Celine Nolan

Thanks for joining us this Thursday, March Twenty seventh 2025. Notably in vehicle files on the contemporary time: First explore at Nissan’s future plans for Australia, Kia getting prepared twin-motor and GT versions of EV3.

Browse this relate:

• First explore at Nissan’s future plans for Australia
• Kia getting prepared twin-motor and GT versions of EV3
• Skoda takes on Mitsubishi and BYD in ever-rising PHEV market
• Jaecoo J7 pricing published

• Reviewed: 2025 Cupra Tavascan Persistence
• Reviewed: 2025 Skoda Enyaq RS Coupe

First explore at Nissan’s future plans for Australia

• Nissan has released a total overview of several future models coming to the worldwide market, as effectively as a first explore at unusual innovations from the longstanding Jap firm.

• Excitingly within the Nissan four wheel drive section, the highly anticipated Y63 Patrol trim four wheel drive has been confirmed to free up locally by the cease of 2026, and Nissan has teased an all-unusual one-tonne ute constructed in collaboration with Mitsubishi.

• Passenger automobiles confirmed for the Australian market comprise: the Ariya EV crossover, that would furthermore invent its debut later this yr. Within the intervening time, the third-generation Leaf EV commuter, and a unusual Qashqai compact hybrid, each and each of which might perchance presumably be anticipated by the cease of 2026.

• Nissan has also confirmed the commence of a global rollout for its third-generation ‘e-Energy’. The e-Energy series-parallel hybrid system made its debut in 2016, with the technology centralising spherical little displacement petrol engine and lithium battery working in tandem to ship energy to the wheels via an electrical motor.

READ: 2026 Nissan Leaf published: crossover styling and reports of 600km fluctuate

WATCH: This is aesthetic the origin! 2025 Y63 Nissan Patrol Nismo and Warrior: the whole thing it’s a long way a must to perceive

Kia getting prepared twin-motor and GT versions of EV3

• Kia Australia published to Chasing Autos on the sizzling commence of the EV3 little SUV that all-wheel-drive and GT variants are inclined to bolster the fledgling four-variant model fluctuate’s local line-up in future.

• “All-wheel drive and GT [are] on the cards and in planning for later within the lifecycle,” outlined Kia product chief Roland Rivero, “so the answer is ‘sure’.”

• Currently the all-front-pushed EV3 line-up (from $48,990 driveaway) tops out with the GT-Line at $68,490 D/A. A greater-grade twin-motor version, no longer to mention a excessive-performance GT variant, would with out grief push into a excessive-$70K mark tier, making it a one very costly little electric SUV. Feasibility for the local market stays to be viewed.

• Kia Australia is forecasting that of the forecast 90,000 sales for 2025, spherical 11,000 models will most certainly be EV-branded electrics, with EV5 (5000-6000 models) and EV3 (spherical 400 models) projected to be the emblem’s electric volume sellers.

READ: Kia EV3 2025 pricing locked-in: BYD Atto 3 and Hyundai Kona rival undercuts EV5 and offers larger than 600km riding fluctuate

Skoda takes on Mitsubishi and BYD in ever-rising PHEV market

• Skoda has unveiled a unusual inch-in hybrid version of the Kodiaq trim SUV – the iV, which boasts a 110km EV fluctuate. The unusual Kodiaq iV is anticipated to be released early 2026.

• The unusual Kodiaq iV powertrain develops an moderately priced 150kW/350Nm, capabilities a 25.7kWh battery, and helps 50kW DC immediate-charging. Strangely, in PHEV invent, the accepted seven-seater Kodiaq will easiest be accessible in a five-seat configuration.

• Even as the Kodiaq iV beats each and each the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV and BYD Sealion 6 PHEV on EV fluctuate (86km and 92km WLTP fluctuate respectively), the huge Czechian’s mark will invent or spoil the model. Currently, the equal Outlander PHEV fees $63,790 and BYD Sealion 6 $52,990.

• Modern director of Skoda Australia, Lucie Kuhn, published that a lack of hybrid and inch-in hybrid offerings from Skoda has resulted in low sales figures nationally. “missing hybrids; it’s also no longer helping sales.”

READ: Headache for Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV and BYD Sealion 6: 2025 Skoda Kodiaq inch-in hybrid to present 110km EV fluctuate from next yr

Jaecoo J7 pricing published

• Jaecoo has priced its unusual midsize SUV, the J7, forward of its anticipated commence in Also can just 2025. The J7 will most certainly be within the origin released with four variants: the Core FWD injurious model, Track FWD mid-ranger, the excessive-spec Ridge AWD, and SHS Walk-in hybrid FWD fluctuate-topper.

• The Core is priced at $34,990 driveaway, the Track at $37,990 driveaway, the Ridge $42,990 driveaway, and topping the fluctuate, the SHS at $47,990 driveaway.

• All dedicated petrol J7’s will most certainly be powered by a turbocharged 1.6-litre four cylinder mated to a seven-tempo twin-clutch transmission. Height performance figures are 137kW/275Nm. The SHS hybrid uses a 105kW/215Nm 1.5-litre turbo-petrol and a 150kW/310Nm single electric motor alongside a single-tempo “hybrid transmission”.

• With drive-away pricing origin at $34,990, the J7 is determined to rival the MG HS, Haval H6, and Australian crowd favourite Mazda CX-5.

READ: Jaecoo J7 Track 2025 overview

WATCH: A peculiar Chinese language vehicle that isn’t an EV – Jaecoo J7

Reviewed: 2025 Cupra Tavascan Persistence

• Chasing Autos motorway test editor John Regulations’s overview of the 2025 Cupra Tavascan Persistence changed into printed, and involves praise for the vehicle’s agile chassis, crisp guidance, and valiant styling.

• Regulations described the Tavascan as a “graceful factor”, with contemporary styling to face out in an ever-rising EV market. He went on to commend the initiating mark of $60,990, sooner than on-motorway fees.

• Sadly, the Cupra Tavascan changed into timid by an inconsistent brake in actuality feel and overly stiff crawl, which Regulations stipulated “fleet grew boring”. General with all contemporary VAG automobiles, the Tavascan also falls short on phone connectivity.

• The Cupra Tavascan must be regarded as as a European-styled different to shut rival Tesla Mannequin Y, particularly the injurious RWD variant.

READ: Cupra Tavascan Persistence 2025 overview

WATCH: Corpulent test of Cupra’s Tesla Mannequin Y challenger (Cupra Tavascan 2025 overview)

The subsequent relate of Vehicle News This day will most certainly be printed on Friday Twenty eighth March at 4.30pm Sydney time.

The enviornment’s first mass-volume electrical automobile is transferring from hatchback to a crossover body fashion for its third generation, with the next Nissan Leaf reportedly position to provide about 600km of vary.

Nissan has revealed its first photos of the unusual Leaf as piece of a worldwide product annoucement that also references the next-generation Navara ute that will be primarily based mostly on the Mitsubishi Triton, to boot to the next Juke that can even be electrical.

Well-known aspects are extremely puny at this stage for a automobile that won’t open in Australia till 2026, though Nissan confirms the Leaf will portion its architecture with the Ariya midsize electrical crossover at final arriving here later this year.

The UK’s Autocar experiences from discussions with Nissan executives that the Leaf will provide bigger than 372 miles (598km) of vary and has a co-environment pleasant of recede of 0.25 attributable to its sleek unusual shape.

It’s likely this would be achieved from the supreme battery to be supplied from two or three picks supplied.

The Ariya out of the country is available with a 63kWh or 87kWh battery, with the latter offering a WLTP vary of up to 530km. The fresh Leaf presents easiest up to 385km of WLTP vary with the supreme battery available, with a ideally suited decrease 270km WLTP for the atrocious model.

Leaf Mk3 is reported to be barely shorter than the hot, 4.5-metre-prolonged model.

The Nissan Leaf became first released in 2010 and modified into the enviornment’s first mass-manufacturing EV, with bigger than 650,000 purchased as of mid 2023.

The 2nd-technology Skoda Kodiaq will bag contemporary bound-in hybrid variants to lend a hand it battle the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV and BYD Sealion 6.

Talking to Chasing Vehicles at Kodiaq’s national media start, Skoda Australia Director Lucie Kuhn published that gentle and bound-in hybrids are the missing hyperlink within the Czech brands’ product offensive.

Kuhn said that bound-in hybrids “[would come] to the Australian market for Kodiaq and Very perfect in late 2025, early 2026.”

Chasing Vehicles understands that the bound-in hybrid powertrains for Kodiaq and Very perfect are under technical evaluate for Australia at this 2nd. There’s also a gentle-hybrid powertrain likely for the Octavia family automobile this 300 and sixty five days.

Skoda is a dominant force in Europe. It used to be the fourth most racy-wonderful designate within the express final 300 and sixty five days within the encourage of Volkswagen, Toyota and BMW. The story’s diversified Down Underneath, the build Skoda shifted 5015 models final 300 and sixty five days, down on 2023’s 7999 outcomes.

“There are rather a number of components that led to this end result,” Kuhn said, “On the initiating, I feel we were historically in fact fascinated relating to the European market due to this of we are a European designate…. We desired to defend home market share,” she outlined.

“We were bringing merchandise to markets like Australia with a convey delay — which used to be generally up to one 300 and sixty five days — and likewise missing technologies. Legal now, we face, for occasion, missing hybrids; it’s also now not serving to gross sales,” said Kuhn.

The Kodiaq bound-in hybrid also can simply be the ideal solution. The 5-seat (in preference to the petrol’s seven) SUV develops 150kW and 350Nm for a 0-100km/h speed in 8.4 seconds.

More impressive, although, is the Kodiaq iV’s circa-110km (WLTP) electrical-most racy differ from a 25.7kWh battery. That eclipses even the contemporary Mitsubishi Outlander (86km, WLTP) and BYD Sealion 6 (92km, NEDC). The Kodiaq iV helps up to 50kW DC swiftly-charging, too.

Of the mainstream VW Crew brands, Cupra used to be the wonderful to bring bound-in hybrids to Australia within the outdated iteration. The Cupra Leon and Formentor will fetch the contemporary-gen PHEV engines later this 300 and sixty five days, potentially paving the model for Skoda’s Kodiaq and Very perfect.

Whereas Australia has now rolled encourage FBT exemptions for PHEVs, in Europe, the powertrain model has confronted renewed scrutiny and lots countries have eradicated incentives. The decrease demand in Europe generally formula it is more uncomplicated to fetch production for markets like Australia.

Skoda will must nail the pricing for its bound-in hybrid Kodiaq and Very perfect if it’s to compete within the most contemporary aggressive market. The Outlander PHEV prices $63,790 in mid-spec Aspire guise and the BYD Sealion 6 $52,990 in Top class dapper.

The Skoda Kodiaq Decide starts at $56,990 driveaway, and if Skoda also can provide a bound-in hybrid model for spherical $60,000 it is going to also salvage success sitting between the most contemporary 140TSI and performance-oriented Kodiaq RS.

BYD ATTO 2

Automobile form: Compact SUV, electrical
Launch ETA: Mannequin no longer but confirmed

BYD appears to be leading as much as the start of its smallest, perhaps cheapest electrical SUV in Australia.

The Atto 2 small electrical SUV has these days launched within the UK, and an Australian start would perhaps practice. The UK notorious model Atto 2 is powered by a single 130kW/280Nm electrical motor and 45kWh lithium-ion phosphate battery. Anticipated WLTP differ for the notorious is 312km, with a lengthy-differ variant furthering to 420km.

Count on the Atto 2 to cost around $35,000 (sooner than on-freeway costs), being priced barely increased than the Dolphin, and undercutting the higher Atto 3. In this bracket, the Atto 2 is poised to rob on rivals such because the MG4, Hyundai Kona EV, and Volvo EX30.

Chasing Vehicles irregular interview with EV Inform CEO David Smitherman

DENZA U8

Automobile form: Dazzling plug-in hybrid four wheel power
Launch ETA: Anticipated 2d half of 2025

BYD’s answer to the Mercedes-Benz G-Class, Land Rover Defender, and 300 sequence Toyota Landcruiser – the Yangwang U8 – has been rumoured for Australia for a whereas and is getting closer to affirmation.

Already attempting out on Australian roads – and caught by our spies! – besides to being showcased in a pair of BYD showrooms, the U8 will seemingly be imported from China by BYD itself in arrangement of standard importer EV Inform – and take a seat below the Denza luxurious sub-imprint owing to a value tag which might perhaps be tremendously increased than any BYD.

U8 capabilities a sturdy ladderframe chassis, packed with life suspension, and a posh electronically managed all-wheel-power system. The AWD system has the good thing about transferring energy to any one among the U8’s four hub-mounted electrical motors, providing amazing traction and a tank-turn celebration trick.

The U8 uses a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine as a generator, which, alongside the 49.08kWh Lithium Iron Phosphate battery, produces 880kW and 1280Nm with a claimed total differ of 780km. Electrical-most attention-grabbing differ tops out at 124km (WLTP).

BYD U8 spied attempting out in Australia: Toyota LandCruiser hybrid rival gives strongest hint this would perhaps bound on sale within the community

BYD Tang

Automobile form: 7-seater bound-in hybrid SUV
Launch ETA: Mannequin no longer but confirmed

BYD importer EV Inform has confirmed a seven-seater SUV is a top priority, and it is seemingly to be the Tang bound-in hybrid SUV.

The 2d-know-how BYD Tang has been on hand to the Chinese market since 2018, and is supplied as a bound-in hybrid or fully electrical seven-seater SUV. It is anticipated the Australian market will accept the 2024 facelift of the Tang, with the same powertrain offerings. This mirrors the sales strategy of the Sealion 6 / 7.

The EV-most attention-grabbing Tang capabilities a 109kWh battery, all-wheel power, 0-100km/h in a claimed 4.9 seconds, and a WLTP differ of 530km. There are loads of PHEV offerings for the Tang in China, however if sold in Australia, quiz BYD’s bread-and-butter 1.5L turbocharged four-cylinder and 18.3kWh battery combination.

BYD charger promises 400km of differ in 5 minutes

BYD Seal 06 GT

Automobile form: Midsize sizzling-hatch
Launch ETA: Mannequin no longer but confirmed

The Seal 06 GT is the imprint’s first sizzling hatch, launched in China in later 2024. It is doable this affordable sizzling hatch will enter the Australian market to rival gadgets such because the Cupra Born VZ and MG4 X Energy, though it’s believed to be a lower priority to other gadgets featured on this article.

The Seal 06 GT utilises Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP) know-how, with two battery configurations supplied: a 59.52kWh battery providing 505km of differ, and a 72.96kWh battery, providing 605km of differ. Masses of drivetrains are supplied, with the notorious variant producing 160kW and 310Nm.

BYD like alluded that the Seal 06 GT is now not any longer their top priority for 2025, as they watch to elongate their SUV and four wheel power offerings. Repeat the BYD Dolphin, though underwhelming in performance, does own the EV hatchback hole within the Australian BYD lineup.

BYD situation to originate MG4 XPower rival, the Seal 06 GT

Denza B5 and B8

Automobile form: Dazzling four wheel power and Upper-expansive four wheel power
Launch ETA: Mannequin(s) no longer but confirmed – however B5 extremely seemingly

BYD has admitted it has a four wheel power-sized hole in its lineup and the Fangchengbao Bao 5 or Bao 8 – which is ready to be badged Denza B5 and Denza B8 in in another country markets – every glance like correct alternate choices to patch it.

After the preliminary success of the BYD Shark 6, the expansive four wheel power B5 is seemingly to be the subsequent expansive PHEV shake-up in Australia, and a rival to the Ford Everest and Toyota Prado.

The B5 is carefully linked to the Shark 6 ute. It’s constructed on the same physique-on-physique platform, with the same 1.5L turbocharged four-cylinder engine, dual electrical motors and 32kWh battery.

The Bao 5 is indubitably going to be a severe off-freeway contender with three diff locks and optionally accessible top-adjustable suspension.

The higher Bao 8 is seemingly to be correct as promising, with a more powerful drivetrain, top-adjustable air suspension, a ground clearance of as much as 310mm, and three automatic diff locks.

BYD 2025: Seven-seat SUV a top priority for BYD because it prepares to elongate its model differ, and double its sales in Australia

A3 and S3 (up so a long way devices)

Automotive variety: Top rate miniature vehicle
Launch: April

Audi’s luxury and sporty miniature vehicle combo are up so a long way for 2025.

Traditional equipment is bolstered with an S-line interior equipment that functions sports activities seats (with electric adjustment for the driver) and perforated leather-essentially based steering wheel (with ‘S’ logo) that modified into beforehand an possibility. The 35TFSI also positive aspects a elevated, 12.3-rush digital driver cluster.

Plot changes are in every other case delicate, with the A3 adopting sportier entrance and rear bumpers, and modern-explore four-rings logo. Both the A3 and S3 aim a re-profiled grille.

The S3 positive aspects extra power and torque for the 2.0-litre turbo four-cylinder – up 17kW and 20Nm to 245kW/420Nm. The S3 also positive aspects the torque splitter aim from the RS3 which can divert engine torque to whichever wheel has the final observe traction, plus elevated entrance brakes.

Pricing will enhance with fat miniature print in our Audi A3/S3 pricing and specs yarn below:
2025 Audi A3 and S3: pricing and specs

A5 and S5

Automotive variety: Midsize sedan and wagon
Launch ETA: First half of of 2025

In accordance with Audi’s modern “even numbers for EVs” naming conference, the combustion-powered A4 will now be identified as the A5.

The modern A5 and S5 are built on Audi’s PPC (Top rate Platform Combustion) platform, with gentle-hybrid powerplants on hand across the model vary. Improvements to steering, handling, braking and suspension are integral sides of the modern platform, says Audi.

The A5 presents the next powerplants: A 110kW or 150kW variant of the 2.0-litre TFSI petrol engine, a 150kW 2.0-litre TDI diesel, and, for the vary-topping S5, a 270kW 3.0-litre TFSI Petrol engine. Prices are no longer yet confirmed, but query to pay about $80,000 for the defective model.

A serious step-up on interior tech is the 11.9-rush driver stamp, 14.5-rush essential display, and optional 10.9-rush passenger stamp.

2025 A5 / S5 international first drive

RSQ8 Efficiency

Automotive variety: Gigantic performance SUV-Coupe
Launch ETA: Second quarter 2025

Audi enters Formulation 1 in 2026 and it feeble this twelve months’s Australian Giant Prix to debut its strongest combustion model yet – the 471kW RSQ8 Efficiency.

Over the outgoing fashioned RSQ8, the twin-turbo petrol V8 positive aspects 30kW, with torque increasing from 800 to 850Nm. That in turn lowers the sporty SUV’s 0-100km/h speed means by two-tenths to about a.6 seconds.

The price tag is also beefed up, nonetheless, with the Audi RSQ8 Efficiency priced from $255,800 sooner than on-avenue prices – a $27,500 jump over the non-Efficiency model.

Audi RSQ8 news and experiences

E-Tron GT (up so a long way model)

Automotive variety: Luxury sports activities sedan (electric)
Launch ETA: 2nd quarter 2025

Audi will originate a revised e-Tron GT in mid-2025, with S, RS and RS Efficiency variants to be supplied.

The E-Tron GT lineup will likely be sooner than ever, with the S, RS, and RS Efficiency boasting power figures of 500kW/740Nm, 630kW/865Nm, and 680kW/1027Nm respectively. In its strongest configuration, the E-Tron GT can shift from 0-100km/h in 2.5 seconds.

Prestige within the Audi E-Tron strikes beyond the Audi mark, with Porsche aiding in suspension create: Adaptive dual-chamber air suspension with dual-valve dampers will lean and pitch the vehicle by an inner computer to give the driver optimum suspension geometry in any prerequisites.

Audi E-Tron GT news and experiences

Q5 and SQ5

Automotive variety: Midsize luxury SUV
Launch ETA: Third quarter (slack 2025 for Sportback and SQ5)

The Q5 is Audi’s simplest-promoting model is Audi Australia’s biggest originate of the twelve months. Why? Audi Australia has confirmed that the modern 2025 Q5, Q5 Sportback and SQ5 will draw on sale in slack 2025. Built on the PPC (Top rate Platform Combustion) platform, the modern Q5 vary will aim all-modern interior and exterior appointments, as smartly as hybrid functionality.

The modern Q5 vary is already on sale in international markets, with L4 and V6 petrol or diesel powerplants with gentle-hybrid fortify. Even if the defective-model tag for Australia is currently unknown, we glance forward to it to be around $70,000 sooner than on-avenue prices.

Across the vary, the third-period Q5 positive aspects more head and legroom for occupants, angular stylish styled entrance and rear bumpers, and a “human centric” interior with 11.9-rush Audi digital cockpit,14.5-rush MMI contact stamp, and optional 10.9-rush MMI Passenger Expose.

Audi Q5 news and experiences

A6 and S6 E-Tron

Automotive variety: Gigantic vehicle, electric
Launch ETA: Mid 2025

Changing the outgoing petrol and diesel A6 vary, Audi’s A6 e-tron vary will rapidly be on hand in Australia. The A6 e-tron will likely be supplied as either a ‘Sportback’ body vogue or wagon.

The modern period EV A6 will likely be on hand in four variants with diversified battery sizes, performance, and vary figures.

A rear-drive A6 Efficiency will provide the longest WLTP vary of 750km, whereas the sporty, all-wheel-drive S6 naturally delivers the most power with 405kW.

Built on Audi’s modern Top rate Platform Electrical (PPE) Platform, all variants will fortify fleet DC charging, 800V architecture, lower complete weights and better effectivity when put next to earlier Audi EV’s.

Audi A6 & S6 news and experiences

2026 Audi Q3

Automotive variety: Top rate miniature SUV
Launch: TBC

Audi’s third-period Q3 compact luxury SUV will likely be published later in 2025, sooner than an expected originate in Australia in 2026.