Articles by Neil Dowling

Porsche has confirmed it will bring a new Speedster to production to celebrate the end of the current 991-series 911 models, aimed at limited production and an Australian sale date late in 2019.

America’s most trusted automotive valuation tool, Kelley Blue Book, will be launched in Australia in late October to give car buyers a comparative pricing guide for their purchases.

One could be the loneliest number after Mercedes-AMG dropped the prefix 'Project' on its forthcoming hypercar and prepares it for production next year.

The next-generation Amarok pick-up is set to have substantial input from Volkswagen's Australian team, with the company's local arm eyeing safety and other technology features as areas for improvement

Peugeot has announced three new plug-in hybrid models and confirmed plans to roll-out the powertrain to other models in a bid to reduce the company’s fuel consumption and emissions averages.

Porsche has dumped diesel powertrains from its line-up following growing pressure from consumers.

Jaguar looks set to roll out its J-Type moniker for its next sports car range, that is expected to be electrified, after trademarks for the J-Type name were last month renewed with the European Intellectual Property Office.The carmaker has held the J-Type name since 2002 and its renewal indicates it is being prepared for the next sportscar range, with British media suggesting it could replace the F-Type.Jaguar uses the letter and 'Type' nomenclature for sportscars and, more recently, a prefix letter and the word 'Pace' for its SUVs.The renewal is the second visit to the intellectual property office for Jaguar in July after also registering the C-Pace name, which could be either a new category of SUV or a coupe version of the current F-Pace.Trademark registration for a new car is usually listed under Class 12 which applies to all types of land transport vehicles, including those with internal-combustion engines.In its J-Type application, however, Jaguar has broadened that to include Class 9 that includes a broad range of electronics and electrical devices, such as charging stations, batteries for EVs and autonomous vehicles, while Class 37 covers services for vehicles.The J-Type has the potential to be Jaguar’s first electric – either hybrid or full electric vehicle – sports car as its lodgement at the property office fell under the broad category that included autonomous driving systems, EVs, hybrids and even charging equipment.Reports from the UK have stated the J-Type will replace the F-Type in around 2022. The reports also state the new sports car will be mid-engined, initially with a hybrid drive and later with a full EV powertrain.The J-Type could follow the design and drivetrain principles of the 2010 Jaguar C-X75 concept sports car that used four electric motors and diesel-fuelled mini turbine generators. At the reveal of the car at the 2010 Paris motor show, Jaguar said the C-X75 would "influence future design and technology".UK motoring publication Auto Express reported that Jaguar is yet to confirm the drivetrain of a new sportscar but it predicted it could follow the I-Pace EV SUV with electric motors on the front and rear axles to provide all-wheel drive.The publication also said in its hybrid layout, the J-Type was likely to have a mid-mounted V6 supplemented by electric motors.It said that the powertrain would need at least 410kW of power to be competitive against rivals including the McLaren 570S. If the rumours are correct and the mid-engined J-Type reaches the showroom, it would be only the second time Jaguar has put a mid-engined car into mass production following the XJ220 of the 1990s.An EV is not unexpected as Jaguar has promoted electric and hybrid propulsion and it has just held the global launch of its first EV – the I-Pace crossover – that will lob in Australia in November.Jaguar design director Ian Callum said that last year’s Frankfurt motor show that he had probably designed his last internal-combustion vehicle. 

Subaru Australia says it plans to rebound from its drifting SUV sales on the back of strong customer interest in its high-tech but modestly styled fifth-generation Forester.

Jeep has polished its mid-size Cherokee SUV with a mid-life makeover boasting a less confronting face, additional features and safety equipment.

Reflections of past glories are being used by Mercedes-Benz to guide its new vehicle technology into the electric era, with its Vision EQ Silver Arrow show car honouring the land-speed record of '37