One special day, a full year ago, Ken Block and his Hoonigan crew brought a deafening cacophony to a chunk of Mexico City as Electrikhana Two filled the streets with the sound of screaming electric motors and squealing tyres.

What came next, every car enthusiast remembers well: Block was killed in a snowmobile accident just two months after filming Electrikhana Two, aged 55.

If you need to relive that news, you’ll find it in the story linked at the bottom of this one. For now, though, you should hit the play button below and enjoy Block’s last outing in his bespoke Audi S1 Hoonitron electric skid machine for 12 minutes of pavement scribbling and flying bodywork.

Watch more Hoonigan videos below, and read about the Electrikhana Two project at the Hoonigan website here [↗].

Gymkhana One

This is ground zero, where the whole saga began. Gymkhana One featured Block’s built 2006 Subaru Impreza WRX STI at an old airfield. Chaos ensues, the internet catches hold, a legend is born.

Gymkhana Two

Gymkhana Two was designed to feature a few of Ken Block’s DC Shoes products, mimicking the form of an infomercial. The cinematography was a big step-up and so was the car, a Crawford Performance 422kW Impreza WRX STI.

Gymkhana Three

2010 was the year of change for Block and Gymkhana. First of all, he changed from using Subarus in the viral videos to Fords – now employing a 484kW 2011 Ford Fiesta. Secondly, the team set the video in Linas, France at an old autodrome. The anti-lag Ford Fiesta Gymkhana car was the start of a long partnership between Block and Ford Performance which continues to this day.

Gymkhana Four

The HOONIGAN team had to wind up at Hollywood at some point. Featuring more stunts than ever, 2011’s video once again featured Ken’s Fiesta smashing through walls, knocking over objects and of course, performing mammoth-sized jumps.

Gymkhana Five

Ken Block skids his way around the San Francisco skyline in 2012’s 100 million hit video.

Gymkhana Six

Gymkhana Seven

For the first time in years, Ken changed his car to a 1965 Ford Mustang in Gymkhana Seven. The fire-breathing methanol-injected V8 can be seen ripping up the concrete wonderland that is Los Angeles.

NOTE: The above video isn’t embedding correctly, but the ‘Watch on YouTube’ link works. Head to YT to check it out.

Gymkhana Eight

2016 saw the HOONIGAN crew head to Dubai to film Gymkhana Eight, once again using Block’s rally-spec Ford Fiesta as the ultimate whip-mobile.

NOTE: The above video isn’t embedding correctly, but the ‘Watch on YouTube’ link works. Head to YT to check it out.

Gymkhana Nine

The first outing for Ken’s 2017 Ford Focus RS RX, the ninth iteration of Gymkhana filmed in Detroit, Michigan has the most daring stunts to date, most notably a game of ‘chicken’ with a diesel train.

Gymkhana Ten

Gymkhana Ten is the most unbelievable film to date, with the planning taking over two years and filming in multiple countries like Sweden, United States and Mexico. The full film goes for almost 20 minutes and rest assured, each second is worth watching.

Climbkhana: Pikes Peak

Climbkhana features death-defying slides with Version 2 of Ken’s Hoonicorn Ford Mustang, fitted with a methanol-injected, twin-turbo 1043kW V8.

Climbkhana 2: China’s Tianmen Mountain

Gymkhana 2020: Pastrana takeover

Eletrickhana ONE

Gymkhana 2022

Public electric vehicle charging infrastructure is quickly growing in Australia, yet most can’t satisfy the full capabilities of new models.

According to public EV charging finder PlugShare [↗], Australia is dominated by around 270 DC fast charging stations that output up to 50 kilowatt (kW).

Depending on the model, a 50kW DC unit generally takes about one hour to charge from 10 to 80 per cent – sufficient time if you’re on a rest break. However, the majority of new EV models can accept much quicker charge rate.

For example, even the budget-friendly BYD Dolphin Dynamic hatch can input up to 60kW DC, the base Tesla Model 3 RWD sedan has peak 170kW DC capability, and the Kia EV6 crossover can reach up to 240kW DC.

JUMP AHEAD

• ? Why 50kW DC?
• ? A moot point?
• ? Time to make the electric switch?

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? Why 50kW DC?

While car brands are able to boast of fast charging capabilities, most public charging stations in Australia simply can’t output as much energy. There’s a reason, however.

Speaking with Wheels Media, Delta Electronics Australia and New Zealand manager Tom Hew said the 50kW approach provides the best balance of charging speed and matching each location’s electricity grid capabilities.

“We know the grid is struggling to be able to take chargers at a lot of locations, so they may not necessarily be able to have something higher than 50 kilowatts, without including a battery storage solution for example,” Hew said.

“We see it as the sweet spot for what a lot of places can install… anything higher could cost significantly more to upgrade the mains in order to support it. It also takes a very long time to wait for the supply authorities to be able to actually plan and upgrade it accordingly.”

“We see it as the sweet spot … they may not be able to have something higher than 50 kilowatts”

Some 75kW to 150kW DC public stations have also emerged and are capable of power sharing (charging two vehicles at once via two plugs), but charging speeds slow to a 50:25 kW DC split for the former, despite users paying for the same rate.

Ultra-rapid 350kW stations owned by Chargefox and Evie Networks are mainly found beside highways, while Tesla has only offered 150kW (V2) and 250kW (V3) Superchargers and don’t provide power sharing functionality. Of course, they often come at a higher price.

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Hew says Delta will introduce high-powered 350kW DC units next year, but like the company’s rivals, he agrees ultra-rapid charging stalls are more suitable alongside highways – rather than at inner-urban public and office locations, where 50kW DC is “more than sufficient”.

“It depends on the application, so where are they [charge point operators are] actually installing it, for what purpose and looking at the behaviour of the user at that particular location,” Hew told WhichCar.

The charging equipment manufacturer claims its new DC Wallbox 50kW can further reduce installation costs, with a small footprint, power sharing capability, and grid management software. Delta says it will initially be installed at car dealerships and for government EV fleets.

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? A moot point?

Fast charging capabilities may be attractive, but they’re really only needed if owners are hurrying through a long trip or can’t access a plug at home for overnight charging.

The ideal method is slow AC charging at home or work, where the vehicle refills when it’s parked and unused, rather than deliberately stopping beside the road – akin to a traditional petrol or diesel car.

Home charging is the cheapest way to own an EV, and AC power is generally better for the longevity of batteries.

As public fast charging infrastructure quickly grows, more stalls from different manufacturers and speed outputs are being installed with improved reliability.

However, being hit with a slowed-down charging session – despite paying the same price – simply because another EV plugged in on the same station (if compatible with power sharing) is an emerging and frustrating issue.

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? Is it time to make the electric switch?

EVs are not for everyone (for now), but they are right for most.

Charger reliability, battery longevity, and price remain key perceived issues. For more, check out our /Electric hub guides below.

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Horsepower, often abbreviated as “hp”, is a unit of measurement for engine power output. The more horsepower a car has, generally, the faster it can go.

Contrary to popular belief, horsepower is still commonly used in Australia, alongside kilowatts (kW), to describe a car’s engine power. This unit is also widely used in the United States and other parts of the world.

Of course, as a mostly metric nation, kW is the standard measurement in Australia – whereas horsepower is favoured in the tuning community.

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What’s the difference between horsepower and torque?

In the automotive world, torque and horsepower are two critical ways to describe a car’s engine capabilities.

Torque is the measure of an engine’s rotational force. It’s the initial thrust that gets a car moving from a stop and is crucial for tasks like climbing hills or towing. It’s the oomph you feel when you press the accelerator pedal, contributing to rapid acceleration from a standstill.

In Australia, we use the metric Newton Metres (Nm) measurement standard, while the older imperial form is ‘pounds per foot’ (lb-ft).

Horsepower (and kilowatts) is about sustained power output over time. It’s a broader measure that reflects the engine’s overall ability to maintain speed and efficiency during continuous operation, particularly useful in scenarios like highway driving.

Let’s get technical

James Watt, an engineer during the industrial revolution (late 18th century), introduced the term ‘horsepower’. He used it to compare the work capacity of steam engines with that of draft horses.

In terms of modern vehicles, an entry-level Toyota Corolla petrol hatchback, for instance, has 126kW of power. To convert this to horsepower, the formula is 126 kW × 1.34102, equating to approximately 168.97 hp.

It’s ironic, in a sense, that the man who coined the term horsepower is also the person for whom the kilowatt is named – effectively ‘metricising’ his name.

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How much horsepower does a horse have?

Interestingly, a horse doesn’t have just 1 horsepower.

James Watt originated the term as something of an easily understood concept. He estimated that a horse could do work at a rate of about 550 foot-pounds per second, which he rounded to one horsepower. The actual power output of a horse can vary widely, obviously.

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Horsepower in high-performance Vehicles

A current Formula One car, with its 1.6-litre V6 petrol-electric hybrid engine, can produce over 1000 hp – although this figure can vary among teams and engine specifications.

In the Australian Supercars series, the newer Gen3 Ford Mustang and Chevrolet Camaro feature race-specific V8 engines. Their horsepower outputs can differ based on racing regulations and modifications but are generally in the range of 600 to 640 hp.

For electric vehicle enthusiasts, the Tesla Model 3’s horsepower ranges from about 279 hp to 505 hp in the performance variant, showcasing the impressive capabilities of electric powertrains.

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• ⚡ ALL ELECTRIC VEHICLE ADVICE

Writing a review of a car while simultaneously testing it would normally be highly inadvisable, and not even a task we’d confidently undertake in a prototype autonomous-drive vehicle.

Yet it’s the essential, and perfectly safe, method for assessing the Lexus LM – the Japanese brand’s first ever people-mover. Or VIP-mover as it might be more accurately described.

Creating an alternative mode of posh transport to the LS limo that put the Japanese brand on the executive-car map in 1989, consider the Toyota Alphard-based LM a direct challenger to Mercedes-Benz’s V-Class, and a competitor to upmarket SUVs such as the Range Rover.

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Fittingly, it’s an LS that provides the old-school service for a relatively short drive to Sydney airport before we’re met at the Melbourne end by another chauffeur with the LM “Luxury Mover”.

I’m not sure we’ve ever described a Lexus vehicle design as quirky, though this seems the most suitable adjective for the LM. It’s an unusual-looking vehicle with its long-body-stubby-nose silhouette, creased sheetmetal, and large, bluff grille that alone is quite a vision. It’s got presence, we’ll give it that.

Our transport is a LM350h AWD Sports Luxury, which costs from $165,888 before on-road costs. A front-wheel-drive version is available for five-grand less, both featuring a seven-seater (2-2-3) layout.

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In early 2024, a $220,888 LM500h Ultra Luxury flagship will arrive, offering not only a more powerful hybrid drivetrain but a four-seat, first-class-style layout that the Roys would no doubt approve of.

It features two rear ‘VIP thrones’, a 48-inch widescreen display with 23-speaker Mark Levinson sound system, and a glass barrier that can block out the chauffeur for absolute privacy.

We’re not looking to succeed anyone any time soon, so I’m happy to climb in the middle row of the business-class six-seater without looking for someone to fire. Although a ‘downgrade’ from the LM500h, the 350h’s interior still provides a private-jet ambience in the central row.

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Lexus Australia set up a different type of vehicle launch designed to replicate a typical LM experience.

Not only is the LM joining the Lexus On Demand fleet – which Encore Platinum and electric Lexus owners can pick from for up to eight-day loans four times a year – but our destination is the Jackalope Lexus Encore partner hotel, set in the heart of the Mornington Peninsula’s vineyard region.

Encore members staying at the hotel, for example, would enjoy benefits including complimentary sparkling wine (served in their room on arrival), room upgrade when available, complimentary use of the hotel’s Lexus car service (within 15km radius), customised spa treatment, and earlier check-in and late check-out where possible.

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A double-step entry provides convenient access, via the electric sliding side doors, to the leather/urethane captain’s chairs occupying the centre section.

Each chair is equipped with switches for extensive adjustment of backrest-rest reclines (up to 63 degrees) and footrest extension, and a touch control pad for climate control, audio, lighting, seat heating/ventilation/massage, and window and roof shades.

Not all comfort measures are visible. Lexus engineers placed rubber bushes between the seat and floor to reduce vibrations.

Alternatively, most of these functions can be controlled via physical buttons/switches on a stretched overhead console, either side of which are a people-mover interpretation of skylights.

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In addition to the stretch-out legroom there’s acres of headroom enabled by the van-like body style.

A couple of features are secreted in each chair’s plumply padded arm: a pop-out cupholder on the right side and a pull-out airplane-style table on the left. There’s just no-one serving hot food and beverages. Both the arms and footrest include Lexus-first heating functions.

For Zoom meetings or visual entertainment, a monitor drops down out of the overhead console and comes with an HDMI connector.

In addition to the stretch-out legroom there’s acres of headroom enabled by the van-like body style.

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The wide cabin and flat floor allow business bags to be placed between the seats without interfering with footrests.

Panoramic side windows and plenty of space between the front headrests also provides excellent outward vision. Or block out the side view with shades.

Third-row occupants aren’t ignored, either. After accessing the last set of seats via buttons that control the electric slide (up to 480mm) and tilt of the captain’s chairs, they get their own window blinds, USB-C port, vents and cupholders.

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It’s quiet in the rear. Wind noise is never intrusive on the freeway, the drivetrain is rarely vocal, and tyre rumble, even on coarser surfaces, is impressively subdued.

The ride is mostly smooth, though not always exemplary. We later learn our journey down was driven with the LM in Rear Comfort, a mode that slackens the variable damping with the intention of extra suppleness but instead creates occasional bounciness.

After temporarily living the life of Riley – who may or may not have been a Lexus owner – at Jackalope for the night, it’s our turn behind the wheel the next morning.

The LM covers a sizeable 5.1m x 1.9m footprint, is nearly two metres tall, and weighs between 2.3 and 2.5 tonnes.

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That’s all thankfully disguised from behind the wheel, at least on the country roads our relatively short drive was limited to.

The LM remains sufficiently upright travelling around corners on 80km/h roads, and the brakes are easy to modulate and provide good slowing force.

There’s a touch of vagueness around the steering’s straight-ahead position but it’s otherwise light and smooth nature makes it simple for guiding the LM’s direction.

The driving position has more in common with a van than a limo, though that contributes to a commanding view out. Front-seat comfort is also exceptional. Longer-legged chauffeurs, however, might prefer steering wheel telescopic adjustment that extends further out.

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There’s a head-up display to help keep eyes on the road. The digital infotainment and instrument displays look dated compared with the slick and sophisticated offered by almost every other luxury-car brand, and even plenty of mainstream car makers.

The LM350h’s series-parallel hybrid drivetrain – combining a 2.5-litre petrol engine with an electric motor up front (and a rear motor for our AWD model), Lexus says combined maximum power is 184kW.

Power jumps to 273kW in the LM500h that teams its electric motors with a 2.4L turbo petrol engine with almost double the torque (460Nm v 239Nm) of the normally aspirated 2.5L.

Fuel consumption is highly unlikely to be a decisive factor in an LM purchase decision, but for the record the official figures are economical – between 5.5 and 6.6 litres per 100km.

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At least all the motors help make the LM350h quite effortless to drive

Out of a city environment, it’s virtually impossible to drive the LM on its electric motors alone. At least all the motors help make the LM350h quite effortless to drive, though, when more acceleration is required, the drone from the CVT puts the only major blot on the Lexus’s refinement copybook.

A torque converter auto mated to an inherently smoother and stronger V6 would seem a better combination for linking with the electric motors, even if the typical LM buyer will only care about what’s behind the front seats.

Behind the rearmost seats, there’s no space for airport luggage if all seats are in use – just a paltry 110 litres that will take a couple of bags.

If not needed, the LM350h’s third row has a power-folding set-up to create nearly 1200 litres of luggage space. There’s a 752-litre luggage capacity in the four-seater LM500h.

It’s back into the middle row for the return to the airport, where I started tapping out this review – with the highly rare, over-riding thought that, in the Lexus LM, the back seat is exactly where I want to be.

December: Mustang Mach-E pricing slashed

Ford Australia has reduced pricing for the Mustang Mach-E between $2675 and $7000 in a bid to lure more Model Y, EV6 and Ioniq 5 shoppers as the electric car price war continues.

October: Mustang Mach-E Australian review

Finally! The Mach-E is now in Oz, and we’ve driven it. Get our full review at the linked story below.

Mustang Mach-E pricing and features

The all-electric 2024 Ford Mustang Mach-E mid-size SUV is now available to reserve ahead of its arrival later this year.

Ford Australia has confirmed pricing and features for the Mustang Mach-E – a rival to the Tesla Model Y, Kia EV6, Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Volkswagen ID.4 – with reservations now open.

According to the brand, the first allocation of Australia-bound Mach-Es will commence production “imminently”.

The local Mach-E line-up – sourced from Mexico – will kick off with the entry-level Select grade, followed by the mid-spec Premium and the flagship GT performance variant.

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It will follow the all-electric E-Transit commercial van due imminently, and it’ll be joined by the smaller E-Transit Custom confirmed for 2024 – plus the Escape Plug-In Hybrid medium SUV on sale now.

However, the entire Escape line-up will be discontinued later this year, while Ford Australia has “no plans to introduce” the new, Europe-destined Explorer EV based on the Volkswagen Group MEB platform shared with the ID.4.

To purchase a Mach-E, customers must create an account on Ford’s consumer website, with a $1000 reservation fee. All buyers must facilitate ordering and servicing through Ford’s limited ‘approved EV’ dealer network.

Ford has confirmed the base Select – priced from $72,990 before on-road costs – will be fitted with a new 71kWh lithium-iron-phosphate battery pack, allowing for a WLTP-rated 470-kilometre driving range.

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This battery chemistry is found in other entry-level EVs, including the base Tesla Model Y RWD, MG ZS EV Standard Range, and the GWM Ora Standard Range.

Ford states that the LFP battery now enables owners to charge to 100 per cent “more frequently” via an AC slow charging point, while DC fast charging from 10 to 80 per cent is five minutes quicker, with a claimed 33 minutes.

For more information on the Mustang Mach-E’s technical specifications and how it stacks up against its competitors, you can read our spec comparison against the Tesla Model Y, Kia EV6 and Volkswagen ID.4 by clicking below.

JUMP AHEAD

• 2024 Ford Mustang Mach-E pricing
• 2024 Ford Mustang Mach-E features
• Colours
• Powertrains, charging, and driving range
• Safety
• Dimensions
• Warranty and servicing
• Availability

2024 Ford Mustang Mach-E pricing

Prices exclude on-road costs.

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2024 Ford Mustang Mach-E features

Mustang Mach-E Select

Mustang Mach-E Premium

Mustang Mach-E GT

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Colours

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Powertrains, charging, and driving range

Under the skin, the base Select features a rear-mounted 198kW/430Nm single electric motor, fed by a new-for-2023 71kWh lithium-iron-phosphate battery pack. It has a WLTP-rated 470-kilometre driving range.

The mid-spec Premium brings a larger 91kWh battery and a more-powerful 216kW and 430Nm electric motor, allowing for a driving range of “up to 600km”.

While the top-spec GT retains the Premium’s larger 91kWh battery, it gains an electric motor mounted to the front axle, for a 358kW/860Nm total system output.

Advice

Australia’s best electric cars for 2023

We’ve tested nearly every EV below six figures in Australia to rank the best on sale today

an hour ago

However, as with the Kia EV6 GT and Tesla Model Y Performance, this comes at the cost of range, with the Mach-E GT limited to 490 kilometres.

It has a claimed 0-100km/h sprint time of 3.7 seconds, making it the fastest accelerating vehicle in Ford’s local range.

All variants support 150kW DC fast charging, and a maximum 11kW AC charge rate for home charging.

MINI MATCH UP: Ford Mustang Mach-E GT v Tesla Model Y Performance v Kia EV6 GT*

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Safety

The Ford Mustang Mach-E is covered by a five-star ANCAP safety rating – excluding the GT AWD – based on testing conducted in 2022.

It scored 92 per cent for adult occupant protection, 88 per cent for child occupant protection, 69 per cent for vulnerable road user protection, and 82 per cent for safety assistance.

For the full report, click here.

Eight airbags (dual front, side, head, and driver’s knee and front-centre) are standard for the Select and Premium. The GT is not fitted with a front-centre airbag.

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Dimensions

The 2024 Ford Mustang Mach-E measures 4713 millimetres long, 1881mm wide and 1624mm tall, with a 2984mm wheelbase.

The flagship Mach-E GT is slightly longer at 4743mm and lower at 1613mm, with identical width.

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2024 Ford Mustang Mach-E boot space

The Ford Mustang Mach-E has a 402-litre boot capacity, expanding to 1420 litres with the second-row folded. It has a 134-litre front boot (frunk).

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Warranty and servicing

As per the wider Ford range, the Mustang Mach-E is covered by the brand’s five-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty.

The high-voltage components are covered by a separate eight-year/160,000-kilometre warranty, in line with the Escape PHEV and E-Transit.

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Availability

The 2024 Ford Mustang Mach-E is now arriving in Australian showrooms. It is available to reserve on Ford’s consumer website.

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⚡ More EV stories to help you choose the best car for your needs

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The 2024 Ford Mustang Mach-E electric SUV is now priced at up to $7000 less ahead of the first customer deliveries due this month.

Launched in Australia in October, Ford’s local arm has confirmed permanent price reductions between $2675 and $7000 applied to the retail cost for all three Mach-E variants.

This sees the entry price fall to $72,990 before on-road costs for the Select RWD – down from $79,990 (8.8 per cent less) – positioning it between the Tesla Model Y Rear-Wheel Drive ($65,400) and Long Range AWD ($78,400).

An equivalent-spec Kia EV6 GT-Line RWD is priced from $79,590 before on-roads and a Hyundai Ioniq 5 RWD 77.4kWh costs between $70,500 and $79,500 plus on-roads.

The mid-spec Premium RWD, now priced from $86,990 before on-road costs, is 5.1 per cent cheaper and falls below the Luxury Car Tax threshold for fuel-efficient vehicles, becoming eligible for the Fringe Benefits Tax exemption when purchased with a novated lease.

The GT AWD – a rival to the $91,400 Model Y Performance, $99,590 Kia EV6 GT and $111,000 Hyundai Ioniq 5 N – is now priced from $104,990 plus on-roads, down from $107,665 (2.5 per cent less).

“This price reduction is a major positive for our customers and demonstrates our commitment to delivering the best products and great value to our customers. As the EV market continues to evolve, we are responding to it,” said Ford Australia CEO Andrew Birkic.

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The Mustang Mach-E is the latest electric vehicle to have amended pricing in Australia, with cuts also applied to its Tesla Model Y and Hyundai Ioniq 5 rivals earlier this year.

Other electric vehicles, including the GWM Ora and MG ZS EV, also saw pricing reductions, with the GWM’s price reduced at launch by up to $4000 in response to its cut-price sub-$40,000 MG 4 and BYD Dolphin competitors.

In November, Hyundai also offered a temporary Black Friday sale for the Ioniq 6 sedan with savings of up to $10,500.

2024 Ford Mustang Mach-E pricing

All prices exclude on-road costs.

For more details on the Mustang Mach-E pricing, features and detailed specs, click on the featured article linked below.

There are a few things one must sacrifice when one becomes a parent…

Things like Sunday sleep-ins, sleeping in general, date nights — and, most reluctantly of all, the two-door sports car.

Yep, it’s time to consider the best family car for your growing brood. Here are a few things to consider when making the transition.

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Safety rating

You have probably heard of an ANCAP rating, but what does it mean?

ANCAP stands for the Australasian New Car Assessment Program. It’s a car safety performance evaluation that crash tests vehicles sold in Australia.

It then publishes these results for the benefit of consumers. Vehicles are awarded an ANCAP rating of between zero and five stars indicating the level of safety they provide in the event of a collision.

The more stars, the safer your vehicle. To achieve the maximum five star ANCAP safety rating, a vehicle must achieve the highest standards in all tests and feature advanced safety assist technologies to help prevent an accident. Obviously safety is paramount when it comes to your kids. When looking for a family car, go for a vehicle with five stars.

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Cargo and storage space

Gone are the days when storage space was where you placed your sunnies and water bottle.

Family life means you’ll spend many years lugging around prams, baby bags, car restraints, school bags, musical instruments and sporting equipment. For this reason it’s important to look for ample storage.

This is usually expressed in litres. Also ask: Do the rear seats fold down to improve cargo space? Most importantly, does the boot accommodate a pram?

Consider an SUV or people-mover

There is a reason SUVs are the weapon of choice at the school drop off/pick up war zone.

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For one, their high and upright driving position offers better visibility over traffic. Their height means they are easier to get in and out of with kids and groceries; you’ll do your back twisting and lowering a snoozing baby into a low car. SUVs generally hold more stuff.

Also consider people-movers. While decidedly uncool, they offer practical motoring at its best. Their sliding doors are brilliant when it comes to ushering kids into the car. Not to mention eliminating dinged doors in the car park.

Don’t forget, it’s not just your own kids you’ll be ferrying around. You’ll also play taxi driver to all their friends and sporting groups, so consider whether you need a five, seven or even an eight seater model.

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Go for top-shelf tech

Children = distraction.

Ever tried to reverse park with three screaming kids in the back and prams and groceries obscuring your view? Chuck in sleep deprivation and you have a recipe for a bingle.

For this reason, top-shelf tech is all important. While I am yet to trust auto park, always invest in a vehicle with quality reversing cameras, sensors, radar cruise control and lane assist.

Smartphone mirroring, head-up display for freeway driving, voice control that works well and good Bluetooth are also useful. Connectivity is important and will reduce any chance you’ll fiddle with your phone — which is, of course, illegal, but still tempting for busy parents.

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Don’t ignore convenience and comfort in the back

For your sanity, consider a vehicle with multiple USB charging ports – especially in the back.

Everyone has a device now, and the last thing you want is a flat iPad on a long car trip.

Rear seat climate control is also a bonus for littlies trapped in the back. And make sure there are plenty of cup holders for rear passengers.

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Fuel type and efficiency

Petrol, hybrid, electric – they’re all a bit different in terms of energy consumption. Make sure you get the one that best suits your needs.

Manufacturers will always have an official fuel consumption expressed as litres per 100 kilometres. But this is usually a combination of “urban” and “extra-urban” – aka freeway conditions.

The manner and usage in which you drive your car could make that quite different. For example, if you do lots of school runs and stop-start city driving your fuel usage will be higher.

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Extended factory warranty

The warranty is usually buried in the fine print, although it’s quickly become a selling point in recent years.

Go for five years with unlimited kilometres at least – it shouldn’t be particularly hard as most manufacturers offer five years now.

Some manufacturers even offer seven! See our full guide at the link below.

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Do your research

This is a massive asset you’re buying so do your homework. A site like WhichCar.com.au provides plenty of reviews and car comparisons.

Book in test drives and make sure they occur back-to-back, because it’s really easy to forget the feel of a car. Take a notepad to compare notes.

Visit a number of different dealers and ask each for their best deal. Some might give you a low interest rate when it comes to financing, but they won’t budge on the price of the car.

Drag along your partner. This is a family team decision. And don’t be afraid to take the pram and car seats to the test drives. No use getting the new family wagon home, only to discover the damn pram doesn’t fit!

“A replacement is intensively under study,” Shaun Westcott, Mitsubishi Motors Australia’s president and CEO told Wheels, when probed about the next ASX.

The ASX has been on sale in Australia in its current guise since 2010, receiving numerous facelifts and model tweaks over the years. Most recently for 2024, with Mitsubishi adding a new option pack for the lower-end ES variant.

However, the vehicle is quite clearly near the very end of the line in its current iteration. “The ASX is coming to the end of its life – although, and I’ll qualify that by saying that it has been one of Australia’s best-selling light SUVs in Australia,” Westcott said.

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“There’s still a place for it. It’s still selling strong, and the demand for that product far exceeds our supply so it’s still got some legs in it, but it is getting towards the end of its lifecycle. A replacement is intensively under study at the moment,” Westcott said.

“Watch this space,” added Oliver Mann, General Manager Marketing and Product Strategy at Mitsubishi Motors Australia.

According to the November 2023 VFACTs report, a total of 694 ASX variants were delivered to consumers for the month, with a year-to-date tally now up to 8552 units.

ES, MR and LS variants are powered by a 110kW 2.0-litre petrol engine mated to a CVT automatic transmission, while the GSR and Exceed versions gain a more spritely 123kW 2.4-litre petrol engine.

January 14, 2023: Mitsubishi to sell current ASX until “right replacement comes along”

Mitsubishi will continue to sell the current version of its ASX small SUV in Australia for the foreseeable future until “the right replacement comes along”.

Speaking with Wheels, CEO Shaun Westcott said the company has no plans to replace the ASX at present because the current model continues to sell so well in Australia.

In the 12 months of 2022, 12,753 examples of the ASX were sold locally, putting it in third place in its segment only behind the MG ZS and Mazda CX-30.

“I can’t reveal details [for ASX] other than to say that it’s still smashing records. It’s still sitting extremely well. It’s a really popular car in Australia and a very important car for us,” said Westcott.

“We continue to explore multiple and various options around what is the right [replacement] car to bring to Australia.”

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The Mitsubishi ASX has been around for more than a decade now, it was first revealed in 2010 and has undergone four facelifts in that time, but sales have long defied this compact SUV’s age.

Aside from offering a lot of metal for the money, the Mitsubishi ASX is cleanly-styled, easy to drive, rides well and is both safe and reliable. It also has one of the roomiest cabins in its class.

All ASX models are front-wheel-drive. ASX ES, MR and LS variants feature a 110kW 2.0-litre petrol engine mated to a CVT auto. The GSR and Exceed versions gain a slightly more powerful, 123kW 2.4-litre petrol engine.

Pricing starts from $24,990 for the ES and rises to $34,740 for the Exceed.

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Late last year a Renault Captur-based second-gen was revealed for Europe, but at present there’s no indication this version is headed for our shores – or at least any time soon, in part, because it will be produced exclusively in left-hand-drive.

Mitsubishi only recently adopted Renault’s compact crossover as its “new” ASX for the European market with not much more than a badge switcheroo.

Regular readers will recognise the new ASX as a re-badged version of the Renault Captur, using the same Alliance CMF-B platform and styling.

Mitsubishi has tweaked the ASX’s fascia with a subtle nod to the brand’s ‘Dynamic Shield’ grille design, but the similarities between the ASX and Captur are hard to miss.

In a rare twist, the 2023 ASX is smaller in every dimension than the 12-year-old car it replaces, measuring 4228 millimetres long, 1797m wide and 1573mm tall against the older model’s 4365mm, 1810mm and 1640mm.

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According to Mitsubishi HQ, the impending need to renew or replace the ASX with a new-generation model makes it a prime candidate for reinvention as an EV.

Speaking recently with Wheels in Tokyo, Mitsubishi Motors’s chief of electric powertrain development outlined the company’s plan to focus on plug-in hybrid (PHEV) powertrains for its larger cars, while smaller vehicles – such as the ASX – would be offered as battery-electric EVs in appropriate markets.

New recall notices have been issued, affecting Mazda, GWM and Audi vehicles.

The details of each recall, as published, are posted below.

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• What is a recall?
• What to do if your car is recalled
• Why a car recall isn’t all bad news
• What is a vehicle identification number (VIN)?
• All ANCAP & vehicle safety stories

The first official trailer for the upcoming Grand Theft Auto VI is finally here, published by Rockstar Games hours before its planned release in response to a cheeky early leak.

“Grand Theft Auto VI heads to the state of Leonida, home to the neon-soaked streets of Vice City and beyond in the biggest, most immersive evolution of the Grand Theft Auto series yet,” Rockstar says.

As expected, thanks in large part to details that have surfaced online over the past few years, the Florida-inspired of Vice City is once again the setting for the world’s most popular car-chase game.

This return to the neon-lit party town comes after its first appearance in the 2002 release of the eponymous GTA Vice City, which was followed by Liberty City (NYC) in GTA 4 and the most recent chapter, GTA 5 in San Andreas (Los Angeles).

We’ve still got a mighty long wait for GTA 6, however, with the trailer confirming a 2025 release on the PlayStation 5 and XBOX Series X and S. GTA 6 has already been a 10-year wait, although fans have been kept busy with the open-world, online version of Grand Theft Auto V (5).

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The new GTA instalment is clearly set in the present day, with the trailer showing a fictional TikTok-like live-streamed scene, although it’s unclear if this will form part of a mission or any other required gameplay element.

If you’re anything like me, you’re probably looking forward to skipping the missions and exploring (or reacquainting yourself with) Vice City with the latest range of knockoff cars, bikes, boats, choppers, jets and all the rest.

I’m personally hoping 2025 will also bring a powered-up Nintendo Switch 2 with GTA 6 on the roster of launch titles… wishful thinking, no doubt!

Watch for more details and footage of GTA 6 to come over the next… year and more. Eesh.