SUV

The Denza B8 introduces a luxury plug-in hybrid to the upper-large SUV segment but does it make enough of a splash to stand out against its heavy-hitting rivals?

The 2026 Cupra Formentor V is now one trim level up from the entry-level model.It was previously the entry-level model and is now priced from $57,490 before on-road costs.Power comes from a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine producing 150kW and 320Nm. This is 10kW more than the pre-update model.This is mated to a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission with drive sent through an all-wheel-drive system.Cupra claims the Formentor V can do the 0-100km/h sprint in 6.7 seconds. Launch control is standard.The Formentor V is claimed to consume an average of 7.0L/100km, according to ADR 81/02 testing. There is a 55L fuel tank which requires a minimum of 95 RON premium unleaded petrol.Using the claim, this car has a theoretical total range of 786km.Standard equipment includes 19-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights, a hands-free power tailgate, 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster, 12.9-inch touchscreen multimedia system, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, wireless phone charger, interior ambient lighting, three-zone climate control, fabric upholstery, electrically adjustable driver’s seat and heated front seats.Optional is a panoramic glass sunroof for $2000 and the $2200 Leather and Sound package which adds a 12-speaker Sennheiser sound system, leather-appointed upholstery and front-passenger electric adjustment and memory.The Cupra Formentor originally received a five-star ANCAP safety rating in 2021 and this has been renewed for the updated model based on testing conducted by Euro NCAP in 2025.There are 10 airbags including rear-side and front-centre airbags as standard, plus autonomous emergency braking (AEB), adaptive cruise control with lane centring, a surround-view camera, as well as a parking assist.The Formentor, like all other Cupras, is covered by a five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty, which is a little lacklustre for a mainstream brand now as many have moved to eight or 10 years.Logbook servicing is required every 12 months or 15,000km, whichever comes first.There are three- and five-year pre-paid service packages available that are priced at $1090 and $2190, respectively. In the latter case, this means each service averages out to almost $440 which is fairly average for a European car.

Porsche has continued the rollout of model grades for its all-electric Macan and the latest is the GTS. GTS grades are often the sweet spot of any Porsche model range, usually adding an extra dollop of performance and grade-specific styling.There aren't many high-end electric SUVs of this size in Australia, except for the Audi Q6 e-tron. And judging by the sales figures, Australians haven’t warmed to the electric version of the Macan. Porsche has sold 308 to the end of May this year, a 75 per cent drop compared with the same time last year.But perhaps the sportier and sexier GTS can grab premium buyers’ attention.Compared with the sleek internal combustion Macan with its hunkered down stance and hatchback-like rear, the new EV version looks much bigger on the road. But the design has grown on me and the GTS styling helps enormously.The GTS gains flourishes like wider side skirts, different front and rear aprons, a pronounced diffuser and gloss black inserts.My test car was also Carmine Red and combined with the black elements, and gorgeous but expensive ($4860) 22-inch RS Spyder Design wheels in Anthracite Grey (up from the standard 21-inch wheels), it all makes for a menacing, sexy look.The Macan gets the GTS treatment inside as well with signature red seat belts and a few other additions.The horizontal dash feels quite upright, as does the seating position. The design is appealing and functional without taking any risks.The positioning of the gear shifter on the dash is great for freeing up space and the Macan has decent storage. The device charger can be closed which is good for security.The multimedia system isn’t super intuitive - you have to drill down to multiple menus to find things. Some menu items overlap with the always-on side menu. That’s not very premium, Porsche! Even the Apple CarPlay was a little glitchy. Thankfully, air con has its own panel on the dash.There’s not a lot of knee room in the rear behind my (183cm) driving position, but lots of toe room. The middle seat feels like an afterthought, especially as the front centre console leaves virtually no legroom. But the rear seats are bucketed and super comfy.The boot can swallow 480L, down from 540L in lower Macan grades. There’s no spare wheel, just a tyre repair kit, and a massive Bose subwoofer consumes the underfloor storage. It has handy levers in the boot to lower the 60/40 rear seats and a button that lowers suspension to load heavy items.Elsewhere, the Macan GTS comes with a smallish 10.9-inch multimedia screen and this example was fitted with a passenger side digital display ($2810).Which brings me to one of my biggest issues with this car - the optional extras. The base price of a Macan GTS is $171,100 before on-road costs. That’s already pricey when you consider rivals like the Audi SQ6 e-tron (from $151,400), Hyundai Ioniq 5 N ($115,000) and upcoming BMW iX3 50e ($109,900). Then there’s the eye-watering options list.My test car was fitted with items that shouldn’t cost any extra, like $560 for black badging and $220 for ‘preparation for Porsche dashcam’. Then there’s the downright ridiculous $10,730 for the GTS Interior Package.Rear-axle steering at $3510 is understandable, but $4120 for the augmented reality head-up display that I turned off because it was too intrusive is just taking the mickey. My test car had $38,000 worth of extras, bringing the total price to $209,110.Porsche’s German rivals (Audi, BMW, Mercedes) have all improved their standard features offering in recent years, but Porsche clearly still lags.As the second-most potent Macan Electric grade under the Turbo, the GTS gains an extra helping of performance. It features permanent magnet synchronous motors on the front and rear axles, offering 380kW of power and a maximum 955Nm of torque with overboost.This is enough for a 0-100km/h sprint in a blistering 3.8 seconds on the way to a top speed of 250km/h.Porsche says the Macan GTS’s 100kWh high-voltage lithium-ion battery can be charged from 10-80 per cent capacity via a 120kW DC charger in about 46 minutes, while using its maximum charge power will take just 21 minutes. An 11kW AC home charge should take about 10 hours. One handy feature is two charge ports, one on each side of the car.Porsche claims the Macan GTS’s electric driving range is 513km. The official energy use figure is 20.6–18.5kWh/100km and after a week of mostly urban commutes and a quick back-road blast, I recorded 21.5kWh.It is incredibly quick off the mark, forcing you back into your seat when you floor it. Sport mode, which alters the chassis and ups acceleration, is brutal.Steering in any mode is super sharp and doesn’t require much input to get a response.The Macan GTS is a big, heavy electric SUV but it has a surprising nimbleness to it. It’s taller than the ICE version but it’s chuckable to a certain degree, with very little roll in corners.The grippy tyres aid roadholding and strong brakes help pull up the big SUV, too.Ride quality is undeniably firm and you feel and hear harsher corrugations and bumps. It’s far from jarring, but don’t expect a cushy ride.The Macan has a tighter turning circle than you’d think (11.1m down from 12.1m thanks to the rear-axle steering), making it surprisingly easy to park.Road noise is noticeable on coarse chip surfaces but otherwise most external noise stays out of the cabin.Another huge tick for the Macan is the advanced driver assist systems (ADAS), which works away in the background. It only kicked in once when I merged onto a new lane on a freeway and even then the steering intervention was subtle.Porsche covers the Macan with a three-year/unlimited kilometre warranty which is well behind the five-year terms of most premium rivals. The service schedule is every two years or 30,000km which is great and Porsche offers service plans of three ($1995), four ($3695) or five years ($3995). This is quite a bit more than Audi’s offer for the SQ6 e-tron ($2080 for six years).

Being a mid-size SUV means the MG HS Super Hybrid is placed in one of Australia’s most competitive segments. But does it do enough to earn a spot on your shortlist?

It feels like Audi’s Q3 has been with us since the dawn of automotive time, but it’s only 15 years since the compact five-door SUV began following in the wheel tracks of its larger Q7 and Q5 siblings.And this Sportback TFSI quattro 195kW is the current flagship of the third-gen version above the front-wheel-drive TFSI 110kW and mid-range AWD TFSI quattro 150kW.At $84,400, before on-road costs, it lines up against upper grades of its traditional German ‘Big Three’ rivals, the BMW X1 and Mercedes-Benz GLA as well as other premium contenders like the Lexus UX and Volvo XC40.For that kind of money it’s fair to expect a healthy list of included features and this Q3 tips in 20-inch Audi Sport alloy rims, an ‘S line’ exterior styling package, keyless entry and start, three-zone climate control, all LED exterior lighting, a big panoramic glass sunroof, a power tailgate, heated electric sports front seats and leather-appointed seat trim.There’s also multi-colour interior ambient lighting, a heated leather-trimmed steering wheel, 12-speaker 420W Sonos audio, an 11.9-inch digital instrument display, central 12.8-inch multimedia touchscreen, built-in nav, a head-up display, adaptive cruise, a 360-degree camera view and more, including exterior mirrors that do everything except sit up and beg, suspension with damper control and privacy glass.That’s a huge wodge of standard equipment for the category and to top it all our test car featured Madeira Brown matt effect paint for $6370, an Advanced lighting package (Digital Matrix LED headlights with selectable light signatures and animations) at $4225, a Black Exterior package ($2080) and different S design 20-inch alloys ($650). All up, $97,725, including GST.It may be a product of latent colour-blindness but I see this Q3’s eye-catching matt finish as a charcoal grey rather than brown. But either way, when combined with the angular slimline headlights, sweeping coupe-style profile and jagged tail-lights it gives the car a distinctive, borderline menacing personality.The standard S line treatment includes specific front and rear bumpers while a thin red light strip across the rear and illuminated four rings logo on the tailgate add a vibrant after-dark lighting signature.The cabin is clean, contemporary and brilliantly functional. A widescreen dashtop array houses the configurable digital instrument cluster and media display touchscreen. Ventilation control is via the screen but in typical Audi style there’s a physical dial for audio volume and other functions including the ‘drive select’ system.The steering wheel is flat on the top and bottom and the controls for indicators on the left and gear position on the right are more flat paddles than conventional stalks. A (successful) space-saving measure, it takes some getting used to but quickly becomes second-nature.Partial leather trim looks and feels quality, the sports front seats are top shelf and details like semi-floating armrests are a cool design touch while making it easier to close the doors.The Q3 measures just over 4.5m long but there’s plenty of room in the front and (for me at 183cm) a surprising amount in the rear. Lots of storage options around the cabin for cups, bottles and other bits and pieces with power and connectivity including a pair of USB-C sockets in the front and another pair in the rear.The boot holds a handy 488 litres with the 40/20/40 split rear seat upright, increasing to 1289L when folded. Not only that but the reclining rear seat slides for extra load flexibility.It’s also worth noting the Q3 can tow a 2.1-tonne braked trailer, which is pretty handy and a physical temporary spare is a much better option than the increasingly common repair/inflator kit.As its name implies, the Q3 Sportback TFSI quattro 195kW is powered by a 2.0-litre turbo-petrol engine sending 195kW/400Nm to all four wheels via a seven-speed dual-clutch auto transmission and Audi’s quattro permanent AWD system. There’s no electrical assistance for the engine.Claimed zero to 100km/h acceleration time is an impressively rapid 5.7 seconds. Which not only sounds good on paper but feels great in reality.Maximum torque is available from just 1650rpm through to 4350rpm and mid-range grunt is not only healthy but delivered in smooth, linear fashion.The dual-clutch auto is sharp (in a good way) with rapid manual shifts available via wheel-mounted paddles if you’re in the mood to swap ratios through your favourite set of corners.Overall refinement is excellent and even riding on the big 20-inch rims (shod with 255/40 Continental EcoContact 6 tyres) the Q3 handles urban bumps and thumps well thanks in no small part to the damper control suspension.The system reacts to the road profile factoring in parameters including steering, braking and acceleration to continuously adjust damping for each wheel. Steering feel and response are spot-on, as are the brakes.  Claimed combined cycle (urban/extra-urban) fuel economy is 8.2L/100km and over 300km of city, suburban and highway running we saw an on-test figure of 10.1L/100km which is okay for a car with this kind of performance potential.All the active (crash-avoidance) safety features you’d want and expect in a car in this part of the market are onboard and work subtly. But if a crash is unavoidable there are seven airbags, including a front centre bag.A five-year, unlimited kilometre warranty matches key rivals like BMW, Genesis, Land Rover, Lexus, Mercedes and Volvo but it’s worth noting an increasing number of brands in the mainstream market are stepping up to longer seven, eight and even 10-year cover.Service intervals are 12 months/15,000km and a five-year plan will set you back $3330 or $666 per workshop visit, which isn’t out of order for the class. There are around 50 Audi dealers covering all states and territories including key rural centres.

The 2027 Cupra Formentor S is the entry-level version of this small SUV line-up in Australia.It’s priced from $49,990 before on-road costs.Power comes from a 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine with 48V mild-hybrid assistance and total system outputs of 110kW and 250Nm.This is mated to a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission with drive sent to the front wheels only.Cupra claims the Formentor S can do the 0-100km/h sprint in 9.0 seconds. Launch control is standard.The Formentor S is claimed to consume an average of 5.5L/100km, according to ADR 81/02 testing. There’s a 50L fuel tank which requires a minimum of 95 RON premium unleaded petrol.Using the claim, this car has a theoretical range of up to 909km.Standard equipment includes 18-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights, a hands-free power tailgate, 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster, 12.9-inch touchscreen multimedia system, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, wireless phone charger, interior ambient lighting, three-zone climate control, fabric upholstery, electrically adjustable driver’s seat and heated front seats.Optional is a panoramic glass sunroof for $2000 and the $2200 Leather and Sound package which adds a 12-speaker Sennheiser sound system, leather-appointed upholstery and front-passenger electric adjustment and memory.The Cupra Formentor originally received a five-star ANCAP safety rating in 2021 and this has been renewed for the updated model based on testing conducted by Euro NCAP in 2025.There are 10 airbags including rear-side and front-centre airbags as standard, plus autonomous emergency braking (AEB), adaptive cruise control with lane centring, a surround-view camera, as well as a parking assist.The Formentor, like all other Cupras, is covered by a five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty, which is a little lacklustre for a mainstream brand now as many have moved to eight or 10 years, conditional.Logbook servicing is required every 12 months or 15,000km, whichever comes first.There are three- and five-year pre-paid service packages available that are priced at $1090 and $2190, respectively. In the latter case, this means each service averages out to almost $440 which is fairly average for a European car.

Sales of fully electric cars are booming in Australia at the moment, having accounted for a record one in five new vehicles sold in May 2026.It is good timing, then, for Skoda to launch the first sub-$50,000 European EV to be sold Down Under, the 2027 Skoda Elroq Select 60 small-to-medium SUV.When the Elroq launched with its mid-range Select 85 and flagship 130 Years Edition variants in September 2025, it quickly established itself as one of CarsGuide’s favourites in the segment, having been shortlisted for the Medium SUV Under $60K category in our 2026 Car of the Year awards.But the entry-level Select 60 has since arrived to tempt buyers who crave European style and driving dynamics as much as they crave value and zero emissions.But is the Elroq Select 60 actually any good to own?I have got the keys to a Timiano Green example for the next three months to find out.In this three-part long-term review, I will detail the Select 60’s pricing, specifications, efficiency and aftersales support.The second instalment will deep-dive the Elroq’s design inside and out, as well as its all-important practicality, while the third will be headlined by our full driving impressions and overall verdict.With further ado, let’s get into it!As mentioned, the Elroq 60 Select is Australia’s first sub-$50K European EV.How much cheaper than $50K is it, though?The answer is just $10. Yep, the Elroq 60 Select costs $49,990 drive-away, which makes it $10K and $20K more affordable than its aforementioned 85 Select and 130 Years Edition siblings, respectively.That said, the Select 60’s relatively low price has it well positioned against its competition.Before I go too much further, though, it is worth noting that the Elroq is 4488mm long, which makes it large for a small SUV, and small for a medium SUV.Point being, the Select 60 has rivals all over the place, including one of our 2026 COTY award winners, South Korea’s brilliant Kia EV3 and its similarly priced range-opening Air Standard Range ($47,600 plus on-road costs, 4300mm long).Then there is the more affordable but similarly sized MG S5 EV Essence 49 ($42,990 d/a, 4476mm long) and Zeekr X RWD ($48,900 d/a, 4432mm), both of which are Chinese.Do not make the mistake of thinking that Skoda took a lot of ‘goodies’ out of the Elroq to make the Select 60 a sub-$50K proposition.Its list of standard equipment still includes:Keyless entryMetallic paintworkDusk-sensing LED lightsRain-sensing wipers19-inch Proteus alloy wheels with 235/55 tyresAuto-dimming side mirrors with power foldingLED puddle lightsBlack window surroundsBlack roof railsRear privacy glassKeyless start13.0-inch touchscreen multimedia systemWireless Apple CarPlay and Android AutoBluetoothDAB+ digital radioEight-speaker sound system5.0-inch digital instrument clusterWireless smartphone chargerFour 45W USB-C portsOne 12V power outletHeated front seatsHeated steering wheelDual-zone climate controlAuto-dimming rearview mirrorFabric upholsteryLED ambient lightingMeanwhile, the Select 60’s safety features include:Autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian, cyclist and junction detectionLane-keep assistSteering assist with emergency functionalityAdaptive cruise control with stop and go functionalityHighway assistBlind-spot monitoringDriver attention alertRear cross-traffic alertA reversing cameraFront and rear parking sensorsSafe exit alertTyre pressure monitoringA tyre repair kitSeven airbags (front-centre and dual front, front-side and curtain)Two ISOFIX child-seat anchorage points (rear outboard)Three top-tether child-seat anchorage pointsThe Select 60 has one option, with the tempting $6000 Signature package adding:Dynamic Matrix LED headlightsPower tailgate with handsfree operationDynamic LED tail-lights12-speaker Canton sound system with a subwooferHead-up display with augmented realityPower-adjustable driver’s seat with memory functionalityRear sunshadesSurround-view camerasDual rear-side airbagsFor reference, aside from a larger battery and a more powerful electric motor (more on both of those in a moment), over the optionless Select 60 the Select 85 adds:19-inch Regulus alloy wheels with mixed tyres (235/55 front, 255/50 rear)Dark-chrome window surroundsDark-chrome roof railsLED rear foglightsThen the 130 Years Edition goes the whole way the further addition of:Dynamic Matrix LED headlightsHeated windshield21-inch Supernova alloy wheels with self-healing tyres (235/45 front, 255/40 rear)Power tailgate with handsfree operationDynamic LED tail-lights12-speaker Canton sound system with a subwooferHead-up display with augmented realityTri-zone climate controlPower-adjustable front seats with memory functionalityMassaging front seatsHeated outboard rear seatsRear sunshadesFabric/artificial leather upholsteryExtended LED ambient lightingPark assistSurround-view camerasSo, what is the Elroq missing?Well, the 130 Years Edition’s surround-view cameras should be standard range-wide – it is strange to see a car of this size without them.Vehicle-to-load (V2L) functionality is also missing action, which campers and workers on the road are sure to miss.The Select 60 is powered by a single permanent magnet synchronous electric motor, which is fitted to its rear axle.It produces 150kW of power and 310Nm of torque, enabling a 0-100km/h acceleration time of 8.0 seconds, which is quite brisk in its EV reality, where instant torque is king.That said, the Select 60 falls short of the heartier 210kW and 545Nm, which the Select 85 and 130 Years Edition output for a triple-digit sprint time of a hot-hatch-like 6.6 seconds.Select 60 buyers will not be left wanting, though, because its straight-line performance is more than satisfactory.So too is its single-speed automatic transmission, which will make most drivers realise how much they do not miss a traditional gearset.The Select 60 is fitted with a 63kWh lithium-ion (NMC) battery, which has a useable capacity of 59kWh.That enables a WLTP-rated driving range of 395km on the combined-cycle test, which is a little underwhelming for an EV in 2026, when 500km-plus claims are increasingly becoming the norm.It is good news, then, that Select 85 and 130 Years Edition up the ante with an 82kWh NMC battery (79kWh net) that boosts the Elroq’s claimed driving range to a more acceptable 529km, albeit at a $10K or $20K premium.The Select 60’s claimed energy consumption is 15.9kWh/100km on the combined-cycle test, which is exactly what I averaged in reality over 729km of driving in my first month of ‘ownership’, which included a good portion of inefficient highway mileage.Based on the Select 60’s useable battery capacity, that equates to a real-world driving range of 371km, which is just 24km short of that particular claim.I must admit, though, that a long weekend away from Melbourne to Venus Bay proved that long-distance EV driving is far from care-free in a sub-400km model like the Select 60.Personally, I would be paying at least $10K more for the peace of mind – and higher performance – provided by its long-range siblings.The Select 60 does have the 85 Select and 130 Years Edition beat, though, when it comes to DC fast charging, with its power peaking at 165kW for a 10-80 per cent charge in a respectable 24 minutes, compared to their 135kW peak and 28-minute duration.That said, it is an even playing field when it comes to AC charging, with an 11kW peak shared, which is perfect for an overnight wallbox charge at home or abroad, at 6.5 hours in the Select 60 or eight hours in the 85 Select and 130 Years Edition.Like all Skoda Australia models, the Elroq comes with a seven-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty, which is the best a European brand offers Down Under.That said, we are increasingly seeing eight- and 10-year terms from both Chinese and non-Chinese brands, so Skoda’s offering is by no means the absolute best.As is the case with nearly every EV in Australia, the Elroq’s battery is covered by a separate eight-year/160,000km term.Similar to other Skoda EVs, the Elroq also comes with two years of roadside assistance, which can be extended for a further two years each time it is serviced at an authorised dealership.Speaking of servicing, the Elroq’s service intervals are nice and long, at every 24 months or 30,000km (whichever comes first).A capped-price service pack is available for eight years/120,000km for $1750 (an average of $437.50 per visit), or 10 years/150,000km for $1990 ($398.00 average), both of which are rather good value.And with that we have reached the end of the first part of this long-term review of the 2027 Skoda Elroq Select 60.As mentioned, the upcoming second instalment will focus on its design and practicality.See you then!Acquired: May 6, 2026Distance travelled this month: 729kmOdometer: 1686kmAverage energy consumption this month: 15.9kWh/100km

Tesla has reasserted itself as the electric car king of Australia.The American EV maker sold 8670 vehicles in June, its biggest month ever, according to data released by the Electric Vehicle Council. It was so big that it beat the previous best month, which was May, by 26 per cent.It will be in the running to beat all other carmakers in June except for Toyota.Leading the charge was the Model Y SUV, which recorded 8072 of those sales. This will likely make it the best-selling vehicle in the nation when the full sales data gets released tomorrow, as no vehicle in recent memory has hit that figure.The Model 3 sedan chipped in with roughly 600 sales in June.Tesla has asserted its dominance as the premier electric vehicle brand in the country, with a total of 23,588 sales through the first six months. This is equal to a 66 per cent increase through June.Electric vehicle sales have experienced strong growth this year, especially since the Iran war and the resulting high fuel prices.What makes Tesla’s June result even more impressive is that fuel prices across the country had moderated and were effectively back to normal by the end of the month.Tesla has a healthy supply pipeline, with the brand’s local website quoting delivery times for the standard Model Y in July to August. The three-row Model Y L appears to be more in demand with expected delivery times between August and September. The more niche five-seat Model Y Performance won’t land in your driveway until September or October if ordered today.Tesla would be one of the main beneficiaries of the federal government’s Fringe Benefits Tax (FBT) exemption for electric vehicles.This FBT exemption allows buyers to pay for the vehicle pre-tax and to side-step the 47 per cent FBT rate.The tax break has been a huge hit, with the scheme costing more than 10 times what the government had forecasted. There were calls for the scheme to be axed to help alleviate the predicted budget deficit, and it is perceived to help a greater proportion of well-off Australians.The federal government announced earlier this year it would be walking back the plan, with it to end by March, 2029.

BYD’s latest luxury hybrid SUV could have one trick up its sleeve its rivals don’t.The incoming FangChengBao Titanium 9, or BYD Ti9 as it is likely to be known in export markets, is a three-row plug-in hybrid SUV that is a size-up on family favourites like the Toyota Kluger.It is 5300mm long and has a wheelbase of 3120mm, so it will be a shape up in the increasingly popular large SUV segment in China.It will be similarly sized to the Zeekr 9X which is due in Australia in the next 18 months,.AutoHome has reported the Ti9 will boast a driving range of more than 2300km, substantially more than most cars on the market.There is no news on how big the fuel tank and battery will be to achieve this, but expect it to be a cut above many of its rivals. Chinese media has been suggesting it will be powered by a dual electric motor plug-in hybrid set-up, with power and torque figures still to be revealed, but possibly shared with other recent BYD models. Its smaller Ti7 sibling has a 1.5-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol engine and two electric motors, producing 358 kW and 630 Nm.This could provide an indication for what powers the Ti9. It will be available in six-seat and seven-seat configurations, and is designed for urban and light off-roading environments.The large SUV is likely to be be unveiled in the second half of this year, and go on sale early next year.There is potential for this model to come to Australia, with its smaller Titanium 7 (or Ti7) sibling going on sale in the United Kingdom soon.FangChengBao, or Formula Leopard, is one of BYD’s off-roading sub-brands, but its models do not fall under that name overseas.The Ti7 in the UK will have a BYD badge on it, as might be the case in Australia, while its larger Leopard 5 is sold locally as the Denza B5.There is no official news on whether models like the Ti7 and Ti9 will launch Down Under.The UK launch means they are being built in right-hand drive, so there is a good chance they will eventually make their way over here, as almost every BYD product available in the UK has come to Australia.BYD Australia has previously told CarsGuide the Ti7 is not on its radar, but the brand has demonstrated previously that plans can change quickly. 

China’s GWM has revealed more details and imagery of its updated Tank 300 for the domestic market.As reported by Car News China, a highlight of this update is a longer wheelbase that was previewed by the Tank 300 Hooke Edition prototype that was revealed at the 2025 Shanghai motor show.The location of the front axle has been moved forwards, plus the front overhang has been trimmed, improving the approach angle.According to Chinese Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) filings, this updated Tank 300 measures in at 4886mm long, 1984mm wide and 1927mm tall, with a 3010mm wheelbase.This makes it 126mm longer, 54mm wider and 24mm taller than the current model.Unlike the Hooke Edition prototype, which had a solid front axle, it’s understood the production version of this updated Tank 300 retains a front double wishbone and a rear multi-link suspension set-up.Another major change is the powertrain options. In addition to the Hi-4T plug-in hybrid (PHEV) option that retains a mechanical four-wheel drive system, a new Hi-4Z PHEV option, which is more electric-centric, is being introduced with this update.Full details haven’t been confirmed yet, but GWM claims it has a 60kWh battery allowing up to 200km electric range, according to an undisclosed testing cycle.For reference, the current Tank 300 Hi4-T PHEV has a 37.1kWh lithium-ion battery pack, which offers up to 115km of electric range, according to NEDC testing.It’s understood this new Tank 300 Hi4-Z PHEV will share a lot of its componentry with the Tank 400 Hi-4Z PHEV.It has a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine and dual electric motors with a total system output of 635kW and 1195Nm, along with a 60kWh battery pack offering up to 200km of electric range.It’s expected the rest of the current powertrains will carry over. These include a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol, a 2.4-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel, as well as a 3.0-litre turbocharged V6 petrol.In Australia only the 2.0-litre turbo-petrol and 2.4-litre turbo-diesel engines are offered, in addition to the Hi4-T PHEV powertrain.A change the imagery reveals is an altered front fascia. There’s a new grille with Tank lettering, as well as more pronounced recovery points, though it’s unclear if they’re functional.A LiDAR pod can be seen on the roof, indicating that semi-autonomous driving technology may be coming.We're yet to see any imagery of the interior, so it's unclear if there have been any changes.It’s understood this updated Tank 300 will be going on sale in China on July 6 and it’s unclear if or when it will be available to export markets, including Australia.