Car news, 8 August ’24: Smart #5 midsize EV set for global premiere in Australia; the next Mazda CX-5 could lose diesel options globally, and more

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Thanks for joining us this Thursday August 8th 2024. Notably in car news today: Smart #5 midsize EV set for global reveal in Australia, the next Mazda CX-5 could lose diesel options globally, and more. 

Browse this issue:

• Smart #5 set for global unveiling in Australia 
• Next Mazda CX-5 to drop diesel globally for hybrid power: report 
• Ford Transit Custom tops ANCAP’s latest van active safety test
• Dodge teases Charger EV ‘exhaust’ 
• Reviewed: 2024 Honda CR-V Long Termer Wrap Up

Smart #5 set for global unveiling in Australia

• The Smart #5 midsize SUV – the brand’s biggest SUV to date, and third new-generation electric car – will have its global reveal take place in Australia on August 28.

• Referred to by the brand as a ‘Contemporary Adventurer’, Smart says its latest vehicle will only feature “slight variations” from the concept version it released in April this year. 

• The brand also says that  selecting Australia as the setting for the new model’s premiere “demonstrates the brand’s commitment to the market since its official comeback earlier this year”.

• The Smart #1 and #3 small electric SUVs – the first Smarts to be sold in Australia in almost a decade – are set to arrive in Australia from September this year, with pricing and specifications recently having been detailed. 

Next Mazda CX-5 to drop diesel globally for hybrid power: report 

• The next generation Mazda CX-5 will lose diesel options globally, set to be replaced by a suite of petrol-hybrid electric powertrains, if a new overseas report proves correct. 

• Spanish outlet Motor.es reports that the third-generation CX-5 will arrive in 2026 with a sportier design that drops diesel engine options entirely in favour of electrified petrol engines with 24-volt mild hybrid tech, as well as plug-in hybrid electric options, and a new generation of self-charging e-SkyActive engines with both front- and all-wheel drive.

• While the validity of the report is not clear, Mazda has previously confirmed plans to equip the next CX-5 with a Mazda-developed hybrid engine. 

• Mazda discontinued diesel variants of the current second-generation model in Australia last year, however they are still available overseas. 

Ford Transit Custom tops ANCAP’s latest van active safety test

• ANCAP has released results for its latest active safety assessment of Australian-market vans, with the Ford Transit Custom delivering an all-time high score.

• The vans were tested based on the fitment and performance of their active safety systems including the likes of autonomous emergency braking, lane keeping systems, speed assistance and occupant detection. 

• The Ford Transit Custom achieved a platinum grading and score of 96 percent, with strong results also recorded for the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter and eSprinter (89 percent), and Mercedes-Benz Vito and eVito (90 percent), which all achieved platinum designation too.

• LDV took out ‘gold’ designation for its eDeliver 7 electric van which scored 74% – elevated from a previous bronze rating – and diesel LDV Deliver 9, whilst the LDV G10/G10+ remains the only van with a ‘not recommended’ status.

• Crash testing did not form part of the assessment. 

Dodge teases Charger EV ‘exhaust’ 

• Dodge has teased the sounds of its upcoming, all-electric Charger Daytona muscle car in a promotional video on the brand’s Instagram page.

• The short video shows the Charger driving through a tunnel, with the artificial sound of the vehicle’s ‘Fratzonic Chambered Exhaust’ – designed to mimic the sounds of a V8 – building as it gets closer to the camera.

• Set to debut in the US late this year in two-door form, the new Charger Daytona features a dual-motor all-wheel drive set-up touting 370kW in R/T trim and 500kW (and 850Nm) in range-topping Scat Pack guise.

• The Daytona features a 100.5kWh (gross) battery pack and mechanical rear LSD, and has a claimed 0-100km/h sprint of 3.4 seconds.

• There are no current plans for a local release in Australia.

Honda CR-V e-HEV RS long term review wrap-up 

• Chasing Cars deputy editor Curt Dupriez’s wrap-up review video of his Honda CR-V e-HEV RS long-term test car was published, giving his final verdict on the hybrid midsize family SUV.

• The CR-V – or Fred, as it has been dubbed – has been in the Chasing Cars garage for six months, driven by every journalist in the team for well over 10,000 kilometres.

• To break down its five hits and five misses after six months of testing, we’ve broken up our verdict into two parts, with this being the latter.

• In this final video, Curt covers his experience with fuel economy, driving, reliability, and more, as well as giving his final thoughts on whether he’d be happy to drive Fred off into the sunset or be happy to hand the keys back to Honda. 

The next issue of Car News Today will be published on Friday 9 August at 4.30pm Sydney time.