Toyota does U-turn, confirms thousands of Australian customers hit by latest data breach

A fortnight after its most recent customer data breach in Japan, Toyota Australia has confirmed the details of almost 3000 local owners were exposed in the technology hack.

Japanese car giant Toyota has confirmed customers in Australia have been caught up in last month’s data breach of more than 2 million customers globally.

Toyota Australia has today confirmed approximately 2800 local customers had their data accessed by computer hackers.

It Toyota Japan’s second major data breach in six months; last year the personal details of more than 300,000 customers were accessed.

News agency Reuters reports, in the latest computer hack, the vehicle data of 2.15 million Toyota customers in Japan – almost all owners who signed up for the company’s cloud services from 2012 – had been “publicly available for a decade due to human error”.

After initially saying Toyota customers in Australia were not affected, the company has since done a U-turn.

However, today Toyota Australia issued the following statement: “On 12 May 2023, Toyota Motor Corporation confirmed the vehicle data of some users in Japan had been publicly accessible due to an error in the configuration of a cloud-based database.

“At the time of that notification, it was our understanding no Australian data was included but, upon continued investigation, we now know that a … number of Australian records have been impacted.

“Our investigations have found no evidence the data has been accessed, and we have concluded the probability is extremely low that any third party could have accessed it.

“While the data may include vehicle information, as well as some personal information such as names and some contact information, no personal financial details are included.

“Toyota Australia recognises the concern this may cause to our customers, and we are working to contact directly those impacted to advise them of the situation, and to detail the measures we have taken to ensure the security of our systems and their data.

“We continue to liaise with Toyota head office in Japan, and we will provide updates should additional information become available.”

Any Toyota customers who have signed up to the company’s ‘cloud-based’ services or data tracking can contact Toyota customer assistance to see if and how they are affected by calling 1800 869 682.

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2022-2023 Toyota Corolla Cross recalled in Australia due to park brake fault

An electrical fault with the brake actuator assembly could result in the electronic park brake failing, increasing the risk of a vehicle rolling away when parked.

Toyota Australia has recalled 1258 petrol variants (excluding hybrid) of its 2022-2023 Toyota Corolla Cross, citing a fault with the electronic parking brake software which could result in a failure of the park brake and cause the vehicle to roll away.

The affected vehicles were manufactured between February 2022 and April 2023.

Ahead of the recall notice being lodged with the Department of Infrastructure, Toyota says: “There is a possibility the brake actuator assembly may falsely detect an overcurrent condition of the electronic parking brake (EPB) actuator and enter a failsafe mode.

“This mode illuminates the malfunction indicator lamp (MIL), displays the message “Parking Brake Malfunction, Visit Your Dealer” on the multi-information display (MID), and prevents the EPB from being engaged or disengaged.

“If the EPB cannot be engaged, and the EPB MIL and MID warnings are ignored, and the vehicle is parked on an incline or decline without being placed into “Park”, then the vehicle could roll away, increasing the risk of a crash.”

Date of recall notice	25 May 2023
Make	Toyota
Model	Corolla Cross (petrol variants only, not hybrid)
Year	2022-2023
Vehicles affected	1285
VIN list	From 0J000003 to 0J001343
Contact	Toyota Recall Campaign Helpline on 1800 987 366

The recall notice says “of the total 1285 [affected] vehicles [in Australia], 962 have been delivered to customers and the remainder will be rectified prior to new vehicle delivery”.

The Vehicle Identification Numbers (VIN) affected vehicles fall between 0J000003 and 0J001343 although Toyota Australia notes “not all vehicles in these VIN ranges were sold in the Australian market”.

Toyota Australia advises owners of affected vehicles can continue to drive their cars, “however, we request owners contact their local/preferred Toyota dealership to arrange recall completion and carefully check that the EPB is engaged when parking your vehicle. This can be done by ensuring the malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) is not illuminated and there is no ‘Parking Brake Malfunction, Visit Your Dealer’ message displayed.”

Owners can contact their local Toyota dealer in the first instance or the Toyota Recall Campaign Helpline on 1800 987 366 (Monday to Friday 8.00am to 6.00pm AEDT).

To have your Toyota Corolla Cross petrol checked, find your closest Toyota dealership by clicking here.

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Bugatti owners unleash 400km/h hypercars on space shuttle runway

More than a dozen owners of the Bugatti Chiron – one of the world’s fastest cars – were invited to test their limits at more than 400km/h on the former space shuttle runway.

French car-maker Bugatti has given 18 owners of its luxury hypercars the experience of a lifetime – allowing them to legally go faster than 400km/h on the former NASA space shuttle runway in Florida.

Held at the Kennedy Space Centre’s Launch and Landing Facility – which served as the final stop for NASA’s space shuttles from 1979 to 2011 – the ‘Bugatti 400 Drive’ took place in April 2023 for certain customers of the French brand from around the world.

The goal for the 18 Bugatti owners was to reach at least 400km/h on the 3.0-mile (4.8-kilometre) runway in a fleet of Chiron hypercars – a target which they all met, and subsequently passed.

Bugatti claims all 18 customers reached up to 412 km/h – just 8km/h shy of the Chiron’s 420km/h top speed – with each participant later receiving a tailored Bugatti race suit and helmet inscribed with the highest speed they achieved.

In a video posted to YouTube, Bugatti showed off the eye-watering speeds the hypercars can achieve when given enough space to accelerate and then slow down again.

The Bugatti Chiron set the production car record for the fastest 0-400-0km/h time in 2017, doing so in 41.96 seconds on a 3.2-kilometre closed circuit – a feat made possible by its its 1117kW/1600Nm 8.0-litre W16 engine.

It’s not the first time a civilian has taken a Chiron close to its claimed top speed, but it is so far the only time Bugatti has enabled its owners to do so legally.

Last year, Czech billionaire Radim Passer hit 416km/h while driving his Bugatti Chiron on a speed-unlimited stretch of Germany’s autobahn highway.

While the stunt drew both criticism and praise after being uploaded to YouTube, German prosecutors dropped their attempts to charge the businessman, finding he had not violated any laws.

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Renewed calls to mandate AM radio in cars – also used for emergency alerts in bushfires and floods – as the simple but reliable tech disappears

An Australian Government report has warned the removal of AM radio from new cars could have life-threatening consequences in emergency situations in remote areas, where there is no phone signal or internet connection. But the number of vehicles without the simple but far-reaching broadcast technology continues to grow.

Authorities and safety experts have renewed calls to make AM radio compulsory in new cars – as a reliable back-up for emergency alerts during bushfires, floods and other natural disasters in remote areas where there is no phone signal – as the number of motor vehicles without the simple but effective technology continues to grow.

The rise in the number of new cars introduced without AM radio – including in Australia – is making headlines overseas and some countries, such as the United States, are proposing the basic but far-reaching technology become mandatory due to its ability to broadcast alerts to people who may be stranded in regional areas where there is no phone signal or internet connection.

An Australian Government report has found AM radio – one of the oldest formats of broadcast technology – still plays a life-saving role for motorists during emergencies and natural disasters because its frequencies can travel further than other forms of communication and from fewer transmission towers.

Some car-makers claim they are removing AM radio in electric vehicles due to the interference caused by electric motors – even though not all electric cars have deleted AM radio.

And there are also a number of petrol and diesel cars currently on sale locally without AM radio.

Tesla, Volvo and Polestar do not offer AM radio across their Australian line-ups, while certain Peugeots (308, 508 and 2008), Citroens (C4, C5 X and C5 Aircross Sport) and Volkswagen Group models (Cupra Born, VW Arteon, T6.1 and Caddy) are also sold locally without the simple-but-effective technology.

In all of the above cases, the decision to drop AM radio appears to be a cost-cutting measure given most similar vehicles from rival brands have retained AM radio capability.

While AM radio is perceived as outdated broadcast technology, it has a much longer range than FM radio – allowing information about life-threatening emergencies and natural disasters to be broadcast across greater distances without interruption. It is especially useful in areas where there is no phone signal, or where a mobile phone signal could easily get cut off.

AM radio can provide life-saving information during bushfires and floods

The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) – a sub-branch of the Department of Communications – released its report into the future of radio in 2020, following the first instances of AM radio being removed from certain new cars in Australia.

The report – titled ‘The Future Delivery of Radio’ – found AM radio in cars is still essential in Australia, especially for those who live in or are travelling through regional and rural areas.

“AM radio plays a vital role in informing these communities during natural disasters and emergencies,” said the ACMA report. 

“AM broadcasting will continue to play an important role in the delivery of radio in regional and remote Australia for the medium to long term, in areas where other platforms cannot reach.

“In-vehicle listening is particularly important in regional and remote Australia, with long-driving distances between population centres and the reliance on radio for emergency information.

“While technologies that deliver radio to fixed addresses are apparent, new digital delivery technologies will be needed to fill the ‘reception gap’ between major towns currently filled by AM transmissions.”

The Ford F-150 Lightning’s AM radio function was removed last year, but it is set to return with a software update

Earlier this month, US senators introduced proposed legislation to mandate the broadcast technology in all new cars, which The Verge reports received bipartisan support.

This prompted Ford CEO Jim Farley to announce the car-maker would back-track on its decision to remove AM radio from its new vehicles in the US – such as the F-150 Lightning electric truck and new Mustang muscle car – after meeting with law-makers.

While Mr Farley promoted digital radio and streaming services as an alternative to AM radio, the modern broadcast tech is less reliable in the event of a natural disaster as they require clearer and closer coverage than the older broadcast system.

Ford will also roll out a software update to vehicles in the US which were not equipped with the ability to receive AM radio during production, now allowing them to use the technology.

A spokesperson for Ford Australia told Drive the new Mustang was always intended to be sold locally with AM radio, despite the initial plan to drop the feature in the US.

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Video – Insta-idiot rides on the back of a Corvette on US highway

The quest for social media likes is pushing people to make some pretty poor decisions, as this group in the US shows.

A group of idiotic thrill-seekers have filmed each other doing wheelies on their motorcycles on a US highway – while a man sat on the boot of a Chevrolet Corvette while the car is travelling at speed.

And then posted the video on social media platform Instagram in a misguided attempt at gaining notoriety.

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The footage, captured on US Highway 71 in Kansas City, Missouri, shows the group performing stunts on the road in broad daylight.

The man on the Corvette is initially seen casually eating Reeces chocolate and then filming the riders with no protective gear, or even shoes, as the car is driven along the road.

The C7 Corvette Z06, with Texas plates does not appear to be moving quickly, but even at moderate speed, the man could be severely injured if he fell off.

While commenters on the video are largely unsupportive of the risky behaviour, at the time of writing the clip had amassed more than 55,000 ‘likes’ and had been viewed more than 630,000 times.

It is unclear if local authorities have taken action or plan to do so.

In Australia, police are increasingly using photo and video evidence posted on social media showing dangerous stunts.

While the reckless drivers may not be caught in the act, the law is catching up with them after the fact – thanks to the breadcrumbs left behind on social media – and issuing fines and seizing cars.

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F1 ace Fernando Alonso’s Ferrari Enzo heading to auction in Monaco

Fernando Alonso is sending his Ferrari Enzo supercar to auction, almost a decade after the Spaniard won his last Formula One race driving for the Scuderia.

A rare Ferrari Enzo supercar, currently owned by two-time Formula One world champion Fernando Alonso, is heading to auction in Monte Carlo next week – and it’s estimated to sell for more than €5 million ($AU8.2 million).

In a post on social media platform Instagram, Monaco Car Auctions announced the Enzo will be the centrepiece of its upcoming Ferrari-dedicated ‘L’astarossa’ auction, set to be held in Monte Carlo on June 8, 2023.

While the Ferrari Enzo is a rare car in its own right – with just 399 examples produced for the general public, plus one for the Vatican – this particular supercar is one of just three which is believed to have been owned by one of the Italian marque’s Formula One drivers.

Fernando Alonso raced for Ferrari in Formula One between 2010 and 2014, finishing second in the championship three times (2010, 2012, 2013) and winning 11 races for the Scuderia, including his last recorded victory at the 2013 Spanish Grand Prix.

Prior to his arrival at Ferrari, the Spaniard won two world championships with Renault (2005, 2006), while he has since returned to the podium in the 2023 season with Aston Martin.

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Monaco Car Auctions does not say whether Alonso is this Ferrari Enzo’s only owner – or whether he was gifted it by the company – though a post on the Ferrari Chat online fan forum from 2011 claims Michael Schumacher and Kimi Raikkonen were the only Formula One drivers who had owned examples of the supercar.

Additional famous Ferrari Enzo owners also include Pink Floyd drummer Nick Mason, hall of fame guitarist Eric Clapton and Australian trucking magnate Lindsay Fox – the latter of which has a red example with a yellow roof in honour of his Linfox trucks.

The auction house claims Fernando Alonso’s Enzo has just 4800km on its odometer as well as the first production body shell – or ‘Scocca n.1’ – to be made, which has reportedly been verified by Ferrari’s ‘Classiche’ in-house restoration program.

An example of the Ferrari Enzo which was auctioned last year

As with all Ferrari Enzos, the supercar is powered by a 6.0-litre V12 engine, delivering up to 485kW and 657Nm to the rear wheels through a six-speed ‘automated manual’ gearbox.

UK publication Top Gear estimates Fernando Alonso’s Ferrari Enzo could sell at auction for more than €5 million ($AU8.2 million) – a price which would put it within touching distance of the auction record for the supercar.

In 2021, RM Sotheby’s sold the 400th Ferrari Enzo – which had been gifted to His Holiness Pope John Paul II – for $US6.05 million ($AU9.32 million) which remains as the highest recorded price for the supercar yet.

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Video – Distracted driver launches Nissan off tow-truck ramp, like a movie stunt

If you’ve ever wondered what would happen if you used a flatbed truck as a jump ramp in the real world – just like in the movies – wonder no more.

A police officer in Georgia, USA has captured spectacular footage of the moment a driver launched their car from the ramp of a parked tow truck and sailed through the air.

The video initially shared on the social media platform Reddit shows a police officer responding to an accident on one side of the road, before a “rubber-necking” driver of a Nissan sedan on the other side of the road became distracted by the first fender-bender – and unwittingly veered onto the tow truck ramp at speed, launching the car into the air like a movie stunt.

As seen in the clip, the car smashes through the steel back-plate of the ramp and over the truck before rolling onto the ground, where it collides with another car, before coming to rest on its wheels.

The tow truck driver narrowly escapes injury as the car and debris pass over his head.

According to reports from US publisher, The Drive, the Nissan Altima travelled approximately 35 metres through the air before hitting the other car, which was another Nissan Altima. The female driver survived and was transported to hospital. The report notes the driver was not wearing a seatbelt and will be charged.

The driver may also face prosecution for breaking Georgia’s ‘Move Over’ law – similar to Australian rules that require drivers to slow when passing emergency service vehicles – which requires drivers to change lanes when passing emergency vehicles.

A side note, the crash also shows that with a steeper ramp (to clear the height of the truck) and faster speed, the final leap by Nicholas Cage’s ‘Eleanor’ Mustang in the film Gone in 60 Seconds may have been possible after all.

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2023 MG 4 X-Power electric hot hatch a step closer to Australia

The MG 4 X-Power electric car from China promises Tesla-like acceleration in a smaller, cheaper, hatchback body. It is expected to reach Australia later this year.

The 2023 MG 4 X-Power from China – which will be among the first in a new market of electric hot hatchbacks – is expected in Australian showrooms later this year, pending any delays.

The X-Power is the all-wheel-drive high-performance version of the new MG 4 electric car, with dual electric motors claimed to produce 320kW and 600Nm – and accelerate from zero to 100km/h in 3.8 seconds.

X-Power is the name given to a range of performance production and concept cars in MG’s final years of British ownership, before the company went into administration in 2005, and came under the control of Chinese car giant, the Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation (SAIC) in 2007.

European model pictured in black, Chinese model pictured in white and green.

MG Motor Australia says the electric hot hatch remains under consideration for local showrooms, however Drive has discovered the company has already submitted the paperwork to approve the vehicle for sale in Australia.

Prices are yet to be confirmed, but it is expected to be similarly priced or dearer than the current top-of-the-range MG 4 model, the 77kWh Long Range priced from $55,990 plus on-road costs.

The MG is more powerful than Australia’s quickest petrol-powered hot hatch, the $100,000 Audi RS3, which quotes 294kW/500Nm and a 3.8-second sprint time.

It fits between the Tesla Model 3 Long Range – which quotes 366kW (according to government data) and 4.4 seconds – and the Tesla Model 3 Performance, which claims 393kW and 3.3 seconds.

MG previously quoted a power output of 330kW for the Chinese model, however this has now been revised down to 320kW for export models, and 315kW for Chinese-market versions.

The X-Power uses the 64kWh (gross capacity, or 61.7kWh useable) ternary lithium battery from middle-of-the-range MG 4 models, rather than the 77kWh long-range battery in the flagship model.

Driving range in lenient lab testing in China is claimed as 460 kilometres, compared to 520km for a rear-wheel-drive model with the same battery pack.

Chinese MG 4 X-Power.

A figure for the X-Power in more stringent European WLTP lab testing is yet to be confirmed; the standard rear-drive 64kWh model claims 435km to 450km in these conditions, depending on the wheel size and fitment of a rear spoiler.

European media reports have detailed more comprehensive changes under the skin to back up the power upgrades than initially outlined in China.

Upgrades are said to include tweaked suspension tuning, a torque-vectoring system controlled through braking, a launch-control mode, new orange brake calipers, and larger brake discs.

MG has advised Spanish media the brakes measure 345x30mm at the front, and 340x22mm at the rear – up from 300x25mm and 300x12mm respectively – with the rear discs now ventilated on the X-Power, in addition to the front discs (like the standard car).

Some reports claim the X-Power gains unique springs, dampers and anti-roll bars compared to the standard model, however this is yet to be verified.

The wheels measure 18 inches, as with 64kWh Essence and Long Range models in Australia, but they gain a new all-alloy design – rather than a simpler alloy with a plastic aero cover – and are wrapped in 235/45 R18 Bridgestone tyres, replacing the standard Continentals.

It is worth noting the Bridgestone tyres fitted are from the Turanza line – oriented at comfort and reducing noise – rather than its Potenza range aimed at performance cars.

Visual differences between standard and X-Power MG 4 models appear to be limited to the new wheel design, orange brake calipers, and white striped decals on the front bumper and side skirts.

Inside, the seats are trimmed in a mix of synthetic leather-look and Alcantara suede material, while Alcantara is used on the steering wheel and door panels.

While left-hand-drive Chinese models have been pictured with one-piece sports bucket seats, it’s believed right-hand-drive Hong Kong models – which share the standard model’s two-piece seats (with extendable headrests), but with the new trim – are more likely for Australia.

Once it is given the green light, the 2023 MG 4 X-Power is expected to reach Australia before the end of this year, alongside the standard MG 4 range.

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Australia’s Carbon Revolution plans expansion in US

One of Australia’s manufacturing success stories – which literally reinvented the wheel – is now looking to the US to secure funding for further expansion.

After more than a decade of creating and manufacturing carbon-fibre wheels in a Geelong factory for supercars from Ferrari, Chevrolet, and Ford, start-up Carbon Revolution is now looking to the US for its next chapter.

Carbon Revolution – which is credited with being the first company to mass-produce lightweight wheels from carbon-fibre – announced its intention to list on the NASDAQ stock exchange in the US back in November 2022, as the business looks for the financial backing that will allow it to expand operations in line with demand.

Carbon Revolution’s CEO Jake Dingle recently revealed the company has been awarded a contract to supply lightweight wheels on the Range Rover Sport SV, as well as for an as-yet-unnamed electric vehicle.

The carbon-fibre wheels provide up to 45 kilograms in weight savings, as well as benefits in aerodynamics and noise. All of which are important factors for electric vehicles.

“Our wheels are a classic trickle-down technology: they started at a very premium performance level and they’re now making their way into less premium applications,” Mr Dingle said in an interview with IPO Edge in April.

MORE: 2023 Ford Mustang Dark Horse to come with Australian carbon-fibre wheels

“We’ve continued to automate and industrialise our manufacturing processes, driving efficiency and ensuring that we bring our costs down as we grow and demand increases.”

Mr Dingle started the business in 2007 with Dr Ashley Denmead, the company’s Engineering and Design Director, who started out making carbon-fibre wheels for Deakin University’s Formula SAE racing-car team.

“Ford was first, then Ferrari with the 488 Pista. And then the Renault Megane RS hot hatch, and then the GM program that was announced last year with the Chevrolet Corvette,” Mr Dingle told Drive in September 2022, when it was announced its wheels would feature on the upcoming Ford Mustang Dark Horse.

Mr Dingle says the company has developed proprietary manufacturing techniques that will be able to be set up in “more strategic locations”, giving North America as an example to supply larger contracts to US car-makers.

While Carbon Revolution recently manufactured its 70,000th wheel, the company is hoping to increase production from approximately 13,000 wheels made annually, to approximately 90,000, according to a report in the Sydney Morning Herald.

MORE: Carbon Revolution manufactures 50,000th wheel in Australia

“When you walk through our factory today, you see large numbers of big robots doing things that previously were done in a very manual way,” Mr Dingle told the SMH.

“Unlike vehicle manufacturing, where there are a lot of plants around the world, this is the first one making carbon fibre wheels at scale.”

Carbon Revolution is hoping to lure in US investors with its unique business model, merging with Twin Ridge Acquisition Corporation in the coming months in a deal that will allow the it to list on the NASDAQ stock exchange.

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New budget-priced Honda SUV on the cards for Australia

Honda is preparing to launch a new ‘global’ budget-priced SUV next month, and there’s a chance it could come to Australia as an entry point to the line-up.

The 2024 Honda Elevate will soon be announced for the Japanese market, according to overseas media, opening up the possibility of the small SUV eventually being offered in Australia.

Japanese website Creative311 reports Honda will add the Elevate to its domestic line-up in the second half of 2024, with spy images of the vehicle on final on-road tests published on Twitter.

The model was thought to be exclusive to the Indian market, with its global debut scheduled for 6 June 2023 – however this could mark the first time an Indian-made Honda is sold in Japan.

“Developed as a global model, the all-new Elevate is Honda’s brand new [small] SUV which will have its world premiere in India next month,” Honda India said in a written statement.

“Honda Elevate has been developed as a new global model in Honda’s line-up to cater to the robust demand for SUVs world-wide,” confirming India would be the first market to launch the new model.

But despite the camouflage on the test vehicle in Japan (below), the Elevate appears to echo the design of the Honda WR-V (bottom) – a model launched in November 2022 for the Indonesian, Thai, and Malaysian markets.

MORE: Honda previews future electric cars with new Chinese concepts

While details of the Elevate have yet to be released, it’s expected the model will use the same 89kW/145Nm 1.5-litre four-cylinder engine found in the WR-V, though unconfirmed reports suggest a hybrid engine is also possible.

Despite possibly sharing design cues and engines, India’s Rushlane reports the Elevate will be around 4200-4300mm in length – or roughly 140-240mm longer than the Indonesian-made WR-V.

It’s expected the Elevate will also launch with Honda’s ‘Sensing’ suite of safety technology, which includes radar cruise control, lane-keep assist, lane departure warning, autonomous emergency braking, and automatic high-beam assist – all of which are available on the range-topping WR-V variant.

Honda’s Australian arm has downplayed the possibility of adding a small SUV to its local line-up, though didn’t rule it out.

At an event in March 2023, Honda Australia Director Carolyn McMahon confirmed the Honda Jazz small hatchback would not be making a return to showrooms, but told media Honda is focusing on SUVs and hybrid models in Australia over the next five years.

MORE: 2023 Honda ZR-V price and specs: $40,200 drive-away for new SUV

When asked whether the Indonesian-market WR-V was under consideration for Australia, a spokesperson for Honda told Drive: “Honda Australia is broadening our range in 2023, with addition of the Honda ZR-V as part of our SUV portfolio. SUV continues to be an important focus for our business … based on customer and market demands.

“We have no immediate plans for (the) inclusion of a small vehicle in Australia, despite availability in other markets,” the spokesperson said in March this year.

However, given it has been developed as a “global” model, Honda could make the vehicle available to Australia as a substitute to the recently-axed Jazz – sitting below the HR-V, ZR-V, and CR-V – while also providing the company with a competitor to the likes of the Mazda CX-3 and Toyota Yaris Cross.

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