Mercedes-Benz to axe six- and eight-cylinder engines from new C-Class, including AMG

In bombshell news, Mercedes-Benz is set to ditch six- and eight-cylinder engines from its all-new C-Class range. Reports out of the US claim even halo Mercedes-AMG C43 and C63 models will be powered by a hybridised four-cylinder turbo engine. The all-new 2022 Mercedes-Benz C-Class is set to be revealed later this month, and it's expected all variants, including the AMG hero cars, will be powered by a four-cylinder engine with varying levels of hybridisation.

2022 BMW iX1: Baby electric SUV imagined

The upcoming 2022 BMW iX1 promises to be one of the first models in the company's new electrified line-up, based on the company's smallest SUV. The electric version of the X1 was spotted undergoing cold-weather testing in November 2020, adorned in camouflaged – but now illustrator Jean Francois Herbert from SB-Medien has put together this render to provide a glimpse of what we can expect from BMW's baby electric SUV.

Chrysler gets stay of execution under Stellantis

Chrysler is a "pillar" of the automotive industry and will continue to build cars, according to Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares. The brand faced an uncertain future following last year’s high profile FCA and PSA merger – named Stellantis – due to its narrow line-up and dwindling sales.

2021 Citroen C3 Aircross facelift unveiled

The 2021 Citroen C3 Aircross has received its first major styling update since the model was unveiled in 2017. The C3 Aircross gets a sharper design to the C3 it's based on – and which arrived with its own facelift only days ago – further differentiating it from the hatchback. New LED headlamps, complete with new light signatures feature on the small SUV, complimented by a revised front grille, which Citroen says is inspired by the CXperience concept car from 2016.

Volkswagen signs deal with Microsoft for autonomous driving tech

Volkswagen plans to use “cloud” technology developed by Microsoft to speed-up the rollout of autonomous vehicles. A new deal between the German car giant and the US tech giant will reportedly enable faster integration of autonomous systems in future vehicles. According to overseas reports, the technology will also enable wifi-based “over the air” updates after the car has been sold, as per Tesla.

Melbourne-based company to launch hybrid battery recycling program

A Melbourne-based company will soon launch Australia's first scalable hybrid battery remanufacturing program in an effort to reduce single-use hybrid batteries nationwide. After receiving a $103,000 grant from the Federal Government, Injectronics – a supplier of new and remanufactured automotive electronic components – plans to partner with automotive workshops to supply drivers with a more cost-effective, sustainable way to replace to their faulty battery.

Exclusive: China’s BYD electric vehicles to be sold in Australia from 2022

One of China's largest electric vehicle companies BYD has signed an agreement to sell cars in Australia, with the first cars due to arrive next year. BYD has been experimenting in Australia with a handful of cars since 2015 – it has had five electric taxis on Sydney's roads for the past five years. A BYD SUV, sedan and van have also been spotted in Sydney in the past six months.