Celine Nolan

Practically four years after its native inception, Toyota Australia has confirmed that a petrol hybrid 300 Sequence Land Cruiser will open within the main half of of 2026. The drivetrain will include a assortment-parallel hybrid, 3.5-litre twin-turbo petrol V6 engine, and total-time four-wheel-pressure.

Toyota has not but confirmed the output of its new Land Cruiser hybrid, nonetheless claims this will doubtless presumably exceed the 227kW / 700Nm figure produced by the diesel.

We look ahead to the skill figure to match the 341kW and 790 Nm output produced by the UAE market Land Cruiser hybrid.

The introduction will bring the Toyota Land Cruiser’s powertrain providing to 2, both the new petrol-hybrid or the three.3-litre twin-turbo diesel V6.

Toyota has not confirmed pricing for the 300 Sequence hybrid, nonetheless we demand it to incur a shrimp premium over the diesel.

Toyota has assured fans that intensive testing has been accomplished in rugged off-avenue environments, in conjunction with the mountains and deserts of the Heart East.

The Toyota Tundra also shares the identical powertrain in Australia and went through an intensive duration of native testing prior to its introduction.

Place apart a question to the Land Cruiser hybrid to match the 3500kg braked towing skill equipped by the diesel. Even supposing, something beyond that’s unclear and primarily the most up-to-date time.

Mahindra Head of Worldwide Operations, Sachin Arolkar, has published that an off-road SUV inspired by the present mannequin Thar diminutive SUV will be launching in Australia. What is now no longer but confirmed is the powertrain, styling, or Thar nameplate.

The outgoing Mahindra Thar is a retro-styled Jeep-esque off-roader that harkens support to Mahindra’s humble beginnings, when the firm was granted the rights to create the authentic Willys Jeep domestically in 1949.

The Thar, cherish the Jeep Wrangler and to a lesser extent the Suzuki Jimny, is a standard of living automobile. It’s on hand in India as either a two-door diminutive SUV with a 2+2 seating configuration and removable roof, or as a four-door mid-size SUV (Thar Roxx) with a extra old five-seat layout and stuck roof.

In spite of being on hand within the Indian marketplace for five years, the Thar has two predominant roadblocks which dangle averted it from coming to Oz. The principle of which is a consistent local market ask of which exceeds production capacity, and the 2nd is an ongoing factual battle with Stellantis over the Thar’s Jeep Wrangler-inspired styling.

Mahindra’s resolution is to ditch plans to carry the Thar to Oz, and as an alternative peddle a brand current mannequin in step with the Thar-e South African thought automobile. Arolkar acknowledged that “the (Thar-e) name could presumably well furthermore be assorted, but what you saw in South Africa, it’s possible you’ll presumably well presumably rating it in Australia…with ICE [rather than electric power]”.

Arolkar probed local journalists for opinions on an ‘off-road capable monocoque’, drawing inspiration from the Land Rover Defender and main to speculation surrounding future powertrains.

Being that the Thar-e thought is electric, and the mannequin we can rating is ICE, it’s extremely doubtless that this future automobile will be built on a modular platform, which will improve EV, hybrid, and ICE powerplants.

Largely, specification for the upcoming Mahindra off-roader is now no longer but known. Whether Mahindra decides to protect a Thar-primarily primarily based ladder-body chassis, manual gearbox chance, diesel engine or removable roof are four expansive questions which for now will remain unanswered.

We await nonetheless, that the future automobile will launch with a necessity of petrol-greatest combustion or hybrid energy, with a modular monocoque chassis, four doors, a fixed roof, and a disappointing ‘computerized greatest’ gearbox providing. Let’s hope Mahindra proves us spoiled.

Learn extra: Mahindra Thar 2024 overview: first off-road pressure

Two new models coming from BYD, the Atto 2 and Sealion 8, indicate the Chinese label has its finger on the heartbeat of the Australian market.

Before all the things making its debut in 2022 with the Atto 3, BYD has turn into something of an overnight success, outpacing many other Chinese challenger competitors with trusty sales results from its snappily-expanding and various showroom line-up.

And BYD’s two new models absolutely explore to hump the coattails of this success.

Each and each models are effectively packaged SUVs centered in the direction of Australian families, with promises to develop your bucks scuttle additional.

Sealion 8

The Sealion 8 is a astronomical seven-seater SUV that shares a striking resemblance both in styling and drivetrain to the emblem’s 2024 most efficient-vendor, the Sealion 6. It seems to head toe-to-toe with big name Aussie competitors esteem the Toyota Kluger hybrid, Hyundai Santa-fe hybrid, and Kia Sorento crawl-in.

It is miles equipped in China as the Tang L, measuring 5040mm long, 1996mm huge, 1760mm high, and runs on a wheelbase of 2950mm.

Two powertrains will be on hand for the Sealion 8 on birth: the ‘DM-i’, which uses a 19kWh blade battery, and ‘DM-p’, which employs a 35.6kWh blade battery.

Each and each grades reveal a 110kW/220Nm 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol, and front mounted 200kW/315Nm electric motor. The DM-p furthermore beneficial properties a rear-mounted 141kW/360Nm electric motor — meaning the DM-p will be all-wheel force, with claims of a 4.9 2nd 0-100km/h time.

The Sealion 8 DM-p boasts around 200km of EV-handiest riding vary (CLTC), a combined gasoline consumption of 5.6L/100km (NEDC), and claims a combined riding vary which surpasses 1000km. No longer homely for over 2500kg of steel.

We request pricing of around $50-60,000 for the Sealion 8, which is slated for a Q1 2026 birth.

Atto 2

Aussies are initiating to respect the establish in a shrimp, dedicated electric metropolis automobile. BYD has two: The new cheapest in the marketplace Dolphin, and effectively established Atto 3. The now confirmed Atto 2 slots neatly between these models as a promise of extra diversity.

It measures 4310mm long, 1830mm huge (other than mirrors), 1675mm sizable and runs on a wheelbase of 2620mm. Chief competitors consist of the Hyundai Kona EV, Kia EV3, and the newly launched MG S5.

The Atto 2 is constructed on the BYD e-Platform 3.0. This will likely birth in two neat ranges, Crucial and Top charge, and facets a 51kWh Blade battery and 130kW/290Nm front-mounted electric motor.

In China, the Atto 2 claims a combined vary of 312km (WLTP), 10-80 p.c establish time of 40 minutes, and a top DC establish charge of 65kW.

Within, the Atto 2 uses a 8.8-crawl digital dashboard, adaptive cruise serve an eye on, and 10.1-crawl infotainment conceal. (Top charge neat beneficial properties a 12.8-crawl infotainment).

The Atto 2 need to reach by the stop of this 365 days, with pricing in the realm of $30-40,000.

Read our global first force of the Atto 2 here.

Extra on BYD

Since its Australia inception in 2022, BYD has laid claim to several spectacular titles. It has developed a trusty foothold in the Australian market, largely owing to a various, no nonsense vary of vehicles with grand allure. Currently, BYD affords the Dolphin, Atto 3, Seal, Sealion 6, Sealion 7, and Shark 6.

The Dolphin compact metropolis automobile for the time being holds the title as Australia’s cheapest EV, whereas the Sealion 6 midsize crawl-in claims the title of Australia’s cheapest crawl-in hybrid.

On the identical time as, the Sealion 7 midsize EV SUV poses as a real rival to the more pricey and established Tesla Mannequin Y, with resounding affect quality, a good vary offering and trusty dynamics.

BYD also presents a staunch rival to the Tesla Mannequin 3. The Seal EV sedan all as soon as more undercuts its extra established American rival, bringing inviting styling, excellent electric riding vary, and trendy EV architectural underpinnings.

The most contemporary mannequin on the BYD cutting block all as soon as more pertains strongly to Australian patrons. The Shark 6 is a newly launched crawl-in hybrid ute, which has sparked deal of four-wheel riding debates on-line — and has equipped in the thousands.

Over 7000 Sharks relish equipped thus a long way in 2025 (YTD to 1 June). But BYD isn’t happy with true one off-avenue centered mannequin… Read our unfamiliar describe of the upcoming BYD/Denza B5 mid-size four-wheel force here.

From an totally unknown title in August 2022 when it launched its first mannequin, the Atto 3, BYD has skilled broad gross sales increase.

Basically the most novel bump in success comes from the Shark 6 ute, which has been a sport-changer within the truest sense. That mentioned, it’s no longer perfect. Basically in relation to off-avenue potential, where the Shark 6’s lack of locking differentials, low vary and solid traction administration procure let it down.

Now to no longer be became off, BYD has confirmed to Chasing Autos that this can bring a Toyota Prado and Ford Everest rivalling 4×4 wagon to Australia, doubtless within the fourth quarter of this One year. Even supposing a title is no longer formally confirmed, we understand this mannequin will seemingly be known as the Denza B5.

Talking to BYD Australia senior product manager Sajid Hasan, we had been advised “the B5 could be the principal mannequin…I’m confirming it now.”

Hasan moreover went on to claim more devices are on the wishlist, together with the Bao 8 4×4, Denza N9 broad SUV, Z9 GT sports wagon, and D9 luxurious of us mover, all of which we had a steer in.

What’s the Denza B5?

Identified in its China home market as the Fang Cheng Bao Leopard Bao 5 — slightly the mouthful — the B5 is a proceed-in hybrid 4×4 wagon measuring 4890mm long, 1970mm wide, 1920mm big and utilizing on a 2800mm wheelbase.

Even supposing a minute bit smaller and with easiest five seats, the B5 is effectively a rival for the Toyota Prado, Ford Everest, Isuzu MU-X, and GWM’s Tank vary, together with the smaller 300 and bigger Tank 500.

Adore its Shark 6 relation, the B5 sits on a ladder frame chassis and employs a ‘DMO’ proceed-in hybrid powertrain that functions an electric motor on every the entrance and rear axle. They plot energy from a 31.8kWh Blade battery for 100km of electrical-easiest utilizing vary.

A 1.5-litre turbo-petrol four-cylinder works as a generator a lot of the time, despite the true fact that it could perchance perchance kick in and drive the entrance axle in obvious scenarios. The B5 has even more punch than the Shark 6, with a marvelous 505kW and 760Nm for 0-100km/h in 4.8 seconds.

On prime of that, the B5’s rear motor is more extremely efficient (285kW vs entrance 200kW) for a more super split between the axles. It moreover functions a digital locking centre differential and a simulated four-low mode along with electronically controlled locking differentials entrance and rear.

Off-avenue credentials are solid, then, with method, departure, and breakover angles of, 35, 32, and 20 degrees, respectively, plus 700mm wading depth and adaptive dampers.

Internal, the cabin of the auto we sat in used to be prime quality with leather-based totally mostly upholstery and many of abilities together with a pleasant 15.6-walk rotating touchscreen.

Denza B5 pricing is yet to be locked in for Australia, however don’t count on Shark 6-stage entry mark. Being the lush stamp, count on the B5 to punch up beyond $80,000, given its intensive equipment and nice outputs.

Will the B5 be worth it? We’ll must wait on and seek.

Are there any varied devices within the works for BYD and Denza?

The subsequent most definitely is the Bao 5’s bigger brother, the Bao 8 which would potentially be acknowledged as the Denza B8. It’s in accordance to the same underpinnings however with a protracted wheelbase (2920mm) and bigger general length (5195mm).

In its put of adaptive dampers, the B8 gets trick energetic prime-adjustable suspension, more inform (550kW), more leather-based totally mostly interior and the choice of seven seats. Kerb weight spikes by 500kg, despite the true fact that, to 3305kg.

On the four wheel drive aspect of issues, BYD’s Denza is moreover taking into account about a version of the tank-turning, quad electric motor powered Yangwang U8, despite the true fact that it’s extra down the be aware.

In its put, Aussies are more doubtless are the Denza N9 — a tri-motor proceed-in hybrid with the Differ Rover in its sights — added to the vary sooner. That mentioned, we’re speaking 2026 and beyond, here.

Denza could perchance moreover play a Porsche Taycan rivalling shooting brake Z9 GT, with up to 710kW blended. But every other choice would be a Zeekr 009-challengine D9 luxurious of us mover.

BYD itself is moreover having a overview to amplify, first with a new Atto 2 cheap crossover, then with varied devices within the pipeline. Now we procure a separate fable for those vehicles coming.

Chinese language carmaker Chery has been expanding in suits and bursts. Its first mannequin, the Omoda 5, used to be plagued with some security support annoyances, nonetheless the lower-trace Tiggo 4 Legitimate is discovering a range of success.

The subsequent step for Chery to interrupt top-10 new automobile sellers in Australia will likely be a twin-cab ute, and be aware from Australian managing director Lucas Harris is that a diesel-based fully breeze-in hybrid is likely.

Add to that a one-tonne payload and allegedly more challenging appears to be like than the left-hand-pressure-finest Himla published at Auto Shanghai 2025, and Chery may perchance own a hot potato on its fingers with the flexibility to bother the Ford Ranger, Toyota Hilux, BYD Shark 6 and further.

Chasing Vehicles has commissioned distinctive renders from digital artist Theottle of the doable future Chery twin-cab ute. You’ll furthermore stare them above, nonetheless extra on the appears to be like below.

Harris advised Chasing Vehicles that there’s a range of interest from Chery’s world chairman.

“We had the chairman out, we [told] him: We genuinely strongly wish to own enter to that ute, and own the engineers reach out right here so that we are succesful of utilize time with them. Per week later, we’re being sent toughen requests to assist six engineers rep visas,” acknowledged Harris.

While there’s admiration for Australian engineering groups, Harris acknowledged not to write off the cost’s in-condo R&D boffins, noting their hunger for competition in a extraordinarily hot segment.

“I trust rather a pair of the utes on the market are immense products … I trust that’s an though-provoking project because you’ve bought a hyper aggressive segment which is popping into noteworthy extra aggressive with genuinely immense products.

“I trust that presents us some gasoline within the fireplace — how will we push the envelope and how can we produce the finest thing that we are succesful of so that we are succesful of compete,” acknowledged Harris.

But how will Chery’s new ute form up? Chery doesn’t own any body-on-frame products in Australia for the time being, finest monocoque vehicles.

At Auto Shanghai 2025 the cost did demonstrate a pair of utes, the shut to-manufacturing Himla and further out-there Jetour F700.

The passe is centered at China and Latin The united states and will likely be built finest in left-hand pressure. The latter, though, is extra likely as a luxurious, lifestyles-model rival to the BYD Shark 6, nonetheless apparently there are rather a pair of extra decide-united states of americain the pipeline.

“The decide-up that used to be announced at the Shanghai Motor Uncover, the Himla, we gained’t rep that on this market. That’s a left-hand pressure finest product,” defined Harris.

“The ute that we can rep — we’ll rep a pair of, there’s genuinely a pair of different ones, which is though-provoking — the first one which goes to be genuinely essential for us is the one-tonne payload ute,” he persisted.

Describing the appears to be like, Harris acknowledged Chery’s Ranger and Hilux rival will likely be “noteworthy better taking a explore” than the Himla, with much less former styling.

That acknowledged, we’ve feeble the Himla as a execrable for our advent nonetheless with different proportions — an extended wheelbase and broader stance, for a launch. It furthermore sports actions a different, extra aggressive entrance grille alongside with some up-spec, off-road centered essential aspects.

These encompass huge-offset wheels for increased song and fender flares to own up them legal. Also fitted are all-terrain tyres — we imagine this as a doable Toyota Hilux GR Sport and Ford Ranger Wildtrak X rival.

As for what’s riding the brand new Chery ute, that stays within the air, nonetheless there’s one risk that stands out to the Aussie MD.

“There’s a minute of talk all over the powertrain for the time being, it’s not fully locked in. One of the essential choices that has reach up, which I trust is personally genuinely attention-grabbing, is a diesel breeze-in hybrid.

“It’s one of these different proposition … I trust it would be a immense level of difference if shall we manufacture that, as an risk,” acknowledged Harris.

Given the breeze-in hybrid is aloof in vogue, there must not any sure outputs or figures to work with. The 2 petrol-based fully PHEV utes on sale for the time being own blended NEDC riding ranges of 800km (Shark 6) and 880km (GWM Cannon Alpha).

With a diesel four-cylinder that’s extra efficient when cruising at low RPMs on the motorway, Chery’s diesel breeze-in twin-cab has the doable to present nearer to 1000km of riding range — spectacular.

Outright energy is likely to be lower than the different two’s substantial 300kW-plus figures, nonetheless diesel-electrical torque may perchance perhaps form up for this within the towing stakes.

“I accurate think it would be an though-provoking level of difference so that you just can bring that to the market,” says Harris, furthermore hinting that a diesel PHEV wouldn’t be the appropriate powertrain. A extra former diesel engine, by myself, may perchance perhaps furthermore be provided.

With Chery’s entry, the ute segment in Australia will grow all over again. It’s already been heavily shaken up by the BYD Shark 6 alongside with GWM’s Cannon and Cannon Alpha, and that can finest proceed with the Kia Tasman, new LDV and MG utes, and further.