Articles by Tom White

Zeekr is warning of potentially long wait lists for its upcoming range of much-hyped cars, telling CarsGuide expressions of interest were building “faster than expected.”Speaking at the Everything Electric show in Sydney, Zeekr Australia and New Zealand Managing Director Frank Li said he was expecting there to be extended delivery times for the 7GT electric station wagon as well as the 8X and 9X large plug-in hybrid SUVs set to arrive in 2027 as the order banks grow in Australia and across the world.“We anticipate that 7GT might actually have a longer wait list than 7X did,” he said, adding “9X and 8X really have this huge interest. Every time I attend an event - even things not related to cars at all, I will have people try and place an order with me.”“The order bank is growing fast. Faster than we expected. There’s huge hype amongst our customers. We’re even seeing some families flying 8X across from China.”Li said the overwhelming reception to these new models in the markets they have already launched in, like the UAE and even the Chinese domestic market, was creating bottlenecks for the company.“It’s not just production capacity, but the whole supply chain. Shipping, logistics, even delivery centres can hold things up.”Li said that while the 8X and 9X “will bring Zeekr to the next level in Australia” in terms of volume, he warned availability would be severely limited.“I strongly recommend that buyers place a deposit if they want one. They need to make sure they are in that line so once the car is launched they can get into it as soon as possible.”The 7X mid-size SUV, which launched at an unprecedented price-point for a premium electric mid-sizer of $57,900, before on-road costs, rapidly became one of the fastest-selling EVs in Australia. By the end of August this year, it was the ninth best selling car in the country overall.However, some customers were left waiting some time for delivery as the brand struggled to keep up with demand.Li’s warning about potentially even worse wait times bodes well for the brand long-term, which is even more ambitious than it was when it arrived in Australia just two years ago.When asked if Zeekr could be the number one luxury brand in the country, leapfrogging once-favourites like Audi BMW and Mercedes-Benz, Li said recent developments make that a possibility, but sales targets aren’t his primary concern.“When we launched the brand, not just in Australia but globally, we were always hoping to become the best-selling premium EV brand, but with PHEV coming with 8X and 9X I think we can have some bigger ambitions of trying to become the best-selling premium brand,” he said.“But, apart from sales volume, it’s more important for us actually to have that customer satisfaction and the attitude toward the Zeekr brand.“If you were to ask me about what the brand looks like in three years I wouldn’t have a volume target to share with you, but after three years if we’re surveying customers when we ask about premium brands, Zeekr needs to be one of their top considerations. So this is more important than volume. That’s my target.”To that end, Li said the brand’s dealers would be asked to build a more premium experience in order to set Zeekr apart from its myriad of rivals and soon-to-arrive competitors like Avatr from Changan or Wey from GWM.“We’re not aiming for this big number of dealers, and for them to just change their logo and start selling cars. That’s not what we want, we want to build the customer experience properly.”He said the brand’s big investments in track events, dining and experiences were part of keeping its buyers engaged for longer “after we’ve handed over the keys”.It may even result in the Australian market scoring its own option packs, as the brand welcomes buyer feedback on track days and modifications.“Actually, we’ve already got customers showing us modifications they’ve done themselves,” Li said. “We’re developing some OEM-backed modifications for the Australian market. These are the kinds of lifestyle things we’ll be working on in the future.”Next for Zeekr is the launch of the 7GT which is expected to arrive before the end of 2026 with customer deliveries more likely for early 2027. The 9X three-row large plug-in will follow shortly afterwards, with the 8X due in the second half of 2027.

Hyundai let CarsGuide in on why its Australian division gets special attention from its South Korean parent company.“We’re quite a small percentage of global volume but the level of support we get from Korea is always higher,” said Bill Thomas, Hyundai Australia’s GM of Corporate Communications.“Australia is a hugely competitive market and if you’re doing well here, you will, in theory, do well in a number of different markets which are less competitive.“Also, in terms of customer sentiment, there’s a mixture of European and American buying behaviour.”“So there’s interest from in the makeup of the market, both the competitor set and the customer demand for various types of vehicles.”Globally, Hyundai’s Australian arm outperforms compared to other markets where the South Korean giant plays.“If you look at our market share compared to some of the markets across the world, you’d find that we’re certainly up there amongst the better performing markets,” said Hyundai Australia's General Manager of Product Planning Jonathan Lam.Australia is not just important to the company as a vector for high sales either. Our market has seen the introduction of right-hand drive exclusives, like the first-generation Palisade large SUV, or the last-generation Veloster hatchback.There are new factors drawing Korea’s attention to Australia. Our market has become one of the most competitive in the world off the back of Chinese automakers using Australia as a stepping stone to Europe.It presents an opportunity both ways, as Hyundai has a chance to compete with these new brands often before they debut in larger markets.“The competitiveness of this market means that, yes, we are getting a lot of focus from headquarters,” continued Lam.“So that does actually make our job a bit easier, but at the same time it’s not like we can just ask for something and get it.“We have to make a strong case for every product. Head office won’t accept just anything, we have to be very detailed and structured in terms of the business case.”Lam said that the explosive amount of competition in Australia wasn’t boxing Hyundai into particular price points or segments for its range.“It’s not necessarily just the number of competitors here or how cheap they are” he said.“You could have a segment with fifty competitors, but it’s more to do with which are the ones actually selling in volume.”“We feel our pricing is competitive. Obviously there are competitors which will be cheaper, and there will be some which are more expensive, but I think for us it’s never just pricing which is what is driving market share or sales. Actually if it was just about pricing that would make my job a bit easier.”Lam said "intangible benefits" of the Hyundai brand, whether it was buyer familiarity, dealer and service network, or vehicle design and quality, are helping the company keep close to the front of the pack despite the ambition of new brands in the top-10 rankings.Lam said there were even products in Hyundai’s portfolio which didn’t have to sell in the kinds of volumes which rivals, Chinese or otherwise, might be aiming for.He conceded the Palisade XRT Pro, as a monocoque adventure-focused large SUV was a “quite niche” offering intended to make up around 10 per cent of the model’s volume.Even the Hyundai Inster city-sized electric hatch, which is priced significantly higher than something like the BYD Atto 1, was something the brand was keen to keep around as an alternative for buyers.“Niche products have their place in our portfolio. It’s not a car which is going to appeal to all consumers, but it has a very specific buyer subset who still really likes that car.”

The latest brand to hit Australian shores from Chery Group, iCaur, has just made its public debut, and here’s what you can expect from the unusual new brand.iCaur Australia’s Head of Brand Kate Gillis told CarsGuide where the new marque will sit in Chery’s greater line-up, how it’s differentiated from rivals, and a bit on what’s coming next.The brand’s first product is the V25 mid-size SUV. It wears boxy 4WD styling, although it isn’t as adventure capable as some rivals. It will also launch early next year in fully electric form and a range-extender hybrid version will arrive at a later date.When asked why the brand was launching with a fully electric over a hybrid, Gillis said it was part of making a splash for the new brand, giving it a way to instantly stand out in a crowded market.“iCaur is a new-energy native” she said.“We wanted to have the first product and our flagship for now being a full battery electric vehicle. It’s a point of difference for us - obviously there are PHEVs already in this boxy SUV format, but nobody is doing a battery electric and we want to be the first to market with that.”“It’s for people who enjoy experiences and are electric car progressives. They want an EV but they’re not sure that it will fully suit their lifestyle - is meant to be a better fit for them.”While the V25 has boxy styling clearly inspired by proper four-wheel drives, it rides on a monocoque chassis rather than a hardcore ladder frame, and has less ground clearance than some rivals, with the underbody space designed to maximise batteries in fully electric versions.The hybrids in the brand's range sold overseas are range-extenders, with no hardware linkage between the engine and wheels, which are driven purely by electric motors.Performance is as high as 335kW/505Nm, according to Chinese specifications.The hybrid version will launch first in its domestic market and will be equipped with a 1.5-litre engine producing 115kW paired to a 33.68kWh battery good for a 150km electric driving range.Specs for the fully electric V25 which we'll see in early 2027 are yet to be revealed, even overseas.When asked how adventure capable iCaur is positioning itself given the styling, Gillies said the V25 and the rest of the range won’t be pitched as hardcore off-roaders.“It will be a very capable all-wheel drive - we wouldn’t say we’re up in that rugged category.”While pricing for the V25 was yet to be confirmed, but Gillis said iCaur was for “buyers with a higher discretionary income”, and if that means a more niche customer base compared to other Chery Group brands, that’s okay.“We won’t be a mass-market brand like Omoda Jaecoo or Chery - we’ll be more premium and the product opens up that opportunity for that new price point,” she said.This capable but not hardcore positioning seems to place the iCaur V25 as a rival to the likes of the Subaru Solterra (from $61,990) or the also-just-revealed next-generation Haval H7, which GWM promised would be priced less than $50,000.We can at least expect it will be priced above the current Chery Tiggo 7 PHEV, which starts from $34,990 drive-away, leaving a healthy $15,000 price gap for the incoming mid-sizer to shine.iCaur is also considering multiple versions of the V25, and may not just stick to all-wheel drive from launch, with rear-wheel drive options also being available to the brand.A big part of what sets iCaur apart, Gillis says, will be a commitment to customisation, something the brand is working on to have available at or close to the brand’s launch.“There’s a lot about modification and accessories and a real practical element around the iCaur brand,” she said, “the goal is to have no two iCaurs be quite the same - we’re going to be working with our dealers to make sure those accessories are both easy to choose but also easy for them to install - no waiting three months for parts - and it can all be installed inside our network.”She added new technologies also add opportunities for the brand to stand out for adventurous buyers; “Things like vehicle-to-load systems are certainly something we’re looking at as part of the spec offering.”On the topic of dealers, Gillis said iCaur is aiming to have national coverage from day one, and the brand was being picky about what dealer applications it selects.“They may have other Chery brands or not” she said, “but that doesn’t automatically qualify them. We’ll be carefully choosing them based on compatibility. We’ve had a lot of applications where we’ve said it’s not quite right for us.”She said the local division was looking to import some of the fun showroom appeal which the brand has for its outlets in China.iCaur will face internal competition on the boxy SUV front from fellow Chery Group brand Jetour, which is also planned to launch in 2027.Jetour is set to be independently imported rather than factory backed, like the rest of the Chery Group brands currently sold in Australia.Stay tuned for more details on iCaur's Australian launch plans before the end of this year.

Alfa's Tonale is a hit overseas, but you wouldn't know it in Australia. Are the latest updates for 2026 enough to reverse its fortunes from just a handful of sales in 2025?

GWM has confirmed Chinese pricing for the ultra-hardcore version of its Tank 300 Hooke Edition after recently confirming pre-orders in its home market.Starting from the equivalent of A$52,500 in China, the overhauled Tank 300 sits atop the SUV’s combustion range, and between the two hybrid Hi4-Z and Hi4-T variants, the latter of which we get in Australia.The top combustion-powered version, a 2.4-litre turbo-diesel variant, costs $47,990 drive-away Down Under, while the top-spec plug-in hybrid Ultra Hi4-T costs $61,990, suggesting a retail price of mid-to-high $50,000 if it's offered in Australia.The Hooke Edition, which was originally teased over a year ago in China, is more than just off-road tyres and a snorkel, with the vehicle's underbody re-worked to replace the independent front axle with a more hardcore solid front axle set-up.Like 'Trail Rated' versions of Jeep's range which are tested on the hardcore trails of Moab in Utah, GWM's Hooke Edition is named after a notorious off-road park to the west of Beijing.The suspension has also been re-worked to help the 4WD accommodate 40-inch tyres, and it is more robust, with stronger control arms and trailing arms, as well as a reinforced front axle housing.As a result, its approach angle has been improved to 41 degrees and its suspension travel has been increased to 130mm for “confidently handling complex cross-axle situations,” and its low-range crawl ratio is 63.5:1 (which is not quite as extreme as the Wrangler’s 77:1 ratio).Ground clearance is 245mm while wading depth has increased to 850mm thanks to the addition of a factory snorkel. GWM says the maximum gradability of the Hooke Edition is 70 per cent. The car ships in China with Cooper Discoverer all-terrain tyres.The Hooke edition gets special front and rear bumpers to optimise its off-road angles, while the stock wheel package is downsized to 18 inches from other high-grade Tank 300s.Inside it scores larger screens as per the latest Chinese version of the SUV, with real Nappa leather interior trim and tweaked centre console switchgear compared to Australian-delivered versions.Powering the Hooke Edition is a 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine producing 170kW/400Nm. It is mated to a nine-speed torque converter transmission with a low-range capable transfer case.The 300 Hooke Edition was originally teased alongside GWM’s upcoming 4.0-litre V8 engine, causing speculation that this extreme overhaul would also score this powertrain, however it appears the larger engine will be reserved for only flagship products in GWM’s wider line-up of brands.However, while the special model might seem like a perfect fit for off-road obsessed Australia, its future is under a cloud with GWM executives telling CarsGuide it might not be required given the capability the brand’s line-up already offers.“If we were to put our hand up for every car we see in the field, especially over in China, our showrooms would be overflowing,” said the brand’s local Executive General Manager of Marketing and Communications, Steve Maciver.“It’s a fantastic looking car and it would be a good choice there , but we’ve just got volume going with the existing Tank 300 powertrains, so really got to pick carefully when considering complexity in the showroom, parts stocking for us, and marketing costs.”Maciver was quick to stress that it wasn’t a global capability issue holding the hardcore model back for the time being, earmarking the factory’s capability to do “in most cases, anything".Chief Operating Officer of GWM Australia John Kett said there may potentially be a space for such a model in the future.“The complexity of these three brands [Haval, Tank, Cannon] is going to cause us a problem unless we resolve what to do with Tank in terms of its growing portfolio,” Kett said.“I think as we grow it will allow us to be a little bit more distinctive in where we take the Tank brand.“We’ve got full access to the whole line-up, they keep developing new versions of it, so I think that’s definitely a consideration on top of what we’ve already got coming in the next year.”Stay tuned for more on GWM’s roll-out plans, which are set to include the new boxy Haval H7 in both plug-in and plugless hybrid forms, and the new plug-in hybrid Cannon ute.The company is also set to expand on its range of Ora electric cars, as well as introduce its luxury Wey arm before the end of 2026.

Leapmotor could be a sleeping giant on the cusp of a global sales surge despite its slow start in Australia.Unlike its headline-grabbing rivals BYD, Geely, and Chery, Leapmotor has struggled for traction locally.Yet overseas, efforts to make its model range more globally appealing have granted the brand strong growth which, according to sales data compiled by Nikkei Asia, now means it outsold once-giants like Mitsubishi and Subaru in the most recent quarter of the year.Now projected to sell one million vehicles for the full year 2026, the brand is up 84 per cent globally and is set to surpass both Mitsubishi and Subaru over the same time period.Much of this, Nikkei reports, is down to the brand rapidly carving up markets in Europe where both local giants and Japanese imports are struggling to compete with Leapmotor’s aggressive pricing and rapid rollout with the help of Peugeot owner Stellantis, which has a significant stake in the Chinese fledgling.You could hardly tell in Australia, where Leapmotor has hardly had the same impact as its big-name Chinese rivals.Locally it is up an incredible-sounding 168.2 per cent, but its 1022 units so far is off the back of a very low sales base after the misfire of its original C10 electric mid-sizer, and a slow but improved start for the smaller B10.The C10 has moved 331 units in 2026, down 13.1 per cent, paling in comparison to the very similar Geely EX5 which has managed 10,737 units over the same period, and this is despite the introduction of a range-extender hybrid variant to the range.The B10 meanwhile has moved 677 units locally, against the better-selling Jaecoo J5 which has done roughly 10 times that in fully electric form.Leapmotor’s yearly total of just 1022 units (supplemented by the recent addition of early examples of the B05 hatchback), is a far cry from Mitsubishi’s 30,476 total, or Subaru’s 19,125.However, things can change quickly. Not only has the B10 hugely improved Leapmotor’s sales year-on-year, but Mitsubishi, Subaru, and even Nissan are on the way down in the face of Leapmotor’s contemporaries, which are carving up the top-10-selling new car brands in Australia.Subaru and Nissan have already been booted out of the top-10, while Mitsubishi is barely holding on.Leapmotor, meanwhile will be hoping to capitalise on its momentum for the rest of 2026 thanks to the arrival of its B05 Golf-sized hatchback and B03X compact crossover, which is shaping up to be Australia’s most affordable new electric SUV.When it gets here in the fourth quarter, the brand said it will be priced at around $30,000, drive-away, to undercut natural rivals like the BYD Atto 2, which currently costs $31,990, before on-roads.For 2027 the brand could have more up its sleeve too, with the D19 large SUV. Measuring in at over five meters long and featuring a range-extended hybrid powertrain, it also features EV-sized batteries for big electric driving range and combined power output of up to 300kW/520Nm.Stay tuned for more on Leapmotor’s expansion plans as it rolls out the B05 and B03X for the remainder of 2026.

Geely has revealed the heavily updated 2026 EX5 ahead of its global launch.The EX5, which is already one of the best-selling electric mid-size SUVs in Australia, is set for a deeper upgrade than a typical facelift, moving from front-wheel drive to rear-wheel drive.It also comes with a huge power upgrade, with the current 160kW front-mounted motor being replaced by a 245kW unit on the rear. It also comes with an upgrade to the car’s max speed from 175km/h to 201km/h.The car has also grown in dimensions slightly, now 4636mm long, 1920mm wide and 1670mm tall, making it both taller and wider than the outgoing car.The brand also says the EX5 will make the switch to the latest generation version of Geely’s LFP ‘Aegis’ battery pack. Details are yet to be revealed, but given the company said it will enable the new SUV to charge in just 10 minutes, it suggests an upgrade to an 800-volt architecture.Certainly, it will be an upgrade from the EX5’s current max charging speed of 100kW, which results in a charge time of more than 30 minutes.It is also expected to boost range from the current car’s 410km WLTP from the modest 60.22kWh unit.In addition, with the space above the front axle freed up, the EX5 is set to get an under-bonnet storage area frunk for the first time.Exterior styling has received some tweaks, while maintaining the overall vibe. The front bumper has been redesigned to add a three-dimensional effect, while the rear lower bumper and tailgate-mounted spoiler have also been tweaked.One of the most noticeable changes are the new alloy wheels (available in either 18- or 19-inch designs).The interior has also been tweaked. The new car replaces the odd squircle steering wheel with a new round design also seen in the upcoming Monjaro EM-i, as well as a crystal-look multifunction control dial to replace the current plastic-look unit.There also appears to be re-designed seat trim, new two-tone colour schemes, and ambient lighting throughout.The car appears to maintain the same 10.2-inch digital instrument cluster and 15.4-inch multimedia touchscreen as before, as well as the flip-open storage tray and wireless phone charging bay.More details on the new EX5 are expected to be confirmed imminently for the Chinese market, with the brand focusing on its global aspirations.Geely Australia representatives told CarsGuide there was nothing to share yet on the future of the EX5 locally, although added there was more up the brand’s sleeve for the latter half of 2027.This is on top of the company doubling its model range in Australia in the next year. It has confirmed the Emgrand sedan and Monjaro mid-sizer are set to arrive in the first half, and they will be joined by the flagship Battleship 700 hybrid off-roader before the end of 2027.Stay tuned for more on Geely’s rapid range expansion soon as the brand solidifies its top-10 aspirations in the Australian market.

Hyundai’s Australian arm expressed cautious optimism about the company’s range of new ladder-frame 4WD products, despite the announcement at the brand’s recent investor day that they would be designed and built in the USA.Speaking to CarsGuide at the launch of the Palisade XRT Pro, Hyundai Australia General Manager of Product Planning Jonathan Lam said he wasn’t concerned about the CEO’s announcement for what could be a key new product for the brand.“The way we typically approach it is that we don’t worry too much about sourcing first, we worry about the product first," he said.“What head office does is they look at, okay, what does Australia want, what does Europe want, what does America want and so on.“They put all of that together and take a look. Where do the major markets have overlaps? If we distil one product into two or three projects or even a singular project that’s flexible enough to adapt to these markets around the world, then what would that look like?“Then, based on where the project is going they decide where it should be built in our many factories around the world.“So sourcing isn’t the be all and end all of it, it’s almost really the last step.“Think of it from a different perspective. Even in our current portfolio, there are cars that are built in multiple plants all across the world. So say, Santa Fe, we take it from the Korean plant, but they also manufacture them in America so just because it’s out in public that a certain model might be being designed and manufactured in America, doesn’t mean that it’s automatically off-limits for the rest of the world.”The upcoming family of ladder-frame products from Hyundai has been teased by the Boulder and Crater 4WD concepts.The new frame architecture they use will sit above the brand’s current matrix of H platform city cars (Venue, Inster), K platform small cars (Kona, i30), N platform mid-sizers (Tucson, Santa Fe), and e-GMP platform EVs (Ioniq 3 to Ioniq 9).The company’s global President and CEO Jose Munoz said recently the upcoming frame family, which is also expected to spawn a ute, will account for 50 per cent of the company’s growth aspirations until 2030.The new 4WDs are all expected to use new range-extender hybrid powertrains. The first implementation of this system will be on the updated Santa Fe early next year.While Lam couldn’t comment further on the future 4WD products for Australia, including what they might be or when we might see them, General Manager for Corporate Communications, Bill Thomas, added that Australia in particular gets a helping hand from South Korea.“Over the years, I’m always surprised by the high level of support we get from head office. In theory we’re such a small percentage of global volume, but the level of support we get is always higher.”On the topic of sourcing for Hyundai, when asked if the brand was more open to more vehicles manufactured in China, like the recently launched Elexio mid-size EV, Lam said many factories around the world still had potential to serve right-hand-drive cars to Australia.“We’re not averse to sourcing cars from other countries outside of just South Korea. It’s a big proportion of our current sourcing, but we’re open to sourcing cars from China, Czech Republic, Türkiye.“What’s more important is whether the product is right for our market and whether there’s a financial case to be made for it.”While Hyundai Australia has been lucky to secure some right-hand-drive exclusives, like the first-generation Palisade and the second-generation Veloster hatchback, it has also been forced to make some tough decisions.Recently, this included culling the well-received i30 hatchback from the line-up, as the cost of sourcing the latest version from Europe, where it is built, became prohibitively expensive.Now stripped down to only the go-fast N hatch and sedan range sourced from South Korea, this looks set to continue into the future, with the next-generation sedan already having been spied testing in Australia.Next for Hyundai will be the introduction of the Ioniq 3 electric crossover, next-generation i30 Sedan, and next-generation Tucson mid-sizer, all of which are expected in Australia in the first half of 2027.

Geely has confirmed details of its upcoming Monjaro mid-size SUV ahead of its Australian launch.Now confirmed and seen for the first time in right-hand drive, the version of the Monjaro headed to Australia is the recently-updated model riding on Geely’s GEA-Evo architecture.It will hit our shores in the first half of 2027, and it will slot in Geely's local range as a more premium alternative to the existing, slightly smaller Starray EM-i.It will arrive only as a plug-in hybrid for the Australian market, and the brand tells us the range will span three trim levels in either front- or all-wheel drive.All versions come with a 40kWh battery pack, which is more than double the size of the one in the Starray. It offers 170km of WLTP electric driving range, and is paired to a 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine.Local power figures are yet to be revealed, but the Monjaro EM-i produces up to 250kW/667Nm in overseas market specifications.Other standard features in the Monjaro EM-i range include a 15.4-inch multimedia touchscreen, a 25.6-inch head-up display, a large digital instrument cluster and a power tailgate.Other features available, likely depending on the trim level, will include up to 20-inch alloy wheels, adaptive damping suspension, message front seats with heating and ventilation as well as heated rear seats.The Monjaro EM-i also features vehicle to load (V2L) and vehicle to vehicle (V2V) power output at up to 6.6kW.Geely says the Monjaro is equipped with the group’s latest safety technology, including seven airbags and ‘star armour’ chassis cage for crash safety, as well as the full array of active safety kit.The exterior will be available in five colours, while the interior will have three colour choices. It also has a larger boot capacity than the Starray.While pricing is set to be revealed closer to the Monjaro’s local launch, expect it to be more expensive than the Starray, which is priced from $37,490 to $44,990 locally.This indicates pricing more similar to the mainstream competition like the Toyota RAV4, Hyundai Tucson, or Kia Sportage. Geely tells us the Monjaro will be competitively priced considering the kit it offers.The Monjaro EM-i is one of three new models joining Geely’s line-up and doubling its model range in 2027.The first half of the year will also see the introduction of its Camry-rivalling Emgrand sedan, also as an EM-i plug-in hybrid.It will arrive in two variants with an 18.4kWh battery granting it an 80+km WLTP electric driving range.It also pairs a 1.5-litre engine to a gearbox mounted electric motor, for over 180kW of power and 250Nm of torque.There is no word yet on whether Geely will also introduce the plugless hybrid ‘i-HEV’ versions of these cars, which were recently unveiled internationally.Using a new ultra lean burning 1.5-litre petrol plugless hybrid system from Horse Powertrain, the i-HEV system was benchmarked to be more efficient than Toyota’s hybrid system, and Geely claims it can consume as low as 2.22L/100km when fitted to the Emgrand sedan.While the brand had no comment on adding the plugless hybrid system to the Australian line-up for now, Geely Australia CEO Alex Gu told CarsGuide in May of 2026 that he was pushing for Australia to be one of the firs markets to receive the tech.Once the Emgrand, Monjaro, and Battleship 700 are added to Geely’s line-up, it will span six models, adding to the existing EX2 hatchback, EX5 electric mid-sizer and Starray plug-in hybrid.

Geely has confirmed the Battleship 700 off-road SUV for the Australian market.The brand said the large plug-in hybrid 4WD will hit our shores in the second half of 2027 and will top-out the Geely range for the time being.At this stage, few local details can be confirmed, even including the SUV’s name, which may be changed by the time it arrives domestically.Battleship 700 is its Chinese name, while it is alternatively called the Galaxy Cruiser, and debuted under its internal code name of KO11 in Europe.The Battleship 700 is over five meters long making it a rival to everything from the BYD Denza B8 through to the Toyota LandCruiser 300 series, although with styling cues taking inspiration from the Land Rover Defender.Its plug-in hybrid system is closer in design to the Denza B8 than GWM Tank 500 Hi4-T in that it drives the front wheels via a combination of the engine and electric motor, with a purely electric rear motor set-up. It does not feature a driveshaft connecting the transmission at the front to the axle at the rear, and has no transfer case.The brand could confirm the Australian market will receive a high-specification version of the SUV, featuring the full array of off-road features.It will use the most powerful powertrain combination consisting of a 2.0-litre turbocharged engine in the front and a total of three electric motors, one in the front and two in the rear.In China this set-up produces up to 830kW and is the most powerful off-road SUV in its class. It is said to be able to sprint from 0-100km/h in just over four seconds.In place of a driveshaft between the two axles, the Battleship 700 gets a 47kWh battery pack, which is said to provide up to 170km of fully electric driving range.The Battleship 700 rides on a newly-developed ladder architecture for upcoming off-road vehicles from Geely, and features adjustable-height air suspension, off-road specific software modes, an 800mm wading capability and importantly a rear differential lock between the two electric motors.It also features a full-size spare wheel on the swing-open tailgate, an 800-volt electrical architecture for ultra fast charging, vehicle-to-load and a full-size household outlet in the boot.Inside, it scores features like a panoramic sunroof, 12.3-inch digital dash, and 15.6-inch multimedia touchscreen, a fridge/heater under the centre console, standard synthetic leather interior trim and up to 23 speakers for the sound system.It also features the more high-end version of Geely’s software suite (more similar to what appears on Zeekr models), as well as adaptive damping in the suspension.It can automatically park itself, and features a ‘crab turn’ mode to rotate on the spot.The Battleship 700 in 2.0-litre tri-motor form starts from the equivalent of around $56,500 in China, stretching to $81,460 for the top-spec ‘Land Yacht’ version.With the usual additional 15 - 20 per cent added by the time most Chinese vehicles land in Australia, you can expect pricing in the realm of $70,000 - $98,000 by the time it arrives in Australia.The Denza B8 it will compete against costs $91,000 before on-roads in Australia.This places it well at the top of the brand’s range, but it undercuts the Zeekr 8X and 9X luxury SUVs.Geely said it received 43,900 orders within 60 minutes of the order books opening for the car in China on the 15th of September.The Battleship 700 is one part of a massive expansion for the Geely brand in Australia, building off the early success it has achieved with the EX5 and Starray EM-i SUVs.Also in 2027 the brand will also be adding the Emgrand, a Camry-rivalling sedan, and Monjaro mid-size SUV in the first half of the year, doubling its range from three to six vehicles.Geely made its debut in the top-10 best selling brands in Australia for the month of August, not even 18 months after it arrived locally with the EX5.