The Audi S6 is a faster, sportier version of Audi’s larger sedan. It’s designed to feel more powerful than the regular model. The podcast mentions it as one of the cars in the discussion.
The Leap Motor B05 is a small hatchback. The hosts are saying it’s meant to compete with popular compact cars like the Volkswagen Golf and Toyota Corolla—so it’s aimed at everyday buyers, not just enthusiasts.
Stellantis is a major car company. The hosts say it’s involved with Leap Motor in a partnership, and that engineers from Stellantis help develop the cars.
The Volkswagen Golf is a very common compact hatchback. The hosts are using it as a reference point to say the B05 is meant to be about the same size and type of car.
“C segment” is a European vehicle classification for compact cars. The hosts use it to place the Leap Motor B05 in the same general size/market category as mainstream hatchbacks like the Volkswagen Golf and Toyota Corolla.
The Toyota Corolla is a widely sold compact car. The hosts mention it to show the Leap Motor B05 is trying to compete with popular, practical cars people buy for daily driving.
Car
MG4
The MG4 is a popular small electric car. Here, the host is saying it’s the main rival that the other EV needs to beat in Australia.
WLTP is the official testing standard used to estimate how far an EV can go on a full charge. Your real range in everyday driving can be a bit less than the WLTP figure.
“Drive away” is the price you pay to get the car ready and legally on the road. It’s meant to be a more realistic comparison than just the sticker price.
Term
6.7 seconds
This number is about how quickly the car speeds up. The host is saying it’s quick enough that most everyday driving won’t feel slow.
A dash cam is a small camera that records what’s happening around your car. Here they’re saying this EV includes one built in, not something you have to buy separately.
Sentry mode is a “watch while parked” feature. If the car senses something happening around it, it can start recording so you have video evidence later.
Camp mode is what EVs call a “parked comfort” setting. It helps you use things like climate control while you’re stopped, like when camping or waiting.
“800 volt” is about how the car’s electrical system is set up for charging. Higher-voltage EVs can often charge faster, but the host says this one still works fine even without that top-tier setup.
This is the charging voltage the car can take. The host is saying that even though it’s not an 800V EV, it can still charge at a level that’s practical for normal driving.
Rear-wheel drive means the back wheels are the ones that get the power. The hosts bring it up to help explain why one car might feel more advanced than the other.
Front-wheel drive means the front wheels do the work of moving the car. The episode uses it to explain why one version may feel simpler and have less range than another.
One-pedal drive means you can drive and slow down using mostly just the accelerator. When you lift your foot, the car slows a lot and can even stop by itself.
Physical air conditioning controls are dedicated knobs/buttons for climate settings instead of relying entirely on touchscreen menus. Enthusiasts often prefer them because they’re quicker to adjust without taking your eyes off the road.
A 10-year warranty means the company promises to cover certain repair problems for about ten years. It can make buying less stressful because you’re less exposed to unexpected repair costs.
This means the car uses a bigger main screen for things like navigation and media. The host is implying the screen-based tech feels more advanced in the Leapmotor.
The BYD Dolphin is an electric hatchback. In this segment it’s the comparison car, with the host quoting the price range and saying it feels less modern inside than the alternatives.
The Lexus ES is a comfortable, luxury sedan that’s related in size and role to the Toyota Camry. The big news here is that the new ES is being offered with both hybrid and fully electric options.
They’re talking about what the new Lexus ES costs in Australia and what versions/specs you can buy there. Pricing in one country doesn’t always match another, so local numbers matter.
The BMW 3 Series is a premium sedan that’s meant to feel sporty and comfortable. It’s a well-known model that many other cars are compared against. In the discussion, it’s used to show what level of car the topic is aiming for.
The Mercedes-Benz E-Class is a luxury sedan. It’s built to be more upscale and comfortable than smaller Mercedes sedans. It’s mentioned to explain the general “class” of car being compared.
The BMW 5 Series is a more upscale, larger premium sedan than the BMW 3 Series. It’s designed for comfort and a higher level of features. It’s mentioned as a comparison point for where a car sits in the luxury market.
A hybrid uses both a gas engine and an electric motor. It can switch between them to help use less fuel, and in this case the ES is also offered as a fully electric car.
A full battery electric vehicle (BEV) runs only on electricity stored in a battery pack, with no gasoline engine. The hosts highlight that the new Lexus ES will be offered as a BEV, expanding its competition set against EV sedans.
The Tesla Model 3 is a popular electric sedan. The hosts are saying the Lexus ES is aiming at the same buyers who might otherwise consider the Model 3.
The Hyundai Ioniq 5 is an electric SUV. It’s made for everyday driving and uses electricity instead of gasoline. It’s mentioned because it competes with other popular electric cars in a similar size class.
The BMW i3 is BMW’s earlier electric car. The hosts are saying it could also be on the list of EVs people might compare against when it arrives in Australia.
Car
Lexus ES350H
This is a Lexus ES model that uses a hybrid setup, meaning it uses both an electric system and a gasoline engine. The hosts are talking about how much it costs compared with other ES versions.
Car
Lexus ES350E
This is a Lexus ES trim with a different electrified setup than the hybrid version. The episode is comparing prices across the ES lineup.
Car
Lexus ES500E
This is the top-priced Lexus ES version they mention, and it’s described as a more “sports luxury” spec. The hosts also frame it as part of the fully electric options in the lineup.
Car
Lexus ES300H
This is a Lexus ES hybrid trim. They’re talking about how much it costs both as a base version and with an added options package.
The Fiat 500e is a small electric car based on the Fiat 500. It’s made for easy city driving and uses an electric motor. The podcast mentions it while talking about different versions or trim options.
BEV means the car is fully electric—it runs on a battery and an electric motor. The hosts are using it to separate the electric versions from the hybrid ones.
They bring up the Toyota Camry as a reference point for what buyers might expect to pay. The idea is that Lexus has to price the ES competitively against mainstream Toyota pricing.
This is the estimated distance the electric car can drive before it needs charging. The host is saying 510 km sounds like enough for most people’s daily driving.
Term
full length light rear light bar
A full-length light bar is a long strip of lights across the back of the car. Designers use it to make the car look more modern and easier to recognize.
This is when the car’s main controls are mostly done through a big screen instead of lots of buttons. Some people like it for the modern look, but it can also be less convenient while driving.
They mention the Lexus 300h as the starting model. The point is that even the base version includes a lot of the features you’d expect, rather than making you pay extra for everything.
An enhancement pack is basically a bundle of upgrades you can add to a car. Instead of buying every feature separately, you pay for a package that unlocks more equipment.
Mark Levinson is a well-known premium audio brand. They’re saying some Lexus versions include a high-end sound system from that brand.
Car
Lexus 500e
They’re talking about the Lexus 500e, an electric Lexus. They mention it’s quick, has all-wheel drive, and can charge on AC at a fairly high rate, with a stated driving range of about 465 km.
AC charging is the more common way to charge an EV using alternating current. They’re saying this car can charge on AC at 22 kilowatts, which is faster than many typical AC setups.
A charging station is where you plug in (or connect) an electric car to add battery power. The host is describing how the steps to manage charging can be tricky at first.
The BMW i5 is an electric version of the BMW 5 Series. The story is about how the charging setup and screen controls were confusing for an older couple, even though the car itself is very modern.
The Tesla Model Y is a battery-electric crossover that’s known for relying heavily on a large touchscreen for most controls. The speaker notes that their dad eventually figured out how to use some features, which is a common learning-curve point for EVs and modern infotainment systems.
A remote touch system is a special controller you use to move a cursor and control the car’s screen menus. The host is saying Lexus tried this before, and people didn’t like it much.
The Xpeng G6 is an electric car model. Here, the discussion is mostly about how well it’s been selling in Australia and how the company’s distribution setup affected customers.
A distributor model is basically the way a car company sells its cars in a country—who handles showrooms, test drives, and service. The hosts say the way Xpeng set this up in Australia made it harder for customers to try and get support for the cars.
True EV is a company involved in selling/distributing Xpeng cars in Australia. The hosts say there was a legal fight about who had the right to sell the Xpeng G6.
A court battle means two sides are fighting in court. In this case, it’s about who gets to distribute/sell the cars, and the hosts say customers end up being the ones who suffer.
Term
Adelaide Ford architecture
This phrase means the car’s underlying design platform. It’s basically the “foundation” that helps the company build the car efficiently and fit the battery and electronics in a good way.
“480 kilometers” is how far the EV is claimed to go on a full charge. It’s the kind of number people look at to judge whether the car works for their daily driving and trips.
“18 inch wheels” just means the wheel size. Different wheel sizes can change how the car rides and how efficiently it uses energy, which can affect range.
This is about how quickly the car can charge at a fast charger. The higher the charging power, the faster it can refill energy—at least until the battery starts limiting the rate.
“451 kW” is how much power the car can take from a fast charger at its best. Even with a big number like this, actual charging speed can vary depending on battery conditions and how full the battery already is.
The Dodge Charger is a performance sedan. It’s built to be fast and exciting to drive, with stronger engine options than a typical family car. The podcast mentions it while talking about performance numbers and comparisons.
The “mid-sized SUV segment” is a specific market category for family-sized SUVs, typically larger than compact crossovers but smaller than full-size SUVs. Pricing and specs are benchmarked against other cars in the same segment, which is why the host frames the comparison around $50k–$60k.
Term
real world drive long range
They’re talking about how far the car can go in normal driving, not perfect test conditions. That’s what matters for real trips and charging stops.
Car
MG S6
MG is a car brand that also sells electric cars. They’re including the MG S6 in a comparison with other similar-priced EVs to see which is best overall.
A “refresh model” means the same car got updated, usually with small changes like new styling or tech. It’s not a brand-new generation, but it’s newer than the original.
“Spec the car” means picking the options and configuration you want, like the trim and color. It’s basically building your order online to see what you’d get and how much it costs.
you're getting actually relatively competitive range because even something like the C-line
7x performance it's range drop to 450 for the performance variant whereas for this one even
from performance variants this range is still at 510 so you're getting like crazy performance for
still but still not comprising too much on range though again I would suggest that assuming that
this factory now the actual factory sort of distribution works out well this and obviously
waiting for the reviewers this could be one of the better like one of the most competitive cars
to get within this 50 to 60 thousand dollar mid-sized SUV segment yeah and so I'm just out
of curiosity did you look at the X thing at all when you're you know buying your BYD or where you
like that's a bit too too niche yeah correct I would suggest that now with this refresh out of
seriously seriously consider it like I said I didn't actually like the design of the well
not didn't like but I didn't it like it looked a bit odd whereas this one like I said just a small
tweak to the react makes it look so much nicer so I would definitely have considered this one as I
said reading the reviews its its technology is actually quite good and this one obviously the
refresh has made it even better so yeah absolutely and that and the price is also extremely competitive
as well even the the mid spec one is a bit more the g6 real world drive long range is a bit more
than say the basic line seven and stuff but for that you are getting you're getting far you're
getting 525 kilometers of range which is quite good so yeah yeah I'm definitely keen to see
like a three-way comparison between I think the this X-Pang the BYDC line seven which is the car
that you have and the MG S6 because they're all sort of like vaguely similarly priced
all all sort of Chinese and you know at the and they're all in a very highly comparative segment
and maybe have the Tesla model wide as like a just a benchmark and you know a four-way comparison
between between these four models I think that would be very very fascinating to see and maybe
even you throwing the Mazda CX6C which is essentially a which we've touched on before
is essentially like a Chinese car with some you know Mazda's refining touches but yeah I think
there's a it's a very very comparative market the the biggest issue with X-Pang is not the car
but it's the company and I think that's the main stumbling factors like where can you actually buy
this car from there's not that many I think I was reading that it's not even a the refresh model is
not even available to buy anywhere in New South Wales because they haven't set up the the factory
hasn't set up their distributor yet in New South Wales it's if you want to buy the updated model
right now you have to go to like Queensland or somewhere so that's a bit old so
yeah the issue with X-Pang is not the car it's the actual selling and the buying process which
yeah I mean obviously is a big factor like if you can't look at the car if you can't buy the car
in person then that's not yeah that's not good okay look I think um Samuel do you have anything
else to touch on or should we end the episode here it's funny um when you google X-Pang in like
put it into google the first website that comes up is still the true EV website
in reality and to get to the because it's the factory backed operation you have to scroll all
the way down to get that website because I was basically reading the comments I was like they
were like oh you can already spec the car on X-Pang's website I was like wait X-Pang's website
then I was because the true EV you can't spec the new G6 and then I scroll down to X-Pang
dot com slash au rather than dot au and then yes you can't spec the car um on from the official
X-Pang website not the one run by True EV um so yeah and I will I will also say the purple
color for the new refreshed X-Pang is quite impressive it's an additional 1500 bucks but
yeah like even if you spec out the base X-Pang to give it a really nice um the white interior
rather than the basic black plus a special color for the base version it still comes to after
on roads 55800 which is an incredibly competitive price because I was like the BYDC line seven
before after on roads are about $60,000 so you're actually whereas here even after on roads it's
it's uh 55,856 and that's again speccing the light gray interior plus a custom color as well
I'm just having a look at a lot I can't actually find the website where you
spec the G6 so like they can see I can see the features and the colors but I don't
that's the True EV website you have to on Google you have to basically scroll down to the X-Pang
so it's not dot com dot au it's X-Pang um dot com it's it's X-Pang dot com slash au
yeah so if you go to dot au it goes to the True EV website you can go to slash au
then it goes to the X-Pang website and then you can
now I'm just curious yeah okay yeah well you know look there you go this says this kind of says
all you need to know about what what is happening in fact yeah exactly so and yeah so exactly and
you are right there's no uh dealings in Sydney so Melbourne Brisbane surprisingly has lots
even Darwin has one Perth has one finally enough Sydney and Adelaide are the two capital cities
which still like as in factory backed operations still don't have one um I don't know an ACT and
Canberra also doesn't have one so somehow they managed to get one in Darwin and apparently
they still though also did Sydney or Adelaide or Canberra for that matter and just for context
like New South Wales is the biggest market in terms of sales so that's pretty yeah like if anything
you'd prioritize Sydney and Melbourne and New South Wales and Victoria so that's very yeah that's
that's really anyway let's let's hope that Sydney gets an X-Pang dealership or some sort of pop-up
store or something soon yeah like maybe I'll see one in Melbourne and I'll report back to you Sam
be one whether I like it or not I was going to say also nearly all the X-Pang even though they're
available it says it says coming soon so even the dealers that are their thing are still every
single one as far as I can tell say it's coming soon yeah so yeah as I said you're they're very much
still yeah in very old age yeah yeah so yeah the X-Pang is kind of like the victim of its own
sales operation at this point they just I mean honestly if I was looking at a car like as a car
it looks very good but if I was looking at this entire like kerfuffle I'd honestly be a bit
worried and probably not not fired until these issues are all sorted out like it's just yeah
unfortunately yeah okay look I think we might end it end this week's episode here so once again
thank you so much for listening to us please remember to like and subscribe we're on Spotify,
Apple Podcasts, iHeart, Radio, Amazon you know all of the overcast big podcasting
platforms and we'll talk to you next week bye
About this episode
Leap Motor’s B05 hatch is pitched as a serious Golf/Corolla-sized EV rival, backed by Stellantis engineering and tuned on European tracks for a less “soft” feel than many Chinese exports. The hosts compare specs, range, and pricing (two battery options, up to ~482 km WLTP, under $40k) and highlight features like dual screens, a built-in dashcam/camp mode, and smooth ride/quiet cabin claims. They weigh it against the MG4 and BYD Dolphin, debating driving feel, one-pedal behavior, and Australia’s dealership/warranty advantages. The discussion also nods to Xpeng’s “reborn” direction and Silver Taxis’ new era.
In this week's episode of The Hook Turn Podcast, we discuss whether Leapmotor's new B05 EV hatch has enough to vault it past rivals from MG and BYD in the affordable EV segment. We also talk about whether Lexus can keep its hold on the premium rideshare market with the launch of the new ES sedan, now also available as a hybrid and an EV.
Finally, from withheld customer rebates to distributor issues, Xpeng has been beset with ongoing problems since its Australian launch in 2024. Is the refreshed G6 enough to overlook concerns with the brand itself?
- New Xpeng G6: https://www.chasingcars.com.au/news/new-car-prices/wild-charging-speeds-for-new-xpeng-g6-2026-tesla-model-y-and-byd-sealion-7-rival-priced-for-australia/
