Articles by Chris Thompson

Ford Australia has confirmed it will add a new member to its Transit van family in the form of the ‘City’ electric van, a product of its joint venture with Jiangling Motors (JMC) in China.The 2026 Ford Transit City is confirmed for an Australian launch in November this year, with a competitive drive-away price of just $50,000.Confirmed as part of an event the brand called ‘Ford Uncovered’ to announce this and two other new cars, the Bronco Basecamp and Mustang Dark Horse with T8 pack, the new Transit City will be covered by Ford’s new seven-year/unlimited kilometre warranty.Ford also confirmed the launch of its Ford Pro ‘ecosystem’ for businesses and business owners to manage their Ford commercial vehicles or fleets.While not specifically altered for Australia in any major sense, the Transit City has undergone Ford’s global testing and is already available in the UK and Europe.The 2026 Transit City comes in one specification, with a front-mounted 110kW electric motor drawing power from a 56kWh lithium-iron phosphate (LFP) battery.Ford says a WLTP city range of 380km is enough to serve the Transit City’s intended purpose of urban and city work and transport. Its 254km combined WLTP range will seem underwhelming to some.The Transit City’s DC charging rate sits at 87kW, allowing a 33-minute charge from 10 to 80 per cent, though Ford says 10 minutes of charging adds up to 68km of range. 11kW AC charging means 5.5 hours to charge from 10 to 100 per cent.Ford quotes a payload capacity of 1085kg, and says its cargo space of 6.4m3 is enough to hold three Euro pallets or two Australian pallets.The Transit City also features an ADAS suite with AEB, front and rear parking sensors plus a rear camera, and adaptive cruise control with lane departure warning.Inside, a 12.3-inch multimedia touchscreen features wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, and Ford has forgone optional extras to simplify the offering in terms of features.Ford also confirmed it’s launching the Ford Pro ‘ecosystem’ here in Australia, which allows Ford commercial vehicle owners and fleet operators to see data and manage servicing, finance and downtime using Ford’s software."Our seven-year warranty is a strong commitment to our retail and commercial customers that we've got their backs for longer," said Greg Davidson, Director of Ford’s Customer Service Division."That's a century of trust, earned one repair, one service, one honest conversation at a time, and Ford Pro builds on that legacy to keep our commercial customers' businesses moving.“Ultimately, this is about giving Ford owners real confidence, not just in the vehicle they've bought, but in the brand they've bought into."

Ford Australia has announced a move to a conditional seven-year warranty/unlimited km warranty, as of September 1, 2026.The confirmation was presented to media at a Ford Australia event called ‘Ford Uncovered’ at which the Blue Oval confirmed the 2027 Ford Bronco Basecamp, Transit City, Mustang Dark Horse T8-Spec and its Ford Pro commercial customer service.Ford owners will need to service their vehicles at a Ford dealer to access the seven-year guarantee. This puts them ahead of Toyota and Mazda, but behind Nissan, Mitsubishi and MG's 10 year conditional warranties and Kia and Hyundai's unconditional seven years offerings.Nissan, Mitsubishi and MG offer conditional ten-year warranties as long as servicing is undertaken at their service centres.Many brands from China including Chery, Geely and GWM all offer seven year warranties.At the Ford Uncovered event, executives confirmed three new models and variants as well as the new warranty, with President and CEO of Ford Australia and New Zealand Fadi Mawal saying the brand intends to “show what’s next for our customers”.Director of Ford’s Customer Service Division Greg Davidson said the warranty applies to “all customers, all nameplates” retailed from September 1, as a “strong statement to customers that has their backs now for even longer”.“This is about giving Ford owners real confidence, not just in the vehicle they bought, but in the brand they bought into.”The warranty includes commercial customers who now have access to the Ford Pro ‘ecosystem’ in Australia, which allows them to use software to manage their work vehicle or fleet from servicing to finance.“That’s a century of trust earned, one repair, one service, one honest conversation at a time. Ford Pro builds on that legacy to keep commercial customers’ businesses moving,” Davidson added.Ford is now leaning on its 220-strong service centre network in Australia to keep its word on the extra two years of warranty for its customers.

Ford Australia has confirmed the future arrival of the Bronco SUV to Australia, but not as it has historically been known.The 2027 Ford Bronco Basecamp will arrive in Australia in the second half of 2027, with the model’s platform unrelated to the T6 Ranger-based Ford Bronco and Escape-based Bronco Sport SUV both available in the US.The Bronco Basecamp is, instead, a product of Ford’s joint venture with China's Jiangling Motors (JMC) and is available in China as the Ford Bronco New Energy.While Australian details are yet to be confirmed as global market development work continues, Ford confirmed the model would retain its EREV (extended-range electric vehicle) powertrain. This means a 1.5-litre turbocharged engine will act as a range extender to charge the 49kW battery. Ford estimates a driving range of around 800-900km.While not as rugged as the full-size Ford Bronco available in the US, the Basecamp still features an all-wheel drive system thanks to electric motors driving the wheels - the engine doesn’t directly power the wheels.While the Bronco Basecamp’s local launch is around a year away, Ford Australia confirmed the ‘camping’ capability of the Bronco is expected to be a big draw.The roof of the Outer Banks grade is able to pop up to allow more space inside, and a mattress designed to fit the cabin with the seats folded flat is available.Heated and cooled compartments are included, and 6.6kW onboard power means camping gear like cooktops, lights or other equipment is able to be run from the battery.Given the arguable failure of the most recent Ford Escape in Australia, the starting price for the Bronco Basecamp will need to be competitive - and it could be, given its Chinese origins.Ford will want the starting price to sit well below the larger Everest SUV’s entry point of around $60,000.A combination of 130kW and 180kW motors at the front and rear are used in the Chinese market EREV, but Ford engineers wouldn't confirm or hint at local outputs.A full-EV variant is also available in China, though it’s not being discussed openly as a possibility for Australia given Ford’s insistence that the EREV will suit Australian buyers.Ford Australia will confirm pricing and specifications closer to its H2 2027 launch.

Motoring journos spend a lot of time in all manner of cars, and with the increasing pace of change brought on by technology, new brands and electrification, we’re constantly reassessing what a good car should be.The fundamentals stay the same, of course, but car brands are increasingly trying new things. Sometimes they work, sometimes they should go back to the drawing board.Some of these are widespread, and some remain rare oddities, but it would be great if all of them vanished.I need to get this one out of the way first because if I don’t mention how driver assists are ruining the driving experience in some cars, I’ll be called out in the comments.In a lot of cases I actually think driver assists are becoming better tuned and brands are realising we would like easy ways to turn them off, but there are still lane-keeps and driver monitors that would drive a saint to swear.The traditional method of pulling a lever down to ‘drive’ has always worked well, everyone quite naturally knows how to do it.I’ll even concede that the return of column-mounted shifters is a nice way to clear-up space in the centre console, as long as the direction you need to pull the shifter follows logic.But ever since a gear selector dial in a Ford Focus ST-Line wagon caught me off guard in 2019, I’ve seen more odd shifter methods creeping in. From individual buttons on the dash (Jeep Avenger) to the swipe on the screen for each direction (Tesla), these methods are annoying to use in a hurry.If you’re in the middle of a three-point turn and you have to look at what you’re doing with your hands to get the car into reverse, a designer somewhere has failed.The biggest culprit for weird and unintuitive door handles is, to most people, Tesla. Many have commented on being confused when faced with entry to a Model 3 Uber that’s pulled up to the kerb for a pick-up.Tesla is not alone in this, however.On the inside, the current Ford Ranger and Ford Everest have ‘squeeze’ handles, many new EVs have buttons to open, and other new car doors have handles that open incongruently with how your arm moves as you open the door to exit.On the outside, the Zeekr 7X has exterior buttons on the b-pillars to open the doors electrically, some cars have retractable handles so they sit flush with the door, and others have similar frustrating handles that you must first ‘press’ to pop-out before you can open the door.Not only is it frustrating for your passengers, but it can also be unsafe in an emergency.RFID (short for ‘radio frequency identification’) or NFC (near field communication) functions are pretty handy for plenty of things: contactless payments, building access fobs, even your toll pass or data transfer.More specifically, NFC has been adapted by some brands to cards used to unlock and even start new cars, like the Volvo EX30 or the Leapmotor B10.Tap the card in the right place (like the b-pillar or the driver wing mirror) and the car unlocks, then place the card in the centre console slot and the car starts. No fobs with buttons for unlocking your car on approach or unlocking it from a distance.Inconvenient? Very. Annoying? Yes. And it means you have to find somewhere to keep the card rather than just having the fob on your keyring.The implementation of the central touchscreen in new cars has become an anathema to convenience. It’s now an easy way for designers to create ‘sleek’ environments and for engineers to save money on buttons.It’s also now allowing some manufacturers (Volvo, you again) to move some otherwise out-of-the-way controls to a digital home.The electric seat adjustments that used to sit on the side of the seat or on the door, the side mirror adjustment controls that could once be found by the window, and in some cases the steering column adjustment controls - all now on-screen controls as far as Volvo is concerned.It’s not alone, as some new Chinese brands are doing the same, but it’s especially disappointing from the brand that once made the three-point seatbelt design public domain in the interest of safety over profit.I think cars that make sounds on unlock and lock, akin to a PC or old Macintosh startup sound, are more embarrassing than actually annoying but they’ve made the list nonetheless.I don’t need my car to chime away when I unlock it in the car park at work, especially not when people are already looking at the car and trying to figure out what it is. I’m looking at you, Zeekr and now GWM.Some of them are loud, some of them can be disabled, all of them are unnecessary.

JLR Australia has confirmed pricing for its flagship electric SUV, the Range Rover Electric.Priced from $317,718 plus on-road costs in Australia, the 2026 Range Rover Electric has a three-grade line-up from launch.Built at JLR’s revamped Solihull manufacturing facility, the three Range Rover Electric variants all use a dual-motor, 405kW/850Nm powertrain that draws power from a huge 118.5kWh lithium-ion battery.The Range Rover Electric will wear a 600km claimed driving range figure under NEDC testing, though JLR admits to a real-world range of 535km.The entry-level 2026 Range Rover Electric is the HSE (standing for High Specification Equipment) which is suitably luxurious despite being the ‘cheapest’ of the bunch at $317,718 plus on-roads.The HSE features:22-inch alloy wheelsSynthetic leather upholsteryA 13.1-inch multimedia touchscreenA 13.7-inch driver displayWireless phone chargerThree-zone climate control Configurable interior mood lightingFront seat armrestsA powered roof blindGesture-opening tailgateSoft-close doorsStarting from $357,718 before on-roads, the mid-spec Autobiography adds:Upgraded digital LED headlights with “signature DRLs” and image projectionA sliding panoramic roofAn upgraded Meridian sound system24-way adjustable heated and cooled massage front seatsExecutive rear seatsFour-zone climate controlAmbient fragrance diffusion Illuminated metal Autobiography scuff platesThe top grade from launch is the SV, which starts from $417,418 and includes:Serenity or Intrepid exterior theme optionsSemi-analine leather seats‘Hot stone’ massage front seatsExecutive Class Comfort Plus rear seatsBody and Soul Seat (BASS) 4D sound system with physical seat vibrationsIlluminated metal SV scuff platesRange Rover Managing Director Martin Limpert says the Range Rover Electric is the result of a decade of engineering and development.“Electric propulsion is perfectly suited to the exquisite refinement of Range Rover, elevating the sense of calm and secluded sanctuary for occupants.“At the same time, Range Rover's breadth of capability is uncompromised thanks to the combination of a powerful, adaptable electric powertrain and advanced chassis technologies that make every Range Rover peerless, accomplished and desired.”

Volkswagen has finally launched the new version of its Walkinshaw-tuned Amarok ute, the W600. At its media drive in Tasmania, we test the so-called ‘ultimate driver’s ute’ on the very roads it was developed on!

The entry-price for Cadillac’s flagship electric SUV, the Lyriq, has been locked in at below $100,000 with the brand confirming specifications for a refreshed line-up.In fact, the 2027 Cadillac Lyriq line-up consists of just one variant so far, the Sport, which sits alone as the Luxury variant has been culled.Starting from $90,000 before on-road costs, the Lyriq remains close to the temporary drive-away price of $95,000 that was offered until the MY27 specification and pricing was confirmed.Key specification changes for the Lyriq include tweaks to the battery and drivetrain that mean a tiny bit less power, plenty more torque, a smaller battery and a slightly reduced driving range.The 2027 Lyriq Sport has a 284kW power output and 720Nm of torque, with 0-100km/h taking a claimed 4.9 seconds down from 5.3sec. This is down 4kW and up 110Nm from before.The battery is now a 92kWh unit rather than the 102kWh battery it previously had, though claimed range doesn’t suffer too much. It’s now 503km instead of 530km.Cadillac has also added some impressive tech to its electric SUV, including a 23-speaker AKG Studio sound system with Dolby Atmos (including speakers in the front headrests), plus built-in Google for the 33-inch multimedia touchscreen.Lane centering assist and traffic sign recognition have also been added to its list of driver assistance features.While the Sport grade is the only launch variant, it’s not the only one on the way.The performance-focused Lyriq-V has been teased on the Cadillac website, and while pricing and specifications haven’t been confirmed for Australia, a launch date of 18 September is confirmed.The Luxury grade, which was very similar to the Sport in MY2025/26, has been discontinued and doesn’t seem to be planned at this stage.

The Geely EX2 Inspire is the top-spec version of Geely’s entry into the small EV market, competing with the likes of the BYD Atto 1, GAC Aion UT and MG4.Starting from $30,990, before on-road costs, the Inspire is $4500 pricier than the base Complete but gains plenty of features. Standard on the EX2 regardless are: Auto LED headlights and tail-lightsPowered seat adjustment14.6-inch multimedia touchscreen 8.8-inch driver displayWireless Apple CarPlay and Android AutoUSB-A and USB-C portsFour-speaker sound systemDigital radioGeely connected servicesKeyless entry and startLED interior lightingFeatures added when you upgrade to the Inspire are: Coloured ambient interior lightingWireless phone chargingPower tailgateHeated front seats and steering wheelDecorative metallic trim Contrast black roofRain-sensing wipersIt’s 4135mm long, 1805mm wide and 1580mm tall, with a 2645mm wheelbase. There’s a segment-defying 450L of luggage space between the 375L boot and 75 under-bonnet storage or ‘frunk’.Upgraded from the Complete in terms of its drivetrain, the EX2 Inspire is powered by a 85kW/150Nm motor, mounted at the rear axle. Geely claims it is able accelerate from 0-100km/h in 11.5 seconds and it’s limited to 130km/h.A 47kW battery provides power, while the EX2 Inspire uses a claimed 15.5kWh/100km, which results in a driving range of 345km according to Geely. DC Charging is 80kW, while AC is just 6.2kW.Geely says it was designed with current ANCAP testing protocols in mind and expects a maximum five-star rating later this year, though this is yet to be determined. Regardless, the list of standard safety features in the 2026 EX2 includes:Seven airbagsOccupant sensor and reminderSurround-view camera Rear parking sensorsHigh-beam assistPedestrian alert (low speed)Traction and stability controlHill-descent controlAdaptive cruise controlFront- and rear-cross traffic alertFront and rear collision warningBlind-spot monitoring Driver monitoringEmergency lane-keepLane-change assistTraffic sign detectionGeely offers a seven-year, unlimited km warranty on the EX2, with eight years' coverage for the high-voltage battery.Roadside assistance for seven years is standard and the option to buy up to seven years' of prepaid servicing at $1642 also provides peace-of-mind, the latter saving you $410 compared to the $2052 it costs paying per service. Intervals are every 12 months or 20,000km.

Xpeng’s new mid-size ‘coupe’ SUV has been confirmed in Thailand ahead of the L03's Australian launch.Thanks to its imminent right-hand drive Thai launch, we now know some details of the the 2026 Xpeng L03 (called Mona L03 in China) we are likely to get.The segment-treading SUV, which has a more ‘coupe’ shape than some SUVs it will likely rival.XPeng has been dealing with something of a ‘relaunch’ in Australia as the Chinese headquarters roll out factory-backed operations in Australia, taking over from the former importer TrueEV.The L03 will join the G6 mid-size SUV and X9 people-mover to help bolster the line-up and compete with more established rivals.What is the XPeng L03?Likely to be classified as a mid-size SUV in Australia and rival the Geely EX5 or BYD Atto 3, the L03 is somewhat like a Polestar 2 in being sedan-shaped but SUV-sized.Coming in at 4650mm long, 1920mm wide and 1600mm tall, the L03 will launch in Thailand with an option of 58.3kWh or 71.2kWh LFP battery, the latter providing up to 520km of WLTP-tested range.A range-extender is available in China with a 1.5-litre engine producing 70kW, though in Thailand the more powerful variants have outputs of 183kW.Thanks to maximum 236kW DC charging, XPeng claims the L03 can undertake a 10-80 per cent charge in two minutes.A large panoramic roof, 15.6-inch central touchscreen and floating centre console with the increasingly standard wireless charging pads are key to the interior, much like many, many other EVs from China.

Hyundai began production of its newest electric car, the Ioniq 3, at its Türkiye plant during the week, with a promising price tag already attached to the car in the UK.Order books opened for the 2026 Hyundai Ioniq 3 in the UK with a starting price of £22,245, which directly converts to A$42,400.While that’s not confirmation we can expect the Ioniq 3’s price to land around $40,000 on arrival in Australia, it does show Hyundai might be able to compete with small electric SUVs from China.Hyundai already sells a 'Light' SUV, the Inster, at around the $40,000 mark, so expect the bigger Ioniq 3 (which comes in at 4155mm long, 1800mm wide and 1505mm tall) to sit above that.While the Hyundai Ioniq 3 likely won’t be able to undercut small electric SUVs (which it’s smaller than) like the BYD Atto 2 (from $31,990), GWM Ora 5 (from $33,990) or Jaecoo J5 (from $36,990), Hyundai’s positioning as a more premium offering should help it entice buyers away.While it’s not set to launch here until the first half of 2027, the Ioniq 3 is also being built in Hyundai’s Türkiye factory, so importing the car from Europe will bring its own costs.However, Hyundai will be keen to make the car as competitive as possible through pricing or spec to bolster its electric car sales.Five variants of the Ioniq 3 have been confirmed for the UK with two battery-size and drivetrain set-ups.The version with a “projected WLTP range” of 344km thanks to a 42.2kWh battery and 108kW output is dubbed Standard Range, while a Long Range version with an anticipated range of 496km but lower output of 100kW is also locked in.The former is only available in the base model and brings the aforementioned £22,245 price with it, while the other drivetrain is available in the base trim as well as three higher grades.An N Line Evo variant tops the line-up at £31,945 (A$60,900).