Articles by Jack Quick

Cupra has confirmed that there are currently no plans to bring back the Born electric hatchback to Australia, at least for now.“It's still something we discuss with headquarters, and you know there might be a way forward in the future, but there's no plan right now,” said Cupra Australia Head of Product Jeff Shafer to CarsGuide.“We've got, you know, Raval coming, and we've got some news on Tavascan coming soon, and I think that kind of is where we're focusing our EV efforts right now.“We need to make Born have a position that makes sense within that total range, so I wouldn't say never, but it's not right on the cards.”The Born was Cupra’s first all-electric model globally and in Australia. It was originally revealed in production form in 2021 and eventually arrived in 2023 following a number of delays.It’s based on the Volkswagen Group’s MEB dedicated electric architecture and shares a number of commonalities with the Volkswagen ID.3 which has never been offered in Australia.Locally the Born was offered in a single trim level and was powered by a single, rear-mounted electric motor producing 170kW and 310Nm. This was fed by a 77kWh lithium-ion battery pack allowing for up to 511km of claimed range.As standard the Born was a five-seater, however if you opted for any of the optional performance or interior packages, the seat count would drop to four.In 2025 Cupra stopped taking new orders of the Born as existing stock dried up despite it previously indicating a launch of the higher-performance Born VZ was on the cards.Earlier this year Cupra revealed a facelift for the Born which brought tweaked looks, bigger screens, as well as more physical switchgear around the cabin.Although the Born may not be returning to Australian shores, as Shafer noted Cupra already has the Tavascan mid-size electric SUV which is soon receiving an update for 2026.Additionally the Raval small electric hatchback is set to arrive Down Under during 2027.

The 2027 Cupra Formentor S is the entry-level version of this small SUV line-up in Australia.It’s priced from $49,990 before on-road costs.Power comes from a 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine with 48V mild-hybrid assistance and total system outputs of 110kW and 250Nm.This is mated to a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission with drive sent to the front wheels only.Cupra claims the Formentor S can do the 0-100km/h sprint in 9.0 seconds. Launch control is standard.The Formentor S is claimed to consume an average of 5.5L/100km, according to ADR 81/02 testing. There’s a 50L fuel tank which requires a minimum of 95 RON premium unleaded petrol.Using the claim, this car has a theoretical range of up to 909km.Standard equipment includes 18-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights, a hands-free power tailgate, 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster, 12.9-inch touchscreen multimedia system, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, wireless phone charger, interior ambient lighting, three-zone climate control, fabric upholstery, electrically adjustable driver’s seat and heated front seats.Optional is a panoramic glass sunroof for $2000 and the $2200 Leather and Sound package which adds a 12-speaker Sennheiser sound system, leather-appointed upholstery and front-passenger electric adjustment and memory.The Cupra Formentor originally received a five-star ANCAP safety rating in 2021 and this has been renewed for the updated model based on testing conducted by Euro NCAP in 2025.There are 10 airbags including rear-side and front-centre airbags as standard, plus autonomous emergency braking (AEB), adaptive cruise control with lane centring, a surround-view camera, as well as a parking assist.The Formentor, like all other Cupras, is covered by a five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty, which is a little lacklustre for a mainstream brand now as many have moved to eight or 10 years, conditional.Logbook servicing is required every 12 months or 15,000km, whichever comes first.There are three- and five-year pre-paid service packages available that are priced at $1090 and $2190, respectively. In the latter case, this means each service averages out to almost $440 which is fairly average for a European car.

Electric vehicles (EVs) are becoming increasingly popular and mainstream in Australia, however many lack a feature that limits their long-distance driving capabilities.And that's a spare wheel. For decades it has been a common-fit item that is extremely handy if you get a puncture out on the open road.What is becoming more popular now, especially in electrified vehicles, is to replace the spare wheel with an inflator kit as this space is usually being taken up by the high-voltage battery.The inflator kits typically include a 12V-powered air compressor and a 'can of goo' which plugs up minor air leaks in the deflating tyre.However, these inflator kits won’t help in every event of a puncture, especially if it’s a more significant one that compromises the tyre sidewall, for example.In these circumstances you’re typically left needing to call a tow truck, which is incredibly painful if you’re away from a town with a tyre repair shop.There aren’t many out there, but here is a rundown of all the new EVs currently available in Australia that have some form of physical spare wheel. The 2027 Chery E5 is the only new EV passenger car in Australia to feature a full-size spare wheel.There is now only one trim level of the E5 (formerly known as the Omoda E5) offered in Australia. It’s priced from $37,990, drive-away.The 2027 GWM Ora 5 has just launched in Australia and it features a space-saver spare wheel across the line-up.At launch two trim levels are on offer, Lux and Ultra, with pricing starting at $33,990, drive-away.The 2027 Hyundai Kona Electric has a space-saver spare wheel available across the line-up.The Kona Electric is offered in five trim levels now and pricing starts at $46,000, before on-road costs.The 2027 Toyota HiLux BEV is the only electric ute currently available in Australia with a spare wheel of any kind. It’s a full-size unit in this case.There are currently three versions of the HiLux BEV offered in Australia, the SR dual-cab chassis, SR dual-cab pick-up and SR5 dual-cab pick-up. Pricing starts at $74,990, before on-road costs.A number of electric commercial vans feature full-size spare wheels as standard.It’s more common for these types of vehicles to feature spare wheels, though they’re not standard in every electric van.A number of companies offer aftermarket spare wheel solutions for many popular EVs, like the Tesla Model Y and Model 3, among others.These kits typically include a space-saver spare wheel, a jack and related tools to get the wheel on and off.As there’s no dedicated spot in the car for this to be stored, this type of kit typically has to go in the boot which sacrifices space for other items.

Cupra is soon set to introduce a new, range-topping version of its Formentor small SUV in Australia and it will likely sell out ahead of its arrival.The Spanish carmaker has confirmed out of the 4000 total Formentor VZ5 examples to be produced, only 400 will be built in right-hand drive.Cupra Australia Head of Product Jeff Shafer told CarsGuide the brand currently has an allocation of “around 100 units at the moment”.“We’ve sold through more than two thirds , so there’s strong interest and we’re still pretty regularly having order intake coming in,” Shafer said.“It looks like we’ll be sold out before the cars arrive.“We’re talking to the factory about there’s some scope to get more cars. It’s not yet confirmed and we’ll see how we go.”The Cupra Formentor VZ5 is powered by a 2.5-litre turbocharged five-cylinder engine sourced from the Audi RS3.It produces 287kW and 480Nm and is mated to a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission which sends drive through an all-wheel drive system.In Australia it’s priced from $94,990, before on-road costs, or $101,990 drive-away, making it easily the most expensive Cupra offered to date.Full specification details haven’t been confirmed yet, however it will come with 20-inch black and copper alloy wheels, six-piston Akebono front brakes, matrix LED headlights and Cup bucket front seats as standard.All of these features, besides the larger 20-inch alloy wheels, are optional on the VZe and VZx trims.This isn’t the first time Cupra has offered the Formentor VZ5. It was available in pre-update form but was only made in left-hand drive, ruling it out from Australia.Ever since the Cupra brand launched in Australia in 2022, the Formentor has been its best-seller.Last year a total of 1490 examples were sold, which was up 17.8 per cent year-on-year.However, until the end of May this year a total of 318 examples of the Formentor were sold, which is down 53.6 per cent year-on-year.Formentor sales will likely pick up through the second half of 2026 and the mid-life facelift has just launched locally, around two years after it was revealed globally.

China’s GWM has revealed more details and imagery of its updated Tank 300 for the domestic market.As reported by Car News China, a highlight of this update is a longer wheelbase that was previewed by the Tank 300 Hooke Edition prototype that was revealed at the 2025 Shanghai motor show.The location of the front axle has been moved forwards, plus the front overhang has been trimmed, improving the approach angle.According to Chinese Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) filings, this updated Tank 300 measures in at 4886mm long, 1984mm wide and 1927mm tall, with a 3010mm wheelbase.This makes it 126mm longer, 54mm wider and 24mm taller than the current model.Unlike the Hooke Edition prototype, which had a solid front axle, it’s understood the production version of this updated Tank 300 retains a front double wishbone and a rear multi-link suspension set-up.Another major change is the powertrain options. In addition to the Hi-4T plug-in hybrid (PHEV) option that retains a mechanical four-wheel drive system, a new Hi-4Z PHEV option, which is more electric-centric, is being introduced with this update.Full details haven’t been confirmed yet, but GWM claims it has a 60kWh battery allowing up to 200km electric range, according to an undisclosed testing cycle.For reference, the current Tank 300 Hi4-T PHEV has a 37.1kWh lithium-ion battery pack, which offers up to 115km of electric range, according to NEDC testing.It’s understood this new Tank 300 Hi4-Z PHEV will share a lot of its componentry with the Tank 400 Hi-4Z PHEV.It has a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine and dual electric motors with a total system output of 635kW and 1195Nm, along with a 60kWh battery pack offering up to 200km of electric range.It’s expected the rest of the current powertrains will carry over. These include a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol, a 2.4-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel, as well as a 3.0-litre turbocharged V6 petrol.In Australia only the 2.0-litre turbo-petrol and 2.4-litre turbo-diesel engines are offered, in addition to the Hi4-T PHEV powertrain.A change the imagery reveals is an altered front fascia. There’s a new grille with Tank lettering, as well as more pronounced recovery points, though it’s unclear if they’re functional.A LiDAR pod can be seen on the roof, indicating that semi-autonomous driving technology may be coming.We're yet to see any imagery of the interior, so it's unclear if there have been any changes.It’s understood this updated Tank 300 will be going on sale in China on July 6 and it’s unclear if or when it will be available to export markets, including Australia.

When is a car no longer a car?That’s a good question, as you’d initially think that a car needs four wheels, some seats and a steering wheel.Dig deeper and a car may only require three wheels, one seat and perhaps no steering wheel whatsoever. There’s a lot of flux to the definition of a car.The steering wheel point is particularly controversial as if there is no steering wheel, you’re technically not driving anymore and are a passenger. Therefore I’d argue this isn’t necessarily a car anymore and merely a shuttle for transportation.This feeling arose when I experienced Tesla’s Full Self-Driving (Supervised) software for the first time late last year.This was in a Model 3 electric sedan which can be fundamentally defined as a car. It has four wheels, five seats and a steering wheel.You’re also able to drive the Model 3 like a regular car, but with the push of a button it drives itself. Sure, you need to supervise it and take back control if it starts heading in the wrong direction, but for the most part you aren’t touching the steering wheel or pedals.It’s a bizarre sensation handing over all the driving inputs, especially when it can tackle complex scenarios like roundabouts, traffic lights and the infamous hook turns in Melbourne.The technology will likely reach a point where a steering wheel is no longer needed. Tesla is already planning for this with its Cybercab autonomous vehicle.Although production versions of the Cybercab have already started to be produced, they are in small numbers for testing purposes. It’s unclear when they’ll be publicly available for purchase.Tesla is far from the only company developing autonomous driving technology. I was recently a passenger in an autonomously driven Nissan Ariya in Japan. The technology to allow this has been developed in partnership with Wayve, which also has a partnership with Stellantis.Nissan is currently aiming to begin a robotaxi service with these autonomous vehicles in Japan by the end of 2026. It’s also eventually aiming to roll the technology out to customer vehicles as an optional extra.Additionally, Waymo is already operating an autonomous robotaxi service in select cities in the US. There are also plans to introduce it in the UK and Japan.Ultimately the goal with this kind of autonomous or self-driving technology is to have a lounge room on wheels. In some respects we are already there.In the era of software-defined vehicles, many cars now revolve around the central touchscreen multimedia system and the experience they provide. Arguably for some carmakers there is more emphasis on this and the actual driving experience is secondary.In some respects this is warranted as in electric vehicles (EVs) you may be spending your time in the car while it’s charging at a public charger but at the end of the day it’s a car, not a lounge room.Going back to Tesla, the main interface in its current vehicle line-up is the central touchscreen. It dominates the dashboard and you’re required to use it to adjust virtually function.There are also so many novelty and convenience features that span beyond the driving experience. Think of the games you can play while you’re parked, the light show and the comical fart noises you can get the car to play.The list goes on and for many carmakers, especially newer Chinese ones, it seems like a heavier focus is being put on features like this, or services relating to the touchscreen, than the overall driving experience.As a result, it feels like some cars are more glorified iPads with flashy lights on wheels.I know that many people can’t function without technology now and in many respects it’s critical to many areas of cars, particularly safety, however at the end of the day a car is meant to be driven.It would be lovely to see a renewed interest in how a car actually is to drive compared to how flashy and cool its technology is. I’d argue this is wishful thinking though, especially given autonomous vehicles appear closer on the horizon every day.

Cupra has officially axed the Ateca in Australia as production winds down globally.“We’ve sold out in Australia,” said Cupra Australia Head of Product Jeff Shafer to CarsGuide.“It's been, you know, a great car to have at launch. It was one of the original Cupra models globally.”Cupra Australia Director Jerome Figuiere noted that global production will finish over the northern hemisphere summer break, which runs from June to August.The Cupra Ateca is essentially a hotted-up version of the Seat Ateca, which dates all the way back to 2016. It shares its platform with the Skoda Karoq and Audi Q2, among others.This spicy small SUV was one of the Spanish carmaker’s first vehicles in Australia when it launched back in 2022. It formed as part of the launch line-up, being sold alongside the Formentor small SUV and Leon small hatchback.Initially the Ateca was only offered locally in a flagship VZx trim with its 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine producing 221kW and 400Nm.In 2024 a new, entry-level version called the V joined the local line-up. Its 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder produces 140kW and 320Nm.Despite this, the Ateca has always been the brand’s slowest seller in Australia. Last year a total of 101 examples were sold, which was down 61.5 per cent year-on-year.For reference, Cupra sold a total of 1490 Formentors over the same time, which was up 17.8 per cent year-on-year.However, up until May this year, Cupra sold a total of 110 Ateca examples, which was up 124.5 per cent year-on-year. Part of this is likely due to runout deals.Over the same period though the Spanish brand sold 318 Formentor examples.Although Cupra may be axing one of its original and oldest models, the brand has already been introducing newer and larger SUV offerings.It launched the Tavascan mid-size electric SUV, which is based on the same platform as the Volkswagen ID.4 and ID.5, among others, as well as the Terramar mid-size SUV, which is based on the same platform as the Volkswagen Tiguan, both in 2025.Additionally the Spanish carmaker is set to introduce the new Raval small electric hatchback in Australia during 2027.

Volkswagen's spicy Spanish brand, Cupra, is finally launching the updated version of its Formentor small SUV in Australia. It's now offered in more flavours than ever, ranging from mild to extra hot.

Electric vehicles (EVs) are becoming much more popular and mainstream in Australia, however one EV category has seemingly faltered before it even properly started.The utility, or ute for short, is an incredibly popular body type in Australia and examples have been the best-selling vehicle for over a decade now, but there have only been a handful of electric utes on offer to date Down Under.The first was the LDV eT60 which launched in late 2022 and was priced from an obscene $92,990 before on-road costs, which was more than double the amount of the standard, turbo-diesel-powered T60 dual-cab ute at the time.The eT60 also only offered 330km of WLTP-claimed range, was rear-wheel drive and had a braked towing capacity of just 1000kg.For context, the most popular utes in Australia offer all-wheel drive, as well as a braked towing capacity around 3500kg.LDV admitted the eT60 was aimed primarily at government and business fleets, with only a minimal number of early adopters expected to fork out the cash for one.Since then only two other electric utes have launched in Australia.The KGM Musso EV launched locally in 2025 and unlike many utes, including the regular turbo-diesel-powered Musso, that have a body-on-frame architecture, it has a monocoque platform which is related to the Actyon and Torres SUVs.As a result the Musso EV is much more car-like to drive, but it still offers all-wheel drive and up to 420km of WLTP-claimed range.This monocoque platform does limit the braked towing capacity to 1800kg though, however payload is up to 905kg, depending on the variant.The Korean ute is limited in its potential as a towing rig and makes it better suited for lighter-duty or lifestyle applications.The most recent addition to the electric ute stable in Australia is arguably the most important yet.Toyota has now introduced an electric version of its popular HiLux ute, dubbed the HiLux BEV.In Australia there are three versions of the HiLux BEV, the SR dual-cab chassis, SR dual-cab pick-up and SR5 dual-cab pick-up.Pricing starts at $74,990 before on-road costs and goes up to $82,990 before on-road costs. Each variant is $17,000 more expensive than the turbo-diesel-powered equivalent.While the HiLux BEV has dual electric motors offering all-wheel drive, it only has a braked towing capacity of 2000kg and up to 345km of NEDC-claimed range, depending on the variant.Similar to how LDV positioned the eT60, Toyota has said the HiLux BEV is primarily aimed at government fleets and mining and construction sectors. Only a sliver of projected sales will be from private buyers.For now that’s all the electric ute options in Australia and none offer the same amount of braked towing capacity as its turbo-diesel-powered equivalent. However, that’s soon set to change.China’s MG is launching an electric version of its U9 dual-cab ute in Australia in the second half of 2026.According to approval documents, the MG U9 EV will offer a braked towing capacity of 3500kg.Power will come from a dual-motor all-wheel drive set-up with a total system output of 325kW.The full details haven’t been confirmed yet but overseas it's offered with a 102kWh lithium-ion battery pack with up to 430km of range, according to WLTP testing.LDV had previously confirmed that it would launch the eTerron 9, which is an equivalent to the MG U9 EV, in Australia however this has now seemingly fallen off the radar.Beyond this there are no other electric utes that are locked in for an Australian launch currently.Isuzu previously noted that it plans to introduce the D-Max EV in Australia, but it still hasn’t provided any timeline for when.It’s already offered in other markets, like the UK, and offers a 3500kg braked towing capacity and 1000kg payload, but only 263km of WLTP-claimed range.Additionally it’s unlikely that the full-size American electric pick-ups like the Tesla Cybertruck, Chevrolet Silverado EV, GMC Hummer EV and Rivian R1T will ever come to Australia as demand for these kinds of vehicles is declining in the US and they would need to be re-engineered for right-hand drive applications.This may change with Ford’s upcoming mid-size ute that’s based on its new universal EV platform, as well as the forthcoming Slate small electric ute, but neither are confirmed for right-hand drive production.While all the electric ute options in Australia currently are flawed in some way or another, the sales charts show that punters are still keen on reducing their fuel bills and CO2 footprint with plug-in hybrid (PHEV) utes.The biggest winner thus far is firmly the BYD Shark 6 which is now available in three variants - Dynamic dual-cab chassis, Premium dual-cab pickup and Performance dual-cab pickup.The latter variant offers a benchmark 3500kg braked towing capacity, whereas the others offer a 2500kg braked towing capacity.Depending on the trim, the Shark 6 offers up to 100km of NEDC-claimed electric range.Likely a key reason for its sales success is how much it costs. The line-up starts at $55,990 before on-road costs and extends to $62,990 before on-road costs. This puts it roughly at the same price as mid-spec diesel versions of the Toyota HiLux and Ford Ranger.We’ll have to wait and see whether Australians embrace electric utes, however they’ll likely remain a niche offering for fleets for the time being.

Cupra has officially confirmed it will be introducing a fire-breathing, purely petrol-powered version of the Leon Sportstourer wagon in Australia in September.The Leon Sportstourer VZx will complement the existing VZe plug-in hybrid (PHEV) trim. Examples are in production now and order books will be opening shortly.Pricing will start from $67,490 before on-road costs, making it $2500 less than the VZe PHEV trim and $2500 more than the equivalent Leon VZx hatchback.This car is powered by a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine that produces 245kW and 420Nm, which is 24kW and 20Nm more than the equivalent Leon VZx hatch.It’s mated to a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission with drive sent through an all-wheel drive system.Cupra claims the Leon Sportstourer VZx can do the 0-100km/h sprint in just 4.8 seconds.This car essentially revives the Golf R Wagon in Australia under the Cupra brand as it’s powered by the same EA888 engine and has the wagon body style. The hi-po Golf wagon was axed locally back in 2023.The Leon Sportstourer VZx receives 19-inch black and copper forged alloy wheels, LED headlights, a hands-free power tailgate, adaptive dampers, Sennheiser sound system, leather-appointed upholstery, as well as heated front seats with memory function as standard.There's also a panoramic glass sunroof for an extra $2000, as well as the $7600 Extreme package which adds larger Akebono six-piston front brakes, Sabelt front bucket seats and matrix LED headlights, among other minor tweaks.Cupra is soon set to celebrate its fourth anniversary in Australia and its line-up is currently going through a refresh.The Leon hatchback and wagon, as well as the Formentor small SUV have now received mid-life updates, plus the Terramar and Tavascan mid-size SUVs launched over the last 18 months.The Born electric hatchback and Ateca small SUV have both been axed in Australia, but the Raval small electric hatchback is set to launch locally during 2027.Until the end of May, Cupra has sold a total of 975 cars, which is down 22.2 per cent year-on-year. Its best-seller has always been the Formentor, but it’s keenly followed by the Terramar and Tavascan mid-size SUVs.