JAC Motors has engaged global engineering firm Multimatic and its Australian vehicle dynamics engineer Michael Barber to support local ride and handling tuning of the Hunter dual vab 4X4 ute.
Barber is recognised as one of Australia’s most accomplished vehicle dynamics engineers, having played an integral role on the VE and VF Holden Commodore, and more recently helping international manufacturers optimise vehicles for local driving conditions.
“Australian roads demand specific engineering expertise, and Michael Barber has spent his career mastering exactly that,” JAC Motors Australia managing director Ahmed Mahmoud said.
“His understanding of what Australian drivers expect will make Hunter match-fit and ready for work.” Vehicle dynamics tuning on the new PHEV ute ensures the suspension system is engineered with a singular objective: the precise integration and balance of every component.
Each element is tuned to work together as a complete, unified system – carefully calibrated to perform across Australian conditions.
“The investment JAC is making, in both time and resources, demonstrates their commitment to developing a vehicle truly suited to Australia,” Barber said.
“JAC has sent us an impressive library of tuning components, which gives us the scope to explore different configurations and find the optimal setup.”
Barber’s involvement forms part of Hunter’s ongoing Australian tuning program, focusing on suspension optimisation and integration. The development work targets performance across payload scenarios, on-road and off-road conditions, steering precision, and ride comfort.
“Australian roads are unique – we have challenging surfaces, long distances, and demanding conditions from urban to Outback. I want customers to find Hunter easy to drive and confident across all those conditions, straight out of the box.”
JAC Motors Australia technical director, Hongjian Jiang, said Barber’s expertise complements the comprehensive engineering and validation program JAC has undertaken to develop Hunter for Australian roads and driving conditions.
“Michael brings a level of dynamics expertise that is rare globally and invaluable for the Australian market,” Mr Jiang said.
“His work for JAC is primarily focused on optimising Hunter’s driving dynamics for Australia, while also influencing JAC Hunter’s suspension tune for China and international markets outside Australia.”
JAC Hunter’s Australian launch is planned for mid-2026. Like all JAC vehicles, Hunter will be backed by its JARA ownership package, including a 7-year unlimited kilometre warranty, 24/7 roadside assistance, capped price servicing and a loan vehicle program.
Australian pricing and final specifications will be announced closer to launch. Customers can register interest at jacute.com.au/hunter, or by talking to your local dealership.
