Car news today: Nissan outlines key model updates, Kia preparing dual-motor EV3 GT, and more – 27 March 2025

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.