Articles by Dom Tripolone

China’s answer to the new Subaru Forester and coming next-gen Toyota RAV4 takes shape.Dubbed the Haval Raptor, the butch looking SUV features the brand’s new plug-in hybrid four-wheel drive set-up.The Raptor pairs a 1.5-litre turbo-petrol engine with a dual-motor hybrid system to deliver all-wheel drive and combined outputs of 330kW and 750Nm.That’s some serious grunt for a mid-size SUV and easily outguns the incoming Toyota RAV4 plug-in hybrid’s 227kW.Despite the superior levels of performance the Raptor is about as fast as the new RAV4 all-wheel drive plug-in hybrid with a 0-100km/h sprint time of 5.9 seconds. The Raptor has a mammoth 35kWh battery that allows it to drive up to 151km via the benchmark WLTP test cycle. This again trumps the coming RAV4 with its 22.7kWh battery good for up to 100km.GWM has given the Raptor some head-turning looks, with its chunky, square-jawed and broad shoulder appeal similar to red hot hits such as the new Toyota Prado and BYD's coming Denza B5. It also has some off-road ability to back up its looks, which puts it on par with a Subaru Forester. It won’t climb a proper 4WD track but can handle rugged dirt and gravel roads.There is a decent chance of it coming to Australia, too.GWM previously told CarsGuide the Raptor might make it Down Under in the future as a replacement for the similar-sized H7.The H7 just launched in Australia, but is based on an older platform than the Raptor's and doesn’t get the advanced plug-in hybrid tech.The Raptor name is a no go in Australia as Ford owns the rights to it locally, which strengthens its case to be called H7 when it arrives.Plug-in hybrid technology will prove vital for car brands in Australia from 2027 onwards when the federal government’s New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES) starts to bite.The NVES penalises carmakers $100 per gram of CO2 over a certain limit, with the threshold getting lower every year until 2030. From 2027 onwards most conventional hybrids won’t slip under the CO2 threshold, with only plug-in hybrids and EVs likely to escape fines.

Toyota has sunk its flagship sports car in Australia.

Mitsubishi’s new ASX is headed to showrooms soon, but it's missing something important.

A lot of electric chatter is about driving range and charging speed, but battery repairs might be the biggest quiet issue affecting EVs.

Mitsubishi is moving fast, but it could leave one of its core models looking out of place.

Business is booming at BYD, but it is starting to experience some major growing pains.

Premium Chinese brand Zeekr is on a roll and could launch a pair of SUVs hot on the hells of the new 7X.

Mazda revealed its new CX-5 family SUV recently, bringing fresh styling and upgraded tech, but not everyone was happy.Australian Mazda CX-5 owners forums have erupted, with Mazda's engine choice — or lack thereof — in the firing line.Mazda’s much talked about in-house hybrid technology won’t be available when the car launches next year. 2027 might even be stretched, with the vital new tech earmarked for a US launch towards the end of that year, there is no certainty Australia will get it before 2028.The brand has also ditched the more potent turbocharged petrol engine from the future line-up. This is likely a response to the federal government’s New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES), which punishes carmakers for every gram of CO2 they emit per kilometre over a certain threshold.Instead Mazda will launch with a detuned version of the current 2.5-litre non-turbo four-cylinder engine that will make 132kW and 242Nm, or 8kW and 10Nm less than the outgoing version. Current owners are not happy.“New CX-5 is being launched half baked (how can you launch your best selling car with 1 single engine option???),” said one Mazda CX-5 Club Australia member.“So disappointed Mazda have missed the boat on hybrid opportunity,” said another.“It’s boring, will not buy it. Pathetically Slow Zoom Zoom,” stated another.Others quipped: “Mazda still thinks its competition is the RAV4? Wrong!”“Not only have they failed to deliver a ‘knock out punch’, Mazda haven’t even made it into the ring.”Even Mazda Australia’s own Facebook post was peppered with negative comments.“I’m stunned they dropped the turbo,” said one commenter.Others were less fussed.“I think the car itself looks great, as most Mazdas ,” said one fan.“I’m personally not fussed about not having a turbo engine, I’m not after the ‘fun factor’ and don’t drive aggressively.”"Stunning," said another. "Absolutely love it," replied another fan.Mazda’s new in-house developed hybrid will be worth the wait.Mazda North America VP of Strategic Planning, Stefan Meisterfeld, told US publication CarBuzz: “The hybrid system will have performance that is comparable to or exceeding the turbo powertrain.”That means it'll likely top the 170kW and 420Nm of the outgoing turbo CX-5. That kind of performance will leave conventional hybrids in its dust.Mazda Australia boss Vinesh Bhindi told CarsGuide the new CX-5 Hybrid will deliver on the brand’s Zoom Zoom promise."My understanding is that it will be totally Mazda, it will be designed in a way that delivers what Mazda wants it to deliver – the Jinba Ittai (Japanese for horse and rider as one), the Zoom Zoom element,” he said.The new CX-5 is more than just an engine, though.The company has evolved its handsome looks and heavily refreshed the interior to give it a more premium feel.It'll have wider opening doors, a panoramic sunroof option, ambient lighting and a 15.6-inch multimedia touchscreen.Mazda is also ditching its rotary dial multimedia display controls and instead going for more conventional touchscreen and physical button controls.It is bigger on the outside, so expect a roomier cabin.

Two automotive powerhouses are joining forces to wage an assault on the mid-size ute segment.Hyundai and General Motors (GM) are officially co-developing five new cars, including a mid-size ute that would put it on a collision course with the most popular options in Australia, such as the Toyota HiLux and Ford Ranger.Such a ute could revive the Colorado name in Australia, which was last worn by GM’s former brand Holden.Hyundai Australia has recently gone on the record stating it will offer a ute in the near future, but hasn’t revealed what that might be.Hyundai Australia CEO Don Romano told CarsGuide everything is on the table, from reusing the Kia Tasman platform to leveraging its partnership with GM to produce what could be a modern Hyundai version of something like the Colorado.The latter could be the vehicle that comes into Australia to help it stand apart from sibling brand Kia’s Tasman.Reuters reported the Hyundai/GM partnership will develop a ute for Central and South America with petrol and hybrid options. It is planning to launch the vehicle in 2028. That doesn’t sound like the vehicle is destined for Australian shores, but the partnership is targeting production of 800,000 utes a year, which could bolster its export chances.Chief Investment Officer at Seoul-based hedge fund Billionfold Asset Management, An Hyung-jin, told Reuters the new ute will struggle to compete with cut-price Chinese rivals.BYD already has a big foothold in South America, where it has just started producing vehicles in Brazil.BYD’s Shark 6 plug-in hybrid ute has made an immediate impact in Australia, and more Chinese utes from Chery, Geely, LDV and MG are headed our way.

Chery is serving up hybrid power on a budget.