CAR SPECS

Apple appears to still be considering an autonomous electric car, after reportedly hiring one of Lamborghini’s top engineers. Tech giant Apple has reportedly signed a former Lamborghini engineer to join the development team of its long-rumoured autonomous car. News agency Bloomberg reports Apple has employed the head of Lamborghini’s chassis and vehicle dynamics division to join the management team of its autonomous electric car . Luigi Taraborrelli worked for Lamborghini for more than two decades, most recently on chassis handling for supercars such as the Huracan and Aventador , plus the Urus SUV, according to his LinkedIn profile . The responsibilities of Mr Taraborrelli’s role in the Apple electric car project remain unclear. The news comes less than three months after Apple hired a former Ford executive for its autonomous car project, joining a team of engineers from car companies such as Tesla , Volkswagen , Ford , and Mercedes-Benz . Earlier reports have...

The re-launched Chery brand is set to join Australia’s electric car market, with a 450km-range rival for battery-powered MGs and Hyundais. Above: Petrol-engined Omoda 5 pictured throughout. Chinese car maker Chery – which returns to Australia in late 2022 after departing seven years ago in the wake of an asbestos recall – has indicated it plans to introduce a rival for Australia’s most-affordable electric car before the end of next year. The new electric car – based on Chery’s first new model for Australia, the Omoda 5 small SUV – will compete with the MG ZS EV , Hyundai Kona Electric and BYD Atto 3 . Production of Chery’s first Australia-bound electric car is due to begin in September next year, ahead of first arrivals in Europe – and possibly Australia – by the end of 2023. MORE: China’s Chery aims for Top Five in Australia in five years, first car due this year Executives in China provided few details of the new model to Australian media last week, however in...

US car giant General Motors is reportedly losing $US5 million a day as passengers are slow to embrace it autonomous ride-share service. General Motors’ ambitious move into an autonomous ride-sharing business in the US has cost more than $US5 billion – with losses continuing to mount at a rate of $US5 million a day. Slow acceptance of the Cruise project in San Francisco – and delays in approvals for its driverless Origin model – are the main drivers of the epic losses. The latest setback came as General Motors began charging for Cruise rides in its Chevrolet Bolt electric cars for the first time. It has also been hurt by reports of crashes involving Cruise automated taxis, and brief traffic snarls caused by Cruise-operated hatchbacks. Even so, General Motors chief executive Mary Barra is still upbeat about the long-term prospects for Cruise as a potential $50 billlion-a-year business. She said increasing demand for automated vehicle services and technology would al...

Certain variants of the Mazda 3 small car and CX-5 family SUV are no longer fitted with particular tech features – but have been hit with price rises of up to $700. Mazda Australia has quietly cut two technology features from certain high-grade versions of the 2022 Mazda 3 and Mazda CX-5 – while increasing their prices by as much as $700. The latest specification lists from Mazda Australia show high-grade GT SP and Akera versions of the CX-5 mid-size family SUV are no longer fitted with hands-free ‘kick’ functionality for their power tailgates, instead reverting to access only via the key fob, or a button on the tailgate. Meanwhile, the second-from-range-topping Mazda 3 G25 GT is no longer fitted with a 12-speaker Bose sound system, switching back to lower models’ eight-speaker unbranded stereos. The flagship Astina grades retain the Bose system. It’s understood ongoing parts shortages – including the semiconductors (computer chips) needed for modern cars – are to bla...

Want to stay up to date in the world of automotive news? These are the biggest stories from the past week. Each week we’ll keep you up to speed and bring you the ‘watercooler’ information of what has happened in the world of cars and motoring with the five biggest stories we’ve covered. Here’s what you need to know… Brand-new Jeep Wagoneer clips bridge – and loses Ah, the perils of being a big Jeep on a car transport truck. A brand-new 2023 Jeep Wagoneer, possibly on its way to its excited owner, had a somewhat tragic run-in with a highway bridge in the US state of Detroit. The nasty outcome was, of course, chronicled on social media for all to see. Check it out here . 2022 Ford Ranger Raptor: first shipment arrives in Australia, but there’s a catch Spotted: a truckload of new-generation Ford Ranger Raptors on the streets of Melbourne. While this week’s sighting – courtesy of an eagle-eyed enthusiast – sparked plenty of excitement amongst Ranger devotees, Drive ...

The Genesis GV80 thumbs its nose at the luxury SUV establishment with its blend of opulent styling and healthy equipment list. What we love Impressive and refined diesel powertrain The (optional) second row oozes comfort Five years’ free servicing What we don’t Interior design won’t be to everyone’s tastes Virtually useless boot with third row of seats in use Occasionally fidgety ride on 22-inch alloys Introduction It seems somewhat incongruous to start this road test from the second row. But that’s exactly what we’ve done with the 2022 Genesis GV80 we have on test here. Why? Because it’s fitted with the optional Six-Seat Luxury Pack that brings a level of sumptuousness to the second row that is this large SUV’s reason for being. And it’s the best place to enjoy what the GV80 has to offer. Before we get there, let’s look at the Genesis GV80. In short, it’s the Korean brand’s take on the luxury large SUV segment, staring up at the m...