CAR ADVICE

Put yourself in my shoes for a moment: you’ve been offered the keys to the first and only Aston Martin DB11 AMR in the country, for some content. What would you do? How about call your best mate and tell him you're taking him on the lunch run that will top all lunch runs? Yep, me too. Actually, that’s exactly what I did.

Renault Australia has bolstered its Megane RS 280 range with the addition of an auto-equipped Cup chassis variant, on sale now from $51,990 plus on-road costs. After introducing an automatic option for the first time with the new-generation model, Renault has now opened up the more focused Cup variant to those wanting a self-shifter, having previously reserved the option for manual models.

Land Rover Australia has confirmed its flagship Range Rover will gain a new powertrain option from May, in the form of the new 'Ingenium' 3.0-litre twin-charged inline six with mild-hybrid tech. Pricing is set to be announced later this month, ahead of first deliveries arriving Down Under in October, at which point they'll form part of the revised 2020 model-year range.

Holden Special Vehicles has rolled out another limited-edition SportsCat ute, this time to fill the gap between the regular model and the flagship SportsCat Plus. Priced from $63,990 plus on-road costs with a six-speed auto, the SportsCat RS slots between the $60,790 price of the regular model and $66,790 for the range-topping version. Just 100 will be built (94 for Australia and six for New Zealand), starting from this month.

Volvo has given its XC90 SUV a very mild spec refresh for the 2019 model year, adding some luxury touches to high-end models without changing its pricing. The line-up maintains its three-tier model structure, staring with Momentum, rolling through Inscription to R-Design. Three powertrains are offered, starting with the XC90 D5. It's powered by a 2.0-litre turbo-diesel engine making 165kW and 470Nm, good for a 7.8-second sprint to 100km/h and 6.2L/100km on the combined cycle.

Volkswagen Australia has confirmed some initial details for the upcoming Golf GTI TCR, including its scheduled arrival in October. Just 300 units will be headed Down Under, which is the "biggest allocation internationally", according to Volkswagen's local communications boss, Paul Pottinger. Final pricing "will be announced shortly", as will specification. We're told the TCR will be 'fully equipped' and only offered locally as a five-door proposition – a three-door version is offered abroad.

Toyota USA has announced the 86 Hakone Edition, a British Racing Green-coloured special that's based on a similar edition revealed for Japan in February. Available as part of the 2020 model-year range in North America, the Hakone Edition is based on the US range's 'GT' specification, and is claimed to pay tribute to the iconic Hakone Turnpike in Japan – dubbed "one of the great driving roads in the world".

The new RC F is an exciting addition to the increasingly rare V8 sports car landscape, and one that now handles better than ever. The updates for 2019 have been incremental, but the cumulative effect of all these changes has made for quite a substantial upgrade over the previous model.

Kia and Fujitsu Australia have teamed up to develop a cleaner interface for emergency service vehicles. Rather than relying on bulky, tacked-on instruments, the system integrates into Kia's existing infotainment system. Based on a Stinger, the car pictured here relies on a Fujitsu software platform (which appears to have its roots in Google's Android platform) that pulls disparate technologies like active numberplate recognition, sirens and internal messaging into the one interface.

The Isuzu D-Max ute has come in for a final refresh before it is due to be replaced by an all-new model some time in 2020. For the record, Isuzu executives won’t say if or when the next-generation D-Max will arrive. However, if history is a guide, it is due in local showrooms about 12 months from now.

Nissan Australia has added the Qashqai ST+ to the line-up, bringing the total number of variants to four. Slotting between the base ST and mid-spec ST-L, the ST+ is priced from $30,790 plus on-road costs and is available exclusively with a CVT automatic – unlike the ST which features a six-speed manual as standard.

Aston Martin has revealed its more focused take on the Vantage, wearing an AMR badge and a retro-inspired livery to boot. First up, the engine. It's the same AMG-sourced 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 offered in the regular Vantage, making the same 375kW of power and 625Nm. That's 60Nm down on the stock car, likely to protect the manual driveline. It's a Mercedes-AMG unit, but it's not mated to an automatic transmission – for the first time, this engine is hooked up to a manual transmission.

Usually, we explore concept cars launched several decades ago, but for this instalment we felt the need to talk about a car that was unveiled earlier this year at the 2019 Geneva Motor Show - the Alfa Romeo Tonale. The first Alfa Romeo with a hybrid powertrain is (at least for now) just a design study, even though we all know it's a sign of things to come from the Italian brand.

Starting from later this year, Fiat Chrysler (FCA) will begin offering cars with an online "ecosystem" featuring a new in-car infotainment system running on Google's Android operating system, and using cloud services from Harman, part of the sprawling Samsung conglomerate. Cars equipped with the new system will have a new Android-based infotainment setup with over-the-air updates, built-in app support, satellite navigation, automatic emergency calling, and smartphone connectivity.

The Peugeot Boxer Electric has been unveiled at the Birmingham commercial vehicle show. The fully electric van will be offered with two electric drivetrains. The first has a range rating of 227km using the NEDC cycle, and will be available on the two shortest body lengths. The longer bodies will use an uprated system with an estimated range of 272km.

Ford of Europe has introduced an updated range of 'Sport' vans, including a more powerful version of the Transit Custom Sport. The upgraded 2.0-litre 'EcoBlue' diesel engine in the Transit Custom Sport now makes 185PS (136kW) and 415Nm, a 9% increase in power output compared to the outgoing model. Interestingly, the Australian-market version due in the coming months makes the same 136kW, but 405Nm (-10Nm).

Isuzu Ute Australia has boosted warranty, roadside assistance and capped priced servicing coverage on all new vehicles sold after 1 May 2019. The extra customer care packages coincide with the arrival of the updated Model Year 2019 D-Max ute and MU-X SUV, which have had a subtle visual makeover and equipment changes (click here).

The Isuzu X-Runner special edition has been revived to coincide with a range of upgrades to the rest of the D-Max range as it approaches the end of this generation’s model cycle. Unlike the last D-Max X-Runner introduced in 2017 as a mid-range model, the 2019 edition is based on the top-of-the-range LS-T.

Isuzu Ute Australia says there have so far been four reported cases of faulty leaf springs showing “symptoms” of a defect that could lead to a fracture and collapse of the rear suspension. However, no actual suspension failures have been reported locally and Isuzu says it has replaced the rear leaf springs in 20 per cent of the approximately 4000 D-Max utes caught up in the global recall in the first four weeks of the campaign.

Peugeot Australia has indicated the new-generation 208 hatchback should make its way Down Under sometime in 2020, though it hasn't confirmed specific timing nor if we'll see the all-electric version. Speaking with media at the Australian launch of the Citroen C3 Aircross and Peugeot Expert, Ben Farlow, managing director for Peugeot Citroen Australia, said the new 208 should be available to Australia "shortly after" its European sales launch late this year or early next.

Let us introduce to you a new friend at the CarAdvice office, which will be working hard on family and commuting duties over the next few months. It’s a 2019 Volvo XC90 D5 R-Design with a listed price of $101,900. It’s Volvo’s biggest SUV, with room for seven on board and a real nod to the brand’s heritage in safety. Being a high-spec model, there are plenty of nice touches inside to cover off.

Land Rover's brand new, premium and more comfortable Defender icon is only a few months away from its Frankfurt motor show debut, which means we find ourselves in the midst of an interminable teaser campaign. Credit to JLR, though, for eking some good from a necessary evil. Today it announced plans for a clad prototype Defender to complete the final phase of field testing with wildlife conservation agency 'Tusk Trust'.

The commentary about electric vehicles (EV) from Australia’s political class has been one of the more tedious issues during this interminable election. That’s irrespective of who you barrack for. I write this after keeping one anguished eye on a leader’s debate between two blokes rubbishing each other, and another eye on a Twitter-sphere speculating how much a Nissan Leaf costs ($50k) and discerning ‘results’ by studying body language.

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 April 30 in years past. Read Alborz's full review here Would you be a guinea pig in driverless vehicle research? Relive the moment here An iconic model from an iconic brand MORE: Car NewsMORE: Time Machine Tuesday

On this week's episode of CarAdvice, Trent Nikolic and Paul Maric talk about the new Great Wall ute, Ford's long-range electric car inspired by the Mustang, and talk about a pair of British SUVs. For starters, there's a new Great Wall ute, and it has the Ford Ranger and Toyota HiLux in its sights. With a more upmarket interior and the promise of a proper off-road model, it certainly looks good on paper.

Toyota USA will allow 2018 Camry and Sienna owners to retrofit smartphone mirroring technology to their cars through a dealer-installed software update. The news follows the company's move to make CarPlay part of the C-HR package as standard in the USA, housed within a new 8.0-inch infotainment system. American buyers get Android Auto on the 2020 Sequoia, Tundra, Tacoma and 4Runner, while European buyers are offered the technology on the pint-sized Aygo and Yaris.

Sponsored by Audi German luxury car maker Audi has extended its official maintenance-program packages from three to five years – saving owners approximately 30 per cent compared with the cost of individual annual services for the same timespan. To debunk the myth that running costs for European luxury cars is expensive, the single, advance 5 Year Service Plan payment covers both scheduled and unscheduled services, plus any further servicing costs.

Opel and Vauxhall have previewed the next-generation Corsa hatchback with an official set of images showing a camouflaged prototype being put through its paces. Set to debut sometime later in 2019, the fifth-gen Corsa is set to move to the PSA Group's 'CMP' modular platform for compact vehicles, which already underpins the new DS 3 Crossback and Peugeot 208.

The Peugeot Expert has returned to the Australian market after a four-year hiatus, and is spearheading the French brand's new assault on the commercial vehicle segment. Since 1995, the Peugeot Expert and related Citroen Jumpy have sold a collective 1.13 million units across the globe, with the pair commanding about 16 per cent of the light commercial vehicle (LCV) market in Europe.

Abarth UK has revealed its refreshed 595 line-up in line with the company's 70th birthday celebrations, headlined by the reintroduction of the flagship 595 Esseesse variant. Launching some 10 years after the original 'esseesse' kit for the new Abarth 500 launched in 2009, the MY19 Abarth 595 Esseesse gets the most powerful 180hp (134kW) tune of the company's 1.4-litre turbo four that powers the entire 595 range, and gets a host of unique appointments.

Electric cars have been thrust into the spotlight in the lead-up to the 2019 Federal Election, driven by a proposed Labor policy to make 50% of new car sales electric by 2030. If you've been keeping up with coverage of the issue, you'll know there's a lot of misinformation and confusion around the technology. How long does it take to charge an electric vehicle? For most people, it isn't eight to 10 minutes – but that's the answer Labor Leader, Bill Shorten, gave in an interview recently.

The 2020 Chevrolet Corvette has been teased ahead of its launch on July 18, this time shown hammering around a track. The video, called Let's Go, starts with the late Zora Arkus-Duntov sitting in the CERV 1 prototype. Zora is credited as the 'father of the Corvette' and a long-time supporter of the move to mid-engined power.

Australia’s top-selling car, the Toyota HiLux, is about to get advanced safety systems including autonomous emergency braking, speed sign recognition, and radar cruise control – just months after the same tech was confirmed for the HiLux in Europe. Toyota Australia would not confirm if or when the new technology is coming to HiLux locally, other than saying it is the company’s intention to rollout the “Safety Sense” tech on all future models.

It’s the fastest and most expensive highway patrol car to ever wear a police badge on active duty in Australia. And with a staggeringly quick 0 to 100km/h time of just 3.4 seconds – as fast as a Porsche – it will be impossible for the bad guys to outrun. Victoria Police are about to be the envy of their colleagues across the country with a pair of high-performance BMW sedans making as much power as a V8 Supercar.

Late last week Carlos Ghosn walked out of the Tokyo Detention Centre again after posting ¥500 million ($6.3 million) in bail. Unlike his first release from jail, when he donned a construction worker's outfit as disguise, Ghosn left jail this time in a plain white button-up shirt with a dark blue jacket. The court imposed a new condition on his freedom, requiring Ghosn to seek permission before he meets or communicates with his wife Carole.

Daimler has confirmed Smart will leave the US and Canadian markets by the end of the 2019, but the automaker will continue to provide support for existing cars via its Mercedes-Benz dealership network. The German automaker told TechCrunch, "After much careful consideration, Smart will discontinue its battery-electric Smart EQ ForTwo model in the US and Canadian markets at the conclusion of MY2019".

Based on the 2016 Volkswagen ID concept, the final name for the Golf-size tall hatch is unknown, but rumours indicate it could be ID Neo or ID3. According to the latest edition of Auto Motor und Sport (via Automobile Propre), there will be three versions of the Volkswagen ID.

Audi Australia has issued a recall for the 2019 model-year Q5 over concerns the master brake cylinder could fail. The German marque reports the aforementioned master cylinder made develop a leak as the wall thickness may not meet correct specifications, which could lead to a hydraulic brake system failure. Audi says the condition poses an increased risk of an accident, though notes the electronic parking brake and its emergency braking function remain operational.

MG is rapidly growing in the Australian market, and a lot of that has to do with the brand’s simple and honest offerings, with an industry-best seven-year warranty plus a rich list of standard equipment across its ever-expanding model line-up.

Toyota has opened its new Technical Centre in Shimoyama, Japan, complete with a test track inspired by the Nurburgring Nordschleife. Although it's inspired by the 20.8km-long Green Hell, the new Toyota test centre isn't quite as large. The track is a 5.3km loop with a 75m elevation gap between its highest and lowest points, developed "based on long experience of the Nurburgring Nordschleife, which is famous throughout the world for its gruelling driving conditions".

Jaguar Land Rover has announced a new 'Smart Wallet' allowing drivers to earn money by reporting traffic obstructions is being tested. Using the Smart Wallet, drivers are able to link a cryptocurrency account to their car. When they encounter hazards like potholes, traffic jams or breakdowns, the company says correctly-equipped cars will be able to automatically report them to the relevant local authorities, or third-party 'navigation providers'.

The French have this kind of effortless cool thing going on. Stereotypes aside, if you look you’ll see it in French cinema, French music, French fashion, French cuisine… Oddly, though, French cars tend to be somewhat hit or miss when it comes to the cool factor. There’s no doubt Renault was onto something when it introduced the Captur compact SUV to take the place of the Modus MPV overseas in 2013, followed up by an Australian introduction in 2014 – but is it effortlessly cool?

Mitsubishi has announced the Pajero Final Edition for the Japanese market, limited to just 700 units. UPDATE, 29/4/19: Mitsubishi Australia has issued a statement regarding the Pajero's future in our market. See bottom of article for details The large off-roader will end a 37-year stint in its homeland when it's discontinued in August, though certain export markets like Australia will continue to get the long-running nameplate.

Aston Martin set tongues wagging when it released a manual version of the last Vantage. The world is going automatic, and three-pedal sports cars are a precious commodity. Turns out, it wasn't a once-off. The new-generation Vantage AMR will come with a manual transmission, as confirmed by a new social media teaser for the car.

Tobias Moers, head of Mercedes-AMG, has confirmed the performance division's next generation models will likely feature all-wheel drive as standard. Speaking with the UK's Autocar, Moers said that buyer trends have shown all-paw traction is more popular. "Back in the days when we had an AMG E-Class as rear-wheel drive and with four-wheel drive as an option, over 90% chose 4WD," he said. "In the new E63 with drift mode, you have a real rear-wheel-drive car but with four-wheel drive also."

Order books for the Tesla Model 3 will open early in May for Australia, Elon Musk has confirmed. The outspoken CEO used his preferred method of communication, Twitter, to deliver the news. "UK Model 3 order page goes live next week, followed shortly thereafter by Japan, Australia, New Zealand & Hong Kong," he said in a thread about the 'affordable' electric sedan. It's suggested the order page will go live at some point after May 6, but that hasn't been confirmed.

As part of Ford's latest regulatory filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the company announced there was a "potential concern involving its US emissions certification process". Ford says it voluntarily informed the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), California Air Resources Board (CARB) and other agencies about the matter in the middle of February this year. As a result, the US Department of Justice has also opened up a criminal investigation into the matter.

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla, have come to a more detailed agreement regarding tweets which could affect the automaker's share price.

Ford has been rolling out autonomous emergency braking across a wider range of its cars lately. The Ranger dual-cab ute now has it standard across the range, as does the Transit. Turns out, it's not just commercial vehicles getting the potentially life-saving tech. It's also shopping trolleys. Sort of... This is, obviously, a stunt from Ford of Europe designed to promote autonomous emergency braking in its cars. There's a sensor embedded in its base, designed to detect obstacles ahead.

We've now spent several months with 'Aldo', our Audi A3 2.0 TFSI Sport long-termer, and so far the little sedan has been nothing short of impressive. In this latest long-term report, we're going to look at the A3's interior comfort and practicality, because if you're buying a car like this you're likely to carry a few passengers and luggage at some point.

Like his father, Kim Jong-un (above, right) prefers to use a travel for long distance wherever possible. For last week's meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Kim took one of his armoured trains to Vladivostok. There he jumped into his waiting previous-generation Mercedes-Benz S600 Pullman Guard. He and his entourage have been photographed in other Mercedes-Benz S-Class vehicles during his trips to Hanoi, Singapore and the Korean DMZ.

Volkswagen Australia has issued a recall for the 2019 Caddy van over concerns the backrest padding in the front seats may stop the side airbags from deploying correctly. "On Caddy vehicles of a limited production period, the front backrest padding may have been fitted incorrectly," the company says in its recall notice. "In the event of a collision, the side airbags may not adequately deploy."

The Lexus UX (Urban + Crossover) gives the company a more palatable entry model than the dated CT hatch, and a competitor for the Volvo XC40 and Audi Q2 in one fell swoop. In other words, this small hatch is what the Japanese luxury contender has needed for some time, given its desire to lure buyers away from European competitors at an earlier stage of life.

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.

17 April, 1964 was a momentous day for the automotive world. On that day, at the World’s Fair in New York, Ford unveiled the first-generation Mustang. Thanks to its rear-wheel-drive layout and range of potent inline-six and V8 engines, Ford’s two-door offered true sports car performance for family car money. It proved a hit with American consumers, with 1.3 million ’Stangs produced in the first two years alone.

Alexander Stoklosa • If you can picture rhythmic, life-size anthropomorphic hamsters, it is (hopefully) because of Kia's catchy marketing effort for the Soul subcompact crossover. We won't judge you if it isn't. Perhaps the Soul is familiar because one recently whisked you from a bar after being summoned by a ride-hailing app. Or, maybe, you or someone you know owns one—Kia has sold more than a million of the toaster-shaped things since 2009.

The heavily revised C4 Cactus is looking less and less likely to make it to local Citroen showrooms, as the French brand shifts its focus to its SUV range. Revealed in October 2017, the updated C4 Cactus sports a far more subdued exterior, along with a raft of infotainment and driver technology upgrades to make it more competitive against rivals in the small car class – think Volkswagen Golf and PSA's own Peugeot 308.

Renault's pickup partner to the Nissan Navara, the Alaskan, has been treated to a facelift and suspension overhaul. Headlining the changes is a fresh five-link rear suspension, which bumps peak payload to 1100kg. That's an increase of between 127kg and 146kg, depending on variant, while its 3500kg braked-towing capacity remains unchanged.

Predictably the eZS is a derivative of MG Motor’s existing ZS, a car sold in Australia with two petrol engines, a seven-year warranty and a price to pull people away from the Mazda CX-3 and all the rest… MG’s parent SAIC Motor made 140,000 electrified vehicles (EVs and PHEVs) last year alone, and it’s merely a top-three player at home alongside the likes of BYD. But what makes the MG eZS interesting is it will be the first of these China-made battery powered cars in Australia.

BMW will buy cobalt from Australia and Morocco to ensure the mineral is responsibly sourced, shunning the Democratic Republic of Congo and its questionable mining practices. According to Bloomberg, the decision coincides with a London Metal Exchange review into whether its cobalt is linked with child labour. Andreas Wendt, BMW board member responsible for procurement, told media the decision will affect the next generation of battery-electric models, set to arrive in 2020.

Citroen Australia has revealed initial pricing and specifications for the upcoming C5 Aircross, set to be priced from $39,990 plus on-roads when it arrives early in the third quarter. Despite being priced at the higher end of the medium SUV segment, the C5 Aircross will be an 'all the fruit' proposition much like its smaller C3 Aircross sibling, limiting cost options to premium paints.

Audi UK has launched the A6 Black Edition in both sedan and Avant wagon forms, serving as the new flagship specification. Following the success of the 'Black Edition' series rolled out across several other model lines in the UK, including the previous-generation A6 family, Audi's British division decided to offer the dark-themed package across all engine options as the top-spec trim option.

Volkswagen has recalled a handful of 2016-18 Passat and Arteon models, over concerns about the panoramic sunroof. According to the company, certain models with a panoramic sunroof could have a bonded joint that's been installed or repaired with the incorrect primer. That could make the sunroof trim panel detach from the sunroof frame, increasing the risk of accident.

Subaru Australia has recalled several model lines over Takata airbags, including older-generation versions of the Impreza, Forester, Liberty and Outback. Affected vehicles have been subject to previous recalls involving like-for-like replacement airbags as part of the ongoing Takata campaign, with the new ones not at risk of the well-documented fault.

Renault overhauled its light commercial vehicle range in one fell swoop this week, revealing updated versions of the Trafic and Master, plus a concept 2020 Kangoo EV. Given the Trafic is its top-seller in Australia, we’ll start here. The big news is the addition of new 2.0-litre turbo-diesel engines in place of the current 1.6 single- and twin-turbo options, tuned to meet harsh Euro6d-TEMP CO2 emissions caps.

To celebrate our 150th episode, Mandy Turner, Paul Maric, and James Wong broadcast from Zagame Autobody (check out the photos below) in Tullamarine, Victoria. In car news, the 2020 Lexus LM and the Nissan Slyphy have been unveiled, Tesla has revealed the full self-driving computer described by Elon Musk as 'the best chip in the world', and Great Wall is preparing a 500Nm diesel engine for its new ute.

Peugeot Australia has kicked off its commercial vehicle rollout with the new Expert van, arriving in Australia priced from $36,490 before on-road costs. At launch, the Expert will be available in standard- and long-body lengths, with three different powertrains depending on variant, along with the option of manual and automatic transmissions depending on variant.

A new report out of the UK indicates Porsche is working on a two-door version of its front-engined Panamera to rival the likes of the BMW 8 Series and Mercedes-Benz S-Class. Britain's Autocar claims scuttlebutt out of Europe suggests the company is developing a coupe and convertible based on the Panamera's MSB modular architecture that will offer enhanced practicality and everyday comfort over its 911 mid-engined sports car.

Honda has recalled 2001-07 Accord and 2003-06 MDX models fitted with like-for-like Takata airbag inflators between March 1, 2015 and December 31, 2017. As with all Takata-related recalls, a combination of heat and humidity can make the airbag inflator propellant degrade over time. If a car fitted with an affected airbag is involved in an accident, too much internal pressure can make its metal housing rupture, sending shrapnel into the cabin.

A three-judge panel for the US Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit has ruled traffic enforcement officers cannot chalk tyres as it is a violation of the fourth amendment to the country's constitution. The fourth amendment guarantees protection from "unreasonable searches and seizures" by the government. According to the judges, chalking is a form of trespass on private property, and requires a warrant.

Jürgen Stackmann, head of the Volkswgen brand, has confirmed to Automotive News Europe the new Golf will have its global launch on the week beginning February 24, 2019. Stackmann also confirmed earlier reports the Mark VIII Golf was delayed due to bugs in its software, with the brand chief nominating the new over-the-air system update system as the primary cause.

After two profitable quarters, its first in many a moon, Tesla announced it made a US$702 million ($984 million) loss during the first quarter of 2019. Although red ink was expected, the loss was significantly larger than what many analysts and the market had predicted, and ranks as the company's fourth largest quarterly loss so far.

Jonathon Buckley • Any time you get invited to a racetrack to throw a few laps down in somebody else’s car, I believe the appropriate response is an enthusiastic yes. When the track is the blisteringly fast Willow Springs Raceway and one of the cars is named ‘Track Edition’, then you have good reason to get genuinely excited. Enter the updated Lexus RC F and all-new RC F Track Edition.

Lexus and its Toyota parent have led the way for hybrid vehicles for decades, though now it appears the luxury arm is looking into the EV space as emissions regulations tighten in markets like China and Europe. Speaking with industry journal Automotive News Europe at the Shanghai motor show, international president for Lexus, Yoshihiro Sawa, said the company will need to launch an electric model at some point.

Waymo has announced it will lease space at American Axle & Manufacturing's Holbrook Avenue factory, which was last used for axle production in 2012. "We've found the perfect facility in Detroit," John Krafcik, Waymo's CEO, told Automotive News. "We will partner with American Axle & Manufacturing to repurpose the existing facility, bringing a work force back to an area where jobs in the automotive industry were recently lost."

Ford has confirmed it will be build a new EV on Rivian’s skateboard platform. No details about the new car have been announced, but given the skateboard platform has been designed for off-road use in Rivian’s R1T pickup truck (below) and R1S Suburban-fighter, it’s likely the Ford EV will be an SUV. It’s unclear if the new Rivian-based EV will be built at a Ford factory or Rivian’s ex-Mitsubishi facility in Normal, Illinois.

Audi's current R8 is something of an anachronism, running with a naturally-aspirated V10 engine as rivals move to downsized, turbocharged motors. The next-generation won't be, based on a new report from Europe. According to CAR, the the upcoming electric supercar will be called the E-Tron GTR. It's likely to make 500kW of power, and rely on a 95kWh battery pack good for around 500km on a full charge. Oh, and it'll be compatible with wireless charging.

Porsche's stable of 911 models is getting ready to expand, with an undisguised 992-generation Targa snapped around the famous Nurburgring. Launched at the Los Angeles motor show last year, we've only seen the 911 Carrera S in coupe and convertible form. The base Carrera is yet to surface, and the usual array of GT faster models – GT3, GT3 RS and GTS – are also yet to arrive.

Volkswagen is preparing the ID R for its record attempt on the legendary Nurburgring Nordschleife, putting it through its paces in France. The focus of testing, according to Volkswagen, is to nail down the car's battery management software so it's able to make a charge last the full 20.832km circuit.

New York may no longer be April's pre-eminent motor show – blame Shanghai for that – but it still plays host to a plenty of important product launches and the odd concept. With two CarAdvice representatives on hand at this 2019 show, we're playing it a bit fast and loose with the hits and misses format, with a more detailed run down from those of us at the Javits Center. Best production cars

China's biggest auto conglomerate, Shanghai's SAIC Motor, is busily spreading into international markets like Australia, and the new MG GS (also called HS) is a vital component of its plan. It's a conventionally-designed and well-made mid-sized SUV rival to some of the market's heaviest hitters – offerings such as the Mazda CX-5, Nissan X-Trail, Toyota RAV4 and Hyundai Tucson, to name but a few.

Tesla has used new electric motors to extend the range of its Model S and Model X Long Range variants, which can now cover 595km and 523km on the EPA test cycle respectively. That's up from 540km in the Model S. It's a handy upgrade, especially when you consider the 100kWh battery still holds the same amount of energy. According to the company, the extra range comes from better cooling, lubrication and bearings, along with better gear designs.

BMW's new drop-top 4 Series has been snapped with the roof down during testing in Germany, giving us a decent peek at its slicker new profile. Unlike the current model, we know the new 4er will run with a cloth roof. Not only is it in keeping with BMW's roadster tradition, a folding soft top is lighter, simpler and more cost-effective.

Google Maps will now show whether your nearest electric charging point is occupied the USA and UK. All users need to do is open the app on their phone, or the website on their desktop, and search for 'EV charging stations' for a live list of how many plugs are free at EVgo, SemaConnect and Chargemaster stations.

The mid-sized Toyota ProAce van will get a smaller brother in Europe, thanks to a tie-up with PSA Group. Meet the ProAce City, a compact re-skinned brother to the Citroen Berlingo. Toyota is chasing 900,000 light-commercial vehicle sales in Europe by 2021, and this van will play an important role.

On this week's episode of CarAdvice, Trent Nikolic and Paul Maric talk about Victoria's new police cars, chat electric car pricing and the Toyota Prius, and spend some time behind the wheel of the roaring Lexus GS F. In car news, the Volkswagen Passat has been handed its badge and gun for service on the Victorian police force, replacing decades of Ford Falcons and Holden Commodores.

The Elantra Sport, despite its polarising facelift, is goo buying. Its balance between ride and handling is judged to perfection, the exterior is sharp, and the cabin feels slightly more upmarket than its Kia Cerato GT cousin. Plus, it still handles. What more could you want?

Life-sized LEGO projects are serious business. Thousands of hours and hundreds of thousands of bricks go into most, with subjects that range from towering giraffes and elephants to motorised Bugattis and decked-out Kombi campers.

Aston Martin has dropped the top on the DBS Superleggera, revealing the Volante ahead of customer deliveries later this year. Let's take it from the top. Aston Martin has squeezed eight layers of insulation and acoustic material into the car's roof, which can be lowered in 14 seconds and raised in 16. It can be operated from inside the car, or using the key fob if you're standing within two metres of the car.

The Volkswagen ID hatch, the first model in the company's assault on the electric vehicle sector, has been spied undergoing cold weather testing in Europe. Thought to be around the length of the current Volkswagen Golf, the new electric hatch has a tall hatch silhouette not too dissimilar to the smaller Honda Jazz.

Hyundai Australia has recalled the 2018 i30 over concerns about its electric sunroof motor. According to the company, some batches of sunroof motors have had the incorrect software installed and mightn't have automatic safety stop. If someone puts their hand or arm in the path of the sunroof, the motor will keep closing the glass, putting people at risk of injury. A total of 95 cars are included in the campaign – a VIN list is attached here.

The Renault Kangoo ZE Concept was unveiled overnight, and is said to preview the company's next-generation small van. Renault is especially keen to point out the concept's body is "designed like that of a passenger car", and features prominent wheel arches, sculpted flanks and a rounded shoulder line.

For a long time, China has been an easy target for automotive enthusiasts. Silly names, copycat designs and laughable crash test results showed how far the Middle Kingdom's automotive industry languished behind its Asian neighbours, not to mention Europe.

Didn't think Hyundai would take the Kia Cerato GT's arrival lying down, did you? Meet the new Elantra Sport, ready to defend its warm-sedan turf with an edgy new face, a more refined interior, and a simpler name. Behind its new name (RIP SR Turbo, we barely knew thee) lies a familiar formula. Power comes from a 1.6-litre four-cylinder turbo engine making 150kW and 265Nm, put to the front wheels through a choice of six-speed manual or seven-speed dual-clutch transmission.

The Lamborghini Calà, a concept which stunned the world with its design back in 1995, offered an enticing preview into the Raging Bull's future entry-level supercar.

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 April 23 in years past. That's one fast Civic The small car platform weighs just 68kg thanks to heavy use of aluminium What a shame Dieselgate forced VW to can the project Read Crawf's review in full here

Renault Australia has quietly introduced a special-edition version of the Clio dubbed the Formula Edition, which is now on sale from $19,990 drive-away. Based on the entry-level Life specification, the Clio Formula Edition adds a range of handy features for no price increase.

Mercedes-AMG boss Tobias Moers has confirmed a next-generation SL is in the works, and it'll be more focused on dynamics than the big, heavy current model. The boss confirmed the "historic DNA of the SL" will be a focus during development in an interview with Autocar. "It's far sportier," Moers said of the car, which will remain roadster-only. This is the first time AMG has headed up SL development.

Audi Sport has announced the S5 TDI in both coupe and four-door Sportback forms for the European market, bringing diesel power to the nameplate for the first time. Like the new S6 and S7 models revealed a fortnight ago, the S5 TDI draws upon a 48V mild hybrid-assisted 3.0-litre V6 turbo-diesel, making 255kW and 700Nm – the latter available between 2500 and 3100rpm.

Skoda has previewed a new sporty SUV concept for China, scheduled to be unveiled at the Shenzen motor show in June. Shown in a pair of design sketches, the Vision GT looks to be an athletic compact crossover that appears to draw much inspiration from the new Scala hatchback, along with the company's wider SUV range.

Carlos Ghosn's push to make the relationship between Nissan and Renault stronger was undermined by Nissan executives and the Japanese Government, according to emails leaked to Bloomberg. The emails reveal the Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry was concerned merger plans would disproportionately benefit Renault and its largest shareholder, the French state.

Haval Australia has announced a raft of upgrades to its H9 off-roader, including the standard inclusion of autonomous emergency braking with forward collision warning across the line-up.

Elon Musk says Tesla cars could be able to drive themselves by the end of 2019, on the back of today's full self-driving computer reveal. According to the outspoken CEO, the new computer is "the best chip in the world... objectively". It was unveiled at an investor day in Palo Alto, California. It'll be built in Texas by Samsung, with the company suggesting supply shouldn't be an issue. We've heard that before, though.

Want a Range Rover Sport SVR, but can’t fork out the cash? No problems! The all-new Jaguar F-Pace SVR is quicker to 100km/h and arguably sounds just as good. But - it’s over a year late after it was announced. Does it stack up at this price point? Paul Maric finds out!

Don't worry, you're not seeing things. This is the Jaguar F-Pace SVR that was initially announced over a year ago. And this time around, it's not just Australia's long distance from the rest of the world that sees us driving the 12 months later for the first time.

The video recorded at 8.15pm Sunday night (local time) was, according to Weibo users, shot in a car park in Shanghai. A follow-up video reportedly shows three vehicles destroyed. It's not apparent from the video why the Model S began smoking and caught fire. In a statement Tesla said: "We immediately sent a team onsite and we're supporting local authorities to establish the facts. From what we know now, no one was harmed."

Last week Martin Winterkorn, former CEO of the Volkswagen Group, was charged for offences related to the company's Dieselgate saga. Prosecutors claim Winterkorn didn't inform customers about the company's emissions cheating software and failed to stop the company from using such software at the earliest possible instance. Due to the company's delayed reaction, the company was hit with large punitive fines by both German and American authorities.

Based on the Toyota Alphard people mover, the Lexus LM is distinguished by a completely new front end design with the company's signature headlight treatment and spindle grille. Along the sides, the LM uses the Alphard's doors, but has a unique S-shaped chrome treatment. At the back, the Lexus has a cleaner LED tail-light treatment.

Volkswagen has recalled the 2006-2016 Crafter van in Queensland, the Northern Territory and Western Australia, to have a combination of driver and passenger Takata airbag inflators replaced. As with all Takata recalls, vehicles in the campaign are fitted with airbag inflator propellant that, when exposed to a combination of heat and humidity, can degrade.

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 – just not too much, okay? Who doesn't love Godzilla? A fascinating gallery

Jim Glickenhaus, founder and owner of Scuderia Cameron Glickenhaus, has told CarAdvice the car maker is interested in selling vehicles in the Middle East, China and Australia. "We'd love to sell cars into Australia, and we believe we could easily meet the requirements with ... our NHTSA [National Highway Transport Safety Authority] approved [SCG 003], and we could easily make the car right-hand drive," Glickenhaus said at the New York motor show.

The Mercedes X-Class and Nissan Navara utes are set to go separate ways once their current partnership ends, according to a credible report in a German business magazine. While the X-Class is not about to disappear from showrooms anytime soon, its long term future is unclear. Mercedes embarked on the joint venture with Nissan to save time and money and join the booming ute market as quickly as possible.

In the Australian automotive market, where SUVs are the primary weapon of choice for families, many would gloss over the option of something like a large sedan as their choice of primary hauler. I'd bet a couple of bucks that a lot of intenders wouldn't cross-shop or really know the quality of offerings in non-SUV segments.

One month in, and we're only finding more reasons to recommend the 2019 Honda CR-V to medium-SUV buyers in what is a crowded, competitive and now increasingly value-packed segment. Just as a quick refresher, our VTi-S AWD is our pick of the CR-V range and starts from $36,490 before on-road costs. Yep, that's a lot of family-friendly SUV and a lot of badge credibility for under 40 grand.

The new Nissan Sylphy was unveiled at the 2019 Shanghai motor show. While it will likely be sold in many markets throughout the world, Australia isn't on the list. As with the latest Versa, the new Sylphy has a more modern and appealing design than the outgoing model. Many styling elements are borrowed from the larger Altima sedan, including the deep V-motion grille, headlight shape and the black plastic bar across the C-pillar.

Ford has invested heavily to renew the Lincoln range, boosting its coverage in the SUV market, and giving each model in the brand distinctive high-end interiors. At present the Lincoln brand sells vehicles in North America, the Middle East, and China. Joy Falotico, president of Lincoln, told CarAdvice, "We're happy we're at, and where we're represented around the world".

General Motors (GM) has come out strong at the 2019 Shanghai motor show, unveiling a slew of new models including the new-generation Buick Encore and the Chevrolet Tracker. Starting with the Buick, the company's Chinese division has revealed two versions of its compact crossover, the standard Encore (top) and the long-wheelbase Encore GX (bottom).

Alex Misoyannis • Lincoln has taken the wraps off its all-new Corsair SUV at the New York motor show, with its sights set on the Mercedes-Benz GLC and BMW X3. The MKC replacement will also go head-to-head with the Cadillac XT4 in its home market. Visually, the Corsair looks like a miniature version of the Aviator, Nautilus and Navigator. Up front there’s a smaller interpretation of Lincoln’s corporate grille, separating thin LED headlights and horizontal daytime-running lights.