Car News

COMMENT Like all major disasters, the demise of Holden after 72 years in Australia is the result of a vast number of factors – some of which were out of its control. The problems go way beyond the use of the Commodore name on the imported model after local manufacturing ended in 2017 (the name probably helped not hindered sales), or the series of misguided TV advertisements and billboards that tried to radically change Holden’s image to appeal to a more cosmopolitan audience.

Kia's seven-seat 2020 Sorento SUV has finally been revealed in official images, ahead of its public debut at the Geneva motor show next month. Pictured here in European trim, the 2021 Sorento will replace the third-generation car currently offered in Australia, going up against the Mazda CX-9 and related Hyundai Santa Fe. Compared to the current model (pictured at the bottom), the new Sorento has a tougher face and an overall boxier look.

Car buyers could be denied valid warranty claims – and showrooms would be at a greater risk of going bust, leaving customers high and dry – under proposed changes to franchise agreements being considered by the Federal Government.

Gordon Murray is best known for his work engineering Formula 1 race cars and the legendary McLaren F1. Lately, however, he’s been working on something very different – an autonomous vehicle. Gordon Murray Design has collaborated with Delta Motorsport and consultancy itMoves to create an autonomous vehicle platform, dubbed Motiv, which has made its debut at the MOVE 2020 mobility show in London this week.

Toyota Australia has confirmed the Supra is getting a power boost and tweaked suspension "towards the end of 2020". The existing BMW-sourced turbocharged inline-six engine carries over, but peak power jumps from 250kW to 285kW – peak torque remains unchanged at 500Nm. Under the skin, Toyota says the power upgrades will be paired with a reworked suspension and an under-bonnet stiffening brace designed to deliver "more track focused handling".