Articles by Chris Thompson

The sixth-generation Subaru Forester has had its Australian debut as part of the Melbourne Motor Show, with a local launch pencilled in for mid-2025.While the mid-size SUV was revealed in North America in late 2023, this is the first time the new Subaru Forester has been unveiled for Australia.Along with the Melbourne reveal for the 2025 Forester, Subaru Australia has confirmed the variants for the Australian line-up, consisting of four petrol and three hybrid grades.While pricing and more details around mechanical specifications are yet to be confirmed, the both petrol and hybrid versions of the Forester feature a drivetrain based around a 2.5-litre four-cylinder flat-four ‘Boxer’ engine.Hybrid variants add to that a 1.1kWh battery supplying power to an 88kW electric motor, which works with Subaru’s Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive system via continuously variable transmission (CVT) that can simulate an eight-speed transmission.  The hybrid system in the Forester is new compared to the current-gen’s setup, which has been widely criticised for its lacklustre efficiency.A big bump in tech features means even the entry-grade petrol Forester AWD comes with features like a surround-view camera for parking and traversing terrain, Subaru’s EyeSight driver assistance suite, nine SRS airbags including far side and front-centre airbags, reverse AEB and an emergency stop system for unresponsive drivers. Heated front seats and a wireless phone charger are welcome additions to an entry grade, although existing Subaru owners might be familiar with the 11.6-inch multimedia central touchscreen, as well as elements like the steering wheel and general interior layout.The step up from that is the Forester AWD Premium which adds sat-nav, a powered tailgate, power-adjustable seats and auto-folding mirrors.Moving up the line-up and the AWD Sport adds an upgraded X-Mode terrain mode select, water-repellent synthetic leather seat trim, a sunroof, 18-inch alloys and unique styling.Finally, the top-spec Forester AWD Touring scores a leather steering wheel, 10-speaker Harma/Kardon sound system, front seat ventilation and low-profile roof rails.The hybrid half of the line-up mirrors the petrol models, with the exclusion of a Sport variant.As mentioned, pricing hasn’t been confirmed yet, but expect an increase over the current-gen which starts from $38,690 before on-roads and rises to $50,140.

One of BYD’s sub-brands, Fang Cheng Bao, has set pricing for its electric mid-sized SUV in its home market, China.The Fang Cheng Bao Titanium 3 not only comes with a host of unusual features as options, but also a price tag starting from 139,800 yuan, or A$30,700.While the electric mid-size SUV has already been seen via photos and some specifications revealed by the Chinese government’s approval documents, the competitive pricing and some of the more specific features of the Titanium 3 have been confirmed as pre-sale commences.The SUV is set to be offered in five variants in China, the most expensive of which is priced at 203,800 yuan (A$44,800) and comes with a roof-mounted drone pod with a DJI drone for aerial photography and video.The five variants range from rear-wheel drive to 4WD, and are equipped with either a 65kWh or 72kWh battery, but all five have the same claimed electric driving range of 501km.The Titanium 3 comes with a karaoke microphone in its top two variants, though the heating and cooling compartment that can act as a refrigerator is likely going to get more use.The Titanium 3’s specifications when it comes to drivetrain and performance are pretty standard on the numbers front, with the rear-drive version wearing a claimed 160kW/310Nm set of figures, and the 4WD variants a claimed total of 310kW and 510Nm.Most importantly, Fang Cheng Bao’s model line-up doesn’t seem to be off the cards for Australia.A BYD spokesperson didn’t confirm anything regarding the Fang Cheng Bao sub-brand, nor the Titanium 3 specifically.However, the larger Fang Cheng Bao 5 has been spied testing in Australia, and while it’s been speculated that it may launch here as the BYD Leopard 5, nothing has been confirmed.What has been confirmed is the incoming Denza sub-brand from BYD, which should target more premium rivals than BYD’s other models.

Kia's smallest EV has landed in Australia and while it's not trying to be the cheapest electric car on the market, it's bringing perceived quality and features to take on the influx of affordable EVs built in China. Does it have what it takes to succeed?

Kia Tasman SUV on the cards, but not currently in the pipeline.

According to multiple reports, Hyundai and General Motors are in the final stages of a deal that could see the two car brands exchange the basis for their models, including electric vans and American utes.

After more than a few months of dissent from industry voices regarding the new emissions laws brought about by the New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES), one senior executive from Australia’s most popular new car brand says it’s time to ‘get on with it’.Toyota Australia Vice President of Sales, Marketing and Franchise Operations Sean Hanley says the effects of the NVES, which increasingly penalises brands for selling more polluting cars year-on-year, says the effects of the rules won’t be seen in showrooms until the end of the decade.The initial stages of the NVES are already in effect, with brands incentivised via credits to sell cars that produce lower emissions, and given penalties for cars that produce more CO2.For Toyota, that means one of its most popular models, the HiLux ute, is in the firing line along with big off-road SUVs like the LandCruiser and smaller Prado.But Hanley says it’s not the end of the world. Just because cars like the HiLux are popular now, that doesn’t mean they’ll always be.“You'd be shocked, but not all customers who drive utes need utes, right?” Hanley told CarsGuide.“And they may say, ‘well, in actual fact, as a company, I probably don't need to be driving that Prado, I could probably do this in a RAV’, for example.“So, you've just got to narrow down in the future to customer requirements. What does the customer want? Because as you navigate new vehicle efficiency standards, decarbonization, regardless of what market you're in, you have to decarbonize. You just have to. That's not a debate.“That's why, when people ask about new vehicle efficiency standards, my standard answer is we support new vehicle efficiency standards. The targets are tough. They're real tough, but we support the notion, because you have to. It's not a choice.”Toyota’s hybrid SUV mentioned by Hanley, the RAV4, is also amongst the most popular cars sold in Australia, though even its current generation will need to lower its emissions over the years to meet NVES requirements.We asked Hanley when he thinks the impacts of the NVES will be generally seen in the Australian market - significant changes to model line-ups and pricing.“2029, ‘30,” Hanley says, “2029 is a long way away, right?”“So any commentary around NVES right now, it's just speculation, to be quite honest.“I mean, we accept the notion of an NVES, but we're not hiding from the fact that the targets are extremely challenging. They're hard, but in reality, you've got time.”By 2030, Hanley said he expects to see a much higher percentage of hybrid electric cars in the market, as well as plug-in hybrid making up a more significant share of new car sales, but importantly he says BEVs will more steadily approach the eventual market share they’ll rest at.“Despite popular opinion, Toyota is actually saying Toyota EVs will grow over the next four, five years.“Probably thinking around 30 per cent would be where I see it . But give or take, it could go to 40 right?“That would be the top end, but it certainly will be more than 10 per cent you've seen or the less than 10 per cent you see today.”In any case, Hanley expects global product offerings to change enough that the NVES limitations won’t negatively impact the Australian market as much as expected by the time they become much harsher.“Product portfolios will change dramatically between now and 2029 so anything that people are speaking about NVES really, it's just speculative stuff.“It's here. Get on with it. We've now got to work within the frameworks of what we know today and get on with it," he said.

In the weeks since Honda, Nissan and Mitsubishi ended talks to merge the three car brands into one conglomerate, a new player has entered the conversation.

MG has confirmed the name and design of the next-generation MG4, shortly after it was leaked via government documents.

Hybrid seven-seat Peugeot priced

A new electric car from MG has been revealed via a Chinese government regulator, but just what the car is could be up for debate.