The Yangwang U7 luxury sedan from BYD has passed a 30,000km endurance test with flying colours, losing just 1.3 per cent of its battery capacity despite undergoing more than 350 Flash charging cycles in sweltering conditions.
Held in the southern Chinese city of Nanning, the trial put the U7’s Blade 2.0 battery through its paces in no uncertain terms. It had to deal with temperatures topping 36°C, according to CarNewsChina, with relative humidity up to 80 per cent.
The U7 completed 30,000km of driving in eight days, 19 hours and 58 minutes. When it was over, the battery capacity retention rate was 98.7 per cent. According to the publication, the car maintained a cruising speed of 240km/h while the airconditioning was set to 24°C for the length of the test.
Yangwang general manager Hu Xiaoqing said the vehicle used in the trial was selected at random from a showroom and did not deviate from standard trim in any way. She added that the brand welcomes verification and further testing from independent bodies. The impressive result came amid BYD using 758 U7 test vehicles to cover almost 10.5 million kilometres before it’s brought to market.
The U7 is the flagship high-performance sedan from BYD’s most exclusive brand. First revealed in China in March last year, it comes in four and five-seat layouts, EV and PHEV variants, and features the “God’s Eye” suite of driver assist systems.
Four electric motors power the EV version with a total output of 960kW and 1680Nm of torque. Claimed 0-100km/h time is 2.9 seconds with a top speed of 270km/h, and the 135.5kWh Blade battery gives it a claimed CLTC range of 720km. Replenishing from 30 per cent to 80 per cent takes 20 minutes using DC fast charging.
In January last year it was announced that the U7 will get an optional power upgrade to 1000kW with a 150kWh battery pack that gives it energy consumption of 17.7kWh per 100km and boosts range to a claimed 1006km.
Chinese pricing for the U7 starts from $132,950. In January, BYD confirmed that Yangwang is coming to Australia, but did not provide a timetable. The brand made headlines with its U9 supercar, which set a record as the world’s fastest production car by reaching 496.22km/h, and lapped the Nurburgring Nordschleife in six minutes and 59.157 seconds.
Hyundai Australia has revealed local pricing and specifications for the new XRT Pro variant of its Palisade large SUV. Arriving in showrooms from next month, the Palisade XRT Pro is the first time that Hyundai has offered the XRT Pro off-road package to the Palisade range and it adds a more rugged design and enhanced off-road capability, as well as a non-hybrid drivetrain, to its flagship ICE SUV.
Based on the entry-level Palisade Elite, the new XRT Pro adds a number of off-road features for superior ability off the beaten track, including increased ground clearance at 212mm (versus 187mm for other Palisade models), an electronic limited-slip rear differential, Continental all-terrain tyres and mud, sand and snow off-road driving modes.
Hyundai Australia has also given the XRT Pro a unique suspension tune compared to other Palisade models, including off-road-focused hardware and geometry that is entirely different from the standard Palisade.
On the outside, the Palisade XRT Pro has bolder styling features like a metallic treatment for the front grille, blacked-out detailing and XRT Pro badging. Eighteen-inch alloy wheels are wrapped in those aforementioned all-terrain tyres, while there’s also a factory-fitted tow bar and red recovery hooks. A new Titan Charcoal colour is also available.
Inside, the XRT Pro adds a number of design features to set it apart from its stablemates, including XRT branding on the dashboard and headrests, blacked-out controls and unique seat patterns with mountain-like inlays for the black synthetic leather upholstery.
The infotainment display also features a bespoke off-roading page, which provides a graphical presentation of key data such as pitch and roll angles, power distribution, and rear e-LSD operation to give the driver confidence during challenging manoeuvres. Unique to the XRT Pro is a ground-view monitor that gives the driver a clear view of the wheel trajectory on challenging terrain. An XRT button on the steering lets drivers access the off-roading cluster and infotainment themes.
The XRT Pro is also the first new-generation Palisade model in Australia that doesn’t use a hybrid drivetrain. Instead, it’s propelled by a 2.5-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol engine making 207kW and 422Nm. It’s paired to an eight-speed automatic transmission and, of course, all-wheel drive as standard. Fuel economy and emissions figures are yet to be revealed.
2026 Hyundai Palisade pricing (excluding on-road costs):
- Elite Hybrid: $76,500
- XRT Pro Petrol: $79,900
- Calligraphy Hybrid AWD: $89,828 (7-seat: $90,828)
- Calligraphy Black Hybrid: $92,400 (7-seat: $93,400)
The first Australian arrivals for the Hyundai Palisade XRT Pro will commence next month.
Australian drivers are easing off the accelerator in a bid to squeeze more kilometres out of every tank and cut their fuel costs. New research from finance experts Money.com.au has revealed that 39 per cent of Aussies are driving slower than usual or below the speed limit to save money as prices continue to sit above $2 per litre around the country.
Money‘s survey of more than 1000 Australian drivers found that 23 per cent reduce their speed on suburban or arterial roads to conserve fuel, while 16 per cent do so mainly on highways or motorways. They’re not just taking a mild approach, either, averaging 7km/h below the posted speed limit.
Money‘s research showed that Gen Z drivers are the most likely to deliberately slow down or drive below the speed limit to save fuel (45 per cent), compared with 42 per cent of Millennials and 36 per cent of both Gen X and Baby Boomers. Younger drivers are also shaving more speed off. Gen Z motorists who use the tactic travel an average of 8km/h below the speed limit, compared with 7km/h across all other generations.
“Petrol is one of those grudge expenses, and with the full fuel excise now at 53.7 cents per litre, it makes sense that drivers are looking for small ways to save at the pump. While many Aussies are driving less or catching more public transport, others are simply easing off the accelerator to stretch every litre further,” said Money’s head of insights, Sean Callery.
“Driving a little slower can improve fuel efficiency up to a point, but there are better ways to reduce your fuel bill. Use a fuel-tracking app to find cheaper petrol in your area or exchange your credit card points for fuel gift cards to save directly at the bowser. Smooth acceleration, keeping your tyres properly inflated and avoiding unnecessary weight in the car can also help improve fuel economy.”
Geely is preparing to launch its own in-house rival to BYD’s ultra-rapid Flash Charging system for EVs. Based around a 1000-volt battery architecture, the Chinese giant’s new tech will cut the time needed to charge from 10 to 97 per cent to as little as five and a half minutes, surpassing BYD’s nine-minute claim.
At present, BYD’s 1000-volt-compatible Flash network (pictured below) can deliver a charge rate of 1000kW to 1500kW on compatible vehicles. It quotes recharge times of five minutes for a 10-70 per cent recharge, with an additional four minutes to fill to 97 per cent.
While BYD’s system can be used by compatible rivals with 1000-volt electrical systems, Geely’s development could be used to lure Chinese consumers by giving them an alternative to BYD’s infrastructure.
CarNewsChina reports that Geely is working on its new 1000V system and has plans for higher-voltage battery tech to come, potentially resulting in even shorter charge times. Geely has already begun rolling out 1500kW chargers to rival BYD’s, but with 800V and 900V systems in use on its current vehicles, it can’t yet match the peak charging rate of Flash-compatible BYD vehicles.
In a demonstration of its high-powered charger, the Chinese-market Lynk & Co 10 sedan, with a 900V battery, hit an 1100kW peak, but it could not charge beyond 430kW on the Flash network. With a revised electrical platform, a 1000V system would unlock even faster charging to take advantage of the full 1500kW capacity, dubbed Extreme Charge.
Demonstrations of Geely’s 900V architecture have already beaten BYD’s recharge times, with the Lynk & Co 10 recharging from 10 to 70 per cent in four minutes and 22 seconds, and to 97 per cent in eight minutes and 42 seconds, ahead of the 5-minute and 9-minute benchmarks from BYD for the same charge levels.
With Geely in control of brands like Zeekr, Volvo, Lotus, Smart, and Farizon, the new ultra-rapid tech could be rolled out across a wide variety of vehicles at different price points, although plans for an Australian introduction have yet to be confirmed.
Ram Trucks Australia has announced that the 1500 TRX, the supercharged V8 Hemi bruiser last sold here in 2025 will return to our shores in the first half of 2027. After a brief hiatus in the US, the upgraded TRX now features SRT branding and even more power from its 6.2-litre supercharged Hemi V8 engine: 777hp (580kW) compared to the 702hp (523kW) of the pre-updated model.
The TRX SRT’s V8 also makes 920Nm of torque, and it sprints from 0-60mph (0-97km/h) in just 3.5 seconds, or the same as a current-shape BMW M5. The quarter mile sprint is done and dusted in just 12.2 seconds, too.
According to Ram Trucks Australia, “several hundred” Aussie customers have already tried to place pre-orders for the model following confirmation the performance pick-up was returning to the US in January 2026. When it was on sale locally, almost 1000 units of the TRX were sold delivered.
“We know there is a lot of passion for the TRX in Australia, which is why we have worked hard to secure production out of the US for our market,” said Ram Trucks Australia general manager Jeff Barber.
“Supply of the new TRX will initially be restricted because demand is off the charts in the US, however the factory has been incredibly supportive of the Australian market and we are pleased to confirm the TRX is coming back.”
A complete list of standard equipment for the TRX SRT is yet to be announced, but it will be available in six colours: Bright White, Diamond Black, Forged Blue, Molten Red, Serrano Green and Spitfire Orange.
Pricing for the Ram 1500 TRX SRT starts at $259,950 plus on-road costs, which is $10,000 higher than the last TRX that was sold here: the MY24 Final Edition.
2027 Ram 1500 TRX SRT pricing (excluding on-road costs):
- TRX SRT: $259,950
- Premium paint: $950
Full specifications for the Ram 1500 TRX SRT will be announced closer to the first Australian deliveries, which will begin in the first half of 2027.
A recently discovered patent filing with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has sparked vigorous debate about whether Ferrari has just revealed its next-generation hypercar.
The patent details a new active aero system in which the taillights are mounted to an actuator, allowing them to move from their primary position into a spot higher and further rearward to vary the car’s aerodynamic load.
While the idea of moving bodywork isn’t new, with active aero systems now a regular feature of high-performance supercars and hypercars, using the taillight assembly as a moving part to impact airflow over the rear of the car is a different approach.
The patent, uncovered by CarBuzz, goes further than the usual wireframe or outlined vehicle depictions of the new technology in action, and the image (pictured above) has set off speculation that Ferrari could be previewing the form of a future hypercar. The brand’s current F80 flagship (pictured below) only launched last year, but a more potent or limited-run special edition could be on display here.
The radically styled car in the patent documents has a low cabin that looks more like an enclosed Formula 1 car, with partially exposed wheels and a twin fuselage-style body that shapes air from the body sides toward a massive rear diffuser. The active taillights are mounted between the rear spoiler surface and the diffuser.
While the depiction has the same basic profile as Ferrari’s 2022 Vision Gran Turismo virtual concept, the wider cabin, unique rear styling and integrated wing surface all differ from that design.
A more realistic application of the moving taillight tech is also depicted, with an outline of the current Purosangue used to show how the system could function on Ferrari’s current range. The inner taillights would move rearward from their stowed position and rise to extend the length of the Purosangue’s short rear decklid. Like a traditional active rear spoiler, it could be used to increase downforce and drag under braking.
In either instance, the patent filing doesn’t guarantee that the technology depicted, or the car it’s shown on, is locked in for production. Patent protections can be used while new technology is under development, or to keep competitors from gaining easy access to similar systems.
BYD Australia has confirmed that the M9 plug-in hybrid people carrier will arrive by the end of 2026 to tackle the top-selling Kia Carnival and Hyundai Staria. Closely related to the Denza D9 already on sale down under, the M9 will launch in seven-seat Premium form with an eight-seat Dynamic to follow afterwards.
Unlike the Carnival and Staria, the M9 will be equipped as standard with BYD‘s ‘DM-i 5.0 Super Hybrid’ powertrain, which combines a 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine with an electric motor. BYD Australia is yet to confirm outputs, but the M9 makes up to 218kW of power in China, comfortably more than the 180kW 1.6-litre turbo hybrid Carnival and Starias. It also out-grunts the 200kW V6 petrol Staria.
Both 36.60kWh and 20.39kWh batteries will be available depending on the model, with up to 145km of electric range and 850km of combined electric and petrol range (both figures on the WLTP cycle). Each version supports AC and DC charging, as well as Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) functionality, but speeds are yet to be announced.
BYD’s latest, ultra-efficient powertrain delivers a blend of performance, efficiency and long-range capability – up to 145km¹ of EV range and up to 850km¹ of combined range for the top-spec M9 Premium according to WLTP testing.
Measuring 5145mm long, 1970mm wide and 1805mm high, and riding on a 3045mm wheelbase, the M9 is 10mm shorter in length, 25mm narrower, 30mm down on height and 45mm shorter between the wheels than the Carnival. Behind the third row lies 470 litres of cargo space, and the M9 is rated at 1500kg for braked towing capacity.
BYD hasn’t revealed the M9’s standard features, but it has confirmed that the models will have up to nine airbags, a 360-degree camera system, eight ultrasonic sensors and a comprehensive suite of driver assistance system tech.
“The BYD M9 will be well suited for Australians needing space and practicality while also expecting efficient performance with BYD’s advanced DM Super Hybrid powertrain technology,” said BYD Australia chief operating officer Stephen Collins.
Australian pricing and specifications for the BYD M9 will be announced closer to its local arrival in the fourth quarter of this year.
Volkswagen Group CEO Oliver Blume got a torrid reception when he fronted 10,000 workers on Tuesday to tell them that the company has to undertake drastic restructuring that could result in massive job losses and plant closures.
Blume (pictured below) was reportedly booed and jeered as he addressed staff at VW’s plant in Wolfsburg, especially when he told them “everyone needs to pull together now” as the car giant pushes to simplify its model range and reduce capacity. The huge revamp could result in as many as 100,000 positions being cut.
Workers bearing signs shouted slogans like “our jobs are not your balance sheet adjustments” as the CEO told them about the proposals, saying: “Our plan for the future is the largest transformation programme in our company’s history.”
It was the first time Blume has spoken about the restructuring since the measures were made public earlier this year. The plans suffered a setback in July, when the company’s supervisory board rejected key parts of the proposed overhaul. Some of the most far-reaching measures, including deep staff cuts and plant closures, were shot down when labour representatives on the board voted against them by 12 votes to seven.
A programme to cut 50,000 jobs has been underway since 2024, using voluntary redundancies and partial retirement packages to help make the cuts. It has been reported that Blume told the workers that a further 50,000 positions need to be slashed.
Volkswagen labour chief Daniella Cavallo reportedly told the workers: “Our trust in this company’s executive board, and especially in its CEO Oliver Blume, has been damaged. Not yet beyond repair, but damaged nonetheless.”
Slowing demand, growing competition from Chinese carmakers and the effect of US tariffs have combined to leave Volkswagen in deep trouble. Despite the board’s vote, the company will press on with other objectives that don’t require such approval. These include shrinking production capacity, decreasing investment spending and cutting down the overgrown model range.
Staff protests had been held at VW Group production sites for Volkswagen, Porsche and Audi since the radical cost-cutting measures were first announced. The fiery Wolfsburg meeting is the first of a series of staff addresses to be held over coming days, and Blume was joined by VW brand chief Thomas Schäfer.
Across 12 generations and with more than 57 million examples built, the Corolla has played a key role in pushing Toyota to its position as the world’s largest car maker – and now its diamond anniversary is being celebrated with a specially appointed commemorative model.
Toyota will equip the 60th Anniversary Corolla with an exclusive paint shade, Boreal Blue metallic, a contrasting matt Eclipse Black roof finish, 17-inch 10-spoke alloy wheels with a two-tone finish, and matt silver garnishes on the front bumper and side sills.
The catch for this limited-edition special? It’s a UK and Europe-only edition, built at Toyota’s Derbyshire factory in England. Toyota has yet to announce plans for a celebratory special edition in Australia, a move that’s not without precedent, as Toyota Australia skipped a 50th anniversary model, too.
While the 60th Anniversary Edition Corolla is only available as a hatchback in the UK, European customers will have access to the Corolla Touring wagon and the Turkish-built Corolla sedan.
The Corolla sedan’s 60th birthday package differs slightly as a result of its alternative sourcing, with Lunar Blue paint, no two-tone roof, and commemorative scuff plates and floor mats. Optional Platinum White Pearl and Ash Grey metallic paint will also be offered across the range. All three variants are available with the 103kW 1.8-litre hybrid system offered in Australia, or the option of a 130kW 2.0-litre hybrid on the hatch and wagon models.
Elsewhere, Toyota has offered 60th Anniversary editions in the US, with a Corolla sedan featuring 60th Anniversary badging, floormats, and side sills with the 60th Anniversary logo, plus 18-inch two-tone wheels and Supersonic Red or Ice Cap white paint.
In Japan, Toyota celebrated the milestone with unique 60th Anniversary badging, different from that used in Western markets, a laser-engraved 60th logo on the dash, black 17-inch wheels, and lowered suspension on front-wheel drive models. The Japanese market wagon also gained black bumper and body moulding, and all versions get black mirror caps.
Chinese company Dreame – which is best known as a maker of vacuum cleaners and other appliances – has pulled the pin on its automotive business after boasting that it would build a radical supercar that could go from 0-100km/h in less than a second.
Dreame officially entered the car market a year ago and made sensational headlines when it revealed its Nebula Next 01 Jet Edition in April. The plan was to equip the car with a “custom-built dual solid-fuel rocket booster system” that “responds in 150 milliseconds” and would provide peak thrust of 100 kilonewtons.
The boasting didn’t stop there, however. Dreame also said the Jet Edition would come with a sulfide-based solid-state battery with an energy density of 450Wh/kg. In addition to that 0-100km/h time of 0.9 seconds, it was meant to have 550km of CLTC range.
It was also meant to go on sale down under, according to the company’s car project lead for Australia and New Zealand, James Moore. In June he predicted Aussies would be able to snap up the non-jet Nebula Next 01 and an SUV. “The ambition is that we’ll have our Nebula Next range, both the 01 and our SUV Nebula next, and potentially even the jet-powered vehicle,” Moore said.
Now the old saying “if something sounds too good to be true, it probably is” has been proven correct with the news that the company is dropping its “Starry Sky” project, as its carmaking arm was known, with layoffs starting in May, according to CarNewsChina.
There were signs of trouble recently when former staff told China Economy that the version of the Nebula supercar that was shown at the Consumer Electronics Show in January was not what it seemed. They claimed the vehicle didn’t have a chassis, was moved via remote control, and that the bodywork was created by a Chinese model company.
The non-jet Nebula (pictured in top gallery) that debuted at CES was supposed to have four electronic motors producing a total output of 1420kW, with the absence of those sold-fuel boosters increasing the 0-100km/h sprint time to 1.8 seconds.
Dreame originally intended to separate its auto business into two arms: Dreame Automotive, which would produce the performance cars, and Starry Automotive, which would make the aforementioned SUV, a super-luxurious model that would compete against established players like the Bentley Bentayga.
