Articles by Chris Thompson

Toyota Australia’s is serious about hydrogen as a low- or no-emission source of power for transport.

Toyota Australia has spruiked its ‘multi-pathway approach to decarbonisation’ for years now, in a bid to avoid putting all its emission-cutting eggs in one basket.One of those pathways, plug-in hybrids (PHEVs), is starting to take in Australia — along with conventional hybrids (which Toyota is immensely well-versed in).Toyota Australia's approach to PHEVs is, as the company’s Vice President of Sales, Marketing and Franchise Operations Sean Hanley said, slow so far.“Well, at the moment, we don't have any in Australia, that's where we're sitting right now. But in the future, you'll definitely see plug-in hybrids, PHEVs, as part of our product portfolio.”In the last couple of years, Hanley has told CarsGuide PHEVs are his expectation for the ‘next big rise’ in electrification, and the increase in uptake for the tech isn’t proving him wrong so far.So, if PHEVs are the next big thing, where are Toyota’s? Certainly not in Australia, despite the company having some on offer globally — especially in the US where a PHEV version of the RAV4 and Prius are available.While Toyota was happy to lead the way when it came to conventional hybrids more than 20 years ago, it seems like the brand’s local arm is waiting for the tech to mature a little more before locking it in for Australia.“PHEV… it's going to go gangbusters, right?” Hanley told CarsGuide.“Because especially in the later part of this decade, when I think you're going to find battery technology will have evolved to a point where you're going to get a fairly decent range on an EV charge.“It's still not going to be 500kms, because you might as well go to BEV if you're going to do that.“But if you can get a PHEV that gives 200 kilometres on a normal driving cycle, city driving and I'm not saying towing. BEVs and PHEVs, let's be clear, still have their anomalies. You tow, you turn the air conditioner on, all these things impact battery power.“So I'm talking about a normal drive, but if you had 200kms from a PHEV, that's a very good technology for Australia. So I think PHEVs will rise.”We asked if that means Toyota doesn’t see the tech as being quite right for the market just yet, but Hanley clarified: “No, no. It's an evolution.”“I mean, we don't have that vehicle, as of right now.“But what I'm saying in that comment is that if we can ever get to that point, and there's no doubt that battery technology will evolve to that point, that makes plug-in hybrid an incredibly engaging and appealing power train.”When asked if that means the RAV4 Plug-in Hybrid (or Prime as it was previously known in the US) could become an option in Australia, Hanley said it might be some way down the line.“We may in the future. But, you know, in the meantime you got a few years, I think, before that day is coming.“But ideally, if you get to 200km that would be utopia.”Hanley’s not personally averse to the idea of PHEVs, having spent quite some time behind the wheel of a plug-in from Toyota’s premium arm, Lexus.“In the meantime, I was happy driving an NX450h, which gave me my 80 kilometres or thereabouts, you know, charge it every night. I was basically running EV, but if that had 200km, that would have been good.”Globally, PHEVs are starting to be updated and improved with battery ranges well above 100km for EV driving, so over the next few years it could be worth watching the development of battery tech for hybrids to see just how suitable for Australia Toyota finds them before the end of the decade.

The Toyota GR Corolla is aiming to strike a balance between daily runabout and rally-honed hot hatch with some updates to boot. Is Toyota's rival to the VW Golf R up to the task?

The car that really kicked off Toyota's GR performance sub-brand is back and better than before, or so Toyota says. We put that to the test on the road and on track.

Word has come from the top brass at Mercedes-Benz — eights are back.During the financial reporting wrap up from the executives at Mercedes-Benz, a few hints at future plans were sprinkled in, including mention of a new, next-gen V8 under development.Under one of the core approaches Mercedes is planning to follow, “building the most desirable cars”. Merc said it aims for its AMG performance sub-brand to “outgrow the performance market”.This is apparently coming thanks to “a heavily refreshed model lineup from 2026 onwards and a strategic evolution of its portfolio,” but the biggest news is that moving forward means moving back in a sense.The plans include what AMG said is “a next-generation, high-tech electrified V8” as well as “dedicated “ performance EVs based on the AMG.EA electric car platform.The timing of the announcement comes following a gradual slowing in the increase of EV uptake almost worldwide, but particularly in Europe.In addition to this, poor reception to the shift from V8-power to a hybridised four-cylinder engine in the brand’s iconic AMG C63 sedan provides more ammunition for the brand to refocus its resources and efforts into the V8 space.It was reported in 2023 via a correspondent for US outlet Car and Driver that senior engineers at AMG believed only minor bodywork changes to the new C-Class (and E-Class) would be required to accommodate a V8 engine.At the time, it was also stated the hybrid four-cylinder powered C63 would remain an option.Whether the V8 now being developed was born from the existing one isn’t clear, as AMG still retains V8 power for models such as the AMG GT or even as a plug-in hybrid in the GT S E four-door where it produces 620kW and 1400Nm.Even without electrification, the 4.0-litre twin-turbo unit makes 430kW and 800Nm in the GT 63 sports coupe - nothing to turn your nose up at. Given AMG has already confirmed the next-gen V8 will be electrified, the ceiling for performance will surely be even higher than before.

Two cars built on the same platform, sharing a powertrain, but with slightly different intentions... does one of these Chinese-built, Euro-targeting EVs come out on top?

Mahindra’s cut-price off-roader, the Scorpio, will miss the March 1, 2025 cut-off of for being imported to Australia without autonomous emergency braking (AEB).

Jaecoo is set to launch in Australia imminently, but we've had a little preview steer in its first model, the J7 mid-size SUV. Can it shake up the establishment with premium styling and an expected sharp price?

The premium ‘sibling’ brand to Chery, called Jaecoo, is about to launch in Australia.

Chinese car brand BYD has made a bold claim at a recent conference, with executives confirming BYD plans to have mass installation of solid-state batteries into electric cars by 2027.The move is a step towards what Chinese auto media is calling ‘large-scale installation’ by 2030, which is when BYD expects to be able to bring solid-state batteries for electric cars into the mainstream.Sun Huajun, CTO of BYD’s Lithium Battery Company said the hope is that solid-state and traditional batteries will be close to each other regarding price by the end of the decade, according to CarNewsChina.It comes after Lian Yubo, BYD’s chief scientist and automotive engineer, said in terms of solid-state batteries, “three years will be difficult, and five years will be more realistic”.Sun Huajun said between 2030 and 2032 will be the period in which solid-state batteries see mass uptake, after winding up from 2027 onwards."These batteries are expected to be incorporated into mainstream EV models by 2030," said Sun as reported by China Daily.As well as BYD’s outline for the future, Wang Deping, Chief Scientist of Chinese state-owned FAW Group, said small-scale introduction of solid-state batteries is planned for 2027.It’s a bold claim that, if true, could see electric car driving ranges increase significantly, though the industry seems to remain split on whether solid-state batteries are truly achievable for mainstream (i.e. affordable) use.Last year at the launch of the Audi Q6 e-tron, senior drivetrain engineers told CarsGuide the technology wasn’t likely to be feasible for ‘everyday’ cars in the foreseeable future due to the miniscule manufacturing margins of error required.It seems unless there’s a major manufacturing breakthrough, some brands foresee solid-state batteries being limited to the upper echelons of the electric car market.