CAR COMPARISONS: Januari 2022

Senin, 31 Januari 2022

2023 Toyota GR Corolla previewed in cryptic teaser – UPDATE

This is our first look at the new Toyota GR Corolla, with hints at its design, engine and power output.

UPDATE, 1 February 2022: A month after the last teaser, Toyota USA has taken to Instagram to tease the amped-up widebody styling of the 2022 Toyota GR Corolla.

Posted on the GR Corolla Forum prior to the teaser’s removal, a partially-blurred image on Toyota’s Instagram story shows the rear quarterpanel of a Corolla hatchback – which keen-eyed sleuths have identified features a flared rear wheel arch (as previewed in Japanese renderings), and a rear diffuser with visible exhaust tips similar to the smaller GR Yaris hot hatch.

The use of a non-camouflaged, seemingly near-production model – rather than the camouflage prototype seen in earlier teasers – suggests the 2022 Toyota GR Corolla’s reveal could be mere months away. Stay tuned to Drive for all the latest updates.

UPDATE, 30 December 2021: Toyota USA has teased the new 2023 Toyota GR Corolla once again – but this time, rather than an intentional tease, the camouflaged image above was published by accident to its Instagram account.

Saved by numerous Internet users prior to its removal, the latest image provides a clear look at the GR Corolla test car seen in earlier teasers, revealing flared wheel arches with cooling vents, and 18-inch Y-spoke alloy wheels.

Interestingly, the GR Corolla prototype is shown with a front bumper that’s seemingly identical to the standard Corolla, bar a revised honeycomb grille pattern – though it’s not clear if this is specific to the prototype, or whether the production model will in fact share the standard hatchback’s fascia design.

With the latest teaser providing such a clear look at the vehicle, it’s possible the new Toyota GR Corolla could debut at January’s Tokyo Auto Salon – the site of the GR Yaris’ unveiling two years ago – in prototype or production form. However, this is only speculation for now, and is yet to be confirmed.

Stay tuned to Drive for all the latest updates.

UPDATE, 3 December 2021: Toyota USA has returned to Instagram to tease its upcoming GR Corolla hot hatch.

This latest teaser provides a closer look at the camouflaged prototype than those before it, showing what appears to be the standard Corolla’s front bumper, rather than the more aggressive unit expected to be fitted to the GR – suggesting the camouflaged car might merely be a standard hatchback wrapped for Toyota marketing purposes, rather than a true test car.

The wheel arches appear to be wider than those of a normal Corolla hatch, and are now filled by grey Y-spoke alloy wheels (hiding what could be red brake calipers). ‘GR FOUR’ branding features along the vehicle’s doors, again all but confirming the all-wheel drive system.

We’ll continue to update this story as more 2023 Toyota GR Corolla teaser images come to hand. The original teaser story published last month continues below.

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24 November 2021: Toyota USA has provided our first look at the hotly-anticipated 2023 Toyota GR Corolla hot hatch, with a new teaser previewing its design, engine and power output.

Posted to Toyota USA’s Instagram page, the image – which at first glance merely shows a standard Corolla hatchback’s interior – hides a number of clues pointing to the GR Corolla’s mechanicals, and one big visual clue in the background of Toyota’s image: a full-sized, camouflaged GR Corolla prototype.

Wrapped in the same red and black camouflage used on pre-production versions of the GR Yaris and GR Supra, the Corolla’s positioning in the photo means styling details are impossible to make out. However, five doors can be identified, as can Toyota’s ‘GR’ specific front fascia design.

The blurry background car is joined by a number of other clues, led by ‘G:16’ script in the instrument cluster, referring to the ‘G16E-GTS’ engine code of the GR Yaris model’s 1.6-litre turbocharged three-cylinder petrol engine – all but confirming the unit for the larger car.

The climate control panel lists ‘2’ and ‘68’, likely a reference to the 268 horsepower (200kW) power output quoted by Toyota for the GR Yaris – suggesting the GR Corolla could match its smaller sibling on grunt, rather than receive a bump to 221kW (300hp), as rumoured in Japan.

Finally, zooming into the satellite navigation screen reveals ‘GR Four’ text above the mapped road – the name of the switchable all-wheel-drive system employed by the Yaris, with 60:40 front-to-rear Normal, 30:70 Sport and 50:50 Track modes.

Little else is known officially about the new GR Corolla – however rumours suggest it will launch overseas in mid-to-late 2022, with an Australian launch likely to follow in the months after.

Japanese magazines report it will retain the standard Corolla’s five-door layout, but add wider front and rear arches housing new wheels and tyres, and the potential for the limited-slip differentials seen in the smaller GR Yaris.

A flagship ‘Rallye’ model could be offered in the US, with a lightweight, motorsport focus and just two seats – though this is yet to be confirmed.

For more details on what we know so far about the new Toyota GR Corolla, click here to read our full story.

Stay tuned to Drive for all the latest 2023 Toyota GR Corolla news.

The post 2023 Toyota GR Corolla previewed in cryptic teaser – UPDATE appeared first on Drive.

2022 Cupra Ateca features detailed for Australia

Cupra has begun sharing equipment details of its Australian model range – starting with the Ateca small SUV, available in one fully-loaded variant with 221kW turbo-petrol power.

The inbound Spanish performance division of the Volkswagen Group, Cupra, has released more details on one of the three new models it will launch this July, the 2022 Cupra Ateca mid-size performance SUV.

New for Australia – but on sale in Europe since 2018, with a facelift in 2020 – the Ateca will launch locally with one fully-loaded ‘VZx’ variant, powered by a 221kW turbo four-cylinder engine, and equipped as standard with nearly all features offered by Cupra overseas.

Prices will be confirmed closer to launch, however it’s believed it could slide in below $60,000 before on-road costs – undercutting its similarly-sized but more potent twins under the skin, the 228kW Cupra Formentor(estimated below $65,000) and 235kW Volkswagen Tiguan R ($68,990, following a cut in price and equipment).

As reported earlier, Cupra vehicles in Australia will initially be sold online and handled through a network of approximately 12 showrooms, offering fixed, non-negotiable pricing.

However, the exact price buyers pay will vary slightly between states, given differences in stamp duty costs.

Powering the Cupra Ateca VZx is the Volkswagen Group’s familiar 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine, sending 221kW and 400Nm to all four wheels through a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. It’s good for a 0-100km/h sprint time of 4.9 seconds.

This engine tune will be shared with the range-topping petrol-only version of the Cupra Leon hot hatch, due in July – but will miss out on the title of the Spanish brand’s most powerful model to the 228kW/400Nm version of the Cupra Formentor.

Standard equipment in Australia’s Cupra Ateca will include 19-inch ‘Exclusive Sport’ alloy wheels, adaptive suspension, a 9.2-inch infotainment touchscreen, 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster, tri-zone climate control, wireless phone charging, a nine-speaker Beats sound system, and heated front bucket seats trimmed in Petrol Blue leather.

A full list of standard features is included at the bottom of this story – including the suite of active safety technologies on offer.

However, buyers will need to pay more for three items: 370mm front Brembo brake discs (up from 340mm), a power-operated panoramic sunroof, and a multi-mode sports exhaust system from Slovenian firm Akrapovic – with the Ateca currently the only VW Group model in Australia to offer the Akrapovic system.

Nevada White, Graphite Grey and Magic Black exterior colours are included in the base price, with Dark Camouflage available for an additional cost. Petrol Blue leather upholstery is standard no matter which exterior colour is selected.

Like the vehicle price, details of option and colour pricing will be announced closer to launch.

The 2022 Cupra Ateca VZx is due to go on sale in Australia in July, with a five-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty as standard. Stay tuned to Drive for details of Cupra’s other launch models (Leon and Formentor) in the coming weeks – and Ateca pricing, once it’s announced.

2022 Cupra Ateca VZx standard features:

19-inch Exclusive Sport wheels in Black and Copper (with 18-inch space-saver spare)
LED headlights and tail-lights (with dynamic rear indicators)
Adaptive dampers (with drive modes)
Progressive sport steering
9.2-inch infotainment touchscreen with satellite navigation, and wireless and wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
10.25-inch digital instrument cluster
Petrol Blue leather seat upholstery
Heated front sports bucket seats
Power-adjustable driver’s seat with memory
Heated leather sports steering wheel with paddle shifters
Leather gear selector with copper accents
Tri-zone climate control
Wireless phone charging
Nine-speaker, 340-watt Beats sound system (plus subwoofer)
Ambient interior lighting
Keyless entry and start
Hands-free power tailgate
Automatic headlights (with auto high beam) and wipers
Auto-folding heated side mirrors with memory
Puddle light projection
Dark aluminium mirror caps and black exterior trim
Rear privacy glass
Illuminated sill plates
Aluminium pedals
Autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection
Lane-keep assist
Adaptive cruise control
Blind-spot monitoring (with safe exit assist)
Rear cross-traffic alert
Driver fatigue detection
Park Assist
Front and rear parking sensors
360-degree camera

2022 Cupra Ateca VZx options:

Akrapovic sports exhaust
Brembo performance brakes
Electric panoramic sunroof

The post 2022 Cupra Ateca features detailed for Australia appeared first on Drive.

Minggu, 30 Januari 2022

End of an era: Suttons City sold in multimillion-dollar real estate deal

One of Australia’s largest and most iconic car dealerships has been sold in a multimillion-dollar real estate deal, as land tax puts the squeeze on showrooms in prime locations.

EXCLUSIVE

Suttons City – one of Australia’s largest dealership sites, a new-car “supermarket” representing more than a dozen automotive brands in one location, and an iconic Sydney landmark – has been sold for an undisclosed sum to property developers.

The site will close its doors on 30 June 2022 after opening 28 years ago – in 1994 – as a standalone Holden dealership.

Back then, the Suttons Holden site at Rosebery was surrounded by vacant land and the remnants of its time as a manufacturing hub and an industrial zone in the decades prior.

Today, Suttons City is surrounded by high-rise residential apartments, as population pressure continues to put the squeeze on demand for new property.

Drive understands the owners of the Rosebery site – the Sutton family, who have operated car dealerships since 1943 but ramped up their operations with the emergence of Holden in 1948 – had been approached to sell the sought-after property multiple times in recent years.

However, it is believed a deal was reached late last year and finalised early this year after annual land tax bills estimated to cost close to $5 million made the property unviable for new-car sales.

The identity of the property developer who bought the 4.45-hectare (11-acre) site has not been disclosed, however the Suttons City location is surrounded by Meriton apartments, many of them still under construction.

Approximately 200 staff work at Suttons City which has new-car showrooms for 12 major automotive brands: Hyundai, Kia, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Subaru, Isuzu, Great Wall Motors Haval, Suzuki, Jeep, Ram, LDV and General Motors Specialty Vehicles.

Combined, these brands accounted for more than one-third of all new vehicles sold in Australia last year, making Suttons City one of the country’s largest and most diverse one-stop shops for new and used cars.

Until recently, the Suttons City Rosebery site was also home to showrooms for Holden, Honda, and Renault.

The closure of Suttons City – just 5km from the Sydney CBD – means customers who own a vehicle from one of these affected brands will likely need to travel further for sales, service, parts, and warranty support.

It leaves Sydney City Toyota at Waterloo and Glebe – and separate dealerships for Ford, Mazda, and MG in Alexandria – as the remaining mainstream automotive brands with showrooms within 5km of the Sydney CBD.

The only other automotive dealerships to survive Sydney’s exorbitant annual land tax bills are luxury marques such as Rolls-Royce, Jaguar, Land-Rover, Aston Martin, and McLaren – which are under one roof in Alexandria.

Drive understands Suttons City plans to relocate most of its car brands and staff to other Suttons dealership locations across metropolitan Sydney including Arncliffe, Concord, Roseville, Mosman, Willoughby, Lindfield, Chullora, Homebush, Guildford, and Eastern Creek.

An application has been made to sell the Kia and Subaru dealerships in Suttons City to the Autosports Group, which will represent those brands at one of its nearby locations if it gains approval from the vehicle manufacturers.

A filing to the Australian Stock Exchange last week said: “Autosports Group Limited has entered into a non-binding heads of agreement with Suttons Motors Pty Limited to purchase the businesses currently trading as Suttons Subaru Rosebery and Suttons City Kia in NSW.

The bulletin noted the transaction is yet to receive “manufacturer approvals.”

The closure of Suttons City is not only the end of an era, but changes the landscape of Sydney new-car retailing – and will send some car brands scrambling to find dealership representation near the CBD.

Higher costs for land – and land tax – have pushed new-car showrooms further from the Sydney CBD each year.

While car buyers are willing to travel across Sydney when comparing prices, the lack of convenient service locations near the city will likely impact thousands of customers.

Suttons City has 92 workshop bays on the site, which could service the cars of more than 350 customers each weekday.

In recent years, Suttons City has sold more than 1000 new cars a month – or more than 12,000 new cars each year – making it one of the largest family-owned operations in Australia.

The post End of an era: Suttons City sold in multimillion-dollar real estate deal appeared first on Drive.

2023 Volkswagen ID. Buzz: First look inside the upcoming electric ‘Kombi’

The production version of the zero-emission bus will launch later this year, and is already on the “wishlist” for Volkswagen Australia.

The cabin of the upcoming electric 2022 Volkswagen ID. Buzz has broken cover early, courtesy of the VW ID Talk forum.

The vehicle – which draws aesthetic inspiration from the classic Kombi van – is due to launch later this year, and is already on the local “wishlist” for Volkswagen Australia.

While the German manufacturer has teased the exterior in camouflage for multiple months, this is the first time we’ve had a clear view behind the glass.

The newest images reveal many of the the same styling cues featured in existing ID models, however a high roof, stow-away rear seats, and flat floor allow for significant storage space.

A digital instrument cluster and large infotainment screen – likely the same 12-inch unit fitted to the Volkswagen ID.4 – can also be made out behind a shrouding piece of cloth.

The concept version of the ID Buzz broke cover in 2017, and was spied in production guise for the first time last year.

Above: Camouflaged images of the final product, the original ID Buzz concept, and spy photos of the production car during testing.

Underpinned by the MEB modular architecture, some rumours have suggested two powertrain layouts will be offered: a 200kW rear-wheel drive single motor variant, and a 275kW all-wheel drive dual-motor variant.

The entry-level model will likely be fitted with an 82kWh lithium-ion battery pack, while the latter will adopt a 111kWh power bank. Respective ranges have previously been estimated between 435km and 600km, however this is yet to be confirmed.

However, it’s also likely the ID. Buzz will lift its power options from the related ID.4 SUV, which in flagship guise offers one 150kW electric motor on the rear axle, or two motors (one on each axle) developing 220kW. These are paired to 77kWh (net, or 82kWh gross) battery packs.

The legend returns on 03/09/22! pic.twitter.com/Q4hFyCN5mr
— Herbert Diess (@Herbert_Diess) January 6, 2022

Earlier this month Volkswagen CEO Herbert Diess confirmed on Twitter the production-ready variant of the ID Buzz will be revealed in full on 9 March 2022.

While Volkswagen Australia is yet to offer an electric vehicle to local customers, a spokesperson for the marque told Drive: “The ID Buzz is certainly on the wishlist for our market, and commercial negotiations are already underway with the factory for the vehicle.”

The post 2023 Volkswagen ID. Buzz: First look inside the upcoming electric ‘Kombi’ appeared first on Drive.

Alpine GT X-Over electric SUV due by 2025, next A110 to go electric

Renault’s electric performance car brand Alpine has named its new SUV and sports car, ahead of their launches – alongside a pint-sized hot hatch – by 2026.

French brand Alpine – the revitalised electric performance offshoot of mainstream brand Renault, and the successor to Renault Sport – has outlined new details of its future, confirming names for two of its three new models.

As reported last year, Alpine (pronounced al-peen) will be reinvented under new Renault CEO Luca de Meo as an electric performance brand, offering three new models: a Ford Fiesta ST-sized hot hatch, Porsche Macan-sized mid-size coupe SUV, and a two-door sports car co-developed with the UK’s Lotus.

Alpine has now confirmed its new SUV could wear the GT X-Over name – with X-Over likely translating to crossover (an alternate term to describe an SUV), suggesting this badge may be provisional and won’t reach showrooms – and will launch in 2024 or 2025.

Meanwhile, the brand’s upcoming sports car will carry on the A110 nameplate currently applied to Alpine’s sole 2022 production car – with roots dating back to the iconic 1960s coupe of the same name, for which the company is known.

Alpine is yet to confirm the name for its new hot hatch, however it’s all but confirmed it will be a version of the upcoming Renault 5 electric reboot – with quotes from Renault executives pointing to a simple but effective ‘Renault 5 Alpine’ nameplate.

The new GT X-Over will be produced in the same Dieppe, France factory as today’s petrol-powered A110 sports car – and formerly home to the Clio RS hot hatch – which will be renamed Manufacture Alpine Dieppe Jean Rédélé, honouring the founder of Alpine in 1955, prior to Renault ownership.

Underpinned by the Renault group’s CMF-EV platform, Renault engineering boss Gilles Le Borgne has previously confirmed the new SUV will be powered by a 160kW electric motor on the front axle, paired with “a big surprise” driving the rear wheels, likely a second electric motor.

“For the CMF-EV platform we will keep the 215bhp [160kW] e-motor in the front, and in the rear we will have a big surprise. We want to do torque vectoring, have really amazing handling and performance – as you can imagine for an Alpine. We are working on that,” the executive said.

The new Alpine SUV’s twin under the skin, the Nissan Ariya, develops 290kW and 600Nm in range-topping, dual-motor, 87kWh Performance guise, good for a 0-100km/h time of 5.1 seconds.

It’s not clear whether this system leverages the aforementioned 160kW electric motor, or whether the Alpine will offer more power and torque. It’s also worth noting that so far, the 160kW motor has only been paired with the Ariya’s smaller 63kWh battery, rather than the larger 87kWh pack.

Above: The current Alpine A110 sports car.

Teaser images released by the car maker show the new Alpine GT X-Over will adopt a coupe SUV profile similar to the upcoming electric Porsche Macan or Volkswagen ID.5, with dimensions similar to these mid-size SUV models.

Alpine says it plans for the GT X-Over to offer “features and equipment like no other on the segment” – but didn’t go into detail about what these would be.

The entire Alpine electric range – comprising the R5 Alpine hot hatch, GT X-Over SUV and A110 sports car – is slated to launch between 2024 and 2026, with the SUV due “by 2025”.

Stay tuned to Drive for all the latest updates.

The post Alpine GT X-Over electric SUV due by 2025, next A110 to go electric appeared first on Drive.

Renault, Nissan and Mitsubishi: Not every car will be a copycat design, “leader follower” scheme explained

Affiliated car brands Renault, Nissan, and Mitsubishi will work closer than ever before on their next-generation vehicles – but key models will maintain unique designs and be differentiated by more than badges, the company says.

The Renault, Nissan and Mitsubishi Alliance insists jointly-developed future vehicles will not simply be clones of one another – and key models will maintain a unique visual identity – even though the conglomerate plans to to cut costs by sharing more models than ever before.

Announced in 2020, the new ‘Leader-Follower Scheme’ will see one brand lead the development of a particular vehicle, and the other brands adapt it to suit their needs.

Today, 60 per cent of the brand’s vehicles are twins under the skin and share engines. Now the car giant says 80 per cent of future models will share ‘platforms’ and key components by 2026.

Such close ties have sparked fears each brands could become homogenised – differentiated only by mild styling changes – rather than the unique bodies, dimensions and interiors that separate the latest cars from Renault, Nissan and Mitsubishi, including the new Mitsubishi Outlander and Nissan X-Trail family SUVs.

During a Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance presentation on Thursday night, Nissan president and CEO Makoto Uchida shed light on how the new Leader-Follower program will operate – and how future vehicles in the same categories and markets will stand out from their siblings.

Now it is clear some models may have only a low level of differentiation (such as a grille or badge), others may have a medium level of differentiation (common doors but new front and rear sheetmetal), while certain model lines will have a high level of differentiation (unique bodywork and interior but same underbody). The theme is illustrated above.

The idea is to capitalise on the strengths of each model, and appoint that division as the project leader.

While the other brands in the Alliance will have input into the design and engineering of vehicles they are adopting, they are “followers” and must adapt the donor vehicle – with differences ranging from subtle styling changes to all-new bodywork.

These levels of differentiation will be split up into three tiers – Low, Mid and High – and are applied to different vehicle types depending on their importance to the company.

‘Low’ tier vehicles will differ through mild styling changes, including “lighting signatures, exterior plastic parts, and some interior styling elements,” according to CEO Uchida – with graphics displayed on screen showing wheel designs and bumpers (but not bonnets) will also be included.

Cars in the ‘Mid’ tier will “differentiate further by changing some exterior body stamping parts, as well as certain [parts] of interiors,” according to Uchida – namely whole front and rear ends, and even the doors on some cars (but not the shape of the windows, known as the ‘glasshouse’).

Sitting atop the tree are ‘High’ class vehicles, which at minimum wear unique exterior styling for everything except the glasshouse – and at maximum, completely bespoke exteriors and interiors (glasshouse included).

Mitsubishi president and CEO Takao Sato cited the Alliance’s CMF-C/D platform – which underpins the new Nissan Qashqai, Nissan X-Trail, Mitsubishi Outlander, upcoming Renault Austral, and a new seven-seat Renault as an example of ‘Mid/High’ differentation.

These vehicles are built in different factories, wear unique bodywork, and house unique interior designs – but share the Alliance’s CMF-C/D platform, use similar engines, and some other elements including touchscreens (both Nissan models, and Mitsubishi) and wheelbase (X-Trail and Outlander).

Other ‘High’ category vehicles include the Renault Captur and Nissan Juke, and Nissan Ariya and Renault Megane E-Tech Electric – both pairings sharing platforms (CMF-B and CMF-EV respectively) and powertrains, but with bespoke bodies and interiors.

‘Mid’ category vehicles include Europe’s Renault Kangoo and Nissan Townstar vans – which differ only in their front ends, wheel designs and steering wheels – while Mitsubishi and Nissan’s Japanese ‘kei’ hatchbacks are considered ‘Low’, with front bumper, headlight and badge differences only.

“We are adapting a smart differentiation approach to drive cost competitiveness, while at the same time we will maintain brand distinction and the iconic design language of our models,” said Nissan CEO Makoto Uchida.

“So far our joint collaboration has led to significant levels of communisation across the main areas of the business: platforms, powertrains and production. Building further on the leader-follower scheme and using a smart differentiation approach, we will expand upper body part sharing.

“At the Low level, we modify brand-specific features such as lighting signature, exterior plastic parts, and some interior styling elements, while at Mid level we differentiate further by changing some exterior body stamping parts, as well as certain level of interiors. At the High levels, the differences are much more pronounced, including overall body styling and full interior changes.”

The Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance will use the “smart differentiation” system and Leader-Follower model to increase the percentage of vehicles on ‘common platforms’ from 60 per cent today, to 80 per cent of the Alliance’s combined 90 models by 2026.

What about the 2023 Mitsubishi ASX?

One of the most important models to emerge from the Alliance’s new strategies will be the next-generation Mitsubishi ASX, confirmed for Europe in early 2023.

Like many other models under the Alliance’s brands, the new European-market ASX will draw its platform and powertrains from a Renault “best-seller”, believed to be the Renault Captur, including its CMF-B front-wheel-drive architecture, and hybrid and plug-in hybrid options.

However, a teaser image released by the Japanese car maker suggests the new ASX will share its twin’s core body shell and bonnet, but with a new front end – placing it in the ‘Low’ or ‘Mid’ category.

For more details on the new Mitsubishi ASX, click here to read Drive’s full story.

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