Daily Brief: Suzuki Fronx’s ANCAP Shock, Jaguar’s Last Petrol Hurrah, GM’s EV Truck Crossroads, and a Street-Racing Wake-Up Call

Some mornings the industry pours you a double espresso, other days it throws the cup. Today’s cup? The Suzuki Fronx stumbled to a one-star ANCAP score, Jaguar signed off on petrol for good, GM’s electric truck play is under the microscope, and a street-racing story reminded us why responsibility trumps bravado. Buckle up—properly, please.

Safety First: Suzuki Fronx One-Star ANCAP Rating Rocks the Budget SUV Set

ANCAP handed the Suzuki Fronx a one-star rating after a reported seatbelt failure during crash testing. That’s not nitpicking trim gaps; that’s the core stuff. As in, the thing designed to keep you and your kids where you need to be when physics goes feral.

I haven’t had the Fronx in my driveway yet, but I’ve spent plenty of time in small, value-first crossovers. I can live with a scratchy door card or an infotainment screen that boots like a 2009 laptop. A restraint system miscue? No sale. When I tried a different Suzuki on rough country roads last winter, I admired the honest ride tuning and the simple controls—traits that make you root for the brand. But safety fundamentals are sacred. Full stop.

What the Suzuki Fronx ANCAP result means if you’re shopping

• Near term: Expect Suzuki to investigate, engineer a fix, and seek a re-test. These processes usually move quickly once a root cause is found.
• Placed an order? Keep the dialogue open with your dealer—ask for build dates, VIN tracking, and timelines for any remedial work.
• Reality check: Safety ratings aren’t perfect, but they are systemic, ruthless about structure and restraints, and incredibly useful for family-car decisions.

Suzuki Fronx ANCAP score: what I’d do if I had a deposit down

• Pause, don’t panic: Wait for the official bulletin. Make sure any fix is applied to your car before delivery.
• Cross-shop smartly: Consider similarly priced compact SUVs with strong NCAP scores—think Mitsubishi ASX, Kia Stonic, or Toyota Yaris Cross—while you wait.
• Paper trail: Get confirmation in writing about any retrofit parts or revised build spec tied to the ANCAP retest.

Small crossovers survive on trust. For the Fronx, clear communication and rapid remediation are everything right now.

End of an Era: Jaguar Builds Its Last Petrol Car

Jaguar has assembled its final petrol-powered car. Read that again. The brand of XK sixes, murmuring V12s, and that gloriously antisocial supercharged V8 just turned the page—fully electric from here on.

My last truly indelible petrol Jag memory? An F-Type R before sunrise, 575 hp, the kind of throttle response that makes your neck a little longer, 0–60 in the mid-threes if your judgment took the morning off. But the best Jags were never just loud—they flowed. Long-legged, almost feline. Can they bottle that grace for EVs? Different rhythm, same soul—that’s the assignment.

• Why it matters: This is a brand reboot, not a facelift. Design, weight management, range, and ride quality must cohere into one unmistakably Jaguar experience.
• What to watch: The first designs and how they reconcile hush with character. Electric can be quiet—will it be charismatic?

Trucks, Plugs, and Reality Checks: Should GM Rethink Its EV Pickups?

There’s growing chatter about whether GM should emulate Ford and Ram in recalibrating their electric pickup timelines. It’s not heresy; it’s math. Big frontal area, big mass, and owners who tow in winter. Batteries feel all of that.

When I towed about 5,000 pounds with an electric truck last year, I watched range shrink by roughly half. It wasn’t a shock, but it does force a new planning muscle—especially if you’re banking on public chargers delivering 250–350 kW as advertised. Some do. Some don’t. Trip planning turns into logistics.

Where the big three stand (at a glance)

My read

• Fleet-first pencils out: Depot charging, predictable routes, and high utilization make the economics add up faster.
• Retail adoption needs carrots: Honest towing guidance in the nav, bulletproof charging reliability, and pricing that doesn’t induce spreadsheet tears.
• Hybrids are a bridge, not a betrayal: Strong hybrids or range extenders plug the gap while the grid and charger uptime improve.

A Sobering Note: Street Racing, Kids in the Car, and a Cop Right Behind

Police in the U.S. report a driver allegedly racing a motorcycle in a Toyota—with children onboard—right under a patrol car’s nose. It ended badly, with kids trapped. If you’ve ever fought a child seat buckle at 7 a.m., this one stings on a deep, parental level.

We adore performance where it belongs—on track days, with helmets and run groups and marshals. Street racing is theatre with no exits. If you see it, lift, back off, call it in. Pride is replaceable; passengers aren’t.

Quick Hits and What to Watch Next

• Suzuki Fronx: Manufacturer response, remedy, and ANCAP re-test timeline.
• Jaguar EVs: First reveal cadence—proportions and stance will make or break the vibe.
• GM pickups: Fleet versus retail prioritization, price discipline, and charger partnerships.

Should You Still Buy the Suzuki Fronx?

Short answer: press pause. If you’re set on the compact Suzuki SUV formula—light, frugal, easy to park—wait for the official fix and confirmed re-test. If your purchase is urgent, cross-shop alternatives with proven scores, then circle back when the Suzuki Fronx clears the air.

Conclusion

Today’s stories share a theme: fundamentals. Seatbelts must work—no debate—so the Suzuki Fronx needs a swift, transparent fix. Jaguar has to carry its elegance into the silent era. And electric pickups must satisfy both spreadsheets and Saturday Home Depot runs. Everything else? Background noise.

FAQ

• What is ANCAP and does it matter outside Australia? ANCAP is the Australasian New Car Assessment Program. Its tests closely align with Euro NCAP, so results are a strong indicator for similar-spec markets.
• Should I avoid the Suzuki Fronx after the one-star score? For now, wait for Suzuki’s official remedy and an ANCAP re-test. If you already own one, contact your dealer to check for service actions or part updates tied to safety systems.
• Will insurance rates change because of the Suzuki Fronx ANCAP result? Insurers don’t always react immediately, but significant safety news can influence premiums over time. It varies by market—ask your provider directly.
• When will Jaguar’s new electric models arrive? Soon, with formal reveals expected in the coming months. Watch for specs on range, charging speed, and—crucially—ride and refinement.
• Are electric pickups practical for towing? Yes, within a defined use case. Expect substantial range loss when towing, plan charging stops around trailer-friendly sites, and precondition the battery for quicker fast-charging.