Car News

After unveiling the sporty CT4-V earlier this year, Cadillac has now taken the wraps off the rest of the CT4 range. The CT4 uses an updated version of the Alpha platform underpinning the Chevrolet Camaro and Cadillac CT5 sedan. That’s good news as Alpha cars have been frequently praised by critics for their dynamics. In terms of size, it’s almost identical to the old entry-level ATS. Total length is 4756mm, fractionally longer than a BMW 3 Series but with a wheelbase 76mm shorter at 2775mm.

The Abarth 595 Pista has been unveiled, with the new model bridging the gap between the base 595 and 595 Competizione. Under the bonnet, the 595 Pista has a revised 1.4-litre four-cylinder engine with a larger Garrett turbocharger. It is rated at 121kW of power, and 230Nm of torque at 2250rpm.

Mercedes-Benz has opened a new design centre in Nice, along the luxury-filled southern coast of France. It is situated in the middle of the Sophia Antipolis Science and Technology Park, dubbed France's ‘Silicon Valley’.

Volvo Car Australia has introduced capped-price servicing across its range, addressing one of the biggest concerns about its SUVs, wagons and sedans. The new plans pull Volvo's maintenance pricing into closer alignment with BMW, although the German brand is still cheaper. Three years or 45,000km of servicing for the S60, V60 and XC40 is priced at $1595, and it'll cost $1795 to maintain the petrol XC60 and XC90. Servicing for the XC60, XC90 and V90 Cross Country diesels costs $1895.

This week Paul Maric, Alborz Fallah, Tony Crawford, Josh Dowling, and Mike Costello are broadcasting from the Volkswagen stand at the 2019 Frankfurt motor show. They discuss their hits and misses, and the lack of manufacturers present at the show. Plus, they cover some of the production models and concepts, including the Volkswagen ID.3, Land Rover Defender, Honda e, Mercedes-Benz EQS, and Josh's time with the Kia Soul.