CAR ADVICE

The Kia EV6 is high on the list of the cars we’re most excited to drive in 2022. Here’s how members of the Drive team would spec theirs. Customisation is in vogue at the moment, but choice can be seriously confusing. In our configurator challenge, we let the  Drive  team loose on a manufacturer’s website to create their ideal combination for a certain model. To celebrate the new year, this week’s challenge centres around one of the most anticipated new cars of the year, the all-electric Kia EV6 – due in showrooms in base and GT-Line guise in February or March, followed by the flagship GT in late 2022 or early 2023. Let us know what your ideal Kia EV6 would look like in the comments section below, and the cars you’d like us to configure next. Kez Casey, Production Editor Call me crazy, because the performance potential of the EV6 GT is rather exciting – but I reckon I’d do just fine with the regular entry-level EV6 – not only that, but whe...

With 2021 done and dusted, it’s time to look at the cars we lost during the course of that eventful year. While 2021 was host to a slew of important new car model launches, it also saw a number of favourites depart Australia. From manual transmission options and specific variants being dropped, to a new Australian Design Rule that killed up to six different models, here’s a summary of every new car that left Australian showrooms – or had its local axing announced – in 2021. Note: This story focuses on cars that had their discontinuations announced in 2021, rather than their last new example sold (such as the Jaguar XJ, Toyota FJ Cruiser or Subaru Liberty). Models that are being directly replaced by a new-generation vehicle with an identical name will not be counted as discontinued – but those that are substantially different vehicles with new names will. Alfa Romeo 4C Alfa Romeo discontinued its lightweight 4C sports car earlier in 2021, after up to six years...

The Lotus marque’s electric assault will continue in 2022, with the brand expected to unveil the much-anticipated Type 132 SUV – joining the petrol-powered Emira sports car. Lotus has come out of 2021 with strong sales results, up 35.4 per cent year-on-year with a total of 65 vehicles sold (not including December data). This year the brand continued development its electric hypercar, the Lotus Evija, and revealed its last petrol-powered car, the Emira. In 2022 the brand is expected to unveil its first SUV, the Type 132 – though it is yet to be confirmed for Australian shores. Teaser videos of the Type 132 were revealed at the beginning of November, with the clips shot in dim lighting revealing lidar sensors, an active grille shutter device and carbon-fibre highlights. The model will be revealed in full – wearing its production nameplate – between March and May 2022. The Emira is also set to roll out in 2022, in V6 First Edition trim. Two engine options are expecte...

Japanese luxury car manufacturer Lexus will continue its electric onslaught into 2022 with hybrid variants of the new NX, but will also update long-time favourites with the Lexus LX large SUV and LC sports car. Lexus is set to introduce at least four models in 2022, kicking off proceedings in January with the next-generation NX mid-size SUV. Also new for the brand is the upgrade of its new car warranty to five years, with unlimited kilometres. Priced from $60,800 before on-road costs for the entry-level NX250 Luxury, the Australian Lexus NX line-up will comprise three core powertrains: NX250, NX350 and NX350h. Drilling down further, Luxury, F Sport, and Sports Luxury trim packages will be available. Standard on the entry-level model is a 9.8-inch touchscreen, LED headlights, 18-inch alloy wheels, keyless entry, dual-zone climate control, and a power tailgate. Adding to that, the Lexus NX range will introduce the brand’s first plug-in hybrid model, the NX450h+. It’ll bec...

LDV has had a successful year in Australia, thanks largely to the value offered by its dual-cab and van offerings in a commercial sector that looks more at value for money than ever before. Last year (2021) was a big year for LDV in our local market. Back in October, we reported that its T60 dual-cab had overtaken the Mitsubishi Triton in the sales race. That news was backed up – also in October – with the Deliver 9 van moving into second place in the heavy-duty van sales race. It’s impressive for a brand that didn’t even exist in Australia not so long ago. Later in 2021, LDV updated the T60 with the Max – a power-boosted dual-cab that continued to build on an already value-packed platform – before lifting prices by up to $2500 on the popular Deliver 9 and G10 vans. This year (2022) looks like being a slightly quieter year for LDV in Australia, with a new model mooted, likely a van, but no more information currently available. Stay tuned to Drive for any details as...

The more things change, the more they stay the same, or so the saying goes. The dual-cab segment in Australia continues to forge ahead, and Nissan’s Navara is a stronger offering than it’s been for some time. Trent Nikolic takes an on-road-focused look at the Pro-4X. What we love Punchy engine and competent automatic Cabin has a passenger car ambience Coil springs work nicely unladen around town What we don’t Wheel needs reach as well as height adjustment Driver’s seat should be height-adjustable Price has now crept into the $60K zone Introduction Sitting above the ST-X, Pro-4X is now the king of the Navara range – aside from the off-road-focused Pro-4X Warrior of course. However, when it comes to what we’d call the ‘regular’ dual-cab range, the 2021 Nissan Navara Pro-4X is the top of the pile. Whether it’s worth the $65,290 asking price or not is a moot point. At the time of testing, that price is a drive-away deal. But, the que...