Articles by Jack Quick

The tiny Alfa Romeo Junior arrived in Australia a few months ago but the company has confirmed it’s not going to give it a fire-breathing performance flagship for now.While there’s the hot-looking Elettrica Veloce trim available in other markets, the Italian carmaker said a Quadrifoglio (also referred to as QV) version has been considered for the Junior.However, speaking with Australian media, including CarsGuide, Alfa Romeo Head of Product Mario Lamagna said the QV badge will remain for the larger models, including the Giulia and Stelvio, for the time being.“QV is a really serious thing in Alfa,” said Lamagna.“We study… if an Alfa can be a QV. We take it very seriously.“There are many different… characteristics that an Alfa needs to respect to be called a QV.“We thought about that , but for the moment, with the technologies that we have, we didn’t believe there was a powertrain that was the right one to be called the Quadrifoglio for the Junior.“And also in this segment you have to be very careful with what you do, because, again, Quadrifoglio is very strong high-performance label.“The decision we took was to protect it and to keep it for… the higher segments.“I will never say no to QV in any model, but it is something that has to be studied because QV means serious stuff,” he said.The two current Alfa Romeo Quadrifoglio models, the Giulia and Stelvio QV, are both powered by a 2.9-litre twin-turbo V6 engine with 375kW and 600Nm.All QV models have been powered by pure internal-combustion engines to date, but Lamagna explained as emission regulations crunch it’s getting harder to develop and launch these kinds of models.As a result, the company is open to exploring hybrid and electric QV models.“We of course love thermal engines and we are in love with our V6s,” said Lamagna.“So we are, for sure, looking always at thermal engines. But with the future technologies, you can do a lot of interesting stuff, also with electric powertrains.“The point is that it really depends on the actual performance of the car. If you are able to do something that drives well and kicks in, very nice. I am open to both .“It’s very hard then to what you can do at the end because thermal engines have a lot of concerns with CO2 emissions.“We have a lot of regulation in Europe and for also on your side.“So it’s not easy to develop and to launch high-performance engines in the second part of this decade,” he added.The Alfa Romeo Junior Elettrica is the Italian carmaker’s first electric vehicle (EV). It’s currently priced from $57,900, before on-road costs, in Australia, which is $12,000 more than the Ibrida mild-hybrid version.As noted above, the hot-looking Junior Elettrica Veloce is available overseas. For now it’s unclear whether it will come to Australia.It’s technically the most powerful variant in the line-up, packing a single, front-mounted electric motor producing 207kW/345Nm.For context, the regular Junior Elettrica produces 115kW/260Nm and the Junior Ibrida delivers 100kW/230Nm.

Toyota’s iconic LandCruiser 300 Series off-roader is already offered with petrol-electric hybrid technology in certain markets and it’s soon coming to Australia, but more electric oomph is reportedly on the way.As reported by Japanese publication Creative Trend, a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) powertrain is on the cards for the LC300 which would bring more electric range.It’s reported the system will likely use the existing 3.5-litre twin-turbo petrol V6 engine as a base with an electric motor, like the existing LandCruiser Hybrid, but with a larger high-voltage battery pack.'At this stage total system outputs haven’t been confirmed, however the LandCruiser Hybrid produces 340kW and 790Nm in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).Having a larger battery pack in the LandCruiser PHEV could reportedly lead to issues with vehicle weight, interior space and fuel tank capacity.As a result the LandCruiser PHEV could reportedly only be offered in five-seat configuration.Although the LandCruiser Hybrid will only be offered with five seats in Australia, in other markets there are seven-seat versions.Creative Trend also speculates the LandCruiser PHEV’s fuel tank could be reduced to around 50L. For context, the LandCruiser Hybrid has either a 68L or 98L fuel tank in the UAE, depending on the trim level.Plus, the diesel-powered LC300 diesel and the related petrol-powered Lexus LX600 in Australia both have 110L fuel tanks.Despite the bigger battery pack, it’s reported that overall driving range for the LandCruiser PHEV could only be around 500-600km. A diesel-powered LandCruiser 300 Series has a theoretical range of well over 1000km in Australia.This latest report comes after Toyota Australia Vice President of Sales and Marketing, Sean Hanley, told CarsGuide that PHEV technology isn’t being ruled out for the LandCruiser.“I think plug-in hybrid is going to be a tremendously big seller over the next five years, and with battery technology evolving, it offers, I think, a big, broad scope of capability,” said Hanley.“A key to it though with this car is you can’t compromise on the towing. That’s the issue.“So if you do bring in a plug-in hybrid, it’s got to be able to tow.“It’s got to be capable and practical, otherwise wasting time.“But having said that, not every LandCruiser goes out towing vans.“ you may have a LandCruiser technology or powertrain that really is for those city people.“They might do a bit of light off-road occasionally. Then you’ll have the other LandCruiser, which could be this one , or some other variant, for performance and towing, and it’d be this kind of setup in the future.”It’s unclear whether this statement opens up the possibility of an electric LandCruiser or smaller, more city-oriented model in the future.Toyota has previously shown off concepts for both but neither have been revealed in production form.The Tokyo motor show will kick off at the end of October and you can expect Toyota to reveal some significant new metal, so keep an eye on CarsGuide for any updates.

Mazda may soon be axing the popular 2.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine in the CX-5 locally, but it’s still offered in another mid-size SUV in North America.

Toyota has offered a hybrid version of its top-selling LandCruiser Prado in other markets since launch but the line-up has remained diesel-only in Australia to date.

Stellantis has begun road-testing an electric vehicle (EV) prototype with a new battery technology that’s aimed at making its EVs more efficient, sustainable and cost-effective.Developed in partnership with French battery technology company Saft over the last few years, the Peugeot E-3008 electric SUV is fitted with Intelligent Battery Integrated System (IBIS) technology.It embeds the inverter and charger functionalities directly in the battery pack, regardless of the chemistry or application, which in turn saves space and reduces complexity. It still offers both AC and DC charging capabilities, while still being able to power the vehicle’s 12V system.Stellantis claims this IBIS technology improves the energy efficiency by 10 per cent, according to WLTP testing, and improves power by 15 per cent with the same battery size.Additionally the weight is reduced by 40kg and there’s 17L more volume available, allowing for more design flexibility and better aerodynamics.Early results have shown that there’s a 15 per cent reduction in charging time. When plugged into a 7kW AC charger it only takes six hours to fully charge, rather than seven.Lastly IBIS technology is claimed to allow for easier servicing and maintenance, plus once the battery has reached the end of its usable life in a vehicle, it can be reused as a stationary unit.“This project reflects our belief that simplification is innovation,” said Stellantis Chief Engineering and Technology Officer Ned Curic.“By rethinking and simplifying the electric powertrain architecture, we are making it lighter, more efficient, and more cost-effective.“These are the kinds of innovations that help us deliver better, more affordable EVs to our customers.”Stellantis isn’t the only carmaker working on this kind of technology. Porsche is also working on a ‘modular multi-level inverter’ that combines multiple electric components into one unit.At this stage Stellantis has said it’s aiming to introduce this battery technology into its production vehicles by the end of the decade.

Toyota will introduce its first plug-in hybrid (PHEV) in Australia in the first half of 2026, the RAV4 PHEV, and it hasn’t been shy on saying more will be coming down the track.Toyota Australia Vice President of Sales and Marketing Sean Hanley said PHEV technology is “scarily convenient”.“I think plug-in hybrid is going to be a tremendously big seller over the next five years and with battery technology evolving, it offers a big, broad scope of capability,” said Hanley.While Hanley didn’t give any specific examples of what the additional PHEV models will be, he noted they’ll likely be SUVs or passenger cars.“ think less in the commercial space, more in the SUV, passenger space,” said Hanley.Globally Toyota offers plug-in hybrid versions of the Prius liftback, C-HR SUV, Crown Sport crossover and Crown Signia wagon.At this stage it doesn’t offer any plug-in hybrid commercial vehicle, with Hanley noting hydrogen will likely be better suited for these types of vehicles in the long term.“Not to say it’s impossible, but I think hybrid technology in those vehicles is probably better at the stage suited.“Then I think ultimately in that 10-year horizon … it’s hydrogen. That’s the ultimate for those heavy commercial vehicles.”Hanley hasn’t been afraid to say that hydrogen will likely overtake diesel in the future.However, PHEVs are currently surging up the sales charts even though the Fringe Benefits Tax (FBT) exemption for novated lease buyers ceased earlier this year.In the first eight months of 2025, a total of 33,550 PHEVs have been sold, which is up 47.3 per cent year-on-year.This is primarily thanks to emerging Chinese players like BYD, Chery and GWM. The BYD Shark 6 PHEV ute, for example, cracked the top 20 best-sellers list in August 2025.When the Toyota RAV4 PHEV arrives next year in new-generation guise, it will be far from the first in the segment to have this kind of powertrain technology, but this mid-size SUV is already incredibly popular.Earlier in 2025 it was tracking to be the best-selling vehicle in Australia, however now the Ford Ranger and Toyota HiLux utes are outselling it.Toyota is set to offer the RAV4 PHEV on two trim levels and with two different configurations.A front-wheel drive version available only on the mid-spec XSE trim pairs a 2.5-litre petrol engine with an electric motor producing a system output of 200kW.Then an all-wheel drive version available on the XSE and top-spec GR Sport trims gains an additional electric motor on the rear axle boosting the system output to 227kW.All RAV4 PHEVs get a 22.7kWh lithium-ion battery pack. EV range and claimed fuel consumption hasn’t been confirmed yet.

Aussies love diesel-powered four-wheel drives but Toyota is set to mix things up with its petrol-electric LandCruiser Hybrid. Is the classic formula still intact?

The sales charts in Australia have been shaken up over the past year with more and more Chinese brands emerging.However, Toyota still firmly is the best-selling brand in Australia.Toyota Australia Vice President of Sales and Marketing Sean Hanley said the company continues to be extremely strategic despite its success.“It’s competitive. Never take position for granted,” said Hanley.“Every day you wake up, it’s a new challenge. Every day you wake up, it’s a new way of thinking.“The automotive industry is evolving and moving like every other industry. Quick rapidly.“So to say it’s business as usual would be an incorrect statement. But we’re certainly not panicking.“We certainly feel confident and we feel in control of our destination. We have a good purpose. We have a great team of people and dealer network that’s working towards that purpose.“We’ve been very clear strategically for the last 10 years on what the next 10 years will look like.“So therefore, when you’ve got a common goal and a purpose that people buy into, including consumers, then you can be confident about your future, but it’s not business as usual.“The fact is we work hard all the time to try to get it right and there are times when we don’t get it right. We’re not perfect.“What I love about Toyota is when we don’t get it right, god, we try hard to get it right. We don’t hide from it. We face up.“In my 38 years , that’s the reason why Toyota is one of the most trusted brands in Australia and why it’s the most trusted automotive brand .In the first eight months of 2025, Toyota has sold a total of 163,491 new vehicles in Australia. The next best-selling brand is Mazda (63,208 sales), followed by Ford (62,581 sales).While sales for these established mainstream brands are all down slightly as this year is forming as a cooler year for overall new car sales, brands such as China’s BYD and Chery are experiencing astronomical sales growth.GWM has also asserted itself as a top 10 player in the new car sales charts. It plans to be in the top five by 2030.Despite the influx of emerging Chinese brands, a vast array of Toyota vehicles remain at the top of their respective segments. These include the Corolla, Camry, RAV4, Prado and LandCruiser.Where it has lost its footing is on the budget end of the spectrum with vehicles such as the MG3 overtaking the Yaris, the Mazda CX-3 outselling the Yaris Cross and the GWM Haval Jolion outperforming the Corolla Cross.Sales for its bZ4X electric vehicle (EV) are a splash in the pan compared to top-selling rivals like the Tesla Model Y and BYD Sealion 7.Over the next 12 months Toyota is poised to introduce another EV in the form of the larger bZ4X Touring.It will also introduce a new-generation of its top-selling RAV4 mid-size SUV with the inclusion of a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) power option for the first time in Australia.Toyota is launching a new petrol-electric hybrid version of the LandCruiser 300 Series in the first half of 2026 to sell alongside the existing turbo-diesel variants.

Australians love diesel-powered vehicles, but according to Toyota, it isn’t a fuel source of the future.

Last month Honda Australia reopened orders for the supply-limited Civic Type R hot hatch and the entire allocation was exhausted within an hour.