2025 Skoda Elroq pricing: Czech EV to undercut ID.4 and Model Y
Skoda Australia has confirmed preliminary details of its upcoming Elroq electric SUV, ahead of a sales launch in September.
A pair of variants will be available at launch – the 85 Select and 130 Edition – with prices starting from $54,990 and $64,990 respectively, both before on-road costs.
That puts the European-made Elroq smack bang up against the physically larger BYD Sealion 7 (from $54,990), and undercuts the related Volkswagen ID.4 Pro ($59,990) and Tesla Model Y RWD ($58,990).
Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now.
Both variants will be powered by a rear-mounted 210kW electric motor fed by an 82kWh (net) battery, claiming a 0-100km/h sprint in a near hot hatch-like 6.6 seconds and a combined WLTP driving range of 529 kilometres. Skoda also quotes an urban cycle range of 661km, again WLTP-certified.
That's more driving range than both the entry-level Sealion 7 and Model Y, and it's also quicker to triple figures than the BYD. However, the VW ID.4 Pro quotes more range and the Model Y offers quicker acceleration according to official specifications.
Skoda offers smaller battery variants overseas, as well as a dual-motor RS performance variant. While all of these are "under study" for our market, the Czech brand's local offshoot is yet to properly confirm if and when they're coming.
Measuring 4488mm long and 1884mm wide with a 2765mm wheelbase, the Elroq matches the larger Enyaq's distance between the axles but is around 170mm shorter in overall length, making the smaller Skoda EV closer in exterior dimensions to the likes of the BYD Atto 3 (4455/1875/1615mm).
Skoda quotes a boot capacity of 470 litres with the rear seats in place, expanding to 1580 litres with them folded. This is more than an Atto 3 (440-1340L) but less than a Sealion 7 (500L) and ID.4 (543-1575L).
Skoda Elroq 85 Select equipment highlights:
Elroq 130 Edition adds:
Standard safety features include:
The Skoda Elroq is yet to receive an ANCAP or Euro NCAP safety rating, though the vehicle only commenced production in January and just started hitting European roads.
Skoda Australia will also be launching the Elroq with its Skoda Choice guaranteed value and finance program (details TBC), as well as a seven-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty. Stay tuned to CarExpert for all the latest.
MORE: Everything Skoda Elroq
Content originally sourced from: CarExpert.com.au
Skoda Australia has confirmed preliminary details of its upcoming Elroq electric SUV, ahead of a sales launch in September.
A pair of variants will be available at launch – the 85 Select and 130 Edition – with prices starting from $54,990 and $64,990 respectively, both before on-road costs.
That puts the European-made Elroq smack bang up against the physically larger BYD Sealion 7 (from $54,990), and undercuts the related Volkswagen ID.4 Pro ($59,990) and Tesla Model Y RWD ($58,990).
Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now.
Both variants will be powered by a rear-mounted 210kW electric motor fed by an 82kWh (net) battery, claiming a 0-100km/h sprint in a near hot hatch-like 6.6 seconds and a combined WLTP driving range of 529 kilometres. Skoda also quotes an urban cycle range of 661km, again WLTP-certified.
That's more driving range than both the entry-level Sealion 7 and Model Y, and it's also quicker to triple figures than the BYD. However, the VW ID.4 Pro quotes more range and the Model Y offers quicker acceleration according to official specifications.
Skoda offers smaller battery variants overseas, as well as a dual-motor RS performance variant. While all of these are "under study" for our market, the Czech brand's local offshoot is yet to properly confirm if and when they're coming.
Measuring 4488mm long and 1884mm wide with a 2765mm wheelbase, the Elroq matches the larger Enyaq's distance between the axles but is around 170mm shorter in overall length, making the smaller Skoda EV closer in exterior dimensions to the likes of the BYD Atto 3 (4455/1875/1615mm).
Skoda quotes a boot capacity of 470 litres with the rear seats in place, expanding to 1580 litres with them folded. This is more than an Atto 3 (440-1340L) but less than a Sealion 7 (500L) and ID.4 (543-1575L).
Skoda Elroq 85 Select equipment highlights:
Elroq 130 Edition adds:
Standard safety features include:
The Skoda Elroq is yet to receive an ANCAP or Euro NCAP safety rating, though the vehicle only commenced production in January and just started hitting European roads.
Skoda Australia will also be launching the Elroq with its Skoda Choice guaranteed value and finance program (details TBC), as well as a seven-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty. Stay tuned to CarExpert for all the latest.
MORE: Everything Skoda Elroq
Content originally sourced from: CarExpert.com.au
Skoda Australia has confirmed preliminary details of its upcoming Elroq electric SUV, ahead of a sales launch in September.
A pair of variants will be available at launch – the 85 Select and 130 Edition – with prices starting from $54,990 and $64,990 respectively, both before on-road costs.
That puts the European-made Elroq smack bang up against the physically larger BYD Sealion 7 (from $54,990), and undercuts the related Volkswagen ID.4 Pro ($59,990) and Tesla Model Y RWD ($58,990).
Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now.
Both variants will be powered by a rear-mounted 210kW electric motor fed by an 82kWh (net) battery, claiming a 0-100km/h sprint in a near hot hatch-like 6.6 seconds and a combined WLTP driving range of 529 kilometres. Skoda also quotes an urban cycle range of 661km, again WLTP-certified.
That's more driving range than both the entry-level Sealion 7 and Model Y, and it's also quicker to triple figures than the BYD. However, the VW ID.4 Pro quotes more range and the Model Y offers quicker acceleration according to official specifications.
Skoda offers smaller battery variants overseas, as well as a dual-motor RS performance variant. While all of these are "under study" for our market, the Czech brand's local offshoot is yet to properly confirm if and when they're coming.
Measuring 4488mm long and 1884mm wide with a 2765mm wheelbase, the Elroq matches the larger Enyaq's distance between the axles but is around 170mm shorter in overall length, making the smaller Skoda EV closer in exterior dimensions to the likes of the BYD Atto 3 (4455/1875/1615mm).
Skoda quotes a boot capacity of 470 litres with the rear seats in place, expanding to 1580 litres with them folded. This is more than an Atto 3 (440-1340L) but less than a Sealion 7 (500L) and ID.4 (543-1575L).
Skoda Elroq 85 Select equipment highlights:
Elroq 130 Edition adds:
Standard safety features include:
The Skoda Elroq is yet to receive an ANCAP or Euro NCAP safety rating, though the vehicle only commenced production in January and just started hitting European roads.
Skoda Australia will also be launching the Elroq with its Skoda Choice guaranteed value and finance program (details TBC), as well as a seven-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty. Stay tuned to CarExpert for all the latest.
MORE: Everything Skoda Elroq
Content originally sourced from: CarExpert.com.au
Skoda Australia has confirmed preliminary details of its upcoming Elroq electric SUV, ahead of a sales launch in September.
A pair of variants will be available at launch – the 85 Select and 130 Edition – with prices starting from $54,990 and $64,990 respectively, both before on-road costs.
That puts the European-made Elroq smack bang up against the physically larger BYD Sealion 7 (from $54,990), and undercuts the related Volkswagen ID.4 Pro ($59,990) and Tesla Model Y RWD ($58,990).
Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now.
Both variants will be powered by a rear-mounted 210kW electric motor fed by an 82kWh (net) battery, claiming a 0-100km/h sprint in a near hot hatch-like 6.6 seconds and a combined WLTP driving range of 529 kilometres. Skoda also quotes an urban cycle range of 661km, again WLTP-certified.
That's more driving range than both the entry-level Sealion 7 and Model Y, and it's also quicker to triple figures than the BYD. However, the VW ID.4 Pro quotes more range and the Model Y offers quicker acceleration according to official specifications.
Skoda offers smaller battery variants overseas, as well as a dual-motor RS performance variant. While all of these are "under study" for our market, the Czech brand's local offshoot is yet to properly confirm if and when they're coming.
Measuring 4488mm long and 1884mm wide with a 2765mm wheelbase, the Elroq matches the larger Enyaq's distance between the axles but is around 170mm shorter in overall length, making the smaller Skoda EV closer in exterior dimensions to the likes of the BYD Atto 3 (4455/1875/1615mm).
Skoda quotes a boot capacity of 470 litres with the rear seats in place, expanding to 1580 litres with them folded. This is more than an Atto 3 (440-1340L) but less than a Sealion 7 (500L) and ID.4 (543-1575L).
Skoda Elroq 85 Select equipment highlights:
Elroq 130 Edition adds:
Standard safety features include:
The Skoda Elroq is yet to receive an ANCAP or Euro NCAP safety rating, though the vehicle only commenced production in January and just started hitting European roads.
Skoda Australia will also be launching the Elroq with its Skoda Choice guaranteed value and finance program (details TBC), as well as a seven-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty. Stay tuned to CarExpert for all the latest.
MORE: Everything Skoda Elroq
Content originally sourced from: CarExpert.com.au
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US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth says he's confident members of the NATO alliance will sign up to Donald Trump's demand for a major boost in defence spending, adding that it had to happen by a summit later in June. The US president has said NATO allies should boost investment in defence to five per cent of gross domestic product, up from the current target of two per cent. "To be an alliance, you got to be more than flags. You got to be formations. You got to be more than conferences," Hegseth said as he arrived at a gathering of NATO defence ministers in Brussels. Diplomats have said European allies understand that hiking defence expenditure is the price of ensuring a continued US commitment to the continent's security and keeping the US on board means allowing Trump to be able to declare a win on his five per cent demand during the summit, scheduled for June 24-25. "That will be a considerable extra investment," NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte told reporters, predicting that in the Hague summit "we will decide on a much higher spending target for all the nations in NATO." In a bid to meet Trump's goal, Rutte has proposed alliance members boost defence spending to 3.5 per cent of GDP and commit a further 1.5 per cent to broader security-related spending, Reuters has reported. Details of the new investment plan will likely continue to be negotiated until the eve of the NATO summit. In the meantime, Rutte said he expects allies to agree on Thursday on what he called "historic" new capability targets. The targets, which define how many troops and weapons and how much ammunition a country needs to provide to NATO, would aim to better balance defence contributions between Europe, Canada, and the United States and "make NATO a stronger, fairer and a more lethal alliance", he said in opening remarks to the meeting. US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth says he's confident members of the NATO alliance will sign up to Donald Trump's demand for a major boost in defence spending, adding that it had to happen by a summit later in June. The US president has said NATO allies should boost investment in defence to five per cent of gross domestic product, up from the current target of two per cent. "To be an alliance, you got to be more than flags. You got to be formations. You got to be more than conferences," Hegseth said as he arrived at a gathering of NATO defence ministers in Brussels. Diplomats have said European allies understand that hiking defence expenditure is the price of ensuring a continued US commitment to the continent's security and keeping the US on board means allowing Trump to be able to declare a win on his five per cent demand during the summit, scheduled for June 24-25. "That will be a considerable extra investment," NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte told reporters, predicting that in the Hague summit "we will decide on a much higher spending target for all the nations in NATO." In a bid to meet Trump's goal, Rutte has proposed alliance members boost defence spending to 3.5 per cent of GDP and commit a further 1.5 per cent to broader security-related spending, Reuters has reported. Details of the new investment plan will likely continue to be negotiated until the eve of the NATO summit. In the meantime, Rutte said he expects allies to agree on Thursday on what he called "historic" new capability targets. The targets, which define how many troops and weapons and how much ammunition a country needs to provide to NATO, would aim to better balance defence contributions between Europe, Canada, and the United States and "make NATO a stronger, fairer and a more lethal alliance", he said in opening remarks to the meeting. US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth says he's confident members of the NATO alliance will sign up to Donald Trump's demand for a major boost in defence spending, adding that it had to happen by a summit later in June. The US president has said NATO allies should boost investment in defence to five per cent of gross domestic product, up from the current target of two per cent. "To be an alliance, you got to be more than flags. You got to be formations. You got to be more than conferences," Hegseth said as he arrived at a gathering of NATO defence ministers in Brussels. Diplomats have said European allies understand that hiking defence expenditure is the price of ensuring a continued US commitment to the continent's security and keeping the US on board means allowing Trump to be able to declare a win on his five per cent demand during the summit, scheduled for June 24-25. "That will be a considerable extra investment," NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte told reporters, predicting that in the Hague summit "we will decide on a much higher spending target for all the nations in NATO." In a bid to meet Trump's goal, Rutte has proposed alliance members boost defence spending to 3.5 per cent of GDP and commit a further 1.5 per cent to broader security-related spending, Reuters has reported. Details of the new investment plan will likely continue to be negotiated until the eve of the NATO summit. In the meantime, Rutte said he expects allies to agree on Thursday on what he called "historic" new capability targets. The targets, which define how many troops and weapons and how much ammunition a country needs to provide to NATO, would aim to better balance defence contributions between Europe, Canada, and the United States and "make NATO a stronger, fairer and a more lethal alliance", he said in opening remarks to the meeting.
The Advertiser
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The Ram 1500's new Hurricane twin-turbo inline six may produce more power and torque than the Hemi V8 it replaced, but it doesn't have the same sound. Fret not, though – that distinctive burble is coming back. After dropping it for model year 2025 (MY25), Ram will return the 5.7-litre naturally aspirated V8 to the 1500 lineup for MY26, with vehicles arriving in US dealerships in the northern summer (June to August). Brand CEO Tim Kuniskis, who returned to the top spot late last year, was candid about the Hemi's return. "Everyone makes mistakes, but how you handle them defines you. Ram screwed up when we dropped the Hemi — we own it and we fixed it," he said. "We're not just bringing back a legendary V8 engine, we're igniting an assertive product plan and expanding the freedom of choice in powertrain for our customers." Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. But there's no guarantee it'll return to the Australian-market 1500 lineup. "The return of the Hemi V8 is a decision that has been made for the US market. As it stands today, there is no guarantee the Hemi V8 will return to Australian showrooms," said a Ram Trucks Australia spokesperson. "As with any development, we will continue to review and evaluate what options are made available to us from the vast Ram catalogue in the US. "We know there are customers who love the sound of a V8, and the Hemi V8 is still available in our Ram 1500 Big Horn model while stock lasts. "However, customers have also embraced the new Hurricane twin-turbo in-line six-cylinder engine in our latest Ram 1500 models. "The Hurricane engine remains an integral part of Ram's future. With more power and torque – and better efficiency – than the previous 5.7-litre Hemi V8, we believe the new Hurricane engine series will over time become iconic in its own right." Ram Trucks Australia has previously indicated it takes 12-18 months to complete a local engineering program for a new model variant that will be remanufactured locally in right-hand drive. That would make a Hemi V8-equipped 1500 a late 2026 or early 2027 proposition, should it be approved for our market. The 2025 facelift comprised more than just aesthetic tweaks, with other changes including upgraded infotainment, so this isn't as simple as just figuratively flicking a switch. Indeed, Mr Kuniskis had confirmed earlier this year the Hemi was never designed to be offered with the updated 1500's electrical architecture. In the US, the Hemi will be offered across every trim level bar the sporty RHO and luxurious Tungsten, which will be offered exclusively with the High Output version of the Hurricane six. For the Limited and Longhorn, which also come standard with the high-output six, the Hemi will be a no-cost option. Ram has stood behind the new Hurricane engine in the US, which is also used by Jeep and is being rolled out to the Dodge brand this year. "Ram will continue to offer the more powerful and more efficient Hurricane Straight Six Turbo, but we heard loud and clear from consumers: there is no replacement for the iconic Hemi V8," said Mr Kuniskis. The return of the Hemi also sees the introduction of a new badge featuring a Ram's head pushing forward, powered by a Hemi V8 engine block. Ram is calling the badge the 'Symbol of Protest'. The Hemi V8 continues to feature cylinder deactivation to help reduce fuel consumption, as well as the eTorque 48V mild-hybrid system which includes idle stop/start and smooths transitions under acceleration and braking. It also enables up to 176Nm of torque to be available on initial throttle tip-in. In total, the Hemi V8 produces 295kW of power and 556Nm of torque. The Hurricane has hardly been downgraded to a tropical storm. Even in Standard Output tune it pumps out 313kW and 635Nm, while the High Output tune well and truly blows the Hemi over with 403kW and 707Nm. This makes all Hurricane-powered Ram 1500s much quicker than the V8 vehicles they replaced, while also consuming less petrol. Currently, all facelifted 2025 Ram 1500s in Australia use these two tunes of the Hurricane; we've never gotten the base naturally aspirated Pentastar V6 offered in low-end versions of the 1500 in North America. While the 5.7-litre has returned, there's no word yet on the return of the supercharged 6.2-litre that powered the defunct TRX. With the move to an all six-cylinder lineup here for the MY25 1500, Ram Trucks Australia ceded V8 power to rival Chevrolet. The Toyota Tundra moved to a six-cylinder lineup globally with its current generation, while Ford doesn't bring V8-powered versions of the F-150 Down Under. MORE: Everything Ram 1500 Content originally sourced from: The Ram 1500's new Hurricane twin-turbo inline six may produce more power and torque than the Hemi V8 it replaced, but it doesn't have the same sound. Fret not, though – that distinctive burble is coming back. After dropping it for model year 2025 (MY25), Ram will return the 5.7-litre naturally aspirated V8 to the 1500 lineup for MY26, with vehicles arriving in US dealerships in the northern summer (June to August). Brand CEO Tim Kuniskis, who returned to the top spot late last year, was candid about the Hemi's return. "Everyone makes mistakes, but how you handle them defines you. Ram screwed up when we dropped the Hemi — we own it and we fixed it," he said. "We're not just bringing back a legendary V8 engine, we're igniting an assertive product plan and expanding the freedom of choice in powertrain for our customers." Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. But there's no guarantee it'll return to the Australian-market 1500 lineup. "The return of the Hemi V8 is a decision that has been made for the US market. As it stands today, there is no guarantee the Hemi V8 will return to Australian showrooms," said a Ram Trucks Australia spokesperson. "As with any development, we will continue to review and evaluate what options are made available to us from the vast Ram catalogue in the US. "We know there are customers who love the sound of a V8, and the Hemi V8 is still available in our Ram 1500 Big Horn model while stock lasts. "However, customers have also embraced the new Hurricane twin-turbo in-line six-cylinder engine in our latest Ram 1500 models. "The Hurricane engine remains an integral part of Ram's future. With more power and torque – and better efficiency – than the previous 5.7-litre Hemi V8, we believe the new Hurricane engine series will over time become iconic in its own right." Ram Trucks Australia has previously indicated it takes 12-18 months to complete a local engineering program for a new model variant that will be remanufactured locally in right-hand drive. That would make a Hemi V8-equipped 1500 a late 2026 or early 2027 proposition, should it be approved for our market. The 2025 facelift comprised more than just aesthetic tweaks, with other changes including upgraded infotainment, so this isn't as simple as just figuratively flicking a switch. Indeed, Mr Kuniskis had confirmed earlier this year the Hemi was never designed to be offered with the updated 1500's electrical architecture. In the US, the Hemi will be offered across every trim level bar the sporty RHO and luxurious Tungsten, which will be offered exclusively with the High Output version of the Hurricane six. For the Limited and Longhorn, which also come standard with the high-output six, the Hemi will be a no-cost option. Ram has stood behind the new Hurricane engine in the US, which is also used by Jeep and is being rolled out to the Dodge brand this year. "Ram will continue to offer the more powerful and more efficient Hurricane Straight Six Turbo, but we heard loud and clear from consumers: there is no replacement for the iconic Hemi V8," said Mr Kuniskis. The return of the Hemi also sees the introduction of a new badge featuring a Ram's head pushing forward, powered by a Hemi V8 engine block. Ram is calling the badge the 'Symbol of Protest'. The Hemi V8 continues to feature cylinder deactivation to help reduce fuel consumption, as well as the eTorque 48V mild-hybrid system which includes idle stop/start and smooths transitions under acceleration and braking. It also enables up to 176Nm of torque to be available on initial throttle tip-in. In total, the Hemi V8 produces 295kW of power and 556Nm of torque. The Hurricane has hardly been downgraded to a tropical storm. Even in Standard Output tune it pumps out 313kW and 635Nm, while the High Output tune well and truly blows the Hemi over with 403kW and 707Nm. This makes all Hurricane-powered Ram 1500s much quicker than the V8 vehicles they replaced, while also consuming less petrol. Currently, all facelifted 2025 Ram 1500s in Australia use these two tunes of the Hurricane; we've never gotten the base naturally aspirated Pentastar V6 offered in low-end versions of the 1500 in North America. While the 5.7-litre has returned, there's no word yet on the return of the supercharged 6.2-litre that powered the defunct TRX. With the move to an all six-cylinder lineup here for the MY25 1500, Ram Trucks Australia ceded V8 power to rival Chevrolet. The Toyota Tundra moved to a six-cylinder lineup globally with its current generation, while Ford doesn't bring V8-powered versions of the F-150 Down Under. MORE: Everything Ram 1500 Content originally sourced from: The Ram 1500's new Hurricane twin-turbo inline six may produce more power and torque than the Hemi V8 it replaced, but it doesn't have the same sound. Fret not, though – that distinctive burble is coming back. After dropping it for model year 2025 (MY25), Ram will return the 5.7-litre naturally aspirated V8 to the 1500 lineup for MY26, with vehicles arriving in US dealerships in the northern summer (June to August). Brand CEO Tim Kuniskis, who returned to the top spot late last year, was candid about the Hemi's return. "Everyone makes mistakes, but how you handle them defines you. Ram screwed up when we dropped the Hemi — we own it and we fixed it," he said. "We're not just bringing back a legendary V8 engine, we're igniting an assertive product plan and expanding the freedom of choice in powertrain for our customers." Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. But there's no guarantee it'll return to the Australian-market 1500 lineup. "The return of the Hemi V8 is a decision that has been made for the US market. As it stands today, there is no guarantee the Hemi V8 will return to Australian showrooms," said a Ram Trucks Australia spokesperson. "As with any development, we will continue to review and evaluate what options are made available to us from the vast Ram catalogue in the US. "We know there are customers who love the sound of a V8, and the Hemi V8 is still available in our Ram 1500 Big Horn model while stock lasts. "However, customers have also embraced the new Hurricane twin-turbo in-line six-cylinder engine in our latest Ram 1500 models. "The Hurricane engine remains an integral part of Ram's future. With more power and torque – and better efficiency – than the previous 5.7-litre Hemi V8, we believe the new Hurricane engine series will over time become iconic in its own right." Ram Trucks Australia has previously indicated it takes 12-18 months to complete a local engineering program for a new model variant that will be remanufactured locally in right-hand drive. That would make a Hemi V8-equipped 1500 a late 2026 or early 2027 proposition, should it be approved for our market. The 2025 facelift comprised more than just aesthetic tweaks, with other changes including upgraded infotainment, so this isn't as simple as just figuratively flicking a switch. Indeed, Mr Kuniskis had confirmed earlier this year the Hemi was never designed to be offered with the updated 1500's electrical architecture. In the US, the Hemi will be offered across every trim level bar the sporty RHO and luxurious Tungsten, which will be offered exclusively with the High Output version of the Hurricane six. For the Limited and Longhorn, which also come standard with the high-output six, the Hemi will be a no-cost option. Ram has stood behind the new Hurricane engine in the US, which is also used by Jeep and is being rolled out to the Dodge brand this year. "Ram will continue to offer the more powerful and more efficient Hurricane Straight Six Turbo, but we heard loud and clear from consumers: there is no replacement for the iconic Hemi V8," said Mr Kuniskis. The return of the Hemi also sees the introduction of a new badge featuring a Ram's head pushing forward, powered by a Hemi V8 engine block. Ram is calling the badge the 'Symbol of Protest'. The Hemi V8 continues to feature cylinder deactivation to help reduce fuel consumption, as well as the eTorque 48V mild-hybrid system which includes idle stop/start and smooths transitions under acceleration and braking. It also enables up to 176Nm of torque to be available on initial throttle tip-in. In total, the Hemi V8 produces 295kW of power and 556Nm of torque. The Hurricane has hardly been downgraded to a tropical storm. Even in Standard Output tune it pumps out 313kW and 635Nm, while the High Output tune well and truly blows the Hemi over with 403kW and 707Nm. This makes all Hurricane-powered Ram 1500s much quicker than the V8 vehicles they replaced, while also consuming less petrol. Currently, all facelifted 2025 Ram 1500s in Australia use these two tunes of the Hurricane; we've never gotten the base naturally aspirated Pentastar V6 offered in low-end versions of the 1500 in North America. While the 5.7-litre has returned, there's no word yet on the return of the supercharged 6.2-litre that powered the defunct TRX. With the move to an all six-cylinder lineup here for the MY25 1500, Ram Trucks Australia ceded V8 power to rival Chevrolet. The Toyota Tundra moved to a six-cylinder lineup globally with its current generation, while Ford doesn't bring V8-powered versions of the F-150 Down Under. MORE: Everything Ram 1500 Content originally sourced from: The Ram 1500's new Hurricane twin-turbo inline six may produce more power and torque than the Hemi V8 it replaced, but it doesn't have the same sound. Fret not, though – that distinctive burble is coming back. After dropping it for model year 2025 (MY25), Ram will return the 5.7-litre naturally aspirated V8 to the 1500 lineup for MY26, with vehicles arriving in US dealerships in the northern summer (June to August). Brand CEO Tim Kuniskis, who returned to the top spot late last year, was candid about the Hemi's return. "Everyone makes mistakes, but how you handle them defines you. Ram screwed up when we dropped the Hemi — we own it and we fixed it," he said. "We're not just bringing back a legendary V8 engine, we're igniting an assertive product plan and expanding the freedom of choice in powertrain for our customers." Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. But there's no guarantee it'll return to the Australian-market 1500 lineup. "The return of the Hemi V8 is a decision that has been made for the US market. As it stands today, there is no guarantee the Hemi V8 will return to Australian showrooms," said a Ram Trucks Australia spokesperson. "As with any development, we will continue to review and evaluate what options are made available to us from the vast Ram catalogue in the US. "We know there are customers who love the sound of a V8, and the Hemi V8 is still available in our Ram 1500 Big Horn model while stock lasts. "However, customers have also embraced the new Hurricane twin-turbo in-line six-cylinder engine in our latest Ram 1500 models. "The Hurricane engine remains an integral part of Ram's future. With more power and torque – and better efficiency – than the previous 5.7-litre Hemi V8, we believe the new Hurricane engine series will over time become iconic in its own right." Ram Trucks Australia has previously indicated it takes 12-18 months to complete a local engineering program for a new model variant that will be remanufactured locally in right-hand drive. That would make a Hemi V8-equipped 1500 a late 2026 or early 2027 proposition, should it be approved for our market. The 2025 facelift comprised more than just aesthetic tweaks, with other changes including upgraded infotainment, so this isn't as simple as just figuratively flicking a switch. Indeed, Mr Kuniskis had confirmed earlier this year the Hemi was never designed to be offered with the updated 1500's electrical architecture. In the US, the Hemi will be offered across every trim level bar the sporty RHO and luxurious Tungsten, which will be offered exclusively with the High Output version of the Hurricane six. For the Limited and Longhorn, which also come standard with the high-output six, the Hemi will be a no-cost option. Ram has stood behind the new Hurricane engine in the US, which is also used by Jeep and is being rolled out to the Dodge brand this year. "Ram will continue to offer the more powerful and more efficient Hurricane Straight Six Turbo, but we heard loud and clear from consumers: there is no replacement for the iconic Hemi V8," said Mr Kuniskis. The return of the Hemi also sees the introduction of a new badge featuring a Ram's head pushing forward, powered by a Hemi V8 engine block. Ram is calling the badge the 'Symbol of Protest'. The Hemi V8 continues to feature cylinder deactivation to help reduce fuel consumption, as well as the eTorque 48V mild-hybrid system which includes idle stop/start and smooths transitions under acceleration and braking. It also enables up to 176Nm of torque to be available on initial throttle tip-in. In total, the Hemi V8 produces 295kW of power and 556Nm of torque. The Hurricane has hardly been downgraded to a tropical storm. Even in Standard Output tune it pumps out 313kW and 635Nm, while the High Output tune well and truly blows the Hemi over with 403kW and 707Nm. This makes all Hurricane-powered Ram 1500s much quicker than the V8 vehicles they replaced, while also consuming less petrol. Currently, all facelifted 2025 Ram 1500s in Australia use these two tunes of the Hurricane; we've never gotten the base naturally aspirated Pentastar V6 offered in low-end versions of the 1500 in North America. While the 5.7-litre has returned, there's no word yet on the return of the supercharged 6.2-litre that powered the defunct TRX. With the move to an all six-cylinder lineup here for the MY25 1500, Ram Trucks Australia ceded V8 power to rival Chevrolet. The Toyota Tundra moved to a six-cylinder lineup globally with its current generation, while Ford doesn't bring V8-powered versions of the F-150 Down Under. MORE: Everything Ram 1500 Content originally sourced from:
The Advertiser
8 hours ago
- The Advertiser
Japanese lunar craft heading for touchdown on moon
A private lunar lander from Japan is closing in on the moon's unexplored far north, carrying an unusual piece of cargo - a miniature red house. The moon landing attempt by Tokyo-based company ispace on Friday Japan time is the latest entry in the rapidly expanding commercial lunar rush. The encore comes two years after the company's first moonshot ended in a crash landing, giving rise to the name Resilience for its successor lander. Resilience holds a rover with a shovel to gather lunar dirt as well as a Swedish artist's toy-size red house that will be lowered onto the moon's dusty surface. Long the province of governments, the moon became a target of private outfits in 2019, with more flops than wins along the way. Launched in January from Florida on a long, roundabout journey, Resilience entered lunar orbit last month. It shared a SpaceX ride with Firefly Aerospace's Blue Ghost, which reached the moon faster and became the first private entity to successfully land there in March. Another US company, Intuitive Machines, arrived at the moon a few days after Firefly. But the tall, spindly lander face-planted in a crater near the moon's south pole and was declared dead within hours. Resilience is targeting the top of the moon, a less forbidding place than the shadowy bottom. The ispace team chose a flat area with few boulders in Mare Frigoris or Sea of Cold, a long and narrow region full of craters and ancient lava flows that stretches across the near side's northern tier. Once settled with power and communication flowing, the 2.3-metre Resilience will lower the piggybacking rover onto the lunar surface. Made of carbon fibre-reinforced plastic with four wheels, ispace's European-built rover — named Tenacious — sports a high-definition camera to scout out the area and a shovel to scoop up some lunar dirt for NASA. It also holds a tiny, Swedish-style red cottage with white trim and a green door, dubbed the Moonhouse by creator Mikael Genberg, for placement on the lunar surface. Takeshi Hakamada, CEO and founder of ispace, considers the latest moonshot "merely a steppingstone," with its next, much bigger lander launching by 2027 with NASA involvement, and even more to follow. Two other US companies are aiming for moon landings by year's end: Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin and Astrobotic Technology. Astrobotic's first lunar lander missed the moon altogether in 2024 and came crashing back through Earth's atmosphere. For decades, governments competed to get to the moon. Only five countries have pulled off successful robotic lunar landings: Russia, the US, China, India and Japan. Of those, only the US has landed people on the moon: 12 NASA astronauts from 1969 through to 1972. NASA expects to send four astronauts around the moon next year. That would be followed a year or more later by the first lunar landing by a crew in more than a half-century, with SpaceX's Starship providing the lift from lunar orbit all the way down to the surface. China also has moon landing plans for its own astronauts by 2030. A private lunar lander from Japan is closing in on the moon's unexplored far north, carrying an unusual piece of cargo - a miniature red house. The moon landing attempt by Tokyo-based company ispace on Friday Japan time is the latest entry in the rapidly expanding commercial lunar rush. The encore comes two years after the company's first moonshot ended in a crash landing, giving rise to the name Resilience for its successor lander. Resilience holds a rover with a shovel to gather lunar dirt as well as a Swedish artist's toy-size red house that will be lowered onto the moon's dusty surface. Long the province of governments, the moon became a target of private outfits in 2019, with more flops than wins along the way. Launched in January from Florida on a long, roundabout journey, Resilience entered lunar orbit last month. It shared a SpaceX ride with Firefly Aerospace's Blue Ghost, which reached the moon faster and became the first private entity to successfully land there in March. Another US company, Intuitive Machines, arrived at the moon a few days after Firefly. But the tall, spindly lander face-planted in a crater near the moon's south pole and was declared dead within hours. Resilience is targeting the top of the moon, a less forbidding place than the shadowy bottom. The ispace team chose a flat area with few boulders in Mare Frigoris or Sea of Cold, a long and narrow region full of craters and ancient lava flows that stretches across the near side's northern tier. Once settled with power and communication flowing, the 2.3-metre Resilience will lower the piggybacking rover onto the lunar surface. Made of carbon fibre-reinforced plastic with four wheels, ispace's European-built rover — named Tenacious — sports a high-definition camera to scout out the area and a shovel to scoop up some lunar dirt for NASA. It also holds a tiny, Swedish-style red cottage with white trim and a green door, dubbed the Moonhouse by creator Mikael Genberg, for placement on the lunar surface. Takeshi Hakamada, CEO and founder of ispace, considers the latest moonshot "merely a steppingstone," with its next, much bigger lander launching by 2027 with NASA involvement, and even more to follow. Two other US companies are aiming for moon landings by year's end: Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin and Astrobotic Technology. Astrobotic's first lunar lander missed the moon altogether in 2024 and came crashing back through Earth's atmosphere. For decades, governments competed to get to the moon. Only five countries have pulled off successful robotic lunar landings: Russia, the US, China, India and Japan. Of those, only the US has landed people on the moon: 12 NASA astronauts from 1969 through to 1972. NASA expects to send four astronauts around the moon next year. That would be followed a year or more later by the first lunar landing by a crew in more than a half-century, with SpaceX's Starship providing the lift from lunar orbit all the way down to the surface. China also has moon landing plans for its own astronauts by 2030. A private lunar lander from Japan is closing in on the moon's unexplored far north, carrying an unusual piece of cargo - a miniature red house. The moon landing attempt by Tokyo-based company ispace on Friday Japan time is the latest entry in the rapidly expanding commercial lunar rush. The encore comes two years after the company's first moonshot ended in a crash landing, giving rise to the name Resilience for its successor lander. Resilience holds a rover with a shovel to gather lunar dirt as well as a Swedish artist's toy-size red house that will be lowered onto the moon's dusty surface. Long the province of governments, the moon became a target of private outfits in 2019, with more flops than wins along the way. Launched in January from Florida on a long, roundabout journey, Resilience entered lunar orbit last month. It shared a SpaceX ride with Firefly Aerospace's Blue Ghost, which reached the moon faster and became the first private entity to successfully land there in March. Another US company, Intuitive Machines, arrived at the moon a few days after Firefly. But the tall, spindly lander face-planted in a crater near the moon's south pole and was declared dead within hours. Resilience is targeting the top of the moon, a less forbidding place than the shadowy bottom. The ispace team chose a flat area with few boulders in Mare Frigoris or Sea of Cold, a long and narrow region full of craters and ancient lava flows that stretches across the near side's northern tier. Once settled with power and communication flowing, the 2.3-metre Resilience will lower the piggybacking rover onto the lunar surface. Made of carbon fibre-reinforced plastic with four wheels, ispace's European-built rover — named Tenacious — sports a high-definition camera to scout out the area and a shovel to scoop up some lunar dirt for NASA. It also holds a tiny, Swedish-style red cottage with white trim and a green door, dubbed the Moonhouse by creator Mikael Genberg, for placement on the lunar surface. Takeshi Hakamada, CEO and founder of ispace, considers the latest moonshot "merely a steppingstone," with its next, much bigger lander launching by 2027 with NASA involvement, and even more to follow. Two other US companies are aiming for moon landings by year's end: Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin and Astrobotic Technology. Astrobotic's first lunar lander missed the moon altogether in 2024 and came crashing back through Earth's atmosphere. For decades, governments competed to get to the moon. Only five countries have pulled off successful robotic lunar landings: Russia, the US, China, India and Japan. Of those, only the US has landed people on the moon: 12 NASA astronauts from 1969 through to 1972. NASA expects to send four astronauts around the moon next year. That would be followed a year or more later by the first lunar landing by a crew in more than a half-century, with SpaceX's Starship providing the lift from lunar orbit all the way down to the surface. China also has moon landing plans for its own astronauts by 2030. A private lunar lander from Japan is closing in on the moon's unexplored far north, carrying an unusual piece of cargo - a miniature red house. The moon landing attempt by Tokyo-based company ispace on Friday Japan time is the latest entry in the rapidly expanding commercial lunar rush. The encore comes two years after the company's first moonshot ended in a crash landing, giving rise to the name Resilience for its successor lander. Resilience holds a rover with a shovel to gather lunar dirt as well as a Swedish artist's toy-size red house that will be lowered onto the moon's dusty surface. Long the province of governments, the moon became a target of private outfits in 2019, with more flops than wins along the way. Launched in January from Florida on a long, roundabout journey, Resilience entered lunar orbit last month. It shared a SpaceX ride with Firefly Aerospace's Blue Ghost, which reached the moon faster and became the first private entity to successfully land there in March. Another US company, Intuitive Machines, arrived at the moon a few days after Firefly. But the tall, spindly lander face-planted in a crater near the moon's south pole and was declared dead within hours. Resilience is targeting the top of the moon, a less forbidding place than the shadowy bottom. The ispace team chose a flat area with few boulders in Mare Frigoris or Sea of Cold, a long and narrow region full of craters and ancient lava flows that stretches across the near side's northern tier. Once settled with power and communication flowing, the 2.3-metre Resilience will lower the piggybacking rover onto the lunar surface. Made of carbon fibre-reinforced plastic with four wheels, ispace's European-built rover — named Tenacious — sports a high-definition camera to scout out the area and a shovel to scoop up some lunar dirt for NASA. It also holds a tiny, Swedish-style red cottage with white trim and a green door, dubbed the Moonhouse by creator Mikael Genberg, for placement on the lunar surface. Takeshi Hakamada, CEO and founder of ispace, considers the latest moonshot "merely a steppingstone," with its next, much bigger lander launching by 2027 with NASA involvement, and even more to follow. Two other US companies are aiming for moon landings by year's end: Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin and Astrobotic Technology. Astrobotic's first lunar lander missed the moon altogether in 2024 and came crashing back through Earth's atmosphere. For decades, governments competed to get to the moon. Only five countries have pulled off successful robotic lunar landings: Russia, the US, China, India and Japan. Of those, only the US has landed people on the moon: 12 NASA astronauts from 1969 through to 1972. NASA expects to send four astronauts around the moon next year. That would be followed a year or more later by the first lunar landing by a crew in more than a half-century, with SpaceX's Starship providing the lift from lunar orbit all the way down to the surface. China also has moon landing plans for its own astronauts by 2030.
