Articles by Jack Quick

China’s Geely, like many carmakers, is privy to rebadging vehicles between its brands.

Audi has globally revealed the plug-in hybrid (PHEV) versions of its new, third-generation Q5 mid-size SUV ahead of a launch in European markets in the third quarter of 2025. Available in both Q5 and Q5 Sportback guises, the PHEV powertrain is offered with two different system output tunes – 220kW/450Nm and 270kW/500Nm. This is unchanged from the previous-generation model, with Australia only getting the higher tune. Both new Q5 PHEVs feature a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine producing 185kW and an electric motor integrated into the dual-clutch automatic transmission. Audi claims the 220kW version can do the 0-100km/h sprint in 6.2 seconds, whereas the 270kW version can do the 0-100km/h sprint in 5.1 seconds. Both claims are regardless of the body type. A big change with the new-generation Q5 PHEV is it now gets a larger 25.9kWh (up from 17.9kWh) battery pack that’s claimed to offer up to 100km of electric range, according to WLTP testing. The previous-generation Q5 PHEV only offered 55km of electric range, according to lenient NEDC testing. The peak AC charging rate has been increased from two-phase 7.4kW to three-phase 11kW. This allows the battery charge to charge from 0-100 per cent in 2.5 hours. In addition, Audi has increased the regenerative braking performance. The car’s electric motor can now recover up to 88kW of power when slowing down and feed this into the high-voltage battery. Audi claims 90 per cent of the deceleration process can now be done by the electric motor regenerative braking, meaning the hydraulic wheels braked are only used for harder braking manoeuvers. There are now also three levels of regenerative braking that can be chosen with the paddle shifters behind the steering wheel. There’s also an automatic mode that uses navigation data to predict how much regenerative braking to use. Two drive modes are available, EV and hybrid. The former operates exclusively on battery power at speeds up to 140km/h until the charge is depleted. Hybrid mode, on the other hand, operates strategically to choose which energy source is the most efficient depending on how and where you’re driving. In the city it’ll use EV power and at higher speeds it’ll use the petrol engine. Like many PHEVs, the car is capable of charging the battery using the petrol engine when on the move. Below speeds of 65km/h the battery charge is maintained, but above this speed the battery can be charged up to 75 per cent. As standard the car comes with sport suspension, 19-inch alloy wheels, red brake calipers, under centre console storage, 15W ventilated wireless charger, two USB-C ports in the front and rear, tri-zone climate control and sport front seats with leather/artificial leather upholstery, and sliding and reclining second-row seats. Opting for the 270kW version gets you LED headlights ‘plus’ and LED tail-lights. Boot space for the regular Q5 PHEV is 438 litres with the second row upright, expanding to 1358 litres with the seats folded. With the Q5 Sportback PHEV, on the other hand, it has 433 litres of boot space with the second row upright, expanding to 1300 litres with the seats folded. Pricing for the Audi Q5 PHEV in Europe starts at €63,400 (~A$113,200), and extends to €74,300 (~A$132,650). At this stage it’s still unclear if or when the new Audi Q5 PHEV will be coming to Australia. We’ve reached out to Audi Australia and will update this story once we hear back. The outgoing Audi Q5 55 TFSIe PHEV first arrived locally back in 2023 and is offered in both regular wagon and Sportback body styles. The regular combustion-powered third-generation Q5 range still hasn’t launched in Australia yet, despite it being revealed in September last year. It’s still expected to arrive in the second half of 2025.

Genesis has detailed the local pricing and specifications for its updated Electrified G80 electric sedan.

Ineos Automotive is reportedly in talks with Chery to set up a deal that’ll see it be able to use one of its platforms for its delayed Fusilier off-roader. As reported by Autocar, the British multinational carmaker is eyeing a range-extender (REEV) platform from Chery’s iCar (aka. iCaur for export markets) off-road brand. It’s expected Ineos will repurpose iCar’s upcoming V27 REEV. At 4.8m long and just under 2.0m tall, this off-roader is slightly larger than the original Fusilier concept, but still smaller than the existing Grenadier wagon. The iCar V27 reportedly has a total system output of 335kW in dual-motor all-wheel form and comes with either a 22kWh or 33kWh battery pack, depending on the variant. It uses a 1.5-litre turbocharged engine as a generator when its battery pack runs out of the charge. The V27 can reportedly travel up to 200km on electric power alone, according to CLTC testing. It’s unclear where Ineos will build the Fusilier if it’s based on the same platform as the iCar V27. It could repurpose its facility in Hambach, France, to assemble the Fusilier with iCar platforms sent over from China. The car could also be built over in China, but if it is the case it would attract tariffs in Europe. The original Ineos Fusilier was revealed back in early 2024 and was claimed to offer both electric and range-extender options. Initially planned for a 2027 launch, Ineos pumped the brakes on development last year due to cooling demand for EVs and uncertainty around tariffs. At this stage it has been radio silence on this front until now. If Ineos does launch the Fusilier it will finally give it a crucial low-CO2 model that’ll see it comply with tightening emissions regulations in Europe and the UK. The company currently manages the regulations by selling some Grenadier models as commercial vehicles, allowing it to qualify as a low-volume manufacturer which has less strict emissions regulations. In Australia, Ineos sells the Grenadier as a NB1 medium goods vehicle in Australia which allows it to be exempt from the recently implemented New Vehicle Emissions Standard (NVES). It also allows it to be exempt from certain safety regulations for autonomous emergency braking and pole side impact performance.

Chery has just launched a new electric micro hatchback in China that goes up against the BYD Seagull and Leapmotor T03.

Have you ever been annoyed how your phone call takes over the entire screen in your car when connected to Apple CarPlay? If so, this latest software update will fix this problem for you.

After over a decade on sale, the Land Rover Discovery Sport has received yet another minor refresh with new trim levels and curated option packages. The line-up has now been paired back to just three variants across two trim levels called Landmark and Metropolitan. All Dynamic SE and HSE trims, along with the entry-level S model with the P200 turbo-petrol engine, have been axed. As a result, the entry price for the Discovery Sport has risen by almost $5000, but it gets the more powerful P250 turbo-petrol engine as standard, among other changes. The 2026 Discovery Sport line-up starts at $78,454 before on-roads for the Landmark P250, extending to $91,955 before on-roads for the Metropolitan P250. A table detailing the pricing for all Discovery Sport variants is at the bottom of this story. The Discovery Sport Landmark is now the entry point to the line-up, available in both P250 turbo-petrol and P300e plug-in hybrid guises. The latter offers up to 66km of electric range, according to NEDC testing. The Landmark name is a call back to the mountain range logo that was first seen on the original 1989 Land Rover Discovery. This logo features on the aluminium treadplates, along with Landmark script. The logo is also projected onto the ground from the side mirror puddle lights. In addition to having a digital instrument cluster, an 11.4-inch Pivi Pro curved glass touchscreen multimedia system, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and paddle shifters like all Discovery Sport models, the Landmark trim gains slide-and-recline functionality for the second row, a panoramic glass sunroof, ‘click & go’ media holders in the second row, and a surround-view camera. The Land Rover Discovery Sport Metropolitan, on the other hand, sits at the top of the line-up and is only offered with the P250 turbo-petrol engine. It can be distinguished by Atlas Silver Discovery script on the bonnet and tailgate, as well as Indus Silver front and rear undershields. The front grille also has a unique silver insert and there are 20-inch diamond-turned multi-spoke alloy wheels. Inside there are Metropolitan-branded treadplates, 14-speaker Meridian surround sound system, digital rear-view mirror, cabin air purification system, Windsor leather upholstery, and 14-way electrically adjustable front seats that are also heated and ventilated. In addition to this, there are now a range of new curated option packages. New Beach Days, Road Trip and Snow Days packages join the existing Biking Adventures and For Dogs packages. The Beach Days package adds a centre armrest cooler, tailored sunshades, as well as a collapsible organiser for the boot. The Road Trip package includes ‘click & go’ media holders in the second row, as well as cross bars and a roof box. The Snow Days package adds cross bars and a ski and snowboard carrier, rubber floor mats, as well as a ‘Snow’ traction control mode. As previously, the Discovery Sport comes standard with five seats, though it can be optioned with a third row, bring the total number of seats to seven. Land Rover claims there are 24 possible seating configurations thanks to the sliding and reclining second row, and with the third- and second-row seats folded there’s 1794 litres of boot space available. In the first five months of 2025, Land Rover has sold a total of 167 Discovery Sport examples. This is up 60.6 per cent year-on-year.

Jaguar has just confirmed its launching a special, final edition of the fire-breathing F-Pace SVR exclusively for Australia.

Cupra has confirmed the pricing of its coming Tiguan-sized Terramar SUV ahead of first deliveries commencing in July.

Around eight months after the facelifted Genesis GV70 line-up arrived locally, the brand has detailed the electric version ahead of imminent deliveries.