Hybrids Cars: News & Models

Toyota has released early images of the facelifted Crown Crossover for Japan, showing a reworked rear end and a reversed two-tone paint split ahead of a mid-September 2026 launch, with powertrain and pricing details still to be confirmed.

In the ACSI 2026 automobile study, mass-market and luxury brands finished level at 78 points out of 100, and Toyota led the whole industry with 83. Mercedes-Benz was the best luxury brand at 81, while Cadillac fell 15% to last place on 69 and Lexus dropped 10% to 78.

Great Wall Motor's new Haval H10 flagship SUV, sold only as a 458 hp Hi4 plug-in hybrid with up to 200 km of CLTC electric range, drew more than 15,000 orders on its first day on sale in China, priced from 299,800 to 359,800 yuan ($44,200 to $53,100).

Mercedes-Maybach revealed the GLS 680, replacing the GLS 600 with an updated 4.0-litre electrified V8 now rated at 603 hp and 850 Nm, up 53 hp and 89 Nm. The SUV gets a redesigned illuminated grille, an optional illuminated bonnet star, and an updated MBUX Superscreen cabin. Ordering is open in China now; US and European order books open at the end of July 2026, with pricing still unannounced.

Chery Jaguar Land Rover has revealed the cabin of the Freelander 8, the first model from its new Freelander sub-brand. The six-seat SUV pairs a 46.3-inch panoramic display with a separate 15.6-inch central screen, an 800V architecture and Huawei's ADS 5.0 driver assistance.

DS Automobiles unveiled the N°7, its new premium SUV and DS 7 successor, on Stellantis's STLA Medium platform. It comes as a mild hybrid or in three electric E-TENSE tiers, topping out at 740 km WLTP range, with European prices from EUR 43,900 (about $47,600).

Nissan revealed the fourth-generation Elgrand and started sales in Japan, its first major redesign since 2010. The minivan runs Nissan's e-POWER hybrid system with e-4ORCE all-wheel drive, priced from ¥6,897,000 ($42,470).

Scout Motors welded the first Traveler body shell at its Blythewood, South Carolina plant, a pre-production milestone as the site moves from construction to line trials ahead of series production.

Volkswagen Group wants to cut its roughly 150 model lines by up to 50% and trim configuration options by up to 75%, while lowering annual production capacity to 9 million cars from a pre-pandemic target of 12 million. The Touareg, Touran, and T-Roc Cabriolet are among the models already leaving.

Xiaomi revealed its SkyNomad N90, the first model in a new lineup built around cabin space instead of driving dynamics. The full-size three-row EREV pairs a 416 hp dual-motor setup with a 76 kWh CALB battery for roughly 370 km of electric range, plus a transforming interior and a camper variant. It targets Li Auto and Aito's family SUVs, not Xiaomi's own SU7 and YU7 crowd.

Dacia has fully revealed the Striker, a raised estate built on the CMF-B platform it shares with the Bigster. Three powertrains are offered, from a 140 hp mild-hybrid petrol/LPG to a 150 hp all-wheel-drive hybrid, with orders opening in autumn 2026 and prices starting under €25,000 (about $27,000).

GWM opened Chinese pre-orders for the updated Tank 300, adding an elongated Tank 300L variant and a new Hi4-Z twin-motor plug-in hybrid rated at 761 hp and 1,195 Nm. The base 2.0-litre turbo now makes 245 hp; the diesel and Hi4-T PHEV carry over. Chinese sales open July 19, from about $38,320.

Land Rover slotted a new Landmark trim into the Discovery lineup, between the base S and flagship Tempest, with an exclusive Tasman Blue paint finish and upgraded interior. UK prices start from £75,860 (about $101,100).

BYD's new flagship sedan for the Ocean sub-brand launches in China at 5,150 mm long, with five powertrain variants split between plug-in hybrid (DM-i) and battery-electric (EV) forms. The top EV trim makes 694 hp and covers 785 km; every trim gets rear-wheel steering. Prices run 196,900 to 239,900 yuan ($29,000 to $35,350).

Hyundai Motor America sold a record 450,568 vehicles in the first half of 2026, up 3%. Hybrids grew 67% year-to-date and now outpace EVs as the brand's main growth engine, echoing Toyota's playbook.

Kia's US-market 2027 Niro refresh cuts the lineup to a single hybrid variant, 139 hp combined from a 1.6 GDI engine and electric motor through a 6-speed DCT. The EV3 takes over as Kia's electric crossover in the US.

Kia sold 405,785 vehicles in the US in the first half of 2026, its best half ever, with June and Q2 also setting records. Hybrid versions of the Sportage, Sorento and Carnival drove the gain, while the EV6 was one of only two models to fall.

Lamborghini's new range-topping Urus makes 812 hp and 1,000 Nm from its plug-in hybrid V8, hitting 100 km/h in 3.3 seconds and 312 km/h flat out. It is 32 kg lighter than the Urus SE, runs a new dual-chamber AURA air suspension, and still covers over 60 km on electric power alone. Pricing has not been announced.

Lynk & Co has opened pre-orders for the 07 GT wagon in China, with four variants from ¥165,800 to ¥208,800 ($24,400–$30,700). The FWD versions offer up to 200 km of electric range and 1,422 km combined on CLTC; the AWD Ultra produces 530 hp and covers 170 km on electricity. Deliveries begin this month; Europe is confirmed for 2027.

SAIC-Volkswagen has released interior images of the ID.Era 5S sedan and confirmed its EREV powertrain details: a 1.5-litre petrol range extender and a 177 hp motor delivering 160 km of electric range and over 2,000 km combined on the CLTC cycle. Sales are planned in China before the end of 2026. Pricing has not been announced.