Articles by Tim Gibson

The new-generation Suzuki Across plug-in hybrid SUV has just been unveiled.It shares much of its design and features with the Toyota RAV4, being more-or-less a rebadged version of the popular family car. It is unlikely we will see the Across in Australia, as its previous generation was a Europe-exclusive model, but there is potential for that to change.The outgoing Across was introduced to Europe to help with tightening emissions standards in Europe, which was not the case Down Under at the time. That has now changed.There is now increasing pressure from Australia’s New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES), with brands facing penalties for selling vehicles that emits CO2 over a certain threshold. This threshold gets lower every year.Suzuki could be subject to this, given its Aussie lineup is entirely made up of purely petrol-powered cars, apart from the Swift hatchback, which is a mild hybrid. The Across would have the same rivals in Australia as the RAV4, including the Hyundai Tucson, Kia Sportage and Mazda CX-5.It's plug-in hybrid set-up would offer something different to those big-hitters.Suzuki Australia has been contacted for comment as to whether there are any plans for the Across to launch domestically. It will employ the same plug-in hybrid system as the coming RAV4 PHEV, which includes a 2.5-litre turbo-petrol engine producing 105kW and 226Nm, and two electric motors.The front electric motor produces 150kW and 271Nm, with the smaller rear motor making 40kW and 123Nm, which takes total system output for the Across to 225kW. Acceleration from 0-100km/h takes 6.1 seconds, with a top speed of 180km/h, and comes as standard with an all-wheel drive systemThere is a 22.7kWh lithium-ion battery, which in the RAV4 is claimed to deliver about 100km. It is hard to spot the difference between the Across and the RAV4, with it featuring the same boxy overall design, as well as the standout grille and fenders.On the inside, the car gets a 12-3-inch digital driver display and 12.9-inch central touch screen display.There is also a head-up display, and heated and power-operated front seats as part of the standard gear. It gets plenty of valuable safety equipment like auto-emergency braking, lane-change assist, lane departure warning and a 360-degree camera. 

BYD is the latest brand to get in on the solid-state battery scene, with small-batch production to get underway in 2027, according to reports.This latest development puts BYD back in the race against Chinese rival Chery that has also recently announced solid-state technology. The Chery Exeed Liefeng shooting brake will feature a battery offering a potential driving range of 1500km, with an energy density of 600Wh per kilogram.This will launch after the Exeed ES8 shooting brake, which will be Chery’s first solid-state model, with a driving range of 1000km. We do not know which BYD vehicles will be fitted with this solid-state technology or its real-world potential yet.It is expected BYD’s technology will differ from Chery’s as it will use sulfide electrolytes as opposed to oxide-based chemistry. This different set-up could be a more practical route to commercial viability for solid-state technology as it is claimed to be easier to manufacture and provides benefits such as faster and safer energy transfer that could result in faster charging and lower fire risk. BYD’s solid-state powered vehicles will only be available in a small batch next year, which suggests there are no plans yet for the technology to enter full-scale production at this stage.Solid-state batteries have been gaining traction with car makers in China, but other big-name manufacturers in Europe and North America have been slower to get behind them. General Motors has highlighted its scepticism for solid-state, preferring investment in silicon graphite batteries, while Ford views it as a ‘possible future technology’.Mercedes-Benz unveiled a prototype solid-state powered version of its EQS sedan in September 2025, which travelled 1205km on a single charge. Full integration of this technology remains several years away, with full market integration unlikely to occur until the 2030s if it continues to gather steam in the EV space. 

Ford is planning five new budget models, including utes and SUVs, according to Automotive News. The Blue Oval will introduce five models priced under US$40,000 (under $55,000) by 2030 as it builds up its affordable options. These models will offer the brand some competitive alternatives to ever-expanding lineups from Chinese rivals.The first model will be an all-electric ute in 2027, potentially called Ranchero, built on its new Universal EV platform and part of a push into affordable EVs for the brand.It is expected the ute will have a price tag of about US$30,000, which is circa-$46,000.The Universal platform differs from the Global Electrified 1 platform used by the Ford Mach-E SUV. Electric ute options remain scarce and pricey in the market, with Toyota’s coming HiLux EV the most notable example so far.Ford recently ended production on its F-150 Lightning full-size pick-up EV due to slow demand.President of Ford Blue and Model e Andrew Frick said the five models would employ a variety in the power set-ups, wearing new names and focusing on affordability.“It will be across our lineup of cars, trucks, SUVs, vans, and it will be multi-energy,” Frick told Automotive News.  “That’ll start to fill in the product side, but we have work to do to help affordability in the near term more tactically.“I would say there’s probably 10 actions that we’ll do to help affordability.”Frick’s comments also outline that SUVs will form part of the five incoming models under the budget plan. Nothing further has been confirmed on that front yet, but it is unclear if Australia will see these budget models, given they will be built in America and likely be left-hand drive.These electrified models could assist Ford in Australia, offering valuable credit towards its Australia’s New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES) situation, with most of its current models being internal combustion powered.The Blue Oval only has a plug-in hybrid version of its best-selling Ranger ute as well as the Mustang Mach-E SUV and Transit Custom EVs.Ford’s last SUV model on sale in Australia was the Escape, which never took off in Australia. It is anticipated Australia will get a China-built variant of the Ford Bronco SUV to fill this space, which uses a range-extender hybrid set-up. 

The Leapmotor B10 and Zeekr 7X are among several models that have received top marks in their Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP) safety tests. The B10 is an all-electric small SUV, which went on sale in November 2025. The BYD Atto 3, Hyundai Kona and Kia EV3 rival received some stand out results, including 93 per cent for adult protection and 95 per cent for child protection.Those two results equalled the highest score for those areas under ANCAP’s now outgoing 2023-2025 testing criteria.  The Zeekr 7X (the current 2026 CarsGuide Car of the Year best medium SUV under $60,000), also received five stars and was awarded 91 per cent for adult protection and 87 per cent child protection. The 7X offers a new alternative to big sellers in the mid-size SUV market, such as the Tesla Model Y and BYD Sealion 7.Another car to receive a five-star rating was the Geely Starray EM-i, the second Geely model to launch in Australia after the EX5 SUV. The recently-introduced Kia EV4 has also been rated, receiving five stars. The all-electric sedan arrived in Australia this month, ahead of the hatch variants joining later this year. The other car to pick up a five-star rating, was the Mercedes-Benz CLE Coupe, which rated at 93 per cent for adult protection and 86 per cent for child protection. ANCAP Chief Executive Officer Carla Hoorweg said this latest batch of ratings highlights the importance of maintaining car safety as more brands continue to be introduced to the market. “As more new models and emerging brands arrive on our roads, independent safety assessment remains critical,” Hoorweg said. “ANCAP testing provides consumers with clear, comparable information, and ensures vehicles meet the highest standards for protection, regardless of badge or price point.”ANCAP also announced that the MG HS small SUV’s five-star rating now extended to hybrid and plug-in hybrid variants in addition to petrol offerings.There was also an updated five-star rating for the Toyota bZ4X and its sister car the Subaru Solterra.This latest round of rest results will be the final set of cars tested under the previous criteria, with all new cars to be using the four-stage ‘Stages of Safety’ system. This will examine safe driving, crash avoidance, crash protection and post-crash, but a rating out of five stars will still be awarded for each car. 

GWM’s Cannon ute will get plug-in hybrid power in 2026 as a potential budget option to battle the BYD Shark 6.The Cannon PHEV has appeared in Ministry of Industry and Information Technology filings over in China, according to AutoHome. A spokesperson for GWM Australia said there was nothing to confirm at this stage about the Cannon PHEV’s future in Australia. It is likely the petrol-electric ute will arrive Down Under, as the plug-in hybrid ute market is expanding rapidly as emission regulations trample conventional ute options. Australia is also a major export market for GWM, which puts us at the front of the queue for new models.It will give GWM a second plug-in hybrid ute choice for buyers, which is likely to come in cheaper than competitors in the space. The more expensive Cannon Alpha ute already has a plug-in variant in Australia, which starts from $61,490 (drive-away). The Cannon PHEV’s 2.0-litre turbo-petrol engine and electric motor will produce 185kW, a far cry from the hot selling Shark 6's 321kW. We also know the ute will employ a lithium-iron-phosphate battery.  The Cannon PHEV measures up bigger than diesel Cannon, at 5653mm long compared to 5416mm and with a wheelbase of 3470mm as opposed to 3230mm.The Cannon PHEV will face some stiff competition if it comes here, with the BYD Shark 6 plug-in hybrid ute (the current 2026 CarsGuide Car of the Year best ute). It is priced from $57,900 drive-away.If it comes to Australia it is likely the Cannon PHEV will be cheaper than the Shark 6, given the base dual-cab diesel variant starts from $35,990 (drive-away). Ford's Ranger PHEV is more expensive, but again offers more grunt and a 3500kg towing capacity.The Cannon PHEV could be following a similar trajectory to many other GWM products on their route to Australia. GWM Australia officially announced the Tank 300 PHEV soon after its official China unveiling last year. Based on this, it can be speculated we might see the Cannon PHEV hit Australian showrooms in the next few months.

Ford and Geely could be about to team-up and use the Blue Oval’s European factory, according to a report in Reuters.The brands are reportedly in talks for Geely to use Ford factory space in Europe to produce vehicles to be sold on the continent, which would allow Geely to skirt tariffs placed on Chinese built cars. The pair discussed a potential framework for shared vehicle technologies, which included automated driving functionality.The talks are said to be at an advanced stage and have been going on for months.Delegations from both companies have traveled to their counterparts’ respective headquarters over the past few weeks. Innovation in car automation and seamless technology from Chinese brands has long been admired by CEO Jim Farley.Farley said back in 2024 that Chinese automakers presented an “existential threat” to the Western automotive industry.He has praised the Xiaomi SU7 electric sedan, which he admitted at the time he had been driving for months.Earlier this week, it was reported the Blue Oval was about to begin building electric cars with Xiaomi in the United States.It is now believed the joint-venture will not happen after both companies ruled out the move publicly. This differs from Ford’s response to these Geely rumours with the Blue Oval telling Reuters: “We have discussions with lots of companies all the time on a variety of topics. Sometimes they materialise, sometimes they don't."Geely did not comment on the potential of the partnership. Such a move would offer some benefits for Geely, with the company likely able to avoid the EV tariffs imposed by the European Union on Chinese car importers.Ford currently has manufacturing plants in Germany, Romania and Spain, which would allow Geely to tap into factories already built in the region. Other Chinese automakers have already made the jump to European manufacturing, including Leapmotor building cars in Stellantis’ Spain plant. Ford could also gain valuable EV technologies from Geely, with the brand already having several electric-only models on sale.This could be particularly important for Ford, as emissions standards continue to tighten around the world, especially in Australia. Australia’s tough New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES) will see brands incur fines on vehicles that do not meet emissions standards. Selling electric vehicles accumulates credits for manufacturers, which can then be sold to other brands Down Under or mitigate against a its high-emissions vehicles. Geely technologies could assist Ford in gaining the electrified vehicle architecture for models, such as between Renault and Geely on models like the incoming Filante hybrid SUV.Ford Australia told CarsGuide earlier this year the brand is more focused on consumer demand rather than emissions limitations.Nearly all of Ford's models sold in Australia employ internal combustion engines, with models like the Ranger ute and Everest SUV being some of the most popular in the country.

The Geely Galaxy M7 plug-in hybrid SUV has just been unveiled in China with a staggering combined driving range of 1730km, according to CarNews China. It is unclear at this stage whether the Galaxy M7 will make its way to Australia, but it would be another rival in the crowded SUV segment. A spokesperson for Geely Australia said there is no news to share on the Galaxy M7's potential to launch in Australia.It is a little bigger than the EX5 all-electric SUV the brand currently has on sale in Australia. The EX5 proved to be one the most popular EVs in Australia in 2025 despite only going on sale in March. The Galaxy M7 is closer in size to the Haval H6 plug-in hybrid and Leapmotor C10 alternatives, which both start from under $50,000. The car has a 1.5-litre petrol engine which produces 82kW and an electric motor, with a top speed of 180km/h.It will employ a lithium-iron-phosphate battery pack, with 18.4kWh and 29.8kWh options, and an electric-only driving range of 225km. There are also DC fast charging capabilities.The car when fully charged offers fuel consumption of 3.35L/100km. The exterior design of it shows a sweeping overall look, a large sunroof and a light strip along the front of the car. On the inside, there is a separate digital driver display and large central touchscreen, along with 50W wireless phone charging.  Geely unveiled the Galaxy M9 large SUV in China in September 2025, which boasted a similarly spectacular range of 1255km. It was the first of Geely’s expanding Galaxy M-series range, now being joined by the M7. The brand has been working on other high driving range models, such as the Galaxy V900 people mover, which is also yet to be confirmed for Australia. 

The cheapest MG ZS grade has just been re-introduced, with the base Vibe back on sale in Australia.

The BYD Song Ultra electric mid-size SUV has just been teased in China, according to CarNews China.The Song name has been used on several models for BYD, one of those being the Sealion 6 plug-in hybrid variant found in Australia.This means the Song Ultra is likely to be an all-electric version of the Sealion 6, which has just been phased out in China.At 4850mm long, 1910mm wide and 1670mm tall, it is bigger than the Australian-sold Sealion 6 and closer to the size of the Sealion 7 EV. This means it would be a direct rival to Mazda's incoming CX-6e, which will launch in Australia this year. It could also be an alternative to the recently-introduced, and China-built, Hyundai Elexio, which has an introductory starting price of $59,990 drive-away.There is no official news yet on whether the BYD Song Ultra will head over to Australia, but with the brand continuing to push models, it is a possibility.The Sealion 6 and Sealion 7 have been two of BYD’s most successful models Down Under, only trailing the Shark 6 plug-in hybrid ute. The picture BYD has teased of its new car shows a similar outline to the Sealion 6.It falls under the Dynasty series for BYD, which has previously been reserved for hybridss, but the Song Ultra will be the first fully-electric model under the series. We got our first look at the Song Ultra late last year when it appeared in Chinese regulator documents as it edged closer to a domestic launch.The car comes in two variants, the first of which is a single electric motor, producing 239kW, while the up-spec model has dual electric motors for a combined 270kW. The more powerful version of the car has a top speed of 210km/h,We also know the car has a lithium-iron-phosphate battery, but there are no details yet on driving range or charging times. 

Mazda has raised the prices of its CX-5 and CX-3 SUVs, among other models as part of increases across the range for 2026. Mazda’s two most popular models have seen price hikes, with the CX-5 up $500, now starting from $37,240, while the smaller CX-3 has gone up $300 to $30,670.The CX-3 remains marginally cheaper than the rivalling Toyota Yaris Cross. It is worth noting the CX-3 is petrol-only, while the Yaris Cross is hybrid-exclusive.The CX-5 is also still cheaper than many of its competitors, such as the Hyundai Tucson and Kia Sportage. While many Mazda models remain available at a more affordable price point, there are limited hybrid options across the range, with rivals adding alternatives regularly. A new-generation CX-5 will launch in 2026, although it will launch with a combustion engine, with a hybrid drivetrain arriving later to better compete with the Tucson, Sportage and Toyota RAV4 all of which have strong-selling hybrid variants.Most Mazda models have increased by $300, such as on the Mazda2 and Mazda3 passenger cars, which now start from $28,190 and $31,310 (before on-road costs), respectively. The BT-50 ute is another to experience an increase, up $500 to $38,400, meaning it is now more than $2000 more than the closely-related Isuzu Ute D-Max at $36,200. The MX-5 two-door sports car now costs $500 more at $42,140, while the CX-30, costs $300 more, starting from $34,360.The CX-60, CX-70, CX-80 and CX-90 are all up $500 for 2026.Some models have had more substantial increases, with the CX-90 large SUV up $650, with a starting price of $69,300. A spokesperson for Mazda Australia said these price increases are a reflection of impacts from market changes, raw materials, production costs and currency fluctuations.The latest pricing data also revealed the Mazda 6 sedan has been cut from the range, as the China-sourced 6e gears up to enter the fray as its electric replacement. A CX-6e electric SUV on the same platform is also scheduled for a 2026 arrival.Toyota has also introduced similar price increases across some of its popular models, such as on the Prado SUV and LandCruiser 4x4.