Honda’s Australian execs believe the brand’s continued focus on hybrid cars will be crucial in the local market eventually transitioning to EVs.

“Australians will in the main, make the transition to electric vehicles through hybrids,” Robert Thorpe, Director of Automotive for Honda Australia, said at the launch of the 2026 hybrid CR-V. “Hybrids grew 38 per cent in 2025, and the strongest growth segment is hybrids.”

Traditional rival Toyota has doubled down on hybrid technology for its RAV4, and now 30 years since its introduction to the Australian market and into its sixth generation, hybrids have become just as important for Honda.

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“Hybrids are a focus for Honda,” Thorpe said. “We forecast that 80 per cent of our sales in Australia will be hybrid for 2026, but it could be even more than that. “It’s something that Honda has been doing for a number of years, and more than 80 per cent of our product line-up (across the range) will be hybrid as well.”

Honda’s experience with the technology goes back to 2001, with the launch of the first hybrid vehicle in Australia, the Honda Insight. Known for its quirky styling, and impressive for the time fuel efficiency, the first Insight was a toe in the water but very much a portent of what was to come.

Hybrid uptake is accelerating and not just because the current price of fuel has climbed,” Nick Parkington, General Manager of Automotive for Honda Australia, said. “Buyers want efficiency without range anxiety, and in the sub $65,000 medium SUV category, hybrid sales are increasing – from 18 per cent in 2020, to 42 per cent in 2025.”

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New CR-V, with its 135kW combined power, 335Nm and claimed 5.5L/100km fuel use on the combined cycle, offers up to 1000km from a full tank of fuel. “We’re democratising hybrid technology in our range,” Thorpe said. “We’ll get to a point where the whole range is hybrid, not too far away, maybe 2027 or 2028.”

New CR-V comprises six variants, with 2WD and AWD models available, but crucially, hybrid technology is now available from the e:HEV X grade, one step up from base model, costing $49,900 drive away around Australia. The range-topper is the e:HEV RS with AWD costing $64,400 drive away.

Ford Australia has announced that the Everest Wildtrak special edition large SUV will be returning to Australian shores as part of a 1000-unit batch from May 2026 production. Priced from $79,990 plus on-road costs ($3000 more than the previous batch in 2025), the Everest Wildtrak will once again sit in the local line-up above the Sport model but below the flagship Platinum, and is priced at the same level as the off-road Everest Tremor.

Using the updated Everest’s refreshed exterior features, the new Wildtrak features a gloss black ‘H-Bar’ front bumper and a gloss black grille bar accented by ‘Ignite Orange’ ‘nostrils’. Twenty-inch alloy wheels finished in black with the same Ignite Orange inserts are standard, wrapped in all-season tyres, though 18-inch wheels with all-terrain tyres are also available for no extra cost.

Inside, the Everest Wildtrak features leather-accented seat upholstery with Wildtrak lettering and contrast Ignite Orange stitching, a panoramic sunroof and a power-folding third row of seating.

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As before, the Ford Everest Wildtrak will use Ford’s 184kW/600Nm 3.0-litre V6 turbo-diesel engine mated to a 10-speed automatic transmission and selectable four-wheel drive system.

“The Everest Wildtrak enables our customers to boldly conquer their next adventure,” said Ambrose Henderson, Director of Marketing, Ford Australia. “It is designed for those who want to stand out and aspire to an active, youthful lifestyle. We are excited to offer this limited-edition nameplate once again on Everest.”

Ford Everest MY26.5 pricing (excluding on-road costs):

Production for the Ford Everest Wildtrak will commence in May, with local deliveries due not long afterwards.

GWM’s Haval sub brand has revealed its new H10 flagship plug-in hybrid large SUV ahead of its debut at the Beijing Auto Show. Featuring up to three rows of seating with five- or six-seat layouts, the H10 is a plug-in hybrid four-wheel drive aimed at cars like the Toyota Prado, Denza B8 and Land Rover Defender.

Based on GWM‘s new ‘Guiyuan’ platform – it will be one of the first products to use it – the Haval H10 will be offered with a choice of two plug-in hybrid drivetrains with up to a claimed 180km on the Chinese CLTC driving cycle from a 42.8 kWh LFP battery. The H10 uses GWM’s Hi4 dual electric motor system, as found in products like the Tank 500, and both 1.5-litre and 2.0-litre turbo-petrol engines will be available to provide further propulsion. Full drivetrain outputs are yet to be announced.

According to CarNewsChina, the H10 is larger than the big-selling Prado, measuring 5299mm long, 2050mm wide and 1970mm tall with a 3000mm-long wheelbase. Stylistically, it is quite boxy with quad LED headlight units, short overhangs for extra off-road capability and – for the Chinese market at least – a LiDAR unit on the roof for its active safety features.

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The interior of the H10 is yet to be revealed, but based on the brand’s latest products like the H6, we’re expecting a high quality space with a large touchscreen using its new ‘Coffee OS’ infotainment software system.

According to filings with the Chinese Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the H10 upper-large SUV, a rival to the likes of Nissan Patrol, Toyota LandCruiser and Land Rover Defender, will be available as either a two-row five-seater or three-row six seater. The two variants are distinguished by their differing lengths – 5138mm for the five-seater while the six-seater measures in at 5299mm. Height, width and wheelbase remain unchanged.

It’s not yet known if the H10 will ever be sold in Australia, though local media reports suggest that GWM Australia is warm on the idea of it being sold here but is yet to confirm it for our market. If sold locally, the H10 would be sold alongside GWM’s Tank off-roaders like the Tank 300 and Tank 500, though likely with a more luxurious feel inside to differentiate the models.

Further details about the Haval H10 will be revealed at this week’s Beijing Auto Show.

It’s been one of those weeks and it’s only Tuesday.

Indeed, it’s already been one of those years and it’s only March. Last year has rolled into a new one with barely a breath to pause or reset. Dates are circled in red on my paper diary and a constant stream of bings remind me that the electronic calendar is even uglier. And yet, just beyond the keyboard, just ahead of the diary, sits a tonic.

In among the bedlam of the day, week and year, two inanimate objects hold so much promise. Both have sat patiently, within touching distance but almost desperately out of reach since the previous Thursday. Despite the dual calendars demanding attention, the allure cannot be suppressed by the drudgery of reality any longer. 

Those inanimate objects? To the left are the keys to a new Porsche 911 GT3 RS, to the right the rather more simple but alluring key fob to a McLaren Artura. While the 911 GT3 RS is a fantastic car, it’s become a rather common sight on our roads compared to that of a McLaren. Any McLaren, for that matter. Sadly the 911 GT3 RS has also taken on a bit of a fan-boy vibe, with owners more interested in talking about their optional carbon fibre wiper arms than experiencing the performance of their cars – indeed, many are scared to put kilometres on them. I’m not feeling at all common today and options list anoraks aren’t a crowd I identify with. Without a second thought, the McLaren key it is.

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A hurried out-of-office is put in place – meetings, you know, hard to contact and all of that. The key is snatched in the same motion as the laptop is slammed shut (with more force than I intended but a fitting exclamation mark on today’s office work). Normally said laptop would make the journey with me, in fact it goes wherever I go, but not today.

Once the decision is made, I’m not sure my feet touch the carpet as I ‘walk’ cartoon-style to the lift. Down the lift, into the garage, and in the subdued subterranean light, the McLaren Artura stops me cold. I don’t even notice the 911 GT3 RS sitting next to it. I’ve already seen the car, indeed already sat in it and already driven previous Arturas. The shape obviously says supercar, but the Shibuya Spirit paint finish is truly arresting. 

Available through McLaren Special Operations, the Shibuya Spirit paint is a mesmerising magenta finish that is now available on MY26 Artura models. Here, the stunning paint is complemented by the gloss black roof, exterior carbon fibre pack, carbon fibre louvres in the top of the front guards and carbon fibre exterior mirrors. The extrovert paint is offset by the stealth badge pack and stealth exhaust finisher.

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Speaking of the exhaust, this Artura Spider is also fitted with the optional sports exhaust to give a deeper bark to the hard-hitting twin-turbocharged V6 – more of which later. And to ensure that no one misses you, the Shibuya Spirit finish is juxtaposed against 10-spoke forged alloy wheels finished in soft gold (Orum in McLaren speak). The head-turning factor is off the charts.

Usually, I’d point the sleek nose west up over the Blue Mountains and into the interior of NSW. Or perhaps south through the Royal National Park and into the Southern Highlands. But time is genuinely tight, and while I’d love nothing more than a dozen hours behind the wheel, introducing the Artura’s fabulous paint work to as many bugs as I could find, I’ll settle for a run up to West Head and Palm Beach – Sydney’s most-northern suburb and no stranger to cars of this ilk. 

If you’re a sadist, you can slog all the way up the coast to Palm Beach but with a bit of thought and effort, you can link together some of the best roads within the Sydney metropolitan area. There’s no escaping some slogging, but it’s not the end of the world to catch the reflection of the Artura in the glass of the CBD or to cruise across the Sydney Harbour Bridge in an open-topped McLaren (opening the roof takes just 11 seconds and can be done at speeds of up to 50km/h). 

Even at low speed as I negotiate the first few kilometres from the central Sydney jumping off point, there’s a granular, organic nature to the Artura’s controls. It’s a feeling common to all modern-day McLarens (sadly I’ve never driven an F1 but I’m willing to bet that the lineage is obvious). It’s a quality that shines regardless of the conditions, road, traffic, throttle position or passenger. There’s an instant connection but one that encourages further, deeper exploration. 

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And that’s always been at the heart of a modern McLaren. It offers up something from nothing, but also hints that there’s more to discover if you’ve got the time and can put in the effort. I’ve been fortunate to have explored previous Arturas on the cauldron of a racetrack and this has given me insight into how much the chassis has in reserve. 

Despite its obvious dynamic focus, there’s a long-limbed subtlety with how the Artura parries the bumps and bruises of Sydney’s crumbling road infrastructure. The McLaren Carbon Fibre Lightweight Architecture (MCLA) forms such a stiff platform for the suspension – double wishbones up front and multi-links at the rear, and Proactive Damping Control – that the kinematics can work across an enormous breadth. North of the Harbour Bridge, never-ending road works, complete with evil-looking road plates, conspire to catch out the liquorice-strip sidewalls of the Pirelli P Zero tyres and firm damper rates, but the McLaren answers every question with a controlled breath or exhalation. 

Deeper into the north of Sydney, I change lanes with a mirror check and a pretty relaxed over-the-shoulder glance. My eyes return to the McLaren badge on the steering wheel boss, and it snaps me out of my casual approach to driving a $600,000, 515kW supercar on a major Sydney arterial road. However, it’s just another indication of the duality of the Artura and how it plays both Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde with equal precision.

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Indeed, the duality of the drivetrain is on display throughout the early stages of the commute north. The axial flux e-motor provides up to 70kW and 225Nm, and boasts an EV-only range of 33km – more than enough to slink out of the city in silence. It also acts as the reverse gear, leaving the eight-speed dual-clutch gearbox to look after forward drive. The 120-degree wide-angle 3.0-litre V6 is perfect for a low centre of gravity and it’s fed by a pair of electrically-actuated turbos that are mounted low inside the vee. The V6 revs all the way to 8500rpm and the total system output is 515kW and 720Nm. 

Eventually, just before Mount Colah, my blinker indicates the beginning of the best roads within the Sydney basin. Ku-Ring-Gai Chase Road loops back around on itself to Bobbin Head, blends into Bobbin Head Road and returns to northern Sydney suburbia at North Turramurra. In that loop, and even within the constraints of speed limits, other road users and the occasional bush turkey, there’s an itch to be scratched along here. Especially if you’ve got a McLaren Artura Spider at your disposal. 

The road surface switches from race-track smooth to crumbling and pock-marked and back all within a few hundred metres. The Artura’s suspension reacts to each surface change and the uncorrupted steering tattoos the road surface on your palms and finger tips. Even at moderate speed, the entertainment is all encompassing. 

At the loop’s end, it’s a suburban schlep through St Ives and Terrey Hills, before another stretch of challenging tarmac is joined. McCarr’s Creek Road will take you all the way around to Church Point, but before I do that, there’s another diversion up to West Head Lookout. It’s a stunning part of Sydney, complete with tiny hidden beaches, and well worth the drive even if you don’t have a McLaren. Both the Artura and I pause, and after a few minutes taking in the view, including looking over the water to Palm Beach, I return to the McLaren as it’s getting papped by several mid-week tourists. Everyone is fascinating by the Shibuya Spirit paint and rapid-fire questions are asked about power, performance and of course, price.  

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The stars continue to align for me and I score mid-week movie-star parking at The Joey for a quick if not late lunch. No reservation, no problem when you’re driving a McLaren Artura Spider Shibuya Spirit. Over lunch, as I watch the water planes come and go, I reflect on my good fortune and that of those that have a car like the McLaren Artura in their garage. While it might sit on a trickle charger next to a more-often used and somewhat more sensible car (or three), a McLaren is a hell of a tonic to just about anything that’s not going your way. Today, it has reset and reinvigorated me for the week and months ahead. Supercars have always been about the snatched moments, and that remains true of the McLaren Artura.

However, its civility means that you could drive your Artura everyday if you so wished. The sun won’t soften for a few hours yet, but it’s already begun its arc towards the western horizon. It’s time to head back to reality. I decide to hug the coast for the return to the CBD and reality bites very quickly. I catch the tail of the school traffic that soon builds to proper peak hour, and crawl through roadworks from Bilgola. Mona Vale, Brookvale, The Spit, Mosman and the approach to the Harbour Bridge are all awash with brake lights. But I don’t care and nothing can burst today’s bubble.

Anyway, I’ve always liked driving fast cars slowly. There’s something about a serious performance car’s latent ability that entertains and enthrals even in the grind of bumper-to-bumper traffic. Hemmed in by gridlock, and with eyes and phones pointed my way, I’m aware that I’m the centre of attention. And while I’m not an extrovert, the stares don’t make me feel self-conscious – after all, it’s the car that’s the star and not me. My interactions with other drivers and passersby today have been overwhelmingly positive – not something that can always be said in the tall-poppy capital of the world and certainly not something you experience in an Italian supercar. 

Eventually the Artura’s V6 falls silent in the same parking spot it sat in this morning. The 911 GT3 looking on jealously at the handful of bugs that are smeared on its windscreen and paint. Nothing can dim the dazzling Shibuya Spirit Artura Spider. As I blip the car locked and bid it good night, my mind circles back to the start of the day.

The McLaren has treated me to some much needed time off. I made the right choice…

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Specs

This story first appeared in the April 2026 issue of Wheels magazine, now on sale. Subscribe here and gain access to 12 issues for $109 plus online access to every Wheels issue since 1953.

Motorists travelling over the Anzac Day long weekend are being warned to check local road rules, with a patchwork of state-based laws set to catch some drivers off guard.

While Anzac Day is marked nationwide, double demerit penalties will only apply in New South Wales, Western Australia and the ACT, which could catch interstate travellers unfamiliar with the differences.

This year, Anzac Day falls on Saturday, April 25, with Monday declared a public holiday in those three jurisdictions. As a result, authorities have confirmed a four-day enforcement period, with double demerits in place from 12:00am Friday through to 11:59pm Monday.

During this time, fines remain unchanged, but the number of demerit points applied to certain offences will be doubled. In NSW and the ACT, this includes speeding, mobile phone use, failing to wear a seatbelt and riding without a helmet. Western Australia applies the tougher penalties more broadly, including drink and drug driving, red-light offences and failing to properly restrain a child.

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The impact can be significant. For example, using a mobile phone while driving in NSW normally carries a five-point penalty, but during double demerits this increases to 10 points placing drivers close to licence suspension.

Authorities have also reminded drivers that school zones will still operate as normal on the Friday, adding another layer of risk for those not paying attention.

Other states and territories take a different approach. Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania and the Northern Territory do not enforce double demerits during holiday periods, while Queensland instead targets repeat offenders, doubling points for certain offences committed more than once within a 12-month period.

With thousands expected to travel over the long weekend, officials are urging drivers to remain vigilant and understand the rules in each state they pass through to avoid unexpected penalties.

BYD will reveal what shapes as the next-generation Sealion 05 medium SUV at the 2026 Beijing International Auto Show. Compared with the Sealion 5 already on sale locally, the new model is physically smaller, more advanced with more tech, larger battery options and even a fully-electric drivetrain option too.

Looking closer in design to its larger Sealion 7 sibling than the current Sealion 5, the new BYD Sealion 05 is more rounded off than the current model. According to CarNewsChina, the new Sealion 05 is 118mm shorter in length than the current model at 4620mm, which puts more distance between it and the more expensive Sealion 6 already on sale, and it features a 650-litre boot (600L in the EV, which also features a 110L front boot).

CarNewsChina also reports that it features a new plug-in hybrid system with a 1.5-litre petrol engine combined with a 120kW electric motor and either a 26.63kW or 34.28kWh battery for between 220km and 305km of electric-only driving range (CLTC). On the same cycle, the new Sealion 05 is rated at 3.1L/100km for combined fuel consumption, and thanks to its 65-litre fuel tank, can reportedly travel up to 2105km on a full charge and tank.

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The electric Sealion 05 instead features a 200kW electric motor on the rear axle mated to a 57.545 kWh LFP battery for a claimed 540 km of CLTC range, or a more expensive 240kW version with a larger 68.547 kWh battery for 630 km of range. Both batteries can be flash charged, allowing for a 0-97 per cent charge in as little as nine minutes.

Inside the Sealion 05 is a 12.8-inch touchscreen, with a larger 15.6-inch unit available on more expensive models. An 8.8-inch digital driver’s display is also standard, while the cabin also boasts a lot of open storage like dual wireless phone chargers.

BYD Australia is yet to confirm local plans for this Sealion 05. Watch this space.

Two bespoke Mini Countryman will make their global debut at this month’s Beijing International Auto Show, now regarded as the world’s largest car show.

Designed in collaboration with Austrian design studio, Vagabund, the two concept cars – dubbed Mini Countryman Mini x Vagabund – feature distinctive styling and design elements that, according to Mini, “set a powerful statement for adventure spirit, community culture and festival lifestyle”.

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Featuring distinctive graphics, enhanced bodywork and a state-of-the-art sound system, the Mini Countryman x Vagabund are being promoted as “moving sound stages”.

Aside from a raised ride height, wider stance, unique wheel designs and colour-matching body enhancements, the centrepiece of the two concepts is the high-end sound system that is integrated into, and forms part of, the car.

Vagabund’s design removes the rear side windows and in their place, a specially developed sound system that has been designed for outdoor use.

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According to Mini, at the heart of the Countryman x Vagabund “is a newly developed loudspeaker housing made from cast polymer granite – a material that offers ideal conditions for precise and unadulterated sound reproduction.”

Further, mid-range speakers and tweeters have been integrated directly into the bodywork of the Countryman while additional subwoofers in the rear cargo area create “an independent sound system”, or when the two concept cars are parked together, the “Mini Countryman show cars form a mobile stage, creating an immersive audio experience”.

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The Countryman x Vagabund show cars form part of Mini’s 14-car display at the Beijing show that also includes the earlier collaboration between the German-owned British brand and Australian culture brand, Deus Ex Machina.

The two Mini JCW x Deus rally-bred show cars, with their low stance, four spotlights integrated into the bonnet, widened wheel arches and race-bred interiors, made their global debut at last year’s IAA Motor Show in Munich, Germany.

A hybrid version of the second-best selling vehicle in Australia, the Toyota HiLux dual-cab ute, has not been totally ruled out by the Japanese brand’s boss in Australia, John Pappas.

Speaking exclusively to WhichCar by Wheels, Pappas suggested that “if a hybrid powertrain became available for our market, we would definitely consider it”.

But while he wouldn’t rule out a hybrid HiLux completely, Pappas stressed that any hybrid version of the second-best selling vehicle in Australia would have to meet the requirements and expectations of buyers, the majority of whom are fleet, government and ABN holders such as tradies.

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“Right now, we don’t have a powertrain-hybrid option available to us in Australia for HiLux,” Pappas said. “And until we can have [something] – whether it’s a hybrid – that can deliver the same tool [of the] trade […] to meet the customer requirements, then we will consider it.”

While hybrid remains off the table for now, Pappas added that expanding the HiLux’s portfolio to include battery electric and hydrogen fuel cell variants that specifically target fleet buyers was a sign of Toyota’s commitment to “de-carbonisation”.

“We’re now going into a BEV [HiLux], which is targeted… and then we’re also looking at launching a [hydrogen] fuel cell EV in 2028 for HiLux, again, very targeted at fleet [buyers].”

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Asked if Toyota was also considering a plug-in hybrid HiLux to combat the growing popularity of the BYD Shark 6, Pappas said “we’re always considering powertrain options, together with TMC (Toyota Motor Corporation). We’re working with the engineering side of TMC on a raft of things. We’ve got nothing to announce here today… but what we do know is that right now, for the job that it needs to do for rural Australia, the diesel HiLux is that vehicle.”

Toyota axed all petrol-powered variants of the HiLux with the launch of the ninth-generation model late last year, the new range solely powered by diesel. The eighth-generation’s entry-level Workmate remains the last HiLux variant fitted with the brand’s 2.7-litre four-cylinder petrol engine. It was dropped for the 2024 model year with remaining stock sold into 2025.

Ford Australia has revealed that the Mustang Dark Horse will return to Australian shores. limited to just 500 units. The next batch of Dark Horses will also be available with a new T8-Spec Pack, which is a 250-unit batch fitted with a Ford Licensed Accessory Package to celebrate Ford’s partnership with V8 Supercars team Triple Eight Racing. Pricing for the new Dark Horse starts at $104,990 plus on-road costs, with the T8-Spec carrying a list price of $138,888 +ORC.

Compared with the last batch of Dark Horse models in Australia, the new model is available with a wider range of colours, including new ‘Molten Magenta’, ‘Orange Fury’ and ‘Adriatic Blue’ options. It continues to feature a 350kW/550Nm 5.0-litre V8 engine, and standard features include a Torsen limited-slip differential, dark exterior colour highlights on the spoiler, wheels, exhaust and grille, and MagneRide adaptive suspension.

Above the regular Dark Horse is the new T8-Spec Package, which will be available in a 250-unit run out of the Australian allocation of 500 Dark Horses for the 2026 model year. The T8-Spec Package is fitted locally at Ford’s Broadmeadows plant, and is covered by the same five-year/unlimited km warranty as the regular Dark Horse.

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Created to celebrate the partnership between Ford and Triple-Eight Racing in V8 Supercars, the T8-Spec Package adds 19 x 10.5-inch front and 19 x 11-inch rear alloy wheels wrapped in high-performance Pirelli P Zero Trofeo RS tyres (305/30R19 front, 315/30R19 rear) and a revised MagneRide suspension tune, stiffer springs, stiffer roll bars and adjustable top mounts. The T8-Spec is only available with a six-speed manual transmission, with the 10-speed automatic on the regular Dark Horse not available.

On the outside, the T8-Spec Package features a larger rear spoiler with a ‘Grabber Blue’-accented gurney flap and an enhanced front aero splitter, a black rear applique with Grabber Blue Triple Eight branding, a black roof, ‘Notorious Blue’ Brembo brakes, and unique bonnet decals. On the inside, it features Recaro sports seats with Indigo bolsters, Triple Eight branded scuff plates, a unique gear shift knob and a sequentially numbered build plate.

Every customer who purchases a Mustang Dark Horse with the T8-Spec Pack will also be invited to a track experience at Queensland Raceway in the first half of 2027. According to Ford, owners will have the opportunity to engage with the Triple Eight team and learn the full potential of this vehicle in its natural habitat.

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“All of us at Triple Eight Race Engineering are incredibly proud to be partnering with Ford, and the Mustang Dark Horse T8-Spec is a fantastic way to celebrate our return to the track with the Blue Oval,” said Triple Eight Race Engineering Managing Director Jamie Whincup.

Ford Mustang Dark Horse pricing (plus on-road costs):

The Ford Mustang Dark Horse will arrive in Australia in the coming months as part of 2026 model year production.

Chery has released an early preview of its upcoming Tiggo V SUV, offering a first glimpse of a new model set to make its global debut at the Beijing Auto Show later this month.

The Tiggo V will be unveiled at Auto China 2026 on April 24, where it is expected to form a central part of Chery’s display. The vehicle is positioned as a new addition to the brand’s global SUV line-up, with a focus on practicality and adaptability for everyday use.

While full specifications remain under wraps, Chery has confirmed the Tiggo V is being developed as a core model for international markets. The company is targeting buyers seeking a single vehicle capable of handling a wide range of tasks, from daily commuting to longer trips and recreational use.

A key feature of the new SUV is its flexible interior layout. Chery says the Tiggo V has been designed with configurable seating and adjustable cabin space, allowing it to shift between carrying passengers and accommodating larger cargo loads. This approach reflects broader industry trends, where buyers increasingly expect SUVs to serve multiple roles rather than specialising in one area.

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The Tiggo V is also expected to prioritise cabin space and comfort, alongside in-car technology and connectivity. Chery has indicated the model will be designed to cope with a variety of driving conditions, although further details on drivetrain options and performance have not yet been disclosed.

The teaser suggests the Tiggo V will sit within the growing mid-size SUV segment, which remains one of the most competitive globally. Manufacturers continue to expand offerings in this space, particularly in China, where domestic brands are rapidly introducing new models with an emphasis on technology and value.

Chery has been steadily building its presence in global markets, including Australia, with its Tiggo range forming the backbone of its SUV portfolio. The introduction of the Tiggo V signals an effort to broaden that lineup further, particularly by targeting families and buyers seeking greater flexibility from a single vehicle.

More detailed information, including technical specifications and market availability, is expected to be announced at the Beijing reveal.