Articles by Chris Thompson

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).

The Geely EX2 Complete is a budget-friendly entry into the EV market from fast-growing brand Geely, competing with the likes of the BYD Atto 1, GAC Aion UT and MG4.Starting from $26,490, before on-road costs, the base Complete comes with plenty of features as standard including: 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 lightingIt’s 4135mm long, 1805mm wide and 1580mm tall, with a 2645mm wheelbase. Between the 375L boot and 75 under-bonnet storage (or ‘frunk’) there’s a segment-defying 450L of luggage space.It’s powered by a 60kW/150Nm motor, mounted at the rear axle, which Geely claims is able to drive the EX2 from 0-100km/h in a sluggish 14.2 seconds. It’s limited to 130km/h.Drawing power from a 35kW battery, the EX2 uses a claimed 15.9kWh/100km, which results in a modest driving range of 252km according to Geely. DC Charging is 60kW, while AC is just 6.2kW.While there’s no ANCAP rating for the EX2 yet, Geely says it was designed with current testing protocols in mind and expects a maximum five-star rating.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.Seven years of roadside assistance and the option to buy up to seven years' of prepaid servicing at $1642 also provide peace-of-mind. Intervals are every 12 months or 20,000km.

Small cars and light cars aren’t nearly as popular as they once were, but that could be changing thanks to the increasing accessibility of electric cars, said one new brand’s product boss.Geely's Director of Product Planning and Marketing Andrew Tuitahi said he sees “promising signs” for small and light car segments.While the sales figures aren’t proof at this stage, with EVs making people consider a smaller car than they might otherwise buy.“I can't say that it's saved, but there's definitely some promising signs,” Tuitahi told CarsGuide. “The unique thing that ‘new energy’, battery electric plug-in hybrids are doing is causing people to reconsider.”Tuitahi said the downsides once associated with light and small cars are more and more being addressed by new compact EVs, after earlier in the day having pointed out the healthy list of features in the Geely EX2.“So a lot of the compromises that you typically make if you were going to buy a b-segment or a light hatchback - things like drivetrain, power, performance, safety, style, you know, space - a lot of those things are solved with a battery electric platform. “So I think consumers are able to prioritise maybe some features by sacrificing a segment, but still getting that same space.”While the EX2 does cover much of the above, it should be pointed out its entry grade has a very modest 60kW output in the base Complete variant, or 80kW in the Inspire.Tuitahi added that along with the price and the overall size of the car, the range of a small EV is less a priority than it would be in larger EVs that are more likely to be used on long trips.“It really depends on the use case,” he said.“So we'd be encouraging our dealers to work with customers to help identify how they're going to be using their cars and whether or not they need that range. “You know… looking at the average kilometers traveled, certainly someone charging once a week would be within that range for an EX2. “Someone who can trickle charge every day is never going to be less than 70 or 80 per cent battery. So, it really comes down to use case.”

It’s been more than a year since Jaguar’s rebrand and the reveal of its Type 00 Concept, and now the brand has revealed the first glimpse of the production version’s interior.The 2027 Jaguar Type 01, to give it the recently confirmed production name, will be revealed properly in New York on 6 October 2026, but the EV’s design still remains a mystery in terms of many details.Now, Jaguar has revealed a few images of its interior, which looks to be closely related to the interior shown in the controversial Type 00 concept.A blend of minimalism and unfamiliar design philosophy, the interior certainly confirms the words of Jaguar Managing Director Rawdon Glover in that it’s “an interior like no other”.Inspired by the travertine limestone and brass of the concept, the colour palette and materials in the Type 01 also follow the ‘copy nothing’ philosophy set out upon the brand’s relaunch.With its name revealed in May this year not long after a preview drive afforded to select media - including CarsGuide - the Type 01 will be the brand’s first car to debut in its new era.The large electric four-door GT has a long bonnet, a total length of 5200mm over a 3200mm wheelbase, and space inside for four separated by a central ‘spine’ - the one made of limestone in the Type 00 concept.Under the cabin, a 120kWh battery should mean a range around 700km, though its brisk performance provided by three motors (two at the rear for 706kW, one at the front with 206kW) might tempt some to use up that power rather inefficiently.On our preview drive, we estimated a 0-100km/h sprint of under 4.0 seconds.Thomas Holden, Chief Interior Designer for Jaguar, said the “unmistakable drama” of the Type 01’s interior aims to “define the modern luxury automotive interior of the future”.“Our holistic design philosophy translates the vehicle’s exterior presence into a distinctive interior architecture,” he said. “In contrast to the horizontal interior design norm, we emphasise its dramatic longitudinal nature through the central spine - an architectural statement that creates four individual spaces.“With authentic materials, technology on demand and reductive flowing surfaces, Type 01 presents unmistakable drama and theatre that will define the modern luxury automotive interior of the future.”