Great Wall Motors is considering adding more sub-brands to its Australian portfolio, the company has revealed.

The Chinese car giant currently sells its ute models here under the GWM badge, while Haval is responsible for its SUV range. But there could be more on the way.

Speaking through a translator during the 2021 Munich motor show on Monday, GWM Ora Europe CEO Xianghua Qiao told Wheels the carmaker is eyeing an entry into the Australian market.

“Ora is a worldwide brand. Through the development of technology and also with [the] pressure of climate change, Ora will be successful in Australia because we focus more on green energy,” Xianghua Qiao said.

The Chinese firm used the motor show to announce the all-electric Ora Cat would be launched in the UK next year, confirming the model will be manufactured in right-hand-drive. The Ora Good Cat is currently sold in China for less than AU$35,000.

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In recent days, its parent company GWM registered three patent filings in Australia for different Ora models, bearing more than a passing resemblance to the original Volkswagen Beetle.

In early July 2021, GWM Haval filed patents in Australia for an electric Ora SUV, based on a Wey model sold in China.

Xianghua Qiao says the Chinese carmaker is continuing to monitor the Australian market.

“GWM already has a presence in Australia and it depends on the market’s development. Maybe in the future we can see Ora on Australian streets.”

The comments solidify statements made by the company in June 2021, which suggested Ora models could be here as soon as 2022.

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But Ora isn’t the only GWM sub-brand being considered for local shores, with Wey Europe executive vice president Johnson Qiang revealing to Wheels Wey is also being assessed for the future.

“I think Australia will be our potential market, but today we are more focused on Europe.”

The GWM subsidiary is wary of expanding too quickly, and wants to establish itself as a more luxurious alternative in the burgeoning field of Chinese vehicles.

“We want to be a premium brand in Europe and we want to make a big impact globally. We have to go step-by-step to choose our next market,” Johnson Qiang said on Monday.

“We have two strategies: this year we launch in Europe, in 2023 we launch in the US.”

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Australia could be next on the agenda – either launching Wey in its own right, or falling under the Haval banner of SUVs.

Another Great Wall Motors spin-off, Tank, is understood to be under consideration for Australia.

The company unveiled two new models in recent weeks: the Tank 400, which is expected to compete against the Toyota Fortuner, and the Tank 500, which appears to be taking the Toyota LandCruiser Prado head on.

The company recently brought the smaller Tank 300 to Australia for evaluation, allowing Wheels to drive the prototype on a closed off-road course.

After a lengthy gestation, and a recent local delay, the pre-order books are open for the hotly anticipated second-generation of the Subaru BRZ.

Local details have been confirmed with customer deliveries expected to commence in the first quarter of 2022.

Unlike the original BRZ of 2012, two variants will be offered upon launch – the BRZ Coupe and BRZ Coupe S – both of which can be specified with either a six-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmission.

Manufacturer list pricing begins at $38,990 for the manual BRZ Coupe, while the six-speed automatic asks $42,790 – commanding a $3800 difference.

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Stepping up to the BRZ Coupe S will cost you $40,190 and $43,990 for the manual and automatic, respectively, and trades the basic cloth trim for leather/Ultrasuede upholstery and adds heating functions to the front seats

As revealed previously, the new-gen BRZ enjoys a healthy power and torque bump of approximately 18kW and 32Nm over the outgoing model thanks to its enlarged 2.4-litre direct and port injection four-cylinder boxer engine.

Along with the ‘big-block’ engine, a range of Subaru’s active safety systems have been added as standard to the popular sports coupe, including: blind-spot monitoring, lane change assist and rear cross traffic alert.

Automatic examples, specifically, also benefit from Subaru’s lauded EyeSight driver-assist system as well as added high-beam assist and reverse automatic braking.

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The new model delivers a major improvement on the interior and tech front, featuring as standard: an 8.0-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, digital radio, satnav, dual-zone HVAC, leather steering wheel and gear shift surround, keyless entry, self-levelling LED headlights, LED daytime running lights and 18-inch alloys shod in improved Michelin Pilot Sport 4 tyres.

Along with the release of local pricing and macro specifications today, Subaru Australia has also launched its dealer and online pre-order system.

That means that you can put your name, along with a fully-refundable $1000 deposit, down for a 2022 Subaru BRZ right now.

Subaru Australia expects the first allocation of 500 vehicles to arrive in the first quarter of 2022, with full Australian specifications to be confirmed closer to launch in the coming months.

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2022 Subaru BRZ pricing (excludes on-road costs)

The line-up of Volkswagen’s electric vehicles has been expanded with the reveal of its ID. Life concept overnight at the IAA Mobility Show in Munich – the smallest ID. vehicle yet.

Although it is based on the MEB platform, which underpins the Golf-sized ID.3 and the Tiguan-sized ID.4, the ID. Life is closer to a Polo or T-Cross in its overall dimensions – 4091mm in length, 1845mm wide and 1599mm high, with a 2650mm wheelbase.

ID. Life will be the first MEB-based vehicle to be front-wheel drive only, featuring a single 172kW motor paired to a 57kWh battery pack, providing a driving range of up to 400km and a claimed 0-100km/h time of just under seven seconds.

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As with a majority of Volkswagen’s new vehicles, matrix LED lights feature at the front and rear of the ID. Life’s boxy body, highlighting the illuminated logos to set them apart from standard badges.

Oversized 20-inch wheels look slightly out of place in comparison to the relatively small car, filling the arches with ease, while other elements such as cameras in place of mirrors reduce the ID. Life’s overall width – handy for tight city streets and car parks.

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The eco-theme is backed up by Volkswagen utilising wood chips as a natural colouring agent within the paint’s clear coat, combining with a bio-based hardener. The air chamber textile fabric, which is used on the bonnet and roof, is also sustainably sourced – made from 100 per cent recycled plastic bottles.

Moving into the cabin, a variety of sustainable natural and recycled materials have been used to fill the interior space, from wood in the dashboard and rear seat surrounds, to Art Velours Eco for the seat surfaces and door trims.

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Just because it uses natural materials doesn’t mean the Life’s interior is a back-to-basics affair – it still features a 9-inch screen, which is used for the mirrors as well as a video game console and projector – turning the car into a mobile cinema with a screen which pops out from the dash.

While this is still just a concept car, the Life ditches the traditional steering wheel in place of a yoke, featuring touch controls for the car’s driving functions. Smartphones can be integrated into the ID. Life’s operating system, controlling features via an app – while also allowing screen mirroring on the aforementioned projector screen.

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Volkswagen estimates a car such as the ID. Life could retail for around €20,000 or AU$32,000 if it was to go into production, and aims to introduce a new model to the small car segment by 2025.

The local arm of the world’s biggest manufacturer has previously stated it is in no rush to bring its electric vehicles to Australia, citing currently policy – or lack thereof – for EVs as the main contributing factor.

A number of new Hyundai models are on their way utilising the latest hydrogen fuel-cell technology, with the company warning a pure electric-vehicle future will place too much strain on electricity infrastructure.

Hyundai Motor Europe president and CEO Michael Cole says the Korean carmaker is developing hydrogen-powered cars as an alternative to electric vehicles (EVs), with multiple passenger and commercial vehicles in the pipeline.

“We need both technologies (battery and fuel-cell),” Cole told Wheels on Monday at the 2021 Munich motor show.

“Maybe it’s not going to be so easy to have the electricity grid that can support everyone having EVs. That’s the advantage of hydrogen.”

In recent weeks, Hyundai teased its next hydrogen fuel-cell vehicle in a video showing the car drifting on a closed circuit. Cole remains tight-lipped, but it’s thought the vehicle could be a rear-wheel-drive performance model from Hyundai N.

“It’s too early to describe exactly what the vehicle will be,” he said, but added there is more than one passenger car utilising hydrogen fuel-cell technology on the way.

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Despite both Volkswagen and General Motors rejecting hydrogen in recent years, Hyundai has been one of a handful of manufacturers doggedly pursuing the technology.

In March 2021, Hyundai launched the Nexo in Australia – the first hydrogen-powered car to go on sale locally, while the company helped build some of the country’s first refuelling facilities.

“We demonstrated … our commitment to Nexo and we’re already working on our third-generation fuel-cell,” Cole said.

Alongside Toyota, Hyundai is one of two manufacturers offering fuel-cell cars in Australia – and the only one to offer both hydrogen and fully-electric models.

“We believe that all these different technologies could have a role to play. We certainly see [the advantages of] battery-electric vehicles, but the fuel-cell technology offers advantages that you don’t get with battery [technology].”

Hyundai has also been exploring the viability of hydrogen-powered commercial trucks. While current EV tech means trucks could be off the road for hours while they recharge, hydrogen tanks can be refilled in minutes.

“It’s particularly relevant in commercial vehicles and the heavy goods transport area. That’s where we see that initial advancement in fuel-cell [technology].”

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Hyundai’s European arm is aiming to have 1600 hydrogen vehicles on the road by 2025 – but Cole stresses it’s about the development of the technology, as well as public acceptance of hydrogen as a legitimate alternative fuel.

“This is about getting the rate of efficiency in our fuel-cell technology,” he said.

“Talking about developing it from a sales point of view is not really where we’re focusing. It’s about improving the technology – not only the power efficiency, but also the cost efficiency, and that’s why we continue to move on [to] the next generation.

“We have to keep moving forward and our leadership with hydrogen.”

Hyundai Motor Company has announced its carbon commitment policy for the future – declaring its entire product range will be carbon neutral by 2045.

Having already stated its intentions to end development of non-electric vehicles from 2030, the push towards carbon neutrality is the next step forward to providing a cleaner future. And it seems the Korean manufacturer is hedging its bets on the best way to do so – investing in both battery electric vehicles (BEV) and hydrogen fuel-cell electric vehicles (FCEVs).

From 2035, all Hyundai vehicles sold in Europe will be zero-emissions vehicles, while a move away from fossil-fuels in a majority of markets will come by 2040. However Australia has previously been touted as a country which is unprepared for a shift to EVs due to our lack of infrastructure.

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Between 2030 and 2040, Hyundai expects a significant increase in the uptake of its EVs, from a target of 30 per cent of global sales up to 80 per cent, coming from both BEVs and FCEVs.

The second part of Hyundai’s strategy is to introduce more autonomous vehicles worldwide, adapting its current range to feature more self-driving capabilities, such as the Ioniq 5-based Robotaxi revealed last week.

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According to Hyundai, it will take more than an investment in existing technologies to achieving its net zero target. Therefore it has chosen to broaden its horizons by also backing projects outside of car production, such as green hydrogen – obtained from electrolysis of water generated by low-carbon power sources – vehicle-to-grid power return, and second life battery energy storage.

A reduction in the carbon footprint from its manufacturing plants is also a major concern, with a target of 90 per cent renewable energy to power its production facilities by 2040 being introduced – kickstarted by its Czech plant, which will only run on renewables from next year.

Hyundai currently offers two battery electric vehicles in Australia – the Ioniq and Kona EV – and the Ioniq 5 is expected to join its local line-up in the coming months. Its expanded zero emissions range will also soon feature the Nexo hydrogen fuel-cell vehicle, which has already joined the Queensland and Australian Capital Territory government fleets.

Porsche has delivered one of the hammer blows of the 2021 IAA Munich motorshow with a scalpel-sharp competition concept which offers glimpses of the German manufacturer’s road and race car intent over the coming years.

The full extent of the styling and technological influence will only emerge over the next few months, but we were given an exclusive look below the Mission R’s satin skin and a private tour at its debut.

Porsche GT racing vehicles project manager Matthias Scholz was our host, and revealed a few intriguing details you might not find in the official information or photography.

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Fast car, close team

Developing the Mission R from inception to show-ready took just 10 months and required an unprecedented union of Porsche teams.

“It was the very first time two extreme departments – the stylists and the Porsche motorsports – are working so close together on one project,” said Scholz.

“We started on the project in November and we had to bring out the car today.”

Racer or road car?

This concept is fully functioning and track ready. So much so, development driver Timo Bernhard actually whipped the car in testing without any bodywork attached to protect its secrecy.

“It’s possible to drive the car and we are holding a driving event in November to show the car on the track. Is it a street car or a race car? In fact, it’s both.

“This is a vision of how a GT race car in the future could be, and for sure you see elements of how maybe a sports car could be as well.”

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Flat out in reverse

If the Mission R evolves into a production road car it will be the first time a Porsche model started life as a racer and was later repurposed as a road machine.

And a road-going version of the Mission R is not out of the question, with an unknown chunk of the concept confirmed to transition into a production model of some sort.

Platform choose

At its core, the Mission R has a familiar platform, but a production model will use an all-new base that is neither J1 (Taycan) nor PPE (Audi A6 E-Tron) but a third electrified architecture from Porsche and Audi.

“The very first step of the platform is the steel body of the Cayman GT4, but then we changed the front and the rear as well to bring in the motors and the drive shafts,” said Scholz.

If we were betting people, our money would be on the next-generation Cayman and Boxster platform hiding under an evolution of the Mission R concept.

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Moral fibre

While the Mission R uses extensive carbon-fibre components, the concept also features a significant amount of construction using ‘natural fibre composite’.

While the relatively new material is about 10 per cent heavier than the best carbon composite, it is far more sustainable and has a lower environmental impact.

It’s easy to identify the new material thanks to its lighter grey colour, compared with the black weave of carbon strands.

Green flag?

Porsche is considering a new all-electric one-make series, but only if its customer racing clients are keen. Before the green flag is given, many details need to be finalised or improved – including the current eye-watering price.

“The price would be around a million to do it completely on this level,” said Scholz. “We are planning a workshop together with customers in a couple of weeks and invite them to develop an idea of how customer racing could be with this car.

“We don’t want to copy a current Carrera Cup race, so this could be one part of a future series. It’s not just a car – it’s a lot of things, and [we need to look at] how our one-make series could be in the future with different surfaces like gravel, ice, race track or hill-climb.”

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Sim city

The Mission R has been imagined to involve and captivate E-sports enthusiasts as well as motorsport fans.

“The race seat is in its own monocoque for safety reasons but it also makes a simulator,” said Scholz. “They have the same seat, the same steering wheel.”

That means owners could practice in a simulator at home which perfectly matches the fit and feel of their car for unrivalled familiarity on race day, as well as offering well-heeled sim-racers the ultimate home rig.

Clear safety advantage

Scholz admitted the concept’s expansive polycarbonate roof will not see a production race version, but it does include some proper competition features nonetheless.

As per modern GT car standards, the clear roof panel includes an emergency escape hatch for a rapid exit in the event of a big stack.

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Fin detail

The massive rear diffuser is not just for show, but did in fact start out as more of an aesthetic folly. After aerodynamic testing found the fins to be largely ineffective, engineers remade the natural fibre part with large bends – resulting in a significant reduction in rear lift.

Cage fighter

While almost all other race cars need a roll cage retrofitting before competition use, the Mission R has an integrated safety cage as part of its design. The exoskeleton is strong enough to withstand the forces of a crash, but also forms the roof and pillar structures.

As a result, the car stands at just 1.2m tall but there’s still enough room inside to avoid bumping the driver’s crash helmet on the strong carbon bars.

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Silent running

Like the Mission E project which blindsided everyone at the 2015 Frankfurt show, there wasn’t even a rumour the Mission R was in the pipeline. The design team was kept deliberately small for ease of secrecy and its members were forbidden from talking about details with any Porsche employees not directly involved.

Fresh faced

Porsche’s development team identified that private racers don’t necessarily have a full racing entourage to follow them to each event and many of the less glamorous duties would be handled by the driver.

That’s why the Mission R has its own ventilated helmet drying stand located in the passenger side of the car.

Stunt double

Due to COVID-19 restrictions, only a limited number of guests were allowed to attend the reveal of the car in person, but Porsche had about double the number of people to accommodate. To solve the problem, two locations were used for the reveal and a duplicate full-scale model was simultaneously presented at the second venue.

The one you see here though is the real deal.

BMW’s little electric i3 city car showed a lot of promise, but its quirky design, awkward packaging and high pricing made it a tough sell for Australian buyers. So is this the BMW i3, reborn in a similarly quirky but more practical package?

Yes and no. BMW’s new i Vision Circular clearly wouldn’t exist without the long-lived i3, and the two are similar in size and remit. But this is a concept, pure and simple: a 4-metre-long ideas bubble.

It won’t go into production, certainly not in any form true to this wild concept. But its ideas and design will influence next-gen small BMW EVs – Munich’s currently mulling an i1 hatch and iX1 crossover.

What are the big ideas?

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One is an idea we can all get behind: to show that even in a digital-first, ride-sharing and overwhelmingly urban future of meat-free burgers, there’s still a place for what BMW’s design boss Domagoj Dukec calls ‘mankind’s greatest achievement’: the car.

Electrification is one element of this future-proofing (and clearly we’re talking electrification festooned with asterisks… so long as the hardware contains no rare earths, that its materials are recyclable, that the power is generated sustainably… all of which apply here, naturally), as is carbon-neutral manufacturing.

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But i Vision Circular is also right on the front line where car meets social acceptance.

“Cars get a lot of criticism. In Europe, big cities want to ban them,” says BMW’s Dukec.

“But the car is the ultimate freedom machine. Even somebody who lives 100 per cent ecologically would, I think, admit that your own private space is nicer than being pressed in [to public transport] with 100 other people. By taking responsibility, the car can have a future.”

Any clever stuff?

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Mainly it’s about the kind of rock-solid green powertrain credentials that will underpin BMW’s EVs (e-motors without rare earths and sustainably manufactured batteries), backed up by design and engineering that treads lightly.

The car uses reclaimed materials, quick-release fasteners for many of the key sub-assemblies, single-material design, no adhesives, 3D printing to reduce waste, and an almost Lotus-like fixation on simplification, to save weight and ease recycling.

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But spending time here won’t be the automotive equivalent of living in sacrifice in some wattle-walled off-grid squalor. The roof is glass, with the windscreen header pulled back to create a light, airy space.

Lounge-style seats and the car’s signature colour, light gold, bring the luxe, as does the crystal-bodied futuristic take on iDrive (the windscreen itself forms the HUD), wood from certified sources (the steering wheel is pressed from a wood powder), thick carpets of recycled plastic and lamps that served as iX iDrive controllers in their first life.

It’s still a luxury car, just one you don’t have to feel guilty about owning (or nervous about parking).

“The real challenge is creating something desirable to everyone, not just those with a conscience,” explains Dukec. “There are some buyers who are thinking, ‘I don’t want to save the planet – I just want to reward myself for my achievements.’ Luxury and sustainability can happily co-exist.”

The exterior is – different…

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Not universally loved for his front ends, this is one of Dukec’s more successful efforrts.

Dukec: “This car has 80 per cent fewer parts than most, but it offers more. The face is a good example of this, and we have created something iconic by bringing together the headlamps and kidney grilles.”

Badging is engraved or lasered (to reduce the part count), and digital face opens up possibilities. “You replace chrome with light, and via animation you can become more useful, communicating the charging state of the car, for example. It’s no longer just an empty icon.”

Instead of paint over virgin aluminium, the car dazzles with a light-gold anodised treatment to its secondary-use aluminium skin. Elsewhere the steel is heat-treated to a contrasting blue-ish purple. The wheels – open at the centre for cooling, solid nearer the rims for low drag – look complex but are made from a single material, an approach used again and again through the car to facilitate easy recycling.

So, BMW isn’t giving up on the car just yet

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No way. Dukec: “This isn’t about teaching people that their lives have to change; that they must give something up. It’s our responsibility to create something more enjoyable that it is almost completely sustainable.

“Then society and government can say, “Okay, you don’t take anything away – there are no negatives. And yet what you’re offering gives something back.” That was the idea of this car.”

This article was first published at Carmagazine.co.uk

Porsche has recalled a total of 438 examples of the 2019 to 2021 Taycan – including the new Taycan Cross – due to a potential issue with the vehicle’s software.

According to a notice published by the Department of Infrastructure, software related to the power electronics unit could cause a fault, resulting in the electric vehicle “not performing as expected”.

The fault may also lead to a complete loss of power.

Owners can contact their preferred Porsche Centre to have the necessary fix carried out at no cost. You can find your nearest dealership by clicking here.

You can check a list of all 438 VINs related to the recall by clicking here.

A recall notice for two McLaren models will affect just two units in total, becoming the smallest instance in the brand’s local history.

For both the 2019 600LT and the 2020 GT, the issue involves a component in each vehicle’s brake assembly not being manufactured to the correct specifications.

If it fails, it could lead to the brake calipers not working correctly, reducing performance and affecting the vehicle’s ability to slow down safely.

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With just one example of each model affected, it would be safe to assume McLaren would be in touch with the owners – but if you think your vehicle may be under the recall, you can contact one of its dealers.

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

Porsche has thrown a curve ball at this year’s IAA Mobility Show in Munich, revealing a dedicated racing car for the future rather than an EV sports car as was expected – and we like it.

The Mission R is a concept study through motorsport, making use of the brand’s history in racing to develop an all-electric race car for tomorrow with the technology available today.

Rather than borrow parts from the shelf at Weissach and Stuttgart, the Mission R features two new electric motors which can deliver a combined 800kW when the car is in qualifying mode, drawing power from an 80kWh battery which provides more than just one quick burst of power.

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Constant power sits at around only 500kW with a maximum of 320kW coming from the front motor while the rear can punch out up to 480kW, combining for the magic 800kW figure.

Being all-wheel drive, Mission R has the ability to accelerate from 0-100km/h in under 2.5 seconds, rivalling Formula 1 cars off the line while also being able to hit its top speed of over 300km/h, higher than any other current Porsche motorsport machine.

Quick recharges are possible with the car’s 900-volt system, allowing for up to 340kW of charging which can take the battery from five to 80 per cent state of charge in just 15 minutes.

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It’s not just what’s under the skin which counts – taking inspiration from the 919 Evo, the Mission R features active aerodynamics similar to Formula 1’s drag reduction system on its nose and rear wing, allowing the car to produce more or less downforce depending on the circumstance.

As a part of Porsche’s commitment to reducing its carbon footprint, a majority of the Mission R’s body is made of natural fibre reinforced plastic (NFRP), a material which is also used inside the car.

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In the cabin it’s the usual story – six-point harness, driver display with lap time delta and essential data feedback as well as a monitor above the steering column, connected to a series of cameras around the Mission R rather than mirrors.

Porsche claims the driver’s module monocoque doubles as an e-sports simulator, made up of carbon fibre composite materials to lower weight and provide additional protection to the occupant.

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Although it’s not designed to enter any competitions in the near future, elements of the Mission R will likely influence Porsche’s next major foray into motorsport as it looks to rejoin the fight for the 24 Hours of Le Mans from 2023, entering under the new LMdH rules for the World Endurance Championship and IMSA.

Given Porsche’s last Mission vehicle – the Mission E – ended up as the Taycan, it would be surprising if the Mission R didn’t find its way into racing in one form or another, even as a one-make series in similar vain to the Carrera Cup championship.