Celine Nolan

Toyota has acknowledged it’s imaginable that its most trendy hydrogen-fuelled inner combustion engine tech would possibly perchance perchance salvage its contrivance into vehicles such because the oldschool Toyota Land Cruiser four-wheel pressure.

The comments come off the support of the open of the logo’s first ever hydrogen-fuelled Hiace van prototype, which already shares its heart with in a single more nation variants of the Land Cruiser 300 within the make of a 3.5-litre twin-turbo V6.

Asked whether or now not the powertrain featured within the Hiace prototype would possibly perchance perchance salvage its contrivance into vehicles adore the Land Cruiser and Hilux ute, Toyota global’s hydrogen manufacturing unit president Mitsumasa Yamagata acknowledged: “sure, there are potentialities to adapt (the abilities) into these vehicles including Land Cruiser.”

Talking to media through a translator on the open of the Hiace prototype, Yamagata pointed to the “profit of the abilities (which) would possibly perchance perchance just furthermore be utilised for these vehicles including excessive towing and excessive loading.”

He then went on to verify that Toyota has started a “look” on the usage of the abilities in other vehicles, including Land Cruiser – nonetheless, the logo is aloof “studying which abilities will be appropriate for which car”.

Against the vogue of many other carmakers Toyota has solid a diversified “multi-pathway” components to decarbonisation, a particularly complex prospect for non-metropolis centered vehicles adore the Land Cruiser which quiz excessive off-avenue, towing and prolonged-vary functionality.

Hydrogen Land Cruiser: imaginable nonetheless now not entirely straightforward

The engine chanced on in in a single more nation variants of the Land Cruiser 300 – and furthermore available locally within the Lexus LX600 – has undergone minimal alterations to salvage its contrivance into the Hiace hydrogen prototype. Particularly, there hold been changes to its injectors that allow it to flee on compressed hydrogen gas as a change of petrol.

Then over again, it isn’t as easy as merely slotting the hydrogen-fuelled engine accurate into a car adore the Land Cruiser.

President and CEO of Toyota Australia Matthew Callachor acknowledged “that type of thing is a huge step in its private appropriate.”

“It’s one in every of the potentialities, nonetheless it aloof clearly requires major engineering as successfully,” he added, referencing concerns adore how one can attach hydrogen gas cells inner an fresh framework.

With the Hiace prototype vary sitting at correct below 200km, Toyota has furthermore acknowledged that major work would aloof need to be accomplished to boost vary for the abilities – potentially through bigger hydrogen tanks or the adoption of hybrid abilities.

Why did Toyota prototype Hiace as a change of Land Cruiser?

Asked about why the Hiace became as soon as chosen because the first car to characteristic the fresh powertrain abilities, Yamagata acknowledged that this came accurate down to extra seamless packaging alternatives.

Speaking of the “many reasons” for why the Hiace became as soon as chosen, Yamagata acknowledged “the first reason is that after it involves (the) hydrogen tanks layout, it became as soon as appropriate.”

The flexibleness of the Hiace – which failed to must endure any compromises to its exterior styling or interior packaging – apart from its commercial usage transporting heavy hundreds sealed the deal for it to be the first cab off the ghastly.

This acknowledged, Toyota has been particular about its ambitions to lengthen application of the tech beyond the Hiace.

Callachor acknowledged: “the goal of this (buyer trial program) is to enable us to continue to abet and optimise the abilities to extra boost its ability capabilities.”

Is hydrogen the resolution for a green Land Cruiser?

Toyota has been vocal about its “multi-pathway” components in opposition to emissions reduction, with the local arm of the logo equally outspoken about their witness that EVs are unable to produce what “the quiet majority” of Australians require in vehicles adore the Land Cruiser.

Toyota Australia’s vp of gross sales and marketing, Sean Hanley, spoke to Chasing Autos on the open of the Hiace prototype, spruiking what he believes are the accurate advantages of hydrogen-fuelled inner combustion for customers that require a combination of vary, towing and off-roading functionality.

Hanley spoke of the lots of “payment amortisation” that contains the usage of fresh abilities, technology, and seller bases, which enables for a sizeable payment reduction versus the lots of payment involved by engineering an electrical car that would possibly perchance perchance equal the vary, towing, and off-avenue functionality of the present Land Cruiser.

While it spruiks what it believes are key advantages of hydrogen-energy, the logo is agency on its various components to powertrain tech, only within the near previous pulling the covers off a idea previewing a deliberate electrical Land Cruiser, seemingly to sit alongside the fresh inner combustion version.

The tag is furthermore agency on continuing to manufacture hydrogen gas cell electrical vehicles (FCEV) adore the Mirai sedan, and up to date FCEV Hilux ute prototype.

In the interim, Toyota will originate its precise-world buyer testing of the Hiace prototype this month because the van enters the following fragment of its construction.

Mini has formally printed the John Cooper Works version of its new-technology Countryman small SUV.

The Countryman JCW is decided to come in Australia all thru the third quarter of 2024, and would possibly perhaps aloof join the new electric Mini Cooper hatch and Countryman electric within the electrified Mini range.

The JCW variant will say a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine that produces 221kW of energy and 400Nm of torque. This powertrain is mated to an all-wheel pressure machine and a seven-hasten twin-dangle transmission.

Interestingly, the new Countryman JCW has much less energy and torque than the outgoing Countryman JCW that produced 225kW/450Nm.

The Countryman is fixed with the UKL2 platform and aspects fully redesigned styling for 2024.

The JCW will stand out from diversified Countrymans due to the its two-tone crimson roof, quad say outlets and distinctive JCW badging.

What else to ask from the Countryman in 2024?

Mini will begin each combustion and electric variations of the Countryman in 2024, with the ability of a JCW electric version very likely, but unconfirmed.

There is runt be conscious on what energy and torque figures would possibly perhaps perhaps even be extracted from the new Countryman’s chassis, but we did hit upon a success upon of performance Minis all thru the Munich Motor Portray which took place earlier this yr.

Even supposing each electric and combustion energy is aloof the name of the game in up-to-the-minute motoring, it’s very likely that Mini will bring its proceed-kart dealing with performance JCW nameplate into the electric technology.

With now now not up to per week to head unless its anticipated reliable level to on the Los Angeles Auto Demonstrate, detailed pictures of the modern-generation Subaru Forester own leaked on-line.

What looks to be reliable pictures of the sixth-generation car had been posted by an unknown user to Imgur, and are essentially doing the rounds on social media including on the Cars_secrets instagram profile and X.

Subaru had teased the level to of an ‘all-modern fully redesigned car’ – widely anticipated to be the modern Forester – to debut on the 2023 LA motor repeat from November 17th, on the opposite hand the public is now getting a plump preview of what to place a question to in its modern generation.

It’s crucial to repeat that the Forester seen right here is probably going for the American market, with Jap-built devices purchased in Australia on the total differing slightly of in compose and can merely likely be printed at a later date.

What’s modern on the 2024 Subaru Forester?

Subaru has gone with an evolutionary take cling of on the recognisably burly Forester styling and proportions, akin to the recent update of the Crosstrek puny SUV – previously identified because the XV.

The pictures repeat as a minimal two mannequin grades, labeled ‘Sport’ and ‘Touring’, every carrying a model modern compose for the headlights with a mighty wider modern grille.

The modern wheel compose mirrors those of the teaser image Subaru printed closing week, on the opposite hand we’re essentially in a situation to search out out about them in plump, in a diversity of coloration treatments including what looks to be a bronze pack for the ‘Sport’ variant of the automobile.

Overall the compose of the modern-gen Forester looks to take cling of inspiration from the US-market three-row Ascent appealing SUV, with a more masculine look. Other puny adjustments consist of WRX-vogue plastic wheelarches and modern ‘symmetrical AWD’ badge on the D-pillar.

It’s unclear how mighty the scale differ from the modern-gen Forester, though the compose of the modern Forester does give the visual impression of a slightly of longer car as when put next with the taller see of the present generation.

The rear of the automobile showcases a cleaner compose, with the rear lights now linked by a compose strip running all the blueprint in which via the length of the tailgate.

For the internal, the automobile has adopted the modern-generation Subaru compose language with the modern mannequin sporting a huge 11.6-proceed vertical pill-vogue infotainment dispute – which will likely raise with it wi-fi Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

On the opposite hand, love the Subaru Outback, the modern car peaceable has outmoded analogue gauges for the instrument cluster as towards a entirely digital dispute.

Powertrain and Australian lineup particulars unclear

No particulars own yet emerged around the powertrain, though a more efficient hybrid possibility has been rumoured.

A turbo ‘XT’ variant is additionally imaginable given the success it has seen as a part of the Outback lineup, but it with out a doubt’s extremely likely Subaru will continue with a pure-petrol naturally-aspirated engine – potentially an up up to now model of the present 2.5-litre – within the modern lineup.

Now not pictured is a ‘Wasteland’ variant which can presumably presumably presumably additionally be on the cards, but we’ll likely discover about that at a later date.

The modern generation Forester went on sale in 2018.

Polestar has printed its new Polestar 5 high-efficiency liftback at the Swedish carmaker’s Polestar Day tournament in Los Angeles, USA.

Whereas the company hasn’t printed worthy within the kind of specs all the design by the unveiling, it’s believed that the new rival to the likes of Porsche Taycan and Audi E-Tron GT will boast 650kW and 900Nm from its twin-motor powertrain.

The newcomer 5-door also promises new extra-quick charging technology that claims to add as worthy as 160km of fluctuate in as miniature as 5 minutes with out changing the beget of its existing battery packs or main to any long-term degradation.

Dubbed Impolite Like a flash Charging, or XFC, by charging company StoreDot, the technology become showcased at the Swedish carmaker’s Polestar Day tournament in Los Angeles, with plans to debut the technology in action on the Polestar 5 prototype in 2024.

The Polestar 5 is expected to arrive in Australia in early 2025, the place this would well rival its extremely popular competitors from Porsche and Audi.

Expected to pack a fluctuate of over 482km, the skill to spin a ways on a single charger shall be main in a super nation worship Australia however so that you just can, may well be the skill to recharge rapidly.

How does StoreDot XFC’s work?

StoreDot says it has considered a ‘step forward’ in battery pack beget which overcomes one of the crucial crucial inherent tradeoffs of lithium-ion batteries by a series of solutions.

The predominant reasons are all the vogue down to what it calls a ‘holistic beget’ of its battery packs, which seeks to take care of challenges much like residual warmth factors and field topic growth, at the side of changing the gentle graphite anode with silicon-essentially based completely nanoparticles.

Even supposing StoreDot is coy with exactly how its technology works, the company has labored to conquer the tendency of silicon to magnify by combining it with varied stabilising materials to maintain overall mechanical integrity, with out sacrificing the advantages of silicon.

With longevity in thoughts, StoreDot says its batteries win been proven to continue to exist 1200 consecutive ‘XFC’ cycles sooner than the pack is diminished to 80 percent of its customary ability. It also claims a high vitality density of over 300Wh/kg.

Polestar’s extra and extra quick charging speeds

The Polestar 2 liftback is currently the emblem’s fastest charging car, with a most DC charging hurry of 205kW, allowing the 79kWh battery to be charged from 10-80 percent in 28 minutes – taking into consideration around 524km of spin

Subsequent year, the Polestar 3 perfect SUV will attain to Australia with increased 250kW DC charging speeds, which design even supposing the battery is larger at 107kWh this would well charge up from 10 to 80 percent in 28 minutes – taking into consideration around 488km of spin.

The Polestar 5 is expected to pack a 103kWh battery with a fluctuate of over 482kms – which design an effectivity of around 21.3.kWh/100km. A total of 34.08kWh may well be desired to spin 160km.

Roughly speaking, this fashion that the Polestar 5 is able to charging speeds of up to circa-350kW – inserting it on par with the likes of the Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Kia EV6.

Charging, nonetheless, is no longer merely about top outputs however the moderate hurry of the vitality flowing into the auto. This can even be influenced by a assortment of issues much like ambient temperature and the amount of warmth within the battery constructed up all the design by the charging route of, so these outcomes may well also fluctuate.

There shall be a disagreement between providing a short burst of electricity, and preserving a sustained circa-350kW hurry for your total charge interval, which can well demonstrate to be a degree of disagreement between Polestar and its opponents.

Polestar’s avalanche of present fashions destined for the worldwide market are being met with an equally global network of manufacturing hubs.

Following in the aid of the enormously up thus far 2 liftback and 3 gorgeous SUV might possibly perchance possibly be the Polestar 4, a comparatively smaller SUV better in comparison with the extremely worthwhile Tesla Model Y.

Polestar right this moment launched that it might perchance possibly possibly perchance possibly construct the incoming 4 in Busan, South Korea, all the plan thru the 2d half of 2025. The most in model manufacturing hub will provide vehicles for the South Korean and the North American market.

The plans were launched after an agreement changed into as soon as struck between Polestar, Geely Retaining and Renault Korea Motors to construct the EVs in the plant, which has been building cars for 23 years and is on the 2d staffed by around 2000 workers.

What does this mean for Australia?

Polestar Australia head of PR & communications, Laurissa Mirabelli, urged Chasing Vehicles that Australian vehicles would no longer be derived from this fresh space.

“All Australian product will be sourced from China for the foreseeable future,” which blueprint that the Polestar 2, 3, 4 and most likely the 5 sedan will attain from the one predicament.

Even supposing Australia might possibly perchance circuitously receive pleasure from the most in model manufacturing source, the upper selection of construct areas permits a most likely better provide of vehicles if there is enough ask.

In 2024, the Polestar 3 will be constructed in South Carolina, USA, the place the cars will be supplied to the broader country along with the European market.

The Polestar 4 in transient

Living to near in Australia in early 2024, the Polestar 4 is anticipated to be priced north of $80,000 sooner than on-avenue prices in the neighborhood in single-motor RWD guise.

Polestar will provide two elementary variants: a rear-wheel-pressure, long-differ single-motor and an all-wheel-pressure long-differ dual-motor. Both will be a 94kWh-usable battery pack.

The outmoded will spend a 200kW/343Nm motor on the rear axle and a claimed 0-100km/h depart time in 7.4 seconds, with a claimed differ of over 600km (WLTP).

The AWD model produces a combined 400kW/686Nm output, a 3.8 2d 0-100km/h time and has a claimed differ of 560km (WLTP).

Chevrolet’s first hybrid all-wheel-force supercar is creeping closer to Australian shores, with GMSV this day confirming that the manufacturing invent of the Corvette E-Ray for Australia and Fresh Zealand will open in mid 2024.

We are in a position to on account of this truth search data from the principle examples of the fresh hybrid model, which has already been announced for Australia and Fresh Zealand, to approach in Australia by the pinnacle of 2024, or very early in 2025.

Australian and Fresh Zealand pricing is easy but to make sure, on the opposite hand Chasing Vehicles understands that this is in a position to possibly very successfully be announced closer to commence.

We estimate that the E-Ray would possibly possibly impress as noteworthy as $300,000 in Australia, or fair a miniature decrease than the fresh supercar-slaying Z06 variant.

What exactly is the E-Ray and what powers it?

Based mostly utterly totally on the C8 Corvette platform, the principle vitality source is courtesy of a 6.2-litre LT2 V8 engine, but is assisted by an electrical motor located on the front axle.

This naturally-aspirated V8 engine on my own has outputs of 369kW/637Nm.

Total system output for this setup is a well-known 488kW, and Chevrolet states that the E-Ray has a claimed 0-100km/h creep of 2.5 seconds.

The Corvette E-Ray capabilities a small 1.9kWh battery pack that helps feed vitality to the front-mounted electric motor.

You would possibly possibly wonder the effect a battery pack would match in a supercar – Chevrolet managed to set up the battery between the 2 seats.

The Corvette E-Ray is a used series-parallel hybrid, rather then a crawl-in hybrid that is at probability of be charged by activity of an exterior source.

Chevrolet says the battery is charged by activity of regenerative braking, as successfully as authorized day-to-day riding.

Chevrolet states there’ll likely be a ‘stealth mode’, usually an electrical-only mode, but it completely only operates as much as 70km/h. An electrical-only differ is now no longer said but given the scale of the battery it’s unlikely to be huge.

Other vital authorized capabilities for the electrified Corvette encompass a Brembo carbon ceramic braking system, adaptive dampers and staggered 20-hump and 21-hump wheels with Michelin rubber.

Chevrolet Corvette 2024: costs in Australia

All costs listed comprises GST and Luxurious Automotive Tax

• 2LT Coupe: $175,000
• 3LT Coupe: $190,000
• 2LT Convertible: $190,000
• 3LT Convertible: $205,000
• Corvette E-Ray: $TBC
• 3LZ Z06: $336,000