SUV

Despite the lack of a traditional grille the Volvo EX30 is instantly recognisable as a contemporary Volvo and that’s down to more than a stylised version of the Swedish maker’s ‘Iron Mark’ logo on the nose. Everything from the signature ‘Thor’s Hammer’ headlights to the chunky rear haunches, blocky indents along the flanks and characteristically curved bonnet give the game away.

The type of spare tyre fitted to a new car is a hot topic these days. Designers and engineers are increasingly giving in to the temptation of including a space- and weight-saving repair/inflator kit rather than a full-size replacement or even a speed-limited space-saver. It's an arm wrestle Chesto found himself in the middle of this month with the Honda ZR-V VTi LX.

The electric car price cuts keep rolling.Boutique brand Lotus is the latest to slash a huge amount off the price of its EV as the electric car price war enters the luxury sphere.Its brutish Eletre electric performance SUV was originally slated to be priced from $239,000 (before on-road costs) for its base version, but now Aussies can jump in one for $189,900 – a whopping $49,100 less.The savings keep coming with the mid-tier S now $229,990 instead of $269,000 and the top-tier R variant is $279,990 not $315,000 as first announced.Customers who have already ordered an Eletre S or R will pay the new price when their cars arrive in Australia near the end of June.Production of the base Eletre will start in quarter 3 this year with deliveries either at the end of the year or early 2025.Lotus Australia Chief Operating Officer Richard Gibbs said the local outfit had inherited the pricing structure that came down from head office but they've been advocating for a review and were happy the powers to be agreed."It's a culmination of our market assessment and customer feedback," said Gibbs.He was keen on getting the price right before the cars arrived in country rather than being forced to cut the price once deliveries had started potentially angering existing customers."I think the fact we've done it now, I don't see us going through this again and we were quite keen to get this resolved before the vehicles arrive in market," he said." are not over inflated now and so there will be no bubble bursting."This is still not a cheap electric car, but it comes with potent performance and pedigree to match its steep price of entry.The Eletre uses two electric motors fed by a big 112kWh battery to make 450kW and 710Nm in the base and S versions and 675kW and 985Nm in the top-tier R.Aided by all-wheel drive grip, the Eletre can complete the benchmark 0-100km/h sprint in 4.5 seconds in lower grades or in a supercar rivalling 2.95 seconds in the R.Those that value driving range over lightning quick speed can choose the base or S versions that are capable of driving up to 600km on a single charge. The R’s claimed range drops to 490km.The Eletre is built with an 800-volt charging architecture that allows charging speeds of up to 350kW. This matches vehicles such as the Hyundai Ioniq 5 and the Porsche Taycan.Lotus claims it can replenish the battery from 10 to 80 per cent in 20 minutes at its maximum rate. When hooked up to a 22kW AC wallbox charger it can go from zero to 100 per cent in just under six hours.The famed British brand - now Chinese owned - is known for its lightweight sports cars such as the Elise and Emira, making the Eletre the most un-Lotus Lotus ever, weighing in at about 2.6 tonnes.The new Eletre prices follow a mass of car makers dramatically slashing the cost of their electric cars.This week Peugeot knocked more than $20,000 off the price of its e-2008 electric small SUV to $39,990 drive-away.That model has since sold out according to Peugeot Australia and it won’t be on sale until the start of next year when the updated version arrives.Nissan also knocked $16,000 off the price of its slow selling Leaf electric hatchback. It now starts at $39,990 drive-away with the longer range e+ model $49,990 drive-away.Chinese car brand BYD has savings of up to $8000 on its already affordable Atto 3 and MG and GWM have applied generous drive-away prices to the 4 and Ora small electric hatchbacks.

Volvo is chasing down Tesla with a revolutionary process that will make its electric cars cheaper.The Chinese owned Swedish brand has committed to a “mega casting” manufacturing process in its next-generation electric cars, according to UK publication Autocar.The radical procedure die-casts large sections of the car such as the complex rear and front underbody in one piece.This apparently rolls hundreds of individual parts into one solid slab, which slashes production costs and increases efficiency that should make future vehicles cheaper.Tesla is currently the only car maker that uses this process, which allows it to sell its cars for less than competitors.In Australia, the Tesla Model Y starts at about $60,900 (before on-road costs) which is significantly less than rivals such as the Hyundai Ioniq 5 ($65,000) and Toyota bZ4X ($66,000).According to reports Volvo will start by using the production technique on the rear floor, which will weigh 50 per cent less and require significantly less welded joints.Tesla currently uses the process for the front and rear floors but has recently abandoned plans for a one-piece cast floor from front to back.This coincides with Tesla halting development of its cut-price Model 2 small car that relied on the cost savings associated with the single piece casting technique.Tesla was believed to be targeting a US$25,000 ($37,800) price for the Model 2.Volvo has committed to be electric-only in Australia by 2026, which is when the maker is tipped to start mega-casting its cars, and it has a few holes in its EV line-up that need to be filled.It is likely the first Volvo model to use the cost-cutting process could be the EX60, the electric equivalent of the volume-selling XC60 mid-size SUV that would compete with the Model Y.The next-generation of the XC40 electric SUV, which will most likely be dubbed the EX40, could also be a candidate for the process.The recently launched EX30 little electric SUV and soon to arrive EX90 large SUV might join the end of the queue.Volvo’s parent company Geely also owns Polestar and a range of other electric vehicle brands such as the confirmed for Australia Zeekr. Both would be in line to use to same technique in the future.

The eDrive20 is the entry into BMW's electric iX2 range and, for $82,900, before on-road costs, uses one of BMW's fifth-gen electric motors on the front axle developing 150kW/247Nm.

Volvo's taking big steps towards its imminent all-EV future and the latest addition to the Swedish brand's local line-up is the pure-electric EX30 small SUV. CarsGuide has driven this premium, city-sized five-seater in town, on the highway and everything in-between at its Australian launch.

Volkswagen is set to put more emphasis on plug-in hybrid technology as demand for electric cars falls off in Europe.The German brand’s global boss Thomas Schafer told UK publication Autocar: "It's a bridge technology. While battery-electric drive is plateauing out a bit at the moment, we still need this transitional technology."Schafer was surprised by the renewed interest in hybrids, which were considered old tech."Hybrids were a thing of the past. Last year, if you asked the same question, it would have been: 'Forget hybrids, it's expensive technology, it's not worth it.' Within the last six months, all of a sudden everyone wants hybrids,” said Schafer to Autocar.He stated that full electric cars are still the future for the brand long term.In Europe Volkswagen sells plug-in hybrid versions of the Tiguan medium SUV, Touareg large SUV, Golf small hatchback and Passat sedan and wagon. Volkswagen is just about to launch its first plug-in hybrid model locally, the range-topping Touareg R large SUV.The model is pitched as a performance flagship with a 3.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine paired with an electric motor making a hefty 340kW and 700Nm.No other plug-in hybrids have been confirmed and the Passat would be off the cards as the entire model line-up was axed in Australia last year.The looming spectre of the Federal Government’s New Vehicle Emissions Standards that will fine car makers for selling heavy polluting vehicles may change the equation, though.Price could be the biggest hurdle to overcome before adding plug-in hybrids to the local range.The Touareg R is priced from $129,990 (before on-road costs), which is $40,000 more than the base diesel-powered Touareg.That range-topping price point is likely to be filled by the brand’s coming range of electric cars.It will launch its first battery-electric vehicles - the ID.4 and ID.5 SUVs - in the coming months. These models are expected to be priced at about $80,000, which is a healthy premium on its petrol equivalent Tiguan R-Line.This would effectively rule out a plug-in hybrid version of the Tiguan but a Golf hybrid could find success.Exact timing for the arrival of the ID.3 electric hatchback, which is a similar size to the Golf, hasn’t been locked in but is expected sometime next year.The ID.Buzz electric people mover will arrive at the end of this year, but there is also a plug-in hybrid version of the similar proportioned Multivan in Europe.Plug-in hybrids may be left to Cupra, which is part of the broader Volkswagen Group.Cupra already sells petrol-electric versions of its Golf-sized Leon hatchback and T-Roc-equivalent Formentor.Cupra just revealed updated versions of these cars, which will arrive in Australia next year with up to 100km of pure electric driving range.It will also bring a plug-in hybrid version of the Tiguan-sized Terramar soon.The brand has found success with plug-in hybrids compared to the broader market.Cupra Australia boss Ben Wilks said before the FBT exemptions came into effect, PHEVs made up about one in five sales but are now more than double that.That means plug-in hybrids account for about 40 per cent of Cupra sales, which is well above the rest of the industry where plug-in hybrids account for about one per cent of new sales so far this year.“We’re seeing the shift at the moment with our plug-in hybrid versus our VZx , the top-of-the-range petrol engine,” said Wilks.“I think the beauty of our range is we have something for everyone. We are able to offer our ICE cars as we are bringing the electric cars to market.”

Guangzhou Automobile Group (GAC) has confirmed plans to launch a range of electric and hybrid vehicles in Australia by 2025. The announcement follows last year’s promise that Chinese state-owned GAC’s Aion electric car brand would reach our shores, with AGA Auto Australia now named as official importer of all GAC products.GAC and Aion’s Australian model portfolio is a long way from being finalised, however, an as-yet unseen Corolla-sized electric car has been all-but confirmed as has the new Model Y-sized Aion V. A GS8 hybrid large SUV and M8 people mover are also likely. The second generation Aion V was revealed at the 2024 Beijing Auto Show measuring 4.6 metres long. Powertrain and interior details are yet to be confirmed but the bluff medium SUV should pack around 450-600km driving range, 400-volt electrics with either LFP or NMC batteries which will eventually be made in-house. The unnamed, unseen, Corolla-sized electric hatch will be key for Aion to battle the MG4 and the BYD Dolphin in Australia. Like the Aion V, details are unconfirmed. Moving away from EVs, GAC makes Toyotas in China including the Camry, Kluger, Corolla and previous-gen C-HR under a long-standing joint venture. GAC also constructs its own line of vehicles sold under the Trumpchi brand, some of which use Toyota hybrid technology.The mooted-for-Australia GS8 is a Hyundai Palisade-sized seven-seat SUV sold in China with a fourth-gen Toyota hybrid system with e-CVT hooked up to the brand’s own 2.0-litre petrol four-cylinder. It develops 174kW/391Nm, or 10kW shy of a similarly-sized Toyota Kluger hybrid AWD. The GS8’s fuel consumption is rated at 5.8L/100km under the more generous NEDC protocol. The Toyota hybrid system may not make it to Australian GS8s, though, owing to potential conflicts with the Big T selling hybrid tech locally in direct rivals. Aion Australia Chief Operating Officer Charles Lau admitted that the importer was yet to address this issue. Lucky then that GAC has its own ‘Mega Wave’ hybrid system. The brand doesn’t say so, but it has surely been influenced by Toyota’s approach. It also offers a plug-in hybrid ES9 version of the seven-seat larger SUV. The Toyota Alphard-like M8 people mover is also under study as one of the first models for the Australian market. GAC’s More exotic Hyper range could arrive further in the future but there are no immediate plans. The three models sold at home use 800-volt architecture and promise some wild charging statistics – at China’s 480kW DC pylons the GT performance sedan promises to rejuvenate 450km driving range (WLTC) in as little as 10 minutes. The Hyper SSR super car, meanwhile, boasts a 0-100km/h sprint of just 1.9 seconds and 880kW. Aion’s halo model costs the equivalent of A$260,000 in China, so the Corvette E-Ray rival is a serious piece of kit. When it comes to branding, much like GWM’s Haval and Ora brands, GAC will keep its lines separate. The Aion electric cars will wear distinct badging to the Trumpchi/GAC hybrid products though will likely coexist in sales spaces. Mr Lau also told CarsGuide that, although there’s been no mention yet, a ute is something that AGA Auto would jump at for Australia. Discussing sales models, Mr Lau said traditional dealer franchise, direct-to-consumer – like Tesla and Genesis – and agency models, as Mercedes-Benz and Honda offer, are all under consideration.“The one that stands out, realistically, to us is the agency/dealer hybrid model”, said Mr Lau. “We want to build a brand that is here to be sustainable more than – in crude terms – flog off as many cars as we can and no more.”The ability to carry spare parts and control the consumer process better was one of the benefits. Not unlike BYD’s model with MyCar service centres and Ineos’ Bosch relationship, CarsGuide understands that GAC will look to partner with other service providers to improve coverage. Australia will form the next step in GAC’s global expansion after the brand has begun reaching into select Middle Eastern, European, South American and African markets. Unlike Chery, BYD or MG which are imported by factory-owned operations, GAC and Aion will be imported by independent AGA Auto. The company has no track record of vehicle importing in Australia, starting life in 2002 as an inbound tour travel agency greeting guests from China. Later in the 2010s, the company entered the automotive market in China running several dealers that shift combustion, hybrid and electric vehicles. Mr Lau said this gave the company unique insight having “been at the forefront of current price wars in China.”The importer has been quiet on exact arrival timing but noted that Australian Design Rules (ADRs) can be tricky to navigate for new players. Mr Lau Indicatied that getting the product right for the market would come before announcing a final launch date. Australian suspension tuning – something that’s been so popular for Hyundai and Kia – is on the cards too. There was no mention of ADAS localisation, but other brands’ roll outs have proven this is important, if not more so, than chassis tuning for our market. Further details of GAC and Aion’s Australian launch and product portfolio will be revealed closer to the brand’s launch in 2025.

Haven’t heard of Polestar electric vehicles? Well, there was a time when you hadn’t heard of Tesla, either, but in recent years, Polestar has leaped up the sales charts, which once would've been a difficult task for a newcomer brand in AustraliaRegardless, If your Polestar knowledge is hazier than the Tesla Cybertruck’s release date, here’s all the important things you need to know about the EV brand that hopes to shake up the world, and annoy Elon Musk.This is a case of big (Chinese) fish eats little (Swedish) fish. Flash/Polestar Racing was established in 1996 and was a partner to Volvo, with the Swedish car manufacturer fully acquiring the off-shoot in 2015. Chinese multinational automotive giant Geely bought Volvo in 2010, technically making the Polestar brand Swedish-Chinese (which sounds like a very interesting cuisine). Although headquartered in Torslanda outside Gothenburg, in Sweden, Polestar has its Polestar 2 made in Luqiao, China, at the same factory that builds the Volvo XC40 Recharge EV. The new Polestar 3 SUV, however, will be manufactured in both China and the US, while the Polestar 4 will be built in China and South Korea. If you’re keen to get behind the wheel of a Polestar, Polestar Australia has been selling the popular Polestar 2 hatchback EV since early 2022 (surely you’ve seen them on the road, as many early examples are favoured by rideshare drivers).After a Polestar SUV? Australia will get those in 2024 when the Polestar 3 large SUV lands, and if you want to drive something really different, the Polestar 4 mixes it up with its mid-size crossover coupe styling and complete lack of a rear window.In the next few years the range will also be fleshed out with a Polestar 5 Grand Tourer, and the Polestar 6 convertible.Wondering what happened to the Polestar 1? Australia never saw it, with the plug-in hybrid coupe discontinued from production in 2021. If you’re keen to be the owner of a shiny new Polestar but worried about where to plug it in, charging stations in Australia are now beginning to increase, with various government funding going toward bridging the gap and making it easier for EV drivers to charge their vehicles. Price: $67,400 (Standard Range RWD), $71,400 (Long Range RWD), $76,400 (Long Range dual motor); all plus on-road costs There are two single-motor rear-drive variants of the Polestar 2: the Standard Range (estimated driving range of 532km) and the Long Range (estimated driving range of 654km), with each variant coming with outputs of 200kW/490Nm and the ability to go from zero to 100km/h in 6.4 seconds. There’s also a dual-motor Long Range variant (estimated driving range of 591km) with outputs of 310kW/740Nm and a zero to 100km/h dash of 4.2 seconds. The Standard Range battery pack is 69kWh, while the Long Range is 82kWh. Price: From $132,900Sharing its SPA2 platform with the incoming Volvo EX90, the Polestar 3 large SUV has a dual-motor powertrain and maximum outputs of 380kW and 910Nm, with the estimated driving range provided by the 111kW battery pack at 610km.Local pricing comes in at $132,900 for the single Long Range Dual Motor variant, although the Performance Pack (which unlocks the aforementioned power outputs for a 4.7 second 0-100km/h sprint time) costs a further $9000, while the Plus Pack, which is also a $9000 option adds more luxurious touches like premium audio, noise cancelling, and soft-close doors among other things.From $81,500The Polestar 4 will land in Australia before the end of 2024 offering a different spin on the luxury mid-size SUV formula. Competing both in terms of price and intention to something like Porsche's electric Macan, the Polestar 4 looks more like an up-sized Polestar 2, having a more sedan-like silhouette than your average mid-size SUV.Local pricing starts from $81,500 for the entry-level Single Motor variant which channels 200kW/343Nm to the rear wheels and provides 610km of driving range, while the Dual Motor starts from $92,150 and doubles outputs to 400kW while offering 580km of driving range.Test drives for the Polestar 2 are currently available in Melbourne, Brisbane, Hobart, Perth and two locations in Sydney. That’s not the only way to get yourself behind the wheel of a Polestar 2: Hertz has purchased a whopping 65,000 Polestars 2s to add to its fleet of rental cars, giving Aussies the chance to test one out before shelling out their hard-earned. Uber has also made at least 500 Polestars 2s part of its fleet thanks to vehicle subscription company Splend. An electric tier was launched by Uber in 2023, which gives Uber customers the ability to choose to travel in a Polestar 2 or Tesla Model 3 or another fully electric car. It was also joined by a 'green' tier which allows riders to exclusively be picked up in hybrids.Polestar offer a traditional fixed rate loan to customers, as well as a loan with a ‘Guaranteed Future Value agreement’, which is similar to a regular loan with a balloon payment at the end of the term. The difference is that Polestar guarantees the minimum return value of the vehicle to ensure it covers the balloon repayment.Two more models have already been announced by Polestar: The Polestar 5 four-door sedan (outputs: 650kW/900Nm) is pitched as a grand tourer and rides on the same SEA platform as the Polestar 4 and other vehicles under the Geely umbrella, like the Lotus Eletre and Zeekr 001. Its current plan for release seems to have been pushed back to 2027.The Polestar 6, an electric sports car concept, has also been unveiled, with an originally proposed release date of 2026. The dual motor, two-door convertible’s target specifications are a top speed of 250km/h, acceleration from zero to 100km/h in 3.2 seconds, a 600km-plus driving range and a power target of 650kW. That definitely sounds like something you won’t want to miss.

Hyundai has confirmed the range and prices for its all-new Santa Fe family SUV.The Toyota Kluger-rivaling seven-seat SUV will be available in three grades: starting with the simply named Santa Fe and moving up to the Elite and then to the fully-loaded Calligraphy.Prices start at $55,500 (before on-road costs) for the front-wheel-drive base version, which is an almost $10,000 jump compared to the outgoing model. Adding all-wheel drive costs an extra $3000.The Elite variant starts at $65,000 and comes standard with all-wheel drive.Ranger-topping Calligraphy AWD versions start at $75,000 and comes in seven- and six-seat layouts.Every model uses hybrid power, combining a 1.6-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine and an electric motor to make 172kW and 367Nm. Hyundai claims the big SUV drinks 5.6 litres per 100km.The Santa Fe is targeting its main rival the Toyota Kluger, which for comparison ekes out 184kW from its hybrid set-up and matches the Hyundai’s fuel use.The Santa Fe is a bold looking SUV with dynamic H-shaped headlights and a light bar across the front grill. It has a boxy silhouette similar to older Land Rovers.Buyers of the cheapest Santa Fe can expect 20-inch alloy wheels, LED lighting front and back and rear privacy glass.Inside there are dual 12.3-inch digital displays - one for the multimedia and one for the driver’s instruments - and cloth seats.Safety is comprehensive with 10 airbags and a mass of active driver aids.There is plenty of in-car tech including the brand’s connected Bluelink app, over-the-air update capabilities and smartphone mirroring paired with a wireless device charger.All-wheel-drive versions get multiple driving modes including Snow, Mud and Sand.Elite versions up the level of standard kit with synthetic leather-wrapped seats, a heated steering wheel, a power-adjustable driver’s seat and a second wireless device charger.It ditches the base versions’ six-speaker stereo for a premium Bose sound system.Full fruit Calligraphy variants up the luxe factor with plush Nappa leather upholstery, sunroof and power adjustment for the front-seat passenger.There are some tech advancements with a head-up display that projects vital information such as travelling speed and safety warnings onto the windscreen in front of the driver.For the germ conscious there is a UV-C sterilisation tray in the dashboard above the glove box that takes 10-minutes to zap an item.