Car News

Alpine will use the Geneva motor show to unveil two new A110 variants: a high-end Legende, and a stripped-back Pure. Both models are powered by the same mid-mounted 1.8-litre four-cylinder engine as the regular car, making 185kW and 320Nm. Power is put to the road through a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission, for a 4.5-second sprint to 100km/h.

The compulsory Takata airbag recall announced for all vehicles in Australia affected by faulty inflators will bring penalties of $1.1 million for breaches of the action's strict rules – but owners shouldn't expect much in the way of compensation. Announced today by Michael Sukkar, Assistant Minister to the Treasurer, the recall will be overseen by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC).

The relatively-new Renault Australia management has put the Kadjar small-SUV back on its radar, preferably in updated guise during 2019. The Kadjar, which shares its platform with the big-selling Nissan Qashqai, would allow Renault Australia to fill the smaller Captur and larger Koleos in its range. Given the SUV market's continued growth — it accounts for more of the market than traditional passenger cars — the car would clearly help Renault shift more cars.

Hyundai has unveiled its pure-electric Kona EV overnight, with up to 150kW of power and a 470km range. The battery-powered compact SUV will be offered in two trim levels: short- and long-range. In short-range guise, the car is powered by a 99kW/395Nm electric motor, good for a 9.3 second sprint to 100km/h and 167km/h flat out.

Lexus has given the world a first look at the new compact UX SUV, set to take on the BMW X1, Audi Q2 and Volvo XC40. We've only been given a peek at the front three-quarter view of the compact crossover at this point, revealing a predictably polarising face and sharply-creased flanks. Although it's toned down compared to the outrageous UX Concept unveiled at the 2016 Paris motor show, there's no doubt it's still an aggressive-looking thing.