CAR ADVICE

The automotive news wheel is always turning. If you’re not constantly checking CarAdvice – which you should be doing, by the way – it can be easy for some headlines to slip through the cracks. To make sure you haven’t missed anything important, we’ve gathered what we reckon are the hottest news stories from this week, right here. Check them out, and let us know what caught your eye

If you think the 2019 BMW X4 might only be a niche player for the brand in Australia, consider this: In 2016, for the first time, X models outsold passenger cars in Australia. In 2017, that percentage nudged higher again, and YTD for 2018, it’s once again tracking to go higher, sitting at 58 per cent at the time of writing. 

The annual Detroit motor show – or North American International Auto Show, as it's known officially – could move from its traditional January start date, according to reports from local media. Detroit News reports the Detroit Dealers Association wants to move the event, which has been shrinking in the shadow of the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, to later in the year, likely in July or October.

The rumoured Renault Captur Coupe has been spied during development testing, ahead of a reveal at the Moscow motor show in August. While not officially confirmed by the French brand, the new SUV it teased this week ahead of the Russian event is widely believed to be a preview for a coupe-styled Captur small SUV – the two will be related in similar fashion to the BMW X4 and X6.

Simplicity is a rare trait to have these days. Even cheap and cheerful urban runabouts like the Kia Rio S now include features that would have almost been considered science fiction 10 or 15 years ago.

A new Committee on Electric Vehicles has been formed in the Australian Senate, with the goal of lending "much needed momentum and leadership" to the push for electric cars Down Under. Headed by Tim Storer, Independent Senator for South Australia, the committee will explore the "economic, environmental and social benefits" widespread adoption of electric vehicles could offer for Australia.

Subaru’s Ascent replaces the long-dead Tribeca atop its range, but don’t expect this Toyota Kluger and Mazda CX-9 rival on our shores any time soon, despite Subaru Australia’s wishes. Subaru Australia is keen to offer the new three-row Ascent locally, but a lack of right-hand drive (RHD) demand outside our tiny market is standing in the way of a profitable business case.

Customisation is in vogue at the moment, but choice can be seriously confusing. In our configurator challenge, we 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 Aston Martin DBS Superleggera. Let us know what you think in the comments, and which cars you’d like to see next!

Bungee jumping, skydiving, stunt boats, black-run heli-skiing… There’s legitimacy to the claim that New Zealand’s Queenstown is the adventure capital of the world. It’s certainly a fitting venue for CarAdvice’s introduction to a developing breed of transport that aims to offer recreational fun for families, as well as serving as a utility vehicle for farms and commercial businesses.

Alfa Romeo could axe the 4C coupe after its 2018 model year runs out, leaving the 4C Spider to carry the brand's two-seat torch. After reports from the USA said the 4C Coupe will be killed in North America next year, Autocar has quoted Sergio Marchionne calling the model's future into question.

Ride sharing, driven by the rise of Uber and Lyft, has completely changed the taxi market, but this is a strange entry to the mobility market. Meet the Fortum Singalong Shuttle, an electric Helsinki taxi that accepts only singing as payment. This is an odd story, we realise.

Not quite small, not quite medium, the 2018 Jeep Compass Limited is an interesting SUV in the ever-burgeoning Jeep range. Jeep is trading on decades of heritage – and why not – even though the off-road-focused Trailhawk variant is the vehicle for that purpose across the Jeep fleet. 

A prototype believed to be the Porsche 911 Speedster has been spied at the Nurburgring in Germany this week, indicating a GT3-based drop-top 911 is headed into production. Earlier this month Porsche revealed the 911 Speedster concept, created to celebrate the brand's 70th anniversary. It's based on a Carrera 4 Cabriolet, but uses the powertrain and mechanical package from the 911 GT3 track hero.

Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation (SAIC) brands MG and LDV are aiming to become the safest brands in each of their segments, having committed to tailoring new-generation safety systems to meet strict local global regulations.

The Nissan GT-R50 by Italdesign has been partially revealed in a set of new images this week, ahead of a full reveal in Europe next month. It's the first time the Japanese manufacturer and Italian design house have collaborated on a project, which celebrates the 50th anniversaries of both the GT-R and Italdesign.

A prototype believed to be the Kia Proceed GT Shooting Brake has been spied this week during development testing, indicating a production version of the concept shown at last year's Frankfurt motor show is on the way. This particular vehicle is wearing a heap of black sheeting and false body panels to hide its profile and design details, but we can still see plenty.

Chevrolet has announced a new, faster charging system for its Volt hybrid, helping halve the time required for a full battery. The 7.2kW charger is aimed at owners who like "opportunity charging" – plugging in for a quick top-up when the chance arises – and drops full recharge time to 2.3 hours when hooked up to the right kind of socket. With a full charge, the Volt will still do a claimed 85km on pure-electric power, or 675km utilising both the petrol range extender and electric power.

The upcoming Seat Tarraco has been spied during performance testing at the famed Nurburgring Nordschleife circuit in Germany, ahead of a European launch later this year. Essentially Seat's version of the Skoda Kodiaq and Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace, the Tarraco will be the Spanish brand's first seven-seat SUV, sitting above the smaller Arona and Ateca offerings.

Smart has officially been around for 20 years. The city-car maker burst onto the scene in July 1998, with a two-seater (the inventively named ForTwo) measuring just over 2.5m long. More than 2.2 million examples have been sold since then, across 46 markets around the world. Australia was one of them, but the little Smart didn't really fit into our big-car-centric culture, and so the brand was withdrawn from the market in 2015.

McLaren has whipped the covers off the first-ever Super Series model to wear a 'Longtail' badge, the track-ready 600LT. In keeping with the formula laid out by the 675LT and 675LT Spider, the new 600LT is a lighter, more powerful version of the 570S designed for all-out track day action.

MG has confirmed it's working on an all-electric two-door sports car, similar in size to a Mazda MX-5, to offer a new look at what a compact enthusiast toy can be. Speaking with Australian media at the MG research and development centre in Shanghai, the brand’s head of design (and a veteran of more than 10 years with Volkswagen), Shao Jinfeng, confirmed plans for an electric sports car, acknowledging the MG brand's history as a sports car maker.

Subaru has recalled the 2004-2009 Impreza and 2008-2010 Liberty/Outback over concerns about the fuel pump wiring harness. According to the company, the wiring harness connector on affected vehicles can deteriorate over time. That could stop the fuel pump operating correctly, potentially extending the time taken to crank the engine on startup, causing the car not to start or stall. If the engine stalls and won't restart, this poses a hazard to the driver and other road users..

The Volkswagen Golf R is hardly what you'd call slow, but imagine doubling the amount of power it produces. Well, a 75-year-old man in the UK has done just that. His Mk7 Golf R has been tuned to deliver just under 600bhp (447kW), not that you'd be able to tell by looking at it. The main changes contributing to the power bump are a massive turbocharger and upgraded fuel pump he's "shoehorned" into the engine bay. You can get the full rundown of the modifications during the video clip below.

The upcoming McLaren Sports Series track hero, currently dubbed the 600LT, has been spied at the Nurburgring ahead of an official reveal later today. For the first time we get a glimpse of the full vehicle, rather than the partial teaser images McLaren has released over the past fortnight. Compared to the 540C and 570S, the 600LT gets a far more aggressive aero package, including the massive rear diffuser, along with a bigger rear spoiler and top-mounted exhaust pipes.

It’s been a long time coming, but Mazda will finally offer Apple CarPlay and Android Auto across its range by the end of the year and there’s good news in store for current owners. Unlike a lot of manufacturers that won’t retrofit new technology to existing products, Mazda will offer customers the ability to retrofit the smartphone mirroring technology to all vehicles equipped with MZD Connect.

The new-gen BMW X6 has been spied for the first time this week during development testing near the company's Spartanburg manufacturing facility in California. Despite being almost completely covered in a black-and-white wrap, it's pretty clear that the new X6 will combine design elements from its recently-overhauled X5 sibling and the smaller X4 coupe.

Women in Saudi Arabia are now allowed to drive themselves, after the nation's ban on female drivers lifted over the weekend. A royal decree issued by King Salman in September – but reportedly pushed by his son, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, in the lead up – lifted the world's last ban on women driving, but the new rules didn't come into force until Sunday, June 24.

Holden has recalled the 2013 Volt, over concerns of a 'low cell voltage condition' in the battery pack. According to the company, the fault could make owners suffer a reduction or loss of forward movement, and the car mightn't start. Owners will notice a warning light on the dashboard if the problem occurs. Holden says a loss of power puts the driver and other road users at greater risk of an accident. Just 20 cars are included in the recall – a VIN list is attached here.

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 June 26 in years past. The all-new X5 was revealed just weeks ago, and one year ago today saw the debut of the smaller X3.

Holden has commenced local real-world testing of the upcoming Acadia SUV, ahead of its launch in the fourth quarter of this year. A fleet of 16 Acadias has been deployed on Aussie roads, with a further 14 doing errands in the USA for the six-month testing regime. The company says it expects the development vehicles to accumulate "almost 1.5 million kilometres" during this time.

Hot on the heels of its Pikes Peak triumph, Volkswagen has announced plans to take the BGC/C-class speed record at the Bonneville Salt Flats in August. It won't be using a Golf GTI for the attempt, and forget about the Arteon. The car chosen taking on the record run is – wait for it – a Jetta. You at the back, stop laughing!

The Lamborghini Aventador has been recalled this week, over concerns vehicles could stall without warning under "certain driving conditions". If the condition occurs, Lamborghini says the "servo steering and brake booster functionalities may be compromised", posing a hazard to the driver and other road users.

Jaguar made headlines with an I-Pace vs Model X drag race when its new, all-electric SUV was revealed earlier this year. The first mass-produced Jaguar electric vehicle comfortably accounted for the Tesla Model X 75D and 100D, but the P100D (you know, the really fast one) was a notable absentee.

The Lamborghini Miura is one of the most iconic supercars ever built – heck, it arguably defines the genre. Just 763 were made, but the regular Miura isn't the most exclusive example of the breed. That honour belongs to the Miura SVR given a new lease on life by the 'Polo Storico' division at Lamborghini.

Infrastructure Australia has renewed calls for a user-pays congestion charge, taking aim at the Federal Government for its inaction over the traffic choking our major cities. The body's latest report, a follow-up to its 2016 Infrastructure Plan, says the government "signalled its support for [the user-pays] proposal" in November 2016 but "no inquiry has been forthcoming" since, and called for it to "move forward on this important opportunity for reform".

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) has issued a recall for the 2014-2018 model-year Jeep Cherokee, over concerns a faulty Power Control Module (PCM) could make cruise control to lock or accelerate unexpectedly. The manufacturer reports the PCM's computer software is faulty, and could cause the "possible locking of speed or cause acceleration of the vehicle" when cruise control is activated.

When it comes to vehicle segments, size matters. Or at least the perception that size matters, particularly in marketing terms, when agitating the already blurry line between medium and large cars, and the impact on suitability as family-moving devices. In Holden’s case, pigeonholing the Commodore as ‘large’ guarantees best-selling status in the segment, by a huge margin, even if technically its non-premium rivals these days number just two: Kia Stinger and Skoda Superb.

A fully restored 1957 Porsche 550A Spyder has arrived on the classic car market but, in an interesting move, it won't be offered at auction. Located in Monaco, chassis number 550A-0121 was the fifteenth assembled, and is one of just forty produced. It's a matching numbers car, and after a four-year body-off restoration, is in full concours condition.

The "unprecedented" amounts of money being spent on autonomous and electric vehicle development have put the automotive industry on track for a "pile-up of epic proportions" in the coming years.

Lacklustre four-speed automatic transmission aside, there's a lot to like about Kia's punky little Picanto. James Wong explores here.

The rotary is dead for now, but fans of the Mazda RX-7 are still very much alive and kicking. In a nod to the legendary nameplate on its 40th birthday, Mazda UK has assembled all three generations for a video. Given they're now valuable classics, you could have forgiven Mazda for parking three RX-7s side-by-side and releasing a few photos. Instead, it let the loose with a presenter behind the wheel, for a walk through their significance.

The CX-5 SUV could be the next member of the Mazda line-up to get the brand's 2.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine, if new documents out of the US are anything to go by. Autoevolution published a document (below) made to the California Air Resources Board (CARB) – the state's regulatory body for emissions and air quality – which apparently indicates the CX-5 will offer the 2.5-litre turbo as part of a 2019 model-year update.

Audi Australia has issued a recall notice for A4, A5, A6, A7 and Q5 models manufactured between January 2011 and March 2017 fitted with the 2.0-litre TFSI engine.  According to the German marque, moisture could find its way into electric components and cause overheating, or failure of the coolant pump. The issue can also lead to smoulder damage which, in some cases, could cause the car to catch fire. Audi has confirmed 96 units are affected – a VIN list is attached here. 

We’ve reviewed the Mitsubishi Pajero Sport numerous times since the range arrived in Oz in late 2015, initially as a five-seater, before expanding with seven-seat practicality the end of the following year. On balance, the Triton-based, off-road-ready wagon range has imparted itself well in review, a perennial 7.5- to eight-from-10 prospect favoured by value-savvy buyers keen on its flexible, workhorse-like capability wrapped in more than a modicum of urban runabout manners.

Ever wondered what makes a Porsche 911 GT3 RS so fast around a race track? Well, now you have some of the answers. On April 16 the GT3 RS lapped the famed Nurburgring Nordschleife in a blistering 6 minutes 56.4 seconds – nine seconds slower than the twin-turbo 911 GT2 RS, but 0.5 seconds quicker than the 918 hybrid hypercar. You can watch a video of that lap above.

Suzuki has added a manual version of the GL Navigator to its Swift range, replacing the GL manual at the bottom of the range with more equipment and a five-star ANCAP rating. The new Swift is powered by a 66kW/120Nm 1.2-litre DualJet engine, and rides on 16-inch alloy wheels as standard. It gets daytime running lights, tinted windows, satellite navigation and a reversing camera as standard, along with three pedals and a five-speed gearbox.

BMW Australia has recalled the 2005-2011 3 Series, over concerns about the interior fan blower wiring. According to the company, the electrical wiring and fan resistor in the blower could deteriorate over time, creating a risk of melting or short-circuit and, subsequently, a fire. There are 44,196 units included in this recall – a VIN list is attached here.

Porsche AG has purchased a 10 per cent stake in Croatian electric startup Rimac Automobili, creators of the Concept One and C_Two EV hypercars. The German sports car specialist made the announcement overnight, and says it plans to enter a "close collaboration" with the up and coming EV brand.

Sponsored by: Renault The venerable Renault Trafic remains a popular option for Aussie businesses, despite still being available in manual form only. (We of course offer an immediate tip o' the hat to those buyers sticking with the manual life!) To demonstrate the Trafic's versatility and capability, Renault tasked CarAdvice with recruiting a group of hard-working load-hauling locals to spend time on the job with the 103SWB variant. Here's what they thought.

A beefed up BMW M4 prototype has been spotted this week at the Nurburgring, hinting at an even more focused edition of the Bavarian performance coupe before a new generation arrives in a couple of years time.

Mercedes-Benz bills its new Sprinter as “the most versatile van in the world”. You don’t make that claim lightly, so it’s a given that heavy duty operators will expect it to deliver. The Sprinter has long been the lynchpin of Mercedes-Benz’s Van division, Australia being no exception. The brand new one arrives locally from the fourth quarter of this year, and in many ways is sure to outpoint the Ford Transit, Renault Master and Volkswagen Crafter.

The local Volvo XC40 range will be bolstered by the addition of a new 'T4' petrol offering and the 'Inscription' trim grade later this year. A keen-eyed CarAdvice reader noticed the new offerings during a visit to a dealer in Canberra, and Volvo Australia has since confirmed the additional variants will be coming later this year, though it wouldn't elaborate any further. Two new variants were specified: a T4 Momentum, and a T4 Inscription.

Simply clever, they say. Is the new 2018 Skoda Karoq worth your shopping consideration? Jez Spinks jumps behind the wheel for a first drive, to see what it's got. Watch for our full written review to go live on 22 June, 2018. MORE: Karoq news, reviews, comparisons and videos MORE: Everything Skoda

The BMW 8 Series has just been revealed in two-door coupe form, but it appears there's a four-door Gran Coupe coming soon – going by a new set of patent renderings published in overseas media this week. A three-strong set of images was posted by website Motor1.com, said to be from the Brazilian National Institute of Industrial Property, depicting three versions of the new 8 Series: the coupe, a convertible, and four-door Gran Coupe.

Audi AG and Hyundai Motor, both major proponents of fuel-cell electric vehicle (FCEV) technology alongside the likes of Toyota and Mercedes-Benz, have formed an alliance to get affordable systems to market sooner. Reading between the lines, Audi will develop its own FCEV crossover using components from the Hyundai Nexo (driven here) as a tangible starting point for the alliance.

UPDATE, 21/6/18: Ford Australia has expanded this recall, and has announced parts are now available to rectify the fault. See article for more details. Ford Australia has issued a recall for 73,000 Ranger utes, over concerns a buildup of debris on the vehicle's underbody could pose a fire risk. The Blue Oval says affected units can accumulate vegetation on the underside of the vehicle when driven over long grass.

The updated Renault Kadjar has been spotted during development testing in Europe, giving us an early look at what to expect from the refreshed crossover. It appears the majority of the changes will be focused on the front- and rear-end styling – hence the concentration of black-and-white camouflage in those areas – with a design more in keeping with the company's newest models, namely the Megane hatchback and Koleos SUV.

Swedish performance brand Polestar has released new details about its upcoming 1 hybrid sports car, this time regarding the new model's extensive use of lightweight carbon-fibre in its construction. The company says the use of carbon-fibre reinforced plastic (CFRP) for most body parts contributes to a weight saving of 230 kilograms.

Seated high and mighty behind the wheel of the 2018 Renault Trafic SWB 103, I’m rolling along the motorway at 110km/h, engine ticking over just north of 2000rpm, manual gearbox in sixth, listening to a podcast through the USB input, and I’m struck by just how bloody enjoyable this van is to drive. If you’re a delivery driver or tradie who needs a larger van, and the lack of an automatic isn’t a deal-breaker, you’re going to love the Renault Trafic. 

BMW Australia has issued a recall across its previous-generation 1 Series, 3 Series, and X3 model lines as part of the ongoing Takata airbag campaign. This latest notice affects driver's airbags fitted to 'E8x' 1 Series, 'E9x' 3 Series and 'E83' X3 models, sold from 1 June 2004 through 30 June 2015. As with all Takata recalls, the fault revolves around inflators that could degrade due to exposure to high temperatures and humidity over time.

The Volkswagen Polo range has been bolstered with the addition of a sporty R-Line Package, now available on Comfortline variants. Priced at $1500, the R-Line pack adds more aggressive bumpers front and rear with gloss-black accents, side skirt extensions in black grain, a diffuser-style rear treatment with chromed faux tailpipe finishers, a rear spoiler in high-gloss black, and 16-inch 'Sebring' alloys finished in Metallic Grey.

Scott the difference! What sets these two related utes apart? We've Scott the answers! (Okay, we'll stop there.) We've now got a good assortment of news, reviews, comparisons and videos in the bag for the first-ever Mercedes-Benz X-Class, including a story whose toes this latest video treads on... yet, we couldn't resist taking another look at the similarities, differences, shortcomings and advantages separating the new Merc ute and its Japanese progenitor, the Nissan Navara.

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 June 19 in years past. It's been a lap around the sun since the Highway One to Hell team made their record lap around Australia.

Volkswagen has confirmed pricing and specifications for the incoming seven-seat Tiguan Allspace, set to kick off from $40,490 before on-road costs when it touches down next month.

The upcoming Mercedes-Benz EQC electric SUV has been previewed again, this time during hot weather testing on Spain's Iberian peninsula. Dry heat is the first challenge in the series, as exposure can cause battery damage in electric vehicles. Therefore, with temperatures in the region reaching up to 50° celsius, the Iberian peninsula is a great location to test the EQC's battery cooling systems in terms of heat insulation and how it copes with high power requirements in these conditions.

The new Audi S6 sedan has been spied in southern Europe during development testing this week, ahead of an anticipated reveal later this year. Spotted almost free of camouflage, we can distinguish this S6 prototype from normal versions of the A6 sedan thanks to the more aggressive bumper treatments front and rear, larger air intakes, along with the quad-tipped exhaust out back. There's also lowered suspension, bigger wheels and bigger brakes compared to regular A6 models.

Rob Margeit’s opening line in his MY19 Kia Carnival launch review is my favourite from any review of 2018 so far – one of those ‘damn, why didn’t I think of that’ moments. “People movers aren’t sexy, which is ironic considering plenty of sexy time was had by those with the actual need of one.” Poetry…

Audi CEO, Rupert Stadler, has been detained by German police over matters relating to the (seemingly never-ending) Dieselgate saga. Munich police cited the potential for "evidence suppression" as the reason for his arrest, just a week after he was added to a list of around 20 Volkswagen Group executives being investigated for fraud in relation to the diesel emissions cheating scandal.

Honda Australia has released preliminary information for the updated 2018 HR-V range, headlined by the standard fitment of autonomous emergency braking (AEB), along with a new sport-themed RS trim grade. Previously reserved for higher-grade models, all versions of the MY18 HR-V get city-speed AEB as standard – operating at speeds of less than 30km/h using a windscreen-mounted laser radar.

BMW Australia has issued a recall for the first-generation X3 SUV sold from 2004 to 2007 as part of the ever-expanding Takata airbag recall. According to the manufacturer, faulty Takata airbags may have been used as replacement units for the original Petri inflators "during the service history of some vehicles" – specifically models fitted with the 'SA0255' sports steering wheel. These airbags wear a less-dangerous, though still potentially deadly 'beta' rating.

The all-new Suzuki Jimny has been revealed on the company's global and Japanese websites, ahead of a full launch in July. In terms of design, there's no real surprises here considering we've seen the final look on several occasions through spy images and leaks in the Japanese media. Details for international models are scarce at the moment, but we do know the Jimny will be offered in two bodies in the Japanese domestic market – the standard 'Jimny' and the 'Jimny Sierra'.

Toyota has used the 24 Hours of Le Mans to announce the GR Super Sports Concept, initially revealed at Tokyo Auto Salon in January, will be put into production – well, sort of. The car will form the base of a racer, set to compete in the just-announced 'hypercar' class of the FIA World Endurance Championship when new regulations take force in 2020. Beyond that, details about the stunning racer for the road are hard to come by.

If owning a track-friendly version of a road-going Ferrari isn't quite special enough, the company has introduced a new 'Piloti Ferrari' specification for the 488 Pista. To add an extra layer of exclusivity, this new specification package is available only for "customers involved in the company’s motor sports programmes".

Jaguar Land Rover has launched Carpe, an annual subscription service aimed at high mileage drivers. The service is being run by InMotion Ventures, a Jaguar Land Rover offshoot experimenting in mobility schemes, car and ride sharing, and financial services. Unlike the Porsche Passport, Mercedes-Benz Collection and Access by BMW schemes being trialled by in select US cities, the Carpe plans don't allow subscribers to sample various cars within a payment tier.

Customisation is in vogue at the moment, but choice can be seriously confusing. In our configurator challenge, we 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 Mini Clubman.  Let us know what you think in the comments, and which cars you’d like to see next!

Tracking devices will soon be fitted to cars registered in China in an effort to tackle the country's notorious congestion and pollution problem. According to The Wall Street Journal, from July the country will begin fitting cars with radio-frequency identification (RFID) tags at registration time. Although the scheme won't be compulsory at first, it looks likely it will become mandatory for new cars starting from 2019.

A prototype believed to be the upcoming Audi RS Q8 has been spied with less camouflage, giving us a better look at the upcoming flagship four-ringed SUV. Snapped alongside an early development vehicle for the next-generation RS6, the RS Q8 has dropped more than half of the swirly black-and-white wrap that disguised most of the vehicle we spotted in May – though there aren't really any surprises in terms of the overall design.

The 2018 Toyota Prado remains the quintessential large SUV so far as Aussie family buyers are concerned, but not too many shop right down at the budget end of the range – like the GX manual we’re testing here. 

BMW has ended the never-ending tease, revealing the hotly-anticipated new 8 Series ahead of an Australian arrival next year. This is the second-ever 8 Series, and the first of the 21st century. It's also the first without pop-up headlights, but we'll accept no new car is going to bring them back. Blame pedestrians and their silly, soft bodies for that one.

In case you missed our podcast, the 911 Speedster reveal, and Taycan name announcement last week, Porsche is celebrating 70 years since its first car, the 356 Roadster, was registered. To celebrate, the brand has put together a brief video celebrating its history, and reiterating what it's all about. There's the usual mix of sharp cuts, dramatic music and deep-voiced narration in there, but it's also an excellent snapshot of why motoring enthusiasts love Porsche so much.

Kia Australia has issued a recall for the 2015-19 model-year Carnival over concerns models with power-operated side doors may not recognise objects obstructing their path. The Korean manufacturer reports the software controlling the power sliding doors may not detect "certain obstructions", and therefore may not auto-reverse when an obstruction is in the door opening. If the condition occurs, occupants could be injured if an errant limb or finger is obstructing the door as it closes.

A development vehicle believed to be the next-generation Audi RS6 has been snapped for the first time in Europe, giving us a first look at the upcoming performance estate. Based on the latest A6 Avant, the new RS6 borrows the body shell of its more pedestrian brethren, adding a more aggressive front and rear as seen by the camouflaged components in the images.

Although there’s no shortage of long wheelbase, incredibly luxurious limousines on the market, Mercedes-Benz has somehow managed to remain synonymous with high-level prestige motoring, with its S-Class line held as the standard by which others are often compared. Similarly, Benz’s own performance arm, Mercedes-AMG, is every bit as well known for turning polite run-of-the-mill sedans into giant killers. Put those two seemingly polar opposites together and the result is the imposing S63L.

Mercedes-Benz Australia has expanded its Takata airbag recall campaign, which affects the 2006-12 model-year GL, ML and SLK model lines. The German marque says the number of units affected by the campaign has grown to 8817 vehicles – up from the 2850 previously reported. It's worth noting the Mercedes-Benz models included in this notice are fitted with the less-dangerous 'beta' inflators, though the recall is still related to a major safety issue.

Australian adoption of electric vehicles is on the rise, but we still lag behind much of the developed world when it comes to electric (EV) and plug-in hybrid vehicle (PHEV) sales and support. UPDATE, 6:16pm: The story has been updated with direct quotes from Behyad Jafari, CEO of the EV Council.

A camouflaged prototype based on the Audi R8 has been spied this week, previewing a facelifted version of the German supercar, along with a potential flagship 'GT' variant. Swirly black-and-white wrap conceals the car's fascia, wheel arches and rear end, indicating these are the areas that will get revised components as part of a possible mid-life update.

Small vans are a bigger deal in the narrow streets of European cities than they are in Australia, but compact deliverers like the Citroen Berlingo nonetheless have an important role to play in the local logistics industry. Citroen isn’t alone with its compact Berlingo, exploiting the niche for light-duty vans in Australia alongside the Renault Kangoo and Volkswagen Caddy. Although, to the end of April 2018, the Berlingo has only shifted 44 units versus 235 for the Kangoo and 609 for the Caddy.

The SUV body shape might not be what comes to mind when you think about MG, with any mention of the iconic British badge usually sparking thoughts of classic compact roadsters and leafy country roads. Now, though, the storied brand has been brought screaming into the 21st century with new SUV hopefuls like the mid-sized GS and the small ZS. Here, Adam takes a look at the GS and asks the question, should today's buyers consider this family car offering?

Ride-sharing giant Uber could be bringing its high-flying uberAIR service to Sydney and Melbourne, as the company looks for 'launch cities' to trial its latest program. Using electric vertical take-off and landing vehicles (eVTOLs), uberAIR shuttles have space for up to four passengers along with "their personal bags and backpacks". The eVTOLs feature four propellers that allow them to take off from the ground vertically, and a single rotor on the tail to propel them forwards.

Ford Australia has confirmed 2018.5 Escape pricing and specifications, announcing the addition of range-wide standard autonomous emergency braking (AEB) and a new ST-Line grade from September. Every new Escape will include AEB as standard, having previously bundled it in the $1300 Driver Assist Technologies pack on Trend and Titanium models, and not offered it on the base Ambiente.

The idea of being a test driver for someone like Bugatti sounds glamorous, but it's also a risky game. The test-driver in question here, Loris Bicocchi, was involved in developing the Veyron, having previously had a hand in the final Lamborghini Countach, Pagani Zonda, Bugatti EB110 and Koenigsegg CCX. In other words, he's no dummy behind the wheel, which makes his story of binning a Veyron at speeds nudging 400km/h all the more incredible.

Cheap to buy and run, unpretentious and practical as hell. If these traits float your boat, then the Honda Jazz VTi is probably the car for you. This iteration of the Jazz (Fit in many countries) has been around for a few years now, but we haven’t reviewed the entry grade in too long. Ergo, this. At $14,990 before on-road costs, or $15,990 drive-away, the base Thai-made Jazz is the cheapest Honda you can buy, and one of the cheapest cars out there full stop.

The Audi A4 facelift has been spied again, this time in 'A4 L' sedan guise on the roads of Europe. While it was spied in its homeland, the A4 L is actually a Chinese-market car – the Chinese characters on the boot lid are a dead giveaway. Despite this particular vehicle being based on a Chinese version, the updated face is the same as the Euro-spec wagon spied last month.

A report from the Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP) has revealed autonomous emergency braking (AEB) is included as standard in 10 times more vehicles than 2015. The study has tracked whether the potentially life-saving technology is not available, optional, available on higher models, standard or unknown in the 100 best-selling cars in Australia through December 2015, June 2016, June 2017 and March 2018, tracking its rapid uptake in new cars.

At this end of the SUV spectrum, it's all about sharp pricing and value for money. Everybody wants to get into an SUV, but which one should you go for? It can be pretty confusing. Here, Paul tests two top competitors in the medium SUV segment.

Ford Australia has recalled the 2018 Everest and Ranger, over concerns the intermediate steering shaft weld might not be to specification. According to the company, the potentially dodgy weld could make the steering column detach from the steering gear. If that happens, there's a risk the driver will lose steering, increasing the risk of accident or injury. A total of 207 Rangers and 81 Everests are included in the recall – a VIN list for the former is attached here, and the latter here.

Kia has recalled 507,000 vehicles in North America, over concerns an electrical fault could stop their airbags and seatbelt pre-tensioners working in an accident. The recall, according to a report in Automotive News, comes after a US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) investigation into why four people were killed and six injured in accidents where Hyundai and Kia airbags didn't deploy.

Volvo Cars has joined a growing list of manufacturers pushing away from motor shows, instead focusing on more closely-tailored events showcasing its new products. The first casualty is the 2019 Geneva motor show, with no word on whether it'll appear at the 2018 Paris motor show this October. Unlike many manufacturers, who like to launch their vehicles at motor shows, Volvo used 2017 Milan Fashion Week to unveil the XC40, and revealed the V60 in a Stockholm driveway.

The facelifted Porsche Macan has been spied in Europe this week, sporting a lot less camouflage and a bright green finish. It's believed that this particular vehicle is a pre-production car, as just about every Porsche development vehicle is finished in black, and the eye-catching exterior hue means we get a better look at the (minor) exterior revisions.

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 June 12 in years past. It's already been a whole trip around the sun since Porsche revealed its manic 911 GT2 RS and the Electronic Entertainment Expo, also known as E3.

Australian details for the 2018 Ram 1500 range have been announced this week, with pricing to kick off from $79,950 drive-away. Two cab variants will be offered – Express with Quad Cab and Laramie with Crew Cab. They offer 3.3 cubic metres and 3.5 cubic metres of interior space respectively, though the smaller cab gets a longer tray – 6'4" v 5'8".

Elon Musk has taken to Twitter promising some 'full self-driving features' will be rolled out as part of an August update for Tesla's Autopilot driver assist system. At the moment, Autopilot is limited to Level 2 automation. Although stories about Tesla 'drivers' sleeping and sitting in the passenger seat – and, unfortunately, crashing while reliant on the system – abound, Autopilot is only meant to operate under constant driver supervision.

Kia Australia will add two go-fast ‘GT’ versions of its new Cerato small car by early 2019 to complement the Stinger brand-builder. The Cerato GT (expected name) will come in both hatch and sedan body styles, giving Kia dealers two affordable image leaders in the same mould as the related Hyundai i30 SR and Elantra […]

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 – […]

In order to really get our heads around the Haval H9, we decided to play a game. We asked various members of our 40(ish) person team who don’t write about cars – our developers, sales managers, etc – to jump into the cabin and guess its price. Almost nobody lowballed the answer, $45,990 drive-away, which […]

The 2018 Nissan Terra isn’t confirmed for the Australian market, but it’s managed to take down the sales-leading Isuzu MU-X in our latest online poll. A not-insignificant 58 per cent of respondents preferred the seven-seat Nissan over the MU-X, which is currently topping its class for sales. Nissan head office hasn’t actually decided whether to […]

General Motors and Honda have announced a partnership to develop advanced battery components, in an attempt to speed up the rollout of electric cars that are attractive to consumers. The agreement will see the two companies collaborate on development of GM’s next-generation battery systems, with Honda to source its battery modules from the American giant. […]

A development prototype believed to be an upcoming facelift for the Opel Astra has been spied in Europe during hot weather testing. Black camouflage conceals the front bumper and grille, suggesting the most noticeable changes will be in these areas, and it looks like the headlights may get revisions too. Other changes could occur under the […]

Ferrari has scooped International Engine of the Year for the third year running, beating out Porsche and Tesla (yes, really) for the honour. The 3.9-litre bi-turbo V8 from the 488 GTB, GTB Spider and Pista scored 486 points from the judges, comfortably beating out the 3.0-litre turbocharged flat-six engine in the Porsche 911 (198 points) […]

The Goodwood Festival of Speed is a unique event in the motoring world. It’s a mile away from the average motor show, letting punters get up close and personal with their favourite metal in motion, as well as on a pre-prepared stand. One of the most interesting parts of the Festival of Speed is the […]

The small- to mid-sized SUV segment is already a bewildering world, with seemingly countless offerings from numerous brands. It’s a fertile plain for those who get it right, the segment with small and medium SUVs accounting for nearly 30 per cent of all new car sales to the end of April. Rich pickings, then. Countering […]

Hyundai’s N Division – responsible for its performance models and motorsport endeavours – has confirmed a line of sport-themed variants based on existing models, and N-branded options and accessories, according to a new report out of the US. Speaking with Motor Authority, Thomas Schemera, head of the Korean brand’s high performance vehicle and motorsport division, confirmed […]

Skoda Australia is seeing some decent growth so far this year, with sales increasing by 13.1 per cent year-to-date (YTD) as of May 30. May’s VFACTs figures also revealed that the Czech brand was up 34.1 per cent on May 2017, helped by double-digit growth across its Octavia and Superb model lines. The Octavia shifted […]

You’d be entitled to question the relevance of the 2018 Porsche Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid – and yes that name and model designation is a mouthful. Isn’t the whole point of hybrids to achieve maximum efficiency in as boring a manner as possible? Porsche has tossed that theory well and truly out the window with […]

The hotter Aston Martin DBS Superleggera has been spied flaunting its extra vents and tougher stance on the Nurburgring. In case you were wondering, this set of photos is actually two cars – one snapped in Southern Europe during hot-weather testing, and one high-speed testing on the Nurburgring. Power is expected to come from a […]

Nissan has unveiled a pair of self-contained campers at the Madrid motor show, packing two-tone paint jobs and pop-tops in a (suspiciously) similar vein to the Volkswagen California camper. The smaller of the two vans, the e-NV200, is designed to comfortably sleep four people on a weekend away. There’s heating, a proper bedroom with curtains, […]

For all the fanfare made over the Stinger, and all the positive press given to the Sportage and Sorento crossovers, it’s the Cerato that is Kia Australia’s mainstay. The rapidly expanding company has doubled its sales in just four years, but over that period the aggressively priced Cerato’s volume has about tripled. It now accounts for one […]

Kia Australia has launched a new version of its top-seller, the Cerato small car. More accurately, it’s launched the sedan version, with the hatchback model not due until year’s end, at best. The new-generation model, to line up against other popular four-door rivals such as the Honda Civic and Mazda 3, plus the related Hyundai […]