The new-generation BMW 1 Series has been leaked online, ahead of an anticipated reveal later this year. Posted by BimmerFile, the pair of images show the front and rear of the all-new hatchback, in flagship M135i xDrive form...
Kota Beppu, program manager for the Mazda 3, has confirmed he is interested in creating a "hyper" version of the popular small car. He told Autocar there was interest in the vehicle from Mazda's US, Japan and Australian arms, but cautioned the project had yet to be signed off. Unnamed insiders have told the magazine approval for the new variant is virtually a certainty...
Ford UK has revealed the Fiesta ST Ford Performance Edition, a limited-edition version of the new little hot hatch featuring a special paint finish and a range of performance accessories as standard...
The hotly-anticipated Ford Fiesta ST has been delayed for Australia, now scheduled for a "late 2019" arrival Down Under. Despite announcing a second quarter 2019 launch 12 months ago, Ford Australia has pushed back the introduction of its three-cylinder pint-sized hot hatch, with no official reasoning as yet...
Mini's upcoming performance flagship has been outed during testing at the Nurburgring Nordschleife, wearing essentially no camouflage over its wild new aerodynamics package. The new JCW GP will be built in very limited numbers – just 3000 will be offered – and is designed to represent the pinnacle of performance for the current-generation Mini three-door hatch...
Much has been made of the fact Mercedes-Benz slots a twin-turbo AMG V8 into its G-Class. Sure, the G63 looks like an old-fashioned off-roader, but it's fast enough to make sports cars nervous in a straight line. It might weigh 2500kg, but 430kW and 850Nm are serious outputs...
With just 15 examples set for Australia, the Kensington Edition is very exclusive. Is it very good, though?
The new Scala hatchback could be the next model in the Skoda line-up to get the sporty RS treatment, according to a new report out of the UK. Speaking with Auto Express, Skoda's board member "with responsibility" for sales and marketing, Alain Favey, said that a Scala RS isn't confirmed for production just yet, but is under consideration...
There's a new entrant to the TCR Australia Series, the Renault Megane RS TCR. A pair of the hatch-based race cars will be debuting at the opening event of the series on May 17. Entered and prepared by Garry Rogers Motorsport, the Renaults join several other manufacturers already entered in the TCR championship Down Under – including Audi, Volkswagen, Hyundai, Honda and Alfa Romeo...
Tuning firm Mountune has announced a new upgrade package for the Ford Fiesta ST, which can be installed via a smartphone app. Dubbed m225, the flash tune bumps the three-cylinder hot hatch's outputs up to 165kW and 340Nm, up from the standard version's 147kW and 290Nm...
Hyundai Australia has confirmed pricing and specifications for the new i30 Fastback N, which kicks off $1500 dearer than its hatchbacked sibling. Priced from $41,990 before on-road costs, the i30 Fastback N differs from the hatchback in obvious ways like the sedan-like liftback body, along with a new chassis and suspension tune that is a little softer – this setup will be carried over to the hatchback at some point in the future, too...
Toyota has pretty much confirmed it will produce a proper hot hatch based on the new Corolla, according to a new report out of Europe. Speaking with Dutch publication AutoRai.nl Toyota's deputy chief designer, Toshio Kanei, said a fully-fledged Corolla GRMN is "certainly realistic". "We are already working on that...
Abarth has revealed the 124 Rally Tribute and 595 esseesse as part of the company's 70th anniversary celebrations. The Italian performance brand's new models each have a unique flavour, which are both claimed to be "authentic expressions of the brand's racing soul and its glorious past in motorsport"...
Volkswagen Australia is currently offering 2018 model-year Golf R hatches and wagons with a $3000 factory bonus for a limited time. Following the recent announcement of drive-away pricing for the front-wheel drive Golf GTI, the German manufacturer has introduced a new offer on its flagship all-wheel drive performance duo, available until March 31...
Honda Australia has reaffirmed its commitment to the currently UK-sourced Civic Type R, despite its global parent announcing the factory that makes it will shut its doors in 2021. The Swindon plant is the only Honda facility that makes the Civic Type R (pictured) currently, though the company's local director, Stephen Collins, says the current model will see out its lifecycle and confirmed plans for a next-generation model after that...
Photographers have snapped the Mini JCW GP on the back of a car carrier in Europe, giving us a closer look at what the German-owned British marque has in store for its new performance flagship. Despite the swirly yellow wrap covering its entire body, we can see some of the design changes coming to the 3 Door Hatch's body, including racier bumpers, widened guards and a massive rear wing...
Ford Performance has unveiled the new-generation Focus ST this week, ahead of an Australian launch early next year. As before, the Focus ST will be offered with both petrol and diesel engines (though we never got the oiler Down Under) with an automatic transmission available for the first time with petrol power. Headlining the powertrain set is anew 2...
Volkswagen Australia has announced new drive-away pricing for the 2019 Golf GTI, now kicking off at $47,990 drive-away. Priced from $45,490 before on-road costs when it initially arrived Down Under in October, the Golf GTI remains unchanged spec wise, though this year's drive-away deal also includes the brand's recently-introduced five year/unlimited kilometre warranty coverage...
Mini has confirmed the 2020 John Cooper Works GP will offer more than 220kW when it launches next year, comfortably usurping its pared-back predecessors for punch. As with the wider Mini range, we know the next GP will draw on a turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine. At the moment, the most powerful model in the Cooper Hatch line-up – the JCW – makes 170kW, all put to the front wheels...
BMW Australia has confirmed a new 'Finale' package for the M140i hot hatch, scheduled to arrive in showrooms around March priced from $62,990 before on-road costs. Celebrating the last iteration of the rear-drive hatchback before it makes the switch to front- and all-wheel drive in the next generation, the M140i Finale Edition gets special badging, extra specification and unique design bits over the 'standard' M140i for $3000 extra...
