Driving Jaguar’s potent F-Pace SVR 575 Ultimate Edition SUV – one of just
60 as the last of the line Jaguar V8’s – Jaguar will navigate a new future
from January 1, all electric and reconfigured into an upper luxury range,
the Jaguar leaper badge gone, a whole new beginning after 90 years which
the company admits will lose up to 85 percent of its current customer base.
The 5-litre supercharged F-Pace SVR 575 Ultimate Edition a stunning SUV
and one that will become a collector’s item in time – super powerful, super
luxurious and the test car I’m driving in Sorrento yellow, super special –
hard to fault in performance, features, comfort, dynamics and price -
$182,000 far cheaper than a Range Rover Sport P530 and far more exciting
– the 5.0-litre V8 with 700Nm of torque and 8-speed automatic with steering
wheel shift paddles inspiring. A full gamut of active driver assist systems,
not intrusive, although the speed limit alert can become an annoyance. But
fabulous brakes which you need when you have a 2133kg steed with 0 to
100km/hour acceleration of just 4 seconds. This Jaguar F-Pace SVR 575
Ultimate Edition the final act in what has been a wonderful 90 years of
Jaguar grace and pace. I’m David Berthon

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Jaguar will cease production of its last internal combustion cars at the end
of the year, becoming an electric only manufacturer, also moving further
upmarket. Ending 90 years of the celebrated Jaguar brand as it navigates a
new future. According to Jaguar’s chief creative officer Gerry McGovern
“the new electric model is the result of brave, unconstrained creative
thinking and unwavering determination – the foundation stone for a new
family of Jaguars that will look unlike anything you’ve seen before.” For
many aficionados it’s a sad day, 90-years of history and heritage lost, even
the Jaguar leaper badging will disappear with the company only expecting
to retain around 10-15 percent of its existing customers. This week I’ve
been driving the Jaguar F-Pace SVR 575 Ultimate Edition SUV, in bright
yellow no less, the last ever V8 from the British brand and what an engine –
just 60 examples of this Ultimate Edition will be available and bound to
become collectors’ items. Sitting on 22-inch wheels this SVR looks
menacing even before you fire its 5-litre supercharged V8 – an all-wheel
drive upper luxury SUV at $182,000, and as a limited edition and the last of
the line, likely to retain its value well. Drive details next. I’m David Berthon

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Honda has joined a growing number of major car makers changing
direction away from battery electric vehicle development in response to
slowing BEV sales. At a recent briefing in Tokyo Honda’s President
Toshihiro Mibe confirmed the company was re-evaluating its BEV
development plan up to 2030 by trimming 3 trillion yen from its previously
allocated EV budget of 10 trillion yen. It cited falling BEV sales behind the
move “necessitating a re-alignment of its automotive strategy that places
more emphasis on new generation, lower cost and more efficient hybrid
technology along with a greater focus on the North American, Japanese
and Chinese markets.” Honda targeting greater battery efficiency as well as
a 50 per cent reduction in manufacturing costs, suggesting the company’s
new e-HEV systems will be lighter with more parts commonality amongst
models. Its target 2.2 million sales by 2030. I’m David Berthon

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Nissan Motor Corporation is making huge changes as it struggles with
disappointing financial results, slashing 11,000 jobs and closing seven
production facilities. New CEO Ivan Espinosa says he wants to make total
cost savings of around 500 million yen or $5.39 billion Australian dollars.
Nissan has been hit by slow sales in China and the U.S., has ended talks of
a merger with Honda and replaced its Chief Executive. Sales of 3.3 million
vehicles last year were down 42 per cent compared to 2017, the company
believed to be looking at closing production plants in South Africa, India
and Argentina and reducing the number of its factories in Mexico. The
company’s Chief Financial Officer said he has estimated the company’s
operating loss in the first quarter of the current financial year at around
$2.16 billion Australian dollars. I’m David Berthon

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Most evident in the car industry is how quickly potential buyers see the
value in a new model. Chery’s Tiggo 4 SUV has quickly made a name for
itself on value alone, simply the best value in a small SUV at present – two
models, the Tiggo 4 Urban $23,990 drive-away and the better equipped
Ultimate at $26,990 drive-away – as I said earlier the equipment level on the
Ultimate makes for a very compelling package for a small family on a tight
budget. And its pricing is where other small SUV’s start with their entry
pricing and don’t feature the Chery Tiggo 4 Ultimate models impressive
equipment list. Which includes dual-zone climate control air, a power
sunroof with shade, heated front seats, wireless phone charging, front and
rear parking sensors and a 360-degree camera. Only disappointment for me
is the lack of a rear power door and a full-size spare wheel. Power source a
1.5-litre turbo petrol four-cylinder driving the front wheels via a
continuously variable transmission. With 108kW and 210 Nm of torque its
no fire breather but a nice driver, the performance best described as
adequate while fuel consumption can get a little heavy if driven hard. I
managed 7.9L/100 around town but it does take 91 octane fuel.

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With cost-of-living pressures affecting new car sales a sharply priced SUV like the Chery Tiggo 4 Pro is sure to gain traction – this small Chinese SUV has been selling up a storm since its launch six months ago. Chery has thankfully already dropped the Pro from its name and revised styling including a full width LED tail-light and revised alloy wheels. Two models – the entry Chery Tiggo 4 Urban at $23,990 drive-away which now also gains front parking sensors and a six-speaker sound system in lieu of four. The better-equipped Tiggo 4 Ultimate at $26,990 drive-away further gains wireless phone charging and ambient interior lighting. Both exceptional value and quickly reflected in sales – having driven both the Tiggo 4 Ultimate is well worth the extra. Power source is a 1.5-litre turbo petrol engine driving the front wheels through a continuously variable automatic. The Ultimate grade equipment impressive – LED headlights, twin 10.25-inch display screens, a 360-degree camera, rear parking sensors, wireless phone charging, larger 18-inch alloy wheels, synthetic leather trim, dual zone climate control air, a power sunroof and shade, heated front seats, five-star ANCAP safety and many active safety elements. The Chery Tiggo 4 Impressive value for $26,990 drive-away with seven years unlimited km warranty.

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Australia’s peak motoring body, the Australian Automobile Association has
called on the re-elected Albanese Government for more action on road
safety. The call comes as new figures show the nation’s road toll continues
to climb. AAA Managing Director Michael Bradley said figures show road
deaths are up by 18.1 per cent in the five years since Australian
Governments set a target of halving national road deaths by 2030.
Following my story on the recommendations of the N.S.W Parliamentary
Committee inquiry into e-scooters and e-bikes I note the recent death of an
e-scooter rider on the South Coast – the 41-year-old rider crashed onto the
roadway and sadly was hit by a car. Over the last five years 30 people have
lost their lives in e-scooter accidents – many of the children’s deaths
attributed to their inexperience of riding e-scooters on busy roads. I’m
David Berthon

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I don’t always agree with Harold Scruby from the Pedestrian Council of
Australia, but I did agree with his article in the Telegraph on Tuesday titled
States e-madness must end before we’re e-limited. Rightly taking the
N.S.W. Government to task for proposing new rules and regulations for e-
scooters that other states have already found unworkable – allowing
anyone 16 and over to ride e-scooters on 50km/hour roads as well as
shared paths is a recipe for disaster – with no training, no license, no
registration and no insurance. Harold Scruby does himself an injustice
claiming the road toll in N.S.W is up 18 percent, its up 18 in number or 14
per cent while his argument that pedestrians don’t need education is one
eyed – he should witness the number of pedestrians in the City in
particular who walk onto pedestrian crossings texting or on the phone.

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Further on the Zeekr X SUV – a compact Chinese electric SUV released last
October and like many Chinese EVs already price reduced. Two models,
the rear wheel drive now $56,900 and the AWD $64,900 which I’m driving
with dual electric motors fed by a 66kWhour battery. The performance
exhilarating - 0 to 100km/hour in just 3.8 seconds – that performance is
very polished, and the Zeekr X feels premium in all it does – from my
perspective a cut above most similar priced SUV’s that I’ve driven. The
styling sharp, distinctive and different, a body with great interior room for a
compact SUV. Fit and finishes are quality. Range 400kms which around
town I found accurate but on the open road the brisk performance eats up
the battery much quicker – I averaged 16kW/h/100km consumption around
town but on a hard throttle it rose to 20kWh/100km fairly quickly. Charging
on my 11kW AC wall charger took 5 ½ hours from 20 to 80 percent of
charge. A supremely comfortable small SUV apart from some pitch on a
rough surface accentuated obviously by the additional battery weight but
more than acceptable. Active safety elements however too intrusive
particularly the driver distraction alert. Warranty underdone too at 5 years/
unlimited km. I’m David Berthon

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Driving the Zeekr X SUV – a small premium electrified SUV, a relatively
new Chinese brand released last October. Part of the Geely group that also
owns Volvo, Polestar, and Lotus. Zeekr a rather unusual Chinese brand
with its global design operations based in Gothenburg Sweden. As such
the European design influence on the Zeekr X is immediately apparent –
this is a compact SUV with a premium feel in fit and finishes - the
integration of the lights into the front of car individual and distinctive – Two
models RWD and AWD, I drove the latter at $64,900 plus on-road costs.
Step inside and you’re met with exceptional quality and an ambience that’s
warm, inviting and different. Seat comfort immediately noticeable, power
adjustment on both front seats – event the synthetic leather trim looks
quality and authentic. The AWD comes with dual electric motors fed by a
66kWh battery producing a lightning quick 0 to 100km in just 3.8 seconds
Highly equipped with wireless phone charging, power heated and cooled
front seats and a panoramic glass roof. Worst feature, a large central
touchscreen, and no operational buttons for aircon or radio. But certainly,
the most impressive Chinese electric SUV I’ve driven to date. Drive detail
next. I’m David Berthon

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