CAR ADVICE

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 podcastMORE: All CarAdvice podcasts

MG Australia has announced a pre-sale offer for its first electric vehicle – the ZS EV – priced from $46,990 drive-away for the first 100 orders. Available to pre-order now in Australia, the ZS EV is powered by a 105kW/353Nm electric motor on the front axle, hooked up to a 44.5kWh water-cooled lithium-ion battery pack.

Renault Australia has issued three separate recalls for the 2018 model-year Alpine A110 sports car, affecting between 61 and 72 vehicles depending on the notice. The first recall relates to vehicles fitted with the sports exhaust that could have an issue with oil pressure. "The oil pressure solenoid programming is not compliant to the required specification, which may result in decreased oil pressure," the company says.

Porsche has confirmed a manual version of the latest 911 will be offered in Australia from next year, but the company hasn't confirmed whether it will be offered on the base Carrera. As before, the manual offered in non-GT 911 models will be a seven-speeder. Porsche says the 100km/h sprint takes around four seconds, and the manual is about 10kg lighter than the dual-clutch PDK automatic.

Lexus Australia has confirmed pricing and specifications for the evergreen new LC Inspiration Series, available in strictly limited numbers and now on sale from $205,512 plus on-road costs. "Fewer than 10 units" will be offered in Australia, according to the company's local arm, available with the distinctive Khaki Metal green exterior paint and tan 'L-Aniline' leather upholstery.

Mercedes-Benz Australia has issued a recall for a handful of 2019 model-year C-Class vehicles over concerns a tie rod for the front axle may detach. "During assembly the tie rod may have been incorrectly mounted to the right front axle stub," the German marque reports. "If the tie rod becomes detached, the vehicle may be difficult to control, posing an accident or injury risk to the vehicle occupants or other road users."

Joining Mandy Turner this week are Mike Costello and Josh Dowling. Josh gives an update on those rare snails that put a stop to Mercedes-Benz imports. We also discuss NSW motorists who can now use digital licences, and Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak slamming autonomous cars. Brendan Michel, head of product and market planning for BMW Australia, joins us in the studio to talk about Apple CarPlay availability, the large 4 Series kidney grille, local interest in the i4, and much more.

The second week of Drive Car of the Year 2020 has wrapped up, taking us through luxury cars and into the SUV space. Winners in the small luxury car, medium luxury car, large luxury car, small SUV and medium SUV categories have been announced. Any surprises? Maybe one or two. What do you think of the results? Read the full list of contenders and winners below. The Drive.com.au team will announce the Drive Car of the Year 2020 overall winner on 22 November.

Toyota Australia has finally rolled out its Apple CarPlay and Android Auto retrofit program, along with announcing the standard fitment of the smartphone mirroring systems across its new-generation model lines. From November 1, existing owners of the Camry, Corolla, Granvia, HiAce, Prius and RAV4 will be able to upgrade their vehicles' infotainment systems – costing $199 for Camry, Corolla and Prius, while Granvia, HiAce and RAV4 retrofits will be free of charge.

Australia is at a “standstill” when it comes to bringing its emissions standards into line with the rest of the world, with one senior car company executive claiming: “I can’t find anyone in Canberra to talk about it”. Hyundai’s senior manager for future mobility and government relations, Scott Nargar, has revealed Australia came close to upgrading current Euro V emissions standards – which are now 10 years behind Europe – in the lead-up to this year’s Federal election.

ANCAP has awarded the new-generation Audi A1 a five-star safety rating, making it the first light car to score top marks against the strict 2019 criteria. Based on tests carried out by sister firm Euro NCAP earlier this year, the new A1 scored an impressive 95 per cent for Adult Occupant Protection, 88 per cent before Child Occupant Protection, 73 per cent for Vulnerable Road User Protection, and 82 per cent for Safety Assist.

Hyundai has unveiled two further concepts it will have on display at the 2019 SEMA Show in Las Vegas later this month: the VelosterRaptor N and Kona Ultimate. Created in conjunction with Bisimoto Engineering, the VelosterRaptor N concept builds on the Veloster N, which isn't sold Down Under. According to Hyundai the concept is designed to be a "[Civic] Type R killer".

Details about the updated Alfa Romeo Giulia sedan and Stelvio crossover have been revealed via a leaked summary sheet from the North American distributor. The sheet, which was originally published on the Autopieri forums, details changes for the upcoming model year in the US. As such we'll concentrate on the listed updates which will likely appear on Australia-bound models.

While our launch drive was brief, jumping between variants in between shooting video, we learnt pretty quickly that the new 2020 Audi A1 is an impressive premium compact hatch. Styling is subjective, but I think it looks the part – certainly for the intended buyer.

Electric vehicles require less maintenance than cars with internal-combustion engines, with fewer fluids to change and fewer moving parts. That’s good news… but not for automakers. According to the UK's Autocar, PSA Group electric and connected boss, Helen Lees, sees the rise of electric vehicles as being a threat to the automotive industry by virtue of their simplicity.

The 2020 Audi A1 is all-new, heavily revised, and undoubtedly delivers a premium entry into the brand, without the premium price. Certainly at the entry point to the range anyway. This is an important category now, too, even for the more high-end premium brands. While Australians love their SUVs – and that shows no signs of abating anytime soon – garnering the attention of the first-time buyer is the crucial step in locking that buyer into long-term loyalty.

The 2020 Audi A1 Sportback will be launching Down Under next month, with the German marque detailing pricing and specifications for its three-tier compact hatchback range. Priced from $32,350 plus on-road costs (30 TFSI), the new-generation A1 makes the switch to the Volkswagen Group's MQB A0 underpinnings, along with offering more space, technology, along with an overhauled design.

When I heard the Toyota Supra nameplate was coming back, I was just as skeptical as everybody else about what the package would end up looking and feeling like. So, when my name was put down to attend a prototype drive of the 2020 Toyota Supra in Madrid last year, I was excited to see what Toyota and BMW had come up with.

The Fisker Ocean has been partially revealed ahead of the full debut of a "production-intent" prototype in January 2020. Measuring 4640mm long, the Ocean features thin head- and tail-light units, a broad stance, flush-fitting pop-out door handles, and a stepped side window line. The standard drivetrain will include an 80kWh battery pack, which have a range rating of between 400 and 480 kilometres using the US EPA's methodology.

An advanced plan hatched between Groupe PSA (owner of the Peugeot, Citroen and Opel brands) and Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) to join forces would create the world's fourth largest global automotive OEM by scale. The proposed super-merger between the keen French and Italian-American giants, with a combined 410,000 direct employees, would create a new group half-owned by each party with equal board representation.

LDV has given its seven-seat D90 SUV a price cut, dropping the entry-level model's price by $1000 and the range-topper's sticker by $3000. Powered by a 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine, the D90 outputs 165kW and 350Nm. It's mated with a six-speed automatic transmission, and sends power to the rear wheels in the base model, but four-wheel drive is an option on the range-topping D90 Executive.

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 podcastMORE: All CarAdvice podcasts

Ssangyong has revealed details about its first pure-electric vehicle, the Korando E100 mid-sized SUV, ahead of its reveal in the first half of 2021. Power in the EV crossover will come from a motor making 140kW to deliver "best in class" acceleration, according to a new report in Auto Express. It's mated with a 61.5kWh battery pack from LG, good for 420km of range on the more lenient NEDC test cycle.

Sponsored by Holden. In partnership with StartsAt60.com and Holden, we've tasked retired Sydneysider Edilia Ford (what a name for the job!) with assessing the liveability and features of the 2019 Holden Trax LTZ. What does she think? Let's find out.

Mercedes-Benz Vans Australia has detailed the facelifted V-Class range, bringing autonomous emergency braking as standard across the range along with a range of new comfort features and technologies.

Photographers have snapped the upcoming Ford Puma ST during development testing in Europe, ahead of an anticipated launch sometime during second half of next year. Compared to previous sightings, this prototype appears to be showing a little more skin, namely with the front grille, bumper, intakes, headlights, tail-lights, rear bumper, and window line.

Mazda Australia is being taken to Federal Court by Australia’s peak consumer watchdog for allegedly engaging in “unconscionable conduct” and making “false or misleading representations in its dealings with consumers” who bought new cars between 2013 and 2017. The vehicles affected include popular models such as the Mazda 2, Mazda 6, Mazda CX-5, Mazda CX-3 and Mazda BT-50.

Michael Stanley Whittingham is one of 2019’s three Nobel Prize winners in chemistry, for his instrumental work in helping develop the lithium-ion batteries that power most electric vehicles (EV) today. Bloomberg has just interviewed him, discussing what he sees as the lay of the land in EV technology, and what comes next. Since there could be few more reliable sources, we thought it would be worth taking note. Credit goes to the original source.

BMW Australia has announced pricing for its fastest-ever M car, the M8 Competition, ahead of its arrival Down Under in the first quarter of 2020. Priced from $352,900 before on-road costs, the M8 Competition is powered by a 4.4-litre twin-turbo V8 making 460kW and 750Nm.

The 2020 Toyota Corolla sedan offers more safety equipment and the option of hybrid power, but buyers will be forced to pay more than before when it arrives late in November. Priced in line with the hatchback, the new Corolla sedan will start at $23,335 before on-road costs in Ascent Sport manual guise, an increase of $2095 over the current entry-level Ascent sedan. Opting for the CVT transmission bumps that price to $24,835 before on-roads.

Here we have a 40,000ft view of what Kia's big Sorento GT-Line is packaged with. For all of our Sorento news and reviews, hit the links below.

Overnight Ford took the wraps off its new Sync 4 infotainment system, as well as a new underlying control system which supports wireless software updates to almost all of a car's computing units. The new infotainment system has been designed to work on a new array of larger touchscreens, running from 8.0 to 15.5 inches diagonally. On cars fitted with Ford's new 12.0- and 15.5-inch touchscreens, Sync 4 will support multiple apps on screen at the same time.

The Mercedes-Benz EQS has been spied during testing on public roads, and it looks to have a design very closely related to the Vision EQS unveiled at the 2019 Frankfurt motor show. The large swoopily-styled fastback promises to be quite a departure from the sedans in the company's current range. Up front the EQS will have large triangular headlights framing a closed-off grille. The doors feature frameless windows and flushing-fitting pop-out door handles.

I almost groaned when I saw my name against the 2020 Nissan 370Z 50th Anniversary I was down to review. Some cars inspire, some are lustful, others have you leaping out of your chair eager to grab the keys and hit the road. On paper, this wasn’t one of them. And yet, from the moment I collected the car from Nissan’s representatives here in Sydney, I was totally beguiled.

Is there light at the end of the tunnel for Nissan Z fans waiting for a 370Z replacement? A test mule based on the 370Z has been snapped at the Nurburgring, suggesting Nissan has started work on a replacement for the long-serving 370Z coupe and convertible. Although it looks very 370Z, there are a few notable changes here. The nose has been updated with six new vents above the lower intake, while the fog lights have been replaced with... blank space.

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 podcastMORE: All CarAdvice podcasts

Next-generation BMW M models could switch to plug-in hybrid power to meet stringent emissions standards coming into force in Europe – but the company insists petrol-electric tech will be exclusive to larger models, if it is adopted at all. The head of BMW M Division, Markus Flasch, has told Australian media at the recent M Festival that it has hybrid power ‘on standby’ ready to use but there are still no firm plans – and no rush – to introduce electrification.

Electric car skeptics might be tired of hearing about the slingshot acceleration of battery-powered vehicles – once the wick has been turned up – but here’s a statistic that might put things into perspective. This Nissan Leaf all-wheel-drive prototype has more torque than a Nissan GT-R supercar. For the technically-minded, that’s 680Nm versus 632Nm. And before the keyboard warriors get clicking, yes we know the GT-R trounces the Frankenstein Nissan Leaf for power (419kW versus 227kW).

Skoda has previewed the next-generation Octavia once again, this time with a pair of official spy photos and new details of the various features and technologies that will be on offer ahead of its international reveal next month. The new Octavia 'Combi' wagon will measure 22mm longer (4689mm) than its predecessor, and 15mm wider (1829mm). Meanwhile, the liftback has grown by 19mm in length and 15mm in width to the same measurements.

Honda Australia has confirmed initial details for the 10th-generation Accord sedan line-up ahead of a December launch, with the headlining act to be the company's latest hybrid drivetrain. Contrary to our speculation a fortnight ago, the 2020 Accord will offer 1.5-litre turbo petrol and 2.0-litre hybrid powertrain options – the latter signalling a return to electrification for Honda's passenger car range.

BMW may have made a U-turn by embracing front-drive for its latest small passenger cars – after previously ridiculing front-drive in advertising – but high-performance models will remain exclusively rear-drive or all-wheel drive, says the boss of BMW M division. When asked whether front-wheel drive might be suitable for high-performance M-branded models, the global boss of BMW M, Markus Flasch, said “No, it’s not”.

Fiat Chrysler Australia has recalled the 2016-19 Fiat Ducato van, over concerns about the brake line retaining clip. According to the company, the retaining clip might not be correctly be fixed to the clamping fastener on the firewall. That means the brake lines can rub against other mechanical parts and rupture, creating a risk of injury or accident to the driver and other road users. A total of 3702 units are affected by the campaign – a VIN list is attached here.

As the sole carmaker to continue offering a manual option in the premium mid-sized high-performance segment, BMW M is bucking tradition and looking to position the 'stick shift' format as a flagship option in the now-delayed 2021 M3 and M4 range. “The manual stick shift is not an entry proposition any more,” says the boss of BMW M Division, Markus Flasch. “It used to be the entry transmission then on top of that you’d have the automatic or a sequential gearbox or whatever.

Audi Australia has introduced a number of specification upgrades across its S3, S4 and S5 performance models, with up to $9000 of extra equipment now included as standard.

Ferrari has released its latest race-ready 488, the GT3 Evo, which will go head-to-head with stripped out McLaren, Mercedes-Benz, Lamborghini, and Porsche racers on circuits around the world. Ferrari says it has focused on improving the aerodynamics, handling, safety and reliability of the 488 GT3, but it hasn't given the car any more power. It's still powered by a 90-degree turbocharged V8 engine with its outputs determined by the FIA's Balance of Performance regulations.

Driving range, price, and limited knowledge of the available choices are three major impediments to improving battery-electric vehicle (EV) take-up in Australia. That’s the quick and unsurprising summary of a market survey from analytics firm Nielsen, called Caught in the Slow Lane, Australian Adoption of Electric Vehicles. As the name suggests, market penetration of electric vehicles in Australia is far lower than most equivalent markets across Europe, Asia and the USA.

There are reportedly high-level talks regarding a merger of Fiat Chrysler (FCA) and the PSA Group, which could create a new automaker valued at around US$50 billion ($73 billion). Sources have told the Wall Street Journal the two parties are discussing an all-share transaction. Should such a deal occur, PSA CEO Carlos Tavares would lead the newly merged automaker, while John Elkann, and head of the Agnelli family which holds a controlling stake in FCA, would become its chairman.

The next-generation Kia K5, the South Korean version of the car sold elsewhere as the Optima, has been teased in a series of shadowy sketches. While today's sedan is a slight design evolution of the third-generation model, the new car promises to be a radical reinvention of the long-standing nameplate. Up front there's a highly integrated and 3D interpretation of the brand's tiger nose grille, and a Z-shaped daytime running light.

Hyundai has boosted the Tucson Active X's safety credentials for 2020 with SmartSense as standard. But has a price rise cancelled the value benefit out? Curt Durpiez finds out.

Fisker's long teaser campaign will finally come to a head in January 2020 when it reveals a 'production-intent prototype' of its upcoming SUV. The SUV doesn’t currently have a name but company founder Henrik Fisker confirmed on Twitter he’d reveal the name next week, along with additional details.

Autonomous emergency braking. There’s some perception, right or wrong, that AEB fitment thrusts a vehicle’s safety credentials across a black and white threshold from death trap to certifiably safe territory. In the case of the new 2020 Hyundai Tucson Active X (and one-below base Active automatic), the Korean maker’s Forward Collision Avoidance Assist technology is now standard-fitment, whereas in prior versions the SmartSense safety suite was a $2200 option.

Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak has cast serious doubts over autonomous car technology, predicting it won’t be good enough to become a showroom reality in his lifetime. The technology genius publicly voiced his concerns – which much of the car industry has remained silent about – during a conference in Las Vegas last week, however the comments were only picked up by motoring media outlets in the past 24 hours.

Even though spy photos of the next-generation BMW M3 and BMW M4 have been appearing on the internet for some months – a sign that a showroom debut is not far away – the company has confirmed there is now going to be a 12-month delay. The next-generation M-cars were due to be in European showrooms by the end of this year, with an Australian introduction some time in 2020 – but both release dates have been pushed back by at least 12 months.

Honda Australia has issued a critical recall for 55 vehicles across older-generation Accord and Civic model lines as part of the ongoing Takata airbag recall. "A group of vehicles have been fitted with a complete driver airbag assembly, which has been determined to contain an affected Takata airbag inflator," the company's local division says in its recall notice.

Honda Australia hasn't given up on bringing its cute-as-a-button electric hatchback – known simply has the Honda E – into local showrooms, despite reports that it has already been ruled out. Reports from the Tokyo motor show claimed the Honda E was not coming to Australia based on a quote from Honda CEO, Takahiro Hachigo. "Honda E is just for Japan and Europe," he told Australian media. "There are no plans unfortunately for Australia now."

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 podcastMORE: All CarAdvice podcasts

Audi Australia has recalled the 2019 model-year A6 and A7 over concerns the passenger airbag "does not meet the applicable standard". The German luxury marque reports internal testing has shown the balance of trigger times between the belt pretensioner and passenger airbag is not up to specification. "This may increase the risk of injury to vehicle occupants on the passenger side of the vehicle during the deployment of the passenger airbag," Audi says in its recall notice.

The Volkswagen Group may abandon its plans to build the next Passat at its planned €1.3 billion factory in Turkey, according to a new report. Industry journal Automotive News Europe says sources told sister publication Automobilwoche the German automaker could shift Passat production to Bratislava, Slovakia, where it builds various models like the Volkswagen Touareg and Audi Q7.

Lotus Cars Australia has revealed an exclusive limited-run model for our market – the Elise Cup 250 Bathurst Edition. Capped at just six units, the Bathurst Edition is priced from $109,990 plus on-road costs, and features an array of special appointments compared to the 'standard' Elise Cup 250.

Subaru is recalling 80,000 cars in Australia for two separate technical faults, however 25,000 of them have been included in both recall campaigns. The recalls also affect 466,000 Subaru cars sold in the US with the same faults. The first recall of 54,715 vehicles includes 25,672 Subaru Impreza sedans and hatches made from 2017 to 2019, and 29,043 examples of XV hatchbacks made from 2018 to 2019.

It’s been three years since Mini introduced its second-generation Countryman, so it’s time for a facelift. Mini testers covered up the front of this example with gratuitous amounts of tape but we've obtained close-up photographs of the car with the front grille and bumper details exposed (below), and it's very much a case of "same old".

Motorists in NSW can now download a digital copy of their licence and it will be deemed a legal form of identification on the roadside and to get into pubs and clubs. However, there are some handy tips worth knowing so you don’t end up with a fine. For starters, the display on your phone can’t be obscured by a cracked screen – and if your phone battery is flat you still need to produce a physical licence.

Toyota Australia (TMCA) is engaged in trials with the first-generation hydrogen fuel-cell electric vehicle (FCEV) Mirai, and with that in mind is “most certainly looking” at launching the more aesthetic second-gen model. Revealed publicly for the first time as a near-road-ready ‘concept’ in Tokyo last week, the new five-metre-long Mirai is a huge step-change over its high-tech, but frumpy, predecessor.

The Hyundai Veloster N Performance Concept has been unveiled ahead of its in-the-flesh debut at the 2019 SEMA show in Las Vegas next month. The concept builds on the Veloster N, which isn't available in Australia, and features adjustments to improve its looks and handling. Riding on 19-inch OZ forged wheels and 235/35 Pirelli P-Zero Corsa tyres, the concept also has new Extreme Racing coil-over suspension, H&R springs and Daewon Steel anti-roll bars at both ends.

Lamborghini has provided the world with the first details about its track-only hypercar, which is due to be revealed next year. According to the company, the car will be powered by a naturally-aspirated 6.5-litre V12 engine with around 610kW (830hp) of power. It is paired to a six-speed sequential transmission from Xtrac, and a mechanical self-locking differential, which the driver can preload dynamically based on track conditions.

The new Porsche Taycan wagon has been spied with a minimal amount of disguise during testing in Germany. Given the Panamera wagon is branded as the Sport Turismo, it seems likely the same name will be used for the Taycan's wagon sibling. With its longer, flatter roof, the Sport Turismo should have better rear headroom, more boot space and improved load-carrying ability than the regular Taycan sedan.

It’s only a couple of generations since a typical BMW 3 Series was more likely to come with a six-cylinder engine than a four-pot, and the mighty M3 was still packing a glorious, naturally aspirated V8. No longer. The new 2020 BMW M340i is the first petrol G20 with more than four plug leads, and the only other six-cylinder in the line-up will be the M3 that this car understudies for.

Honda Australia has issued a recall for certain vehicles across previous-generation Accord and Civic model lines, falling between the 2006 and 2011 model years, as part of the ongoing Takata airbag recall. These vehicles have been fitted with potentially faulty airbags on the passenger's side, forcing a recall.

Every easter my family packs heads down the highway to Moggs Creek, at the start of the Great Ocean Road. Surf, time to read, plenty of nice wine – as traditions go, it's a pretty good one. It's also a neat test of the Kona Electric's range on the highway. Although the claimed real-world range is 450km, we know range stickers can be like fuel economy stickers (ahem, optimistic) in some conditions.

Ford Australia does not know how long it will take to fix a problem with more than 2000 vehicles equipped with single-turbo and twin-turbo versions of its 2.0-litre turbo diesel engine – including some versions of the Ranger ute (pictured). A fault with the high-pressure fuel injectors on the EcoBlue family of turbo diesel engines has forced Ford to stop delivery of 2115 cars across the Ranger dual-cab ute, seven-seat Everest SUV, mid-sized Endura SUV, Transit and Transit Custom van line-ups.

The Tokyo motor show is often very different to the European shows, and this year was exactly that. Along with a few production hatches, there were plenty of forward-looking concepts with unique powertrains. Check out our team's hits and misses below, and tell us your thoughts in the comments below. Best production car: Honda Jazz

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 podcastMORE: All CarAdvice podcasts

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? Classic, gorgeous Big noise, small engine MORE: Car News

Hyundai Australia has detailed the updated 2020 Ioniq line-up, once again including Hybrid, Plug-in and Electric models. Externally, there's minor design changes across the range, including new LED lighting at both ends (Electric and Premium models), revised bumpers and accents, along with new alloy wheel designs.

Few cars manage to divide opinions quite like the BMW X6. Introduced to the BMW line-up back in 2008, the high-riding model is largely credited with kick-starting a whole new segment for luxuriously equipped premium brand SUV-cum-coupes, the likes of which now include such sought-after rivals like the Audi Q8, Mercedes-Benz GLE Coupe, Porsche Cayenne Coupe and Range Rover Sport.

Futuristic driverless personal cars that can operate safely in rain, hail or shine remain a distant reality, says Toyota. However, autonomous ride-share cars restricted to covering certain areas in certain conditions are a very different story, given they're being prepared for commercial sale inside a decade, and could technically operate today as technology demonstrators with some clever “hacking”.

Why go to the effort and expense of removing your standard 4WD tyres for some new ones? Because they're better. Not in every sense, but in the ones that count. After a big few days getting an ARB GVM upgrade, bullbar and winch, along with the Norweld tray and canopy installed onto our 2018 Toyota LandCruiser 79 Series, it wasn't long until it was booked in to Solve Offroad in western Sydney, the preferred dealers and specialists in BFGoodrich tyres.

German brand Opel is surging ahead with its 'Charge!' electrification strategy, promising a total of eight electrified vehicles "in important volume segments" by 2021. "We will electrify our entire product portfolio by 2024. Further models will follow very soon after we made the start with the Corsa-e and the Grandland X Hybrid4 this year," said Michael Lohscheller, CEO for Opel and Vauxhall.

Donkervoort has revealed an impressive 70th birthday present for its founder, Joop Donkervoort, in the form of a sub-700kg supercar killer. The D8 GTO-JD70 is powered by a 2.5-litre five-cylinder Audi Sport engine, 'optimised' by the boffins at Donkervoort to make 415hp (309kW) and 520Nm. There's a side exhaust system, which should free up plenty of angry five-cylinder noise as well.

There's been talk for ages about the current Audi TT sports car morphing into a four-door vehicle of some sort to compete in higher-volume segments – now, it looks like that car could be a sporty EV crossover. Britain's Auto Express claims it can confirm "Audi's bosses have finally settled on a proposal for the next-generation TT", which will transform the slow-selling coupe and roadster into an all-electric compact crossover with more sporting intentions.

The all-new Mazda MX-30 has landed! Paul Maric had the chance to check it out in person at the 2019 Tokyo Motor Show. With 250km of driving range, a 35.5kWh battery pack and a stack of recycled materials, is it any good?

Perhaps the most important element of a family SUV is what lies inside. Sure, it needs to be safe, easy to drive with enough performance and handling, but the actual interface of family and machine will be at the innards. With that in mind, let's have a closer look at the interior of our long-termer 2019 Kia Sorento GT-Line. The Sorento GT-Line does get some nice additions for your spend: heated and ventilated front seats, with heated outboard seats in the second row.

Toyota Australia (TMCA) has no high-performance HiLux derivative to tackle Ford’s Ranger Raptor in the pipeline, though local management acknowledges the “formidable competition” it faces to stay atop the sales charts without one. The current flagship Toyota HiLux is called Rugged X, which features a bunch of 4x4 bits such as rock rails, a snorkel and bash plate, added in Australia once the cars arrive from the Thai plant. It’s $64,490 plus on-road costs. Review is here.

The Jaguar Vision Gran Turismo virtual hypercar is said to be powered by three electric motors generating a total of 750kW of power, and 1200Nm of torque. Jaguar says the car weighs around 1400 kilograms, and is capable, in theory at least, of completing the 0-100km/h dash in under two seconds.

The Lexus NX has been on the books for almost six years now, sharing its platform with the previous-generation Toyota RAV4. So, it's not much of a surprise that Lexus is keen to move a few more of these before the model presumably gets an update sometime next year. Enter stage left, the 2019 Lexus NX300 Crafted edition. This limited model comes with extra features, plus the benefit of drive-away pricing and a sharp finance offer, but is it worth spending money on?

This is the most revealing look yet at Genesis’s first crossover, the GV80, ahead of its anticipated debut at this year’s Los Angeles motor show. The Korean Car Blog reports Hyundai and Kia revealed the specs of the GV80’s engine range at the 2019 Hyundai-Kia International Powertrain Conference this week. The GV80 will use three different engines, according to the report.

The upcoming BMW M5 CS has been snapped totally undisguised, revealing its lightweight wheels and carbon lip spoiler. Designed to sit above the M5 Competition, which is no shrinking violet itself, the new CS will be lighter, more aggressive and potentially more powerful than its stablemates. There are a couple of big giveaways that this is a CS, not a Competition wearing some M Performance add-ons. First up, it's wearing a CS badge...

"I'll write this one." As the only science fiction nerd in the CarAdvice team, this writer didn't exactly have to wrestle for the rights to cover news that Porsche and LucasFilm have partnered up on designing a sleek Star Wars starship. “Even though they do not seem to share many elements at first glance, both worlds have a similar design philosophy," says Michael Mauer, Vice President, Style Porsche at Porsche AG.

"What's an Alpina?" It's rare a car flummoxes my friends and family, but the Alpina B5 had them all perplexed. "So it's a BMW wagon?" (close but not quite, try again champ). "Wait, is it related to Alpine?" (no, Mum). "Why are you so excited about a wagon?" (at this point I started searching for a new girlfriend).

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.

The 49,000 members of the United Auto Workers (UAW) employed by General Motors in the US have voted to go back to work, with just over 57 per cent in favour of the new four-year deal. The majority vote ends the longest automotive strike in the US in 50 years. Both sides will paint the end of the strike as a victory.

Photographers have snapped images of the upcoming BMW i4 electric vehicle with as thin a disguise as ever, ahead of a likely debut in late 2020 or early 2021. Here we can see the production headlight units and LED daytime-running light signature, which really is no surprise given the close family ties with the latest 3 Series and upcoming 4 Series range.

Volvo may have committed to an expansive roll-out of hybrid models, but its CEO has said the brand could switch solely to battery-electric models if demand is high enough. Just last year, the Chinese-owned Swedish brand announced its aim to have battery-electric vehicles account for 50 per cent of all global sales by 2025. Beyond that, CEO Hakan Sammuelson has told Auto Express it’s a matter of “when” not “if” Volvo chooses to axe internal-combustion engines.

The 2019 Alpine A110 launched in Australia to rave reviews, and those of us at CarAdvice who had driven it overseas or domestically at launch loved it from the get-go. Soul and spirit are elements that seemed to go missing from vehicle manufacturing for a little while, but let me tell you they're back. And the Alpine A110 is at the head of the queue.

More details have emerged regarding Range Rover’s upcoming electric vehicle. Autocar reports it’ll be a low-slung luxury crossover based on the same platform as the Jaguar XJ. It’s expected to launch in late 2021, a couple of years later than earlier reports indicated.

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 podcastMORE: All CarAdvice podcasts

A wrongful death suit alleges the driver of a Tesla Model S died because emergency responders were unable to open his Tesla’s flush door handles. Automotive News reports Omar Awan, a 48-year-old anaesthesiologist, died of smoke inhalation when a fire broke out in his 2016 Tesla Model S, after he lost control of the vehicle and crashed into a tree. The crash occurred in February of this year in Davie, Florida.

Yamaha is putting aside its dreams of becoming a carmaker, and will instead concentrate on motorcycles, outboard motors and carts. The company had been developing cars in association with Gordon Murray Design. The 2013 Motiv.e (below), 2015 Sports Ride (top) and 2017 Cross Hub concepts were all based on the Murray's iStream manufacturing process.

The Skoda Kamiq GT has been previewed in sketches ahead of its reveal on November 4, giving an early glimpse of the Czech brand's latest model for the Chinese market. If the aesthetic looks familiar, we don't blame you. The Kamiq GT looks almost exactly like the Vision GT concept that previewed it in June, with slight changes to the front bumper insert, wing mirrors, and wheels.

Join Paul Maric, Mike Costello, and Josh Dowling as they are live from the 2019 Tokyo motor show. They discuss their thoughts on the Mazda MX-30, Mazda's first all-electric car that hasn't yet been confirmed for Australia. The guys also discuss why the 2020 Honda Jazz will be great for the Japanese brand. Honda has suggested the all-new Jazz could have a local launch date of 2020.

Toyota Australia’s (TMCA) hybrid rollout continues at pace, with one-in-five vehicles it sells here next year expected to be petrol-electric. That’s equivalent to 40,000 cars. Moreover, the company’s local arm — which sells about double the number of cars as its closest competitors Mazda and Hyundai — says it continues to lobby government to formulate more stringent regulations on CO2 output across industry.

It's been a strong opening week for Drive Car of the Year 2020, powered by BP, with favourites and winners announced for the first five categories. Standout picks included the new Volkswagen Polo, Mazda 3, Toyota Camry, Skoda Superb and Kia Carnival. Easy bets, in some respects, and a clear sign of how deserving this year's winners are. Catch the full list of favourites and winners below, along with what the Drive.com.au team will announce next week.

Hyundai has confirmed it attempted two world land speed records at the Bonneville salt flats in the US state of Utah on September 25, 2019. In the hydrogen fuel-cell category, a lightly modified Hyundai Nexo hit a top speed of 170.85km/h (106.16mph).

Volkswagen is working on an even hotter version of its Touareg luxury SUV, with the company's marketing boss confirming it will feature a plug-in hybrid system. Speaking with media at the global reveal of the eighth-generation Golf hatchback, Jürgen Stackmann said the Touareg will be "the first R model to go plug-in hybrid" – as reported by the UK's Autocar. In that one statement, Stackmann confirmed both a Touareg R and the style of powertrain.

Ford has teased the side profile and some of the design elements for its upcoming Mustang-inspired electric crossover. The new crossover will be Ford's first dedicated pure electric vehicle, and will be simultaneously unveiled across the globe on November 17, US time. Little is known about the new Mustang-inspired crossover EV, except it will have a driving range of around 595 kilometres under the WLTP standard.

The Volkswagen Golf Mk 8 has been officially unveiled after months of spy photos and weeks of image leaks – revealing the most daring update in decades to one of Europe’s biggest selling cars. While the silhouette of the Volkswagen Golf retains its familiar looks, the 2020 model is roomier than before while still able to fit in the same size parking space as its predecessor.

The Hyundai HDC-6 Neptune fuel-cell truck has been teased ahead of its release at the North American Commercial Vehicle Show in Atlanta. Hyundai has positioned itself as a leader alongside Toyota in the hydrogen fuel-cell world. It currently offers the Nexo fuel-cell crossover overseas, and will be bringing 20 to Australian roads as part of a trial involving Canberra government staff.

Ah, 7-seaters, the go-to for drivers with families to haul – or perhaps just half of the kid's little league soccer team. Some are more practical than others, though, so how does the 2020 Kia Sorento GT-Line fare? Sam Purcell finds out. Watch for more on CarAdvice.com in the Interior Comfort instalment of Sam's Kia Sorento long-term review! MORE: Sorento news, reviews, comparisons and videos

“Better looks and a far nicer interior, but still the same angry V8 growl,” we wrote about the facelifted 2020 Mercedes-AMG GT range at its international launch back in April 2019. “What’s not to love?” Fast-forward six months, to the local Aussie launch, and it turns out a few ‘nots’ have surfaced. Such as the $50K pricier tip-in point. Or the price hikes across the range. Or, in fact, that not-actually-that-nicer cabin treatment…

Has one of Australia's electric car charging distributors just accidentally confirmed the Kia e-Niro is coming? Kia hasn't announced if, let alone when, its first pure-electric vehicle will be offered in Australia. But a post on LinkedIn claims the brand's twin to the Hyundai Kona Electric, the e-Niro, is coming to local showrooms.

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 podcastMORE: All CarAdvice podcasts

Honda Australia has issued a "Critical Recall" for 167 vehicles across previous-generation City, CR-V, Jazz and Insight models sold between 2005 and 2013 (depending on model line) as part of the ongoing Takata airbag campaign. "A group of vehicles have been fitted with a complete driver airbag assembly, which has been determined to contain an affected Takata airbag inflator," the Japanese brand says in its recall notice.

Toyota has recalled the 2019 Tarago over concerns about the boot door stay damper. According to the company, the plating process for the damper in the gas struts supporting the boot might have been conducted at the wrong temperature. If that's the case the gas in the damper may leak, and the strut might not correctly support the boot. A total of 86 vehicles are included in the campaign – a VIN list is contained within the recall notice here.

Lexus Australia has issued a safety recall for five units from the 2019 model-year CT200h line, over concerns the struts that keep the back door open could leak and fail. "The subject vehicles are equipped with gas charged back door damper stays which are used to help lift and support the back door while it is in the open position," Lexus says in its recall notice.

Japanese carmaker Nissan has unveiled virtual reality (VR) passengers to keep drivers company in autonomous cars during long journeys. In one of the most bizarre media presentations during the 2019 Tokyo motor show, Nissan demonstrated how passengers could appear in thin air, giving lonely drivers someone to talk to whether they are struck in traffic or on a weekend drive.

We've reviewed the Kia Sorento in detail a number of times, but there's one thing in particular we're often asked for all cars we cover: What features and equipment are on offer? Here, Sam Purcell explores the 2020 Kia Sorento GT-Line. Watch for more on CarAdvice.com in the Infotainment instalment of Sam's Kia Sorento long-term review! MORE: Sorento news, reviews, comparisons and videos

BMW has suffered another leak from the factory floor, and this time it's the as-yet unreleased 2020 4 Series – and it has the same giant grille as the Concept 4. Published on Bimmerpost and shared on Reddit, the images seem confirm what the Concept 4 and our most recent spy photos have suggested: a longer, more prominent grille will dominate the front end.

Industry followers know the endless talk of autonomous vans and electric ride-share services taking over congested cities in place of conventional cars. Clearly self-proclaimed 'mobility provider' Toyota does as well, since one of the gems at its Tokyo motor show stand — called a ‘theme park’, bereft of any production cars and instead filled with ride-sharing pods, robots, and virtual reality tech — was a topless single-seater called the e-Racer (above).