Made in China: in this EV, cheap is not cheerful
Looking like a Japanese anime cat that’s had its eyes poked out, it’s easy to see where the savings have been made. Climb inside and something fishy is going on.
Motoring
The next big trend in car interiors
Designers are pushing into fascinating new territory in the drive to revolutionise vehicle manufacture, experimenting with some wild new materials.
Mercedes-Benz wins case against car dealers
The German car giant has won its protracted and brutal court case against some of its local car dealers, possibly opening the door to a move that could up-end the dealership model.
Car maker’s bold move in race to launch electric ute
Battery-powered utes are heading to Australia. See which ones will be here soon.
Why Ford is getting into the boat business
Ford has resorted to putting Ranger and Everest models into shipping containers as that allows for faster unloading in certain situations and at particular ports.
Why EV owners are heading for a crash
There is a growing divide between the number of electric cars on Australian roads, and the number of chargers keeping them going.
Surprise Aussies driving EVs and most popular models revealed
EV sales have increased five-fold this year as cheaper models have captured the attention of buyers. Watch our TV review, and see who’s driving the biggest sales and what they want.
All-electric Alfa Romeo will be about road-handling
Alfa Romeo, focusing on quality over quantity, is working hard on drivability as it maps out its future in the electric era.
EV car designs try to break the mould of the past
Designers have tried to differentiate the looks of electric cars from the petrol engine cars of the past, but there is a persistence in the way the age-old traits linger on.
Classic 1980s toy to drive you wild
The Wild One Max, battery-powered and weighing 500kg, is an adult-sized version of a toy car. With a top speed of 80km/h, it has just gone on sale in the UK.
Audi’s mid-size, luxury Q5 PHEV a shrewd move to challenge Tesla
Audi Australia is hoping its first plug-in hybrid will lure buyers to make the switch without committing to an all-electric vehicle.
Brisbane leads in electric car sales
Brisbane leads the way in EV sales, and NSW is the next biggest, with four of its local government areas ranked inside the top 10 for the country.
MG has a big surprise in the smallest of packages
If your experience of Chinese cars has been one of low expectations being met with some alacrity, the MG has a surprise: with an attractive price tag, it really shines in how it drives.
Green Lithium refinery ‘can cut carbon footprint by 80pc’
Lithium is a key part of current EV batteries and China currently refines most of the world’s lithium, but a new UK refinery will process the ore mined in Western Australia.
Charging station and phone an ‘ecosystem’ for hackers
Identifying the EV charger as a potential weak point, BlackBerry technology is embedded in electric cars to ensure they’re safe from hacking.
Audi’s apprentices develop a new ‘Prince’
Twelve apprentices from Audi’s automotive mechatronics, bodywork, vehicle construction and painting courses have transformed a 50-year-old classic into a modern electric car.
Everything old can be new again with EVs
Automobile designers are betting on inventing a future that does not harp on the past for the shape of battery-powered vehicles but there is little sense in creating a difference for its own sake.
Audi’s Q6 e-tron EV SUV makes car nerds see the lights
Audi’s the new generation Q6 e-tron EV SUV allows the driver to customise the light signature eight different ways via their multi-media interface.
Capturing the spirit of driving, one virtual gearbox at a time
Hyundai is among the electric carmakers keen to provide old-fashioned excitement. It recently revealed Ioniq 5 N, a high-performance version of its battery-powered SUV.
Breakthrough design for e-scooter safety
The Hilo promise is to develop ‘the world’s most intelligent e-scooter’ dedicated to ‘helping commuters navigate our cities safely and sustainably’.
Original URL: https://www.theaustralian.com.au/life/motoring/page/18