2021 Subaru WRX Premium auto: owner review

It is just a brilliant vehicle with fantastic performance and handling.
Owner: Rob

It is just a brilliant vehicle with fantastic performance and handling. The automatic transmission is just a perfect fit for this performance car for daily driving, and paddle-shift sport modes for track days or those fun winding road days.

The only negative is the standard brake set-up is not quite up to standard on this performance vehicle, but new performance rotors and pads make a world of difference and the stopping power is vastly improved. The auto also gets all the safety camera technology features, whereas the manual unfortunately misses out.

The Premium model is the one to get, as some features include a sunroof, leather seats, a premium sound system and more.

Overall rating is just brilliant.

Well done Subaru!

Owner: Rob

MORE: Everything Subaru

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Kia Picanto busted at 175km/h while driver watches videos on phone. Also a Kia Picanto can do 175km/h

A pint-sized Kia Picanto hatchback has been clocked by police at an astronomical speed – while the driver was watching a video on her phone.

The driver of a Kia Picanto has been busted by police travelling at 175km/h – while watching videos on her mobile phone.  

NSW Police says highway patrol officers detected the red pint-sized hatchback travelling at 175km/h on the Hume Highway south of Gundagai – about halfway between Sydney and Melbourne – in the middle of the day on 6 September 2023. 

When officers stopped the vehicle they noticed YouTube music videos playing on a mobile phone that was mounted in a holder attached to the mirror.

“The driver’s licence was suspended immediately for a period of six months,” a statement posted on social media by NSW Police said. 

A strong tailwind and a long downhill run likely offered some assistance for the Kia Picanto to hit that speed. 

It is quite slow even by hatchback standards.

The most powerful version of the Kia Picanto has a tiny turbocharged 1.0-litre petrol engine (74kW/172Nm) and a claimed 0-100km/h acceleration time of 10 seconds – fractionally quicker than most diesel double-cab utes.

Meantime it’s not the only example of drivers busted at astronomical speeds – despite the threat of hefty penalties and the risk of licence and registration cancellations.

In January this year a 20-year-old learner driver was allegedly clocked at 253km/h behind the wheel of a Holden ute in Adelaide. 

Two years ago a stolen BMW sped through the Sydney Harbour Tunnel at a claimed 198km/h.

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Video: Lexus LFR GT3 race car spied testing with thundering twin-turbo V8

Toyota is edging closer to unveiling the Lexus ‘LFR’ supercar – the successor to the LFA – with footage of the GT3 racing version being tested appearing online.

The GT3 racing version of the upcoming Lexus LFR supercar has been filmed testing on a race track in Japan, giving us our best idea yet of what the sleek coupe – and its Lexus LFA successor twin – will sound like.

A video uploaded to YouTube shows the GT3 version of the Lexus LFR – known in concept form as the Toyota GR GT3, but set to wear Lexus badges in production – testing at the Twin Ring Motegi circuit, the host of Japan’s round of the MotoGP motorcycle racing championship.

The yet-to-be-revealed racing car can be heard shifting through its gears with its V8 engine thundering, as previous reports suggest the engine will have a 4.0-litre capacity and twin turbochargers.

The road-going showroom version of the Toyota GR GT3 is expected to gain a hybrid system, wear Lexus badges and be named the LFR – becoming a successor to the V10-powered LFA which was axed in 2012.

Toyota executives in Europe have confirmed plans to begin competing with the racing version in 2026, likely with Lexus badges.

While the petrol-powered sports car is tipped to go on sale in 2026, an electric LFR is expected to follow at a later date, in line with Lexus’ plans to ditch petrol and diesel engines across its North American, European and Chinese model line-ups by 2030.

Meanwhile, the Toyota GR GT3 is being developed to race in international competitions and take on the famous 24 Hours of Le Mans from 2026.

It is also curious to see the Toyota GR GT3 being tested at Motegi, which is owned by rival Japanese car-maker Honda – while Toyota owns the much larger Fuji Speedway.

The post Video: Lexus LFR GT3 race car spied testing with thundering twin-turbo V8 appeared first on Drive.

2022-2023 Range Rover Velar recalled with obscure fault

Owners of the luxury Range Rover Velar are urged to leave their SUV in “well-lit areas” and remain “extra vigilant.”

An obscure fault has triggered a recall of the 2022-2023 Range Rover Velar luxury SUV in Australia. 

The 116 affected vehicles are stamped Model Years 2022 and 2023. 

“Due to a configuration setting issue, the vehicle’s tilt sensor that detects any change to the vehicle angle relative to the ground may not activate as intended,” the recall notice says.

“A loss of tilt alarm notifications increases the risk of an accident causing injury or death to vehicle occupants.

“Customers are advised to be extra vigilant when leaving their vehicles unattended and park in secure or well-lit areas wherever possible until this recall is completed.

“Owners should contact their preferred Jaguar Land Rover authorised dealer to have their tilt sensor configuration file updated, free of charge.”

Date of recall notice	25 September 2023
Make	Land Rover
Model	Range Rover Velar
Year	2022-2023
Vehicles affected	116
VIN list	Click here to download the list of affected VINs
Contact link	Click here to contact the manufacturer

Drive has contacted Jaguar Land Rover Australia to find out if any vehicles have been impacted by the fault locally. This story will be updated with its response. 

A full list of vehicle identification numbers for the 116 vehicles involved in the recall can be found here.

To have your vehicle checked, find your closest Jaguar Land Rover dealership by clicking here.

The post 2022-2023 Range Rover Velar recalled with obscure fault appeared first on Drive.

Family Cars

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Need help finding your family’s next car?

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What new family cars are coming soon?

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2024 GWM Tank 500 spotted in Australia again, one step closer to showrooms

China’s Toyota Prado rival is firming for an Australian launch later this year, as testing of right-hand-drive examples continues on local roads.

The GWM Tank 500 – a Toyota LandCruiser Prado competitor from China – is one step closer to Australian showrooms after being photographed on local roads for the second time in three months.

Images sent to Drive by an eagle-eyed reader show the right-hand-drive Tank 500 being driven in Sydney’s south-west but on Victorian number plates – just like the example snapped in June.

This example of the GWM SUV is wearing little to no camouflage and different registration to the previously-spied example, suggesting the Chinese car-maker’s local division is testing multiple vehicles in Australia.

Although not seen in the images, this test vehicle was wearing hybrid badges.

GWM – previously known as Great Wall Motors – has previously said the Tank 500 is on its wish-list for Australia and could sit above the smaller, recently-launched Tank 300 in its local model line-up.

Measuring 4878mm long, 1934mm wide and 1905mm tall, the GWM Tank 500 is slightly shorter bumper to bumper, and narrower than the upcoming new-generation Toyota LandCruiser Prado, but sits higher.

In China, the GWM Tank 500 is available with up to seven seats and a 3.0-litre twin-turbo V6 petrol engine with mild-hybrid assistance – producing 265kW and 500Nm, and mated to a nine-speed automatic transmission with a part-time four-wheel-drive system.

Also available is a conventional hybrid 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine (with 225kW).

Drive understands the Tank 500 could borrow the GWM Ute’s 120kW/400Nm 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel engine is also an option – or a larger 2.4-litre diesel engine with 135kW and 480Nm.

A GWM Tank 500 spotted in Sydney in June 2023

While the new LandCruiser Prado’s carry-over 2.8-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel engine quotes the same torque output as the Tank 500’s twin-turbo V6 petrol, the Toyota has 115kW less than the GWM.

The LandCruiser Prado will likely be one of the Tank 500’s main rivals, though the Ford Everest and Isuzu MU-X could also be targets for the Chinese SUV.

The Tank 500 is yet to be officially confirmed for Australian showrooms, though in February a GWM spokesperson told Drive it was under serious consideration for its local line-up.

“The Tank 500 is under consideration but is not confirmed at this stage for this market,” a GWM spokesman told Drive.

“However, given that we have an example here under evaluation, it shows you how seriously we are considering it for Australia.

“GWM wants to offer a broad range of cars to a broad range of customers – across a range of price points.

“We know Australian families have a passion for the great outdoors and for four-wheel-drives and SUVs, and we think the Tank 500 offers a compelling proposition in its segment.”

If you spot something interesting on Australian roads, please email us at askdrive@drive.com.au.

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2024 BYD Seal model range outlined for Australia

China’s BYD will take on the Tesla Model 3 with three model grades of its Seal sedan, Australian government documents show, including a high-performance, all-wheel-drive variant.

The 2024 BYD Seal is planned for Australia later this year in a choice of three model grades, government documents show.

The Seal is Chinese car-maker BYD’s competitor to the Tesla Model 3 and Polestar 2, and is due to open for orders in three to four weeks from now – ahead of the first customer deliveries by the end of the year.

Australian government certification documents show there will be three model grades: the Dynamic, Premium and Performance.

Prices are yet to be announced. It is expected to be positioned to rival its main competitor, the Tesla Model 3, which is priced from $61,900 to $71,900 plus on-road costs.

It is unclear if all three models will be available at launch, however it is a similar line-up structure to the BYD Dolphin hatch, which offers a standard-range low-power Dynamic, long-range higher-power Premium, and an even more potent long-range Sport.

The Seal Dynamic combines a single 150kW electric motor at the rear with what is expected to be a 61.4kWh battery pack – given it is 130kg lighter than the next rear-wheel-drive model up.

In China it is capable of 0-100km/h in a claimed 7.5 seconds, and 550km of claimed driving range in lenient Chinese lab-test conditions – or closer to 450km in more stringent European WLTP lab testing.

The Premium variant is expected to step up to the largest battery available, 82.5kWh, and a 230kW electric motor at the rear, for claimed 0-100km/h acceleration in 5.9 seconds, and 570km of claimed WLTP driving range.

The top-of-the-range Seal Performance adds a 160kW motor on the front axle (and 130kg of extra weight) for 390kW and all-wheel drive, fed by the same 82.5kWh battery pack.

It is said to be capable of 0-100km/h acceleration in 3.8 seconds – making it the quickest car BYD will sell in Australia at its launch – and 520km of claimed WLTP driving range.

The Seal Dynamic rides on 18-inch alloy wheels with 225/50 profile tyres, while the Premium and Performance upgrade to 19-inch alloys with 235/45 tyres.

All models claim a 30 to 80 per cent fast-charge time of 30 minutes, at up to 150kW in the 82.5kWh versions.

If BYD’s other models in Australia are a guide, expect all variants of the Seal to have a similar level of standard equipment – with the only differentiators between models being battery capacity, motor power and alloy wheel size.

Standard features in Europe – where only models equivalent to Australia’s Premium and Performance are sold – include a 15.6-inch rotating infotainment touchscreen, 10.25-inch digital instrument display, 12-speaker Dynaudio stereo, power-adjustable front seats, wireless phone charging, synthetic leather-look upholstery, and a full suite of advanced safety technology.

More details – including prices and specifications – are due closer to the Australian launch of the 2024 BYD Seal later this year.

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