Tougher crash tests from next year

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Stricter crash testing procedures will be introduced under changes flagged by the Australasian New Car Asessment Program (ANCAP). From 2026, a notable update strengthens how ANCAP evaluates the safety of new cars across the stages of safety: safe driving, crash avoidance, crash protection and post-crash. A major change reflects the important of crash response time, with a greater emphasis on the availability and performance of automatic eCall systems. More than 40 percent of all new vehicles sold in Australia in 2024 featured technology capable of automatically connecting with emergency services… Read more

Motor racing mourns Allan Moffat

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Motorsport legend Allan Moffat has died at the age of 86 after a long battle with dementia. In 2019, Moffat chose to speak publicly after he had been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, sharing his experience to help others know they are not alone and to raise awareness and funds across the racing community and beyond. His honesty, determination and generosity inspired many and strengthened understanding of dementia in Australia.  Dementia Australia CEO Professor Tanya Buchanan acknowledged the racing driver’s extraordinary advocacy.  “Allan was admired and respected not only as an… Read more

Gemini coming to a Polestar near you

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EVs are getting smarter, at least those from Polestar. The Swedish electric performance car brand has revealed it will integrate Google Gemini into its cars from Polestar 2 and onwards through a future Google update. Polestar currently offers four models: the Polestar 2, Polestar 3, Polestar 4, and Polestar 5. Planned models include the Polestar 6 roadster and the Polestar 7 compact SUV.  Gemini is an upgrade from Google Assistant with generative AI integrated, enabling users to have a more natural conversation with their car. In addition to simple commands,… Read more

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JIMNY, FUN AND GAMES BY ANY STRETCH

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Jimny: it’s all in the name. Since its get-go the quirky small Suzuki SUV has been on a ‘fun run’, on and off road. Last year the maker invested more in the three-door compact, which had become something of a cult, adding two more doors and extended cabin space. Release the brakes, start revving the motor, the new Jimny XL five-door, after a bump in the road, has finally been let out on to Aussie streets, following a hold-up on sales for ‘an investigation into the model’ by the maker…. Read more

Size no barrier to safety for tiny Atto

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Here’s why the Chinese and brands such as BYD should be taken seriously. The recently launched BYD Atto 1 has a achieved a maximum five-star safety rating in crash tests. What’s even more impressive, is that the Atto 1 is Australia’s smallest and cheapest fully electric, battery-powered vehicle. Priced from just $23,990, the Atto 1 comes in two grades and the five-star crash rating applies to both. Named World Urban Car of the Year at the 2025 World Car Awards and one of Time Magazine’s Best Inventions of 2025, the… Read more

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CHERY PLAYS MUSICAL CHAIRS WITH ITS NEW OMODA BRAND

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It’s getting quite difficult to keep track of the constantly evolving brands and sub- brands within the giant Chinese Chery group. The most recent development is the establishment of what is effectively a new sister brand to Chery called Omoda Jaecoo, a premium brand that operates independently of their shared parent company. We recently reported on the two Jaecoo models (J7 and J8) that are currently on sale in Australia. This time we’re reviewing the first of the dedicated Omoda vehicles the Omoda 9 that went on sale here in… Read more

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EYE ON THE FUTURE – INSTER IS HARD TO IGNORE

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Ever been eyeballed by a car? Recently, while picking up a Hyundai test vehicle, I had the strange feeling the eyes (aka round headlamps with a ring of LED daytime running lights) of the Inster all-electric light SUV were following me. On top of this, positioned below was a wide grille with the superior look of a knowing smile? Creepy? The maker sees things differently, explaining the ethos of the Inster by saying the set-up makes for ‘a futuristic yet playful first impression.’ All flippancy aside, Hyundai’s smallest and most… Read more

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REXTON IS AN IMPRESSIVE SEVEN-SEAT SUV ALTERNATIVE

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Although Korean carmaker SsangYong has been in the Australian market for the past 20 years it has never been able to get close to the success of its compatriots Hyundai and Kia. The company has gone through financial difficulties over the years and been taken over at different times by SAIC, Daewoo, Mahindra and, in 2023, by a new entrant in the automotive scene – KG Mobility or locally as KGM SsangYong KGM SsangYong currently has five models in its range, the Musso ute, three mid- sized SUVS, Korando, Torres… Read more

Musso back as an EV

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Remember SsangYong’s Mercedes-powered Musso utility from 2004. It made a comeback a couple of years back and is about to rise from the dead again, this time as a fully electric vehicle. The Korean-based SsangYong is no more, by the way. These days it’s the company known as KGM Australia. The Musso EV comes in three guises; two-wheel, better equipped two-wheel drive Black Edge and top of the line all-wheel drive, priced from $60,000 plus on-roads. Two-wheel drive versions have a single electric motor that powers the front wheels, while… Read more

Coregas adds Xcient fuel cell truck

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In an Australian first Hyundai’s fuel powered Xcient truck has found its first owner. Established in 1974, Coregas specialises in the production and distribution of compressed gases and cryogenic liquids across a wide array of sectors in Australia and New Zealand. These range from welding gases such as acetylene, to bulk liquids such as helium, hydrogen and nitrogen. The Xcient is one of the world’s first hydrogen-powered heavy-duty trucks. After debuting at the 2025 Brisbane Truck Show, the Xcient is set to hit Australian roads in Coregas’ daily fleet. By… Read more