Articles by Samuel Irvine

Chinese automotive giant GAC has officially launched the Aion UT, an uber-cheap electric hatchback positioned for the global market. Priced at just CNY9600 (A$15,466) in China, the brand’s incoming model is shaping up as a strong chance for Australia as its electric sub-brand gears for a local launch next quarter with the Aion V SUV.

Everything that could have possibly gone wrong for the German car industry has.Skyrocketing energy prices as a consequence of the Russia-Ukraine war, rising competition from China, the end of the German government's EV subsidies and dwindling global EV demand have strained the sector unlike ever before.And now, to add insult to injury, US President Donald Trump is vowing to slap 25 per cent tariffs on all cars imported from the European Union to the United States, a critical market for German brands.On our own shores, the impact of these external pressures is clear. In 2024, Volkswagen’s Australian sales fell nearly 17 per cent compared to the previous year, Mercedes-Benz's fell by nearly 18 per cent and Audi's by nearly 20 per cent.BMW is the outlier, with sales remaining steady at a slight 0.6 per cent increase on 2023's numbers, helping the brand maintain its lead as Australia's most popular premium brand by a comfortable margin.So, in a market where the odds appear so heavily stacked against them, how can struggling German car brands reverse their fortunes?Increasingly, it appears, by looking to BMW.Its success over the last 12 months and beyond has proven that the electric car transition can be leveraged to a brand’s advantage.BMW’s early investments in flexible architecture, which allows the same models to be built with internal combustion engine (ICE), hybrid and EV platforms, has seen their EV sales start to command their global growth.Its EV sales grew 13.5 per cent in 2024 as the brand registered 2.45 million global sales and its M performance wing tallied an all-time record of 206,582 sales.Notably, the i4 M50 sedan, an electric version of the mild-hybrid 4 Series, claimed the title of M’s top-selling model for the third year in a row, showcasing the growing appeal for electric performance cars.Volkswagen, Audi, Porsche, and Mercedes-Benz have largely focused on expensive EV-only platforms underscored by new model ranges, a strategy that has struggled to attract traditional ICE vehicle buyers.That said, signs of a strategic transition amongst these brands are beginning to emerge.Mercedes-Benz will launch its all new CLA later this year under both hybrid and electric guises, the latter of which is promising big advancements in range. Recent road testing of its own solid-state batteries could also see it register a major milestone in EV advancement before its rivals.Porsche and Audi have pledged to invest further in their hybrid and petrol technologies, as Porsche mulls a possible return of the petrol Macan under a new-generation model.Both brands’ parent company, Volkswagen, has said more plug-in hybrids are on the way, including for Australia, as the brand readies its ID.1 budget EV hatch for a proposed sub $33,000 price tag in early 2027.BMW, meanwhile, will debut its sixth-generation Neue Klasse EV batteries later this year, which are aiming to improve energy efficiency by at least 20 per cent compared to its current EVs, while offering up to 30 per cent more range.They’re industry-wide strategic shifts that indicate a turning point for the German automotive sector could be on the horizon. That said, any future prosperity will depend on how well its struggling brands can uphold their defining principles of sustained innovation and engineering excellence under increasing pressure.

Let’s not kid ourselves, the ute segment isn’t by any stretch of the imagination the pinnacle of automotive design.

Ford has trademarked ‘Mach 4’ in the US, suggesting a four-door Mustang could be on the way.

Following considerable delays, Volkswagen is finally entering Australia’s most competitive EV segment after announcing Australian pricing for its 2025 ID.4 and ID.5 SUVs.Both models will be offered in single variant line-ups, consisting of the ID.4 Pro and ID.5 GTX. The ID.4 first went on sale in Europe in 2020, followed by the ID.5 in 2021, with each of them receiving minor updates since then. Australia will subsequently receive the most up-to-date models.Starting with the ID.4 Pro, the more bulbous model with traditional SUV styling will start at $59,990, before on-road costs, $3410 less than the new Tesla Model Y Launch Edition ($63,400), $5000 more than a BYD Sealion 7 ($54,990) and $3220 more than a Kia EV5 ($56,770).The ID.4 is generally smaller than its aforementioned rivals at 4,584 mm long, 1852mm wide, 1632mm tall and with a wheelbase of 2771mm.It carries a 77kWh (usable) battery pack that powers a single electric motor mounted to the rear axle. All up it delivers 544km of WLTP-rated range, 62km more than a Sealion 7 Premium and 11km more than the current Long Range Model Y. The updated Model Y Launch Edition is estimated to offer 7km more than the ID.4, though.Power and torque are rated at 210kW/540Nm, while its 0-100km/h sprint time is clocked at 6.7 seconds.As standard, the ID.4 gets 19-inch alloy wheels, adaptive suspension, progressive steering, matrix LED headlights with adaptive high beam, 3D LED tail lights, keyless entry, a power tailgate and a panoramic sunroof with an electric blind.Additionally there are power adjustable front seats with massage and heating functions, microfleece upholstery, a heated steering wheel, a wireless charging pad, tri-zone climate control, a 12.9-inch multimedia display with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity and a six-speaker audio system.Moving over to the sportier ID.5, it will start at $72,990, a $13,000 premium over its slightly more sensible sibling.In return, it adopts fastback styling, a small rear wing and a contrasting black roof, while growing slightly in length and wheelbase to 4599mm and 2766mm, respectively. Height retracts to 1619mm and width remains consistent at 1852mm.The ID.5 GTX carries a slightly larger 79kWh (usable) battery pack over the ID.4 and adds an additional electric motor on the front axle for a total power output of 250kW. Volkswagen hasn’t quoted a torque figure.Driving range subsequently drops to a commendable 522km under the WLTP cycle, while 1.3 seconds is sliced off its 5.4 second 0-100km/h sprint time.It builds on the features of the ID.4 with larger 20-inch wheels, sports seats with integrated head restraints, a premium Harman/Kardon audio system and GTX interior and exterior badging.Charging capacity on both models is rated at 11kW for AC home charging and 175kW for DC public charging stations.Standard safety equipment includes front assist with pedestrian and cycling monitoring, travel assist, lane assist, side assist and emergency assist, a driver fatigue and attention monitor, a surround-view camera and front and rear parking sensors.Customers can upgrade to metallic paint for an additional $1000 or premium metallic paint on the GTX for $1300. The ID.4 Pro qualifies for a $900 exterior styling package that adds a gloss black roof, silver roof rails and silver pillar and bumper trims.The ID.4 Pro and ID.5 GTX will debut at the Everything Electric Fair at Sydney Olympic Park between March 7 and 9, with deliveries expected to commence from mid-July.All prices are calculated at before on-road costs

Volkswagen’s Golf line-up will expand to seven variants for 2025, as the brand announces a pricing reshuffle.

Japanese automotive publication Bestcar has graced us with digital renders once again, which this time take shape as the next-generation Lexus LC.It’s the latest conceptualisation of the upcoming LC in line with Lexus’ new design language, and we have to say, it looks pretty mean.The two-door sports coupe has been imagined in the same silhouette as the current-generation model, albeit with more aggressive styling.That includes fresh LED headlight clusters, a dual-chamber front grille, a new bumper and multi-spoke black alloy wheels.At the rear, the Lexus badge has been replaced by ‘L-E-X-U-S’ branding, which accompanies a new LED taillight bar, a small lip spoiler and a new lower apron.The 2026 model is a part of a sports car rebirth by Lexus and its parent company Toyota, which are committing to reinstating and introducing new sporty nameplates in the face of electrification, such as the LFA-based Lexus LFR, LC and Toyota Celica.As one of those models, the LC will purportedly return as a hybridised amalgamation of the RC and LC as both cars are gradually phased out across global markets this year.Bestcar reported that the new LC will carry a 3.5-litre V6 hybrid motor, with a battery-electric version also expected to accompany it – though details on the latter remain under wraps for now.Other engine possibilities are said to be the 3.4-litre V6 twin-turbo borrowed from the full-sized Toyota Tundra pick-up or the smaller 2.4-litre turbo-petrol-hybrid engine from the Tacoma, which is more comparable in size to a HiLux.Toyota is currently developing super-efficient 1.5-litre and 2.0-litre four-cylinder engines that are compatible with hybrid systems as well as synthetic fuels, however, these appear to be off the table for the future LC.Either way, we will certainly be saying goodbye to the 5.0-litre naturally-aspirated V8 that currently powers both the RC and the LC.The LC still remains in on sale in Australia, with global production set to wrap up later this year. The Lexus RC was discontinued for Australia three years ago, but will still remain available in some markets for 2025 before it meets the same fate as the LC later this year.

The MG ZS EV is officially in run-out mode as the brand moves to slash a further $6000 of its already heavily-discounted price tag, making it the cheapest electric SUV in the country.Interestingly, MG is now offering Essence and Long Range variants for the same price of $36,888, drive-away, despite the Long Range variant delivering 440km of WLTP-rated range compared to the Essence’s 320km.Regardless, both models are significantly cheaper than they were pre-discount. In fact, the Essence was launched at $45,428, drive-away, while the Long Range started at $50,638, representing total savings of $8540 and $13,750, respectively.Both variants carry the same kit, which includes a 10.1-inch multimedia touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a surround-view camera, heated front seats, rain-sensing wipers and a wireless phone charger.The only differences are battery size and power. The Essence carries a 50.3kWh lithium-ion battery mated to a single front axle-mounted electric motor that delivers 130kW/280Nm.A larger 72.3kWh unit is fitted to the Long Range, which powers the same electric motor. Power drops slightly to 115kW while torque remains the same.MG has confirmed stock is limited on this offer, so buyers will have to be quick. The former base-model Excite has already sold out.Australians bought 22,629 examples of the ZS last year (the vast majority of which were petrol versions), making it one of the best-selling small SUVs in the country, despite a 22.7 per cent sales dip on the previous year.The new-generation ZS launched in petrol and hybrid guises in Australia this month from $26,990, drive-away, while an all-new electric model will follow later this year.

Mercedes-Benz has confirmed pricing for its new CLE 53 4MATIC+ Coupe, which has officially arrived in Australian showrooms.

MG’s upcoming seven-seat family SUV, the QS, has been revealed in Australian homologation filings ahead of its official launch date later this year.