We publish a ton of car news stories during the working week (70-odd as a rule), 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.
Pony up!
The seventh-generation Ford Mustang revealed in Detroit this week carries over the outgoing car’s platform, but gets a new cabin, sharper styling, and some updates under the skin.
It’s due in Australia in late 2023. That means we’ll only be a few months behind the US market, where it’s due in showrooms from the northern summer of next year. Local pricing and specifications have yet to be announced.
It’s powered by new, fourth-generation versions of the familiar turbocharged 2.3-litre EcoBoost four-cylinder engine and naturally-aspirated 5.0-litre Coyote V8.
FULL STORY: 2024 Ford Mustang revealed, here late 2023
Toyota tells scalpers to take a hike
Toyota Australia says it will do what it can to make sure the small number of GR Corolla hot hatches that arrive in 2023 will go into the hands of enthusiasts, rather than speculators out to turn a quick buck.
But how it will action this within the framework of its franchise dealer model remains unclear, with a Supra-style online ballot looking unlikely and centralised online sales also off the agenda.
Set to launch in the first quarter of 2023, Toyota Australia will receive only 500 units for the first year’s allocation of its 220kW, manual-only, all-wheel drive Corolla, to divvy up among its national dealers.
FULL STORY: Toyota wants diehards to buy high-demand GR Corolla, not scalpers
Subaru’s new small SUV
Subaru has revealed the replacement for its XV SUV, with a sportier look, higher-tech interior, and a new name.
Dubbed the Subaru Crosstrek (as it has long been called abroad), the small SUV will go on sale first in Japan. Subaru strangely says the launch there is “scheduled for 2023 or later”.
Subaru has only detailed an AWD hybrid version of the Crosstrek for its domestic market, but the full drivetrain line-up is not yet clear.
FULL STORY: 2023 Subaru Crosstrek revealed, timing for XV replacement unclear
New Ferrari four-door crossover revealed
With four doors and a crossover body, the new Ferrari Purosangue is a major break with tradition – but in other ways, like the naturally-aspirated non-electrified V12, it’s even more “pure” than the 296 GTB.
These nods to the company’s heritage help to justify the crossover’s name, which means thoroughbred in Italian.
Under the bonnet is a naturally-aspirated dry sump 6.5-litre V12 with a 65-degree separation between the banks. It cranks out 533kW at 7750rpm, and 716Nm at 6250rpm.
FULL STORY: 2023 Ferrari Purosangue unveiled
Jeep prepares to plug in
Jeep says the recently revealed Recon and Wagoneer S electric SUVs are coming to Australia, but the Avenger EV has yet to be locked in despite being engineered for right-hand drive.
The rugged-looking Recon EV – designed to be trail rated – is slated to enter US production in 2024, ditto the sleeker-looking Wagoneer S. Both will use the Stellantis ‘STLA Large’ EV architecture designed around the needs of electric vehicles.
“The Recon and the Wagoneer S… are secured for Australia,” Jeep CEO Christian Meunier told CarExpert in Detroit this week, saying he’d noticed the growth in electrification here.
FULL STORY: New Jeep EVs confirmed for Australia
What’s in a name, Tesla?
An owner is suing Tesla over false advertising about its Autopilot, Enhanced Autopilot, and Full Self-Driving systems – the latter is still in beta mode but available to around 100,000 owners who have high safety scores.
The lawsuit was filed today in a federal court in San Francisco and is seeking unspecified damages on behalf of people who bought a Tesla from 2016 onwards equipped with either Autopilot, Enhanced Autopilot, or Full Self-Driving.
Briggs Matsko, the plaintiff named in case, claims Tesla and its CEO Elon Musk misled the public by saying the technologies were either fully functioning or “just around the corner” even though they knew otherwise.
FULL STORY: Class action lawsuit launched against Tesla’s Autopilot, Full Self-Driving claims
Grenadier guarded on sales, but wait times grow
The new Ineos Grenadier four-wheel drive hasn’t properly touched down in Australia yet, but it’s already in demand with more than 1000 orders held.
Anyone who orders a Grenadier now won’t have their car built until July 2023, which means it’s unlikely to arrive Down Under until October 2023.
Customer deliveries kick off in Australia late in 2022, although the bulk of orders will start rolling out from early in 2023. Order books opened in May this year.
FULL STORY: Ineos Grenadier wait times detailed for Australia
Australia’s emissions stay high while EVs spike
Australia’s love of utes and SUVs is partly responsible for holding back the push to reduce tailpipe emissions, even as sales of electrified vehicles jump to new heights.
That’s according to the National Transport Commission, a government-funded advisory body based in Melbourne tasked with land transport reform.
Of all new passenger cars sold in Australia last year, only 45 per cent had an emissions intensity of 160 grams per kilometre or less – compared with 90 per cent in Europe.
FULL STORY: Australia’s transport emissions remain high despite EV growth – report
MG charges at no charge
MG will give away a further 3000 electric vehicle (EV) wall boxes to Australian and New Zealand hotels and resorts over the next three years, and slash the price of installation.
The brand says it will charge just $330 for installation and waive the price of up to 3000 AC wall box units (7.0kW single-phase or 11kW three-phase) at up to 1000 locations in “metro centres”.
This represents a saving of up to $1660 off RRP per unit, says the company, which claims to be motivated by a desire to encourage EV adoption across Australia.
FULL STORY: MG giving away 3000 more EV chargers to hotels
Jimny five-door nears
Suzuki Australia says it’s already fielding a great deal of enquiries about the long-wheelbase five-door Jimny 4×4 – a vehicle that officially does not yet exist, but which is clearly around the corner.
As these spied images of a late-stage prototype vehicle published in July show, the more practical Jimny derivative is edging closer to a reveal, though we’re still connecting some dots.
Expected to commence production in the first half of 2023, the Jimny five-door will build on the success of the three-door – which broke its Australian delivery record last month and remains subject to long wait times despite launching more than three-and-a-half years ago.
FULL STORY: Australians lining up for stretched Suzuki Jimny five-door
Small safety catch for Ranger, Everest
Owners of Ford Rangers and Everests built before August 20, 2022, will need to have their car’s software updated to meet the criteria for a five-star ANCAP safety rating.
Both the new Ranger and Everest earned a five-star rating in ANCAP safety testing, driven in part by the strong performance of their active driver assists. Those ratings only apply if the car’s software features an update automatically applied to all cars built after August 20, however.
Vehicles built before then will need to have the update at a dealer – which Ford says will be done, free of charge, at an owner’s first service. Although the Ranger and Everest are capable of receiving over-the-air updates, Ford says they’re not yet available in Australia.
FULL STORY: 16,000 Ford Rangers, Everests need software update for five-star ANCAP
BMW staple’s price hike
The BMW 3 Series mid-life update will go on sale in Australia from October with a raft of improvements, matched by sharp price hikes for the 2023 model year.
The price increases come after a different batch of hikes we wrote about in August this year, which included the pre-LCI 3 Series.
Headlining the changes are subtle design updates, new lights, the latest BMW infotainment system with new screens, and a smattering of added features. But BMW’s entry 320i sedan now costs $5400 more than the 2022 model at a starting price of $78,900 before on-road costs.
FULL STORY: BMW 3 Series prices increased by up to $10,000 with update
