News

Chery's new Tiggo 7 outed in regulatory docs - but what's new for the key Haval H6 rival?

Despite a seemingly huge appetite for the ultra-cool Ford Bronco SUV and its mini-me Bronco Sport sibling, Aussie new car buyers have so far been denied access to the super-successful retro-futurist Ford models.Since its launch in 2021 the prospect of right-hand drive production has taken a back seat as the focus remains on satisfying strong US domestic demand.And that’s despite Ford’s global CEO Jim Farley telling CarsGuide way back in 2022 that, “(Ford) can do Bronco and Bronco Sport for the globe, for sure. But we have, like, a year or two order bank so we have a lot of work to do on our capacity before we can even consider something like that.”And so it is that close to three years later there are still Bronco and Bronco Sport-shaped holes on Ford’s local showroom floors. But news coming out of China overnight could fast-track new EV and range-extender hybrid versions of the Bronco for Australian consumption.Developed by the Ford/Jiangling Motor Chinese joint venture operation, the Bronco New Energy is a larger, re-powered version of the charismatic off-roader.To be produced at Ford/JMC’s Nanchang plant in South-East China, the new car’s arrival opens up the possibility of a fresh source for potential Australian market supply.CarsGuide contacted Ford Australia for comment on that possibility and a spokesperson said, "We have no news to share on any plans to offer the Ford Bronco in Australia”. But hey, that's not a no.The Ford/JMC JV already produces a version of the existing Bronco. To reduce cost it’s powered by a 205kW 2.3-litre four-cylinder petrol engine (supplied by a second Ford/Changan joint-venture business) rather than the 235kW 2.7-litre V6 petrol engine deployed in the USA.Documents published overnight by the Chinese Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT), and referenced by multiple Chinese sources, describe the new pure-electric and plug-in hybrid Bronco variants.Measuring 5025mm end-to-end the new models are just over 200mm longer than the existing four-door combustion Bronco, while retaining a similar width, height and identical wheelbase.The pure-electric version features a 105kWh battery delivering a CLTC-rated range of 650km and supports high-voltage fast charging. The plug-in hybrid version has a solid 44kWh battery with a 220km EV-only range, rising to around 1220km in concert with the 110kW 1.5-litre, four-cylinder range-extender petrol engine/generator.Motor and driveline specs are unknown at this point but the EV’s kerb weight is listed at a reasonably trim (for a BEV) 2630kg, while the hybrid weighs in at 2511kg.Like all Chinese versions of the car the new five-seat Bronco models wear an additional ‘Ford’ inscription on the grille, as Bronco isn’t a well-known model name in that market, and a Jiangling-Ford badge on the rear.In terms of exterior design, the leading edge of the bonnet has been made more prominent and the headlight treatment, while instantly recognisable, has also been tweaked.The Bronco New Energy sports a Lidar sensor at the front of the roof with over 30 additional “high-precision sensors/cameras” also onboard.

Long-wheelbase versions of cars are very popular in China and the latest to get this is the popular Tesla Model Y electric SUV.Imagery and initial specifications of the so-called Tesla Model Y L have surfaced on China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) as published by Car News China.The Tesla Model Y L measures in at 4976mm long, 1920mm wide and 1668mm tall, with a 3040mm wheelbase.This makes it around 180mm longer and 45mm taller than the regular Model Y, with a 150mm longer wheelbase.As a result of this extra length and the higher rear three-quarter section, Tesla has been able to fit a third row to the Model Y L. Car News China reports this car has a six-seat configuration, likely with second-row captain’s chairs.This isn’t the first time Tesla has fitted a third row of seating into the Model Y. In pre-update form, a seven-seat option with the standard wheelbase was offered in certain markets, including the US. It wasn’t offered in Australia.Power in the Model Y L will reportedly come from a dual-motor all-wheel drive set-up with a total system output of 340kW of power. This is 9kW more than the standard-wheelbase Long Range AWD.Thanks to the extra length the Model Y L reportedly has a kerb weight of 2088kg, which is around 100kg more than the standard Model Y Long Range.Car News China reports the Tesla Model Y L will be launching in China during its Autumn (September to November).It’s unclear if it will ever be offered outside of China, though it’s worth noting all versions of the Australian-specification Model Y are currently made in China.We’ve reached out to Tesla to see whether the Model Y L will be offered locally. We’ll update this story once we hear back.Despite the updated Model Y ‘Highland’ launching in Australia earlier this year, Tesla has been experiencing a big slump in sales locally.In the first six months of 2025 the company sold a total of 14,146 vehicles, which is down 38.8 per cent year-on-year.In June however, Tesla sold a total of 3457 Model Y examples, making it the third best-selling car for the month. It was behind only the Ford Ranger and Toyota HiLux.

So far in 2025, China’s GWM has been setting new sales records again and again despite the overall new car market cooling down.Momentum for the Chinese brand has been gaining slowly but surely and it’s now setting its sights on sustaining a top five placement by 2030.In order to do this it would likely see GWM topple brands like Mitsubishi and Hyundai, as well as another established Chinese brand in the shape of MG.Earlier this year the Chinese carmaker set a lofty target of selling at least 50,000 new cars in Australia during 2025.In the first six months of 2025, the brand has sold a total of 25,189 new vehicles, which puts it on track to achieve its target. This is helped by GWM achieving its best ever monthly sales in June.GWM is the seventh best-selling brand in Australia so far in 2025.It’s ahead of brands like MG (21,674 sales) and Isuzu Ute (21,883 sales) but still behind Mitsubishi (33,379 sales).BYD (23,335 sales) is catching up quickly, however, with astronomical year-on-year growth of 144.6 per cent. For context, GWM’s year-to-date sales are up 17 per cent year-on-year.Rounding out 2025, GWM plans to sell a total of around 8000 examples of the Haval H6 in the second half, bringing total annual sales to 15,000.A mid-life updated version of the Haval H6 just launched in Australia. Initially only hybrid variants are available, though petrol versions are arriving in August and new plug-in hybrid (PHEV) variants are launching in September.Beyond the Haval H6, GWM is launching a vast number of new vehicles in Australia.The Chinese carmaker has confirmed the Haval H7 is launching in August and the Tank 500 PHEV is arriving in October.Beyond these, GWM Australia and New Zealand Chief Operating Officer John Kett said the company is expecting to have a total of three electric vehicles (EVs) on sale by the end of September 2026.One of those will likely be the Ora hatchback, which is set to get an update soon. Another could be the Ora Sport liftback that’s been earmarked for a local launch for years now and the other could be a production version of the Haval Xiaolong SUV prototype.

Mercedes-Benz has sharpened the pencil on two of its C-Class models.The German carmaker has slashed more than $15,000 off the price of its performance-focused C43 AMG, which now starts at $123,800 (before on-road costs).Benz hasn’t stopped there, it has even added more standard kit to the car to enhance its value even further.The C43 now comes with several packages as standard that add black leather with red contrast stitching AMG seats, AMG steering wheel wrapped in Nappa leather and microfibre,  red brake calipers, a racetrack-focused driving mode, track driving telematics and a darkened grille and dark chrome exterior badging.It uses the same 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine with mild hybrid assistance matched to a nine-speed automatic driving all four wheels.Mercedes has given the C43 a power bump to 310kW, up from 300kW, thanks to an engine recalibration. Torque remains at 500Nm.The German brand has also increased the value of the C300, with extra kit for only an extra $100.Priced from $98,200 (before on-road costs), it now has increased active driver aids, updated headlights with adaptive high beam, a Burmester 3D stereo and Mercedes-Benz augmented reality navigation.Mercedes-Benz is having a solid 2025, having improved sales by about 16 per cent through the first six months of the year, after several years of declines.The C-Class is down about 27 per cent for the year until the end of June, but it is nipping at the heels of the BMW 3 Series for the best-selling compact luxury sedan in Australia this year.

The head of Nissan in Australia has revealed he would buy the latest version of the ageing Y62 Patrol now rather than wait for its Y63 replacement to arrive late next year, because there will not be another one like it.Nissan Oceania Vice President and Managing Director, Andrew Humberstone, believes that, as the last of the affordable V8 SUVs on the market, putting one away for a rainy day may end up being a prudent investment.“Personally, selfishly, this is the car to buy, now,” he said.“That’s the one I would keep and not sell, because I think residual values are going to go through the roof, because I think that’s what people are going to want… if I was into any sort of boating, or any sort of camping or any sort of boating.”Humberstone may have a point, with Patrol sales down only 4.2 per cent year-to-date in Australia, compared to nearly 38 per cent for the much-newer (and V6 twin-turbo-only) Toyota LandCruiser 300, in an Upper Large SUV segment that has stumbled 27 per cent.While the international car-industry veteran is quick to point out the advances that the upcoming all-new Y63 Patrol with its twin-turbo V6 will have over its 15-year-old Y62 predecessor, he admits that the V8 will be missed.“The Y63 is an amazing vehicle,” he explained. “But I’m old-school still. I have to manage my conscious with one electric car and then one V8, and then I can say I’m neutral, I’m doing my bit for the environment in that way.”So, why is Nissan even releasing an updated old Patrol when a new one is already on sale in other parts of the world, including in the Middle East and in North America (as the Nissan Armada)?Humberstone revealed the facelift coming out at this time was always part of a larger plan, to maximise its appeal and give consumers both existing and new-to-the-series a reason to revisit the Y62 in 2025… especially now that Toyota does not offer a V8-powered LandCruiser as an alternative.“It was a little bit more strategic, because at the end of the day, we were aware of our Y63, we were aware of the kind of demand that would generate, and we wanted to optimise on the specification,” he said.Furthermore, Nissan timed the MY25 Patrol launch very carefully, so there is still up to 18 months before the Y63 Patrol – which has yet to be produced in right-hand-drive guise – arrives in Australia, making the purchase now and then again for another one from 2027 justifiable in the minds of consumers as well as commercially prudent for the carmaker.“On the run out of the V8, we were aware of what the competitors were doing,” Humberstone said. “We had a pretty good idea of what was happening with the V8 space in the V8 market.“So, we knew we'd have a window of opportunity, and we wanted to optimise on the (partly redesigned for MY25) dash, and the technology on the vehicle as best as we could.”Nissan’s big step up in ownership, that includes the availability of a conditional 10-year/300,000km warranty and lower-priced servicing, as well as having an in-house finance arm to facilitate the buying process, have also played a part in the MY25 Patrol strategy.“So, building up the spec, arguably giving the best product, or the best version of the Patrol V8 at the end of its life cycle is…strategic,” Humberstone added.

Model Y gets a battery boost.

Nissan will develop a fleet of new ladder-frame SUVs to take on everything from the Ford Everest to the Toyota LandCruiser Prado, according to new reports out of the USA.In fact, the brand is working on a plan that will use an American factory to tap into the tough off-roader market, according to US site Automotive News.According to the site, the brand will manufacture two "flagship" SUVs in the USA rather than Japan – presumably the Nissan Armada and Infiniti QX80 – but will also develop two new ute-based SUVs.Ute-based means they will use a ladder-frame chassis as an underpinning, much like the Ford Everest and Toyota LandCruiser Prado.One vehicle is suggested to be the SUV version of the recently revealed Nissan Frontier Pro plug-in hybrid ute, which was revealed at the 2025 Shanghai Motor Show in April.That plug-in powerhouse develops a substantial 300kW and 800Nm from its 1.5-litre turbo-petrol engine and a single electric motor.The second model remains something of a mystery, but is expected to be another ladder-frame SUV, powered by either Nissan's e-Power hybrid tech, or a PHEV system. It would potentially sit above the Frontier-Navara-based model, giving the brand three models that step from, in Toyota parlance, Fortuner, Prado and LC300.While Nissan is yet to officially confirm the plans, a person with knowledge of the plan told Automotive News that the brands is developing a “comprehensive body-on-frame product strategy” for the US plant.Further, a Nissan representative told the site that it is “actively exploring” ways to develop body-on-frame vehicles.The news fits neatly with the word earlier this year that the Xterra is at the top of the brand's product wish list, with one of the brand's most senior executives pushing for a "functional and affordable" ute-based SUV that would take on the Toyota Fortuner, Ford Everest and Mitsubishi Pajero Sport.Chairman of Nissan Americas, Christian Meunier, said he recognised buyers want "a return to authenticity and simplicity, not having all the gizmos and gadgets" in a ute-based SUV.Asked what white space Nissan has in its American lineup, the executive told Automotive News that "if I could bring a car tomorrow, it would be the Xterra", referencing the Navara-based SUV that was discontinued in 2015 before being reborn in the Middle East in 2021."This is a white space because many competitors target the higher end of the adventure market. People desire a sense of freedom," he said."There‘s a return to authenticity and simplicity, not having all the gizmos and gadgets. People want a comfortable, functional and affordable vehicle."

Captiva is back but not as you might recognise it.

There is now less risk in buying a used electric car. Auction house Pickles has launched a new EV battery health score for the used electric cars it sells.