More than 100 service stations in Victoria have run out of petrol while 83 are without diesel, as fuel shortages linked to conflict in the Middle East continue to spread globally. However, according to the ABC, Victorian Energy Minister Lily D’Ambrosio said the shortages were driven by panic buying rather than a genuine lack of…

JAC has joined fellow Chinese auto brand GWM in enlisting a former Holden chassis engineer to fine-tune its models to better suit Australian conditions. While many automakers localise their vehicles to some extent – including Chinese brands such as BYD and Chery with its upcoming plug-in hybrid diesel ute – Ford is the only automaker…

Zeekr will introduce its first plug-in hybrid model in Australia, a large SUV to sit above the hot-selling 7X mid-size electric SUV. “At this stage, we intend to bring the Zeekr 8X to Australia next year, and we are continuing to assess the Zeekr 9X and 007 GT within our broader product strategy,” a Zeekr…

KGM is rolling out electrified models at quite a pace – and this one is the fully electric Torres EVX. It follows on from the Torres Hybrid, and the related Musso EV ute, all of which are underpinned by the same monocoque platform (not the ladder frame on which the diesel Musso is based). However,…

What is the best car for a modern Australian family? That’s a good question that is more difficult to answer today than it ever has been, thanks in part to the stampede of SUVs over the past 20-odd years and the more recent gentrification of dual-cab 4x4 utes, both of which have muddied the waters…

BMW aftermarket parts supplier and tuner AC Schnitzer will be closed down later this year, with the family-owned Kohl Group pulling the pin on the 39-year-old brand. According to Rainer Vogel, AC Schnitzer’s managing director, “Making a rational decision regarding a business segment that is so emotionally charged is not easy, but as a family-owned…

Kia Australia is recalling the recently introduced Kia K4 Hatch as one of its rear seatbelts may not work properly. “The rear centre seat belt anchor buckle may have been incorrectly assembled. As a result, the seat belt may not properly latch or operate as intended,” the company says in its recall notice. “In the…

Several younger Chinese brands are consistently outperforming Renault on the Australian sales charts, but Renault’s local arm maintains it’s well-positioned to remain afloat in an increasingly competitive market. While Renault is promising a raft of new or refreshed models over the next six months, starting with the Scenic E-Tech, its sales so far in 2026 are down…

The Mazda CX-70andCX-90 still have no plug-in hybrid (PHEV) options in Australia despite the technology being available overseas, but the brand’s local boss reckons the company has “sufficient coverage” of PHEVs at the upper ends of the SUV market. Speaking with CarExpert, Mazda Australia managing director Vinesh Bhindi said the brand is prioritising its upcoming…

Mazda Australia has explained why the new-generation CX-5’s sole petrol engine at launch is down on power and torque compared to the outgoing model. The 2026 Mazda CX-5 is due to launch mid-year with just one powertrain initially – a version of the venerable ‘G25’ 2.5-litre naturally aspirated four-cylinder petrol engine making 132kW of power…