Car News

The electric Mercedes-Benz Vision Van was unveiled overnight, and features an EV drivetrain, highly automated cargo management system, and space for two delivery drones on the roof. With the intent of, possibly, wooing the FedExes, DHLs and Amazons of this world, the Vision Van is designed to reduce the time and effort required to deliver parcels from a distribution centre to their intended recipients.

The wraps have come off the 2017 Kia Rio five-door hatch today, a month out from its global debut at this year's Paris motor show. For this all-new generation of Rio, Kia has returned its light hatch to a more conventional two-box design, moving closer to the traditional hatch shape. Gone is the lean-back face, fast-rising belt-line and bubble-like proportions of the outgoing model, replaced with a more upright snout and a steeper C-pillar shape.

The small sports-themed SUV expected to be known as the 2017 BMW X2 will reportedly debut October's Paris motor show, and the anticipated return of the 8 Series name is in the spotlight once again. The so-called X2 was spied testing earlier this year, with only a light layer of camouflage to disguise what is clearly intended as a sporty, tapered roofline.

The twisted relationship between Nissan’s Pulsar and Tiida badges continues, with the European-market Pulsar this week picking up a facelift for a launch into the Chinese market. The Tiida badge’s presence in Australia was only a blink in the eye of the local market, appearing some years after the Pulsar name was retired - only to itself be replaced by a new-generation Pulsar hatch and sedan.

The 2017 Audi TT RS coupe and roadster twins have been unveiled at this week’s Beijing motor show, rounding out a new-generation TT range that first appeared around this time in 2014. It wasn’t until July last year that the new line-up made its way to Australia, however, and a confirmed mid-2017 launch for this new hero pair will mean a similar wait for those with a preference for the RennSport pedigree.