Browsing: Automobiles

The Australian Government will gradually reduce incentives for electric vehicles (EVs), but they won’t be dropped entirely.The existing Electric Car Discount (ECD), as the government calls it, will continue in full until March 31, 2027. Under the scheme, EVs provided by employers to employees, including under a salary packaging arrangement, are exempted from Fringe Benefits Tax (FBT). This is contingent on the EV falling under the Luxury Car Tax (LCT) threshold for fuel-efficient vehicles, which currently sits at $91,387.From April 1, 2027 to March 31, 2029, the full FBT exemption will continue to apply, but only for EVs costing $75,000…

Article SummaryThe RWD 230i starts at $42,200 and offers a more analog, driver-focused experience than any other current non-M BMW.The 230i handles better than the M240i — lighter steering, cleaner chassis feel — even if the M240i is the quicker car.With an uncertain future for ICE 2 Series Coupes, the G42 generation may be the last of its kind.If you’re buying your first BMW in 2026 and you actually care about driving, there’s one answer. It’s not the 330i. It’s not the M240i. It’s the G42 230i Coupe, and I’ll tell you exactly why. But first, the obligatory disclaimer: if…

Most Mazda CX-50 buyers either choose the base or Hybrid models. The base model accounted for 51 percent of sales, while the Hybrid was 37 percent. The Turbo model is the least popular option of the group. The Mazda CX-50 is proving to be a hot commodity for shoppers in the compact SUV space. Not only was it one of the automaker’s most popular models last year—just behind the CX-5—but now the company gives buyers more options than ever with the arrival of the hybrid version. And it’s proving to be a popular option. According to a new report from…

Lexus has posted a single shadowy teaser image of its new three-row electric SUV, and confirmed its official reveal date for later this week.The Japanese premium brand’s new flagship electric SUV, likely to be called the Lexus TZ, is set to be revealed in the US at 11.30am AEST this Friday (May 11), but so far there are no details and Lexus Australia has said only that “Something new is coming”.However, the TZ name was hinted at by European trademark filings for the TZ450e and TZ550e nameplates in mid-2023. The SUV was also spied testing at the Nürburgring in April…

BMW builds cars on monocoque platforms. That’s been true for decades — from the E30 to the CLAR architecture underpinning everything from the G20 3 Series to the G70 7 Series. So when a patent surfaces showing BMW engineering a ladder frame chassis, it will certainly catch our attention.The patent, filed with Germany’s DPMA under file number DE 10 2024 130 768.4 and first spotted by CarBuzz, was submitted in 2024 but only published at the end of April 2026. Ladder frames are the structural backbone of body-on-frame vehicles: the Mercedes G-Class, the Land Rover Defender, every American full-size pickup…

The one-off Bugatti Mistral ‘Fly Bug’ was inspired by a dragonfly. It wears color-shifting blue paint and custom patterns inside and out. Highly detailed, fully bespoke design pushed to new limits. A “normal” Bugatti? In this economy? That’s basically not a thing. With the W16 Mistral “Fly Bug,” Bugatti is pushing its Sur Mesure customization program to its limit with another true one-off. It’s part of a set of four closely related cars developed alongside one of the company’s long-time collectors. All four builds take inspiration from nature, and the “Fly Bug” continues that theme. It follows earlier cars in…

Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’d know by now the Chinese automotive industry has evolved dramatically thanks to a government that has directed automakers to invest heavily in electrification, and a populace that craves increasingly sophisticated technology.I just got back from Auto China 2026 in Beijing, which was my first time at a Chinese motor show, believe it or not.I thought I was prepared for the scale, after organisers confirmed Auto China this year would be held across two Beijing convention centres with 17 halls in total, and would be host to 1451 vehicles and 181 world premieres.CarExpert…

Article SummaryThe ZA0 BMW M3 electric enters production in March 2027 with four motors, 800-900 hp, and Neue Klasse architecture; the gas-powered G84 follows in July 2028.The ICE M3 won’t be a plug-in hybrid — instead, a 48V mild-hybrid S58 integrated into the transmission delivers around 525 hp with no manual gearbox and likely no rear-wheel-drive option.Both cars share Neue Klasse-inspired design and a full panoramic iDrive X interior, but differ in proportions: the electric ZA0 has a shorter hood, the G84 gets the longer nose that better suits the sedan’s classic silhouette.BMW is building two M3s at the same…

The Mazda MX-5 Miata has always been a bit of an icon—a car that’s basically synonymous with pure driving fun. A new generation is on the way, still a couple of years out, but it’s already starting to take shape, thanks in part to direct input from enthusiasts—even those in Italy. That’s actually where I began this story, sitting down with Roberto Pietrantonio, Managing Director of Mazda Motor Italia. We talked through some of the big topics shaping Mazda right now and where it’s headed next—from the future of the roadster to the thinking behind updates like the CX-60 and…

Jetour is coming to Australia, but please, please don’t call it Chery’s off-road brand. It may be part of the big Chinese automaker’s amalgam of marques, but Jetour really does do its own thing.While there may be some shared technology, this business is about bold vehicles with big practicality, huge off-road capability, and adventurous design. And I tell you what – this G700 is a baller machine, with brutal speed, too…How much does the Jetour G700 cost?That is still to be confirmed, but the way BYD’s Denza has priced its big plug-in hybrid luxury off-road SUVs could be a good guide.That would…