Articles by Tim Gibson

China’s latest luxe SUV has put up some crazy order numbers in China, following a flying start to life as it gears up for Australia.The XPeng GX now has a waiting list extending until February next year in China. It comes after the brand experienced a serious surge in orders since its official launch two weeks ago, including nearly 25,000 pre-orders within the first 12 hours.The GX remains a strong prospect for Australia, but a spokesperson for XPeng Australia told CarsGuide recently dates were yet to be locked in for this model. XPeng's Australian plans remain unclear at this stage due to the ongoing legal action with the brand's Aussie distributor TrueEV.XPeng Australia recently confirmed it has appointed dealers, opening locations in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane, as it seeks to build for the "long-term in Australia", according to a spokesperson.The GX is likely to hit Aussie showrooms later on in 2027, with XPeng's current focus being on the X9 people mover and updated G6 SUV.It shapes up as a rival to other high-end luxury SUVs for the Chinese market such as BYD’s Great Tang. In Australia, it would tackle Range Rover and the incoming Zeekr 9X.It is priced from the equivalent of more than $70,000 in China, but expect a decent bump on that figure Down Under. The car is available in China with range-extender and fully-electric set-ups. The range-extender variant has a 1.5-litre turbo-petrol engine and dual electric motors, producing 370kW, while EV versions have either one or two motors, pumping out up to 430kW. Total driving range with the range-extender is nearly 1600km, including 430km of fully-electric range, but this is according to more lenient CLTC figures.The EV has between 665km and 750km of driving range depending on the variant, also on CLTC. The most popular variant of the GX so far has been the range-topping ‘Ultra’, offering a 33-speaker sound system and a 21.4-inch entertainment screen. The GX is one of many new ultra luxury large SUVs hitting the Chinese market, in what has become a high-demand segment.XPeng said it is making efforts to increase production capacity and bring down wait times.

Chery sub-brand Omoda Jaecoo has pushed back plans for its Omoda 7 plug-in hybrid SUV in Australia. The Toyota RAV4-sized SUV had previously been earmarked for an arrival in the second half of 2026, but it will now not hit Aussie shores until next year.“We are looking at a 2027 release for the Omoda 7,” Omoda Jaecoo Chief Commercial Officer Roy Munoz told CarsGuide. “At this stage, we haven’t confirmed but it is likely to be in the first half of 2027.”The Omoda 7 will offer an alternative to other budget-oriented Chinese mid-size SUVs such as the Chery Tiggo 7, MG HS and Jaecoo J7. It will also provide competition for established players: the Hyundai Tucson, Kia Sportage and Toyota RAV4. Munoz confirmed the brand’s focus remained on Jaecoo, with more activity likely to come from the Omoda side in the coming months. It comes at a time when Jaecoo has seen significant growth in Australia through its electric J5 SUV.The only model listed for sale in Australia under the Omoda name is the brand’s flagship Omoda 9 PHEV large SUV, which Munoz said will get a minor update late this year. “We’ll definitely be focusing more on the Omoda brand later this year and into early next year,” Munoz said.  “Right now our focus is on building the Jaecoo brand, building awareness and building confidence in the market with that, but Omoda will be following suit shortly.”Details remain scarce on how the Omoda 7 will shape up in Australia, but overseas examples have a 1.5-litre turbo-petrol engine and electric motor set-up, producing 150kW and 365Nm. There is also a petrol version of the car, but it is unclear whether that variant of the car will come Down Under.We can expect more information on the Omoda 7’s future in Australia towards the end of this year. 

Thousands of Toyota Prado large SUVs have been subject to an urgent recall in Australia due to a digital driver display software error as per a notice from the Department of Infrastructure. It affects 13,042 Prado 4WDs from the 2024 to 2025 model years. “Due to a software error, the instrument cluster may fail to illuminate the visual engine oil pressure light, engine coolant temperature, electrical charge, and other critical safety information,” the notice read.“Failure of the instrument cluster to display critical safety information or warning indicators may increase the risk of an accident causing injury or death to vehicle occupants and/or other road users.”Toyota Australia said the recall was part of a global campaign, but there have been a small number of reported occurrences in Australia. The notice went on to say affected owners will be contacted by Toyota to make an appointment at a dealership, where the issue will be rectified free of charge. The software update will also be available via an over-the-air (OTA) update, which can be completed through the multimedia head unit.This issue also affects nearly 2600 Lexus SUVs models, which are the GX 550 and UX 300h.The Prado remains one of Toyota’s best-selling models in Australia, trailing only the HiLux ute and RAV4 SUV. 

Fiat is preparing a new rival in the popular small SUV segment with global ambitions called the Grizzly, hunting down the BYD Atto 3.It has confirmed these models will be targeting global consumers, but at this stage, they are only coming to Europe, the Middle East and Latin America, so Australia is not an immediate priority. A spokesperson for Fiat Australia said while the brand is always considering new models, there was no confirmation on the Grizzly's launch Down Under. Fiat’s line-up in Australia mainly consists of diesel-powered vans like the Scudo and the Ducato, along with petrol and electric variants of the 500 hatchback. The addition of SUVs could reignite the brand’s potential Down Under offer increased diversity, following consistently declining sales. There are limited details available on the Grizzly so far, other than it will measure at less than 4500mm long, placing it in the small SUV category, and that it will come in petrol and fully-electric set-ups.It was also be available in either a standard SUV or a sportier fastback shape.This means it lines up as a rival to the popular Korean duo of the Hyundai Kona and Kia Seltos, which also now boast electrified set-up choices. It will also take on the strong-selling electric-only BYD Atto 3 compact SUV.Despite its small stature, Fiat said there will be high levels of interior and storage space to give it substantial practicality. The car has all-round boxy proportions, with the fastback variant showing off a more poised look than its sibling. Both cars have  the same standout head and rear light designs, which features unconnected straight lines of LEDs. The Grizzly will make its official debut in the second half of this year. These models are the latest from Fiat as it looks to increase its footprint globally, following the launch of the Grande Panda compact SUV, which also comes in electric and mild-hybrid set-ups. It is also yet to be made available in the Australian market.

The electric vehicle revolution is in full swing after another standout month in Australia. There were 21,303 EVs sold in May 2026, as they continue to take hold at the expense of petrol- and diesel-powered cars. SUVs remain the dominant player in the electric segment, accounting for nine of the 10 best sellers.Tesla’s smashing May performance was headlined by 5605 sales for its Model Y SUV, cementing its position as the leading EV in Australia.The Model Y also claimed the title for the best-selling car in Australia last month.  The Jaecoo J5 EV had its best month on sale since it hit Aussie showrooms at the start of this year, selling 2126 units, up from less than 700 in April. This makes the J5 the best-selling small SUV in the country currently, even outselling its closely related and cheaper petrol sibling, the Chery Tiggo 4. The Geely EX5 also surged up the sales charts, achieving 1814 sales, while the BYD Sealion 7 experienced another bumper month, with 1538 sales. The Zeekr 7X rounds out the top five following a continued solid performance since its introduction late last year. BYD’s budget EV trio the Atto 3, Atto 2 and Atto 1 shifted more than 2000 units between them.The BYD Seal (580) is the only non-SUV on this list.Every car in the top 10 selling EVs for May is primarily built in China, with none coming from legacy brands. Some of the other EVs to miss out on a top 10 spot include the MG4 as well as Kia's EV3 and EV5 duo.Top selling electric cars May 2026

Mazda has taken more steps away from electric cars, announcing a trial for its biodiesel fuel in Japan, and it could be a game-changer in Australia.Biodiesel is considered a renewable fuel made up of vegetable and used cooking oils, among other organic materials.The trial will take place towards the end of 2026.It will be conducted between the brand’s Hofu, Nishinoura district plant and Nakanoseki finished vehicle yard - a distance of 12km.It will assess fuel efficiency, performance and operational challenges to collect insights with a view to further expansion. The transport trailers used in the trial will operate under conditions equivalent to conventional diesel fuel, which includes maintenance and inspection practices. Mazda is already considering the logistics of a full integration for the fuel system, working with distributors in Japan to develop supply systems and infrastructure. It said it is aiming to achieve carbon neutrality across its range by 2050, with these plans coming at an important time for the brand in Australia.The brand finds itself behind in the electrified vehicle race, which has seen it on the cusp of copping substantial emissions-related fines.It has sought to rectify this with the introduction of the fully-electric Mazda 6e sedan and Mazda CX-6e SUV Down Under.This biodiesel fuel push is further evidence of Mazda's recent venture into non-EV clean emissions alternatives.It recently confirmed the push back of its own electric car plans in favour of hybrids.It is too early to tell whether biodiesel will become an established part of Mazda's lineup, but a trial shows there is potential.Mazda Australia has been contacted for comment to see if there are any plans for biodiesel technology to be introduced and what impact this could have on EVs. Mazda currently offers diesel set-ups in some of its bigger SUVs such as the CX-60, CX-70, CX-80 and CX-90, as well as the BT-50 ute. A fully-integrated biodiesel-powered BT-50 could give Mazda the edge over conventional diesel rivals. These diesel powerhouses have experienced challenges in maintaining towing and carrying capacities with cleaner set-ups.Ford recently announced its Ranger utes have biodiesel capacity, including a fleet of units that run on this fuel at Melbourne Airport. The Ford Ranger plug-in hybrid has had a tepid sales response with its lesser payload, while the incoming Hilux EV will only have a driving range of less than 300km

One of BMW's most popular performance cars is about to receive a massive change.The new-generation M2 sports coupe will be offered with all-wheel drive for the first time ever when it hits showrooms in the coming months.An Australian launch is likely to come after it arrives in Europe in August 2026, with BMW primarily targeting markets in the United States, Germany and China. BMW Australia has been contacted for comment to get more exact timings for the M2 Down Under. The M2 sits in a segment with limited representation, given its small size and coupe status. It will have competition from the four-door Mercedes-AMG CLA 45, along with more sport car specific alternatives like the Lotus Emira and the out-of-production Porsche 718. It will be powered by a 3.0-litre six-cylinder engine, continuing to produce 353kW and up to 600Nm. The engine has undergone some subtle tweaking with the addition of a new pre-chamber combustion process to improve fuel efficiency, poached from BMW’s racing division. The M2 will join several other high performance six-cylinder BMW models receiving the technology from the middle of this year. The new all-wheel drive system means it can shift from 0-100km/h in 3.7 seconds, a 0.3 second mark-up on the rear-wheel drive model. It has a top speed of up to 285km/h when the 'M' performance package is specified. Even on AWD models, the M2 keeps its RWD bias, with power only being transferred to the front wheels when the rear wheels cannot take anymore. There is no official news on price just yet, but the current M2 starts from $128,100 (before on-road costs), with prices rising up to $172,900 in Australia.

Mitsubishi's plans to tackle BYD and Chery have just been revealed.The Japanese giant is planning to introduce 13 new models, including five hybrid and five plug-in hybrid models over the next five years. This could have huge implications for the brand in Australia, especially as it battles tough impending New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES) fines. More electrified vehicles on sale could help ease those pressures. Mitsubishi Australia has been contacted for comment to see if there are any plans for these models to launch Down Under. The incoming Pajero is one of these new models, but it is just the beginning of a comprehensive shake-up from the brand. It will launch a small SUV, a compact SUV, two other undefined SUVs as well as a new ute, among other models falling into the off-road product plan.Additionally, there will be two new electric SUVs, with a pick-up and two Kei (Japanese city-class) cars also being planned. The brand also detailed some of its key weaknesses stating there was “significant room for improvement” required across the board. It identified the challenges for Mitsubishi in achieving differentiation to other brands - something which has become an increasingly big issue with the rise of Chinese carmakers.Brands such as BYD and Chery have introduced many models posing direct competition to Mitsubishi, but at much cheaper prices.“We will build a line-up that embodies our brand, centred on the off-road product group and ASEAN product group,”  “At the same time, regarding electrification, while we will continue to utilize collaboration models for EVs, we will focus our in-house development on HEVs and PHEVs.“Going forward, Mitsubishi Motors will focus on product segments where we have strengths, refine differentiated product characteristics that set us apart from competing brands, including Chinese brands, and establish a unique position in the automotive industry.”The return of the Pajero 4WD in Australia is scheduled for the fourth quarter of this year, and appears to be the first of this new era for Mitsubishi.

The electric car sales boom is still in full swing, with the latest data revealing a record-breaking month for Tesla in Australia.Tesla sold 6433 units in May 2026, equating to the highest single month recorded for the Electric Vehicle Council (EVC) ever. This sales surge has been mainly driven by the Tesla Model Y SUV, which achieved 5605 sales in May 2026, more than 2000 units up compared to May 2025.This latest data likely cements the Model Y as the best-selling electric vehicle in Australia, with the BYD Sealion 7 and Zeekr 7 still trailing the popular Tesla.The Model 3 sedan has also seen a big sales boost for May, more than doubling its total compared to the same time last year. Tesla’s increasing sales comes after the brand launched its six-seater Model Y L in Australia, adding further diversity to its lineup. Tesla experienced a tricky April this year, with both its Model Y and Model 3 copping big downturns in sales.The brand said delivery cycles impact how sales numbers look on a month-to-month basis, with differing numbers of cars being imported into the country. Polestar has also experienced some sales growth, with its Polestar 4 up nearly 40 per cent on year-to-date. It comes as high fuel prices continue to weigh on the minds of buyers, accelerating the EV transition.EVC Chief Executive Officer Julie Delvecchio said this data was a crucial point in the EV push."May 2026 is an important moment for Australia's EV transition - the strongest month on record for combined Tesla and Polestar sales,” Delvecchio said. “When fuel prices hurt, people look for alternatives. Electric vehicles offer exactly that - no trips to the servo, no price spikes at the pump, savings of around $3,000 a year.“We know Australians buy cars that save them money, suit their lifestyle and perform well. Record EV sales suggest more Australians are finding electric vehicles tick all three boxes.”Chinese brands such as BYD have also been getting in on the increasing popularity of EVs, with its Sealion 7 mid-sizer expected to continue its strong sales performance in Australia. 

The Zeekr 7X just got better in Australia following an over-the-air (OTA) update.The OTA upgrades include revamped software and increased functionality for the electric mid-size SUV.It now comes with remote smart parking assist, meaning the vehicle can be moved forwards or backwards through a smartphone, similar to the 'Summon' feature found on Tesla cars.This is only available for Apple smartphone users.The upgrades for iPhone users continues with the addition of digital key functionality. This enables the car to be accessed using an iPhone, removing the need for a conventional physical key or fob. There have also been substantial improvements to the Apple CarPlay system. It runs more smoothly and has improvements to navigation, phone connectivity and entertainment functions. Zeekr further announced adjustments to in-car volume levels for indicator and other notification and alert sounds.The update will be automatically applied to all 7X vehicles.“Our 7X customers are gaining new features that make their vehicle even smarter, easier to live with and more enjoyable to drive,” Zeekr Australia Managing Director Frank Li said. The 7X starts from $57,900 (before on-road costs), with prices rising up to $75,900 for the range-topping special edition Black variant.It has surged up the sales charts since it went on sale towards the end of last year, and will break through the 3000-sale barrier for 2026 imminently. This makes it one of the best-selling EVs in Australia, but it still trails the Model Y and the BYD Sealion 7 by a significant margin.The Model Y does not boast either Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, with Tesla’s SUV using its own software to manage communication and navigation.The 7X is Zeekr's most successful model in Australia to date, but the Geely sub-brand is plotting the introduction of several new models by the end of 2027.This includes the much-anticipated 7GT wagon as well as the 8X and 9X luxury large SUVs.