Articles by Tim Gibson

Mini's biggest car is getting a smaller range, as the updated model comes with less options.The Mini Countryman small SUV will also come with a mild hybrid set-up. The 2027 Countryman will start from $54,490 (before on-road costs), but was previously available from just under $50,000 in Australia.The cheapest AWD grade starts from $60,490, while the range-topping petrol variant starts from $75,490. The mild hybrid Countryman is cheaper than the Volvo XC40 ($54,990). Electric variants of the Countryman have also increased in price, with it now $4000 more expensive for the base car (from $68,990), while the top of the range is now an extra $1000 (from $73,990). This means the Countryman is even more expensive than before compared to the rival Renault Megane E-Tech, which recently saw its price dropped to $49,990 (drive-away).Base mild hybrid variants of the Countryman have received a boost to performance, with its 1.5-litre three-cylinder turbo-petrol engine now producing 125kW and 280Nm. There is also more power for the AWD grade, with its 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol engine producing 160kW and 360Nm.The new mild hybrid system has not resulted in better fuel efficiency for the Countryman, but it does appease more stringent emissions requirements in Europe.EV variants of the Countryman have received a subtle increase to driving range. Two-wheel drive variants offer 501km (WLTP), while AWD has 467km. The updated Countryman has become available in Australia after debuting in Europe earlier this year.2026 Mini Countryman pricing Australia  

New Chinese brand Lepas is gearing up to take on the Australian market in 2026, starting with an electric family SUV.Chery Group has officially announced its Lepas brand will launch in Australia with the L6 mid-size electric SUV in the fourth quarter of this year. The L6 is roughly the same size as the popular Toyota RAV4, but at this stage the L6 will only be available with a fully electric setup. There is a plug-in hybrid variant available overseas that will be made available in Australia in 2027.The L6 EV will contest the most popular segment of the Australian market in the mid-size SUV, facing off against the BYD Atto 3, Zeekr 7X and Geely EX5. It will also provide competition for conventionally popular petrol competitors like the Mazda CX-5.The L6 has a single electric motor, producing 160kW and 275Nm, while offering a driving range of 450km (WLTP) from its 67kWh battery. Lepas Australia said more details on the incoming L6 will be revealed closer to its local arrival in Q4. It comes after plans for Lepas in Australia were pushed back from mid-year to the end of this year. Lepas models have a different design language from other models in the Chery Group, with the brand targeting “lifestyle-focused” buyers.The brand said it will appeal to a different buyer than what Chery and Omoda Jaecoo does.This means the L6 is likely to be more expensive than the Jaecoo J5 EV small SUV that starts from $36,990 (drive-away). The L6 is expected to start from around the $40,000-plus mark when it goes on sale. While it offers exterior styling tweaks compared to other Chery Group models, it seems to share the same 13.2-inch central touchscreen and 8.8-inch digital driver display as found on the J5. The L6 will be followed by the L4 small electric SUV and the larger L8 plug-in hybrid, both due in 2027.Lepas is the latest in a growing number of sub-brands under the Chery Group in Australia.Omoda Jaecoo launched roughly a year ago, with Lepas to be followed by the Freelander brand in 2027. Off-road brand iCaur is also on the agenda for Australia. 

New car intenders are on the decline in Australia. While Chinese brands such as BYD and Chery are on the up, many of Australia’s most popular brands are struggling. Total sales for cars in Australia are down more than two per cent for May 2026 compared to May 2025. This decrease grows to nearly five per cent, if sales of the Tesla's Model Y SUV and Model 3 sedan are excluded.This is reflected year-to-date data, which shows a more than one per cent overall drop compared to 2025 so far. The decrease comes after total sales declined slightly in 2025 compared to 2024, with sales already coming off a downturn in the second half of 2024. Even dominant players in the Australian car market like Toyota have experienced a near 25 per cent drop this year compared to 2025 numbers.This has been partly driven by a delay on supply for the new-generation RAV4 SUV, though. Economic factors are key drivers for buyer decline, including the ever-increasing costs of buying a new car, coupled with higher fuel prices. Potential buyers also need to satisfy cost of living pressures before thinking about buying a new car. The impacts of these economic conditions increases the possibility of the Australian market continuing to stagnate.Data provided from Roy Morgan last month showed buying intention to purchase a new car in the next four years has decreased by four per cent, and overall intention has dropped to 47 per cent. “The latest data on car buying intention reflects Australians believe now is not a good time to make big purchase decisions in the middle of a cost-of-living crisis,” Roy Morgan Chief Executive Officer Michele Levine said.The Kia Picanto, Australia’s cheapest new car on sale, remains the only car priced from less than $20,000. The exponential growth of Chinese brands in Australia has been driven by the comparative cheapness to legacy brand alternatives. Cars like the Chery Tiggo 4 and Jaecoo J5 EV small SUVs find themselves in the top 10 best sellers and have a price tag much lower than many of its legacy competition. 

MG is continuing its budget EV push with a new hatchback launching in 2027 set to take on the BYD Atto 1. It is sized for the B-segment, meaning it sits on the smaller end of the hatchback scale. Based on this, it is expected to be smaller than the MG4 and MG4 Urban, so it could end up being the cheapest model in MG's line-up. MG Australia has previously said it does not comment on future models or product details, so it is unclear whether it will eventually make its way Down Under. The local branch has been contacted for comment to see if the new hatchback will launch in Australia. There are limited other details available at this stage, but the brand has provided a couple of teaser images of the new hatch. It will have a bubble-like exterior design, including a pixelated front headlight design. There will be a rear roof spoiler and the rear headlight design is split into four quarters. It lines up as a direct threat to the BYD Atto 1 that currently holds the title for the cheapest EV in Australia, starting from $23,990 (before on-road costs). MG’s cheapest EV in Australia is the recently-launched MG4 Urban, with a starting price of $31,990 (drive-away), so this incoming hatch could be the budget rival MG needs. We will get a closer look at the new hatch early next month. MG’s cheap small cars remain the most popular of the brand’s offerings as it holds onto a place in the top 10 best-selling brands Down Under. Its ZS small SUV is the brand’s best-selling model, followed by the MG3 hatch. Together they contribute nearly half of MG’s sales in Australia. 

China is taking the electric vehicle charging conundrum head-on, and it could change EVs in Australia forever.Popular Chinese carmaker Xiaomi is prepping a ground-breaking new battery charging technology expected to arrive this year.The brand’s home charging robotic arm is scheduled for launch in the fourth quarter of 2026 as the newest innovation in EV infrastructure. It will introduce an autonomous process for owners charging their vehicles at home. The car needs to be parked in position, and the system will do the rest.A robotic arm will insert the charging plug into the car and will automatically disconnect it once the battery reaches a pre-set level of charge or is fully charged. Charging can be initiated remotely using a smartphone app if the vehicle is parked within the robotic arm’s reach. Charging and charging infrastructure remain key roadblocks to mass uptake of EVs globally. Automated charging could be a game-changer, further diversifying ways to charge and improving the convenience of a process much maligned for its inconvenience. We won't see Xiaomi's technology in Australia any time soon, however.Xiaomi has not confirmed Australia as one of its future priority markets yet, as it's expected to first take on Europe.It’s not just Xiaomi that's pushed on with automated charging plans. Several other Chinese brands have shown interest in the technology. Li Auto is said to be actively testing its own auto charging robot, according to CarNews China, while Aito and EV charging infrastructure company Star Charge have also been working on systems. This technology remains a while away from Australia, with China often pioneering such initiatives before pushing it out globally. For example, BYD’s Flash megawatt charging was first introduced extensively in China, but is now due in Australia before the end of this year. Developments such as fast and automated charging are crucial to establishing a stable and reliable EV infrastructure Down Under. The latest sales data showed EV uptake is increasing rapidly in Australia, but charging infrastructure is not keeping pace. “As the number of EVs on the road continues to grow, charging infrastructure must become more of a priority. Continued investment and enabling policy settings will be essential to ensure infrastructure keeps pace with consumer adoption,” Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries Tony Weber said.“Charging infrastructure rollout must accelerate if Australia is to maintain consumer confidence and support continued uptake.”

Nissan is going all in on studying the Chinese car industry textbook.The Japanese juggernaut has admitted China’s cars are setting the standard for development and it needs to learn from them.It’s no secret Chinese carmakers are taking over globally, including Australia.BYD, Chery, GWM and MG all find themselves inside the top 10 best-selling brands for 2026 Down Under. Models such as the Chery Tiggo 4 and Jaecoo J5 small SUVs, as well as the BYD Shark 6 ute, have shot up the sales charts over the past 18 months. China-sourced cars recently overtook Japan as the biggest sellers in the Australian market, in what was a watershed moment for the car industry. Cheap prices and fast product development have seen one of Japan’s biggest names open up the Chinese carmaker textbook.Nissan hopes taking a closer look at how China operates in the car industry will cultivate significantly improved development times and better leveraging of artificial intelligence. "China is as of now setting the industry standards of the future in terms of technology, in terms of cost competitiveness and in terms of development time," Nissan President Ivan Espinosa told Nikkei Asia. Espinosa also said the brand’s next steps were "to learn from China and export know-how from China”.Chinese manufacturers have cornered the market when it comes to affordable and quickly-developed new cars.In an economic environment where cost of living is so high, cheap cars have become increasingly more desirable. The technological innovation on these models has left China’s car industry in an even stronger position compared to legacy brands. BYD’s Shark 6 is an example of this innovation. It fitted a plug-in hybrid set-up to a ute in a segment dominated by diesel, with the rest of the pack now attempting to replicate it. The Shark 6 also integrates the high-voltage battery into the chassis as opposed to fitting it somewhere where it would take up cabin or storage space - another example of innovative thinking. Nissan already has a joint-venture partnership with Dongfeng and produces the Frontier Pro plug-in hybrid ute, expected to come to Australia soon as the Navara Pro.There is a range of other China-developed Nissan EVs that are expected to be on the cards for Australia.Reports also suggest Nissan will invite Chery to build cars in its Wearside, England factory as it downsizes manufacturing activities.It’s not just Nissan asking for help from China.Mazda has partnered with Changan, which also builds Deepal vehicles sold in Australia.Mazda is using the Chinese brand's electric car platforms for its coming 6e and CX-6e sedan and SUV.

A key affordable electric and range-extender hybrid family SUV has been given a refresh in China, and it could be headed to Australia next.The Leapmotor C10 has undergone noticeable design changes, with a generally boxier overall shape and an additional 10mm in length.There have been more changes inside the cabin.The C10 now gets a panoramic head-up display spanning the length of the dashboard.To accommodate a bigger 17.3-inch central touchscreen, there is a now a smaller 8.8-inch digital driver display now.The car has also gained more speakers for its audio system as well as heated, ventilated and massaging front seats.The C10 will continue to be available in range-extender and fully-electric set-ups, both of which are on sale in Australia.It appears there won’t be any changes to the performance of these models.The range-extender hybrid has a 1.5-litre petrol engine to charge the battery, and an electric motor producing 158kW and 320Nm.EV versions have an electric motor producing 160kW and 221Nm.It is unclear whether this update will see the car increase in price. The range-extender currently starts from $43,888 (before on-road costs), while the EV starts from $45,888.The C10 competes against the BYD Sealion 6 plug-in hybrid and Sealion 7 EV.The brand just announced a range-extender version of the smaller B10 SUV would join its Australian lineup.The B10 range-extender was priced the same as its fully-electric sibling, so could be the same deal with the updated C10 when it gets here.Earlier this year, Leapmotor brought across a special edition high performance variant of the C10, boosting power and torque to 440kW and 760Nm.It was the first C10 to feature an all-wheel drive, but it doesn’t look like the updated base model will have the system available.The new C10 will launch in China later this month, more information from an Australian perspective likely to come later on in 2026.

BYD is turning its attention to Europe's best performance car brands, revealing details about its new Denza Z sports car. The Denza Z is a fully-electric performance four-seater roaster, shaping up as a rival to petrol-powered and established alternatives such as the Mercedes-Benz SL Class. The Z has a three electric motor set-up, with two on the rear axle and one on the front, producing a combined 1180kW. It boasts a 0-100km/h time of less than two seconds and has a top speed of 350km/h, putting it into direct competition with the biggest names in the business. Unlike other Denza products, the Z will debut in Europe and China, signalling a clear intention from the brand to tackle established European rivals. There is no news on whether the Z will come to Australia, but if it does, it would likely not be for a few years, due to currently being left-hand drive only.Denza Australia has been contacted for comment to see if the Z will launch in Australia in the future. It would compliment the Z9 GT sports wagon due Down Under in the coming months.The Z is available as a hardtop or as a heavier convertible. It was first seen as a concept car last year at the Beijing Motor Show, with it keeping much of the same striking look. At 4780mm long, 1990mm wide and 1350mm tall, it is similarly-sized to the SL Class. Underneath the skin, there is an advanced adaptive suspension system that is also found on the Yangwang U9 top-end performance car. The Z's European future means BYD will come in ahead of many of its competition by offering a fully-electric sports car, with others still focusing on petrol power.Lamborghini recently pulled back its plans for an EV, putting resources into plug-in hybrid set-ups. Ferrari recently revealed its first-ever EV, the Luce, which has received polarising commentary. The Denza Z scheduled to launch from next month. 

A new budget electric ute crusher from China is about to hit Aussie showrooms. The Foton K2 van has been approved for sale in Australia, according to a Department of Infrastructure, Transports, Regional Development, Communications, Sports and the Arts filing. It will join the increasingly busy electric van segment, and will be available in short and long wheelbase variants.It sizes up in the mid-size van category at 4900mm long for the SWB and 5200mm long for the LWB. This makes it similarly sized to the Ford E-Transit Custom priced from $77,890, before on-road costs. There is no indication yet on how the K2 will be priced, but it is likely to come in cheaper than the E-Transit Custom. A spokesperson for Foton Australia would not confirm the K2's future launch, but sales approval rarely fails to result in a vehicle launch. The K2 is powered by an electric motor set-up that produces 125kW. There are two battery choices available, which are 50kWh and 67kWh units.There is no official driving range figure for the K2, but overseas versions, known as the i7, offer 360km from the 50kWh unit, according to more generous CLTC standards. Overseas versions feature a functional cabin, with seating for three people and a small pop-out digital driver display and optional central display. There are also physical climate control buttons. Other information remains scarce at this stage, but we are likely to find out more about it later on this year. It will join the Foton Tunland ute, which recently came to Australia after a more than eight-year absence Down Under. It is unclear what could be next on the agenda for Foton, but the brand has previously offered an SUV and that is something still on the cards. “Foton’s got some pretty strong van offerings,” Inchcape Australia (Foton distributor) Managing Director Blair Read told CarsGuide late last year. “That is where our current focus is, what we've been discussing with the factory, and then maybe SUVs down the track.”

Game-changing solid-state batteries are back on the agenda.Chinese carmaker Dongfeng has announced it will begin mass-production of solid-state batteries in the second half of 2026, according to reports out of China. With an energy density of 350Wh/kg, much higher than conventional lithium-ion batteries, the brand said vehicles equipped with the battery will have a driving range of 1000km. Solid-state batteries don't use a liquid or gel to store energy like conventional batteries, allowing for significantly greater energy density. Greater energy density means a bigger driving range from the same size battery, so its success will put range anxiety to bed for good. These batteries are also said to reduce the likelihood of fires and are much lighter than lithium-ion alternatives. Earlier this year, Dongfeng put a solid-state prototype model through cold-weather testing in China and confirmed plans for a production model to launch in 2027.Dongfeng sub-brand Forthing is due in Australia this year, meaning solid-state battery technology from the brand Down Under might not be too far away.Solid-state batteries looked to be on the back burner in the industry, with a full-scale uptake still decades away, according to some experts. Donfeng might have just moved up the timeline if it gets mass-production underway this year.  Dongfeng is the latest addition to a growing list of Chinese brands racing to get solid-state batteries into production. Chery appears to be closest in this race with its next-generation ‘Rhino’ battery boasting 400Wh/kg and 1500km of driving range expected to feature in Chery sub-brand Exeed models before the end of the year. Chery’s local branch has also shown interest in these cars launching in Australia.Mass-production of solid-state batteries have proved to be a significant challenge, with high production and development costs combined with technological complications slowing progress. Dongfeng’s announcement of mass-production in the second half of 2026 puts it ahead of much of the competition that are targeting taking this step no sooner than 2027. BYD plans to begin only small-scale solid-state battery production next year, according to reports.Donfeng's joint-venture partner in China, Nissan is another brand to developing solid-state batteries, but its mass-production program won't begin until the end of the 2028 financial year.It is not just China getting in on the solid-state game. In September 2025, Mercedes-Benz confirmed a solid-state prototype of its EQS sedan went 1205km on a single charge.