Why Headlight Tech, Interface Design and EV Range Still Matter
In this episode of Overdrive, David Brown and Paul Murrell discuss the latest in headlight testing technology at Mercedes-Benz, the real-world usability of driver aids and infotainment systems, and the challenges of understanding electric vehicle range. Plus, a look at GWM’s new Tank 500 plug-in hybrid SUV and how China's automakers are reshaping the value equation in Australia’s large SUV market.
This Overdrive episode captures the tension between technological innovation and practical execution. Whether it’s headlights that bend around corners or plug-in SUVs that can tow 3 tonnes, the industry is evolving fast. But poor user interfaces, inconsistent standards, and unclear real-world data can still frustrate even the most experienced drivers.
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Toyota Prado; Xpeng enduro; classic car culture
News
XPeng P7 endurance run: A 3961km record sparks scepticism about real-world EV performance and battery stress.
Costco–Leapmotor partnership: Bulk-store marketing and discounts reflect new retail strategies in car sales.
Skoda colouring-in promotion: A quirky family campaign illustrates the odd directions of brand engagement.
Cherry’s Fortune 500 leap: Rising Chinese carmakers highlight global industry shifts and competitive pressure on Europe.
Sydney Metro one-year review:
Metro’s frequency and reliability are praised, but suburban design flaws limit its reach.
Vehicle-to-grid challenge: Experts warn that 300,000 bi-directional EVs could strain networks without urgent upgrades.
Feature
Classic car culture: Enthusiasm remains strong, but younger buyers favour ‘youngtimers’ tied to pop-culture icons.
Road Tests
Volvo EX90 review: A tech-laden SUV proves stressful with app-based access and charging woes.
Genesis G80 EV review: Luxurious and quiet but arguably over-blinged, with features of mixed practicality.
Toyota Prado update: The refreshed Prado boosts Toyota’s sales, balancing rugged looks with family-friendly refinement.
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Road charges, EV hype & Camry tested
• Road user charges: NSW confirms plans to introduce a distance-based road user charge
• EV range claims: Independent testing shows significant gaps between advertised and real-world EV ranges
• Zeekr 7X launch: Chinese brand Zeekr announces its 7X SUV for Australia, promising fast charging and plush interiors
• Ercole Spada tribute: Celebrated designer Ercole Spada is remembered for shaping iconic cars
• Hitchhiking: Once common but now rare, hitchhiking is examined as both cultural curiosity and a possible model for future ride-sharing.
• Renault Dauphine EV: A quirky Canadian conversion of a Renault Dauphine in 2002
• Toyota Camry road test: The latest Camry hybrid proves refined, efficient, and more executive-like than its “dad car” reputation
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Chinese Cars Rise, Tesla Liability, Leapmotor C10
Car sales: July Australian new car sales rose 2.9%, with Chinese brands climbing
Tesla case: A US jury held Tesla partly liable for a fatal crash
Idle Off program: Student-led action cut engine idling outside schools by up to 40%
Mercedes program: Manufaktur Exclusive lets buyers pay over $24,000 for paint
Foton Tunland ute: Chinese brand Foton launches a hybrid dual-cab ute
Ross Rowland: US rail enthusiast Ross Rowland remembered for steam preservation
Honda EV stance: Honda Australia promises 90% electrified sales by 2026
Sydenham Station history: Stuart Sharp highlights uneven planning and heritage tensions
Leapmotor C10 test: A plush Chinese EV SUV impresses with design but frustrates with software quirks and range on hills.
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From jargon busting to giant utes: EV debuts, SUV culture & Toyota Tundra road test
In this episode of Overdrive, David Brown and Brian Smith dive into the quirks, jargon, and big personalities of the motoring and transport world.
We start with a NSW Government report on Sydenham Station’s upgrades—dense with transport-speak but easily translated into plain English. From there, it’s off to Sydney’s first-ever Light Commercial Vehicle Show, where vans, utes, and even cargo bikes are vying for the last-mile delivery crown.
ANCAP’s latest safety results are in: Volkswagen’s Terramar aces the tests with five stars, but Peugeot’s hybrid 3008/5008 twins don’t quite make the grade. Nissan’s long-awaited Ariya EV gets its Australian specs and pricing, while Suzuki launches its first new nameplate in more than a decade—the compact hybrid Fronx, aimed at first-time buyers and downsizers.
A Facebook post sparks a chat about the SUV-ification of prestige sports car brands—think Aston Martin DBXs in the wild—and the team has a laugh over car jargon quirks, from “dampeners” to “VIN numbers.”
We wrap up with a full road test of Toyota’s colossal Tundra pickup. Equal parts luxury cruiser and towing workhorse, it’s a vehicle that raises the question: how big is too big for Australian roads?
Topics covered:
Sydenham Station report: translating jargon into plain English
Sydney Light Commercial Vehicle Show: vans, utes, and cargo bikes
ANCAP safety ratings: Volkswagen’s Terramar shines, Peugeot’s hybrids fall short
Nissan Ariya EV: Australian specs and pricing
Suzuki Fronx launch: a bold, compact hybrid SUV for new buyers
SUV-ification of sports car brands
Car terminology quirks and humour
Toyota Tundra road test: comfort, towing, and market fit
Tags: #Cars #Transport #Culture #OverdriveRadio #EV #SUV #Utes #RoadTest #ToyotaTundra #SuzukiFronx #NissanAriya #ANCAP
Overdrive: Cars, Transport and Culture.
A weekly radio program featuring motoring & transport news from Australia & around the world, road tests, feature interviews & quirky stories.
David Brown is a respected motoring broadcaster heard online and across Australia on commercial, public and community radio.
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