CAR ADVICE

The fault could cause the headlights to fail, according to the manufacturer. Alfa Romeo  has recalled 558  examples of its  Giulia sedan and Stelvio SUV , citing a potential fault with  the headlights . The affected vehicles are stamped Model Years 2020 to 2022. The recall notice , lodged with the Department of Infrastructure, says: “Due to a manufacturing issue, the automatic Adaptive Light System (AFS) sensors may not adjust as intended when there is a change in load or load distribution on the vehicle. “If the vehicle headlights do not operate as intended it could increase the risk of an accident causing injury or death to vehicle occupants and other road users.” Date of recall notice 28 April 2022 Make Alfa Romeo Model Giulia and Stelvio Year 2020-2022 Vehicles affected 558 VIN list Click here to download the list of affected VIN numbers Contact link Click here to contact the manufacturer Drive  has cont...

Does the departure of Lada from the Groupe Renault stable mean it is ‘do svidaniya’ for the promised new Niva? The everlasting Lada Niva turned 45 years old earlier this month (it first launched on April 4, 1977), and while the original Lada 2121 is still being built, it was expected to have a finite lifespan with Renault noting a ‘new’ replacement Niva among its ‘Renaulution’ forward product planning in January 2021 . Yesterday’s news that Groupe Renault could be preparing to offload AutoVAZ Lada to the state-managed NAMI Russian Science Institute is likely to end this plan. Renault invested in Lada’s Togliatti factory in Russia as part of its ownership stake and sought to modernise the Lada production lines to use shared Renault-Nissan platforms for future development. Lada Niva: There’s a new one! The proposed 2024 Niva was reported to be based on the same CMF-B platform as the new Nissan Juke , giving the Russian brand a far more modern, if not quite as rugged, pat...

The all-new third-generation electric racer is smaller, lighter and more powerful than its predecessor. Also, it has no rear brakes! Formula E has taken the covers off its radical third-generation all-electric race car that is promised to be “the fastest” yet. Looking more like a jet fighter than a car, the new Formula E racer has been developed to be lighter, faster, and more efficient than its predecessor. The biggest innovation on the ‘Gen3’ electric racer is a new 350kW electric motor on the rear axle. It’s capable of propelling the single-seater to a top speed of 320km/h , according to Formula E. That rear motor is joined by a 250kW electric motor at the front axle, its primary aim to provide – in tandem with the rear motor – energy regeneration. Formula E claims a total of 600kW of regeneration is available and that up to 40 per cent of the energy used during a Formula E race will be produced by the car itself. The addition of the front powertrain means that...

Are electric vehicles ready for the great Australian family holiday? The cars may be, but the country isn’t, as Glenn Butler discovers the hard way. Driving interstate in an electric vehicle is old hat. We’ve done it, and we’ve proved that range anxiety is no longer a thing. Between Chargefox’s and the NRMA’s charging infrastructures, it’s no longer a challenge to drive between Australia’s two most populous capital cities using nary a drop of fossil fuel. Thanks to 350kW UltraFast Charging (UFC) stations and electric vehicles (EV) with real-world touring ranges beyond 350km, it’s easy to hop from Melbourne to Sydney with a travel time close to that of a petrol vehicle, with careful planning.  But what if we ramp up the degree of difficulty? What if we take the family, and do the trip at one of the busiest times of year on our roads?  Before you accuse us of stacking the deck against the EV, these hurdles all came about naturally, which is how family holidays usuall...

Chinese automaker Changan has debuted the ‘Lumin Corn’ – a mini electric car to rival the top-selling Wuling from General Motors. The tiny Lumin Corn is the latest electric vehicle arrive on the Chinese market.  Manufactured by automaker Changan, the mini EV is set to go head-to-head with the nation’s best-selling vehicle – the GM-Wuling. The newcomer will reportedly be available in two variants – one powered by a 30kW LFP battery from Gotion Hightech that generates 30kW and a range of 150km, while the range-topper packs a 35kW LFP battery from CATL, generating 35kW and capable of 210km. Both variants are capable of a top speed of 101km/h. Sporting a miniature exterior with two-doors, the Lumin Corn is equipped with four seats. It measures in 3270mm from nose to tail, 1700mm at the tallest point, 1545mm wide, and features a wheelbase of 1980mm.  The interior styling is futuristic and features a 10.25-inch central infotainment screen along with physical clim...

These tough offroaders are very popular with Australians because they offer the dream of big country drives with the ability to handle the everyday. But which is better and why? So, you like going on adventures beyond the bitumen, but you don’t have the finances to afford a dedicated holiday vehicle. What’s the right steed for you that combines weekday practicalities with weekend escapes: A dual-cab ute with four-wheel drive or an offroad wagon with four-wheel drive?  Dual-cab utes are hugely popular. Three of the five best-selling vehicles in Australia are dual-cab 4x4s. Six of these rugged workhorses are in the top 20. Conversely, large 4×4 wagons similar in size and mechanical makeup to dual-cabs are not as popular, although there are three listed in the top 40 by sales year to date.  These two fundamentally similar but different vehicles got us thinking: are Aussies missing a trick here? What is it that dual-cab 4x4s can do that a ute-based 4×4 wagon canno...