Articles by Jake Williams

Subaru used the Geneva Motor Show overnight to reveal the Viziv Adrenaline concept car, which at first appears to preview a future XV, but that is not necessarily the case.The Viziv Adrenaline's chunky styling is a clear step beyond the current XV, featuring large wheel arches with black cladding, patterned LED front foglamps, front and rear skid plates and even two bonnet scoops.From the side, the Viziv Adrenaline uses a similar silhouette as the current XV with relatively short overhangs, which could be the biggest clue as to the brand’s intentions with the concept car.The rear of the Viziv Adrenaline uses the same foglamp pattern as the front, with small LED taillights and two rear spoilers that channel air away from the rear. It’s the first car to be designed under the brand’s new “BOLDER” design philosophy, which replaces the “Dynamic x Solid” look of previous Subaru products. Subaru Australia PR boss David Rowley told CarsGuide today that the Viziv Adrenaline concept could preview a number of products, though a more off-road focused XV may be most likely."Other than just showing new Subaru design, the Viziv Adrenaline concept points  more towards off-road ability than something like an XV WRX or STi" he said.This also sounds like it could be manifest as an XV version of the more off-road flavoured Forester Sport currently sold in the US, but that roofline also suggests it could be a coupe version of the Forester. We've seen a similar relationship before, between the Mazda CX-5 and CX-4 sold in China, but also the new Volkswagen T-Roc that's effectively a coupe version of the Tiguan. Whatever the case, here's hoping the production version looks closer to the concept than what we've seen with previous Viziv concepts. 

Mitsubishi has revealed the Engelberg Tourer concept car at the Geneva Motor Show overnight, which appears to preview the next generation Outlander - due within a few years - with its exterior style, interior design and plug-in hybrid drivetrain technology. Named after a ski resort in Switzerland, the Engelberg Tourer uses a twin motor plug-in hybrid drivetrain and all-wheel drive system, similar to the current Outlander PHEV.  The Engelberg Tourer concept uses bold and aggressive exterior styling that resembles the current Mitsubishi products. Using the brand’s latest grille design - taken from the latest Triton and ASX update - it’s obvious that the Engelberg Tourer’s front end would easily fit onto a production car without much change. The rear of Engelberg Tourer uses slim tailights that appear to widen the car, while it also features a large roof box that uses LED lighting mounted at the front. Like the exterior, the interior of the Engelberg Tourer appears to be 90 per cent production ready. Its layout uses a wide dashboard with a large multimedia screen in the centre. The driver’s gauges are digital, and the centre console features an off-road control dial, EV mode button and separate climate control screen. Also like some versions of the current Outlander, the Engelberg Tourer concept features a seven-seat layout, which is unlike the current five-seat only Outlander PHEV.Like the Outlander PHEV, the Engelberg can be charged and driven on purely-electric power, and once the batteries are depleted, a 2.4-litre petrol engine drives the car in tandem with the electric motors. The company claims that the Engelberg Tourer has an all-electric range of 70km - a 16km improvement on the current PHEV - and a total range of over 700km with a full fuel tank and a fully charged battery. While the exterior and interior of the Engelberg Tourer concept previews a new era of Mitsubishi design, the platform that it sits on is reportedly the first new platform used by the company in the new alliance with Nissan and Renault. Considering that the current Outlander's platform dates back to the mid noughties, it's about time it scored a new mechanical base.

In addition to releasing the IMQ Concept car that will preview the next generation of Qashqai SUV, Nissan has chosen the 2019 Geneva motor show to reveal that the brand’s e-Power hybrid models will be launched in Europe by 2022.Building on the European success of the Leaf electric car, e-Power will be among a suite of new technologies due to be launched in Euro-spec Nissan products within the next three years. Already featuring on some Japanese-spec Nissans, such as the Serena MPV and Note hatchback, e-Power hybrid technology uses a petrol-powered engine with a power generator, an inverter, a battery and an electric motor. Used to charge the high-output battery, the petrol engine always runs at an optimal speed, according to the company. Nissan says this leads to superior fuel efficiency and lower emissions than a traditional internal combustion engine, yet performance is said to be strong thanks to the electric motors in e-Power drivetrains. In the current Japanese-spec Note hatchback, a 40kW electric motor drives the front wheels and is assisted by a 1.5kWh battery pack and a 1.2-litre three-cylinder petrol engine. This drivetrain gives the Note e-Power a combined fuel consumption rating of 2.7L/100km in Japan. In the IMQ Concept car that’s debuting at the Geneva show, a 1.5-litre turbocharged engine is used in tandem with electric motors and an all-wheel drive system to produce 250kW of power and 700Nm of torque - significantly more than almost all current Nissan products. Nissan is yet to announce plans for e-Power sales locally, though with the introduction of more Toyota hybrid models such as the RAV4, hybrid products are almost an inevitability for Nissan Australia. The company said that by 2022, a third of its local sales volume will be at least partly electrified, seemingly confirming that products such as the Note e-Power and possibly hybrid SUVs such as the Qashqai and X-Trail will be sold in Australia. 

Skoda has revealed the Vision iV concept car at the 2019 Geneva Motor Show, which previews a new coupe SUV with an electric drivetrain that could make production in the next decade. Sitting on the Volkswagen Group’s MEB electric car platform and powered by two electric motors producing a combined 225kW of power, the Vision iV previews Skoda’s latest styling language, which is even more angular and sharp than before.Looking somewhat like the Lamborghini Urus in its dashing ‘Ultra Yellow’ colour, the Vision iV features large Matrix LED headlights with a central light bar piercing the grille. The grille itself is much larger than other Skoda models, and covers a lot of the front. The rear of the iV sees Skoda’s continued use of C-shaped tailights, while the silhouette strongly resembles the Tesla Model X and BMW X6.The flashiness of the design is everywhere, from touch-operated door panels that can be operated using a smartphone, to side mirrors that have been replaced by a camera to project side images to the cabin and even the cabin materials and design. Despite the design, Skoda says that the Vision iV hasn’t lost the practicality that the brand is known for, and offers many clever design touches and a 550-litre boot capacity.According to Skoda, the iV concept’s 83kWh lithium-ion battery will cover up to around 500km before being recharged, and can be topped up to 80 percent in just 30 minutes using higher-output charging stations. Using an all-wheel drive system and a 225kW electric motor, the Vision iV is capable of a 5.9 second 0-100km/h sprint.Skoda has fitted the Vision iV with level 3 autonomous driving technology, which allows the car to drive itself on highways. It also assesses the driver’s concentration levels and even heart rate to keep them alert.  Aside from it predicting the brand’s electric drivetrain future, the brand is yet to comment about whether the Vision iV concept car itself will reach production. If it does, expect it after 2022.

Nissan has revealed the IMQ Concept car at the 2019 Geneva motor show, which could hint at the next generation Qashqai compact SUV. Featuring a stylish, angular design, the IMQ Concept is handsome and aggressive. Sharp headlights feature proudly at the front, while the swooping roofline delivers a coupe-like profile. The rear of the IMQ Concept uses angular taillights, and a huge rear spoiler. Large 22-inch alloy wheels feature on the concept car, though will likely be toned down for the production version.The interior is as dramatic as the exterior, with a swooping dashboard, purely-digital driving displays and a large centre console that reaches into the rear seat.Measuring 840mm, the instrument panel screen is black like a smartphone when the car is switched off, but controls vehicle information and 'e-Power' status when the car is on. A smaller screen below powers the car’s navigation and multimedia system.Dimensionally, the IMQ Concept measures 4558mm long, 1560mm high and 1940mm wide. This makes the concept car 164mm longer, 134mm wider and 34mm shorter in height than the Qashqai. These dimensions are almost certain to change for the production version of the car; likely to be taller in height, and shorter in length for greater practicality. At the heart of the IMQ Concept is the next generation of the brand’s e-Power hybrid drivetrain, which uses a turbocharged 1.5-litre petrol engine combined with electric power to reportedly develop 250kW/700Nm. The power and torque is sent to the wheels via a multi-mode all-wheel drive system.The IMQ Concept also features the brand’s 'ProPilot' technology suite, which offers "enhanced autonomous driving capability." ProPilot already features on the current Qashqai in some markets, but is likely to be standard equipment on the future generation thanks to increased safety legislation in various parts of the world. 

The adoption of seven years' capped price servicing means that - along with the seven-year warranty and seven years' roadside assistance - SsangYong offers some of the best ownership credentials in the Australian new car market. 

Renault Australia has joined other local manufacturers such as Kia and SsangYong in offering a seven-year warranty with unlimited kilometre coverage on its Koleos SUV - albeit only until March 31st, 2019.

BMW Australia has announced local pricing and specifications for the BMW X7, which is the brand’s largest SUV to date and sits above the popular X5. Featuring what’s claimed to be seven adult-sized seats in a body that measures 229mm longer than the current X5 (5,151mm total), the X7 is a competitor to super large SUVs such as the Mercedes-Benz GLS, Lexus LX and Infiniti QX80. Measuring 2,000mm wide, 1,805mm wide, using a 3,105mm long wheelbase and a total boot capacity of 2,210-litres with all seats folded, the X7 is even larger than the GLS, which measures 5,120mm long. Two drivetrains, both diesel, will be available in Australia initially: the xDrive30d and M50d. Priced from $119,900 plus on-road costs, the entry X7 xDrive30d costs only $7,000 more than the equivalent X5. The X7 is priced similarly to its Mercedes rival, undercuts the Lexus’ starting point but sits above the Infiniti. The X7 xDrive30d uses the same 195kW/620Nm 3.0-litre turbo diesel engine and eight-speed automatic transmission drivetrain as the X5 xDrive30d. Like the X5, a petrol-powered xDrive40i may come later, as well as the turbocharged petrol V8 xDrive50i. The X7 xDrive30d is well equipped with 20-inch alloy wheels, air suspension, soft close doors, a panoramic glass sunroof, front sports seats with lumbar adjustment and heated leather upholstery, a 12.3-inch multimedia screen with a 12.3-inch digital driver’s display and head-up display, DAB+ digital radio, Apple CarPlay (but no Android Auto), inbuilt satellite navigation with live traffic reporting and an electric bootlid with kick-to-open functionality. A full suite of active safety systems is also standard on all X7 models, including high- and low-speed AEB, adaptive cruise control with stop and go functionality, lane departure warning with lane change assist, rear cross traffic alert with rear AEB, blind-spot monitoring and traffic sign recognition.Above the X7 xDrive30d sits the $169,900 X7 M50d, which uses a 294kW/760Nm quad-turbocharged six-cylinder engine for a 5.4 second 0-100km/h claim. The X7 M50d is the highest-spec X7 available worldwide, for now. The X7 M50d adds a number of standard features over the 30d, including 22-inch alloy wheels, the M Aerodynamics package, metallic paint, five-zone climate control, a harman/kardon sound system, BMW’s Laserlight headlights with adaptive high beam and M Sport brakes, M Sport differential and M Sport exhaust system.Naturally, option packages are available, including the M Sport package and Design Pure Excellence package for the X7 xDrive30d, which include larger alloy wheels, redesigned bumpers and luxury elements like unique upholstery and interior trims. 2019 BMW X7 pricing (plus on-road costs): X7 xDrive30d: $119,900X7 M50d: $169,900

The Federal Chamber for Automotive Industries (FCAI) has condemned the New South Wales Labor Party’s proposal to increase stamp duty for vehicles over $100,000, labelling the promise as a “tax on a tax.”If elected at the NSW election on March 23, NSW Labor plans to increase stamp duty on vehicles priced over $100,000 to 7.0 per cent of the purchase price - a significant hike to the cost of some vehicles. If Labor is elected, NSW would have the highest stamp duty in the country, above Queensland’s 6.0 per cent (above $100,000) and Western Australia’s 6.5 per cent (vehicles over $50,000).Cars priced above $150,000 would have their stamp duty increased further to 9.0 per cent in the move, and a similar 9.0 per cent levy would be placed on yachts worth more than $200,000, a duty of $7600 and then a rate of 12 per cent over a $300,000 purchase price.Currently, car buyers in NSW are subject to a 3.0 per cent stamp duty if the value of a car is below $45,000, and then another 2.0 per cent up to $100,000. All new car buyers in Australia are also subject to a federal Luxury Car Tax (LCT) of 33 per cent above $66,331, or $75,526 for what the government calls ‘green cars’, which are claimed to use less than 7.0L/100km. The stamp duty increase is projected to raise $240 million, with the funds claimed to assist in hiring 5500 extra nurses and midwives, though there’s no confirmation that the increase in stamp duty would pay for this as new car sales are currently in a downturn.Some industry analysts believe the new policy could lead to job losses thanks to the slowdown - and it could be worse if the proposed new stamp duty levy is applied. According to Tony Weber, the Chief Executive of the FCAI, the proposed stamp duty increase is ”a tax on a tax”."And worse - it's a tax on technology and safety, putting Australian consumers at a disadvantage when they are unable to access these important innovations,” said Mr Weber.Mr Weber also took the time to comment on the LCT, which still exists despite the fact it was developed as a protectionist measure for Australian automotive manufacturing - something that doesn't happen anymore."It has become redundant in the Australian automotive market and the time has come to cease the charade that this is a justifiable, sensible or even a necessary tax," Mr Weber said.

Volvo-owned electric car brand Polestar has revealed the second product in its portfolio, which - unsurprisingly - is called the Polestar 2. Unlike the sporty Polestar 1 plug-in hybrid coupe, the practical Polestar 2 is an all-electric liftback sedan to rival the Tesla Model 3.Featuring two electric motors with a combined output of 300kW of power and 660Nm of torque, the Polestar 2 uses a 78kWh battery pack and has a targeted range of around 500km from a charge. Polestar claims a 0-100km/h time of less than 5.0 seconds. In Europe the Polestar 2 will start at 40,000 euros (AUD $64,000), and is based on Volvo’s CMA platform which also underpins the XC40 small SUV. The car’s battery pack is integrated into the floor and, according to Polestar, contributes to its structural rigidity and improve its noise, vibration and harshness levels.A new interior design not yet seen from Volvo debuts in the Polestar 2, with an 11.0-inch touchscreen media system mounted onto the dashboard. The media system is now powered by Android, and will eventually replace the Census system in the Volvo range.Other features include Pixel LED headlights with adaptive high beam, a unique proximity welcome sequence, frameless side mirrors and a unique illuminated Polestar badge, which is reflected onto the car’s panoramic glass roof.Polestar will also offer an optional performance package that improves the car’s handling thanks to the inclusion of Ohlins dampers, Brembo brakes and unique 20-inch alloy wheels in combination with gold seat belts, brake calipers and valve caps.Production for the Polestar 2 begins in 2020 in China for both left- and right-hand drive markets, and initial launch markets include China, the US, Canada, Belgium, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and the UK - and Australia will come later.Volvo Cars Australia has confirmed to CarsGuide that the Polestar 2 will be coming to Australia, though local spokesperson Greg Bosnich informed us that timing and local specifications are yet to be decided.