Thanks for joining us this Thursday July 11th 2024. Notably in car news today: The Ford Capri is back, but nothing like how we’ve seen it before, and BYD’s upcoming Shark ute has been spotted on Melbourne roads.
Browse this issue:
- Ford Capri debuts as sedan-style SUV
- BYD Shark ute spotted on Aussie roads
- GWM builds its 600,000th Cannon ute
- Many inner Sydney streets speed limits cut to just 40km/h
- Reviewed: 2024 Mercedes-AMG GLC43
Ford Capri reborn as an electric SUV with Volkswagen underpinnings
This is the 2025 Ford Capri electric
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Ford Europe has resurrected the Capri nameplate for the first time in 37 years in the form of an all-electric SUV. And it’s added two doors and electric power to the original recipe.
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Based on Volkswagen MEB platform underpinnings, the new Capri has a very similar design to the current Polestar 2, taking the shape of a sedan-SUV body style.
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Power will come courtesy of either a rear-drive or dual-motor electric system. The rear-drive model will produce 210kW of power, while the dual-motor will produce 250kW. The Capri can sprint to 100km/h in as little as 5.3 seconds.
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The SUV’s battery size will be 77kWh, with estimated range to be up to 627km (WLTP) for the rear-drive and up to 592km (WLTP) for the dual-motor.
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Confirmed equipment includes a large 14.6-inch centre touchscreen, B&O sound system and 19-inch alloy wheels (21-inch wheels are optional). The electric Capri is yet to be confirmed for Australia.
BYD Shark spotted on Australian roads
We spotted the BYD Shark on the road in Melbourne!
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The highly-anticipated BYD Shark has arrived in Australia, with an eagle-eyed Chasing Cars reader finding one in traffic in Melbourne.
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The Shark is expected to launch in Australia this year and will be fitted with BYD’s 1.5-litre DMI plug-in hybrid system. It’s been confirmed to produce 320kW of power with the help of two electric motors.
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BYD’s first ute for Australia is set to have an electric-only range of around 100km and will be able to tow 2500kg braked, which is about 1000kg down on today’s typical ute benchmark in Australia.
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The Shark will be one of the only utes in the Australian segment to use a plug-in hybrid system, however the Ford Ranger will be available with the technology when it launches here in 2025.
600,000 Great Wall Cannon ute rolls off its Chinese production line
GWM has just produced its 600,000th Cannon model in China
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GWM has announced that the 600,000 example of its Cannon ute has rolled off its assembly line in Jingmen, Wuhan, China.
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The brand achieved that goal in just four years and ten months, showing the pace Chinese automakers are working at to produce new vehicles for global markets.
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The Cannon lineup is produced in the Jingmen Smart Factory which also produces models including the Tank 400, Tank 500, King Kong Cannon and the Haval H5.
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GWM invested a significant USD$825 million (AUD$1.2 billion) into this Smart factory, with mass production first kicking off back in 2022.
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According to Car News China, for every two pickups sold in China, one is a GWM product.
Many of Inner Sydney’s streets reduced to just 40km/h
Many inner Sydney streets are going to a 40km/h limit
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The City of Sydney has announced it will be lowering the speed limit across many of Sydney’s inner suburbs to 40km/h.
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The rule will apply to regional and local roads that still have a 50km/h speed limit, and will include the suburbs of Glebe, Forest Lodge, Beaconsfield and Waterloo.
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The council has also announced that many streets in Annandale, Redfern, Alexandria, Zetland and Woolloomooloo will also have their speed limits reduced to 40km/h.
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“Studies have shown that the survival rates for people hit by a vehicle drastically improve at lower speeds like 40km/h,” Lord Mayor of Sydney, Clover Moore, said.
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“We will also continue to work with Transport for NSW to reduce speed limits to 30km/h in the city centre and other high activity areas where there are a lot of people walking and riding,” Moore said.
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The City of Sydney will begin installing new speed signs in the coming weeks.
2024 Mercedes-AMG GLC43 reviewed
The 2024 Mercedes-AMG GLC43
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Chasing Cars founder Tom Baker’s review of the 2024 Mercedes-AMG GLC43 was published, including his thoughts on the model’s change from V6 to four-cylinder power.
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Baker found that the GLC43 had improved handling, rapid levels of acceleration, strong brakes and a pleasant exhaust note. He also praised the cabin’s premium materials.
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Points to improve for the GLC43 included creaky interior plastics, high levels of fuel consumption, expensive outlay for a four-cylinder and expensive to service.
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In conclusion, Baker said that the GLC43 is a slick and sweet drive and is a better car than the one it replaces, but it falls down by being thirsty and not particularly affordable.
READ: Link to written review
The next issue of Car News Today will be published on Friday 12th July at 4.30pm Sydney time.
