Cars news

• Best-selling plug-in hybrid cars in Australia during the first half of 2024

  05-07-2024 03:25 via drive.com.au
  Plug-in hybrids aren’t as popular as electric cars – or regular hybrids – but sales are up, buoyed by tax exemptions for customers on a novated lease.Sales of plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) are growing faster than any other new-vehicle propulsion type in Australia – albeit from a low base – with deliveries more than doubling so far this year.However, the honeymoon period may have come to an end by this time next year, as a tax exemption that has supercharged interest in pl
  
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• Polestar dealer presence to expand and evolve, but fixed prices to remain

  04-10-2024 23:00 via drive.com.au
  As Polestar’s portfolio of cars expands to three models and beyond in Australia, expect to see a revitalised retail presence.Polestar is expanding its retail presence in Australia, with a range of more traditional “retail-centric” selling environments joining the existing network in the coming months and years.In Australia, this will allow customers to purchase vehicles in person – in a more traditional dealership sense – instead of transacting through an online por
  
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• I took a Ford Everest off-road in South Africa and it was a wild ride

  04-10-2024 22:04 via drive.com.au
  To properly test the Ford Everest off-road, Dom Wiseman took the SUV on an African safari complete with lions, luxury accommodation and harrowing mountain roads.
  We roll over hills and wind around sharp corners, narrowly avoiding thorny bushes lurking like street fundraisers, ready to snag an unwary passer-by outside the local supermarket.
  The journey is only interrupted by the occasional halt as our guides study the earth for signs of our prey. Then, we are off again – a convoy of cars cr
  
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• 2024 Honda CR-V VTi L review

  04-10-2024 16:00 via drive.com.au
  Honda has blended generous interior dimensions with low operating costs to create a family-favourite recipe for the CR-V medium SUV.
  Skip ahead:IntroductionRunning costsPrice and specificationEnergy useInterior space and comfortOn-road assessmentConnectivity and infotainmentSummarySafety Next steps
  2024 Honda CR-V VTi LIt’s kind of hard to believe that the first CR-V – still reasonably numerous on our roads but now looking endearingly dinky – was a much smaller vehicle. Su
  
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• These are the cheapest cars to insure in Australia

  04-10-2024 08:00 via drive.com.au
  New data has revealed the car brands that attract the cheapest – and most expensive – car insurance premiums.Australian car insurance premiums have risen by 16 per cent in the last 12 months, with the average policy now costing $1717 a year.A new report from insurance comparison website Mozo analysed nearly 300,000 car insurance quotes across 33 brands to identify the factors pushing up insurance premiums.RELATED: Car insurance premiums jump 16 per cent in 12 months –
  
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• Ford E-Transit $20,000 price cut now undercuts smaller electric van rivals

  04-10-2024 07:00 via drive.com.au
  The price of the battery-electric E-Transit commercial van has been slashed by more than $35,000 since it arrived in Australia.The Ford E-Transit – already Australia’s cheapest full-size electric commercial van after a $15,000 reduction in May – now costs less than most smaller electric rivals with a $20,000 cheaper runout deal on existing stock.Advertised as an ‘end of year’ promotion the E-Transit starts at $69,990 drive-away until 31 December 2024, with only smal
  
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• ANZ pays $85 million settlement over ‘predatory’ car loans

  04-10-2024 06:38 via drive.com.au
  One of Australia’s major banks has settled a class action claim over allegations it used kickbacks to car dealers – a practice outlawed by ASIC.ANZ bank has agreed to pay $85 million to settle a class-action lawsuit with customers.The class action alleged ANZ employed “predatory lending practices”, which included secret ‘flex commissions’ to car dealers and high-interest loans for buyers.Drive understands the Australian Securities and Investment Commission (AS
  
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• 2021-24 LDV Deliver 9 bus recalled in Australia due to website error

  04-10-2024 06:12 via drive.com.au
  The vehicle specification sheet for 2021 to 2024 examples of the LDV Deliver 9 bus had incorrect information about its weight limits.Ateco Automotive has recalled 932 examples of the 2021 to 2024 LDV Deliver 9 bus, citing an error with the vehicle specification sheet on the LDV website. The affected vehicles are stamped 2021 to 2024 models.The recall notice, lodged with the Department of Infrastructure, says: “The vehicle specification sheet obtained from the LDV website may have prov
  
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• Michael Jordan sues NASCAR: NBA icon takes stand against sport’s administration

  04-10-2024 05:12 via drive.com.au
  The famous Chicago Bulls basketballer – who now owns part of a racing team – is taking on NASCAR after filing an anti-trust lawsuit in US federal court.Michael Jordan is suing NASCAR and its CEO Jim France for “anti-competitive and monopolistic control of the sport” after refusing to sign an “unfair” charter agreement between his team and the organisation.“I love the sport of racing and the passion of our fans, but the way NASCAR is run today is unfair t
  
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• Best-selling electric cars in Australia over first nine months of 2024

  04-10-2024 04:58 via drive.com.au
  Sales of electric cars have hit a speed bump – and if the current rate of decline continues to New Year’s Eve, deliveries may not improve upon 2023’s record result.Electric vehicle (EV) sales in Australia are on track to flatline by the end of 2024 – and may fail to grow year-on-year for the first time since 2016 – amid a cooldown in demand for battery-powered cars.It is despite more choice in the electric-car market than ever before – and drastic price cuts t
  
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• Manhunt underway for driver who dumped stolen car, causing traffic chaos on major Melbourne bridge

  04-10-2024 04:42 via drive.com.au
  Victoria Police are appealing for the public’s help to find an alleged offender accused of stealing a Holden Commodore and abandoning it on a busy route in Melbourne’s centre.Police are hunting a man who is accused of stealing a car and dumping it on one of Melbourne’s busiest road bridges before fleeing the scene.The stolen Holden Commodore was abandoned on the Bolte Bridge, which connects Port Melbourne with Docklands over the Yarra River, after the driver allegedly collided
  
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• 2024 Leapmotor C10 review: Quick drive

  04-10-2024 01:16 via drive.com.au
  Drive has already sampled the 2024 Leapmotor C10 in its local market, but now we join the European launch for a test drive of the vehicles that will eventually make their way to Australia. Trent Nikolic assesses the Euro-influenced suspension tune at the international launch. 
  Skip ahead:IntroductionRunning costsPrice and specificationEnergy useInterior space and comfortOn-road assessmentConnectivity and infotainmentSummarySafety Next steps
  2024 Leapmotor C10It’s not so cut and dried
  
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• Ford president says ‘no more boring cars’

  04-10-2024 01:00 via drive.com.au
  The US car giant’s global head says every Ford needs a bit of Raptor excitement from the get-go.Ford President and CEO Jim Farley has said the car maker will no longer make ‘boring’ cars, promising to tap into the brand’s rich stream of ‘icons’ for its future model line-up.Speaking to UK publication Car Magazine at the launch of the electric Ford Explorer SUV – which won’t be sold in Australia – the boss of the car maker was bold in his promi
  
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• ‘It makes Lambos look like everyday Ubers’: Rare Alpine A310 spotted in Australia

  04-10-2024 00:00 via drive.com.au
  France’s answer to an air-cooled Porsche 911 knocks the German for six in terms of kerbside appeal in 2024 Sydney, ahead of a revived new electric A310 due in 2027.This 1979 Alpine A310 was spotted in Sydney this week, with the alternative classic sports car getting tongues wagging on social media.These photos of the A310 were posted to the Exotic Car Spotting Australia’s Facebook group, with most users seemingly in awe at the sight of the rare French icon.“A310? Definitely the
  
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• How long do Tesla batteries actually last? We crunch the numbers

  03-10-2024 22:04 via drive.com.au
  If you’re worried about having to replace the battery in your new Tesla – worry not. Data shows you could still have thousands of kilometres left. Back in 2019, Elon Musk tweeted that the battery in a Tesla Model 3 would last for between 300,000–500,000 miles (482,000–805,000km). Flash-forward to 2024, and just how accurate was his estimation?As one of the first car brands to sell electric cars to a broad consumer base, Tesla has more real-world data on its average b
  
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• V8 Supercars 2025 calendar announced, including Bathurst 1000 date

  03-10-2024 22:00 via drive.com.au
  An expanded 2025 calendar for the Supercars Championship sees more races in the last season before Toyota – and a new television broadcast deal – come into play.Photo by Morgan Hancock/Getty ImagesThe V8 Supercars 2025 calendar has been released ahead of next weekend’s Bathurst 1000 in the last season before Toyota joins the field – and its current television deal expires.The 2025 Supercars season will see a 13-round schedule – one more than the 12 races held in 202
  
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• 2025 Cadillac Lyriq review: International first drive

  03-10-2024 22:00 via drive.com.au
  Cadillac is coming to Australia as an all-electric brand and intends to take the fight to Mercedes-Benz, BMW, and Audi. Its Cadillac Lyriq is a strong start.Skip ahead:IntroductionRunning costsPrice and specificationEnergy useInterior space and comfortOn-road assessmentConnectivity and infotainmentSummarySafety Next steps
  2025 Cadillac LyriqMention Cadillac and most Australians will have some idea of the brand’s long history and unique character, but local exposure to the car maker’s
  
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• 2025 Cadillac Lyriq price and specs: More affordable than key rivals

  03-10-2024 22:00 via drive.com.au
  Cadillac is entering the Australian market with an all-electric line-up headlined by the new Lyriq large SUV, and it’s more affordable than first anticipated.
  2025 Cadillac Lyriq pricing and specificationsTwo Cadillac Lyriq trim grades are available in Australia First deliveries to begin before the end of 2024Priced from $117,000 before on-road costsThe first 2025 Cadillac Lyriq electric SUVs will arrive in Australia before the end of 2024, with pricing for the large electric SUV undercutt
  
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• Electric cars almost 50 per cent more expensive to insure, study says

  03-10-2024 21:00 via drive.com.au
  New research by an insurance comparison site claims electric vehicles cost a lot more money to insure than their petrol-only equivalents in 2024.ASIC warns car buyers of hidden insurance policiesElectric cars are almost 50 per cent more expensive to insure than their petrol-powered equivalents in Australia, new research claims.A study of 12 insurers carried out by comparison site Compare the Market, has shown the top five best-selling electric vehicles (EVs) are 43 per cent more expensive to cov
  
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• Double demerit points enforced across NSW and ACT from tonight: What you need to know

  03-10-2024 08:41 via drive.com.au
  Not all states and territories get a public holiday this weekend, but for some of those that do there will be the chance of copping double demerit points for infringements.Double demerit points will apply for breaking certain road rules from tonight, as states and territories across Australia gear up for a long weekend.With many jurisdictions set to enjoy a three-day public holiday weekend for Labour Day (NSW, ACT, NT, SA) and the King’s Birthday (QLD), police and motoring groups are warni
  
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• What do you do with old car tyres in Australia?

  03-10-2024 08:00 via drive.com.au
  Disposing of old car tyres in Australia isn’t as easy as throwing them in the recycling bin. Here’s how to safely – and responsibly – get rid of them.One of the more costly expenses associated with car ownership is getting a new set of tyres. While there’s no legislated time frame for when drivers are required to change their tyres, Australia does have a mandatory minimum tyre tread depth requirement of 1.5mm on cars.Road authorities can deem a car unroadworthy if t
  
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• Car insurance premiums jump 16 per cent in 12 months – report

  03-10-2024 06:01 via drive.com.au
  Australians are now paying an average of $1717 for comprehensive car insurance annually, but some states are pricier than others.A new report analysing nearly 300,000 Australian car insurance quotes canvassing 33 providers has revealed car insurance premiums have risen by 16 per cent in the last 12 months.The report, by insurance comparison website Mozo, reveals Australians now pay an average of $1717 per year for comprehensive car insurance.The increase is in line with consumer price index (CPI
  
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• Average cost of Australian car insurance has risen by 16 per cent in a year

  03-10-2024 06:01 via drive.com.au
  Australians are now paying an average of $1717 for annual comprehensive car insurance, but some states are pricier than others.A new report analysing nearly 300,000 Australian car insurance quotes canvassing 33 providers has revealed car insurance premiums have risen in cost by 16 per cent in the last 12 months.The report, by insurance comparison website Mozo, reveals Australians now pay an average of $1717 per year for comprehensive car insurance.The increase is in line with consumer price inde
  
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• GWM cuts prices in Australia, new Jolion and H6 variants introduced

  03-10-2024 04:54 via drive.com.au
  GWM has introduced new variants to the Haval Jolion and H6 line-ups, while drive-away prices have been cut for most of its vehicles in Australia.GWM Australia has reduced drive-away prices for most vehicles across its SUV, ute and electric vehicle line-up, with the latest round of offers valid until 31 December 2024.Drive-away prices for October to December 2024 have fallen between $1000 and $2000 compared to July and September for most GWM vehicles, including the Haval Jolion, Haval H6, Ora, Ca
  
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• 2025 Hyundai i20 N price and specs: Updated model revealed

  03-10-2024 04:45 via drive.com.au
  Hyundai’s smallest hot hatch has been given a minor ‘facelift’ with revised styling and new technology, as Australia is now one of the few markets where it is still sold.2025 Hyundai i20 N pricing and specifications‘Facelifted’ hot hatch gains revised appearanceBluelink connectivity and new badges also addedPriced from $35,500 plus on-road costsThe updated 2025 Hyundai i20 N hot hatch has been unveiled, ahead of the first Australian arrivals due this November.It is
  
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• Major electric car charging network upgrading to faster technology

  03-10-2024 04:28 via drive.com.au
  RACV and Chargefox sites are being overhauled to make their chargers faster and more modern.Photo Credit: RACVThe first of seven public electric vehicle charging sites to be majorly upgraded has reopened in Victoria.The Royal Automobile Club of Victoria (RACV) has rolled out fresh technology at its site in Ballarat in the state’s west, unveiling new chargers.The location in Curtis Street now has two new 50kW fast chargers, and two new 350kW ultra-rapid units.The chargers had been offline d
  
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• Tesla global deliveries up for the first time in 2024 amid softening electric-car market

  03-10-2024 04:07 via drive.com.au
  Tesla has delivered more vehicles in the third quarter of 2024 compared to the same period last year, despite the EV market faltering.Tesla’s aggressive electric-car discounting appears to finally be positively affecting the brand’s vehicle deliveries, as revealed by its third-quarter 2024 report.Having weathered a downturn in the first half of the year, in the third quarter (July to September), Tesla delivered the highest number of vehicles in a three-month period so far this year,
  
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• Hyundai builds 100 millionth vehicle after 57 years

  03-10-2024 04:00 via drive.com.au
  The 100 millionth vehicle from the Hyundai Motor Group – an Ioniq 5 N Line electric car – has been built at the company’s first factory.Hyundai Motor Company has built its 100 millionth vehicle with the milestone achieved 57 years after the company was founded in 1967.The first vehicle built beyond this milestone by Hyundai was an Ioniq 5 N Line electric car, which was delivered directly to its customer at the company’s Ulsan Plant in South Korea during a ceremony to mark
  
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• Australian new-car sales in September 2024: Market hits reverse again as Toyota RAV4 leads

  03-10-2024 03:10 via drive.com.au
  New-car deliveries are in negative territory for the second consecutive month – the longest streak in two years – but hybrid sales are booming, led by the chart-topping Toyota RAV4.New motor vehicle deliveries in Australia have hit reverse for the second month in a row – after 14 months of consecutive growth ended earlier this year – with the Toyota RAV4 topping the charts for the fourth time this year.The new-car market is still in positive territory over the first nine
  
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• More BMW and Mini cars recalled in Australia due to brake fault

  03-10-2024 02:57 via drive.com.au
  The fault could cause problems with the brake booster system, according to the recall notice.BMW and Mini have recalled a total of 30 vehicles spanning a number of models, citing a potential fault with the braking system.The affected vehicles are stamped 2022 to 2024 models, but may have been sold at a later date.The recall notices, available here for BMW and here for Mini, lodged with the Department of Infrastructure, say: “Due to a manufacturing defect, a compone
  
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