Family Cars

GWM has confirmed Chinese pricing for the ultra-hardcore version of its Tank 300 Hooke Edition after recently confirming pre-orders in its home market.Starting from the equivalent of A$52,500 in China, the overhauled Tank 300 sits atop the SUV’s combustion range, and between the two hybrid Hi4-Z and Hi4-T variants, the latter of which we get in Australia.The top combustion-powered version, a 2.4-litre turbo-diesel variant, costs $47,990 drive-away Down Under, while the top-spec plug-in hybrid Ultra Hi4-T costs $61,990, suggesting a retail price of mid-to-high $50,000 if it's offered in Australia.The Hooke Edition, which was originally teased over a year ago in China, is more than just off-road tyres and a snorkel, with the vehicle's underbody re-worked to replace the independent front axle with a more hardcore solid front axle set-up.Like 'Trail Rated' versions of Jeep's range which are tested on the hardcore trails of Moab in Utah, GWM's Hooke Edition is named after a notorious off-road park to the west of Beijing.The suspension has also been re-worked to help the 4WD accommodate 40-inch tyres, and it is more robust, with stronger control arms and trailing arms, as well as a reinforced front axle housing.As a result, its approach angle has been improved to 41 degrees and its suspension travel has been increased to 130mm for “confidently handling complex cross-axle situations,” and its low-range crawl ratio is 63.5:1 (which is not quite as extreme as the Wrangler’s 77:1 ratio).Ground clearance is 245mm while wading depth has increased to 850mm thanks to the addition of a factory snorkel. GWM says the maximum gradability of the Hooke Edition is 70 per cent. The car ships in China with Cooper Discoverer all-terrain tyres.The Hooke edition gets special front and rear bumpers to optimise its off-road angles, while the stock wheel package is downsized to 18 inches from other high-grade Tank 300s.Inside it scores larger screens as per the latest Chinese version of the SUV, with real Nappa leather interior trim and tweaked centre console switchgear compared to Australian-delivered versions.Powering the Hooke Edition is a 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine producing 170kW/400Nm. It is mated to a nine-speed torque converter transmission with a low-range capable transfer case.The 300 Hooke Edition was originally teased alongside GWM’s upcoming 4.0-litre V8 engine, causing speculation that this extreme overhaul would also score this powertrain, however it appears the larger engine will be reserved for only flagship products in GWM’s wider line-up of brands.However, while the special model might seem like a perfect fit for off-road obsessed Australia, its future is under a cloud with GWM executives telling CarsGuide it might not be required given the capability the brand’s line-up already offers.“If we were to put our hand up for every car we see in the field, especially over in China, our showrooms would be overflowing,” said the brand’s local Executive General Manager of Marketing and Communications, Steve Maciver.“It’s a fantastic looking car and it would be a good choice there , but we’ve just got volume going with the existing Tank 300 powertrains, so really got to pick carefully when considering complexity in the showroom, parts stocking for us, and marketing costs.”Maciver was quick to stress that it wasn’t a global capability issue holding the hardcore model back for the time being, earmarking the factory’s capability to do “in most cases, anything".Chief Operating Officer of GWM Australia John Kett said there may potentially be a space for such a model in the future.“The complexity of these three brands [Haval, Tank, Cannon] is going to cause us a problem unless we resolve what to do with Tank in terms of its growing portfolio,” Kett said.“I think as we grow it will allow us to be a little bit more distinctive in where we take the Tank brand.“We’ve got full access to the whole line-up, they keep developing new versions of it, so I think that’s definitely a consideration on top of what we’ve already got coming in the next year.”Stay tuned for more on GWM’s roll-out plans, which are set to include the new boxy Haval H7 in both plug-in and plugless hybrid forms, and the new plug-in hybrid Cannon ute.The company is also set to expand on its range of Ora electric cars, as well as introduce its luxury Wey arm before the end of 2026.

XPeng is making it more affordable for Australians to get into one of their vehicles.The Chinese brand is launching the new L03 mid-size coupe-SUV, which severely undercuts the Tesla Model Y, Geely EX5 and Zeekr 7X.XPeng is also adding some variety to the menu with a range-extender hybrid (EREV) version, with Australia being one of the first markets outside of China to get the petrol-electric versions.There are three electric and one EREV L03s to choose from, with prices starting at $41,900 (before on-road costs) for the Standard Range EV and the Power X EREV.The Long Range EV jumps to $46,900 and the range tops out at the dual-motor Performance Ultra grade at $53,900.That entry price puts it at the same price as the Geely EX5 and $17,000 cheaper than the base Tesla Model Y and about $16,000 more affordable than the Zeekr 7X.The Power X EREV version uses a 1.5-litre petrol engine that is used purely as a generator to charge the 37kWh Lithium-ferro-Phosphate (LFP) battery and never drives the wheels.Instead, a 178kW/280Nm single electric motor drives the rear wheels.XPeng claims the 37kWh battery delivers an electric driving range of up to 215km calculated by the benchmark WLTP test cycle.The brand claims a total driving range of more than 1000km when the battery and 42-litre fuel tank are depleted.At the max DC charging rate, the battery can be topped up from 10 to 80 per cent in 20 minutes. AC charging tops out at 6.6kW.Standard Range electric versions use a circa-58kWh LFP battery that provides a WLTP rated driving range of up to 445km. It can DC charge up to 193kW, which can fill the battery from 20-80 per cent in 20 minutes. AC charging is up to 11kW.Power comes from a single electric motor that makes 163kW and 280Nm delivered to the rear wheels.Long Range and Performance Ultra grades up this with a roughly 71kWh LFP battery that enables a driving range of 520km (Long Range) and 440km (Performance Ultra). Both can DC charge up to 236kW, which again fills the battery from 10-80 in 20 minutes. The Long Range grade has slightly more power at 183kW/280Nm, again sent to the rear wheels.Performance Ultra examples have a second motor enabling all-wheel drive, with a total of 285kW on tap. That extra grunt drops the L03’s 0-100km/h time to 4.5 seconds from the 6.6 and 7.5 seconds of the Long Range and Standard Range grades.XPeng is making a big deal about how it is embedding AI into its cars.Bigger vehicles such as the coming G9L have increased functionality, but the L03 has the computing power to bring fully autonomous driving when it is ready.XPeng hasn’t sourced its chips from stock market darling Nvidia, instead XPeng is going it alone and developing and building its own processors it dubs AI Turing chips.The company is planning on rolling out fully autonomous capabilities in 2027, where regulations allow.Australia does not allow that yet, but this could mean it would have similar capabilities to Tesla’s Full Self Driving (Supervised). Tesla’s tech can drive autonomously, but the driver has to be ready to take control just in case.The L03 rides on either 18-inch alloy wheels or 20-inch units depending on specification. It has LED lighting front and back, with a full length light bar at the rear. It has cornering lights, privacy glass, frameless doors and door mirrors.Inside there are electronically adjustable, synthetic leather-wrapped seats that are heated and ventilated up front, with a massage function on the Performance Ultra grade.A heated microfibre covered steering wheel, wireless charging, ambient lighting, nine-speaker stereo that jumps to 18-speakers in the Performance Ultra.The range-topper also gets active noise cancellation to keep the outside world at bay.The L03 is a mid-size SUV that is a similar size to big names such as the Geely EX5 and Toyota RAV4, but slightly smaller than the Tesla Model Y and Zeekr 7X.It is 4650mm long, 1920mm wide, 1600mm tall and has a wheelbase of 2850mm. It has a ground clearance of 144mm and seating for five.The boot can hold 494-litres, which increases to 539L with the under-floor compartment included. There is a front cargo area under the bonnet that can hold 102L.It is rated to 750kg unbraked or 1500kg braked.The L03 can be had in white, two types of black, silver and purple.

Just days after Hyundai unveiled the next generation Tucson, details of the mid-size SUV have been confirmed for the South Korean market.Giving us a glimpse at what we might expect from the 2027 Hyundai Tucson when it lands here next year, drivetrains, design elements and features of the SUV have been outlined for its home market.Already known was the new styling and design language, which Hyundai calls ‘art of steel’. The mid-size SUV adopts the ‘H-shape’ lights, which are becoming more common on Hyundai’s new models, with the Tucson overall more upright and squared-off.At 4700mm long, 1905mm wide and 1685mm tall, the length, width, and wheelbase increased by 60mm, 40mm and 30mm, respectively for more interior space, with 1031mm of second-row headroom.Along with being overall bigger and more spacious, the Tuscon takes on a tougher look, with an XRT grade available from launch, with a unique front grille, wheel arch and skid plate for extra protection if off-roading.The biggest confirmation from South Korea is a choice of two powertrains, both with a turbocharged 1.6-litre four-cylinder petrol engine but one with hybrid assistance.In Australia, hybrids are becoming increasingly important for the brand, so it wouldn’t be at all surprising to see the Tucson go hybrid-only. If that’s the case, a 180kW total output from the engine and electric motor is the international specification as is a 5.7L/100km combined fuel consumption rate, though those could be slightly adjusted for Australia.Hyundai also says despite the overall larger SUV, the drag coefficient has been lowered from 0.33Cd to 0.30Cd, achieved through active air flaps.Hyundai has also confirmed its AI assistance program called ‘Gleo AI’, described as “an integrated agent powered by a large language model”, will understand “natural, continuous conversation” rather than only simple commands as has been the case with automotive voice controls.New safety features like a redundancy system for the door locks to allow escape and rescue of occupants in emergency situations or a system to brake if the driver mistakenly presses the accelerator should be appealing to the ANCAP-types, while a ‘Memory Reverse Assist’ remembers the vehicle's trajectory during manoeuvres to assist in tricky parking situations.The 2027 Hyundai Tucson is set to be globally revealed in the USA before the end of the year, at which point we expect to learn more information about its Australian arrival.

One of the biggest criticisms of electric cars could soon be relegated to the past.The need to plug in a charging cable could be replaced by the long-awaited arrival of inductive charging - and it has come from an unlikely source.This new game-changing technology isn’t coming from electric vehicle juggernauts Tesla or BYD, but Porsche. The all-new Cayenne Electric SUV is set to become the first car on-sale in Australia with the ability to charge wirelessly.While not available from the initial launch, Porsche Australia has confirmed it will be offered to local customers before the end of 2026.Any initial Cayenne Electric sold will be able to be retrofitted to take advantage of this new tech, with each SUV needing a specific pad on the underside of the vehicle.In simple terms, this inductive charging system uses an 11kW pad that can be placed on the floor of your garage or parking space and you only need to drive over it in order for a connection to be made between the pad and the battery and for charging to begin.The electricity is transferred via a magnetic field, the same way inductive charging works for modern smartphones and similar devices, only on a larger scale.The pad does need to be plugged into three-phase power in order to generate enough power to charge the vehicle, but no wallbox is required. An 11kW output is equivalent to a Level 2 AC charging wallbox, which would add between 40-100km of range per hour. Porsche hasn’t revealed specific charging times for the Cayenne Electric yet.This charging pad measures 1170mm long, 780mm wide and 60mm tall and weighs 50kg and must be installed by a technician. You must be lined up with the pad, but the Cayenne’s camera system is able to detect it and effectively guide you to the right spot via a graphic display on the screen.Once in the right position the Cayenne has to lower itself to get close enough for the transfer of energy; which is likely one of the reasons the entire Cayenne range comes with air-suspension as standard. Porsche says the car and pad can also detect any obstacles, such as pets, that may walk across the pad and can shut down in order to protect animals or equipment from harm.Wireless charging has long been touted as a potential solution for the perceived inconvenience of plugging in an EV. Porsche is not the first brand to develop the technology, but it is the first to bring it to market in Australia.Porsche Australia hasn’t released pricing, but the system is already available in the United Kingdom, where the charging pad reportedly costs £5355 (approx. $10,000), while the connection for the Cayenne itself costs £1322 (approx. $2500).

Leapmotor could be a sleeping giant on the cusp of a global sales surge despite its slow start in Australia.Unlike its headline-grabbing rivals BYD, Geely, and Chery, Leapmotor has struggled for traction locally.Yet overseas, efforts to make its model range more globally appealing have granted the brand strong growth which, according to sales data compiled by Nikkei Asia, now means it outsold once-giants like Mitsubishi and Subaru in the most recent quarter of the year.Now projected to sell one million vehicles for the full year 2026, the brand is up 84 per cent globally and is set to surpass both Mitsubishi and Subaru over the same time period.Much of this, Nikkei reports, is down to the brand rapidly carving up markets in Europe where both local giants and Japanese imports are struggling to compete with Leapmotor’s aggressive pricing and rapid rollout with the help of Peugeot owner Stellantis, which has a significant stake in the Chinese fledgling.You could hardly tell in Australia, where Leapmotor has hardly had the same impact as its big-name Chinese rivals.Locally it is up an incredible-sounding 168.2 per cent, but its 1022 units so far is off the back of a very low sales base after the misfire of its original C10 electric mid-sizer, and a slow but improved start for the smaller B10.The C10 has moved 331 units in 2026, down 13.1 per cent, paling in comparison to the very similar Geely EX5 which has managed 10,737 units over the same period, and this is despite the introduction of a range-extender hybrid variant to the range.The B10 meanwhile has moved 677 units locally, against the better-selling Jaecoo J5 which has done roughly 10 times that in fully electric form.Leapmotor’s yearly total of just 1022 units (supplemented by the recent addition of early examples of the B05 hatchback), is a far cry from Mitsubishi’s 30,476 total, or Subaru’s 19,125.However, things can change quickly. Not only has the B10 hugely improved Leapmotor’s sales year-on-year, but Mitsubishi, Subaru, and even Nissan are on the way down in the face of Leapmotor’s contemporaries, which are carving up the top-10-selling new car brands in Australia.Subaru and Nissan have already been booted out of the top-10, while Mitsubishi is barely holding on.Leapmotor, meanwhile will be hoping to capitalise on its momentum for the rest of 2026 thanks to the arrival of its B05 Golf-sized hatchback and B03X compact crossover, which is shaping up to be Australia’s most affordable new electric SUV.When it gets here in the fourth quarter, the brand said it will be priced at around $30,000, drive-away, to undercut natural rivals like the BYD Atto 2, which currently costs $31,990, before on-roads.For 2027 the brand could have more up its sleeve too, with the D19 large SUV. Measuring in at over five meters long and featuring a range-extended hybrid powertrain, it also features EV-sized batteries for big electric driving range and combined power output of up to 300kW/520Nm.Stay tuned for more on Leapmotor’s expansion plans as it rolls out the B05 and B03X for the remainder of 2026.

As its name implies, the Junior is a city-sized Alfa Romeo SUV and Ibrida is Italian for hybrid, which reflects this car’s 1.2-litre, three-cylinder turbo-petrol engine working in concert with an electric motor housed in its six-speed dual-clutch auto transmission.But that Junior badge has history on various iterations of the much-admired 105-series Alfa GT coupe that polished the brand’s sporty road and race car cred through the 1960s into the ‘70s.So, is that bloodline strong enough to make an impact on the 21st century Junior? We spent a week behind the wheel to find out.Although it’s classified as a ‘light’ segment SUV, at $46,990, before on-road costs, the Junior Ibrida competes on price with next size up small hybrids like the Hyundai Kona Premium Hybrid ($45,950), Nissan Qashqai ST-L e-Power ($45,850), Renault Symbioz Esprit Alpine ($45,990), Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid S AWD ($47,590) and Toyota Corolla Cross GXL AWD ($44,190), all before on-road costs.When you’re starting to give $50K cost-of-entry a nudge it’s fair to expect a decent basket of standard fruit and included feature highlights for the Junior include:18-inch alloy wheelsLED matrix headlights (plus LED tail-lights and DRLs)Privacy glassLeather-trimmed steering wheelAlloy pedal covers10.25-inch multimedia screen10.25-inch instrument displayWireless Android Auto/Apple CarPlaySix-speaker audio (with digital radio)Climate control air (single-zone)Keyless entry and startPower-adjustable driver’s seatHeated front seatsThat list’s okay rather than outstanding for the money and relative to the competitors mentioned above.In terms of design, a car’s looks are always subjective, but my two bob’s worth on the Junior is… there’s a lot going on.The nose has strong hints of traditional Alfa with the V-shaped grille, angled heritage typeface branding and offset licence plate. But then, the slim, angular LED headlights and DRLs as well as the big egg-crate vents lower down state their case for a more contemporary presentation.You may love it, but to me it looks like at least two styling teams couldn’t resolve their differences.Other signature elements like the ‘teledial’-style wheels are in line with the rest of the current Alfa line-up and the rear is dominated by a horizontal tail-light graphic with a moustache-like droop at either end.    Inside there are more hints of classic Alfa in the dual-hooded shape of the instrument binnacle and racy red highlights through the cloth and synthetic leather seats and ambient lighting.It’s a cozy cabin because at just under 4.2m long, close to 1.8m wide and 1.5m tall with a 2562mm wheelbase there’s no denying the Junior’s diminutive footprint. Up front, the car feels small and rear room is modest even for an SUV of this stature. At 183cm tall, sitting behind the driver’s seat set to my position I’ve got just enough legroom, although headroom is fine.Forget three full-size adults for anything other than short, awkward journeys in the rear. Up to mid-teenage kids will be fine, though.   And when it comes to storage, the front door bins are a decent size with room for medium bottles, there’s a small-ish glove box, a lidded bin between the seats, an extra cavity with adjustable cupholders in front of it and a wireless charging bay ahead of that.  There are USB-C outlets front and back, but the rear space comes up short in terms of practicality. No door pockets, no fold-down armrest, no adjustable air vents and no cupholders. Backseaters have to make do with small map pockets on the back of the front seats. That’s it.Over and above that, the interior feels insubstantial. Push that carefully shaped instrument hood or the front centre console and they instantly shift with an audible creak. The car lacks the solid feel of its key rivals. Other gripes? I’m not a fan of the vertical rear exterior door handles (on any car), the Apple CarPlay proved flaky with occasional disconnects and a stuttery wireless link and the driver’s door armrest feels as solid as a piece of granite.Boot capacity is an impressive 415 litres, expanding to 1250 litres with the 60/40 split-folding rear seat lowered. There are numerous bag hooks and a 12-volt outlet in there and the floor can be set at two levels for extra space or a flat load surface.No spare tyre, though, just a repair/inflator kit which isn’t good enough.This is a mild-hybrid with the 107kW/230Nm turbo-petrol triple doing the heavy lifting and the 21kW electric motor, powered by a 48-volt lithium-ion battery, playing a supporting role, particularly at slow speeds.The small-capacity engine uses a Miller combustion cycle which effectively shortens the compression stroke relative to the expansion stroke in the name of optimal fuel efficiency.Its official combined cycle (urban/extra-urban) economy figure is a thrifty 4.1L/100km but over a week of city, suburban and some freeway running we saw a real-world average of 5.9L/100km.A sub-6.0L/100km result is still easy on the bank balance but beware you pay a price in terms of driveability.This powertrain is unrefined relative to the competition. The car feels on edge, with stilted throttle response and the dual-clutch transmission lacks polish. Even the stop-start function is rough. There’s enough oomph. Claimed 0-100km/h acceleration time is a reasonably rapid 8.9 seconds, there are ‘DNA’ drive modes and the Junior is well balanced in cornering with accurate steering and good road feel. But it’s not a particularly relaxed drive.The Junior boasts a full suite of advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) tech and none of the assists, monitors or alerts are overly intrusive, although the speed sign recognition was regularly misfiring, including a 40km/h advisory on the deck of the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Back of a bus, perhaps?Six airbags are onboard, the Junior missing out on the increasingly common front centre bag. Alfa covers the Junior with a five-year, unlimited kilometre warranty with roadside assist included for the duration. Servicing is every 12 months/15,000km with each workshop visit averaging just under $670 over the first five years. Not the worst, not the best.   And it’s worth noting there are only eight primary Alfa dealerships and 18 service centres across Australia.

Nissan has released images and tech details on the full production version of the 2027 X-Trail including its third-generation e‑Power range-extender hybrid powertrain.Breaking cover in the US initially, where the car is manufactured in Tennessee and marketed as the Rogue, the new mid-size SUV has been positioned as a core model for North America now offering e-Power hybrid tech for the first time.Like the current X-Trail, its hybrid system is built around a 1.5-litre turbo-petrol three-cylinder engine now developing 110kW/232Nm and operating as a generator to charge a 1.67kWh lithium-ion hybrid battery.Nissan said this latest iteration has been “specifically tuned for quietness and efficiency” and boasts 42 per cent thermal efficiency (the percentage of energy from fuel the engine converts into mechanical power).The brand’s internal testing has returned a combined cycle (urban/extra-urban) fuel economy figure of 6.2L/100km for the all-wheel drive Rogue, which is in line with the 6.1L/100km WLTP number recorded by the current X-Trail e-Power e-4orce AWD model on sale locally since early 2023.Due in US showrooms before the end of the year, the 2027 Nissan Rogue Hybrid will launch in dual-motor AWD SR and SR Technology Package grades with SV, SR and Platinum models available in early 2027. The entry-level SV e-Power is priced from US$35,490 (~$49,900).Motors are AC synchronous permanent magnet, the front unit producing 151kW/329Nm and the rear 100kW/195Nm. Overall output is quoted at 168kW.Despite still being underpinned by an iteration of the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance ‘CMF-CD’ platform the current model rides on, Nissan Corporate Executive of Family, Products & Components Strategy Richard Candler previously told CarsGuide there is a “very large amount of new”.For example, the structure is claimed to be completely different and much stiffer than before.Additionally there is a fresh interior design and a reworked strut front, multi-link rear suspension system with a wider track width.Three-cylinder, turbo-petrol pure-combustion models will be offered alongside the hybrid although it’s unclear whether 4x2 hybrid variants, popular X-Trail options in Australia (delivering 5.4L/100km economy), will be available in the States.All Rogue grades feature 90-degree opening doors, all LED exterior lighting, a 12.3-inch multimedia display and instrument cluster (both 14.3-inch on higher grades), 64-colour ambient lighting, wireless charging, multi-zone climate control, top-shelf safety and more.Announcing the newcomer, Nissan Americas Senior Vice President, Chief Product and Planning Officer Ponz Pandikuthira said, “We've created a hybrid SUV that delivers an agile and spirited driving experience while adding the benefits of a hybrid powertrain.“The instantaneous torque delivery, with a quiet and efficient powertrain, will redefine what hybrid means in this segment," he said.CarsGuide contacted Nissan Australia for comment on the new Rogue Hybrid’s arrival in the US and when a new fifth-generation X-Trail may come to local showrooms, a spokesperson telling us they “cannot comment on future product planning”.  

Toyota is about to change up its hybrid plans with confirmation that it will begin producing range-extender hybrid electric vehicles (REEV), but it may not be for the reason you think.Starting in the first quarter of 2027, Toyota will start building extended-range hybrids for the first time. The vehicles will be produced in China with Toyota predicting it will build 200,000 next year before increasing to 400,000 units in 2028.The move to build range-extender hybrids signals a significant shift for Toyota. The reasons behind the plan don't have much to do with Australia, but we could benefit from it.A range-extender hybrid uses a small petrol engine to charge the battery which powers electric motors. Basically, it's an electric vehicle with an onboard petrol generator.The main hybrid system Toyota uses is a series-parallel hybrid with a petrol engine and electric motor, both capable of driving the wheels independently of each other or together.The Toyota RAV4, Camry, Kluger and Corolla Cross all use a series-parallel hybrid systemToyota also makes plug-in hybrids, but in smaller numbers.So, here’s the kicker. Toyota is making range-extender hybrids so it can better compete against rival carmakers in China.China is going through a tumultuous time with fiercely competitive EV pricing as petrol cars fall out of favour. Hybrids, especially REEVs, are being pushed by China’s government as a way to diffuse the EV price war and allay concerns about available charging infrastructure. The incentives for buying range extenders are also designed to promote the take-up of these vehicles.REEVs are excellent for fuel economy and Nissan uses similar technology in models such as the X-Trail and Qashqai, but will it come to a Toyota RAV4 soon? The answer is no, not unless it has to in order to compete with REEV rivals in Australia.Toyota has so much invested in its series-parallel hybrid systems and such huge market dominance that it’s difficult to see how another hybrid will offer any kind of return on the effort to launch it.If fuel prices continue to fluctuate, Toyota could well change its tune.There are currently a limited number of REEVs available in Australia and this includes the Nissan X-Trail and Qashqai, Leapmotor's C10 and B10 REEV and the freshly launched Forthing 5.Hyundai is expected to launch a REEV variant of the Santa Fe SUV next year.

Geely has revealed the heavily updated 2026 EX5 ahead of its global launch.The EX5, which is already one of the best-selling electric mid-size SUVs in Australia, is set for a deeper upgrade than a typical facelift, moving from front-wheel drive to rear-wheel drive.It also comes with a huge power upgrade, with the current 160kW front-mounted motor being replaced by a 245kW unit on the rear. It also comes with an upgrade to the car’s max speed from 175km/h to 201km/h.The car has also grown in dimensions slightly, now 4636mm long, 1920mm wide and 1670mm tall, making it both taller and wider than the outgoing car.The brand also says the EX5 will make the switch to the latest generation version of Geely’s LFP ‘Aegis’ battery pack. Details are yet to be revealed, but given the company said it will enable the new SUV to charge in just 10 minutes, it suggests an upgrade to an 800-volt architecture.Certainly, it will be an upgrade from the EX5’s current max charging speed of 100kW, which results in a charge time of more than 30 minutes.It is also expected to boost range from the current car’s 410km WLTP from the modest 60.22kWh unit.In addition, with the space above the front axle freed up, the EX5 is set to get an under-bonnet storage area frunk for the first time.Exterior styling has received some tweaks, while maintaining the overall vibe. The front bumper has been redesigned to add a three-dimensional effect, while the rear lower bumper and tailgate-mounted spoiler have also been tweaked.One of the most noticeable changes are the new alloy wheels (available in either 18- or 19-inch designs).The interior has also been tweaked. The new car replaces the odd squircle steering wheel with a new round design also seen in the upcoming Monjaro EM-i, as well as a crystal-look multifunction control dial to replace the current plastic-look unit.There also appears to be re-designed seat trim, new two-tone colour schemes, and ambient lighting throughout.The car appears to maintain the same 10.2-inch digital instrument cluster and 15.4-inch multimedia touchscreen as before, as well as the flip-open storage tray and wireless phone charging bay.More details on the new EX5 are expected to be confirmed imminently for the Chinese market, with the brand focusing on its global aspirations.Geely Australia representatives told CarsGuide there was nothing to share yet on the future of the EX5 locally, although added there was more up the brand’s sleeve for the latter half of 2027.This is on top of the company doubling its model range in Australia in the next year. It has confirmed the Emgrand sedan and Monjaro mid-sizer are set to arrive in the first half, and they will be joined by the flagship Battleship 700 hybrid off-roader before the end of 2027.Stay tuned for more on Geely’s rapid range expansion soon as the brand solidifies its top-10 aspirations in the Australian market.

GWM says diesel has a huge role to play in Australia’s future, citing the 'incredible amount' of its customers demanding diesel in the ute and SUV space.The comments came at the launch of the brand’s new 3.0-litre turbodiesel engine, which made its Australian — and global — debut in the Tank 500 and Cannon Alpha this week.The engine in question is the brand's new 3.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel, producing 170kW and an impressive 620Nm. The brand also says that it is one of the few diesel offerings in the market that doesn't require AdBlue.It marks a rare launch of an all-new diesel engine in a market in which EV and PHEV uptake is only increasing.GWM offers a range of electrified options, but says diesel still has a key role to play for many of its customers.“While the industry is celebrating the equal split between petrol, diesel, ICE and EV, in the ute segment, and in the body-on-frame segment where Tank plays, 75 per cent is still diesel," says John Kett, GWM Australia and New Zealand Chief Operating Officer."Now I know it'll drop, but in that core space there's still an incredible amount of diesel customer base out there. Based on either geography, or how they use it, or their budget, they still want to do it, they still want to drive diesel. And we believe we'll have a technical advantage over many of those brands that have owned that segment for a long time."We know that there's still customers there, even though it's almost a sin to talk about, they're still buying."GWM will soon have one of the most powerful large SUVs in Australia, with the brand at last confirming its newly developed V8 engine will launch in our market next year.The brand stopped short of confirming which model the engine would be fitted to, but it is almost certain to be the Tank 700, which has already been earmarked for V8 power globally.GWM hasn't confirmed full technical details, yet, but it will be a 4.0-litre V8, which is a popular size and used by high-performance brands such as Mercedes-AMG, Aston Martin and more.GWM's GM of Marketing and Communications Steve Maciver said GWM is offering a wide variety of choice to Australians and it is paying dividends, so a V8-powered hero car makes sense."Now, are we going to sell V8s in volume in this country? No. Would we love to have it as a halo car? Absolutely. There's a high- and a low-performance potentially coming, so yes, the V8 could go into a Tank, but it could also potentially go into a hypercar as well," said Maciver.