Articles by John Mahoney

China's move into upmarket luxury carmaking is the stuff of nightmares, admits Bentley CEO, Frank-Steffan Walliser."If someone could keep me up at night, it would be this, but luckily I sleep", joked the former Porsche chief engineer, who now holds the reins as CEO and chairman at the British luxury car-maker.Luckily for Bentley, the father of cars like the 918 Spyder is up for the challenge of a raft of new rivals from the likes of Nio, Yangwang, Aito and the Rolls-Royce of China - Hongqi."I'm deeply impressed by what the Chinese automotive industry is delivering. But is this a luxury product?" Walliser shakes his head."From a technical point of view, and technology point of view be very advanced but in today's world horsepower is easy, the brand is difficult."Citing the Apple watch versus a Swiss timepiece example Walliser says just because a brand charges a high price, that doesn't equate to it being a covetable, luxurious item."This is why the brand is so important and our heritage behind it. And the luxury product, by definition, can only come from the centre of Europe. From either northern Italy, Switzerland, France, south of Germany, or the UK. There is no other luxury brand in the world."Look at Lexus. It delivers outstanding technology, but is only really established in the US and Japan."A good product is not enough. We will not be successful by just building better cars. You also have to build a better brand."Walliser says Bentley remains unlike any of its rivals as it can offer high-end luxury cars and credible 'real' sporty cars, like the latest GT Continental Supersports, that entire 500-car production run sold out in less than two weeks after it was announced.Even with the introduction of its most advanced car yet, the still-to-be-named Urban SUV that will come with an all-electric power, Walliser says the brand won't stray from its core values."[The new EV] will be made in a completely new factory, using a different method and be very, very advanced and modern but the hands-on approach to building it and the levels of craftsmanship – we did not take it away, so you will still see leather, you will still see wood and hand stitching. This will all stay."Helping him sleep deeply, Walliser also predicts China's huge technological lead over Europe will also be short-lived and as the technological arms race becomes equal, buyers of luxury cars like Bentley will begin to appreciate the power of a good brand even more.

Cupra has revealed it is secretly developing an all-wheel drive version of its Cupra Raval that bags a pioneering quad-motor all-electric powertrain, which will produce epic power that blows Tesla out of the water.Primed to be twinned with a white-hot Volkswagen ID. Polo R, the new Cupra Raval Racing will be the quickest and most powerful hot hatch of all time, with Volkswagen's Spanish performance brand leading its development.Cupra's global product boss Toni Gallego told CarsGuide his brand was pushing ahead to develop the four in-hub motor concept that made its debut on the VW ID. Cross, which is key to unlocking near supercar levels of performance.Expected to be capable of producing around 100kW, despite weighing around 39kg apiece, the state-of-the-art in-hub motors will see the Raval Racing come with at least 300kW.Combined with an uprated battery pack, the 4.1m-long Raval Racing should be able to rocket from 0-100km/h in less than 3.0 seconds – much quicker than the 3.8 seconds a BYD Seal Performance or Audi RS 3 takes, and even quicker than the 3.1 seconds a Tesla Model 3 Performance can achieve.As well quick in a straight line, according to the senior Cupra exec the in-hub units, which package their own power inverter, offers unbeatable torque vectoring and by being able to manage how much force is applied to each wheel on a millisecond-by-millisecond basis can neutralise any understeer or oversteer.Brake regeneration will also be class-leading with the Raval Racing able to claw back more energy than any of its rivals, boosting efficiency and real-world range.Traction will be unbeatable over all road surfaces and conditions, while packaging the motors within the wheels means the Raval's large 441-litre boot carries over unchanged.Aside from adding unsprung weight the biggest disadvantage of the new tech is cost, says Gallego."We requested four-wheel drive from the beginning, but it requires a huge investment."It's crazy. I cannot say the final figures, but the good thing is we can manage the production mix across our four plants to balance out the high development costs."The latter is a reference to both the Volkswagen ID. Polo R and potentially faster versions of the VW ID. Cross SUV sharing the same in-hub high-tech quad-motors. Later on, less powerful all-wheel drive VW Group models could also come with a detuned version of the same powertrain.Gallego was careful not to reveal an exact power figure for the mules already undergoing testing, nor did he provide a timeline for when the faster Raval Racing and ID. Polo R will arrive, but it's thought the pair of fast all-electric hot hatches should land in 2028."Some figures cannot be communicated right now. It is a concept and we are exploring how the performance works. It's a massive investment from the technical centre."According to Gallego, work has not finished on the core Raval as feedback from media and potential owners have requested some changes that will see both virtual gearshifts and a higher 190km/h top speed (up from 175km/h) rolled out via over-the-air updates once the Cupra small hatch is launched.

Bentley's Frank-Steffan Walliser has added his voice to a growing number of disgruntled carmaker CEOs counting the huge cost of a global mismanagement of the transition to EV power."If you add it all up, all the profit corrections we have seen over the last year, the misassumptions made, the misjudgement about the tipping point to full EV, it has cost the global automotive industry €100 billion (A$162b)."You could have made a lot of e-fuel to reduce CO2 with that," said the former Porsche chief engineer.Walliser and his former colleagues in Stuttgart lobbied institutions like the European Commission hard when it was drafting the original EU emission targets to include synthetic fuels that led to the most aggressive electrification plans, with some success, but despite that, the Bentley boss says the move to EVs remains inevitable."In the long term everything will be electric, is what I expect and we stay committed to the CO2 reduction", but the damage has already been done with billions now being written off as EV programs – even from the likes of Porsche – are now being cancelled, postponed, or reconfigured drastically to finally take into consideration what actual customers want."We have to look at the customer's choice. It's all about choice and not to limit the choice artificially."Walliser knows only too well from working on the front line in a small car-maker that had to write down an astonishing €3.9 billion (A$6.4b) as part of Porsche's EV retreat but, despite that, is confident it's time for Bentley to roll out its first electric car."On our short to midterm strategy it's clear hybrid is right, but we will balance portfolio by offering a fully electric car. What I'm very happy about is 20-25 per cent of the market is already electric. And we see a movement, and all our luxury competitors will soon have an electric car on offer. It would be a mistake to not offer one", said Walliser.Another mistake would be to abandon those who still demand petrol power too, says the Bentley boss, declaring that so long as there is demand and the small British car-maker can keep homologating them, V8s will remain part of the Bentley offering.

Good things come to those who wait.Six years since Cupra showed off its first concept for the Cupra Raval, we've finally had our first chance to climb behind the wheel of the small Mini Cooper SE-rivalling all-electric hatch ahead of Australian sales kicking off in the second half of next year.The first of four new small EVs that includes the Volkswagen ID. Polo, ID. Cross SUV, plus the Skoda Epiq, it was left to VW's Spanish brand to lead all four cars' development, and it really shows with the Raval.By far the sportiest of the quadruplet, the Raval features Cupra's familiar angular styling, which includes a sharpened shark nose.Ramming home its hot hatch intentions, are large wheels and a hard-to-miss rear spoiler and oversized diffuser that could have been lifted off a racer but actually slash drag to boost efficiency.Measuring in at 4046mm long, 1784mm wide and standing at 1518mm with a 2600mm wheelbase, the Raval is surprisingly spacious within – even in the second row where a large adult can sit behind another large adult with just enough leg- and headroom. The boot is impressive too, at a large 441 litres.Unlocking space has been the choice of using the VW Group's new 'MEB+' platform that neatly packages the single front motor, transmission, inverter and power electronics under the front bonnet, carving out more room for people.Ensuring it has the dynamic edge over rivals and its platform mates, the Cupra Raval, has a 10mm wider front and rear track for higher levels of grip mid-corner.All models also sit 15mm lower to the ground than an ID. Polo for less body roll. Other unexpected differences are that the Raval boasts uprated front wheel carriers, plus a stability control system that can be completely switched off for track use.In its native Europe, the Raval is offered with either a small 37kWh lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) battery or a, still-modest, 52kWh nickel-manganese-cobalt (NMC) power pack.With the littlest battery the Raval can travel up to 300km on a charge and is combined with either an 85kW or 99kW front motor.In Australia, it's been suggested buyers will only get the larger 52kWh power pack that can see the Mini rival drive up to 440km on the WLTP test cycle, with a choice of either a 155kW or 166kW e-motor.When it comes to charging speed, the bigger battery can only be topped up at a peak rate of 105kW but despite that a 10-80 per cent charge still takes between 23 and 24 minutes, which is reasonable for a small EV within its class.Behind the wheel, the sporty angular looks are reflected within, especially in the range-topping VZ that comes with the option of grippier Cup bucket sport seats that clamp you in position.Featuring, a 12.9-inch multimedia set-up that comes with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, ahead of the driver is a sporty steering wheel with proper buttons and a clear 10.5-inch digital dash.What's missing are shortcuts for the touchscreen, although the multimedia is quick to react and has clear graphics.Highlights of the Cupra cabin include a 3D-knitted upholstery that uses 100 per cent recycled material. There's also a sporty steering wheel and cool new ambient lighting tech that projects patterns, colours and animations along the door cards.Bringing you back down to earth are the hard plastic door pulls that feel built to a price, but still don't detract from the fun.Developed under the mantra that Cupra was building a small EV you'd actually want to drive, at the top of the Raval tree is the VZ hot hatch that essentially will share much with the inbound VW ID. Polo GTI.Ensuring it can narrow the gap between it and more conventional petrol-powered hot hatchbacks, the VZ gets the high-output 166kW e-motor, adaptive dampers, an electronic-locking differential and large 19-inch alloy wheels wrapped in sticky tyres that, alone, slash the range from 440km to around 388km.All Ravals come with the variable ratio 'progressive' steering rack and a special 'ESC Sport' program, plus the ability to switch it off altogether.Off the line, the VZ offers plenty of performance with 0-100km/h taking around 6.8 seconds – just a tenth off Mini's claim for the Cooper SE.Top speed is 175km/h which apparently isn't enough for the Europeans, with a software patch on the way to raise the limit to a more palatable 190km/h later.Around town, most will prefer the Raval in either 'Comfort' or the more efficient 'Range' setting that softens the ride and is available with three levels of brake regeneration, plus a neat adaptive regen feature which monitors vehicles ahead and adjust the Raval's stops to suit.Cycle through to 'Performance' mode and the steering weights up to some something that feels more natural, while the damping forces increase for better body control, but at the expense of the ride – which we have concerns over.The largest 19-inch wheels might be a bit much on our roads, but engineers say the 17- and 18-inch wheels also fit the fastest model and improve ride quality.Escape the city and push on and the Raval is a lot of fun. There's lots of grip, commendable agility and decent cross-country pace.On track, if you push on you'll feel the electronically-controlled differential working hard for its living, pulling you out of corners with a gentle tugging of the wheel – just like a proper petrol hot hatch would.The Raval doesn't feel quite as lithe as you'd hope and after all it does weigh around 1600kg for the heaviest version but the engagement it offers up is impressive for an EV.What's missing is virtual gearshifts, like a Hyundai Ioniq 5 N, but they might be offered later as part of an over-the-air update or option. The little Cupra also comes with a synthetic sci-fi dystopian soundtrack in its sportiest 'Cupra' mode, plus a pair of configurable modes.One final issue we had with our first car, is the Raval's fancy new 'one-box' e-braking system which squeezes in the brake servo and anti-skid tech into one module served up inconsistent reactions in extreme circumstances. Our second car was much better but we look forward to further testing on more familiar roads.Since Australians aren't great fans of ill-equipped cars, Cupra Australia wisely thinks it might skip the entry and V1 trims, preferring to focus on the mid-spec V2 and flagship VZ.When it lands, expect the Raval V2 to come with a 155kW e-motor, 19-inch alloy wheels, electric folding door mirrors, LED headlamps, a 12-speaker Sennheiser sound system, a wireless phone charger, vehicle-to-load (V2L) power, two front and two rear USB-C sockets, ambient light projection, dual-zone climate control, a heated and wrapped multi-function steering wheel and heated sport seats.When it comes to safety, there are seven airbags as standard, adaptive cruise, lane-keeping, front and rear cross-traffic alert and autonomous emergency braking (AEB) that detects pedestrians and cyclists.Choose the VZ and, as well as the extra chassis hardware and extra power, you get different 19-inch alloy wheels, matrix LED headlights, 3D LED rear lighting, the Cup bucket seats, a 360-degree camera view and a more sophisticated adaptive cruise control.Like every other Cupra model, the new Raval will come with a five-year/unlimited-kilometre vehicle warranty, with a further eight-year/160,000km protection for the high-voltage batteries.We expect the smallest Cupra Raval to come with a capped-price servicing package, with service intervals primed to be every 24 months or 30,000km.As for pricing, Cupra Australia says it's too early for any indicative costs for the Raval but admits it will command a big premium over similar-sized Chinese rivals, like the Geely EX2.That said, early intel suggests the flagship Raval VZ could be priced from $50,000, plus on-road costs, which would mean it will still be cheaper than the less practical three-door Mini Cooper SE ($58,990, plus on-roads) and the much quicker MG4 XPower ($55,990).

Lepas might have a nasty case of sibling rivalry on its hands later this year when the small Lepas L4 joins the bigger mid-size L6 and larger-still L8.Sharing a similar footprint to the BYD Atto 3, the Lepas L4 measures in at 4415mm long, 1817mm wide, stands 1630mm tall and has a 2700mm wheelbase and is based on Chery's new LEX platform, that incorporates Chery's latest EEA 5.1 electrics.Identical to the second-generation Chinese-spec Chery Tiggo 5, that probably won't head Down Under, the L4 will be sold globally under the Chinese's car giant's fledgling Lepas badge that will one day morph into a real premium brand to rival BMW or Benz.For now, cars like the L4 will sit above any equivalent Jaecoo or Omoda models when it comes to pricing.Claimed to be tailored for European tastes, to justify an extra five per cent price premium the little L4 is said to have created a cabin with higher-grade materials.Like the L6, you'll find the same 8.8-inch digital instrument panel and a portrait-mounted 13.2-inch infotainment that features the firm's fastest and slickest software that runs powerful Snapdragon 8155 processor.Living beneath it are twin cupholders and a single 50W wireless charger.While physical controls aren't plentiful there are a useful row of shortcuts beneath the screen, plus a Chery-sourced multi-function steering wheel with proper buttons.The synthetic leather in our car and general design won't give Audi's cabin stylists sleepless nights, the little Chery feels well-built and matches rivals like the Leapmotor B10.As an added bonus, the little L4 seems to offer more space within than rivals and there's even a large 458-litre boot, boosted to 1284L with the second row dropped.If that's not enough, within there's said to be 34 different stowage compartments.In China the Chery Tiggo 5 comes with an 80kW 1.5-litre turbo four-cylinder petrol, for Australia the entry engine will be ignored and Aussies will be offered either a plug-in hybrid or all-electric power.That's the same choice as the L6 and first details suggest both cars will share identical hardware.That means the L4 EV will bag a 67kWh battery and a front-mounted electric motor that produces 150kW with a rumoured 240Nm of torque.Off the line a 0-100km/h sprint of less than 8.0 seconds should be possible.With the L4 still set to be officially homologated, early intel suggests the baby Lepas will be capable of covering 450km, again, matching the larger L6.Limited by 400-volt architecture, which is the norm for the class, the L4 will take around 26 minutes for the usual 10-to-80 per cent top-up.Helping build the anticipation for its introduction Down Under we had the briefest of spins on a small track in the pouring rain.Smooth and brisk enough off the line, even then, through a tight and twisting slalom it was easy to detect the benefits of multi-link rear suspension, while the odd bump or two we hit while hot-lapping proved the little L4 is composed as its larger sibling.Once launched, both the L4 and L6 promises to improve dynamically further. First it will undergo a Euro suspension tune and then, later on, all local models will also benefit from yet another retune, this time for our unique (read 'terrible') Australian roads.After only a couple of laps, we were done, but it's good to report the L4 did nothing to disgrace itself and feels easily agile enough to challenge the best in its class.It's impossible to guess how well equipped the L4 EV will be when it lands but in South Africa the range-topping L4s ride on 17-inch alloy wheels, get hill descent control, six airbags, front and rear parking sensors, a surround-view parking camera, adaptive cruise, lane keep assist, blind-spot detection, rear cross-traffic alert and driver fatigue detection.LED headlamps, roof rails and a roof spoiler are all standard, while inside are six-way adjust electric heated and ventilated seats, an electric sunroof, 50W wireless charger, a six-speaker sound system and standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto from launch.While not confirmed, we expect the new Chery brand to match the eight-year/unlimited-kilometre vehicle warranty all Jaecoo models come with.When the Lepas L4 EV eventually lands in Australia it's expected to match close rivals like the Leapmotor B10 and be priced from around $38,000 drive-away.

Looks can be deceiving. The all-new iCaur V27 might appear to be a distant relative of the Mercedes G-wagen but beneath its rugged, good looks lurks a large SUV that's happier on-road than extreme overlanding out in the bush.On sale in Australia from February next year, the iCaur V27 will be the first of a full range of models that will also include a still-to-be-released smaller mid-size V25 and, later on in 2028 or 2029 the baby Suzuki Jimny-rivalling V23 should rock up.Proving to be a hit worldwide, in little more than two years the baby V23 has gone on to sell 160,000 and Chery hopes its huge popularity will translate over in Australia.Measuring in at 5045mm long, 1976mm wide and 1894mm tall, the V27 shares a footprint with the GWM Tank 500 and is a little bigger than the Denza B5 (4888mm long, 1970mm wide and 1920mm tall).It's the latter, that one exec from iCaur told CarsGuide is the real rival it is targeting Down Under.Which is a bit odd as on paper at least, the iCaur V27 isn't a real match.Not only is the V27 based on a more car-like monocoque, it lacks height-adjustable air suspension which means ground clearance is limited to a paltry 224mm. Both the approach (24-deg) and departure (23deg) angles are also severely lacking compared to the Denza's 39 degrees.iCaur says its V27 can wade water depths up to 600mm, a little off the 790mm the Denza B5 can traverse.Available with only a range-extender hybrid powertrain, in some markets a 185kW rear-wheel-drive version will be an option but in Australia we think we'll just get the all-wheel-drive V27.Unlike a typical plug-in hybrid, the small 1.5-litre four-cylinder combustion engine only acts a generator when the 34.3kWh battery is depleted. Combined with a pair of electric motors driving each axle, total power is 335kW, while torque is around 505Nm for a quick 0-100km/h dash of 5.9 seconds.That's more than a second adrift of the more powerful Denza B5 that can also tow 3000kg, compared to the 1600kg the V27 can haul.With a full charge, iCaur says the V27 can cover up to 150km on EV power alone on the NEDC test cycle, while a 60-litre tank extends the total range to around 995km.Usefully, the battery is capable of DC charging up to 60kW, although a 20-80 per cent top-up still takes around 30 minutes.Vehicle-to-load charging or powering of domestic appliances is also available at up to 6kW.Naturally, the chunky exterior styling is reflected within, with a stepped dashboard, large rotary dial and proper physical controls. Like other Chery brands, the driver gets a pillar-box slim 8.8-inch digital instrument cluster, but taking pride of place is a freestanding 15.4-inch infotainment that's runs a powerful Qualcomm Snapdragon 8295 processor.Both wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are included.Like the smaller V23, there are toggle auxiliary switches on the roof ready for accessories like an additional light bar.Dual wireless chargers are also present, as well as 50 different storage compartments, and a large 715-litre boot that includes a hidden 40-litre compartment for valuables.Perhaps disappointingly, considering its size, a third row of seats isn't even an option but handily if you drop the second row you open up a cavernous near-two-metre-long load area with up to 1818 litres of space.It's hard not to like the twin-pane panoramic roof, plus the generous head- and legroom in the second row. Overall, the V27 impresses in and out.Giving us a limited chance to experience the iCaur V27 behind the wheel, we tested the large SUV over a muddy and slimy obstacle course with a car shod with grippier all-terrain tyres.As soon as we eased the V27 off the line, the first iCaur destined for Australia instantly impresses, mainly because of the nature of its powertrain as it feels just like an EV, as only the electric motors drive all four wheels.That means there is instant torque, with plenty of power off the line. Over the lumps and bumps the magnetic adaptive dampers did a good job of providing a decent ride.Driving only in a mud-friendly off-road mode (there's are eight other driving modes available), traction was remarkable thanks to its locking electronic rear differential, although grippier tyres probably did most of the heavy lifting.We weren't allowed to try the tank turn feature, nor even permitted to escape the facility and drive on public roads, so our first positive impressions should be taken with a healthy pinch of salt, but precise steering and those car-like underpinnings, proper multi-link rear suspension and the smooth, punchy powertrains bode well for Australians.If you tow heavy loads or go further off-road, the Denza B5, Land Rover Defender or default Toyota Prado will all prove a better bet, with the V27 only able to haul 1600kg (braked). For reference the B5 can tug 3000kg.There is no word on how iCaur will kit-out its flagship SUV locally, but expect a power tailgate, LED front and rear headlamps, electric-fold mirrors, a trick multi-colour ambient lighting and six-way adjust heated and ventilated synthetic seats to all be standard.With seven airbags, a 540-degree surround camera, lane departure warning, lane-keep assist, front and rear collision alert and blind-spot warning, plus an advanced adaptive cruise control, iCaur has designed its V27 to achieve full marks in future Euro NCAP and ANCAP testing.iCaur has been timed to land just a few months after fellow Chery-owned Lepas will rock up in Australia. Even though there has been no official confirmation, we'd be amazed if the 4x4 brand didn't match the eight-year/unlimited-kilometre vehicle warranty Jaecoo models come with, even though it will be sold via a different dealer network.Locally, the V27 is priced from just 200,000 Chinese yuan (A$40,000), but it's not known what the range will kick off from. The insider told CarsGuide that its V27 will be positioned lower than the Denza B5 ($74,990-$79,990), with the prediction it could trouble small mid-size SUVs with a price tag of around $65,000 plus on-roads.

Chery one day hopes its fresh Lepas brand will evolve into a proper BMW or Mercedes-Benz rival.Until then, when sales kick off from late this year, it hopes that buyers of cars like its mid-size Lepas L6 will appreciate its European-inspired looks, classier cabin and advanced tech and pay a small premium of around five per cent over the equivalent Omoda or Jaecoo model.Getting off to the best possible start, the L6 introduces the brand's smooth curvy new design language that has been tailored to European buyers' tastes.Beneath the skin, the L6 is also on Chery's next-generation LEX platform and bags the Chinese car giant's EEA 5.1 electrics.When the Toyota RAV4-sized SUV lands Down Under it will be available with either a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) or all-electric power.Before the end of the year, the L6 will be joined by a small L4 SUV that shares powertrains with its bigger brother, while later on in 2027 the larger L8 PHEV SUV will also land.Instead of sharing showroom space with Chery or Omoda Jaecoo, the Lepas brand will launch its own network of dealers.The brand separation is because Chery believes Lepas will attract different customers to the rest of its brands.Inside, the L6 looks like it shares hardware with the latest Jaecoo J5, sporting both the same 8.8-inch digital instrument panel and a 13.2-inch infotainment, although the latter is mounted portrait style, rather than landscape in the J5.Below the screen is a slim strip of shortcut buttons that sit above a wireless charging pad and twin cupholders.The steering wheel is also lifted from the Chery parts bin, but the dash architecture is new and features a strip of vents that stretch from pillar to pillar.Premium materials like synthetic leather and a metallic-style dash finish attempt but ultimately fail to conjure up Audi levels of perceived quality but the L6 still feels a cut above other Chery models.Our car also had heated and ventilated synthetic leather seats that are comfortable on a long drive, while even with four up there's plenty of space within, with a pair of rear air vents and dual USB ports for rear passengers.Luggage space is also average for the class, although there's no wheel well beneath the boot floor.We had a brief spin in the new EV, which features a single motor that drives the front wheels and produces 178kW and 275Nm of torque for decent getaway off the line.The electric L6 also is a quiet and refined companion, although its 67kWh battery, 400-volt electrics and 450km WLTP range won't set new standards for range or charging speeds within its class.More time was spent behind the wheel of the plug-in hybrid L6 that also impressed with its levels of refinement which meant it was almost impossible to detect when the small 1.5-litre petrol kicked in.There's also brisk acceleration off the line and enough might to generate some unruly torque steer as the front tyres struggled, which is a shame.Another gripe of the PHEV powertrain is an unwanted thump occasionally at speed when breathing on the throttle.Featuring a sophisticated multi-link rear suspension, the L6 has no excuses to not match the best in the class.To ensure it will be able to compete with its most talented rivals in the future Lepas will provide a special European suspension tune and, if the range of SUVs have a warm reception Down Under, buyers will also be treated to a local suspension tune.In China on smooth well-surfaced roads it was difficult to properly assess the L6's ride and drive other than to note it felt like engineers had opted for soft springs and reactive dampers that could be unnerved by speed bumps and the odd pothole.We think the steering could do with more tuning too, as it is overly light in Comfort mode and still pretty lifeless in Sport. When it comes to handling balance, unfortunately our driving route didn't include any proper country roads where we could explore the L6's handling balance. We'll have to wait until it lands on home turf.With clearly marked lanes, the Lepas driver assist tech was unobtrusive – which is a compliment – and even the muted speed limit assist didn't annoy too much, although the system desperately needs a shortcut to turn it all off, as it's fiddly and requires navigating through multiple menus.There's no word on what the Australian Lepas L6 line-up will look like but our car came with a heated front screen, panoramic sunroof (with a proper electric sunshade), an electric tailgate, dual-zone climate control, 50W wireless charger, synthetic leather six-way adjustable heated and ventilated electric seats, plus 360-degree surround view cameras all standard and a Sony sound system.While Lepas models are offered with a five-year/150,000km warranty in markets like South Africa, we'd be amazed if the new Chery brand didn't at least match the eight-year/unlimited-kilometre vehicle warranty Jaecoo models come with.It's been hotly tipped that when the Lepas L6 arrives in Australia it will command a five-10 per cent premium over the Jaecoo or Omoda models, which suggests a price point of at least $40,000 drive-away in Australia.

Think hybrid and you'll probably conjure a Toyota in your mind. After all, the Japanese car giant has been nothing short of a petrol-electric pioneer since the first Prius went on sale back in 1997, but now Chery is out to crush Toyota's hybrid dominance with its latest Super Hybrid System Hybrid (SHS-H) tech.Designed to be far more efficient than any of its rivals, while offering more power and higher levels of refinement, the first car to debut the new powertrain in Australia will be the Jaecoo J5, which should land in dealers in a matter of months.Not to be confused with the hybrid already slotted under the bonnet of sister brand Chery's Tiggo 4, the new SHS-H hybrid comes with an advanced 1.5-litre turbo petrol that, with a 44.5 per cent thermal efficiency, is capable of converting more precious fuel into usable energy than all rivals in its class.Combined with a single-speed dedicated hybrid transmission, which is itself 98 per cent efficient, and a small 1.82kWh battery and electric motor, Chery claims that the J5 SHS-H produces an impressive 165kW and 295Nm of torque – far more than the 143kW and 221Nm the latest 2026 Toyota RAV4 manages.For reference, the J5 Hybrid also produces 15kW more than the Chery Tiggo 4 and outpunches other rivals like the GWM Haval Jolion (140kW), MG ZS (158kW) and the small Toyota Corolla Cross (143kW).That's a good start, but actual fuel use for the J5 Hybrid is a claimed 5.3L/100km and a total range of 980km on a full tank, figures that don't exactly set the class alight for efficiency, but the Chinese brand claims a big drop in its thirst in real-world driving.In the metal, the Jaecoo J5 Hybrid looks identical to both the petrol version, which borrows its looks from the Range Rover Evoque.There is one subtle change that helps you tell the new J5 Hybrid apart (other than badging), as the electrified petrol gains a fresh set of 18-inch aerodynamically optimised alloy wheels that are unique to the hybrid.One other minor change worth mentioning is that the J5 Hybrid ditches the button for the electronic handbrake, with the car now automatically applying the rear stoppers at rest and only releasing them when the driver puts their seatbelt on.Inside, like the rest of the J5 range, there is a large 13.2-inch portrait-mounted infotainment that is blended with an 8.0-inch digital instrument cluster.With an opportunity for a brief drive in China following its public launch at the Beijing motor show, the J5 Hybrid feels eager off the line compared with the lacklustre entry petrol, with 0-100km/h now taking 7.9 seconds – a whopping 2.3 seconds quicker than the base model.Without any gears to shuffle, the one-speed transmission is smooth and overall refinement levels high.Quick changes of direction hint at some improvements over the standard J5, but we will need to confirm on road whether the drive and ride have been improved.It is the latter we are most concerned about, as the J5 EV has reportedly been too easily agitated over rougher Aussie bitumen, but our brief spin over mostly smooth roads provided zero red flags.Jaecoo has yet to detail specifications for its new hybrid and it is unknown if the petrol-electric version will be offered in a single model grade, like the EV, or two trims like the entry petrol.The current J5 EV is well-equipped, with a glass sunroof, electric tailgate, dual-zone climate control, 50W wireless charger, synthetic leather six-way adjustable heated and ventilated electric seats, plus 360-degree surround view cameras all standard.Adding extra peace of mind, the latest J5 hybrid will be covered by the carmaker's generous eight-year/unlimited-kilometre vehicle warranty, while services are expected to be every 12 months or 20,000km with a capped-price service program likely to be offered.In other markets, like the UK, the new J5 SHS-H commands a price premium over the petrol of around 10-12 per cent, which could see it priced from around $28,500-$29,100 drive-away when it goes on sale. 

Creating the ultra-limited Lamborghini Fenomeno Roadster was no mean feat.Despite looking like a gas-axed take on the wild Fenomeno Coupe, designers and engineers were forced to almost start from scratch in a labour-intensive process fraught with difficulties that pushed the car-maker to its absolute limit.The result is the most powerful roofless Lamborghini ever produced, the latest in the line of 'Few-Off' models it makes for its wealthiest owners.Just 15 of the 794kW V12 roadster will be built, each are rumoured to cost more than €5 million (A$8.2m). The entire run is sold out, with just one open-air Fenomeno Roadster said to be heading to Australia, even though it will be left-hand drive.Loosely based on the current Lamborghini Revuelto, the problems began for the skunkworks team because the supercar's carbon-fibre 'monofuselage' structure had never been designed to have its roof lopped off.Effectively redesigned and strengthened to compensate for the alfresco driving experience, engineers used a new patented bonding fluid for the carbon-fibre, plus long and short fibres that ramp up rigidity. Modified front and rear crash structures have also been used, while a new cradle behind the driver and passenger seats enhance stiffness and side-impact protection, but it means the drop-top can't be offered with the coupe's full carbon-fibre race seats because there's not enough space to mount them.Even with a heavy X-brace structure added to the engine, Lamborghini claims the roadster's structure weighs "only a few kilos more" than the one used for the coupe.Once the foundations were set, designers attempted to tweak the coupe's styling for the roadster, but without a roof scoop the roadster's V12 was plagued by cooling issues. A complete redesign above the waist was the only option.Tweaks you might notice are the reshaped longer windscreen rail that channels air carefully to an all-new engine cover, plus a pair of roll-over hoops that were honed in the wind tunnel.Combined with the carry-over sharp lines, wide Countach-like air intakes behind the rear doors, aerodynamicists claim downforce has been boosted by 30 per cent, without any sacrifice in cooling performance.Featuring an overall shape inspired by 1970s racing prototypes, the long-tail Fenomeno Roaster sports the same striking hexagonal exhaust pipe, a hint at the electrified 6.5-litre V12 that lies midship.Tuned to produce a little more power 621kW (versus 607kW in the Revuelto) and 725Nm of torque, the V12 is still more than happy to rev to 9250rpm but is blended with not one, but three electric motors boosting power to a monstrous 794kW and 1075Nm of torque that is combined with an eight-speed dual-clutch transmission and channels its might to all four wheels.Fitted with a larger 7kWh battery, that also provides for a 20km EV range, Lamborghini claims its roofless Fenomeno can launch from 0-100km/h in 2.4 seconds, 0-200km/h in 6.8 seconds, while top speed is a very blustery 340km/h.Keeping weight down to a reasonable 1780kg, more fresh innovation reserved for the Fenomeno includes a Countach-inspired wheel design that saves an incredible 3kg per corner, plus Lamborghini's next-generation CCM-R carbon-ceramic brakes that employ discs made of long fibres embedded in a carbon matrix that's embalmed in a special coating and combined with 'organic' brake pads.It helps that there's also zero weatherproofing, with designers shunning even an emergency roof. Should the heavens open you and the car's cabin will be soaked.Speaking of which, the cabin is largely carried over from the Revuelto but with more options to personalise and customise.It's a similar story for the body that is offered in unlimited paint combinations, the show car's hue is said to reference the colour of the first ever Lamborghini drop-top, the 1968 Miura Roadster.Featuring a fully adjustable near competition-spec race suspension, the limited Lambo gets two bespoke Bridgestone tyre options that includes a semi-slick option.Capable of torque vectoring, the Fenomeno Roadster bags the same advanced 6D sensor and vehicle chassis management the Revuelto sports.If you're wondering why Lamborghini has made just 15 Fenomeno Roadsters, instead of the 29 Coupes, it's because the drop-top can't pass US pedestrian impact tests because of the new front crash structure. Engineers insist they could have come up with a fix but just ran out of time.The rest of the know-how accrued from the Fenomeno Roadster project will soon be rolled out on future series Lamborghinis, with snazzy ultra-lightweight wheels primed to make a reappearance very soon on faster versions of both the Revuelto and smaller Temerario.

Actions speak louder than words and the fact Chery has lined up a QQ3 at one of its proving grounds a stone's throw from its Wuhu HQ suggests the small hatch will be announced for our market shortly.Priced in China from the equivalent of just $A14,000, in Australia we think the QQ3 will cost the same as a BYD Atto 1 ($23,990 plus on-road costs), which is remarkable as the much-bigger Chery offers the space of a Toyota Corolla, plus a far longer range, compared to other cheap EVs.Throw in pleasing rear-wheel drive handling, brisk acceleration and class-leading in-car tech and the new Chery QQ3 has all the makings of a big hit. That's if Chery Australia chooses to import it.As it pours with rain, the poor all-electric hatch has already suffered at the hands of other journos, with multiple cone strikes having already made their mark, but the odd minor dent here and there doesn't take the shine off one of Chery's most appealing designs so far.Paying homage to the first-generation Chery QQ, that was little more than a rip-off of the pint-sized Daewoo Matiz, the new curvy QQ3 gains oval-shaped LED lamps, smooth door handles, a floating roof and slanted C-pillars.Measuring in at 4195mm long, 1811mm wide and standing 1569mm tall, the QQ3 has a relatively long 2700mm wheelbase for plenty of space within.For reference, that's 95mm shorter, 41mm wider and 1mm shorter than the BYD Dolphin, with the same wheelbase.Boot space is 375 litres, with a useful 70-litre frunk tucked up under the bonnet. Inside, there's also said to be a further 38 storage areas dotted around the light and spacious cabin, including a 35-litre compartment under the rear seats.Six exterior hues are available with further optional finishes for the roof, the youthful exterior is reflected within and the entry model Chery's cabin surprisingly comes with some advanced big car kit, despite its low price.Headline equipment includes an 8.8-inch instrument cluster and a huge 15.6-inch central multimedia screen which runs a punchy Qualcomm Snapdragon 8155 chip for faster, smoother reactions.The tech includes an AI-powered voice assistant and standard Apple CarPlay. As an added bonus, our car also came with ventilated and heated front seats and vehicle-to-load charging (V2L), with the latter able to top up domestic appliances like laptops or e-bikes.In China, two powertrains are available – one with 58kW and 90Nm of torque and another with 90kW and 115Nm of torque.Battery options include a 29.48kWh and a 41.28kWh powerpack, with even the baby powerpack delivering 310km of range. The bigger battery, meanwhile, sees the QQ3 drive up to 420km, but both of those figures are on the more lenient Chinese CLTC test cycle, so expect a big drop off when evaluated using the more stringent WLTP testing.Plug into a DC fast charger and Chery says the QQ3 takes 16.5 minutes for a 30-to-80 per cent top up, with no claim for the more common 10-to-80 per cent charge.Further big car tech includes an optional adaptive cruise that follows the navigation, lane-keep assist, blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic alert, plus auto parking and 360-degree surround view.We didn't get to experience either, as we only had an extremely limited time behind the wheel, but can report that off the line the 90kW version offers plenty of performance, while a tight and twisty course reveals the rear-drive QQ3 offers enough agility to be fun on a country road.Grip levels and braking performance were impressive, considering the wet conditions.