Company offering Tesla electric crate motor to fit older V8 cars

Looking to upgrade the V8 in your Holden? American company EV West has created an electric motor which will bolt directly into the engine mounts for a small block engine. Using a Tesla drive unit, the 'crate motor' allows owners of rear-wheel-drive V8 cars to upgrade to a fully-electric powertrain.

I learned something crucial from my first ‘car accident’ experience

I had my first car accident this week. Actually – let me rephrase that: I experienced my first car accident. I wasn’t behind the wheel, nor was I even in the car, but I felt like I had whiplash all the same. “I’m fine, but I’ve been in an accident.” It’s exactly the kind of phone call anyone dreads receiving from a family member – although I can acknowledge that, for many, the call is far, far worse.

2021 Mitsubishi Outlander and Triton prices on the rise

The 2021 Mitsubishi Outlander range has increased in price, with the updated model costing around $660 more than 2020 variants. Meanwhile, the 2021 Mitsubishi Triton line-up has also become more expensive, in this case by an average of $730 per vehicle. The entry-level two-wheel drive 2.0-litre Outlander has gone from $29,490 plus on road costs, to $29,990 plus on road costs. This represents an increase of $500.

Mazda announces prices for 700 limited-edition 100th anniversary models – UPDATE

UPDATE, 2/10/20: This article was originally published in June 2020 but has been updated with pricing details for several of Mazda's 100th Anniversary special edition models. Details in the story. Mazda has confirmed the Australian arrival of 700 limited models in honour of its 100th anniversary, with its entire range of vehicles receiving the special-edition upgrade.

2020 Lexus ES300h price and specs: Standard safety gets a boost

The 2020 Lexus ES300h has had a minor tweak to specifications, improving the mid-size luxury sedan's low-speed safety credentials, while also rolling out moderate price rises at the same time. As part of the specification change from Lexus, all variants from the entry level ES300h up add Rear Cross Traffic Alert and Braking (RCTA-B), to complement the existing Intelligent Clearance Sonar and Parking Support Brake systems already fitted.

2021 Mazda CX-30 manual introduced, special-edition pricing announced

The 2021 Mazda CX-30 is now cheaper thanks to the addition of a manual variant, while a new special edition tops the range. The Mazda now starts at $28,990 before on-road costs for the manual front-wheel-drive 2.0-litre CX-30 G20 Pure, which is $1000 cheaper than the automatic model. The price drop closes the gap with cheaper Kia Seltos, Hyundai Kona, and Mitsubishi ASX competitors, which have all been beating out the more expensive CX-30 in market share within the small SUV segment.

New car warranty comparison: What do you get from every manufacturer?

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) defines manufacturer warranties as "voluntary promises offered by the manufacturer about what they will do if something goes wrong with a new car". "Manufacturer warranties apply for a specified time and may add to consumers’ automatic rights under the Australian Consumer Law guarantees," the ACCC explains. "Manufacturer warranties come with conditions that limit the coverage and what consumers can claim for."