This week in automotive information: February 11-17

We publish a ton of automotive information tales through the working week, and it may be robust to maintain up with every part – which is the rationale behind this weekend listing.

Briefly, listed here are some key articles from our information desk since Monday of this week summarised, simply in case you missed them on the time.

Toyota HiLux may lose gross sales crown in 2023

The perfect-selling automobile within the nation may very well be dethroned in 2023, as Toyota Australia admits the competitors is fiercer than ever earlier than.

The Japanese model’s mainstay HiLux ute – which accounted for an enormous 64,391 gross sales in 2022 – has been the best-selling automobile nameplate in Australia for seven years straight, however it’s prone to dropping that place in 2023, Toyota admits.

Sean Hanley, Toyota Australia vice chairman of gross sales, advertising and marketing and franchise operations, intimated the model is up towards it in 2023 in terms of what he calls, “tremendous opponents” within the ute house.

“HiLux is going through an enormous problem this yr. We definitely respect our opponents, it’s a difficult market, and we don’t take our place as a right,” he mentioned.

FULL STORY: Toyota admits HiLux may lose gross sales crown in 2023

Toyota’s all-wheel drive sizzling hatch priced

Toyota has launched official pricing and specs for the extremely anticipated GR Corolla, forward of its arrival in March.

Costs begin from $62,300 earlier than on-road prices for the GR Corolla GTS and $77,800 earlier than on-road prices for the Morizo Version excluding on-road prices.

Toyota Australia has confirmed it has secured 700 items of the GTS throughout the first yr of manufacturing and solely 25 examples of the Morizo Version.

The stripped-out flagship will be a part of the GTS “within the coming months”.

FULL STORY: 2023 Toyota Corolla GR worth and specs

Ram reveals its first electrical pickup

Ram is utilizing the most important present of the yr – a minimum of within the US – to tease its first electrical pickup truck.

The Ram 1500 REV, as will probably be referred to as, is being previewed in a Tremendous Bowl industrial forward of a fourth-quarter 2024 introduction within the US, and the corporate has additionally launched a bevy of pictures – if little in the way in which of technical data.

The corporate notes “range-lengthening expertise” will come later.

FULL STORY: 2024 Ram 1500 REV electrical pickup previewed

Citroen’s up to date C5 Aircross coming this yr

Peugeot Citroen Australia has confirmed the facelifted 2023 C5 Aircross Sport shall be arriving in native showrooms “later in H1, 2023“, together with some preliminary particulars.

Whereas pricing hasn’t been confirmed but, clients can register their curiosity at Citroen’s website, with the brand new Sport specification bringing bringing an upgraded drivetrain, extra options, and far improved expertise.

For 2023 there’s a 133kW/250Nm 1.6-litre four-cylinder turbo petrol underneath the bonnet, driving the entrance wheels by way of a brand new eight-speed computerized transmission. The earlier C5 Aircross Shine ran a 121kW tune and a six-speed auto.

FULL STORY: 2023 Citroen C5 Aircross preliminary particulars confirmed

Toyota strengthening deal with EVs

Koji Sato is entering into the highest job at Toyota, and one in all his first acts shall be to strengthen the Japanese big’s deal with electrical autos.

Lexus will lead the transformation, with the luxurious model already confirmed to be going EV-only by 2035.

“To ship enticing BEVs to extra clients, we should streamline the construction of the automotive, and―with a BEV-first mindset―we should drastically change the way in which we do enterprise, from manufacturing to gross sales and repair,” mentioned Sato-san, who takes the reins on April 1, 2023.

FULL STORY: Toyota adopting “BEV-first” mindset underneath new CEO

Victoria cracking down on telephones, smartwatches, tablets within the automotive

The state of Victoria is cracking down on distracted drivers, introducing new guidelines from March 31, 2023 surrounding machine use because it rolls out cell phone and seat belt cameras.

Unlawful use of a cell phone or different machine attracts a $555 positive and 4 demerit factors. If the matter is heard at courtroom, the positive will be as a lot as $1849.

Learner and probationary drivers will lose their allow or licence in the event that they accumulate greater than 4 demerit factors in a yr; full licence holders’ restrict is 11 demerit factors over a three-year interval.

FULL STORY: Victoria cracking down on telephones, smartwatches, tablets within the automotive

Mini Electrical goes topless in Europe

Mini has revealed its first-ever electrical convertible, however it’s solely a restricted version.

The 2023 Mini Cooper SE Convertible shall be accessible in Europe from April this yr and be restricted to 999 items.

Each instance of this limited-edition convertible shall be produced alongside the internal-combustion Mini Convertible within the Netherlands.

It’s unclear if Mini plans to supply these electrical convertibles in any market apart from Europe. We’ve reached out to Mini Australia and can replace this story as soon as we hear again.

FULL STORY: Mini Electrical goes topless in Europe

How the Toyota GR Corolla and GR Yaris may get much more in style

Toyota’s hardcore GR division may quickly supply an computerized transmission selection for purchasers out there for a GR Yaris or GR Corolla.

Toyota GR Corolla chief engineer Naoyuki Sakamoto informed CarExpert the model is engaged on an computerized transmission choice for consumers proper now.

“It’s potential. We’re testing an computerized transmission within the GR Yaris within the Japanese rally group,” Sakamoto-san mentioned.

“We’ve joined the rally collection with a GR Yaris with computerized transmission, and with every rally if we discover some points, we enhance it. Such sort of exercise is the central concept of the GR firm – at all times from motorsports improvement.”

FULL STORY: How the Toyota GR Corolla and GR Yaris may get much more in style

Peugeot’s first electrical automobile for Australia confirmed

Peugeot’s first electrical automobile in Australia shall be a model of its small Companion van.

The 2023 Peugeot e-Companion will arrive within the first half of this yr, with full specs and native pricing to be revealed nearer to launch.

The model has dedicated to providing electrical autos throughout its passenger automotive, SUV and light-weight industrial automobile ranges.

The e-Companion shall be supplied solely in long-wheelbase guise, in contrast to the combustion-powered mannequin which will also be had with a shorter wheelbase.

FULL STORY: Peugeot Australia’s first EV right here within the first half of 2023

EU Parliament approves 2035 ban on diesel and petrol new automotive gross sales

On Tuesday, the European Parliament authorised the CO2 emissions reductions targets that may see the sale of latest petrol and diesel vehicles banned in 2035.

The ‘Match for 55’ bundle, initially proposed on 14 July 2021, goals to contribute to the European Union’s general local weather targets for 2030 and 2050 by directing the automotive {industry} in direction of low- and zero-emission applied sciences, and making it extra possible for customers to adapt mentioned applied sciences.

Banning the sale of CO2-emitting vehicles in 2035 will help the purpose of a carbon-neutral transport sector by 2050, contemplating the common lifespan of a brand new automobile is 15 years.

The ban, which was authorised with 340 votes in favour, 279 towards and 21 abstentions, will help the EU’s formidable emissions discount targets to cut back CO2 emissions from new vehicles and vans by 100 per cent in comparison with 2021.

FULL STORY: EU Parliament approves 2035 ban on diesel and petrol new automotive gross sales

Toyota HiLux hybrid plans taking form

Toyota is the undisputed chief for hybrid expertise within the Australian market, however it has but to supply any electrification on its top-selling HiLux ute. That’s set to alter.

Sean Hanley, Toyota Australia’s vice chairman of gross sales, advertising and marketing and franchise operations, hinted the HiLux vary will increase additional this yr.

“After all, we’re not standing nonetheless with our HiLux line-up,” Mr Hanley mentioned. “Final yr we launched the [updated] HiLux Rogue, and it has been very warmly acquired. Within the third quarter of this yr, we’ll launch HiLux GR Sport.”

“Past that, we can have extra motion on HiLux within the second half of the yr.”

FULL STORY: Toyota HiLux hybrid plans taking form

2024 Volkswagen Touareg: Up to date flagship SUV to be extra luxe than ever

The Volkswagen Touareg will obtain its mid-life facelift through the European summer time, forward of an Australian launch through the first quarter of 2024.

In keeping with the model, headline adjustments for this nip-and-tuck embody chassis and expertise updates, extra premium cabin appointments, in addition to a European-first illuminated rear VW emblem.

For Australia, the facelifted vary may even see the introduction of the Touareg R eHybrid PHEV, which was beforehand earmarked for a late-2022 or early-2023 launch Down Beneath. The native arm has opted to attend for the upgraded mannequin somewhat than importing a handful of pre-facelift fashions.

Different particulars – like all powertrain adjustments or shuffles to the Australian line-up – shall be confirmed on the facelifted Touareg’s reveal within the coming months.

FULL STORY: 2024 Volkswagen Touareg: Up to date flagship SUV to be extra luxe than ever

Subaru Solterra’s Australian launch delayed once more

Subaru has confirmed its first electrical automobile is now set for a launch later this yr.

The Subaru Solterra had been set for a “mid-2023” launch, however has now been confirmed for a launch within the second half of the yr.

“Subaru Australia seems to be ahead to launching the Subaru Solterra within the second half of 2023. With international, industry-wide provide constraints and powerful demand for Subaru autos, at occasions there could also be a slight adjustment to the arrival occasions of latest merchandise, as skilled with the Solterra,” mentioned a spokesperson for Subaru Australia.

FULL STORY: Subaru Australia delays its first electrical automobile once more

Toyota needs fanatic GR Corolla consumers, received’t blacklist speculators

Toyota Australia has taken the unprecedented step of screening potential consumers of the brand new GR Corolla sizzling hatch to make sure the vehicles – which can be found in low volumes resulting from provide constraints – discover reputable fanatic homeowners.

The Japanese model has instituted the transfer to try to circumvent the onslaught of price-gouging profiteers which have discovered consumers keen to pay over the chances for his or her new vehicles through the COVID interval.

Toyota Australia gross sales, advertising and marketing and franchise operations supervisor, Sean Hanley, mentioned the model is asking sellers to be extra lively in making certain the best purchaser will get the automotive they deserve.

FULL STORY: Toyota needs fanatic GR Corolla consumers, received’t blacklist speculators