Car News

Chinese car maker Geely says it’s about to smash the 5.5-minute electric car charging time record with a battery breakthrough, but there’s a catch.Geely has announced it has developed a 1000V electric architecture for its vehicles which will allow charging from 10-80 per cent in less than 5.5 minutes, as it chases BYD and its advanced 'flash charging' technology.EV batteries can only charge as quickly as the vehicles electrical components will allow it to. Currently the standard is 400V and you'll find this in vehicles such as Tesla's Model Y and Toyota's bZ4X. Some car makers offer higher voltage systems with up to 800V architecture such as in the Kia EV9, Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Zeekr 7X.Think of voltage like water pressure, the higher the voltage the quicker charge can be added to a battery with less current. Of course all of the pipes (electrical hardware) need to be upgraded to handle the pressure.Currently the limit is about 900V but BYD and Geely are racing to get to 1000V and beyond.Nobody likes to wait, and right now the long EV charging times are one of the main barriers for consumers looking at buying an electric car.The race is on to bring EV charging down to the same time it takes to fill up the tank of a petrol or diesel vehicle which is approximately two minutes using a standard service station fuel pump and 65L tank.Geely says its 1000V electrical architecture will allow cars to top-up from 10-80 percent in under 5.5 minutes. That’s a record for the industry. Currently BYD is the title holder with its flash charging technology which it claims can fill from 10-70 percent in five minutes.Sure, it’s not quite the two minutes it takes to fill up with petrol, but with both brands in this quick-charging dogfight it won’t be long before one of them, or another brand (Chery perhaps) is claiming the achievement.The catch is that achieving these record fast changing times requires more than just the car with 1000V architecture and EV owners already know what we’re talking about - the charger itself.Geely is beginning to roll out 1500kW chargers in China and it’s only by using these ultra fast chargers with the 1000V architecture that these cars can achieve the claimed charging times.Typically in Australia public fastest chargers range from 50kW-350kW with 400kW now also appearing.Even in China 1500kW chargers aren’t at very common and filling at under 5.5 minutes is not going to be accessible to everyone. Geely appears to be future-proofing its cars to ensure their cars can take advantage when the infrastructure arrives.  Currently in Australia Geely uses 400V architecture in the EX5 mid-sized SUV but it also owns Zeekr and the 7X mid-sized electric SUV has an 800V system.According to Zeekr the 7X will fill from 10-80 percent in 13 minutes if a 400kW charger is used.

Volkswagen has used this year’s Peon Festival, Brazil’s largest agricultural fair to unveil a camouflaged version of its all-new South American Amarok, pointing to a long-suspected under-the-skin connection to Chinese giant SAIC’s Maxus Interstellar X, MG U9 and LDV Terron 9 dual cab ute siblings.SAIC Volkswagen is one of the longest established automotive joint ventures in China and has clearly played a significant role in the development of the new pick-up which replaces the 16-year old original ‘2H’ series-based Amarok, still in production in Argentina for the South American market. The outgoing ute was last facelifted in 2024.At the high-profile preview Volkswagen said, “The presentation of the new Amarok is part of (its) pickup truck offensive strategy in Brazil and South America, a region that is playing an increasingly important role in the development of the brand's new generation of pickups, with active participation in design, engineering, testing, and validation.“South America is no longer just a consumer market; it’s helping to define the future of Volkswagen pickups,” it said.Despite its heavy camouflage wrap, the new dual cab bears an obvious resemblance to the Maxus, MG and LDV utes, specifically its bluff, squared-off nose, high bonnet and broad C-pillar panels.If the Latin Amarok adopts the MG/LDV’s powertrains in base versions it will likely centre on a variation of their 163kW/520Nm 2.5-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel engine, ZF-sourced eight-speed automatic transmission and 4WD systems. That said, VW has said the new-generation model will also be electrified, supporting earlier reporting from Motor1 Brazil on a plug-in hybrid Amarok 800 TSI version expected to produce around 350kW/800Nm. Rear suspension will likely lean towards the Maxus and MG’s independent set-up rather than the LDV’s leaf-spring, live axle arrangement.Interestingly, Motor1 Brazil has also quoted internal sources confirming the ‘Atacama Project’, a three-row, seven-seat SUV version of the Latin Amarok.Commenting on the upcoming Amarok, Volkswagen South America Executive Chairman Alexander Seitz said, “The future Amarok is being developed based on the needs of South American customers, for one of the most demanding environments in the world.”With the new Amarok’s release scheduled for the second quarter of 2027, Volkswagen is investing over A$800 million in its General Pacheco plant in Buenos Aires, the Amarok production hub for Latin America and Mexico which has just reached the 800,000 unit milestone.Of that total, more than 465,000 units were exported to more than 100 markets.Could Australia be one of them in future?Aside from the no right-hand drive factor VW has already played down that idea, saying in a statement, “While the new Amarok will be developed in South America and produced for the local markets, the existing partnerships for the production of the Amarok in South Africa will remain in place.”The (NF) Amarok currently sold in Australia was developed in parallel with the T6.2 Ford Ranger and is built in South Africa. VW positions it as a premium vehicle for global consumption.

Ram Trucks Australia has confirmed the return of the 1500 TRX muscle truck to the local market, this time around in SRT form, powered by an “uprated” 580kW (777hp) version of the 6.2-litre supercharged Hemi V8.Due to hit local showrooms in the first half of 2027, Ram said initial production allocations of the Ram 1500 TRX SRT will be limited, at the same time confirming “several hundred customers” in Australia attempted to place pre-orders on hearing the news in January this year that the performance pick-up was returning to the US market.Ram said technical specs and standard features for the MY27 Ram 1500 TRX SRT will be announced closer to local showroom arrivals.For reference, in US-spec this beast sends 580kW (+57kW) and 922Nm (+40Nm) to all four wheels via an eight-speed auto transmission, complete with sequential manual shifting.0-100km/h in 3.6 secondsWith the help of launch control the 3.0-tonne-plus beast storms from 0-60mph in a claimed 3.5 seconds, which would translate to 0-100km/h in a jaw-dropping 3.6 seconds.The Bilstein Black Hawk e2 shock absorber system is also onboard to “continuously adapt to speed, throttle position, braking, torque, steering angle and more”.Initially arriving here in mid-2022, close to 1000 examples of the first-generation Ram 1500 TRX were sold in Australia and New Zealand, finishing with a 130-unit Final Edition in 2025.Revived by Ram CEO Tim KuniskisThe Ram 1500 TRX SRT was revived by Ram CEO Tim Kuniskis for the North American market in the context of a broader change in business focus for the brand’s parent company, Stellantis.A renewed emphasis on North America is a clear rebalancing of the corporate scales by Stellantis Group CEO Antonio Filosa, with former chief Carlos Tavares widely perceived to have favoured the group’s European brands including Alfa Romeo, Citroen, Fiat, Opel and Peugeot, with his successor Filosa now leaning into its US nameplates - Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep and Ram.In fact, Kuniskis is on the record with the goal of making Ram “number two in trucks” in the USA by the end of the decade.Ram Trucks Australia said it has been working closely with Ram Trucks USA to secure the updated TRX for Australia and New Zealand since its North American return was confirmed.Passion for the TRX in AustraliaRam Trucks Australia General Manager Jeff Barber said, “We know there is a lot of passion for the TRX in Australia, which is why we have worked hard to secure production out of the US for our market.“Supply of the new TRX will initially be restricted because demand is off the charts in the US, however the factory has been incredibly supportive of the Australian market and we are pleased to confirm the TRX is coming back,” he said.Pricing is confirmed with a 15 per cent increase over the previous standard model, which was pitched at $224,950, before on-road costs (Final Edition $249,950, BOC).Ram 1500 TRX SRT (MY27) pricingAvailable colours are: Bright WhiteDiamond BlackForged BlueMolten RedSerrano GreenSpitfire Orange 

BYD's answer to the Kia Carnival is coming to Australia.The BYD M9 plug-in hybrid is due to arrive in the fourth quarter of this year as a new electrified people mover option for buyers.The M9 will directly tackle the conventional hybrid- and diesel-powered Kia Carnival ($54,560, before on-road costs), sporting very similar dimensions.The M9 is BYD’s second people mover put on sale in Australia, following the arrival of the Denza D9 from the brand’s luxury division earlier this year.The M9 name comes from BYD’s Chinese ride-sharing and taxi services sub-brand Linghui.It also shares its underpinnings with the luxury-focused Xia DM-i people mover. It will be available in ‘Dynamic’ and ‘Premium’ grades, initially as a seven-seater that includes second-row captains chairs, before an eight-seater variant arrives afterwards. The front wheels are driven by a 1.5-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol engine and electric motor, but BYD has not revealed output figures yet. In China the engine produces 115kW, while an electric motor adds a further 200kW. It will be equipped with either a 20.4kWh or 36.6kWh battery, offering 145km of electric-only driving range and a total range figure of 850km, according to WLTP standards. BYD confirmed the car will have DC charging capacity and vehicle-to-load capacity so devices can be powered directly from the car. Inside the car is available with heated and ventilated front and second row seats, as well as ‘near’ zero gravity adjustability. BYD has not confirmed a specific launch date, other than it will be in the fourth quarter of this year. The brand will also reveal pricing in Q4 and it is expected to be competitive with the established pack. It will certainly be cheaper than the Denza D9 starting from $95,990, while hybrid variants of the Kia Carnival kick off from $68,540. 

Chinese appliance and electronics company Dreame is abandoning its electric car business only a year after it announced it.As reported by Car News China, the automotive division of Dreame at its peak employed around 1000 people.However, over the last few months there have reportedly been a steady number of layoffs.Internal sources reportedly suggest that Dreame’s car business was more about marketing and fundraising for the brand, rather than actual manufacturing ambitions.They reportedly also claimed the company was required to secure funding before research and development (R&D) budgets were allocated.Additionally one former employee reportedly noted Dreame used high salaries and inflated titles to draw and poach talent from established carmakers."As part of a broader strategic refocus, Dreame has restructured its automotive activities and moved relevant technology, research and resources away from a standalone commercial rollout," said a Dreame Australia spokesperson."This reflects a decision to concentrate investment and resources on the areas where Dreame sees the strongest opportunities for sustainable growth and innovation."Dreame has great respect for the complexity of the automotive industry. While we remain proud of the technologies and concepts explored through the automotive program, we believe focusing our resources on our established and emerging technology categories is the right decision for the business at this stage."Dreame's global strategy is centred on four core pillars: smart home, outdoor and garden, smart mobility, and embodied AI."For Australia and New Zealand, this change does not impact Dreame's existing operations, retail partnerships or product roadmap across its core home technology categories. Our ANZ business continues to grow, and we remain committed to investing in the products, people and partnerships that have established Dreame as a leading technology brand in the region."Innovation remains fundamental to Dreame, but so does making disciplined decisions about where we focus our resources. Our priority is continuing to develop technology that delivers meaningful value to consumers and supports Dreame's long-term growth."Dreame first announced its car business back in August 2025. It had shown a single electric hypercar concept, the Nebula Next 01 concept, even in Australia.The Chinese brand had plans to launch in Australia within 12 to 18 months and it would be the first right-hand-drive market for the company.Initially Dreame was launching a “family” of electric SUVs, as well as potentially an electric passenger car (sedan or hatchback).Few official details about these Dreame EVs are known, but they were set to feature the brand’s solid-state battery technology. This would have been a world-first if it came to fruition.Dreame is a Chinese appliance and electronics company that was founded in 2017 and currently sells a range of robotic and stick vacuum cleaners, among other beauty care and technological gadgets in Australia.It’s similar to Xiaomi, which started as a technology company. However, unlike Dreame, Xiaomi actually produces cars.Dreame isn’t the first vacuum cleaner company to abandon car production plans. British vacuum cleaner company Dyson famously abandoned its plans back in 2019.With Dreame reportedly abandoning its car business, it’s now focusing on its core business lines, including vacuum cleaners, robotic lawnmowers, two-wheeled EVs, as well as its ‘Magic Atom’ robots.Despite reportedly abandoning its car business, Dreame is still planning an initial public offering (IPO) in Hong Kong.

Genesis has just revealed its most luxurious car yet and it has used it as a statement to show it’s a cut above Chinese carmakers.Speaking with CarsGuide, Genesis Australia Head of Sales Operations Lachlan McColl explained that the South Korean carmaker is a closer rival to Range Rover and Rolls-Royce than Chinese luxury brands like XPeng or Zeekr.“Chinese manufacturers have made a significant impact on the Australian … in the last three, four or five years really since it started to come on quite significantly.”“When I do look at that, it’s one of the more mainstream cars.“If you look at a vehicle in isolation, then I think maybe you could potentially compare vehicles together. I think we offer so much more than that, though.“It’s not just about a piece of metal. It’s about we know our customers like cars that say certain things about them. It’s about achieving certain statuses in life stages.“At the moment, I don’t feel that the Chinese are quite there with having that brand perception. I think that’s one of the challenges that we’ve had as well.“If we look at those, the Europeans and the British, for example, that have up to 100 years of brand history and credibility and reliability and equity that they’ve built, we are in the process of building that.“I think the Chinese have started with that,” added McColl.McColl also noted that while the Chinese luxury carmakers offer a more compelling value proposition, the Genesis brand attracts a different type of customer.They are the type of people that are moving from brands like Bentley, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Rolls-Royce and Porsche.The Genesis GV90 is the South Korean carmaker’s new flagship and is an all-electric rival to the Mercedes-Maybach EQS and the forthcoming Range Rover Electric.It will launch in Australia in the first half of 2027 and while official details are yet to be finalised, it’s understood that the flagship Neolun version may cost around $250,000, making it the most expensive Genesis model yet.The GV90 features two new world-first features: coach doors with a hidden B-pillar that allow for one large opening when the front and rear doors are open, as well as a roof airbag that’s designed to deploy during roll-over accidents and protect occupants from being ejected through the sunroof.Two versions are set to be available – the GV90 and GV90 Neolun – both powered by a dual-electric motor set-up with total system outputs of 490kW and 800Nm.The electric motors are fed by a 123.5kWh lithium-ion battery pack, which is the largest fitted to any Hyundai Motor Group EV to date. It allows for up to 500km of range, depending on the configuration, according to internal testing.

Tesla has recalled nearly three million cars in China in the country's biggest recall ever.This recall impacts flush door handles on more than four million cars from not just Tesla but Geely, Xiaomi and XPeng, too.Flush door handles became popular in part thanks to Tesla. Some only pop out when required, as opposed to conventional handles, which can always be used.The trend took off in China, and features on many cars built in the country now.They have now been found to be a serious safety concern following several incidents globally, with this recall the latest step to curb risk.This recall has been brought about by two fatal Xiaomi crashes in China, among many other incidents.The two Xiaomi incidents are suspected to have been caused by power failures preventing car doors from being able to be opened.Tesla accepted in a statement that interior door handles are “difficult to identify and operate because their colour is similar to the interior trim.”“In extreme situations such as a severe collision causing the vehicle's low-voltage system to fail, this could hinder occupants from quickly opening the doors to escape and impede rescue efforts by those outside the vehicle, posing a safety hazard,” the statement continued.Recalled vehicles will be fitted with a physical warning label on the interior door and receive a software update to automatically lower the windows in a crash.The Chinese government passed legislation to ban flush door handles earlier this year that will kick in from 1 January 2027. Cars will only be allowed to be sold in China if they have a mechanical release inside and outside. It’s not just China where flush door handles are of concern. The BBC reports the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration in the United States have anecdotes of the door handles not working and leaving children trapped in cars. The Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP) is Australia's vehicle safety watchdog.ANCAP’s Chief Executive Officer Carla Hoorweg told CarsGuide earlier this year the body would stick with its current review cycle, but still monitor design developments across all markets. ANCAP recently introduced its 2026 protocols with a bigger focus on preventing crashes rather than just impact testing.The banning of flush door handles will be felt around the world, including Australia, where many cars built in China are sold, both from Chinese and international brands.New cars imported from China to Australia will no longer feature flush door handles from 2027.

Volkswagen has officially revealed a new small pick-up for Latin American markets ahead of it launching initially in Brazil in the first half of 2027.The Volkswagen Tukan is built on the MQB platform, like the T-Cross, and is available in both single- and dual-cab configurations.However, unlike all other Volkswagen Group vehicles on the MQB platform to date, the Tukan swaps coil-sprung rear suspension for leaf springs, which are known for their higher payload capacity.At this stage Volkswagen hasn’t officially the payload or towing capacity figures for the new Tukan.The Volkswagen Tukan replaces the Saveiro which in outgoing form dates back to 2009 and is based on the third-generation Golf. However, the Saveiro nameplate dates all the way back to 1982.Two versions of the Tukan have been shown off so far. An entry-level, single-cab Robust trim, as well as a flagship dual-cab Extreme trim.All versions have LED headlights and tail-lights, aggressive and blocky design elements, as well as Tukan embossed into the tailgate.The entry-level Robust trim can be identified with its black plastic front bumper and black steel wheels, whereas the top-spec Extreme trim has a body-colour front bumper, alloy wheels, a sports bar and a tonneau cover. The latter is also finished in a signature Canary Yellow exterior paint.At this stage Volkswagen hasn’t confirmed exactly what will power the Tukan.However, given Volkswagen has said this new ute will be based on the T-Cross, it’s likely power will either come from a 1.0-litre turbocharged three-cylinder or 1.4-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine.There will likely also be manual and dual-clutch automatic transmission options.Volkswagen hasn’t confirmed whether there will be an all-wheel drive option, so it’s likely that it’ll be front-wheel drive only.At this stage Volkswagen has only confirmed the new Tukan will be offered (and built) in Latin American markets. Brazil will be the first market it’ll launch in during the first half of 2027.Given this, it’s unclear whether Volkswagen will produce the Tukan in right-hand drive. It never made the Saveiro in right-hand drive.The only Volkswagen ute currently offered in Australia is the Amarok dual-cab, which shares its platform with the Ford Ranger.A new version of the Amarok is set to launch in Latin America soon and it’s understood to be based on the same platform as the LDV Terron 9/MG U9.It’s worth noting the Ranger-based Amarok has never been offered in that market and a heavily facelifted version of the original Amarok continues to be on sale there.

Suzuki has revealed its tiny electric e-Sky kei car and confirms its arrival in the United Kingdom, opening the door to its possible arrival in Australia to rival the Honda Super- One EV.The Suzuki e-Sky was first shown in concept form at last year’s Tokyo Motor Show and the production version has barely changed apart from the LED lighting across the front of the car.Suzuki hasn’t fully revealed the e-Sky’s specifications yet but Japanese media are reporting it will have a single electric motor and a range of up to 310km.At just 3395mm end to end the four-door e-Sky is Suzuki’s first electric kei car.Japan’s kei cars have a passionate global cult following. Loved for being so little, cute and boxy, kei cars have their diminutive proportion due to Japan’s push for low-cost, space efficient transportation after World War II. Now these tiny vehicles are given tax exemptions in Japan as long as they meet size and power output regulations. The maximum length of a kei can be 3.4m long, and so the Suzuki e-Sky just qualifies. Honda’s Super-One, however, is 3580mm in length and so isn’t technically a kei car, although the brand says it is “kei-car inspired."The Suzuki e-Sky has been confirmed for the UK and will arrive there next year. This is a good sign for Australia because it confirms right-hand drive markets outside of just Japan.However, Australia is not a big consumer of tiny cars and not even as much of a fan of just small cars as the UK is and while there’s a healthy fanbase here in Australia for kei-cars such as the Honda N-Box, most are imported privately.Still CarsGuide has put in a call to Suzuki Australia to see if the e-sky might be considered for local release. Suzuki Australia has yet to respond to our inquiry.As for how much it would cost? Well in the UK the e-Sky is  expected to come in under A$40,000, although most cars sold in both Australia and the UK are more affordable here.In Australia one of the smallest and cheapest electric cars is the BYD Atto 1 which is 3.99m long and lists for $23,990, while the Honda Super-One which is set to arrive in Australia imminently and is more direct competition for the Suzuki is priced from $36,900 drive-away.Suzuki has just one electric car in its Australian range - the e Vitara. The e Vitara is a battery electric version of Suzuki’s popular small SUV and starts from $49,990 drive-away. 

XPeng has confirmed it will not only honour all offers made by previous importer TrueEV, but it will also extend its warranty to every G6 already sold into the Australian market.The factory-backed XPeng entity, which has been involved in a legal stoush with TrueEV for some time, has now made the commitment to existing owners to address ‘uncertainty’ created from its legal proceedings.XPeng says it will review documents surrounding various promotional offers made by True EV prior to the discontinuation of its distribution agreement and subsequent legal proceedings.This includes the much-reported $5000 cashback promotional offer, which many G6 buyers have yet to receive, a confirmation of an extended promotional 10-year warranty offering, complementary scheduled maintenance offers, as well as other “miscellaneous promotional and campaign offers”.The brand encourages any existing XPeng owners to contact it directly. It says cases will be reviewed individually and the company will “work with customers to reach an appropriate outcome”.The company says it has expanded its customer support team to handle enquiries “promptly”.XPeng says it will extend its factory-backed seven-year and unlimited kilometre warranty to all existing G6 vehicles purchased through TrueEV or any of its authorised dealers. The warranty will be as per the new factory-backed operation’s warranty documentation.The seven-year warranty is limited to 160,000km for commercial use, while the high-voltage battery, battery management system and drive motor unit is covered by a separate eight-year and 160,000km warranty.The paint is covered for five years and unlimited kilometres and the anti-corrosion and rust warranty is seven years and unlimited kilometres.XPeng also added it was formalising its participation in the motor vehicle service and repair information sharing scheme, “supporting customer choice in where and how vehicles are serviced”.XPeng is expanding its factory-backed dealer network so that new and existing owners can service their vehicles at genuine workshops. The brand has 25 showrooms but plans to double this network to 50 in six months.During its stoush with its previous importer TrueEV, XPeng has come under criticism for leaving existing G5 owners in the lurch when it comes to parts, servicing, warranty claims, and promotional offers offered under the TrueEV arrangement.The new announcement should come as a relief to existing owners waiting for cashback, parts, or servicing, although the reality of XPeng’s roll-out of these promises remains to be seen.The company is forging ahead with a renewed plan for model launches, announcing it will add the L03 coupe small SUV to the range before the end of the year, alongside plans to launch the L05 mid-sizer as a more affordable alternative to the G6 and the G9L large SUV seemingly in place of previous plans to launch the standard G9 under the previous importer.The company also said it will launch range-extended models in 2027, and its new flagship GX large SUV will arrive at a later date.