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2025 Mahindra XUV700 seven-seat SUV updated with new features, prices up $3000

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The family-sized, seven-seat Mahindra SUV gets minor changes for 2025, with new features and a $3000 price rise for all models except the returning Black Edition. XUV700 Black Edition. The Mahindra XUV700 seven-seat SUV range has been updated for 2025, with the Black Edition flagship the only model to skip a $3000 price increase. A rival to the likes of Nissan X-Trail , Chery Tiggo 8 Pro Max and Mitsubishi Outlander , the Mahindra XUV700 now starts at $39,990 drive-away for the AX7 model and $42,990 drive-away for the higher-spec AX7L – both $3000 more than in 2024. Stocks of both are also in Mahindra dealerships now, with vehicles ordered and delivered to customers by 30 April 2025 including two years or 25,000km – whichever occurs first – of scheduled servicing. The XUV700 Black Edition introduced in October last year will continue for 2025 with an unchanged $43,990 drive-away price, once Model Year 2025 (MY25) stock begins arriving in showrooms sometime in April. MO...
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Toyota no longer interested in taking on the Kia Carnival in Australia

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After fewer than 1000 van-based Toyota Granvias were sold in five years – compared to 10,000 Carnivals last year alone – the car brand says it has no plans for a replacement. Toyota Australia says its ship has sailed on people movers – despite more than 10,000 Kia Carnival deliveries last year – after the slow-selling, van-based Granvia was dropped last month. The Japanese car maker has elected not to upgrade the Granvia – the much-loved Tarago’s successor – to meet new mandates for autonomous emergency braking (AEB) technology. Even though fewer than 1000 Granvias have been sold in just over five years, Toyota Australia says it did not axe the model because “customers didn’t want it.” MORE: Toyota Granvia axed in Australia after being outsold two-to-one by Ferrari Yet it says it has no plans to replace it with a different model – such as Toyota USA’s hybrid Sienna or Japan’s Alphard – due to the popularity of SUVs. Toyota Australia sales and marketing boss Sea...
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This Australian bank no longer offers car loans for petrol, diesel and hybrid vehicles

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Affording a petrol, diesel or hybrid car in 2025 just got harder – with one bank banning new car loans on these powertrains. Image: iStock/Burak Sur While Australian consumers have shown their love for petrol, diesel and hybrid vehicles in the new car market, it’s set to get harder to purchase these powertrains after one Australian bank has banned loans on them. As of February 2025, Bank Australia said it will now only offer car loans on electric vehicles (EVs), as it looks to double down on its 2035 carbon net-zero targets. RELATED: The different types of car loans and finance explained “By phasing out car loans for new fossil fuel vehicles, we are sending a signal to the Australian market about the urgent need to accelerate the transition from international combustion engines (ICE) to electric vehicles,” a Bank Australia spokesperson told Drive . “We recognise that the energy transition will require a wide range of policies and initiatives, and we are committed to playi...
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Xiaomi smartphone brand’s cars to go global, as it unveils its fastest model ever

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The smartphone maker’s range of electric vehicles – which have been a hit in China, where there are currently sold exclusively – confirmed its plan for a global product push.  Chinese electric car maker Xiaomi plans to expand beyond China to ‘global markets’ – which could include Australia – at the launch of only its second vehicle, the SU7 Ultra high-performance sedan. According to CNBC , Xiaomi president William Lu told media at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain, firm plans were underway for the brand to begin selling cars across the globe. “I cannot share too many details but I am so excited to tell our global users that Xiaomi will be releasing EVs [Electric Vehicles] for sale in global markets within the next few years,” Lu told CNBC . In 2024, Lu said the car maker plans to have 10,000 Xiaomi stores outside of China by 2029, with plans for its ‘human-car-home’ ecosystem of products – which includes smartphones and other tech – to boost its electric ve...
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Toyota considering GR road-car special editions inspired by V8 Supercars entry

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There won’t be a V8 Supra, but Toyota’s GR performance cars could be treated to track-ready special editions developed in Australia. Toyota may sprinkle magic dust from its upcoming V8 Supercars Championship race cars onto a fleet of new, Australian-designed limited editions of its road-legal GR performance cars. The Japanese car maker has confirmed it is exploring “track special editions” of its GR road cars to leverage the brand image boost from its 2026 entry into Australia’s top tier of motorsport. The Supercars-themed specials could be developed by Toyota Australia, as its first genuine, locally-engineered performance cars since 2008’s TRD HiLux and Aurion . MORE: Ford Ranger and Mustang road-car specials could come from V8 Supercars team “We can’t replicate the Supra in its track form because it’s a V8, right? So it’s a unique vehicle in that way,” Toyota Australia sales and marketing boss Sean Hanley told Drive . “But certainly there may be opportunities a...
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This Holden Commodore convertible ute came oh-so-close to production

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The answer to a question no one asked, the Holden Commodore-based Utester convertible ute was headed for the production line… Original story by Alastair Doak first published in Drive on 8 March, 2001 Holden’s Utester concept will go on sale for about $10,000 more than a standard VU Commodore ute. The show car, complete with a removable glass roof, a power-operated rear window and a tonneau cover with a two-piece decklid, is a relatively straightforward modification, with most of the items being bolt-on pieces. At this stage, Holden management has still to work out how the Utester will be made, although Holden By Design may get the job. RELATED: The wild and unusual Holden Commodore you never knew existed Other changes to the car include a restyled cabin with silver highlights, restyled seats and drilled aluminium pedals. The show car also has a DVD and video player with LCD monitor. Most of the package is said to be earmarked for production, with a figure close to $1...
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2025 Kia Sportage update likely to keep diesel, gain AWD hybrid, ditch manual in Australia

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Government approval documents have revealed the facelifted Kia Sportage should keep its diesel in Australia – while an expanded hybrid range is likely with all-wheel drive, and the manual is on the chopping block. New details about the facelifted 2025 Kia Sportage have emerged for Australia ahead of its arrival in the second quarter (April to June) of the year. Government approval documents reveal Kia’s updated family SUV should keep its 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder diesel engine in Australia, rather than it being deleted in favour of hybrid technology – as recently seen with its Hyundai Tucson twin-under-the-skin. Matched to an eight-speed torque-converter automatic transmission and an on-demand all-wheel drive system, the 137kW/416Nm diesel is currently available across all Sportage variants in Australia: the S, SX, SX+ and GT-Line. The move will see the Sportage continue as the only vehicle among its direct rivals to be available with a diesel engine foll...
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