Every important car news story breaking today, in one convenient read
Thanks for joining us this Monday 12 August 2024. Notably in car news today: Genesis has announced pricing and specifications for its 2025 G80 sedan, and BYD adds new features to the Seal electric sedan.
Genesis, the luxury arm of Hyundai, has announced pricing and specifications for its 2025 G80 sedan range. Prices start from $104,000 before on-road costs, or $6416 more than the 2024 model. The range tops out at $121,000 before on-road costs for the flagship twin-turbo V6 all-wheel drive.
Price increase aside, the G80 range for 2025 has been simplified, with a 2.5-litre turbo-four rear-drive and 3.5-litre twin-turbo V6 all-wheel drive the only two variants. All G80s in 2025 will feature the previously optional Luxury pack added as standard.
Standard equipment includes a new 27-inch OLED display, fingerprint recognition, active road-noise cancellation, 18-way powered nappa leather front seats, 18-speaker Bang & Olufsen sound system and new-design alloy wheels for both variants.
Genesis Australia has confirmed that the 2025 G80 range is available to purchase now.
BYD adds roof-mounted Lidar system to updated Seal
The 2025 BYD Seal
BYD has officially launched its updated 2025 Seal electric sedan in China, with latest-technology 800-volt architecture and changes to battery size and interior trim.
The 2025 Seal will feature a reinvigorated interior with new tan upholstery, along with new 800-volt architecture thanks to BYD’s latest e-Platform 3.0 Evo structure.
Interestingly, battery size for the higher-spec BYD Seal has actually decreased from 82.5kWh to 80.6kWh in capacity.
One of the other key features is the use of new Lidar technology, seen mounted at the centre of the Seal’s roof line. Lidar is a radar technology that uses lasers to locate and map nearby objects.
It’s a technology that has been avoided by companies such as Tesla, but fully accepted by Swedish automaker Volvo, which will debut its Luminar safety avoidance tech in its upcoming EX90 electric SUV.
While Jaguar Land Rover has now axed the F-Type, the I-Pace, E-Pace, XE and XF, the brand is making way for plenty of future products.
The Range Rover EV, the Range Rover Sport EV and Range Rover Velar EV are all incoming in the next two years, while an electric Land Rover Defender is also expected.
The Land Rover Discovery is also planned to go electric, but not until late 2026 at the earliest.
Jaguar is likely to announce its next electric model, a GT car, as soon as this year.
BYD announces plug-in hybrid Seal with 2000km of driving range
The BYD presentation of the new Seal 07 DM-I and Seal electric
BYD has announced its new Seal 07 DM-I model that has a claimed driving range of up to 2000km (according to the less stringent CLTC measurement).
BYD claims the Seal PHEV will use 3.4L/100km and is also capable of an electric-only range of up to 125km (CLTC).
Powering the Seal PHEV is a 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine that produces 115kW on its own, with an additional electric motor providing 200kW of power.
Inside the cabin, the Seal 07 DM-I PHEV features either a 12.8- or 15.6-inch touchscreen, a 50W wireless charger, crystal gear shifter, a panoramic roof and a heated steering wheel, among other features.
The plug-in hybrid Seal is yet to be confirmed for Australia, however similar technology is set to feature in the brand’s upcoming Shark ute and Sealion 6 SUV.
Isuzu I-Venture Experience
Chasing Cars journalist Olek Novak’s Isuzu I-Venture Club experience was published on our YouTube channel, a video which included exploring both Isuzu’s updated products and the beautiful Flinders Ranges in South Australia.
During the week-long trip, Olek was able to experience an I-Venture Club trip for the very first time, an experience Isuzu offers to owners to get involved and receive guidance from accredited off-road experts.
Olek also had the opportunity to test out the updated D-Max and MU-X models during his time in the Flinders Ranges.
Chasing Cars has also taken part in I-Venture Club trips in Victoria and at the famous sand dunes at Stockton Beach, near Newcastle.
Check out the link below to learn more about Isuzu’s I-Venture programs which currently have upcoming events taking place in New South Wales, Queensland and Western Australia.
