Not content with two auto brands, Chery is lobbing another one into the crowded Australian market – and it’s got an odd name, to boot. Lepas will launch here in 2026, and Chery says it’s pronounced ‘le pass‘ – and not like how you would say ‘lepers’ in an Australian accent. The name is a…

Kia Motors Europe has detailed the K4 for the region, which initially will be exclusively sold as a Hatch (or 5DR) and offer a range of turbocharged petrol engines – including 48V mild-hybrids. The Korean automaker is touting the K4’s “class-leading legroom and boot space”, with the former quoted at 964mm and the latter at…

The Chinese Vehicle Collision Repair Technical and Research Center and Joyson Electronics have revealed a very unusual solution to a serious concern. At an event earlier this month, new technology was demonstrated on Chery’s iCar 03 that can see a vehicle’s high-voltage battery ejected 3-6 metres away within a second of thermal runaway being detected.…

The Ford Mustang is set to go hybrid according to reports from the US, as emissions regulations threaten the legendary sports car’s future. The iconic sports car is currently offered with a 5.0-litre V8 or a four-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine, with the V8 in particular under increasing pressure from tightening emissions regulations around the world. …

A cheaper version of the flagship Hyundai Ioniq 5 N electric vehicle (EV) has been launched in South Korea, stripping features but keeping the high-output powertrain that has made it a benchmark for electric performance. The cheaper Essential trim level drops the Ioniq 5 N’s price by 3 million won ($A3264) by ditching equipment such…

Ford is launching a special edition Everest that once again combines the popular Sport trim with the base 2.0-litre Bi-Turbo four-cylinder diesel engine, but this time with four-wheel drive. The Sport is now offered only with the larger 3.0-litre turbo-diesel V6, following the axing of the rear-wheel drive, four-cylinder Sport. But a limited run of…

Australians can now check the safety ranking of even more roads after several state governments released data for the Australian Road Assessment Program (AusRAP) Dashboard. The release of previously ‘secret’ road safety ratings will provide a better understanding of roads and enable more effective allocation of funding, according to the Australian Automobile Association (AAA). State governments…

Zeekr is pivoting from being an electric vehicle-only brand, adding new plug-in hybrid (PHEV) models – and they could come to Australia. The Zeekr 9X PHEV, a Rolls-Royce-aping large SUV, was revealed at the 2025 Shanghai auto show in April before its interior and preliminary specs were announced earlier this month as order books opened…

Could Hyundai be phasing out light bars at the front and rear of its vehicles? Maybe, if one of its senior design executives has his way. At recent launch of the Concept Three, Simon Loasby, head of the Hyundai Design Center, and one of the automaker’s senior vice presidents, told Car magazine: “When is the…