Electric News

Thanks to regulatory filings in China, we have what might be our first look at an updated version of BYD’s Sealion 8 three-row hybrid SUV.Known as the Tang and Tang L in China, the new version of the car filed with the Chinese Ministry of Industry and Information Technology adopts similar styling to BYD’s flagship Great Tang SUV, which debuted earlier this year.This means a refreshed light profile in the front with a single light bar panel, a smoother profile across the body, tweaked rear light bar designs, more subtle logo work and an overall more premium feel. It also scores either 20- or 21-inch alloy wheels in fresh designs, and replaces the electronic pop-out doorhandles, now banned in China, with flush-set handles.For now, the new version of the car has only been filed in fully electric form equipped with a 300kW single electric motor, while the Sealion 8 version we get in Australia is only a plug-in hybrid.At over five meters long, the Tang has grown slightly over the outgoing model. Its interior is yet to be revealed, but is likely to include at least some of the cabin styling and features from the Great Tang flagship luxury SUV.It features a new steering wheel design, passenger-side entertainment screen, plaid leather seat trim, with an evolution of the geometric dash features which the Sealion 8 originally brought to the Australian market.It is likely it could be some time before such upgrades make it to our market, as BYD’s model strategy continues to diverge between its Chinese domestic line-up and its export market models.For example, Australia won’t receive the major updates to the BYD Atto 3 seen in the Chinese market. Instead, we’ll be getting the ‘Evo’ facelifted version, which has already debuted in Europe.Meanwhile the existing Sealion 8 has had a fairly robust year in Australia, having moved nearly five and a half thousand units in the first half of the year. This number was significantly boosted by a ship arrival, which accounted for 1961 units in June alone, but even without this boost the Sealion 8 has racked up more registrations than popular rivals like the Hyundai Santa Fe (3089 units), Kia Sorento (2752 units) and the ageing Toyota Kluger (2475 units) so far in 2026.In its current form in Australia, the BYD Sealion 8 is priced from $56,990 before on-roads for the entry level front-wheel drive Dynamic, to $70,990 before on-roads for the AWD Premium.It produces either 205kW/315 in base FWD form, or 359kW/679Nm in AWD form as combined figures generated from its 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine and either single or dual electric motor set-ups.BYD has shot to second position in the Australian new-car sales charts in the first half of the year, off the back of a massive model range expansion as well as dedicated ship deliveries to our market.It is already 10,000 units ahead of the previously second-placed Ford, having jumped 124.1 per cent year-on-year. It is second only to Toyota, although it appears to be closing the gap with Toyota down 21.4 per cent thanks to delays in the arrival of the new RAV4.Expect to learn more about the BYD Sealion 8 shortly as the official Chinese reveal nears.

Mazda may be behind much of the market when it comes to electric vehicles (EVs), but it has a not-so-secret weapon to catch-up.The recently launched 6e is the first product of the Japanese brand’s decades long partnership with China’s Changan Automobiles to reach Australian showrooms, and it won’t be the last. The sedan’s SUV sibling, the CX-6e, is already confirmed for local launch and Mazda 6e Program Manager, Hiroshi Ozawa, hasn’t ruled out more models built in China joining the local range.Ozawa explained that Mazda has been able to learn a lot from its partnership with Changan, as the Chinese market is far more developed with both EVs and plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) and that will be beneficial in speeding up Mazda’s adoption of these lower-emission powertrains.“ The Chinese market, actually over 60 per cent is EV and the PHEV, and we call them NEV, ‘new energy vehicles,’” Ozawa said.“That includes EV and PHEV and that mix is over 60 per cent… in the coastal area. The metropolitan area over 70 per cent mix. So in that sense, the technology development for the battery is also growing very fast.”In addition to the higher volume of these so-called new energy vehicles, the Chinese industry has become highly capable of developing this technology quicker and that is something Mazda can learn from. But Ozawa also said it was a two-way street, with Changan able to also learn from Mazda’s strengths.“How they develop the vehicles, compared to the traditional OEMs, their way of making things is different, and we can learn those things,” he said.“We have a joint venture with Changan Automobile so that we can absorb their strengths. And also we have strengths like driving, design, quality, those are what we are stronger , so what they can learn from us and through that we can develop a fantastic vehicle together. So that's the kind of learning we have.”Without wanting to dive into the specifics of what Mazda learned from Changan, which sells a modified version of the Mazda 6e as the Deepal L07 in China, Ozawa said the Chinese automotive industry is leading the way with its use of Artificial Intelligence (AI), not only in-vehicles for connected car services, but also the development of the cars themselves.“Generally speaking, China is advanced,” he said. “They are ahead in those areas like connectivity and they are far advanced with AI, and they are going to produce the models using AI. So for that kind of thing, I think each OEM is going to learn from China. So we ourselves will also do the same. We will make sure to learn from this.”The addition of the CX-6e later this year will double Mazda’s EV portfolio in Australia but with EV sales hitting 23.3 per cent of the market in June, the brand may need more electric and PHEV models sooner rather than later if demand continues. Ozawa wouldn’t reveal any details but left the door wide open for more Chinese-built Mazdas to join the Australian showroom.“ We already announced publicly, but after that model reveal, we're not in the position to talk about now,” he said. “ But, we have a multi-solution strategy around that… we have partnerships with many other companies, not only Changan, so that we can introduce the right products to the right market at the right timing. So not only with Changan, but we have other partnerships. So we're trying to explore a lot of possibilities.”

MG is furthering its moves to retain its historic British links by showing off two new electric cars at the 2026 Goodwood Festival of Speed.The MG ‘Go!’ and MG Cyber Concept have both been revealed at the motorsport-leaning festival that has increasingly become an occasion for brands to showcase new models and concepts they hope will connect with enthusiasts.Among a display of MG’s current line-up, the MG ‘Go!’ and Cyber Concept - the former a retro-inspired hatchback and the latter a large SUV with a wagon silhouette - both aim to draw on MG’s British heritage to build more brand cache in its Chinese-owned era.The ‘Go!’ is a preview of a model set to go into production in 2027, with inspiration taken from some of the brand’s iconic models like the MGB GT.But MG’s UK-based Design Director, Carl Gotham, didn’t intend “to create a nostalgic showpiece, but something contemporary and relevant” according to an MG press release."With MG ‘Go!’, we wanted to create something compact and contemporary, but also warm, expressive and immediately likeable, an embodiment of all that we admire about the MG brand,” said Gotham.“It is not about looking back for its own sake, but about capturing some of the clarity, charm and emotional appeal that have always made MG so distinctive, and reinterpreting that in a way that feels relevant today and crucially creating something with strong charisma.”The MG Cyber Concept, unrelated for the most part to the MG Cyberster sports car, also previews a future model.MG says it “draws inspiration from two defining chapters in MG’s history”, those being the EX181 land speed record car, and the “spirit of innovation and reinvention that continues to shape MG today”.The large SUV is set to be a high-performance model, with a “dynamic character and sense of occasion traditionally associated with sports cars”, according to MG.Very little of either model has been detailed in terms of specification or features, so we won’t know more until the production versions of these two concepts start to shape up closer to their respective launches.

Korea’s new electric performance hero is here. Hyundai high-end sub-brand Genesis has released pricing for its GV60 Magma SUV ahead of its arrival in Aussie showrooms this month.It will start from $130,000, before on-road costs, making it almost $50,000 more than the standard GV60. Genesis is Hyundai’s answer to European giants Mercedes-Benz and BMW, and this is the brand's first attempt at a high-performance car.The GV60 is a small SUV and goes up against the BMW iX2, Volvo XC40 Recharge and Zeekr X, but none of them can go toe-to-toe with the GV60 Magma variant. Its performance pitches it closer to the larger Hyundai Ioniq 5 N ($91,700) and Kia EV6 GT ($99,660).It is smaller than the mechanically similar Ioniq 5 and 6 N performance cars, but packs the same punch.It has two electric motors that drive all four wheels and produce 448kW and 740Nm.It can shift from 0-100km/h in 3.4 seconds using the boost function that increases power to 478kW and 790NmThe car is equipped with a 84kWh battery, offering a total driving range of 425km, according to WLTP standards. Its interior features a 27.0-inch OLED screen for the instrument cluster and multimedia display, while there is also a head-up display. The GV60 Magma has a virtual gear shift system, which gives the Magma the feel of real gear changes in a petrol car.There is also a drifting mode that can direct power to the rear wheels using an electric limited-slip differential to enable dynamic, track-based driving.  Hyundai confirmed production of the GV60 Magma in mid-2024, when it was revealed as a concept, with it finally now hitting Aussie shores.It will join the updated base GV60 that recently got a serious price cut in Australia, now starting from $88,300, down from more than $100,000. It will only be available with rear-wheel drive, meaning the Magma will be the GV60 with AWD available.

Reports out of the US overnight point to a significant delay in the start of production for the all-new, pure-electric Toyota Highlander large SUV, marking another faltering step in the Japanese giant’s shift towards broader adoption of battery-electric models.According to American automotive marketplace Cars.com, a Toyota Motor North America (TMNA) spokesperson told it the company is making “additional adjustments to the vehicle prior to launch.” Toyota uses the name Highlander in the USA and selected export markets while the Kluger nameplate is well established in Japan and Australia, with local Klugers coming out of Toyota’s Princeton, Indiana plant.The top-spec all-wheel drive 2027 Highlander has two electric motors, producing 252kW/438Nm and there are two battery options - 77kWh for a 462km range and 96kWh for 515km between charges. Initially set to launch in North America before the end of the year, a “minimum eight week delay” to production ramp up means the new-generation battery electric vehicle (BEV) may not hit showrooms there until early 2027.With no confirmation of revised launch timing for the new Highlander, TMNA also advised the current 2026 model will stay in production through to the end of the year.It’s worth noting while the Kluger is hybrid-only in Australia, the current Highlander is offered in pure-combustion and hybrid form in the States and US Highlander sales are currently strong, especially for hybrid variants. In fact, Cars.com has theorised part of Toyota’s motivation for holding back the new model is to “enjoy some extra profits on the fast-selling, top-dollar Highlander hybrids to keep that cash machine ringing while RAV4 production continues to slowly ramp up.”There’s no doubt a production extension for the current car will be welcomed by Toyota Australia, its dealers and Kluger buyers. Local sales for the first half of this year were down 46.3 compared to the same period in 2025, but additional supply could add a much needed boost.The new-gen Highlander EV is currently off the agenda for Australian consumption, with a Toyota Australia spokesperson previously telling CarsGuide there are no current plans to add a Kluger version to the range Down Under.But we’ve heard that line before, so don’t write off the Hyundai Ioniq 9, Kia EV9 and Volvo EX90 competitor for Australia just yet.On side note, the hold up will surely upset launch plans for the Lexus TZ, the Highlander’s premium counterpart and the Subaru Getaway, based on the upcoming model’s platform and basic architecture, both initially planned for 2026 introduction.After single-mindedly sticking to its long-term hybrid-led new energy vehicle (NEV) strategy Toyota has gradually moved towards EVs, introducing the bZ4X and more recently the bZ4X Touring and Electric HiLux locally, with the C-HR+ EV locked in for 2027.The plug-in hybrid RAV4, just-released in Australia, is on the same TNGA-K platform as the 2027 Highlander, which also opens the door to a future EV version.

Zeekr’s incoming 7GT electric station wagon has secured a maximum five star EuroNCAP score ahead of its expected imminent arrival in Australia.The 7GT has been tested to the latest EuroNCAP standards, which sync up with ANCAP’s toughest-ever new rating regime that was just introduced to Australia.The sporty electric wagon is one of the first cars tested under the new system, and it scored highly across all four new testing pillars.These include Safe Driving (79 per cent), Crash Avoidance (89 per cent), Crash Protection (93 per cent) and Post-Crash Safety (95 per cent).While the maximum EuroNCAP score is a strong indicator for how the wagon will perform under the ANCAP system (as the destructive testing in Europe often forms the basis for ANCAP’s assessment), it is no guarantee. ANCAP’s assessment takes into account local specifications and can also involve local validation for active safety equipment, which is more intensely scrutinised under the new rules.The 7GT was partially marked down in the Safe Driving category for placing some core controls in the multimedia touchscreen. Overall the 7GT scored higher than the BMW iX3, which was the first car rated five stars to the new rating system.The 7GT is due in Australia imminently, being one of three new Zeekr models earmarked for Australia in the short-term. It is likely our market will receive the 9X large luxury hybrid SUV first, with the 7GT to be next.Both will arrive before the brand’s most hyped new car, the 8X large five-seat SUV, which is a smash-hit in China. The plug-in hybrid 8X will be aiming squarely at premium rivals with pricing likely to start close to, if not more than, $100,000.The 7GT should be priced in the region of $55,000 to $70,000 by the time it arrives in Australia, and is available in either rear-wheel drive form (370kW/545Nm) or Performance all-wheel drive form (585kW/812Nm), according to Chinese specifications.It is also offered with either a 75kWh battery pack (702km range, CLTC) or a 103kWh battery pack (880km range, CLTC). It also has a 900-volt electrical architecture, allowing it to charge in less than 20 minutes on a compatible DC charger.Expect to learn more about the 7GT as we approach its launch window, which is expected to be either late 2026 or early 2027.The brand told CarsGuide official pre-orders for the wagon will become available to buyers imminently.

This popular small electric SUV is about to get a huge update in Australia.Kia has announced its strong-selling EV3 will be available with all-wheel drive (AWD) from September.The GT-Line AWD will sit at the top of the EV3 range, starting from $66,490, before on-road costs.This is roughly $3500 more than the front-wheel drive (FWD) GT-Line (from $63,950), and almost $20,000 more than the base model.An AWD set-up gives the EV3 the edge over its sister car, the Hyundai Kona Electric that remains FWD-only, with its premium variant priced from $60,000.AWD is rare in small electric SUVs, with the new Subaru Uncharted one of few notable examples and wears a $59,990 price tag.Many of the EV3’s budget competitors such as the BYD Atto 3 (from $39,990) and Geely EX5 (from $41,990) are also FWD-only.Driving range on electric AWD cars tends to be less than FWD models because they require more power and are heavier, but not the EV3.The EV3 AWD gets the same 81kWh battery as other EV3s, which delivers a driving range of 559km, according to WLTP standards. This is only 4km less than the front-wheel drive GT-Line.Power comes from a dual-electric motor system producing 195kW and 385Nm, which is a decent step up on the single motor 150kW/283Nm set-up in other variants. It completes the benchmark 0-100km/h sprint in 6.6 seconds. The car gets other upgrades, including larger brakes and suspension and steering tuned for Australian conditions.There is a single screen on the inside consisting of a 12.3-inch driver display and 12.3 multimedia screen. It also features a head-up display.It gets a premium eight-speaker Harman Kardon sound system, with heated and ventilated front seats, and a heated steering wheel. There is a wireless phone charger and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.The EV3 is Kia’s second-best selling EV behind the EV5 currently, and was one of the brand’s best-selling models in June.It was awarded the Best Small Car Starting Under $50,000 at the 2026 CarsGuide Car of the Year awards.2027 Kia EV3 GT pricing  

Mercedes-AMG has made the bold decision to remove the internal combustion engine from its CLA45 coupe-style compact performance car and replace it with a trio of electric motors derived from those found in the Mercedes-AMG GT 4-door Coupé.Boasting 500kW/1759Nm and 0-100km/h acceleration in a blistering 2.7 seconds, the new CLA45 4Matic+ is powered by two axial flux motors on the rear axle and one on the front with adaptive suspension and active aero standard across sedan and Shooting Brake (wagon) variants.The obvious elephant in the room is engine noise, or by definition, the lack of it, with prior iterations of AMG 45 models known and loved by owners for their rasping engine sound and throaty exhaust note.Mercedes-AMG believes it has that significant base covered with the AMGForce S+ setting.Positioning it as “combustion engine emotion at the touch of a finger”, the engineering boffins in Affalterbach say this driving mode “delivers an authentic, AMG typical combustion engine experience with the characteristic sound of a high-performance AMG four-cylinder engine.”“Coupled with a haptic, immersive experience, including interruption of traction during simulated gear changes, the result is a driving experience that makes performance intensely tangible,” the car’s launch statement said.Which sounds similar to Hyundai’s N e-Shift system that virtually simulates an eight-speed dual-clutch transmission in its Ioniq 5 and Ioniq 6 N models.Mercedes-AMG is at pains to point out “the sound of an original Mercedes-AMG A 45 S four-cylinder engine was meticulously documented using 13 microphones positioned in different locations recording more than 1600 detailed measurements, inside and outside.”The AMG Dynamic+ track-focused package is onboard as is AMG Track Pace which is claimed to “turn every visit to the racetrack into a professional training session.”In terms of day-to-day practicality an 800-volt architecture allows fast-charging of the 94kW lithium-ion battery at up to 330kW (22kW AC) and claimed range is over 670 or 640 kilometres (WLTP) depending on the model. Combined cycle (urban/extra-urban) energy consumption is between 18.7 and 16.5kWh/100km, again depending on model.Active aero includes a rear spoiler on the sedan and roof-edge unit on the wagon. In Eco, Comfort and Sport driving modes, the speed threshold for their activation is 145km/h, while in the AMGForce S+ and Race settings they raise immediately.Standard rims in Germany are 19-inch shod with 245/40 Z-rated rubber at the front and 265/40 at the rear. It’s likely Aussie versions will come with the optional 20s wearing fatter  255/35 and 275/35 tyres.Inside there are four seats only and the latest-gen MBUX multimedia operating system is included. Standard upholstery combines synthetic leather and synthetic microfibre with genuine leather and AMG Performance seats available.Mercedes-Benz Australia told CarsGuide the new CLA45 is set to arrive here in the first half of 2027 with the Sheeting Brake "under consideration" for local sale.For reference, the now superseded 310kW/500Nm internal-combustion CLA45 AMG 4Matic+ was priced at $126,500, before on-road costs.

Tesla has sold out of a sought-after genuine accessory for its Model 3 electric sedan only days after its launch.The US electric carmaker is offering an air mattress for the Model 3 that fits across the folded rear seats and the boot.It’s made of three-inch high-density foam with a waterproof polyester exterior covering. It can be inflated with the integrated air pump and it comes with a carry bag and repair kit.This kind of air mattress is perfect for those who want to sleep in their vehicle overnight when camping.At this stage Tesla is only offering this air mattress genuine accessory on its US website. It’s priced from US$235 (~A$340).This Tesla-branded air mattress is not offered in Australia yet, although a number of third party accessory companies already offer a similar product. However, many don’t fit the exact contours of the vehicle.Tesla already offers genuine accessory air mattresses in the Model Y, Model Y L in Australia. They’re priced from $375 and $300, respectively.The US electric carmaker also offers a genuine accessory air mattress for the Cybertruck electric pick-up in North America.In Australia, Tesla has been going from strength to strength. In June a total of 8670 vehicles were sold, making it the fourth best-selling brand for the month.A lot of the heavy lifting was done by the Model Y electric SUV. A total of 8072 vehicles were sold in June, making it the best-selling vehicle for the month by far. It’s the first time an EV has ever been the selling-car.So far in 2026, Tesla has sold a total of 23,588 vehicles, which is up 66.7 per cent year-on-year. It’s now the 10 best-selling brand in Australia.

BMW’s incoming iX3, which wears the brand’s dramatic Neue Klasse design aesthetic, is the first car to be tested to ANCAP’s new safety regime.The iX3 scored a maximum five stars, scoring relatively highly across the safety body’s four new categories.The new categories include, Safe Driving (which rates driving support systems), Crash Avoidance (which rates hazard mitigation technologies), Crash Protection (which rates the vehicles crash structure and physical safety hardware) and Post Crash (which rates how well the systems on board the car assist first responders following a crash).“Over three decades of ANCAP influence, this is the most comprehensive ratings framework we’ve applied. We have again stepped up our assessment to capture and evaluate the many ways a modern car can protect its occupants and other road users,” ANCAP Chief Executive Carla Hoorweg said.“The BMW iX3 is the first model we’ve put through this new rating process, and its specification and performance have captured the essence of the new requirements.”It is unsurprising the BMW iX3 ranked so highly to the new standards, as it is designed to comply with EuroNCAP safety procedures, which ANCAP’s procedures are largely based. The iX3 was physically tested in Europe for the EuropNCAP score, which was applied to the ANCAP scale.ANCAP’s new rating system places more emphasis on safety systems calibrated well enough that car buyers are likely to leave them on.“Systems that irritate rather than improve the drive experience will be marked down, with lane keep systems now assessed on how naturally they interact with the driver, including steering response and driver override effort,” said Hoorweg.“The ‘smart coupling’ of driver alertness with safety system intervention is also now assessed. Vehicles that enhance – or minimise – their response according to the driver’s level of alertness are rewarded,” she addedIn what may come as a relief to many new car buyers, the Safe Driving pillar also scrutinises the existence of physical controls, although for now it is limited to only core functions like indicators, hazard lights, horn, gear selector and headlights.Some of the most frustrating touchscreen-based systems, like climate and multimedia controls, will get a free pass.The safety body also now ranks the accuracy of speed limit assist systems, which are also a frequent source of irritation in new vehicles.The iX3 ranked well enough for Safe Driving (71 per cent), marked down for the lack of some occupant detection features, some distraction monitoring function, and the adaptive cruise not responding entirely to road features like roundabouts.It ranked more highly in Crash Avoidance (83 per cent), with its auto emergency braking and lane keep systems scoring highly across most categories.It also scored well for Crash Protection (86 per cent) - which now involves extra crash dummies for more thorough testing. It was marked down slightly for vehicle-to-vehicle compatibility for presenting a “moderate risk to occupants of an oncoming vehicle if struck”.The Post Crash Pillar was the iX3’s highest ranking category (95 per cent), scoring high across all categories including its eCall feature, high-voltage battery isolation function and door handle functionality.Other new elements of ANCAP’s testing regime for the next few years include a new crash barrier test, more robust avoidance assessments, the assessment of rollover injuries, new “pothole” test which assesses the ability of the driver to maintain control of the car when avoiding road hazards, more intense whiplash testing, a motorcycle t-bone test, and “serious component failures” also carry a more dire penalty.The five-star ANCAP rating applies to both the 50 xDrive and 40 variants of the new iX3.