Car news today: Toyota investigating unibody Hilux sibling, Tesla takes top safety score, and more – 23 May 2025

Thanks for joining us this Friday, Might perchance perhaps perhaps Twenty third 2025. Notably in car news recently: Toyota is overtly investigating a unibody standard of living ute that would perchance perhaps sit under the Hilux and Tesla has quiet yet one other safety gong with its as much as the moment Model 3.

Browse this scenario:

• Toyota investigating budget Hilux to rival Ford Maverick
• Tesla Model 3 receives five-indispensable particular person safety rating from ANCAP
• Porsche 718 scheduled to fade into the company’s history
• A sneak research on the Xpeng G7 forward of its June start

• 2025 Zeekr 7X reviewed

Toyota investigating budget Hilux to rival Ford Maverick

• Toyota USA chief working officer Note Templin has instructed Bloomberg it became investigating a unibody ‘car-based mostly-ute’ that would perchance perhaps slot under.
• Echoing feedback made previously, Cooper Ericksen, vp responsible of planning and intention at Toyota USA added that “lets the truth is attain properly in that section, so we’re making an strive to understand it,” but it with out a doubt became “a subject of timing”.

• Ford has loved giant success with its Maverick ute, which sits on the same platform as the Stride midsize SUV, providing a flexible tray and a rather inexpensive aquire label – albeit with out the heavy-responsibility off-avenue prowess, payload and towing capabilities that more tradition pickups admire the Ranger and F-150 provide.

• If the mannequin came to Australia it would likely sit under the Hilux in the variety is phrases of both dimension and cost, for these that want most of what a ute affords but no longer the total draw backs that embrace it.

Tesla Model 3 receives five-indispensable particular person safety rating from ANCAP

• Fair automobile safety physique the Australasian Unique Automobile Evaluate Program (ANCAP) has handed out its most modern bout of rankings.
• Tesla will absolute self belief maintain an even time, as its fresh Model 3 has in the fracture received a five-indispensable particular person rating. Recordsdata follows 18 months after Tesla’s old Model 3 rating became disallowed from being utilized to the fresh facelift mannequin.

• Thoroughly different Electric automobiles to construct up a five-indispensable particular person ANCAP medal embrace the fresh MG S5 and the Kia EV3. Every automobiles scored 86 p.c small one occupant safety. The MG S5 proved superior in adult occupant safety, scoring 90 p.c over Kia’s 83.

• The celebrated five-indispensable particular person rating for all three electrical automobiles will expire in December 2031.

Porsche 718 scheduled to fade into the company’s history

• Every the Boxster and Cayman variant of Porsche’s prestigious 982-generation 718 sports-car will formally pause manufacturing in October of this year.

• The fate of the combustion mannequin 718 has been sealed for some time now, with imagery of a brand fresh electrical 718s circulating as early as 2022 – no longer that Porsche’s worst kept secret has formally let trail by the German brand.

• Aussies would perchance properly be at a loss for words to know that the outgoing mannequin 718 became collected in manufacturing in any appreciate – we haven’t been in a spot to present one since Might perchance perhaps perhaps final year.
• There is currently no reliable liberate date (or reliable specification) for a brand fresh generation Porsche 718. Porsche Australia’s revised line-up will embrace the 911, Taycan, Panamera, Macan and Cayenne.

WATCH: Gentle the final doable driver’s car? (Porsche 718 Cayman 2024 Evaluate)

A sneak research on the Xpeng G7 forward of its June start

• A Chinese authorities company has let trail preliminary miniature print on an upcoming mid-to-gigantic dimension SUV – the Xpeng G7, which is scheduled to liberate in June.
• Most modern records on the G7, which has been sourced by design of the Chinese Ministry of Exchange and Recordsdata Technology (focal level on Chinese ADR), has published 4892/1925/1655mm LWH measurements, a 2890mm wheelbase, and single, rear-mounted 218kW electrical motor for design of propulsion.

• The G7 (no longer to be at a loss for words with the G6, P7, 7X, or MG7) became confirmed for the Australian market in February this year, and is anticipated to start locally in 2026. The upcoming June liberate will fully affect the Chinese market.

• A different between two lithium-iron phosphate batteries is anticipated: A 80.8kWh unit with a claimed range of 702km (CLTC) and 68.5kWh unit with a 602km range.

2025 Zeekr 7X reviewed

• Chasing Vehicles founder Tom Baker’s avenue test of the 2025 Zeekr 7X became published, giving a first look on the third mannequin to affix Zeekr’s Australian offerings.
• Baker became impressed by the digital seat adjustment for rear seat passengers, in particular the adjustable thigh strengthen. He furthermore gave aspects for the air-suspension controls mounted in the boot of the car.

• The Zeekr 7X looks to contend with stop on the fully-selling Tesla Model Y as an different midsize SUV. Baker notes that the WLTP range of the 7X falls in want of the mannequin Y, and emphasises that pricing and fling quality would possibly perchance be the automobiles two preferrred comparators.
• At an estimated AUD label of $70,000, the Zeekr 7X is most frequently a stable rival against the Tesla Model Y. How the 7X handles Australian roads will almost definitely be pivotal in gauging its success.

WATCH: Model Y’s fully rival yet? (Zeekr 7X 2025 Evaluate)

The next scenario of Automobile Recordsdata Nowadays will almost definitely be published on Monday, twenty sixth Might perchance perhaps perhaps at 4.30pm Sydney time.