Articles by Tom White

GAC is unique among Chinese brands in Australia because it could offer the one thing that has helped Toyota maintain its stranglehold over our market.It is Toyota’s hybrid system, thanks to its long-standing partnership with Toyota in China.Known for its mechanical simplicity, smooth driving characteristics, comparatively low unit cost and its ability to slash fuel bills in half. Toyota’s hybrid drive is the gift that keeps on giving for the Japanese giant, which now more than ever is leaning on the tech as Australia’s new emissions laws close in.New-to-Australia GAC has ambitious plans to poach buyers from across the spectrum, including from Toyota.The company’s Chief Technical Officer Masato Katsumata, who used to be a senior executive at Toyota, explained why it’s unlikely you’ll see a Toyota-powered GAC any time soon, though.“As you know, we have our own HEV system, and also the Toyota system, which we offer in the Chinese domestic market," said Katsumata.“But this depends on our product planning and what we decide for Australia. If we want it, headquarters will supply it.“The typical Chinese manufacturer’s strength is speed.“At a Japanese manufacturer, you might say ‘we want a big SUV with a hybrid system’, and that might take two years or something. But we can do the same thing inside of a year.“But then, it comes down to the business case. In this case, we have to think about where our inflow customer is coming from.“If that customer is coming from Toyota, should we be fighting with Toyota on HEVs? Or, we have a good plug-in hybrid or battery electric - these might be stronger than using Toyota’s hybrid system.“So then we can shift the customer through to PHEV or BEV instead. This is a good weapon for us to take the fight to Toyota,” he said.Katsumata added there were additional factors GAC had to consider when it comes to sourcing Toyota’s system, even if customers may be familiar with the technology and it would further align GAC with its messaging about bringing famous Toyota quality to a Chinese brand.“I don’t think we need ,” he said.He suggested it may be too expensive, and add more than the usual $2500-$3000 Toyota charges for its hybrids compared to pure pertol variants.There were supply considerations, which could affect the brand’s ability to bring cars to market with the usual speed Chinese brands are known for.“If I were Toyota - before I supply my THS system to other brands, I’d like to be fully utilising it in terms of volume.”“Today in the European market and America, the THS system sells in volume and it’s increasing every year. So they may choose to focus on their own brand.”“So we’d have to negotiate with them, if we were to get the THS system for other markets.”Katsumata instead stressed the idea that the brand’s own scalable DHT hybrid system - more similar to systems used by other Chinese brands - would be a better fit, as it’s both more affordable and immediately available.Katsumata and GAC’s local CEO Kevin Shu suggested the tech would be better suited to products that haven’t arrived in Australia yet. This include the possibility of a “larger SUV”, like the five-seat Toyota Kluger-sized GS8, which is available in ICE as well as plugless hybrid forms overseas.Shu mentioned other products open to the brand in Australia include the slightly smaller five-seat S7 and its larger flagship S9 three-row big brother, which both use an in-house GAC plug-in hybrid system.At least one of these would add to the brand’s existing line-up of aggressively priced combustion and plug-in models, including the Emzoom combustion small SUV, Aion V electric mid-sizer, M8 plug-in people mover and the recently-launched Aion UT electric hatchback.Further into the future, the brand is also plotting an entry into the ute segment with a brand-new ground-up offering in 2027.

Jeep and Peugeot parent company Stellantis has announced a plan to launch 110 new or refreshed vehicles by 2030, including 60 brand new models, as part of sweeping changes to the business, which include an optimised manufacturing footprint and tweaks to the company’s partnerships and platform strategy.This wide-reaching set of changes is part of a grander plan Stellantis dubs FaSTLAne 2030 in order to “maximise capital efficiency, avoid duplicate spending, and support profitability”.Stellantis will optimise its global factories, accelerate research and development to reduce model cycles to 24 months rather than the current 40 months, and sharpen its pencil on cost competitiveness and quality.In terms of where its portfolio of 14 brands will sit in this plan, the company said it will focus on four global brands: Jeep, Ram, Peugeot and Fiat.It said Chrysler, Dodge, Citroen, Opel and Alfa Romeo are “regional brands”, while its luxury European arms, DS and Lancia, will be managed by Citroen and Fiat respectively and “developed as specialty brands”.Maserati will be “strengthened” with a plan including two new large vehicles to be announced at a later date.The realignment will also see Stellantis’ platform strategy sharpened, with the group planning 50 per cent of its global volume to be on just three platforms as it continues to consolidate its global portfolio, which was previously split between the US market and Europe where the company is strongest.It specifically earmarked its STLA One platform as being the primary growth driver. This new modular platform is expected to underpin a huge percentage of the company’s global model footprint in much the same way as Volkswagen Group’s MQB and MEB platforms currently do, and will seemingly replace the current CMP and EMP2 (aka STLA Small and Medium) platforms it inherited from PSA. It will be the first platform to roll in all of the brand’s latest tech, like the STLA Brain computing system, STLA SmartCockpit UI system and new steer-by-wire technology.The company says the STLA One platform will launch in 2027, has the ability to cover small to upper-mid-sized vehicles, and will allow the brand to reduce complexity across much of its line-up.It is capable of supporting multiple levels of electrification from hybrid to full EV, and will have an 800-volt electrical architecture.By 2035, STLA One will underpin 30 new models and is expected to account for two million sales.It will also come with a realignment of its manufacturing presence. Stellantis will reduce its capacity in Europe by 800,000 units, re-purposing factories, while increasing production in the US, the Middle East, and Africa, with a goal of at least 80 per cent utilisation.Meanwhile, it will lean on its partnership with Leapmotor for more expansion in the Asia Pacific region, which it described as an “asset-light” region.Partnerships of previously unprecedented scale will help Stellantis toward its goal, with existing deals opening doors for Leapmotor and Dongfeng to manufacture cars in Stellantis facilities in Europe.The partnership with Dongfeng, which also works with Nissan, will form the basis for two new Peugeot and two new Jeep models.Meanwhile, the recently-inked memorandum of understanding with both Indian giant Tata and its Jaguar Land Rover unit will open more doors for Stellantis in India, and JLR in the US where it hopes to side-step tariff requirements.Locally, Stellantis’ historic brands and even its new Leapmotor portfolio are struggling to make an impact on Australia’s more-competitive-than-ever new car landscape.Jeep, once the crown jewel of the group’s offering Down Under, has taken a battering year-to-date, down 65 per cent to just a handful of sales (249 units) made up predominantly of its signature Wrangler off-roader.It is a similar case for Peugeot, which is down 32.3 per cent so far this year, moving 320 units, nearly half for its Partner van (142 units).The best performing brand under the Stellantis umbrella has, unsurprisingly, emerged as Leapmotor, which has had reasonable success in 2026 off the back of its competitively-priced B10 small SUV. Leapmotor has moved 420 units this year, up 116.5 per cent.

Tragedy strikes, as our Inster from chapter one gets side-swiped.Thankfully, not while I was driving it, and also, the damage, mechanically, was fairly minimal even though the torn-off bumper looks a bit dramatic.So, what happens next? The car goes back to Hyundai to be repaired and in the meantime we were offered up a Standard Range version in its place. It’s the perfect opportunity to see the difference between the two grades, and evaluate whether it’s worth spending the extra to get into the Extended Range we started with.The price separating the two cars? Just $3500 with the main difference being the battery size.The regular Inster we’re hopping into has a 42kWh battery, which according to the more accurate WLTP standard offers 327km of driving range, while the Extended Range gets a 49kWh battery pack, offering a 360km range.However, the Extended Range also comes with bigger wheels, and can optionally have the brown houndstooth interior the previous car had.I kind of prefer the black pack interior on the Standard Range model we've substituted into, and I even think you’re better off with the smaller wheel and larger tyre package, as it makes the ride noticeably more comfortable and probably contributes to additional driving range despite the smaller battery.There is also a slight difference in the tune of the electric motor, with the Extended Range scoring slightly more power to compensate for its modest weigh increase. For what it’s worth, the increase in power is barely perceptible due to the change in weight.I do wonder what the point of having both grades is in Hyundai’s range, as the battery sizes and even the prices are so close together. It’s not as though anyone considering even the more expensive version of the BYD Atto 1 at $27,990 is going to be convinced to buy an Inster at nearly $10,000 more.Then again, there are some things which you should be thinking about at this entry-level part of the EV market.For example, as alluded to in my first chapter, the underpinnings of the Inster feel far more sophisticated than pretty much any city car I’ve driven in the past, with robust steering and good suspension calibration. And there are finer technical details which should make this car age better than some of its contemporaries.The primary one is its liquid-cooled battery, where the Atto 1 gets only an air-cooled unit (with some assistance from the air conditioning). If you’re not across the differences, liquid cooling is generally associated with much better battery ageing over time. The older-generation Nissan Leafs (Leaves?) and Mitsubishi Outlanders had air-cooled units which cut their range in half after 15 or so years.Plus, the relatively tame tech in the Inster is actually to its benefit. Sure you can get bigger, fancier screens and software in a whole list of new Chinese cars at this price point, but a lot of them are quite annoying to use in the real world.For all its last-gen visual appeal, there’s something to be said for simple software and an array of physical buttons and dials which just work.Back to the difference between the two Inster grades, and I’m quite surprised to find I don’t miss the Extended Range version at all.I’m using the Inster in a way I assume it was intended to be, either as a city-exclusive vehicle, or as a second car. In the midst of a fuel crisis, it’s very nice to be able to hop into something and not have to think about how much it is costing you just to drive to the shops which are otherwise just outside of walking distance.I prefer driving the Inster anytime I’m in or around the denser parts of the city where I know parking will be at a premium. It’s great to leave my personal Forester, or any other vehicle I might have on loan which is larger, at home when I know I’m going to be hunting for kerbside parking.In this context, the Extended Range version of the car starts to make less and less sense. I’m doing comparatively so few kilometres and charging so infrequently despite the lesser range. When it comes to charging, Hyundai’s spec sheet earmarks an impressive 120kW charging ability, but the fastest I’ve seen, even on a 150kW stack is around 70kW. With such a small battery though, you turn around and it’s half charged.It won’t be convenient on a road trip, perhaps, but most people buying this diminutive hatch as a second car won’t notice because they’ll spend most of their time charging it seamlessly overnight.Other benefits of the Standard Range include better ride quality, as previously mentioned, and still plenty of pep, with the lack of weight (for an EV) and skinny tyres making it chuckable around corners. It also uses a bit less energy. I’m seeing 11.4kWh/100km on the dash, compared to the Extended Range, which was doing closer to 14kWh/100km.As to what others are thinking of the Inster, it’s a real love/hate divide, with the styling make-or-break for family and friends who seem to either love it or hate it.Nobody is a fan of how plasticky the interior feels, however I’m yet to receive a complaint that the screens are too small…In good news for me, the Extended Range version will be returned to me for next month’s chapter after being repaired.I did 457km in the Standard Range, only needing to charge it twice, and get this, according to my calculations, I was going to get exactly the claimed range of 327km from a full charge. I don’t think that’s happened before.Tune in next month for our farewell chapter and video.Acquired: March 2026Distance travelled this month: 467kmOdometer: 5207kmAverage energy consumption this month: 11.4kWh/100km

Stellantis, owner of Jeep, and Jaguar Land Rover have signed a non-binding memorandum of understanding to “explore opportunities to collaborate on product development in the United States”.Antonio Filosa, CEO of Stellantis said: “By working with partners to explore synergies in areas such as product and technology development, we can create meaningful benefits for both sides while remaining focused on delivering the products and experiences our customers love.” Meanwhile PB Balaji, CEO of JLR said: “As we continue to evolve JLR for the future, collaboration will play an important role in unlocking new opportunities. Working with Stellantis allows us to explore complementary capabilities in product and technology development that support our long‑term growth plans for the US market.”The tie-up comes as both companies face a tough tariff environment in the US, with Stellantis being embattled there in previous years with its previous CEO, Carlos Tavares, focusing largely on the European operation. JLR, meanwhile, could gain a foothold in the lucrative US market, where it does not currently have a manufacturing footprint.The partnership marks a major change in strategy for embattled Stellantis, which posted a A$37 billion dollar loss in 2025. Its house of 14 brands includes diverse marques from Jeep to Peugeot and Maserati. Under Tavares the US operation suffered, particularly Jeep. The brand pivoted to a more premium position, which didn’t resonate with buyers. Locally, it even resulted in the Grand Cherokee being pulled from sale as Jeep chose to focus on its more competitive offerings.JLR recently ended production of Jaguar models as it gears up for a major re-boot of its luxury passenger car brand, with the company still managing to post good results for 2025 off the back of record sales of the popular Defender and surging global sales of its new Range Rover Sport.The brand even claims that it has taken over 32,000 expressions of interest globally for its upcoming Jaguar Type 01 GT car.A bruising cyberattack, which shut down the brand’s factories in late 2025, has had an impact on the JLR’s bottom line. New tariffs in the US have caused the UK based company to post a 99 per cent profit slump in the first months of 2026.Both companies, which have been rivals in the past, have also turned to their Chinese joint-ventures for more global resilience.Stellantis has made clear its plan to lean on more partnerships, particularly with its Leapmotor joint-venture, and more recently, a new tie-up with Dongfeng to build more Peugeot models in China.Jaguar Land Rover has re-booted the Freelander marque as part of its joint-venture with Chery. The first model, the Freelander 8, pairs the design motifs from the previous Freelander small SUVs with an 800-volt architecture from Chery, plotted to be offered in both range extender hybrid and fully electric forms.Unlike previous Freelanders though, the new Chery-based model is an over-five-meter long three-row SUV. The tie-up has global aspirations and will exist independently of both Land Rover and Chery, and has been confirmed for an Australian launch.

With a flood of new and affordable Chinese automakers hitting the Australian market, Geely’s Australian CEO Alex Gu explained why its strategy is a little different from that of Chery, MG or GAC.Geely, which has such brands as Volvo, Zeekr, and Polestar under its ownership umbrella and ranks as one of China’s top-selling carmakers, said it will continue to approach the Australian market slowly.“This is culture-wise,” Gu said.“Geely is fully committed and we keep patient on the market penetration. Once we decide to enter into each individual global market, we are present to be a success.“Success is not only the volume booming. Success is also customer satisfaction and partner satisfaction.“So, you’ve noticed that for the Australian market, we’ve only launched two models up until today for example other have launched 10 models, five models, six or eight models.“Of course, they have been in the market longer, but Geely, even with two models you can notice from the VFACTs number, we try to bring ‘star’ models into each segment so we can make it successful.“EX5, you can already see, in April it will be a top-three BEV SUV. Starray EM-i? Same story. Now we are aiming to bring in EX2. These days we are taking pre-orders, which are very good figures.“So we’ll focus on our current models, but you can believe that after we bring all new models we will study the segment fully and those models as ‘star’ models for the segment.“We don’t want to make chaos. So we’ll bring each model to a segment in a significant position. This is our target," he said.Despite its more measured model roll out, will Geely have a model in every segment like some of its rivals have recently declared?“It’s a hard thing to do,” said Gu. “Even some mainstream brands, they don’t have a model in every segment. So for Geely, again we will study the market, study what customers want.“So it’s mutual success, for Geely and for our partner, and for the market,” he said.The brand was planning to have a seven-seat SUV, an off-roader (as previewed by the Geely Battleship 700 concept) and a ute, according to Gu.Gu said models need to sell more than 1000 units to be considered a success."From my perspective, 1000 a month is a milestone for a new model, especially in mainstream segments.”Gu said it is well known Geely is “aiming to be top five” globally.“For the Australian market of course we have a target, each market needs to support this goal. At least for the Chinese brands in the market, we are always mentioned as the number one Chinese brand," he said.From there Gu said it becomes a game of “how to challenge the global top three brands”.One area Geely was particularly focused on was consistent parts supply.Gu said it was essential for the brand to properly plan for its parts distribution centres (PDC), so that “when there is an order, we need to guarantee how to get it within 24 hours from the PDC to the customer”.He also noted Geely had an expansive dealer network already, up to 48 locations, with a plan to “exceed 80” despite only having the two models on sale currently.Gu said the brand would sell any purely petrol or diesel models. Instead the brand would focus on EVs, plug-in hybrids and conventional plugless hybrids.Geely’s next model will be the EX2 electric hatchback, which is due to arrive in the third quarter of 2026. The Emgrand plug-in hybrid sedan will arrive in 2027. Gu also confirmed a seven-seat SUV (something similar to the Geely M9 shown at the Melbourne Motor Show recently) is also in the plan for the next 12 to 18 months.

The chairman and founder of BYD, Wang Chufu, has reportedly told Chinese media battery supply at the surging automaker has become “tight” as it rolls out several new models and initiatives.As reported by Chinese outlet IT Home, Chufu told media at a YangWang business research conference that battery supply is currently “tight” as the company releases several new models across its range of brands.This is particularly due to the company releasing a range of ultra-fast-charging newcomers in China using the company’s 'flash charging' technology. These models have proven popular with buyers and are attracting massive pre-order lists.The company’s incoming Great Tang flagship SUV with flash charging tech, for example, attracted 100,000 orders in the Chinese domestic market during its recent pre-sale phase, adding to demand for the next-generation Atto 3 (Yuan Plus) and just-updated Denza N9 with flash charging. As a result, Chinese media is reporting deliveries of some new cars will be delayed as pre-orders exceed BYD’s capabilities to produce the second-generation version of its signature ‘Blade’ battery.On top of demand for the cars themselves, BYD is also needing to supply batteries for the roll-out of its new-generation flash charging pylons, which sidestep the limitations of the power grid by using a buffer battery with ultra fast output capabilities.The pylons charge the ultra-fast battery, which can then output the massive speeds required to meet BYD’s flash charging claims.The Great Tang, for example, can charge from 10 - 80 per cent in as fast as nine minutes despite wielding an enormous 130.15kWh battery pack granting it up to 950km of range according to the more lenient CLTC measuring standard in rear-wheel drive form.Chinese media is estimating BYD has booked 140,000 orders for models equipped with flash charging tech. It has rolled out nearly 6000 flash charging stations, and plans to have 20,000 online before the end of the year, according to CarNewsChina, each with its own buffer battery.Speaking to CarsGuide though, BYD Australia spokesperson Paul Ellis said the brand wasn’t anticipating any waitlists or delays on locally-delivered vehicles.“Quite the opposite. We’ve got 30,000 cars coming in Q2,” he said, adding the usual average wait times for other brands weren’t acceptable for the Chinese upstart.“Anything up to 12 weeks is acceptable, but for us that’s too late, we’re talking a handful of weeks, single digits,” Ellis said.The brand just added a dedicated ship for delivering new cars to Australia the BYD Zhengzhou which in its first voyage will carry nearly 5000 new BYD and Denza cars to our market.However, Australia is yet to receive any cars with the particularly supply constrained second-generation Blate battery tech.The first model to get that will be the Z9 GT arriving in the third quarter of 2026. Ellis told CarsGuide there will be ample supply of the niche sports GT when it arrives.BYD also plans to enter the charging infrastructure game with the aforementioned flash charging stations before the end of the year. The first will arrive in Q4 in Melbourne, Sydney and Adelaide Denza dealerships, with a view to expand to stand-alone sites in the future like those operated by Tesla.The news comes as BYD continues to leap up the sales charts, not just in Australia, but in other export markets around the world.Thus far in 2026, BYD has more than doubled its sales (up 110.8 per cent year-on-year), amassing 25,243 registrations locally, ranking second ahead of Kia and Hyundai and behind only Toyota for the month of April. Year-to-date, the Chinese challenger brand is now fifth in the Australian market, as it forges toward its goal of being top-three in our market before the end of 2026. It is only a few hundred sales from eclipsing Ford, but has several thousand to go to challenge Kia or Mazda in third and second place, respectively.

Geely has spilled some essential information on its coming ute.The boss of Geely’s Australian operation Alex Gu shared some of the brand’s thoughts on its new ute, and how it will come later than rivals but may have some surprises in tow, which he hopes will “exceed” expectations.Gu said “of course” the brand will offer a ute in Australia, but it won’t be for a while.“I hope it will be available within two to three years,” he said.It will be a little bit different from the upcoming Geely Cruiser 4x4 concept shown in 2025 and its off-road architecture shown at the Beijing Motor Show, according to Gu.“Pick-ups in Australia are an off-road pick-up. So this, we will study. It is unique knowledge because Geely, we don’t have those kinds of historic platforms. But, we will study and create to satisfy that ute market,” he said.Gu added the new-from-the-ground-up ute would definitely be a plug-in first.“It will be New Energy first. It could be plug-in but for the next-generation I’m not sure, so far it is being based on studies,” he said.This could come in the form of a unique range-extender style set-up, with one shown at the Horse Powertrain stand at the 2026 Beijing Motor Show.Horse Powertrain, which is an independent spin-off from both Geely and Renault specifically for developing engines, had multiple new powertrain options to show, with two suited for any ute or off-roader.The first is a range-extender style set-up, which Horse Powertrain staff told CarsGuide was developed to either add to a battery electric platform, or with its compact dimensions, sit between the frame-rails of a ladder-frame 4x4.The unit, dubbed C15, is a new 1.5-litre four-cylinder engine, which can be placed upright or lay flat like a boxer engine, with an overall height of just 275mm. In turbocharged form it can produce up to 120kW, and can act either purely in range-extender form or combine with a dual electric motor transmission to provide direct drive to the wheels.There is the possibility of a 3.0-litre V6 from Horse Powertrain to power Geely’s ute, although this would require a platform we’re yet to see, something even more capable than the Geely off-road architecture shown at Beijing.Horse Powertrain’s new engine, dubbed the W30 was specifically referenced by Gu as a possibility.“The V6 we use two to four electric motors to make even bigger horsepower, so this is a very good upgrade of technology, you can do different things.”Horse says the W30 is is capable of outputting 350 - 400kW of power and up to 700Nm of torque, but is intended to be mated to its 4LDHT transmission, which is a four-speed unit with a huge electric motor on the rear capable of producing an additional 400kW.Horse Powertrain’s product people told CarsGuide this unit was developed specifically for large 4x4 and pick-up truck applications, and the big motor was expressly designed to help with towing and heavy payloads.One reason Geely was taking its time developing a ute was also because it wanted to study how its rivals were going to impact the market. This is part of Geely’s slowly-but-surely strategy to only release what Gu referred to as “star” models in each segment.He noted the brand was aware and studying other players entering the Australian market with ambitious new ute products, like Chery’s diesel hybrid ute, saying the brand was watching if this direction was "feasible".Gu said the current monocoque Geely Radar ute, which is currently sold in New Zealand under Riddara badging, was not the “solution” for the Australian market.“Because just like with some SUVs, it must have four-wheel drive,” he said. “If you don’t have four-wheel drive, you have not satisfied what the customer demands.”“So Geely, we fully study the customer demand, and provide exactly or even beyond what the customer is expecting of them otherwise.”“For the ute, just like Ranger or HiLux or Shark 6, these have a different character, so we must benchmark those ‘star’ models."

Ford has slashed the entry price of its struggling plug-in hybrid Ranger ute, as the rival BYD Shark 6 continues to put runs on the board and new competitors from China close in.The refreshed Ranger Hybrid range slashes pricing by nearly $10,000 or more per variant, and re-works the line-up to include a new entry-level XL grade as part of a set of tweaks to the dual-cab’s range.The Ranger continues to be the most popular 4x4 ute in the country by some margin, amassing 15,023 units for the year, but CarsGuide understands the Hybrid version continues to make up only a tiny fraction of sales. It is believed to be a long way behind the electrified ute market leading BYD Shark 6, which has amassed 4851 sales in the same period.Ford’s significant price discounts to the Ranger Hybrid are no doubt an effort to make the ute more competitive as tough new emissions regulations close in.The Ranger Hybrid was previously priced from $71,990 (before on-road costs) for the entry-level XLT.  The refreshed line-up dumps this mid-tier trim level from the range, replacing it with a significantly more affordable base XL grade, which starts from just $59,000 drive-away. This represents a price cut of more than $12,990, and thousands more once on-roads are included. See prices for the refreshed line-up below.2027 Ford Ranger Hybrid price2027 Ford Ranger hybrid powertrain and efficiencyThe Ranger Hybrid continues to use a 2.3-litre petrol turbocharged engine mated to a hybrid motor (75kW) and 10-speed automatic transmission for a total power output of 207kW/697Nm.All versions of the Ranger Hybrid continue to be dual-cab 4x4 only, and also persevere with a small 11.8kWh battery, which grants it a WLTP electric driving range of just 49km and fuel efficiency of 2.9L/100km. However, the plug-in Ranger variants maintain the combustion version’s 3500kg towing capacity and over 800kg payloads per variant. Unlike the Shark 6, the Ranger hybrid also maintains its traditional transmission and low-range transfer case with mechanical links from the engine to rear axle.2027 Ford Ranger Hybrid standard featuresStandard features have been tweaked slightly per variant for the refreshed Ranger hybrid line-up.The Ranger Hybrid XL includes:17-inch alloy wheelsAll-season tyresTray bedliner12.4-inch digital instrument cluster12-inch multimedia touchscreenCloth interior trimCarpet flooringDual-zone climate controlRear air ventsSteel underbody protectionHalogen headlights and DRLsThe XLT has now been dumped from the PHEV line-up, with the next grade up being the Sport.This mid-grade trim level is now priced at $66,000 drive-away, representing at least a $9,990 discount on the outgoing PHEV Sport model, which was priced from $75,990 (before on-roads), and this is despite it adding new features.The Ranger Hybrid Sport includes:18-inch alloy wheelsAll-season tyres12.4-inch digital instrument cluster (up from 8.0-inches)12-inch multimedia touchscreen360-degree cameraTrailer back-up assistSports barSide stepsLED headlights w/auto high-beamsPuddle lampsSynthetic leather seatsWireless phone chargerPowered auto-folding wing mirrorsAuto-dimming rear vision mirrorPerimeter alarmThe Wildtrak grade continues to top-out the Ranger’s array of plug-in hybrid variants, now priced at $70,000 drive-away, a minimum $9,990 discount from the previous version ($78,990 before on-roads).The Ranger Hybrid Wildtrak includes:Matrix LED headlights w/auto-levelling18-inch alloys12.4-inch digital instrument cluster12-inch multimedia touchscreenAll-season tyresPower roller shutterTrailer back-up assistHeated front seats10-speaker Bang & Olufsen premium audio2027 Ford Ranger Hybrid optional featuresA handful of optional features continue for the Ranger Hybrid, with refreshed pricing and some new features for the base XL grade. See the option packages belowFull-size Spare (NCO)Adventure Pack ($500 - includes cargo management system and auxiliary switches)18-inch wheels and all-terrain tyres (for XL grade - $950)Vinyl floor (for XL grade $100)All-terrain tyres (Sport and Wildtrak - $700)Flexible rack system ($1990)Style canopy ($4500)Commercial canopy (white or black - $4700)2027 Ford Ranger Hybrid coloursThe Ranger Hybrid is available in an array of refreshed colours including:Frozen White ($0)Agate Black ($750)Iconic Silver ($750)Carbonised Grey ($750)Blue Lightning ($750)Lucid Red ($750)Command Grey (Sport only - $750)Ignite Orange (Wildtrak only - $750)2027 Ford Ranger Hybrid safetyThe Ford Ranger Hybrid continues to maintain a maximum five-star ANCAP safety rating carried over from previous iterations, which it was awarded in 2022.It scored 84 per cent for Adult Occupant Protection, 93 per cent in Child Occupant Protection, 74 per cent in Vulnerable Road User Protection, and 83 per cent for Safety Assist.2027 Ford Ranger Hybrid warranty and servicingThe Ranger Hybrid continues the same ownership scheme as before, including a five-year and unlimited kilometre new vehicle warranty, with a separate warranty covering the high-voltage components for eight-years or 160,000km. The brand also throws in up to seven years of roadside assistance if the ute is serviced inside its dealer network.2027 Ford Ranger Hybrid dimensionsThe Ford Ranger Hybrid measures 5403mm long, 1924mm wide, and 1870mm tall with a wheelbase of 3270mm.Its tray measures 1605mm long, 1523mm wide, and 498mm tall, with a 1217mm width between the wheel arches.2027 Ford Ranger Hybrid launch timingThe new Ranger hybrid will join the line-up in the third-quarter of 2026 as part of rolling updates to Ford’s popular ute range.

Zeekr has made quite a name for itself for its range of aggressively priced premium performance SUVs.The 7X and upcoming 8X and 9X have generated quite a lot of hype. It seems though, that this Chinese brand has more to prove. It doesn’t just want to undercut established premium brands on the SUV front, it wants to appeal to rusted-on enthusiasts with its upcoming fully electric 7GT wagon.That’s right, a brand-new sporty station wagon designed to take aim at the likes of the BMW 3 Series, Mercedes-Benz C-Class and Audi S5 in 2026.Does this Euro-flavoured Chinese wagon have what it takes to impress? We briefly drove one in China to find out.First things first, what do we know about the 7GT for Australia?For one, it’s been locked-in judging by recent comments from the Australian division's boss, Frank Li. He said it was difficult to tell what order the brand’s range of cars will arrive, but with the 9X flagship SUV due before the end of 2026, it seems likely we’ll see the 7GT either very late in 2026, or early 2027.Interestingly, the 7GT (known as the 007GT in China) has a sedan variant as well (simply the 007 in its home market) although the brand hasn't said much about it, suggesting it will be a wagon-only offering in Australia.As for the price? The 7GT starts from the equivalent of around A$42,000 and tops out at around A$52,000 in China, suggesting a range of around A$55,000 - $70,000 by the time the car lands in Australia.Price wise, this could put it in a similar league to mainstream wagon offerings like the Skoda Octavia (from $66,000), Subaru WRX (from $58,490) and Cupra Leon (from $69,990).Like the 7X SUV which came before it, it will be an upgrade on those mainstream rivals by offering fully electric power with significant driving range, while also significantly undercutting premium wagons like the BMW 3 Series (from $98,800), Audi A5 (from $92,900) and Genesis G70 (from $80,265).It is unclear whether the 7X will be offered in a single high-performance specification or if Zeekr will also offer an entry-level price-leading variant.The powertrain choices in China include a rear-wheel-drive version (still offering a whopping 370kW/545Nm and a 0-100km/h sprint time of 4.8 seconds) or an all-wheel drive with 585kW/812Nm and 0-100km/h sprint in just 2.85 seconds (faster than a Porsche Taycan Turbo).The entry-level version of the 7GT is powered by a 75kWh battery pack offering up to 702km of driving range, with a larger 103kWh battery pack offering up to 880km of driving range (both driving ranges calculated to the more lenient CLTC measuring standard).With a 900-volt electrical architecture, the 7GT can charge ultra fast, 10 to 80 per cent in as low as 10 minutes on a compatible DC charger, according to the brand.Penned in Europe at Geely’s facilities in Gothenburg, Sweden, the 7GT gets European proportions with a split spoiler topping off the roof, and a ducktail shaping the boot line. Sadly, Australian Design Rules will prohibit the character-enhancing animated DRL clusters above the headlight strip, as is also the case for the 7X.Sitting in the 7GT and you’d be forgiven for thinking you were sitting in a Volvo or a Polestar - two other Geely-owned brands. The commitment to interior materials and cabin ergonomics has always put Zeekr a cut above its Chinese contemporaries, doubly so in the 7GT which sits nice and low and sports a rising console platform, which culminates in a large but not excessive central touchscreen.There’s even a control dial and a couple of shortcut buttons below, which can’t be said for a lot of this car’s Chinese rivals.Space is good in both the front and rear seats for me at 182cm tall, and the 7GT also has a surprisingly large boot despite its coupe-looking roofline.We only had a chance to briefly drive the 7GT on a small test circuit in a car park in China, which consisted of a 0-100km/h sprint, brake test, and a moose-test style slalom, however, I’ve also driven this car’s sedan version, the 007, on Geely’s actual racing track in Ningbo, which gave a bit more insight into its performance and limitations.Quite predictably, it’s blisteringly fast, with the kind of silent, brutal acceleration anybody who has driven a Tesla will be familiar with.As soon as you go to turn a corner though, the Euro flavour for the Zeekr again helps to set it apart. The steering in the 7GT feels much more natural, like something you’d experience in a Volvo or Polestar as opposed to the lifeless or overly electrified feeling you get from some otherwise-good EVs.Judging the suspension is difficult as the drive was on curated and perfectly flat tarmac surfaces, but riding lower than its SUV siblings, the 7GT feels comparatively slick when attacking corners and chicanes.Perhaps the biggest issue facing anything electric is weight, and while the 7GT might hide it well at commuter pace, the track sessions in the 007 were frequently slowed down after only a handful of laps to manage heat in the brakes. This is worth noting if you’re thinking about a family car that also makes short work of more expensive combustion cars at a track day.

Nissan may have finally bounced off rock bottom as the embattled Japanese giant executes its turn-around plans and posts promising results off the back of new model launches.Its grand turn-around plan, dubbed Re:Nissan has seen the company need to take drastic measures to reverse a financial slide into oblivion, including shuttering some of its factories, and turning more than ever to its Chinese joint-venture with Dongfeng for new model launches.It is not just the exciting new Frontier Pro plug-in hybrid ute and successful N7 sedan from China that have shown promising results for the brand. It also posted smaller declines in the last quarter of its financial year both in Japan and North America.Europe and the rest of the world didn’t perform as well for the brand, but make up a smaller portion of its overall sales. The brand also noted that US tariffs had a huge impact on its bottom line for the financial year.The company is predicting a return to an operating profit off the back of new and refreshed model line-ups across all the markets it plays in, predicting a 20 billion yen (a little over 175 million AUD) net income off the back of a brutal A$4.7 billion dollar loss to the end of this Japanese Financial Year, described as “extraordinary non-recurring losses” related to the brand’s realignment according to the company’s CFO George Leondis.CEO Ivan Espinosa said the company was tracking ahead of its goals for the end of the year, as it enters the “final year of Re:Nissan”.The brand is banking on higher demand for its range of incoming new-generation offerings, which in the financial year 2026 will include the NX8, N7, and Frontier Pro as export models from China, new models also from China based on the Terrano PHEV off-road concept and Urban PHEV concept small SUV (many of which are likely for an Australian arrival).Outside of that, the brand will also launch the new Tekton in India, Infiniti QX65 in the US, Elgrand people mover in Japan, as well as the Rogue e-Power in the US and Kicks in Japan.The confirmation of the Kicks launching in Japan opens the door to the previously overseas-only model launching in Australia thanks to its availability in right-hand drive. It could potentially serve as a replacement for the recently-discontinued (and relatively unpopular) Nissan Juke as the brand’s new entry-level SUV.Meanwhile the new-generation Leaf, which has undergone a radical transformation to a crossover SUV instead of a hatchback, has been delayed indefinitely for an Australian arrival, with the brand earmarking competitiveness issues in the small EV space and a focus on mass-market e-Power hybrids going forward. It leaves the mid-sized Ariya as the brand’s sole fully electric offering in Australia.Other new products to look out for from Nissan for the our market include the next-generation X-Trail, due in 2027, which will ride on an updated platform, feature a wider track width and new suspension, as well as feature the latest and more efficient version of the brand’s e-Power plugless hybrid tech.Nissan continues to take a battering in the Australian market, with the brand down 32.2 per cent year-on-year. It has seemingly permanently dropped out of the top-10 in Australia, making way for new entrants like BYD and GWM.By the end of April 2026, Chery was also now in the top-10, ranking eighth, leaving just Mazda (6th), Isuzu (10th), and Toyota (1st) the only remaining Japanese players in the list.