Car news today: Kia Sportage Hybrid goes on sale in Australia, Porsche debuts new Taycan Turbo GT, and more – 12 March 2024

Thanks for becoming a member of us this Tuesday March 12th 2024. Notably in automobile recordsdata this present day: Kia has launched its Sportage Hybrid, and Porsche pulls the covers off its most extremely efficient Taycan yet, the Turbo GT.

Browse this field:

• Kia Sportage Hybrid priced for Australia
• Porsche debuts fastest ever Taycan, the Turbo GT
• Audi reveals facelifted A3, nonetheless Australia misses frigid Allstreet variant
• Fresh Mercedes-AMG E53 six-cylinder hybrid revealed
• Porsche so as to add 48-volt tech to 911 in 2025

Kia Sportage Hybrid priced for Australia

• The Kia Sportage Hybrid is now arriving in Aussie dealerships, with the logo announcing pricing for what is going to likely be available in two grades, the SX and GT-Line.
• The more affordable SX grade will save $forty five,950 sooner than on avenue costs, whereas the excessive-spec GT-Line will recount $55,420 sooner than on avenue costs, that procedure that we are in a position to depend on driveaway pricing across the $50,000 and $60,000 tag respectively.

• Powered by the identical 1.6-litre turbo-charged petrol-electrical hybrid machine as the simpler Sorento hybrid, the Sportage hybrid aspects a minute 1.49kWh battery and comes completely with front-wheel drive and a six-tempo automatic. Total energy outputs are 169kW and 350Nm.

• Importantly, Kia says the hybrid will say a gasoline consumption figure of 4.9L/100km. While here’s expectedly the excellent figure of the fluctuate, the hybrid variants will recount save premiums of $3000 and $8400 over the combustion versions of the SX and GT-Line variants respectively.

Porsche debuts most extremely efficient production EV, the Taycan Turbo GT

• Porsche has revealed its most extremely efficient-ever Taycan electrical automobile, with outputs now reaching up to 815kW in ‘Overboost’ mode. Torque has been rated at a spacious 1340Nm.

• With revised electrical motors, the Taycan Turbo GT can speed to 100km/h in a claimed 2.3 seconds, or exact 2.2 seconds with non-compulsory Weissach Pack.

• Key specification highlights consist of an aggressive-sounding Attack mode, a 75kg weight reduction (when put next with the unusual Turbo S), CFRP bucket seats, 21-fling lightweight solid alloy wheels, ceramic brakes and a new adaptive rear spoiler.

• The Weissach kit provides a mounted fly that can provide up to 220kg of downforce and an additional 70kg weight reduction due to the deletion of rear seats for a total racecar-esteem expertise.

• Australian pricing for the Turbo GT has been confirmed, with every Weisach and non-Weissach autos costing $416,600 sooner than on-avenue costs, or roughly $81,000 dearer than a combustion Cayman GT4 RS.
• The first Turbo GTs will advance down below from mid-2024.

Audi reveals facelifted A3, nonetheless Australia misses frigid Allstreet variant

• Audi has confirmed this is in a position to presumably release a subtly facelifted model of its A3 hatchback and sedan in Australia by leisurely 2024. Updates centre around refining lights expertise and bettering interior offers whereas declaring the A3’s signature crisp styling.
• Controversy arises with the introduction of subscription-based mostly completely mostly aspects much like adaptive cruise retain watch over and Apple CarPlay, potentially requiring separate purchases thru an app retailer – no longer lower than in Europe. Historically, such aspects are included in the base save.

• Notably, the Australian market gained’t salvage the A3 Allstreet variant, a rugged model that mimics SUV make cues with elevated ground clearance.
• Engine alternatives for the Australian market are expected to dwell much like fresh choices, with the 35 TFSI acting as a base mannequin, supplemented by other selections. Upgrades lengthen to expertise and interior aspects, together with upgraded matrix LED headlights and Amazon Alexa aid.

READ: Audi A3 2024 facelift to advance in Australia leisurely in the year

Fresh Mercedes-AMG E53 six-cylinder hybrid revealed with E63 S energy

• Mercedes-AMG has pulled the covers off its latest lumber-in hybrid performance automobile – the brand new E53 Hybrid 4Matic+.

• It aspects a 3.0-litre inline six-cylinder turbo-petrol engine delivering 330kW and 560Nm, mated with a 120kW/480Nm electrical motor. Total machine energy outputs are 430kW/750Nm.

• It’ll, on the other hand, say a most burst of 450kW when the use of Flee Delivery originate retain watch over available as half of the non-compulsory AMG Dynamic Plus kit. That makes for a 0-100km/h speed of 3.8-seconds. The speed time drops to 4.0-seconds without this feature.

• The auto has a 28.6kWh unsafe battery below the boot ground with 21.2kWh usable skill (some vitality reserved for boost below excessive performance utilizing). Mercedes additionally says it will shuttle up to around 100km on pure electrical energy.

• The brand new E53 will better the fresh E53’s outputs greatly, bringing energy figures based mostly completely mostly on the fresh fluctuate-topping E63 which aspects a twin-turbo 4.0-litre V8 delivering 450kW/850Nm. There isn’t any legit observe on whether or no longer this is in a position to presumably continue right into a new expertise.

• Australian arrival timing for the brand new E53 has no longer yet been confirmed, with the brand new sixth-expertise non-AMG E-Class lineup expected in Australia in the upcoming months.

Porsche so as to add 48-volt to 911 in 2025: file

• Stuttgart’s performance automobile maker Porsche is making fascinating for a 992.2 update which, based mostly completely mostly on Automobile and Driver, is amazingly likely to use a 48-volt machine for its iconic mannequin for the very first time.

• Bid to head in the marketplace as early as subsequent year, the Porsche 911 will continue to personal a flat-six engine, nonetheless with an integrated starter-generator running off a 48-volt machine.

• After 2025, it’s expected that the 911 will blueprint a more in depth hybrid machine, which Automobile and Driver has reported will likely be called T-HEV.

• The electrical machine is talked about to be developed in collaboration with Rimac, who currently builds the electrical Nevera supercar.

• The 48-volt machine is anticipated to use a minute 2kWh battery pack that is also replenished due to the either regen braking or the petrol flat-six engine.

• Rely on more recordsdata on Porsche’s hybrid future for the 911 very soon.

The next field of Automobile Recordsdata At the unusual time will likely be published on Wednesday Thirteenth March at 4.30pm Sydney time.