Articles by James Cleary

Four months after taking the wraps off its ultra-luxury, large three-row LS9 SUV, MG’s premium IM sub-brand has confirmed domestic pricing for its hybrid flagship.

Corolla range gets trimmed down.

In making what it has positioned as “minor specification changes”, Mazda Australia is moving to make the Mazda3 hatch more competitive in the hotly contested small-car market.

Massive MG safety recall.

Here's when the new HiLux will be revealed.

Skoda's large SUV goes PHEV at a sharp price.

It may have only just arrived in Australia, but Nissan’s compact pure-electric Ariya crossover was unveiled globally way back in 2020 and ramped into full production in early 2021.

The Federal Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communication, Sport and the Arts has issued a safety recall notice impacting 15,352 BMWs across multiple models sold new in Australia from 2016 to 2020.It confirms that in examples of the 320d, 320i, 330i, 420i, 430i, 520d, 520i, 530i, 620d, 630i, X3, X4 and Z4, “Due to a manufacturing defect, inadequate sealing of the starter motor may allow moisture to enter into the unit. If this occurs, corrosion may result in the engine not starting.”The department said, “In rare cases, it could also cause a short circuit leading to overheating of the starter motor and in the worst case, to a vehicle fire while parked or driving.“A vehicle fire could increase the risk of injury or death to vehicle occupants, other road users, bystanders and/or damage to property,” it said.Owners of affected vehicles will be contacted by BMW requesting they schedule an appointment immediately with their preferred authorised BMW dealer to replace the starter motor free of charge.Alternatively, BMW Australia can be contacted on a dedicated Recall Hotline (1800 243 675), via email (info@bmw.com.au) or through a recall-specific website (https://www.recall.bmw.com.au).

Polestar Australia has confirmed pricing and specification for an upgraded 2026 model year version of its mid-size pure-electric Polestar 4 SUV.Headline news is no change to the manufacturer’s list price despite a key design tweak for both models in the local range with the cost of selected options also reduced.In a win for greater ease of use and reduced driver distraction, touch-sensitive steering wheel controls have been replaced by more conventional buttons, while the option pack structure has been massaged with pricing for the Bridge of Weir leather trim and electrochromic glass roof options reduced.At the same time an illuminated front Polestar logo, high-level interior illumination and net pockets in the boot have been moved to the 'Plus Pack' (see below).As the name implies, the entry-level Polestar 4 Long Range Single motor is powered by a single (rear-mounted) permanent magnet electric motor sending 200kW/343Nm to the rear wheels while the Long Range Dual motor pushes 400kW/686Nm to all four wheels. Claimed 0-100km/h acceleration times are 7.1 and 3.8 seconds, respectively.With energy consumption between 7.8-18.4kWh/100km, WLTP range for the single-motor is 620km. That drops to a still impressive 590km in the high-performance dual-motor version which consumes 19.0-21.7kWh/100km. The Polestar 4 is capable of charging its 100kW lithium-ion battery at up to 200kW DC, taking on a 10-80 per cent fill in 30 minutes. Braked trailer towing capacity is 1500kg for the single motor version and 2000kg for the dual motor.20-inch alloy wheelsActive LED headlightsRain-sensing wipers‘Bio-attributed’ fabric trimEight-way electrically adjustable driver seat (with memory)Six-way electrically adjustable passenger seatHeated front seatsAmbient interior lightingDual-zone climate controlPower tailgate10.2-inch driver display14.7-inch head up display15.4-inch central multimedia display8.9-inch digital rear-view mirrorEight-speaker audio (with digital radio)Wireless Apple CarPlayPlus Pack: Harman Kardon 1320W premium sound system, head-up display, zinc deco, ‘Star knit’ illuminated deco, illuminated front Polestar logo, pixel LED headlights with ‘Adaptive High Beam’, hands-free power tailgate, auto-dimming exterior mirrors, rear control screen, 12-way powered sport seats with mechanical cushion extension easy entry/exit driver’s seat, power reclining rear seats, heated steering wheel and rear seats, tri-zone climate control, PM2.5 air filtration, 22kW AC charging - $8000Pro Pack: 21-inch ‘Pro’ alloy wheels, ‘Swedish Gold’ valve caps, striped seatbelts - $2500Performance Pack: 22-inch ‘Performance’ wheels, ‘Polestar Engineered’ chassis tuning, Brembo brakes, ‘Swedish Gold’ accents (available on Dual motor with Plus pack) - $7200Electric retractable towbar - $3310Electrochromic glass roof - $2200Body-coloured lower claddings - $1400Privacy glass on rear side windows - $700Nappa upgrade: Bridge of Weir leather, ventilated front seats (with massage), Harman Kardon headrest speakers in front seats, rear comfort headrests, brushed textile headlining - $6100 (Zinc) / $5700 (Charcoal) - requires Plus PackSnow (white)Magnesium (cool grey)Electron (silver)Storm (dark grey)Space (black)The Polestar 4 scored a maximum five-star ANCAP score from assessment in 2024. It’s Adult Occupant Protection score is 92 per cent, Child Occupant Protection score is 87 per cent, Vulnerable Road User protection score is 81 per cent and its Safety Assist Score is 79 per cent.Four short range camerasRear-view HD cameraTwo forward-facing HD camerasFour side-view HD camerasUndersteer Control LogicTrailer Stability AssistAdaptive Cruise ControlAEB (vehicle / cyclist / pedestrian detection)Advanced Collision AvoidanceForward Collision WarningLane Keeping AidLane Departure WarningOncoming Lane MitigationDriver Alert ControlRear Collision Warning and MitigationCross Traffic Alert with brake supportRoad Sign InformationBlind Spot Information with steer assistExit assistPost-impact brakingTyre pressure monitoringWhiplash Injury Protection System (WIPS)Seven airbagsISOFIX mountings (rear seats)The Polestar 4 is covered by a five-year, unlimited km warranty (with roadside assistance included). The traction battery is covered for eight years, 160,000km and there’s also a 12-year corrosion warranty. Onboard diagnostics will notify the driver if and when service is necessary, although Polestar says “Generally (the) Polestar 4 doesn't need to be serviced for up to two years or 30,000km”.The Polestar 4 is 4840mm long, 2067mm wide (mirrors folded) and 1534mm tall with a 2999mm wheelbase. Boot volume is 526 litres with the rear seat upright, expanding to 1536L with it folded down. There’s also a 15L ‘frunk’ in the nose.

Hyundai Australia has reached into the depths of its financial pockets to reduce the price of selected models across its portfolio of pure-electric models by between seven and 38 per cent.In place for the fourth quarter of this year, the new drive-away prices apply nationally to specific versions of the Kona Electric small SUV, Ioniq 5 medium SUV, Inster city hatch and Ioniq 6 sedan.The catalyst for the clean out is shifting cars currently on the ground in Australia, including stocks of 2023 model year examples of certain models, while new orders are also included on others.A single Kona Electric model, the Standard Range, has been reduced by 15 per cent, the Ioniq 5 Standard Range is down 13 per cent and three versions of the Inster light hatch have been discounted by between seven and eight per cent.For all of the above, offers apply to existing stock or new orders delivered before December 31, 2025 with no restriction on model year.But the jaw-dropping repositioning is reserved for 2023 model year examples of the Ioniq 6 sedan, reduced by between 35 and a whopping 38 per cent. Specifically, 115 cars celebrating their second birthday in stock in Australia.The entry-level Ioniq 6 Dynamic is a single-motor, rear-wheel drive sedan with 168kW/350Nm, a 77.4kWh lithium-ion battery and a 614km WLTP range. The MY23 version's price has been reduced by more than $27,000 to $49,990, drive-away.The mid-grade Techniq is a dual-motor, all-wheel drive which ups power to 239kW/605Nm while range from the same 77.4kWh battery is limited to 519km. The ask here is $54,990, drive-away, which is a 38 per cent reduction on the standard D/A price.Then the flagship Epiq adds a higher standard specification to the dual-motor powertrain with no less than $34K lopped off the D/A pricing for a MY23 example. Asked whether the reductions may continue into the new year a Hyundai Australia spokesperson told CarsGuide there are “no plans to continue into 2026 at this stage”.