This week on Chasing Cars: Lexus NX, Navara Warrior unveiled and i30 N priced

---

I’m not sure about you lot but if there’s one thing I’ve noticed as I get older and financial realities sink in, there is nothing more interesting than a car I can actually afford.

Sure I lust after the facelifted Mercedes-AMG GT 4-Door and I’m genuinely happy that those who can afford such metal will get to do so with an increasingly luxurious car that sets benchmark performance.

But what about the surprisingly fun, affordable little hatchbacks like the Kia Cerato and Hyundai i30 N? Or even the Skoda Kamiq which is getting a new grade with a bigger engine because supply is limited for the smaller one, oh what a travesty. 

Moving away from performance to more serious matters we saw the Toyota Kluger score a five-star safety rating under the strict new ANCAP standards, and all in an affordable family vehicle – bravo I say.

It seems cars are getting better all the time, and we expect the same from the new Subaru Forester and the Honda Civic, both of which we should hear more about very soon. But without further ado let’s get into it.

Lexus NX revealed

Lexus debuted the NX midsize SUV this week. The company said the new premium midsize SUV will evolve the Toyota RAV4’s already outstanding chassis dynamics to a new level.

Engineers have made a slew of clever choices like shifting the hybrid’s battery in front of the rear wheels instead of behind them, meaning the NX should handle even better than the RAV4.

And did I mention hybrids? The NX will be getting a traditional self-charging one in Australia and a NX 450h+ plug-in hybrid with 75km of electric-only range is also in the works but not confirmed for us just yet.

The interior has also been given a revamp with clever new door handles and Lexus has thrown out its trackpad for a touchscreen that is mounted closer so it’s easy to reach.

Navara PRO-4X Warrior by Premcar coming soon

Armed with a long name and likely an even longer list of upgrades the Navara Warrior (for short) debuted its gruff looking appearance this week and gave us a strong hint at what’s been tinkered with.

Built by Aussie tuning house Premcar in Victoria, the Navara Warrior is in its final stages of testing and pictures show it wearing a number of upgrades to make it a proper off road bruiser.

This starts with a substantial bullbar at the front which not only integrates a light bar but also works perfectly with the Navara’s AEB system which is good for peace of mind.

Other changes include a bash plate with new shocks and springs underneath raising the height and the wider wheel arches help fit the huge off road tyres.

Hyundai i30 N price and specs

The Hyundai i30 N hot hatch hurt some feelings when it first launched onto the market and the facelift is set to broaden appeal with the introduction of an eight-speed wet-type dual-clutch as a $3,000 option.

Fear not, the six-speed manual shifter will remains but the coupe-like Fastback will not and has been ditched for Australia. The entry price is up by $3,100 to $44,500 (before on-roads) which is still pretty good in the hot hatch world.

Power from the 2.0L turbocharged four-banger is slightly up at 206kW and torque has been given a 39Nm boost to 392Nm, and will spring from 0-100km/h in 5.4 seconds with the DCT which is up 0.5 seconds over the old manual.

Hyundai has also fitted lighter forged alloy wheels that shaves 14.4kg off in of unsprung weight. Buyers will also be able to option lightweight bucket seats in the i30 N Premium.

Other car and SUV news that mattered this week:

• Kia confirmed the absurdly quick EV6 GT grade would be coming to Australia, armed with 430kW/ 740Nm this all-electric midsize SUV will get from 0-100km/h in 3.5 seconds. Excuse me, what?

• In more Kia news the Cerato debuted this week wearing the brand’s new badge, a handsome new face with a slew of new tech on the inside including a 10.25-inch screen. Prices start at $25,990 driveaway.

• The Volkswagen Group announced a series of delays on cars like the Golf, Touareg, Amarok, Tiguan and also the Skoda Kamiq due to microchip shortages globally. 

• As a result of Skoda Kamiq shortages in the more affordable 85TSI grade, an entry level version of the four-pot 110TSI will be brought to Australia very soon.

• Famous American outfit Singer announced it would be coming to Australia to offer properly restored Porsche 911s downunder and will operate out of Melbourne-based Zagame Automotive.

• Subaru revealed the facelifted Forester in Japan this week that brings a new look at the front, more capable safety systems and a new suspension tune.

• Porsche unveiled the Porsche 911 GT3 Touring 70 Years Porsche Australia Edition this week alongside the regular GT3 Touring package that kicks off at $369,700 plus on-roads later this year.

• The range of the Porsche Taycan is also set to expand in both the super sedan and wagon-ish Cross Turismo, with a cheaper base model and more middling grades now available.

• Toyota sent its new Kluger off to be crash tested at ANCAP this week and came away with five-stars under the tough new criteria. The seven-row SUV was praised for its abilities to protect little ones in a range of nasty accidents.

• Honda teased the hatch version of the Civic which is coming to Australia – unlike the sedan which is now on sale in the U.S. – expect similar looks with nice new tech on board.

• Mercedes-AMG updated its GT 4-Door this week in six-pot GT 43 and GT 53 guise with more options available and a more sorted ride to make it nicer to drive everyday.

• Prior to the launch of the Navara Warrior, the folks at Premcar detailed a bit about the new super ute and what it would include.

• Ford unveiled the Maverick for the U.S. this week, it sounds like a recipe for success in Australia with a hybrid powertrain and a dual-cab body style but it sadly won’t come here.

• Land Rover announced it would begin experimenting with hydrogen technology by building a prototype Defender with the environmentally-friendly gas on board, and will begin on-road testing later this year.

• We spoke with Kia who told us the next generation of the Stinger had yet to be confirmed by their headquarters in Korea. Despite good sales in Australia it hasn’t done as well overseas.

• Images leaked detailing the interior of the all-electric Genesis GV60 that will sit on the EV-dedicated E-GMP platform and added a third SUV to the lineup.

• Maserati released images of it testing its new GranTurismo which will be offered with an all-electric drivetrain alongside normal petrol and hybrid options.

• The Porsche Cayenne Coupe clocked the Nurburgring ring in an astonishing 7 minutes and 38 seconds this week, which makes it faster than a 911 Turbo 997 despite its high centre of gravity.

• SsangYong priced the new Musso dual cab ute at $34,990 driveway which can fit up to 1,025kg in the bed, tow 3.5-tonnes braked and is available in short and long wheelbase form. 

• Polestar announced it would begin building the Polestar 3 next year, which is a performance SUV that will sit on the brand’s new EV-specific chassis.

• BMW unveiled its new midsize SUV that will arrive in Australia in X3 wagon and X4 coupe form towards the end of this year with new styling and an updated interior, with the former gaining a plug-in hybrid.

• Likewise, the go-fast versions in the X3 M and X4 M have received similar upgrades with power steady at 375kW but torque has now climbed to 650Nm and it will get you to 100km/h in just 3.8 seconds.