Cars news

• Why isn’t my car’s heater working?

  25-06-2024 08:00 via drive.com.au
  As the weather gets colder, those who own older models will be asking the question ‘Why isn’t my car’s heater working?’. We have the answers.It’s starting to get colder around Australia as we enter the depths of winter. The last thing you want when you jump into your car is a non-working heater.RELATED: What to do when your car overheats
  RELATED: Mechanics reveal the biggest red flags on carsFundamentally, all internal combustion engine cars run a similar heater sys
  
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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 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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• 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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• Police crack alleged organised car theft ring, millions in cash and cars seized

  28-06-2024 07:03 via drive.com.au
  After investigations into the use of stolen vehicles for organised crime, police have recovered $2 million in cash – stored in various bags – and impounded several luxury and muscle cars.Detectives from NSW Police have seized $2 million in cash, luxury watches, two motorcycles, and four cars following an investigation into an alleged organised crime ring linked with vehicle thefts.The State Crime Command’s Criminal Groups Squad searched a business in Wetherill Park – appr
  
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• BMW downplays rumours of models facing the axe – report

  28-06-2024 06:45 via drive.com.au
  The German luxury car maker has issued a rare statement in response to claims the BMW XM and 8 Series are on the cutting block, while an all-new 6 Series was being considered.BMW has issued a rare denial following reports it was axing the XM high-performance SUV, and reviving the 6 Series.Respected industry publication Automotive News published an unconfirmed report claiming BMW was planning to resurrect the 6 Series, while its premier high-performance model – the XM – is set to be d
  
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• ‘Dropping the ball’: Tesla Cybertruck owners complain of repair and delivery issues

  28-06-2024 06:15 via drive.com.au
  Tesla Cybertruck owners are taking to social media to complain of delayed or cancelled deliveries and lengthy repair times for the futuristic electric ute.
  A Tesla customer who crashed his brand-new Cybertruck just four hours after picking it up has said it will cost him thousands of dollars and almost one year to fix.
  RELATED: Will the Tesla Cybertruck ever come to Australia? Here’s why it’s unlikelyThe owner, @bfreshwa, alleged on his X account (formerly known as Twitter) that the
  
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• Zeekr X electric SUV arrives in Australia

  28-06-2024 05:05 via drive.com.au
  A new small electric SUV from Volvo’s parent company has reached Australia ahead of customer deliveries in the coming months.The Zeekr X – a new compact electric SUV from the Chinese car brand owned by Volvo and Polestar’s parent company – has arrived in Australia ahead of the first customer deliveries due in November.Two pre-production examples of the Volvo XC40 and BMW iX1-sized SUV have arrived in Sydney, as some of the first Zeekr X vehicles globally in right-hand dri
  
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• Uber offering drivers $1000 to leave their cars at home

  28-06-2024 03:48 via drive.com.au
  In the second trial of its kind, the rideshare giant is offering motorists a financial incentive to use other forms of transport, including Uber. If you live in the US or Canada, that is.Uber is launching a trial offering car owners $US1000 to ditch their vehicles for five weeks in favour of more sustainable methods of travel.The challenge, being offered to 175 people across the US and Canada, involves participants giving up their personal car and instead using alternative forms of transport, su
  
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• Ferrari electric car caught on camera for the first time

  28-06-2024 03:29 via drive.com.au
  An early prototype for Ferrari’s first electric vehicle appears to have been photographed with Maserati bodywork – and it looks to be planned as an SUV.What appears to be an early prototype for the first Ferrari electric vehicle (EV) has been photographed near its home base in Maranello, Italy ahead of an unveiling due within the next 18 months.Images captured by photographer Derek Cornelissen (@derek.photography on Instagram) show a ‘test mule’ using the body of a Masera
  
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• 2024 Mitsubishi Triton GSR review

  28-06-2024 02:53 via drive.com.au
  The sixth-generation Mitsubishi Triton is bigger (literally) and better than ever before with some serious improvements made to its tech, safety and performance capabilities. But is that enough to compete with the best-selling Ford Ranger and Toyota HiLux?Skip ahead:IntroductionRunning costsPrice and specificationEnergy useInterior space and comfortOn-road assessmentConnectivity and infotainmentSummarySafety Next steps
  2024 Mitsubishi Triton GSRIn a country like Australia where utes make up the
  
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• Electric supercar maker takes on Tesla with robotaxi start-up

  28-06-2024 02:00 via drive.com.au
  Founder of supercar brand Rimac has signed up 11 cities as part of a new autonomous vehicle project promising a ‘perfect’ customer experience.Verne is the new name for a robotaxi company formed by the makers of Rimac supercars, scheduled to start operating in 2026 as a ‘Journey to the Future of Mobility’ aiming to democratise autonomous ride-sharing.Previously known as Project 3 Mobility, the rebrand is a tribute to 19th-century science-fiction author Jules Verne, whose w
  
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• Hyundai Inster N electric car unlikely – but N Line possible

  28-06-2024 00:50 via drive.com.au
  Hyundai’s smallest electric vehicle in Australia could spawn a fully-fledged hot hatch … but here’s why it’s unlikely.The budget-priced Hyundai Inster electric car may grow its line-up at a later date to add an N Line variant with sportier styling.However, a high-performance N version is unlikely given the Inster shares its underpinnings with a petrol car – the closely-related Casper sold in South Korea – and has cheaper battery technology not designed for hi
  
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• New-car buyers in WA on notice as Fremantle Dock strike looms – report

  28-06-2024 00:00 via drive.com.au
  After four years of shipping delays, new-car buyers in WA may have to deal with another wait, as workers at the Fremantle Port consider striking over a wage dispute.Shipments of new cars to Western Australia could be delayed as the threat of industrial action hangs over Fremantle Port.Workers at the site have had their strike delayed until a new pay offer can be presented next Friday, The West Australian newspaper reports.Fremantle Port is the primary dock for receiving brand-new cars into Weste
  
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• New Renault Grand Koleos revealed with Chinese DNA, current Koleos to live on in Australia

  27-06-2024 23:00 via drive.com.au
  After eight years there is a new Renault Koleos SUV – but it is based on a vehicle from Volvo’s parent Geely, and may not be made in right-hand drive.The first all-new Renault Koleos family SUV in eight years has been unveiled in South Korea with the option of hybrid power for the first time.Rather than the Nissan X-Trail basis of the current model, the new model – known as the Grand Koleos – is based heavily on the Geely Xingyue L, a Chinese SUV from the parent company o
  
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• ‘It depends where the damage is’: Are Teslas expensive to repair?

  27-06-2024 22:00 via drive.com.au
  How much does it cost to repair a Tesla, on average? And how does Tesla’s build quality compare to other brands? We ask an authorised Tesla panel beater the burning questions.
  At Drive, one of the more common queries we get about electric cars is: What happens if I get into an accident?With their high-voltage batteries and unfamiliar componentry, electric cars can pose different repair challenges than their conventional counterparts.But are they categorically more difficult and expensive t
  
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• 2025 Nissan Patrol: Revealed in weeks, US sales well before new year

  27-06-2024 22:00 via drive.com.au
  Nissan has confirmed a new Patrol off-roader will be in US showrooms by the end of the year, with an Australian launch yet to be confirmed.A new Nissan Patrol will be in US showrooms before the end of the year – – where the off-roader is badged ‘Armada’ – as a 2025 model with Australian arrivals expected to follow within 12-18 months.Speaking to Automotive News, Nissan Americas Chairperson Jeremie Papin said the third-generation Armada/Patrol – yet to be offic
  
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• Limited heritage number plate release announced

  27-06-2024 07:33 via drive.com.au
  After being on sale for just three days in July 2023, Victorian six-digit heritage plates will return in a limited release next month.A year after orders were suspended for Victorian six-digit heritage number plates, VicRoads has announced there will be a limited release coming in July 2024.Buyers will be able to choose their own plate between ‘100.000’ and ‘285.000’, provided the combination has not already been taken.While a greater sample of available combinations is e
  
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• ‘One lady wasn’t happy’: Melbourne woman’s fake parking fines cause a stir

  27-06-2024 07:30 via drive.com.au
  A Melbourne-based photographer who left fake infringement notices on strangers’ cars has received a mixed response.
  Photo: TikTokNo one likes that sinking feeling when you walk toward your parked car and see a white piece of paper under your wipers.
  RELATED: Can a private company enforce a parking fine?However, several drivers in Melbourne who recently experienced this same sinking feeling were surprised to find the parking tickets left on their windshields weren’t council-issued, bu
  
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• SsangYong Actyon revival confirmed by certification documents – report

  27-06-2024 04:00 via drive.com.au
  While SsangYong has yet to make any announcements on the return of the Actyon, government documents reveal the model will share the same engine as the all-new Torres SUV.The SsangYong Actyon looks set to make its return as a coupe-styled SUV.South Korean website Naver reports the Actyon was named in local government certification documents, with the SsangYong model linked to a 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine.It follows black and white images published online in December 2023 s
  
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• Brisbane is Australia’s most traffic-congested city

  27-06-2024 03:37 via drive.com.au
  New traffic data revealed that the city lost 74 hours annually in traffic congestion over three years – ranking 12th worst globally.Brisbane has been crowned as the most traffic-congested city in Australia.
  According to data from the 2023 INRIX Global Traffic Scorecard – which analysed traffic congestion data of more than 900 cities globally from 2020 to 2023 – found that on a yearly average, Brisbane drivers lost 74 hours due to traffic delays.Per the INRIX report, the 74 hour
  
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• This Australian city has some of the world’s worst parking fines

  27-06-2024 03:27 via drive.com.au
  Points if you can guess which capital was the only location in Australia to rank on a list of the top 10 cities with the world’s worst parking fines…Sydney is the only Australian city to rank in the top 10 in a new list of the cities with the highest driving fines in the world, with the harbour city recording some of the world’s worst parking fines.
  RELATED: Aussie drivers, take note – this city is a traffic utopiaComparison site Compare the Market has ranked 30 major ca
  
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• 2025 Hyundai Inster detailed: Budget-priced electric car coming to Australia to take on Chinese rivals

  27-06-2024 02:45 via drive.com.au
  Hyundai’s cheapest electric vehicle yet is due in Australia next year with a circa $40,000 price and up to 355km of driving range.Hyundai is preparing to take on a growing range of budget-priced electric vehicles (EV) from China – and soon Europe – with a new city-sized SUV known as the 2025 Hyundai Inster.Due in Australia in early 2025, the Inster has a targeted price in Europe of €25,000 ($AU40,000), which would make it one of the region’s most affordable electric
  
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• The Lap: The EV adventure reaches the finish line

  27-06-2024 02:30 via drive.com.au
  The eighth and final episode of The Lap airs this weekend. Tune in this Saturday to catch the team cross the finish line, as they complete their lap of Australia.
  Tune in to Channel Nine this Saturday 29 June at 3:30pm AEST for the final episode of The Lap.The final episode of the Lap begins on the outskirts of Bundaberg, where the team embark on a tour of the iconic Bundaberg Rum Distillery. This visit highlights the craftsmanship and tradition behind one of Australia’s mos
  
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• The Valiant is back! But the new V12 supercar has nothing to do with Chrysler

  27-06-2024 02:00 via drive.com.au
  Special edition Aston Martin inspired by Formula One world champion Fernando Alonso wraps a twin-turbo V12 and manual gearbox in a wild two-door body.The Aston Martin Valiant has been unveiled as a track-focussed, ultra-exclusive drivers’ car developed from a personal order by Formula One world champion Fernando Alonso.But rather than any relationship with the iconic Australian-built Chrysler sedan of the same name that ended production in 1981, the Aston Martin Valiant is based on the sol
  
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• Business Drive: We explore one of Australia’s favourite utes, and an iconic van goes electric

  27-06-2024 01:30 via drive.com.au
  Tune in to Channel Nine this weekend for the fourth and final episode of Business Drive. Hosted by TV personality, Kris Smith, the four-part series shares insights from real-world business owners and tradespeople, along with Australia’s favourite tradie, Scott Cam.Tune in to the final episode of Business Drive, airing on Channel Nine at 12:30pm AEST this Saturday 29 June.Scott Cam talks about performance in his tradesmen vehicles and gives advice to the next generation of ha
  
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