Australian offroad specialist Tomcar is to release an electric vehicle.

TOMCAR have been around for a while and are no stranger to challenging convention. They have an offroad buggy that is only two-wheel-drive, but is still an incredible offroad vehicle as we found in our in-depth test. They are also Australian-based at a time when everyone else is giving up on local manufacturing. And now they’re going electric with the Tomcar LV1, developed in partnership with electric-car specialist Energetique.

THE future of Blacktown’s automotive industry is looking promising, with partnerships between TAFE apprentices and car dealerships sustaining job prospects.

This is despite Blacktown TAFE automotive courses shutting up shop this year.

TAFE Blacktown and Mt Druitt’s automotive section has arranged apprenticeships in up to 30 dealerships across western Sydney.

The rise of Tesla Motors' electric cars won't be enough to change the market for conventional vehicles or dent demand for the precious metals used to filter exhaust fumes, says GMK Norilsk Nickel PJSC.

The lack of infrastructure to charge them and the pressure on power grids means that in the long term, the vehicles may comprise just 15 per cent of the total car market, says Anton Berlin, head of analysis and market development for Norilsk. In the next five years, the market's size will be limited to about 2 per cent.

THE number of cars in Australia affected by the world’s biggest automotive recall for deadly airbags that can spray shrapnel in a crash has neared 1.2 million overnight.

Nissan added another 41,154 Tiida hatchbacks and sedans made from 2006 to 2012 to bring its tally to 264,674, the second highest of any brand after Honda and ahead of Toyota.

Concept cars are a law unto themselves, and the rules are: there are no rules.

Motor shows are full of over-the-top, fantastical creations and, while some offer a glimpse into the future of personal transport, some are nothing but the physical manifestations of delusional designers and inventors.

A number of car makers have deemed their latest offerings appealing enough to be a chance for a prize at this year’s Good Design Australia awards.

Last year’s prize, in both the main Good Design Award and the Overall Product Design in the Automotive and Transport category, went to the Tesla Model S. BMW’s i3 was also successful, taking the top award in the Sustainability class.

This year, Volvo Australia has submitted the new XC90 for consideration, which, as the first example of an all-new direction for the brand, could be a strong chance.

We’re often asked questions about four-wheel-driving, especially on the differences between four-wheel-drive modes in modern vehicles.

CarAdvice reader Stacey owns a new Mitsubishi Pajero Sport and wasn’t sure which modes she should be using during regular driving and off-road driving.

Recent European NCAP crash testing focussing on heavy quadricycles and micro-cars has shown just how dangerous the pocket-sized cars are when compared to ‘micro’ category models in Australia.

The models tested are made specifically for the European market, and designed for use in urban environments. Of the nine vehicles tested, two scored a EuroNCAP crash rating of zero stars – the worst possible score – with four managing a one-star rating and three scoring just two NCAP stars.

A new survey has revealed that 37.9% of Australian drivers knowingly exceed the speed limit, and that men are more likely to speed than women…

NEW RESEARCH FROM insurance comparison company, compareinsurance.com.au has revealed that 37.9% of Australian drivers knowingly exceed the speed limit. The survey of 500 motorists revealed that 21.9% of Aussies regularly drive up to 10km over the speed limit whilst a further 16% say they have driven 20km to 30km over safe speed limits.

‘Adios gas-powered cars.’ That was the reaction of Barclays analyst Brian Johnston last week to news that Tesla Motors had received orders for nearly 200,000 of its Model 3 electric vehicle in less than two days.

By nightfall on the Saturday after release, that order tally had jumped to 276,000. That’s more than $US280 million in zero-cost capital to Tesla, from the $US1,000, $A1,500 and €1,000 deposits, and total orders for more than $A13 billion of electric vehicles.

LOCK your doors — not just to protect your car from thieves, but to avoid a fine.

Under a little-known section of the Australian Road Rules 2014, drivers must not leave their car unsecured or they could cop a $106 fine.

Another obscure rule outlaws splashing mud on bus passengers, or anyone waiting at bus stops.

Formula One technology and very small capacity engines should be the future for road cars, according to Mercedes engine boss Andy Cowell.

The current engine regulations were designed to promote hybrid technologies and since their introduction manufacturers have improved thermal efficiency from 29 percent to more than 45 percent, meaning more than 45 percent of the potential energy in the fuel is delivered to the crankshaft. Cowell believes those efficiency gains will start to filter down to road cars in the near future, allowing family-sized cars to be powered by small capacity, two-cylinder engines.

Ford has unveiled a new model with its own staircase, Lamborghini-style “gull-wing” doors, and a built-in wardrobe cabinet in the cargo area.

The new Ford Lincoln Navigator also has four large high resolution video screens that double as tablet computers, and a sunroof that stretches the entire length of the vehicle.

PSA Groupe, formerly known as PSA Peugeot Citroen, has presented details of its new electric and plug-in hybrid strategy that will focus on a new modular platform developed with Chinese partner Dongfeng Motors.

In its presentation, PSA Groupe outlined its plans to introduce four fully-electric models (EVs) by 2021 and a further seven plug-in hybrid (PHEV) variants by the same year.

This follows Peugeot’s announcement that the new 3008 SUV will spearhead the company’s electrified line-up with a plug-in hybrid variant in 2019.

Honda’s naturally aspirated 1.8-litre four cylinder engine is likely to stick around for some time as the entry choice for the Civic range as the Japanese brand continues to work on its smaller capacity turbocharged engines.

TONY Denny is one of Australia’s richest men you’ve never heard of, with a classic car collection so good he’s built a museum to show his favourites to the public.

Gosford Classic Car Museum, in a former Bunnings store just off the M1 at West Gosford, opens on May 28 with more than 400 classic cars that include some of the most rare, and sought-after, vehicles in the world.

ABS, ACC, CVT… They sound like jargon from a TV police drama, but they actually describe vehicle functions. We explain the most common automotive acronyms.

MOTORING REVIEWS and advice articles are littered with acronyms that many scribblers think are well know. And new car dealers are no better, wheeling out a bag full of gobbledegook to wow tyre kickers.

Google has teamed up with Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) to create a fleet of 100 autonomous minivans.

The collaboration will see the two companies work on building and testing the Chrysler Pacifica hybrid minivans with the first bunch potentially set to hit the roads as early as the end of the year.

Google has released a statement detailing its technological involvement in the partnership.

Over the weekend, at the Vienna Engine Symposium, BMW unveiled its much rumoured quad-turbo straight-six diesel engine.

The quad-turbo engine features four exhaust-driven turbochargers, with two high pressure units allied to two low pressure devices. Rumours had earlier suggested this new engine might feature an electrically driven compressor to help out at low engine speeds.

Ford has revealed its next generation of turbo-diesel engines, branded EcoBlue.

The car maker says that the success of its EcoBoost petrol range has driven a number of innovations in the development of its new turbo-diesel design.

Leading the new range will be a 2.0-litre EcoBlue diesel that Ford says is cleaner, 10 to 15kg lighter and up to 13 per cent more efficient than the 2.2-litre Duratorq TDCi it replaces.

No new-vehicle market segment shed more sales over the first quarter of 2016 against the same period last year than Light Cars, home to the Mazda 2, Hyundai Accent and Toyota Yaris.

In what constitutes a sharp decline, light car sales over the period of January 1 to March 31 dipped 13.9 per cent, from 29,399 units over the period last year to 25,316 units in 2016. This means the overall market share of light cars is now just 8.9 per cent. 12 months ago it was 10.6 per cent.

A new patent application from tech giant Google details a system that will allow future autonomous cars to recognise when other vehicles have activated their indicators.

Google’s technology uses a forward-facing camera system to scan traffic in front of the vehicle, looking for changes in colour at the rear of cars ahead.

Based on the oscillations of light, the car’s software would determine whether the indicators or hazard lights are flashing, and respond accordingly.

A bayside council wants to put a stop to car ownership growth, while doubling its population, by converting hundreds of ordinary parking spots into car share bays.

The City of Port Phillip has released a draft plan for a fourfold increase in car share spots in the next five years, from 79 vehicles to 330 by 2021, in the hope it will encourage thousands of residents to give up their cars.

It estimates each new car share vehicle will remove 10 privately owned cars from the road. Membership of car share schemes has already leapt from 400 in 2011, when there was just 10 bays, to 2500.

IT’S all about 1s and 0s for Audi as it looks to implement a new electronics-focused product strategy between now and 2025.

The move will result in between “20 and 25 percent” of cars sold by 2025 being powered entirely or significantly by electricity.

“We will constantly expand our range of alternative drive systems and gradually electrify our model portfolio,” said Audi chairman Professor Rupert Stadler speaking at the brand’s annual press conference at its headquarters in Ingolstadt, Germany. “We are particular focusing on the plug-in-hybrid technology and on purely electric drive.”