CAR ADVICE

"If I ran the company..." The CarAdvice team play 'fantasy football' with the automotive industry and take turns in the top seat of the big brands. What would we do if we ran the show? This time, Josh heads to Michigan in the USA to tackle the big blue oval... My plan for Ford Australia seems straightforward, but Dearborn may think otherwise. Here’s hoping someone at Ford’s global head office can spare a minute to read our 'road map' of the brand's Australian future.

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?

French car manufacturer Renault has confirmed that it will no longer invest in the development of all-new diesel engines. According to a report from Automotive News Europe, Renault CEO Luca de Meo told shareholders that it will instead adapt existing powertrains for its "last generation" of diesel powered vehicles.

Nissan Australia has recalled 56 examples of its Juke small SUV, citing a potential fault with the airbag deployment system. The affected vehicles were sold between 31 July 2019 and 25 November 2020, but manufactured between April 2019 and May 2019.

Any new iteration of a Mazda MX-5 is a cause for attention and celebration, and in the case of the 2021 Mazda MX-5 GT RS that’s even more relevant. The way the automotive world is moving, there’s a very real chance that cars like the MX-5, as we know it, won’t exist for much longer.

The MG Cyberster electric sports car – which was unveiled as a concept earlier this month at the Shanghai motor show – will go into production for both left- and right-hand drive market, a spokesperson for the Chinese manufacturer in Australia has confirmed to CarAdvice. Further, the spokesperson suggested the two-seater could be offered locally: "As part of our Electric For Everyone strategy, MG Australia will now examine the Cyberster's potential for the Australian and New Zealand markets."

When John Hennessey wanted to compete in the Pike’s Peak Hill Climb in 1991, he did what every diehard car nut has done since the invention of the motor car – he modified his daily drive Mitsubishi 3000GT VR-4 into something else altogether.

I never thought I’d catch myself saying this, but purple is one hell of a colour for the 2021 Kia Carnival. But technically, I'm wrong. I was surprised to find out that this hue is actually called Deep Chroma Blue, but it strikes me as more of a deep purple in person. It does change a bit in different light, and has loads of metallic flecks in it. MORE: 2021 Kia Carnival pricing and specs

Advanced safety technology on certain examples of BMW and Mercedes-Benz cars destined for Australia have been deleted from the next batch of factory orders out of Germany. Customers who placed orders for vehicles equipped with the affected technology will have a portion of their purchase price refunded, according to confidential dealer bulletins seen by CarAdvice.

There's lots to play for as Formula One heads to Portugal for Round 3 of the 2021 F1 season. Last time out in Imola heavy rain brought chaos as Max Verstappen reigned supreme in his 11th F1 career win. The championship is now down to one point in a brilliant battle between Verstappen and seven-time world champion, Sir Lewis Hamilton.

The Ford Escape plug-in hybrid’s showroom debut has been pushed back to early next year, however its arrival will likely start the local rollout of other Ford electric cars. Ford Australia originally planned to launch the Ford Escape PHEV (which stands for plug-in hybrid electric vehicle) by the end of this year but delays throughout the COVID-19 pandemic have pushed back its arrival.

The 2021 Kia Carnival has earned a five-star safety rating against tough new testing protocols – and it scored top marks even without a centre airbag between the front seats. For 2020 and beyond, the Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP) and its European affiliate raised the bar on side impact crash protection and advanced safety aids.

UPDATE, 30 April 2021: Hyundai Australia has confirmed pricing for the entire Tucson range, including the 2.0-litre diesel variants, and the N Line Option Pack. The story has been updated with the new information. The 2021 Hyundai Tucson will be offered in a choice of three variants and three engines when it goes on sale in Australia in April 2021 – all offering the option of a sporty N Line styling package.

2021 and 2021 have been difficult years for the new car market both domestically and overseas. And yet, sales in Australia have remained strong, with buyers still looking to secure their next new car and manufacturers have kept their end of the bargain releasing a range of high-quality new models into the Australian market.

Self-driving (autonomous) vehicles are set to be legal on UK roads by the end of the year, the British government has confirmed. The UK’s Department of Transport stated vehicles with automated lane-keeping systems (ALKS) would be the first in the country to be legalised for hands-free driving at speeds up to 60km/h (37mph). The move to allow vehicles with autonomous driving capabilities to drive legally on British roads was confirmed by the UK’s Transport Minister, Rachel Maclean MP.

Drive Car of the Year 2021 - Best Large Luxury SUV The Large Luxury SUV segment didn’t exist two decades ago, but BMW changed the landscape with the launch of its X5 that forced every premium carmaker to re-evaluate their product line up.

Drive Car of the Year 2021 - Best Medium Luxury SUV The cars each offer their own key strengths, but only one can bring it all together to take the win. It’s a segment on the rise in more ways than one. Australian monthly sales of Medium Luxury SUVs have more than doubled since August 2020, as buyers turn to accessible and practical examples from some of the biggest brands.

Drive Car of the Year 2021 - Best Small Luxury SUV Many Australian buyers are making their first foray into the luxury market via an SUV now rather than a small sedan or hatchback. As such, every luxury manufacturer seemingly wants to get in on the action.

Drive Car of the Year 2021 - Best Large SUV Given Australia’s penchant for SUVs, the large sub-$70K segment is a fierce battleground. Alongside the promise of roominess and fantastic cargo areas, there’s also the option of seven seats – as all three of our finalists have. Whilst not as practical as the simple van-styled people mover they replace, Large SUVs do offer more as a whole. Some are great off-road, and some are created with performance in mind.

Drive Car of the Year 2021 - Best Medium SUV Here’s how four of the best contenders compared in our annual Drive Car of the Year test. You can see it in the traffic, our love affair with high-riding wagons we call SUVs. They’ve become Australia’s new family cars, although fleets have also begun adopting their practicality. It’s easy to see the appeal: tall driving position, a commanding view of the road ahead, a roomy and comfortable cabin, as well as a large cargo hold.

Drive Car of the Year 2021 - Best Small SUV Australia's Small SUV class is arguably one of the toughest segments in the new-car market, with nearly a dozen contenders competing for attention. Some models will suit certain buyer needs more so than others. Our job is to determine which ones have the broadest ability and do the most to move the category forward.

Drive Car of the Year 2021 - Best Light SUV Such is the proliferation of compact SUVs these days that official industry sales split them into two camps: Light SUV and Small SUV. And for 2021, Drive Car of the Year has done the same.

Drive Car of the Year 2021 - Best People Mover The Kia Carnival has won this segment for the past two years, but we couldn’t call ourselves good automotive journalists if we didn’t do an annual check-up on how the class-leader stacks up against its peers. After not much debate but with plenty of seats for us all, the judging team whittled the contender list down to three.

The stopwatch doesn’t fib. The new dual-clutch PDK transmission variant of the crazily competent Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 is a demonstrably faster car than its quick-enough manual sibling to 100km/h, or around a race track, or jinking up a snaky hill climb, or belting through a Targa rally stage.

Drive Car of the Year 2021 - Best Large Luxury Car They once ruled the driveways and roads of Australia’s wealthiest postcodes, a four-wheeled sign you had made it in life. Large sedans wearing badges, predominantly from Germany, sometimes England, oozed prestige, with big powerful engines matched only by large, comfortable interiors.

Drive Car of the Year 2021 - Best Medium Luxury Car It must be daunting launching an all-new brand into a segment that has long been dominated by European carmakers. But the Genesis G70 was up for the fight, challenging the established Europeans in a segment long dominated by the Big Three – BMW, Audi and Mercedes-Benz.

Drive Car of the Year 2021 - Best Medium to Large Car Kia StingerSkoda SuperbToyota Camry Hybrid - There’s still a lot to be said about a family sedan, especially one with electric assistance. Australia’s Medium and large car decline has nothing to do with the quality of the cars in the segment. All three contenders stood up against themselves, and even reminded judges of the flaws that some trendy SUVs inherently have.

Drive Car of the Year 2021 - Best Small Luxury Car Audi A3BMW 1 SeriesMercedes-Benz A-Class - Overall, small cars under $40K are a luxury Australia’s seldom indulge in. It makes up around 15 per cent of the wider small car category, which overall is less than four per cent of the total market.

Drive Car of the Year 2021 - Best Small Car Hyundai i30Mazda 3Toyota Corolla Hybrid - It’s no secret small car sales have slowed as buyers have shifted towards SUVs of all shapes and sizes, however, there is still a core group of vehicles that make a compelling case to consider a hatchback. Not everyone wants or needs a small SUV, instead opting for more affordable – but just as practical – small hatchbacks.

Drive Car of the Year 2021 - Best City Car Kia PicantoKia RioSuzuki SwiftToyota YarisVolkswagen Polo - The city-car segment took the second-biggest sales hit in 2020 – down nearly 40 per cent – though it remains the go-to vehicle type for buyers looking for some of Australia’s cheapest new cars – including many still priced below $20,000. There was a major new model, too, with the release of the latest-generation Toyota Yaris. There were also updates for the Kia Rio and Suzuki Swift.

Williams Advanced Engineering (WAE) – a former subsidiary of the Williams Formula One racing team – and Italian design house Italdesign have jointly unveiled a new electric vehicle architecture, claiming it is versatile enough to underpin crossover SUVs, sedans, and high-performance sports cars.

The Ford Ranger Raptor has gained racing stripes, a sports bar, and black accents inside and out to keep the flagship model looking fresh before the next generation turns up next year, likely with turbo V6 power under the bonnet instead of the current model’s twin-turbo 2.0-litre diesel.

Ford is discreetly pulling equipment off the Ranger – its top-selling model – as it prepares to introduce runout offers later in the year to make way for its next generation pick-up. In the past six months Ford has removed “acoustic” or sound-deadening glass from certain Ranger models. Other items out of view, such as the plastic pocket under the back seat – previously packaged with the spare wheel bottle jack – has also been quietly deleted.

The 2022 Honda Civic sedan has been officially revealed in the US. While the new, 11th-generation Civic sedan might be set to reach American showrooms by September 2021, it won’t be coming to Australia, with Honda’s local arm instead opting to focus on the stronger-selling hatchback body style, which is due to be unveiled within the next few months.

Frustrated Ford fans keen to buy a new F-150 pick-up, the reborn Bronco four-wheel-drive, or the pure electric Mustang Mach E in Australia will need to be patient or consider another car. Ford is no closer to introducing any of its latest iconic vehicles from the US – despite the runaway success of the Ram and Chevrolet pick-ups locally, the Bronco having strong Australian engineering involvement, and the Mustang Mach E being built in right-hand-drive.

The Nissan Leaf doesn’t get the respect it almost certainly deserves as one of the pioneers in the then-fledgling electric vehicle segment which it made its international debut in 2010. Consider the fact that the Leaf is into its second generation, for instance, while other manufacturers still work to get their first-generation electric vehicles to market.

Angry workers at a Renault factory in northwest France took seven managers hostage overnight for approximately 12 hours. Around 350 workers are continuing to blockade the Fonderie de Bretagne in Brittany, in an attempt to prevent the closure of the foundry that makes car parts for the French car giant. However, the aforementioned hostages were released at approximately 10:30pm local time.

The 2021 Nissan Leaf electric vehicle range has expanded with the addition of a longer-range Leaf e+ variant. Priced from $60,490 before on-road costs, the Leaf e+ justifies its $10,000-plus premium over the standard variant (on sale locally since 2019) with a larger battery, more power, faster charging and, crucially, a longer driving range.

The 2021 Volkswagen ID.4 GTX has been officially revealed, ahead of its European launch later this year. A high-performance version of Volkswagen’s first electric SUV, the flagship ID.4 is the first in a line of hot GTX-badged ID electric vehicles, offering more power, tweaked styling and sporty interior detailing. Powering the performance SUV is a 77kWh lithium-ion battery, sending power to two electric motors for a combined power output of 220kW.

The final HSV GTSR Maloo ever built has been listed for sale in Western Australia, with an asking price of $958,000. The high-performance ute (wearing build number 600 of 600) is listed by dealer Gardner Autos, which had the car delivered new in 2017.

Ford has announced it will commence production of a new 'light commercial vehicle' in 2023, with an all-electric variant to follow in 2024. The identity of the vehicle remains unknown, however Automotive News Europe suggests it will be a replacement for the Transit Courier van sold in Europe, which rides on the previous-generation Fiesta city car's platform, and would celebrate its ninth birthday in 2023 – aligning with Ford's circa-10-year life-cycle for its smaller vans.

Ford claims its Mustang Mach 1 is both the "best-handling factory-produced" and "most track capable" Mustang to arrive in Australia. The power behind the bold claims is a raft of up-spec componentry that's been fitted. The majority of these goodies have been pilfered from the Shelby GT350/500 program, and are beyond basic bolt-on modifications. Before we get to the drive, let's quickly understand what's been done and why.

Electrification is rapidly spreading through the car industry, but until now it hasn’t got to the very top. That’s set to change with the 2022 Lotus Evija to become the first EV supercar to reach buyers despite COVID delays.

Lyft – a US ride-sharing company in fierce competition with Uber – has sold its large autonomous vehicle development program to Toyota. The Japanese manufacturer’s research division Woven Planet Holdings reportedly paid US$550 million (AU$710,000) for the program, with an initial US$200 million (AU$250,000) investment preceding a further US$350 million (AU$450,000) over the next five years.

Tamiya’s iconic radio-controlled off-road buggy, the Wild One, is making a comeback – as a real-life electric-powered buggy that can be driven by actual people. A collaboration between Tamiya and The Little Car Company, the 8/10th scale Wild One Max is a near full-sized replica of the original 1/10th scale kit first released by Tamiya in 1985. And the best part? If you want to, you can order the Wild One Max in kit form and build it yourself at home, just like the original.

The 2021 Aston Martin V12 Speedster will be available in a heritage-inspired DBR1 specification, the brand has announced. All 88 V12 Speedster buyers will have the option of the DBR1 specification, intended to pay homage to Aston Martin's most successful race car (of the same name), which won the 1959 24 Hours of Le Mans and an array of other high-profile sports-car races with drivers including Sir Sterling Moss and Caroll Shelby behind the wheel.

UPDATE, 28 April 2021: Hyundai Australia has provided updated launch timing information for its upcoming N performance range. The facelifted i30 N hatch will arrive first, in June 2021, followed by the smaller i20 N and recently-revealed Kona N in the third quarter of the year (July to September inclusive). The all-new i30 Sedan N will launch locally late in the third quarter or early in the fourth, suggesting an Australian arrival between September and November 2021.

US muscle and supercar tuner Hennessey has unveiled the 2021 Hennessey Mammoth 1000 SUV, a seven-seat off-roader based on the dune-jumping Ram 1500 TRX performance pick-up. Powering the Mammoth 1000 is the donor Ram 1500 TRX's 6.2-litre supercharged V8, retuned and reworked by Hennessey to develop 755kW (1012hp) and 1314Nm – significant increases over the 'standard' TRX ute's 523kW and 880Nm.

The short-wheelbase Wrangler Rubicon is making a short comeback to Australia in 2021, with only 40 vehicles making up a 100-strong contingent of ‘Recon’ special-edition models.

The 2022 Rimac C­_Two electric hypercar has slashed the production car quarter-mile record, completing the benchmark sprint in just 8.95 seconds – 0.45 seconds quicker than the 1103kW/1600Nm 8.0-litre W16 Bugatti Chiron. It took just 2.42 seconds for the Croatian-built road car to accelerate from 0-100km/h, despite claims from company founder Mate Rimac the motors were only operating at 85 per cent power and launch control had not yet been activated.

Mercedes-Benz Australia has recalled 19 examples of its A-Class hatchback and sedan in Australia, citing a potential fault with the rear seat’s belt bracket. The affected vehicles were sold between 1 September 2020 and 26 November 2020 (Model Years 2020).

In an automotive world seemingly hell-bent on electrification, the fourth-generation Porsche 911 GT3 is a true rarity. Rare, not only because at $369,700 it is well out of financial reach of most admirers. But because after 12 years and three generations as the track day upstart in the 911 line-up, it continues to stick its middle finger up at the very regulations designed to outlaw it, and holding firm to its original race car roots with a naturally aspirated combustion engine.

Make no mistake, these events are not without their risks. Road grip and conditions change with the weather, and occasional nasty surprises can wait around every corner. Unlike the controlled nature of a permanent racing circuit, have a mishap and emergency vehicles may be half-an-hour and 25 km away. Some people crochet as a hobby. Others play tennis. Some do frustrating stuff like hitting a small white ball around until it goes into one of 18 tiny holes.

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.

Lotus's first all-new sports car in a decade now has a name: say hello to the 2021 Lotus Emira. The car formerly known only as the 'Type 131' will be tasked with replacing the ageing Elise, Exige and Evora sports cars, and will wear the daunting title of Lotus' last new vehicle powered by an internal combustion engine – with all future models to be electric-only.

The upcoming 2021 Lotus Emira will be Lotus' last petrol-powered vehicle, with the iconic British sports-car specialist confirming all future models will be all-electric. Announced as part of its 'Driving Tomorrow' strategy conference on Tuesday night, Lotus announced its future model portfolio would centre around four all-new platforms developed by the British brand, though with assistance from the wider Geely automotive group (including Volvo) in Germany, Sweden and China.

Hyundai is working on a hydrogen-powered supercar – however it is yet to get the green light for production. In a conference with international media today, the head honchos of Hyundai’s performance division revealed the company is experimenting with hydrogen power for a supercar – and said some future N models could have pure electric power.

The 2021 Hyundai Kona N has been unveiled ahead of an Australian showroom arrival within the next six months – about the same time as the pint-sized Hyundai i20 N and updated Hyundai i30 N hot hatches are due, giving Hyundai Australia’s performance arm its broadest range to date. The price of Hyundai’s first high-performance SUV is yet to be revealed, though it is expected to cost close to or in excess of $50,000 by the time it’s in the traffic.

All Renault cars will be speed-limited to 180km/h from next year, the French manufacturer has confirmed. The cap will also reportedly apply to cars built by Renault’s budget Romanian subsidiary Dacia (although this is unlikely to inconvenience many people as, even in flagship 2.0-litre guise, the top-selling Duster SUV maxes out at just 181km/h).

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has announced the inaugural Olympic Virtual Series will include motorsport as part of its push to embrace e-sports under its charter as well as engaging a new, more youthful audience. Scheduled to take place ahead of the Tokyo Olympics later this year, the Olympic Virtual Series (OVS) will encompass five e-sports, with motorsport set to feature alongside baseball, cycling, rowing and sailing.

The 2021 Maserati Ghibli and Levante F Tributo Special Editions have been unveiled, ahead of an Australian launch in June 2021.

Each Hyundai Nexo hydrogen car being used in Australian fleet trials of the future technology will reportedly cost taxpayers $99,000 over three years – or $2750 per month – which is more than the repayments on most luxury cars. And once the fleet trial ends, the hydrogen vehicles will be returned to Hyundai rather than sold by the government as a used car to recoup some of the cost.

Bugatti – which is famous for producing high-performance fuel-guzzling hypercars – has given the strongest indication yet it plans to go all-electric in the not-too-distant future.

Mercedes-Benz Australia has recalled 13 examples of its GLA SUV in Australia, citing a potential fault with the airbag deployment system. The affected vehicles were sold between 1 June 2020 and 29 October 2020 (Model Year 2020).

Lexus quietly retired the CT200h this year, as production of the long-running Toyota Prius-based premium hatch ended after a decade. It's only natural then that as more Australian buyers gravitate towards SUVs, Lexus should offer a small, city-sized hybrid SUV as a range-opener to the Japanese luxury brand. Having now been established in the line-up for a few years, Lexus has added a number of minor changes to the UX range this year.

Lotus' first new sports car in over a decade will be unveiled tomorrow, it has been confirmed. A leaked event invite posted to Korean website Autospy confirms the new Lotus sports car, codenamed 'Type 131' will be unveiled in full on Tuesday, 27 April 2021. The leaked image reiterates earlier official teasers from January (shown below) that the new car's headlights will draw inspiration from the all-electric Evija hypercar.

EXCLUSIVE New details of the upcoming BYD electric hatchback – which importer Nexport claims will be sold in Australia for “well under $35,000” when it launches later this year – have been revealed exclusively to CarAdvice. The Chinese-built five-door – which was unveiled as the EA1 in China last week, but will be sold locally under a different nameplate – has a range of approximately 500km, according to Nexport founder Luke Todd.

Australia is on the brink of opening its third public refuelling station for hydrogen cars – in Brisbane, following recent openings in Melbourne and Canberra – and a second fleet of Hyundai Nexo vehicles has arrived in Sydney ahead of the next real-world trial of the future tech. Japanese car giant Toyota and South Korean conglomerate Hyundai launched hydrogen-car fleet trails in Australia within days of each other late last month.

UPDATE, 26 April 2021: Pricing for the new 2021 Hyundai Tucson has been released at last, with the new mid-size SUV to start from $34,500 before on-road costs. Our initial story below has been updated to include the new details. The 2021 Hyundai Tucson will be offered in a choice of three variants and three engines when it goes on sale in Australia in April 2021 – all offering the option of a sporty N Line styling package.

The FIA Formula E Championship descended into farce in Valencia, Spain, over the weekend, with around half the field running out of charge before the chequered flag fell. The chaos ensured after several Safety Car periods during the race. Under Formula E regulations, the amount of energy a driver may use is reduced when a Safety Car intervention is needed.

The 2022 Toyota LandCruiser 300 Series has leaked once again, ahead of its full global reveal in the coming weeks or months. Following last week's round of leaks, over a dozen images were posted online by Instagram user @shomegranbill on Sunday, with the new photos – understood to have been snapped at a Toyota shipping yard – showcasing the new LandCruiser 300 Series in a number of model variants, from a selection of different angles.

The 2021 GWM Baja Snake ute was developed with no input from Shelby, despite initial reports to the contrary. Unveiled at the 2021 Shanghai motor show last week, GWM's hardcore Baja Snake was purported to have been developed in collaboration with legendary American muscle car tuner Shelby, with input from the US outfit likely centring around the dual-cab's mechanical upgrades.

The Kia Seltos is edgy, good-looking and packs plenty of features, but can it stand tall in the crowded small-SUV segment?

The 2022 BMW iX3 electric SUV is now available to reserve in Australia, ahead of first local deliveries in the fourth quarter of 2021 – though pricing has yet to be announced. Interested buyers can place a $500 deposit on an iX3 via the BMW Shop website, with reservation holders then able to specify their vehicle through their selected BMW dealer later in 2021, ahead of first customer deliveries in the fourth quarter of the year (October to December inclusive).

We know there’s a new Ford Ranger due next year, and we know that as models prepare to dip out, some of the best variants tend to become available. In this case, the 2021 Ford Ranger FX4 Max is an example of the good stuff that surfaces at the end of a run. We’ve seen the FX4 before, as a decal-tuning pack based off the already decent Ranger XLT. This time, though, the FX4 Max is a bit more than just embossed trim and black wheels. Okay, so it has those extras, too.

Alfa Romeo has announced it will kill its in-house 'Giorgio' vehicle architecture, due to it never being designed to accommodate electrified powertrains – despite the company spending more than a billion dollars on its development the previous decade.

The Zhejiang Geely Holding Group – perhaps better known simply as Geely – has unveiled a new marque at the Shanghai motor show, positioned to take on a raft of established performance divisions with a range of EVs. Called Zeekr, the new brand joins Geely’s portfolio of brands which already includes Volvo, Polestar, Lotus, Proton and lesser known brands like Lynk & Co, Geometry, and LEVC – the maker of London cabs.

Here’s proof that history really does repeat itself. Jaguar and Aston Martin might have kicked off the modern trend for ‘continuation’ versions of some of their greatest hits, but Bentley has taken it to an entirely new level by heading much further back in time.

As far as medium-sized German sedans go, the recently facelifted Audi A4 is the cheapest of the bunch. The entry 35 TFSI model kicks off from $55,900 before on-roads.

Honda has committed to ceasing production of petrol and diesel engines globally by 2040, as part of a new brand-wide electrification strategy. 40 per cent of Honda sales in "all major markets of electrification" will be made up of all-electric (EVs) and hydrogen fuel-cell electric vehicles (FCEVs) by 2030, increasing to 80 per cent in 2035, ahead of the 100 per cent target set for 2040 – though only the lattermost deadline applies globally, with Australia included.

The 2021 Shanghai motor show offered its fair share of oddities, and certainly the names of debut models kept Western audiences asking what was in the water at Shanghai. In this instance GWM’s dedicated EV brand, Ora rolled out the Lightning Cat – only to have most of its attention hogged by the endearingly Beetle-like Punk Cat.

Mercedes-Benz Australia has recalled 719 examples of its C-Class, GLC, and EQC model variants, citing a fault with the steering control unit. The affected vehicles were sold between 3 February 2020 and 31 July 2021 (model year 2020).

Mattel, the maker of Matchbox toy cars, has committed to going carbon neutral by 2030, with everything from the toy’s packaging to the toy car itself made from 99 per cent recycled materials, certified carbon-neutral.

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? The 2022 GMC Hummer EV may be a gargantuan thing, but that doesn’t mean it can’t be nimble.

It’s no secret the previous-generation Nissan 370Z was long in the tooth, having graced Nissan dealerships for a whopping 12 years without substantial updates or facelifts. Nissan’s long lead time from a late 2020 first look at its next-generation Z-car toward a 2022 unveil has us at CarAdvice sitting on the edge of our seats too.

Take away any of the distractions of the modern world. Strip away the distractions, the real-world realities, and what are you left with – what does your perfect existence entail? For motoring enthusiasts it’s simple, and probably looks a lot like this car, the 2021 Porsche 718 Cayman GTS, complete with screaming naturally aspirated engine mounted in the middle, and a six-speed manual to send power to the rear wheels.

Six months and over 6000km later, we bid farewell to our G70. What did the team think?

In stark contrast to some other manufacturers, Porsche still holds a special place in its heart for its back catalogue of classic cars. That’s why it’s announced a new competition held among its United States dealership network to see which workshop will win the 2021 Porsche Classic Restoration Challenge.

A sports car, a driverless luxury sedan and an ungainly electric vehicle (EV) were all shown on the Hongqi stand at the Shanghai motor show, signalling a significant expansion for the brand. China’s domestic market Hongqi brand, which translates as 'red flag', has traditionally concentrated on its grand flagship sedans, namely retro-styled large cars built around space and comfort for occupants.

The 2021 Ford Ranger line-up has been expanded with the introduction of a new 4x2 XL Sport dual cab variant (shown above). Meanwhile, the existing Ranger 4x4 XL Heavy Duty Special Edition has received significant upgrades, adaptive cruise control now comes standard on all Ranger XLT variants, and 4x4 XL models are now available with Ford’s powerful bi-turbo powertrain option for the first time.

There’s something satisfying about reaching the outskirts of Sydney and seeing a fuel consumption reading of 0.0L/100km. It wasn’t to last, but after around 40km of driving as we set off on our road trip in our long-term 2021 Volvo XC40 Recharge, the fact we’d used no fossil fuel was deeply pleasing. A quick recap. Swedish brand Volvo has committed to electrifying its entire rage of vehicles by 2025, offering either full electric or plug-in hybrid variants across its line-up of cars and SUVs.

Tesla boss Elon Musk has broken his silence over a deadly Tesla crash in Texas – in which two occupants were killed after it appeared one of them was attempting to operate the vehicle on autopilot and had vacated the driver seat. And respected consumer advocacy group Consumer Reports has disputed claims by Tesla that its Autopilot function does not work without someone in the driver’s seat – discovering that the system can be “tricked”.

The 2021 Volkswagen Talagon – which is believed to be the brand's largest ever SUV – was unveiled earlier this week at the 2021 Shanghai motor show. Underpinned by the VW Group's versatile 'MQB' platform, the imposing seven-seater reportedly measures 5152mm from nose to tail. It is 2002mm wide and stands 1795mm tall, giving it similar overall proportions to the Mercedes-Benz GLS, BMW X7, Land Rover Discovery, or Lexus LX570.

The 2022 Hyundai Kona N has appeared on social media a week before its official unveiling. The small performance SUV from Hyundai was posted to Instagram by user bindin, and appears to be the very same Kona N spied during a film shoot in March 2021. The Korean car brand has confirmed a 2.0-litre turbo four-cylinder will power the Kona N, sent to the front wheels through an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. MORE: 2021 Hyundai Kona N spied undisguised

The 2021 Geely Xingyue L has been revealed at the 2021 Shanghai motor show. The five-seat large SUV is built upon Geely's (and subsidiary Volvo’s) shared Compact Modular Architecture, which also underpins the Volvo XC40 small SUV and sits below Geely’s current model line-up. It appears Geely has also borrowed the “Expanding Cosmos” front grille from Volvo sub-brand Polestar, which is flanked by a set of new LED matrix headlights allowing for customisable lighting effects.

Car batteries across Australia are conking out as the weather turns cold, with figures obtained by CarAdvice revealing a sharp spike in roadside assistance calls for jump starts in the lead up to winter. Data from 2020 supplied by Australia’s three largest roadside assistance providers – the NRMA, the RACV and RACQ – show a clear increase in callouts for flat batteries at this time of year.

Lincoln China has revived the Zephyr nameplate by unveiling the new Zephyr Reflection concept car at the 2021 Shanghai motor show, intended solely for the Chinese market. It is said to precede an eventual production four-door sedan slated to debut later in 2021, and is designed to preview Lincoln’s future styling strategy and technology showcase.

A new survey published by Automotive Touch Up has revealed the most popular makes and models in (almost) every country – and the results may surprise you. As many may already be aware, Toyota and its HiLux ute reign supreme in Australia.

When we first tested the Kia Stonic a couple of months ago, the city SUV had only just arrived in dealerships – and only selected models were available. The original launch review cars were the top-of-the-range Kia Stonic GT-Line powered by a turbocharged 1.0-litre three-cylinder engine (74kW/172Nm) matched to a seven-speed twin-clutch automatic.

This is it! Meet the 2022 Toyota LandCruiser 300 Series free of camouflage, thanks to a pair of leaked images published online this evening. The new images show a fleet of Toyota's new-generation LandCruiser four-wheel-drives parked in a shipping yard, sitting all but undisguised with only a light shipping film over one vehicle's bonnet.

Meet the 2021 Toyota Mirai FCEV, an electric vehicle that takes its power not from a wall socket, but rather generates it on board using a hydrogen fuel cell. The technology itself may be unfamiliar to most motorists, but for Toyota this is its second ‘production’ hydrogen fuel-cell vehicle. It’s available alongside similar vehicles like the Honda Clarity in overseas markets and the Hyundai Nexo, which has entered a pilot program in Australia.

In 2011, P-platers or those on the very tightest of budgets were relatively spoiled for choice in the new-car market. For vehicles priced below $20,000, there were 170 variants available across 33 models from 21 brands. Fast-forward a decade, and the market is a fairly depressing sight for the slim-walleted: just 19 variants available for less than $20,000 – covering just nine models and six brands. Make that nine variants and five models if you want an automatic transmission.

Cars are incredibly complex. Even the most basic and affordable forms of vehicles feature a list of acronyms longer than your arm. Jump into any one of our reviews on CarAdvice and you'll see phrases like AEB, LKA, RCTA and BSD likely strewn throughout. Despite paying for them and acknowledging their existence, some of the most important advanced driver assist technologies you don't actually want to see work – unless you're in a controlled environment.

Australian pricing and specifications for the facelifted Mini Hatch and Convertible ranges have been announced, ahead of their local launches in the third quarter of 2021.

Australian pricing and specifications for the 2021 Alfa Romeo Stelvio Sport have been announced, with the large SUV now available in local showrooms from $69,450 plus on-road costs. The new sport-themed variant ushers in the mid-life update for Alfa Romeo's maiden SUV, ahead of the arrival of the wider range in the third quarter of 2021, set to include the sporty Veloce (formerly Ti) and high-performance range-topping Quadrifoglio.

The 2021 Peugeot 308 won't be available with a digital instrument cluster for the time being. French news organisation LCI says the global semiconductor chip shortage has forced Peugeot to revert back to analogue gauges in the 308, as the car maker begins to ration its supply of the computer chips. "It's a nifty and agile way of getting around a real hurdle for car production, until the chips crisis ends," a spokesperson for Peugeot parent company Stellantis told news outlet Reuters.

Every new Cadillac model will be electric, with the company phasing out petrol-powered vehicles by 2030. Global Vice President of Cadillac Rory Harvey said from this point forward, the premium American car maker would only be unveiling battery-powered models. The comments came during the virtual launch of the 2023 Cadillac Lyriq SUV – the brand's first all-electric vehicle, offering 255kW, 440Nm, and a range of more than 483km from a single charge.

The Mercedes-Benz Concept EQT has been teased, ahead of its full unveiling on May 10. Previewed in a shadowy, stylised image overnight, the Concept EQT will serve as a "near-production" preview of an electric version of Mercedes-Benz's upcoming T-Class van-based people mover (teased in July 2020), set to share its underpinnings with the new-generation Renault Kangoo van that's bound for Australia.

The facelifted 2022 Volkswagen Polo has been officially unveiled, ahead of its Australian launch in the first quarter of 2022. Changes are concentrated on the styling front, with the Polo gaining a revised front-end with new headlights loosely inspired by the larger Golf, connected across the slimmer grille by an LED light strip similar to other Volkswagen vehicles. LED headlights are now standard in Europe, with matrix LED units available as an option for the first time.

An electric-car lobby group – including automotive giants Volkswagen and Hyundai – has launched a fresh attack on the Victorian Government’s plan to introduce a special tax on electric vehicles.

The 2023 Cadillac Lyriq has been officially revealed, ahead of its US launch in the first half of 2022. First previewed by a 2020 concept of the same name, the Lyriq will launch as Cadillac's first all-electric vehicle, with the large luxury SUV to ride on General Motors' new Ultium modular battery architecture.

A "special version" of the 2021 Ferrari 812 has been revealed in first official images, ahead of its full unveiling on 5 May 2021, at 10:30pm AEST. While the upcoming supercar's name has yet to be officially confirmed – with media unofficially dubbing the model 'VS', short for 'Versione Speciale' (special version in Italian) – Ferrari has confirmed it will sit above the current 812 Superfast in its range, as the "ultimate expression" of the brand's front-engined coupes.

Chinese telecommunications giant Huawei has unveiled its first car. Huawei pulled the wraps off a partnership with automotive brand Seres at the 2021 Shanghai motor show, with its first car, the freshly-updated Seres SF5, to be sold and marketed by Huawei throughout its stores in China. A joint development between Huawei and Seres, the range-topping SF5's two electric motors develop 405kW and 820Nm, with a 1.5-litre four-cylinder engine acting as a range-extending generator.

There's a lot of science involved in choosing a new car name. Some manufacturers employ external brand companies, while others take inspiration from within. For example, the Ford Taurus was named by two of the company's executives – after their wives' star signs. We've seen some doozies in the past. Who could forget when Mazda brought out the 'Titan Dump', or when Subaru named its Brumby ute the 'Brat' in the US? You have to wonder where these manufacturers got their inspiration from.

The 2021 Audi RS5 Sportback and I got off on the wrong foot. My last experience with an Audi RS5 involved the previous generation – with its wonderful naturally aspirated V8. Awfully similar to the engine used in the Audi R8 supercar of the same era, it remains till this day a remarkably charismatic powertrain.

Australian pricing and specifications for the 2021 Maserati Ghibli Hybrid have been announced, as the large sedan begins to arrive in local showrooms. The vehicle – which is Maserati’s first ever electrified model – starts from $139,990 plus on-road costs for an entry-level, 'no badge' model. Meanwhile, the range-topping Hybrid GranLusso (luxury-focused) and Hybrid GranSport (performance-focused) variants are both priced from $163,990 plus on-road costs.

Barely a day passes in the automotive world we don’t hear news about 'autonomous this' and 'assistance that', and you could be forgiven for thinking that the role of the driver is becoming less relevant than it once was. While technology is working on making routine driving easier and safer, we can see manufacturers also using technology to make driving more fun.

EXCLUSIVE Car manufacturing is set to return to Australia with one of the most iconic names in motorsport. A top-secret road-going supercar – to rival the likes of Ferrari, McLaren, and Lamborghini – is currently being developed by local manufacturer Brabham Automotive. “We will be releasing a new road vehicle ... [and it is] our intention is for that vehicle to be built in Australia," the company's CEO, Dan Marks, revealed to CarAdvice.