• 2026 Honda ZR-V review: Long-term introduction

    January 12, 2026

    The ZR-V is the newest model in Honda’s Australian lineup, and we’re gearing up to spend three months behind the wheel of the flagship e:HEV LX variant of the mid-size SUV range. Perhaps it’s not the first model that comes to mind when one thinks of Honda, but the ZR-V has proven itself as a quiet performer in the Japanese brand’s relatively small local lineup. It regularly records strong sales numbers compared to its smaller HR-V and larger CR-V siblings, and in November 2025 it even surpassed those two SUVs to be Honda Australia’s best-selling model for the month. That’s…

  • Malaysia and Indonesia are the first to block Grok following CSAM scandal

    January 12, 2026

    Malaysia and Indonesia are the first countries to block Grok, claiming that X’s chatbot does not have sufficient safeguards in place to prevent explicit AI-generated deepfakes of women and children from being created and disseminated on X. Indonesia temporarily blocked access to Grok on Saturday, as did Malaysia on Sunday, the Associated Press reports. Meanwhile, UK media regulator Ofcom has opened a formal investigation into X under the Online Safety Act. “The government sees non-consensual sexual deepfakes as a serious violation of human rights, dignity and the safety of citizens in the digital space,” Indonesia’s Communication and Digital Affairs Minister Meutya…

  • The best laptop power banks for 2026

    January 12, 2026

    Laptop power banks come in handy if you often travel or work away from your desk. These larger batteries have enough capacity to refill your computer to around 75 percent, giving you many more productive hours. Of course, they can also charge smaller devices like your phone, camera or tablet a few times over. Nearly all portable laptop chargers fall below the 100-watt-hour mark so you can bring them in your carry-on when you fly. Additional features, like built-in cables and digital displays make these battery banks easier to use, too. We tested over a dozen options and put our…

  • These Gen Zers just raised $11.75M to put Africa’s defense back in the hands of Africans

    January 12, 2026

    After five years of building an edtech company, Nathan Nwachuku, 22, realized that Africa was at a crossroads. The continent is undergoing rapid industrialization, he told TechCrunch. There is money, opportunity, and a young, driven population. He figured, soon enough, the continent was on the “edge of an industrial revolution.”  “At the same time,” he said, he felt the continent still struggled to address what was one of its biggest Achilles heels. “Terrorism and insecurity.” Africa has more terror-related deaths than any region in the world, and it is this problem that could slow down — or even stop completely…

  • VFACTS December 2025: Strong finish for another record year of new vehicle sales

    January 12, 2026

    A record year for new-vehicle sales in Australia had a strong finish in December, despite a drop from the same month in the previous year. A total of 101,513 new vehicles were delivered in December 2025, according to sales figures published by the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI) and the Electric Vehicle Council, up 1.9 per cent on December 2024’s result. While the new-vehicle market reached a record high in 2025, overall sales growth was just 0.3 per cent year-on-year. You can view our full 2025 sales breakdown here. CarExpert can save you thousands on a new car. Click…

  • Dakar is Ford’s ‘Le Mans moment’ – and Toyota is the enemy

    January 12, 2026

    Ford CEO Jim Farley says winning the Dakar Rally isn’t just another trophy – it’s Ford’s 21st-century Le Mans moment, and beating Toyota would be nothing short of spiritual. The Dakar Rally occupies a similar emotional and strategic territory that Le Mans once did for Ford. It’s the race the company believes can define an era – and the one it feels it must win to cement its ambition of becoming the world’s dominant off-road performance brand. “If you want to be the Porsche of off-road, you’ve got to win Dakar,” Mr Farley told CarExpert at the 2026 Dakar Rally,…

  • inDrive turns to ads and groceries to diversify revenue

    January 12, 2026

    Known for its bidding-based approach to fares, inDrive is deepening its push beyond ride-hailing by rolling out advertising across its top 20 markets and expanding grocery delivery to Pakistan, executing on a “super app” strategy outlined last year to build new revenue streams and boost engagement while sustaining growth in price-sensitive markets. The latest move by the Mountain View, California–headquartered firm comes as ride-hailing platforms face intensifying competition and tighter margins across emerging markets, pushing companies to look beyond transport for growth. Advertising offers a high-margin revenue stream that scales with usage, while grocery delivery increases how frequently users open…

  • 2026 Audi Q3 SUV and Sportback priced for Australia

    January 12, 2026

    The 2026 Audi Q3 SUV and Sportback will start at $61,600 before on-road costs when the new generation arrives in Australian showrooms, with more technology and a broader lineup. Due in Australia in the second quarter (April–June) of 2026, the new Q3 SUV and Sportback represent the third generation of Audi’s small SUV and bring an all-new body riding on the MQB Evo platform used across the Volkswagen Group. Audi Australia has confirmed key details and pricing, but is yet to provide full equipment specifications for the local lineup. Along with a more aggressive exterior inspired by the latest Q5…

  • Ford wants to be ‘the Porsche of off-road’ – and own the category

    January 12, 2026

    Ford CEO Jim Farley is intent on delivering something he says no other automaker currently gets close to. In short, Ford believes it doesn’t have a clear off-road rival – and Mr Farley says that’s exactly the opportunity. Speaking at this year’s Dakar Rally, he said the global off-road vehicle market is wide open, and Ford intends to dominate it. “If you want to be the Porsche of off-road you’ve got to win the Dakar,” Farley said bluntly in the bivouac – or mobile town – that follows the Dakar Rally around Saudi Arabia. Mr Farley said the company’s ambition…

  • Subaru WRX STI Sport prototype revealed, crowd goes mild

    January 12, 2026

    The Subaru WRX STI Sport has been unveiled at the Tokyo Auto Salon, but the prototype has left enthusiasts wanting more. While the WRX has been labelled as an STI Sport in its home country, it’s understood the vehicle is essentially the same as the WRX tS Spec B already sold in Australia. However, it reintroduces a manual transmission to the WRX after a seven-year absence in Japan. Along with the six-speed manual, the WRX STI Sport features a 2.4-litre turbocharged flat-four engine making 202kW and 350Nm – down 25Nm on the S4 variant currently sold in that market, and…