Every important car news story breaking today, one convenient read
Thanks for joining us this Monday, February 10th 2025. Notably in car news today: Volkswagen’s cut-priced ID.1 is set for global release in 2027 and the Australian government is set to impose a national tax on electric vehicles.
Volkswagen is poised to launch its ID.1 entry-level electric vehicle globally in 2027, with pricing kicking off at around 20,000 euros, translating to around $33,000 AUD.
The ID.1 will follow the Polo-sized ID.2 which is due to be unveiled later this year, which will feature a price tag starting around €25,000 (AUD $41,000).
If Volkswagen can pull it off, the two hatchbacks will prove to be necessary to fight back against affordable Chinese EVs that have taken Europe and Australia by storm.
The ID.1 is expected to be built on the same MEB Entry architecture as the ID.2, a platform based on the same MEB platform underpinning the ID.Buzz but designed to be more affordable.
Australian government set to impose national EV tax
The Australian Labor government is said to be pursuing a national tax on electric vehicles as a matter of priority, though the policy likely won’t be introduced until after the next federal election.
Designed to help fill the gap in tax revenue left by EV drivers not paying for fuel, and therefore the accompanying fuel excise tax.
The measure has previously been proposed and even implemented at the state level in Victoria but was rescinded after a High Court challenge determined the tax would need to be imposed at the federal level.
Experts have previously criticised the proposed road user charge as a disincentive on EVs that could kill off momentum by making EVs more expensive as car makers work hard to drive down prices to make the new drivetrains more appealing.
BYD Atto 2 small SUV launched, likely coming to Australia
China’s BYD Atto 2 has officially gone on sale in the UK, ahead of the small SUVs expected debut in the Australian market later this year.
As the name suggests, the Atto 2 is slightly smaller than the Atto 3 and is priced at a similar level to the MG4 in the UK, which starts at around $38,000 in Australia.
The entry-level UK Atto 2 is fitted with a 50kWh LFP battery with the official range unknown, but the smaller 45.1kWh battery sold in other markets has a range of 312km according to WLTP testing protocols.
Basic features include a 10.1-inch rotating touchscreen that grows to 12.8-inches on higher grades along with smart phone mirroring software, panoramic sunroof and 17-inch alloys.
Ford CEO targets more range-extender EVs
Ford CEO Jimn Farley has expressed interest in pursuing more hybrid and range-extender EVs amid a global slump for EV demand.
Speaking in a Q4 2024 earnings call, Farley commented that large pick-ups and SUVs are not suited to the battery electric format due to the added weight and cost required.
“A sweet spot that has emerged is small and medium-size trucks and utilities. And hybrid trucks are a key growth area for us,” he said, in a reference to the US-market Maverick ute.
Farley said that EREV, or extended range electric vehicles, would be a point of focus for the brand going forward.
2025 Jeep Wrangler Overland reviewed
Chasing Cars off-road expert Evan Spence’s review of the facelifted Jeep Wrangler Overland was published, with the mid-spec off-road iconic going under the microscope to see if it could justify its circa $98,000 driveaway price tag.
Evan was highly complimentary of the general driving demeanor of the Wrangler and its abilities off-road despite lacking the hardcore upgrades fitted to the Rubicon.
However, he struggled to get past the price, with the 2025 Wrangler range still significantly more expensive than it used to be and upgrades such as the power-opening sunroof ask for $6000.
While Evan found that the Wrangler Rubicon was an attractive package the cost was unjustifyable, declaring that Jeep has “lost the plot with pricing in Australia”.
