Latest news with #LexusIS300
Times
5 days ago
- Automotive
- Times
Omoda 9 SHS review — a cavernous hybrid SUV with a whopping range
Alan Partridge, you may recall, referred to his blue Lexus IS300 as 'the Japanese Mercedes'. In the Omoda 9 SHS we have the Chinese Mercedes. Who or what is Omoda? So saturated have we become with new Chinese car brands washing upon Britannia's shores, it's difficult to keep up. There's MG, BYD, GWM and its sub-brand Ora, Aiways, Maxus, Xpeng, Leapmotor, Skywell and now Jaecoo and its fancier sister Omoda. Both brands are owned by Chery, China's fourth largest car builder, which is also launching its eponymous mothership brand in the UK later this year. So will Nio, HiPhi, Avatr, Zeekr and Geely, all before the Christmas lights go up. Hongqi is set to follow in 2026. The Chinese build cheap, reliable, efficient cars with impressive technology. The new world order of cars has seen these guys sweep in and undercut the competition thanks to cheap labour and their direct access to the raw materials that make batteries. China sells 60 per cent of the world's EVs and 80 per cent of the batteries that power them. Here in Britain there are 73 dealers for the Chery brands Jaecoo and Omoda alone, and that figure is expected to rise to 130 before the end of this year. This is startling growth. The appeal of the Omoda 9 SHS (which stands for Super Hybrid System) is clear: a cavernous hybrid SUV that is well appointed and has legroom that'll embarrass a Mercedes GLE. And just savour the price. The Alabama-built Mercedes GLE 400 e 4MATIC Urban Edition, offering a combined 408bhp, costs £80,490. The Wuhu-built Omoda 9 is more powerful, with a combined 443bhp. It's faster to 62mph: 4.9 seconds versus the Merc's 6.1. And it costs just £44,990. To cap it all, the Omoda 9 offers only one extra: paint. White is free, black or grey is £750 and satin grey is £1,000. There are no other extras because everything is included as standard. All the safety tech, self-parking function, 20in alloy wheels, 14-speaker Sony audio, a huge panoramic powered sunroof — you name it, it's got it. As for styling, it's no uglier than anything else in its class. Squint your eyes and it could even pass for a modern Mercedes. The Omoda 9 boasts three headline figures that are seriously noteworthy. First, the price means you're paying just £100 per horsepower, a figure no other SUV gets near. The second is the Omoda's stated 700-mile overall range. On a lengthy drive I actually managed to extract 760 miles before I had to pull into a petrol station. If you set off from John O'Groats, you wouldn't quite get to Land's End on a single tank, but you'd get to Plymouth. The third headline figure is its 34.48kWh battery, meaning this hybrid has more electric power than the all-electric Renault Zoe. With a claimed pure electric range of 93 miles, it's the longest-range PHEV on sale. You could easily do most daily commutes with this car and never have to pay for petrol — a huge plus point. The battery feeds a pair of electric motors, while the other half of the powertrain is made up of a 1.5-litre four-cylinder engine that's good for 154bhp and 159lb ft on its own. • Read more expert reviews, news and insights on cars and motoring Dynamically it's less involving than the Mercedes GLE and Range Rover Velar, but its handling is sharp and the power delivery is unruffled. Put it in sport mode and it tugs at the leash. It won't reward like a Porsche up the Stelvio Pass, but no one's going to buy it with that in mind. This is a car for getting from A to B cheaply, comfortably and reliably, and on that score it delivers better, probably, than any car under £60,000. It's arguably better value than a Range Rover or Mercedes, even if it lacks their heritage and verve. On the other hand, if you can spend more and wish to support the workers in Solihull or Tuscaloosa, please do so. Chinese imports provide more bang for your buck, but potentially at the expense of western car industries.
Yahoo
02-07-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Georgia Trooper Smacks Down A Street Takeover Lexus
Read the full story on The Auto Wire Watching cops chase down street takeover suspects is always so satisfying, like this Georgia trooper taking down a fleeing Lexus IS 300. After all, these guys shut down busy intersections like they own the city, snarl up traffic while doing all kinds of damage, all so their buddies can record videos for TikTok and Instagram. Read our guide to the best automotive photography accessories you can you get on Amazon here. When the trooper first happens upon the takeover in Atlanta, he encounters pedestrians standing in the intersection, as well as the Lexus ripping a smokey donut. Those people on foot smartly jump out of the way. But as the trooper starts chasing the fleeing IS 300, one pedestrian makes like he's going to jump in front of the patrol car. We can imagine he was trying to help out his buddy, but the guy apparently doesn't know that could come with serious criminal charges, not to mention he might get run over. Needless to say, even as far as takeover crowds come, these kids aren't the brightest crayons in the box. That's evident as the driver thinks his little Lexus can outrun a Dodge Charger with a Hemi. Then again, the street takeover crowd tries to act like car enthusiasts, but we've found they know little about cars. If they did and valued them, they wouldn't be trashing their rides for cheap thrills. Maybe this guy thought his experience doing tricks in intersections would make him a better driver than a member of Georgia State Patrol. But the trooper keeps up no problem. In fact, we're pretty sure he doesn't have to push his cruiser all that hard. But it's apparent the suspect is planting his foot down in the little Lexus while his hazard lights are flashing. Finally, after trying to use the might of all six cylinders of his car, he finally realizes that's not going to cut the mustard. That's when the guy starts making quick turns, but he still can't outhandle the trooper who PITs the IS out. As the suspect drives out of that, another trooper comes along and PITs the Lexus again. Surrounded by at least three troopers, the kid and his passenger give up. Hopefully they both realized street takeovers are a dumb idea. Image via State Boyzzz/YouTube Join our Newsletter, subscribe to our YouTube page, and follow us on Facebook.
Khaleej Times
03-06-2025
- Automotive
- Khaleej Times
No more 1-hour queues: Dubai RTA's online booking system eases vehicle testing
For Syed Azeez, yearly vehicle testing was one of those chores he kept putting off, until it became urgent. His car's registration had already expired on May 10, and with only a few days left in the grace period, he rushed to the Shamil Vehicle Testing Centre in Muhaisnah. To his surprise, the centre wasn't crowded at all. 'Last year, I had to wait for more than 45 minutes just to hand over my car to the technician,' said Azeez, who drives a Lexus IS 300, 2018. At the entrance, a security guard advised him to book an appointment online. 'I booked the slot, received a token, and handed over my car. Within 20 minutes, the test was complete, and I had the results,' he said. Starting June 2, vehicle owners in Dubai must book an appointment online for their annual technical inspection, as mandated by the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA). The rule applies to all 27 vehicle testing centres across the city, except Tasjeel Hatta. While walk-ins are still allowed, they now come with a Dh100 service fee. The move follows a successful six-month pilot at Al Qusais and Al Barsha, where waiting times dropped by 46 per cent. According to the RTA, the system will reduce congestion, cut wait times by nearly 40 per cent, and streamline operations at busy centres that previously operated at over 80 per cent capacity. Azeez said the system saved him a lot of time and stress. 'I didn't waste time standing in queues. I went straight in and straight out. It used to take me over an hour before,' he said. Once his vehicle passed the test, the rest of the process was just as seamless. 'I renewed my insurance online, cleared a small fine, and completed the registration, all within five minutes using the RTA app,' he added. 'No paperwork, no running around. Just peace of mind.' Game changer for working professionals Riya Joseph, a resident of Al Nahda and a marketing executive at an FMCG company, said the new system is ideal for busy professionals. 'I have back-to-back meetings on most days, so standing in a queue for an hour is just not possible,' she said. Driving a Kia Sportage 2021, she booked her slot at the same location and left the Muhaisnah centre within 20 minutes. 'There were barely any cars waiting. It was so well-organised,' she said, adding that the system made the entire experience smoother. 'The staff wasn't stressed, the area was calm, and I didn't feel rushed or confused like before. It was really professional.' She also pointed out an added benefit — fuel savings. 'In earlier years, I used to keep the car running while waiting in long queues. This time, I saved on fuel.' 'No rush, no stress' Sameer Akram, a Sharjah resident who drives a Toyota Corolla 2018, booked his test at the Al Qusais Tasjeel Centre, a location that previously saw heavy crowds. 'This time, I reached at my scheduled time, drove in without waiting, and the inspection was done in around 15 minutes,' said the outdoor sales executive. 'The app showed my vehicle had passed. Right after that, I opened the app, renewed my insurance, paid fines, and registered my vehicle. The whole thing took less than 30 minutes, start to finish.' Sameer, who has three vehicles at home, said registration renewal used to be time-consuming. 'I once got fined over Dh500 for missing the deadline. Now, it feels like a burden lifted off of my shoulders.' He added that centres like Al Qusais used to operate with waiting times of nearly an hour. 'I remember seeing long lines and waiting over an hour in the past. Now, the centre feels much more balanced and organised.' Some still unaware of the new rule While the new system has eased the process for many, a few motorists were caught off guard, unaware that prior booking is now mandatory to avoid delays and extra charges. Asgar Rehman, a vehicle maintenance expert and a reseller of cars who often gets testing done at least 7 times a month did not schedule an appointment. 'I wasn't aware of the new rule. I thought it was the usual first-come, first-served,' he said. After arriving, staff informed him he had to book a slot online or pay Dh100 extra. 'I had to wait about 40 minutes just to book my appointment as the slots were full, then return to the queue to get the vehicle tested. It delayed my plans for the day.' 'It's a good system, but I wish I had known earlier. A simple reminder or alert on the RTA app would have helped me,' added Rehman.
