Articles by Tim Nicholson

After six generations the Subaru Outback looks set to be dropped in markets like the United Kingdom and the European Union because of emissions regulations.

XPeng's small sedan is a smash-hit in China, as the local importer eyes its options for the Australian market.

There's no shortage of options in the mid-size family SUV market, but one brand that doesn't get as much attention as something like a Toyota RAV4, is Mahindra and its XUV700. Offering seating for seven, a lengthy standard features list and punchy powertrain, the Indian-made SUV might be the dark horse of the segment.

High-end off-roaders are few and far between in Australia, but China's answer to the Range Rover and Lexus LX could be headed Down Under soon. The Fangchengbao Leopard 8 - likely to be called Denza B8 internationally - could be a more affordable, plug-in hybrid alternative to the luxury 4WD set.

Fiat is bringing back petrol power to its iconic 500 hatchback after committing to going electric only.The bambino was a petrol-only model from when it was reborn in 2007 until parent company Stellantis launched the second-gen version of the modern era as an electric vehicle, the 500e.Fiat will use the 500e as the basis for a new mild hybrid petrol version that will begin production at Fiat’s spiritual home in Turin, Italy in November this year.Official images reveal that the new 500 will look much the same as the 500e, although the petrol car gets a tweaked grille to aid air flow.The move to retrofit the 500e as an internal combustion engine variant comes after sales of the 500e and the related Abarth 500e hot hatch have slowed, leading to multiple production pauses at the Mirafiori plant.The 2007 petrol 500 went out of production a few years ago after no longer meeting Europe’s emissions standards.Fiat’s new 500 will be offered in hatchback and cabriolet body styles, and in good news for motoring enthusiasts, it will also be offered with a six-speed manual gearbox.It is powered by a 1.0-litre three-cylinder ‘Firefly’ mild hybrid petrol engine, likely the same unit found in the new Panda. The mild hybrid setup is a 12-volt system that Fiat says helps improve fuel efficiency, however official fuel figures are yet to be confirmed.Inside the 500 comes with Fiat’s Uconnect 5 multimedia system linked to a customisable 10.25-inch touchscreen, as well as a 7.0-inch digital driver’s display and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.A spokesperson for Stellantis Australia told CarsGuide the mild hybrid 500 is not under consideration for Australia, for now.If it gets the green light for Australia it will compete against other micro and light combustion-powered hatchbacks including the MG3, Suzuki Swift and Kia Picanto.Fiat CEO and Global CMO of Stellantis Olivier François described the return of the petrol 500 to the Turin plant as a win.“Bringing the 500 Hybrid back to Mirafiori is a promise kept - a win driven by a committed team that chose to bet on the customer and the future,” he said.“This factory is more than just a production site; it’s Fiat’s home, the beating heart of a story that began in 1957 with Dante Giacosa and today stands as a hub of Stellantis innovation in Europe. Our industrial plan for Italy puts Mirafiori and the 500 at the center of our revival. In November, we’ll celebrate this milestone with the special edition ‘500 Torino’—a tribute to the city, its workers, and our roots. Turin means Fiat, and Fiat means Turin. That’s why the official launch will take place here, in our city.”

There are not too many tiny EVs on sale in Australia, but that could change if BYD launches the Seagull. It would have to come in at about $25,000 to help it snatch sales, but it could be an exciting addition to the line-up. How does this perky bird handle a makeshift racetrack in China? Read on to find out.

The BYD Seagull could be Australia’s cheapest electric car, but there’s no guarantee the little EV will make it Down Under.BYD is actively working on a business case for the Seagull, there are a number of things standing in its way.CarsGuide drove the Seagull in China recently and it is a fun, funky and surprisingly spacious little electric hatch with loads of personality.BYD Australia Senior Manager Product Planning and Pricing Sajid Hasan said the company is deep into a business case for the tiny EV.“We’re just working through the final stages of the business case, so we want to make sure that if we launch this product, that we can have it set at a price that is competitive and meets the customer's expectations,” he told CarsGuide.There are a few factors complicating the business case. One is the fact that it would have to be priced lower than its stablemate, the BYD Dolphin small electric hatch, which is already one of the most affordable EVs in Australia.The Dolphin Essential now starts at $29,990 before on-road costs and given the Seagull is smaller, it would have to kick off somewhere between $25,000 and $30,000.The other consideration is the fact that there are technically two different versions of the car. There is the Chinese domestic market Seagull and there is a right-hand-drive market version called the Dolphin Surf.The Dolphin Surf looks exactly like the Seagull, but there are key differences to underpinnings. It measures about 200mm longer than the Seagull and has more safety gear.The Chinese Seagull comes with a 55kW electric motor and a choice of a 30.1kWh lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery or 38.9kWh ‘Blade’ battery for a driving range of 305km and 405km respectively on China’s lenient CLTC protocol.A Dolphin Surf ups power to 65kW or 116kW and the top grades have a 43kWh battery. The driving range is up to 322km on the more realistic WLTP protocol.Hasan cautioned that it’s unwise to assume the price of the Chinese-market Seagull (equivalent of US$12,000) would transfer across to Australia unchanged, given “we wouldn't be getting the left-hand-drive domestic-market” version here.At today’s exchange rate, a UK-spec Dolphin Surf starts from £18,650, which converts to AUD$39,000. It’s unlikely the price would be anywhere near that if it gets the green light for Australia.He said the micro/light passenger car segment is a challenge for BYD as it is dominated by affordable internal combustion engine cars like the Kia Picanto and MG3 that start from around $20,000.Other factors complicate keeping a car like this super affordable in Australia, Hasan said.“Dealer delivery fees can be quite expensive for some brands and BYD doesn't charge any dealer delivery. So the difference between our recommended retail price to our driveway price is pretty much the bare minimum when… compared to many other brands.”Keep an eye on CarsGuide.com.au for updates on the BYD Seagull/Dolphin Surf’s Australian fate.

Plug-in hybrids are growing in popularity and availability in Australia, particularly among the family SUV set. BYD already has the Sealion 6 in this space, but could a slightly smaller Sealion 5 be the perfect size for your family?

BYD is part of a growing list of car brands that conduct testing and calibration work in Australia to ensure its models are better suited to the conditions.

One of BYD’s flagship models, the wild Yangwang U8 luxury off-roader, is actively being considered for an Australian launch, but it needs to jump some hurdles before it’s locked in.