Cupra Australia will finally bring the 240kW Born VZ electric hot hatch early in 2026, though customers eager for less powerful variants will have to wait a little longer. Speaking with CarExpert, head of product for Cupra Australia – Jeff Shafer – said the high-performance Born will arrive at the beginning of next year (despite…

In a poignant sign of the times, GWM has taken up permanent residency at the former General Motors proving ground in Lang Lang, where it will continue to conduct Australian chassis tuning for its entire model range under the direction of ex-Holden engineering guru Rob Trubiani. Underlining the Chinese automaker’s position as one of the…

The 2026 Honda Prelude has been confirmed for Australia and is scheduled to arrive in local showrooms mid-next year as the brand looks to recapture some of its former sports car glory. The Prelude will enter the sports car market alongside two-door coupes including the Subaru BRZ and Toyota GR86 twins, Nissan Z, Toyota Supra,…

Ford has posted a $US36 million ($A55.9 million) loss in the second quarter (April-June) of 2025, the least of the US ‘Big Three’ since the introduction of import tariffs in the United States (US). In the first reporting period since US President Donald Trump introduced automotive tariffs – followed by broader tariffs unsettling the industry…

Hyundai is recalling its new Inster electric vehicle (EV) as occupants may cut their hands reaching under the driver’s seat. “Due to a manufacturing defect, the retaining studs under the driver’s seat may not have a safety sealing cap installed during assembly,” the company says in its recall notice. “The exposed studs with sharp edges…

BMW is recalling more than 100 examples of its X3 mid-size SUV as its rear head restraints may not stay in place. “Due to a manufacturing defect, the outer head restraints of the rear row seats may not be manufactured correctly,” the company says in its recall notice. “As a result, they may move or…

Close to 10,000 examples of the Kia Cerato and Seltos have been recalled due to potential engine failure. The recall affects vehicles equipped with Kia’s naturally aspirated 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine. “The piston rings fitted to the engines of certain vehicles may not meet manufacturing specifications, and could cause engine failure and vehicle stalling,” the company…

Many Australians – particularly those in regional areas – simply aren’t ready for electric vehicles (EVs), argues the boss of Suzuki Auto Co, the Japanese brand’s distributor in Queensland and northern New South Wales. “I just don’t think the Australian market wants them [EVs],” Suzuki Queensland general manager Paul Dillon told CarExpert. “Whilst the government…

The all-new Cupra Terramar mid-size SUV will add a ‘VZe’ 200kW plug-in hybrid (PHEV) variant with over 100km of electric range before year’s end, finally giving the Volkswagen Group a PHEV in the mid-size SUV space in Australia. Cupra Australia head of product Jeff Shafer confirmed local-spec Terramar VZe vehicles are now in production at…

Nissan has confirmed it will close its CIVAC factory in Mexico, the company’s oldest plant outside of Japan, by March 2026. CIVAC, which is in the city of Cuernavaca around 80km south of Mexico City, currently produces the Versa sedan, as well as the ‘D23’ Navara, which is sold in Mexico as the NP300 two-door…