Articles by Chris Thompson

Renault's new electric city hatch shapes up to rival the BYD Atto 1

New arrival brand GAC, or Guangzhou Automobile Group, has set a very lofty sales goal for its first couple of years in Australia.

GAC says it has already done Australian tuning prior to its local launch

Australian new car market continues to shift in October 2024.

Subaru’s first electric car has been updated for 2026 as it struggles to find buyers in an increasingly competitive EV market.The 2026 Subaru Solterra, which shares the majority of its make-up with the Toyota bZ4X, comes with more power and range, as well as other tech updates.Importantly, it’s also the recipient of a significant price drop, despite the increased capability. It now starts from $63,990 before on-roads, which represents a $6000 price cut over the pre-update car.The higher-grade Solterra Touring now starts from $69,990 before on-roads, where it was previously a $76,990 ask - that’s a $7000 drop.It’s also significantly more powerful, with its total power output now 252kW as opposed to the 160kW its dual-motor, all-wheel-drive system used to offer.With a larger 74.7kWh battery, its WLTP-tested driving range is also up from 414km to 566km in the base model, or 517km in the Touring. Slightly more weight and bigger wheels (20-inch compared to the base’s 18-inch wheels) likely contribute to the shorter range.The Solterra has also been visually redesigned, with new bumpers, headlights, a new ‘grille’ shape, and new wheel designs giving it a significantly different look.Subaru is likely hoping offering more for a lower price will boost the Solterra’s sales somewhat. The electric car has sold just 142 units in 2025 so far, while the near-identical Toyota bZ4X is on 797.Solterra AWD:Dual Mode X-Mode with Grip Control Function18-inch alloy wheelsAutomatic, self-levelling LED headlightsLED tail-lightsPower mirrorsPuddle lampsPowered tailgate with new kick-sensorRoof railsNew synthetic leather seat trimHeated, eight-way power-adjustable front seatsHeated leather steering wheelDual-zone climate control14-inch multimedia touchscreen7.0-inch driver displayWireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlayDual wireless phone chargersUSB-C portsSix-speaker sound systemSolterra AWD Touring adds:20-inch alloy wheelsAuto-dipping door mirrorsPanoramic sunroofVentilated front seatsVehicle-to-load (V2L) 220V/1500W power outlet10-speaker Harman Kardon sound system *new features in bold2026 Subaru Solterra optional features Touring only - $1500Two-tone exterior paintNatural leather accented seat trim in blue and black theme2026 Subaru Solterra coloursAltitude Black Mica (NEW)Cosmic White PearlDark Blue Mica*Elemental Red Pearl*Smoked Carbon*Harbour Mist Grey Pearl**$660 cost-optional paintSRS airbags – dual front, dual front side, dual curtain and front seat centre plus new driver’s knee airbags3-point ELR rear seat belts Subaru Safety Sense featuring: Dynamic Radar Cruise ControlEmergency Driving Stop SystemEmergency Steering AssistLane Departure AlertLane Tracing AssistLow-speed Acceleration SuppressionPre-Collision SystemRoad Sign AssistSpeed Limiter Subaru Vision Assist featuring: Adaptive High-Beam SystemBlind Sport Monitor (BSM)Front Parking SensorsFront View MonitorPanoramic 360 Degree View MonitorParking Support BrakeRear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA)Rear parking sensorsSafe Exit AssistMulti-Terrain Monitor Driver Monitoring System – featuring: Distraction warningDrowsiness warning Subaru offers a five-year, unlimited kilometre warranty with 12 months of roadside assist. Electric car batteries are covered for eight years or 160,000km, whichever comes first.Servicing is every 12-months or 15,000km, and Subaru offers capped price servicing with costs able to be confirmed at Subaru’s website.

Audi Australia has confirmed a trio of different variants to be added to its 2026 line-up – a hatchback and two SUVs.

The chances of these top vehicles from Tokyo making it to Australia.

Isuzu stays the course despite facing tough competition in the top-10 automakers of Australia.

Hyundai Australia has axed the i30 small hatchback in Australia, despite its place as the second-most popular model in its segment behind the Toyota Corolla.

Chery has launched a new range-extender hybrid in China, with 1400km total range and a proper living room-sized screen in the front row.And that’s before you get to the second and third row of the 2026 Chery Fulwin T11, which has just launched in China.Images of the Fulwin T11 already leaked months ago, but now Chery has revealed official pics of the exterior and detailed the large SUV’s interior.The 5150mm-long SUV has an impressive wheelbase of 3120mm, so there’s plenty of room inside for all its amenities. And there are plenty.Putting aside its 1.5-litre turbo-petrol engine and either one or two electric motors, depending on the grade, the Fulwin T11 is available with a huge 30-inch 6K touchscreen in the front row, with a small-by-comparison 10.25-inch driver display.A drop-down 17.3-inch rear entertainment screen takes media duties in the second row, as long as you don’t cheap out and opt for the entry-grade, while there’s a 9.2L fridge and series of foldable tables.Essentially, the Fulwin T11 is a first-class cabin on wheels.Its six-seat layout means passengers don’t rub shoulders, and there’s a 23-speaker sound system so no one is missing out on any quiet movie dialogue.There’s even ports for 66W fast charging in the third-row.The Chery Fulwin T11 is capable of 220km of EV driving under China's lenient CLTC testing, while its total 1400km range with a full tank and battery is tested the same way. Charging from 30 to 80 per cent takes just 15 minutes, Chery says.Given it just launched in China, it's currently unclear if it will come to Australia, but CarsGuide has reached out to Chery Australia to find out.