CAR ADVICE

UPDATE, 1 June 2021: Subaru Australia is aiming to begin deliveries of the BRZ sports car in December of this year, a spokesperson for the brand has confirmed to CarAdvice. 3 May 2021: The 2022 Subaru BRZ will launch in Australia in the fourth quarter of 2021 (October to December inclusive), with customers interested in the new sports car now able to register their interest.

UPDATE, 1 June 2021: Rolls-Royce will launch an "all-new" model wearing the 'Silent Shadow' nameplate, CEO Torsten Mueller-Oetvoes reportedly told Bloomberg overnight. Mr Mueller-Oetvoes simultaneously confirmed rumours the brand was working on an electric car, and strongly insinuated this was the vehicle that would wear the aforementioned badge.

The 2021 Hyundai Staria people-mover will go on sale in Australia by the end of August 2021 with eight seats as standard, advanced technology, a choice of petrol or diesel power, and available all-wheel drive.

Handing back a long-term loan car isn’t always easy. Case in point, the 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLS450 has been my faithful companion for the past six months or so. It was a pretty interesting time too, what with summer, winter, lockdowns, curfews and Melbourne’s infamous traffic experienced at polar opposite ends of the scale. And, like a faithful hound over some 6500km, the GLS has been there through thick and thin, and I think it’s pretty fair to say I’ve grown pretty fond of the big bus.

Australians may still be in shock over the sudden axing of the Holden brand – and the closure of more than 200 Holden dealerships – but overhauls to franchise laws announced today will make it harder for multinational car companies to close local showrooms and service centres. The changes – which come into force from 1 July 2021 – mean new-car buyers can shop with certainty knowing their local car showroom and service centre can only be shut down in special circumstances.

The Toyota Fortuner four-wheel-drive is about to receive the same technology updates also planned for its twin under the skin, the Toyota HiLux ute. As reported by CarAdvice earlier, from August 2021 production onwards all variants of the Toyota HiLux ute will gain vehicle tracking technology to thwart thieves, an automatic SOS service that activates after a serious crash, the SR5 model grade and above will gain dual zone air-conditioning, and the flagship Rogue will gain a 360-degree camera.

And while these three contenders are all guilty as charged, they go about their own respective business in very different ways. Ford’s Ranger Raptor is a high-performance four-wheel-drive ute, while Jeep has applied their time-honoured off-road chassis into their own new Gladiator ute. And Land Rover’s new Defender is the British off-road icon, completely reimagined through a modern lens.

The 2022 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross PHEV mid-size SUV will launch in Australia this August with a choice of three variants, it has been confirmed. A plug-in hybrid (PHEV) version of Mitsubishi's recently-facelifted mid-size SUV, the Eclipse Cross PHEV will reach Australian showrooms in July or August – pending no further delays due to COVID-19 or the semiconductor shortage – a spokesperson for the brand confirmed to CarAdvice.

The upcoming 2021 Genesis G70 Shooting Brake wagon won't offer the potent 3.3-litre twin-turbocharged V6 featured in its sedan sibling, new overseas reports suggest. Online publication The Korean Car Blog reports the G70 Shooting Brake will be offered solely with a choice of 185kW/353Nm 2.0-litre turbo-petrol and 149kW/441Nm 2.2-litre turbo-diesel four-cylinder engines, with the Genesis sedan's 274kW/510Nm 3.3-litre twin-turbo V6 not set to be an option on the long-roof.

The Honda Sports EV electric sports car concept could reach production some five years after it was first shown, according to new reports out of Japan. Japanese publication Car Sensor claims Honda could be preparing a road-going version of its Sports EV Concept of late 2017, set for launch as early as 2022 using rear-wheel-drive underpinnings shared with the Honda E electric city car.

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.

Gorgeous from any angle, the2021 Alfa Romeo Giulia Sportdoesn’t need to win over the purists – that mountain has already been climbed. The ‘Alfisti’, as they are known, were on board from the minute the Giulia first broke cover. Now with more standard equipment and sharper value, it needs to go to work on buyers who might have previously overlooked the stylish Italian sedan. Market share is, after all, the stock and trade of a successful vehicle in any segment.

As I sidle up, next to the 2021 Aston Martin DBX, I’ll tell you one thing that doesn’t immediately jump to mind: “I need to head off-road in this thing.” Yet, that’s exactly what we did on a recent Australian drive of the brand’s flagship, all-purpose SUV. It’s definitely a first for me – I’ve never driven any vehicle with an Aston Martin badge on anything more challenging than a gravel driveway. Usually toward a castle in England. For an exclusive lunch.

A little-known Chinese brand is poised to introduce Australia's newest electric van – which will also be the cheapest electric car on sale to date. TrueGreen Mobility – the Australian importer for Chinese automotive brand BYD – has confirmed plans to bring the T3 electric van onto the local market for “less than $35,000.”

It started with a casual chat with my Melbourne-based mum at the end of COVID-19 lockdowns. Her partner’s old E-Class had been parked on the street for months, registration lapsed and gathering leaves at a prodigious rate. As lockdown restrictions eased, council patrols increased, culminating with the dreaded ‘This vehicle is unregistered. You have seven days to move it or it will be towed blah blah blah’ sticker slapped on the windscreen. Mum: ‘I think we’ll just sell it to a wrecker.’

The 2022 Bentley Bentayga S has been unveiled, ahead of its Australian launch in the first quarter of 2022 (January to March inclusive). Based on the 'standard' Bentayga V8, the new S variant of Bentley's facelifted SUV aims to deliver "an even more engaging drive" than its donor through an array of chassis tweaks and changes under the skin.

The Genesis G80 sedan – and its predecessor, the Hyundai Genesis – have been recalled, due to the same fire risk affecting 57,851 vehicles built by sister company Kia earlier this month, and 93,572 Hyundai Tucsons in February. The 124 recalled Genesis G80s were sold between 1 October 2017 and 31 January 2020 (Model Years 2018), while the 1203 recalled Hyundai Genesis models were sold between 1 October 2014 and 30 June 2017 (Model Years 2015-2017).

Ford is reportedly working on a force-inducted version of its massive 7.3-litre 'Godzilla' V8 engine which would likely be sold as a crate motor. According to sources close to development, Ford Authority reports the pushrod powerplant will offer a twin-turbocharged variant and is currently being tested in at least two Ford Super Duty pick-up trucks.

The next-generation 2022 Kia Sportage mid-size SUV has been teased for the first time, ahead of its full reveal in July 2021, and an Australian launch by the end of 2021. A trio of darkened teaser images released by Kia provide our first glimpse at the new Sportage design free of camouflage, confirming the bold front fascia with stylised LED daytime-running lights first previewed in spy shots and artist renderings in recent months.

The 2021 Lexus LC has gained a new, more exclusive Inspiration Series coupe grade – but you'll have to be one of a lucky limited few to get behind the wheel of one. Limited to "fewer than five units" Down Under, the LC Inspiration Series is now available to order through Australian Lexus showrooms, priced from $219,393 before on-road costs in V8-powered LC500 form, or $219,553 before on-roads in fuel-sipping LC500h guise – with both variants offered exclusively as fixed-roof coupes.

Toyota is posted to introduce technology that aims to slam the brakes on thefts of one of Australia’s most stolen cars. As reported exclusively by CarAdvice last year, thefts of the Toyota HiLux ute have more than doubled over the past 10 years as the vehicle has become more popular. The Toyota HiLux ute has been Australia’s top-selling car for the past five years in a row and is on track to notch up a sixth annual win in 2021.

The first Volvo-based Polestar electric car is due on sale locally later this year with the first deliveries expected in early 2022. However, Australian customers will likely be forced to pay fixed prices. This week's announcement about the imminent arrival of the relatively new Polestar brand came as a surprise to industry observers – and Volvo dealers.

Tesla will ditch radar technology in its US-built Model 3 sedans and Model Y SUVs, the electric vehicle manufacturer has confirmed. "When radar and vision disagree, which one do you believe? Vision has much more precision, so better to double down on vision than do sensor fusion,” Tesla CEO Elon Musk said in a tweet earlier this year.

The Volkswagen Polo GTI hot hatch and Audi A1 40 TFSI have been treated to a performance bump in Europe – but an Australian launch appears unlikely for the foreseeable future.

Another round of updates have graced the Mazda 6 range, and the 2021 changes focus mainly on the new GT SP variant, which adds back-pack styling to the previous GT model. The base model Mazda 6 Sport emerges for its 2021 model year run largely unchanged. That’s no bad thing though. After a week with the cheapest Mazda 6 variant, it was a solid refresher on just how good this mid-size sedan really is.

When Ford motorsport legend and Bathurst winner Allan Moffat first saw the Falcon GT sedan that would take him to victory in the early 1970s, he scoffed at the price. “No-one’s going to pay $5000 for a Ford Falcon,” Moffat would later say, recalling one of the biggest regrets of his motorsport career: not buying one of the iconic cars. Today, immaculate examples of the Ford Falcon GTHO Phase III fetch close to or in excess of $1 million.

At the local launch, we’re driving the 35TFSI and 40TFSI Quattro S Line grades, with full pricing and specification detail in our news story. The 1.5-litre 35TFSI starts from $42,900 before on-road costs, while the 2.0-litre 40TFSI starts from $49,900 before on-road costs.

Once a week, 25 teenage girls from four different Victorian high schools come together to work on a project car. They meet at Bendigo South East College, where a first-generation Range Rover lies in pieces. The body has been already separated from the chassis, with the next steps being an electric motor conversion and the installation of a new interior.

Suzuki Australia has recalled 163 examples of its 2020 Ignis SUV, citing a potential fault with the fuel tank. The affected vehicles were sold between 1 July 2020 and 30 October 2020 (Model Year 2020). The recall notice, lodged with the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC), says: “The fuel tank breather pipe may have been incorrectly moulded to the top of the fuel tank. The breather pipe may become detached by normal vibration of the vehicle.”

Maserati goes green. Or so the model's name states. We'll cover off fuel consumption right away to set the scene. Around town, the Ghibli Hybrid used 12.0 litres per 100 kilometres. On the freeway, 8.0L/100km. After 400km of mixed driving, its trip computer settled at 9.8L/100km versus the official claim of 7.5L/100km.

It measures just 1372mm long, and 991mm wide, and stands 1000m tall. It tips the scales at just 59kg (without driver) and its 49cc engine (not a typo) helps it reach a top speed of 61km/h. Oh, and it only has three wheels. Meet the Peel P50, officially the smallest production car in the world, recognised by the arbiter of all such things, Guinness World Records, in 2010.

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?

Rolls-Royce – perhaps the world’s most prolific and prestigious manufacturer of luxury cars – has taken the covers off a new custom 'Boat Tail’ four-seat retro convertible, just days after confirming plans to revive its bespoke coachbuilding division. Underpinned by the BMW-owned brand’s now-ubiquitous Architecture of Luxury aluminium spaceframe, the 'Boat Tail’ is largely based on the existing Rolls-Royce Phantom limousine.

It came as something of a surprise that the Ford Ranger is the number one selling ute in Europe, a market not well known for its pick-up truck culture. So when Ford of Europe recently released the Ford Ranger Raptor Special Edition, it was only fitting it did so with ‘bad-ass’ advertising campaign. Dubbed The Good, The Bad and Bad-RSE, (and rated 'B' for 'Bad-Ass'), the campaign features a Ranger Raptor Special Edition in a Spaghetti Western-inspired action film.

As part of the 2021-2022 Federal Budget, the Australian Government announced an increase in the instant asset write-off scheme. This removed the $150,000 per asset limit in response to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Pricing and specifications for the 2021 Ford Mustang have been confirmed, revealing a number of minor changes to the much-loved pony car for the new Model Year. While minimal, changes for Model Year 2021.5 Mustang models are led by the addition of the FordPass Connect system – allowing owners to lock/unlock, enable climate settings in, locate and (on auto models) start their car from the FordPass app.

In the same way energy rating labels on whitegoods compare electricity use of home appliances, fuel rating labels – fitted to more than 15 million new cars sold in Australia since 2001 – aim to compare consumption of new motor vehicles on a level playing field.

We know how they perform on the black top but, which dual cab performs best when the going gets rough? Let's find out!

An electric Ford Bronco could be on its way, with executives from the Blue Oval dropping a number of hints this month – and it means we could see an all-electric Ranger ute sooner than expected. At the company's annual Capital Markets Day presentation, Ford announced a rear-wheel-drive/all-wheel-drive electric platform for new models between now and 2030, along with a dedicated electric platform for full-size pick-ups.

It's safe to say the automotive industry is currently undergoing the greatest shift since its very inception, with electrification and autonomy widely agreed to form the basis of the future of the new-car market. It can seem almost daily that a major car maker unveils a new electric vehicle, or announces plans to go all-electric in the coming years and decades – so often so that it can be a challenge to keep track of and stay on top of every brand's plans.

Jaguar Land Rover Australia has recalled 533 examples of the 2021 Land Rover Defender and 2021 Land Rover Discovery off-road SUVs, citing a potential fire risk. The affected vehicles were sold between 2 November 2020 and 11 March 2021 (Model Year 2021).

Identifiable thanks to revised styling and an upgraded interior, the 2021 Audi SQ5 TDI continues Audi’s fine S-badged SUV tradition with the model that is perhaps the best example in its model range.

Mercedes-AMG makes some of the fastest road cars available, but if you really want to experience what these cars are capable of you need a racetrack. So I joined an AMG Driving Academy day at the Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit to put AMG’s fastest cars through their paces. What I didn’t realise was that I would be under the microscope as well, and with nowhere to hide.

CarAdvice has received photos of a partially-disguised 2021 Nissan Navara Pro-4X Warrior ute undergoing final validation testing in Melbourne. The 2021 Nissan Navara Pro-4X Warrior is due in local showrooms within the next three months, about six months after the first shipments of regular versions of the updated Nissan Navara. The photos show the next-generation Nissan Navara Warrior will adopt a new hoopless bullbar design introduced with the recent update.

Victorians have spent the last 12 months in the grips of ongoing coronavirus restrictions, relying on often-confusing weekly announcements from Premier Daniel Andrews to learn of the changes in both Metropolitan Melbourne and regional Victoria. Below, we've answered some commonly asked questions about Melbourne's latest coronavirus lockdown rules and how they pertain to drivers. If we've missed anything, let us know in the comments section.

Volkswagen Group has declined an offer of AU$11.8 billion (US$9.2B) to sell the Lamborghini brand. According to British magazine Autocar, Volkswagen Group subsidiary Audi – charged with managing Lamborghini – has shown no interest in the idea. Whispers of the supercar manufacturer's sale persisted throughout late 2020, with industry insiders suggesting Volkswagen Group was preparing to offload both Lamborghini and Ducati, before the rumours were officially put to bed in December.

Peugeot has confirmed it will launch its first electric vehicle in Australia in 2022 – though the exact identity of the vehicle that will grace local showrooms is yet to be confirmed. "In 2022, we will introduce electric variants to the Australian market. Whilst we are not currently in a position to confirm what they will be, various studies are underway and favourable. We look forward to sharing more information later this year," a Peugeot Citroen Australia spokesperson told CarAdvice.

It's safe to say the automotive industry is currently undergoing the greatest shift since its very inception, with electrification and autonomy widely agreed to form the basis of the future of the new-car market. It can seem almost daily that a major car maker unveils a new electric vehicle, or announces plans to go all-electric in the coming years and decades – so often so that it can be a challenge to keep track of and stay on top of every brand's plans.

The 2023 Volkswagen Amarok has been imagined in this new set of renderings. Using official teaser sketches released by Volkswagen, Swiss Amarok accessories company Black Sheep commissioned illustrator Sascha Thilmany to create these renderings, featuring the brand's products.

BMW-owned British luxury marque Rolls-Royce has confirmed plans to formally revive its bespoke coachbuilding division. The historic manufacturer – which in 2017 took the covers off a custom yacht-inspired model referred to as the Sweptail (shown above) – claims its now-ubiquitous modular “Architecture of Luxury” chassis is versatile enough to take the form of “any shape.” According to Rolls-Royce, the only limitations customers now face are those "fundamental to engineering requirements."

The old adage of ‘the simple things in life are often the best’ doesn’t always stack up. In the automotive world, there are many paths that lead to the best, but in the case of the 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe range, is the simplest version really any worse? In the new Santa Fe range, the entry model loses its base-model identifier to simply be the Santa Fe, with Active, Elite and Highlander trims above it. But does that make the Santa Fe the Santa Fe?

The 2021 Genesis GV80 SUV and Genesis G80 luxury sedan have both scored five star safety results following the most recent round of crash tests. The Genesis GV80 shot to international fame earlier this year by accident, after golf star Tiger Woods crashed a promotional vehicle in California. Although the crash test assessments of both Genesis vehicles were done by European NCAP, the scores carry over with the Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP).

This latest decision by Victoria to discriminate against zero-emission vehicles and add further taxation layers to an already overtaxed transportation system in desperate need of an overhaul is an embarrassment for the whole country. In case you haven’t heard, Victoria has become the first state to introduce a tax on electric, hydrogen and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEV).

A Queensland sewage treatment company has unveiled its latest electric car powered by human waste. Four years after introducing an electric Mitsubishi hatchback powered by poo, the firm Urban Utilities has put its second electric car on the road and called it “Number Two”. The Hyundai Kona electric SUV even has the registration plates “NMBR2S” (number twos is rhyming slang for poo, in case you weren't aware).

The last Ford Falcon ESP V8 built in Australia – which had just 60km on the clock and was kept by a Queensland dealership for almost 40 years – has been sold in as-new condition for $355,000 in a Grays Online auction overnight. The hammer fell at $354,759, not including the additional 7.5 per cent auction fee charged to the buyer.

Victorian owners of electric cars and other zero-emissions vehicles will be required to pay a road-user tax of 2.5 cents per kilometre driven from 1 July 2021 – and the precedent could trigger other states to follow. The charge amounts to $375 a year based on the national average distance travelled of 15,000km, or just $125 a year for vehicles that travel 5000km a year.

Suzuki Australia has recalled 13 examples of its 2020 Jimny SUV, citing the potential for water leakage through the windshield. The affected vehicles were sold between 1 September 2020 and 1 March 2021 (Model Year 2020). The recall notice, lodged with the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC), says: “The bond primer applied to the windshield glass and the rear door window glass may have been incorrectly applied to the glass.”

The 2021 MG ZST SUV range has been expanded, with new Core and Vibe variants introduced at the bottom end of the range. Now available for order – ahead of first deliveries in June – the Core is priced from $25,490 drive-away, while the Vibe starts at $26,990 drive-away. The new grades replace Excite Plus and Essence versions of the ZS small SUV, leaving only the ZS Excite in the more affordable model's range.

The 2022 Cupra Born electric hatch has been unveiled, though lagging emissions rules mean it's unlikely an Australian launch will occur any time soon. First shown to the public in March 2019 as the SEAT el-Born concept, the Born represents Volkswagen Group-owned Spanish performance brand Cupra's first electric vehicle, with sportier styling and more potent powertrains that attempt to differ from the Volkswagen ID.3 with which it shares its MEB platform and much of its sheetmetal.

The 2021 BMW M4 Convertible has been unveiled. Officially known as the BMW M4 Competition Convertible xDrive, the drop-top sports car completes the new-generation M4 family, until the arrival of CS and CSL coupe variants later down the road. As its name suggests, just one engine, gearbox and drivetrain option will be offered with the new model, which brings all-weather, all-wheel-drive capability to the M4 Convertible for the first time.

The Tesla Model Y SUV is expected to arrive in Australian showrooms during late 2021 or early 2022, according to several employees of the electric vehicle manufacturer. Exact timing will not be officially confirmed – even to staff – until the vehicle appears on Tesla’s online configurator. However, CarAdvice understands local service centres are operating under instruction delivery is likely within six to nine months.

An iconic 1985 Holden Commodore V8 owned by late motor racing legend Peter Brock – and used as his daily driver – has been sold in a Grays Online auction overnight for $1.057 million, a record amount for a Holden road car. The final sum – $1,057,509 not including the additional 7.5 per cent auction fee – fell just short of the current auction record for an Australian-made car, $1.15 million for a 1971 Ford Falcon GTHO Phase III set in February 2021.

Australians are spending $44 more per week on transportation costs in the first three months of 2021 than they were at the end of 2020, according to research compiled by the Australian Automobile Association (AAA). The AAA’s Transport Affordability Index revealed the average Australian family spent $354 per week on transportation in the first quarter of 2021 – including cars and public transport – representing a 14.3 per cent increase on the previous quarter.

It's safe to say the automotive industry is currently undergoing the greatest shift since its very inception, with electrification and autonomy widely agreed to form the basis of the future of the new-car market. It can seem almost daily that a major car maker unveils a new electric vehicle, or announces plans to go all-electric in the coming years and decades – so often so that it can be a challenge to keep track of and stay on top of every brand's plans.

Nissan has bolstered its Navara range with the new Pro-4X model, which will slot in at the top of the range.

The Sony Vision-S electric car has been spied testing at a facility in Europe this week. While it's unclear whether the Vision-S will be badged as a Sony product or sold under a different brand name, it appears the battery-powered vehicle is edging closer to a production reality. Powered by dual 200kW electric motors, it's expected the Sony car will hit 100km/h from a standstill in well under five seconds.

Hot on the heels of the 2022 Ford F-150 Lightning's debut last week, Ford has taken the wraps off the entry-level, commercial-focused version of its electric ute: the 2022 Ford F-150 Lightning Pro.

The Toyota Prius V hybrid – a large seven-seat variation of the standard Prius hatchback – is set to be axed, a spokesperson for the Japanese brand in Australia confirmed. “Toyota Australia will discontinue selling the Prius V in Australia from 31 August 2021,” the spokesperson told CarAdvice.

The 2022 Ford Everest four-wheel-drive is in the final stages of testing before it is due to arrive in Australian showrooms early next year. An eagle-eyed CarAdvice reader sent us some photos of a camouflaged version of the 2022 Ford Everest being driven on the streets of metropolitan Melbourne.

A 2021 Porsche Taycan 4S has wrecked on Melbourne's iconic St Kilda Road boulevard, less than three months after it was first registered. It's understood the electric Taycan attempted to make a u-turn in front of an electric tram near the Toorak Road junction, causing significant damage to the Porsche. While the battery-powered Taycan weighs around 2245kg unladen, a Melbourne tram can weigh up to 50,000kg.

The 2022 Mercedes-Benz S-Class range will expand by the end of 2021 with the addition of two new, more potent flagship models: the Mercedes-Benz S580 L 4Matic, and the Mercedes-Maybach S680 4Matic.

Specifications for the upcoming Hyundai Ioniq 6 and Ioniq 7 electric vehicles have been unofficially confirmed, courtesy of details shared with US media including Carscoops. The Ioniq 6 mid-size sedan (shown below in Prophecy concept guise) will arrive in late 2022, underpinned by Hyundai, Kia and Genesis' modular E-GMP platform.

The next-generation Audi A4 will be offered in both petrol-electric hybrid and E-Tron electric versions when it arrives in 2023 – with a high-performance RS version to be offered of each, according to new overseas reports.

Electric vehicles purchased in the Australian Capital Territory are now eligible to receive two years of free registration. Both new and used electric vehicles are entitled to the offer, so long as the purchase is made between 24 May 2021 and mid-2024. It also covers vehicles that have been converted to electric power. Electric vehicles registered in the ACT are currently already exempt from stamp duty.

There’s a new Mazda CX-5 mid-size SUV on the horizon – and here’s what we reckon it could look like. Spy photos published earlier this month brought us our first look at a lightly-camouflaged version of what’s widely believed to be the new CX-5 – or CX-50, as some rumours persist it will be called – that’s thought to be unveiled late next year, ahead of an Australian launch in 2022 or 2023.

So, you're shopping for a mainstream medium SUV in the $40K bracket. Choices are plentiful. There's the recently lobbed Hyundai Tucson range, Kia's formidable Sportage or its excellent Seltos, the ever-dependable Toyota RAV4 and Honda CR-V, and so forth. Alternatively, you can step into a small yet premium SUV like the 2021 Lexus UX200 Luxury for the same price.

Lebanon’s first locally-designed and built car – known as the Electra Quds Rise EV – was revealed overnight in a Beirut parking lot, rolled in by its manufacturer's founder Jihad Mohammad. Externally, the aluminium electric vehicle features bulbous wheel arches, faux air intakes, and oversized LED headlights. Its large decorative gold front grille was reportedly inspired by the Dome of the Rock Islamic shrine in the Old City of Jerusalem.

In a survey of 1000 Australian drivers, commissioned by Ford Australia, over 56 per cent of respondents believe drivers have become more erratic on our roads since COVID-19, with one respondent stating, “[it's] like they’ve forgotten how to drive after being at home”. Nationally, 45.5 per cent of Australian drivers admitted to driving over the speed limit with 14 per cent revealing there are other road rules they disobey when behind the wheel.

Mercedes-Benz Australia has recalled 2882 examples of its VS30-series Sprinter van, citing a potential fault with brake system. The affected vehicles were sold between 8 August 2018 and 22 December 2020 (Model Years 2018-2021). The recall notice, lodged with the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC), says: “Brake fluid may leak internally at the rear axle brake calliper over time – as a result, air may enter the rear brake system."

The auction record for an Australian-made road car is set to be broken, as online auction bids for one of Peter Brock’s personal road cars eclipse $1 million just 24 hours before the hammer is due to fall. An immaculate 1985 Holden Commodore HDT VK Group A – number 05 of 500 built – was owned and driven by the late motor racing legend. As this article was published, bids had reached $1,050,009 (not including auction fees).

In the ute-loving Australian market, there seems to be two camps: those who spend big on popular models like the Toyota HiLux, Ford Ranger, and Isuzu D-Max, or those who chase value and end up with an GWM Ute or LDV G60 in their driveway. And somewhere in the middle sits the 2021 SsangYong Musso.

EXCLUSIVE A landmark case in the Victorian Supreme Court has set a precedent for government-mandated fuel rating label figures for more than 15 million new cars sold in Australia over the past 20 years. The ruling could have far reaching implications for vehicle manufacturers whose customers cannot match real-world fuel consumption with fuel rating label estimates.

Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) Australia has recalled 133 examples of its 2021 Jaguar E-Pace small SUV, citing a potential fault with the seatbelt pre-tensioner. The affected vehicles were sold between 16 June 2020 and 24 February 2021 (Model Year 2021).

Jeep is celebrating its 80th anniversary with a run of special edition Wrangler Unlimited, Grand Cherokee and Cherokee model variants. Stock will be available in Jeep dealerships from May 2021, and will be limited to 160 Wrangler Unlimited and Grand Cherokee models each, along with 80 Cherokees. Pricing for the 80th Anniversary models start from $51,941 before on-road costs for the Cherokee, and goes up to $71,941 for the Wrangler Unlimited.

Here at CarAdvice we love our Project Cars, but this time around we've become involved in something that's so much more. This project isn't one of ours, but rather a journey of a car lover who is currently battling a terminal illness. His build was shared with us by the team at EVolution, the Melbourne-based company that specialises in turning your old classic car into a fully electric vehicle.

Customer orders for the new-generation 2021 Isuzu MU-X four-wheel-drive are open from today as a dedicated website goes live to receive “expressions of interest” – and the first 1500 people in the queue will score a free Casio G-Shock watch. Prices and Australian details for the first new Isuzu MU-X in eight years are yet to be released, however CarAdvice revealed the key highlights when the model was unveiled in Thailand last year.

Most of the drama at Monaco happened before the race even began, with pole-sitter Charles Leclerc reporting back “no no no" to his team on the first lap after the grid opened. Charles’ Ferrari copped a hard hit in Q3 and the team decided to take a punt in not changing the gearbox, claiming all seemed in order. Once it was under load however, there was a different story.

The 2022 Kia EV6 electric car – due in Australia next year – is poised to overtake the Kia Stinger twin-turbo V6 sedan as the brand’s performance flagship. While the Kia Stinger has just received a mid-life facelift and is selling at a rate better than expected in Australia, weak sales overseas have cast doubt over the future of the model beyond its current lifecycle.

It's safe to say the automotive industry is currently undergoing the greatest shift since its very inception, with electrification and autonomy widely agreed to form the basis of the future of the new-car market. It can seem almost daily that a major car maker unveils a new electric vehicle, or announces plans to go all-electric in the coming years and decades – so often so that it can be a challenge to keep track of and stay on top of every brand's plans.

The boss of Kia Australia has repeated earlier calls for taxpayer money be directed towards the installation of recharging stations, rather than providing discount prices for electric cars.

Audi’s continued growth across its range is impressive, given the current climate especially, and the latest addition is the 2021 Audi SQ2, the baby of its performance SUV range.

The Australian Federal Police is looking to upgrade its ageing fleet of armoured BMW X5 models, used to transport dignitaries and other VIPs. In documents uncovered by CarAdvice, BMW has submitted the X5 Protection to the Department of Infrastructure for approval under the Road Vehicle Certification Scheme.

I’ve reached the three-month mark into my 2021 MG ZS EV long-term loan, and I’ve come to appreciate the MG as the quietest member of my household. For this review, I’ve chosen to delve into the ZS EV’s family-friendly credentials, given we are nearly halfway through another school term – sigh – the MG has become well accustomed to requirements of the daily run.

Sir Lewis Hamilton’s 2010 Turkish Grand Prix-winning McLaren-Mercedes MP4-25A Formula One car has been listed for sale, with price expectations in excess of US$5,000,000 (AU$6,500,000). Registered through RM Sotheby Auctions, it is unclear who currently owns the car. However, it appears to be stored at McLaren's private headquarters in Woking, suggesting the British manufacturer could be looking to liquidate some of its vast collection of automotive assets.

Rideshare powerhouse Uber has confirmed it will collaborate with UK tech firm Arrival in the design of an electric car. The model is slated for reveal in late 2021, and mass production is promised by the third quarter of 2023 (July to September inclusive).

Toyota Australia has recalled 683 examples of its 2021 Toyota HiLux Rogue dual-cab ute, citing up to three potential faults with the electronic roller cover. The affected vehicles were manufactured between May and October 2020 (Model Years 2020-2021), with many of these vehicles affected by more than one of the cited faults.

'Sold out until June 2021' – that’s the official line from the Volkswagen Australia website. It’s a great problem to have, especially when the first 30 allocations were snapped up within nine hours of going on sale. Some will say it’s pent-up demand of dedicated Volkswagen-philes waiting years for the factory-backed camper to land. Others will say it’s a byproduct of restricted travel conditions we currently live in. I’d say it’s a little bit of column A, and a little bit of column B.

2021 Kia Niro EV Sport reviewWe test Kia’s first electric car in Australia.

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?

Design renders for the upcoming retro-styled Renault 4 electric SUV have been revealed, unearthed by Dutch outlet Autovisie. Sitting on the same CMF-B architecture underpinning the Renault 5 (so far only seen in concept guise), reports suggest the model could be offered with the option of dual motors and all-wheel drive. Meanwhile, battery range will likely extend beyond 300km between charges.

It's hard to escape the allure of Lego. The brand's 'Speed Champions' sets have become a favourite with car enthusiasts. They're affordable, costing around $20 a set, but also quick and easy to build for children both young and old. In 2021, it's planning to launch six new sets. Excitingly, two are new manufacturer collaborations – set to tickle the fancy of either brand's fans. The first new partnership is between Lego and Toyota's Gazoo Racing outfit.

With the Suzuki Jimny one of the most in-demand new vehicles today, much of the car’s success is pinned on its unique style and fun nature. Rather than compete directly with other large volume small and medium SUVs, Suzuki has kept true to the heritage of the Jimny and built a new take on their iconic small four-wheel drive. And since landing in Australia in 1971, this year marks 50 years of the much-loved, pint-sized four-wheel drive first arrived Down Under.

UPDATE, 21 May 2021: Alfa Romeo Australia has officially confirmed the pricing and specification details for the Giulia GTA and GTAm published earlier in May 2021, with just 18 examples out of the 500-unit global production run to make their way to Australia.

EXCLUSIVE The Mahindra Thar four-wheel-drive – a Jeep Wrangler look-a-like – has effectively been banned from being sold in Australia. Indian car giant Mahindra has given an undertaking to the Federal Court of Australia to not import the copycat version of the Jeep Wrangler.

We spend a day with florist Melody from Lavender and Lily to see how she puts the MG ZS EV to work both in her business and at home.

Severe stock shortages in the lead-up to the end of the financial year – and indefinite delays among some of Australia’s most popular cars – are expected to slam the brakes on super-sharp drive-away deals in the run up to June 30. The car industry has struggled for months to keep up with unexpected demand as Australians treat themselves to a new car, rather than spending money on overseas holidays.

The future of the much anticipated double-cab utes from sister brands Hyundai and Kia – designed to challenge the top-selling Toyota HiLux and Ford Ranger – remain shrouded in secrecy. Have the Hyundai and Kia utes been quietly dropped, delayed, or are they just being kept under wraps? Sales of utes and vans are currently at record levels locally, representing the second-biggest vehicle segment in Australia, ahead of passenger cars and behind SUVs.

Four of Australia’s top five car brands have vacated the budget-price segment of the market – with Toyota, Mazda, Ford and Hyundai no longer offering vehicles priced below $20,000 for the first time in their automotive history. However, South Korean car giant Kia – one of the fastest-growing brands in Australia over the past seven years, and a sister brand to Hyundai – has made a pledge to budget-conscious buyers that it won’t leave them stranded.

South Korean auto giant Kia is working overtime to make it into the Top Five on the new-car sales charts in Australia after coming within a whisker of beating Ford so far this year – and trailing sister brand Hyundai in April by just 65 sales (5772 versus 5707). Seven years ago, Kia wasn’t even inside the Top 10. But as one of the fastest-growing brands in Australia, the company now has its sights on overtaking Ford for fifth place.

Another electric car arrived on Australian roads this week. The 2021 Kia Niro is available in three formats: hybrid, plug-in hybrid and a pure-electric vehicle. For now, it is the only SUV to offer the choice of all three types of electrification, although Kia’s sister brand Hyundai offers the same choice of power in its Ioniq hatchback. All three power options are available with two levels of equipment: in S or Sport guises.

Australian pricing and specifications for the 2021 Kia Niro have been confirmed, with the vehicle on sale now. The full range of three electrified powertrains – Hybrid, Plug-in Hybrid (PHEV) and (fully) Electric – will be offered in Kia's eco-friendly Niro small SUV locally, which arrives in Australian showrooms late into its life cycle, as a new model is expected to be less than two years away.

The 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan 162TSI R-Line is all the Tiguan money can buy, offering an extensive blend of design and equipment in a segment that continues to be the most popular in Australia. Medium SUVs have become Australia’s de-facto family cars, outselling all other segments including the seemingly ubiquitous 4x4 dual-cab utes.

The 2021 Audi Q2 is one of those vehicles that is easy to use as an example to claim that Audi simply wants to dip a toe into the water of every possible segment globally. That said though, every luxury brand wants a piece of the segment, so it’s not just about Audi. Look at the success of the Q2 in Australia since its launch though, and it’s clear to see that the concept of a premium compact SUV is something that has resonated with Australian buyers.

Audi’s continued growth across its range is impressive, given the current climate especially, and the latest addition is the 2021 Audi SQ2, the baby of its performance SUV range. It’s the first time an SQ2 has been available in Australia and judging by the continued success of the SQ5 in this country, Audi almost certainly has a sales winner on its hands.

A prototype 2021 BMW M8 vehicle has been spotted testing at the Nurburgring, wearing track-oriented parts and a curious grille. Looking at the new additions fitted to the M8, it's possible BMW could be about to introduce a flagship GTS variant of the big coupe. Some media outlets are suggesting this could be a 2022 BMW M8 CSL mule, but a source within BMW has downplayed the idea, suggesting to CarAdvice the vehicle could be a safety car prototype.

The 2021 Mercedes-AMG GT Coupe Night Edition – the newest edition to the German performance brand’s GT range – is now available for order in Australia, priced from $294,200 before on-road costs. The two-door sports car gains a 40kW power boost over the regular Mercedes-AMG GT (which hasn’t been sold locally since 2019), alongside new standard equipment and aesthetic upgrades.

UPDATE, 20 May 2021: Genesis Australia has announced pricing for the new GV70, ahead of its local showroom arrival in July 2021. Prices range from $66,400 before on-road costs for the entry-level, rear-drive 2.5T, up to $83,400 before on-road costs for the flagship 3.5T AWD Sport.

This week we see Formula One return to Monaco for the first time since 2019. The principality hosts the most glamorous round on the calendar, however COVID-19 restrictions may see a different vibe around the circuit this year. This won't stop people watching though as it's known to be one of the most viewed races of the season – and it all kicks off tonight at 7:30pm AEST.

The US’s best-selling vehicle has gone electric: meet the 2021 Ford F-150 Lightning. Reviving a name last applied to the supercharged V8-powered SVT Lightning of the 1990s and 2000s, the F-150 Lightning will go on sale in the US next year as Ford's rival to the Tesla Cybertruck, Rivian R1T and upcoming Chevrolet Silverado EV. Don’t hold your breath for an Australian launch though, as a factory right-hand-drive conversion program for the F-150 has previously been ruled out.