Car news, 25 October ’24: updated Mazda BT-50 locked in for 2025, Isuzu D-Max Blade priced from $76,990 driveaway, and more

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Thanks for joining us this Friday 25 October 2024. Notably in car news today: Mazda Australia has locked in a facelifted BT-50 ute for the first quarter of 2025, and Isuzu’s flagship D-Max Blade ute has been priced from $76,990 driveaway in Australia.

Browse this issue:

• Mazda BT-50 facelift detailed 
• Isuzu’s D-Max Blade priced from $76,990 driveaway
• Zeekr Mix people-mover revealed
• CATL develops long range PHEV battery
• Reviewed: 2025 Audi A5 (the new ‘A4’)

Mazda BT-50 gets significant upgrade for 2025  

• Mazda Australia has led the global reveal of the updated BT-50 ute, thanks to Australia being the commercial vehicle’s biggest market.

• The Japanese automaker has enhanced the BT-50 with a revised front-end design, new LED lights, and a redesigned tailgate. Inside, the BT-50 mirrors its platform buddy, the Isuzu D-Max, with a new 9.0-inch touchscreen for higher grades and a larger 7.0-inch digital instrument cluster. 

• Other new features include the addition of USB-C ports, wireless Android Auto phone mirroring, and new matte black finish in the cabin (replacing piano black plastic).

• Engine performance remains unchanged: the BT-50 continues to utilise Isuzu’s 1.9- or 3.0-litre turbo-diesel four-cylinder engines. 

• Pricing and variant lineup details are still unconfirmed for the facelifted Mazda BT-50 that’s expected in Aussie showrooms from the first quarter of 2025. 

Isuzu D-Max Blade revealed and priced at $76,990 driveaway

• Isuzu Ute Australia has confirmed specification and a $76,990 driveaway price for its new flagship D-Max – the off-road-focused Blade that was built in partnership with Walkinshaw Automotive.

• The Blade is based on the LS-U+ grade though features several key upgrades..

• Beyond the vehicle’s bolder aesthetics, big changes include new Monroe twin-tube dampers, a 32mm-wider track, 3.0mm underbody bash plates, all-terrain tyres, and tubular side steps.

• The D-Max’s 140kW/450Nm 3.0-litre turbo-diesel four-cylinder engine is unchanged for the new range-topper, which may disappoint some potential Isuzu buyers seeking a more direct rival to the Ford Ranger Raptor. 

• The new D-Max Blade can be ordered from Isuzu Ute Australia from 1 November. 

Futuristic Zeekr Mix electric people-mover revealed 

• Zeekr, the Chinese automaker owned by the Geely Group and recently launched in Australia, has revealed its next people-mover, the futuristic-looking Mix model. 

• Slated as a more affordable people-mover than the brand’s 009 van, the Mix is electric only and powered by the choice of either a 76kWh or 102kWh battery pack using 800-volt architecture. 

• Power is sent to the rear wheels exclusively through a beefy 310kW/440Nm electric motor. 

• Standard equipment is impressive, with some of the highlights including a 15-inch touchscreen, 13-inch instrument cluster, double electric sliding doors, 19- or 20-inch alloy wheels, 21-speaker sound system, a fragrance system, and wireless phone charging. 

• The Zeekr Mix has been priced in China in a similar bracket to the upcoming Volkswagen ID Buzz, and we might just see it here in Australia one day.   

CATL develops long-range PHEV battery with 400km range

• Chinese battery giant CATL has announced a long-range battery pack for plug-in hybrid applications called the Freevoy Super Hybrid Battery. 

• The new system allows for an estimated electric-only driving range of 400km, which for reference is four times what the PHEV-powered BYD Shark ute claims. 

• The chemistry of the battery is sodium-lithium, however the power source’s energy capacity has not yet been revealed. It’s likely to sit somewhere in the vicinity of 75kWh. 

• The first cars to use this battery will be from Chinese EV makers Li Auto and Changan, but will expand to other car makers with time. Changan has just taken its first step into Australia, partnering with local distributor Inchcape to launch the Deepal brand.

• In the future, you might see the CATL PHEV battery in other well known brands, including Volvo, BMW, Ford and MG. 

2025 Audi A5 reviewed

• Chasing Cars contributor Mike Stevens’ launch review of the 2025 Audi A5 was published, including his thoughts and first impressions on the new-gen combustion-powered Audi sedan that replaces what was previously known as the A4 sedan.
  
• Mike was enthused with the new A5’s improved interior styling and technologies, spacious rows of seating, and polished ride (at least in European specification).
  
• However, Mike also discovered a few misses, such as the lack of mild-hybrid tech for its 2.0-litre petrol engine, a drop in power for the 2.0-litre, and smaller boot space than before.
  
• Mike concluded that the “signs are good that this final combustion platform is a good thing for Audi and those buyers not ready to cross the line into an EV”.

READ: Link to written review

The next issue of Car News Today will be published on Monday 28 October at 4.30pm Sydney time.