It was an innocuous enough question from a colleague that got me thinking.

“Do you think the Mustang is starting to look a bit dated now?” he asked.

It wasn’t something I’d considered before, but it spurred a confronting realisation that the hugely popular Ford Mustang, in its current form, has been on sale for almost six years now.

In those six years, the Mustang has enjoyed a consistent chart-topping position and comfortably owns its segment through sheer volume. It’s the V8 GT, however, that makes up most of those units while the oft-forgotten four-cylinder is left to live in the shadow of its more popular stablemate.

With younger and smarter competitors in the paddock, how does the frugal fastback stack up today?

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It still looks fresh to my eyes, especially so when finished in Ford’s striking Velocity Blue paint. Among a significant midlife update in 2018, Ford took the opportunity to further distinguish the four-cylinder Mustang from the range by bestowing it with a unique horizontal grille design, bonnet spear stripes, as well as bespoke badging on all sides – and inside, too. Ford also swapped the uninspiring ‘Ecoboost’ name for a more imposing ‘2.3 High Performance’ moniker.

At $54,690, the 2.3 HP coupe with the 10-speed automatic gearbox is your second-cheapest entry point into the popular pony car range. You can save $3000 by opting for the six-speed manual, or spend another $6300 for the convertible, but this is the popular pick of the four-bangers.

That’s a noticeable price creep from the old Ecoboost’s initial offering of $45,990 back in 2016, however you are getting a vastly improved vehicle.

A generous standard equipment list includes 19-inch allows, active exhaust, auto LED front and rear lights, rain sensing wipers, 390-watt 12-speaker B&O stereo, eight-inch central infotainment screen, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, SatNav, 12-inch digital instrument cluster, reverse camera, keyless entry, heated and ventilated six-way power seats, leather trim, dual-zone HVAC and ambient lighting.

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Our test car comes further optioned with MagneRide adaptive dampers and Recaro sports seats.

A range of Ford’s active safety features are also fitted as standard, including adaptive cruise control, autonomous emergency braking, lane-departure warning and lane-keep assist.

Every new Mustang is covered by Ford’s five-year/unlimited-km warranty, and will be called in for servicing every 15,000kms or 12 months. Ford also offers a $299 ‘special price’ servicing program valid for up to four years or 60,000kms.

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Now, you may hold your own prejudices towards a four-cylinder Mustang, but 236kW/448Nm is a pretty respectable amount of grunt for this pricepoint. The 2.3-litre mill is an evolution of the 224kW unit found in the previous generation Focus’ RS variant, albeit with a lower compression ratio and larger turbocharger yielding a wider power band.

It’s a very tractable and responsive powerplant and feels fast in the urban setting. Low- and mid-range delivery is where the four-pot best flexes its muscles and, despite the headline 448Nm figure being delivered at 3800rpm, a minimum of 400Nm is on tap anywhere between 2500-5300rpm. Power continues to build until a 6200rpm peak, before redline is indicated at 6500rpm.

Its buzzsaw-like soundtrack is uninspired, and certainly won’t hold a candle to the soul-stirring bellow of the naturally aspirated 5.0-litre Coyote V8, but you do get some entertaining pops on overrun and there’s some noticeable induction noise. In isolation, however, it’s an effective unit.

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Especially when matched with the popular 10-speed automatic. The tightly-stacked ratios and intuitive logic will see the Mustang happily sip away at its fuel reserves on a cruise, returning 9.09L/100km on our test cycle. Conversely, it will fire off downshifts as needed under hard braking when on a gallop. Effective at its extremes however, the transmission can trip over itself with so many ratios to juggle when on a fast cruise at six-to-eight-tenths.

In many ways, the Mustang 2.3 HP is a more satisfying car to drive fast than its vaunted V8 counterpart. Carrying half the cylinders, the four-pot engine weighs almost half that of the big bent-eight and delivers a discernibly lighter and more direct front end. In comparison, the V8 GT is lumbering in its heft while the 2.3 HP feels delightfully light. If you do happen to miss that steering heft, you can dial some of it back in with Sport and Sport Plus modes.

The Mustang becomes a bit more aloof as you approach the limit. Despite the lighter engine up front, the 2.3 HP still tips the scales at 1716kg which can be hard for the square set 255/40/19 Pirelli P Zeroes tyres to contain at speed.

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It may be one of the Mustang’s entry-level offerings, but interior ambience still feels premium with lots of leather and tech. It may not match the presentation of younger and more tech-laden rivals, but the cabin deftly executes a fine balance of modern systems and easy to use controls.

There’s no chance of getting lost in a sub-menu on your way to changing your climate settings, and there’s little you could feasibly be left wanting for today – okay, maybe a wireless phone charger. The optional Recaro sports seats look great, and offer more lateral support than the standard units, but come at the expense of standard heating and cooling functions and can be too small for some people.

If you remember, the original Ecoboost Mustang was visually almost indistinguishable from its V8 stablemate. Today though, the 2.3 HP emerges as a complete package and more confident in its skin than ever.

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Yet, upon reflection, its hard to imagine who the car is meant for when you consider that $54,690 for the entry-level auto also affords you some sublime hot hatches. On the other hand, the four-cylinder Mustang offers a significant $9700 saving over the V8-powered GT.

It may pack half the cylinders, but it would be truly unfair to call it half the car. If you can relinquish your four-pot prejudices, the Mustang 2.3 HP emerges as an entertaining, stylish and cohesive coupe that you may find has a charm all its own.

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2021 Ford Mustang 2.3 High Performance specs

Electric performance brand Polestar has revealed two new optional packs for its Polestar 2 model at the Munich motor show.

At the IAA on Monday, the firm debuted the Plus Pack and Pilot Pack for the electrified fastback, which add to the Performance Pack already detailed previously.

The cheapest optional bundle is the Plus Pack, which offers a heat pump designed to reduce the need to use battery capacity on the cabin’s climate by as much as 50 per cent.

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In colder parts of the world, the pump can improve the Polestar 2’s driving range by 10 per cent.

The Plus Pack, which will set buyers back an extra €3500 (AU$5580), also includes a full-length panoramic glass roof, premium Harman Kardon audio system with 13 speakers, WeaveTech upholstery and black ash deco panels.

Additionally, the fully-electric front seats with memory function, rear seats, steering wheel and wiper nozzle are all heated.

Next up, the Pilot Pack, costing €4500 (AU$7175), includes enhanced safety and driver assistance features – such as Pixel LED headlights with LED front fog lights, driver assistance with adaptive cruise control and pilot assist.

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Also featuring as part of the package are; a 360-degree surround view camera, all-round parking sensors, and driver awareness, the latter of which includes; blind-spot information system (BLIS) with steering support, cross-traffic alert with brake support, and rear collision warning.

The existing optional Performance Pack, which costs €6000 (AU$9567), remains available for the Long range Dual-motor variant only, and includes adjustable Öhlins dampers, Brembo brakes, forged 20-inch alloy wheels and signature ‘Swedish gold’ details inside and out.

A handful of specific single optional extras remain available, including ventilated Nappa leather upholstery (requires the Plus Pack to be purchased), metallic paint, 20-inch alloy wheels and a semi-electric folding tow bar.

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Earlier this year the Volvo spin-off announced the Polestar 2 line-up for 2021 – offering three powertrains for the EV, which is due to land in Europe this month and on Australian shores by year’s end.

Top spec will be an all-wheel drive version with a 300kW and 660Nm output from two motors – drawing power from a 78kWh battery pack which provides a driving range of up to 480km. This variant will hit 100km/h in a claimed 4.5 seconds and be priced at €51,500 (roughly equalling AU$82,000).

A 64kWh, front-drive version will have a driving range of up to 440km and cost €45,500 (AU$72,500), while a long-range (78kWh) FWD version will be able to travel close to 540km and be priced at €48,500 (AU$77,300). These have 165kW/330Nm and 170kW/330Nm respectively, and take 7.0sec to hit 100km/h.

Australian pricing has yet to be confirmed on all variants, but is expected soon.

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This week the brand has also announced it plans to expand into 30 global markets by the end of 2022.

After confirming in July this year it wants to double the number of markets it is in 2021 from nine to 18 by the end of 2021, Polestar now aims to establish itself in a further twelve throughout 2022.

“Growth on this scale is unprecedented and confirms our position as a truly global, pure EV brand,” said Thomas Ingenlath, Polestar CEO, speaking at the 2021 IAA in Munich.

“Our unique business model has allowed us to develop the manufacturing capacity we need to satisfy demand. Our digital-first approach means we can enter new markets faster. And, crucially, the service network vital to customer peace of mind is already in place.”

On the list of new markets are the Middle East, including Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates, Luxembourg and Iceland.

A Precept concept vehicle, revealed in February 2020 and previously confirmed for future production, has also made its first public appearance at the Munich motor show.

Recently the company previewed the car with a new video series offering fans a look behind the scenes at how it is conceived and crafted.

The 2019 Mercedes-Benz EQC400 has been placed under recall due to the sealing of its battery housing, potentially causing issues over the lifetime of the vehicle.

Ten of the 11 EQC400s sold in 2019 are affected by the recall, stemming from a potential for the battery’s housing to deteriorate over time, allowing moisture in to the high-voltage environment.

While this could directly affect the battery by creating premature corrosion, a by-product is the increased risk of a potential electrical short – leading to the possibility of fire.

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Mercedes-Benz has said it is currently in the process of contacting owners to arrange an inspection at their nearest dealership, offering to carry out the work free of charge.

Alternatively, customers who are unsure whether their vehicle is affected can contact Mercedes on 1300 300 896 or via [email protected]

A list of VINs for affected vehicles can be found here.

Toyota is recalling examples of its 86 model as it has been discovered the coupe’s fuel pump may stop working suddenly.

Affecting a total of 367 units, the faulty fuel pump could potentially cut supply to the engine, causing the car to stop and possibly cause damage internally.

The same fault forced Subaru to issue a recall notice for a range of its vehicles last week, including the BRZ which is twinned with the 86.

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Toyota has said it will be contacting owners and requesting they make an appointment with their preferred dealer to rectify the fault, free of charge.

If you’re unsure as to whether your vehicle is affected, Toyota’s recall assist helpline is available on 1800 987 366 or can be emailed through [email protected]

A list of VINs for affected vehicles can be found here.

Cupra has clearly outlined its intentions ahead of its local debut next year – aiming to be a major player in the performance market and advance the uptake of electric vehicles at the same time.

CEO Wayne Griffiths announced the Spanish subsidiary of Volkswagen will not take a conservative approach when it turns up on local shores in 2022, promising its vehicles will feature provocative designs to set them apart from their VW, Skoda and Audi cousins.

Aiming to be a challenger rather than a disruptor, Cupra has already shown off its three-strong line-up of the Leon hatchback, Formentor medium-SUV and Ateca large-SUV, all of which will enter the market as dedicated performance vehicles in a variety of segments.

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While all models at launch will either be internal combustion-engined or plug-in hybrid vehicles, Griffiths believes his brand can set itself apart from the likes of VW and Skoda. Rather than shying away from bringing EVs to Australia, instead it plans to make it a priority for Cupra to deliver a performance EV to Australia.

There are, of course, some limiting factors to this plan – the Volkswagen Group, alongside other manufacturers, has openly criticised the Australian Government for its lack of EV policies and infrastructure – prioritising models to countries which actively encourage EV ownership, rather than one which passively discourages it.

Despite this, Cupra is still aiming to bring its EV-only Born model to Australia by 2023 at the latest, followed by the Tavascan concept and yet-to-be launched Rebel – all based on the MEB platform which underpins VW’s ID.3 and ID.4

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Although all of the cars in the current line-up feature the familiar MQB and MLB platforms used on a other VW Group models, Griffiths insists Cupra’s design style is unique.

This will become more apparent in EV models of the future, as, according to Griffiths, “in the combustion era it was easy to make an emotional car, we just put a five-cylinder into a Formentor and gave it drift mode”.

“[Many] electric vehicles are fast so there needs to be a differentiating factor.”

The turning point will be down to the car’s handling and overall driving experience, setting up the suspension to take away the feeling of extra weight, which is caused by the addition of a load of batteries under the floor.

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Australia will be one of Cupra’s first destinations for its local launch, adopting the “love it or leave it” attitude to describe its vehicles.

“We don’t want people to like our cars, we want them to love them, and if they can’t do that – they can leave it,” said Griffiths.

It’s very likely only enthusiasts will know about the arrival of Cupra when the marque does come to Australia, but through its provocative car design, Cupra is trying to make sure they remember the brand when it launches.

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Australian Director Ben Wilks believes the brand will position itself amidst a range of performance vehicles around the $60,000-70,000 mark, and hopes to truly make an impression on the local market.

With the Skoda, Volkswagen and Audi performance ranges recently undergoing updates, Cupra could well and truly position itself as a contender in the local performance scene when it turns up next year.

UPDATE, September 7: Regular production for Australian and NZ bound C8 Corvettes is due to begin later this month.

In a statement on social media, the importer revealed it has registered its first right-hand-drive C8 Corvette in Australia, which is to begin road testing in Victoria shortly.

Accompanying images shot at GM’s Bowling Green plant in Kentucky, USA, show a red car labelled ‘FOR EXPORT’, alongside a white RHD convertible.

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While the C8 did make a brief appearance at The Bend Motorsport Pack in May, COVID lockdowns have put GMSV’s official launch plans on ice. The company says it hopes to engage with owners, clubs and fans “when restrictions allow.”

A GMSV representative told WhichCar the first C8 Corvette shipments are still anticipated for Q4 of 2021.

The story to here

August 18: A 2022 Chevrolet Corvette C8 2LT has been spotted on its way to Australia, as General Motors Specialty Vehicles continues to take orders for the mid-engined supercar.

The first Corvette to be released with a mid-ship powerplant, the C8 will also be the first generation of the Corvette nameplate to be officially imported to Australia, coming through GMSV in Melbourne.

In addition to one C8 in which already exists in Australia – having been used by GMSV for promotional use – a Motor reader spied this second Corvette en route to local shores on board the car carrier Themis.

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On its way from the United States to Melbourne, the ship stopped over at the Port of Auckland on August 14, finished in the same red paint as the example already in Australia.

Themis departed the New Zealand port and resumed its journey towards Melbourne, with stops in Brisbane and Port Kembla scheduled before it reaches its final destination, potentially towards the end of the month.

Its VIN suggests this is a non-USA vehicle and a part of the captured test fleet coming Down Under to join its sibling as a promotional vehicle. GMSV has now confirmed it is a second marketing vehicle for its head office.

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The first right-hand drive Corvette C8s are expected to go on sale in Japan before arriving in Australia and New Zealand, initially slated for the fourth quarter of this year although production delays due to supply issues in the United States have potentially pushed it back further.

GMSV has previously confirmed local pricing of the C8, with the 2LT starting at $144,990 and the 3LT available from $160,500, while convertible versions of both variants incur a $15,000 premium.

Last month General Motors filed a trademark application for the Z06 name in Australia, hinting at the top-spec performance variant coming to the local market in the future, featuring the first ever flat-plane crank V8 engine produced by GM.

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Hydrogen vehicles are to become up to 50 per cent more affordable within the next few years, thanks to a new generation Hyundai fuel-cell system revealed today.

The Hyundai Motor Group used its Hydrogen Wave online global event to showcase to reveal its third-generation fuel-cell powertrains with 100kW and 200kW outputs.

The 100kW stack has reduced in size by 30 per cent, compared to the second-generation unit in the Hyundai Nexo FCEV SUV, making it easier to apply to different vehicle types and applications.

It will power the next-generation Nexo and an FCEV version of the new Staria people-mover, which are expected to launch in late 2023, with Kia and Genesis FCEV models to follow.

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The 200kW version has been designed for commercial vehicle applications including heavy trucks and buses and is similar in size to the current unit in the Nexo, but with twice the power output.

They will be introduced alongside battery-electric commercial vehicles, which Hyundai remains committed to.

The price of the third-generation fuel-cell stack will also be dramatically reduced – with projections being upwards of more than 50 per cent – which will be the key factor to achieving cost parity of FCEVs with increasingly more affordable BEVs by 2030.

This will be achieved by reducing the production costs, and assisted by economies of scale – as hydrogen technology takes off across a range of mobility and power-generation applications around the world.

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Hyundai also revealed a ‘Full-Flat’ fuel-cell system which lowers stack height to just 25cm, allowing it to be used for various applications such as vans, people-movers and autonomous multipurpose vehicles.

The third-generation fuel-cell system can also be stacked to create a larger module, generating outputs ranging from 500kW to 1MW, to power everything from large ships to energy-intensive IT databases. Hyundai is also aiming to further the technology to provide energy solutions for fixed buildings as part of its ‘Hydrogen Vision 2040’ goals.

“Hyundai Motor Group’s vision is to apply green hydrogen energy in all areas of life and industry such as our homes, workplaces and factories,” said Chairman of the Group, Euisun Chung.

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“The goal is to make hydrogen readily usable for everyone, everything, and everywhere. We want to offer practical solutions for the sustainable development of humanity, and with these breakthroughs, we aim to help foster a worldwide Hydrogen Society by 2040.”

Hyundai has been developing hydrogen fuel-cell technology since 1998 which led to its first FCEV, the ix35 Fuel Cell SUV in 2013, the Nexo FCEV in 2018 and the world’s first heavy-duty fuel cell truck, the XCIENT Fuel Cell, in 2020.

The company believes FCEV and BEV can co-exist, though hydrogen is more likely to be used with heavy vehicles.

A 500kW sports sedan prototype with sub-4.0-second 0-100km/h claimed acceleration has headlined a showcase of Hyundai hydrogen fuel-cell EV concepts revealed online today.

The Vision FK hybrid sports car is the star of this week’s ‘Hydrogen Village’ (HydroVille) exhibition in Goyang, Korea, which features several fuel-cell concept vehicles for future mobility and power generation.

Not too much has been revealed about the Vision FK’s performance beyond its maximum output of more than 500kW, an expected driving range of more than 600km and sharp twin-motor torque vector steering.

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Designed to demonstrate how fuel-cell technology can be applicable to high-performance vehicle applications, the co-development between Hyundai and Rimac Automobili combines a fuel-cell energy converter with a high-power, rear-wheel-drive, plug-in electric powertrain.

Rimac, which benefitted from a AU$129 million Hyundai cash injection in 2019, helped develop the power-electric system, while Hyundai’s performance and fuel-cell engineers concentrated on all the others.

Albert Bierman, Hyundai’s president of research and development, said the collaboration with Rimac will form the basis for mass-produced, hydrogen-powered, high-performance vehicles in the future.

Beirman admitted the Vision FV is technological overkill, but said it presented an exciting challenge which will lead to the introduction of new technologies which will make their way into mainstream FCEV vehicles.

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FCEV concepts

HydroVille also features a range of concept vehicles from Hyundai and affiliates, including the Trailer Drone, a hydrogen-powered container transportation system capable of operating autonomously.

It can carry a flexible number of hydrogen tanks tailored to its journey profile to ensure more than 1000km of sufficient driving range.

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Its autonomous capabilities were designed from scratch due to the unique requirements of container transport applications and the way terminals operate.

This led to the development of the Fuel-Cell e-Bogies, which sit under the container at each end with fully independent four-wheel steering – allowing for high levels of manoeuvrability, including sideways movement.

The Trailer Drone can move autonomously through port-side operations and tight urban environments. Efficiency is further boosted by the ‘Cluster Mode’ which enables multiple Trailer Drones to travel together in an almost train-like configuration.

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The Rescue Drone concept is a mobility solution which combines with a Fuel-Cell e-Bogie to create a flying drone that can be operated remotely and autonomously for critical operations, such as fire-fighting and life-saving.

It features an independent steering system for in-place turning manoeuvres and crab-walk driving.

It can also carry out missions via images transmitted from drones mounted on the vehicle exterior, and achieves a 450 to 500km driving range from a single charge.

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A couple of other concepts have been developed to help overcome range anxiety for FCEV and BEV drivers. These include the H Moving Station, which is a heavy-duty vehicle equipped with charging facilities for FCEVs.

This portable solution ensures convenience, as well as charging options in areas with limited hydrogen refuelling stations.

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The Kia RHGV meanwhile supplies power to BEVs in need of urgent assistance, but in remote and off-road areas.

Its portable EV battery charger offers single-phase 220V and three-phase 380V simultaneous power supply.

Tesla boss Elon Musk has reportedly offered new information on the company’s planned budget hatchback, which is now slated to enter production in 2023.

According to Twitter user Sawyer Merritt, Musk held an online, all-hands meeting last Friday. The CEO reportedly asked employees if they “want [the] car to come with a steering wheel and pedals,” alluding to Tesla’s ‘Full Self-Driving’ (FSD) technology.

Information around Tesla’s planned $US25,000 (AU$33,534) hatch has been sparse since its announcement at ‘Battery Day’ in September 2020.

Back then, Musk said new battery cell construction methods would drive production prices well below the US$35,000 (AU$47,036) Model 3 Standard Range. That car was pulled from Tesla’s line-up in late 2020, suggesting its planned robo-taxi fleet could instead use the upcoming hatchback.

Musk also indicated the car may not be called the Model 2, as had been widely suggested. He apparently told employees the Model 3 name was chosen simply to “troll” Ford, which own the rights to the ‘Model E’ name. No alternative name was floated.

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The new EV will likely be assembled in Tesla’s Shanghai Gigafactory. Speaking to Chinese media in February, Tesla China managing director Tom Zhu said he expected the car to be revealed this year — backing up earlier reports indicating it would be unveiled during November’s Guangzhou Auto Show.

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An enormous amount of work lies ahead of Tesla if it wants to deliver a self-driving car with no user steering or pedals by 2023. Such a lack of input would make for a Level 5 autonomous vehicle, which doesn’t currently exist on the road yet. Furthermore, the company’s existing Autopilot functionality is currently under investigation following a number of serious crashes.

The ongoing global semi-conductor shortage has now hit Tesla, with the world’s largest electric vehicle manufacturer reportedly halting production throughout August in China.

According to Bloomberg, its Chinese production line stopped work for four days as the company caught up with its supply of the chips, mainly affecting its electronic control units – which power the majority of an EV’s systems.

While the delays have mainly impacted production of the Model Y, it is understood the plant is back to working at full capacity to meet demand for the first allocation of right-hand drive crossovers – with a handful of RHD Model Ys arriving in Australia last month.

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Tesla is one of many manufacturers suffering from the global chip shortage, as Toyota announced it will be cutting production by 40 per cent throughout September due to a lack of semi-conductors.

Volkswagen’s supply struggles have led the Australian arm of the world’s largest manufacturer to start up a website which allows customers to check the current inventory of vehicles, detailing which models are impacted and why.

In July alone, Tesla’s Chinese plant produced and shipped 33,000 vehicles for the local and overseas markets, being the only production facility for right-hand drive vehicles.

Although the Tesla Model Y will be coming Down Under, the manufacturer has not confirmed pricing or an estimated date for the car’s arrival, with the production delays potentially pushing deliveries back to 2022.