Articles by Samuel Irvine

Mercedes-Benz has revealed the price and specs for its all-new E 53 AMG Hybrid sedan as order books officially open for the upgraded model.

Lamborghini’s incoming electric car could offer up to 1491kW of power and 980-volt architecture according to Oliver Blume, CEO of the brand’s parent company, Volkswagen Group.Speaking at the company’s annual media conference, Blume said the Lamborghini EV will use a synergised electric platform that is being led by fellow VW subsidiary Porsche for upcoming Audi, Bentley and Lamborghini electric cars, according to Autocar. The “very specific setup for Lamborghini” will “allow for up to 2000hp (1491kW) and 980 volts”, said Blume.Lamborghini’s CEO Stephen Winkelmann has previously alluded to the Lamborghini EV providing over one megawatt (1000kW) of power, which will be a key plank in the development of the all-new model in addition to driver feel and emotional engagement.980-volt architecture will be far and away unlike anything ever produced by VW Group before. Currently, most VW Group EVs use 400-volt architecture, which is the case for most of the EV market.Chinese EV firms such as BYD are working on 1000-volt architecture, while its rivals in China Nio and Xiaomi – which are currently off-limits to us – use the technology in China.The Xiaomi SU7 prototype, which set the record for the fastest lap time on the Nurburgring for a four-door sedan, carried 800-volt architecture and a total power output of 1139kW.High voltage platforms work by delivering rapid advancements in power generation, efficiency and charging time by increasing the rate of energy transferred from its charging unit over a shorter period.Battery efficiency is improved by reducing the opportunities for energy to be lost in the power transfer process, while thinner cables and fewer electric components reduces the weight of the car, increasing its time off the line.Blume confirmed the new Lamborghini model, the name of which remains unconfirmed for now, would be assembled at Lamborghini’s facility in Sant’Agata, Italy, but stopped short of confirming where the platform and its batteries would be built.Lamborghini’s EV is set to evolve into a production car from the Lanzador concept that debuted in 2023 by 2030.Should it closely mirror the Lanzador concept in design, it will carry twin electric motors for an all-wheel drive set up and a body silhouette that closely mirrors the Urus SUV.Unlike its rivals Aston Martin and Bentley, Lamborghini has no plans to delay its first EV but has confirmed it will keep its three new hybrid models – the Revuelto, Urus SE and Temerario – on sale for as long as it can.

Mercedes-Benz has announced the return of the entry-level GLC 200 variant for Australia, bringing down the entry cost of its most popular model by $14,400.

Kia has announced pricing for its upcoming small electric SUV, the EV3, ahead of its arrival at dealerships by the end of this month.

For the first time ever in Japan, Nissan has successfully tested a fully autonomous, driverless vehicle on public roads, beating electric car giant Tesla to the feat in the process.

Despite a global slowdown in EV sales, Cadillac is remaining bullish about its prospects in Australia.

Cadillac likes its chances in the Australian market.Before commencing deliveries of its electric Lyriq SUV and its high-performance sibling, the Lyriq V, the all-American brand has gone and announced two new SUVs for its Australian line-up.Poised to land on our shores in 2026, the Optiq and Vistiq electric SUVs will serve as two luxury electric SUVs on either side of its middle-of-the-road Lyriq.The Optiq will be the brand’s entry point, Cadillac said, while the full-sized, seven-seat Vistiq will resemble the closest thing Australia has ever had to an Escalade.Pricing for either models is yet to be determined, but we do expect a starting price of near the $100,000 mark for the Optiq and closer to $140,000 for the Vistiq, based on the Lyriq’s local starting price of $117,000 and the Lyriq V’s estimated price of $125,000 (both at before on-road costs).The Optiq lines up at 4820mm long, 2126mm wide and 1644mm tall, making it the smallest electric Cadillac model to date.It still exceeds the Tesla Model Y, BYD Sealion 7 and more luxurious models such as the BMW iX3 and Genesis GV70 in size.It comes equipped with dual electric motors for an all-wheel drive setup and an output of 224kW/480Nm available from the pedal.An 85kWh battery provides 482km of range, while 150kW DC fast-charging capability can add up to 130km range in ten minutes, the brand claims.Inside, it carries a 33-inch LED 9K display for the driver's instruments and the car's multimedia functions. It has Google Built-in, a 19-speaker AKG audio system with Dolby Atmos, heated front seats and steering wheel, synthetic leather seats and a fixed glass roof.Over to the Vistiq, it lines up at 5222mm, 2203mm wide and 1804mm tall, giving it additional room for a third row.That will make it one of the largest EVs on the Australian market, exceeding rivals such as the Volvo EX90, BMW iX and Hyundai Ioniq 9, while falling roughly 300mm shy of LDV's eTerron 9 ute, which will line up at 5500mm long when it lands here later this year.Underpinning the Vistiq is a dual-motor all-wheel drive setup that provides 452kW/880Nm on US-specified versions, although Cadillac hasn’t confirmed outputs for Australia just yet.A 102kWh battery pack delivers approximately 482km of range in the US, while the Vistiq is quoted with a staggering 3.7 second 0-98km/h sprint time, which is mighty impressive for a nearly 3-tonne beast.Inside it carries the same 33-inch touchscreen, which sits above an 8.0-inch display for climate control functions, of which the Vistiq has five-zones. Additionally, there is a 23-speaker Dolby Atmos sound system, optional 21-, 22- or 23-inch alloy wheels, along with carbon-fibre and real wood trims.Cadillac says supreme ride comfort is delivered via GM’s adaptive damping control which provides coil springs or air springs as customisable options.Both the Optiq and Vistiq will come equipped with Cadillac’s blind zone steering assist system, cyclist alert, forward collision alert and night vision, the latter of which uses infrared camera technology to give the driver better vision of cyclists and pedestrians at night.More details on Australian specifications, including prices, are expected closer to either models launch in 2026.

BYD Shark 6 fever has well and truly swept over the country, but is it all as rosy as it appears?

Toyota Australia has announced that 524 LandCruiser Prados sold locally have been recalled due to an assembly fault when fitting the optional Electric Brake Controller.Its cross-platform twin, the Lexus GX550, has also been impacted, with 28 Australian examples affected by the recall.According to Toyota and Lexus an error in fitting instructions for the Electric Brake Controller, which is designed to synthesise the vehicle's brakes with a trailer’s brakes, the lower driver’s airbag (which was removed during the accessory fitment) may have been reinstalled using the incorrect torque.Toyota and Lexus said: “This may cause the bolts to loosen and the airbag may not deploy as designed in the event of a collision, which could increase the risk of injury or death to vehicle occupants.”The issue only impacts Prados with build dates of between June 24 2024 and October 3 2024, while only GX550s built between March 6 2024 and September 17 2024 have been impacted.Both brands will contact owners of affected vehicles to arrange an inspection of the Electric Brake Controller, and if required, complete the recall free of charge. This will take approximately one hour.LandCruiser Prado owners can check if their VIN number on the list of affected vehicles here, while GX550 owners can check their VIN numbers here.

BYD has upgraded its Dolphin EV hatchback in its home market of China, adding a suite of cosmetic upgrades and self-driving tech.For 2025, the BYD Dolphin will have sportier front and rear bumpers, larger headlights, trapeze-shaped air intakes and two new alloy wheel designs.At the rear, BYD has modified the Dolphin’s LED tail-light signatures and replaced the Build Your Dreams inscription for the generic BYD logo.In the cabin, BYD has updated the Dolphin’s three-spoke steering wheel to the same unit as its Seal sedan sibling. The gear shifter has been relocated to the steering column.There’s also a new 8.8-inch LCD digital instrument display, a 12.8-inch central touchscreen and a 50W wireless phone charging pad.In Chinese examples, BYD’s 'God’s Eye' autonomous driving system has joined the driver safety assistance systems. That includes a tri-camera unit mounted to the rear windscreen, which enables the vehicle to navigate itself on a highway. This system will reportedly be updated at a later date to enable city driving as well.Three powertrains have been listed in China, starting with a single-motor, front-wheel drive variant with a 45kWh lithium-ion 'Blade' battery and a 70kW electric motor. The same configuration is offered on the entry-level Essential grade in Australia, delivering 340km of WLTP-rated range.Additionally, there is a mid-spec 130kW variant available in China with the same battery pack.As is the case in Australia, the range is led by more powerful 150kW variant with a 60.5kWh battery pack. It delivers 427km of driving range under the WLTP cycle.BYD’s local distributor, EVDirect, launched the Dolphin Essential grade in Australia in January, a more stripped-back version of the previous entry-grade Dynamic. It became the first EV in Australia to be priced under $30,000 at $29,990, before on-road costs, undercutting key rivals such as the MG4, GWM Ora and Nissan Leaf.Its recent launch date suggests we will still carry the pre-facelift model in Australia for a little while longer.Nonetheless, CarsGuide has contacted BYD’s local operations to determine when we can expect the updated Dolphin in Australia and this article will be updated following a response.