Car news, 2 July ’24: MG days away from next-gen HS SUV reveal, Mini Cooper five-door starts from $44K, and more

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Thanks for joining us this Tuesday July 2nd 2024. Notably in car news today: the next-gen MG HS is days away from its reveal and likely to get more electric range, and Mini Australia has announced pricing and specification for its combustion-powered Cooper C and S five-door models. 

Browse this issue:

• Next MG HS to debut at Goodwood Festival of Speed 
• Mini announces prices and spec for its five-door Mini Cooper 
• Australian pricing revealed for new M3 and M3 Touring 
• Mercedes-Benz CLE Cabriolet priced for Australia 
• Reviewed: 2024 Ssangyong Musso 

Next-gen MG HS full reveal expected at Goodwood FOS

• MG has confirmed it will unveil its next HS SUV at the upcoming Goodwood Festival of Speed where the brand will celebrate its centenary. It’ll be shown at the event which is on between July 11-14, 2024. 

• The Hyundai Tucson and Toyota RAV4 rival will get an entirely new look, including refreshed LED lights and new wrap-around LED tail lights to mirror some of the features seen on the new MG3. 

• Petrol and plug-in hybrid are expected to be announced, however a series-hybrid is expected early in 2025. 

• Auto Express has reported that the MG HS will have a larger battery than any competitor and will have an electric-only range of around 112 kilometres.

• MG will also show off its upcoming electric Cybserster sports car at the Goodwood event.

Mini Cooper five-door priced for Australia 

• Mini Australia has announced official pricing and specification for its new, combustion-powered Cooper five-door. 

• Pricing will start from $43,990 before on-road costs for the Cooper C Core and will top out at $56,990 before on-road costs for the Cooper S JCW Sport grade. Price of entry has increased by $5490. 

• Powering the Cooper C will be a three-cylinder petrol engine with 115kW of power and 230Nm of torque. The Cooper S uses a turbocharged four-cylinder engine with 150kW/300Nm. 

• Standard equipment varies widely across the range, however the base Cooper C five-door includes features such as new 240mm OLED round central display, wireless phone charging, sports seats and a six-speaker sound system. The top-spec Cooper S with JCW Sport trim adds JCW styling, DCT shift paddles, adaptive suspension and JCW sport brakes. 

• The new Mini Cooper five-door is due for launch in Australia in the fourth quarter of 2024. 

Price and specs lob for updated BMW M3 and M3 Touring

• BMW Australia has confirmed pricing and specification for its updated, high-performance sedan, the BMW M3, along with its Touring wagon variant.

• Price of entry for an M3 has increased by $2400, with BMW continuing to offer the M3 in base manual guise for $163,700 before on-road costs. The top-spec M3 Touring will now cost $183,500, or $3400 more than before. 

• But what’s changed in spec and performance for 2024? BMW has lifted power outputs for xDrive M3s, pushing from 375kW up to 390kW. Torque remains at 650Nm. The base manual M3’s outputs remain at 353kW/550Nm.

• Also new will be updated LED headlights, new alloy wheel designs, a new flat-bottomed steering wheel, luxury instrument panel and BMW’s new Operating System 8.5.  

• The updated BMW M3 range will arrive in Australia in the fourth quarter of 2024. 

Mercedes-Benz’s CLE cabriolet priced for Australia 

• Mercedes-Benz Australia’s new CLE-Class Cabriolet is now on sale in Australia, priced from $135,900 before on-road costs. 

• The drop-top CLE-Class is available in a single variant, the CLE 300 4Matic, and is powered by a 2.0-litre turbocharged mild-hybrid four-cylinder petrol engine that produces 190kW/400Nm. This engine has been paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission and an electric starter generator that in itself produces 17kW/205Nm. 

• For those unfamiliar with the CLE, the model is a mix between a C-Class and the larger E-Class. 

• Standard specification for the Cabriolet will include a portrait-oriented 11.9-inch central touchscreen, wind deflector system, Mercedes’ AIRSCARF heating system and a maximum boot capacity of 385 litres.  

• Other key feature highlights include leather upholstered sports seats, LED headlights and tail lights, 15mm lowered standard sports suspension, 19-inch AMG alloy wheels, and 10 airbags. 

• Customers can pre-order the CLE Cabriolet from today, before the vehicle goes on sale on July 17. 

Ssangyong Musso XLV Ultimate reviewed

• Chasing Cars founder Tom Baker’s review of the 2024 Ssangyong Musso XLV was published, including his thoughts on the bang-for-your-buck dual-cab ute.
  
• In terms of positives, Baker praised the fact that the Musso ute is wildly cheaper than a Toyota Hilux and Ford Ranger and thought that the Musso was actually a better ute than some of its key rivals thanks to a well built interior, strong 2.2-litre turbo-diesel engine and a high level of standard specification.
  
• Some of the points to improve that Baker mentions in the YouTube video include the use of an old-school lap belt for the middle rear seat, vague steering setup and the lack of an ANCAP safety rating.
  
• Baker concluded his review by saying that the Musso rides with dynamic polish in the top half of the segment and is overall great value for money against key rivals, including the Mitsubishi Triton and Nissan Navara.  

The next issue of Car News Today will be published on Wednesday 3rd July at 4.30pm Sydney time.