Articles by Dom Tripolone

A Chinese carmaking giant is plotting to launch a new plug-in hybrid family SUV in Australia. GAC has debuted the new S7 at the Everything Electric Show in Sydney, with the brand hinting it could be on the menu for Aussie car buyers soon. GAC said right-hand drive production starts in the second half of 2027, which points to a potential Aussie arrival before the end of next year.  The brand stopped short of 100 per cent confirming the S7, and instead said it was proactively looking to add the SUV to its local line-up. CEO of GAC Australia Aries Zhao said: “The GAC S7 presents another exciting opportunity in GAC’s journey in Australia.  "The S7 allows GAC to compete in the highly competitive large SUV segment and complements our existing range of offerings.  “To do so with our innovative PHEV technology also supports the significant demand for flexibility in how we power our vehicles, whether that be full-electric for short to medium trips around town, and the capability to take on bigger interstate road trips with ease,” said Zhao. The S7 pairs a 1.5-litre petrol engine with two electric motors for all-wheel-drive grip. GAC Australia hasn’t confirmed total outputs, but said the electric motors make 170kW/220Nm (front) and 80kW/250Nm (rear). Overseas the set-up is claimed to make 374kW, and it can sprint to 200km/h in 5.8 seconds. This is paired to a circa-36kWh battery that GAC said can provide up to 150km of electric driving range, according to the outdated NEDC test cycle.  It is claimed to drive up to 1020km if the battery and fuel tank are full, but this is calculated via the very lenient CLTC testing regime. Overseas the S7 is 4900mm long, 1950mm wide, 1780mm tall and has a wheelbase of 2880mm. It has luxe features such as a soft touch and premium materials used throughout the cabin, 15.6-inch central touchscreen, 20-inch alloy wheels, LED lighting front and back, 12-speaker stereo and a panoramic sunroof. It has chunky and boxy styling, with a more moulded soft front end that shows it is an SUV not an off-roader.

Australian V8 vans rejoice, Ram has confirmed the V8 Hemi-powered 2500 Warlock for Australia. This follows the brand locking in the 6.2-litre supercharged V8-powered 1500 TRX last month. The 6.4-litre Hemi V8 petrol finds its way into the off-road focused 2500 Warlock, which will sit alongside the diesel-powered 2500 Heavy Duty. Ram said deliveries of the 2500 Warlock will commence in October. Ram Australia boss Jeff Barber said Australian customers were screaming for the V8 Hemi to come back, and it would complement the diesel-powered Heavy Duty utes perfectly. “We had also been exploring the option of an off-road inspired Ram 2500 Heavy Duty model for some time, so the Warlock was the perfect opportunity to bring the Hemi V8 back and deliver customers a broader choice. “So when we were assessing the suitability of the Warlock for our market, we decided to go all in and bring the HEMI V8 back with it,” he said. The naturally-aspirated 6.4-litre V8 makes 306kW and 582Nm, and is matched to an eight-speed auto with high and low gearing. The 2500 Warlock can tow up to 6700kg, but will need a 'goose neck' accessory and air brakes to manage the load that big. It is rated to tow 3500kg with a 50mm tow ball and 4500kg with a bigger 70mm tow ball. The 2500 Warlock has a payload of up to 1275kg and a Gross Vehicle Mass (GVM) of 4495kg. The 2500 Warlock has a 117-litre fuel tank. Ram isn’t required to provide a fuel use figure, because the vehicle’s GVM exceeds 3500kg exempting it from Australian Design Rules requiring fuel use testing. Overseas reports put it at between 15 and 20 litres per 100km, but if you are concerned about fuel use this probably isn’t the vehicle for you. The 2500 Warlock kicks off at $157,950, before on-road costs, which is about $15,000 cheaper than the diesel-powered 2500. It is also about $10,000 cheaper than the diesel-powered Chevrolet Silverado 2500. It has plenty of standard kit, including: Black front fascia and headlight surrounds Black front and rear bumpers Black fender flares Black side steps Black mirror scalps Warlock decals 20-inch alloys wheels (up from 18-inch on Laramie) All-terrain tyres (285/60/20) versus highway terrain tyres on Laramie Bilstein off-road shock absorbers Coil spring rear suspension LED headlights Spray-in bedliner 12-inch multimedia screen Six-seats (centre console when middle front seat not in use) Ram Australia only covers its vehicles with a three year/100,000km warranty, which is well below the industry average of five years./unlimited km. Service intervals are every 12 months or 12,000km, whichever comes first. The 2500 is a big unit and underground carparks will be a nightmare, with it measuring 6066mm long, 2220 wide (excluding mirrors), 2043mm tall and wheelbase of 3785mm. Ram said it has a turning circle of 14.6 metres and kerb weight of 3220kg. It has a healthy approach and departure angles of 22.9 and 25.8 degrees, respectively. The ramp over angle is 22 degrees.

Tesla is giving Australia a preview of a driverless future, as it prepares to give its Cybercab a tour of Down Under. The Cybercab is Tesla’s answer to driverless taxis such as those from Waymo that operate en masse in US cities such as San Francisco. Tesla is currently running a Cybercab trial in Austin, Texas, with the steering wheel-less vehicle ferrying around customers. There are currently no firm plans to launch trials in Australia. The American electric carmaker is bringing the Cybercab to Australia from September, but you won’t see it on public roads. The Cybercab will be on static display in Sydney, Brisbane, Gold Coast, Canberra, Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth during the next three months. Tesla has made it very clear this isn’t a launch of its autonomous cab, but is just a showcase to show the future. The company is using the showcase to give fans and onlookers a chance to sample its Full Self-Driving (Supervised) in a Model 3 sedan or Model Y SUV. A Full Self-Driving (Supervised) subscription is available on modern Teslas for $149 per month. “Cybercab is the destination. Model 3 and Model Y are how Australians and New Zealanders get there today,” said Thom Drew, Tesla Country Director. “When people see Cybercab at our locations, we want them to understand they are looking at the future of the same autonomous technology they can already experience with Full Self Driving (Supervised),” he said. Tesla said in a release: “Anyone considering a new Tesla can see both sides of that story in one visit, the vehicle built for autonomy and the vehicles already delivering Tesla’s autonomous software to Australian and New Zealand roads.” Tesla’s FSD (Supervised) uses an array of cameras to self navigate on public roads. You put a destination into the navigation and it will take you there. It will change lanes, stop at traffic lights, navigate complicated roundabouts and everything in between. We’ve test FSD (Supervised) on Australian roads previously, read our full impressions here.   You don’t have to have your hands on the steering wheel, but you do need to be paying attention to the road ahead or it will sound the alarm.

BYD has made its electric car cheaper than any other vehicle on sale right now. The Chinese brand has slashed the price of its Atto 1 electric small hatchback to $19,990, drive-away. There is no end date to the offer at this point. BYD Australia’s Chief Operating Officer Stephen Collins said this would give more Australians a chance to access an electric car during an ongoing period of sky high fuel prices and a cost of living crisis. "At a time when Australian families are carefully considering every household expense, we're committed to making vehicle ownership more attainable," said Collins. "The BYD ATTO 1 at $19,990 drive-away demonstrates our commitment to delivering outstanding value without compromising on technology, safety or quality.” The deal only applies to the BYD Atto 1 Essential grade, which was previously priced at $23,990 before on-road costs. This means buyers are saving about $7000 off the full drive-away price. The Atto 1 is an urban-focused electric car, with a small 30kWh Lithium-Ferro-Phosphate (LFP) battery that delivers a modest driving range of up to 220km. It uses a single electric motor to make 65kW and 175Nm to drive the front wheels. It is a small unit, measuring 3990mm long, 1720mm wide, 1590mm high and it has a wheelbase of 2500mm. That puts it in the same ballpark as the Toyota Yaris and Mazda2 hatchbacks. The current cheapest cars are the petrol-powered Kia Picanto starting from $19,190, before on-road costs, and the the MG3 hatchback is also priced from $19,990, drive-away, for a limited time.

Lepas is hardly a household name, but that is all about to change. The Chinese brand is the latest Chery sub-brand to arrive in Australia, joining Chery, Omodoa, Jaecoo and followed by Freelander, iCaur and Jetour. Lepas is going to fish where the fish are. It will soon be offering Australian customers electric and plug-in hybrid options in all the most popular SUV segments where 65 per cent of all new cars are sold. Both electric and plug-in hybrid passenger car sales are skyrocketing, showing it is giving Aussies more of what they want. The company will launch the Lepas L6 mid-size electric SUV this October, but then it will get very busy for the brand. The L4 compact electric SUV will follow in December, with plug-in hybrid versions of the L6 and L4 landing in March and June, respectively. Then the slightly larger L8 plug-in hybrid SUV will arrive towards the end of 2027, as well as the big L9 plug-in hybrid SUV. Lepas isn’t slowing down in 2028, with electric versions of the L8 and L9 due to arrive and a hybrid and electric version of the L2 small hatchback. At its heart the L6 uses a 65kWh Lithium-Ferro-Phosphate (LFP) battery that delivers a climate electric driving range of up to 440km. The brand hasn’t confirmed maximum charging rate, but Lepas claims it can refill the battery from 30 to 80 per cent in about 22 minutes, which puts its DC charging max speed at 80kW. A single electric motor makes 160kW and 275Nm, which drives the front wheels. Lepas won’t conduct local suspension or handling tunes, instead it is relying on the European tune for Australia. This will likely mean a more engaging, but firmer and bumpier ride. It is packed with kit, including: 8.88-inch LCD digital driver display 13.2-inch LCD infotainment touchscreen  Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto  “Hello LEPAS” intelligent voice command  Eight-speaker Sony premium sound system  50W wireless smartphone charging  Heated and ventilated front seats  Synthetic leather upholstery  Panoramic sunroof with slide and tilt function and powered sunshade Colour selectable ambient lighting Powered tailgate Puddle lights Lepas SUVs will be packed with safety, and the company made a point of stating it had worked hard on its driver aids for them to work only when needed rather than sounding the alarm all the time. The L4 shares the same underpinnings as the L6, but with a smaller body. It is 4420mm long, 1817mm wide, 1629mm tall and has a wheelbase of 2700mm, which puts it firmly in the BYD Atto 3, Hyundai Kona Electric category. It will use the same battery and single electric motor set-up as the bigger L6, but range is boosted to 450km due to the reduced weight of the L4.

There will soon be a Toyota HiLux for everyone. The Japanese brand has revealed details of its new hydrogen-powered HiLux, which will join the diesel and battery electric versions already on sale. The new Toyota HiLux hydrogen fuel-cell ute will go on sale in Europe in 2028. Toyota Australia has previously confirmed to CarsGuide the hydrogen HiLux will go on sale in Australia the same year. Toyota Europe claims the new hydrogen HiLux, dubbed HiLux FCEV (Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle), will have a targeted driving range of 400km and be able to tow 2500kg.  Toyota will fine tune the hydrogen HiLux at next year's Dakar Rally, where the company will race a vehicle based on the gas-powered ute. Hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles are another form of electric vehicle.  Instead of using a battery with stored energy to power electric motors, they convert hydrogen into electricity to power the motors. Hydrogen is stored in a pressurised tank and is mixed with air, and then is pumped into the fuel cell, where a chemical reaction occurs that creates electricity and water. The electricity is stored in a small battery, which powers the electric motors that drive the wheels. The water is expelled out the tailpipe. Toyota is working on a new fuel cell to fit to trucks that would deliver the same grunt as a diesel motor. Hydrogen is the most abundant element on earth and fuel-cell vehicles don’t require an enormous battery that are made up of critical minerals. In theory this makes them cheaper. Hydrogen is extremely energy intensive to isolate, which means unless you use green energy it is not very clean, despite the lack of tailpipe emissions. There is barely any infrastructure for hydrogen cars to fill up in Australia, which means an entire network needs to be created. But they can be refilled in about five minutes, which is much quicker than a battery electric vehicle can recharge. Hydrogen is often seen as the answer to heavy vehicles rather than passenger cars. An electric semi-trailer would require an enormous battery to allow it to haul its load, but FCEV tech is seen as the answer because it is lighter and can be refilled faster. It would be easier to install hydrogen refuelling infrastructure along major highways, ports and industrial areas than roll out an urban network.

A cheaper Pajero 4WD could be on the cards in the future, according to the company’s local boss. The new Mitsubishi Pajero range starts at $68,490 (before on-road costs) for the base five-seat GLS grade and rises to $84,990 for the range-topping seven-seat GSR. This means it is one of the most expensive Mitsubishis ever sold in Australia. It is almost $10,000 more expensive than the cheapest Ford Everest, but about $5000 cheaper than the base Toyota Prado. Isuzu’s base MU-X is about $13,000 more affordable. Mitsubishi Australia boss Shunichi Kihara defended the Pajero’s price point. Kihara said he understood Mitsubishi has been seen as a slightly cheaper alternative to Toyota and Ford in the past, but was confident it would sell well. “I think when we launched the current Outlander there was a price gap from the previous generation, but we were able to attract many new customers," said Kihara. “So I think we can do the same with the new Pajero considering the product competitiveness and the price position we have. "The new Pajero is a more premium proposition with rugged good looks, quality off-road tech and a plush interior that does put it a step above the competition at face value." This does leave room for a more bare-bones version at the bottom of the range. Mitsubishi has also not yet used the GLX grade designation - its name used for base grades of its rugged vehicles. “We decided the current line-up thinking that this line-up can address all the necessary type of customer in that segment,” said Kihara. “Of course, going forward depending on market change, customer demand, we are open to consider making changes to the line-up.” Mitsubishi won’t be able to make a decision on that anytime soon, with the vehicle only going on sale this December. Kihara did rule out a two-wheel drive version of the Pajero and called it inappropriate. Mitsubishi has hinted at a GLX grade in government filings. The homologation documents, needed to approve a vehicle for sale in Australia, cited four Pajero variants: GLX, GLS, Exceed and GSR. The last three are part of the new line-up, with only GLX absent. Chinese carmakers such as BYD, Chery, GAC, GWM and Geely are all entering the 4WD space, but Kihara said the Pajero has something those do not. “Pajero has name, history, heritage and that it is the flagship of Mitsubishi,” he said. “It’s reliability, durability, Japanese design and technology — including the 4x4 technology — and also the strong heritage and history and of the adventurous spirit.” Mitsubishi Australia COO Rob Nazzari pointed to the company’s extensive dealer network, 10-year/200,000km conditional warranty and after-sales servicing as big reasons buyers would choose Mitsubishi over newer brands.

There has never been a better time to buy a four-wheel drive, with buyers spoiled for choice. The new Mitsubishi Pajero will land in dealerships this December, and go up against the old brigade led by the Toyota Prado, Ford Everest and Isuzu MU-X. But the world has changed since the previous-generation Pajero ceased production in 2021. There is a new breed of rough-and-tumble 4WDs from China such as Denza’s B5, GWM’s Tank 300 and 500 and likely incoming Geely Galaxy 700, which pack hi-tech features, hybrid grunt and wear enticing price tags. This Pajero is more aligned with the old guard, but a new hope is dawning with the promise of hybrid and plug-in hybrid propulsion in the near future. For now it packs a 150kW/480Nm 2.4-litre turbocharged diesel engine, which is an evolution of the twin-turbo unit found in the Triton. Mitsubishi has also ditched the six-speed auto from the Triton in favour of an eight-speed automatic transmission, which will improve performance and help lower fuel use by giving the vehicle more control over the rev range. It shares its underpinnings with the current Triton ute, but Mitsubishi has done a lot of work to make the Pajero a more refined and accomplished daily driver. The chassis is stiffer with greater use of high-quality steel, which increases its stability during cornering but also improves its durability and reliability to better handle the rough stuff. The rear suspension from the Triton has been replaced with a sophisticated five-link set-up with coil springs to smooth out bumps and lumps. And the track has been widened to make it more stable. We headed to Mitsubishi’s proving ground in Okazaki, Japan, to be one of the first people to get behind the wheel of the new Pajero.  The giant Okazaki facility holds the company’s research and development centre, one of its vehicle proving grounds and car factory. Our short loop takes in several of the company’s test routes. The dynamic test mimics a twisting country road, the suspension test pairs together multiple broken and rough road surfaces and the high speed loop is a mind-bending road that has the vehicle pitched at 18-degrees as you whip through the big curve. Off-road testing will have to wait. The test, while short, showed some of the car's strengths and weaknesses. Mitsubishi’s switch to an eight-speed auto is a masterstroke. The new engine transmission combo elevates the drive experience with it smoother and more refined than the Triton. The wide ratios keep the engine humming in its sweet spot, with it doing it easily at 140km/h in eighth gear at about 2000rpm. It could do with a bit more torque, the Pajero not having the responsiveness and initial shove of its rivals back home. It isn’t a performance car but for its category it felt a tad sluggish and heavy. It is remarkably quiet at high speed, with minimal wind noise or tyre roar. There is a slight grumble of the engine permeating through the cabin, but nothing that would get in the way of comfortable conversation. This is paired with well balanced steering that provides decent feedback giving drivers a great idea of what is happening underneath them. It is surprisingly nimble for a circa 2500kg 4WD, with it handling quick changes of direction admirably.  It held its own through the quick corners, exerting solid body control with less lean through the bends than expected of a car this big. This is the result of the wider track, upgraded suspension and the rally-bred Active Yaw Control (AYC) that helps manage the torque delivery to left and right wheels to increase stability when cornering. The Pajero’s suspension treads a fine balance — not too soft, not too firm. On the broken road surfaces it soaked up the bumps and imperfections with ease, but it didn’t encounter anything to mimic the pockmarked roads we encounter at home. First impressions matter, and the Pajero has made a lasting one, but we’ll reserve judgement until we’ve had a proper drive on public roads in Australia. This is the plushest Mitsubishi interior to date. It is festooned with premium materials and high-tech features. The cascading leather covered dash is a design highlight and the dual screens paired with proper buttons and dial controls show it's a 4WD for the modern age. The seats a comfy and easily adjustable and the second row seats sit up higher giving a good view out the forward and side windows. The third row is accessed by a one touch tumbling seat that provides a big space to load passengers through. All rows get air conditioning vents and USB-C ports. The boot is mini with all seven seats in use. The last row seats easily fold down with just the pull of a cord, but they don't fold completely flat. Prices kick off at $68,490, before on-road costs, for the entry-level GLS with five seats, or $69,990 with seven seats. The mid-tier Exceed jumps up to $79,990 and the range-topping GSR starts at $84,990. Both variants are only available with seven seats. Mitsubishi will also back the Pajero with its conditional 10-year/200,000km warranty, which requires owners to complete all their scheduled workshop visits at a Mitsubishi dealership or it reverts to a five year/100,000km guarantee. Mitsubishi offers up to 10 years' of capped-price servicing with scheduled workshop visits required every 15,000km or 12 months.

Volkswagen appears to have a  monster hit on its hands, as buyers line-up to get their hands on its latest machine. The new Volkswagen ID.Polo electric hatchback has more than 30,000 pre-orders, according to AutoNews. The frantic rush of buyers trying to jump into a ID.Polo has overwhelmed the brands expectations, with customers now facing a 10 month wait. Volkswagen’s little electric car has just gone on sale in Europe, and it appears its success will mean any future Australian arrival could be pushed back to meet demand on the continent. The German brand’s new entry-level electric car will go head-to-head with the new wave of cut-price EVs from China, such as the MG4, BYD Dolphin and GWM Ora 5. It is priced from the equivalent of about $41,000 in Germany, so expect it to be more if it arrives Down Under. Volkswagen is offering three electric motor choices: 85kW, 99kW or 155kW. The German brand has also confirmed a 166kW GTI version, but it won’t launch until next year in Europe. Lower grade versions will use a 37kWh battery, offering a driving range of 329km (WLTP), while higher specifications get 454km (WLTP) of range from a 52kWh unit.  Volkswagen has previously said the ID.Polo has a max charging rate of 105kW.  The ID.Polo is spawning a range of electric cars including the Volkswagen ID.Cross little electric SUV, Skoda Epiq and Cupra Raval. AutoNews also reported the ID.Cross had received very strong interest ahead of its arrival in European showrooms later this year. Skoda’s version of the ID.Polo, the Epiq, also has more than 35,000 orders. “The Epiq is generating very strong customer interest. We have clearly struck a nerve,” a Skoda spokesperson told Autonews. Cupra’s version, called Raval, also has a long wait list, with reports the Raval and Epiq orders stretch into May of 2027. Volkswagen has been struggling recently as sales in China, and of its first round of global electric cars, failed to fire. It has also experienced huge issues with its CARIAD software department, which has been losing billions of dollars. Volkswagen’s board has recently approved to cut 50,000 jobs, close several factories, cut half of the group’s models and even possibly delete the Seat brand.

Mitsubishi’s secret hybrid one-two punch has been exposed, with plans for a hybrid Pajero revealed. A senior Japanese executive told CarsGuide the company is advanced in developing two hybrid Pajero 4WDs. The company is working on a conventional hybrid and a plug-in hybrid version of the rugged new off-roader. This would give Mitsubishi some potent weapons in its arsenal to not only take on the mighty Toyota and Nissan off-roaders, but the new breed of Chinese 4WDs. Mitsubishi won’t be developing a diesel plug-in hybrid, similar to the one that will be fitted to the incoming Chery Stockman ute. Both will use a petrol engine, which will make the vehicle more attractive to the US and Middle Eastern markets, where diesel isn’t popular. The official also said there were concerns the displacement of the diesel engine in the Pajero would be insufficient, with big name rivals adding larger engines into their 4WDs. Mitsubishi’s new Pajero uses a turbocharged 2.4-litre diesel four-cylinder engine, which is an evolution of the motor found in the Triton ute, and makes 150kW and 480Nm. Adding hybrid or plug-in hybrid grunt would boost outputs and add more shove off the mark aiding acceleration and around town performance. Towing would likely be compromised due to the extra weight of the petrol-electric set-up, which would reduce the load-lugging capacity from the diesel version’s 3500kg limit. It is also expected this hybrid set-up would find its way into the Triton ute. This would give Mitsubishi a rival to new Chinese machines such as the BYD Shark 6 ute and Denza B5 4WD. This confirmation follows Mitsubishi Pajero Chief Product Specialist Itagaki Kunitoshi’s comments at a pre-briefing before the Pajero reveal. “Future electrification including hybrid, plug-in hybrid, we will consider in line with market conditions, customer needs, infrastructure and regulations of each country,” said Itagaki. “The all new Pajero is being launched with ICE (Internal Combustion Engine) only. “However, Mitsubishi Motors is actively conducting research and development in electrified ladder frame vehicles, including hybrid vehicles and plug-in hybrid vehicle technologies for products such as Pajero and Triton in the future.” But it appears from the high-ranking official’s comments the dual hybrid assault plans are more advanced. Itagaki stated any electrified Pajero would be just as capable as customers have come to expect from the brand. “To meet Mitsubishi Motors standards future electrified models must not only deliver strong  on-road performance but also off-road capability, towing performance, durability or reliability expected of authentic Mitsubishi Motors vehicles. "Ensuring the electrified models can maintain these characteristics while delivering the distinct Mitsubishi Motors driving experience requires further development," said Itagaki. Mitsubishi announced earlier this year it would spend almost half a billion dollars to upgrade its Thailand factory to build electrified vehicles. This is the same factory that produces the Triton and Pajero. The plan is to have the factory churning out electrified vehicles by the end of the decade, but expect a hybrid and plug-in hybrid Pajero sooner than that.