Hybrid

China’s GWM has had a cracking start to the year in Australia and it’s not slowing down anytime soon.

Geely is giving people what they want.

Mitsubishi warns it can't chase Chinese brands on price, and there are other factors buyers should consider.

Mazda opted to develop its new hybrid powertrain for the CX-5, rather than utilise Toyota's RAV4 Hybrid system as the brand does with the CX-50 in the USA, because it wanted to ensure its most popular vehicle was more dynamic to drive than its Japanese rival.

High-end off-roaders are few and far between in Australia, but China's answer to the Range Rover and Lexus LX could be headed Down Under soon. The Fangchengbao Leopard 8 - likely to be called Denza B8 internationally - could be a more affordable, plug-in hybrid alternative to the luxury 4WD set.

Oh, how quickly things change. Only a few years ago car companies were excitedly revealing plans to ditch the internal combustion engine and go all-electric as soon as the end of the decade. And one particular technology in particular was derided above all others — plug-in hybrids (PHEVs).

The hybrid small SUV segment is on fire, with Chinese brands changing the value landscape in a big way. Two of the most compelling are the MG ZS Hybrid+ and the GWM Haval Jolion Hybrid, and they're battling out here in flagship Essence and Ultra guises respectively. Amusingly similar in overall dimensions and specification, they diverge dramatically inside, on the road and at the petrol pump.

If you thought that there was no way more Chinese car brands could come to Australia, think again. Waiting in the wings is Lynk & Co, which is poised for exactly the right moment to enter the country.

Black is back in fashion.

Alfa Romeo has detailed the pricing and specifications of its new entry-level Junior small SUV ahead of deliveries commencing this month.The 2026 Alfa Romeo Junior will be offered locally with both mild-hybrid and electric powertrains in Australia. Both are launching in a single, fully-loaded trim level.The Junior Ibridia (hybrid) starts from $45,900 before on-road costs, while the Junior Elettrica (electric) starts from $57,900 before on-road costs. A full pricing table is at the bottom of this story.In Ibridia form, the Junior is powered by a 1.2-litre turbocharged three-cylinder engine running the Miller cycle that’s augmented by a 48V mild-hybrid system which features a 21kW electric motor that’s integrated into the six-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission.Total system outputs are 107kW of power and 230Nm of torque. Alfa Romeo claims it can do the 0-100km/h sprint in 8.9 seconds and the top speed is 206km/h.The Junior Elettrica, on the other hand, is powered by a single, front-mounted electric motor producing 115kW of power and 260Nm of torque.Despite having more power and torque, it’s 0.1 seconds slower to 100km/h than the mild-hybrid version. It takes 9.0 seconds.The electric motor is fed by a 54kWh lithium-ion battery pack, which allows for a claimed 407km of range, according to WLTP testing.The battery pack can be DC fast-charged at rates up to 100kW, which allows for a 10 to 80 per cent charge in 30 minutes.As noted above, the Junior Ibridia and Elettrica share the exact same standard specifications.The only difference with the former is it has dual exhaust tailpipes and paddle shifters. The latter also picks up a Mode 3 charge cable as standard.Standard equipment includes 18-inch alloy wheels, matrix LED headlights, “Leggenda Scudetto” front grille, LED tail lights, two-tone black roof, hands-free power tailgate, dual 10.25-inch screens, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, six-speaker sound system, wireless charger, black cloth and synthetic leather upholstery, heated front seats, and a six-way power adjustable driver’s seat.A sunroof is available for an extra $1990.On the safety front there are six airbags, autonomous emergency braking (AEB), blind-spot monitoring, lane-keep assist, adaptive cruise control, reverse camera, as well as front, side and rear parking sensors.Six exterior colours are available – White Sempione, Black Tortona, Red Brera, Blue Navigli, Arese Steel and Galleria Light Grey. Premium paint costs an extra $1990.