Thanks for joining us this Monday April 29th 2024. Notably in car news today: Mini Australia has confirmed more details, including launch timing, for its Aceman electric small SUV, and Chinese auto manufacturer Chery is set to build a new Tiggo 9 PHEV model, boasting a range “beyond 1400km” .
Browse this issue:
- Mini confirms new Aceman model for Q4, 2024
- Chery announces Tiggo 9 PHEV at Beijing Auto Show
- Land Rover to bring limited number of Defender OCTA’s to Australia
- MG hires former designer of the Bugatti Veyron
Mini confirms Australian arrival date for its new model, the Aceman
This is the Mini Aceman, and it’s due in Australia by years end
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Mini Australia has locked in launch timing of its next model, the Aceman, which is expected to debut in the fourth quarter of 2024.
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The Aceman is a fully-electric small SUV measuring in at 4007mm long, 1750mm wide and 1500mm tall, and is positioned between a Cooper hatch and a Countryman. Two variants will be available, E and SE.
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Powering the Aceman will be either the choice of a 42.5kWh battery, or a larger 54.2kWh for the SE. A single electric motor on the front axle will produce 135kW/290Nm for the base E, or up to 160kW/330Nm for the SE variant.
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Standard equipment and features for the Aceman will somewhat mirror the new Cooper and Countryman and will include a full OLED 240mm circular touchscreen, Mini Operating System 9, 19-inch alloy wheels, 300 litres of boot capacity and maximum DC charging speeds of up to 75kW on the E and 95kW for the flagship SE.
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Further information on pricing and specification for our market is expected in the coming months before the model’s launch.
Chery reveals the Tiggo 9 PHEV with 1400km of range
Chery is claiming huge range numbers for its upcoming Tiggo 9 PHEV
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Chinese automaker Chery has pulled the covers off another model, this time at the Beijing Auto Show which occurred last week.
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Called the Tiggo 9 PHEV, this hybrid SUV uses a 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine with an electric motor that produces 165kW of power. Combined system output is 175kW/385Nm.
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The big claim here is that Chery states the Tiggo 9 PHEV will use 5.2L/100km combined, with total range stated to be “beyond 1400km”.
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Although unconfirmed for the Australian market, the Tiggo 9 PHEV could one day join the likes of other Cherys currently on sale in Australia, such as the Tiggo 7, Tiggo 8 Pro and the Omoda 5.
Ultimate Land Rover Defender, called OCTA, will go on sale in Australia
Land Rover Australia will bring a limited number of Defender OCTAs to local shores
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Land Rover is building the ultimate twin-turbocharged V8 Defender and it will be called OCTA, which refers to an octahedron, or a shape with eight-sides.
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Land Rover’s Australian arm has confirmed it will bring “less than 100 OCTAs” to Australia, but what exactly is an OCTA?
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OCTA is, in the words of Land Rover, a “high-performance all-terrain hero” which utilises a mild-hybrid, 4.4-litre twin-turbocharged V8 engine. This is almost certain to be an even more potent version of BMW’s S63 90-degree V8 petrol engine.
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Although Land Rover is staying tight-lipped about power and torque outputs, expect the 4.4-litre V8 to produce at least 460kW/750Nm.
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It’s set to make its official reveal on July 3 and Land Rover Australia is urging those interested to register at the local Defender website, to be then invited to a virtual viewing of the Defender OCTA in July 2024.
MG appoints Jozef Kaban, designer of the Bugatti Veyron, as VP of the brand’s Global Design Centre
MG’s new Vice President of Design, Jozef Kaban
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MG has announced it has appointed renowned designer Jozef Kaban to the role of Vice President of MG’s Global Design Centre.
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Kaban is perhaps best known for his design of the original Bugatti Veyron, a model which was, for some time, the fastest production vehicle on Earth.
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Kaban has also been an exterior designer for models including the Skoda Octavia, Skoda Superb and Skoda Kodiaq, to name a few.
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The Slovak designer has previously had jobs at Audi, Volkswagen, BMW and Rolls Royce.
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The news about Jozef Kaban’s appointment comes as the MG brand as a whole celebrates its centenary this year.
The next issue of Car News Today will be published on Tuesday 30th April at 4.30pm Sydney time.
