Car News

The Bloodhound SSC has made its first public test runs this week, with the new rocket car showing promise ahead of its much-publicised World Land Speed Record attempt. Making its debut at Cornwall Airport in Newquay, 20 years after the Thrust SSC set the current land speed record, the Bloodhound SSC made two runs along the 2.7-kilometre runway, accelerating at a rate of 1.5G and reaching 210mph (338km/h) from a standstill in just 8.0 seconds flat.

Toshiba has established itself as a leader in the field of electric vehicle (EV) battery technology, supplying the lithium-ion packs for the Mitsubishi i-Miev and Honda Fit (Jazz) EV. With a claimed life of 10 years and all the requisite safety precautions for use on the public road, the current Super Charge ion Battery (SCiB) does its job with a minimum of fuss.

Chevrolet will use the 2017 SEMA show to unveil the Camaro Hot Wheels 50th Anniversary Edition, a full-sized Camaro inspired by, you guessed it, Hot Wheels cars, along with a drag racing-focused COPO Camaro. The partnership between Chevrolet and Hot Wheels stretches back to 1968, when the original Camaro was recreated as a tiny die-cast model for pint-sized motoring enthusiasts.

Maserati is planning to launch its second SUV by the turn of the decade, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) CEO Sergio Marchionne, has confirmed this week. Speaking with industry journal Automotive News Europe, the Italian carmaker's boss said the new crossover will sit below the Levante in Maserati's line-up, based on Alfa Romeo's 'Giorgio' architecture – which currently underpins the Giulia sedan and the Stelvio SUV.

Australian pricing and specifications for the 2018 Jaguar XF Sportbrake range have been announced this week, ahead of the new wagon's launch Down Under in November. Starting from $90,400 plus on-road costs for the entry-level 20d R-Sport, the XF Sportbrake line-up starts some $15,000 more than the most affordable XF sedan, though there's no base Prestige trim grade for the Jaguar wagon.