CAR ADVICE

A security breach at a key supplier of the world’s biggest car maker has brought production to a grinding halt, but it’s not yet clear who is responsible. Automotive giant Toyota has been forced to shut all 14 of its factories in Japan, after key parts supplier Kojima Industries was the target of a major cyberattack overnight – however, it’s so far unclear how Australian supply will be affected. The digital security breach came just hours after the Japanese government announced new sanctions on Russia as well as plans to supply Ukraine with $US100 million in military aid, and local authorities have not ruled out the involvement of malicious foreign actors. “It is difficult to say whether this has anything to do with Russia before making thorough checks,” Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida told reporters, according to Forbes . However, experts from Nozomi Networks – a US-based software firm – have suggested “typical ransomware” is a more probable explanati...

Nissan’s smallest SUV has gained a hybrid variant, employing Renault petrol-electric technology to rival the Toyota Yaris Cross – but there are no plans for an Australian launch. The 2022 Nissan Juke Hybrid has been revealed for the European market, but it’s not headed for Australian showrooms. Whereas the hybrid versions of Nissan’s latest-generation Qashqai small and X-Trail mid-size SUVs use the Japanese brand’s E-Power technology – which uses the petrol engine as a generator for the electric motor – the Juke Hybrid borrows its mechanicals from the related European-market Renault Captur E-Tech hybrid . That sees a 69kW/148Nm 1.6-litre non-turbo four-cylinder petrol engine paired with two electric motors – one developing 36kW/205Nm, and the other a 15kW ‘starter generator’ akin to what’s usually found in a lesser mild-hybrid system – and a compact 1.2kWh battery. Nissan claims a combined output of approximately 105kW , sent to the front wheel...

It’s currently unclear if Australian supply of the BMW-built cars will be affected. British BMW subsidiary Mini has been forced to shut up shop at its Oxford factory due to the ongoing semiconductor chip shortage – however, it’s so far unclear if Australian supply will be affected. Semiconductor chips are small sheets of silicon required for the production of electronics, and the average car uses between 300 and 3000 in LED lights, electronic windows, reversing cameras, airbag deployment systems, infotainment screens, and onboard computers.  In late 2020 international supply became severely compromised, with demand significantly outstripping supply due to a wide range of factors ( click here to read more ). An official statement from the Mini marque given to overseas media earlier this week said: “As a result of the global semiconductor shortage – an issue that has affected the entire automotive industry for the last year – Plant Oxford is making some short-term ad...

The Isuzu D-Max and Mazda BT-50 tied for Australia’s most coveted dual-cab award. Here’s why. The contest was so tight this year, we have two winners in the 2022 Drive Car of the Year Best Dual-Cab Ute category – for the first time in the history of the award. It is not because we are sitting on the fence. Rather it’s an indication of the level of competition in this segment – and the similarities between these two jointly developed utes. The Isuzu D-Max and Mazda BT-50 are twins under the skin, with identical engines and transmissions, suspension settings, safety technology, and infotainment systems. In fact, the only major difference is the external appearance, with each vehicle wearing body panels styled to fit within their respective brand’s broader range. One clear example of this is the identical bi-LED headlight technology packaged in different-looking housings. One is a sleek Mazda design, the other has a truck-like Isuzu appearance, but the spread of the b...

South Korean brothers from other mothers go head-to-head in an all-new EV showdown. Does the new Kia EV6 have what it takes to topple the related Hyundai Ioniq 5? Tom Fraser and Rob Margeit find out. Overview South Korean partner brands Hyundai and Kia are having a belter time in the sunshine at the moment. Both have introduced new volume seller mid-size SUVs in the last year, but to really excel towards the future, each manufacturer has released an all-new electric SUV. Sized roughly the same as the Tucson and Sportage, Hyundai’s Ioniq 5 and Kia’s EV6 respectively represent the pinnacle of each brand’s model hierarchy. Many parallels can be drawn between the two newcomer electric vehicles (EV) that share the same all-new E-GMP platform, making a comparison between the two necessary. That said, Hyundai and Kia have positioned their models slightly differently: Hyundai’s Ioniq 5 is sold as part of a two-strong range beginning at $71,900 and ending at $75,900 , wh...