Ford Super Mustang Mach-E will tackle 2025 Pikes Peak Hill Climb
Ford will tackle the 2025 Pikes Peak International Hill Climb with the Super Mustang Mach-E.
Aside from a body shell that vaguely resembles the production car, there's little in common between the Super Mustang Mach-E and the regular
Mustang Mach-E
.
The clearest links between the two vehicles are the designs for the head- and tail-lights.
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.
There's a front large splitter jutting quite a long way out and an enormous rear diffuser. Both are completely outdone by the towering wing that rises out of where the rear windscreen would normally be, and stands taller than the top of the roof.
With its longer, flatter bonnet, as well as its low stance and wide arches, the race car looks more like a regular coupe than a family-friendly SUV.
The Super Mustang Mach-E rides on OZ Racing wheels shod with slick Pirelli tyres.
So far Ford hasn't released any details about the Super Mustang Mach-E, except to say its outlandish aero kit generates a maximum of 2835kg of downforce.
That bests the 2722kg generated by the F-150 Lightning SuperTruck which Ford took to the Peak in 2024, and the 1996kg produced by the
Transit SuperVan 4.2
entered into the 2023 challenge.
Last year's SuperTruck (below) was powered by three six-phase Stard UHP motors making a total of 1193kW (1600hp).
Despite its brick-like appearance, the SuperTruck finished first overall last year. Piloted by Romain Dumas, the SuperTruck managed to wend its way through 156 corners to reach the 4300m summit in 8:53.553.
Romain Dumas is sticking with Ford this year, and will pilot the Super Mustang Mach-E. If the car is powerful and well sorted enough, he might even be able to beat the EV record he set in 2018 with the Volkswagen ID. R, which won that year's race up the mountain in 7:57.148.
Even if the Super Mustang Mach-E is beaten to the top by another competitor, it should be significantly quicker than the Model T used in the 1916 race, which took 28 minutes and three seconds to ascend the peak along the then unpaved road.
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3 hours ago
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EV brand Leapmotor says its top-seller will have a petrol engine
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The Advertiser
3 hours ago
- The Advertiser
EV brand Leapmotor says its top-seller will have a petrol engine
The Leapmotor C10 REEV Ultra Hybrid has landed in Australia, where the Chinese brand expects the new extended-range electric vehicle (EREV) powertrain option to be more popular than the battery-powered version of the mid-size electrified SUV. First launched here in two variants, the battery-electric C10 was Leapmotor's first model to arrive in Australia, in November 2024, when it became yet another direct rival for the top-selling Tesla Model Y, Kia EV5 and Xpeng G6. But the hitherto EV-only brand's local boss says the new Leapmotor C10 REEV will be more suitable for Australians when it arrives in showrooms in June, priced from $43,888 before on-road costs – $2000 less than the C10 EV's starting price. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. The C10 REEV uses a 158kW/320Nm electric motor to drive the rear wheels, but adds a 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine acting as a generator to charge its 28.4kWh battery. The official fuel consumption figure is just 0.9L/100km, and claimed total range is 1150km (NEDC) from a fully charged battery and a topped-up 60-litre fuel tank. It's offered in the same Style and Design variants as the C10 EV and features the same equipment levels – apart from the different powertrain – and the only exterior difference is an additional charging flap for the C10 REEV. Speaking during a media call to announce the C10 REEV, Leapmotor Australia boss Andy Huang said the new powertrain is expected to account for around 60 per cent of C10 sales locally, making it the brand's new best-seller. "We think the REEV, at the moment, is probably meeting more of what our customers in Australia are expecting," said Mr Huang. 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Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. The C10 REEV uses a 158kW/320Nm electric motor to drive the rear wheels, but adds a 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine acting as a generator to charge its 28.4kWh battery. The official fuel consumption figure is just 0.9L/100km, and claimed total range is 1150km (NEDC) from a fully charged battery and a topped-up 60-litre fuel tank. It's offered in the same Style and Design variants as the C10 EV and features the same equipment levels – apart from the different powertrain – and the only exterior difference is an additional charging flap for the C10 REEV. Speaking during a media call to announce the C10 REEV, Leapmotor Australia boss Andy Huang said the new powertrain is expected to account for around 60 per cent of C10 sales locally, making it the brand's new best-seller. "We think the REEV, at the moment, is probably meeting more of what our customers in Australia are expecting," said Mr Huang. 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I think that we have the advantage that we're trying to balance the best of both worlds in making that transition from going from an ICE to an EV or Ultra Hybrid as simple as possible." Content originally sourced from: The Leapmotor C10 REEV Ultra Hybrid has landed in Australia, where the Chinese brand expects the new extended-range electric vehicle (EREV) powertrain option to be more popular than the battery-powered version of the mid-size electrified SUV. First launched here in two variants, the battery-electric C10 was Leapmotor's first model to arrive in Australia, in November 2024, when it became yet another direct rival for the top-selling Tesla Model Y, Kia EV5 and Xpeng G6. But the hitherto EV-only brand's local boss says the new Leapmotor C10 REEV will be more suitable for Australians when it arrives in showrooms in June, priced from $43,888 before on-road costs – $2000 less than the C10 EV's starting price. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. The C10 REEV uses a 158kW/320Nm electric motor to drive the rear wheels, but adds a 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine acting as a generator to charge its 28.4kWh battery. The official fuel consumption figure is just 0.9L/100km, and claimed total range is 1150km (NEDC) from a fully charged battery and a topped-up 60-litre fuel tank. It's offered in the same Style and Design variants as the C10 EV and features the same equipment levels – apart from the different powertrain – and the only exterior difference is an additional charging flap for the C10 REEV. Speaking during a media call to announce the C10 REEV, Leapmotor Australia boss Andy Huang said the new powertrain is expected to account for around 60 per cent of C10 sales locally, making it the brand's new best-seller. "We think the REEV, at the moment, is probably meeting more of what our customers in Australia are expecting," said Mr Huang. "Our sales forecast is probably 60-40 REEV over BEV, but it's early days and over the next couple of months we'll probably have a better understanding of where those numbers fall." The local Leapmotor boss said the REEV Ultra Hybrid won't steal sales off the EV – despite its lower price – but will instead add to the brand's overall sales tally. Hybrid vehicle sales in Australia to the end of May 2025 have increased by 18.3 per cent – alongside an overall market decline of 5.2 per cent in the same period – following a 76 per cent rise in 2024. The brand claims the C10 REEV Ultra Hybrid is the first EV-based range-extender vehicle since the 2014-2022 BMW i3 REx, which is technically true. However, while the Mazda MX-30 R-EV was never sold here, e-Power versions of the Nissan X-Trail and Qashqai are effectively EREVs but did not start out as EVs. Mr Huang would not name a direct competitor for the C10 REEV Ultra Hybrid, instead saying the fledgling brand will focus on getting its product mix right ahead of releasing new models. "I see our competitors, or I see the customer that chooses us, will be someone that's probably for the C10, someone that needs the space and size of a D-size [large] SUV for the family," he said. "And then now they can say, 'Oh wow, guess what, for that same price I can actually go for EV, or I can go Ultra Hybrid'. So, it's not one competitor, I think it's more about having the right product in that segment." The local brand boss told CarExpert earlier this year that all Leapmotor models offered overseas including the B10 small electric SUV and the T03 electric city-car are on the table for Australia, one of the world's most competitive auto markets. "There's many competitors in the marketplace, it's so competitive," said Mr Huaag. "For us, the key to it is about our brand. I think that we have the advantage that we're trying to balance the best of both worlds in making that transition from going from an ICE to an EV or Ultra Hybrid as simple as possible." Content originally sourced from: The Leapmotor C10 REEV Ultra Hybrid has landed in Australia, where the Chinese brand expects the new extended-range electric vehicle (EREV) powertrain option to be more popular than the battery-powered version of the mid-size electrified SUV. First launched here in two variants, the battery-electric C10 was Leapmotor's first model to arrive in Australia, in November 2024, when it became yet another direct rival for the top-selling Tesla Model Y, Kia EV5 and Xpeng G6. But the hitherto EV-only brand's local boss says the new Leapmotor C10 REEV will be more suitable for Australians when it arrives in showrooms in June, priced from $43,888 before on-road costs – $2000 less than the C10 EV's starting price. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. The C10 REEV uses a 158kW/320Nm electric motor to drive the rear wheels, but adds a 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine acting as a generator to charge its 28.4kWh battery. The official fuel consumption figure is just 0.9L/100km, and claimed total range is 1150km (NEDC) from a fully charged battery and a topped-up 60-litre fuel tank. It's offered in the same Style and Design variants as the C10 EV and features the same equipment levels – apart from the different powertrain – and the only exterior difference is an additional charging flap for the C10 REEV. Speaking during a media call to announce the C10 REEV, Leapmotor Australia boss Andy Huang said the new powertrain is expected to account for around 60 per cent of C10 sales locally, making it the brand's new best-seller. "We think the REEV, at the moment, is probably meeting more of what our customers in Australia are expecting," said Mr Huang. 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Mr Huang would not name a direct competitor for the C10 REEV Ultra Hybrid, instead saying the fledgling brand will focus on getting its product mix right ahead of releasing new models. "I see our competitors, or I see the customer that chooses us, will be someone that's probably for the C10, someone that needs the space and size of a D-size [large] SUV for the family," he said. "And then now they can say, 'Oh wow, guess what, for that same price I can actually go for EV, or I can go Ultra Hybrid'. So, it's not one competitor, I think it's more about having the right product in that segment." The local brand boss told CarExpert earlier this year that all Leapmotor models offered overseas including the B10 small electric SUV and the T03 electric city-car are on the table for Australia, one of the world's most competitive auto markets. "There's many competitors in the marketplace, it's so competitive," said Mr Huaag. "For us, the key to it is about our brand. I think that we have the advantage that we're trying to balance the best of both worlds in making that transition from going from an ICE to an EV or Ultra Hybrid as simple as possible." Content originally sourced from:
The Advertiser
3 hours ago
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Mercedes-Benz admits its G-Class EV is a "complete flop"
The first all-electric version of one of Mercedes-Benz's most iconic models reportedly isn't selling well. Launched last week in Australia, the Mercedes-Benz G580 with EQ Technology, as the G-Class electric vehicle (EV) is called, was revealed in 2024 as the production version of the 2021 EQG concept. While the G-Class (often referred to as the G-Wagen or Geländewagen) has long been a favourite of celebrities, for many years it's also been inextricably linked with the V8 engine under the bonnet of the brawny Mercedes-AMG G63, which costs a cool $365,900 before on-road costs. The move to electric power in the lengthily named G580 with EQ Technology has reportedly not only been met with a collective yawn from consumers, despite its significantly lower starting price ($249,000 in Australia), but could also impact the German automaker's future product plans. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. "The car is sitting like lead at dealers; it's a complete flop," an unnamed Mercedes-Benz executive told German business newspaper Handelsblatt. "People want a real G-Class – with six or eight cylinders," reads another quote from an anonymous source. Another insider had a more glass-half-full explanation, telling the media outlet: "It's a niche model; production numbers are very low." According to the German publication, Mercedes-Benz is now considering launching the upcoming 'little G' – a smaller SUV with similarly boxy styling – with a petrol engine instead of offering it exclusively with electric power. This model is due for launch in 2027. This bad publicity over weak demand for the G-Class EV follows the response to the plug-in hybrid Mercedes-AMG C63 S E Performance, which has been dogged by reports of weak demand and heavy discounting in markets like Germany, as well as repeated rumours of a return to V8 power (or at least the adoption of a turbocharged inline six) for AMG's arch-rival to the BMW M3. Unlike the C63, in which a four-cylinder plug-in hybrid powertrain completely replaced a twin-turbo V8, Mercedes-Benz's electric G-Wagen didn't come at the expense of much-loved combustion-powered variants of the legendary off-road wagon. To that end, Mercedes-Benz can adjust its production mix to match buyer demand. "Mercedes-Benz is prepared for all market scenarios. Into the 2030s, we can flexibly offer vehicles with both a fully electric drivetrain or an electrified high-tech combustion engine," a Mercedes-Benz spokesperson told Motor1. "Our customers decide what suits them best. This applies also for the G-Class." This year to the end of May, Mercedes-Benz has delivered 23 examples of the newly-released G-Class EV in Australia, compared to 133 combustion-powered variants in the same period. According to Handelsblatt, Mercedes-Benz had sold 1450 G-Class EVs worldwide to the end of April, against around 9700 petrol and diesel G-Class vehicles. Despite this, a spokesperson told the publication "[we are] on target with our sales figures". And despite its high-tech powertrain, the electric G-Class is cheaper than both the combustion-powered G450d and G500 in Germany, though it also lacks a towbar option and has a maximum payload of only 415kg. But Mercedes-Benz hasn't offered a non-AMG, non-electric G-Class in Australia since it dropped the G400d in 2022, hence the $115,000-plus price gap between the G580 and G63 here. Powering the G580 are four electric motors capable of producing up to 432kW and 1164Nm, propelling the circa-3000kg SUV from 0-100km/h in 4.7 seconds, and allowing it to perform 'tank turns' on the spot. A huge 116kWh battery supplies power to the blocky EV, which has a claimed driving range of 473km on the WLTP test cycle. The twin-turbo V8-powered G63 AMG, in contrast, produces 430kW and 850Nm. It's good for a 0-100km/h time of 4.4 seconds, thanks in large part to weighing around 400kg less than the electric model. MORE: Everything Mercedes-Benz G-Class Content originally sourced from: The first all-electric version of one of Mercedes-Benz's most iconic models reportedly isn't selling well. Launched last week in Australia, the Mercedes-Benz G580 with EQ Technology, as the G-Class electric vehicle (EV) is called, was revealed in 2024 as the production version of the 2021 EQG concept. While the G-Class (often referred to as the G-Wagen or Geländewagen) has long been a favourite of celebrities, for many years it's also been inextricably linked with the V8 engine under the bonnet of the brawny Mercedes-AMG G63, which costs a cool $365,900 before on-road costs. The move to electric power in the lengthily named G580 with EQ Technology has reportedly not only been met with a collective yawn from consumers, despite its significantly lower starting price ($249,000 in Australia), but could also impact the German automaker's future product plans. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. "The car is sitting like lead at dealers; it's a complete flop," an unnamed Mercedes-Benz executive told German business newspaper Handelsblatt. "People want a real G-Class – with six or eight cylinders," reads another quote from an anonymous source. Another insider had a more glass-half-full explanation, telling the media outlet: "It's a niche model; production numbers are very low." According to the German publication, Mercedes-Benz is now considering launching the upcoming 'little G' – a smaller SUV with similarly boxy styling – with a petrol engine instead of offering it exclusively with electric power. This model is due for launch in 2027. This bad publicity over weak demand for the G-Class EV follows the response to the plug-in hybrid Mercedes-AMG C63 S E Performance, which has been dogged by reports of weak demand and heavy discounting in markets like Germany, as well as repeated rumours of a return to V8 power (or at least the adoption of a turbocharged inline six) for AMG's arch-rival to the BMW M3. Unlike the C63, in which a four-cylinder plug-in hybrid powertrain completely replaced a twin-turbo V8, Mercedes-Benz's electric G-Wagen didn't come at the expense of much-loved combustion-powered variants of the legendary off-road wagon. To that end, Mercedes-Benz can adjust its production mix to match buyer demand. "Mercedes-Benz is prepared for all market scenarios. Into the 2030s, we can flexibly offer vehicles with both a fully electric drivetrain or an electrified high-tech combustion engine," a Mercedes-Benz spokesperson told Motor1. "Our customers decide what suits them best. This applies also for the G-Class." This year to the end of May, Mercedes-Benz has delivered 23 examples of the newly-released G-Class EV in Australia, compared to 133 combustion-powered variants in the same period. According to Handelsblatt, Mercedes-Benz had sold 1450 G-Class EVs worldwide to the end of April, against around 9700 petrol and diesel G-Class vehicles. Despite this, a spokesperson told the publication "[we are] on target with our sales figures". And despite its high-tech powertrain, the electric G-Class is cheaper than both the combustion-powered G450d and G500 in Germany, though it also lacks a towbar option and has a maximum payload of only 415kg. But Mercedes-Benz hasn't offered a non-AMG, non-electric G-Class in Australia since it dropped the G400d in 2022, hence the $115,000-plus price gap between the G580 and G63 here. Powering the G580 are four electric motors capable of producing up to 432kW and 1164Nm, propelling the circa-3000kg SUV from 0-100km/h in 4.7 seconds, and allowing it to perform 'tank turns' on the spot. A huge 116kWh battery supplies power to the blocky EV, which has a claimed driving range of 473km on the WLTP test cycle. The twin-turbo V8-powered G63 AMG, in contrast, produces 430kW and 850Nm. It's good for a 0-100km/h time of 4.4 seconds, thanks in large part to weighing around 400kg less than the electric model. MORE: Everything Mercedes-Benz G-Class Content originally sourced from: The first all-electric version of one of Mercedes-Benz's most iconic models reportedly isn't selling well. Launched last week in Australia, the Mercedes-Benz G580 with EQ Technology, as the G-Class electric vehicle (EV) is called, was revealed in 2024 as the production version of the 2021 EQG concept. While the G-Class (often referred to as the G-Wagen or Geländewagen) has long been a favourite of celebrities, for many years it's also been inextricably linked with the V8 engine under the bonnet of the brawny Mercedes-AMG G63, which costs a cool $365,900 before on-road costs. The move to electric power in the lengthily named G580 with EQ Technology has reportedly not only been met with a collective yawn from consumers, despite its significantly lower starting price ($249,000 in Australia), but could also impact the German automaker's future product plans. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. "The car is sitting like lead at dealers; it's a complete flop," an unnamed Mercedes-Benz executive told German business newspaper Handelsblatt. "People want a real G-Class – with six or eight cylinders," reads another quote from an anonymous source. Another insider had a more glass-half-full explanation, telling the media outlet: "It's a niche model; production numbers are very low." According to the German publication, Mercedes-Benz is now considering launching the upcoming 'little G' – a smaller SUV with similarly boxy styling – with a petrol engine instead of offering it exclusively with electric power. This model is due for launch in 2027. This bad publicity over weak demand for the G-Class EV follows the response to the plug-in hybrid Mercedes-AMG C63 S E Performance, which has been dogged by reports of weak demand and heavy discounting in markets like Germany, as well as repeated rumours of a return to V8 power (or at least the adoption of a turbocharged inline six) for AMG's arch-rival to the BMW M3. Unlike the C63, in which a four-cylinder plug-in hybrid powertrain completely replaced a twin-turbo V8, Mercedes-Benz's electric G-Wagen didn't come at the expense of much-loved combustion-powered variants of the legendary off-road wagon. To that end, Mercedes-Benz can adjust its production mix to match buyer demand. "Mercedes-Benz is prepared for all market scenarios. Into the 2030s, we can flexibly offer vehicles with both a fully electric drivetrain or an electrified high-tech combustion engine," a Mercedes-Benz spokesperson told Motor1. "Our customers decide what suits them best. This applies also for the G-Class." This year to the end of May, Mercedes-Benz has delivered 23 examples of the newly-released G-Class EV in Australia, compared to 133 combustion-powered variants in the same period. According to Handelsblatt, Mercedes-Benz had sold 1450 G-Class EVs worldwide to the end of April, against around 9700 petrol and diesel G-Class vehicles. Despite this, a spokesperson told the publication "[we are] on target with our sales figures". And despite its high-tech powertrain, the electric G-Class is cheaper than both the combustion-powered G450d and G500 in Germany, though it also lacks a towbar option and has a maximum payload of only 415kg. But Mercedes-Benz hasn't offered a non-AMG, non-electric G-Class in Australia since it dropped the G400d in 2022, hence the $115,000-plus price gap between the G580 and G63 here. Powering the G580 are four electric motors capable of producing up to 432kW and 1164Nm, propelling the circa-3000kg SUV from 0-100km/h in 4.7 seconds, and allowing it to perform 'tank turns' on the spot. A huge 116kWh battery supplies power to the blocky EV, which has a claimed driving range of 473km on the WLTP test cycle. The twin-turbo V8-powered G63 AMG, in contrast, produces 430kW and 850Nm. It's good for a 0-100km/h time of 4.4 seconds, thanks in large part to weighing around 400kg less than the electric model. MORE: Everything Mercedes-Benz G-Class Content originally sourced from: The first all-electric version of one of Mercedes-Benz's most iconic models reportedly isn't selling well. Launched last week in Australia, the Mercedes-Benz G580 with EQ Technology, as the G-Class electric vehicle (EV) is called, was revealed in 2024 as the production version of the 2021 EQG concept. While the G-Class (often referred to as the G-Wagen or Geländewagen) has long been a favourite of celebrities, for many years it's also been inextricably linked with the V8 engine under the bonnet of the brawny Mercedes-AMG G63, which costs a cool $365,900 before on-road costs. The move to electric power in the lengthily named G580 with EQ Technology has reportedly not only been met with a collective yawn from consumers, despite its significantly lower starting price ($249,000 in Australia), but could also impact the German automaker's future product plans. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. "The car is sitting like lead at dealers; it's a complete flop," an unnamed Mercedes-Benz executive told German business newspaper Handelsblatt. "People want a real G-Class – with six or eight cylinders," reads another quote from an anonymous source. Another insider had a more glass-half-full explanation, telling the media outlet: "It's a niche model; production numbers are very low." According to the German publication, Mercedes-Benz is now considering launching the upcoming 'little G' – a smaller SUV with similarly boxy styling – with a petrol engine instead of offering it exclusively with electric power. This model is due for launch in 2027. This bad publicity over weak demand for the G-Class EV follows the response to the plug-in hybrid Mercedes-AMG C63 S E Performance, which has been dogged by reports of weak demand and heavy discounting in markets like Germany, as well as repeated rumours of a return to V8 power (or at least the adoption of a turbocharged inline six) for AMG's arch-rival to the BMW M3. Unlike the C63, in which a four-cylinder plug-in hybrid powertrain completely replaced a twin-turbo V8, Mercedes-Benz's electric G-Wagen didn't come at the expense of much-loved combustion-powered variants of the legendary off-road wagon. To that end, Mercedes-Benz can adjust its production mix to match buyer demand. "Mercedes-Benz is prepared for all market scenarios. Into the 2030s, we can flexibly offer vehicles with both a fully electric drivetrain or an electrified high-tech combustion engine," a Mercedes-Benz spokesperson told Motor1. "Our customers decide what suits them best. This applies also for the G-Class." This year to the end of May, Mercedes-Benz has delivered 23 examples of the newly-released G-Class EV in Australia, compared to 133 combustion-powered variants in the same period. According to Handelsblatt, Mercedes-Benz had sold 1450 G-Class EVs worldwide to the end of April, against around 9700 petrol and diesel G-Class vehicles. Despite this, a spokesperson told the publication "[we are] on target with our sales figures". And despite its high-tech powertrain, the electric G-Class is cheaper than both the combustion-powered G450d and G500 in Germany, though it also lacks a towbar option and has a maximum payload of only 415kg. But Mercedes-Benz hasn't offered a non-AMG, non-electric G-Class in Australia since it dropped the G400d in 2022, hence the $115,000-plus price gap between the G580 and G63 here. Powering the G580 are four electric motors capable of producing up to 432kW and 1164Nm, propelling the circa-3000kg SUV from 0-100km/h in 4.7 seconds, and allowing it to perform 'tank turns' on the spot. A huge 116kWh battery supplies power to the blocky EV, which has a claimed driving range of 473km on the WLTP test cycle. The twin-turbo V8-powered G63 AMG, in contrast, produces 430kW and 850Nm. It's good for a 0-100km/h time of 4.4 seconds, thanks in large part to weighing around 400kg less than the electric model. MORE: Everything Mercedes-Benz G-Class Content originally sourced from:
