Car News

The updated 'FN' Ford Mustang has improved on its predecessor's woeful ANCAP result, but still only manages a three-star safety rating. Central to the improvement is the addition of autonomous-emergency braking, forward collision warning and lane-keeping assist across the range of vehicles built since December 2017. That bumps the car's safety assist score from 16 per cent to 61 per cent, and improves its pedestrian protection rating from 64 per cent to 78 per cent.

BMW Australia has issued a recall for the 2017-18 'F90' M5 sedan over concerns about a faulty fuel pump. The manufacturer reports a software fault is to blame for the issue, which could cause the pump to "stop working while the car is in motion". If the condition occurs, the vehicle could lose power, posing an accident risk. There are 51 affected M5 units, sold from 21 August 2017 through 18 April 2018. A VIN list is attached here.

The Ateco Group has produced its first Ram 1500 at its facility in Melbourne, Victoria, ahead of the truck's market launch this month. Pricing and specifications for our market are still to be announced, though all versions will feature a 5.7-litre 'Hemi' V8– which makes 395hp (294kW) in US trim – and offer a towing capacity of up to 4.5 tonnes.

Fiat Chrysler has recalled the 2016-2018 Alfa Romeo Giulietta, over concerns drivers could deactivate the passenger-side airbag using the instrument panel. According to the company, the passenger airbag may not deploy if the driver has disabled or switched it off using the menus in the car's instrument panel. The ability to turn the airbag off like this shouldn't exist, Alfa Romeo says, and increases the risk of injury if the car is involved in an accident.

The Skoda Sunroq, a four-door open-top crossover based on the Karoq, has been unveiled by its student creators in Mladá Boleslav, Czechia. It took 23 students around eight months to design, convert and produce the Sunroq. The students received instruction, training and advice from Skoda's design and engineering teams. In addition to lopping off the car's roof, the students have redesigned the car's A- and B-pillars, modified the doors, and given the vehicle a new tailgate.