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2027 Lepas L6 review: International first drive

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Lepas is yet another brand launching in Australia from Chery. Is it different enough to the car giant’s other marques to warrant your consideration? Drive has had a first taste of the mid-size L6 in China to find out. Skip ahead: Summary Design Value Interior Fuel Efficiency Infotainment Ownership Costs Drive Comfort Safety Verdict 2027 Lepas L6 How many car sub-brands is too many? Chery will find out the answer to that question in the second half of 2026 with yet another new marque it is launching in Australia, Lepas . Whereas Chery is the most value-focused brand aimed at families, Omoda is pitched as sporty, and Jaecoo is aimed at outdoorsy customers with Range Rover look-alike styling, Lepas claims it is the “elegant” sibling that styles its cars with “leopard aesthetics”. What you really need to know is that Lepas will be yet another Chinese brand offering plug-in hybrid and electric cars to compete with the likes of BYD and Geely...
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Denza 1500kW ‘Flash’ electric car chargers set for Australian expansion

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Australia’s fastest EV chargers are poised to expand beyond a handful of brand showrooms – and BYD’s luxury division has a plan to avoid melting the power grid. A national network of Australia’s fastest electric-car chargers – designed and built by BYD’s luxury division Denza – is under consideration to follow a limited rollout later this year. Five ‘Flash’ chargers will be installed at Denza showrooms in major Australian capitals by the end of this year, capable of supplying up to 1500kW – nearly four times the power of the country’s current-fastest charging stations. They are designed for the Denza Z9 GT , a new luxury electric station wagon capable of charging from 10 to 70 per cent in just five minutes on the Flash plugs, or 10 to 97 per cent in nine minutes, for a range rating of 1036km in Chinese lab testing. “We’re not going to limit ourselves just to those [showrooms],” Denza Australia chief op...
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Zeekr confirms 8X and 9X EV variants, alongside plug-in hybrid SUVs

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Chinese luxury brand Zeekr will spin fully electric variants off the 8X and 9X, which are currently plug-in hybrid. But those who want a hybrid 7X will be disappointed. Zeekr is developing fully electric variants of the 8X and 9X large SUVs, which will carry the same styling as their plug-in hybrid stablemates. Speaking to Australian media at a recent group interview, Vice President of Zeekr Mars Chen said both the 8X and 9X would get their own fully electric powertrain. While exact timing and specification for these EV models are yet to be confirmed, Chen told Australian motoring media this continued model and powertrain rollout mixed between electric and plug-in hybrid is part of the brand’s global strategy. MORE: Zeekr high-performance ‘FR’ sub-brand set for reboot Zeekr has recently confirmed the 8X and 9X plug-in hybrid SUVs for the Australian market, which pack new-generation plug-in hybrid powertrains. This news also comes alongside...
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Victorian Government is not working on RFID stickers, despite recommendation by study

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The Victorian Government will not be implementing Radio Frequency Identification stickers on windscreens to combat number plate theft. Image (bottom left): 2011 Victorian car registration sticker via Reddit. Image (top right): Mockup of a third number plate sticker by Drive. The Victorian Government has backtracked on previous comments about RFID stickers on windscreens as a solution to number plate theft – leaving questions unanswered as to what new solutions might be on the table as theft hits record levels. A Victorian Government spokesperson told Drive in March that: “We are working closely with Victoria Police and VicRoads on solutions to combat number plate theft and cloning in Victoria, including Radio Frequency Identification stickers.” However, following Drive’ s publication of these comments, the Victorian Government has said RFID stickers are not a solution to number plate theft that it is working on – removing mention to RFID stickers in its updat...
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Firefly electric car due in Australia in 2026, as launch details firm

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China’s answer to the Mini has been locked in for Australian showrooms as soon as this year, but it has set its sights much higher than budget BYDs and Geelys. The pint-sized Firefly electric car from Chinese manufacturer Nio is slated for Australian showrooms by the end of 2026, with retro-inspired looks and rated for up to 330km of driving range. But it will not be a bargain-priced $30,000 rival to BYD , Geely and MG , and instead has set its sights on Mini and Volvo with a price likely to start from more than $40,000 before on-road costs. The Firefly has been spotted testing on local roads in recent months, and it is now produced in right-hand drive for Asian and UK markets, but arrival timing has previously remained unclear. MORE: Nio Firefly electric car confirmed for Australia, but when is it due? Firefly global president Daniel Jin told Drive it is “highly likely” the first examples will arrive sometime in 2026, rather t...
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