Volkswagen Australia has issued a recall notice for Beetles produced between 2012 and 2016, owing to a potentially dangerous airbag fault.

A total of 1705 vehicles are affected under the recall, with the manufacturer saying exposure to high temperatures or humidity fluctuations over its lifetime could lead to the airbag’s inflator propellant degrading, leading to a potential rupture or explosion.

This explosion could lead to the inflator propelling metal fragments through the airbag cushion, causing injury or death to the driver and other vehicle occupants.

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A spokesperson for Volkswagen Australia told WhichCar this recall was not associated with the global Takata airbag recall, having no recorded incidents related to the current issue.

“Although Volkswagen is not aware of any instances of a fault in the airbag units of these cars globally, a precautionary recall has been implemented in response to concerns raised by the Australian Government based on overseas reports which are not specific to Volkswagen.

“This recall is separate from the Australian Government’s mandatory recall that commenced in 2018 and which involved a number of auto brands.

“The procedure, which involves replacing the airbag’s gas generator, takes about one hour to complete and is free of charge. Customers can arrange an appointment at any of more than 100 Volkswagen dealers nationwide.”

Volkswagen Beetle owners who believe their car is under recall or are unsure can find their nearest dealer here or contact Volkswagen on 1800 504 076 between 8am and 6pm, Monday to Friday.

A full list of affected VINs can be found here.

Hennessey has decided to celebrate its 30th birthday with a limited edition run of its Exorcist Camaro ZL1.

Dubbed the ‘Hennessey Exorcist 30th Anniversary Camaro’ the special edition ZL1 features an anniversary logo on the front guards, as well as a specially numbered build plate – as it is only building 30 models.

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Those 30 cars will complete the final 100 car production run Hennessey will do for the Exorcist Camaro.

Power and performance for the anniversary edition remains the same as the normal Exorcist, but that’s nothing to snort at.

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To create an Exorcist, Hennessey starts with a Camaro ZL1, before giving the 6.2-litre LT4 V8 a thorough makeover, including; ported heads, an upgraded valvetrain and camshaft, an upgraded exhaust and a bigger Magnuson supercharger which spins to 14psi.

The net result is 1000bhp (745kW) @6500 rpm and 883lb-ft torque (1197Nm) @4500rpm, with a 0-60mph (97km/h) time of 2.1-seconds, quarter mile time of 9.57 @147mph (237km/h) with a top speed of 217mph (349km/h).

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The Anniversary Edition Exorcist will cost US$135,000 (AU$182,700), which includes the cost of a standard ZL1 Camaro. Customers can opt for either the six-speed manual or 10-speed automatic, as well as coupe or convertible body styles.

“The Exorcist is the epitome of the American Muscle car and has the off-the-line performance to embarrass almost any car on the planet. We’ve been making fast cars faster since 1991, so our 30th Anniversary Exorcist pools all we know into one ferocious supercar slayer,” said CEO of Hennessey Performance John Hennessey.

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The Exorcist Camaros all come with a two-year/24,000 mile (38,600km) warranty, and orders can be placed through GM dealers or Hennessey.

The Exorcist was originally launched by Hennessey in 2017 in response to the Dodge Demon.

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The announcement of the celebratory Camaro comes as speculation grows around the future of the American muscle car icon, including reports from the US suggesting the current Camaro could be the last, as GM plans to drop it in 2024 and replace it with an EV sports sedan.

UPDATE, JULY 29: Ford has confirmed its new battery research and development facility will be located in the city of Romulus, Michigan.

The factory is part of a US$185million (AU$251m) investment to develop and manufacture lithium ion and solid-state battery cells and arrays, in a bid to accelerate the carmaker’s electrification efforts.

“Ford already is delivering on our plan to lead the electric revolution with strong new vehicles including the Mustang Mach-E, 2022 E-Transit available late 2021 and the 2022 F-150 Lightning available from [US] spring next year,” said Anand Sankaran, Ford Ion Park director.

“The new lab will help Ford speed up the battery development process to deliver even more capable, affordable batteries and is part of Ford’s renewed commitment to making Michigan a centrepiece of its focus on EVs.”

Our original story below has been updated to reflect the latest information.

The story to here

MAY 4: Ford is powering up its electric vehicle offensive for the future by creating its first battery research and development facility in Motor City – Detroit, Michigan.

Described by the automaker as a ‘battery centre of excellence’, the new centre has been dubbed Ford Ion Park, and will employ roughly 200 dedicated team members.

The 25,000 square-metre establishment has not been designed for mass production, as there will only be two levels of manufacturing possible on-site – lab scale and pilot scale.

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The Blue Oval hopes the research and development (R&D) team will fast track the evolution of next-generation battery technology, which will be utilised in the majority of the brand’s automobiles in the future.

Ion Park is just one facet of the automaker’s new strategy for developing electric vehicles and autonomous technology, with Ford claiming it will invest no less than US$30billion (AU$40.6bn) on EV and autonomous products by 2025.

As reported by WhichCar, the automaker has also recently pledged that all of its products in Europe will be fully electric by 2030.

The company has committed to assemble its all-new, all-electric Ford F-150 Lightning, with foreign and domestics parts, at the Rouge Electric Vehicle Center in Dearborn, Michigan, creating 500 jobs.

Ford has also repositioned its half-century-old Van Dyke Transmission Plant – renaming it the Van Dyke Electric Powertrain Center and expanding its production line to build electric motors and electric transaxles for hybrid and fully electric vehicles, retaining a total of 225 local jobs.

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It’s thought the introduction of the in-house R&D facility is the American legacy brand’s response to recent technology supply chain issues which have plagued the automotive industry over the last 12 months.

It’s also understood that Ford’s current EV battery supplier, South Korean manufacturer SK Innovation, recently lost a US$1.8 billion trade dispute with LG, and this may affect the automaker’s supply chain in the future.

Ford isn’t the only American automaker investing heavily in battery tech either, with main competitors General Motors already dumping billions into battery and electric transport solutions.

Volkswagen has added another lifted hatchback to its European line-up, announcing the arrival of the Taigo as a coupe-inspired crossover which will exist between the T-Cross and T-Roc.

Nearly identical in spec to the Brazil-only Nivus, the Taigo is based on the same Volkswagen MQB A0 platform which also underpins the T-Cross and current Polo, as well as other Volkswagen Group offerings such as the Skoda Scala, Fabia, Kamiq and Audi A1.

Set to be built in Spain, the Taigo stacks up as a longer, thinner and lower option than the T-Cross, standing at 4260mm (+150mm) in length, 1750mm (-10mm) wide and 1490mm (-93mm) tall with a wheelbase of 2566mm (+3mm).

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Adopting the same kind of coupe-style rear end as its bigger siblings such as the Porsche Cayenne and Audi Q5 Sportback, boot space is down slightly on the T-Cross, from 455 litres to 438 by account of the more aggressive rear slope.

Available in one of four trim packages, the Taigo features standard equipment such as; LED headlights, a 6.5-inch infotainment screen, fully-digital dash and front assist with autonomous emergency braking, as well as lane assist. Optional upgrades include; matrix LED lights, a 9.2-inch touchscreen, VW’s digital dash pro and parking sensors on the front and rear bumpers.

Power will come from a choice of two engines – the three-cylinder, 1.0-litre unit found in the Polo, developing 70kW/175Nm, or a larger four-cylinder, 1.5-litre engine from the Golf/Tiguan/T-Roc which makes 110kW/250Nm. Both are available with a seven-speed dual-clutch auto transmission or a manual five or six speed.

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Despite plans for the model to be rolled out across Europe and in parts of Asia, Volkswagen Australia is happy enough with its current crossover line-up and doesn’t feel the need to bring the Taigo Down Under yet.

“There’s no discussion around Taigo at present,” a spokesperson told Wheels.

“We’ve good supply of the T-Cross and T-Roc, both of which – after an unfortunately prolonged period of no compact SUVs (and, for a time, not even a Tiguan variant under $40,000), are more than fulfilling the brand’s expectations.”

Volkswagen hasn’t confirmed pricing for the Taigo but says it will start from under €20,000, equivalent to around AU$32,000.

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Volkswagen Australia is recalling 67 Touaregs due to a fault with the rear axle.

The German manufacturer has issued a notice for the cars which were all made in 2021.

The fault, according to the Department for Infrastructure, relates to the rear axle assembly, which did not meet manufacturing specifications and may break.

A broken nut may lead to increased movement between the wishbone and hub carrier, and a change in the wheel alignment on the rear axle.

If a sudden, uncontrollable movement of the rear axle happened, it could increase the risk of injury/death to vehicle occupants or other road users.

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

Owners are advised to contact their nearest authorised Volkswagen dealer to schedule a free appointment to have it fixed.

For more information, contact VW Australia on 1800 504 076 or visit:

https://www.volkswagen.com.au/app/locals/find-dealer

Audi Australia is recalling more than 700 cars from its range of A and Q line-ups due to a fault with the seatbelt warning system.

The German manufacturer has issued a notice for 702 examples of its A4, A5, A6, Q7 and Q8 ranges built between 2018 and 2021.

The fault, according to the Department for Infrastructure, lies with the seatbelt warning, which may operate continuously when a seatbelt is not fastened or is unfastened while the vehicle is moving.

Perhaps more worryingly, the alert may also not sound at all, leaving the driver unaware a seatbelt is not on when it should be.

In the event of an accident this may result in injury or death to an unrestrained occupant.

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

Owners are advised to contact their nearest authorised Audi Dealer to schedule a free service appointment.

For more information, contact Audi Australia on 1800 50 2834 between 8am and 6pm AEDT.

The first shipment of new Volkswagen Arteon Shooting Brake models to Australia will be limited as the manufacturer continues to feel the effects of the global semi-conductor shortage.

Announced in June to arrive locally in the fourth quarter of this year, the Arteon liftback and Shooting Brake are both set to land on schedule but numbers will be limited for the latter body shape, owing to a lack of semi-conductors in VW’s supply chain.

A spokesperson for the German manufacturer’s local arm told Wheels it was still assessing the situation but it can confirm the number of Shooting Brake models will be limited for now.

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“The situation is, as they say, ‘fluid’. The liftback will arrive on schedule, but a want of micro-processors means the two Shooting Brake variants will be on the ground in very limited numbers (perhaps as few as 30 or so) until full supply comes online in the New Year.”

The Arteon will be available as four variants: the Arteon 140TSI Elegance and 206TSI R-Line, starting at $59,990 and $66,990 respectively in liftback guise, with a $2000 premium on each for the Shooting Brake Elegance and Shooting Brake R-Line.

The past will shape the future, at least according to Audi regarding its newest concept vehicle, the Sky Sphere.

Initially teased earlier this month as one of its three concepts which will set the marque’s design language for the future, the Sky Sphere has been given an official release date of August 11 – being unveiled at Audi’s design studio in Malibu, California, before featuring at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance.

In a video posted to the German manufacturer’s YouTube channel, Audi’s Vice President, Henrik Wenders, and Head of Design, Marc Lichte, discuss the look of the Horch 853A and how the pre-World War II cabriolet ties in to the Sky Sphere.

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Previous teaser images of the future model show a long-slung vehicle with a long bonnet – reflecting the design of the Horch which featured a straight-eight engine and offered a “king of the road feeling”, according to Lichte.

The design chief says the Sky Sphere will be “on one hand, a real sports car and it can transform in only a few seconds into an autonomous lounge,” hinting at the possibility the vehicle will utilise Level 4 autonomous driving technology to take control away from the driver.

Wenders reflected on the period the Horch was born out of and how it translates to the present, saying “the Golden 20s and the following years, all the innovators, all the creators, all the inventors, all the designers – they were avant-garde at the time, the future shapers as we are” and the Sky Sphere will “redefine progressive luxury”.

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After the Sky Sphere’s release in August will come the Grand Sphere’s reveal in September, with covers set to come off at the IAA Motor Show in Munich, although Audi has already provided a detailed look at the second concept vehicle.

The Sphere concepts are a part of Audi’s wider move towards EVs as it ditches combustion engines, planning to only release electric models from 2026 onwards.

VinFast has announced Michael Lohscheller, former head of German carmaker Opel, is to become its new automotive CEO.

Based in the company’s home nation of Vietnam, Lohscheller will be responsible for operations across all of its current markets which include; Vietnam, the US, Canada, France, Germany and the Netherlands.

For the last four years, Lohscheller has headed up Opel, turning the company around from decades of losses into profit, as well as spearheading its transformation into an electrified car brand.

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“Vingroup warmly welcomes Michael Lohscheller to our leadership team. We strongly believe his appearance will accelerate VinFast’s up and running global expansion,” said Thuy Le, Vingroup’s Vice Chairwoman.

Having been active in the automotive industry for more than 20 years, Lohscheller has held a variety of high-ranking positions at; Mitsubishi Motors Europe, Volkswagen Group of America, and of course Opel, as well as being a member of the board at Groupe PSA.

“During my career, I have always been attracted by new challenges. When the opportunity came to join VinFast, I was immediately attracted because of the growth opportunities. I look forward to working with the leadership team to grow the company and establish it as a global smart electric car company,” said Michael Lohscheller.

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Using his extensive experience, Michael Lohscheller is expected to play a key role in VinFast’s bid for global expansion, particularly targeted at the US and Europe, and towards becoming a leading global smart electric car company.

Locally, VinFast had aimed at having a large presence in Australia by purchasing the ex-Holden Lang Lang proving ground in Victoria, and hiring around 100 ex-Holden, Ford, Toyota and JLR employees to head up its local research and development arm at its new Port Melbourne facility – Automotive Technology Institute 2.

However, a restructuring of the Melbourne office in May led to a number of redundancies and resignations, including former deputy CEO of product development, Kevin Yardley.

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Michael Lohscheller has been succeeded at Opel by Uwe Hochgeschurtz, CEO of Renault Germany, Austria and Switzerland.

Hochgeschurtz will take up his new post from September 1, 2021 reporting directly to Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares.

He started his career in the automotive industry in 1990 at Ford, before joining VW in 2001 and Renault in 2004.

“I would like to warmly thank Michael for having established strong sustainable foundations for Opel together with the employees.

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“This impressive turnaround paves the way for the forthcoming worldwide commercial development of the brand. I am convinced that Uwe will successfully drive this new chapter of the Opel brand, thanks to his more than 30 years of automotive commercial experience.

“I wish Michael all the best for his next career step,” said Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares.

UPDATE, JULY 29: Renault UK has confirmed the pricing and features of its Mégane plug-in hybrid range, the first time the French hatchback has been powered by anything other than a dedicated combustion engine in its history.

On-the-road prices start at £29,495 (AU$55,595) for the Iconic trim package while the premium R.S. Line sets buyers back an extra £2000 (AU$3770), coming in at £31,495 (AU$59,365).

In WLTP testing, the 1.6-litre petrol engine and 49kW electric motor recorded fuel consumption of just 1L/100km with only 28 grams of CO2 emissions per kilometre.

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The story to here

JULY 8: Electric power will be a key part of the 2022 Renault Mégane’s powertrain for the United Kingdom, with the French manufacturer confirming its UK-bound models are to be powered by hybridised or purely electric engines only.

The company has yet to confirm whether this consolidated line-up is a UK-only plan or a broader multi-market strategy, but given the tightening emissions targets across all of Europe, it’s likely most regions there will take the same approach.

Ditching diesel completely and adding hybrid assistance to a petrol engine, the entire Mégane range will have some form of electrification, either in tandem with an internal combustion engine or as a dedicated EV, the firm having already announced the new Mégane E-Tech Electric previously.

Available as a hatch or sports tourer, two variants are on offer, with both the Iconic E-Tech Plug-In Hybrid 160 Auto and R.S. Line E-Tech Plug-In Hybrid 160 Auto featuring a 1.6-litre petrol engine, paired to a 49kW electric motor and a 1.2kW lithium-ion battery.

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Standard equipment on the entry-level Iconic includes; a 10-inch instrument display, Easylink navigation, a 7-inch infotainment touchscreen (with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto), 16-inch ‘Impulse’ alloy wheels, front and rear parking sensors, hill start assist, lane departure warning, traffic sign recognition and automatic low/high beam headlights.

Stepping up to the R.S. Line, customers get; body-coloured R.S. Line bumpers, 17-inch ‘Monthlery’ diamond-cut alloy wheels, an R.S. leather steering wheel, advanced emergency braking system (AEBS), rear parking camera and hands-free parking, and a larger 9.3-inch infotainment touchscreen.

Two optional packages are also available, with the Safety Pack adding; adaptive cruise control, lane keeping assistance, and E-Call (emergency assistance) while the Motorway Pack includes; adaptive cruise control with stop and go plus lane centring as well as rear cross traffic alert.

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The new Mégane’s release comes off the back of Renault announcing last week it has committed to developing new, cheaper-to-produce EV platforms in the pursuit of 65 per cent of its range being electrified by 2025, increasing to 90 per cent solely EVs by 2030.

A spokesperson for Renault’s Australian importer Ateco couldn’t confirm whether the Mégane PHEV would arrive locally, telling Wheels: “Ateco is working with our partners overseas on a range of new Renault vehicles for Australia, and will communicate more in due course.”