Hybrid cars

Forthing has revealed pricing and specs for its Taikon 5 SUV ahead of its Australian launch.The new-to-Australia brand from China and imported by Ateco, which also distributes LDV,  is offering both fully electric and range-extender hybrid versions of the new small SUV, with prices starting from $36,990.Unlike LDV, which is produced by MG-owner SAIC, Forthing is part of the Dongfeng Motor Group - a large manufacturer that has partnerships with Nissan and Peugeot in China.Both powertrain options are available across two trim levels, the base Luxury and top-spec Exclusive.The new SUV will go into battle against some tough competition, including the fully electric BYD Atto 2, which starts from $31,990, the popular Jaecoo J5, which starts from $36,990 for the fully electric version, or the Leapmotor B10 that is $37,888 for the entry-level version in either hybrid or electric form.The Taikon 5 is priced to compete with these main rivals across its two-variant, two-powertrain line-up.See the drive-away price-tags for the range in the table below.Forthing takes an interesting approach with the fully electric version using a front-wheel drive layout and the range-extender hybrid a rear-wheel drive set-up.Hybrid versions are equipped with a 1.5-litre four-cylinder engine producing 75kW/130Nm, which is not connected to the wheels and instead acts as a generator for its rear-mounted 120kW/240Nm electric motor.It is equipped with a 31kWh battery pack, allowing a 170km electric range according to the WLTP testing cycle, with a claimed/combined range of 937km with both a full charge and tank of fuel.The hybrid version can also charge on a fast DC pylon at a rate of 40kW for a charge time of 30 minutes, while the engine only requires entry-level 91RON unleaded for its 43-litre tank. In addition, both versions of the car are equipped with a vehicle-to-load discharging system at up to 3.5kW.The fully electric version is equipped with a front-mounted 150kW/340Nm electric motor and 64kWh LFP battery pack in both trim levels, which offers a WLTP driving range of up to 427km.It can charge at a rate of 80kW on a DC fast charger, allowing a 10 - 80 per cent charge time in 30 minutes.Efficiency figures for both powertrain options are yet to be revealed.The Taikon 5 Luxury in both powertrains features 19-inch alloy wheelsLED headlightsA 14.6-inch multimedia touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android AutoAn 8.8-inch digital instrument cluster10-way power adjust for the driver’s seat4-way power adjust passenger seatVentilation and message functions for the driver’s seatSynthetic leather interior trimA reversing cameraRear parking sensorsHeated side mirrorsFour-speaker audio systemThe Taikon 5 Exclusive grade in both powertrains addsPower tailgateFront parking sensorsRear window tintingPower folding side mirrorsWireless phone chargingLeather-trimmed steering wheel360-degree parking cameraPanoramic opening sunroofSix-speaker audio systemThe only option in the Taikon 5 range currently is metallic paints which carry a cost of $600.Notably, the Range-Extender hybrid versions and the Luxury EV are equipped with a tyre repair kit, while the top-spec Exclusive EV comes with a space-saver spare wheel.The Forthing Taikon 5 includes the following safety kit as standardAuto emergency brakingLane keep assist with lane departure warningBlind spot monitoringFront and rear cross traffic alertDoor exit warningAdaptive cruise controlTraffic sign recognitionSix airbagsTyre pressure monitoringAteco is offering the Taikon 5 with seven years or 200,000km of warranty coverage. It requires servicing every 12 months/15,000km for range extender hybrids, or 12 months/20,000km for full electric variants. Pricing is yet to be revealed.The Taikon 5 measures 4600mm long, 1680mm tall, and 1860mm wide. It features a wheelbase of 2715mm.Hybrid versions ride slightly higher than EV versions, at 1700mm tall, and the electric version weighs 100kg more than the hybrid, at 1920kg vs 1820kg respectively.The Forthing Taikon 5 is expected to hit dealerships before the end of June 2026.

Geely has revealed more details about its upcoming plug-in hybrid off-road SUV ahead of the 4WD’s launch later this year.Geely confirmed the boxy new SUV will produce a combined 830kW from a tri-motor hybrid system in a social post overseas. The company claims the Battleship 700 will be the most powerful plug-in hybrid off-roader by power-to-weight ratio (at roughly 290kW/ton).It also confirmed that it will feature at least a rear differential lock between the two rear axles, as hinted at by its off-road platform reveal at the Beijing Motor Show.The front axle connects the engine and electric motor to the wheels via a hybrid transaxle.Geely says this makes the upcoming off-roader “the world’s only mass-produced plug-in hybrid with three motors, four-wheel drive, and a differential lock.”It will also be equipped with an in-house developed ‘dynamic’ control system for on-road handling, which automatically can switch between front- rear- and all-wheel drive when needed, and will also feature what the brand says will be an ‘AI-enhanced’ off-road logic system.Other details the brand has previously drip-fed include an 800mm wading depth, ‘crab-walk’ mode, and an adjustable air suspension system.The Battleship 700 is expected to launch in China before the end of 2026, and the company has previously told UK media the new 4WD will be headed there, confirming right-hand drive production.The drip-feed of new details on this boxy off-roader come as Geely’s rival GAC has just unveiled and detailed its boxy off-roader, the Yue 7, which is expected in a similar time frame, and is also expected to make its way to Australia. With ‘only’ 400kW though, it appears Geely’s off-roader will be aiming at a higher positioning than GAC’s more Prado-adjacent offering.Both cars will arrive to challenge the existing boxy hybrid off-roaders from China, the GWM Tank 300 and 500, as well as the Denza B5 and B8.Expect full specs on the powertrain and confirmed off-road angles at a later date.The interior of the off-roader is also yet to be fully revealed, and images seen so far have been primarily pre-production or camouflaged examples.It is also expected the Battleship 700's architecture will spawn a ute, although the brand recently told CarsGuide this model is two to three years away and "will be a little different" from what we've seen so far.Geely has ambitions to be a top-five car company globally, although at a local level it has a more slowly-but-surely approach compared to some of its contemporaries.For example, the boss of the local operation, Alex Gu, told CarsGuide it planned to have a slowly-but-surely approach to its model roll out, in order for each of its product offerings to be a success in their respective segments.“We don’t want to make chaos. So we’ll bring each model to a segment in a significant position, this is our target,” he said.He said he considered around 1000 units a month the bar for "success".Gu noted the brand’s only two products to the market to date, the EX5 and Starray EM-i are relative successes and top-three sellers in their respective fully electric and plug-in hybrid sub-categories.Next for Geely is the EX2 fully electric hatchback before the end of 2026, and the Emgrand sedan, due early next year. From there the brand is plotting at least one three-row SUV, which could be either this Battleship 700 or the M9, which is a more road-going alternative.

Depending on how old you are, the name Testarossa either means something, or everything. In the mid-1980s, we're talking proper dog-eared-posters-stuck-to-bedroom-wall status here.There was also the small volume V12 Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa (250 TR) sports racer built from 1957 to 1961. But in the '80s it was a 4.9-litre, flat 12-cylinder engine producing the power, making an inconceivable 287kW and 490Nm, and earning the wedge-shaped icon a place among the most powerful supercars in existence at the time.I'm giving you this little history lesson because the Testarossa name is back, only this time it's attached to the plug-in hybrid Ferrari 849 Testarossa. And if you're one of those people who think electrification has no place in the supercar world, just relax for a second. Because the new Testarossa's outputs make the 1984 version seem every bit as exhilarating as a Segway.We're now talking 772kW and 842Nm, generated via the combination of a 4.0-litre twin-turbocharged V8 paired with three electric motors, all of which combine to produce an electrified powerhouse of genuinely epic proportions. The other thing that's gone skywards is the price. It's hard to believe, but that 1984 Testarossa listed for as low as US$85,000, or $121,000. This one starts at $932,648.The numbers only tell part of the 849 story, but we'll cover them off quickly anyway. The 100km/h benchmark arrives in 2.3 seconds, with 200km/h taking just 6.35 seconds from a standing start. Top speed is a claimed 330km/h. The turbo is the biggest ever fitted to a Ferrari production car, while the electric motors (responsible for around 160kW on their own) are arranged with one at the rear and two at the front. The 7.45kWh battery delivers an EV driving range of 25km.And yes, some of those are big and impressive numbers. But the bigger story here is the feel, the emotion, that the 849 Testarossa generates in great big bucketloads. The thrum (this time less orchestral and more mechanical) of the exhaust. The spectacularly direct steering. The sense of car and driver as one.But weirdly the thing that really got myself and my fellow testers the most excited wasn't the brutal acceleration (which was surprising, as this genuinely one of the fastest-feeling cars I've ever driven), but was instead the bull-whip crack of what might be the sweetest, sharpest gearshifts in existence.In this new Testarossa, it's an eight-speed dual-clutch transmission the brand says is derived from its F1 division, and the feel of a flat-footed shift upwards, or a hard-braking downshift into a corner, is genuinely visceral in its action. If you still long for manual gearboxes, the 849 will cure you of that ailment. You end up searching for extra reasons to reach for one of the paddle gearshifters, just to feel and hear the shifts.Driven at noise, this two-seat rocket is a vehicle that demands attention. And not just from the driver (seriously, this is a car that collects speed in such an other-worldly fashion that constant focus is required – blink too long and it feels like you're in a teleportation device as, when your eyes open, you're a long way away from where you were when you closed them), but from anyone in its vicinity, too, with the Ferrari seemingly sucking in bystanders like a vortex, especially in Italy, where even clapping eyes on the latest from Maranello is a near-religious experience.It's also, somehow, not terrifying. The fact that it's AWD and not a snap-happy rear-drive set-up probably helps to settle the nerves. But also the fact that it's something approaching comfortable as a commuter, helped by its adaptive damping, and even has a silent and front-wheel-drive EV mode for city motoring, helps to smooth some of the 849's more murderous edges. That and the fact that Ferrari has a whole heap of high-tech help on board – headlined by something called the Ferrari Integrated Vehicle Estimator, which adjusts its level of control to the quality of your driving – designed to keep you on the tarmac without ever feeling like it's babying you. Driven at noise, the Testarossa is a car that demands attention. And not just from the driver (seriously, this is a car that collects speed in such an other-worldly fashion that constant focus is required), but from anyone in its vicinity, too.The styling was controversial at its unveiling, mostly because of its two-level nose design and blocky rear end with its centralised and mid-mounted exhaust exits, but it grows on you fast. I can also attest that the nose feels every bit as low to the ground as it looks, and you will become quickly accustomed to the nose-lift function, which gives you an extra three centimeters of clearance.Downsides? As is pretty predictable with Ferrari, none turn up in the drive experience. But the interior tech takes some getting used to. With no traditional centre screen, almost all functions are controlled through the steering wheel – including some of the drive modes, like 'EV' – and you have to 'wake up' the digital panel before selecting one. Which I didn't know, and so instead just blindly stabbed at areas until the Ferrari did what I wanted.It also feels very, very big, at 4718mm in length and 2304mm in width. When you're driving at speed you don't notice it, as I'm sure you wouldn't on a racetrack, but I can assure you threading your way through tight Italian streets in a million-dollar supercar can feel like you're playing a very high stakes version of Operation.So, is the 849 Testarossa a worthy wearer of one of Ferrari's most iconic nameplates? You betcha.

Freelander, a new joint-venture brand between Land Rover and Chery, has detailed its upcoming debut model thanks to regulatory filings in China.The Freelander 8 was previously confirmed to be a large SUV, measuring 5118, 2050mm wide, and 1890mm long, with an enormous wheelbase of 3040mm, featuring a luxurious six-seat layout, as is popular in China.This makes the new Freelander-branded SUV about the opposite of the original Land Rover Freelander, where it played a role as the company’s smallest and most affordable vehicle.It was also known that the Freelander 8 would exclusively be a range-extender hybrid at launch, meaning it will drive the wheels only via electric motors, keeping a 1.5-litre turbocharged engine on board to serve only as a generator for its battery.New technical filings, which are required for vehicles to apply for tax exemptions in China, confirm the Freelander 8 will use an EV-sized circa-60kWh battery, allowing it a 221km pure electric driving range (seemingly a preliminary CLTC figure, more lenient than the WLTP standard more widely used in Australia), built by CATL, the world’s biggest battery manufacturer.Its 1.5-litre engine has a power output of 115kW, although no torque figure or combined outputs from its dual-motor set-up is available yet.In addition, the Freelander 8 will have a new all-terrain software system and will also feature a front mechanical differential lock, and a simulated electronic centre differential (with no mechanical linkage between the front and rear motors), and a rear electronic limited slip differential.As previously reported, the Freelander 8 will also feature dual-chamber air suspension. In addition, the large SUV will feature the latest Huawei-developed active safety and self-driving system in its Chinese home market. It will also feature a towing capability, with its capacity for the Chinese market set to 2000kg.Other new details include a battery-drained average fuel consumption of 8.18L/100km, and an apparent overall weight of 2980kg. The battery alone weighs 372kg.A full battery electric version of the car is expected to follow at a later date.The Freelander 8 is the first in a range of new Freelander vehicles, and the brand is expected to expand globally after its launch in China in the second half of 2026.According to Chery's local operation, the Freelander brand is confirmed for Australia, although it won’t be distributed by the local Chery factory-backed arm and will operate independently. It has said the same about its off-road focused own brand, Jetour, which has a similar range of boxy hybrid SUVs.Chery will need to work hard to separate its array of brands which are on the way with the ones it already offers in Australia. Currently it offers products under the Chery brand, and has a separate operation which sells cars under the Omoda/Jaecoo brands.Lepas, another passenger car marque which will use the same platforms and technology as Chery and Omoda/Jaecoo vehicles is set for an imminent launch, while Jetour is expected to follow at a later stage.Stay tuned for more information on the Freelander brand including its Chinese launch as well as its launch plans for Australia imminently.

Mini's biggest car is getting a smaller range, as the updated model comes with less options.The Mini Countryman small SUV will also come with a mild hybrid set-up. The 2027 Countryman will start from $54,490 (before on-road costs), but was previously available from just under $50,000 in Australia.The cheapest AWD grade starts from $60,490, while the range-topping petrol variant starts from $75,490. The mild hybrid Countryman is cheaper than the Volvo XC40 ($54,990). Electric variants of the Countryman have also increased in price, with it now $4000 more expensive for the base car (from $68,990), while the top of the range is now an extra $1000 (from $73,990). This means the Countryman is even more expensive than before compared to the rival Renault Megane E-Tech, which recently saw its price dropped to $49,990 (drive-away).Base mild hybrid variants of the Countryman have received a boost to performance, with its 1.5-litre three-cylinder turbo-petrol engine now producing 125kW and 280Nm. There is also more power for the AWD grade, with its 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol engine producing 160kW and 360Nm.The new mild hybrid system has not resulted in better fuel efficiency for the Countryman, but it does appease more stringent emissions requirements in Europe.EV variants of the Countryman have received a subtle increase to driving range. Two-wheel drive variants offer 501km (WLTP), while AWD has 467km. The updated Countryman has become available in Australia after debuting in Europe earlier this year.2026 Mini Countryman pricing Australia  

China’s Changan has updated its range-extender hybrid (REEV) dual-cab ute for 2026 with more power and a larger battery.The Changan Hunter K50 is now available with a 43.47kWh lithium-ion battery pack which allows for a NEDC-claimed electric range of 192km and a total range of over 1000km.This is more electric range than any plug-in hybrid (PHEV) ute currently on offer in Australia, including the BYD Shark 6, GWM Cannon Alpha PHEV and Ford Ranger Hybrid.For context, the Hunter K50 is still offered with the previous 31.18kWh lithium-ion battery pack in certain variants which allows for 131km of NEDC-claimed electric range.Once the battery charge is depleted, it’s topped up by a 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine that acts as a generator and doesn’t directly power the wheels.Instead there are either one or two electric motors sending power to the wheels. The former is rear-wheel-drive only, whereas the latter has one on each axle, providing all-wheel drive.The extended-range, dual-motor version now has a more powerful total system output of 240kW. The standard-range variant produces 200kW.Another tweak with this model year update includes more robust vehicle-to-load (V2L) capabilities at up to 22kW. This is up from 3.3kW.At this stage it’s unclear whether this extended-range version of the Hunter K50 will be offered outside of China, however the pre-update, standard-range version is already offered in South Africa.This means there is already a right-hand-drive version of this ute, which suggests a potential Australian launch could be made easier.Changan currently doesn’t sell any of its vehicles in Australia under its namesake brand, however its Deepal brand is currently imported and distributed by Inchcape.In fact, Changan sells a Deepal-branded version of this REEV ute in Thailand already, which is another right-hand-drive market.Additionally, Changan has already rebadged a number of its vehicles as Mazdas as part of its Changan Mazda joint-venture company. These include the Mazda 6e and CX-6e which are both launching in Australia soon.While neither company has confirmed this, a Mazda-branded version of this range-extender ute may be under development as a low-emissions equivalent or successor to the Isuzu D-Max-based Mazda BT-50, which is made in Thailand.It’s worth noting that while Isuzu has already detailed an electric version of the D-Max, Mazda hasn’t done the same with the BT-50. It’s still only diesel-powered.Mazda Australia executives recently shot down claims that it was working on a Mazda-badged version of the Deepal E07 electric ute/SUV.For now we’ll have to wait and see when and what form this ute takes if it comes to Australia.

Honda has launched the refreshed CR-V with more than half of its line-up sporting a hybrid powertrain. Is it a step in the right direction for Honda to keep up with its hybrid-focused competitors?

Australia might be a big country, but we do like our small cars.These little vehicles are generally affordable and typically energy efficient — both the petrol and electric ones. They also fit into tight car spaces and zip through narrow city streets. These pint-sized machines can be fun and easy to drive, which makes them great first cars or even last cars for those who don’t need something giant.So, we have compiled a list of the five smallest cars in Australia.Dimensions: 3860mm long, 1735mm wide, 1520mm tallWho doesn’t like a Suzuki Swift? This Aussie favourite has just scraped into our top five at just under 3.9m long. The Swift is loved for its practicality, with four doors and five seats, and it’s fun-to-drive nature - especially the Sport version. There’s a choice of hybrid and pure petrol powertrains, but no fully electric Swift unfortunately. The Swift scored three stars out of five in its ANCAP safety test in 2024.  Prices start at $24,990 drive-away. Dimensions: 3858mm, 1967 wide, 1460mm tallWhoever said Minis were now so big they’re no longer mini was wrong - also, that was me who said it. The Mini Cooper three-door is the miniest Mini, and the electric version is a tad shorter than the petrol variant. And while it is shortest in height here and only just 3.8m long it’s actually the widest in our top five. The Mini Cooper has four seats, a 210-litre boot and scored the maximum five-star ANCAP rating.Prices start at $53,990 for the electric variant and $41,990 for the petrol version.Dimensions: 3825mm long, 1610 wide, 1575mm tallThe Hyundai Inster is a fully electric little SUV with four doors, four seats and a 351-litre boot.A range of up to 360km makes it very usable for city dwellers, or those who don’t do many miles each week.The Inster has rugged but cute looks, and a starting price of $39,000 makes the Inster a very affordable EV.The Inster scored four out of five stars in ANCAP tests. Dimensions: 3631mm, 1900mm wide, 1529mm tall The Fiat 500e has two doors, five seats and a 185-litre boot. Yep, it’s probably the least practical tiny car on our list but it's also one of the most fun to drive with its electric powertrain.It's a small car with a big price. The 500e starts at $58,900. Yes, that's outrageous, and we wouldn't be surprised if at some point the 500e is withdrawn from Australia due to the low sales. Still that might be a good way to bargain your way into one.It also scored four stars in safety tests.Dimensions: 3595mm long, 1595mm wide, 1485mm tallThe Kia Picanto is our top five tiny cars winner at less than 3.6m long. It’s also the most popular micro car in Australia and it's easy to see why. Its starting price is $19,190, the value and standard features are outstanding and it’s good looking. Four doors, five seats and 255 litres of boot space. It’s smaller than it sounds, seriously. There’s no EV version of the Picanto, and the one sold in Australia has a four cylinder petrol engine. The four-star ANCAP rating from 2017 is now out of date.

Mazda is preparing a hybrid-led onslaught with a difference, starting with its most popular model in the world, the CX-5.The all-new, in-house-developed 2.5-litre SkyActiv-Z petrol-electric hybrid technology will be unveiled sometime later next year, ahead of an Australian launch in 2028, and will supplant the current, G25 2.5-litre naturally-aspirated four-cylinder petrol/all-wheel drive (AWD) powertrain, democratising the technology for the masses.Mazda has already signalled the high performance/low consumption dual capabilities of this Euro-7 emissions-meeting hybrid.This means it could potentially replace two powertrains that have already been retired in the new KM-series CX-5: the G35 2.5-litre turbo-petrol internal combustion engine (ICE) flagship, as well as the slow-selling D22 2.2-litre turbo-diesel that was dropped in 2023.But we now understand that the SkyActiv-Z’s thermal-efficiency and ultra-lean combustion breakthroughs suggest that it may not need to rely as much on heavy electrification tech like batteries, motors and inverters.It could end up being a lighter, simpler and more cost-effective solution to a traditional hybrid set-up like Toyota’s.This may allow for multiple versions and applications for the SkyActiv-Z tech, including one that could fill in for the discontinued G20 2.0-litre front-wheel drive powertrain in the 2028 CX-5 line-up as the series opener. That honour currently resides with the new G25 Pure AWD from $39,990 before on-road costs.According to Mazda Australia Managing Director Vinesh Bhindi the intention is to make the CX-5 hybrid as competitive as it can be in the market so there will be no limitations placed in terms of accessibility or reach.“We haven’t locked down any specifications on front-wheel or all-wheel drive,” he explained to CarsGuide.“But I can confirm that we will have a more broad offering, as opposed to limiting (hybrid) to either the mid or high series (grades).“We will have a broad offering of the hybrid technology.”Whether the SkyActiv-Z hybrids render the remaining G25 2.5-litre unit obsolete remains to be seen.Given this has been the mainstay engine of the earlier CX-5 generations since 2013 in Australia (accounting for nearly 60 per cent of total volume last year), it will likely enjoy a stay of execution for some time yet to come.This is despite the big four-cylinder petrol engine’s advancing years and comparatively high emissions and the potential penalties that Mazda Australia will face keeping it on sale here due to the increasingly-stringent New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES).“But, alongside (the coming CX-5 hybrids), we think there will be a market for ICE for a long period yet,” Bhindi added. “Pure ICE.“And the way we're looking at it is, when you look at Mazda's portfolio of what we offer and will offer in the medium SUV segment, we will cater for the three categories of customers that I think will generally be available in the marketplace.“There will be a category that will say, ‘what's the most efficient?’ And that'll be battery electric vehicle (EV), and our CX-6e will be a very compelling option in the marketplace.“On the other side, we will have CX-5 ICE along with the hybrid, and then we also will have CX-60, which is offered in four powertrains – a 2.5L petrol, the inline six-cylinder diesel, inline six-cylinder petrol, and the plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV).”Bhindi believes offering a wide spectrum of choice gives Mazda the unique opportunity to tailor the sort of hybrids that will work best for the CX-5.“The reason why we have asked the program team to design something different to what's available in the marketplace with a hybrid,” he explained.“Because we have that broad coverage, and we want something that will be… special for Mazda customers, and that takes time and resources for the engineers to work out.”While Mazda Motor Corporation CX-5 Program Manager, Koichiro Yamaguchi, declined to divulge specific details about the hybrid, he did reiterate how on-brand it will be.“We want to make sure that our hybrid system delivers excellent performance elements, but we want to make sure that this is a very uniquely Mazda signature hybrid system that you will enjoy driving,” he told CarsGuide via an interpreter.“It should be a fun-to-drive hybrid.”With a back catalogue that includes the RX-8 rotary grand-touring sports car, wildly-successful second-generation (BL-series) 3/Axela small car and well-received CX-30 small SUV, the hybrid is in good hands with the 34-year Mazda veteran.“The SkyActiv-Z engine will match the technology of the gasoline engines… and at low revs-per-minute driving situations an electric system will strongly support this engine, and make sure that the fuel economy of this engine will satisfy customer expectations,” Yamaguchi-san said.“And we’re also pursuing Mazda’s unique signature driving fun, as that is something we are sticking to.”Asked if SkyActiv-Z will be a traditional series-parallel hybrid set-up like Toyota’s, more of a range-extender EV set-up as per the Nissan e-Power hybrid, or an in-between arrangement like Honda’s e:HEV, Yamaguchi said it will be its own thing.“Our system will be similar to none of those,” he revealed.“We are trying to get similar characteristics to the series-parallel system. But we are also aiming to offer a hybrid that has a driver-focused feeling, with an instant connection that is very good for the driver.”

A key affordable electric and range-extender hybrid family SUV has been given a refresh in China, and it could be headed to Australia next.The Leapmotor C10 has undergone noticeable design changes, with a generally boxier overall shape and an additional 10mm in length.There have been more changes inside the cabin.The C10 now gets a panoramic head-up display spanning the length of the dashboard.To accommodate a bigger 17.3-inch central touchscreen, there is a now a smaller 8.8-inch digital driver display now.The car has also gained more speakers for its audio system as well as heated, ventilated and massaging front seats.The C10 will continue to be available in range-extender and fully-electric set-ups, both of which are on sale in Australia.It appears there won’t be any changes to the performance of these models.The range-extender hybrid has a 1.5-litre petrol engine to charge the battery, and an electric motor producing 158kW and 320Nm.EV versions have an electric motor producing 160kW and 221Nm.It is unclear whether this update will see the car increase in price. The range-extender currently starts from $43,888 (before on-road costs), while the EV starts from $45,888.The C10 competes against the BYD Sealion 6 plug-in hybrid and Sealion 7 EV.The brand just announced a range-extender version of the smaller B10 SUV would join its Australian lineup.The B10 range-extender was priced the same as its fully-electric sibling, so could be the same deal with the updated C10 when it gets here.Earlier this year, Leapmotor brought across a special edition high performance variant of the C10, boosting power and torque to 440kW and 760Nm.It was the first C10 to feature an all-wheel drive, but it doesn’t look like the updated base model will have the system available.The new C10 will launch in China later this month, more information from an Australian perspective likely to come later on in 2026.