CAR ADVICE

Growing Chinese brand Zeekr is the latest car maker to consider ways to make high-performance electric cars more engaging to drive. Zeekr may be the next car maker to add synthesised gear shifts to its electric vehicles, following in the wheel tracks of Hyundai’s Ioniq 5 N. The majority of cars sold by the Chinese manufacturer in Australia are more powerful than the last of the V8-powered Holden Commodore and Ford Falcon sports sedans, offering up to 475kW in the 7X Performance SUV. Rivals – led by Hyundai  – are increasingly considering software that controls the response of the electric motors to simulate a petrol-powered car’s transmission, accompanied by a soundtrack intended to mimic a petrol engine. “There is a debate for the gear shifting,” Zeekr head of high-performance models, Ray Chien, told Drive . MORE: Zeekr targets up to 500 7X SUV sales per month in Australia “Some people think this is old school, right? Because back in the old days with the comb...

Big Brother Australia host Mel Tracina’s first car – a 1989 Ford Telstar – came from the scrap yard, but she loved it all the same. New host of Big Brother Australia Mel Tracina remembers getting her first car – a 1989 Ford Telstar – from a second-hand wrecker all thanks to some intel from her father, Robert, who is mad about cars. “Dad’s friend worked at the wreckers and saw the Ford Telstar, which was simply too good to wreck. He suggested Dad give it to me. I had just turned 18 and got my licence straight away. It was an automatic with velour seats and I was mad about the car. I didn’t have any expectations of what I wanted my first car to be, I was happy to have wheels and freedom,” Tracina says.  RELATED: My first car: Jimmy ‘Giggle’ Rees’ 1996 Mitsubishi Magna The car got her around Melbourne with ease – from a casual job at Target to studying at La Trobe University. Tucked in the glovebox was a foghorn, which her friend would pull out for fun while they’d ...

Whether the Australian market sways towards plug-in hybrids or electric vehicles, BYD’s local arm believes it will be ready. BYD Sealion 7 EV and BYD Shark 6 PHEV BYD Australia believes customers will ultimately decide which electrification powertrain is right for them , fielding both battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) to cover its bases. Speaking to Drive , BYD Australia boss Stephen Collins said there is “no concern” which way the market ultimately sways in terms of electrified powertrain choice. “I think at the end of the day, consumers are going to decide [whether BEVs or PHEVs prove more popular],” Collins said. “What we’re seeing now, and what we see in the foreseeable future, is that there’s distinct customers who want full EV, but there’s a distinct chunk of customers who are really happy with the experience they get that plug-in hybrid provides. MORE: BYD Seal 6 Touring PHEV could pave the way for Australian family wago...

Electrified power is being considered for the Patrol 4WD, but Nissan is taking its time unless CO2 emissions rules mandate it – or customer demand materialises. Electric Nissan Patrol imagined by Theottle. Hybrid or electric power will come to the Nissan Patrol four-wheel-drive when emissions regulations require it , and the technology can deliver the capability customers expect. Nissan chief product specialist for full-size SUVs, Antonio Lopez, told Drive at the recent Tokyo motor show that electrification will come to the brand’s flagship off-roader when the time is right. “Obviously, if electrification is required due to the regulations or due to the customer needs, we will prepare the vehicle that the customer will need,” Lopez said. Any plans for a future electrified Patrol are likely to be welcomed by Nissan Australia, as the twin-turbo petrol V6 version due in showrooms in early 2027 is set to attract hefty penalties under the Federal Government’s new NVES CO2 em...

This map shows the 333 locations Victoria Police can place their mobile phone and seatbelt detection cameras in December 2025. While mobile phone and seatbelt detection camera positions can vary month to month in Victoria, police are obliged to publish the potential locations for public transparency. Mobile phone and seatbelt detection cameras are mounted high up on portable trailers and photograph drivers from above as they pass. The cameras detect if the driver is using a mobile device illegally, or failing to wear their seatbelt legally. The map below shows mobile traffic cameras in their latest approved locations around Victoria. December Mobile phone and seatbelt detection camera locations Victoria Hover your mouse over, or tap, the red symbols to see more information about the camera’s location and reason for its potential placement. These spots are not just picked at random, with various justifications used by Victoria Police: Documented history of collisions ...

Mazda has tested the Model 3 as part of developing the brand’s new 6e electric sedan, but it wasn’t a fan of how the original iteration absorbs bumps and takes corners. Mazda has complimented the Tesla Model 3 as an electric car “setting standards” in the market that its new 6e sedan will wade into in Australia next year. But it has labelled the driving character of the previous iteration – before the suspension was softened, and the steering slowed – “relatively harsh” and “too aggressive” for its liking, and says the new model is better. The latest Model 3 will be the chief rival for the Mazda 6e when it launches with a sub-$55,000 price, on par with the Tesla’s $54,900 plus on-road costs base RRP. The 6e began life as a model from China’s Deepal , before being rebodied into the Mazda EZ-6 for China, and then treated to a retune of its suspension, steering and chassis with the aim of driving how European and, in turn, Australian Mazda buyers expect. MORE: 2026 Mazda...

Though big in size and presence, Mitsubishi’s Elevance concept will not preview a future plug-in hybrid Pajero, but will instead influence the new Outlander. Mitsubishi Elevance Concept Mitsubishi’s Elevance concept, revealed at the 2025 Tokyo motor show , will inform the next-generation Outlander family SUV in styling and technology, confirmed an executive on the show floor. Speaking to Drive , Mitsubishi Motors Corporation General Manager of Product Planning and Product Strategy Minoru Uehara said the Elevance would not spawn a direct production model, but instead be refined into a mid-size SUV. “[The Elevance is] just a concept, but some element or essence of this vehicle can be linked to a future product,” Uehara-san said. “Styling direction or technical features, we are still investigating and developing, so some features and elements can be moved to the actual world in the future.” MORE: Plug-in hybrid interest lower than expected post-tax exemption – Mitsubishi ...

New real-world data has revealed that four electric cars have fallen short of their claimed driving range, with one model failing by more than 30 per cent. Smart #1 EV The second round of real-world electric vehicle range tests has been released, with the  Australian Automotive Association  (AAA) finding four battery-powered cars did not match their maximum lab-tested driving ranges . The electric vehicle (EV) driving range program is an extension of the industry body’s fuel-efficiency testing for petrol and hybrid cars, with the AAA examining the maximum driving range of numerous electric models on a full charge. In the latest batch, the AAA tested four models: the Tesla Model Y , Kia EV3 , MG4 , and the Smart #1 . The electric car with the biggest variance between its claimed driving range and real-world result was the 2023 MG4, with a 31 per cent drop from its 405km maximum lab-tested range to 281km in AAA testing. Compared to its advertised 18.4kWh per 100k...

A six-figure price tag for a Chinese car might be a hard pill to swallow for some, but Denza believes its portfolio is convincing enough to be competitive. Denza B8 and Denza B5 BYD’s premium sub-brand Denza believes there will be challenges in finding Australian buyers for its upmarket line-up, but its products offer enough to compete. While pricing for its opening B5 and B8 models is yet to be confirmed, it is believed that some variants will command a six-figure price tag – a rarity for a Chinese brand. Denza will not be the first with a $100,000-plus model however, as MG launched its Cyberster in 2024 with a $115,00 before on-road costs asking price – and subsequently introduced a more affordable version of the convertible earlier this year. To the end of October this year , MG Australia has recorded 47 sales of the Cyberster halo model, according to the latest VFACTS data. MORE: BYD Shark 6 development will fast track 2026 Denza B5 and B8 accessories Denza B...

Thieves have chopped and stolen cables from six EV charging stations at Cranbourne Shopping Centre in Melbourne’s east. Image: Electric Vehicles for Australia Facebook group. Thieves have chopped and stolen cables from six electric vehicle (EV) charging stations at Cranbourne Shopping Centre in Melbourne’s east. Vicinity Centres, the shopping centre operator, labelled the theft “disappointing” and told Drive they are working to ensure the cables are replaced as soon as possible. The theft in Cranbourne comes after a similar robbery in South Australia, where Tesla owners noticed on Sunday morning that charging cables had been cut and stolen at a Supercharger site in Norwood. Images of the damaged charging stations following both thefts have been widely shared on social media, with users speculating the cables were stolen because they contained valuable copper wiring. MORE: Thieves target public EV chargers, but the cables are fighting back Image: Tesla Owners Australia ...

The price of Australia’s cheapest new electric car has dropped below $25,000 for the first time with the release of a tiny BYD similar in size to a Mazda 2 or Suzuki Swift. 2026 BYD Atto 1 pricing and specifications Two variants, with up to 310km range Cheapest new electric car in the country Priced from $23,990 before on-road costs The title of Australia’s cheapest new electric car is now held by the 2026 BYD Atto 1 city hatch, priced from $23,990 before on-road costs. Sold overseas as the Seagull or Dolphin Surf , the new smallest member of the BYD line-up is similar in size to a Mazda 2 or Suzuki Swift , but undercuts both with a drive-away price of $25,200 to $26,500, depending on the state of registration. A better-equipped, longer-range Premium model is available for $27,990 plus on-road costs, or $29,200 to $30,650 drive-away, depending on location. Both take the title of the country’s most affordable electric car from the larger BYD Dolphin Essential, pric...