Articles by Byron Mathioudakis

Here are the popular models no longer available in Australia that are living an extended or second life elsewhere.

With brands like Toyota, Jeep, RAM, Mercedes-Benz and Land Rover preparing to replace their remaining V8s with smaller-capacity electrified engines or even pure electric powertrains, choices are shrinking in Australia.

Old and nearly forgotten, the Suzuki S-Cross has struggled to stand out against far fresher and flashier rivals. But, if you're seeking a small yet spacious SUV with effortless performance, unexpected refinement and a practical, functional interior, then the Plus 2WD Turbo deserves a closer look. Yes, the basic structure and cabin are dated, but it's been revised enough to drive like a newer car.

Australia’s cheapest electric vehicle (EV) right now, the GWM Ora hatch, is just the entrée. Mother brand GWM is expected to release an electric vehicle (EV) compact SUV model inside the next 12 to 18 months, giving its Ora EV sub-brand the substantially more volume potential that it needs to succeed in Australia.

The newly-released Tank 500 HEV (hybrid) going up against the Toyota Prado and LandCruiser as well as the Nissan Patrol with their rusted-on reputations for reliability and durability, how tricky is it for a relatively unknown and untested brand to break through with extremely brand-loyal 4WD-wagon buyers?

Some carmakers have some very conspicuous gaps in their product portfolios. There’s no rhyme or reason why, and no consistency across brands. Just the glaring holes that would surely make their lives – and not to mention their associated dealers – happier if filled with the right models. Here are the main offenders.

Where is the Tank 500 in diesel, plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) and twin-turbo V6 petrol guises, and why has GWM launched only with a hybrid for now? Right now, only the segment-leading hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) is offered in Australia and New Zealand, powered by a 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo petrol engine and electric motor combination delivering 255kW of power and 648Nm of torque.

The Tank 500 Ultra is the flagship model in the entire GWM range for now.

Nissan has outlined what the core requirement for an all-electric vehicle (EV) Navara ute need to be, as the brand moves to reassert itself as a leader in electrification for the latter part of this decade.

GWM has launched the Tank 500 in two similar grades. Both are powered by the same, segment-disrupting hybrid powertrain.A 180kW/380Nm 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol engine is mated to a 78kW/268Nm electric motor and battery pack, sending drive via a nine-speed automatic transmission to the rear or all four wheels, as required.The driver can select 2WD, 4WD high and 4WD low ranges, while up to nine driving modes are also fitted.GWM says the hybrid system is designed primarily to enhance performance, rather than provide outright total fuel efficiency. As such, the combined power and torque outputs are impressive – 255kW and 648Nm, respectively – while the official combined fuel consumption is 8.5L/100km.  The base Lux starts from $66,490 drive-away, ushering in auto-levelling LED headlights, adaptive cruise control, a sunroof, side steps, powered and heated front seats, a 360-degree view camera set-up, electric rear diff lock, rear privacy glass, synthetic leather upholstery, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a 12.3-inch digital instrumentation cluster, auto parking with reverse assist, and front and rear parking sensors.A long list of safety items includes autonomous emergency braking (AEB), blind-spot monitoring, lane-support systems and front/rear cross-traffic alert.For off-road driving, the Tank 500 brings 30 degrees of approach angle, a 22.5-degree breakover angle and 24-degree of departure angle, aided by 224mm of ground clearance and 800mm of wading depth.The GWM uses body-on-frame construction, with a double-wishbone independent coil sprung set-up up front and multi-link live axle coil sprung suspension out back. Towing capacity is 3000kg braked and 750kg unbraked.