<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8" standalone="no"?><rss xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" version="2.0">
    <channel>
        <atom:link href="https://www.carsguide.com.au/feed/rss/car-news" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml"/>
        <title>CarsGuide - Car News</title>
        <link><![CDATA[https://www.carsguide.com.au/feed/rss/car-news]]></link>
                <description>Car News Australia: Latest Motoring News from CarsGuide</description>
        <language>en-US</language>
        <pubDate>Tue, 26 May 2026 12:28:21 +0000</pubDate>

                <item>
            <title><![CDATA['It looks fantastic': New Cupra Tindaya electric SUV confirmed for production to rival 2027 BMW iX3 and Volvo EX60]]></title>
            <link>https://www.carsguide.com.au/car-news/it-looks-fantastic-new-cupra-tindaya-electric-suv-confirmed-for-production-to-rival-2027</link>
            <description><![CDATA[Volkswagen sporty Cupra brand has confirmed its new Tindaya electric SUV concept will become a reality soon.There is no news yet on the mid-size SUV&rsquo;s potential future in Australia, but it would give Cupra another EV in its increasingly electrified line-up Down Under.It would be direct competition for the BMW iX3 and the incoming Volvo EX60, which are launching later this year.Cupra Australia has been contacted to comment to see if the car will arrive in Australia.&nbsp;Production of the Tindaya was confirmed by Cupra Chief Executive Officer Markus Haupt in an overseas interview.&nbsp;&ldquo;It looks fantastic - why should we not build the Tindaya?,&rdquo; Markus Haupt told AutoCar.&nbsp;&ldquo;We are indeed looking at our plans for when we could build the Tindaya, but it&rsquo;s something I can promise: this car will see the streets in some years.&rdquo;The car was first revealed as a sporty SUV concept in September 2025, showing off a sharply-creased body and standout sloping roofline.&nbsp;This latest information confirms the car will be built and put on sale, but technical details remain scarce.&nbsp;The car will ride on Volkswagen Group&rsquo;s new EV-specific SSP platform, which will also form the basis of many of VW's future electric cars.It has previously been reported the Tindaya would be available in fully-electric and range-extender set-ups, offering substantial driving range.Haupt could not confirm the powertrains being considered, with it still being established, according to the CEO, but it will be something already available in the VW group.&nbsp;&ldquo;But which powertrains will we have in the end? It&rsquo;s a decision we have not taken now, and we want to stay flexible as long as possible, because when the car hits the streets, we need to ensure that it has the right powertrains for our markets, for our customers,&rdquo; Haupt told AutoCar.The Tindaya concept measures up at 4.72m long, making it the biggest car in Cupra&rsquo;s lineup, complimenting the smaller Tavascan electric mid-size SUV.&nbsp;It is likely to be the brand&rsquo;s fourth fully-electric model on sale, after the budget-focused Raval arrives in Australia next year.]]></description>
            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Tim Gibson]]></dc:creator>
            <guid>https://www.carsguide.com.au/car-news/it-looks-fantastic-new-cupra-tindaya-electric-suv-confirmed-for-production-to-rival-2027</guid>
            <pubDate>Tue, 26 May 2026 11:34:44 +1000</pubDate>
                            <dc:category>News</dc:category>
                    </item>
                <item>
            <title><![CDATA[Kia puts a pin in 4WD based on 2027 Kia Tasman and a little EV1 electric car as senior executive said the range is 'big enough']]></title>
            <link>https://www.carsguide.com.au/car-news/kia-puts-a-pin-in-4wd-based-on-2027-kia-tasman-and-a-little-ev1-electric-car-as-senior</link>
            <description><![CDATA[Kia&rsquo;s global product planning boss confirmed the brand has pumped the brakes on two rumoured models, a small EV and a new SUV.While many anticipated an even smaller electric SUV to join the brand&rsquo;s line-up below the Kia EV2 - something as a twin to the Hyundai Inster - it&rsquo;s been confirmed the brand won&rsquo;t be adding any new model lines in the near future.This also means the potential for an SUV sibling to the Kia Tasman, which would follow the popular trend of ute-based SUVs, is off the cards.Spencer Cho, Kia&rsquo;s Senior Vice President and Head of the Global Business Planning Subdivision said adding more products to the range wouldn&rsquo;t be useful when the brand&rsquo;s line-up is &ldquo;big enough&rdquo; already.When asked about the rumoured Tasman-based SUV, which CarsGuide had been told had been discussed within Kia Australia at a conceptual level, Cho told journalists the focus is solely on options within the existing line-up at the moment.&ldquo;Well, there might be options, but at this point, we are trying to focus on what we can and what we can do better, and of course, we can give much more choices to the customers,&rdquo; he said.&nbsp;&ldquo;At this time, as you know, we have the ICE line-up, and we also have close to the full EV line-up as well.&ldquo;So our model line-up itself is big enough.&nbsp;&ldquo;Instead of adding other model lines, we try to focus on product improvement and also improve our competitiveness with what we have in our hands right now.&rdquo;Cho&rsquo;s comment about Kia having &lsquo;close to the full EV line-up&rsquo; might seem to point to the potential for a smaller EV to sit below the EV2 (which won&rsquo;t come to Australia at this stage).The idea of a Kia EV1 has been floated by Kia representatives in interviews with media, especially in Europe, but Cho said the current line-up of EVs needs the brand&rsquo;s attention for the foreseeable future.&ldquo;We will consider any opportunities for the new segment, but at this moment, we are very much focused on the EV line-up we have right now.&nbsp;&ldquo;As you may know already, we have almost a full range of the EV line-up in this moment. We recently launched EV2 in the European market, and EV3 is the one of the global success models we have.&nbsp;Cho pointed out the series of EV models Kia has now spans EV2 through EV3, 4, 5, 6, and 9, with the chances of anything extending that on either side of the smallest and largest models unlikely.&ldquo;We already have the full range of the SUVs, so we are open to develop any spaces or any market demand for new products, but we already have good choices of the line-ups, so we will focus on what we have today.&ldquo;We will keep an eye on any opportunities in the marketplace, smaller than EV2, but probably the chances are quite less, because the EV1 or whatever, smaller than the EV2 target market is not that much bigger than the global market.&nbsp;&ldquo;So a simple answer is, we will focus on what we already have in the BEV lineups, even just the EV models.&rdquo;]]></description>
            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Chris Thompson]]></dc:creator>
            <guid>https://www.carsguide.com.au/car-news/kia-puts-a-pin-in-4wd-based-on-2027-kia-tasman-and-a-little-ev1-electric-car-as-senior</guid>
            <pubDate>Tue, 26 May 2026 11:10:03 +1000</pubDate>
                            <dc:category>News</dc:category>
                    </item>
                <item>
            <title><![CDATA[2027 Ferrari Luce electric car finally detailed with four electric motors, five seats and a promise to make every driver feel like 'Jimi Hendrix']]></title>
            <link>https://www.carsguide.com.au/car-news/2027-ferrari-luce-electric-car-finally-detailed-with-four-electric-motors-five-seats-and-a</link>
            <description><![CDATA[Silent and heavy. Two words that usually stalk any big-battery EV. And the two words Ferrari has spent five years, and untold millions, trying to banish from its new and potentially brand-defining electric vehicle, the Luce.The Luce is arguably the biggest gamble Ferrari has taken in decades. It&rsquo;s no secret that savage, sonorous exhaust notes and fuel-exploding engines are staples of the supercar world. Which is likely why so many supercar makers &mdash; including Lamborghini, Aston Martin and McLaren &mdash; have either cancelled, delayed or walked back their EV plans.Ferrari, though, has continued at full throttle. The five-year project has at last reached its zenith, with the covers coming off the Luce in Rome ahead of its Australian arrival next year.The project has been shrouded in near-complete secrecy, but the veil has finally been lifted, with the Luce now detailed in full.We now know the Luce isn&rsquo;t just staggeringly powerful, but will also be among the world&rsquo;s most expensive EVs, with a price tag expected to sit above one million dollars in Australia.There is a litany of firsts here, too. The Luce is Ferrari&rsquo;s first EV, the first model the brand has produced with seating for five, and the first vehicle since 2010 to have had its design entirely outsourced.Instead of being penned by Ferrari&rsquo;s in-house design studio, the Luce was designed &mdash; inside and out &mdash; by LoveFrom, the US-based design collective founded by former Apple chief designer Jony Ive and Australian Marc Newson.  @carsguide.com.au This is what happens when the iPhone designer gets his hands on Maranello&rsquo;s first electric supercar. Meet the 2026 Ferrari Luce. Thoughts? #ferrari #ferrariluce #supercar #cartok #fyp &#9836; original sound CarsGuide.com.au   As a result, it bears almost no resemblance to Ferrari&rsquo;s supercar family. Instead, it adopts a mostly familiar four-door EV silhouette, complete with a sizeable glasshouse designed to look as though it sits beneath the Luce&rsquo;s outer shell, as if the bodywork has been lowered from above.There are still several truly Ferrari elements, though, like the razor-sharp nose and the deep aero channel that funnels air over the bonnet and beneath the boot spoiler. Then there are the massive staggered alloys &ndash; 23 inches at the front and 24 inches at the rear &ndash; and spellbinding in the new Turbine wheel design, machined from a solid piece of aluminium.&ldquo;The concept that we came up with very, very early on &mdash; which became kind of the overarching philosophy of part of the exterior design &mdash; was this idea that you had an interior glasshouse, which is basically this large, black glasshouse area,&rdquo; says Marc Newson.&ldquo;That&rsquo;s essentially surrounded by the body of the car, which at the end of the day is probably doing most of the aero work.&ldquo;The reason we identified that as a really interesting direction, or an interesting sort of philosophy to pursue, was that it gave us the opportunity to create some very clean and very unique forms.&rdquo;But there is no escaping the fact this is unlike anything else in the Ferrari portfolio. And that, Newson says, is no accident.&ldquo;This is a different kind of Ferrari. And that was the point. That was the entire purpose of the exercise,&rdquo; he says.The other thing that still feels very Ferrari is the power and performance on offer. Ferrari hasn&rsquo;t quite reinvented the wheel here, but it has made each of them a hell of a lot more powerful, fitting every corner of the Luce with its own electric motor.Yes, that&rsquo;s four motors in total, producing a combined 772kW and 990Nm. And that has exactly the effect on performance you might expect, with the Luce clipping 100km/h in 2.5 seconds and 200km/h in 6.8 seconds.In fact, there is a lot going on at each of the Luce&rsquo;s corners, with every wheel able to deliver power, capture regenerative energy, provide steering inputs or]]></description>
            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Andrew Chesterton]]></dc:creator>
            <guid>https://www.carsguide.com.au/car-news/2027-ferrari-luce-electric-car-finally-detailed-with-four-electric-motors-five-seats-and-a</guid>
            <pubDate>Tue, 26 May 2026 07:41:43 +1000</pubDate>
                            <dc:category>News</dc:category>
                    </item>
                <item>
            <title><![CDATA[Everything we know about the new Mazda CX-3 that has been confirmed for 2027 to rival 2026 Chery Tiggo 4 and Kia Stonic]]></title>
            <link>https://www.carsguide.com.au/car-news/everything-we-know-about-the-new-mazda-cx-3-that-has-been-confirmed-for-2027-to-rival-2026</link>
            <description><![CDATA[Mazda is gearing up to reveal a new-generation version of its popular CX-3 small SUV.The Mazda CX-3 has been one of the Japanese carmaker&rsquo;s best-selling vehicles in Australia for years now, though it&rsquo;s firmly reaching the end of its lifecycle.The current model dates all the way back to 2014 and is based on the same platform as the Mazda 2 hatchback and sedan.After 12 years and rumours of discontinuation, Mazda finally confirmed a new CX-3 is on the way soon. The following is a rundown of everything we know so far.When will it be revealed?Mazda has confirmed it will launch the new-generation CX-3 in 2027, initially in Thailand.This means it could be revealed before the end of 2026, though this is unclear.Where will it be produced?This new Mazda CX-3 will be produced in Thailand at the Auto Alliance production facility in Bangkok. It&rsquo;s co-owned by Mazda and Ford.This production facility already produces the current CX-3, as well as the Mazda 2, for Australia among other Mazda and Ford models.At this stage it&rsquo;s unclear where Mazda has plans to produce the new CX-3 in other countries around the world. The current CX-3 is also produced in Japan and Mexico.What will be under the bonnet?Mazda hasn&rsquo;t confirmed exactly what will power the new CX-3 just yet, but it has previously said it&rsquo;s planning to expand its hybrid offerings.Beyond the CX-50 Hybrid, which uses a Toyota-developed hybrid powertrain, the first in-house-developed hybrid will be the new CX-5. It&rsquo;s expected the new CX-3 will receive a downsized version of this forthcoming Skyactiv-Z hybrid engine.It&rsquo;s also likely that a pure petrol powertrain will be offered globally.What will it look like?At this stage Mazda hasn&rsquo;t given us any official look at what the new CX-3 will look like in production guise yet.However, the Japanese carmaker revealed the Vision X-Compact concept last year at the Tokyo Motor Show and this will likely form as an indicator for the new CX-3&rsquo;s design.When will it launch in Australia?At this stage Mazda hasn&rsquo;t given a definitive date of when the new CX-3 will launch in Australia. Given it&rsquo;s set to launch in Thailand in 2027, this could mean it&rsquo;ll arrive as soon as next year.
]]></description>
            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Jack Quick]]></dc:creator>
            <guid>https://www.carsguide.com.au/car-news/everything-we-know-about-the-new-mazda-cx-3-that-has-been-confirmed-for-2027-to-rival-2026</guid>
            <pubDate>Tue, 26 May 2026 03:00:00 +1000</pubDate>
                            <dc:category>News</dc:category>
                    </item>
                <item>
            <title><![CDATA[2026 Honda Super-One priced overseas as electric city hot hatch shapes up to challenge BYD Dolphin and Hyundai Inster]]></title>
            <link>https://www.carsguide.com.au/car-news/2026-honda-super-one-priced-overseas-as-electric-city-hot-hatch-shapes-up-to-challenge-byd</link>
            <description><![CDATA[Honda has priced its newest electric vehicle (EV) in its domestic market ahead of an Australian launch in the second half of 2026.The 2027 Honda Super-One is priced from 3,390,200 yen which translates to just a smidge under $30,000 in Australia.This is around 200,000 yen (~A$1750) more expensive than the top-spec Honda N-One e, which is what the Super-One is based on.It&rsquo;s likely the Super-One will be a little more expensive than it is in Japan to compensate for shipping costs, among other things.For context, the Honda Civic e:HEV starts at 4,094,200 yen (~A$36,000), whereas in Australia it&rsquo;s priced from $49,900 drive-away.However, if the Super-One starts from around $35,000, this will put it in contention with rivals like the BYD Dolphin, MG4 Urban and Hyundai Inster.In Japan only one fully loaded version of the Super-One is being offered.It's powered by a single, front-mounted electric motor producing 70kW and 162Nm. Honda claims there is up to 274km of electric range, according to WLTC testing.The Super-One is strictly a four-seater and comes with 15-inch alloy wheels, swollen wheel arches, LED headlights, a 7.0-inch digital instrument cluster, 9.0-inch touchscreen touchscreen multimedia system, eight-speaker Bose sound system, as well as a range of drive modes, including a &lsquo;Boost&rsquo; mode in Japan.At this stage Honda hasn&rsquo;t confirmed Australian standard specifications for the Super-One so it&rsquo;s unclear whether every feature will carry over.  @carsguide.com.au Take a close look at the adorable 2026 Honda Super-One ahead of its Aussie arrival! #honda #hondasuperone #ev #cartok #fyp &#9836; original sound  - CarsGuide.com.au   When the Super-One arrives, it&rsquo;ll be the Japanese carmaker&rsquo;s first EV on offer Down Under.As it currently stands, Honda is growing its hybrid line-up with more hybrid versions of its CR-V and ZR-V SUVs, as well as the new Prelude hybrid sports car.It will likely need to introduce more EVs in the coming years as the federal government&rsquo;s New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES) has tightening targets for vehicle CO2 emissions. EVs are the only vehicles that emit zero tailpipe CO2 emissions.In the first performance period for the NVES which ended at the end of 2025, Honda currently has a fine amount of $2.6 million. It will need to either offset this in following years by selling more vehicles under the CO2 targets or purchase credits from other carmakers that are already under the target.Globally, Honda has cancelled a wide range of EV plans and is pivoting more towards hybrids. This follows diminishing demand for EVs in North America, which is a major market for the Japanese carmaker.]]></description>
            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Jack Quick]]></dc:creator>
            <guid>https://www.carsguide.com.au/car-news/2026-honda-super-one-priced-overseas-as-electric-city-hot-hatch-shapes-up-to-challenge-byd</guid>
            <pubDate>Mon, 25 May 2026 12:44:05 +1000</pubDate>
                            <dc:category>News</dc:category>
                    </item>
                <item>
            <title><![CDATA[Updated 2027 Omoda 9 unveiled in China as plug-in hybrid family SUV rival to BYD Sealion 6 and Chery Tiggo 9]]></title>
            <link>https://www.carsguide.com.au/car-news/updated-2027-omoda-9-unveiled-in-china-as-plug-in-hybrid-family-suv-rival-to-byd-sealion-6</link>
            <description><![CDATA[Chery has just updated its Omoda 9 large SUV in China and it could be headed to Australia next.&nbsp;Omoda Jaecoo Chief Commercial Officer Roy Munoz told CarsGuide earlier this year to expect more activity on the Omoda front in Australia in 2026.This new Omoda 9 will not be a part of that push though, with the Omoda 7 expected to launch first, in the second half of this year.&nbsp;The updated Omoda 9 just revealed in China has not been confirmed for Australia, but if it does make its way here, it will be some time in 2027.&nbsp;There have been some minor updates for the new model, with tweaks to the exterior design representing an improvement drag coefficient, and subsequent fuel economy.&nbsp;Inside the cabin, Omoda claims there is a better air quality filter.The updated Omoda 9 is available in China with a 2.0-litre petrol engine, producing 192kW or 1.5-litre turbo-petrol plug-in hybrid set-up, producing 265kW.&nbsp;&nbsp;The Chinese version now has a 20kWh battery, with an all-electric driving range of 120km, according to lenient CLTC standards. A DC fast charge from 30 to 80 per cent takes around 17 minutes.&nbsp;It is unclear what the new Omoda 9&rsquo;s set-up choices might look like Down Under, but the current PHEV-only model has a 1.5-litre turbo-petrol engine and three electric motor set-up, producing 395kW.&nbsp;It is equipped with a much larger 34kWh battery pack granting it up to 169km of EV range.The Australian model is only available with all-wheel drive, but from 2027 all models in China are no longer optional with AWD. Chery Australia has been contacted for comment to establish whether this will be the same deal in Australia.&nbsp;The current model starts in Australia from $61,990 (before on-road costs), but this latest example in China will cost up to the equivalent of roughly $30,000.&nbsp;The Omoda 9 is the Chery sub-brand's only model on sale in Australia at the moment, and is the most expensive car in Chery Group&rsquo;s domestic line-up.It will continue to be a rival to the BYD Sealion 6 as well as the closely-related Chery Tiggo 9.]]></description>
            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Tim Gibson]]></dc:creator>
            <guid>https://www.carsguide.com.au/car-news/updated-2027-omoda-9-unveiled-in-china-as-plug-in-hybrid-family-suv-rival-to-byd-sealion-6</guid>
            <pubDate>Mon, 25 May 2026 12:39:05 +1000</pubDate>
                            <dc:category>News</dc:category>
                    </item>
                <item>
            <title><![CDATA[China is saving the sedan in Australia with 2026 Toyota Camry hybrid soon to face off against the BYD Seal EV and 2027 Geely Emgrand PHEV]]></title>
            <link>https://www.carsguide.com.au/car-news/china-is-saving-the-sedan-in-australia-with-2026-toyota-camry-hybrid-soon-to-face-off</link>
            <description><![CDATA[Sedans used to be the staple of many brands in Australia, from the Holden Commodore to the Toyota Camry, but the SUV boom has seen numbers drop off significantly.Ten years ago, in 2016, the Toyota Camry was the fifth best-selling car in Australia, followed by the Commodore sedan in sixth.Fast forward to 2025, Toyota's sedan was the 35th best-selling car in the country, and the Commodore was nowhere to be seen.In 2026 there have been less than 10,000 mid-size sedan sales in Australia so far compared to mid-size SUVs, where almost 100,000 have already been sold.&nbsp;The Camry is still the dominant player in the sedan-only segment, owning nearly 70 per cent, but it looks like China&rsquo;s next battleground in Australia will be a shot at shaking its dominance.BYD has led the way in this respect and it already has a fully-electric Seal and the just-launched plug-in hybrid Seal 6 on the market.The Seal in particular made some successful inroads into the sedan space. It accounts for the majority of sales outside of the Camry and the Tesla Model 3.The brand is not stopping there, with a larger Seal 7 plug-in hybrid sedan now approved for sale in Australia.MG is another brand focussing on sedans, having already brought in its MG5 a few years ago and the MG7 in 2026, both to middling levels of success so far.It&rsquo;s not just BYD and MG that are getting in on the sedan act, however, with Geely confirming its Emgrand sedan next year initially in plug-in hybrid form, but possibly also plugless at a later date.Additionally the China-built Tesla Model 3 remains one of the best-selling EVs in the country.There are also 'legacy' brands pinning their hopes on a strong-selling sedan.&nbsp;Mazda recently launched its fully-electric 6e sedan, which is based on the Deepal L07 (not yet sold in Australia) - another China-made model.&nbsp;The 6e is a crucial model for Mazda as it looks to turn around extensive fines incurred under the New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES) due to its predominantly petrol-powered range.The electric 6e saw its initiative pre-order allocation run out very quickly, starting from $49,990 (before on-road costs), highlighting early signs of it achieving its potential.Korean brands Kia and Hyundai have also seen solid sales from its hatch/sedan models, with the K4 and i30 plugging along with a decent amount of registrations, which will be bolstered thanks to the arrival of desirable plugless hybrid versions of both.As usual, price is a key factor where Chinese sedans are providing an enticing alternative, bucking the trend of sedans becoming more expensive as buyers focus on SUVs.While the Mazda 2 is the most affordable sedan on sale at just $28,490, it is the sought-after hybrid tech luring buyers to newer options.The plug-in hybrid Seal 6, for example, starts from $34,990, which is $5000 more affordable than the plug-less hybrid-only Camry, and it is both larger and offers genuine EV range over the barely more affordable Hyundai i30 plugless hybrid (from $33,250). It will no doubt be a similar story for Geely's Emgrand EM-i which is set to launch in 2027.While SUVs remain the biggest seller in Australia, this new wave of affordable and electrified sedans could see the once bustling segment reignited.The question remains whether this array of new options will just fragment a shrinking part of the market, or whether buyers are now looking for something different from the SUV trend.]]></description>
            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Tim Gibson]]></dc:creator>
            <guid>https://www.carsguide.com.au/car-news/china-is-saving-the-sedan-in-australia-with-2026-toyota-camry-hybrid-soon-to-face-off</guid>
            <pubDate>Mon, 25 May 2026 11:21:19 +1000</pubDate>
                            <dc:category>News</dc:category>
                    </item>
                <item>
            <title><![CDATA[2026 Suzuki Jimny Rhino confirmed as new special version of the iconic miniature Jeep Wrangler and Land Rover Defender alternative teased]]></title>
            <link>https://www.carsguide.com.au/car-news/2026-suzuki-jimny-rhino-confirmed-as-new-special-version-of-the-iconic-miniature-jeep</link>
            <description><![CDATA[Suzuki Australia is teasing a new, special edition version of the Jimny off-roader.The Japanese carmaker has opened a register your interest portal for the car on its local website, confirming it will be called the Jimny Rhino.This Australian-specific Jimny Rhino follows a number of special-edition Rhino versions in other markets, including Malaysia and South Africa, among others.They have all been versions equipped with a smattering of genuine accessories, plus some unique Rhino badging.At this stage Suzuki Australia hasn&rsquo;t fully detailed what is unique about the Australian-specification Jimny Rhino.The teaser images show it features a unique decal on the side, as well as the genuine accessory wheels and mud flaps.It clearly shows it will be offered in the five-door XL body style. It&rsquo;s unclear whether it will also be offered in three-door guise.This isn&rsquo;t the first time that Suzuki has done a special-edition version of the current Jimny. It has previously launched Heritage Edition versions of both the Jimny three-door and Jimny XL.&ldquo;The Jimny community in Australia is thriving so yes, news of any new Jimny is hugely exciting,&rdquo; said Suzuki Australia General Manager &ndash; Automotive, Michael Pachota.The current-generation Suzuki Jimny first launched in Australia in 2019 in three-door guise and was joined by the Jimny XL five-door in 2023.An update for the Jimny three-door launched in Australia earlier this year, now mirroring what&rsquo;s on offer in the Jimny XL.There&rsquo;s now an updated autonomous emergency braking (AEB) system, traffic sign recognition, adaptive cruise control, as well as front and rear parking sensors across the line-up.Pricing for the 2026 Suzuki Jimny line-up currently starts at $31,990 before on-roads for the Lite three-door manual and extends to $37,490 before on-roads for the XL five-door automatic.]]></description>
            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Jack Quick]]></dc:creator>
            <guid>https://www.carsguide.com.au/car-news/2026-suzuki-jimny-rhino-confirmed-as-new-special-version-of-the-iconic-miniature-jeep</guid>
            <pubDate>Mon, 25 May 2026 10:00:00 +1000</pubDate>
                            <dc:category>News</dc:category>
                    </item>
                <item>
            <title><![CDATA[Incoming 2027 MG S6 EV priced in Australia to rival electric mid-size SUVs such as 2026 BYD Sealion 7, Geely EX5 and Tesla Model Y ]]></title>
            <link>https://www.carsguide.com.au/car-news/incoming-2027-mg-s6-ev-priced-in-australia-to-rival-electric-mid-size-suvs-such-as-2026</link>
            <description><![CDATA[Australia has a new budget-friendly electric SUV to choose from.The MG S6 all-electric SUV will start from $49,990 (drive-away) for the rear-wheel drive variant, while the all-wheel drive variant will cost an extra $7000.&nbsp;Its main competition will be the best-selling Model Y, and the BYD Sealion 7, GAC Aion V and Geely EX5.MG&rsquo;s new EV is more than $10,000 cheaper than the Model Y, but the EX5 and Aion V beat it on price, starting in the low $40,000s bracket.&nbsp;The RWD variant of the S6 has a single electric motor, producing 180kW, while the AWD has 266kW, which is less power than the Model Y.A 0-100km/h sprint can be as fast as 5.1 seconds for the AWD, while the RWD takes 7.3 seconds.&nbsp;The car&rsquo;s 77kWh battery provides up to 530km of driving range, with DC charging from 10 to 80 per cent taking 38 minutes.&nbsp;Its interior features a 12.8-inch central touchscreen and 10.25-inch digital driver display, with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto standard.&nbsp;The S6 also gets a 50W wireless phone charger, with a head-up display an additional option.Seats are finished in a vegan synthetic leather, with the front ones heated and ventilated, with rear outer seats also heated.&nbsp;The car is available in dealerships from today.&nbsp;2026 MG S6 pricing Australia&nbsp;2026 MG S6 electric motor and efficiency2026 MG S6 standard featuresOther standard features include:&nbsp;Heated and ventilated front seatsHeated rear outer seatsAmbient lighting&nbsp;2026 MG S6 safety&nbsp;The MG S6 has not been crash tested in Australia.&nbsp;Standard safety features:&nbsp;Auto emergency brakingLane departure warningAdaptive cruise control360-degree cameraBlind spot detection&nbsp;2026 MG S6 dimensions2026 MG S6 warranty and servicing&nbsp;The MG S6 is covered by a seven-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty. This warranty can be extended to a 10-year/250,000-kilometre warranty when the vehicle is serviced on time at an MG dealer.&nbsp;]]></description>
            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Tim Gibson]]></dc:creator>
            <guid>https://www.carsguide.com.au/car-news/incoming-2027-mg-s6-ev-priced-in-australia-to-rival-electric-mid-size-suvs-such-as-2026</guid>
            <pubDate>Mon, 25 May 2026 10:00:00 +1000</pubDate>
                            <dc:category>News</dc:category>
                    </item>
                <item>
            <title><![CDATA[If all cars are made in China, what's the point of all the legacy brands? | Opinion]]></title>
            <link>https://www.carsguide.com.au/car-news/if-all-cars-are-made-in-china-whats-the-point-of-all-the-legacy-brands-opinion-101695</link>
            <description><![CDATA[A little peek behind the CarsGuide curtain. At least once a week the whole team gets together to talk about cars. Well, it&rsquo;s actually to shape the week&rsquo;s news lists, but it&rsquo;s also because, unsurprisingly, we all like to get together to talk about cars.Anyway, a recent one of these catch-ups occurred not long after the Beijing show. Now full disclosure, I wasn&rsquo;t at what might well be the most important show on the calendar these days (but I was in China at the same time, just somewhere else and with another brand, another sign of the significance of that market).Those who were there tell me much the same thing &mdash; not only were they shocked by the number of brands, and the number of vehicles unveiled, they were equally surprised at how many of the legacy brands were displaying Chinese-built models.The vehicles in question wore familiar badging, but were also unfamiliar, in that they were mostly produced in partnership with homegrown Chinese brands, sometimes with the latter doing most of the heavy lifting.Or to paraphrase a colleague in the aforementioned car chat, some don&rsquo;t really look and feel like they belong to the manufacturer on their badge. They look like they&rsquo;re Chinese cars in fancy dress, or like Aldi groceries &mdash; close, but not quite right.There are now lots of legacy brands drawing down on Chinese partnerships to produce cars. Mazda with its 6e and CX-6e (produced with Changan Automobiles). Nissan with a whole bunch of stuff, including the Frontier Pro (produced with Dongfeng). Honda, which has pushed back its in-house EV ambitions to draw on Chinese-developed models instead. Toyota with the bZ7 (developed with GAC), VW with the 9X (produced with SAIC).And to be fair, I&rsquo;m yet to see, sit in or drive any of them. Some of these cars are destined for Australia, some aren&rsquo;t. But it does beg the question &ndash; what truly makes a manufacturer&rsquo;s car their car. Is it the badge? The design? The technology? The dynamics? All of the above?  @carsguide.com.au 2027 Nissan Terrano revealed as SUV counterpart to the Frontier Pro plug-in hybrid ute #nissan #terrano #hybrid #cartok #fyp &#9836; original sound - CarsGuide.com.au   And the bigger question is, can legacy brands really hang on to all of the things that make them special if they&rsquo;re not just built in China, but built in partnership with Chinese brands?Just last week I wrote that legacy brands partnering with China could be a long-term masterstroke, pairing decades of engineering know-how with China&rsquo;s high-speed, low-cost manufacturing expertise could give traditional marques a real boost. But then two things happened this week that made me ask another question.&nbsp;The first was a chat with VW Australia, and specifically its very knowledgeable Head of Passenger Cars, who told me that the driving dynamics and engineering of its vehicles are what sets them apart from the often-cheaper Chinese competition. And the second was that CarsGuide car chat.  @carsguide.com.au Toyota&rsquo;s bZ7 EV sedan from China would work well in Australia! The sleek electric car could take on the Mazda6e, Tesla Model 3 and BYD Seal if Toyota decided to import it. #Toyota #bZ7 #EV #cartok #fyp &#9836; original sound - CarsGuide.com.au   And both got me wondering about the impossible choices being faced by some legacy brands in this more-hostile-than-ever environment. Do nothing and face possible oblivion, or dial up their Chinese partnerships for global markets and risk losing their identity.People paid lots more than me will be tasked with answering that. After all, I just like to chat about cars.]]></description>
            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Andrew Chesterton]]></dc:creator>
            <guid>https://www.carsguide.com.au/car-news/if-all-cars-are-made-in-china-whats-the-point-of-all-the-legacy-brands-opinion-101695</guid>
            <pubDate>Mon, 25 May 2026 03:00:00 +1000</pubDate>
                            <dc:category>News</dc:category>
                    </item>
                <item>
            <title><![CDATA[A new Mitsubishi Pajero is drawing nearer, and it could spawn a tough off-road Ralliart version to rival 2026 Toyota LandCruiser and 2027 Nissan Patrol]]></title>
            <link>https://www.carsguide.com.au/car-news/a-new-mitsubishi-pajero-is-drawing-nearer-and-it-could-spawn-a-tough-off-road-ralliart</link>
            <description><![CDATA[A new Mitsubishi Pajero is on the horizon and many versions will likely be offered throughout its lifecycle.The standard version is expected to feature a 2.4-litre four-cylinder bi-turbo engine that&rsquo;s shared with the current Triton ute.Hybrid and plug-in hybrid (PHEV) power options are expected to join the range later in its lifecycle.Mitsubishi has a storied history with its Ralliart sub-brand, which has previously created high-performance versions of its cars and still has a presence in motorsport.The Pajero was previously offered with an Evolution homologation special in the late 1990s, so there has been a high-performance version of this car historically.This could therefore point to the new Pajero potentially receiving a high-performance Ralliart version down the track.Mitsubishi Australia told CarsGuide in 2025 it is looking to bring back the Ralliart brand Down Under, but didn't say what vehicle would be used.&ldquo;We are working closely with MMC (Mitsubishi Motors Corporation) on opportunities to utilise the brand in the Australian market,&rdquo; said Mitsubishi Australia's GM of product strategy and PR Bruce Hampel.&ldquo;We want to do it right, if we are going to do it.&ldquo;It is a very valuable brand for MMC, and they are very cautious around utilising the brand on the right products with the right execution.&ldquo;We are in ongoing discussions with them at this point in terms of the potential opportunities in the future to create a product that would be suitable, and earn the right, to the Ralliart branding,&rdquo; said Hampel at the time.A toughened-up Pajero wouldn't be alone. Nissan offers a Pro-4X version of its Patrol, there&rsquo;s a GR Sport version of the Toyota LandCruiser 300 Series, plus Ford offers a Tremor version of the Everest.Not all of the aforementioned vehicles produce more power than the standard version but most feature more off-road features and capability.Even if Mitsubishi doesn&rsquo;t create a Ralliart version of the new Pajero globally, it could potentially lean on Australian engineering, like it did with the current Triton.The Japanese carmaker will soon launch the Triton Raider, which was developed in partnership with Australian engineering and manufacturing firm, Premcar.It features a revised suspension and damper package, plus a range of other standard-fit accessories to make it more confidence-inspiring to drive on- and off-road.As previously reported, Mitsubishi has confirmed it will reveal its new large, off-road SUV soon and it will launch in Australia before the end of 2026.Previously reports have indicated that it will be called the Pajero and be based on the current Triton ute, marking a major change in strategy.The Pajero has historically been its own vehicle, but the Pajero Sport (formerly known as the Challenger) has always been based on the Triton.Mitsubishi axed the Pajero Sport in Australia in 2025 due to it not meeting the new Australian Design Rule (ADR) standard which stipulated specific requirements for autonomous emergency braking (AEB) systems.It&rsquo;s worth noting that Mitsubishi still has existing dealer stock of the Pajero Sport.]]></description>
            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Jack Quick]]></dc:creator>
            <guid>https://www.carsguide.com.au/car-news/a-new-mitsubishi-pajero-is-drawing-nearer-and-it-could-spawn-a-tough-off-road-ralliart</guid>
            <pubDate>Mon, 25 May 2026 03:00:00 +1000</pubDate>
                            <dc:category>News</dc:category>
                    </item>
                <item>
            <title><![CDATA[2027 JAC Hunter comparison to rival plug-in hybrid utes the 2026 BYD Shark 6, GWM Cannon Alpha and Ford Ranger Hybrid]]></title>
            <link>https://www.carsguide.com.au/car-news/2027-jac-hunter-comparison-to-rival-plug-in-hybrid-utes-the-2026-byd-shark-6-gwm-cannon</link>
            <description><![CDATA[Plug-in hybrid utes are taking over the diesel dominated segment in Australia.There has been an influx of PHEV utes into the Australian market.The BYD Shark 6 has captivated buyers' attention, but it faces increasing competition from Chinese rivals such as the GWM Cannon Alpha, along with the Ford Ranger Hybrid.With these utes chasing higher payloads and towing capacities, they are battling against each other to be the dominant player in a still emerging segment.The JAC Hunter is the latest entrant, joining with a competitive price tag and performance figures.How does the Shark 6's latest predator shape to the rest of the competition?Pricing&nbsp;The Hunter will enter the Australian market at a price of less than $50,000, making it the cheapest PHEV ute to date.&nbsp;The BYD Shark 6&rsquo;s cheapest pick-up variant starts from $57,900, with the Canon Alpha a small step up at beyond $60,000.&nbsp;The Ford Ranger PHEV has had a recent price cut, with a new entry-level XL variant arriving to slip between the Hunter and Shark 6 at $59,000 drive-away.Engine and efficiency&nbsp;*Driving range figures not provided by Ford Australia but calculated over several CarsGuide road tests once battery had been depleted. Ford Australia has been contacted to obtain driving range figures.&nbsp;The JAC Hunter leads the way for power with 360kW for its 2.0-litre turbo-petrol engine and dual electric motors, with an official torque figure still be revealed.The Shark 6&rsquo;s 1.5-litre turbo-petrol engine and dual electric motors pumps out 321kW, which betters the 2.0-litre engine and single motor from the Cannon Alpha. GWM&rsquo;s PHEV ute beats the Shark 6 on torque.A new Shark 6 Performance variant is coming soon with a more powerful 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine. It produces total system outputs of 350kW and 700Nm, and boosts towing to 3500kg, but is $5000 more than the Premium version.Ford&rsquo;s Ranger PHEV has a 2.3-litre unit, producing 207kW - the least power of any of its competitors, despite competitive torque.&nbsp;For the purposes of a consistent comparison, more generous NEDC figures have been used where possible. NEDC testing is generally more lenient than WLTP, so real-world experience may not match up to the numbers.&nbsp;The important fuel efficiency figure is edged out by the Hunter at 1.6L/100km, but the GWM Cannon Alpha is not far behind at 1.7L/100km. The Shark 6 offers fuel efficiency of 2.0L/100km, with the Ford Ranger at 2.9L/100km.&nbsp;While BYD is the only brand to advertise its fuel use figure without a fully charged battery, it highlights the general importance of these utes having the battery charged to achieve low fuel efficiency figures.JAC has confirmed the Hunter will have an electric-only driving range of 100km from its 31kWh battery, with a total range of 1005km.&nbsp;The Shark 6 has a 30kWh battery, with a total driving range of 800km, and an all-electric range of 100km.The Cannon Alpha has a bigger 37kWh unit, boosting range to 1060km total and 115km for electric-only.The Ranger PHEV has a significantly smaller 12kWh battery, offering an all-electric driving range of 49km, according to WLTP standards. This also means it has the least driving range of the four.&nbsp;BYD&rsquo;s cheapest Shark 6 pick-up variant is the only one of the PHEV utes to not offer 3500kg braked towing capacity, although there is a more expensive performance variant offering this.&nbsp;The Ranger has the most payload in this group, with the Hunter coming in close, followed by the Shark 6 and then the Cannon Alpha.Verdict&nbsp;The JAC Hunter will launch in Australia with the cheapest price for a PHEV ute by some margin, and also comes in with strong performance figures. Ford's recent price cuts make the Ranger Hybrid a more compelling proposition.But the Shark 6 remains the leader of the PHEV ute market, but with more competitors coming, it could be about to change.&nbsp;GWM will release a cheaper, smaller Cannon ute in]]></description>
            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Tim Gibson]]></dc:creator>
            <guid>https://www.carsguide.com.au/car-news/2027-jac-hunter-comparison-to-rival-plug-in-hybrid-utes-the-2026-byd-shark-6-gwm-cannon</guid>
            <pubDate>Sun, 24 May 2026 03:00:00 +1000</pubDate>
                            <dc:category>News</dc:category>
                    </item>
                <item>
            <title><![CDATA['Our cars are superior': Volkswagen says Chinese newcomers BYD, Denza, MG and Xpeng can't compete]]></title>
            <link>https://www.carsguide.com.au/car-news/our-cars-are-superior-volkswagen-says-chinese-newcomers-byd-denza-mg-and-xpeng-cant</link>
            <description><![CDATA[Volkswagen Australia says it doesn&rsquo;t fear newcomer Chinese brands, detailing the ways it believes its vehicles are superior while highlighting a slew of new models that it says will supercharge its sales in our market.That&rsquo;s the word from the brand&rsquo;s Head of Passenger Cars in Australia, Piergiorgio Minto, who says that while VW might not be able to compete directly on price with some newcomer brands, he believes his cars drive better than rival vehicles, and offer an elevated level of engineering.It&rsquo;s one of three reasons he laid out that he says will continue to draw people to the Volkswagen brand.&ldquo;I still believe that Volkswagen has a big advantage in drivability. Our cars are definitely superior there. So there is a different kind of engineering behind it,&rdquo; he says.&ldquo;And I believe that we also have some other subjects that are less linked to the product. Heritage is something that we have and we need to leverage that.&ldquo;And last but not least, historically we have been present (in Australia) a long time, we have a very solid dealer network out there that is offering a strong service and is always there whenever a customer needs something.&ldquo;These three propositions are quite unique. And they're still valid for the market.&rdquo;The brand says its these three pillars that will spark a sales revival, suggesting it was a &ldquo;perfect storm&rdquo; of product renewals, rather than increased competition, that has seen sales fall over the past 18 months.&ldquo;From a product perspective, you've got to remember that the biggest players involved for us &mdash; Tiguan, Tiguan Allspace &mdash; ran out last year, and T-Roc is running out this year,&rdquo; says Arjun Nidigallu, Volkswagen Australia Head of Product.&ldquo;So, our biggest volumes, it's just a perfect storm in terms of product changes and timings, which is why we don't feel like we're behind the eight ball."The new Tiguan plug-in hybrid, or e-Hybrid in VW parlance, has just launched in Australia, along with the spiritual successor to the Tiguan Allspace, the Tayron e-Hybrid, giving the brand a full complement across those SUV lineups. It will be joined by the second-generation T Roc &mdash; hugely important to the brand's sales numbers &mdash; which will offer more space, more tech and a new mild-hybrid powertrain.&ldquo;It was part of the plan and now we're gearing up back this year towards having a full line up, and then with the T-Roc coming back next year, we'll be back in those numbers that we've seen in the past,&rdquo; says Nidigallu.]]></description>
            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Andrew Chesterton]]></dc:creator>
            <guid>https://www.carsguide.com.au/car-news/our-cars-are-superior-volkswagen-says-chinese-newcomers-byd-denza-mg-and-xpeng-cant</guid>
            <pubDate>Sun, 24 May 2026 03:00:00 +1000</pubDate>
                            <dc:category>News</dc:category>
                    </item>
                <item>
            <title><![CDATA[The 2026 Denza B5 proves BYD Shark 6 ute haters wrong | Opinion]]></title>
            <link>https://www.carsguide.com.au/car-news/the-2026-denza-b5-proves-byd-shark-6-ute-haters-wrong-opinion-101686</link>
            <description><![CDATA[Denza is a premium sub-brand of BYD and the Denza B5 is best thought of as the BYD Shark 6&rsquo;s posher, tougher cousin.Where the Shark 6 is a thoroughly competent all-wheel drive ute, well suited to tackling light to moderate off-roading, the B5 is a 4WD wagon with a low-range gear-set on the rear axle and diff locks front and rear.Those stark mechanical differences, as well as a sharply-calibrated off-road traction control system, set the two apart in terms of efficacy in off-road scenarios.But that doesn&rsquo;t mean the Shark 6 is woeful off-road &ndash; it&rsquo;s not &ndash; it&rsquo;s simply that the B5 is much better.As mentioned, the Denza B5 is a luxury 4WD wagon with 16 drive modes, a low-range gear-set, and twin lockers.The B5 shares the same DMO (Dual Mode Off-road) body-on-frame platform as the Shark 6 and the same 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder plug-in hybrid system paired with dual electric motors, but the B5 is more powerful (425kW/760Nm) compared to the Shark 6 (321kW/650Nm). Note: The updated Shark 6 will have a 2.0-litre turbocharged engine and dual electric motors, claimed to deliver total outputs of 350kW and 700Nm.Those aforementioned mechanical differences &ndash; low-range gearing and diff locks (front and rear) on the B5 &ndash; make a world of difference when it comes to off-roading and that&rsquo;s where the B5 has it well and truly over the Shark 6.The Shark 6 doesn&rsquo;t have 4WD, high- or low-range gearing, or diff-locks. It doesn&rsquo;t even have a driveshaft connecting the rear wheels.Core differences between the Denza B5 and the BYD Shark 6?The Shark is essentially an all-wheel drive SUV whose off-road performance hinges on electronic traction control. It does not have low- or high-range 4WD and it does not have any locking differentials.It has a single-speed reduction gear/dedicated hybrid transmission (which enables electric-only driving and hybrid operation, switching between modes based on throttle demand and battery level).It also has an all-wheel drive system (split between the front and rear) and Drive modes include Eco, Normal and Sport) and Terrain modes include Sand, Snow, Mud and Mountain.In theory, single-speed reduction gears and off-road traction control systems should be able to somewhat replicate the efficacy of high- and low-range 4WD systems in light to moderate off-roading. In the real world that&rsquo;s often not the case at all. A single-speed reduction gear approach in a 4WD is mechanically constrained in how much it can do and off-road traction control systems can be slow to act, clunky in application, and not up to the challenges asked of it.But the Shark 6 is effective off-road, as long as it&rsquo;s driven within the parameters of its capabilities: light to moderate off-road conditions &mdash; that is, well-maintained dirt tracks in dry weather; do not take on any &lsquo;4WD/high ground clearance only' tracks, prolonged sand-driving or rock-crawling.The Denza B5 Leopard has a low-range gear-set on its rear axle, and front and rear diff locks. It also has electronic torque vectoring at the front, and well-calibrated off-road traction control.This plug-in hybrid optimises a combination of driver-assist technology &ndash; including 16 drive modes with many of those designed for off-road scenarios &ndash; and with nicely dialled-in off-road traction control and mechanical diff locks on-board it is formidable in most off-road situations.In action, all of those modes adjust vehicle systems, throttle, and engine output to give the driver the best chance possible of getting safely through every off-road challenge.The Denza is better suited to challenging 4WDing than the Shark 6.Significant flaws in the first-phase Shark 6&rsquo;s adventure potential include its lack of 4WD gearing and diff locks, and its below-par 2500kg towing capacity.The updated Shark 6 should be getting, at the least, a suspension upgrade and a full-blown software update &mdash; that delivers]]></description>
            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Marcus Craft]]></dc:creator>
            <guid>https://www.carsguide.com.au/car-news/the-2026-denza-b5-proves-byd-shark-6-ute-haters-wrong-opinion-101686</guid>
            <pubDate>Sat, 23 May 2026 03:00:00 +1000</pubDate>
                            <dc:category>News</dc:category>
                    </item>
                <item>
            <title><![CDATA[Top 5 ugliest cars right now: Why the 2026 Subaru Outback, Hyundai Santa Fe, Kia EV4 and incoming Mercedes-Benz C-Class EV miss the mark | Opinion]]></title>
            <link>https://www.carsguide.com.au/car-news/top-5-ugliest-cars-right-now-why-the-2026-subaru-outback-hyundai-santa-fe-kia-ev4-and</link>
            <description><![CDATA[I once attended a car launch where they enlisted the help of one of Australia&rsquo;s leading designers to tell us that &lsquo;good design requires no explanation&rsquo;.Which made it awkward when the car company executive then spent 30 minutes explaining the design of the newest model&hellip;While it was awkward and undercut the whole point of the design-led presentation, at least it made sense, because it was not a good looking vehicle. And that&rsquo;s because despite all the concept sketches, clay models and focus groups, sometimes car companies just get it wrong.Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and looks are very subjective, but sometimes you just need to call a spade a spade. And, more importantly, there have been some models that have clearly been impacted by their looks.For example, Ford&rsquo;s AU Falcon is a cult icon now, but at the time it was released it was widely considered a case-study in getting design wrong. In fact, you can probably trace the decline of the Falcon (and arguably the locally-made large sedans) to the looks of the AU.Another example of design having a major impact on a vehicle&rsquo;s performance is the divergent fates of the 2011 Mazda BT-50 and Ford Ranger. Both utes feature the same Ford-developed underpinnings, but whereas the Blue Oval went down a design path of &lsquo;boxy, tough, truck&rsquo;, Mazda went a very different way. It tried to carry across the design ethos of its then-popular CX-7 and CX-9 SUVs, which arguably made sense given the gentrification of utes. But as history has proven, ute buyers prefer boxy, tough and truck-like design. Within a few years Ford had more than doubled Ranger sales, while Mazda had grown only marginally.So, what are some of the other most &lsquo;visually challenging&rsquo; vehicles on the market today? Below is our list, but we&rsquo;d love to know what you think, so let us know in the comments or on social media which new vehicles have a face only its designer could love&hellip;Tesla CybertruckThankfully Australia has been spared the sight of the &lsquo;dumpster-on-wheels&rsquo; on our roads. Clearly the American electric brand wanted to stand out from the pack when it entered the ute/pickup market. Unfortunately, it stands out the same way you might stand out in a crowd if you wrap yourself head-to-toe in tinfoil.It has become a symbol of Tesla the brand: unorthodox, but not necessarily in a good way.Kia EV4When it comes to Kia the Tasman is the easy whipping boy of the brand. But that would be a cheap shot to hit it again, especially as the design was deliberately created to help the Tasman stand out in a very crowded ute market. It was a swing and a miss.The more unusual car in Kia&rsquo;s otherwise very attractive line-up, is the EV4. The electric mid-size sedan is the definition of &lsquo;form over function&rsquo;, shaped by the wind tunnel for maximum aerodynamic efficiency.It works, with the long range models capable of more than 600km of driving on a single charge (according to Kia&rsquo;s claim), but that doesn't change the fact it is an odd looking vehicle.Mercedes-Benz C-Class EVIt&rsquo;s not just the mainstream brands that occasionally strike design trouble. The German luxury brand&rsquo;s latest addition is unlikely to go down as one of the brand&rsquo;s most iconic creations. Memorable? Yes, just not for the right reasons.The front grille is as subtle as a Las Vegas casino and looks like you crashed into a diamante shop. While the rear has so many three-pointed stars stuffed into the design nobody should be in any doubt that you&rsquo;re trying to ram down their throats you have a Mercedes-Benz.And then there&rsquo;s the interior&hellip;I know the full-width &lsquo;Hyperscreen&rsquo; is an optional extra, but it&rsquo;s 39.1-inches of technology over-riding classy, sophisticated design.Subaru OutbackSubaru has taken a big gamble on its latest-generation Outback, abandoning its wagon roots for an SUV design&hellip; sort of.]]></description>
            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Stephen Ottley]]></dc:creator>
            <guid>https://www.carsguide.com.au/car-news/top-5-ugliest-cars-right-now-why-the-2026-subaru-outback-hyundai-santa-fe-kia-ev4-and</guid>
            <pubDate>Sat, 23 May 2026 03:00:00 +1000</pubDate>
                            <dc:category>News</dc:category>
                    </item>
                <item>
            <title><![CDATA[GAC won’t use Toyota’s secret weapon against it: Why the 2027 GAC GS8 and M8 could tap into Toyota hybrid power but won’t]]></title>
            <link>https://www.carsguide.com.au/car-news/gac-wont-use-toyotas-secret-weapon-against-it-why-the-2027-gac-gs8-and-m8-could-tap-into</link>
            <description><![CDATA[GAC is unique among Chinese brands in Australia because it could offer the one thing that has helped Toyota maintain its stranglehold over our market.It is Toyota&rsquo;s hybrid system, thanks to its long-standing partnership with Toyota in China.Known for its mechanical simplicity, smooth driving characteristics, comparatively low unit cost and its ability to slash fuel bills in half. Toyota&rsquo;s hybrid drive is the gift that keeps on giving for the Japanese giant, which now more than ever is leaning on the tech as Australia&rsquo;s new emissions laws close in.New-to-Australia GAC has ambitious plans to poach buyers from across the spectrum, including from Toyota.The company&rsquo;s Chief Technical Officer Masato Katsumata, who used to be a senior executive at Toyota, explained why it&rsquo;s unlikely you&rsquo;ll see a Toyota-powered GAC any time soon, though.&ldquo;As you know, we have our own HEV system, and also the Toyota system, which we offer in the Chinese domestic market," said Katsumata.&ldquo;But this depends on our product planning and what we decide for Australia. If we want it, headquarters will supply it.&ldquo;The typical Chinese manufacturer&rsquo;s strength is speed.&ldquo;At a Japanese manufacturer, you might say &lsquo;we want a big SUV with a hybrid system&rsquo;, and that might take two years or something. But we can do the same thing inside of a year.&ldquo;But then, it comes down to the business case. In this case, we have to think about where our inflow customer is coming from.&ldquo;If that customer is coming from Toyota, should we be fighting with Toyota on HEVs? Or, we have a good plug-in hybrid or battery electric - these might be stronger than using Toyota&rsquo;s hybrid system.&ldquo;So then we can shift the customer through to PHEV or BEV instead. This is a good weapon for us to take the fight to Toyota,&rdquo; he said.Katsumata added there were additional factors GAC had to consider when it comes to sourcing Toyota&rsquo;s system, even if customers may be familiar with the technology and it would further align GAC with its messaging about bringing famous Toyota quality to a Chinese brand.&ldquo;I don&rsquo;t think we need [Toyota's hybrid set-up],&rdquo; he said.He suggested it may be too expensive, and add more than the usual $2500-$3000 Toyota charges for its hybrids compared to pure pertol variants.There were supply considerations, which could affect the brand&rsquo;s ability to bring cars to market with the usual speed Chinese brands are known for.&ldquo;If I were Toyota - before I supply my THS system to other brands, I&rsquo;d like to be fully utilising it in terms of volume.&rdquo;&ldquo;Today in the European market and America, the THS system sells in volume and it&rsquo;s increasing every year. So they may choose to focus [supply] on their own brand.&rdquo;&ldquo;So we&rsquo;d have to negotiate with them, if we were to get the THS system for other markets.&rdquo;Katsumata instead stressed the idea that the brand&rsquo;s own scalable DHT hybrid system - more similar to systems used by other Chinese brands - would be a better fit, as it&rsquo;s both more affordable and immediately available.Katsumata and GAC&rsquo;s local CEO Kevin Shu suggested the tech would be better suited to products that haven&rsquo;t arrived in Australia yet. This include the possibility of a &ldquo;larger SUV&rdquo;, like the five-seat Toyota Kluger-sized GS8, which is available in ICE as well as plugless hybrid forms overseas.Shu mentioned other products open to the brand in Australia include the slightly smaller five-seat S7 and its larger flagship S9 three-row big brother, which both use an in-house GAC plug-in hybrid system.At least one of these would add to the brand&rsquo;s existing line-up of aggressively priced combustion and plug-in models, including the Emzoom combustion small SUV, Aion V electric mid-sizer, M8 plug-in people mover and the recently-launched Aion UT electric hatchback.Further into]]></description>
            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Tom White]]></dc:creator>
            <guid>https://www.carsguide.com.au/car-news/gac-wont-use-toyotas-secret-weapon-against-it-why-the-2027-gac-gs8-and-m8-could-tap-into</guid>
            <pubDate>Sat, 23 May 2026 03:00:00 +1000</pubDate>
                            <dc:category>News</dc:category>
                    </item>
                <item>
            <title><![CDATA[2026 End of Financial Year car deals wipe thousands off price of popular models, including BYD Shark 6, Chery Tiggo 4 and Hyundai Kona Electric]]></title>
            <link>https://www.carsguide.com.au/car-news/2026-end-of-financial-year-car-deals-wipe-thousands-off-price-of-popular-models-including</link>
            <description><![CDATA[It is that time of the year again when car brands target a last flurry of sales before the end of the financial year.&nbsp;These deals often tell a story of what stock brands need to move, and in a time when electric vehicle sales are more important than ever there are some strong deals on show.&nbsp;Here is a look at some of the best ones going around in 2026.Kia&nbsp;Kia is offering discounts across many of its models, with the most noticeable one being for its struggling Tasman ute.&nbsp;The range-topping X-Pro Tasman now starts from $64,990 (drive-away), equating to a more than $10,000 discount on before on-road costs pricing. The deal is available until the 30 June 2026.&nbsp;Kia&rsquo;s strong-selling EV3 and EV5 have also picked up sizeable drive-away discounts ending 30 June 2026.&nbsp;The EV3 is available from $46,990 (drive-away), which equates to free on-road costs, as well as a further small discount.The EV5 has received an even more substantial discount, starting from $49,990 (drive-away), with it previously available from $56,770, before on-road costs.&nbsp;Hyundai&nbsp;Hyundai has also put out some standout deals, especially on its electric range.&nbsp;But you'll need to move fast, with the offer ending on May 31, 2026.The brand&rsquo;s Kona Electric range all have substantial discounts, with a starting price of $45,990 (drive-away).The recently-launched Elexio SUV is available from $57,990 (drive-away), with it previously on sale from $58,990, before on-road costs.&nbsp;The Ioniq 5 is another of Hyundai&rsquo;s models being offered with a noticeable discount, starting from $71,990 (drive-away) until 31 May 2026.&nbsp;MGMG is currently offering discounts across its range to conclude the financial year, with all deals running until 30 June, 2026.&nbsp;One of the biggest deals offered by the brand is a $6000 cashback offer on plug-in hybrid variants of its mid-size HS SUV.Petrol and plug-less hybrids examples are available with a $3000 cashback offer, which is also available on the QS large SUV and the U9 ute.&nbsp;Additionally, these $3000 cashback deals include five years of free servicing on the vehicles.&nbsp;There are also minor conditional discounts on the ZS small SUV and MG3 hatch currently.&nbsp;BYDBYD is offering $3000 cashback on several of its models in Australia for vehicles delivered by 30 June 2026.&nbsp;The Premium variant of the popular Shark 6 plug-in hybrid ute gets the deal, and is now available from $54,900 (before on-road costs).&nbsp;Both variants of the Sealion 5 PHEV mid-size SUV, are also eligible, meaning it starts from $30,990 (before on-road costs).&nbsp;The Sealion 6 and Sealion 8 PHEV SUVs are available with the $3000 cashback offer.&nbsp;CheryChery is another brand to get in on the end of financial year deals.&nbsp;Its Tiggo 7 plug-in hybrid large SUV has discounts of $5000, now starting from $34,990 (drive-away).&nbsp;The hugely popular Tiggo 4 small hybrid SUV and Tiggo 8 plug-in hybrid large SUV are being offered with a $2000 factory bonus discount.&nbsp;Offers run until 30 June 2026.FordFord has substantially reduced the price of its plug-in hybrid Ranger lineup, with it now starting from $62,000 (drive-away) down from $71,990 (before on-road costs) until 30 June 2026.&nbsp;This price cut brings it closer to the price of the rival BYD Shark 6, which retails from $57,900 (before on-road costs).Some variants of the diesel Ranger are also being offered with sharp drive-away deals.&nbsp;Toyota&nbsp;Toyota&rsquo;s full-size Tundra hybrid ute has received a more than $10,000 discount for models from 2025 as part of a deal to remove on-road costs and add a cashback offer.&nbsp;This means the ute is now available from $145,990 (drive-away). The offer lasts until June 30 2026.&nbsp;]]></description>
            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Tim Gibson]]></dc:creator>
            <guid>https://www.carsguide.com.au/car-news/2026-end-of-financial-year-car-deals-wipe-thousands-off-price-of-popular-models-including</guid>
            <pubDate>Fri, 22 May 2026 17:30:00 +1000</pubDate>
                            <dc:category>News</dc:category>
                    </item>
                <item>
            <title><![CDATA[US pick-up truck maker confirms smaller ute, with 2028 Ram Rampage to take on Ford Maverick and potential Toyota RAV4-based ute]]></title>
            <link>https://www.carsguide.com.au/car-news/us-pick-up-truck-maker-confirms-smaller-ute-with-2028-ram-rampage-to-take-on-ford-maverick</link>
            <description><![CDATA[Ram has confirmed production and launch timing for its much-anticipated &lsquo;compact pick-up&rsquo; developed to challenge the popular Ford Maverick and reports out of the US overnight point to a North American introduction.Speaking at the 2026 Stellantis Investor Day in Detroit, Michigan, Group CEO Antonio Filosa and RAM management detailed plans for three new pick-ups within the next few years, the goal being 60 per cent global sales growth for the brand by 2030, from 517,000 units in 2025 to approximately 825,000 at the end of the decade.To be based on the Ram Rampage sold in South America (and retaining that name), a production site for what Automotive News reports will be a North American version of the new monocoque ute hasn&rsquo;t been confirmed.The current Rampage is powered by a 147kW/450Nm version of the &lsquo;MultiJet II&rsquo; four-cylinder turbo-diesel engine or the 200kW/400Nm &lsquo;Hurricane&rsquo; turbo-petrol four, both driving all four wheels via a nine-speed auto transmission.&nbsp;US sales of Ford&rsquo;s Maverick compact monocoque ute have exceeded 100,000 units for the last two years, with others, including Toyota, rumoured to be investigating an entry into the smaller pick-up segment in America.At the same time, the mid-size, body-on-frame Dakota has been scheduled to begin production in Toledo, Ohio (home of the Jeep Wrangler and Gladiator) in 2028.Ram CEO Tim Kuniskis said the goal is to make Ram &ldquo;number two in trucks&rdquo; in the USA by the end of the decade and is on the record positioning the new mid-size Dakota as an affordable &ldquo;spiritual successor&rdquo; to the full-size 1500 Classic.Late last year, Antonio Filosa confirmed he had seen clay development models of the Dakota in Ram&rsquo;s Detroit design centre.As per Mopar Insiders Filosa said, &ldquo;It was in our design center in Detroit, and I saw the (truck) itself, not only the sketches and designs but the clay model. And it&rsquo;s just beautiful.&ldquo;If you want to come to Detroit, we&rsquo;ll show you without cellphones and cameras, and you will be, I believe, astonished,&rdquo; he said.These new model confirmations arrive as part of the Stellantis Group&rsquo;s &lsquo;Fastlane 2030&rsquo; initiative which includes introduction of more than 60 new or redesigned vehicles globally by 2030 (23 in North America).&nbsp;The emphasis on North America is a clear rebalancing of the corporate scales at Stellantis, with former CEO Carlos Tavares widely perceived to have favoured the group&rsquo;s European brands including Alfa Romeo, Fiat, Citroen, Opel and Peugeot, with his successor Filosa now leaning into its US nameplates - Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep and Ram.While it had no comment on the new Rampage&rsquo;s potential for local sale, Ram Trucks Australia General Manager Jeff Barber previously told CarsGuide he had a strong appetite for a Ford Ranger and Toyota HiLux baiting ute saying, &ldquo;We would love a mid-size pick-up and we have always said we have our hand raised if ever such a vehicle were to become available for our market.&rdquo;Right-hand drive availability for these newcomers, or the economics of local LHD to RHD reengineering are obvious factors in determining viability for sale in this market.]]></description>
            <dc:creator><![CDATA[James Cleary]]></dc:creator>
            <guid>https://www.carsguide.com.au/car-news/us-pick-up-truck-maker-confirms-smaller-ute-with-2028-ram-rampage-to-take-on-ford-maverick</guid>
            <pubDate>Fri, 22 May 2026 14:47:12 +1000</pubDate>
                            <dc:category>News</dc:category>
                    </item>
                <item>
            <title><![CDATA[Forget the mini 2026 Toyota FJ LandCruiser, the baby Mercedes-Benz G-Wagen will be the real 4WD king as petrol power is confirmed alongside EV grunt]]></title>
            <link>https://www.carsguide.com.au/car-news/forget-the-mini-2026-toyota-fj-landcruiser-the-baby-mercedes-benz-g-wagen-will-be-the-real</link>
            <description><![CDATA[America is winning the new car emissions arm wrestle.]]></description>
            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Dom Tripolone]]></dc:creator>
            <guid>https://www.carsguide.com.au/car-news/forget-the-mini-2026-toyota-fj-landcruiser-the-baby-mercedes-benz-g-wagen-will-be-the-real</guid>
            <pubDate>Fri, 22 May 2026 12:29:08 +1000</pubDate>
                            <dc:category>News</dc:category>
                    </item>
                <item>
            <title><![CDATA[Cheap iconic car to return, as European giant prepares to turn its fortunes around]]></title>
            <link>https://www.carsguide.com.au/car-news/cheap-iconic-car-to-return-as-european-giant-prepares-to-turn-its-fortunes-around-101699</link>
            <description><![CDATA[Citroen has confirmed it is bringing back the iconic 2CV as an electric vehicle (EV) targeted at the European market.The French carmaker&rsquo;s CEO Xavier Chardon announced this at Stellantis&rsquo; Investor Day 2026, which was held in Michigan, USA.&ldquo;Icons create emotion. Icons reconnect brands with people, and today one icon is about to return. Yes, the 2CV is back,&rdquo; said Chardon.This revived 2CV EV will be made in Italy from 2028 and be priced from under &euro;15,000 (~A$24,385).Sitting underneath the existing e-C3, this will give Citroen a key rival to the likes of the Dacia Spring and Leapmotor T03, among others.As part of the Investor Day presentation, a teaser image of this new 2CV was flashed up. It features all the classic exterior design traits including flared wheel arches, circular headlights and a rounded rear.At this stage it&rsquo;s unclear if this new Citroen 2CV EV will be offered outside of Europe.It&rsquo;s worth noting that the Citroen brand was axed in Australia back in 2024 after 101 years of selling cars Down Under.The Citroen 2CV is one of the French carmaker&rsquo;s most iconic vehicles it has ever produced.With development pre-dating World War II, the 2CV entered production in 1948 and continued in certain markets until 1990.At launch the 2CV was powered by a 375cc air-cooled two-cylinder engine producing 6.6kW, however larger and more powerful engines replaced it over time.A wide range of body styles were offered, including passenger, van and pick-up utes.Despite being a huge sales success in Europe, among other parts of the road, only a few examples of the 2CV made their way to Australia.]]></description>
            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Jack Quick]]></dc:creator>
            <guid>https://www.carsguide.com.au/car-news/cheap-iconic-car-to-return-as-european-giant-prepares-to-turn-its-fortunes-around-101699</guid>
            <pubDate>Fri, 22 May 2026 11:12:40 +1000</pubDate>
                            <dc:category>News</dc:category>
                    </item>
                <item>
            <title><![CDATA[Jeep, Peugeot and Leapmotor parent company announces 60 new models by 2030 as it undergoes a Nissan-style global re-boot for survival]]></title>
            <link>https://www.carsguide.com.au/car-news/jeep-peugeot-and-leapmotor-parent-company-announces-60-new-models-by-2030-as-it-undergoes</link>
            <description><![CDATA[Jeep and Peugeot parent company Stellantis has announced a plan to launch 110 new or refreshed vehicles by 2030, including 60 brand new models, as part of sweeping changes to the business, which include an optimised manufacturing footprint and tweaks to the company&rsquo;s partnerships and platform strategy.This wide-reaching set of changes is part of a grander plan Stellantis dubs FaSTLAne 2030 in order to &ldquo;maximise capital efficiency, avoid duplicate spending, and support profitability&rdquo;.Stellantis will optimise its global factories, accelerate research and development to reduce model cycles to 24 months rather than the current 40 months, and sharpen its pencil on cost competitiveness and quality.In terms of where its portfolio of 14 brands will sit in this plan, the company said it will focus on four global brands: Jeep, Ram, Peugeot and Fiat.It said Chrysler, Dodge, Citroen, Opel and Alfa Romeo are &ldquo;regional brands&rdquo;, while its luxury European arms, DS and Lancia, will be managed by Citroen and Fiat respectively and &ldquo;developed as specialty brands&rdquo;.Maserati will be &ldquo;strengthened&rdquo; with a plan including two new large vehicles to be announced at a later date.The realignment will also see Stellantis&rsquo; platform strategy sharpened, with the group planning 50 per cent of its global volume to be on just three platforms as it continues to consolidate its global portfolio, which was previously split between the US market and Europe where the company is strongest.It specifically earmarked its STLA One platform as being the primary growth driver. This new modular platform is expected to underpin a huge percentage of the company&rsquo;s global model footprint in much the same way as Volkswagen Group&rsquo;s MQB and MEB platforms currently do, and will seemingly replace the current CMP and EMP2 (aka STLA Small and Medium) platforms it inherited from PSA. It will be the first platform to roll in all of the brand&rsquo;s latest tech, like the STLA Brain computing system, STLA SmartCockpit UI system and new steer-by-wire technology.The company says the STLA One platform will launch in 2027, has the ability to cover small to upper-mid-sized vehicles, and will allow the brand to reduce complexity across much of its line-up.It is capable of supporting multiple levels of electrification from hybrid to full EV, and will have an 800-volt electrical architecture.By 2035, STLA One will underpin 30 new models and is expected to account for two million sales.It will also come with a realignment of its manufacturing presence. Stellantis will reduce its capacity in Europe by 800,000 units, re-purposing factories, while increasing production in the US, the Middle East, and Africa, with a goal of at least 80 per cent utilisation.Meanwhile, it will lean on its partnership with Leapmotor for more expansion in the Asia Pacific region, which it described as an &ldquo;asset-light&rdquo; region.Partnerships of previously unprecedented scale will help Stellantis toward its goal, with existing deals opening doors for Leapmotor and Dongfeng to manufacture cars in Stellantis facilities in Europe.The partnership with Dongfeng, which also works with Nissan, will form the basis for two new Peugeot and two new Jeep models.Meanwhile, the recently-inked memorandum of understanding with both Indian giant Tata and its Jaguar Land Rover unit will open more doors for Stellantis in India, and JLR in the US where it hopes to side-step tariff requirements.Locally, Stellantis&rsquo; historic brands and even its new Leapmotor portfolio are struggling to make an impact on Australia&rsquo;s more-competitive-than-ever new car landscape.Jeep, once the crown jewel of the group&rsquo;s offering Down Under, has taken a battering year-to-date, down 65 per cent to just a handful of sales (249 units) made up predominantly of its signature Wrangler off-roader.It is a similar case for Peugeot, which is down 32.3 per cent so far this year,]]></description>
            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Tom White]]></dc:creator>
            <guid>https://www.carsguide.com.au/car-news/jeep-peugeot-and-leapmotor-parent-company-announces-60-new-models-by-2030-as-it-undergoes</guid>
            <pubDate>Fri, 22 May 2026 11:08:35 +1000</pubDate>
                            <dc:category>News</dc:category>
                    </item>
                <item>
            <title><![CDATA[Incoming BYD Seal 7 plug-in hybrid sedan appears in Aussie sales approval documents to take on 2026 Toyota Camry and 2027 Geely Emgrand]]></title>
            <link>https://www.carsguide.com.au/car-news/incoming-byd-seal-7-plug-in-hybrid-sedan-appears-in-aussie-sales-approval-documents-to</link>
            <description><![CDATA[BYD's new plug-in hybrid sedan is about to launch in Australia, and it has got the Toyota Camry in its sights.A Department of Infrastructure filing confirms the BYD Seal 7 has been approved for sale in Australia, also exposing some key details about the new car.&nbsp;BYD Australia has been contacted for comment to find out exact launch times for its new model.There is no news yet on how much the Seal 7 will cost, but expect it to be more expensive than the recently-launched Seal 6, starting from $34,990 (before on-road costs).&nbsp;The Seal 7 is a bigger car than the Toyota Camry hybrid, but it will still live in its territory when it launches in Australia.&nbsp;Other rivals such as the Skoda Octavia mild hybrid and Honda Accord Hybrid will provide further competition, along with the Geely Emgrand PHEV, which is due to launch in Australia next year.&nbsp;The Seal 7 has a 1.5-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol engine and electric motor set-up, producing 197kW.&nbsp;It is expected to have an electric-only driving range of less than 200km when it lands.It measures up at 4980mm long, 1890mm wide, 1495mm high, with a wheelbase of 2900mm.&nbsp;The car will ride on either 17-inch or 18-inch wheels, but other details will be revealed closer to the car&rsquo;s launch, which is likely to be in the next few months.&nbsp;The Seal 7 is BYD&rsquo;s latest model in what has been a bumper past few months for brand Down Under, seeing it jump to second spot in the sales charts for April.&nbsp;This has been led by its electrified approach, including the Shark 6 PHEV ute and the Sealion 7 electric SUV.&nbsp;]]></description>
            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Tim Gibson]]></dc:creator>
            <guid>https://www.carsguide.com.au/car-news/incoming-byd-seal-7-plug-in-hybrid-sedan-appears-in-aussie-sales-approval-documents-to</guid>
            <pubDate>Fri, 22 May 2026 10:44:38 +1000</pubDate>
                            <dc:category>News</dc:category>
                    </item>
                <item>
            <title><![CDATA['Game-changer': New 2027 Volvo EX60 electric mid-size SUV destroys three big EV concerns as it prepares to rival 2026 BMW iX3 and Mercedes-Benz GLC EV]]></title>
            <link>https://www.carsguide.com.au/car-news/game-changer-new-2027-volvo-ex60-electric-mid-size-suv-destroys-three-big-ev-concerns-as</link>
            <description><![CDATA[The new Volvo EX60 electric mid-size has been dubbed a &lsquo;game changer&rsquo; by the Swedish carmaker.It needs to be too as it&rsquo;s finally introducing an electric counterpart to its best-selling car of all time, the XC60.Speaking to CarsGuide, Volvo Vehicle Product Lead for the EX60 and EX60 Cross Country, Lorina Gewargis said it&rsquo;s fun to be standing with the finished product and having delivered the promises the brand made years ago.&ldquo;I would say we have packed this car with so much new technology that we haven&rsquo;t done before and we did that in this timeframe,&rdquo; said Gewargis.&ldquo;I&rsquo;m very confident that we have basically sold the kind of three main concerns that some consumers have when going to electric.&ldquo;We have the range and the charging speed. Then obviously, price is a very important area as well. The price for the EX60 [is] to be equivalent as [the] current XC60 plug-in hybrid [PHEV].&rdquo;The EX60 is priced from $86,900 before on-road costs for the Ultra P6 RWD and $101,990 before on-road costs for the Ultra P10 AWD in Australia. These are equivalent with the XC60 PHEV.Volvo is readying a flagship P12 AWD version of the EX60, which offers the full 810km of WLTP-claimed range, as well as 400kW of peak DC fast-charging thanks to the 800V electrical architecture.This flagship EX60 P12 AWD trim will likely cost more than the P10 AWD trim and be closer to the BMW iX3 50 xDrive, which is currently priced from $109,900 before on-road costs and offers 805km of WLTP-claimed range.&ldquo;We are designing it, engineering it and building it in Sweden. I think that&rsquo;s the whole game-changer point,&rdquo; added Volvo Technology and Programs Manager, Power Electronics, Adrian Thuresson.&ldquo;Of course we have the HugeinCore, where we have fully centralised computing, where we [can] improve this over time, continuously.&ldquo;This is just the start of a really nice journey.&rdquo;It&rsquo;s worth noting that the EX60 is the first Volvo to have a landscape-oriented central touchscreen multimedia system.&ldquo;We have a new world-first when it comes to restraints,&rdquo; said Volvo Engineering Manager Front and Rear Structure Analysis, Dr Isabelle Stockman, noting the new multi-adaptive safety seat belt that&rsquo;s making its debut in the EX60.&ldquo;So with this &hellip; software-based car, we can analyse what&rsquo;s going on outside of the car using the exterior sensors and also what&rsquo;s going on inside of the car using the interior sensor.&ldquo;Based on that information &hellip; we can then adapt to the situation with [the] help of these &hellip; profiles now in the safety belt and together with the rest of the restraint systems.&rdquo;Additionally, the Volvo EX60 has a clean, Scandinavian-inspired exterior design without regular door handles. Instead there is a tiny flap with a button at the bottom of the window. It&rsquo;s a similar set-up to the front doors on the Ford Mustang Mach-E.]]></description>
            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Jack Quick]]></dc:creator>
            <guid>https://www.carsguide.com.au/car-news/game-changer-new-2027-volvo-ex60-electric-mid-size-suv-destroys-three-big-ev-concerns-as</guid>
            <pubDate>Fri, 22 May 2026 03:00:00 +1000</pubDate>
                            <dc:category>News</dc:category>
                    </item>
                <item>
            <title><![CDATA[BYD Australia said electric vehicle sales boom is over as buyers revert back to hybrids such as the 2026 BYD Sealion 6 and Sealion 8 SUVs]]></title>
            <link>https://www.carsguide.com.au/car-news/byd-australia-said-electric-vehicle-sales-boom-is-over-as-buyers-revert-back-to-hybrids</link>
            <description><![CDATA[Australia&rsquo;s electric vehicle buying frenzy appears to have already subsided.That&rsquo;s the view of one of Australia&rsquo;s leading electric vehicle [EV] brands, BYD, which says its mix of models has already started to normalise despite the on-going fuel crisis. Sales of EVs jumped in March and April, as the price of petrol and diesel spiked amid conflict in the Middle East.In March EV sales were double what they were in March 2025, jumping to 14.6 per cent of the total market. That figure rose to 16.4 per cent of total sales in April, while searches on CarsGuide classifieds for EVs rose 230 per cent in March. Autotrader reported a 631 per cent jump in people searching for a new EV to buy in March.But the peak of this EV boom may already be behind us according to BYD Australia Chief Operating Officer Stephen Collins, which is telling because the brand only offers EVs and plug-in hybrid (PHEVs).&ldquo;I'll tell you what we've seen,&rdquo; explained Collins. &ldquo;What we saw was that in March there was a big uplift. Our mix went from 50/50 PHEV/EV to 70 per cent EV and 30 per cent PHEV. Definitely March, absolutely. April it started to come off, that mix came off, and the huge spike was coming off, and I would say now is pretty much back to normal.&rdquo;However, he added that even though the sales split had returned to its previous levels, overall demand for more fuel-efficient vehicles remains high as fuel prices appear unlikely to drop dramatically any time in the near-future. And Collins believes that this is all part of a long-running shift towards EVs and PHEVs.&ldquo;I think the baseline from where we were in January, February to now is higher. So I think it's been one of those events that has actually changed the momentum. But I don't think it's true that, we're riding on the sort of a [wave of EV demand]. Some people are saying, &lsquo;Yeah, we're riding the wave of this, petrol, fuel crisis thing.&rsquo; Yes, there was a short period where it went really strong, but even prior to that, the trajectory was pretty obvious.&rdquo;BYD has certainly benefitted from the current situation, finishing second on the April sales charts. Its 7702 sales that month put it only behind Toyota for the month, as buyers flocked to its line-up of &lsquo;new energy vehicles&rsquo; including the most-affordable EV on sale today, the pint-sized Atto 1.BYD&rsquo;s biggest EV success story is the Sealion 7, with the mid-size SUV not only the second best-selling EV in the country, behind only the Tesla Model Y, but is also amongst the most popular models in its class - which includes the likes of the Toyota RAV4, Mazda CX-5 and Mitsubishi Outlander.As of the end of April sale, BYD was the fifth best-selling car brand in Australia, behind only Toyota, Mazda, Kia and Ford. The brand is aiming to have 30,000 new cars delivered by the end of the financial year, starting with a shipment of 4800 new vehicles aboard the BYD Zhengzhou, a company-owned car carrier due to arrive in Australia at the start of June.]]></description>
            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Stephen Ottley]]></dc:creator>
            <guid>https://www.carsguide.com.au/car-news/byd-australia-said-electric-vehicle-sales-boom-is-over-as-buyers-revert-back-to-hybrids</guid>
            <pubDate>Fri, 22 May 2026 00:01:00 +1000</pubDate>
                            <dc:category>News</dc:category>
                    </item>
                <item>
            <title><![CDATA[Big updates for affordable family SUV, as 2027 KGM Torres and Acyton revealed in Korea]]></title>
            <link>https://www.carsguide.com.au/car-news/big-updates-for-affordable-family-suv-as-2027-kgm-torres-and-acyton-revealed-in-korea</link>
            <description><![CDATA[KGM has detailed updates for its Torres and Actyon SUVs in South Korea.The 2027 KGM Torres with the regular 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine now comes with an eight-speed Aisin-sourced torque-converter automatic transmission, instead of a six-speed Aisin unit.The all-wheel drive petrol version now also receives off-road terrain modes in addition to the existing drive modes.The Torres is still also offered with hybrid and electric powertrain options.There are revised front and rear fascias, as well as new exterior paint colours and interior colourways.Inside, the Torres looks much more like the Actyon now. It receives a two-spoke, hexagonal steering wheel, as well as an updated screen set-up for the digital instrument cluster and touchscreen multimedia system.A number of key criticisms have also been addressed.There&rsquo;s now wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, a bigger gear selector, a physical switchgear cluster for the dual-zone climate control, as well as dual wireless chargers.It&rsquo;s worth noting that the KGM Actyon also picks up the aforementioned updates, as well as the eight-speed automatic transmission.We&rsquo;ve reached out to KGM Australia to see when we can expect these updated Torres and Actyon models will arrive Down Under. We&rsquo;ll update this story once we hear back.KGM, which was previously known as SsangYong, launched the Torres in Australia in 2024 and was followed by the related and slightly larger Actyon in 2025.The South Korean carmaker has since launched hybrid and electric versions of the Torres, as well as a hybrid version of the Actyon.In the first four months of 2026 KGM has sold a total of 74 Torres examples and 80 Actyon examples. This is down considerably over top-selling rivals like the Toyota RAV4 (7571 sales), Hyundai Tucson (6842 sales) and Kia Sportage (5743 sales).]]></description>
            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Jack Quick]]></dc:creator>
            <guid>https://www.carsguide.com.au/car-news/big-updates-for-affordable-family-suv-as-2027-kgm-torres-and-acyton-revealed-in-korea</guid>
            <pubDate>Thu, 21 May 2026 16:56:49 +1000</pubDate>
                            <dc:category>News</dc:category>
                    </item>
            </channel>
</rss>