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Motoring

This Month

This is how far the Chinese car industry has come in 20 years

In 2005, the Asian giant’s car companies were making shameless copies of Daihatsu hatchbacks. Now, China is home to the largest motor industry the world has seen.

April

Donald Trump will back down on auto tariffs.

Trump to sign order granting some auto tariff relief, White House says

Officials confirmed a report that companies paying motor vehicle levies would no longer be charged other taxes, such as on aluminum and steel.

Is this Mini too big for its boots?

At 4.5 metres long, the new EV Countryman is a mini-monster. It made me smile every time I climbed in all the same.

Slate Auto’s base model lacks creature comforts such as power windows.

Jeff Bezos-backed start-up launches $30,000, US-made electric pickup

Slate Auto plans to debut its small, bare bones, two-seater truck for less than $US20,000 ($31,310) with federal subsidies.

The new Rolls-Royce Cullinan Series II has a dark side

The “alter ego” of the chrome-accented SUV is a brooding riff on the original.

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The Arctic lake where luxury EVs are put through their paces

We join Polestar CEO Michael Lohscheller on a series of heart-racing test drives in the frozen wilds of Swedish Lapland.

This electric Benz is better than any petrol-powered off-roader

With four motors and a powerful battery, the G580 leaves its internal-combustion counterparts in the dust.

Lamborghini not worried by super-quick Chinese EVs – yet

The supercar manufacturer is preparing to enter a low-emissions future, bringing its singular flair (and sky-high price tags) to the plug-in market.

Honda Accord hybrid versus Toyota Camry hybrid

Some hybrid cars thirstier than their petrol peers

Tests on Australian roads show some hybrid models use more fuel than standard vehicles.

PHEV or faff: is the new BMW M5 hybrid worth its weight?

After four decades and seven generations, the BMW icon has acquired an electric motor, adding to its speed, handling and critically, its heft.

Porsche’s new hybrid 911 is a car in a league of its own

On paper, the new electrified riff on the carmaker’s signature model could make purists wince, but the new GTS might just be the best 911 yet.

Jess Sier and Tony Davis on The Fin.

Has Elon Musk crashed Tesla out of the EV race?

This week on The Fin podcast, Jessica Sier and Tony Davis on Tesla’s challenges, the rise of BYD and whether a five-minute battery charge could be a game changer.

March

Mercedes-Benz’s new coupe is a big improvement on its predecessor

With more seats, more boot space and more power than previous models, the AMG GT 63 is worthy of its new flagship status.

After more than a decade, BMW has perfected the art of EV variants

Savvy, ambidextrous design tactics mean you can enjoy the look and feel of a several BMW models retooled to be electric, including the iX2 xDrive30.

Will BMW’s Neue Klasse range be the game-changing EVs they promise?

The German manufacturer has made multiple claims of wide-ranging improvements on its currently available electric models, but they won’t roll out on Australian streets until at least 2026.

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Polestar’s new SUV is a tech marvel – but is it worth the price tag?

This Swedish-designed, China-built EV is an impressive drive, but you’ll need deep pockets to experience it at its upgraded best.

McLaren driver Lando Norris (centre) has taken pole position, beating teammate Oscar Piastri (left) and Max Verstappen (right).

Piastri pipped to Aussie GP pole by teammate Norris

Australia’s Oscar Piastri is aiming to become the first Australian driver to stand on the podium in Melbourne, let alone win the race on Sunday.

New Zealander Liam Lawson at practice on Friday - he has the trickiest seat on the grid, lining up at Red Bull alongside Max Verstappen, who has won the past four driver’s championships.

Grand Prix hits new highs in survival countdown

Fans are flocking to Melbourne’s Albert Park for F1 practice sessions and the final qualifying round that will determine where each driver starts on Sunday.

Aston Martin Driver Lance Stroll with his new helmet presented by Tamas Szabo is the CEO of Pepperstone.

What it costs to get a company’s name on an F1 driver’s helmet

What are candlestick chart trading patterns doing on the headgear of F1 driver Lance Stroll? It’s just part of the big money sponsors are rushing to spend.

Juliana Blasi, head of exterior design, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars.

Meet the woman who designs Rolls-Royces

Juliane Blasi is the head of exterior design at Rolls-Royce, and in a fiercely male-dominated sector, is almost certainly the first woman to hold such a role.

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