Automotive news

• 3 states receive high scores for policies promoting EV purchases

  15-06-2018 23:37
  California, Connecticut and Maryland have demonstrated the greatest commitment toward developing an electric vehicle market among states that mandate automakers hit sales targets for zero-emission vehicles, according to a stakeholder group.
  
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• Electric Ford Ranger now on sale, but you probably wouldn’t fit

  05-05-2024 01:00 via drive.com.au
  Those waiting for the plug-in hybrid Ford Ranger can skip the queue, with a fully-electric model now on sale for a bargain price. There’s just one thing…An electric Ford Ranger is now available to the public – or, at least, for those between three and six years of age.The Ranger Ride On is fully licenced by Ford, uses 30-watt electric motors to power the rear wheels – despite being badged as a 4WD, like full-sized V6 versions – and offers up to two hours of co
  
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• 2024 Mazda MX-5 price and specs: Still cheaper than a Toyota GR86 and Subaru BRZ?

  05-05-2024 00:30 via drive.com.au
  The updated Mazda MX-5 has arrived in Australia, but it is even more expensive than the price announced late last year.The 2024 Mazda MX-5 has arrived in Australian showrooms – with another round of price rises since the latest model was shown last year – though it remains one of the most affordable rear-wheel-drive sports cars still on sale.The latest MX-5 upgrade – with revised styling, a new infotainment screen, and handling improvements – is one of the most significan
  
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• BMW says selling a ute is “beyond the brand” – report

  05-05-2024 00:00 via drive.com.au
  There have been plenty of BMW ute concepts over the years, but the car maker has never sent one to production – and it now appears as if any prospect of a pick-up from BMW is gone.BMW has shot down any hope for a ute from the brand, despite an earlier push from the company’s local division.Speaking to website BMW Blog, Bernd Korber, Senior Vice President of BMW Brand and Product Management, ruled out a future pick-up wearing the company’s logo.“I think a pickup truck is b
  
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• Two men charged after driving vehicles with cloned plates

  04-05-2024 23:00 via drive.com.au
  The pair face a string of charges relating to theft, police pursuit, using false plates and dangerous driving.Two men have been charged with driving a stolen vehicle at excessive speeds – with false plates attached to it too.According to Victoria Police, officers spotted the Ford Falcon while it was travelling along Coburns Road in Melton in Melbourne’s west, before it entered the Western Freeway on 30 April 2024.Cops gave chase, and attempted to stop the vehicle, which was heading i
  
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• Google Maps to use AI to help drivers locate electric-car charging stations

  04-05-2024 22:00 via drive.com.au
  Google Maps will soon make it easier for electric-vehicle drivers to find chargers, thanks to the help of artificial intelligence.Google Maps will soon make it simpler for electric vehicle owners to locate and use charging stations around the country.The updates are designed to make it easier for electric vehicle owners to find charging stations, determine how many cars are already waiting to plug in, and provide details about how to access tricky charger locations.In a blog post, Google Maps di
  
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• 'Every car's got a story': Car club boom as collectors leave COVID in rear view mirror

  04-05-2024 07:12 via abc.net.au
  
  The pandemic accelerated interest in vintage vehicles, with a 25 per cent increase in car clubs across the state since 2019.
  
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• Is there a time limit on car insurance claims in Australia?

  04-05-2024 03:55 via drive.com.au
  If you get into a car accident, paperwork can be the last thing on your mind. How much time do you have to submit an insurance claim? We find out.
  Getting into a car accident is a scary and sometimes traumatic experience for those involved.Beyond making sure the affected drivers and passengers are okay, organising an insurance claim could be the last thing on anyone’s mind following a serious crash.
  RELATED: How to get cheaper car insuranceSo what do insurers have to say when it comes to t
  
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• Need a work ute ASAP? Select 2024 Ford Ranger and Everest models in stock for immediate delivery

  04-05-2024 01:00 via drive.com.au
  Ford Australia is now holding select Ranger and Everest variants in stock and ready to go for customers after long wait times in recent years.In-demand diesel V6 versions of the 2024 Ford Ranger and Everest are now in stock available for immediate delivery after improved production has helped clear back-orders.A Ford Australia spokesperson told Drive that Wildtrak, Sport, and XLT variants of the Ranger ute are readily in stock in 3.0-litre turbo-diesel V6 and 2.0-litre bi-turbo diesel four-cylin
  
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• Ram pick-ups pass sales milestone in Australia

  04-05-2024 00:00 via drive.com.au
  Ram Trucks Australia has celebrated its 30,000th factory-backed pick-up converted to right-hand drive.
  The 30,000th Ram pick-up to be converted from left- to right-hand drive – with the backing of Ram head office in the US – has rolled off the production line in Melbourne.Ram vehicles arrive from the US in left-hand drive before they are ‘remanufactured’ by the Walkinshaw Automotive Group – the engineering firm formerly behind Holden Special Vehicles – for sal
  
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• Tesla abandons revolutionary manufacturing process – report

  03-05-2024 23:00 via drive.com.au
  A new technique from Tesla designed to drastically cut vehicle manufacturing time and cost is said to have been scrapped, adding to the latest drama from the electric-car company.Tesla has reportedly taken a step back from a new manufacturing technique which has been widely touted as being revolutionary for the automotive industry.News outlet Reuters claims Tesla has abandoned its expanded plans for single-piece ‘gigacasting’ – a process which stamps out large pieces of metal u
  
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• The 10 most fuel-efficient dual-cab utes in Australia

  03-05-2024 22:47 via drive.com.au
  With fuel prices increasing, running costs matter just as much as sticker prices. Here, we dive into the top 10 most fuel-efficient dual-cab utes in Australia.If you’re in the market for a new dual-cab ute as a tax write-off, or perhaps just as a new set of wheels, consider putting fuel efficiency at the top of your wishlist.RELATED: Is it cheaper to own a ute or an SUV?The fuel consumption on vehicles can vary based on a range of factors including the vehicle’s transmission, body st
  
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• Hyundai joins Toyota with certified used-car sales program

  03-05-2024 22:00 via drive.com.au
  Vehicles in Hyundai’s new certified pre-owned program are covered for an extra year of warranty and roadside assistance coverage.Hyundai is the latest car maker to roll out a certified pre-owned program for used cars in Australia similar to Toyota, Volkswagen and luxury brands such as Mercedes-Benz.Certified pre-owned vehicles will be sold through Hyundai’s dealership network across Australia, and are backed by an extra year of factory warranty coverage and roadside assistance.To be
  
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• 2024 Volkswagen Polo 85TSI Style review

  03-05-2024 21:30 via drive.com.au
  The Volkswagen Polo proves a city hatchback doesn’t need to feel cheap or unrefined – but at close to $40,000 drive-away with options, is this too big of a price for such a small car?
  Skip ahead:IntroductionRunning costsPrice and specificationEnergy useInterior space and comfortOn-road assessmentConnectivity and infotainmentSummarySafety Next steps
  2024 Volkswagen Polo 85TSI StyleThe current Volkswagen Polo city hatch is nearing the twilight of its life, now six years old – and
  
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• Confirmed: BYD Seal U plug-in hybrid SUV to be renamed Sealion 6 in Australia

  03-05-2024 09:26 via drive.com.au
  BYD’s rival for the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV is about to get its second name change before reaching Australia.The upcoming mid-size plug-in hybrid SUV from Chinese car maker BYD will be known as the Sealion 6 in Australia.Australian government approval documents for what was expected to be known as the Seal U – as the BYD SUV is sold in Europe – have been updated with a new name, ‘SEALION 6’.It is a surprise name change for a vehicle Australian BYD executives have
  
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• BYD Seal U plug-in hybrid SUV to be renamed Sealion 6 in Australia

  03-05-2024 09:26 via drive.com.au
  BYD’s rival for the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV is about to get its second name change before reaching Australia.The upcoming mid-size plug-in hybrid SUV from Chinese car maker BYD appears set to be known as the Sealion 6.Australian government approval documents for what was expected to be known as the Seal U – as the BYD SUV is sold in Europe – have been updated with a new name, ‘SEALION 6’.It is a surprise name change for a vehicle Australian BYD executives have lon
  
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• 2024 GWM Cannon Alpha price and specs: First full hybrid ute in Australia

  03-05-2024 07:18 via drive.com.au
  The GWM Cannon Alpha is bigger than a Ford Ranger – but smaller than an F-150 – with a choice of diesel-only or petrol-hybrid power.2024 GWM Cannon Alpha pricing and specificationsSuper-sized Chinese pick-up available with diesel or hybrid powerThree models with 3500kg braked towingPriced from $51,990 drive-awayThe 2024 GWM Cannon Alpha ute will be priced from $51,990 drive-away – or $64,990 for the top-of-the-range hybrid version – when it arrives in Australian showrooms
  
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• How car brands are joining forces to design electric cars

  03-05-2024 07:00 via drive.com.au
  There’s a new, innovative kind of cross-pollination in the automotive industry, driven by electric cars like the Toyota BZ4X and Subaru Solterra.
  Cast your mind back to the 1980s and the Federal Government’s ‘Button Plan’.
  This was a program where the government sought to streamline Australia’s automotive production by culling more than half the nameplates built on local soil. So as not to impact showroom line-ups, the new generation of cars built in Australia were
  
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• More than half of new Toyota sales now hybrids in Australia as RAV4 tops charts

  03-05-2024 04:18 via drive.com.au
  Toyota delivered more hybrid cars and SUVs in Australia last month than any calendar year before 2018 – and the RAV4 topped the charts – as wait times tumble and back-orders are cleared.More than 10,000 Toyota hybrid cars and SUVs have been sold in Australia for the first time in a month – and now account for more than 50 per cent of the company’s total deliveries.The Toyota RAV4 beat the Ford Ranger and Toyota HiLux to become the top-selling new vehicle outright for the
  
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• The Italian design studio that gave us the Lamborghini Miura also once designed a Holden

  03-05-2024 04:02 via drive.com.au
  What is the famous Bertone badge doing on the sides of a humble Holden? And it might not be the model you expect.If you don’t know who Bertone is, then allow me to introduce to you one of the most important names to ever grace the automotive world.Bertone, the Italian styling house started by Giovanni Bertone and later perfected by his son, Giuseppe “Nuccio” Bertone, has been responsible for some of the most beautiful pieces of metal you have ever laid your eyes on. RELATE
  
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• Electric Toyota LandCruiser one step closer to reality

  03-05-2024 03:45 via drive.com.au
  Toyota has confirmed plans to produce two new electric SUVs at its factories in Kentucky and Indiana – which could pave the way for a showroom version of last year’s electric LandCruiser concept.Newly-confirmed plans for a seven-seat Toyota electric SUV in the US could see the electric Toyota LandCruiser concept unveiled at the Tokyo motor show last year come to reality from the middle of this decade.Last week Drive reported on unconfirmed US rumours claiming a new seven-seat electri
  
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• Ford Everest sets new sales record in April

  03-05-2024 03:08 via drive.com.au
  The large SUV dominated the segment last month, making up almost a quarter of all vehicles delivered in the category.The Ford Everest has set a new record, with 2400 of the large SUVs finding homes in April 2024.According to VFACTS data released today by the Federal Chamber for Automotive Industries (FCAI) there were 2400 Everests delivered by Ford last month, up from 677 at the same time in 2023 and 2264 in March this year.The result occurred despite increased competition in the segment, with t
  
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• Australian new-car sales in April 2024: Toyota RAV4 tops charts in sixth record VFACTS in a row

  03-05-2024 02:35 via drive.com.au
  The Toyota RAV4 topped the Australian new-car charts for the third time in history as the market posts its 12th consecutive month of growth – and sixth monthly record in a row.Sales of new motor vehicles in Australia are now on their longest streak of growth in at least six years after deliveries in April 2024 were up 18.3 per cent on the same month last year.Data published by the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI) today lists 97,202 new vehicles as sold – a new April re
  
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• Australian new-car sales in April 2024: Toyota RAV4 leads sixth record VFACTS in a row

  03-05-2024 02:35 via drive.com.au
  The Toyota RAV4 topped the Australian new-car charts for the third time in history as the market posts its 12th consecutive month of growth – and sixth monthly record in a row.Sales of new motor vehicles in Australia are now on their longest streak of growth in at least six years after deliveries in April 2024 were up 18.3 per cent on the same month last year.Data published by the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI) today lists 97,202 new vehicles as sold – a new April re
  
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• The V12 lives on! 2025 Ferrari 12Cilindri supercar unveiled

  03-05-2024 02:00 via drive.com.au
  Thought the V12 engine was on its last legs? Ferrari has unveiled the successor to the 812, a screaming 9500rpm supercar inspired by the iconic 1970s Daytona.Ferrari has unveiled what may be its last front-engined, road-legal V12 supercar without turbochargers or hybrid technology: the 2025 Ferrari 12Cilindri.The 12Cilindri – Italian for ’12 cylinders’, and pronounced ‘doh-dechi chillindri’ – draws heavy inspiration from the legendary Ferrari 365 GTB/4 and GTS
  
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• Isuzu Ute and Mazda face potential class action lawsuit – report

  03-05-2024 01:00 via drive.com.au
  An alleged fault with the suspension on Isuzu D-Max, MU-X, and Mazda BT-50 models could see the two car brands facing a legal challenge from owners.A law firm is considering a class action against Isuzu Ute Australia and Mazda Australia over alleged suspension defects.According to website Lawyerly, Chamberlains is considering a lawsuit on behalf of owners of current-generation D-Max, MU-X, and BT-50 models over allegations Isuzu and Mazda sold the vehicles with faulty suspension which can cause
  
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• 2024 Subaru Outback and Forester get new special editions

  03-05-2024 00:00 via drive.com.au
  The new additions are available in a limited number only, joining the models’ ranges at the lower end.Subaru has introduced two limited-edition variants to its Outback and Forester SUVs for 2024, due to arrive in showrooms this month.From mid-May, Subaru will introduce the Outback AWD Premium and Forester 2.5i Luxury AWD into the models’ respective line-ups, offering added features such as leather-accented seats.The Outback Premium will slot into the range between the base AWD varian
  
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• The most exciting new cars spotted testing in Australia this year

  02-05-2024 23:00 via drive.com.au
  It’s been an exciting start to 2024 for Australian car fans, with an unprecedented number of sightings of new models soon to hit our shores.It looks like 2024 is shaping up to be a good year for Aussie car spotting. Just five months in, we have already glimpsed a series of exciting models testing on local roads. RELATED: Will the Tesla Cybertruck ever come to Australia? Here’s why it’s unlikelyEverything from hybrid utes to full-electric sports cars have been spotted eithe
  
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• 2024 BMW 118i and 220i Gran Coupe get Sport treatment, lower prices

  02-05-2024 23:00 via drive.com.au
  Drive-away pricing for the new 1 Series and 2 Series Sport Collection models adds value ahead of their next-generation replacements.BMW Australia has given two new models the Sport Collection treatment with lower drive-away pricing and higher equipment levels, with the current generation is set to be replaced in the coming months.The 2024 BMW 118i hatchback and 2024 BMW 220i Gran Coupe are the second and third Sport Collection special models – after the 330i and X3 XDrive30i – with t
  
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• 2025 Chery Omoda 7 plug-in hybrid revealed

  02-05-2024 22:00 via drive.com.au
  Chery’s newest SUV brings a fresh design and plug-in hybrid powertrain with a 1200km claimed driving range.The 2025 Chery Omoda 7 has been unveiled at the 2024 Beijing motor show ahead of its official global launch next year – and a potential arrival in Australian showrooms.The plug-in hybrid Omoda 7 is yet another SUV from the Chinese car maker using the ‘T1X’ platform underpinning all four Chery SUVs currently in Australian showrooms – the Omoda 5, Omoda 5 GT, Tig
  
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