Author: Max Davies
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…
Small SUVs continued to sell well in Australia throughout 2024, and that meant there have been loads of them for us to review. Nissan Qashqai Ti e-Power As we proceed recapping our 2024, we’re compiling the highest-rated cars from across Australia’s hottest latest automobile segments into a listing to indicate you what we liked best. We’ve done mid-sized SUVs and utes up to now, which implies small SUVs at the moment are as much as bat. For this list we’ve kept it to the sub-$45,000 segment on the VFACTS sales charts, as they’re rather more approachable for people wanting to…
The facelifted BYD Dolphin has been revealed in a Chinese government filing, featuring subtly tweaked styling and a brand new electric motor option. A Chinese Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) filing has detailed the Dolphin’s minor changes, with photos showing its revised front- and rear-end styling. Given it has appeared in a government filing, an official reveal is probably going imminent regardless that BYD has already detailed full pricing and specifications for the 2025 Dolphin on its Chinese website. There are currently only 70kW and 150kW drivetrain options available, with prices across the lineup starting from ¥99,800 (A$21,507)…
Chinese giant BYD has launched a fleet pricing program that can bring discounts across its range, helping it progress towards its ambitious sales goals in Australia. Operated along side Australian distributor EVDirect, BYD is offering fleet discounts across its entire range of electrical vehicles (EVs) and plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) including the incoming Shark 6 ute. The fleet pricing comes after BYD outlined its sales targets for the rest of 2024 – 25,000 units in Australia – and the years to come back, which incorporates ambitions to double its figures annually. That will mean 50,000 Australian units in 2025 after which…
A pair of Recent South Wales councils will soon receive recent noise detection cameras in a bid to crack down on loud cars and hooning. As a part of the trial, on account of begin before the tip of 2024 and run until late 2025, noise cameras will roll out within the local government areas of Bayside (surrounding Botany Bay) and Wollongong to find out their effectiveness on reducing anti-social driving. In line with a NSW Government tender, the sphere trial of the noise camera system will happen “under controlled conditions” and is meant to guage whether the cameras “will…
Australian insurance provider AAMI has released a report on crash statistics over the past decade, revealing the country’s most dangerous crash hotspots. The Decade of Driving Report forms a part of the annual Crash Index and is compiled by analysing greater than 4.3 million motor claims across Australia from 2014 to 2023. It’s intended to supply insights into road accidents and driving behaviours and the way they’ve modified. AAMI motor claims manager, Leah James, says while there have been changes and enhancements to automotive technology and vehicles typically, driving attitudes and behaviours haven’t modified in the identical way. “What we…
