Articles by Tom White

Volvo explains how Geely is encouraging it to move to faster model cycles, but it won't move as quickly as Chinese rivals.

Yet another warning that long wait times for new cars could be back

Toyota reveals a go-fast Camry GT-S overseas.

Hyundai's long-awaited new Venue is revealed - but what's the catch?

BYD plots podium finish in Australia - but how will it get there?

Why Audi says its sales model will keep it ahead of new rivals

An important change delayed by the government puts up a hurdle to EV ownership.

Chery’s Jetour G700 has been priced in China as an emerging rival to the incoming BYD Dezna B8, Toyota Prado and Tank 500.The plug-in hybrid 4x4, which measures over five-meters long and over two meters wide, hits the Chinese market in five variants and it doesn’t have the kind of entry-level pricing Chery is usually known for.Starting from the equivalent of A$71,000 and spanning to a whopping $151,000 for the flagship 'Supreme Voyage Edition'.To account for this relatively high cost the G700 is equipped with a new plug-in hybrid system consisting of a 2.0-litre turbo four-cylinder engine, which produces 155kW/340Nm, and is mated to electric motors on each axle. The front axle mates engine power to an electric motor via a dedicated hybrid transmission (210kW/360Nm for the internal motor), while the rear axle has an independent motor drive unit producing 300kW/435Nm.Total combined system power is 560kW/795Nm, and the system functions closer to the range-extender-style hybrid system in BYD’s Shark 6 ute.The G700 maintains locking differentials on both the front and rear axles, as well as up to 970mm of wading depth. It also features various terrain modes and a hill descent control system, with variable height air suspension and adaptive damping.It has a 34.13kWh CATL battery providing up to 150km of range (to the more lenient CLTC protocol), while a 100-litre fuel tank has the brand claiming up to 1400km of combined range. Jetour said the G700 will consume as low as 7.95L/100km even when the battery is drained.The brand said it can even fast charge the battery in just 10 minutes thanks to ultra-fast 170kW DC charging speeds, and it can discharge via a vehicle-to-load system at up to 6.6kW.Inside, the G700 features a similar toughed-up design vibe to the Denza B5, with squared-off panels to match the boxy exterior look. The interior features a 15.6-inch multimedia touchscreen, but also a 35.4-inch digital instrument cluster, which spans the entire length of the dash. Outside, the 4x4 is equipped with either 18- or 20-inch wheels with off-road tyres.Chery’s rampant expansion in Australia (up 220 per cent year-on-year) has seen it also launch an array of its sub-brands, like Omoda, Jaecoo, and Lepas, however the off-road focused Jetour, which seems like a natural fit for the Australian market, has yet to be confirmed.Originally, this was said to be because it was focused on left-hand drive for the time being, but it seems as though this could change before long, with multiple executives from both Chery and Omoda/Jaecoo saying the brand is keen to get tougher 4x4 models on the market as soon as possible.

Nissan plots two new Chinese models, including a hardcore 4x4 PHEV SUV.

BYD locks in details for its next segment-shaking electric SUV.