Car News

If you’ve ever found yourself thinking ‘there’s a bit too much tech in this car, why couldn’t it just be simpler?’ - there’s every chance you’d get along with Albert Biermann.

The Honda Power Manager Concept made its debut alongside the well received Urban EV Concept at the 2017 Frankfurt motor show. Described by its maker as a "fully-integrated energy transfer system”, the Power Manager Concept is designed to regulate the flow of electricity between a home or office, and the rest of the electricity grid.

American fans of the Ford Fiesta will have to keep their current-generation vehicles, as the company's North American arm has announced that the US won't be getting any versions of its little hatchback - not even the hot ST model. Speaking with CarBuzz at the Frankfurt motor show, Leo Roeks, Ford Performance of Europe director, said low demand in the US is to blame for the Fiesta's demise.

A hotter version of the Holden Astra hatch has been spied undergoing testing with almost no disguise on. The development prototype wears new front and rear bumpers with new styling that's sportier, but not overly aggressive. The car's sporty intent is signalled by splashes of red piping at both ends. Interestingly, the warm Astra was spotted testing with steel wheels matched with red-painted brake callipers.

Despite the Toyota HiLux dominating local sales figures for the last sixth months consecutively – and taking out top honours in 2016 – the Japanese car maker's local division says it's taking the market and the segment seriously, with more upgrades and improvements to the hard-working model well and truly in the pipeline. “We’re certainly not going to rest on our laurels,” Toyota Australia product public relations manager Stephen Coughlan told CarAdvice.