Articles by Dom Tripolone

Toyota’s much-hyped mini LandCruiser FJ is on the cusp of being revealed.

Nissan has issued a recall for more than 13,000 Qashqai compact SUVs.

Incoming Toyota V8 hero car teased.

Nissan to unveil long-awaited next-gen Navara imminently!

Mazda is preparing something big.The Japanese brand has teased its latest creation ahead of the vehicle’s official reveal at the upcoming 2025 Japan Mobility Show (JMS).Mazda has released a single shadowy teaser image of what it said represents the vision for future Mazda vehicles.The image doesn’t give much away but shows a silky smooth coupe silhouette, which looks like an evolution of its Iconic SP concept shown at the same show two years ago.Mazda has been tipped to push the range-extender hybrid into production. It uses a rotary engine as a generator to juice up a battery, with the wheels driven by electric motors only.The carmaker also said the vehicle would symbolise the company's theme for its JMS exhibition. That theme is: “The Joy of Driving Fuels a Sustainable Tomorrow”.A low-emissions fun-to-drive sports car appears to fit this theme perfectly.Mazda has previously alluded to the Iconic SP entering production at some point.The company’s design chief Masashi Nakayama said last year the Iconic SP Concept from the 2023 Tokyo motor show was always destined to become a reality."This concept is not just one of those empty show cars," he said."It’s been designed with real intent to turn it into a production model in the not-so-distant future."Adding weight to the claim was the Iconic SP Concept was registered with the Japan Patent Office earlier this year.That registration confirmed some eye-popping features such as retractable pop-up headlights and twin-rotary EV power.Mazda is also due to show off a replacement for its long serving 3 hatch and sedan, and this concept could show its future direction.At this point it's all just speculation what the show car will be until it is revealed on October 29, and CarsGuide will be on the ground to bring you the action as it happens.Mazda will also display the new CX-5 SUV and a new CO2 capture technology, which reduces emissions the more people drive.Mazda will also showcase a new algae-derived carbon-neutral fuel.

Another Chinese carmaker has confirmed its arrival in Australia.GAC — or Guangzhou Automobile Company — has long made no secret of its plans to launch in Australia, but now we know its first vehicles will go on sale in just a matter of weeks.Deputy General Manager of GAC Australia Cheney Liang said, “Launching GAC in Australia is an exceptional milestone for our brand.""I have no doubt that Australian customers will welcome our range of high-quality, innovative models with keen interest, and become accustomed to the elevated ownership experience we are set to offer.”The newcomer will launch in Australia with a three strong line-up, with petrol, plug-in hybrid and electric power on the menu.First up is the Aion V mid-size electric SUV, which is pitched at the Geely EX5, Tesla Model Y and Kia EV5.Then it is the big M8 plug-in hybrid people mover to target the Kia Carnival. Finally there is the Emzoom petrol-powered small SUV, which is aimed at the MG ZS, Chery Tiggo 4 and Haval Jolion.GAC Australia hasn’t revealed any details of the vehicles, but why have previously appeared in government homologation documents.We know the Aion V will be fitted with a single electric motor making 150kW and 240Nm.A circa-75kWh battery delivers a claimed driving range of 602km, via the more generous NEDC test cycle.The bulky M8 people mover uses a 2.0-litre turbo-petrol engine and electric motor to produce a combined 274kW and 630Nm..This is paired with a 25.5kWh battery that allows for up to 120km of electric only driving, again calculated via the NEDC testing regime.It has a total claimed combined range of 1032km thanks to a 56L fuel tank. It has a DC charging capability of 40kW, allowing for a 30-80 per cent charge in half an hour.GAC’s Emzoom compact SUV uses a 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine to make 125kW, which is paired to a seven-speed automatic transmission that drives the front wheels.GAC is no minnow, having sold more than two million vehicles globally in 2024.It also has several key partnerships, including with Toyota. This partnership has delivered several Toyota electric vehicles in China using GAC’s technology.One vehicle is the Toyota bZ3X, which has just launched in Hong Kong, another right-hand drive market.It uses a 150kW/210Nm front-mounted electric motor, with range stated at 565km although this is to the more lenient NEDC standard.The 70kWh LFP battery has some limitations, namely just 90kW peak charging speed on DC, with the AC inverter also limited to 6.6kW, making for comparatively slow charging times.

BYD has powered up its Atto 3 in China.

Toyota could be on the cusp of an electric vehicle revolution.The Japanese carmaker was slammed for its slow uptake of the zero-emissions tech, but it is inching closer to a game-changing breakthrough.Toyota said it is aiming for an electric car fitted with solid-state batteries to launch in 2027-2028.The carmaker has announced a new agreement to mass produce components of hi-tech solid-state batteries with Sumitomo Metal Mining Co.This partnership will produce the cathode material needed to make solid-state batteries.Solid-state batteries differ from conventional electric car batteries by ditching the liquid or gel electrolyte for a solid material.This allows for a huge increase in energy density, which allows for smaller batteries that can deliver long driving ranges. They are also less prone to fire than conventional batteries.Toyota’s development doesn’t solve the issue of using a solid electrolyte, but instead the "highly durable cathode material" will prolong the batteries' life by reducing the degradation of the battery from repeated charging and discharging cycles.Reducing cost of mass-producing solid-state batteries is also a key aim of this new partnership.Toyota first announced plans to show off its solid-state battery back in 2021, according to Asian business publication Nikkei. Developmental struggles have set it back with no working prototype seen as yet.Toyota Executive Vice President Hiroki Nakajima also cast doubt on the tech earlier this year, too.“...development is always unpredictable. Frankly, there’s no telling if it will work out or not,” said Nakajima."I always take encouragement from Chairman Toyoda’s reminder that, ‘It’s okay to fail’.”Toyota aren’t the only brand doubting the feasibility of the future tech.One of Audi’s senior drivetrain engineers, told CarsGuide last year the technology wasn’t likely to be feasible for ‘everyday’ cars in the foreseeable future due to the minuscule manufacturing margins of error required.Hyundai Group's Head of Global Product Planning, Spencer Cho, told US publication Automotive News that the technology is more complex than many realise.“I don’t think we can commercialise these batteries before 2030,” said Cho. “There is a lot of uncertainty about the progress of solid-state batteries,” he said.Mercedes-Benz and BMW appear to be the most advanced with prototype vehicles fitted with solid-state batteries undergoing early testing. Both are aiming to have the cells fitted to vehicles before the end of the decade.Toyota is now on track to be one of the first carmakers to bring the tech to market, which is a huge about turn for a company that appeared to be so slow to roll out electric cars.

Family cars don’t need to be boring.

Solid-state batteries might actually be closer than we think.New research from the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and published in international academic journal Advanced Materials, shows a huge leap forward in the game-changing technology.Solid-state batteries are often touted as the silver bullet to mass electric car adoption and essential for battery powered utes, 4WDs and sports cars to become a reality.They are more energy dense, which means you can use smaller battery packs to deliver longer driving ranges, which helps reduce weight and boost efficiency. Solid state batteries use a solid electrolyte instead of a liquid or gel found in current electric car batteries. This allows for rapid transfer of power between the cathode and anode.Solid-state cells are also less prone to fire, making them safer than conventional batteries.The Chinese researchers have managed to develop a new material that greatly improves the energy flow and stability of the batteries.The research said the new material improved the energy density by 86 per cent compared to conventional batteries.The paper does state that this new construction is still in the development stage and hasn’t been shown to work in mass production yet.Some of the carmakers working on solid-state batteries include: BMW, Chery, GWM, Honda, Mercedes-Benz, MG, Nissan, Toyota and VW.BMW and Mercedes-Benz have fitted the batteries to prototype vehicles, the others have not publicly confirmed any tests.Battery manufacturers and carmakers have had trouble developing the futuristic batteries at scale due to their complex nature.Hyundai Group's head of global product planning, Spencer Cho, told US publication Automotive News that the technology is more complex than many realise.“I don’t think we can commercialise these batteries before 2030,” said Cho.“There is a lot of uncertainty about the progress of solid-state batteries,” he said.It echoes similar comments made to CarsGuide last year by one of Audi’s senior drivetrain engineers, who said the technology wasn’t likely to be feasible for ‘everyday’ cars in the foreseeable future due to the minuscule manufacturing margins of error required.Toyota Executive Vice President Hiroki Nakajima also cast doubt on the tech earlier this year, too.“...development is always unpredictable. Frankly, there’s no telling if it will work out or not,” said Nakajima."I always take encouragement from Chairman Toyoda’s reminder that, ‘It’s okay to fail’.”Many carmakers claimed solid-state batteries would be in cars by 2025 or there abouts. It appears the science is harder than many thought, but the breakthrough cells are inching closer to a reality.