Stuck for a gift for that car-enthusiast friend who has everything? Here is the top-five branded merchandise you can get that will confuse them and have them question your friendship.

Car companies love branded merchandise – turning customers and fans into brand ambassadors at shopping malls and backyard barbecues across Australia.

And while much of it can be tasteful, some of it can get a little cringey.

Whether you’re looking to show off your love and loyalty for a car company, or if you’re trying to find a gift for that special someone, car-maker merchandise stores can be a good way to get genuine products.

Here are the top five geekiest car-branded gifts you can buy in Australia right now.

5. Mitsubishi Motors luggage tag – $25

Are you a world traveller of fine taste? Then why not add a pebble leather luggage tag debossed with the Mitsubishi Motors corporate logo? Made by J. Holland, the tag also features a polished metal buckle so ensure your bags are never lost in transit while you’re enjoying Premium Economy.

MORE: McLaren GT by MSO: Bespoke luggage set revealed

4. Mercedes-Benz X-Class thongs – $33.42

What better way to show off your love of the Mercedes-Benz X-Class ute than with a pair of black thongs? The X-Class was never a sales success, and as such the ute was axed from the Mercedes-Benz line-up in 2020 – less than three years after its global reveal. But three years on from its discontinuation, and you can still get fan footwear. Or you could just get Nissan Navara thongs for less?

MORE: Is it illegal to drive barefoot or in thongs in Australia?

3. Mercedes-Benz Crystal USB stick – $134.39

We promise we’re not picking Mercedes-Benz. But it’s hard to pass by this 16GB USB stick made by Swarovski with “Crystal Ultrafine Rocks”. Despite being made exclusively for Mercedes-Benz, there doesn’t even appear to be any company branding on the USB stick. For reference, a plain 16GB USB stick is $6.40 from Officeworks.

MORE: These two tiny omissions prove car companies aren’t tech companies at all

2. Toyota Kluger Boules Set – $53.50

Got a penchant for petanque? Got a burning for bocce? Then this Toyota Kluger-branded boules set could be for you, or someone you love. Or hate. Either way, tell that person you think they’re suited to low-impact lawn sports with this gift, available now from the Toyota Australia merchandise store.

MORE: Honda Civic Type R inspires autonomous lawnmower… and now we want one

1. Ford Ranger White Camo Cap – $35

We legitimately love the Ford Ranger, as well as Ford Ranger owners. But if there’s one sure-fire way to get other people to give you a wide berth at that Sunday barbeque, it’s wearing a camouflage baseball cap that says “Live the Ranger life”. Avril Lavigne could get away with wearing camo in 2002, maybe you should give it a pass in 2023.

MORE: Cars and fashion – A complex and mostly awful relationship

The post Top Five: Cringiest car merchandise you can buy right now appeared first on Drive.

Struggling US electric-car start-up Lucid is planning smaller vehicles to rival the Tesla Model 3 and Model Y, but the brand is at least two years from from Australian showrooms.

US electric-car start-up Lucid has reaffirmed its intention to expand into right-hand-drive markets – but a rollout in Australia or the UK is at least two years away.

The fledgling car maker – which posted a $US2.6 billion ($AU3.9 billion) loss last year amid struggles ramping up production of its first model, the circa-$US100,000 ($AU150,000) Air sedan – has detailed plans for cheaper cars to rival the Tesla Model 3 and Model Y.

But although Lucid is interested in producing its vehicles in right-hand drive – for sale in the UK and, possibly, Australia – the boss of the company says it has higher priorities, and such a rollout is not due until 2025 at the earliest.

“Oh, man, I’d love to,” Lucid CEO Peter Rawlinson – a former Jaguar and Lotus engineer who led the development of the original Tesla Model S – told UK publication Auto Express when asked about plans for right-hand drive.

The executive said Lucid has needs to introduce the high-performance, three-motor version of the Lucid Air, the 1200-horsepower (895kW) Sapphire, and the SUV version of the Air, the Gravity, before it rolls out right-hand-drive cars, no earlier than 2025.

“It’s a matter of engineering priorities. We are slammed – we’ve got to get Sapphire out this year. Sapphire is our tri-motor version of the Air, our performance version – we’re testing that on the road now and it’s getting from zero to 60 in 1.89 seconds,” Mr Rawlinson told the UK magazine.

“And we’ve got to get Gravity out next year.

“It breaks my heart, maybe we can outsource [the] right-hand-drive project to an engineering company to do it for us. The potential market in the UK is probably bigger than even Germany in terms of a latent desire to go [electric].”

Lucid began delivering vehicles in mainland Europe in December 2022, in countries – all with the steering wheel on the left side of the car – such as Germany, Austria, France, the Netherlands, Norway and Sweden.

If development of right-hand-drive cars does not commence until the end of next year, it would be well into 2025 before Lucid vehicles could be sold in Australia.

When Lucid does come to right-hand-drive markets such as the UK and Australia, it could launch with smaller models designed to take on the top-selling Tesla Model 3 sedan and Model Y SUV.

The current Lucid Air luxury sedan is a similar size to the Tesla Model S sedan no longer sold in Australia, while the Gravity is expected to be positioned to compete with the Tesla Model X.

“Gravity is next year, second half of next year – a similar price to Air – and that’s on track. I think it’s going to be a seminal product – a seven-seat, three-row SUV, super practical,” Mr Rawlinson told Auto Express.

“After Gravity we’re going to do [Tesla] Model 3 and Model Y competitors. We think around $US50,000, maybe $US48,000 – something like that. It’s too early to say, but that’s the vision.”

The projected pricing of $US50,000 for the smaller vehicles would place them in line with a Tesla Model 3 Performance or Model Y Long Range in the US, which in Australia are priced from about $80,000 to $85,000 plus on-road costs (rounded).

Today’s Lucid Air is priced from $US87,400 for a base rear-wheel-drive Pure model – which is yet to begin deliveries – to $US249,000 for the Sapphire.

Lucid recently signed a deal with Aston Martin to supply battery and electric motor technology for the British sports-car maker’s first electric vehicles, due in 2025.

Mr Rawlinson told Auto Express the company is open to signing deals with other car makers to “get more people into electric cars sooner” – and using Lucid’s technology to make smaller electric cars more efficient, to need smaller battery packs.

“The biggest impact on the mass market car will be with smaller battery packs … The electric car of the future only needs 250 miles [or 400km of driving range]. We don’t need 500-mile [800km range] cars in the future, 10 years from now.

“If we could get six miles per kilowatt-hour [or 10kWh/100km energy efficiency] and you only need 150 miles range, that’s a 25 kilowatt-hour pack.

“That’s a $US4000 [$AU6000] pack particularly with a bit of industrialising scale and battery manufacture. That’s what we need to make a $US25,000 [$AU37,500] car and that’s what the environment and the world needs urgently to get masses into electric cars. You need the $25,000 car.

“Now is Lucid going to make that? No. It’s a horrible thing to be making. But could we be the ‘intel inside’ for that car? The enabler? Absolutely. And that’s where we could get the multiplier effect.”

The post Lucid electric cars no closer to Australia, due later this decade appeared first on Drive.

A car customiser in Thailand has unveiled its take on what a Ford Everest Raptor could look like – just don’t expect it to arrive in your Australian dealer’s showroom.

Ford says it has no plans to build a Ford Everest Raptor off-road performance SUV – so a company in Thailand has created its own.

The Ranger Raptor is Ford’s flagship model for off-road performance in Australia – a dual-cab ute capable of taking on sand and mud with a full factory-backed warranty.

Unfortunately for those who want to get dirty off the beaten track in an Everest SUV – the Ranger’s SUV twin-under-the-skin – Ford has ruled out plans to give its seven-seat four-wheel-drive the Raptor treatment.

Thai-based car customisation workshop Shana E-Sport has revealed its own take on the Everest Raptor – pictured via the Thailand distributor of AMP Tires on Facebook – with the front end of the larger Ford F-150 Raptor R supercharged V8 pick-up sold in the US.

The F-150 parts extend to the ‘marker lights’ below the bonnet, mandated in the US for vehicles wider than 80 inches (2032mm).

Additional cosmetic tweaks include wider wheel arches, larger wheels with all-terrain tyres, and ‘Raptor’ stickers on the rear quarter panels, though it’s not known if any mechanical upgrades were made under the bodywork.

Although the regular Ford Everest and Ranger share many of their parts, Ford Australia has previously said it would need to “go away and understand if that (an Everest Raptor) is what customers really wanted).”

For now, the Ford Everest Wildtrak is the most off-road-focused variant of the seven-seat SUV in Australia – priced from $73,090 plus on-road costs with a number of upgrades carried across from the Ranger Wildtrak ute.

The post Custom Ford Everest Raptor uncovered in Thailand – not for Australia appeared first on Drive.

The anti-‘Yank Tank’ movement is spreading across social media, where Australian drivers are documenting every time super-sized, US-made pick-up trucks are too big for local roads.

An online movement criticising the rise of large American utes in Australia is gaining traction, with social media users denouncing the disruptive presence of ‘Yank Tanks’ on local roads.

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In the Melbourne forum of discussion site Reddit, users have been sharing photos of models like the Ram 1500 and Chevrolet Silverado 1500 struggling to squeeze into parking spaces, or dwarfing other cars at shopping centres.

“Yank Tank blocking traffic,” one post reads, alongside a photo of a Chevrolet Silverado LTZ parked on a Melbourne street – its tail-end protruding into the flow of traffic.

Another Reddit post features a photo of a Toyota Yaris parked next to a Ram 1500 captioned: “Ram vs Yaris at Chadstone”.

“One for the Yank Tank haters/lovers – I’m 160cm tall, same height as its door handles,” one user captioned a photo of an imported Ford F-650, which can measure up to 2.4m in height.

While the Ford F-650 isn’t sold in Australia, US-based brands Ram and Chevrolet both offer their dual-cab utes locally.

Ford and Toyota are set to join the plus-sized ute ranks from late this year when they introduce the F-150 and Tundra, respectively.

The Ram 1500 is priced from $85,950 before on-road costs for an entry-level offering, up to $209,950 before on-road costs for the performance-enhanced, V8-powered TRX variant.

Larger Ram 2500 and 3500 models also sold here measure more than 6m in length, more than 2m in height and more than 2.5m in width.

Meanwhile, the Chevrolet Silverado is similarly massive and, in 2500 Heavy Duty spec, is priced from $163,000 plus on-road costs and measures almost 6.4m long, almost 2.3m wide and just over 2m tall.

For comparison, the largest Ford Ranger available in Australia – the Raptor – measures almost 5.4m long, 2m wide and 1.9m tall.

Despite their imposing size almost pushing them into light truck territory, the Ram and Chevrolet pick-ups can be driven on a regular Australian driver’s licence.

Both Ram and Chevrolet models are imported into Australia and then converted to right-hand drive by Walkinshaw Automotive Group, the same company once responsible for turning Holden vehicles into high-performance HSVs.

The Ram 1500 is proving to be the most popular of the two models and has sold 3697 units so far this year, which is a 68 per cent increase on the same period last year.

The majority of complaints about these supersized utes online seem to be centred around their inconveniently large footprints, but some commenters did go so far as to label them “unsafe” for pedestrians.

While most new cars in Australia are assessed by local safety body ANCAP, both the Ram and Chevrolet Silverado models have not been crash-tested locally as they are technically classed as commercial vehicles and thus do not fall under ANCAP’s jurisdiction. 

However, because the Ram and Chevrolet models aren’t restricted in their production numbers, they still have to comply with strict Australian Design Rules (ADR) safety standards, while other low-volume conversion companies do not.

The post ‘Yank Tanks’: Aussies bemoan the rise of large American utes appeared first on Drive.

A new special edition of Renault’s Alpine A110 sports car has been unveiled for Europe with carbon-fibre components made in its Formula One factory.

Renault’s sports-car brand Alpine has tapped its Formula One racing team to help create a new special edition for its Porsche Cayman-sized Alpine A110 sports car sold in Europe and the UK.

Unveiled ahead of the Formula One British Grand Prix this weekend, the A110 S Enstone Edition is distinguished by a selection of parts made from the same carbon-fibre as Alpine’s F1 race cars.

Produced in the Alpine F1 team’s factory in Enstone, UK – giving the car its name – the race-derived carbon-fibre is used for the centre console finisher, storage area lining, and the “visor … with the A arrow [Alpine’s logo]”.

There will be 300 examples of the special edition – all still assembled alongside regular Alpine A110s in Dieppe, France – each with a numbered plaque under the centre console.

The Enstone Edition is finished in dark ‘Gris Tonnerre’ (thunder grey) and light ‘Argent Mercure’ (mercury silver) paint for the body, a matte black roof, and a gloss or matte black bonnet (standard in the UK or optional in mainland Europe) with a Union Jack decal.

Other tweaks for the special edition include 18-inch matte black ‘GT Race’ wheels, silver Brembo brake calipers, Sabelt racing bucket seats with Enstone Edition embroidery, and the options of an exterior aero styling kit, and carbon-fibre flag badges behind the front doors.

The car is based on the top-of-the-range A110 S, powered by a 221kW 1.8-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine good for a claimed zero to 100km/h acceleration time of 4.2 seconds, and a 275km/h top speed (with the aero kit).

Orders for the Alpine A110 S Enstone Edition are now open in France, priced from €85,000 ($AU139,000) – about 15 per cent more than €74,500 ($AU122,000) price tag of the regular A110 S in France.

The final Alpine A110 sports cars arrived in Australia in late 2021, after it could not meet strict new safety regulations for side-impact collisions. The last example was reported as sold in April 2022.

The post Renault’s new Alpine special-edition sports car has Formula One parts appeared first on Drive.

Jeep’s iconic off-roader stands out even more these days against a slew of modern-day compliant SUVs. Buyers need to go in with their eyes open and be ready to stomach huge price rises.

2023 Jeep Wrangler Overland

There’s nothing quite like a Jeep Wrangler. And as most other new vehicles keep feeling homogenised by their platform-sharing sameness, there’s something refreshing about the almost rude brusqueness of the 2023 Jeep Wrangler.

It was best summed up by my three-year-old daughter Lucy. We walked out of swimming lessons together one winter’s night, and she was captivated by a Jeep Gladiator in the carpark, its glowing round headlights illuminating that unmistakable squared-off shape.

“Dad! Look!” she pointed and pronounced with absolute authority. “That is a cool car! Take a photo!”

She might not have mastered swimming without her floaties just yet, but this three-year-old instantly recognised the Jeep’s classic design for what it is: awesome.

And sitting among a sea of same-same SUVs and sedans, the Gladiator (which is just a longer ute version of the Wrangler) was even more pronounced.

While it is relatively new, this remains a four-wheel drive with an old heart. And in terms of sticking with the ethos that was first pounded out in the 1940s, Jeep gets all of the gold stars for keeping traditional design alive.

However, such a thing comes with compromises and shortcomings that need to be heeded by buyers. We all like the idea of a Wrangler, sure. But do we really want one? For some, it’s not even a question. Reading this review would be a basic formality, at best. The decision is already made, and I totally get it.

However, for those few that are teetering on whether a Wrangler is a good idea or not, I’m here to sweat out the details for you… warts and all.

And the biggest wart of all is the price.

How much does the Jeep Wrangler cost in Australia?

Jeep knows better than anybody else the strong allure of a new Wrangler. And if you’re yearning for some iconic American off-road metal, there really isn’t any substitute out there.

But I think Jeep Australia is taking that a little bit too far these days. Back in 2018, this same car had an asking price of $61,950. These days, the same vehicle has another $25,000 thrown on top.

Let’s state the obvious: that’s a lot of money.

Most other vehicles have become more expensive during those wild years of the pandemic and all of the chaos that came with it. However, Jeep also gets a big gold star for its 40 per cent increase in asking price.

There’s a less expensive Night Eagle variant available, but it’s still on the wrong side of $80,000.

This Overland does include some nice creature comforts at least for your additional spend. There are things like black leather trimming, heated front seats and steering wheel, body-coloured fenders and roof, a hard spare wheel cover and 18-inch alloy wheels. There’s also an Alpine nine-speaker sound system (with subwoofer), 8.4-inch infotainment display, remote start and keyless entry. This last handful of features are shared with the Night Eagle.

One could never forget about the Rubicon, which brings major mechanical upgrades like a 4:1 transfer case, 4.1:1 diff gears, mud tyres, sliders, upgraded suspension and a front swaybar disconnect to push an excellent off-roader into the sublime.

However, you’ll need to get the optional Luxury Pack on the Rubicon to match the interior and exterior niceties of this Overland model.

Now, I’ve listed some competition below that is similar in some respects. And since Jeep cranking up the price, the Wrangler is effectively competing against a broader and more sophisticated set of similar (to a point) offerings. Yes, there’s only one Wrangler. And nothing really offers the same mix of live axles, opened-up motoring with flat fenders and round headlights.

However, let’s consider what else you can get for over $85,000 before on-road costs, or nearly $95,000 on the road with the optional fabric roof. There’s an old but still lovely Nissan Patrol, which can be had for $95,115 (plus on-road costs) for top-spec Ti-L or $82,160 for the Ti. There’s also a tough Warrior variant soon coming to the market. Land Rover’s excellent Defender S P300 lobs in at $90,400 for a 90 or $92,800 for a 110.

Ford’s Ranger Raptor has an asking price of $87,990 plus on-road costs, while the Everest wagon goes up to $78,530 in its most expensive Platinum trim. The Toyota LandCruiser Prado tops out at $87,468 plus on-road costs for the Kakadu, while the most basic Toyota LandCruiser 300 Series GX costs $94,301. And while you probably can’t get one for love nor money in the short term, a 76 Series LandCruiser wagon has a list price of $75,100 for the GXL.

If these options don’t start talking you out of a Wrangler, then I’m afraid there is no help for you. And I completely understand.

How much space does the Jeep Wrangler have inside?

The body-on-frame nature of the Wrangler, as well as its ability to shed panels and doors, means the interior of the vehicle is a bit compromised in terms of space. Where it might feel like a big burly off-roader to drive and look at, the amount of interior space on offer is more in line with what you’d get in a medium-sized SUV.

The general layout, build quality and overall feel are good, and the heated leather seats of this Overland model do help with the presentation. It’s a flat, vertical dashboard that is similar to the old JK Wrangler and suits the vibe of this off-roader nicely. But at the same time, it’s practical enough: climate controls are all on their own panel of buttons, and there is a big ol’ Jesus bar in front of the passenger.

There isn’t a lot of storage on offer, however. The elastic netting on the door cards is a compromise, and the centre console is pokey.

One major gripe of mine is the driver’s footwell. It’s a strange shape, which narrows sharply to the point that you don’t have any room for your left foot. Clearly, right-hand-drive models were not considered important in the development of this new Wrangler, because the transmission tunnel eats in the available space. The passenger-side footwell is square-shaped and much more commodious overall.

The second row of the Wrangler is big enough for adults, but not what I would calls spacious. Visibility is good, however, and occupants will no doubt appreciate the air vents and twin USB-C power outlets here. Overland specification also gets a 230V power outlet here, which would come in handy for holidays and road trips.

Because the Wrangler’s body is relatively narrow, there’s not a stack of space for three up in the back. Child seats fit in well, and folks of any age will no doubt enjoy the Power Top opening roof. It’s an expensive box to tick, but it plays into the fun nature of the Wrangler as an outdoor and enthusiast vehicle. It’s slow to open, but does convert the car to roofless at the press of a button.

And if you want to go all out, then get out your spanners and you can lose the doors (and even the windscreen) after an hour or more of work. Jeep has thoughtfully put some slots into the boot for storing your bolts, so you don’t lose them.

The boot space measures in well at 898L, but the reality is that it’s not that big really. Once again, a medium-sized SUV is likely to be a good reference point here. It’s square and there is a good amount of height on offer. For when you need the extra room, a claimed 2050L of space all the way to the roof line is available.

One thing we have noted before is that dust sealing on the Wrangler’s tailgate isn’t perfect. In dusty conditions, the complex seal set-up to accommodate the side-hinged boot lid and top-hinged glass section can leak into the cabin noticeably.

Does the Jeep Wrangler have Apple CarPlay and Android Auto?

Infotainment in the Wrangler is managed by a square 8.4-inch system in the centre of the dashboard. It’s not as big as other offerings these days – especially at this price point – but this is still a sound system with good fundamentals.

There is Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, as well as digital radio and native navigation. The operating system, Uconnect 4, is good and easy to navigate around for your required functionality.

The digital screen in front of the driver, which is flanked by a big analogue speedometer and tachometer on each side, has lots of information to dig through as well.

Is the Jeep Wrangler a safe car?

Vehicles with removable doors and fold-down windscreens aren’t as safe as regular cars, it seems. Jeep was slapped with a three-star ANCAP safety rating in late 2019, which was an upgrade from the original one-star rating in the same year.

The additional two stars came via Jeep’s inclusion of autonomous emergency braking and blind-spot monitoring, but there are still some big gaps in the Wrangler’s safety repertoire.

The Wrangler scored 60 per cent for adult occupant protection, while child occupant protection is rated at 80 per cent. Vulnerable road users get 49 per cent, while the active safety assistance systems on the Wrangler score 51 per cent.

This new JL Wrangler is safer than a JK Wrangler, and is certainly a lot better than a TJ Wrangler. But one doesn’t need to look far to find a four-wheel-drive wagon with significantly better overall safety credentials.

What safety technology does the Jeep Wrangler have?

Standard safety technology for the Wrangler includes front and rear parking sensors, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, autonomous emergency braking and forward collision warning. Unlike most modern vehicles – and once again owing to the unique construction of the Wrangler – there are only four airbags available here. There’s no airbag coverage for those in the second row.

How much does the Jeep Wrangler cost to maintain?

Servicing your Wrangler runs through Jeep’s capped-price program, which limits the cost to $399 per visit for the first five years. And with service intervals set at 12 months or 12,000km, this will see you out to 60,000km.

Insuring a Wrangler Unlimited in this Overland specification costs $2229.42 based on a comparative quote for a 35-year-old male driver living in Chatswood, NSW. Insurance estimates may vary based on your location, driving history, and personal circumstances.

Is the Jeep Wrangler fuel-efficient?

A 3.6-litre petrol V6 – without any kind of turbocharging or hybrid assistance – isn’t going to be the last word in efficiency. This is especially the case when you’ve got aerodynamics playing second fiddle to heritage.

Against a claim of 9.7 litres per 100 kilometres, which doesn’t seem feasible in our eyes, we got 12.0L/100km in our testing. This included some long stints of highway driving, which helped bring the number down from a high point of 14.4L/100km at one stage. At least the Wrangler is happy drinking the cheap stuff and doesn’t need premium fuel.

Fuel Consumption – brought to you by bp

What is the Jeep Wrangler like to drive?

Fun but flawed. That’s the overriding character of this Wrangler from a daily driving point of view.

Around town, it’s not too bad. The 3.6-litre petrol V6 with 209kW/347Nm, which feels underdone in the larger and heavier Grand Cherokee, is a good companion to this Wrangler. Despite peak torque resting high up in the rev range, it’s willing off the mark and gives you a good surge of forward momentum when you need it. It’s well managed by the eight-speed automatic gearbox as well, which shifts with smooth and smart intentions.

The ride quality thanks to soft suspension and big tyre sidewalls soaks up rough surfaces quite well. There’s a fair amount of unsprung mass in movement, however, so repeated runs across wallowing surfaces will start to get a little unwieldy. But for the most part, taking in potholes and speedbumps comfortably, the Wrangler feels good.

It’s more of a handful on the highway, however. Trailing-arm-style front suspension, which is different to the radius arms you get on a LandCruiser or (old) Patrol or (old) Defender, seems to allow the Wrangler to wander around its lane at highway speeds. It’s not dangerous, but can be tiring by requiring constant, small steering inputs from the driver to reduce the pinball effect.

It’s also noisy on the highway. The flat windscreen is one thing, but that fabric roof overhead does allow a lot of wind noise to permeate into the cabin.

But you can’t escape the feeling that the Wrangler is fun to drive. It’s hard to explain, but it just feels adventurous to hop into and cruise down the road. You’ll either love it or hate it.

Off-road, it’s a different story. Despite the fact that hardcore upgrades in the driveline and suspension are kept for the Rubicon model, this more luxury-focussed Overland model is a weapon off-road. It boils down to the intrinsic off-road ability that is inherent to the Wrangler’s chassis and suspension.

For the very reason why the car isn’t much chop on the highway, it excels off-road. A narrow body and wide track yield a great centre of gravity, with wheels at each corner reducing your clearance angles significantly in comparison to others. And live axles front and rear – with healthy and equal amounts of travel on offer – allow the car to feel exceptionally balanced and stable through deep ruts and on funny angles.

Locking diffs and mud tyres on the Rubicon will always be the ultimate set-up, along with the mad front swaybar disconnect, but the combination of 32-inch highway tyres and off-road traction control is no slouch here. The Wrangler’s finesse in controlling wheel spin is up there with the best in the game, and the off-road cruise control (which they call Selec-Speed) is smooth and effective.

Once you get your head around wheel placement and visibility, the Jeep feels easy and capable to drive off-road. And fun: it feels mechanical and connected, which is a major difference to the Land Rover Defender. The Defender might offer a more sophisticated sense of off-road ability, but this Wrangler will probably appeal more to the enthusiast off-roader who likes steep tracks and rock-crawling.

Should I buy a Jeep Wrangler Overland?

It’s a shame that the price has gone up so dramatically for this new Wrangler. It has undoubtedly put some buyers off, while for others it’s now simply out of financial reach.

While Jeep might claim market conditions and supply costs pushing the prices up, it’s also a simple case of supply and demand.

Many will still want the Wrangler regardless of the sky-high price. They want it for the looks and heritage, which I fully understand. And if they do head off-road, they will be greeted with impressively high levels of capability in this vehicle. It’s not just a case of looks: even in this non-Rubicon format, this Wrangler Overland still walks the walk off-road.

And that explains it, really. This Wrangler is a unique offering in the current Australian motoring landscape. It’s equal parts fun and flawed, but the appeal has no doubt been blighted by the sharp increases in price over recent years.

The post 2023 Jeep Wrangler Overland review appeared first on Drive.

Brad Pitt is due to complete his first laps during a Grand Prix weekend at Silverstone, as part of filming for a fictional Formula One movie co-produced with seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton.

Hollywood megastar Brad Pitt is set to hit the track in a racing car during this weekend’s Formula One British Grand Prix, as filming for a new movie – co-produced by seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton – ramps up.

Pitt – star of Fight Club, Moneyball and Inglourious Basterds – will portray Sonny Hayes, a retired (and fictional) Formula One driver who returns to help mentor a younger driver, Joshua Pearce (portrayed by Damson Idris).

As previously reported, the movie will be filmed in-part throughout Formula One Grand Prix weekends, with this year’s race at Silverstone providing the first glimpse at what we can expect.

Both Pitt and Idris will drive for the fictional ‘APXGP’ team – which has been given its own official-looking pit garages at the famous circuit – though not during any official sessions, instead taking to the track during dedicated filming slots.

While the cars look like the real deal, they are actually Formula Two machines, with the Mercedes-AMG F1 team – who Lewis Hamilton races for – and F2 outfit Carlin drafted in to design new Formula One-style bodywork for the chassis.

The cars are finished in a mostly-black livery with gold highlights – which some fans have likened to the Haas team’s 2019 F1 cars, which wore the black and gold colours of controversial former sponsor Rich Energy – while a number of existing Formula One sponsors have been applied to its bodywork.

The as-yet untitled film is backed by tech giant Apple and directed by Joseph Kosinski (Top Gun: Maverick and Tron: Legacy), with legendary producer Jerry Bruckheimer (Days of Thunder, Bad Boys, Pirates of the Caribbean, and both Top Gun movies) also joining the ensemble production crew.

Do you want to see the new Formula One film when it comes out? Let us know in the comments below.

The post Brad Pitt to drive Formula One look-a-like at this weekend’s British Grand Prix appeared first on Drive.

The boss of Volkswagen’s Chinese operations warns the electric vehicle market faces some serious challenges and supports the continued development of petrol-powered vehicles as a reliable back-up.

The CEO of the Volkswagen Group’s Chinese operations, Ralf Brandstätter, has warned the high cost of electric cars combined with sharp discounting “will ultimately harm the interests of consumers”.

In a speech at the 2023 China Automobile Forum – hosted by the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers in Shanghai on Thursday local time – Mr Brandstätter said the electric vehicle market cannot continue on its current rapid roll-out path.

“There are more than 120 car makers within the [electric vehicle] market, and about 150 new models will be launched in 2023,” Mr Brandstätter told the industry gathering.

“Intense market competition and high battery prices make them face severe economic pressure. Short-term sales success requires extremely high capital investment.”

Addressing the financial squeeze facing many electric vehicle start-ups, Mr Brandstätter said many brands that entered the electric vehicle market in recent years are already exiting or are about to exit the market – or are in urgent need of new investment.

“We are facing a situation where the market is overheating. Consolidation of the playing field is in full swing,” said Mr Brandstätter.

The former head of the Volkswagen brand was particularly critical of the discounting of electric vehicles in China.

“The fierce competition has led to deep price discounts,” said Mr Brandstätter. “This will ultimately harm the interests of consumers. They will no longer be able to get services from retired brands, or they will see a significant price cut on the models they buy.”

Mr Brandstätter’s comments were viewed as a veiled criticism of rival Tesla, which has led the trend towards sharp discounting whenever customer demand tapers.

The 54-year-old German executive said the Volkswagen Group will not pursue sales growth within the Chinese electric-vehicle market at all costs.

“For us, the profitability of the business is the most important” said Mr Brandstätter. “We will not engage in unhealthy market competition in order to achieve short-term delivery growth.”

In a later post on social media platform LinkedIn, Mr Brandstätter wrote: “A lot of capital (financial investment) is being destroyed (by large discounts) that is then not available for the development of cutting-edge technologies”.

Mr Brandstätter’s warning about the downsides to the rapid roll-out of electric cars comes despite a recent announcement by the Chinese government that it intends to instigate a new round of subsidies for so-called New Energy Vehicles (NEVs) from 2024 through to the end of 2027.

The RMB520 billion ($AU108 billion) tax-relief package is aimed at encouraging new vehicle buyers in China to choose electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids over conventional internal combustion-engined models and used vehicles by offering an exception on purchase tax, which currently stands at 10 per cent.

Worldwide electric vehicle sales increased by 55 per cent in 2022 – 10.1 million deliveries – compared to a year earlier. China accounted for the largest share, with a total of 5.9 million electric-car sales over the same period.

Outlining the Volkswagen Group’s plans for the Chinese market, Mr Brandstätter said the company would not abandon the petrol car market despite slowing sales.

“We will continue to leverage our advantages in the (petrol) engine market,” said Mr Brandstätter.

Although its overall size is shrinking, the Volkswagen Group still maintains considerable profitability by virtue of its scale and cost amortisation advantages.

“By 2030, we will launch a total of 17 new (petrol) engine models,” said Mr Brandstätter. “In addition, we are promoting the development of hybrid technology and gradually transforming petrol models to plug-in hybrids, becoming a strong player in this market segment.”

So far in 2023, Volkswagen has increased its share of the Chinese new-car market from 18 to 20 percent.

As part of its efforts to become more competitive and improve profitability, Mr Brandstätter said: “Volkswagen is accelerating at ‘China speed’,” reiterating recent comments made by Volkswagen Group CEO, Oliver Blume, that the development time of the conglomerate’s new cars and technologies will be shortened by up to 30 percent.

In spite of his warnings over the electric vehicle market, Mr Brandstätter confirmed the Volkswagen Group is holding firm to plans to launch 30 new electric vehicles in China by 2030.

“Our new ID. 7 is opening up a new segment,” said Mr Brandstätter. “And with other new (electric cars) soon to roll off the production line at Volkswagen Anhui, as well as new models from Audi on the basis of the Premium Platform Electric (PPE), we plan to expand our range of fully electric vehicles to 30 models by 2030.”

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Alfa Romeo’s first plug-in hybrid SUV to go on sale in Australia is nearly $17,000 more than the most expensive Tonale Hybrid.

• 2024 Alfa Romeo Tonale Plug-in Hybrid pricing and specifications
• Plug-in hybrid variant arrives in single Veloce grade with Lusso Pack as standard
• Up to 60km claimed electric-only driving range
• Priced from $77,500 plus on-road costs

The Alfa Romeo Tonale Plug-in Hybrid (PHEV) is due in Australian showrooms from October 2023, arriving with a premium of almost $17,000 compared to the small Italian SUV’s existing flagship grade.

Priced from $77,500 plus on-road costs, the Tonale Plug-in Hybrid is $16,600 more than the hybrid Tonale Veloce upon which it is based, which includes the existing variant’s optional ‘Lusso Pack’ upgrades – standard equipment on the new grade.

Powering Alfa Romeo’s first plug-in hybrid SUV is a turbocharged 1.3-litre four-cylinder petrol engine, which delivers up to 132kW to the front wheels through a six-speed automatic transmission.

MORE: 2023 Alfa Romeo Tonale plug-in hybrid review

The petrol engine is paired with a 90kW/250Nm electric motor on the rear axle, bringing the Tonale Plug-in Hybrid’s combined power output up to 208kW.

Alfa Romeo claims the electrified SUV can drive for up to 60km on electric-only power, which is supplied by a 15.5kWh lithium-ion battery pack – capable of being charged in less than two-and-a-half hours at up to 7.4kW. 

The 2024 Alfa Romeo Tonale Plug-in Hybrid is due in Australia in October 2023, with orders for the SUV now open.

2024 Alfa Romeo Tonale Australian pricing

• Tonale Hybrid Ti – $49,900
• Tonale Hybrid Veloce – $56,400
• Tonale Plug-in Hybrid Veloce – $77,500 (new)

Note: All prices above exclude on-road costs.

2024 Alfa Romeo Veloce Plug-in Hybrid standard features:

• 19-inch diamond-cut alloy wheels
• Brembo red brake calipers
• Adaptive suspension
• Dark Miron exterior styling elements, including dark-finished grille and black window trim
• Privacy glass
• Power-folding heated side mirrors with gloss black mirror caps
• Heated washer nozzles
• Panoramic sunroof
• Matrix LED headlights with scrolling indicators
• 10.25-inch infotainment touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, satellite navigation and digital radio
• 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster
• Wireless smartphone charging
• 14-speaker, 465-watt Harman Kardon sound system
• Keyless entry and start
• Dual-zone auto climate control
• Alfa Connect services
• Perforated black Alcantara and leatherette seats with red stitching, embroidered ‘Biscone’ logo
• Heated and ventilated eight-way power-adjustable front seats with memory
• Leather-wrapped heated steering wheel
• Dark grey stitching for seats, front centre armrest and door pads
• Black headlining
• Front and rear floor mats
• Aluminium sports pedals
• Autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection
• Lane-keep assist
• Lane departure warning
• Adaptive cruise control with stop and go
• Front and rear parking sensors
• Traffic sign recognition
• Driver drowsiness detection
• Tyre pressure monitoring
• Blind-spot monitoring
• Rear cross-traffic alert
• Level two assisted driving (traffic jam assist)
• Side parking sensors
• 360-degree camera

Standalone options:

• 20-inch grey alloy wheels – $1500

Available colours:

• Alfa White (no cost)
• Alfa Red ($1600)
• Alfa Black ($1600)
• Vesuvio Grey Metallic ($1600)
• Misano Blue Metallic ($1600)
• Montreal Green Tri-Coat ($2500)

The post 2024 Alfa Romeo Tonale Plug-in Hybrid price and specs appeared first on Drive.

The Alfa Romeo Tonale is price from less than $50,000 plus on-road costs in Australia – with a flagship plug-in hybrid variant topping out at $77,500.

• 2023 Alfa Romeo Tonale pricing and specifications
• Mild-hybrid and plug-in hybrid now on sale
• Two variants available, Ti and Veloce
• Priced from $49,900 before on-road costs

UPDATE, 7 July 2023: Alfa Romeo has announced pricing and specifications for the Tonale’s plug-in hybrid grade, due in Australian showrooms in October 2023.

Priced from $77,500 plus on-road costs, the Tonale Plug-in Hybrid is based on the ‘standard’ Tonale Veloce with the addition of its ‘Lusso Pack’ upgrades – for a premium of $16,600. Click here for more details.

Our original story continues below.

4 October 2022: Alfa Romeo’s first all-new model in six years, the 2023 Alfa Romeo Tonale small SUV, is due in Australian showrooms in February next year, priced from $49,900 plus on-road costs.

Now available to order, the Tonale is Alfa Romeo’s rival for the Audi Q3, BMW X1, Mercedes-Benz GLA and Volvo XC40, and launches with two model grades – both powered by mild-hybrid petrol engines, with front-wheel drive.

The car maker has performed a U-turn on plans not to offer the plug-in hybrid version in Australia, confirming it’s due to launch locally in late 2023 – about six months after the mild-hybrid range, due in February 2023.

Prices start from $49,900 plus on-road costs for the entry-level Ti, and rise to $56,400 plus on-road costs for the sport-themed Veloce – with two option packs available (depending on variant), Technology and Lusso.

Powering the Tonale Hybrid models is a 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine developing 118kW and 240Nm, assisted by a 48-volt mild-hybrid system (with a 15kW electric motor) to drive the front wheels through a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission.

Unlike other mild-hybrid systems, the Tonale’s electric motor can power the wheels with the engine off at low speeds (below 15km/h) – but at 0.8kWh, the battery pack is smaller than most ‘full’ hybrids, and electric driving range will be minimal.

Alfa Romeo quotes a combined fuel economy claim of 5.6 litres per 100km.

Meanwhile, the plug-in hybrid due in late 2023 combines a 1.3-litre turbo engine with a 90kW electric motor and 15.5kWh battery for a total of 202kW, powering all four wheels for a 6.2-second 0-100km/h time, and up to 60km of claimed electric driving range.

For more details on the plug-in hybrid system, click here to read Drive’s story on the Tonale’s global reveal in February 2022.

Standard features on the entry-level model include a 10.25-inch touchscreen (with new software for the Alfa Romeo brand), a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, matrix LED headlights, 18-inch wheels, and keyless entry and start.

While autonomous emergency braking, lane-keep assist and adaptive cruise control are standard across the range, blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert are not – unlike rivals from Audi, BMW, Volvo and Mercedes-Benz.

To get these features, buyers must option the Technology Pack on the Ti, or spend more for the Veloce model.

The Veloce also adds leatherette and Alcantara seats (replacing cloth and leatherette), 19-inch wheels, red Brembo brake calipers, adaptive suspension, and unique Dark Miron styling elements.

The Tonale has been awarded a five-star safety rating from Euro NCAP. Alfa Romeo Australia says an equivalent rating from ANCAP – Euro NCAP’s Australian equivalent – will follow after additional local testing “in late 2022”.

A range of option packs and standalone extras are available.

The 2023 Alfa Romeo Tonale is available to order now, and is due in Australian showrooms in February.

2023 Alfa Romeo Tonale Australian pricing

• Tonale Hybrid Ti – $49,900
• Tonale Hybrid Veloce – $56,400
• Tonale Plug-in Hybrid Veloce – $77,500 (new)

Note: All prices above exclude on-road costs.

2023 Alfa Romeo Tonale Hybrid Ti standard features:

• 18-inch diamond-cut alloy wheels
• Black-painted body kit with satin chrome accents
• Power-folding heated side mirrors with gloss black mirror caps
• Matrix LED headlights with scrolling indicators
• 10.25-inch infotainment touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, satellite navigation and digital radio
• 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster
• Wireless smartphone charging
• Six-speaker sound system
• Keyless entry and start
• Dual-zone auto climate control
• Six-way manually-adjustable front seats with power driver lumbar
• Alfa Connect services
• Cloth and leatherette seats with beige stitching
• Leather-wrapped steering wheel
• Soft-touch dashboard insert with beige stitching
• Black headlining
• Front and rear floor mats
• Aluminium sports pedals
• Autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection
• Lane-keep assist
• Lane departure warning
• Adaptive cruise control with stop and go
• Front and rear parking sensors
• Traffic sign recognition
• Driver drowsiness detection
• Tyre pressure monitoring

2023 Alfa Romeo Tonale Hybrid Veloce adds (over Ti):

• 19-inch diamond-cut alloy wheels
• Adaptive suspension
• Blind-spot monitoring
• Rear cross-traffic alert
• Level 2 assisted driving (traffic jam assist)
• Side parking sensors
• 360-degree camera
• Dark Miron exterior styling elements, including dark-finished grille
• Brembo red brake calipers
• Privacy glass
• Black window trim
• Perforated black Alcantara and leatherette seats with red stitching, embroidered ‘Biscone’ logo
• Red stitching on doors and centre console
• Aluminium sill plates and shift paddles
• Auto-dimming side mirrors

2023 Alfa Romeo Tonale Plug-in Hybrid Veloce adds (over Hybrid Veloce):

• Eight-way power-adjustable front seats with memory
• Heated and ventilated front seats
• Heated steering wheel
• Perforated black leather-accented upholstery
• Dark grey stitching for seats, front centre armrest and door pads
• 14-speaker, 465-watt Harman Kardon sound system
• Heated washer nozzles
• Dual-pane panoramic sunroof

The $2500 Technology Pack, optional on the Ti (but standard on the Veloce), adds:

• Blind-spot monitoring
• Rear cross-traffic alert
• Level 2 assisted driving (traffic jam assist)
• Side parking sensors
• 360-degree camera
• Auto-dimming side mirrors

The optional $4500 Lusso Pack, available on Ti and Veloce Hybrid, adds:

• Eight-way power-adjustable front seats with memory
• Heated and ventilated front seats
• Heated steering wheel
• Perforated black leather-accented upholstery
• Dark grey stitching for seats, front centre armrest and door pads
• 14-speaker, 465-watt Harman Kardon sound system
• Heated washer nozzles

Standalone options:

• Dual-pane panoramic sunroof (Ti and Veloce Hybrid, $2500)
• 20-inch grey alloy wheels (Veloce only, $1500)

Available colours:

• Alfa White (all variants, no cost)
• Alfa Red (all variants, $1600)
• Alfa Black (all variants, $1600)
• Vesuvio Grey Metallic (all variants, $1600)
• Misano Blue Metallic (all variants, $1600)
• Montreal Green Tri-Coat (Veloce only, $2500)

The post 2023 Alfa Romeo Tonale price and specs – UPDATE appeared first on Drive.