Kia Australia’s CEO Damien Meredith recent comments on the slowdown of
electric car sales is interesting. Suggesting the car industry has hit the limit when
it comes to early adopters of EVs and that with New Vehicle Emission Standards
due next year it will be a struggle to sell more hybrid and electric cars to offset
sales of high emission vehicles and avoid government fines. The Governments
new CO2 rules take effect from January 1 while the penalties take effect from July
1 and will force car brands to hit CO2 emission targets on each vehicle they sell.
As Meredith said this week regarding the EV slowdown ‘it’s a tough situation,
we’ve got to sell more EV’s, we’ve got to basically sell, in percentage terms,
double what we’re doing at the moment to meet our requirement for the new
emission rules.’ Watch this space. I’m David Berthon

Kia Australia&rsquo;s CEO Damien Meredith recent comments on the slowdown of electric car sales is interesting. Suggesting the car industry has hit the limit when it comes to early adopters of EVs and that with New Vehicle Emission Standards due next year it will be a struggle to sell more hybrid and electric cars to offset sales of high emission vehicles and avoid government fines. The Governments new CO2 rules take effect from January 1 while the penalties take effect from July 1 and will force car brands to hit CO2 emission targets on each vehicle they sell. As Meredith said this week regarding the EV slowdown &lsquo;it&rsquo;s a tough situation, we&rsquo;ve got to sell more EV&rsquo;s, we&rsquo;ve got to basically sell, in percentage terms, double what we&rsquo;re doing at the moment to meet our requirement for the new emission rules.&rsquo; Watch this space. I&rsquo;m David Berthon

A weekly show with all the latest information and news in the motoring industry. Hosted by 2GB's very own motoring corespondent David Berthon. 

For more engaging content visit the 2GB website, or listen live to 2GB 873.

A weekly show with all the latest information and news in the motoring industry. Hosted by 2GB's very own motoring corespondent David Berthon.&nbsp;
For more engaging content visit the 2GB website, or listen live to 2GB 873.

Motor Torque with David Berthon

A weekly show with all the latest information and news in the motoring industry. Hosted by 2GB's very own motoring corespondent David Berthon. 

For more engaging content visit the 2GB website, or listen live to 2GB 873 

A weekly show with all the latest information and news in the motoring industry. Hosted by 2GB's very own motoring corespondent David Berthon.&nbsp;
For more engaging content visit the 2GB website, or listen live to 2GB 873&nbsp;

Kia‘s boss sees the slowdown in EV sales a problem as we head to next year’s new emission standards

Driving Mitsubishi’s seven-seat mid-size Outlander SUV – it comes in a large range of front and all-wheel drive models in pure petrol or plug-in hybrid – I’m driving the top-line petrol Exceed 4WD – a 2.5-litre four-cylinder CVT automatic at $52,640. So how does it drive – the naturally aspirated petrol engine with 135kW and 244 Nm of torque is adequate, it’s no fire breather however the continuously variable transmission taps the power and torque well, but push it hard and it tends to surge a little like most CVT transmissions, however for the heavy work it has 8 pre-set manual gear ratios you can access via the steering wheel mounted shift paddles. The suspension is set up for one or seven passengers, as such it’s not sporty but provides a very comfortable ride and driving experience while the steering offers the ability to add more assistance if needed. The driving experience also aided by six drive modes – three, normal, eco and sport that adjust steering and transmission settings plus three offroad modes that give the Outlander a more adventurous spirit. As I said earlier, good economy 8.7L/100 on 91 Octane petrol. As a family carrier there’s much to like with Mitsubishi’s Outlander Exceed and little to criticize. I’m David Berthon

Driving Mitsubishi&rsquo;s seven-seat mid-size Outlander SUV &ndash; it comes in a large range of front and all-wheel drive models in pure petrol or plug-in hybrid &ndash; I&rsquo;m driving the top-line petrol Exceed 4WD &ndash; a 2.5-litre four-cylinder CVT automatic at $52,640. So how does it drive &ndash; the naturally aspirated petrol engine with 135kW and 244 Nm of torque is adequate, it&rsquo;s no fire breather however the continuously variable transmission taps the power and torque well, but push it hard and it tends to surge a little like most CVT transmissions, however for the heavy work it has 8 pre-set manual gear ratios you can access via the steering wheel mounted shift paddles. The suspension is set up for one or seven passengers, as such it&rsquo;s not sporty but provides a very comfortable ride and driving experience while the steering offers the ability to add more assistance if needed. The driving experience also aided by six drive modes &ndash; three, normal, eco and sport that adjust steering and transmission settings plus three offroad modes that give the Outlander a more adventurous spirit. As I said earlier, good economy 8.7L/100 on 91 Octane petrol. As a family carrier there&rsquo;s much to like with Mitsubishi&rsquo;s Outlander Exceed and little to criticize. I&rsquo;m David Berthon

Mitsubishi’s Outlander Exceed SUV – well specified seven-seat family carrier

Driving Mitsubishi’s mid-size Outlander SUV today, the company’s best seller
and the second best selling mid-size SUV behind Toyota’s RAV4. I’m driving the
top spec 2.5-litre naturally aspirated four-cylinder petrol CVT automatic Outlander
Exceed 4WD at $52,640. On first impression, a roomy plush interior - in fact its
interior space gives the impression you’re driving a much larger SUV and you can
see why it is very popular with large families. And this is its best benefit over the
RAV 4 the fact that it has seven seats. All three rows also offer climate control air
with separate controls in each. Although the third row is best sized for kids.
Equipment comprehensive – a wireless phone charger, power tailgate. leather
seats with memory function up front, a head up display, 12.3-inch digital
instrument cluster, pull up sun blinds for the second-row seats and 10-speaker
Bose sound. And don’t forget Mitsubishi’s 10-year/200,000km warranty, a real
buyer benefit. Servicing, every 12 months or 15,0000kms, the first five years
costing a reasonable $1700. Towing average at 1600 kilos braked and here the
2.5-litre four-cylinder would struggle with a heavy load. Good economy though –
on 91 octane petrol I managed 8.7L/100. Five-star ANCAP safety. Drive details
next segment I’m David Berthon

Driving Mitsubishi&rsquo;s mid-size Outlander SUV today, the company&rsquo;s best seller and the second best selling mid-size SUV behind Toyota&rsquo;s RAV4. I&rsquo;m driving the top spec 2.5-litre naturally aspirated four-cylinder petrol CVT automatic Outlander Exceed 4WD at $52,640. On first impression, a roomy plush interior - in fact its interior space gives the impression you&rsquo;re driving a much larger SUV and you can see why it is very popular with large families. And this is its best benefit over the RAV 4 the fact that it has seven seats. All three rows also offer climate control air with separate controls in each. Although the third row is best sized for kids. Equipment comprehensive &ndash; a wireless phone charger, power tailgate. leather seats with memory function up front, a head up display, 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, pull up sun blinds for the second-row seats and 10-speaker Bose sound. And don&rsquo;t forget Mitsubishi&rsquo;s 10-year/200,000km warranty, a real buyer benefit. Servicing, every 12 months or 15,0000kms, the first five years costing a reasonable $1700. Towing average at 1600 kilos braked and here the 2.5-litre four-cylinder would struggle with a heavy load. Good economy though &ndash; on 91 octane petrol I managed 8.7L/100. Five-star ANCAP safety. Drive details next segment I&rsquo;m David Berthon

Mitsubishi’s Outlander Exceed SUV – mid-size seven-seater with great interior

With 2025 just around the corner its worth reminding potential car buyers that
there is still some 2023 build stock in the market and if you are in the market to
buy a new car its worth checking the build plate on the model you buy. A 2023
build car purchased in 2025 has already suffered two years depreciation so you
need a better than average discount. Some car makers are offering incentives on
old stock – Honda for example is offering drive-away discounts on its 2023-build
ZR-V and CR-V mid-size SUV’s – $2,500 to $3,000 off their respective drive-away
price plus five complimentary scheduled services worth $995, and providing a
further $2,500 contribution when you purchase them through Honda Financial
Services. All 2023 ZR-V and CR-V models also come with an extended eight-year
unlimited kilometre warranty and eight-years roadside assistance. I’m David
Berthon

With 2025 just around the corner its worth reminding potential car buyers that there is still some 2023 build stock in the market and if you are in the market to buy a new car its worth checking the build plate on the model you buy. A 2023 build car purchased in 2025 has already suffered two years depreciation so you need a better than average discount. Some car makers are offering incentives on old stock &ndash; Honda for example is offering drive-away discounts on its 2023-build ZR-V and CR-V mid-size SUV&rsquo;s &ndash; $2,500 to $3,000 off their respective drive-away price plus five complimentary scheduled services worth $995, and providing a further $2,500 contribution when you purchase them through Honda Financial Services. All 2023 ZR-V and CR-V models also come with an extended eight-year unlimited kilometre warranty and eight-years roadside assistance. I&rsquo;m David Berthon

Kia‘s boss sees the slowdown in EV sales a problem as we head to next year’s new emission standards

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