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.
This one stings
Kia has confirmed the Stinger is ending production shortly, in a Korean press release. The company announced a Stinger Tribute Edition limited to 1000 units, designed to send off the image-changing performance GT in style.
“The Tribute Edition pays homage to Kia’s high-performance vision, and celebrates the Stinger sedan’s significant contribution to the brand since its introduction in 2017, as production of the groundbreaking model comes to an end,” the company said.
It did not confirm an end of production date, but given this is the end-of-the-line version, it’s quite clear that the Stinger will shuffle off the factory agenda during the course of 2023. Reports from October predicted as much.
MORE: Kia Stinger production to end
ANCAP’s star performers
Safety authority ANCAP is wrapping up for the calendar year and has listed its top performing vehicles of 2022.
When looking at weighted scores across the four testing areas, the Tesla Model Y came out on top with a score of 92.6 per cent.
The Lexus NX received the second-highest overall weighted score for 2022 at 89.2 per cent, while the petrol-powered LDV MIFA and its electric MIFA 9 counterpart also reached the podium with a weighted score of 87.4 per cent.
MORE: Tesla Model Y tops ANCAP’s safest cars of 2022 list
New Q5 around the corner
The next-generation Audi Q5 SUV has been spied once again ahead of its expected reveal during 2023, as a 2024 model.
Our spy photographers were able to capture this camouflaged Q5 prototype parked right next to a current-generation model, which allows us to see the majority of the exterior body changes.
The next-generation Q5 is clearly lower and wider than the current model. It also appears to have a longer wheelbase which may translate to more interior space.
MORE: 2024 Audi Q5 spied inside and out
LDV lobs funky new van
China’s LDV is continuing to roll out new vehicles in its domestic market at pace, the latest being a mid-sized passenger van with some funky design touches and two-tone colours.
The Maxus V70 – the company called LDV in Australia uses the Maxus branding elsewhere – looks rather like a Ford Transit Custom from the side, but has an interesting front grille, and uses fun two-tone colours a bit like a Volkswagen Multivan.
We also understand that LDV Australia’s importer is aware of the V70 and is looking at the vehicle, though it has not itself commented on any plans one way or another.
MORE: LDV reveals funky Maxus V70 van
New Nismo nears
Nissan’s hotter Z seems to have been spied testing ahead of an expected reveal next year.
The 2023 Nissan Z Nismo, as seen in a series of images shared on Facebook and Twitter, features a raft of visible changes.
There are new wheels, wrapped in Dunlop tyres, behind which sit what appear to be bigger brakes, while there are also new bumpers.
MORE: 2023 Nissan Z Nismo spied?
Tank rolls in under $60k
GWM continues its rapid expansion into the Australian market, with the GWM Tank sub-brand about to arrive – where it will sell alongside the GWM Ute and various GWM Haval SUVs.
Its first model is the GWM Tank 300 Hybrid, a boxy ladder-frame 4×4 sharing some of its underpinnings with the GWM Ute, but using petrol-electric power.
Prices kick off at $55,990 drive-away and top out at $60,990 drive-away, making it GWM’s most expensive vehicle in Australia to date.
MORE: GWM Tank 300 Hybrid 4×4 priced from $55,990 drive-away
Kona grows up, and out
The next-generation, larger Hyundai Kona crossover has been revealed, ahead of an initial Australian rollout commencing from mid-2023.
Further details will be revealed in the coming months, both for international versions and Australia-bound models, but CarExpert understands that the brand will stagger the rollout of the Kona range as with the original.
Petrol, hybrid and EV versions are all on the cards for Australia. Should the Hybrid (HEV) come here, it’s a big win for Hyundai Australia given the first-generation Kona Hybrid never made it to local showrooms due to its European production.
MORE: 2023 Hyundai Kona revealed, here mid-year with hybrid, EV options
Used car costs coming back to Earth
The average cost of used cars in Australia has now been falling for six months, offering some relief to buyers priced out of the hot market, according to a new report.
Compiled by Moody’s Analytics, the latest Used Vehicle Price Index shows transaction costs decreased a further 2 per cent from October to November.
The data shows prices for used vehicles are now lower on average than they were at the start of the year. In May 2022, used vehicle prices were 18.4 per cent greater than May 2021. Things aren’t exactly ‘normal’ yet though. Average used vehicle prices are still 55 per cent greater than they were in January 2020, just before COVID wrought havoc.
MORE: Australia’s used car prices have been falling for six straight months
Cheap EV captured in camo
The BYD Dolphin – set to be one of Australia’s cheapest electric vehicles – has been spied testing in New South Wales.
In these images shared on the Facebook group Car Spotters Australia, the electric hatch is wearing camouflage on its front end, making it hard to identify any visual changes.
We don’t expect any major exterior changes up front, though the presence of camouflage here and not anywhere else on the vehicle is noteworthy.
MORE: 2023 BYD Dolphin EV hatch spied testing in Australia
Brace yourselves… the Teslas are coming
A ship carrying “well over” 4000 new Teslas is reportedly set to dock in NSW before Christmas, which would be the largest Tesla shipment ever to come to Australia.
The news comes from established Tesla shipping tracker VedaPrime, which claims 12 ships have arrived carrying Teslas during the fourth quarter of this year.
A 13th was scheduled to arrive but now won’t dock until the first quarter of 2023.
