CAR ADVICE

It’s almost unfathomable to think 10 years ago we were using CD players, how the times have changed inside our cars thanks to one key piece of technology. It’s hard to think of a piece of technology that has had a greater impact on how we use and drive our cars over the years than Apple CarPlay – which this year turns 10 years-old. It has revolutionised what we are able to do within our vehicles, providing integration of everything from messaging and calling functionality to podcasts and music between your smartphone and your car – all without having to even attempt to learn how to use any native features it might already have, or worry about switching CDs. While some brands offer it via a wired connection using a USB port, others have upgraded to wireless – allowing smartphone projection via Bluetooth. In fact, it has become such a staple in our lives these days, that a recent survey by management consulting firm McKinsey & Company found roughly a third of new-car buyers

More hybrids and electric cars mean petrol-only cars are moving down the sales charts – but diesel sales remain as strong as ever. New car data shows Australians are buying fewer petrol-only vehicles, while sales for hybrid, electric, and diesel models continue to grow. The latest VFACTS data from the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI) shows petrol continues to be one of the only fuel types on the decline – with both buyers and manufacturers dropping petrol models in favour of electrified models. While sales data from Europe shows lower demand for both petrol and diesel vehicles, Australian new-car buyers are continuing to purchase diesels – as the Ford Ranger and Toyota HiLux utes repeatedly dominate sales charts each month. Data compiled by Drive shows sales of new diesels – including passenger cars and light commercial vehicles – have increased by 3 per cent in the past five years, while sales of petrol-only models have dropped by 19 per cent. But while

Most car companies charge $500 to $1000 for premium paint, but Tesla has attached a $2600 price tag to the Model 3’s new Quicksilver paint option. The Tesla Model 3 has gained a new optional extra from the top-selling Model Y SUV nine months after a comprehensive facelift which brought new styling and technology. But it is not a piece of technology, or a performance boost – rather a new coat of paint. The Quicksilver finish introduced by Tesla on the Model Y in Australia earlier this year – and Europe two years ago – is now available on the Model 3 sedan in markets such as Australia, where the Chinese-made version is sold. It is a $2600 option in Australia, as with the Ultra Red hero colour. White remains the no-cost paint choice, with Stealth Grey, Solid Black and Deep Blue also available as cheaper cost options than silver or red. Tesla has historically charged far more for its ‘premium’ paint colours than rival brands. Volvo includes metallic paint in the base

There are plenty of cars that can look expensive but are actually budget options; but what if you want to show your wealth in a sneaky way? These are our top five ‘stealth wealth’ cars. The age-old saying goes, “Money talks, wealth whispers.” This is clear from some of the richest people in the world’s consistent use of jeans and a T-shirt or their driving of an old car. RELATED: Top five cars under $5000 that make you look ‘rich’ Perhaps one of the most flamboyant ways to show off your net worth is to go out and purchase the loudest and most expensive sports car you can find — and there are plenty of them. While the self-proclaimed ‘rich’ may buy themselves a somewhat expensive sports car, like an Alfa Romeo 4C or a Porsche 718 Cayman, the true elite and super wealthy are sometimes found cruising around in cars you would never expect to carry the price tag that they do. If you want to show off your wealth to other wealthy people, then these are the cars you should conside

The Japanese auto giant is reportedly in talks with Shanghai officials about building a factory for its Lexus-badged electric vehicles. Toyota is reportedly in talks with Shanghai authorities to build an electric vehicle factory for its Lexus brand EVs in China. According to global news outlet Bloomberg , unnamed sources “familiar with the matter” claimed the Japanese auto giant is seeking a “similar treatment” to Tesla – which is said to include benefits like tax breaks, policy support, land grants, and most notably, complete ownership of its factory without local investment and partnerships. In a report by local newspaper ChinaPEV ,  Shanghai officials are reportedly “eager to attract” large overseas companies like Toyota to increase the city’s foreign investments – with the project relying on the central government for approval. Toyota has yet to make an official statement regarding its plans to build a Lexus EV factory in the country.   Despite the Japanese auto

The pint-sized Hyundai Excel took Australia by storm and for one brief shining moment in 1998, was Australia’s best-selling car of any kind. Original story by Tony Davis first published in the Sydney Morning Herald on 1 July, 1994. If ever they start selling cars in supermarkets, wrapped up in black and gold packaging, those cars may well be examples of the latest Hyundai. RELATED: The Australian car so good it was doomed to failure Because with the 1994/95 Hyundai Excel, South Korea’s Hyundai Motor Company has come perhaps closer than anyone to producing the generic small car. Is that a criticism? Not necessarily. Like its forebear, the new model – to be launched in Australia in October – will undoubtedly prove to be tough, dependable, well equipped and price-competitive. It will also be covered by one of the longest warranties in the business: three years or 100,000 kilometres. It’s true that no enthusiasts’ club will ever be formed to ruminate on the special virt

Plug-in hybrid Ferrari models will be able to have their batteries replaced at the eight and 16-year mark – provided owners pay more than $11,000 annually, under two extended warranty programs announced. Owners of hybrid Ferrari models will be able to have their vehicles’ batteries swapped at set dates under two new programs announced by the Italian supercar brand. Ferrari has introduced the Warranty Extension Hybrid for owners of plug-in hybrid models, which – when purchased for eight years after the car is sold – will entitle them to have the battery pack replaced at no additional cost. The program allows the owner to extend the factory warranty to eight years, covering the entirety of the car. Picking up where the Warranty Extension Hybrid stops, the Power Hybrid program allows the warranty to be extended for all major powertrain components – meaning the engine, gearbox, battery, and electric motors – from the year eight to year 16, at which point Ferrari will again re

A growing number of fires breaking out across Australia has the nation’s consumer advocate worried. Dangers posed by the type of batteries used in most electric cars, e-scooters and e-bikes will be a top priority for Australia’s safety watchdog this year as the number of fires caused by them rockets. Risks associated with the use of emerging technology such as lithium-ion batteries will be a key focus for the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC)  during 2024-25, the organisation has revealed. Rechargeable lithium-ion batteries are the most widespread portable energy storage solution globally and are used in a wide range of consumer products from personal devices such as mobile phones and laptops to transportation such as e-bikes, e-scooters and electric vehicles . Chairwoman Gina Cass-Gottlieb said the ACCC has to protect consumers from unsafe products, with lithium-ion batteries blamed for a growing number of fires worldwide involving electric cars and e-

Audi’s new-gen electric cars will start rolling out next year with the Q6 e-tron, slotting in above the Q4 e-tron and below the Q8 e-tron. Audi Australia’s next salvo in the electric car race will land in the first half of 2025 in the form of the Q6 e-tron – a mid-sized electric SUV aimed at stealing sales from the BMW iX3. Revealed earlier this year, the Q6 e-tron measures 4771mm long, 1939mm wide, 1648mm tall, and with a 2899mm wheelbase, making it slightly larger in all dimensions than its petrol- and diesel-powered Q5 stablemate, but also lower. As a premium mid-sized family SUV with seating for five, the Q6 e-tron also features a 526-litre boot, with a false floor for charging cables, as well as a 64L front boot for smaller items. The first two variants to land are expected to the Q6 e-tron quattro and performance-honed SQ6 e-tron, both featuring all-wheel-drive and a large 100kWh capacity battery. The former outputs 285kW, while the latter has 380kW at its disposal,

Buyers of pint-sized ‘kei’ cars imported from Japan have been left in limbo after Australian regulators discovered they had wrongly approved hundreds of examples for road use despite not meeting new safety rules. EXCLUSIVE The Australian Government has slammed the brakes on a number of popular imported ‘kei’ cars – a class of ultra-small vehicles from Japan – after it was found they were mistakenly approved for local roads, and do not meet strict crash-safety regulations. Federal regulators have discovered that over the past two years, they have wrongly certified thousands of kei cars as meeting strict rules for side-impact crash safety which are more stringent in Australia than in Japan. Hundreds of customers waiting for kei cars have at points in the process been left in limbo after the documents needed to certify them for local roads were suspended by the Federal Government. The thousands of examples already on local roads are not planned to be recalled, federal r