The US traffic authority has handed down a mandate to all EV manufacturers; by 2019 electric vehicles must be equipped with some form of noise-making device, for the safety of the public. Dubbed the ‘quiet car’ rule, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has brought in the law so […]
Alexi Falson
Alexi is an automotive road tester and news editor at PerformanceDrive. He appreciates the complexity of modern vehicle engineering and loves to keep his hands greasy working on motorbikes and cars. He prefers wagons over SUVs, vans over utes and reads more news than your Grandma.
Porsche opens new driving playground in California
Porsche has opened up the doors to a brand-spanking-new US$60 million, 53-acre automotive playground in California, called the Porsche Experience Center. The facility, which is also the new home of Porsche Motorsport North America, is based in Carson, just off the 405 Freeway south of Los Angeles, and features a […]
2017 Mitsubishi ASX now on sale in Australia from $25,000
Mitsubishi has announced a refresh for its ever-popular ASX small SUV in Australia, which boasts a number of exterior and interior upgrades over its predecessor. With the 2017 ASX, Mitsubishi has drawn design influence from the Outlander and Pajero Sport’s ‘dynamic shield’ design language, adding some black and chrome finishes […]
Tesla Model 3 battery 30% more energy efficient than Model S
Tesla’s upcoming Model 3 sedan could be packaged with a battery pack up to thirty per cent more efficient than the battery pack powering the current Model S. While Tesla is yet to officially announce many of the technical specifications for the Model 3’s componentry, Jeff Evanson, vice president of […]
Volkswagen reveals sporty Passat GT concept for LA show
Volkswagen has confirmed it is bringing a spiced-up Passat GT Concept to the Los Angeles motor show this year, adding a bit of spice to the otherwise conservative sedan. The Passat GT is the product of Volkswagen’s American operations, and takes its underpinnings from an older generation Passat, sold mostly […]
VW admits Audi transmission could give incorrect emissions data
Volkswagen subsidiary Audi has confirmed that recently discovered software installed in the transmission of some of its vehicles can in fact manipulate emissions results. Last week we heard news on revelations from German publication Bild am Sonntag that claimed the California Air Resources Board (CARB) had discovered prohibited software within […]
Mazda MX-5 RF hardtop on sale from $38,550, arrives February
The Australian arrival of the hardtop Mazda MX-5 RF has been confirmed to take place in February, 2017, with prices starting at $38,550. The MX-5 RF will be offered with only the GT’s 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine, which produces 118kW/200Nm, throwing power to the rear wheels via a six-speed manual as […]
Lexus planning hydrogen vehicle, to arrive by 2020 – report
Lexus has announced it will buck the electrification trend and instead focus on hydrogen-powered vehicles, the first of which is set to hit the road by 2020. Speaking with UK publication Auto Express, Alain Uyttenhoven, head of Lexus Europe, said the brand has a few problems left to fine-tune before […]