Polestar gets Abbey Road mode

No one’s using the words The Beatles, but the Polestar 3’s audio system just got Abbey Road Studios Mode. Available exclusively for the Bowers & Wilkins audio system, the over-the-air update brings a listening experience inspired by the iconic London recording studio. The optional Bowers & Wilkins audio system in Polestar 3 features 25 strategically placed speakers, including the proprietary Continuum cone and is complete with a 1610 watt power output, 3D surround sound, Dolby Atmos capability, and active road noise cancellation. Abbey Road mode adds four entirely new sound… Read more

Commuter special — Chery Tiggo 4 Hybrid

Chery has added a hybrid to its Tiggo 4 lineup. The new model will be priced from $29,990 driveaway for the Urban variant, and $34,990 driveaway for the top-spec Ultimate. The new series-parallel hybrid has a 1.5-litre petrol engine, that delivers 95kW of power, with drive to the front wheels. Fuel consumption is a claimed 5.4L/100km. Powered by Chery’s advanced hybrid technology, the Tiggo 4 Hybrid offers seamless performance ideal for both city commutes and weekend escapes. “Adding hybrid power to our most accessible SUV is a natural next step… Read more

IM AN MG (More or less)

No, it’s not a Tesla, but you could be forgiven for thinking so. Although it looks very much like a Tesla, it is in fact MG’s new IM range of premium EVs, targeted at — you guessed it — Tesla. MG says the IM5 (sedan) and IM6 (SUV) represent a leap forward in premium electric motoring with elevated design, technology and more.  The vehicles have been developed jointly with the Chinese powerhouse the Alibaba Group. IM stands for Intelligence in Motion and in Australia, the brand will be known as… Read more

BYO Urus for Knight of knights

TIRED of your $250,000 Lamborghini Urus?  That’s unlikely, but if that is indeed the case, and you have access to at least another $250,000, you can swap it for a Rezvani Knight. (Or spend a lot more for a Rezvani Dark Knight). The Californian maker of exotic vehicles has come up with a Urus-based machine that it says ‘combines supercar aesthetics with military inspiration.’ That translates to an eye-catching gunmetal grey supercar that’s equally at home on freeways and rough off-road terrain.  The Knight uses the Urus’s twin-turbocharged 4.0-litre V8,… Read more

HYUNDAI KONA EV – ELITE PACKAGE BUT A LITTLE PRICEY

Launched by Hyundai in 2017, the second-generation Kona was revealed in December, 2022. It is available with petrol, mild hybrid, hybrid and battery-electric powertrains, while the earlier diesel engine option is no longer offered. Unlike the first version Hyundai claims second-generation Kona was designed first and foremost as a battery-electric vehicle before it was then adapted for use as other variants. Whichever way it swings, it has been designed to blend in with the current environment, with no discernible radiator grille regardless of what’s under the bonnet. Still, accommodations must… Read more

AUDI PUTS IN AN A3-OF-A-KIND BID

Audi has put the broom through its popular small fry, the A3 and S3, with a revamped exterior and boosted interior, as well as upgrades to performance and dynamics for the latter. Available in Sportback and Sedan guise, Audi Director, Jeff Mannering, says the advancements in design, performance and customer value showcase the company’s dedication to progress and reinforce the pair as leaders in the premium compact segment. Opening the A3 account is the Sportback 35 TFSI S line at $54,800, plus on-road costs. The Sedan variant (the test car)… Read more

Volvo reinvents the seatbelt

Volvo has reinvented the humble seatbelt. The new multi-adaptive safety belt is world-first technology and designed to further enhance safety for everyone in real-world traffic situations. Set to make an entrance in the fully electric Volvo EX60 next year, the new safety belt is designed to better protect people by adapting to traffic variations and the person wearing it — thanks to real-time data from the car’s advanced sensors. The new multi-adaptive safety belt can use data input from interior and exterior sensors to customise protection, adapting the setting based… Read more

Jaecoo’s big buy-back promise

Chinese carmaker Jaecoo has introduced the nation’s first-ever “Future Price Promise”, with the launch of its new J7 and J8 SUVs. Typically tied to finance agreements, Jaecoo’s Future Price Promise is automatically included with every new J7 and J8 purchase. It offers buyers a guaranteed minimum future value, regardless of how the vehicle is financed. The initiative ensures customers know in advance the minimum amount they will receive should they choose to sell their vehicle in the future, effectively giving them a committed buyer from day one. Chief Commercial Officer… Read more

HYUNDAI IONIQ 5 EPIQ

The Ioniq 5 is not Hyundai’s first fully electric vehicle, not by a long shot, but it was their first EV based on a dedicated battery-electric platform. The look of the car is inspired by Hyundai’s original Pony car, a small hatch from the 1970s that was South Korea’s first mass-produced exported vehicle. The dedicated E-GMP electric vehicle platform offers advantages over dual purpose vehicles such as the Kona that are marketed with both electric or internal combustion powertrains. In the case of the Ioniq 5 it means a fully… Read more

IN ESSENCE, IT’S A STEP UP FOR MG

The MG HS has a new spring in its step, in the process, leaving its somewhat lumpen predecessor, first seen Down Under in 2019, well and truly behind. How does it stack up? Without a stint behind the wheel of the superseded model I can only assume ‘okay’. For example, the top-specification Essence, while now carrying a $7000 excess on the price of the previous model, has had an extensive restyle on the outside and boasts bags more kit under the skin. The latter includes more cabin space for occupants,… Read more