Stephen Ottley

Sydney

Editor at Torquecafe

Motoring and motor racing journalist. And baseball/cricket tragic. The views I express are my own.

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Articles

LU7 targets spodumene supply deal

4 days ago | theaustralian.com.au | Sarah Ison |Jack Quail |Paul Garvey |Stephen Ottley

Lithium Universe is looking to lock in a spodumene supply deal for its Bécancour refinery in QuébecDiscussions are underway with multiple spodumene concentrate producers, both operational and near-term developers LU7 intends to purchase spodumene ore at benchmark prices from the marketSpecial report: Lithium Universe is in discussions with several spodumene suppliers to lock in long-term feedstock agreements for its Bécancour lithium refinery in Québec.
Hyundai’s radical plan to catch Mazda and Kia

5 days ago | torquecafe.com | Stephen Ottley

Hyundai has spent the last three years in reverse, but with a new leader in place there is a plan to get the brand headed in the right direction again. But unlike other brands that rely on new models to drive interest, Hyundai’s Australia’s new CEO, Don Romano, wants to do things differently. The South Korean brand peaked as the third most-popular car maker in 2021, but has dropped down the order since then, finishing in sixth place last year.
The new SUV Australia needs now

1 week ago | torquecafe.com | Stephen Ottley

It’s stylish, sophisticated and offers sports car-like performance while also seating seven. Oh, and it happens to be electric. Meet the Rivian R1S Tri-motor AWD. For those unfamiliar, Rivian is in many respects the ‘anti-Tesla’, in the sense that it has gone about building its electric vehicle brand in almost the polar opposite way.
Is this the ultimate driver’s playground?

1 week ago | torquecafe.com | Stephen Ottley

You might think Porsches sell themselves, but in this era of intense competition across so many brands even the most iconic car makers are looking for any advantage. And advantages don’t come much bigger than the Porsche Experience Centre in Los Angeles, a 53-acre, US$60 million part-test track, part-playground and part-showroom.
‘Anti-Tesla’ teases Australian launch

1 week ago | torquecafe.com | Stephen Ottley

R2-D2 carried the hopes of the Rebellion in Star Wars. The R2 carries the hopes of Rivian and its rebellion against Tesla and the rest of the electric car market. Rivian is an American electric start-up like Tesla, but instead of building simple, technology-laden cars, the brand has focused on being a more premium alternative. Its first two models were the R1T ute and R1S seven-seat SUV, but both larger, more expensive propositions.
Hyundai’s EV plans: 'Whatever it takes'

1 week ago | torquecafe.com | Stephen Ottley

As consumer demand wanes but government expectations rise, car companies are stuck in the middle of a difficult electric vehicle market. Into the challenges created by the Federal Government’s New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES) Hyundai Australia has a new CEO, Canadian Don Romano. He now faces the twin challenge of arresting the brand’s sales decline, while also meeting the new, but long overdue, emissions restrictions imposed by the government.
Is this the best car in the world?

1 week ago | torquecafe.com | Stephen Ottley

Ninety-six journalists from 30 countries crowned the new Hyundai Inster as the 2025 World Electric Vehicle. It’s also the most affordable, non-Chinese electric car currently on sale in Australia. So what it lacks in physical size, it more than makes up for in big expectations. Not that Hyundai is expecting this to be a big seller, after all, electric vehicles sales have cooled off in Australia and the Inster may be affordable but it certainly isn’t cheap.
Mazda: Diesel still best for utes

1 week ago | torquecafe.com | Stephen Ottley

Mazda is unconvinced plug-in hybrids are the future of utes. Despite the success of the BYD Shark 6 and the arrival of the highly anticipated Ford Ranger PHEV, Mazda Australia Managing Director, Vinesh Bhindi told Torquecafe he will wait before committing to the new powertrain technology. The Shark 6 has made a strong start to the year, surging to become the fourth most popular 4×4 ute in the first four months of 2025, out-selling Mazda’s own BT-50.
New threat coming to Ranger, HiLux and more

1 week ago | torquecafe.com | Stephen Ottley

Hyundai Australia’s new CEO has declared adding a ute to its range his top priority. Don Romano, former head of Hyundai Canada, has been sent to Australia to oversee an overhaul of the brand amid a sales decline in recent years and the challenge of the New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES). Romano has a close relationship with Hyundai’s global CEO, Jose Munoz, and will leverage that to finally get the brand into one of Australia’s biggest market segments.
‘Locked and loaded’: new ute coming to Aus

1 week ago | news.com.au | Stephen Ottley

It took Hyundai Australia’s new boss minutes to say what his predecessors spent years avoiding – the South Korean brand is getting a ute. It’s a long overdue announcement from the company that currently has no answer to the Ford Ranger and Toyota HiLux, two of Australia’s best-selling new vehicles. Don Romano, formerly head of Hyundai in Canada, has been tasked with turning around the South Korean brand’s fading fortunes in Australia.

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Stephen Ottley @stephenottley

1 Jun 24

RT @JulienHoez: The Belgian kit for #Euro2024 is outrageously great, and has been designed to look like Tintin Well done guys 👏👏👏 https://…

Stephen Ottley @stephenottley

5 Mar 24

This really highlights the rise of F1 and the decline of Supercars in recent years...

Speedcafe.com @speedcafe

Supercars transporters will be parked outside the circuit after all when the Melbourne SuperSprint takes place this month at the Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix #Supercars https://t.co/WQudUyVOkk

Stephen Ottley @stephenottley

29 Feb 24

Would LOVE to see this layout comeback for @NASCAR