Car Advice
News & ReviewsLast 7 days
Remember all that talk about whether Mazda was charging too much for its Apple CarPlay and Android Auto retrofit? It looks like the price is right, because the company has around 3000 people requesting the upgrade...
The modern Porsche 911 Turbo S Exclusive Edition has beaten out its older, rarer cousin in our latest poll. Put head-to-head with the recently-auctioned 993 911 Turbo Project Gold, the modern Turbo won 61.6 per cent of the vote. Power in the Turbo S Exclusive comes from a 3.8-litre twin-turbo six-cylinder engine making 427kW and 700Nm...
UPDATE: Mazda has today issued a press release that confirms this story, including the price of $494.98, for the retrofit installation of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto into all models equipped with the MZD Connect infotainment system. The upgrade is available now, and all new MZD Connect-equipped models entering Australia will have the two platforms installed as standard...
The Mazda CX-8 has received a refresh in its home market of Japan, in similar fashion to the smaller and related CX-5, adding two petrol engine options to the range. Like the CX-5 and the CX-9, the 2.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine makes a healthy 170kW of power and 420Nm of torque, mated exclusively to a six-speed automatic transmission...
The Mazda CX-5 has been updated in its home market, confirming the availability of the CX-9's 2.5-litre turbo petrol engine for the mid-sized SUV. Available to pre-order now in the Japanese domestic market, the refreshed CX-5 range is the first model in the company's Japanese line-up to offer the turbocharged petrol powertrain – which makes 169kW at 4250rpm and 420Nm at 2000rpm – while also debuting Mazda's upgraded G-Vectoring Control Plus...
Nissan Europe has announced further details of its upgraded Qashqai range for 2019, headlined by a new turbocharged petrol engine and a new infotainment system. We heard about the new 1.3-litre turbo petrol engine a fortnight ago, but the company's latest announcement confirms the addition of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone mirroring for the first time, thanks to a new infotainment system...
With Apple CarPlay already available in Toyota and Lexus models overseas, the company will reportedly soon add Android Auto compatibility too. A source, who asked to remain anonymous, has informed Bloomberg Toyota will soon begin adding Android Auto support to cars sold in North America. According to another source, Toyota could make an announcement about availability as early as October this year...
The Abarth 595 line-up has been upgraded for the 2018 model year, bringing an upgraded infotainment display and smartphone mirroring technology. UPDATE, 21/9/18: The Fiat 500 has added the 7.0-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard across the range. UPDATE, 28/5/18: FCA Australia has indicated the regular Fiat 500 will be getting the upgraded infotainment system as well...
Mazda Australia has detailed the revised CX-9 range, headlined by the standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto for the first time, along with a new range-topping variant. Kicking off at $44,990 plus on-road costs for the entry-level Sport with front-wheel drive (+$1100), the range is now fitted as standard with the full suite of Mazda's i-Activesense driver-assistance technologies, including adaptive cruise control with stop&go function, lane-keep assist, traffic sign recognition and automatic high-beam...
Manufacturers are pouring countless hours (and dollars) into developing more advanced infotainment systems, as they race for technology leadership. While they're feature-packed and (sometimes) look very pretty, a study from the North American AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety has found Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are less distracting in day-to-day driving...
It’s been a long time coming, but Mazda will finally offer Apple CarPlay and Android Auto across its range by the end of the year and there’s good news in store for current owners. Unlike a lot of manufacturers that won’t retrofit new technology to existing products, Mazda will offer customers the ability to retrofit the smartphone mirroring technology to all vehicles equipped with MZD Connect...
People often say “don’t forget where you came from”. Although we’re focused on every new car, every last detail here at CarAdvice, we have an extensive back-catalogue of news stories, lifestyle yarns and reviews. Here’s a look at what happened on the week of June 26 in years past...
Subaru of America has detailed the upgraded 2019 WRX and WRX STI range for the USA, bringing new safety kit and infotainment to the sports sedan line-up. In addition to the limited-edition Series.Gray specials revealed earlier this week, the WRX now comes as standard in North America with Subaru's EyeSight driver-assist system when equipped with the CVT – meaning autonomous emergency braking, adaptive cruise control and lane-keep assist are now included...
Volvo Cars will embed Google Assistant, Maps and the Google Play Store in its next-generation Sensus infotainment system. As announced in May 2017, the replacement for Volvo's current infotainment system will be based on Google Android – something Audi is also planning. Although both system will have the same software skeleton, each manufacturer will be able to make the system look like their own...
Mazda has begun its rollout of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, announcing the features will be added to the North American 6 sedan during their summer. At this point, the feature is reserved for the facelifted Mazda 6 in North America, but it's not likely to be long before the technology makes its way to Australia...
Australian pricing and specs for the revised 2018 Maserati GranCabrio have been announced, with the V8 Italian drop-top to kick off from $335,000 before on-road costs. The car will be offered in two trim levels: Sport (below in blue) and MC, or Maserati Corse (above). Both are powered by the same naturally-aspirated 4.7-litre V8 engine, making 343kW and 520Nm...
While Mazda leads the game in Australia on many fronts, it falls short in the field of basic smartphone technology and connectivity. Speaking to media at the 2017 Los Angeles motor show, president and CEO of Mazda North America Operations, Masahiro Moro said technology like Apple CarPlay and Android Auto is on the way...
The upgraded 2018 Fiat 500X has been revealed for the US market, with an Australian launch confirmed for sometime in the first quarter of next year. As is often the case with Fiat's 500-badged models, the retro styling of the 500X shows only subtle changes for the new model year. Indeed, tweaks on the outside are limited to new colours: Donatello Bronze (bottom) and Alpi Matte Green (top)...
Forget Android Auto as you know it right now. Google's next leap into automotive infotainment will be right there in the dash before you've even connected your phone. The tech giant has today announced its platform will form the basis of next-generation infotainment for Volvo and Audi...
The special-edition 2017 Fiat 500 Mirror has been revealed in Europe with the latest smartphone connectivity, but it appears buyers in Australia are set to miss out. The new Fiat 500 Mirror model is named after its smartphone mirroring tech, with the media system including Apple CarPlay and Android Auto - two in-demand items from consumers, particularly in the city car segment of the market...
