Cars news

• The hidden cost of going all-in on electric cars – auto executive

  28-06-2024 19:00 via drive.com.au
  Governments have not considered the cost of upgrading the power grid to support electric car charging stations, according to the boss of hydrogen fuel-cell technology for a top car company.The cost of rolling out electric vehicles will be greater than governments expect – and they will not suit all buyers – according to a senior car company executive.It is cheaper to build a network of hydrogen fuel-cell refuelling stations – alongside electric-car charging stations – rat
  
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• How to transfer registration from another state

  01-07-2024 09:30 via drive.com.au
  Buying a car interstate may be cheaper, but you must jump through certain hoops to get it registered. Here is how to transfer registration from another state. Depending on the kind of used car you are looking to purchase, buying it from another state may be a cheaper way of getting what you want. Obviously, each state has different rules and regulations surrounding vehicle registration. Depending on where you live, transferring the registration to your home state may be difficult and m
  
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• Special FX: 2024 Chery Omoda 5 entry price slashed with new base model

  01-07-2024 08:45 via drive.com.au
  The Chery Omoda 5 has gained a new base model with a $6000 lower price and fewer standard features.The 2024 Chery Omoda 5 small SUV has gained a new base model which is $6000 cheaper than the previous entry-level variant – and one of the most affordable new SUVs on sale in Australia.The Omoda 5 FX is on sale now priced from $27,990 drive-away, $6000 cheaper than Chery’s previous BX base model at $33,990 drive-away.It now costs less than the cheapest automatic Mitsubishi ASX ($28,490)
  
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• Luxury cars just got cheaper: New LCT threshold introduced

  01-07-2024 07:51 via drive.com.au
  The new financial year means an increase in the base values of the Luxury Car Tax – making premium vehicles even cheaper for those who can afford them.LCT threshold for most vehicles increases to $80,567 from 1 July 2024 (up from $76,950)LCT threshold for fuel-efficient and zero-emissions vehicles increases to $91,387 (up from $89,332)LCT rate of 33 per cent is applied to each dollar above these thresholdsBuyers of luxury cars will be paying less from today, thanks to an increase in the Lu
  
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• 2024 Ford Ranger Black Edition price: Special variant added

  01-07-2024 07:00 via drive.com.au
  Ford has added black highlights – alloy wheels, side steps and a sports bar – to the most affordable bi-turbo 4×4 Ford Ranger dual-cab ute.The 2024 Ford Ranger has turned to the dark side with a new Black Edition model grade – with unique styling touches and features – due in Australian showrooms by the end of September 2024.The Black Edition is based on the entry-level Ranger XL – in a dual-cab pick-up body with a 2.0-litre bi-turbo diesel engine and four-whe
  
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• ATO issues new tax breaks for electric vehicle owners

  01-07-2024 04:13 via drive.com.au
  Drivers who use their electric vehicle for work-related purposes are eligible for a tax rebate on their at-home electric charging costs.
  The Australian Tax Office (ATO) has recently issued new tax breaks for electric vehicle owners who use their battery-powered cars for work.The tax subsidy – dubbed the ‘New EV home charging rate’ –allows EV drivers to claim a set rate of 4.20 cents ($0.042) per kilometre to identify the cost of electricity used by their at-home charging
  
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• Replacement electric car batteries getting cheaper – report

  01-07-2024 04:10 via drive.com.au
  Despite a temporary spike in lithium prices in recent years, data suggests the cost of replacing an electric car battery is declining.The cost of replacing the battery pack on a used electric vehicle is dropping, as the technology becomes more widespread.Battery costs are often cited as a reason to avoid buying an electric car, however a new report from US electric car website Recurrent claims prices of batteries are continuing to fall.Furthermore, replacing the battery in an electric car only o
  
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• Mum shares ‘genius’ fix for babies who hate the car seat

  01-07-2024 04:06 via drive.com.au
  So, your baby hates the car seat? This mum has a simple solution for you…Image credit: TikTok/pumpedupmama1An American mother has been hailed a “genius” for sharing her simple yet effective tip for keeping her baby happy in a car seat.Los Angeles-based nurse Jacquie Ciccone took to TikTok to show her followers how she stops her infant daughter from crying on car trips: By sticking a photo of herself to the back of the seat in front.RELATED: Australia’s minimum age for fo
  
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• 2025 BMW 3 Series price and specs: Big price changes for updated 330i and M340i models

  01-07-2024 03:18 via drive.com.au
  The BMW 3 Series has had price cuts of up to $6000 – and increases up to $8700 – with a minor styling update and additional features.2025 BMW 3 Series pricing and specificationsPrice cut for 330i, increase for M340iMinor styling tweaks and new featuresPriced from $89,900 before on-road costsThe most affordable 2025 BMW 3 Series is now the cheapest it has been in two years, after price cuts of up to $6000 for the updated model due in Australia later this year.However, it follows a $10
  
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• 2025 Ford Puma Gen-E electric car spotted testing

  01-07-2024 03:00 via drive.com.au
  The Ford Puma city SUV will live on in Australia with this electric version – seen testing in Europe – after petrol versions were axed from local showrooms.The upcoming electric 2025 Ford Puma Gen-E has been caught on camera in Europe ahead of its unveiling later this year, and an Australian launch to follow.As previously reported by Drive, the Gen-E will be the sole version of the Puma city SUV sold in Australia after Ford dropped the petrol models earlier this year.It is expected t
  
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• 2025 Genesis Electrified G80 to offer greater driving range, longer body

  01-07-2024 02:00 via drive.com.au
  The G80 electric sedan will come with a bigger battery – plus a longer body and wheelbase – as part of a mid-life facelift for the range due in Australia in 2024.The 2025 Genesis Electrified G80 sedan will bring a greater driving range, longer wheelbase and upgraded tech when it goes on sale in Australia later this year.Genesis revealed the fresh details of the updated Electrified G80 – a rival to the Tesla Model S, BMW i5 and Mercedes-Benz EQE – at the recent 2024 Busan
  
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• More than 8000 mobile phone offences detected in South Australia

  01-07-2024 01:54 via drive.com.au
  Authorities said the offences were recorded during the first week of the cameras becoming operational – but offending motorists will only receive a warning letter rather than a penalty from June to September 2024.More than 8000 mobile phone offences were recorded in South Australia during the first week the cameras became operational.According to South Australia Police, new mobile phone cameras caught the alleged offenders from 19 June 2024 to 25 June 2024 “across five high-risk loca
  
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• Tesla Full Self-Driving is “a bad thing” for getting public buy-in for autonomous driving tech, rival engineer says

  01-07-2024 00:50 via drive.com.au
  If some car makers’ promise too much too soon, it could seriously damage people’s trust in the technology, according to the Mercedes-Benz head of autonomous driving.Companies such as Tesla spruiking its Full Self-Driving program are “promising too much”  and risk putting punters off autonomous driving technology, according to Mercedes-Benz.Speaking to Drive at the German car brand’s Intelligent Drive Insight event in Melbourne this week, Jochen Haab, the head o
  
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• 2024 Polestar 4 review: International first drive

  01-07-2024 00:00 via drive.com.au
  The Polestar 4 electric SUV is making a big play for the premium end of town. But does what is arguably the brand’s most important new model yet have what it takes?Skip ahead:IntroductionRunning costsPrice and specificationEnergy useInterior space and comfortOn-road assessmentConnectivity and infotainmentSummarySafety Next steps
  2024 Polestar 4There’s a lot riding on the Polestar 4, the Swedish brand’s latest weapon in a bid to be considered seriously in the premium electric ve
  
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• The most expensive car parks sold in Australia

  30-06-2024 22:00 via drive.com.au
  Car parks could be your way into property investment if houses aren’t financially feasible. Could you be parked on a gold mine?A recent sale of a car park in Sydney made headlines after the space was purchased for a staggering $500,000 on the real estate market.Given the current economic pressures in Australia, some Australians are turning away from traditional investing and looking for creative ways to generate extra income, such as investing in parking spots for the purpose of leasing th
  
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• Mercedes “ready” to cop the blame if autonomous cars crash, as nations introduce liability laws

  30-06-2024 22:00 via drive.com.au
  A senior engineer says the car maker has been putting its ducks in a row for years to make sure it knows what to do when Level 3 autonomous technology truly comes into play.Mercedes-Benz says it is ready to accept the legal and financial burden posed when one of its autonomous cars is at fault in an accident, with the technology now available in some of its vehicles globally.Currently Mercedes-Benz is rolling out Level 3 autonomous driving technology on a market by market basis through its Drive
  
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• 2025 Polestar 3 electric SUV adds longer-range model as deliveries begin overseas

  30-06-2024 19:00 via drive.com.au
  The first SUV from Volvo electric-car off-shoot Polestar has added a more affordable and longer-range model due to open for orders in Australia later this year.The 2025 Polestar 3 electric SUV line-up has added an entry-level single-motor model – with a longer driving range – as the first dual-motor examples roll off showroom floors overseas.Due to open for orders in Australia later this year, the Polestar 3 Long Range Single Motor carries a €7000 ($AU11,000) lower price in Euro
  
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• 2024 Nissan X-Trail Ti review

  30-06-2024 08:37 via drive.com.au
  Nissan’s rival to the hot-selling Toyota RAV4 and Mazda CX-5 is newer than almost all other mid-size SUVs, but does it deserve your attention?
  Skip ahead:IntroductionRunning costsPrice and specificationEnergy useInterior space and comfortOn-road assessmentConnectivity and infotainmentSummarySafety Next steps
  2024 Nissan X-Trail TiMid-size family SUVs are big business in Australia with the segment accounting for the lion’s share of all new-car sales, eclipsing even the ubiquitous ute.
  
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• The classic utes making a modern-day comeback

  30-06-2024 08:00 via drive.com.au
  Reject modernity and embrace tradition. If you want to stand out from a crowd of Rangers and HiLuxes, rock up to the worksite in one of these classic utes.It’s no lie that Australians love their utes. Beyond being an awesome workhorse that doesn’t have the dimensions of a literal truck, they’ve also got a dedicated fan base of people who enjoy modifying them.RELATED: Who did it better – the Tesla Cybertruck or Renha Formigao?The Toyota HiLux and Ford Ranger have been the
  
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• Genesis X Gran Racer concept revealed with more than 1100kW

  30-06-2024 04:00 via drive.com.au
  New Gran Turismo Concept spearheads new higher performance ‘Magma’ Genesis sub-brand as a development of its previous 10,000rpm digital racer.The Genesis X Gran Racer Vision Gran Turismo (VGT) Concept is part of Genesis’ new ‘Magma’ performance models to rival the likes of Mercedes-AMG and BMW M Division – and the 1119kW mid-engine V6 digital concept is wild.Revealed at the 2024 Busan International Mobility Show (BIMOS) in South Korea – where a Magma ver
  
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• Victorian shopping centre creates reserved parking for “low emitting fuel-efficient vehicles”

  30-06-2024 01:00 via drive.com.au
  Vehicles with a fuel efficiency of 5L/100km and/or low emissions such as electric and hybrid models are eligible for the reserved parking spaces.A Victorian shopping centre has introduced parking spaces specifically reserved for fuel efficient and low-emission vehicles.According to the signage located at Mernda Town Centre – located approximately 26km northeast of Melbourne – the shopping centre categorises “low emitting fuel-efficient vehicles” as any car with a fuel eff
  
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• Can’t get to Italy? This Tuscan village is only 40 minutes from Sydney

  29-06-2024 22:00 via drive.com.au
  Looking for places like Italy in Australia? Just a short drive from Sydney, you’ll find cobbled laneways, Juliet balconies, and an authentic Italian kitchen. We take the GWM Ora for a weekend living la dolce vita.
  When it comes to travel, I used to think the only way to experience an authentic Italian holiday was to board a 24-hour flight via Dubai.And yet, seeing social media photos from friends and influencers enjoying a European summer had me craving la dolce vita. So, what to do?RELATE
  
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• 2024 Toyota Prado diesel to require AdBlue in Australia

  29-06-2024 22:00 via drive.com.au
  AdBlue diesel exhaust additive – which will need a $60 to $90 top-up every 10,000km – will be a requirement in the new Toyota Prado due in Australia later this year, dealers are understood to have been advised.The 2024 Toyota Prado will be the first diesel model from the Japanese car giant in Australia to require emissions-reducing AdBlue additive, dealers have reportedly been advised.AdBlue is a liquid additive used to reduce harmful pollutants from the exhausts of diesel-powered ve
  
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• Spot the difference: Mazda CX-60, CX-70, CX-80, and CX-90

  29-06-2024 19:00 via drive.com.au
  Australia is the only worldwide market to offer Mazda’s entire new Large Architecture SUV line-up. Here are the differences that matter to buyers.Mazda Australia has unveiled its revamped SUV line-up, with the four-strong “Large Architecture” range set to arrive in full by the end of 2024.While the extremes of the new range are already on sale locally – the Mazda CX-60 launched in Australia in 2022 and was followed by the flagship Mazda CX-90 in 2023 – the forthcomi
  
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• Do you use hot or cold air to defog your windscreen?

  29-06-2024 08:00 via drive.com.au
  It’s getting cold out there, which means your windscreen is going to start fogging up in the morning. We investigate the age-old question, ‘Do you use hot or cold air to defog your windscreen?’.While your windscreen can fog up no matter if it is hot or cold outside, it’s more common to get a haze blocking your view in Australia’s colder months.RELATED: Do modern cars need to be warmed up?Your windscreen tends to fog up due to any kind of temperature change between t
  
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• How would the Drive team order a new BMW M5? Configurator Challenge

  29-06-2024 04:00 via drive.com.au
  After a long teaser campaign, the new, more powerful – and much heavier – BMW M5 is here. How would the Drive team order one?
  Customisation is in vogue at the moment, but too much choice can be confusing. In our configurator challenge, Drive team members scroll through a manufacturer’s website to create their ideal combination for a certain model.This week the team was let loose with the new BMW M5, now a V8 plug-in hybrid weighing close to 2.5 tonnes.Tell us which ne
  
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• Unlicensed driver clips unmarked police car

  29-06-2024 01:00 via drive.com.au
  Authorities said the suspected offender was charged with multiple offences after officers allegedly found illicit substances and stolen tools in the car.
  An unlicensed Victorian driver has been arrested and is facing multiple charges after allegedly hitting the side mirror of an unmarked police vehicle.Victoria Police say the motorist was driving along Murray Road in Preston – a suburb approximately 9km northeast of Melbourne – when he grazed the side of the police car with two offic
  
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• The five cars Australian business owners can’t stop buying

  28-06-2024 22:00 via drive.com.au
  If you need a work car, it’s hard to go past these models, which have dominated the business sales charts over the last five years.Last year, 429,634 new vehicles were purchased for business use, with some models proving more popular than others.RELATED: The car expenses you didn’t know were tax deductibleUnsurprisingly, four of Australia’s top 10 best-selling vehicles made the list of most popular business cars.
  In 2023, the Ford Ranger 4×4 was the most popular vehicle s
  
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• Not content with inventing the car itself, Mercedes-Benz is embracing autonomous tech to drive down road deaths, injuries, and accidents

  28-06-2024 22:00 via drive.com.au
  Mercedes-Benz has been at the forefront of safety in cars for decades, and it’s not done yet.A world completely free of car accidents might be a pipe dream, but Mercedes-Benz is working on getting us pretty close.As the inventor of the automobile 137 years ago, it’s a responsibility the German car maker takes very seriously – having also led the way in introducing a number of other critical safety features to the car in the years since.Among the accolades it can count; the firs
  
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• The best EOFY sales on new cars (but you have to be quick!)

  28-06-2024 11:24 via drive.com.au
  It’s nearly the end of the financial year. Here are all the best EOFY sales on new cars that you can pick up this weekend only.Monday, July 1st, signals the start of the new financial year, which means that you’re running out of time to capitalise on some awesome end-of-financial-year (EOFY) sales on new cars.RELATED: The cheapest performance cars you can buy todayIt also means that you could be missing out on some great tax breaks by not purchasing a car before the end of the financ
  
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