CAR ADVICE

Mercedes-Benz Australia has issued a recall for the 2018 model-year E-Class over concerns the steering system could lock while the vehicle is in use. An expansion of a similar recall for the MY14-15 and MY18-19 C-Class back in May, the company says "lock nuts with possible production deviations may have been installed in the steering system of certain vehicles".

Buying a Wrangler isn't a decision based on a strong form of logic. It comes from another place; the other part of our body that has a say in these kinds of decisions. You’re looking at one because you want it, not because it makes sense from a practical or sensible point of view. The good news is the JL Wrangler is much improved over the JK, especially the interior, infotainment and general refinement. For those that can live with the safety issues, there is a lot here to like.

Hyundai will fit 'rear occupant alerts' as standard across its North American range from 2022 onwards, as it looks to cut the number of kids left in hot cars. The announcement was made on National Heatstroke Awareness Day in the USA, and follows a similar move from Nissan. Debuted in the Santa Fe, the rear-seat reminder system knows whether the back doors were opened before the car was started, and reminds the driver to check the rear seats when the car is turned off again.

Fiat Chrysler Australia has appointed Kevin Flynn (above) its new managing director amid falling sales. Alfa Romeo, Jeep, and Fiat have all seen their sales decline throughout 2019, with registrations dropping 31.8 per cent, 28.0 per cent and 9.8 per cent year-to-date respectively. Chrysler is bucking the trend, up 20.7 per cent on the back of a New South Wales police contract.

Ford has confirmed the Mustang High Performance will make the journey to Australia, with more power from its four-cylinder turbocharged engine. The pricier Mustang GT V8 dominates sales in Australia, accounting for 80 per cent of registrations. Ford will be hoping the more powerful High Performance four-cylinder is a stronger seller, and drive the Mustang to new heights on the sales charts when it arrives in February.

As it does each year since its launch in 2017, the Audi Foundation is holding a raffle through August to raise funds for a variety of charities in Australia. To celebrate its launch, the Foundation offered an example of the heroic R8 supercar, and last year's entrants were in the draw to win the powerful SQ5 SUV. This year, your $50 ticket gets you in the running for one of this writer's all-time favourites (and my pick in our Winner's Circle extravaganza), the Audi RS4 Avant.

General Motors (GM) brand Chevrolet is reportedly looking to cull passenger car models like the Malibu sedan within the next decade, as it shifts its focus to crossovers and electric vehicles. According to industry journal Automotive News, anonymous sources have indicated the Malibu may get another facelift around 2022 before being put to rest around 2024.

Just like that, the time has come for us to hand the 2019 Honda CR-V VTi-S AWD back after a completely trouble-free six months (and more than 5500km) in the CarAdvice garage. You can measure the quality of a long-termer by the enthusiasm (or lack thereof) from the editorial team when the time comes to part ways. In the case of the CR-V, no-one was particularly excited by the prospect of saying goodbye.

Sydney drivers have Australia's worst commute, with the average worker spending more than 70 minutes getting to and from work. According to the latest Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia (HILDA) survey, the average Sydney commuter suffers through a 71 minute daily round trip. Brisbane drivers were the second worst-off at 67 minutes, while Melburnians face an average commute time of 65 minutes.

Maserati will finally roll out the compact sports car we've been promised, revealing its product plan for the next three years. We've been tantalised by the prospect of a Maserati rival to the AMG GT and Porsche 911 since the 2014 Alfieri concept, but it's been a constant non-starter.

Premium. Luxury. High end. While folks love to debate and discuss what is and what isn’t, these terms are ultimately subjective. A sliding scale of definition that means different things to different people.  Every now and then, a new car comes along and reignites that conversation. One such vehicle is this, the new 2019 Volkswagen Touareg in Launch Edition guise.

The Pagani Huayra BC Roadster was unveiled overnight, just over three years since the coupe edition was revealed. Like the coupe version, the Pagani Huayra BC Roadster features a largely unique body designed to increase downforce, with a claimed 500kg at 280km/h. The Huayra BC Roadster has a dry weight of 1250 kilograms, making it 30kg lighter than the regular Roadster, but 32kg heavier than the BC coupe.

Former Audi CEO, Rupert Stadler, has been formally charged over his alleged role in the Dieselgate emissions cheating scandal. A statement from the Munich public prosecutors office stated Stadler is "accused of having been aware of the manipulations since the end of September 2015, at the latest, but he did not prevent the sale of affected Audi and Volkswagen vehicles thereafter”.

Kia has whipped the covers off its Stinger GT420 in Britain, showing what can be done with a pre-production car and a can-do attitude. Based on the pre-production Stinger used for Britain's media and television demands, the GT420 has been fettled to deliver 315kW of power and 560Nm of torque, 43kW and 50Nm up on the standard car.

Land Rover will offer classic Defender owners a way to subtly bring their tired off-roaders into 2019. The brand today announced a set of 'Upgrade Kits' for Defender 90 and 110 variants built between 1994 and 2016. There's a small range of upgrades available initially, starting with a set of 18-inch alloy wheels designed to fit all models sold since 1994, nicked from the Works V8 Defender (pictured).

We’re blasting along at warp speed on board the world’s first fully electric production series motorcycle from a major manufacturer. And, in this case, its easily one of the biggest and certainly the most famous name of them all – the legendary Harley-Davidson Motorcycle Company, which is precisely why CarAdvice is attending a motorcycle launch for the first time in its 13-year history. Does this motorcycle live up to the hype? Anthony Crawford finds out.

Accelerating at full tilt from standstill in the naturally serene and magnificently undulating Oregon countryside outside Portland, and I swear it feels like I’m smack bang in the middle of a live set on the sequel to 2004's I, Robot.

The facelifted Seat Ateca has been spied during development testing in the Austrian Alps, ahead of an anticipated launch sometime next year. Despite the camouflage wrap adorning the front end it doesn't look like there will be drastic changes for the Spanish crossover, likely limited to revised bumper details and rejigged headlights.

Hyundai is investigating why a parked Kona Electric exploded while in a Canadian garage. The pure-electric SUV was sitting unplugged in the garage when its owner noticed clouds of dark smoke coming from the garage. The five-month old Kona Electric then exploded – blowing the garage door off in the progress, and damaging the neighbouring property. Firefighters found no obvious ignition sources in the garage, suggesting the car spontaneously exploded.

Audi and BMW will join a growing list of European brands that are boycotting the Tokyo motor show this year, leaving Mercedes-Benz as the only foreign mainstream luxury marque attending the event. Scheduled to run from October 24 to November 4, the Tokyo motor show is Japan's biggest automotive industry event. Industry journal Automotive News Europe reports several other Euro automakers will be skipping the motor show as well, including Volkswagen, the PSA Group, and Volvo Cars.

Audi has revealed initial details about its upcoming 2020 Q7 line-up, with petrol power back on the cards for Australia. No petrol-powered variant of the pre-facelift Q7 was offered, despite BMW and Mercedes-Benz offering petrol power in their large SUV rivals to the Q7. That could change when the 2020 Q7 touches down in the first half of 2020.

The facelifted Porsche Panamera Sport Turismo has been snapped in the open, wearing an updated rear inspired by the latest 911. The devil really is in the detail with the Panamera Sport Turismo update. The front bumper is wearing camouflage, while the LED detailing in the headlights looks fake, potentially to hide the fact there's a new light signature coming on the new model.

BMW will stop producing a raft of low-volume model lines through the early 2020s in search of higher profits, according to new reports from North America. Along with its rivals at Mercedes-Benz and Audi, BMW has spent the past decade exploring niches. Four-door coupes, front-drive people movers, and wagon-meets-coupe Gran Turismo models have all been spun off existing model lines, but their days could be numbered.

Believe it or not, the original Mercedes-AMG CLA45 outsold its better-known A45 cousin in Australia. This fact may initially puzzle, but when you really think about it, it makes perfect sense. Even more so now, with this significantly better-looking second-generation 2020 Mercedes-AMG CLA45 S that packs a hell of a punch.

Overall, the new 2020 Mercedes-AMG CLA 45 S is the more mature choice over an A45. It’s a shame it just misses out on the three-seconds club, because other than that, it would be our pick over the A45 every day of the week. In red.

The facelifted 2020 Audi Q7 will arrive in Oz in the first half of next year, seemingly with a more defined purpose than the originator did when it arrived as Ingolstadt’s sole, diesel-only large SUV in 2016. Shortly thereafter, the ‘performance’ SQ7 lobbed, then the trendier, sportier-focused Q8 expanded the stable.

What a worthwhile wait. With the new 2020 Mercedes-AMG A45 S, the only negatives are the lack of noise and the similar-to-A-Class interior. We don’t know yet how much it will cost, but hopefully you can take one home for about the $100K mark when it shows up in Australia in the first quarter of 2020. And for that price, you’re not going to find much that will outperform this.

It’s hard not to admire what Mercedes-AMG has been able to achieve in the last decade or so. With an ever-growing and consistent product line-up, the AMG brand caters to a huge range of buyers. But the one model that really set the brand off back in 2013 was the original A45. Well, now there is a new Mercedes-AMG A45 and it’s out to redefine the segment all over again.

Wondering whether the public would take to the mid-engined Chevrolet Corvette? It looks like buyers can't get enough. Launched two weeks ago, the new Corvette is the first to have its engine in the middle. It will also be the first offered to Australia as a factory right-hand drive vehicle, set to arrive in Holden showrooms late next year or early in 2021.

For the first time the Alpina B5 Touring gets all-wheel drive and becomes the fastest production wagon in the world. We take it for a drive through Victoria's Yarra Valley region. V8-powered wagons are becoming a thing of the past, and here at CarAdvice, we are sad about that. As more people follow the SUV path, you are considered to have fine taste if you’re one who appreciates the humble station wagon.

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 July 30 in years past. Yep, it's one year old already Grand total over the life-cycle? 467,690 units Speedy open-top thrills guaranteed It later proved to be Kia's top-seller in Australia

Tesla's first light-commercial vehicle, the as-yet unnamed pickup, could launch before the end of October. Using his preferred method of sharing details, Twitter, Elon Musk said Tesla is "close" to having the pickup ready, but "the magic is in the final details". The reveal is "maybe 2 to 3 months" away, Musk said.

Audi and Tesla have scored top marks in the latest round of ANCAP crash testing, with the A6 and Model 3 achieving five-star ratings. The pure-electric Model 3 sedan scored 96 per cent for 'adult occupant protection', earning perfect marks for driver protection in three of the four 'destructive' tests.

The next-generation Nissan Juke has been previewed once again, this time with a shadowy side profile teaser image posted to the European division's Twitter profile. As we've gathered from the previous two teasers, the new Juke will be an evolution of the current model's design, blending swoopy coupe-like lines with a compact hatchback body and SUV-like ride height.

The PSA Group could close the Vauxhall production plant in Ellesmere Port, Sheffield, if the UK leaves the European Union with a 'no-deal Brexit'. Speaking with the Financial Times, PSA Group boss Carlos Tavares said the company already has alternative production site in Southern Europe lined up for the Astra.

Photographers have snapped the upcoming Volkswagen ID. Crozz during development testing in Europe, ahead of its global market launch sometime during 2020. Where the ID.3 hatchback will be around the same size as a Golf, the ID. Crozz is said to be similar in physical dimensions to the popular Tiguan – slotting somewhere between the TIguan and Tiguan Allspace.

Porsche has finally unveiled the base 911 Carrera, with a less power from its twin-turbo flat-six engine and a starting price of $229,500 before on-road costs. That's just over $2000 more than the previous-generation 911 Carrera with a PDK, although the new car justifies its minor price rise with a more upmarket interior, more power than before, and a range of new driver technologies.

Honda has recalled 45,636 cars across the Accord Euro, City, Civic, CR-V and Jazz ranges to have their Takata airbag inflators replaced. As with all Takata campaigns, included cars are fitted with airbag propellant that degrades when exposed to heat and humidity. If a car with an affected inflator is included in an accident triggering the airbags, the inflator housing could rupture, sending metal fragments shooting into the cabin. That puts both drivers at serious risk of injury or death.

The Toyota Camry isn’t exactly renowned as a sports car of any kind. There have been varying sporty-skewed variants in the past, but none were really aspiring performance cars. Nor is the 2019 Camry SX V6 to be honest. The positioning raises no issues either. It’s much harder to justify a relentlessly hard riding, uncompromising, razor-sharp sports sedan, than it is to trick up a mainstream model with larger wheels and a rear spoiler.

Hyundai Australia has extended its recall for turbocharged versions of the Kona crossover, adding 1115 MY19-plated vehicles to a brake recall first issued in January. "During assembly the vehicles may not have had the front brake tube fitted correctly," Hyundai says in the recall notice. "The tube may come in contact with the exhaust system and the braking performance could be compromised. In addition, a fire could result."

McLaren has revealed a collection of six 600LT Spiders developed by McLaren Special Operations to celebrate the Pikes Peak hillclimb. Each of the six cars are fitted with MSO Bespoke or Heritage paint, contrasting with a gold and matte black stripe and gold wheels. The entire collection is fitted with the MSO Club Sport Pack, which brings carbon-fibre aerodynamic add-ons, carbon-fibre louvres in the arches, titanium wheel bolts and seats nicked from the Senna.

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? Is the Centoventi ahead of its time? Buyer beware, this Giulia has history!

There could be a go-fast Ford Puma ST on the way, according to a new report out of the UK. Speaking with Autocar, Ford's global development boas, Hau Thai-Tang, said the all-new Puma crossover "would be a good place for [Ford] to look" with regards to expanding the ST line-up in Europe.

Audi has unveiled the A1 citycarver, a higher-riding version of its compact A1 hatchback, ahead of its arrival in Australia during the first half of 2020. Although they share a lot mechanically, the citycarver has a suspension setup that's 35mm taller than the regular A1's, while the wheels are bigger as standard. In ideal circumstances, Audi says the citycarver has 40mm more ground clearance than the standard A1.

Pagani Automobili has teased the upcoming Huayra BC Roadster, which the company has dubbed "a tremendous science and design challenge". BC stands for Benny Caiola, the first Pagani customer and a friend of founder Horacio Pagani. In terms of what will change compared to the 'standard' Huayra Roadster, the open-top BC should lose weight while also getting a decent power bump.

Britain's car industry has warned new UK Prime Minster Boris Johnson about the risk of a 'hard' exit from the European Union. A letter from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) to Boris Johnson said a "no-deal Brexit presents an existential threat" to the British car industry.

Tesla owners will soon be able to stream Netflix and YouTube on their infotainment systems, but video streaming won't be available on the move... for now. As is his wont, Elon Musk announced the news on Twitter, telling his followers "Ability to stream YouTube & Netflix when car is stopped coming to your Tesla soon! Has an amazingly immersive, cinematic feel due to the comfy seats & surround sound audio".

It has been almost three years since we drove the Honda NSX at its international launch, and what a crazy time it has been in the supercar world. That's because while Honda’s supercar has remained relatively unchanged, the market has moved in massive leaps and bounds.

In the year 2000, Pininfarina S.p.A, one of the biggest names in the automotive design industry, celebrated its 70th anniversary in a fitting way - revealing a Ferrari concept car at the 2000 Paris Motor Show.

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. The facelifted BMW X1 has been made cheaper at the low end and pricier at the top end, with unchanged pricing for diesel models. Like the new look?

BMW has hinted at the existence of a manual 2020 M3, but the company has stopped short of all-out confirming it. Until now. Speaking with BMW Blog, the head of BMW M made it clear the new M3 and M4 will be available with three pedals – although exactly which variants will be offered with a stick remains to be seen. "It’s a bit early to disclose all the details but something I want to highlight is that we will have a manual stick shift," Markus Flasch said.

Short-wheelbase 4WDs are inherently fun and capable off-roaders. I learnt to 4WD in old SWB Land Rovers, but moved to a Defender 130 for the last six-odd years. Along with the fact that my job entails lots and lots of dual-cab utes, I hadn’t spent much time in a ‘shorty’ over the past few years.

Silicon Valley-based electric vehicle specialist Tesla has posted a significant financial loss during the second quarter of 2019, to the tune of US$389 million ($560.36m). Reported by industry journal Automotive News Europe, the company's financial loss is "far more than analysts" had projected despite sales rising by over 50 per cent to US$6.35 billion ($9.15b). As expected, though, the company's outspoken CEO, Elon Musk, remains positive about the company's fortunes looking forward.

The Mercedes-AMG GT4 is the car you buy if you have numerous supercars but don’t fancy destroying one of them on a track day. Or if you actually want to compete in GT4 races. It’s a serious bit of kit that demands respect at all times, but conversely, you can trailer it to a track, change a few settings and have an absolute blast knowing you’re completely protected with a great safety cell while being in an actual race car.

The new 2020 Mercedes-AMG A45 is at least 10 seconds quicker around the infamous Nürburgring race circuit than its predecessor, thanks to its more powerful engine and advanced all-wheel drive system. Although Mercedes-AMG representatives would not confirm an actual time, they admitted the car’s ability to lap the famous 'green hell' was at least 10 seconds quicker than its predecessor (which is known to have achieved a lap time around 8:04 seconds).

Mercedes-AMG has been forced to cut back the exhaust theatrics with its new A45 and CLA45 to meet ever-toughening noise and emission regulations in Europe, cuts Mercedes-Benz says apply to all markets including Australia. The new A45 and CLA45 make use of the world’s most powerful 2.0-litre production engine delivering an impressive 310kW of power and 500Nm of torque, good for a 0-100km/h time of 3.9 seconds in A45 S hatchback.

Volkswagen Australia says nearly half of its current sales volume is accounted for by models equipped with 4Motion all-wheel drive, which is "double the industry average". According to the German brand, 44 per cent of its passenger and SUV sales feature all-paw traction, while 62 per cent of its commercial vehicle and people mover sales are 4Motion.

Ford has recorded an 86 per cent drop in profits for the second quarter of 2019, blaming a significant rework of its European arm. The Blue Oval has been restructuring its operation in Europe throughout 2019, slashing a whopping 12,000 jobs at wholly-owned and joint-venture operations.

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, of course, but when it comes to the 2019 Honda Civic RS sedan, it’s pretty safe to say it is one handsome thing. And weirdly, the RS sedan is $300 more affordable at $31,990 before on-road costs. Go figure. You would think when the letters RS are used on a car, it would mean it’s sporty (i.e. Renault Megane RS or Ford Focus RS), but the 1.5-litre petrol-powered Civic RS isn’t as ‘hot’ as those two little letters mean. It is only sporty in appearance.

The 2021 BMW iNext has been snapped on a trailer alongside the current X5, although the company has worked hard to conceal details about its upcoming technology flagship. Where the upcoming iX3 and i4 will be based on the internal-combustion X3 and 4 Series respectively, the iNext will be something a bit different. It's not expected to share cues with an existing model.

The mildly-updated MY20 Kia Stinger line-up has arrived in Australia, with a streamlined model range and the availability of a bright new Sunset Orange exterior finish. For the new model year, the mid-spec 200Si and 330Si variants have been dropped, leaving the entry-level S and flagship GT-Line and GT grades.

The facelifted Opel Insignia Sports Tourer has been snapped by photographers at the famed Nurburgring circuit in Germany, hinting at what's in store for the Holden Commodore Sportwagon. Like previous prototypes we've seen recently, the refreshed Insignia/Commodore will don revised designs for the front and rear fascias, with rejigged lighting at both ends and subtle changes to the bumpers.

While 4x4 utes need no introduction to the Australian automotive landscape these days, tastes are changing. Once upon a time, the only guys who were fitting trays to their 4WDs were folks needing to shift hay bales and pallets around the place, and a simple flat bed of steel or timber was often the easiest and best solution.

Yesterday's reports are today's news, with Nissan announcing it will cut 12,500 jobs from its global workforce. The news comes on the back of a 94.5 per cent drop in profits during the first quarter of 2019, its worst result in 10 years. Nissan will cut its global production capacity by 10 per cent by 2022, and reduce its model range by at least 10 per cent by the same point.

On this week's podcast you are joined by Mandy Turner, Kez Casey, and Scott Collie. In car news, according to an RACQ study, electric cars are cheaper to run but high prices are still a problem. Also, pricing and specs have been released for the 2020 Volkswagen Touareg, the Toyota HiLux gets an updated 5-star ANCAP safety rating, and the 2020 Audi Q3 Sportback has been revealed. Mike Costello drives the 2020 Kia Seltos, and Trent Nikolic checks out the 2019 Toyota HiAce.

At what point does a supercar become a race car? It’s certainly no longer a comparison of power, as even entry-level supercars have outrageous amounts of kilowatts these days that need professional racing drivers for maximum extraction. To better answer that question, we need to look no further than Mercedes-AMG’s range of extensive GT cars, where you’ll see the depth and breadth of the entire spectrum of what is possible.

Looking after your car properly doesn’t necessarily mean you need to know the purpose of every nut and bolt. What matters, though, is acknowledging the role that certain components play, and understanding they can only withstand a certain level of abuse.

Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) has reported further pre-tax losses during the previous quarter, totalling £395 million ($707.7m), compared to the £264m ($473m) during the same period last year. According to a report by Automotive News Europe, in collaboration with Reuters and Bloomberg, the falling profits are the result (in part) of an "ongoing slump in car demand at home, as well as plant shutdowns and delays due to Britain's planned exit from the European Union".

Honda has continued teasing its upcoming entry to the world of mass-produced electric vehicles, the E, with details about its widescreen infotainment system. The hatchback will get a five-screen, full-width digital dashboard powered by what Honda calls the 'AI powered Honda Personal Assistant'. There are feeds for the mirror-replacing cameras on each door at each end of the screen array, while the driver is faced with an 8.8-inch digital instrument binnacle.

Based on indicative pricing, the outstanding interior technologies, back seat and boot space closer to bigger and pricier competitors, a punchy engine option, local suspension tuning and funky design, the new Kia Seltos has all the makings of a class leader.

The Kia Seltos small SUV is due in Australia this October, giving the company a long overdue competitor to the Honda HR-V, Nissan Qashqai, Mitsubishi ASX and Mazda CX-3. We don’t know exact pricing yet, but we are led to believe it’ll kick off at $25,990 drive-away and top out at about $39,000 before on-roads, which is about par for the class and good considering the space and tech this new model will offer. We also know there will be four equipment grades that we will discuss in a second.

Kia Australia finally has the sub-Sportage SUV it's been crying out for, a competitor to hot sellers such as the Mitsubishi ASX, Mazda CX-3, Honda HR-V and Nissan Qashqai. The 2020 Kia Seltos (derived from ‘Celtos/Celtus’, son of Hercules/Heracles, in case you were wondering) will introduce a boxier new design language, class-topping infotainment, and more interior space than most rivals when it arrives in Australian dealers around October this year.

Kia Australia is confident its Korean parent, Kia Motors Corp (KMC), has commenced development of a ute range to rival the Toyota HiLux and Ford Ranger, and expects a market launch in 2022/23. The long-awaited Kia pickup — which will probably be based on a platform shared with Hyundai — would be the final piece in the puzzle for the brand as it seeks to fill gaps in its product range.

Yet another special-edition Fiat 500 has been announced for Australia, this time in the form of the Collezione Fall/Winter Edition. On sale from August 1 priced from $21,990 plus on-road costs, the 500 Collezione Fall/Winter is based on the model revealed for Europe in October last year, which takes inspiration "from the colours of autumn and winter".

The facelifted Mitsubishi Pajero Sport has been revealed, ahead of its Australian introduction "in early 2020". From the outside there's revisions to the front and rear fascias, with the face more in line with the updated Triton ute on which the Pajero Sport is based. Key changes include revised headlights and fog-lights, a new grille, rejigged bumpers, and new alloy wheels, which all add together for a chunkier and more purposeful look. Top: 2020 Pajero Sport, Bottom: Current model

The Renault Megane RS Trophy-R has added another accolade to its portfolio, setting a new front-drive lap record at the iconic Spa-Francorchamps circuit in Belgium. With a time of 2 minutes 48.338 seconds, the hardcore Megane was "more than five seconds better" than the previous record set by the Honda Civic Type R a year ago.

Lexus Australia has issued a recall for 10 vehicles across the 2019 ES300h and UX250h model lines produced in May 2019, to fix the electric brake booster fault that has caused a temporary sales stop of various Toyota and Lexus hybrids. "In the subject vehicles, there is a possibility components of the electronic brake booster pump assembly may have been manufactured improperly," the company says.

The Volkswagen Crafter has recently been handed its medical licence by St John Ambulance in Victoria, as the company expands its range of service vehicles in Australia. A fleet of 40 customised Crafters have been ordered for the 'patient transport fleet', including a mix of MWB FWD 340TDI and MWB FWD 410TDI variants.

High-riding hatches, pretend SUVs... whatever you want to call them, the look is taking off around the world. Which of these three is most deserving of your attention?

Life has changed for Holden since it stopped manufacturing cars in Australia. Sales are slipping, and the once-dominant chart-topper barely scrapes into the top 10 in these heady times.

Toyota Australia has issued a recall for hybrid versions of the Camry, Corolla, Prius and RAV4 produced between April 2019 and May 2019. "In the subject vehicles, there is a possibility components of the electronic brake booster pump assembly may have been manufactured improperly," the company says. "In some cases, the brake booster pump may stop operating. If this occurs, multiple warning lights and messages could illuminate on the instrument panel and audible chimes could sound."

Renault has revealed an electrified version of the classic 4 e-Plein Air to celebrate 10 years of the 4L International Festival. Under the skin, the cute little Plein Air is powered by a 6.1kWh battery and 13kW motor, both of which have been nicked from the Twizy. Although details haven't been confirmed, Renault expects the car to offer than same 100km of range and 100km/h top speed as the Twizy.

Nissan is getting ready to slash 10,000 jobs around the world, according to reports from Japan. The plan includes the 4800 job losses announced in May and will be focused on lower-volume factories outside of Japan, according to the Japan Times. If the reports are true, losing 10,000 jobs would represent more than 7.0 per cent of the company's workforce. Nissan is expected to announce the cuts alongside its earnings today, although a spokesperson for the company refused to comment.

His famous surname is instantly recognisable, and has proudly adorned the backs of cars since 1961 when his grandfather – John Cooper – struck a deal with the British Motor Corporation to turn Alex Issigonis’s Mini into something of a performance car. The resultant Mini Cooper and subsequently more powerful Mini Cooper S have become icons in the Pantheon of automotive greatness, arguably the proto-hot hatches that inspired future generations of hot hatches.

Audi's smallest sedan, the upcoming S3 four-door, has been snapped wearing heavy disguise. The new performance sedan might be well covered, but a few things are clear. For one, the product planners at Audi aren't going to be drawn into making the S3 into a purely style-focused 'four-door coupe' like the Mercedes CLA and BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe.

It's clearly facelift season at Audi, with the reworked Q5 SUV snapped out and about during testing. The new BMW X3 and Mercedes-Benz GLC rival will get a new nose inspired by the updated Audi Q7, with a more prominent grille and pumped-up 'skid plate' in the lower bumper. The headlights look like they've been given new internals, with a metal strake running through their core, although we'll have to wait for an undisguised car for a closer look.

‘Forest’, the Lexus UX250h F Sport has been with us for a couple of months now, so there’s been plenty of time to test out its gadgets and gizmos. Being the F Sport, our UX is pretty much loaded to the hilt with technology and convenience features, including stuff that until recently was reserved for high-end luxury models.

The mods continue as we set up the CarAdvice LandCruiser for a life of work.

Not content with the production four-door lap Nurburgring lap record it set in 2017, Jaguar has returned and beaten its own marker with XE SV Project 8. By lapping the Nurburgring Nordschleife in 7:18.361, the Project 8 slashed 2.9 seconds from its previous best. The key cog in improving that time? A set of Michelin Pilot Cup Sport 2 R tyres, road-legal rubber that's reportedly a smidgen sticker than the tyres previously fitted to the Project 8.

Cupra is preparing to reveal the A-SUVe, a concept previewing its first pure-electric model, at the 2019 Frankfurt motor show. The sub-brand of Seat is promising the production A-SUVe will be the "first road Cupra to use a 100 per cent electric powertrain" when it launches. Although it's an SUV, the plug-in crossover will launch with a style-focused sloping roofline. The teaser doesn't give much away, but the car's profile clearly shares plenty with the BMW X4 or Mercedes GLC Coupe.

One of China's largest automakers has acquired a five per cent stake in Mercedes-Benz's parent company, Daimler. BAIC Group has been working with Daimler since 2003, and their Chinese joint venture sold 485,000 cars in 2018. Beijing Benz, as the JV is known, is responsible for building the E-Class LWB and C-Class. Another joint venture between the pair, known as Fujian Benz, builds the Viano, Vito and Sprinter in China.

The new-generation Hyundai Veloster has had its launch timing changed once again, with its arrival brought forward to late in the third quarter of 2019. After being delayed by over 12 months, Hyundai Australia has confirmed with CarAdvice the coupe-styled hatchback will arrive in Australian showrooms "late" in Q3, meaning August/September.

Ford is getting ready to reveal an all-electric version of the best-selling vehicle in the USA, the F-150, and it's revealed a teaser to make previous electric stunts look a bit pedestrian. Tesla towed a Boeing 787 Dreamliner, and Mini pulled a Boeing 777F cargo plane, but Ford has one-upped them all with one million pounds (453 tonnes) worth of train carriages.

The Volkswagen Touareg One Million edition has been revealed, marking the seven-figure production milestone for the brand's top-shelf luxury crossover. Available to order in Europe now, the Touareg One Million offers a new Sechura Beige exterior paint option, two new alloy wheel designs/finishes, darkened tail-lights, 'ONE Million' badging, and gloss-black exterior accents. The R-Line Black Style exterior package is also available as an option.

Audi has unveiled its rival to the BMW X2 and Mercedes-Benz GLA, the Q3 Sportback, ahead of its arrival in Australia next year. It rides on the same platform as the more practical Q3 SUV, but the Sportback has been designed with style in mind rather than luggage space and headroom. The roofline is lower at the rear, and the d-pillars are flat. There's also a more pronounced rear spoiler trailing off the boot lid. How very sporty.

Given our guerilla coverage of the Mazda CX-8 has included various single, twin and whopping mega testing in the 12 months since we brought you its local range release, I’ll spare you the well-trodden ‘what is it?’ path with this flagship 2019 Mazda CX-8 Asaki garage review and instead focus on ‘what’s new?’.

The 2020 Mini Countryman has been spied on the streets of Munich, previewing the car's mid-life refresh. As with the revised 'LCI' Mini Hatch range, the Countryman appears to be wearing a fresh grille and front bumper. The headlight internals also look different, although the design team's yellow-and-black camouflage makes it hard to nail down exactly what's changed.

So, you bought a mid-sized SUV with all-wheel drive. Can it go off-road? We take the top 10 medium SUVs off-road through three very basic tests to see if any of them can make it through unscathed. MORE: 2019 MEDIUM SUV COMPARISON

BMW has ramped up the tease on its upcoming electric, automated flagship, revealing the steering wheel of the iNext. Given it's designed to be the brand's autonomous leader, a lot of consideration has been given to what's happening when the driver's hands are off the oddly-shaped wheel.

Bosch and Daimler will trial a world-first autonomous valet parking system in Germany, with no safety driver on board. The system will be used in the Mercedes-Benz Museum parking lot in Stuttgart, and meets the criteria for proper Level 4 autonomous driving.

Audi has unveiled the facelifted SQ7 TDI, ahead of its arrival in the first half of 2020. Central to the SQ7 is a twin-turbocharged 4.0-litre diesel engine pumping out 320kW of power and a whopping 900Nm of torque, identical outputs to the outgoing model.

The Toyota HiLux has become the first ute in Australia to earn a 2019 five-star safety rating, following a new round of tests against more stringent criteria. The rating is an update its previous five-star score – from 2015 – and puts a spotlight on rival utes with older ratings that could confuse consumers who may be unaware that not all five-star scores are created equally.

The updated 2020 Volkswagen Passat has been hit with delays on various models, as the local division battles with changes in production scheduled caused by the new WLTP emissions regulations in Europe. Originally scheduled to hit Australian showrooms before the end of the year, the refreshed 2020 Passat will now see a staggered launch Down Under that will see the full line-up's availability draw out into 2020.

Nissan has again teased its compact 2020 Juke SUV, ahead of its reveal on the September 3. Based on this teaser, along with the shadowy image released last week, we know the Juke will get a more stylised take on the current car's polarising face. Inspired by the Gripz concept, the new nose is expected to feature a prominent 'v-motion' grille flanked by high-set LED daytime running lights and main-beam lights integrated into the bumper.

Dave Harding • Having worked in a previous life for a couple of OEMs that built their reputations on serious off-roading, I am well versed in what a capable off-road vehicle is, well, um, capable of. So, I was super surprised that the X-Trail delivered a lot more fun (and performance) than I expected and got us both home in one piece.

Kia’s market research suggests sales of compact SUVs will grow a further 20 per cent by the end of 2022, which is why its newest model, the Seltos, is so important. The Nissan Qashqai-sized Seltos hits Australia in the fourth quarter of 2019, and according to its maker will offer more cabin space than any competitor. Like the smaller Kona from Hyundai, it’ll also come with all-wheel drive and a turbocharged engine option.

We are in the early 1970s, 50 years after Ferdinand Porsche (1875-1951) founded his design and engineering consultancy firm and started making history. His son, Ferry Porsche (1909-1998) has evolved his father’s company into a respected sports car manufacturer with increasing sales, technologically advanced R&D facilities and a strong name in endurance racing. CATCH UP: Classic Marques: The Story of Porsche - Part 1

Electric vehicles are cheaper to run than petrol or diesel cars, but their sticker prices are still too high for buyers to properly reap the benefits, according to a new study from the Royal Automobile Club of Queensland (RACQ). Although electricity is cheaper than petrol or diesel on a per-kilometre basis, depreciation and the steep purchase price of pure-electric vehicles mean they're still pricier to own over five years.

The new-generation Volkswagen Crafter TDI410 4Motion has been priced and specified for Australia, starting at $57,590 plus on-road costs. Commanding a $4500 price increase over equivalent front-wheel drive variants, the Crafter 4Motion adds another layer of versatility in the form of its on-demand all-wheel drive system.

The new-generation Hyundai Sonata Hybrid has been revealed, featuring the company's new Active Shift Control (ASC) transmission. Power comes from a new 2.0-litre GDi four-cylinder petrol engine from Hyundai's 'Smartstream' family of efficient powertrains, mated to a six-speed hybrid-specific automatic transmission.

Blaupunkt has brought one of its most sought-after stereos back to life, revealing the SQR 46 Bremen overnight. Normally a 1980s stereo wouldn't be huge news, but collectors and restorers are constantly searching for ways to pack modern technology into a housing respectful of classic cabins. The SQR 46 Bremen re-issue will fit into a range of BMW, Saab, Porsche and Mercedes-Benz models from the 1980s and 90s.

Australia’s own HSV faced an existential crisis at the end of Holden’s manufacturing plant in Adelaide. What future did it have without rear-drive V8 Commodore sedans, wagons and utes to modify? Swiftly moving to re-engineer and market right-hand-drive conversions of the Chevrolet Camaro coupe and Silverado truck was a smart play, fomenting a relationship with General Motors international and providing its enthusiasts with a sweet muscle-car hit.

Sponsored by: Holden This is the 2019 Holden Colorado equipped with the lion brand's new 'Xtreme Pack', designed for – you guessed it – proper off-roading. Thanks to the Holden Genuine Accessories catalogue, this pack offers a Warn winch up front, along with upgraded heavy-duty springs, all-terrain tyres, a towing package, side steps, snorkel, guard flares and a Rhino-developed roof tray.

The 2020 Volkswagen Touareg range has been detailed by the German brand's local division, ahead of a sales launch in late October or early November 2019. Currently limited to one trim level and limited options, the MY20 Touareg will be split into two variants with three available option packages depending on grade, along with additional exterior choices.

BMW has announced pricing and specs for the facelifted X1 SUV line-up, dropping the prices of low-end models and upping the sticker on range-topping variants. Four models will be offered when the X1 arrives in October, starting with the sDrive 18i ($44,500 before on-road costs). Power comes from a three-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine making 103kW and 220Nm, connected to the front wheels (exclusively) by an eight-speed automatic transmission.

Toyota has given the Corolla SX and ZR a safety boost for 2019, adding low-speed crash avoidance to the car's already-impressive array of active safety features. The hatch already included potentially life-saving technology like autonomous emergency braking, a reversing camera, and adaptive cruise control as standard.

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?

Bentley has welcomed the Flying Spur to its line-up with a limited-run First Edition, complete with a range of unique trim add-ons. Revealed at the Elton John AIDS Foundation Gala, the First Edition will only be offered for the first 12 months of Flying Spur production.