Plug-in 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.

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).

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.

Lexus Australia is introducing a new entry-level version of its NX plug-in hybrid (PHEV) mid-size SUV.The 2026 Lexus NX450h+ Luxury AWD is set to be available from late September and is priced from $84,500 before on-road costs.This is $12,800 more than the entry-level NX350h Luxury 2WD, and $11,500 less than the flagship NX450h+ F Sport AWD.As part of this introduction, Lexus has axed the entry-level NX250 trim, making the NX350 F Sport the only non-hybridised variant on offer locally.All other carryover trims have received a $100 price rise. The line-up now starts from $71,700 before on-roads for the NX350h Luxury 2WD and extends to $96,000 before on-roads for the NX450h+ F Sport AWD.A full pricing table is at the bottom of this story.This new NX450h+ Luxury AWD is powered by the same 2.5-litre PHEV powertrain as the NX450h+ F Sport AWD. It has a total system output of 227kW of power and is claimed to be able to sprint from 0-100km/h in 6.3 seconds.The two electric motors are fed by an 18.1kWh lithium-ion battery pack. Lexus claims this allows for an electric range up to 87km, according to comparatively lenient NEDC testing.Owners can AC charge at rates up to 6.6kW, which at this speed will see the battery fully recharge in 2.5 hours.Lexus hasn’t confirmed the full specifications for the NX450h+ Luxury AWD just yet.Standard equipment that has been confirmed includes a power tailgate, keyless entry and push-button start, surround-view cameras, wireless phone charger, heated steering wheel, leather-accented upholstery, heated and ventilated front seats with eight-way electric adjustment, and heated outboard rear seats.The NX450h+ Luxury AWD is now Lexus’ third PHEV offered in Australia. It follows the recent introduction of the RX450h+ Sports Luxury AWD in April.

A new kind of EV war is brewing in China. This fresh battlefront isn’t about how long your car can drive on a single charge, but how fast you can refill its battery.

Toyota’s family-friendly Kluger SUV is due a facelift. The seven-seater is now approaching the half way point of its eight-year lifespan, which means big changes are on the way.

There’s a new number-one seller in town. The Ford Ranger has run down the Toyota RAV4 at the halfway point of the yearly sales race.