WhichCar By Wheels

CUPRA is making two exclusive additions to its range with the Terramar VZ Tribe Edition in Black and Green. The update to the plug-in hybrid SUV brings eye-catching changes to the exterior and interior with a big nod to sustainability.

Just 35 of the Black editions will be made available in Australia, featuring a Midnight Black exterior, exclusive 20-inch alloy wheels in – you guessed it – black, dark chrome exterior badging, and a panoramic sunroof only available as an option on the existing Terramar.

Close-up of a green SUV's front left wheel, fender, and door on a paved surface with a reflective body panel in view of the side mirror.
4

The Green gets an exclusive Manganese Matte exterior finish, 20-inch rims with sulfur green highlights, the panoramic sunroof and the dark chrome badging. Only 10 units will go on sale down under. 

Both versions get enhanced standard equipment. On top of the sunroof, there are exclusive wheel finishes and “bespoke design accents” that set them apart from the standard Terramar VZ. The nationwide drive-away prices are $75,490 for the Black and $78,390 for the Green, compared with $73,490 for the existing VZ.

The two “carefully curated design themes” make extensive use of repurposed materials. Computerised 3D knitting has been used to produce the unique seat upholstery, 30 per cent of the plastics in the interior incorporate recycled material, and the Sulfur Green paint is bio-based. That theme even extends to the new alloy wheels, which incorporate up to 20 per cent recycled material.

The Green and Black both get the VZ’s 195kW, 400Nm 2.0-litre turbo petrol engine, which feeds power to all four wheels via a seven-speed DSG transmission. The claimed fuel efficiency comes in at 8.2L/100km, boot volume is a respectable 508L with the seats up and 1415L with the pews folded, and there’s also a 12-speaker Sennheiser sound system.

A Harvard University study has found that fatal car accidents can increase by as much as 15 per cent on days when big-name music albums are released due to drivers becoming distracted by the work of top-selling artists like Taylor Swift.

The research examined 233,809 traffic fatalities in the USA from 2017 to 2022 and found that the number of deaths was “significantly higher on major music album release days than on the 10 days before and after”. The authors found that the fatalities shot up by 15.1 per cent while daily online music streaming increased by approximately 43 per cent due to the release of smash hits.

3

Harvard’s team says the study reveals the potentially deadly effects of drivers becoming too wrapped up in streaming music when they’re behind the wheel. They studied the impact of 10 highly successful albums that were chosen because they had the highest number of Spotify streams in a single day.

“You can’t randomise people into using their phones, and drivers rarely volunteer what they were doing in the seconds before a crash. Album releases give you something closer to an experiment – a day when smartphone use jumps nationally for reasons that have nothing to do with road conditions, weather or who happens to be driving,” said study author Vishal Patel of Harvard’s medical school. 

The albums examined included Swift’s Midnights from October 2022, Drake’s Scorpion, and Harry Styles’s Harry’s House. Researchers took into account the day of the week the music was released on, federal holidays and the time of year, and the rise in fatalities was greater among groups like younger drivers, male drivers, and those driving cars with a built-in infotainment system.

3

“What it establishes is that these days are genuinely different in terms of national engagement with music, which is the premise the whole study rests on,” Patel said. “This is equivalent to approximately 182 fatalities in the US attributable to the release days of the 10 included albums.”

Patel also pointed out that the set-up of many modern, digitised cars contributes to driver distraction because they have to search for the music instead of playing it with the push of a button. “You unlock the phone, open the app, find the release, read down a tracklist, tap the right song. That’s several seconds of looking at a screen,” he said, adding that the increase was seen “almost entirely among drivers who were alone” and couldn’t get a passenger to take over the process.

A driver has posted a detailed look at how he paid just $713.47 in charging costs while travelling 40,000km in his Tesla Model Y over the last three years. Mahmudur Rahman said the key to the incredible frugality was smart use of solar-generated electricity and home power, with only some fast charging thrown in.

Rahman, who says he has a PhD in environmental modelling and more than a decade of experience in data science, aimed to find out “the actual reality for an average family” when it comes to the cost of running an EV, with his average energy consumption coming in at 15.0kWh/100km despite several long highway journeys.

7

“Picture the typical Australian family lifestyle: you use your primary car for daily city commuting work (work runs, school drop-offs, weekend groceries), and you take 1 to 2 family interstate road trips per year during school holidays along major highway corridors,” Rahman wrote for Techwheel.co, a “community-powered data resource” that aims to cut through misinformation about EVs, solar and battery power.

He revealed that he needed to use a DC fast charger 41 times – always at a Tesla Supercharger station – which averaged out at approximately one session per month “heavily clustered around annual family road trips” during school holidays and long weekends. That amounted to 7469km of the total distance covered, with urban trips accounting for 32,351km.

Rahman also broke down the gap in efficiency between highway and city driving, with the former coming in at 17.0kWh/100km, the latter at 14.54kWh/100km. His primary charging source during commuting in the city was a home charger using rooftop solar, which provided 4730kWh of electricity. The DC fast charging chipped in with 1269kWh.

Tesla supercharging
4

A table that breaks down the costs contains several vehicle charging scenarios. The $713.47 figure comes under “free solar home” power. Rahman has calculated that using the method saved him $4746.53 compared with filling a petrol SUV at $1.95 a litre, with a fuel efficiency of 7L/100km. Filling up on a 7c/kWh home plan would cost $1044.59, while only using the Tesla Supercharging system at 60c/kWh would have set him back $3600.

Rahman also pointed out that his average time spent at a Supercharging station was 20.6 minutes which “matches restroom and coffee breaks perfectly” on long highway trips. The average cost of those DC refills was $17.40 for 30.97kWh of power, or about 182km of highway range. 

Toyota Australia has launched a Customer Service Exercise covering almost 17,000 HiLux Rogue utes after identifying a potential problem with their power-operated roller covers.

The campaign involves approximately 16,995 HiLux Rogue vehicles produced between May 29, 2020 and April 8, 2024.

According to Toyota, the electrically operated roller cover fitted over the HiLux Rogue’s tub can become jammed or fail to open or close. If this happens, the electric motor operating the cover may continue running and potentially overheat.

1

There is no advance warning that the problem is developing, with owners likely to discover it only when attempting to operate the roller cover. However, Toyota says a burning smell or smoke may be noticed if the motor overheats.

Owners who experience either symptom have been advised to stop operating the roller cover and contact a Toyota dealer to arrange repairs.

Toyota says affected vehicles remain safe to drive, and the campaign relates only to the roller-cover system rather than the HiLux’s drivetrain or other vehicle systems.

Dealers will inspect the roller-cover motor for evidence of overheating and replace it where necessary. Technicians will also inspect and adjust the width of the roller-cover tracks, update the system’s ECU software and install metal drive-pin connectors where required.

The revised software changes the system’s limit-switch logic and is designed to reduce the possibility of the motor overheating.

1

It also introduces additional functionality, allowing owners to open and close the roller cover using either the vehicle’s key fob or the lock and unlock switches on the driver’s door.

Toyota estimates the complete inspection and repair process could take approximately 3.5 hours, although vehicles may need to remain at dealerships for longer depending on workshop schedules.

The company says the latest campaign represents a further countermeasure for the issue, meaning some owners who have previously had a Customer Service Exercise completed may be contacted again.

Toyota Australia will contact registered owners directly. Anyone who believes their HiLux Rogue falls within the affected production period can also contact a Toyota dealer to check its status.

Owners can alternatively call the Toyota Campaign Helpline on 1800 987 366, quoting the vehicle’s 17-digit VIN.

A stunning series of videos has shown the Voyah Passion S EV completing a 360-degree loop in a tunnel after an earlier attempt ended in one of the cars flipping and crashing back down to the road during filming.

The promotion for Dongfeng’s luxury brand re-created the famous Mercedes stunt that saw Michael Schumacher appear to drive an SLS AMG upside down through a mountain tunnel in 2010. But while Merc’s promotion was claimed to have been digitally altered to make it look perfect – and to make it look like Schumi was doing the driving – Voyah’s featured at least one mishap before they nailed the final shot (pictured in the gallery below).

Red car suspended in mid-air inside a long, curved, white-tiled tunnel with smoke trailing behind.
3

Footage that has surfaced online shows a Passion S clad in camouflage using custom-made launch and landing ramps as it attempts to perform a corkscrew-like loop in what appears to be a rehearsal for the finished product. 

The sedan approaches at high speed and shoots up the entry ramp, but doesn’t have enough oomph or the correct angle of approach to make it onto the roof of the tunnel. It falls almost the entire height of the tunnel, but its momentum flips it back onto its wheels as it lands and the car is able to continue down the road.

The successful run saw a red Passion S complete the loop in fine style, hitting the entry ramp in centimetre-perfect style and making what look like clouds of dust and debris as it powers across the roof before making it back down safely, with footage showing it was travelling at just over 130km/h during the stunt.

Voyah released a few clips of the loop, with a ‘one-take’ version showing footage from a drone following the Passion S, as well as the view from inside the cabin and video from a camera that looks up from the road surface while the EV shoots by overhead.

Top-down view of a red high-performance car with a black roof and sleek styling on a dark surface, showcasing its curves and stance.
3

Another clip shows some of the preparation that went into the incredible shoot. “On the wall, one wheel runs on air. The suspension holds or it’s over. There is no margin for error. One degree off, there is no way down,” an engineer says in a voiceover.

Voyah calculated that the Passion had to hit the launch ramp at a precise 16-degree angle while doing approximately 130km/h in order for the centrifugal force to keep it on the roof. A close examination reveals what looks like tyre marks from the earlier attempts, which followed plenty of simulation work.

The Passion S comes with two powertrains: a RWD version with a single rear motor making a peak of 300kW, and an AWD with motors front and rear with a combined peak of 475kW. The juice comes from a 5C fast-charging battery in 81kWh or 98kWh form, with a claimed CLTC range of up to 740km.

Mercedes-Benz has given its C-Class sedan a substantial mid-life overhaul, introducing new engines, upgraded chassis technology and a heavily revised digital package ahead of an expected Australian arrival in 2027.

Mercedes describes the changes as the most comprehensive technical update in the C-Class’s history. European orders open this month, although Australian pricing, specifications and the exact launch timing are yet to be announced.

The facelift will arrive during a particularly busy period for the C-Class. An entirely separate battery-electric C-Class is already confirmed for Australia in early 2027, initially as the 360kW C400 4Matic, giving Mercedes both combustion-engined and electric contenders against BMW’s next-generation 3 Series and i3.

Mercedes-Benz cars on display in a bright showroom with blue wall panels and a large Mercedes logo backdrop.
3

Visually, the combustion C-Class remains familiar but receives a new, more upright grille with an illuminated surround, redesigned bumpers and new headlights featuring Mercedes’ star motif. New wheel designs and paint colours are also available.

Bigger changes have been made inside. The existing 12.3-inch instrument display and 11.9-inch portrait touchscreen remain, but they now run the latest MBUX system on Mercedes’ MB.OS software architecture. The voice assistant incorporates AI technology from ChatGPT, Microsoft Bing and Google Gemini, while Google Maps underpins navigation. Over-the-air software updates are also supported.

Other cabin upgrades include new upholstery colours and trim choices, plus an available 15-speaker, 710-watt Burmester 3D surround-sound system. Its sound distribution can automatically adjust according to which seats are occupied.

Petrol models use an updated 2.0-litre turbo four-cylinder with 48-volt mild-hybrid assistance. Outputs range from 130kW in the C200 through 160kW for the C250 to 190kW in the C300, with the integrated starter-generator capable of briefly contributing another 17kW and 205Nm.

Plug-in hybrid versions combine a four-cylinder petrol engine with an electric motor. The C400 e 4Matic produces up to 290kW and 650Nm, while its 19.53kWh usable battery provides up to 100km of WLTP electric range. Charging reaches 11kW AC or 55kW DC.

Luxurious car interior with tan leather seats, a digital dashboard, and a center touchscreen showing a map. (Mercedes-Benz interior with blue ambient lighting)
4

Mercedes has also retuned the suspension, while optional rear-wheel steering can turn the rear wheels by up to 2.5 degrees, cutting the turning circle to 10.64 metres. Below 100km/h the rear wheels turn opposite to the fronts for manoeuvrability, and above that speed turn in the same direction to improve stability.

Noise suppression has also been addressed through revised exterior mirrors, additional windscreen sealing, improved insulation and changes to the exhaust mounting. Mercedes quotes a drag coefficient from 0.24 for the sedan.

Driver-assistance hardware can include up to 10 cameras, five radar sensors and 12 ultrasonic sensors, with available functions including assisted lane changes, automated parking and a system capable of retracing part of a previously driven route in reverse.

The optional Digital Light system also moves to micro-LED technology, expanding its high-resolution illumination field by around 40 per cent while Mercedes claims energy consumption has been cut by up to 50 per cent.

Which engines and technologies reach Australian C-Class showrooms remain to be confirmed.

Gray Mercedes-Benz sedan driving on a city street, buildings blurred in the background from motion.
3

Honda’s new Super-One makes an unlikely case for the return of the genuinely small car. Derived from Japan’s N-One kei car, the electric hatch is tiny by modern standards, yet manages to combine useful interior space with a surprisingly mature driving experience.

The Super-One has been stretched and widened beyond Japanese kei-car regulations, while its petrol engine has been replaced by an electric drivetrain. In its most powerful Boost setting, the motor produces 70kW and takes the 1097kg hatch from 0-100km/h in around 10 seconds.

Despite its dimensions, it’s no two-seat runabout. Two adults can squeeze into the rear for shorter journeys, while Honda’s familiar ‘Magic Seats’ provide additional flexibility for carrying tall items. With the rear seats folded, luggage capacity approaches 1000 litres when loaded to the roof.

1

The cabin follows Honda’s contemporary layout, with a compact digital instrument display and central touchscreen incorporating wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Some plastics reveal the Super-One’s budget positioning, although major touchpoints feel more substantial.

Standard equipment includes 15-inch wheels, LED lighting, climate control, reversing camera and an eight-speaker Bose audio system. There’s also a suite of driver-assistance technology including forward-collision warning and traffic-sign recognition.

It’s on the road where the Super-One reveals more personality. Ride quality is impressively composed for such a short-wheelbase car, while well-weighted steering, limited body roll and strong grip make it entertaining around town.

1

Boost mode adds another layer. Activated via a purple steering-wheel button, it unlocks the full 70kW and introduces a simulated seven-speed transmission controlled through steering-wheel paddles. Hold a virtual gear too long and the electronics even mimic hitting a rev limiter.

A synthesised soundtrack, inspired by Honda’s City Turbo II and DC2 Integra Type R, accompanies the experience through the Bose speakers.

The Super-One is less convincing at sustained higher speeds, where tyre noise becomes noticeable, but efficiency appears to be a strength.

Honda quotes a WLTP range of approximately 206km, although careful urban driving could potentially stretch that considerably further. DC charging peaks at 50kW, allowing a 10-80 per cent recharge in around 30 minutes, while a 7kW home charger can replenish the small battery in under five hours.

The numbers may look modest, but the Super-One’s appeal lies elsewhere: it’s compact, practical and unusually playful for an affordable electric city car.

Honda Australia’s Corporate Communications Manager, Mark Flintoft, tells WhichCar by Wheels: “During our Expressions of Interest phase, Honda Super-ONE attached almost 7,000 sign-ups – more than both Civic Type R and Prelude.”

3

Specs

Price$36,900 driveaway
Powertrain29.6kWh battery, single electric motor
Power/torque70kW / 162Nm
TransmissionSingle-speed automatic, front-wheel drive
0–100km/h10.0 seconds
Top speed134km/h
Range253km
Max charging50kW DC (10 – 80% in 30 mins)
Size (l/w/h)3599 / 1626 / 1608mm

GWM has confirmed pricing for its new 3.0-litre turbo-diesel Cannon Alpha ute and Tank 500 SUV, with both models due in Australian showrooms from mid-September.

The diesel models form part of the aggressive new-model program GWM hopes will eventually propel it into the top three brands in the Australian market.

Unlike many newer Chinese manufacturers concentrating heavily on hybrids, plug-in hybrids and electric vehicles, GWM believes there remains significant Australian demand for diesel, particularly among buyers who tow or travel off-road.

Two silver pickup trucks parked on a red dirt road against a backdrop of rolling hills and a blue sky.
1

Its new four-cylinder 3.0-litre turbo-diesel produces 170kW and 620Nm, with peak torque available between 1400 and 2400rpm. It is paired with GWM’s nine-speed automatic transmission and four-wheel drive.

Claimed combined fuel consumption is 7.3L/100km for the Cannon Alpha and 7.1L/100km for the Tank 500. Neither requires AdBlue.

Both can tow up to 3500kg braked, representing no change for the Cannon Alpha but a 500kg increase for the diesel Tank 500. GWM says the towing package incorporates brake-controller functionality and transmission calibration for heavy loads.

Local development has played a significant role. GWM says Australian and Chinese engineering teams spent more than six months working on the vehicles, covering ride and handling, engine and transmission calibration, towing and software. Development vehicles accumulated more than 35,000km across locations including the Flinders Ranges, Victorian High Country and Big Desert.

Front view of a silver pickup truck parked on a dirt road with rocky hills in the background, license plate reading 2DY 1PU forground center.
3

There are Lux and Vanta grades for both models. The Cannon Alpha Lux is priced at $58,990 drive-away and the Vanta at $63,990, while the Tank 500 Lux costs $65,990 drive-away and Vanta $71,990.

The Vanta versions receive black exterior detailing and 19-inch wheels, while the Tank 500 Vanta also gets a substantially enlarged 131-litre fuel tank, up from 78 litres.

Both models also introduce GWM’s Coffee OS infotainment system, displayed through a new 14.6-inch central touchscreen and incorporating wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, over-the-air software updates and remote vehicle functions through GWM’s smartphone app.

Pre-orders are open, with GWM claiming more than 1000 expressions of interest ahead of the September arrivals.

Specs

GWM Cannon Alpha Lux

Mechanical / Drive

Exterior


Interior

Infotainment

Driver

Safety

Front three-quarter view of a silver pickup truck parked on a dusty red dirt road with rolling hills and a blue sky behind it.
1

GWM Cannon Alpha Vanta (in addition to Lux)

Mechanical / Drive

Exterior

Interior

Driver

Infotainment

GWM Tank 500 Lux

Mechanical / Drive

Exterior

Interior

Infotainment

Driver

Safety

GWM Tank 500 Vanta (in addition to Lux)


Exterior

Driver

Interior

Infotainment

Car fans across the world are still picking their jaws up off the floor after a Ferrari Luce went for $56 million in an auction at Monterey Car Week, despite the fact the company’s first EV has been hugely controversial… and the fact the new owner won’t be able to get their hands on it until next year.

This isn’t any Luce, though: it’s the first production chassis of the widely reviled 1035hp grand tourer. Called “Chassis 0”, the bespoke example from the marque’s Tailor Made program sold for more than 60 times the model’s usual estimated price when it went under the hammer with RM Sotheby’s in California over the weekend.

Front view of a white sports car with wide open butterfly doors in a dark studio setting, showcasing its sleek design.
3

The stupendous amount – which is huge even for a special Ferrari auction – has gone to the Ferrari Foundation charity, with Sotheby’s waiving the usual buyer’s premium so every cent gets spent on Maranello’s chosen educational initiatives. The $US40 million price tag could also make this Luce the most expensive new car on the planet.

Billionaire businessman and philanthropist Dr Herbert Wertheim reportedly lodged the winning bid, which absolutely smashed pre-auction predictions that the Luce would go for around $US1.1million ($A1.55 million). He gets a Luce finished in unique Madreperla white paint, unique wheels and an interior trimmed in Le Mans metallic leather. But Ferrari is bringing the Chassis 0 back to Italy now that the auction is over, meaning no delivery until the first quarter of next year.

Designed by former Apple design boss Sir Jony Ive and Marc Newson, the Luce created a storm of controversy that saw Ferrari’s share price drop when it was released in May. It marked one of the most significant changes in the company’s history as its first fully electric production car, but divided fans of the Prancing Horse with its looks, to put it politely. Former chairman Luca di Montezemolo even said “we’re risking the destruction of a myth” when the EV went public. 

In development since 2021, the Luce has an electric motor at each wheel, a 122kWh battery pack and 800-volt electrical system for a maximum output of 772kW and claimed 0-100km/h time of 2.5 seconds. Driving range is a claimed 529km, and fast charging capability of up to 350kW is supported. At more than five metres long, it’s the largest Ferrari ever built, while its four-door layout, complete with rear-hinged back doors is another first for the brand.

The GWM Ora 5 Touring has been unveiled for the first time, with images of the plug-in hybrid version of the small SUV showing a wagon-like vehicle that will come to Australia with longer range and a longer body.

The Touring hasn’t been officially announced, with the photos surfacing after GWM submitted them to China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) as part of the approval process. The pics show the model will have a longer rear end than the current Ora 5, with a new tail-light design on the full-width light bar and a larger D pillar. 

Rear view of a white SUV in a studio setting, showing a full-width tail light bar and the GW M branding on the tailgate.
2

Information supplied to the MIIT confirms the Touring will be 4758mm long and 1630mm tall, making it 287mm longer than the existing Ora 5, but also 11mm lower. All up, the Touring is significantly larger than the small SUV, which comes with a 58.3kWh battery pack offering a claimed WLTP range of 435km.

There’s no clarity on the specs for the drivetrain for the Touring, but GWM has previously confirmed the new version will join the Aussie line-up with a 71kWh battery pack. The manufacturer also said it will look at introducing a plug-in hybrid variant of the Ora 5, but the focus will remain on the full EV for now.

The entry-level Ora 5 Lux is selling for $33,990 drive-away, making it one of the cheapest electric small SUVs on the Aussie market. The Touring is expected to go for closer to $40,000 as GWM ups the price due to the increase in size and range. 

“The vehicle will most likely come, potentially with two powertrains, but certainly EV,” GWM Australia’s chief operating officer, John Kett, told WhichCar by Wheels last month. “There’a also a plug-in hybrid version that we are still working our way through. So if they were to land, it will be either side of the new year… but it’s definitely going to happen.”