It’s been more than a decade since Volkswagen’s iconic Beetle was last sold. Its lacklustre sales figures resulted in the two-door retro hatchback being dropped from the Volkswagen’s line-up in 2013. Recently, the company has been toying with the idea of a Beetle comeback, as evident by the electric Volkswagen Beetle concept created for the animated film “Miraculous: Ladybug & Cat Noir”. A Beetle EV was also hinted last year by former Volkswagen CEO Herbert Diess, who suggested that more “emotional” cars were possible with the scalable MEB platform.

• READ MORE: 2013 Volkswagen Beetle Review

Volkswagen’s ID. family of electric-only cars is expanding, will it see something along the lines of an “ID.Bug” joining the line-up? Quite possible. The Volkswagen ID.4 is already well suited to be morphed into a Beetle EV, with its rear-mounted electric motor and rear-wheel drive, just like the rear-engined and rear-driven original Beetle. With a driving range of up to 345km, the powertrain of the ID.4 base model is also perfect for a city-focused car like the Beetle.

While the VW Beetle EV concept in the animated film looks a bit far fectched, here’s a more realistic rendering from automotive renderer Kleber Silva of Behance.net. Retaining the classic silhouette and scupted surfaces of its forebear, the Beetle EV is being reimagined as a modern zero-emission city car.

Image: Behance.net

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A shadowy preview of the highly anticipated Tesla Model 2 was dropped on social media just last month by the company’s founder Elon Musk. The smallest and most affordable Tesla is due to launch later this year and interest on the pint size EV is gaining.

While the preview photo was careful not to reveal too much of the Model 2, the internet has since gone all creative on the upcoming baby Tesla – as expected. Here’s a very good one from renown automotive renderer Kleber Silva of Behance.

The Model 2 is being imagined as a sporty liftback paired with a tweaked front-end of the Tesla Model 3. There are large black wheel arch mouldings and blacked out A pillar for an athletic look, while at the rear the deck spoiler is inspired by that of the Model X large SUV.

If you look close enough though, you might find that the donor car for this rendering is actually the Genesis GV60 – one of the cars that the Model 2 will rival when it hits the market. Nevertheless, the result of this mix and match is great and this is one pretty cool looking Model 2.

Tesla is keen to keep the pricing of the Model 2 below $50k when it lands in Australia sometime in late 2024, positioning it as a sub-compact model to the Model 3 sedan. It will likely be offered with front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive, the latter in the form of a dual motor high performance variant.

Via Kleber Silva

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Ford Australia today confirmed pricing and the opening of online reservations for the highly anticipated, all-electric Mustang Mach-E – the company’s first production fully electric SUV. Embodying the spirit of Mustang for an electric future, Mustang Mach-E will arrive in Australian showrooms late this year.

Kicking off the line-up in Australia is the Mustang Mach-E Select which is priced from $79,990 plus on-road costs. This model boasts a 71kWh lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery mated to a single electric motor which delivers 198kW and 430Nm of torque via the rear wheels. New for 2023, the LFP battery will allow Ford to offer the Mach-E with fresh technology proving to be more durable, using fewer high-demand, high-cost materials and with the ability to sustain fast charging as it approaches maximum capacity. The Mach-E Select will offer a driving range of up to 470 km.

Mustang Mach-E Select is equipped with a 15.5-inch infotainment screen (standard across the range) running Ford’s latest-generation SYNC 4A2 system. For enhanced visibility when parking a 360-degree camera is standard as is a B&O sound system with 10 speakers and subwoofer. Wireless phone charging as standard means you can conveniently charge your compatible smartphone without the hassle of a charging cable.

Across the line-up there’s room for five people. There are ISOFIX mounts on the two outboard seats and top tether anchors for all three back seats, making installing child seats easy. The rear seats fold 60:40 to increase rear luggage space when needed.

Mach-E Select features Black Onyx Sensico seats in the front and back, a premium artificial leather upholstery. The front seats are eight-way powered.

On the outside, Select boasts 19-inch alloy wheels, a panoramic glass roof and Ford’s E-Latch door handles which replace conventional door handles, as well as a front-trunk or ‘frunk’ for additional luggage space.

The Mustang Mach-E Premium is priced from $92,990 plus ORCs and boasts a bigger 91kWh battery delivering 216kW and 430Nm of torque via a single motor on the rear axle. This model balances enhanced performance with efficiency, delivering the longest potential driving range of the line-up – with up to 600 km of range.

Building on Select, Premium adds luxury touches like LED projector headlamps, premium-finish scuff plates and pedals, and interior upgrades, including red contrast stitching to its Black Onyx Sensico seats (front and rear), black headliner, and multi-colour ambient lighting as standard.

For the ultimate in performance, the Mustang Mach-E GT can streak from 0-100km/h in 3.7 seconds and is priced from $108,990 plus ORCs.

It features the same 91kWh battery as Mach-E Premium but runs two electric motors (one at the front and one at the rear) delivering 358kW and 860Nm of torque to all four wheels with a driving range of up to 490 km. Mustang Mach-E GT will be the fastest accelerating Ford the Blue Oval offers in Australia.

As the performance-oriented model in the line-up, Mach-E GT features MagneRide Active Suspension which can adjust up to 1000 times a second allowing the dampers to respond in real-time to changing road conditions or driving style. The system also automatically adjusts damping force based on the selected drive mode.

Speaking of drive modes, GT adds Untame Plus to the modes available on the other models: Active, Whisper or Untame. This setting is designed for closed-course driving only and adjusts everything from battery cooling to steering to throttle response, traction and stability controls, all-wheel drive strategy and ensures consistent power and torque delivery for longer-lasting thrills.

Ensuring it stops as well as it goes, Mustang Mach-E GT runs Brembo Flexira front performance brakes, 20-inch alloys wrapped in bespoke Pirelli tyres.

The ‘performance’ continues inside with a pair of bolstered Ford Performance sport front seats designed to support driver and front passenger during spirited driving and finished in a soft-touch leather-like material.

Online order of the Ford Mustang Mach-E is available now, with first costomer delivery expected in Q4 this year.

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The Honda Civic Type R set a lap record at the Nurburgring Nordschleife with a lap time of 7 minutes and 44.881 seconds, regaining the title as the fastest front-wheel drive car around the famous test track. But the car that set the lap record isn’t the standard Civic Type R that you can now buy from a Honda dealership. Rather, it’s a lightweight version of the standard car.

A footnote that accompanies the European market press release states:

The lap time was set using a Type R that is a lighter version of the latest model. This model will be available to order in European LHD markets only, and will be referred to as a Type R S grade.

There we have it. Honda has just announced a hardcore version of the Civic Type R, and just like that it’s also now officially the fastest front-wheel drive car in the world.

According the Honda Europe, the Civic Type R S grade is lighter than the standard car thanks to the removal of air conditioning, electronic side mirror adjustment, satellite navigation, auto-dimming function of the rearview mirror, rear tonneau cover and parking sensors.

As yet, there’s no official figure on the Type R S grade’s weight, but it’s clear the lighter car is designed to be a base for a track car. To make it a true track day special, keen enthusiasts may further bring the weight down by removing items such as the rear seats and entire infotainment system. Lighter aftermarket wheels and exhaust system may also shed a few more kilos.

The Civic Type R is powered by Honda’s renown K20C1 engine. The turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine now produces 235 kW of power and 420 Nm of torque – improvements of 7 kW and 20 Nm respectively over the previous model.

Watch the Civic Type R S grade’s record setting lap around the ‘Ring:

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With the new Ford Ranger outselling the aging Toyota HiLux in key global markets, Toyota is in desperate need to get the next-generation HiLux on to market. And it seems the new pick-up is not too far away. Development is already well into its mature stage, and the closely related US-market Toyota Tacoma is speculated to debut in 2024. The new HiLux launch could follow soon after.

As Toyota’s best-selling model Down Under, we can expect the Japanese company to maintain the nameplate’s competitive edge with a host of new tech stuffed into the new HiLux. Amongst them could be a new turbo diesel engine, and possibly also a new turbocharged 2.4-litre four-cylinder engine with twin electric motors, which if eventuated will give rise to the first ever hybrid HiLux.

To rival the Ranger’s advanced interior, the new HiLux is expected to score a completely new cockpit, with high-spec models to feature a digital instrumentation cluster and a large 14-inch infotainment touchscreen.

While the new Tacoma is currently our best bet on how the next HiLux will look like, automotive renderer Kleber Silva thinks it may look like the renderings shown here. Combining the front portion of a LandCruiser 300 with a pick-up body isn’t actually a bad idea.

Via Kleber Silva

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The next-generation Mitsubishi Triton pickup is not too far away, as previewed today by the Mitsubishi XRT Concept. Slated to launch later this year, the new Triton will base its design on the bold lines and muscular proportions of the XRT Concept.

The Triton is Mitsubishi’s top-selling model manufactured at the Laemchabang Factory in Thailand. With its first full redesign in approximately nine years, the all-new Triton will be the sixth generation of the brand’s midsize pickup truck.

The Mitsubishi XRT Concept is characterised by a prominent front fascia and a muscular bonnet that continues to the side with bold, horizontally-themed styling. The concept also boasts front and rear over fenders as well as mud-terrain tyres, giving it the “powerful drive to compete in grueling rallies and the dynamism to dash across the terrain”.

The body features a camouflage design inspired by lava rocks packed with condensed energy, and the sides have been adorned with a graphic of the 10-parallel line Ralliart brand icon that expresses Mitsubishi Motors’ passion for driving.

Mitsubishi says the all-new Triton is going through final touch-ups in preparation for its release. Rigorous endurance tests have been performed around the world with know-how gained from rally activities incorporated in the engineering.

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Pricing and specifications for the biggest Ford pickup ever to roll on Australian roads, the Ford F-150, have been confirmed. The flagship American ute will arrive Down Under in the second half of 2023 with a factory-backed five-year, unlimited kilometre warranty and the convenience of servicing through a nationwide Ford dealer network.

The Ford F-150 range will start from $106,950 plus on-road costs, with four variants in the range, including both short-wheelbase (SWB) and long-wheelbase (LWB) body styles for the XLT and LARIAT.

The reintroduction of F-Series comes after significant demand from Aussies for Ford’s biggest, boldest and most capable pick-up. Following extensive re-engineering work by Ford Australia and RMA Automotive, the right-hand-drive F-150 will now be available from local Ford dealerships.

Both the XLT and LARIAT F-150 will feature the top-selling 3.5L EcoBoost Twin-Turbo V6 petrol engine, coupled with 10-speed automatic transmission in 4×4 Crew Cab configuration. With 298kW and 678Nm across the range, the F-150 features Ford’s port-fuel and direct-injection (PFDI) system, which uses a pair of injectors per cylinder along with twin turbochargers that offer on-demand power while minimising lag.

Each F-150 variant can be purchased either as a SWB with a 3683mm wheelbase and 1676mm styleside box, or LWB that extends the wheelbase to 3987mm and styleside box to 1981mm. All F-150 models in Australia are capable of towing 4.5 tonne, matching arch rival RAM 1500.

The XLT aims at owners wanting compelling capability from their pick-up paired with no-nonsense ruggedness. For the F-150 XLT, standard features include 20-inch six-spoke machined-aluminium wheels, chrome front and rear bumpers, black platform running boards, tailgate with flexible step and work surface as well as a “Tough Bed” spray-in bedliner.

The F-150 XLT SWB is priced from $106,950, while the XLT LWB asks for $107,945.

As the flagship of the Australian F-150 range, the F-150 LARIAT brings added levels of luxury with additional features over and above the XLT variant including premium mesh insert grille with chrome surround, chrome appearance package including mirror scalps, door handles, belt moldings, tow hooks and running boards, powered twin-panel moonroof and LED headlights, fog lights and taillamps.

The F-150 LARIAT SWB costs $139,950, while the LWB LARIAT has a sticker of $140,945.

All prices quoted exclude on-road costs.

Ford F-150 specifications:

F-150 XLT

• Two-bar style grille with chrome surround and black accents
• 20-inch six-spoke machined faced alloy wheels
• Chrome front and rear bumpers
• Black platform running boards
• Tailgate with flexible step and work surface
• Tough Bed spray-in bedliner
• Boxlink cargo management locking cleats
• Underbody skidplates
• 12-way power (including lumbar) driver cloth seat
• 10-way power (including lumbar) front passenger cloth seat
• Column mounted gear shifter
• SYNC 4 with eight-inch centre touchscreen
• Satellite Navigation system
• Seven-speaker sound system
• Eight-inch multiview digital instrument cluster
• FordPass Connect
• Dual zone automatic climate control
• Power adjustable foot pedals
• Foldout office workspace
• Six airbags
• Rear view camera
• Rear parking sensors
• Ford Pro-Trailer Back-Up Assist
• Cruise control
• Pre-collision assist with automatic emergency braking (AEB)
• BLIS with cross-traffic alert and trailer tow coverage
• Lane-keeping aid and driver alert system

F-150 LARIAT (in addition to XLT)

• Premium mesh insert grille with chrome surround
• Chrome appearance package including mirror scalps, door handles, belt moldings, tow hooks and running boards
• Powered twin-panel moonroof
• LED headlights, fog lights and taillamps
• Power release and close tailgate
• Power sliding rear window
• Leather-accented seats
• Heated and cooled front seats
• Heated rear seats (excluding middle seat)
• 12-way power (including lumbar) driver seat with memory settings
• 12-way power (including lumbar) front passenger seat
• Floor console mounted shifter
• 12-inch centre touchscreen
• 12-inch digital instrument cluster
• B&O unleashed sound system by Bang & Olufsen with 18 speakers
• Power adjustable foot pedals with memory settings
• Front parking sensors
• 360-degree camera
• Intelligent adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go
• Lane centering
• Speed sign recognition
• Evasive steering assist
• Intersection assist
• Wireless phone charging

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The first-ever Mazda CX-90 was today unveiled at its world premiere in Malibu, California – showcasing a new level luxury for the Mazda brand.

Built on the same front-engine, rear-biased all-wheel drive platform as the forthcoming Mazda CX-60, the wider and longer three-row CX-90 will be Mazda’s new flagship SUV when it arrives in global markets later this year.

Mazda CX-90 will be available in Australia with exclusively hybridised powertrains, comprising an inline six turbo-petrol MHEV and an inline six turbo-diesel MHEV that blend effortless performance with efficiency.

Welcoming the reveal of Mazda Australia’s newest flagship SUV, Managing Director Vinesh Bhindi commented: “Our second entrant into the new large platform family brings with it even more of everything – more power and performance, greater versatility and heightened luxury.

“The First-Ever Mazda CX-90 is the absolute pinnacle of Mazda premium; our most advanced model ever with exceptional levels of sophistication throughout that can be enjoyed not just by the driver, but the whole family.”

With seating for up to seven passengers in total, Mazda CX-90 can accommodate families and friends in all three rows. Cabin space, cargo capacity, safety features, and many amenities are optimised for their needs.

Available with an all-new 3.3-litre inline six-cylinder e-Skyactiv turbocharged engine offering 254 kW and 500Nm of torque, the new Mazda CX-90 becomes the most powerful mass production petrol car ever developed by Mazda.

This engine also is equipped with the M-Hybrid Boost 48V mild-hybrid system to provide efficiency without compromising on performance. The electric motor is placed between the engine and transmission, allowing the motor to directly power the SUV at low speed. Mazda claims the engaging powertrain provides the CX-90 with an “upscale feeling, a smooth-driving experience, enthralling sound and efficiency”.

The e-Skyactiv turbocharged diesel engine shares the same 3.3-litre capacity, inline-six configuration and MHEV technology as its petrol counterpart, with a power output of 187 kW and a substantial 550Nm of torque.

Both powertrains are paired with an all-new eight-speed automatic transmission, specifically designed for the electrified longitudinal powertrains and large platform vehicles.

As with all Mazda vehicles, the CX-90 is designed with the driver in mind. Elevating Mazda’s renown driving performance, the all-new SUV is equipped with Kinematic Posture Control, an innovation that was first developed for the Mazda MX-5, to suppress body lift on tight corners, enhance the grip and allow all occupants to maintain a natural posture. Focus was put toward optimising rigidity across the entire vehicle body, while meticulously designing the seats and suspension to provide better balance, control, and confidence in a range of driving situations.

The large platform of the CX-90 allows for a wider body and longer wheelbase, accentuating the luxury SUV’s strong stance and further emphasising its sense of performance. The body is designed to be sleek with crafted curves that give the exterior a sense of ever-changing expressions created by the reflections of lights and shadows. Newly developed 21-inch diamond-cut wheels featuring a black metallic finish complement its powerful presence.

Adding to the visual sophistication is Mazda’s latest Takuminuri colour, Artisan Red, whch was specifically designed to suit the CX-90 and other large platform product.

The premium design continues into the cabin. The interior gives an expansive impression from the dashboard, with the positioning of the vents and chrome trim extending to the doors for a modern, linear appearance.

High quality materials are used throughout to enhance the cabin’s luxurious feel, including Nappa leather, Maple wood, and tone-on-tone fabrics that all come together harmoniously.

One example is the distinctive fabric on the dash, connected using hanging stitches, which is specifically inspired by hand-bookbinding and an intricate Japanese weaving technique known as Kakenui. This method deliberately uses negative space to create a unique design for CX-90 that echoes its Japanese lineage.

Full pricing and specification of the Mazda CX-90 will be announced closer to local launch later this year.

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Toyota has unveiled the most extreme HiLux to date, with the new GR Sport model taking out the range-topper status for the 2023 HiLux range.

Equipped with more power, wider tracks, tuned suspension and bigger disc brakes, the new HiLux GR Sport benefits from experience gained through Toyota’s GAZOO Racing motorsport department. As the second model in Toyota’s line-up to receive the GR Sport (after the LandCruiser GR Sport), the new HiLux halo model features tough Dakar-inspired design, matched with intuitive handling and improved driving performance.

Designed with heavy input from Toyota Australia’s engineers, who worked alongside their counterparts from Latin America, Thailand and Japan, the most hardcore, most powerful HiLux ever is powered by an uprated 2.8-litre turbodiesel engine producing 165kW and 550Nm, an increase of 10 per cent over the regular HiLux models. The power boost is courtesy of a revised turbo and fuel-injection control.

Combined with sportier tuning for the automatic transmission and an expanded lock-up area, the HiLux GR Sport promises added confidence for accelerating and overtaking in all conditions, enhanced by improved control through paddle shifters on the steering wheel.

The new platform adopts wider tracks – extended 140mm front and 155mm rear – with redesigned wishbones and a reinforced rear axle to cater for the most demanding driving conditions.

Dedicated monotube shock absorbers with higher damping force and heat-dissipation capacity, stiffer coil springs and an optimal front-rear suspension balance is claimed to deliver improved handling and stability through reduced roll angle and a more precise steering response. Toyota claims the set-up and tuning is done without compromising ride comfort for everyday use.

Available exclusively in the double-cab body style, the new HiLux GR Sport boasts a wider stance with its Dakar-inspired design, giving a strong and muscular image with prominent satin-black over-fenders that seamlessly integrate into the bumper.

Front styling directly references the vehicle’s rally motorsport roots, with an increased approach angle and higher ground clearance.

A strong upright grille, designed for maximum cooling area, draws attention to the signature GR grille mesh. It’s said that all exterior body parts have been sculpted in the wind tunnel for aerodynamic efficiency.

The new model rides on 17-inch alloy wheels with all-terrain tyres while its off-road credentials are further reinforced by the addition of a skid plate, rock rails and red rear recovery points.

Inside, the monochromatic black theme is set off with bright sports pedals and red seatbelts. GR branding is featured inside and out, including on the steering wheel, headrests, red brake callipers, exterior badges – and even embossed into the tub-liner.

The new HiLux GR Sport is slated to launch in Australia during the second half of 2023, with pricing to be confirmed closer to launch.

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The fastest and most powerful Kia model is now an electric vehicle. The Kia EV6 GT is not just the new range topping model for the EV6 range, it’s also the company’s new halo sports model.

A front motor delivers 160kW, paired with a rear motor that pumps out 270kW. Combined, the fully electric drivetrain produces 430kW and 740Nm, good for a 0-100km/h sprint time of just 3.5 seconds, en route to a top speed of 260km/h.

This level of performance places the Kia EV6 GT in the same league as sports EV like the Tesla Model 3 Performance and BMW iX.

To prove that, what’s better than putting the EV6 GT through its paces at the notorious Nurburgring circuit? YouTuber L’argus has done just that, with the action captured on video for our enjoyment.

The lap wasn’t perfect, but from those speeds that the EV6 GT managed to do around the bends and on the straights, the new Kia EV flagship can no doubt give the Model 3 Performance a run for its money.

The Kia EV6 GT features a GT body design with green brake callipers and 21-inch wheels wrapped with Michelin Pilot Sport 4S Tyres. The sports tuned suspension features electronically controlled damping to maximise driving comfort and handling balance, while an electronic limited slip differential (e-LSD) at the rear axle improves launching and cornering performance.

There’s also a Drift Mode which when activated sends 100% of torque to the rear wheels to easily achieve sideways drifting with small steering angle. When exiting a corner, power can be distributed to the front wheels again to improve acceleration.

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