Kia has unveiled its new PV7 electric van at the IAA Transportation show in Hannover, confirming the second member of its dedicated Platform Beyond Vehicle (PBV) family will reach Australia in the fourth quarter of 2027.
Following the smaller PV5, the PV7 is aimed at a broader range of commercial and passenger applications, with Cargo and Passenger versions planned. Australian pricing, specifications and model grades remain under wraps, but Kia Australia says the PV7 will undergo its local ride and handling development program before launch.
At 5350mm long and 1995mm wide, with a 3500mm wheelbase, the PV7 is substantially sized and uses Kia’s dedicated E-GMP.S electric architecture. Two nickel cobalt manganese battery packs are available globally, with capacities of 71.5kWh and 96.2kWh.
Depending on configuration, the front-mounted electric motor produces up to 200kW and 420Nm. Front-wheel drive will initially be standard, although Kia plans to introduce an all-wheel-drive version later. The Long Range Cargo model has a claimed WLTP driving range exceeding 460km.
An 800-volt electrical architecture allows the battery to be charged from 10 to 80 per cent in the mid-20-minute range using a 350kW DC charger. The PV7 also introduces dual charging ports for Kia, comprising a front AC/DC connection and an optional rear-side AC port.
Cargo versions prioritise carrying ability, with the Cargo Long providing 6.1 cubic metres of space and the High Roof increasing that to 8.0 cubic metres. Payload reaches 1165kg in the Long and 1200kg in the Compact, while the Long’s 550mm loading height is designed to simplify loading.
Passenger versions can accommodate up to nine people in global markets, with removable and adjustable seating configurations. Seven-seat models feature long-rail removable seats, while rear climate control, USB-C charging and power sliding doors are among the available equipment.
Technology includes Kia’s Android Automotive-based Pleos Connect system, over-the-air updates and an AI voice assistant, while Vehicle-to-Load capability can power external tools and equipment.
Kia ultimately plans 23 PV7 derivatives, spanning Compact, Long and High Roof Cargo models, Passenger versions, a Chassis Cab and specialised conversions. The even larger PV9 is scheduled to follow in 2029.
Chery Motor Australia has enhanced its popular E5 electric small SUV for the 2027 model year with a range of new comfort, technology and convenience features. It will be displayed for the first time in Australia at this week’s Everything Electric Sydney show from September 18-20.
Due to arrive locally later this year with pricing yet to be announced, the E5 has introduced several upgrades across the interior and exterior, including more comfort features for the seats, a larger infotainment system and more convenience throughout.
The exterior now features even more angular styling than the pre-updated models, featuring a new front-end design with sharp headlights, thin daytime running light panels above and new taillights that sport revised LED inlays.
Inside you’ll find a new layout with a redesigned dashboard and centre console. The pre-updated model’s 12.3-inch touchscreen now measures 15.6 inches and features a new generation of software.
The driver’s seat now has four-way lumbar support, massage and ventilation, while the front passenger pew has been upgraded from four-way to six-way power adjustment, with ventilation also added. The E5 also gains an electrically operated charging port cover and an active grille shutter, while the interior rear-view mirror is upgraded to an automatic-dimming type.
It appears the mechanicals haven’t received any changes. The E5 is still powered by a 155kW/288Nm front-mounted electric motor that draws power from a 58.9kWh LFP battery providing up to 430km of range on the WLTP cycle.
MY27 Chery E5 initial standard features:
- 18-inch alloy wheels
- Apple CarPlay & Android Auto (Wired + Wireless)
- Intelligent Voice command (“Hello Chery”)
- 8-speaker sound system
- Premium steering wheel
- Synthetic leather seats
- Heated front seats
- Dual-zone automatic climate control
- Full suite of driver assistance features
The updated Chery E5 will go on sale in Australia later in 2026, with pricing and full specifications yet to be confirmed.
The upcoming Geely EX5 compact SUV will arrive with a power leap and rear-wheel drive – with a noticeably larger front trunk also revealed in new photos just before its scheduled launch on September 21.
The switch from front- to rear-wheel drive was revealed in Geely’s application for a domestic sales licence in China, according to CarNewsChina, which noted that the charging port has been moved from the front fender to the rear.
Power for that rear axle comes from a single electric motor making 245kW, which is a marked leap from the 160kW in the current EX5. There’s no word on the torque the new unit produces, but top speed will reportedly increase from 175km/h to 201km/h.
Images posted online by an anonymous EV enthusiast revealed the increased luggage space in the front trunk, but there are no official details on exactly how big it is. However, a close look at the images reveals an inscription that the space has a maximum load of 50kg.
The new EX5 will measure 4636mm long – an increase of 21mm over the current model – with a width of 1920mm, height of 1670mm and wheelbase of 2750mm. Power is stored in a lithium-iron-phosphate battery, and there’s no word on whether it has been changed from the current 68kWh unit, which provides 475km of WLTP range.
New safety features include a camera integrated into the roof spoiler, and fender side-mounted cameras. Alterations to the EX5’s looks include new semi-hidden door handles and new bumpers, plus there’s a LiDAR sensor on the roof.
The EX5 has been a big winner for Geely down under, with VFACTS figures showing it’s the seventh-most popular vehicle in the country with 1947 sales in August – a stellar 385.5 per cent increase over the same time last year.
Toyota’s RAV4, the Mazda CX-5 and Hyundai Tucson have been in the EX5’s crosshairs and the upcoming raft of improvements should give the Geely even more chance of climbing up the sales charts. No details have been confirmed about an Aussie price or on-sale date.
Ford Australia is planning a massive expansion of its local line-up, and the new Bronco Basecamp and Transit City models announced last week are just the beginning. Ford’s current range in Australia is a shadow of its former self and only offers big-name products like the Ranger ute, Everest large SUV, which account for a massive 88.5 per cent of its sales. But that should change within the next three years as the brand looks to cover more segments down under.
Locally, Ford only competes in just 30 per cent of the new-car market thanks to the departure of previous models like the Fiesta, Focus, Mondeo and Escape. That will change as the brand pivots to relying on its Chinese joint ventures with Changan and JMC – the former of which already sells cars locally, with the latter reportedly relaunching in Australia by the end of 2026.
Beyond the Bronco Basecamp and Transit City – both of which use platforms from and are manufactured by JMC – Ford Australia is yet to officially comment on which products will be brought into the Aussie line-up, but there are plenty of options.
One of the products with the most sales potential in Australia is the Equator Sport (China)/Territory (export markets), which is produced in right-hand drive form and sold in many countries globally, including much of Asia and the Middle East.
Like the Bronco Basecamp and Transit City, the Equator Sport/Territory uses a JMC platform with both 140kW 1.8-litre turbo-petrol, 110kW 1.5-litre turbo-hybrid and 162kW 1.8-litre plug-in hybrid drivetrain options available globally. Features like wheels up to 19 inches in size, dual 12.3-inch displays, ambient lighting, a panoramic roof and a long list of active safety features are available in markets like the UAE.
It measures 4630mm long, making it just shorter than the current-generation Hyundai Tucson, giving the Blue Oval a new competitor for Australia’s crucial medium SUV segment. The Equator Sport/Territory was originally launched globally in 2022, suggesting that Ford Australia could potentially launch the next-generation model within a few years.
Above the Equator Sport/Territory sits the Equator, which has been on sale in markets such as China since 2021. As the name suggests, the Equator is a larger version of the Equator Sport offering seating for up to seven and measuring 4905mm long, which makes it 75mm longer than the current Hyundai Santa Fe.
Crucially for NVES compliance, the Equator is offered with a 162kW 1.8-litre plug-in hybrid drivetrain with an 18.4 kWh LFP battery in China, offering an electric range of around 100km. It has the same dual 12.3-inch displays as the Equator Sport/Territory, as well as a big range of active safety features.
Another model with potential for Australia sits above the Equator and is called the Edge L. It was co-developed with Changan and was released in China in 2023. Measuring exactly 5000mm in length, it’s 34mm longer than the Toyota Kluger and would give Ford Australia a proper seven-seat large SUV competitor to sell locally.
In China, both 183kW 2.0-litre turbo-petrol and 200kW 2.0-litre turbo-hybrid drivetrains are available, with the latter especially promising for Australia under the NVES thanks to its claimed fuel consumption of just 6.3L/100km in the Chinese market. In China, the Edge L offers features such as a massive 27-inch touchscreen, Bang & Olufsen audio and even second row captain’s chairs with heating.
Other models Ford could potentially import to Australia include the Mondeo (China)/Taurus (Middle East) mid-size sedan and its Evos lifted wagon-style sibling.
While Ford Australia is yet to confirm which models will be offered locally in the coming years, the brand will target more than 90 per cent of the market before the end of the decade. As usual with many car markers and future products, it’s a case of watch this space, but Ford’s days of being known as the “Ranger Car Company” could be numbered.
Tesla has announced it will finally officially reveal its second-generation Roadster on October 2, Australian time, unveiling the news with a cryptic teaser portal that reveals little about the hotly awaited vehicle.
The portal features a ticker counting down to the exact moment of the reveal, complete with a shot of the rear of the Roadster, with the words “Go for launch” added to the announcement on Tesla’s X account. There appear to be four white thruster-like devices above the taillights, as well.
Come 10.30am AEST on October 2, the world will hopefully get some specs on the Roadster, as the new announcement doesn’t contain any additional information. The ultra-quick sports car appears to have undergone some design tweaks since the concept was unveiled in 2017, including what seems to be a full-width LED lightbar across the rear.
The Roadster was tipped to be the fastest electric car ever made when it was first unveiled. Elon Musk bragged that it would be able to smash the quarter mile in an astonishing eight seconds, and he also said the model would use “a Space X cold gas thruster system with ultra-high-pressure air” instead of the rear seats, which could explain the four white features on the teaser image.
About three years after the concept was revealed, Musk announced it had been delayed and sat at the tail end of a long product queue. The world’s richest man said it had been deprioritised in favour of the Cybertruck and refreshes for the products like the Model S. “Roadster is kind of like dessert. We’ve gotta get the meat and potatoes and greens and stuff,” he told podcast host Joe Rogan.
Tesla claimed the Roadster’s top speed would be in excess of 250mph (400km/h) and it would have almost 9900Nm of torque available at the wheels, helping propel it from 0-100km/h in approximately 1.9 seconds. Two electric motors would drive the rears, with another e-motor for the front, and the claimed range was about 1000km.
The news comes hot on the heels of Tesla rolling out its fully autonomous Cybercab in the US, and Musk has previously said the Roadster – which was originally supposed to start deliveries in 2020 – could be the last manually driven model for the company.
“It’s going to make sense for our whole line-up to be different autonomous vehicles of different sizes,” Musk said in an earnings call in April. “In fact, long term, the only manually driven car will be the new Tesla Roadster.”
The death of a motorcyclist on Victoria’s Western Highway has renewed scrutiny of the state’s deteriorating road network, just weeks after the government announced a major pothole repair program following a series of incidents that damaged dozens of vehicles.
Emergency services were called to the Western Highway at Trawalla, west of Ballarat, shortly before 1pm on Sunday following reports a motorcycle had struck a pothole. The 71-year-old Ballarat rider died at the scene after reportedly losing control near Trawalla Road. Victoria Police is investigating the circumstances and has not yet determined the cause of the crash.
The incident represents a tragic escalation of an issue highlighted by WhichCar by Wheels last month, when at least 23 vehicles were reportedly damaged by a large pothole on the Princes Freeway near Bunyip and Longwarry. Motorists were left beside the freeway with damaged wheels and tyres after encountering the road damage during wet, low-visibility conditions.
Similar problems were subsequently reported on the Calder Freeway near Gisborne, where several vehicles suffered tyre damage.
In response to growing criticism, the Victorian Government announced an additional $352 million for road repairs in late August, doubling its target from 250,000 to 500,000 pothole repairs. The Western Highway is among the major routes targeted by the program, alongside the Princes and Calder highways and Geelong Ring Road.
However, a Victorian Auditor-General’s Office report released last week has underlined the scale of the problem. It found 48 per cent of Victoria’s more than 23,000km state-controlled road network was in poor or very poor condition, compared with 39 per cent in 2021, describing its overall condition as “deteriorating”.
Premier Ben Carroll acknowledged following Sunday’s fatality that road conditions were “not good enough”, while stressing police investigations into the crash remained ongoing. Carroll said his government would end the outsourcing model introduced in the 1990s and bring road maintenance back under direct government control.
Road maintenance is also emerging as a major issue ahead of Victoria’s November 28 election. The Coalition has promised $5 billion over four years to repair one million potholes and restore preventative road maintenance, while Labor’s existing program includes $1.04 billion announced in June in addition to its latest $352 million package.
The fatal Trawalla incident shifts the debate beyond damaged tyres, wheels and repair bills, placing renewed attention on the potential safety consequences of Victoria’s worsening road surfaces.
Rumours of the demise of Porsche’s electric 718 sports car program appear to be wildly off the mark, with a Boxster prototype spotted undergoing hard testing at Germany’s Nürburgring as the company prepares the next generation of its smallest sports cars.
The battery-powered Boxster was caught circulating the famous circuit with its brakes glowing red, providing fresh evidence that Porsche has not abandoned the project despite reports suggesting it was under threat.
Development of the new 718 Boxster and Cayman has stretched over several years. Porsche initially intended the new generation to be exclusively electric, but changed course in 2025 when it confirmed that its most performance-focused products would retain combustion engines.
That means future successors to models such as the Cayman GT4, Boxster Spyder and GT4 RS are expected to continue using petrol power, while electric versions will sit below them in the range.
There had been speculation new Porsche CEO Michael Leiters could scrap the electric 718 program as the sports car maker grapples with high development costs and softer demand for premium EVs. The project has also faced delays, including disruption caused by high-performance battery supplier Northvolt filing for bankruptcy.
However, this prototype suggests the electric 718 is approaching production, with its styling clearly derived from Porsche’s existing EVs. The Boxster test car features slim rectangular headlights and a sharply sculpted nose, while aerodynamic alloy wheels should help reduce drag and improve brake cooling.
At the rear is a narrow full-width light bar, active spoiler and a substantial diffuser. The apparent air intakes on the prototype’s rear haunches are believed to be camouflage rather than functional openings.
The biggest changes are underneath. Instead of positioning its battery beneath the cabin, as most EVs do, Porsche is developing a stacked battery pack mounted behind the occupants. The layout is intended to replicate the weight distribution and low seating position of a traditional mid-engined sports car while keeping overall weight under control.
Porsche has previously said the 718’s battery will be smaller than the packs used in the Taycan and Macan Electric but will offer high energy density. An approximately 82kWh battery, similar in capacity to that used by Porsche’s Mission R concept, is a possibility. Porsche is targeting more than 480km of official driving range, while an 800-volt electrical architecture should provide rapid DC charging.
Durability is another priority, with Porsche expecting its EV batteries to remain serviceable for around 15 years and as much as 300,000km. Single- and dual-motor versions of the electric 718 are expected, and even the entry model should improve on the outgoing petrol car’s approximately 4.5-second 0-100km/h performance, although production versions are unlikely to approach the extraordinary 800kW output demonstrated by the Cayman GT4 ePerformance prototype.
Porsche could reveal more about the electric Boxster and Cayman at its Capital Markets Day on 7 October, potentially providing the clearest indication yet of when the long-delayed sports cars will finally reach showrooms.
A new special deal has been launched on MG’s smallest EV, making it more affordable than ever before. The $2000 cut for the MG 4 EV Urban means it’s priced from just $29,990 driveaway from now until September 30.
In addition, MG Motor Australia has announced that a $500 charging card will be gifted to customers who order one at the Everything Electric Sydney show at Sydney Olympic Park, which takes place from September 18 to 20.
With over 2600 units sold since its launch in May this year, the MG 4 EV Urban has become one of the better-selling electric vehicles in Australia, and follows on from the regular MG 4 selling more than 13,000 units since it arrived locally in October 2023.
No changes have been made to the car as part of the cashback special deal, so it continues to be offered in Essence specification with either a smaller 43kWh battery with a claimed 316km of range (WLTP) or a larger 54kWh unit with 405km of range. The 43kWh battery is paired to a 110kW/250Nm front-mounted e-motor, while the 54kWh battery uses a slightly more powerful 118kW/250Nm e-motor instead.
The standard features list for the MG4 EV Urban is lengthy, and includes 17-inch alloy wheels, automatic LED lighting, roof rails, keyless entry and start, synthetic leather upholstery, heated front seats, a 12.8-inch touchscreen with live services, satellite navigation, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and a six-speaker sound system.
Safety equipment is also plentiful, with seven airbags, autonomous emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, adaptive lane guidance, auto high beam, driver attention monitoring, blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert (with braking), door-open warning, traffic sign recognition, front and rear parking sensors and a 360-degree camera.
MG is also offering special pricing for its IM premium brand. IM customers who place a $1000 deposit at the Everything Electric show can access a total of $5000 in cashback, comprising the existing $3000 cashback offer and an additional $2000 Everything Electric cashback. With the combined special offer, pricing for the IM6 electric sedan now starts from just $55,990 driveaway.
Zurich Insurance is cutting the price of coverage for Aussies who own a Tesla with self-driving technology after the manufacturer claimed its research shows the system can reduce collisions by as much as 85 per cent.
From September 14, Zurich is offering a risk-based reduction on policies for Teslas with the Full Self-Driving (FSD) Supervised mode, which allows the cars to navigate by themselves on set routes with driver supervision. About 50 per cent of all Tesla owners in Australia have purchased the tech.
Zurich made the decision to offer the discount “due to the reduced risk associated with supervised self-driving”, according to the company’s head of general insurance, Alex Morgan. Tesla says its data, collected over 132 million kilometres of local driving, shows FSD cars have one seventh the collisions of vehicles that don’t use the technology.
The insurer hasn’t revealed how much motorists would save, as the exact amount will also be determined by other factors such as their age, driving record and where they live. Tesla owners can access the savings under the existing InsureMyTesla deal, which also offers protection for things like damaged charging equipment.
The latest version of Tesla’s FSD software arrived down under in June last year for Model Y and Model 3 vehicles fitted with Hardware 4 (HW4) cameras. Australia and New Zealand are the first right-hand-drive markets to get the tech, which is available via subscription as well as an up-front purchase.
“Full Self Driving” can be a little misleading as the system is not fully autonomous, but rather a very advanced form of driver assistance. Motorists must be ready to take control of the vehicle at all times.
Tesla says FSD is a Level 2 function under the Society of Automotive Engineers Levels of Driving Automation scale, which means it is compliant with Australian law. That would not be the case if FSD was classified at Level 3. The system can deal with traffic hazards, navigation, lane changing, junctions and various road conditions without the driver touching the wheel or pedals.
The move by Zurich comes as Tesla makes headlines with the rollout of its driverless rideshare service in Texas, using its Cybercab vehicles.
The Leapmotor B03X should sell for around $30,000 driveaway when it arrives in Australia, possibly as early as the last quarter of this year. That would make it the cheapest new electric SUV in the country, beating the BYD Atto 2, Jaecoo J5 and Geely EX2 – but it looks like you’ll lose a little bang in order to save those bucks.
Leapmotor executive Danilo Annese has left the door ajar for a hybrid variant for the Aussie market, but the B03X is currently only made in BEV form – and that’s what our mates at AutoExpress drove recently. The results, as you’ll see, were mixed…
The new B03X electric SUV is appealing and imperfect at the same time. Astonishingly efficient and surprisingly spacious for a vehicle of its size, it’s also held back by its driving dynamics, frustrating infotainment system and ultra-generic design. Why the brand called it a “passion magnet” remains a mystery.
Leapmotor has concentrated heavily on maximising interior space, and you’ll know it’s done a great job as soon as you get into the second row. There’s generous headroom and legroom for a small SUV, with adults around 183cm tall able to settle comfortably into the rear seats.
Those seats also hide one of the B03X’s cleverest features. The bases can be raised to provide a 39-litre storage area capable of swallowing taller or awkwardly shaped objects, using a concept similar to Honda’s well-known Magic Seats. Boot capacity stands at 405 litres, supplemented by another 105 litres beneath the floor. Fold the rear seats and total cargo capacity expands to 1605 litres.
The cabin itself is less memorable. Build quality is respectable, with soft-touch surfaces and faux leather helping offset some cheaper plastics, but the minimalist design does little to set Leapmotor apart from the growing number of Chinese EVs adopting a similar approach.
A 14.6-inch central touchscreen dominates the dashboard. It looks crisp, but proved annoyingly slow during testing, with noticeable delays when navigating menus. Adding to the irritation, many of the vehicle functions, including regenerative braking settings, are buried within the display. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard.
The B03X also struggles once the road becomes more demanding. Its steering provides very little feedback or weight, even with Sport mode selected, making it difficult to judge what the front wheels are doing. Leapmotor is reportedly developing a software update intended to improve the steering before customer deliveries begin.
Grip from the low-rolling-resistance Yokohama BluEarth-GT tyres was another concern, particularly at the rear, while the soft suspension allows substantial body roll through corners and creates a floaty sensation at higher speeds.
The driver-assistance technology needs further refinement, too. Lane-keeping assistance can intervene aggressively and may reactivate after being switched off if the vehicle believes it is approaching a lane marking.
Performance should be adequate for everyday driving, with the electric motor producing 145kW. Official driving range is around 381km, although efficiency proved a highlight during testing in southern Spain. Consumption averaged approximately 11.3kWh/100km, suggesting a theoretical range approaching 480km under favourable conditions. However, temperatures reached 35 degrees Celsius and speeds rarely exceeded 97km/h, so Australian real-world results could differ considerably.
The B03X is due to reach the UK market in October with a single powertrain and specification, including heated seats, a 360-degree camera and heat pump. Australian availability and pricing haven’t been confirmed.
There’s plenty of promise to the B03X. Its spacious cabin, flexible luggage capacity and excellent efficiency make a strong first impression, but better steering, less intrusive safety systems and faster infotainment would transform it into a much more attractive option for anyone who is after a budget SUV.
