited about the all-new 2018 Renault Megane RS. For one thing, consider the Renault Sport pitch: Australia is the third biggest market for RS sales globally, sat behind its French homeland and Germany, and our appetite for go-fast Meganes and Clios as a proportion […]

Nissan e-Power explained, Australian launch a certainty

Nissan will introduce its e-Power petrol-electric drivetrain in Australia in the near future, to complement its zero emissions car rollout, led by the new Leaf due at the end of 2018 – and set to comprise 12 electric Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi vehicles by 2022. This self-described technology ‘bridge’ is Nissan’s unique twist on plug-in hybrid (PHEV) and […]

Ford: Ranger Raptor 10-speed auto “very capable”

In an attempt to meet the ambitious performance targets it set for the Ranger Raptor, Ford engineers turned to the 10-speed automatic from the full-size F-150 Raptor. The transmission, according to John Fallu, transmission and driveline engineering manager for Ford Asia Pacific, was chosen because it meets “both our refinement and performance benchmarks” for the Raptor. “The […]

FCA enters resto-mod world with ‘Reloaded by Creators’ program

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) has joined the crowd of manufacturers giving old cars a new lease on life, launching the Reloaded by Creators program. Unlike some other manufacturers, FCA won’t be building old cars from scratch. Instead, the company will buy “carefully selected” used vehicles and treat them to an exacting restoration. Money made from the […]

Pininfarina HK GT teased ahead of Geneva reveal

Pininfarina has teased the HK GT ahead of its official unveiling at the Geneva motor show this March. As you’d expect, the images published on social media doesn’t give much away. It provides a sneak peek at the top of the car, revealing a two-door body and slimline cameras built into the bodywork in place […]

2019 BMW X2 M35i spied

A hotter BMW X2 has been snapped testing in the snow, wearing bigger brakes and a more aggressive front end. The most powerful global X2 is currently the xDrive28i, with power coming from a 170kW four-cylinder engine. In Australia, the range will be limited to sDrive 18i, sDrive 20i and xDrive 20d, meaning the most powerful […]

2018 Subaru Outback review: 2.5i Premium

Everyone’s heard of the Subaru Outback. It’s been the default choice in affordable all-wheel station wagons for as long as this reviewer can remember, with its bulletproof reliability, all-wheel drive and extra ride height over its lower-slung Liberty stablemate. That said, as Australia’s unconstrained obsession with SUVs continues unabated, the Outback has a lot more […]

Fiat Ducato recalled for intercooler fix

Fiat has recalled the 2.3-litre diesel Ducato van over concerns the intercooler sleeve could come loose from the throttle body. The manufacturer says if the condition occurs, the engine warning light will illuminate and drivers will experience a loss of power. Should the vehicle unexpectedly lose power when in use, it could increase the risk of an […]

2018 Skoda Fabia revealed for Geneva show

Skoda has tonight unveiled the refreshed 2018 Fabia, ahead of its full debut at the Geneva motor show in March. Although it isn’t an all-new model, the fresh Fabia boasts a host of improvements over the current car, with more technology and sharper looks on offer. The refreshed supermini will be offered exclusively with three-cylinder […]

Hyundai confirms voluntary ACCC program to improve customer service

Hyundai Australia has engaged in a voluntary undertaking with the Australia Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC), as it attempts to more closely adhere with Australian Consumer Law when dealing with customer complaints. The move comes as part of the ACCC’s wider investigation into customer service in the automotive industry, which has already seen Holden accept and […]

Tesla stands by revised production targets, posts worst-ever quarter

Tesla has stood by plans to build 2500 Model 3s per week by the end of March, despite having posted its worst-ever quarterly loss in Q4 of 2017. The company lost US$675.4 million ($864.2 million) across October, November and December 2017, compared to a $121 million loss in the same period of 2016. The information […]

Nissan confident Leaf will remain top global EV

Nissan’s global EV program director is confident the second-generation Leaf will retain its predecessor’s mantle as the global electric sales king, despite the spectre of a tougher competitor set. Speaking at the Nissan Futures conference in Singapore this week, Nicholas Thomas said he wasn’t concerned about competition, and snuck a cheeky dig at high-profile electric-vehicle […]

2018 Toyota Yaris sedan unveiled in New Delhi

The new-generation Toyota Yaris has made its global debut at the 2018 New Delhi motor show. According to NDTV, the new Yaris sedan will be available with a 1.5-litre petrol engine mated to either a six-speed manual or a continuously-variable transmission. The car’s list of features includes seven airbags, disc brakes for all four wheels, […]

2018 Honda Amaze unveiled in India

The second-generation Honda Amaze has been unveiled at the 2018 New Delhi motor show. Developed by Honda’s Thailand arm, the new sedan is said to be under four metres in length, and rides on a new platform. The company has yet to provide any other details about the vehicle, or give us a look inside […]

Alpina B5: Price slashed ahead of March launch

Alpina Automobiles has taken a knife to the price of the B5 BiTurbo sedan, slashing nearly $30,000 off the price announced in October last year. Originally listed at $239,900 before on-road costs, the company’s local arm has confirmed it has repositioned the 5 Series-based sports luxury model to better compete with its competitors. Now kicking off […]

Holden: Dealer cuts and factory closure remove the shackles

Last year was a big year for Holden, both emotionally and financially. Now, the local boss says the shackles have finally been released. 2017 saw the closure of local manufacturing and the termination of 30 dealer franchise agreements, with the brand electing not to renew them beyond December 31, 2017. The cull from its pool of […]

Jaguar D-Type re-enters production

The Jaguar D-Type of the 1950s has been revived 60 years after it first went out of production, with the company’s Classic Works division to produce a limited run of the iconic Le Mans racer. Last built in 1956, the Jaguar D-Type had an original production run of 75 units. It won the Le Mans 24 […]

Industry body created to support hydrogen expansion in Australia

Hydrogen Mobility Australia (HMA) has been founded, aimed at advocating for the burgeoning local hydrogen industry. It’s made up of automakers, energy companies and infrastructure providers including Toyota Australia, Hyundai Australia, BP Australia and Caltex Australia. The body will be involved in advocacy, research, education and industry engagement programs, all designed to highlight the benefits […]

McLaren Senna: More details announced

McLaren has revealed more information about the Senna, ahead of the car’s full public reveal in Geneva. Although we learned all about the 588kW/800Nm twin-turbo V8 engine when the car was announced in December, there were plenty of questions remaining. How much downforce does the car make? How fast will it go? The latest release […]

2018 Peugeot 5008 review

There’s a helluva lot riding on the success of the Peugeot 5008 for the French brand in this country. The mid-sized seven-seater completes Peugeot’s SUV portfolio, which encompasses the 2008, 3008 and now the 5008. A not-so-strange thing has happened to the 5008 (a quick word for the wise – Peugeot prefers the numerical nomenclature […]

2018 Ford Ranger Raptor revealed

The 2018 Ford Ranger Raptor has been revealed in Thailand, ahead of an Australian launch later this year. First things first: there’s no Ecoboost V6 from the F-150, although the Raptor does get an all-new transmission and twin-turbo four-cylinder diesel. A 2.0-litre bi-turbo diesel lives under the bonnet, generating 157kW of power and 500Nm of torque. That compares to the […]

Peugeot, Citroen introduce five-year warranty

Peugeot and Citroen Australia (PCA) has announced it will introduce a five-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty with five years of roadside assistance across its passenger car range. Effective immediately, the French company’s program will also be retroactively applied to all 2018 model-year vehicles already sold, and completely transferable between owners. “From design to engineering and manufacture, efforts at […]

VFACTS Flashbacks: Vintage sales figures for January

Every month, the latest VFACTS report sends CarAdvice into meltdown. Last month, the HiLux and Ranger maintained their spots atop the sales charts, continuing Australia’s love affair with the dual-cab ute. But it wasn’t always this way. Here’s a look at VFACTS data from January 1998, 2003, 2008 and 2013 for a better understanding of how the […]

2018 Subaru Outback pricing and specs

Pricing and specifications for the 2018 Subaru Outback range have been announced this week, with the facelifted crossover wagon kicking off at $35,240 before on-road costs – some $1000 less than before. Although subtle, the car has been treated to a new look for 2018, led by a revised grille and bumper up front. Trainspotters will notice […]

Road Trip USA: Pacific Coast Highway in a 1969 Mercedes-Benz 280SL Pagoda

Wafting from corner to corner in the hills behind the Pacific Coast Highway south of Santa Monica, I’m evocatively transported back to 1969. Thin steering wheel in hand, the rock of the body from corner to corner as the suspension loads up, automatic gearbox whirring away quietly, raucous exhaust note echoing off the rock walls, […]

2018 Subaru Levorg STI Sport v Skoda Octavia RS245 comparison review

Wagons… We’re constantly reminding readers about them here at CarAdvice. Don’t just sleepwalk into a dealer and buy an SUV like everyone else, when a wagon is more than likely the solution you need – it’s a message you’ll read and hear from us often. What about performance wagons then? What about affordable performance wagons? […]

2018 BMW X3 M40i pricing and specs

Local pricing and specifications for the BMW X3 M40i have been detailed this week ahead of a July arrival, with the new performance variant to kick off at $99,900 before on-road costs. Serving as the first ever M Performance version of the company’s popular SUV, the X3 M40i’s spec sheet is headlined by what’s under the bonnet […]

European buyers quickly warming to alternative fuels

European registrations of alternative-fuel vehicles grew 35.1 per cent in Q4 of 2017, contributing to impressive 39.7 growth over the whole year. A total of 227,378 alternative-fuel vehicles (AFVs) were registered in the European Union during Q4, accounting for 6.7 per cent of total sales. Pure-electric cars (dubbed electrically-chargeable by the EU) accounted for 1.9 […]

2018 Mazda 6 wagon facelift unveiled ahead of Geneva

The updated Mazda 6 wagon has been revealed ahead of its in-the-flesh debut at the Geneva motor show in March. Up front, the facelifted wagon adopts the changes first seen on the 6 sedan in November last year. This includes a new grille, headlamps and front fascia. Mazda has yet to issue any photos of […]

2018 Kia Ceed hatch to debut in Geneva without apostrophe

The new Kia Ceed has been teased ahead of its debut at the Geneva motor show. For the third-generation Europe-designed hatch, Kia has decided to ditch the troublesome apostrophe from the name. Kia’s European arm has also confirmed an unspecified “second model of the Ceed family” will debut alongside the new five-door hatch. In all […]

Mercedes-Benz X-Class: Australian interest high

Mercedes-Benz Australia is hoping local interest in its all-new 2018 X-Class translates to sales when the high-end ute goes on sale locally in April. A Mercedes-Benz Australia spokesperson confirmed the company had already received 8000 expressions of interest for the premium-badged dual-cab, the German marque’s first foray into the highly lucrative segment. The range starts at […]

2018 Jeep Compass review

If you rewind the clock to 2014, the previous-generation Jeep Compass managed to score one of the lowest scores we’ve ever awarded at CarAdvice – a 4.5/10. It was a car that seriously showed its age and lacked on the engine, interior and infotainment fronts. Thankfully that has all changed. The all-new Jeep Compass uses a […]

Chevrolet Bolt: Business case hinges on legislation

Holden has taken steps to bring a fully-electric car to the Australian market, but the business case depends on government support. In August 2017, Holden lodged a trademark application to protect the use of Chevrolet Bolt. The company then transported a vehicle to Australia for local testing – and display at the Holden Dream Cruise […]

2018 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter revealed

The 2018 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter has been revealed overnight in Duisburg, Germany, bringing a comprehensive technology update, the latest active safety systems, and a new front-wheel drive variant. Now in its third generation, the Sprinter aims to revolutionise the commercial van market, bringing Mercedes-Benz’s latest MBUX infotainment system – first seen in the all-new A-Class hatchback – along with […]

Mercedes-AMG patents ’40’, ’50’ and ’73’ badges in Europe

It seems Mercedes-AMG could be mulling a new line of  ’40’, ’50’ and ’73’ models, after trademarking several model names with new number designations. Documents submitted last year by Daimler to the European Union Patent and Trademark Office show Mercedes-AMG has trademarked ‘AMG 40’, ‘AMG 50’, ‘S73’, ‘GLS73’ and ‘G73′ for use in Europe. Considering no current models […]

Volkswagen Multivan Kombi 70 pricing and specs

The special-edition Volkswagen Multivan Kombi 70 has been detailed ahead of its March launch, priced from $64,990 drive-away. Limited to 120 units, the Kombi 70 is based on the Multivan TDI340 Comfortline, and comes exclusively with a DSG transmission. The special model celebrates 70 years “since the conception” of the original Kombi van, adding a range of […]

Volkswagen Amarok Dark Label confirmed for Australia

The Volkswagen Amarok Dark Label special edition has been confirmed and detailed for the Australian market, ahead of a local launch in April.

Limited to 500 units nationally, the Dark Label is positioned between the Highline and Ultimate variants of the German ute, though pricing is yet to be confirmed.

Specification highlights include ‘Vienna’ leather trim, heated front seats, a matte black sports bar and side steps, black wheel arch flares, special 18-inch anthracite alloy wheels, and a full black interior including the headliner and pillar trims.

Under the bonnet is the 3.0-litre V6 turbo-diesel shared with other Amarok variants, along with various models from the Audi and Porsche stables.

Outputs are rated at 165kW and 550Nm, with power jumping to 180kW on overboost for short periods. Drive is sent to a permanent four-wheel drive system via an eight-speed automatic transmission.

The confirmation of the Amarok Dark Label for our market comes after the special edition was first shown at last year’s Frankfurt motor show, complete with ‘Indium Grey’ matte paint and two tunes of the V6 turbo-diesel – for the European market at least.

Once again, Volkswagen has some fighting words hidden in its release about the special-edition ute, with local director for commercial vehicles, Carlos Santos, taking aim at the upcoming Mercedes-Benz X-Class.

“We’ve heard about this Mercedes-Benz collaboration with Nissan,” he said, “Don’t worry – the Amarok is not about to be left behind by the X-Class.”

Grab the popcorn…

We’re waiting on more images of the Amarok Dark Label, stay tuned for more pictures and pricing information closer to launch!

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2018 Renault Megane R.S. to be priced from around $45k

The hotly-anticipated Renault Megane R.S. will be priced from ‘circa $45,ooo’ when it arrives in the third quarter of this year, making it more expensive than the Volkswagen Golf GTI.

Renault will bring the car to Australia in ‘basic’ Sport trim initially, with prices kicking off from around $45,000 in manual guise. The electronic dual-clutch (EDC) transmission will cost an additional $2500, pushing the sticker to around $47,500.

By way of comparison, the manual Golf GTI starts at $41,490 and jumps to $43,990 with the DSG transmission. The more powerful (and three-door only) GTI Performance Edition 1 cost $47,990 at launch, but just 150 examples were available.

So, what does paying the extra get you in the Renault? Where the GTI makes 169kW and 350Nm, the 1.8-litre turbocharged Frenchie pumps out 205kW and 390Nm in base trim, jumping to 224kW in the range-topping, cup-chassis equipped Trophy.

Regardless of trim, the hot Megane should be well equipped. All variants get a digital instrument panel, an 8.7-inch central touchscreen and Apple CarPlay, along with bucket seats trimmed in Alcantara.

The manual hits 100km/h in 5.8 seconds, and tops out at 255km/h – 5 km/h faster than the dual-clutch. The manual is also lighter, weighing in at 1407kg instead of the EDC version’s 1430kg.

Global markets will have a Cup model sitting between the Sport and Trophy, but the Australian market will only get the Sport and Trophy.

Along with more power, the Trophy rides on a more focused ‘cup chassis’. Other spec differences (along with the price) are yet to be confirmed for the Australian market.

Stay tuned for our first drive review of the Megane R.S. in the coming days.

MORE: Megane RS news, reviews, comparisons and videos
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2018 Nissan X-Trail Ti long-term review, report one: introduction

In the second half of last year, we welcomed a facelifted Nissan X-Trail Ti to the CarAdvice Melbourne office’s long-termer garage.

As with all of our long-term reviews, our time with the mid-sized X-Trail would be spent in assessing its suitability for the modern family, in a market segment packed to the rafters with options.

The X-Trail Ti is the top-shelf petrol model, available in all-wheel-drive form only, matched exclusively to a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT).

Priced from $44,790 before on-road costs, the Ti sits far above the entry-level, front-wheel-drive, manual-geared $27,990 ST model ($30,490 for the CVT auto, $32,490 for the all-wheel-drive CVT).

Above: Do X-Trail owners really stand as proudly by their family haulers as this stumpy bloke? Sales in 2017 suggest they might…

Although the X-Trail can be had in both five- and seven-seat forms, the latter is available only in the front-wheel-drive ST and ST-L models. Our Ti, therefore, is a five-seater.

As part of its styling and equipment upgrade, the X-Trail gained a new front-end look and a more subtly revised rear (mostly the darkened tail lamps with a new LED treatment), along with the hot-button safety technology of the moment: autonomous emergency braking (AEB).

Interior tweaks are likewise minor, limited to a new-look steering wheel and gear lever design, and a revised centre console and arm rest.

Although a new diesel engine has joined the range, our test car is equipped with the same naturally-aspirated (‘non-turbo’) 2.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine that carried over from before the X-Trail’s upgrades.

That engine offers 126kW of power and 226Nm of torque, with a claimed fuel consumption figure of 8.3 litres per 100 kilometres (L/100km) on the combined cycle test, using standard 91RON petrol.

Standard kit from the base level includes LED daytime running lights up front, powered folding mirrors, a small tailgate-mounted spoiler, a rear-view camera, keyless entry and push-button start, 60/40 split-fold rear seats, and ISOFIX anchor points on the left and right rear seats.

Safety features in every model includes autonomous emergency braking (AEB) with forward collision warning, along with six airbags, a limited-slip differential, and hill-start assist.

Because our car is the top-shelf model, it also gets a number of features from the mid-spec ST-L model. Those include tinted rear windows, front fog-lights, leather-accented steering wheel and seats, six-way power-adjustable driver’s seat and four-way power-adjustable front passenger’s seat, driver lumbar support, roof rails, heated front seats, and dual-zone climate control.

There’s also a larger 7.0-inch infotainment display (up from five inches) with satellite navigation and traffic updates, DAB+ digital radio, 360-degree ‘Around View’ camera system with moving object detection, blind spot monitoring, and rear cross traffic alert.

Well-equipped by any measure, although Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and MirrorLink are all unavailable.

Features specific to the Ti (and TL in most cases) include 19-inch alloy wheels, heated door mirrors, an auto-dimming rear-view mirror, adaptive auto-levelling LED headlights, automatic wipers, motion-activated electric tailgate, a heated steering wheel, heated outer rear seats, a powered tilt and slide moonroof, and an eight-speaker Bose audio system. The option of tan leather-accented trim also exists.

Safety features for the Ti, beyond the standard, include lane departure warning, intelligent lane intervention, pedestrian protection for the AEB system, and intelligent adaptive cruise control.

With all five seats upright, the two-row X-Trail lists boot space at 565 litres, growing to 945 litres with the back seats folded. The floor is made up of two panels, which can be lifted to reveal a pair of handy compartments. Beneath those is a space-saver spare wheel.

Towing capacity is listed at 1500kg braked and 750kg unbraked. The tow-ball load rating is limited to 75kg, which falls short of leaders like the Cherokee Limited (239kg), Kia Sportage diesel (200kg), and the Subaru Forester 2.0D (180g).

In 2017, Nissan declared 18,955 sales for the X-Trail, making it the third best-selling medium SUV in Australia. Ahead of it was the Toyota RAv4 (21,077), Hyundai Tucson (23,828) and the Mazda CX-5 (25,831).

Fun fact: the Ti makes up just 10 per cent of X-Trail sales, with the most popular – owning 42 per cent of sales in the range – being the ST model we reviewed last year. As Mr Costello noted at the time, the ST’s sub-$30k price point is neatly justified. Can the more expensive Ti make a case for its positioning?

Watch for the next update on our long-termer to come in the week ahead.

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2018 Hyundai Santa Fe leaked

The next-generation Hyundai Santa Fe has been leaked on a Korean website, ahead of an expected reveal on February 7.

Posted on Daum, an exterior photo shows the all-new SUV with its Kona-inspired face, while an interior snap previews the overhauled cabin.

We don’t have images of the rear, unfortunately, but the photos we do have demonstrate the two-tier headlight design set to inspire the wider Hyundai SUV range, lashings of chrome, and new alloy wheels.

The skid plate-like treatment on the front bumper gives the Santa Fe a more purposeful look, while a strong side character line extends from the LED daytime-running light clusters all the way through to the tail-lights.

Inside, the Santa Fe looks very much like an enlarged i30, thanks to its floating infotainment system and minimalistic approach to buttons on the centre stack.

The cabin appears to have more leather-look surfaces on the dashboard and doors, while the instrument binnacle is dominated by a fully-digital speedo – like higher versions of the related Kia Sorento.

Expect wireless smartphone charging to also be available on the new model, along with more USB inputs for mobile-reliant families.

According to Daum’s post, the Santa Fe will also debut a new rear cross-collision avoidance system – essentially an autonomous emergency braking function for rear cross-traffic – along with the company’s latest infotainment system with remote services compatibility and an array of internet-based navigation and search functions.

The article also reveals a three-tier engine range – a 2.0-litre turbo-diesel, 2.2-litre turbo-diesel, and a 2.0-litre turbo petrol. Outputs aren’t confirmed at this stage, but a new eight-speed automatic transmission and new rack-driven electric power steering system are said to help achieve “best-in-class fuel economy”.

We’ll have to wait until the official reveal to get more details, so stay tuned…

CarAdvice will also be attending the international launch drive of the new Santa Fe in South Korea later this month, so expect locally-focused coverage and a first drive review in the coming weeks.

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2.23 million diesel cars on local roads: report

Diesel popularity is falling amid a storm of negative publicity, but there are still more than 2.2 million diesel passenger cars on Australian roads.

According to Roy Morgan, 45 per cent of Australians would still seriously consider buying a diesel – down from 50 per cent in 2016, but comfortably more than those considering an electric car (37 per cent) or an LPG vehicle (21 per cent).

Of the 2.23 million people driving diesels, 1.13 million live in capital cities, with the remaining 1.1 million located in regional areas. Accounting for population, that makes country buyers 36 per cent more likely to drive a diesel than city slickers.

New South Wales is the largest market for diesels (26.3 per cent of sales), while Queensland accounts for a whopping 24.9 per cent of all diesels, followed closely by Victoria (23.1 per cent). With 14.6 per cent of diesel vehicles, Western Australia punches well above its weight as well.

Interestingly, men account for 66.7 per cent of diesel drivers, with a (very slim) majority (31.5 per cent) aged between 35 and 49. Perhaps unsurprisingly, city-dwellers are likely to favour SUVs, while those living in the country favour dual-cab utes.

Don’t expect the stats to remain the way they are for long, though.

“With the speed of change taking place in this industry currently, particularly in areas such as electric cars, it is important to track consumers’ likely interest in these potential fuel changes,” said Norman Morris, industry communications director for Roy Morgan.

“Currently, 37% of the population say that they would seriously consider purchasing an electric vehicle, up from 29% just one year ago. This is now not far below the level of interest in diesel with 45% and well ahead of LPG on 21%, both of which are showing downward trends. The changes in technology such as driverless cars and fuel preferences have the potential to impact rapidly on vehicle purchasing intentions as they can be regarded as major disrupters”

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