Articles by Chris Thompson

Renault’s fourth-generation Twingo light car has been shown off in a close-to-production form at the 2025 Brussels Motor Show, with a seriously competitive target price.The true-to-original styling for the electric car should have fans of the original Renault Twingo excited, but the announcement that its entry price will still be below the originally promised €20,000 (A$33,100) means there’s potential for the Twingo to be more than a niche Euro offering.For reference, some of the most affordable electric cars on sale in Australia are the BYD Dolphin (currently $29,990 before on-roads), the GWM Ora ($35,990 drive-away) and the MG4 ($39,990 DA).Part of the plan, and the reason for its expected low entry price, is that Renault is partnering with a Chinese manufacturer (so far unnamed) to develop and build the new Twingo. As such, it could debut as early as next year thanks to the speed and resources of the assisting OEM.Of course, the Renault Twingo isn’t confirmed for Australia — and it might never be.According to CAR magazine in the UK, the Twingo isn’t locked in for right-hand drive production as it’s set to cost around £1 million (A$1,974,700) to engineer it and so it might not make it to the UK where the model has a bit of a cult following.Given Australia shares its driving side of the road with the UK (but not so much its excitement for small French cars) the chances of the Twingo EV landing in Oz are slim.Still, Renault’s Ampere electric sub-brand is developing the new electric Nissan Micra and another model for Mitsubishi — which will both be related to electric Renaults.The Twingo is to be the third electric retro Renault reboot after the Renault 4 and 5 — both likely for Australia — and the engineering underneath it could be used in models that do eventually hit our shores under any cars from the Renault–Nissan–Mitsubishi Alliance in the future.Renault says the Twingo will have a “best-in class” power consumption efficiency of 10kWh/100km, though its technical specifications are yet to be finalised as the model is still not production-ready.To give context on the efficiency, if Renault can achieve that number the Twingo would be able to travel 450km from the same 44.9kWh battery capacity that take a BYD Dolphin 350km in the WLTP combined cycle.In terms of design, quirky features inside and out that could make it to the finalised model include three small air intake scoops on the bonnet, magnets on the back of the headrests for rear passengers to mount devices, and colourful trims and shapes inside that nod to the original Twingo.

Once upon a time, flying cars were a little bit of a Jetsons-style pipe dream. While they’re not exactly right around the corner, it’s starting to look like flying cars might be the ‘future transport’ tech that everyone wants to be the first to get right. Shame about the hoverboards from Back to the Future Part II.

Porsche Australia has a fresh model to slot into the middle of its 911 line-up with the arrival of the updated 992.2-generation 911 Carrera S.Positioned between the Carrera T and GTS in terms of pricing, the 2025 Porsche 911 Carrera S is available in both Coupe and Cabriolet body styles, with the former starting from $342,700 before on-roads, and the latter from $365,400.The step-up over the base Carrera and Carrera T comes in the form of a more powerful version of Porsche’s twin-turbocharged 3.0-litre flat-six petrol engine, making 353kW and 530Nm (up 20kW) compared to the base Carrera’s 290kW/450Nm.Like the base variant, the 911 Carrera S powers the rear wheels via an eight-speed PDK dual-clutch transmission, with the six-speed manual from the Carrera T not an option.That power allows for the German icon to nail 100km/h in just 3.3 seconds, Porsche claims, with a top speed of 308km/h.Porsche says its design is based on the last-gen 911 Turbo models, and that the standard equipment list is “significantly upgraded”. As such, it gains staggered 20-inch front and 21-inch rear specific wheels, a sports exhaust system and Porsche’s Torque Vectoring Plus (PTV+) system that the base model doesn’t get.It borrows the higher-spec GTS’ brakes, with discs measuring 408 millimetres at the front and 380 mm on the rear. Porsche Ceramic Composite Brakes (PCCB) are available as an option, as well as Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM) sports suspension with a 10mm lower ride height and optional rear-wheel steering.Standard features for Australia will also include a tinted windscreen, the Parking Entry pack with surround-view cameras, adaptive cruise control, lane change assist and rear assist, 14-way electric sports seats, a Bose surround sound system, the Comfort Access pack and Power Steering Plus as a no-cost option.

Sony Honda Mobility, the joint venture between Sony and Honda, will launch its first model in the US in 2026.The Afeela 1 sedan made its ‘near-production’ debut at CES 2025 in Las Vegas this week, with the electric car priced from US$89,900 (A$144,000).Online reservations are open in California for the Afeela 1, with a fully refundable US$200 deposit as the holding fee. It also says deliveries are anticipated to begin in mid-2026 with production taking place at an existing plant in Ohio. Japanese deliveries will begin some time in 2026.Yasuhide Mizuno, Chairperson and CEO of Sony Honda Mobility, said the Afeela 1 is designed for the “era of autonomous driving”.“Afeela 1 can be called a buddy, combining advanced software with meticulously refined hardware. We will meet our customers’ expectations by providing a safe, secure, and comfortable travel experience.”As such, a focus of the EV is its Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) which use 40 sensors including Lidar, AI and visualisations for the driver or passengers.The Afeela 1 will come in two grades, but specifications suggest both will be AWD with a 180kW motor mounted at each axle, a 91kWh battery, a driving range up to about 480km, and 150kW DC fast charging.It’ll launch with level 2 ADAS, a suite of tech inside including a ‘media bar’, panoramic screen, 3D maps, power doors and a yoke-style steering wheel.A higher-grade ‘Signature’ variant is set to launch from US$102,900 (A$165,000) and will feature rear entertainment screens, larger wheels and more colour choices among presumably more features to be announced later.In early 2024 when Afeela’s product plans were expanded, Yasuhide Mizuno said both companies would bring the best of their individual expertise and assets to the table in the joint venture.“We plan to fully leverage the technological assets the two companies possess in different fields, such as Sony's sensing technology and Honda's original mobility development capabilities, to realise mobility and services that inspire and excite our customers.”“By bringing together the expertise of both companies, we aim to lead the way in a new era."It is unclear how ambitious sales targets are for the Afeela 1, but it is price a long way north of rivals such as the Tesla Model 3, BYD Seal and even the dearer Lucid Air, despite the Afeela only being mid-class for charging speed and range.No Australian plans have been announced.

The first global product from Leapmotor — the C10 — has scored a new ‘range-extrender’ hybrid option that could see it become more viable for markets where long driving distances are important.The 2025 Leapmotor C10 REEV (Range Extender Electric Vehicle) will make its debut at the 2025 Brussels Motor Show from January 10, joining the fully electric C10, which debuted in 2023 and is already available to order in Australia.The good news is that Stellantis Australia has confirmed to CarsGuide that the REEV will arrive locally in the first half of 2025, with more details to come later in Q1. Pricing for the EV currently starts from $47,500 drive-away as an introductory offer, for reference.The C10 REEV functions somewhat like a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV), utilising a smaller 28.4kWh battery compared to the EV’s 69.9kWh unit and is able to be charged via plug as with EVs and PHEVs.Where it differs from many PHEVs is the petrol-powered 1.5-litre internal combustion engine (ICE) doesn’t drive the wheels at all, acting as a range-extender to charge the battery unit and allow the C10 to travel much further under electric power — albeit no longer tailpipe emission-free.The statement from Stellantis on the REEV’s reveal said the new variant allows for the “smooth, quiet, and responsive driving experience of an electric vehicle, while also providing the flexibility of a traditional gasoline engine for longer trips”.The battery alone can allow up to 145km of electric driving range, but the addition of the range extender brings a total range of more than 950km under WLTP testing according to Stellantis.Compared to the Leapmotor C10 EV, with its electric-only range of up to 420km, the C10 REEV could be far more suited to those in regional areas who find the idea of a relatively short-range EV untenable.The electric motor in the REEV appears to be the same as in the EV, with Stellantis’ media release noting it as a 158kW unit in the REEV, while the Leapmotor Australia website said the EV is a 160kW motor, rear-mounted.

This year, South Australia activated its mobile phone detection cameras. In a three-month grace period before fines kicked off, 68,000 drivers had been snapped using their phones while on the move.Other states where these cameras already exist have resulted in tens of thousands of fines sent out for the same thing — which is disappointing. Using mobile phones behind the wheel is distracting, and we should really know better.But what about the other (increasingly) giant distractions in new cars: multimedia touchscreens? The limitation on using a mobile phone while driving is justified, but why do automotive multimedia systems get a pass? Just because they’re part of the car?Right now, the restrictions on phone use while driving are increasing, inverse to the increasing encouragement to interact with giant touchscreen devices attached to car dashes.It seems counterintuitive, given the proliferation of multimedia systems, that new drivers are starting to be able to afford cars with increasingly complex menus and functions accessible via a screen.Those learning to drive or those on provisional licences aren’t able to touch their phone (or even use via voice control function) at all in most cases while driving, but a 12.0-inch touchscreen mounted to the dash that runs everything in the car is fine?Again, this isn’t a suggestion we should be using our phones while driving — quite the opposite — but consider how familiar you are with your phone. If you’re anything like me (admittedly a millennial working in media), you might have your phone in your hand at least once every half hour, every day, and it probably doesn’t take you a lot of brain power to navigate its menus or apps.But can you say the same about the multimedia system in your car? Car reviewers (hello) drive plenty of different cars with different systems, and while we might not get the chance to become fluent in each and every multimedia system’s layout, we can certainly see that not all of them are as intuitive as an iPhone or Android phone.So why is it okay for drivers, especially new drivers, to have full access to these while navigating a rural back-road at 80km/h or in peak-hour traffic with cars unexpectedly braking regularly?Worse is that many brands are increasingly making those screens a necessity for functions like climate control and driving settings.But not every manufacturer has fallen into this bad habit.Some of the most popular brands in Australia — Toyota, Mazda, Kia and Hyundai — are keeping buttons alive with some even going a step further.Get into pretty much any new Hyundai or Kia and you’ll find there are still buttons galore, particularly physical climate controls.And while phone mirroring goes some way to simplifying multimedia operations, Toyota and Mazda apply limitations (as some other brands do) while a car is moving.Toyota’s menu options are limited unless the vehicle is in park, encouraging drivers to pull over to do anything particularly complex. Connecting a phone, for example often requires one to pull over.Mazda, on the other hand, completely deactivates the touchscreen unless the car is parked, requiring drivers to use the physical wheel or knob (the Commander control) in the centre console.It means there’s no leaning over and needing to be accurate with finger taps on a screen, rather the system can be navigated quite easily. It was once also a BMW staple, but no longer.Some brands are holding onto the convenience of buttons as others lean on screens, regulations may soon force a return to the physical controls that were once ubiquitous.Earlier in 2024, Euro NCAP announced it will require manufacturers to have physical controls for the horn, indicators, windscreen wipers, hazard lights and a call button for SOS.ANCAP here in Australia will follow on, with CEO Carla Hoorweg previously telling CarsGuide, the shifting of functions to touchscreens increases the risk of vehicle crashes on the road."We know driver distraction is a growing factor in road crashes, so it is important that certain in-vehicle controls are easily accessible by the driver and don't complicate the driving task or contribute to in-car distraction or inattention," she said."Physical buttons or stalks to operate these key vehicle controls will be encouraged through scoring, with manufacturers awarded points for the prioritisation of physical controls."The increase in screen functionality has been seen as a ‘premium’ design style, it’s not an opinion shared by every top-end manufacturer.In early 2024, Aston Martin Director of Design Miles Nurnberger told CarsGuide the need to create an actually functional interior overrides the desire to create a ‘clean’ look.He emphasised the balance between style and function when it comes to premium products, and seems to see screen functions as somewhat of an easy ‘trap’ to fall into for designers.“I might be able to make something seemingly more efficient by burying everything in a screen, but it doesn't talk to the real user experience,” he said, referring to the button-laden interior of the new Vantage.“You look at the best experience, the best user solution. It might be physical, it's tactile. I can do that with my thumb. I don't take my eyes off the road. I'm a better driver for it. You know that that's the mentality that led us to where we are.”Not everyone is aiming to be ‘a better driver’ to the extent that some behind the wheel of a Vantage might be, it certainly can’t hurt for everyone on the road to have a more intuitive and safer experience behind the wheel.Hopefully the distractions of car touchscreens doesn’t become a great enough problem to require similar rules to mobile phone use.

The head of Geely-owned car brand Zeekr has confirmed the once-EV-only company will flip to launch two plug-in hybrids in 2025.

Kia has unveiled a new light SUV developed in (and for) India as what seems to be a ‘cousin’ model to the Hyundai Casper.

Crosshairs are currently rumoured to be set upon one of Toyota’s iconic models, a 4X4 that’s recently had its line-up culled much to the dismay of traditionalists - the Toyota LandCruiser 70 Series, or LC70.

Australia has a very, very competitive new car market.  Our total new car sales each year is dwarfed by other nations around the world, but there are only a handful of countries where there’s as much choice for new car buyers as here.