Forthing TK5 electric SUV confirmed for New Zealand in early 2027, Australian launch undecided

Forthing has confirmed the updated TK5 SUV for New Zealand, with the brand's local representative telling CarExpert NZ it is expected to arrive towards the end of the first quarter of 2027. An Australian launch date has not been announced, and a Forthing Australia spokesperson said the model sold in Europe as the TK5 is not confirmed for the local market.

What the TK5 changes over the Taikon 5

The TK5 is a comprehensive update of the Taikon 5, the mid-size SUV that introduced the Forthing brand to Australia and New Zealand earlier this year with both electric and extended-range electric powertrain options. The facelifted model was revealed at last month's Paris motor show and adopts a more minimalist front end with styling cues taken from the brand's S7 electric sedan, along with an all-new cabin layout.

The most significant technical change is an 800V architecture for electric variants. In Europe, the TK5 EV is listed with a 75kWh battery pack and a WLTP-rated range of 500km, and the higher-voltage system lifts peak charging speed to 160kW, enough to take the battery from 10 to 80 per cent state of charge in as little as 16 minutes.

The European TK5 EV uses a single electric motor producing 200kW of power and 360Nm of torque. For comparison, the current Taikon EV makes 150kW and 340Nm from a 64kWh battery, with a claimed range of up to 400km. Those figures are not directly comparable, since the Taikon's 400km claim is not stated against the same WLTP cycle as the TK5's 500km rating.

Range-extender variant and its electric-only range

Forthing refers to the updated plug-in variant as the TK5 PHEV in its press release, pairing a naturally aspirated 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine with a 39kWh battery pack and a 155kW/315Nm electric motor. Its pure electric range is rated at a figure that is cut off in the available material, so the electric-only range of the range-extender version has not been confirmed here.

That gap matters for buyers weighing the two powertrains. The 39kWh pack is far smaller than the EV's 75kWh unit, so the range-extender's electric-only figure will be the number that decides whether it can cover a daily commute without petrol, but until Forthing publishes it, the EV remains the only variant with a confirmed range figure for this market.

The naming dispute behind the badge

The switch from Taikon 5 to TK5 follows an ongoing trademark dispute in Australia between Forthing and Porsche. Forthing Australia has removed the Taikon name from its marketing and now labels the model simply as 'Electric' or 'Range Extender Hybrid' depending on the variant, while Forthing New Zealand has kept the Taikon name.

The split means the same vehicle will carry different badges on either side of the Tasman, which complicates comparisons for buyers who cross-shop the two markets.

New Zealand timing and Australian uncertainty

New Zealand's arrival window of late Q1 2027 coincides with the planned launch of the brand's TK7 people mover. The TK7 has also been confirmed for Australia, though its local launch timing has not been announced.

Forthing Australia said it has announced three new models for Australia over the next 18 months and will add more detail closer to local showroom arrivals. Until then, Australian buyers have the current Taikon-badged Electric and Range Extender Hybrid models, with no confirmed date for the updated TK5.

Hongqi's E-HS9 electric SUV will go on sale in Australia from January 18, with a starting price below $150,000 before on-road costs, according to CarExpert. The large seven-seat SUV will be sold locally only in its most powerful form, pairing two motors and all-wheel drive with the biggest battery available.

Max Pang, Australian head of Hongqi parent company FAW, expects the E-HS9 to draw buyers away from established European luxury brands as well as from large electric SUVs such as the Kia EV9. At more than 5.2 metres long, the Hongqi is positioned as a flagship rather than a mainstream family hauler.

One drivetrain, one battery for Australia

Australian-delivered E-HS9s will produce a combined 405kW and 606Nm from two motors driving all four wheels. Energy comes from a 120kWh nickel manganese cobalt battery pack supplied by CATL, and Hongqi quotes a WLTP driving range of 548km for the variant.

The E-HS9 uses a 400V electrical architecture. AC charging is supported at up to 11kW, while DC fast charging peaks at 140kW. At 2636kg, the SUV is claimed to reach 100km/h from standstill in 5.5 seconds and to top out at 200km/h.

The WLTP figure is the cycle relevant to Australian buyers, and it should be read as a laboratory result rather than a real-world expectation. A 120kWh pack is large by any measure, but the 140kW DC ceiling is modest next to some newer large electric SUVs, so owners doing long distances should plan around longer charging stops than the class leaders demand.

Equipment list leans on the rear cabin

Hongqi has not published full specifications, but cars delivered locally will come with matrix LED headlights, 21-inch alloy wheels, air suspension, a panoramic glass roof, four-zone climate control and a 16-speaker Bose sound system. The dashboard is built around two 15.6-inch 2K touchscreens, with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto mirroring supported.

Standard safety equipment includes adaptive cruise control, steering assist with lane centring, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, a 360-degree camera system, speed sign recognition and parking assist.

All Australian cars will be six-seaters across three rows with captain's chairs in the middle row. The first two rows get electric adjustment, heating and ventilation, the front seats add a massage function, and the third row folds and raises electrically. Upholstery mixes leather and faux suede.

Buyers can choose from Alpine White, Midnight Black and Starry Lake Blue, with Alpine White available with a black roof. The E-HS9 measures 5209mm long, 2010mm wide and 1713mm tall on a 3110mm wheelbase. Boot space is quoted at 255L with the third row in use, rising to 1747L with that row folded and the middle row pushed fully forward.

The six-seat layout with powered, ventilated captain's chairs in row two is the detail that separates this from most large electric SUVs at the price. It points to chauffeur and family use rather than the seven-seat configuration many rivals offer, and buyers who need to carry seven will have to look elsewhere in the segment.

Pricing still to be finalised

The sub-$150,000 starting figure is a pre-on-road-costs number, and final pricing had not been confirmed at the time of the report. Hongqi has also yet to release the full specification list for Australian cars.

The E-HS9 lands in a growing field of large electric SUVs, and its pitch rests on size, cabin equipment and a low entry price relative to European luxury badges rather than on outright efficiency or rapid charging. Buyers comparing it with the Kia EV9 will be weighing that equipment list against a charging architecture that trails the newest rivals.