Articles by Samuel Irvine

LDV has given its affordable D90 seven-seat SUV its biggest update since going on sale locally in 2018.

Is Mercedes-Benz edging closer to delivering its Tesla Model Y rival?According to the latest round of spy shots circulating online, yes, it is.It’s called the GLC EV and it's been spotted in prototype guise undergoing testing in Germany before its confirmed launch in 2026.It is a replacement for the Mercedes-Benz EQC, that was discontinued in 2023, after launching to much fanfare in 2019.That meant Mercedes-Benz has been missing an EV model in the all important mid-size SUV segment for more than a year now.We do know it will ride on the brand’s new MB.EA platform that is designed to suit is larger electric vehicles.Mercedes-Benz's CEO, Ola Källenius, confirmed the news – along with the car's arrival date – earlier this year.The MB.EA platform is likely to share – and potentially advance – the technology of Mercedes’ new MMA (Mercedes-Benz Modular Architecture) platform which will debut on the next-generation CLA sedan next year.That suggests 800-volt architecture and 320kW fast-charging capacity, which could see the GLC EV add 400km of range in as little as 15 minutes.Mercedes is projecting the CLA could deliver up to 750km of range, which also suggests a similar figure is likely for the GLC EV.We may also see the electric motors from the CLA carry over to the MB.EA platform. At the moment, the CLA is poised to be offered in single or dual-motor setups. The former is likely to carry a 200kW rear-mounted motor while the latter will add an 80kW front-axle motor.Battery sizes for the CLA are rumoured to be a 58kWh lithium-ion-phosphate pack, or a flagship 85kWh lithium-ion-nickel-manganese-cobalt unit.Mercedes recently set a record for the longest driving distance covered by an EV over a 24-hour period on a pre-production CLA.The CLA covered a distance of 3717km – averaging a speed of 155km/h – at the Nardò test track in Southern Italy, obliterating the previous record set by the Porsche Taycan in 2019 of 3425km at 143km/h.For now, further details on the GLC EV will have to wait, but as usual, we can expect more information over the coming months.

Denza, a luxury subsidiary of Chinese EV giant BYD, has revealed details of its first flagship plug-in hybrid luxury SUV, the N9.Built for the global market, the Denza N9 will debut in China in 2025 before being sent to Europe and potentially Australia.It is designed to be a cut-price competitor to the long-wheelbase Range Rover PHEV P460e HSE and the GMC Yukon Denali as a luxury three-row SUV.It is 206mm longer than the Range Rover, coming in at 5258mm long, though it's still 80mm shorter than the Yukon Denali, which measures up at 5338mm.It is 2030mm wide, 1830mm tall, and has a wheelbase of 3125mm. The latter is 54mm longer than the Yukon Denali's.Power is sourced from three electric motors that generate a staggering 680kW. They are paired to a 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine that generates a further 152kW.There is a 47kWh battery pack that delivers up to 165km of CLTC-certified electric range, according to CarNewsChina.It’s also poised for a fully-electric three-motor variant, though there are no further details at this stage.Inside, the N9 carries a three-row 2:2:2 seating configuration, with two independent captain’s chairs in the second row.These seats can fully recline, while there is a 17.1-inch ceiling mounted screen in the second row for entertainment, as well as seat-mounted tray tables and personal fold out mirrors.Up front, there is a three-monitor setup, with a large 17.3-inch central touchscreen, a 13.2-inch LCD digital driver’s display and a 13.2-inch passenger’s display.In the floating centre console, there is a 11.5-litre heating and cooling box, which reportedly works from six to 50 degrees. Additionally, there are two wireless charging pads, a block of physical buttons –presumably for climate controls – and a hidden under-carriage storage area.The Denza N9 will enter the Chinese market next year at a starting price of 500,000 yuan ($106,105), according to CarNewsChina.It is also poised to launch in Europe shortly after following leaked spy shots of a prototype model testing in London last month.Australia could potentially be in the brand’s sights for later in 2025, with a BYD spokesperson telling CarsGuide earlier this year that nothing was off the cards for the brand.“BYD is committed to extending its new energy range in Australia, offering its customers more choice across all key segments,” the spokesperson said.“While there is no definitive timeline for the Denza Z9 or Z9 GT in Australia, BYD will continue to explore bringing more vehicles to disrupt the Australian automotive industry.”If it does arrive in Australia, it will no doubt undercut key rivals such as the GMC Yukon Denali and the Range Rover PHEV P460e HSE in price, which start at $169,990 and $270,888, respectively, before on-road costs.Denza was founded in 2011 as a joint venture between Mercedes-Benz and BYD before the Chinese EV giant assumed full control over the brand in September this year.

Pricing of the Jaecoo J7 has been revealed in the UK ahead of its early 2025 Australian release.

Range Rover has announced it will release a special edition SV model exclusively to the Australian market in a very limited quantity.

The Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP) has handed down a three-star safety rating to the Hyundai i30 sedan range.

India’s Mahindra has revealed its newest pair of electric cars, the BE 6e and the XEV 9e.

Audi has revealed the last generation of its Q5 Sportback SUV with petrol or diesel engines.Headlining the upgraded model are new exterior and interior design upgrades, along with a brand new mild-hybrid system that delivers improved performance.Starting at the front, there is a beefier front grille in matte black and larger air intakes, both of which are underscored by a new geometric octagonal pattern. There’s sleeker LED headlights with more menacing LED light signatures.At the rear, the sloping roofline is even more dramatic than before, losing the sharply contoured tailgate for a more rounded edge and a brand new OLED light bar.The rear diffuser is new as well, continuing the same geometric pattern in matte black that we see up front.On the SQ5 variant, exterior trims on the grille, diffusers, doors and windows come in a chrome finish that Audi calls Scantium Grey, whereas the base Exterior Advanced package comes in standard Tambora Grey.Both variants boast 18-inch alloys with unique designs, while the SQ5 also adds double shotgun, chrome-tipped exhausts.As usual, you can upgrade to the SQ5's exterior trims – bar the exhausts – through optional S-Line packaging.The new design means cargo space is slightly less than the standard Q5 wagon, which packs 520 litres behind the second row compared to 515 litres on the Sportback. The SQ5 variant carries even less at just 470 litres.Inside, Audi has completely overhauled the interior, with a new triple-screen panoramic dash display now coming as standard.It boasts an 11.9-inch digital driver’s display, a 14.5-inch multimedia touchscreen and an additional 10.9-inch passenger’s display. The latter features a privacy screen to prevent the driver from being distracted while their passenger is browsing the web.The infotainment system is built on Google’s Android Automotive software, although it is still expected to offer wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.Optional features include a head-up display, along with a premium 16-speaker Bang & Olufsen sound system.There’s a flat-bottom, leather-wrapped steering wheel with haptic controls, which adds the Audi ‘S’ logo depending on whether you opt for the S-line or SQ5.Interior materials across the seats, door panels and dash come in a mixture of metallic, microsuede and cascade materials, which Audi said are made primarily from recycled materials. There is also ambient lighting across the dash and lining the cupholders.Underpinning the Q5 Sportback is Audi’s Premium Platform Combustion architecture, which is designed to serve as the brand's last internal combustion engine architecture. It debuted on the Audi A5 earlier this year.It carries Audi’s 48-volt mild-hybrid technology and 1.7kWh battery pack, which the brand said reduces driving emissions while increasing driving performance and comfort.Fuel economy estimates aren’t available yet, nor is a 0-100km/h time, but the new platform does allow for limited all-electric parking and manoeuvring and the new powertrain generator delivers up to 230Nm and 13kW.The 48-volt electrical system also allows for the air conditioning to run at full capacity even when the car’s engine is switched off, such as when coasting or stopped at a red light.In Europe, the Q5 Sportback will be sold with three engine options, with a plug-in hybrid variant set to join the lineup later.That starts with a 2.0-litre TFSI four-cylinder petrol engine, available with either front- or all-wheel drive. It boasts 140kW/420Nm.The TDI diesel version comes standard in all-wheel drive, or quattro in Audi-speak, with outputs of 150kW/400Nm.Finally, the all-wheel drive SQ5 gets a 3.0-litre six-cylinder TFSI petrol engine that leads the range with 270kW and 550Nm.Audi said mild-hybrid technology can deliver up to 18kW of additional power across the range. All variants use a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission.Prices in Europe start at €54,800 ($88,459) and rise to €137,872 ($137,872) for the SQ5 variant.We expect prices in Australia to start north of $90,000 once it arrives here from the second half of 2025. Keep your eyes peeled for local pricing and specifications closer to that date.

BYD will introduce the next-generation of its blade batteries in 2025, according to a brand executive.Speaking to Chinese state media at the COP 29 climate conference in Baku, Azerbaijan, Cao Shuang, Managing Director of BYD’s Central Asian and European sales division, said the new range of batteries would deliver better driving range performance.“I think in the coming years, 2025, BYD will introduce the new generation of our remarkable blade battery,” he said.“This will enhance the driving distance of our vehicles, and also extend the life cycle of the battery itself.”Cao said BYD is looking at how batteries can be used for different applications, such as energy storage, once they’re no longer fit for purpose on an electric vehicle.Details on the new line of batteries remains scarce, but it is likely that BYD’s new generation of lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries will boast greater energy density, meaning the brand will be able to deliver more range through a smaller sized battery.BYD CEO and Founder Wang Chaunfu previously teased the new line of Blade batteries in April, with the brand claiming the new batteries would deliver 1000km of range, albeit on the more lenient CLTC test cycle.Reports at the time suggested battery capacity could be 30 per cent greater than current Blade batteries.If true, that would see the range of BYD’s longest-range model in Australia, the BYD Seal Premium, grow from 570km on the WLTP test cycle to circa 740km.Like the rest of BYD’s models sold in Australia, the Seal uses Blade technology, which was first introduced in 2020 under its battery manufacturing subsidiary FinDreams.BYD claims Blade batteries are distinct from other batteries used in rival EVs as they use lithium-iron phosphate (LFP) as the cathode material, which it argues offers increased levels of durability and safety over conventional nickel manganese cobalt batteries.The Blade moniker comes from the shape of the battery cells, which are longer, skinnier and arranged in rows, unlike conventional square-block batteries.Despite its huge sales success, BYD have been relatively quiet on the battery front this year, particularly when compared to Chinese battery-manufacturing rival CATL, which has released a suite of new battery technologies for 2024.That includes the Shenxing Plus EV battery and Freevoy plug-in hybrid battery, batteries which offer claimed ranges of 1000km and 400km, respectively.Tesla, meanwhile, has four new batteries in development, purportedly for its Cybertruck, its incoming Robotaxi and other new models scheduled to arrive by 2026.

Mazda is offering thousands of dollars worth of savings on its popular CX-5 range with a national plate clearance offer.