Car industry

Intrepid Jap ticket Mazda hedged a sizeable wager on its Gigantic Product Architecture which underpins ‘premium’ merchandise such because the CX-60, CX-70, CX-80 and CX-90 — theoretically combining larger costs with larger margins and happier shareholders.

However in doing so, Mazda let merchandise in key market segments — medium SUVs and sedans, plus smaller autos — stagnate and descend on the serve of competitors.

Talking to media on the 2025 Japan Mobility Existing, handbook director, senior managing government officer and CFO Jeff Guyton admitted Mazda’s “product has gotten quite frail”.

On the show, Mazda exhibited the third-technology CX-5, its carbon-capture technology and a pair of Vision concepts that show the ticket’s next-gen ‘Kodo’ procure language on a smooth flagship and compact city automotive.

“This product, because it sits, is not intended to be a production automotive,” explains Guyton of the concepts, which explore as despite the truth that they’ll be made steady into a halo coupe-SUV and fresh-gen Mazda 2 or CX-3.

A fresh dinky automotive is something Mazda desperately wants. The CX-3, even despite the truth that mute standard in Australia, is now over 10 years frail, and the two went on sale here a yr sooner than that.

Even the CX-30, Mazda’s first ‘premium’ product, is now six years frail, alongside with its 3 hatch counterpart. That makes them due for replacement next yr in Mazda’s conventional product cycles.

The fresh CX-5 is the following tremendous delivery, anticipated to arrive in Australia with a elevate-over 2.5L petrol four-cylinder (a non-turbo, remember) in the second half of 2026. Mazda is constructing a bespoke hybrid system for CX-5, but that’s unlikely until 2028 in Australia.

Moreover imminent is the Mazda 6e, an electrical sedan that is a reskinned and retuned Chinese BEV from Changan-Deepal. This rear-power EV is due in Australia next yr.

What about assorted fresh Mazdas?

Guyton provides that there’s more: “presumably some assorted things we haven’t talked about yet and won’t this day… That’s all command to change quite instant.” The logical next step is dinky autos, replacing the Mazda 2 and CX-3, and searching to renew the 3 hatch.

Moreover believed to be in building is an electrical model of the fresh CX-5, with Mazda North America’s Tom Donnelly hinting at this to US News. Guyton spoke about Mazda’s ‘G Vectoring’ technology and the scheme in which it ranges up in an electrical automotive with prompt torque response.

“The four-wheel power of an electrical automotive — a motor in the entrance, a motor in the serve, as an illustration — you observe the identical [G Vectoring] common sense to it, you’re going to be in a spot to private the identical outcomes. So that prototype which I drove, as correctly as to being very powerful, was as soon as truly appropriate,” he acknowledged.

Moreover, Mazda confirmed that its fresh production services and products in Japan will likely be in a spot to have combustion-engine, hybrid and electrical autos on the identical line — potentially unleashing the chance for an in-home battery-electrical CX-5 to kind out the Tesla Model Y.

Coming serve to Mazda’s increasing older product, despite the truth that, and sales live stable in Australia. The CX-5 is the second most interesting-seller in its class, shapely ahead of the Mitsubishi Outlander, the CX-3 is without complications the most smartly-liked gentle SUV and the 3 hatch is third in the dinky-automotive class.

Mixed, Mazda has equipped decrease than half as many CX-60/70/80/90 models because it has increasing older CX-5s to this level in 2025.

Toyota has waved the white flag in the ute-primarily primarily based SUV section, confirming there will no current Fortuner per the freshly unveiled 2026 Hilux.

The Toyota Fortuner has struggled in opposition to the Ranger-primarily primarily based Ford Everest and D-Max-primarily primarily based Isuzu MU-X since it change into released in 2021.

Australian households searching for an off-avenue-capable Toyota SUV enjoy as any other swarmed to the Prado, despite the Fortuner’s more cost-effective aquire-in ticket (and shared engine/gearbox).

It change into even remote from sale in Serene Zealand as of late, attributable to behind sales demand. Nonetheless, Toyota Australia acknowledged it would possibly per chance withhold promoting the Fortuner in the Australian market. Now not any additional, though, with the fresh announcement from Toyota that the mannequin could be discontinued in the upcoming year.

“With the delivery of this current-mannequin Hilux, I’d furthermore love to command that Toyota could be discontinuing the Fortuner SUV that shares the same platform as the latest generation Hilux from about mid next year,” acknowledged Sean Hanley, Toyota Australia’s vice president of sales, marketing and franchise operations.

“Clearly, Fortuner has been a broad product for us over the years and found a somewhat exiguous but fervent buyer base but with manufacturing ending next year and buyer preferences transferring in Australia we made the resolution to live the Fortuner.”

“With the delivery of this current mannequin Hilux, I’d furthermore love to command that Toyota could be discontinuing the Fortuner SUV that shares the same platform as the latest generation Hilux from about mid next year,” acknowledged Hanley.

Fortuner registrations enjoy indisputably increased by 18 per cent year on year, per official substitute figures, though the total of 2928 objects to the tip of October compares with 23,298 Prado registrations in the same duration.

Toyota’s suburbs-friendly Kluger tremendous SUV has greater than 7000 registrations for the year to this point.

Two of the Fortuner’s most train, ute-primarily primarily based rivals furthermore promote in tremendously increased volume. Ford’s Everest has 21,915 registrations to October, followed by Isuzu’s MU-X with 12,499 registrations.

Pricing for the 2025 Toyota Fortuner begins at $58,905 for GX specification, $62,280 for mid-spec GXL and $72,535 for prime spec Advertising and marketing campaign. These prices are driveaway, and appropriate on the time of e-newsletter.

Incoming Chinese language producer GAC — short for Guangzhou Automobile Community — has steered Chasing Automobiles that it would not have interaction in tag wars with opponents, and that as a smash result, it could perhaps not be the least costly ‘unique designate’ in the market.

Talking with Chasing Automobiles, GAC Australia deputy general supervisor Cheney Liang said that the firm intends to replicate the producer’s reputation for prime of the vary in the Chinese language market.

Seven- or eight-year warranty counting on powertrain

“These autos are supported by world-class quality and possess been hand-picked to swimsuit the wants of Australia. They possess been the self-discipline of intense R&D and could perhaps merely peaceable be supported by service and warranty care that swimsuit the expectations of this market,” said Liang.

A seven year/limitless kilometre warranty shall be supplied for petrol and hybrid GAC items whereas tubby EVs will skills an eight year/limitless kilometre warranty.

“We are exceptionally assured in our skill to raise a high-stage customer skills and GAC has repeatedly been the no 1 in China’s JD Vitality leer for customer pleasure,” Liang said.

In 2025, GAC Honda — one in all the Guangzhou firm’s key joint ventures — rated very best for intial quality among “mass market” manufacturers in the Chinese language JD Vitality leer.

GAC vary will grow from three to eight items within two years

While pricing on GAC’s first three items for Australia to be presented in mid-November, Chasing Automobiles understands that the Aion V electrical midsize SUV isn’t very going to undercut smaller opponents love the Leapmotor B10 ($39,000 driveaway) or MGS5 EV (from $40,990 driveaway).

That said, GAC will possess a tag-main mannequin in its petrol-most involving Emzoom small SUV, whereas the the firm’s third originate mannequin — the M8 walk-in hybrid (PHEV) other folks mover —is anticipated to possess semi-premium positioning.

In Australia, the GAC lineup will encompass issues from three sub-manufacturers: GAC itself, for petrol and hybrid products, Aion for pure electrical items, and in future, Hyptec, for premium completely electrical autos.

Hyptec shall be half of the Australian lineup in the smash with a larger-performance offering, whereas a ute mannequin and a colossal SUV are also excessive on GAC Australia’s priority record.

By the conclude of 2027 the GAC vary in Australia will swell from the preliminary three items to eight, with two launches deliberate for 2026 and three deliberate for 2027. Vendor count is anticipated to transfer from 12 to twenty in that time.

Globally, GAC’s portfolio includes items with petrol, hybrid, PHEV and vary-extender PHEV, and completely electrical powertrains and all are on the table for Australia counting on customer query.

GAC items to level “correct cost” reasonably than chop worth pricing: Liang

Liang said that whereas GAC became keenly aware of the possess to gain prospects into one in all the firm’s preliminary 12 dealerships, it intended to attain so by demonstrating cost for money reasonably than outright chop worth pricing.

“We’ll not be chasing the [lowest] tag,” Liang said.

“I place confidence in for patrons, they possess got [both] tag and cost on their mind. What is most true is that the price suits the associated fee, so we can elevate cost to the shopper, even when that’s not on the lowest tag.”

To that conclude, Liang printed that GAC will embark on a major, targeted social media campaign with each of the firm’s three distinct items directed at diversified audiences.

Melbourne sides centre to gain GAC cars wait on on the avenue extra rapidly

GAC also plans to assault what’s perceived as a major weakness of most recent manufacturers in Australia by setting up an intensive sides and logistics community from the gain-toddle.

The firm has predicament up seven basic sides warehouses globally — and number seven is in Melbourne, Victoria.

“Now we possess got already signed a contract with an Australian [logistics] firm, and we can attain the logistics from door-to door,” said Liang.

“As soon as we possess got the dealer [parts] show, the identical day they’re going to ship out the sides.”

Some rival manufacturers possess suffered from miserable sides supply in Australia in fresh times, main to longer automobile off-avenue statistics for some items and, in some instances, connected larger insurance coverage premiums attributable to sides difficulties.

Mitsubishi is making prepared to launch a hybrid version of the Triton ute within the following couple of years, and fingers-on trying out has considered engineers lock of their want for a mechanical 4wd gadget rather then electrified AWD.

Strict CO2 emissions rules in diverse markets in which Mitsubishi sells the Triton, at the side of Australia, has hastened constructing of a hybrid version, which is ready to on the muse be a ‘plugless’ hybrid—though a drag-in hybrid (PHEV) is anticipated to device later.

While Mitsubishi engineers are very the genuine electric motor management supplied by a dual-motor AWD gadget, electrified AWD has been dominated out as perceived engineering challenges will rob too long to conquer.

Triton hybrid to launch “as soon as we can” says Mitsubishi

“We enjoy to launch [the Triton hybrid] as soon as we can,” Mitsubishi Motors engineering fellow Kaoru Sawase suggested media at the side of Chasing Vehicles.

“From the purpose of view of needing to hastily launch the auto, we can build no longer enjoy any want however to switch for the P2 hybrid play like Land Rover and [Toyota] Land Cruiser,” acknowledged Sawase.

A P2 hybrid gadget areas the electrical motor between the within combustion engine and the transmission and 4-wheel pressure gadget, that system that either or both the combustion engine and/or electric motor can send energy downstream.

Choosing this more effective hybrid setup system that Mitsubishi will probably be ready to launch the Triton hybrid “within the following couple of years,” fixed with senior engineer Sawase.

Mitsubishi widely evaluated the BYD Shark 6 as a benchmark hybrid ute, however Sawase acknowledged this trying out revealed flaws within the Shark 6’s electric AWD gadget that Mitsubishi believes it would possibly possibly possibly possibly possibly no longer overcome rapid sufficient.

Triton hybrid to protest electric motor between engine and mechanical 4wd gadget

Sawase acknowledged that the instruct for off-toll road hybrids with dual-motor electric AWD (rather then mechanical 4wd in a P2 hybrid setup) used to be to “enjoy a huge output of using energy…that wants to last for a truly long time.”

Through benchmarking of the BYD Shark 6 and the Outlander PHEV, Mitsubishi acknowledged that thermal challenges with dual-motor AWD meant it used to be “refined to [produce] grand torque for a truly long time.”

“In uncover to conquer the challenges with the electrical using [off-road], we use the engine as an insurance for the using energy,” acknowledged Sawase.

The particular nature of that underlying engine is no longer yet identified though it’s susceptible to be a petroleum engine, presumably with a turbocharger.

A Triton hybrid would take a seat alongside the aloof 150kW/470Nm 2.4-litre turbo diesel four-cylinder within the Australian market.

Sawase confirmed that he had pushed the BYD Shark 6 on Mitsubishi’s Hokkaido proving ground. While he used to be impressed with the Shark he acknowledged that the BYD’s “off-toll road functionality is no longer so excessive.”

Collected, the Mitsubishi engineer acknowledged that he felt that till the Shark 6’s thermal protections kick in, its off-toll road performance and electric motor management used to be “moderately appropriate.”

Electric AWD has doable however Mitsubishi says it’s five years off

Mitsubishi plans to sooner or later overcome the thermal components it believes are a roadblock to the utilization of electric AWD for a Triton or Pajero off roader, however Sawase predicts that “for the following five years…for pure off-toll road we ought to serene traipse for mechanical 4wd.”

“After five years, there is a appropriate doable that [an] EV can additionally attain pure 4wd [as a] pure off-toll road automobile. We’re watching how the technologies build.”

That timing would possibly possibly possibly align smartly for the delayed launch of a deliberate absolutely electric Triton.

“Within the past, now we enjoy got announced to launch a BEV, or battery electric automobile, Triton, however now that route has shifted a miniature bit bit,” acknowledged Sawase.

Toyota Australia is giving excessive consideration for a expose to originate the ultra-luxurious Century stamp in the community, with senior Lexus bosses allocated duty for analysing the enterprise case.

“Because it goes to be positioned above [it], Lexus will rob the lead on that automobile,” Toyota Australia vice president of sales and marketing Sean Hanley knowledgeable Chasing Autos.

“Century wants very specialised consideration, nevertheless there may be a market in Australia, and optimistically, over the foreseeable year or two, we are able to be ready to construct a case for it. It is under no circumstances confirmed to my knowledge for Australia, nevertheless I deem we would per chance per chance calm gawk it,” Hanley acknowledged.

Toyota world chairman Akio Toyoda passe a keynote speech on the 2025 Tokyo Motor Present to thunder that now not ideally suited used to be the stamp’s flagship Century line turning into an honest stamp above Lexus, nevertheless that Century would additionally be sold out of the country.

Till now, Century items were essentially restricted to very restricted sales in the Eastern market ideally suited, the put the phoenix-badged luxurious vehicles are held in very deep like.

Now, Toyota will audaciously strive to pit Century’s lineup—consisting of a tremendous, outmoded sedan, a luxurious SUV, and a coming near near raised coupe model—head-to-head with Rolls-Royce and Bentley in selected out of the country markets.

Lexus Australia chief govt officer John Pappas has been given duty to deem Century’s suitability for the native market.

“We’re for the time being studying whether or now not the Century stamp has a predicament in the Australian market to counterpoint the Lexus stamp,” Pappas knowledgeable media at the side of Chasing Autos.

“That is also very minute [production] as a result of it’s handmade. They’re entirely customised. If we noticed an different the put we felt love this would take a seat internal our market in picture to counterpoint the Lexus stamp and the entire Toyota household, we may per chance positively be having a maintain a look at it,” acknowledged Pappas.

It is calm early days, and questions akin to whether or now not Century would leverage the rising Lexus vendor network in Australia have not been resolved.

Lexus Australia will simultaneously work thru a stamp pivot of its maintain because the pinnacle payment arm of Toyota pursues ‘fresh luxurious’ shapes and suggestions, leaving extra conservative codecs to Century.

The Tokyo Motor Present noticed the disclosing of two radical Lexus LS flagship ideas, with the unusual three-box sedan structure remark to be abandoned in favour of both a luxurious van, a coupe-SUV, or both.

Whereas the realm Century announcement came as one thing as a surprise, senior Toyota Australia officers maintain known about the opinion for some time.

“I didn’t know its positioning [as a brand above Lexus] until honest now not too long previously, nevertheless I’ve known about the Century [plan] for a whereas, yes,” acknowledged Toyota boss Hanley.

Pure markets for the Century will consist of the Heart East and other Asian international locations, although Toyota North The United States is additionally understood to be eager.

The ultra-luxurious market in Australia is amazingly minute nevertheless makes love Bentley and Rolls-Royce, love Century, attain now not depend on and even essentially desire high volumes.

For the length of the first nine months of 2025, Bentley has sold 95 vehicles in Australia—most of them Bentayga SUVs or coupes—whereas Rolls-Royce has delivered 50 vehicles, half of them being Cullinan SUVs.

Toyota’s surprise assert of the RAV4-sized LandCruiser FJ final week led to the glaring questions: whether, and when, Australian traders could perchance additionally smooth ask to be aware the rebooted FJ on local roads.

Speaking with Chasing Cars on the sidelines of the 2025 Japan Mobility Notify, at which two FJs on camouflage had been mobbed by crowds, Toyota Australia vice chairman of gross sales and marketing Sean Hanley published the resolution is advanced.

“There would possibly be rarely this kind of thing as a query that on looks and the LandCruiser name in Australia [the FJ] will be very attention-grabbing,” acknowledged Hanley.

“The hardcore truth we are dealing with in our country [is] variable rules, new requirements, new car efficiency requirements. We own now to leer very fastidiously at our product portfolio, at what we own we’re going to need, what we are going to promote in numbers, and what customers desire and desire.”

Whereas the FJ is just not any longer straight readily accessible to Toyota Australia, with initial focal level markets understood to be Japan, Thailand and the southeast Asian plot, the FJ has no longer been ruled out for Australia.

There are important hurdles in its diagram, on the opposite hand, as Hanley explained to Chasing Cars.

“We are privy to the automobile. We own now checked out it. We own now analysed it [as] finest as we can, and we loyal don’t—just appropriate now—advise it is miles a automobile that would perhaps be appropriate for our market.”

Suitability for the Australian market and buyer inquire of are a form of issues, and in the relieve of the scenes, Toyota insiders are privy to local curiosity in the FJ and would love to bring it down underneath.

In essence, three bins would must be ticked to bring the FJ to Australia. It would:

• Desire a a form of engine compliant with Australia’s Euro 6d emissions requirements
• Must be cheap for Toyota underneath Australia’s new CO2 emissions penalty diagram
• Must be compliant with Australian Form Guidelines along side with regards to side impression efficiency

So, how seemingly is it that answers would perhaps be learned to all three considerations?

The FJ wants a a form of engine for Australia that meets new Euro 6d emissions tips

Essentially the most important misfortune stopping the LandCruiser FJ being imported to Australia is that its 2TR-FE 2.7-litre petrol four-cylinder engine is dated and is no longer going to be updated to fulfill new emissions requirements coming into pressure in the community in December 2025.

Australia is on the cusp of adopting an emissions long-established known as Euro 6d, which contains more full of life actual-world testing of emissions along side CO2 and NOx.

All imprint-new devices launched into the Australian market from December this year must meet Euro 6d limits or they won’t be licensed for sale.

The Euro 6d tips are a form of to Australia’s Recent Automobile Effectivity Celebrated (NVES), which sees producers rep financial credits or penalties hoping on the total moderate CO2 profile of all autos they promote.

Toyota gross sales boss Hanley suggested Chasing Cars that whereas NVES used to be no longer a full bar on the FJ coming to Australia, Euro 6d used to be.

“It no doubt is the Euro 6 emissions long-established in Australia [stopping the FJ from coming for now]. That would additionally be a fact. That’s the law. Toyota is consistently committed to upholding the rules and ethics of the worldwide locations we work in,” Hanley suggested Chasing Cars.

“If [the FJ] used to be Euro 6, I’d rethink it. I’m loyal mentioning the variables. If that used to be a Euro 6 engine, if it does change into that diagram, which it will additionally, due to I don’t truly know what it is for the time being, then it is one thing we could perchance additionally re-glimpse,” acknowledged Hanley.

Toyota does own Euro 6d-succesful engines at its disposal that will appear to swimsuit the FJ platform, which is associated to the Asian-market Toyota HiLux Champ compact ute.

The HiLux Champ is straight away accessible with Toyota’s 2GD-FTV 2.4-litre turbo diesel four-cylinder engine, which makes exercise of a urea SCR aftertreatment gadget that Toyota has claimed in the previous satisfies Euro 6 emissions rules.

Whereas more radical engine swaps—perhaps along side a petroleum-electric hybrid drivetrain—are that that that you just would perhaps well own of, the top seemingly resolution will be the 2.4-litre diesel.

Even if the FJ gets a new engine, Toyota has to fastidiously bear in mind the NVES impression

In July this year Australia adopted NVES rules that will, in a straightforward sense, survey carmakers that promote too many diesel utes and 4WDs and no longer sufficient EVs and go-in hybrids (PHEVs) rep mountainous financial penalties, sapping or putting off income margins.

Whereas Toyota sells a mountainous proportion of ordinary hybrids in Australia—and it is working on bringing more EVs and PHEVs to the local market—a hyper-novel LandCruiser FJ would reason Toyota an NVES headache.

The CO2 emissions of the LandCruiser 300 Sequence, 250 Sequence Prado and HiLux are already a mountainous topic for Toyota, and the FJ would add to that misfortune.

An FJ fitted with the 2.4-litre diesel engine would seemingly employ a the same quantity of diesel to the Prado 2.8-litre, which is rated at 7.6L/100km with resulting CO2 emissions of 200g/km.

That’s quite a excessive CO2 quantity, especially as the FJ would face a comfy NVES limit of 117g/km from 2026 because it can perchance doubtlessly no longer qualify for the easier CO2 thresholds for heavy-responsibility 4WDs that can tow no longer no longer as much as 3000kg.

Even for these heavy-responsibility 4WDs, the NVES comfy limit is 180g/km next year—which manner even the Prado will soon be in the red.

Toyota will right now start a new-generation RAV4 midsize SUV in Australia that contains a pair of PHEV tidy grades. If these repeat to be very novel, it will additionally rep headroom underneath NVES for Toyota to add the FJ to the local lineup.

NVES is an accounting misfortune for automobile producers, and Toyota has to rep some full of life picks about which excessive-CO2 autos it desire and wishes to elevate on sale.

“Customers need the tall LandCruiser, just appropriate? Customers need that. Customers need the HiLux. We could perchance additionally smooth be very fastidiously deliberate on our product portfolio going forward,” acknowledged Hanley.

Unruffled, Hanley affirmed that NVES is just not any longer an legit bar to the FJ coming to Australia—loyal one other variable that will could perchance additionally smooth be overcome.

The FJ must meet Australian Form Guidelines

It is a long way rarely but confirmed that the LandCruiser FJ—or the HiLux Champ with which it shares some parts—would meet a form of Australian Form Rule requirements in its unique design.

Whereas the HiLux Champ is fitted with side intrusion beams, that does no longer essentially imply that the platform would meet Australia’s tips on side impression protection, which own was more sturdy to fulfill in unique years.

Hanley acknowledged that Toyota Australia didn’t but know whether the FJ would follow such tips.

Whereas a HiLux Champ used to be no longer too long prior to now noticed on Australian roads, Hanley acknowledged Toyota Australia used to be no longer responsible for bringing it into the country.

The Mazda Imaginative and prescient X-Coupe theory printed on the 2025 Japan Mobility Indicate is a graceful, four-door huge tourer, but there’s more to it than meets the sight.

It is a ways going to moreover now not be battery electric, yet Mazda claims the vehicle is carbon unfavourable.

That design the vehicle ecosystem removes more carbon from the atmosphere than it produces. Or now not decrease than, that’s the opinion when it is bustle on Algae-derived bio gas and teamed with mobile carbon taking pictures devices.

The instance outlined to Australian media is that a B-section vehicle (like Mazda 2 or CX-3) that produces around 100g of CO2 per kilometre, would in reality eradicate 10g/km from the atmosphere when pushed on biofuel with the Cellular Carbon Capture tool.

Utilize gasses are redirected by an absorption tool which plucks 20 p.c of the CO2 and retail outlets it in an unpressurised tank, in the indicate time using Zeolite pellets.

The equipment in the indicate time will enhance gas consumption by 2-3 p.c and weighs 50kg. It is a ways in reality the subsequent step beyond catalytic converters and petrol particulate filters.

We’re told the prototype’s CO2 will absorb up in 50-200km, after which it desires to be exchanged for an empty one.

Naturally, this may maybe per chance moreover require important infrastructure investment if it reaches manufacturing.

The saved carbon in tanks from vehicles can then be feeble to create plastic objects, equivalent to disposable forks and cups.

This skills will toughen with more investment but is clearly now not manufacturing ready yet.

The the rest 90 p.c reduction in use carbon dioxide comes from bio-gas made using algae.

The microorganisms consumption CO2 and retailer it while living, then oil is extracted earlier than being refined into gas on which a vehicle can bustle.

There are diversified necessary byproducts from the technique, says Mazda, including dietary supplements, fertilizer and cattle feed.

Algae-derived biofuels are now not contemporary on their beget, with petro-chemical broad ExxonMobil investing heavily in marketing them as a inexperienced solution, earlier than backing out attributable to excessive costs.

Mazda is trialling biofuel and carbon capture skills skills in the true world later this month. The firm will enter Japan’s Massive Taikyu endurance elope, which is a test bed for producers’ contemporary technologies.

Executives including consultant director, senior managing govt officer and CFO Jeff Guyton admitted the tech wanted to be ready soon, if it’s to comprise an opportunity.

Mazda’s carbon unfavourable pitch would possibly want to become a reality earlier than electric vehicles become the default if it is to be triumphant – though there became no timeline positioned on manufacturing.

Decrease carbon, renewable fuels had been explored by many firms, including Porsche and Toyota. At this 300 and sixty five days’s Goodwood revival elope assembly, a form of sustainable fuels had been feeble to energy historic racecars in all categories.

Carbon capture has advantage as effectively, especially in heavy industries, including delivery and rail transport.

Mazda’s pitch of a vehicle that’s a pleasure to pressure and sucks carbon out of the atmosphere is something vehicle lovers would possibly want to mediate in.

If the mettlesome Eastern model can keep aside the unconventional skills into observe, it’ll be a sport changer. Unless then, it sounds a little of too correct to be gorgeous.

Chinese language carmaker BYD is on a roll in Australia. The Shenzhen-based thoroughly mostly firm has long past from strength to strength on this nation off the abet of its coast-in hybrid Shark 6 ute, electrical Sealion 7 and Atto 3 SUVs plus Seal sedan, and the PHEV Sealion 6.

However it absolutely’s no longer stopping here, taking a leer to double its differ including the originate of top class value Denza, on its diagram to third reveal in the 2026 gross sales speed.

At an match Chasing Autos attended to pattern six unusual fashions, BYD Australia and Original Zealand chief operating officer Stephen Collins acknowledged “if we’re no longer prime three [by 2026], we’d be dissatisfied.”

Collins predicts 55,000 gross sales this year, which will encourage it defend eighth reveal in the gross sales speed. It’s a critically impressive climb from 2024, when BYD gross sales totalled 20,458 for 16th reveal on the ladder.

Maintaining eighth would put BYD in entrance of more established market gamers corresponding to Isuzu and MG, even supposing peaceable in the abet of Mazda, Kia, Hyundai, Mitsubishi and GWM.

Later this year and early into 2026, BYD will originate a key product offensive certain to bump subsequent year’s gross sales in the same route.

Led by the Atto 1 (a rebadged Dolphin Surf and expected to be Australia’s cheapest EV), moreover coming are the Atto 2 little electrical SUV, Sealion 5 mid-measurement coast-in hybrid and three-row Sealion 8 PHEV.

“We staunch are looking to retain the trajectory going, so we haven’t space a certain number, nevertheless I deem we’d be dissatisfied if we weren’t someplace around the stop 3.

“Notably with what we’re turning in by the exercise of most modern product, and more dealerships — we’re rising our vendor footprint as we be in contact.

“We staunch are looking to retain that trajectory, and I assume the number would possibly be the number, nevertheless, yeah, I deem if we’re no longer prime three, we’d be dissatisfied,” Collins told Chasing Autos.

Crunching the numbers, BYD will must gather in vital more than 95,000 gross sales in 2025, representing a 72 percent amplify on 2025’s predicted result. Shouldn’t be vital of a drama — 2025’s year-to-date gross sales are up almost 150 percent.

Refer to any individual at BYD and they’re fascinated by mounting a relate against market chief Toyota. That formulation over 200,000 gross sales in a year: a more difficult process, nevertheless the trajectory looks to be like promising.

Denza coming in sizzling nevertheless one at a time

The unreal portion of the puzzle is Denza, BYD’s luxurious arm (deem Lexus to Toyota) that can originate with a Toyota Land Cruiser one-two punch.

The main autos confirmed for November free up are the B5 five-seat and B8 six- or seven-seat mountainous SUVs. Both pack coast-in hybrid recount corresponding to, nevertheless beefed up, when compared with the Shark 6.

These products will be counted one at a time in gross sales figures to BYD, so received’t add to the full. Inquire of of is expected to be high, even supposing.

“We’re taking a leer to diagram abet out of the gate stunning speedy,” Denza CEO Imprint Harland told Chasing Autos.

In 2026, [Denza will] originate up turning in B5s later in January, February, after which perchance [30–45] days later for the B8…after which we’ll be evaluating other autos in the second half of the year.

“I no doubt concept to have confidence a crack at among the established top class brands from a volume level of behold. Going after these more or much less volumes is the aim,” defined Harland. Mercedes-Benz and BMW volumes are perchance a stretch for now.

“These can be perchance the stop close from a volume level of behold…If I would possibly perchance well perchance also knock them down, yeah, it’d be mountainous, nevertheless there’s other brands: the Audis, the Lexuses, the Differ Rovere, all these forms of brands as successfully,” he defined.

Some figures for context. In 2024 Audi equipped 15,333 autos, Lexus managed 13,642 and Land Rover 7910.

Toyota managed 15,257 Land Cruiser 300 Sequence gross sales on my own in 2024 — the issue rival for the Denza B8 — while The Gargantuan T has already delivered 21,840 Prados this year. There’s masses of likely for off-motorway wagon gross sales in Australia.

No branding backflips for BYD

Newcomer Chinese language brands are infamous for fickle branding conventions that seem to flip on a dime.

GWM, which started lifestyles as Astronomical Wall Motors earlier than setting apart rapid into Haval and Ora sub-brands, is a legit instance.

As is Chery, which equipped the Chery Omoda 5 at originate, even supposing now Omoda is a separate entity tied up with unusual it sounds as if-luxurious adventure-targeted Jaecoo in Omoda-Jaecoo dealers. Lepas and Jetour are two more separate sub-brands to flood in.

BYD and Denza enlighten they are “crystal obvious” of their strategies. BYD takes BYD products, and any upmarket model from Chinese language sub-brands delight in Yangwang and Fangchengbao will be streamlined into “top class” feeling Denza dealerships.

The Ford Ranger Raptor real got even harder.

Minute to 500 items, the Ranger Raptor Barren bellow Pack is developed in collaboration with aftermarket specialist ARB and Ford Australia.

“The Barren bellow Pack celebrates [the Ranger Raptor’s] racing heritage while handing over decent off-avenue enhancements that our most enthusiastic potentialities were soliciting for,” acknowledged Blue Oval marketing director Ambrose Henderson.

On hand for an extra $5990, the Barren bellow Pack brings the entry label of a Ranger Raptor to a staggering $96,680, ahead of on-avenue prices. It entails an ARB sports activities bar, four ARB ‘Nacho Quatro’ using lights mounted to a bespoke roof bar, and ‘all weather’ floor mats.

The Ranger Raptor Barren bellow Pack furthermore brings an option-particular decal pack, which rounds out what Ford calls a ‘trophy truck inspired’ survey.

Screen that Ford’s Barren bellow Pack has made no changes to the suspension, engine, or tyres of the Ranger Raptor, nor does it consist of extra underbody or driveline safety.

Closest rivals to the specced-up Ranger Raptor with Barren bellow Pack consist of, but are not restricted to,the $74,310 Toyota Hilux GR Sport, $73,000 Isuzu D-Max X-Terrain, and novel-child $74,990 Kia Tasman X-Pro. Prices confirmed are ahead of on-avenue prices.

Ranger homeowners who esteem to option either the ARB sports activities bar or using lights to their car can absorb the capability to complete so through their Ford dealer. Every ARB alternate choices will change into accessible once the five hundred Barren bellow Packs absorb equipped.

Ford has told that Barren bellow Pack optioned Ranger Raptor fashions come in to tell now for MY26, with deliveries anticipated to launch in coming months. These fashions will lose the neatly-liked Raptor’s powered roller shutter bath conceal attributable to compatibility factors.

Chinese language vehicle producer GWM could almost as we direct own one of Australia’s most storied automotive take a look at tracks.

GWM has confirmed it’s in live talks with Vietnam’s Vinfast, the original proprietor of the Lang Lang Proving Floor in Victoria.

Lang Lang veteran to serve because the sprawling dwelling of Holden’s vehicle constructing program, and was the birthplace of generations of Commodores among a glorious deal of name plates.

Worldwide chief skills officer of GWM, Nicole Wu, confirmed to Chasing Vehicles and a glorious deal of media that discussions are energetic.

“We are negotiating relating to the worth,” Wu acknowledged. “It is just not any longer pricey in contrast to what now we luxuriate in got in China and a glorious deal of countries (but) we ideal must evaluate the industrial (case).”

Lang Lang has been a fixed in Australian automotive history since 1957 when Total Motors constructed the complex to replicate native Aussie avenue stipulations faraway from prying eyes.

Over six decades, virtually every Holden – from the FC to the last VF — was honed there to varying success, with behind mannequin VE and VF variations regarded for world-class scurry and handling.

Lang Lang supplies 44 kilometres of take a look at loops including tarred and gravel avenue simulations, besides to a 4.7-kilometre excessive-tempo bowl that was comprehensively resurfaced easiest seven years ago.

GM offloaded the 9 sq. kilometre instruct to Vinfast in 2020 for a reported mid-$30 million imprint, three years after shuttering native Commodore production.

The Vietnamese newcomer veteran the capacity easiest temporarily earlier than striking Lang Lang attend onto the market in 2021 and however in 2024.

Linfox, the logistics company of billionaire Lindsay Fox and proprietor of the Australian Automobile Compare Centre in Anglesea, Victoria, has beforehand been linked to a insist for the field.

GWM isn’t drawing shut Lang Lang from nought. The conglomerate has already leased sections of the capacity for sorting out and media activities, becoming a member of fellow producers including Mitsubishi who luxuriate in done the same.

The recent-generation GWM Haval H6 is at the second having its suspension and steering retuned at Lang Lang for the 2026 mannequin year.

“We are pondering purchasing (Lang Lang Proving Floor). Even though we don’t aquire it, we can (serene) employ it — but if we aquire it, that is doubtless to be an income,” acknowledged GWM CTO Wu.

The property purchased a important $7.2 million resurfacing of its banked bowl in 2018 and roughly $16 million in broader avenue/facility upgrades earlier than Holden departed.

Adding weight to the concept is GWM’s recent recruitment of ex-Holden dynamics guru Rob Trubiani as project engineering supervisor. Trubiani, who fashioned the on-avenue personality of behind-mannequin Commodores, is retuning original GWM fashions and feeding into future programs.

Wu, in Melbourne this week for a media tour, acknowledged GWM will protect the employ of Lang Lang for native tuning no matter whether or no longer the mooted sale goes by.