Celine Nolan

The expected debut of the Ford F-150 on Australian shores is kind of here, with first deliveries due in November.

We’ve correct been on our first elephantine drive of the American icon on Australian soil – you might well maybe try our detailed video overview or written overview – but in the mean-time, here are the tip five issues to clutch about the most modern entrant into Australia’s crowded ute market.

1. The F-150 is remanufactured in Australia

After being manufactured in left-hand-drive in the US, the F-150s are shipped to our shores earlier than they’re remodeled to correct-hand-drive and equipped in Australian showrooms.

However this isn’t a straightforward swap from left-to-correct, with vehicles being fully re-engineered on a dedicated manufacturing line in Victoria.

The conversion is taken care of by a international engineering firm RMA Automobile which works closely with Ford Australia’s native improvement crew, with over 500 contemporary or modified parts required for the conversion.

The re-engineering work is exhaustive and here’s the first time Ford has popular a remanufacturing process love this anyplace in the world, with the emblem signing off on the total pickups to make obvious that they are as much as traditional and ready to be granted Ford’s traditional five-yr, limitless-kilometer warranty.

It’s fee noting that the Ram 1500 and Chevrolet Silverado are additionally remodeled in the neighborhood by the Walkinshaw Neighborhood, with 300 units of Toyota’s incoming Tundra model additionally confirmed for re-manufacturing earlier than they’re given to chosen customers to endure valid-world testing.

2. How mighty does the F-150 tag and is it steady tag in Australia?

The F-150 will system to Australia in two grades from originate along side the entry level XLT and the tip-spec Lariat. Each grades will be readily accessible in long- and quick-wheel-snide versions.

By manner of confirmed pricing for the F-150, the XLT comes in at $106,950, with the tip-spec Lariat coming in at $139,950, both earlier than on-facet road prices.

It’s likely you’ll maybe have to employ an additional $995 for the extra 300mm of bath space in the long-wheel-snide in either grade – the SWB incorporates a 1676mm ute bath while the LWB has a bigger 1981mm bath.

Nonetheless, don’t let ‘quick-wheel-snide’ idiot you – even in this spec, the F-150 measures in at 5.9-meters in length. The long-wheel-snide is 6.2-metres long, with the extra 300mm in the bath, making it almost a elephantine meter longer than the Ford Ranger.

All F-150s make employ of a elephantine-time four-wheel-drive procedure and every are powered by Ford’s 3.5-litre twin-turbo-petrol V6 EcoBoost engine making for 298kW and a huge 678Nm of torque, coupled with a 10 lumber computerized transmission and claiming a median gas economic system of 12.5L/100km.

Key aspects for the XLT consist of:

• 20-creep alloy wheels
• Electronic locking rear differential
• Halogen headlights
• LED abet lights
• Chrome front bumper
• Tailgate with versatile step and work floor
• Spray-in bedliner
• Energy tailgate lock
• Cloth trim seats
• Energy-adjustable front seats
• 8.0-creep digital instrument cluster
• 8.0-creep infotainment touch display command
• Digital radio
• Satellite navigation
• Apple Carplay and Android Auto
• Twin-zone native weather management
• Cruise management
• Traction management
• Run sway management
• Trailer hitch gentle

Key aspects the Lariat provides:

• 20-creep chrome alloy wheels with all-terrain tyres
• Exterior chrome aspects
• LED headlights
• Computerized excessive beams
• Console mounted stowable e-Shifter
• Energy twin panel moonroof
• Leather-essentially based accented seat field topic
• Leather-essentially based-wrapped steering wheel
• Heated and vented cooled front seats
• Heated rear seats (outboard seats simplest)
• 12-creep configurable command for the instrument cluster
• 12-creep infotainment display
• 18-speaker Bang and Olufsen sound procedure

Key safety aspects and driver assistance (XLT and Lariat):

• Six airbags
• Blind space monitoring with rear corrupt traffic alert
• Pre-collision attend with self sustaining emergency braking (AEB)
• Dynamic Balance Control
• Lane departure warning and driver alert procedure
• Rear parking sensors
• Rear-seek for digital camera

Key safety aspects and driver assistance (Lariat simplest):

• Adaptive cruise management
• Entrance parking sensors
• Bustle signal recognition
• 360-level digital camera

By manner of tag for money, Chasing Automobiles’ contributor Iain Curry said in his overview: “here’s a huge re-engineering mission that must maintain tag an absolute fortune for Ford Australia to make. That translates to an ideal feeling cabin that does undercover agent and feel factory steady, and the drive as effectively – very spectacular”.

Whereas the inform tag conversion from buying an F-150 in The united states versus Australia does gaze our market paying more, it’s additionally fee noting that we make obtain some extra aspects on our native items which can maybe be non-fundamental or unavailable in a international nation, now no longer to point out that Australian vehicles are packed to the brim, with minimal non-fundamental extras.

3. Ford F-150: most towing capacity and payload

The F-150 comes geared up with a 4500kg-rated tow bar with a 70mm ball and constructed-in trailer brake controller.

Chasing Automobiles modified into as soon as told that the American location up for towing did now no longer meet Australian requirements so it has been fully remanufactured as segment of the great Australian re-engineering process to meet the stricter Australian requirements.

Additionally, both XLT and Lariat grades device geared up with ‘Official Trailer Lend a hand-up Lend a hand’ – truly allowing you to make employ of a toggle along side the rear seek for digital camera to inform the trailer the build it needs to reverse – the driver controls the throttle and brakes, while the steering is taken care of in retaining along with your toggle inputs.

Payload capacity for the F-150 relies on grade:

• XLT SWB: 769kg
• XLT LWB: 794kg
• Lariat SWB: 685kg
• Lariat LWB: 710kgg

As for the F-150’s kerb weight:

• XLT SWB: 2451kg
• XLT LWB: 2471kg
• Lariat SWB: 2535kg
• Lariat LWB: 2555kg

4. What are the F-150’s key opponents?

The F-150 at display has two – and have to calm rapidly maintain three – key opponents in Australia. This comprises the RAM 1500 and Chevrolet Silverado, that are both at display on sale in Australia.

They’re going to rapidly be joined by the Toyota Tundra, which at display has a Hybrid undergoing valid-world overview before elephantine scale manufacturing approval.

Whereas the Toyota is powered by a hybrid-assisted 3.5-litre twin-turbo petrol V6 (236kW/790Nm), the RAM 1500 (291kW/556Nm) and Chevrolet Silverado (313kW/624Nm) are both powered by petrol eight-cylinder engines, however the F-150’s torque figure beats both V8s.

Whereas the F-150 has a V8 option in the US, this gained’t be readily accessible in the neighborhood.

5. Ford F-150 wait times in Australia

MY2023 F-150s will start arriving this November.

Unsurprisingly, Ford has beforehand stated it wants the F-150 to “knock it out of the park”, but didn’t portion expected sales volumes. Nonetheless, the RMA Automobile facility the build the pickup is remanufactured for RHD has the capacity to manufacture spherical 5000 every yr.

With pickup sales booming in Australia – and the F-150 having clocked better than four many years as The united states’s most equipped automotive – it gained’t be dazzling to undercover agent excessive-demand for the pickup truck in native showrooms.

The Toyota Hilux is at display the handiest promoting automotive on Australian roads, closely adopted by the Ford Ranger in a hotly contested section, with Ranger wait times at display struggling to build up with demand.

Mazda Australia has launched a suite of updates for its MX-5 sports actions vehicle which will peek it debut unique expertise, mechanical upgrades and refined styling tweaks.

Prices are moreover location to prolong by higher than $2000 all the blueprint in which through your entire fluctuate in what is the most substantive update for the most modern fourth-generation convertible.

The ‘ND’ generation of the sports actions vehicle has been on sale in Australia since 2015, rivaling the likes of diverse affordable efficiency vehicles powered by their rear wheels along side the Subaru BRZ and Toyota GR86, each of which comprise moreover considered indispensable updates for 2024.

This spherical of changes follows final year’s model update which saw the sports actions vehicle carry out revised suspension expertise, or what Mazda calls ‘Kinematic Posture Protect a watch on’.

New mechanical upgrades

Headlining the changes to the unique vehicle is a brand unique Dynamic Steadiness Protect a watch on mode for circuit riding which Mazda is asking ‘DSC Computer screen’. Mazda says the motive force-focused system will only interfere ‘when in a unsafe walk that the motive force is unable to manipulate’.

Patrons will must desire the manual-only top-spec GT RS grade in expose to carry out bag admission to to the unique feature, which moreover advantages from Brembo front brakes and a front strut bar.

Furthermore minute to manual items are tweaks to accelerator pedal response and a brand unique Asymmetric Restricted Lunge Differential which Mazda says will prolong stability when cornering.

The MX-5’s  electrical steering system is moreover stated to had been ‘modified for more nimble and proper operability’, no topic model grade or transmission possibility.

Via what’s powering the rear wheel drive vehicle, the most modern 2.0-litre naturally aspirated petrol inline-four cylinder engine which turned into final updated in 2018 will remain as the very best likely possibility after the 1.5-litre turned into axed in Australia final year. Outputs are unchanged at 135kW and 205Nm, however Mazda says that engine sound is now drawn straight away into the inner from the engine.

Interestingly, the refreshed line-up will moreover peek the uncommon deletion of an computerized possibility for the entry-stage Roadster and RF grades which are each now manual only.

Bigger 8.8-slide touchscreen now new

The MX-5’s most modern 7.0-slide contact video computer screen will be replaced with a brand unique increased 8.8-slide gift video computer screen moreover the auto-maker’s most modern ‘Mazda Join system’.

It’s moreover stated to be the predominant Mazda in Australia to toughen a Connected Services functionality which connects the vehicle to emergency services and products in the match of an accident and moreover enables for vehicle repute to be checked by a smartphone app.

Inaugurate air of technological updates, a brand unique Nappa leather-primarily primarily based interior possibility will be accessible on the RF GT in combination with a unlit convertible roof.

New LED headlights and wheels

MX-5 trainspotters will moreover be in a scrape to leer updated styling for the sports actions vehicle with unique LED signatures for the headlights and tail lights.

There are moreover newly designed 17-slide alloy wheels to total the update moreover a brand unique color, Aero Gray Steel, accessible as a no-tag possibility.

When will the unique MX-5 be released?

The updated MX-5 will be on sale in the community from the predominant quarter of 2024, with Mazda Connected Services accessible in the predominant half of of next year.

It’s moreover unclear what the most modern update would possibly perchance possibly perchance suggest for timing of a brand unique-generation MX-5 with the most most modern rumours speculating that the subsequent model generation would possibly perchance possibly perchance comprise some stage of hybridisation.

Mazda MX-5 2024: costs in Australia

All costs listed are sooner than on-avenue costs.

• Roadster manual: $41,370 (up $2310)
• Roadster GT manual: $Forty eight,490 (up $3220)
• Roadster GT computerized: $49,990 (up $2300)
• Roadster GT RS manual: $51,490 (up $2800)
• RF manual: $46,100 (up $2730)
• RF GT manual: $52,990 (up $3220)
• RF GT computerized: $54,490 (up $2720)
• RF GT computerized with unlit roof and tan leather-primarily primarily based: $55,510 (up $2720)
• RF GT RS manual: $55,990 (up $3220)

Ford Australia is sticking to its pricing approach for its first electric automobile in Australia, the Mustang Mach-E, and is rarely always going to present a variant less expensive than the $seventy 9,990 Decide entry grade.

Ben Nightingale, Ford Australia’s product and dialog manager, told Australian media on the native launch of the Mustang Mach-E that Ford used to be seeing many pre-orders even for basically the most costly GT variant.

“We’re no doubt ok with the assign we are sitting when it comes to our pre-orders.

“We’re no longer that factual now (bringing a less expensive EV), but, again, we are repeatedly the market,” Nightingale talked about.

The impress moreover confirmed that it will likely be working off a “buyer-seek” manner, announcing that things can even alternate within the lineup “if we undercover agent a buyer inquire of for it”.

Nonetheless, the Blue Oval acknowledged that 40 percent of its pre-orders were for the flagship GT variant, priced from $107,655 sooner than on-avenue costs.

Nonetheless Ford would no longer speak how many pre-orders were taken in whole.

To examine, a monstrous Tesla Model Y begins at $65,400 sooner than on-avenue costs in rear-power guise, whereas the Polestar 2 begins from $67,400 sooner than on-avenue costs.*

The Mustang Mach-E will near in native dealerships from December 2023.

Mach-E won’t be coming with smaller battery, less expensive interior

Ford has confirmed to native media that it won’t be bringing a extra cheap Mach-E with a smaller battery and less expensive interior aspects to war it out with the Tesla Model Y midsize SUV.

This means that the smallest battery obtainable would possibly be the 71kWh battery pack inclined within the Decide variant.

The Mach-E begins from $seventy 9,990 sooner than on-avenue costs, making it dearer than monstrous variations of the Tesla Model Y and even the Polestar 2.

In in a foreign nation markets, such as the UK and the USA, the Mach-E’s smallest battery is 71kWh. A smaller 55kWh or 60kWh battery simply would no longer exist for this automobile platform.

Ford Mustang Mach-E 2023: costs in Australia

All costs listed are sooner than on-avenue costs.

• Decide: $seventy 9,990
• Top class: $91,665
• GT: $107,665

*Please display pricing for the Polestar 2 has been amended to mediate the ideal figure.

Must you’re after a broad off-avenue wagon, Nissan is promising that the wait times on its Patrol aren’t so long as varied the same competitors.

Nissan Australia has confirmed to Chasing Vehicles that its wait times for its Nissan Patrol broad SUV are all the vogue down to between three and 6 months.

Right here’s a shorter wait than the Patrol’s greatest competitor, the Land Cruiser 300 Series, that might maybe soak up to 300 and sixty five days or longer to terminate, based on Chasing Vehicles’ dealer sources.

The imprint also confirmed that there is limited stock of Patrol on hand at dealerships, but that it will most likely be easiest to contact your native Nissan dealership for added knowledge.

Recent Nissan Patrol Warrior is susceptible to be right here by Christmas

For these attracted to the novel Premcar-fettled Patrol Warrior, if a brand novel mumble became positioned this day traders might maybe ask to explore the Four wheel drive wagon in their driveway by Christmas.

The Warrior relies upon the faulty Patrol Ti variant and aspects a beefier suspension carry, an aspect-exit employ system and out of the ordinary 18-scamper alloy wheels.

The 5.6-litre naturally-aspirated engine remains linked to a passe Patrol, nonetheless, and produces 298kW/560Nm.

The Warrior is priced from $101,160 before on-avenue prices, or $40,941 more cost-effective than the closest Land Cruiser 300 Series rival, the GR Sport, which is priced from $142,101 before on-avenue prices.

Nissan Patrol 2023: prices in Australia

All prices listed are before on-avenue prices.

• Ti: $84,900
• Ti-L: $97,600
• Warrior: $101,160 (novel)