Car news today: Jeep Grand Cherokee axed in Australia, GWM Tank 300 now available with turbo-diesel power and more – 4th March 2025

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Thanks for joining us this Tuesday March 4th 2025. Jeep Cherokee removed from sale in Australia, GWM Tank 300 now available with turbo-diesel power plant, and more.

Browse this issue:

• Jeep Grand Cherokee axed from the Australian market 
• GWM Tank 300 now available with turbo-diesel power 
• Audi to sneak preview new S6 E-Tron Sportback at EV event in Sydney
• Xpeng G6 to receive facelift for 2025

 Jeep Grand Cherokee axed from sale in Australia 

• The Jeep Grand Cherokee has been “paused” from local sale, according to Stellantis Australia, dropping out of the local Jeep line-up after three decades of sale.

• The current fifth-generation ‘WL’ has not enjoyed anywhere near the sales success of its forebear, the ‘WK2’, which was once the biggest-selling large SUV in Australia a decade ago (around 16,600 units in 2014 – supplanting Toyota Prado from the crown.  

• The fall from grace for Grand Cherokee is not exclusive to Australia, with news that the production of the US-built model will cease for all-right-hand-drive markets.

• There is no indication that Jeep’s other models in Avenger, Compass, Wrangler and Gladiator are facing the chop from local showrooms.
  

GWM Tank 300 now available with turbo-diesel power plant 

• GWM Australia has released a turbo-diesel option for its Tank 300 4×4 wagon line-up, with oiler bolstering ranks alongside the existing turbo-petrol and petrol hybrid variants.

• The diesel fitted is a 2.4-litre four-cylinder unit outputting 135kW and 480Nm. Paired with a nine-speed automatic and four-wheel drive. Oiler power ups Tank 300’s braked towing capacity from 2500kg in all other powertrains to three tonnes in the diesel.

• The diesel options start with the familiar Lux grade, priced from $47,990 driveaway, with a features set mirroring the petrol-based variants.

• It’s a similar story for the high-spec Ultra that, at $51,990 driveaway, neatly splits its Ultra-grade petrol and hybrid stablemates on pricing. It’s available to order now.  

Audi debuting S6 E-Tron in Sydney this weekend

• Audi is giving Aussie buyers a “sneak preview” of the new S6 E-Tron fully electric performance model at the Everything Electric show in Sydney this weekend.   

• On display will be the five-door Sportback version, though an Avant wagon is also offered in some global markets.  

• In European spec, the S6 E-Tron offers a 405kW peak and comes with a 0-100km/h claim of 3.9sec for the Sportback. Range is said to be as much as 670kms in optimum European configuration. 

• The S6 E-Tron joins newcomers to local showrooms in the small Q4 and mid-size Q6 and SQ6 E-tron SUVs at the Sydney show, alongside 13 other electric model variants from sister brands Volkswagen, Skoda and Cupra.

Xpeng G6 gets facelifted months after Aussie debut

• The XPeng G6 midsize electric SUV has been facelifted in its China homeland just months after the launch of the brand and (pre-facelifted) model in Australia.

• A key player in the recent onslaught of Chinese-branded electric SUVs to take on Tesla Model Y, the refreshed G6 gets subtly revised styling outside, new wheels and revamped tech inside – including a larger 15.6-inch media system – as key upgrades.

• Battery performance has improved, with the China market versions lifting entry battery output to 68.5kWh (from 66kWh) and the high-grade unit now 87.5kWh (up from 80.8kWh).

• Undoubtedly bound for local showroom, it’s yet unclear what other technical or specification upgrades the Aussie versions will get over the current guise, which starts from $54,800 before on-roads.   

The next issue of Car News Today will be published on Wednesday 25th February at 4.30pm Sydney time.