Author: Max Davies
The pint-sizeJimny is Suzuki Australia’s best-selling model, and the Japanese brand’s local boss says he desires to expand the boxy little off-road SUV’s range to incorporate business vehicles like utes, panel vans, and even small trucks.“A Jimny ute could be awesome in Australia. A Jimmy anything is awesome in Australia,” Suzuki Australia general manager Michael Pachota told CarExpert on the national launch of the brand new Fronx Hybrid light SUV.“As I’ve mentioned, Jimmy three-door and Jimny XL sales are consistently growing and, with that said, if I just added to that product lineup, whether or not it’s a utility, or…
Chery Australia has just launched Super Hybrid plug-in hybrid (PHEV) variants of its previously petrol-only Tiggo 7 and Tiggo 8 SUVs, and now the subsequent model within the lineup is about to go without petrol options altogether.The Chery Tiggo 9 Super Hybrid is due in Australia within the third quarter (July to September) of 2025, and it has now been confirmed that it is going to only be available on this PHEV guise – a turbocharged 2.0-litre petrol powertrain, available overseas, won’t be offered here at launch.Speaking on the local launch for the Tiggo 7 and Tiggo 8 Super Hybrids,…
Toyota chairman Akio Toyoda has reinforced his company’s commitment to prioritising hybrid vehicles (HEVs) over battery-electric vehicles (EVs or BEVs), outlining that hybrids are its ideal way forward when it comes to reducing total CO2 emissions.Speaking through an interpreter in a recent interview with Automotive News, Toyoda-san said Toyota is as committed to reducing the environmental impact of cars as another brand, but has adopted a cost- and time-effective approach to go about reducing its carbon emissions.“When the term ‘carbon neutrality’ began to turn out to be popular and we began to listen to about it, we set our goal…
After two generations of front- and all-wheel drive layouts, BMW could revive the normal rear-wheel drive configuration for its 1 Series hatch – but only when electric power arrives. BMWBlog reports the next-generation 1 Series electric vehicle (EV) – set to be based on BMW’s latest Neue Klasse EV platform and called the i1 – might be primarily rear-wheel drive as an alternative of front-wheel drive, with performance versions to take care of the all-wheel drive layout of the present M135 xDrive. This may mark a return to form for the 1 Series, which began as a rear-wheel drive model with its…
There have been whispers of electrified Volkswagen Amarok variants for a while, and up to date comments suggest a battery-electric ute remains to be higher on the priority list than a plug-in hybrid (PHEV). The present-generation Volkswagen Amarok launched in 2023 and utilises a platform shared with the top-selling Ford Ranger. Despite Ford’s recent reveal of a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) version of its Ranger, Volkswagen’s position on such a powertrain for its ute seemingly hasn’t modified. Speaking with British publication Autocar in 2022, Volkswagen Industrial Vehicles board member liable for marketing, Lars Krause, outlined the brand was “seriously considering” a…
Chinese electric vehicle (EV) giant BYD will soon sell its smallest vehicle in the UK, and while meaning it’ll be in-built right-hand drive for the primary time, it’s unlikely we’ll see it in Australia any time soon. Often known as the Seagull in China, the mini EV hatch will probably be marketed because the Dolphin Surf within the UK. It has already been sold because the Dolphin Mini in markets like Mexico and Brazil since early 2024. UK outlet Autocar expects the Dolphin Surf could cost lower than £20,000 (A$40,913) when it goes on sale later in 2025, which suggests…
Plug-in hybrid (PHEV) sales are on the rise, but there’s not long left if you desire to rating significant savings. The electrical vehicle (EV) Fringe Advantages Tax (FBT) exemption for novated lease vehicles is ending for PHEVs on April 1, 2025, which implies you’ve got lower than a month left to purchase and receive a brand new PHEV if you desire to make the most. To be eligible for FBT exemptions, a brand new plug-in hybrid must fall under the Luxury Automotive Tax (LCT) threshold of $91,387 for fuel efficient vehicles – i.e. a vehicle that “doesn’t exceed 7.0L/100km” on…
Renault-owned performance brand Alpine has set an official reveal date for its newest model, set to be the following step within the French carmaker’s transition to an all-electric lineup. Previewed in October 2024 by Alpine’s A390_β concept, the production-ready A390 “sport fastback” SUV is ready to make its world debut on May 27, 2025. It’ll not only be Alpine’s first electric SUV, however the brand’s first SUV, period. It follows the electrical A290 hot hatch that was revealed in June last yr. Alpine says the A390 is “a concentration of technology that reinvents the legendary sportiness of the A110 in a…
The Skoda Fabia has turn into cheaper for 2025, due to the addition of a brand new base-spec variant. When the current-generation Fabia arrived in Australia in 2022, it got here only in flagship Monte Carlo guise. At nearly $40,000 drive-away it’s dearer than the bottom Audi A1, while also being priced nearly equivalent to the closely related Volkswagen Polo GTI. Its sales have reflected that too, with just 331 Fabias sold in 2024 in comparison with the Polo’s 2154. In early 2024 though, Skoda announced it might be bringing a less expensive Fabia Down Under – $8000 cheaper, to be…
As a flock of latest Chinese brands gear as much as stake their claim Down Under, a few the country’s more established brands locally are fighting for the title of Australia’s most cost-effective SUV. Chery returned to Australia in 2023, and in October 2024 introduced the Tiggo 4 Pro – a small SUV wearing a similarly small price tag of $23,990 drive-away in entry-level Urban guise. This allowed the Tiggo 4 Pro to undercut key segment players just like the Kia Stonic, Mitsubishi ASX, MG ZS, and GWM Haval Jolion and take the crown of Australia’s most cost-effective SUV. One month…