Tag: pHEV

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MAZDA NUMBERS GAME IN PLAY FOR SUV BUYERS

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Mazda’s march upmarket with its reworked range of CX large sports utility vehicles, the new CX-80 only leads to a plethora of choices for potential buyers. But does it all add up? Mathematically, maybe but matching models with nomenclature could lead to confusion. In fact, Mazda admits there will be some subtle ‘nudging’ between the CX-60, CX-70, CX-90 and now by the CX-80 but is confident customers will have the nous to deal with the situation. Aping the three powertrains offered by its smaller CX-60 twin – an inline-six petrol,… Read more

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‘UNWORLDLY’ DEBUT FOR JAECOO SUPER HYBRID

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By Jupiter, that was good! Cruising the open road (motorway) in the newly-minted Jaecoo J7 SHS plug-in hybrid I had just enjoyed the Planets’ Suite, by Gustav Holst, on the car radio. On sale in Australia from this week <subs: May 1>, the question is, does the rest of this Chinese plug-in hybrid – the SHS (for Super Hybrid System) – stack up against Holst’s classical Phil Spector-like ‘wall of sound’? With an appealing price point, striking looks, upper-end EV and combined driving range there’s plenty to like about this… Read more

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KIA SORENTO PHEV GT-LINE

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It’s becoming harder to tell internal combustion from electric vehicles, and even more difficult to identify the in-betweeners — the hybrids and plug-in hybrids that combine technologies. The new Product Enhanced Sorento takes its styling cues from the fully-electric EV9 and sees changes to the exterior and interior design, comfort and convenience technology, with additional safety features thrown in. New Sorento offers a range of drivetrains including hybrid and plug-in hybrid variants, both of which arrive in top-spec GT-Line guise only, adding to the price of the technology — or… Read more

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FLASH OF THE FUTURE FROM ALFA PLUG-IN

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In the ideal automobile trifecta of performance, economy and little nasty pollution Alfa Romeo has its money on plug-in hybrid electric vehicle technology, with the Tonale Plug-in Hybrid Q4 carrying top weight. The new edition to the premium SUV line-up has form – sprinting from rest to 100km/h in 6.2 seconds, the ability to travel up to 60 kilometres on electric power alone with 34g/km CO2 tailpipe emissions. Top speed is135km/h in full electric mode and 206km/h in hybrid. While the figures speak for themselves, like SUVs of this ilk,… Read more

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OUTLANDER PLUGS INTO FAMILY LIFE

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The plug-in hybrid models have not been left behind in Mitsubishi’s latest upgrades to its Outlander SUV range, adding even more appeal to the company’s popular EVs. Plug-in hybrids have been around for years and offer a choice of full-on electric drive for short trips, with the complement of internal combustion power to avoid range anxiety on longer journeys. With totally electric powered vehicles rapidly advancing, the plug-in hybrid, led by the Outlander, is intent on making a stand for its own segment. With greater battery capacity (20kWh) and a… Read more

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ALFA ROMEO TONALE VELOCE PLUG-IN HYBRID Q4

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Alfa’s top of the line Tonale SUV is a plug-in hybrid and costs nearly $20,000 more than its nearest stablemate. For this money, you get a vehicle that can run on electricity alone for a distance of up to 60km Named after a mountain pass in Northern Italy, it is a little brother to the mid-sized Stelvio – but like Stelvio can seat five. Tonale sits on the same platform as the Jeep Compass and a re-badged, re-styled version is also sold as the Dodge Hornet in the United States…. Read more

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AUDI Q5 DRIVES UP TO THE AUTO HOLY GRAIL

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Could it be that auto giant Audi has grasped the Holy Grail of the industry with its most popular vehicle, the Q5? The most desirable, yet elusive, automotive properties claimed by the Q5 plug-in petrol / electric hybrid – outstanding performance coupled with miserly fuel consumption – stand as the chalice of Arthurian legend. The new Q5 55 TFSI e quattro S line showcases the manufacturer’s expertise in electrification and highly efficient internal combustion engine technology with a claimed sprint from zero to 100 km/h in a sizzling 5.3 seconds,… Read more

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PEUGEOT 508 GT SPORTSWAGON PLUG-IN HYBRID

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The Peugeot 508 has been on sale in Australia since July 2011. A mid-sized sedan or station wagon, it fitted into the space between the smaller 407 and larger 607, effectively replacing both cars. The current (second generation) 508 arrived here in August 2021, only available in the top-grade GT equipment level and featuring Peugeot’s first-ever plug-in hybrid (PHEV) powertrain. The previous petrol-only variants were dropped from the range at the end of 2022 leaving just the more-expensive PHEVs. STYLING As has been the case throughout two body styles are… Read more

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ALFA ADDS A PHEV TO ITS TONALE RANGE

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Alfa Romeo has added a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) version of its Tonale small SUV to the hybrid variants that arrived here last year. It sits below the mid-sized Stelvio SUV and joins the Giulia sedan in Alfa’s limited Australian range. Tonale Plug-In Hybrid Q4 is a major step in Alfa’s electrification process with the Italian carmaker targeting 2016 for its first-ever fully-electric vehicle. Tonale PHEV is the most efficient Alfa Romeo ever, with approximately 60 km of all-electric range and 34 g/km of CO2 emissions. The Tonale Plug-In Hybrid Q4… Read more

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JEEP’S FIRST GRAND CHEROKEE PHEV IS ON ITS WAY

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In line with its “Zero Emission Freedom” policy, Jeep has released details of its first-ever electrified Grand Cherokee. Priced from $129,950 (plus on-roads), the Grand Cherokee Summit Reserve 4xe Plug-In Hybrid will arrive here in August to supplement the recently released fifth-generation Jeep Grand Cherokee five and seven-seat variants. Reserve 4xe combines a 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbocharged engine with two electric motors and a 400-volt 17.3-kWh EV battery pack paired with a TorqueFlite eight-speed automatic transmission. There are two available 4×4 systems – Quadra-Trac I and Quadra-Trac II. Both 4×4 systems… Read more