Polestar

It's safe to say the automotive industry is currently undergoing the greatest shift since its very inception, with electrification and autonomy widely agreed to form the basis of the future of the new-car market. It can seem almost daily that a major car maker unveils a new electric vehicle, or announces plans to go all-electric in the coming years and decades – so often so that it can be a challenge to keep track of and stay on top of every brand's plans.

Polestar – Volvo’s electrified performance division – has announced it will launch in Australia this year. The model line-up is yet to be confirmed, however the first cars are due in local showrooms during the second half of this year. The Volvo subsidiary – which is co-owned by Chinese automotive conglomerate Geely – currently produces the Polestar 2 high-riding electric sedan (below). It’s this model that’s expected to spearhead the brand’s Australian launch later this year.

Any tech-obsessed Android user will know that unless you're using Google's own Pixel devices, updates to the operating system are often months late – and you'll be lucky to see any at all after a few years, with most brands preferring you upgrade to a new device instead. Volvo – or rather its electric offshoot Polestar – is adamant, however, that its new Android-based infotainment system will "stay as cutting-edge in the future as it is today".

Volvo’s performance electric and hybrid brand Polestar has teased its new Precept model, before a dedicated unveiling event and 2020 Geneva motor show showing. The single image released by Polestar shows only the top-down outline of headlights and taillights on an otherwise obscured Precept. There is not a lot insofar as detail in the teaser, however there is room for speculation. Polestar’s parent company Volvo is slated to release its first electric model, the XC40 Recharge in 2021.

The Lynk & Co 03 Cyan Concept has set a new lap record at the iconic Nurburgring Nordschleife for four-door and front-drive vehicles, also marking a first-time achievement for the new Chinese brand.