Industry news

CarsGuide’s mission is to provide in-market car buyers with the independent information they need to make an informed purchase decision.Keeping enthusiasts up to date with the latest new model and industry news is also a key focus, as is providing advice across everything from technical and mechanical issues to legal questions and maintenance tips.  And after providing all that info, we have cars listed for sale on the site. Getting up towards 100,000 of them, each appearing on carsguide.com.au, as well as Gumtree and Autotrader.Every conceivable configuration across a million different brands. New vehicles as well as used cars, the latter category often including ‘pre-loved’ classics.And if you’ve ever thought about getting into the collector car hobby there’s a smorgasbord of interesting options in there.You can go all out and spend eye-watering sums on a special vehicle but there’s plenty of fun to be had on a relatively modest budget.Here are our top five classic collector car options currently available across our three-site portfolio for less than $50K.The original owner of this imposing sedan strolled into H.R. Owen’s South Kensington dealership in West London and drove away in a 6.75-litre V8-powered gentleman’s club on wheels. Lustrous Brooklands Green finish, tan Connolly hide and “flawless” burr walnut veneer trim. Maybe best not to think about maintenance and potential repair costs.More infoAt just over 5.2 metres long Ford’s fourth-gen Thunderbird is a big beastie, but the standard 6.4-litre (390ci) V8 keeps it flying at a decent clip. This left-hand drive US import arrived here in 2020 and its Tropical Turquoise finish with two-tone green trim makes for a sure-fire stand-out. Those vast tail-lights are peak 1960s US automotive styling decoration.More infoAs its name implies this BF Falcon-based MK II Boss 290 GT is powered by a quad-cam, naturally aspirated 5.4-litre V8 producing 290kW/520Nm. Number 244 of close to 1800 BF GTs produced, it features the ZF six-speed auto transmission rather than the Tremec T56 manual gearbox. A lot of modern muscle car for the money.   More infoThe V2 Series 3 Monaro is propelled by the 5.7-litre Gen III LS1 V8 originally delivering 245kW/465Nm to the rear wheels, in this case via the four-speed auto option. The black (full) leather trim looks to be in good shape with the car in standard condition (which isn’t always the case) including the stock 18-inch five-spoke alloy rims. More infoNeed a bit of V12-powered Japanese limousine luxury in your life? How about an impeccable Toyota Century for less than $40K? This second-gen (GZG50) example is fit to ferry an Emperor with rear seat heating, recline and massage functions as well as soft-close doors and hectares of ultra-soft leather trim. So much indulgent bang for the buck!More info

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

Peugeot Australia has lost its local distributor, but fans of the French brand will be pleased to know all is not lost.Inchcape, which distributes Foton, Deepal and Subaru has handed back the keys to the selling rights of Peugeot after nearly a decade.It is understood Peugeot will remain in Australia, but whether it will fall under its parent company Stellantis’ Australian arm or another distributor is still under a cloud.“As part of Inchcape's standard approach to portfolio management, we continuously review our partnerships to ensure we have the right portfolio of brands for our business, aligned with our strategic growth objectives,” Inchcape Australasia said in a media statement.“As a result, Inchcape Australia and Stellantis have mutually agreed to end their distribution partnership for Peugeot in Australia, with the final date to be confirmed following a transition period. Stellantis has confirmed the Peugeot brand will continue in Australia and will provide updates on its local plans in due course.”Inchcape said it is working with Stellantis to ensure a smooth transition, as it continues to support owners, dealers and other partners.“Inchcape will continue to support the sale of existing stock, warranty and servicing during the transition period, while working closely with Stellantis as it progresses future distribution arrangements in Australia.“Throughout this time, customers will continue to have access to factory-trained technicians, genuine Peugeot parts, and ongoing servicing, including recall campaigns and diagnostic updates.”An Inchcape spokesperson told CarsGuide all new-vehicle orders will be fulfilled and added that potential Peugeot customers can still buy new or demonstrator stock via the dealer network.Inchcape has streamlined its range of brands in recent years, after jettisoning Peugeot's stablemate Citroen in 2024, and focusing on new Chinese brands Deepal and Foton. Inchcape has been the Australian distributor for Japanese marque Subaru for many years.When Inchcape dropped Citroen from its portfolio, the company said the niche French brand’s customers could continue to have their vehicles serviced at Peugeot dealerships.The writing was on the wall for Peugeot after a string of tough years that culminated in 373 sales through the first five months of this year, which was down 35 per cent compared to the same period last year.This follows a circa-29 per cent drop in 2025, and losing a quarter of sales in 2024.Peugeot last posted a positive result in 2023, when it grew sales by 20 per cent for a total of 2516.Peugeot’s Australian model line-up includes the 308 and 408 hatchbacks, 2008, 3008 and 5008 SUVs and a range of commercial vehicles including the Partner, Expert and Boxer vans.In late 2024, Peugeot put a pause on its Australian EV rollout plans for SUVs and passenger cars and dropped all plug-in hybrid models, instead focusing on hybrids. It continues to offer EVs in its van portfolio.Whether Stellantis Australia picks up Peugeot remains to be seen. Stellantis’ Australian arm counts Fiat, Fiat Professional, Abarth, Alfa Romeo, Jeep and new Chinese brand Leapmotor in its stable of brands.While Peugeot, Ram and Maserati fall under their umbrella globally the latter two brands are distributed by independent importer Ateco Group in Australia.Regardless of whether Stellantis Australia officially takes on the distributorship of Peugeot, a company spokesperson said in a statement that the company is committed to Peugeot’s Australian future.“Peugeot has a strong future in Australia, supported by a robust product pipeline and a clear long-term strategy. We intend to maintain continuity of distribution in Australia and will provide updates as arrangements progress.“We remain committed to our customers and partners throughout this period and are confident in the brand’s long-term prospects in the Australian market,” they said.

China’s latest budget electric car is about to hit Aussie showrooms.The Leapmotor B05 is priced from $35,990 (drive-away), placing it in close proximity to the GWM Ora 5 (from $33,990, drive-away) and MG4 (from $39,990, drive-away).There is also a long-range variant of the B05 available, starting from $39,990 (drive-away), making it $4000 more than the base car.All variants have a single electric motor, producing 160kW and 240Nm, with a 0-100km/h time of less than seven seconds.The long-range B05 comes with a 67kWh battery that provides a driving range of 482km, while a 56kWh unit in the base car offers 401km, both according to WLTP standards. These strong range figures for the hatchback are in part due to the car only being offered in a rear-wheel drive set-up. The car has DC charging capabilities at up to 174kW, meaning it can charge from 30-80 per cent in under 20 minutes on both variants. On the inside, there is a 14.6-inch central touchscreen display and an 8.8-inch digital driver display.It is also equipped with a wireless phone charger as standard, accompanied by wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The long-range grade adds a fixed panoramic glass roof with an electric sunshade, synthetic leather seats and a premium 12-speaker sound system.It also introduces electrically adjustable seats, with the front ones heated, as well as a heated steering wheel.Leapmotor said the B05 will arrive in Australia in late August 2026.It will join Leapmotor’s growing model line-up in Australia which includes electric and range-extender variants of its B10 and C10 SUVs. The B10 and C10 have been slow sellers in Australia as they target cheaper and more popular petrol-powered alternatives and face tough competition on the price front from Geely and BYD.Leapmotor will continue to bring across more models to Australia over the next 18 months, including the B03X compact SUV and the D19 large SUV.There is also a hot hatch variant of the B05 called the 'Ultra' being developed in China that could be on its way to Australia to top-out the range in the coming years as a new rival to the MG4 XPower.

Two of Japan’s biggest car manufacturers are edging closer to a game-changing team-up, and it could have huge implications for Australia. Honda Chief Executive Officer Toshihiro Mibe has told shareholders the brand is in final talks with Nissan to collaborate on key software information. The deal was described as a “win-win relationship” by Mibe.It will see the pair share electronic control units (ECU) responsible for in-vehicle systems and autonomous driving, among other things.The standardisation of ECUs will form the basis of the brands’ next-generation vehicles, many of which could be on their way to Australia in the coming years. These ECUs would also be used in future Mitsubishi vehicles as Nissan maintains a sizeable stake in the carmaker. Next-generation electrified cars are increasingly important in markets like Australia where there are now fines for high emitting engines, but neither Honda or Nissan offer substantial EV lineups Down Under and have been slower to roll-out affordable hybrids across their range compared to some rivals. Honda recently backtracked on its global EV plans and will instead focus on a hybrid strategy.The Super-One city car, due later this year, is the only confirmed electric offering from the brand.Nissan has more comprehensive EV model lineup, but it has just one EV on sale in Australia, which is its Ariya mid-size SUV.A collaboration between Honda and Nissan could provide the impetus required to produce more future electrified cars for markets like Australia.There are still issues for the brands to iron out, including development funds, but it looks like an agreement is not too far away, according to Nikkei Asia. It could be reached within the next few weeks, meaning the technology could be in cars before the end of the decade.This is all contingent on Nissan convincing Renault, as the French brand holds a 15 per cent voting stake in its alliance partner. Renault has previously presented a roadblock to Nissan, halting talks over a merger in the past.News of a partnership between Honda and Nissan comes as they struggle to stave off the increasing power of Chinese carmakers in global markets.Nissan President Ivan Espinosa recently said carmakers needed to learn from China."China is as of now setting the industry standards of the future in terms of technology, in terms of cost competitiveness and in terms of development time," Espinosa told Nikkei Asia.Chinese brands have formed relationships with mainstream carmakers to collaborate on products and technology. This collaboration has seen many of China’s carmakers surge up the sales charts across the world.Nissan has developed a strong relationship with Chinese brand Dongfeng over the years, mainly focussing on China-based models.It recently spawned the Nissan Frontier Pro plug-in hybrid ute, which is expected to be known as the Navara Pro when it arrives in Australia, likely next year. Honda hopes some type of collaboration in its deal with Nissan will get it back on track as it looks to overturn heavy financial losses. "We will internalise the means to beat emerging forces within three years," Mibe said. "If we don't, our four-wheel business will be in trouble. We will face this challenge with unwavering determination."Honda has its own relationship with Chinese carmaker GAC, but this venture has been embattled in recent years, thanks to a bruising price war in the Chinese domestic market, which has seen it sell cars at a loss.It has raised doubts that the GAC/Honda joint venture will continue after its renewal date comes due in 2028. The two brands have been partners for nearly 30 years.

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

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

GWM’s ‘wagon’ version of the incoming Ora 5 SUV has been spotted testing in China after rumours a longer version would join the ‘hatch’-shaped small SUV.The 2026 GWM Ora 5 is just about to fully launch in Australia, but early in its reveal stages there was word from GWM headquarters that there would be more body styles and drivetrain options.While Australia will only get the fully electric small SUV for now, priced from a very competitive $33,990 drive-away, spy photos of the wagon style from Chinese motoring outlet Autohome show the changes to the Ora for its more ‘wagon’ body style are focused entirely behind the rear doors.It’s unclear what the longer version of the Ora 5 will be powered by, but it would be surprising if it’s anything other than the same 150kW/260Nm electric motor the small SUV gets, which draws from a 58.3kWh battery for a driving range of about 430km.There’s also a hybrid and a petrol version, but for now GWM Australia says Ora will be an EV-only offering.The brand’s local Head of Marketing and Communications says there will be more Ora models down the line.“There will be further expansions that come in the Ora range this year,” GWM Australia’s Steve Maciver said earlier this year.“You’re going to see possibly one and even two additional Ora models to land in Australia this year as well.“(But) at this stage, Ora is focused on EV. There may be hybrid options in there as well… we’re not committing one way or another, but again, we’ve got plenty of options. “We’ve just got to work out what the right one for us is.”One more potential for the brand is the even more wagon-like Ora 7 wagon, which was revealed in concept form at the Shanghai Motor Show in 2025.

New data has revealed the true impact of the fuel crisis on Aussie drivers as they stop filling up their cars as frequently.Data from novated lease company Maxxia looked at more than 200,000 salary-packaging fuel transactions between February and May of 2026.Gaps between fill-ups for drivers stretched from every 8.6 days in February to every 13.5 days by May. This indicates drivers were travelling less distance and were delaying trips to the bowser, squeezing every last drop of petrol out of the tank before refuelling. This gap has continued to widen even though fuel prices have been lower in the past few weeks.Lower fuel prices have encouraged drivers to fill up their tanks with more fuel, even if those trips still remain somewhat infrequent compared to before the Iran war.Small top-ups gained popularity between February and May, more than doubling in that period.It comes after the federal government tried to alter driver habits during the fuel crisis, running a $20 million advertising campaign.The campaign focused on reduced car use and avoiding lead-footed driving.Maxxia’s data also showed people did cut down on driving between February and May. Very high-use drivers (traveling more than 120km per day) cut their distance driven by 45 per cent between February and April.The data shows commuter drivers (60km-120km), remained steady despite reduced long-distance travel.This highlighed Aussies' dependence on driving to get around, according to Maxxia Chief Executive Officer Antonia Albanese.“For many of our customers, the car isn’t a luxury – it’s how they get to work, visit clients, or support their family,” Albanese said.“For people who can't simply stop driving, that tells you just how hard they're working to absorb these costs.”Fuel prices are expected to rise again in the coming days with the federal government halving the Fuel Excise discount in Australia.Fuel price increases have also coincided with an acceleration in the number of electric cars bought in Australia. There were more than 21,000 EVs sold last month, with budget favourites like the Jaecoo J5 EV and Geely EX5 shooting to the top of the charts. 

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