Goodyear has launched a rugged new version of its Wrangler Duratrac tyres… off-road enthusiasts take note.

Born from humble beginnings supplying tyres to bicycles and carriages, American tyre manufacturer Goodyear recently celebrated its 125th anniversary.

As part of an anniversary event in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Drive was invited to sample some of the brand’s latest tyre releases.

RELATED: How much should a set of new tyres cost?

These included ElectricDrive, designed specifically for electric vehicles, Assurance Maxguard for passenger SUVs, Eagle F1 Asymmetric 6s for sports cars, and – arguably the most important for our rugged country – the new Wrangler Duratrac RTs.

So, how did the Wrangler Duratrac RTs fare during our brief testing? And are they worth buying over regular tyres? Read on to find out.

What are Goodyear Wrangler Duratrac RT tyres?

The Duratrac RTs are the latest release from Goodyear’s Wrangler off-road tyre sub-range, with RT standing for ‘Rugged Terrain’.

Whereas the regular Duratrac tyres are designed to balance off-road use with on-road performance, the Goodyear Wrangler Duratrac RTs lean more heavily towards off-road use, with a 70 off-road, 30 on-road percentage split.

They utilise a three-ply construction for enhanced durability and a lower likelihood of getting a flat while off-road, plus the tyre face features more biting edges and solid tread blocks.

The deep tread also extends over the tyre’s shoulder and onto the tyre’s sidewall for enhanced grip and better rim protection. Goodyear says the tyre boasts a 10 per cent improvement in both wet and dry handling conditions.

For better or worse, tyre looks also play an important role for off-road enthusiasts, and these rugged-terrain tyres certainly play the chunky, rugged part convincingly.

Where are Goodyear Wrangler Duratrac RT tyres made?

Goodyear as a company is based in Akron, Ohio, in the United States, though the multinational company has tyre manufacturing facilities all around the globe.

Goodyear off-road tyres sold in the Asia-Pacific region are manufactured in Indonesia, Japan, and Malaysia.

How much are Goodyear Wrangler Duratrac RT tyres?

The Goodyear Wrangler Duratrac RT tyre is already available in Australia and has a price range between $397 and $607 at Beaurepaires outlets.

The tyre’s price is determined by its size, and other retail outlets offer alternative pricing, so it’s always worth shopping around to find the best price on a set.

Are Goodyear Wrangler Duratrac RT tyres any good?

Drive was provided an opportunity to sample the new Wrangler Duratrac RTs on a short, purpose-designed off-road course.

Fitted to a Toyota Fortuner, the tyres felt supremely suited to scrabbly gravel mounds and embankments. There were no instances in which the tyres exhibited undue slip or traction loss.

Though our time with the tyre was limited, the Duratrac RTs felt robust and grippy through uphill climbs and short descents.

The additional shoulder tread provides a little extra grip for when the tyre’s contact patch doesn’t have purchase on the ground below.

We weren’t able to drive the tyres on sealed bitumen, but knobbly, blocky tread patterns are often louder than their passenger-tyre counterparts, so be wary of that if you’re regularly tackling on-road stints as well as off-roading.

The post Are Goodyear Wrangler Duratrac tyres any good? appeared first on Drive.

The next-generation Suzuki Swift has been teased online ahead of a formal unveiling at this month’s Tokyo motor show – and showroom arrivals next year.

The successor to one of Australia’s favourite city cars – the Suzuki Swift – has been teased online ahead of this month’s Tokyo motor show.

Limited information is available however overseas reports claim the three engine choices in today’s Suzuki Swift – a 1.0-litre turbo, a 1.4-litre turbo and a 1.2-litre non-turbo – could be replaced by a new super-efficient petrol hybrid option.

A ‘Hybrid’ badge appears to be fitted to the tailgate of the vehicle – which is marketed as a concept, but looks ready for showrooms.

In its media release Suzuki says: “A shift from tangible consumption to experiential consumption” and a “high-efficiency engine strikes a balance between driving performance and fuel efficiency.”

Other limited information released so far: Suzuki has highlighted improvements to the Swift’s advanced safety systems including a new twin lens autonomous emergency braking system and auto-dipping high beam technology, and driver attention/fatigue monitoring.

Inside there appears to be a larger touchscreen – now mounted on top of the dashboard – as well as analogue instruments with a small digital screen, automatic air conditioning, and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity.

The Suzuki Swift is expected in Australian showrooms some time next year, though this is yet to be confirmed. Pricing and features of the 2024 Suzuki Swift will be released closer to local arrivals.

Suzuki also teased its upcoming electric SUV – the eVX (pictured below) – which data shows will be bigger than the Suzuki Vitara.

The company also provided a preview of the cool box-shaped city cars it will debut at the Tokyo motor show.

The post 2024 Suzuki Swift teased ahead of Tokyo motor show appeared first on Drive.

The first of four electric concept cars has been unveiled in digital form by Nissan, with all vehicles set to make their physical debut at the Tokyo motor show later this month.

The Nissan Hyper Urban has been revealed, being the first of a series of new concept cars from the Japanese brand.

Nissan says the Hyper Urban concept showcases the company’s “future design and technological capabilities” of its forthcoming electric vehicles, featuring vehicle-to-home (V2H) and vehicle-to-grid (V2G) charging capabilities.

The charging technology allows the vehicle to power both homes and the electricity grid during peak demand, and being charged during periods of low demand – all while being controlled via artificial intelligence (AI).

Despite the stylised digital images providing little context for size, Nissan says the Hyper Urban has been created for urban and suburban professionals who value environmental sustainability – suggesting it’s a smaller SUV for the city.

With the Hyper Urban the first in the series of concepts, Drive can exclusively reveal Nissan’s other concepts will be named the Hyper Adventure, Hyper Tourer, and Hyper Force.

While no details have been provided at this early stage, the names suggest the concepts could be an off-roader, a comfortable family car, and possibly some kind of sports car.

“Each concept is represented by a symbolic character and has custom-tailored features that add value to unique lifestyles and diverse aspirations,” the company said in a written statement.

The launch of the Hyper Urban was accompanied by a dedicated mini website, with four Japanese cartoon characters being unveiled alongside the concepts, embodying the cars’ characteristics.

The electric vehicles will debut in digital form in the lead-up to the Tokyo motor show later this month, where the concepts will be shown in person to attendees.

The post Nissan unveils the first of four electric ‘hyper’ concept cars appeared first on Drive.

Polestar’s range-topping crossover has changed the least in the MY24 update, while also proving more isn’t necessarily better.

2024 Polestar 2 Long Range Dual Motor with Performance Pack

The Polestar 2 arrived just over a year ago to instant acclaim. While the brand was already familiar to Australians as Volvo’s performance brand, it reinvented itself to be Volvo’s electric brand. Just before Volvo decided that it was an electric brand too. Or would be soon enough?

Anyway, now a year later, the mid-sizer has already had a pretty decent technical update, with better efficiency, mild styling tweaks and, in the case of the two-wheel-drive cars, a shift to rear-wheel drive – something that seemed like a no-brainer a year ago.

At the top of the Polestar 2 range is the rocketship Polestar 2 Long Range Dual Motor with Performance Pack, a 350kW dragster with the same demure sheet metal as the rest of the range, with just the gold brake calipers peeking out from behind its big wheels. What you gain in performance you lose in driving range, so let’s see if it’s just a show pony or something worth considering.

How much does the Polestar 2 cost in Australia?

There are two dual-motor Polestar 2s, one known as the Long Range for $76,400 (a $3000 increase on the MY23) and the Long Range with Performance Pack now retailing for $85,400 (up by $2400).

Starting with the base spec, you get 19-inch alloys, full LED headlights, a 12.3-inch digital dashboard, dual-zone climate control, wireless phone charging, keyless entry and start, heated front seats, powered front seats with memory, auto wipers, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Automotive on the 11.2-inch portrait screen.

Our Snow White car was fully loaded. The Performance Pack – as the name suggests – is a $9000 pack but is included in the drive-away price.

To this was added the Pilot Pack with the very useful Matrix LED headlights. The Plus Pack was also along for the ride with the efficient heat pump heating, a fixed panoramic sunroof (with no cover, annoyingly), and a few convenience features as well as an amusing air quality app. Well, amusing when Sydney is covered in choking smoke from a hazard reduction burning.

The Plus Pack also gives access to the very lovely Zinc nappa leather seats with ventilation, which Polestar says has been animal welfare traced. I personally prefer the vegan interior that comes in the package, but the light ash trim is a nice bonus.

And the Performance Pack adds those lovely forged 20-inch alloys with the gold brake calipers (gripping bigger brakes front and rear), gold valve caps and gold seatbelts. On paper, the gold sounds pretty obnoxious, but it really isn’t. It’s more of an orange with yellow notes that I found quite appealing, especially on the seatbelts.

You also get a 40kW power boost to a whopping 350kW, which is approaching 500bhp in the old money.

Since its launch, Polestar says it has reduced its carbon footprint by switching to low-carbon wheels and aluminium for the battery tray, a factory in China powered by renewables, and improvements in the nickel-manganese-cobalt battery chemistry.

How much space does the Polestar 2 have inside?

The first thing to know about the Polestar 2 is that it has a snug back seat. Not tiny or unaccommodating, it’s just that once you’re in, you’re in.

Leg room for me at 180cm is fine behind my driving position, but you’re aware of being a little hemmed in by the side header rail being quite close to your head, the small size of the window, the high beltline, and the heavy transmission tunnel. That last thing is a hangover of its ICE/hybrid/EV platform roots, and something the Polestar 3 won’t have.

The back seat is probably the only real ‘might have a stop and think about this’ moment of the car if your kids or regular passengers are taller than 150cm or have limited mobility as getting in can be a tricky thing. The seat itself is comfortable and supportive, and you have an armrest with cupholders, rear air vents and two USB-C ports.

Up front, you have a wireless charging pad, two USB-C ports, an open cupholder and a second hidden under the armrest. As with the rear, the bottle holders are rubber-lined for low noise but they’re on the smaller side, maxing out at about a 750ml bottle size.

The seats are very comfortable, particularly the optional nappa leather, which doesn’t get hot even with the coverless sunroof wide open to the sun the whole time.

Does the Polestar 2 have Apple CarPlay and Android Auto?

The Polestar 2’s portrait-oriented 11.2-inch touchscreen has seen a healthy software update to improve the appearance, performance and utility of Android Automotive. The screen layout itself looks a heck of a lot better and is much more responsive to your fingertips. I’d like to see more standard apps, though, and a more engaging interface. It took me a while to gel with it, but it’s better than before.

You get FM and DAB+ digital radio, all of which are easy to navigate and use. Built-in apps include YouTube, Spotify, TuneIn, Waze and EasyPark. Apple CarPlay wasn’t available for the initial cars but arrived as part of an over-the-air update last year and is now standard. It looks great on the screen as it fills the space and one imagines Android Auto does the same. Connectivity is via USB-C.

You can also sign in to the car with your Google account (e.g. your YouTube account), and you can also sign in to Spotify directly in the car rather than via your phone. If you have an Android phone, you’ll have more integration options than you do with iOS devices, but it’s nothing like a deal-breaker as the built-in software is largely phone agnostic.

A 12.3-inch digital instrument display provides crucial driving and vehicle info as well.

Is the Polestar 2 a safe car?

The Polestar 2 scored a five-star ANCAP safety rating in 2021. At the car’s launch, the fur flew a little bit as some advanced safety features were part of an expensive option pack that made life difficult for you if you wanted to land in some states’ incentive schemes. Polestar Australia quickly rectified that with a small price rise to include extra standard features.

It scored well in all areas, with 92 per cent for adult occupant protection, 87 per cent for child occupant protection, 80 per cent for vulnerable road users, and 82 per cent for safety assist systems.

What safety technology does the Polestar 2 have?

Standard across the range are eight airbags, ABS, stability and traction controls, blind-spot monitoring, forward AEB, lane-keep assist, rear cross-traffic alert, rear AEB, traffic sign mitigation, road-departure mitigation and post-impact braking. A lot of this stuff wasn’t in the original MY23 cars, and their addition to the basic spec is very welcome even if it has been added to the price. It seems to be better value than the $5000 pack.

The Pilot Pack adds adaptive cruise control, lane-centring assist and emergency stop assist.

Polestar 2’s forward AEB has vehicle, cyclist and pedestrian detection, and the new grille-less nose hosts what the company calls a SmartZone, which is a camera and upgraded mid-range radar.

There are two ISOFIX and three top-tether child seat restraints. The safety systems all behaved themselves in my time with the car.

How much does the Polestar 2 cost to maintain?

The Polestar 2 comes with a five-year/unlimited-kilometre vehicle warranty and an eight-year/160,000km battery warranty. The latter covers you for abnormal battery degradation, which Polestar says is up to 30 per cent.

Servicing is free for the first five years or 100,000km, which is mighty generous. Polestar says you only need to go in every couple of years because the number of moving parts is just 0.25 per cent of a petrol or diesel car’s. I personally think two years without someone looking over your car is too long, but then again, I’m old-fashioned like that.

Software updates arrive over the air, and most owners I’ve spoken to said that all went very smoothly with just one or two glitches that were swiftly solved.

Volvo offers the same five-year free servicing deal. Tesla doesn’t quote servicing because who knows what you’ll be paying.

Annual insurance came out at a slightly surprising $2957 per year based on a comparative quote for a 35-year-old male driver living in Chatswood, NSW. Insurance estimates may vary based on your location, driving history, and personal circumstances.

Is the Polestar 2 energy-efficient?

The driving range is up due to bigger batteries but also a range of improvements to the driveline. Polestar says you use as little as 17.2kWh per 100 kilometres on the combined cycle (WLTP), which might be a stretch, but not because I only recorded 21.4kWh/100km.

That figure was down to some, er, enthusiastic driving that understandably drained the battery. If you stick to driving like a normal person and not seeking as many corners to fire out of, you’ll easily get under 20kWh/100km.

Before shenanigans ensued, the car was cheerfully delivering 19.5kWh/100km. While it’s not Tesla Model 3 efficient, it’s an improvement on the previous car, eking out another 40 or 50km per charge. Maximum regen under braking is 100kW.

I charged it once on a 50kW charger and it held 50kW for the entire top-up from 46 per cent to 85 per cent.

The Polestar battery is an 82kWh, 400-volt lithium-ion battery from CATL (the standard range uses a 69kWh LG Chem pack) with nickel-manganese-cobalt chemistry.

Energy Consumption – brought to you by bp

What is the Polestar 2 like to drive?

The first thing you’ll notice about this car is that it’s quite firm. The two-wheel-drive cars have a more compliant ride, but the Performance Pack Öhlins dampers have been set somewhere in the middle of the range so you will feel lumps and bumps.

For me, that’s not a problem. I like cars to be reasonably firm as long as they deliver on handling. And this thing really does, up to a point. Being a crossover, it sits higher than a sedan but not quite as high as an SUV. A kind of trick to fool SUV buyers that they are, in fact, getting an SUV.

Body roll is kept well in check in the corners, and Polestar is one of the few brands to crack the code on how to make an EV ride properly without resorting to air suspension.

It will eventually understeer, which is no bad thing, and the electronics sort out any hamfistedness without embarrassing you in front of any passengers.

The acceleration is quite vivid, which would be quite terrifying if a lot of work hadn’t gone into ensuring the two motors spoke to each other on a regular basis. The big tyres bite the road as long as you’re not too brutal on the throttle pedal out of corners, but in a straight line you’ll win just about every go-for-the-gap battle.

Firing out of corners is a trick you’ll want to try time and again, even more than demonstrating the very brisk standing start (0–100km/h in a claimed 4.2 seconds, if you’re interested).

With the Performance Pack comes bigger brakes and four-pot Brembo calipers to haul you back from the big numbers you’ll see on the dash if you’re imprudent with the accelerator. As before, the transition from regen braking to physical braking is smooth and according to the paperwork it happens at 0.3g of braking effort. The regen is pretty serious business across both motors, so it’s best to have it off when travelling at higher speeds because a lift-off is the accelerator version of a steering sneeze.

Steering is well weighted if not especially communicative, but you know enough about what’s going on underneath when you fancy a bit of fun. Torque steer seems largely absent, and that in itself is an achievement given the amount of power pouring through the front axle.

You do get a bit of road noise from the Continental tyres, but the trade-off is impressive grip and no scrabbling when you plant the boot.

It’s probably in the city where the Performance Pack makes less sense, unless you’ve got a hoist at home and the ability to faff about with the dampers yourself. And then take notes as to whether that’s the setting you want. Broken tarmac adds a lumpy but controlled ride to the tyre noise, just as you might find in a tightly sprung hatchback.

Most of the time, it’s very composed and reasonably quiet in there. But it had me thinking: the 19s of the single motor and the promise of front wheels whose duties are restricted to steering might produce a more pleasing experience more of the time. Just a bit slower.

The shorter range of the dual motor is less of an issue around town, and even less again if you have access to charge at home, with fast charging really only restricted to longer trips. The in-built Google Maps software is smart enough to work out if you’ll need to charge and will mostly steer you in the right direction to get a charge.

It sent me to the local Bunnings, but predictably it was occupied where the map app said it wasn’t, and it didn’t offer me the one 600m away in a servo. A bit more finesse there will calm the range-anxiety-ridden mind, but that’s more Google’s fault than Polestar’s.

Should I buy a Polestar 2?

For a while, I was genuinely on the fence with the Dual Motor with Performance Pack. I’m not sure it’s worth having the Öhlins shocks, but then again I haven’t adjusted them for obvious reasons. It’s undeniably fast, though, which a lot of people are keen on, myself included.

It’s a very appealing car, but I couldn’t help wondering if the rear-wheel-drive Long Range might be money better spent for most buyers. Given the choice, I’d take the Dual Motor and live with the shorter range, but I’m not most buyers.

The Single Motor Long Range is probably the best overall value, because it might be slower but has a good 200km of range over the Dual Motor, is rear-wheel drive, and even if you just use it in the city, it’s more convenient because of that longer range. It’ll save you many thousands. As lovely as this car was, I’d skip everything but the Pilot Pack, and even then it’s just for the headlights.

If you want to look further afield, there’s the Tesla Model 3 or Y Performance, but against the Polestar 2 they can really only offer more space, the Y more than the 3. They’re not as well equipped, the brakes aren’t upgraded, and in my eyes the Y is not a particularly attractive car. Volvo’s C40 is basically the same car, based on Volvo and Geely’s CMA platform, but you can’t specify it the same way and it’s not as quick.

How do I buy a Polestar 2 – next steps?

If you want this MY24 model with more power, mild visual tweaks and, of course, the bragging rights of having a MY24, the Polestar website says you’ll get this particular model in January 2024, even with all the options. A number of Polestar buyers in my social media feeds report getting cars earlier than expected, so you can probably consider that a worst case.

You can specify a new car on the Polestar website at home or use the exact same website at a Polestar Space. Polestar doesn’t do dealerships as such, the staff are just there to talk you through things. There’s also no haggling but they can organise a test drive, so if like me you’re not sure about the Dual Motor’s range, drive both types.

If you’re looking for the absolute sweet spot of the range, it’s probably the Long Range Single Motor for just over $65,000 before options. It’s still pretty quick at 6.2 seconds to 100km/h but has a claimed WLTP range of up to 655km on a single charge.

Keeping the dutiable value under $68,750 also qualifies you for the NSW incentive scheme, which wraps up in January 2024 with just a third of the value of the scheme exhausted at the end of August 2023. Victoria’s is dead and you have to think that Queensland and the ACT will follow.

If you need a Polestar 2 now, you can also check through the website what’s in stock for immediate delivery and in the next few weeks, all of which are MY23 cars.

As you buy these cars via the website, you can organise your own finance or use Polestar’s. Either way, you can drop a $1000 refundable deposit to secure your slot.

You may also find Polestars for sale here at Drive.com.au/cars-for-sale or find a Polestar Space here. If you want to stay updated with everything that’s happened to this car since our review, you’ll find all the latest news here.

The post 2024 Polestar 2 Dual Motor Performance Pack review appeared first on Drive.

Porsche has come up with an unorthodox plan to stop buyers from on-selling limited-edition models for a quick dollar soon after they take delivery.

German car-maker Porsche has adopted a new technique to stop ‘scalpers’ selling its high-demand, limited-edition models for a quick profit in the US – by preventing them from ‘owning’ the car for the first 12 months.

US publication The Drive reports US buyers of the new special-edition Porsche 911 S/T will only officially take ownership of their supercars after 12 months have passed – with the car-maker leasing the vehicle to them for the first year.

Unveiled in August, the Porsche 911 S/T is powered by the 4.0-litre naturally-aspirated, horizontally-opposed (or ‘flat’) six-cylinder engine from the GT3 RS – but it is mated to a six-speed manual transmission, and goes without the latter’s wild aerodynamics.

According to Frank Moser – the head of the Porsche 911 and 718 model lines – the lease program was implemented after receiving unprecedented demand for the 911 S/T, which is limited to 1963 examples globally.

“When the 911 S/T was announced, we received unprecedented interest in the car, far outnumbering the number destined for the US,” Mr Moser told a media roundtable at Porsche’s ‘Rennsport Reunion’ in California. 

“We want to ensure that cars are available to reach true enthusiasts, to be driven and enjoyed for years to come. For this reason, those allocated a 911 S/T in the US will be required to adhere to an agreed minimum retention period, set at one year.

“In practice, this will mean that cars in the US will initially be leased for this period, before ownership is transferred. This process is currently unique to the 911 S/T.”

In recent years, car-makers have taken drastic measures to try and prevent people from ‘flipping’ their sought-after new vehicles for more money than the list price.

In August 2022, General Motors claimed it would void the warranty on Chevrolet Corvette Z06 supercars sold within 12 months from new – while also offering owners who held on to their supercars for more than a year with incentives worth up to $US5000 ($AU7200).

It’s also not the first time demand for a low-volume 911 has caused headaches for Porsche.

When the limited-run 991-generation Porsche 911 R launched in 2016 – based on the GT3 RS, but without a rear wing, air-conditioning or sound system – the used-car market was flooded with examples being listed for significantly more than their original price.

This drew the ire of Porsche’s head of GT cars, Andreas Preuninger, who blasted buyers that had seemingly only purchased the special edition model to make a profit.

To counteract the demand for the 911 R, Porsche launched the 992-generation GT3 Touring in 2021 – based on the GT3, but again without a wing – which The Drive reports resulted in reduced prices for second-hand 911 Rs.

Despite Porsche’s efforts to ensure the 911 S/T is only bought by owners who are genuinely interested in driving it, The Drive believes the one-year lease will simply delay the influx of examples on the used-car market – unless the car-maker once again launches another variant with higher demand.

A “limited allocation” of Porsche 911 S/Ts are due in Australian showrooms from mid-2024, each with a $660,500 plus on-road costs price tag – making it the most expensive Porsche ever sold locally.

The post Porsche invents new way to stop ‘supercar scalpers’ appeared first on Drive.

Almost 800 pint-sized Suzuki Jimny off-roaders gathered in South Africa for a unique world record attempt.

A vast gathering of Suzuki Jimny pint-sized four-wheel-drives has shattered an obscure world record. 

Almost 800 examples simultaneously turned on their headlights at a festival in South Africa on 4 September 2023. 

Representatives for Guinness World Records were in attendance. The body has not yet listed the attempt online, but Suzuki claims the record was verified.

This is not just simply a record attempt but a way to pay homage to a community that has become so close-knit and passionate,” a statement from organisers said. 

“Jimny drivers everywhere flash their lights at each other in a greeting affectionately known as The Jimny Wave.

“The Jimny Gathering aims to celebrate the spirit of the iconic Suzuki Jimny and bring its owners together for a weekend filled with fun, off-roading, and camaraderie.”

It’s unclear if the record has been held previously. No similar attempt is listed in Guinness archives.

In a sombre turn, local media reported a participating couple were later found dead inside a tent at the three-day event near Clarens. Police are investigating. 

The pint-sized Suzuki Jimny has become among the most sought-after off-roaders worldwide. Demand in Australia has been so high in recent years that used examples often sell for more than new.

And orders for three-door automatic variants have been paused by Suzuki Australia until the company clears the backlog. Last month a batch of 500 examples sold out in less than five hours.

A five-door variant of the Suzuki Jimny is due to arrive in Australia between January and March next year and will be sold alongside the three-door. 

More than 1500 pre-orders for the Suzuki Jimny five-door have already been placed, according to Suzuki Australia.

The post Suzuki Jimny shatters bizarre world record appeared first on Drive.

New equipment – including key advanced safety technology that was previously deleted – has been added to a number of Skoda cars and SUVs in Australia, for a price.

Prices of six of seven Skoda model ranges sold in Australia have increased by between $500 and $1900 with the return of blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert – and the inclusion of other new standard features.

Announced in July, all Skoda vehicles locally will once again be fitted with these two safety features, returning as standard to all versions of the Kamiq small SUV, Karoq mid-size SUV, Kodiaq large SUV, Scala small hatch and Octavia mid-size car for vehicles arriving this month.

The technology was deleted 18 months ago due to semiconductor shortages, before returning progressively as a $1250 optional extra late last year.

Alongside the safety systems, Skoda Australia has re-introduced other features previously unavailable due to chip shortages – and made other features formerly optional, or exclusive to higher model grades standard equipment.

The specification upgrades apply to vehicles arriving in showrooms now – with some changing over to ‘Model Year 2024’ (MY24) in the process – with prices $500 (Scala) to $1900 (Kodiaq RS) higher than before.

Some models – the Superb liftback and wagon – have received price rises without any additional equipment, while the Kamiq Style small SUV is the same price as before despite adding new features.

The Australian division of the Volkswagen-owned Czech car maker has also announced plans for a cheaper, entry-level version of the Kamiq small SUV to be announced “imminent[ly]”, with a lower price but the “same level of active safety technology as the Style 85TSI.”

The changes to the Skoda Australia range are as follows:

• Fabia Monte Carlo Edition 150 – $38,990
  • No new features.
• Scala Ambition – $33,990 (up $500)
  • New features: Blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert
• Scala Signature – $42,490 (up $500)
  • New features: Power tailgate, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert
• Octavia Style liftback – $42,490 (up $1500)
  • New features: Automatic parking, power child locks, auto-dimming driver’s side mirror, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert
  • New option pack: Tech and Style Pack, $5200 (combines all contents of previous Tech Pack and Style Pack except head-up display and adaptive suspension, price lowered by $2200)
• Octavia Style wagon – $43,990 (up $1500)
  • New features: Automatic parking, power child locks, auto-dimming driver’s side mirror, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert
  • New option pack: Tech and Style Pack (details above)
• Octavia RS liftback – $56,990 (up $1000)
  • New features: Automatic parking, power child locks
  • Canton premium stereo added to Premium Pack ($6600, up $1200 vs 2023 model)
• Octavia RS wagon – $58,490 (up $1000)
  • New features: Automatic parking, power child locks
  • Canton premium stereo added to Premium Pack ($6600, up $1200 vs 2023 model)
• Superb Sportline liftback – $69,990 (up $1000)
  • No new features.
• Superb Sportline wagon – $71,990 (up $1000)
  • No new features.
• Kamiq Style – $37,990 (no change)
  • New features: Power tailgate, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert
• Kamiq Monte Carlo – $43,490 (up $1000)
  • New features: Blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert
  • Skoda premium stereo returns to optional Travel Pack ($3900, up $400)
• Kamiq Signature – $44,990 (up $1500)
  • New features: Blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert
• Karoq Style – $45,490 (up $1500)
  • New features: Lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert
  • New option pack: Leather Seats Pack, $4700 (includes leather upholstery in black or ivory, power-adjustable front seats, auto-folding side mirrors, ambient interior lighting, LED reading lights, interior footwell lights)
  • Tech Pack price lowered by $200 (now $5700), no changes to inclusions
• Karoq Sportline – $52,490 (up $1500)
  • New features: Lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert
  • Premium Pack price lowered by $200 (now $5700), no changes to inclusions
• Kodiaq Style – $56,490 (up $1500)
  • New features: Auto-dimming side mirrors, power child locks, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert
  • Canton premium audio added to Tech Pack (now $3000, up $800)
• Kodiaq Sportline – $59,990 (up $1500)
  • New features: Auto-dimming side mirrors, power child locks, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert
  • Canton premium audio added to Tech Pack (now $2900, up $800)
• Kodiaq RS – $76,890 (up $1900)
  • New features: Canton premium sound system, auto-dimming side mirrors, power child locks, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert

2024 Skoda Australia price list (from October 2023 arrivals)

• Fabia Monte Carlo Edition 150 – $38,990
• Scala Ambition – $33,990 (up $500)
• Scala Signature – $42,490 (up $500)
• Octavia Style liftback – $42,490 (up $1500)
• Octavia Style wagon – $43,990 (up $1500)
• Octavia RS liftback – $56,990 (up $1000)
• Octavia RS wagon – $58,490 (up $1000)
• Superb Sportline liftback – $69,990 (up $1000)
• Superb Sportline wagon – $71,990 (up $1000)
• Kamiq Style – $37,990 (no change)
• Kamiq Monte Carlo – $43,490 (up $1000)
• Kamiq Signature – $44,990 (up $1500)
• Karoq Style – $45,490 (up $1500)
• Karoq Sportline – $52,490 (up $1500)
• Kodiaq Style – $56,490 (up $1500)
• Kodiaq Sportline – $59,990 (up $1500)
• Kodiaq RS – $76,890 (up $1900)

All prices listed above are drive-away.

The post Skoda Australia prices rise with new equipment, return of key safety technology appeared first on Drive.

What could form the basis of a 30th birthday present to the Subaru WRX in Australia has been teased, a special edition with new wheels, upgraded brakes and Recaro sports seats for the US.

UPDATE, 3 October 2023: Subaru USA has published a new teaser image for the 2024 Subaru WRX TR, showing its Recaro sports front seats.

Recaro front seats are available in the current WRX line-up, but they are available in the CVT automatic-only tS flagship model (sold in the US as the GT) – and not available with a manual transmission.

Our original story continues unchanged below. The 2024 Subaru WRX TR is due to be unveiled on October 7, US time.

29 September 2023: A “sharper and more enthusiast-focused” special edition of the 2024 Subaru WRX is due to be unveiled next weekend, known as the TR, for the US market.

The TR name – short for “Tuner Ready” – was last used on a WRX in 2006 to denote a stripped-out special edition with fewer luxury features and a lower price, intended for buyers planning to upgrade the car with ‘aftermarket’ parts.

However the new WRX TR may not be as sparsely equipped, if a teaser image published by Subaru – showing unique, possibly larger alloy wheels, and upgraded Brembo brakes with red calipers – is a guide.

And it is unclear if it will come to Australia, as the vehicle – due to be unveiled on October 7, US time – has only been teased for the US market so far.

Spy photographers captured the TR edition testing earlier this year, with the wheels and brakes in the teaser – though no other visible changes compared to the standard WRX.

It remains to be seen if there will be any Subaru Tecnica International branding on the car to help fill the hole left by the WRX STI performance flagship, after plans for a new model based on the latest WRX were suddenly scrapped last year.

Also unclear is if there will be any more power from the 2.4-litre turbocharged four-cylinder ‘boxer’ petrol engine, which in the standard car in Australia and the US produces 202kW and 350Nm.

The regular WRX is available with a six-speed manual or continuously-variable automatic transmission, though the TR’s “enthusiast-focused” billing suggests it may be manual-only.

Next year is the 30th anniversary of the Subaru WRX in Australia, which was released here in 1994 – though it didn’t arrive in the US until 2001.

Subaru Australia boss Blair Read told Drive earlier this year: “We don’t comment on future model plans but next year is 30 years of WRX and … you’d want bring something good to the party.”

When asked about the types of upgrades a WRX 30th anniversary edition could bring, Mr Read said: “There are a few good enhancements at work. This will do justice to the WRX nameplate.”

The post 2024 Subaru WRX TR special edition to be unveiled next month – UPDATE appeared first on Drive.

Website eBay could be hit with billions of dollars in fines if a US court finds the online marketplace knowingly allowed its users to sell emissions defeat devices for cars.

The US Department of Justice has filed a lawsuit against eBay, claiming the online marketplace sold – or facilitated the sale – of more than 340,000 emissions defeat devices which allow cars to produce potentially toxic amounts of harmful materials.

In a media statement, the Department of Justice (DOJ) said it filed the complaint against eBay in a Brooklyn, New York court on behalf of the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

According to the DOJ and EPA, more than 343,000 emissions defeat devices which fall foul of the country’s Clean Air Act (CAA) have been sold, offered for sale or had sales facilitated by eBay.

The lawsuit claims these devices “significantly increase pollution emissions – including carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, particulate matter and nonmethane hydrocarbons – that harm public health and impede efforts by the EPA […] to plan for and attain air quality standards”.

Following the allegations, eBay responded to the lawsuit with a media statement on its website, saying “The Government’s actions are entirely unprecedented and eBay intends to vigorously defend itself”. 

According to news agency Reuters, companies face fines of up to $US5580 ($AU8750) for each violation of the Clean Air Act – which could result in eBay being penalised billions of dollars.

Such a precedent has previously been set by Volkswagen’s highly-publicised ‘Dieselgate’ emissions defeat scandal.

In 2015, it was found certain diesel-powered Volkswagen, Audi, Skoda and Porsche models built since 2009 were knowingly fitted with engine software which had been designed to cheat emissions tests.

While the cars produced passable emissions during testing, in the real world their emissions levels would be significantly higher and borderline toxic.

Since 2015, it is estimated the Volkswagen Group has paid more than $US33.3 billion ($AU52 billion) in fines, buy-backs and compensation relating to Dieselgate.

This included a $125 million penalty in Australia for the 57,000 vehicles sold locally with the deceptive software.

The post US Government sues eBay for selling vehicle emissions defeat devices appeared first on Drive.

A successor to Volkswagen’s top-selling R performance model in Australia so far this year is said to be on the way. Here’s what it could look like.

The Volkswagen Tiguan R – a mid-size family SUV with power, grip and differentials from the Golf R – is set to be renewed for a second generation following the success of the first model.

Introduced in Australia in 2022 – as part of the regular Tiguan’s mid-life facelift – the Tiguan R is the company’s best-selling performance model locally so far this year (with 1414 sales reported to the end of August), thanks in part to stronger stock levels in recent months.

As reported by Drive‘s European Correspondent Greg Kable in recent weeks, Volkswagen officials in Germany have indicated a second-generation Tiguan R is planned, using a revised version of the current model’s mechanicals.

It may become the last new Volkswagen R model with petrol power, before the performance division moves to electric power across its line-up by the end of the decade.

The next Golf – and by extension the Golf R – will be electric, and there will not be another Arteon (or Arteon R). While there will be another petrol-powered T-Roc – due in 2026 – it is unclear if it will offer an R version given it would have just four years to run.

Drive commissioned digital artist Theottle to create these illustrations of the next Tiguan R, based on the new, third-generation Tiguan R-Line unveiled last month.

As per the current model, the R is distinguished from the R-Line by more aggressive front and rear bumpers, larger wheels and brakes (with blue calipers), black and silver exterior highlights, a lower ride height, and R’s signature quad exhaust outlets.

Drive has reported power in the next Tiguan R is expected to come from an evolution of the current model’s 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine, which develops 235kW and 400Nm in Australian models.

It is good for a 0-100km/h acceleration time of 5.1 seconds – or 4.9sec in Europe where a more potent 235kW/420Nm tune is offered.

The current Tiguan R benefits from the Golf R’s trick torque-vectoring rear differential, which can send all of the torque to the rear axle – which is a maximum of 50 per cent of the engine’s total output – to either wheel to aid traction out of corners.

Arrival timing for the new Volkswagen Tiguan R is yet to be confirmed, however R versions of new VW models typically arrive one to two years after the standard versions.

The latest Golf R was unveiled a year after the regular Golf, the T-Roc R arrived 18 months after its standard sibling, and the Touareg R plug-in hybrid launched with a gap of two years.

The outgoing Tiguan R is an exception as it debuted with the second-generation Tiguan’s mid-life facelift in 2020, rather than the pre-update model in 2016.

The post 2025 Volkswagen Tiguan R imagined ahead of showroom arrival appeared first on Drive.