We publish a ton of car news stories during the working week, and it can be tough to keep up with everything – which is the rationale behind this weekend list.
In short, here are some key articles from our news desk since Monday of this week summarised, just in case you missed them at the time.
New Ranger stock shortfall
Ford’s most important new vehicle launch in years has hit a snag.
A bulletin sent to dealers confirms production of the 2022 Ford Ranger has been affected by COVID-19 lockdowns in China – home to many key parts suppliers for the Thai-made ute.
Dealers will have fewer examples of the new Ranger to sell than initially forecast. As a flow-on, wait times for customers in the queue for a new Ranger will likely be extended – although by how much isn’t clear.
FULL STORY: 2022 Ford Ranger’s initial stock levels cut due to COVID
Supra gets a manual!
The three-pedal Toyota Supra will arrive in Australia before the end of 2022.
The 2023 Supra will be offered with a six-speed manual transmission, as confirmed by a social media teaser, and gains a number of detail changes to keep the rear-wheel drive sports car fresh in the face of competition from the Nissan Z.
Along with the stick shift, which will feature an automatic rev-matching system, the 2023 Supra gains new stabiliser bushings, a retuned adaptive suspension system, and a range of tweaked driver assists to smooth out the ride and sharpen handling.
FULL STORY: 2023 Toyota Supra revealed with manual
Tesla Model 3 waits blow out
Australia’s best-selling electric car, the Tesla Model 3, has had its estimated wait times blow out as to as much as 12 months.
According to the Tesla Australia website, new orders for the Model 3 sedan will now take between nine and 12 months to arrive.
This latest development builds on the six-to-nine month estimated wait time we reported for the Model 3 sedan in March 2022, and the five-to-seven month estimated wait reported in February 2022.
FULL STORY: 2022 Tesla Model 3 waits extend to 12 months
Ampol put chargers next to bowsers
Fuel company Ampol has launched an Australian electric vehicle (EV) fast charging network, with plans for around 120 DC chargers nationwide by October 2023.
The charging network is being branded AmpCharge, and will commence with five pilot sites at Ampol service stations in Carseldine (Queensland), Alexandria (NSW), Northmead (NSW), Altona North (Victoria), and Belmont (WA), coming online in June and July this year.
The Ampol rollout is part of an agreement with the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) announced in July last year, with ARENA providing partial funding through the federal Future Fuels Fund – billed last year as $7.05 million from a total $26.81m investment.
FULL STORY: Ampol launching EV charger network
Ineos
Ineos Automotive has delivered on its promised $84,500 (before on-road costs) price point for the new Grenadier 4×4 – a clean-sheet spiritual successor to the original Land Rover Defender.
It has also kept its promises to charge a modest $1000 premium for the five-seat Station Wagon over the two-seater Utility Wagon, and remains committed to helping owners who prefer DIY maintenance.
Order books open from May 18, with Australia currently a top-three global market for reservation holders. When first models arrive in late 2022, they’ll line up against the iconic Toyota LandCruiser 70 Series family, its closest contemporary.
FULL STORY: 2023 Ineos Grenadier price and specs
New-gen Mercedes-AMG C43 gets 2.0-litre
Mercedes-AMG has unveiled the first of its fettled versions of the new C-Class.
The mid-strength Mercedes-AMG C43 4Matic will be in Australia during the first quarter of 2023, featuring a version of the mild-hybrid turbo four-cylinder engine used in the SL 43 convertible.
A development of the engine debuted in the AMG A45 S hot hatch, the 2.0-litre unit in the C43 pumps out 300kW of power and 500Nm of torque. It replaces the 3.0-litre twin-turbocharged V6 in the current model.
FULL STORY: 2023 Mercedes-AMG C43 confirmed for Australia
Express van meets its demise
Delivery vans have been seeing record sales and yet Mitsubishi is withdrawing from the segment.
The Japanese brand has confirmed that “after assessing current global business and supply conditions”, it’s withdrawing its French-built Express – a rebadged Renault Trafic – from the local line-up this year.
Mitsubishi expects supply of LWB models will be exhausted by mid-year, while final customer deliveries of the SWB models are expected by the end of 2022.
MORE: Mitsubishi Express axed, final deliveries by end of 2022
Chevy Corvette EV and hybrid are go
If you thought a mid-engine Corvette was a radical idea, Chevrolet would like you to sit in a bucket seat and fasten the six-point safety harness.
Overnight Chevrolet confirmed on Twitter: “An electrified Corvette will be available as early as next year and a fully electric version to follow. Stay tuned for more.”
This came not long after Mark Reuss, GM’s president, told CNBC the automaker was working on an electrified version of the Corvette, but refused to say whether this model would have a hybrid or plug-in hybrid drivetrain.
FULL STORY: Chevrolet Corvette hybrid due 2023, EV also confirmed
New Amarok previewed ahead of premiere
Volkswagen has told us a little more about its eagerly anticipated new Amarok ute shortly ahead of its full reveal, and before it rolls into showrooms around the start of next year.
Much of the design and engineering for the second-generation Volkswagen ute was handled in Australia, which is a strong chance to be the Amarok’s leading market.
This is because it’s based on the new-generation Ford Ranger platform, development of which is led by the Blue Oval’s Victoria R&D team. However, VW had its team working parallel to, and with, the program.
FULL STORY: 2023 Volkswagen Amarok, further details revealed
VW Polo ANCAP update
The Volkswagen Polo has once again been awarded top marks by ANCAP, scoring a five stars against the latest 2020-2022 criteria in testing carried out by Euro NCAP.
Set to hit dealers in May 2022, Volkswagen chose to re-test the updated AE-generation Polo because it includes a more generous list of standard features across the range.
New safety features include a central airbag, autonomous emergency braking (AEB) with cyclist detection, lane-keep assist, as well as front and rear parking sensors.
MORE: 2022 Volkswagen Polo earns five-star ANCAP safety rating
