Future cars

The principle image of the contemporary, third-generation Mazda CX-5 has surfaced on-line, with a leaked image performing on @Car Style Records on Instagram and Spanish car forum Cochespias.

Even higher, this contemporary model of Mazda’s most attention-grabbing-seller would perhaps be launched in Australia in as exiguous as six months with a house-grown hybrid machine to self-discipline the Toyota RAV4, Hyundai Tucson, Nissan X-Path and additional.

The image clearly reveals a Mazda CX-5 — the volume plate supplies that away — which carefully resembles past camouflaged look for photos as properly as speculative renders.

The contemporary CX-5 surely takes styling inspiration from its top class sister car, the Mazda CX-60, which no longer too long within the past obtained a third wave of updates for the Australian market. Each vehicles exhaust Mazda’s ‘Kodo’ intention language.

The international label of the contemporary CX-5 is expected in Q3 2025, per Mazda South Africa managing director Craig Roberts, with an Australian open scheduled between leisurely 2025 and early 2026.

Headlining the open would perhaps be a recent in-house designed hybrid machine, confirmed by Mazda and expected to address the upcoming Toyota RAV4 Hybrid and unique mannequin Hyundai Tuscon Hybrid.

Final year in 2024, no topic being seven years primitive, Mazda shifted 22,835 CX-5s. It within the mean time begins at $36,740 (listing attach), and has repeatedly been Mazda’s most attention-grabbing selling mannequin in Australia, as properly as Mazda’s preferred car globally.

Read extra about Mazda’s upcoming CX-5 and highly anticipated hybrid machine right here: All the pieces We Know About the 2026 Mazda CX-5 Hybrid

Nissan has unveiled a lengthy-awaited current period Leaf, ditching its most modern hatchback device for a shrimp SUV body, and gaining a mountainous 75kWh battery which guarantees up to 570km of range.

The present Leaf has plan a perfect distance from its 2nd gen predecessor, scoring current looks and abilities sooner than its scheduled arrival in Australia between April 2026 and March 2027.

The Ouncesmarket Leaf is more seemingly initially a probability of 52kWh or 72kWh battery alongside a single, front-mounted electrical motor. Just like the current Nissan Ariya, the Leaf is built on the CMF-EV platform shared with Renault.

Charging the Nissan Leaf now makes use of a high-velocity effectively matched CCS charger inlet, inserting off the outgoing CHAdeMO fitting. Search recordsdata from a fleet 150kW DC mark from 10-80% in roughly 35 minutes.

The third-period Nissan Leaf is exclusively front wheel drive. The 52kWh battery outputs 130kW and 345Nm, while the 72kWh battery delivers 160kW and 355Nm. Every batteries are lithium-ion devices, with liquid cooling and thermal conditioning.

Inside of the third-period Leaf is a mountainous 14.3-accelerate digital dashboard, sitting flush against a 14.3-accelerate infotainment touchscreen. Underneath the multimedia conceal is a dedicated digital climate alter panel, and push-button gear selector.

Nissan claims the internal ground is ‘nearly’ flat, because of the ambiance pleasant packaging of the drivetrain and battery. Pick comely grades will additionally take advantage of a Bose sound machine with speakers built-in into the front headrests.

The present Leaf is expounded in most dimensions to the outgoing mannequin, though is a tiny shorter at merely over 4.4 metres tip to tail.

The third-period Nissan Leaf’s device is up to the moment, with crisp LED lighting and flush fit door handles. A dimming panoramic roof is fitted as customary; it’s some distance heat insulated, and might perhaps transition from clear to opaque on the touch of a button.

Nissan claims the current Leaf might perhaps private a drag coefficient of 0.25 Cd, credited to ‘aero-tuned’ 19-accelerate wheels and a flat underbody. Here is a 0.03Cd development over the outgoing Nissan Leaf (0.28Cd), nonetheless is serene fearful of the Tesla Mannequin 3’s spectacular 0.219 Cd posting.

The 2 battery decisions aren’t merely supposed for driving. Confirmed for the US market is ‘Automobile-to-Load’ (V2L) functionality, that methodology shrimp to medium  dwelling equipment can entry two 1500W shops mounted within the cabin and boot.

Meanwhile, within the European market, the Leaf gains ‘Automobile-to-Grid’, or V2G, allowing for owners to send kept, unrequired vitality relieve into the power grid.

Nissan has confirmed its supreme feature – ‘Automobile-to-Dwelling’ (V2H) – for the Japanese market. It lets in owners to send energy to their dwelling by use of the Leaf’s battery – very supreme in a blackout.

Those with solar panels will additionally take advantage of V2H, which is optimised for charging the automobile right thru the day.

This will be one feature coming to Australia. V2G is for the time being equipped by the outgoing period of Leaf alongside basically the most modern Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV and has been trialled spherical the nation.

The Australian Renewable Energy Company has additionally launched a roadmap detailing most modern and future areas for bi-directional charging. It’s seemingly V2H will play an main feature for Australian households in some unspecified time in the future.

A Nissan Australia spokesperson said extra shrimp print on V2X tech might be equipped nearer to the birth of gross sales in native markets.

Nissan has but to exclaim Leaf pricing, nonetheless this could be one other indispensable element within the current EV’s success with names love the BYD Atto 3, MG S5 and Kia EV3 all beating the Japanese imprint’s EV to market vastly, with pricing starting within the mid-$40K area.

Ford is mulling the transformation of the Ranger Raptor distinguished-ute accurate into a experience-in hybrid powerhouse teaming a turbocharged petrol V6 engine with an electric motor and hybrid battery.

Making the Ranger Raptor a PHEV would assassinate two birds with one stone for Ford. The switch would safe the excessive-efficiency Ranger grand extra highly efficient, nonetheless it would additionally nick the mountainous-rig’s legitimate CO2 emissions.

The excessive pollution profile of the Ranger Raptor is an huge field for Ford in Australia since the Albanese federal authorities’s New Automobile Emissions Frequent (NVES) is now in drive—and the excessive-CO2 Raptor falls sharply unsuitable of NVES limits on emissions.

Readers is liable to be shocked to study that around one in five Ranger gross sales in Australia is of a Raptor—the head-pause, $90,440 variant which utilises a (non-hybrid) 3.0-litre twin-turbo petrol V6 engine producing 292kW of vitality and 583Nm of torque for a sub-6.0 2nd 0-100km/h lunge.

There’s a tag paid for the Raptor’s rorty efficiency. For owners, it’s at the bowser (with valid-world gas expend blowing out the 11.5L/100km legitimate advise), nonetheless for Ford, the punishment will seemingly be what the Raptor’s 262g/km legitimate CO2 emissions will must the company’s NVES base line.

Briefly, NVES punishes carmakers that breach an total automobile CO2 target. In 2025, the limit for mild industrial vehicles is 210g/km, nonetheless in 2029, it is build of dwelling to be accurate 110g/km. While the Raptor is seriously excessive in CO2, even the diesel V6 verisons form 222/gkm—over the limit.

But turning the Raptor accurate into a PHEV for the 2030s—or earlier—would alleviate Ford’s NVES considerations by dramatically reducing the on-paper CO2 emissions to the point where the Raptor would perchance presumably presumably even rating credits below the NVES rather than safe bigger the likelihood of fines for Ford.

Making a Ranger Raptor PHEV is fully doable in line with Ford global vp of developed product pattern, Jim Baumbick, who Chasing Automobiles quizzed at the Raptor experience-in’s European launch top week.

“You may perchance well presumably presumably presumably apply the [hybrid] system to other propulsion types. I’ll expend the F-150 as an instance. We expend our 3.5L V6 EcoBoost, coupled with a hybrid transmission, and it delivers efficiency above a V8 and enables [7.2kW] of Pro Vitality [vehicle-to-load],” stated Baumbick.

“[We are] building out the portfolio of capabilities for Ranger,” Baumbick stated. “I would allege it is the correct time for PHEV [for Ranger]. I deem that is going to launch up our clients around the advantages of electrification with none substitute-off to what the [pick-up] truck’s in a position to.”

The aforementioned F-150 PowerBoost hybrid produces 321kW/772Nm from its series-parallel hybrid powertrain, which contains a 2kWh battery and 10-tempo automatic—nonetheless the F-150 isn’t a experience-in hybrid.

If the F-150’s 3.5-litre V6 modified into teamed with the Ranger PHEV’s 75kW electric motor and a circa-15kWh lithium ion battery to form a Ranger PHEV, Chasing Automobiles estimates that its CO2 emissions would be rated around 100g/km—slashing the Raptor’s paper pollution by greater than half of.

Remodeling the Raptor accurate into a PHEV powerhouse would place a matter to the T6.2 Ranger equal or easiest the outputs of the BYD Shark 6 (321kW/650Nm) and GWM Cannon Alpha PHEV (300kW/750Nm)—a excessive mission in mild of BYD openly mulling the advent of a rugged, off-roading Shark 6 neat.

The pork up to PHEV for the Raptor would perchance presumably presumably even place a matter to the distinguished-ute’s braked towing potential upgraded to 3500kg from the fresh non-hybrid V6’s 2500kg, which trails many of the range by one tonne.

For Ford, being so reliant on the excessive-CO2 Ranger ute and Everest wagon (while additionally selling comparatively few EVs), fines below NVES would perchance presumably presumably simply attain into the tens of thousands and thousands of greenbacks if the manufacturer doesn’t persuade Aussies to purchase hybrids as a replace of pure combustion engines.

It’s why Ford has impartial as of late launched the 207kW/697Nm Ranger PHEV in XLT, Sport, Wildtrak and Stormtrak guises. Combining a turbo four-cylinder petrol engine, 75kW electric motor and 11.8kWh battery slashes legitimate CO2 emissions to accurate 66g/km—four times cleaner than a Raptor.

But while the conscientious Ranger PHEV’s 3500kg towing and 6.9kW of Pro Vitality AC shops (offering juice for work instruments and other dwelling equipment) safe it a precious different to diesel, its middling vitality and mediocre 43km (WLTP) electric range a puny of limit its chilly relate.

Even a PHEV Raptor would perchance presumably presumably level-headed breeze on six-cylinder vitality in its sports modes or when its traction battery modified into exhausted. Nothing would pause Ford from integrating loud expend modes, even though in advise to rating highly on legitimate gas financial system checks, it would seemingly default to electric mode.

The 2026 Audi Q3 will take the battle to the BMW X1 and other luxurious compact SUVs with recent expertise that involves micro-LED exterior lights and a parking system that would additionally be taught utterly different manoeuvres.

Audi has published its third-generation Q3 overnight, sooner than the mannequin’s European initiating in September and its later arrival in Australia one day in 2026.

The Q3 was once Audi’s largest-promoting automobile domestically in 2024, where it performed 2nd to the larger Q5 in worldwide sales.

Rivals consist of the aforementioned X1, Mercedes GLA, Mini Countryman, Volkswagen T-Roc, and Volvo XC40.

Here’s Chasing Autos’ rapid manual to the recent Audi Q3…

Exterior procedure with micro-LED lights

The 2026 Q3 will be offered with Matrix digital headlights that comprises micro-LED expertise that bring lights capabilities tied to driver support systems. First viewed within the A8 limo, the headlight modules incorporate extra than 25,000 micro LEDs which are half the thickness of a hair follicle.

Following one other car vogue, the headlights sit down below daylight working lights – which are also now digital, that comprises 23 segments that would additionally be configured into utterly different shows by the cabin’s infotainment conceal.

Digital OLED tail-lights (and 4-ring label) can even be optionally accessible, with a plump-width slender mild strip customary across gadgets.

The front reside takes some inspiration from the emblem’s electrical big SUV, the Q6 E-Tron, even supposing the Q3’s grille remains very principal open in appreciate to its vary of combustion engines.

There’s a greatly extra athletic procedure for the most trendy Q3, that comprises blistered wheelarches, a substantial wider grille, and a customarily sportier stance that’s complemented by wider tyres than the outgoing mannequin.

The professional pictures showcase a Q3 in a recent Chronicle Inexperienced exterior paint along side an optionally accessible S Line sad exterior bundle.

Wheel sizes vary from 17 to 20 inches, with alternatives in conjunction with aerodynamic rims and Audi Sport rims.

Audi has launched pictures of the Q3 ‘SUV’ handiest for now, with a extra coupe-esteem Sportback variant to affix the road-up once extra.

The German label hasn’t supplied details yet on the recent Q3’s dimensions.

Interior

The 2026 Audi Q3 cabin is dominated by a sad upper-drag structure that contains an 11.9-roam digital instrument cluster straight sooner than the driver, and further centrally a 12.8-roam infotainment display.

As with the present Q3, the infotainment touchscreen is angled in direction of the driver. Audi references a head-up display, even supposing it’s unclear if this could perhaps be customary on all gadgets.

Bodily local climate regulate actions carry out manner for digital buttons at the underside of the touchscreen.

Transmission option also switches from a veteran gearlever to a stalk on the correct facet of the steering wheel.

This creates a cleaner, flatter centre console procedure that contains engine initiating up-halt button, audio volume and song controller, cupholders, and a sliding conceal that hides a 15-watt smartphone charging tray.

Alternatives consist of a 420-watt Sonos audio system and an illuminated fabric door panel that expands the cabin’s ambient lights.

Audi says nine within programs are on hand, with the Q3 cabin adopting elevated utilize of sustainable materials.

The flat-topped and flat-bottomed steering wheel with S label and semi-perforated leather-primarily based utterly wrapping, plus neatly bolstered fabric front seats, facets to an S Line within.

The Q3’s 2nd row of seating will again dart fore-aft to allow owners to balance passenger dwelling and boot capability.

Nonetheless, boot dwelling drops for the recent-generation mannequin. Whereas the present Q3 affords between 530 and 675 litres searching on situation of the rear seatbacks, the change mannequin’s vary is 488 to 575 litres.

Drivetrains

Will Audi Australia import the following Q3 with the headline trot-in hybrid powertrain? The approaching Fresh Vehicle Emissions Plot (NVES) could perhaps instructed the inclusion of a drivetrain that now brings a 19.7kWh battery that’s almost twice the dimensions and will increase the Q3 PHEV’s electrical vary from 51km to 120km (WLTP).

Far extra certain are a kind of petrol engines, with alternatives in conjunction with a 110kW front-force procedure, a 150kW/320Nm ‘quattrol’ all-wheel force, and a 195kW/400Nm 2.0-litre four-cylinder all-wheel force.

Europe can even maintain get staunch of entry to to a 110kW front-force diesel Q3, even supposing this appears not truly for Australia taking into account the present mannequin specializes in petrol handiest.

There’s no news yet on whether the vary will in the end be again topped by a flagship RSQ3.

Driver assistance

The 2026 Q3 adds the power for the owner to educate the automobile to carry out up to 5 utterly different parking manoeuvres, up to a maximum distance of 50 metres. Audi uses the examples of sophisticated-to-get staunch of entry to garages or automobile ports, and says the driver can jump out and simply see.

Emergency assistance has been upgraded to maintain the power to force the Q3 autonomously to a stable halt at the facet of the road if there’s no response from the driver.

Visitors impress recognition also adds extra indicators, in conjunction with animal crossings and railroad crossings.

Practically four years after its native inception, Toyota Australia has confirmed that a petrol hybrid 300 Sequence Land Cruiser will open within the main half of of 2026. The drivetrain will include a assortment-parallel hybrid, 3.5-litre twin-turbo petrol V6 engine, and total-time four-wheel-pressure.

Toyota has not but confirmed the output of its new Land Cruiser hybrid, nonetheless claims this will doubtless presumably exceed the 227kW / 700Nm figure produced by the diesel.

We look ahead to the skill figure to match the 341kW and 790 Nm output produced by the UAE market Land Cruiser hybrid.

The introduction will bring the Toyota Land Cruiser’s powertrain providing to 2, both the new petrol-hybrid or the three.3-litre twin-turbo diesel V6.

Toyota has not confirmed pricing for the 300 Sequence hybrid, nonetheless we demand it to incur a shrimp premium over the diesel.

Toyota has assured fans that intensive testing has been accomplished in rugged off-avenue environments, in conjunction with the mountains and deserts of the Heart East.

The Toyota Tundra also shares the identical powertrain in Australia and went through an intensive duration of native testing prior to its introduction.

Place apart a question to the Land Cruiser hybrid to match the 3500kg braked towing skill equipped by the diesel. Even supposing, something beyond that’s unclear and primarily the most up-to-date time.

Mahindra Head of Worldwide Operations, Sachin Arolkar, has published that an off-road SUV inspired by the present mannequin Thar diminutive SUV will be launching in Australia. What is now no longer but confirmed is the powertrain, styling, or Thar nameplate.

The outgoing Mahindra Thar is a retro-styled Jeep-esque off-roader that harkens support to Mahindra’s humble beginnings, when the firm was granted the rights to create the authentic Willys Jeep domestically in 1949.

The Thar, cherish the Jeep Wrangler and to a lesser extent the Suzuki Jimny, is a standard of living automobile. It’s on hand in India as either a two-door diminutive SUV with a 2+2 seating configuration and removable roof, or as a four-door mid-size SUV (Thar Roxx) with a extra old five-seat layout and stuck roof.

In spite of being on hand within the Indian marketplace for five years, the Thar has two predominant roadblocks which dangle averted it from coming to Oz. The principle of which is a consistent local market ask of which exceeds production capacity, and the 2nd is an ongoing factual battle with Stellantis over the Thar’s Jeep Wrangler-inspired styling.

Mahindra’s resolution is to ditch plans to carry the Thar to Oz, and as an alternative peddle a brand current mannequin in step with the Thar-e South African thought automobile. Arolkar acknowledged that “the (Thar-e) name could presumably well furthermore be assorted, but what you saw in South Africa, it’s possible you’ll presumably well presumably rating it in Australia…with ICE [rather than electric power]”.

Arolkar probed local journalists for opinions on an ‘off-road capable monocoque’, drawing inspiration from the Land Rover Defender and main to speculation surrounding future powertrains.

Being that the Thar-e thought is electric, and the mannequin we can rating is ICE, it’s extremely doubtless that this future automobile will be built on a modular platform, which will improve EV, hybrid, and ICE powerplants.

Largely, specification for the upcoming Mahindra off-roader is now no longer but known. Whether Mahindra decides to protect a Thar-primarily primarily based ladder-body chassis, manual gearbox chance, diesel engine or removable roof are four expansive questions which for now will remain unanswered.

We await nonetheless, that the future automobile will launch with a necessity of petrol-greatest combustion or hybrid energy, with a modular monocoque chassis, four doors, a fixed roof, and a disappointing ‘computerized greatest’ gearbox providing. Let’s hope Mahindra proves us spoiled.

Learn extra: Mahindra Thar 2024 overview: first off-road pressure

Two new models coming from BYD, the Atto 2 and Sealion 8, indicate the Chinese label has its finger on the heartbeat of the Australian market.

Before all the things making its debut in 2022 with the Atto 3, BYD has turn into something of an overnight success, outpacing many other Chinese challenger competitors with trusty sales results from its snappily-expanding and various showroom line-up.

And BYD’s two new models absolutely explore to hump the coattails of this success.

Each and each models are effectively packaged SUVs centered in the direction of Australian families, with promises to develop your bucks scuttle additional.

Sealion 8

The Sealion 8 is a astronomical seven-seater SUV that shares a striking resemblance both in styling and drivetrain to the emblem’s 2024 most efficient-vendor, the Sealion 6. It seems to head toe-to-toe with big name Aussie competitors esteem the Toyota Kluger hybrid, Hyundai Santa-fe hybrid, and Kia Sorento crawl-in.

It is miles equipped in China as the Tang L, measuring 5040mm long, 1996mm huge, 1760mm high, and runs on a wheelbase of 2950mm.

Two powertrains will be on hand for the Sealion 8 on birth: the ‘DM-i’, which uses a 19kWh blade battery, and ‘DM-p’, which employs a 35.6kWh blade battery.

Each and each grades reveal a 110kW/220Nm 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol, and front mounted 200kW/315Nm electric motor. The DM-p furthermore beneficial properties a rear-mounted 141kW/360Nm electric motor — meaning the DM-p will be all-wheel force, with claims of a 4.9 2nd 0-100km/h time.

The Sealion 8 DM-p boasts around 200km of EV-handiest riding vary (CLTC), a combined gasoline consumption of 5.6L/100km (NEDC), and claims a combined riding vary which surpasses 1000km. No longer homely for over 2500kg of steel.

We request pricing of around $50-60,000 for the Sealion 8, which is slated for a Q1 2026 birth.

Atto 2

Aussies are initiating to respect the establish in a shrimp, dedicated electric metropolis automobile. BYD has two: The new cheapest in the marketplace Dolphin, and effectively established Atto 3. The now confirmed Atto 2 slots neatly between these models as a promise of extra diversity.

It measures 4310mm long, 1830mm huge (other than mirrors), 1675mm sizable and runs on a wheelbase of 2620mm. Chief competitors consist of the Hyundai Kona EV, Kia EV3, and the newly launched MG S5.

The Atto 2 is constructed on the BYD e-Platform 3.0. This will likely birth in two neat ranges, Crucial and Top charge, and facets a 51kWh Blade battery and 130kW/290Nm front-mounted electric motor.

In China, the Atto 2 claims a combined vary of 312km (WLTP), 10-80 p.c establish time of 40 minutes, and a top DC establish charge of 65kW.

Within, the Atto 2 uses a 8.8-crawl digital dashboard, adaptive cruise serve an eye on, and 10.1-crawl infotainment conceal. (Top charge neat beneficial properties a 12.8-crawl infotainment).

The Atto 2 need to reach by the stop of this 365 days, with pricing in the realm of $30-40,000.

Read our global first force of the Atto 2 here.

Extra on BYD

Since its Australia inception in 2022, BYD has laid claim to several spectacular titles. It has developed a trusty foothold in the Australian market, largely owing to a various, no nonsense vary of vehicles with grand allure. Currently, BYD affords the Dolphin, Atto 3, Seal, Sealion 6, Sealion 7, and Shark 6.

The Dolphin compact metropolis automobile for the time being holds the title as Australia’s cheapest EV, whereas the Sealion 6 midsize crawl-in claims the title of Australia’s cheapest crawl-in hybrid.

On the identical time as, the Sealion 7 midsize EV SUV poses as a real rival to the more pricey and established Tesla Mannequin Y, with resounding affect quality, a good vary offering and trusty dynamics.

BYD also presents a staunch rival to the Tesla Mannequin 3. The Seal EV sedan all as soon as more undercuts its extra established American rival, bringing inviting styling, excellent electric riding vary, and trendy EV architectural underpinnings.

The most contemporary mannequin on the BYD cutting block all as soon as more pertains strongly to Australian patrons. The Shark 6 is a newly launched crawl-in hybrid ute, which has sparked deal of four-wheel riding debates on-line — and has equipped in the thousands.

Over 7000 Sharks relish equipped thus a long way in 2025 (YTD to 1 June). But BYD isn’t happy with true one off-avenue centered mannequin… Read our unfamiliar describe of the upcoming BYD/Denza B5 mid-size four-wheel force here.

From an totally unknown title in August 2022 when it launched its first mannequin, the Atto 3, BYD has skilled broad gross sales increase.

Basically the most novel bump in success comes from the Shark 6 ute, which has been a sport-changer within the truest sense. That mentioned, it’s no longer perfect. Basically in relation to off-avenue potential, where the Shark 6’s lack of locking differentials, low vary and solid traction administration procure let it down.

Now to no longer be became off, BYD has confirmed to Chasing Autos that this can bring a Toyota Prado and Ford Everest rivalling 4×4 wagon to Australia, doubtless within the fourth quarter of this One year. Even supposing a title is no longer formally confirmed, we understand this mannequin will seemingly be known as the Denza B5.

Talking to BYD Australia senior product manager Sajid Hasan, we had been advised “the B5 could be the principal mannequin…I’m confirming it now.”

Hasan moreover went on to claim more devices are on the wishlist, together with the Bao 8 4×4, Denza N9 broad SUV, Z9 GT sports wagon, and D9 luxurious of us mover, all of which we had a steer in.

What’s the Denza B5?

Identified in its China home market as the Fang Cheng Bao Leopard Bao 5 — slightly the mouthful — the B5 is a proceed-in hybrid 4×4 wagon measuring 4890mm long, 1970mm wide, 1920mm big and utilizing on a 2800mm wheelbase.

Even supposing a minute bit smaller and with easiest five seats, the B5 is effectively a rival for the Toyota Prado, Ford Everest, Isuzu MU-X, and GWM’s Tank vary, together with the smaller 300 and bigger Tank 500.

Adore its Shark 6 relation, the B5 sits on a ladder frame chassis and employs a ‘DMO’ proceed-in hybrid powertrain that functions an electric motor on every the entrance and rear axle. They plot energy from a 31.8kWh Blade battery for 100km of electrical-easiest utilizing vary.

A 1.5-litre turbo-petrol four-cylinder works as a generator a lot of the time, despite the true fact that it could perchance perchance kick in and drive the entrance axle in obvious scenarios. The B5 has even more punch than the Shark 6, with a marvelous 505kW and 760Nm for 0-100km/h in 4.8 seconds.

On prime of that, the B5’s rear motor is more extremely efficient (285kW vs entrance 200kW) for a more super split between the axles. It moreover functions a digital locking centre differential and a simulated four-low mode along with electronically controlled locking differentials entrance and rear.

Off-avenue credentials are solid, then, with method, departure, and breakover angles of, 35, 32, and 20 degrees, respectively, plus 700mm wading depth and adaptive dampers.

Internal, the cabin of the auto we sat in used to be prime quality with leather-based totally mostly upholstery and many of abilities together with a pleasant 15.6-walk rotating touchscreen.

Denza B5 pricing is yet to be locked in for Australia, however don’t count on Shark 6-stage entry mark. Being the lush stamp, count on the B5 to punch up beyond $80,000, given its intensive equipment and nice outputs.

Will the B5 be worth it? We’ll must wait on and seek.

Are there any varied devices within the works for BYD and Denza?

The subsequent most definitely is the Bao 5’s bigger brother, the Bao 8 which would potentially be acknowledged as the Denza B8. It’s in accordance to the same underpinnings however with a protracted wheelbase (2920mm) and bigger general length (5195mm).

In its put of adaptive dampers, the B8 gets trick energetic prime-adjustable suspension, more inform (550kW), more leather-based totally mostly interior and the choice of seven seats. Kerb weight spikes by 500kg, despite the true fact that, to 3305kg.

On the four wheel drive aspect of issues, BYD’s Denza is moreover taking into account about a version of the tank-turning, quad electric motor powered Yangwang U8, despite the true fact that it’s extra down the be aware.

In its put, Aussies are more doubtless are the Denza N9 — a tri-motor proceed-in hybrid with the Differ Rover in its sights — added to the vary sooner. That mentioned, we’re speaking 2026 and beyond, here.

Denza could perchance moreover play a Porsche Taycan rivalling shooting brake Z9 GT, with up to 710kW blended. But every other choice would be a Zeekr 009-challengine D9 luxurious of us mover.

BYD itself is moreover having a overview to amplify, first with a new Atto 2 cheap crossover, then with varied devices within the pipeline. Now we procure a separate fable for those vehicles coming.

Chinese language carmaker Chery has been expanding in suits and bursts. Its first mannequin, the Omoda 5, used to be plagued with some security support annoyances, nonetheless the lower-trace Tiggo 4 Legitimate is discovering a range of success.

The subsequent step for Chery to interrupt top-10 new automobile sellers in Australia will likely be a twin-cab ute, and be aware from Australian managing director Lucas Harris is that a diesel-based fully breeze-in hybrid is likely.

Add to that a one-tonne payload and allegedly more challenging appears to be like than the left-hand-pressure-finest Himla published at Auto Shanghai 2025, and Chery may perchance own a hot potato on its fingers with the flexibility to bother the Ford Ranger, Toyota Hilux, BYD Shark 6 and further.

Chasing Vehicles has commissioned distinctive renders from digital artist Theottle of the doable future Chery twin-cab ute. You’ll furthermore stare them above, nonetheless extra on the appears to be like below.

Harris advised Chasing Vehicles that there’s a range of interest from Chery’s world chairman.

“We had the chairman out, we [told] him: We genuinely strongly wish to own enter to that ute, and own the engineers reach out right here so that we are succesful of utilize time with them. Per week later, we’re being sent toughen requests to assist six engineers rep visas,” acknowledged Harris.

While there’s admiration for Australian engineering groups, Harris acknowledged not to write off the cost’s in-condo R&D boffins, noting their hunger for competition in a extraordinarily hot segment.

“I trust rather a pair of the utes on the market are immense products … I trust that’s an though-provoking project because you’ve bought a hyper aggressive segment which is popping into noteworthy extra aggressive with genuinely immense products.

“I trust that presents us some gasoline within the fireplace — how will we push the envelope and how can we produce the finest thing that we are succesful of so that we are succesful of compete,” acknowledged Harris.

But how will Chery’s new ute form up? Chery doesn’t own any body-on-frame products in Australia for the time being, finest monocoque vehicles.

At Auto Shanghai 2025 the cost did demonstrate a pair of utes, the shut to-manufacturing Himla and further out-there Jetour F700.

The passe is centered at China and Latin The united states and will likely be built finest in left-hand pressure. The latter, though, is extra likely as a luxurious, lifestyles-model rival to the BYD Shark 6, nonetheless apparently there are rather a pair of extra decide-united states of americain the pipeline.

“The decide-up that used to be announced at the Shanghai Motor Uncover, the Himla, we gained’t rep that on this market. That’s a left-hand pressure finest product,” defined Harris.

“The ute that we can rep — we’ll rep a pair of, there’s genuinely a pair of different ones, which is though-provoking — the first one which goes to be genuinely essential for us is the one-tonne payload ute,” he persisted.

Describing the appears to be like, Harris acknowledged Chery’s Ranger and Hilux rival will likely be “noteworthy better taking a explore” than the Himla, with much less former styling.

That acknowledged, we’ve feeble the Himla as a execrable for our advent nonetheless with different proportions — an extended wheelbase and broader stance, for a launch. It furthermore sports actions a different, extra aggressive entrance grille alongside with some up-spec, off-road centered essential aspects.

These encompass huge-offset wheels for increased song and fender flares to own up them legal. Also fitted are all-terrain tyres — we imagine this as a doable Toyota Hilux GR Sport and Ford Ranger Wildtrak X rival.

As for what’s riding the brand new Chery ute, that stays within the air, nonetheless there’s one risk that stands out to the Aussie MD.

“There’s a minute of talk all over the powertrain for the time being, it’s not fully locked in. One of the essential choices that has reach up, which I trust is personally genuinely attention-grabbing, is a diesel breeze-in hybrid.

“It’s one of these different proposition … I trust it would be a immense level of difference if shall we manufacture that, as an risk,” acknowledged Harris.

Given the breeze-in hybrid is aloof in vogue, there must not any sure outputs or figures to work with. The 2 petrol-based fully PHEV utes on sale for the time being own blended NEDC riding ranges of 800km (Shark 6) and 880km (GWM Cannon Alpha).

With a diesel four-cylinder that’s extra efficient when cruising at low RPMs on the motorway, Chery’s diesel breeze-in twin-cab has the doable to present nearer to 1000km of riding range — spectacular.

Outright energy is likely to be lower than the different two’s substantial 300kW-plus figures, nonetheless diesel-electrical torque may perchance perhaps form up for this within the towing stakes.

“I accurate think it would be an though-provoking level of difference so that you just can bring that to the market,” says Harris, furthermore hinting that a diesel PHEV wouldn’t be the appropriate powertrain. A extra former diesel engine, by myself, may perchance perhaps furthermore be provided.

With Chery’s entry, the ute segment in Australia will grow all over again. It’s already been heavily shaken up by the BYD Shark 6 alongside with GWM’s Cannon and Cannon Alpha, and that can finest proceed with the Kia Tasman, new LDV and MG utes, and further.

Chery has confirmed its Omoda 9 mid-dimension SUV will assemble its Australian debut in the third quarter of 2025.

The trip-in five-seater currently launched as an moral-hand driver in the UK — approximately one three hundred and sixty five days after its March 2024 Chinese launch, the set apart apart it sells below the catchy title of Exceed Xingtu Yaoguang C-DM.

The launch of the Omoda 9 coincides with father or mother company Chery’s resolution to fall the ‘Chery’ prefix to future Omoda merchandise, with an Aussie naming rollout slated to beginning up imminently in the mid-three hundred and sixty five days.

Expected to launch as a trip-in hybrid, the Omoda 9 will rival the upcoming Toyota RAV4 PHEV and outgoing Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV, which is made up our minds to receive a mid-lifestyles exchange by the head of this three hundred and sixty five days. Competitors from China consist of the Haval H6GT PHEV and BYD Sealion 6.

The Omoda 9 measures 4775mm lengthy, 1920mm huge (other than mirrors), 1671mm grand, and runs on a wheelbase of 2800mm, making it for sure midsize, and nearly dimensionally a similar to the Sealion 6.

We predict that the Ozmarket Omoda 9 will debut with the a similar, single tidy providing which headlined its UK launch. The ‘one dimension fits all’ Noble tidy package is headlined by an extremely grand trip-in hybrid all-wheel drive powertrain, which claims a blended output of 330kW/700Nm.

The high-output drivetrain combines a 105kW 1.5-litre turbo four-cylinder petrol engine with three electric motors. Two are mounted for the length of the three-tempo hybrid transmission, setting up 75kW and 90kW, and a closing 120kW electric motor is mounted correct now to the rear axle.

Omoda claims a blended EV-simplest using fluctuate of 145km (WLTP) – impressive for a PHEV, and attributed to a limiteless 34kWh battery. The hybrid powertrain, alongside with a 70-litre gasoline tank, manner the car can inch up to 1127km. As for charging, an 80kW snappy DC payment from 30 to 80 percent will grab 28 minutes.

RRP starts at £36,937.50, which equates to around $AUD 77,000. Chasing Autos understands the retail label of the Omoda 9 is more doubtless to commerce for our market, with a more cheap pick around the $60,000 label.

This would level-headed expose a $15,000+ top class over the outgoing BYD Sealion 6 — arguably the Omoda 9’s closest competitor, and priced at $Forty five,524 driveaway.

Within the UK, the Omoda 9 runs on 20-scramble wheels, and offers five irregular paint colours: a free of payment ‘Quartz White’, top class ‘Hawk’s Glance Grey’ for £1000(~$AUD 2085), and Andesite Grey, Peridot Inexperienced, and Onyx Dim, all priced at £750 (~$AUD 1565).

Omoda 9 Noble highlighted parts:

• 12.3″ Central LCD Existing
• Wireless cell phone charging – 50w ability, cooled
• Wireless Android Auto & Apple Carplay
• APA Automated Parking (self park honest)
• 540° Panoramic Leer Digicam with clear survey
• Driver seat 6 methodology electric adjustment
• Passenger seat 4 methodology electric adjustment
• Energy Panoramic Sunroof (Opening)
• SONY 14 speaker audio system
• Head-Up Existing (HUD)
• Air-conditioning with 2d row outlet