Luxury

Audi has released images and Euro specification of its all-new, third-generation Q7 large SUV with a launch mild-hybrid powertrain combining a 3.0-litre V6 diesel engine, featuring an electrically-powered supercharger, with an upgraded alternator starter and ‘powertrain generator’.Two versions will be offered initially, rated at 180kW/500Nm and 220kW/630Nm, respectively, both driving all four wheels via an eight-speed ‘Tiptronic’ auto transmission and Audi’s ‘quattro’ permanent all-wheel drive system with a new limited-slip centre differential.Supported by a compact lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery, the powertrain generator “enables short periods of partially electric driving” at slower speeds, adding 18kW/370Nm to the mix.Available in Germany with five, six, or seven seats, the latter offers up to 722 litres of boot space with the third row folded and a maximum volume of 1980 litres with the third and second row down.The six-seat option is a first for the Q7, including adjustable captain’s chairs in the second row for a “business class feel”.Standard suspension is conventional steel with an adaptive air set-up optionally available.Equipment highlights include an illuminated panoramic sunroof with switchable transparency on the flagship seven-seat version, Bang & Olufsen premium audio, multiple digital instrument and media screens in the ‘Audi MMI panoramic display’, optional digital matrix LED headlights, digital OLED tail-lights, alloy rims ranging from 20- to 22-inch diameter and a stylized turn signal projected onto the ground in sync with the dynamic indicators (front and rear) to alert other road users, such as cyclists, to a lane change or turn.Unveiling the new Q7, Audi CEO Gernot Döllner said, “For more than 20 years, the Audi Q7 has represented the perfect premium SUV. With its new generation, we carry this mission forward.“It combines a sporty, powerful design with a highly versatile interior, first-class materials, and a wide range of technologies,” he said.Q7 production continues in Bratislava, Slovakia with orders opening in Germany in June 2026, with deliveries commencing in September.An Audi Australia spokesperson told CarsGuide, “The all-new Q7 will likely reach Australia in H1 of 2027. “Price and spec will be announced closer to then, as this is currently in the works but won’t be finalised until later this year,” they said. For reference, the new 180kW Q7 starts at €87,900 (~$140,000) in Germany with the 220kW version available from €90,500 (~$149,000).Current Aussie starting price for the out-going second-gen Q7 is $108,815, before on-road costs, for the 45TFSI quattro.

There is a tough new three-row plug-in hybrid SUV from China that could be headed to Australia.The Jetour G700 has been teased by on social media ahead of its appearance at the Kuala Lumpur International Motor Shaw. The Jetour brand has already been confirmed for Australia and is scheduled to arrive early next year, but there is no news yet on whether the G700 will be one of its models at launch.Jetour will not fall under the Chery name in Australia, despite being a sub-brand, and will be its own operation.The G700 will be available in right-hand drive for Malaysia, which increases its chances for Australia in the future.It would line up against the Denza B8 ($91,000, before on-road costs) and GWM Tank 500 ($79,000, drive-away) plug-in hybrid 4WDs.It would also tackle more established 4WDs, the Nissan Patrol and Toyota LandCruiser.It is powered by a 2.0-litre turbo-petrol engine and electric-motor set-up, producing a whopping 665kW and 1135Nm, so it can shift from 0-100km/h in less than five seconds. There is a 34kWh battery, with an electric-only driving range of 150km, according to more lenient CLTC standards. With a fully-charged battery and brimmed tank, total driving range sits at 1148km on more accurate WLTP standards. DC charging at 170kW takes just 10 minutes for a 30 to 80 per cent boost.The G700 has an overall boxy look, including a rectangular-encased headlight design and flat roofline. The car gets a suite of high-end luxury features, simialr to other Chinese large SUVs. On the inside, there is a panoramic dashboard display measuring at 35.4-inches, along with a 15.6-inch central touchscreen. A 17.3-inch rear screen folds out from the roof for rear passenger entertainment, while an 8.8-inch touchscreen controls the climate.The G700 is priced in China from just under the equivalent of $70,000, but expect it to be more than the $80,000 mark if it comes Down Under, which will put it in close proximity to other rivals. 

Is the roof about to close on convertibles? It could be, as demand for open-top cars declines and car makers are forced to devote more resources to electrified powertrains and expanding SUV options.Audi has dropped any plans for a new-generation A5 Cabriolet, and with the R8 Spyder and TT also consigned to history, Audi currently has no convertible models available globally.The four-ring brand discontinued the previous generation A5 Coupe and Cabriolet in 2024, and with the A4/A5 models merging into a single offering, the focus is now on the sedan and wagon variants instead.Audi Australia product planner Peter Strudwicke admitted the demand for convertibles and coupes have dropped significantly in recent years, making the business case to develop two-door and drop-top models more difficult.“ I think if you look globally it varies a little bit by region, but the appetite for coupés and cabriolets, convertibles, whatever you want to call them, has been shrinking,” Strudwicke said. “And the appetite for SUVs has been increasing, and that's where a lot of our investment has gone into, SUVs. But also, the Sportback concept within SUVs to make them kind of coupe-like.” However, the news isn’t so bad for Audi’s arch-rivals, BMW and Mercedes-Benz.The BMW still has the 4-Series and the Z4 Roadster, and Benz has the CLE-Class last year. But none sell in big numbers.Audi didn’t completely rule out the return of a Cabriolet at some point in the future, with Strudwicke admitting: “Never say never.”

Europe’s latest luxury EV comes with a seriously huge driving range.The new BMW 7 Series will start from $277,900 (before on-road costs) for the six-cylinder petrol variant, while the EV starts from $306,900. This means the petrol variant is now $5000 more than its previous model, with the i7 price remaining the same, despite the range-topping version of the car being discontinued.The 7 Series will continue to rival the petrol-powered Mercedes-Benz S-Class and the fully-electric EQS.The S-Class starts from a cheaper price point than the 7 Series starting at $244,700, with EQS EV starting at $219,900.BMW's twin-turbo six-cylinder engine produces 294kW and 580Nm, and also features a mild-hybrid system. Acceleration from 0-100km/h takes 5.4 seconds, with a top speed of 250km. There are dual electric motors in the electric variant, boosting power to 400kW and 745Nm and improving the 0-100km/h time to under five seconds, despite a marginally lower top speed.Its whopping 113kWh battery offers a driving range of up to 727km, according to WLTP standards.DC charging from 10 to 80 per cent takes under half-an-hour, with 235km of range able to be added in just 10 minutes. The 7 Series gets plenty of high-end luxury features as standard, including a panoramic glass roof and a heated steering wheel. There is also a BMW’s 3D head-up display, spanning the length of the dashboard and automatic air conditioning.Seats come with massage function in both the front and rear seats, along with heating functionality for front and rear outer seats. The i7 adds larger wheels and automatic doors. The new 7 Series will launch in Australia in the fourth quarter of this year. 2026 BMW 7-Series pricing Australia  

The higher of two pure-electric Mercedes CLA models, and the flagship of the five-model line-up is the CLA350 4Matic electric, priced at $91,300, before on-road costs.

It's laughable the new Bentley Bentayga Speed doesn't have a plug-in hybrid powertrain tucked up under its snout.After all, the luxury British carmaker has invested billions in electrification and gone ahead and developed its own high-performance plug-in V8 from scratch.But to focus on its lack of hybrid is a big mistake, says the British brand. Given the choice, Bentley says buyers of its fastest, most extreme Bentayga would prefer a pure-combustion V8 any day of the week.They might have a point. Even though it misses out on the massive 575kW of power and 1000Nm of torque of the hybrid, the Speed's twin-turbo 4.0-litre V8 still musters 478kW and 850Nm. Not exactly meek.Without an extra high-voltage battery, electric motors, inverter and all the extra wiring, the latest 2026 Bentayga Speed is at least 200kg lighter than it would have been if it came with a plug.While some might lament the loss of the old hard-charging twin-turbo 6.0 W12, the uprated twin-turbo V8 is more than up to the task. To earn its Speed badge, engineers threw on some bigger turbos, upgraded the fuel injection system and then lowered the compression ratio.Finally, for the first time Bentley is throwing caution to the wind by adding an Akrapovič titanium exhaust that also shaves off around 12.5kg.Off the line, the Bentayga Speed shrugs off its 2.5-tonne kerb weight by launching from 0-100km/h in just 3.6 seconds – exactly the same as the latest BMW M5 Touring – and 0.3 seconds quicker than the old W12.Top speed rises to 310km/h – 4.0km/h higher than before.The gains keep coming.Since the V8 is 25kg lighter than the old W12, the latest Bentayga Speed also has a better weight distribution, allowing engineers to comprehensively update its flagship SUV's chassis to improve the way it drives.While most of the air springs, adaptive dampers and 48-volt electric active anti-roll bars carry over, for the first time the big Bentley gets rear-wheel steer for extra nimbleness around town or on tight and twisting alpine roads.Highlighting the dramatic changes, for the first time there is something called an 'ESC Dynamic' mode that is said to, in the right circumstances (like a track), allow the driver to indulge in small drifts. It's not quite a proper drift mode but still almost unprecedented in a Bentley.Select 'Sport' mode and the dampers also firm up by 15 per cent, suggesting some serious intent by those honing the new Speed model.In the flesh, the fastest Bentayga adopts a pair of darkened front lights, smoked tail-lights, darker chrome, a larger tailgate spoiler, tweaked front and rear spoiler, plus Speed badging.Large 22-inch wheels are standard, but most will opt for the bigger-still 23s.Within, the Bentley is as glorious as ever and the perfect antidote for those who have grown weary of minimalistic cabins and boring pillar-to-pillar screens.From the lashings of chrome, proper dials and buttons, to the diamond-quilted leather and machine turned veneers, the attention to detail lavished on the cabin delights – but it's the experience behind the wheel that really counts.It's not all good news from the move from W12 to V8.The old twin-turbo 6.0-litre used to develop its peak torque from just 1500rpm, providing almost EV-like responses, while the new engine's 850Nm (50Nm lower) only arrives a little later at 2250rpm, providing a less instant response.The eight-speed auto is also a little slow to downshift, but once on the boil sees the big SUV fly and is accompanied by a far more appealing woofly V8 soundtrack than the old booming W12.We love the optional exhaust' too, which is never silly enough to upset your neighbours and adds plenty of drama with its pops and bangs in its sportiest mode.In its 'Comfort, mode the optional 23-inch rims added an unwanted edge to the ride at lower speeds and became quite busy at low speeds, which doesn't bode well when it arrives in Australia.The good news is, up the speed, and ride comfort is mostly decent, while the steering is accurate and, like many of its best rivals, manages to feel much lighter than it is.On public roads, we didn't get to see if the new Bentayga Speed can drift for England, but other rivals, like the Aston Martin DBX are perhaps even faster and more agile, while the latest Porsche Cayenne Turbo Electric is in another league for straight-line performance.As standard the Bentayga Speed bags matrix LED headlights, LED rear lights and a 10.9-inch multimedia screen that works with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.A head-up display, night vision, park assist and traffic sign recognition are all part of the driver-assist tech.Out of the box the Bentley features a 12-speaker 590W sound system, but there are plenty of reasons to visit the options list.Our car came with the titanium sports exhaust that cost £7740 (A$14,500), the £10,370 (A$19,500) 'Dynamic Pack' that adds carbon-ceramic brakes and launch control and the upgraded £7350 (A$13,800) Naim premium audio.While there's the choice of seven standard colours, 56 extended hues, Bentley can also colour match to any shade under the sun. There are also five standard leathers, a further 10 premium hide options, plus up to eight different veneer trims.While not tested by ANCAP, the Bentayga Speed gets six airbags as standard, lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitoring, front and rear cross-traffic alert and autonomous emergency braking (AEB) with pedestrian detection.The 2026 Bentley Bentayga comes with a three-year/unlimited-kilometre vehicle warranty, which includes complimentary scheduled servicing for up to five years at no cost up to 100,000km.The latest Bentayga Speed service intervals are likely to be every 12 months or 16,000km, whichever is sooner.When the 2026 Bentley Bentayga Speed arrives in the next couple of months it will be priced from $525,000, before on-road costs.That means it will command a six-figure premium over the Aston Martin DBX ($429,000 plus on-roads) and cost significantly more than the Lamborghini Urus Performante ($465,876) but seem an absolute bargain beside both the Ferrari Purosangue ($728,000) and the Rolls-Royce Cullinan Black Badge ($810,000).

Audi has revealed a surprise new model, called the Nuvolari, a limited edition supercar it claims will be the brand’s most powerful and fastest production vehicle in its history.Only 499 cars will be built, making the 2027 Audi Nuvolari one of the rarest in the brand’s recent history, running short of the 660 units built for the Audi RS6 Avant GT wagon.The Nuvolari isn't a new version of the Audi R8 per se, but it's hard to deny the close links and lineage of a mid-engine, two-seater model using a drivetrain borrowed from sibling brand Lamborghini, in this case a hybrid V8.Full details haven't been revealed, but the numbers already confirmed are impressive.With a hybrid system consisting of a mid-mounted 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 and three axial flux electric motors (as opposed to more common radial flux), the all-wheel drive Nuvolari boasts 736kW. The engine alone produces 588kW of that (as well as 730Nm), while each electric motor has a 110kW maximum output. Two of those motors are mounted at the front axle and can collectively deliver 2150Nm of torque. The other is mounted between the engine and transmission. The result of all this is a 0-100km/h sprint in a claimed 2.6 seconds, on to 200km/h in just 6.8 seconds and an eventual top speed north of 350km/h.Oh, and the engine revs out to 10,000rpm, so it’ll sound rather intense while doing it.If it all sounds a bit familiar, the drivetrain is almost certainly a reapplication of the Lamborghini Temerario's, which is also a 4.0-litre hybrid V8 system featuring a 10,000rpm redline - though outputs there peak at just 676kW.The brand’s Chief Technical Officer, Rouven Mohr, said the Nuvolari is a display of “technical expertise, innovative strength, and dedication” that draws from Audi’s recent entry into F1.“This is reflected not only in the vehicle’s performance and its Formula 1-inspired technologies, but also in the ability to transfer innovations quickly and precisely into a production vehicle.”The Nuvolari features other high-end advancements from Audi like its ‘Quattro predictive ride’ which uses sensors to adjust suspension and damping before the car reaches a section of road. The car is also the first use of Audi’s space frame and carbon fibre exterior combination, drawn from the brand’s newfound F1 experience along with active aerodynamics.Similarly, energy recuperation to charge the 7.3kWh lithium-ion battery in coordination with the braking system is another area benefiting from F1 tech.Huge F1-derived 420mm discs at the front are clamped by 10-piston calipers under braking, while the rear features 410mm discs and four-piston calipers.“A motorsport-inspired brake-by-wire system enables variable distribution between recuperation and hydraulic braking,” Audi says.“The brake pedal is functionally decoupled from actual braking force at the wheels to ensure a consistent and precise pedal feel.”The Nuvolari name comes from Tazio Nuvolari, an Italian racing driver who made a comeback to Grand Prix motorsport with Auto Union, Audi’s predecessor, after having retired. He won the 1938 Italian GP, his home race, with the brand.Audi will start deliveries to Nuvolari customers in the first half of 2027.

China’s Chery and India’s Tata Motors will team up on a new luxury brand that will launch two new models in 2027.This is thanks to a new report from Reuters, which claims Tata has forged a new partnership for its upcoming Avinya premium arm, after a plan to base the models on Jaguar Land Rover platforms fell through.The Indian giant told Reuters it plans to use the same platform, which underpins the upcoming Freelander 8 that is part of Chery’s existing tie-up with the Tata owned Jaguar Land Rover.The new deal with Tata will see the Chery platform components built in China and shipped as a knock-down kit, with final assembly occurring in India. They will cater to right-hand drive, opening up the opportunity for them to be exported to Australia. Chery’s new Freelander division also has designs to launch in Australia.Tata told Reuters, “Avinya is being developed as a global premium brand. Our collaboration with JLR and global partners will be an important pillar.”The vehicles were to be based on Jaguar Land Rover’s upcoming EMA platform, which was announced in 2024.That platform was originally designed to support next-generation electrified mid-size luxury SUVs, and was capable of supporting both hybrid, range extender and fully electric drivetrains.The switch to the Chery platform will shorten development timelines, in yet another example of a foreign brand embracing what has become known in the industry as “China Speed”.While Tata doesn’t currently have an automotive presence in Australia (aside from Jaguar Land Rover), the company’s main rival, Mahindra, offers several products in our market, showing a taste for Indian brands to expand.Tata turning to Chery also offers the Chinese giant a foothold in the Indian subcontinent, which it did not have before. As is the case in other markets, India has several barriers in place to stop Chinese automakers from having free market access in order to protect its domestic brands.It is part of a major global push by Chery, which has for a long time been one of China’s most successful brands in overseas markets. It already had strongholds in South America, and is in the process of establishing links in Europe, which looks to be the next battleground for Chinese brands.Nissan announced that it had signed a memorandum of understanding to allocate one of its production lines at its Sunderland UK plant to build Chery vehicles alongside Australian-bound Nissan Qashqais.

The first of two pure-electric Mercedes CLA models, the CLA200 electric kicks off at $72,200, before on-road costs.

The Lexus RZ, the brand’s first dedicated EV, disappointed with very low sales and arguably very high prices. Now, a big update and massive price drop could mean broader appeal for Lexus’ electric SUV.