Thanks for joining us this Wednesday 25 September 2024. Notably in car news today: Kia has reportedly locked in the reveal date and location for its much-hyped Tasman ute, and pricing confirmed for Polestar 3 single-motor rear-drive SUV.
Kia Tasman set for global reveal on October 29: report
Overseas media has reported that the much-hyped KiaTasmanute – the brand’s first pickup – is set for a long-awaited global reveal next month.
A report by Korea’s Maeil Business Newspaperstates that the ute will be unveiled on October 29 at the Jeddah International Motor Show in Saudi Arabia.
Kia has continued to tease the reveal of the Tasman which has been undergoing a long pre-launch marketing campaign, including a recent video showcasing testing the ute has undergone in Australia.
Unlike another much-hyped ute set to go on sale in Australia later next month, the plug-in hybrid electric BYD Shark 6, the Tasman will feature a 2.2-litre turbo-diesel four cylinder engine when it goes on sale next year.
Chasing Cars was able to check out the Tasman in person – albeit a highly camouflaged version – in Korea at the Busan International Mobility Show in June this year.
Polestar 3: pricing confirmed for single-motor rear-wheel drive variant
Polestar has announced pricing for a cheaper, rear-drive 3 electric SUV
Polestar has confirmed pricing for the upcoming single-motor rear-drive variant of its Polestar 3 SUV, which will debut before the end of the year.
Priced at $118,420 before on-road costs, the new Long range Single motor entry grade will feature a rear motor delivering 220kW/490Nm, a quoted 0-100km/h sprint of 7.8 seconds and 700km of range.
Comparatively, the Polestar 3 is currently available with two Launch Edition variants including a Long range Dual motor variant (360kW/840Nm) with 628km of WLTP range priced at $132,990 before on-road costs and a Long range Dual motor with Performance Pack (380kW/910Nm) good for 561km of WLTP range priced at $141,900.
However, prices will rise for existing dual-motor variants for MY25, with some currently standard features to become at-cost options.
Mercedes-Benz tweaks GLA200 offering: lower prices, fewer features
This is the 2024 Mercedes-Benz GLA 200
Mercedes-Benzhas made tweaks to its GLA200 small SUV offering, bringing in a lower price point, but omitting some previously standard features.
Previously priced at $69,900 before on-road costs, the GLA200 will now retail for $62,900, however metallic paint (+$700-$1392) and a panoramic sunroof (+$1800) will now be optional features.
GLA200s without the aforementioned options will be soldonline exclusively for the first month, with orders open as of today.
The GLA200 is the entry-point into Mercedes-Benz’s small SUV lineup, with no changes for higher-grade variants in the range.
Volkswagen to cut global overheads by as much as 20 percent: report
Volkswagen is looking to make some changes within its global business
The Volkswagen Group has begun to reduce costs within its global business by as much as 20 percent in the next three years, some which will be achieved by trimming several hundred corporate jobs in China.
The news comes after reports indicated that as many as 30,000 Volkswagen jobs in Germany could be cut as the company feels some financial pressure as EV demand begins to soften.
Volkswagen is aiming to bring itself out of a Chinese consumer slump, with its Chinese electric car deliveries falling by 7.4 percent in the first half of 2024 and as much as 24 percent down from 2019 figures.
The Volkswagen Group in Australia is steadily pushing through with new electrified products, several of which are due to launch locally from brands such as Audi, Skoda, and of course Volkswagen by the end of Q2 2025.
Polestar 3 SUV reviewed
Chasing Cars contributor Nathan Ponchard’s video and written reviews of the 2024 Polestar 3 electric SUV were published, including his first impressions of Polestar’s bigger electric sibling.
Reviewer Ponchard found Polestar’s first electric SUV to be a striking looker in the flesh, commending its premium interior comfort and materials, dynamic finesse and agility, and its outstanding Bowers and Wilkins audio.
However, some things Ponchard thought could be improved included the ride quality which he found to be a bit unsettled, soft regenerativebraking, a plain colour palette and the overall expense of the vehicle when heavily optioned.
Check out the full review to see Ponchard’s verdict on the Polestar 3 which arrives to “sex up” the Polestar range after a very prolonged gestation period.
The next issue of Car News Today will be published on Thursday 26 September at 4.30pm Sydney time.
