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Kia details unique features of its top-spec X-Pro Tasman, as it takes aim at high-spec private ute buyers.

Volvo is discontinuing one of its electric SUVs in Australia, after only a few years on sale.

As the first Mercedes-Benz in history to be launched with 800-volt ultra-fast charging architecture, the next-gen electric CLA promised big things when it was unveiled earlier this year.

Volkswagen's next-generation Golf, the Mark 9, will be radically transformed into a high-tech electric car when it is released in 2029, gaining the brand's latest electrical architecture and software, according to a report.

Hyundai Group's luxury brand, Genesis, is reportedly set to launch its first range-extender electric vehicle (REEV) in December 2026.As reported by Korean Car Blog, the brand’s first REEV will be a version of the GV70 built on a modified version of the E-GMP platform.Little information about this car is confirmed thus far, apart from it having a claimed pure electric range of 200km and total claimed range of 900km.The GV70 EREV will reportedly launch in North America, South Korea and parts of Europe. It’s unclear if it will come to Australia.REEV technology is claimed to bridge the gap between an electric vehicle (EV) and a series-parallel hybrid.It’s very similar to plug-in hybrid (PHEV) technology as it prioritises electric power when there’s charge in the high-voltage battery pack.There’s also an internal-combustion engine, like a PHEV, but it only acts as a generator to recharge the battery when needed. It never powers the wheels directly.Genesis currently doesn’t offer any series-parallel hybrids in its line-up, unlike its mainstream Hyundai and Kia sister brands. It only EVs and internal-combustion vehicles.The brand did plan to go EV-only by 2030, but this no longer seems to be the case following recent comments from Genesis global head, Mike Song.“Hybrid, EV, ICE, everything is on the table. It is the customer who chooses the right fit for their needs,” said Mr Song in January.“Still there’s a market or customer who only wants ICE, then we will do it. Our product plan is based on our forecast of the customer demands, so we don’t delete anything,” he said.“The need for EV, including hybrid, is growing.“We still believe one day in the future, we don’t know when, it will be 100 per cent EV.“2030-2035 we think there is customer for ICE and hybrid, then we will do it. Even 2050.”

General Motors Australia has conceded for the first time that it would consider introducing petrol-powered vehicles, most likely the Escalade SUV, if electric vehicle sales stay flat.

Audi's best car you might never drive?

Volvo is following the recent trend of carmakers reviving previous nameplates as higher-riding SUVs, and the latest is the XC70.The new Volvo XC70 has been globally revealed and is set to launch in China later this year.At this stage it’s unclear if it will launch in Australia, though the brand has said it’s exploring potential additional markets “at a later stage”.This new Volvo model slots above the XC60 as a slightly larger and more spacious mid-size SUV offering, but still sits beneath the large XC90.It’s built on Volvo’s 'Scalable Product Architecture' (SPA) platform, like the XC60, XC90, S60, and S90, among others.Volvo dubs the XC70 its first “extended-range plug-in hybrid”.While the Swedish-Chinese carmaker hasn’t fully detailed the car’s powertrain, it claims it can travel up to 200km on electric power alone, according to relatively lenient CLTC testing.Accompanying the reveal is a handful of images showing the XC70’s exterior, with Volvo noting more details will be provided in the coming months.At the front the XC70 has a shield-like closed grille similar to the brand’s electric models, and features an active grille shutter.There is also the classic 'Thor’s Hammer' headlight design which features matrix LED technology. This allows the headlights to stay on high-beam for as long as possible, as it can dip certain portions of the beam when it detects oncoming lights oncoming or tail-lights ahead.The XC70’s side profile is distinctly SUV-like, and around the back there are vertical C-shaped tail-lights integrated into the rear window.Volvo is far from the first carmaker to revive nameplates previously used on spacious wagons or people movers, and relaunch them as SUVs.Recent examples include the Ford Mustang Mach-E, Renault Megane E-Tech and Scenic and Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross, among others.The Volvo XC70 nameplate originated as a high-riding and more off-road-focused version of the V70 wagon, much like the Subaru Outback.Initially called the V70 XC, the XC70 name was introduced in 2003 to align with the newly introduced XC90.It was sold in Australia all the way up to 2016 when the model was retired globally.

Mercedes-Benz has announced it will reintroduce plug-in hybrid (PHEV) models in Australia, starting with the new C 350e.

Jeep now holds the title of Australia's cheapest new electric SUV after announcing discounts of up to $20,000 in some states on its Avenger, Gladiator and Grand Cherokee ranges as part of its end-of-financial-year offers.Despite offering the lowest comparative savings of the three models, the European-built Avenger Longitude is now just $40,000 drive-away, meaning it undercuts budget Chinese rivals such as the new MG S5 ($40,490 drive-away) and the BYD Atto 3 ($39,990 before on-road costs). The previous-generation MG ZS EV (the S5's predecessor) is still technically the cheapest electric SUV in the country outright at $36,888 drive-away, as MG tries to offload remaining MY23 stock. For comparison, the Jeep Avenger only launched in Australia in December of last year. Typically, the Avenger Longitude was priced at $49,990 before on-roads, or approximately $55,344 drive-away in NSW – Australia's most populous state. With the inclusion of premium paint, which is valued at $990, savings now top $16,239 in NSW.The Jeep Avenger is powered by a single electric motor mounted to the front axle that outputs 115kW/260Nm. A 54kWh battery provides 396km of driving range under the WLTP cycle.As standard, the Avenger has a 10.25-inch multimedia display with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, LED lighting, 17-inch alloy wheels, cloth upholstery, a six-speaker audio system and Jeep’s advanced driver assist safety systems.The biggest savings are examples of the Gladiator Rubicon ute, the top-spec variant, which typically starts at $87,250 before on-road costs or $95,388 drive-away in NSW.Interested buyers can now snag one for $76,000 drive-away across the country, which includes a steel bar and premium paint, the latter of which is valued at $895. That takes total savings to $20,238.The Gladiator Rubicon is powered by a 3.6-litre Pentastar V6 petrol engine that sends 209kW/347Nm to all four wheels through an eight-speed automatic transmission.It carries a full-time Rock-Trac 4x4 system with a 4:1 transfer case, front and rear locking differentials, sway-bar disconnect and heavy-duty shock absorbers.Additionally, it carries an 8.4-inch multimedia display with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, LED lighting and advanced safety features.Five-seat examples of the Grand Cherokee Limited, which will soon be discontinued for Australia, are being offered at $62,000 drive-away, down from its previous asking price of $72,950 before on-road costs, or $79,454 drive-away in NSW.Once again, premium paint (valued at $1490) is included, taking total savings up to $18,944 once it’s factored in.The Grand Cherokee Limited carries the same 3.6-litre V6 engine as the Gladiator Rubicon, which delivers 210kW/344Nm to all four wheels through an eight-speed automatic transmission.It carries a 10.1-inch multimedia display with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity, a nine-speaker Alpine audio system, heated and ventilated front seats, leather upholstery, LED lighting, a power tailgate and a comprehensive list of advanced safety features.The significant discounts across the Jeep line-up come as the brand struggles on the sales charts.Jeep has offloaded just 711 cars to date this April, a decline of 24.4 per cent on this time last year’s figures.