Articles by Dom Tripolone

LDV is doubling its ute line-up. The Chinese brand’s new Terron 9 dual-cab workhorse will arrive in showrooms in July, where it will sit alongside the brand’s existing T60 ute.

Toyota has confirmed the hybrid LandCruiser 300 Series will arrive in Australia in the first half of next year, but to the casual observer something appears off.In the UAE, where the vehicle will be launched first, Toyota claims it uses 10.9 litres per 100km. The diesel version currently on sale uses 8.9L/100km.This number seems high for Toyota hybrid fans that are used to fuel figures below 5.0L/100km… And it is.The LandCruiser 300 Hybrid uses a twin-turbo petrol V6 engine paired with a hybrid battery and electric motor combo. It is the same set-up found in the Tundra full-size ute, and is dubbed 'i-Force Max' in Toyota speak.It makes a whopping 340kW and 790Nm, which far outshines the current version’s 3.3L twin-turbo V6 diesel that produces 227kW/700Nm. There lies the answer to the fuel use question. This hybrid set-up isn’t geared towards efficiency but for performance and boosting the vehicle’s capabilities.It is more efficient than a non-hybrid assisted petrol engine, of course, but if what CarsGuide has experienced in the Tundra is anything to go by, it’s still a thirsty beast.During a preview drive of the Tundra, CarsGuide’s Andrew Chesterton said: “Tow heavy loads or get too adventurous with the accelerator and the number will be much higher than that.“We saw, wait for it, 25L/100km, pop up on our admittedly fairly vigorous test.”Marcus Craft in his off-road test fared better: “I recorded 14L/100km on this test. I did a fair bit of high- and low-range 4WDing and the Tundra was never working hard.”The Tundra is heavier than the LandCruiser, so the 300 Series Hybrid should be able to do better than the American pick-up truck.The verdict on how the i-Force Max engine performs while driving is another matter. All our reviews said it was a star performer in the heavier Tundra, with smooth, linear power delivery and no torque gaps. It is adept for those wanting to tow and will eat up long highway kays with ease.Toyota has also moved to quell fears that electrification will impact capability, saying in a statement, "The LandCruiser HEV’s hybrid system has been designed with true off-road reliability in mind."Even in the unlikely event of hybrid unit failure, the vehicle can continue operating solely on the combustion engine, ensuring peace of mind in remote areas."The hybrid battery area has been specially waterproofed to maintain the LandCruiser’s famed fording ability, allowing it to tackle rivers and water obstacles with confidence."Additionally, the vehicle also offers a third-row seat and cargo layout specifically optimised for the addition of the HEV system, ensuring no compromise in versatility or interior space," the statement said.It appears the hybrid LandCruiser 300 is a big step forward in how the off-road hero will perform, but be aware it’ll cost you at the bowser, especially as it is likely to need premium unleaded petrol.

Mercedes-Benz has entered the EV power wars.The German brand is the latest carmaker to show off a tri-motor monster in the form of its Concept GT XX, which previews its future zero-emissions flagship.It is claimed the GT XX will replace the Mercedes-AMG GT-4 Door Coupe and be the most powerful AMG yet.This puts it on a collision course with new Chinese rivals such as the Xiaomi SU7 and Denza Z9.It uses three electric motors — which are coolly called axial-flux motors — to make a whopping 1000kW-plus. Mercedes claims these motors are about three times as powerful as conventional electric motors.Mercedes-AMG boss, Michael Schiebe, said the new performance battery delivers a previously unimagined level of performance and endurance.“We’re bringing groundbreaking technology that redefines high performance. And the best thing is that this car is a true AMG with every fibre of its being,” said Schiebe.“With our high-tech axial flux motor, we’re delivering a revolutionary new drive that is unparalleled in terms of power density, weight and packaging.”Its 114kWh battery can accept up to 850kW of charge. That charging rate is outrageously fast and could effectively charge the battery to full in less than 10 minutes or add about 400km of driving range in five minutes. No such charging infrastructure exists anywhere in the world to deliver that much juice.It’s not the speediest charging claim out there, though.BYD claims its Super e-Platform can facilitate charging speeds of up to 1000kW, which the brand says will deliver 400kms range in just five minutes.The battery chemistry is NCMA (Nickel-Cobalt-Manganese-Aluminium), which is an evolution of the high-capacity NMC batteries found in many long-legged EVs. Mercedes-Benz claims this cell composition delivers an energy density of 300Wh per kilogram. This makes it superior to current batteries but below the 400Wh/kg to 500Wh/kg target for solid-state batteries.It is also extremely aerodynamic with a drag coefficient of about 0.2, which makes it one of the slipperiest vehicles out there.Mercedes-Benz is planning on undertaking various record attempts in the next year with a prototype vehicle before the production version launches in 2026.No word on price, but expect it to be mega and production to be limited.

This could be the luxury electric SUV to rule them all.

Mazda is emptying the decks.The Japanese brand has one of the most exciting new car portfolios in the works with a wide range of models such as a new CX-20 SUV, a hybrid CX-5, several electric cars and a rotary-powered sports car.These complement its new premium SUV line-up, which has launched in the past two years, and ranges from CX-60 up to CX-90.Mazda is a small carmaker by global standards but its new product pipeline is sure to help fight off the ascendence of new Chinese brands.One of the most exciting new models is the production version of the Iconic SP show car from the 2023 Tokyo motor show.Mazda Chief Technical Officer, Ryuichi Umeshita, in an interview with US outlet Motor Trend revealed the Iconic SP won’t replace the MX-5 as previously thought but will bolster the brand's sports car range.“You can expect Iconic SP will be a good successor for RX-7,” Mazda Chief Technical Officer Ryuichi Umeshita tells MotorTrend.Umeshita told Motor Trend the new sports car wouldn’t cannibalise MX-5 sales, but would complement it. Toyota has found success with a similar two-pronged sports car team with the GR86 and Supra.There is a strong chance the new sports car could be called the RX-9. The brand has held the trademark in Australia for decades and its rotary powerplant makes it worthy of the RX name.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.Unlike previous RX models, the new version won’t use the rotary engine to drive the wheels but it will be used as a range-extender hybrid. In this set-up it is used purely as a generator to top up a battery that feeds electric motors.This gives it petrol-car practicality with electric-car grunt and performance.The patent confirmed the car’s overall styling would remain close to the Iconic SP concept with its Coke Bottle design, as will the slimline window runner mounted side mirrors.

China is about to have far fewer electric car brands if BYD gets its way.The carmaking behemoth triggered a price war in China, which could squeeze out many small and mid-size electric car brands.BYD’s Executive Vice President, Stellar Li, told Bloomberg consolidation across the Chinese electric car sector was likely as the market matures.“It’s very extreme, tough competition,” Li saidXPeng has previously said there would be a massive reduction in Chinese electric car brands in the future.The boss of XPeng’s local importer TrueEV, Jason Clarke, told CarsGuide late last year the word from China is not all new brands will survive.“There’s more like 200 , and the chairman of XPeng said only seven will survive. So, he clearly thinks he’s going to be one of them,” he said.It now appears because of BYD’s dramatic price cuts, this might happen sooner rather than later.Head honchos of Chinese giants GWM and Geely have both expressed concern at the latest round of price cuts in China.GWM Chairman, Wei Jianjun, said the industry already has its own Evergrande, referring to the Chinese property developer that faced a multi-billion dollar debt crisis and collapsed amid liquidation.“If it continues like this, the safety of China’s auto industry will be seriously threatened,” said Mr Wei to Sina Finance in an interview translated to English.Wei said that not only margins, but quality control could take a hit as a result of price-cutting.“Some products have been reduced from 220,000 yuan to 120,000 yuan in the past few years,” he said.“What kind of industrial products can be reduced by 100,000 yuan and still have quality assurance? Well this is absolutely impossible.”Geely has warned about severe over capacity within the Chinese and global auto industry, and has promised to not build anymore factories.Even China’s automotive industry ministry weighed in on the price war.“There are no winners in a price war, let alone a future”, said the China Association of Auto Manufacturers (CAAM), which also alluded to the idea that some cars are being sold below cost."Apart from reducing the price of goods according to law, enterprises shall not dump goods at prices below cost," CAAM said, according to Reuters.BYD has even said it is unsustainable to continue down this path, but has not said it would wind back its aggressive pricing strategy.“No, it’s not sustainable,” said Li.So far the price wars are centred in China with the carmakers’ export markets remaining unaffected for now.The door is always open to increased incentives in global markets as Chinese brands fight for market share and to fulfill their unused production capacity.Bloomberg has previously reported the Chinese EV sector is using less than 50 per cent of its production capacity.

This new electric vehicle patent could change everything. Chinese firm Huawei, which was famously banned from being part of Australia’s 5G infrastructure rollout over security fears, has just revealed what could be the biggest battery breakthrough yet.

Electric cars have managed to do something petrol and diesel vehicles couldn’t in Australia… bring back the motor show.

The Kia Tasman is gearing up for a fight.

One of the most hotly anticipated models of this year is just around the corner.Mazda is preparing to take the covers off the next-generation CX-5 family SUV.We still don’t know what it looks like yet, but the team from Japan's Best Car magazine has given us a glimpse of what it could look like in fresh digital renders.The new CX-5’s design is more of an evolution than a revolution, with it sticking to the formula that has made it — and the brand’s whole range of SUVs — a hit in Australia and the US.The front end has been tweaked with fresh headlights and grille. The overall shape is boxier than the current version, which brings it in line with the carmaker's premium range of  SUVs the CX-60, CX-70, CX-80 and CX-90.The new-generation CX-5 is rumoured to be revealed later this year, with the Tokyo motor show in October a likely covers-off location.This roughly lines up with comments made by Mazda's South African boss, Craig Roberts, earlier this year in an interview with business outlet Moneyweb.“That new CX-5 will debut in the third quarter of this year and will probably hit our shores in the first quarter of 2026," said Roberts.This generation will finally give the CX-5 an answer to the mighty Toyota RAV4 Hybrid. Mazda has been developing its own in-house hybrid set-up, dubbed SkyActiv-Z. It won’t find its way into the new CX-5 until 2027, though.Best Car, which is known for its well-placed sources in the Japanese auto industry, claims the CX-5 will launch with mild-hybrid power instead.Despite the coming hybrid version, Mazda has already fallen behind market leader Toyota. Toyota recently announced the next-gen RAV4, which is due in Australia before July 2026, will come with plug-in hybrid power as well as standard hybrid options. Mazda has given no indication a plug-in hybrid is on the way.Mazda might be prepping an all electric version of the CX-5, though. In China it revealed the EZ-60 at the recent Shanghai auto show. The EZ-60 is rough the same size as the CX-5, and is built by Mazda’s Chinese partner Changan. This partnership has already spawned the electric Mazda6 replacement dubbed 6e in Europe.