Technology

Are there problems with the touch screen on a 2021 Kia Stonic?

Australia will begin testing Artificial Intelligence intersections with traffic lights that can see you coming and change to green.The AI traffic light test will be the first of its kind and will be trialled on a small intersection in Queensland’s Moreton Bay.The system by Austrian traffic technology company SWARCO is currently in use in Denmark, and while the first Australian test is small, a larger version will start testing in Brisbane later this year.The intersection chosen for the AI traffic light test will be the junction of Paper Avenue and Moreton Parade in the suburb of Petrie in Moreton Bay.While not a tiny intersection the junction isn’t on main transport routes and will allow a fairly safe environment to see how the technology handles regular, but light traffic.The first testing in Moreton bay will start in September, 2026.In Australia currently, traffic lights work on sensors embedded in the road that detect waiting traffic and work on timers. It’s the same automated system that’s been in place since the 1970s and while it’s extremely reliable and safe, it’s also not flexible enough to respond to traffic needs. The system being tested in Moreton Bay will use camera sensors to provide live data to intelligent software that can manage traffic flow at intersections. The AI will not only be able to see traffic, but will be able to identify all types of road users from buses, trucks and cars to motorbikes, bicycles and pedestrians.The system learns how the traffic flows over the day and is important specifically for that intersection and it will react autonomously depending on the situation.This means you won’t be left waiting for a green light at an empty intersection late at night. Instead the traffic lights know it's empty and can see you approaching and flick to green to let you through so you won’t even have to stop.The same goes for pedestrians, with the system seeing you approach and ensuring a safe time for you to cross.   AI traffic lights can also recognise emergency vehicles and help clear the way for them.The test in Moreton Bay will run from September 2026 and finish in 2029, but later this year a larger $15m trial will begin in Brisbane.The Brisbane trial will encompass road corridors, not just an individual intersection. This is where AI systems become even more useful in managing traffic flow with intersections effectively all being able to communicate with each other. Other states are also currently trialling AI but not on the same scale, with NSW testing thermal imaging and camera systems for cyclists, while LIDAR systems are also being developed to help better manage road use.Some European countries have already adopted the AI traffic systems including Denmark, while specific locations in the United States have recently started using intelligent intersections too. 

Car makers are always coming up with new features in the name of making our driving time more comfortable, convenient or safe but sometimes the result is the opposite.Yep, as car reviewers there’s a list of well known, very annoying features that we could really do without.So here’s a quick collection of the most annoying new car features... and please feel free to add your own to this never ending list. Massive glass roofs look amazing in a car dealer’s showroom but on the road during an Australian summer they make you feel like a rotisserie chicken - not to mention the dangers of sun exposure in this part of the world. Thankfully some roofs have retractable shades and some have decently thick ones to cut down the light and heat. The Tesla Model Y has an expansive fixed glass roof and no screen to shield its occupants from that furnace in the sky.This sounds super irresponsible to anybody who hasn't experienced the nightmarish intrusiveness of modern safety alerts that are supposedly designed to reduce speeding and distraction, but trust us..We’re talking about speed warning alarms, which activate at 2km/h over the posted speed limit (often falsely), distraction alerts that are triggered by the driver looking out for pedestrians and overly aggressive lane keeping assistance that feels like a sudden arm wrestle. The systems in our opinion become potentially a safety issue in themselves.Kia and Hyundai have been criticised in the past especially for over zealous safety alert systems, but pretty much every new car now has them - some worse than others.Do you know how many people used to say, “I wish my car’s door handles weren’t so easy to use, I want something that’s awkward and confusing to operate, something so flimsy it feels like it might snap off in my hand”? I’ll tell you - nobody.With the advent of electric vehicles came door handles that retracted flush with the car’s body to improve aerodynamics and in turn energy efficiency, which is all very good but it came at the price of functionality. Is it really necessary - I mean you can’t tell me regular door handles create that much drag?  Possibly the worst door handles I’ve ever encountered are on the Cadillac Optic. They’re as thin as a pencil and make opening the Cadillac super heavy doors ridiculously difficult.Another case of re-inventing something that wasn’t broken, the camera wing mirror is more a case of car designers saying "look at what we can do" rather than actually improving upon the simplicity and effectiveness of a piece of shiny glass.Hyundai's Ioniq 5 and Gensis GV60 can be had with camera mirrors - yeah, no thanks!Can’t wait for my bathroom mirror to be replaced by a camera and a screen.Anyone that’s needed to get something from the boot in a hurry because it's raining but had to stand there getting soaked waiting for the electric tailgate to slowly open, will tell you that it would have been quicker to open it themselves. And as for the gesture tailgates that require a swoosh with your foot top open - they seem to work about 50 per cent of the time.  An all-time low for me and gesture tailgates was when I was trying to take a Christmas tree out from the boot of a Mazda CX-70 and somehow my moving foot told it to start shutting without me realising it until it closed down on me. The car basically ate me alive. Car companies have tried to integrate digital assistants into their cars to carry out functions such as opening the windows or lowering the cabin temperature.The problem is getting the voice assistant to listen to you, understand you or even do anything is almost impossible which is a lot like being the parent of a teenager.Myself and the rest of the motoring media are to blame for encouraging car companies to do away with easy-to-use buttons and dials and move all the functions to a screen that forces the driver to step through three pages of a menu just to turn the climate control down. Yes, for years we praised cabins with “minimalist interiors” and “cleanly designed, button-less dash boards”. Well careful what you wish for, because now all I want is a knob for the stereo volume.  The Geely EX5 has a very cleanly designed button-less dash, which isn't a good thing after all.Some cars play little musical greetings when you sit down in the driver's seat. I find these as enjoyable to listen to as those birthday cards that play songs.As with door handles and wing mirrors, steering wheels never needed re-inventing but again and again car companies try to do so. Peugeot, Subaru and Geely have dabbled with not-round steering wheels but the worst we've seen is possibly the yoke in the new Lexus RZ550e F Sport. Seriously car companies - stop it. Ok there’s so many more features I loathe but let's end on a really good one - tyre puncture repair kits. These usually involve a small compressor and canister of goo which is used to fill a flat tyre sealing the puncture and have you on your way.Sounds great, but it isn't. I’ve been on the side of the road in the bush with a puncture and used the repair kit only to watch all the good squirt out through the hole in my tyre sealing nothing but my opinions on how useless these devices can be.

GAC has confirmed missing safety features in an upcoming new variant of its Emzoom small SUV will be reinstated for the Australian market after feedback.The company announced on the 18th of August that it was introducing a new base version of the Emzoom, the Premium, which would bring the price-of-entry down by $3000 to $22,990, drive-away.Sitting below the Emzoom Luxury ($26,990, drive-away), the new entry-level variant seems expressly designed to make it more affordable than rivals like the GWM Haval Jolion, MG ZS, and segment-dominating Chery Tiggo 4, while stripping out several features.Notable omissions included safety features, like seatbelt pre-tensioners and rear seatbelt warning systems, although the active safety items like autonomous emergency braking (AEB) and lane-keep aids were maintained from the top-spec Luxury grade.However, now due to feedback from “customers and industry stakeholders” GAC says it will reinstate the seatbelt features available on the Luxury grade.The brand said the omission was because those features were not standard equipment on the Premium grade in other markets, which contributed to their exclusion from the Australian spec.A GAC spokesperson told CarsGuide an initial batch of cars set to arrive in Australia in September will remain without the seatbelt tensioners and rear seatbelt reminders, although any car which arrives from November 2026 onwards will have those features reinstated. It is unclear at this stage whether the drive-away price will remain the same after that date.GAC said in a statement: “Providing vehicle specifications that meet, and where possible exceed the expectations of Australian customers and industry experts remain a priority for GAC.”The Emzoom is yet to be rated by independent safety body ANCAP. Of the brand’s current range, only the fully electric Aion V mid-size SUV has been rated, and was awarded a maximum five stars to the 2025 standards.Other features stripped from the new entry-level Emzoom Premium include auto-folding mirrors, electric door handles, interior ambient lighting, ventilation and power adjust for the driver’s seat, as well as rear USB ports.The Emzoom is currently GAC’s best-seller in Australia, moving 422 units so far this year. It ranks just ahead of the Aion V electric mid-size SUV. Unlike rivals which have hybrid variants available further up the price-scale, the Emzoom is only available with a 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine driving the front wheels via a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission.The Guangzhou-based Chinese automaker has big plans to be a top 10 player in Australia by 2028 and has promised both a larger hybrid SUV and a ute for our market in the coming years.

This could be a huge problem for EV owners in Australia. Vehicle-to-grid (V2G) is the next big step to unlocking the full potential of electric cars. V2G allows an EV battery to send its power back to the grid, allowing owners to make money at peak times.Electric cars sales are already booming in Australia, but this added functionality gives them an even sharper edge over petrol- and diesel-powered alternatives. However, using V2G in Australia currently risks voiding the manufacturer's warranty of the car.Electric Vehicle Council’s Head of Energy, Infrastructure and Commercial Alina Dini told CarsGuide current warranties generally weren’t designed to account for undertaking V2G. “Unless it has been stipulated in those terms and conditions that vehicle to grid is allowed, it’s generally not,” Dini said. V2G can have a significant impact on battery condition, depleting its health more rapidly than standard use. Most EVs in Australia are not designed to have two-way power transfer, but that are a range of third-party chargers that can facilitate V2G capabilities.Hyundai Australia's Senior Manager Future Mobility and Government Relations Scott Nargar said third-party V2G set-ups don't allow the car to be in control of the energy transfer.This can lead to overheating and other safety issues, with any damage not eligible for repair under warranty.Hyundai Australia states that none of its vehicles support V2G in Australia."The use of unapproved bidirectional charging equipment introduces safety risks, potential vehicle damage and warranty implications for your vehicle," Hyundai's website said.These set-ups use workarounds to enable V2G that is otherwise prohibited by the car's software.Most brands including BYD, Hyundai, Kia, Tesla and Zeekr warn against the use of unapproved V2G set-ups, with it risking the validity of the warranty.Mitsubishi remains one of few brands to actively support V2G in its Outlander PHEV SUV warranty, but it suggests repeated fast charging will reduce battery capacity.V2G is not as much of a safety issue as it is one of technology moving quicker than the rules, according to Ms Dini. Many brands are laying the groundwork for a full-scale uptake of V2G.“What we’re finding now is that all of the automotive OEMs that we work with are having a really hard look at their warranties," Ms Dini said."They’re having conversations with their stakeholders overseas and looking to reshape the commercial arrangements for selling cars."Brands are also collaborating with energy providers and government agencies in trials that will see the technology become mainstream within the next couple of years. BYD has partnered with Amber Electric and the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA), while Hyundai, Kia and Zeekr are working with AGL. Developments are expected to be announced within the next few months.

Toyota is working on a new strategy to cut down wait times for buyers. The brand introducing a new lithium-ion battery to expand production capacity for its cars, according to AutoNews. These batteries will cut costs by hundreds of dollars per vehicle and improve overall performance in a shift away from nickel-metal hydride unitsThe Japanese giant is targeting a surge in hybrid car sales over the next two years.It wants to convert battery capacity for 600,000 of its Japanese-built vehicles to the next-generation battery from 2027.There is no official news on the performance specifications for the new battery, but it will be more efficient.It could be a variant of Toyota's 2023 concept that offered more than 800km of driving range.A more efficient battery manufacturing process could accelerate production significantly and shift cars to buyers faster.Wait times on Toyota vehicles have been an ongoing talking point in Australia, especially for popular models the RAV4 SUV and Camry sedan hybrids.The brand appears to still be picking up the pieces from its ravaged supply chains during the COVID-19 lockdowns.  Its much-anticipated new-generation RAV4 was subject to significant delays of almost a year in part due slow production progress.Toyota sales slid substantially in the first half of 2026, with the carmaker desperate to get its hands on new RAV4 to turn it around. Units have finally started to ship in significant numbers for Toyota, and the RAV4 took its place as the best-selling car in Australia for July. A more efficient production process would help the brand to maintain its hold of the Australian market.Cheaper batteries could also mean lower price tags for buyers, after Toyota hiked the price of the new RAV4 this year.Toyota is facing increasingly tough competition from Chinese automakers like BYD and Chery that have huge production capacity and are already shifting plenty of units Down Under. Toyota is now planning to source batteries for up to 200,000 cars from external suppliers, including Chinese behemoth CATL. The carmaker's battery plans don’t stop there, with another new lithium-ion battery due in 2028 boasting 1000km of range and a 10 per cent cost reduction. 

Electric vehicles (EVs) are becoming increasingly popular in Australia as people transition from owning combustion- or hybrid-powered vehicles.One major consideration that many people have when considering which EV to buy is how much range it offers, but another factor that should be considered is how quickly the battery can be charged.EV and battery technology is continually evolving, but here is a rundown of the 11 EVs with the highest DC fast-charging rate that are either already on sale or confirmed for a launch in Australia.It’s worth noting that the fastest DC fast-chargers in Australia currently are 400kW and these are operated by AmpCharge. However, Denza has confirmed that it’s rolling out its 1500kW ‘Flash’ charging network at its dealers by late 2026 or early 2027.The forthcoming Denza Z9 GT electric shooting brake will launch in Australia in either late 2026 or early 2027, alongside the ‘Flash’ charging network.Final specifications have yet to be locked in, but peak DC fast-charging is up to 1500kW. This allows a 10 to 97 per cent charge in nine minutes.The Mercedes-AMG GT 4-Door, which is due in Australia during 2027, offers a peak DC fast-charging rate of 600kW.This allows the 111kWh lithium-ion battery pack to charge from 10 to 80 per cent in 11 minutes. It offers up to 460km of WLTP-claimed range.The XPeng X9 electric people mover has a peak DC fast-charging rate of up to 542kW. This allows for a 10 to 80 per cent charge in 12 minutes.Two versions are available, the FWD Standard Range and AWD Performance.The former has a 94.8kWh lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery with up to 535km of WLTP-claimed range. The latter has a larger 110kWh nickel manganese cobalt (NMC) battery with up to 580km of WLTP-claimed range.The recently revealed BMW iX5 will launch in Australia around mid-2027 and will follow after the launch of the new, petrol-powered X5 variants later this year.The iX5 60 xDrive is the only variant to be detailed so far and it offers a peak DC fast-charging rate of 460kW.It has a 141kWh lithium-ion battery pack and a 10 to 80 per cent charge is claimed to take 23 minutes. It offers up to 845km of WLTP-claimed range.The updated version of the XPeng G6 with the larger 80.8kWh LFP battery has a peak DC fast-charging rate of 451kW. It’s currently the highest in Australia.A 10 to 80 per cent charge is claimed to take 12 minutes.In RWD Long Range form there’s up to 525km of range and in AWD Performance form there’s up to 510km, according to WLTP testing.While the entry-level G6 RWD Standard Range with its smaller 68.5kWh can only DC fast-charge at rates up to 382kW, it’s still claimed to take 12 minutes to charge from 10 to 80 per cent. It offers up to 480km of WLTP-claimed range.The entry-level Zeekr 7X RWD with its 75kWh LFP battery can DC fast-charge at rates up to 450kW. It offers up to 480km of WLTP-claimed range.The 7X Long Range RWD and Performance AWD, on the other hand, with its larger 100kWh NMC battery can charge at rates up to 420kW. WLTP-claimed range is 615km and 543km, respectively.Mirroring the Zeekr 7X SUV, the forthcoming, entry-level version of the 7GT electric shooting brake has a peak DC fast-charging rate of 450kW. It has a 75kWh LFP battery and can charge from 10 to 80 per cent in 13 minutes.Other versions of the 7GT have a larger 100kWh NMC battery that can charge at rates up to 420kW.The top-spec BMW iX3 50 xDrive has a peak DC fast-charging rate of 400kW.It has a 108.7kWh lithium-ion battery pack and a 10 to 80 per cent charge is claimed to take 21 minutes. It offers up to 805km of WLTP-claimed range.The entry-level iX3 40 with its slightly smaller 82.6kWh lithium-ion battery pack has a peak DC fast-charging rate of 300kW. Despite this, a 10 to 80 per cent charge is still claimed to take 21 minutes. It offers up to 635km of WLTP-claimed range.The MG IM5 Platinum RWD and Performance AWD have a peak DC fast-charging rate of 396kW.They both have a 100kWh NMC battery pack and WLTP-claimed range of 655km and 575km, respectively. A 30 to 80 per cent charge is claimed to take 15 minutes.The entry-level IM5 Premium RWD, on the other hand, has a peak DC fast-charging rate of 153kW. It has a 75kWh LFP battery, up to 490km of WLTP-claimed range and a 30 to 80 per cent charge is claimed to take 20 minutes.The MG IM6 Platinum RWD and Performance AWD have a peak DC fast-charging rate of 396kW.They both have a 100kWh NMC battery pack and WLTP-claimed range of 555km and 505km, respectively. A 30 to 80 per cent charge is claimed to take 15 minutes.The entry-level IM5 Premium RWD, on the other hand, has a peak DC fast-charging rate of 153kW. It has a 75kWh LFP battery, up to 450km of WLTP-claimed range and a 30 to 80 per cent charge is claimed to take 20 minutes.The forthcoming Porsche Cayenne Electric offers a peak DC fast-charging rate of 390kW.It has a 113kWh lithium-ion battery pack and up to 542km of WLTP-claimed range. A 10 to 80 per cent charge is claimed to take 16 minutes.While Hyundai, Kia and Genesis models on the E-GMP platform, like the Ioniq 5, EV6 and GV60, among others, display a claimed 10 to 80 per cent charge time when plugged into a 350kW DC fast-charger, a common misconception is they have a peak DC fast-charging rate of 350kW.However, this is not the case. None of the aforementioned Hyundai Group brands quote an official peak charging rate, but real-world data indicates it’s around 240kW.

Cars are getting smarter but our laws are not keeping up, which is putting Australian drivers' privacy and data security at risk.The Australian Electric Vehicle Association (AEVA) is calling on the federal government to take immediate legislative action to mandate strict data privacy laws for connected vehicles.New cars are increasingly connected to the internet, which means your data is at risk, but it is protected by an outdated and broad Privacy Act 1988 and some voluntary standards from the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI), according to the AEVA.The AEVA suggests 95 per cent of new cars sold by 2035 will be connected, and if nothing changes there will be an increase in national security risks and a further erosion of consumer protection.James Pickering, National President of AEVA, said consumers nationwide continue to be let down by insufficient data privacy legislation. “Instead of instigating fear and distrust in the connected vehicles we drive, policymakers have the power to make effective changes to protect drivers and consumer choice."Toyota Australia executive John Pappas previously told CarsGuide the time has come for buyers to be more conscious of who has their data and where it ends up.“ I think customers should really, really be aware,” said Pappas. “They really need to be aware of their data management. It's like when we go and buy anything, these days. We've really got to be aware of how the brand is managing our data.”The AEVA said some measures the government should mandate is local data storage to protect our national security. Cyber security experts have told CarsGuide previously that data stored in another country is at the whim of that government and not the carmaker.Pappas made it clear the data Toyota takes from Australian-delivered vehicles is stored on data servers based in Australia, but he added there are data back-ups in Singapore and the USA. “This is actually all about protecting our customers from a privacy point-of-view and we consider this paramount to our safety philosophy,” Pappas said.The AEVA also asks to align our laws with that already set-out in Europe, which will help with continuity.This will help protect against hacking and legally require carmakers to isolate functions such as braking and steering from multimedia screens to boost digital defences.It also asks for non-essential data collection to be switched off by default, with the user opting in if desired.“The only features in the vehicle that are by default when you get onboarded through the dealer are the crash notification, the paramount safety features and the SOS feature,” said Pappas.Pappas also said all telemetry and driver recordings are encrypted in the car and are not transmitted in any way.

Renault is officially discontinuing its current Koleos mid-size SUV in Australia after 10 years of being on sale and there may not be an available direct replacement for a period.“The current-generation Renault Koleos is in run-out after a stellar run as one of Renault Australia's most popular models, with more than 21,000 examples sold,” said a Renault Australia spokesperson.“Now available from $36,990 drive-away with a $2000 cashback offer, all remaining inventory – complied to meet current motor vehicle regulations – is expected to be sold out by the end of this year.”The reason why the Koleos is being discontinued is due to it not meeting an Australian Design Rule (ADR) pertaining to autonomous emergency braking (AEB) performance, called ADR 98/00. It came into effect for all new vehicles produced from March 1, 2025.While the current Koleos does have AEB, it does not meet the specific requirements outlined by ADR 98/00.This means that Renault was able to stockpile at least 18 months worth of the Koleos stock before the ADR came into effect. Production of this South Korean-made model also ended in 2025.The Koleos is far from the only vehicle to be affected by the implementation of ADR 98/00. Other examples include the Mitsubishi Pajero Sport and Eclipse Cross, as well as the Suzuki Ignis and Mazda 6.With the axing of the current Koleos, this leaves Renault without a mid-side SUV that isn’t purely electric-powered in Australia for the time being.However, the French carmaker has many alternatives available in its global portfolio, though none have been locked in for an Australian launch yet.Examples include the South Korean-produced Grand Koleos and Filante, the Spanish-produced Austral, Espace and Rafael, as well as the Turkish-made Boreal.“As we have said before, Renault Australia is in the middle of a model revitalisation,” said Renault Australia Managing Director Glen Sealey earlier this month.“And while we won’t talk numbers or volume, we are well progressed with our long-term plan.“Renault has a vast catalogue of vehicles and we continually assess what is available to us and which ones best suit the needs – and price ranges – of Australian customers.“We’re not going to reveal all our future model plans today, but we can tell you there are another six new or refreshed models now due over the next two years.“And we have plenty to get through before then.”It’s understood that three of these six new Renault models are the Symbioz small SUV, Master E-Tech electric commercial van and the updated Megane E-Tech electric small SUV.At this stage the other three forthcoming Renault vehicles remain unclear and unconfirmed.

I am unable to change the language on the dashboard of my 2014 Holden Captiva diesel from Korean back to English.