CAR ADVICE

Cupra has been snapped testing a hotter version of the next-generation Seat Leon ST, likely with all-wheel drive and more than 220kW. The most noticeable differences between the Seat Leon and the Cupra model come at the back, where there's quad exhaust pipes and a racy diffuser-style insert.

Some automakers are abandoning their British operations, but Jaguar Land Rover is redoubling its commitment to its motherland. The Indian-owned company has cut the ribbon at an expansion of its facilities at Gaydon, which cost £500 million (A$912 million).

In Swedish, Regera is a verb meaning 'to reign'. True to its name, the Koenigsegg Regera now reigns with the fastest 0-400-0km/h time of any production vehicle. The Regera, piloted by Koenigsegg driver Sonny Persson, set an overall time of 31.49 seconds. That comprised 22.87 seconds reaching 400km/h and 8.62 seconds coming to a complete stop.

Beijing Hyundai has revealed a China-specific version of the Tucson SUV, which gets unique styling and features compared to the global version offered in markets like Australia. The Korean-Chinese joint venture is pitching the vehicle as a "fourth generation" model, though it appears the '2020' Tucson for China is merely a reskinned version of the car currently on sale.

Every new Uber will need to be a five-star ANCAP car, with new rules about what the ride-sharing giant's drivers can use today coming into force. Announced in April this year, the policy means new Uber X drivers won't be accepted unless their car is less than 10 years old with the maximum possible safety rating. Uber Black, Lux and SUV cars must be less than seven years old. Drivers adhering to the current standards will have two years to get themselves a five-star vehicle.

Mitsubishi has finally released a Toby Price special edition of the Triton ute – two years after the off-road and enduro motorcycle world champion became an ambassador for the brand. The two-time Dakar Rally winner – in 2016 and in 2019 while nursing a broken wrist – will put his name to 500 Toby Price editions of the Mitsubishi Triton and each will come with a certificate numbered 1 to 500.

Mitsubishi has hinted for the second time in two months that it will move to a permanent seven-year warranty across the range, rather than as a special offer on the Triton ute. The seven-year/150,000km warranty — up from the standard five years/unlimited kilometres — was introduced with the facelifted Triton in December 2018.

The Mitsubishi Triton ute/pick up has had a minor makeover for the 2020 model year, but the changes will appeal mostly to those who want to head off-road. CarAdvice's National Motoring Editor, Joshua Dowling takes a look at the updates.

The Mitsubishi Triton ute has had a minor makeover for the 2020 model year, but the changes will appeal mostly to those who want to head off-road. Mitsubishi has added a rear diff lock to the middle-of-the-range GLX+ and GLS, both of which are popular variants among private buyers. Previously a rear diff lock – standard on most ute rivals but absent on the Holden Colorado and Isuzu D-Max – was only available on the flagship Mitsubishi Triton GLS Premium.

The Volkswagen Group has three mainstream brands, Volkswagen, Skoda and Seat, and is looking at ways to keep the three from stepping over each other. "Seat could represent even more emotional cars, as exemplified by its Cupra models," Michael Jost, head of product strategy at the Volkswagen Group, has told Automobilwoche (via Automotive News Europe). "Skoda could serve eastern Europe markets more intensively, as well as customers seeking functionality even more intensively."

It’s a popular rejoinder to the subject of electric vehicles. “Range anxiety.” And fair enough, too. The prospect of being stranded on a highway with no battery life, waiting for a tow truck to haul your ‘green machine’ to the nearest charging point, isn’t high on anyone’s list of fun things to do. Including mine.

Czech brand Skoda has become the latest manufacturer to offer a Siri-like intelligent in-car assistant, launching a new "Hey, Laura" function for the Kamiq crossover and Scala small car. The online-based voice control system understands natural speech in six languages, according to the Volkswagen Group subsidiary, and forms part of the 'Amundsen' infotainment system that's available for the Kamiq and Scala.

Plenty has happened in the world of car news over the last 24 hours. If you haven't had time to read all the news on CarAdvice.com, catch up on your way home with Car News Daily, as Mandy Turner reads each news story word-for-word. Today's download includes: LISTEN: Car News Daily podcastLISTEN: Automotive Industry Insights podcastLISTEN: Reverse Gear podcast

Lexus Australia has revealed pricing and specifications for the upgraded ES300h range, which sees the addition of new model variants and the standard inclusion of smartphone mirroring systems across the line-up. For the 2020 model year, there's now a sportier F Sport trim level, while the Luxury and F Sport grades offer an additional Enhancement Pack option for "further impressive specification".

Hyundai Australia says it can't compete with 'hybrid king' Toyota, and as such won't be looking into bringing series hybrid versions of cars like the Kona and Sonata. Speaking at the local launch for the all-new Venue crossover, Hyundai's local boss, J.W. Lee, said the Korean brand's Australian division is unable to get its hybrid vehicles for a low enough price to properly compete with the likes of the Toyota Corolla Hybrid and Toyota Camry Hybrid.

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) has settled with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) over accusations it inflated sales figures between 2012 and 2016. The Detroit (and Turin) giant will pay US$40 million ($59 million) and has promised to stop the dodgy practices. According to the SEC, Fiat Chrysler dealers would create and maintain a database of unreported sales throughout strong months, often called the 'cookie jar' by employees.

Mazda Australia has issued a recall for the 2017 model-year CX-9 crossover over concerns a wiring issue could cause "communication errors" between the vehicle's control modules. The company reports affected vehicles could have wiring harness connectors that have "weak retention force". Several issues could occur as a result: A total of 1280 SUVs are affected by this recall, available for sale between 16 October 2017 and 6 February 2019. The VIN list for these vehicles is available here.

Porsche has recalled the 2015-16 Panamera, 911, Boxster and Cayman (981 and 982 generation), over concerns about their airbag control units. According to the company, an airbag control unit with an out of specification capacitor for maintaining power supply might have been fitted. The capacitor could deploy the airbags and seatbelt pretensioners in the car unexpectedly, or stop them deploying in an accident. A total of 346 cars are included in the campaign – a VIN list is attached here.

Mazda Australia has issued a recall for the 2018 model-year Mazda 2 light car over concerns an issue with the fuel tank could cause a leak. The Japanese brand reports affected vehicles may have fuel tanks that "exceed the specified manufacturing dimensions and place additional strain on the fuel tank retaining strap, which may weaken or potentially break".

Mercedes-Benz has recalled the 2019 GLE, over concerns about the joint between the fuel filler neck and fuel tank. According to the company, some cars could have an inadequately sealed joint between the fuel tank and fuel filler neck, possibly creating a fuel leak. If fuel comes into contact with the car's hot exhaust parts, there's a fire risk. A total of 12 cars are included in the recall – a VIN list is attached here.

Mitsubishi has given its Eclipse Cross city SUV a mild makeover and a slight price rise on some models for 2020 – and added the option of all-wheel drive for the mid-range LS. Previously, all-wheel drive was only available on the flagship Eclipse Cross Exceed priced from $38,990 plus on-roads, although the RRP for 2020 has been bumped up by $200 to $39,190.

Two years after Bollinger revealed its initial prototype vehicles, the company has revealed its utilitarian B1 electric SUV and B2 pickup truck. The B1 features an electric motor for both axles delivering a total of 458kW of power, and 906Nm of torque. Bollinger estimates the B1 is capable of completing the 0-60mph (0-97km/h) dash in 4.5 seconds, and hitting a top speed of 160km/h.

Johan de Nysschen has been appointed to the newly created role of chief operating officer of Volkswagen North America. De Nysschen will begin his new job on October 1, 2019, and will report to the CEO of Volkswagen Group of America (VGA), Scott Keogh. Volkswagen, Audi, Bentley, Lamborghini, Bugatti and VW Credit are all part of VGA, with Porsche North America remaining a distinct entity.

There’s no doubt that between the XLT, Wildtrak, FX4 and Raptor, Ford has covered off the high end of the ute market quite comprehensively. Australians aren’t afraid of spending a buck or two on commercial vehicles these days, after all. But, what about those amongst us who might consider themselves a more astute buyer, who is looking for a strong value proposition without missing out on a few nice bits? For that imaginary buyer, the new XLS Sport specification might be just the ticket.

The Nissan Titan has been given a facelift to give the big truck a little more presence. The Titan's 5.6-litre Endurance V8 engine has been given a few more ponies, and is now rated at 298kW of power and 560Nm of torque. That's up 7kW and 26Nm over the outgoing model, while a nine-speed automatic transmission replaces the old seven-speed unit.

With the latest Escape looking more like its Focus platform-mate than ever before, Ford has identified a need for a compact crossover with more rugged, square-rigged styling. Enter what many are calling the “baby Bronco”. Its boxy silhouette should bear a resemblance to the reborn, adventure-ready Ranger-based Bronco that’s currently in development. Unlike the big daddy Bronco, however, the baby Bronco will utilise monocoque construction.

Mercedes-AMG has tuned everything from sedans to roadsters and big, boxy SUVs, but there are a few Mercedes-Benz models the performance arm won’t be fettling. Mercedes-AMG chief Tobias Moers told Motor Trend the vehicles which won’t be getting the AMG treatment – and it’s a short list.Firstly, there’ll be no AMG variants of Mercedes-Benz’s commercial vans. That should come as no surprise.

If nothing exceeds like excess, and anything worth doing is worth overdoing, then the first-generation BMW X7 has it made. While BMW has offered seven-seat versions of its X5 range previously, it has never played in the ‘full-size’ three-row SUV market, while rival Mercedes-Benz has with the conceptually similar GLS range.

Tesla has begun wirelessly distributing version 10 of its software to its Model S, Model X and Model 3 vehicles. The standout feature of the latest software update is Smart Summon (also referred to Enhanced Summon), which is only available to customers who have paid for Full Self-Driving Capability or Enhanced Autopilot for their vehicle.

The Renault Megane RS has long been the hot hatch of choice for enthusiasts and track day attendees, with a primary focus on lap times and driver engagement. With the latest generation of the French brand's flagship performance car, Renault has tried to broaden the Megane RS's appeal, in the form of a dual-clutch automatic option for the first time in the model's history.

It's officially very official now: there will be a second-generation of the Toyota 86 and Subaru BRZ twins. Overnight the two companies confirmed they will jointly develop the next-generation sports coupe, although no timeframe has been given for when the cars will appear. It's probably safe to assume the new Toyota 86 and Subaru BRZ will once again feature a low-mounted boxer engine, rear-wheel drive layout and available manual transmission.

BMW has revealed a plug-in hybrid version of its compact X1 SUV, the xDrive25e. Power in the X1 xDrive25e comes from a turbocharged 1.5-litre three-cylinder petrol engine making 92kW and 220Nm, and an electric motor outputting 70kW and 165Nm. Combined, the two offer a peak of 165kW and 385Nm. Top speed in pure electric mode is 130km/h, and you'll be doing 192km/h at full noise with the petrol engine cranking.

The Peugeot Boxer 4x4 Concept has been unveiled ahead of its full in-the-flesh debut later this month at the Le Bourget Recreational Vehicle Show. In order for the van to go off the beaten track it has been fitted with a Dangel four-wheel drive system, chunky off-road tyres, and a higher ground clearance. Other exterior changes include a more aggressive front bumper treatment, side steps, and a set of forward-facing spot lights.

BMW could have a more powerful twin-turbo V8 engine to play with in 2021, according to new reports from Europe. BMW Blog reports the 'S68' V8 engine is between two and three years away, and will be a significant upgrade over the current 'S63' engine powering the M5 and M8 ranges, along with a smatter of M Performance models. The new engine "will still be a twin-turbo setup and it will keep the ‘hot V’ configuration alive too", the report claims.

The Toyota Hilux and Ford Ranger remain our top two selling vehicles outright, however they are also facing an uphill battle as with the rest of the ute market as demand continues to slide. Most of the big brands have slashed prices to help move metal but some of the savings are easier to find than others.

Spy photographers have caught the new Volkswagen Viloran poking out from underneath a cover, ahead of its Chinese-market launch later this year. The photos, snapped by CarNewsChina, give us an early look at the the new two-box Volkswagen before its launch at the end of 2019.

Concept cars are a hugely important part of the design and development of automobiles, and a very useful tool for automotive designers, allowing them to communicate their ideas to the public without having to comply with strict regulations or the encumbrance of the huge costs associated with mass production.

Join Mandy Turner, Josh Dowling, and Mike Costello live from Wakefield Raceway. Josh chats about the Tesla Model 3 and Porsche Taycan battling it out at the Nurburgring, the Toyota LandCruiser celebrating its 10-millionth worldwide sale, and the update coming for the Nissan Patrol. Mike reviews the 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLC 300e PHEV, and Paul Maric takes the 2020 Toyota Supra around Wakefield Park Raceway. Lastly, Scott Collie reviews the 2019 Nissan Pathfinder.

The second-generation Toyota Mirai will be launched in 2020, Takeshi Uchiyamada, the Japanese automaker's chairman, has confirmed. According to Reuters, Uchiyamada made the revelation in Tokyo at meeting on hydrogen energy with ministers from around the world. We don't know anything about the second-generation Mirai's drivetrain, but it's possible it could use some of the hydrogen fuel-cell technology being developed jointly with BMW.

If the deal goes through, it will be latest step in Ford CEO Jim Hackett's drive to staunch the bleeding from the firm's overseas subsidiaries. According to Bloomberg, Ford is currently in discussions with Mahindra about a joint venture in India. The proposed deal would see Ford put most of its Indian assets into the new firm, of which it would own 49 per cent. Both companies will have equal board representation and voting rights in the joint venture.

The previous-generation 2007-14 model-year Mitsubishi Triton has been recalled as part of the ongoing Takata airbag campaign, with 57,025 vehicles affected nationally. 'ML' and 'MN' generation utes fitted with the four-spoke steering wheel are included in this notice, with the recall classified as 'critical'.

‘Cool car, dad.’ And thus, the five-year-old stamped her imprimatur on the 2019 Volkswagen Multivan Black Edition before clambering into the cavernous back and running lengths of the cabin, because you, well, just can. The Multivan might not have the charm or appeal of its Type 2 Kombi antecedents, but that doesn’t mean it’s not the spiritual incarnation of the Kombi. Certainly, the Black Edition we have on test here makes a compelling case.

Ssangyong has announced pricing and specifications for its all-important Korando SUV, which is now available in two 'Launch Edition' trims. The arrival of the new Korando will play a large role in determining whether Ssangyong will succeed in the long term. July was the company's initial goal for launch, but that's (obviously) been pushed back.

The upgraded 2020 Nissan GT-R Nismo is upon us, and if you want it, you're gonna pay a lot more for it than you would've the last one. On sale in Australia now, the 2020 Nismo GT-R replaces the first Nismo hero that launched here in 2017 at an already mighty $299,000. For this upgrade, buyers will be asked $378,000 before on-road costs. For the money, you'll get – as Paul Maric noted on his international drive in July – weight savings all round, and more grip.

BMW Australia has confirmed a limited allocation of M4 M Heritage Edition sports cars for our market, with deliveries to commence in "early 2020". Priced from $167,529 before on-road costs, the M4 M Heritage Edition offers unique colours and appointments to set it apart from the 'standard' M4 Competition on which it's based. Headlining the spec sheet are three exterior finishes "synonymous with BMW Motorsport" – Laguna Seca Blue, Velvet Blue metallic and Imola Red II.

The facelifted and updated 2020 Lexus RX range goes on sale in Australia from October 2, bringing more tech and sharpened pricing to compete with a renewed line-up of popular rivals. The 2020 Lexus RX range opens again with the RX300 Luxury, now $1600 cheaper at $71,920 before on-road costs.

The new-generation 2020 Audi RS Q3 and its slightly sleeker sibling the RS Q3 Sportback have been revealed this week ahead of an Australian launch set for next year. Spied testing earlier in 2019, the new hero models are again powered by a 2.5-litre five-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine, developing a monstrous 294kW of power and 480Nm of torque (1950-5850rpm).

Chung Eui-sun, executive vice president of Hyundai, who has assumed day-to-day running of the company from his father, sounded a cautious note after announcing a joint venture for developing autonomous vehicle technology. The new development firm will be owned 50/50 by Hyundai Motor Group and Aptiv, with the South Korean firm contributing US$1.6 billion ($2.4 billion) in cash and US$400 million ($590 million) in engineering and research services, as well as intellectual property.

The Volvo XC40 EV will be unveiled next month and the automaker claims it "will be one of the safest cars we have ever built". Volvo has reinforced the front end as it no longer holds a bulky internal combustion engine. It has also reinforced the rear, and integrated the electric powertrain into the body structure so it is easier to distribution collision forces away from the passenger cell.

The Subaru Levorg Prototype has been teased ahead of its debut at next month's Tokyo motor show. The current Levorg shares much with the previous-generation Impreza range, including the dashboard, but has a wider and longer body with unique exterior styling. From the teaser image we can see the Levorg will have squared off wheel arches, smoother surfacing, and not a single body panel from the latest Impreza.

Mazda is the second most popular vehicle brand in Australia after Toyota, though it has long positioned its cars upmarket from other big-volume players. The 2019 CX-9 Azami LE is its most premium to date, unless you count the oft-forgotten Eunos experiment. It’s priced $2000 higher than the regular Azami, and picks up some nicer cabin finishes made of wood and Nappa leather.

Mazda will reveal its first pure-electric vehicle at the upcoming Tokyo motor show, according to a new report. UPDATE: September 25, 2019: Mazda has at 8:00pm confirmed it will release its first-ever electric vehicle at the Tokyo motor show. The company says the car will be a "completely new model", and it'll be "developed in accordance with Mazda's human-centric philosophy" and make "full use of the benefits of electric drive technology".

Plenty has happened in the world of car news over the last 24 hours. If you haven't had time to read all the news on CarAdvice.com, catch up on your way home with Car News Daily, as Mandy Turner reads each news story word-for-word. Today's download: LISTEN: Car News Daily podcastLISTEN: Automotive Industry Insights podcastLISTEN: Reverse Gear podcast

Having already partnered with Ross Stone Racing and Caltex Australia to compete in the ECB SuperUtes Series, the team at Isuzu recently invited CarAdvice to its take on a drive day event. Hosted at Brisbane’s Norwell Motorplex, the day combined a mix of off-roading, motorkhana, two-wheel driving, hot laps in the Stone Brothers' SuperUte and the world’s steepest 4WD ramp, the 'Iron Summit'.

Volkswagen Australia has initiated its recall for older-generation Polo, Eos and Crafter model lines has part of the ongoing Takata airbag campaign. In this latest notice, a total of 7847 vehicles are being recalled for potentially faulty inflators (front driver's side in the Polo and Eos, front driver and passenger side for the Crafter), across various model years.

BMW could axe between 5000-6000 jobs in Germany, including some high-profile senior management figures, as it seeks to cut costs. A report in the influential German publication Manager Magazin says Nicholas Peter, BMW chief financial officer, could announce the job losses before the end of 2019, but they won't be fully realised until 2022. The company is currently undergoing a shakeup at the top, which kicked off when Oliver Zipse succeeded Harald Kruger as chief executive officer in August.

Peak hour is not long over in Munich and we’re cruising at 190km/h on our way to the Black Forest region of Germany in the new 2020 Audi RS7 Sportback, when we see a one-kilometre gap emerging up ahead in the ‘unrestricted zone’ – and bury the throttle. Within seconds, the needle on the speedo is smashing through 292km/h before the gap closes as quick as it opened.

Daimler, parent company of Mercedes-Benz, has been fined €870 million ($1.4 billion) by German authorities for selling vehicles which did not fully comply with regulations regarding oxides of nitrogen (NOx) emissions. It's understood roughly 684,000 diesel vehicles sold in Germany were not compliant with emissions regulations.

German prosecutors from Braunschweig have filed charges against three current and former Volkswagen executives for failing to warn investors early enough about the financial implications of the Dieselgate emissions cheating scheme. The three men charged are the Volkswagen Group's current CEO Herbert Diess, its current chairman Hans Dieter Pötsch, and Martin Winterkorn, the company's CEO at the time the scandal broke.

Honda will stop selling cars with diesel engines in Europe by 2021 with the company's range of vehicles there to be dominated by electrified drivetrains. The automaker confirmed to Reuters it will cease selling diesel-powered vehicles by the 2021. The timing of diesel's demise for Honda's European operations coincides with the closure of its UK manufacturing plant.

The Nissan Patrol has been given a major makeover with a bold new look, advanced safety technology, and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto the headline acts. The 2020 Nissan Patrol was unveiled in the Middle East overnight, its biggest market, and it will be in Australian showrooms by the end of this year. This is the second facelift since the model went on sale in 2013; the previous update arrived in 2017.

Plenty has happened in the world of car news over the last 24 hours. If you haven't had time to read all the news on CarAdvice.com, catch up on your way home with Car News Daily, as Mandy Turner reads each news story word-for-word. Today's download: LISTEN: Car News Daily podcastLISTEN: Automotive Industry Insights podcastLISTEN: Reverse Gear podcast

Mercedes-Benz Australia has recalled the 2011-2018 Mercedes-Benz G-Class over concerns the ABS hydraulic unit. According to the company, driving over corrugated roadways could make the brake lines in the ABS hydraulic unit to crack, creating a brake fluid leak and impeding the car's stopping distance. If the ABS braking power of the car is impacted, longer stopping distances increase the risk of an accident or injury.

Kia is looking at making a battery-electric version of its entry-level Picanto micro car, Automotive News Europe reports. If the Picanto EV makes production it would be the third electric Kia, following in the footsteps of the e-Soul and e-Niro crossover. Kia is aiming to have an EV "in almost every main segment", according to Emilio Herrera, chief operating officer of Kia Europe, targeting 40,000 electric sales in Europe next year.

Few vehicles shake up a motor show like a new Land Rover. Look at the new Defender which stole the show recently at Frankfurt. Funnily enough, the original Land Rover did something similar 71 years ago.

Skoda has reached a production milestone for its relatively new Karoq SUV, celebrating 250,000 units this week. The Czech crossover has hit the quarter-of-a-million mark after two years of sale, after putting the Karoq into series production at its Kvasiny plant in July 2017. So far this year around 97,900 Karoqs have been delivered to customers globally, with 115,700 units sold in 2018.

New South Wales drivers using phones behind the wheel are in the firing line, with the state to permanently roll out its phone-detection cameras. The cameras will go live later this year, after a six-month trial in which 8.5 million vehicles were checked and more than 100,000 people were caught using their smartphones on the move. The cameras are currently deployed on the M4 and Anzac Parade from January 2019, but motorists caught during the trial won't be fined.

Honda Australia has issued a recall for the older-generation Accord along with the MDX SUV as part of the ongoing Takata airbag campaign. UPDATE, 15/8/18: This recall has been expanded to include more affected units from the Accord model line – the total now sits at 18,719 units. An updated VIN list can be viewed here.

According to the SEC, the troubles for Nissan began in 2004 when it granted Carlos Ghosn, its then-CEO, the authority to set executive compensation, including his own. The commission believes between 2009 and his arrest in 2018, Ghosn "with substantial assistance from [director Greg] Kelly and subordinates at Nissan" hid US$90 million ($133 million) in pay from official filings, and increase Ghosn's retirement bonus by US$50 million ($74 million).

The Mercedes-AMG GT Black Series has been spied during testing on public roads in Germany. Like earlier the Black Series models, the range-topping GT variant is no shrinking violet. At the front there are splitters and spoilers large enough to slice through a leg of ham. The bonnet looks to be a completely new unit with a large central air intake, a massive scallop on one side and external latches.

Ian Callum, Jaguar's outgoing head of design, has laid out his vision for the next-generation Jaguar F-Type. Speaking to Autocar, Callum revealed he had laid down his preferred blueprint for new F-Type with his successor Julian Thomson. This would see the next F-Type switch to a mid-engine layout or an electric drivetrain, and have styling inspired by the C-X75 show car. An alternative scenario would see the F-Type stick with a front-mid-engine setup but adopt hybrid technology.

Front-engined, rear-wheel drive with a manual gearbox in the middle. It’s as if the Toyota 86 were designed by the CarAdvice comments section, such is the strength of its ‘purist’ credentials. But the 86 (and BRZ) are controversial. Blame the eco-tyres or torque-lite boxer engine; whatever the reason, there’s a sect of motoring enthusiasts who aren’t enamoured with the fruits of Subaru and Toyota’s labour.

Plenty has happened in the world of car news over the last 24 hours. If you haven't had time to read all the news on CarAdvice.com, catch up on your way home with Car News Daily, as Mandy Turner reads each news story word-for-word. Today's download: LISTEN: Car News Daily podcastLISTEN: Automotive Industry Insights podcastLISTEN: Reverse Gear podcast

Audi has priced the 2019 Q5 line-up for Australia, which has arrived in showrooms priced from $65,900 before on-road costs. The updated Q5 line-up will start with the 40 TDI quattro, with power from a 2.0-litre turbo-diesel engine making 140kW and 400Nm, and a $65,900 starting price before on-road costs. Opting for the 45 TFSI quattro brings a petrol engine outputting 185kW and 370Nm, and bumps the price to $66,900 before on-roads.

Next year, Volkswagen Australia will finally have a compact SUV to offer buyers. Will the T-Cross be able to compete with the established players? To find out, Paul Maric takes a first drive.

While Volkswagen is incredibly late to the small-SUV party, next year will see the brand potentially pushing quickly ahead in terms of sales given how popular the segment is in Australia. The T-Roc will be backed by a five-year warranty and Volkswagen's new prepaid service plans, which should make it a good buying proposition.

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 loves Formula 1 politics? Bloodhound lives on! Silver Arrows, but in electric form

Are you sick of being bored to death by SUVs? Volkswagen is hoping to buck that trend with the Golf-based T-Roc that is hitting Australian dealers early next year. The 2020 Volkswagen T-Roc aims to bridge the gap between the entry-level T-Cross SUV and the full-blown kids and dog Tiguan.

The Mazda CX-3 does an incredible job of selling like hotcakes in Australia, despite the fact it's effectively a jacked-up, more expensive Mazda 2. So, without an SUV smaller than the Tiguan, Volkswagen thought it would be about time to pull the trigger on a raft of new SUVs, starting at the smallest end of the scale with the all-new 2020 Volkswagen T-Cross.

Renault is considering giving its city-focused Zoe EV a massive shot in the arm, with European reports suggesting the Zoe e-Sport concept could make production. Top Gear reports the e-Sport, a 340kW and 640Nm version of the otherwise rather vanilla Zoe, is still front of mind for Renault's electric vehicle boss, Gilles Normand. "The e-Sport was more to test the water, to show that you can EVs are not boring,” he told the British publication.

The Tesla Model 3 has been awarded a Top Safety Pick+ award by the US Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). It comes just a month after the IIHS bestowed the Audi e-tron with the same award, making it the first EV to receive the coveted nod. This year, the Hyundai Nexo also earned a Top Safety Pick+ award, the first hydrogen fuel-cell vehicle to do so. The Jaguar I-Pace has yet to be assessed by the IIHS, though it received five stars in Euro NCAP testing.

Recently-discovered patent filings suggest Mazda could be developing a new two-door coupe powered by a rotary engine. Motor magazine in Japan has recently uncovered a patent for a "vehicle shock absorption structure". The accompanying diagram shows a new spaceframe design with a small engine bay, which seems too snug to fit a non-rotary internal combustion engine.

Last week Amazon co-launched The Climate Pledge, which aims to help the world meet the targets set out in the Paris climate accord 10 years ahead of schedule. For its part, the e-commerce giant announced an order for 100,000 electric delivery vans from startup American car maker Rivian.

The new Mercedes-Benz EQB electric crossover has been spied during testing in Europe. As with other members of the all-electric EQ range, the EQB is based on an existing model — in this case the GLB — and uses a platform designed primarily for petrol and diesel engine cars. This strategy affords Mercedes-Benz a lot of flexibility to scale production up or down depending on demand, as well as reducing development costs.

Tesla’s prototype Model S might be quick – last week posting an unofficial time that would have shattered the Porsche Taycan’s lap record at the Nurburgring – but the US electric-car maker has suffered an embarrassing setback. One of two cars sent to Germany to take the electric-car lap record away from Porsche has been filmed while conked out on the side of the road just a few hundred metres away from the pit exit, near the start of the 20.8km circuit.

Full electric cars dominate the headlines, but partially-electrified alternatives that promise cuts to CO2 emissions while still offering a source of petrol power are rolling out at a rate of knots. Mercedes-Benz’s PHEV (plug-in hybrid EV) plans encompass petrol-electric options from A-Class to S-Class, with SUVs and vans in between. These models sit above internal combustion models with high-voltage (48V) starter-alternators, but below pure electric vehicles (EVs) such as the EQC.

The Toyota LandCruiser has clocked up an epic 10 million sales worldwide – including more than 1.065 million in Australia – as the latest figures show more have been sold here over the past 65 years than any other place on earth. The tally includes all three versions of the Toyota LandCruiser 200 Series, Prado, 70 Series and their predecessors dating back to 1954.

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.

Japan is about to get a new emperor, and Toyota has treated him to a pretty special new car. You're looking at a convertible Century developed specifically for the royal parade on October 22. The Century is Toyota's flagship sedan in Japan, with power from a V8 hybrid powertrain and all manner of ultra-luxurious appointments. With a hand-carved grille ornament and seven-layer paint finish, it's essentially a Japanese Rolls-Royce.

The DS 8 luxury sedan has been photographed during testing in Europe. Although the prototype is disguised all over, we can see it very closely resembles the car leaked at the end of May. Up front it has the brand's upright six-point grille, while along the sides there's a pronounced shoulder. At the back, the DS 8 has thin jewel-like tail-lights similar to ones employed by the DS 7 Crossback.

Aggressive drive-away pricing and seven years of free scheduled servicing are just a couple of the carrots Holden is dangling to prospective buyers of its flagship seven-seat SUV. Decent carrots, too, in these financially chastened times. The Holden Acadia plays in a large-SUV minefield that, while not quite as cut-throat as the medium-SUV segment, still offers buyers myriad choices when it comes to seven-seat family haulers.

Once upon a time, sedans were the choice for a family car. The low driving position, good rear space, and a deep boot were just some of the reasons why my mum bought a 2002 Mazda 6 when I was a teen. Nowadays, the humble sedan has been replaced by the SUV to haul the kids around, as it provides a higher driving position and there is just more choice in that segment.

Audi has launched the highly anticipated 2020 SQ5, with Audi Australia all but confirming the latest-generation SQ5 TDI for 2020. Better late than never, we think, because this is a cracking SUV that more than fills the shoes of its popular predecessor. How good is it? Anthony Crawford finds out.

The last time I had a proper go in Audi’s SQ5 TDI was back in 2014, when we stupidly decided to drag-race it against its diesel-powered Macan cousin from sister brand Porsche at a private test facility. And guess what? The Audi reigned supreme, at least in a straight line, though it was a different story through the bendy bits, which is where the Porsche claimed the upper hand.

The 2019 Ford F-150 to Death Valley, the world’s hottest-selling vehicle to the hottest place on Earth. As no-brainer road trip stories go, this is my absolute dimmest yet. One chock-full of fresh adventure for yours truly. I’ve never driven even one example of the astonishing 34 million F-Series trucks sold to date – an incredible one million plus examples registered globally in 2018 alone. And I’ve never experienced 49 degrees Celsius under the sun, either.

Volkswagen's range of electric vehicles is about to hit the roads in Europe, with Australia lagging a couple of years behind. When the Volkswagen ID.4 does finally arrive Down Under, however, it's expected to have a starting price under $50,000. Speaking to media after the Frankfurt motor show, Volkswagen Australia product planning boss, Jeff Shafer said he's looking forward to welcoming the ID electric range and is confident it'll be sharply priced.

If you were wondering what the flagship of the DS line will look like but didn’t want to wait until December’s Guangzhou motor show, leaked photographs published by Carscoops should satisfy your curiosity.

Your next Hyundai or Kia could feature a new type of side-impact protection, with the Hyundai Motor Group revealing a front armrest-mounted side impact airbag. The new airbag is designed to stop head injuries caused by front passengers colliding with each other, or hard objects in the cabin. Research quoted by Hyundai claims 'secondary' impacts in the cabin are responsible for 45 per cent of head injuries in side-impact collisions.

There’s nothing worse than watching a manufacturer attempt to build a sports car from a compromised platform. Fortunately for Lexus (and the few lucky buyers who will secure one), the 2019 Lexus RC F Track Edition is starting from an already properly sorted base. The RC, and further the RC F, are both beautifully executed sports coupes that put a satisfied smile on your dial across a broad range of disciplines.

Plenty has happened in the world of car news over the last 24 hours. If you haven't had time to read all the news on CarAdvice.com, catch up on your way home with Car News Daily, as Mandy Turner reads each news story word-for-word. Today's download: LISTEN: Car News Daily podcastLISTEN: Automotive Industry Insights podcastLISTEN: Reverse Gear podcast

Mercedes-Benz has announced pricing and specs for its refreshed mid-sized rival to the BMW X3 and Volvo XC60, the GLC, now without diesel power. The new line-up will start with the GLC200, priced at $66,100 before on-roads. Power comes from a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine making 145kW and 320Nm, up 10kW and 20Nm on its predecessor, sent to the rear wheels through a nine-speed automatic transmission.

Hyundai Australia has indicated it is "not expecting a five-star ANCAP rating" for its all-new 2020 Venue crossover, when the independent crash-testing firm conducts an anticipated audit test in the coming months.

Porsche's upcoming 718 Cayman GT4 RS has been snapped again, this time being put through its paces on the track. Launched this year, the new GT4 Cayman won plenty of fans with its naturally-aspirated engine and balanced handling. But more is more in the world of Porsche, and there's clearly more to be extracted from the 718 GT4 package.

Nissan USA has teased the facelift for its full-sized Titan pickup, giving us another look at the next-generation Patrol's design language in the process. The teaser image, published above, shows the new truck will have squared-off daytime running lights with a 'C-shaped' signature derived from cars like the Qashqai. In the middle is a bluff grille, which has a larger interpretation of the brand's 'V-motion' design.

On this week's podcast you're joined by Mandy Turner, Trent Nikolic, and James Wong. James attended the local launch of the 2020 Hyundai Venue, and discusses what it's like to drive. Paul Maric speaks with Lamborghini's chief marketing officer, Katia Bassi. Trent was in Canberra last week for the local launch of the 2020 Peugeot 508, and James compares the Kia Picanto and Suzuki Swift.

The Venue may be the Hyundai's new entry-level offering Down Under, but the local division doesn't see it as a direct replacement for the now-discontinued Accent light hatch. Despite having built its brand on value-packed affordable cars, the Korean brand says the new sub-compact crossover – which starts at $19,990 before on-road costs – isn't meant to be an Accent successor. "We don't see this as a like-for-like volume replacement for Accent," said J.W. Lee, CEO for Hyundai Australia.

The Hyundai Venue presents as a great car for singles and empty nesters who live an urban lifestyle but want the styling and practicality of an SUV – pretty much nailing its intended purpose. It's easy to manoeuvre around town while being surprisingly practical inside, can put up with the odd highway stint, and packs in a healthy list of features for the price of most entry-level competitors.

In the Q3 Sportback, Audi introduces a racier version of its newest upcoming Q3 small SUV, and it's bound to attract plenty of admirers since it gives up very little in the way of space. What's it like on first impressions? Anthony Crawford finds out.

Mercedes-Benz has recalled the 2018-19 A-Class over concerns about the protective plate under the spare wheel. According to the company, the 'protective tinplate' under the spare wheel recess could crack on its outer edges. If the tinplate has multiple cracks in the same area, it could detach from the car, increasing the risk of accident or injury to other road users. A total of 21 cars are included in the campaign – a VIN list is attached here.

Mitsubishi has teased a plug-in hybrid crossover concept ahead of its debut at next month’s Tokyo motor show. The company has said the concept will showcase “a downsized, lower-weight PHEV drivetrain and an electric 4WD system” and that it’ll be a small SUV. That means it’ll be smaller than this year’s Engelberg concept (below), a PHEV SUV that previewed the next Outlander.

Just when you thought there was an SUV for just about every occasion, Korean manufacturer Hyundai has released the Venue, a subcompact crossover designed to take on the light car and small SUV segments. Slotting beneath the slightly larger Kona in the brand's line-up, the Venue indirectly replaces the ageing Accent hatchback as Hyundai's entry-level offering, starting at a (relatively) sharp $19,990 plus on-road costs.

The new-generation Hyundai Sonata could have its launch delayed until 2020, but Hyundai Australia has confirmed a sporty N Line trim level will definitely join the range next year. Hyundai's local division has indicated the all-new sedan may not reach Australia until the very end of this year, and potentially be pushed back until sometime next year.

What if we told you there are no less than 44 individual variants of the 2019 Jaguar E-Pace, ranging in price from as low as $47,750 plus on-roads for the entry-level D150, up to a sky-high $82,339 for the top-shelf P300 R-Dynamic HSE? Is that something that might be a tad confusing for the buyer?

Renault has revealed pricing and specification information for the critical Kadjar SUV, which kicks off at $29,990 before on-road costs. Power in the Kadjar, which is pitched as a rival to the Nissan Qashqai with which it shares its underpinnings, comes from a 1.3-litre turbocharged petrol engine making 117kW and 260Nm. It's mated exclusively with a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission, and feeds the front wheels.

Plenty has happened in the world of car news over the last 24 hours. If you haven't had time to read all the news on CarAdvice.com, catch up on your way home with Car News Daily, as Mandy Turner reads each news story word-for-word. Today's download: LISTEN: Car News Daily podcastLISTEN: Automotive Industry Insights podcastLISTEN: Reverse Gear podcast

The i3 introduced BMW buyers to the idea of a BMW-branded electric car. Now, it’s done its job and it’s time to move on. The Financial Times reports BMW won’t develop a second-generation of its first electric car, the i3. Pieter Nota, BMW’s sales and marketing chief, told the Financial Times there’s "no specific plan for an i3 successor". "We are now bringing electrification more to the mainstream," he said.

Skoda Australia has confirmed the updated 2020 Superb range has been delayed due to production shuffling caused by WLTP emissions regulations in Europe. Initially earmarked for a third quarter launch this year, the facelifted Superb now doesn't have an official arrival date at this point in time, but a safe guess is that the full line-up will rollout into 2020.

Toyota and Subaru could spring a surprise reveal at the Tokyo motor show, with Japanese reports suggesting the second-generation 86 and BRZ will be unveiled in concept form. Japanese magazine Best Car reports the new coupes will officially launch in the first half of 2021, but we'll see a concept previewing the next-generation models at the Tokyo motor show next month.