Browsing: Automobiles

Approximately 229,226 Australian driver licences have reportedly been exposed by hackers who breached security at YouX, a popular software platform used by automakers and dealers for new-vehicle finance.Sydney-based YouX – previously known as Drive IQ – says on its site it works with “87 per cent of Australia’s OEM [Original Equipment Manufacturer] branded lenders” to provide its software for vehicle financing, including application and approval processes.According to Broker Daily, hackers claimed to have accessed more than 8000 password hashes to the platform earlier this month, exposing highly sensitive personal information connected to 444,538 individuals.This reportedly includes 229,226 driver licence numbers,…

For years it was little more than a rumor whispered among BMW enthusiasts: that at some point in the company’s history, someone inside the hallowed halls of M GmbH had built a drop-top M5. Now, BMW has officially confirmed it — and revealed why the world never got to see it. The car in question was based on the E34 generation M5, and it was shown publicly for the first time to a select group of journalists in 2009 at an event marking 25 years of the BMW M5. BMW confirmed that the convertible had been developed as a genuine…

Stellantis could report an annual operating loss for the first time.   The automaker is taking a massive hit as it scales back its electric vehicle operations.   Stellantis CEO Antonio Filosa told investors last week that Stellantis will return a profit this year.   Stellantis is expected to report its first annual loss later this week. The automaker, like others in the industry, is scaling back its electrification efforts, resulting in a massive hit to the company’s bottom line.   Earlier this month, Stellantis reported that winding down its EV roadmap would cost it an estimated €22 billion ($26…

The 2026 Toyota RAV4 PHEV has been unveiled in Japan, and one thing stands out about this RAV4: it has a power supply system that’s designed to supply electricity to homes, especially in times of emergencies that need electricity. The power supply system has been named as “HV power supply mode.” It will be available on RAV4 PHEV models in Japan, and if you are familiar with this tech, you have also seen it on Ford as Ford’s Pro Power Onboard or GM’s Vehicle to Home (V2H). The new RAV4 HV’s power supply mode, when activated, will manage to supply…

The Subaru Crosstrek is a relatively new nameplate in the Japanese brand’s Australian lineup, but it’s proven popular with local buyers.The Crosstrek name was introduced locally with the release of this small SUV in 2023, when it replaced two generations of compact crossovers wearing the XV badge. Like before, it’s still effectively a higher-riding Impreza hatch, promising improved off-road capability in a similarly small package.That formula seems to resonate with Australian buyers, as the Crosstrek was Subaru’s second-highest seller in 2025, behind the larger Forester mid-size SUV.To keep this generation of Crosstrek ticking along, Subaru has rolled out a selection…

Article SummaryBMW doesn’t rule out doing more ultra-limited cars, but a fourth model isn’t currently planned.The 2022 3.0 CSL, 2024 Skytop, and 2025 Speedtop will remain the most exclusive BMWs for a while.The team in charge of small-series cars will do an M car one day.If you’ve been hoping to see another rare BMW in the mold of the Speedtop/Skytop, we have bad news. It’s not coming anytime soon. The man in charge of the M division revealed in an interview that although a new ultra-exclusive car could happen one day, Munich isn’t currently working on a rare, high-priced specialty…

Ferrari is allegedly planning to launch an Amalfi Spider convertible.   It might debut early next month.   It will have the same twin-turbocharged 3.9-liter V8 as the coupe.   Ferrari will allegedly reveal the Amalfi Spider convertible early next month. The Ferrari Amalfi coupe debuted last summer as a replacement for the Roma, which included a convertible Spider variant.   According to The Supercar Blog, the new convertible will debut in the first half of March. The new Amalfi convertible will have styling similar to the coupe, while featuring the automaker’s new brake-by-wire system.   Photo by: Ferrari The convertible will…

Victoria Police is urging motorists to take preventative measures and ensure their vehicles are locked – even when parked at home – after it arrested the alleged ringleaders of yet another car theft ring.Two men from Sunbury – who were on bail – were among four people accused of stealing more than 20 vehicles in an alleged operation targeting specific models including the Ford Ranger, Toyota HiLux and a “custom” Holden Caprice.According to Victoria Police, the thefts targeted specific vehicles parked in public places across Melbourne suburbs including Footscray, Gisborne, Thomastown, Port Melbourne and Tullamarine.Police allege the thieves employed the…

Article SummaryWe’ve already seen spy shots of an electric BMW X4, and an M version is likely not far behind.The standard BMW iX4 is expected to break cover later this year, followed by the hot M in 2027.The electric BMW X4 M could enter production in November 2027 alongside an electric X3 M.It’s only been a few months since BMW wrapped up production of the second-generation X4. As a refresher, we exclusively revealed the final “G02” rolled off the assembly line at the Spartanburg plant in November 2025. But the swoopy SUV is coming back sooner than you might think.…

Two separate recalls affect 642,698 2023-2025 Nissan Rogue SUVs.    Both recalls involve the model’s 1.5-liter three-cylinder VC Turbo engines.    Some of the vehicles were involved in a previous recall.    Nissan is recalling 642,986 Rogue SUVs for potential problems with the automaker’s 1.5-liter three-cylinder VC Turbo engine. The two recalls affect 2023-2025 models, some of which were fixed under a previous recall, while others are affected by both new ones.   One concerns the vehicle’s electronic throttle chamber (ETC) assembly. On certain models with faulty engine control module (ECM) software, a routine diagnostic test could cause the gear in…