Thanks for joining us this Thursday 22 August 2024. Notably in car news today: Ford Australia has detailed its forthcoming V6-powered Everest Tremor, and Ford of America has cancelled the development of a three-row electric SUV.
Browse this issue:
- Ford Australia announces Everest Tremor SUV
- Ford cancels seven seat electric SUV
- Volkswagen ID Buzz here by Christmas
- Skoda creates ‘sleeper’ special-edition Superb wagon with 350kW
- Reviewed: 2024 Kia Sportage GT-Line Hybrid long-term farewell
Ford Australia announces Everest Tremor variant
The new Ford Everest Tremor variant
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Ford Australia has announced pricing and specification for its next Everest variant and it’s called the Tremor.
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Priced from $76,590 before on-road costs, the Everest Tremor comes fitted with V6 power, Bilstein dampers, General Grabber AT3 all-terrain tyres and 26mm of extra ground clearance.
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A rock crawl drive mode and new honeycomb grille design will also feature.
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Several packs will be available, including a $3500 rough terrain pack, $2500 Touring Pack and $1100 Premium Seat pack.
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Production for the Tremor will commence for Australia in November 2024.
Ford USA cancels electric three-row SUV: report
Ford of America will not build a three-row electric SUV
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Ford USA is shifting its EV strategy once again, this time cancelling a three-row electric SUV.
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According to Automotive News, Ford will no longer produce said SUV in the United States and will instead go down the line of hybrid.
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Ford CFO John Lawler said that “this is really about us being nimble and listening to responses from our customers,” he said.
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“We looked at where the segment was evolving [and] the size of the battery that needs to go in a pure EV, the cost structure, the pricing, we could not put together a vehicle that met our requirements to be profitable in the first 12 months of launch,” Lawler added.
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Ford is also pushing back its next-generation pickup, codenamed T3, to late 2027.
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The changes to the plans are reportedly set to cost the brand around USD$1.9 billion.
More details for Volkswagen’s electric ID Buzz, here by Christmas
The Volkswagen ID Buzz will be here by Christmas
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Volkswagen Australia has given more timing information for its Buzz electric van range.
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The German automaker has confirmed the non-GTX versions of the ID Buzz electric van have entered production for Australia and will arrive down under by Christmas.
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The first variants to land will be the ID Buzz and ID Buzz Cargo. 2, 3, 5 and 7 seater variants will all land simultaneously.
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The upcoming GTX variant will produce 250kW/560Nm thanks to dual-motor all-wheel drive and will land in Australia in Q2, 2025.
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Australian pricing and specification is due to be announced in the coming months.
Skoda UK develops the ultimate Superb wagon sleeper
The sleeper Skoda Superb with 350kW of power!
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Skoda UK has created a one-off Superb estate in a unique 350kW ‘sleeper’ guise.
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Based on an estate Laurin & Klement model, the UK part of the business commissioned the project that was built by RE Performance.
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A standard Superb usually produces 205kW, but with modifications that include a new Garrett turbocharger, fuel system and performance intercooler, this special project produces a staggering 350kW and 661Nm.
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The special Superb also features chassis tweaks such as KW coil-overs, AP Racing six-pot brakes with 390mm front discs, 19-inch alloy wheels and Yokohama rubber.
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Interestingly, this is a one-off car only and won’t be for sale, but the vehicle will be put onto its UK press fleet, so this might not be the last time you see it in the media.
Kia Sportage GT-Line Hybrid long-term farewell published
Zak’s long termer, Felipe the Kia Sportage GT-Line Hybrid
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Chasing Cars journalist Zak Adkins’ long-term review of the 2024 Kia Sportage GT-Line Hybrid was published, including his final thoughts on the midsize SUV after three months.
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In terms of hits, the Kia Sportage excelled in the areas of hybrid refinement, ride comfort day to day and premium cabin presentation and technologies.
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Some of the key misses for the hybrid Sportage however included the lack of an all-wheel-drive option, it’s not as efficient as claimed and it’s pretty expensive at $60,495 driveaway.
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All in all, Adkins gave the new hybrid SUV an 8/10 and thoroughly enjoyed his time with the vehicle over the tenure.
READ: Link to written review
The next issue of Car News Today will be published on Friday 23 August at 4.30pm Sydney time.
