CAR ADVICE

Aston Martin has dropped the top on the DBS Superleggera, revealing the Volante ahead of customer deliveries later this year. UPDATE, 1/7/19:Aston Martin’s local arm has confirmed the DBS Superleggera Volante will start arriving during the fourth quarter of 2019, priced from $559,000 plus on-road costs.

Honda Australia is celebrating 50 years Down Under, and to honour the milestone the company has introduced ‘50 Years Edition’ versions of its most popular model lines. Available on the Civic, CR-V, HR-V and Jazz, the 50 Years Edition package brings extra features and equipment on the models on which they’re based for a nominal price increase.

The next-generation Porsche 911 GT3has been snapped by photographers once again at the Nurburgring, ahead of a potential debut at the Frankfurt motor show in September. Plenty of false panels and pre-production components still feature on this prototype, meaning the final design is still not quite visible yet, however, knowing Porsche there shouldn’t be many, if any, surprises.

The all-new 2019 Opel Corsa has been detailed by the German brand, with European order books opening this week. Priced from €13,990 ($22,668) in Germany, the sixth-generation Corsa is based on the PSA Group’s CMP scalable architecture, which also underpins the likes of the new Peugeot 208.

Few brands elicit the sort of starry-eyed thoughts that come about at the mention of Stuttgart's beloved Porsche. Given an opportunity to tour the iconic manufacturer's museum and production facility, we couldn't possibly say no.

Opel has announced the next-generation Astra small car will be built at its Rüsselsheim facility in Germany from 2021, also confirming an electrified variant. Currently, the Astra is assembled at Ellesmere Port in the UK, and Gliwice in Poland – the former supplying Australia’s now-axed Holden Astra Sportwagon, and the latter the source of the Holden Astra hatchback which remains on sale.

Although it's only young, Formula E is already starting to attract some big-name drivers – and there isn't space for all of them. The series is growing in stature, and has a clear idea about its DNA. Oh, and it's only going to get better. There's still plenty of room for improvement, but we're certainly interested. Give it a watch, maybe you will be too.

Few brands excite enthusiasts like Porsche. Constant refinement of its core product, and its ability to apply its DNA to new segments, means you don’t have to be a car person to appreciate what the brand stands for. It also cashes in on its heritage like almost no-one else, calling on an overstuffed catalogue of legendary racers, road cars and concepts to create a steady stream of expensive, exclusive models that make collectors all frothy and excited.

Daihatsu, Isuzu, Mazda, Subaru and Suzuki are the latest Japanese automakers to join Monet, a firm led by Toyota and Softbank, and with significant investments from Honda and Hino. The company's first goal is to roll out on-demand car services, and by 2023 it hopes to have self-driving vehicles based on Toyota's e-Palette concepts (above).

Apple has confirmed it has purchased Drive.ai, a startup focussed on developing autonomous vehicle technology. According to Associated Press, Drive.ai filed a submission to California's labour regulator indicating it intended to close its doors by the end of last week and fire its 90 staff members. It's not known if Apple's purchase means some or all of Drive.ai's staff will retain their jobs. The purchase price has also not been disclosed.

Volkswagen has floated 11.5 per cent of its truck-making unit, now named Traton, on the Frankfurt and Nasdaq Stockholm stock exchanges. Weak demand from investors had forced the automaker to price the listing at the low end of its target price range. It also meant the company couldn't float the 25 per cent it had wanted to let go of.

Sales of sedans are in decline globally as we embrace SUVs, but here's a compelling example of why the masses might be wrong. The Audi A4 has been the mainstay for Ingolstadt through five generations, and a global volume seller proudly flying the four-ringed flag. But with the shift in buyer wants – if not actual needs – to SUVs, the A4 has slowly had its sales volume eroded.

First, the basics. The car has an 8.0-inch touchscreen sitting atop its dashboard, complete with factory satellite navigation and smartphone mirroring. Essentially, everything we've said about the Kona before applies here: the system is neatly laid out, responds quickly, and is just easy to use in general. Your home screen is customisable, but defaults to a split layout showing media, navigation and a shortcut to the sub-menu dedicated to all the nerdy, electric details you could ever want.

By the time the Land Rover Defender is given its official launch, we'll probably know which football team it supports, and whether it prefers mornings or nights. This image of an undisguised, but incomplete, Defender was posted on Instagram by user bu3amraz_garage, and it's not clear how they came across the photo.

I think you can mount an argument that Skoda’s Fabia Monte Carlo is precisely the sort of affordable Euro-chic city car that BMW’s Mini Cooper ought to be. The gender-neutral design is quirky without being kitschy, the engine exudes character, the cabin is pared back and practical, and the $25,490 drive-away price somewhat accessible for those after a car with a small footprint but decent features list. In fact, it is about the same as a top-selling Mazda 2 GT costs on the road.

McLaren has unveiled its first all-electric 720S, but you'll have to be young – very young, in fact – to actually enjoy it. The 720S Ride-On follows in the footsteps of the P1 Ride-On. It features dihedral doors and is available in orange, blue, purple, black, blue, white and grey, allowing kids to mimic the colour of their mum or dad's car.

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.

Singer Vehicle Design is preparing a three-car assault on the Goodwood Festival of Speed, with two customer commissions joining the DLS revealed last year. The most eye-catching car is the Mulholland Commission pictured above, with its custom livery and quad spotlights on the bonnet. Power comes from an air-cooled 4.0-litre flat-six, mated with a six-speed manual transmission.

Some cars transcend the realms of rational thought and instead offer an unbridled ‘whips and chains’ fantasy. Usually they’re supercars, hypercars, or at the very least something American and stuffed full of a supercharged V8. Micro cars aren’t what you’d usually associate with madcap shenanigans. They’re cheap, often under-equipped, and as exciting as a box of drawer liners.

Ford of Europe will introduce three new model lines within the next five years, as it works on "freshening and expanding its vehicle line-up". According to a report from Autocar, one of the three will be Ford's upcoming all-electric Mustang-inspired crossover, but the other two haven't been confirmed.

This week Mandy Turner, Trent Nikolic, and Paul Maric are live from the newly-refurbished BMW Sydney in Rushcutters Bay! In car news, Mercedes-Benz has slammed stamp duty increases on luxury cars, the 2019 Toyota HiLux will now feature AEB as standard, the Holden Commodore has some problems with its LS3 V8 fuel injectors, and Genesis has plans for a hydrogen car and massive SUV rollout.

Photographers have snapped images of an interesting prototype based on the current Renault Megane, raising questions about an upcoming new model based on the French small car. It’s unclear what exactly this vehicle is, but spotters noted a charging port on the driver’s side, suggesting it could be a plug-in hybrid, along with the obvious wheel arch extensions at all four corners.

Bentley Motors has revealed the Continental GT Convertible Number 1 Edition by Mulliner (breathes), paying homage to the legendary Bentley Blower of 1929. Limited to just 100 units globally, the limited-run drop-top Continental is said to be a modern interpretation of the 1929 racing car (above), which also set the Outer Circuit record at the Brooklands race track, Surrey, in 1932.

Ford UK has confirmed it has secured an extended production run of the Mustang Bullitt into 2020, though it looks like Australia will miss out on additional allocation. Commemorating the 50th anniversary of the film Bullitt starring Steve McQueen, the latest iteration of the Mustang Bullitt was a sellout success shortly after it launched in 2018 – Australia received an allocation of 700 units which pretty much sold out shortly after landing in the country.

Electrification is high on the agenda, but BMW says internal-combustion engines will survive another three decades before being entirely usurped by electric or hydrogen vehicles. "The shift to electrification is over-hyped. Battery-electric vehicles cost more in terms of raw materials for batteries. This will continue and could eventually worsen as demand for these raw materials increases," said Klaus Frolich, chief BMW technical officer.

Ford of Europe has finally quantified the number of people it expects to lose during its restructuring campaign. All up, the company says it will let go of around 12,000 employees across Europe at both wholly owned and operated, and joint venture locations. A majority of the layoffs will be for blue collar staff, but Ford will also shed 2000 people from its salaried workforce. Ford of Europe has 51,000 direct employees, or 65,000 if joint venture staff are factored in.

The Dodge Charger Widebody has been unveiled, and will go on sale in the US from early 2020. Thanks to the new wider front and rear wheel arches, the wide body Charger is 89mm wider than the standard sedan. The wide body configuration is standard on the Charger SRT Hellcat, and optional on the Scat Pack. The Charger Hellcat has a 6.2-litre supercharged V8 engine making 527kW of power and 881Nm of torque. Dodge says it can complete the 0-60mph (0-97km/h) standard in 3.6 seconds

For many, a car is just something you use from A to B. For others, cars are a hobby. However, for some, cars are a lifeline. Statistically, if you aren't personally affected by mental illness, then someone you know is. In Australia, it's estimated that 45 per cent of people will experience a mental health condition in their lifetime. In any one year, around one million Australian adults have depression, and over two million suffer from anxiety.

The new Volkswagen WeShare car sharing service is now available in Berlin with a fleet of 1500 e-Golf hatchbacks. At the beginning of 2020 the company will add 500 e-Up models, with the new ID.3 set to start joining the fleet from the middle of 2020. Vehicles will be "free floating", and do not need to be returned to rental stations, designated car spots or their original locations. Cars will be available within a 150 square kilometre area around Berlin's city centre.

The Mercedes-Benz A200 sedan is not just a new model, it's part of a bigger plan. Sedan sales might be slowing worldwide but Mercedes is doubling down.  It is about to introduce two small sedans with differences so subtle most people will struggle to distinguish them. The Mercedes A-Class sedan that arrived in Australian showrooms this week has a more upright roofline and a large-ish boot. Think of it as Germany’s answer to the Toyota Corolla.

Please welcome the latest and greenest member of the CarAdvice long-term test fleet – 'Forest Alexis Gump', the 2019 Lexus UX250h F Sport. Finally, I have my hands on a vehicle that has a colour scheme representative of my love for all things green, and that continues to the powertrain, too. More on that in a bit.

If you thought the CLA was the only small-ish Mercedes-Benz sedan on offer, think again: now there's this, the 2019 Mercedes-Benz A-Class Sedan. It launches in Australia this week, but should buyers consider it over the slightly cheaper A-Class hatch and the slightly pricier CLA? Joshua Dowling takes it for a pin.

Only recently launched in Australia, the Lexus UX has added sales volume for the marque. For the month of April 2019, the company saw 138 registrations for the UX range, representing a market share of 10.6 per cent in the premium small-SUV class – behind the GLA, XC40, Q2, X1 and X2. Year to date, 584 units have been registered locally, making it the second most popular model for the Japanese luxury arm, behind the larger NX.

Lexus Australia has confirmed its little UX crossover will be available with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto before the end of the year. Following the debut of the smartphone mirroring technology (for Lexus in Australia, at least) with the facelifted RX sometime in the fourth quarter of 2019, the entry-level UX will be the second model in the brand’s range locally to get the feature.

Photographers have snapped images of the facelifted Audi A5 Sportback during development testing this week, ahead of an anticipated reveal before the end of the year. Despite the swirly disguise on the front, side skirts and rear, the updated A5 looks like it will get a mild makeover much like the recently-updated A4 sedan and wagon, bringing the medium coupe in line with the company’s latest models.

Reports from Europe claim the legendary Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution could return, blending Renault Sport power with an all-wheel drive chassis. According to Autocar, sources in Japan say Mitsubishi plans to "continue a rich history of Lancer Evolution models" with "supercar-beating acceleration together with the choice of either traditional four-door saloon or five-door hatchback body styles".

The car industry has called for a national motoring tribunal to be established following a landmark case in Victoria which awarded the owner of a two-year-old Mitsubishi Triton a full refund on the $39,500 new-car purchase price due to discrepancies over fuel economy claims. The Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) ruled in favour of an owner of a Mitsubishi Triton who claimed the fuel economy rating label was not an accurate reflection of real world consumption.

BMW will have 25 hybrid, plug-in hybrid and electric models on sale by 2023, two years earlier than it initially planned. “We are moving up a gear in the transformation towards sustainable mobility, thereby making our company fit for the future," said Harald Kruger, chairman of the BMW board. "Over the past two years, we have consistently taken numerous decisions that we are now bringing to the roads. By 2021, we will have doubled our sales of electrified vehicles compared with 2019."

Ford of Europe has officially revealed and detailed its all-new Puma crossover, which the company touts as an “SUV-inspired compact crossover”. After being revealed (seemingly by accident) on Ford’s UK consumer website yesterday, we now have full details of the new model – though don’t expect it in Australian showrooms anytime soon.

Volvo has unveiled its new XC90 Armoured, a seven-seat crossover capable of surviving a bomb blast. A project two years in the making, the Armoured is rated for 'VR8' protection. That means it has ballistic protection from every direction, and will protect you against attack from explosives, but it won't stop full copper alloy jacket bullets. If that's a real threat in your life, get yourself a car certified to VR9 level. Or stay indoors.

In a video titled "Something Big is Coming...", Dodge has teased a wide body version of the Charger SRT. The car was first hinted at when the company revealed the Charger Widebody concept at Spring Fest in March this year. From the teaser video, the design of the front fascia doesn't seem too different from the March concept, although some of the lower intake vents may have grown slightly in size.

The new Kia Xceed crossover hatch was unveiled overnight, but it looks as though it will be a Europe-only proposition for now. Based on the same platform and wheelbase as the Ceed hatch and Proceed wagon, the Xceed has laregely unique styling, with the only external panels shared with the Ceed being the front passenger doors. The Xceed is 26mm wider than the Ceed, and thanks to bigger overhangs, it's also 85mm longer overall. Ride height has been raised by 42mm to 174mm.

The Genesis G80 limousine has returned to Australian showrooms after a two-year break – minus its Hyundai badging and with a higher price. Although it has the mainstream limousine market mostly to itself these days, it’s still a favourite among hire car drivers looking to replace the iconic Holden Caprice.

Let’s face it: unless you're from Longreach or Laverton, chances are you and I spend more time in crappy urban traffic than we should, and care to, admit. While the idea of having a sporty driver for spirited weekend twisties is where your mind wanders, said sporty car will likely rub you (and the family) the wrong way when you’re on the weekly grind. 

Dave Harding • First thing worth mentioning is that after my initial gripe about the expected fuel economy, and after being well and truly run-in now, the figures I’m getting are much more respectable. A combination of highway and city driving is now registering around the mid sixes to low sevens compared with the earlier 10.6L/100km on the dash in the early days.

You could argue BMW invented the fast sedan class with the M5, but recent developments in the industry have left its internal-combustion offerings looking a bit slow. After all, the Tesla Model S will hit 100km/h in just 2.4 seconds with Ludicrous Mode, making the latest M5 Competition's sprint time (3.3 seconds) look a bit leisurely.

Reports from the USA claim the next-generation Chevrolet Camaro due in 2023 has been put on hold to prioritise utes, SUVs and the rollout of electric cars. However, the iconic muscle car is understood to be safe for the remainder of its current model life – including in Australia, where it is converted to right-hand drive and sold locally by Holden Special Vehicles.

Either by accident or design, the look of the new Land Rover Defender is one of motoring's worst-kept secrets. Although it's been outed by a new Lego model and an in-dash image, Land Rover has maintained a high level of camouflage on its test mules. We can see a bit of the car's new headlight graphics up close, however, and it's clear there will be boxy flared guards on the production car.

Nissan's annual general meeting has approved sweeping governance changes, which were championed by its CEO Hiroto Saikawa. As part of the reforms, the Nissan 11-strong board will feature two representatives each from Nissan and Renault, and seven independent directors. The company also gains three new committees overseeing nomination, compensation and audit. These committees will be led by outside directors, but will have representative each from Nissan and Renault.

The all-new Ford Puma crossover has been revealed on the company’s UK website, ahead of the model's European sales launch later this year. Slotting below the Kuga/Escape in the Blue Oval’s SUV line-up, the Puma looks like an SUV companion to the Fiesta hatchback, much like the Mazda CX-3 is the standalone crossover take on the Mazda 2.

The facelifted Audi Q7 has been revealed overnight, ahead of an Australian launch during the first half of 2020. As previewed by various prototypes in spy pictures, the updated seven-seat luxury SUV sports a revised design inspired by other new models in Audi’s ‘Q’ crossover range – namely the Q3 and Q8 – while also getting a comprehensive technology and interior overhaul.

Just the other day a UK toy retailer revealed the design of the Lego Technik set based on the new Land Rover Defender. Now someone has managed to photograph the SUV's digital instrumentation cluster, showing the world the design of the long-wheelbase five-door model. The image was posted to various Land Rover forums, and reposted by user Land Rover Photo Album on Instagram.

The Lightyear One prototype was unveiled at an event in Katwijk in the Netherlands. Lightyear was founded in 2016 by members of Solar Team Eindhoven, which won the World Solar Challenge in 2013 and 2015. The company also claims to have employees who used to work for Ferrari and Tesla. Like the solar race cars, the Lightyear One is designed for a maximum efficiency. To that end, the One features an electric motor at each wheel to minimise energy loss.

US luxury car maker Cadillac stole the show at the 2003 North American International Auto Show in Detroit, revealing what could only be considered an imposing concept - the Cadillac Sixteen.

The BMW Vision M Next concept car has been revealed as part of a presentation outlining the Bavarian automaker's electrification plans. With simpler detailing than the i8, not to mentions its louvre-like rear windscreen and C-pillar vents, the Vision M Next has more than a touch of the M1 about it. Apart from the bright splashes of orange and the size-too-small head- and tail-lights, the Vision M Next looks almost production ready.

So, it seems General Motors’s EV1 of 1996 was indeed ahead of its time. Mass-production electric cars are back, and this time it seems as though they are generating a bit of noise that’s certainly louder than their drivetrains.

Porsche will bring some of its old-fashioned liveries and trim elements back from the dead, as it looks to extend the Heritage Design Package program launched on the 911 Speedster.

Finally. After numerous delays, Hyundai's BMW 3 Series rival, the premium Genesis G70 medium sedan, is on sale in Australia. It's a solid first effort and a decent drive. The biggest challenge will be persuading people to pay full price for one of these over its German equivalent. In the meantime, buyers in the prestige market will continue to be spoiled for choice.

Lexus has defied the downwards trend in the luxury market throughout 2019, and it's crediting its range of hybrid vehicles for the results. Toyota's luxury arm was up 5.9 per cent in May and has exactly matched 2018 sales year-to-date. That's in stark contrast with BMW (down 3.8 per cent year-to-date), Audi (down 29 per cent), and Mercedes-Benz cars (down 14 per cent).

Genesis Motors Australia has finally launched its first standalone ‘flagship studio’ in Sydney’s Pitt Street Mall, coinciding with the Korean marque’s launch Down Under. The brand’s global boss, Manfred Fitzgerald (above), flew out to cut the ribbon as Genesis opened the doors to its first dealership, with Melbourne and Brisbane sites to open in 2020.

Subaru Australia has issued a recall for a number of older-generation models to replace potentially faulty ignition switches installed between 17 February 2017 and 14 April 2019. According to the Japanese brand, vehicles fitted with the affected component could have “imperfections” in the switch’s ball springs, which could see the key position switch from ON to ACC position while the vehicle is in motion.

BMW has revealed a new range of M Performance Parts for the all-new 3 Series Touring and 8 Series Gran Coupe, following a slew of performance-themed accessories for the company’s latest releases. The 8 Series Gran Coupe is available with a carbon-fibre front grille and side mirrors, along with the side gills. Buyers of the 3 Series Touring, meanwhile, can opt for carbon-fibre mirrors and a rear diffuser insert – which is also available in gloss black.

The quirky Citroen C4 Cactus has won many fans globally with its polarising design and funky personalisation options, but it looks like the French carmaker won’t be renewing it for another generation. Speaking with the UK’s Top Gear, Citroen’s product boss, Xavier Peugeot, said: “For the time being this car is our C-segment hatch offer. Our next C-segment car to come will replace the C4 Cactus. This will be the end of the Cactus. For the name, I don’t know yet, but for the car, yes”.

Modifications: it’s part and parcel of the Australian off-road scene, and something many of us do in the quest for better, more reliable off-road vehicles. While our owned 2017 Nissan Navara SL  benefitted greatly from the work we did on suspension and wheels/tyres, there’s still scope for some more useful mods. With that in mind, we’re back in the workshop for more gear - notably: a bullbar, winch, snorkel and rear bar.

Mercedes-Benz Australia has announced pricing and specifications for the all-new 2019 GLE range, which is on sale now. Starting at $99,900 plus on-roads for the entry-level GLE300d, the new-generation SUV will launch with three engine variants sporting a range of new equipment and technology compared to the outgoing model, along with a starting price that undercuts rivals like the BMW X5.

Australia's best-selling car has been given a significant safety upgrade. Toyota has made autonomous emergency braking standard across the HiLux range, bringing it into line with the Ford Ranger, Mercedes-Benz X-Class, Ssangyong Musso and Mitsubishi Triton. Alongside AEB with pedestrian detection and daytime cyclist detection, the HiLux line-up now features adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning with steering assist, and road sign monitoring.

Mercedes-Benz – the biggest contributor to federal Luxury Car Tax last year – has joined the campaign against stamp duty increases, as fears grow across the industry other states may follow the precedents set by Queensland and Victoria.

The Lego Technic version of the Land Rover Defender was accidentally published on a UK retailer's website recently. Although the listing on Smyths Toys has been taken down, it was noticed and published by The Brothers Brick. In the UK the Lego version of the Defender will go on sale from October this year for £160 ($293). The model measures 22cmm tall, 42cm long, and 20cm wide, and is the first Technic model to feature olive green panels.

The delayed eighth-generation Volkswagen Golf has been spied undergoing hot weather testing. With only a little bit of red tape around the tail-lights, a smidge of black tape on the corners of the headlights and some black plastic surrounding the fog lights, we can now see the Mark VIII Golf in all of its high-resolution glory. While the styling is a gentle evolution of today's car, it looks as though every exterior panel, except maybe the roof, has been restyled.

A mule, which we think is for the first Lotus crossover, has been spied undergoing testing near Lotus' headquarters in Hethel, England. The mule uses a modified body from the Lynk & Co 01 crossover, suggesting Lotus' first ever crossover will be based on the CMA platform employed by both the Volvo XC40 and Lynk & Co 01. From what we can see, the rear wheel arches have been crudely hacked to accommodate the mule's wider rear track and tyres. The front wheel arches seem to be wider too.

Citroen has listened to market trends and introduced a series of crossover vehicles, but it won't be fully abandoning traditional body styles. Xavier Peugeot, head of product and strategy at Citroen, has told Autocar with the C3 Aircross and C5 Aircross (below) crossovers on the market, the company will shift its focus back to traditional body styles. He noted "there are lots of markets in which [sedans, hatches and wagons] play a role", and the brand must serve that demand.

Mazda's upcoming rear-wheel drive platform could also underpin a generation of rear-driven Toyota and Lexus products, if reports from Japan are on the money. Uncovered in May, the new platform will support longitudinally-mounted petrol and diesel inline-six engines with mild hybrid augmentation, sending power to the rear or all four wheels.

If ever there were a fall from grace, the Jeep Grand Cherokee would be it. It went from commanding a 15 per cent market share in 2014 to being a mere blip on the radar in its segment with less than four per cent share of sales in 2018. Recently, Jeep has also been surpassed by MG and Skoda in terms of overall monthly sales. So to say it's looking grim would be an understatement.

Lexus prototypes fitted with Australian-first connected technology have started testing on Melbourne roads, as part of a trial with Telstra and VicRoads. The RX450h test cars are part of a two-year, $3.5 million trial funded by a $9 million grant from the Traffic Accident Commission (TAC).

The next-generation Jaguar XJ may be pitched as a Tesla Model S and Porsche Taycan competitor, but will be built on a platform that supports internal combustion engines. A source has told Automotive News the next-generation XJ will be based on Jaguar Land Rover's new MLA (Modular Longitudinal Architecture) platform instead of the unique architecture employed by the I-Pace crossover.

Audi Sport has revealed the latest addition to its performance SUV range – the new SQ8. Scheduled to arrive in Australia during the first half of 2020, the SQ8 TDI features the same turbocharged 4.0-litre V8 diesel as the related SQ7, which is augmented by two conventional turbochargers and an additional electric compressor.

Mini has previewed the upcoming John Cooper Works GP once again, with a new set of images of a camouflaged prototype tackling the Nurburgring. The company says its new performance halo will hit the market in 2020, with production to be limited to 3000 units globally, one thousand more than the two previous iterations.

A new variant of the Ford GT has been teased ahead of its debut at the 2019 Goodwood Festival of Speed. The most obvious change we can see from the shadowy preview image is the addition of a large rear wing, and a roof-mounted air intake. More than this we don't know, as Ford has yet to provide any details about the car.

As the most enthusiastic motoring aficionados descend into a collective delirium about whether Toyota’s revived six-cylinder sports coupe really is deserving of the Supra name, given its heavy reliance on BMW componentry, it seems the Supra’s baby brother has stepped out of the firing line for a moment.

Japanese worries about the proposed merger's effects on the 20-year old Renault and Nissan alliance may have scuppered the proposed US$35 billion ($51 billion) merger between Renault and Fiat Chrysler (FCA). Sources have told Bloomberg Japanese officials informed their French counterparts about fears the proposed Fiat Chrysler and Renault merger could harm Nissan.

EXCLUSIVE The final series of Holden Commodore V8s – powered by an engine once used in the Chevrolet Corvette – were built to roar. But less than two years after the end of local production, “thousands” of Commodore V8s have been reduced to a whimper. The last run of Holden Commodore V8s made locally – assembled from October 2015 until the last day on October 2017 – were meant to send off the homegrown hero on a high note.

EXCLUSIVE Toyota’s cheapest car is due to get a major makeover and include the option of hybrid power for the first time. Toyota dealers have been told the next-generation Yaris, due on sale next year, will be available with a choice of petrol or hybrid. It means the pint-sized Toyota Prius C – at $24,000 currently the brand’s cheapest ticket into a hybrid – will be phased out after eight years on sale.

The Genesis G70 – Hyundai’s answer to the BMW 3 Series, Mercedes C-Class and Lexus IS sports sedans – has finally arrived in Australia after numerous delays. For now, there is only one showroom – in the Sydney CBD – but others will follow in Brisbane and Melbourne in 2020. The company says there are no plans to sell Genesis vehicles across its national network of 167 independent Hyundai dealers.

To be taken seriously in their respective fields, French chefs need to master a soufflé and fashion designers need to create a definitive little black dress. When mainstream car companies want to enter the world of luxury, they build a limousine, followed soon after by a sports sedan, before filling out the rest of the range. Toyota did it when creating Lexus 30 years ago, and now it’s the turn of Hyundai with its luxury division Genesis.

There are renewed calls for luxury car brands to increase their warranty now that Hyundai’s upmarket entrant Genesis has gone on sale locally this week with class-leading five-year coverage. All Top 10 mainstream brands now have five-year warranty coverage – or more – but, as reported by CarAdvice in January, Audi, BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Jaguar-Land Rover are staying firm with three-year warranties.

The Hyundai Genesis limousine – a favourite among hire-car drivers and a popular replacement for the iconic Holden Caprice – is finally back after a two-year break. However it now has a new name, a higher price, and is only available via a much smaller dealer network. It’s now called the Genesis G80 and will be sold only at standalone Genesis dealerships. After numerous delays, the first showroom opened in the Sydney CBD this week. Brisbane and Melbourne are due to follow in 2020.

Hyundai’s luxury brand Genesis is poised to launch an electric car to take on Tesla – and it will be on Australian roads within two years. The still-secret electric vehicle is just one of a vast range of new models Genesis is ready to roll out in Australia, one of its key new markets globally.

Once upon a time, the big three Germans fought their fiercest battles in the medium-sedan segment, fighting for the hearts and wallets of aspirational customers everywhere.

Audi could be prepping a crossover-styled version of the new-generation A3 Sportback called the 'Cityhopper’ – according to a new report out of the UK. Autocar claims the four-ringed marque is subjecting the all-new A3 to an Allroad-style treatment that should see the premium hatchback get a raised ride height, along with SUV-like bumpers and cladding, according to “a senior company source”.

The Nissan e-NV200 ice cream van concept, unveiled in partnership with Mackie's of Scotland, is hoping to provide a more environmentally friendly way of enjoying some summer refreshment. While most ice cream vans employ a diesel generator to power their soft-serve maker, freezer and fridge, the e-NV200 uses two Nissan Energy Roam portable power packs.

I had preconceived notions about the Toyota Yaris GRMN. I shouldn’t have. I should have approached it with an open mind, but the state of play of the current mainstream Yaris alongside its competitors raised my suspicions. In lifespan terms, the Yaris is fast approaching the end of its expected run. In fact, the current Yaris first appeared overseas in 2011 meaning, amongst Toyota passenger cars, it’s past due for replacement.

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.

Finally, at last, BMW's powerhouse X5 M and X6 M monsters have been joined by the new and slightly more accessible mid-sized X3 M and X4 M. Are they up to the standard set by models like the Mercedes-AMG GLC63 twins, or the Jaguar F-Pace SVR and Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio? Alborz Fallah finds out.

The founder of Formula E, Alejandro Agag, is reclining on a couch, cigar in hand. Smoke curls around the charismatic Spaniard's hand as he talks down the lens, cigar waving, eyes blazing. "Formula E could have been created by two kinds of people: environmentalists, or racing people," he muses, gesticulating with his right hand, left still cradling the cigar. "It was created by me. A racing guy."

Nissan has celebrated a production milestone at its Sunderland facility in the UK, with the ten millionth vehicle rolling down the production line. The plant has been in operation for 33 years, making it the fastest car factory in Britain to reach the ‘landmark figure’, averaging a rate of one car every two minutes since 1986.

Mercedes-AMG has unveiled its new customer racing version of the road-going GT R, the GT3, before it goes on sale late in 2019. Continuing a program it started with the SLS AMG GT3 in 2010, and furthered with the original AMG GT3 in 2015, the latest GT3 is designed to deliver more performance than its predecessor with lower running costs. After all, racing is an expensive business, so anything that can be done to make marginally less expensive will be welcomed by teams.

The Pininfarina Battista, the first hypercar from the storied design house, has had its front end redesigned before going into production. Pininfarina says it has evolved the "purity and beauty of front surfaces" in response to aerodynamic testing. The automaker claims the revisions provide a "greater visual connection between front and back". The U-shaped element running between the Battista's headlights has been removed, as have the ducts around the headlamps.

The new 2019 Mazda 3 could well be one of the most important cars the Japanese brand has brought out in years – not necessarily for sales volume, but as a preview of its future product. When revealed at the 2018 Los Angeles motor show, Mazda said the new 3 signalled "a new era". Key changes included the latest evolution of the company's 'Kodo' design language, with a renewed focus on luxury levels of design, materials, and technology.

Ford has outlined one of its measures for a sustainable future, detailing its use of recycled plastic bottles in the EcoSport SUV. Since the little crossover went on sale in 2012, Ford has reused more than 650 million 500ml plastic bottles to make the vehicle’s carpets, with each car giving 470 bottles a new lease on life.

Mercedes-Benz has recalled the 2018 and 2019 X-Class over concerns about incorrect information in their owner's manual. According to the company, the ute's maximum permissible roof load is incorrectly stated, the ESP function is "incorrectly stated for certain circumstances and some warning messages that may be displayed" for the Pre Safe system. Mercedes-Benz says incorrect or missing information could increase the risk of an accident.

On this week's podcast, Scott Collie and James Wong join Mandy Turner. In car news, the Porsche 718 Boxster Spyder, 718 Cayman GT4, and the 2020 Renault Zoe have been revealed. Also, Toyota Australia is chasing the Tundra and Tacoma to tackle American challengers, and the Holden Astra sedan and Sportwagon have been axed. Speaking of, the Toyota LandCruiser V8 could be done for, and increased stamp duty on luxury cars is to be challenged in the High Court, as we talk to Josh Dowling.

Waymo, Google's self-driving car unit, has signed a deal to commercialise autonomous vehicle services with the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance. According to the companies, this new agreement is "exclusive... for an initial period" and will see the partners "explore all aspects" of autonomous vehicle services in France and Japan, including passenger services and cargo delivery.

Toyota and Lexus Australia have put sales of various hybrid models on hold over an issue related to the regenerative braking system. “At this stage the Toyota vehicles affected are Camry, Corolla Hatch, RAV4 and Prius. For Lexus the models affected are Lexus ES and UX,” the company said in a statement. “Toyota has identified that brake-related parts may require inspection and has therefore ordered a sales stop of selected vehicles.”

Early on, we had our reservations about how well the Audi A7 would do. A premium hatchback – seemed like a strange idea at the time. But, fast-forward to 2019 and the all-new Audi A7 has not only smartened up its looks, but also integrated a suite of new technologies that set this vehicle apart from the rest of its siblings.

EXCLUSIVE The car industry plans to use a precedent set by tobacco distributors in 1979 in an attempt to stop state governments across Australia from imposing an additional stamp duty on luxury vehicles.

Audi has recalled the 2019 A4 and A5, over concerns about the shock absorbers. According to the company, the car's shock absorber could fail and make suspension components separate while driving. If that happens, there's a chance the driver will lose control, increasing the risk of an accident. A total of 18 cars are included in the campaign – a VIN list is attached here. Audi will contact owners of the affected cars and tell them to organise a free fix with their nearest dealership.

Subaru Australia has become the second brand to recall cars because of improperly-tempered rear window glass, launching a recall for the 2018-19 Impreza. The campaign follows in the footsteps of one announced by Toyota earlier this week. According to Subaru, the left-hand rear door window may have been inadequately tempered because of an incorrect cooling process during manufacture.

Kia has officially revealed the exterior of its all-new Seltos SUV, its first global entrant into the burgeoning compact crossover market. As previewed by an undisguised pre-production vehicle a few weeks ago, the exterior design of the new Seltos is heavily influenced by the SP and SP Signature concepts, signalling a new design direction for the Korean brand’s SUV line-up.

The pure-electric Mini Cooper S E has been teased ahead of its reveal in July, with the company showing a few fleeting details of its plug-in hatchback. That's despite leaks revealing the car's entire design. We know the Mini Cooper SE will have plenty of yellow detailing, with inserts on the grille, wheels, mirrors and flanks. It still gets a 'bonnet scoop', though.

Departments overseeing cooperation between Nissan and Renault are reportedly losing staff, or have nothing to do. Sources have told the Financial Times the departments within the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance overseeing cooperation and joint functions are either being axed completely, or have gone without work assignments for months. The alliance departments overseeing sales and marketing, communications, and light commercial vehicles are said to be shrinking and dismissing staff.

The Focus Ambiente has been kicked out of the Australian market before it got a chance to settle in, with Ford Australia announcing its quietly-introduced price leader has already been axed. In a statement issued today, Ford Australia said the entry-level Ambiente variant of its new German-sourced Focus range – priced from $23,490 plus on-road costs – will be dropped shorty after its limited release, making the Trend the entry point once again.

Renault has revealed its new Triber people-moving crossover for the Indian market, boasting ultra-compact dimensions and three rows of seating. Measuring just 3990mm long and 1739mm wide, the Triber is shorter and skinnier than the current Clio hatchback, yet manages to stuff seven seats in, and is powered by a little 1.0-litre three-cylinder petrol engine making 92PS (67kW) and 96Nm.

Fisker has continued playing a slow, drawn-out game of strip poker with its upcoming rival to the Tesla Model Y, today sharing a picture of the car's roof and rear. Guys, reveal it already. Where Elon Musk uses Twitter to share news about Tesla, Henrik Fisker uses his personal Facebook page. Twice this week he's posted pictures of the sub-$40k crossover, stopping just short of revealing it in full.

The BMW 1 Series has long been something of an oddity in the premium small-hatchback segment, but for all the right reasons, being the only rear-driven competitor since it launched in 2004. Unlike its rivals, the 1er wasn't just an affordable front-drive hatchback with a luxury badge stuck on its nose. From the start, the 1 Series has been rear-wheel drive, though this is set to change with the new-generation model due to debut later this year.

Mercedes-Benz Vans Australia has issued a recall for the 2019 Sprinter over concerns the automatic high-beam function may not work correctly. The German manufacturer reports a software defect is to blame, which may see the auto high-beam not automatically revert to low beam when oncoming vehicles approach, posing a hazard to other road users. Mercedes-Benz adds that the fault could increase the risk of an accident for oncoming vehicles.

The second-generation Mercedes-Benz GLE Coupe has been photographed again, but this latest prototype is wearing less camouflage than earlier vehicles. These photos give us our first clear view of the GLE Coupe's front doors and lower air intake area. From what we can see, the front fascia is virtually identical to the more practical GLE.

The power and torque figures of the Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 have been confirmed ahead of the car's release later this year. Under the bonnet is a 5.2-litre supercharged V8 with 567kW (760hp) of power and 847Nm of torque. That's significantly more than the 522kW (700hp) or so the company promised when it unveiled the GT500 at this year's Detroit motor show. In January Ford said the GT500 would also feature a carbon-fibre driveshaft and a seven-speed Tremec dual-clutch transmission.

Photographers have snapped the upcoming BMW M2 CS once again, this time including shots of the track-focused coupe's interior. While the exterior remains hidden under camouflage, the Alcantara-heavy interior doesn't have much to hide. There's suede trim on the steering wheel, door cards, and on the dashboard. An Alcantara trim option for the seats is also likely.