Every important car news story breaking today, one convenient read
Thanks for joining us this Tuesday January 7th 2025. Notably in car news today: Ford Australia tops 100,000 sales for the first time since 2008, and Nissan guts the pricing on outgoing Leaf EV.
Ford cracks 100,000 sales for the first time since 2008
Ford Australia is celebrating cracking 100,000 sales for 2024, the first time the now-import only company has hit triple figures since 2008.
According to the latest VFACT stats, Ford Australia delivered 100,170 vehicles last year, with around 90 percent of the volume accounting for Ranger and Everest sales
The last time Ford delivered in six-figure volumes was back in 2008 (104,715), then propped up by the locally manufactured and now defunct Falcon line-up. At the time Falcon accounted for around 44,000 vehicles, or over 40 per cent of the year’s delivery haul.
The Ranger ute, Australia’s biggest-selling nameplate, contributed 62,593 units to the haul, almost two-third’s of Ford total deliveries for 2024.
Nissan slashes entry price on Leaf electric
Nissan Australia had slashed the entry price of its ageing Leaf electric, which is now on offer from $34,990 driveaway for its ‘just Leaf’ branded entry variant, offering 39kWh usable battery capacity and an advertised 270kms of range.
The long(er)-range Leaf E+ has also seen a haircut and is now on offer at $44,990. This variant brings a more powerful 59kWh usable battery and a range claim of up to 385km kilometres.
While the entry Leaf officially lists for $50,990 before on-road costs, though the current range has been on offer at $39,990 and $49,990 driveaway respectively for Leaf and Leaf E+ through much of 2024.
The current lineup, whose credentials fall short of fast today’s moving EV expectations, is due to be replaced by a new generation of Leaf in 2025.
Leapmotor C10 plug-in hybrid confirmed for Europe
Leapmotor has locked in the plug-in hybrid version of its C10 electric SUV in Europe, with Australia likely to follow suit – though it’s not been confirmed just yet
Known as the C10 REEV or Range Extender Electric Vehicle, the C10 variant uses a combustion engine purely as a range extender, with no physical connection to the wheels
The 28.4kWh battery is large for a midsize PHEV however, with 145km of all-electric range under the typically more accurate WLTP testing cycle.
Total range is said to be in excess of 950km, well beyond that of the maximum 420km offered by the all-electric version confirmed for Australia.
Genesis hyper-electric concept to hot lap Mount Panorama
Genesis’s radical X Gran Berlinetta Concept is set to make its world racetrack dynamic debut at the famed Mount Panorama during the upcoming Bathurst 12Hour race event in late January.
Originally unveiled to help promote Polyphony Digital’s Gran Turismo franchise video game in 2023, the X Gran Berlinetta Concept is set to lap The Mountain at the hands of former Bathurst 1000 winner, Belgium’s Jacky Ickx.
Also set to hit the Mount Panorama is the GV60 Magma Concept, a precursor to the road-going version set to debut Genesis’ go-fast Magma sub-brand in production form this year.
Genesis is set to set the World Endurance Championship in 2026 and IMSA SportsCar Championship in 2027, though it’s unclear how related the X Gran Berlinetta is to the company’s motorsport aspirations.
2025 Nissan Navara Pro-4X Warrior reviewed
Chasing Cars contributor Zak Adkins’ review of the 2025 Nissan Navara Pro-4X Warrior was published, to see if the aging ute still holds up to the competition.
The Premcar-tuned Navara impressed with its supple ride quality and effortless off-road ability.
However the Navara is getting on in years and the interior features and tech are a full generation behind its rivals, with the 2.3L twin-turbo engine also quite underpowered.
Adkins concluded that the Navara Pro-4X Warrior was a solid buy and a logical step up from the lower grades for those looking for my 4WD capability and at a price that significantly undercuts many of its rivals.
