Articles by James Cleary

Lamborghini says it’s Fuoriclasse… outstanding… in a league of its own. And while, of course, there are other ultra-high-performance super sports cars in this world, it’s hard not to be impressed by the mind-blowing attributes that define this new Temerario, a classically exotic mid-engined machine from this iconic Italian carmaker.The twin-turbo V8, three-motor hybrid is due in Australia in the first half of 2026, with a price tag close to $615,000 which makes it more expensive than the Huracán Evo AWD it effectively replaces and puts it in the same ball park as the Ferrari 296, McLaren 750S and Porsche 911 GT3 RS.And CarsGuide was invited to its global dynamic launch at Portugal’s iconic Circuito do Estoril just outside Lisbon. So, prepare to strap in.But first, just look at it! A typically dramatic, purposeful Lamborghini design. Maybe a little less aggressive than its Huracán predecessor but still featuring signature hexagon graphics integrated throughout, a ‘single line’ profile arcing from nose to tail, a super-cool high-mount exhaust outlet and a cut-away outer rear end showing the massive rear tyres like a sports prototype at Le Mans in the ‘70s.It’s a fraction over 4.7m long, so not tiny. But at 2.0m wide and just 1.2m tall it’s a striking supercar wedge developed in-house at the Lamborghini Centro Stile, led by Mitya Borkert.  Dialling up the take-no-prisoners stance are 20-inch rims at the front and 21s at the rear available in multiple designs in cast or forged alloy, as well as carbon-fibre.And under the jaw-dropping skin sits a newly developed hybrid powertrain, consisting of a mid-mounted 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 engine supported by no less then three oil-cooled axial flow electric motors - two on the front axle and one between the engine and transmission.This combination sends 677kW, or around 920hp, to all four wheels courtesy of the front motors and an eight-speed dual-clutch auto transmission driving the rears. Lamborghini hasn’t published a combined torque number, but the V8 alone pumps out 730Nm from 4000-7000rpm.A small, 3.8kWh lithium-ion battery pack is housed in the central tunnel and can be recharged via 7.0kW onboard AC capacity (in 30min) or regen braking from the front wheels or directly from the V8 engine.The Temerario is claimed to accelerate from 0-100km/h in 2.7 seconds, which we experienced via multiple full-fat launch-control runs on the track. That engine has a rev ceiling of 10,000rpm, which is stratospherically high for a turbo V8 and if you’re game, maximum velocity is a lazy 343km/h!But if that’s not enough for you, an Alleggerita or ‘Lightened’ package makes liberal use of carbon-fibre on the front splitter, mirror caps, sill panels, rear diffuser and wing as well as the door inserts, with a recycled carbon used for the smooth underfloor panels, plus a lightened rear windscreen, polycarbonate for the rear side windows and the carbon rims to reduce weight by more than 25kg.From an ergonomic point of view, relative to the Huracán this car has been enhanced with increased leg, head, and shoulder room. Heightened areas on either side of the turret allow for extra headroom ‘divots’ in the headliner over the two seating positions.Even at 183cm tall I was able to wear a crash helmet during track testing and still have enough headroom to avoid the all too common supercar neck twist syndrome. There’s even a pair of swing-out cupholders, a decent glove box and a large wireless phone charging bay, while luggage space has also been increased across a bench behind the seats and there’s a surprisingly generous 112-litre 'frunk' in the nose (although that’s 38L less than the Huracán’s).Interior design is multi-layered and jagged with multiple hexagons making an appearance as well as an upright 12.3-inch display for instruments and car data, a vertical 8.4-inch media screen in the centre and what Lamborghini calls an ‘Entertainment Screen’ (9.1-inch) for the passenger showing speed, gear and other readouts. A swipe feature even allows content to be moved from the central monitor to the driver or passenger displays.There’s the obligatory grippy, flat-bottom steering wheel (it’s brilliant) and proper alloy or carbon gearshift paddles as well as ‘jet switches’ and the signature red fighter-style ignition button cover. The sense of theatre makes just getting in the car a special occasion. So, time to venture out onto the circuit and Lamborghini encourages you to ‘feel like a pilot’ when you’re driving this car and they’ve tuned the exhaust system to sound more ‘like a racing motorbike’ and you can hear it. A high-pitched sound because, of course… 10,000rpm.And what you have is three motors and the twin-turbo 4.0-litre V8 working seamlessly together.If you just had the engine with those big turbos (producing up to 2.5 bar boost), it would undoubtedly be laggy, relatively unrefined and not as nice to drive. But put the motors with it and they all work together. There’s an algorithm governing which element of the powertrain takes the leading hand at any given moment.The mid-range is huge in this car, so you’ve got mega torque between 4000 and 7000rpm and urgent top end power, the titanium conrods blurring up and down as the 180-degree flat plane crank screams towards 10 grand.Lamborghini’s ‘ANIMA’ system, accessed by a rotary dial on the steering wheel, offers four main drive modes - Città (or city with electric propulsion to the fore), Strada (or street for daily use), Sport for dialling up the fun factor and Corsa/Corsa Plus for the track. Paired with different hybrid modes, up to 13 combinations are possible.The rear motor is integrated into the engine housing before the transmission, so it’s putting drive directly onto the crank and it picks up the slack, smoothing power delivery.And the compact eight-speed dual-clutch transmission is super quick and positive in ‘Manual’ mode. And even in ‘Auto’ you can feel it plucking gears with satisfying precision.Suspension is by double wishbones front and rear, with steel springs and adaptive damping. Through the different drive modes not only the steering, transmission and engine are tweaked up, the suspension reacts as well. Combine that with seamless torque vectoring across the front axle and this car is properly telepathic in terms of the connection between car and driver.Dry weight is 1690kg, distribution is 43 per cent front, 57 per cent rear, and the tyres are enormous Bridgestone Potenza Sports, developed (in Rome) for this car - 255/35 up front and 325/30 at the rear.The body is an alloy space frame and it’s claimed to be over 20 per cent stiffer in terms of its torsional resistance than the Huracán. And you can feel it is an exceptionally stable platform with the powertrain operating in the same algorithmic way as it does for acceleration to enhance steering and cornering dynamics.  You can often apply more steering lock than you’d ever think possible in genuinely fast corners. Just squeeze the throttle, look up the road and the Temerario puts its power down with absolute authority as you rocket ahead on exit. The brakes are immense; 410mm carbon-ceramic rotors at the front clamped by 10-piston monobloc calipers, with 390mm discs and four-piston calipers at the rear.With a good line and drive out of the final corner onto Estoril’s long start-finish straight we were pulling an indicated 300km/h before braking for the sharp right-hand turn one. And the Temerario pulled up straight and steady for it and all 13 corners on successive hot laps, the friction point proving consistent no matter the speed on application.  A ‘Drift Mode’, available via a steering-wheel dial, offers three levels from small to high side-slip angles and we had huge fun playing with it. Ott Tänak, eat your heart out!And a telemetry package uses three cameras and myriad sensors to plot your track day progress with 100 circuits pre-installed in the system.Safety includes a 2+ level ADAS pack featuring AEB, lane departure warning, rear cross-traffic alert and more. There are front and side airbags for the driver and passenger, with knee airbags available in specific markets.Then ‘Lamborghini Connect’ - offers up numerous options including connected nav, remote vehicle status updates, Amazon Alexa Entertainment, an emergency call function, a dashcam and (lots) more.

With dual cab ‘pick-up’ versions of its just-released Tasman ute now in local showrooms, Kia has confirmed pricing for cab chassis variants of the much-anticipated newcomer.

All it takes is one look at the size and function of this car’s 1.2-metre long rear doors to realise its primary focus is on the rear occupants rather than the person behind the wheel.Not that the Genesis Electrified G80 Signature’s driver is ignored… far from it, and we’ll get to that soon. But once you clock the auto close and soft-shut functionality of those immense rear openings, its VIP A-to-B purpose is clear.And the way it perfectly leverages the smooth, effortless power and serene refinement delivered by its dual-motor, pure-electric powertrain further confirms this car as more luxurious limo than driver-focused touring sedan.At $155,000, before on-road costs, it lines up against other luxe (often commercially-operated) electric people carrying options like the BMW i5 Sedan ($155,900), Mercedes-Benz EQE350 4Matic Sedan ($154,900) and Zeekr 009 6-seat ($139,900).Updated just last month, this already large EV’s wheelbase has been extended by no less than 130mm, and now at over 5.1m end to end, it shows.The G80’s exterior is familiar, although car-spotters should look for this Electrified’s brushed metal inserts filling in the signature honeycomb grille, uniquely dished 19-inch alloy rims and a tweaked rear bumper.The interior is awash with quilted Nappa full-grain leather on the seats, highlight trims in the doors and lush carpets on the floors.And it’s not just the coverings. Dialling in the heating, cooling, recline and massage functions on the (front and rear) seats is a reminder that relaxation and comfort are key Genesis G80 objectives.And when I say rear seats, it’s just the outer ones. Technically you can slide someone into the centre rear position but that’s more of an afterthought. The huge fold-down centre ‘armrest’ unit is the size of a carry-on suitcase and contains everything from seat adjustment (including recline, heating, cooling and massage functions) and media controls to wireless charging and extra storage.Controls on the rear centre console, available only to the rear ‘VIP’ position behind the front passenger, allow its occupant to remotely push and tilt the front passenger seat forward, which allows for a comfy recline angle and a leg rest to swing up, creating the best seat in the house. Add climate control at the back of the front centre console, a power-operated rear window and screen curtains, plus drop-down illuminated vanity mirrors in the roof, and you have a comfortable automotive cocoon at your disposal. No surprise the extra millimetres in that wheelbase stretch were dedicated exclusively to rear seat space. A ‘small’ disappointment is the boot, which despite power opening and closing (with hands-free operation) offers only 354 litres of volume (70L less than its internal-combustion counterparts), which could be awkward when well packed passengers need a ride to the airport. Compounding the issue is the fact the rear seats don’t fold, so what you see is what you get, except for a small ski-port-style door in the centre.But what was that comment about aspirations of a driver-focused touring sedan taking a ‘back seat’? Despite its substantial footprint and roughly 2.3-tonne kerb weight, the Electrified G80 accelerates, steers and stops ridiculously well.The dual motors combine to produce 272kW and 700Nm, which is enough to propel this big beastie from 0-100km/h in just 5.1 seconds and there’s always plenty of punch lurking under your right foot.The electronically controlled suspension system features a front camera and GPS-based preview function designed to smooth the ride. And it not only does that but keeps the car balanced and composed in quick corners.All-wheel drive and rear-wheel steering also play a role here, helping the car turn in rapidly and corner accurately and road feel is surprisingly good. The fat Michelin Pilot Sport 4 rubber (245/45 fr - 275/40 rr) grips firmly yet remains admirably quiet.But that near-silence (thanks in part to active road noise control) can be broken in the best possible way courtesy of the standard 17-speaker Bang & Olufsen audio system. It cranks hard and is managed (save for physical volume controls on the console and steering wheel) via one half of a sleek 27-inch dual-screen OLED display covering instruments and multimedia.On the other side of the performance coin the recent update brought a larger 94.5kWh battery pack (up from 87.2kWh) and WLTP range now sits at a useful 570km (up 50km).The car’s 800V electronic architecture means an ultra-fast charge can boost the battery from 10 to 80 per cent in a handy 25 minutes and WLTP energy consumption is quoted at 15kWh/100km. Over a week of city, suburban and some freeway running, using all the climate control, seat (and steering wheel) heating and massage functions available, we recorded an average of 20.5kWh/100km, which is more than reasonable for an EV of this scale.And then there’s the ownership promise that fits hand in glove with the Genesis G80’s premium positioning.How about a five-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty and eight years/160,000km cover on the drive battery? Not exceptional, but in line with its key competitors. Then there’s 10 years’ roadside assist and ‘Genesis Concierge’ pick-up and delivery at service time with a Genesis courtesy vehicle handed over in your car’s place. But here’s the kicker. Recommended service interval is relatively short (for an EV) at 12 months or 15,000km, but who cares because the first five years’ servicing is free of charge.And on top of that, you have the choice of a five-year Chargefox subscription or a home AC charger with installation. Zero cost ownership for the first five years? Nice.As you’d expect, active (crash-avoidance) safety is top-shelf and the G80 boasts a maximum five-star ANCAP assessment from testing in 2021. The airbag count runs to 10, including a centre and side bags for the front seats. Final random thoughts include a big tick for the inclusion of V2L (Vehicle To Load) capability to power or charge house-power appliances via an adapter attached to the plug area in the car’s nose, a big cross for a repair/inflator kit rather than a physical spare wheel, the ‘star’ button on the steering is a welcome shortcut to switching off the annoying over-speed warning, the four-level regenerative braking (including a single ‘i-Pedal’ mode) works smoothly and the four-wheel steering helps make slow-speed manoeuvring easy.

Audi’s third-generation Q5 and sporty SQ5 hit showrooms next month and have been priced aggressively and specified generously with the aim of putting a dent in the market share of its premium German mid-size SUV rivals, the BMW X3 and Mercedes GLC, while getting closer to the lower-priced, segment-leading Lexus NX.Starting at $81,000, before on-road costs, the all-new Q5 undercuts the BMW X3 (from $86,100) and Mercedes-Benz GLC (from $89,000) while dipping down to put some pressure on the Lexus NX (from $63,400).The new Q5 line-up starts with the entry-grade TFSI, powered by a 2.0-litre, four-cylinder turbo-petrol engine sending 150kW/340Nm to the front wheels via a seven-speed dual-clutch auto transmission. That combination receives mild-hybrid support from an integrated powertrain generator tipping in up to 18kW/230Nm and allowing low-speed pure EV propulsion for short distances.A redesigned interior features an 11.9-inch digital dash display and 14.5-inch multimedia screen with a 10.9-inch passenger touchscreen available as part of a ‘Tech pro’ option package.Other standard features include 19-inch alloy rims, matrix LED headlights, leather-appointed upholstery, power front seats (with heating and memory), three-zone climate control, colour ambient lighting, a leather-trimmed steering wheel and eight-speaker audio (including digital radio).The TDI quattro ($87,600 BOC) offers an almost identical standard specification but swaps out the TFSI’s petrol engine for a 2.0-litre, four-cylinder, turbo-diesel unit, this time sending 150kW/400Nm to all four wheels via the same seven-speed auto and an on-demand version of Audi’s quattro AWD system. It also features the mild-hybrid support system.Next, the TDI quattro Sport ($94,100 BOC) retains the same diesel powertrain but adds 20-inch alloys, a panoramic tinted glass sunroof, sports front seats, a three-spoke leather sports steering wheel, black headlining, stainless steel pedal covers and more.Step into the even more focused world of the SQ5 and power is bumped up to a 3.0-litre, turbo-petrol V6 engine pushing 270kW/550Nm through the seven-speed auto and quattro AWD system. With a revised suspension tune and 4.5-second 0-100km/h acceleration Audi positions it as the fastest SQ5 so far.From local launch, a limited SQ5 edition one model ($106,400 BOC) will be available for a “short period”, featuring gloss-black roof rails, mirror caps and window trims, anthracite grey badges, dark tailpipe trims and privacy glass. It also boasts 20-inch Audi Sport black metallic alloy rims and red brake calipers.Inside, the leather-appointed seats feature S embossing and a flat-top and bottom multi-function steering wheel is added.The ongoing SQ5 variant ($122,400 BOC) retains the edition one’s powertrain but switches its black elements for bright and brushed metal pieces while adding acoustic front door glass, premium diamond-stitched leather trim, additional massage and ventilation functions for the front seats, dynamic ambient interior lighting, a head-up display, top-shelf Bang & Olufsen audio and more.Underpinned by Audi’s ‘Premium Platform Combustion’ (PPC) platform the new Q5/SQ5 features progressive rate steering and ‘Frequency Selective’ dampers (using a valve to adjust damping force based on the vibration frequency) are standard across the line-up.Safety is comprehensive with a full ADAS suite including auto emergency braking (AEB), adaptive cruise control, speed sign recognition, ‘Audi Side Assist’, park assist plus and a 360-degree camera view standard. The airbag count runs to nine.Audi Australia has confirmed these five initial models will be joined by Q5 and SQ5 Sportback variants later this year.2026 Audi Q5 / SQ5 

Following its unveiling earlier this year, with order books for Chinese domestic sales opening last month, XPeng has now confirmed pricing for its G7 mid-size electric SUV in its domestic market.Offered across three versions in China - 602 long-range Max, 702 ultra-long-range Max and 702 ultra-long-range Ultra - the single-motor RWD five-seater is priced from ¥195,800 to ¥225,800.CEO of Australian XPeng distributor, TrueEV, Jason Clarke is already on the record with his desire to see the new model hit Australian showrooms in 2026 as a high-tech companion to the similarly-sized G6.Using the Chinese domestic to Australian market pricing ratio applied to the G6, that spread translates to a potential Aussie entry-price of around $61,000, before on-road costs, rising to approximately $70,000 for the flagship grade.That would pitch the G7 into an mid-size EV cage fight against the Cupra Tavascan, Jeep Avenger and Mini Aceman (all from $60,990, before on-road costs) as well as the Tesla Model Y (from $58,900) Kia EV5 (from $61,170), VW ID.4 (from $59,990) and the smash-hit BYD Sealion 7 (from $54,990).Standard equipment across all grades in China includes four-seat ventilation/heating/massage, Nappa leather seat trim, 18- or 20-inch alloy rims, a 15.6-inch central multimedia screen, a new 87-inch head-up display, a panoramic sunroof, 20-speaker audio and ambient lighting.XPeng positions the G7 as the world’s first ‘L3-level AI car’ using three in-house developed ‘Turing’ chips, collectively capable of processing ‘2250TOPS’ (2250 Tera Operations Per Second), largely focused on future L4/L5 autonomous driving.Riding on the same ‘Smart Electric Platform Architecture 2.0’ chassis as its G6 stablemate, the G7 is powered by a 218kW permanent magnet synchronous motor driving the rear wheels only.The coupe-style G7 is only marginally bigger than the G6 at 4892mm long (+139mm), 1925mm wide (+) and 1655mm tall (+) with the same 2890mm wheelbase.Boot volume is generous at 819 litres, expanding to 2277L with a 42L ‘frunk’ in support.The car features an 800V matrix for fast charging of the standard 68.5kWh LFP battery or larger 80.8kWh unit (using the same chemistry).Claimed maximum charging capacity in China is a whopping 451kW (350kW is the current maximum rate available in Australia); enough to charge from 10 to 80 per cent in just 12 minutes.Minimum energy consumption is quoted as 12.9kWh/100km (CLTC) with claimed range varying between 577km for the standard battery variant and 702km for the larger battery ‘ultra-long-range’ models.The G7 also features a ‘Taichi AI chassis’ which facilitates self-learning for, among other things, refined road surface reading. This instructs the standard adaptive damping system which forms part of the double-wishbone front and five-link rear suspension set-up.

It feels like 2021 all over again with strong demand comprehensively out-stripping supply for a popular Toyota model. And this time it’s the 70 Series GXL Wagon automatic.But rather than global supply chain disruptions or customs-related shenanigans, this time around it’s simply a matter of short-term supply exceeding current demand for the tough 4WD five-seater.Toyota Australia has confirmed “strong customer demand and relatively low production levels” have forced it to pause customer orders for the LandCruiser 70 Series GXL Wagon automatic variant as of July 17, 2025.But the brand said the sales pause only affects this single model, adding it has good supply of all other LandCruiser 70 Series variants with some models in stock ready for immediate sale and others open to order for delivery within two to four months.Toyota Australia Vice President Sales, Marketing and Franchise Operations Sean Hanley said the decision to pause availability of the auto GXL Wagon “would provide customers with more certainty around delivery times for existing orders”.“We know in the past, particularly through the COVID-19 pandemic and during the global semi-conductor supply shortage, vehicle supply challenges caused a degree of frustration with our customers with wait times for delivery of new vehicles being extended significantly.“We never want to be the cause of that frustration again so together with our dealer network, we are committed to carefully managing any supply issues to provide complete transparency for customers when issues outside our control arise.“We continue to work with our parent company in Japan to optimise production and supply levels of all Toyota vehicles to ensure we can deliver and satisfy Australian customer demands,” Hanley said.Offered in Wagon, Troop Carrier and Double Cab Chassis form in GXL trim, as well as a Troop Carrier and Double Cab Chassis in the WorkMate grade, all LandCruiser 70 Series models are now powered by the same 2.8-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel engine used in its HiLux ute sibling.The WorkMate Wagon and all Single Cab Chassis models are offered with six-speed automatic transmission only, while others in the line-up offer a choice of five-speed manual or the auto.The launch of an updated four-cylinder LandCruiser 70 Series in late 2023 signalled the beginning of the end of the rugged body-on-frame off-roader’s previous 4.5-litre turbo-diesel V8 engine.But despite the recent departure of that long-serving powerplant Toyota says it has seen the appeal of the 70 Series grow across the range, although according to industry statistician, VFacts, registrations of the ‘Landcruiser PU/CC’ are down just over 15 per cent year-on-year for the first six months of 2025.

Despite a seemingly huge appetite for the ultra-cool Ford Bronco SUV and its mini-me Bronco Sport sibling, Aussie new car buyers have so far been denied access to the super-successful retro-futurist Ford models.

Model Y gets a battery boost.

Subaru has teased what is potentially its most significant new model introduction of the year with a preview shot of its upcoming compact EV SUV, the Uncharted.

Mercedes-Benz has kicked off the new financial year with value-add special edition versions of its key small and medium hatch, sedan and SUV models claimed to add up to $4800 worth of extra features at no additional cost.