Celine Nolan

Audi Australia has completed its lengthy-operating overview of whether or no longer it could per chance truly carry the midsize A6 and S6 e-tron electric fashions to Australia – and it has resolved the quiz within the harmful.

The electrical versions of the A6 and S6 luxury sedan and Avant wagon model were dominated out for Australia – for now – because Audi says interrogate for EVs above the plush automobile tax is exclusively too dilapidated.

“While we’re incredibly proud of what A6 e-tron represents, our dedication no longer to carry it to market right this moment is primarily based on ensuring the honest fit for our customers right here in Australia,” Jeff Mannering, Audi Australia designate director urged Chasing Cars by task of assertion.

Nearly all interrogate for EVs in Australia is below the plush automobile tax threshold

A rival to the BMW i5 and Mercedes-Benz EQE, the Audi A6 e-tron lineup launched in Europe in early 2025 largely in response to interrogate on that continent shifting towards electric powertrains.

World EV interrogate has been stricken by disparate currents, including rising European requirements for EVs, a stable shift in China towards Chinese language EV brands and the elimination of EV incentives within the usa.

Meanwhile, Australia’s federal EV incentive for leases of newest EVs is capped on the plush automobile tax ($91,387 plus on-avenue costs).

This incentive restrict has considered near 100% of interrogate for new EVs in Australia crowd below the plush automobile tax threshold.

Key competitors appreciate BMW i5 and Mercedes EQE were heavily discounted

That has created a torrid explain for BMW and Mercedes-Benz. Retail sources demonstrate that examples of the i5 (officially priced from $155,900) and the EQE (from $135,200) enjoy both transacted for no longer up to $100,000 driveaway in inform to quality for incentives.

While it had seemed that the A6 e-tron would attain to Australia – with Audi showing an example of the plush EV at this 300 and sixty five days’s The whole lot Electric Sydney trade demonstrate – the logo is now in quest of to remain away from the likely loss-making explain faced by its German compatriots.

“Any enhancement to BEV incentives fair like extending them previous the fresh luxury automobile tax threshold could per chance per chance per chance be welcomed, as it would give a take to the possession proposition for our customers and, in turn, amplify the likelihood of introducing extra top class EV alternate choices to the Australian market,” an Audi spokesperson urged Chasing Cars.

A trade in explain could per chance per chance per chance stare A6 e-tron attain to Australia

To that live, Audi Australia has no longer completely shut the door on the A6 and S6 e-tron. A trade to the EV incentive image on this market – or presumably the provision of a model to take a seat down down below the LCT threshold – could per chance per chance per chance trade things.

Audi no longer too lengthy within the past added a infamous model version of its Q6 midsize electric SUV intended to transact below the plush automobile tax threshold but it completely has declined to support out the same for the A6 e-tron.

“At fresh, interrogate is strongest internal the electrified section, and our focal point remains on providing hybrid, PHEV, and completely electric alternate choices internal this core category,” a spokeperson acknowledged.

Combustion and hybrid versions of the A6 mute into consideration for Australia

Essentially based entirely on the Volkswagen Neighborhood’s PPE top class EV platform, the A6 e-tron is equipped in sedan and wagon codecs, with either rear-wheel drive or Quattro all-wheel drive, and with between 210-315kW of energy. A excessive-efficiency S6 is equipped in Europe with 370kW.

Below the pores and skin, the electric versions of the A6 and S6 are most carefully linked to the Audi Q6 midsize SUV and the Porsche Macan EV.

On the opposite hand, a robotically obvious original-technology model additionally badged A6, providing petrol, diesel and crawl-in hybrid (PHEV) powertrains and primarily based on Audi’s top class combustion automobile platform, additionally launched this 300 and sixty five days in Europe.

An Audi Australia spokesperson urged Chasing Cars that “assorted variants, including combustion and hybrid versions of the A6 fluctuate, are below overview for Australia.”

While deliveries of the electric BMW i5 were increased all over 2025 than for the petrol and diesel versions of the 5 Series (403 vs 288), the level of discounting is understood to were essential lower for the petrol and diesel versions, maintaining earnings margins.

Toyota has sooner or later unveiled what it’s calling the “most Australian Hilux ever developed”, which is determined to cross on sale in Aussie showrooms in a topic of weeks.

While the US-market midsize pickup, in the Tacoma, switched to the the same GA-F platform as the Prado support in 2022, the ninth-generation Hilux will maintain it up with the the same IMV platform, which underpinned the old model.

A fully electric model has been confirmed for 2026, with a hydrogen gas cell (FCEV) model attach to apply in 2028. No hybrid or trudge-in hybrid is deliberate at recent, nevertheless haven’t been dominated out both.

2.8L 1GD lives on, Rugged X returns

As anticipated, the core cab home stays largely unchanged, and the 2.8-litre ‘1GD’ turbo-diesel four-cylinder engine carries over with outputs of 150kW/500Nm when paired with a six-tempo automatic transmission. For e-book variants, torque is capped at 420Nm.

Twin-cab SR5 grades and above shall be fitted with a 48-volt light-hybrid machine, adding 8.5kW/65Nm to the drivetrain at low speeds, as per the recent model.

A entire of 16 different diesel variants in single-, extra- and dual-cab configurations shall be accessible, mated to both 4×2 and 4×4 drivetrains, with the latter closing a component-time 4×4 machine.

At begin, the lineup will consist of the Workmate, SR, SR5, Rogue and the returning Rugged X grade nevertheless will seemingly grow with time.

Pricing for the recent Hilux shall be launched here at chasingcars.com.au this Wednesday at 2pm.

Retuned suspension and off-avenue force modes

Utilising a normal coil-sprung front stop mated to a leaf rear, Toyota has retuned the suspension with a heavy-responsibility setup on Workmate and SR, whereas SR5 grades focal level more on scuttle comfort.

Thicker front suspension towers were fitted to accommodate the recent electric vitality steering machine, and the front defective contributors hang additionally been tweaked, alongside with different structural changes made to enhance break safety.

On the side of a aged locking rear differential, the Hilux will characteristic Multi-Terrain Select out traction control modes, as viewed on the Prado 250 Sequence, on automatic SR 4×4 grades and up. SR5 grades additionally get hang of a 360-stage digicam machine designed to abet navigate off-avenue terrain.

Extensive shows and Prado-switchgear dominate recent cabin

The interior has been overhauled in the Hilux with a elevated focal level on technology nevertheless Toyota stresses this has no longer been done at the expense of usability.

A 7.0-creep digital instrument cluster is same old on Workmate and SR grades, with a 12.3-creep unit fitted on SR5 grades and above.

Sitting adjoining all on variants is a 12.3-creep touchscreen tasked with multimedia, fitted above a bunch of physical buttons with dilapidated-college twisty dials for single-zone local weather control fitted to the Workmate, whereas greater grades characteristic stout switches and dials with an overall flee assemble and shifter akin to the 250 Sequence Prado.

Aussie-designed ‘Cyber Sumo’ modernises dilapidated bones

While the midsection of the ninth-generation Hilux may presumably well also merely stumble on almost the same from the beginning air, Toyota’s Aussie designers in Altona, Victoria, hang radically redesigned the front and rear in a mode they’ve known as Cyber Sumo.

Aggressive front headlights and a one-share grille and front fascia are mentioned to reveal energy and dependability, with a tailgate step featured on some grades and the conventional ‘Toyota’ name etched into the tailgate at the rear.

It’s going to be a monumental week of Toyota grunt material here at Chasing Vehicles. Preserve tuned for pricing and our full overview of this model in the approaching days.

Following the lukewarm reception given to the existing fourth-skills D23/NP300 Navara all the draw in which through its decade-lengthy lifespan in Australia, Nissan is pinning its diesel-ute hopes on the forthcoming fifth-skills model which is ready to shut here for the length of the first half of 2026.

The display conceal for the 2026 Navara is now appropriate days away, attributable to be unveiled on November nineteenth.

To commemorate the match, Chasing Vehicles has tasked artist Theottle with rising queer renderings of what we predict the new Navara will eye admire in step along with your whole most modern teasers and investigate cross-take a look at photos.

Carefully in step with the sixth-skills Mitsubishi Triton – Mitsubishi turn into given accountability for rising this subsequent-skills ute for the Renault–Nissan–Mitsubishi alliance – the D27 Navara (its expected model code) will nearly surely portion its ladder-frame chassis, core physique structure, suspension structure, and even its powertrains with potentially the most modern Triton.

Likely to additionally portion its manufacturing plant with the Triton (at Laem Chabang in Thailand), the D27 Navara is anticipated to forgo the Renault-designed twin-turbo 140kW/450Nm 2.3-litre turbo-diesel four-cylinder engine of the present model for Mitsubishi’s most modern twin-turbo 150kW/470Nm 2.4-litre turbo-diesel four-cylinder.

Ditto the transmissions – the Navara’s existing seven-bustle torque-converter automatic transmission is anticipated to be replaced by Mitsubishi’s six-bustle auto, apart from an accessible six-bustle handbook ’field.

Chasing Vehicles understands an eight-bustle automatic is being developed for Mitsubishi’s forthcoming Pajero/Montero/Shogun giant SUV/Four wheel power (due slack 2026), which draw it’s a potential starter for Navara/Triton as successfully.

Given the lengthy global tradition of ute model-sharing (such because the Isuzu D-Max/Mazda BT-50 and Ford Ranger/Volkswagen Amarok twins, plus the new MG U9/LDV Terron 9 twin-cabs and old Ford/Mazda, GM/Isuzu, and Chrysler/Mitsubishi tie-ups), the D27 Navara appears to be like to be mainly a visible makeover of the Triton, in step with Nissan’s teaser video released closing week [HERE] and our queer renders.

That can absorb a fresh front stop with uncommon headlights and grille, topped by subtly angled LED DRLs as displayed in Nissan’s teaser photos, as successfully as new rear tail-lights.

In inform to distinguish the two utes as great as conceivable, the new Navara will additionally feature its bask in wheel designs and will abet its flagship PRO-4X neat stage, as successfully as Premcar-engineered Warrior off-twin carriageway-biased versions.

Talking to Chasing Vehicles on the present Nissan Ariya originate, Nissan Oceania managing director Andrew Humberstone confirmed that Premcar in Melbourne will likely be liable for rising a new-gen Navara Warrior, although he left things originate when asked to relate on whether or no longer Premcar would possibly maybe maybe maybe well be offering suspension-tuning skills for the usual-or-backyard D27 Navara.

“We absorb a sizable relationship with them [Premcar]. That’s a lengthy-period of time partnership. We hope to proceed that into the lengthy dawdle. We’re doing loads of labor with them. We’re engaged with them very actively. On the opposite hand it’s a little little bit of a wait and explore [as to whether Premcar will have any input on the suspension tuning of the regular D27 Navara variants].

“At the second, [there’s] a whole bunch discussions occurring, but it’s a indubitably solid partnership,” he said.

Given the new-gen Triton’s lacklustre handling and chase, and its insufficient load-carrying efficiency except optioned with heavy-responsibility suspension, Nissan Australia has a range of labor on its hands if it needs to toughen on the donor automobile – as successfully as to toughen on the existing Navara’s dynamic capabilities.

On the opposite hand, Nissan Australia has an queer ace up its sleeve … and it’s yet another ute – the Frontier Pro, a giant 5.5m-lengthy lag-in hybrid twin-cab developed in partnership with Dongfeng in China.

It incorporates a 1.5-litre turbo-petrol four-cylinder engine, an eight-bustle automatic transmission and two battery sizes (17kWh and 32.9kWh).

“Readily accessible for export” from China today (and at this time most efficient equipped in 5 global markets, following manufacturing kick-off in January), the Frontier Pro is yet to be confirmed for Australia but offers Nissan with a uncommon different – to give both the usual-or-backyard Navara, the off-twin carriageway-enhanced Navara Warrior, and the extra day by day life targeted Frontier Pro PHEV in a ute market which is fracturing, but stays highly lucrative.

“I hold [the Frontier Pro is] a sizable product,” said Andrew Humberstone. “The fashion I’d frame that is I recognise a ruin up in that ute segment.

“You’ve obtained the hardcore ute driver, which needs the pale, dare I say, off-twin carriageway-capable automobile, with the Warrior, the PRO-4X – ‘I are looking to be capable to tow my boat or my caravan or whatever, and I are on the lookout for to lag camping,’ etcetera. And likewise you’ve obtained the more than a few, which is the motive force that would possibly maybe maybe maybe well very successfully be desirous to clutch their canines to the seaside – less utilitarian – and they’ve a particular requirement.

“Therefore, I explore a ruin up potentially in that. So are we in a position to cater for both? I hold there’s an different,” said Andrew Humberstone.

“I are on the lookout for to optimise on the [dual-cab ute] segment and deliver a product that I know that my clients within the [Nissan] vendor community desire, so I’m combating to meet those expectations.

“We’re having a glimpse at [the Frontier Pro PHEV] very fastidiously. We’ve made our space very particular, and we’ll explore what comes aid, and we’ll portion lots with you rapidly.”

That second is in overall the global display conceal of the new-skills D27 Navara in South Australia on November 19, the keep Chasing Vehicles expects Andrew Humberstone and Nissan Australia to display conceal extra about its multi-stage ute approach for 2026 and past.