Articles by John Law

The electric car space is brutal at the moment with Nissan’s Leaf ZE1 electric hatch the latest model to have a significant price cut to drive sales. The Leaf, which was last updated in 2023, is on offer for as little as $39,990 drive-away with the longer range e+ model $49,990 drive-away, a state and territory-dependent discount of $15,300 and $16,300, respectively. Nissan’s impermanent end of financial year (EOFY) deal follows BYD slashing $8000 off demonstrator Atto 3s, Tesla lowering the price of popular Model Y and Model 3s, and the drastic $25,000 drop Peugeot applied to its e-2008 small SUV.In April, Nissan sold 11 Leafs for a yearly total of just 89 – half of what the car had achieved in the same time last year. They are normally priced at $50,990 and $61,490, both before on-road costs.The second generation of Nissan’s pioneering electric car is facing stiff competition from new Chinese rivals such as the BYD Dolphin (from $42,190 drive-away) and MG4 ($39,990 drive-away). With even more Chinese brands on the way, it’s task will only get tougher. Tech under the Leaf is now relatively old compared to rivals, with an air-cooled battery pack it’s able to eke 285km driving range (WLTP) from a 39kWh battery, while the larger pack in the e+ ups the figure to 398km.  A CHAdeMO fast-charge port limits the Leaf e+’s 10-80 per cent fast-charge time to 59 minutes – the BYD Dolphin manages this interval in 40 minutes. CarsGuide understands Nissan’s new Ariya is still on hold for Australia with no arrival date confirmed.

Guangzhou Automobile Group (GAC) has confirmed plans to launch a range of electric and hybrid vehicles in Australia by 2025. The announcement follows last year’s promise that Chinese state-owned GAC’s Aion electric car brand would reach our shores, with AGA Auto Australia now named as official importer of all GAC products.GAC and Aion’s Australian model portfolio is a long way from being finalised, however, an as-yet unseen Corolla-sized electric car has been all-but confirmed as has the new Model Y-sized Aion V. A GS8 hybrid large SUV and M8 people mover are also likely. The second generation Aion V was revealed at the 2024 Beijing Auto Show measuring 4.6 metres long. Powertrain and interior details are yet to be confirmed but the bluff medium SUV should pack around 450-600km driving range, 400-volt electrics with either LFP or NMC batteries which will eventually be made in-house. The unnamed, unseen, Corolla-sized electric hatch will be key for Aion to battle the MG4 and the BYD Dolphin in Australia. Like the Aion V, details are unconfirmed. Moving away from EVs, GAC makes Toyotas in China including the Camry, Kluger, Corolla and previous-gen C-HR under a long-standing joint venture. GAC also constructs its own line of vehicles sold under the Trumpchi brand, some of which use Toyota hybrid technology.The mooted-for-Australia GS8 is a Hyundai Palisade-sized seven-seat SUV sold in China with a fourth-gen Toyota hybrid system with e-CVT hooked up to the brand’s own 2.0-litre petrol four-cylinder. It develops 174kW/391Nm, or 10kW shy of a similarly-sized Toyota Kluger hybrid AWD. The GS8’s fuel consumption is rated at 5.8L/100km under the more generous NEDC protocol. The Toyota hybrid system may not make it to Australian GS8s, though, owing to potential conflicts with the Big T selling hybrid tech locally in direct rivals. Aion Australia Chief Operating Officer Charles Lau admitted that the importer was yet to address this issue. Lucky then that GAC has its own ‘Mega Wave’ hybrid system. The brand doesn’t say so, but it has surely been influenced by Toyota’s approach. It also offers a plug-in hybrid ES9 version of the seven-seat larger SUV. The Toyota Alphard-like M8 people mover is also under study as one of the first models for the Australian market. GAC’s More exotic Hyper range could arrive further in the future but there are no immediate plans. The three models sold at home use 800-volt architecture and promise some wild charging statistics – at China’s 480kW DC pylons the GT performance sedan promises to rejuvenate 450km driving range (WLTC) in as little as 10 minutes. The Hyper SSR super car, meanwhile, boasts a 0-100km/h sprint of just 1.9 seconds and 880kW. Aion’s halo model costs the equivalent of A$260,000 in China, so the Corvette E-Ray rival is a serious piece of kit. When it comes to branding, much like GWM’s Haval and Ora brands, GAC will keep its lines separate. The Aion electric cars will wear distinct badging to the Trumpchi/GAC hybrid products though will likely coexist in sales spaces. Mr Lau also told CarsGuide that, although there’s been no mention yet, a ute is something that AGA Auto would jump at for Australia. Discussing sales models, Mr Lau said traditional dealer franchise, direct-to-consumer – like Tesla and Genesis – and agency models, as Mercedes-Benz and Honda offer, are all under consideration.“The one that stands out, realistically, to us is the agency/dealer hybrid model”, said Mr Lau. “We want to build a brand that is here to be sustainable more than – in crude terms – flog off as many cars as we can and no more.”The ability to carry spare parts and control the consumer process better was one of the benefits. Not unlike BYD’s model with MyCar service centres and Ineos’ Bosch relationship, CarsGuide understands that GAC will look to partner with other service providers to improve coverage. Australia will form the next step in GAC’s global expansion after the brand has begun reaching into select Middle Eastern, European, South American and African markets. Unlike Chery, BYD or MG which are imported by factory-owned operations, GAC and Aion will be imported by independent AGA Auto. The company has no track record of vehicle importing in Australia, starting life in 2002 as an inbound tour travel agency greeting guests from China. Later in the 2010s, the company entered the automotive market in China running several dealers that shift combustion, hybrid and electric vehicles. Mr Lau said this gave the company unique insight having “been at the forefront of current price wars in China.”The importer has been quiet on exact arrival timing but noted that Australian Design Rules (ADRs) can be tricky to navigate for new players. Mr Lau Indicatied that getting the product right for the market would come before announcing a final launch date. Australian suspension tuning – something that’s been so popular for Hyundai and Kia – is on the cards too. There was no mention of ADAS localisation, but other brands’ roll outs have proven this is important, if not more so, than chassis tuning for our market. Further details of GAC and Aion’s Australian launch and product portfolio will be revealed closer to the brand’s launch in 2025.

Two of Australia’s 10 most popular cars in April 2024 were ute-based off roaders, with both the Ford Everest and Isuzu MU-X continuing to soar in popularity. As orders catch up to demand, Ford and Isuzu are delivering plenty of their ute-based SUVs, with the Ranger-related Everest finding a record 2400 homes (up 254.5 per cent) and the D-Max-underpinned MU-X 1876 buyers (up 71.3 per cent). These two were not outliers, either, with the Mitsubishi Pajero Sport (up 130.7 per cent) and Toyota Fortuner (up 43.8 per cent) also selling significantly more than the same month last year. The new GWM Tank 500 hybrid found 179 homes. A Ford Australia spokesperson attributed the Everest's current success to a combination of increased marketing activity, improved supply and continued customer demand.This style of vehicle is proving popular with Australians because they use sturdy ladder frames, offer seating for up to seven, stellar off-road capability and sturdy towing ability. Like a LandCruiser, a ute-based SUV is a perfect vehicle to get away from the beaten track.It helps they are closely aligned in price with family trucks like the Hyundai Palisade and Toyota Kluger. The Ford Everest Sport V6, for example, is $72,490 where a Toyota Kluger Grande Auto is $75,650, both before on-road costs.They both get leather upholstery, the same seating capacity yet the Ford has 1500kg more braked towing capacity, more ground clearance and a proven track record off road. The downside is that the ute-based SUVs are typically less advanced to drive with poorer passive safety. Their ladder frame construction increases the centre of gravity and dirt-biased tyres often fitted drastically increase braking distances.There may be an element of ‘get in while you can’ as New Vehicle Emissions Standards (NVES) threaten to make this style of vehicle less attainable, too. These regulations are expected to come in force by mid-2025. The government has made the decision to reclassify ute-based SUVs (and standalone 4x4s such as the LandCruiser 300 Series and Nissan Patrol) as commercial vehicles for emissions standards which will buy them more time. Little low emissions tech is available in this segment yet. Utes, still being the bigger sellers, are leading the way for hybrids and EVs, following the launch of GWM’s Cannon Alpha hybrid – and related Tank 500 – as well as the forthcoming Ford Ranger PHEV. Expect this tech to trickle into related SUVs eventually. The new-gen Toyota Prado hybrid might be accelerated to meet the new rules, too. Incidentally, it was the only mainstream large frame-based SUV to suffer, down 77 per cent compared to April 2023, but that’s due to the highly anticipated new model arriving very soon. Large off-road wagon sales in April 2024 

With a small amount of electric range to get you around town and a petrol motor to carry you into the wilderness, would you ever need more vehicle than the new ‘T7’ Volkswagen California camper plug-in hybrid?If you need to venture far off-road, then possibly. Still, thanks to its MQB underpinnings, VW’s new camper van that was just revealed in Europe has the option of an all-wheel drive plug-in hybrid powertrain for the first time. There are now sliding doors on both sides, adopted from the Mercedes-Benz V-Class and Ford Transit Custom-rivalling long wheelbase Multivan, which aid practicality and ventilation.A Volkswagen Australia spokesperson told CarsGuide that the new California is coming to Australia, with engine/spec range and timings yet to be confirmed. The T6.1 California is available in Beach trim in Australia and that is likely to continue in the next generation. The 2.0-litre diesel AWD configuration may change, however. Inside, the Camper gets a pair of individual front seats that can swivel through 180-degrees. The redesigned cabin has dual screens and a shift-by-wire system that means walking through to the rear compartment is easier than before. A pop-up roof and redeveloped mattress is standard fitment, while an optional awning can help shield from rain or sun. Volkswagen touts a ‘large number’ of USB-C fast-charge ports within. At 5173mm long the new van is 269mm longer than before and 37mm wider for enhanced interior space. An identical 1990mm height to its predecessor means the California is still city-friendly.In Europe, the California is offered with a 110kW turbo diesel or 150kW turbo-petrol, both powering the front wheels through and eight-speed automatic transmission. The new plug-in hybrid option ups outputs to 180kW with braked towing capacity of 2000kg. Volkswagen has not confirmed how much electric-only driving range the plug-in hybrid California will offer. The Multivan PHEV's set-up produces 160kW and, allied with a 13kWh battery, can travel about 50km on electric power. Being heavier, we’d anticipate around 40km from the California if it uses the same battery. The California Beach is a good basic set-up but overseas markets get more fully-featured configurations. The Beach Tour scores a 40Ah auxiliary battery, extra fold-out mattress and folding table, while the four-seat Beach Camper is fitted with a gas cooker as part of a kitchenette and an extra battery. Volkswagen’s flagship California Ocean, meanwhile, is outfitted with heated seats, 28-litre fresh water tank, extra three-pin socket for an electric cooker and ‘Melánge Raven’ coloured recycled upholstery. Not sacrificing its signature two-tone look, the ‘Bulli’ is available in Mono Silver/Energetic Orange metallic, Deep Black Pearl/Fontana Red metallic Candy White solid/Starlight Blue metallic.The pop up bellows are also customisable with Toffee Brown, Glacier Blue and Basalt Grey offered.Australian pricing, features and specification for the new Volkswagen California camper are yet to be confirmed. 

Headlining BMW's new X2 range is the athletic M35i xDrive variant that promises more focus than its predecessor.

Kia has shown the first teaser images of its production EV3 electric small SUV ahead of its full release later this month. As the brand’s electric price leader, the new EV3 will start below the EV5 with Kia promising it will “enhance the accessibility of electric mobility from Kia.” Cheap enough to battle Chinese-made EVs? We’ll have to wait and see. The teasers show details of the EV3’s ‘Signature Star Map’ lighting at the front and back which are almost entirely unchanged from the concept. It appears to have slightly less pronounced flares for the wheel arches but they are still angular and dramatic. Like the concept, the teaser images show the car in a desaturated metallic mint colour we hope will make production to set off the ‘Opposites United’ design philosophy.Kia did not share any further images of the cabin, which is likely to be the most different aspect in the production car. Still, expect eco-friendly materials and plenty of recycled plastics. An onboard generative AI chat system will also feature – a first for the brand. At its reveal in October 2023, Kia was targeting a US$35K start price – around A$54,000. With the EV5 being produced for Australia in China, CarsGuide has estimated the EV5 could start from as little as $57,000. If Kia wants to give the EV3 space to play, a start price below $50K for a base model, perhaps fitted with an LFP battery and around 350km driving range, will be crucial to compete with the BYD Atto 3, MG ZS EV and Hyundai Kona electric. Speaking to CarsGuide in November last year, product planning boss Roland Rivero cautioned Kia won’t cheapen its brand by engaging in price wears. “But if you’re developing your brand – and we’ve put a lot of work into that – and getting great product, if you can easily translate that to the customer that this is still great value, like the EV9, then do you really want to play in the puddle that is $30,000, or $25,000?"You just need to make those decisions if you want to play in that price point. If you can stay at $40k-$50k, $50k-$60k, and there’s still value, that’s what we’re looking at”, said Rivero. Details of powertrain, battery chemistry, driving range and Australian confirmation are all yet to be shared. Kia will reveal the final look and more detailed information of its new electric small SUV at 8:00pm on 23 May.

Mercedes-Benz has confirmed pricing and features for the 2024 E-Class which will arrive in a single E300 mild-hybrid trim level from next week. The Audi A6 and BMW 5 Series rival will cost $131,500, before on-road costs and options, shrinking the five-strong E-Class range to one variant, for now. High-power AMG E53 and E63 models are due later. Inside, the E300 features Mercedes’ 14.4-inch ‘Superscreen’ touchscreen media system, 5G connectivity, third-gen operating system and digital key compatible with Apple iPhone and smart watch. The new variant sits between the old entry-level E200 and mid-spec E350, with pricing closer to the latter. More powertrain options, including a plug-in hybrid, are offered overseas but there’s no word yet for Australia.Under the E300’s bonnet is a turbo-petrol 2.0-litre four-cylinder with an integrated starter motor generator bumping outputs by 17kW and 205Nm to 190kW and 400Nm total. The E-Class drives its rear wheels via a nine-speed automatic transmission.A drag coefficient of 0.23 helps keep fuel consumption at 7.2L/100km in the combined cycle. The E-Class sedan rides on a 20mm longer wheelbase for improved interior space. Visually, there are cues from the new C-Class sedan combined with new details, including an illuminated grille and star motif tail-lights. The E300 has a generous amount of equipment standard, including AMG Line exterior styling, adaptive LED headlights, 20-inch multi-spoke alloy wheels, plus adaptive dampers and steel springs (the suspension is 15mm than other overseas-market models). Inside, the 14.4-inch touchscreen is complemented by wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, a digital driver’s display, head-up display, augmented realist navigation, dual-zone climate control and power-adjust sports front seats with heating, leather upholstery in three colours.Adding to the E-Class luxury experience is an in-built ‘assistant’. Voice control features along with the ability to automate habits, for example pre-setting the car’s climate control before you leave at a set time. The E-Class can also intelligently make these choices, for example turning on the heated seats when the outside temperature dips below a certain threshold.The E300 gets driver-assistance tech such as lane-centring, AEB, adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring and cross-traffic alert. A set of 11 airbags features as well.An optional ‘Energizing Plus’ pack adds multi-contour front seats with adjustable lumbar and bolsters as well as a heated rear bench for $5200. The 'Plus Pack' brings adaptive air suspension, rear axle steering, a 17-speaker 730-watt Burmester sound system, gesture control and quad-zone climate control.The Mercedes-Benz E300 will arrive in dealerships next week, with timing for the AMG E53 yet to be confirmed. 2024 Mercedes-Benz E-Class pricing 

When asked what might be the thing holding back more customers from going electric, BMW Australia head of Product and Market Planning Brendan Michel said he’d heard “no barriers” to electric car adoption from dealer feedback. 

In April, Electric car sales were down about 41 per cent compared to March while hybrid deliveries were historically high which begs the question: have EVs reached market saturation? 

This is the entry into BMW's new X2 range that corrects the relationship this coupe SUV had with its more sensible X1 sibling.