Car News

Peugeot Australia is poised to introduce a range of plug-in hybrid and pure electric vehicles to sell alongside its petrol-powered range in a bold attempt to attract new buyers by reacting quickly to our changing taste in cars. Over the next five years, every model in the Peugeot line-up will have the option of hybrid or electric power – but head office in France says it will let the local distributor decide which models to sell here.

Mitsubishi says it has no plans to introduce a rival to the Ford Ranger Raptor ute – or mount a counterattack with a high-powered turbo diesel V6 even though it has access to one thanks to the recent alliance with Nissan-Renault. Ford and Volkswagen are expected to have turbo-diesel V6 power as part of their next generation pickups due within a few years from now, and Toyota is on record as saying it wants to make up for the HiLux’s power deficit.

The updated Audi A5 and S5 line-up has been revealed for the 2019 Frankfurt motor show, sporting revised looks and new infotainment across the range, earmarked for a second quarter launch in 2020. Like the related A4 and S4 family, the A5 and S5 have had a subtle nip and tuck to bring the Coupe, Sportback and Cabriolet in line with the company's latest models.

The Mitsubishi ASX will soon be available with a 2.4-litre petrol engine, bringing the option of more power to Australia’s biggest-selling small SUV. It will coincide with the October arrival of a major facelift for the Mitsubishi ASX – which adopts the company’s “shield” grille – the latest in a number of overhauls since the model went on sale in 2010.

Williams Advanced Engineering has revealed a new battery module it claims is lighter but more power-dense than conventional lithium-ion units. Autocar reports the new lithium-ion battery module uses Adaptive Multi-Chem technology that could make battery packs up to 30 per cent lighter and 37 per cent more energy dense. This could deliver longer range and higher power without making the battery packs any physically larger.