Car News

French tyre maker Michelin has announced the new Agilis 3 commercial tyre for Australia. Designed for utes, vans, and light trucks, Michelin claims the new tyres reduces braking distances, and provides improved longevity. The French tyre maker says a set of new Agilis 3 tyres was tested on a Toyota HiAce Commuter and found to reduce braking distance by 5 per cent, when benchmarked against three sets of new tyres from competitors.

A “flying car" built by Japanese developer SkyDrive has been publicly demonstrated for the first time. The SD-03 vehicle is powered by eight independent electric motors and has been in development since 2014. While no one can dispute its sound aeronautical capabilities, the vehicle’s status as a “car” remains slightly more controversial – this prototype doesn’t even have wheels, meaning it is less manoeuvrable on the ground than most planes.

Jeep has revealed the plug-in hybrid Wrangler 4xe overnight, alongside the Grand Wagoneer luxury full-size SUV. Presented on stage in Rubicon specification, the Wrangler 4xe is described as a key part of Jeep's electrification strategy – indeed, Jeep says this is the 'most capable Wrangler ever'. Using Jeep's two-litre 'Etorque' turbocharged petrol engine, the Wrangler 4xe uses an electric motor in between the engine and transmission to create a hybrid drivetrain.

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz S-Class is already being manufactured at the German brand’s state-of-the-art Factory 56. Located in Sindelfingen (near Stuttgart), Mercedes-Benz says the new plant is among the world’s most technologically advanced, and was designed with improved efficiency, sustainability, digitisation and production flexibility in mind.

The inventor of the motor car – Mercedes-Benz – is poised to take the first big step into the next level of autonomous driving, and has likened the achievement to planting a flag on the moon. Speaking to media ahead of the unveiling of the 2021 Mercedes S-Class sedan, the global boss of the German brand, Ola Kallenius, said the company was about to roll out "Level Three" autonomy, pending government approval.