EV Central

Toyota has taken its electric SUV and stretched it. Literally. The bZ4X Touring is 140mm longer than the regular bZ4X, bringing more space for passengers and a bigger boot. But let’s face it, Toyota hasn’t exactly set the EV world on fire when it comes to sales.

Alastair Doak is a veteran of the Australian automotive industry who retired as marketing director of Mazda Australia in December 2024. When he needed a new car last year he chose the BYD Sealion 7. Here, Alastair explains why he made that purchase and what he found over the next 12 months. It’s a revealing look inside EV ownership from a bona fide car expert.* We signed up for a BYD Sealion 7 in May 2025 when far fewer electric vehicle options were available.

Mercedes-AMG has recorded more than 1600 samples of a petrol-powered A 45 S hot hatch to give its new all-electric CLA 45 4MATIC+ the sound, vibrations and simulated gearshifts of a combustion-powered performance car. The unusual technology is part of AMG’s attempt to retain some of the character of its petrol models as it replaces the existing turbocharged four-cylinder CLA 45 with a new-generation battery-electric performance flagship.

Australia’s newest safety benchmark is electric, with the incoming BMW iX3 and Zeekr 7GT becoming the first vehicles to achieve five-star crash safety ratings under the tougher new 2026 Euro NCAP and ANCAP testing protocols. The all-electric duo are the first production cars to clear the world’s most demanding independent safety regime, with the BMW iX3 about to arrive in Australian showrooms and the Zeekr 7GT due to follow later this year.

The Geely Galaxy TT has arrived as a sleek, fast alternative to the fast-selling Xiaomi SU7 that could also provide a bargain-priced rival to the Porsche Taycan if it follows the inbound Galaxy Cruiser to Australia. Scheduled for launch as soon as next month in China, the new Geely Galaxy TT has courted controversy by mimicking the Xiaomi SU7’s styling in a bid to attract a more youthful audience. It’s no wonder.

Car-makers around the world are abandoning more than a century of copper wiring in favour of aluminium as they search for ways to build lighter, cheaper and more efficient electric vehicles. News agency Reuters reports Ferrari, BMW, Tesla and Stellantis are among the manufacturers either already using aluminium wiring or preparing to expand its use, with Chinese policy-makers also encouraging the switch.

Australians buying electric vehicles are far more likely to own a home than rent, with new finance data suggesting renters are being left behind as the country’s EV market continues to surge. Research from finance broker Savvy found 75 per cent of customers financing an EV between March and July 2026 were property owners, compared with just 25 per cent who did not own property.

Chery has revealed the first detailed specifications for its upcoming Stockman dual-cab ute, confirming the diesel plug-in hybrid will launch in Australia later this year with headline figures designed to put it squarely in the fight against the BYD Shark 6, Ford Ranger PHEV, GWM Cannin Alpha and JAC Hunter.

A new concept for the inbound MG Cyber was unwrapped at last weekend’s Goodwood Festival of Speed, paving the way for a flagship BMW X5 rival. Designed to supersede the current MG Cyberster as the car-maker’s new flagship model, the new MG Cyber might be rebadged and sold under SAIC’s premium IM Motors brand, although the design and development of the five-metre-long SUV is currently being undertaken by MG.

Australia’s record run of electric vehicle sales is beginning to reshape the country’s used car market, with auction giant Pickles predicting a wave of ex-novated lease EVs will significantly boost second-hand supply over the coming years.