Car News

Toyota Australia has issued a recall for the 2018-19 model-year Prius C hatchback over concerns the 12V battery will stop charging. According to the Japanese manufacturer, “the 12-volt auxiliary battery may stop charging due to improper soldering on the circuit board in the vehicles DC/DC converter”.

Holden Special Vehicles has given its flagship SportsCat ute a mid-cycle makeover with new wheels, sports seats and a new, grippier steering wheel. However, there is no extra power under the bonnet and, as with the Holden Colorado on which it is based, autonomous emergency braking and radar cruise control – available on the Toyota HiLux and Ford Ranger, the top two sellers – are not available on the HSV.

Hyundai Motor Company has revealed a new 1.6-litre turbo petrol engine featuring world-first technology dubbed Continuously Variable Valve Duration (CVVD). Set to be launched with the new Sonata sedan later this year, the CVVD system forms part of the company’s ‘Smart Stream’ engine and transmission family, which aim to optimise both performance and fuel efficiency.

The compact performance SUV class is set grow rapidly over the next 12 months, but BMW will be waiting until at least 2023 for an X1 fettled by M. Although the X2 M35i shares its platform with the recently-updated X1, the company has confirmed we won’t see an M Performance version of the more practical X1 in this generation.

Volkswagen has teased the updated California campervan with two sketches, ahead of a debut at the Caravan-Salon in Düsseldorf, Germany at the end of next month. Following the reveal of the ‘T6.1’ Transporter, Multivan and Caravelle range in February, the refreshed California looks to get the same design tweaks as its siblings, adapted to its lifestyle focus. Changes will include revised designs for the front grille, headlights and bumper, the latter incorporating a new fog-light design, too.