SUV

Ineos Automotive has delayed the release of its electric Fusilier SUV, according to reports, placing the blame on uncertainty around the future of electric cars.

Hyundai’s cute little Inster EV will lead the charge of affordable electric cars aimed at everyday drivers.Car makers from Europe, Korea and the US are starting to follow the lead of the Chinese car makers and produce lower cost, volume selling electric cars rather than the high priced models initially offered.The Inster will be in Aussie showrooms early next year, and Hyundai Australia has confirmed it will take both standard and long range variants.The cheapest versions will be priced below $40,000, which isn’t the most affordable electric car on sale, but it places it right at the pointy end.A driving range of 305km for the standard range and 355km for the long range are perfectly acceptable for someone who spends the majority of their time in town.Sitting in the car at the recent Busan motor show, where the Inster made its debut, the vehicle’s quality compared to cut-price alternatives from emerging Chinese brands was stark.Fit and finish of the cabin was excellent, it has just the right amount of high-tech features and is remarkably practical inside despite its little footprint.The car’s exterior style stands out, too. Hyundai designer Simon Loasby told CarsGuide the car is fun, full of character and it just makes you smile when you look at it.If you’re a city dweller looking for a relatively affordable small electric car, it’ll be hard to drive past the Inster.Hyundai isn’t the only major carmaker to come to the realisation that they need smaller, cheaper EVs.Ford boss Jim Farley recently told CNBC the Blue Oval was going to introduce a US$30,000 ($45,000) electric car as it needs to make smaller EVs.“We have to start to get back in love with smaller vehicles. It’s super important for our society and for EV adoption,” said Farley.Earlier this year Ford announced its EV division had lost about US$1.3b ($2b) in three months as sales of its cars slowed and the cost of developing them jumped.Farley said that developing smaller EVs was the best way to make them profitable sooner.“You have to make a radical change as an to get to a profitable EV. The first thing we have to do is really put all of our capital toward smaller, more affordable EVs,” he said. “These big, huge, enormous EVs, they’re never going to make money. The battery is $50,000. The batteries will never be affordable.”Ford has been forced to slash the price of the Mustang Mach-E electric SUV in Australia by up to $15,000 since December, 2023 in the face of slow sales.Kia is getting in on the small EV act, too.It recently revealed the EV3, which will be a circa-$50,000 electric SUV. A smaller and more affordable EV2 is also likely.Volkswagen has confirmed the ID.1 hatchback, which is the electric spiritual successor to the Up pint-sized city car.VW predicts the ID.1 will cost about $30,000, which puts it in the same ballpark as a entry-level Mazda3 or a fully-loaded Mazda2.Volkswagen’s global boss Thomas Schafer said the brand’s promise is “electromobility for all”, according to UK publication Autocar.“The future is electric. In order for electromobility to become widespread, attractive vehicles are needed, especially in the entry-level segment,” said Schafer.The ID.1 isn’t expected until 2027 in Europe with a likely Aussie arrival date further down the line.

Mazda might be set to lose its long-held place as Australia’s second favourite automotive brand, but the company’s local brass isn’t too concerned.

As the most popular body style in Australia, it's little wonder there is an avalanche of fresh SUVs coming to local shores in 2024.

This is the future... of Audi, at least. It's not so much the Q6 e-tron itself, but what's under it. The 'Premium Platform Electric' which it rides on will underpin future Audi models as well as others from Porsche, which co-developed it.

Mazda Australia says it is not concerned its new large SUV strategy will confuse buyers, and believes the four new models will have their own distinct identity on dealer showroom floors.

Chery has just lowered the price of entry to its Omoda 5 small SUV range by $6000 with a cheaper FX variant.Pricing starts from $27,990, drive-away, undercutting the rest of the Omoda 5 range and many big-brand rivals.It maintains a similar level of equipment and the same engine as Chery's other non-GT Omoda 5s.Cloth-faced upholstery with synthetic leather trimmings, 17-inch alloy wheels, a six-speaker sound system and halogen headlights are standard.The FX still gets twin 10.25-inch screens – one touch for multimedia and the other a digital driver's display – along with 'hello Chery' voice recognition.It's $6000 cheaper than the mid-spec BX which gets acoustic glass, synthetic leather upholstery, soft touch door cards, dual-zone climate control, an eight-speaker stereo and a wireless charger.The EX moves to LED headlights, larger 18-inch alloy wheels in conjunction with heated seats and steering wheel, a power tailgate and 360-degree surround-view camera for $36,990, drive-away.All non-GT grades use a 1.5-litre turbo-petrol four-cylinder developing 108kW/210Nm. It drives the front wheels via a CVT auto.The GT and GT AWD get a larger 1.5-litre turbo-petrol four-cylinder developing 137kW and 275Nm mated to a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic. All-wheel drive is optional.The whole Omoda 5 range is covered by an ANCAP five-star safety rating under 2022 protocols.While the new Omoda 5 FX undercuts the base model Mitsubishi ASX GS (about $28,490, drive-away), it remains dearer than base MG ZST Core ($25,490) and new-look GWM Haval Jolion Premium ($26,990, both national drive-away prices).So far, Chery has sold 2456 Omoda 5s this year, lagging behind the Jolion (5826) and MG ZS (1841). Chery will be expecting the new cheaper entry-grade to boost Omoda 5 sales.2024 Chery Omoda 5 pricingAll prices listed are drive-away

Volvo's EV sister brand, Polestar, has released its most important model to date in the Polestar 4. Aimed at the Tesla Model Y, the Chinese-built mid-sized SUV/crossover blends striking design with an exceptionally roomy cabin and advanced driver-assist safety tech. Whether in single-motor rear-drive or dual-motor all-wheel drive, Polestar has priced and positioned the 4 to stand out and succeed.

BMW says hydrogen must be a part of a lower-cost electric future.

Renault has finally revealed a new-generation Koleos - but it’s not what you think.