Car News

Land Rover has taken the wraps off a very special creation this week - the Defender Works V8 - as part of its 70th birthday celebrations. Featuring a 297kW/515Nm 5.0-litre naturally aspirated V8 engine under the bonnet, the special-edition model is both the most powerful and fastest Defender ever made - it can even sprint from 0-60mph (0-96km/h) in just 5.6 seconds. Top speed is rated at 170km/h (106mph).

Ferrari’s CEO, Sergio Marchionne, has boldly asserted that the Italian marque will be first to market with a dedicated electric supercar, in a bid to draw the narrative spotlight away from startup Tesla and its high profile founder Elon Musk. “If there is an electric supercar to be built, then Ferrari will be the first,” Marchionne said, according to Bloomberg.

As expected, Lexus is odds-on to scrap the CT small hatchback and replace it with a small crossover SUV sharing some bits with the Toyota C-HR, to better capitalise on demand at the lower end of the luxury market. The CT200h is Lexus’ smallest car, and also its only vehicle sold exclusively with a petrol-electric hybrid drivetrain. Yet its global sales haven’t been spectacular, with the key US market even dropping the model for 2018.

The very big and very bold Kia Telluride concept is now being developed for a market debut, a pair of senior executives have confirmed this week, and the Australian arm has its hand up. In conversation with Australian press at this week's Detroit motor show, the news was confirmed by Kia Motors Corporation president and chief designer Peter Schreyer, and Kia Motors Europe chief designer, Gregory Guillaume.

The latest luxury vehicle manufacturer to enter the Australian market will be Hyundai-owned Genesis, which will have its full brand launch alongside two models around April or May this year. Hyundai has been testing the water with its ‘Genesis’ sedan, but will now use that as a platform to launch the full line-up of Genesis-branded vehicles before the middle of the year.