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BYD plots podium finish in Australia - but how will it get there?

Kia might be preparing a fresh face for its Tasman workhorse ute.Debate about the Tasman’s styling has followed it around like a bad smell since the day it was revealed. That might be all about to change.Kia recently revealed a military-grade Tasman as part of its display at the International Aerospace & Defence Exhibition in Seoul.The show cars were the usual military fare, but Kia’s Special Vehicle division showcased several suggested uses for the military-grade Tasman on its website.The hard to access website - we had to go incognito mode to get it to load — looks just like any Kia retail page but has heavy duty Tasmans.A few images jumped out, with a 'Military Command Vehicle' and a 'Military Version Pick-up truck' showing a substantially different look to the current Tasman.These images are clearly computer generated, but so are the rest of the images on this official Kia website that all depict the current shaped Tasman.This might be a long bow, but it is also odd they would publish these images that look so obviously different.The digital renders show a new headlight design, completely new fender flares front and back and an altered grille, bonnet and front bumper.The result is tough and — dare I say — handsome ute. Kia has not confirmed to CarsGuide if these images are real or not.Kia’s global VP of Next Interior Design, Jochen Paesen, previously said people will get used to the design, which was intended to stand out from the outset.“This is really, really important for Kia, we want to make sure that we have a clear identity. It does stand out. We are new to the market. It needs to be noticed. And generally, and this is generally for design, if you want to be progressive, if you want to stand out, if you want to do something new, you will go through a process of getting people used to it,” he said.The proof is in the sales figures.Despite receiving critical acclaim for how the car actually performs on and off the road, sales of the Tasman haven’t moved the needle.Kia is currently moving about 800 Tasmans a month, which is about half of what it needs to hit its lofty targets.A new look could catapult way up the charts.

An important change delayed by the government puts up a hurdle to EV ownership.

It’s been 10 months since former Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares left the company and now he claims the multinational carmaker giant could face a potential breakup.

Chery’s Jetour G700 has been priced in China as an emerging rival to the incoming BYD Dezna B8, Toyota Prado and Tank 500.The plug-in hybrid 4x4, which measures over five-meters long and over two meters wide, hits the Chinese market in five variants and it doesn’t have the kind of entry-level pricing Chery is usually known for.Starting from the equivalent of A$71,000 and spanning to a whopping $151,000 for the flagship 'Supreme Voyage Edition'.To account for this relatively high cost the G700 is equipped with a new plug-in hybrid system consisting of a 2.0-litre turbo four-cylinder engine, which produces 155kW/340Nm, and is mated to electric motors on each axle. The front axle mates engine power to an electric motor via a dedicated hybrid transmission (210kW/360Nm for the internal motor), while the rear axle has an independent motor drive unit producing 300kW/435Nm.Total combined system power is 560kW/795Nm, and the system functions closer to the range-extender-style hybrid system in BYD’s Shark 6 ute.The G700 maintains locking differentials on both the front and rear axles, as well as up to 970mm of wading depth. It also features various terrain modes and a hill descent control system, with variable height air suspension and adaptive damping.It has a 34.13kWh CATL battery providing up to 150km of range (to the more lenient CLTC protocol), while a 100-litre fuel tank has the brand claiming up to 1400km of combined range. Jetour said the G700 will consume as low as 7.95L/100km even when the battery is drained.The brand said it can even fast charge the battery in just 10 minutes thanks to ultra-fast 170kW DC charging speeds, and it can discharge via a vehicle-to-load system at up to 6.6kW.Inside, the G700 features a similar toughed-up design vibe to the Denza B5, with squared-off panels to match the boxy exterior look. The interior features a 15.6-inch multimedia touchscreen, but also a 35.4-inch digital instrument cluster, which spans the entire length of the dash. Outside, the 4x4 is equipped with either 18- or 20-inch wheels with off-road tyres.Chery’s rampant expansion in Australia (up 220 per cent year-on-year) has seen it also launch an array of its sub-brands, like Omoda, Jaecoo, and Lepas, however the off-road focused Jetour, which seems like a natural fit for the Australian market, has yet to be confirmed.Originally, this was said to be because it was focused on left-hand drive for the time being, but it seems as though this could change before long, with multiple executives from both Chery and Omoda/Jaecoo saying the brand is keen to get tougher 4x4 models on the market as soon as possible.

GWM has tinkered with its fast-selling Haval Jolion small SUV, delivering big results.The Chinese brand has made some rolling changes to its compact SUV that have delivered massive reduction in fuel use.The Jolion Hybrid now uses 4.8L/100km, down from 5.1L/100km. And petrol Premium and Lux grades go from 8.1L/100km down to 6.7L/100km. GWM has also ditched the range-topping Ultra grade and replaced it with the Vanta variant. Its petrol engine is even more efficient than the cheaper grades, with it using 6.5L/100km.GWM said the fuel savings were due to the addition of stop-start function on petrol versions and new tyres and a more aerodynamic undertray on all variants. Engine performance remains unchanged despite the improvements.Hybrid version use a 1.5L petrol engine matched with an electric motor to make a combined 140kW and 375Nm.Lux and Premium petrol variants use a 1.5-litre turbo-petrol motor making 105kW and 210Nm. This jumps to 130kW and 270Nm in the Vanta grade.Petrol variants use a seven-speed dual-clutch auto and hybrid examples have a hybrid automatic transmission. All Jolions are front-wheel drive.All models run on the cheapest 91 RON regular unleaded petrol, which boosts value by reducing running costs.The increased efficiency also pushes the hybrid models under this year’s CO2 threshold as set out by the federal government’s New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES).The NVES slaps carmakers with penalties for every gram of CO2 emitted over a certain threshold per car. This CO2 limit gets lower every year until 2030.Carmakers can offset the penalties via credits earned from the sales of electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles.This type of change shows just how flexible Chinese carmakers can be, ushering in proper alterations outside of model year updates.This is referred to as "China Speed", which is a new industry buzz and something many established carmakers such as Audi, GM and Nissan are looking to replicate.GWM is currently offering sharp drive-away deals on current Jolion stock, but this deal is unlikely to apply to the revised versions. 

A new battery breakthrough could revolutionise electric cars.

A top-end ute has received a major set of upgrades. The price and specifications for Ford’s 2026 F-150 range have been revealed. There are three variants, all in dual-cab form, with the base XLT starting from $114,950, which is an $8,000 jump from the previous model.There is some good news on the price front, with buyers now able to choose from short or long wheelbase options without additional cost. It keeps its 3.5-litre six-cylinder twin turbo-petrol engine that produces 298kW and 678Nm, with a 10-speed auto transmission. The XLT gets a part-time four-wheel drive system, while the two more expensive variants get a full 4WD set-up. There is plenty of new kit available on the base XLT, receiving several standout cosmetic additions such as chrome door handles and an exhaust extension. It also gets a 12-inch touchscreen and 12-inch digital drivers display as standard. The F-150 will battle Chevrolet’s Silverado and the RAM range for market share, with the two brands combining for more than 80 per cent of Aussie large dual-cab sales.All F150s are imported to Australia and then re-manufactured to right-hand drive in a Victorian RMA Automotive factory.Deliveries will commence in early 2026.The XLT grade comes as standard with20-inch alloy wheelsChrome door handles12-inch touchscreen12-inch digital drivers displayChrome exhaust extensionCloth seats12V port in load box Lariat adds20-inch chrome-like alloy wheelsPower tailgate14-speaker sound systemWireless phone chargerHeated and cooled front seatsRear heated seatsLeather accented seatsTwin panel sunroofExtended chrome side stepsRain-sensing wipersPower and heated mirrorsPlatinum adds20-inch painted gloss alloy wheelsBlack Ford badgingSmokes colour exhaust tip extensionAuto side stepsMulti-folding tonneau coverMassaging seats2026 Ford F-150 safetyThe Ford F-150 has not been crash tested. Safety features on XLT grade: Auto emergency breakingReverse brake assistRear parking sensorsPost-impact brakingBlind spot monitoringTrailer backup assist360-degree camera Lariat addsAdaptive cruise controlEvasive steer assistIntersection assistFront parking sensorsPlatinum addsRear cargo view cameraFord offers a five-year/unlimited km warranty on its vehicles. 

An exciting compact SUV is in the works.

A computer chip company bust-up threatens to send global auto supply chains for cars back to the COVID-19-era with extensive manufacturer delays. According to Reuters, computer chip maker Nexperia NV, is embroiled in a standoff involving the Chinese and Dutch governments, which has seen exports of its finished products banned. Nexperia is an important supplier of basic chips used in cars, it manufactures them in large volumes in Germany, before being packaged and distributed from China to the wider car industry. China has now banned the export of finished chips.China’s ban was in response to the Dutch government’s decision to seize control of Nexperia in late September, which is a subsidiary of Chinese-owned Wingtech. The Dutch government took the decision after it got wind of Nexperia potentially transferring ownership of some of its technology to Chinese parent company Wingtech in response to US restrictions. Nexperia became at risk of being impacted by a new US rule extending export control restrictions for certain companies. Wingtech was added to this new US restriction list, and because the company owns 100 per cent of Nexperia, they also fall onto the restriction list. Nexperia reported a net profit of $331 million in 2024, highlighting its value to the car manufacturing supply chain. While there are alternatives available to Nexperia chips, car manufacturers' significant dependence on them means there will likely be a lag in transition. Earlier this month, US-based Alliance for Automotive Innovation CEO John Bozzella, which represents General Motors, Toyota, Ford, Volkswagen and Hyundai said Nexperia’s shutdown would quickly hamstring production. “If the shipment of automotive chips doesn’t resume quickly, it’s going to disrupt auto production in the US and many other countries and have a spillover effect in other industries," he said according to Reuters. The good news is that negotiations are ongoing and the dispute could be resolved within the next few days.The growing Chinese car industry is also reliant on Nexperia chips, giving incentive for all parties to end the standoff according to Netherlands’ Economy Minister Vincent Karremans. “We have a mutually dependent relationship,” he said in an interview on Dutch television show Buitenhof. Karremans will personally meet with the Chinese minister responsible soon to attempt to resolve the industry-threatening dispute.