Articles by Chris Thompson

Ferrari has confirmed the name and some interior design elements of its upcoming electric car, which is due to launch later this year.The 2026 Ferrari Luce, the brand’s first EV and proclaimed “the start of a new chapter” for Ferrari, was designed with help from San Francisco firm LoveFrom, founded by influential Apple designer Jony Ive and prolific Australian industrial designer Marc Newson.The design has, perhaps unsurprisingly, drawn a slew of negative online commentary for its departure from Ferrari’s previous interior design language.Jony Ive’s influence is clear, with flat glass screens, rounded edges and sleek buttons dominating much of what has been revealed, with a ‘retro’ flavour to much of the physical part of the interior.Ferrari says the philosophy behind the design is to organise the elements around control inputs and display outputs, with influence from “classic sports cars and Formula One single-seaters” simplified down to “essential functions”.The steering wheel is perhaps the clearest example of the ‘heritage-inspired’ design, with the tiller a modern interpretation of the classic three-spoke Nardi wheel of mid-20th century.A glass key fob that needs to be inserted into a dock to start the car has also been revealed, as well as a central control panel able to swivel towards either driver or passenger.The main panels shown also include a tablet-style digital driver display, central console with glass shifter, and a ceiling-mounted panel where the start-switch is found.The design influence from the head designers at LoveFrom is clear. Jony Ive was instrumental in the development of the iPhone’s now-iconic style as with many other early Apple designs, and Marc Newson has designed countless products including weapons, cameras, aircraft fittings for Qantas and even his own homes.So far, the key confirmed information on the technical side of the Luce includes its dual-motor setup with an output of more than 736kW, and a 0-100km/h time of less than 2.5sec.An in-house 122kWh battery pack will reportedly allow a range of more than 530km.

There can be only one winner in the CarsGuide Car of the Year – Best Small Car Starting Under $50K category.But luckily for a couple of models there’s also room for two runners-up on the podium.The category’s shortlist featured some strong competition, with the two runner-up models the result of some debate in the COTY War Room over a few front-runners.But unlike the other categories in the 2026 CarsGuide Car of the Year awards, the winner in this category was unanimous.Read on to find out which model impressed each judge more than the other nine entrants.Make no mistake, the MG S5 EV falling short of the category crown shouldn’t be seen as disappointing.MG’s cars have been handed mixed reviews by CarsGuide journalists since the brand relaunched in Australia a decade ago, and even recently some models have arguably leant on the low price as a selling point.But the MG S5 EV is changing opinions. A significant jump in quality, ergonomics and driving ability put the small electric SUV close to the front of the pack in terms of buying propositions – plus it’s a $40,490 drive-away ask.“The MG S5 EV gives everything such a run on the value front. It changed my mind about MG’s EVs in that segment,” said CarsGuide Deputy News Editor Tom White in the COTY War Room discussion.Our Deputy Editor James Cleary summed the S5 EV’s strengths up with an economical number of words: “Looks, dynamics, practicality, space, reasonable range and its warranty.” But while the S5 received near-universal praise in the War Room discussion, Senior Journalist Laura Berry mentioned its price as being a strong reason to consider the S5 EV, even if the winner in this category has it covered in all other areas. “Being $7000 less than the winner, it’s a really compelling argument. It’s fantastic value and a great car,” she said.Could the Qashqai be Nissan’s best current offering in terms of broad appeal? After a new generation was quickly followed by a design refresh, the small SUV now looks stunning, and its interior has been updated to feel properly modern. When judging took place at the end of last year, the $34,665 starting point for its entry petrol ST grade was the cheapest way into the model, though Nissan has since announced that the Qashqai is hybrid-only going forwards.But soon the e-Power hybrid will start from $45,640 before on-roads, but its quality and smooth on-road performance still impressed judges in the pricier e-Power hybrids.“Qashqai as a range has some of the widest appeal and most versatility,” said Deputy News Editor Tom White. “It won the comparo it was in for us, too.”That comparison was with the Qashqai ST-L, the Kia Seltos Sport+ 2.0 and the Subaru Crosstrek R back in 2023, and that was before the facelifted Qashqai arrived.While judges also praised its e-Power hybrid variants for their driving feel (“that e-Power system is amazing,” said Senior Journalist Laura Berry), there was another huge win when it comes to considering the Qashqai.Contributing Journalist Byron Mathioudakis pointed out that it “also has a very useful 10-year warranty”.The EV3’s place atop the podium isn’t a massive surprise to me, but to have each of the other judges call it their pick of the bunch was heartening.I’ve spent the most time in the EV3 compared to the rest of the panel, after its international launch in Seoul, its Australian launch through the Gold Coast hinterland and some more time living with the small electric SUV.CarsGuide Managing Editor Tim Nicholson praised the EV3’s combination of clever packaging and fun from behind the wheel. "There is not much the Kia EV3 gets wrong. It has an edgy, modern design and a visually appealing and surprisingly spacious interior,” he said. “And you also get punchy EV performance and excellent ride and handling. It's an exceptional overall package." A lot of thought has clearly gone into the EV3, and while it’s not as dynamically keen as the Kia EV6, its stablemate in the brand’s ‘EV’ range, it shines far brighter than the Kia EV5 in terms of its on-road manners.Contributing Journalist Byron Mathioudakis voted for the EV3 due to “all the reasons we’ve already said, plus the fact it’s got a bit of an ‘It Factor’”.“The design, its proportions, just the level of detail that thing has is outstanding,” he added.It’s one of the more expensive entrants in the category, with its entry Standard Range Air variant starting from $47,600 before on-roads, but News Editor Dom Tripolone’s experience with the EV3 puts any ‘too expensive’ arguments to rest in the eyes of the judges.“I was able to put two child seats in the second row with a pram in the back very easily,” he said.“It’s a small car, but it feels like I’m buying a car a size above on the inside. That changes the value proposition in my book.”You can spend up to $63,950 for a top-spec GT-Line, but sticking with the entry grade is not only the best value, it’s also not missing anything important for the EV3 to be a fabulous step into the EV space.

BMW has updated its smallest SUV models with more efficient engines and a new plug-in hybrid (PHEV) variant, but prices are up across the line-up.The 2026 BMW X1 and X2 now no longer run four-cylinder engines for the most part, and a plug-in hybrid variant joins the X1 line-up.New emissions regulations have led to the hotter M35i versions of the X1 and X2 to drop a little bit of power.More changes to the models’ line-ups come with the removal of the single-motor variants of each electric car, the iX1 and iX2. Some pricing has changed, though a couple of models were spared the mark-ups.Starting from the biggest addition, the new BMW X1 xDrive25e plug-in hybrid is a $79,500 ask before on-road costs, landing it roughly in the middle of the X1 line-up price-wise.While BMW says some of its technical details are to be confirmed, an EV range of as much as 86km thanks to a 14.2kWh battery will help the X1 PHEV achieve a fuel consumption rate between 6.3L and 7.1L/100km, BMW says.The all-wheel drive model uses a 1.5-litre three cylinder turbo engine, mostly used in sibling brand Mini’s models, with an 80kW electric motor assisting the operation for a total 180kW/477Nm output.BMW has also streamlined the entry point into each model, both now starting with a front-wheel drive ‘sDrive20i’ variant that features more kit than the outgoing sDrive18i in the X1, and is cheaper than the outgoing all-wheel drive xDrive20i variants in each X1 and X2.They’re powered by similar 1.5-litre three cylinder turbo engines to the X1 PHEV, but feature mild-hybrid assistance for outputs of 125kW/280Nm sent to the wheels via a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission.As well as the drivetrain updates, electrically adjustable heated seats have been added.More small changes come in the addition of silicon carbide (SiC) inverters to the iX1 and iX2, now available only in ‘xDrive30’ variants, though pricing remains the same for each: $86,800 for the iX1 and $87,600 for the iX2.Finally, the performance-focused M35i xDrive variants are each $1000 pricier, while also having their performance culled slightly with no additional features added.Due to the addition of a petrol particulate filter “for adherence to new emissions regulations”, each has been sapped of 12kW meaning outputs are now 221kW and 400Nm on each. Engines are still the same 2.0-litre four-cylinder Full explanations of the changes to the X1 and X2 can be found in the tables below.2026 BMW X1 price Australia *X1 sDrive18i was $62,400, xDrive20i was $72,400 2026 BMW X2 price Australia ** X2 xDrive20i M Sport was $77,900 2026 BMW X1 engine/powertrain and efficiency2026 BMW X2 engine/powertrain and efficiency

The 86 was, when launched, extremely affordable but has since become more expensive, and getting into a top-spec version of the GR86 is a task that’ll sap $20,000 more from your wallet than the original 86 base model. To find out if it’s worthwhile, we’ve snagged a 2026 Toyota GR86 GTS with optional Dynamic Performance Pack.

Reports have emerged that Elon Musk’s aerospace company SpaceX is considering a merger with one of the billionaire’s other major companies ahead of going public on the stock market.A tie-up between SpaceX and one of xAI or Tesla, all headed up by the contentious billionaire, is on the cards according to Reuters, with SpaceX expected to hit the stock market valued at as much as US$1.5t (A$2.16t).While reports suggest insiders are leaning towards a merger between SpaceX and xAI, both being private companies while Tesla is public, there’s talk that Tesla will eventually join the mega-company that is being touted as ‘Elon Inc’.Tesla being more closely associated with Musk’s other brands isn't out of the ordinary, the allegedly forthcoming Tesla Roadster has been touted as a “Tesla/SpaceX collab” according to Musk, while Tesla and SpaceX do business in the battery space for the rocket company’s storage needs.Tesla also ‘loaned’ a series of employees to Twitter (now X) to help with coding shortly after the former Trump ally bought the social media network.Merging Tesla and SpaceX presents more complexities than xAI and SpaceX, according to experts Reuters spoke to. Aside from the public/private company factor, Tesla investors might see the merger as “dilutive” to their focus on Tesla.“Combining all or part of his empire into Tesla would involve a number of complexities,” John Streur told Reuters. Streur is a Senior Managing Partner at Boston Common Asset Management. “If the valuations are extremely high it will be viewed as dilutive to Tesla shareholders.”While it’s all up in the air at the moment for Tesla, the effects it might have on the brand's products can be seen in the aforementioned ways the companies already work together - more AI integration into Tesla’s cars including autonomous features, plus the potential for more experimentation with SpaceX contributions to the brand’s features.The future of Tesla as a car brand is generally changing slowly already, with Musk touting Tesla’s robots and discontinuing the Model X SUV and Model S sedan, the latter being instrumental early in Tesla’s rise to EV dominance.It was announced in late January that the factory in California where the Model S and X were built would be converted into a production line for Tesla's Optimus robots.The loss of S and X won’t greatly impact the brand’s bottom line, though, as its Model 3 and Model Y reportedly accounted for 97 per cent of the brand’s 2025 global sales.

A dealer memo in the US suggests a much-loved grand touring sports car could be on the way out.The 2026 Lexus LC500 and its convertible variant might be on their last legs if a letter sent to North American dealers by Lexus is accurate.Published by Carscoops, the dealer letter says the 2026 model year will be the final year of production for the LC500 and LC500 Convertible, though doesn’t note any details for production of the LC500h hybrid.It could suggest the V8 that powers the LC500 - Lexus’ 2UR-GSE co-developed with Yamaha - is due to end production. The LC500 is the only model still using the specific version of the engine, which was once found in other V8-powered Lexus models.In the LC500, the 5.0-litre naturally aspirated unit makes a healthy 351kW and 540Nm, and when revved out to its 7300rpm redline sounds inarguably intoxicating. Yamaha’s help made it a widely loved engine for its sound alone.The hybrid LC500h has instead a 3.5-litre V6 under the long bonnet with electric assistance to help it drink far less fuel than the V8 - though it only makes 264kW.The published letter to dealers suggests August 2026 will mark the end of production, though Lexus hasn’t publicly confirmed this.If the LC500 ends production next year, it’ll have a near-decade-long run since its 2017 introduction.CarsGuide has contacted Lexus Australia for word on whether this has been confirmed internationally, and whether there’s any information on an end date for the LC500 here.

Cathy, Thorpey, Kylie and Nikki had just shown the world that Australia can hold its own in sports and culture, we’d given quite a few of our guns away, the Millenial Bug wasn’t such a concern anymore… and three sedans dominated Aussie roads.A quarter of a century ago, the year 2000 was just in the rear-view, and the sales charts looked very different to today.What better time than 25 years later to look back at the cars and brands Australians were heading to the showroom for?Not only were there fewer utes and SUVs being sold, they didn’t even make up a third of the new vehicle sales in the country combined that year. Utes and SUVs were lumped together in the same section of the VFACTS report (the sales figures industry stakeholders, pundits and media receive each month) alongside heavy trucks.Only 8413 new Toyota RAV4s were sold, making the Daewoo Lanos (9029 sales) more popular that year. Compare that to 2025, when the RAV4 ranked second in sales for the year with a whopping 51,947 units, only topped by the Ranger (56,555).Speaking of which, how did our now-favourite utes fare in 2000? The Ford Courier, the Ranger’s predecessor, sold just 6769 units, while the HiLux managed to hop into the top 10 with 21,509 sales. Still somewhat short of its 51,297 in 2025.To be fair, if you’d asked someone if they were buying a Ford ute, the Courier wouldn’t have been the first thing to come to mind. Ford sold 13,698 Falcon utes in the year 2000, putting it well ahead of its Commodore rival’s 6361.That can be explained easily, Holden didn't build a new ute for the VT generation Commodore of the late-’90s, instead continuing to sell the VS ute alongside the VT sedan.The near-new AU Falcon ute (released in mid-1999) had the car-based ute market covered for the turn of the century.Those two now-gone badges, along with the enduring Toyota Camry and the impressive Mitsubishi Magna, were impossible to avoid on Aussie roads then, with the Commodore, Falcon, Camry and Magna being first, second, third and fifth (thanks to the Corolla in fourth) most popular cars in the country in 2000.Between them they contributed to the total 198,766 large passenger cars sold in 2000, which made up 35.9 per cent of the year’s new vehicle sales. In 2025, large passenger cars made up just 2285 sales, or 0.2 per cent of the market.Small cars made up the other major chunk of sales back in 2000, with 154,050 sales being 27.8 per cent of the market. They were 72,222 sales and 6.0 per cent of last year’s market share.The aforementioned Daewoo was in the top 10 brands (just) in terms of sales for the year 2000, but was the only brand in that list that no longer exists.A scroll through the list shows other long-gone names like Daihatsu, Saab and Proton, and one not-so-long-gone name — Citroen.Daewoo Nubira? Daihatsu Sirion? Even the Proton Satria? These forgotten cars all sold in the thousands back then.Giants like Kia and Hyundai have come a long way, too. The brands once known for the Excel or Accent, plus the Kia Rio in its most ‘cheap and cheerful’ phase (RIP) are now global powerhouses with new technology and reliability commonly in the same sentence as their badge names. Hyundai, at least, was still a top-10 player back then.Below, there are tables with the most popular models and brands from the year 2000 and the figures we gleaned from the data — note the badge names have been consolidated so that cars with Commodore (for example) includes all body types.Top 10 cars sold in Australia in 2000Top 10 cars brands in Australia in 2000  

Toyota has taken the top spot in terms of global new car sales for the sixth consecutive year, beating its closest competitor, Volkswagen Group, once again.The news comes after the Toyota RAV4 was reported as the best-selling car globally in 2025, beating the Tesla Model Y which had recently laid claim to the title.The Toyota Corolla, which has in some years been the best-selling car in the world, also helped Toyota’s total 10.32 million sales with its enduring popularity.According to Nikkei Asia, Volkswagen’s total sales of 8.98 million for 2025 were down 0.5 per cent on the year before, but this was due in part to increased competition in China where VW has a major market share, leading to an 8.0 per cent sales dip.Donald Trump's tariffs in the US also meant the brand’s sales dipped in North America by 10.4 per cent.Toyota’s global figures include compact car brand Daihatsu, its truck arm Hino and premium marque Lexus, while Volkswagen Group’s sub-brands include brands like Skoda and Cupra. The VW marque itself delivered around 4.73 million vehicles to customers worldwide, it claims.In Australia, Toyota's dominance is similarly unmatched. The brand delivered 239,863 new cars to Australians in 2025 with around a fifth of the market share, while the next-closest brands are Ford (94,399 sales in 2025) and Mazda (91,923).

Skoda has confirmed the name of its upcoming large electric SUV, which will rival the Kia EV9 and Hyundai Ioniq 9.The 2026 Skoda Peaq, a seven-seat SUV that will bring the brand’s Vision 7S concept to production, is due to make its debut in the middle of this year.Its name is one of the only things confirmed about it, with the Czech brand saying the name “highlights the position of the upcoming fully electric seven-seater at the top of Skoda’s model range”.Aside from some of its likely design and the rough size of the Peaq, not much is confirmed aside from that Skoda will continue to focus on “space, practicality and comfort”.The Vision 7S was revealed back in 2022. The brand has a slightly different design language and was looking at a future it suspected would be more electric than it has turned out to be.Martin Jahn, Skoda Auto Board Member for Sales and Marketing said the Peaq will be a continuation of the brand’s Vision 7S concept, which was an entry into “new territory for Škoda”.“Since then, we have introduced a new design language and further refined our product identity,” said Jahn.“Now we are bringing this innovative vehicle concept to life. “Our new flagship model takes our brand values of spaciousness and practicality to a whole new level.”

While utes and family SUVs dominate the top ranks of the sales charts, small, affordable cars remain extremely important to anyone who doesn’t need so much car.That’s why it’s one of the key categories we’re paying attention to in the 2026 CarsGuide Car of the Year (COTY) awards, in this case specifically those models with entry prices below $50,000.Rather than just hatchbacks and small sedans, we’re including small SUVs in the category given the dwindling number of hatches on sale, and consumer tendencies to opt for a small SUV, even as a first car.Based on review data from our team of journalists, our shortlist of 10 finalists below (in alphabetical order) is a broad group with some interesting variety in their offerings.And, as you’ll notice, the cars eligible for the award don’t necessarily have to be new as of this year - they just need to be on-sale as of January 1, 2026, with a variant under the $50K mark.This category's winner and two runners-up will be announced on February 6, 2026. The Hyundai i30 has been a favourite for years, with its current-generation hatch nearing a decade old. From first cars to fleet cars and hire cars and even sports cars, the offering is broad.But there’s a recent development that judges have strongly considered, and that’s the discontinuation of the standard i30 hatchback in Australia. The well-liked but less popular sedan and the spicy N versions in both hatch and sedan have all been enough to secure the i30 a place amongst the finalists, though.We’re fans of the i30 Sedan, formerly the Elantra, for its packaging and its efficiency in its hybrid form, and the N version has been widely regarded as one of the best-value hot hatches in the world. With pricing from $29,250 before on-roads and the hybrid only $4000 more expensive, the i30 Sedan offers up decent value for money. Even the N only just sits over the $50K mark with its $52,000 starting price. Extremely strong points for the judges to consider.Well-loved by the CarsGuide team, the Kia EV3 is as good as we wish the larger and better-selling EV5 was. But Kia’s small electric SUV faces strong competition from cheaper entrants from China that offer strong showroom presence.Starting from $47,600 before on-roads, the EV3’s line-up stretches to a hefty $63,950, but most agree the base model is the smartest buy as well as the nicest to drive. Key points that have drawn judges to the EV3 are its cute (but not tacky) styling, its clever packaging, and the useful but not extravagant features.It’s one of the more expensive competitors in our finalists, and it’s being outsold by rivals quite convincingly, but the CarsGuide COTY doesn’t reward showroom figures. Game on.Like the i30 earlier in this list, the Mazda3 is a veteran of the new small car market, with its current generation having been unveiled in 2018.Once seen as pricey compared to rivals, the Mazda3 is now a rather budget-friendly option as cheaper cars have disappeared over the years - and its sleek styling has held up nicely to boot.Starting from $31,310 before on-roads, the Mazda3 has gradually changed with the times, having been through a couple of tech and line-up changes. The hatch and sedan both offer up a competitive front-row environment and engaging dynamics, and despite its age is still one of the best-selling small cars alongside the i30, both trailing the ever-popular Toyota Corolla.Judges have always noted its small boot and lacklustre rear seat, but the former still beats the Corolla and there aren’t many truly spacious second rows in hatches. Is standing out where it matters enough for the judges?Furthering the mix of old and new in the finalists for the category, the MG S5 EV has found favour with judges for backing up its excellent first impressions.Newcomers in the field of budget small SUVs have tended to disappoint, especially dynamically, but the CarsGuide team was impressed by not only how the MG S5 fares compared to the brand’s earlier efforts, but also how it performs even without comparing it to other MGs.Available from $40,490 drive-away and costing just $47,990 for its top-spec variant, its extremely competitive price and solid list of features bolster an already strong offering.Scoring highly in every category across CarsGuide’s review format, the MG S5 EV shouldn’t be considered an underdog in the COTY fight. Mini, even with its less traditional models, is near-universally loved. So it should be little surprise that one of its new models sits in this list.The Countryman is now available in both petrol and electric, though its starting price is a hefty $49,990 before on-roads for the base Countryman Core. That means it just sneaks into this COTY category, even if getting into its EV version starts from $64,990.Still, Minis are rarely on shopping lists for their value offering, and the Countryman offers impressive tech and features, plus dynamic driving and of course that fun Mini styling.In a category where value and convenience are key, it’ll be a hard sell, but the current Countryman is essentially a BMW for less money, and arguably more interesting. Take that into consideration, and things are looking up.It’s been a big couple of years for the Qashqai, with Nissan’s small SUV scoring a big facelift quite quickly after its current third generation showed up. In early 2026, the Qashqai will go hybrid-only and start from $45,640 before on-roads with its front-wheel-drive-only, 140kW e-Power hybrid the only option. But its petrol offerings fell within the bounds of the COTY judging timeline, and so are also part of the consideration.Attractive styling, smooth power delivery and handling, and a now up-to-date interior with practical features all contribute to a convincing package, but the imminent loss of its petrol-only models will mean the Qashqai is set to become around $10,000 more expensive than before at its base level.Nissan’s extremely competitive ownership offering (the warranty is 10 years and 300,000km if you service with Nissan, five-year/unlimited kilometres otherwise) makes the Qashqai even more tempting. Ticking a lot of boxes there.Stylish, niche, quirky… French. The Peugeot 308 in its current generation leans in hard to all of these things, not least because it’s only available in a single, high-spec hybrid variant for $48,990 before on-roads.It’s gorgeous inside, outside, and to drive, but it’s cursed with limited commercial and perceived value appeal - only 88 were sold in 2025.The 308’s features list is strong enough to rival much more expensive alternatives, and its strongest points in terms of dynamics are most likely to appeal specifically to driving enthusiasts.There’s a lot to like about the Pug 308, it’s just that most people forget it exists. A CarsGuide COTY trophy in the cabinet would surely help with the latter issue…Toyota’s baby icon has gone through some changes lately. In the last few years, we’ve seen it grow up from the simple, affordable ‘first-car’ option it once was to be a simple, much less affordable option. Oh, and now there’s a version of it that’s basically a rally car for the road.A Yaris used to be something you could reasonably buy new as a teenager if you were thrifty, now it’s a $28,990 (before on-roads) option at its entry level thanks to its increased level of safety kit and having gone hybrid-only,Fortunately, it’s still an excellent light car, and even though it’s outsold by all its rivals it still does exactly what a city car should do - getting you around efficiently and with no fuss.In terms of how it snagged a spot in the finals for this category, it helps that the GR Yaris hot hatch is one of the two best drivers’ cars Toyota currently builds.Getting into a German SUV doesn’t have to be an expensive operation, and the $34,990 starting price (before on-roads) for the VW T-Cross is proof. Even the top-spec R-Line comes in at $41,490, and the features list is healthy.To boot, the T-Cross is fun to drive, and judges enjoy its practicality inside, plus the sharp styling outside.While not as efficient as some in its class, nor as cheap to own in terms of servicing, the T-Cross offers a step-up from rivals in the class that are seen as practical budget offerings.Still, its last update was in 2024, so it’ll have some work to do to convince judges it’s still up to date.Alphabetically, and probably in terms of public familiarity, the last to make the shortlist is the Zeekr X, a small electric SUV designed in Sweden but built in China.Cousin to the Volvo EX30 and Smart #1, the Zeekr X has good pedigree and the performance to back it up.Liked by judges for its value, bold style and on-road performance, the Zeekr X is one of the bigger unknown quantities in this COTY category.A recent price cut makes it a $49,900 offering before on-roads, meaning it only just slips into the sub-$50K contest, but with its list of features it should prove a compelling contender.