We publish a ton of automotive information tales through the working week, and it may be powerful to maintain up with all the pieces – which is the rationale behind this weekend checklist.
In brief, listed below are some key articles from our information desk since Monday of this week summarised, simply in case you missed them on the time.
The following Triton appears even tougher to frighten
Mitsubishi has supplied its first official take a look at the next-generation Triton ute, within the type of a troublesome idea automotive.
Revealed on the Bangkok motor present, the XRT Idea seems to be a pumped- and liveried-up model of an in any other case production-ready ute.
It’s going to debut earlier than the tip of this month in idea type, with the primary manufacturing fashions to hit Thailand someday throughout ‘fiscal 2023’ (March ’23 to April ’24 inclusive) earlier than rolling out around the globe.
FULL STORY: New Mitsubishi Triton revealed in idea type
Kia EV9 getting a bit of brother
Kia has revealed the Idea EV5 electrical SUV, which previews a smaller sibling to the just lately revealed EV9.
Unveiled as a part of Kia’s Chinese language EV Day, the manufacturing EV5 will initially be launched within the Chinese language market later this 12 months.
Kia says that particulars on the worldwide availability of the EV5 “will probably be made sooner or later.”
FULL STORY: Kia previews a brand new Sportage-sized electrical SUV
Mazda costs its new flagship SUV
The 2024 Mazda CX-90 will begin arriving in native showrooms from August this 12 months, with pre-orders now open for the model’s largest, most luxurious mannequin.
Powered completely by 48V electrified inline-six engines at launch, the CX-90 won’t solely compete with the likes of the Hyundai Palisade and Nissan Pathfinder, but additionally entry-level variations of the Audi Q7 and Volvo XC90.
As with the smaller Mazda CX-60, which rides on the identical rear-drive platform, the CX-90 will probably be supplied in Australia with three trim ranges.
The inline sixes (one petrol, one diesel) are the one choices accessible at launch, although a 2.5-litre plug-in hybrid is predicted to be supplied someday subsequent 12 months.
FULL STORY: 2024 Mazda CX-90 value and specs: New flagship detailed
Lexus costs its new electrical luxurious SUV
Lexus Australia has detailed the native line-up and pricing of its first electrical automobile constructed on a devoted electrical automobile (EV) platform, the RZ, forward of its arrival in Could this 12 months.
The Lexus RZ will probably be accessible in two trim ranges initially, with pricing beginning at $123,000 earlier than on-roads for the RZ450e Luxurious, and increasing to $135,000 earlier than on-roads for the RZ450e Sports activities Luxurious.
This pricing is line-ball with the likes of the Genesis Electrified GV70, Mercedes-Benz EQC, and BMW iX, however a bit of greater than the likes of the BMW iX3, Genesis GV60, and the Tesla Mannequin Y.
FULL STORY: 2023 Lexus RZ: New electrical automotive priced for Australia
State authority in China releases automobile high quality knowledge
Increasingly more Chinese language manufacturers are coming into the Australian market, and happily they’ve picked up their recreation because the days of asbestos remembers.
Nevertheless, whereas Chinese language automobile high quality has improved, there’s nonetheless a gulf between the perfect and worst automakers there.
The Chinese language Car High quality Community has revealed its 2022 Model High quality Rating of home automakers, in addition to a separate rating for electrical automobile manufacturers.
FULL STORY: Chinese language automotive high quality ranked: See the place Tesla, MG place
Goodbye CX-9, hiya CX-80
Mazda Australia expects inventory to dry up of its CX-9 by the tip of this 12 months because it welcomes some recent new product.
Along with the refreshed CX-8 and all-new CX-90, each due right here this 12 months, Mazda has confirmed it’s launching the CX-80 – a three-row counterpart to the CX-60. It’s going to verify native timing for the CX-80 later this 12 months.
That squeezes out the CX-9, however the information comes as little shock given Mazda’s US arm had already confirmed it was changing the CX-9 with the brand new CX-90 and the outgoing mannequin was developed with a powerful US focus.
FULL STORY: Mazda CX-9 ending up in Australia
FULL STORY: Mazda CX-80: Third premium SUV locked in for Australia
Honda (and its passenger vehicles) sticking round, however the place are the EVs?
Honda says it might miss its quantity goal in 2023 for the second 12 months in a row, however it has no plans to go away the Australian market or swap to an SUV-only line-up.
It’s persevering with to roll out hybrid fashions however has dominated out introducing any electrical automobiles for no less than the following 5 years.
Regardless of the upcoming introduction of a brand new mid-sized SUV this 12 months – the ZR-V, full with a hybrid choice – the Japanese model warns it might fall wanting its quantity goal of 20,000 automobiles, citing provide points.
FULL STORY: Honda says provide is why it might miss gross sales aim
FULL STORY: Honda gained’t go SUV-only in Australia
FULL STORY: Honda Australia: ‘We’re not going wherever’
FULL STORY: Honda Australia gained’t promote electrical vehicles earlier than 2028
Chevrolet Camaro axed, however identify will return… some day
The Chevrolet Camaro has run its race, for now, though the corporate is promising “this isn’t the ultimate chapter for nameplate”.
Chevrolet hasn’t confirmed when the Camaro identify will return, or whether or not it would nonetheless be completely used on two-door automobiles.
A report on the finish of final 12 months claimed GM is contemplating turning Camaro right into a sub-brand with a pair of all-electric three- and five-door crossover coupes, which might later be joined by an EV sports activities automotive based mostly on the identical structure because the Corvette EV.
Manufacturing of the sixth-generation Camaro on the firm’s Lansing, Michigan plant will finish in January 2024.
FULL STORY: Chevrolet Camaro axed, however identify will return… some day
Cupra teases its future product plans
The Cupra Leon and Formentor will get electrical successors, whereas the sporty Spanish model is aiming its sights even greater.
It’s trying to enter the US market and to take action, it believes it wants a bigger SUV – and Australia could be in line for it.
Firm CEO Wayne Griffiths confirmed that, ought to such a automobile be produced, it might be a world product, manufactured in each left- and right-hand drive, with a “provocative” design.
Mr Griffiths additionally advised CarExpert there “could also be sooner or later sooner or later the prospect of a pleasant sports activities automotive from Cupra”.
The Ateca, nevertheless, is on the chopping block. It’s set to be not directly changed by the upcoming, bigger Terramar.
FULL STORY: Cupra contemplating bigger SUV because it eyes US rollout
FULL STORY: Sporty model Cupra contemplating a… sports activities automotive
FULL STORY: Cupra is readying electrical Leon, Formentor
FULL STORY: Second-generation Cupra Ateca unlikely
Mazda v ACCC ‘unconscionable conduct’ ruling upheld by Federal Courtroom
The Full Federal Courtroom has dismissed appeals from each Mazda and the Australian Competitors and Shopper Fee (ACCC) regarding a ruling it made in November 2021.
The ACCC had appealed the ruling, arguing Mazda did the truth is have interaction in unconscionable conduct in its dealings with 9 shoppers.
Mazda, in distinction, appealed the Courtroom’s ruling because it argued it didn’t make 49 false representations to shoppers about their shopper rights.
FULL STORY: Mazda v ACCC ‘unconscionable conduct’ ruling upheld by Federal Courtroom
Ford reveals intriguingly specified special-edition Ranger
The Wildtrak X nameplate is again on the Ford Ranger, however the brand new particular version is specified fairly in a different way from the remainder of the line-up.
Whereas it makes use of the acquainted 2.0-litre bi-turbo four-cylinder diesel engine, it contains a full-time four-wheel rive system with a 4A mode that can be utilized on pavement like V6 variations.
Ford has famous the Ranger Wildtrak X is the primary variant to fulfill Gentle Obligation Truck Euro 6 emissions stage, which implies it requires AdBlue.
One other spotlight of the Ranger Wildtrak X is its suspension setup that has been “particularly tuned” for touring and payload.
May the GMC Yukon be coming right here?
Having final week alluded to introducing an electrical Cadillac in Australia, Normal Motors seems to have been busy laying the groundwork for a full-sized, combustion-powered SUV.
A trademark submitting on the IP Australia database factors to a possible introduction for the GMC Yukon. The submitting was revealed on March 17, 2023 and presently awaiting indexing.
The Yukon and Yukon XL are the GMC model’s counterparts to the Chevrolet Tahoe and Suburban, respectively, and all these SUVs – plus the Cadillac Escalade and Escalade ESV – are underpinned by GM’s body-on-frame T1 platform.
FULL STORY: GMSV: Trademark submitting factors to native launch for giant SUV
Final name for Mini Clubman
Mini has revealed the ultimate model of its Clubman earlier than it launches a revamped line-up subsequent 12 months.
The Mini Clubman Closing Version is fitted with a variety of unique finishes each in and out. Solely 1969 examples of the mannequin will probably be produced.
“Mini won’t supply the Mini Clubman Closing version for the Australian and New Zealand markets. Nevertheless, we’ll proceed to supply the Clubman Cooper S and JCW variants till the mannequin’s official finish of manufacturing in February 2024,” stated Mini Australia head of product and planning James Orlov.
FULL STORY: Mini farewelling Clubman with 1969 particular vehicles
Ford reveals a really totally different Explorer for Europe
The Ford Explorer has been reborn with a smaller physique, electric-only drivetrains, and a definite European accent.
The brand new Euro Explorer is the primary of two confirmed automobiles from the Blue Oval to be based mostly on the all-electric Volkswagen MEB structure. The opposite is a “coupe” model, which rumours counsel will probably be often called the Explorer Sport.
Manufacturing of the Explorer EV will happen in Cologne, Germany, beforehand residence to the Fiesta. It’s unclear if the European Explorer will probably be bought outdoors the area.
FULL STORY: Ford’s first Volkswagen-based EV to be known as Explorer
