Sommaire pour August 2023 de Wheels

I HATE MAKING predictions about the future of motoring. This is largely due to the fact that I’m useless at it, but also borne from the recognition that people only tend to remember the clangers. That hasn’t stopped more than a few Wheels writers from having a crack though. Back in December 1955, we had a stab at figuring out what innovations would feature on the cars of 1985. Given that the silicon chip had yet to be invented, the feature was impressive in its prescience and managed to predict mobile telephony, four-wheel drive, four-wheel steering, air conditioning, semi-autonomous driving, the use of interior plastics and even electrochromatic glass. We had another attempt in 1973 when we attempted to describe the road test of 2003, a period when we seemed to…

THE FUTURE look of Mercedes-Benz is decided in Carlsbad, California. Not some design studio buried in the guts of Sindel-fingen or Affalter-bach, but in a nondescript brick building at 2250 Rutherford Road. An industrial estate nearer San Diego than Los Angeles might seem an unlikely place for 22 permanent employees to shape the show cars, vehicle studies and mobility concepts of tomorrow, but Mercedes wanted Californian optimism and adventure to colour its creativity. One look at the latest-Vision One-Eleven would suggest that it works. The colour and the proportions are instantly recognisable. The staff at Carlsbad don’t call it an homage but a ‘progressive reinterpretation’ of the incredible C111 experimental prototypes of the 1960s and 1970s. Frankly, we don’t really care what they choose to call it if it has…

THERE’S A COUNTRY in Asia criss-crossed by trains that do 300km/h, with ornate temples, epic mountains and winding roads, and a thriving automotive industry pushing the limits of technology and manufacturing. It produces new sports cars with advanced powertrains and acceleration to rival Porsches and Ferraris – for a fraction of the price – while the culture itself is an ancient, intriguing blend of old and new. Sounds awfully like Japan, doesn’t it? But actually, I’m talking about China. I write this to you from a train doing 302km/h between Shanghai and Fuzhou, one that looks and feels very similar to Japan’s own Shinkansen bullet train. I’m here with MG and SAIC – China’s largest carmaker, owned by the government. Yes, that government. Trying to ignore the exceptionally prickly politics, it’s…

AFTER SEVERAL attempts at reviving Alfa Romeo’s global sales in recent years – namely via the new-generation Giulia sedan (2016) and the brand’s first-ever SUV, the Stelvio (2017) – that monumental task has now been handed to Alfa’s new premium small SUV, the Tonale. Intended to compete with the Audi Q3, BMW X1/X2, Mercedes-Benz GLA and Volvo XC40, the Tonale debuts in Australia with a single mild-hybrid turbo-petrol drivetrain in two front-wheel-drive variants – the Tonale Ti ($49,900 before on-road costs) and Tonale Veloce ($56,400 before on-road costs). Later in 2023, these will be joined by an all-wheel-drive plug-in hybrid version. Notable equipment highlights include adaptive matrix LED headlights with sequential indicators, full-width LED tail-lights, ‘telephone-dial’ alloy wheels (18s on Ti, 19s on Veloce), a 10.25-inch infotainment screen with navigation,…

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ALMOST 100 years on since Henry Ford first dabbled in flight and more than a century since Charles Rolls teamed up with Henry Royce to bolster the allies’ war efforts, automotive and aviation are once again climbing in bed together to make the sci-fi fantasy of ‘flying cars’ a reality. Okay, they’re not flying cars. Known as electric vertical takeoff and landing vehicles or eVTOLs (or drone taxis), these short-range electrified passenger crafts have been heating up within investment and innovation sectors to offer a climate-friendlier and quieter alternative to helicopters in the future. At last count, Toyota, Stellantis, Porsche, Mercedes-Benz and Suzuki have all thrown their proverbial hats in the ring to offer investment, development, manufacturing or design support and mobility intelligence to a number of emerging eVTOL start-ups…

WE’VE ONLY HAD four in 37 years. Porsche hypercars that is. Now there’s a fifth, the Mission X. Built to celebrate the company’s 75th birthday, and follow on from the Carrera GT and 918 Spyder, the Mission X has one overt goal: to become the fastest road legal car to ever lap the Nürburgring. It’ll need to beat the 6min 35.18sec mark of the Mercedes-AMG One and it’s method of doing so is using its electric power-train to generate better than one metric horsepower per kilogram. While Porsche has yet to disclose a target weight, informed speculation suggests that Porsche is aiming at the weight of a 911 – around 1500kg – which equates to a power output better than 1500PS, or over 1100kW in ‘proper’ metric. In order to achieve…

FROM ITS EARLY days as an independent car maker to a troubled life under British Leyland, then the tumultuous Rover-BMW era, the MG marque has survived… just. Most car lovers have a special place in their hearts for MG’s iconic sports cars – even if they were never as fast or sexy as the Italians, they were attainable and enjoyable (if a whisker unreliable). In 2005, the Rover Group collapsed, leading to MG’s fortunes changing, eventually ending up with SAIC’s buyout in 2010 and the brand’s first all-new car in 16 years, the MG 6. Various worthy but uninspiring models have been turned out since (MG 3, for example), but nothing to get the heart pumping. Not that MG didn’t have dull-as-dishwater cars under BL’s ownership – the badge-engineered MG Metro…

STIFFER, FASTER, MORE powerful and engineered to feel like an old-school, petrol-powered performance car: they’re the headlines for the first-ever EV produced by Hyundai N. Revealed at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N packs 478kW and can rocket from 0-100km/h in 3.4 seconds – putting it close to a Porsche Taycan Turbo for power and performance – yet Hyundai says numbers played only a small part in the design brief. The true goal was to create an EV that’s engaging enough to win over proper petrolheads. Take the N e-shift and N Active Sound features as key examples. N e-shift is designed to mimic the shift action of an eight-speed dual-clutch; it simulates the ‘jolt’ of gear shifts by cutting drive to the electric motors. The digital…

E-fuel requires no mining or burning of fossils to produce SO, E-FUEL; what is it, how’s it made, how much does it cost, can you actually buy it right now, and is it going to save the world? In the simplest terms e-fuel is petrol that’s made entirely from clean energy (in this case wind and water) that can be used in any internal combustion engine on the planet. It requires no mining or burning of fossils to produce but actively removes CO2 from the atmosphere during its manufacture, hence the reason Porsche refers to as a ‘virtually carbon neutral’ fuel. Which is nice. It’s made by splitting the hydrogen from oxygen that you get in plain old water (H2 O) using a machine called an electrolyser that’s powered entirely…

SINCE 2013, sales of small ‘C-segment’ SUVs have risen from around 75,000 to almost 200,000 last year as more models hit the market. The objective here is to compare eight of them, representing the sharpest and cleverest of the small SUV lot priced around $45K. The newest is the Hyundai Kona – here in $46,500 N-Line Premium guise – its spaceage exterior concealing a clever new interior that almost makes the Kona feel a size larger than it actually is. Taking on the Kona, in alphabetical order, we begin with its Korean cousin, the Kia Seltos. Our top-spec GT-Line AWD uses the same 146kW 1.6-litre turbo engine, and, at $44,900, it undercuts the Kona by a small, but still useful, margin. Next up, we have Mazda’s CX-30. At $45,310, our…

GETTING INTO THE Crosstrek – née XV – is like stepping back in Subaru-interior-time. The analogue dials look straight from a 2005 Impreza; while the same could be said for the steering wheel. While everybody else reinvents their interiors every generation, Subaru seems to take more of an evolutionary approach – and not necessarily in a good way. Fortunately, however, the Cross-trek drives very much like it’s from 2023. Forward visibility is breezy, the steering is fast and effortless and the ride quality is strangely superb. Superb comes to mind for its dynamics, too, showing off a handling fluidity unlike any car here. As a small SUV, however, it falls flat in a few areas. The boot, at just 291 litres, is so small you almost wonder what they did with…

SMALLER, CHEAPER, and less powerful than any other contender, finishing in third place is quite an achievement for the Skoda Kamiq, especially when you consider its recent price hike… Back in 2021, you could buy this exact Kamiq for $29,990 drivea-way. Now, just 18 months later, the very same SUV carries a $37,990 price tag. Ouch. Don’t confuse that with thinking the Kamiq is now poor value, however. In fact, in the context of this test, the exact opposite is true. Represented here as the entry-level Kamiq 85 TSI Style, the Skoda is the cheapest of our eight contenders by some margin once you factor in on-road costs, but it doesn’t feel like a budget offering. The level of standard equipment is high (18-inch alloys, digital instruments, wireless phone charging,…

YOU KNOW THE sword of Damocles? The mythical blade that dangles overhead, held aloft by a single horsehair, as a symbol of imminent doom? These days that sword looks more like the LED price board outside a petrol station, its glowing numerals forever threatening to slice through household budgets with little warning. The solution is obvious – the less fuel burned, the less exposed you are to fuel price volatility. EVs can eliminate that stress entirely, but at the cost of a new kind of stress: potential range anxiety. A regular hybrid, then, is a neat compromise, but while the mid-size SUV segment is flush with hybrid options these days, what of the size class below? We’ve got three petrol-electric small SUVs to compare. The Corolla Cross Hybrid is a…

FINDING the best budget SUV is about more than just its price. While that’s a good place to start, it’s about balancing a decent safety checklist with practical space, capable performance and an affordable automatic transmission. And if it happens to also drive well, then even better. Which brings us to the Hyundai Venue. It arrived here in late-2019 and immediately impressed us with its boxy Minecraft vibe and cool interior. And four years later, the base six-speed auto still only costs $24,000 (before on-road costs) – two grand more than the MY23 six-speed manual. Nice touches include wireless smartphone integration with wireless charging, a pair of USB-C ports for rear-seat passengers, lane-keep assist and auto high-beam. Otherwise the Venue is fairly basic in specification, right down to its small…

VOLKSWAGEN HAS FINALLY confirmed it will discontinue the Arteon large lift-back and wagon, as it focuses on maximizing profits in its electric transition. The German automaker’s low-volume flagship passenger model is in the firing line as it focuses on achieving a sales turnover of at least 6.5 percent by 2026 as part of its ‘Accelerate Forward’ strategy. This ends years of speculation clouding the Arteon’s future, alongside the related Passat, which is now only available in wagon and Alltrack form in Australia. The push includes simplifying the number of variants, reducing ‘red tape’, and optimising its two current key platforms – MQB and MEB. VW brand boss Thomas Schäfer said it will focus on a “small number of genuine” core models to “reduce complexity and deliver higher profits” – suggesting the…

USA 2022 SALES: 13,689,240 BANNED: Private light duty ICE YEAR: 2035 CANADA 2022 SALES: 1,524,379 BANNED: Private light duty ICE YEAR: 2035 UNITED KINGDOM 2022 SALES: 1,615,219 BANNED: Diesel + petrol YEAR: 2030 FRANCE 2022 SALES: 1,598,976 BANNED: ICE non-hybrid YEAR: 2035 MEXICO 2022 SALES: 1,089,736 BANNED: Diesel + petrol YEAR: 2040 SPAIN 2022 SALES: 814369 BANNED: Diesel + petrol YEAR: 2050 ITALY 2022 SALES: 1,317,104 BANNED: Diesel + petrol YEAR: 2035 GERMANY 2022 SALES: 2,651,574 BANNED: Diesel + petrol YEAR: 2030 TURKEY 2022 SALES: 827,147 BANNED: Diesel + petrol YEAR: 2050 INDIA 2022 SALES: 3,780,870 BANNED: Diesel + petrol YEAR: 2040 CHINA 2022 SALES: 23,563,247 BANNED: Diesel + petrol YEAR: 2035 AUSTRALIA 2022 SALES: 1,081,429 BANNED: N/A YEAR: No timeframe set SOUTH KOREA 2022 SALES: 1,672,256 BANNED: Diesel +…

IT’S HARD TO believe the first C111 was launched in 1969, a mere 12 years after the 300SL Gullwing ended production. They appear to be cars from different centuries. Untertürkheim was buried in blank cheques following the show car’s appearance at the ’69 Frankfurt Show but Mercedes had no aspirations for C111 series production. It was a mobile test bed, with a mid-mounted 206kW three-rotor Wankel engine and a plastic body. Variant II appeared at the 1970 Geneva Show sporting a 257kW four-rotor Wankel. Across the C111’s life-span, 12 cars were built, 11 powered by Wankel engines, and 1975 finale sporting a turbo-diesel. Two of the cars, one each from the first and second series, were temporarily equipped with eight-cylinder petrol engines for testing and comparison purposes. In June 1976,…

THE MAHINDRA XUV700 is an accomplished seven-seat SUV with a surprisingly composed ride quality, impressive feature list and spacious back seat – for a very sharp price. Built in India, the XUV700 aims to break Mahindra – the world’s largest tractor manufacturer – out of its current rural, agricultural image and into the passenger vehicle mainstream. Wheels recently drove it in Brisbane. The XUV700 is the second new SUV launched in Australia by Mahindra in recent times (following the Scorpio), with the Indian brand planning more – and to make itself an “SUV brand”. The XUV700 replaces the XUV500 launched in Australia 2012. With its almost elephant-tusk-like front Daytime Running Lamps (DRLs) and ‘arrow-head’ LED tail-lights, the XUV700 is also the first vehicle to use Mahindra’s modernised new logo, which…

ARGO AI LOOKED set to be the Big Auto’s autonomous showcase. Ford and Volkswagen had poured $3.6 billion between them into the company founded by the former heads of Google and Uber’s self-driving tech teams in 2016. In November of last year, Argo imploded. The Pittsburgh company has subsequently risen from the ashes as Latitude AI, a subsidiary of Ford employing 500 staff. In 2022, autonomous vehicle investments crashed by nearly 60 percent year on year. Li Yunfei, a spokesperson for Chinese giant BYD told CNBC that, “We think self-driving tech that’s fully separated from humans is very, very far away, and basically impossible.” That’s quite the statement. On the face of it, the prognosis seems grim. Media outlets seized on an accident where GM’s Cruise robotaxi operation in San…

I’M SITTING in one of the two microcars Australians can currently buy. If the Kia Picanto is not to your taste, there’s always the Fiat 500. It wasn’t always like that. Just seven years ago, your selection would also have encompassed the Chery J1, the Fiat Panda, the Holden Spark, the Mitsubishi Mirage, the Nissan Micra, the Smart fortwo, Suzukis Alto and Celerio and the Volkswagen Up alongside the two survivors that remain today. The market for tiny cars has been butchered. Within a decade, Australian sales of microcars have dropped from over 22,000 units per annum to little over 6000 last year, the Picanto accounting for the vast majority. This ought to be the sector that sees the biggest uptick from buyers clouted by successive cost of living increases,…

POLESTAR’S PRECEPT concept (pictured) is going to spawn the Sino-Swedish company’s fifth model in 2024. No points for guessing this new flagship will be called the Polestar 5. We’ve now seen official pictures of the 5’s production rear end, following an earlier reveal of a camouflaged version running up Goodwood’s hill in mid-’22. Polestar’s signature chiselled shoulder line and crisp LED lighting signatures match a subtly curved roof, swollen wheelarches and a muscular rear hipline for a sleeker, more dynamic appearance than the Polestar 2 sedan and 3 SUV. Polestar says the 5 will be constructed from a bespoke platform made from bonded aluminium, rather than a derivative of the Polestar 3’s modular SPA2 underpinnings. Favoured by Lotus, bonded aluminium is an extremely light and stiff solution to car-making, but not…

RENAULT’S original 4 (1961) was the company’s answer to Citroen’s 2CV. Coined a ‘blue jeans’ car by management, it sold eight million units (including derivatives) – a million of those in the first five years on sale. While you’ll see tartedup 2CVs driven around by enthusiasts and hipsters, the glammed-down Renault 4 still does duty as a farm vehicle and daily runabout in France. The Renault 4Ever Trophy concept nods to the Renault 4’s toughness (exemplified by continued competition in annual Moroccan desert crossings), but foreshadows a future production vehicle that’ll form a key part of the electric ‘Renaulution’. Renault design boss Gilles-Vidal says every piece of painted sheet-metal you see will make it to production. So while the roof rack, spare wheels and bonnet grab handles are the preserves…

WELCOME TO BEST SMALL SUVS 2023. As the first in a brand new Wheels Best series, we’re breaking down the vast compact-SUV market into 10 manageable, bite-sized sub-categories – delivering expert recommendations that will help consumers whatever their car-buying priorities. Buyers in this segment have never had more choice and the talent pool has never been deeper, but that doesn’t mean you can’t make a bad choice – whether you’re focused on value for money, practicality, performance, luxury, electrification, or just a specific budget. With small SUVs now reaching up towards six figures at the top end, believe us, you’re going to want to get these buying decisions right.…

IT MIGHT BE A TOUCH surprising to find the Kia Seltos as our last-place finisher. Long an easy SUV to recommend thanks to its high equipment levels, spacious cabin, large boot, and long 7-year warranty, Kia also treated the Seltos to a worthwhile update at the end of 2022, which added a fresh 1.6-litre turbo/eight-speed auto combo, standard rear air vents, and an improved safety suite. But while all of the Seltos’s core goodness remains – value and a richly equipped, roomy cabin are key attractions – it has since been leapfrogged by more polished rivals in a few key areas. You’re still getting a lot of SUV for your money, though. There’s plenty of space, too. The back seat is one of the roomiest in this group, and the 433L…

THE CX-30 IS AN extraordinarily balanced thing: for every strong virtue it has, there’s an equally strong demerit to balance it out. Accordingly, its position in the middle of the pack is deserved. Example: it handles fantastically well. Its steering and suspension egg keen drivers on, its atmo engine is zingy and responsive. Counteracting that is the fact it’s both relatively thirsty and firm-riding. Same too with the in-car experience. The seats are great, lovingly upholstered in our Astina-spec tester with perforated leather, while soft-touch surfaces feature throughout. The only problem is it’s also saddled with the smallest and most difficult-to-use infotainment screen, has the squeeziest back seat and the second-smallest boot. But nevertheless, the CX-30 Astina presents itself as a connoisseur’s small SUV. An understated Seiko versus the flashy G-Shocks…

ROOMIER, QUIETER, and now markedly better to drive, this second-generation Hyundai Kona is a huge improvement over the model it replaces. It’s also, if such a thing is possible, even funkier to look at. Tested here in Premium N-Line guise, this is as bold and as expensive as the new Kona gets until the electrified models arrive later this year. And it’s oozing with visual X-factor. More cohesive to look at, yet just as busy as the first-gen Kona, much of our test car’s visual punch is down to the N-Line pack (standard on 1.6T AWD models but a $3000-$4000 option on other variants) which adds larger 19-inch wheels, chrome exhaust tips, a twin-element rear wing, and body-coloured cladding. The result is a small SUV that, in this company, feels…

IT SEEMS only yesterday that Volvo’s XC40 took out the title as the Wheels Car of the Year but, believe it or not, it’s been four years, and a number of small SUVs have come to the premium-segment party since. Despite the time, the smallest-Volvo is still holding up well. The range is yet to get a significant update for the original variants, but a few interesting electrified versions have joined as-Volvo promised at the start, and the model remains a strong contender in the field. But is it strong enough? Last year, the third generation of BMW’s X1 arrived with some serious technology to contend with, along with proportions that have grown up but engines that have downsized. The new version is quite a different proposition to previous generations…

IS THERE A shortage of good-quality, affordable electric small SUVs in Australia? A quick glance at the available options would suggest so. Despite the fact Australia now has its foot firmly on the accelerator when it comes to electric vehicles, there are only two electric small SUVs currently available under $50,000 – the MG ZS EV and the BYD Atto 3 – with the pick of that pair being the Atto 3. It instantly made waves with its value for money, and comes in two versions: the Standard ($48,011 before on-road costs) offering a 50kWh battery and 345km of range, while for $3K more, the Extended brings a 60kWh battery and 420km range. Both models are front-wheel drive, produce an identical 150kW/310Nm and carry the same high level of standard equipment:…

WHEN THE automobile was in its infancy, it wasn’t uncommon for engineers to explore the possibilities of what was then a relatively new power source – electricity – to propel what was then a completely new form of transportation. But the lure of fossil fuels was inescapable. The discovery of vast quantities of (inexpensive) oil quickly re-focused our thinking towards combustion engined vehicles. And even progressively futuristic forms of public transportation (such as Sydney’s electrified ‘trolley’ buses from 1934-59) were ultimately made redundant by the seemingly endless supply of affordable fuel. As cities sprawled and car-based commutes became common, so too did the byproduct of all this energy combustion – air pollution. The thick, brown layer of smog blanketing virtually any large city during morning peak hour was literally enough…

DUE Q3 MERCEDES-AMG SL 63 4MATIC+ The new SL is, according to Mercedes-AMG, a “return to its roots”, which rings true in terms of a soft top replacing the previous model’s folding hardtop, but is less accurate in other key areas. For instance, this is the first SL to feature all-wheel drive, deemed prudent to best harness the ferocious punch of the 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8, here making 430kW and 800Nm. DUE Q4 SKODA ENYAQ An 18-month waiting list in Europe is partly to blame for the delay on Skoda’s first EV destined for Oz, with the large-SUV Enyaq now likely to arrive here in mid-2024. We’ll be offered both body styles – regular SUV and ‘coupe’ – in entry-level rear-drive form, as well as a fully loaded dual-motor RS variant…

WITHOUT A SHADOW of a doubt, Shane van Gisbergen is the name on the lips – and contact lists – of America’s motorsport doyens, thanks to an inch-perfect performance at last month’s first-ever NASCAR street race in Chicago, Illinois. With a couple of hours’ experience aboard a new-generation NASCAR, the 34-year-old New Zealander topped practice, qualified third and won going away on a treacherous mix of damp tarmac lined with unforgiving concrete walls, before setting the socials on fire across the world with one hell of a victory burnout. What’s more, he did it with Trackhouse Racing’s Team 91, a satellite operation that will run just three of 36 NASCAR events in 2023. Once the champagne dried, the questions started; will the Kiwi head to NASCAR in 2024? “I’m doing one…

THE Ariya electric SUV is a pivotal vehicle for Nissan. Not only because it will entera segment where demand is currently outstripping supply but also because it spearheads the next phase in the future of the brand. The company calls it the ‘Ambition 30’ strategy, which will see Nissan accelerate its development program to introduce 23 electrified vehicles – including 15 BEVs – by 2030. Ariya is the big brother of the EV-pioneering Nissan Leaf. It’s built on the CMF-EV platform, which also underpins the Renault E-Tech. However the Nissan is a much bigger car, measuring in at 4595mm long (+396mm), 1850mm wide (+67mm) and 1655mm tall (+150mm.) The three-model range opens with an front-wheel-drive variant powered by a 63kWh battery and single 160kW/300Nm motor claiming a WLTP range of…

PEUGEOT’S RENAISSANCE continues with a crossover unlike any other. Its maker calls it a ‘dynamic fastback’ – we call it a curious mash-up between the world of sedans and SUVs. A car that’s in danger of alienating both markets but which, with a pinch of bravery from its buyers, might unexpectedly unite them. It serves the chunky, rugged look most family buyers are going gaga for while actually sitting around 150mm lower – little higher than a 308 hatch or wagon, in fact – while offering a traditional hatchback boot of generous proportions. We’re delighted it exists, that Peugeot has such design swagger and is feeling so emboldened right now. You can at least partially thank its parent company Stell-antis and its vast platform- and power-train-sharing philosophy. The lower cost…

THE HOLY GRAIL for EV battery manufacturers was always the ability to bring a battery to market at US$100 per kWh. At this point, we were informed, building an EV would cost a car manufacturer less than building an ICE vehicle. Achieving that seems to have been two years away for the last six years and, as of 2022 according to the US Department of Energy, the pricetag per kWh stood at $153. Some context is key. Between 2008 and 2022 that cost dropped by 89 percent yet the curve has flattened in recent years. In order to compare apples with apples, that price only applies to lithium-ion batteries produced on a scale of at least 100,000 per year. But, as we highlight here, Li-ion isn’t the only game in…

DURING A TIME of mass cultural upheaval just over half a century ago, General Motors and Boeing changed the course of their brands through a partnership with NASA that led to the development of the first Lunar Rovers. The move would help fast-track technology back home, inspire billions of people around the world and position GM as an optimistic automotive leader in the centre of it all. That was until we stopped going there. The last crewed mission to the Moon was Apollo 17 in 1972 but now a new race is underway, to not only explore the uncharted 95 percent but to build a base for permanent human habitation. And this time, several countries are tossing their space helmets in the ring, and with that, several car companies have…

THERE HAS never been a more exciting time to be a car enthusiast. Why? Well, consider this. There has never been a Golden Age of Motoring, largely because every generation just gets better and better. Affordable hot hatches offer the performance of super-cars a generation or two back. Everyday family transport delivers more luxury and feature-richness than a limo from the same era. We genuinely have never had it so good. Of course, there’s a significant contingent of motorists who don’t welcome an electrified future. Likewise, many see the rise of the Chinese car industry and the political entanglements therein with suspicion. While autonomy can’t come soon enough for some, it’s viewed by others as the beginning of the end for the keen driver. There are definitely obstacles to overcome…

AQUAD-MOTOR, crab-walking, Mars-explorer-looking pick-up truck produced by a company run by a man living on reality’s edge. If the Cybertruck does go on sale in the United States next year without any major production issues, then we’ll tip our hats to Franz von Holzhausen’s design. While Tesla’s construction method is crucial to the Cybertruck’s look – the stainless steel sheetmetal forming a bold wedge shape – it’s also been the major cause of delays. Rather than stamping and cutting steel or aluminium, Cybertruck’s body panels need to be folded. We’re promised the Cybertruck will hit 97km/h from rest in under 3.0 seconds. It’ll also be able to lug a 6350kg load and, with a target price of US$69,900 (A$105,000) for the tri-motor, it’ll be competitive with Ford’s F-150 Lightning. The…

FOREVER ICONIC, THE Volkswagen Kombi stands for many things; the most memorable being ’60s surf/hippie culture that the electric ID.Buzz hopes to rekindle. Expect to see them both plying the commercial trade and racked up with surfboards down the coast. The Volkswagen ID.Buzz has had a long gestation though – it took 50 years from Volkswagen first publicly showing a 21.6kWh T2 Elektro prototype in 1972. Its battery weighed 880kg and took it about 85km, with interchangeable cells that took only five minutes to swap out, rather than charging slowly. In 2022, the ID.Buzz (although not strictly a transporter) finally answered the prayers of eco-conscious vanners, though Aussies will be waiting until 2025 to join the EV counter culture. Surfers and sparkies alike will delight in both the spacious, square load…

IN ISOLATION, the Qashqai ST-L is a likeable thing. Sure, there’s no choice of all-wheel drive and a hybrid powertrain has still yet to join the local line-up, but its sharp design, high-quality interior and perky 1.3L turbo engine make it a compelling choice in the product-saturated small SUV segment. Unfortunately, it fails to excel in this crowd. Consistently low performance across the various assessment criteria sees it relegated to seventh-place overall, its high servicing costs in particular (at $2916 over 5 years) putting it well behind the rest of the group. It was also judged second-last for dynamics and comfort: its pointy front end offers real driver engagement factor, but ride quality on the big 19-inch wheels doesn’t provide the suppleness required for daily-driver duty. Poor under-thigh support for…

IF THE HYBRID Toyota Corolla Cross was a person, it would know the best deals in town. It would shop at Aldi and tell you why Telstra is a scam. It would ring its electricity provider for sharper rates – fortnightly, at least – and firmly prod the “no tip” button at restaurants, as if making a point. Its claimed 4.3L/100km makes it easily the most efficient here. Even in our testing, 6.02L/100km is mighty impressive having been subjected to three motoring journalists on a winding road. As well as frugal, it’s supremely easy to drive. The only hybrid on test, it stalks car parks silently, like a panther, using only its 83kW electric motor, which also makes its low speed driveability buttery smooth – like an EV. Visibly is…

NAILING THE fundamentals; that’s the reason the Volkswagen T-Roc 110 TSI Style wins this test. Impressively premium and polished for an affordable small SUV, the T-Roc forgoes flashy electronic bells and whistles and instead focuses on the core ingredients of “what makes a great car”. Take its suspension, for example. Road-holding, dynamics and driver satisfaction are key (you’re reading Wheels, after all), but ride comfort is paramount in the SUV segment, too. The T-Roc nails both. Supple when it needs to be, despite lower profile rubber than other cars in this test, the T-Roc’s expertly judged ride also delivers fluid handling that makes it properly engaging on a twisty road. The spicy T-Roc R might be the real ‘driver’s choice’ of the T-Roc family, but there’s still plenty of dynamic…

THROWING A soccer ball between a Spaniard and a German is like tossing a mouse between two cats. Whatever they’re doing, they’ll stop, and fiercely engage in some sort of instinctive chase. The scorecard reveals as much. Their record is almost inseparable. In 26 international-level football matches since 1935, Germany has won nine, Spain has won eight and there have been nine draws. Thing is, Germany hasn’t put one over on the Spaniards for almost a decade now and Germany is a nation that’s surely considered putting a soccer ball on its national flag. It’s the same on four wheels. Remember when a baby-faced F. Alonso put an early end to the retirement trophy collecting hobby of a certain M. Schumacher? Spain is now attempting to do the same in…