Articles by Dom Tripolone

The people have spoken, and Australians are going electric, according to the latest sales data. Three electric cars were in the top 10 sellers list for September, with the Tesla Model Y (4476 sales) third overall, the BYD Sealion 7 (2687) fifth and the Geely EX5 (2008) eighth. Australians now buy electric cars in the same number as petrol and diesel vehicles. Sales of  electric, diesel, petrol and hybrid were evenly split in September, with each accounting for about a quarter of sales. Sales of electric cars account for more than 18 per cent of total sales, a rise of more than 165 per cent, and sales of battery-powered vehicles are strengthening as the year goes along. Plug-in hybrids are booming, with sales up more than 120 per cent this year. Conventional hybrids - such as those sold by Toyota - are up more than 10 per cent for the year. Petrol sales are down more than 27 per cent this year and diesel sales have falled more than 16 per cent. Despite the fall, Australians are still gravitating towards familiar petrol and diesel vehicles. The Ford Ranger was the best seller, with 5062 sales in September. This was followed by the Toyota RAV4 (4624), the Model Y, Toyota HiLux (4455) and Chery Tiggo 4 (2059). The other constant in Australia’s new-car sales list are Chinese vehicles. Hyundai, Kia, Mazda, Mitsubishi, Nissan and other long-term favourites had no individual vehicle in the top 10 sellers list. Relatively new names such as the Chery Tiggo 4, GWM Haval Jolion and Geely EX5 continue to climb up the charts. There are several names knocking on the door, with the MG ZS (1805), Jaecoo J5 (1754)  and Zeekr 7X (1628) selling strongly. Chinese-built vehicles are now by far the largest source of new cars to Australia, with more than 40,000 imports in September. The next best was Japan with roughly 23,000. This reversal of Australia’s buying habits is playing out with some of the smaller Japanese brands. Australia bought more BYD Sealion 7s or Chery Tiggo 4s than all Subarus or Nissans in September. Mitsubishi’s sales are plummeting, but it has the new Pajero and electric ASX VR-e arriving before the end of the year to help arrest the slide. Nissan is looking to China to help change its fortunes, with a range of vehicles sourced from its joint-venture with Dongfeng believed to be headed our way. This includes the plug-in hybrid Navara Pro ute and plug-in hybrid Terrano 4WD. 10 best-selling vehicles September, 2026 10 best-selling brands September, 2026

China is turning its automotive might to utes and four-wheel-drives, and the latest creation strikes right at the heart of 4WD legends like the Mitsubishi Pajero, Nissan Patrol and Toyota LandCruiser. Chery’s off-road focused sub-brand Jetour, which is slated to arrive in Australia in 2027, has launched its updated ladder frame G700 large 4WD in China. It’s a big rig, measuring 5198mm long, 2050mm wide and 1956mm tall with a 2870mm wheelbase. But what is underneath its boxy, rugged exterior styling — complete with a tailgate mounted spare tyre — is what will be giving established players fever dreams. The beefy off-roader is a plug-in hybrid that uses a 2.0-litre turbo-petrol engine and two electric motors for combined outputs of 560kW and 795Nm. There are two batteries to choose from. The first is a roughly 34kWh lithium-ferro-phosphate (LFP) unit that is good for up to 122km of EV range. A circa-60kWh nickel-manganese-cobalt (NMC) battery delivers an electric driving range of up to 211km calculated via the benchmark WLTP test cycle. This is paired with a 100-litre fuel tank that should mean the G700 can last more than 1000km before needing to be recharged and refuelled. It has some off-road pedigree thanks to front and rear locking differentials, air suspension and different drive modes for a range of surfaces. It has a 35-degree approach angle and 28-degree departure angle and a wading depth of 900mm. The G700 also has a special trick. It can swim. It can float like a boat and propellers can help it move through water. It can last up to 60 minutes in this mode.  This could help with deep river crossings and navigating flood waters rather than cruising around Sydney Harbour. There is no official word yet on what Jetour’s line-up will look like when it launches here next year. Jetour is available in several right-hand drive (RHD) markets, which can give us a clue to what we can expect. The Chinese brand sells the G700 in Malaysia and several other RHD countries, which means it is a likely starter for Down Under. Watch out Toyota and Nissan.

Mitsubishi is rejoining the electric revolution. The Japanese brand was one of the early electric car pioneers in Australia with its tiny i-MiEV hatchback nearly two decades ago. Now, 17 years later, it is launching its follow-up act.  Dubbed the Mitsubishi ASX VR-e, the compact electric SUV has emerged from a partnership with Taiwan’s Foxconn — the maker of iPhones — and its automotive division Foxtron. Mitsubishi Australia has now confirmed it will bring a four-tier strong line-up for the ASX VR-e when it lands in showrooms late this year to take on the popular BYD Atto 2 and Jaecoo J5 EV. Mitsubishi Australia boss Shunichi Kihara cheers the brand’s return to the EV segment. “ASX VR-e combines unique Pininfarina styling with seamless BEV performance and zero-emissions driving." "It brings Mitsubishi Motors’ adventurous spirit into a new realm, with an engaging everyday driving experience,” he said. Mitsubishi will confirm prices closer to its arrival in showrooms, but has said it won't be the cheapest in its segment. The VR-e will be available in LS, Aspire, Exceed and GSR grades, with the latter the sole all-wheel drive version. Single motor versions send 171kW and 350Nm to the rear wheels. The GSR grade adds a second motor at the rear for all-wheel drive grip and total outputs of 342kW and 700Nm. Mitsubishi claims it can sprint to 100km/h from a standstill in 3.9 seconds, which is almost three seconds quicker than the rear-wheel drive grades. All variants are fed by a roughly 58kWh Lithium-Ferro-Phosphate (LFP) battery. Mitsubishi Australia hasn’t provided driving range figures, but overseas it ranges from 328km in AWD form up to 403km in the base, single-motor guise. The ASX VR-e is small on the outside but will be big on the inside thanks to a wheelbase — the distance between the front and rear axles — of 2800mm.  It’s external dimensions are 4315mm long, 1885mm wide and 1535mm tall, which makes it smaller than a Hyundai Kona and Toyota Corolla Cross. Mitsubishi ASX VR-e details 2026 Mitsubishi ASX VR-e  specifications The ASX VR-e LS comes with:  Single-motor, rear-wheel drive 18-inch alloy wheels Flush door handles – manual operation Black/grey cloth seat trim Six-way driver seat manual adjustment Four-way passenger seat manual adjustment 2nd row 60/40 split fold flat 2nd row load through (ski hatch) Rear view monitor Dual-zone Climate Control Six-speaker audio Eco/Comfort/Sport drive modes Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) via external Type 2 AC charging port Proximity door lock/unlock LED headlights with Auto High Beam (AHB) LED daytime running lamps LED tail-lights 9.2-inch digital driver display 15.6-inch multimedia touchscreen Wireless CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity Driver Monitoring System (DMS) Aspire adds: Flush door handles – automatic operation D-pillar trims with etched finish Black synthetic leather seat trim Eight-way driver seat power adjustment Driver seat memory Driver seat heating and cooling Four way passenger seat power adjustment Passenger seat heating and cooling 64-colour selectable interior ambient lighting Frunk with electric bonnet release Adjustable height rear cargo floor Adaptive Driving Beam Front park assist (six parking sensors) Rear park assist (six parking sensors) Surround monitor with 360-degree camera view Autonomous parking  Exceed adds: 20-inch two-tone alloy wheels Panoramic glass roof Electric tailgate with hands-free operation 12-speaker SEAS sound system GSR adds: Dual motor all-wheel drive system Black synthetic leather with microsuede seat trim Blue stitching on seats Two-tone exterior paint finish

Chery is preparing to take on the royalty of Australia's dual-cab utes, with its new Stockman now available for pre-orders. Chery doesn't come empty-handed to the ute party, with the Chinese giant offering those that reserve a Stockman ute ahead of the launch a $2000 Bunnings gift car and three free scheduled services. Buyers are being asked to take a leap of faith as there are still lots of details missing for the Stockman, including price, payload, variants and exact specification. Chery said full details would be revealed closer to the sales commencing sometime ahead of the first deliveries arriving in February, 2027. The Stockman will use a diesel plug-in hybrid set-up, making it the only ute with a diesel-electric combo in Australia. This sets it apart from the other plug-in hybrid utes, including the BYD Shark 6, Ford Ranger Hybrid and GWM Cannon PHEV that all use petrol plug-in grunt. The Stockman combines a 2.5-litre turbo-diesel engine with an electric motor to deliver 350kW and 800Nm to all four wheels. It has a claimed electric driving range of 100km (NEDC), but expect closer to 80km when tested to the benchmark WLTP protocol. It will have a 750kg unbraked and 3500kg braked towing capacity. Chery has not revealed payload yet. It is a big unit measuring 5450mm long, 2010 wide and 1890 tall. It’s wheelbase is a large 3250mm. The tub is 1560mm long, 1560mm wide and 500mm high. Chery has previously said it would have front, centre and rear diff locks and it should have low gearing for proper off-roading. A petrol plug-in hybrid version will be available at a later date, according to Chery. Chery has enlisted the help of Aussie engineering outfit Premcar to help to sharpen the Stockman into one of the top utes in the nation. Premcar knows what it is doing having tuned Nissan's Patrol and Navara and the Mitsubishi Triton into off-road warriors. "Australia is one of the world's most demanding ute markets, and we know our customers expect a vehicle that performs confidently across everything from urban streets to highways, construction sites and remote off-road tracks," said Lucas Harris, Chief Operating Officer, Chery Australia.

A new-car price war is brewing, and it has never been more affordable to buy a Tesla. The American carmaker has slashed $9000 of the price of entry into its Model 3 electric sedan, with a new based rear-wheel drive (RWD) variant priced from $45,900 (before on-road costs). That makes it cheaper than the base BYD Seal Dynamic ($49,888), Kia EV4 ($50,040) and Mazda 6e ($49,990). This follows several tempting offers from rival BYD in the past month. "Model 3 Rear-Wheel Drive is the most affordable way for Australians and New Zealanders to own a Tesla, and the most accessible way to experience Full Self-Driving (Supervised)," said Thom Drew, Country Director – Australia & New Zealand. Australians can order the Model 3 RWD from today with the first deliveries expected from mid-October. Tesla is notoriously secretive with its mechanical details of its vehicles, but it appears the base RWD has the same hardware as the RWD premium. It has a claimed driving range of up to 572km calculated via the benchmark WLTP test cycle, and has a 0-100km/h time of 6.2 seconds. It is believed to be powered by a single electric motor making up to 208kW fed by a roughly 63kWh Lithium-Ferro-Phosphate (LFP) battery. Tesla has ripped out some of the features from the Model 3 Premium RWD, to make it more affordable, but it has all the essentials. It has: Tesla Audio system with seven speakers   16-inch first-row touchscreen  3 USB-C ports (2 rear, 1 front)  Wireless phone charging (front)  Footwell ambient lighting Panoramic glass roof  18-inch Prismata wheels  Matrix LED headlights Hands-free boot Power-folding side mirrors  There is also Tesla’s app that allows you to control vehicle features remotely, such as air conditioning, charging, power tailgate, unlock the car and more. The multimedia screen controls all the vehicle functions, and has apps such as Spotify, Apple Music, Netflix, Youtube and games. It also grants owners access to Tesla's expansive network of Superchargers and it will be constantly improved via over-the-air updates. Owners can still access Tesla’s Full Self Driving (Supervised) in the cheapest variant, with a subscription costing $149 a month. Tesla covers its vehicles with a five year/unlimited km warranty. Tesla Model 3 range pricing (Australia)  

XPeng, which sees itself more as a tech company than a conventional carmaker, admits to teething problems, as it responds to software and other issues in its cars Down Under. XPeng Australia and New Zealand’s Head of Marketing and Creativity Damian Royce said the local team was on a learning curve as it was a new group, but it was aware of the problems affecting some of its vehicles. “They’re some of the things that we’re continually working through,” said Royce. “So they are the teething problems that you may get with a new brand, and establishing itself in Australia and New Zealand. “We want to make sure we’re ironing all of those things out, so we’re aware, we’re active, and taking things, whether it's a little niggle or a large one, very seriously because we are making sure the ownership journey is as good as the vehicles themselves,” he said. There were numerous reports of issues with XPeng X9 vehicles given to the media to test, including vehicles not starting, refusing to shift into Drive, loss of power steering resulting in the steering freezing and inability to charge at some public chargers. There have also been other multimedia and other general glitches reported online. Royce said the company is working to make sure the issues are resolved. “It comes back to listening, constantly listening to what customers are saying, giving that feedback. So as we develop for this market, we can make sure our vehicles are as we say they are, suitable for our market.” The company ruled out the allegation it was rushing vehicles to market, despite it planning on launching five new models in six months. The bevy of new models launching includes the L03 coupe-SUV, X9L large SUV and GX luxurious large SUV in quick succession. XPeng Australia’s communications manager Terry Zhang said Australian customers are very tech savvy and they are generally finding issues because they are exploring and experiencing the vehicles. He said the company wasn’t Beta testing its vehicle software with customers. He said the speed of resolving the problems is the most critical thing.

Australia is about to get one of the hottest new vehicles from China. Geely has confirmed the Battleship 700 — name still pending — will come to Australia in the second half of 2027. And if its initial success in China is an indication Geely will have a smash hit on its hands in Australia.  Chinese buyers have hit fever pitch with 43,900 pre-sale orders received in the first hour after the order books opened. Aimed at everything from the new Mitsubishi Pajero to the Denza B8 and Nissan Patrol and Toyota LandCruiser 300 Series, it is a big beast, measuring 5085mm long, 1999mm wide, 1895mm tall, with a wheelbase of 2900mm. Australia will get the most powerful version, which uses a 2.0-litre petrol engine and three electric motors, delivering total outputs of 830kW and all-wheel-drive grip. The Battleship 700 gets a 47kWh battery pack, which is claimed to deliver an electric driving range of up to 170km. It is built on a new ladder-frame architecture, which will give it proper off-road ability. It has adjustable-height air suspension, off-road specific modes, an 800mm wading depth and a rear differential lock. It also has lots of hi-tech features including a ‘crab turn’ mode to rotate on the spot and it can self-park. It has a panoramic sunroof, 12.3-inch digital dash, 15.6-inch multimedia touchscreen, a fridge/heater under the centre console, standard synthetic leather interior trim and up to 23 speakers for the sound system. The Battleship 700 in 2.0-litre tri-motor form starts from the equivalent of around $A56,500 in China, stretching to $A81,460 for the top-spec ‘Land Yacht’ version. Chinese vehicles usually cost about 20 per cent more in Australia than in China, so expect it to cost in the range of $A70,000-$100,000, depending on the specification Geely brings Down Under. The Denza B8 starts at about $91,000 (before on-road costs) and the Nissan Patrol and Toyota LandCruiser start from just under six-figures.

Range Rover is promising big things with its new electric SUV. The British brand has used some pretty evocative language to pump up the tyres of its new Range Rover Sport Electric, with claims it is more dynamic and responsive and is uniquely tuned to reward drivers. Range Rover’s Managing Director Martin Limpert, said: “Range Rover Sport is the most dynamic expression of Range Rover. With Range Rover Sport Electric we’re taking that spirit of visceral engagement and desire into the electric age. “The seamlessly integrated electric propulsion system means we’ve been able to unlock new levels of responsiveness and precision, with a uniquely tuned chassis set-up, performance-focused torque delivery, and distinctive sound profiles that ensure our clients enjoy the very best driver engagement in a sporting luxury SUV.” For Aussies keen on one, it is now available to order with prices for the Dynamic HSE grade starting from $226,518 (before on-road costs). This is about $40,000 more than the current plug-in hybrid Dynamic HSE version, but about the same as the V8-powered variant. Six-cylinder petrol and diesel equivalents are about $50,000 and $45,000 cheaper, respectively. In typical Range Rover form, the new Sport is just as capable off-road as it is at providing a cosseting on-road experience. It rocketed up Gioia Peak in Italy, slicing between marble quarries, enduring extreme temperatures, gradients of up to 45 degrees and challenging surfaces. At its heart are two electric motors making a hefty 404kW and 850Nm. That’s good enough to launch it to 100km/h from a standstill in 4.5 seconds.  This is fed by a monster 118.5kWh Nickel-Manganese-Cobalt (NMC) battery that delivers a driving range of up to 535km, in what Range Rover describes as “the real world”. Its battery can switch between 400-volt and 800-volt architecture, which means it is compatible with all DC chargers. Range Rover claims it can add about 220km of range in 20 minutes, and go from 10-to-80 per cent in 22 minutes. It can accept up to 350kW via a DC charger and 22kW when connected to a suitable AC connector. Range Rover Sport Electric specifications The Sport Electric has a big focus on refinement. There is active noise cancelling to help keep the outside world at bay, and maintain the serene cabin. Range Rover has added an in-car fragrance dispenser so owners can have their signature scent in their vehicle. There is cabin air purification technology that helps significantly reduce odours, bacteria, pathogens and allergens. There are multiple large screens that will control the multimedia or display the driver's instruments. There is plenty of connectivity with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and an app to activate certain features remotely and starting charging remotely.

Toyota is already growing its popular RAV4 range as demand surges for plug-in hybrid tech. The Japanese giant has confirmed a new GXL two-wheel-drive plug-in hybrid (PHEV) grade will arrive next year to sit below the XSE 2WD in the soon to be four-tier line-up. Toyota’s Vice President of Sales, Marketing and Franchise Operations John Pappas said the company was striving to expand its low emissions vehicle options in Australia to best suit customer needs “The mid-range GXL grade has long been a popular model in the RAV4 line-up and now with the addition of the PHEV powertrain option, it adds even more customer appeal,” Pappas said. All-wheel-drive versions of the RAV4 PHEV will get upgraded off-road ability, with the addition of new drive modes. Rock/Dirt and Mud/Sand will replace the Trail/Snow mode front the fourth quarter of this year. Toyota hasn’t confirmed prices yet for the GXL 2WD grade, but it will sit below the base XSE 2WD that starts at $58,840 (before on-road costs). A XSE costs about $7000 more than the GXL in the conventional hybrid RAV4, so by that logic the new GXL PHEV could start at about $52,000. 2026 Toyota RAV4 PHEV pricing All RAV4 PHEVs use a 2.5-litre petrol engine that is paired with either one or two electric motors for front- or all-wheel drive. Front-wheel-drive versions make a combined 207kW and all-wheel-drive grades up the ante with 227kW. Fuel use is a claimed 0.7L/100km, but owners will need to be militant in keeping the circa-23kWh battery at a high level of charge to keep it operating in EV mode.  The RAV4 PHEV has a claimed electric driving range of up to 121km in the 2WD grades and 113km in the heavier and more powerful AWD versions. The GXL comes standard with: Full LED lights 18-inch alloy wheels 8-way powered driver's seat Synthetic leather instrument panel and upper door trim Leather-accented steering wheel and gearshift knob Smart entry and start Dual-zone climate control Automatic rain-sensing windscreen wipers 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster 10.5-inch touchscreen display with new-generation multimedia system Wireless phone charger 2026 Toyota RAV4 PHEV specifications

Geely’s new move should have Tesla shaking in its boots. Tesla’s supercharger network is likely the envy of other carmakers with its coverage, speed and reliability trumping all others. The expansive network is one of the biggest selling points of a Tesla, especially considering many other EV owners are still locked out of parts of the network, which helps reduce wait times over busy holiday periods. Now Geely has teamed up with Nio in China to jointly invest in their charging and battery swapping businesses, share technologies and standards and develop a shared service network. Chinese carmakers are looking for ways to stand out from the crowd and EV infrastructure is the new battleground. A wider network makes it more appealing for customers to choose your brand over another, especially as EV specs become across the board with design, tech, battery size, electric motor performance and driving range all similar. It is also a way to grow revenue as profit margins on new cars continue to be squeezed by the ongoing price war in China. This price war is also trickling down into Australia, with BYD cutting the price of its Atto 1 hatchback to $19,990, drive-away. There is always a chance these kinds of networks could spill out of China and into Australia, as Chinese brands continue to make large investments here and often use the local market as a test bed before launching in larger markets such as Europe. BYD has already committed to building a network of its Flash Chargers in Australia. Flash Chargers are ultra fast and can deliver up to 1500kW or 1.5MW of juice. The current fastest charger in Australia can output 400kW. "Geely Holding Group will work with Nio and other industry partners to build a denser, more reliable, and safer recharging network, making mobility more seamless and worry-free for users," said Geely CEO Andy Conghui. Geely’s charging network has about 2500 charging stations in China with more than 12,000 connectors. The company wants to expand this to 22,000 stations with more than 100,000 connectors. Geely needs help to do this and will connect its network with Nio’s. That scale is enormous and a network like that could revolutionise Australia's EV landscape. Geely also wants to roll out a huge number of its new AI-powered smart chargers. These chargers can deliver up to 2250kW of energy. Geely has tested the tech on its Lynk & Co and Zeekr vehicles, with both refilling the battery from 10 to 70 per cent in four and a half minutes. They went from 10 to 97 per cent in eight minutes and 40 seconds. Zeekr's current 7X can accept up to 450kW. The smart chargers use AI algorithms to manage heat levels and improve battery health and longevity. Nio will combine its expansive battery-swap network with Geely's burgeoning ecosystem. Battery swap tech replaces a depleted battery with a fully charged unit, and is claimed to take about five minutes. There is no such network in Australia and no current plans to bring the tech here. Nio operates a small number of swap stations in Europe.