WRC

Is Subaru preparing a new model, and a return to the World Rally Championship? A report from Japan claims it's a yes on both counts. According to Japanese website Spyder7, Subaru is developing a Yaris-size vehicle, which would bridge the gap between its Japanese-only kei cars and the Impreza. A hotted-up version will reportedly be powered by a 1.8-litre turbocharged four-cylinder boxer developed predominately for the next-generation Levorg wagon.

Volkswagen has released a teaser sketch of its upcoming Polo GTI R5, a rally version of the latest Polo GTI hot hatch. Making around 270hp (201kW), the Polo GTI R5 will become available to professional teams and drivers from the second half of 2018 to compete in various global motorsport series, including the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC).

In the studio this week is Mandy Turner, Paul Maric, and Dave Zalstein. Paul has his say on Victoria Police's choice on its next patrol car being a BMW 530d. Also in car news, Ford Fiesta has been axed in the US, and Australian prospects are still unclear. Plus, the 2018 BMW X3 pricing and specs have been revealed, Hyundai ute is confirmed for after 2020, Mazda confirms a new rotary concept for the 2017 Tokyo motor show, and Ford and Mahindra are to team up in developing markets.

Hyundai Motorsport has lifted the covers on its 2017 Hyundai i20 WRC challenger at a media event at the Autodromo Nazionale Monza in Italy, ahead of the 2017 World Rally Championship (WRC) season opener in Monte-Carlo. Based on the road-going Hyundai i20 Coupe not sold locally, the now three-door WRC car replaces the 2016 five-door i20 WRC car CarAdvice was lucky enough to experience from the passenger seat, as part of last month’s Rally Australia in Coffs Harbour, New South Wales.

Welcome to the CarAdvice.com News Desk, a regular video wrap of the latest happenings in the automotive world and Australia's new-car market. Keeping you in the loop, Tegan Lawson presents a weekly video from the CarAdvice Garage,with everything you need to know about the week in news and reviews. What happened in the week ending November 25, 2016? Catch our video above, and links to the full stories below. THE WEEK IN NEWS: