Skoda

Skoda will swap the 1.5-litre engine in the base Karoq for a less efficient 1.4-litre unit in 2020 – and it says Australia's emissions regulations are to blame. The only Karoq on offer in Australia is currently the 110TSI, which is powered by a 1.5-litre four-cylinder engine making 110kW and 250Nm. It's mated to a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission.

Germany's three major automakers, the BMW Group, Daimler (parent of Mercedes-Benz) and the Volkswagen Group, have been fined a total of €100 million ($163 million) for forming a cartel to buy certain steel products. The Bundeskartellamt, Germany's competition commission, says the three car companies met twice a year with steel makers between 2004 and 2013 to set uniform surcharges for the long steel they purchased. Illegally set prices were in use until 2016.

The fourth-generation Skoda Octavia has been sketched ahead of its unveiling that's reportedly set to take place on November 11. From the illustration we can see the new model will continue with the design themes laid out with the Scala. At the front, there's a pair of angular headlights surrounding the latest take on the company's corporate grille.

The Volkswagen Group is finalising a new production facility in Turkey which will reportedly become the site of Passat and Skoda Superb production next decade. According to documents obtained by industry journal, Automotive News Europe, the new factory will have an annual production output of 300,000 units when it goes online in 2022, and be located in Manisa, some 40km north-east of Izmir on the Turkish west coast.