Articles by Stephen Ottley

Jaguar's first all-electric model, the I-Pace, may have had a mixed reception but parent company, Jaguar Land Rover is preparing to commit to a battery-powered future in a big way.According to a report from Britain's Autocar, Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) will invest more than £1 billion ($1.9b) upgrading its factories to build a series of EV models for both of its brands beginning in 2021. Three new models - Land Rover's long-anticipated ‘Road Rover', Jaguar's all-new J-Pace and XJ replacement - will all be built in the Castle Bromwich factory on the brand's MLA platform.MLA has been designed by the brand to underpin all of its future models from both brands, allowing for fully-electric, plug-in hybrid and petrol or diesel engines.The Road Rover, a nameplate trademarked by the company more than two years ago, is the long-rumoured first full-electric Range Rover. It will be a luxury flagship with a clear on-road bias, in a major departure for Land Rover in multiple ways.The J-Pace will be Jaguar's answer to the Audi Q7 and BMW X5, at least in size, sitting above both the F-Pace and I-Pace. While it will debut as an EV Jaguar is expected to add the brand's new inline six-cylinder petrol to expand its appeal.The final member of this trio of next-wave JLR EVs will be the replacement for the XJ luxury sedan. It will make the switch to electric power in a bid to give it a fresh start after sales of the current model declined steadily over its lifecycle. Jaguar's designers have hinted repeatedly in interviews over the last 12 months that the new XJ will be a bold departure visually from the current model.It will do battle against the likes of the Tesla Model S and the upcoming Mercedes-Benz EQS as more luxury car makers make the electric switch.

With the Hyundai i30 sedan launching locally later this year, the Korea carmaker will have the most comprehensive small car-range in Australia.The news this week that Hyundai Australia has decided to drop the Elantra name for its four-door small car and i

Volkswagen has given us our first glimpse of the second-generation Amarok ute, releasing this teaser image during its Annual Media Conference overnight.While obviously teaser images are exaggerated for visual effect, it’s clear the next Amarok will be a bolder, more aggressive dual-cab. The sketch shows a bigger, more angular front end with a strong vertical upper element that ties in with the brand’s latest design language. It also depicts larger wheel arches, a bulging bonnet and an integrated sports bar - not all will carry over to the production model.However, what we do know for sure is that the new Amarok is being developed alongside the next generation Ford Ranger, as part of the partnership between the German and American auto giants. The two parties announced a tie-up on commercial vehicles in January 2019 and it’s believed Ford is leading the development of the new utes, while VW will lead the work on the next generation of vans for both brands.While technical details of both utes remain a closely guarded secret by the car makers, leaks have emerged that give us an idea what to expect under the bonnet. Volkswagen is likely to retain a 3.0-litre V6 turbo diesel, while Ford is believed to be investigating a pair of turbocharged V6 engines - a 3.0-litre diesel and 2.7-litre petrol.The new Amarok is expected to launch sometime in 2022, while the Ranger could beat it and arrive in 2021.

Ford’s transition from a manufacturer to full importer has been a success on the surface. Whereas it was once seen as the ‘Falcon Car Company’, the success of the Ranger ute has helped sure up its short-term future

Not for the first time Formula 1 has shot itself in the foot and demonstrated it values money over its fans. The decision to call off the event on Friday morning came too late and has allowed for the potential further spread of the coronavirus.

Bold design and revolutionary technology weren't enough to make the BMW i8 a success.The German giant has confirmed that production of the plug-in hybrid sports car will end in April, six years after it went on sale. It's part of a wider strategy change from the brand that sees it moving away from its standalone i8 and i3 models towards electric variants of its more popular models - including the X3 SUV and 3-Series.BMW had already confirmed that the i3 city car would not be replaced by a new model, but hasn't confirmed a production end date.As a farewell for the i8 it will produce 200 special editions, known as the Ultimate Sophisto Edition. It's finished in Sophisto Grey metallic paint with E-Copper accents on the 20-inch alloy wheels, kidney grille and side skirts.While the i8 was never a sales hit it did play an important role in developing technology for BMW. The body features extensive use of carbon fibre reinforced plastic (CFRP) on top of an aluminium chassis for reduced weight. The use of CFRP has now spread across several models in the BMW range, including the latest 7-Series.The powertrain was also a breakthrough for BMW. A 1.5-litre turbocharged three-cylinder petrol engine powered the rear wheels, while an electric motor sent power to the front to create all-wheel drive traction. It was capable of running on electric power only for short distances in order to enhance its green credentials further.While there are no plans to replace the i8 with a direct successor, the company has hinted that it could use the Vision M Next concept as the foundation for a new-generation flagship sports car. However, that's not expected for at least five years with the focus instead on launching the i4 sedan and iX3 and iNext SUVs.

Mazda has been one of the greatest automotive success stories in Australia over the past decade, but 2020 could be its most difficult year yet

Last week the spread of the coronavirus across Europe led the Swiss government to put restrictions on large gatherings, which forced organiser of the Geneva motor show to cancel the event.

Alfa Romeo has turned the Giulia Quadrifoglio all the way up to 11 - creating a more powerful, lighter and more aerodynamic version of its already rapid sports sedan.

Toyota is racing full speed ahead to eradicate its image as a builder of boring cars. First came the affordable 86, then the reborn Supra and, later this year, the rally-inspired Yaris GR.