Articles by John Law

Porsche has detailed the first two variants in its 2025 ‘992.2’ 911 sports car with a new hybrid powertrain as the headline act. Far from a sanitised eco car, the 911 Carrera GTS is a rear-drive two door with a 398kW flat six, a 0-100km/h time of 3.0 seconds and 312km/h top speed. Along with the non-hybrid 911 Carrera, the Carrera GTS hybrid will hit Australian dealerships in the first quarter of 2025. Pricing starts at $280,500 for the Carrera and $381,200 for hybrid GTS, both before on-road costs. Visually, the new Porsche 992.2 911’s tweaks are minor. There is a new front bumper design with broader intakes that features five vertical slates. Though the headlights retain the familiar four-dot graphic, Matrix LEDs are standard with Matrix HD tech optional. At the rear, the Mercedes-AMG GT and Chevrolet Corvette rival gets a new light strip with a ‘PORSCHE’ logo. A higher rear number plate placement and a re-profiled bumper help tell you it’s the new one, while each model can be distinguished by specific exhaust garnishes integrated into the diffuser. An optional aero kit with aggressive front bumper, side sills and fixed rear wing (rather than the standard deployable item) is offered for $5700. Making the GTS a hybrid wasn’t a simple affair. Porsche took the 3.0-litre straight six and increased the bore and stroke (to 97mm and 81mm, respectively), boosting its displacement to 3.6 litres. Then, the Stuttgart carmaker removed one of the turbos, fitting a new one powered by the 400-volt electrical system to eliminate lag (therefore the need for a second, smaller turbine) and mounted a 40kW/150Nm electric motor to the carryover eight-speed ‘PDK’ dual-clutch automatic transmission. The result is 398kW and 610Nm, enough to cut the Carrera 4 GTS’s 0-100km/h sprint by half a second. It can also travel under electric power at low speed, while the 1.9kWh battery is said to be the same size and weight as a regular 12-volt accessory battery. The new Carrera GTS hybrid is available in rear-wheel drive or all-wheel-drive guise. Further helping offset the hybrid system’s bulk in an electric HVAC system that does away with clunky belt drive in the engine bay. Porsche has not confirmed ADR fuel consumption figures for the 911 hybrid.“We developed and tested a wide variety of ideas and approaches to arrive at the hybrid system that would suit the 911 perfectly. The result is a unique drive that fits into the overall concept of the 911 and significantly enhances its performance,” says Frank Moser, Vice President Model Lines 911 and 718.Also new for the GTS is standard rear-axle steering, while the Porsche Dynamic Chassis Control (PDCC) and active roll stabilisation is now powered by the higher voltage electronics  for more ‘flexible and precise’ functionality. As before, the GTS is fitted with sports suspension and PASM for a 10mm lower ride height than Carrera. A pair 21-inch alloys wear 315mm wide tyres at the back, while up front are 20–inch items shod in 245mm wide rubber.  The base Carrera retains its 3.0-litre flat six with twin turbos. A bigger intercooler from the 911 Turbo and two turbos from the current GTS ups outputs by a small 7kW to 290kW. That means 0-100km/h in 4.1 seconds (3.9 with Sport Chrono), or a tenth faster than before. Inside, the 911 coupe remains a 2+2 in Australia though in Europe it is two-seat only. The GTS is available in closed-top coupe, Targa or full Cabriolet body styles. The cabin has been rearranged with controls, including the drive mode switch and engine start button, now on the beautiful three-spoke steering wheel.A fully digital instrument cluster is a first, with info displayed on a curved 12.6-inch screen reminiscent of the new Macan. There are seven views, including classic five-tube dial imitation. A cooled compartment houses the wireless charging pad. Wireless smartphone mirroring is standard with easier set-up via a QR code. The 10.9-inch screen gets updated software that allows you to directly download apps, including Spotify and Apple Music. The latest 911 release finishes Porsche’s product launches for the year. “Our product portfolio is younger than ever and highly attractive,” said Porsche CEO Oliver Blume. “It offers our customers even more customisation options and exclusive experiences.”Typically Porsche will offer a huge array of options – up to seven different wheel designs for a start. Headline standard features include a Bose premium sound system, digital radio, adaptive cruise control and 14-way power adjust ‘Comfort’ seats for the Carrera. Porsche has yet to announce the full 911 model range. Right now, we are awaiting information on the new Carrera S, Turbo, Turbo S and a follow up to the bonkers 911 GT3.Australian arrivals will begin in the first quarter (January-March inclusive) of next year with all models featuring an eight-speed PDK automatic initially. 2025 Porsche 911 pricingAll prices are before on-road costs 

A third, entry-level Toyota GR sports car project, previously thought to have been abandoned, may be back on track for a 2026 release.

The next generation of Hyundai Palisade three-row SUV is expected to debut in 2026. Ahead of that, 3D designer NYMammoth has created another set of renders based on the latest spy shots of the new large SUV testing. As before, the Palisade will be a monocoque large SUV though this time a plugless hybrid is all-but confirmed to replace the thirsty 3.8-litre V6 and previous-gen diesel currently available. Though tougher in looks, the new Palisade is unlikely to have anything to do with the new frame platform developed by Kia for the Tasman ute and its potential off-road wagon relative. It will still ride on a new platform, according to reports. The new render has a distinct Palisade relation in its boxy body proportions. The bonnet has a squarer profile while a little more width in the hips lends the new car extra road presence. Like its smaller Santa Fe relative, Hyundai’s Toyota Kluger and Nissan Pathfinder rival gets squared off wheel arches for a more futuristic appearance. Of course, we can’t ignore the huge grille. The Palisade has always featured unique and bold front masks and the latest attempt is no different. The imagined concept has a mass of black slats for cooling, snuggled down the left and right sides are LED lighting features for a distinct appearance. There are no images of the rear-end renders but imagine it will adopt some of the Santa Fe’s design language – expect a similar broad, tough look to the front. NYMammoth has also imagined the new interior with almost Ioniq 6-like details. The door cards and semi-circular handles, for example, while it gets a Land Rover Defender look-alike steering wheel. There was buzz about as-yet unseen Palisade as far back as the 2023 LA Auto Show. At the time, engine speculation suggested new, more efficient powertrains. As reported by Korean Car Blog, the Palisade is expected to get a 2.5-litre petrol-electric hybrid powertrain and a 200kW/331Nm turbo-petrol V6 from the US-market Santa Fe, offering cleaner and more powerful options than the existing 3.8-litre petrol V6 and iron block 2.2-litre turbo-diesel. An electric model is not expected. Instead, the forthcoming Ioniq 7 will do EV family shuttling duties at Hyundai. Whether the new Palisade will make it to Australia is unconfirmed. The vehicle has enjoyed reasonable success locally with around 2.5-3.0 per cent share of the mainstream large SUV market. Not offering fuel efficient powertrains like the Toyota Kluger has likely hurt its sales, though it’s the towing capable vehicles, such as the Ford Everest and Isuzu MU-X that currently dominate the segment. 

With the Japanese fiscal year ending in March, manufacturers including Nissan, Mazda, Mitsubishi, Subaru and Toyota have reported record – or close to – yearly profit figures.

Two new three-row family-friendly SUVs from China have been awarded five stars in ANCAP safety testing. The GWM Tank 500 frame-based large three-row SUV and Chery Tiggo 8 Pro Max monocoque seven-seater both scored maximum stars. GWM’s off-roader was given extra praise for its record 93 per cent score in the strict 2023-2025 Child Occupant Protection criteria thanks to its direct child presence detection system. More than just weight on a seat or cameras, the system is said to be able to detect physical and respiratory movements to warn if an occupant has been locked inside the vehicle. It can either beep or send a notification to your phone if that's the case.“Our protocols encourage the fitment of direct child presence detection systems in an effort to reduce instances where children are inadvertently left in a car,” said ANCAP CEO Carla Hoorweg. “The CPD system fitted to the GWM Tank 500 is one of the more advanced systems assessed by ANCAP so far, and it's great to see manufacturers implementing this potentially life-saving technology,” Ms Hoorweg added.In the remaining categories, the GWM Tank 500 scored 85 per cent in Adult Occupant Protection, 81 per cent in Vulnerable Road User and 84 per cent in Safety Assist. The Chery Tiggo 8 Pro Max was also awarded five stars with consistent results across the board. It joins Chery’s already five-star Tiggo 7 Pro medium SUV and Omoda 5 small SUV.“Chery’s latest offering adds to their current five-star SUV line-up, with safer options for buyers,” said Ms Hoorweg.And it’s no surprise the 7 and 8 were rated the same, as the Chery Tiggo 8 Pro Max was given its score on ANCAP’s partner program. This is when mechanically related vehicles share a score. Twins under the skin like the Kia Rio/Stonic fall under this program.This is despite the Tiggo 8 Pro Max having a 50mm longer wheelbase, 207mm longer body and two extra seats compared to the Tiggo 7 Pro. ANCAP told CarsGuide that the only additional test was for pedestrian impact safety.The Tiggo 8 Pro Max scored 88 per cent in Adult Occupant, 87 per cent in Child Occupant, 79 per cent in Vulnerable Road User and 86 per cent for Safety Assist. ANCAP’s literature lists 10 airbags , the same number as in the Tiggo 7 Pro. Those are dual frontal, side chest-protecting, side head-protecting (1st & 2nd row) airbags, a driver’s knee and centre airbags. We observed that the Tiggo 8 Pro Max’s side curtain airbags did not appear to offer full third row coverage, however. There are no top tether anchors in the GWM Tank 500 or Chery Tiggo 8 Pro Max’s third rows, and ANCAP recommends that “these seating positions are therefore not suitable for transporting young children".

Jeep rolling out more hybrids in key segments both in Australia and overseas.

Volkswagen has delayed the arrival of its ID.4 and ID.5 electric cars from July/August to the fourth quarter – October to December inclusive – of this year. 

Volkswagen Australia has brought back its Wolfsburg badge not seen since 2021 on the 2024 Tiguan Allspace three-row SUV. 

Volkswagen has finally announced pricing for the 2024 Touareg large five-seat SUV. A neat surprise for those looking to buy, the diesel-heavy facelifted Touareg with more kit and technology is significantly more affordable than the outgoing car. The prices are down between $7550 and $11,150, with the biggest savings on the 170TDI entry grade.

Mini has given a preview of its next-gen hi-po hot hatch, the John Cooper Works ahead of an official debut at the 24 Hours of Nurburgring endurance race starting May 30. For the first time, Mini is making the focused John Cooper Works spec available on electric models as well as petrol. Full powertrain and chassis details are yet to be revealed. Mini has yet to confirm when the Cooper S John Cooper Works will arrive in Australia. The rest of the range, priced from $41,990-$58,990 before on-road costs, is expected to land in the third quarter of the year.The red and white camouflage livery is made up of the outlines of the world racetracks and is said to be reminiscent of the red and white colour scheme of the 1964 Monte Carlo Rallye winning original Mini piloted by Paddy Hopkirk. Despite the camo, it’s pretty easy to see the changes made to the John Cooper Works. Don’t expect them all to make production, though, as #317 has been prepared to compete in the SP 3T category of the ‘N24’ endurance race by Bulldog Racing . The wider gloss black wheel arch covers are production items, as are extra intakes on the front bumper’s flanks to cool the brakes and tyres. Inside the new octagonal grille design there are cut outs to feed radiators, again the real deal. At the back, the John Cooper Works gets a unique twin roof spoiler design and different rear bumper valance that’s more aggressive than regular Cooper S models. Inside there will probably be red stitching and bucket seats.Don’t expect to see the single centre-exit exhaust, white multi-spoke alloy wheels with slick tyres, roll cage, or functional rear diffuser for the production model.The new Cooper S John Cooper Works will retain its more hardcore focus – its rival set is more Hyundai i20 N and Honda Civic Type R buyers than Polo or Golf GTI prospectives.We anticipated tauter springs, a lower ride height, sportier tuning for the adaptive dampers, bigger brakes and a bit more bark from the exhaust on the petrol variant. The ICE model will only be available with an automatic gearbox, with manual Minis axed from last year. As for power figures, Mini has yet to confirm any details. The petrol model will use the same 2.0-litre turbo-petrol unit found in the regular Cooper S with a bit more grunt. Given the old John Cooper Works boosted power to 170kW, we’d imagine 180kW to match the Golf GTI would be a good increase. For the electric Mini John Cooper Works, guessing is a little harder. It could carry chassis revisions and continue with the SE’s 160kW/330Nm front-mounted motor and 54kWh battery pack, though we’d love to see a bit more punch. Mini hasn’t mentioned a follow up to the hardcore John Cooper Works GP for the new Cooper hatch, yet.Further details such as power and chassis changes as well as Australian pricing – expect the petrol model to start around $60K – will be revealed closer after the car’s reveal.