Thanks for joining us this Wednesday, January 22nd 2025. Notably in car news today: Ford is bringing back the Everest Wildtrak after it previously sold out and newly sworn-in president Donald Trump has taken the knife to the US’s chief EV target.
The Ford Everest Wildtrak has returned to the Australian market in a limited capacity after the previous batch of 800 units sold out rapidly in 2024
Limited to 950 units this time around, the Everest Wildtrak is priced at $76,950 – placing it very fractionally above the off-road-focused Tremor ($76,590) also due to be introduced this year.
It comes after the Everest cleaned up in the 2024 sales race, with a total of 26,494 registrations making it comfortably the best-selling large SUV in Australia.
The Everest Wildtrak is available only with the 184kW/600Nm V6 turbo-diesel engine option and offers upgrades such as bespoke leather seats, along with other interior and exterior styling elements such as 20-inch wheels.
Donald Trump axes primary US EV target
The recently sworn-in American president Donald J Trump has fired off a series of executive orders and political manoeuvres in his first day in office, including the abolition of the country’s foremost EV target.
The target, which was not legally binding but had support from the likes of Ford and General Motors, would ensure that at least 50 percent of all cars sold in the US in 2030 were electric vehicles.
Trump also said he would consider engine EV tax credits on new vehicles and would direct the country’s Environmental Protection Agency to wind back more stringent emissions laws that would, in effect, require car manufacturers to produce more EVs.
It comes as electric vehicles become politically contentious in much of the Western world, despite Tesla CEO Elon Musk becoming a prominent part of Trump’s inner circle in recent months.
Ford aims to become the Porsche of off-roading
Ford CEO Jim Farley says the brand is aiming to dominate the off-road world both in its production car lineup and in its growing presence in racing.
“Ford wants to be the No. 1 undisputed off-road brand in the world. We want to be the Porsche of off-road.” Farley told Automotive News.
In addition to its Raptor variants of the F-150, Bronco and locally sold Ranger models, Farley said its presence in motorsport events, like the Dakar Rally and Finke Desert Race here in Australia, would produce important learnings to improve its core product.
Off-road vehicles accounted for 20 per cent of Ford’s two million global sales in 2024
Cupra Born price slashed by almost $20,000
Cupra has slashed the price of its Born EV by nearly $20,000, with a limited-time offer of $49,990 driveaway nationwide that expires on March 31, 2025.
This includes the Interior Pack, which usually tacks on an additional $2900 to the purchase price of the sole Born grade. Prices typically start at between $61,990 and $66,490 depending on the state or territory the owner resides in.
It comes as Cupra prepares to add a second variant to the Born’s range in the form of the high-performance VZ.
Cupra is also offering other driveaway deals on its other models such as the Formentor, with the base ‘V’ priced from $47,990 driveaway, with discounts and finance deals also available on the VZe plug-in hybrid and VZx AWD performance model.
…And our long-term Cupra Born review kicks off
Chasing Cars editor Jez Spinks’ long-term review of the Cupra Born has kicked off, with the fully electric hatchback booked in for three months of assessment.
Jez detailed in plans for the Born in his initial update, starting with a look at whether this rear-wheel-drive Spanish offering is good value in the context of similar EVs in the market.
In his initial thoughts, Jez noted the strange downfalls of the Cupra such as the fact it only seats four people when equipped with the Interior Pack (or Performance Pack), and that it lacks basic features such as air vents in the back seat.
However, the Born’s strong 511km range claim and rear-drive dynamics could shape up to be a very tempting proposition – especially with the above price cut released today.
