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A chunky little SUV with more-than-usual off-road capability has achieved something few have ever been able to achieve consistently – attract more genuinely new customers than returning ones.The Renault Duster has cracked the sales conquest code that is considered the Holy Grail by every manufacturer, with up to three-out-of-four buyers for the little off-roader new to the carmaker in Australia.According to Renault Australia General Manager, Glen Sealey, this turns the usual ratio on its head, meaning the small SUV will bide well for the longevity of the product in this country.“With Duster it’s almost all conquest,” he revealed to CarsGuide.“For Symbioz (a larger mid-sized SUV coming to Australia in the final quarter of this year to act as an indirect replacement to the now-discontinued larger Koleos SUV), we see greater loyalty.“That’s because the Renault customer of the last 10 years is expecting a higher level of premium, whereas Duster customers are happy with what they've got.”This reflects the series’ massive success in Europe since the original Duster was launched to acclaim as a tough, basic crossover in 2010, where it is built and sold by Renault’s Dacia value brand from Romania using many off-the-shelf parts (namely from the Clio) to keep prices down.Sealey admits that the Duster still has some way to go, with only around 300 units sold in Australia so far this year, compared to well-over 10,000 registrations for the similarly priced Hyundai Kona.“It's going to take some time for that vehicle to find its place in the marketplace,” he concedes.“But we do see the people that didn't buy Duster would buy Symbioz. It's all conquest. More than any other car we've got. Which is a good thing. Brings new people to the brand.”Reasons for the Duster’s broad appeal is its accessible pricing, chunky styling, versatile and hardy interior, handy extra ground clearance and off-road-enhancing technology in the optional 4WD model.This positions this Renault model halfway between every other small SUV like the Chery Tiggo 4 and tough, proper off-road mini 4WD Suzuki Jimny – something that the French brand has been keen to exploit.“I'd say we're not unhappy with Duster,” Sealey added. “We're very conscious that Duster walks into a very competitive market.“If I look at (the Suzuki) Jimny, it took 21 years before it actually started to sell any volume. Duster is a new nameplate for a smaller brand in a very crowded market place.“We think Duster will continue to grow and we think it’s going to find its space,” Sealey believes.“And what we've seen, from every person who's bought one, is that they love it. They love the fact that it's fun to drive. It delivers a very honest and unique driving experience. Absolutely, and that (sales growth) will happen like that. But and it will be osmosis.”

Australia’s most treacherous car crash site has been identified through analysis of close to 400,000 insurance claims lodged across the country in 2025.The 2026 AAMI Crash Index highlights Springvale Road in Glen Waverley, Victoria as “Australia’s No.1 crash hotspot” at the same time calling out mornings and Fridays as “peak prang periods nationally”.Victoria, more specifically Melbourne, accounted for nine of the national top 10 sites listed, with Pennant Hills Road, Carlingford in Sydney’s north-west the only outlier.The index analysed more than 394,000 motor insurance claims lodged across Australia between January 1 and December 31, 2025. And the data has highlighted clear similarities across these high frequency crash locations: busy arterial roads, traffic lights, major intersections, shopping precincts, car parks and heavy stop-start traffic.In announcing the results AAMI said, “These are roads where congestion, merging traffic, turning vehicles and momentary lapses in concentration create the perfect conditions for everyday driving mistakes.”And tellingly, Springvale Road, Glen Waverley has knocked off Plenty Road, Bundoora in Melbourne’s north-east as Australia’s No.1 crash hotspot for the first time in eight years.Unsurprisingly, nose-to-tail impacts remain the most common type of collision, followed by failure to give way and collisions with stationary objects.While Melbourne dominated the national Top 10, the rest of the country didn't receive a free pass, with the following locations having the dubious honour of topping their home state or territory.Melbourne: Accounts for nine of the national Top 10.Sydney: Pennant Hills Road in Carlingford ranked ninth nationally.Brisbane: Mains Road, Sunnybank.Perth: Albany Highway, Cannington.Adelaide: North East Road, Modbury.Hobart: Sandy Bay Road, Sandy Bay.Canberra: Hindmarsh Drive, Phillip. Darwin: Trower Road, Casuarina. AAMI cites bad habits like following too closely, braking late, misjudging turns and failing to anticipate changing traffic conditions as common precursors to a sheet metal interface.Announcing the index results AAMI Motor Prevention Manager Mary Kennedy said, “The hotspots topping our list all share similar traits — heavy traffic, multiple lanes, traffic lights, major intersections, shopping precincts and constant turning movements, where even a momentary lapse in concentration can lead to a crash.“Mornings and Fridays are peak prang periods nationally, when school pick-ups, commuters, shoppers and heavy traffic all converge. It is a timely reminder to slow down mentally as much as physically, stay patient and avoid distractions.“Whether you are driving through Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide, Hobart, Canberra or Darwin, the message is the same: leave a safe gap, look further ahead, take extra care at intersections and avoid rushing through busy traffic,” she said.

We all secretly knew it, but now it's official: Ute and four-wheel-drive owners rarely use their vehicles as intended.Utes and rough-and-tumble 4WDs are some of the best-selling vehicles in the country, and if you have ever spent any time on the road you'll see it is dominated by Ford Rangers, Toyota HiLuxes and Pradoes and a range of newer vehicles such as the BYD Shark 6, GWM Tank 300 and Denza B5.Now new data from Continental tyres shows most high-riding and rough-road-ready vehicles rarely make it out of the suburbs.The survey polled 2000 Australian ute and 4WD owners across the country aged 18-years-old and above.Only 18 per cent of those surveyed said they had used their vehicle’s off-road capabilities frequently, while 22 per cent said they never went 4WDing.A further 21 per cent said they had gone off-road once or twice, and shockingly two per cent said they weren’t even aware of their car’s off-road ability.Of the drivers surveyed, 33 per cent said they take their vehicle off-road every few months, while 22 per cent said they never take their ute or 4WD off-roading. Twenty one per cent said once a year and only six per cent said every weekend,Surprisingly only 22 per cent of respondents said they bought their ute or 4WD for its off-road ability, with towing capacity (21 per cent) and space for the family (20 per cent) also the main reasons for the purchase.But if people aren't going off-road regularly, what are they using them for?The most common use of the vehicle was for grocery runs, with 57 per cent of those polled stating they do that on a weekly basis.This was followed by commuting to work (52 per cent) and weekend getaways (41 per cent).Only 20 per cent said they used the vehicle for camping or off-roading weekly.And the most common off-roading use in suburban areas was to tackle gravel or dirt carparks followed by grassed areas at local parks or sports fields.And the biggest challenge for utes and 4WDs? That’s parking in tight carparks and driving in poor weather conditions, followed by hitting a pothole.

Owners of European premium brands are trading in their cars for more affordable Chinese-branded cars, according to Omoda Jaecoo’s local boss.Chery’s burgeoning offshoot, Omoda Jaecoo, has experienced significant growth in the past 12 months, rolling out three models with multiple powertrain variants in quick succession.Capitalising on Australian buyers’ hunger for more affordable, feature-packed cars, Omoda Jaecoo sales have increased by a whopping 1177 per cent year on year, albeit off a lower base and fewer models.With four models available - the Omoda 9 and Jaecoo J5, J7 and J8 SUVs, the brand is now outselling bigger names like Honda, Suzuki, Lexus and another rising Chinese marque, Zeekr.Those sales have to come from somewhere, and Omoda Jaecoo Australia Chief Commercial Office Roy Munoz says while not many people are coming in and cross shopping with other Chery brands, he has some idea of the brands they’ve nabbed buyers from.“Not much of a Chery cross shop, surprisingly, and it's a mixed bag at the moment. We don't have specific data, but what we can see from the past 12 months are the vehicles that are being traded in,” he told CarsGuide.“So you might have a buyer from a legacy volume brand. You might have buyers from legacy premium brands also. So the likes of BMW, Mercedes, Audi, even JLR (Jaguar Land Rover) customers maybe stepping into the likes of a (Jaecoo) J8 or an Omoda 9 or even a J7 as well, even down to J5. So it's hard to pinpoint exactly where they're coming from, but customers are responding well just to that value proposition of these products.”Being one of the fastest growing brands by sales not just in Australia, but globally, is a solid flex, but Munoz explained it doesn’t come without challenges, especially in relation to customer experience.“Well, customer experience, it's always easier to say is the primary focus and hard to do in practice, right? So, I guess in establishing ourselves, yes, being a fast-growing brand, it's not necessarily just about the sales. So, you could be fast growth in terms of sales, but are you fast growth in service? And by that I mean, are you fast to respond? Do you have parts readily available? Are customers generally happy? So for us, growth in terms of sales, yes, that is important. But sustainable growth, to be able to service and support your growing customer base is probably even more important for us.”Munoz acknowledged the new auto brand still has a ways to go when it comes to building a robust aftersales program, but highlighted where it is investing.“We still have a bit of work to do, and the work is being done as we speak. We're investing in not just human resources, but in our parts warehousing as well, parts supply, technician training, and ensuring that, because aftersales sells your second, third, fourth car. Sales sells your first car, primarily. So that customer advocacy is something that you don't build overnight. It’s built over time, and it's built through every customer interaction. So we treat each one as seriously as each other.”Munoz wouldn’t be drawn on sales targets for Australia, and he also said there’s no hierarchy within Chery Group dictating that Chery must be the top brand with others like Omoda Jaecoo, Lepas and iCaur sitting behind. This was once Hyundai Group’s strategy years ago - Hyundai was the main brand and Kia the smaller sister brand.“No, I guess we've got our own sort of strategies and growth ambitions. Certainly, as long as it's a Chery brand, we'd love to see it on top. Chery on top. Sorry, had to throw that in there. But certainly, I think you'll find when you look at the global data… in some markets Chery might be selling better, in other markets Omoda Jaecoo might be selling better. It really depends on how the market responds to those brands. But I've said it before: as long as a customer has purchased a Chery Group product, they're a winner.”

Mitsubishi could be planning an all-out hybrid assault with its new Pajero 4WD and Triton ute.The Japanese brand is reportedly planning to make its Thai manufacturing facility a production and export hub for electrified vehicles. Mitsubishi builds the Triton ute in Thailand and will produce the coming Pajero there, too.Mitsubishi Motors Chairman and CEO Takao Kato made the announcement on a recent visit with the Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, according to Nikkei Asia.The Japanese carmaker’s Thai production facility will reportedly be focusing on producing electrified versions of the Triton ute, as well as the forthcoming Pajero SUV.This indicates that Mitsubishi could be fast-tracking electrified versions of both the Triton and Pajero. The former vehicle is currently only available with diesel engines and the latter hasn’t been revealed yet, but it’s expected to share componentry.Around the reveal of the current, sixth-generation Triton ute in 2023, Mitsubishi had claimed it was developing an electric version.In October 2025, Mitsubishi Engineering Fellow Kaoru Sawase told CarsGuide the Japanese carmaker is still looking to make an electrified version of the Triton, but it’ll now more likely have a hybrid powertrain.“Of course there’s a need to reduce CO2 emissions,” said Sawase.“So along with the flow of the times, there is a need to develop Triton HEV, so we are working on that.”“So first we have to work on hybrid, not the way of plug-in hybrid.“In the past, we have announced to launch the battery electric vehicle Triton. But now the reaction has shifted a little bit.“We are now trying to quickly launch the electrified vehicle.”It’s worth noting that Mitsubishi already makes electrified vehicles at its Thai manufacturing plant. These include the Xforce Hybrid, Xpander Hybrid and Xpander Cross Hybrid.There are currently no Mitsubishi plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) or electric vehicles (EVs) made in Thailand.Globally the Japanese carmaker has already committed to introducing 13 new models, including five hybrid and PHEV models, over the next five years.It’s unclear how many of these new electrified models will be produced in Thailand.Although diesel-powered vehicles are still incredibly popular in Thailand, the local government is looking to boost and incentivise the production of electric vehicles (EVs).This has already caught the attention of many Chinese carmakers who have set up Thai production hubs for export markets. Examples include BYD, Chery, GWM and MG.This pressure from the Thai government and the investment from Mitsubishi to introduce more Thai-made electrified vehicles may benefit its Australian arm if the vehicles produced launch locally.Mitsubishi did receive credits last year from the recently instated New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES) in Australia for beating its fleet CO2 targets, however these targets are tightening every year.One of the few ways of reducing the company’s fleet CO2 emissions, besides buying credits from other carmakers, is by introducing more low-emissions vehicles, like hybrids and EVs.Mitsubishi already offers the Outlander PHEV and has remaining stock of the discontinued Eclipse Cross PHEV in Australia.The Japanese carmaker has also confirmed it will be launching an EV that has been co-developed with Taiwanese carmaker Foxtron in Australia before the end of 2026.At this stage Mitsubishi hasn’t confirmed any other electrified vehicle launches in Australia yet.

Just like the dreaded difficult second-album syndrome that can inflict music artists after a smash debut, sometimes carmakers really struggle to replace a successful and/or acclaimed model with something equally so.Arguably history’s first was when the original car to put the world on wheels, the Ford Model T from 1908, was replaced by the Model A. While infinitely better, it also had infinitely more competition in 1927, and so couldn’t hope to replicate the T’s legacy.Here, then, are five of the most infamous in Australian motoring history.Built on a shortened version of the then-new Liberty platform, the original Impreza range barely made a ripple – until the WRX (World Rally Cross) turbo AWD arrived in 1993, redefining small-car performance, dominating rallying for years, and becoming a Sony Playstation superstar along the way. The Subaru came to define the era.But when the hotly anticipated 2000 redesign, leaked online with its buggy round headlights and bulkier proportions, howling disapproval ensued – as did one of the first trials by internet – forcing an unscheduled and embarrassing major facelift within two years.Controversial statement time: the Bugeye is the G2 Impreza to buy, not the Blob-eye or Hawk-eye that followed (and reeked of desperation).Nissan’s Datsun 510 Bluebird – or 1600 as it was known in Australia – was an elegantly minimalist mid-sized sedan from Japan with engine and suspension design engineered by the Prince Motor Company of Skyline fame and inspired by the 1966 BMW 1602/2002 that preceded the original 3 Series.At the time, Japanese cars were still largely dynamically deficient, but the Datsun broke through with buyers and critics alike, while also enjoying enduring motorsport success. This was Nissan’s golden era, with the CSP311 Silvia, B10 Sunny/1000 and Fairlady 240Z highly prized today.However, the 1600’s 180B successor traded all that in for a fussy, dreary and ponderous bore that sold strongly but failed to inspire. Datsun even tried to resurrect the spirit of the 1600 with the similarly styled but dynamically dreadful Stanza of 1978. This was Nissan’s first ‘malaise era’.Dishonourable mention: Datsun B110 1200 to B210 120Y.A facelift of the fourth-generation Commodore, the VE of 2006, the VF has the heartbreaking legacy of being Australia’s last-ever locally designed, engineered and built passenger car.It also spawned all-time greats like the HSV GTS-R, was exported to North America and the UK, and – like Ford’s final Falcon – represented unparalleled value given its performance, front mid-engine/rear-drive layout and sports-sedan (and wagon/ute) styling. A true Aussie legend.Importing the smaller, front-wheel-drive mid-sized Opel Insignia from Germany was never going to cut it as a replacement, but the resulting ZB wouldn’t have been so bad if Holden hadn’t insisted on Commodore badges, infuriating fans in the process.Yet, in key areas and due mainly to its newer development, the ZB was a superior family car to the VF, but it wasn’t a true Commodore. Australians shunned it and the plug was pulled by the end of 2019.The fifth-generation Falcon was the all-Australian EA of 1988. Though considered at the time as one of the best-looking new sedans in the world, it was plagued with quality issues that, to Ford’s credit, were quickly resolved. And by the time the EL facelift arrived in 1996, this Falcon series was considered best in class, and jostled with the VS Commodore for domination.But the AU Falcon bombed. People despised its droopy styling and strange grille, especially against the handsome VT Commodore that consequently surged ahead in popularity.Today, it is the Falcon that is more revered, but the AU’s failure forced its maker down a path of debt that, while leading to the legendary Barra and Territory as this country’s only-ever locally made SUV, eventually also collapsed Ford’s Australian manufacturing division after 91 years. A brutal legacy.With its classy American styling update over the preceding, fussy EJ, the 1963 EH Holden was a monumental success, becoming the fastest-selling local car in history with nearly 257,000 sold in just 18 months.That’s an incredible 14,275 monthly registration average, fanned by the introduction of the all-Australian ‘Red’ engine, replacing the old ‘Grey’ anchor that dated back from 1948. At the time, it was considered one of the most advanced and efficient in the global General Motors empire.As it turned out, compact by today’s standards, the EH also came to represent the perfectly sized and proportioned Australian family car as well – a realisation that came way-too late, because its 1965 HD Holden replacement was too big and awkward-looking to resonate in the same way.While not strictly a failure – initial order numbers set records for GMH – the HD’s sales quickly ran out of puff, dropping the monthly sales rate average to 12,780.This gave the rapidly-evolving Falcon a leg-up with consumers that eventually led to the Ford outselling its Holden rival some years later.That gradual chipping away all began with the HD.

Renault is officially discontinuing its current Koleos mid-size SUV in Australia after 10 years of being on sale and there may not be an available direct replacement for a period.“The current-generation Renault Koleos is in run-out after a stellar run as one of Renault Australia's most popular models, with more than 21,000 examples sold,” said a Renault Australia spokesperson.“Now available from $36,990 drive-away with a $2000 cashback offer, all remaining inventory – complied to meet current motor vehicle regulations – is expected to be sold out by the end of this year.”The reason why the Koleos is being discontinued is due to it not meeting an Australian Design Rule (ADR) pertaining to autonomous emergency braking (AEB) performance, called ADR 98/00. It came into effect for all new vehicles produced from March 1, 2025.While the current Koleos does have AEB, it does not meet the specific requirements outlined by ADR 98/00.This means that Renault was able to stockpile at least 18 months worth of the Koleos stock before the ADR came into effect. Production of this South Korean-made model also ended in 2025.The Koleos is far from the only vehicle to be affected by the implementation of ADR 98/00. Other examples include the Mitsubishi Pajero Sport and Eclipse Cross, as well as the Suzuki Ignis and Mazda 6.With the axing of the current Koleos, this leaves Renault without a mid-side SUV that isn’t purely electric-powered in Australia for the time being.However, the French carmaker has many alternatives available in its global portfolio, though none have been locked in for an Australian launch yet.Examples include the South Korean-produced Grand Koleos and Filante, the Spanish-produced Austral, Espace and Rafael, as well as the Turkish-made Boreal.“As we have said before, Renault Australia is in the middle of a model revitalisation,” said Renault Australia Managing Director Glen Sealey earlier this month.“And while we won’t talk numbers or volume, we are well progressed with our long-term plan.“Renault has a vast catalogue of vehicles and we continually assess what is available to us and which ones best suit the needs – and price ranges – of Australian customers.“We’re not going to reveal all our future model plans today, but we can tell you there are another six new or refreshed models now due over the next two years.“And we have plenty to get through before then.”It’s understood that three of these six new Renault models are the Symbioz small SUV, Master E-Tech electric commercial van and the updated Megane E-Tech electric small SUV.At this stage the other three forthcoming Renault vehicles remain unclear and unconfirmed.

Mazda has subjected its CX-60, CX-70, CX-80 and CX-90 large SUVs to a range-wide shake-up in Australia.These cars form part of Mazda's large-platform family SUV range, with many now significantly more affordable than before.The CX-60 and CX-70 feature two-rows of seating, while the CX-80 and CX-90 are three-row SUVs.All are available with 3.3-litre turbo six-cylinder engines in either petrol or diesel. The CX-60 is also available with a smaller G25 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine, while the CX-60 and CX-80 are available with a P50e plug-in hybrid drivetrainDiesel-powered examples used to incur a small hike on their petrol-powered siblings.Mazda has now introduced price parity between petrol and diesel models across all grades of its family SUVs.A petrol CX-60 will now start from $51,640, before on-road costs, which is $900 more than it cost before.The base diesel variant is also offered at that price, representing a $1100 decrease.Next up, the CX-70 now comes in at a more accessible price point. It starts from $73,020, equating to a more than $3000 drop for the petrol and more than a $5000 drop for the diesel. Mazda has introduced a base diesel CX-80 variant to the line-up that will start from $56,100.Its petrol sibling will be offered at the same price, resulting in a $400 increase.The petrol CX-90 is more than $3000 cheaper, starting from $66,100, while the diesel has come down by more than $5000. Mazda also lowered the price of its plug-in hybrid CX-60 and CX-80 SUVs, reducing the gap to its petrol- and diesel-only siblings.The CX-60 PHEV now starts from $56,640, coming down from $63,790. The CX-80 PHEV starts from $68,100, having previously started from $75,750.The cheapest CX-60, powered by a 2.5-litre petrol engine, has dropped by more than $5000, now starting from $45,640.Mazda is currently facing the highest New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES) fines out of any brand in Australia, due to its petrol- and diesel-heavy line-up.More affordable PHEV offerings could be key to staving off the impacts of more stringent emissions rules.CX-60 and CX-90 variants now come with front cross traffic brake and Cruising Traffic Support (CTS) with Driver Emergency Assist, to mirror the CX-70.The CX-60, CX-70, CX-80 and CX-90 large platform range have proved to be slow selling models for the usually high-volume Mazda, in what has been an overall slower sales year for the brand in Australia.2027 Mazda CX-60 pricing (before on-road costs)2027 Mazda CX-70 pricing (before on-road costs)2027 Mazda CX-80 pricing (before on-road costs)2027 Mazda CX-90 pricing (before on-road costs)

The new Toyota HiLux might have copped heat for not actually being all that new, and for its new design language, but that won't hurt sales, with Toyota forecasting another bumper year for its trusty workhorse.The new HiLux sports a new look, new rear tray steps and very welcome new cabin tech, but shares most of its important bits (its engine, its gearbox, its tray dimensions etc) carried over from the model it replaced.All of that in a segment that is shrinking, even as it's saturated with new, mostly Chinese players like the JAC T9, BYD Shark 6 and incoming Chery Stockman. "But with all that, the fact is that HiLux is still doing over 50,000," says Toyota Australia's VP of sales, marketing and franchise operations, John Pappas."And yes, it's crowded. It's hard to count how many of those options there are. But HiLux is still doing really well for us."The HiLux is down on numbers so far this year, dropping around 14 per cent over the first six months of 2026 to 22,607 deliveries. That means Toyota is forecasting real growth over the second half of the year to break the 50,000 barrier. That would put it about on par with its 2025 total of 51,297, but likely down by several thousand on its 2024 tally of 53,499.Part of the issue, Pappas says, is supply, with Toyota Australia securing increased HiLux production capacity for our market, part of an extra 10,000 vehicles headed to our shores to meet range-wide demand."We have very strong demand on Hilux, and we've been able to secure more production as part of this 10,000 in order to satisfy that demand," Pappas says."It's our number-one selling vehicle still."Also on the table to supercharge demand is the return of the HiLux GR Sport, which was removed from the lineup for this generation. Pappas won't be drawn on dates, but says the HiLux hero is on the cards for a comeback."We always look at those things. I love the GR Sport concept,of course. The more of those we can bring to life, the better. Nothing to announce at this stage,but we definitely would love to see it," he says. 

China’s XPeng is currently known for its electrified SUVs and passenger cars, but it hasn’t shut down the prospect of making a ute.“The format probably is something we are looking into,” said XPeng Vice Chairman and President Dr. Brian Gu to CarsGuide, noting how the term ute is used in Australia, rather than pick-up.“Clearly it’s not a big format in China because China doesn’t drive that format, but I understand in Australia, limited countries in Latin America or in Africa or Middle East, those are actually pretty popular.“So we are thinking about whether it’s a format we want to develop.”“It is going to require quite different development processes,” added Dr. Gu, specifically calling out the chassis.Tesla, which XPeng refers to as a key rival, already offers an electric pickup, called the Cybertruck.It’s a large pick-up that’s primarily aimed at the North American market, but is still not confirmed for a local launch despite previous reports.A number of other Chinese carmakers already offer electrified utes or pick-ups and many identify Australia as a key market for these types of vehicles.BYD offers the top-selling Shark 6, GWM offers the Cannon Alpha PHEV and soon the Cannon PHEV, JAC is launching the Hunter PHEV ute, Chery is soon launching the Stockman PHEV ute and MG is bringing the U9 EV ute.Japanese brand Nissan will bring its Frontier Pro/Navara Pro PHEV ute, which has been developed as part of a joint venture with China’s Dongfeng.XPeng may or may not develop a ute, but it is already developing SUVs that are capable of light off-roading.“Well, I think SUVs we understand and we want to make sure it’s capable of being driven not just in the beautiful highway lanes, but that can also take on certain … limited off-road capabilities,” said Dr. Gu.“In fact, some of the GX owners actually drove it off-road. It was actually not bad.”The XPeng GX recently launched in China and it is confirmed to come to Australia at some point. No concrete launch timing has been locked in yet.It’s available in China with both battery electric (BEV) and range-extender (REEV) hybrid powertrains.It’s built on a car-based platform, rather than a rugged ladder frame, called SEPA 3.0, which has an 800V electrical architecture, as well as semi-autonomous driving capabilities and rear-wheel steering.While the BEV version of the GX can be had in either rear- or all-wheel drive forms, the REEV version is only available with all-wheel drive.It remains to be seen whether XPeng is developing any vehicles with a body-on-frame chassis that are more capable off-road.