Car News

Are we headed for a world where petrol is only the fuel of the rich, powering their hypercars and luxury super SUVs? It certainly appears that way. And I don’t like it…This week the car world achieved a major milestone - the average global price of electric vehicles fell below that of hybrids for the first time. And before too long we’ll see the average price of EVs drop lower than the price of petrol cars.There’s nothing wrong with that - we’re watching the evolution of the motor car, and a change in buying habits and taste in real time.What could supercharge this process and fundamentally change what fuel we use, however, is the volatility of petrol prices which have spiked dramatically due to the conflict in the Middle East. Covering car news each day is revealing a trend and I’m not too sure I like it. High-performance and luxury car brands are doubling down on their fossil fuel focus, while mainstream brands are pushing the limits to make the most affordable electric cars.At the start of this year BMW announced it would reverse its decision to pivot away from petrol and return to producing V8 and V12 units due to their customer demands.Rival brand Mercedes-Benz did the same thing and scrapped its plan to go completely electric by 2030 and dived back into making V8s.Porsche, too, changed its mind after receiving a walloping from customers who made it very clear that Porsche to them meant power from petrol, not power from the electricity grid.Lamborghini also did an about face on EVs at the start of this year and went back to petrol, adding a hybrid system but only to make more mumbo.Yep, Lamborghini replaced its V10 Huracan which made 470kW with the V8 Temerario which makes 588kW plus another 220kW from its electric motors.Then there’s the mysterious case of Ferrari giving us the breathtaking 12Cilindri with yes a V12, which was closely followed by the even more gorgeous V8 Amalfi, before giving us the all-electric Luce which hurts to look at directly. It’s as if the brand was sending us some kind of message coded in ugliness about being asked to do something against its will. Of course the super high end brands appear completely unconcerned by prohibitively high petrol prices affecting sales or the climate.Bugatti announced an end to the reign of its enormous 8.0-litre quad-turbo W16 engines in its cars like the Veyron and Chiron, but before we could even think it was going green trumpeted in almost the same breath that it was doing V16s instead.Which it did with its current Tourbillon hypercar that houses a monstrous 8.3-litre V16 engine. Yes it has a hybrid system with electric motors but it’s not to save fuel, it’s to make more power. If you were to ask bespoke high performance vehicle maker Hennessey if it had electric cars the response would almost certainly be, “never heard of her." The brand just unveiled its US spy plane-inspired Blackbird hypercar with a naturally aspirated V8 and positioned it as the kind of vehicle that allows drivers to cover 1300km a day.Just days ago Aston Martin ran into the room boasting it was delaying its EV plans because it had found a loop hole which meant it could keep making V12s. The loop hole being that the brand had to keep V12 sales under 1000 a year.Low volume sales aren’t a worry for brands like these - not when an Aston Martin Vanquish costs more than $700,000. And unlike you and me, that's not the owner's only car… it joins a garage with five other cars in it… at least. Yes we’re talking millions of dollars and all petrol-powered.Meanwhile, the rest of us are trying to work out how we can get into an electric car for less than $40,000 because chaotic fuel prices are hurting us and we’re worried about the future resale value of petrol cars. I’m also highly concerned about the air that my children breathe and the thought of having a car powered by burning oil that just to drives to shops, school and work sounds more and more preposterous to me. It’s like having kerosene lanterns in every room of your house rather than light bulbsTo be completely clear, though, I love petrol performance cars and detest electric performance ones. Petrol has a place.My fear is that petrol’s happy place in performance cars will eventually exclude me as the fuel becomes more expensive, rarer and the food of exotic beasts I can’t afford.So what’s left? There’s the Cupra Leon VZx, Ford Mustang, Honda Civic Type R and Prelude, Hyundai i30N, Mazda MX-5, Nissan Z, Subaru WRX, Toyota GR Yaris and GR Corolla and VW Golf R.Watch these models closely, because they are the final 'affordable' petrol performance cars and they are all now endangered.    

Australia's top 10 sales list looks very different when automotive groups are counted together, with Hyundai and Kia rocketing up the charts and Chinese companies taking out four places in total.While vehicles might wear different names, often they are owned by the same company, such as the Volkswagen Group with VW, Skoda, Cupra, Audi and more, Toyota with Toyota and Lexuz, or Geely with Geely, Zeekr, Polestar and Lotus.Counted as groups with a single corporate owner rather than as individual brands –which, it must be pointed out, is not how Australia's official body counts sales, making this more an experiment than anything else – and the sales results look very different.At the close of July, for example, Toyota led the YTD sales charts with a total 115,550 sales. BYD nabbed second spot, with 60,192 sales, followed by Ford, Kia and Mazda, with 48,696, 48,399 and 46,960 sales. Hyundai, GWM, Chery, Tesla and Mitsubishi round out the top 10.But counting group totals rather than individual brands paints a very different picture. Toyota and Lexus still comfortably hold top spot, with 122,902 sales, but it's the Hyundai Group (Hyundai and Kia) which take second spot, with a combined 94,113. Next comes the BYD Group (BYD and Denza) with 62,885. Ford and Mazda hold onto spots four and five, even as individual players.It's spot six through 10 where things get interesting, with the Chery Group (Chery, Omoda Jaecoo) storming into spot number six with 40,522 sales. GWM remains in spot seven, while the Geely Group arrives in the top 10 with 28,089 total sales. Mitsubishi and MG (the fifth Chinese brand/group inside this new top 10) fill spots eight and nine.For Chery, the July result was enough to elevate the group to spot number four for the month – a result which did not go unnoticed at HQ."Becoming the fourth largest automotive group in Australia is a significant achievement and demonstrates how strongly Australian consumers have embraced both Chery and Omoda Jaecoo," said Lewis Lu, CEO of Chery Motor Australia.   

Chery has confirmed its all-new Stockman ute will arrive later this year with all the “bells and whistles” but has revealed to CarsGuide plans for a more work-focused variant to target the tradie audience.Chery Australia Chief Operating Officer Lucas Harris has laid out the plan for the initial Stockman offerings, ruling out plans for a single cab variant with the new ute set to stick with a dual-cab design for the foreseeable future.“ So the launch model will be all of the bells and whistles,” Harris confirmed.“And then early next year we would look at introducing a lower tier variant to try and make it more accessible. “At this stage won't do a cab chassis. We'll look at potentially doing a flat deck tray. It's more straightforward from a homologation point of view. So basically just a flat tray with no sides on it.”He added: “We’ll focus on more of a conventional bed, which has been designed to be easily removable. So if people want to pull it off they can.” While single-cab, cab chassis utes are popular for many trade and fleet buyers, Harris indicated it would be too complicated and expensive for Chery to create too many variations of the Stockman. But he was adamant that, despite launching in a high-level trim, it will not be simply a ‘lifestyle’ ute and there is already interest from potential fleet buyers.“There is but if we want to capture any of the fleet volume, I think we'll need to go down and have that offering,” he said, referencing the customisable tray back.“We've had a huge amount of inquiry from fleets. I think we're just shy of 80 fleets who have put their names down for a demo. So you know, largely driven, I think, out of that plug-in hybrid diesel is a very unique option and can solve a lot of problems.” As previously reported, Chery will give the Stockman a unique edge against its extensive list of ute rivals by offering it with first-in-class diesel plug-in hybrid powertrain, as well as a a petrol-engined plug-in hybrid.Harris also explained the role of Premcar, the Melbourne-based engineering firm, in the development of the Stockman. Premcar, which has worked on the Nissan Navara ‘Warrior’ program, can trace its origins back to the Ford Performance Vehicles (FPV) days, where it established its local expertise and reputation.“ It's not the first time that we've worked with Premcar,” Harris said.“So we know them… Premcar is very well-known and very experienced around our market and what's required. And, I know they're quite famous for what they did with the Warrior, and some stuff with FPV, in the old days."But actually it does a huge amount of engineering and development work outside of that stuff with carmakers all around the world, and sometimes not even just for Australia, for other markets."So they're very experienced guys. It's good for us to be able to use a local company which understands our customers and understands the way customers in Australia think. So what better partner could you find to give you very candid and unfiltered feedback about what they like and what they don't,” said Harris.However, Premcar’s involvement is noteworthy as Harris has previously dismissed the need for a local ride and handling program to tailor the suspension and chassis to Australian conditions, but the Stockman appears to be a different case.“ So for this particular project they're doing assessment and validation across many different aspects of the vehicle and many different driving situations,” he said.“So it's not just off-road, but it's also on-road performance, and they'll give feedback on ride and handling and how the infotainment system works, and NVH (noise, vibration and harshness) and how the ADAS (advanced driver assist systems) works. So they'll give feedback on the whole vehicle across all those various systems and all different scenarios.”The Stockman is due to launch in the fourth quarter of 2026, when full pricing and technical specifications for both powertrains will be announced.

Over six generations since 1961, the Nissan Patrol has been a thorn in Toyota’s side.While the latter’s mighty marketing machine constantly reminds us that the LandCruiser has been part of Australia since 1958, the Patrol has also been around long enough to have people reaching for the clichés.Yep, the Nissan is also ‘part of the furniture’, ‘woven in the cultural fabric’ or simply ‘one of us’.In the lead up to the Y63 model that's finally due in the first quarter of next year, we take a look at how and why, for nearly two-thirds of a century, the Patrol has mattered more than Toyota would care to admit.Some 64 years ago next month, in September 1962, a Datsun G60 Patrol became the first motor vehicle to cross the Simpson Desert, according to Nissan. There was even a Marg on board. Though not with an e. D'oh!It drove a family of four, headed by geologist Reg Sprigg and wife Griselda, on a 12-day trek right in the heart of Australia.Among other obstacles, Nissan states they encountered 1100 sand dunes, in what must have been an excruciatingly dull “I spy…” to wile the hours away for the kids bouncing about in the back seat.The other child was named Doug. Which might have been appropriate given their average speed was just 5km/h during the ordeal. This stuff almost writes itself!But don’t worry, Toyota fans. In the latter stages of its construction, the Snowy Mountains Hydro scheme called upon the earliest LandCruisers imported to Australia, thus also forging an early bond with this country.But a Patrol was first to conquer a formidable desert.Sadly, for lovers of old technology, the current Y62 has reached the end of the line – quite literally, since the production line in Japan will switch to its Y63 replacement this month.For the record, the outgoing Patrol was unveiled all the way back in 2010, and has been on sale in Australia since early 2013, with a facelift coming later that decade.Fun fact! The current model did not receive factory fitted Apple CarPlay until May, 2025!Happily, for lovers of old tech, there’s always the Toyota 70 Series LandCruiser, which is technically way older than the Nissan since that first appeared in Australia in 1985.But, unlike the 78 Series utes and 79 Series Troop Carrier, the 76 Series five-door passenger wagon only arrived in 2007 and has been subjected to “pauses” due to high demand, model changeovers and other production constraints that Toyota deemed necessary, while the Patrol has hung around like a Simpson Desert bush fly.So, the old Datto gets the guernsey.Nowadays, and for good reason, it’s Chinese vehicles that have the reputation for copying others’ designs.But some of the earlier Japanese models were masters of plagiarism, allegedly, and the original Patrol was no exception.This was a Jeep knock-off, pure and simple, launched in the home market in September, 1951. The similarities were obvious, down to the boxy design, squared-off wheel arches, and multi-bar grille flanked by a couple of circular headlights.Perhaps Nissan needed to one-up Toyota, since the Willys Jeep-sanctioned Toyota Jeep “BJ” was displayed in January of that year as a prototype, as a precursor to the LandCruiser.But that didn’t enter production until 1953, so Nissan beats Toyota again.And, since arriving in 1960, over one-quarter of a million Patrols have been sold in Australia alone - though that's against over 1.15 million LandCruisers, so we know who's having the last laugh here.To suggest that the fourth-generation, Y60 (GQ series) Patrol stormed the market in 1987 would not be an overstatement.With its handsome design, chunky yet elegant proportions, coil-sprung suspension and car-like interior at a time when most 4WDs were workhorse basic, it scared the hell out of Toyota and made Australia Nissan’s second-biggest Patrol market globally over its 10-year run.What the GQ achieved should not be underestimated, since it transcended segments with its civility, flexibility, quality and capabilities. And purists still can’t shut up about the indestructable TD42 engine.This is why the SUV revolution actually started right here, years before the original Suzuki Vitara and the Toyota RAV4 it inspired swept across the world.Along with the Y61 GU from 1997 that succeeded GQ, we're talking peak Patrol here.If you think today's popular Everest that is based upon the Ranger ute is Ford’s first body-on-frame 4WD wagon sold in Australia, you’re way off.Earlier in the 1980s there was the F100-derived Bronco two-door wagon (that was actually assembled locally), but that paled compared to the Maverick, which was a GQ Patrol in all but badge.A by-product of the Federal Government’s Button Plan designed to rationalise excess Australian car production, the Maverick filled a gap in Ford’s line-up left by Bronco, and it worked.In fact, the Blue Oval Patrol was considered more of a success than some of the other badge-engineered model-sharing twins of the era, like the Holden Commodore-based Toyota Lexcen and the disastrous Nissan Pintara-derived Ford Corsair.This would have endlessly miffed Toyota, giving it another reason to despise the Patrol.For now, at least, there will be no affordable full-sized body-on-frame 4WD wagon available new in Australia with V8 power once the Y63 Patrol finally lands .That’s probably no bad thing given the excessive thirst of the peachy 5.6-litre V8 that is central to the Y62's appeal. Especially to oil companies. Even the trip computer struggled to keep the average fuel consumption under 20.0L/100km during our last outing with several last year.But there are buyers out there that would demand nothing less than the orchestral bellow of eight cylinders, especially in the superior Warrior version and its trick side exhaust.Much to Toyota’s chagrin, it’s also likely the Patrol probably snared some LandCruiser buyers once the V6-based 300 Series arrived in 2021.

McLaren has produced a new supercar, the McL 6GT, inspired by the brand’s founder and his vision for a road-going supercar bearing his name.In 1969, Kiwi race ace and budding car manufacturer Bruce McLaren made a bold expand from track to road car production with the McLaren M6GT, a brutal 5.7-litre Chevrolet V8-powered coupe based on the M6A Can-Am competition machine.Sadly, McLaren was killed in a testing crash before his road car vision could be realised and only three prototypes were produced.But of course McLaren has since matched its stellar on-track success with a series of stunning super sports cars, starting with the iconic, Gordon Murray and Peter Stevens developed F1 in 1992 through to the current W1 hypercar.Introducing a concept version of the car at the 2026 Monterey Car Week in California, McLaren said the McL 6GT “celebrates purity in design and driver connection”, the main headline being the fact it’s the first McLaren to employ a manual gearbox since the F1.Positioned as “a contemporary interpretation of the M6GT” the ultra-lightweight supercar features a full carbon-fibre monocoque and V8 internal-combustion power (with no spec details at this stage) sending drive to the rear wheels through the manual ‘box. Another old school touch is hydraulic steering assistance, pretty much a thing of the past in this type of car for at least 15 years. The car’s sleek, low and muscular design is a 21st century interpretation of 1960s sports prototype racing cars and McLaren aficionados should look out for details like the ‘Speedy Kiwi’ logo etched into the fuel filler cap.On the inside there’s tactile switchgear and “visible engineering details” including knurled machined aluminium controls and boxed-quilt trim.Even the digital instrumentation has been developed to “retain the clarity and emotional appeal of the original M6GT.“In an enticing final statement McLaren said the McL 6GT concept precedes a production model coming in 2028 and “creates the space for a new type of exclusive McLaren supercar beyond the core portfolio.”

BYD’s Fangchengbao brand has launched a new, entry-level version of its Tai 3 electric SUV in the domestic market.The Fangchengbao Tai 3 is the smallest model currently in its Titanium series of vehicles, which also includes the Tai 7 and most recently the flagship Tai 9 SUVs.Despite being an entry-level trim level, this new Tai 3 variant still has a second-generation BYD Blade lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery pack that offers ultra-rapid flash charging.The 65.3kWh LFP battery pack is capable of charging from 10 to 97 per cent in nine minutes. This allows for a claimed range of up to 510km, according to lenient CLTC testing.Power comes from a single, rear-mounted electric motor that produces 240kW and 305Nm. This is enough to send it from 0-100km/h in 6.9 seconds.Other versions of the Fangchengbao Tai 3 in China feature a larger 75.6kWh LFP battery pack that’s also capable of ultra-rapid flash charging. It can similarly be charged from 10 to 97 per cent in nine minutes.A rear-wheel drive version comes with the same 240kW electric motor, but with the larger battery pack it’s claimed to offer up to 620km of CLTC-claimed range.There’s also an all-wheel drive version, which adds a front-mounted electric motor for a total system output of 375kW. It is claimed to do the 0-100km/h sprint in 4.7 seconds.This flagship all-wheel drive version of the Tai 3 with the larger 75.6kWh LFP battery offers up to 565km of CLTC-claimed range.In China this new, entry-level version of the Tai 3 is priced from 143,800 yuan, which equates roughly to A$30,200.It’s 10,000 yuan (~A$2100) more affordable than the rear-wheel drive version with the larger 75.6kWh LFP battery pack. It’s priced from 153,800 yuan (~A$32,300).Lastly, the top-spec, all-wheel drive version of the Tai 3 is priced from 169,800 yuan (~A$35,650).BYD’s Fangchengbao brand isn’t currently offered in Australia, however a number of its models fall under the premium Denza brand locally. These include the Fangchengbao Bao 5 and Bao 8, which are called the Denza B5 and B8, respectively, in Australia.While the Fangchengbai Tai 3 hasn’t been confirmed for an Australian launch, it is launching in markets like Costa Rica and Thailand badged as the Denza B3.The latter country is notable as it’s a right-hand drive country, like Australia. This makes a local launch of this car with Denza branding a step easier.BYD has trademarked the name B3 in Australia for use as an automobile, however this does not guarantee that the Chinese carmaker plans to launch the vehicle locally. Many carmakers trademark names to ensure other carmakers don’t use them.

Another Chinese brand is coming to Australia, and it spells bad news for one local favourite.Changan Automotive has gone on a hiring spree in Australia, with several job ads appearing on LinkedIn during the past several months, as it prepares to launch Down Under.It is one of China’s biggest automotive groups, and is of a similar scale to Chery or SAIC, the latter the owner of MG.Changan is also state-owned and has a range of brands that will be familiar to Australians.It launched the Deepal brand via local distributor Inchcape in 2025 and has joint ventures with several carmakers.The arrival of Changan spells bad news for Mazda, which has a partnership with the giant and relies on it to source its new range of electric cars, including the recently launched Mazda 6e sedan and incoming CX-6e SUV.These vehicles use Changan’s platforms, but have been styled and tweaked by Mazda.Changan versions of the vehicles would be expected to be cheaper than the Mazdas and more premium Deepal versions on sale in Australia.Changan also has the more tech-focused Avatr brand in its stable.There is no timeline yet for when Changan will launch, but it appears to be quite advanced with its hirings. This points to a likely early 2027 launch date.Changan has given no insight into what vehicles might be brought to Australia, but we can look to the UK for some ideas.The company confirmed it would be selling the small E06 electric SUV in the UK, a fellow right-hand drive market.It is related to the Deepal S05 compact electric SUV and a future Mazda spin-off, which are slated for an Australian launch.The company also sells utes in South Africa, including the range-extender hybrid dual cab called the Hunter K50. It would likely be called simply the K50 in Australia as Hunter is already used by JAC. Changan has also trademarked the K50 name here.There is also its range of Nevo branded vehicles, which includes a range of extended range hybrids and electric cars in several sedan and SUV sizes.More information will come to light once Changan officially confirms its arrival to Australia.

Toyota's new and smaller ute won't be the HiLux Champ we've seen in Asian markets, but will instead be a new car-based tray-back designed to take on models like the Ford Maverick.That's the news out of the USA, where a new Toyota patent has at last shed light on what to expect from the incoming baby HiLux.The patent is for a new ute-like suspension mounting for a monocoque chassis, which suggests the brand is devising ways to ensure its car-based ute still delivers on capability.Unlike car suspension, which isn't designed to take heavy loads, Toyota has designed a mounting system that spreads the load in the tray. Billed as a "strainer", the system distributes the load in the tray to balance out the weight, while structural changes to the sheet metal and to the components in the suspension further beef up their capability. It's the surest sign yet that Toyota's baby HiLux is coming, and Toyota in Australia already has its hand up for it. While the Champ has been ruled out as non-compliant with Australia's standards, this new and more modern ute could be right on the money.Currently codenamed Project 150D, the new ute is reportedly being readied for a launch in Brazil in the first half of 2027. When it does, the ute will debut Toyota's first tray-backed plug-in hybrid powertrain, using a system taken from the Prius.That would pair a 2.0-litre petrol engine with two electric motors for a total system output of 166kW, while the e-CVT is joined by a second electric motor to enable eFour all-wheel drive.Asked if the Project 150D was made globally available, Toyota Australia would have its hand up for it, Ray Munday, Senior Manager Product Planning and Pricing at Toyota Motor Corporation Australia, replied: "We'd certainly look into it"."If it was the right product at the right price, we believe there is some demand for that here. But it's always got to be about the right product at the right price. Otherwise, it won't be successful," he said.

Close to 60,000 Mercedes-Benz cars sold new in Australia between 2018 and 2026 are the subject of a safety recall relating to a potential door lock failure that may result in unintended vehicle movement. The Federal Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communication and the Arts has issued a safety recall notice impacting 58,822 Mercedes-Benz vehicles across a wide range of Mercedes-Benz and Mercedes-AMG models.It confirms examples of the A-Class, CLA, B-Class, C-Class, EQA, GLA, GLB and GLC  have been impacted and said, “Due to a manufacturing defect, the door-lock microswitch may be susceptible to water damage and could fail.“If this occurs, the door may not be detected as open, preventing the auto park feature from operating as intended,” the notice said. The department added, “A loss of (the) auto park feature may result in unintended vehicle movement. “This increases the risk of an accident, causing injury or death to vehicle occupants and other road users.”Multiple grades of the nominated models are included, and the department says drivers should always engage the Park position on the gear selector and apply the parking brake, as described in the Owner’s Manual, prior to leaving the vehicle.Owners of affected vehicles will be contacted by Mercedes-Benz in writing asking them to schedule an appointment with their preferred authorised dealer for the free of charge repair when parts become available.Alternatively, the Mercedes-Benz Customer Assistance Centre can be contacted on 1300 762 718 or via cs.aus@cac.mercedes-benz.com.

Genesis Australia has confirmed it plans to introduce hybrid power, but it’s unclear which models will receive it.This comes after the South Korean carmaker revealed the GV80 Hybrid, its first hybrid model. It will launch in South Korea next month and it’s unclear if the company plans to export it to other countries.“Genesis will introduce its first hybrid model next month in Korea, with Australia to follow in 2027. At this time, we can’t confirm which Australian models will receive hybrid powertrains or when,” said a Genesis Australia spokesperson.“In parallel (to our HEVs), we are also developing EREV technology as part of our ongoing efforts to broaden our electrification portfolio – however we cannot confirm a timeline for introduction at this stage.“These new electrified powertrains are being developed not only to deliver greater efficiency, but also to provide the refinement, performance, and driving experience that customers expect from a Genesis.”The GV80 Hybrid is claimed to have the company’s “next-generation hybrid system”. It adopts a parallel hybrid system that, unlike Toyota-style series-parallel hybrid systems, mechanically links both the engine and electric motor(s) to the driven wheels.The Genesis system uses a 2.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine with a starter-generator electric motor and a drive electric motor.Total system outputs are 258kW and 529Nm, which is 34kW and 107Nm more than the standard, non-electrified 2.5-litre turbo engine in the GV80. It’s claimed to be able to do the 0-100km/h sprint in 7.1 seconds.Power is sent to the rear wheels only through a seven-speed transmission. There’s a higher first-gear ratio to enhance initial acceleration, as well as a lower final drive ratio to reduce drivetrain noise. Reverse is conducted on electric power alone.At this stage Genesis hasn’t confirmed the GV80 Hybrid’s fuel consumption figures. This will be announced after certification has been completed.Genesis claims the GV80 Hybrid is around 25 per cent more fuel efficient than the regular GV80, with the non-electrified 2.5-litre turbo engine, rear-wheel drive and 19-inch wheel configuration.This vehicle isn’t offered in Australia. The entry-level GV80 2.5T Signature locally features the 2.5-litre turbo engine, but it’s all-wheel drive and has larger 22-inch alloy wheels. It’s claimed to consume 10.4L/100km.Genesis claims the GV80 Hybrid utilises its EV mode until around 30km/h when the engine is cold, plus it’s maximised in urban areas with stop-and-go traffic. There’s also a hold function to keep the battery charged at a certain level, as well as smart regenerative braking.The GV80 Hybrid differentiates itself from the rest of the GV80 line-up with a redesigned front grille and alloy wheel design.Inside there are four new two-tone interior colourway combinations to choose from, including Obsidian Black and Taiga Green, as well as Ultramarine Blue and Travertine Beige.Additionally, there are two new real wood trim options and quilting patterns available.At this stage it appears the GV80 Hybrid will only be offered in five-seat form as the South Korean carmaker hasn’t disclosed anything about offering a six- or seven-seat version. The location of the high-voltage battery pack likely limits packaging for the third row.It’s understood that Genesis is soon revealing its GV90 flagship electric SUV, however the brand is also working on various hybrid technologies, despite previously saying it would skip this to go all-in on EV technology.In addition to the parallel hybrid technology seen first in the GV80, Genesis is working on range-extender (REEV) hybrid technology which uses the engine to charge up the battery pack. It does not directly power the wheels.At this stage it’s unclear which Genesis vehicle will be the first to adopt this REEV hybrid technology. It could also feature in the GV80 given it’s the brand’s current flagship combustion-powered SUV.Other Genesis vehicles that may receive hybrid powertrains in the future include the GV70 SUV, as well as the G80 sedan. It’s understood this may happen within the next two years.