Every important car news story breaking today, one convenient read
Thanks for joining us this Friday, December 6th, 2024. Notably in car news today: Toyota has finally given the new 2.8L 70 Series Land Cruiser a manual option and Hyundai has lowered the Santa Fe’s price of entry with a new turbo-petrol drivetrain.
Toyota Land Cruiser 70 Series regains manual option
Toyota has officially confirmed that a manual option will be returning to the 70 Series in showrooms, after the manual-only V8 was officially killed off earlier this year
The facelifted 70 Series was launched in early 2024, with the legendary 4×4 scoring the 2.8-litre turbo-diesel four-cylinder from the Hilux mated exclusively with a six-speed torque converter transmission.
Like the one offering with the V8, the four-cylinder’s self-shifting option will be a five-speed with unique gear ratios and strengthened components to suit the dutues of the 70 Series, with a longer ratio for the fifth gear to make highway driving more efficient.
Available on the 76 Wagon, 78 Toopy and 79 Dual Cab but not the Single Cab, pricing starts at $77,800 for the GXL wagon reflecting a $2000 discount over the auto across the entire range.
Hyundai adds 2.5L turbo-petrol option to Santa Fe range
Hyundai has added a 2.5L four-cylinder turbo-petrol option to the previously hybrid-only Santa Fe large SUV range
Set to arrive in dealerships in the coming weeks, the FWD option is available on the base grade, reflecting a $2500 decrease in the price of entry. As per the hybrid, the AWD is available across the base, Elite and Calligraphy grades.
Replacing the old naturally aspirated 3.5L V6 petrol, the 2.5T offers more power and torque at 206kW/422Nm vs 200kW/331Nm while also using less fuel with a combined claim of 9.3L/100km vs 10.5L/100km.
The 2.5L turbocharged engine is mated with an eight-speed dual-clutch transmission.
Mazda MX-5 35th Anniversary Edition confirmed for Australia
Mazda has confirmed 50 units of its MX-5 35th Anniversary Edition will come to Australia to celebrate the roadster’s milestone.
Based on the G20 Roadster GT, the special edition is available only with a manual transmission and is priced at $52,020, reflecting a $2300 upcharge over the regular GT.
Inside, the cabin features Tan Nappa Leather upholstery combined with beige carpet and floormats, in addition to the expected ‘35th Anniversary’ logos throughout.
Other changes seen in the MX-5 range for 2025 include the abandonment of the RF option for the base grade. Pricing starts at $43,020 before on-road costs and tops out at $57,220 for the G20 RF GT RS.
Fully electric Kia Tasman reconfirmed
Christo Valentyn, Kia’s Head of Marketing in South Africa has reconfirmed the fully electric version of the Tasman ute is on the way.
Speaking to US outlet CarBuzz, Valentyn said “I’m probably not supposed to say this but an electric [Tasman] is coming.”
No timing was given, and certainly no specifics around the Australian market, but an electric Tasman was originally thought to arrive sometime in 2026, though it may very well arrive later, with the diesel version going on sale in early 2025.
Australia is a key market for the Tasman and the implementation of NVES will likely require the introduction of an electrified version to help keep the Korean brand’s fleet average low as the government cracks down on emissions.
Hyundai Kona Electric long term review: Month 2 and 3
Chasing Cars journalist Olek Novak provided his update on Month 2 and 3 of his long term tenure with the Hyundai Kona Electric where he delved into some of the intricacies, both meaningful and not, that have defined his experience so far.
Olek said he has quickly fallen in love with the blending of future tech and classic push-button usability that comes with the Kona, along with the sheer space available inside the cabin.
However the infamous speed-limit assistance feature continues to give him grief even with a recent update and some touch points like the column shifter aren’t proving to be all that intuitive.
Olek still has some way to go with his long term Kona so stay tunned for the written version of the final verdict, or click the link below to watch our two-part verdict video.
