Car news today: Honda’s updated Civic hatch goes all-hybrid, Ford will not bring Puma Gen-E to Australia, and more – 4 December 2024

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Thanks for joining us this Wednesday 4 December 2024. Notably in car news today: Honda has updated its Civic hatch, removing petrol-only variants, and Ford Australia has confirmed it will not bring the electric Puma to local shores.

Browse this issue:

• Honda launches refreshed Civic in Australia 
• Ford Australia will not bring Puma EV to local shores
• Mercedes-AMG announces A 45 S Limited Edition 
• Volkswagen Multivan Australian pricing for 2025 

• Reviewed: 2024 Ford Ranger Wildtrak V6 long-term introduction

Honda launches refreshed Civic in Australia 

• Honda Australia has announced it will sell a refreshed Civic in Australia, now starting from $49,990 driveaway and available in two hybrid variants: L and LX. Pricing tops out at $55,900 driveaway. The petrol-only variants have been discontinued. 

• What’s changed for the Civic in 2025? New 18-inch alloy wheels, built-in Google and new Honda Connect will all feature as standard. 

• All Civics going forward will be powered by a 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine and two electric motors that produce outputs of 135kW/315Nm. Selectable driving modes including Sport, normal, individual and economy are also standard. 

• The updated Civic is due in Honda showrooms this month. 

Ford Australia will not bring the new electric Puma to Australia

• Ford’s local arm has confirmed today in a press release that it will not be bringing a more affordable electric vehicle to Australia, the just-announced Puma Gen-E.

• Ford has said that the decision was made “after an extensive review of the current dynamics of the new-car market”. 

• The brand also said that “there are many factors that influence whether a vehicle’s business case stacks up – such as economic trends, material costs, consumer incentives and global supply chain. And after weighing these up, we took the call that we were better to focus our electrified lineup on other models,” the company said. 

• Instead, Ford Australia will focus on its Transit Custom PHEV, E-Transit, Ranger PHEV and MY25 Mustang Mach-E.

• The electric Puma SUV was promised by Ford Australia in early 2023 and was set to join the Mustang Mach-E as a more affordable model to the pricey Mach-E.

Mercedes-AMG announces A 45 S Limited Edition hyper hatch

• Mercedes-AMG has announced it will build a special edition of its current A 45 S 4Matic, called Limited Edition, but it won’t receive any performance boosts.

• Still producing a sizable 310kW/500Nm from a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine, the special-edition A45 S has been priced at $128,400 before on-road costs.

• Special features for this special edition include AMG Green Light Magno paintwork, racing stripes, contrast yellow highlights and the addition of the AMG Aerodynamics package standard. 

• Black AMG Performance seats with leather and microfibre upholstery also feature, along with exclusive 19-inch AMG cross-spoke forged wheels. 

• The new A 45 S 4Matic Limited Edition will be available to order from today at Mercedes-AMG retailers. 

Volkswagen Australia brings in new Multivan, starts from $75,990 

• Volkswagen has announced Australian pricing and specifications for its new Multivan people mover, with prices to start off from $75,990 before on-road costs.

• Available in a sole TDI360 trim and in either short- or long-wheelbase, the new Multivan will top out at $78,990 before on-road costs. 

• Standard equipment will include multiple seven-seat configurations, 10-inch touchscreen, 17-inch alloy wheels, digital cockpit, tri-zone climate control, USB-C ports, keyless entry and a leather multi-function steering wheel. 

• The new Multivan will compete against the Mercedes-Benz V-Class, the LDV Mifa 9 and the Toyota Granvia in our local market. 

• Volkswagen’s new people mover will launch here in the second quarter of 2025. 

Ford Ranger Wildtrak V6 long term introduction

• Chasing Cars journalist Zak Adkins’ long-term introduction of the 2024 Ford Ranger Wildtrak V6 was published, including his first impressions before undertaking a three-month tenure with the vehicle.
  
• First impressions for Zak were largely positive, with praise going to the powerful V6 turbo-diesel engine, premium cabin and great technologies.
  
• However, some immediate downsides were the high purchase price of the Ford ute, along with its higher fuel economy thanks to its larger displacement 3.0-litre engine.
  
• During the video, Zak teased two more videos to come for the Ford Ranger Wildtrak V6, where he will discuss in detail both the interior and driving experience of the Ford Ranger after three months of daily driving.
  

The next issue of Car News Today will be published on Thursday 5 December at 4.30pm Sydney time.