Articles by Chris Thompson

Volkswagen has done something unusual and added a new model name to its line-up. Called the Volkswagen Tayron, it’s the spiritual successor to VV’s Tiguan Allspace with three rows of seas in a relatively standard mid-size package.For a three-row German SUV, the Tayron seems like good value. At $60,390, before on-road costs, its relative premium feel and decent list of features are good showroom fodder for the new VW model.It sits relatively middle of the pack for the Tayron, the 110TSI Life is less powerful and lacks some features, but the eHybrid plug-ins and more powerful 195TSI R-Line can be as much as $15,000 more expensive.Take a look at the Toyota Kluger or Hyundai Santa Fe if you’re considering a more established, proven rival.Back to the Tayron 150TSI Elegance, which like much of the range has VW’s '4Motion' all-wheel drive system which can be reassuring in bad weather.As the name suggests, its power output of 150kW comes from a 2.0-litre, turbo-petrol, four-cylinder engine, as does 320Nm of torque, which VW claims results in a 0-100km/h time of 7.4 seconds.Power and torque is sent to all four wheels via a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission, a drivetrain layout only the ‘150’ variants in the Tayron line-up have.Volkswagen says the Tayron, which needs its 58-litre fuel tank filled with 95RON minimum, drinks 7.7L/100km. That’s decent for a non-hybrid SUV capable of hauling a family around, but it’s a fair bit thirstier than rivals like the Kluger or Santa Fe (both 5.6L/100km). In terms of creature comforts, the Elegance comes with a set of 19-inch alloy wheels, chrome trim outside and wood accent inside, tinted privacy glass, a 10.25-inch driver display and 12.9-inch multimedia touchscreen, three-zone climate control, heated and ventilated power-adjustable front seats, a heated steering wheel, heated outboard seats in the second row, auto LED headlights with cornering lighting and interior coloured mood lighting.The Tayron 150 TSI Elegance can also be had with a 'Sound and Vision Pack' for $4200 that upgrades the multimedia touchscreen to a larger 15-inch version while also adding a 10-speaker Harman Kardon sound system, a head-up display and matrix LED lights with dynamic lighting.While the list of features is healthy, the interior doesn’t feel extravagant, instead keeping the layout relatively simple and, likely to the disappointment of some, hiding much of the car’s functionality in the touchscreen.There is, mercifully, a constant menu bar for the key climate controls, but the only physical control in the Tayron’s central stack is the trio of the engine start button, electric handbrake switch, and the dial for either volume or drive mode, two settings that change with a push.Having to go through the screen is usually a bit of a pain when you’re on the move, but VW’s system is decently simple, even allowing you to swipe down and easily access important functions while using phone mirroring - Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are both wireless by the way.Its interior is otherwise well considered, though the driving position feels a little high to me, but the seat itself is comfortable.The second row can also be moved and adjusted for better comfort or space, depending on how kind you want to be to any third-row occupants, while the third row has enough space for an average adult to sit in comfortably, likely for a bit longer than you’d expect.Under the boot floor - where there’s either 345 litres, 850L, or 1905L depending on whether there’s one, two or three rows of seats up - the Tayron also has a space-saver spare wheel which is becoming a rarity today. Well done, VW.Like the space-savvy interior packaging, the Tayron’s on-road performance also deserves its bouquets. The three-row SUV isn’t enormous, but handles better than you might expect from something you could cart all six members of King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard around in.On highways and smoother roads, it’s decently quiet and is easy to settle into a nice rhythm with, while on twisty roads only particularly rough surfaces will unsettle it.Surefootedness comes with the very slight trade-off in terms of suspension softness, but it isn’t uncomfortable and doesn’t let big bumps in the road upset the cabin ambience much.The engine could be slightly more powerful for some situations, overtaking for example, but it’s about right for most day-to-day driving and it’s probably not worth spending too much more on a more powerful variant unless a hybrid’s efficiency appeals.On test, the Tayron returned a 7.9L/100km consumption figure, but given a fair chunk of that was dynamic testing, Volkswagen’s claimed number is probably a bit conservative and it wouldn’t be surprising if frugal owners managed to beat it.The transmission, despite still having some minor dual-clutch fumbles at low speeds, is good at keeping the engine where it needs to be in the rev-range and there are paddles to make that even smoother for dynamic driving.A maximum five-star ANCAP rating accompanies the Tayron, as well as nine airbags and a decent suite of safety kit that doesn’t interfere with your driving, a welcome change from many new cars.VW’s five-year warranty is getting on the shorter side as many brands extend theirs, but it’s not unusual for a Euro brand. 

Whether it’s lazy cost-cutting or an endeavour for design minimalism, the proliferation of touchscreens replacing buttons in new cars might have passed its peak.Feedback from both customers and media, as well as new assessments from safety organisations such as Euro NCAP (European New Car Assessment Programme) and by extension ANCAP (Australasian New Car Assessment Program), could see more brands retreat from the trend of placing controls for key functions in the main touchscreen of their new models. While there are certainly fans of controls within touchscreens - particularly interior designers and engineers at certain brands - calls for easier access to commonly used controls have resulted in Euro NCAP and ANCAP changing testing criteria for 2026, bringing into account the ease important controls can be accessed.Things like indicators, hazard lights, windscreen wipers, headlights and even the horn are just some of the controls that will need to be easily accessible under new testing procedures spearheaded by Euro NCAP.“New assessments of the human-machine interface (HMI) are introduced” in its 2026 criteria, the safety body said in a press release in late 2025.They focus on “evaluating the placement, clarity, and ease of use of essential controls”, Euro NCAP said, “including the availability of physical buttons for commonly used functions, which consumer feedback suggests can reduce distraction”.Australia’s own ANCAP and Euro NCAP often align their policies on such things, and so ANCAP has since confirmed it will be doing the same.“If you’ve noticed that some new cars have the most basic driver controls buried within touchscreens and sub-menus, you’re not alone,” ANCAP’s latest publication said.“It’s time to bring back buttons and stalks and remove some of the complication (and distraction!).“From 2026, we’re asking car makers to either offer physical buttons for important driver controls like the horn, indicators, hazard lights, windscreen wipers and headlights, or dedicate a fixed portion of the cabin display screen to these primary driving functions.”It’s been part of the plan for years, with ANCAP’s CEO Carla Hoorweg having said as early as March 2024 reducing distractions for drivers is a key goal for the organisation."We know driver distraction is a growing factor in road crashes, so it is important that certain in-vehicle controls are easily accessible by the driver and don't complicate the driving task or contribute to in-car distraction or inattention," she said."Physical buttons or stalks to operate these key vehicle controls will be encouraged through scoring, with manufacturers awarded points for the prioritisation of physical controls."While this means brands like Tesla and Volvo, who have been two of the earliest adopters of the ‘big screen’, will have to reconsider how much of the key controls and functions of new cars go into touchscreen menus.Fortunately, some brands have refused to follow the trend.Not long after the 2024 statement from ANCAP, Aston Martin Director of Design Miles Nurnberger told CarsGuide that physical controls are important for retaining the right ecosystem for a driver to feel able to properly use the car.“As an overall industry, there is a big digitisation ecosystem, and that's been a really interesting challenge for us because a lot of car companies have tried to profess to be a tech company,” he said.“I think years ago, it was like you needed some buttons. You put them in the car and buttons and buttons grew, and I think understanding why someone buys a car… led us down a path of looking at all the buttons.“I might be able to make something seemingly more efficient by burying everything in a screen, but it doesn't talk to the real user experience.“You look at the best experience, the best user solution. It might be physical, it's tactile. I can do that with my thumb. I don't take my eyes off the road. I'm a better driver for it.”It’s not just brands like Aston Martin who are committing to buttons.Toyota’s new models still feature a healthy serving of physical controls, as does its upmarket sibling Lexus.Hyundai (and by extension Genesis) follow the same philosophy. Sibling brand Kia is much the same.Chief Creative Officer for Hyundai and Genesis Luc Donkerwolke admitted in 2024 the brands had gone too far in minimising physical controls.“We are always paying attention that we don't end up in the ridiculous situation that you have to go to sub menus,” Donkerwolke said.He also confirmed the reason for removing buttons often comes down to cost-saving.“It's easy to reduce all costs when you only have digital keys . It's low tooling investment, you can do whatever you want, it's only software. The problem is it's not compatible with the use of a car. “We have a clear philosophy, eyes on the road, hands on the steering wheel, and if you do something else like that you are basically putting in danger the life of your customers.”

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.

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.

One of China's biggest car brands has a special Australia-focused model set for reveal later this year.During the recent arrival of BYD’s Zhengzhou cargo ship carrying thousands of new BYDs for waiting customers, the brand’s global VP and local COO confirmed the brand has an Australia-only model on the way.Liu Xueliang, Group Vice President of BYD and General Manager of BYD Asia-Pacific Auto Sales Division, was asked by journalists about models designed with Europe in mind - like the BYD Dolphin G revealed a week ago -  and whether they could come to Australia.“We have another special model, just for Australian customers,” Liu told journalists via translator, but wouldn’t be drawn on further details.Chief Operating Officer of BYD Australia Stephen Collins said no more could be said yet, but that the brand will “have more to say about that later in the year”.Given BYD already has a model seemingly built for the Australian psyche, the Shark 6 plug-in hybrid ute, it’s not yet clear what the Oz-specific BYD could be.A strong possibility at this stage is the apparent monocoque chassis ute, which has been spied testing numerous times in camouflage.According to Chinese government documents, the brand is planning more capacity for a ‘plug-in hybrid pick-up’ at its Zhengzhou production facility, though it doesn't mention the Shark 6.Spy photos show the ute with what appears to be a front-end similar to the likes of the BYD Sealion 5, and a small tub at the rear attached to a car-like dual-cab set-up.What could be China’s severely belated answer to car-based utes like the Holden Crewman, though previous expectations were that this model would be sold in China as well as other markets where small utes are popular, like South America.BYD is, in any case, expanding its line-up of Shark 6 ute variants to nab more share in the persistently competitive category here in Australia, so we will have to wait and see whether more information comes to light around BYD’s special model for Australia.

The first arrival of a BYD-owned shipping vessel to Australia has caused a stir as the brand’s top brass is confident troubles with supply in its home nation won’t affect Australian demand.The BYD Zhengzhou docked at the Port of Melbourne carrying 4809 BYD vehicles destined for Australian customers, part of a promise to deliver 30,000 new cars in the second quarter of 2026.BYD has already more than doubled its sales in the first quarter of 2026 compared to Q1, 2025, and if 30,000 vehicles are added to the existing count before halfway through the year, BYD will finish the first half with a remarkable 55,000 new cars sold in Australia.But on the morning media were given a tour of the BYD Zhengzhou in what could arguably be called a fanfare event, Toyota Australia announced it “has secured an additional 10,000 vehicles for local customers in 2026”.Toyota sold 59,675 cars in Q1 to BYD’s 25,243. BYD also remains behind Mazda, Kia, and Ford.The timing suggests Toyota wanted to remind Australian buyers who is number one in the sales race, but BYD’s commitment to meeting demand for electric vehicles (EVs) and plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) is clear, and the brand’s top brass didn’t hesitate to say as such.Liu Xueliang, Group Vice President of BYD and General Manager of BYD Asia-Pacific Auto Sales Division, told Australian media during a conference in Port Melbourne that despite battery supply challenges in the brand’s home market, BYD would meet demand in Australia.Via interpreter, Mr Liu told CarsGuide that even at home in an EV-saturated market, BYD’s outlook is optimistic.“Sales in China have begun to recover in Q2, we achieved 380,000 units sold in May just past. “Growth has tightened a bit, but that does not affect supply to markets including Australia.“This is just one of our ships, but we’ve got many other ships that are arriving in Australia.”While Mr Liu wouldn’t be drawn on Toyota’s announcement, the theme that returned many times during the conference was BYD’s ownership of its own supply chain, and the control that grants.Given Australia’s demand for plug-in hybrids and EVs in 2026 is higher than it has been by huge margins, Liu Xueliang said this wouldn’t be the first time a BYD-owned ship would be seen in an Australian port.

BYD has once again made a move to one-up its international rival Tesla by offering full liability coverage for its ‘God’s Eye’ advanced driver assistance system (ADAS).The brand announced at its ‘Intelligence Strategy Launch Event’ that it would cover “all resulting economic losses” from an accident resulting from use of BYD’s Urban Navigate on Autopilot (NOA) function, part of its God’s Eye ADAS suite.The move comes as part of a commitment to spend A$20.5 billion on investment into ADAS and self-driving, alongside revealing what it claims is China’s first mass-produced 4-nanometer (4nm) autonomous driving chip.BYD has also announced that its entire line-up can be equipped with the top-spec LiDAR version of God’s Eye, enabling level 3 and 4 self-driving.In China, BYD customers are able to purchase a one-year plan to cover use of God’s Eye 5.0.BYD says the policy states “if a legally-liable accident occurs while a user is operating the Urban NOA function in compliance with regulations, BYD will directly cover all resulting economic losses”.BYD cites the reason for this confidence as being down to its “3.15 million Intelligent Driving Assistance vehicles on the road” resulting in around 200 million kilometres logged every day, plus the brand’s huge R&D team of 5000 engineers, which it claims is the largest in China’s automotive industry.God’s Eye has also received an AI-based “hyper‑realistic digital assistant” for use by the driver in the cabin, which BYD claims results in a “continuously evolving in-car experience”.The tech and God’s Eye damage coverage is currently only available in China, while Tesla’s ‘Full Self Driving (FSD) Supervised’ is available in equipped models in Australia, though Tesla won’t take any of the blame for accidents that occur during its use.

The pile-on continues days after Maranello revealed its first electric car, with Lamborghini's CEO implying Ferrari has made a misstep with the new model.The 2026 Ferrari Luce debuted this week, designed by Jony Ive (of original iPhone fame) alongside Australian design veteran Marc Newson, and the internet has not reacted well.Nor has Ferrari’s customer base and investors - a drop in stock price of more than 6 per cent punctuated markets opening the day after the reveal.After that, external criticism from notable figures in the media and wider industry now includes Lamborghini CEO Stephan Winkelmann.While not the same direct admonishment as was handed down by former Ferrari boss Luca di Montezemolo who said he hopes “they at least remove the prancing horse from that car”, Winkelmann told CNBC plug-in hybrids are “the right way to go”.While he wouldn’t be drawn on directly commenting on the Luce as “ speak about its competitors”, he said “by observing the market ... we saw that the acceptance curve for our type of customers is not increasing, and that therefore we decided to move away from a full-electric car into a plug-in hybrid”.“Every brand, every company has to decide for themselves.”Lamborghini recently reversed plans to build a new model EV, the Lanzador, as well as an electric Urus, in favour of PHEV technology.Ferrari, on the other hand, went ahead with the move.Winkelmann’s comments and the more direct criticism from di Montezemolo aren’t the only high-profile snippets of ‘feedback’ aimed at Maranello, with Italy’s Deputy Prime Minister (and Transport Minister) Matteo Salvini having taken to X (formerly Twitter) to say “electric, incredibly expensive (€550,000!), and aesthetically speaking, it speaks for itself... It looks anything but a Prancing Horse car”.“And this is supposed to be ‘innovation’? I wonder what Enzo Ferrari would say…," he said.The technology under the Luce hasn’t been as widely criticised as its design departure from Ferrari’s tradition - 772kW and 990Nm from four electric motors and a 0-100km/h sprint in 2.5 seconds would be welcome in most other stables.

The small SUV market is getting busy. Plenty of aggressively affordable models are here, arriving, or soon to land thanks to the boom in China’s international new car market.Cars like the Kia Seltos can’t win on price alone anymore, as may have been the case in the past.It’s a good thing, then, that Kia has a new Seltos with some fresh tricks like a hybrid system for Australia and an interior that wouldn't look out of place in much more expensive Kias.This car isn’t due in Australia for some time - around October should be the launch - but an international preview in South Korea gave us a pretty solid look at what we can expect from Kia’s new small SUV.We don’t know quite how much the Seltos will cost just yet, but we have some clues.Given the last-gen Seltos pricing and the market positioning of the very closely related Hyundai Kona, we expect the Seltos to start in the high $30,000 region, before on-road costs.Chances are its line-up will look a lot like the previous Seltos range, with a few options ranging from a relatively basic ‘S’ to the fully-specified GT-Line.Specifications and features are also yet to be determined. The cars available to us during the test were likely representative of GT-Line cars that will arrive in Australia, with panoramic sunroofs, heated and vented seats, adjustable interior ambient lighting, synthetic leather upholstery and a large screen display.The three-part screen unit consists of 12.3-inch screens - one touchscreen for multimedia and one for the driver display - either side of a 5.0-inch touchscreen for climate controls. As is often the case with this section of the screen arrangement in Kias, it’s out of sight behind the steering wheel when you’re in a driving position.If you’ve been in a recently designed Kia like the EV3 or EV5, the interior design and layout will look familiar. There are still physical buttons and controls for important functions, as well as shortcuts to key sections in the multimedia menus, but the overall layout is relatively tidy.The driving position works well, visibility is good thanks to decently-sized windscreen and windows, and the seats are comfortable enough for a full day of driving.The second row is spacious enough for an adult on a decent drive, Kia says there’s another 20mm of legroom because the Seltos is now slightly bigger than the previous generation - 45mm longer with a 60mm longer wheelbase.There’s also 536 litres of boot space, and in Australia under that will be a spare wheel. This means we won’t have vehicle-to-load (V2L) capability, but it seems the sensible trade-off for Australia if only one of the two is up for grabs.In Australia, the drivetrain will be a hybrid-assisted 1.6-litre four-cylinder petrol engine mated to a six-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission.We’re expecting a front-wheel drive version with outputs to be approximately 113kw/265Nm, plus an all-wheel drive with 131kW, though its rear wheels will be powered by an electric motor and not mechanically connected to the front wheels.The hybrid version will be it for Australia, with the brand forgoing petrol-only variants. This means more efficiency to be expected from the new Seltos, and while Kia hasn’t provided indicative fuel economy expectations for this variant, the Korean test drive provided some insight.While not a perfect indication of the efficiency we can expect in Australia (given South Korea’s roads are flatter, straighter and slower for the most part), our test averaged between 4.8L/100km and 6.1L/100km. Tyre pressures were a few kilopascals higher than you’d expect them to be on an average Australian commute, by the way.We’re going to wait until later this year for a more definitive judgement on the Seltos, but first signs are impressive.Of course, a local Australian tune is already in the works thanks to Kia Australia’s Chief Engineer for Ride and Handling, Graeme Gambold, but the starting point built to suit the Korean market is a good basis.It’s soft and can get wafty on uneven surfaces, but generally easy to control in dynamic cornering without sacrificing comfort on long stretches of old roads.We can expect a firmer tune for better input response here in Australia, with the aim of reduced body roll and more accurate steering.The drivetrain, aside from its efficiency, is also a big plus for the Seltos, though its regenerative braking caused a couple of unexpected minor lurches during braking.While not entirely lacking urgency, keen drivers might be disappointed by the outputs, especially in front-drive.The nature of Korea’s highways and roads meant we were only able to get a matter of minutes rather than hours of twisty-road dynamic driving in, but given Kia Australia’s history of decent suspension work, there’s reason to expect the new Seltos will handle well once it lands in Australia.

The Toyota-owned Lexus brand has given the motoring world some truly desirable sports cars, and even a legendary supercar.Yamaha-tuned naturally aspirated 5.0-litre V8 engines have graced the engine bays of sedans, coupes and tourers, and a similarly developed 4.8-litre V10 found under the long bonnet of the Lexus LFA supercar is often cited as one of the world's best-sounding.More accessible, the still-available (for now) Lexus LC500 sounds like a NASCAR on the limiter, and the back-to-basics dynamics of cars like the relatively recent RC F were a far cry from the ‘retirement-spec’ Lexus SUVs that make up the bulk of the brand’s sales (and, at times, image).At the Australian launch of the updated 2026 Lexus RZ electric SUV, CarsGuide asked the brand’s local top brass where the next desirable halo model is coming from.Lexus Australia Chief Executive Jack Hobbs said, for now, the F Sport models available in the line-up and cars like the LBX Morizo have enough pep to fill customer demand for performance.“Certainly you know we'd love to have those sorts of products in our suite,” he told CarsGuide.“At the same time I think we've got enough offerings through the F Sport grades across the model range, and offerings like the LBX Morizo to, I guess, extend the range enough at this point in time.”While Lexus doesn’t quite have a high-performance aspirational model like the LFA - not even the limited-run RZ 600e F Sport Performance seems to fit the bill - the Lexus LFA Concept unveiled in stages as the Lexus Sport Concept in 2025 is starting to become more concrete.It’s just that it’s a battery electric vehicle.Strategic Communications Manager Nam Luong added some context around what the brand sees as its future direction, focussing on mobility and luxury rather than outright performance.“Yes, I think what you saw at the Japan Mobility Show in the Discover concepts, what we're looking at is broadening the expansion of the model range to encompass multiple forms of mobility, in terms of land, sea and air.”Other concepts that joined the LFA under the ‘Discover’ banner included a high-end people mover, the LS Concept, and a high-riding LS Coupe Concept sedan. Autonomous personal pods and even water-faring luxury yachts are part of the vision.“From a land perspective, the LFA concept has a role to play from that performance point of view, but what we're trying to identify is, well, how do we create a Lexus experience ecosystem beyond just the land element, seeing where and what Lexus Australia can continue to deliver on is also ‘what is that lifestyle experience’ that we can provide to our customers as well.”