Mitsubishi has announced it will launch a new small SUV between April 2023 and March 2024, previewed by a concept vehicle revealed this week.
The Mitsubishi XFC Concept will debut at the Vietnam Motor Show next week, providing a look at what the next-generation ASX could look like.
It is headlined by an evolved design language, which is also tipped to feature on the next-generation Triton ute due next year.
Inside, the concept includes a single-frame digital instrument cluster and infotainment system – similar to the Nissan Ariya and Mercedes-Benz models – and two smaller displays for the digital side mirrors.
Mitsubishi hasn’t provided details on the XFC’s powertrain, but it confirmed four driving modes are offered: Normal, Wet, Gravel and Mud.
However, the Japanese brand mentioned a hybrid engine, suggesting another hybrid small SUV – following the Eclipse Cross plug-in – could be in the works
While the concept provides hints about a new ASX, the current model is not sold in south-east Asia, so the forthcoming model could act as an additional model in Mitsubishi’s global line-up.
“We will launch the new compact SUV sequentially in the ASEAN markets including Vietnam in fiscal year 2023,” said Mitsubishi Motors president and chief executive Takao Kato.
It’s understood the new compact SUV will use a Mitsubishi-derived platform instead of a Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance one, with a focus on developing markets, including south-east Asia, Africa and South America.
This could rule it out for Australia, with the model potentially unable to meet our stricter design, safety and emissions standards.
Another option for Australia is the European ASX revealed last month, however, it is currently left-hand-drive only, and a simple rebadge of the Renault Captur light SUV.
“In the future, we plan to add an electrified variant to the lineup and to also roll it out in regions outside ASEAN. We hope to grow the model from a vehicle for the ASEAN market to a global strategic vehicle,” added Kato.
In the meantime, Mitsubishi Australia will launch a mild update of the current ASX in December, as it approaches its 13th year on sale in 2023.
Today, October 20, marks five years since the final locally-built Holden rolled off the production line.
It marked the end of mass vehicle manufacturing in Australia, with Ford and Toyota exiting local production in 2016 and 2017, respectively.
The final vehicle, a red VF Commodore SS-V Redline, completed its run down the assembly line in Elizabeth, South Australia, at 10:45am.
While the locally-built Commodore was replaced by the German-made ZB series, its lifespan was short.
By the end of 2019, lower-than-expected demand and the sale of former GM brand Opel to Groupe PSA – now Stellantis – contributed toward its discontinuation, along with the Astra hatch.
Less than two months later, in February 2020, it was announced the Holden brand would be retired, as General Motors retreated from right-hand drive markets.
Here is how Wheels and MOTOR covered the end of local manufacturing in October 2017, and the demise of the Holden brand over the past decade.
Holden ends manufacturing in Australia
OCTOBER 20, 2017
Australia’s almost 70-year run as a car manufacturer is over. At 10.45am today, Adelaide time, the last Holden Commodore rolled off the manufacturing line.
The occasion was marked in what Holden described as a private ceremony for employees, designed to “mark Holden’s proud manufacturing history and pay tribute to the generations of hard-working men and women who literally built the Holden legend.”
In all, Holden built more than 7.6 million vehicles over 69 years, starting with the 48-215 that launched to an Australian public instantly enamoured with the idea that we could produce a big, powerful and fuel-efficient family car here that was tough enough to handle everything our landscape could throw at it.
Holden, the world’s second-oldest transportation company, had almost made it to seven decades, but fell tantalisingly short after announcing three years ago – largely in response to intense government pressure – that it would follow in Ford’s footsteps and quit local manufacturing. The first Holden rolled off the line on November 27, 1948 in a sawtooth-roofed factory a few hundred metres away from where the national sales office now sits; the last one more than 1000 kilometres away on October 20, 2017.
Holden’s last day of manufacturing: live
OCTOBER 20, 2017 – Elizabeth, South Australia
13:37 And that’s it. The cameras have been packed away, the final farewells made and, just like the machines which screwed together some of Australia’s most loved cars, the Philip Highway outside Holden’s Elizabeth plant has fallen eerily silent.
It’s only as the convoy of historic vehicles departs that it becomes chillingly clear that the party is over and this really is the end.
12:57 [Former Holden managing director] Mark Bernhard addresses the media.
“We’ve been able to build the best vehicles we’ve ever built”.
Bernhard says the vehicles which will be imported from today on will continue to uphold those quality standards.
12:04 Fans have settled in for an event and brought camping chairs, drinks and, of course, the ultimate three-seater spectator’s seat.
From the archives: Holden’s downfall
Holden’s last Aussie-built Commodore on the block for $250,000-plus
JANUARY 21, 2021
Everybody who loves Holden, and even plenty who don’t, remember Holden’s last car…
The Lion sleeps tonight: Holden’s last day in Australia
DECEMBER 31, 2020
As it turned out, WhichCar attended the last vehicle launch Holden would ever hold – but at the time, we had no idea that was the case…
Secret documents reveal lost VE Commodore variants – including a Torana!
AUGUST 5, 2020
A design document kept secret by Holden for two decades has been uncovered by Wheels, revealing initial plans for several tantalising VE Commodore variants…
Exclusive: Uncovering the genuine final home-grown Holden
MAY 31, 2020
At 10:45am on Friday 20 October 2017, the last Aussie-built Holden Commodore rolled off the Elizabeth production line to great fanfare…
Looking back: Holden’s countdown to destruction
MARCH 1, 2020
The Holden brand will be retired by 2021 in Australia and local design and engineering departments shuttered, General Motors announced last week…
Holden brand to cease operations in Australia – as it happened
FEBRUARY 2020
General Motors shocked car lovers across Australia when it announced the Holden brand would be axed at the end of 2020, as part of a move to retreat from right-hand drive markets.
Here is how we reported the breaking news, as it happened:
Why manufacturing (and Holden) failed in Australia
WHEELS MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 2017
“We have worked for the last four and a half years to make Holden a company that will last for decades,” said Peter Hanenberger, Holden Ltd chairman and managing director, back in July 2003…
Holden announces end of production date
JANUARY 13, 2017
Holden has announced it will close the doors of its Elizabeth manufacturing plant on October 20, 2017, bringing an end to its unbroken 69-year run as an Australian carmaker…
Holden closure: company statement
DECEMBER 11, 2013
As part of its ongoing actions to decisively address the performance of its global operations, General Motors today announced it would transition to a national sales company in Australia and New Zealand…
UPDATE: Electric Lexus supercar may be called LFR
After teasing an electric LFA successor at the reveal of the RZ electric SUV, we’re inching closer to seeing the next Lexus supercar take shape.
The new clue is that it could be called the LFR, if Lexus’s recent trademark application at the European Union Intellectual Property Office is to be believed.
American automotive outlet Carscoops picked this trademark up, noting that the request is still being processed. It’s not definitive, but LFR’s proximity to the LFA badge suggests this could be the name of the next Lexus supercar.
One thing is certain though, the LFR won’t use a screaming V10 engine. Instead, it’s likely the electric supercar will have all-wheel drive, be able to hit 100km/h in around two seconds and boast roughly 700km driving range.
The story to here
February: Electric LFA successor confirmed
Lexus is continuing to drip-feed teasers of the LFA’s successor, confirming the electrified vehicle will be the spiritual child of its iconic supercar.
In a video posted to its Twitter page, Lexus showed off the unnamed electric sports car alongside the V10 LFA, allowing us to see how the previous model’s design cues have rubbed off on its replacement.
With a potential 0-100km/h sprint time of under two seconds and an all-electric driving range of up 700km, it’s likely the electrified model will carry on the LFA’s legacy, just with a bit less noise than what the 4.8-litre V10 used to make at 9000rpm.
January 7: Lexus teases all-electric line-up
Snapshot
- All Lexus models to be electric by 2035
- Range of SUVs and sportscars teased
- LFA successor confirmed, all electric!
The British arm of Lexus has provided further teasers for its concept sports car, showing off the two-seater in greater detail than before.
Having first been revealed as a part of Lexus and Toyota’s battery electric vehicle model range announcement last month (below), the EV successor to the LFA supercar will look to capture the magic of its predecessor – becoming a flagship model within the luxury brand’s range.
Seemingly combining physical attributes of the LFA with Toyota’s fifth-generation Supra, there’s no timeline on when the as-yet-unnamed sports car will make a public debut, but we hope the production version remains as true as possible to the concept.
Lexus launches electrified line-up
December 15, 2021: Lexus has joined Toyota in a huge announcement confirming 11 new electric concept cars, going all-electric in Europe by 2030, with other markets to follow.
Unveiled in the announcement by Toyota Motor Corporation’s CEO, Akio Toyoda, Lexus’s models included a new “sports battery EV” inspired by the brand’s previous petrol V10-powered LFA supercar.
In concept form, the new sportscar has a two-second 0-100km/h time on the spec sheet and a driving range of over 700 kilometres when cruising. This is likely helped by Toyota’s progress on solid-state batteries which could feature in the model, with the smaller batteries lighter than conventional lithium-ion cells that have equivalent energy density.
Inspired by the brand’s iconic LFA, Toyoda said “the driving taste – or the secret sauce – of the performance [in the new concept] is cultivated by the LFA.”
“With both proportions and low ride height essential to a sportscar, it will showcase the unique driving performance of a Lexus.
“We will extend the driving taste refined this way to other models as we evolve Lexus into a brand centred on battery EVs. We can position batteries and electric motors to bring more freedom. It will allow us to be more attuned to our customers, different regions and different lifestyles,” he added.
Also shown was a production-ready version of the Lexuz RZ, due to be launched next year and based on Toyota’s e-TNGA platform, which sits underneath the Toyota bZ4X and Subaru Solterra. It is a similar size and look to the existing NX crossover, but fully-electric.
Other concepts revealed, that we can expect to hit production in the future, are new electric models, including; a full-sized SUV like the RX and an IS-type sedan with sporty aesthetics that suggest it will offer a performance-focused version.
In further images revealed by the Japanese luxury carmaker is a shooting brake-style sleek wagon, a hatchback, a convertible supercar (based on the LFA-inspired sportscar), and six other models that are yet to be shown.
Lexus says it will target one million electric car sales globally by the end of the decade and go fully-electric in Europe, as well as China and the US, before removing combustion engine sales in other markets completely.
Snapshot
- A GT3 Touring without the priceu2026 or the engine
- Seven-speed manual standard
- Order books open now, priced from $280,600
The 2023 Porsche 911 Carrera T adopts a badge synonymous with the sports car, following the Macan T’s market launch in Australia.
The ‘T’ stands for Touring, and this spec builds on the standard Carrera 2 with some choice driver-centric options sprinkled on top for $280,600 before on-road costs.
As a first, the base Carrera’s 283kW/450Nm 3.0-litre turbo-petrol flat-six is paired with a seven-speed manual transmission instead of an eight-speed PDK auto.
The Carrera T commands a fair bit more money than a base Carrera ($21,500), but undercuts the more powerful manual Carrera 2 S by $17,500.
With its lower PASM suspension, sports exhaust and bucket seats the Carrera T might be the perfect 911 for those who can’t stretch to the $388,600 GT3 Touring or 911 GTS.
Australian Porsche dealers are accepting orders for the 2023 911 Carrera T now.
What makes the Carrera T special?
Porsche has crafted the Carrera T’s options for the enthusiastic driver – hence the standard manual transmission.
Chassis tweaks include standard adaptive PASM suspension (not available on the standard 911 Carrera), a 10 millimetre ride height drop, mechanical rear differential and less sound insulation.
Inside there are standard fit four-way adjustable sports bucket seats, lightweight window glass and 12-volt battery, Sport Chrono package and a louder exhaust system.
The result is a 911 that has all the creature comforts you need but tips the scale at 1470 kilograms, a not-insignificant 40kg saving compared to a base 911.
| Porsche 911 Carrera T features |
|---|
| Matrix LED headlightsu00a0 |
| 20-inch front/21-inch rear Carrera S wheel |
| Sports exhaust |
| 4-way electric u2018sports seats plusu2019 |
| Lightweight window glass |
| Lightweight 12V battery |
| PASM suspension |
| u2018PTVu2019 mechanical rear LSD |
| Sport Chrono package |
| GT sports steering wheel |
| Exterior black package |
| 10.9-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay |
| Bose sound system |
| Keyless entry |
| Front and rear parking sensors |
Option packages
The 911 T offers further options to allow customisation. These include a Carrera T interior pack that brings contrast seatbelts and stitching in either Lizard Green or Slate Grey.
Those wanting greater long-distance comfort can option 18-way power seats and an extended leather package – while for track rats, Porsche offers even lighter fixed bucket seats with ‘RaceTex’ upholstery.
Porsche offers a range of paint colours as standard, including guards red, but you can pay a little more for metallic gentian blue and ice grey or go all out on python green (pictured) or the 911 GT3’s hero shark blue hue.
The 2023 Porsche 911 Carrera T is available to order now.
“Renault 4 is a myth. And myths never die! R4 is a car that everyone can love”
Snapshot
- Concept points to electric light SUV
- Inspired by the past while looking to the future
- Will share CMF-BEV platform with R5
If there’s something the French know how to do, it’s the egalitarian car. Renault did it with the original 4 as Citroen did with the 2CV.
The 4Ever Trophy concept revealed at the 2022 Paris Motor Show is the latest evolution of the people’s car from France.
A cool, off-road-focused concept it may be when finished in matte grey paint, but Renault says it “paves the way for a future full-electric [light] SUV”.
“Renault 4 is a myth. And myths never die! R4 is a car that everyone can love, and today we want to rediscover this universal dimension through a modern and electric reinterpretation”, said Renault CEO Luca De Meo.
What does the 4Ever mean for future Renaults?
This concept is the second instalment of Renault’s small, affordable electrification journey following the 5 light car. In production guise, the future 4 will share the CMF-BEV with the 5.
Full details aren’t confirmed for the 5, and certainly not the 4, however expect around 100kW of power from a single electric motor, with potential for AWD in hotter variants.
Driving range for the Renault 5 EV is expected to cap out at around 400km, though battery sizing and charge speeds are as-yet unconfirmed.
Renault says that both the 4 and 5 concepts point to cars that will play in the same space as the Clio light car and Captur light SUV do.
The future production vehicles of both 4 and 5 will be built in Renault’s ElectiCity plant in the North of France.
Design and packaging
The Renault 4Ever concept follows the digital retro design flavour of the brand’s 5 concept. It has sharp LED signatures and modern twists such as camera mirrors, but the overall proportions are inspired by cars of the past.
The 4Ever pushes each wheel right to the corner of the body to maximise interior space. Measuring just 4160mm long, the 4Ever’s 2570mm wheelbase is considerable.
At 1900mm tall and 1950mm wide, the concept is imposing, though expect the final production version’s proportions – especially width – to be changed to fit narrow French streets.
There are heritage design details, too, including the trapezoidal side windows, unadorned front fenders and nod to the 4L in the grille design.
Renault has decided to push the 4Ever concept towards off-road with chunky 30-inch tyres mounted on 19-inch alloys and plenty of black cladding around the wheelarches. There’s also 200mm of ground clearance to play with.
On the roof, this example is topped with a spare wheel and storage for a shovel as well as recovery tracks to help free the car from sand.
“To bring 4EVER Trophy into the modern era, we have infused its streamlined shape with technological sophistication.
“All these ingredients have been carefully crafted so that the design resonates with those who are familiar with the 4L and its illustrious history, and with younger generations” said vice president, Renault Brand, Design Gilles Vidal.
Snapshot
- Wraith successor goes all-electric
- 520km driving range
- 430kW power, 900Nm torque, 200kW charging
Another day, another high-end luxury electric vehicle. That’s where the margins are biggest and the costs most easily absorbed – and for now, it’s where many brands are focusing their electrification efforts.
Of course, in the case of the Rolls-Royce Spectre revealed today, it was hardly going to fit the mould for ‘affordable family EV’. Instead, what we’ve got here is a huge coupe with “indulgent proportions” and a design that clearly marks the Spectre as a successor to the V12-powered Wraith coupe.
Both cars feature a long tapering roofline with huge retro-styled C-pillars, along with almost undersized (again in a retro way) tail lamps and rear-hinged ‘suicide doors’ – or as Rolls prefers to say, coach doors.
The Spectre also boasts the widest grille “ever bestowed on a Rolls-Royce”, flanked by slender day-time running lamps above seemingly blacked-out driving lights.
JUMP AHEAD
This is the first all-electric Rolls-Royce, debuting as the first model in a coming line-up that will see the BMW-owned British marque drop all combustion-engined models by 2030.
Beyond the Spectre, we can expect an electric Dawn to follow suit, along with battery-powered replacements for the Ghost and the Phantom. The next Cullinan SUV will need to be all-electric, too.
Rolls-Royce Spectre: The basics
| Number of doors / seats | 2 doors / 4 seats |
|---|---|
| Vehicle length | 5453 mm / 214.685 in |
| Vehicle width | 2080 mm / 81.889 in |
| Vehicle height (unladen) | 1559 mm / 61.377 in |
| Wheelbase | 3210 mm / 126.378 in |
| Turning circle | 12.7 m |
| Kerb weight | 2975 kg |
| WLTP* figures | |
| Power consumption: | 2.9 mi/kWh. / 21.5 kWh/100km* |
| Electric range: | 323 miles / 520 kilometres* |
| *Preliminary data not yet confirmed, subject to change. | |
Power and acceleration
Rolls-Royce says it is still “refining” final figures for the Spectre, but for now it’s claiming 430kW and 900Nm outputs, with a 0-100km/h time of 4.5 seconds.
Driving range
In at least its launch form, the 2024 Rolls-Royce Spectre will boast a driving range of 520 kilometres – far from the furthest in the market, but there are very few direct rivals to this huge 2975kg coupe.
Combined with a claimed 21.5kWh/100km WLTP-estimated efficiency rating, the Rolls-Royce Spectre is likely packing a battery capacity of around 100-110kWh. Battery architecture is unknown, although a 400V design is expected – as with the likely related BMW i7 and its 102kWh battery pack.
In its top xDrive60 form, the i7 lists 447kW and 1000Nm, with a 0-100km/h time of 4.7 seconds and a maximum charging speed of 200kW (outdone by the Polestar 3’s 250kW speed on 400V). The new i7 rides on a 3215mm wheelbase and weights around 2650kg.
Architecture
The Spectre is underpinned by a new in-house aluminium spaceframe, reinforced by steel sections and adorned in some of the largest-formed aluminium panels produced by the marque, yet.
The new bespoke platform also makes the Spectre the most rigid Rolls ever produced – said to be 30 per cent stiffer than existing Rolls-Royce cars.
Along with its EV powertrain, the new architecture allowed designers to form the most aerodynamic shape possible, yielding a drag coefficient of just 0.25, unprecedented for the marque and still uncommon for many brands.
Technology
For that, Rolls-Royce says the new Spectre is the most connected and intelligent Rolls ever, boasting 141,200 ‘sender-receiver relations’ – around three times as much as a typical combustion Rolls-Royce.
Faster computing power allows the Spectre’s various systems to respond quickly to a variety of factors including weather, driver inputs, vehicle status and road conditions. Of course, as buyers will expect, this has allowed engineers to perfect the brand’s signature ‘magic carpet ride’.
The Spectre also utilises active roll stabilisation, which can dynamically stiffen, slacken, or even decouple adjustable sway bars entirely, depending on road and driving conditions to deliver the ultimate body control in any situation.
The Flagbearer system oversees all of the car’s dynamic system, including adaptive damping and four-wheel steering, combined with satellite navigation, to best predict the road ahead.
When will the Rolls-Royce Spectre come to Australia?
Rolls-Royce has confirmed the all-electric Spectre will be bound for Australia when it launches in late 2023.
Speaking at a press conference for the launch of the new Black Badge Ghost back in January, local sales boss Ian Grant said there is a lot of interest in the brand’s upcoming EV, and the company had already started taking deposits.
“Customers are putting money down, people who have not owned a Rolls-Royce before (and those who have had a couple in the past).
“There is no better brand in the world to become electrified. The silent waft-ability you get from a Rolls-Royce suits it perfectly. Our customers have told us they want the driving dynamics of an EV – the instant power, the very fast 0-100 times.”
On why the luxury carmaker has decided to go fully-electric with the Spectre, rather than initially introduce a hybrid vehicle, Grant added it would have been a “half step” and “isn’t very Rolls-Royce”.
Australia is expected to be a key market for the Spectre, although interest is also understood to be strong in other parts of the region, such as Thailand.
Rolls-Royce Spectre pricing
We expect the Rolls-Royce Spectre’s price to position it between the Cullinan SUV (starting at $692,150) and the flagship Phantom (starting at $915,400).
Mazda’s MX-30 electric car was only ever intended to be a niche offering, and the brand believes a mix of technologies is the best way forward right now for our market.
Speaking exclusively to Wheels, Mazda Australia’s Marketing Director, Alastair Doak, said the company’s MX-30 EV was a specialised product brought in with just 100 units, much like its MX-5 sports car – and therefore was never going to top the sales charts.
However, it expects its upcoming CX-60 plug-in hybrid (PHEV) to be more popular as the technology is more appropriate for where the local market is right now.
“We always said we would have this building block strategy of electrification and we are delivering on that,” said Doak. “With MX-30 we said it from the day dot it was a niche product. So its appeal was always going to be relatively limited. But why not? Let’s have a go, let’s bring it here.
“Plug-in hybrid is still a relatively new technology to Australia and for this market it does make sense. It gives people that kind of best of both worlds. Most of us live on the eastern seaboard in rather large cities, even on a global comparison. But we also like to head out and go to holiday homes or whatever.
“So plug-in hybrid in Australia can give you that opportunity, that comfort level that you can do that without having to worry or afraid about where to plug in. Because obviously the infrastructure here isn’t where it should be. I’m sure it will change quickly and there appears to be a real desire to do that, which is great, but at the moment it’s um, it’s still pretty difficult.
“The CX-60’s got 60km of pure EV range, so we’re looking forward to it. It makes a lot of sense but we’ll also have two, six-cylinder, 48V hybrid engines in that car as well which deliver fantastic performance but with good fuel economy as well.”
In Australia, the MX-30 is either available as a 2.0-litre, four-cylinder petrol with 24-volt mild-hybrid assistance or as a dedicated electric vehicle with a 107kW motor and 35.5kWh battery pack, giving the vehicle a WLTP tested range of 200 kilometres, which is considerably less than most other dedicated electric vehicles available in our market.
Plans for a rotary-powered driving range extender for the model were shelved last year. According to international publication Automotive News, Mazda’s planned reintroduction of the rotary engine as a driving range extender for its electric vehicles has stopped due to spiralling productions costs associated with the technology.
In recent days, market leader Toyota also came out defending the hybrid powertrain and saying a sudden influx of BEVs is not the solution to cutting carbon emissions.
China’s BYD has commenced the rollout of its electric vehicles in Europe, as it continues its global expansion.
The company announced it would enter the European market two years ago, with the debut of three vehicles at the 2022 Paris Motor Show this week.
It follows the launch of BYD in Australia this year, with the brand managed by third-party distributor EVDirect locally.
The launch includes the Atto 3 small SUV, which arrived in Australia last month, and two LHD-only vehicles: the Han sedan and Tang large SUV.
EVDirect previously said the Han and Tang would arrive in Australia this year, however, both models remain exclusively left-hand drive.
Instead, it is expected to launch the Tesla Model 3-rivalling BYD Seal sedan in Australia next year, while the BYD Dolphin – a Volkswagen ID.3-sized hatchback – is also tipped to arrive.
While the Han and Tang are available with a plug-in hybrid setup in China, only the all-electric versions will be sold in Europe – joining the electric-only Atto 3 (and its domestic market namesake, the Yuan Plus).
European versions of the Atto 3 are identical to the Extended Range sold in Australia, with a single front-mounted electric motor producing 150kW and 310Nm, and a 60kWh lithium-ion ‘Blade’ battery allowing for a WLTP-rated 420-kilometre driving range.
With similar dimensions to the Tesla Model S large sedan, the BYD Han measures 4995 millimetres in length, 1910mm wide and 1495mm tall, with a 2920mm wheelbase.
It features a dual-motor, all-wheel drive system producing 380kW, with a claimed 3.9-second 0-100km/h sprint time – showcased by a tailgate badge – and a WTLP-rated 521-kilometre driving range.
The final model, the BYD Tang seven-seat large SUV, was first introduced in 2018. It received a facelift in 2021, with its dimensions slotting between the Tesla Model Y and Model X.
It measures 4870mm long, 1950mm wide and 1725mm tall, with 2820mm of distance between the wheel centres – shorter than the Model Y’s 2890mm wheelbase.
With an identical powertrain to the Han, the Tang also produces 380kW, but with a larger 86.4kWh lithium-ion ‘Blade’ battery offering a claimed 400km driving range.
What are paddle shifters and why should you use them? Well, most of the time you don’t need to touch them, but sometimes they’re useful – or even just fun.
Most automatic cars these days have a manual mode, which allows you to change gears on demand instead of waiting for the gearbox to do its own thing.
Depending on the car, manual shifting can be done via the gear lever and/or a pair of racing-style paddle shifters behind the steering wheel.
No clutch is required because there’s no mechanical link between gear lever or paddle shifters, which simply work as a switch to send an electronic signal to the transmission to change gears.
JUMP AHEAD
If my car can shift its own gears, why have a manual mode at all?
Apart from giving you a more hands-on driving experience to express your inner racer, manual shifters have practical applications such as allowing you to select a lower gear when more power is required, to perform an overtake or climb a hill, towing heavy loads when engine braking is needed, when coming down an incline, or negotiating bends.
Automatic transmissions can’t anticipate upcoming hills or bends in the route, so by having control of your gearing, you can gear up or down a little earlier, which makes for smoother driving.
Manual mode is also handy for driving in slippery conditions such as snow, where you want to stay in first gear a little longer when you are moving off from a standstill. This is to ease torque to the drive wheels and prevent wheelspin (if your car has a Snow driving mode it will do that automatically when selected).
Using paddle shifters in Drive mode
You can easily engage manual shift while the transmission is in Drive (D), regardless of what gear the car is in. This is good when you just want to be hands on for a short time, such as when overtaking.
The car will automatically revert back to Drive if you rev too high, too low, come to a stop, or simply leave the paddles untouched for a while.
What is sequential mode?
Some cars have a Sequential (S) or Manual mode (M) which you generally choose by flicking the gear lever to S or M. This allows for greater driver control, with the transmission electronics stepping in should you rev too low or high. If you want to return to full automatic mode, simply flick the gear lever back to Drive.
Whichever mode you select, the car’s computer won’t let you stall and has rev-limiters to prevent engine damage.
Using paddle shifters
Simply pull the left shifter (marked –) to gear down, and right shifter (+) to gear up. When you pull on a shifter an indicator on the dashboard will display what gear you’re in.
Similar to driving a manual car, you can shift gears between 1500 to 2500 RPMs for normal driving, though if you want to deploy its full power, you can take it up to the redline, rev-limiter permitting.
When gearing up or down, don’t expect an instant response from the engine – give it about the same time to respond as it would take when selecting gears in a full manual car.
Using the gear lever
The same rules apply with gear levers that allow for manual shifting. Like the paddles that are marked with – and + on the side, shift the gear lever toward + to go up a gear, and – to downshift.
A lot of cars have a forward upshift, the thinking being that you would push the gear lever forward to go faster. But some car manufacturers, and most purists, prefer the opposite – with a forward downshift that’s in keeping with the forward force felt when braking.
August 2023: Jeep Avenger confirmed for Australia
The little electric Avenger is now confirmed for Australia. Get the full details at the story linked below.
STORY CONTINUES: Jeep Avenger revealed
The 2023 Jeep Avenger small electric SUV has been unveiled ahead of its launch in Europe and Asia early next year – but a local arrival has yet to be confirmed.
Snapshot
- 2023 Jeep Avenger small SUV revealed
- Set to offer an all-electric or turbo-petrol powertrain
- Australian launch unclear, but possible with RHD production
It made its public debut overnight at the 2022 Paris Motor Show, after Jeep published initial photos alongside the Recon and Wagoneer S electric SUVs last month.
It will become Jeep’s first electric vehicle, with the Recon and Wagoneer S set to commence production in 2024.
While right-hand drive production for the UK and Japan has been confirmed, an Australian launch is currently unclear.
“Avenger is going to go to the UK and Japan, and we’re looking at maybe Australia if there is a market for it,” said Jeep brand CEO Christian Meunier in Detroit last month.
Measuring 4080 millimetres long, the city SUV is 160mm shorter than the Renegade – making it the smallest Jeep model ever.
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Powertrains, charging, and driving range
Under the skin, the Avenger is rumoured to be underpinned by the STLA Small architecture, an evolution of the CMP platform used by other Stellantis vehicles, such as the Peugeot 2008 and Citroën C4.
There is a 54kWh nickel manganese cobalt lithium-ion battery, with a claimed 400-kilometre driving range on the stricter WLTP cycle. The electric motor produces 115kW and 260Nm.
According to the brand, a 100kW DC charger will top-up the Avenger’s battery from 20 to 80 per cent in 24 minutes – and 30km of added driving range in three minutes.
Using an 11kW AC home charger will allow for a zero to 100 per cent recharge in 5.5 hours.
A turbocharged petrol engine will also be offered in select markets, including Italy and Spain.
Exterior
The production model will be front-wheel-drive; however, Jeep previewed an all-wheel-drive version with the ‘Avenger 4×4 Concept’, featuring tow hooks, a wider body, and larger tyres.
It also includes thicker body cladding, taller suspension, extra LED lighting, and a lightweight roof cargo system. Jeep didn’t reveal any performance details for the concept.
While it’s only front-wheel drive, Jeep says it has the highest ground clearance in the light SUV segment, at 200mm, with terrain modes, hill descent control and underbody skid plates to protect the battery.
Jeep’s Selec-Terrain system offers Normal, Eco, Sport, Snow, Mud and Sand modes.
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Meanwhile, the Avenger’s off-road capability is supported by a 20-degree approach, 20-degree breakover and 32-degree departure angle, shorter overhangs and “360-degree cladding” designed to hide scratches.
The 4×4 Concept increases the approach and departure angles to 21 and 34 degrees, respectively.
A closed-off version of Jeep’s iconic seven-slot is present, joining 18-inch alloy wheels, ‘hidden’ rear door handles, and tail-lights “inspired by the classic X fuel cans”.
Interior and technology
Inside, the 10.25-inch Uconnect 5 infotainment system supports wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, satellite navigation, and support for over-the-air updates.
It sits above the dashboard, which includes body-coloured panels, an exposed storage compartment and full-width air vents.
Depending on the grade, a 7-inch or 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster is available. Other features include heated and massaging power front seats, an electric tailgate, wireless phone charging, and colour-adjustable LED ambient lighting.
It has a 380-litre boot capacity, with an additional 34 litres of storage in the front row.
A full suite of active safety equipment is offered, including a Level 2 semi-autonomous function combining the adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist and traffic jam assist.
Other features include autonomous emergency braking, blind-spot alert, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-keep assist, front and rear parking sensors, and automated parking.
Is the Jeep Avenger coming to Australia?
The 2023 Jeep Avenger will arrive in Europe and Asia in early 2023. An Australian launch is unconfirmed at this stage, but the larger Recon and Wagonner S are confirmed for our market.
