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6 days ago | 
carexpert.com.au | Paul Maric |Alborz Fallah |Anthony Crawford |Derek Fung
A senior Ford executive thinks customers no longer separate brands based on their petrol and diesel engines, and this might lead to the automaker developing new engines with suppliers or, maybe, rivals. According to Automotive News John Lawler, Ford’s vice chair overseeing strategy, partnerships and alliances, told the Bernstein Strategic Decisions Conference, “I don’t think that consumers really think about powertrains the way they did 30 years ago”.
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6 days ago | 
carexpert.com.au | Paul Maric |Alborz Fallah |Anthony Crawford |William Stopford
Money can’t buy you love, but it can buy you a Volvo or Polestar electric SUV with a Bowers & Wilkins sound system featuring a special Abbey Road Studios Mode. The two Geely-owned brands are adding the new feature, developed with and inspired by the London recording studio that The Beatles once used. It’s being rolled out to the Volvo EX90 and Polestar 3 as part of a free over-the-air software update.
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1 week ago | 
carexpert.com.au | Paul Maric |Alborz Fallah |Anthony Crawford |Josh Nevett
Ford says its new Ranger PHEV ute is the ‘best tool for the job’, despite it failing to match key rivals on battery capacity, power, and electric driving range. Launched in the Australian market last month ahead of imminent customer deliveries, plug-in hybrid versions of the Ranger are propelled by the combination of a 2.3-litre turbo-petrol four cylinder engine and a rear-mounted electric motor, producing a combined 207kW of power and 697Nm of torque.
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1 week ago | 
carexpert.com.au | Paul Maric |Alborz Fallah |Anthony Crawford |Derek Fung
The Skoda L&K 130 ute concept is designed to be a support vehicle for a professional cycling team. It is the 10th annual concept designed by the company’s academy school students, and honours the company’s 130th anniversary. The students transformed from the Superb Combi wagon into a ute by shortening the roof and roof rails, modifying the B- and C-pillars, and reinforcing the body. Naturally, there’s a new wall and windscreen behind the rear seats to separate the tray from the cabin.
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1 week ago | 
carexpert.com.au | Paul Maric |Alborz Fallah |Anthony Crawford |Gautam Sharma
ProsConsComfortable, refined and dynamicInterior trims look a bit cheapDistinctive exterior stylingEngine undernourished for 2.0-tonne SUVLoaded with bells and whistlesTransmission lazy in Comfort modeAmong the horde of Chinese brands set to storm the Australian market this year is GAC (Guangzhou Automobile Group), which has lofty ambitions of being a top 10 player locally by 2030.
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1 week ago | 
carexpert.com.au | Paul Maric |Alborz Fallah |Anthony Crawford |Damion Smy
Stellantis has patented a new three-speed transmission designed to bring its Jeep brand’s legendary off-road capability to electric vehicles (EV) without the need for additional motors or equipment. Jeep released its first EV in Australia in 2024 – the urban-friendly Avenger – with the larger Wagoneer S crossover SUV and rugged Recon set for Australia in 2026. It’s the latter that appears most likely to receive the new transmission, should it enter production.
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1 week ago | 
carexpert.com.au | Paul Maric |Alborz Fallah |Anthony Crawford |Damion Smy
A Melbourne council will refund up to $12 million worth of parking fines it incorrectly issued due to an ‘administration error’ dating back more than a decade. Starting in July, Merri-bek City Council will launch a Parking Fines Refund Scheme for motorists who were issued parking infringements between July 1, 2013, and June 11, 2025.
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1 week ago | 
carexpert.com.au | Paul Maric |Alborz Fallah |Anthony Crawford |James Wong
Luxury brand Genesis will look to debut its new hybrid drivetrain in the GV80 SUV in late 2026, according to a new report from a Korean news outlet. Korea JoongAng Daily cites “a source familiar with the matter” saying the Hyundai Motor Group subsidiary’s first hybrid model will commence production in September 2026, followed by the smaller GV70 Hybrid in March 2027 and then a G80 Hybrid thereafter.
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1 week ago | 
carexpert.com.au | Paul Maric |Alborz Fallah |Anthony Crawford |Damion Smy
Mazda Australia has included the Mazda CX-5e name – pointing to an electric Toyota RAV4 rival – among a raft of trademarks for what appear to be new electric models. The filings show the Mazda CX-5e name, suggesting a potential electric CX-5, was locally registered, along with the Mazda 2e, Mazda 3e, Mazda 6e, and Mazda CX-6e badges.
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1 week ago | 
carexpert.com.au | Paul Maric |Alborz Fallah |Anthony Crawford |William Stopford
Even after around six years on the Australian market, the current-generation Suzuki Jimny still gets looks – and that’s part of the reason it has joined the NSW Police Force. Affectionately referred to as Sergeant Jim, this liveried version of the more practical five-door Jimny XL – which was launched here late in 2023 – has joined the Lake Macquarie Police Crime Prevention Unit (LMCPU).
