Articles by Samuel Irvine

Renault has become the latest carmaker to front a new electric multi-purpose vehicle (MPV) after unveiling the Trafic E-Tech in the UK.Featuring at the Birmingham Commercial Vehicle show overnight, Renault Van Design Chief Yannick Bignon told Autocar the new model is under consideration for the UK, which is the same status for the local market, as confirmed to CarsGuide by a Renault Australia spokesperson.If it does come to Australia, we can expect it to go up against the new electric Volkswagen ID.Buzz, Ford E-Transit Custom and potentially, the Kia PV5 Cargo.It won’t exceed its rivals on peak outputs, with the Trafic E-Tech set to deliver 140kW/354Nm from a single rear-mounted electric motor. That compares to 160kW/415Nm on the E-Transit Custom and 210kW/560Nm on the ID.Buzz, with the latter's top-spec GTX grade peaking at 250kW.Where the Trafic E-Tech may exceed its rivals, though, is functionality and design. The French-built Trafic E-tech will carry two battery options: a lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) pack good for a claimed 350km of range, and a larger nickel-manganese-cobalt (NMC) unit good for circa 450km of range, both under the WLTP cycle.Additionally, there is 800-volt architecture, meaning charging from 15-80 per cent occurs in under 20 minutes using a DC fast charger. There is also vehicle-to-load capacity.The new Trafic E-Tech brings an overhauled look relative to its current diesel sibling, swapping out the striped grille and large headlights for a more refined look.The front fascia includes sleeker LED headlights and badging and has moved further up the bonnet to almost border the windscreen, leaving a chunkier lower bumper housing small LED fog lights.The overall shape of the Trafic E-Tech remains broadly the same, though there are more prominent black plastic trims and newly designed alloy wheels.Inside, there is a 10-inch digital driver’s display, a 12-inch driver-oriented multimedia interface and a new steering wheel pulled from the Renault Megane E-Tech. As before, a three-seat–bench-seat configuration is standard.The Trafic E-tech will line-up against its Goellete E-Tech sibling, which adopts a rear canopy fit for a food truck, as well as the taller camper van-style Estafette E-Tech.All three models are built on Renault’s scalable skate board-style EV architecture, and are set to go on sale in Europe next year.

Ford has recalled 13,490 examples of its popular Ranger ute and Everest SUV built between 2022 and 2025 due to a manufacturing defect impacting vehicles fitted with Ford’s 3.0-litre turbodiesel V6 engine.

MG has announced pricing and specs for its ZS EV replacement, the S5, which is now available for pre-order.With prices commencing at a mere $500 premium over its predecessor, the S5 will be offered in four variants and two battery packs.They consist of the base 49kWh Excite ($40,490) and Essence ($42,990) variants, and the 62kWh Essence ($44,990) and Excite ($47,990) variants (all prices are drive-away).For comparison, the rival BYD Atto 3 Essential starts at $39,990, while the Chery Omoda E5 starts at $42,990 (both before on-road costs). Once drive-away pricing is factored in they are expected to exceed the S5 in price by approximately $2000 and $5000, respectively.All four S5 variants deliver an output of 125kW/250Nm, with power being sent exclusively to the rear wheels through a single electric motor. Vehicle-to-load (V2L) capability is also standard across the range.The Excite 49kWh kick things off with LED daytime running lights, fabric upholstery, a central 12.8-inch multimedia display with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a 10.25-inch digital driver’s display, six-way electronically-adjustable driver’s seats, MG’s 'Pilot Safety Suite' and a surround-view camera.Driving range is claimed at 415km for the Excite and Essence 49kWh variants, the latter adding synthetic leather upholstery, keyless entry, a six-speaker audio system, an electronic-powered panoramic sunroof, a wireless phone charger, a heated leather steering wheel, rain-sensing wipers, heated front seats and a power tailgate with hands-free access.The same changes are reflected across the Excite and Essence variants fitted with a 62kWh battery, although driving range is longer at a claimed 515km under the NEDC cycle.Six colours are available - 'Dover White', 'Sterling Silver Metallic', 'Camden Grey Metallic', 'Champagne Gold Metallic', 'Piccadilly Blue Metallic', 'Diamond Red Metallic' and 'Black Pearl Metallic'.All S5 variants will be covered by MG’s 10-year/250,000km warranty, and for a limited time only, the first 500 buyers will receive a 7.0kW home charger valued at $1199.The first S5 examples are expected to roll into MG dealerships across the country from early May.

Hyundai is set to launch its fifth-generation Tucson in the first half of 2026 and a render published by The Korean Carblog has given us the best idea yet of how it may look.

Isuzu is shaping up as the first of the big three ute brands in Australia – alongside Ford and Toyota – to launch a fully electric ute.

Fresh from its debut at the Shanghai auto show last week, Mazda’s new EZ-60 SUV has already registered a staggering 10,060 pre-orders in China just 48 hours after it was listed on the brand’s website, according to local reports.Its momentous pre-order tally is especially strong for a non-Chinese car brand, and it reflects the insatiable desire for electric and range-extender vehicles in the world’s largest automotive market.Co-developed with Chinese auto conglomerate Changan, the EZ-60 electric SUV rides on the same EPA platform as the Deepal S07 (currently on sale in Australia) and will go on sale in China in electric and range-extender variants.Despite the EZ-60’s Deepal S07 sibling arriving in Australia in full-electric guise late last year, Mazda has yet to confirm its own version for local showrooms, where the brand remains without an electric model. The EZ-60's sedan sibling, the EZ-6e, is heading to Europe and the UK as the Mazda6e and is likely, though still unconfirmed, to land on our roads in the near future. It could be expected that the EZ-60 will follow a similar route.If the EZ-60 continues to be a strong seller it could help it break out of China and into Western markets. An SUV would be a much bigger seller for Mazda in Australia than a sedan.The range-extender variant of the EZ-60 will pair a 1.5-litre petrol generator motor, outputting 72kW, with a 190kW electric motor and a 31.7kWh lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) battery from CATL. Electric-only range is claimed at 160km.Details for the full-electric version still remain unconfirmed.Inside, Mazda has embraced a technology-forward approach with a central 26.5-inch 5K display that integrates the driver’s instrument display, infotainment and climate functions.Voice and touch controls have been favoured over physical ones, including for the rear passengers.The EZ-60 will line up at 4850mm long, 1935mm wide, 1620mm tall and with a wheelbase of 2902mm, making it longer than a Tesla Model Y and BYD Sealion 7.

Mazda’s popular but aging CX-3 is poised to adopt the brand’s latest electric and plug-in hybrid technology when its next generation lands in 2027, and with it, a more contemporary design.In the form of fresh digital renders, Japan-based Bestcar has given us a unique insight into how the new CX-3’s design may evolve alongside its new powertrains.Overall, the new generation hasn’t been envisioned as a radical departure from the current CX-3, with much of the popular small SUV’s silhouette and body shape following the same winning formula.That said, it adopts Mazda’s new design language as championed by the new EZ-60 electric sedan, with sharper LED headlights, a smaller, more angular front grille, and body-coloured front bumpers and panelling.The changes are echoed at the rear with sleeker LED tail-lights, flat rear panelling, alternate M-A-Z-D-A badging and a body-coloured rear bumper.Body-coloured panelling remains uniform along the side of the vehicle, replacing its predecessors black plastic wheel arches and housing newly designed alloy wheels.Powertrain details of the upcoming CX-3 remain under wraps for now, however, as reported by BestCar, the CX-3 is expected to be offered in plug-in hybrid (PHEV) and battery-electric guises.The former is expected to utilise Mazda’s revived rotary engine paired to a battery pack for a range-extender set-up, as is the case on Mazda’s MX-30 SUV sold in Japan.Best known for its use on the two-door RX-7 coupe, rotary engines are favoured for their compact size and fewer moving parts, which equates to a smoother, quieter ride. Mazda believes that makes them ideal on a plug-in hybrid.Production of the new CX-3 is poised to commence in 2027 at Mazda’s facility in Thailand, a growing production hub for the brand, with Australia all but certain to be a key market.The current Mazda CX-3 was first launched in 2014 with sales commencing in Australia the following year.Despite its decade-long tenure, the CX-3 remains one of Australia’s best-selling small SUVs, clocking some 4337 sales to March this year, comfortably outselling the Toyota Yaris Cross, Hyundai Venue and Kia Stonic.

MG has launched a new entry-grade variant of its electric Cyberster, sneaking the car’s entry price below the $100,000 mark.

Official renderings of Alfa Romeo’s new Stelvio have been leaked, revealing a revamped design for the brand’s aging SUV.

Chery could have a BYD Atto 3 and Kia EV3 rival in Australia shortly following the Omoda 3’s reveal at the Shanghai auto show last week.According to Autocar UK, the small SUV with an optional electric, plug-in hybrid (PHEV) or petrol powertrain has been confirmed for the UK – a fellow right-hand drive market.Chery’s local arm told CarsGuide it is interested in the model for the Australia market, although it is yet to confirm a timeframe for its release.The Omoda 3 represents a new design language, with the Chinese company opting for angular lines and a shark-nose grille, giving it the impression of a $400,000 Lamborghini Urus, despite the Omoda 3’s likely starting price nearer the $35,000 mark.It lines up at 4420mm long, making it 50mm longer than the current Omoda 5. According to Autocar, the new Omoda 5 will be stretched for its next generation.Exact powertrain specifications remain unclear at this stage, although it is likely to inherit Chery’s Super Hybrid System currently underpinning the new Jaecoo J7, with which it shares a platform.It combines a 1.5-litre four-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine, which makes 105kW, with a 150kW electric motor and a single-speed transmission. A 18.3kWh lithium-iron-phosphate battery, meanwhile, provides 90km of electric range.Inside, the Omoda 3 adopts what Chery is calling a “starship cockpit” that features a portrait-oriented central display and a smaller landscape-oriented digital driver’s display.The Lamborghini inspiration continues with what appears to be a centre-console mounted push-button start with a red switch cover.Customers will also reportedly be able to modify their Omoda 3 with an “official racing pack” that adds body wraps.Chery Australia announced recently that it would split off Omoda into its own sub brand, sitting alongside the more premium Jaecoo.Chery has had serious sales success in Australia this year with the brand clocking some 6057 sales to March – an increase of 216 per cent compared to the same period last year.Its new Tiggo 4 – a rival to the MG ZS, Kia Stonic and Toyota Yaris Cross – has led the charge, registering 3338 sales so far this year.The announcement of the Omoda 3 follows news of Chery’s global plans to launch 19 new hybrid models across this year.