Articles by Jake Williams

Volkswagen has added a new Style grade to the 2019 Polo range, which is priced from $24,990 plus on-road costs. Sitting atop the regular Polo range - albeit below the GTI but above the Comfortline - the Style occupies the positioning of the former Polo Beats. Adding more standard equipment to the Comfortline model, the Style is only available with the same 85kW/200Nm 1.0-litre turbocharged three-cylinder petrol engine mated to a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. Fuel consumption is rated at 4.9L/100km on the combined cycle. The Style adds dual-zone climate control, inbuilt satellite navigation through the same 8.0-inch screen as the Comfortline, digital instruments with an inbuilt map, wireless phone charging, a 300W Beats audio system, tinted tailights, privacy glass and 16-inch alloy wheels over the Comfortline.  This is on top of the Comfortline's automatic headlights and wipers, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, an auto-dimming rear view mirror, AEB with pedestrian detection, a leather steering wheel, four USB ports, a reversing camera, cruise control, driver fatigue monitoring and heated mirrors.Two options are available for the Polo Style: $700 metallic paint, and a $1500 Driver Assist Pack that includes blind-spot monitoring (BSM) with rear cross-traffic alert (RCTA), automated parking, adaptive cruise control, auto-folding mirrors and a predictive occupant protection system. 

Future BMW interiors are to change dramatically for the autonomous era, according to Australian BMW designer Calvin Luk.Speaking with CarsGuide at the launch of the company’s new $65 million flagship Sydney dealership, Luk said that the car interior as we know it will change in the future as autonomous cars change the automotive landscape and the needs of consumers. “Right now we have typically a two-row set up with front and rear seats and passengers in between the wheels and a trunk and an engine at the front. What happens in the future then - do we have two trunks, an engine bay, or is it all brought into the interior?” said Luk.The current presence of huge screens could also change in future BMW products as the company focusses on the overall experience and not just the multimedia system.“It’s about the whole experience at the end of the day and not about what screen you’re looking at. There are experiences on your phone or computer screen. Being a car, it’s going to be about the whole travel experience even before you’re looking at the interior screen.”But while interior screens are likely to change with their functions, the rest of the interior is also likely to change as we move away from actually controlling a car.“If we don’t have to have such a reliance on interior screens, what do we do with the interior space? Would people prefer to have screens or a lot of space? In an autonomous world, what are people doing - are they looking at their phones, the car’s screen and are they integrated?”Luk also suggested that while self-driving ability of future BMWs will render the idea of a 'driver' potentially useless, they won’t lose their luxurious feel. “But then what’s the experience on the outside - so many people are drawn to BMW because of emotion, status, achievements, luxury, etc. That will not change because there's no 'driver’.”BMW Australia rcently celebrated the opening of its redeveloped BMW Sydney dealership in Rushcutters Bay in Sydney's east, which reportedly cost $65 million to build and features over 10 electric car charging stations, 46 service bays and 90-minute service options. 

BMW has watered down prospects of a Z4 coupe for the new generation, which has just launched in soft-top convertible form.When asked about a future Z4 coupe, BMW designer Calvin Luk told CarsGuide that he was “not sure” if the company would make one for this generation.“I personally have always been a roadster person. I’m not sure why but perhaps it’s what I saw a lot in terms of the Z heritage all the way back to the 1930s race car . I love the roadster because I can feel everything. It feels like you’re flying almost. It’s really exciting to me, as opposed to being insulated.”Contrary to what you might expect, the platform-sharing new Toyota Supra could actually be what rules out a coupe Z4, despite the Japanese cousin being a coupe itself. CarsGuide understands that a key element of differentiating between the two products was to split the bodystyles between the two. “The wheelbase, the dimensions, the size were set by BMW. BMW engineered the platform and we also designed the Z4 in tune with the classic roadster theme that goes with the Z car heritage.” “While I can’t comment on how Toyota designed their version of the car, we designed it to be a roadster with the classic roadster dimensions from the start.”The Z4 went on sale in Australia this month with three available variants priced between $84,900 and $124,900 plus on-road costs.BMW previously made a Z4 coupe from 2006 until 2008, and the later generation of Z4 was only available with a folding hardtop convertible roof. Before the Z4, BMW also built a Z3 coupe that Australia saw in limited form as the M Coupe. 

BMW’s iconic ‘twin kidney’ grille will change in the future as the brand moves towards electric vehicles.Likely to follow the 2018 iNext concept - which took its inspiration from the 1936 328 roadster - the corporate grille will reportedly take on a longer and slimmer form as the removal of engines from future BMW products removes the need to have frontal cooling ducts.Speaking at the launch of the brand’s new flagship BMW Sydney showroom, BMW designer Calvin Luk told CarsGuide that the 'double kidney' grille will change in time for fully-electric cars going on sale. "What I think we will see in the future is what we have seen on the BMW 100 Years show car where the proportions change and we don’t have such a traditional hood."Why introduce such a large grille design to replace the traditionally small BMW double kidney grille? It’s all about status, according to Mr. Luk. “What’s behind the grille’s size is to give the car more presence and to also show status in the high-end segment that BMWs compete in.”While the company is aware of the controversy surround the grille design, it’s definitely here to stay, and will be implemented on future BMW products.“I think with any sort of new face it takes time to adjust to it, but I think definitely it’s an important thing to show the confidence of the vehicle especially in this high-end segment” said Mr. Luk. The enlarged BMW grille has been slowly spreading through the range, and reached sizing some might consider offensive with the introduction of the X7 SUV and facelifted 7 Series sedan. 

Audi Australia has recalled 753 examples of the A3 sedan from both the 2018 and 2019 model years. The recall is due to the locking pin of the rear centre seat missing, which could result in the rear centre headrest detaching and possibly injuring passengers as a result. Audi will contact owners of affected vehicles and vehicles affected by the recall can be booked at any Audi dealership, where the issue will be fixed free of charge.Concerned owners can call 1800 50 AUDI (2834) toll free to find out more about the recall. Affected VIN numbers can be found here.

MG Motor Australia has added a new Excite Plus variant to its ZS small SUV range, which is now on sale from $22,990 drive away. Sitting in the middle of the newly-expanded ZS range, the Excite Plus adds the 82kW/160Nm 1.0-litre turbocharged three-cylinder petrol engine and six-speed automatic transmission from the upper-spec Essence to the entry level Excite for $2,000 more than the base model.This is on top of the Excite’s lengthy equipment list, which includes automatic headlights, 17-inch alloy wheels, an 8.0-inch multimedia system with Apple CarPlay and a reversing camera, rear parking sensors, cruise control and a leather steering wheel.The top spec Essence is still $26,990 drive away, and has added inbuilt satellite navigation to its standard equipment list. The ZS Essence also adds a panoramic sunroof and keyless entry to the Excite Plus’ standard equipment list.Despite the new model addition to the ZS range, equipment such as auto emergency braking (AEB), blind-spot monitoring, lane departure warning and rear cross-traffic alert - features available on competitors such as the Mazda CX-3 and Toyota C-HR - remain unavailable. 

The first all-electric Mini Cooper S E has been spied undisguised ahead of its debut later in 2019. Tipped to use the same drivetrain (albeit front-drive) as the BMW i3s, the Cooper S E is expected to use a 44.2kWh 120 Ah battery pack which feeds an electric motor rated at 135kW of power and 270Nm of torque. This places it not far off the outputs of the petrol 2.0-litre turbo petrol Cooper S. We expect a similar range to the i3s of around 280km from a charge. Visually, there aren’t many clues to differentiate the Cooper S E from regular Cooper S models - the mirrors are a slightly different shape, the wheels are different, but the dead giveaway is the lime green grille treatment and the green ‘E’ logo that also features on the sides and rear. Otherwise, all the classic Mini cues are there - the circular lights, central bonnet scoop (albeit, fake) and LED Union Jack tailights all feature. Mini Australia is yet to confirm the Cooper S E for Australia, but considering the recent arrival of the Countryman PHEV and other electric BMW Group products, a local introduction could happen as soon as 2020. 

BMW has revealed a facelifted version of its X1 small SUV, due to go on sale in Australia in the fourth quarter of 2019. Following on from the recent launch of the new-generation 1 Series small car, the updated X1 is packed with subtle styling changes, new tech including a plug-in hybrid variant, and a lightly revised interior.The grille now resembles other recent BMW arrivals with a newly-joined centre, as well as revised headlights and L-shaped tail-lights that align more closely with the larger X3 and X5 SUVs. The front and rear bumpers have also been updated for a more modern look.Inside, the new X1 is all about subtle refinements - there’s a larger central multimedia screen in either 8.8- or 10.25-inch sizes, though it still uses the brand’s older iDrive 6 system, rather than the more recent OS 7.0. There are also new materials, as well as refreshed interior colour schemes and a colour head-up display will be available optionally. It’s not yet known if BMW has upgraded the X1’s active safety credentials, which currently lack features such as full AEB (forward or reverse), blind-spot monitoring, lane departure warning and rear cross traffic alert. The brand has also launched the xDrive25e plug-in hybrid variant of the X1, which uses the same 1.5-litre turbocharged three-cylinder engine and electric motor as the Mini Countryman PHEV. It’s capable of driving around 50km on electric-only power using a 9.7kWh lithium-ion battery pack.The X1’s drivetrains are otherwise unchanged, with the same sDrive18d, sDrive18d, sDrive20i and xDrive25i models retained.BMW Australia is yet to comment on the xDrive25e’s local sales prospects, but considering how many other plug-in hybrids BMW offers locally, the X1 PHEV stands a solid chance. European X1 buyers are also offered low-end sDrive16d and high-end xDrive25d variants. BMW Australia has confirmed the facelifted X1 will go on sale locally in the fourth quarter of 2019, with pricing and specs to be announced before then. 

Skoda has continued to tease its apprentice-built Mountiaq ute ahead of a global reveal next month.Based on the Kodiaq SUV but with a very different exterior style, including just two doors and a large rear tray, the Mountiaq is painted in a new ‘Sunset Orange’ paint finish. Skoda will fit the Mountiaq with many off-road accessories including a bull bar at the front, backlit grille bars, an LED light bar on the roof and 17-inch wheels with huge off-road tyres to further enhance the car’s stance. The Mountiaq is the sixth car Skoda has let its apprentices create after the Sunroq (a Karoq convertible) in 2018, the Element in 2017 that was based on an electric Citigo, the Atero in 2016 (a Rapid-based coupe), the Funstar (a Fabia pick up truck) in 2015 and the Citijet (a Citigo convertible) in 2014.Skoda is yet to reveal pictures of the interior, though it says it will be covered in black and orange leather upholstery. Under the bonnet is the same 132kW 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine as the regular Kodiaq. So far, the Mountiaq has taken more than 2000 hours to create.

The forthcoming SkyActiv-X engine in the new generation Mazda3 is to command a significant premium over regular models if just-released Japanese Domestic Market (JDM) pricing is to follow through to Australia. Arriving in Japanese dealerships in the third quarter of 2019 - a few months before the car is expected to land in Australia - the SkyActiv-X engine will be positioned right at the top of the Japanese Mazda3 range for now. While the current top-spec Mazda3 L-package with the 2.0-litre petrol engine (the most powerful Mazda3 offered to Japan) is priced at ¥2.65 million (AUD$35,000), the equivalent SkyActiv-X engined model is priced at ¥3.30 million (AUD$43,500) or 25 per cent more.Despite confirming an on-sale date and placing orders for the car, Mazda is still yet to announce power, torque and fuel economy figures for the engine that’s being described as ‘the holy grail' thanks to its strong performance, yet diesel-like fuel economy.Said to be 2.0 litres in capacity with a supercharger, European-spec models will reportedly produce 133kW of power and 222Nm of torque - both less than the current 2.5-litre engine that’s used in G25 models.But considering Europeans don’t get that engine, the Australian X engine could be offered with more power and torque. However, thanks to new technology called 'Spark Controlled Compression Ignition' by Mazda, the SkyActiv-X engine will reportedly consume more than 30 per cent less than other petrol Mazda3s. This means the SkyActiv-X engine will consume around 4.5L/100km on a combined cycle, and the company claims the savings are greater in the real world.Reports from Japan also indicate the SkyActiv-X engine has been engineered to work with a 48-volt mild-hybrid system, which could result in even more efficient driving. Mazda Australia is yet to release local details including timing for the engine's local arrival.