Automotive news

• Chinese electric car deals hit overdrive as competition heats up

  16-05-2025 23:00 via drive.com.au
  The latest Chinese car brands to reach Australia have sharpened their pencil on prices – and thrown in extras – to lure buyers away from each other, as even more new marques close in on showrooms.Competition among Australia’s newest electric-car brands from China has hit a new gear, in the battle to win over buyers from Tesla and established marques.New manufacturers such as Deepal, Geely, Leapmotor, XPeng and Smart have rolled out deals in the lead-up to the end of the financi
  
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• ‘Should be fined’: Highway Patrol caught using this sneaky tactic

  16-05-2025 22:00 via drive.com.au
  New South Wales Highway Patrol came under fire recently after one of its cars was spotted with L-plates equipped.
  Photo: Facebook/Instagram
  New South Wales Police has recently been criticised after an Instagram user spotted a Highway Patrol car wearing learner plates while driving.RELATED: How to spot an unmarked Australian police carInitially posted by user “its_called_straya”, the BMW was posted driving on L-plates with the caption “when you see the 5-0, but they’re jus
  
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• Ram 1500 electric and plug-in hybrid delayed again – report

  16-05-2025 21:00 via drive.com.au
  Reports suggest that Ram’s electrified line-up could be pushed back as late as mid-2027, as consumer demand cools.The Ram 1500 REV electric and Ramcharger plug-in hybrid pick-ups have suffered introduction setbacks that could now see them launch as late as the middle of 2027.The delays, as reported by Motor1, come despite traditional rivals including the Ford F-150 and Chevrolet Silverado EV having already launched, along with the Tesla Cybertruck and Rivian R1T.Ram first showed the Ram 15
  
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• ‘We have a Raptor at home’: The Falconstein ute setting social media on fire

  16-05-2025 08:00 via drive.com.au
  What’s more Australian than a Ford Falcon? A Ford Falcon ute that’s been turned into an off-road monster courtesy of a Nissan Patrol.
  Image: Reddit
  Ford Falcon utes are as Australian as a meat pie. While the iconic pick-up was a mainstay on local roads across the country, one driver showed their Aussie pride by turning the Falcon into an off-road monster.The yellow ute has been circulating on social media for the past couple of years, but one Reddit user finally saw the lifted pick-u
  
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• Tesla Full Self-Driving arrives in Australia, but you can’t use it yet

  16-05-2025 07:44 via drive.com.au
  This is our first look at Tesla’s hands-free, eyes-on ‘Full Self-Driving Supervised’ technology working on Australian roads, but it’s not available to customers just yet.Tesla’s most advanced semi-autonomous driving system, known as Full Self-Driving, has made its first public appearance in a right-hand-drive car on Australian roads.But there is still no word on when it will become available to local Tesla customers, many of whom have spent up to $10,100 on the tech
  
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• 2025 GWM Tank 300 petrol and hybrid gain diesel’s increased towing, payload capacities

  16-05-2025 04:30 via drive.com.au
  Petrol and hybrid versions of the GWM Tank 300 have been updated to match the increased towing capacity of the diesel model, along with higher payloads.The 2025 GWM Tank 300 off-road SUV has been updated with increases to the towing and payload capacities for petrol and hybrid models to match the diesel.Newly-produced petrol and hybrid examples of the Tank 300 will offer a braked towing capacity of 3000 kilograms, GWM Australia has announced, matching the diesel model launched in February.Earlie
  
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• Apple CarPlay Ultra revealed: New tech takes over all in-car screens, debuts in Aston Martins

  16-05-2025 03:17 via drive.com.au
  Apple has moved further into the cabin of your car than ever before with CarPlay Ultra, which now takes over the instrument cluster – and even functions such as air conditioning and the radio.The next generation of Apple CarPlay – a takeover of all in-car screens and functions, including the speedometer – has launched in the US in Aston Martin sports cars ahead of its Australian launch in the next 12 months.It is due to expand to cars from more accessible brands, including Hyun
  
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• Ford Ranger Raptor gains supercharged Mustang V8 power with $90,000 conversion

  16-05-2025 01:00 via drive.com.au
  Owners of the current Ford Ranger Raptor can swap its twin-turbo V6 for a 5.0-litre supercharged V8 for $89,000, before state- or territory-specific engineering costs.
  Source: Killa Conversions & Performance via Facebook.
  The Ford Ranger Raptor ute is now available with Mustang V8 power in Australia, but not officially.Queensland-based company Killa Conversions & Performance now offers a V8 engine conversion for the current Ford Ranger Raptor, joining the conversion it offered for the pr
  
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