Hybrid News

Chery has confirmed it's adding another sub-brand to its growing arsenal in Australia.New adventure-focused iCaur brand will join Chery, Jaecoo, Omoda and Lepas in the carmaking giant’s local line-up. Chery will also likely launch Freelander and maybe Exceed in the next few years. Its Jetour off-roader brand will arrive later this year via a separate factory-backed entity.iCaur Australia boss Kate Gillis said Australians have a strong desire for vehicles that are practical, capable and good looking.“The V25 has been developed to meet those expectations while bringing a distinctive personality that will appeal to customers looking for something different,” said Gillis.The V25 features tough-looks with light off-roading ability.The company confirmed it will launch early in 2027, with the V25 the first model to join the line-up. It will go head-to-head with the Denza B5 and Subaru Forester in Australia and Toyota LandCruiser FJ in other markets.iCaur Australia hasn’t revealed any details for the V25, but specs have emerged in China.A filing to the Chinese Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) last month showed the V25 is an extended range hybrid (EREV).An EREV uses the petrol engine just to charge the sizable battery, with only electric motors driving the wheels. This gives it the driving benefits of an EV but without the range anxiety.It uses a 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine that makes 115kW, and a 33.68kWh battery delivers an electric driving range of up to 150km albeit under the more lenient CLTC test cycle.According to the MIIT’s details, the V25 is 4636mm long, 1920mm wide, 1855mm tall, has a 1820mm wheelbase and has a track width of 1635mm at the front, 1642mm at the rear.Overhangs of 736mm at the front and 1080mm at the rear are also quoted, though an approach angle of 28 degrees and a departure angle of 24 degrees have also been reported.In China iCaur has the V23 and V27. The V23 is an electric SUV that uses a single electric motor to make 155kW and 292Nm. It is paired with a circa 82kWh battery that delivers a driving range of up to 430km. It can only charge at a max 104kW via a DC charger.The V27 is a bigger, chunkier tough-looking SUV, which uses an extended range hybrid set-up.A 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine charges the 34.3kWh battery, with power coming from a pair of electric motors driving each axle, which combine for 335kW and 505Nm.

Nissan continues to refine its business and product strategy with the under-pressure Japanese carmaker set to reorganise 80 per cent of its global nameplates into three broad families.As reported by Automotive News, the brand’s new ‘Family-Planning’ structure will see the introduction of five new body-on-frame models in two years to be introduced at ‘China Speed’.Nissan remains in the midst of a major global financial crisis, recording massive consecutive annual losses, including a A$7.0 billion net loss for the fiscal year ending March 2025 and a A$4.7 billion net loss for the year ending March 2026. Nissan CEO Ivan Espinosa launched the revised product approach as part of the company’s goal to cut its global product portfolio by 20 per cent to 45 models from 56 currently and slash development lead times from 50 to 30 months.The three product family groupings are mid-size (think X-Trail), compact family (think Qashqai/Note) and body-on-frame, the latter initially focused on reintroduction of the Xterra SUV in the US market from 2028, with it and “four sibling spinoffs” to be produced at Nissan’s Canton, Mississippi plant by the end of the decade.Speaking at the company’s Yokohama headquarters on Friday, Nissan Deputy General Manager Product Business Division Hidemi Sasaki said the new direction will reduce vehicle development time by 40 per cent, enable a 20 per cent reduction in the number of different parts used and commonise 70 per cent of components.“China players are following different rules; they are changing the game. That’s why we are trying to do this transformation.“By revising the business scheme, we can reduce investment and efficiently engineer cars in a shorter period of time while catering to all the needs in the market,” he said.Nissan is aiming to optimise shared platforms, powertrains, software systems and components by planning an entire family at the same time. The US-made models will lead off with the five-seat Xterra SUV, followed by a three-row Nissan SUV, the Navara-sized Frontier pick-up, as well as two- and three-row Infiniti SUVs. Sasaki-san’s presentation included a teaser image of the upcoming Xterra with what Automotive News described as “a rugged stance, flared fenders, angled C-pillar, indented hood and semi-solid front fascia with the Nissan name spelled out in capital letters.”He said the frame family will share about 70 per cent of components forward of the B-pillar and underneath, including the platform, V6 and V6 parallel hybrid powertrains, software, electrical system, navigation and driver-assist systems.Vehicles will then be given specific rear ‘top hats’ to differentiate them as pick-ups, three-row SUVs or premium Infiniti vehicles, the latter receiving their own interiors and exterior styling.While recognising Nissan already develops multiple vehicles around common, modular platforms, Sasaki said, “The timing is what is different. In the first stage, we will plan multiple models at the same time.“In the traditional way, we tried to do this, but the business planning was not as fast,” he said.Performance models including the Z or a future GT-R, as well as light commercial vans fall outside the scope of the family structure for now.

BYD is taking aim at the luxury electric sedan market with its latest model.The brand has opened presales for its Da Han, or ‘Great Han’ full-size sedan that has the Mercedes-Benz EQS, BMW i7 and Porsche Taycan in its sights. It measures in at 5256mm long, 1999mm wide, 1510mm high, with a 3130mm wheelbase, so it shapes up similarly to the petrol- and diesel-powered Mercedes-Benz S-Class.With more than 1000km of driving range, it could be a game-changer for buyers in the market for a long-distance cruiser.The car is available in two variants. A rear-wheel drive single motor making 370kW, or an all-wheel drive dual motor set-up boosting power to 570kW. The Da Han’s main attraction is a huge 1008km driving range from a large 102kWh battery, potentially blowing its key competition out of the water.This figure has been calculated using the more lenient CLTC regime, so it's likely to be 20 to 30 per cent lower in the real world, in closer proximity to other electric sedans.The AWD Da Han has a reduced driving range of 880km (CLTC), due its more power hungry dual electric motors and extra traction.DC fast charging from 10 to 97 per cent takes just nine minutes courtesy of the brand's new 1000-volt electrical architecture. BYD’s new sedan will also be available with a 1.5-litre turbo-petrol plug-in hybrid set-up, making up to 400kW. Its 55kWh battery offers as much as 470km of EV-only driving range.There is no official word on the Da Han’s potential Australian future, but it is unlikely to be any time soon as BYD’s global ambitions for the model remain unclear. BYD routinely engineers models for right-hand drive, and if this happens for the Da Han, its chances of an Australian launch increase significantly.BYD's local branch is taking sedans seriously, and has already introduced the Seal and Seal 6, with a larger Seal 7 also approved for sale in Australia.  The Da Han will start in China from 250,000 yuan, which is roughly $52,000, but it would be more expensive in Australia, likely above the $60,000 mark. 

It ultimately helped end Holden, and the same can happen with an alarmingly high number of other prominent car brands.We’re talking about the over-reliance on one single model in Australia.It is the ‘eggs all in one basket’ that leaves sales and financials vulnerable when the inevitable happens – a popular model starts to run out of steam with consumers.Factors include newer competition, ageing models and external outside forces like spiking oil prices and evolving buyer tastes.Here, then, are some of Australia’s most vulnerable brands due to the over-dependence on one model line.Geely’s ‘Gen-Z geek’ sub-brand has struck a chord with Australians thanks to the strikingly styled 7X, and deservedly so.However, did you know there are two other, older Zeekr models sitting beside it on the showroom floor? A smaller SUV known as the X and a large people mover badged 009.Combined, they make up just 6.4 per cent of Zeekr’s year-to-date (YTD) sales, while the 7X takes the lion’s share at an incredible 93.4 per cent. Let’s hope the latter keeps the momentum up.Tesla’s Model 3 may have opened the floodgates for electric vehicles (EVs) in Australia since arriving in mid 2019, but it has now been subsumed by the larger SUV offshoot, the Model Y.The YTD sales data tells the story, with the 3’s sales tumbling 18.4 per cent to 3326 units, while the Y’s tally – supercharged by the new three-row L version – has now breached the 25,000 mark.That puts the hunchbacked SUV at 88.3 per cent of total Tesla sales, with the sedan taking the remaining 11.7 per cent.But with no S, X or ute to provide support, the Model Y is vulnerable against an unrelenting tide of mid-sized EV SUV alternatives, like the Zeekr 7X.From nowhere, the cheapest Jaecoo from Chery’s Land Rover-aping sub-brand, the J5, is responsible for more than two-thirds of all volume.This leaves three other models, the J7, J8 and Omoda 9, to fight over the crumbs.Isuzu hasn’t developed its own passenger car since the early 1990s, electing to concentrate on utes and trucks instead.The D-Max is responsible for 63 per cent of all Isuzu Ute sales YTD. It sits fourth after the Ranger, HiLux and Shark 6 on the charts.The other 37 per cent belongs to the M-UX SUV version of the ute, and that currently occupies third place amongst large SUVs behind the Ford Everest and Prado.This country sure loves a body-on-frame three-row wagon.But both Isuzus are diesel-only powered, meaning that, with no hybrid or EV in sight for Australia, Isuzu Ute faces steep fines due to the New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES) carbon tax.And that’s just going to increase annually in severity, which will really hurt Isuzu Ute, unless it pulls something out of the hat, and fast.Australia’s top-selling vehicle since 2023, the Ranger is responsible for some 62.3 per cent of Ford’s total volume YTD.Combined with its Everest SUV offshoot, that jumps to a staggering 88.7 per cent. Given there are seven other distinct models squabbling over the remaining 11.3 per cent, that's a worry.The next most popular Ford YTD is the Transit Custom van at just three per cent, followed by the Mustang at 2.8 per cent, F-150 at 2.45 per cent, Transit Cargo at 1.9 per cent, Tourneo people mover at 0.5 per cent and Mustang Mach-E at 0.33 per cent.But storm clouds are in the air for the Blue Oval’s popular ute-based duo, with both Ranger and Everest sales down this year, thanks to fierce competition from new rivals including the BYD Shark 6 plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV).While a Ranger PHEV does exist, it costs too much and delivers too little by comparison, meaning the vast majority of volume belongs to the diesel versions.That’s a lot of NVES fines Ford is facing, unless the incoming Bronco PHEV SUV and other future EVs grow the brand's share of the total market without cannibalising Ranger and Everest.With demand for the latest Vitara tanking, the Swift hybrid struggling and the Fronx floundering, it’s been the Jimny small 4WD that has kept Suzuki humming along, accounting for 56.6 per cent of all volume YTD.Likewise, the Defender attracts the most business for Land Rover in Australia, taking 54.1 per cent of all orders YTD.The Haval Jolion small SUV has performed the heavy lifting for GWM YTD, at 53.9 per cent of total sales, as has the X-Trail for Nissan, at 53 per cent.Australia’s continuous number one since 2003, Toyota boasts several high-volume models, including the RAV4, Prado, Corolla, HiAce, Camry and Yaris Cross.Yet even the brand’s most popular vehicle – the HiLux – only makes up 23.6 per cent of the company’s total sales YTD.Similarly, BYD’s top performer, the Sealion 7, is at 25 per cent, Kia’s biggest crowd-pleaser, the Sportage, is at 23.1 per cent and this country’s favourite Mazda, the CX-5, is at 26.4 per cent.The smaller the percentage, the higher the chances are your brand will weather any storm. Sadly, the writing was on the wall long before Australia's Own started to see its sales slide.Holden’s downfall is largely down to its over-reliance on one model. It was always the way, right back even before the Kingswood years.Here's the most telling stat. Australia’s best-seller for 15 years in a row from 1996 until 2011, sales of the Commodore crashed to just 50 position in 2019.That was following the disaster that was replacing the rear-drive VF series made in Australia with the smaller, front-wheel drive-based Opel Insignia out of Germany as the ZB series. This happened as a result of Holden’s manufacturing shutdown in 2017.The latter bombed so hard that it was cancelled in December of 2019, with Holden effectively over by the following February.

Japan’s carmakers are finding ways to fight back against the growing might of Chinese auto brands.Outside of Toyota most Japanese carmakers are not big enough, or rich enough, to balloon out to the size of some of the new Chinese powerhouses.Relatively small manufacturers such as Mazda, Mitsubishi and Subaru don’t have the resources to overhaul their collective ranges and invest in electric, plug-in hybrid and hybrid technology all at once.Instead they are borrowing from others. Subaru joined forces with Toyota to build EVs, Mazda with China’s Changan and Mitsubishi with Taiwan's Foxtron, the latter is part of the company that builds iPhones.They now have the tech but predicting demand for electric cars is proving difficult for all manufacturers.Mazda and Subaru have found the solution.Mazda is developing a new way of producing cars that would allow one production line to make internal-combustion engined vehicles, hybrids and electric vehicles depending on demand.Subaru is also working on flexible production lines to help it make the most of its modest production resources, without having to build new factories or re-tool old ones.This would help the pair adjust to lulls in EV demand without having to mothball production lines, which has impacted other major makers such as Ford and Volkswagen.Subaru Managing Executive Officer Ikuo Watanabe told US outlet Autonews it would be able to adapt to changes in tariffs of exchange rate fluctuations to shuffle production between factories around the world.“Demand trends are uncertain and we cannot predict which powertrain, battery-electric, hybrid or internal combustion engine, will sell well and when,” Watanabe said. “Making an investment decision on one specific technology poses the greatest risk.”Mazda has pushed back its own in-house developed electric cars until 2029, with it instead relying on Changan’s production to deliver its reskinned EVs. Hybrid versions of its CX-5 SUV won’t arrive in the US until late 2027 before rolling out to other markets, including Australia.But it already has a plan in place to build all its different powered vehicles on the same line when they are available towards the end of the decade.Former Toyota boss and now head of Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association Koji Sato recently called for the country’s carmakers to join forces or risk oblivion, according to Autonews.“Unless things change, we will not survive,” Sato said. He is calling for all brands to have uniform parts to help reduce costs and complexity across the industry.Japan’s automakers believe this will help them tackle China’s scale and speed.

Toyota is in danger of being overtaken by BYD.By retreating upmarket, it also risks losing the loyalty of a generation of buyers, especially younger ones, destroying the bedrock of the brand’s success in Australia.Toyota is still the world leader and dominant force in Australia, but that could all fall apart if it gets complacent.Yes, Toyota has been number one every year since 2003, and remains the richest car company in the world after Tesla.But BYD and other Chinese brands like Chery are cutting its lunch.Toyota’s year-to-date (YTD) sales have tumbled 20 per cent, from 142,700 to 115,550 units, while market share has shrunken from 20 per cent to 16.3 per cent.In contrast, BYD’s YTD sales have jumped, from 28,000 to nearly 61,000 units while share has expanded from 3.9 per cent to 8.5 per cent.Toyota assumed its premium, hybrid-heavy strategy would prevail.But BYD’s cheaper electric vehicles (EVs) and plug-in hybrid EVs (PHEV) are both more affordable and available, while Chery, MG and others clean up in the sub-$30,000 drive-away classes that Toyota abandoned in 2024. Coincidence?Reportedly sitting on a $A96.5 billion war chest, Toyota can shore up customer loyalty by once again offering more-affordable vehicles that Australians want.Playing the long game, not the wrong game, the Japanese brand’s models already have the reputation for reliability, durability and quality required to remain number one.We understand. Today’s Yaris from $29,190 before on-road costs is measurably superior to its 2019 predecessor. But that’s a moot point for buyers who cannot stretch another $10,000-plus to own one.Here, then, are the Toyotas we reckon Australia needs right now.Although it is an all-new model in a segment Toyota has not bothered with for decades, the LandCruiser FJ is anything but ‘all-new’ underneath.Derived from the IMV architecture that is already two decades old beneath the HiLux, this compact SUV is a Thai-built body-on-frame, off-road-ready 4x4 with the Suzuki Jimny in its crosshairs.Surely that makes the LandCruiser FJ a natural for Australia?Well… no. The biggest drawback seems to be the equally ancient 2TR-FE I4 2.7-litre four-cylinder petrol engine that Toyota had to drop from the latest HiLux range due to non-compliance with our increasingly tough emissions.There is speculation galore about a hybrid alternative happening sometime in the future, and – if true – then that’s what we would expect a locally bound LandCruiser FJ to be powered by.It seems unfathomable Toyota would create an SUV with classic FJ40 retro design cues, yet not engineer a powertrain suitable for LandCruiser-obsessed Australia.As a BYD Atto 2 beater, this hybrid is a no-brainer.Japan’s second best-selling vehicle YTD after the Yaris/Yaris Cross duo on which it is based upon, Sienta is a portmanteau of siete, Spanish for ‘seven’, and ‘entertain’.And there-in lays this Toyota’s appeal.Essentially a Yaris MPV that majors on packaging, it features sliding doors and space for up to seven (hence the name), with the optional third-row seating ingeniously dropping underneath the middle bench for an instant big cavity.Along with Sienta’s eye-catching Fiat Panda-esque design and capable Yaris underpinnings, it is little wonder both hipsters and artificial-hip buyers alike have fallen for the tall-boy Toyota’s charms.Finally, a growing army of ex-Japan used imports here is further proof of concept.Developed and built by Toyota sub-brand Daihatsu (which markets it as Rocky – a tiny but tough off-roader in the style of the Suzuki Jimny), the Raize would slip in as an entry-level high-riding crossover.At round four metres long, this chunky, high-riding, monocoque-bodied urban crossover employs a unique, lower-cost architecture to help keep prices down in the South East Asian region, without scrimping on safety tech.This would make it ideal as a sub-$30,000 light SUV targeting the likes of the BYD Atto 1, Hyundai Venue and Mahindra XUV 3XO.Engine options include a 1.0-litre three-cylinder petrol or 1.2-litre hybrid version.A podium seller in Japan this year, the Raize is another used import from appearing on Australian roads, and it’s not difficult to see why.The original Prius of 2001 was a toe-in-the-water exercise in Australia. Its 2003 and 2009 successors proved to be successful brand builders as hybrid pioneers.But the 2016 redesign was so insectoid in appearance that buyers were repelled en-masse, despite being the first of the vastly-improved TNGA-platform Toyotas available here.That’s why the company passed on the fifth iteration locally, but what subsequently surfaced remains one of the most beautiful modern hatchbacks of this decade.Nowadays, with the dramatic uptake of PHEV as well as hybrid vehicles, Toyota admits it is gunning for the Prius’ return as a result, but it may take a while yet.Great design is timeless and, even from $40,000 as a BYD Seal 6 PHEV rival, the latest Prius would attract plenty of non-traditional Toyota buyers.It seems inevitable that a Grand Kluger will eventually appear in Australia, but when is the big question.Built in the USA as the Grand Highlander, this is a larger and longer take on the existing Kluger/Highlander model that it has essentially usurped.Born to battle the ultra-successful Kia Telluride and Hyundai Palisade in North America, the grandest of Toyota’s on-road SUVs is a far-roomier – and prettier – big family hauler as a consequence.It is also soon to be joined by an unrelated, all-electric SUV taking over the regular Highlander name and production line – a decision that was clearly made before the current, anti-EV US administration came into power.This mean the days of the current Kluger as we know it in Australia seem to be numbered, with no hybrid replacement in sight – except for a right-hand drive version of the Grand Highlander.The perfect foil for the BYD Sealion 8 PHEV!

It’s no secret that Chinese car brands have managed to undercut most legacy brands on price, helping their sales surge. This has led to off-the-record accusations these prices are only possible thanks to subsidies and other financial assistance from the Chinese government.Chery is one of the fastest growing Chinese brands in Australia and also one of the most-affordable, offering some of the cheapest new cars on the market today.This includes the Tiggo 4 Pro, which is priced from just $23,990 drive-away and has already become the best-selling small SUV on the market.But any suggestion that these sorts of prices are unsustainable and only possible thanks to government subsidies is quickly dismissed by Chery Australia’s Chief Operating Officer Lucas Harris.“ I think if you account for inflation the short answer's, yes, I think it is sustainable,” Harris told CarsGuide.“If you work out and factor inflation on new car prices over the last 15 or 20 years actually, there hasn't really been a huge shift."The challenge, I think, that we've got at the moment is inflation's out of control. But I think cars in Australia are still quite affordable generally across the board, particularly if you compare to most countries in Europe.“Is it sustainable? I think so, yes. You hear all of these accusations around dumping and government subsidies I would love to see some actual evidence. I'd love a government subsidy, it would certainly help us out.”Instead, Harris said the Chinese brands are attracting Australian buyers not simply on price, but also a significant focus on technology.“ They just want everything to improve and to be better, and there's no sleeping or sitting on their hands and waiting for the next thing,” he explained.“They want to create the next thing. And so there's a huge amount of effort put into trying to understand the customers better and understand what the customers want and push the technology as far as they can. And there's certainly a lot of the reasons you gave before around why people are buying Chinese vehicles, it's not just about the price. I think it's largely driven by technology."I think it's fairly fair to say that if you want a car that is on the leading edge of technology, then you buy a Chinese car. The Chinese brands happen to make it more affordable and more attainable than some others.”In the same interview Harris also hit back at other off-the-record criticism that Chinese car brands are ‘dumping’ vehicles in Australia.“ I would be reluctant to speak poorly about any other particular brands or countries of origins,” Harris said.“And the only explanation I could think of why someone would want to do that is if they were fighting for their lives, and they knew that they couldn't win in a fair fight.” Unfortunately, the complexity of the Chinese car industry and its integration with various levels of government means only time will tell if Harris is right or if they will follow the same trend as their Japanese and South Korean rivals and increase prices over time.

A fight is brewing over the newest Chinese ute earmarked for Australia, with the new Hunter a possible Mazda, Deepal or Changan.In fact, both Deepal and Changan already have a deferred trademark on the Hunter, while Mazda already partners with the latter on the 6e and CX-6e.The ute in question is the Changan Hunter K50 – a plug-in hybrid powerhouse that was recently updated with a bigger battery for a class-leading EV-only range.The latest update saw the K50 fitted with a 43.47kWh lithium-ion battery pack, promising an NEDC-rated range of 192km (estimated 150km WLTP), and a total range of over 1000km.It is a REEV, rather than a traditional plug-in hybrid, meaning its 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine is used only to recharge the battery or provide power to the electric motor, rather than drive the wheels themselves.Providing the shove instead are dual electric motors, one at each axle, delivering a total 240kW and four-wheel drive.It was initially thought the Hunter could arrive in Australia as a Deepal, but in the months since its refreshed launch, Changan itself has set up an Australian office and is currently recruiting staff for a factory-backed operation of its own.Meanwhile, Mazda has delved deeper into its partnership with Changan in China to deliver two crucial electric models, the 6e and CX-6e.Given the popularity of electrified utes in Australia – with the BYD Shark 6 and GWM Cannon Alpha, Ford Ranger Stormtrak and the soon-to-launch Chery Stockman all competing for sales – there will no doubt be all three hands in the air to launch the Hunter, though a renaming might now be on the cards in Australia, given the JAC Hunter exists here.The current BT-50, developed in partnership with Isuzu, launched in 2020, meaning a replacement could feasibly be due as early as 2027.One thing we do know is it won't be a Mazda solo project, with the brand on record as not developing its own ute."Mazda does not produce trucks on its own," the brand has previously told CarsGuide.

Xiaomi has revealed more details of its SkyNomad N70 ahead of its Chinese launch, and has detailed export plans as Chinese pre-orders exceed expectations.The N70 is the smaller of two SkyNomad large SUV models from Xiaomi, the tech brand became an automotive sensation thanks to its Porsche-challenging SU7 sedan and YU7 SUV.The new SkyNomad pair serve as the brand’s entrants into the large luxury plug-in hybrid market, which is currently taking the Chinese market by storm. The N70 is a five-seater, while the N90 is a six-seater.Both have flexible seating arrangements, with the middle or, in the case of the N70, front seats able to turn 180-degrees and face the rear creating a living space in the interior, giving the SkyNomad range a point of difference compared to many of their rivals.The new interior images show the fully swivelling front seats in the N70, which combine with a centre console, which transforms into a table, both move on a rail-based system on the interior.The SkyNomad N70 also scores the same dash treatment as the larger N90, with a trendy two-spoke steering wheel and plush materials, although the large centrally-mounted multimedia touchscreen and digital instrument cluster are noticeably restrained compared to the dash-spanning screens of many of this car’s rivals.That having been said, there is a noticeable lack of physical buttons for core functions, with the climate controls clearly screen-based.The N70 is also not as large as its Zeekr 8X rival, measuring in at less than five meters long, with total dimensions at 4690mm long, 1998mm wide and 1765mm tall, making it larger than a traditional mid-size SUV, but not as large as many of the five-meter plus SUVs trendy in China.On the pricing front, it is also more affordable than some rivals, with the N70 Max launch variant announced by the brand to start from the equivalent of A$55,000 (suggesting a retail price if it were to ever arrive in Australia of around $66,000 once the usual 20 per cent cost increase for Chinese cars is added). Xiaomi Auto Vice President Li Xiaoshuang said via the brand’s social media channels that the cars will hit the market in China as soon as September.Both the N70 and N90 are range-extender plug-in hybrids powered by a 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine and a large battery pack. The N70 Max has an EV-sized 76kWh unit, which grants it a pure electric range of 505km according to the more lenient Chinese measuring standards.Xiaomi says this is the longest electric driving range of any range-extended hybrid model. Combined range, with use of the engine, is said to be 1461km, with fuel consumption quoted at 6.1L/100km once the battery is at its reserve level.Xiaomi’s car division has remained a China-exclusive phenomenon, in large part thanks to its success which has seen orders in the hundreds of thousands of units across its growing model range, significantly exceeding its factory capacity. Wait times in China for new orders are still well in excess of a year, yet this hasn’t stopped the company from announcing it is targeting Europe as its first export market as soon as 2027. It has already launched a research and development centre in Munich, Germany ahead of the expected market debut, which is reportedly staffed by many ex-BMW engineers and led by an ex-BMW executive Rudolph Dittrich.As for Australia, a Xiaomi debut in our market is likely to be held back by right-hand drive engineering on top of the brand’s currently limited production capacity. That having been said, our market has proven to be an extremely attractive target for Chinese brands, as it offers relatively high profit margins with a low barrier to entry thanks to the lack of tariff structures and a market accepting of new challenger brands.Companies like Chery, BYD, and Geely have all earmarked Australia as an ideal testing ground for new models ahead of launches elsewhere in the world, while other brands, like Nio, have chosen a Euro-first approach.Xiaomi’s SkyNomad models are set to be finally revealed to the Chinese public at the Chengdu Auto Show from the 21st to the 30th of August.

Buyers are about to get an exciting new ute from Ford. The Blue Oval is developing a ute model to add to its hugely popular Ford Bronco line-up, according to a report in AutoNews.The Bronco pick-up is due to launch in North America before 2030, and will join the likely Australian-bound Bronco hybrid coming next year.The Bronco has been a significant sales success in North America as a cheap off-roading rival to the Jeep Wrangler.This latest move from Ford will see the lifestyle off-roader take on the hotly-contested ute segment. Ford is looking to expand on the success of the Bronco name in North America by exporting it to global markets and introducing new variants.The Blue Oval has pivoted its focus away from EVs following substantial losses in the past year, and is now seeking different avenues. It suffered from extensive devaluation of its EV business due to low demand and high development costs, among other things.There is a monocoque, likely plug-in hybrid compact SUV Bronco being built in Spain for European buyers. A different Chinese-built electric and range-extender large SUV Bronco is earmarked for an Australian release in 2027.These variants differ from the Bronco and Bronco Sport off-roaders only available in North America.There is no official news on the Bronco ute’s future in Australia as details light-on at this stage. The ute will initially be built in the United States, meaning it will only come in left-hand drive for now, and future export plans have not been confirmed.Australia doesn't get the current North American Bronco because it's built in left-hand drive and its emissions-heavy turbo-petrol engines would incur fines under our regulations.Australia will instead receive the Bronco ‘New Energy’ range-extender hybrid and electric mid-size SUV in 2027, highlighting Ford’s interest in the name here. Any Bronco ute’s Australian launch likely hinges on whether its set-up will have hybrid power and will be built in right-hand drive.A spokesperson for Ford Australia said the brand would not comment on future production speculation.