Articles by Tim Gibson

Tesla has recalled nearly three million cars in China in the country's biggest recall ever.This recall impacts flush door handles on more than four million cars from not just Tesla but Geely, Xiaomi and XPeng, too.Flush door handles became popular in part thanks to Tesla. Some only pop out when required, as opposed to conventional handles, which can always be used.The trend took off in China, and features on many cars built in the country now.They have now been found to be a serious safety concern following several incidents globally, with this recall the latest step to curb risk.This recall has been brought about by two fatal Xiaomi crashes in China, among many other incidents.The two Xiaomi incidents are suspected to have been caused by power failures preventing car doors from being able to be opened.Tesla accepted in a statement that interior door handles are “difficult to identify and operate because their colour is similar to the interior trim.”“In extreme situations such as a severe collision causing the vehicle's low-voltage system to fail, this could hinder occupants from quickly opening the doors to escape and impede rescue efforts by those outside the vehicle, posing a safety hazard,” the statement continued.Recalled vehicles will be fitted with a physical warning label on the interior door and receive a software update to automatically lower the windows in a crash.  The Chinese government passed legislation to ban flush door handles earlier this year that will kick in from 1 January 2027. Cars will only be allowed to be sold in China if they have a mechanical release inside and outside. It’s not just China where flush door handles are of concern. The BBC reports the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration in the United States have anecdotes of the door handles not working and leaving children trapped in cars. The Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP) is the national regulator of car safety in Australia.ANCAP’s Chief Executive Officer Carla Hoorweg told CarsGuide earlier this year the body would stick with its current review cycle, but still monitor design developments across all markets. The body recently introduced its 2026 protocols with a bigger focus on preventing crashes rather than just impact testing.The banning of flush door handles will be felt around the world, including Australia, where many cars built in China are sold, both from Chinese and international brands.New cars imported from China to Australia will no longer feature flush door handles from 2027.

Buyers will get their first official look at the much-anticipated Pajero 4WD next week. Mitsubishi has confirmed it will reveal the Pajero on the 2nd of September 2026. It comes after Japanese magazine BestCar exposed the reveal date late last month via a dealer source.Mitsubishi is expected to release more details about the Pajero at the reveal, including potentially initial pricing for the car.  The returning Nissan Patrol and Toyota LandCruiser competitor is scheduled to arrive in Australia later this year. Next week’s announcement will give buyers more information about what to expect. The Pajero will be primarily based on Mitsubishi’s Triton ute, riding on a sturdy ladder frame chassis.It is thought to also employ a 2.4-litre twin-turbo four-cylinder petrol engine that produces 150kW and 470Nm in the Triton.This could be matched with a six-speed automatic transmission and will be supported by a rugged 'S-AWC' four-wheel drive system. The off-road ready S-AWC system also found on the Outlander PHEV includes four-wheel braking and torque vectoring.The Pajero will be offered in the same four trim levels as the Triton, which are the GLX, GLS, Exceed and GSR. Mitsubishi has further revealed a digital revision of its iconic triple analogue instrument meters found on previous generations of the Pajero.CarsGuide spied the Pajero undergoing testing in December last year, with the prototype showing off a blocky exterior and horizontal front grille design. Mitsubishi has not locked in an official launch date for the Pajero in Australia, but next week’s reveal will provide more clues. The new Pajero was approved for sale in Australia earlier this year, and is expected to arrive Down Under by November. Buyers can expect firm launch information in the next few weeks. 

Cadillac is considering abandoning its plans to relaunch in the United Kingdom, according to a report in Auto Car. The General Motors sub-brand was initially planning to rejoin the UK market last year as a fully-electric car brand, but those ambitions now look to be in doubt. The revamped Cadillac brand is designed to take on luxury electric SUVs from Germany’s elite brands, including the Mercedes-Benz EQB and the BMW i3.  It is unclear whether this development could spell trouble for other right-hand drive markets like Australia in the future. Cadillac first announced it would relaunch in the UK in mid-2024, but since then, Auto Car reports there have been external changes impacting the brand’s plans."As the UK market and EV landscape continues to evolve rapidly with new competitors emerging, we are actively reviewing our future Cadillac plans to ensure they remain aligned with market conditions and customer demand, and we will continue to assess future opportunities accordingly,” a spokesperson for the brand told Auto Car. Cadillac is facing pressure from cheaper Chinese competitors BYD and Chery that are targeting luxury electric SUVs at a more affordable price point. Established luxury giants Mercedes-Benz and BMW already have strong appeal, making it challenging for Cadillac to break in on their territory. The brand wound up operations in the UK in 2010, suffering from disappointing sales and difficulties sourcing cars in right-hand drive.Cadillac’s Escalade high-end full-size V8- and electric-powered SUV has received a tepid sales response as the brand’s only model on sale in the UK, shifting just 20 units between July 2025 and March 2026.It's unclear whether a potential U-turn in a right-hand drive market could signal a similar fate in other markets, but the brand will power on Down Under for now. Cadillac only just launched in late 2024, and is actively adding to its Australian line-up, suggesting it sees a long-term future in Australia. It launched its Optiq mid-size and Vistiq three-row SUV earlier this year to complement the Lyriq two-row large SUV already on sale. Cadillac does not report its sales figures.Its models are pitched towards luxury-focused buyers, with the Optiq starting from $80,000, and prices rising up to more than $120,000 on the Lyriq. The brand slashed the pricing on its Lyriq electric SUV by $32,000 in May 2026 in a move to undercut the BMW iX and Audi Q8 e-tron.

BYD is taking aim at the luxury electric sedan market with its latest model.The brand has opened presales for its Da Han, or ‘Great Han’ full-size sedan that has the Mercedes-Benz EQS, BMW i7 and Porsche Taycan in its sights. It measures in at 5256mm long, 1999mm wide, 1510mm high, with a 3130mm wheelbase, so it shapes up similarly to the petrol- and diesel-powered Mercedes-Benz S-Class.With more than 1000km of driving range, it could be a game-changer for buyers in the market for a long-distance cruiser.The car is available in two variants. A rear-wheel drive single motor making 370kW, or an all-wheel drive dual motor set-up boosting power to 570kW. The Da Han’s main attraction is a huge 1008km driving range from a large 102kWh battery, potentially blowing its key competition out of the water.This figure has been calculated using the more lenient CLTC regime, so it's likely to be 20 to 30 per cent lower in the real world, in closer proximity to other electric sedans.The AWD Da Han has a reduced driving range of 880km (CLTC), due its more power hungry dual electric motors and extra traction.DC fast charging from 10 to 97 per cent takes just nine minutes courtesy of the brand's new 1000-volt electrical architecture. BYD’s new sedan will also be available with a 1.5-litre turbo-petrol plug-in hybrid set-up, making up to 400kW. Its 55kWh battery offers as much as 470km of EV-only driving range.There is no official word on the Da Han’s potential Australian future, but it is unlikely to be any time soon as BYD’s global ambitions for the model remain unclear. BYD routinely engineers models for right-hand drive, and if this happens for the Da Han, its chances of an Australian launch increase significantly.BYD's local branch is taking sedans seriously, and has already introduced the Seal and Seal 6, with a larger Seal 7 also approved for sale in Australia.  The Da Han will start in China from 250,000 yuan, which is roughly $52,000, but it would be more expensive in Australia, likely above the $60,000 mark. 

Geely’s new hybrid family SUV is getting closer to Aussie buyers. Geely Monjaro is a plug-in hybrid mid-size family SUV that has just been confirmed for the United Kingdom.This means the car is now available in right-hand drive, smoothing its path for an Australian launch.The Monjaro is on the large end of the mid-size SUV scale at 4770mm long, making it a size up on the Toyota RAV4. It will still be a rival to the RAV4 when it gets here, as well as everything from the MG HS to the Kia Sportage . It is considered Geely’s flagship SUV, indicating it will sit at the top of the brand’s SUV line-up globally. The Monjaro is available with plug-in hybrid (PHEV) and conventional hybrid power, but it is unclear what Geely will offer Down Under. The PHEV set-up is the same as the Starray EM-i that combines a naturally-aspirated 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine and electric motor to produce 160kW and 262Nm. Hybrid power also comes from a four-cylinder 1.5-litre petrol engine and electric motor, making 111kW and 225Nm. The Monjaro is available with standard 2.0-litre petrol engines in some markets, but don’t expect them in Australia as they would incur fines under our emissions regulations. It is more likely Australian examples will boast the PHEV set-up as it provides greater performance.The Monjaro hasn't been officially confirmed for a launch in Australia, but it is widely expected to arrive in 2027. It will likely hit Aussie shores after its UK launch that is scheduled for some time next year. Pricing details remain a while away, but Geely has confirmed it will sit above the Starray EM-i PHEV that starts from $37,490 (before on-road costs).Expect more details from Geely Australia on the Monjaro’s future in the coming weeks.  

Aussie buyers will soon have a new electric people mover to choose from.The Kia PV5 Passenger has been approved for sale, according to a filing published by the Australian Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, Sport and the Arts. This is one of the car’s final steps before it hits Aussie showrooms in the fourth quarter of this year, joining the PV5 Cargo variant already on sale.It provides Kia with an electric option to complement the bigger, segment-dominating diesel- and hybrid-powered eight-seater Carnival.Electric people movers are on the rise in Australia, with luxurious Chinese rivals the Denza D9 and the Zeekr 009 giving Kia something to think about. The PV5 is much smaller than these competitors, but it should compensate with a much cheaper price point. The PV5 people mover will be exclusively sold as a seven-seater, meaning buyers won’t be able to purchase five-seater variants sold overseas. It will be offered in a single ‘Long Range’ variant powered by one electric motor, producing 120kW and 250Nm - matching the PV5 Cargo. It is also equipped with the same 71.2kWh battery, and should offer 416km of WLTP driving range like the PV5 Cargo. The PV5 Passenger sizes up identically to the Cargo with dimensions 4695mm long, 1895mm wide, 1899mm tall, with a 2995mm wheelbase. The PV5 people mover has a braked towing capacity of 750kg. Kia will reveal official pricing closer to its fourth quarter launch, but the Cargo’s $55,990 (before on-road costs) provides a rough indication of where it could land. People mover variants usually incur a decent price hike over their cargo siblings, so expect the PV5 Passenger to sit between $60,000 and $70,000. Kia’s PV5 should provide a cheaper option to bigger luxury-pitched alternatives the Denza D9 and Zeekr 009.

Lamborghini is in the business of selling dreams, and those dreams don't include an electric car, according to Chief Executive Officer Stephan WinkelmannThe Italian brand won’t follow in the footsteps of Ferrari and release a fully-electric model any time soon, having walked back its plans for a fully-electric car earlier this year.Winkelmann told CarsGuide Lamborghini wanted to have an all-electric model by the end of this decade.This was likely to be inspired by the Lanzador concept revealed in 2023, but lacklustre demand has pushed back any EV plans.“We saw that our customers, they are not stepping into this idea , so they are saying we need a car with a combustion engine,” Winkelmann told CarsGuide. “It is also important to underline when you buy a Lamborghini, you don’t buy a Lamborghini because you’re moving from A to B on a daily basis.“We are not selling mobility, but we’re selling dreams.”Lamborghini has chosen to introduce another plug-in hybrid model instead, the Revuelto SV. It will be Lamborghini’s third PHEV model following the launch of the standard Revuelto and the Urus SUV.  Lamborghini hasn’t ruled out producing a fully-electric car in the future, but it has recalibrated its immediate focus to stay on petrol engines.Winkelman said the brand will pivot towards EVs when there is clear demand for them.“We were also ready to do so, but we constantly check the response of our actual and future customers and comparing them with the assumptions we had at the beginning of this decade,” Winkelman told CarsGuide. “We will be ready to do so, but the market is not, and we have to face the reality.” Ferrari and Lamborghini face the same EV conundrum.Both are synonymous with raw internal combustion power and iconic engine noise, but must now contend with an increasingly electrified car industry.Winkelmann said Lamborghini is taking its own approach to the future.“We have a different history, but we have a lot of the same customers, and everybody has to find his own way to succeed in the future,” Winkelmann told CarsGuide. “We look into the future and I think we have a consistent approach.”

Buyers are about to get an exciting new ute from Ford. The Blue Oval is developing a ute model to add to its hugely popular Ford Bronco line-up, according to a report in AutoNews.The Bronco pick-up is due to launch in North America before 2030, and will join the likely Australian-bound Bronco hybrid coming next year.The Bronco has been a significant sales success in North America as a cheap off-roading rival to the Jeep Wrangler.This latest move from Ford will see the lifestyle off-roader take on the hotly-contested ute segment. Ford is looking to expand on the success of the Bronco name in North America by exporting it to global markets and introducing new variants.The Blue Oval has pivoted its focus away from EVs following substantial losses in the past year, and is now seeking different avenues. It suffered from extensive devaluation of its EV business due to low demand and high development costs, among other things.There is a monocoque, likely plug-in hybrid compact SUV Bronco being built in Spain for European buyers. A different Chinese-built electric and range-extender large SUV Bronco is earmarked for an Australian release in 2027.These variants differ from the Bronco and Bronco Sport off-roaders only available in North America.There is no official news on the Bronco ute’s future in Australia as details light-on at this stage. The ute will initially be built in the United States, meaning it will only come in left-hand drive for now, and future export plans have not been confirmed.Australia doesn't get the current North American Bronco because it's built in left-hand drive and its emissions-heavy turbo-petrol engines would incur fines under our regulations.Australia will instead receive the Bronco ‘New Energy’ range-extender hybrid and electric mid-size SUV in 2027, highlighting Ford’s interest in the name here. Any Bronco ute’s Australian launch likely hinges on whether its set-up will have hybrid power and will be built in right-hand drive.A spokesperson for Ford Australia said the brand would not comment on future production speculation.

This could be a huge problem for EV owners in Australia. Vehicle-to-grid (V2G) is the next big step to unlocking the full potential of electric cars. V2G allows an EV battery to send its power back to the grid, allowing owners to make money at peak times.Electric cars sales are already booming in Australia, but this added functionality gives them an even sharper edge over petrol- and diesel-powered alternatives. However, using V2G in Australia currently risks voiding the manufacturer's warranty of the car.Electric Vehicle Council’s Head of Energy, Infrastructure and Commercial Alina Dini told CarsGuide current warranties generally weren’t designed to account for undertaking V2G. “Unless it has been stipulated in those terms and conditions that vehicle to grid is allowed, it’s generally not,” Dini said. V2G can have a significant impact on battery condition, depleting its health more rapidly than standard use. Most EVs in Australia are not designed to have two-way power transfer, but that are a range of third-party chargers that can facilitate V2G capabilities.Hyundai Australia's Senior Manager Future Mobility and Government Relations Scott Nargar said third-party V2G set-ups don't allow the car to be in control of the energy transfer.This can lead to overheating and other safety issues, with any damage not eligible for repair under warranty.Hyundai Australia states that none of its vehicles support V2G in Australia."The use of unapproved bidirectional charging equipment introduces safety risks, potential vehicle damage and warranty implications for your vehicle," Hyundai's website said.These set-ups use workarounds to enable V2G that is otherwise prohibited by the car's software.Most brands including BYD, Hyundai, Kia, Tesla and Zeekr warn against the use of unapproved V2G set-ups, with it risking the validity of the warranty.Mitsubishi remains one of few brands to actively support V2G in its Outlander PHEV SUV warranty, but it suggests repeated fast charging will reduce battery capacity.V2G is not as much of a safety issue as it is one of technology moving quicker than the rules, according to Ms Dini. Many brands are laying the groundwork for a full-scale uptake of V2G.“What we’re finding now is that all of the automotive OEMs that we work with are having a really hard look at their warranties," Ms Dini said."They’re having conversations with their stakeholders overseas and looking to reshape the commercial arrangements for selling cars."Brands are also collaborating with energy providers and government agencies in trials that will see the technology become mainstream within the next couple of years. BYD has partnered with Amber Electric and the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA), while Hyundai, Kia and Zeekr are working with AGL. Developments are expected to be announced within the next few months.

BYD’s Ti7 hybrid 4WD has been given a serious update in China. BYD has released a new long-range variant of the Ti7 in China that provides some further enhancements to the new SUV. The Ti7 is a plug-in hybrid large SUV from BYD’s adventure-focused sub-brand FangChengBao and it could be on the cards for Australia. BYD sells the more rugged B5 and B8 FangChengBao models under its Denza sub-brand in Australia. The Ti7 doesn't use a ladder frame chassis like the B5 or B8, but uses a car-based monocoque frame instead.The Ti7 recently launched in the United Kingdom — a fellow right-hand drive — badged the BYD Ti7. The long-range Ti7 is equipped with a 50kWh battery offering up to 315km of pure electric driving range, according to generous CLTC standards. This is a step up from the 36kWh unit that only offered up to 200km. The UK version of the Ti7 has a quoted range of 119km as per more reliable WLTP evaluation, so expect the long-range to have a real-world EV range of under 300km. It is available in two variants, both powered by a 1.5-litre turbo-petrol plug-in hybrid set-up.The single electric motor produces 200kW, while the all-wheel drive dual-motor layout boosts power to 360kW.This differs from the standard Ti7 that has three electric motors, with a total output of 300kW. The car can also now DC fast charge at up to 158kW, meaning a 30 to 80 per cent fill-up takes less than 14 minutes. It measures in at 4999mm long, 1995mm wide, 1865mm high, with a wheelbase 2920mm, but overseas examples are likely to be bigger in line with the standard Ti7. The long-range Ti7 has much of the same interior specification as the standard car, including a 15.6-inch central touchscreen and 26.0-inch head-up display. BYD Australia told CarsGuide earlier this year the Ti7 is not on its radar, but there is strong speculation it will arrive soon. The car is already available in right-hand drive in the UK, which is often a strong indicator it will launch Down Under, similar to many other BYD models. BYD Australia has also trademarked the Ti7 name locally, which is no guarantee it will come here as brands often protect their names so others can't use them.The Ti7 is available with fully-electric or PHEV power in China, but there is potential for both options to launch in Australia.It is unclear whether the Ti7 will fall under BYD or luxury sub-brand Denza when it gets here.The FangChengBao Bao 5 is on sale as the Denza B5 in Australia.China pricing starts from 195,800 (or about $41,500), rising up to 225,800 yuan (or $48,000), but expect it to be above the $50,000 mark when it arrives locally.