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Subaru’s BRZ buzz

Subaru has opened its order books for the second generation of its BRZ sports coupe. The BRZ and its co-developed clone the Toyota 86 have been providing Aussie enthusiasts with their uni ue brand of affordable rear-wheel drive excitement since 2012 and 2011 respectively. This second-generation BRZ is again a joint development project with Toyota. Featuring an upgraded version of Subaru’s trademark horizontally opposed four-cylinder engine, with capacity increased from 2.0 to 2.4 litres, Subaru says this model delivers between 18 and 20% more torque, depending on the transmission. The BRZ will feature a two-variant line-up when it arrives in December, comprising BRZ coupe and BRZ coupe S, both with the choice of six-speed manual or six-speed paddle-shi automatic and priced from $35,270 manufacturer’s recommended list price (MRLP).

P For more, visitsubaru.com.au

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Rugged and ready

Drivers who prefer their 4WD vehicles on the utilitarian side will be intrigued by the prospect of a rugged new rival for the Toyota LandCruiser 70 Series. Confirmed for Australian launch in late 2022 and priced from $84,500, the European engineered and manufactured INEOS Grenadier is billed as an all-new no-nonsense 4x4. Available in dual-cab ute and five-door wagon body styles, the Grenadier was conceived to fill a gap in the market “abandoned by a number of manufacturers, for a utilitarian off-road vehicle”, says its maker INEOS Automotive. Under the Grenadier’s purposeful aluminium body is a steel ladder-frame chassis, six-cylinder BMW turbo petrol or diesel engine, and a 4x4 system developed in partnership with Austrian engineering specialist Magna Steyr. A prototype recently arrived in Australia for testing and INEOS Automotive says it plans to have 16 retail sites in operation ahead of its launch, including Buckby Motors in Launceston.

For more, visit ineosgrenadier.com

Number crunch: EVs in Australia

Despite progress in the past 12 months Australia’s uptake of electric vehicles remains on trickle charge, according to the Electric Vehicle Council’s annual State of Electric Vehicles report.

8688

EVs sold in Australia in the first half of 2021, eclipsing the 3266 sold at the same time in 2020. EV sales now represent 1.6% of light vehicle sales but Australia still trails countries such as Norway, where nearly three-quarters of all light vehicles sold in 2020 were electric.

3000

The approximate number of public EV chargers in Australia, including 470 fast chargers, up from last year’s 2307 and 357 respectively. Charging infrastructure is a key enabler of EV uptake.

31

Electric vehicle models currently on sale in Australia. Drivers in the UK have access to more than 130 models, plus a greater variety of vehicle segments.

Tassie’s EV scorecard

Tasmania has scored seven out of 10 on the Electric Vehicle Council’s annual EV policy scorecard, placing the state on a par with the Northern Territory and ahead of Queensland, South Australia, Victoria and Western Australia, which all scored six. However, Tassie’s ranking places the state behind the Australian Capital Territory, which scored eight, and the front-runner NSW on nine. The report describes the NSW Government’s position as “Australia’s best electric vehicle policy to date”.

The scorecard cited Tasmania’s focus on funding public-charging infrastructure as a strength, along with expanded purchase incentive policies, including a two-year stamp duty exemption for all EVs, plus free registration for the next two years for car rental companies and coach operators. The state has also committed an additional $600,000 in funding for more public-charging infrastructure and has set a 100% electric government fleet target by 2030.

“Tasmania is establishing a good foundation for greater EV adoption, but there remains scope to offer greater financial incentives,” the report states. For more, visit electricvehiclecouncil.com.au

Click to order Hyundai

Hyundai’s new IONIQ 5 electric vehicle (EV) is set to become the first vehicle from the Korean car maker to be sold exclusively via a fixed price online-only model. Hyundai calls it a “direct-to-consumer model” and says the sales process has been chosen in light of “high demand for IONIQ 5 in Australia and limited initial supply”.

The first allocation of 240 vehicles scheduled for 2021 delivery sold out within hours of the online ordering opening. The battery-electric medium SUV will initially be offered in a single, highly equipped ‘launch variant’ specification, with a choice of 2WD (rear) or all-wheel drive (AWD) powertrains. Pricing starts from $71,900 (MRLP) for the rear-wheel drive model, rising to $75,900 (MRLP) for AWD.

Both models feature a high-voltage 72.6kWh lithiumion polymer battery, with the electric range (WLTP) of the 2WD single motor quoted as 451km, while the dual motor all-wheel drive is good for 430km. The IONIQ 5 boasts ultra-fast 400v and 800v charging capacity. For more, visit hyundai.com.au