Automotive news

• Nissan Aura Nismo RS concept’s chances for production build

  12-01-2026 23:13 via drive.com.au
  Nissan has teased a potential return to the hot hatch market as it unveils a new Toyota GR Yaris-sized hybrid show car. Nissan has revealed a bold hybrid hot hatch concept, which is on the cards to enter showrooms in the coming years as part of an expansion of its Nismo performance brand. The Aura Nismo RS concept revealed at the Tokyo Auto Salon starts life as the Note Aura Nismo hatchback already sold in Japan, and leans on Nissan’s motorsports division to bring more performanc
  
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• Kia EV3, EV4, and EV5 GT performance models: Australian odds explained

  12-01-2026 22:34 via drive.com.au
  Kia has expanded its performance-skewed GT range of models with three new EVs, but they may not come to Australia.
  Kia EV3 GT
  Kia unveiled three new high-performance GT models for its electric car portfolio at the Brussels motor show – but none are guaranteed for Australian showrooms.The Kia EV3 compact SUV, EV4 hatch and sedan, and EV5 medium SUV were all shown with upgraded GT variants.While the GT badge has been used on petrol-engined models previously, as well as on flagship versions o
  
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• 2026 Subaru WRX tS Spec B: Long-term review part three – Is this Australia’s most scenic road?

  12-01-2026 22:00 via drive.com.au
  Back with another instalment for our Subaru WRX long-term tester, did we peak too early with the Great Ocean Road? And is it the best road in the country?As a driving road, the Great Ocean Road has unfortunately become somewhat of a no-go zone for those who seek a challenging string of corners.Especially at this time of year, when caravan-toting holiday-goers from all parts take over in search of the Surf Coast’s best camping spots, tackling one of the most iconic stretches of road in the
  
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• Mercedes-Benz CLA crowned 2026 European Car of Year

  12-01-2026 21:40 via autotalk.co.nz
  The Mercedes-Benz CLA sedan has been crowned the 2026 European Car of the Year, with the announcement made at the Brussels Motor Show. The CLA secured victory with 320 points awarded by 59 jurors across 23 countries. The German luxury sedan finished with a commanding 100-point margin over the second-placed Skoda Elroq and more than […]
  The post Mercedes-Benz CLA crowned 2026 European Car of Year appeared first on Autotalk.
  
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• North Korea opens second private car dealership in elite Pyongyang district

  12-01-2026 21:15 via autotalk.co.nz
  North Korea has opened its second private car dealership alongside a computer gaming center in Pyongyang’s newest elite housing district, according to state media reports covering leader Kim Jong Un’s weekend inspection. The new Misan Automobile Technology Service Center has been built in the Hwasong area, following the opening of similar facilities nearby last year […]
  The post North Korea opens second private car dealership in elite Pyongyang district appeared first on Autot
  
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• Ford Mustang once again Australia’s top-selling sports car: VFACTS 2025

  12-01-2026 20:44 via drive.com.au
  The Mustang has regained a commanding lead in Australian sports-car sales – far ahead of BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Subaru, and Mazda – but a recent recall has jammed the brakes.The Ford Mustang has returned to the top of the Australian sports-car sales charts, with a new model attracting demand not seen in seven years.It is despite sales slowing to a trickle in recent months due to a now-cleared stop-delivery notice, issued after it was found that water could enter the Mustang’s cent
  
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• Zeekr 7GT electric wagon a big step closer to Australia, right-hand drive firms

  12-01-2026 20:31 via drive.com.au
  China’s Zeekr is getting closer to launching a stylish electric station wagon that could cost the same as a top-of-the-range Toyota Camry.The Zeekr 7GT electric wagon looks increasingly likely to be sold in Australia, with confirmation it will be sold in Europe – and reports claiming it will be built in right-hand drive for the UK market.Zeekr shipped a 7GT – sold in China as the 007 GT – to Australia last year for evaluation and display at electric-car shows, gauging int
  
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• Electrified vehicles have officially outsold petrol cars in Australia

  12-01-2026 19:03 via drive.com.au
  Petrol power is quickly losing popularity against more fuel-efficient hybrids, plug-in hybrids, and battery electric vehicles in Australia.Sales of new electrified vehicles have, for the first time ever, surpassed purely petrol-powered models in Australia, putting 2026 on track to be the first calendar year the former proves more popular than the latter.December 2025 was the first month where combined electrified vehicles – which include hybrids, plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), a
  
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• Ceer Motors electric SUV looks like a 1970s concept car come to life

  12-01-2026 08:55 via drive.com.au
  If you thought the Tesla Cybertruck was controversial, new Saudi Arabian automaker Ceer is about to knock your socks off.
  2026 Ceer SUV spy images
  You probably haven’t heard of Ceer Motors, and you definitely won’t have seen anything like their upcoming debut model.Ceer Motors claims ‘the future is shaped by the fearless’ and the disguised design of the brand’s first SUV indicates the brand intends on making a bold introduction to the automotive landscape.For now, l
  
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• Highway Patrol caught blocking footpath and driveway

  12-01-2026 04:00 via drive.com.au
  A recent sighting of a Highway Patrol vehicle stopped in front of a private business, and over a footpath, has sparked the question: Can the police park anywhere?During the double-demerits period, I found myself travelling down the infamous Parramatta Road which, to those who aren’t from the area, is a major path linking Western Sydney to the CBD.RELATED: Highway Patrol caught using this sneaky tacticThe road is lined with businesses on each side, which makes it difficult for the local Hig
  
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• 2026 Cupra Terramar S review

  12-01-2026 03:00 via drive.com.au
  Cupra arrived in Australia as a high-performance brand aimed at enthusiasts, but the new Terramar medium SUV marks a seismic shift towards mainstream mass appeal.
  Skip ahead:IntroductionRunning costsPrice and specificationEnergy useInterior space and comfortOn-road assessmentConnectivity and infotainmentSummarySafety Next steps
  2026 Cupra Terramar SThe 2026 Cupra Terramar isn’t an all-new concept for the Spanish brand, but it does expand the positioning and perception of the brand that onc
  
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• 2025 Cupra Terramar S review

  12-01-2026 03:00 via drive.com.au
  Cupra arrived in Australia as a high-performance brand aimed at enthusiasts, but the new Terramar medium SUV marks a seismic shift towards mainstream mass appeal.
  Skip ahead:IntroductionRunning costsPrice and specificationEnergy useInterior space and comfortOn-road assessmentConnectivity and infotainmentSummarySafety Next steps
  2025 Cupra Terramar SThe 2025 Cupra Terramar isn’t an all-new concept for the Spanish brand, but it does expand the positioning and perception of the brand that onc
  
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• 2026 Audi Q3 price and specs: Bigger, new-generation SUV detailed for Australia

  12-01-2026 02:57 via drive.com.au
  Audi’s next-generation Q3 SUV is due in Australia by mid-2026, headlined by a 195kW flagship with “near S-model levels of performance”.
  2026 Audi Q3 pricing and specificationsSUV and Sportback due in Australia between April and JuneOffered with 110kW, 150kW and 195kW; no PHEV at launchPriced from $61,600 before on-road costs
  Australian pricing and specifications for the 2026 Audi Q3 SUV and Sportback have been confirmed ahead of showroom arrivals between April and June.Priced f
  
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• GWM marks 28th straight year as China’s top ute brand

  12-01-2026 02:38 via autotalk.co.nz
  GWM has retained its position as China’s leading ute brand for a 28th consecutive year, after delivering 181,660 pickup trucks globally in 2025. The result was driven by strong domestic performance and continued growth in overseas markets. In China, GWM accounted for close to 50% of the pickup segment, while international sales reached 63,784 units, […]
  The post GWM marks 28th straight year as China’s top ute brand appeared first on Autotalk.
  
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• Subaru WRX STI ‘return’ hasn’t gone down well with fans

  12-01-2026 01:07 via drive.com.au
  Teaser videos led Subaru fans to believe the WRX STI performance car was about to return in its full form, but it was not to be – and they’re not pleased.A new special edition of the Subaru WRX sports sedan – with no more power, nor a rear wing – has drawn backlash from fans hoping for a genuine revival of the iconic WRX STI performance flagship.Teasers released by Subaru in the lead-up to the recent Tokyo Auto Salon car show previewed a new WRX variant with STI ‘ch
  
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• 2026 Mazda CX-6e electric SUV confirmed for Australia as Model Y, Sealion 7 rival

  12-01-2026 00:03 via drive.com.au
  Mazda will be the next entrant in Australia’s electric family SUV segment, with the CX-6e confirmed for local showrooms.Mazda will field the next entrant in Australia’s hotly-contested electric family SUV segment later this year.The 2026 Mazda CX-6e, revealed at the Brussels motor show last week, will arrive in local showrooms this year, joining the related Mazda 6e sedan.As anticipated, the Chinese-built, rear-wheel-drive CX-6e is the European and Australian version of the Mazda EZ-
  
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