Celine Nolan

A elevated-displacement four-cylinder turbo diesel engine in development by GWM can beget its world debut in Australia “by mid-2026”, the conglomerate’s chief technology officer Nicole Wu says.

“A three-litre turbo [engine] is coming soon, and right here is the kicker — our 3.0-litre Tank diesel model will make its world debut moral right here in Australia by Would possibly perchance well simply next twelve months,” Wu urged media in conjunction with Chasing Vehicles.

The resolution to unveil the original engine in Australia is a boon for GWM’s local operations, with GWM world executives confirming Australia is a pillar of the Chinese conglomerate’s enlargement method.

GWM is suddenly expanding powertrain alternate suggestions in Australia, with the all-original diesel becoming a member of a lineup that additionally contains petrol engines, plugless petrol hybrids (HEVs), trot-in hybrids (PHEVs), and battery EVs (BEVs).

Whereas most manufacturers are sharp a ways from diesel engines, GWM says the expanding allotment of hybrid gross sales will manufacture headroom below Australia’s New Vehicle Effectivity Traditional (NVES) regime to continue promoting diesel and petrol engines in future.

3.0-litre diesel to be sold alongside trot-in hybrid engines

The original 3.0-litre four-cylinder diesel engine will make its debut within the Tank 500 four-wheel drive, with the engine location to vary into GWM’s ‘top charge’ diesel powertrain.

Meanwhile, a 2.4-litre diesel engine producing 135kW/480Nm is anticipated to continue doing duty in smaller GWM 4 wheel drive fashions in conjunction with the Tank 300 and the common-dimension Cannon ute.

“We all know Aussies love diesel, and we had been perfecting it since 2002 with 24 years of technology,” acknowledged Wu.

The Tank 500, a Toyota LandCruiser Prado rival, is at hide supplied in Australia with a 255kW/548Nm 2.0-litre turbo petrol/hybrid (HEV) engine, with a 300kW/750Nm 2.0-litre turbo petrol/trot-in hybrid (PHEV) option becoming a member of the line-up imminently.

GWM will rely on gross sales of the Tank 500 PHEV to steadiness out the model’s common emissions, though it expects the 3.0-litre diesel to sell very strongly in Australia — doubtlessly necessitating the diesel to be dearer than the PHEV over time.

Before every little thing, then all over again, GWM chief working officer John Kett urged Chasing Vehicles that the realizing is to “let [the 3.0-litre diesel] trip” earlier than making any powertrain pricing changes to suit NVES necessities over time.

Both the PHEV and the original diesel are anticipated to generate appreciable extra gross sales for the Tank 500, as gross sales performance with the HEV-most efficient powertrain lineup has lagged effectively within the support of the Prado.

New diesel additionally anticipated for Cannon Alpha, V8 quiet in development

The massive Cannon Alpha ute is additionally at possibility of receive the 3.0-litre diesel engine, the place this would possibly perchance additionally also be sold alongside the present PHEV version of the Cannon Alpha.

Efficiency of the original diesel engine is anticipated to be elevated than the present 2.4-litre’s 135kW/480Nm outputs, whereas additionally reducing gas economy and CO2 emissions. Within the Tank 300, the 2.4-litre consumes 7.8L/100km in ADR blended making an are trying out.

Whereas the 3.0-litre engine is at possibility of be essentially the most important ability diesel GWM will provide for the foreseeable future, development work continues on a 4.0-litre petrol V8 powertrain that’s below consideration for Australia.

The V8 will possible be teamed with a hybrid machine to make its emissions extra manageable, and GWM has foreshadowed a “militia-grade” extensive off-avenue model will possible be revealed soon. That 4 wheel drive will almost definitely be the debut platform for the V8 engine.

Beneath NVES, carmakers that sell too many excessive-CO2 vehicles (comparable to pure diesel and petrol fashions) are penalised — nonetheless NVES penalties would possibly perchance additionally also be balanced out with credits effectively generated by the sale of EVs and PHEVs.

“GWM is effectively positioned not finest to take care of nonetheless to thrive in this original generation,” acknowledged GWM Australia head of promoting Steve Maciver.

GWM’s gross sales of PHEV fashions below its Haval, Tank and Cannon lineups, as well to BEVs below the Ora sign, are anticipated to position it into NVES credit score territory.

The Kia PV5, an electrical van vary comprising passenger and cargo variations across 16 variants, will launch in Korea later this Three hundred and sixty five days with an Australian launch confirmed with local arrival timing location for between April and September 2026.

Identifiable by its futuristic entrance-close styling that includes helix-formed sunlight hours working lights stretching into the A-pillar, the PV5 is the first Kia to sit down down on the Hyundai neighborhood’s recent E-GMP.S platform—with ‘S’ standing for ‘Providers’.

All PV5 variations piece a typical entrance close, however the roof, quarter glass and rear close are all modular, with the a large sequence of combos of these pieces allowing Kia to market 16 adaptations.

Developed in partnership with 120 van rapidly operators collectively with rideshare platform Uber, couriers DHL Korea and vitality tool specialist Milwaukee, the PV5 provides a passenger configuration plus a cargo version in traditional or high roof codecs.

Three battery sizes are on hand for cargo variations, with 43.3kWh lithium iron phosphate pack location for entry-stage variations whereas denser 51.5kWh and 71.2kWh nickel manganese cobalt (NMC) batteries optionally on hand. Only the NMC pair are equipped for the passenger PV5.

Driving vary for the all-electrical PV5 is claimed to be up to 414km in cargo produce or 416km as a passenger automobile with the 71.2kWh battery with consumption of round 17.1kWh/100km.

Whereas DC charging speeds appears to be modest, at round 100kW high speeds, the PV5’s using vary is considerably longer than the bigger Ford E-Transit Custom-made (337km) or LDV eDeliver 7 (362km), though naturally diesel trucks can spin extra.

As is standard for trucks, vitality and torque is comparatively modest with 120kW/250Nm claimed to be on provide for all three battery sizes. Gorgeous regenerative braking, accessed by procedure of a stagger shifter, makes use of direct, traffic and driver habits to determine on deceleration.

Placement of the battery deep within the chassis of the PV5 is claimed to decrease the centre of gravity and toughen using dynamics when in contrast with combustion trucks, whereas the passenger version of the PV5 nabs dampers tuned for increased roam comfort.

Weight isn’t but acknowledged, however the PV5 is a rather compact, Euro-sized van measuring 4695mm in length (on a long 2995mm wheelbase), 1923mm high and 1895mm huge. Passenger variations will provide two or three rows of seating.

Cargo room measures up to 3615L within the passenger variants, or up to five.2m3 within the high roof cargo mannequin, whereas aspect step-in high for the of us-provider is claimed to be the lowest in school (at 399mm) whereas the cargo’s 419mm rear step high allows easy unloading.

Kia says that possibilities requiring an even bigger electrical van would per chance be catered to, confirming that more capacious PV7 and PV9 items will advance in 2027 and 2029 respectively.

Also on provide from the manufacturing unit is a dedicated Wheelchair Accessible Car (WAV) version of the PV5 pre-configured with a “gently sloped” aspect entry ramp and standard securing system. Pre-configured conversions will even be that it’s probably you’ll maybe well per chance also factor in from the manufacturing unit for certain use conditions.

Feedback from rapidly operators resulted in the inclusion of a crawl-thru interior for the high roof version, a removable entrance passenger seat for extra cargo field, and mud/coffee-resistant seat cloth.

Modular mounting ingredients all the procedure in which thru the cabin (and even on the roof) will enable agencies to purchase ‘stock’ PV5s and without anguish customise them with smartphone mounts, fee terminals, and other tools.

Energy from the PV5’s traction battery will even be ready to be feeble to vitality appliances, with both exterior and interior automobile-to-load vitality outlets fitted to the van providing a provide of up to 3.68kW—theoretically up to 19 hours of vitality at that fee.

Whereas the cab is trimmed in hardy materials, as expected for a van, fashionable infotainment is fitted across two rectangular shows – a 7.5-trudge unit for the motive force, and a 12.9-trudge central touchscreen atop air vents and physical shortcuts for traditional functions collectively with the aspect doors.

The shows bustle a dispute operating system in step with Google Android Automobile, designed particularly for Kia and Hyundai’s E.GMP-S commercial automobile products, collectively with uncover entry to to Third social gathering apps by procedure of the Pleos app market and the skill to add conversion-connected controls.

Intensive rapidly management capabilities are baked into the tool platform underpinning the PV5, with rapidly operators ready to uncover entry to broad telematics regarding to direct and working prices.
Manufacturing has already kicked off for the PV5 at the Hyundai/Kia plant in Hwaseong, South Korea, with subsequent Three hundred and sixty five days’s Australian launch location to use the Korean domestic market and a launch in Europe.

BYD is set aside of abode to birth what it claims will be Australia’s least pricey electric vehicles into local markets imminently.

Slated for a November birth, BYD will unveil each and every the Atto 1, known in some markets as the Dolphin Surf, and Atto 2 exiguous electric vehicles to bolster its most neatly-liked practical EV fluctuate, which contains the Dolphin compact city vehicle and Atto 3 midsize SUV.

The BYD Dolphin on the 2d holds the title of Australia’s least pricey EV, with a initiating designate of unbiased $29,990 sooner than on-roads. Its closest rival, the GWM Ora, begins at $34,490 sooner than on-roads. Each fashions made their local debut in mid 2023.

BYD claims the Dolphin’s least pricey EV title will be stripped by the Atto 1 when it makes its debut early subsequent twelve months. No local crucial strategies were confirmed, nonetheless in worldwide markets, the Atto 1 measures 3990mm lengthy, 1720mm wide, and 1590 tall, with a 2500mm wheelbase.

The most neatly-liked Dolphin measures 4290mm lengthy, 1770mm wide, and 1570mm tall, that strategies a 2700mm wheelbase.

Introducing the Atto 1 to the Australian market reveals good likely to re-ignite opponents within the practical compact vehicle segment, this time with an EV twist.

We await an onslaught of designate cuts, offers and new fashions from rivals to apply within the wake of the Atto 1.

Meanwhile, within the exiguous SUV segment, BYD will bring a equally sized reinforcement for its most neatly-liked Atto 3 electric. The Atto 3 used to be BYD’s first mannequin in Australia, measuring 4455mm in measurement, and predominantly rivalling the MG S5, Leapmotor C10, and Deepal S07.

The rapidly to birth Atto 2 is 145mm shorter than the Atto 3, measuring 4310mm lengthy, 1830mm wide (-45mm), and 1675mm tall (+60mm). Its wheelbase is 2620mm (-100mm).

This would possibly possibly well also be yet one other rival to the between-sizes $40,990 MG S5, besides to the low cost $38,990 Chery E5 and new-birth $38,990 Leapmotor B10. All costs are drive-away.

Demand of the Atto 2 to undercut its higher, expectedly more extremely effective Atto 3 sibling, which begins at $39,990 sooner than on-street charges.

BYD COO Stephen Collins used to be adamant that the introduction of every and every the Atto 1 and Atto 2 to local markets will allow “even more Australians to accept on the encourage of the wheel of their hang [electric vehicle].”

He used to be higher than glad to flip up the warmth on an already intense EV designate opponents in Australia, claiming that the Atto 1 will “be Australia’s most practical EV by some margin” and for punters to “open believing the hype” all the scheme by scheme of the 2 new fashions.

Learn Chasing Cars difficult worldwide first drive of the BYD Atto 2 right here.

BYD hopes to tighten its grip on the Australian trudge-in hybrid market, confirming two unusual items that will predominantly target the Mitsubishi Outlander, MG HS, and Chery Tiggo 8.

Slated to inaugurate early in 2026, the 2 PHEVs are is named the Sealion 5 and Sealion 8.

The two items will sit on both facet of the hot $42,990 sooner than on-roads BYD Sealion 6, which has rapidly confirmed itself as a resound alternative to the prolonged-standing midsize PHEV phase chief, the Mitsubishi Outlander Exceed PHEV.

That vehicle begins at $57,290 for the execrable trudge-in ES, and in greater Exceed easy, offers seven seats to the tune of $69,290. Both costs are sooner than on-freeway costs.

It has prolonged been anticipated that BYD would provide a seven seat resolution to Mitsubishi, and the Sealion 8 appears to manufacture appropriate that, whereas moreover serving as BYD’s substantial flagship model.

Native specifications for the Sealion 8, moreover the probability of seven seats, and claims that the model is ‘tech centered’, are restful unconfirmed. In in yet any other nation markets, the Sealion 8 measures 5040mm prolonged, 1996mm broad, and 1970mm broad, with a 2950mm wheelbase.

For comparison, the soon to inaugurate 2026 Hyundai Palisade measures 5065mm in size.

But one model to bury the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV wasn’t ample. BYD will extra its PHEV offensive by concurrently quenching the flames of much less dear trudge-in rivals from China — enter the much less dear, nevertheless restful household sized Sealion 5.

Pricing for the Sealion 5 is yet to be confirmed, nevertheless BYD says it’s “perfectly primed for purchasers looking for price with out compromising on the aspects BYD has become indispensable for.”

We deliver the Sealion 5 to be competitive with the $Forty eight,990 MG HS ‘Spacious Hybrid’, $42,990 Chery Tiggo 8 CHS, and the $forty five,990 Jaecoo J7 SHS. Costs are sooner than on-roads.

The Sealion 5 is a greater than midsize prolonged wheelbase 5 seater which in World markets measures 4710mm prolonged, 1880mm broad, and 1720mm broad, with a 2712mm wheelbase – all of sudden within 50mm in all dimensions to the hot Sealion 6.

By comparison, the midsize SUV phase leading Toyota RAV4 is 4600mm prolonged.

Technical specifications are largely unknown for both Sealion items, nevertheless BYD did verify that items will feature a DM-i hybrid machine such as the Sealion 6 and Shark 6 ute.

Both unusual systems blend a 1.5-litre four cylinder petrol engine, supplied with or with out a turbocharger, with a BYD Blade battery (between 18 and 30kWh), and one or two electric motors, searching on the model grade.

BYD claims that the inaugurate of its unusual Sealion items, to boot to newly confirmed Atto items, will encourage Australians create the conversion to corpulent electric strength.

Read Chasing Vehicles irregular global first drive coverage of the BYD Sealion 5 here.