Articles by Samuel Irvine

At long last, the next-gen Tiguan has its pricing locked-in for the Australian market.

Chery has announced it will develop 39 new hybrid cars across its different product lines, consisting largely of plug-in hybrid and range-extender models.According to Autohome, the move is a part of a new three-pillar business strategy that was detailed by brand executives during a “Hybrid Night” press conference last week at Chery’s headquarters in Wuhu.The new approach will prioritise vertical integration, improved safety standards and open source technologies, the latter of which meaning Chery will make its new hybrid technologies available to other automakers. KGM SsangYong is already a signatory, with Chery platforms poised to underpin a new range of joint-developed hybrid SUVs.At least three new hybrid powertrains will be developed by Chery to accommodate different applications. That starts with the CDM/CEM powertrains, which will denote the systems fitted to mainstream passenger vehicles such as the Chery ‘Fulwin’ Tiggo Pro 8 and Tiggo Pro 9.It allows for one of three 1.5-litre turbo-petrol engine configurations paired with either a range-extender (REEV) or plug-in hybrid (PHEV) drivetrain. Chery claims the petrol engine will be able reach a thermal efficiency of 48 per cent, making it among the most efficient in the world.The brand’s more performance-oriented cars under its Exceed, Luxeed and iCar sub-brands, will carry CDM-S and CEM-S hybrid powertrains, which pair either a 1.5-litre or 2.0-litre turbo-petrol engine with PHEV, REEV or plugless hybrid drivetrain options.And finally, the off-road oriented Jetour sub-brand will carry CDM-O and CEM-E powertrains that pair either a 1.5-litre or 2.0-litre turbo-petrol engine with newly-developed dual electric motors and a brand-new off-road specific three-speed hybrid transmission.The powertrains will be made available on the plug-in hybrid Jetour G700, G900 and T1 models in China, and while Chery is yet to confirm the off-road sub-brand for Australia, it remains in with a strong chance as the brand gains a foothold in the Australian market.Last year, Chery sold 12,603 cars, an increase of 113 per cent on the previous year. Sales are looking even stronger in the first three months of 2025, with the brand already clocking 6105 sales, an increase of 216.6 per cent on the same period last year.The recent addition of Chery's self-described "premium" Jaecoo sub-brand will only build its momentum even further, while a hybrid version of the brand’s most popular car, the Chery Tiggo 4 small SUV, is expected to arrive later this year.It will be followed by plug-in hybrid versions of the Tiggo 7 and Tiggo 8, which will go head-to-head against medium SUV stalwarts in the Toyota RAV4, Ford Everest and Hyundai Santa Fe.

BYD has announced improved terms for its new-car warranty in Australia.

Polestar Australia and the Electric Vehicle Council (EVC) have slammed the Coalition’s proposed plan to scrap fines for carmakers that exceed emissions targets under the New Vehicle Efficiency Standards (NVES) if it wins the federal election in May.

Just days after reports emerged that iPhone-maker Foxconn had secured a deal with Mitsubishi to supply its EVs for the Australian market, the Taiwanese electronics giant appears to be pitching itself to another ailing Japanese automaker.

BYD has officially launched its premium Denza sub-brand in Europe, where it is aiming to compete as a more affordable rival to Porsche and BMW.The formerly 50:50 joint venture with Mercedes-Benz will launch in the UK, a fellow right-hand-drive market, with the electric Z9 GT in early 2026 as a European-designed, tri-motor wagon capable of a staggering 710kW.Pricing is yet to be confirmed, although according to UK-based publication Carwow, the Denza Z9 GT will attract a price tag of about £50,000 ($104,105) in the UK.David Smitherman, CEO of BYD’s Australian distributor, EVDirect, confirmed to CarsGuide earlier this year that the Denza sub-brand was coming to Australia following the brand’s trademark of the model late last year.Higher transportation costs from Denza’s Chinese factory, as well as higher taxation in the UK, suggest it will receive a considerable price cut when it lands here, with pricing expected to be closer to the Chinese model. It starts at about $80,000.That would make it at least $16,000 more than BYD’s most expensive car in Australia, the Sealion 7 Performance, which retails at $63,990, before on-road costs.Punters may think that’s a high price to pay for a relatively unknown Chinese brand, however, its spec sheet suggests it will still be a bargain, especially when compared to its European rivals.In addition to its mammoth drivetrain, the Denza Z9 GT comes standard with an array of standard luxury features, including Nappa leather upholstery, standard massaging front seats, optional massaging rear seats, a panoramic sunroof, a 4.0-litre front fridge and a 10-litre rear fridge.There are also three dashboard screens, one each for driver’s display, central multimedia and passenger functions, while a voice-controlled virtual assistant works through the car’s 26-speaker sound system.Similar, albeit far less comprehensive, packaging on an entry-level Porsche Taycan or BMW i5 would set you back at least $174,500 or $155,900 (both before on-road costs), respectively.And still, neither of those can rocket from 0-100km/h in 3.4 seconds.The Denza Z9 GT is also offered in China in plug-in hybrid guise, which swaps the electric version's 100kWh Blade battery for a 38.5kWh unit, with the addition of a 2.0-litre turbo-petrol engine.It is expected to join the European and UK line-ups further down the track, suggesting a similar strategy will be adopted for the Australian market as well.

Chinese carmaker MG unveiled its new flagship three-row family SUV at the Melbourne Motor Show last week as part of its plan to be a top three brand in Australia by the end of the decade.Lining up at 4983mm long, 1967mm wide and 1788mm tall, the seven-seat SUV will compete against well-established segment leaders in the Ford Everest, Hyundai Santa Fe and Toyota Kluger when it lands in showrooms by the middle of the year.With a 2.0-litre turbo-petrol engine delivering 153kW/360Nm to two or all four wheels through a nine-speed automatic transmission, the QS won’t trump its rivals on the headline figures, though it is poised to significantly undercut them on price.Positioned above the mid-sized HS, which starts at $33,990, drive-away, the QS is expected to start closer to the $45,000 mark, making it roughly $10,000 cheaper than its Ford, Hyundai and Toyota equivalents, all of which are priced before on-road costs.The three-grade QS line-up, consisting of the Vibe, Excite and Essence variants, will carry standard features such as 20-inch alloy wheels, dual 12.3-inch screens for multimedia, digital driver’s display functions and heated front seats.A range-topping Essence variant will carry larger 21-inch alloys, a premium 12-speaker Bose sound system, four-wheel drive with drive mode selection, memory seats and a large panoramic sunroof.An additional plug-in hybrid powertrain is expected to join the range further down the track. It will downsize its engine to a 1.5-litre turbo-petrol unit, but add a 24.7kWh battery pack and a single electric motor. Power and torque outputs will subsequently rise to 220kW/350Nm.The QS was one of six new MG models, including the luxury IM5 sedan and IM6 SUV models, revealed at the Melbourne Motor Show last weekend.

Taiwanese iPhone-maker Foxconn has reportedly secured a deal with Mitsubishi to supply its electric cars for the Australian and New Zealand markets.Sources told British-based publication Reuters the two companies had agreed to partner together without confirming further details, aside from the fact Mitsubishi was looking to outsource EV production to Foxconn for the Australian and New Zealand markets.A further article published by Japanese daily newspaper Mainichi said the cars will be rolled out to Australia next year, with Foxconn’s Chief Strategy Officer for EVs, John Seki, stating its Model B small SUV will serve as the basis for the upcoming Mitsubishi electric car.CarsGuide contacted Mitsubishi Australia’s local operations for confirmation on the plans to which it did not confirm nor deny.Foxconn, which is the world’s largest electronics manufacturer and is known largely for producing Apple products, plans to build at least six electric models in the short-term, including SUVs, sedans, pickups and buses.The Pininfarina-designed Model B debuted in production guise at the Geneva Motor Show last year, where it was positioned as a competitor to the Volkswagen ID.3, Jeep Avenger and Kia Niro. Full-scale production is slated for the middle half of this year, though a location remains unconfirmed.We do know, however, the Model B will line up at 4320mm long, 1865mm wide and 1530mm tall, putting it roughly on par with the current Mitsubishi ASX.It will share its basic powertrain components with a Luxgen n7, another Taiwanese EV. That suggests both single-motor rear-wheel-drive and dual-motor all-wheel-drive offerings.Driving range is expected to peak at about 500km under the NEDC cycle thanks to a 60kWh traction battery.Mitsubishi doesn’t currently offer an electric vehicle in its Australian line-up, putting the brand in a precarious position as the New Vehicle Emission Standards moves to penalise car brands that breach carbon emissions targets.The Foxconn line-up serves as a viable solution, particularly after Foxconn’s Seki stressed the brand wants to maintain its positioning as an electronics supplier, rather than selling its products directly to the public.Foxconn has also expressed interest in acquiring a stake in ailing Japanese automaker Nissan, though the company has said its aim would be "cooperation" rather than a fully fledged takeover.

BYD has continued its strong safety record in Australia with a five-star ANCAP rating for the electric Sealion 7 SUV, while newcomer Geely has also achieved top marks for its new EX5.The latest result means BYD’s entire Australian line-up, which includes the plug-in hybrid Shark 6, Sealion 6 and electric Seal, Dolphin and Atto 3 models, now carries the benchmark safety score.ANCAP, Australia’s peak vehicle safety testing body, noted the Sealion 7’s strong safety performance across all four key categories.Most notable was its performance in Child Occupant Protection, with the Sealion 7 achieving full marks in the frontal offset and side impact tests using six-year-old and 10-year-old dummies.Full marks were awarded in Adult Occupant Protection tests, such as the side impact, oblique pole and far side impact tests.ANCAP noted “weak” chest protection for the rear adult passenger’s chest in the full width test, suggesting improvements on future cars are needed.High scores were also awarded for the Sealion 7’s performance in autonomous emergency braking (AEB) tests with a pedestrian, cyclist, motorcyclist, and other vehicles, contributing to strong scores for the Vulnerable Road User Protection and Safety Assist categories.The Geely EX5 was commended for its ability to avoid incidents in tests on its advanced driver assist systems, particularly in the lane support and car-to-motorcyle tests, where it received full marks.Physical crash testing also saw strong results, with full marks awarded in the side impact, whiplash and far side tests.ANCAP noted several welds around the car’s A-pillar became detached in the frontal offset test, causing a deduction in points. However, more severe testing didn’t cause any further structural damage.As with the Sealion 7, the EX5 performed strongly in Child Occupant Protection tests using six-year-old and 10-year-old dummies, while protection of the rear adult passenger’s chest was similarly rated as “weak” in the full width frontal test.Overall, ANCAP CEO Carla Hoorweg said it was refreshing to see electric vehicles performing strongly in crash testing.“As electrified vehicles continue to advance technologically, it’s encouraging to see equal investment in safety, ensuring that innovation and the protection of drivers, passengers and families go hand in hand,” said Hoorweg.On the Geely EX5’s performance, Hoorweg added: “Geely has made a confident entrance into the Australian and New Zealand markets with the Geely EX5, landing a five-star result right out of the gate.“The Geely EX5 delivers good overall safety performance and sets a benchmark for Geely’s local presence.”Both the BYD Sealion 7 and Geely EX5 are shaping up as two of the Tesla Model Y's biggest rivals in Australia to date, with each brand offloading 730 and 188 units as of March 2025, respectively, since their arrivals on the Australian market earlier this year.Check out the full details of both the BYD Sealion 7 and Geely EX5’s safety tests on the ANCAP website.

Volkswagen has announced pricing for its all-new, seven-seat Multivan people mover ahead of its arrival across dealers nationwide in the second quarter.