Articles by Stephen Ottley

It may still be a relatively new model but Jeep is turning back the clock on the Wrangler - all the way back to the iconic Willys Overland original.

We've written a lot in recent times about the rise and rise of Chinese brands in the Australian market.

Subaru will reinvigorate itself in 2021 with a raft of key new models arriving in showrooms.While the new BRZ and WRX will grab the attention, none will be more important than the new-generation Outback.

Mt Panorama, Bathurst is the spiritual home of motorsport in Australia - so it's fitting that it hosts the opening round of the Supercars Series.It shouldn't be the V8 beasts at Bathurst this weekend though, the series has stepped up to fill the place of

The march towards a seemingly inevitable all-electric future on our roads may not be so inevitable after all.Not if Porsche has anything to do with it.As we reported late last year, the German giant has invested €20 million (about $A30 million) into the d

No vehicle is off limits as the automotive landscape shifts towards electrification - even Australia's beloved dual-cab utes.While, understandably, much of the attention surrounding the upcoming 2022 Ford Ranger has been centred on the high-performance Ra

We’ve written recently of the sudden rise of MG, but it’s not all easy for new Chinese brands in Australia

For a company famous for making energy drinks, Red Bull has become a major player in the automotive business in recent years.

Is the blue oval set to turn green?Ford of Europe announced plans to become an electric-only brand by the end of the decade overnight, which could have major ramifications for Ford Australia. The local operation sources much of its range from Europe - including the Focus, Puma, Escape and Transit Custom - which are all likely to be affected by this dramatic change.However, Ford Australia admits it’s too early to know what impact the change will have on its line-up.Ford of Europe said it will invest more than $1 billion converting its current Fiesta factory in Cologne, Germany into the Ford Cologne Electrification Center to begin building a new electric model in 2023. The new EV will be based on the Volkswagen Group’s MEB platform, as part of the partnership between the two car brands to co-develop a range of models.The new EV will be the first European Ford to ditch internal combustion engines, joining the American-developed Mustang Mach-E. It’s only the beginning though, with Ford vowing to cut emissions across its range by the middle of this decade. By 2026 the brand aims to offer all of its models with either an all-electric or plug-in hybrid powertrain before transitioning to EV-only by 2030. The same is true of its commercial range too, with EVs and plug-ins coming even sooner, by 2024.“We successfully restructured Ford of Europe and returned to profitability in the fourth quarter of 2020. Now we are charging into an all-electric future in Europe with expressive new vehicles and a world-class connected customer experience,” explained Ford of Europe president, Stuart Rowley.Ford’s current line-up of European models - Fiesta, Focus, Puma and Escape - are all relatively new (arriving between 2018-2020) which means meeting the 2026 timeframe is realistic for each of them.However, Ford Australia is yet to introduce any EV or hybrid models, with the Escape PHEV expected to be the first when it arrives in the coming months. The wording of the European statement indicates that petrol-powered versions of the current range will still be available until 2030, which will give Ford Australia more time to make the switch. But, if all models in the European range have EV or PHEV variants available within five years it gives Ford Australia the option to be a leader in electrified vehicles - if it chooses.“We know there is growing appetite among Australian consumers for EVs and hybrid vehicles,” read a Ford Australia statement. “However, it’s too early to discuss what impacts the Ford of Europe move will have on other markets, including Australia. “Ford has an important role to play in reducing carbon emissions and improving the health of the planet, and we are proud to have the goal of being carbon neutral by 2050.“As part of our work to achieve this target, we’re committing to launching our first electrified vehicle − the Escape PHEV (Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle) soon – and we’ve joined the FCAI’s voluntary CO2 Standard, which is an important step in the economy-wide emissions reduction effort required under the Paris Agreement.”

Stellantis appears to be ready to accelerate its plans for electrifying the classic Alfa Romeo and Maserati brands.Motorsport publication, The Race, reports Alfa Romeo may quit Formula 1 at the end of the 2021 season and make the switch to the all-electric Formula E category. And if not with Alfa Romeo, it could be Maserati on the Formula E grid as Stellantis looks to improve the electric credentials of its famous Italian brands.The report comes just weeks after former Peugeot CEO Jean-Philipe Imparato took the reins at Alfa Romeo as part of the Stellantis merger. Imparato is both a racing fan and an EV advocate and was key in Peugeot’s Le Mans return with a hybrid hypercar. He is on the record saying all motorsport needs to be electrified if it’s to be worthwhile for car makers as customers begin switching to EV road cars.Formula E is set to introduce new ‘Gen3’ regulations for the 2022-23 season, with more powerful cars with faster charging thanks to 800-volt batteries. These rules are not only designed to make the racing more exciting by renewing manufacturer interest in the category as a test bed for future technology.Alfa Romeo has been noticeably slow in making the switch to EVs, especially compared to new partners Peugeot and Citroen; which already offer a range of electrified models in Europe. By contrast, Alfa Romeo’s first hybrid is due this year, the new plug-in Tonale small SUV. Its maiden all-electric model is not set to arrive until 2022, when a yet-to-be-named compact SUV, using Peugeot technology, slots beneath the Tonale.Maserati has already revealed plans for an overhaul of its entire range with electric versions of all of its new models, including the MC20 sports car. The company has developed an all-new modular electric powertrain dubbed, Folgore (Italian for lightning), that features three electric motors and an 800-volt electrical system.While entering F1 has helped Alfa Romeo establish itself on the global market, sales of the Giulia and Stelvio remain slow. A switch to Formula E could help set the brand on a new path as it launches its first electric models.Whether Stellantis chooses Alfa Romeo or Maserati to lead its Formula E program its clear the brand is charging into an electric future both on the road and racetrack.