Articles by James Cleary

Ferrari has continued its two-decade long line of ‘special’ versions of its smaller mid-rear engined supercars with the arrival of the 296 Speciale, a fire-breathing 647kW version of the twin-turbo, V6 plug-in hybrid.

In 2025 branding means way more than a hot iron mark scorched into a steer’s backside.It’s about a brand’s personality, reputation and your interactions with it. What it says about you. What it delivers. How it makes you feel. A visual identity, a design style… and a million other things.   And there are automotive brands in the Australian new-car market that have strategically built solid brand equity over many decades.Current market leader, Toyota began dipping its corporate toe into global export waters by shipping cars here in the late 1950s. And other Japanese makers like Honda, Mazda and Nissan followed it in conquering initial hesitancy by steadily investing in strong retail networks, pushing product improvement and focusing on a positive customer experience.Ford has built its global brand around everything from the Model T and its revolutionary assembly line to pumped up muscle cars and victory at Le Mans. While here it embedded itself in the local landscape via a manufacturing presence spanning close to a century and regular victory at Mount Panorama.And more recently, relative newcomers like Hyundai and Kia have moved rapidly from cheap and (mostly) cheerful to innovators that repositioned the concept of value and quality in the local market.All of which led to large pockets of ‘rusted on’ brand loyalty. The concept of ‘Ford and Holden families’ started to diminish from the moment the latter departed the scene in 2020 (if not before), but Toyota’s reputation for value, durability and affordable ownership has seen it maintain a legion of never-say-die fans.Same for Ford, Mazda, Mitsubishi and others. But I'd argue a turning point was when, after an initial false start through a private importer in 2013, MG set up as a direct subsidiary in 2017.Great Wall had landed as the first Chinese car brand in the Aussie market in 2009, but MG 2.0 was different. Even if its ‘Since 1924’ positioning stretched credulity, its products were better than expected and pricing was ultra sharp.Sharp enough to encourage budget-focused new-car buyers, even used-car prospects, to give the brand a go.With the introduction of new-generation products in the early 2020s sales took off like a rocket, and it’s here that my ‘That’s a good idea’ theory kicks in.I reckon executives at rival Chinese car brands, keeping an eye on MG’s increasing success Down Under, all had the same ‘good idea’ at the same time. Namely, let’s get into Australia and grab a piece of that action. Hence the subsequent arrival of Chery in 2023, itself a factory-backed restart after an initial import-distribution arrangement broke down back in 2011. Followed by the flood gates opening, with BYD, Deepal, Geely, a ramped up GWM, JAC, LDV, Leapmotor, Smart, Jaecoo, XPeng and Zeekr all jumping in with Aion, Avatar, Jetour, Lynk & Co, Skyworth and others waiting in the wings.Doesn’t matter which category you’re talking about - white goods, sporting equipment, hi-fi - if one fresh competitor enters a mature market, it’s likely to be met with reluctance, even contempt by existing brand loyalists.But if near enough to 20 newcomers blaze into market at the same time, clearly something seismic is going on and it feels like you’d be missing a trick if you didn’t at least investigate the rapidly changing competitive landscape.Give them the benefit of 20/20 hindsight as well as a time machine and it’s not certain all the new brands above would currently be making an Aussie entrance.But multiple triggers have been pulled with retail network deals done, head office staff recruited, parts warehousing set up, service and sales training completed and marketing campaigns launched. So, in a mature market, early movers like MG, Chery and GWM have the advantage and more recent arrivals will need to find a way to win over buyers… fast. And it’s a fair bet the ever-impactful lever marked price will be pulled on a regular basis.Some of the newcomers as well as more than a few existing legacy brands will be forced into a price war. Like it or not, loyalty comes under pressure when the incentive is enticing enough and with a cut-price cage fight likely to take place sooner rather than later not everyone will leave the octagon alive.Stand by for new-car buyers tempted en masse into ‘unbeatable deals’ that mean brand loyalties will be stretched beyond breaking point. The shake out from this looming war of attrition will be huge. 

With a 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8 in the front driving the rear wheels, the Roma is a classic Ferrari two-door 2+2. We leapt at the opportunity of driving the Coupe version in and around the iconic Italian brand's home town of Maranello, Italy.

MG has taken the wraps off its latest premium ‘Cyber’ model at the Shanghai Auto Show overnight.The Cyber X Concept is a dramatically squared off and upright compact pure-electric SUV finished in menacing matt black with slimline pop-up headlights at the top of each front corner.As its name implies, the Cyber X, like its Cyberster production sports car sibling, is designed to be twin-motor, all-wheel-drive capable but at this stage remains a styling study with no interior treatment or indicative powertrain details provided.Measuring 4.3 metres end-to-end, it's smaller than potential (price-based) pure-EV competitors like the Audi Q4 e-tron, Genesis GV60 and Tesla Model Y but aligns closely with BMW’s more diminutive iX2 in terms of size.Speaking at the car’s unveiling, MG Head of Design Jozef Kabaň told Autocar that he and his team referenced one of Ferrari’s most iconic supercars, the Testarossa, in adding the Cyber X’s signature retracting ‘pop-up’ headlights.A design veteran with long stints at VW Group and BMW on his CV, Kabaň noted the advent of the 'digital world' means some historic car design differentiators have been lost and said the Cyber X concept is designed to explore ways of bringing some of that character back.He added that the priority with the Cyber X's design was to "give families an emotional car, to give them joy by not needing to compromise at the stage of life when they have a family". The brooding, slab-fronted SUV incorporates smoked black A- and B-pillars to deliver a floating roof effect, with aero-style two-tone, five-spoke rims filling the wheel arches.Front and rear lighting incorporates full-width LED strips with flush-fit door handles helping to dial up the stark, minimalist vibe.There’s no official word on the likelihood of a green light for full production, although whispers on the Shanghai show floor suggest the Cyber X could hit showrooms as soon as late next year.It’s worth noting MG is on the record with its ambition to release eight new pure-electric models by the end of 2027, including a large SUV, sedans and sports cars. At the same time it has confirmed exploration of two new, additional Cyber models on top of the Cyber X - a larger five-seat SUV and a compact sedan.

One of the country’s most popular mid-size SUVs, the Mitsubishi Outlander, has come in for a substantial update including extra in-cabin tech, upgraded multimedia (including audio) and an Australia-specific suspension and steering tune.Scheduled to arrive here in the third quarter of this year, the 2025 model year Outlander’s exterior design has been tweaked around the lower part of the front grille and rear diffuser panel while new alloy wheel designs have also been introduced.The five- and '5+2'-seater’s interior now includes a 12.3-inch multimedia display managing multiple functions including wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, and in the top-spec Exceed Tourer, a new ‘Dynamic Sound Yamaha Premium’ audio system.But arguably the biggest change is an Australian-specific suspension and steering tune, which according to Mitsubishi Motors Australia Limited is part of a collaborative program which has elevated it to ‘core market’ status with Mitsubishi Motors Corporation.Feedback from Australian customers and media fed into the process as well as “early local development drives on-road and at Victoria’s Lang Lang proving ground”.Mitsubishi Australia R&D Engineer Tony Dorrington subsequently spent several weeks on the ground in Japan to finalise the set-up with the MMC team at its Okazaki proving ground. According to Mitsubishi, the aim is “a greater connection for the driver and greater occupant comfort”.MMAL GM of Product Strategy Bruce Hampel said, “As a core market for Mitsubishi Motors globally, Australian market feedback played a significant role in further improving the updated Outlander’s steering, ride and handling, tuning it to further suit Australian conditions and buyer requirements with a new tyre specification.”So far in 2025 the Outlander is running second in medium SUV sales to the all-conquering Toyota RAV4, with the Kia Sportage and Mazda CX-5 in hot pursuit.Mitsubishi says further detail on pricing and final specification will be confirmed closer to the launch date.

It’s a name most new-car buyers are only just getting to grips with, but Chinese EV specialist Zeekr continues to make its mark with yet another new model emerging overnight.Featuring a distinctive tapering ‘shooting brake’ profile in the style of Porsche’s Taycan Sport Turismo, the Zeekr 007 GT is the brand’s second electric station wagon, following in the wheel tracks of the slightly larger Zeekr 001.With a claimed range of up to 825km, 475kW on tap in the top-spec dual-motor AWD variant and air suspension standard, it’s set to make a splash in the Chinese market, where wagons aren’t usually a mainstream choice. Despite this, the 001 wagon has proved popular.Offered in single-motor (310kW) rear-wheel drive and dual-motor (475kW) AWD form, the 007 GT wagon rides on the same modular platform as its sedan sibling, measuring just under 4.9m long, 1.9m wide and a little over 1.4m tall with a 2925mm wheelbase.Claimed 0-100km/h acceleration is a supercar-like 2.95 seconds! There are two battery options for RWD and AWD models - a 75kWh lithium iron phosphate (LFP) and 100kWh nickel manganese cobalt (NMC) pack, with (CLTC) range stretching from 585–825km. An 800V architecture means the 007 GT is claimed to charge from 10 to 80 per cent in just 10.5 minutes on a DC fast charger.The GT features a 90-inch interactive LED screen in its nose able to display text and emojis, which is unlikely to see the light of day outside the domestic market.Retractable door handles, aero roof rails and a rear spoiler enhance the car’s sleek looks, with 20-inch rims filling the wheel arches.Inside, there’s a big 15.4-inch media touchscreen and LCD digital instrument display as well as 35.5-inch augmented reality head-up display.The five seats seats are trimmed in Nappa leather with the fronts featuring 14-way power adjustment as well as heating, cooling and a massage function.Boot capacity is a healthy 645 litres, which expands to a substantial 1737 litres with the split folded second-row seats lowered. Fun fact: An optional 10.2-litre refrigerator can be fitted under the boot floor.Pricing in China starts at ¥202,900 for the RWD 75kWh entry-model, rising to ¥262,900 for the 100kWh AWD version.On a direct currency conversion that’s a spread of around $43,500 to $56,400. Add a roughly 20 per cent bump to cover import and distribution and that jumps to $52,200 to $67,680.Zeekr has confirmed the car will be exported to Europe as the Zeekr 7 GT and CarsGuide has contacted Zeekr Australia to see if it’s in line for a local launch. This story will be updated with any feedback received.

While the Ford Ranger, Toyota HiLux and Isuzu D-Max are still hugely popular, the established order in the Australian ute market continues to be challenged by newer brands and models like the BYD Shark 6, JAC T9 and GWM Cannon. And on the back of the recent launch of a significantly upgraded 2.4-litre turbo-diesel version of its Cannon ute, GWM has this week announced a range expansion with additional body styles, model grades and powertrain options to further dial up the competitive pressure.Initially left out of the updated line-up, an entry-level Premium grade has been reinstated, with 2.0-litre turbo-diesel power and an eight-speed auto transmission in 4x2 Single Cab Chassis (with tray) at $35,490, drive-away, or 4x4 Dual Cab utility form for $39,490, D/A. Previous range entry-point was $41,490, D/A for the Lux Dual Cab.At the same time, a 4x4 Dual Cab Chassis (with tray) will be offered in Lux trim, with the larger 2.4-litre engine at $42,490 D/A. For context, entry to the Ford Ranger line-up starts with the XL Single Cab (125kW/405Nm 2.0L) at $36,880, before on-road costs. Toyota’s HiLux range kicks off with the Workmate Single Cab Hi-Rider manual (110kW/400Nm 2.4L) at $32,970, BOC. And the plug-in hybrid BYD Shark 6 is offered in a single (321kW/650Nm 1.5L) Double Cab model for $57,900, BOC. GWM has confirmed the Cannon Premium’s 2.0-litre/eight-speed auto combination is “a direct carryover from the previous model” with outputs of 120kW/400Nm and maximum braked trailer towing capacity of 3.2 tonnes unchanged.And the reemergence of the smaller powerplant delivers a worthwhile fuel efficiency advantage with official combined (urban/extra-urban) figures of 7.6L/100km (single cab) and 8.1L/100km (dual cab). For reference, the 135KW/480Nm 2.4-litre dual cab comes in at 8.4L/100km.According to GWM, the Single Cab Chassis variant features a 240mm wheelbase extension (3470mm vs 3230mm) to “improve load distribution and vehicle dynamics” and a higher load capacity (1150kg vs 995kg) thanks in no small part to its leaf spring live axle rear suspension.Standard equipment on the Premium includes 18-inch alloy wheels, synthetic leather seats, single-zone climate control, a 12.3-inch media touchscreen (with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto), four-speaker audio, a 7.0-inch digital instrument cluster, auto rain-sensing wipers and paddle shifters.There’s also auto LED headlights (with DRLs and auto levelling), auto high beam, fog lights (with steering illumination), side steps, keyless entry, underbody protection, seven airbags (including a front centre bag), a reversing camera, rear parking sensors, trailer sway control, tyre pressure monitoring and more.And GWM is keen to push its seven-year/unlimited km warranty, five years roadside assistance offer and five-year capped price servicing program.So, shots fired, and it’s surely only a matter of time until others in the boiling hot ute market retaliate. Stand by.

To help get the new-generation Skoda Kodiaq out of the blocks with a bang an initial batch of 100 Launch Edition cars will be offered at $63,490 before on-road costs.

Thanks to five World Rally Championship (WRC) titles and a devout following among performance car enthusiasts, in less than five years Toyota’s pint-sized GR Yaris has achieved hot hatch icon status.And not content to rest on its laurels, the Japanese giant has continuously evolved the compact turbocharged all-wheel drive package since it emerged in late 2020.In fact, its latest upgrade arrived here just last month, with more power, a refreshed interior and the option of an eight-speed automatic transmission alongside the existing six-speed manual gearbox.Now Toyota Gazoo Racing (TGR) has confirmed another GR Yaris evolution, developed with what it says are “insights gained from motorsports”.Specifically, the WRC, domestic Super Taikyu Series and Japanese Rally Championship where TGR operates under the slogan "Thanks for breaking it", directed at drivers pushing these competition cars to their limits and beyond. And prepare yourself for some hardcore nerdy content because some of the updates are closer to a suspension engineer’s fever dream than a conventional running change.For example, “Special bolts with a high level of fastening rigidity” have been deployed to help fasten chassis components with the aim of improving steering response, straight-line stability and an “evolved sense of oneness with the car”.The shock absorbers have been re-calibrated and the EPS (Electronic Power Steering) re-tuned “to accommodate changes to the bolts that fasten chassis parts” and  “accommodate increased torque used to tighten a portion of the conventional bolts”.In one instance the bolts partially securing the front lower arms and lower ball joints change from a 22mm to 24mm head size, and the fasteners locating the top of the rear dampers now feature a stronger faceted flange rather than a flat one. TGR Super GT and Super Formula driver Kazuya Oshima was recruited to help refine shock absorber damping force for better control and ride comfort and also improve the steering’s linearity.A drift and rally-style ‘vertical parking brake’ will be offered as an option on all trim levels, the full suite of ‘Toyota Safety Sense’ features will now be standard across the range and the footrest on automatic models has been enlarged.Speaking of which, the auto transmission has been “further honed” by expanding the speed range for downshifting (second to first gear) via the paddle shifter when in Drive, “improving the sense of directness” near the redline when selecting ‘Sport’ in manual mode and optimising up-shift timing during full-throttle acceleration.Three trim levels will be offered in the Japanese domestic market with the flagship RZ "High performance" GR Yaris “tuned to provide speed and controllability at the limit of performance with a view to aggressive circuit driving”.At the same time, an ‘Aero Performance Package’ will become available in Japan later this year, featuring elements designed to “address every single issue encountered during racing and circuit evaluations”.The package includes a ducted aluminium hood, front lip spoiler, fender ducts, a fuel tank undercover, variable rear wing and rear bumper ducts.TGR says orders for the updated GR Yaris are open in Japan now with domestic sales to commence on May 6. Prices range from the equivalent of $39,600 for the entry-level RC manual, to $59,300 for the top-spec RZ High Performance auto.For reference, the current two-model Australian line-up starts at $55,490, before on-road costs for the GT manual and tops out at $62,990 (BOC) for the GTS auto.When asked if the latest evolution of the GR Yaris would be offered locally a Toyota spokesperson told CarsGuide, “GR is an increasingly important part of our line-up, bringing added fun and excitement to our customers and our brand with innovations such as the evolved GR Yaris and the optional aero performance package. In Australia, we are keen to evaluate any new GR products should they become available for our market,” they said.

It was building for a long time, but now the giant wave of Chinese challenger brands entering the Australian new-car market has hit our shores with a vengeance.