Car industry

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.

GWM is making ready to officially confirm that this could well affirm Wey, its luxurious sub-sign, to Australia with quite a bit of paddle-in hybrid (PHEV) units.

The dedication of whether to affirm Wey to Australia has been a story of ‘off but again, on but again’ for Chinese conglomerate GWM, but local executives command they’re ready to wager their chips on rising future quiz for PHEVs beneath Australia’s contemporary car emissions regulations.

Australian media, along with Chasing Vehicles, has been invited to power the GWM Gaoshan luxurious minivan at a non-public facility in Victoria this week, with take a look at vehicles rebadged ‘GWM Wey G9’ – the expected Australian identify for the MPV.

G9 van, Blue Mountain SUV the essential two Wey units for Australia

However the G9 van shall be supplemented in GWM’s Australian dealerships by the Wey Blue Mountain huge luxurious SUV, Chasing Vehicles understands, while as a minimum 1 various Wey SUV model is also beneath examination.

“Wey is a severe consideration for [Australia], and the fact that it’s likely you’ll be attending to power it formula [the brand] is a correct likelihood to attain relief here,” GWM Australia head of promoting and communications Steve Maciver informed Chasing Vehicles.

Pronounced cherish “blueprint”, the premium GWM marque is named for the latest chairman of Great Wall Motors, Chinese billionaire Jack Wey.

“We’re indifferent working through final scenarios, but there is a correct likelihood you are going to gape [Wey in Australia] subsequent 12 months,” said Maciver.

An earlier proposal to affirm Wey’s SUV units to Australia beneath GWM’s more cheap Haval sub-sign has been deserted.

Maciver confirmed that — as a minimum before the entire lot — Wey would no longer offer pure combustion or pure electric vehicles in the community, but that PHEVs shall be the focal point.

“[Wey] could be paddle-in. We’re slightly assured, with the NVES scenario we are going through, that we’re going to gape an increased [market] portion of PHEVs. It will have to occur, and we are having a wager slightly huge on it,” he said.

The in all likelihood Wey units for the emblem’s mooted 2026 Australian free up both offer PHEV powertrains.

Slither-in hybrids with huge energy and 100km+ electric vary

The G9 (or Gaoshan) minivan is produced handiest with a 1.5-litre turbo petrol PHEV powertrain producing 358kW/762Nm blended, with approximately 140km electric vary.

Within the meantime, the Blue Mountain (Lanshan) huge SUV uses a same 1.5T PHEV system, despite the fact that it’s miles uprated to 380kW/933Nm blended. Electric vary is such as the G9 at about 140km with GWM claiming blended utilizing vary is over 1000km.

Each the Blue Mountain SUV and the G9 van spend an existing GWM hybrid all-wheel power system, but Maciver hinted that Australia could well well receive Wey units with GWM’s more recent-generation, high-efficiency Hi4-Z PHEV/AWD mixture.

“When you get in all likelihood a Wey Blue Mountain that could well additionally [be used for] occasional tender-roading, Hi4-Z could be slightly succesful of that. It’ll also give you increased efficiency and increased (electric) vary on-boulevard, so it in most cases is a correct option for us,” he said.

Geared up with Hi4-Z as a replacement of their existing PHEV techniques, the G9 and Blue Mountain could well well make as much as 635kW/1195Nm blended with as much as 200km electric-handiest vary from a 59kWh battery.

Wey to handbook obvious of sky-high pricing of some luxurious rival brands

GWM Australia is adamant that pricing for Wey units will live in life like territory no topic their luxurious position.

It changed into made especially obvious that the G9 luxurious van could well additionally no longer be priced in the same territory as the Zeekr 009 (from $135,900 plus on-boulevard costs) or Lexus LM (from $163,520 + ORCs).

“I’m succesful of be assured in asserting that if we were to affirm [the G9 van] in, we would no longer be shut to six figures,” Maciver informed Chasing Vehicles.

“Evaluating what various brands could well well be doing in the [minivan] dwelling at six figures, we don’t have in mind that is the build the automobile have to be priced for us. We don’t know precisely what that [price] seems to be cherish, but we are slightly assured we’re no longer going to be at six figures.”

BYD’s top class sub-label Denza has at final been confirmed for the Australian market with an arrival date now formally slated for November this yr.

The B5 and B8 4×4 wagons – identified because the Leopard 5 and Leopard 8 in China – regularly is the first to advance in Australia, with the pair sporting traipse-in hybrid powertrains and providing five- and 7-seat layouts respectively.

In a identical come that the BYD Shark 6 capitalised on the unimaginative-transferring and largely diesel-uncommon ute phase, the B5 and B8 will purpose opponents such because the Ford Everest and Toyota LandCruiser Prado within the giant SUV phase.

It’s unclear precisely the do pricing will drop in Australia, and thus who its opponents shall be, because the pair drop below the posh Denza label – however it’s anticipated that pricing shall be inviting at begin.

The Denza label will serve because the local badge for three of BYD’s many sub-brands, though it’s no longer determined precisely what the opposite two shall be.

Chasing Automobiles no longer too lengthy within the past had yet every other to drive the Denza B5 and B8 within the label’s home market of China and vital that the pair had been a significant setup in off-road ability, when put next to the Shark 6.

Not yet confirmed is the flagship Yangwang U8, which has been noticed loads of times undergoing making an are attempting out in Australia and is anticipated to begin in our market within the shut to future.

Greater communications between Volkswagen Australia and the German tag’s head office in Wolfsburg, blended with increased digitalisation, will imply that novel Volkswagen devices reach Australia extra rapid after their European birth.

At particular instances in recent years, Australian VW possibilities bag waited for bigger than a twelve months for novel devices to near on local soil following on-sale dates in Germany, with considerable outliers like the ID.4 and ID.5 electric SUVs requiring loads of years to near.

On the different hand, extra dispute and sturdy communications between the Sydney and Wolfsburg head workplaces of Volkswagen Crew Australia and Volkswagen AG, a superior determining of local requirements by the mothership, and the impact of recent expertise ought to silent shorten the window.

The position of Australia’s Unique Automobile Effectivity Regular (NVES) emissions laws, which reward the sale of low-CO2 vehicles like traipse-in hybrids (PHEVs) and battery EVs (BEVs) whereas penalising too many gross sales of petrol and diesel devices, will play a commercial position in locking in earlier arrivals.

Particular adaptation for Australia is time-entertaining

Whereas the conception is to speed novel model launches for Australia, Volkswagen tag director Piergiorgio Minto – who constructed up colossal leadership experience in Germany sooner than transferring Down Beneath – suggested Chasing Cars that the marque doesn’t desire to drag the course of.

“At any time after we elevate products to Australia we adapt them. Our R&D [team] is extraordinarily desirous to derive us product that is determined up neatly for the country. Volkswagen once rapidly does quite extra work than other producers. It is what’s distinctive for us as a tag,” said Minto.

Whereas Volkswagen devices are designed from scratch to meet Australian regulatory and safety requirements (as well to customer demands), there could be an opulent series of adaptations (some discretionary, some legally required) that ought to be accomplished sooner than a VW can birth in Australia.

“There are numerous factors that trail into it – homologation [to the Australian Design Rules], technical [testing], making obvious it is far constructed for the market atmosphere,” said head of product Arjun Nidigallu.

Tayron’s Australian birth no longer as much as six months after Germany

The feedback round course of improvements had been made on the sidelines of the Australian birth of the Volkswagen Tayron, a three-row SUV that arrived within the community no longer as much as twelve months after being unveiled in Germany and correct 5 months after European possibilities first obtained their vehicles.

That’s mighty rapid for a tag that most ceaselessly requires just a few twelve months to shriek the foremost examples of a novel Volkswagen model to Australian investors when in contrast to their German counterparts, and in some cases far longer.

The Tayron is carefully connected below the skin to the no longer too prolonged within the past launched third-expertise Tiguan, with the similarities serving to ease about a of the present requirements.

“There became various work for the Tiguan that we could possibly possibly also switch into the Tayron, and we leveraged that, nonetheless we were pushing plenty at some level of the last seven or eight months [to make things] sooner and there became quite end result,” said tag director Minto.

Greater communications between Australia and Germany serving to

Whereas the Tayron became something of a distinct case, due to the work already accomplished on the Tiguan, there could be hope among senior Volkswagen Australia executives that streamlined relations with Germany ought to silent set deliveries of tag-novel devices sooner, too.

“We now bag got a extra sturdy verbal replace course of, at once, for when the technical department asks what the Australian market requires [from] homologation, Australian standards, ANCAP [safety],” said Nidigallu.

More dispute and constructive verbal replace about Australian requirements reflects a years-prolonged effort to make stronger relations between the local gross sales company and head office.

“It has been bettering for a series of years, and it is far now at a stage where we reflect it is far being effective,” said Minto.

Volkswagen hopeful novel T-Roc will derive right here sooner than current

With the Tiguan and Tayron each now in Volkswagen’s Australian dealerships, consideration is now turning to the logo’s next mountainous-designate local birth: the 2d expertise of VW’s excellent-promoting model in recent years, the T-Roc minute SUV.

Unveiled in Germany earlier this week, the T-Roc is scheduled for a German market birth in November 2025 and an expectation that export deliveries will birth up in mid-2026.

Australia’s location on the T-Roc rollout listing isn’t yet confirmed, and Volkswagen’s local leaders won’t yet be drawn on dispute timings for the Australian birth of the model. Mute, there’s hope that the hastening of local deliveries by course of improvements will wait on.

“It is an all-novel expertise [of T-Roc], so the homologation course of is recent,” Nidigallu reflected. “That most ceaselessly takes extra time. That being said, we bag moreover improved about a processes and streamlined things, so it is far imaginable that we are going to derive it sooner than current.”

“Digitalisation helps. Some processes that are going digital, within the previous they compulsory to be 100% bodily,” said Minto.

Toyota has confirmed an 11-variant-fetch lineup of the all-fresh sixth-era RAV4 midsize SUVs launching to Australia in the first half of of 2026. The vary will preserve GX, GXE, XSE, Cruiser and Edge grades whereas adding PHEV-powered GR-Sport and XSE variants.

A first for Toyota Australia is the RAV4’s skedaddle-in hybrid drivetrain. That powerplant is on hand in front-wheel or all-wheel force, exclusively in mid-spec XSE or dynamically enhanced GR-Sport neat.

Each codecs characteristic a 22.7kWh lithium-ion battery and 1500W V2L inverter.

The front-driven PHEV XSE makes consume of a single front-axle-mounted electrical motor and produces a blended output of 200kW, whereas every the GR-Sport and XSE all-wheel-force units rating 227kW by consume of a further rear-mounted electrical motor.

GR Sport RAV4 variants additionally characteristic a out of the ordinary suspension tune, that contains  high-performance dampers and a stiffer rear suspension brace. The wheel observe is 20mm wider, and the flexibility steering recalibrated.

Learn more about Toyota’s fresh RAV4 GR Sport right here.

Under the skin, all fresh-era RAV4 hybrid units characteristic a 2.5-litre petrol engine and fifth-era plugless hybrid machine, which would possibly consist of one or two electrical motors, counting on force kind. Blended strength output for all hybrid units is 143kW.

Moreover fresh to the midsized model is a chain of safety ingredients, as share of the following-era ‘Toyota Security Sense’, which incorporates front contaminated-visitors alert, lane designate back and pre-collision safety.

Identical outdated tools on the grisly model front- or all-wheel-force GX choices a 360-degree digicam, over-the-air appropriate 10.5-skedaddle multimedia touchscreen, 17-skedaddle alloy wheels, LED auto-levelling headlamps, 12.3-skedaddle digital cluster and twin-zone climate regulate.

Distinctive to the grisly GX is the chance to interchange the transient spare to fat-size.

Stepping to the front- or all-wheel-force GXE grants 18-skedaddle alloy wheels, privacy rear and aspect glass, eight-manner adjustable driver’s seat, and a wi-fi instrument charger.

No topic force kind or hybridisation, XSE-badged MY26 RAV4 units will characteristic 20-skedaddle alloy wheels, murky front and rear bumpers, moonroof, synthetic leather-based totally totally and suede upholstery, front seat heating and air drift, and electrical front passenger seat adjustment.

Topping off the RAV4 vary is the front or all-wheel-force Cruiser flagship version, which ingredients out of the ordinary 20-skedaddle alloy wheels, upgraded LED headlamps, panoramic roof, leather-based totally totally-accented seat neat, head-up show, two wi-fi instrument chargers, a digital rearview replicate and a 9-speaker JBL audio machine.

Toyota’s all-wheel-force most involving, off-road ready RAV4 — the Edge — slots between the GXL and XSE. It exclusively ingredients ‘Edge’ front and rear bumpers, wider wheel arches, skid plate, heated front seats, strength tailgate and higher 12.9-skedaddle touchscreen.

The Edge shares its hill descent regulate and selectable terrain traction regulate ingredients with all AWD RAV4 grades.

In a identical vein, the all-wheel force most involving GR Sport is no longer moderately a flagship, nonetheless out of the ordinary in its comprise correct. Standout ingredients consist of GR-themed front and rear bumpers, rear spoiler, 20-skedaddle alloy wheels, aluminium pedals, poke shifters, and out of the ordinary GR Sport seats and steering wheel.

More ingredients and specs for all of the right now to free up RAV4 grades are yet to be launched.

Pricing for evergreen Toyota midsizer yet to be confirmed

Toyota’s RAV4 leads the Australian gross sales charts as the nation’s most in kind passenger car and largest-selling midsize SUV, conserving a firm third simplest-selling location total in the lend a hand of (commercial labeled) Toyota HiLux and Ford Ranger twin cabs.

Last year, Toyota shifted 58,718 RAV4 examples, and YTD to the month of August, 32,564 RAV4 units had been bought.

Models in fierce competition with the RAV4 consist of the $39,990 Mitsubishi Outlander, the 2d most in kind midsize SUV in Ozto this level in 2025, and the $36,740 Mazda CX-5, which snags third in nationwide reputation.

Pricing for the fresh model RAV4 is yet to be confirmed, nonetheless every it and the fresh-era CX-5 (additionally slated to start subsequent year) can also fair smooth plunge within a stones throw of the facelifted Mitsubishi Outlander, as smartly as the fresh-era $43,490 Subaru Forester.

All prices shown are earlier to on-road prices.

Currently, the Toyota RAV4 begins at $42,260 for grisly GX FWD grade, and scales to $58,360 for the AWD Edge off-road model. Rely on PHEV RAV4 variants to payment a further top rate.