Articles by Dom Tripolone

The American car industry's resistance is forming against the new breed of Chinese autos, but it's from an unlikely source.Over the past month or so Chinese brands have revealed a mass of new dual-cab utes destined for any market that will take them.Now the US auto industry has responded with a pair of futuristic utes of its won.These utes aren't the jumbo-sized pick-up trucks we expect from the US, but rather small, electric and practical workhorses aimed at inner-city residents.The first is the Slate ute, backed by Amazon’s Jeff Bezos, which makes it likely to succeed. It’s a little ute in the mold of the Ford Maverick and Hyundai Santa Cruz that have been lighting the US sales chart on fire.It’s cheap, practical and all electric.The next is from a new start-up named Telo, dubbed the MT1. Its a bit more futuristic looking. It’s the size of a Mini Cooper with a big battery and a tray almost as big as a ute such as the Toyota HiLux.Jay Leno gave us a first hand look at the MT1 via his YouTube channel. In the video Telo boss Jason Marks said the MT1 was inspired by Japanese Kei cars and the mini trucks that are so popular in a country where space is at a premium.The MT1 makes the most of the space it has on offer with next to no front bonnet, with all the space reserved for the cabin and load lugging area.Clever design aspects such as an opening mid gate to help extend the cargo area boost its practicality. Even with a standard tray length of about 1500mm it’d be easy enough for tradies to lump all their tools in the back.Part of the MT1’s appeal is the massive 106kWh battery pack, which provides a driving range of more than 560km. Telo has apparently developed a proprietary technique designed to squeeze the cells into a small space.It will also be pitched at lifestyle applications with the ability to head off-road.Telo has just built a near production prototype, but it is believed sales could commence, in the US at least, as early as the end of this year.This type of vehicle makes a lot of sense for electrifying utes. Bigger vehicles are less efficient and require too much battery and electric motor power to perform their daily duties.Smaller EVs on the other hand will always prove more efficient thanks to their lower weight and this is where the MT1's clever packaging comes into play. It makes the vehicle function like a much bigger light commercial without the drawbacks of additional weight and size.

Compact SUVs are pitched at growing families, so we put Toyota's hybrid Corolla Cross through its paces to see how it handles a family of four.

MG is again challenging the market with one of the most affordable cars on sale in Australia.

Just when you thought we’d hit peak Chinese ute, another brand jumps into the ring.

There is life in diesel yet.

This isn't a desert mirage, but it is the Dubai Police Force’s shimmering new ride.The emirate is known for its opulent lifestyle and its police force often have cars to match its persona.Its latest machine is the Mansory-tweaked Rolls-Royce Cullinan.The luxurious high roller follows in the footsteps of some seriously high-powered machines that have worn the Middle Eastern police force’s green and white livery, such as the Lamborghini Aventador, Mercedes-AMG G63 and Bugatti Veyron.The bespoke Rolls-Royce Cullinan has been customised by Mansory, known for its outrageous takes on top-flight supercars.The price? Well, how long is a piece of string?Masonry Cullinan’s can retail anywhere from $1.5m to $2m according to online reports, which would put it at the extremely pointy end of the police car scale.This Cullinan has carbon fibre and aluminium components added and has been fitted with high-end displays and technologies, according to the Dubai Police.It isn’t expected to be used in general duties policing but rather joins the flashy Tourist Police Department.This Cullinan is powered by a beefy 6.75-litre V12 engine that makes 454kW which has a top speed of 280km/h and can sprint to 100km/h from a standstill in five seconds flat.Mansory boss, Mr Kourosh Mansory, said: “We are proud to mark our second collaboration with Dubai Police. Our latest creation—the Rolls-Royce Cullinan, a one-of-a-kind edition tailored specifically for Dubai Police—reflects our shared commitment to innovation, excellence, and leadership in the automotive world."It is the second Mansory custom vehicle handed over to the Dubai Police. A Mercedes-AMG G63 that has about 540kW and a 0-100km/h time of 3.7 has also been enlisted in the past.

The plug-in hybrid ute battle is about to boil over.GWM has made running changes to its new plug-in hybrid ute before it has even arrived on our roads, as it prepares to wage war on the BYD Shark 6 and Ford Ranger PHEV.The soon-to-be-launched Cannon Alpha PHEV is now cheaper and has more electric-only driving range than first promised.GWM has removed the national drive-away price for the two-tier plug-in hybrid Cannon Alpha range, which is good news for some but not for others.The base Cannon Alpha PHEV Lux now ranges between $61,490 and $64,590 depending on the state or territory you live in. This is compared to the previous $63,990 national drive-away price. Western Australia is the only state worse off.The BYD Shark 6 is still roughly $1000 cheaper, but more than $10,000 cheaper than the coming Ranger PHEV.It’s a similar story for the fully loaded Cannon Alpha PHEV Ultra that was priced at $68,990 but now ranges from between $67,990 and $71,090. If you are in WA, NSW and SA you’ll now pay more.GWM sweetens the deal with a free 7kW home charger.GWM now claims the Cannon Alpha PHEV can be driven up to 115km on pure electric power, up 5km on its previous claim. This figure is calculated on the more generous NEDC test cycle compared to the more stringent benchmark WLTP test regime.The Cannon Alpha PHEV is fitted with a 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine, electric motor and a sizeable battery that allows it to drive up to 1060km before both the battery and fuel tank are depleted.It has a proper four-wheel-drive set-up, with a rear locking differential in the Lux and the addition of a front locking differential in the Ultra.It has a vehicle-to-load function that allows users to power appliances such as camping equipment and power tools via a regular household power socket in the vehicle.It also has a 3500kg braked towing capacity that trumps the BYD Shark 6 ute and equals the Ford Ranger PHEV.The first vehicles are now en route to Australia, before sales commence shortly after. 

This SUV is a rarity for Toyota, but this hybrid compact SUV alternative to the Hyundai Kona and Haval Jolion could be a sleeper.

The big burly Chevrolet Silverado 2500 Heavy Duty is primed and ready to roll out in 2025, with a series of nips and tucks.GM Specialty Vehicles (GMSV) has made some key styling changes to the big US pick-up truck.Leading the charge are blacked-out front and rear bumpers with red recovery hooks and gloss black alloy wheels.There are three new colours to choose from including a metallic grey and a blue paint job.The core of the Silverado 2500 HD remains the same.Its monster 6.6-litre turbo-diesel V8 engine pumps out a whopping 350kW and 1322Nm. It can tow up to 4500kg and is packed with luxury gear.Some of the interior highlights include a big multimedia and digital driver’s display, heated and ventilated synthetic leather bound seats, heated steering wheel, sunroof and Bose stereo.The mildly updated 2500 HD is now $3500 more expensive, with prices starting at $166,500 (before on-road costs).The Silverado 2500 HD is proving a hit with Aussie monster truck drivers who need to tow.Almost 1500 found a new home in 2024, which was an increase of 33 per cent on the year before.2025 is off to a cracking start, too, with sales up by more than 20 per cent through the first two months.Chevrolet has now cemented itself as the king of the big slab-of-beef US trucks Down Under with the 2500 and 1500 commanding more than 36 per cent of the market.Ram is the next best with its line-up accounting for 31 per cent of sales. The Ford F-150 has carved off 24 per cent of the market and the Toyota Tundra brings up the rear with about eight per cent of sales.

An old 4WD rivalry is about to be re-ignited. Mitsubishi is preparing a new off-road focused four-wheel drive, which is likely to be a replacement for the discontinued Pajero.