Articles by Samuel Irvine

Volkswagen has released pricing and specifications for its updated Caddy and Crafter commercial vans, which will arrive across dealerships nationwide later this year.Kicking off with the Caddy Cargo, VW has increased the entry price by a modest $235 to $41,225, before on-road costs, for the short-wheelbase manual version.In return, VW has improved on its tech and safety credentials by standardising a digital driver’s display, a 10-inch multimedia display, front and rear parking sensors, power-folding adjustable and heated mirrors, tyre pressure monitoring, central locking with keyless entry, USB-C ports and autonomous emergency braking (AEB).The higher-grade Maxi and California variants, which now start at $43,225 and $62,225, respectively (both at before on-road costs) add park assist with distance control, adaptive cruise control, lane change assist, side assist with blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert.Three powertrains are available for the base-grade Caddy Cargo, which includes two diesel and one petrol engine. They deliver outputs of 75kW/280Nm on the TDI280 diesel, 90kW/320Nm on the TDI320 diesel and 85kW/220Nm on the TSI220 petrol.Customers can opt for a six-speed manual or a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission depending on their powertrain preference.As before, the Caddy is available in short- and long-wheelbase versions with alternating seating, trim and powertrain configurations, while the Caddy California remains the five-seat, range-topping lifestyle option.Moving to the Crafter, VW has taken the more substantial step of discontinuing the TDI340 diesel engine in favour of the more powerful TDI410, which now serves as the the standard option across the range. It delivers 130kW/410Nm, 27kW/70Nm more than the TDI340, though the entry price has risen by $9100.So, the range now kicks off at $69,100, before on-road costs, for the long-wheelbase Crafter 35 Single Cab Chassis, which packs an eight-speed automatic transmission and front-wheel drive.VW has mirrored similar upgrades on the larger Crafter light commercial van, adding standard forward collision warning, AEB with cyclist and pedestrian detection, lane keep assist, travel assist, blind-spot monitoring and adaptive cruise control.Additionally, there is a digital driver’s display, a larger 10.4-inch multimedia display, standard wireless charging and USB-C ports, while the gear shifter and parking brake have been exchanged for electronic units, freeing up room in the centre console.Visually, the Crafter also picks up a new front bumper and VW badging, bringing it into line with the rest of the brand’s range.As before, the Crafter remains available in medium- (MWB), long- and long-wheelbase with overhang (LWO) guises with differing powertrain and seating configurations. It comes in single cab chassis, dual cab chassis, van and Kampervan body styles.In addition to the upgraded Caddy and Crafter, VW has also confirmed the all-new VW Transporter, which is built on the same platform as the popular Ford Transit Custom, will arrive in Australia in diesel, plug-in hybrid and electric guises from Q3 this year.As of March 2025, VW has sold 239 Caddys, an increase of 42.9 per cent on the previous year as it furthers the gap to its Peugeot Partner and Renault Kangoo rivals. The Crafter hasn't fared so well, with sales down 72.7 per cent year-on-year from 198 units to 54. It remains outpaced by the Ford Transit, LDV Deliver 9 and Mercedes-Benz Sprinter.

Chinese electric carmaker Leapmotor has conceded the omission of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto in the brand’s C10 electric SUV may have cost it some customers, but it's confident the brand’s overall value package will still offer mainstream appeal.

Chinese carmaker Chery will supply its SUV technology to South Korea’s KGM Ssangyong, in a move that will see the latter develop new medium and large petrol and hybrid SUVs for its domestic market, according to local reports.It builds on a previous deal signed in October last year, which gave KGM Ssangyong access to Cheryl's 'Global Technology Platform', a modular platform designed to underpin petrol, diesel, hybrid and electric cars, to counter Hyundai and Kia’s dominance in the South Korean market.The new agreement reportedly gives it further access to Chery’s self-driving technology, as well as more advanced electrical architecture to further develop software-defined-vehicles.A new KGM Ssangyong SUV using a Chery platform is slated to arrive in 2026, although it is unclear whether we will see it in Australia.In addition to the partnership with Chery, KGM Ssangyong recently partnered with American components manufactuer Phinia Delphi to develop diesel-hydrogen technology for its range of commercial vehicles, which currently includes the Musso ute.Chery has been one of the biggest success stories in the Australian market this year, with sales of its SUV-only line-up skyrocketing by a staggering 216.6 per cent in the first three months of the year compared to the same period last year.As of March, Chery has sold 6057 cars, up from 1913 last year, with the vast majority of those sales coming from the Chery 4 Tiggo Pro small SUV, which is currently the second-cheapest car in the country.KGM Ssangyong, meanwhile, has struggled locally with sales down 18.6 per cent to the end of March compared to the same period last year, or 1368 sales down to 1114.The brand’s current top-seller is the Musso ute, with its SUV models – the Korando, Rexton and Torres – proving less popular.Further reinforcements in the upper mid-sized KGM Ssangyong Actyon and electric Musso EV ute are expected later this year to try and help turn things around.

Peugeot has added three new hybrid options to its Australian line-up as the brand transitions to a hybrid-only passenger car range.

As if we weren’t already inundated with new Chinese utes following last weekend’s Melbourne Motor Show, in which JAC, Foton and MG previewed incoming models, it appears another entrant has its eyes set on the Australian market.

MG's incoming luxury electric cars from its new IM sub-brand detailed ahead of their Australian arrival.

Kia has shown off a more rugged concept version of its incoming Kia Tasman ute at the Seoul Mobility Show in South Korea.

The Electric Vehicle Council (EVC) of Australia has condemned a rumoured plan by the Coalition to scrap fines for carmakers that exceed emissions targets under the New Vehicle Efficiency Standards (NVES) scheme, should Opposition Leader Peter Dutton win the federal election in May.According to a report by The Australian, Coalition sources said they have secured the support of the automotive sector in a move that is aimed at undermining Labor’s claims that the cost of petrol and diesel cars would not increase under NVES. The full policy is expected to be detailed closer to election day.EVC CEO Julie Delvecchio said the potential policy shift would give manufacturers a free pass to continue selling more pollutive cars, while failing to bring the cost of electric cars and hybrids down for consumers.“Removing penalties in the efficiency standard will mean one thing: Australians will be locked out of the savings that come from switching to an EV - up to $3000 a year that could be in their pocket - simply because the most fuel-efficient vehicles will never reach our shores,” said Delvecchio.The EVC has maintained that the NVES has delivered lower costs for consumers since it was implemented on January 1, with the number of EVs and plug-in hybrid (PHEV) models on sale in Australia now exceeding 120 models, including Australia’s first EV priced under $30,000 – the BYD Dolphin.“No penalties means fewer fuel-efficient vehicles and higher running costs," Delvecchio added.“While it's still early days, the NVES is already proving essential in expanding consumer choice, lowering fuel bills and driving competitive pricing for EVs and fuel-efficient cars.”The NVES was devised with the aim of encouraging car brands to progressively sell more fuel-efficient vehicles in Australia or face a $100 fine for every gram of carbon they exceed over the limit for each vehicle sold. Australia is often cited as one of the last developed nations globally – alongside Russia – to adopt a vehicle emissions standard.Emissions targets are set at 143g/km for passenger vehicles and a more lenient 210g/km for light commercial vehicles, which includes Australia’s popular ute segment. Fines aren’t enacted until 2028, with the emissions threshold lowering each year.Despite demand for EVs falling 19.9 per cent in March compared to the same time last year, PHEV sales increased by a staggering 380 per cent off the back of the Fringe Benefits Tax exemption concluding on April 1.Demand for petrol-hybrids, meanwhile, has climbed by 34.8 per cent compared to March last year, while petrol and diesel sales have fallen by 9.8 per over the same period.The Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI), which represents several of Australia’s top-selling car brands such as Toyota, Mitsubishi and Ford, has been critical of the NVES from its inception.CEO Tony Weber said that falling consumer demand for EVs this year reflected the government’s failure to account for consumer demands when devising the scheme.“We are at a critical point in transitioning to a lower-emission vehicle fleet. But the reality is clear: Australian families and businesses are not shifting in large numbers to EVs,” Weber said.“The Australian automotive industry has long advocated for an ambitious and achievable emissions standard. Once again, questions must be asked about the Government’s modelling and in particular their assumptions about consumer acceptance of new low-emissions technologies.”In a statement on the NVES, Sean Hanley, Vice President of Sales, Marketing and Franchise Operations for Toyota, Australia’s top-selling car brand, said it supported the NVES but that the targets would be difficult for manufacturers to meet.“The targets within the NVES are very challenging, particularly for commercial vehicles,” said Hanley.“We have no intention of discontinuing vehicles popular with the Australian public. We also recognise we have a duty to customers who need 'tool of trade' vehicles.”Despite its passenger line-up only consisting of hybrid powertrains, the majority of which sit under the first phase of the NVES’ emission targets, Toyota sells several best-selling SUV and ute models that breach the targets, such as the HiLux, LandCruiser and Prado.Its 22-model rich line-up also only includes one EV, compared to several other Chinese brands that have arrived in Australia more recently and only carry EVs or PHEVs, such as BYD.Mitsubishi Australia, whose President and CEO Shaun Wescott serves as Deputy Chair of the FCAI, echoed support for the NVES but said that consumers would benefit from its reform.The brand sells one of the country’s most popular PHEVs – the Outlander PHEV – but is yet to offer an EV in Australia.“There are notable challenges in aligning the policy’s ambition with market realities and practical constraints. Automotive manufacturers face several hurdles, including market gaps in certain vehicle segments, constraints of designing and bringing new cars to the Australian market, and a slowing consumer uptake of EVs due to concerns about limited charging infrastructure,” said Mitsubishi's Government Relations Manager, Yarik Turianskyi.Ford Australia, which generated 89 per cent of its sales last year from the diesel-powered Ranger ute and Everest SUV, said it would work with whichever government won the election on the NVES, but voiced similar concerns to Toyota and Mitsubishi.“We recognise the importance of an emissions scheme for the country, and we continue to engage with industry and the government to make sure our voice is heard when it comes to creating a supportive ecosystem, and other measures,” said a Ford spokesperson.“We know that NVES will be a challenging transition for the industry and for us. We will do the same with whomever forms the government after the upcoming election.”The Albanese government has said it plans on reviewing the NVES periodically from 2026.For Julie Delvecchio, ensuring penalties remain for car brands who breach the targets is integral to Australians realising long-term cost-of-living relief, while ensuring the transport sector meets its government-mandated targets of net zero by 2050.“Without a strong fuel efficiency standard, Australia risks once again becoming the world's dumping ground for fuel-guzzling, polluting vehicles. Some manufacturers may prefer a toothless policy, but Australians would pay the price for such short-sighted changes.”

Hyundai has shown off a refreshed Ioniq 6 at the Seoul Mobility Show, while teasing the long-awaited N Line and N performance variants.

Chery has launched a new family-sized, plug-in hybrid SUV in the UK under its more premium Omoda sub-brand.As a fellow right-hand-drive market, the Omoda 9 will launch in the UK with a price tag of £45,000 (A$93,664) in May. Should it land in Australia at some stage to rival the BYD Sealion 6 and Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV, it would likely receive a significant price cut thanks to lower taxation and transport costs.The brand's local operations told CarsGuide it was reviewing the Omoda range for the Australian market, which currently consists of the Omoda 5 and its electric E5 sibling, though a spokesperson stopped short of confirming the model for Australia.In terms of design, the Omoda 9 carries a similar design language to its smaller Omoda E5 sibling, albeit with larger proportions and a few styling tweaks. That includes added front and rear LED light-bars and seemingly Kia-inspired, fang-style LED headlights.It lines up at 4774mm long, 1932mm wide and 1686mm tall with a wheelbase of 2800mm, making it longer, wider and taller than the BYD Sealion 6, but slightly shorter than the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV.Power is sourced from a 1.5-litre turbo-petrol engine and twin electric motors mounted on each axle. Combined it delivers 330kW/700Nm to all four wheels through a three-speed automatic transmission.Additionally, there is a new 34.4kWh battery pack sourced from Chinese battery giant CATL, with a max DC charging rate of 70kW. It claims to be 20 per cent more energy dense than the firm's previous lithium-iron phosphate (LFP) units, and delivers a claimed electric range of 149km.Despite carrying at least 60km more of claimed electric range over its Sealion 6 and Outlander competitors, there is no confirmation that this figure has been scrutinised under the WLTP cycle.The interior is headlined by a single 24.6-inch display that incorporates the multimedia display and digital driver’s display into a single unit. As with the rest of the Omoda range, the interior is abundant with chrome trims, while providing welcome luxury features such as a panoramic sunroof and premium Sony stereo.Chery has reportedly prioritised acoustic refinement with the Omoda 9, adding acoustically-oriented Michelin tyres and double-glazed windows. The car sits on magnetorheological dampers and carries six drive modes (Eco, Normal, Sport, Mud and Off-road).Physical buttons, switches and knobs remain for climate control, along with radio, seat-heating and ventilation functions.Autocar UK reported that an additional Toyota RAV4 and Mazda CX-5 rival in the Omoda 7 will follow the Omoda 9 in the UK later.The latest Omoda news in Australia is the local Chery division will spin Omoda off into its own sub-brand separate from Chery's mainline vehicles and the Jaecoo division. Future Omoda vehicles will be sold alongside Jaecoo as a more premium offering, similar to how the sub-brands work in Europe.