We publish a ton of car news stories during the working week, and it can be tough to keep up with everything – which is the rationale behind this weekend list.
In short, here are some key articles from our news desk since Monday of this week summarised, just in case you missed them at the time.
Kia goes big and bold with electric flagship
Kia has revealed its latest all-electric offering, the EV9 SUV, ahead of an Australian launch before the end of 2023.
The concept first debuted in late 2021 and while most of the design has remained the same on the outside Kia has completely refreshed the interior of its newest EV.
At a global premiere event later this month, Kia will detail all the specifications for the upcoming flagship.
Kia Australia confirmed to CarExpert earlier this year that 400 EV9s are already allocated to Australia for 2023, and will arrive in the latter stages of this year.
FULL STORY: Kia’s new flagship EV looks just like the concept
Volkswagen reveals concept of new entry-level EV
Volkswagen says it is once again becoming “a brand for the people” as it unveils its new affordable compact electric vehicle (EV), the ID. 2all.
The ID. 2all concept car unveiled at the world premiere on Wednesday night will be launched in 2025 with an intended starting price of under €25,000 (A$40,000).
The recurring message was that the ID. 2all will be “inside as spacious as a Golf, but outside as cute and small as a Polo”, measuring in at just 4050mm long.
FULL STORY: Volkswagen reveals $40,000 EV concept ‘for the people’
ID. 2all not cheap enough? Volkswagen has something else planned
Volkswagen has announced “in spite of all the challenges” it’s planning to launch an even more affordable electric vehicle (EV) than the ID. 2all compact EV concept.
The German carmaker has said it’ll launch by 2026 and be priced at less than €20,000 which, when directly converted to Australian dollars, is almost $32,000.
For context, the production version of the ID. 2all will start at less than €25,000, which directly converts to almost A$40,000.
FULL STORY: Volkswagen planning Polo-priced entry EV
Chevrolet’s updated Silverado priced
The updated Chevrolet Silverado 1500 has touched down in Australia.
Opening the updated range is the ZR2, which combines a suite of tougher exterior parts with a range of hardware upgrades designed to take the Silverado deeper into the wilderness.
The updated Silverado also gets a new, more luxurious interior.
FULL STORY: 2023 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 price and specs
BMW slugs iX1 with price rise before launch
Turns out we were wrong – the BMW iX1 has been subject to price increases like its combustion-powered X1 sibling before it’s even arrived in local showrooms.
Following confirmation of increases by as much as $6000 for the standard X1 range, CarExpert has confirmed that the all-electric iX1 xDrive30 is now $2000 dearer – priced from $84,900 plus on-road costs.
It also appears that the iX1 has lost some standard equipment, too.
FULL STORY: BMW’s smallest EV is now $2000 dearer before it hits dealers
Mercedes-Benz freshens its smallest SUVs
Mercedes-Benz has revealed its updated GLA and GLB ranges, with freshened styling and a range of electrified powertrains.
The updates closely mirror those already applied to the updated A-Class and CLA ranges.
The updated GLB range will arrive in Australia during the fourth quarter of 2023.
FULL STORY: Mercedes-Benz’s smallest SUV receives an update
FULL STORY: Mercedes-Benz updates its smallest three-row SUV
New Passat, Tiguan here this year
Volkswagen will launch its next-generation mid-sized SUV sometime in 2023.
The company has confirmed the next Tiguan will debut this year in Europe, which points to a potential local launch in 2024.
As for the Passat, it’ll also debut this year in Europe but it’s not guaranteed to come here.
FULL STORY: When the next-gen Volkswagen Tiguan is launching
FULL STORY: Next Volkswagen Passat debuting soon, but will it come here?
SsangYong reveals bold new electric SUV
SsangYong has revealed the electric version of its Torres SUV, and plans to show off plenty more new models later this month.
Previously codenamed U100, the new Torres EVX will slot in above the Korando e-Motion in SsangYong’s line-up.
The company has released images of the new EV’s exterior and interior ahead of an in-person reveal at the 2023 Seoul Mobility Show, which runs from March 30 to April 9.
FULL STORY: SsangYong reveals bold new electric SUV
Mercedes-Benz reveals sleeker GLC Coupe
The second-generation Mercedes-Benz GLC Coupe has been unveiled, and as before it marries the GLC crossover’s front end with a fastback-style rear.
As with its more practical sibling, the GLC Coupe has a more rounded and sportier looking body, and rides on the rear- and all-wheel drive MRA platform.
A spokesperson for Mercedes-Benz Australia confirmed the GLC Coupe will be arriving in the fourth quarter of 2023, with details to be announced closer to that date.
FULL STORY: Mercedes-Benz reveals sleek new BMW X4 rival
Porsche Cayenne going green
Porsche said it expects 80 per cent of total sales to be of fully electric vehicles by the end of the decade, with the automaker launching at least four new EVs prior to 2030.
In order to make its EV target a reality, the Zuffenhausen-based automaker confirmed the fourth-generation Cayenne will be a pure electric model.
The new Cayenne EV will be based on the all-electric SSP Sport architecture being developed by Porsche, and which may be a derivative of the Scalable Systems Platform designed to unify the Volkswagen Group’s EV architectures.
FULL STORY: Porsche sales to be almost entirely electric by 2030, Cayenne EV coming
Audi’s EV rollout to continue with new entry-level model
Audi’s annual media conference recapped a record year for the company, as well as the announcement of a forthcoming entry-level electric vehicle (EV) to sit below the Q4 e-tron.
In the annual review, CEO Markus Duesmann confirmed that Audi will launch 20 new vehicles by 2025, 10 of which will be EVs.
“By 2027, we seek to offer an all-electric vehicle in each core segment,” said Mr Duesmann.
FULL STORY: Audi planning EV onslaught, including A3 replacement
Ferrari reveals new drop-top grand tourer
Just like the Colosseum, the Ferrari Roma is now open to the elements.
Revealed overnight, first customer deliveries of the new Roma Spider in Australia will begin in late 2023 or early 2024.
It features a fabric soft-top that can be lowered in 13.5 seconds, and at speeds up to 60km/h. Ferrari claims the Roma’s five-layer fabric top “boasts acoustic comfort on a par with retractable hardtops”.
FULL STORY: Ferrari drops the top on its Roma grand tourer
