Sedan News

Toyota will band together with BMW to develop hydrogen technology, in what is the biggest indication yet that BMW is gearing up to enter a hydrogen-powered vehicle into the mainstream market.According to Nikkei Asia, the Japanese and German automakers are set to sign a memorandum of understanding confirming the partnership next week, with an announcement expected during BMW’s round table media event on September 5.It’s the latest evolution of a hydrogen partnership that dates back to 2012, when Toyota agreed to supply BMW with a limited number of hydrogen fuel cell components.This agreement will pave the way for a more comprehensive partnership, with Toyota supplying BMW with more sophisticated hydrogen tanks and fuel cell systems. According to Nikkei Asia, BMW will then use its in-house EV technologies to manufacture the rest of the vehicle.The announcement doesn’t come as a surprise, given that Toyota is already a well-established player in the hydrogen fuel cell segment, and BMW has increasingly expressed interest in producing a hydrogen cell vehicles for the mainstream market.BMW recently toured its hydrogen powered iX5 hydrogen prototype – which is built on the X5 SUV platform – across Australia in July, while Toyota introduced its hydrogen powered Mirai, one of two hydrogen vehicles available in Australia, on a special leasing agreement back in 2021. The Mirai has been offered in Japan since 2014.Hyundai is the only other brand in Australia with a hydrogen passenger vehicle, the Nexo SUV, which it distributes under a similar leasing scheme. The ACT and QLD governments are two of Hyundai’s biggest leasing partners for the Nexo. Each government leased a fleet in 2021 which they have both extended as of this year.The arrangement with Toyota may bring down the cost of any prospective hydrogen vehicle from BMW, although questions persist — particularly in Australia — about the feasibility of selling a hydrogen vehicle to the public.Hydrogen fuel cell vehicles run on electricity generated through a chemical reaction created between hydrogen and oxygen, with their only tailpipe emission being water.Their range and refuelling time is considered to be better than EVs, with the technology presenting itself as an attractive alternative as the demand for EVs begins to plateau.There are just 12 hydrogen refuelling stations in Australia, with the cost of delivering hydrogen infrastructure here remaining incredibly high. The CSIRO’s hydrogen refuelling and production station in Melbourne, for example, cost $2.5 million to build, but only generates enough fuel capacity for roughly 10 vehicles per day.BMW may struggle less in Germany though, where a network of 86 refuelling and production stations puts Germany as one of the global leaders when it comes to hydrogen refuelling infrastructure.Toyota Australia signed a memorandum of understanding last year with Hyundai, energy-giant Pacific Energy and fuel retailer Ampol to drive local infrastructure expansion.Hyundai’s XCIENT Hydrogen Fuel Cell trucks already operate across Europe on a commercial scale, with Hyundai and Toyota particularly adamant that hydrogen technology will first establish itself in the transport industry before it becomes available on a mainstream scale in passenger cars.

For anyone who drives in urban areas, this technology is set to be a revolution.

Audi has revealed the 2025 RS3 with a smattering of visual and chassis upgrades for the hyper hatch and sedan.It is still packing the same output of 294kW/500Nm as the pre-facelift RS3 model thanks to the legendary 2.5-litre TFSI engine, which also powers the RSQ3 SUV. It remains the only five-cylinder engine still in mainstream production.This could be the last outing for Audi's venerable five-cylinder power plant, though there's a possibility it will live on after this RS3. Audi has not made any official promises yet, though.For 2025, the RS3 gains an even sportier look. A new front splitter is complemented by chequered front and rear headlight signatures that are a nod to the RS3’s performance pedigree, in addition to redesigned side air intakes and carbon detailing.Inside, RS sport bucket seats are clad in Nappa leather, while a new-look, flat bottom steering wheel swaps out physical buttons for haptic controls — something Volkswagen is moving away from.A new chequered flag button allows you to quickly access performance mode, while an RS button allows for instant access to the self-configurable RS Individual mode.Other changes are more minor and mirror the updated A3 model, such as redesigned air vents and an even smaller gear selector.Underneath, the RS3 gets more precise tuning of its chassis control systems, which Audi says will help optimise track performance.Audi says this is confirmed by its record-setting lap around the Nürburgring Nordschleife of 7:33.123 minutes, more than five seconds quicker than its price-point competitor, the BMW M2.Changes include brake torque vectoring, which help the car avoid understeer when entering corners at high speeds, while also making more power available when driving in and out of bends.The RS3 comes standard with new C-rated Pirelli tyres, which can be upgraded to the more performance-oriented Pirelli P Zero Trofeo R for those seeking more grip on the track.It’ll do 0-100km/h in a claimed 3.8 seconds, smashing the Golf R (4.8 seconds), edging ahead of the Mercedes-AMG A45 S (3.9 seconds) and even besting its bigger RS4 brother.Power is sent to all four wheels through a seven-speed dual clutch transmission, with the RS3 capable of hitting a top speed of 290km/h.Deliveries for the RS3 will commence across Europe from next month, while Audi Australia told CarsGuide that the RS3 won't be available in Australia until some time next year. Pricing for the RS3 will start in Germany at €66,000 (A$108,741), with the sedan being €2000 (A$3295) dearer.The current model is priced from $95,715 for the hatchback and $98,215 for the sedan, both before on-road costs.

The Mustang dynasty is about to get even wilder, with reports coming out of the US that an off-road variant and four-door sedan could be in the works.

Pricing for the all-new Kia K4, the successor to the long-serving Cerato small car, has been released in the US.According to the Kia US media release, the new K4 will come in five variants: LX, LXS, EX, GT-Line and GT-Line Turbo.Pricing for the entry-level LX trim will commence at US$21,990 (A$33,328), rising to US$28,090 (A$42,574) for the top-spec variant we currently know as the GT.For comparison, the current base-model Cerato S starts at $27,060 in Australia, while the top spec GT-Turbo Cerato will set you back $36,860 (all prices listed above are before on-road costs).It is expected that the K4 will start closer to $30,000 in Australia when it is released in the first quarter of 2025.In the US, the K4 will have a choice of two powertrains, a 110kW/264Nm 2.0-litre naturally-aspirated four-cylinder petrol engine or a 142kW/264Nm 1.6-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine.The latter is paired to an eight-speed automatic transmission, replacing the current Cerato’s seven-speed dual-clutch transmission.It is likely these will be the same powertrains offered in Australia, given they are currently available in Cerato models, though Kia is yet to confirm this officially.Kia has not announced plans for a hybrid variant in the US, though it is likely that one will be offered for the Australian market at some point in the near future.The K4 will be significantly bigger than the Cerato, offering what Kia says is “class-leading” legroom within the small car segment, as well as greater headroom and a body as wide as some medium-size sedans.Like the Cerato, the K4 will be offered with the option of a sedan or hatchback.Inside, the Kia K4 gets a completely new look, including a multi-screen dashboard that boasts two 12.3-inch displays integrated into one continuous panel. A third, 5.0-inch display provides climate controls. Apple Carplay and Android Auto will come as standard, along with wireless charging.The outgoing Cerato is Kia's second-best selling model and Australia's second-best selling small car priced under $40,000, owning a 24.1 per cent share of the market, second only to the Toyota Corolla.It has enjoyed record sales this year to date, increasing 241 per cent from 3105 sales this time last year to 9811 this year. If Kia gets the formula right, there's every chance the K4 could secure the same level of popularity.Expect more details closer to the Australian launch.

When asked if Audi’s next electric car, the Q4 e-tron, would be a smash hit in Australia, local Director Jeff Mannering confidently said “Of course”.

Mazda’s newest EV is breaking out of China and is going global. The Japanese brand has surprisingly confirmed the EZ-6 will become a global model and will be available in China and Europe from northern hemisphere autumn.

Peter Rawlinson, CEO of American electric car company Lucid, shared a graph showing how far ahead the brand’s technology is compared to key rivals.

A new study by the team which brought you the 'Dieselgate' discovery has conducted research into how polluting EVs are compared to their petrol cousins.

Genesis’ flagship G80 luxury sedan will be significantly more expensive in 2025 after receiving a stack of luxury and safety upgrades, new design and tech features, as well as a refreshed range.