The week’s top news stories: August 19, 2018

The automotive news wheel is always turning. If you’re not constantly checking CarAdvice – which you should be doing, by the way – it can be easy for some headlines to slip through the cracks.

To make sure you haven’t missed anything important, we’ve gathered what we reckon are the hottest news stories from this week, right here. Check them out, and let us know what caught your eye.

The 2018 Mahindra Pik-Up range has expanded to include four new variants, taking the total count to nine.

Check out the full spec list here

Honda Europe has released initial details and images of the updated 2019 HR-V, ahead of an October launch for that market.

While the exterior revisions are largely in line with the updated model revealed for places like Japan and Australia, the EU-spec HR-V will offer a 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine – likely the same unit offered in the Civic – from "spring 2019", or some point= between the beginning of March and the end of May.

Keen on a turbo HR-V? 

Ford is yet to officially confirm the existence of a Ranger Raptor for the North American market, but documents filed with IP Australia referencing an American design patent suggest its announcement is imminent.

And they're going to get a petrol!

Nearly three-quarters of Australian motorists are worried about mobile phone use, and more than half are calling for a strong police presence to tackle the problem.

According to a study of 1500 NRMA members, illegal phone use tops the list of safety concerns on the road, with 72 per cent of respondents listing it as a concern, topping drunk drivers (56 per cent) and speeding (55 per cent).

Don't text and drive, folks

BMW Australia has detailed pricing and specifications for the new M5 Competition, set to start at $229,900 before on-road costs when it arrives in local showrooms in October.

Too much, not enough or just right?

After leaking in a set of poorly-lit, awkwardly cropped pictures earlier this week, the BMW Z4 M40i has been outed in full.

Unsurprisingly it looks just like the world expected

MG has revealed pricing and specs for the facelifted MG3 range, headlined by the addition of an automatic transmission and a new media system with smartphone mirroring.

The range will start with the MG3 Core, priced from $15,990 drive-away

Isuzu has used the National 4x4 Outdoors Show in Melbourne to reveal a pair of pumped-up concepts before they hit the outdoors show circuit, in the D-Max and MU-X Concept X.

Dayum, they're some big trucks

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