SUV News

GWM to launch brand new 4.0-litre V8 by 2027 despite Australia's increasingly tough emissions laws

Chinese carmaker Dongfeng has revealed its "military-grade" Warrior M817 electric SUV at the Shanghai auto show.

One of the country’s most popular mid-size SUVs, the Mitsubishi Outlander, has come in for a substantial update including extra in-cabin tech, upgraded multimedia (including audio) and an Australia-specific suspension and steering tune.Scheduled to arrive here in the third quarter of this year, the 2025 model year Outlander’s exterior design has been tweaked around the lower part of the front grille and rear diffuser panel while new alloy wheel designs have also been introduced.The five- and '5+2'-seater’s interior now includes a 12.3-inch multimedia display managing multiple functions including wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, and in the top-spec Exceed Tourer, a new ‘Dynamic Sound Yamaha Premium’ audio system.But arguably the biggest change is an Australian-specific suspension and steering tune, which according to Mitsubishi Motors Australia Limited is part of a collaborative program which has elevated it to ‘core market’ status with Mitsubishi Motors Corporation.Feedback from Australian customers and media fed into the process as well as “early local development drives on-road and at Victoria’s Lang Lang proving ground”.Mitsubishi Australia R&D Engineer Tony Dorrington subsequently spent several weeks on the ground in Japan to finalise the set-up with the MMC team at its Okazaki proving ground. According to Mitsubishi, the aim is “a greater connection for the driver and greater occupant comfort”.MMAL GM of Product Strategy Bruce Hampel said, “As a core market for Mitsubishi Motors globally, Australian market feedback played a significant role in further improving the updated Outlander’s steering, ride and handling, tuning it to further suit Australian conditions and buyer requirements with a new tyre specification.”So far in 2025 the Outlander is running second in medium SUV sales to the all-conquering Toyota RAV4, with the Kia Sportage and Mazda CX-5 in hot pursuit.Mitsubishi says further detail on pricing and final specification will be confirmed closer to the launch date.

Volvo insists it shouldn’t be considered among the influx of Chinese brands in Australia — despite the Swedish mainstay now being owned by China’s automotive giant Geely — telling CarsGuide that it has something none of them can offer.

Chinese brand BYD is plotting an SUV and ute-lead takeover of the Australian new-car market, with the carmaker's local executives promising ladder-frame SUVs and even a tougher Shark 6 ute as part of a broad product rollout.

With the eagerly-anticipated Ford Ranger plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) finally hitting showrooms in the middle of this year to give the BYD Shark 6 PHEV a run for its money, is that where this level of electrification development stops on the T6.2 platform?

In a rapidly changing new-car market, Australians are increasingly getting to know an array of electric vehicle technologies.

MG might have only been a popular mainstream brand for a few years, but the bullish carmaker is intent on being a top-three brand in Australia quite soon.

Mazda moves into new hybrid territory with the range-extender CX-6e.

Subaru has debuted its seventh-generation Outback at the New York Motor Show overnight and the popular family favorite looks more like an SUV than ever.