Articles by Tim Gibson

Nissan is edging closer towards installing solid-state batteries in its electric vehicles, according to reports. The brand is apparently targeting mass production of the batteries by the end of the 2028 financial year. Solid-state batteries are seen as the next big breakthrough for electric vehicles, offering significantly higher energy density than conventional batteries. They can achieve far greater driving range in a smaller package, making them the perfect technology for electric cars. They are also expected to be less fire prone and have faster charging capacity.Nissan’s solid-state battery is said to have 23 layers of cells, highlighting further development on its 2025 announcement that its prototype had reached the performance needed for commercialisation. There are no details yet on the specifics of the battery, but it is anticipated to be in line with other rivals, which boast driving ranges of more than 1000km. The brand also unveiled its new bidirectional charging infrastructure, which is expected to be made available to market in 2028. Bidirectional charges enable the power to be transferred from an electric car to the owner’s home, and that electricity can be pushed back into the grid.According to Nissan, its example “can be supplied at a very low cost”, with ambitions to facilitate owners selling the surplus power to the grid as soon as 2030. Nissan will develop a specialist platform to accommodate this technology. It still remains unclear whether solid-state batteries will take over the EV landscape, with some brands more receptive to the technology than others.One of the key roadblocks to commercial uptake of solid-state batteries has been the costs of producing the batteries.  Chinese brands have been leading the way on solid-state technology, with both BYD and Chery announcing recent developments. BYD aims to have small-batch production of its batteries by 2027, while Chery is planning to release two models under its Exeed sub-brand before the end of next year.

There is a new limited edition Range Rover Sport, which has just been announced in Australia. With only 25 units available for the car, it will start from $233,200 (before on-road costs). This means it is roughly $6000 cheaper than the previous cheapest V8 variant of the car. The ‘Twenty’ Edition is to celebrate 20 years of the Range Rover Sport. It shapes up as a rival for the V8-powered BMW X5 M60i and M Competition, with price tags of $177,900 and $247,800 (before on-road costs). It also takes on other high-end luxury performance SUVs such as the Audi SQ7 and the Porsche Cayenne, which are also nearer to the $200K mark. The most noticeable changes come elsewhere in the car, with it offered in exclusive ‘Ostuni’ white and ‘Santorini’ black paint options.It also includes a blacked out exterior package to give the car a sleek and stealthy look. There are 23-inch wheels finished in a glossy silver featuring a ‘Twenty’ etching, along with other branding such as on the treadplates and the centre console. On the inside, there are forged carbon veneers and a black suedecloth headlining, while the high-quality leather seats have been lifted out of the up-spec SV variant.It will be powered by Land Rover’s 4.4-litre twin-turbo V8 engine, producing 390kW and 750Nm. This is the same amount of power as in the base V8 Sport variant, which can shift from 0-100km/h in under five seconds. The Range Rover Sport was first introduced in 2005 and is now in its third generation. During its time on the sales charts, the car has been part of several high-profile stunts, such as the 999 steps to Heaven’s Gate in China back in 2020. The ‘Twenty’ Edition is available for order now. 

A new budget small SUV player has just emerged, with Chery sub-brand Jaecoo officially unveiling its petrol-powered J5 variant.It will start from $25,990 (drive-away), with the top trim level of the car an extra $4000 at $29,990. This represents a decent price drop on the well-received electric version of the car already on sale in Australia, which starts from $36,990 (drive-away).The new petrol option is $2000 more than the base variant of the popular Chery Tiggo 4, which shares much of the same underpinnings, including the T1X platform.It will be tasked with taking on the likes of the other Chinese rivals, such as the GWM Haval Jolion and the MG ZS which have similar price tags when comparing trim levels. The J5 will also tackle rivals from established brands, including the Mazda CX-30 and petrol variants of the Hyundai Kona, which carry higher price tags.The car comes with Chery’s 1.5-litre turbo-petrol engine, producing 108kW and 210Nm, with power directed to the front wheels via a continuously variable transmission.In addition, a hybrid version of the J5 is due towards the end of this year as part of a staggered roll-out for the small SUV's range.While sharing a similar wheelbase as the Chery Tiggo 4 at 2620mm, the J5 is towards the bigger end of the small SUV scale, measuring at 4380mm long, 1860mm wide and 1650mm tall.On the inside, there is a 13.2-inch central touchscreen display and an 8.8-inch digital driver display, along with cloth seating as standard. The up-spec version of the J5 introduces features such as a panoramic glass roof and a power tailgate, as well as synthetic leather seats.The J5 will arrive in showrooms from early June of this year.2026 Jaecoo J5 pricing Australia 2026 Jaecoo J5 engine and efficiency 2026 Jaecoo J5 standard features Other standard features: Auto headlightsAuto wipersPush button startRemote engine startSummit grade addsPanoramic glass roofPowered sunshadePower tailgateDual zone climate control8-speaker sound system50W wireless phone chargerSynthetic leather seatsPower adjustable front seatsHeated and ventilated front seats2026 Jaecoo J5 safetyThe Jaecoo J5 has not been crash tested yet, but Omoda Jaecoo said it is working on securing a rating for the car. The related Tiggo 4 has a five-star ANCAP rating.Standard safety features: 7 airbagsAuto emergency brakingEmergency lane keep assistAdaptive cruise controlForward collision warning360-degree camera2026 Jaecoo J5 warranty and servicing The J5 comes with an eight-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty. It will be available with an eight-year capped price servicing plan, occurring at intervals of 12 months. A full eight-year plan costs a total of $3,326.09  Servicing plan  

GWM has unveiled its upgraded Haval H6 GT plug-in hybrid mid-size SUV in Australia.It will start from $52,990 (drive-away), which is $1000 less than the outgoing H6 GT, and $2000 more than the most expensive regular H6.The H6 is a rival for several other Chinese PHEV alternatives, such as the MG HS and the Chery Tiggo 7, but the GT’s sportier posturing sees it line up closely to the BYD Sealion 6.Another of the car’s rivals is the Jaecoo 7, which is Chery’s premium sub-brand, and also comes as a plug-in hybrid.It will also be a new competitor for the incoming Toyota RAV4 PHEV due to arrive in showrooms later in the year.It comes in cheaper than the base all-wheel-drive variant of the Sealion 6 after adding on-road costs, while the front-wheel-drive J7 is priced from $43,990 (drive-away).The AWD H6 GT continues to be powered by a 1.5-litre turbo-petrol and electric motor set-up, producing 321kW and 642Nm. This represents a boost in power compared to standard H6 PHEV models, but it is pumping out less torque in contrast.The new set-up means the car can shift from 0-100km/h in 4.6 seconds, which is 0.3 seconds faster than the outgoing model.It has a 35kWh battery, offering an electric-only driving range of 183km, according to more generous NEDC standards. Total driving range sits at nearly 1200km, with fuel consumption of 0.6L/100km, both those numbers have also been calculated using NEDC.Upgrades continue inside, with the 14.6-inch central touchscreen utilising a new snappier operating system. There is also now a wireless phone charger, with the car now featuring the same re-designed interior from the recently-upgraded H6.The H6 has proven to be a popular choice in the mid-size SUV segment, with its petrol and hybrid options outselling the likes of the Chery Tiggo 7 and PHEV-exclusive BYD Sealion 6.

Genesis Australia has officially unveiled the updated version of its GV60 small electric SUV.It will start from $88,300, before on-road costs, which represents a substantial price drop compared to outgoing variants, wearing price tags of more than $100,000.The key reason for the reduction is the fact the GV60’s base model is rear-wheel drive, as opposed to all-wheel drive.It will closely rival the BMW iX1 and iX2, with those models also receiving substantial price drops, now coming in slightly cheaper than the GV60, and both have AWD.Price drops are a continuing trend in this segment with the Volvo EX40 now available from under $50K.It will also provide competition to the Zeekr X.There have been some significant upgrades to the new GV60, including an improved 84kWh battery, now offering a driving range of 561km (WLTP).DC fast charging for the car from 10 to 80 per cent now takes 18 minutes, courtesy of an 800-volt platform.There is also a new front bumper to reduce the drag co-efficient to a slippery 0.28 on the GV60, according to Genesis.The car’s single electric motor produces 168kW, which is somewhat of a downturn on the 234kW available on the outgoing base variant of the car.On the inside, the GV60 has a combined 27-inch digital driver display and central touchscreen as well as wireless phone charging capabilities.In addition to this new model of the GV60, there will be a performance-focused Magma version.Some details are confirmed for the Magma variant including outputs of 448kW/700Nm and an all-wheel drive driveline.This is substantially more than the outgoing Lux Performance variant's 360kW/700Nm.We also know it will have an electric limited-slip differential, drift mode and a virtual gearshift system, likely similar to the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N's.More information on the Magma GV60 is expected to be revealed closer to the line-up’s official launch in June.2026 Genesis GV60 pricing Australia  

XPeng has unveiled its latest flagship SUV to take on BYD and Zeekr. The XPeng GX is an ultra-luxury large six-seater SUV, powered by a range-extender or fully-electric set-up.This puts it into direct competition with other high-end models in the Chinese market, such as the BYD Great Tang.It will also take on the Zeekr 9X, which is anticipated to launch in Australia over the next year or so. It is unclear at this stage whether the GX will launch in Australia.The brand’s in-limbo distributor TrueEV had previously announced a G9 large SUV and X9 people mover, but that is yet to materialise. The newly-formed XPeng ANZ has expressed interest in having the GX as a model on sale in Australia.The range-extender set-up in the new range-topping GX utilises a 1.5-litre turbo-petrol engine, producing 110kW to charge the battery combined with front- and rear-mounted electric motors, producing 210kW. This variant has a 63kWh battery, offering an electric-only driving range of 430km, with a combined driving range of 1585km. Both of these figures have been calculated using the more generous CLTC system. The all-electric variant also has dual motors, which produce a total of 270kW, along with a driving range of 750km (CLTC) from its 110kWh battery pack.  All variants of the GX have all-wheel drive. The GX utilises an 800-volt platform to facilitate a 10-80 per cent charge in under 12 minutes for the large SUV, according to XPeng. There is plenty of lavish luxury on the inside of the GX, with the usual large digital driver display and central touchscreen combo, accompanied by a 21.4-inch TV-like rear screen.Additionally, there is a panoramic head-up display spanning the width of the front windscreen. All seats are wrapped in Nappa leather, with plenty of electric adjustment options, as well as heated and ventilated functionality. The GX has been priced from just under 400,000 yuan, which is around A$80,000, but expect it to be around $100,000 if it ever makes it to the Australian market. 

A major brand in Australia has picked up its electric vehicle game in 2026. Hyundai has seen its EV numbers boom in Australia as it receives increased supply and orders. Supply (including unsold and pre-built stock) of its SUVs, including the Inster, Kona Electric, Elexio and Ioniq 5 have all risen by at least 50 per cent comparing Q1 to Q2. Supply of the Inster compact SUV is up 204 per cent, while the Kona Electric has risen to 315 per cent.The Elexio and Ioniq also has supply increases of upwards of 55 per cent.This has coincided with substantial boosts to order numbers between January and February and March and April. Inster orders rose by 205 per cent, the Kona Electric up 298 per cent, with the Ioniq 5 up 187 per cent. The Kona Electric had previously lagged significantly behind petrol and hybrid variants of the car on the sales charts, but this latest data shows it is catching up quickly.It's a positive boost for the Korean brand, which has previously been embattled by more affordable electric rivals from the likes of BYD and MG.Hyundai’s Australian Director of Sales David Rodda said confidence in buying EVs has increased substantially in recent times. "Anyone who was previously only considering an EV as a future purchase is now completely confident in making that decision, given the benefits of ownership,” Rodda said."Hyundai Australia has secured a 158% supply increase of EVs for quarter two to meet this unprecedented level of demand.“These vehicles will start to arrive from May due to the fast supply chain out of Korea. We are confident in securing equally strong support from the factory for the rest of the year."This EV sales spike is a welcome boost for Hyundai, following the announcement of the results for the first round of the National Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES).The brand incurred more than 84,000 liabilities for the 2025 NVES performance period, which was one of the highest, behind only Nissan, Subaru and Mazda. It is not just EVs which are tracking nicely for Hyundai, with hybrids also gaining increased attention, according to Rodda."Hyundai also grew hybrid orders from 3,049 in February to 3,966 in March, a 30% increase. In fact, 57% of Hyundai Australia's orders in March were for hybrids - that's the biggest percentage ever for us, and the highest in the Australian industry."Hyundai is also planning to bring in new EV models in the coming months, most notably the Staria commercial van and the Ioniq 3 hatch.The latter will be officially revealed globally soon and is confirmed for arrival in Australia, likely as an electric replacement for the gap left by the discontinuation of the previously-popular i30 hatchback.

It was not so long ago plug-in hybrids looked to have found the middle ground between electrified power and long driving range. PHEV power experienced more growth than any other powertrain type in 2025 - and by some significant margin. It was up by more than 130 per cent compared to 2024.Leading the charge for PHEV power is the BYD Shark 6 ute, one of the few utes to experience sales growth last year. Its 1.5-litre turbo-petrol engine and dual electric motors provided outstanding fuel economy (when the battery was charged) capturing attention despite modest towing and carrying capacity. Most other brands have also jumped on the PHEV pathway, especially in the SUV segment. However, it now looks like a change might be on the horizon, as fully-electric sales continue to rise and at an even faster rate.There is a combination of factors likely contributing to this new set of circumstances in the new car sales space.While PHEVs offer incredible fuel efficiency, EVs do not need any fuel and obviously have far superior electric-only driving range with electric-only driving range remaining one of the biggest selling points for PHEVs. This is becoming an increasingly relevant point for buyers due to the current scarcity and cost of fuel in Australia.One of the other key factors which could erode PHEV sales is the substantial improvement in driving range of electric cars. Most EVs now offer more than 400km before needing to be charged, and even then charging times have also rapidly improved, with most brands targeting a 30 minute-or-less fast charge time compared to an hour previously.Charging infrastructure has been seeing rapid investment in Australia in the past 12 months, with governments as well as major brands getting on board. Just this week, the New South Wales government announced $45 million of funding towards new public fast chargers as part of its ‘2026 NSW Electric Vehicle Strategy’, and this adds to the existing federal ARENA public funding for EV infrastructure.BYD has also confirmed it will bring its ‘Flash’ charging to Australia this year, removing barriers to charge speed usually imposed by the grid thanks to an inclusion of a high-voltage buffer battery.There is also the question of increasing accessibility to electric vehicles in Australia, with many becoming available at a more affordable price point. The BYD Atto 1, for example, is available from $23,990, before on-road costs, while the cheapest PHEV, also a BYD, the Sealion 5 is $10,000 more. This is more reflective of the types of vehicles in which PHEV set-ups are offered as opposed to electric cars. The most common PHEV car body type is SUVs, which targets family buyers and more car (size-wise, with two powertrains instead of one) costs you more money.And yet, the models surging the most in the sales charts are the fully electric Tesla Model Y and Zeekr 7X, which are both in that core mid-size family buyer segment.This combined with the early adopter phase for much of this technology ending and electrified cars becoming more mainstream will mean some buyers who don't have access to home charging, like those who live in units, might not be able to utilise the key benefits of a PHEV.Many of this wider-audience may value the range on offer from an EV, which will see them charge only once or twice a week as a benefit at such a competitive price-point, not having to worry about not being able to charge at home, and not needing to fuel up altogether. This is also an audience which predominantly buys small or mid-size SUVs.PHEVs then, may be destined to be relegated to only larger vehicles, like utes and three-row SUVs where battery electrics become less cost competitive.

Volkswagen has just shown off its major design switch-up, officially unveiling the new ID.3 Neo electric hatchback.

Audi has released the pricing and specifications for its ballistic RS5 performance sedan and wagon in Australia as it gears up to arrive in showrooms in the second half of this year. It will start from $179,900 (before on-road costs), which is roughly $10,000 more than the previous generation of the car sold in Australia. There is also a wagon variant of the RS5, costing an extra $3000.The RS5 shapes up as a rival to other European performance mid-size passenger cars in the segment, such as the hybrid Mercedes-AMG C63S and the petrol-powered BMW M4.Audi’s example is cheaper than the Mercedes and the BMW, which have price tags above the $185K mark. It is $70,000 more than the smaller RS3 and $70,000 less than the flagship V8-powered RS6, but unlike its siblings, the RS5 has been given electrified power. The RS5 uses a plug-in hybrid set-up, which pairs a 2.9-litre twin-turbo six-cylinder engine with a powerful single electric motor. This combines to produce a total of 470kW and 825Nm, which is less than C63S, but more than the M4.It is capable of completing the 0-100km/h sprint in 3.6 seconds, courtesy of its all-wheel drive system. One of the other key upgrades on the RS5 is the addition of an electric motor incorporated into the rear transaxle to distribute torque efficiently. The 26kWh battery has an electric-only driving range of up to 78km, but it can only be charged via an AC adapter, taking 2 hours and 30 minutes to fully charge. 2026 Audi RS5 pricing Australia 2026 Audi RS5 engine and efficiency 2026 Audi RS5 standard features Other standard features include: Bang and Olufsen premium sound systemRed brake callipersAcoustic glazed front windowsPrivacy glassFlat-bottom steering wheelHeated, ventilated front seats with massageHeated rear outer seatsPanoramic glass roofHead-up displayTri-zone climate control 2026 Audi RS5 safetyThe 2026 Audi RS5 has not been crash tested. Standard safety features: Auto emergency brakingPedestrian detectionAdaptive cruise controlLane departure warningLane change assistRear cross alert360-degree cameraSpeed sign recognition 2026 Audi RS5 warranty and servicing The Audi RS5 comes with a five-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty, along with an eight-year battery warranty. There is also a 12-year warranty bodywork corrosion perforation. The five-year warranty can be extended up to nine years when additional servicing and roadside assistance is purchased. A five-year servicing plan is available, with two-year extensions up to four years available after this.