Tag: hybrid

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PEUGEOT 308 PLUG-IN HYBRID

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Peugeot’s GT Sport Plug-In Hybrid (PHEV) hatchback has become the fourth model to join the French carmaker’s 308 compact range. It joins the GT hatch, GT Premium hatch and GT Premium wagon petrol variants. First sold here in 2008 the 308 has never seriously challenged comparable models from Japan or South Korea for sales, but those loyal to the French brand have always loved it for its style, comfort and handling. The new 308 PHEV is Peugeot’s third plug-in petrol-electric hybrid, joining the 3008 GT Sport SUV and 508 Fastback… Read more

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POLISHED PERFORMANCE BY HYBRID HEAVYWEIGHT

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With electric vehicles lighting up the sports utility vehicle market, the Santa Fe has muscled in on the heavyweight SUV segment with the seven-seat premium Elite and flagship Highlander taking on hybridised rivals such as the Toyota Kluger, Kia Sorento hybrid and Mitsubishi Outlander Plug-In Hybrid. The Santa Fe petrol-electric hybrid has the brains to charge its lithium-ion battery through conversion of kinetic energy while working in conjunction with the internal combustion engine and regenerative brakes while on the move. Hyundai hybrid is kitted out essentially like its petrol- and… Read more

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NEW PRIUS – IN CASE YOU’RE INTERESTED?

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Although it won’t be offered here, we thought you might like to take a squiz at the new Toyota Prius. It’s the most fuel-efficient Prius ever with fuel consumption of 4.1L/100km, 60 per cent more power with up to 146kW and on-demand all-wheel drive. When we last drove the car in 2019, we suspected the Prius had passed its use-by- date. The technology was sound but its job was done and no longer served a purpose — and of course it wasn’t an SUV. Over the course of 20 odd… Read more

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PEUGEOT ADDS A PLUG-IN HYBRID TO ITS 308 RANGE

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Peugeot Australia has released details of a new Plug-In Hybrid variant of its 308 small-medium hatchback. The 308 GT Sport hatchback PHEV joins the 308 GT hatch and GT Premium hatch and wagon models that were launched here in November 2022. It is the third electrified Peugeot model to arrive here alongside the 3008 GT Sport PHEV and 508 Fastback GT PHEV. Plug-In Hybrid versions of the 2008 small SUV and 508 Sportwagon will arrive later this year along with an all-electric e-Partner small van. Priced from $64,990 plus on-road… Read more

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KIA SUV HYBRID LEFT HIGH AND DRY

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Long Covid? Try long Kia. The South Korea automobile maker is suffering lingering post-pandemic ‘sickness’ with its Sorento Hybrid SUV being held up by supply issues and the maker offering the vehicle in top-spec GT-Line only. The same goes for the Plug-in Hybrid. The Sorento sports utility vehicle has been a major part of the Kia catalogue for two decades, with the fourth generation seeing the light of day in 2020 in petrol and diesel variants. Now the range is topped off with petrol / electric hybrids boasting room for… Read more

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NEW ZR-V ADDS HYBRID OPTION TO THE HONDA SUV RANGE

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Honda Australia has announced details on its new ZR-V mid-sized SUV due to arrive here midway through this year. The ZR-V will sit between the well-established smaller HR-V and the larger (and soon to be larger) CR-V. It’s built on the same platform, and is around the same length, as the current Civic hatchback. In its press release Honda states that the ZR-V “sits lower than most SUVs for a sedan- like driving position” which is a bit odd given that one of the main selling points leading the SUV… Read more

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TOYOTA COROLLA CROSS ATMOS HYBRID FWD

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You could in all likelihood be looking at the successor to the evergreen Corolla hatch and sedan as the market continues its move away from traditional styles. Corolla Cross joins the Yaris Cross, C-HR, RAV4, Kluger, Fortuner, Land Cruiser Prado and Land Cruiser 300 Series in Toyota’s ever-growing line-up of SUVs. And, like many of the aforementioned models, it is available with a fuel saving hybrid petrol-electric powertrain — one that importantly recharges itself. It’s the right-size and the timing couldn’t be better, but it’s going to cost you almost… Read more

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NEW CX-90 TO BE THE PRIDE OF THE MAZDA FLEET

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Mazda recently unveiled its new flagship vehicle, the CX-90 seven-seat SUV in California. The eventual replacement for the ageing CX-9, its expected to be launched here in August this year with the two models selling alongside each other until at least the end of 2023. The CX-90 will be the third two-digit Mazda SUV joining the well-established small CX- 30 and the mid-sized CX-60 due to arrive here next month. Described by Mazda as the brand’s most luxurious model ever made the CX-90 will come with the choice of high-output… Read more

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INTRODUCING LEXUS SUV LUXURY DOWN THE HYBRID HIGH STREET

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Lexus, through its close family links to Toyota, has form when it comes to the electrification of fossil fuel-powered vehicles. More than 20 years ago Toyota set its cap to petrol / electric hybrids when it put out the Prius. The sedan’s asymmetric hybrid fuel saving system became the mainstay of the automobile maker’s electric vehicles, even becoming the powerplant of choice for taxis around the world. Needless to say, this did not go unnoticed with Toyota’s luxe auto partner Lexus plugging in to the development for its range of… Read more

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HONDA CIVIC e:HEV LX

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The Honda Civic e:HEV LX is a petrol/electric hybrid and is the latest model in the long history of electric propulsion in vehicles. The Honda Insight was introduced in 2001 and the Honda NSX supercar was sold in 2017. We drove both of these vehicles at the time of their release and came away impressed. Now it was our time to spend an interesting week in the Civic e:HEV LX and see how the Japanese company has advanced over the years. It’s a fascinating machine in many ways including the… Read more