Already four years old Nissan’s first fully electric SUV Ariya is due to arrive in September. The production version of Ariya was unveiled in 2019, but its launch was delayed because of the global chip shortage caused by the COVID pandemic. It has been on sale in New Zealand since late 2024. Based on the LEAF EV, Ariya is 4595mm long, 1850mm wide, with a wheelbase of 2775mm. Ariya will be offered in four grades with either a 63kWh or 87kWh battery packs, with a range from 385 to 504km…. Read more

Kia has confirm pricing for the cab-chassis version of its all-new Tasman ute. Tasman Single-Cab chassis range will be available in three variants: S 4×2 from $38,010,  S 4×4 from at $45,010 and SX 4×4 from $49,520 — plus on-road costs. The Dual-Cab chassis will come in two variants; S 4×4 from $48,240 and the SX 4×4 from $52,740 — plus on-roads. Cab-chassis variants can be paired with a Kia genuine accessories tray, which can be accompanied by further options such as an under-tray drawer, tool box, and water tank…. Read more

Here at Cars4Staters we’ve been testing and reporting on cars both here and overseas for more than 25 years. Very rarely in that time have fuel consumption figures matched manufacturer claims, although some come close. Some on the other hand are so far off its ridiculous. EVs are no different. That’s because the figures are the result of laboratory testing in a controlled environment. We note the results of the Australian Automobile Association’s (AAA) “real world” testing this week. AAA has been testing cars, not just EVs, since 2023 with… Read more

Joining the Zeekr lineup comes an EV capable being charged in an extraordinary 13 minutes. That’s the claim of the Chinese Geely for its sub-brand’s Zeekr 7X, a premium five-seat SUV which will join the Zeekr X and Zeekr 009 later this year. Not only is it fast to charge, but the 7X is quick out of the gates too, with 0-100km/k taking just 3.8 seconds. The single-motor, Long Range Rear-Wheel Drive model has a range of around 615km (WLTP). Geely not only owns Volvo, Polestar, Proton, Smart and Lotus,… Read more

Foton’s Tunland utility is set to turn heads priced from a red hot $39,990. Originally, the Chinese company said the V7 and V9 pickups would arrive in the first half of 2025. But it looks like that date has blown out to the end of September at the latest. The pair are billed as full-size utes, but in reality sit somewhere between the Hilux and Tundra in terms of size. Ironically, V7 is the larger of the two with a length of 5797mm and wheelbase of 3505mm (distance between axles)…. Read more

Holden’s old Proving ground Lang Lang has been snapped up by the Chinese. Great Wall Motors (GWM) has secured permanent residency at the iconic proving ground which gave birth to so many Holden’s over the years. Holden of course produced its last car in 2017 and ceased trading at the end of 2020. In March, GWM announced it had secured the services of former Rob Trubiani, one of Australia’s most respected automotive engineers, to lead development and localisation of GWM products for the ANZ market. The former Holden engineer brings… Read more

Honda has confirmed the Prelude sports car will make a comeback to the Australian market next year. Details are still sketchy but the revival of the Prelude nameplate is part of Honda’s recent revival of other well known names such as Passport and Integra. The new Prelude will replace the discontinued Civic and Accord Coupes and will be released here by the middle of 2026. Waxing lyrical about the Prelude’s imminent arrival, Honda says this model is a prelude to a new “specialty sport” in the era of electrification, that… Read more

Hagerty’s 11th Festival of the Unexceptional (FOTU) attracted thousands of guests and cars from around the world to Grimsthorpe Castle in the UK. Not only was the concours filled with automotive rarities, but the show parking area was also crammed with amazing cars that were once commonplace and now seldom seen. Among the Maxis, Novas and Allegros could be found Trabants, Ladas and Datsuns — cars others choose not to save. Take the Ford Granada, many of which are still around, but only at this unique event could you find… Read more