Articles by Samuel Irvine

Cheaper Tesla Model Ys are on the way.The company is anticipating non-Launch Editions of the updated Model Y to be available soon in Australia after revealing three Long Range All-Wheel Drive variants will be on display at the Everything Electric show in Sydney this weekend.Prices of the non-Launch Edition variants are expected to be more affordable than the current Rear-Wheel Drive and All-Wheel Drive Launch Edition grades, which have been priced at $63,400 and $73,400 (both at before on-road costs), respectively, ahead of deliveries in May.The previous entry-level Tesla Model Y Rear-Wheel Drive started at $55,900, before on-road costs, while the Long Range All-Wheel drive was priced at $69,900, before on-road costs.Non-Launch Edition variants are likely to carry less standard features than the Launch Edition variants in support of their reduced price tags.That means they will likely lose the power tailgate, puddle lights, doorsill plates, Launch Edition badging and complimentary premium paint, along with the acceleration boost feature on the Launch Edition AWD – which is typically a paid software upgrade.Customers will have the opportunity to get up close to the new model, which was imported into Australia specifically for the event. A Cybertruck will also be on display.The brand also confirmed allocations for the cheapest Rear-Wheel Drive Launch Edition variant in Australia have already been exhausted, as was previously speculated by CarsGuide following the removal of the car from its local website.Interest in the All-Wheel Drive Long Range Launch Edition variant is also said to be high.A boost in sales couldn’t come any sooner for Tesla, which has seen its sales fall 65.6 per cent in Australia this year to date, driven by a 71.9 per cent drop in sales last February compared to the previous year. Tesla sold 1592 vehicles last month compared to 5665 the year prior.Some have pointed the finger at the controversial politics of CEO Elon Musk, as the brand also registered a significant sales decline in Europe. Customers are also holding out for the updated Model Y – the brand’s best-selling model.Chinese EV rival BYD is nipping at its heels in the Australian and global markets, having registered a 38.4 per cent sales increase locally compared to last February, equivalent to 3956 sales.That said, sales were mostly attributable to its new Shark 6 Plug-in Hybrid ute, despite its Tesla Model Y competitor, the Sealion 7, showing strong early sales results.More information on the Tesla Model Y, including further pricing and specifications, is expected following its official unveiling at Everything Electric this weekend.

There’s a new special-edition WRX on the way, but don’t hold your breath STI fans, it’s not the news you were hoping for.

Chinese electric car giant BYD has declared its interest in working with Tesla to combat the sale of petrol and diesel cars.“Our common enemy is the internal combustion engine (ICE) car. We need to work together… to make the industry change,” said BYD’s Vice President, Stella Li, in an interview with the Financial Times.Speaking at a BYD Showroom in London, Li said the brand was willing to share crucial EV autonomous technologies with foreign car brands, despite the US placing a blanket 100 per cent tariff on Chinese-made EVs that effectively bars them from the market.The European Union also imposes a 17 per cent tariff on BYD vehicles on top of a 10 per cent levy on all imported vehicles.“ Chinese government is more open, so maybe there is a lot of wrong perception here,” Li said.Last month, BYD announced it would make its new ‘God’s-Eye’ autonomous driving technology available on most of its global models over the next couple of years for no additional cost via an over-the-air update. The technology is already active on some of its Chinese models.Tesla’s supervised full self-driving system, known as Autopilot, is available in the US for an upfront price of USD$8000 ($12,360) or on a subscription basis for USD$99 ($156) per month.Li's comments came as BYD continues to challenge Tesla’s long-held supremacy on the Global EV market.BYD emerged in 2023 as Tesla's fiercest competitor to the title of the world’s best-selling EV brand, after usurping Tesla's global EV sales in the fourth quarter of December 2023.Tesla regained the title in quarter one of 2024, rounding out the year with 1.78 million sales. BYD wasn’t far behind, though, at approximately 1.7 million EV sales.In Australia, Tesla sales have taken a major hit in the first couple of months of 2025. The controversial politics of CEO Elon Musk have appeared to have an impact, and customers are also awaiting the updated Model Y, the brand’s best-selling model, with deliveries set to commence in Australia in May.As of February 2025, Tesla sales have fallen 65.6 per cent this year to date, driven by a 71.9 per cent drop in sales last February compared to the previous year. Tesla sold 1592 vehicles last month compared to 5665 the year prior.Meanwhile, BYD’s sales grew by 38.4 per cent in Australia last month to 3946 units compared to 2859 the previous February.BYD, which operates tariff-free in the Australian market, saw strong early sales of its plug-in hybrid ute, the Shark 6, and its Tesla Model Y competitor, the Sealion 7. Deliveries of both models commenced earlier this year.

Speculation that Tesla sales are tanking in Australia thanks to the controversial politics of CEO Elon Musk is rife, but is that really the full picture?

Ford Australia has officially confirmed prices and details for its highly-anticipated plug-in hybrid (PHEV) Ranger ute.

Electric car (EV) giant BYD will launch 1000-volt architecture on its new EV models as soon as next month, which could see its cars add 300km of range in as little as five minutes of charging, according to CarNewsChina.

Honda has lowered the starting prices of its mid-sized CR-V and ZR-V SUVs.

Jeep has discontinued the Grand Cherokee for Australia, the brand’s parent company Stellantis has confirmed.“As we look to right-size the Jeep product portfolio to match local market dynamics and customer preferences, we’ve made the difficult decision to pause availability of the current model Jeep Grand Cherokee in Australia,” a Stellantis spokesperson said."While the Jeep Grand Cherokee will continue to be sold in many countries around the world, this decision allows us to focus our efforts on placing the right products in the right segments that can have the greatest relevance for our customers."For what was once Australia’s best-selling large SUV, even besting the Toyota Prado to the feat in 2014, the model’s popularity has nosedived in recent years.Just 645 examples were sold last year, a decrease of 48.3 per cent on the previous year’s 1247 sales. The new generation, launched in 2023, came with a massive circa-$20,000 price rise compared to the previous model.Despite the lacklustre results, it remained Jeep’s second best-selling-car in the country last year, behind the Jeep Wrangler (724) and ahead of the Jeep Gladiator (515), as the brand’s total sales fell by 48.7 per cent from 4643 in 2023 to 2377 in 2024.The Grand Cherokee was plagued by reliability issues in Australia, forcing the Australian Competitor and Consumer Commission (ACCC) to reprimand the brand over concerns about the way it handled customer complaints in Australia, including lengthy delays on providing remedies.But Jeep’s tarnished brand image and underwhelming sales will not see it leave Australia any time soon, Stellantis has confirmed, as it doubled down on its long-term commitment to the local market."The Jeep brand remains fully committed to the Australian market and Stellantis continues to invest heavily in its global product portfolio,” the brand’s spokesperson said.Customers can now get their hands on remaining stock of the Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited for $60,000, drive-away. Previously it cost $72,950, before on-road costs.Last November, Jeep launched its new small electric SUV in Australia, the European-built Avenger. It registered just six sales in January 2025.Jeep has previously confirmed that the Wagoneer S, a fully-electric version of the full-sized Wagoneer SUV sold in the US, will debut for Australia in 2026.

A plug-in hybrid (PHEV) version of the BYD Sealion 7 has debuted in China featuring the brand’s latest self-driving system and a vehicle-mounted drone hangar.Showcased alongside Denza and Fang Cheng Bao SUVs as part of a collaboration with Chinese drone-maker DJI, it’s the first time we’ve seen a PHEV version of the Sealion 7, which arrived in Australia this month in electric-only guise.CarNewsChina reported that the PHEV variant carries a 1.5-litre turbo-petrol engine and dual electric motors. Maximum power on the petrol motor is 115kW, while it is 200kW on the front electric motor and 150kW at the rear.Each electric motor is powered by a 26.6kWh Blade battery pack, which delivers a claimed 120km of electric range under the more lenient CLTC cycle, while fuel consumption is claimed at between 5.5- and 6.6-litres per 100km once the battery is fully drained.Its slightly smaller Sealion 6 sibling, which is already on sale in Australia, boasts a similar configuration, albeit with less power. That includes an 18.3kWh battery pack, two electric motors on the front and rear axle that deliver 150kW and 120kW, respectively, and a 96kW 1.5-litre turbo-petrol motor.Electric driving range is rated at 81km on the Sealion 6 under the WLTP cycle.Seeing how closely related both five-seat SUV models are, it seems unlikely that BYD would release the Sealion 7 PHEV in Australia. That said, after David Smitherman, CEO of the brand’s local distributor, EVDirect, told CarsGuide nothing was off the table earlier this year, it remains a possibility.“Everything is on the agenda ,” Smitherman told CarsGuide.“There’s a substantial amount of product to come, in both EV and PHEV.”CarsGuide has contacted BYD’s local operations to determine if the Sealion 7 PHEV is under consideration for Australia. An update to the article will follow with a response.In addition to the new powertrain, the Sealion 7 features some unique design updates, including a LED light strip that spans the full width of the bonnet and a modified front fascia with larger air intakes to accommodate its petrol motor.There’s also a modified rear apron, LED taillight bar and different alloy wheel designs. Not to mention the huge rooftop-mounted Lidar sensor that pairs itself with the car's safety cameras to inform the brand's new ‘God’s Eye’ self-driving technology.Compared to a standard level two system, which can only operate on highways, the God’s Eye system can reportedly navigate traffic lights, obstacles and overtake in urban settings. It remains offline in Australia, though.Curiously, the Sealion 7 has also been fitted with a rooftop-mounted drone, an accessory which will only be made available to customers in China for now.According to CarNewsChina, the mobile drone hangar allows 4K recording vision to be transmitted back to the car. The drone can follow the vehicle at a maximum speed of 54km/h.Pricing in China is expected to be between CNY200,000 to CNY250,000 ($44,000 to $55,230) with the drone attachment and autonomous driving capabilities fitted.

Pricing for the new turbo-diesel variants of the GMW Tank 300 have been revealed.