SUV News

Tesla has reasserted itself as the electric car king of Australia.The American EV maker sold 8670 vehicles in June, its biggest month ever, according to data released by the Electric Vehicle Council. It was so big that it beat the previous best month, which was May, by 26 per cent.It will be in the running to beat all other carmakers in June except for Toyota.Leading the charge was the Model Y SUV, which recorded 8072 of those sales. This will likely make it the best-selling vehicle in the nation when the full sales data gets released tomorrow, as no vehicle in recent memory has hit that figure.The Model 3 sedan chipped in with roughly 600 sales in June.Tesla has asserted its dominance as the premier electric vehicle brand in the country, with a total of 23,588 sales through the first six months. This is equal to a 66 per cent increase through June.Electric vehicle sales have experienced strong growth this year, especially since the Iran war and the resulting high fuel prices.What makes Tesla’s June result even more impressive is that fuel prices across the country had moderated and were effectively back to normal by the end of the month.Tesla has a healthy supply pipeline, with the brand’s local website quoting delivery times for the standard Model Y in July to August. The three-row Model Y L appears to be more in demand with expected delivery times between August and September. The more niche five-seat Model Y Performance won’t land in your driveway until September or October if ordered today.Tesla would be one of the main beneficiaries of the federal government’s Fringe Benefits Tax (FBT) exemption for electric vehicles.This FBT exemption allows buyers to pay for the vehicle pre-tax and to side-step the 47 per cent FBT rate.The tax break has been a huge hit, with the scheme costing more than 10 times what the government had forecasted. There were calls for the scheme to be axed to help alleviate the predicted budget deficit, and it is perceived to help a greater proportion of well-off Australians.The federal government announced earlier this year it would be walking back the plan, with it to end by March, 2029.

BYD’s latest luxury hybrid SUV could have one trick up its sleeve its rivals don’t.The incoming FangChengBao Titanium 9, or BYD Ti9 as it is likely to be known in export markets, is a three-row plug-in hybrid SUV that is a size-up on family favourites like the Toyota Kluger.It is 5300mm long and has a wheelbase of 3120mm, so it will be a shape up in the increasingly popular large SUV segment in China.It will be similarly sized to the Zeekr 9X which is due in Australia in the next 18 months,.AutoHome has reported the Ti9 will boast a driving range of more than 2300km, substantially more than most cars on the market.There is no news on how big the fuel tank and battery will be to achieve this, but expect it to be a cut above many of its rivals. Chinese media has been suggesting it will be powered by a dual electric motor plug-in hybrid set-up, with power and torque figures still to be revealed, but possibly shared with other recent BYD models. Its smaller Ti7 sibling has a 1.5-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol engine and two electric motors, producing 358 kW and 630 Nm.This could provide an indication for what powers the Ti9. It will be available in six-seat and seven-seat configurations, and is designed for urban and light off-roading environments.The large SUV is likely to be be unveiled in the second half of this year, and go on sale early next year.There is potential for this model to come to Australia, with its smaller Titanium 7 (or Ti7) sibling going on sale in the United Kingdom soon.FangChengBao, or Formula Leopard, is one of BYD’s off-roading sub-brands, but its models do not fall under that name overseas.The Ti7 in the UK will have a BYD badge on it, as might be the case in Australia, while its larger Leopard 5 is sold locally as the Denza B5.There is no official news on whether models like the Ti7 and Ti9 will launch Down Under.The UK launch means they are being built in right-hand drive, so there is a good chance they will eventually make their way over here, as almost every BYD product available in the UK has come to Australia.BYD Australia has previously told CarsGuide the Ti7 is not on its radar, but the brand has demonstrated previously that plans can change quickly. 

China’s GWM has revealed more details and imagery of its updated Tank 300 for the domestic market.As reported by Car News China, a highlight of this update is a longer wheelbase that was previewed by the Tank 300 Hooke Edition prototype that was revealed at the 2025 Shanghai motor show.The location of the front axle has been moved forwards, plus the front overhang has been trimmed, improving the approach angle.According to Chinese Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) filings, this updated Tank 300 measures in at 4886mm long, 1984mm wide and 1927mm tall, with a 3010mm wheelbase.This makes it 126mm longer, 54mm wider and 24mm taller than the current model.Unlike the Hooke Edition prototype, which had a solid front axle, it’s understood the production version of this updated Tank 300 retains a front double wishbone and a rear multi-link suspension set-up.Another major change is the powertrain options. In addition to the Hi-4T plug-in hybrid (PHEV) option that retains a mechanical four-wheel drive system, a new Hi-4Z PHEV option, which is more electric-centric, is being introduced with this update.Full details haven’t been confirmed yet, but GWM claims it has a 60kWh battery allowing up to 200km electric range, according to an undisclosed testing cycle.For reference, the current Tank 300 Hi4-T PHEV has a 37.1kWh lithium-ion battery pack, which offers up to 115km of electric range, according to NEDC testing.It’s understood this new Tank 300 Hi4-Z PHEV will share a lot of its componentry with the Tank 400 Hi-4Z PHEV.It has a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine and dual electric motors with a total system output of 635kW and 1195Nm, along with a 60kWh battery pack offering up to 200km of electric range.It’s expected the rest of the current powertrains will carry over. These include a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol, a 2.4-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel, as well as a 3.0-litre turbocharged V6 petrol.In Australia only the 2.0-litre turbo-petrol and 2.4-litre turbo-diesel engines are offered, in addition to the Hi4-T PHEV powertrain.A change the imagery reveals is an altered front fascia. There’s a new grille with Tank lettering, as well as more pronounced recovery points, though it’s unclear if they’re functional.A LiDAR pod can be seen on the roof, indicating that semi-autonomous driving technology may be coming.We're yet to see any imagery of the interior, so it's unclear if there have been any changes.It’s understood this updated Tank 300 will be going on sale in China on July 6 and it’s unclear if or when it will be available to export markets, including Australia.

The rise in popularity of Chinese cars has been so rapid it’s left traditional car companies scrambling to keep up in technology and sales.So now it is a case of, if you can’t beat them join them, with the old big carmakers searching for a Chinese partner in a bid for survival.Here’s who some big established brands are teaming up with to weather the electrical storm.The luxury sportscar maker is already part-owned by Chinese behemoth Geely, which has 17 per cent stake in the company, but there appear to be troubling times ahead and a buy out by Geely could be on the cards.Audi lives a completely double life. There’s the brand with the four-ringed badge, which operates in every country except China, and there's the brand with AUDI logo that is only found in China.AUDI models are completely different to the models sold outside China and are developed in a joint venture with MG's owner, SAICIt’s hard not to be envious of AUDI models, which are fully electric and futuristic looking. How much longer will it be before these highly desirable vehicles are exported to the world?BMW and Great Wall Motors (GWM) formed a joint venture in 2019 and the current Mini Aceman and Mini Cooper are one of the results. You knew Mini is owned by BMW right?The current Aceman and Cooper use a platform developed by BMW and GWM and are manufactured in Zhangjiagang and sold to the world.Ford’s global boss Jim Farley talks of the Chinese car brands being an ‘existential threat’, calling brands such as BYD “the best in the business”, and also admits the need to form partnerships. Farley has even suggested Ford forms joint ventures to build Chinese cars within the United States.Ford’s track record of partnerships with Chinese carmakers isn’t terrific. It recently broke up with Jiangling, which had been making versions of the Bronco SUV that were planned to be sold in Australia.Now the hunt is on for a new partner with Ford rumoured to be talking to Geely, BYD and Xiaomi.The embattled off-road brand, Jeep, may be rescued thanks to a partnership between parent company Stellantis and Chinese car maker Dongfeng.The agreement will see two new Jeep models with Dongfeng platforms built in China and exported globally.Land Rover and Chery have been building cars together in China for a decade now, but recently the relationship went to the next level.Land Rover has given Chery permission to revive the Freelander name. The twist is Freelander won’t be a model but a range of models.The extra twist is Chery Freelanders won’t just be built and sold in China, they’ll also be exported globally.How does Land Rover benefit? Well there’s probably a lot of money changing hands, but more valuable than that would be the use of Chery’s plug-in hybrid and EV know-how and hardware in exchange.Mazda has been criticised for its lack of electric vehicles, but its joint venture with Changam appears to be turning that around quickly, with the agreement resulting in the stunning Mazda 6e and CX-6e EVs.Both fully electric, the 6e and CX-6e, are made in China and use Changan engineering and drivetrains. Mazda’s designers were behind the styling.Mercedes-Benz’s joint venture with Geely is a successful one and the Smart brand of EVs is the result of this relationship. Smart sees Geely handle the engineering and production, while Mercedes-Benz looks after design.Mercedes-Benz is also working on a new Phoenix EV platform to underpin its next generation cars.The famous French brand Peugeot will also benefit along with Jeep from its parent company Stellantis's recent agreement with Dongfeng.Two Peugeots will be underpinned by Dongfeng platforms, and the Concept 6 and Concept 7 Peugeots displayed at the Beijing motor show have given us a glimpse of what’s to come.Geely arguably saved Volvo from demise when it bought the Swedish company off Ford in 2010. Now Geely owns about 78 per cent of Volvo, and while that still gives the Chinese parent company control, it allows Volvo to self-rule and operate out of Sweden.Volvo has flourished thanks to the injection of funds and the autonomy, with the vehicles benefitting from Swedish design and Geely advanced EV know-how.Many Volvo models including the EX40 are now made in China and sold to the world.Volkswagen and XPeng signed an agreement in 2023 to produce vehicles in China and in March this year. The first model co-developed by the two companies - the ID. UNYX 08 has entered production.Volkswagen benefits from the XPeng’s EV architecture and is said to be considering exporting co-developed vehicles direct from China in the future.

Cupra has officially axed the Ateca in Australia as production winds down globally.“We’ve sold out in Australia,” said Cupra Australia Head of Product Jeff Shafer to CarsGuide.“It's been, you know, a great car to have at launch. It was one of the original Cupra models globally.”Cupra Australia Director Jerome Figuiere noted that global production will finish over the northern hemisphere summer break, which runs from June to August.The Cupra Ateca is essentially a hotted-up version of the Seat Ateca, which dates all the way back to 2016. It shares its platform with the Skoda Karoq and Audi Q2, among others.This spicy small SUV was one of the Spanish carmaker’s first vehicles in Australia when it launched back in 2022. It formed as part of the launch line-up, being sold alongside the Formentor small SUV and Leon small hatchback.Initially the Ateca was only offered locally in a flagship VZx trim with its 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine producing 221kW and 400Nm.In 2024 a new, entry-level version called the V joined the local line-up. Its 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder produces 140kW and 320Nm.Despite this, the Ateca has always been the brand’s slowest seller in Australia. Last year a total of 101 examples were sold, which was down 61.5 per cent year-on-year.For reference, Cupra sold a total of 1490 Formentors over the same time, which was up 17.8 per cent year-on-year.However, up until May this year, Cupra sold a total of 110 Ateca examples, which was up 124.5 per cent year-on-year. Part of this is likely due to runout deals.Over the same period though the Spanish brand sold 318 Formentor examples.Although Cupra may be axing one of its original and oldest models, the brand has already been introducing newer and larger SUV offerings.It launched the Tavascan mid-size electric SUV, which is based on the same platform as the Volkswagen ID.4 and ID.5, among others, as well as the Terramar mid-size SUV, which is based on the same platform as the Volkswagen Tiguan, both in 2025.Additionally the Spanish carmaker is set to introduce the new Raval small electric hatchback in Australia during 2027.

We might just have seen the first car from an Australian-bound budget 4WD brand.iCaur is due to land in Australia in 2027 as yet another sub-brand under the Chery umbrella and it could debut with this boxy hybrid SUV.Range-extender (REEV) variants of the Jaecoo 6T have launched in the right-hand drive market of Thailand, which could be its final step before entering Australia.The SUV is called the iCaur 03 in most other markets, despite being sold under the Jaecoo banner in Thailand. The iCaur brand remains a developing situation in Australia, with all models still under consideration, but the availability of so many variants of the iCaur 03 now in right-hand drive bolsters its chances of being a shoo-in for Australia. We can expect more details on the incoming brand towards the end of the year. As a segment-bending small SUV, the iCaur 3 would be an off-road focused alternative to the Chery Tiggo 7 plug-in hybrid or serve as a closer theoretical rival to the Renault Duster with its off-road aspirations. The iCaur 3 is currently available with (REEV) and all-electric set-ups, available in two-wheel and four-wheel drive.The REEV gets a 1.5-litre petrol engine responsible for charging the battery, along with an electric motor set-up to drive the wheels. The RWD produces 185kW/300Nm, while the 4WD produces 315kW/505Nm. Acceleration from 0-100km/h can be as fast as 5.5 seconds. Both cars are fitted with a 34kWh lithium-iron-phosphate battery. It offers a fully-electric driving range of up to 190km for the 2WD and 160km for the 4WD, according to more generous NEDC standards. Total driving range for the 2WD is 800km, while the 4WD has 750km, also according to NEDC. The EV also has 2WD and 4WD offerings, with single and dual electric motor set-ups.It has boxy proportions, with a separate horizontal and vertical rectangular headlight design, and is available in a standout yellow paint job. On the inside, it has a 15.6-inch central touchscreen and 9.2-inch digital driver display.It also has wireless phone charging and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard.Stay tuned on more about iCaur with more information on the brand set to be revealed before the end of this year.

Hyundai’s new budget electric hatchback has been fully unveiled in Europe, as it gears up to tackle its Chinese rivals Down Under next year. The Ioniq 3 will be Korea’s answer to many of the budget favourites of the EV segment in Australia like the BYD Dolphin (from $29,990, before on-road costs) and MG4 (from $39,990 drive-away).It sizes up between the BYD Atto 1 compact SUV and the Dolphin hatch, measuring at 4155mm long, 1800mm wide, 1505mm tall, with a wheelbase of 2680mm. Expect the Ioniq 3 to be priced above its Chinese competition when it lands here in the first half of 2027. It will be built in Hyundai’s Turkiye factory, so it is likely to inherit hefty export costs and will potentially be pitched as a more premium choice in the EV hatchback space. It will provide the brand with another EV in Australia as it looks to overturn potential emissions fines under the New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES).It will arguably serve as a replacement to the petrol-powered i30 hatch that was axed in Australia last year despite being one of the most successful vehicles in the segment.This is because it wasn’t financially viable to continue importing the hatch from Europe. The wider i30 range continues on in sedan form, sourced from South Korea.The Ioniq 3 will be powered by a single electric motor in two states of tune, producing either 99kW or 108kW both with 250Nm of torque.It is expected to be available with a 42kWh lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) battery, providing 335km of range or a 61kWh nickel-manganese-cobalt (NMC) unit with up to 500km, both according to estimated WLTP figures. A DC fast charger takes roughly half an hour to charge the car from 10 to 80 per cent, with vehicle-to-load capacity also standard on all models. The car’s interior features either a 12.9-inch or 14.6-inch central touchscreen, along with a narrow pop-out digital driver display. It will be available with either 16-, 17- or 18-inch wheels. We can expect more information on the Ioniq 3 later this year as it nears its launch in Europe. The brand had only previously revealed the sportier ‘N-Line’ variant of the Ioniq 3, with this more mainstream version now showing what the more price competitive version of the car will look like.Hyundai also recently revealed what could be this car's hybrid stablemate in the form of the next-generation Avante, known as the i30 sedan locally. It is expected to be hybrid-only by the time it arrives in Australia.

BMW believes there's no such thing as too much choice with its all-new fifth-generation BMW X5.Why else would it go ahead and develop no less than five different powertrains that include a mild-hybrid petrol and diesel, plug-in hybrid, all-electric and, from 2028, a hydrogen fuel-cell?On sale in Australia late this year, the new BMW X5 is the third member of the German brand's Neue Klasse family of next-generation vehicles, lining up alongside the mid-size iX3 and more recently unveiled i3.Like the electric mid-size SUV and sedan, it adopts the firm's latest design language that sees the large SUV embrace striking monolithic proportions, a bold front end with the Neue Klasse visor and a large pair of illuminated vertical kidney grilles.You won't miss it in a car park.If you don't dig the double X LED running lamps, BMW says you can dial them back to double strikes, while the lamps themselves neatly integrate the indicators and provide a clean, imposing look.Along its flanks, the simple surfacing and a lack of any jarring door handles reinforce the X5's imperious stance, while muscular arches and large wheels that range from 21 to 23-inches mean this isn’t an SUV for shrinking violets.Measuring in at 4994mm long, 2000mm wide and standing a towering 1742mm, with a substantial 3035mm wheelbase, some family owners might lament the loss of both the handy split tailgate and the option of a third row of seats, with both the X5 and iX5 strictly five-seaters.Grab the door winglets and the front doors swing open automatically, like they would in a 7 Series limo or a million-dollar Rolls-Royce.Inside, the luxurious Mercedes GLE or Audi Q7 rival picks up where the iX3 left off, boasting the same Panoramic Vision that features a digital strip display that stretches across the entire top half of the dash.Complementing the configurable strip is a large 3D head-up display and a massive 17.9-inch infotainment touchscreen that can be combined with a passenger screen.Helping compensate for the lack of physical controls is a multifunction steering wheel that provides haptic feedback when in use.All the in-car tech runs the car-maker's latest OS X software that now embed Amazon Alexa AI tech within its handy virtual assistant.As well as a striking design, the X5 features a blend of new high-grade leathers and a fresh choice of natural materials, that even include slate for the first time around the gear lever.Helping BMW's latest X5 offer a wide range of powertrains, the large SUV misses out on the brand's next-generation Neue Klasse platform that is reserved for EVs.Instead, the new SUV sits on an upgraded version of the current car's CLAR underpinnings.Even though it misses out on the more advanced architecture, the all-electric iX5 still comes with BMW's latest sixth-generation eDrive powertrain that uses cylindrical cells that have a 20 per cent higher energy content than before.Sharing the same 800-volt electrics as the BMW iX3, the bigger SUV boasts a class-leading 800km range. The German brand says its unbeatable distance between charges comes from efficiency gains, although we think the enormous 140kWh battery does most of the heavy lifting.Plug it in and the charging rate is said to exceed 450kW, with a 10 to 80 per cent charge set to take less than 25 minutes.Add a tow hook and the iX5 can haul up to 2700kg (braked) – not too far off the maximum 3300kg the PHEVs can tow.Impressive, but it's worth mentioning the EVs won't arrive until late 2027.If you can't wait until then or you're not ready for an all-electric revolution, BMW will offer a pair of mild-hybrid combustion engines that combine a 3.0-litre inline six-cylinder with a 48-volt integrated starter-generator, plus an eight-speed transmission and all-wheel drive.The X5 40 xDrive produces 294kW and 540Nm of torque, which is enough for a 0-100km/h dash of 5.4 seconds. The second turbo-diesel, the 230kW/670Nm X5 40d xDrive takes 6.2 seconds for the same sprint but can also average a more miserly 7L/100km (versus 8.6L/100km for the petrol).For Australians, the two plug-in hybrid (PHEV) versions might be a perfect compromise when they arrive in the second half of next year.Both the PHEVs blend an EV range of up to 100km with either 360kW (X5 50e xDrive) or 450kW for the X5 M60e XDrive that takes just 4.2 seconds to launch from 0-100km/h.Until the sportiest twin-turbo V8-powered X5 M arrives, the flagship PHEV and advanced iX5 60 xDrive remain the sportiest variants, with the latter dual motor EV pumping out 425kW and 805Nm of torque for a 0-100km/h sprint of 4.7 seconds.BMW will release full details of the iX5 Hydrogen later, which comes equipped with a third-generation fuel-cell that has been developed with help from Toyota.With plenty of praise already heaped on the BMW iX3, the German brand says its latest Neue Klasse SUV will blend best-in-class handling with high levels of comfort.Included in its dynamic repertoire is the same powerful Heart of Joy superbrain that seamlessly manages torque and all the chassis tech.Whichever you buy, all X5s come with a 50:50 weight distribution, air suspension and rear-wheel steer.A more sophisticated Adaptive Chassis height-adjustable suspension is also available, plus a further semi-active suspension that cancels out body roll for the most comfortable ride.Driver assist tech includes hands-free highway driving and a city assistant driverless mode that helps with working out who has right of way in unfamiliar cities.BMW Australia says it's too early for full details and pricing for the BMW X5 or iX5 but the new fifth-gen large SUV lands it is tipped to be priced from $150,000 plus on-road costs when sales begin at the end of this year.

Jeep is on the receiving end of a big push back into the European market with potential flow-on benefits for Australia.As part of the Stellantis group’s Fastlane 2030 strategy, which includes introduction of more than 60 new or redesigned vehicles globally by the end of the decade, Jeep says it is committed to expanding its European range to six models within that timeframe.There are 14 core brands under the Stellantis umbrella - Abarth, Alfa Romeo, Chrysler, Citroën, Dodge, DS Automobiles, Fiat, Jeep, Lancia, Maserati, Opel, Peugeot, Ram and Vauxhall. Stellantis has confirmed it will collaborate with its “historical partner” in China, Dongfeng to create a 51 per cent Stellantis-owned European joint-venture - Dongfeng Peugeot Citroen Automobile (DPCA) - incorporating distribution, engineering, sourcing and capacity sharing.Among new models for other Stellantis subsidiaries, the Stellantis/Dongfeng JV will produce two small Jeeps underpinned by the ‘STLA One’ platform for sale in China and other regions.That regional focus in Europe will be supported by production at the Stellantis Rennes plant in Eastern France, with domestic examples and other exports covered by the existing Dongfeng Peugeot Citroën facility in Wuhan, China. Thanks to ever-tightening emissions standards in the eurozone, larger Jeeps like the Grand Cherokee SUV and Gladiator pick-up were dropped there in 2024, with the Wrangler departing last year to leave the Avenger compact electric SUV (Jeep’s best seller in Europe) and Compass internal-combustion and hybrid crossover as the only models offered.Speaking at a media roundtable last week, Stellantis Head of Jeep, Ram and Dodge Brands - Enlarged Europe Fabio Catone said, “Small SUVs have been Jeep’s strength in Europe since we launched the Renegade in 2014, and we will expand with two additional models that will be larger than the Avenger.” Catone confirmed that before the Euro manufacturing ramp-up begins, next year Jeep will launch the Mexican-built mid-size Recon EV SUV (just released in the USA) in Europe.It will be followed in 2028 by the first co-developed newcomer, a small plug-in hybrid SUV. Stellantis Head of Jeep Product Marketing - Enlarged Europe Fabio Carli said the two small SUVs will have multiple powertrains including full-hybrid four-wheel drive variants.Previous reports suggest the large Wagoneer S electric SUV won’t appear in Europe with the smaller, likely Hemi V8-powered, Scrambler ute (due to bow in North America in 2028) also a scratching thanks to its predictably high emissions.The new SUVs could prove a boon for Jeep in Australia with local sales currently confined to the Avenger, Gladiator and Wrangler (with the last examples of the long-discontinued Grand Cherokees currently trickling out of showrooms).Not only are year-on-year sales down a massive 66.2 percent to just 296 units to the end of May (and the same period in 2025 was in turn down 20.8 per cent on 2024), tightening New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES) targets will continue to impact the brand’s internal-combustion models and overall profitability.Smaller electrified SUVs sourced out of China would surely release some NVES pressure and offer potential Jeep buyers cleaner, more affordable options. 

Audi has confirmed that it is working on cheaper and faster versions of its recently facelifted 2026 Audi Q4 e-tron, with new additions primed to arrive on sale within 12 months.According to Audi product planner Herman Verbeek, speaking to Carsguide, the upgraded all-electric compact SUV will be continually improved from its introduction in Australia late this year as part of plans to extend the model's lifespan into 2030.Originally, the Q4 e-tron was supposed to have been replaced around 2028 by an all-new model that will sit on the Volkswagen Group's Scalable Systems Platform (SSP), which has now been pushed back until early 2030 over software challenges within VW's in-house Cariad division.Verbeek said the first model to arrive is likely to be a more powerful version of the Q4 e-tron that has been designed to sit above the current 250kW quattro performance.The product boss didn't disclose how much power the flagship Q4 would produce, but said that the new model wouldn't be badged either an S Q4 e-tron or RS Q4 e-tron, as neither model would offer the "agility or driving dynamics worthy of an Audi Sport model".The extra power will come from existing hardware, with the newly released APP 350 (up to 170kW) and existing APP 550 motor (210kW) will both be wound up to produce more power, while the front-mounted asynchronous electric motor (ASM) will have total output boosted from 80kW to more than 110kW.More good news for those on the hunt for a more affordable take on the Q4 e-tron, Verbeek said his team were working on two new batteries that would replace the current car's nickel-manganese cobalt (NMC) batteries, with today's entry 59kWh power pack set to be superseded by a new lithium-iron phosphate (LFP) battery that will be shared with the new inbound A2 e-tron crossover that will be released later this year.The cheaper LFP battery, which is expected to bring a 30 per cent cost saving over NMC cells, was originally destined to arrive earlier in the Q4 but was pushed back as Audi waited for the more energy-dense chemistry being developed by the VW Group's partner. The reason for the delay was that Audi was keen for the entry Q4 e-tron to weigh less than 2000kg, as some European underground car parks have strict weight limits that forbid any cars heavier than two tonnes from entering.The same weight limit is also applied to automated stackers, car lifts, ramps and car turntables.Verbeek did not confirm when the new batteries would arrive, but the senior Audi boss did rule out upgrading the current car's 400-volt electrics to 800-volts over the huge cost."We can't do it, we'd need to change everything, the battery, motors, inverters, control units, even the air conditioner condenser."The Q4 e-tron's MEB platform means current charging rates are limited at between 160-185kW, a long way off the 320kW the latest similarly-sized all-electric Mercedes GLA will be capable of, with the Audi taking around 27 minutes for a 10 to 80 per cent top-up, around 5 minutes slower than rivals with the more powerful electrics.