Car news today: Kia Tasman torture tested for future Australian release, Mini unlikely to build anything larger than a Countryman, and more – 16 July 2024

Thanks for joining us this Tuesday July 16th 2024. Notably in vehicle files this day: Kia’s Tasman ute stress-tested for Australian prerequisites, and Mini is now not actually to invent any elevated models than the Countryman in due course.

Browse this narrate:

• Kia Tasman had 1777 particular particular person assessments in its pattern
• Mini now not actually to elevate a bigger SUV to market
• Tesla delays Robotaxi in unsurprising transfer
• Mini impressed by fashion and architecture for internal accomplish
• Reviewed: 2024 Kia Sportage Hybrid long timeframe document

Kia Tasman undergoes major Australian attempting out regime

• Kia Australia has teased us with extra files relating to its extremely-anticipated Tasman ute, which has undergone major levels of on- and off-avenue attempting out for our local market.

• Kia states it has conducted 1777 explicit assessments and “over 18,000+ rounds of review” for its fresh pickup.

• The emblem will showcase among the Kia Tasman’s attempting out by a video sequence, with the first episode space to drop on YouTube on July twenty 2d.

• The fresh ute is lined as a lot as invent its world premiere within the 2d half of 2024, with a global open to happen within the first half of 2025.

• Australia will be a key market for the Tasman as indubitably one of many world’s absolute most sensible-promoting regions for utility autos.

Mini now not actually to give an SUV larger than fresh Countryman

• No topic sharing lots of its underpinnings with BMW, Mini is now not actually to upsize its fresh portfolio of autos anytime soon.

• Speaking with Chasing Automobiles and Australian media in Melbourne, Mini Australia’s new manager Alexander Brockhoff stated about the fresh Countryman, that “I deem tapping into this market of families, which we haven’t been doing sooner than, it’s aloof the mini version of a family vehicle”.

• With Cooper, Aceman and Countryman, Mini Australia appears to be like elated with its fresh vary of autos, even though issues could alternate in future if driven by user style.

• “The DNA is aloof there … we are in a position to now explore how that goes for what the client perception is,” Brockhoff stated.

• Mini will soon open the Aceman electric SUV in Australia, nonetheless it won’t be any elevated than the Countryman shrimp SUV.

Tesla’s Robotaxi has been delayed, cheap Model 2 now not actually to happen: document

• Tesla’s upcoming self-driving Robotaxi program has already been delayed, based mostly fully mostly on Bloomberg’s sources.

• The unveiling of Robotaxi has been pushed serve by a few months with reports indicating that the team wants extra time to invent prototypes. Some reports maintain even claimed the vehicle wished a key accomplish or engineering alternate.

• The suggestions comes after Tesla pulled the plod on a cheap ‘Model 2’, with the Robotaxi mission taking its place.

• It’s virtually certain that the Robotaxi will take a look at admire the proposed more inexpensive Tesla, nonetheless won’t be readily available for internal most customers.

• This implies for now, the cheapest Tesla in Australia will live to be the Tesla Model 3 rear-wheel pressure which is at showcase priced from $54,900 sooner than on-avenue prices.

Mini’s accomplish is influenced by extra than smartphones within the as a lot as date age

• Mini’s internal accomplish boss Sebastian Kroes has told Australian media that with out reference to smartphone recognition, his team stays impressed by a few components in phrases of building Mini merchandise.

• “I deem it’s now not correct dinky to a smartphone. It’s new user electronics, it’s architecture, it’s fashion accomplish. We accumulate our inspiration from many, many sections,” Kroes stated.

• “The smartphone is pretty a internal most ingredient and subsequently we wished to built-in it as noteworthy as that that you just must possibly get.”

• One of many Mini Cooper’s and Countryman’s mountainous parts is a 240mm OLED repeat, which also parts a digital camera for selfies. But Mini isn’t correct focusing on the childhood with its most modern models.

• Mini also offers for the first time a personalisation mode the place owners can add their hang background pictures for the most major veil.

Kia Sportage Hybrid 2024 long timeframe document

• Chasing Automobiles journalist Zak Adkins’ long-timeframe introduction to his 2024 Kia Sportage GT-Line Hybrid turned into as soon as published, collectively with his preliminary suggestions and plans for the subsequent three months of ownership.

• To this point in his long-timeframe review, Adkins gave reward for the Sportage’s smooth and refined hybrid scheme, premium cabin and dual 12.3-poke screens, alongside with its impressive Harman Kardon sound scheme as section of the GT-Line bundle.

• Parts that Adkins learned could be improved upon in due course embrace the massive exhaust of piano shadowy plastic within the internal (which will get soiled and reveals marks with ease), as well to the incontrovertible truth that the Sportage Hybrid is finest readily available in Australia in entrance-wheel pressure.

• Stay tuned for as a lot as this point two and three on the Chasing Automobiles’ YouTube channel the place Adkins will explore noteworthy extra about Kia’s first hybrid Sportage SUV.

READ: Read the long-timeframe updates right here

The next narrate of Automotive Data On the new time will be published on Wednesday 17th July at 4.30pm Sydney time.