CAR ADVICE

Renault Australia has announced drive away pricing across its Kadjar SUV range for July. Kadjar Life trim starts from $28,990 drive away, with Zen and Intens grades priced at $31,990 and $36,990 drive away respectively. These represent a further $2500 discount on June drive away pricing for the Kadjar. The 2020 Renault Kadjar line-up uses a 1.3-litre turbocharged engine, sending 117kW and 260Nm through a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission to the front wheels.

The majority of Holden dealers have finally signed compensation packages – worth a combined value of close to $150 million – with US car giant General Motors. It follows a protracted legal battle that spilled onto the political field and caught the attention of Australia’s peak consumer and business watchdog. In the end, General Motors did not increase its initial offer by $1. Dealers who are yet to sign say they have not given up the fight with Detroit.

The Volkswagen Tiguan family SUV has received a mid-life update four years after this generation went on sale in Australia – and promises another step towards autonomous driving tech, and the option of a high performance model for the first time.

It’s hard not to feel BMW drew the short straw when it entered into a joint-development project with Toyota for their dizygotic twins – the BMW Z4 and the Toyota Supra. While the Supra has already established itself as a bona-fide sports car, hell, even a potential future classic, the Z4 enters the game as, well, just another sporty-looking convertible.

Oh Fortuner. If there was ever a car that seemed to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory in the Australian new car market, it is Toyota’s HiLux-based 4WD wagon, the Fortuner.

Australian pricing for two new soccer-celebrating MG models has been announced, with the new 2020 MG HS Essence Anfield and 2020 MG ZS Essence Anfield SUVs launching this week. Both Anfield models – named for Liverpool's home stadium – have been announced to commemorate the Liverpool Football Club's drought-breaking win in last week's English Premier League championship.

Volkswagen Australia has announced pricing and specification for its 2021 Touareg SUV line-up ahead of a local showroom debut in October. The 190TDI V6 has been dropped from the Touareg line-up, with a new Euro 6 compliant 3.0-litre V6 diesel powering 170TDI, 210TDI Elegance and 210TDI R-Line variants. A Bentley-sourced 4.0-litre diesel V8 motivates the range-topping Touareg V8 TDI R-Line.

It’s hard to imagine today, but the Porsche 911 wasn’t always called the ‘911’. Having unveiled the successor to its popular 356 at the 1963 Frankfurt motor show it was billed as the Porsche 901, its internal project number. Production of the 901 started in the autumn of 1964 but a trademark dispute with Peugeot, which claimed it owned the rights for three-digit car numbers with a ‘0’ in the middle, went in favour of the French brand.

Ineos Automotive – the newly-formed car making subsidiary of chemical-producing giant Ineos – has unveiled its Grenadier off-roader and confirmed technical details and Australian timing. The Ineos Grenadier will come in both long and short wheelbase options, with wagon and utility body styles. A double-cab ute body will also be built, with all variants to be made available for the Australian market. Wagon-bodied Grenadiers will go on sale first, with ute bodies to follow.

Like their sales figures, it is honestly very hard to separate these utes. Each time one pulls ahead, the other counters in a different way. More tech, Ford. Better ergonomics, Toyota. Rear passenger comfort, Ford. Longer load area, Toyota. Cheaper to buy, HiLux. Cheaper to run, Ranger. You can play tit-for-tat in every possible way, but in our mind it comes down to one key outcome. So, tune in and see which we reckon is king of the hill.

An extremely rare Ford GT Roadster could fetch as much as $USD10 million ($AUD14.5 million) when it goes up for auction in the US next month. This 1965 Ford GT Competition Prototype Roadster was one of 12 pre-production GT40s made, of which five were Roadsters, and only three Roadsters are known to have survived. This car – chassis GT/109 – is the only Ford GT Roadster to have raced at Le Mans.

What a difference four months makes. CarAdvice got to experience the new, revised Bentayga in South Africa back in early February, when COVID had barely impinged on the international consciousness, and when we’d be able to drop the story to coincide with the car’s official unveiling in April.

British luxury marque Bentley has revealed its updated Bentayga SUV, with new styling, cabin tech and an updated plug-in hybrid engine option in the works. The updated four-, five- and seven-seater Bentayga will be powered by a familiar 4.0-litre twin-turbocharged V8 producing 404kW/770Nm at launch, but will be joined by plug-in hybrid and 6.0-litre W12 engine ‘Speed’ variants later on. Outputs and driving range for the upgraded plug-in hybrid have not been revealed.

Peugeot Citroen Australia (PCA) has increased the prices of the entire 308 range in Australia. The Allure petrol hatch will start from $30,490 plus on-road costs, newly introduced Allure petrol Sportswagon from $32,490 plus on-roast costs, and GT Line petrol hatch from $34,990 plus on-road costs. These new prices reflect an average increase of 6 per cent across the range since the launch of the 2020 model-year Peugeot 308 range in April.

UPDATE: Making what it can from lockdown conditions, Hyundai has had its design chief SangYup Lee present a walkaround tour of the Vision T concept that will inform the look of the new 2021 Hyundai Tucson. The new Tucson has been spied testing in recent months, and you can learn more here. November 21, 2019: If you think this dramatic concept vehicle looks like something from the future, you’d be right.

The updated 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan has been spied without camouflage this week, in what is sure to be final testing. Volkswagen released a stylised teaser sketch for the German SUV's new look in April, but did not confirm an official unveiling date at the time – likely a result of the unfolding COVID-19 lockdown conditions. At this stage, we could see the 2021 Tiguan join the growing circus of online unveilings, ahead of an Australian debut expected for the second quarter of 2021.

A new base-model Porsche Taycan has debuted in China, devoid of additional badges like its 4S, Turbo, and Turbo S siblings. This new Porsche Taycan model only has a single electric motor powering the rear wheels, unlike the all-wheel-drive models currently available to buy in Australia. While the most affordable Taycan currently available in Australia is the 4S, which starts at $191,000 plus on-road costs, the new base model has been priced from 888,000 yuan – or roughly AU$182,747.

Tesla could 'break-even' in its second-quarter results for 2020 despite the effects of the global coronavirus pandemic, according to a leaked email in which CEO Elon Musk appears to be rallying employees of the electric car manufacturer. Featuring the subject line "down to the last few days", Musk's email, which was obtained by CNBC, reportedly encouraged staff to "go all out" with vehicle production and deliveries in the last few days of the April-June quarter.

UPDATE: Nissan has confirmed a July 15 unveiling for its new 2021 Ariya electric SUV, following the now iconic Leaf as Nissan's second all-electric offering. A single shadowy teaser image has been released in the lead-up to the big event, but, as the below design patent images show, the new model should remain fairly loyal to the concept revealed in October last year.

Australian pricing for the 2020 Audi RS6 Avant and 2020 Audi RS7 Sportback has been revealed today, following their global unveiling late last year. Due in showrooms from July 24, the new German super twins are priced from $216,000 for the RS6 wagon and $224,000 for the RS7 liftback sedan. Both prices exclude on-road costs.

BMW Australia has announced the 2021 BMW 220i Gran Coupé will be added to the 2 Series model line-up, arriving Down Under sometime in late 2020. The BMW 220i Gran Coupé will be priced from $53,990 plus on-road costs, slotting in between the BMW 218i Gran Coupé at $49,990 plus on-road costs and the 220i Coupé at $56,900 plus on-road costs. BMW increased pricing on 2 Series models in June 2020.

From the UK comes news that Land Rover is to revive its Hard Top moniker – a name that traces its roots back to the 1950s – for use on commercial vehicle variants of the new Defender 90 and Defender 110 4x4 range. While the revived Defender has copped some criticism from purists for leaving rough and rugged origins behind, in favour of a much more modern construction and platform, the Hard Top range is set to keep things relatively simple.

The organisers of the Geneva International Motor Show have announced the event will not go ahead in 2021 and placed the entire show up for sale, citing the 'financial consequences' of the coronavirus pandemic as the reason for the decision.

The electric luxury performance arm of Volvo, Polestar, has launched an international car design competition. The brief, titled 'Pure', states that designers are to envision a car that would be representative of the Polestar brand in the year 2040, pushing the boundaries of imagination without being unrealistic. Polestar, which was originally born from a race car team, is considered by many to be an alternative to Tesla. It is jointly owned by Volvo and its parent company Geely.

A video has emerged showing a group of Tesla Model X SUVs flapping their doors in what could almost be considered a performance. Posted on Instagram by user @khalidfaisal, the owners are utilising a (not-so) secret feature known as the Holiday Light Show. A post shared by Khalid Faisal (@khalidfaisal) on Jan 31, 2020 at 5:06am PST

Tiny cars with big engines have long been a recipe for fun. Mini gets it. The original Austin Mini Cooper and Morris Mini Cooper twins of the 1960s laid the foundations for the ‘tight handling, tiny car, generous engine’ format. Today's Mini owes almost nothing to the original, except for a few hints of visual pastiche, but that’s okay given that almost 60 years spans the arrival of the first Cooper-badged specials and this current Cooper S.

Audi has revealed details of its updated Q5, with the medium SUV set to gain new styling and technology for 2021. The 2021 Audi Q5 gets a new single frame grille design that has been separated from the bonnet. A new headlight design has a redesigned daytime running light. Elements of the front bumper and air intakes have been inspired by the brand’s hotter RS models, with a new line on the side of the body and rear diffuser adding a sportier look.

Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) is developing an SUV based on a hydrogen fuel cell platform, according to an announcement from the UK government. The hydrogen SUV program, known as Project ZEUS, is part of a £73.5 million (AU$132.2M) UK government initiative to develop low emission vehicles. Project ZEUS stands for 'zero and low-emissions vehicles in urban society'.

Spy photos have revealed the 2021 Hyundai Tucson may be offered with a large infotainment screen. A photo released on The Korean Car Blog website shows Hyundai could be moving towards a Tesla-like interior command screen. The large floating tablet screen will likely be offered in top-end versions of the Hyundai Tucson range, expected in 2021. Spy photos have previously shown the new Tucson will offer a traditional button console on more affordable grades.

A hotted-up 'R' version of Volkswagen’s upcoming all-electric ID.3 hatch could arrive as soon as 2024, according to a new international report. British magazine Autocar (which created the artist impression above) reports senior management at Volkswagen are close to signing off on the ID.3 R project, which would see extra electric grunt added to the standard ID.3 hatch.

Hyundai is putting the finishing touches on the updated i30N, testing in the German summer at the Nurburgring race circuit ahead of a likely showroom arrival in Australia early next year. As has been reported, the update to Hyundai’s first ever hot hatch will coincide with the arrival of the current model’s midlife facelift.

BMW tuning company Alpina has announced pricing and specification for its new XB7 seven-seater SUV ahead of its Australian arrival in early 2021. The XB7 – based on a BMW X7 M50i xDrive – receives Alpina’s signature touches including increased engine power, improved driving dynamics and styling changes inside and out.

Car dealers are running low on new vehicles to sell after being caught short due to an unexpected increase in demand in June – compounded by factory shutdowns during the coronavirus crisis – however industry insiders say the market is still a long way from a full recovery. Preliminary figures for new-car sales in June have industry insiders predicting it will be the second month in a row of growth after the market posted a 30-year low in April and a 23-year low in May.

Hyundai is holding back on rolling out a permanent seven-year warranty across its range to match sister brand Kia – even though it was the pioneer of longer vehicle warranties, establishing five-year coverage more than 20 years ago. Hyundai introduced a seven-year warranty on most models in its range from October through to the end of December in 2019, and has applied the extra coverage intermittently to a smaller number of models in the first half of 2020.

The car industry has renewed calls for states and territories to standardise motor vehicle stamp duties across Australia – as figures show the cost varies from $360 to $1500 on an identical $35,000 family car. Stamp duty is a state tax and one of the many charges that is bundled within on-road costs for both new and used cars. On cars that cost $100,000, the stamp duty can vary from $3400 in one jurisdiction to $7900 in another.

After a hugely long and mostly successful production run, the Toyota HiAce has had a thorough reinvention. It’s a new look over the top of a new chassis, with a ‘semi-bonneted’ mechanical layout that offers more space, safety and comfort compared to the old forward-control HiAce. If you want a pure workhorse that’s destined to never leave the bitumen, there’s a chance that this HiAce might be a much better choice than the omnipresent 4x4 ute. Controversial, I know, but bear with me.

Even the most avid drivers have probably spent a fair amount of time off the roads these past few months, with mandatory lockdowns leaving us all with nowhere to go except the local supermarket. While our project cars might have gotten plenty of love, our actual day-to-day cars may have been left idle – tucked away in the garage, driveway or side street waiting for their moment in the sun.

A classic Holden Monaro has sold at auction over the weekend for $715,000 – short of the expected $1 million – but the car is deemed so valuable it could be banned from being exported because it is classified as a national treasure. The 1969 Holden Monaro GTS350 V8 was the company’s first factory-funded race car – and only the second Holden to win Bathurst.

State transport authorities are starting to clamp down on personalised number plates that could be interpreted as being offensive or promoting speed. A Facebook user this week claimed he was knocked back by Queensland Transport attempting to buy number plates that suggested his car was "quick". "I just had a phone call from PPQ regarding new number plates I ordered online the other day," the anonymous Facebook user wrote.

Normally we cover vehicles with four tyres and a steering wheel here at CarAdvice, but when iconic British car maker Aston Martin begins testing of the AMB 001 – its first ever motorcycle – you tend to make an exception. Co-developed with motorcycle specialist Brough Superior, the AMB 001 will be produced in a limited-run of just 100 examples. Priced from €108,000 (AU$176,000) before taxes, customer deliveries are expected towards the end of 2020.

The boss of Nissan Australia is confident the new-car market will recover quicker than expected in the wake of the coronavirus crisis – once production ramps back up to normal levels. “The issue of where 2020 ends up is a really good question,” Nissan Australia boss Stephen Lester told CarAdvice. “We’ve all spent a lot of time looking for whoever it is with the crystal ball that can tell us exactly that.

Supercars need to adhere to an unofficial set of rules: without neck-snapping looks they’re nothing; a brilliant engine is essential; and (yes, really) there should be a degree of impracticality built in to ward off those with only a casual dedication. They should also cost a bomb, but is the last one really essential? The 2020 Porsche 718 Spyder hits all the supercar high notes, but does so with a slightly more grounded price tag.

In a case of late to the party, Subaru has finally entered the electrified era, releasing its first hybrid vehicles in Australia this year, including the 2020 Subaru XV Hybrid. It couldn’t have come at a better time for the Japanese carmaker, with hybrid motivation increasingly popular among consumers – witness the ongoing shortage of RAV4 Hybrid stock. So, how has Subaru approached this new era of electrification? Let’s find out.

It’s easy to overlook a base-model car as most brands promote the sexier, sportier, higher-grade models. You don’t always need to move up the range to get the best version, though. Case in point: the 2020 Honda Civic VTi hatch. The Honda Civic range has been updated in two parts: the sedan first with updates arriving in early 2019, and the hatch (which was also launched later) following almost one year later.

Italian supercar maker Lamborghini has teased its new track-only SCV12 hypercar before a reveal expected in the coming weeks. The SCV12 will feature Lamborghini’s most powerful naturally-aspirated V12 ever. The engine produces 619kW at high speeds thanks to “aerodynamic supercharging” which sees a specially-designed, roof-mounted intake scoop create a ram-air effect, forcing air into the engine at an increased pressure.

No one could ever accuse the Lancia Thema of being a good-looking car. The archetypical box on wheels, Lancia’s mid-size executive saloon rarely challenged the likes of BMW and Mercedes for the hearts and wallets of mid-level managers everywhere. But… One variant of the Lancia Thema stirred the soul, continues to stir the soul even today, some 34 years after it first made its debut.

Kia has revealed details of its new clutch-by-wire technology that allows use of a conventional manual transmission with mild-hybrid and start-stop systems. Modifying the traditional hydraulic system used to actuate clutches in manual cars – which is connected directly to the vehicle’s clutch pedal – Kia’s ‘intelligent manual transmission’ (iMT) places a module between the pedal and the hydraulics.

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 photos, articles, videos or 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?

UPDATE: BMW M has released a tasty teaser development video for its upcoming new M3. We've embedded it at the end of this story. The new-generation 2021 BMW M3 has been spied testing numerous times, and this week it has been spied again with a number of enhancements. Although it wears as much camouflage as we've seen previously, a few visible extras make it clear – or as clear as can be at this stage – that this car is likely equipped with some M Performance goodies.

In Ferrari’s carefully stratified universe, there are different classes of both cars and buyers. At the top of the heap are the so-called ‘special’ cars – the limited editions that only the brand’s very best friends are allowed to own. And the only way you can prove you are such a loyal mate is through buying a substantial number of the company’s lesser models.

A short video has been released by Mazda teasing the reveal date of what could be a turbocharged Mazda3. The unlisted video was shared in a handful of tweets by the car manufacturer, replying to rumours of the new turbo model and adding: "Power comes to those who wait". Sounds of an engine being revved can be heard on the video, while graphics indicate the reveal date will be 8 July 2020. In another tweet, Mazda wrote: "Keep calm and stay tuned. Plenty of time to rush where we're going."

The fully-electric 2021 Lordstown Endurance dual-cab ute made its official debut overnight, featuring an individual electric motor on each of its four wheels. Lordstown claims the Endurance has the fewest moving parts of any production vehicle, all but eliminating mechanical fatigue and significantly reducing maintenance costs.

The 2021 Ford F-150 will be able to be driven hands-free in certain conditions while a hidden camera makes sure the driver is paying attention, as one of the world’s biggest selling vehicles takes a step towards autonomous driving. It will also make a step towards zero emissions driving, with a hybrid version of this model arriving about two years ahead of a full electric model, the company said.

The 2021 Ram 1500 TRX has been teased in a video released in the US overnight – and the V8-powered rival to the Ford F-150 Raptor could be sold in Australia. Overseas reports claim it will be powered by a supercharged V8, however this is yet to be confirmed. The boss of Ram Trucks Australia, Neville Crichton, says he is exploring the possibility of adding the 2021 Ram 1500 TRX to the local line-up.

The Hyundai Palisade SUV – a rival to the Toyota Kluger, Mazda CX-9 and Nissan Pathfinder in the US – has been confirmed for Australia and will arrive in local showrooms by the end of this year. Prices and exact details are yet to be released, however the Hyundai Palisade SUV is expected to cost between $50,000 and $70,000 and sit above the Hyundai Santa Fe in the line-up.

Hyundai plans to introduce 11 new or updated models in the next 11 months – its biggest product blitz since the brand was established in Australia in 1986. The massive new-model roll-out is designed to reverse a four-and-a-half year sales slide, the biggest slump for the brand since the Global Financial Crisis a decade ago. The cavalcade of cars will start with one of the most advanced vehicles on the road, although it will be sold in relatively small numbers.

Development of the Lexus LC F sportscar has reportedly been suspended, according to Japanese website Car Sensor. The flagship Lexus coupe was expected to be launched in late 2020 with a twin-turbo V8, with some rumours suggesting the car would be all-wheel-drive. On June 22 Toyota announced it would be gradually slowing its Japanese assembly lines, blaming COVID-19 for shrinking sales and dwindling factory output.

Hyundai Australia has not given up on its bid to introduce the upcoming Santa Cruz pick-up (depicted in an artist impression by Kolesa.ru, above) – and has confirmed a separate heavy-duty double-cab ute rival to the Toyota HiLux remains on track despite the coronavirus crisis. While Hyundai remains tight lipped about its first foray into the booming ute market, it has confirmed the US Santa Cruz is still on its wish list.

Hyundai's luxury brand Genesis is about to start rolling out a range of new or updated sedans and SUVs to fill out its expanding dealer network across Australia. To date there is only one Genesis showroom, which opened in the heart of the Sydney CBD shopping precinct in early 2019.

The Hyundai i20N hot hatch has been confirmed for Australia, due in local showrooms next year, however pricing and technical details are yet to be announced. Hyundai of Europe has been teasing the arrival of the i20N hot hatch and disguised examples have been caught on camera testing on the Nurburgring. However, mystery still surrounds what will power the Hyundai i20N hot hatch.

Mercedes Benz is continuing its alphabetical SUV onslaught with another new model joining the local ranks. We’ve seen GLA and GLC – so now let's welcome the 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLB250 4Matic. Three models are on offer from launch, GLB 200, our car the 250 4 Matic, and the sportier GLB35 AMG. The GLB name would have you think this slots neatly between GLA and GLC – but it’s not that simple. Find out why...

Although it’s old and due for replacement, the Toyota Kluger has proved to remain immensely popular with Australian SUV buyers. It’s part of the Japanese manufacturer’s SUV best-seller trifecta, including the LandCruiser Prado and RAV4. Now it’s in runout mode, Toyota has put the Kluger range on sharp drive-away pricing. And we’ve got the most cost-effective ticket right here: the 2020 Toyota Kluger GX.

The Mercedes-Benz SUV alphabet continues to roll on with GLA, GLC, GLE and GLS now being joined locally by the 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLB. It forms part of the new compact range and shares its underpinnings with the A, B, CLA and soon-to-be-updated GLA-Class models. While the boxy GLB looks like an evolution of the early GLK sold overseas, it sets about blending the functionality of an MPV with the format of an SUV, and is naturally offered as an AMG alongside regular versions. Clear? Well okay!

The refreshed 2021 Genesis G70 has been revealed ahead of time this week, thanks to a pair of leaked photos. Surfacing on The Korean Car this week, these images offer our best look yet at the G70's complete front and rear makeover. Where the premium sedan previously wore a handsome if somewhat anonymous look, its midlife refresh brings the car in line with the new-generation G80 sedan with its unique 'double-line Quadlamp' lighting and 'Crest Grille'.

An ultra-rare Lamborghini Diablo GTR race car is expected to fetch in excess of $1 million when it goes under the hammer in an Australian online auction this weekend. One of just 30 examples ever made, the Diablo GTR was designed for competition, replacing the Diablo SV-R raced in the Diablo Super Trofeo series. The GTR, based on the roadgoing Diablo GT, was unveiled to the public at the 1999 Bologna motor show before making its racing debut in 2000.

Electric vehicle maker Tesla has placed last in a US-based study that surveys problems reported by buyers of new-cars within the first 90 days of ownership. Conducted by J.D Power, the Initial Quality Study (IQS) uses a metric of ‘problems per 100 vehicles’ (PP100), ranking overall brand quality with a numeric score – the lower, the better.

British sports car maker Lotus has announced a limited-edition version of its Exige to celebrate the model’s 20th anniversary. Built on the foundation of the Exige Sport 410 coupe – which cops a mid-mounted, 302kW/420Nm 3.5-litre supercharged V6 engine and six-speed manual transmission – the 20th Anniversary edition will be limited to just 150 examples globally. Click here for a full rundown of the Lotus Exige’s pricing and specs.

The audit court in Italy has formally approved a crisis loan to Fiat-Chrysler Automobiles (FCA), the largest ever to a European automaker according to a report by news agency Reuters. The record €6.3 billion loan received criticism from locals after FCA moved its headquarters to the Netherlands ahead of a merger with Peugeot-Citroen-Opel (PSA), but Italian authorities have offered assurances that the money will remain in the country.

The 2022 Ford Ranger Raptor is expected to adopt twin turbo V6 petrol power – and arrive hot on the heels of the regular Ranger line-up. While this is an artist impression of the 2022 Ford Ranger Raptor – and the real deal could look substantially different – the good news is we won't need to wait too long to see the production version. Today’s Ford Ranger Raptor performance pick-up arrived in 2018, seven years after the regular versions of this generation Ranger went on sale.

The next generation Ford Ranger will get a bold new look and a major power boost – including the option of a V6 turbo diesel from its big brother F-150 – and a long list of advanced technology when it goes on sale late next year or early 2022. Our artist impressions of the base model Ford Ranger XL and volume-selling Ford Ranger XLT – based on leaked images of early design studies – show the next generation will adopt hints of the Ford F-150 design.

The new Volkswagen Amarok is expected to have a choice of at least two engines – a twin turbo 2.0-litre four-cylinder diesel and a single turbo 3.0-litre V6 diesel – backed by 10-speed automatic transmissions, when it goes on sale in 2022. While exact timing of the new model is yet to be confirmed, CarAdvice understands the next generation Volkswagen Amarok will arrive approximately six to 12 months after the Ford Ranger on which it is based (artist impression pictured below).

The modern Volkswagen Kombi – the California Beach camper – has sold out in one day despite an $82,990 price, as Australians prepare to holiday at home in the wake of the coronavirus crisis. And the eager buyers won’t take delivery of their new camper van until later this year due to production delays caused by COVID-19 lockdowns.

What if Mazda followed its rivals into four-wheel-drive SUV territory and added a wagon variant to the BT-50 line-up? We give you the 2021 Mazda CX-50, our speculative concept of how such a model might look. Alright, let's talk about the name. Given its size, we initially felt something like CX-90 or even CX-100 would make good sense, sitting it either alongside or above the CX-9 on sheer dimensions alone.

We’ll say it now to curtail any suspense: you’re looking at the best driver’s car BMW produces right now. High praise, we’ll admit. But after a day spent lapping the new 2020 BMW M2 CS around a circuit in Germany, we can’t think of any other current BMW model, either standard or from its M performance car division, that delivers quite the same combination of performance, balance and sheer attitude as this.

Australian buyers can reserve Tesla's upcoming Roadster for the eye-watering sum of $66,000 – and that's just to secure a place in the queue. The special-edition launch models command a whopping $326,000 plus on-road costs – despite local pricing, specifications and delivery timing remaining unknown.

Volkswagen has unveiled the 2021 Arteon line-up, showing off a sleek new wagon body style, and R and plug-in hybrid options. The 2021 Arteon gets revised styling front and rear, with the new option of an illuminated grille. A 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster, Volkswagen’s new MIB3 infotainment system and an 8.0-inch touchscreen all feature amid a redesigned dash and centre console.

Local authorities and legal experts are warning Australian motorists about the use of an Apple iPhone app that secretly records conversations with police and other individuals without their knowledge. 'Hey Siri, I'm being pulled over' is all you need to say for your iPhone to jump into action once the app is installed. When that happens, your iPhone will pause music, turn down the brightness and volume of the phone, and begin recording video and audio using the front camera.

Australians might like to think green and care about the environment, but when it comes to cars we are happy to buy big and thirsty SUVs and utes. The latest vehicle emissions figures, compiled annually by the National Transport Commission, showed there was only a 0.2 per cent reduction in pollution in 2019 versus 2018 – the smallest improvement since reporting began in 2002. The minor change comes despite an increase in sales of electric cars.

Two new electric vehicles from Toyota have surfaced overnight after patent sketches were filed in China. Based on the e-TNGA platform, the sketches from Toyota show what appears to be a large SUV – possibly a seven seat model – and a smaller SUV with a sloped back. The fronts of both vehicles share similar design language to Lexus models.

A new film about Enzo Ferrari – the founder of the famous Italian sportscar company and Formula One racing team – could have Hugh Jackman in the starring role, according to a report by Variety. The biopic, to be directed by Michael Mann, is based on the Brock Yates novel Enzo Ferrari: The Man, the Cars, the Races, the Machine, and was originally adapted for the screen by The Italian Job screenwriter Troy Kennedy Martin.

The Isuzu MU-X is due to be replaced next year but one of the most common questions we have regarding the current model, is how does it perform when towing? Trent hooks up a weighty trailer to find out!

The first official images of the new 2021 Kia Carnival have been released today. Australian timing is still to be announced, but with a Korean-market launch due in the third quarter of 2020, a local debut could occur towards the end of the year or early in 2021. Kia has dubbed the new Carnival a 'Grand Utility Vehicle' (this writer may now refer to it as 'the guv'), likely as a nod to its more premium styling and commanding shape.

Making the decision to buy a classic car, even a relatively modern one, is not without risk. Has the seller been honest? Has a pre-purchase inspection missed a major component? It’s easy to look and knock and touch and feel what is clear and presented, but you can’t peer into the gearbox or take the head off to really understand what lies beneath. Well, not on my budget you can’t.

The Ford F-150 Raptor and the Jeep Wrangler have had their off-road credentials put to the test during a recent incident in the United States, where the two cars were used to attempt to save a sinking boat. The failed rescue occurred in Cedar Lake, Indiana, after a family's wake boat, worth a reported US$300,000, began sinking for reasons unknown.

The latest version of Apple's iOS operating system will offer electric vehicle owners the ability to plan their route based on charger locations. Apple says the new feature aims to eliminate range anxiety, ensuring the car can make it to the next electric vehicle charging station, and take into account road elevation, weather, and other elements that sap power.

Regular versions of the 2021 Volkswagen Mk8 Golf will eschew dual-clutch gearboxes in favour of conventional automatic transmissions. The switch only applies to regular versions of the 2021 Volkswagen Mk8 Golf powered by a 1.4-litre 110kW petrol engine with an automatic, the same combination found in the Skoda Karoq. The 2021 Volkswagen Mk8 Golf R, GTI, and Alltrack models will still use dual-clutch automatic transmissions (known as DSG in Volkswagen parlance).

The Chinese government is considering a temporary relaxation of its electric vehicle manufacturing targets to help the car industry there recover following the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a new report. All manufacturers that produce cars in China must adhere to strict new energy vehicle (NEV) targets that involve building electric, plug-in hybrid, and hydrogen fuel cell cars.

Italian car roof tent specialist Autohome has developed a two-person tent for Land Rover’s new Defender 110 off-roader. The officially-endorsed tent will be sold by both Land Rover and Autohome. Autohome prices the tent at €3760 ($AUD6120), which is enough for a fortnight in a five-star hotel. Stowed, the tent measures 33cm tall, growing to 150cm when opened with the help of two gas struts. Its footprint is 130cm by 230cm, which Autohome says is adequate for two adults.

New spy photos have emerged of the face-lifted 2021 Skoda Kodiaq SUV in both regular and sporty RS trim ahead of an expected unveiling later this year. No significant changes appear to have been made to the regular Kodiaq, however our photographers claim to have found a note stating the 2.0-litre turbocharged diesel engine will be upgraded to from 141kW to 147kW.

Editor's note on photography: It was a very wet week when we had the 2020 Nissan Qashqai on test. Such is the nature of road testing. The Nissan Qashqai compact SUV has come in for another update – the second significant running change since 2017, after this generation went on sale in 2014. It’s designed to breathe new life into the Nissan Qashqai until the next model arrives in a couple of years.

The 2021 Toyota Yaris will be the cheapest car on sale in Australia with a centre airbag between the two front seats – and the option of hybrid power – as advanced safety trickles down to one of the most affordable models on the market. At the moment, the only new car on sale in Australia with a centre airbag is the $200,000 Audi A8 limousine, although others will soon follow.

The 2020 / 2021 Mazda BT-50 has arrived and is now sharing mechanical hardware with the new 2020 Isuzu D-Max. This includes a 3-litre 4JJ1 turbo-diesel engine with 140kW (188HP) and 450Nm. If you think the BT-50 looks like some of the other Mazda range, it should as the same designer who penned the CX-9 and Mazda 2 is responsible for the look of the new ute.

Audi Australia has announced pricing and specification for its R8 supercar, due back in local showrooms in July 2020. The face-lifted R8 returns following an absence from the Australian market. CarAdvice understands this to be due to delays in completing emissions and homologation processes in Europe, with Audi giving priority to its higher-selling vehicles. The 2020 Audi R8 is available in four trims with coupe or convertible body style and rear- or all-wheel drive options.

The first Holden factory-backed racing car ever created, a 1969 Holden HT Monaro built by motorsport legend Harry Firth, is expected to sell at auction later this week for more than $1 million. Offered by Lloyd's Auctions, the iconic #57D Monaro racing car is credited as being the car that launched the Holden Dealer Team.

Prices and specifications for the 2021 Jaguar I-Pace range have been unveiled, with the new model year promising updates to the electric SUV's infotainment system, charging capabilities, driver technology and design options. Still available in three equipment grades – the S, SE and HSE – the updates have heralded price hikes across the I-Pace range and each variant has risen by between $4760 and $6060 plus on-road costs.

Apple iPhone users will soon be able to lock, unlock and start their car using the smartphone’s near-field sensor technology and a new app called Digital Key. The tech giant announced overnight that its latest devices with the near-field sensor technology will be able to lock and unlock certain BMW cars by ‘tapping’ or positioning their phone near the front door handles. Once inside the car, the same technology will start the car at the press of a button.

The 2021 Toyota HiLux will have sweeping changes that are more than skin deep when it arrives in Australian showrooms in August. A confidential dealer bulletin has outlined in detail all the changes coming to the biggest update to the Toyota HiLux since this generation went on sale in 2015.

Earlier this month patent filings of a new MG sports car emerged online, showing the fully-electric coupe known as the E-Motion taking shape. CarAdvice can give our readers an exclusive look at renders based on those patent drawings, the result of which is a sleek and attractive MG sports car. Best known for producing British sports cars since 1924 – but under Chinese ownership since 2005 – the reborn MG brand has been offering small cars and SUVs in Australia since 2016.

Porsche Australia has issued a recall of 244 examples of its 2019-2020 Cayenne SUV due to a potential fire risk. The recall includes model-year 2019-2020 Cayenne Turbo (9YA) and 2020 Cayenne Turbo e-Hybrid (9YA), Cayenne Turbo Coupe and Cayenne Turbo S E-Hybrid Coupe models (9YB). Affected vehicles were sold between 29 November 2017 and 5 December 2019.

German carmaker BMW and its sister brand Mini have invested $USD12.5 million into a US company that produces synthetic petrol and diesel made via carbon capturing. The venture capital arm of BMW and Mini, called BMW i Ventures, invested in a start-up called Prometheus Fuels, which claims it will be selling carbon-neutral fuel by the end of this year. While the technology to convert carbon emissions back into fuel was already available, the costs to do so were prohibitively expensive.

Applying constant tweaks and updates seems to be the current trend for ute manufacturers in Australia, with a seemingly endless stream of new models and technologies finding their way into this ever-popular segment. Along with the more expensive GSR, the value-focussed Mitsubishi Triton can now be had in a new mid-range GLX-R flavour.

The seven-seat version of Tesla's new compact SUV, the Model Y, will commence delivery in the United States later this year, the company's CEO Elon Musk has confirmed on Twitter. The Tesla Model Y, which is not yet available in Australia, made its global debut in March 2019 – with US deliveries of the five-seat models starting six months ahead of schedule in March 2020.

Ford has announced its electric Mustang Mach-E SUV will get ‘intelligent range’ technology – a feature the brand says will improve the accuracy of distance-to-empty calculations. The technology is designed to tackle range anxiety “about when and where customers can recharge” by being able to "accurately estimate how much range the all-electric SUV has (remaining)”.

A McLaren Senna LM has emerged in New Zealand – the birthplace of company founder Bruce McLaren – despite never having been officially released by the British supercar manufacturer. Revealed on the YouTube channel of Giltrap Group, one of the New Zealand's most prominent luxury vehicle importers, the ultra rare McLaren Senna LM is shown in the greatest detail seen so far. The rarity and legitimacy of the car is not known. McLaren has not released any official information on the Senna LM.

Kangaroos are involved in eight out of 10 car crashes with animals, new figures show. And the data has prompted experts to renew their warnings as Australians prepare to holiday at home: don’t swerve to avoid an animal. “You've got a fraction of a second to make a decision, and by that stage it's probably too late any way,” says Russell White, from the Australian Road Safety Foundation.

Rival German car makers Mercedes-Benz and BMW have paused their partnership to jointly-develop autonomous driving technology. The alliance – announced in 2019 – plotted to develop ‘next-generation’ autonomous driving (up to 'fully-autonomous' Level 4), with the first cars fitted with the technology slated for launch in 2024. However, citing exceeding costs and adverse economic conditions, the brands announced they would pause their partnership indefinitely.

Toyota is poised to increase prices by up to $1300 on 16 of its most popular models in the wake of a weakening exchange rate with the Japanese Yen – and hybrid cars are hardest hit. However buyers can beat the 1 July price rises if they sign a deal before the end of June 30 and lock in the current RRP.

The Nissan Navara Warrior is back in production after a two-and-a-half month pause due to the coronavirus crisis, which delayed arrivals of donor vehicles from the Thailand factory. After preparing the Melbourne assembly line last week with a dozen or so examples, production of the Nissan Navara Warrior is due to ramp up from today, with shipments to dealers to recommence from next week.

The 2021 Ford F-150 will be unveiled later this week and the company has released a teaser image via Twitter which shows the updated model will have a bold new light signature, a bulging bonnet and a redesigned grille. The daytime running lights appear to extend beyond the main beams and down into lamps in the front bumper.

The upcoming Bolwell Nagari 500 – on display at the 2019 Motorclassica show in Melbourne – could be fitted with the new Corvette V8 if the Chevrolet is sold locally. Campbell Bolwell, founder of the Australian sports car company Bolwell, told CarAdvice development on the new Nagari 500 is progressing well, but the car was currently "too fast".

The 2020 MG HS Excite is now a very interesting proposition in a crowded medium-SUV segment. As we found at launch, it’s an SUV that is built to a quality beyond what the price might indicate, and since then we’ve been looking forward to spending some time with it in the CarAdvice garage.

The time has come: CarAdvice has been granted special permission to drive the all-new 2020 Land Rover Defender. It’s not just a quick fang around a manicured block, either. We’re sliding into the next generation of this iconic nameplate in the wild, northern reaches of Namibia.

The list of electric car and hybrid car options in Australia expands with every passing year, but their often prohibitive cost – particularly in the case of EVs – remains a major barrier to their uptake.

As Australia braces for a recession, some surprising new cars have bucked the sharp downward sales trend. New-car sales fell by 35.3 per cent in May compared to the same month the previous year, following a shocker in April (down 48.5 per cent). Both represented the biggest declines in at least 30 years. While sales of utes and four-wheel-drives have picked up in the lead-up to June 30 and as many motorists plan to holiday at home, there are some niche models that have also performed well.

US ride-sharing and rental car company Lyft will convert its entire fleet to electric vehicles by 2030, according to overseas reports. The company says it will “aggressively promote” and “help drivers access incentive funds” for electric vehicles, but will not provide “direct financial support”, a report by the Reuters news agency says. As of today, electric vehicles comprise less than one per cent of Lyft’s fleet. The company said it had 2 million drivers in its Q3 report in 2019.

The French government has developed a new transport agency to detect emissions tampering in vehicles, according to a new report. The agency – known as the Surveillance Service for the Vehicle and Motor Market (SSMVM) – comes as the result of a European Union directive issued following the Volkswagen Group’s emission scandal also known as ‘dieselgate’.

Land Rover has a funny knack of releasing hugely popular models when it needs to most. When the spreadsheet doesn’t seem to read so well, the engineering and design teams pull out successful models like the original Discovery and Discovery 3. Another two good examples are the platform-sharing Range Rover Evoque and Land Rover Discovery Sport.

The Goodwood Festival of Speed and the Goodwood Revival are cancelled for 2020 due to the coronavirus crisis, after initially being postponed. Officials said the events were not feasible with social distancing requirements still in place within the UK.