CAR ADVICE

The 2021 McLaren Artura will be unveiled on 17 February 2021, an invite sent to some of the brand's Chinese customers has confirmed. An RSVP invite distributed to customers by McLaren's Guangzhou showroom – and subsequently reposted on Spanish forum Cochespias – confirms the next-generation hybrid supercar will make its full debut on February 17, local time.

Toyota has joined the thriving light-SUV segment with its 2021 Yaris Cross. It arrived late, but did so fashionably, as in the range-topping Urban trim, this Toyota is unique and has plenty of character. The Japanese manufacturer has taken the origins of the highly sought-after Yaris and made it a high-riding, compact SUV, but has Toyota has done enough to make its mark in this already saturated segment? Let’s begin with that all-important price tag.

EXCLUSIVE French car maker Renault is poised to move to an independent distributor in Australia – after five years of continuous sales decline and the weakest result in almost a decade, CarAdvice understands. Local representatives for Renault are yet to confirm the change in distribution, however an official announcement is believed to be due in the coming days.

A 2015 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat has been fitted with frighteningly-narrow wheels from a horse buggy, courtesy of automotive YouTube channel WhistlinDiesel. While alignment and ride quality were not dramatically compromised, a lack of grip meant the burly muscle car struggled to convert its 527kW into forward propulsion.

Since mid-2016 the Mazda CX-9 has stood as the brand’s flagship. A stand-up example of both Mazda’s premium aspirations, and its technical merit in terms of engine and platform flexibility.

The facelifted 2021 SsangYong Musso has leaked, revealing a fresh front-end for the dual-cab ute. Badged as a Rexton Sports Khan in its home country of South Korea, the updated Musso has been snapped at the SsangYong factory ahead of its official unveiling, with the images emerging on Autospy. The photo follows another leak in late 2020, which showed the new look of the related SsangYong Rexton SUV.

The 2021 Iveco Daily range has been released, coming with a range of improvements across specifications and technology for both vans and trucks. Like before, the Daily is available as either a van or cab-chassis truck, with Iveco offering a variety of body styles and sizes. All variants get new Euro 6-complaint turbo diesel engines, which uses Selective Catalytic Reduction, also known as AdBlue, to keep tailpipe emissions down.

The 2021 Nissan Patrol has received a price increase for February 2021, rising by as much as $1150. Prices of the entry-level Ti have increased by $1150 to $78,910 plus on-road costs, while the flagship Ti-L has risen $575 to $93,365 plus on-road costs. CarAdvice has contacted Nissan Australia to confirm the reasoning behind the price rises, and whether there have been any changes in standard equipment.

A rare 1980 BMW M1 once owned by Fast & Furious star Paul Walker is going under the hammer in California this week, with bidding for the low-kilometre example currently sitting at US$445,000 (AU$583,000). BMW produced just 400 road-going examples of its now iconic mid-engined supercar and this particular example, which formed part of Walker’s and Roger Rodas’s AE Performance Collection, was delivered new in 1979 to BMW Schneider in Bielefeld, Germany.

The 2021 Porsche 911 GT3 has been revealed in leaked images. An image published on Spanish forum Cochespias shows the rear three-quarter view of the new 911 GT3 in full, via a graphic pictured on a menu in the car's infotainment system used for toggling the variable sports exhaust, start-stop system, drive mode and other vehicle settings.

The 2022 Tesla Model S is expected to be available with a choice of two steering wheels: the controversial aircraft-style design shown last week, and this conventional example shown above. Eagle-eyed users of the r/teslamotors forum on website Reddit have uncovered official images hidden deep in Tesla's online configurator of the newly-updated Model S's interior.

UPDATE, 1 February 2021: Cadillac surprised viewers of the Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona endurance race over the weekend with their first official, well-lit glimpse at the CT4-V Blackwing (pictured in red) and CT5-V Blackwing (white) free of camouflage.

Moving inside the cabin, the central infotainment screen now measures 10.1 inches corner-to-corner (up from 8.4 inches on outgoing models) – this runs on Maserati's updated Android-based operating system, and features Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. A reworked instrument cluster now sits behind the steering wheel, and comprises an all-new 7.0-inch TFT display alongside an analog speedometer and tachometer.

The 2022 BMW 2 Series has been caught on video testing on a Californian highway by KindelTechAuto. BMW's small coupe was hidden behind heavy camouflage, with a number of fake pieces added to conceal the details of the new-generation 2 Series. The current model is one of the oldest vehicles in the German car maker's line-up, introduced in 2014 and now nearing (and living beyond) the end of its eight-year lifecycle.

We can debate whether the 2021 Kia Stonic is a high-riding hatchback or a city SUV, but what we do know is that buyers can’t get enough of this type of car. The Kia Stonic is part of the growing trend of hatchbacks with SUV styling themes. As is the case with most city SUVs, the Kia Stonic is based on a city hatch, in this case the Kia Rio. However, every body panel is new, and the interior is also unique.

Two motorsport categories reigned supreme in the wild 1990s era of Japanese motorsport. The first was the all-Japan Grand Touring Car Championship (JGTC). It was an incredible race series that lasted 11 years between 1994 and 2014, and replaced Group C racing. The second was the Japanese Touring Car Championship (JTCC), which was active between 1994 and 1998. It superseded Group A racing, which we saw in Australia up until 1993.

The year 2020 was one that many would like to forget, and the automotive industry is no exception. Lockdowns and economic slowdowns brought on by the ongoing coronavirus pandemic translated exactly as you'd expect for Australia's new-car sales, with a staggering 48.5 per cent sales decline in April, contributing to an overall market down 13.7 per cent by the end of the year.

While the huge amount of money paid for the ‘last’ locally-made Holden Commodore and a HSV GTSR W1 Maloo are still sinking in after yesterday’s auction, some other iconic Australian cars also fetched mega bucks. Bids for a HSV GTSR W1 sedan – in dark grey, number 9 of 300 built, and with just 149km on the odometer – reached $407,000 before the car was pushed away for negotiations to continue behind closed doors. It is unclear if this car was passed in or if the seller agreed to let it go.

The next-generation Lada Niva off-roader – Russia's homegrown challenger to the Suzuki Jimny and Jeep Wrangler – could score a turbocharged engine, overseas reports suggest. Overseas media – citing unnamed sources – reports the new Niva will offer a choice of two engines when it goes on sale in 2024, led by a 1.3-litre turbocharged petrol four-cylinder paired to a CVT automatic transmission driving all four wheels.

Jaguar will resurrect its iconic C-Type sports car, however just eight examples are currently slated for production. The replicas – specified to match the 164kW 1953 Le Mans-winning variant – will be hand-built at Jaguar’s Classic Works facility in Coventry, and slot into the wider Classic Continuation range. Originally built between 1951 and 1953, the C-Type was designed by legendary aeronautical aerodynamicist Malcolm Sayer.

The 2021 Renault Kiger has been revealed for India. First previewed by the Kiger Concept unveiled in November 2020, the production Kiger slots into Renault's Indian line-up as another pint-sized SUV, alongside the existing Kwid, Triber and Duster – the lattermost traditionally seen in other markets wearing Dacia badges.

It's fair to say the Kia Stinger has fallen shy of expectations. At the time of its Australian market introduction in 2017, the brand speculated that its sales would "bounce around the 200–250 mark" and potentially "build to 400–500" a month. In 2018, Kia reportedly sold 1957 Stingers. That's 163 a month when averaged out over the year. 2019 and 2020's results were similar – 1773 and 1778 respectively, a pip under 150 cars a month for two years.

Jaguar Land Rover Australia has recalled four examples of its Range Rover Evoque, citing a potential fire hazard with the upholstery. The affected vehicles were sold between July 2018 and July 2020, with Model Years ranging between 2019 and 2021. The recall notice, lodged with the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC), says: "The seat material used in the front seats trimmed with 'Dinamica' cloth (a laminate bonded seat material) may burn faster than permitted."

The ‘last’ Holden Commodore has sold at auction today for a staggering $750,000 – as US giant General Motors clarifies the mystery behind two identical examples claiming to be the final Australian-made car. The red Commodore V8 sedan sold by Lloyds Auctions today was the last serial number to be allocated to an Australian-made Holden – and the final vehicle to go through the Adelaide factory’s body assembly and paint shop.

A new auction record has been set for an Australian-made road car after a Holden Special Vehicles GTSR W1 Maloo ute sold today for $1.05 million. Bidding for the supercharged V8 ute had already passed the $1 million mark a fortnight before the hammer fell in the Lloyds Auction this afternoon (30 January 2021), eclipsing the $1.03 million paid for a Ford Falcon GTHO Phase III in June 2018.

Mystery continues to surround Australian plans for Chinese electric-car specialists BYD and whether it will set up shop here. However, for the second time in four months a brand-new BYD has been spotted in a Sydney CBD car park. In October 2020, an eagle-eyed CarAdvice reader sent us photos of an electric SUV known as the BYD Tang. Now, photos have emerged of a BYD T3 electric van, which is smaller than a Toyota Hiace but bigger than a Volkswagen Caddy.

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?

A Tesla Model 3’s integrated camera system – known as TeslaCam – appears to have captured an attempted shooting in Nashville, Tennessee last week. According to the Nashville Police Department, the offender was actively targeting the Tesla and its occupants. While the electric vehicle was struck, CarAdvice understands no one was injured in the incident.

Mini took the wraps off its updated Hatch and Convertible ranges this week, and though the brand is unlikely to admit it, the new model is intended to serve as a stop-gap between the current, seven-year-old model and the next generation Mini, which has reportedly been delayed to 2023 due to the impact of Brexit and COVID-19. Headlining the facelift's updates is a reworked exterior design, led by a new front fascia with a larger grille and new 'air curtain' vents.

Jaguar Land Rover Australia has recalled nine examples of its Land Rover Discovery, citing a potential fault with the seatbelt anchors. The affected Discovery vehicles were sold between 30 September 2020 and 26 October 2020, and are stamped Model Year 2020. The recall notice, lodged with the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC), says: "The upper anchor point for the seatbelt for the left hand side third row seat (C-D pillar) has not been installed correctly."

BMW hasn’t been having a great time of late. There has been an attraction with prominent proboscises, a blue and white roundel on a front-wheel-drive 'sports' car, and some forthcoming models representing a design direction that falls cleanly into the ‘what-the’ bucket. But with the release of the 2021 BMW 5 Series, I can safely say we can now return you to your regularly scheduled program.

It’s our direct connection to the road, the focal point of any car interior. And in the last 20 years or so, it has become an ever-more complex piece of technology, required to perform multiple tasks in adjunct to its core reason for being, steering the car where you want to it to go. Its primary task is in its name, after all – steering wheel.

Pricing and specifications for the 2021 Hyundai Kona have been announced. Hyundai's small SUV has undergone a significant facelift for 2021, introducing updated styling, new technology and a pair of performance-oriented N Line variants for the first time. Six variants will be offered with the new range, with two powertrains available depending on variant: 'Kona' (replacing the existing Go), Active, Elite, Highlander, N Line and N Line Premium.

Japanese car giant Toyota and its affiliated brands – Lexus, Daihatsu and Hino – regained the top automotive sales spot globally in 2020. Toyota's 2020 result ended a four-year run at the top of the charts by the Volkswagen Group – which includes brands such as Audi, Skoda, Seat, Porsche, Bentley, Lamborghini, Bugatti and Scania and MAN trucks.

Pricing and specifications for the 2021 Maserati Levante have been announced. Maserati's first SUV has received an array of tweaks and upgrades for Model Year 2021, bringing it into line with recent updates to its Ghibli and Quattroporte sedan range-mates. Visual changes to the Levante comprise a tweaked front grille – trimmed in chrome on GranLusso variants, and black on sport-themed GranSport models – and 'boomerang' LED tail-lights similar in appearance to the aforementioned sedans.

As you might be aware, 2021 marks the year CarAdvice and Drive become one – bringing together both sites' top-shelf automotive content under the one banner. For you, dear reader, not much will change. We're still the same team, with the same familiar faces and high standards for our new-car content and love of all things automotive. The only difference is you'll eventually be able to meet all your new-car needs in one place, Drive.

Pricing and specifications for the 2021 Maserati Ghibli have been announced. Maserati's smallest model has received a number of styling and technology updates for Model Year 2021, intended to "give the entire Maserati range a unified identity" and bring the Ghibli up to date with its German rivals – alongside significant price changes across the range.

The 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L has begun local development and tuning for Australia, ahead of its expected showroom arrival in August or September 2021. A sighting of a camouflaged Grand Cherokee L prototype on local roads this week (top) validates Jeep's claims it would test the upcoming seven-seat family SUV in Australia prior to launch, in order to tune it for local buyers' tastes.

The Chevrolet Corvette will be fully-electric by 2035, dropping the petrol V8 engine which has powered the sports car since 1955. The revelation comes as parent company General Motors announced overnight its entire passenger car fleet would be battery-powered by the mid-2030s. While GM's all-electric push will exclude 'medium-' and 'heavy-duty' models within the Chevrolet and GMC pick-up range, it's understood the announcement includes future generations of the Corvette sports car.

General Motors has announced it will stop production of all petrol and diesel passenger cars by 2035 – but excluded some of its most popular models from the plan. The move means all 'light-duty' models from General Motors, which includes full-size SUVs, will be fully-electric by the middle of the next decade.

The SSC Tuatara – built by low-volume manufacturer SSC North America – has reportedly broken the production car speed record… again. The company controversially made the same claim in October 2020, announcing it had bidirectionally averaged 508.7km/h on a Nevada highway. However, internet hawks subsequently uncovered a wide range of inconsistencies in the official footage, and suggested the actual speed recorded was significantly slower.

Since mid 2016, the Mazda CX-9 has stood as the brand’s flagship. A stand-up example of both Mazda’s premium aspirations, and its technical merit in terms of engine and platform flexibility. While there have been no major-change updates since launch, the 2021 Mazda CX-9 shows the brand’s knack for rolling out incremental annual improvements that keep the product fresh and the tech contemporary.

The 2021 BMW 320e and BMW 520e plug-in hybrids have been unveiled, ahead of their European market launch in March 2021 – however, Australian launches for both models are not in the brand's local plans. Unveiled as part of a raft of Model Year 2021 updates for the wider BMW line-up in Europe, the new 3 Series and 5 Series plug-in hybrids mate a 120kW 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine with an electric motor for combined outputs of 150kW of power and 350Nm of torque.

The first Tesla Cybertruck deliveries could begin before the end of this year, according to company founder and CEO Elon Musk. Speaking to the press following Tesla's fourth-quarter sales report, Musk confirmed engineering for the project had been finalised and the brand was now focused on production logistics. “If we get lucky we’ll be able to do a few deliveries towards the end of this year, however we expect volume production to begin in 2022”, he declared.

BMW Australia has recalled 14 cars – across three SUV models – citing a potential fault with the axle welds. The affected models are X5, X6, and X7 SUVs, all of which were sold between 1 May 2020 and 31 October 2020, with all affected examples stamped Model Year 2020. The recall notice, lodged with the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC), says "due to a fault in the welding process, a weld seam on the front axle was not welded properly."

Following a wait that was longer than Skoda Australia would have liked, the 2021 Skoda Scala has landed locally, and CarAdvice has the keys to the Launch Edition variant for our first drive.

On the Island of Dr Moreau, H.G.Wells describes a horrifying environment where humanoid animal hybrids (and I’m not talking about Val Kilmer) are ‘engineered’ by a mad scientist, seeking to find perfection. Moreau creates unnatural answers to questions that nature never asked; a hyena-pig, a fox-bear, a goat-ape. Combinations that shouldn’t work, but in the world of science fiction do, to a point.

The top bid for the ‘last’ Holden Commodore assembled in Australia has more than doubled in less than 24 hours and now sits at $255,000 – with two days remaining before the auction concludes. The status of the vehicle is disputed – officially, the last Holden Commodore to ceremonially roll off the production line was kept by General Motors.

Tesla has announced not one but two versions of the 2022 Tesla Model S Plaid, both of which promise to shatter the record for the world's fastest-accelerating car – petrol or electric. Tesla says it will introduce the Model S Plaid and Model S Plaid+ sedans, both of which promise to overtake the drag-racing-focused 2018 Dodge Challenger SRT Demon from zero to 100km/h – if Tesla's performance claims prove true.

The long-awaited 2021 Ram 1500 DT Series pick-up from the US has had its Australian showroom arrival pushed back by two months. A confidential bulletin issue late last year informed dealers they could expect the first examples of the 2021 Ram 1500 DT Series to arrive in showrooms by the end of January.

New-car prices in Australia are likely to remain relatively high – after a decade of sharp drive-away deals – because global vehicle production continues to be constrained by a shortage of semiconductors, which are key components for in-car infotainment systems and advanced driving aids. Most new cars use between 50 to 200 individual microchips, while hybrid and electric cars can require up to 3500 microchips.

The Toyota Tarago was an unrecognised icon of Australian families, but now the name has been laid to rest alongside the Mazda MPV, Hyundai Trajet, Citroen C4 Picasso, Chrysler Voyager, and a handful of other car-based family buses. Sure, you can still buy the Kia Carnival or Honda Odyssey, but otherwise your choices are largely limited to commercial vans with seats and plush trim thrown in. Not quite the same thing.

The 2022 Tesla Model S and 2022 Tesla Model X facelifts have been officially unveiled, featuring a new interior with an aircraft-inspired steering wheel. Updates to Tesla's global configurators reveal the long-rumoured Model S and Model X revisions, with the pair scoring an all-new interior design, headlined by a new, slim rectangular steering wheel drawing parallels with the 'yoke' control sticks used by pilots of commercial aircraft.

The reborn Renault 5 electric hatch caught the Internet's heartstrings following its unveiling earlier this month, its retro-inspired styling blending well with its 2020s-era all-electric powertrain. But what would a high-performance version look like? Here's our take on a go-fast version of the upcoming Renault 5, suitably wearing Groupe Renault's repositioned performance moniker: Alpine.

UPDATE, 27 January 2021: The recently-rebooted Bizzarrini group has announced it will hand-build 24 examples of the classic 5300 GT sports car. The low-slung two-seater was the historic Italian marque’s most influential creation, with 133 examples produced between 1964 and 1968. Powered by a 5.4-litre (327 cubic-inch) Chevrolet V8 engine, drive was sent to the road via a four-speed manual transmission.

Tesla founder and CEO Elon Musk may be about to receive US$7 billion (AU$9.05 billion) in stock, due to the company's performance in 2020. According to a report from news outlet Reuters, the options package will likely be triggered thanks to strong sales results in the second half of last year.

The 2022 GMC Hummer EV will compete in the upcoming Extreme E electric off-road championship... with a catch. The FIA-sanctioned series is actually a one-make championship, meaning, much like NASCAR, every car is identical under the skin. However, the USA-based Chip Ganassi Racing Team will run its cars with Hummer EV-themed graphics and bodywork, as part of a new promotional deal with GMC.

Mitsubishi has a stranglehold on the small SUV segment in Australia, enjoying almost 20 per cent market share in the hotly-contested class.

Ford designer Moray Callum – who was responsible for styling the current-generation Mustang, the Mustang Mach-E electric SUV, and GT supercar – has announced his retirement. Mr Callum’s career in automotive design spanned almost four decades – he began working for Chrysler in 1982, and was then employed by Groupe PSA, Ghia and Mazda, before taking the reins at Ford in 2014.

To summarise, the Venue offers an affordable pricepoint, excellent exterior dimensions and visibility, competitive ownership costs and unique looks. Its interior may or may not work for you, depending on how many kids you have and how often you need to use the full boot. Its downsides are that it lacks a premium feel and polish behind the wheel, and could offer more active safety and driver-assistance features.

The final Holden built in Australia is set to go under the hammer this weekend. While the 'last' Holden Commodore to officially roll off an Australian production line and out the doors of the Elizabeth plant has been kept by US car giant General Motors, the final Commodore to pass through the body and paint shops (where the vehicle's panels were assembled and painted) is up for auction at the end of this month.

A rebodied Mazda MX-5 – named the Grand Albaycin – has been officially unveiled by Spanish coachbuilder Hurtan. The Spanish roadster shares its Japanese cousin's standard 1.5- and 2.0-litre naturally-aspirated four-cylinder engines, producing 97kW/152Nm and 135kW/205Nm respectively. Hurtan – which already offers rebodied variants of the Chrysler PT Cruiser and Jeep Wrangler – says it received Mazda’s blessing for the 1930s-inspired project.

The 2021 Hyundai Tucson N Line has been unveiled, offering buyers a sporty exterior and interior inspired by the company's 'N' performance arm. The changes are predominantly cosmetic, with Hyundai adding deeper front and rear bumpers to the Tucson N Line, as well as a marginally taller and wider grille than on the standard model – with the 'parametric jewel patterns' gaining additional edges to create more elaborate reflections.

UPDATE, 27 January 2021: Peugeot Australia has confirmed the new 3008 will touch down on local shores in the coming months, offering the choice of a new GT Sport variant. The 3008 GT Sport grade will exclusively add a 'Black Pack', comprising black exterior and interior trim and black 19-inch alloy wheels, while other additions over lesser variants will include Nappa leather trim and a 10-speaker Focal premium sound system. Our original story continues below. Alex Misoyannis

The 2021 Mini Hatch and Mini Convertible have been revealed, ahead of an Australian launch in the second half of 2021. The second major facelift for the Mini 3-Door Hatch, 5-Door Hatch and Convertible since their introduction in 2014 – following a mid-life 'LCI' update in 2018 – the 2021 updates implement a variety of tweaks inside, out and under the skin.

The 2021 BMW M5 CS has been officially unveiled. The M5 CS follows a similar formula to that set out by previous CS-badged BMW models the likes of the M2 CS, M3 CS and M4 CS, adding more power and stripping weight to create a sharper, more track-focused package than the already-rapid M5 Competition. Under the bonnet is the same 4.4-litre twin-turbocharged V8 engine as the ‘standard’ M5 Competition, though revised tuning sees outputs climb to 467kW of power (up 7kW) and 750Nm of torque.

The upcoming 2021 Tesla Model S facelift has been spied testing again in the US, ahead of a likely reveal in the coming weeks or months. Images published by Chinese website Autospy and American outlet Teslarati further reveal a handful of minor exterior tweaks for Tesla's largest sedan, led by a revised front bumper with larger lower air intakes.

Given the ND-generation is hardly box-fresh, it comes as no surprise that some new editions and variants of the MX-5 have started to pop up. While the goal is maintaining sales momentum, which traditionally slows as specialist sports cars age, the real winners are buyers. In the case of the 2021 Mazda MX-5 range, a new MX-5 GT RS takes the title of the sportiest of the ND range. Well, kind of.

UPDATE, 26 January 2021: The new Mitsubishi Outlander has been teased again, ahead of its reveal next month. The latest teaser highlights the new Outlander's off-road capabilities, showing the overhauled SUV getting sideways and climbing steep hills over dirt, snow, gravel and mud, thanks to its Super-All Wheel Control (S-AWC) all-wheel-drive system.

Volkswagen will triple the size of its electric SUV range in 2021, with the brand confirming the arrival of two new, sports-focused mid-size models. Hidden in a press release detailing Volkswagen's fleet-wide CO2 emissions output in 2020 is confirmation it will launch two new electric SUVs in 2021, alongside the previously-revealed ID.4: the ID.4 GTX and ID.5.

Less than a week after his inauguration, US President Joe Biden has announced the entire fleet of the federal government is to be replaced with American-made electric vehicles. While exact details of the plan have yet to be released, it's expected the transition will take a number of years to complete as US-based car manufacturers continue to roll out battery-powered models.

Pricing for the 2021 Peugeot 508 Sport Engineered in Germany has been announced – and it's not as affordable as many expected.

Pricing for the 2021 Peugeot 508 Sport Engineered in Germany has been announced – and it's not as affordable as many expected.

Modern Classic Review – the CarAdvice team take time away from Australia’s new car landscape to look at machines we consider true modern classics. Today we'll wind the clock back a little further than usual, to give time to a properly iconic Australian classic. Is there something on your radar? Let us know what modern classics you would like to see the team review.

The 2022 Kia Sportage is being readied for its unveiling in the coming months, but heavily-camouflaged mules have meant little is known about the new car's exterior. These renders from Russian website Kolesa imagine what the Sportage may look like, based on what's been seen from recent spy images (bottom).

UPDATE, 26 January 2021: The 2021 Ford F-150 Raptor will be offered as standard with a turbocharged V6, overseas reports have confirmed. Screenshots of an internal dealer system published on the F150Gen14.com forum reveal a version of the outgoing F-150 Raptor's 3.5-litre twin-turbocharged V6 will be standard-fit on the new, Model Year 2021 Raptor.

Like most other countries around the world, Australians are fiercely proud of their national identity. And at the same time, we’re a bit mad about our cars. We have some unique traits to be proud of, which makes us somewhat of an anomaly on the global automotive landscape.

Mitsubishi Australia has issued a recall for 8847 examples of the 2015 Mitsubishi ASX and 2016 Mitsubishi Outlander. According to the recall notice lodged with the Australia Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC), faulty anti-rust (fluorine) coating "may allow rust to form on the parking brake shaft", and in turn "the parking brake shaft may become stuck and may not engage."

Lotus's sports car range will (at last) undergo a major shake-up this decade, with the British brand confirming the arrival of "a new series of sports cars" set to launch in the coming years. The new models will not sit alongside the existing Elise, Exige and Evora sports cars, but rather replace them entirely, with the existing cars to end production by the end of 2021 – marking the end of a trio of nameplates in use since the Elise's debut in 1995.

Look closely. This is the new 2021 Hyundai i30 N Line Premium. Unlike the regular Australian i30 hatch, the sportier number has not been updated externally. It's a product-sourcing issue, as the only Hyundai plant currently manufacturing facelifted i30 N Line hatchbacks is in the Czech Republic. Australian N Lines are sourced from Korea in order to keep the costs down.

Ford has responded to rumours suggesting the next-generation of the Mustang will move to an all-electric platform by 2029, telling US media the reports are "blatant speculation". According to Carscoops, sources inside Ford dismissed the rumours, claiming no decision had been made on the subject. However, while the language appears to cast off the idea, it falls short of denying it entirely, indicating a fully-electric Ford Mustang was still a possibility.

UPDATE, 25 January 2021: An earlier version of this story listed the Model Year 2021 Ford Fiesta ST as having lost LED headlights, and instead switching to halogen low and high-beam headlights.

The 2021 BMW i4 has been teased, ahead of its full debut scheduled for the coming months. A lightly-camouflaged prototype of BMW's upcoming 4 Series Gran Coupe-based electric vehicle was showcased undergoing final handling and driving dynamics development, with the brand's engineers ensuring "the spontaneous power delivery of the electric motor is combined with precisely controllable handling in every situation".

Lotus looks set to unveil its first all-new, internal-combustion-engined model in more than a decade later this year, according to new overseas reports. According to industry publication Automotive News Europe, Lotus will unveil the still-unnamed model in the northern summer, powered by an internal combustion engine – though what mill it will use and whether it will feature electrification remain unclear.

As speeding, drink driving, and drugs dominate road safety headlines, it’s worth getting reacquainted with some fines you may not know – or might have forgotten about. Fines and demerit points vary across different states and territories – even though they have the same or similar offences – so we listed the penalties for NSW, the jurisdiction which hands out among the harshest fines in the nation (with the exception of Queensland’s $1000 mobile phone ticket, the most expensive nationally).

The Australian Tax Office has announced it will access vehicle purchasing data by state in an effort to potentially catch out tax-evading individuals and businesses. "The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) will acquire motor vehicle registry data from state and territory motor vehicle registry authorities for 2019–20 through to 2021–22," the ATO said in a policy notice.

We can debate whether the 2021 Kia Stonic is a high-riding hatchback or a city SUV, but what we do know is that buyers can’t get enough of this type of car.

The iconic DeLorean DMC-12 could be relaunched with electric power, according to the current owners of the brand. In a blog post published overnight, the company explained legal challenges and environmental regulations had complicated the roll out of long-awaited petrol-powered replicas. “We hoped to get into production by 2017 and get three to four years out of it before having to take on the engineering for a new powertrain (engine),” the blog post said.

UPDATE, 25 January 2021: Rivian has raised a further US$2.65 billion (AU$3.42 billion) in its latest investment round. The money means the US electric vehicle (EV) start-up has received more than AU$10.3 billion since the start of 2019. But unlike Tesla, Nikola, and other EV rivals, Rivian remains a private company, yet to be listed on a stock exchange.

The logic behind Mercedes-Benz decision to lift the various petrol, diesel and plug-in petrol-electric hybrid drivetrains out of the engine bay of the GLA and replace them with an electric motor to create the new EQA is easy enough to understand.

The year 2020 was one that many would like to forget, and the automotive industry is no exception. Lockdowns and economic slowdowns brought on by the ongoing coronavirus pandemic translated exactly as you'd expect for Australia's new-car sales, with a staggering 48.5 per cent sales decline in April, contributing to an overall market down 13.7 per cent by the end of the year.

Given the average age of a car on Australian roads has increased to 10.4 years, it's fair to say plenty of us are holding out on upgrading to newer models. As such, many consumers might find that when the time comes to trade in, their beloved car has disappeared from showrooms. With a raft of nameplates discontinued in 2020 alone, the new-car call sheet for 2021 looks drastically different than it did over 10 years ago – particularly the bestseller list.

The Volkswagen Polo Harlequin has been revived in the Netherlands as a one-off, in celebration of the eccentric and quirky car's 25th birthday. The limited-edition Volkswagen model was launched in 1995 as a promotional stunt, and featured multi-coloured body panels in Flash Red, Ginster Yellow, Pistachio Green and Chagall Blue. Powered by the optional 1.6-litre petrol engine, it also came with bespoke “joker” seats, alongside a colourful gear stick and steering wheel.

Indiana-based race team, Era Motorsport, has turned to the public to design a race livery for its upcoming return to American endurance racing. The livery design competition was originally run in 2020, and the team had planned to feature the winning livery during that year's season. However, the competition was sidelined after Era Motorsport suffered a crash during a practice event at the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

It was less than a week after I collected the 2020 Hyundai Veloster Turbo, when CarAdvice broke the news that the model was being discontinued in Australia. Like going on a first date with someone, only to have them tell you they're moving overseas.

Jeep has revealed that the soon-to-land new Grand Cherokee will undergo pre-production testing in Australia, before hitting showroom floors late 2021. It’s a move that has paid dividends for the likes of Kia, Hyundai and Toyota, who have followed up off-shore vehicle development with smaller, localised testing and validation programmes.

Honda has treated its compact E electric vehicle to a drag racing makeover, with the unveiling of the e-Drag concept at the 2021 Tokyo Auto Salon. Headlining the upgrades designed to cut the Honda e-Drag's quarter-mile (402m) time is a strict weight reduction program, led by the installation of a carbon-fibre-reinforced plastic roof.

Plug-in hybrids don’t always get the plaudits they probably deserve, and detractors are many and quite vociferous. But the 2021 Mitsubishi Outlander GSR PHEV is one of the better options in terms of real-world efficiency.

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? It's possible that of all car breeds in the wild, the Volkswagen Beetle is the least intimidating.

A 2021 Toyota GR Supra has reportedly been taught to autonomously drift, as part of a collaborative project between Stanford University’s Dynamic Design Lab (DDL) and the Toyota Research Institute (TRI). According to a joint mission statement, the research ultimately aims to improve the evasive capabilities of autonomous driving technology in road vehicles.

Fiat Australia has recalled 143 examples of its Ducato van, citing a potential fault with the steering system. The affected vehicles were sold between 1 June 2019 and 30 November 2020, with all examples stamped Model Year 2019. The recall notice, lodged with the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC), says: “The vehicle may have been fitted with incorrect steering knuckles during the production process and may not perform as intended.”

We’ve all been there. You’re 78 minutes into a Scorsese masterpiece and out of the corner of your eye, to the left of the frame and just behind De Niro’s head, you catch a tail light or a bumper. Was that a…? did I just see…?

Volkswagen Touareg buyers are now spoilt for choice, with the range expanding in 2021 from just one engine offering to three. That will become four with the expected arrival sometime of the flagship R variant, while March 2021 will also see the release of 300 Wolfsburg editions. Keeping exclusive faith with diesel power, no petrol options are available.

UPDATE, 22 January 2021: BMW M has confirmed its first all-electric model will be unveiled this year. In BMW Group's annual sales report, the German luxury car maker announced its first "electrically powered performance automobile" would be presented in 2021, signifying the company's new push to develop fast vehicles with fully-electric powertrains.

There is still a chance that Australia will get V8-powered and plug-in hybrid variants of the iconic Jeep Wrangler, as the American manufacturer rolls out new models and electrified powertrains around the world. While previous reports had indicated that Australia was unlikely to get these special models, Jeep global director Christian Meuiner told CarAdvice that the company was still busy building a business case to develop right-hand drive variants of the Wrangler 392 and Wrangler 4Xe:

Volkswagen Group may be issued a fine of more than €100 million (AU$157 million) for missing its European fleet emissions target by 0.5 grams per kilometre in 2020. Despite cutting the average CO2 output of its vehicles by approximately 20 per cent last year, the European Union could still issue the penalty to Volkswagen Group for failing to miss its assigned target, news outlet Reuters reports.

The facelifted 2021 BMW X3 M has been spotted undergoing winter testing in northern Europe, ahead of an expected unveiling in the first half of this year. Changes to BMW's mid-size performance SUV for its mid-life facelift – dubbed 'LCI' in BMW parlance – appear to be concentrated around the X3 M's front and rear fascias, with the example spotted by our spy photography partners devoid of swirl-pattered disguise along its flanks.

The 2021 Audi E-Tron GT has been teased overnight, with the German brand confirming the new electric vehicle (EV) will debut in full on 9 February 2021. Confirming the unveiling date was an interview with head of Audi design Marc Lichte (bottom), discussing the E-Tron GT's concept-inspired, coupe-like styling.

Hot on the heels of MG releasing Australia’s most affordable pure electric car – the 43-grand drive-away ZS EV – two states did exactly what you’d expect blinkered governments to do. They proposed an ill-thought-out and poorly planned new tax.

The upcoming 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee will come to Australia with petrol and hybrid engines – with diesel power to be dropped for the new model. This has been confirmed by Jeep global boss Christian Meunier, who told CarAdvice that Jeep is hellbent on becoming a market leader in electrified SUVs, both in Australia and around the world.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Wagoneer won't be coming to Australia, as the new large luxury SUV will be only produced in left-hand-drive. While going on the record as ‘very committed’ to expanding the range of right-hand drive vehicles coming to markets like Australia, global Jeep head Christian Meunier broke the news about the brand’s forthcoming large luxury SUV in a recent interview with CarAdvice.

Jeep has reaffirmed its commitment to right-hand drive markets around the world – including Australia – and has ambitious plans to become a top-10 brand. This comes as Jeep is embarks on a major line-up overhaul – including new models and electrified powertrains – many of which are coming to Australia. Compared to a string of successful years between 2010 and 2015, Jeep has since been navigating the treacherous waters of falling sales and plummeting consumer sentiment in Australia.

The 2021 Porsche Taycan Cross Turismo has been spied undisguised, ahead of its expected reveal in the coming months. The black example spotted in the US by Instagram user @t1dso – and subsequently reposted on Spanish forum Cochespias – provides a better glimpse at the production-spec Taycan Cross Turismo, the Georgia-registered prototype lacking the vinyl wrap camouflage over the D-pillar, tail-lights, and wheel arches worn by previous development cars spotted testing with Porsche engineers.

2020 will always be known as a year like no other – and Australia's new-car sales results are in to back that up. The last two months of the year showed signs of recovery, but for many brands supply remains an issue. To the end of the 2020 calendar 916,968 new cars were reported as sold – down by 13.7 per cent compared to the prior year. With the Federal Government’s instant asset write-off scheme, demand for utes, SUVs, and four-wheel-drives surged.

We can debate whether the 2021 Kia Stonic is a high-riding hatchback or a city SUV, but what we do know is that buyers can’t get enough of this type of car. The Kia Stonic is part of the growing trend of hatchbacks with SUV styling themes. As is the case with most city SUVs, the Kia Stonic is based on a city hatch, in this case the Kia Rio. However, every body panel is new, and the interior is also unique.

Toyota will pay a US$180 million (AU$232 million) settlement to the US government, following a five-year investigation into the company. According to news agency Reuters, the US Department of Justice publicly disclosed the outcome of the civil lawsuit last week – the first time government officials have confirmed the probe, despite Toyota announcing an investigation by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in 2016.

We go on an off-road adventure to find Mount Warlock in the namesake American big-rig.

As you might be aware, 2021 marks the year CarAdvice and Drive become one – bringing together both sites' top-shelf automotive content under the one banner. For you, dear reader, not much will change. We're still the same team, with the same familiar faces and high standards for our new-car content and love of all things automotive. The only difference is you'll eventually be able to meet all your new-car needs in one place, Drive.