Articles by Robbie Wallis

Toyota has dropped the V6 petrol engine in its revision of the popular LandCruiser Prado range that arrives in Australian showrooms in November this year.

Ford has recalled 8878 examples of its Kuga mid-size SUV over a potential fire risk.

Skoda has announced it has consolidated its Rapid small hatch range into a single automatic 92TSI variant, while announcing a diesel-powered version of its Kodiaq SUV due in Australia by Christmas.

Haval Motors Australia has announced it will aim to market its new H7 seven-seat large SUV as a rival to the Mazda CX-9, but for the price of a CX-5 mid-sizer.

Kia has revealed a light facelift for its Sorento seven-seat large SUV, ahead of an arrival in Australian dealerships by the fourth quarter this year.The update will include some light visual tweaks as well as the implementation of an eight-speed automatic transmission, which was revealed last year and will replace the current six-speed unit.Visual tweaks include a subtly redesigned LED headlight cluster, with the daytime running light strip moving from the top of the cluster to the bottom, while the regular lights have increased from two to three.The tail-lights have also been revised to include LEDs, with a swooping signature encompassing a number of vertically striped lights.LED foglamps, previously only available on the top-spec GT-Line variant, will also be proliferated across the range.Interior changes include introducing a four-spoke steering wheel, changes to the air-conditioning cluster, wireless phone charging, updated gear knob, diamond quilting and digital instrumentation.It will be the first major refresh to the Sorento since the current-gen model launched in June 2015.Powerplant choices are expected to remain unchanged, with choices consisting of a 147kW/441Nm 2.2-litre turbo-diesel four-cylinder and a 199kW/318Nm 3.3-litre aspirated V6 petrol engine.Kia Motors Australia general manager corporate communications Kevin Hepworth confirmed the updated Sorento will arrive locally before the end of the year.So far in 2017 Kia has sold 2568 examples of the Sorento, up 21.6 per cent on the 2112 units sold to the same point last year.It also holds a 4.2 per cent share of the sub-$70,000 large SUV segment, with the Toyota LandCruiser Prado (8657), Subaru Outback (6225) and Toyota Kluger (5993) leading the way.

Audi’s hybrid Q7 large SUV will be arriving in Australian showrooms before the end of 2017, after getting federal government approval to import and sell the model locally.

Japanese airbag manufacturer Takata has announced it is filing for bankruptcy protection in the US and Japan in the wake of the largest ever product recall in the history of the automotive industry.

Spy photos have emerged of a camouflaged next-generation Hyundai Santa Fe that suggest styling and larger dimensions.

Volkswagen has ripped the covers off its sixth-generation Polo hatch ahead of an Australian launch in the first quarter of next year.

A teaser image has surfaced out of Wolfsburg showing a silhouette of Volkswagen’s upcoming sixth-generation Polo light hatch, ahead of an official launch at the Frankfurt motor show in September.