CAR SPECS

The first dedicated electric car from Genesis will cost over $20,000 more than its siblings from Hyundai and Kia, with the flagship model nudging past $110,000. Australian prices for the 2023 Genesis GV60 electric car have been revealed early, ahead of an official announcement and first showroom arrivals in the coming weeks. Details published in a third-party industry pricing guide suggests two all-wheel-drive GV60 variants will be offered in Australia: an entry-level ‘Lux’, priced from $103,700 plus on-road costs, and a flagship Performance, from $110,700. While Genesis Australia is yet to confirm the prices, they’re understood to align with price estimates shared with customers in recent weeks. A formal announcement is likely in the coming weeks, when the first cars hit showrooms. The prices mean in equivalent, circa-230kW all-wheel-drive trim, the GV60 will cost $20,000 to $27,000 more than its twins under the skin, the Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Kia EV6. The GV60 ...

The manual transmission might be dying across most new-car segments, but Porsche buyers – high-end ones, at least – continue to show a penchant for three pedals and a gear stick. Buyers of high-end Porsche sports cars continue to buck the trend of declining demand for manual transmissions – and the German sports car maker is happy to oblige. Despite the increasing rush to automatic transmissions across the industry, around 50 per cent of all six-cylinder Porsche 718 (Boxster/Cayman) and flagship 911 GT3 orders are for cars with a manual gearbox, Porsche Australia says. Look through the monthly sales figures, and you’d be forgiven for thinking the days of the manual gearbox are already well and truly numbered – particularly as the increasingly electrified and autonomous future of motoring approaches. Even traditional sports cars, where a manual was long the preferred option, have either killed off the manual entirely, or seen buyers move to slick-shifting automatics, like ...

I’m in my late 60s and had been considering an SUV, because of the ease of getting in and out and the elevated driving position, for some time. What we love Space and practicality Excellent all-round vision and safety Build quality Ride and comfort What we don’t Foot-operated park brake Space-saver spare NOTE: Editorial images used as none provided by the writer. The Nissan X-Trail wasn’t on my radar until I drove one, my son’s ST 2.5-litre seven-seater, which impressed me. So when I saw this one advertised, I bought it without a second thought. I like the styling, which I think is purposeful and ‘clean’ without unnecessary creases and folds, and the dimensions translate into plenty of space inside. The high roof line adds to the feeling of space and airiness, unlike some other makes with their sloping/lower roofs. Outward vision through the large windscreen and windows is very good, but I have found myself needing the blind-spot monitorin...

Air New Zealand bunk beds for economy travellers may seem like a groundbreaking idea, but this has actually been active on the ground for decades. Meet the Sleeper Bus. Announced as an innovative change to air travel, Air New Zealand this week stated it will incorporate sleeping compartments on long-haul Boeing 787 aircraft to allow passengers to book (for a fee) a four-hour sleeping break from their regular seated travel. It’s a great idea, and a long time coming… but as a concept, it isn’t new. Sleeper Buses have been in service for many countries for decades, with long-distance horizontal travel offered for overnight routes. Staying in the land of the long white cloud, a sleeper service is offered for the eight-hour drive between the New Zealand capital of Auckland, to Wellington on the southern tip of the North Island. These buses convert the seats to a bunk-style sleeper configuration for the overnight run, meaning you can save a day’s drive or flight cost to get to a new d...

The internal combustion engine isn’t dead yet, with synthetic fuels being recognised as a viable alternative by the European Union. The European Union has agreed to a new proposal which could mark the end of new petrol and diesel cars – except in some circumstances. Officials from the European Union (EU) announced the proposal to introduce a 100 per cent reduction in tailpipe emissions from 2035 for all new cars and vans – encouraging manufacturers to adopt either battery-electric or hydrogen fuel-cell powertrain technologies. All new cars will need to have reduced tailpipe emissions by 55 per cent by 2030, or 50 per cent for commercial vans. However, after lobbying from Germany and Italy – along with pressure from G7 member Japan this week – there will be some major concessions. Low-volume manufacturers will be granted a partial exemption of emissions laws from 2030, after the 55 per cent rule has already been imposed. Carmakers responsible for new registrations of bet...

The Tesla Model 3 Performance and Long Range have had their driving ranges cut by between 2.0 and 3.5 per cent in Australia, due to a new system computer. UPDATE, 30 June 2022: Tesla has explained why the driving range of the 2022 Tesla Model 3 Long Range (and Performance) were cut earlier this year. In a message to customers in the queue (posted to Twitter by VedaPrime ), Tesla said the addition of a new, more powerful processor required more energy that otherwise was used for propelling the car. “We have updated Model 3 vehicles to optimise the touch screen experience with our new car computer. This hardware change requires more power, resulting in a minor drop in range. Your Model 3 range [for a Long Range variant] is now 602 kilometres WLTP,” the message reads. As reported in February, the Model 3 Long Range was cut from 614km to 602km WLTP, while the Model 3 Performance dipped from 567km to 547km. Our original story continues unchanged below. 17 February 20...

The popular Kia Seltos has received its long-rumoured mid-life update, adding a Sportage-inspired exterior, and restyled interior with a digital dashboard. The facelifted 2023 Kia Seltos has been revealed, ahead of an Australian launch due in the fourth quarter of 2022 (October to December). Shown in these initial images out of Korea, the updated version of the popular Seltos small SUV gains a new exterior design and restyled interior inspired by larger Kia models. Up front, there’s a new set of headlights with angular signatures and LED daytime-running lights that extend into the grille – inspired by the Sportage – plus new LED fog lights and a centre skid plate that hint at a ‘GT-Line’ or ‘X-Line’ flagship. New 18-inch machined alloy wheels fill the arches, while at the rear there are new Carnival-inspired tail-lights stretching down the sides and across the span of the tailgate, and a new gloss black lower bumper. Inside, the updated Seltos gains a 10.25-inch d...

German luxury car giant BMW will be integrating the Android Automotive system into various models for the first time from next year. BMW has announced that it will be adding the Android Automotive operating system – not to be confused with Android Auto – to specific models from 2023. The platform – which powers infotainment systems in various Volvo, Polestar, and Stellantis group vehicles – will be incorporated alongside the current BMW Operating System 8, however it’s unclear exactly which models will gain the system.  The German car maker is yet to release images of the Android version of its iDrive 8 system, so it’s unclear if it will look any different from the existing Linux-based software. Android Automotive is not to be confused with Android Auto; whereas the latter (Auto) is one app within the infotainment system, and requires a phone connected, the former (Automotive) drives the entire infotainment system, with no phone required. “We are integrating the best ...

The next Audi S4 performance wagon has been spotted in Europe, with a technology-packed cabin and what looks to be a V6 under the bonnet. The next-generation 2023 Audi S4 Avant performance wagon has been spied testing in Europe, ahead of its anticipated launch next year. Snapped in Europe’s Alps by Drive’s spy photography partners, the next S4 – in sedan and ‘Avant’ wagon forms – won’t stray too far from Audi’s usual formula, with sporty but restrained styling, a high-tech interior and a potent petrol engine under the bonnet. Building on the standard A4 prototype spotted late last year, the mid-level S4 can be distinguished on this early test car by its four exhaust tips, a hallmark of Audi S cars. The latest S4 prototype also features flush-faced, cut-out door handles akin to a BMW i4, rather than the traditional pull-out handles of the A4 seen last year. It’s unclear which design will reach production. Expect full production S4s to score tweaked bumper designs...