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• Kia: Drive the Tasman ute before making your mind up

  04-04-2025 01:00 via drive.com.au
  Don’t knock it until you try it is the message from Kia Australia, which urges potential buyers not sold on its Tasman ute to look at one in person – and take a test drive – before forming a judgement.Kia Australia has urged critics of its first-ever ute, the diesel Tasman, to look at it in the metal – and get behind the wheel – before writing it off on photos or the specification sheet alone.The South Korean car giant forecasts that about 10,000 to 11,000 of the 90
  
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• 2025 Volkswagen ID.4 & ID.5 review: Australian first drive

  10-04-2025 09:00 via drive.com.au
  After a long wait, Volkswagen’s own electric mid-sized SUV has arrived on Australian shores. It’s been upgraded, and comes at a price that pins it right against competitors from Tesla, BYD, Xpeng and Toyota.2025 Volkswagen ID.4 Pro and ID.5 GTXIt’s been a long time coming, but Volkswagen reckons the 2025 ID.4 and ID.5 electric SUVs are worth the wait.Fresh from a major mid-cycle refresh – yes, it’s been four years since Volkswagen’s electric mid-sized SUV firs
  
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• ‘They still make me smile’: How Hot Wheels has gone from a simple child’s toy to a cultural phenomenon

  10-04-2025 08:00 via drive.com.au
  In the 1960s, one man wanted to make a new toy car for little boys. Fifty-seven years later, the Hot Wheels brand has transformed into a behemoth that has left no stone unturned.The return of the Melbourne Motor Show has sparked excitement and joy amongst the automotive community in Australia – with punters able to get up close and personal to vehicles they’d never otherwise get a chance to see.But it’s not any of the more than 20 manufacturers showing off their latest models t
  
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• 2025 Mercedes-AMG CLE53 price and specs – UPDATE

  10-04-2025 07:10 via drive.com.au
  The Mercedes-AMG CLE – the successor to the two-door C-Class and E-Class models – has gained a six-cylinder AMG CLE53 variant in Australia to rival the BMW M440i coupe and convertible.
  2025 Mercedes-AMG CLE53 pricing and specificationsNew-generation car replaces the C43 and E53 in the Mercedes-AMG line-upFaster and more powerful than outgoing AMG E53 Coupe, but costs lessPriced from $158,900 before on-road costsUPDATE. April 10, 2025: Mercedes-AMG has confirmed local pricing for the
  
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• Volkswagen Multivan plug-in hybrid confirmed for Australia

  10-04-2025 03:00 via drive.com.au
  Volkswagen is turning to power plugs – and nearly 100km of electric driving range – in its fight against the top-selling Kia Carnival.Australia’s first plug-in hybrid people mover – the Volkswagen Multivan eHybrid – is due in showrooms early next year as the brand expands its new family-car range.The first shipments of the diesel Multivan are arriving in Australia now – initially in a single Life diesel specification – with plans for a higher-grade Style
  
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• JAC Australia won’t just be a ute brand

  10-04-2025 02:00 via drive.com.au
  Chinese light-commercial specialist JAC will look at expanding into the popular family SUV market with a reveal confirmed for Shanghai later this month.
  JAC De-Fine Concept reveal at the 2025 Melbourne Motor Show.
  Two concepts to be revealed at this month’s Shanghai Motor Show are expected to inform JAC Australia’s future product plans, according to a senior executive.Speaking to media ahead of the 2025 Melbourne Motor Show, JAC Global Vice General Manager David Zhang said after the
  
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• Kia wants to sell one in four Tasman utes it builds in Australia

  10-04-2025 01:00 via drive.com.au
  The South Korean car giant has set ambitious global sales targets for its first diesel dual-cab ute – and wants Australia to form a key part of them.Kia has announced bold sales targets for its Tasman ute that aim to see one in four examples delivered globally each year reach Australian driveways.In the Tasman’s first full year in global showrooms – 2026 – the South Korean car giant aims to sell 80,000 examples, or a 6 per cent share of the “C-segment” (HiLux-
  
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• Volkswagen and Audi to include ‘Added Import Fee’ to US window sticker prices

  10-04-2025 00:00 via drive.com.au
  German car brands have confirmed they will ensure customers know exactly how much of their new vehicle purchase price is due to Trump’s tariffs.Audi and Volkswagen brands will include an itemised ‘Added Import Fee’ on new car window stickers – and invoices – in the United States for vehicles subject to the latest import tariffs.From April 3, 2025, cars imported into the US are subject to a blanket 25 per cent tariff as well as an additional tariff based on the count
  
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• Next Volkswagen Amarok ute for Australia at a crossroad, could go electric

  09-04-2025 23:00 via drive.com.au
  Volkswagen is discussing what to do with the next-generation Amarok for Australia – and whether to pair up again with Ford, or go alone – but either way, it’s likely to be electrified.A fully-electric Volkswagen Amarok developed in-house for the first time since the original 15 years ago is one of the options on the cards for the next-generation ute.Volkswagen says it is committed to continuing the Amarok ute lineage in Australia – its most important global market –
  
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• The Mazda MX-5 coupe that history has largely forgotten

  09-04-2025 21:00 via drive.com.au
  It wowed the public at the 1996 New York motor show, but why did Mazda never give the green light to build this sleek coupe version of its popular Mazda MX-5 roadsterOriginal story first published in Drive on 12 April, 1996Mazda has done the unthinkable with its MX-5 sports car, transforming the cult roadster into a coupe.Designed in Mazda’s Californian studios, the M Coupe was the Japanese maker’s star attraction at last week’s New York Motor Show. It carries an obvious family
  
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• 2025 Skoda Kodiaq review: Australian first drive

  09-04-2025 09:00 via drive.com.au
  Skoda’s long-running seven-seater has come in for an overhaul with more space, power and technology – at a higher price. Is it the smart choice if you don’t need the third row regularly?
  Skip ahead:IntroductionRunning costsPrice and specificationEnergy useInterior space and comfortOn-road assessmentConnectivity and infotainmentSummarySafety Next steps
  2025 Skoda KodiaqLaunched in 2017, the original Skoda Kodiaq was the Volkswagen-owned Czech brand’s first serious take on
  
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• MG 4 electric car facelift coming to Australia in 2026, including interior upgrade

  09-04-2025 08:00 via drive.com.au
  An interior upgrade may be joined by exterior changes as part of a facelift for the MG 4 electric car in Australia next year, in place of replacing it with China’s new-generation model.
  Above: Current MG 4 Essence.
  A comprehensive update for the MG 4 electric car is due in Australia early next year, amid renewed confirmation there are no plans to replace it with the new-generation version seen in China.It has been revealed the MG 4 update may include exterior changes inspired by the relate
  
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• Audi stops delivery of cars to the US as it grapples with Trump tariffs

  09-04-2025 05:19 via drive.com.au
  The German car maker joins Volkswagen and Jaguar Land Rover in holding back new vehicles subject to import tariffs into the United States.Audi has stopped sending vehicles to its showrooms in the United States amid uncertainty surrounding import tariffs applied by the Trump administration.The German brand does not make cars in the United States (US), importing all its vehicles sold there from Europe and/or Mexico – including its most popular model, the Audi Q5 SUV.The company has withheld
  
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• 2025 Deepal S05 SUV launch brought forward, could start under $50,000

  09-04-2025 04:00 via drive.com.au
  Deepal’s next model, the S05 SUV, will arrive in Australian showrooms earlier than expected, and will likely be the brand’s most affordable option.Deepal Australia will fast-track the launch of its 2025 S05 small SUV in a bid to quickly grow market share amidst cooling electric vehicle (EV) demand.Originally pencilled in to arrive towards the tail-end of the year, Deepal’s new S05 small SUV will instead arrive in the third quarter (July-September) as the Chinese brand’s t
  
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• Renault Koleos top-spec price hits 10-year low in EOFY deal

  09-04-2025 03:11 via drive.com.au
  Renault is offering its top-of-the-range petrol family SUV for less than a base Toyota RAV4 until 30 June, as it clears stock of 2024-plate examples.The top-of-the-range version of the Renault Koleos SUV will be offered for $39,990 drive-away – undercutting the popular Toyota RAV4 – until June 30 to help clear existing stock.Applicable to Model Year 2024 (MY24) stock, the sub-$40,000 price applies to the front-wheel-drive Koleos Intens – the sole equipment level of the SUV stil
  
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• Can a road car outrun a race car? We go fast in a Corvette to find out!

  09-04-2025 02:00 via drive.com.au
  With more technology and power than ever, can a road car be faster than a race car? We take a couple of new Chevrolet Corvettes to Queensland Raceway to find out.About ten years ago, when the world of electrification technology in road cars was still very new, the team at what was then CarAdvice raced a Tesla Model S against a V8 Supercar to see just how quick electric performance could be.The result showed that, in a straight line at least, the capability of the Telsa was so impressive that eve
  
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• 2025 Hyundai Tucson SUV price slashed to chase Toyota RAV4

  09-04-2025 01:00 via drive.com.au
  Hyundai has introduced drive-away pricing across the entire Tucson line-up but the biggest savings are on mid-spec models.The Hyundai Tucson SUV – winner of 2025 Drive Best Medium SUV under $50K – is on-sale until June 30 with drive-away pricing across the range bringing discounts of up to $4100.The $4100 saving comes on the Tucson Elite N-Line AWD petrol model, which is offered at $51,990 drive-away compared to its standard $51,100 before on-road costs are added.The Tucson is Hyunda
  
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• 2026 Kia Stonic update due in Australia next year

  09-04-2025 00:00 via drive.com.au
  Kia is preparing to breathe new life into its smallest SUV with a second styling overhaul coming to local showrooms next year.
  User ‘Laffey_Sin_Geun’, via Autospy
  A second ‘facelift’ for the 2026 Kia Stonic is due in Australian showrooms next year to extend the life of the company’s last sub-$30,000 SUV, the brand has confirmed.It will follow in the tyre tracks of the smaller Picanto city hatch, adding EV9-inspired looks and new features – which could include
  
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• More Hyundai models to look like the new Nexo hydrogen car – designer

  08-04-2025 23:00 via drive.com.au
  The next Hyundai Tucson could look a little like the new hydrogen-powered Nexo, which will lend its styling cues to more popular models in the brand’s range.
  New Hyundai Nexo.
  Future Hyundai models will draw inspiration from the blocky, chiselled styling of the new hydrogen fuel-cell-powered 2026 Hyundai Nexo revealed last week.That’s according to Simon Loasby, Hyundai senior vice president and head of its South Korean design centre, who says the next models with the Nexo’s new
  
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• This Melbourne suburb doesn’t want to fix its potholes

  08-04-2025 22:00 via drive.com.au
  Residents along The Boulevard in Melbourne’s north have called for the local council to abandon planned roadworks along the nature reserve.
  Image credit: Change.org
  While most Australians would love their council to rid their local roads of potholes, one suburb in Melbourne is fighting for the opposite.An online petition bearing 684 signatures at the time of writing is recruiting support to prevent road upgrades on The Boulevard in Ivanhoe East – a suburb approximately 10km north-eas
  
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• New Volkswagen Amarok Walkinshaw confirmed and teased, due in Australia next year

  08-04-2025 09:00 via drive.com.au
  A new generation of the VW Amarok Walkinshaw performance ute is due in showrooms in 2026, but don’t expect Raptor power – and there’s no word on a power boost.The flagship performance version of the latest Volkswagen Amarok – developed in conjunction with Walkinshaw, the former parent company of Holden Special Vehicles – is due in Australia next year.But it will not borrow the related Ford Ranger Raptor’s 3.0-litre twin-turbo petrol V6 – and is instead s
  
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• Foton Tunland V7 and V9 utes coming soon to Australia

  08-04-2025 08:00 via drive.com.au
  Early details of China’s Ford F-150 and Ram 1500 copycats – the Tunland twins from Foton – have been announced ahead of their Australian arrival later this year.A pair of budget-priced utes from China – with Ford F-150 and Ram 1500 look-alike styling – are due in Australia by the end of September, slightly later than forecast, after making their Australian debut at the 2025 2025 Melbourne Motor Show over the weekend.The two-model Foton Tunland line-up is due in Aust
  
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• Chevrolet Silverado buyer’s guide

  08-04-2025 08:00 via drive.com.au
  The Chevrolet Silverado won the Best Large Dual-Cab Ute under $150K in this year’s Drive Car of the Year awards. Here’s everything you need to know about this full-size pick-up truck.The Chevrolet Silverado was crowned the Best Large Dual-Cab Ute under $150K for its exceptionally efficient and refined drivetrain, value for money and cabin comfort and technology which sets the standard for the segment.The Chevrolet Silverado has been a solid success for the brand,
  
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• New Volkswagen Amarok confirmed as rebranded LDV, MG – but it’s not for Australia

  08-04-2025 05:31 via drive.com.au
  A Chinese ute will form the basis of a new Volkswagen Amarok due in 2027, but it is for South America, not Australia.Volkswagen has confirmed plans for a new-generation Amarok ute engineered exclusively for South America – due in 2027 – intended to replace the original model on sale there for 15 years.But it is not an entirely in-house design, and rather will be engineered in conjunction with Chinese car giant SAIC, the parent company of MG and LDV, according to South American report
  
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• JAC Australia is planning a fresh product assault to steal sales from Ford

  08-04-2025 04:00 via drive.com.au
  A plug-in hybrid super ute isn’t the only thing JAC has cooking, with a Ford Everest-rivalling, ladder-frame chassis, seven-seat SUV also on the way.JAC Australia will bulk out its current one-product line-up with six more models – including a Ford Everest rival – by the end of next year in a bid to gain a stronger foothold in the local market.Speaking to Australian media ahead of the 2025 Melbourne Motor Show, JAC Australia Managing Director Ahmed Mahmoud said the Chinese ligh
  
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• 2025 Mahindra XUV 3XO to start at less than $30,000

  08-04-2025 03:02 via drive.com.au
  A sub-$30,000 starting price will kick off the Indian car maker’s entry into the hotly-contested city SUV segment.The 2025 Mahindra XUV 3XO will be priced from less than $30,000 after its scheduled arrival in Australia in mid-year having made its local debut at the Melbourne Motor Show.Confirmed for Australian showrooms after its global unveiling in 2024, the 3XO’s sub-$30,000 price sees it target direct rivals including the ageing but hot-selling Mazda CX-3, Hyundai Venue, and Toyot
  
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• Jaguar Land Rover stops shipments to the US after tariff introduction

  08-04-2025 02:19 via drive.com.au
  The British car maker has put shipments of Land Rover and Jaguar cars to the United States on hold following the introduction of fresh import tariffs.Jaguar Land Rover has stopped shipping cars to the United States after the introduction of multiple tariffs impacting the cost of their vehicles in showrooms across the country.Coming into effect from April 3, 2025, the previously announced 25 per cent tariff on vehicles imported into the United States (US) – despite opposition from Ford, Gen
  
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• MG 3 base model due in Australia within months, but may not dip under $20,000

  08-04-2025 02:00 via drive.com.au
  A new entry-level version of the budget-priced MG 3 hatch is around the corner, alongside safety upgrades for all models after earning three stars in independent testing last year.
  European base model shown.
  The MG 3 city hatch is set to add a new entry-level variant to the range close to 12 months after the latest-generation model arrived with a $7000 price rise.But it is far from certain the new MG 3 Vibe – due in showrooms this June, pending any delays – will return, or even get c
  
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• 2026 Mercedes-AMG C63 to drop four-cylinder for six-cylinder hybrid – report

  08-04-2025 01:42 via drive.com.au
  After years of rumours claiming V8 power was en route, fresh reports say a six-cylinder engine is now destined for the AMG C63’s engine bay following lower than expected demand for the four-cylinder version.The Mercedes-AMG C63 performance sedan is reportedly set to add two more cylinders – from four to six – after years of rumours claiming a switch to V8 power.But the latest set of reports differ on whether the inline six-cylinder supposedly destined for the C63 will be assist
  
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• 2025 Skoda Elroq RS electric performance car revealed

  08-04-2025 01:00 via drive.com.au
  Skoda’s latest electric car has been given the high-performance RS treatment, with quicker acceleration – and faster recharging – than any other model it has built.The 2025 Skoda Elroq RS – a high-performance version of the company’s BYD Atto 3 competitor – has been revealed with more power, faster charging and sportier styling than the regular version.Skoda Australia is yet to confirm if it will offer the Elroq RS as a follow-up to the standard range, due fro
  
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