CAR ADVICE

Schaeffler, engineering firm and Audi’s partner in Formula E, has unveiled the electric 4ePerformance concept, complete with 880kW from four electric motors. They’re not just any electric motors, either, they’re identical to those used on the 2016-17 ABT Schaeffler Formula E racer. That puts total power at 880kW, and system torque at 1280Nm from all four […]

So, the 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk has lobbed into Australia, and what a brief if surprisingly telling insight the local launch event was: a morning messing about at Victoria’s high-speed Phillip Island Circuit, no on-road appraisal on the program. But this was less some sandbagging stage in a slow striptease of discovering the complete […]

It’s medium-sized SUVs rather than mid-sized passenger cars that are the frontline of the luxury-brand wars these days. Premium-medium sports-utility vehicles were comfortably the largest luxury segment in 2017 with 30,820 sales. You can take the BMW 3 Series v X3 trend as a microcosm of the dramatic shift in buyer preferences. A decade ago, the […]

A prototype believed to be the upcoming Audi SQ2 has been spied again in Europe, this time inside and out. While this vehicle looks like a standard version of the Q2, there are some clues indicating underneath the understated skin is a powerful little beast. Key changes include the quad-tipped exhaust out the back – a […]

It’s entirely appropriate the local launch for Mercedes-AMG’s latest muscle machine, the GLC 63 S, is held in the rural Victorian town of Yea. Because, one short stint behind the wheel of the high-ridin’ skunkworked SUV leaves you with just one expression; ‘Yeah!’ It’s a bit silly, really, to take what is fundamentally a sedate […]

Ford has shut down recent rumours it’s working on a more powerful Fiesta RS, with the company’s European design boss ruling out such a model in a new report out of Europe. Speaking with Dutch publication AutoRAI, Amko Leenarts, design director for Ford of Europe, said: “The performance of the new Fiesta ST is already such a high […]

Fiat Chrysler’s ever-growing focus on crossovers, pickup trucks and luxury cars, as well as a dearth of new product makes it likely the Chrysler brand could be phased out in the near future. A source has told Automotive News Chrysler’s fate could be announced this Friday, European time, when Sergio Marchionne, CEO of Fiat Chrysler, […]

Genesis, luxury subsidiary of Hyundai, won’t be arriving in Australia until at least the fourth quarter of 2018 – after previously being scheduled for the third quarter. Public relations manager for Hyundai Australia, Guido Schenken, confirmed the news this week, meaning we won’t see the G70 (top) or G80 (formerly Hyundai Genesis) until very late this […]

The Porsche 911 GT2 RS is the most powerful 911 ever built, and carries a pretty serious reputation as a ‘widow maker’ if you don’t treat it with enough respect. It also carries the production car record for the legendary North Loop, having lapped the track in 6:57.3 late last year. As a new owner […]

Go on. Thump your chest. Cry a little. Write a eulogy for the death of the 4.2-litre V8 that once hulked under the bonnet of the Audi RS4. Get it out of your system, have a cup of tea and a lie down. And then, when you’ve driven the all-new 2018 Audi RS4 Avant, start […]

The Hyundai Ioniq has been upgraded in North America for the 2019 model year, gaining additional active safety options and enhanced infotainment services. For the first time, driver attention alert and high-beam assist are available on select models, while autonomous emergency braking is now standard fit on the popular SEL grade. Additional changes include “enhanced, natural-language […]

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 – […]

So, you’re an adventurer, but want a medium-sized SUV. While most SUVs in this segment have on-demand four-wheel-drive systems, you’ll struggle to find one that works around the city and out in the bush. Jeep thinks otherwise. The 2018 Jeep Compass Trailhawk is here and it aims to offer a decent mix between SUV practicality […]

httpv://http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9EJUvKEhA6I It’s now been a month since Brabham Automotive revealed the BT62 in London, but we haven’t quite seen what the car is capable of yet. This week, the company has given us a brief glimpse, posting the above video showing the new track-only supercar speeding around Phillip Island raceway in Victoria, Australia. It’s also the first […]

Audi says that whilst sports cars can be made with the current-generation of lithium-ion batteries, the need for lighter, smaller and higher capacity units in the form of solid-state battery technology will likely be the answer to proper lightweight electric sports cars. Speaking to CarAdvice in Germany last week, head of Audi’s product and technology […]

People often say “don’t forget where you came from”. Although we’re focused on every new car, every last detail here at CarAdvice, we have an extensive back-catalogue of news stories, lifestyle yarns and reviews. Here’s a look at what happened on the week of May 29 in years past. 28 May 2017: Porsche 911 GT3 RS Lego crash test […]

Last week Toyota and Suzuki announced the next steps in their emerging partnership, with the initial focus being India and emerging markets in Africa, along with three key areas of co-operation. Discussions will begin immediately on how Toyota and Denso, its wholly owned parts supplier, can provide “technological support” to Suzuki in its quest to […]

Two groups, The Center for Auto Safety and Consumer Watchdog, have called on the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to investigate the Tesla Autopilot system. The two organisations claim Tesla and its CEO, Elon Musk, have deliberately misled and deceived “consumers into believing that Autopilot is safer and more capable than it is known to […]

Mahindra isn’t quite a household brand in Australia yet, but while the name might be mysterious to urban Aussies, rural residents are likely to be more familiar with the name due to the Indian manufacturer’s presence in the ag-equipment market. Regional areas are where the Pik-Up is also likely to find the most buyers. This […]

Rolls-Royce Melbourne has revealed a special Wraith Black Badge at its Richmond showroom, showcasing the limitless personalisation options available in the British marque’s range. Finished in Arctic White, the Wraith Black Badge features an array of black-accented exterior trimmings, including for the front splitter, window surrounds, and sports exhaust tips, dark chrome Spirit of Ecstasy and […]

The all-new Honda CR-V and significantly updated Nissan X-Trail – two big nameplates in one hugely popular mid-sized SUV segment – arrived in the second half of 2017. And in November, we kicked off comparing these two revised protagonists’ ranges by pitching petrol-powered, all-wheel-driven, five-seater flagships in the form of Honda’s VTi-LX and Nissan’s TI […]

Nissan has unveiled a version of its body-on-frame Terra for the wider Asian market, dropping the Chinese petrol engine and five-seat configuration in favour of a powertrain and layout that, should the business case stack up, would slot neatly into the Australian market. Built on the Navara platform, the Terra could be seen as something […]

httpv://http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CfLeG6gqGts There’s nothing like the sweet sound of a good ol’ rev battle – especially when the contestants are exotic supercars. Here, DragTimes lines up a Ferrari 488 GTB, Ford GT and McLaren 720S to see which sounds best. But, there’s a catch – you need to guess which sound belongs to which car. Let us […]

Apple is reportedly working with Volkswagen to design and build a self-driving electric van to transport its employees between its Silicon Valley campuses. According to The New York Times, the self-driving car will be based on the chassis of the Volkswagen Transporter. Apple is working with Italdesign, a Volkswagen subsidiary, to design the vehicle. In […]

The Nissan Leaf Open Car was unveiled recently in Tokyo, at a forum about building a zero-emission society. Nissan created this special one-off vehicle to celebrate the Leaf’s 100,000th sale in Japan. According to Carsalesbase, 118,524 Leafs have been sold in the US, and 92,025 in Europe. To make the car, Nissan lopped the roof […]

Hyundai’s midsize SUV contender, the Tucson, has been around for a decent innings now (in fast-paced automotive terms, that is), having been on sale in Australia since the middle of 2015 in its current guise. There’s an update coming, with the usual styling tweaks front and rear, some detail changes inside, and safety specification improvements, […]

It’s easy to criticise cyclists from the heated comfort of a car, but life isn’t necessarily easy for pedal-powered commuters – especially when drivers don’t give them enough room. According to Ford, there are more than 250 million cyclists on the road across Europe, accounting for one in every 12 road accidents. Although some nations […]

The 2018 Porsche 911 Carrera T possesses the best manual gearbox I’ve ever tested – it really is brilliant. In fact, it’s a potent reminder of just how epic the 911 experience can be, when it’s not weighed down by the technical expectations of the more expensive models further up the Porsche food chain. After […]

httpv://http://www.youtube.com/watch1&v=953Mxfvp8Hw Brabham Automotive has unveiled (and priced) its BT62 supercar, but it’s not done explaining the history behind the name. Most motoring enthusiasts would be familiar with Sir Jack Brabham, three-time Formula 1 world champion and the only man to win a world title in a car of his own design. His son, David, has brought […]

The new iteration of the Audi S6 will borrow the twin-turbo V8 heart of a Porsche Panamera Turbo, according to a new report out of the UK. Autocar claims the next-generation model will hit the market sometime next year, though it could be revealed before the end of 2018, powered by a version of the 4.0-litre bi-turbo […]

You won’t spot the changes to the 2018 Nissan Navara ‘Series Three’ immediately. Externally, the updated version is barely changed compared to the version that came before it, save for a slightly higher rear ride height. Therein lies the clue – Nissan has tried yet again to fix some of the Navara’s load-carrying flaws. As one […]

httpv://http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4JjI7mN15Kk The Dodge Challenger SRT Demon and Lamborghini Huracan aren’t natural rivals, but they do make for an interesting and entertaining straight-line duel. In a new video, DragTimes pits a Demon equipped with a race gas ECU, 100 octane fuel, race air filter and staggered tyres against a Huracan LP610-4. The American makes 626kW of power and 1044Nm of torque […]

httpv://http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OhsfT-yLskQ Audi has once again previewed its upcoming Q8 SUV-coupe combination crossover, this time in a new video as part of its #Q8unleashed web series. Scheduled to be revealed at the Audi China Brand Summit in Shenzen – which kicks off on June 5 – the upcoming crossover flagship makes a brief cameo in the […]

Mercedes-Benz’s North American arm has announced details of the updated 2019 E-Class line-up, including the addition of a new V6 model to sit below the hybrid-boosted AMG E53. Set to go on sale in the American autumn, the new E450 and E450 4Matic variants will replace the outgoing E400 versions of the large sedan, wagon, coupe […]

The upcoming Audi S8 super-sedan has been snapped getting a little bit sideways around the Nurburgring Nordschleife. This time it’s not wearing any camouflage, with a more aggressive front bumper and quad pipes on full display for the world. There’s no word on what will power it, but there’s talk of either the 2.9-litre bi-turbo […]

Compact SUVs are the big growth area right now, and Lexus will finally enter the fray with the UX later in 2018. Its Lexus NX was also late to its respective party, the mid-sized luxury SUV segment – joining only in 2014. And after a good sales performance in 2017, the NX is making an […]

Audi Australia has announced pricing and specifications for the RS4 Avant, set to touch down from $152,500 before on-road costs. That’s not cheap, but the all-wheel drive super wagon comes loaded with gear. To start with, it’s powered by a 2.9-litre bi-turbo V6 engine making 331kW of power and 600Nm of torque. That’s 170Nm more […]

Considering they’re pitched primarily younger buyers, it’s important that modern light cars have the latest in infotainment for tech-savvy and stream-happy buyers. Luckily for those youngsters, the Volkswagen Polo Launch Edition has just about every base covered. All variants of the new-generation 2018 Polo range come fitted as standard with the familiar 8.0-inch touchscreen unit seen in […]

httpv://http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xjOnojuG-8k&feature=youtu.be Most motoring enthusiasts would have memories of racing toy cars around the bedroom floor but, no matter how many ‘vroom vroom’ noises you made, they never came to life. Speaking of inanimate objects that don’t usually come to life, Lego has recently made the jump from living rooms to the silver screen. You can […]

The updated Kia Sportage has been unveiled with a lightly updated exterior design, and a bevy of new drivetrains. As we saw in a recent set of spy photos, the revised Sportage has new front and rear bumpers. Up front, the Sportage has a more aggressive design, new headlamp internals, a splash of chrome, and […]

The Lexus NX Sport has been revealed for Europe, adding a new equipment grade to the company’s mid-size crossover. Scheduled to become available from the European summer, the NX Sport is available on all engine versions including the NX300h and NX300, along with the naturally-aspirated NX200 exclusively available in Eastern Europe. Headlining features include black detailing […]

The Ferrari SP38 one-off special has been unveiled and ceremonially handed over to its new owner prior to a few hot laps at Fiorano. Based on the 488 GTB, the design of the SP38’s unique body is said to be inspired by the F40, especially the flip-up carbon-fibre engine cover. The SP38’s rear wing is […]

Holden has just added a diesel engine option to its Equinox mid-sized crossover range, available from low-grade LS+ specification all the way to the LTZ-V flagship. As you’d well imagine, the 1.6-litre turbocharged-diesel engine uses significantly less fuel than either of the two petrol engine options, but also carries a $3000 higher recommended retail price […]

Audi has announced pricing and specifications for the new Q5 3.0 TDI, the first non-performance six-cylinder version of the company’s mid-size SUV. Kicking off at $83,900 before on-road costs, the new model is $1000 more affordable than the BMW X3 xDrive30d, and a significant $7200 less than the Mercedes-Benz GLC350d. It’s also more than $10,000 more expensive […]

Elon Musk is promising to fix the problems with the Model 3’s braking performance, after Consumer Reports – similar to Choice – returned poor results in its braking tests, and dubbed the car ‘not good enough to recommend’. During testing, Consumer Reports discovered “flaws – big flaws” with the ‘affordable’ Model 3’s brakes. The test car CR used took 152 feet (46.3m) to […]

Volkswagen Australia is sparking enthusiast conversation by only offering the Golf GTI in dual-clutch performance package guise from October this year. Meanwhile, Volkswagen USA is trying to get car-lovers talking in a different way, rolling out four hotted-up concepts at SOWO: The European Experience in Savannah, Georgia. Here they are, standing out with their dropped […]

A development prototype believed to be the Aston Martin DBS Superleggera Volante has been spied this week, giving us a first look at the upcoming convertible flagship for the British marque. We’ve already seen one teaser for the DBS Superleggera, announced a month ago ahead of a reveal sometime in June, and we can expect this […]

Pricing for the hotly-anticipated Renault Megane RS will start at $44,990 before on-roads when the car touches down in the third quarter of 2018, according to a dealer bulletin obtained by CarAdvice.  The bulletin says Australian buyers will initially be offered the RS280 with six-speed manual ($44,990 before on-roads) or six-speed dual-clutch automatic ($47,990 before on-roads) options, with 205kW […]

People often say “don’t forget where you came from”. Although we’re focused on every new car, every last detail here at CarAdvice, we have an extensive back-catalogue of news stories, lifestyle yarns and reviews. Here’s a look at what happened on the week of May 22 in years past. 22 May 2016: Uber reveals autonomous Ford Mondeo prototype It’s […]

Volkswagen Australia has announced the Golf GTI Performance will return in October, becoming standard fitment across the GTI range as part of a forthcoming 2019 model-year update. After hinting at plans to release a Performance Edition 2 in the third quarter of this year, a global move to discontinue the 169kW engine tune in the current […]

Senior staff at Jaguar Land Rover are keen to revive the Jaguar XK, but even if a business is worked out, a third-generation model would still be many years away. Hanno Kirner, chief product strategist for Jaguar Land Rover, has told Autocar the company is keen to extend its sports car offering. “The F-Type has […]

Expensive dual-cab ute buyers are no strangers to splashing out on factory accessories to make their workhorse look tougher, and go further. Toyota Australia reckons the average HiLux owner drops about $2000 on extras including bars, steps, tub liners and covers. It’s with this in mind that the company recently launched three new HiLux versions: […]

httpv://http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4oCoPwc2Rrg After ending his Formula 1 career with Red Bull Racing, Mark Webber made the switch t0 World Endurance Championship (WEC) racing with Porsche. He’s not competing anymore, but the Porsche partnership isn’t over. In a promotional video for the upcoming all-electric Mission E, the Australian racer is let loose on the Weissach test track […]

Coming off the back of a challenging 2017, Audi Australia says it’s focusing primarily on creating a sustainable, profitable business for dealers, with an expectation volume will naturally grow as core brand values are applied to the customer experience. Audi sold 22,011 cars in Australia during 2017, down from 24,258 in 2016. So far this […]

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 – […]

The BAIC EC has zoomed up the charts to become the best-selling electric car worldwide during the first three months of 2018. In figures released overnight by JATO Dynamics, the BAIC EC notched up 25,630 sales (up 260 per cent) during the first quarter of this year, taking the provisional sales crown from the Nissan […]

Mercedes-Benz has revealed the C-Class Nightfall Edition for the UK, bringing black pack-style enhancements to all body variants of the popular nameplate. Based on the current pre-facelift C-Class range – which will get a mild refresh in the coming months – the Nightfall Edition sports unique appointments like power-coated matte-black alloys, black mirrors, side graphics, and […]

Killed young, the 919 Hybrid might never reach legend status alongside the likes of the 956, but that hasn’t stopped Porsche rolling both cars out side-by-side. Last week, the company used the VLN 24 Hour race to show off its now-defunct hybrid racer at a 25.2-kilometre lap around the combined Grand Prix and Nordschleife circuit. […]

Customisation is in vogue at the moment, but choice can be seriously confusing. In our new configurator challenge, we’re going to let the CarAdvice team loose on a manufacturer’s website to create their ideal spec of a certain model. For this edition of the Configurator Challenge, we’re designing our perfect Skoda Octavia RS. Let us know what you […]

The upcoming BMW iX3 electric SUV has been confirmed for production in China from 2020, alongside the combustion-powered version. During the company’s annual general meeting this week, CEO Harald Krüger confirmed BMW will extend its partnership with regional partner Brilliance Auto. For the Chinese market, the current X3 will be produced in Shenyang from mid-2018, with the all-electric […]

A development vehicle believed to be the new Porsche 911 Speedster has been spotted during hot-weather testing in Southern Europe. Spotted in convoy with several Porsche GT models including the 911 GT3 and GT3 RS, the prototype wears a similar body and wheel/tyre package to the hardtop GT variants, though with the absence of a fixed […]

It’s hard to think of a 4WD that has more adequately captured the ‘Aussie family all-rounder’ tag as quintessentially as the 2018 Toyota Prado GXL. The Holden Commodore certainly did once upon a time before SUVs conquered the earth, but in 4WD terms, it’s long been the Prado and daylight second in the large SUV […]

BMW Group has become the first worldwide carmaker to obtain a Shanghai Intelligent Connected Autonomous Driving Test License, allowing it to put self-driving vehicles through their paces on Chinese roads. Although it has demonstrated Level 3 autonomous technology under closed, Government-supervised conditions on a stretch of Chengdu highway in 2016, the license opens the door […]

httpv://http://www.youtube.com/watch?&v=VJnDiYhFdQ4 The Porsche 911 GT3 RS is a lean green racing machine – provided you specify it in ‘Lizard Green’, of course – but it’s arguably as good on the road as it is on track. In this video, Porsche unleashes the new GT3 RS on the Isle of Man, piloted by race drivers Mark Higgins […]

Among Kia’s six-variant Stinger range, the very cheapest car you can get is the $46,990 200S with a 182kW 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine, but that’s not the engine setting the hearts and minds of enthusiasts alight. The headline act is the twin-turbo 3.3-litre V6 and its 272kW/510Nm outputs, which can be yours for a still reasonable $3000 […]

The first all-electric, mass-produced Audi – the e-tron – has been snapped on the Nurburgring, continuing the long buildup to its full launch later this year. Here’s what we know about the e-tron, which officially launches on August 30. In prototype form, it offers more than 500km of range on a full charge, and hits […]

Not everyone wants the cheapest city car they can afford. To find out which small car is worth spending (relatively) big money on, we pitch the new Volkswagen Polo 85TSI Comfortline against the flagship Mazda 2 GT. If the Volkswagen Polo hasn’t been the biggest vehicle in the city car segment, it has always been […]

httpv://http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zRHPd7pni50 Honda made a big song-and-dance of the Civic Type R’s record run around the Nurburgring Nordschleife last year. Unsatisfied, the company pledged to take the manic front-drive racer on a tour of Europe’s most famous racetracks, in search of more glory. First cab off the rank was the Magny-Cours GP circuit. Piloted by World […]

The Lexus LC500, Volvo XC40, and Hyundai Kona have won prizes in the Automotive and Transport category of the Good Design Awards. Sitting atop the tree in exterior design was the LC500, which won the first-ever Best Exterior Design Award for Automotive and Transport, after being described as a “stunning vehicle in every regard” by the judging […]

The BMW iNext Concept has been teased ahead of its debut later this year, probably at the 2018 Paris motor show in September. A sketch previewing the upcoming concept car was presented overnight to shareholders at the BMW’s annual general meeting. Harald Krüger, BMW’s CEO, called the iNext project the “building kit for [the company’s] […]

The next-generation Porsche 911 Turbo Cabriolet has been spied for the first time, giving us a first look at the upcoming convertible flagship sports car. Spotted in and around the Nurburgring race circuit, the 911 Turbo Cabriolet looks very much like the coupe prototype we’ve seen in recent months – with the obvious exception of the folding […]

The Lexus LQ name has been trademarked with the US Patent and Trademark Office by the luxury marque. So far in the brand’s almost 30 year history, the ‘L’-line has been reserved for top-tier models, hinting Lexus is seriously contemplating a new car to sit alongside the existing LS sedan, LC coupe, and LX SUV. […]

httpv://http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kh00GAx66sA Formula E isn’t the only race series with its sights set on transforming the world of motorsport. The fully-autonomous Roborace category is aiming to take the focus off humans and put it onto self-driving technology with a futuristic, sci-fi inspired racer. Before we get to see the dog-bone shaped driverless racer in action, the […]

Assessed in isolation, the 2018 Porsche Cayenne E-Hybrid is an impressive large, luxury SUV. Viewed as a window into the future, it’s also another step and an exciting pointer to the efficiency and performance potential hybrid power can unlock in the 911 sports car when the time is right. While hybrids aren’t usually exciting or […]

Let’s be clear. If you harbour any doubts as to the Ford Fiesta ST’s hot-hatch credentials, dispel them now, because this car is, in every way, a genuine hot hatch. There is nothing ‘mild’ or ‘warm’ about it. Instead, the Fiesta ST provides a level of performance found in other hotties much higher up the […]

The Kia Sportage facelift has been spied doing a spot of spring testing on the Nurburgring. Unlike earlier prototypes, this latest vehicle is running around with zero camouflage. The only bits of tape we can see serve to hold testing equipment in place. Up front, the headlight internals have been reorganised, while the signature “tiger […]

The upcoming Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 has been spied again, this time during performance testing at the famed Nurburgring Nordschleife. Set to become the flagship hardtop 718, the Cayman GT4 will build on the concept of the previous version – aggressive race-inspired aerodynamics, a track-focused mechanical package, along with a high-revving naturally-aspirated boxer engine. It’s believed […]

Citroen is preparing a DS flagship to face-off with the BMW 5 Series and Mercedes-Benz E-Class, based on the PSA Group EMP2 platform. According to reports from Auto Express in the UK, the flagship sedan-cum-fastback will launch in 2020 to mark 65 years since the first Citroen DS was launched. The car, which is likely to be called […]

httpv://http://www.youtube.com/watch?&v=j0pRBA7SXr8 Both the Ariel Atom and Audi RS6 are fast, although they both go about it differently. Where the big RS6 Avant relies on huge power and prodigious traction off the line to nail its acceleration figures, the Atom is all about light weight and careful throttle management. Power in the big Audi comes from […]

Is there a more vibrant and diverse segment on the market right now than that labelled ‘hot hatch’? In fact, is it technically a segment at all, but rather a broad net cast wide enough to include a $25K compact-sized Suzuki Swift Sport at one extreme and larger, circa-$80K Audi RS3s and Merc-AMG A45s at […]

The hot hatch hero of the moment right now is the Hyundai i30 N, the Korean marque’s first serious salvo against the world’s fittest small go-getters. And it’s been widely praised as something of a buck-banging giant-killer. We decided to test that premise by throwing the flagship N-car up against the established figurehead hot hatches […]

The facelifted BMW 7 Series has been spied doing some hot laps around the Nurburgring Nordschleife. Compared to our last spy photo set, taken in January of this year, this latest 7 Series prototype looks to be wearing production versions of its revised headlamps and tail-lights, albeit heavily taped up and disguised. This car seems […]

Alpina isn’t in any hurry to adopt electrified powertrains, arguing its customers want big-capacity engines from their cars rather than plug-in hybrids or battery-electric vehicles. Speaking with media at an event in Melbourne this week, Andreas Bovensiepen, Alpina’s CEO and son of the brand’s founder, said its owners are still attached to old-fashioned characteristics in their […]

Elon Musk has confirmed the order books will open for dual-motor and performance-oriented Model 3 variants this week, with production to start in July. The news was announced (surprise surprise) on Twitter, and matches an April tweet claiming the expanded line-up would be available from “probably July”. Elon Musk’s latest 280-character blast also confirmed air […]

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 – […]

If you’re in the market for a family-friendly SUV, the Honda CR-V should be pretty high on your list given it offers a solid package at a very reasonable price and with a great badge to boot, though it remains let down by its lack of standard active safety features. Our test car here is […]

Brabus is known for creating wild versions of Mercedes-Benz’s fastest sedans, SUVs and sports cars, but now it has revealed its take on the new X-Class ute. Dubbed the D4 PowerXtra, the Brabus X-Class is based on the X250d, and features styling and mechanical tweaks for a small power boost and a unique look amongst the dual-cab […]

People often say “don’t forget where you came from”. Although we’re focused on every new car, every last detail here at CarAdvice, we have an extensive back-catalogue of news stories, lifestyle yarns and reviews. Here’s a look at what happened on the week of May 15 in years past. Shoutout to our very own Mike Stevens for the awesome […]

Mazda has recalled the 2015-2017 CX-3 Diesel, over concerns about the engine’s behaviour when run at high revs in Neutral or Park. According to the company, operating the engine at high revs in Park or Neutral could make the engine draw in residual oil accumulated in the engine intake. If this happens, Mazda says the engine […]

After concept cars and spy photos too numerous to mention, the new BMW 8 Series coupe will make its official debut at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Overnight BMW confirmed the 8 Series will make its official debut on June 15, European time, the day before the 2018 race. Initially, the 8 Series will […]

Two- and five-door coupe versions of the Alfa Romeo Giulia, and a new large crossover will reportedly be added to Alfa Romeo’s range some time in 2019. According to Autocar, Sergio Marchionne, head of Fiat Chrysler, will announce the new models at an event slated for the 14th anniversary of his tenure as chief of […]

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) has issued a recall for the 2004-07 Jeep ‘KJ’ Cherokee over concerns the rear suspension lower control arms could break. The manufacturer reports that affected vehicles may experience “excessive corrosion” on the rear control arm and, if broken, the vehicle could be harder to control – posing a hazard to drivers. […]

httpv://http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nWVX3csIfpY Local pricing and specifications for the 2018 Skoda Karoq have been revealed this week, ahead of an on-sale date July 2. Just one trim level will be offered at launch, in the form of the 1.5 TSI, with prices starting at $29,990 plus on-road costs, powered by a 110kW/250Nm 1.5-litre turbo petrol, sending drive exclusively to the front wheels. […]

When the better half planned an Easter getaway to the Mudgee wine country, in regional New South Wales, she’d imagined four days of exploration nestled into something with two doors, three pedals, a convertible roof – preferably – and the word ‘sport’ made in every reference by the vehicle’s maker. Then I fronted up for […]

The new Bentley Continental GT might be a faster, smarter, more attractive upgrade on the car it replaces, but our audience has chosen the Aston Martin DB11 as their British grand tourer of choice. A handy 56 per cent of voters chose the big Aston Martin in our poll, although plenty were keen to note […]

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) has issued a recall for the 2018 ‘KL’ Cherokee equipped with the 2.4-litre petrol engine over concerns a faulty fuel tube could cause a leak. According to Jeep, affected vehicles may be fitted with an “incorrectly manufactured” fuel tube, which may result in a fuel leak and “potentially a subsequent engine compartment fire”. […]

Initial specifications for the HSV Chevrolet Camaro have been revealed, and spoiler alert – there’s no manual version. The Camaro will be imported and converted in only one spec: outgoing MY18 2SS trim, rather than the facelifted MY19 version. And, according to HSV’s website, the V8 sports car will only be available locally with an eight-speed automatic […]

Infiniti has announced Guy Street as its new Managing Director in Australia, just 13 months after Jean-Philippe Roux was replaced by Chang-hwan (CH) Lee. Roux had held the position since late 2014, and his exit last year saw him take up a senior Nissan role in Europe. Claiming 15 years experience in the automotive industry […]

The Subaru XV, known as the Crosstrek in North America, will be the first model in the company’s range to feature a plug-in hybrid drivetrain. Subaru of America made the announcement at the end of last week, but details about the vehicle are pretty thin on the ground at the moment. The company says the […]

Borgward, a made-in-China, Foton-backed German brand, has unveiled the BX6 “coupe SUV”, and detailed its first full electric model, the Borgward BXi7. Borgward BX6 Pitched as a “GT SUV”, the Borgward BX6 looks a lot like the unholy fusion of a crossover and sedan. Among the standard features are “eagle wing-shaped LED tail-lights”, 19-inch alloy wheels, […]

Fiat has celebrated building the two millionth ‘new 500‘ since launching its reborn light hatch in 2007. More than six million 500s have been shifted since the legendary original was launched in 1957, for reference. According to the company, 80 per cent of 500 sales come from outside Italy, making it the most popular Fiat globally. […]

httpv://http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rEo6I5ZWalY The Ford F-150 Raptor is something of an on- and off-road weapon. Powered by a twin-turbo 3.5-litre V6, the super truck develops 335kW of power and 691Nm of torque. In a new clip posted by Ford Performance, the Blue Oval’s performance truck is driven by drift racer Vaughn Gittin Jr., who decides to take on […]

Autonomous driving is a topic that, without fail, gets motoring enthusiasts talking. Car manufacturers are talking a big game at the moment, with Audi and BMW planning fully self-driving vehicles for 2021, and testing continuing apace both overseas and on home soil. A lot of factors need to be addressed before we see human-less pods […]

German luxury brand, Audi, has confirmed it will not be attending the 2019 Detroit motor show in January, joining a growing number of manufacturers that have opted out of the event. In a new report by industry journal Automotive News, the company confirmed it will be joining rivals BMW and Mercedes-Benz on the ‘not attending’ list at the […]

There are two ways of looking at the Lexus LX570 – it’s either a ludicrously expensive Toyota 200 Series (considering the top-spec LandCruiser Sahara V8 petrol lists for $115K) or a relatively cheap eight-seat luxury SUV. Whichever way you look at it, it’s still a lot of car for the money. The asking price is […]

The Volkswagen Group has doubled its anticipated order for lithium-ion batteries to €30 billion ($64 billion). These batteries will be used by Volkswagen and its various brands to aggressively push into the nascent electric vehicle segment in the wake of its Dieselgate emission cheating scandal. According to Bloomberg, newly installed CEO Herbert Diess told the […]

Customisation is in vogue at the moment, but choice can be seriously confusing. In our new configurator challenge, we’re going to let the CarAdvice team loose on a manufacturer’s website to create their ideal spec of a certain model. For this edition of the Configurator Challenge, we’re designing our perfect Bentley Continental GT. Let us know what you […]

Ladies and gentlemen, stop holding your breath: we finally have an official launch date for the first mass-production Audi electric vehicle. Mark down August 30 in your diary, that’s when the covers will finally come off the e-tron. It’s been teased extensively, and a heavily camouflaged prototype was revealed in Geneva, but the end of […]

There’s nothing that bothers me more than seeing someone look at this and say ‘what’s the point, you can’t drive it properly in Australia?’ or ‘we all go the same speed limit’. Okay, sure. You go drive your super-practical A to B car and leave this Porsche and a general sense of happiness to me, […]

General Motors is investigating how to make future autonomous vehicles more aerodynamic, especially when there’s no-one or very few people on-board. GM Inside News has uncovered a patent filing for “Method and Systems for Reconfiguring a Vehicle Geometry”. In short, the filing details how vehicles, most likely autonomous, could reconfigure themselves to handle various use […]

The Volkswagen Golf GTI TCR Concept has been unveiled at the 2018 Worthersee meeting in Austria. Said to be inspired by the Golf GTI TCR race car, the concept features a new front bumper with a sharper front splitter, a crisper set of side sills, TCR lettering along the sides, a revised exhaust tip design, […]

The Cadillac ATS sedan looks set to be discontinued after this year, just six years after being introduced as a competitor to the BMW 3 Series and Mercedes-Benz C-Class. Speaking with industry journal Automotive News, Cadillac spokesperson, Donny Nordlicht, said: “Production of the ATS sedan is ending due to extensive plant upgrades, expansion and re-tooling to prepare for […]

httpv://http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LKucFZOUb-I The 2018 BMW M5 is a serious beast, with 441kW of power and 750Nm of torque from its 4.4-litre twin-turbo V8. We know it’s quick in a straight line, but how does it shape up around the Green Hell? German magazine Sport Auto decided to find out, putting a blue F90 M5 through its paces […]

It’s finally here – the Rolls-Royce Cullinan has been revealed, becoming the first ‘high-sided’ vehicle (or in other words, SUV) the British marque has ever made. Described as “effortless, everywhere”, the Cullinan is claimed to be the “most technologically advanced” and “only purpose-built luxury SUV in the world” – we wonder what Range Rover or Bentley would have […]

Lagonda, high-end luxury arm of British sports car marque Aston Martin, has announced its plans to launch an all-electric SUV in 2021. Set to be the “first in a range of state of the art, emission-free luxury vehicles”, the new Lagonda model will draw heavily from the Vision Concept shown at this year’s Geneva motor […]

A facelift for the Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat has been teased ahead of its debut in the next few months. At this point in time, details about the updated model are scant. Fiat Chrysler is only saying that it is “doubling down with upgrades inside and out”. According to the Italian-American firm, “high-performance Charger models […]

The next-generation Mercedes-Benz GLS has been spied just a day after our spy photography agency nabbed photos of the new GLE crossover. Unlike the GLE we saw yesterday, which had plain black camouflage and many exposed body panels, this GLS is covered from head to toe in black and white swirls. Compared to earlier prototypes, […]

Josh Frydenberg, Minister for the Environment and Energy, has announced plans to assess Australian liquid fuel security for the first time since 2011. As a member of the International Energy Agency (IEA), Australia is obliged to hold 90 days worth of crude oil, liquified-petroleum gas, petrol, diesel and aviation fuel in reserve. Why? Given we’re […]