Car news, 11 July ’24: The Ford Capri is back as an SUV, BYD’s Shark ute spotted in Melbourne, and more

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Thanks for joining us this Thursday July 11th 2024. Notably in car news today: The Ford Capri is back, but nothing like how we’ve seen it before, and BYD’s upcoming Shark ute has been spotted on Melbourne roads. 

Browse this issue:

• Ford Capri debuts as sedan-style SUV
• BYD Shark ute spotted on Aussie roads 
• GWM builds its 600,000th Cannon ute 
• Many inner Sydney streets speed limits cut to just 40km/h
• Reviewed: 2024 Mercedes-AMG GLC43 

Ford Capri reborn as an electric SUV with Volkswagen underpinnings  

• Ford Europe has resurrected the Capri nameplate for the first time in 37 years in the form of an all-electric SUV. And it’s added two doors and electric power to the original recipe.

• Based on Volkswagen MEB platform underpinnings, the new Capri has a very similar design to the current Polestar 2, taking the shape of a sedan-SUV body style.

• Power will come courtesy of either a rear-drive or dual-motor electric system. The rear-drive model will produce 210kW of power, while the dual-motor will produce 250kW. The Capri can sprint to 100km/h in as little as 5.3 seconds. 

• The SUV’s battery size will be 77kWh, with estimated range to be up to 627km (WLTP) for the rear-drive and up to 592km (WLTP) for the dual-motor.  

• Confirmed equipment includes a large 14.6-inch centre touchscreen, B&O sound system and 19-inch alloy wheels (21-inch wheels are optional). The electric Capri is yet to be confirmed for Australia. 

BYD Shark spotted on Australian roads 

• The highly-anticipated BYD Shark has arrived in Australia, with an eagle-eyed Chasing Cars reader finding one in traffic in Melbourne.

• The Shark is expected to launch in Australia this year and will be fitted with BYD’s 1.5-litre DMI plug-in hybrid system. It’s been confirmed to produce 320kW of power with the help of two electric motors.

• BYD’s first ute for Australia is set to have an electric-only range of around 100km and will be able to tow 2500kg braked, which is about 1000kg down on today’s typical ute benchmark in Australia.

• The Shark will be one of the only utes in the Australian segment to use a plug-in hybrid system, however the Ford Ranger will be available with the technology when it launches here in 2025.   

600,000 Great Wall Cannon ute rolls off its Chinese production line

• GWM has announced that the 600,000 example of its Cannon ute has rolled off its assembly line in Jingmen, Wuhan, China.

• The brand achieved that goal in just four years and ten months, showing the pace Chinese automakers are working at to produce new vehicles for global markets.

• The Cannon lineup is produced in the Jingmen Smart Factory which also produces models including the Tank 400, Tank 500, King Kong Cannon and the Haval H5.

• GWM invested a significant USD$825 million (AUD$1.2 billion) into this Smart factory, with mass production first kicking off back in 2022. 

• According to Car News China, for every two pickups sold in China, one is a GWM product. 

Many of Inner Sydney’s streets reduced to just 40km/h

• The City of Sydney has announced it will be lowering the speed limit across many of Sydney’s inner suburbs to 40km/h.

• The rule will apply to regional and local roads that still have a 50km/h speed limit, and will include the suburbs of Glebe, Forest Lodge, Beaconsfield and Waterloo. 

• The council has also announced that many streets in Annandale, Redfern, Alexandria, Zetland and Woolloomooloo will also have their speed limits reduced to 40km/h.

• “Studies have shown that the survival rates for people hit by a vehicle drastically improve at lower speeds like 40km/h,” Lord Mayor of Sydney, Clover Moore, said.

• “We will also continue to work with Transport for NSW to reduce speed limits to 30km/h in the city centre and other high activity areas where there are a lot of people walking and riding,” Moore said.

• The City of Sydney will begin installing new speed signs in the coming weeks. 

2024 Mercedes-AMG GLC43 reviewed

• Chasing Cars founder Tom Baker’s review of the 2024 Mercedes-AMG GLC43 was published, including his thoughts on the model’s change from V6 to four-cylinder power.
  
• Baker found that the GLC43 had improved handling, rapid levels of acceleration, strong brakes and a pleasant exhaust note. He also praised the cabin’s premium materials.
  
• Points to improve for the GLC43 included creaky interior plastics, high levels of fuel consumption, expensive outlay for a four-cylinder and expensive to service.
  
• In conclusion, Baker said that the GLC43 is a slick and sweet drive and is a better car than the one it replaces, but it falls down by being thirsty and not particularly affordable.
  

READ: Link to written review

The next issue of Car News Today will be published on Friday 12th July at 4.30pm Sydney time.