Celine Nolan

A social media put up by a senior Volkswagen executive has printed internal opinion designs for a prolonged speculated Volkswagen Amarok ute-based fully wagon.

Posted to LinkedIn by the Head of Kind for Volkswagen Commercial Autos Albert Kirzinger, the thought that assemble showcases a Ford Everest-style wagon in action on a gravel mountain street in a heavy obligation off-street spec.

Kirzinger’s put up became once captioned: “Exploring assemble tips for the Amarok pickup truck! Our analysis piece wait on within the day took us on an off-street race, and here’s a sneak observe with a rendering featuring a truly closed pickup mattress. Prepared for rugged adventures!”

It’s now not sure when the thought that became once created, nor how far into the trend piece the wagon can also have proceeded, nonetheless the image affords the first visual cue to the automobile which has predominantly been spoken of theoretically except now.

As portion of a partnership between the two auto-giants, Volkswagen’s Amarok ute is built on Ford’s T6.2 platform which is shared with the Ford Ranger ute, and extra notably the Ranger-based fully Everest mighty SUV, which approach that the muse of an Amarok-based fully wagon isn’t a far-fetched one from an engineering level of view.

While a platform sharing affiliation and corresponding cost amortisation might well presumably manufacture the muse of the type of automobile extra feasible for the designate, it’s charge noting that the muse of an Amarok-style wagon has prolonged been speculated.

While the automobile became once acknowledged to be “into account” in early 2022, most just currently the designate played down however didn’t rule out the attainable for introducing an SUV version of the automobile.

On the opposite hand, the muse of an Amarok wagon dates wait on even extra, with outdated comments by Volkswagen indicating that it became once below “serious consideration” wait on in 2016, when the wholly in-apartment built first-generation ute became once on sale.

In a doubtlessly similar scenario, essentially the most contemporary-generation Mazda BT-50 ute has never had an off-street focused wagon-variant despite the reality the Isuzu D-Max ute has has spawned a mighty SUV sibling within the MU-X wagon.

It’s also charge noting that Volkswagen already has a mighty wagon SUV within the manufacture the Touareg, despite the undeniable truth that this mannequin sits on a unibody in want to a body-on-frame platform and parts a increased focal level on luxurious in want to raw off-street ability.

Volkswagen has printed a fairly wide update for its Mk8 Golf runt automobile, a toddle that is determined to give the Golf a lift earlier than it’s electrified in its subsequent generation.

The German automaker has tweaked the Golf on the exterior, the inner, along with with fashioned technologies and, for the principle time, will implement artificial intelligence into its new fourth-generation running system and infotainment.

The Golf first and predominant debuted in 1974 and, in 2019, surpassed 35 million units provided, making it surely one of essentially the most worthwhile automobile nameplates of all time.

Per Autocar, the future Mk9 generation Golf is determined to toddle all-electrical on Volkswagen’s new SSP platform from 2028.

It’s anticipated that Volkswagen will bring the up to this point Mk8.5 Golf differ to Australia listless in 2024, or very early in 2025.

So what’s modified for Golf in 2025?

In some unspecified time in the future of the differ, the Mk8.5 Golf will receive a series of crucial changes:

• Unique fourth-gen infotainment system that involves a 10.4-journey touchscreen (12.9-journey show cover cover now not predominant) angled in direction of the motive force
• Illuminated entrance VW badge
• Re-profiled entrance air ducts
• Angular LED light create entrance and rear
• Revised steering wheel with physical buttons replacing haptic buttons
• Debut of ChatGPT AI issue assistant feature
• Better-quality materials former in cabin

In phrases of engine alternatives accessible, the Golf shall be accessible globally with a entire lot of four-cylinder powertrains, alongside with turbo-petrol and turbo-diesel variants. Europe will maintain a 1.5-litre mosey-in hybrid system that produces 150kW, but is pretty unlikely for Aussie shores.

Sizzling GTI beneficial properties extra energy for Mk8.5 update

Great to the delight of die-exhausting hot hatch fans, the up to this point Golf GTI will maintain extra energy than earlier than.

The iconic efficiency hatch will now maintain 195kW somewhat than 180kW, but will most efficient be provided with a dual-grab computerized transmission. The manual is listless!

That puts the GTI even closer to the outputs of the fresh Golf R (235kW/400Nm), the flagship we’re silent expecting an update on.

Ford Australia has launched two extra variants for its Transit Customized van vary for 2024, becoming a member of the Pattern quick- and long-wheel unpleasant vehicles in the Blue Oval’s industrial draw.

The Transit Customized Pattern shall be joined by the Sport and Sport Double Cab variants, which comprise been priced at $59,990 and $62,990 respectively sooner than on-twin carriageway costs.

We’ve already reported on the 2024 Pattern quick-wheel unpleasant and long-wheel unpleasant variants, nonetheless pricing for the Pattern has already elevated by $600 for the SWB and $600 for the long wheel unpleasant as section of this 2024.5 update.

Ford has confirmed that the new Sport additions to the Transit Customized vary are due in Australia tiring in the third quarter of 2024.

A fully electrical model – called the E-Transit Customized – is moreover due sometime in 2024, nonetheless an trusty timeframe has now not yet been confirmed.

The Transit Customized competes straight with an excessive amount of vehicles in the industrial draw such as the Peugeot Educated and the LDV V80 in Australia.

What gain you gain with your new Transit Customized Sport?

Excellent indulge in the Pattern variant, the powertrain ragged for the Transit Customized Sport variants is a 2.0-litre turbo-diesel four-cylinder engine that produces 125kW and 390Nm and is paired to an eight-stir computerized transmission powering the entrance wheels.

Let’s gain a dive into what you’ll gain with these new Transit Customized variants in Australia this 365 days.

Key aspects of the Pattern

• 13.0-creep central touchscreen sign
• 12.0-creep partial digital instrument cluster
• Ford SYNC 4 infotainment map
• Wi-fi Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity
• Wi-fi phone charging
• Fashioned load security kit
• LED cargo bay lights (changing older halogen items)
• Sub-two-metre total peak (for ease of gain trusty of entry to to multi-storey automobile parks)
• Reversing digicam
• Thatcham class one fright map
• Self sustaining rear suspension
• Built-in roof racks with 155kg load restrict

The Sport SWB adds

• Extraordinary sports activities physique kit
• Sport stripes
• 1269kg payload
• 5.8 cubic metre load capacity

Key aspects of the Sport LWB Double Cab

• Sports physique kit
• 854kg payload capacity
• 2500kg braked towing capacity
• 5-seat layout

Ford Transit Customized 2024: costs in Australia

All costs listed are sooner than on-twin carriageway costs.

• Pattern SWB: $56,590 (+$600)
• Pattern LWB: $57,590 (+$600)
• Sport SWB: $59,990 (NEW)
• Sport LWB Double Cab: $62,990 (NEW)
• E-Transit: $TBA

Ford Australia has filed a trademark application for the ‘Maverick’ nameplate, the emblem’s little pick-up offered in The United States, reviving hopes that the ute may perchance perchance probably one day create its methodology to local shores.

The Ford Maverick – which is smaller than the head-promoting Ranger and sits on a unibody ‘C2’ platform shared with the Damage out midsize SUV – has previously been ruled out for the local market by Ford given that it’s far for the time being easiest made in left-hand force make.

Alternatively, this hasn’t stopped emblems being filed for the auto because it went on sale within the US more than two years ago – forward of this most most modern application, Ford also submitted an application for the ‘Maverick Articulate’ in 2022.

Alternatively, plans for the Maverick to attain abet to Australia – the establish it may perchance perchance perchance probably secure a stable arena of interest within the highly aggressive pickup segment – agree with never been confirmed nor stepped forward.

When requested about the most modern trademark filing, a spokesperson for the emblem within the neighborhood urged Chasing Cars: “Ford Australia submits trademark purposes for lots of brand resources as a typical direction of enterprise, but they aren’t necessarily a sign of unusual branding, badging or product plans.”

Would a just correct-hand force Maverick be imaginable?

Ford for the time being offers two pickup utes in Australia – the Ranger, which has lately claimed the title of Australia’s most well-most widespread automobile after having dethroned a seven-year reign by its rival Toyota Hilux ute, and the F-150 dapper pickup which, take care of the Maverick, is made exclusively in left-hand force in The United States.

No topic this, the F-150’s most modern Australian debut used to be made imaginable thanks to a just correct-hand force remanufacturing project by foreign places engineering agency RMA Car.

Alternatively, whereas probably for the F-150 which retails for over $100K, an costly project take care of this wouldn’t be probably for a ute take care of the Maverick which is pitched as a more cheap different to the  Ranger in Ford’s global ute lineup.

Whereas this may perchance perchance perchance perchance perchance just create the chance of a just correct-hand force Maverick seem no longer going, it’s far extreme to hide that the C2 underpinnings found below the pickup are also repeat within the Damage out midsize SUV which has except now been on hand within the neighborhood in just correct-hand force, suggesting that probably there is probably.

In most modern years Ford Australia has retired the Fiesta and Focus hatchbacks to boot to discontinuing the Damage out, which methodology significant of its cheap choices don’t seem like any longer on hand. The Puma little SUV is determined to receive a truly electrical model within the impending year and may perchance perchance probably just aloof confidently undercut the Mustang Mach-E, which starts at $72,990 earlier than on-side motorway costs.

For the Maverick to be manufactured natively in RHD, it may perchance perchance perchance probably must be offered to varied just correct-hook markets comparable to the UK or Japan, and it’s unclear if the five-metre prolonged ute would be received quite as properly there as it may perchance perchance perchance in Australia.

Completely, the chance of a smaller, rate-focussed ute take care of the Maverick coming to Australia would be an captivating proposition for the ute-obsessed Australian market the establish the Ford Ranger, Toyota Hilux and Isuzu D-Max utes took out the head three positions for Australia’s most-delivered autos in 2023.

Whereas the Australian ute market is dominated by elevated utes, a more lifestyle focussed, smaller-sized ute segment is starting to attain traction within the US. There, alongside the Maverick, Hyundai has also had success with their Santa Cruz pickup, which also isn’t on hand in Australia.

Simultaneously, rumours agree with flared about a probably Toyota Gargantuan pickup sitting below the elevated Hilux in a segment that Subaru Australia has also expressed passion in getting into with a Brumby-type ute.

Chasing Vehicles reviewed the Maverick on home soil within the US closing year, on the side of yet every other Ford no longer on hand within the neighborhood, the Bronco – no topic stable passion and hype for that retro off-roader, Ford has previously ruled the auto out for the Australian market too.

On February 26, MG will debut its most up-to-date MG3 runt car, a mannequin that is determined to make stronger on its outgoing skills with new styling, bigger functionality and, most critically, a hybrid powertrain.

We’ve recently viewed a teaser of the MG3 in a MG promotional video and, by the looks of things, the runt hatchback is determined to appear very varied to the current 2nd-skills car.

Plot to debut on the 2024 Geneva Motor Disguise, the MG3 will clutch styling inspiration from varied objects in MG’s vary such because the electric MG4 and the MG5 sedan.

A brand new alloy wheel bag, a fully varied rear tail gentle signature and new LED headlights are spot to feature.

The present MG3 is a extraordinarily standard, practical car here in Australia, with the MG impress captivating 15,430 objects at some level of 2023.

When is the MG3 going to reach in Australia, and how mighty will it ticket?

With the auto spot to debut on February 26, MG has confirmed that the mannequin will promptly launch in Australia at some level of the 2nd quarter of 2024.

Local Australian pricing is but to be confirmed for the third-skills MG3, on the opposite hand the present mannequin starts from fair $18,490 earlier than on-avenue prices for the contaminated Core automatic.

Place a matter to the new MG3 to level-headed be very aggressive, and ought to level-headed dwell below the $20,000 ticket bracket when it goes on sale.

Recent hybrid powertrain is joining the lineup

MG has announced that its new hatch will form a self-charging hybrid setup consisting of a 1.5-litre petrol engine mated to an electrical motor and a runt lithium-ion battery.

This powertrain is prone to be a extraordinarily the same engine to what’s showcase in the present, 2nd-skills MG3, nevertheless with that extra punch to present a reported 130kW of energy.

What we all know about same old specification

Even when it’s level-headed but to be confirmed, the regular specification of the new MG3 might perhaps well very doubtless involve the following:

• 8.0-trail (or a tiny increased) touchscreen
• Revised gauge cluster with that which that you can well presumably also mediate runt central display hide hide
• LED headlights and sunlight hours running lights
• Enhanced security equipment
• Likelihood of partial or paunchy PU faux leather-basically based seats
• Hybrid recordsdata showcase

Mercedes-AMG horrified the automobile media panorama when it launched that its next C63 – an iconic model in its performance lineup – would ditch four of its cylinders and add turbo-hybrid energy for its W206 generation in 2024.

Nonetheless despite now working with correct half its cylinder depend, Mercedes-AMG has tranquil managed to carry out its hasty sedan more highly effective than ever.

To review performance, powertrains, fashioned instruments and price, we’ve pitted the contemporary C63 towards the Bavarian G80 BMW M3 sedan and, from Affalterbach, the Audi RS5 Sportback.

A paunchy review of the contemporary C63 soon to Chasing Vehicles, nonetheless for now let’s review this holy trinity of German performance automobiles, spec for spec.

How grand attain these hasty luxury automobiles tag?

Starting up with the Mercedes-AMG C63, pricing has been confirmed for Australia with the only real hybrid-turbo sedan costing $187,900 sooner than on-road prices. Interestingly, a five-door wagon is without delay available in varied markets, nonetheless no longer here in Australia.

The BMW M3, meanwhile, in rotten handbook guise starts from $161,300 sooner than on-road prices, or as grand as $177,800 sooner than on-road prices for the xDrive Competition variant. Whenever you’re after an even purer utilizing journey, the M3 CS flagship will tag alive to patrons $249,900 sooner than on-road prices.

Audi’s RS5 is without delay available in coupe and sportback physique kinds in the neighborhood and starts from $169,100 sooner than on-road prices, making it essentially the most cost-effective of the three models sooner than on-road prices.

Powertrains when put next

We’ll open this piece with arguably essentially the most robotically-subtle vehicle on this spec battle, the Mercedes-AMG C63 S E Performance.

On the combustion facet of issues, the C63 S E Performance is powered by a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine – the same engine earlier college in the A45 S hatch – that produces 350kW of energy and 545Nm of torque by myself. This makes the 2.0-litre unit essentially the most highly effective production four-cylinder engine on this planet.

To add to that, a trudge-in hybrid system has been mated to the combustion engine which provides a further 150kW/320Nm by potential of an electrical motor mounted on the rear axle.

Entire outputs for the C63 are 500kW/1020Nm. Crazy, correct? This makes the rapidly luxury sedan capable of sprinting to 100km/h in a claimed 3.4 seconds.

Subsequent is the G80 BMW M3. To review most suitably to the C63 S E Performance, we’ll possess end a appreciate on the Competition xDrive spec which is powered by a 3.0-litre twin-turbocharged straight-six engine that produces 375kW/650Nm.

Now not just like the Mercedes-AMG, the BMW goes with out the snarl of hybrid support. BMW has mated the M3’s straight-six engine with a eight-speed torque converter automated transmission that powers all four wheels.

BMW claims that the all-wheel pressure BMW M3 Competition is capable of sprinting to 100km/h in 3.5 seconds, which is no longer far off what the Mercedes C63 claims.

Rounding out the pack is the Audi RS5 that, grand luxuriate in the M3, does no longer snarl any personal of hybrid support (but). Onboard the rapidly Audi is a 2.9-litre twin-turbocharged V6 petrol engine that produces 331kW/600Nm and puts that energy and torque to the road by potential of Audi’s quattro all-wheel pressure system and an eight-speed torque converter automated transmission.

Audi claims a slower-than-competitors 4.1 2d 0-100km/h time. Peaceable nothing to shake your head at.

Nonetheless then there’s the weight jam…

The Mercedes-AMG C63 S E Performance would perchance have essentially the most energy and torque of this match up, nonetheless it completely additionally has a weight venture. Mercedes claims that the contemporary C63’s kerb weight is 2165kg, making it heavier than the sizzling, three-row Toyota Kluger hybrid.

When when put next, the BMW M3 in Competition spec weighs 1775kg kerb, whereas the Audi RS5 in Sportback guise weighs in at 1795kg.

That 390kg disagreement between the AMG and the M3 potential that, in the announce world, the 2 can also very successfully be more evenly matched, on the other hand larger weight can also lead to the C63 being more punishing on its braking system over time.

We’ll correct deserve to evaluate about for ourselves when we pressure the C63 in the flesh very soon.

What attain you procure for your money?

The AMG C63 S E Performance will debut in Australia in a single excessive-spec variant, nonetheless will embody positive aspects such as:

• Panoramic sliding sunroof
• Head-up present with AMG-particular graphical parts
• Burmester 3D surround sound system
• Heated and powered entrance seats
• Ambient lighting
• Smartphone integration
• Wi-fi charging for successfully matched mobile devices
• MBUX augmented reality for navigation
• AMG Observe Poke equipment
• Automated cruise control
• Energetic lane-possess relief
• Site visitors tag relief
• Parking equipment along side 360-diploma camera
• Self sustaining emergency braking
• Digital headlights
• Adaptive excessive beam relief

On the BMW M3 Competition, fashioned positive aspects embody:

• Staggered 19-fling/20-fling alloy wheels
• 10.25-fling centre touchscreen
• 12.3-fling digital instrument cluster
• 16-speaker Harman Kardon sound system
• Head-up present
• Wi-fi phone charging
• M Sport Merino leather-basically based fully seats
• Adaptive suspension
• Consume sound level control

Lastly, the Audi RS5 will is supplied as fashioned with:

• 20-fling alloy wheels
• 10.1-fling touchscreen
• 12.3-fling virtual cockpit
• 19-speaker Bang & Olufsen sound system
• Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility
• Four USB ports
• Three-zone climate control
• RS sports actions seats completed in Nappa leather-basically based fully
• Panoramic sunroof
• RS sport suspension
• Quattro sport differential
• RS sport snarl system
• Dynamic bolt control

All up, the three luxury sports actions automobiles are very identical on spec and successfully-specced at that, nonetheless they must be at this luxury tag point. The AMG affords plenty in relation to tag, nonetheless has a larger sticker tag that patrons must have in mind of.

Spec-to-spec conclusion

The contemporary Mercedes-AMG C63 S E Performance might maybe be the most modern and most highly effective luxury sports actions saloon on this comparison, nonetheless the sizzling BMW M3 Competition xDrive affords quite a lot of the same performance for round $10,000 less.

The Audi RS5 affords quite a lot of performance (and even larger practicality whereas you happen to trip for the robotically-identical RS4 Avant), nonetheless on paper, the BMW tranquil appears to be just like the decide of the lot – as lengthy as you’re partial to the mammoth grille styling!

The originate of the contemporary C63 is scheduled for February 2024, so appreciate forward to a accurate-world review of the rapidly hybrid sedan in the upcoming weeks.

In declare so that you just can read more about these three rocket ships, test out the links to our earlier experiences below:

• Mercedes-AMG C63 S E Performance international first review
• BMW M3 xDrive Competition review
• Audi RS5 review