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.
Truck driver shares secret behind green stickers on NSW, QLD and VIC roads
Ever wondered what those green stickers mean on highway-side reflector posts in Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria?
The ‘3-2-1 green reflectors’ were originally created for truck drivers to assist with short stop points where drivers can check their cargo or pull over for a small rest if they are tired.
The initiative was started by road safety advocate and truck driver Rod Hannifey.
FULL STORY: What do those green stickers on roadside posts mean?
Toyota predicts strong 2023, despite Q1 share drop
Toyota remains the best-selling brand in Australia, but its market share has taken a big hit in 2023 as supply struggles continue to bite.
To date in 2023 it’s sold 40,918 cars in Australia, representing a 15.2 per cent share of the market. That’s down on the 22.1 per cent share it held at the same point in 2022.
The Supra sports coupe, LandCruiser wagon, and Kluger family SUV are the only Toyota models to grow their sales year-to-date, with the Camry (-60.9 per cent), RAV4 (-44.2 per cent), Prado (-57.5 per cent) and C-HR (-46.5 per cent) the biggest losers
FULL STORY: Toyota predicts strong 2023, despite Q1 share drop
Toyota shifts focus away from hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles
Toyota has long talked up the role of hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles (FCEVs) in its future lineup, hinting they could one day become ubiquitous as hybrids are right now.
Those aspirations seem to be dead, with the company shifting its focus towards electric vehicles (EVs) for passenger cars, with work on fuel cells focussing on medium- and heavy-duty trucks.
Last week in his first speech as Toyota’s CEO, Koji Sato said, “For FCEVs, we will pursue mass production centered on commercial vehicles”.
FULL STORY: Are hydrogen fuel-cell cars on the way out at Toyota?
New Mini Cooper EV revealed
Blink and you might miss the changes, but this is the newest Mini.
The latest images of the new Mini Cooper EV reveal it will feature an evolutionary exterior design atop its all-new underpinnings, as has been the norm for the brand under BMW ownership.
Oversized, round headlights feature up front, and the closed-over grille has a shape not too dissimilar to that of the current petrol-powered model.
FULL STORY: 2024 Mini Cooper EV: Electric city car revealed
Hyundai plans to be top three EV manufacturer by 2030
The Hyundai Motor Group, which includes the Hyundai, Kia and Genesis brands, wants to become one of the top three electric vehicle (EV) manufacturers in the world by 2030.
The company plans to achieve this by investing KRW 24 trillion (AU$27.3 billion) in the South Korean EV industry through its subsidiaries.
This investment will expand the annual EV production in South Korea to 1.51 million units and global volume to 3.64 million units by 2030.
FULL STORY: Hyundai wants to be a global electric car leader by 2030
Queensland licence holders may need to take refresher course to renew licence
Queensland drivers may soon be forced to take a road rules refresher course before they can renew their licence.
The Transport and Main Roads Minister for Queensland, Mark Bailey MP, says the Queensland Government is seeking feedback on the proposal as part of a broader plan to introduce new measures based on its a road safety summit from earlier this year.
The Palaszczuk Government is considering 10 new measures to reduce the Queensland road toll this year, after the state recorded its highest fatality rate on the roads in 13 years – with 300 people losing their lives in 2022.
FULL STORY: Queenslanders facing road rule test before licence renewals
MG to offer a sports car once again with electric Cyberster convertible
The production-spec MG Cyberster has been revealed thanks to a Chinese government filing, which has also provided some key specifications.
The Chinese Ministry of Industry and Information Technology filing lists a single-motor rear-wheel drive powertrain with 231kW of peak power, as well as a dual-motor all-wheel drive powertrain boasting a front-axle motor with peak power of 150kW and a rear-axle motor with peak power of 250kW.
Top speed is 193km/h in the single-motor variant and 200km/h in the dual-motor variant.
FULL STORY: MG Cyberster: China’s electric Boxster revealed
BMW XM Label Red pricing announced
BMW has priced the hottest versions of its new XM plug-in hybrid performance SUV ahead of a local launch in the fourth quarter of 2023.
The BMW XM Label Red is priced from $344,200 before on-road costs, with the XM Label Red Edition starting at $349,900 before on-roads.
For context, the standard XM – due here in the first half of 2023 – is priced at $297,900 before on-roads. You can check out our full price and specs article for that model here.
FULL STORY: 2024 BMW XM Label Red price and specs
Lexus eyeing LM people mover for Australia
The Mercedes-Benz V-Class could finally be getting a rival from another luxury brand.
CarExpert understands the next-generation Lexus LM, set to be revealed at this month’s Shanghai motor show, will be one of three new Lexus models coming to Australia by mid-2024.
Lexus said earlier this year each of the three models would sit in “new segments” for the brand.
The company calls the LM an “L-Series flagship”, much like its LS sedan, LC coupe and convertible and LX SUV.
FULL STORY: Lexus mulling hybrid people mover for Australia
EV Council: “Zero excuse” for Australia not to follow stricter rules like US
The Electric Vehicle Council has criticised the Albanese Government for being slow in rolling out an electric vehicle policy and fuel efficiency regulations.
The remarks come following the reveal of tougher emissions regulations by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which the agency expects will see electric vehicles (EVs) account for 67 per cent of new light-duty vehicle sales and 46 per cent of new medium-duty vehicle sales by 2032.
The Electric Vehicle Council has again criticised Australia for being one of the only developed nations on earth without any fuel efficiency standards, and warned our status as being a “dumping ground for dated, high-emission vehicles” will be “cemented” if the Albanese Government doesn’t move swiftly.
FULL STORY: EV Council: “Zero excuse” for Australia not to follow tougher rules like US
BYD delays launch until stock supply is better
BYD’s local distributor EVDirect says it doesn’t want to endlessly tease its upcoming cars, and instead wants strong supply of vehicles almost immediately after they’re launched.
Pricing and specifications for the new BYD Dolphin, the brand’s entry-level electric hatchback, will be announced around June, with deliveries to begin within a month or two after.
The BYD Seal, a rival for the Tesla Model 3, will be officially launched in the fourth quarter of this year. Again, deliveries will begin within 1-2 months of this announcement.
FULL STORY: BYD won’t launch new electric cars until supply is right
