Car news today: Citroen calls it quits in Australia as Zeekr launches new electric SUV, and more – 15 August 2024

Thanks for becoming a member of us this Thursday 15 August 2024. Notably in automobile news at the sleek time: Citroen stops unusual vehicle sales in Australia, and Zeekr’s first EV in Australia to be priced beneath $60K.

Browse this mutter:

• Citroen stops unusual vehicle sales in Australia after extra than 100 years
• Zeekr’s first EV in Australia to be priced beneath $60K
• Skoda Karoq vary updated with unusual variants, extra ingredients
• Audi RS6 GT priced at $399,000… and it’s already offered out
• Reviewed: Audi SQ7 2024

Citroen stops unusual vehicle sales in Australia

• After an unbroken sales historic past relationship abet extra than a century, Citroen Australia has announced this might per chance also simply no longer promote unusual vehicles in Australia after years of dwindling sales in a increasing market.

• From 1 November 2024, Citroen will no longer promote unusual cars in Australia nonetheless will proceed to produce maintenance and servicing requirements for existing clients.

• “The choice for Citroën Australia to cease unusual vehicle sales used to be no longer made evenly; it used to be made after cautious consideration of the unusual and future product within the market for our country, within the context of the local market and the preferences and requirements of Australian unusual vehicle traders,” acknowledged David Owen, fundamental manager of Citroën Australia.

• It’s the latest automobile manufacturer to move Australia since Chrysler left in 2022, although a mess of Chinese language brands hold arrived since then.

Zeekr’s first EV in Australia to be priced beneath $60K

• Zeekr’s quickly-to-birth X electric SUV will be priced beneath $60K before on-road bills for its entry-level mannequin when it debuts in Australia this October.

• The compact SUV will be the Chinese language label’s first vehicle in Australia and ought to peaceable be within the market in two variants – an entry-level, single-motor, rear-wheel force (200kW/343Nm) and a dual-motor, all-wheel force (315kW/543Nm), which the label has confirmed will be priced beneath $70K before on-road bills.

• Both variants characteristic 66kWh (noxious) batteries with a quoted WLTP vary for European-spec variants of between 425km and 445km, reckoning on variant.

• Owned by Chinese language auto-giant Geely – which also owns Volvo, Polestar and Lotus – Zeekr has confirmed this might per chance also very effectively be employing a franchise mannequin and partnering with established dealer networks in Australia when the extra top rate-centered label launches within the neighborhood in October.

Skoda Karoq vary updated with unusual variants, extra ingredients

• Skoda Australia has announced a revised Karoq midsize SUV line-up that will perceive unusual Make a selection and Sportline 4×2 grades becoming a member of the present Sportline 4×4, with each and each replacing the earlier entry-level Karoq and mid-spec Fashion.

• The unusual entry-level Karoq Make a selection provides steel paint and evolved driver fatigue detection as identical old, priced at $39,990 before on-road bills or $40,990 driveaway.

• In the period in-between, the Karoq Sportline 4×2 will be priced at $forty five,990 before on-road bills or $46,990 driveaway. Unlike the earlier Fashion, the unusual mid-spec Sportline 4×2 now entails ingredients such as 19-walk alloy wheels, a front spoiler and rear diffuser, shaded Sportline styling accents, matrix LED headlights, heated front and rear seats, and additional. The front-force Sportline will section its 110kW/250Nm 1.4-litre turbo-petrol drivetrain with the Karoq Make a selection.

• Skoda says the vary-topping 2.0-litre turbo-petrol Sportline 4×4 will also add previously no longer obligatory ingredients to the worth of $7200 as identical old for an extra $5300 or $57,990 driveaway – unusual identical old ingredients embody dynamic chassis control, a 9.2-walk media prove, 10-speaker audio system, hill-descent control and surround take into consideration camera.

• A $4000 Signature Pack is also within the market, including leather-primarily primarily based upholstery and energy front seats with memory.

Audi RS6 GT priced at $399K… and it’s already offered out

• Audi has confirmed pricing for its RS6 GT high-performance wagon, nonetheless it undoubtedly’s already entirely accounted for in Australia.

• Touted as a special version mannequin and future “collector’s item” by the German label, the RS6 GT is priced at $399,000 before on-road bills in Australia, with only 660 gadgets within the market as phase of the mannequin speed globally.

• Simplest 22 of those had been allocated for Australian clients, with all having already found a condominium.

• Powered by a twin-turbo V8 mated to an eight-walk computerized transmission and all-wheel-force system, the RS6 GT makes for 463kW and 850Nm and achieves the 0-100km/h escape in precisely 3.3 seconds.

• With out complications identifiable from the exterior, the RS6 GT ingredients bespoke styling ingredients including a revised front fascia and bumpers, a carbon bonnet and reprofiled roof edge spoiler, tailgate and rear diffuser, moreover to Audi motorsport-impressed decals and 22-walk Audi Sport 6-arm ‘Avus’ impressed alloy wheels.

Audi SQ7 2024 Evaluation

• Chasing Autos contributor Nathan Ponchard’s overview of the 2024 Audi SQ7 used to be revealed, taking a conclude explore at the SUV which has been facelifted for the 2nd time to fight off its getting old bones and relief its station as a exceptional swiftly and sumptuous substantial SUV.
• Armed with a swiftly 373kW/770Nm 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 engine, the SQ7 sprints from 0-100km/h in precisely 4.1 seconds and thanks to a bunch of chassis trickery enjoy active anti-roll bars, it also guarantees to be rather succesful within the bends.

• Rivals embody the Mercedes-Benz GLE 63 and the BMW X5 M which also bear use of high-energy V8 engines in an world the put engines are extra and additional being downsized.

• In at the sleek time’s overview, contributor Nathan Ponchard takes a scrutinize at the SQ7 and perceive how effectively it has old college in its contemporary years and if its peaceable worth hunting for in 2024.

The following mutter of Automotive Recordsdata This day will be revealed on Friday 16 August at 4.30pm Sydney time.