Celine Nolan

Renault has declared its ardour to invent a Suzuki Jimny-rivalling compact off-roader, that is liable to be acknowledged because the Bridger.

Detailed alongside Renault’s ‘futuREady’ product and electrification scheme, a production mannequin Bridger must be on sale by the tip of 2027 with a replacement of petrol, hybrid, or electric energy.

Renault claims the Bridger will target emerging markets, with the production mannequin space to begin in India. Its powertrain would possibly well be market-dependent, with emission-unsleeping powertrains reserved for stricter regions corresponding to Increased Europe.

The Bridger is penned to be smaller than the medium Duster cushy-roader, measuring under four meters prolonged, and featuring a ground clearance of 200mm. For reference, the 2-door Suzuki Jimny measures 3480mm prolonged, with a ground clearance of 210mm.

It is currently unconfirmed if the Bridger will attain to Australia to affix its new-beginning Duster sibling. Whether it’s miles to debut, it would possibly per chance per chance per chance have to beget a softer beginning impress to the $31,990 (earlier than on-roads) Duster, to be competitive with the $31,990 Jimny.

What powertrains would possibly well be provided?

The Bridger would possibly well be with assorted powertrain forms, with the entry-stage petrol equipped with a 1.2-litre engine, a 1.6-litre four-cylinder hybrid or an electrical setup that has not but been specified, previous the true fact a 35kWh and 55kWh battery option would possibly well be obtainable.

Further mechanical particulars, corresponding to whether or not it must feature a low-fluctuate switch case, haven’t but been disclosed, even supposing off-street enthusiasts will esteem the rear-mounted corpulent-size spare – and the 400 litres of house within the abet of the swinging door.

Audi will impress the fiftieth anniversary of its employ of 5-cylinder engines by releasing a hardcore and strictly shrimp version of the RS3 badged as the Competition Dinky.

We’re attempting forward to the RS3 Competition Dinky to role a heady new file for Audi sizzling hatch pricing within the community.

In its home market of Germany, the shrimp version commands a limiteless 60 p.c top class over the typical vehicle.

Even brooding about that Australia’s standard RS3 is greater equipped than its German counterpart, the Competition Dinky would perchance per chance restful land at spherical $150,000.

The conventional RS3 is priced from $104,800 plus on-boulevard payments in Australia.

Output from the 2.5-litre turbo ‘5 live level with the typical RS3, at 294kW/500Nm, with the Competition Dinky focussed on chassis upgrades and visible adjustments.

Whereas the 0-100km/h claim is regular at 3.8 seconds, Audi Sport has lifted the tip velocity for the RS3 Competition Dinky to 290km/h as standard.

Plus, it’s a noisier affair because of reduced firewall sound insulation besides to conventional inclusion of an RS Sport Utilize plan and earlier-opening exhaust flaps.

A entire of 750 examples of the Competition Dinky would perchance be constructed globally across the 5-door Sportback and four-door sedan physique kinds.

From 139 correct-hand power devices, Audi Australia has secured a exiguous slash of the allocation with 18 vehicles earmarked for the local market — 10 Sportbacks, and eight sedans.

Whereas there could be not this kind of thing as a legitimate note out of Audi that the RS3 Competition Dinky is a ‘farewell particular’, the firm has beforehand intimated that the 5-cylinder’s days are numbered.

It has been a immense week for 5-cylinder news out of Europe.

The tip-shelf RS3 grade has been confirmed stunning sooner or later after Cupra confirmed an Australian initiate of the Formentor VZ5 that borrows the iconic Audi powertrain.

The finest alternate sits below the RS3 Competition Dinky, tucked out of gape.

For the main time on an RS3, Audi has fitted a coilover suspension kit with 3 suggestions of (handbook) adjustment.

Special instruments are integrated to enable drivers to alter high-velocity compression, low-velocity compression and rebound parameters.

A stiffer rear stabiliser bar is extraordinary to the Competition Dinky, whereas rear spring charges cling also been elevated for consistency.

Audi says the adjustments are aimed at sharpening the RS3’s turn-in traits whereas improving physique regulate and damper performance in high-velocity driving.

Carbon ceramic brakes cling also become standard equipment for this variant with crimson brake callipers making the stopping kit more noticeable.

Visually, the Competition Dinky is mighty by matte carbon exterior parts whereas the vehicle is accessible in three colors: Malachite Green, Daytona Grey, or Glacier White matte.

Uncommon 19-walk alloy wheels are painted matte Neodymium gold. Whereas avenue tyres are integrated by default, Pirelli P Zero Trofeo R semi-slick tyres are not foremost.

Up entrance, the Competition Dinky nabs double entrance canards and a split lip, whereas matte carbon replicate caps, facet skirts, and a variant-explicit rear spoiler up the aggression.

Darkened matrix LED headlights feature a custom startup animation referencing the 5-cylinder’s 1-2-4-5-3 firing dispute.

Inside, the Competition Dinky sports a particular colour design with the RS bucket seats done in Dinamica upholstery in a delicate gold colour.

A numbered plaque identifies each and every vehicle, and the digital instrument cluster gets trim-explicit graphics with a white revolutions counter inspired by the ‘90s Audi RS2 Avant.

On top of the extraordinary parts, the RS3 Competition Dinky lands with high specification including Sonos top class audio, heated seats, three-zone local weather regulate and privacy glass.

Audi RS3 2026: prices in Australia

All prices listed are forward of on-boulevard payments.

• Sportback: $104,800
• Sedan: $107,800
• Competition Dinky Sportback: TBC
• Competition Dinky Sedan: TBC

Audi is discipline to raise the Q3 e-Hybrid to Australia as section of its understanding to make suppose of dash-in hybrids to enhance the general gasoline efficiency of its showroom line-up.

The German model said it was severely pondering the Q3 PHEV for this market after announcing a petroleum-most efficient fluctuate for the preliminary begin of its most contemporary, third-generation compact SUV.

Audi Australia has already dedicated to introducing a dash-in version of the larger Q5 SUV in April.

The Q3 e-Hybrid would be expected to be one among the most costly variants, though it would supply every the wonderful vitality output and the bottom gasoline efficiency in the fluctuate.

Audi’s Q3 e-Hybrid combines a 130kW 1.5-litre turbo petrol and an 85kW electric motor for a combined 200kW output, whereas the suppose of a 19.7kWh battery to reduction raise a WLTP electric fluctuate of up to 119km.

For legitimate capabilities, the e-Hybrid’s gasoline efficiency is rated between 1.7 and a pair of.2 litres per 100km in Europe in contrast with a 6.0-6.6L fluctuate for the most atmosphere friendly petrol-most efficient Q3 being launched here, the 110kW TFSI entrance-wheel drive.

Automobile makers are under rigidity to promote extra to promote extra electrified autos, facing fines under the Contemporary Automobile Emissions Traditional (NVES) if their cars plunge under specified emissions thresholds.

Credits, conversely, are gathered for being above the thresholds. Audi managed to be in credit rating to the tune of about $1.1 million after the government’s first NVES outcomes.

Audi’s credit rating, nonetheless, were fairly low, leaving it in the attend of arch-competitors BMW and Mercedes – $17m and $6.7m, respectively – besides to Volvo ($8m). Lexus is even further forward, though its $145m in credit rating were grouped with guardian company Toyota.

Audi has been one among the slowest-intelligent luxury car producers by methodology of offering electric autos and sold merely under 1600 EVs in 2025 domestically.

With car traders demonstrating a decided need for hybrid autos over EVs, extra producers look dash-in hybrids as a significant system to increasing gross sales of extra gasoline-atmosphere friendly cars.

Plod-in hybrid autos beget very low legitimate gasoline consumption figures, thanks to the lab-testing advantages of offering an even bigger EV-most efficient fluctuate in contrast with standard, self-charging hybrids. Exact-world efficiency, nonetheless, has proven to be worthy bigger.

“Our hybrids, especially dash-in hybrids, is a wide section of our procedure intelligent forward,” Audi Australia’s overall manager of promoting, Reduce Reid, informed Chasing Vehicles.

“We’ve merely launched the A5 dash-in hybrid, we’ve received the Q5 dash-in hybrid arriving in April, so as that’s a in fact important section of our lag.

“We’ve received a worthy fluctuate of EVs in market with Q4, Q6, Q8, and e-Tron GT, so the belief across the dash-in hybrids is that we’re going to transform ICE [customers], especially convert our Quattro [SUV] market, to those dash-in cars.

“And that’s all about our system to fabricate a [more fuel] atmosphere friendly line-up in Australia.”

Reid said the Q3 e-Hybrid, which comes with 50kW DC charging ability, was “positively into consideration”, including that it has some “trusty numbers” for efficiency and efficiency.

Its numbers also glimpse higher than those of two notify dash-in competitors.

The fair recently announced BMW X1 xDrive25 will raise 180kW of vitality and a WLTP EV fluctuate of between 78-86km. Mercedes-Benz’s GLA250e has merely 160kW of combined vitality and is specific to a maximum 65km WLTP.

Every models fee merely under $80,000 earlier than on-avenue prices.

The Q3 was Australia’s most efficient-promoting particular person luxury small SUV in 2024, though the Q3 SUV and Sportback body styles were outsold overall by BMW’s X1/X2 twins. The X1 was the outright No.1 in 2025.

Audi Australia expects to be competing again for the No.1 role in the highest rate compact SUV section with its new-generation model.

“It’s a in fact competitive section, but we’ve received wide ambitions for the [Q3] in regards to quantity,” said Reid. “This is seemingly to be our number-one promoting [vehicle] and [in terms of] market section we demand to be combating for the tip [sales] positions.”

Ford plans to create a avenue-going model of its Raptor T1+ Dakar Rally car as it pursues an ambition to become the Porsche of the off-avenue world.

The T1 is billed as the firm’s “final Raptor”, with the aim-built V8, carbonfibre, metallic-tube-chassis racer achieving a double podium and six stage wins on the 2026 model of the arena’s toughest off-avenue trot.

Ford CEO Jim Farley, who’s visiting Australia this week for the F1 debut of its technical partnership with Red Bull Racing, confirmed it needed to construct a flagship for its Raptor family of off-avenue efficiency autos.

“I don’t want to head into [details of the T1+ production car] too worthy, different than to whine [we] ticket that the invisible line between off-avenue and on-avenue supercars is blurring,” Farley instructed Australian media, including Chasing Automobiles.

“And with partially electrical powertrains and digitally controlled damping and torque vectoring, you would possibly perhaps perhaps perhaps now factor in a digitally enabled trim car that on avenue and off avenue is equally succesful.

“What the [vehicle] silhouette appears to be like to be like adore, and the entire details, we’ll proceed to peek at. Nonetheless if there’s a firm on the earth that would possibly break the foundations and enact something adore that, I ponder it needs to be Ford.

“[Our] F1 [involvement with Red Bull] is final of that promise to compete all over the arena in opposition to the true and brightest in skills. And our dedication is to take that and, I wouldn’t divulge [apply our learnings to our] avenue autos, because definitely the biggest efficiency autos at Ford are off-avenue autos.

“There isn’t very any such thing as a Porsche off-avenue.”

Porsche has dabbled handiest recently with one off-avenue sports actions car, within the affect of its 911 Dakar that used to be additionally impressed by its lengthy history within the gruelling desolate tract trot. Lamborghini created something an identical with its Huracan Sterrato.

Whereas Ford appears to be like to be like to amplify its family of Raptor autos that on the moment consist of efficiency versions of the F-150, Bronco and Ranger – with handiest the latter sold in Australia – Farley acknowledged the map forward for the Mustang muscle car used to be stable.

He insisted there would continually be a Mustang in Ford’s line-up while he used to be on the firm, adding that a ‘V8 Mustang manual’ would must be prised out of the firm’s “cold ineffective body”.

There has been speculation, on the opposite hand, that Ford would possibly perhaps perhaps create a high-driving, Raptor-style model of its infamous sports actions car.

Ford Performance’s off-avenue focal level map disappointing news for fans of the firm’s vital hot-hatches, reminiscent of the Fiesta ST and Focal level RS.

It has made Ford efficiency autos much less doubtless for fanatics, with the Mustang starting from $72,990 (or $84,990 in V8 affect) and the Ranger Raptor costing $90,690 in Australia.

Farley confirmed Ford had no intention to bring help hot-hatches but wired the firm wasn’t planning to brush aside fanatic consumers with smaller budgets.

“We are very dedicated to cheap efficiency,” acknowledged Farley. “It’s the DNA of the firm. It’s a democratisation promise that Henry Ford made, but please quiz us now to now not phone it in or to replica the previous. What we salvage motivated on is doing something new that’s larger and different.

“I focus on this lots [with my team]. I ponder the map we ponder about taking a come all over forward to bring that cheap fanatic product to life would possibly perhaps perhaps perhaps be extra of a mashup between on-avenue and off-avenue.

I ponder the Fiestas and the Focuses, and the entire products that all of us grew up with – the Sierra 500s, the Falcon Coupes, all these powerful autos…

“Nonetheless we peek forward. We don’t want to operate within the previous. And within the forward world of car skills and fanatic driving, I don’t ponder prospects must make such advanced choices between fun off avenue and fun on avenue.

“So if we’re going to enact something adore [a modern Fiesta ST or Focus RS], I would tell the team create presumably something of a new components that you haven’t considered yet.”

Debate is raging in the speedy-Audi-fan neighborhood about whether the drawing shut ‘C9’ RS6 will retain its V8 engine as a change of adopting the unusual ‘B10’ RS5’s six-cylinder, fling-in hybrid (PHEV) powertrain.

Printed final month, the unusual RS5’s 470kW/825Nm 2.9-litre twin-turbo V6/PHEV gadget has more allege than the fresh 441kW/800Nm 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 RS5.

Despite the effectiveness of the V6 fling-in hybrid, the next-technology RS6 appears space to wait on its eight-cylinder supremacy — nonetheless indulge in the smaller RS5, this is capable of maybe well be supplemented by PHEV energy.

Bentley’s 1000Nm V8 PHEV is the glaring candidate for subsequent RS6

Audi is a member of Volkswagen’s ‘Imprint Neighborhood Progressive’ alongside Bentley.

Which plan Ingolstadt has reasonably easy entry to Bentley’s V8 fling-in hybrid technology.

Dubbed the ‘Ultra-Efficiency Hybrid’, the Bentley gadget blends the Audi RS6’s 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 with what appears to be a same 140kW/450Nm electrical motor to the RS5.

Total outputs for the Bentley V8 PHEV gadget are a whopping 575kW/1000Nm.

Such sizable figures would retain a subsequent-technology RS6 V8 hybrid properly ahead of the headline figures of the unusual RS5.

Audi says RS customers select step-by-step electrification

Insiders at Audi worth that the V8 is a central section of the appeal of the RS6.

There is an understanding that precious and properly-told RS-mannequin consumers must no longer be compelled into technological alternate suggestions they’re no longer ready for.

Likewise, the sensitivity of downsizing cylinder depend is properly-understood inner Audi Sport. Division chiefs rigorously watched AMG debut, then shuffle far off from, the four-cylinder C63 hybrid.

As with the RS5, Audi’s resolution to preserving precise RS customers whereas moreover meeting no longer easy unusual automobile emissions felony guidelines in Europe (and markets indulge in Australia) is to add the PHEV component to familiar, sizable-displacement powertrains.

“We wish to copy that for a bunch of oldsters, it is critical to head step-by-step,” Audi Sport managing director Rolf Michl told Chasing Cars at a pre-drive of the unusual RS5.

“We gain, in our eyes, the correct aggregate [with [HEV] of a really emotional automobile, nonetheless moreover the variation of going fully restful.”

New RS PHEV systems prick CO2 whereas powering drift mode

In the RS5, the fling-in hybrid gadget slashes CO2 to round 100g/km — compliant with Euro- and Australian-style regulations — whereas moreover boosting energy and feeding an electrified rear transaxle for a brand unusual ‘Dynamic Torque Administration’ aim.

We requested whether the electromechanical torque vectoring gadget, made most likely by the PHEV’s 400-volt architecture, might maybe well work with a V8 engine.

“Technically, sure,” stated Audi Sport head of learn and constructing Steffen Bamberger.

Requested whether it might well actually maybe well maybe gain its procedure into totally different merchandise, Audi Sport boss Michl stated: “it is best to be versatile.”

Sedan RS6 becoming a member of Avant, nonetheless planned EV mannequin is beneath a cloud

There are a pair of totally different surprises in retailer for the next-technology RS6.

First, whereas the conventional Avant role wagon body style will take into accout that be retained, a sedan version is space to rejoin the RS6 lineup for the first time since 2010.

Secondly, whereas Audi had in the origin planned for the unusual RS6 to head fully-electrical — the RS7 badge used to be to beautify the hybrid version — the RS6 EV is now in doubt.

The very soft global market for high-waste EVs has triggered debate inner Audi about whether to originate the RS6 in both PHEV and battery electrical guises.

“We are if truth be told reflecting in regards to the target groups, at the side of [CEO] Gernot Döllner,” Michl stated.

“Make certain that if we originate a product in future, this is capable of maybe well all the time match the target crew — we know what folks are ready for.”

That cautious attain used to be echoed by R&D boss Bamberger.

“If [a proposed model] doesn’t fascinate folks, we won’t originate it.”

The reason is easy: Audi would no longer select undesirable autos piling up on dealership forecourts.

“It is far even more expensive if we now gain got one thing that no person wants,” Michl stated.