Motor Torque with David Berthon

Driving the relatively new Cupra Tavascan mid-sized electric SUV today – the
higher grade Tavascan VZ at $79,990 driveaway, a striking coupe style mid-sized
SUV with dual motor 250kW all-wheel drive with electronic adaptive suspension,
large 21-inch alloy wheels, six drive modes, a full suite of active and passive
safety elements and an interior design that is unique and very appealing. Cupra
always highlight wheels and interior elements with copper trim and its very
distinctive although some of this makers dark colours I find a little sombre and
lacking vibrance. As a driver not so, this is a spritely performer with a 0 to
100km/hour time of 5.5 seconds, the adaptive suspension providing a great
ride/handling balance with all-wheel drive and with steering weight and feel nicely
balanced to the cars selected drive modes. Brake pedal feel however
disappointing, too much pushback and inconsistency in feel and response and I
know of no other performance skewed car at this price point retaining rear drum
brakes. The brakes are simply not confidence inspiring under heavy use. It’s a
pity as the Cupra Tavascan VZ SUV is one that invites spirited driving, and it
performs very well in all other areas and has a point of difference that is very
appealing.

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Driving a Spanish newcomer today – The Cupra Tavascan, the maker’s second
electric model retains its Spanish flair despite being built in China. Cupra, part of
the Volkswagen Group, and having a better year, sales up 40 percent on 2024.
The Tavascon a sporty striking coupe style SUV in two models, the rear drive
210kW Endurance and the sportier 250kW all-wheel drive VZ - I drove the VZ with
dual electric motors, a 77kWhour battery and 499km range – it gains an adaptive
electronic suspension, power heated front seats, a fixed glass sunroof, leather
trim, large 21-inch alloy wheels with copper accents and 12 speaker sound. All up
a sporty mid-sized SUV, $79,990 drive-away, different and distinctive in several
areas – especially inside with a central V-design central spine that extends
rearwards – practical and highlighted with Cupra’s signature copper inlays.
Underneath this central flyover there’s excellent storage and phone charging –
the layout with large central touchscreen and a small instrument binnacle in front
of the driver, all very user friendly, apart from a lack of buttons for air-
conditioning and radio. A frustration, like so many EVs and the ability to use
safely only when stationary. Warranty, five years, unlimited km, Battery, eight
years, 160,000kms.

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Official V-Facts new vehicle sales data for the month of July show a record
month with 103,097 vehicle deliveries due in part to the growing popularity
of Chinese models with sales up 50 percent on the same month last year.
Three Chinese brands GWM, BYD and MG are now represented in the top
ten best-selling list, however only one of the top ten best-selling models
was Chinese - the small Chery Tiggo 4 Pro SUV. SUV’s continue to be the
vehicle of choice, 61 percent of all vehicles sold – petrol remains the most
popular fuel source, the big surprise an 8 per cent lift in diesel sales
despite July being the first month of the Federal Government’s National
Fuel Efficiency Standard designed to lower CO2 emissions. Plug-in hybrids
were the big winner last month, sales up 183 percent year to date.

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It’s no secret that Jaguar come year end will introduce a new breed of electric only cars – despite a 90-year history of sports orientated models that featured space, grace and pace Jaguar is on a new projectory that will present a new design vision – called the Type 00 concept it will push the brand further upmarket into Rolls-Royce and Bentley territory – in the process it expects to lose 85 per cent of its current customer base – in doing so it has drawn much condemnation from die hard Jaguar fans – images of the new bold concept divisive to say the least – the latest critic President Donald Trump who has taken to social media to slam Jaguar’s rebrand as “woke” and “disgraceful.” Trump claiming the luxury car maker is in absolute turmoil after it announced its CEO of three years Adrian Mardell would step down in November.

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Much jubilation this week from Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore at the
opening of the long-awaited Oxford Street cycleway – a 1 km stretch of
dual cycleway from Taylor Square to Hyde Park corner – costing a
staggering $18.5 million dollars. As she said, “no longer will people riding
need to weave in and out of traffic, competing with trucks, cars, buses
along Oxford Street”. Really, this major traffic artery to the East reduced at
huge cost in the interests of 3,000 bike riders. Quite clearly, vital road
maintenance in an around the city has taken a back seat to the provision of
bike lanes – I’m not against cycling, far from it, however the lane reduction
in the likes of Pitt Street and Castlereagh Street between King and Market
Streets at peak times is a disaster, especially for commercial operators, the
life blood of the city.

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Further on the Jaecoo J7 SHS Summit SUV – with Range Rover Evoque styling
cues this plug-in hybrid newcomer has a clamed 106km pure electric range and a
potential combined total range of 1200 kilometres. At $47,990 drive-away it
features a 1.5-litre turbo-petrol engine linked to an electric motor driving the front
wheels fed by an 18.3kWhour battery. Nice external styling cues with a waterfall
style grill, a roomy five-seater, finishes inside not so expressive but great in
terms of space. A large 14.8-inch infotainment touch screen, a head-up
instrument display, power heated and cooled front seats, synthetic leather trim,
power rear door and a panoramic sunroof make the Jaecoo J7 SHS Summit SUV
a compelling package in a highly competitive SUV market – thankfully no
constant audio reminders I complain of regularly but a lack of buttons for radio
and climate control a frustration, also the lack of a spare wheel. But a really nice
driver, eager, quiet and efficient – after charging I got 93 km of pure electric
motoring with a combined average 4.2L/100km, the 1.0L/100km claimed economy
somewhat overstated – however with 8-years unlimited km warranty for car and
battery and 8-years capped price servicing and roadside assistance this Chinese
hybrid impresses.

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A number of new SUVs have arrived from China. One hybrid I’ve just driven
really appealed – the Jaecoo J7 SHS Summit SUV - a medium sized five-seat
SUV, $47,990 drive-away, a plug-in hybrid with claimed 106km of pure electric
range and a combined range of up to 1,200kms. With a 1.5-litre turbo petrol four-
cylinder aided by a single electric motor driving the front wheels via a single
speed transmission. Most of the time, the front wheels are driven via the electric
motor, the petrol engine either charging the battery or assisting the drive at
speeds over 80km/hour. If the battery charge is above 30 percent, the Jaecoo J7’s
Super Hybrid System can run as a pure EV at speeds up to 120km/hour. It works
most affectively – the 18.3kWhour battery charging on my home AC charger from
20-100 percent in 11/2 hours. Visually, the Jaecoo J7 SHS looks a station above
its sticker price, nice styling, great finishes, highly equipped with synthetic
leather heated and ventilated front seats, 360-degree camera, front and rear
parking sensors, a power rear door and a large panoramic sunroof. Eight
years/unlimited km warranty, eight years capped price servicing and eight years
roadside assistance if you service with a dealer.

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I’ve been driving across the Harbour Bridge for the last 65 years – it seems
a long time since I drove my mother daily across the Bridge in my 1924
Austin Seven Roadster – from 1960 in fact and I’ve seen lots of changes in
the bridge surrounds along the way. However, the current 1.16 billion dollar
upgrade currently taking place to the Warringah Freeway is the biggest
change – a massive infrastructure project that will change the way we
travel – from my perspective the management of this massive undertaking
has been superbly carried out and as a daily commuter early morning, and
sometimes late at night, I’ve never been severely delayed by the
construction and the major contractor CPBDTI Joint Venture, deserves
significant praise for its daily management. The new Miller Street
Cammeray on ramp opened earlier this week and this morning the Alfred
Street Southbound exit opened for business.

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Talking Cadillac today – America’s luxury brand - finally back in our market after
many years in the form of the all-electric Lyric SUV – Cadillac’s first electric
model. I’ve just spent a week with the all-wheel drive Cadillac Lyric – a rather
handsome SUV available in two models - the Lyric Luxury at $122,000 plus on-
road costs and the Lyric Sport for another $2,000. Both feature the same dual
motor power train with 388kW and 610Nm of torque fed by GM’s 102kWh “Ultium’
battery and the option of either Tour or Sport driving modes– this is a big SUV
with a strong footprint tipping the scales at 2.7 tonne. First impression is a
typically American spec’d car – offering a silky high-quality ride on a smooth
surface – the drive train most impressive – quiet, refined and offering a very
strong performance despite its overall heft. The cabin roomy with heated and
ventilated front seats with massage function, three-zone climate control and a top
quality 19-speaker sound system. And with a dual-pane glass panoramic sunroof
as standard. For the money the Cadillac Lyric SUV offers much in the way of
features and presence but after a week behind the wheel I came away
disappointed. Details next segment.

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Subaru launched their sixth-generation Forester SUV this week with an
updated petrol/electric hybrid system that it expects will boost their most
popular models’ sales. The new Strong Hybrid e-boxer system combines
the trusty 2.5-litre petrol boxer engine with a 90kW electric motor and
1.1kWh lithium-ion battery producing a 31.8 percent uplift in power over the
outgoing mild hybrid system. The new system said to be quieter, with
instant torque and providing a driving range of over 1,000km. The Subaru
Forester range now comprises four petrol only models and three hybrid
variants – the Japanese manufacturer claiming it is the first vehicle in its
class to combine mechanical symmetrical all-wheel drive with a strong
hybrid system. Hybrid Forester pricing now starts at $46,490 plus on-road
costs and runs to $55,990.

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