EV News

Not suitable for our vast landscape, too slow to charge and not practical enough are the usual tropes used to dismiss electric cars in Australia, but a new breed of EVs are blowing those arguments away.BMW's ballyhooed new iX3, which is built on its futuristic Neue Klasse EV platform, has achieved an astonishing feat.It has completed a real-world test of more than 800km, which actually beat its claimed 805km WLTP certified driving range.The test was completed in China using a long-wheelbase version of the iX3 50 xDrive, with the standard wheelbase version that uses the same battery and electric motors arriving in Australia in the coming months.The test was completed on public roads across a decent cross section of conditions. It went up and down mountains, through snow, rain and low temperatures, which can all have adverse effects on battery range.Key to this was the big 108kWh battery and advanced electric motors, energy management tech and regenerative braking that increases the car’s overall efficiency.Proof that an EV can achieve a driving range of more than 800km means range anxiety can finally be put to bed.No one should be driving 800km straight without a break.When you do stop at the slowly increasing number of fast chargers, the iX3 can soak up a max DC charge rate of 400kW.This would theoretically allow you to add 350km of charge in just 10 minutes, or to recharge from 10 to 80 per cent in 20 minutes.The new iX3 is 4782mm long, 1895mm wide, 1635mm tall and has a 2897mm wheelbase — the distance between the front and rear axles. That plants it in the mid-size SUV category, but its long wheelbase means it’ll be roomier inside than any petrol- or diesel-powered alternative.It’s fast, with its two motors pumping out 345kW and 645Nm. This ensures all-paw grip and a brisk 0-100km/h dash time of 4.9sec.The biggest hurdle to the iX3 is the price. This 50 xDrive version will cost $109,900 (before on-road costs) in Australia, which is more expensive than most can afford.There is a cheaper 40 variant with 635km of range, and a $89,900 price tag that makes it eligible for generous tax incentives.As with all car tech, this will trickle down into more affordable cars sooner rather than later.And this is just the start.Volvo will bring its new EX60 with more than 800km of range soon, and there are numerous Chinese makers with similar tech waiting in the wings.This is proof the age of electric cars is right now.

Ford’s revolutionary ute is coming closer to a reality as prototypes have been spotted testing.Ford’s new electric ute has been spotted testing by US outlet Autopian in California.The dual-cab ute is heavily camouflaged, but it is believed to be smaller than the Maverick, which is an SUV-based ute in the US a size under the Ranger.The new ute is ditching a ladder frame chassis for a new EV platform that will be more SUV-like. This means it won’t be a heavy-hauler or rock crawler, but an urban workhorse designed to carry logs and timber rather than a boat.Images of the tray show a small cargo area, closer in size to what was available in a Holden Commodore or Ford Falcon ute.The new brand-defining ute is likely to be called Ranchero, with the name trademarked in Australia for use on a pick-up truck. It’s also a throwback to an old car-based ute from the US discontinued in the late 1970s.Ford is so serious about its new electric ute that it has assembled an entire “skunkworks” team in California to develop the new low cost electric vehicle platform which will underpin it.“We recruited the most technically skilled and creative professionals from inside and outside Ford to drive a radical change in how we develop an electric vehicle,” said Ford boss Jim Farley last year. “The work of this highly talented team has evolved into a critical enabler of our electric vehicle strategy. These electric vehicles will be lower cost, and not compromised in any way.”The upcoming ute is believed to be the first vehicle to be built on this platform, with a launch date set for 2027. Other bodystyles will also be spun-off from it.Ford is aiming for a circa-US$30,000 (A$42,600) price tag.These small SUV-based utes are the must have item overseas right now.Ford’s Maverick is a smash hit in the US, BYD is preparing its Mako to sit under the Shark 6 and Toyota’s Corolla Cross-based ute has been seen testing in South America recently.

BYD is turning its attention to Europe's best performance car brands, revealing details about its new Denza Z sports car. The Denza Z is a fully-electric performance four-seater roaster, shaping up as a rival to petrol-powered and established alternatives such as the Mercedes-Benz SL Class. The Z has a three electric motor set-up, with two on the rear axle and one on the front, producing a combined 1180kW. It boasts a 0-100km/h time of less than two seconds and has a top speed of 350km/h, putting it into direct competition with the biggest names in the business. Unlike other Denza products, the Z will debut in Europe and China, signalling a clear intention from the brand to tackle established European rivals. There is no news on whether the Z will come to Australia, but if it does, it would likely not be for a few years, due to currently being left-hand drive only.Denza Australia has been contacted for comment to see if the Z will launch in Australia in the future. It would compliment the Z9 GT sports wagon due Down Under in the coming months.The Z is available as a hardtop or as a heavier convertible. It was first seen as a concept car last year at the Beijing Motor Show, with it keeping much of the same striking look. At 4780mm long, 1990mm wide and 1350mm tall, it is similarly-sized to the SL Class. Underneath the skin, there is an advanced adaptive suspension system that is also found on the Yangwang U9 top-end performance car. The Z's European future means BYD will come in ahead of many of its competition by offering a fully-electric sports car, with others still focusing on petrol power.Lamborghini recently pulled back its plans for an EV, putting resources into plug-in hybrid set-ups. Ferrari recently revealed its first-ever EV, the Luce, which has received polarising commentary. The Denza Z scheduled to launch from next month. 

China may hog much of the automotive headlines nowadays, with its aggressively and allegedly heavily-subsidised cheap vehicle-export strategy.But it is the South Korean carmakers Hyundai, Kia and even KGM (formerly SsangYong) that have come of age this decade, through engineering excellence, bold design, visionary product planning and sheer value for money that is the envy of the rest of the world.In fact, every year since 2020, a Korean vehicle has stood out above all others in some way, showing up anything Japan, Germany, France, Italy and America can do.Korea is the actual fear of the rest of the world, and here’s why.China dominates the electric vehicle (EV) segment in many parts of the world with unfeasibly inexpensive models that have democratised the technology.But the Hyundai Motor Group (HMG), which includes Kia, that makes the best affordable EVs, due to progressive technologies that, in models like the Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Kia EV6, have included faster-charging 800-volt architectures, Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) tech and other advancements that were the provenance of high-end European marques like Porsche.And let’s not forget the brilliant ballistic missile that is the Ioniq 5 N, a performance grand-touring hot hatch that redefines what an EV can do.HMG invested billions in electrification well before most other mainstream carmakers during the 2010s, gaining experience with early EVs like the original, Toyota Prius-esque Ioniq, Kona Electric and Kia Niro EV, allowing Korea to forge ahead with next-gen models nowadays.Sticking with the Ioniq 5, this is an incredibly talented mid-sized SUV for a number of other reasons besides breakthrough EV engineering, such as for design, interior packaging and overall sophistication.It still turns heads with crisp, timeless design that plays lip service to Hyundai’s first in-house-developed production car (the 1970s Pony), while it has a loping, relaxed refinement that embarrasses most other SUVs, period.For us, the Ioniq 5 remains a leading candidate for the car of the decade, even though it launched back in 2021.In 2026, the Kia EV3 is arguably the best small SUV EV for the money on a number of fronts, especially where Chinese vehicles struggle with, including unintrusive advanced driver-assist systems (ADAS) tech, user-friendly vehicle controls, regional steering and suspension tuning and Australia-wide servicing access.More than the sum of its parts, the EV3 simply behaves and drives like a good car should, with few vices or frustrating surprises.Everybody remembers the Kia Stinger of 2017, an ambitious but ultimately doomed final attempt at a large, rear-drive family sedan in the mould of the Holden Commodore and Ford Falcon.A glorious failure, it cemented Kia a place in the hearts of performance family sedan fans.Except… its spirit lives on in the award-winning Kia EV6, the just-as-talented but far-sleeker cousin to the Ioniq 5, melding the packaging, practicality and performance of, say, a VF SS or Falcon XR6 Turbo, within an EV proposition.And, guess what, with Millennials and Gen Z buyers rejecting SUVs and crossovers as daggy and boring, it is Kia that is poised to step up with a cool, sleek and sophisticated liftback. So much more mature and charming than a Tesla Model 3.For most of this decade, it has been Korea that has offered Australia’s cheapest new car in the Kia Picanto.Yes, it’s old and one of the smallest on the market, but the Picanto’s proven reliability, solid engineering, decent safety specification, long warranty, dealer-network back-up and decent dynamics make it a dependable and enjoyable runabout.Nowadays the improved second-gen MG 3 is nipping at the Kia’s heels, but Kia has no intention of abandoning the bargain basement in Australia… we hope.Kia has obviously shot itself in the foot with the Tasman because of its kooky, oddball styling.But the sole Korean body-on-frame one-tonne ute is currently the best in its diesel-powered class, with a lovely, refined and roomy interior, excellent workhorse capability, a powerful yet proven and efficient powertrain and pleasing servicing back-up.The Tasman is also impressive to drive, and we do not hesitate to recommend one over its rivals – especially as a long-term ownership proposition.No DPF issues like the Toyota HiLux or engine-belt and transmission problems that reportedly afflicts the Ford Ranger, either. The Kia is a better vehicle than either of these segment best-sellers in our estimation.In North America, the Ford has prised open the car-based, monocoque-bodied, dual-cab ute market wide open with the SUV-derived Maverick, and that’s a deserved success for the hybrid and turbo-petrol-powered pick-upYet it is Korean minnow KGM that has pioneered the similar concept, but as a battery electric ute, with the Musso EV.Along with being a good-looking, comfortable and refined five-seater family car, it is keenly priced, well equipped, decent to drive and everyday-useable thanks to a WLTP range of between 380km and 420km.Plus, and, in keeping with the Musso heritage, there is some ute functionality on offer, including AWD availability and an 1800kg braked towing capacity.There’s nothing even remotely like it in Australia right now that combines all of the above, except from KGM. Which shouldn’t be too surprising, given that the original Korando all the way back in 1983 was named for the contraction of the term “Korea can do”.

A new budget electric ute crusher from China is about to hit Aussie showrooms. The Foton K2 van has been approved for sale in Australia, according to a Department of Infrastructure, Transports, Regional Development, Communications, Sports and the Arts filing. It will join the increasingly busy electric van segment, and will be available in short and long wheelbase variants.It sizes up in the mid-size van category at 4900mm long for the SWB and 5200mm long for the LWB. This makes it similarly sized to the Ford E-Transit Custom priced from $77,890, before on-road costs. There is no indication yet on how the K2 will be priced, but it is likely to come in cheaper than the E-Transit Custom. A spokesperson for Foton Australia would not confirm the K2's future launch, but sales approval rarely fails to result in a vehicle launch. The K2 is powered by an electric motor set-up that produces 125kW. There are two battery choices available, which are 50kWh and 67kWh units.There is no official driving range figure for the K2, but overseas versions, known as the i7, offer 360km from the 50kWh unit, according to more generous CLTC standards. Overseas versions feature a functional cabin, with seating for three people and a small pop-out digital driver display and optional central display. There are also physical climate control buttons. Other information remains scarce at this stage, but we are likely to find out more about it later on this year. It will join the Foton Tunland ute, which recently came to Australia after a more than eight-year absence Down Under. It is unclear what could be next on the agenda for Foton, but the brand has previously offered an SUV and that is something still on the cards. “Foton’s got some pretty strong van offerings,” Inchcape Australia (Foton distributor) Managing Director Blair Read told CarsGuide late last year. “That is where our current focus is, what we've been discussing with the factory, and then maybe SUVs down the track.”

Volkswagen will launch a number of new electrified commercial vehicles in Australia later this year and in early 2027.Headlining these is the addition of an ID. Buzz Pro all-wheel drive trim, complementing the existing GTX flagship all-wheel drive trim. To date the ID. Buzz Pro has only been offered with a single, rear-mounted electric motor.There is also an all-wheel drive version of the ID.Buzz Cargo, as well as a long-wheelbase body style, coming to complement the existing rear-wheel drive trim.Both of these will form part of a model year 2027 (MY27) update for the ID.Buzz and ID.Buzz Cargo. Volkswagen hasn’t fully disclosed what else will be changing or added with this update just yet.Volkswagen is planning to launch a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) version of the Multivan people-mover in the first quarter of 2027. It’s understood this will come with all-wheel drive.This will be complemented by an Australian launch of the Caddy PHEV.Beyond the launch of these electrified products, the next launch for Volkswagen’s commercial vehicle division is the Amarok W600, which has been fettled by Australian engineering and manufacturing firm, Walkinshaw.The German carmaker will roll out its MY26 update for the Amarok, which axes the 2.0-litre bi-turbo diesel engine, and the addition of a new Amarok Style with the 2.3-litre turbo-petrol engine and the special edition Amarok Dark Label.Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles Australia Product Manager Michael Cenci told CarsGuide the entry-level Amarok Core will pick up the updated 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel engine for MY26, swapping out the wet belt for a timing chain.This mirrors what the related Ford Ranger received for its MY26 update.Beyond the updated engine, the Amarok Core will also receive a 10-speed automatic transmission, replacing the six-speed automatic.At this stage it’s unclear what other changes will occur with this MY26 update for the Amarok. Volkswagen hasn’t published pricing yet.

Game-changing solid-state batteries are back on the agenda.Chinese carmaker Dongfeng has announced it will begin mass-production of solid-state batteries in the second half of 2026, according to reports out of China. With an energy density of 350Wh/kg, much higher than conventional lithium-ion batteries, the brand said vehicles equipped with the battery will have a driving range of 1000km. Solid-state batteries don't use a liquid or gel to store energy like conventional batteries, allowing for significantly greater energy density. Greater energy density means a bigger driving range from the same size battery, so its success will put range anxiety to bed for good. These batteries are also said to reduce the likelihood of fires and are much lighter than lithium-ion alternatives. Earlier this year, Dongfeng put a solid-state prototype model through cold-weather testing in China and confirmed plans for a production model to launch in 2027.Dongfeng sub-brand Forthing is due in Australia this year, meaning solid-state battery technology from the brand Down Under might not be too far away.Solid-state batteries looked to be on the back burner in the industry, with a full-scale uptake still decades away, according to some experts. Donfeng might have just moved up the timeline if it gets mass-production underway this year.  Dongfeng is the latest addition to a growing list of Chinese brands racing to get solid-state batteries into production. Chery appears to be closest in this race with its next-generation ‘Rhino’ battery boasting 400Wh/kg and 1500km of driving range expected to feature in Chery sub-brand Exeed models before the end of the year. Chery’s local branch has also shown interest in these cars launching in Australia.Mass-production of solid-state batteries have proved to be a significant challenge, with high production and development costs combined with technological complications slowing progress. Dongfeng’s announcement of mass-production in the second half of 2026 puts it ahead of much of the competition that are targeting taking this step no sooner than 2027. BYD plans to begin only small-scale solid-state battery production next year, according to reports.Donfeng's joint-venture partner in China, Nissan is another brand to developing solid-state batteries, but its mass-production program won't begin until the end of the 2028 financial year.It is not just China getting in on the solid-state game. In September 2025, Mercedes-Benz confirmed a solid-state prototype of its EQS sedan went 1205km on a single charge.

GWM has just stepped up its budget EV game in Australia, unveiling the Ora 5 hatchback.There is no official news on a launch for the Ora 5 hatchback, but there is a good chance it will hit showrooms before the end of the year, with deliveries of the SUV variant already beginning.GWM Australia has been contacted for comment to find out launch plans for the car. The Ora 5 hatch shares much of the same design and set-up as its SUV sibling, but it has been given a lower and sportier stance, according to GWM. It differs from the SUV as it does not featuring roof rails. It keeps the same bubble headlight design and general exterior look. GWM also confirmed it has the same 58kWh battery with a driving range of 435km on WLTP standards. The brand did not confirm what will power the hatch, but given it is so similar to the SUV, it is expected to have the same single electric motor producing 150kW and 260Nm. Pricing remains unknown at this stage, but there is potential for it to be priced under the SUV, which starts from $33,990 (drive-away).The news comes after the brand ditched its Ora hatch Down Under earlier this year to make way for the Ora 5 SUV. The Ora faced serious budget competition from other Chinese rivals such as the BYD Dolphin that is priced from under $30,000 (before on-road costs), while the Ora was priced from $35,990 (drive-away).Competition in the EV hatch space has increased significantly, including the arrival of the GAC Aion UT ($31,990, before on-road costs). The Ora 5 is generally bigger than many of these EV hatch rivals.It joins at a time when GWM continues to grow on the sales front and chase down legacy brands in Australia.Chinese competitors such as BYD and Chery have experienced more growth than GWM in 2026, with the affordability proving a key selling point.

BMW is forging ahead with technology that is the anti-battery electric vehicle.The German company — along with Toyota and Hyundai  — is one of the biggest proponents of hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEV).These are a different type of electric vehicles, which use hydrogen to create electricity that powers motors and they have no need for a big heavy battery. Water is the only tailpipe emission.BMW has made several advances that bring them closer to surpassing battery electric vehicles.A new hydrogen storage set-up for the iX5 FCEV, which fits into the same space used for the brand’s latest batteries, is to be fitted to its range of Neue Klasse electric vehicles.This means it is more efficient to produce a hydrogen variant and doing so won't compromise interior space. BMW even claims FCEVs can now be built on the same production line as battery-powered electric cars“Think of it as installation Tetris,” said BMW board member Dr Joachim Post.The hydrogen storage system can also hold enough fuel to deliver a driving range of up to 750km, can be refilled in under five minutes and is significantly safer, according to BMW.The German giant has also started production of what it calls the "Energy Master" which is a key component to be used in its coming iX5 Hydrogen.It is effectively the brain of the hydrogen power set-up, managing the fuel cell system, battery and electric drive motors.BMW is planning on launching the iX5 Hydrogen in 2028, and the company plans to expand its offerings.It said the new fuel source stands for "electric driving with long range and fast refuelling, diversifies energy sources and reduces dependence on a single infrastructure or raw material supply chain”.

Mitsubishi has thrown the covers off its next fully electric model, marking the return of the Eclipse name, again.The new model for 2027, now called the Eclipse Sportback, is a re-badged and partially re-styled Nissan Leaf as part of the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi alliance.While it shares its overall design with the new-generation Leaf, it features a more dramatic front bumper, a new ‘grille’ design, a tweaked rear bumper, Mitsubishi badgework, and bespoke wheel designs. The interior is yet to be revealed.It will likely share the bulk of its specifications with the new-generation Leaf, including a 160kW/355Nm electric motor, either a 75kWh or 52kWh battery pack, and a driving range that is claimed to exceed up to 600km.The new Mitsubishi Eclipse Sportback appears to be a North American market exclusive for now, and the brand says it forms part of its ‘Momentum 2030’ strategy to expand its footprint in the USA with new electrified models.It is not the only model sold under the Eclipse name, with the brand also offering a re-badged version of the Renault Megane E-Tech dubbed the Eclipse Cross exclusively for the European market.The Eclipse nameplate was originally a two-door sports coupe manufactured for the North American market across four generations from the 1990s to the early 2010s, the Eclipse name was re-booted for a small SUV dubbed the Eclipse Cross in 2017 and launched in Australia in 2018.The model ran until 2025 when it was discontinued locally because its ageing chassis and on-board safety tech no longer complied with Australian Design Rules.It is likely Australia will never see the new Eclipse Sportback, as Mitsubishi has had to make more strategic decisions for Australia where it faces tough competition from aggressive Chinese newcomers. The brand has confirmed Australia will instead receive a new yet to be named fully electric model, which Mitsubishi is developing based on a car from Taiwan’s Foxtron brand.The brand recently confirmed it is on-track to see this fully electric crossover model launch in Australia before the end of the year. It will need to be aggressively priced in order to help the brand bring down its potential penalties under Australia’s recently-implemented New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES).Nissan has pulled back on its plan to launch the Leaf in Australia, saying it will be more competitive on the hybrid front, rather than trying to compete with aggressive rivals in the price-sensitive and highly competitive electric small SUV space.It is not the only Mitsubishi alliance model unlikely for an Australian launch. The brand also offers the Renault Symbioz-based new-generation Grandis as a mid-size SUV.Mitsubishi's XForce hybrid small SUV and XPander MPV from South East Asia have been ruled out for Australia as they prove uneconomical to upgrade to comply with Australia’s stringent safety requirements.